Get Off The Bench Podcast

Liv White is a digital content creator, entrepreneur, mother and speaker. Almost a decade ago, Liv set out to sharing her journey to the world in the hopes to inspire others to live confidently and courageously.

Her inquisitive, honest and daring nature has led her to experience and achieve incredible things, from being naked on the cover of a magazine to speaking at Business Chicks, appearing in many media forums, through to interacting with inspiring leaders and brands globally. 

Amongst all of her achievements, Olivia remains authentic to sharing the real, the raw and the sometimes unglamorous. By sharing her knowledge, beliefs and experiences, Olivia is able to encourage, inspire and motivate others to create more freedom, opportunity and acceptance into their lives.

Socials:

Website: https://houseofwhite.com.au/

Insta: Olivia White @houseofwhite_ 

LinkedIn: Olivia White

Youtube: Olivia White

Mentions:

Disney

Qantas https://www.qantas.com/au/en.html

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Herbert Lang came from humble beginnings in Brinkley, Arkansas graduating from Centenary College of Louisiana in 1998. While there, he led the Trans-America Athletic Conference in scoring and won the National Association of Basketball Coaches Slam Dunk Contest. The Globetrotters invited him to their training camp in 1999, and he spent 18 years as a player and coach with the team.

He traveled to nearly 100 countries and interacted with various influential dignitaries during that time. He also participated in numerous TV shows and contests, including three seasons of The Amazing Race and Are you Smarter Than A 5th Grader? He wrote about his unique journey in a recently-published memoir, Projects, Popes and Presidents.

Lang, a lifelong Razorback fan who still cheers on U of A sports teams, now lives in Ruskin, Florida with his wife Elena. Herb is also a TEDx SPEAKER. He speaks about concepts from his books (Projects, Popes, and Presidents) as an on-air correspondent and inspirational speaker. 

He also facilitates sports clinics for young people. Herb just finished filming “Sweetwater.” Herb plays the role of “Babe” Pressley former Harlem Globetrotter!

He’s currently working with a Hollywood production company to develop one of his many television show concepts, as well as improving his skills as an Actor, Producer, and being a good human.

The father of three (Antonio, Nicholas, and Reya) said he was taught to treat people with kindness, and that principle still guides his life today. His mantra is summed up in the hashtag #kindnessisfree, which Herb often uses online and in correspondence.

“I am just a small-town Arkansas kid who has been blessed to have so many amazing life-changing opportunities,” he said. “I truly believe that it’s important to treat others even better than you expect to be treated by people. Every major accomplishment in my life has been the direct result of others speaking up for me, trusting, and believing I would not fail them in doing so.”

Lang finds beauty in life’s struggles. He believes that success is not determined by how much money a person makes but by how many lives they touch along the way.

Socials:

Website: http://www.herblang.com/

LinkedIn: Herbert “Flight Time” Lang

Insta: Herbert “Flight Time” Land @datrotter4

FB: Herbert S Lang

Twitter: @datrotter4

Tik Toc: @datrotter4

Projects, Popes and Presidents (Book) http://www.herblang.com/projects-popes-presidents/

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Jessie Ballantyne is passionate about entrepreneurship, business and giving. Her motto for life is ‘Be Real, Take Risks, Dream Big, Give Generously’.

Jessie’s entrepreneurial spark first came to life when she fell in love with France in Year 9. She had an inspirational French teacher who inspired her to become an exchange student and pursue her love of French. But her parents didn’t have the $8,000+ needed for the exchange back in 1997, so her launch into business began. 

At 14, Jessie would come home from school every day to bake and sell thousands of biscuits, sold books through party plan, sold chocolate-coated snakes from her high-school locker (the school canteen shut the operation down as they started losing money!), babysat and catered for parties on the weekends. Her parents paid half, she paid half, and Jessie spent a life-changing 12 months in French-speaking Belgium.

Years down the track, after working in grants and seeing just how difficult it was for organisations to find and keep track of grants, Jessie saw the need for an easy-to-use online grants directory. Jessie founded The Grants Hub in 2013, when she was 39 weeks pregnant with her second child. The Grants Hub is now Australia's award-winning grants directory, with a network of 28,000+ grant seekers and helping over 2,000 organisations across Australia find grants every day.

But it hasn’t all been smooth-sailing. When The Grants Hub was only a couple of weeks old, Jessie’s 11-day-old son was diagnosed with congenital heart disease and needed open-heart surgery. She found herself with a two-year-old daughter, a baby in emergency open heart surgery, and a startup.

Sitting in the ICU ward at the Royal Children’s Hospital, she answered emails, updated grant listings and kept The Grants Hub afloat. Miraculously, both her son and The Grants Hub survived that time with the support of many, many people.

The following years were marked by business growth, PTSD, another child (three in total), business awards and lots, and lots of coffee!

Jessie is also the founder of ‘Hey Good Thing’ - For-Purpose Gift Boxes for good. 

Socials:

Website: https://jessieballantyne.com/

LinkedIn: Jessie Ballantyne

FB: Jessie Ballantyne

Insta: Jessie Ballantyne @jessie.ballantine

The Grants Hub

Website: https://www.thegrantshub.com.au/

FB: The Grants Hub @thegrantshub 

Insta: The Grants Hub @thegrantshub

Podcast: Grants Uncovered

Hey Good Thing

Website: https://heygoodthing.com.au/

FB: Hey Good Thing

Insta: Hey Good Thing / Gift Boxes @heygoodthing

Mentions:

City of Casey

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In 2008, Simon Harvey saw the world was slowly darkening, like a piece of fruit rotting slowly from the inside out. He resolved to become CAPTAIN AUSTRALIA, and stop this slow, insidious decline. His mission was three-fold and simple:

Do Good Deeds: find positive and meaningful ways demonstrate kindness

Fight Evil: stand up against cruelty and wrong-doing

Inspire Others: be funny, joyful, righteous, inspiring others to find their way to do the same

Simon states that he failed in his Quest. He retired when his middle son was diagnosed with a serious health problem, and committed all his resources to helping him (he is thriving today).

He started a travel insurance company, which was also thriving, until the COVID border closures caused it’s collapse.

In 2016, Simon was diagnosed with a Stage 4, invasive head and neck cancer. The doctors gave him 6 months to live, with a 40-60% chance chemoradiation would save his life.

He got lucky. But there is no lucky with cancer, not really. He was in his prime, and it destroyed him. “It doesn’t only try to kill you, it tries to rob you of your dignity, hope, sense of place in the world.”

Over the next several years, Simon slipped into quiet existential crisis. Daily pain, gut-wrenching side effects, and underneath it, the thing that bothered him most, that hurt him the deepest: children have to go through this.

He realised he needed to bring Captain Australia back. He decided to do a BIG WALK for The Kids Cancer Project, and on 26.12.21 he set out to walk from Brisbane to Melbourne, by himself, no help, sleeping rough, dressed as the boofhead superhero Captain Australia.

Simon’s goal was to raise support and funds for this incredibly worthy cause, and also to heal himself, to walk away from the cancer that tried to take away his life and his hope.

Socials:

Website: https://captainaustralia.online/

FB: Captain Australia’s BIG WALK @capsBIGWALK

Insta: Captain Australia’s BIG WALK  @captainaustraliasbigwalk  

Mentions:

The Kids Cancer Project

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Kerrie Atherton Founder of Stories of HOPE Australia/Worldwide and EMPOWER Life Solutions is a Keynote Speaker, Author, Mental Health First Aid Training Presenter, Event Host, Trauma and Addictions Recovery Counsellor.

After planning suicide at 18, Kerrie walked through the doors of a 12 step program and since that day 40 years ago, has remained clean and sober.

Over the past 30 years, Kerrie has worked in the business and community sector helping those who are struggling with the issues of life find Hope. Since moving to the Sunshine Coast 17 years ago she has worked in a voluntary capacity in the community as well as private practice as a trauma and addictions coach/counsellor and mentor building connections and supporting people from all walks of life. In addition, she has worked with many young people in crisis at different schools on the Sunshine Coast.

Along with her husband she founded a charity called “Streetlight” which ran for six years supporting the homeless and disadvantaged.

Four years ago Kerrie founded “Stories of HOPE Australia” a platform which runs monthly events bringing HOPE to the community and is now a published author having just released the second book in her, “Stories of HOPE Australia” series ‘Resilient People, Remarkable Stories’. When the world went into lockdown, Kerrie commenced “Stories of HOPE Worldwide” an online platform sharing stories of HOPE around the world.

Kerrie's desire as a “Mental Health First Aid” trainer, is to help people recognise the signs that someone may be experiencing a mental health crisis and to give them vital tools and knowledge to empower and assist them in their time of need.

In everything she does, her passion is to help prevent suicide and hopelessness and to bring connection and HOPE to people in times of uncertainty in a rapidly changing world.

Socials:

Website: https://storiesofhope.com.au/

Website: https://empowerlifesolutions.com.au/

LinkedIn: Kerrie Atherton

FB: Stories of HOPE Australia

FB: EMPOWER Life Solutions @empowerlifesolutions 

Insta: Stories of HOPE Australia  @stories_of_hope_aus 

Mentions:

Kevin McMullin

Beyond Blue

Lifeline

headspace

Head to Health

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Jessica Evans is the owner of The Makeup Hub in Gippsland, works full time at a radio station, and is the mother of twins, Karter and Chase.

When Jessica was 27 she fell pregnant with the twins, but all didn’t go to plan. 

Her water broke at 28 weeks and she had the twins naturally at 30 weeks. Chase was born feet first with no issues, but Karter was born with the forceps which crushed his head and left him with a bleed on the brain.  

Karter was left with cerebral palsy, which was something Jessica spent many long nights googling trying to understand the condition as well as trying to come to terms with what had happened. At that point she realised this was a life long condition with no cure.

Despite the fact that cerebral palsy isn’t technically diagnosed until the child is 2 years old, Jessica knew at 4 months that this would be the family’s future. She was told that as the bleed was significant, Karter would never be able to walk or communicate.

Since 4 months old, Karter has had weekly physiotherapy, chiropractor and occupational therapy.

When Karter was 1 year old, a fundraiser enabled Jessica to take him to Bangkok for 1 month of intense therapy and stem cell injections. 

Karter is now 8 and can talk and has some movement in his legs.

Jessica has become a passionate disability advocate, and shares stories of abuse, lack of access, constant concerns about inclusive facilities and events.

Socials:

Insta: Gippsland Makeup Artist @themakeuphubofgippsland

FB: The Makeup Hub @themakeuphubofgippsland 

Insta: Karter’s Crew @karters.crew 

Mentions:

Ronald McDonal House

Welcome to Holland

Wonder (movie)

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David C. Lee is a coach, author, entrepreneur and speaker who has honed his skills as an operator, motivator, mentor and coach in a thirty year career in business, police, military and paramilitary organisations. He has built & managed million dollar businesses, has had his feet on the ground in many many high risk situations and has helped countless people move through their own fears and doubts.

David has worked with numerous organisations and individuals and drills down to the core issues of what holds an organisation or individual back. He has been to some of the darkest and scariest places both physically and emotionally and uses those experiences to help his many clients.   

David is no stranger to adversity and his comeback story is one of true inspiration. David lost one of his closest friends & work colleagues in a firefight during his service & also lost two other friends in a similar way.

David was decorated on several occasions during his service, but in 2010 was diagnosed with Chronic Post Traumatic Stress Disorder due to the cumulative trauma from his service.

In 2012 he was disengaged from the services due to Chronic PTSD and it was determined and documented that “the likelihood of him returning to any form of meaningful employment unlikely and sadly, his prognosis is very guarded in that he is likely to remain a man continually troubled by the aftermath of his trauma exposure for many years to come”.  

David then set about rebuilding his life using many of the strategies he now teaches.  David’s physical and mental suffering were a journey of self discovery and he has come though a much stronger and better man.

David is the author of ‘Capture Your Dreams & Smash Your Fears’, ‘Positive Thinking’, and ‘Attitude of Success’. He is also the host of the podcast Dreamers, Believers, & High Achievers

Experience counts & with David you get the real deal, a leader, speaker and a coach, someone who has been at the coalface, someone who won’t let you down.

Socials:

Website: https://davidclee.com/

LinkedIn: David C. Lee

FB: David C. Lee @davidcleeofficial 

Insta: David C. Lee  @david_c_lee_official

Books: https://www.amazon.com/David-C.-Lee/e/B09SP7Y4Q3

Podcast: Dreamers, Believers, & High Achievers

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Tanya Heaney-Voogt is a mentally healthy workplaces expert, workplace change facilitator and certified leadership coach, helping leaders, teams and organisations to thrive in this rapidly changing and high demand world of work.

With a 25-year career leading people, projects and change across the health sector Tanya now works primarily with public sector entities to develop mentally healthy work practices, strengthen workplace cultures; and develop safe, effective and high performing leaders and teams. 

She draws on her own experiences as a senior leader dealing with work overload and change saturation to support leaders to develop more sustainable individual strategies and to assist workplaces to manage the environmental factors that contribute to unsafe levels of work-related stress. 

Tanya has worked extensively with health, education, local government and environmental agencies in consulting, coaching and training activities.  Her popular Cracking the Change CodeTM program has supported a myriad of public entities to implement enterprise-wide change initiatives. 

Tanya is also the author of ‘Transforming Norm – Leading the change to a mentally healthy workplace’.

Socials:

Website: https://tanyaheaneyvoogt.com/

LinkedIn: Tanya Heaney-Voogt - Transforming Workplaces

FB: Tanya Heaney-Voogt 

Insta: Tanya Heaney-Voogt @tanyaheaneyvoogt

Transforming Norm (book)

Youtube: Tanya Heaney-Voogt

Mentions:

Project Aristotle

Diversity Council Australia

Australian Productivity Commission

SuperFriend

WorkSafe

Dr. Adam Fraser - Strive (book)

Timothy R. Clarke

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Donna McGeorge is passionate about enhancing the large amount of time we spend in our workplace (too much, for many) to ensure it is effective and productive, as well as enjoyable. 

Donna believes that workplaces are complex, but not hard. More often than not it’s getting the simple things right, consistently, that has the greatest impact. 

She also knows that when we decide to be intentional, we can surprise ourselves with what we can achieve. 

Known as THE productivity coach, she has a range of sessions, books, products and services to help you improve your productivity. 

Donna earned her Bachelor of Education (Human Resource Development at The University of Technology, Sydney). She is a Certified Speaking Professional and was on the faculty of Though Leaders Global from 2014 to 2018. 

As a speaker, facilitator, and consultant, Donna’s animated delivery and ‘front of room’ energy enables people to engage enthusiastically with her and her material. 

She brings her creative and practical approach together with a significant corporate organisation development background to help people where they are at. 

For over 20 years Donna has worked as a trainer, facilitator and speaker in leading corporate environments, including Ford Motor Company, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, L’Oreal, Jetstar, Pacific Hydro, Nissan Motor Company, Flight Centre, and ANZ Bank. 

In 2014, Donna returned from 2 years abroad, where she worked closely with the senior leadership team at Ford Asia Pacific in China to help transform organisational design, development, and strategic planning. 

Donna believes that workplaces are complex, but not hard. More often than not it’s getting the simple 

things right, consistently, that has the greatest impact. 

She also knows that when we decide to be intentional, we can surprise ourselves with what we can achieve. 

Socials:

Website: https://donnamcgeorge.com/

LinkedIn: Donna McGeorge CSP

FB: Donna McGeorge 

Insta: Donna McGeorge @dmcgeorge

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Zac Jones was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1996 and is co-author of Why The Fallen?

Having been expelled from most schools he attended, he completed Year 10 before refusing to continue his studies. He worked several jobs and manage a small family business while battling alcohol and substance abuse.

In 2017, he crashed his car while under the influence of drugs and alcohol, seriously injuring himself and his four passengers. As a result, he wound up in jail, where he managed to turn his life around and overcome the underlying issues surrounding his drug and alcohol abuse.

Zac is an engaging and inspiring speaker who is now committed to preventing young men and women from making the same mistakes as him and helping them work through issues with substance addiction and crime.

Zac is passionate about music and plays the guitar. He sings, writes and composes songs and uses this creativity as a positive focus on the difficult days. He is living proof that making mistakes builds character and resilience.

Why The Fallen? is not the finished story of Zac’s life but is the first chapter in what is sure to be an exciting saga.

Socials:

Website: https://www.whythefallen.com/

LinkedIn: Zac Jones

FB: Why The Fallen?

Insta: Zac Jones @zacjonesphnz

Mentions:

You Choose Youth Road Safety (Melissa McGuiness) https://www.youchooseyrs.org.au/

Melissa’s child was driving a car that crashed killing her child as well as 3-4 others in the other car

Veteran Mentors  https://www.veteranmentors.com.au/

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