Empowered Conversations Podcast

Tess is a paramedic in her early thirties passionate about helping people and learning about their stories. She struggled throughout life experiencing severe depression and anxiety. In our conversation Tess generously opens up about her journey to overcoming mental health challenges, drawing inspiration from Buddhist philosophy and the stories of people she met through her work. She shares her ins...

Bill Hamilton is 78 years of age. His approach to life has been one of calm, patience and persistence. So, when he got diagnosed with Parkinsons' two years ago, Bill applied the same approach to his health, despite the ups-and-downs and the uncertainty of this disease.  Resources:  Book: The New Parkinson's Treatment: Exercise is Medicine by  Melissa McConaghy. ************************************...

In her corporate career Karen Chaston was a CFO of a publicly listed company and a senior manager for more than 25 years.  In July 2011, Karen’s life changed forever when her 27-year-old son, Dan, suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. Within 15 months, Karen resigned from her job and began a personal, professional and spiritual journey which led to her co-founding the Chaston Centre, a...

Georgia Campbell is a 27-year old woman from Sydney's Northern Beaches, passionate about agriculture and education. She is not afraid to diverge from the commonly treaded path so it was almost no surprise to her mother when she moved to the Northern Territory to become a governess on Australia's 2nd largest property, Alexandria Station. Georgia now manages and delivers a government funded program...

Kerrie Miller is the General Manager Business Operations and People at Smarter Communities, a leading strata management company. She is an authentic leader with over 30 years experience as a senior human resources professional. She cares about people and understand how important it to invest in her team. We talk about leadership in 2022.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James Day is 22 years old. He is completing a double degree in political science and international relations at the ANU Canberra. Transition to university was difficult as he struggled with depression, anxiety and ADHD before he found his true passion for stand-up comedy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lorraine Costa is psychic medium, a spiritual advisor and a clinical hypnotherapist. Lorraine was seven when her parents divorced. She comes from a Greek background so this very unusual was in the 1960s. Lorraine felt lost, insecure, and confused. She lost belief and trust in people but her psychic sensitivity and curiosity led her to learn, grow, be playful and find meaning in life.   Resour...

Ben Day is a specialist life risk adviser, providing life and disability insurance. Ben has had his fare share of trauma. In our conversation Ben opens up about his struggle with depression and why it's so hard for men to ask for help. Resources:      • Ben Day https://au.linkedin.com/in/ben-day-61857750     • Lifeline 13 11 14 (The Lifeline telephone call servic...

Edwina Cowdery has recently completed a Masters of Applied Positive Psychology at the University of Melbourne. She has a background in facilitation, training and organisational development. She is also a kitchen poet, which means she's always aiming to fit creative activities into her busy daily schedule.  Edwina shares about making sense of loss and weaving together creativity and the rigour...

Emma Blomfield is a Sydney based residential interior designer, author of two best selling decorating books and most recently, tech founder of Decor Library. Emma's philosophy for design is that everyone is worthy of living in a beautiful space, regardless of their budget. We explore the ins-and-outs of her journey and the transformation that happens through creation of beautiful sp...

Kerry Sutcliffe is an award-winning Hypnobirthing Australia childbirth educator and university researcher. She is passionate about helping women and partners achieve a positive birth experience. While she doesn’t have a magic wand, Kerry does her best to empower women to own their choices and decisions when it comes to their birth experiences.  Resources: Kerry Sutcliffe Website  w...

Patricia Teerman is an active   84-year old woman, a former nurse and an unassuming leader, who’s never been never afraid to challenge the system to bring about positive change. As a nurse, Patricia learned self-discipline which helped her make the best of any situation, no matter how hard or challenging, and accept and appreciate what she has in her life even during the pandemic. ...

Colin Macleod is a Celtic fiddle player, teacher and a wonderful story teller, originally from Scotland. He has over 40 years experience playing the Celtic fiddle and his vision is to share his passion for the fiddle, and music, with as many people,  all over the world, to inspire them to be passionate, creative and be doing what they love doing the most. Resources: Colin Macleod  www.ce...

Chris Paulin is a Consultant Psychologist, a co-director of the Resource Therapy Institute Australia, and a principal of Marriage Works which specialises in relationship counselling, in Sydney Australia. Chris is also a martial artist with over 30+ years experience; he is an avid Tango, Latin and Ballroom dancer, and has a love for learning and pushing the limits on his body to see what is possibl...

Cindy Hurley-Leister is an international executive coach and a co-host of Brave Transitions podcast. She is a mother of three, originally from Germany, who has made bold transitions by moving her family to the USA and later to Australia, where her husband is originally from. Cindy has a bias for action, believes there is no right decision and looks at life as a series of adventures. She is full of...

Natacha Desille is a Clinical Psychologist who has a special interest in how our early attachment and life experiences influence and effect our brain, learning, and subsequent emotional and psychological development. She believes that healing is only made possible when individuals are able to develop and strengthen healthy attachment bonds by becoming attuned and responsive to their own needs, She...

Lisa Buxton is an executive officer for the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry. She is also  the first Aboriginal graduate from the School of Education at Notre Dame University Australia to graduate with a Doctoral of Education by publication.  Lisa is at forefront of ensuring teachers have the necessary skill set to engage and teach Aboriginal languages and cultu...

Giuseppe Zangari is one of Australia’s finest classical guitarists and is the founder and director of The Sydney Guitar School. A lecturer, chamber musician and soloist, he has performed with many distinguished Australian musical ensembles and soloists.  His love for music and the classical guitar was instilled early but it come without self-doubt and thoughts o...

With 30 years in retails operations and senior management roles, Domenic Ammendolia took the plunge and left his corporate career to make a bigger impact. In our Empowered Conversation, Domenic opens up about his challenging journey to revolutionising the discarded shopping trolley problem.  Resources : - Domenic Ammendolia’s website  https://tdmn.com.au/ If you enjoyed this episod...

Emily Cooper has worked in Community Arts for over 16 years. She brings genuine warmth, inclusivity and creativity to her work as a dance teacher and a drum teacher in mental health, school, corporate and community settings.  She has studied extensively in New York and Africa and performed and toured in numerous cross-cultural works, as well as directing productions f...

Elizabeth Luong describes herself as a reiki, intuitive, oracle and energy healer ​For as long as she can remember, she has been sensitive and connected to spirit and her higher self. She has a huge capacity for empathy and a deep desire to support others through their suffering, and towards a new understanding, resulting in personal empowerment, evolvement and a soul conscious awareness. ​She has...

Josh Ciardi has worked in the pharmaceutical and medical device industry as an analyst and strategist. He has witnessed some mind-blowing advances in medical technology over the last fifteen years but is even more fascinated by ancient methods of healing the mind and body. Josh is in the final semester of a Master's of Public Health at the University of Sydney and believes that...

A survivor of clergy sexual abuse, Esther Hatfield Miller, transforms from victim to survivor and emerges a thriver; using her uniquely crafted 5-step self-healing system, “from CHAOS to CALM!”   Esther is a Certified Trauma Recovery Coach who mentors Clergy Sexual Abuse Victims (from all faith-based communities) to self-heal their trauma through the lens...

Twenty years ago Ann Eyers experienced back pain and was asked by her then chiropractor if she had ever considered hypnotherapy. Out of curiosity to understand why he would suggest hypnotherapy, she decided to learn more about it and underwent training to become one.  Ann is a Clinical Hypnotherapist, registered and endorsed by both the Professional Clinical Hypnotherapist Associati...

Dr Elsbeth Meuth, Ed. D., has assisted thousands of women to create lasting intimacy and fulfillment in their lives and relationships. She is featured on Showtime’s documentary series Sexual Healing and the Emmy Award-winning NBC show Starting Over and is best-selling author of Sexual Enlightenment and the co-founder of TantraNova Institute in Chicago. She got nominated as Change Maker at th...