A search for the woman began but she wouldn't tell Smith where she was.
He said even members of the Shortland Street crew stopped filming and joined in the search.
"A lot of people went looking for you while you talked to me," he said.
But she would not tell him her exact location.
"A couple of things you said provided clues to your whereabouts and before you knew it there was somebody breaking the back window of your car with a fire extinguisher," Smith said.
Clare said the most memorable thing was the breaking glass and emergency services saying "'Clare, you thought nobody cared'," she said.
"And they held me up to see the road just covered in cars and people standing round... I just couldn't believe it."
Clare said she had a controlling ex-husband who had falsely accused her of molesting her son while they were in family court.
"All visitation was taken from me. It had gone on for about three months without a court date and I got further and further into a depression," she said.
She said she felt if she couldn't have her son in her life, there was no life. "I thought that leaving the world is the best option."
After she was removed from the car she was taken to hospital where she remained for four days - her room filled with cards and flowers from ZB readers and she said she was overwhelmed by the love.
This was followed by Clare landing back in court where a judge quashed her husband's molestation accusations, but gave her husband full custody of their 10-year-old son.
After this she began a new life, with the love and support of her family and friends.
"It was a day by day building... It is a long process to get well."
She became involved as a volunteer working in mental health with the people over 65, which led to a job at Waitemata Health which she loves, and she continues to volunteer.
She said Sir John Kirwan's work raising awareness of depression was incredible and had helped her a great deal.
Clare said she now had a wonderful relationship with her son.
"I still have dips... I go quieter."
She said nowadays the feeling was fairly temporary and she had techniques to combat it.
She said if people needed help, their GP should be their first port of call, but there were other organisations that could help, like Equip , Pathways and The Walsh Trust.
"Ring one of them and if they can't help you they'll put you on to [someone] who can."
Clare, a child of seven, said she could never be more grateful to Smith than she was.
She said now in life she looked forward to sunny skies.
"I remember saying I was looking at the sky when you said 'what can you see?' when I was in the car. "
She said now she could see "wonderful days" and helping to make a difference to the lives of people she worked with.
READ MORE: Listeners tell how they helped save mum
During the original call in 2007 Clare had said to Smith: "The trouble is if I tell you, all you are going to do is make my life go on and I can't, I can't let it go on ... It's just too hard, it's too awful."
Smith replied: "It might seem that way at the moment but tomorrow might be a different day altogether. Clare, tell me what you can see out of the car."
As the phone call progressed, Clare became more upset but Smith continued talking to her, while his producer spoke with emergency services, who tried to trace the cellphone call in order to find her location.
The talkback host managed to find out that Clare was in a light-grey car near the Whenuapai airfield, which prompted about 20 listeners to head there to help - some from near the city centre.
Elizabeth Davis heard the call while watching planes at the airport with her husband and grandson.
"We parked ... close to a grey BMW which looked driverless ... My husband decided to drive past the car to get a better view. There was a person with the driver's seat down and we could see an arm moving and realised it was Clare."
Mrs Davis ran to the car just as Mrs Phillips arrived.
"Others were pulling up and a man used Melissa's fire extinguisher to break into the car," said Mrs Davis.
"A registered nurse arrived and attended to Clare while I took Clare's mobile and carried on with the conversation to Leighton's producer."
Clare, who was still conscious, was taken to Waitakere Hospital in a moderate condition.
Where to get help:
• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)
• Youth services: (06) 3555 906
• Youthline: 0800 376 633
• Kidsline: 0800 543 754 (4pm to 6pm weekdays)
• Whatsup: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm)
• The Word
• Depression helpline: 0800 111 757 (available 24/7)
• Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
• CASPER Suicide Prevention
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
