Success x Happiness

From turning grief into colour, Kirsten Jackson’s art proves that pain can become purpose. After losing her Mum at just 14, Kirsten found refuge in painting. A practice that would evolve into a globally recognised abstract art career built on flow, endurance and creative truth. Her story is one of resilience, patience, and trusting the long game.   In this episode, Kirsten shares her journey from...

Great leaders don’t fail under pressure, their brains do. Today David Watson returns to unpack what actually happens in your mind when stress hits, and how the best leaders learn to regulate themselves before leading others.   In this episode, David shares hard-earned insights from working across eight countries in some of the world’s highest-pressure environments. We dive deep into emotional inte...

He survived 650 days falsely accused of spying and imprisoned in a foreign country, an experience that reshaped his understanding of resilience, meaning, and the human spirit.   Professor Sean Turnell’s journey from Australian economist to political prisoner in Myanmar is one of the most extraordinary stories of endurance in modern times.   In this episode, Sean shares how imagination, history, an...

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Success x Happiness crew. As tradition dictates, Rich is joined by his two eldest kids, Teddy and Franks, for a Christmas Eve yarn about life, school, fears, goals, siblings, and what it’s really like being a kid right now. From surprisingly deep life lessons to absolute chaos, this conversation is equal parts heartfelt and hilarious. Headphone listene...

For decades, we’ve treated mental health like guesswork, but what if the science has been pointing somewhere else all along?   Dr Jim Lagopoulos has spent his career challenging the foundations of modern psychiatry, using brain imaging, neuroscience and precision treatments to reshape how we understand mental illness.   In this conversation, you’ll learn why traditional approaches are failing, wha...

From surviving family bankruptcy at age 11 to becoming one of Australia’s most innovative orthodontists, Dr Vas Srinivasan’s story is a masterclass in resilience, courage, and possibility. Raised in a traditional Indian household, shaped by hardship and responsibility, and driven by the opportunities of the Western world, Vas carved an extraordinary path across India, the US, the UK, and ultimatel...

Kris Carver is the CEO of ENTAG and one of the Sunshine Coast’s most quietly influential leaders. Going from paying payroll on an Amex to steering a 150-person tech powerhouse backed by Anchorage Capital. His story is a masterclass in resilience, execution, and trusting yourself even when the odds don’t.   In this episode, Kris shares raw, grounded perspectives on leadership, risk, scaling, and th...

Scott Hoskins is a former professional golfer turned business owner and leadership facilitator with Leading Teams, known for transforming cultures through empowerment, accountability, and genuine human connection.   In this episode, Scott unpacks the real mechanics of high performance, why agreed behaviours matter more than talent, why culture is built in the “informal induction,” and how vulnerab...

Clancy Collins is a Sunshine Coast electrician-turned-business owner whose life took an unimaginable turn when his wife Alex received a cancer diagnosis while pregnant. From childhood on a remote cattle property to building CDC Electrical from the ground up, Clancy’s story is grounded, raw, and deeply human.   His perspectives on courage, helplessness, resilience, and what it means to show up for...

Zac and Daniel Carew are the entrepreneurial brothers behind Been There, Done That. One of the Sunshine Coast’s most loved cafés. From family beginnings steeped in hard work and loyalty, to building multiple thriving businesses together, their story is equal parts grit, humour, and heart.   Zac and Dan share their philosophy on family legacy, the importance of balance, and how kindness and purpose...

Rob Neely is an award-winning Sunshine Coast entrepreneur with over 50 years in business and a story that proves true innovation is born from risk, resilience, and relentless curiosity. From flipping surfboards at 15 to founding Securely Group, a fintech startup now working with global banks. Rob shares the mindset that built empires, cost millions, and taught him the real price of growth.   Throu...

Dr Antony Winkel is one of the Sunshine Coast’s leading neurologists, spearheading breakthroughs in nerve and muscle disorders. From his early work in Geelong and Melbourne to relocating to the Sunshine Coast, Antony’s journey is defined by compassion, cutting-edge science, and a commitment to a balanced life.   In this conversation, Dr Winkel reflects on how exponential developments in brain scie...

Jayden Sheridan is a youth mentor, changemaker, and the founder of Gnarly Neighbors. A grassroots movement using skateboarding to break cycles of trauma and build safe spaces for Australia’s most vulnerable youth.   From a childhood marked by poverty, violence, and homelessness in one of Australia’s most disadvantaged towns, Jayden transformed his pain into purpose. He went from selling drugs to s...

Glen Richards is the trailblazing vet-turned-entrepreneur behind Greencross, the company he scaled into a $1 billion pet care empire. Known to many as a Shark Tank investor, Glen’s business journey is anything but typical.   From growing up on a sheep and cattle station in rural Queensland, Glen learned resilience the hard way, whether it was falling off a horse and walking home, or cold-calling t...

Matina Jewell is a decorated UN Peacekeeper and trailblazing Army Commander who went from searching for the perfect job to being caught unarmed in the middle of an active warzone. At just 23, she was commanding troops on Australia’s largest navy ship. But her career took a harrowing turn when her final deployment as a peacekeeper with the United Nations placed her between Hezbollah and Israeli for...

Ever felt like you were doing everything “right” with money, but still feeling anxious, or stuck?   Gemma Mitchell, financial advisor turned author of The Money Reset, opens up about her financial rock bottom, toxic money habits disguised as discipline, and the moment divorce forced her to completely rewire how she thought about success and security.   We dive deep into money mindset, emotional tr...

What if your body gave out before your will did? Would you finally change your life?   Stacey and Trent hit rock bottom, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. From hormone crashes and chronic burnout to broken marriages and identity loss, they each faced a moment of truth. But instead of staying stuck, they pivoted, healed, and found each other.   In this powerful episode, they open up about:...

Ever felt like juggling it all might break you?   In this episode of the Success x Happiness podcast, Dr. Kellie Pritchard-Peschek shares her deeply personal story of burnout, recovery, and redefinition. From Olympic sports to the boardroom, Kellie thought she was living her dream, until it all came crashing down. Now she’s helping high-performing leaders build sustainable success without sacrific...

Have you ever wondered why brilliant strategies fail, despite all the right data and planning?   In this eye-opening episode of the Success x Happiness Podcast, we sit down with Daniel Murray, author of The Empathy Gap and keynote speaker, to explore why empathy is not a “soft” skill, it’s the foundation of effective leadership.   Daniel shares his journey from the corporate world to becoming a st...

Have you ever reached a goal only to ask “Why don’t I feel happy?” In this powerful episode, we sit down with mindset coach and happiness expert Patty Duque to flip the script on success, fulfilment, and sustainable joy. Discover how neuroscience, micro-habits, and daily gratitude can rewire your brain for the life you truly want.   Patty breaks down the 4 steps to lasting change, why identity is...

What happens when the person who supports everyone else has no one to lean on?   In this powerful and emotional episode, award-winning coach Kelly Carthy opens up about what it really means to lead from within. From navigating divorce and trauma to learning how to truly let go of control, Kelly shares the tools and breakthroughs that helped her, and now help others to transform chaos into clarity....

Michael Shadforth cycled across America, gave up alcohol for good, and built a 60-person business on the Sunshine Coast. In this powerful episode of the Success x Happiness Podcast, Michael opens up about the decisions that transformed his life - from endurance sports and farming failures to scaling real estate and cultivating culture.   If you’re chasing clarity, consistency, and legacy, this is...

Would you bet your house deposit on a pair of undies? Rob Rand did.   In this inspiring episode of the Success Times Happiness podcast, we sit down with Rob Rand – the creative founder behind Knobby Underwear – a brand built on bold risks, relentless creativity, and a million-pair-a-year subscription model. Rob shares how he turned a wild idea into a cult-like movement, why staying curious is a su...

What if the key to being a great leader isn’t your resume… but your ability to feel?   In this powerful episode of the Success x Happiness Podcast, we sit down with leadership coach, author, and ex-lawyer Midja Fisher to explore how emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and vulnerability redefine what it means to lead. Whether you’re building a law firm, running a startup, or managing your famil...

What if your biggest win wasn’t a gold medal, but surviving your darkest moment?   In this raw and powerful episode, former Olympian Toby Jenkins opens up about the hidden cost of high performance, the burnout that broke him, and the breakthrough that followed. We dive deep into the shift from chasing goals to building sustainable practices, and how psychological flexibility saved his career and l...