Chocolate and Coffee Break

In this solo episode, Andrea shares the origin story of Chocolate & Coffee Break and the powerful question that shaped her purpose. A moving reflection on compassion, belonging, and the power of human connection. A show, a movement, and a mission to break down the barriers that divide us. In a world growing louder with hate, division, and misunderstanding, we choose a different frequency: love...

Carol Cook shares her journey from an MS diagnosis to becoming a Paralympic champion. A powerful story about resilience, mindset, and redefining what’s possible. A show, a movement, and a mission to break down the barriers that divide us. In a world growing louder with hate, division, and misunderstanding, we choose a different frequency: love, compassion, and the courageous power of connection.

Hina Sinha Chong shares her journey from survivor to advocate, offering powerful insights on how parents can protect children, recognize warning signs, and create safe spaces for open communication. A show, a movement, and a mission to break down the barriers that divide us. In a world growing louder with hate, division, and misunderstanding, we choose a different frequency: love, compassion, and...

Eric shares his family’s journey escaping war, surviving dangerous conditions, and finding a new life in Australia along with the powerful role kindness played in shaping his future. A show, a movement, and a mission to break down the barriers that divide us. In a world growing louder with hate, division, and misunderstanding, we choose a different frequency: love, compassion, and the courageous p...

Mariam shares her life-changing experience of war, her journey into storytelling, and how her novel The Olive Tree explores friendship, trauma, and compassion in a divided world. A show, a movement, and a mission to break down the barriers that divide us. In a world growing louder with hate, division, and misunderstanding, we choose a different frequency: love, compassion, and the courageous power...

Brenda Denbesten shares her journey from engineering in mining to empowering women in male-dominated industries. This episode explores belonging, leadership, and how using your voice can transform your career and your confidence. A show, a movement, and a mission to break down the barriers that divide us. In a world growing louder with hate, division, and misunderstanding, we choose a different fr...

Monika Gawen shares her powerful journey living with Type 1 diabetes and autism, and how her assistance dogs have helped save her life. From training her first dog as a teenager to now helping others gain independence through dog training, this episode explores trust, public awareness, and the life-changing impact of assistance dogs. A show, a movement, and a mission to break down the barriers tha...

Michelle Steiner joins Andrea Putting to talk about growing up with a learning disability, being diagnosed early, and learning how to advocate for herself in school, college, and beyond. This episode explores dyscalculia, disability accommodations, resilience, and the importance of focusing on a child’s strengths instead of only their struggles. A powerful conversation for parents, educators, and...

Rochelle Courtenay, founder of Share the Dignity, shares the stories that sparked a national movement—and why menstrual equity must include education for boys and men, plus real access to period products in schools, sport, and workplaces. A powerful conversation about kindness, homelessness, stigma, and practical action that restores dignity. A show, a movement, and a mission to break down the bar...

Rashid Khan moved to Australia seeking opportunity and community—and found a life mission in emergency management. He shares how belonging is often unlocked by small conversations, how raising kids is a two-way cultural journey, and how major events shaped his commitment to better emergency communication. Rashid introduces Evacuation and EVAC Tracker—tools designed to account for people and help r...

Leigh-Anne Sharland went from a high-performing corporate data expert to navigating dysautonomia, an invisible chronic illness affecting speech, thinking, and mobility. In this episode, she and Andrea Putting explore ableism, the stigma of mobility aids, sensory overload in public spaces, the Hidden Disabilities lanyard, and how inclusive design starts by including disabled people in decisions. Le...

Rebecca Steele joins Andrea Putting to explore what it means to belong when your life spans cultures and continents. Born in Ghana to South Indian parents, raised in Australia, and later living across Europe and the US/UK, Rebecca shares lessons on cross-cultural connection, hidden bias, deep listening, and kindness as a daily practice. Now in New Zealand, she’s “setting the anchor” and bringing h...

Ross Judd joins Andrea Putting to talk about a kind of listening that goes deeper than advice, questions, or “fixing.” Ross shares the family moment that proved to him these concepts are real—and why people often “audition” the issue before revealing what’s actually hurting. You’ll learn Ross’s simple three-step approach (pick your moment, connect, summarize), plus how values shape the way we show...

Fiona Demark has been legally blind since birth, and in this episode she shares what life looks like when you refuse to be defined by other people’s assumptions. Host Andrea Putting explores Fiona’s journey through education, employment, accessibility, and courage—plus practical guidance on how to interact respectfully with blind people (hint: ask first). This episode is a reminder that we’re all...

In Episode 10 of Chocolate and Coffee Break, host Andrea Putting sits down with Rabbi Zelman Castel to explore what compassion really means—and how we build bridges across faith, culture, and community in divided times. Zelman shares his upbringing in a tightly insulated Jewish community, the pivotal moment visiting a Muslim school in Sydney, and the deeper realization that the most meaningful par...

In Episode 9 of Chocolate and Coffee Break, host Andrea Putting welcomes Ron Prasad, co-founder of the Beat Bullying with Confidence Foundation, for a powerful conversation about emotional safety, bullying, and the deep human need to belong. Ron shares his lived experience of being bullied, the impact of growing up with a speech impediment, and how he transformed pain into purpose by helping schoo...

In Episode 8 of Chocolate and Coffee Break, host Andrea Putting welcomes Dr. Amanda Udis Kessler, sociologist, ethicist, and anti-racism trainer, for a conversation that is both challenging and deeply necessary. Drawing from her book Cultural Processes of Inequality, Amanda explains how culture—our shared assumptions, beliefs, norms, and systems—doesn’t just reflect inequality; it can create and m...

In Episode 7 of Chocolate and Coffee Break, host Andrea Putting welcomes Ben Smith, CEO of the Mornington Community Support Centre, TEDx speaker, and Victorian Father of the Year 2024, for a deeply human conversation about loneliness, community, and belonging. Ben shares research showing that loneliness has the same physical impact as smoking 10 cigarettes a day — and that strong social connection...

In Episode 6 of Chocolate and Coffee Break, host Andrea Putting welcomes Jeff Klein, a speaker and coach who helps people use their voices to make a difference. Jeff shares the remarkable story of his father, Bernie Klein, a Jewish community leader who helped a small town in Shreveport, Louisiana sponsor and resettle 30 Soviet Jewish Refuseniks seeking freedom from the Soviet Union. This episode i...

In Episode 5 of Chocolate and Coffee Break, host Andrea Putting sits down with Robyn Walker for a powerful conversation about the impact of connection and courageous dialogue. Through shared stories and honest reflection, this episode explores how meaningful conversation can lead to understanding, empathy, and social change. Together, Andrea and Robyn unpack how authentic human connection is at th...

Episode 4 – Udochi on Saving Igbo: Culture, Identity & the Power of Representation Podcast Description (Apple/Spotify) In Episode 4 of Chocolate and Coffee Break, host Andrea Putting welcomes Udochukwu “Udochi”, a Nigerian-American storyteller and cultural advocate dedicated to preserving the Igbo language through children’s educational animation. With UNESCO predicting that Igbo could be exti...

In this heart-warming episode of Chocolate and Coffee Break, host Andrea Putting dives into the profound power of simple, compassionate conversation. At a time when the world feels divided, Andrea brings us back to what truly connects us: kindness, empathy, and the courage to understand one another. This episode explores: ✨ Why listening is more powerful than speaking ✨ How small acts of kindnes...

On Episode 2 of Chocolate and Coffee Break, host Andrea Putting welcomes James Twyman – a global voice for peace, connection, and compassion. With a rich history of worldwide missions and community-building projects, James shares how small acts of kindness can create big change. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why kindness is more than a nice thought—it’s a movement. Stories of conflict, reconcilia...

In our very first episode of Chocolate and Coffee Break, host Andrea Putting welcomes the extraordinary Warren Tate, a speaker and communication expert who has trained leaders and organizations across the globe, including IBM, Ernst & Young, Harcourts, Century 21, and NAR. Warren brings decades of experience helping executives, entrepreneurs, and teams communicate with influence — but in this...