Reuniting the community and fostering resilience with Julie Ahrens • RMRS E06
Julie Ahrens began her journey as a bonded student teacher, ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities in rural Australia. Drawn by job prospects and adventure, Julie moved from to Berri where her passion for teaching and community blossomed. Julie fully immersed herself in the Riverland lifestyle, cherishing the natural beauty and forming deep connections […]
Healing relationships between humans and dingos with Dr Julie Funnell • Animals and Us E07
Julie grew up in the bushland of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, where her love for animals began with a rescued kitten at age two and a childhood spent exploring nature. That early connection with the environment led her to study Environmental Biology and complete a PhD on bird migration. After working for […]
Working with horses to turn adversity into purpose with Sue Spence • Animals and Us E08
Sue grew up in New Zealand loving horses, always asking for a white pony and feeling happiest when spending time riding and caring for her first ponies and her horse, Lady. As a child with autism and ADHD, Sue felt awkward around humans but found peace and confidence with horses, using time in nature to […]
From chasing promotions to a life built with purpose and authenticity with James Pearson
James grew up in the north of England, earning a degree in politics and economics, working various jobs to support himself after university. He visited Australia for the Olympics and decided to stay. He started working in recruitment, which led to opportunities and a new life here. He thrived in the corporate world, pursuing promotions […]
Stepping up to responsibility in a time of crisis with Simone Bailey • RMRS E05
After being an accountant with the Mid Murray Council, Simone had just been elected Mayor when she suddenly faced a major flood crisis, shifting quickly into immediate disaster management. Simone rallied the community, organising meetings and delivering flyers to get everyone up to speed on flood risks and emergency plans. Simone helped to successfully secure […]
The Power of Perspective and Gratitude: Dinesh’s Path to Making a Difference
In this episode, the host interviews Dinesh Palipana, an extraordinary individual who has achieved remarkable success as a doctor, lawyer, researcher, and disability advocate. Dinesh shares his life story, starting from his childhood in war-torn Sri Lanka, the challenges he faced after moving to Australia, and how those experiences shaped his outlook on life. He […]
Pushing the boundaries of modern medicine to create change with Ben Bravery
Ben was raised by a single mother in Southeast Queensland, who instilled ambition and curiosity, setting the foundation for his diverse and driven future journey. After studying zoology, Ben worked in environmental policy with the Australian Government, but he became disillusioned, realising that meaningful environmental impact required more than policy work. He moved to China […]
From gambling addiction to finding purpose in helping others with Shay Hare
Shay grew up battling insecurities about his appearance and others’ opinions, with family conflicts deepening his feelings of instability and anger. At 13, Shay found gambling through poker, using it to mask inner pain, akin to a drug’s euphoric escape, initiating a lifelong struggle. Raised in a family where gambling was common, Shay’s early exposure […]
From Boat Escape to Refugee Advocate: Mahshid Babzartabi’s Journey to Reclaiming her Next Chapter
In this episode, we explore the harrowing and inspirational journey of Mahshid Babzartabi, a refugee who fled Iran at age 52, as she was unable to endure the constraints of a society that silenced her voice. Confronted with limited legal options for safe emigration, she ultimately embarked on a perilous boat journey to Australia. Despite […]
From Sri Lanka to Australia: Jetha Devapura’s Journey of Resilience, Philanthropy, and Advocacy
In this episode, Emma has a heartfelt conversation with Jetha Devapura, an inspiring CEO and philanthropist who immigrated from Sri Lanka to Australia at the age of 12. Together, they discuss Jetha’s memories of his childhood in Colombo and his transition to life in Australia as a teenager. Jetha shares his academic struggles and eventual […]