Stephanie Browitt: “I Survived the Volcano. Half My Family Didn’t.”

Could you survive a volcanic eruption? It's a question Stephanie Browitt never thought she'd have to answer. And yet in 2019, a volcanic eruption on New Zealand’s White Island changed Stephanie's life forever. At just 23, she suffered burns to 70 per cent of her body and lost her younger sister, Krystal, and her father, Paul, in the tragedy. Seven years later, she's written a book about it. Out Of The Ashes has just been published, co-written with her mother Marie. In this episode of marie claire's podcast You’re Gonna Want To Hear This, Stephanie shares, in extraordinary detail, what it felt like to be caught in the eruption - the moment she heard the bang, the fight to stay conscious, and the thought that kept her alive - getting back to her mum.What you'll hear is a deeply moving conversation about survival, grief, and recovery. Stephanie speaks openly about the physical and emotional toll of her injuries, the long road back, and the moment she had to relearn how to see love again. Today, she is an advocate for body positivity and resilience, using her story to challenge perceptions of beauty, strength, and what it means to rebuild a life after unimaginable loss. This episode is confronting, powerful, and ultimately, a story about love.In this episode, we discuss:

• The moment the White Island volcano erupted
• The fight to stay conscious and survive
• The loss of Stephanie’s father and sister
• The role of her mother in her survival and recovery
• The realities of burn recovery and rehabilitation
• Body image, identity, and learning to live with scars
• Grief, resilience, and rebuilding a life

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts
Follow You’re Gonna Want To Hear This for new episodes every week

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.