Campbells & Co

From Podium, to Prison, to Purpose - Scott Miller's Raw Story

Campbells & Co

Show Notes

Stepping away from a lifelong passion often leaves a terrifying void—and for Olympic silver medalist Scott Miller, the fall from the podium was catastrophic. In this episode, Cate and Bronte sit down with Scott for an extraordinarily raw, unfiltered conversation about identity loss, addiction, and the dark pitfalls within the institutions of elite sport. They unpack what started Scott's spiral in his own words, exactly what it felt like to be caught within a mindset where he felt he needed to to numb - but how a tactical police raid and prison sentence ultimately saved his life, and gave it a new purpose. In this episode: Why Scott threw his 1996 Olympic silver medal directly into the bin.

How the sports system can focus on "breeding athletes, not people," and how Scott felt he was left with nothing after his swimming career.

The freak accident eight weeks before the Sydney 2000 trials that shattered his world-record form.

Walking away from the pool forever in 2004 and turning to drugs within 24 hours

Why sitting in the back of a police car after a heavily armed raid brought an immediate wave of relief.

How serving four years in prison gave him the true structure, self-worth, and purpose again.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains references to addiction, drug use, mental ill health, suicidal ideal and self harm. If you are sensitive to any of these topics, please take care when listening. If this episode raises any issues for you, and you need assistance, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au Enjoyed this episode? Follow, rate and review wherever you're listening - it helps us out heaps. Or, simply tell a friend. Find us on instagram: @campbellsandco_pod For more from Scott: @scott.miller.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More from Campbells & Co

Oct 21, 2026

What does it actually feel like when your Olympic debut spirals into global notoriety, leaving you disconnected from the very image of yourself? In this raw, unguarded conversation, Rachael Gunn joins Cate and Bronte Campbell to share the reality of how it really feels to be "Raygun" before, during, and after the viral storm of Paris 2024. Rachael "breaks down" everything about both her and the sport of competitive breaking's origins alike, including the journey from training on Sydney’s concrete courthouse steps to the isolating dread of seeing the Athletes' Village. She confronts the surreal feeling of seeing her identity reduced to a meme (or even a Halloween costume), debunks the tabloid myths of viral wealth, and explains why she feels a Netflix documentary was her only way to cut through the noise. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 14, 2026

So, what's harder: a 2K ergo or a round of chemo? There aren't a lot of people who could tell you, but Jean Mitchell is one of them. And turns out, it's a pretty close contest sometimes! In fact, after being diagnosed with a brain tumour in her last year of high school, it was Jean's experience with grueling rowing training that helped her stick out chemo - and then it was her experience of chemo that helped her commit to the intensity of training once more. It's amazing to think of the journey Jean went through to make it to Paris, but she takes Bronte and Cate through all of it: how she secretly signed up to rowing in the first place, how it felt to receive her surprise diagnosis, her treatment, her recovery, her return to the sport, the unexpected accommodation that awaited her Paris, why the closing ceremony brought her to tears, and even a spontaneous trip to a tattoo artist for maybe one of the most powerful and symbolic Olympic-related tattoos ever. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 7, 2026

What do you REALLY know about elite level race walking? In this episode, Isaac Beacroft, Australian Commonwealth Games gold medalist and World Under-20 Champion of the sport tells all - from the intense techniques, tactics and training, to the surprising mid-race trash-talking and mind games, to exactly what reactions you get from fellow high schoolers once they know it's what you do. He also opens up on the crucial chapters of his athlete journey so far, including what it's like being coached by your Dad, how he views the pain of competition, why he chooses to take competition a little more lightly while still aiming for Olympic glory, how he competed at the Under-20s after just finishing up in Glasgow, and an inside look at the fierce on-track rivalry of his Comm Games Gold win. Enjoyed this episode? Follow, rate and review wherever you're listening - it helps us out heaps. Or, simply tell a friend. Find us on instagram: @campbellsco_pod See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 30, 2026

Emily Seebohm’s road to the Paris 2024 trials was anything but ordinary. In fact, it's almost unheard of - a decision made to train while pregnant and in the early stages of postpartum. But Emily is anything but ordinary herself.

Sep 23, 2026

The recent viral Hyrox mishap and the upcoming AFL Grand Final have given Cate and Bronte plenty to think about, including performing under pressure, pre-competition panic... and well, protocols for poop... In this episode: Would Cate or Bronte keep competing after a catastrophic digestive mishap for $20,000 - or an Olympic gold?

See all episodes →