Optimal Conversations

Send us Fan Mail We all know networking events are your chance to get to know people in your community, whether that's local or globally, but what is a 'good' networking event? Take a listen and learn how to make networking your superpower, as we discuss all things networking with Kacie Brignell - what to do, and what not to do! riven by a passion for connecting people and fostering...

Send us Fan Mail We've changed our podcast! Find out more as you listen to this episode. Navigating change can be a leader's greatest struggle, and one of their most outstanding achievements. In this episode, Mary discusses the neuroscience of change and ways to become comfortable with adapting to varying circumstances, enabling you to stand out as an innovative and resilient leader. Fin...

Send us Fan Mail Serial podcaster and strategist, Darren Saul, shares the importance of podcasting for building authority through marketing, brand building, and credibility. We discuss common mistakes and the reasons many people give up early on their podcast aspirations.  Darren shares his own journey, noting that his podcast, "Playing with Perspective," has grown to 250 episodes. He en...

Send us Fan Mail Following a career transition, Aurora's work now focuses on sustainability. We discuss the effect of empowering employees at all levels to take ownership of sustainability initiatives as she shares examples of successful food waste reduction programs. Leaders, listen to find out how creating a culture of conversation and boundary-setting achieve desired outcomes with full tea...

Send us Fan Mail Megan shares her amazing journey to living her yes, and evolving personal leadership. She talks about rediscovering herself amidst the turmoil of a relationship breakup, then shares how she has channelled her learnings into her debut novel, "It's Always Been Me". It's an inspiring listen... and one that may well change your life! Here's the quote she menti...

Send us Fan Mail Mel works with Women Leaders who are navigating their forties and fifties and has many enlightening strategies, tools, and resources that business leaders can use to support their female employees through menopause and peri-menopause. We also discuss how boundaries are important in self-care and how self-awareness underpins successful navigation through difficulties. More about Me...

Send us Fan Mail The most powerful tool we have is a question! Listen and learn how questions help us connect, grow, and learn more about ourselves and others. Emily Jane is a multi-talented, multi-skilled, young leader who walks her talk. In this podcast, she discusses how a powerful question helped her make a huge decision that has impacted her life in a very positive way. Find out more about Em...

Send us Fan Mail After 15 years in corporate leadership roles, Renee's life changes saw her leading as an entrepreneur. We follow her journey of change, as she relates how personal challenges guided her transition into her current business. We also discuss health, nutrition, and the role of non-judgement in a safe space for growth. Find out more about Renee here: www.defininghealth.com.au Fac...

Send us Fan Mail Author of "The Coffee Table book for Mature Dating", Rylll shares her first-hand experience of where her dates went wrong in her search (and discovery) of the greatest love of her life.  Join us as we discuss many subjects, including the differences between growing up last century and this one! It's a lot of fun and very informative. Find Ryll at: Insta: https://www...

Send us Fan Mail In this second part of two podcasts, Shevonne discusses the myth of perfection and the art of apology and shares her very personal journey through complete incapacitation and her ongoing recovery.  This is an inspiring and uplifting listen filled with wisdom and grace. Don't miss it. To find out more about Shevonne, connect with her on LinkedIn here https://www.linkedin.com/i...

Send us Fan Mail She is passionate, a driver, creative but also analytical, and an astute problem solver. Meet Shevonne Joyce, a dynamic and neurodivergent leader featured in Harvard Business Review who is still happy to admit to stunning vocal faux pas! Part one of two - this episode is packed with fascinating conversation.  Find out why we are sometimes unlikeable, grow your understanding of aut...

Send us Fan Mail Imagine having a scan as a teenager and discovering you are missing a significant part of your brain - the 'superhighway' that connects the left and right sides. That's what Michael experienced. It plays out in his life and in the lives of others with the condition of neurodivergence and often is coupled with mental health issues as well. In this fascinating discuss...

Send us Fan Mail When Jodi meets women who have so much adrenaline going on that they are constantly in fight or flight, she is reminded of her former life as a wedding planner - a life where everything has to happen promptly and perfectly. That was before she found the power of stillness and the realisation that to speed up, she needed to slow down. Listen to her journey and her tips to living a...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered how other businesses seem to find the cash for large projects or equipment? Or perhaps you have already realised that there is a grant that could help you but hold back because of the daunting task of applying. Our guest, Liz Fleming, is a Chartered Accountant with more than 15 years of experience in corporate finance. She now works strategically with client...

Send us Fan Mail A trip to Sierra Leonne as part of her studies changed Jane's perspective on life. She decided to make a difference when she saw how little people there had. This led to her starting her own charity, the Figtree Children.  Supported by a social enterprise gift store, multiple donors, and charity events, Figtree Children supports children to be cared for and educated in one of...

Send us Fan Mail Ana talks about how looking after ourselves is pivotal to successful leadership. With a background in organisational psychology and later on in personal development and coaching, Ana has spent years supporting women in navigating the unique pressures of modern life. In her work with women, she often meets the mother-hens looking after all the chicks and forgetting to care for them...

Send us Fan Mail Natasha shares her journey from a young woman who hid herself away to an emancipated woman enjoying her freedom. Her experience has given Natasha a unique perspective on the world of self-talk. She says our conversations with ourselves are crucial to success in every part of our lives. Insta: natashafountas Great conversations underpin all successful leadership relationships and c...

Send us Fan Mail Take a walk in the world of prolific author and mentor Vicki Bennet. She talks about all things creativity, self-care, and emotional regulation, sharing her expertise from over 35 years of corporate training.  Great conversations underpin all successful leadership relationships and can create enduring transformational impact.  If you want to change the world and don't know wh...

Send us Fan Mail Her life started with a tumultuous childhood in an abusive household with a Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde father and an unshrinkable, high-functioning mother who hid the abuse. Now, she has turned it all around. Angela has lived the journey of trauma, resilience, healing, and transformation and now helps other women from struggling to thriving with her collaborative healing community, Sh...

Send us Fan Mail As a mother of three young children, Narelle found herself falling over things and went to see her optometrist to discover she was facing permanent blindness.  That hasn’t stopped her from living her life to the fullest, and she is on a mission to make sure anyone with a disability has the same opportunity.  In this episode, we talk about resilience, innovation, country life, refl...

Send us Fan Mail Cybercriminals are mind-blowingly cunning and don’t care how much they hurt you! If you have a business or organisation of any size (yes, even if you are the tiniest business on the planet) you cannot afford to miss this conversation with Luke Irwin. In this episode, Luke raises the cybersecurity profile for small businesses to make them aware of the risks they are exposed to and...

Send us Fan Mail Patty Beecham's life is filled with fascinating adventures. From the daughter of a priest in a country town to a roving breakfast reporter on 612-4QR, traveling via time as a funeral photographer and retiring between two cities., with so much more packed in between... Join us as we chat about her journey of writing her childhood memoir and following it up with the grown-up vo...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we talk with Karyn Takahashi. After living in Japan and taking her fashion onto Fashion Week runways around the world, Karyn returned home just prior to her Mother's devastating cancer diagnosis. We talk about all kinds of things, including cross-cultural relationships, supporting a parent through severe illness, and creating a blog to give information on Liv...

Send us Fan Mail After surviving an abusive marriage, Kris studied full-time and gained her master's degree, all whilst being a single mother to five children. Be inspired and educated by her journey as she explains why she didn't 'just leave' the marriage, and discover what actions might help people you know in a similar situation. An uplifting tale of thriving after surviving...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Kathryn Chapman shares the story of her father and how that is woven into her business life from her perspective as a child of an Aboriginal man who was taken as an infant from his family and how this shaped his life, his children's lives, and his children's children lives. Learn about his resilience, ability to simply get on with it, and commitment to s...