Community Conversations with Pietro

Rising interest rates. Mounting debt. Financial pressure. For many Australians, the cost of living is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate. In this episode, Pietro sits down with Stuart Sampson, Head of Community and Services at Hope Economy, a national not-for-profit helping people respond to financial hardship with practical support and hope. In Part 1 of the conversation, you'll dis...

In this episode, Pietro continues chatting with Geoff Whiddon and Luke Kaprilian,  financial advisors with Vision Wealth Strategies, as they share practical insights and guidance on navigating the current cost-of-living crisis. For more information on Vision Wealth Services, visit www.visionws.com.au

Rising mortgage interest rates and increasing fuel costs are just some of the unexpected pressures facing families across Australia right now. In this episode, Pietro sits down with two financial advisors - Geoff Whiddon, who brings over 30 years of experience, and Luke Kaprilian, who offers a fresh perspective - to share practical insights and guidance on navigating the current cost-of-living cri...

In this episode, host Pietro sits down with retirees Alan and Helen as part of our ongoing series exploring the impact of Australia’s cost-of-living crisis. Although they are self-funded retirees, Alan and Helen open up about how rising expenses and financial pressures have reshaped their expectations for retirement, offering honest insights into the realities many Australians are now facing.

In this episode, we continue our series looking at the impact of the cost of living crisis in Australia.  Our host Pietro chats with two single people: Nikki, a Masters student living in a share house in Sydney, and Grant, a man nearing retirement age and living alone in regional Australia.  While their life situation is very different, both Nikki and Grant share similar stories of the financial c...

In this episode, our host Pietro chats with Darren and Jenna, parents of three young children, to hear how this family are managing during the current cost of living crisis. Darren and Jenna share not only their experience, but also some tips which could help others navigate these challenging times.

In this episode we’re coming to you from Connect Global, a drug and alcohol rehabilitations centre. Unlike other centres, this one is about rebuilding the man and not just treating existing addictions. We would like to thank Ross Pene, Program Manager, and some of the men who are a part of the program for sharing from their heart in this episode. We encourage you to share this podcast across your...

Everyone loves a 'best of' album because you get to hear all your favourite songs on one album. We, in the podcast world, love it too.  For us, it's an opportunity to reflect on the various guests and the wealth of knowledge, skill and love they have for others.  In this podcast, Pietro unpacks three episodes and provides an overview of some of the nuggets of gold that really stood...

In this episode of Community Conversations our Producer, Michael Smith, jumps in to provide some insight to the highlights from podcasts we recorded in 2020 which was the year we started the podcast. 

In this episode of Community Conversations Pietro speaks with Robert Sams, the Executive Director and Volunteer Crisis Supporter for Lifeline Newcastle and Central Coast. Nearly everyone would have heard of Lifeline before, but there are some things that you definitely might not have known about the services they offer, how they are engaging with the community and the process for becoming a teleph...

Until recently Tanya Davies MP had a Facebook following of about 4000 people and in a very short space of time it has grown exponentially to 84,000. Is it divine favour or that she was willing to go against her own boss, the former Premier Gladys Berejiklian and her own party, the Liberal Party, to stand up for her constituents? Whichever it may be, her voice has been amplifying the thoughts and f...

NSW Member of Parliament, Alex Greenwich, has introduced a Bill to the NSW Parliament called the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill. This episode seeks to explore some of the issues with euthanasia and listeners will be challenged by the thoughts presented by our guests Bruce Robertson, Executive Pastor - HopeUC and Nikki Aben, NSW & ACT Coordinator - Australian Christian Lobby.   We encourage list...

It was our pleasure to host the Honourable Mark Latham, State Leader for Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party for the latest episode of Community Conversations with Pietro. In this episode, Mark speaks about his time away from politics and his re-entry back into the political arena, the turmoil of the Labor Party and the union movement, parental rights, religious freedom, vaccine passports and t...

In this episode, we welcome back Lawyer, Mark Ramsland to continue the conversation about Covid-19 and the Law. We cover questions such as how public health orders can be repealed if the queen has the constitutional power to avert emergency use powers, does the national cabinet have any legal powers, the impacts of suspending parliament, what freedom of association and freedom to assemble means, h...

In this episode of Community Conversations Pietro speaks with Mark Ramsland a lawyer from Newcastle, NSW Australia about the impacts of mandatory vaccinations, vaccine passports, employment and how the law is applied. There is a lot to learn and we've only scratched the surface. We look forward to unpacking a range of scenarios as they relate to the pandemic in future episodes.

In this current climate there is a new demographic of people experiencing homelessness. Not people who have drug, alcohol or gambling addictions and not the long term unemployed but people with jobs and a good rental history. Such is the shortage of housing that even first home buyers are finding it difficult, if not impossible to afford a home. In this podcast edition we speak to Sonia Hornery MP...

Zoe's Place is for those who have experienced an unplanned pregnancy the opportunity to pause, reflect and be guided, by unbiased help, to decide the next steps. In this episode we speak to Director of Zoe's Place, Selina Stewart, along with Mentor, Chantelle Newman and new mum and mentee Carlie about the support offered by Zoe's Place to both those who choose to give birth and thos...

In this episode Pietro speaks with Janelle Karbowiak and Kim Taylor about their experience connecting with new Australian's. Also, Pietro speaks with Saied who came to live in Australia after fleeing Syria. Through this episode you will find out how you can make a difference in the lives of people who are looking for a community.

Most people have heard the word chaplain and will have a concept of what they are and do. But how accurate would that concept be? As someone working in the community services sector, I learned some things. In this episode, chaplains, John Wolfenden and Maureen Dunn share their experiences of working with communities hit by the worst fires in New South Wales history.

What happens when parents are drug affected and unable to raise their children? Mirabel is a support service for children who are being raising by family members who should be in a retirement lifestyle... yes grandparents. Truth, Mirabel is supporting grandparents in a way that, without their support, childhood neglect and poverty would be far worse. An organisation with no government funding in N...

Our guests will share how mental health is impacting individuals and families during COVID19 and how to stay well and reach others who are isolated. In this episode Ann-Maria Martin, CEO of Survivors R Us, Tony Kitchener who is a psychotherapist and Christine Carr a nurse with a doctorate specialising in infectious diseases share stories and thoughts from their experiences here in Australia and ov...