Kerryn Vaughan - Finding happiness in a box
Are we living our lives compromising or contributing to our wellbeing? And how is it that we could find happiness in a box?
Happiness is that elusive thing we all chase, but what does it actually mean? What if we replaced that never-ending search with celebration and seeking moments of joy. Those things that bring us energy, put a smile on our dial, and fill our cups. What then, are we doing that is compromising our happiness and our opportunity to find those moments of joy, and can we do more of the things that are contributing to our wellbeing?
Mention:
Kerryn Vaughan - Identity and authenticity
Most of us walk around all day with a mask on, pretending to be something we’re not. What would we do that and who is under the mask?
What if we could live our lives for ourselves, and not living to please the expectations of others? Do we even know what that would look like? The number one regret of the dying, according to author Bronnie Ware, is “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me”. When we know what we stand for and what values drive us, we have more confidence to stand in our space and assert and manage our own lives the way we want it to be. Ultimately we want to go to bed at night and sleep with ourselves and like who we are. This level of peace can only be found through authenticity and the courage to truly be ourselves.
Kerryn Vaughan - Exploring emotions
What if we could identify what’s beneath the surface in relation to emotions that make us feel crappy? But are we prepared to do the hard work that really hurts in order to get to that place of peace?
We all have emotions and they are actually a great thing. Emotions are often labelled positive and negative because of the way they make us feel, but all emotions serve a wonderful purpose - to motivate us to take action to avoid or gain. All emotions come with a physical sensation, thoughts, and a behaviour. When we get an emotional charge, we can choose to suppress, react or respond. The good news is, we always have the choice.
Kerryn Vaughan - Challenging the fear of failure
What if we could overcome the fear of failure? What if we did push through the self doubt and negative narrative and we did that thing, and we succeeded?
Fear of failure is a very real thing and impacts almost all of us. But what if we pushed past that fear and took a risk to do something important to us? That’s where growth lives, and satisfaction, and confidence. We allow our beliefs and past experiences to determine what we try into the future and so many incredible dreams are never brought to life because of that fear. We miss grand opportunities and can end up chronically sick simply because we allow fear to paralyse us. But what if we put one foot in front of the other and tip toed in to see if we might actually succeed?
Kerryn Vaughan - Zen outside of the comfort zone
What happens when we step outside of our comfort zone? Usually magic! But why is it we are so reluctant to actually take a chance? Zen found outside the walls of safety has a definite sweet spot.
This week my partner and I went to Metung Hot Springs. We booked it couple of months ago thinking it would be great to go in winter as the outside temperature would be freezing but it would be lovely and warm in the hot pools. However, we didn’t take into account that it might bucket down rain, because it is winter, and that we might actually decide to sit in the car at Metung, chomping on a pie while watching the pelicans rather than immerse ourselves in the geo-thermal pools. What we needed was a big attitude change and a different story to tell ourselves.
Kerryn Vaughan - Just behave yourself
We all want peace in our lives and we all want that one challenging person to behave. But in order to have that, we need to change first.
Challenging behaviour is something we all face, not only due to another person’s behaviour, but also our own. None of us are perfect and we all produce triggers that set off other people’s hot buttons. But what’s under the behaviour? Before we go judging and criticising others, and pointing our fingers at them believing we are in the right and they are dysfunctional, maybe we need to understand what drives behaviour and how our own interpretations and perspectives assist us, rightly or wrongly, in determining if a behaviour os good or bad. Some great tips in this one as well as an empathy activity at the end.
Justin ‘Jonesy’ Jones - Daring to live the dream
Justin Jones, otherwise affectionately known as Jonesy, is one of Australia’s pre-eminent explorers, keynote speakers, adventure thinkers and storytellers
Justin Jones, otherwise affectionately known as Jonesy, is one of Australia’s pre-eminent explorers, keynote speakers, adventure thinkers and storytellers.
Over the past 19 years he has made a career of undertaking huge, epic, record setting expeditions around the world and sharing these on the stage and on screen. To date he’s spoken to over 350,000 people in 20 countries around the world and millions have watched his award winning documentaries.
He’s kayaked across the Tasman Sea from Australia to New Zealand, become the first to ski to the South Pole and back and walked across the Australian Outback with his one year old daughter. He currently holds two Guinness World Records and holds a place as one of Australia’s 50 Greatest Explorers of all time, all achieved before his thirties!
A gloriously ordinary bloke… he is the perfect example of how determination, detailed planning and foresight can enable the most ‘normal’ of us to undertake the most extraordinary feats.
Socials
Website: https://justinjonesy.com/
Website: https://adventurethinking.com/
LinkedIn: Justin Jones
Insta: Jonesy @justonrjonesy
Youtube: Adventure Thinking
Vimeo: Justin Jonesy
Crossing the Outback: Expedition Parenthood - Documentary Trailer
Lessons from the edge - Day 7 Antarctica
The Justin Jonesy Presentation Experience
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Kellie Eddy - Finding purpose in weddings and funerals
Kellie Eddy is a Civil Celebrant who knows how to bring meaning and purpose to the role, and is especially keen to make funerals a very special occasion.
Kellie Eddy is a Civil Celebrant of 6 and a half years, based in Gippsland. She specialises in weddings, funerals and MC’ing events. Kellie has developed a fresh approach to sharing stories celebrating both life and love.
A mother to two little ones and a Step Mum to a teen. After a decade and a half of trying pursuing different career paths; from Education, Employment to a singing Pizza Van owner she has now settled into a full time career within the Celebrant industry.
Socials:
Website: https://www.kellieeddy.com/
FB: Kellie Eddy Civil Marriage Celebrant
Insta - Weddings: Gippsland Marriage Celebrant @kellie.eddycc
Insta - Funerals: Kellie Eddy Funeral Celebrant @kellie.eddyfunerals
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Kerryn Vaughan - Setting boundaries around self-love
Self love requires many things, but acceptance and setting boundaries are a great place to start.
Self-love is really hard for so many. But where do we start, and how can we start with something that is achievable and believable? Because if deep down we don’t believe we deserve it, we struggle to attain it. And what about affirmations? Do they work? Starting with setting boundaries is something most people can do and it can work.
Mitch Nivalis - Equalling the Contest for gender diversity
Mitch Nivalis is a filmmaker and photographer with a commitment to social change, particularly around inclusion and visibility for diverse communities. Mitch is also the creator of the film ‘Equal The Contest’.
Mitch Nivalis (they/them) is a filmmaker and photographer with a commitment to social change, particularly around inclusion and visibility for diverse communities. Their recently completed Master of Arts Photography was the impetus for the ground breaking feature documentary film Equal the Contest, the story of the Mt Alexander Falcon's fight for inclusion in community AFL. Mitch is part of the 2024 Change our Game women in sports media program. In their spare time they are a volunteer firefighter and play footy for the Mt Alexander Falcons on Djaara Country.
Socials:
Website: https://equalthecontest.au/
Insta: equalthecontest
Website: https://mdpphotovideo.com.au/
Insta: Mitch Nivalis @mdpphotovideo
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Karina Murray - The art of backing yourself
Karina Murray is the Founder & CEO Aunua Global/ Enterprise. After 9 years away from work and raising children, she decided to back herself and follow her passion.
Karina Murray is the Founder & CEO Aunua Global/ Enterprise, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist. Humanitarian and Youth Advocate.
She’s an Ambassador, an Advocate, and an Innovator and these are the roles that she plays with great success. Her inspiration to bring Aunua to life was inspired by her own fears for her children’s future and the uncertainty that lies ahead for all children. Karina, has been working relentlessly to develop an entire ecosystem to help support young people on their personal development journey by offering them a roadmap to help navigate better as she believes they are the catalysts for change. Aunua are growing their community and with their innovative youth ambassadors and global tribe and together they thrive towards addressing many of our world challenges.
Karina’s, culmination of a lifetime’s worth of experience kicked into place when she discovered her new sense of purpose in her mid-forties after a long 9-year career break whilst raising her two wonderful children, in her quest to discover a new path forward, she gave birth to her new baby AUNUA “meaning A New You in Irish” highlights of which include: - presenter and media personality on her own weekly Aunua show on Together FM. -Qualified and accredited NLP practitioner. -Scholarship winner and attendee at The Entrepreneurs’ Institute in Bali. -Founding member of the Genius School, affiliated with Roger James Hamilton’s movement aiming to ‘Ignite The Genius In Every Child’. - Ambassador with Belouga, a social learning platform that has been featured in Forbes and the BBC. - Executive director for the Impactoverse – Metaverse of Impact. - Board of experts for CELD- Centre for Economic & Leadership Development, empowering girls and women. - Board of experts for The Green Pillar – Climate change education.
Karina, is now on a crusade to expand and invigorate the Aunua Global community, and she welcomes new conversations with anyone interested in becoming part of her story.
Socials:
Website: https://aunuaglobal.org/
Website: https://aunuaenterprise.eu/
LinkedIn: Karina Murray
Youtube: Aunua Global
FB: Aunua Global
Insta: Aunua Global @aunuaglobal
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Lisa Ireland - From dream to fiction publication
Lisa Ireland is the author of multiple modern historical and contemporary fiction books, and mentor of many upcoming authors.
Lisa Ireland is an Australian author of modern historical and contemporary fiction. Her novels include The One and Only Dolly Jamieson, The Secret Life of Shirley Sullivan, The Art of Friendship, and The Shape of Us. Additionally, Lisa has written several rural romances, including the Australian bestseller, Feels Like Home. Her eighth novel, The Studio Girls, will be released in April 2024.
Lisa has a professional background in education, with a long career in both classroom teaching and professional development leadership. Since 2021, she has combined her teaching skill with her passion for writing to successfully mentor over thirty writers. She is also a sought after speaker and workshop facilitator, and has presented at numerous literary festivals and community events, including the Queenscliffe Literary Festival, Brimbank Writers and Readers Festival and Romance Writers of Australia’s annual conference.
When not writing, Lisa enjoys reading, walking her dog, and drinking copious amounts of coffee. During the covid-19 lockdowns, Lisa taught herself to crochet, and is now the proud creator of one (somewhat asymmetric) knee rug.
Socials:
Website: https://www.lisairelandbooks.com/
Insta: Lisa Ireland @lisairelandbooks
The Reading Couch FB Group
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Andres Ruiz - Self-belief and confidence
Andres Ruiz is the author of 10 books, and speaks and coaches on self-belief and how to be more confident in taking action. He believes self-doubt is causing procrastination, and helps people move toward success.
Andres Ruiz is a motivational speaker, Tedx Speaker, Confidence and Leadership coach, and radio show host on 1030 AM The Voice and 106.3 The Groove in Arizona.
He is also the author of 10 books, 6 of those books were #1 on Amazon. He is also a children's author.
Andres has also been featured on CBS, NBC and Fox. Andres' has served over 40,000 youth in his community. His Mission is to help our youth and his clients do what inspires them to make the world a better place.
Socials:
Website: https://ibelieveinmyself.org/
LinkedIn: Andres Ruiz
FB: Andres Ruiz
Youtube: I Believe In Myself
Insta: Andres Ruiz @andresruizmotivates
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Alarna Bell - Global make up artistry
Alarna Bell is a make up artist who has worked all over the world with some of the most prestigious people and events, and has also created her own line of high quality products.
Alarna Bell is a passionate makeup artist with over 30 years of experience.
From the glamorous runways of New York Fashion Week to the exotic beaches of Bali and Vietnam, she has had the privilege of working all over the world. She is the Director of Make up for Miss Universe in 3 regions, Singapore, New Zealand and her homeland of Australia.
Alongside Alarna’s international endeavours, she has also taught in classrooms and workshops across Australia, sharing her expertise with aspiring makeup artists.
Throughout her career, Alarna has had the opportunity to work with esteemed individuals, including Golden Globe winners, WWE Wrestling Mega Stars, even the iconic Rocky Horror Picture Show. She has also had the honour of showcasing her makeup knowledge on television channels 9 and 7 in Australia.
Over the years, Alarna has come to realise that using the right tools is vital for achieving the desired results. After observing students and having thousands of faces in her own hands, she know how discouraging it can be to not have the right tools and knowledge of how to use them correctly.
So she created Alarna Makeup Solutions, which assist people with a curated collection of high-quality tools that are essential for flawless makeup application. To complement these tools, Alarna provides visual guides that not only demonstrate how to use them but also explain the reasoning behind each technique.
Socials:
Website: https://alarna.au/
LinkedIn: Alarna Bell
Insta: Alarna Bell Make Up Artist @alarna.au
TikTok: Alarna Make Up Solutions @alarnamakeupsolutions
Mentions:
Toy Box Australia https://toyboxaustralia.org/
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Nir Eyal - How to become indistractable
Nir Eyal writes, consults, and teaches about the intersection of psychology, technology, and business. He is the author of ‘Hooked’ and ‘Indistractable’ selling more than 1 million copies worldwide and translated into 30 languages.
Nir Eyal writes, consults, and teaches about the intersection of psychology, technology, and business. Nir previously taught as a Lecturer in Marketing at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford.
Nir co-founded and sold two tech companies since 2003 and was dubbed by The M.I.T. Technology Review as, “The Prophet of Habit-Forming Technology.” Bloomberg Businessweek wrote, “Nir Eyal is the habits guy. Want to understand how to get app users to come back again and again? Then Eyal is your man.”
He is the author of two bestselling books, Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products and Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life. His books have resonated with readers worldwide, selling over 1 million copies in over 30 languages.
Indistractable received critical acclaim, winning the Outstanding Works of Literature Award as well as being named one of the Best Business and Leadership Books of the Year by Amazon and one of the Best Personal Development Books of the Year by Audible. The Globe and Mail called Indistractable, “the best business book of 2019.”
In addition to blogging at NirAndFar.com, Nir’s writing has been featured in The New York Times, The Harvard Business Review, Time Magazine, and Psychology Today.
Nir invests in habit-forming products that improve users’ lives. Some of his past investments include Eventbrite (NYSE:EB), Anchor.fm (acquired by Spotify), Kahoot! (, Canva, Homelight, Product Hunt, Marco Polo, Byte Foods, FocusMate, Dynamicare, Wise App, and Sunnyside.
Nir attended The Stanford Graduate School of Business and Emory University.
Socials:
Website: NIR and FAR https://www.nirandfar.com/
LinkedIn: Nir Eyal
Youtube: Nir and Far blog
X: Nir Eyal https://twitter.com/nireyal
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Simon Rinne - Connecting mindful men
Simon Rinne suffered mental health conditions in silence for more than 20 years. Brought up with the story that men don’t cry, he struggled to deals with his emotions. Simon has since founded Mindful Men to help other men open up.
For over 30 years, Simon Rinne survived mental illness. Undiagnosed Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Depression, and Anxiety saw him turn from happy-go-lucky kid to dependent on alcohol to feel "normal". A parental break-up saw him become "the man of the house" - and this is where things turned dark.
Social norms that tell boys and men to "suck it up" kept me quiet... and in that quiet, Simon’s mind turned to suicidal thoughts.
But he survived and after 20 years of suffering in silence, he finally reached out for help in 2012. Simon was diagnosed, and started seeing a therapist. However, Simon expected the therapist to wave a magic wand and cure him. That didn't happen, so Simon kept doing what he was doing.
It wasn't until Simon became a dad that he started to reflect on how he was showing up. 1 year later, he burned out. This is where Simon discovered mindfulness, and started to turn from survivor to thriver.
Simon is now 40 years old, sober, and using his pain to fuel his passion - talking about mental health! Not only does he love to talk about it, but he designed his therapy business around making therapy easy for men who really struggle to open up.
Simon has also completed a Masters Degree in Social Work and established Mindful Men - a therapy business and global movement encouraging men to men to adopt mindful living, combat the stigma around mental health, and lower alarming rates of domestic violence and suicide.
Socials:
Website: www.mindful-men.com.au
LinkedIn: Simon Rinne
FB: Mindful Men
Insta: Simon@Mindful Men @mindful.men.aus
Youtube: Mindful Men
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Sam Horn - What to say when every second counts
Sam Horn has a remarkable talent for taking the complex and making it crystal clear. As a speaker, author, coach and pitch mentor, Sam’s 60 second formula for success builds intrigue and eliminates confusion.
Sam Horn is the CEO of the Intrigue Agency, a positioning/messaging consultancy, which helps people design and deliver TEDx talks, keynotes, funding pitches and one-of-a-kind brands.
She is also the CEO of the Tongue Fu! Training Institute, a trade-marked communication skills approach, that teaches how to give and get respect at work, at home, online and in public.
Sam is the author of 10 books including Tongue Fu!®, POP!, SOMEDAY is Not a Day in the Week, IDEApreneur, and Wash Post bestseller Got Your Attention?
Her newest book Talking on Eggshells received a glowing Publishers Weekly review and endorsements from Marie Forleo, Jack Canfield, Lynn Twist, JJ Virgin, Dr. Ivan Misner (founder of BNI) and Whole Foods founder John Mackey who calls it “The course-correct for today’s cancel culture.”
Sam's work has been featured in dozens of publications including NY Times, Forbes, Fast Company and, Harvard Business Review. She has been interviewed on every major network including NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, NPR and MSNBC.
Fun Fact: Sam Horn and her Tongue Fu! team stumped the panel on the TV Show To Tell the Truth.
Sam has had the privilege of speaking to more than half a million people worldwide from China to Chicago, Ireland to England, and for clients like Intel, Oracle, Accenture, American Bankers Assn.
Sam co-founded the Business Book Festival (held at USA Today headquarters) and served as the Emcee and Executive Director of the world-renowned Maui Writers Conference for 17 years.
She also served as the Pitch Coach for Springboard Enterprises which has helped entrepreneurs generate $27.8 billion (yes, that’s a B) in funding – and has been brought in by NASA, TED FELLOWS and Richard Branson's NEW NOW LEADERS to teach public speaking/media training.
Sam’s LinkedIn Learning course has been translated into 6 languages and is used by organizations around the world, (e.g., Amazon, KPMG, Walmart,) as part of their communication – customer service – leadership training.
As a consultant, Sam helps clients - including Terry Jones, Founder of Travelocity and Charlie Pellerin, Project Manager of the Hubble Telescope - get their books out of their head and into the world.
Sheri Salata (Former Executive Producer of The Oprah Winfrey Show, Pres. of Harpo Productions and OWN) calls Sam “one of the bright lights and most accessible wisdom-sharers in our culture today.”
Website: https://samhorn.com/
LinkedIn: Sam Horn
FB: Sam Horn’s Intrigue Agency
Insta: Sam Horn @samhornintrigue
Youtube: Sam Horn
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Leigh McDonald - Combating the invisible trauma of football
Leigh McDonald spent 20 years playing footy, and over that time received more than 40 concussions. He now lives with CTE and is on a mission to prevent the same happening to others.
Leigh McDonald, has been a resident of Gippsland for most of his life and is widely recognised as one of the best local football players the area has ever seen. He has achieved great success as a player and coach, leading Churchill to a premiership and coaching Wonthaggi. Football has also taken Leigh across the country playing in 3 different state leagues.
However, Leigh's passion for the game has come at a cost. Over a span of 20 years, he endured more than 40 concussions, including a severe incident in the VFL where he was knocked unconscious and suffered a brain bleed. These repeated head injuries have led to Leigh being diagnosed with CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
Despite the challenges he faces, Leigh has chosen to use his experience to raise awareness about CTE. Leigh is also on a mission to help implement concussion protocols in regional leagues and has embarked on a campaign to educate others of the signs to lookout for with your loved ones after receiving head trauma.
Leigh will be running a marathon on the Gold Coast to raise funds for The Concussion Legacy Foundation, where he also serves on the board. Leigh's determination to show that it is possible to lead a fulfilling life with CTE is truly inspiring.
Socials:
Mention:
The Concussion Legacy Foundation
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Kerryn Vaughan - Cruise ship magic, musings and mayhem
To cruise or not to cruise, that is the question. For anybody unsure about donning the pirate hat and cruising the seven seas, this episode is likely to help you make that decision.
I went on a cruise ship around 40 years ago and hated it. Everybody on board had gastro, the flu, or sea sickness. I had the latter and needed an injection to ease the vomiting and nausea. But, it doesn’t end there or end well. I had an allergic reaction to the vaccine and blew up in huge red welts all over my body. Never to have that medication again!
I was also not the least bit interested in sunning myself on the deck, or gracing the beaches of the pacific islands. Instead, I waited patiently to dock at each new port, and armed with a video recorder the size of a TV news camera, I ran solo to explore the undiscovered distant regions of the island while fancying myself as a roving reporter.
I vowed never to sail the high seas again.
Fast forward to 2023, my partner says “I booked us on a family cruise”. My worst nightmare come true! However, I decided to put all my past negative grumblings behind me and give it a go. Have I changed my mind? You’ll have to take a listen…
Tommy Burke - Not just sunglasses & autographs
Tommy Burke spent decades in Hollywood as an assistant director, and for a number of those years also spent many nights filling his body with chemo fighting Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Now fighting the demons of Parkinson’s, Tommy sees only joy.
A graduate of Boston College, Burke started out in television as a production Assistant while working other odd jobs, from bar bouncer, golf caddy to factory assemblyman, to sustain the meager TV industry income.
His height and physical build came in handy, scoring him a gig loading grip trucks for Powerhouse Films, which further exposed him to commercials and films in and around the New England area. He soon became the ‘go to’ guy of Production Assistants in Boston, working every motion picture produced in Massachusetts.
After a move to Los Angeles in 1990, Burke quickly moved up the production ranks, working as First Assistant Director on an independent film with Johnny Depp. Nicknamed “the Irish Bull” by his west coast colleagues, Burke went on to secure Assistant Director credits including, Jerry Bruckheimer’s acclaimed TV series Skin, Close to Home, CSI Miami, and the pilot for Desperate Housewives. He spent his last five years on Chicago PD.
In 2003, Burke was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Three years of doctor visits, nine operations and chemotherapy treatments were all included in part of his rigorous 14-hour shoot day routine. To no surprise, given his well known tenacity, Burke conquered the disease into remission mostly by himself.
The experience empowered him to take inventory of his life, specifically his trade, leading him to approach his career from an alternative perspective that was better aligned with his personal values. Best known in the industry for his talent, perseverance and respectful collaboration with colleagues on all levels.
Socials:
Website: https://tommyburke.com/
LinkedIn: Tommy Burke
Insta: Tommy Burke @tommy_burke_dga
Podcast: Not Just Sunglasses & Autographs podcast
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