Passion and Perspective Podcast

Phil Dixon is the latest guest on the Passion and Perspective Podcast. Phil shares his honest reflections from his life, describing the power of connection and relationships in helping him navigate adversity. Phil co-founded Walk it Off in 2022 and in this episode we hear how this local initiative has promoted the importance of connection in the local community. Please note that this episode discu...

Courtney Nelson is today’s guest on the Passion and Perspective Podcast. In this conversation, Courtney reflects on the challenging periods of her life and how a positive mindset has helped her navigate these times. With a focus on a life of fulfillment, Courtney has used music as a way to channel life’s experiences into beautiful songs. Performing under the name, Fade Meadow, Courtney has recentl...

Noah Tracey joins the latest episode of the Passion and Perspective Podcast. Noah is a Punter for the Norfolk State University Football team. In a meteoric rise, Noah shares his inspiring journey that has taken him from the Blue Mountains to Melbourne and onto Virginia, USA in pursuit of his newfound passion.  With a deep determination coupled with a balanced perspective, Noah has embraced every o...

In this episode of the Passion and Perspective Podcast, we hear from local artist and conservationist Zorana McDavitt. Raised in Penrith and now living in the Blue Mountains, Zorana has a lifelong love for art and creativity. With a deep curiosity and desire to learn Zorana is now channelling her passion to educate the community about conservation of our local environment, with a specific focus on...

Today we hear from local musician Gavin Bowles. Raised in the lower Blue Mountains and now living in the Penrith area, music has been a lifelong passion for Gavin. Throughout this conversation, Gavin shares his perspective as a full time musician - providing an honest reflection of his pursuit. Speaking with Gavin, it reinforced to me that for any creative the path is not linear, nor is it easy. ...

Belle Butler is today's guest on the Passion and Perspective Podcast. Belle shares her honest reflections from the world of creative arts in our conversation. Balancing her time between music, photography, writing and even stop motion art, Belle's journey is one of persistence. Across her life, Belle has navigated self doubt yet she has continued to pursue and refine her craft. It really r...

Zoe Cox is the latest guest on the Passion and Perspective Podcast. Zoe is an adventurer at her core and what resonated with me during our conversation was the deep curiosity that Zoe possesses. Intrigued by people, cultures, travel and the natural world, Zoe sees possibility in everything and it is that refreshing perspective that she shares through her counselling practice. Music: 'Friendshi...

Thank you for tuning in to today’s episode of the Passion and Perspective Podcast where we chat with Peter Earl. Peter has long held a love for music, stemming back to his childhood where he had a passion for performance, playing piano and listening to the complexity of classical music. Peter shares his inspiring story, with honest reflections about personal growth, navigating grief and fatherhood...

Amanda Spratt will be part of history when the first Le Tour de France Femmes commences on July 24, departing from the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris. All eyes will be on the peloton as they embark on a gruelling 8-stage race, covering over 1000 kilometres. The Springwood resident will call upon her experience from three Olympic Games and multiple World Championships as she competes in arguably the...

In the two years since immersing himself into the world of marathon running, Ethan Mulholland has discovered the power of running in driving community cohesion. It is this community focus that motivates Ethan each time he runs. Music: "Friendship" by Annie Burbank

Many musicians will have a particular genre, an era or a style that they are drawn to. Traditionally, classical music and 70’s inspired pop tracks should not co-exist. However, local musician and composer Wesley Stormer bucks this trend and has forged his path pursuing the two unique art forms. Raised within a musical household, Wesley was exposed to a myriad of musicians, bands and performers tha...

Competing in the iconic “Your Shot” DJ contest had long been an ambition for local musician Kristie Lees. Having plied her craft at the Australian Institute of Music – graduating with a Bachelor of Music – Kristie was familiar with the art of performance. Moving into the world of DJ-ing, however, was a step into the unknown but filled with an undercurrent of excitement. Home Nightclub hosted the “...

It has been over a decade since Kati Manning first set foot at Penrith Stadium as a professional dancer. Performing for the Pantherettes in her debut year – 2010 – was a moment that Kati describes as “such a different feeling.” “I was really determined, and I was just stoked to be there”, Kati said. “I had been to so many games in the grandstand before (as a fan), but sitting on the field…it’s so...

Nicole Law is a Blue Mountains local and an artist, with a passion for continual growth. Commencing life as an artist in her late 30’s, Nicole took the leap of faith and forged a new path in life. Challenging the conventional measures of success, Nicole no longer focuses solely on the output of her work but embraces the journey and the fact that she keeps on going. The sense of agency that art pro...

Pushing the limits of physical fitness has been a part of Matt Hamilton’s life since his youth. Matt has a deep passion for fitness and is a student of his craft. Beyond just the physical benefits, he believes exercise is critical to positive mental health.  The Kurrajong local runs local gym Last Round and is committed to using this platform to help people grow holistically. “It builds you u...

Angus Brandt has built an impressive resumé as a professional basketballer. Commonwealth Games gold medallist, 2-time National Basketball League (NBL) champion and being named to Pac-12 All-Academic at Oregon State University headline an impressive career to-date for the 32-year-old. Yet, the journey to this point has not been conventional. From the moment he first started playing basketball along...

Marnie Ponton is an elite athlete, mother of two and an emergency nurse practitioner. As a cross disciplined runner balancing her time between her passion, career and family, Marnie has built a lifestyle centered on consistency. With a strong belief that discipline leads to freedom, Marnie not only manages her time effectively, but thrives in each area of her life. “Everything is very planned in b...

Rock climbing is an artform, a moving meditation and a dance on the rock. For Paul Thomson, it is also humbling every time he tackles a climb. “Frothy” – as he is affectionately known in climbing circles – is a well renowned rock climber and new route setter in the Blue Mountains. Immersing himself into the sport, rock climbing has also been an escape for Paul. It has provided solace during times...

Not many could have predicted that Tyran Liddiard would be the recipient of the Benaud Medal in his maiden year of first grade cricket. The coveted medal – awarded for Player of the Match in the NSW Premier Cricket grand final – was awarded to 20-year-old Liddiard in the 2018/19 season finale. Many had doubted that he would hold a permanent place in the team, let alone thrive at the premier level....

Set halfway up a sheer cliff face, measuring up her next move, it would be understandable for Angie Scarth-Johnson to be nervous. Yet it is a feeling of calmness and enjoyment that grips the 17-year-old. Honing her craft for over a decade all around the world, you could also expect the monotony of repetition to set in, however for Angie, the spark remains the same as she experienced her first time...

Jared Anderson is a rock-climbing photographer and adventurer. With an ingrained drive to push human potential, Jared has long chased thrills and endured the suffering that adventure sport offers. From ultra-trail running, to high altitude mountaineering, skydiving and multi day endurance events, Jared has immersed himself into anything that takes him well beyond his comfort zone. It is the stunni...

Adam Blum is the host of the True Blue History Podcast , a volunteer with the NSW Rural Fire Service and committed to helping others prosper. Growing up in the Blue Mountains, Adam has faced and overcome immense challenges, both physical and mental. Adam’s resilience has given him a new lease on life and he now channels his energy into sharing the powerful stories of Australia’s military history t...

Simon Williams is a High-Performance Mindset coach at Motivation & Performance Partners (M&PP), a business he founded to help aspiring athletes achieve success at the top-level. The ingrained desire to help others succeed has long been the driving force behind Simon’s work and has played a large part in shaping where he is today. “I’ve always found myself being drawn to supporting others,...

Bec Slack is the owner of local business, Cleverstuff Educational Toys , a venture she took over in 2015. It was a leap into the unknown for Bec – who revolutionised the business – shifting their products to digital platforms to make them more accessible and reinforcing the importance of education through experience. The importance of education, however, is not a new concept for Bec. Having attend...

Sam Arnold has represented Australia across three sporting codes and this summer was a part of the Sydney Thunder WBBL|06 championship squad. A late call up to the team – that was housed in “hub” at Sydney Olympic Park – Sam immersed herself into the experience and was able to learn and develop her game alongside some of cricket’s greats. “That experience was insane…a once in a lifetime opportunit...