Listen Now

I have decided to finish up with Curious Emu, although I may post random episodes, so stay subscribed. This episode Jordan and I talk about our new podcast, Borderless Impact. In our new podcast we chat with locals, expats and experts so you can better immerse yourself in cultures and people around the world, traveling more conscientiously, all while leaving a positive impact wherever you go, wherever you're from, wherever you are.  The launch date is Monday 10th August 2020. www.borderlessimpact.com

In this episode, I bring Flick and Stephen back to share our news about buying a bus to live in. We talk the journey we have taken to getting here, how COVID19 has made us pivot for the better and we share our future plans around tiny houses, travelling around Australia and sustainability and eco-living.

In this episode, we welcome Laura Robertson, whose family came to the USA as refugees from Laos when she was a young child. Laura talks about her challenging childhood, of how it was to live as a first generation American and how she has had to deal with racial discrimination from her Laos family and from Americans. We talk about her journey being born into extreme poverty to now being an author, coach and motivational speaker.

Today we are joined by Yvette Hayes, as we talk about her range of work and business exploits including work in the travel industry, sustainability field, website building and now working for a not-for-profit that helps young entrepreneurs start their micro-enterprise (micro business). In this insightful episode, we talk about sustainability and she shares her views on how Australia's businesses and the economic structure may change and evolve in the coming months and years due to the recent global pandemic. Feel free to contact Yvette with any questions at: yhayes@gsmicrofinance.org.au

In 2019 Deb left the corporate world to take the leap into working remotely.  That is, until COVID19 ground that to a halt and Deb had to pivot. Deb is currently working towards starting an online community called “Find Calm Here” where she brings together various professionals and experts to help people build their lifestyle around a calmness. Visit Deb's photography website: https://www.debschell.com Learn more about Find Calm Here at her website: www.findcalmhere.com

Born in the UK, Colin Clapp identifies as a New Zealander.  He and his partner decided to start a business upscaling businesses, however this ended up making them bankrupt, resulting in their need to sell their home.  After some soul searching they moved to south east Asia with their first child as a Digital Nomad Family to start anew.  And then at the begining of this year, with their 2 daughters they moved to rural France.  We discuss the impact of the pandemic on their life in this strange semi-postapocalyptic world -- their relief that they are waiting out the pandemic not in their small apartment in Asia but in their large farm house, 2 hours south of Paris, allowing them space, and avoiding most of the plague.  Colin talked frankly about the rise and fall of their money and the troubles they went through, finding their path to become a “digital nomad family” and their move to be able to do various online jobs.

We welcome Robin Belek, who didn't pay any rent until she was 35. Leaving home and moving states in the US at 18, she worked various jobs looking after estates, sanctuaries and various properties.  She talks about her experience with the super rich. The last 15 years she has been working in aged care, looking after those at end of their life.   Robin is now looking at returning to looking after properties around the world.

We talk about Isaac Mendaro’s 7 years in politics, where he transitioned from volunteer to a paid worker. We discuss his passions and drives that took him into the political direction, and then how his focus changed leading him to follow other dreams. He has since worked in a range of fields, including in the running industry and online / location independent work such as teaching English online drop shipping, Uber driving and much more. In the last year he has put these jobs aside to work in Notary, which had allowed him to start clearing some debts. It is also work that has so far continued to be a great choice in this current worldwide pandemic.

Meg Zirger joins us again as we talk about the coronavirus. We discuss our different perspectives and experiences, as she shares her time as an American expat living in Spain, having been in lockdown for over a month, and I discuss my life in Chile when it all went down, including also going into full lockdown, then returning to Australia and now being in government funded forced self isolation in a hotel. We talk about our situations and what we have each taken from these experiences. Meg gives great insight on how she has dealt with being in full lockdown and great tips to help you stay sane and healthy in the times to come. Meg is a life coach and gives regular tips on her Instagram @megzirger and does one on one coaching helping create focus and routine, which is especially important in this time.

Join Allison Bradshaw as she talks about her career as a Strength and Conditioning coach: training athletes from college to aspiring professional athletes. She explains how she created an online course to help coaches and other business professionals to further their careers. We also discuss the coronavirus and how it has been affecting us in our online work, as we both teach English online.  Where to find Allison: Facebook: www.facebook.com/allisonbradshawtraining Instagram: www.instagram.com/allisonbradshawtraining Website: www.allisonbradshawtraining.com How to videos: www.allisonbradshawtraining.com/howtovideos

Lauren joins us to tell us about her journey as an Interior Designer.  Her ability to work semi-remotely allowed her to make a last-minute decision to spend a year-long working holiday in Australia with her friend.  We also talk about her experience of being in a small town that was severely affected by the worst Australian Bushfires to date. Find Lauren: Website: www.montdesignco.com Personal Instagram @__larn Business Instagram @montdesignco Show Notes at www.curiousemu.com/ep38

Kaycee Brown worked for many years in the retail world.   However was inspired to move into the online world as a Virtual Assistant.  This year she is creating a mentoring program and agency for aspiring VAs. If you are interested in working as a VA then have a listen to Kaycee’s amazing story, as she gives you great tips to get started and grow in this interesting world. Full shownotes at www.curiousemu.com/ep37

Marie-Louise Corin shares some incredible experiences she has had from her family moving to Australia in her 30s to her travelling around Australia on a motorbike.   She also discussed some of her other amazing and varied ventures she had had along the way, such as becoming a psychologist and starting a cattle farm.   Join us in this expansive episode as Marie-Louise shares her struggles and journey as an expat in Australia and how she has come to call it her home.

Danielle Saxton joins us again in this quick 20 minute episode, as she talks about what it has been like living without a car for a 3 months. We talk about the pros and cons and of course why she got rid of the car in the first place. Are you thinking of being carless? Have a listen, maybe this is for you too

Join regular co-host, Maria Phillips and I as we discuss the benefits of maintaining a regular meditation practice. In this insightful episode, Maria talks through what led her into meditation and details for us her daily meditation routines. We discuss the various forms of meditation (including those based around religious practices) and benefits of each. As little as 1 minute a day can improve your resilience, de-stress you and make your days more productive and focused. I know I've been inspired by this episode, I hope you can be as well! Check out the shownotes at www.curiousemu.com/ep34

In this week's episode we are joined by passionate advocate for living with no waste Julie Abreu, who - underpinned by the primary ideology of 'how would your grandparent's have done it' - shares with us her strategies for reducing waste in everyday life. As Julie shares her story we learn why living with no waste is important and are provided great actionable strategies to use, which also gets us thinking on ways we can reduce waste and help the environment. Do you have things you do to reduce waste which we didn’t mention? Let us know!

In this week's episode, we are joined once again by Lynne Nieman who shares with us her journey of becoming a photographer,  travel planner and writer at what some might feel is a late stage in life. Lynne is an excellent testament to the message of it never being too late to follow your true passions in life. Join us, as we explore the struggles and adventures Lynne has experienced in pursuit of these passions. Particularly the sacrifice of her independence, by deciding to live back at home with her parents in order to reduce her living costs and better pursue her dreams. Lynne is an excellent example of it never being too late to follow your passions; having just began her journey at the age of 45. Despite being at the beginning  Lynne is slowly working towards working for herself fulltime.

Have you noticed most people freak out when the New Year comes around? 'I haven’t done anything I planned to do? I am completely off track' are all familiar monologues heard by people at the end of the year. In this week's episode instead of talking resolutions, featured co-host Maria Phillips and I discuss our top strategies which keep us on track every day, week or month that keep us motivated and knowing we are going in the right direction and in a healthy way. It is by implementing these strategies neither of us have gotten to the end of the year with regret. Let us know some strategies that you use!

In this week's episode, we are joined by Sue Dickens who became hooked on travelling after leaving Australia at the age of 17 for a year-long exchange to Finland. From working as a podiatrist to working in ski resorts chasing the snow for 9 years with her husband, to now being a virtual assistant (VA) and working online Sue has always been looking toward her next trip. Sue shares with us the only constant in her life these days is change. Listen to her incredibly diverse story and if you would like to know more about VA work or hire to hire her you can reach her through her Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SueDVirtualAssistant

In this week's episode we welcome back Mitch Loar to further discuss his work-life journey. From his beginnings as a software engineer, we talk about how Mitch has now become location independent. With more than 10 failed businesses, Mitch acknowledges he has experienced many ups and downs, though he knows they have all led him to where he is now. Mitch shares with us his insight into the advantages of choosing courses over college/university degrees and how these have allowed him to create work and job opportunities that only he is able to do. Mitch looks to spread his mantra ‘if you want something, then make a way’, believing there will always be a way when you're looking