Listen Now

Yael is best known for her portrayal of Lorna Morello in Orange is the New Black. It’s her talent on the screen and stage that have gifted her the skills to bring to her latest endeavours around climate change. Yael is an actor turned activist. Her credits are long and I’m sure I’ll miss some of the most important one’s here so please dive more into Yael’s body of work. OITNB ran for 7 seasons and has been honoured with multiple SAG Award for Outstanding Comedy Ensemble award wins and Emmy Award Nominations for Outstanding Comedy and Outstanding Drama. Yael recently appeared in the See-Saw Films/AMC series Firebite. Other recent streaming credits include Wellmania, High Maintenance, Childhood’s End, Picnic at Hanging Rock and Deep Water where she received Logie Nomination for Most Outstanding Actress. In Jan 2020 at the height of the Australian bushfires, Yael announced that she would be abandoning her US Green Card, with major impact on her transatlantic film career, returning home to Australia as a symbol of her commitment to reducing CO2 emissions. Since then Yael founded Hi Neighbour; an organisation that uses solar projects to fund scholarships for local workers training for Technical Low Carbon jobs. She’s currently studying Sustainable Communities at University of Wollongong. www.hineighbour.com.au. A story-teller, a connector of people, and skilled in the art of ‘standing in someone else’s shoes’, soak up this conversation with the ever-delightful Yael Stone.

Jana Pittman has represented her country at three Olympic Games, and her story is a roller coaster of triumph, defeat, failure and success.   Two times World Champion, four times Commonwealth Champion in athletics, she swapped the track for the ice joining the Australian Women’s bobsleigh team, to become the first women to represent Australia in both a Summer and Winter Olympic games. After sport she again shifted focus and qualified as a medical doctor. Jana is wife and mother to 6 beautiful children. She has conquered many hurdles in life including being the final women standing in the recent celebrity television show SAS Australia. Her resilience and passion for life is overflowing. Jana has just released her book ‘Enough’, where she shares her life: the good, the bad and the ugly. Her stories of sport, medicine, divorce, miscarriage, loss, solo parenting, and media shenanigans are told without embellishment or excuses. In this conversation we dive into Jana’s perspective on failure and why we should put ourselves in the way of failure more often. We talk about the chase for success vs the acceptance of the way things are, and why despite her ‘resume’ of achievements Jana is still unsure whether she’ll be able to achieve her next goal. This is a conversation for us all - soak up the stories and real talk with the insightful Jana Pittman. https://www.janapittman.com/ https://www.booktopia.com.au/enough-jana-pittman/book/9781760687991.html

‘An adventure is a journey with an unknown outcome’. Which begs the question, what is our relationship like with the unknown? What does it take to step out into an adventure and let go of the outcome? In this episode I chat once again with the incredible endurance athlete and beautiful friend Samantha Gash. I first chatted with Sam in Episode 105 of this podcast - in that convo we dived more into her background and drive towards adventures - so definitely check that out. Sam is an accomplished lawyer turned endurance athlete - and may be well-known to you after two appearances on Australian Survivor. In this episode we dive into Sam’s latest adventure - hiking across the Nepal (yep Sam loves to find a country and adventure across it). Sam shares some of the insights she is discovering as she starts to consolidate and reflect on this achievement. We talk about putting ourselves in the way of challenges and exploring resilience. And we dive into ‘Her Trails’ which is a female adventure community which Sam & Bec Wilcox started during the pandemic. One of the keys to facing challenges and the unknown are the deep relationships we create and invest in along the way. At her heart Sam is a gatherer of people. If adventure and your relationship with the unknown are things you are ready to explore, then soak up this conversation with Samantha Gash. Guest: @samanthagash Host: @alihill Edited by: @strozkiymedia Watch 'Resilience in Motion' documentary at: http://gutsygirlsadventurefilmtour.com.au/tickets/

If you’ve ever ridden the wave of inner criticism because things didn’t go perfectly right then you are going to want to listen to this conversation. Phew - this chat and Katherine’s book were a balm for my striving / ansty soul. Telling a perfectionist to do less, worry less, just lower your expectations doesn’t work. Katherine Morgan Schafler not only knows this but is calling us all to see the superpower in perfectionism to hone the energy for a joy-filled life. Katherine is a New York City based psychotherapist, author and speaker. Formerly on-site at Google, she's worked in a wide range of clinical settings and is the author of the new book, THE PERFECTIONIST'S GUIDE TO LOSING CONTROL: a path to peace and power. You can find more and also see which of the 5 types of perfectionism you might have at: https://www.perfectionistsguide.com/ We go deep in this conversation - about our birthright towards joy, the difference between control and power (hint control doesn’t exist), and tools to come back to what you need and asking for help. My advice? Drop everything you are doing, grab a hot cup of something and soak into the powerful words and invitation that Katherine extends to us all. Host: @alihill Guest: @katherinemorganschafler The book: The Perfectionists Guide to Losing Control

Expressing who you are is a bold act, finding outlets for your identity to shine requires courage. It’s been a consistent theme and drive for today’s guest. Amanda Briskin-Rettig is an Australian-born designer, author of one of the country’s most successful fashion stories and the formidable creative impetus behind label A-ESQUE. In 1996, Amanda founded accessories giant Mimco, and built the brand into a fashion powerhouse over twelve years prior to its sale in 2007. We chat about this journey and where Amanda’s drive for hard-work comes from. In 2012, inspired afresh, Amanda launched A-ESQUE. The label celebrates a rational approach to design that champions traditional artisan skills, high-quality materials, sustainable production methods, and a functional aesthetic. Creativity, expression, beauty and a healthy dollop of I’ve got this drip from this conversation with Amanda. Beyond the labels and success stories is a beautiful conversation about heart, family, and wisdom. Soak up the insights from the generously driven Amanda Briskin-Rettig

Behind the stories we’re drawn to are the story-tellers who create them. The people who see (and sell) the intangible, who captivate our imagination, and make us gasp for breath, shed a tear, laugh out loud and want to share this experience with others. My guests on this episode are extraordinary story-finders, story-sharers, and story-tellers. I was captivated by not only how they bring the TV series and movies they produce to life, but how they work together, lead their company, and honour themselves, each other, their instincts and their work. Angie Fielder and Polly Staniford founded the award-winning production company Aquarius Films, which has built a reputation for bold, female-led projects, diversity both on and off the screen and intelligent, progressive, and inspiring stories. Aquarius produces high-quality films and television series for global audiences that are commercially successful and critically acclaimed.   Film credits include the Academy Award® and Golden Globe nominated Lion, produced in association with See-Saw Films, and starring Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman and Rooney Mara; Berlin Syndrome, Dirt Music, and Wish You Were Here, starring Joel Edgerton and Teresa Palmer, which premiered at Sundance and won two Australian Academy of Cinema and TV (AACTA) Awards, including Best Screenplay, and five Film Critics Circle Awards, including Best Film. And that’s just the tip of the ice-berg of what Angie and Polly have created. 
We chat about the process of producing - what it is and the key role they play in bringing stories to our screens. We have a brilliant conversation about how they navigate uncertainty; and they both shared how they protect the creative energy amongst the busyness of life. There’s something magical, engaging and grounded about this conversation. Enjoy the wisdom and insight from Angie Fielder and Polly Staniford.

At the age of 33 Mel gave her entire divorce proceeds to charity because of a throwaway line by her ex-husband. From there she has built a multi-million dollar business and is driven to removing the taboo that money and to give everyone - especially women the drivers seat to their own financial success. This is an episode you don’t want to miss. Mel shares incredibly openly about her own money stories growing up and how long it took her to realise that she is enough, and well worth financial success. An ex-accountant and ex-financial planner, these days Mel is a money expert and financial educator. She’s the CEO of Melissa Browne Courses and over 1,700 people have now been through her signature program, My Financial Adulting Plan. Mel is passionate about helping women in particular develop financial literacy and achieve financial independence. She's the author of 4 books, including Unf*ck Your Finances and Budgets Don't Work (But This Does). Plus she's the host of her own podcast called 'Uncensored Money' and she’s been featured in everything from the Australian Financial Review to Vogue. Through her vulnerability and focus on our money stories, scarcity mentality and comparison culture, Mel busts myths and lifts the shame many of us feel about money in a judgement-free way. Get ready to uncover your own money stories with the sassy, driven, and determined Mel Browne.

Catherine Velisha is the director of one of the country's biggest horticulture operations Velisha Farms. It won’t take long for you to hear from this conversation that she’s a real go-getter. Having faced severe discrimination throughout her career as a strong female in a male dominated industry, she has smashed through the glass ceiling to build a $40 million company. Now she is rolling out school programmes both locally and nationally to get more females interested in having a career in horticulture - in fact she nearly convinces me to sign up. Because when you think about it - after air and water - fruit and vegetables are the next most important thing in our lives. We talk quite a bit about the tension between farming and consumer expectations - such as seasonal fruit, shape of fruit. Catherine believes that a broader education and conversation between farmers and consumers is required for truly sustainable practices. Catherine is smashing the perception that farming is a man's world. Women were only legally recognised as farmers in Australia in the 1990s - prior they were only known as a farmers wife. 25 years later, we are still feeling these repercussions yet Catherine is paving the way for females to get into these roles and showing them that they can be leaders and succeed in it. Soak up the tenacity that is Catherine Velisha. https://www.velishafarms.com/ Host: @alihill

Erin Deering is an Australian entrepreneur and co-founder of global swimwear brand, Triangl. From pioneering neoprene cuts and the influencer effect, Erin, alongside her co-founder, successfully grew Triangl into a USD$200 million-valued company that gained cult status with women around the world.   In 2015, Erin broke onto the BRW Rich List as a result of Triangl’s success, which at its peak, averaged over USD$200,000 a day in sales and in 2015/16, jumped $50 million in revenue. But it's important to realise that there's often more to the story than flashy headlines. Erin shares her raw and honest story of her mental health struggles and the sense of feeling lost and alone. The journey back to herself hasn't been easy, but it's been worth the investment. In 2018, Erin exited the business and today, lives in Melbourne with her four children. A sought-after keynote speaker, Erin is an advocate for mental health and is passionate about educating other women on how to achieve balance, while simultaneously chasing their dreams. She is in the process of launching an advisory business, which is due to launch in late 2022.

From banker to boots, Dani Holloway has a story to share. Growing up on a dairy-farm in Gippsland Victoria, Dani moved to Melb to study journalism and communication which ultimately landed her a role in the banking world. As often happens opportunity grows from frustration. Dani was navigating the wet weather in Melbourne - have grown up in gumboots - noticed a gap in the market that would help the city-siders gets to work with dry feet. In 2014 Dani quit her job in banking, wrote a business plan and launched Australian Gumboot company Merry People. We chat about navigating the growth of this business, the building of the aim of Merry People - inspiring women to adventure - and the core values the brand lives by. Dani also shares practical ways she keeps the important things front of mind amongst the busyness of CEO’ing, mothering, and adventuring. Enjoy this insightful conversation with the CEO and Founder of Merry People, Dani Holloway. Producer & Host: @alihill Guest: Dani Holloway - https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-holloway-10108569/?originalSubdomain=au Business: @merrypeople & https://merrypeople.com/

Today’s guest is story-teller, and in this conversation we travel across countries, stories, and experiences that will captivate you. Pip Drysdale is a bestselling author, musician and actor. She grew up in Africa, Canada, and Australia, became an adult in New York and London, and lives on a steady diet of coffee, dreams, and literature. Her debut novel, The Sunday Girl, was a bestseller and has been published in the United States, Australia, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. The Strangers We Know was a bestseller, shortlisted for The Ned Kelly Award, and is being developed for television, and The Paris Affair was also a bestseller. Her fourth book, The Next Girl, is out in Australia and NZ in December 2022 and Canada in Spring 2023. Pip shares a bit about her compulsion to write each day (as long as there’s coffee), how she navigates her time and energy and what she’s learnt about life from some key experiences - one in particular she shares of being in a car accident when she was 17. Stories connect us all, telling them with strength and vulnerability as someone who continues to explore life the ever engaging, Pip Drysdale. Key People: Host & Producer: @alihill Guest: @pipdrysdale Connect with Pip: https://pipdrysdale.com/

Grief, it strikes all of us. Sometimes it creeps up and other times we experience it through sudden moments. Making the topic of grief more open and less awkward are two incredible friends. Sally Douglas and Imogen Carn are the creators and co-hosts of Good Mourning, a podcast and online support community on a mission to normalise talking about grief, through wholehearted conversations with honesty and humour. They joined “the club” - a club that no-one really wants to be a part of - when their mums both died suddenly just months apart in late 2019 and early 2020. Noticing a lack of resources that talked about grief in a candid way, they launched Good Mourning to shine a light on the realities of grief, to provide support and education on what loss is really like. In this conversation we chat about navigating grief, what surprised them about their own grief experiences, the importance of setting boundaries and what their guilty pleasures are. If grief is something you are currently experiencing it’s important to reach out. Good Mourning have great resources and always know that you can reach out to LifeLine on 13 11 14. Sal & Im’s connection, humour and care are infectious. Lean into this important conversation with Sal & Im. Thanks to: Host & Producer: @alihill Guests: @goodmourningpodcast Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/goodmourningpodcast/ Website: https://www.goodmourning.com.au/#1 Thanks to podcast sponsor: https://pragmaticthinking.com/

Emma Carey is known as ‘The Girl who fell from the sky’. 9 years ago she was involved in a sky-diving accident whilst travelling through Europe, falling to the ground over 4.5kms - an occurrence that is so rare and the result of a split second circumstance. This accident left her paralysed and she shares her story and lessons about the pure ‘longing for life’ she experienced in the moments before impact, the epiphany and decision to make the most of her circumstance, and why she has a tattoo of the date of her accident on her arm. Em’s story is filled with humanity of someone who’s travelling on a path and figuring it out along the way. She shares with compassion almost the sense of guilt mixed with elation of learning to walk again. She highlights the incredible power all of us have to adapt to the circumstances in front of us. Em’s story is also shared in her first book ‘The Girl Who Fell From The Sky’ - although as you’ll hear this is unlikely to be her last book. Warmth, compassion, realness and rawness all come through in this conversation with Emma Carey. Key People: Host & Producer: @alihill Guest: @em_carey Book: 'The Girl Who Fell From The Sky' Publisher: @allenandunwin

The ‘C’ word - the big ‘C’ - that’s the topic of this episode. Of course I’m referring to confidence. Provocative?? When you consider how many of us wish we had more of it - yes it is. Mel Schilling is someone who has researched and worked in the field of confidence across her 20 year career. You might know her as the relationship expert on Married at First Sight - both the Australian and the UK versions - or through her multiple media and TV appearances over the last five years. She is a specialist in human behaviour and performance. She has built a career as a therapist, business consultant and leadership coach for high-performing people. This episode got me thinking and feeling deeply - I think it will for you too. We navigate the shitstorm of hard things and set-backs, the continuum of confidence, and Mel provides really practically, really accessible tools to get out of our own way. After an hour, you will feel more confident - I promise you. So get ready to dive into what’s holding you back with the beautiful Mel Schilling.

When it comes to medical drama’s we’ll often think about Grey’s Anatomy, ER or even House. What’s missing from these drama’s is the perspective of the female Doctor and the truth behind a medical system that truly needs an overhaul. Dr Neela Janakiramanan is a reconstructive plastic surgeon with expertise in complex hand and wrist surgery. She is a seasoned public speaker and advocate on issues including health equity, gender equity and diversity, and inclusion. Neela is a regular contributor to Women’s Agenda, and has also written for The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, The Saturday Paper, and often appears on ABC’s The Drum. Outside of seeing patients, Dr Neela has turned her hand to fiction writing. Her latest book, The Registrar offers a rare insight into the world of a surgeon-in- the-making from one who has survived it. Dedicated and ambitious, Emma Swann is about to start a gruelling year as a surgical registrar at the prestigious Mount teaching hospital. Emma quickly experiences escalating stress as a registrar. It’s an arduous, unremitting slog of twenty-hour days, punishing schedules, life and death decisions – and very little assistance, instruction or support from her superiors, who waste no time pointing out just how superior they are. Amidst a background culture of humiliation and bullying, being a woman just makes things worse: misogyny is rife and Emma is subjected to other, more insidious, kinds of male attention. This gripping novel goes behind the headlines to reveal the human experience of being both a doctor and patient in a medical system at breaking point. Soak up the new perspectives and lived experiences shared by this deep thinking advocate, Dr Neela Janakiroamanan. Roll-call: Host & producer: @alihill Guest: @drneelaj Book: 'The Registrar' published by Allen & Unwin Dr Neela's Website: https://drneela.com.au/

Many of you may remember today’s guest when he shot to fame in Australia in 2011 on The X-Factor. His biggest stage now though is facing a terminal diagnosis of brain cancer. His story and this conversation about how he’s facing this diagnosis is remarkable. When we talk about living boldly, Johnny Ruffo embodies this approach. Johnny has performed onstage with international hip hop superstars Salt ‘N Pepa & toured with One Direction, Backstreet Boys and NKOTB. (new kids on the block) After finishing in the top 3 on X-Factor 2011, Johnny went on to win Dancing with the Stars in 2012 & shortly after Johnny arrived in Summer Bay as Chris Harrington and was a regular on Home and Away until 2016. In this conversation Johnny shares how he’s been part of some extraordinary experiences from his first ‘gig’ at the bowl to meeting Beyonce. Johnny shares how his world was turned upside down 5 years ago when he woke in hospital to be told he’d had brain surgery to remove cancer. Johnny is continuing to undergo treatment for his disease and is real, pragmatic, about his prognosis. Johnny has recently added Author to his list of talents with the up coming release of his first memoir ‘No Finish Line’. Enjoy the down-to-earth, engaging, and reflective stories shared by Johnny Ruffo. Key Peeps: Host: @alihill Guest: @johnny_ruffo Book: 'No Finish Line' https://www.booktopia.com.au/no-finish-line-johnny-ruffo/book/9781760687373.html?source=pla&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7rLrnNqI-QIVfpJmAh3NmQWVEAQYASABEgI9x_D_BwE Publisher: @hatchetteaus

Many of us dream of staying as young as possible as long as possible - the dilemma is which pills, potions, programs are going to help us doing this? Trained in paediatrics, Dr Norman Swan was one of the first medically qualified journalists in Australia, with a broadcast career spanning more than 30 years. He currently hosts Radio National's The Health Report and co-hosts Coronacast. He also reports on 7.30 and is a guest reporter on Four Corners; appears on The Drum and is an occasional host of Radio National Breakfast. Dr Norman Swan has ventured into the area of longevity, and his latest book, ‘So you want to live younger longer?’ is the ultimate guide on what you can do at any age to stay young and healthy longer. We dive into the research around movement, nutrition, supplements, and for me the reminder that our brain and body are deeply connected as we navigate ageing means that how we feel, think, and level of perceived control over our experiences are just as important. No matter what your age, So You Want to Live Younger Longer? gives you the information you need to make your own choices without wasting your time and money This is a great conversation that I know you’ll get as much out of it as I did. Soak up the insights, and thinking from Dr Norman Swan. Key Peeps: Host & Producer: Ali Hill @alihill Guest: Dr Norman Swan @norman.swan Book: https://www.hachette.com.au/dr-norman-swan/so-you-want-to-live-younger-longer-the-ultimate-guide-to-longevity-from-australia-s-most-trusted-doctor

Time. It’s seems to be moving quicker every year, it’s something we wish we had more of, and we are intrigued by those who you use it wisely. In this episode we’re going to dive into strategies and tools used by some of the worlds most successful people. Dr Amantha Imber is an organisational psychologist and founder of behavioural science consultancy Inventium. Amantha’s thoughts have appeared in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Entrepreneur and Fast Company, and in 2021, she won the Thinkers50 Innovation Award, which recognises the thinker who has contributed the most to the understanding of innovation globally over the last two years and was the first Australian to do so. Amantha is also the host of the number one ranking business podcast How I Work, where she interviews some of the world’s most successful people about their habits, rituals and strategies for optimising their day. Over three years later, with over 3 million podcast downloads, she has interviewed more than 150 bestselling authors, musicians, entertainers, entrepreneurs and business leaders, to get inside their heads and understand the routines and rituals that enable them to achieve their purpose. In Time Wise, Amantha brings together all the gems she’s learned from her conversations with guests, including Adam Grant, Dan Pink, Cal Newport, Mia Freedman, Turia Pitt, B.J. Fogg, Sandra Sully, Kochie, Gary Mehigan and Gretchen Rubin, to name just some. She is also the author of the bestselling books The Creativity Formula and The Innovation Formula. In this episode we unpack how ways of working has changed, especially across the last few years. Why having an experiment mindset changes how we look at our habits, and how this approach has guided Amantha and her team to have a 4-day work week. This conversation will open up your thinking on how you use your time - it certainly did for me - and provides practical strategies you can put into place today. Soak up the intrigue, insights and inventive approach to living a big life from Dr Amantha Imber.

When a jewellery maker and fashion designer joined forces to put on an event they’d actually want to sell their wares at in 2008 little did they know they were launching the start of a sustainable business. Brooke and Sarah are the co-founders of Finders Keepers, where communities come together to shop, explore and discover the very best from designers, makers and entrepreneurs in the country. They pioneered curated design markets in Australia and then navigated through COVID times of 2020 and beyond where face-to-face events disappeared. In this conversation we talk about the role of community; and in times of crisis why listening to your community is key to survival. We unpack courageous creativity - what is it, and what it takes to live a creative life, and to support conscious purchasing of hand-made sustainably sourced products. We also touch on navigating leading a growing business in a busy world and how Brooke and Sarah re-charge their own energy. This year Brooke and Sarah have launched Creative Business Summits driving even more inspiration and conversation with their community of creative makers. Most of us want to support small business and they have created a platform to do this. You can find out more at: finderskeepers.com. Step into the community makers and creativity drivers that are Brooke Johnston & Sarah Thornton. @finders_keepers

Occasionally there are conversations that captivate you because of the unique way that an individual has faced a challenge and the choices they’ve made to change the dynamic. This conversation was one of those. Ben Bravery is on a mission to open up a conversation. A conversation between patients and doctors, between those experiencing illness and the system that has been set up to care for the ill - but sometimes leaves them feeling lost and vulnerable. Originally a zoologist and science communicator, at the age of twenty-eight, with his Beijing-based science communications business doing well and a new relationship blossoming, Ben woke from a colonoscopy to be told he had stage 3 colorectal cancer. What’s most fascinating about this conversation is not the cancer diagnosis, but what Ben’s scientific way of viewing the world lead him to do next. In 2018 Ben became a doctor and is committed to advocating for change in Australia's healthcare system. What he didn't expect was how being a patient, and a young one at that, would make him feel. During eighteen long months of treatment, including aggressive chemotherapy, Ben felt scared, overwhelmed, sometimes invisible and often alone. Now, driven by his experience on both sides of the healthcare system, this patient-turned-doctor gives a no-holds-barred account of how he overcame the trauma of his illness to study medicine and shares what he believes student doctors, doctors, patients and their families need to do to ensure that the medical system puts the patient at the very heart of healthcare every day. Enjoy this conversation with the patient doctor - Ben Bravery. Website: https://www.benbravery.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbenbravery/