Chocolate and Coffee Break

Can honoring your culture and trusting your intuition exist side by side? In this heartfelt episode of Chocolate and Coffee Break, Andrea Putting sits down with Dr. Mini Rattu to explore identity, family, culture, healing, and the courage to rediscover your own voice. Growing up in a loving Punjabi family in California, Dr. Mini embraced the values of community, respect, and tradition. But after e...

A smile costs nothing,but what if it could change someone's entire day, or even their life? In this episode of Chocolate and Coffee Break, Andrea Putting sits down with Sally Pymer to explore the remarkable power of one of the simplest acts of compassion: a genuine smile. Together they discuss how a smile helps people feel seen, safe, and accepted, especially those experiencing stigma, loneliness,...

What happens when love invites you to walk between two cultures? In this episode of Chocolate and Coffee Break, Andrea Pudding sits down with Jo Connolly, whose life changed when she married an Aboriginal Australian and began seeing her country through different eyes. What started as a love story became a journey of understanding, challenging assumptions, and discovering the richness of one of the...

What happens when someone chooses a spiritual path that challenges everything they were taught to believe? In this thought-provoking episode of Chocolate and Coffee Break, Andrea Putting sits down with Hannah O'Neill, better known as The Suburban Witch, for an open-hearted conversation about faith, spirituality, curiosity, and finding the courage to follow your own path. Raised in a strict evangel...

What does it mean to truly belong? In this heartfelt episode of Chocolate and Coffee Break, Andrea Putting sits down with Khatija Halabi—audiologist, community advocate, and author of A Soft Landing—to explore the power of belonging, inclusion, and human connection. Growing up in apartheid South Africa, Khatija experienced firsthand what it means to live in a society divided by race and classifica...

Growing up in his family's milk bar in Melbourne's western suburbs, the son of Greek migrants who barely spoke English, Peter experienced discrimination firsthand. But instead of pulling away from difference, he leaned in — through music, through dialogue, through a Greek concept called philotimo: putting humanity before yourself. A show, a movement, and a mission to break down the barriers that d...

In this deeply thought-provoking episode of Chocolate & Coffee Break, Andrea sits down with counselor, strategist, and neurodivergent advocate Stone Gye for a courageous conversation about racism, belonging, systems, and healing. Stone shares his lived experiences as an African American man raised in Japan, serving in the military, migrating to Australia, and later relocating to France after f...

Linh Le shares her incredible journey from escaping war-torn Vietnam by boat to becoming a leader focused on wisdom, happiness, and community impact. A powerful conversation about resilience, gratitude, and redefining success. 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 frequ...

Shavita Kotak shares a transformative perspective on menopause as a time of empowerment, truth, and liberation. This episode explores identity, intuition, and the deeper meaning of aging as a woman. 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...

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...