Coffee Chats with Matt Collins

There is a big arguement for the validity of our prison system. Does it really promote rehabiltation? One look at Jeff Morgan and the answer is a resounding yes. Jeff ran away from his family home at 12 and turned to a life of petty crime and robbing banks. He spent many years behind bars and in that time, he completed a university degree. These days, Jeff mentors inidgenous people and is an advocate for indigenous health and he stars in a fitness and health show on NITV.

Laura Descy battles daily with Multiple Sclerosis. But as a divorcee who has struggled with depression, Laura is used to dealing with challenges. As a competitive Body Sculptor, it is not uncommon to see her trainer carrying Laura from one machine to the next because of her MS. Laura takes on all this as well her career as a full time nurse. Laura Descy shares a coffee chat with Matt and she explains how she makes it all work.

Fiona Boyes, an Australian blues guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter, has been recording and performing for more than 25 years.

A veteran recording artist with 15 releases, Australia's first lady of the Blues has a stack of awards from both the U.S and Australia.

In their Coffee Chat, Fiona shares with Matt why she started playing guitar so late in life, her thoughts on gender equality in the music industry and why Matt want his own piece of the Aussie Blues legend.

According to author Christopher Bardsley, a lot of young people go to progressing Asian countries with a disrespect for the culture.

This is when they get themselves in trouble.

In his new book, 'Jack was here', it tells the tale of such trouble.

Chris shares why he got into fiction writing, why he got out of teaching and what he really thinks of Marvel movies.

Aaron Horsey has been a surfer for as long as he can remember, so keeping our oceans clean is especially important.

Through his work with the Clean Water Group, Aaron has seen the horrendous effects of our rubbish in the oceans.

Dead Sea life washed up on the shore and deserted beaches covered in plastic bottles are far too common.

He is passionate about creating awareness of just how dangerous our rubbish is.

Wendy Miller has it all, a successful corporate career, a loving husband and three beautiful children. She is also very proud to be the stepmother to her husband's three children. Growing up as a young girl, Wendy's childhood was tainted by her abusive stepfather so being a positive influence on her children and stepchildren is a major priority. Wendy shares with Matt the ups and downs of the crazy world that is 'co-parenting'.

Sports people will come and go through out the decades but there is one man who is still spoken about long after his playing days. Mario Fenech is one of the NRL's largest and most loveable personalities. He shares a great chat with Matt and they discuss his playing days in the 80's and 90's and how much the game has changed. Mario looks back on his time as a regular on the Footy Show and he shares the highs and lows of that time in his life and of course, Mario talks about his beloved Rabbitohs.

In Part One, Kylie discussed her less than ideal upbringing filled with the sometimes tragic events she and her family endured. In this, Part Two, Kylie shares the toxic relationship she had with the father of her first son.

She talks about why she kept going back to that relationship and what her life looks like these days with a loving and supportive husband and four lovely children (two of whom have special needs).

Kylie talks about the point when she realised she was worthy of love and a positive life.

Kylie Stretton had a childhood most people would want to forget.

Kylie was born into a family of domestic violence and drug and alcohol abuse.

She didn't speak until she was 7 and couldn't read or write until she was 19.

There are so many chapters to Kylie Stretton's journey: multiple family suicides, domestic violence, abusive relationships and, sadly, so much more.

Now as the parent of children with special needs, Kylie is making sure her kids get the childhood she missed out on.

Australian Guitar Magazine recently voted Lloyd Spiegel in their Top 50 greatest guitarists of all time. But his musical journey has not always been so glamorous. Lloyd had a heart attack at the tender age of 23 after many years of living the rockstar lifestyle. Lloyd shares with Matt his thoughts on relationships, the current state of the music industry and the first thing he googles when he goes overseas.