Episode 2
Maggie's Story
Maggie’s abuse began at age five—her brother’s violence, her mother’s complicity, her grandfather’s predation—all wrapped in silence and threats. For 17 years, she was told she “deserved it,” and warned that speaking out would destroy the family. She learned to disappear inside herself, eventually developing dissociative identity disorder (DID), with at least 60 internal parts holding her rage, shame, innocence, and hope. Music became her refuge: a place to hide, then a language to speak when words failed.
In therapy, she discovered that her parts composed differently—each expressing hidden pain through melody, rhythm, and harmony. A Beethoven septet revealed how her alters resonated with distinct instruments, unlocking a path to healing. Now, through her compositions, Maggie gives voice to her fractured selves—some furious, some playful, some wounded—yet every piece ends with hope. Not because healing is complete, but because, for the first time, she dares to reclaim what was stolen: her right to dream, to love, and to believe in a future. Her message to other survivors: You are not alone. And your silence can become a song.
Producer: Zoe Carides, Composer and Story teller: Maggie Bell, Narrator: Brian Nankervis and NLM producer: Tanya Lee.
Brian Nankervis is an Australian writer, actor, radio host, television producer and comedian. He is one of the co-creators of the music quiz show, RocKwiz and co-hosts The Friday Revue with Jacinta Parsons on ABC Radio Melbourne.
No Laughing Matter's favourite piece of information on Brian is that he outed himself as a "one time member" of TISM on RocKwiz in November 2011.
Maggie's music: Title "Lost and Invisible in the Crowd”