Welcome to Heart to Heart.
Heart to Heart is a conversation from Like Family, where we explore the personal realities that don't always get the airtime – stories of strength, struggle, stigma, and self-discovery.
We're here to have the conversations that challenge assumptions, shift perspectives, and remind us that at our core, we're all humans simply navigating life and learning as we go.
Our plan for this podcast is to delve into the emotional weight of care, the search for connection, and everything in between.
This series isn't just about stories – it's about embracing difference and finding humanity in things we all feel, but rarely say out loud.
Watch the first episode
EPISODE 1
In the first episode of Heart to Heart, we're turning the mic inwards.
This episode is deeply personal—for both Jenna and Mat, the co-founders of Like Family. Instead of looking outward, they turned the mic inward to share the journey that led them to build a company based on connection, care, and dignity.
It’s a story about what happens when life suddenly switches direction.
In their twenties, Jenna and Mat were like many young couples—ambitious, full of dreams, and living for adventure. They met as students overseas, fell in love, moved to Australia, and were building a life together. Then everything changed.
Mat’s dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. Not long after, Mat’s mum—his best friend and biggest influence—was suddenly hospitalised with a rare brain virus that left her unable to speak, walk, or even recognise the people she loved.
At just 26, Mat became a primary carer. It was unplanned, overwhelming, and life-altering.
He flew back to Canada, left his job in Sydney, and took on everything—from medical decisions and finances to managing his own emotions and his dad’s. All while trying to process the loss of the life he once knew.
He and Jenna share the raw realities of what that time was like: the guilt, the exhaustion, the shifting friendships, and the quiet moments of fear and love. How it changed their relationship. How it shaped who they are.
One of the most powerful moments in the episode is when a neurologist tells them that what Mat’s mum needs most isn’t more treatment—but familiarity. Sounds. Smells. People. Home. That’s what stimulates recovery. That’s what supports the brain in healing.
It was in that moment they realised: Connection is care.
This was the seed for Like Family.
Later, when Mat’s father passed and his mother decided to return to Canada, they had to face the hardest part of caring—letting go. It wasn’t easy. But it was right.
Through it all, Mat held onto a simple truth: if he didn’t care for himself, he couldn’t care for others. He exercised not just for strength, but for sanity. He asked for help when it became too much. He learned, through trial and heartbreak, that no one should do this alone.
This episode is an invitation to all carers—young or old, visible or invisible—to feel seen, understood, and supported.
Because caregiving isn’t just about tasks. It’s about love. Loss. Growth. And courage.
About Like Family
Like Family is an NDIS disability and aged care provider connecting people who need social care and companionship with quality carers who truly make a difference. We match members and carers based on interests, personality and needs to create a lasting relationship that feels like family.
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If you are looking for NDIS or aged care social care support, reach out to the team at Like Family today. Call us on 1800 545 332 or email hello@likefamily.com.au