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Frog

The secret diary of a paramedic

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Frog

By: Sally Gould
Narrated by: Sally Gould
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About this listen

 'A riveting ride along the knife edge of life and death from a frontline worker in one of our most crucial professions.' Fiona Kelly McGregor, author of Iris

'Frog', a term of endearment for intensive care paramedics, derives from the notion that everything they touch croaks. Sally Gould delivers a gripping and heartfelt memoir that dives into the unpredictable, often absurd, and sometimes heartbreaking reality of life as a paramedic.

Life as a paramedic, writes Sally Gould in this candid, witty memoir, can be traumatic, gross, dull, hilarious, magical. To make the cut, you need to be able to think outside the square, keep calm in the midst of chaos, be in possession of a strong stomach, and simply brush it off when patients die. That’s on top of having a profound understanding of the human body, plus the skills to counter its failings. It also helps to have a highly developed and oftentimes dark sense of humour.

But behind the sirens and the life-or-death scenes, and the absurdity of non-urgent callouts, a paramedic’s career is very different to how most people imagine it. Based on years of meticulously kept journals, Frog is an intimate look at the human cost of the job and the cumulative effect of trauma. Sally shares a personal story that is searingly honest and truly inspiring, one which offers a heartfelt tribute to the resilience, courage and camaraderie that define the high-stakes world of emergency medicine.
 Emergency & Critical Care Medical Medicine & Health Care Industry Mental Health Professionals & Academics Psychology & Mental Health Funny Heartfelt Witty Thought-Provoking

Critic Reviews

‘Full of drama, honesty and surprising humour, Frog is a terrific behind-the-sirens look at what it's like on the front line of Australia’s emergency services.’
'Reading Sally Gould’s book is probably the closest most of us will ever get to the world of emergency medicine as she shares the highs, the lows, the camaraderie and even the humour.'
All stars
Most relevant
Oh my gosh this was brilliant. Sally Gould is an extraordinary Intensive Care Paramedic and writer and her memoir, Frog: The Secret Diary of a Paramedic, astounded me. Sally also narrated the audio version of her memoir and so her voice has accompanied me all around Melbourne these past few weeks. I laughed and wept as Sally detailed the inner workings of life as a paramedic, but also the inner workings of a human being operating in perhaps one of the most stressful and intense work environments.

But Sally loves her job and the profession. Her passion for this work shines through. There are dark moments (and the trigger warning at the start is appropriate) but there is a lot of light and joy too. I’ve always held immense respect for paramedics but this has deepened into awe (and for Sally as a writer too). I loved it and highly recommend it.

Brilliant memoir

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This book offers a compelling and well-written insight into the experiences of a female paramedic and the profession as a whole. I am deeply grateful to Sally for her honesty and vulnerability in sharing the challenges she has faced—both in her role and with her mental health—and for showing how resilience and perseverance have shaped her into the remarkable person she is today.

I highly recommend this book, particularly for those with partners in emergency services. It provides a valuable perspective on the emotional highs and lows of the job and the deep sense of purpose and passion that drives those who do it—especially women navigating this demanding field.

A fantastic look in.

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I am an Emergency Nurse, and while nursing is so different to Paramedicine, I was able to find so many familiarities in this book.

Sally is eloquent, raw and authentic in her account of working in healthcare and the front line.

I loved how as readers we were taken on her professional and personal journey with her. She doesn’t hold back and provides a true representation into the reality of working to serve and help others.

Thank you Sally for sharing your story. You are a mesmerising writer, and I am grateful to have experienced your book 🫶🏻

Do yourself a favour, and strap in for an amazing ride!

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This memoir was inspiring to say the least. I felt every emotion possible through this and related to every part of it (except the qualifications).

Loved it so much!!

Compelling and so relevant 🥰

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Sally has done the most incredible job of sharing such raw, honest, and vulnerable moments of both her own lived experience, as well as those of her patients, in the most pragmatic and respectful way.
It was so easy to listen to and with Sally narrating her own story, makes you feel as if you are sitting in the Ambulance alongside her as a ride-along!
The way she talks about mental illness health is incredible refreshing and hopefully continues the journey society is in to normalising it and encouraging help-seeking.
This is a brilliant window into the lives of paramedics which will make you laugh, cry and respect their profession even more.

A must read for anyone and everyone!

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