The Long Game with Julie Smerdon

If you're a Yogi, chances are you've heard of J Brown's Yoga Talks Podcast. Although we have tons of mutual friends, J and I never really connected until 2020, when J was set to come to Brisbane to teach a workshop that was interrupted by the Pandemic. I was a guest on his show last year, and when I finally started recording this podcast I knew he would be a wonderful guest, and he...

I met Alison Potts back in 2012 when she joined my teacher training. Her journey with her self-described guardian angel, Multiple Sclerosis, has been an inspiration to me since the day I met her.  But more than that, she’s had an extraordinary life, from the halls of the iconic Broadcasting House at the BBC in London to her journey as a yoga and meditation teacher here in Australia, to her remarka...

I first met Kylie Gates at a Sydney fitness convention where we were both presenting.  When she walked in to join my class I was a bit starstruck!  A life-long athlete, Kylie is one of the geniuses behind Les Mills Body Training Systems, one of the most popular fitness programs in the world. Kylie is not only a dynamo, she is grounded, wise and joyful.  Her discipline, focus, and deep understandin...

After having their first collaboration nominated for a Grammy in 2015, Dave Stringer and Madi Das are back at work, during a pandemic, while stuck on opposite sides of the world! We talk about their unique new project and the challenges for recording artists of all genres in the age of streaming. We touch on appropriation both in kirtan and in yoga, the neuroscience of singing together and so much...

Earlier this year, I heard Daniel Simpson on J Brown's YogaTalks Podcast, and immediately ordered his book The Truth of Yoga: A Comprehensive Guide to Yoga's History, Texts, Philosophy, and Practices , and then completed his online course based on the book not long afterward.  From his days as a foreign correspondent for the New York Times to his current scholarly work, Daniel has been a...

From the first time Cam Bancroft walked into my class in his late teens, I was impressed by his work ethic, his curiosity, and his desire to grow. Since then, as a test cricketer, Cam made a decision that nearly ended his promising young career, one that he has taken responsibility for and come to terms with. In the aftermath, he has dealt with an intensity of stress and media attention that most...

Every human being has a story to tell, and I'm so excited to bring you some of the people and stories that have inspired me over the years.  Today's episode is just 11 minutes long, explaining a bit about my 'why' and about the journey that brought me to yoga, to Australia, and to podcasting.