Shows
Engaging Conversations | Inspiring Dialogue, Empowering Communities#29 - Orange Ribbons and Second Chances: A Birthday Interview in Kalipay with Astrid HockingSend us a textWhat happens when compassion crosses continents? Astrid Hocking, Lake Macquarie's Woman of the Year, joins us live from the Philippines to share her extraordinary journey of protecting the vulnerable and building resilient communities.From the orphanage that rescues children from trafficking to teaching young mothers income-generating skills, Astrid reveals how small acts of kindness create profound change. Her stories are breathtaking – finding an abandoned baby in a plastic bag who's now thriving with adoptive parents, watching disabled adults flourish on self-sustaining farms, and seeing traumatised children grow into successful adults simply be...2025-06-1039 minEngaging Conversations | Inspiring Dialogue, Empowering Communities#28 - Rising from Ashes: How Brotherhood Heals Men's Trauma with Dave MartinSend us a textWhat happens when men finally find a space where they can be vulnerable without judgment? Lives transform, connections form, and healing begins.Dave Martin, Director at Survivors R Us and founder of Sons of the Phoenix, knows firsthand the devastating silence that surrounds men's trauma. After experiencing profound loss, including three children, and spiralling into depression that nearly ended his life, Dave discovered something crucial: men desperately need safe spaces to connect with others who understand.Sons of the Phoenix was born from this realisation. Named for the mythical...2025-05-1817 minEngaging Conversations | Inspiring Dialogue, Empowering Communities#27 - Solar Sense: Maximisng Your Energy Potential with Samuel CulhaciSend us a textSolar power isn't just for sunny summer days—it's a year-round investment that transforms your roof into your personal power plant. Samuel Culhaci, a trusted expert from DNR Air Conditioning and Electrical, breaks down the surprising realities of solar energy that most salespeople won't tell you.Did you know solar panels don't need direct sunlight to generate electricity? They work with photons in light, meaning even on cloudy days, you're still producing power. Sam clarifies that this is just one of many misconceptions as he shares his passion for helping homeowners mak...2025-05-0335 minEngaging Conversations | Inspiring Dialogue, Empowering Communities#26 - Leading with Purpose: How to Attract, Engage, and Retain Talent in Business with Trudy MacDonaldSend us a textTransforming workplace culture isn't about quick fixes but fundamentally understanding what drives human performance. Trudy MacDonald, award-winning global keynote speaker and founder of Talent Code HR, brings over two decades of organisational psychology expertise to this illuminating conversation on building high-performance teams, particularly in regional areas.Trudy unveils the psychology behind what motivates young professionals in today's challenging economic landscape. She dismantles the false dichotomy between supportive leadership and accountability, revealing how the most engaging workplaces seamlessly blend both. "If we have high levels of empathy and support without accountability, we...2025-04-1743 minEngaging Conversations | Inspiring Dialogue, Empowering Communities#25 - Service Above Self: A Legacy of Community Impact with Vincent De Luca OAMSend us a textVincent De Luca OAM doesn't just talk about community service—he embodies it. From starting advocacy work at just nine years old to becoming one of Australia's youngest Order of Australia Medal recipients, his journey reveals what happens when someone refuses to look away from society's most challenging issues.Growing up under the guidance of remarkable women activists, Vincent learned early that meaningful change requires courage and persistence. His grandmother (the first woman to surf at Dee Why Beach) and mother (a founding member of Mundaring Netball Association) showed him that se...2025-04-0739 minEngaging Conversations | Inspiring Dialogue, Empowering Communities#24 - Words That Wound: How Everyday Language Shapes Gender Respect with Rachael NatoliSend us a textWhat we say reveals who we are—especially when we think no one's listening.Rachael Natoli, founder of Lokahi Foundation, brings raw honesty and practical wisdom to our conversation about the language that shapes attitudes toward women and ultimately fuels violence. As a mother raising twin boys and leading a foundation supporting abuse survivors, Rachel occupies a unique position at the intersection of personal experience and professional advocacy.We explore how casual phrases like "boys will be boys" create the foundation for disrespect that can escalate to abuse. Rachael sh...2025-03-2836 min