The Politics of Everything

Being authentic is what we all need to do more of, according to my guests Joanne Schonheim, who prefers to be anything other than average and always strives to achieve her version of success on her own terms. Growing up in family businesses spanning three generations, Jo preferred sitting in on Board room conversations to sitting outside playing with dolls.  By 25, Jo had lived on three conti...

Happiness is the number one goal many people the world over strive for. However, few obtain in its truest sense. It seems that at the heart of it, we all know no amount of accolades, money, toys or lovers will be the final fix for us to be happy. My podcast guest today is Alex Dawson, who co-founded a company called Positive Scenario, and has become Australia’s only accredited trainer of ‘The Happ...

If there ever was a topic that could equally excite, distress, motivate and polarize it would this one – MONEY. My guest is Melissa Browne is a woman who has devoted her entire career to the financial world – namely as an accountant, then expanding to invest in other enterprises like a new preschool and her latest venture The Money Barre.  She is a well-known author for several memorably titl...

Gender is something that defines us from the very second we are conceived. The doctors declare us a boy or a girl once we enter this world and for most people it remains that way from birth to death. It also creates a lifetime of complexity, in how we are spoken to, what perceived societal value we have, how much money we are likely to earn and even whether we can get an education. This podcast ex...

Everywhere we turn these days there is a new fad around ‘cleaner’ eating or secrets to living a healthier existence. My guest today is Alexx Stuart, a speaker, writer, podcaster and lox tox living expert – she is also soon to add author to that list of tags. Passionate about her purpose, Alexx has grown her business organically, no pun intended, but with a clear mission to educate, inspire and sha...

With the hype around Bitcoin in recent times, Cryptocurrency is almost a household name term, wouldn’t you agree? It seems everyone from all walks of life is keen to capitalise on the potential riches that a non-regulated currency such as Bitcoin can produce in very short periods of time. Where do you start in the cryptocurrency world to get some skin in the games, what are the rules and is it all...

Microsoft founder Bill Gates famously said if he was down to his last dollar he would spend it on Public Relations. Other than journalism, public relations (PR) has formed the most significant part of my career over the last two decades. Meet Samantha Dybac, founder of The PR Hub, a public relations and talent management agency for entrepreneurs and business leaders wanting to raise their profile...

Leadership is a term that has many connotations, some good, some less so – from power and influence to narcissism and dictatorships. Sonia McDonald has made harnessing the best of leadership into her business. She can often be found delivering insightful, personal key notes talks on the subject, or coaching leaders across the country. As the founder of Leadership HQ, an author, e-magazine creator...

Who doesn’t long to be more creative? After all the best ideas in business and beyond are created not copied. Kelly-Ann Denton is the Chief Visual Officer at ‎imagineer.me, an agency which works with The Visual Mind and Neuroscience, in order to guide individuals toward more innovative and pre-determined realities. Kelly-Ann Denton commenced a visual language and visual culture practice in 1993. S...

The idea of decluttering excites me. As someone who has moved house over 20 times, it makes sense to keep it simple. In fact I dream of residing in a hotel one day. Meet Anita Birges, who makes a living from organising others. Anita has completed her Professional Organiser Training, and is a registered member of IOPO (Institute of Professional Organisers). She is a former real-estate agent with a...

  Start-Ups are everywhere in the current business landscape, but how many of them are profitable, sustainable or even around five years after they launch? Some of the more conservative statistics say that over 50% will fail. Sue-Ellen Watts or Sel as she is known by many –is a successful business leader, entrepreneur and a real start-up champion. Her first business wattsnext has been from st...

Who doesn’t love the feeling of walking into a beautifully designed house, hotel or workspace? Interiors can ignite feelings, create memories and even affect how productive we are on an everyday basis.  Today I am interviewing Emma Blomfield, an accomplished stylist and author who has creatively reframed how we view Interior Design. She has taken her sharp design knowledge to the masses with...

Anneke van den Broek is the Founder and CEO of Rufus & Coco, Australia's fastest growing and most awarded pet brand. Launched in 2008, the company is re-shaping the pet industry by offering ranges of well-branded and packaged product, covering horses to hamsters and from pet grooming tools to vitamins. Anneke has capitalized the global phenomenon of people viewing their fur babies or pets as h...

At first glance, the story of Emma Veiga-Malta may appear pretty ordinary. A mother who has launched a successful creative business from her artistic studio, while raising a family and supporting her husband’s career is not so special these days. Emma is the founder of Bespoke Backdrops, a design company changing the world of video backdrops one brushstroke at a time. However, to gloss over her st...

Getting fit and staying fit is high on the agenda for many people the world over. However, often sickness, work and family responsibilities get in the way of our regular exercise program.  My guest today is Lizzy Williamson, a former dancer turned social media sensation and author of her first book called ‘Two Minute Moves’ which smashes the myth we don’t have time to get fit. She has a backs...

Journalism is a subject that means more to me than almost anything else. I started my career as a print journalist 20 years ago, but I actually held a passion for the daily news world even as a young child. Today’s guest is Julie Posetti is an award-winning Australian journalist and academic. She is the author of a major UNESCO study,  Protecting Journalism Sources in the Digital Age , publis...

We are learning more about the links between ‘gut health’ and chronic conditions, such as acne, irritable bowel and even cognitive function. Rebecca Coomes is an author, presenter, and coach who, spent most of her life feeling sick, has found the way to healing her gut. Today she helps others do the same. Rebecca is the author of the world’s first SIBO cookbooks and is the host of the  SIBO C...

If you had to choose the best social media platform for doing business, it would surely be LinkedIn. This interview is with Alex Pirouz, CEO of Linkfluencer.com which Forbes magazine called Australia’s leading LinkedIn training company. The business has educated over 18,000 people in 30 countries across 55 industries. He founded the business in early 2014 with the aim to change and transform socia...

This amazing woman could be forgiven for rejecting the very notion of optimism. At 12 years old, Stacey Copas had a devastating swimming pool accident that left her a quadriplegic, forever dependent on a wheelchair. Though this unquestionably has changed the course of her life, Stacey has used her life experience and personal philosophies to become one of Australia’s leading keynote speaker a...

Networking has mixed connotations for many of us – images of a frenzied business card swap fest in a room filled with new faces is hardly enticing for most people. However, networking can be fun, meaningful and life changing. Just ask my guest today Fiona Craig, a former lawyer, and recruitment consultant turned business coach and the founder of Smart Women Connect – indeed an Australian networkin...

Diem Fuggersberger is the CEO and Co-founder of Berger Ingredients and the Creator of the Coco & Lucas’ Kitchen brand, providing readymade kids meals that caters for kids with allergies. Her self-made success story from refugee without any possessions to a business powerhouse is pure inspiration – showcasing what Australia can do so well as a truly multi-cultural nation. Diem is here to unrave...

Today I am on conversation with Danielle Robertson, founder and CEO of DRC – Care Solutions which she launched in 2015 to fill in the gaps in the care sector and meet the numerous calls for assistance in navigating the services offered in the aged, disability and home care.  Many families and people involved in the long-term care of ageing loved ones know too well that the pressure to make su...

Who else wants to find their inner genius? My guest today in Episode #26 can help us. Yu Dan Shi works assisting professionals and entrepreneurs to find clarity in their life, so they can focus on what really matters. Her approach has come from her own experience of being a successful business executive juggling the demands of raising a young family, and really not feeling that despite the way tha...

Dr. Michael Kimmel is a well-known authority on gender, men, and masculinities, even being named by The Guardian UK as “the world’s most prominent male feminist”. I saw him speak at TEDX Sydney in 2016 and was enthralled by his common touch, his wisdom and often heartbreaking yet relevant insights, backed by his impressive academic kudos. Among his many books are  Manhood in America, Angry Wh...

In episode #26 we are getting to know Jacqui Ma who is a UK-based trend forecaster and designer specialising in the world of accessories. She spent eight years as Director of Accessories at the world’s leading fashion trend forecasting company WGSN, before Jacqui started her own consultancy called Trendfields. Consulting to brands as diverse as Amazon Fashion to advertising agency BMB, Jacqui’s wo...