Kurt Fearnley's Tiny Island

Major Robert Mitchell has dedicated his life to protecting Australia. He's currently serving in the Australian Defence Force, running programs that make a real difference in the lives of returned service men and women. He's also worked as a cop in regional NSW.

As a teenager, Novocastrian Sjana Earp suffered from bullying, anxiety and depression. Until she found a passion for life through yoga, travel, photography and writing. Sjana has built a career out of sharing and teaching yoga across the globe and is an advocate for self-acceptance and body confidence, mental health, equality and the environment. She's also self declared hugger! 

Like me, Jeff Horn is a school teacher but it's probably not what he's best known for. He held boxing's WBO welterweight title from 2017 to 2018 and as a rising star represented Australia at the London Olympics. But it's probably his 2017 win over Manny Pacquiao where he made his name. We cover a lot of ground in this interview.  Kids, his anti-bullying work even if a comeback is on the cards.  

As attention turns to Tokyo for the Olympics, it was great to have a yarn with someone who knows Japan close to as well as any Australian, and who is also engaged in elite sport. Melanie Brock connects people in Japan with Australians through a variety of roles, including as an ambassador for Advance.org, the professional network for global Australians. She's also involved with the Minerva Network, a group of women supporting Australian women in the business of sport. 

You might know Dan MacPherson from one of many different roles. Triathlete, police officer on The Bill, Dancing with the Stars host, sci fi or stage actor, he definitely packs a lot in! Dan is a genuinely lovely bloke and it was wonderful to finally sit down and have a chat about a few of the different hats he's worn. 

Who can forget seeing the wonderful Libby Trickett (nee Lenton) on our TV screens, winning Olympic Gold and smashing World Records? But an athlete's career extends before and after their moment in the limelight, and it can be a tough road. While getting to the start line is one thing, it's the days, weeks and years post sporting career which are probably the toughest. Libby and I had a great catch-up, chatting about life in the Olympic bubble, mental health, parenting, Bluey, podcasts and how we spend our post-racing lives. 

I've been out and about gathering some great yarns for you all and will be back soon!

Some TV shows transcend the market they are directed at and Bluey is definitely in that category. Especially in my house! Daley Pearson is a co founder of Ludo Studio, the Brisbane-based production company behind Australia's most watched TV series which has more than 350 million downloads and is now a global hit. Ludo has won three Emmy Awards, a Logie and a few others things along the way. And Daley is a Marvel Universe hero too, starring as Thor's roommate, Darryl, in Taika Waititi's Team Thor comedy series.

Bob Brown has lived a life of activism. From nearly 30 years in state and federal Parliament to leading a truck convoy protesting against a coal mine and establishing his own foundation which 'takes action for Earth', Bob has been on the frontline for decades. Oh, he's also a trained medical doctor, Australia's first openly gay Member of Parliament and has publisher nearly a dozen books.

John Morris is a rugby league legend, playing 300 first grade games before his career was ended by injury. He transitioned to coaching straight away, taking charge of the Cronulla Sharks first grade team while still in his 30s, leading them to consecutive finals appearances in the midst of Covid, a transitioning playing list and other controversy. We spoke just before the 2021 season kicked off. Six weeks later, the Sharks sit just outside the finals spots and John has been sacked by his club. Listen to our yarn and I'm sure you'll agree with me, that John's resilience will ensure he has a strong future in the game.

Natasha Stott Despoja entered the Australian Parliament in her twenties and went on to represent South Australia and the Australian Democrats for 13 years, including a period as leader. Post politics, Natasha has worked in the media and led a life of service. She is most well known for her work in gender equality and in 2020 was elected to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, becoming Australia's first member of the committee in 28 years. 

Many international listeners would identify Australia's beach-going lifestyle with one patch of sand in Sydney, largely thanks to today's guest and his colleagues. Born and bred in Bondi, Andy "Reidy" Reid is most well-known for his role as a lifeguard on worldwide TV hit, Bondi Rescue. There's more to Reidy than his day job and subsequent TV fame. Entertainer, athlete, documentary star. An all round great Aussie. 

Polish-Australian Felicia Jedrasiak spent her teenage years in a German concentration camp and working as forced labour on a soldier's farm. Yet her life has been full of so much joy. Mrs Jay has lived an extraordinary life. From the tiny village of Ruda Różaniecka in Poland, to Majdanek concentration camp, and a refugee camp in Italy where she found her life love, before making her way to Cabramatta in Sydney's west. Felicia's son Peter, my cousin, also jumps in on this episode to help join some dots. 

Reece Hignell has a lifelong love of food. In particular, his Nan's cakes. Reece's passion took him to Australian MasterChef twice, and more recently to open his own bakery, Cakeboi in Newcastle. While people are travelling from across the country to nab one of Reece's cakes, I'm fortunately, or unfortunately if you ask my retired athlete body, just a couple of blocks away. 

Di Pass has spent the last 20 years recruiting people for jobs, including the 12,000 people who worked at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.  She was also one of the first people to believe enough in me to sponsor me. 

Alex McKinnon was an up and coming 22 year old rugby league first grader when his life changed in one infamous tackle. The spinal injury he suffered, meant no more footy and life in a wheelchair. We chat parenting with a disability, finding your place in life post sporting career and reflect on what its like as a wheelchair user in Australia.

Peter V'Landys loved horse racing and rugby league, sports followed by millions of Australians. As an administrator the goal was to contribute to one. Then he was appointed to roles in both, working concurrently in two of the highest profile sports administration jobs in the country. When Covid hit V'Landys applied what he'd learnt in horse racing to rugby league with the NRL one of the first sports worldwide to operate in this global pandemic. 

Have you ever wanted to quit your day job and follow your passion? David 'Jimmy' Cox did this a couple of years ago and now has a successful microbrewery in Dungog.       

Dan Ilic is prolific. In front of the camera and at the mic, behind the camera, producing and directing, writing and performing. But Dan's Aussie story is more than his work and it was wonderful to get his take on what it means to be an Australian.

Today is Australia Day. My thoughts around this day have changed over the last couple of decades, even more so in recent years. I know people have differing relationships with this day and what it means to be Australian. It's complicated. Here are a few snippets from previous guests diving into the premise of Tiny Island, about what it means to them to be Australian.