It Takes Heart

What drives a doctor to leave the safety of private practice and instead offer care inside prisons and homeless shelters? For Dr Juergen Landmann, it all started with a simple mindset: “Why not?” In this powerful conversation, Juergen shares how burnout led him to rethink the way he worked and opened the door to a more energising, purpose-led path. Now splitting his time between general practice,...

Who cares for the carers? Discover how one foundation is quietly reshaping rural healthcare. In this heartfelt episode, we speak with Fran Avon, CEO of the Rural Doctors Foundation, and rural GP Dr. John Buckley. Together, they reveal the hidden struggles faced by rural doctors who serve as the backbone of their communities. From responding to catastrophic floods to managing everyday burnout, we e...

Ever felt like your career was running on empty? Travelling Midwives Jess and Millie did and they chose the open road over burnout. In this episode, we sit down with Jess and Millie, two Dual-Registered Midwives who turned burnout in healthcare into a journey of rediscovery, purpose, and friendship. They open up about the emotional toll of permanent roles and what finally pushed them to make bold...

What do Disney cruise ships, rural hospitals, and music festivals have in common? For Dr. Tim Turk, they’ve all been part of his incredible medical journey. In this episode of It Takes Heart , Tim chats with hosts Sam and Kate about how saying “yes” to unique opportunities has led him across continents, specialties, and communities - creating a career rich in purpose, adventure, and impact. Tim sh...

What do you get when a fourth-generation farm girl swaps her ballet slippers for blister packs? You get Shaylee Mills (better known as The Rural Pharmacist) who shares why she chose to take her pharmacy career off the beaten track and into the heart of rural Australia.   Based in Karratha, Western Australia, Shaylee sheds light on what rural pharmacy really looks like, dispelling the myths of outd...

Lorraine Evans is the kind of midwife who turns every experience into a story worth telling. With a larger-than-life personality and a passion for adventure, Lorraine has built a career that’s taken her from the bustling streets of London to some of the most remote communities in Australia. As a travel midwife, she’s delivered babies in outback hospitals, managed high-risk births via telehealth, a...

Content warning: This episode discusses suicide and may be distressing for some listeners. If you feel you could be triggered by this content, you may want to skip this episode. Dr. Karyn Matterson’s path to medicine was anything but typical. Building a career first in tourism, a devastating personal tragedy shifted her purpose entirely, leading her to study clinical dietetics before ultimately pu...

Join us for an eye-opening episode on occupational rehabilitation with Chantelle Wood, a leading rehabilitation counsellor and founder of Restorative. As the Australian Rehabilitation Counsellor of the Year at the Allied Health Awards, Chantelle shares her journey in allied health, offering insights into the complex process of recovery and reintegration into the workforce after life-changing injur...

Hamish Briggs is a viral TikTok star and healthcare professional whose career has taken some unexpected turns. Growing up in outback Kalgoorlie, his journey led him from professional dancing - including performing at Disneyland Paris - to working as a COVID marshal, becoming a mining medic, and finally to becoming a registered nurse.  Hear how Hamish leveraged social media to build an audience, at...

Ever wondered what it takes to create a podcast series that not only tells stories but makes a real impact? Join us on a journey through the transformative world of 'It Takes Heart,' as we wrap up an incredible first season filled with inspiring tales from healthcare professionals across Australia and beyond. From attracting healthcare workers to rural areas to discovering diverse paths...

Join us as Marguerite, an accomplished sports and musculoskeletal physiotherapist, shares her incredible journey. Fresh from the Paris Olympic Games, she reflects on her role as team physio for the Aussie Stingers, Australia’s women’s water polo squad. With a career spanning leadership at Water Polo Australia and PhD studies at the University of Queensland, Marguerite's story is one of passio...

Join us on a captivating journey to the heart of Australia's remote healthcare landscape with Lesley Woolf OAM, a distinguished healthcare professional whose exemplary 50-year career has earned her the Order of Australia Medal.  Lesley is the Executive Health Manager at Mala'la Health Service, where she does everything from manage the local morgue to launching critical child health progr...

Marie Davey, an inspiring figure in the world of remote area nursing, joins us to share her extraordinary journey. From starting her nursing career in New South Wales in the 1980s to embracing the challenges and adventures of remote area nursing in Australia, Marie has become a symbol of resilience and adaptability. Listen as she recounts her memorable experiences, such as navigating to a placemen...

Annabelle Brayley says "Yes" when opportunities come her way. When a publisher at Penguin read an article she wrote in Outback Magazine, she began curating Bush Nurses for them which eventually led to becoming their published author. Annabelle's journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Growing up in a small community on the Western Darling Downs, she spent her early days as a regi...

Listen in to this episode as dedicated remote and emergency nurse, David Maxwell shares the power of cultural understanding in remote nursing. He shares poignant stories about patient vulnerability, emphasising support and clear communication as well as empathy in the role of male healthcare professionals in community.  Since 2018, David has been on an inspiring journey serving rural and remote co...

Today, we get to sit down with physiotherapist Judy Chesney who's rich background in anatomy, extensive private practice experience, volunteer work in East Timor, and specialized training in pediatrics, is a powerful testament to the versatility and dedication required to be a rural generalist physio. Judy shifted from private practice to locum travel work in 2021. Her adventurous spirit has...

Dr Sonia Henry's book "Put Your Feet in the Dirt, Girl," lit a flame for the creation of this podcast. The desire to get to know more about this woman's life was top on our list. And that we did!  We sit down with this physiotherapist turned rural GP to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic redirected her life path from the hustle and bustle of city life for more meaning and connec...

Imagine balancing a thriving dental career while exploring the natural wonders of Western Australia and homeschooling your kids on the road...  In this episode of "It Takes Heart," we sit down with Ellen Rogers, a dedicated dentist currently working with Cornerstone in Geraldton. Ellen speaks about her life pivot to locum dentistry after a severe foot injury during pandemic lockdowns, re...

In this episode, we sit down with the married RN duo, Helen and Nigel Naylor, whose careers have spanned Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and the Middle East.  Explore the complexities and nuances of providing healthcare in remote areas through Helen's firsthand experiences in Kalbarri. With no on-site doctors, healthcare providers must step up with high autonomy and adaptability.  Hear about...

We are excited to bring you this inspiring story, but with that, comes the guests truthful account of his mental health challenges and paralysing depression. If you feel you could be triggered by this content, you may want to skip this episode. Today's guest is an incredible human.  As OAM and Queensland Australian of the Year, Dr Dinesh Palipana is a living demonstration of breaking down soc...

What happens when a nurse trades a stable job for a life on the road in a customised Land Cruiser?  In this episode of It Takes Heart, we explore the inspiring journey of podcast guest India Priestley purchasing her "troopie" during the 2020 lockdowns and how her off-grid living setup has her creating a whole new community on the road. Through vivid recounts of hitchhiking adventures and...

Balancing your professional and personal life is no small feat – especially when your business partner is your spouse. Sam and Norbert Miklos started cmr with $100,000 and a hard deadline of one year to prove their concept. In this premiere episode of It Takes Heart, Sam recounts the couple’s tenacious journey from modest start-up to thriving recruitment powerhouse with more than 500 employees. Sh...