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Employer of Choice Let’s be honest, Employer of Choice isn’t a phrase commonly associated with local Government, but in the case of Singleton Shire Council, it is a title which seems well deserved. Here's some wording proudly displayed on their website: “Our innovative programs targeting staff wellbeing, recognition and inclusion as well as fostering a culture of collective leadership have seen our organisation recognised as an Employer of Choice from the Human Resources Director (HRD) Australia.” In this episode you’ll meet Jason Linnane, General Manager of Singleton Shire Council who shares some great insights into what it means when we say that the health of any organisation is only as good as the health and wellbeing of its people.

Great Expectations, and the changing face of the workplace. with Matt Taylor As workplaces around the world continue to come to terms with the fallout from a once in a lifetime pandemic. One group of people, common to most businesses have been tasked with managing the, sometimes competing expectations of both employers and employees. We are of course talking about HR. Matt Taylor is one such person, a longtime Human resources expert who has been in the thick of this global juggling act, and someone with some very interesting observations when it comes to what we’ve learned so far, how best to navigate our way out, and what a post COVID world could look like for all concerned. Wellbeings & Co trust you get some great insights from our chat with Matt, and even feel a little more optimistic about the future of work.

Are you really doing what you love? with Matt Linnert Being peacefully productive is not just what Matt Linnert aspires to be himself, it’s what he inspires everyone he interacts with to be. From an early fascination with all things mathematical to a desire to educate young people as a schoolteacher, Matt finally hit upon mentoring people in life skills as his absolute sweet spot. Getting there ended up taking him to a very dark, but ultimately transformative place which helped Matt become clear about what it was that would truly feed his soul personally and professionally. So as a life coach (a title that still sits a little awkwardly with him) Matt is always happy to share some great insights into the importance of finding what it is we love and doing more of that. So, as people all around the world continue to reflect on what they’re doing and why they’re doing it, we at Wellbeings & Co trust you’ll get a great deal out of this conversation with our very wise, heart driven friend and fellow wellbeing.

‘Running on empty’ It took a terrifying incident on the M1 between Sydney and Newcastle for Pat Calabria to take the action needed to lift himself out of a huge hole. Pat had been putting everything into his work for so long that he had nothing left in the tank, leaving him literally frozen with anxiety on the side of the road. What he did next is a huge part of Pat’s story, but an even bigger part is how he’s used lessons learned to impact those he has worked with in the sporting world and the broader community. Like Wellbeings & Co, Pat is a huge advocate for awareness and prevention when it comes to our mental and physical wellbeing, and his practical, no-nonsense approach to dealing with the issues we all face in life is bound to resonate with you.

Have you heard about the Blue Zones? with Bec Bowie At Wellbeings & Co we often talk about the ‘Blue Zones’. Five small regions where life expectancy and quality of life are higher than anywhere else in the world. Unwittingly, Bec Bowie has managed to create her own Blue Zone in the form of a café in Newcastle, called Estabar. For the past 17 years Bec has managed to bring the ingredients together which make those Blue Zone regions health and wellbeing hubs. Bec’s passion for eating local, and seasonal, moving regularly, and taking a childlike approach to life has contributed to the health and wellbeing of her little community. All of which makes perfect sense as she takes us back to her upbringing in Taree, on the NSW Mid North Coast. Just like the community Bec serves, you will love her attitude to life.

What works for you?

To say Martin Gillespie has had some personal hurdles to jump over in recent years, is a total understatement. As we continue to bring you stories of people going to extraordinary lengths to improve the health and wellbeing of their communities, Martin’s is sure to resonate with you. Originally hailing from Glasgow, this enthusiastic, funny, (yes, he reminds me of Billy), champion of holistic wellbeing tells it like it is, warts and all, and makes perfect sense at the same time. A great combination of life experience, and focused, extensive research. Enjoy

Paul Harrison has served in the military, been a first responder, and worked for many years in the security industry. All of which led him down a path many struggle to come back from. Paul’s life was saved by a friend who took the simple step of checking in on him at what turned out to be a critical moment. Like so many people who come that close to death, Paul has made the most of his second chance at life by devoting himself to helping others turn their lives around. In the years since Paul took this direction, he has amassed an enormous amount of knowledge around mind health He tells his story and shares insights simply and honestly, and we know you’ll get an enormous amount out of listening to this episode.

Wellbeings & Co Podcast notes Ep 11 Soul of the Earth Spending time with proud indigenous woman Maree Edwards is always a rewarding and enriching experience, and this conversation is no different, as we discuss the focus given to health and wellbeing her workplace and finding more effective ways to reconcile the differences between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. Maree also talks openly about how hard she’s worked on her mental health over the years, and how along that path has been reminded of the universal healing powers of nature, combined with sharing the ancient wisdom around Aboriginal culture throughout the broader community. When it comes down to it, our overall wellbeing will always be enhanced by enriching human connection. And the need to listen to understand in order find empathy has never been greater than it is right now. Enjoy our yarn.

Let’s face it, we’ve all been blindsided by the events of 2020, left feeling uncertain, challenged and frustrated on all fronts. Going into the new year will continue to be a readjustment period, and attaining permanent stability will not be possible in 2021 on a global or national scale, everything will simply still be too much in flux. In this episode, Garth and Suze want to provide you with some foundations for the future, sharing their philosophy of how to maintain balance and a calm state of mind, and remind you of the importance of setting yourself up to be compassionate and resilient amongst the continuing uncertainty. So, the goal for 2021 is that we search for stability, accept the seas are still tempestuous, keep our ship upright, and refocus on navigating to our new normal.

When Susie sat down to have a chat with her dad, Mike, on the eve of his 85th birthday, she wasn’t overly surprised to hear how his simple life philosophy has positively impacted his health and wellbeing for all these years.

Shereen Lister always wanted to be a teacher. And, being a very organised and driven sort of person, she achieved her dreams and became a high school drama teacher when she left school. But bubbling underneath Shereen's hard work and focus was something else. Something that would eventually lead to the wheels falling off, well and truly... In this episode, Shereen shares her story, and tells Garth how she has used her own experiences to begin to help others deal with burnout and anxiety.

Tony Rhodes became a plumber when he was fifteen, but soon realised he was a born leader. In this episode you’ll hear how Tony grew from the sort of boss everyone feared, to the sort of leader most of us aspire to be. His philosophy around putting the people first, and watching your business prosper is a case study not to be missed. Full of self-reflection, honesty, and pearls of practical wisdom. Enjoy!

How easy would life be if we discovered the secret to building good habits and breaking bad habits? In this episode we look at how bad habits are formed, why they can be so hard to break, and how thanks to a little thing called ‘the Habit Loop’ we can take more control of our daily behavioural patterns.

Who can argue that courage is a universally admired quality and something everybody wants? It is also a topic of discussion and a source of great interest, as it is something that appears to be in short supply at moment. Philosophers have been debating it’s worth for centuries, while a range of research interests such as psychology, leadership, education and sociology came in later focusing more on fear than on courage. In this episode we delve into the various characteristics of courage and help clarify the benefits that being courageous bring to our lives, especially when it comes to our health and wellbeing. 

It’s not often you get to sit with a Balinese spiritual healer and talk about the simplicity and wholistic health effects of yoga. That’s just what I did recently when Ketut Arsana, also known as Sri Guru, paid a visit our home town. Inhale: calm your body, exhale: smile and relax as this amazing practitioner shares his wisdom on something people of all ages can get so many health and wellbeing benefits from.

If the thought of waking up everyday passionate exhausts or overwhelms you, why not try being curious. It's much more achievable and, as Garth and Suze will explain, a lot of fun.

Meet Susie Russell, the co-founder of Wellbeings & co. In this thrilling episode, Susie explains the rash decision for making herself a priority and doing what was necessary to improve her ailing health. Just like putting the oxygen mask on yourself first during a mid-air emergency, Susie explains how the people around her benefitted from the decision to look after herself before taking care of those around her.

Before we go too far, Garth wants to share a bit more about his story, including his slightly whacky upbringing, which set him up on a path of preventative health and personal development. It becomes clear that a mission to turn human beings into thriving wellbeings was inevitable.

Wellbeings & Co is a collective of professionals who have your back when it comes to health, happiness and prosperity. In the first episode, Garth Russell, a seasoned radio broadcaster, actor and wellbeing coach explains the intention of this brand new podcast. Which is to enlighten, entertain and educate you to find simple ways to enjoy a good life through enhanced wellbeing.