Really Good Conversations

Summary What does it really take to stop making excuses and become someone you can trust? This conversation isn't just about blindness, sport or breaking records. Matt Formston AM joins Amy to explore identity, trust, accountability and what it really takes to stop making excuses and become someone you can trust. Guest Matt Formston AM is a world champion surfer, world champion cyclist, Paralympia...

What is one piece of wisdom you want to pass on to future generations? In this special compilation episode, Amy shares how a family loss helped inspire Really Good Conversations and why it is so important to ask meaningful questions while we still have the opportunity. Hear the varied responses from this year's podcast guests as they reflect on the lessons, values and advice they hope future gener...

Summary What's disappearing from childhood & w hy children need an analogue childhood in a digital world In this episode, Amy speaks with Nova Eden from One Collective Power and the Smartphone Free Childhood movement about how smartphones, social media, iPads, EdTech and AI are reshaping modern childhood. They explore what children may be losing to screens, from boredom and play to imagination, at...

Summary Amy speaks with Dara Simkin about why adults forget how to play and what we lose when life becomes too focused on productivity, achievement and keeping up. Dara explores play as a mindset, not just an activity, and shares why it can help us reconnect with curiosity, creativity, joy and each other.   Guest Dara Simkin is the founder of Culture Hero and co-author of Full Stack Human . Her wo...

Summary "We touch our phones more than our loved ones." It's a jarring statement from scientist and broadcaster Dr. Niraj Lal , but the data backs it up.  In this episode, we go "Behind the Screens" to understand why our biology is no match for the modern algorithm. From the "junk food" of digital connection to the looming challenges of AI and deepfakes, we explore how to build guardrails that pro...

Summary Scams are no longer just about dodgy messages or obvious red flags. In this episode, Amy talks to scam investigator Kylee Dennis about the human side of online deception; how trust gets built, why loneliness can make people more vulnerable, and how AI is changing what feels believable online. From romance scams to voice cloning, this is a timely conversation about manipulation, digital saf...

Summary Maku Fenaroli went from a career in finance to building  Maku The Label — an art-led fashion brand from Melbourne that scaled fast and forced her to back herself sooner than expected.  In this episode, we talk about the real tipping points, the behind-the-scenes challenges of rapid growth, and what it takes to turn creativity into a sustainable business. Guest Maku Fenaroli is the founder...

Summary Phillip Di Bella built one of Australia's most successful coffee businesses, and sold it for $47 million. In this episode, we find what it actually felt like the day after he sold, how his definition of success has changed over the years, and what the next generation needs to hear about work and leadership.  This isn't just a story about building and selling a business, it's about what suc...

Summary What happens when you realise the life you've built no longer fits?  In this episode, Andrew Sloan shares the story behind his book Why Things Feel F*cked and the personal reinvention that followed. From ending a long-term relationship to taking his work on the road, Andrew explores why so many of us feel stretched, stuck or overwhelmed and why better conversations might be the way through...

Summary When was the last time you had a night out that felt completely worth it? In this episode, Amy is joined by 'The Jodie's', Jodie Whelan and Jodie de Vries , founders of House of Zim ; a women-only events concept redefining what a great night out looks like for women over 35. Guest Jodie Whelan and Jodie de Vries are co-founders of House of Zim , a Sydney-based women-only events concept des...

Summary In this episode, Amy is joined by Isiah McKimmie to talk about intimacy, desire and the conversations couples often avoid. They explore why desire changes over time, how comparison and unrealistic expectations create pressure, and why focusing on what gets in the way of connection can be more helpful than trying to "do more". Guest Isiah McKimmie is a clinical sexologist and relationship t...

In 2025 Amy spoke to a range of amazing guests from across around the world - including UK, US, Cyprus & Australia!  This fun episode is a snapshot of the responses our guests gave when asked the question   "If you came with a warning label, what would it say?" This question always gets a laugh. Ask it to someone in your life and see what conversations spark Check out all our guests from 2025 and...

In this episode, Amy is joined once again by former Sportsgirl and Sussan CEO, award-winning leader, mentor, speaker and author, Colleen Callander. Colleen kicked off our 2025 guest line-up with "From Shop Floor to CEO: Burnout, Boundaries & Bold Leadership" , and now we've come full circle as she returns to close out the year and explore the theme of confidence from her new book, The Power of Con...

What does it take to chase freedom, survive the sacrifices, and rebuild a life on your own terms? In this episode, Amy sits down with award-winning entrepreneur and bestselling author Tina Tower , founder of Her Empire Builder, to unpack the truth behind ambition, reinvention, and the pursuit of freedom. Tina shares her journey from launching a tutoring centre at 20 years old to building a franchi...

Have we forgotten how to think for ourselves? In this episode, Amy speaks with critical thinking and human skills expert, speaker and author Bethan Winn , whose book The Human Edge: Critical Thinking in the Age of AI explores how we can reclaim the essential skills that make us human - curiosity, courage, creativity and conversation. Bethan shares her journey from teaching in London to moving to P...

Part 2: Moral Codes & Living on your own terms  In Part 2 of my conversation with Maz Farrelly, we move beyond the world of television and into the personal. We talk about reinvention, how to know when to walk away, and how to build a life that actually feels like yours. Maz shares her decision to leave her successful TV career and how bowl of beads in Fiji helped her decide what to do next.  We d...

Part 1: The Truth About Reality TV & How to Cut Through the Noise What does it take to really have the X Factor? Maz Farrelly has shaped some of the biggest TV shows of our time, from Big Brother to The X Factor, and has worked with global icons from Beyoncé to Prince Charles.  Maz knows how to grab an audience's attention and hold it. Her content has been watched over 8 billion times! She's an 'O...

What does it mean to create your future? For Natalia Talkowska , it's not just a phrase but a way of life. Born in communist Poland with dreams of working for Disney or NASA, she took her first flight to London with little money, no connections, and a big sense of curiosity. Today, she is a serial entrepreneur, six-time TEDx speaker, and the founder of Natalka , a consultancy blending neuroscience...

What happens when a career built on success no longer feels like enough?   In this episode Amy chats to her old colleague and friend Serena Dodd.  After a high-energy career in TV and events, Serena Dodd hit a wall - literally on the way to London Waterloo - when a panic attack forced a rethink. Serena shares her journey from realising "something needs to change" to finally stepping away from the...

"Words can change lives" In this episode of the Really Good Conversations podcast, Amy speaks with Steve York ; a former police negotiator, tactical commander, and now corporate risk advisor and negotiation coach. Steve's career has taken him from life-or-death hostage situations to high-stakes corporate boardrooms. In this conversation he shares what these intense moments have taught him about ho...

Kate Toon is an award-winning entrepreneur, author and digital marketing expert. But in 2024, after building a thriving online business, she did something unexpected; she bought a struggling bookshop in her beachside town of Umina Beach. In this honest and entertaining conversation, Kate shares how burnout, curiosity, and a craving for real-world connection led her to make a bold pivot from online...

How do you build a brand people remember and a network that actually leads to something meaningful? Originally from Russia, Oksana Koriakova moved to Australia with a suitcase and a six-month visa, knowing no one and speaking no English. 20 years later, she's built a thriving brand merchandise business, launched a successful speaking career, and become known in Sydney as the "networking queen." Ok...

What happens when you bring military discipline, strategic thinking and straight-talking honesty into the boardroom? In this episode, Amy chats with  Marcus Dimbleby, a former Royal Air Force officer who now helps businesses make smarter decisions, faster. After 24 years in the military, Marcus transitioned into corporate coaching and consultancy, bringing with him a no-nonsense approach shaped by...

How small, science-backed habits can help you boost energy, balance hormones and future-proof your health  In this episode of the Really Good Conversations podcast, Amy Faulkner chats with Camilla Thompson - Australia's leading biohacker, wellness coach, and author of Biohack Me.  From corporate burnout and postnatal depression to chronic illness triggered by mould exposure, Camilla shares her dee...

"Most kids don't need therapy, they need their environment to change." In this episode of the Really Good Conversations podcast, Amy speaks with psychotherapist, parent coach, and author Nicole Runyon about modern parenting, child mental health, and the unseen impact of technology.  In this honest conversation, Nicole explains why therapy isn't always the answer, and how children's behaviours are...