WHAT I'VE LEARNT

As the Middle East war rages and innocents on both sides are caught in an unspeakable tragedy  I’m grateful to speak to a beautiful family who have been utterly devastated by the Oct 7 horrors.  A Father's agony: it’s so Heartbreaking  On Saturday morning, Yoni Asher was sent a photo of his two young daughters playing in a family safe room before losing contact with his wife; He later found a...

A Brilliant Life book by Rachelle Unreich I’ve known Rachelle as a fellow journalist for many years sometimes working together and I’ve always respected and admired her - so as she embarks on this very personal story I’m thrilled to have her join me on the WhatIveLearntPodcast podcast  In her new book “A Brilliant Life” Journalist Rachelle Unreich interviewed her mother Mira—a Holocaust survivor—i...

Afghanistan World Literacy Foundation youth ambassador   About N. (Maryam) She is a young leader from Afghanistan. I have a working background as Senior Human Rights & Gender Officer with the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) in north east region. She worked there until mid July 2022. When working with SCA, she had the chance to connect with students and teachers in rural areas of north...

Hi, Welcome to the What I’ve Learnt podcast From food to fashion and art to music we’ve got you covered. We wanted to highlight some amazing moments of the podcast from July to September. This Episode Features Kevin Murphy Is recognized as one of the world's most respected and sought-after session hairstylists and the owner and creator of KEVIN.MURPHY hair products, Kevin has been at the fore...

Trent Dalton  Author  Record-breaking, award-winning and bestselling author Trent Dalton returns with a big-hearted, gritty, magical and moving new novel, Lola in the Mirror. A girl and her mother are on the lam. They’ve been running for sixteen years, from police and the monster they left in their kitchen with a knife in his throat.  They’ve found themselves a home inside an orange 1987 Toyota Hi...

Beyond words, the Literacy Podcast aims to bring together experts and change-makers to discuss crucial issues in creating a literate world, such as access, equity, and the role of technology in learning.  Guests will offer valuable perspectives on how to ensure high-quality literacy education for all. This episode features   Yasmine Sherif , the Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait (ECW) –...

In a distant future, the last human on Earth able to read and write has decided to restore the written word to civilisation. This young girl’s name is Ink, named after the stains of the dark blue liquid that covers her fingers. She lives in a reclusive community in the mountains with no access to technology. After the great revolution, humans abandoned reading and writing, choosing instead to comm...

Documentary Left Write Hook follows eight female survivors of childhood sexual abuse who participate in a 2-year experimental recovery program that combines the physicality of boxing with the emotional power of expressive writing.  The program provides survivors of sexual assault a space to release their memories, reclaim their bodies and imagine new lives for themselves.  Through powerful partici...

David McAllister AC former principal dancer and former artistic director of the Australian Ballet has launched  his second book “Ballet Confidential: A Personal Behind-The-Scenes Guide, in a powerful overview of one of the performing arts' most alluring and mysterious, physically demanding and mentally rigorous art forms.  He says "Today's dancer is a strong, powerful and elite athl...

Julia kay  Great Wrap  Jordan and Julia Kay, the Co-founders of Great Wrap, are reimagining today's materials to solve tomorrow's problems. Their former careers in winemaking and architecture, respectively, led them  to Great Wrap when they recognised the sheer impact plastic waste was having on the land. There was a materials revolution around us, and everything was changing rapidly — y...

Kevin Murphy  Recognized as one of the world's most respected and sought-after session hairstylists, Kevin has been at the forefront of fashion, runway, editorial and film for decades within Australia and internationally. His work has graced the covers of all the major global print publications such as Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition, Marie Claire, Vanity Fair, Inst...

Beyond words, the Literacy Podcast aims to bring together experts and change-makers to discuss crucial issues in creating a literate world, such as access, equity, and the role of technology in learning.  Guests will offer valuable perspectives on how to ensure high-quality literacy education for all. This episode features Mona Jolly , the Transformation Director at PwC and Mussarrat (Musi) Quresh...

Beyond words, the Literacy Podcast aims to bring together experts and change-makers to discuss crucial issues in creating a literate world, such as access, equity, and the role of technology in learning.  Guests will offer valuable perspectives on how to ensure high-quality literacy education for all. This episode features Frances Corcoran, 'The Managing Director' and Selena Whitehead, &...

Hi, Welcome to the What I’ve Learnt podcast From food to fashion and art to music we’ve got you covered. We wanted to highlight some amazing moments of the podcast from May to June. This Episode Features Kate Ceberano: Revered Melbourne artist finds her at the dawn of a new era.  Kates 30th album, My Life Is A Symphony, released this month is a breathtaking celebration of her songwriting, featurin...

Beyond words, the Literacy Podcast aims to bring together experts and change-makers to discuss crucial issues in creating a literate world, such as access, equity, and the role of technology in learning.  Guests will offer valuable perspectives on how to ensure high-quality literacy education for all. This episode features Tom Richardson is Chief Executive Officer of Literacy Planet  Literacy Plan...

“I was alone in the middle of a forest, hanging from a zipline fifty metres above the ground. This was not within my comfort zone: I am a suburban mum whose idea of adventure is to get a double shot of coffee in my mocha. Still, I was with my two daughters on holidays in Tasmania, and we had decided to try ziplining for fun. The journey up the mountain had been exhilarating, but when I reached the...

  Yasmine Sherif , the Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait (ECW) – the United Nation’s global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises – she is spearheading a global movement that delivers education to those left furthest behind in crisis settings.  Under her leadership, in just a few short years, ECW has mobilized over  US$1.5 billion dollars, and reached more than 7 millio...

Silva McLeod  This is the life story of Silva Mcleod, the first Tongan woman to become an airline pilot. She’s still one of only a handful. Told by Silva with frankness and wit, it’s quite a story. Silva takes us on a journey of cultural change from her beginnings as a poor island girl to her marriage to an Australian. The challenges of pursuing a flying career and its impact on her family are set...

Madi Franquiz  Youth Ambassador  At just 25 years old, Madi Franquiz stood on the floor of the United Nations 77th General Assembly to advocate for kids who missed the same benchmark as her: the 3rd Grade Literacy Benchmark. The “3rd Grade Benchmark,” is indicative of future success a child will have in school. It was a benchmark that I missed.  Living in poverty during her 2nd grade year, Madi&ap...

Hi, Welcome to the What I’ve Learnt podcast From food to fashion and art to music we’ve got you covered. We wanted to highlight some amazing moments of the podcast from March to April. This Episode Features Elia Donati: A passionate young entrepreneur who has a deep appreciation for his Italian heritage and the power of food to bring people together. Having spent the past nine years in Australia,...

Mona Jolly and Mussarat Quereshi  PwC New York  Guided by  purpose to build trust in society and solve important problems, the PWC community in NYC know they have an obligation to the communities in which they live and work. At a time in which establishing trust is more important than ever, they work to not only support communities directly but to empower their people to promote initiatives that a...

Revered Melbourne artist Kate Ceberano’s ruby anniversary finds her at the dawn of a new era.  Kates 30th album, My Life Is A Symphony, released this month is a breathtaking celebration of her songwriting, featuring her most iconic songs, Brave and Pash, and personal favorites from across her four-decade recording career, reimagined with Kate at a new peak of command amid the grandeur of the Melbo...

Well fresh from joining the powerhouse World Literacy Summit at Oxford in the UK featuring speakers and guests from over 85 countries and hundreds of literacy advocates. Her passion grew out of her concern for illiteracy and the lifelong impact on young people especially if they become an adult and are unable to read and write.   Samantha recognised digital was fast moving and changing the world,...

Ilana says “My birthday was coming up and I never celebrate my birthday normally, but for my 50th I said, ‘This is one I want to spend with my friends and family’. We started thinking about a nice gathering as well as an overseas trip. We had so many plans, I don’t even remember them now.   Then cancer came and changed things. At the time I was going through menopause and there were a lot of chang...

Elia Donati is a passionate young entrepreneur who has a deep appreciation for his Italian heritage and the power of food to bring people together. Having spent the past nine years in Australia, he has blended his cultural background with his experiences to create a unique approach to food service and entertainment.  Elia believes that food is not just about nourishment but also about evoking emot...