68 Cups of Blueberry Tea

In this episode of 68 Cups of Blueberry Tea, Gabrielle sits down with Manali Banerjee, a senior Bikram yoga guide whose life and work have been shaped by discipline, tradition, and an unflinching relationship with the mind.

Beyond the heat and the postures, this conversation explores what Bikram yoga really teaches: how the mind tries to protect - and sabotage - us, why structure can be deeply grounding, and what it means to stay present when everything in you wants to escape. Manali shares insights drawn from decades of teaching, observing human behaviour in its rawest form, and returning - again and again - to the basics.

This is a grounded, honest discussion about resilience, repetition, humility, and the quiet inner shifts that happen when we stop fighting ourselves.

Perfect for listeners interested in personal growth, mind–body practice, resilience, and the human stories behind discipline.

Anna Pixner - Austria’s world-class downhill skateboarder and concrete surfer - joins me to explore what movement teaches us about freedom, bringing people together, facing fear and supporting mental wellbeing. 🛹

From her early days on a bike path to honing speed and focus on winding roads around the world, Anna shares how skating became her meditation, why she’s planning to ride in the Himalayas next year, and how she helps others discover courage through sport. We dive into mindset, community, technique, and the pure feeling of gliding down a hill with calm in your bones.

This episode of 68 Cups of Blueberry Tea blends speed, spirit, and thoughtful conversation - perfect for anyone curious about skateboarding (like me!), inner freedom and building confidence ... one ride at a time.

In this episode of 68 Cups of Blueberry Tea, I’m joined by Mark Crosweller AFSM - founder of Ethical Intelligence, former national leader in emergency and disaster management, and author of Compassion in Disaster Management: The Essential Ethic of Relational Leadership.

Mark has spent decades leading through crisis - bushfires, disasters, and high-stakes public service - yet his work consistently points back to one essential truth: leadership is relational, ethical, and deeply human. We explore Mark's understanding of metaphysics and the origins of Ethical Intelligence, why compassion is not a “soft skill” but a leadership necessity, and how moral humility, fallibility, and human connection shape better outcomes in the toughest moments.

This episode is for anyone navigating responsibility, leadership, PTSD, or change - whether you’re leading others or simply trying to lead yourself with integrity and compassion.

If this topic brings anything up for you, support is available. Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14.

Not that Paul Hogan - this is the one with the diplomatic passport, the white gloves, and the reality-TV fan following.

In this episode of 68 Cups of Blueberry Tea, Gabrielle sits down with Paul Hogan, whose life has zig-zagged through consular service, elite estate management, professional butlering, and unexpected television fame. It’s a journey stitched together by discipline, charm, grit, and a wicked sense of reinvention.

Paul opens up about:
• life as a diplomat and the surprising human stories behind it• the leap from diplomacy to butlering• the art of service - and why it matters more than ever• how a quiet career collided with reality TV• the mindset that’s carried him through every step of the way

It’s wise, it’s warm, it’s worldly - and it’s filled with laughter.

Pour a cup, settle in, and meet the Paul Hogan you want to adopt as your own Uncle.

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them,” Albert Einstein

Enter Zoee Mylordis from Envizia. She doesn’t just capture conversations - she changes them. With one live illustration, she turns threads and direction into clarity and helps people see their ideas in a whole new way.

In this episode, we chat about how visual storytelling can shift perspectives, unlock solutions, and bring the invisible into focus.

Listen in to hear what thinking differently really looks like.

Historian Graham Wilson OAM has spent a lifetime uncovering the stories behind the names etched in stone — not just soldiers, but families, communities, and generations marked by war. From rural NSW towns to cemeteries in Europe, Graham’s journey reveals why remembrance is not about the past alone, but about how we live today.

In this episode, Graham shares how he became “obsessed” with registering war memorial records, the surprising stories he’s uncovered, and why our duty of memory extends beyond Gallipoli and WWII to modern conflicts and peacekeeping missions.

This is an episode about loss, resilience, and the enduring power of remembering.

Embark on a flavourful journey with Colorado Coffee as they share their inspiring story of bringing specialty Colombian coffee to the Australian outback. In this episode, Paulo and Miranda discuss their unique mobile coffee venture, the challenges they've overcome, and their mission to support Colombian coffee communities.

In essence, Nick Hunter embodies the spirit of dedication, leadership, and community in Australian sports.

From his early days at the Australian National University Boat Club to representing Australia at the 1986 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games, Nick's passion for rowing has been unwavering.​

Nick shares insights into his transition from athlete to coach, leading the ACT Academy of Sport's rowing program and mentoring athletes to Olympic success. We discuss his role in establishing Rowing ACT as a separate state association and his contributions as the first Australian appointed to the World Rowing Umpiring Commission.​

Beyond rowing, Nick opens up about his Scottish heritage, his ventures into equestrian sports, and his unique hobbies like bird watching and bagpiping.​

Whether you're a sports enthusiast or intrigued by stories of dedication and leadership, this cup of tea offers a comprehensive look into the life of a man who has significantly shaped the rowing landscape in Australia and beyond.

The 2025 Australian of the Year Local Heroes for the ACT are Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello, co-founders of Cafe Stepping Stone!

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”

Cafe Stepping Stone is more than just food and coffee. It is a work integration social enterprise that provides job opportunities for migrant and refugee women, helping them overcome barriers to employment upon arrival in Australia. It’s a safe space where these women can rebuild their lives, gain confidence, and make Australia feel like home.

From English classes to financial literacy workshops, Hannah and Vanessa are helping these women to build skills that extend beyond the kitchen.

When you walk into Stepping Stone, you’re not just getting a great coffee or a delicious bite—you’re becoming part of a bigger story.

Learn about their first social enterprise in Cartagena, Colombia and how it got them to where they are now.

Just an hour's drive from Queenstown, Wānaka offers incredible landscapes, just waiting to be discovered on happy horses.

Saddle up and take a ride with Samantha Goos, founder and owner of Wānaka Horse Trekking.

The Netherlands didn’t feel like home for Sam, and she was ready for a new adventure, to bring her inner childhood horsey dream to life in New Zealand!

Sam has found such a beautiful part of the world, with Wanaka having so much to offer, and she loves sharing years of experience in the New Zealand backcountry with a charming steed, allocated suitably to their rider.

Tune in to hear about Sam’s journey, to inspire you to be curious, trust the process, keep on dreaming big, be kind and step up.