Is It Ever Too Late to Begin Again?

What began with Sarah falling in love with one of Emma Grey’s novels became an international friendship—and now, a scrumptious conversation between two mothers and two daughters. Joined by bestselling Australian author Emma Grey and her daughter, criminology researcher Dr. Hannah Robertson, Sarah and Simonne explore how stories can help us recognize grief, coercive control and realities we may not yet have words for. Together, they remind us that no matter how complicated life has become, it is never too late to reach out, reconnect and begin again. Please note: This episode includes conversations about grief, coercive control, intimate partner violence and gender-based violence. **Quote of the Week** *“It’s never too late to start over.”* — **Dr. Hannah Robertson** 0:00 Is It Ever Too Late to Begin Again? 1:00 An international friendship begins 3:20 Mothers, daughters and creative collaboration 7:45 When criminology helps shape fiction 10:55 Why we need to see ourselves in stories 13:20 Coercive control can happen to anyone 18:15 Writing for our changing attention spans 24:15 Is it ever too late to start over? 28:45 Reaching back toward people who still love you 32:45 Remembering your own resourcefulness 36:35 Making online dating safer 43:00 Who is responsible for preventing gender-based violence? 45:51 See you in Part Two… ### The Stories That Help Us See What We Couldn’t Before Stories do so much more than entertain us. They can offer language for experiences we have not been able to explain, allow us to recognize ourselves in someone else and help us imagine that survival—and even a different future—may be possible. Emma shares that she began by writing the books she had needed during her own experience of grief and loss. Readers later told her that her novels helped them feel understood during bereavement, relationship breakdown and other life-altering experiences. Fiction allows us to step into another person’s world and, sometimes, rehearse our own way through something difficult. That privilege also comes with responsibility. When Emma began writing *Pictures of You*, Hannah’s expertise in gendered violence helped shape both the story and its protagonist, Evie. Hannah was determined that Evie would not fit the stereotype of someone people assume is vulnerable to coercive control. She is strong, independent, feminist and highly capable—because coercive control does not discriminate. Did you like this episode? Then you’ll probably also like this one on…Is That Your Path—or Just the Expected One? Greatness Together Podcast Links: Is That Your Path—or Just the Expected One? Emma Grey’s books and website Dr. Hannah Robertson’s research or profile Greatness Magnified Subscribe to The Greatness Together Podcast