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Max Heerey didn’t know what he was getting into when he invited a fellow Hobart (Aust) runner out for a jog late in 2020. As it turned out, he had just organised a date with Grace Tame, who was named Australian of the Year 2021 just a couple of months later. In this So...podcast episode, Max talks publicly for the first time about his relationship with Grace, an advocate for survivors of sexual assault, particularly those who were abused in institutional settings. From the age of 15, Grace was groomed and raped by her maths teacher, who was later jailed for his crimes. Grace also fought and won for the reform of laws in Tasmania – Australia’s island state - that gagged survivors from speaking publicly and identifying themselves. Max has been by her side the whole time, despite their relationship being so new when she received the award. He reveals how he copes with hearing Grace discuss the abuse she suffered, his pride when she won the award, and how he prefers to keep a low profile. This couple bounce off e

Melbourne based public, performance and contemporary artist, Brett Ashby talks to John McKenna on ‘So…’ podcast about flowing, ‘rolling’, and growth through art, creation, and connection. In his 15-year journey as both a local and international artist, Ashby opens up about how his artistic practice and connections helped him to discover his own story and healing. Using his childhood love of surfing and skating in a flow-state artistic process he calls ‘rolling’, Ashby explores how art can be created through interpreting energy and vibrations. Maybe that sounds a bit different – but that’s his story, and Ashby’s art has become an energetic therapy and avenue to connect with others. In a conversation with John that rolls and flows like Ashby’s art, they discuss his unique skateboard-riding-portrait-painting-process, and how connecting with young people through public art helped him to learn and rediscover his own journey, as well as produce public artworks that made a positive contribution to community. Stay co

Why are all television newsreaders blonde? This is something Antoinette asked herself when she was at the gym almost 4 years ago and confronted with a sea of blonde newsreaders across every news show that was being broadcast. She looked from the TV to the people in the gym and saw people of all cultural backgrounds. She saw that the media was failing to represent Australia’s diverse community. In that moment, Antoinette conceived the idea of Media Diversity Australia, a not-for-profit that advocates for more meaningful diversity within Australian media. Antoinette Lattouf is a Senior Journalist at Network 10, the Co-Founder/Director of Media Diversity Australia and is in the process of adding author to the list. She has built a successful career in Australian media, and as a woman of colour, has experienced firsthand the need for more cultural diversity within the industry. ‘We pat ourselves on the back for being a multicultural country, but we’re only multicultural to a certain point. There are certain insti

International students in the Australian news and media often carry the negative connotations of being "foreign", "problems" that are "exploited". Belle Lim is here to challenge that stereotype. Coming from Malaysia at the age of 17, Belle completed a Bachelor's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences with honours as the Gold Medallist, received the prestigious Victorian Premier Award for International Students of the Year in 2019, and is currently pursuing a PhD degree in cancer genetics. Driven by her personal experience, Belle is also a passionate advocate for international students and women of colour. She is the founder of Future Female conference in Victoria and the national president of Council of International Students Australia. Belle joined the So…Podcast to explore her journey so far. From a shy, reserved girl whose culture praised her for being obedient, to a young woman confident in her quest to empower other women from culturally diverse backgrounds. Belle shared the inner thoughts, confusion and b

CONTENT WARNING: Violence against women and abuse. Violence against women is a major global public health problem. In Australia, one in six women have experienced violence from an intimate partner and more than one woman a week dies as a result of violence against women. PhD candidate Amy Warren and John discuss how this important issue is being addressed in Australia, around the world and what we can do to further these efforts. They look at the impact of fear and stigma, culture, and disability on experiences of abuse. Amy's PhD project, 'Violence against women across the lifespan', explores violence against women across three categories of abuse: child abuse, domestic/family violence, and elder abuse. The project also explores how we can better support women whose experiences don't fit into any of these categories, and how anyone can be a victim/survivor of violence. This episode may cover sensitive or triggering topics. If you feel that you need any support please use one of the below resources. htt

In Australia we live in a world of 'Royal Commissions'. Currently, the conversations are around the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (known as the Disability Royal Commission). To dive into this further, So...Podcast is joined by two prominent people in the disability advocacy and trauma-informed counselling space. Mary Mallet is the CEO of the Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA), which is the peak body for independent disability advocacy in Australia. Dr Cathy Kezelman AM is the President of Blue Knot Foundation which is the National Centre of Excellence for Complex Trauma. Blue Knot operates the National Counselling and Referral Service for people with disability who have experienced violence, abuse, neglect or exploitation. The Disability Royal Commission emerged in response to the years of advocacy and self-advocacy work that aimed to create a platform where people could share their stories and have them heard. It's not surprising that

Children's author and illustrator Trace Balla has always had a great fascination with trees and nature. Growing up, if she felt lonely she found companionship and comfort in the tree that grew in her garden. She called this her 'tree friend'. Trees, Trace says, have seen a lot and felt a lot. They carry a natural wisdom that is difficult for humans to tap into. Trace overcomes this by 'tree connecting', using a physical experience such as a hug to surrender her body into trees and let them hold her and her emotions. This relationship with trees has informed her work as an author and illustrator. Her children's book Rivertime showcases the beautiful wisdom of the natural Australian landscape that Trace is now surrounded by in her home country town in - Dja Dja Wurrung Country - Southern Australia. Trace's love for trees has gifted her with friendships, lessons and support that are completely unique, shedding 'leaf light' upon all aspects of her life and walking alongside her as she experiences the world.

In Australia we rely on the Western media to hear about what's happening across the globe. It shows us filtered versions of important world events and the voices of people these news stories are about can often be missed. Rugare Gomo, founder of the Gomo Foundation, joins the So...Podcast to bring some of these voices to listeners everywhere. Rugare grew up in Zimbabwe, in a context where white people were considered better than black people, where being gay could get you put in jail and where men were considered more valuable than women. Even though the women in his life were smart, entrepreneurial and driven, they were deprived of opportunity. He came to Australia when he was 16 with just a suitcase and the dream of having an education he would never have in his home country. Rugare lets us in on the ups and downs of his journey, from raising over $100,000 for his university education, to becoming a lawyer, to feeling alone and unhappy and eventually founding the Gomo Foundation. He started this not-fo

It may sound like a contradiction, to have a chat about being more quiet. But that's exactly what John does with Christine Jackman in this podcast. Christine's 20-year career as a journalist took her to New York as a foreign correspondent and Canberra, where she worked in Australia's National Press Gallery, covering federal politics. Then she was headhunted to corporate communications where she gave advice to some of Australia's top business and political leaders. Along the way, her life got very noisy and her health and family relationships suffered. So she quit her job and went on a journey to find out what was creating the "noise" in her life, what it was doing to her (according to scientific and medical research) and whether there were ways to reduce the unhealthy impacts of living in a noisy modern world. John and Christine chat about what she discovered: about the noise in our heads, as well as the noise around us; the distraction of the news and social media; the healing power of Nature and meditati

The creative behind I've Never BIN to Me (YouTube) joins the So...Podcast to talk about the power of music. After taking inspiration from the viral Facebook page 'Bin Isolation Outing', which encouraged individuals in lockdown to fancy dress while taking the bin out, Danielle Matthews decided to put her spin on 'dressing up' to take the bin out. She wrote a parody of I've Never Been to Me by Charlene, exploring what it felt like to be in lockdown in Victoria. After 48 hours her video had 1 thousand views. Danielle realised that her parody did more than make people laugh, it connected with other people who have also been struggling in lockdown. And Danielle is not only an internet sensation. She is a 'born singer', working professional for over 20 years. She says that she grew up singing, and there was never a question of what path she would follow. This path has taken her around the world, seeing incredible things and meeting incredible people, eventually bringing her back to Melbourne where she is the Co

In this episode John chats with Simon Kneebone - a cartoonist who's work has been featured in a number of places, including many social and community organisations. Simon had his start as a cartoonist by simply doodling and drawing pictures during his time at university. Someone he had studied with remembered his drawings, and offered him a job. This led to his current career in illustration. Find out exactly what a cartoon or an illustration is, and what its purpose should be. Creating a cartoon is about conveying a message, sometimes quite complex, in a very short time. We discover listening is an important ingredient in getting it right when creating a cartoon for someone else. Simon tells us the cartoonist must consider the idea being communicated, political correctness, and who the intended recipient of the message is, to help craft the cartoon. Finally, what is the future of cartooning in the media and video age? A key takeaway - you don't have to be a great drawer to be cartoonist.

John and Oscar Trimboli, who is what some might call a professional listener, discuss the finer points of listening. Oscar is an expert in communication whose goal is to create 100 million deep listeners worldwide. He highlights how listening starts with you, and not with the speaker. Discover how you can listen better, how you can prepare yourself to listen, even when you don't feel like it, and what the purpose of listening really is. They also delve into the difference in speech between cultures, listening and communication within families, and much more. Find a number of resources at Oscars website - https://www.oscartrimboli.com.

Alix Sampson a young, bisexual and socially innovative woman from the inner north of Melbourne, Australia joins the So...Podcast to talk about her community connection project that (literally) walks the talk. Brunswick Sole Mates, was an idea that Alix "birthed organically" in response to issues that had been challenging her local community. She loves to walk around her neighbourhood, before work, after work, usually when the sun is coming up or going down. But lately, Melbourne has felt unsafe for people walking alone, especially women. Several violent attacks against women had made not only Alix, but many members of the community feel unsafe when going for walks. For Alix, the answer was not to simply stay indoors. Nothing was going to stop her from doing what she wanted to do. So she took things into her own hands (or feet?) and created safety for herself and her community; a local walking group. Brunswick Sole Mates has since flourished into a group that is almost 1000 members strong. "All genders, f

John Mckenna talks to Dr Edward Upjohn MB.BS MMed FACD FACMS, a dermatologist in Melbourne, Australia, about different types of skin cancers and treatments. Dr Edward Upjohn talks about the three different types of skin cancers and how to potentially identify them: · Melanoma · Squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) · Basel cell carcinoma (BCC) Your General Practitioner (GP) is the best starting point if you notice something different on your skin. They use a device called a dermatoscope to examine skin spots and are trained in biopsy which means removing a sample of your skin to test, and if required your GP may refer you to a dermatologist. A skin cancer known as a melanoma can look like a mole and can be serious. Talk to your GP if you notice a new spot on your skin or an existing spot that has changed in shape, colour or is feeling uncomfortable. Non--melanoma cancers can cause soreness and can look like a pimple. Dr Edward Upjohn spoke about advancements in treatments over the past 20 years, such as creams

When you walk past hard rubbish on the street, what do you see? Meg Renou doesn't just see a pile of junk, she sees inspiration. She describes herself as a bowerbird due to her love of collecting discarded objects and giving them a new and different life John talks to Meg about her reclaimed, reformed and restored art business that she runs in Melbourne. A kitchen table project she started a few years ago has become a creative passion, an outlet for letting go. Meg finds and reclaims objects that other people would consider junk, she reforms them into something different and restores life into it. From dragonflies made out of venetian blinds to mushrooms made out of teapot lids, for Meg the possibilities are endless. 'I want to keep its history and recognition of what it was while also showing how it has been transformed' - Meg And it's not just about the objects, it's a form of meditation for Meg. When she uses her hands to create, her mind is able to switch off and just breathe for a moment. She puts

This episode covers a sensitive topic. Before you listen please be aware that we are discussing suicide, the impact of suicide and resources surrounding suicide prevention. John talks with Shayne Connell, the CEO of LivingWorks. LivingWorks is an organisation that has been running for over 40 years and is focussed on suicide prevention. Shane believes in the principles of community development, the LivingWorks training model focusses on training people from within the communities they are working with and using co-design to design their modules. This means that their work is directly tailored for the communities they are working with, allowing these groups to decide what is important for them. At the heart of their work is empowering individuals to have choice over how and when they talk about suicide. "Suicide is a human condition, anyone can fall into crisis and distress where suicide becomes an option" Shayne Connell Suicide can effect the community in a multitude of ways, it is a silent kil

How can technology keep your loved ones in Aged Care safer and more connected? John O'Callaghan from Acsess Health talks about his game-changing products in Aged Care support. Acsess Health was founded in 2004 and are innovative leaders in using technology to improve accessibility. In this episode we dive into the world of technology, how it can empower us to support our loved ones and take the pressure off the hardworking carers. John O'Callaghan talks us through two of his revolutionary products: · Safe and secure screening technology o An easier way to protect your loved ones from the impact of COVID that doesn't sap resources and gives us a good sense of security · Staying connected during COVID o A magic box that connects to your loved one's TV in the aged care facility and lets them video chat, look at your photos and, it's controlled and set up remotely by family members from their home. In a time where health resources are under pressure, it's great to see technology provide the solutions.

During the conversation with Philip Liu, who is a strong advocate for international students, we covered the following areas •Conscious and unconscious racist perceptions towards people of Asian descent. •Be yourself, don't change because of peer pressure •How international students in Australia can remain resilient and not feel like they need to say sorry all the time •Strategies in managing anxiety & confusion for international students during stressful time •The important roles & sacrifices that international students make when entering Australia's work force

"I'm not shaking your hand mate, I don't care who you are." This is one of the quotes that stuck in my mind, as I was producing this episode you are about to experience. It's a response from a client who was interacting with a Chief Executive Officer from an Australian Disability Service Provider. The CEO acknowledged "that sometimes you just got to stop and reflect, so that we can be reminded that when we need to do things rightly, advice can come from people we wouldn't normally expect." No matter what business you are in, I believe there are many takeaway messages that you will relate to, with this episode. My takeaway message after listening to this episode is that organisations are responding quickly as situations are continuingly changing. There are hopefully now less boxes to be ticked before things can be approved. Right now, it's all about being responsive when creating innovative ways to support people. Whist at the same time continue to listen to the people who are being supported. I would

Tim Ferguson and I had a funny chat, to be expected, as he is a professional comedian. (From his website cheekymonkeycomedy.com) Tim is a widely acclaimed comedian, writer and producer. He's toured the world performing stand-up and musical comedy, co-writing dozens of live stage comedy shows and light entertainment programmes. What made this conversation meaningful for me was that we spoke heart to heart as two people with disabilities and how we use humour when we interact with the rest of the world. Tim has multiple sclerosis and I've had a physical disability since birth. A lot of the discussion was also focused on what is humour and does it really matter if it offends others?