DNA Of Purpose

Welcome to the final episode of Decoding Purpose in 2019!
When I started the Decoding Purpose podcast in January, I set out with one intention, and that was to decode purpose from every angle possible. To look at the pursuit for meaning through the lens of the individual, the organisation, for charities, through the lens of science, spirituality and the arts. To take the conversation to a new level and to expand traditional thinking about the true nature of purpose in our lives.
When I look back at the range of episodes...I am proud, because within the collection that is ‘Decoding Purpose’ exists a legacy. A library and an incredible resource for anyone out there who believes that there is more for them in this life. More meaning, more fulfilment and fundamentally a more significant opportunity to transform and ignite a higher potential. Every single episode contains chunks of infinite wisdom and like jewels in a crown every interview offered me on a personal level something that crystallised how purpose was identified. But more than we looked at how purpose feels. What it is from the inside out.
What is interesting is that we can kind of think of lives like episodes of a podcast. Unique conversations, themes, catalysts for change and moments of wisdom - wisdom we often only discover in looking back.That is why for my last episode of 2019 I am more than excited to Introduce to you an incredible woman, who I met when I was coaching at a university for professional speakers. A woman who had decided to go back to university to become a speaker at 85 years of age!
Today’s guest is Patricia Dennis. At 85 Patricia is youthful, energetic, trying new things, re-skilling into areas previously uncharted so that she can use the incredible diversity of her life, for the betterment of others. Tricia is a woman taking life for all that it has, and as far as she is concerned her life is a new day - every day, but the journey she has been on is a story that must be honoured and shared so that we all can learn what it means to have gratitude and to hope for a better day.
Growing up in a Japanese concentration camp in the Philippines, her family were literally one night away from leaving for Australia when the Japanese invaded. But for Patricia, this start to life that could have, and would have, completely crippled even the strongest of humans, this was the event that made her realise the beauty of life, the incredible gift of being alive - the gift of being in tune with your purpose.
Not wanting to waste a moment of her life, Highlights of Tricia’s hectic and fulfilling life include modelling both in Australia and in Europe, her own weekly TV segment covering women’s issues on Hal Todd’s Midday Show on Channel 9; a dancing role in the BBC film Vanity Fair; and TV roles in The Secret Life of Us and Something in the Air.
There was so much I learnt from Tricia today, and I am so excited to share this heartfelt, poignant conversation with you and I couldn't think of a better way to end this decade in style!Now before I welcome Tricia on - I want to let you know during the month of January we will be taking a small intermission to refresh, rework and reenergize the format for next year's podcast which will commence in February.
I am a firm believer that purpose is something that is in a state of evolution, and that is why I think it is so important to take a pause, to realign with the magic, and to step into a new level of creativity in ensuring our journey in decoding purpose is one that continues to fly high in the new year.
Before signing out I want to say firstly a big thank you to the decoding purpose team. You know who you are and your support has been incredible. This podcast is produced by Ash at Supernova Sound and recorded in the Supernova Sound studio in Surry Hills. Ash - without you none of this is possible. Thanks for being such a huge part of the magic.
So with for the rest you, It's Christmas so grab your eggnog, Christmas pudding, a glass of bubbles or whatever it is that makes you feel joy. Kick back and enjoy an adventure into the pursuit of purpose in the creation of our life legacy!
Welcome to the podcast - Tricia Dennis.

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Welcome to another episode of the Decoding Purpose Podcast!
Today I am feeling the buzz of the festive season upon us, so what better time to have a little bit of fun and to celebrate your tribe — those extraordinary human beings who make your world go round. And in my case, that tribe happens to consist of some of the brightest minds on the planet. Scientists, technologists, entrepreneurs and musicians who fundamentally believe through intelligent optimism we can change the world ...and that the world is already changing in the most miraculous of ways. That tribe is known as Future Crunch.
Collectively we believe that science and technology are creating a future that is more peaceful, connected and abundant. We’re determined to share that story - via epic newsletters jam-packed with good news stories from all over the world, keynote presentations even fusing music with meaning as we lean into the intersection between performance and purpose — creativity and Thought Leadership.
Today's guest on the podcast is the co-founder of Future Crunch and my business partner - the Incredible Dr Angus Hervey. Gus and I were both incredibly excited to come together for this podcast to firstly celebrate the birth of his newborn daughter and newest member of our tribe but to also decode turning points, mindset, the media and movements in our pursuit to unlock the power of both purpose and intelligent optimism.
The most exciting part is that we also unpacked Futures Crunch brand new keynote launching in 2020 - The Adaptability Quotient. Why might you ask? Two reasons: because at Future Crunch we believe that adaptability is an essential skill for navigating the 21st century, and purpose is the anchor by which adaptability can thrive. You’ve heard of IQ and EQ; this century belongs to those that are quick to read and act on signals of change.
To give you a brief recap of Angus's formal bio - he is a political economist specialising in the impact of disruptive technologies on society. Along with founding Future Crunch, he was the founding community manager of Random Hacks of Kindness, a global initiative from Google, IBM, Microsoft, NASA and the World Bank to create open-source technology solutions to social challenges. He was also the first editorial manager for Global Policy, one of the world's leading international policy journals. He holds a PhD in Government and a Masters in International Political Economy from the London School of Economics, where he was also the Ralph Miliband Scholar from 2009 to 2012.
Now to stay in the spirit of Adaptability - today, I wanted to shake things up with the intro and have some creative fun. It just so happens that I am also joined in the studio by the most creative member of The Future Crunch team - our in house philosopher Will Tait. Will is the creative genius behind the keyboard performing with Future Crunch at prominent events in 2019 including Tedx Melbourne and SingularityU Australia, and he has created a special surprise intro for Dr Angus Hervey.
Welcome to the Decoding Purpose Podcast!

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Welcome to today's episode of the Decoding Purpose Podcast.
When we think of purpose, it is often something that we articulate. We find words and craft narrative that we can then build a story from. A story we tell ourselves, or a story we share with the world that captures the essence of our why - our contribution to the world.
But what happens...when our preferred method of self-expression does not come to us in words. After-all for some of us, we learn or express ourselves visually, whereas others listen or express themselves musically. Some of us prefer to touch and feel exploring the world physically…so if your natural method of self-expression doesn’t necessarily involve words ...how can you connect with a sense of purpose in a way that feels right for you?
Today's guest is one of Australia’s most prominent speed painters - Sarah Rowan. Sarah and I first met in 2015 when I launched my business, and as a part of the launch, she painted my brand purpose, at the launch party. Now it goes without saying that Sarah is an extraordinarily gifted artist, however having had first-hand first experience of Sarah’s creative magic, I can attest to the fact that she as an innate gift for translating a brand purpose into a visual masterpiece…and she can do it in less than 30 minutes!
Sarah began her career graduating from Converse College in 2003 with a BFA in Studio Art and started an art business in Greenville, South Carolina, USA before moving to Sydney to expand her artistic horizons. Today she teaches art Art at a Sydney school, and as a speed painter, she has painted at over 350 events raising over $170,000 for charity. Her mission to end human trafficking.
In today's conversation, Sarah and I unpacked:

• The process of bringing purpose to life visually - or through other creative mediums.
• How creatives can get creative - in making their purpose profitable.
• We explored the role of creativity, curiosity, and playfulness in discovering purpose.
• How do we embrace failure and vulnerability as a part of the creative process?

In addition to everything I just mentioned I was honoured to go on a journey with Sarah through her life growing up in a highly religious environment where in her case she was unable to live openly as a gay woman, until coming out 2 years ago.
Today Sarah is genuinely in love with a beautiful partner, and her life has shifted in magical ways. However, her transformation was profound and asked her to step into a new level of truth and to become someone who always existed inside, but whom she had never let be free. Purpose does ask us to step into a radical level of self-acceptance - and it is from this space we can truly spread our wings and fly but sometimes we need to let go of who we thought we were to experience that freedom of who we are.
So without further delay journey with me through a world of colour, courage, and clarity with regards to what it means to live a full life. A truthful life. And a life where through painting limitless versions of our future we become who we were always meant to be - with the one and only Sarah Rowan. Welcome to the podcast.

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Over the last 15 years, I have been blessed to work with globally renowned futurists learning about disruptive innovations; however, I am only beginning to realise the power these technologies are having in shifting what it means to be human. This is the exact reason why I was so curious to interview Jamie Skella about what it means to be a purposeful human in an age being redefined by emerging technologies. The exciting thing is that it's not technology that has the influence but the chain reactions to those technologies.
Todays Guest is Jamie Skella. He is a technologist who has spent 20 years in the design, building and advising of businesses across IoT, esports, and advertising. He is a renowned influencer and an advisor in emerging technology and foresight strategy. He is the Co-Founder of Horizon State, winner of the World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer award - joining the likes of Google, Airbnb, and Spotify - and was also voted 7 of 100 on a list of world-changing companies by The Australian. He currently manages Australia’s first publicly listed esports business, Esports Mogul.
Today, Jamie and I chatted about:

• The sweet spot between human purpose and technology.
• What technology can teach us about what it means to be human - and what our future could look like?
• We decoded blockchain.
• Unpacked the chain reactions of technology on humans and society.
• We explored how technology can solve significant social problems via empathy, connectedness and even cryptocurrencies.
• And much much more.

So grab yourself a coffee...and strap in because we are going purposefully back to the future with the incredible Jamie Skella.

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Welcome to today's episode of Decoding Purpose.
Today's guest is the incredible Steph Lorenzo. Many of you would know Steph as the founder of Project Futures - An Australian not for profit organisation dedicated to combating human trafficking and sexual exploitation by empowering young professionals to utilise their time, skills and talents to raise awareness and funding for projects in the Asia Pacific region.
Steph spent 8 years as the CEO of Project Futures...however in March 2017 after raising more than 5 million dollars to end human trafficking and winning a long list of awards including The Financial Reviews' 100 Women of influence, and the Women's Weekly's Women of the Future Award in 2016.....she decided to call it quits.After some time out, a second turning came around for Steph. An opportunity that fused her purpose for the empowerment of women, her faith, and a mission to challenge the hierarchy of the catholic church and its response to a changing world and emerging problems, such as sexual and power abuses.
Today, steph is the communications manager for Voices of Faith who aim to bring together leaders in the Vatican with the global Catholic community, so they can recognise that women have the expertise, skills and gifts to play a leadership role in the Church.
In today's conversation Steph and I explored:

• The highs and lows of her role as the CEO of Project Futures
• The realities of 'letting go' as she walked away from a charity she created.
• What it is to create a legacy, and the transition into discovering a new purpose.
• We unpacked her new role with Voices of Faith - decoding issues around gender equality, female empowerment and what it takes to challenge the status quo of one of the oldest institutions and symbols of power - the catholic church.
• I also asked the hard questions...diving into to sexual and power abuses in the church, how gender equality can help to solve these problems.
• I also asked Steph whether she felt polarised by others in a role so closely attached to the church. Within that we explored judgments and explored the importance of diverse conversations regardless of our differences.

I have to say that I felt humbled having a deeply honest conversation with Steph about who she was, who she is, and where she is going in this big adventure we call life. What I will say is that while Steph's mechanism for purpose may have evolved, her purpose is unshakable. And that is to empower women with a voice, and with the influence to change the world, and regardless of the past, we can create a better future.
Welcome to the podcast Steph Lorenzo.

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Welcome to today's episode of Decoding Purpose.
The one thing that I love the most about hosting this podcast is that the kind of people who are attracted to purpose seems to have some innate characteristics. Attributes such as courage of conviction, an ability to embrace radical truth even if it's uncomfortable, and they are candid. Willing to share their stories wholeheartedly with a mission to inspire the kind of conversations - that inspire us all to create a better world. A more abundant and peaceful world for all of humankind. Every once in a while they are also handy strumming a guitar as a podcast warm up, and today's guest is no exception.
As an entrepreneur and a change-maker, Ben Peacock ticks all the bells and whistles of success, the main difference being that his success as an entrepreneur is one that is measured by world changing ideas and epic levels of social impact. Years ago Ben set an intention to help create 100 ideas that make the world a better place, and since then he has made the target of 100 ideas seem like small fry!
Ben is an author, cancer survivor and a founder of do-good agency, Republic of Everyone who are a world leading brand, sustainability and innovation company. Ben and his team have worked on award winning social change campaigns including Tails for Whales, the even more award-winning Garage Sale Trail, the fledgling Grow It Local and the Greens ad made famous by the Gruen Transfer. At the heart of Ben's philosophy is that acts are far more powerful than ads...and I can attest to the fact that Ben is a man grounded in taking action.
Along with discussing Bens incredible professional journey, we also explored Ben’s more vulnerable life experiences. In reflecting on Bens cancer journey we talked about how he healed, we explored the dialogue around talking openly about men's issues such as testicular cancer and we discussed how Ben’s cancer acted as a catalyst for the urgency of Ben’s purpose. A part of that purpose was writing a book in which he titled Lessons My Left Testicle.
In today's conversation Ben I discussed:

• Why purpose is in the execution opposed to the idea.
• The role of radical truth and integrity in purpose.
• We looked at the evolution of purpose in business over the last decade.
• We explored the shared value, collaboration and the creation of collective impact.
• We discussed ego vs contribution in our missions to change the world.
• We broke down the a -z process of taking an idea and making it into a movement.
• And much, much more.

So kick back, follow Bens lead, warm up with a few strums on the guitar, grab your coffee, or a beer from a carbon negative brewery if you feel inclined - and yes this kind of beer does exist! Whatever your drinking get ready to go for a ride with the one and only Ben Peacock. This is decoding purpose. Welcome to the podcast Ben.

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When I started this podcast, I set the intention to explore purpose from every angle and to make sure I created a space for conversations that sat on the edge of change in the creation of a new future. That is why...I also felt that it was essential to better understand the role of purpose through the lens of those who are literally creating that future...movement makers that include the teachers, the university professors and the entrepreneurs out there who are using their tools, talents and time to inspire, educate and activate the next generation.
And this is a generation that are seeking purpose. Young people who are inspired by the likes of Greta Thurberg who has been all over the news this week heading up the global school strike for climate change, or Emma Gonzales an American activist and advocate for gun control. So the question beckons...how are universities responding to the rise of purpose and are educational bodies nurturing purpose in young people?
Today's guest is someone who is not only an amazing human being, but she is also a prominent member of the global community of purpose pioneers in the CSR and education space. Dr Debbie Haski-Leventhal is a Professor in Management at Macquarie Graduate School of Management. She is the author of "Strategic CSR: Tools and theories for responsible management" (SAGE).
Debbie is a leader of responsible management education and works with the United Nation's Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), conducting international studies on business students and their attitudes towards CSR and responsible management education. Debbie has published several reports and papers on the topic, and this work was covered by the international media, including in the New York Times and Financial Review.
Today, she has ignited a brand new passion for social change and hopes to start a movement of purpose-driven universities. She is currently writing a new book on the subject and recently debuted on the Tedx stage, sharing her passion and ideologies for the future of purpose in universities.
Today, we explored so many themes, including:

• Why our understanding of CSR in business is evolving
• The rise of corporate political activism as a future trend.
• The public perception of universities and why purpose can flip that perspective
• Why young people have all of the tools and the desire to become movement makers and how universities can facilitate that?
• We explore whether there is a connection between the women's movement and the rise of purpose.
• And much much more.

So kick back, grab yourself a cup of coffee or tea and jump on board the decoding purpose bus! Maybe one day, it will be possible to gain a masters in purpose and be part of a movement that is creating a brand new world. Welcome to the podcast, Debbie Haski-Leventhal.

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I think it is fair to say that 2019 is the year of purpose and everybody is talking about it. It started with Larry Fink - the CEO of Black Rock Management, writing a letter to Black Rocks CEO network about purpose.
Only a few weeks ago the Business RoundTable in Washington announced the release of a new statement on the purpose of the corporation signed by 181 CEOs who committed to lead their companies for the benefit of all stakeholders - customers, employees, suppliers, communities and shareholders.
This is an exciting time in business, and the conversation about the significance of purpose has hit the ground running. That said, the essential thing in this time of change is that leaders do more than talk about purpose. See in the words of my next guest - purpose is where the heart aligns with the head - not the other way round. Anyone can pass the day by 'doing', whereas purpose is about 'being', and that is something we experience - not something that we as individuals are told.
Today's guest on the podcast is Nick Craig. He is the Founder and President of the Core Leadership Institute, formerly the Authentic Leadership Institute and author of "Leading From Purpose." Nick’s insights and approach come from over 25 years of working with top teams, senior leadership programs, executive coaching, and architecting results-focused change initiatives.
Mid-way through his career, Nick realised that what was least understood, but most needed, was to help senior leaders access their deeper wisdom in challenging times. The last 15 years, he has focused on this, resulting in the Core Leadership Institute’s ability to integrate the work of Purposeful Leadership to enable sustainable business results.
Along with "Leading from Purpose", Nick is the co-author of "From Purpose to Impact" with Scott Snook published by Harvard Business Review (May 2014). He co-authored this year’s updated release of "Finding Your True North" with Bill George of Harvard Business School and his work in leadership purpose has been used in corporate and academic settings, including GE, Unilever and Wharton’s Advanced Management Program.
In today's fascinating conversation, Nick and I covered off:

• How purpose as an archeological dig that uncovers layers of meaning revealed in our journey of life.
• We discussed why some leaders effectively integrate purpose-driven business strategy, whereas others are challenged.
• We decoded some of those challenges and highlighted some of the myths about purpose.
• We looked at the relationship between brand integrity and purpose.
• We dissected why purpose is not a cause - and why it must start from the inside out.
• We took a look at the significance of purpose in the future of leadership...and much much more.

So grab a coffee -and get ready to dive into a world of what it takes to drive leadership impact - in the new dawn of purpose with the one and only Nick Craig.

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Welcome to today’s episode of the Decoding Purpose podcast.
I have been really excited to share today's episode with you for two reasons. Firstly because I think the content is going to flip your perspective on what it means to completely own your purpose, but also because today's guest has been a great friend and a mentor for more than 15 years. A person whose brain, insights and wisdom about life and business embody what it means to be ‘world class’.
I was reading a quote the other day by a thought leaders called David Bornstein, and I think that this quote sums up perfectly the relevance of today's interview. To share Davids words with you...he said:
“An idea is like a play. It needs a good producer and a good promoter even if it is a masterpiece. Otherwise the play may never open; or it may open but, for a lack of an audience, close after a week. An idea will not move from the fringes to the mainstream simply because it is good; it must be skill-fully marketed before it will actually shift people's perceptions and behaviour.”
To provide context on this quote while it's one thing to have a purpose, without influence purpose is just an idea. Purpose might guide the ship, but influence is the sail. So with that in mind, what does it take to to own your voice - and then amplify it to drive an industry, a conversation, a movement or a nation because if we can understand that, then we can really understand the power that is purpose.
Todays guest is the incredible Julie Masters - Founder and CEO of Influence Nation. She works with business leaders and organisations to become the voice of authority in their space. With 15 years of experience and management in the speaking world, she earned a reputation for launching and advising some of the world’s most respected thought leaders. Clients include industry leading CEO’s, speakers, best-selling authors and media personalities – the voices of which have reached millions of people globally through speaking, publishing and digital channels.
Over the years, Jules and I have spent hours diving into the nuts and bolts of what makes a big idea tick, and our interview today was no different. We explored:

• The power of digital access channels in driving influential purpose
• What takes an idea into the kind of velocity to create a movement
• Why is storytelling a currency in influence, and what are the components of great storytelling
• Why contribution, consistency and certainty will take your purpose to the next level.
• Why intention trumps authenticity every time
• We also explore the connection between the rise of purpose and the rise of influencer marketing… and much much more.

With that in mind, kick back and enjoy today's episode of Decoding Purpose with the Incredible Julie Masters. Welcome to the podcast.

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Welcome to today's bonus episode of the Decoding Purpose Podcast. I am releasing this BONUS episode to celebrate the launch of the GOOD IS THE NEW COOL Conference in Sydney this weekend and Melbourne next weekend.
I always get excited when a guest comes to visit me in the studio and today was no exception. Infact my guest came all the way from Los Angeles on a mission to share inspirational stories of purpose with the world. That person is Afdhel Aziz, and he is an international keynote speaker, author and the creator of Good Is The New Cool, which is a book and a conference that amplifies optimistic, purpose driven and hopeful stories of world change.
In meeting Af today, I honestly felt like I was hanging out with a very old friend. A kindred spirit who managed to match my obsession for decoding purpose in our personal and professional lives. Our conversation today went around the world as we dissected purpose as a driving force in the next economy, purpose in brand strategy, purpose in an organisation. Most significantly we looked at the connection between personal purpose and the pursuit of a deeper and more spiritually connected life. There was no stone left unturned.
It is clear to me that Af is on a mission to solve one of the biggest problems facing companies and individuals in the 21st century: how to find purpose and meaning in the work they do, and unlock the power of business to do good in the world. Watch the video below to find out about his inspiring journey.
Following a life-changing moment when he experienced the devastating effects of the South Asian tsunami in his native Sri Lanka, he embarked on a journey to explore inspiring work. This lead to his first book 'Good is the New Cool : Market Like You Give a Damn' (co-authored by Bobby Jones) which explored the link between purpose and success in companies like Warby Parker, Zappos and Citibank.
He realized that he had a burning desire to be of service to companies looking to unleash the power of purpose, which led to him quitting his job in corporate life and touring the world as a professional speaker and consultant, and speaking to tens of thousands of people around the world from New York to Stockholm to Mexico.
It also lead to him setting up a brand purpose consultancy, Conspiracy of Love, which has advised Fortune 500 companies like Adidas, Sonos, Bacardi, Mars and Coty on how use the power of purpose to connect with Millennial and Gen-Z audiences. Along with Big Data, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and disruptive technology, ‘purpose’ is one of the biggest challenges facing businesses today. In this age of disruption, the term “Corporate Social Responsibility” has quickly evolved into “Corporate Social OPPORTUNITY” and is vital to stay competitive.
I hope you enjoy today's podcast, and if you would like to come and hang out with me, Afdhel and a group of world changing humans grab your ticket at www.goodisthenewcool/sydney and enter the discount code UP2GOOD.

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