The Long Game with Julie Smerdon

I first met Lizzie Lasater when she came to Brisbane to do a Restorative Yoga Teacher Training back in 2015. She has carved out a place for herself as a renowned yoga teacher, writer, and advocate for mindful living. Lizzie, daughter of the legendary Judith Hanson Lasater, carries forward a rich legacy of restorative yoga and therapeutic practices, which have become even more useful in the years f...

There’s so much to say about Dr. Lauren! In addition to being a Clinical Psychologist, Life Coach, Author, and Yoga Teacher; she is the founder of The Yoga Psychology Institute, an organisation that offers programs that explore the intersection between yoga and psychology. Lauren and I first connected back when I had the studio, and we planned on offering her well-known course for yoga teachers “M...

This was my first time ‘meeting’ Jivana Heyman. He’s the founder and director of Accessible Yoga, an organisation dedicated to increasing access to yoga, and to supporting yoga teachers. I first heard Jivana on Daniel Simpson’s podcast “Ancient Futures, and what he was saying resonated so deeply with me that I immediately ordered his latest book, “The Teachers Guide to Accessible Yoga.”  In this e...

In this episode, we dive into the world of a guest whose life story elevates us all - Lydia Lassila, Australia’s aerial skiing champion whose feats have not only carved her name in snow but also in the halls of resilience and determination. Our paths crossed in Byron Bay, where I was guest teaching on a retreat that she was part of.  I had the honour of practising with Lydia after class one day, i...

In this short, heartfelt episode titled I break my long silence on social media to share a deeply personal journey. Over the last three months, our lives have been consumed by Layne's ongoing health challenges. Up until last week, my days were a mix of hospital corridors, work, and the lovely chaos of daily life. Faced with numerous unknowns and the unpredictability of his treatment and recov...

From homegrown Texas boy, to working actor in Los Angeles, to travelling the world teaching yoga, to marrying one of the world's premier dancer/choreographers, to being featured on Peleton, Ross Rayburn has lived quite a life! Despite his extraordinary story, Ross is one of the kindest, most humble people I know, and one of my all-time favourite colleagues.  I loved having the chance to catch...

Laura Marjorie Miller and I first crossed paths at an Anusara Workshop in Atlanta back in the early 2000’s. We became friends instantly. Laura is truly one of the most genuinely inquisitive, intelligent people I’ve ever met. From her work as the speechwriter for the chancellor of Vanderbilt University, to a successful career as a gonzo journalist, her adventurous spirit has taken her everywhere fr...

James is a new friend and a mentor to me, and I’m really thrilled to bring you this conversation. He’s had a fascinating journey, from taking his first class to ‘impress’ someone, to unexpectedly finding a profound sense of connection and purpose which lead him on a path of self-discovery and ultimately, becoming a teacher. We talk about James' early teaching experiences, including working wi...

I'm so happy to welcome Pete Longworth back to the show! Tune in to hear how yoga teachers, fitness professionals and other independent small business owners can learn to harness the power of AI to get their message out into the world creatively and efficiently!  My listeners get a discounted rate - just mention the podcast when you book! Find Pete: Create Content That Matters Course: https:/...

I honestly can't remember the first time I crossed paths with Noah Maze, but I do know that it was a very long time ago. Curious, open-minded, and with a dry wit that can take you by surprise, Noah has crafted his life with yoga woven through every fibre. From living in ashrams as a young man to having one of the most dedicated yoga practices I've ever seen, to tenderly raising his child...

I can’t even remember the first time I met Elena Brower, presumably it was at an Anusara event way back in the day. But over the years we’ve become fast friends, sharing our love of family, yoga, and service. She’s one of the most accomplished women I know, and I’m so pleased to bring you this chat in honour of the release of her first book of poetry, Softening Time .  Find Elena… Website:  https:...

I first met Maggie Gardener when she came to try a class of mine before committing to my teacher training. I was immediately struck by her warmth, presence and intelligence. Maggie has gone on to open a studio of her own where the focus is on creating a safe space where students can show up exactly as they are without the fear of being judged or even worse, ignored.  We talk about the need for inc...

I first met Jackson when he was animal crawling across the floor at a gym where I was training, and I asked him what he was doing. That was 8 years ago and I’ve been working with him off and on ever since, most recently doing an online coaching program with him that has been amazing. Jackson walks his talk. His approach to movement, and holistic wellness has informed my teaching, and he’s personal...

Mazana Abraham is hands down the most inspiring “Zoomer” (Gen Z human) I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Artist, life-lover, and sexual assault survivor; her story of how art, creativity, and courage saw her through the kind of dark times that most of us will never experience will leave you in awe, as it did me. Don’t miss this one! Find Mazana: Website:  https://www.flowaturestudios.com/ F...

Mark Breadner first encountered yoga as a 5-year-old in his rumpus room, where his mum taught some of the first classes in Australia. From there, to working with athletes like Ian Thorpe and Mick Fanning, to Ashrams in India, Mark has become one of the longest-lived teachers in Australia. His work now, called YogaCoach, is based on the idea that yoga is the ultimate life coaching system. He works...

Ohhh where to start…I first heard of Dr. Lisa Miller when a friend (thank you, Kate!) shared a podcast that Lisa was a guest on. Halfway through that podcast I went out and bought her book “The Awakened Brain, The New Science of Spirituality and Our Quest For an Inspired Life” and read it…Twice. When I reached out to her over Instagram about being on my podcast, I held on very loosely to the hope...

I first met Claudia Perkins when she came to Brisbane to join one of the first yoga Immersions I taught in Australia. Since we first met,  Claudia left a big job as an advisor to Julia Gillard, married her love Adam Bandt (head of the Greens party here in Australia), and gave birth to two daughters, in addition to teaching yoga in Melbourne. She’s now studying to be a nurse! We have a  great discu...

Elana Robertson has had a remarkable journey that’s taken her from the insurance business to a week on Necker Island with Sir Richard Branson. In this episode, Elena shares her story,  how yoga was instrumental in her most pivotal career moments, and how it informs her work with female executives today. Elana is the founder of foundher, equipping leaders of change with a toolkit designed for moder...

I met Casey Conroy during my very first months living in Australia and was captivated by her bright spirit and intelligence. She was a bright-eyed university student at the time, and left Brisbane not long after we met, but I’ve followed her journey over the years and she has grown to be an accomplished and highly regarded practitioner in the wellness sphere. I so appreciate her ‘No Bullshit’ appr...

I first met Pete Longworth through a mutual friend here in Brisbane, and was immediately captivated by his story of how yoga had enhanced his ability to do what he did through his camera - “see the beauty.” Since that day, we’ve had more adventures than I can count. The beautiful photos you see on my website were captured on some of our adventurous collaborations.  Pete is a self-described ‘visual...

Chara Caruthers is a newer friend, and one I’m so excited for you to hear from! A former engineer turned yoga teacher & therapist, Chara is also an Ayurvedic practitioner and teacher, mother of twins, and a fellow American ex-pat married to an Aussie. This woman is a force, and a shining light in our community. Her intelligence, curiosity and open-hearted way of receiving the world is an inspi...

Desiree and I first met back in the early 2000s when each of us was working our way through separate sets of life-altering circumstances. Her authenticity and determination to reclaim her joy during that time made a mark on me that I’ve never forgotten. She’s an author, an internationally acclaimed yoga teacher, a self-described ‘badass’, and I love her dearly. In this chat we talk about navigatin...

My friend Scott Lewicki is not only a supremely gifted yoga teacher, he’s a rocket scientist who has worked in NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory for most of his career. In this conversation, we talk about how a self-described ‘nerdy kid’ came to love yoga, his work with NASA’s JPL, and the beautiful balance he’s found having dual careers he’s equally passionate about.

Terry Hansen is a comedian, top-rated breakfast radio host, devoted husband and father, and an all-around top bloke. His passion for looking for what IS possible in any situation is an inspiration. Underneath his jovial exterior lies a huge heart. Terry’s work with ‘Dad Bods’, a group of middle-aged men who get together regularly to stay healthy both physically and mentally, coupled with his openn...