Living with PTSD - “My Dad Shot My Mum In Front Of Me”. Uncut with Rawson Kirkhope
Life Uncut10 Jul 2025

Living with PTSD - “My Dad Shot My Mum In Front Of Me”. Uncut with Rawson Kirkhope

Today we’re joined by Rawson Kirkhope — a Navy veteran, childhood domestic violence survivor, and co-founder of VRTUS, a community-first gym.

When Rawson was 12 years old, he witnessed his father shoot his mother, trying to end her life. Despite the horrific violence and being on the run for a week, his father was only sentenced to 4 years in jail. This event left him with PTSD - something that he has had to learn to live with.

In this episode, Rawson shares what it was like to grow up never knowing whether your home was safe. We talk about what trauma does to your sense of identity, the complexity of loving someone whilst being simultaneously terrified by them, and how those early years shaped the man he would become.

If this topic is sensitive for you, please take care while listening. There is always help available and someone to talk to on 1800 RESPECT

We speak about:

  • The reality of growing up around violence
  • Always trying to be a ‘good’ kid to not escalate anything at home
  • How kids who grow up around volatile parents can struggle with validation
  • The justice system and having to testify against his own dad
  • The complexities of PTSD and what it looks like in reality
  • The strength of community around you
  • Reshaping masculinity and how routine has really helped

You can find more from Rawson on instagram
And VRTUS

You can check out what Polished Man are doing

You can watch us on Youtube

Find us on Instagram

Join us on tiktok

Or join the Facebook Discussion Group

Tell your mum, tell your dad, tell your dog, tell your friend and share the love because WE LOVE LOVE! Xx

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episoder(874)

Ask Uncut - A Hall Pass Of ... Barney The Dinosaur?

Ask Uncut - A Hall Pass Of ... Barney The Dinosaur?

Welcome back to ask uncut where we unpack your deepest dilemmas and offer our most passionate, ‘lived in’ (technically unqualified) advice. We’ve got dilemmas of our own and it involves needing to sha...

1 Feb 50min

Our First Episode Of Off Cuts!

Our First Episode Of Off Cuts!

Hey Lifers! Welcome to our first episode of off cuts! This is where we chat about whatever peaked our interest this week in a light, fun little package to send you off on your weekend! We chat: Is yo...

30 Jan 45min

"I'm A Sex and Love Addict." Uncut with Elizabeth Gilbert

"I'm A Sex and Love Addict." Uncut with Elizabeth Gilbert

Today we are joined again by the phenomenal Elizabeth Gilbert. We recorded an episode with Liz last year titled ‘Being Single Needs A Rebrand’ In that episode we spoke about: What Liz’s life was li...

29 Jan 1h 13min

WE ARE BACK BABY!!!!

WE ARE BACK BABY!!!!

Hey Lifers! We’re properly back after a few weeks off and we missed you all so much! We also have a brand spanking new TV show that we are hosting to tell you about!Our holidays were very different. B...

27 Jan 1h 6min

Ask Uncut with Laura & Matt! "It's Bad For My Flow. It's Bad For My Juju"

Ask Uncut with Laura & Matt! "It's Bad For My Flow. It's Bad For My Juju"

Hey Lifers! Today's ask uncut features special guest and Laura's husband Matt (aka Matty J).Our favourite mum and dad had some issues getting this episode recorded so it's 11pm and there's whispering ...

21 Jan 50min

Matthew Hussey does give a f*** about your relationship - from the Archives

Matthew Hussey does give a f*** about your relationship - from the Archives

Hey Lifers! During our summer break we wanted to revisit some of our most impactful conversations that you might have missed at the time. One of Australia's leading relationship experts (although he d...

18 Jan 1h 4min

Ask Uncut With Britt & Ben! Embryo Custody, Two Potential Soulmates and Finding Out They Cheated In The Past

Ask Uncut With Britt & Ben! Embryo Custody, Two Potential Soulmates and Finding Out They Cheated In The Past

Hey Lifers! Today's ask uncut features special guest and Britt's husband Ben!They share what they've been up to over Christmas and New Years and how they feel now living in Italy. Ben tests Britt's It...

14 Jan 1h 17min

Kidnapped in Somalia A story of survival with Jessica Buchanan - from the Archives

Kidnapped in Somalia A story of survival with Jessica Buchanan - from the Archives

Hey Lifers, During our summer break we wanted to revisit some of our most impactful conversations that you might have missed at the time. This episode was originally from May 2022 and Jessica Buchanan...

11 Jan 1h 5min

Populært innen Samfunn

alt-fortalt
rss-spartsklubben
giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
aftenpodden-usa
konspirasjonspodden
popradet
rss-nesten-hele-uka-med-lepperod
rss-henlagt-andy-larsgaard
wolfgang-wee-uncut
grenselos
frokostshowet-pa-p5
synnve-og-vanessa
rss-dannet-uten-piano
rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
min-barneoppdragelse
fladseth
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem
den-politiske-situasjonen
vitnemal