Get Off The Bench Podcast

Rachel Dayoub describes herself as just an average lady and a single mom trying to do the best she can.

But in February this year (2020), she headed to the supermarket in her home town of Pittsburg, like any other day, but this time things were different - 2 men had decided to target and stalk her.

She was suddenly scared for her life and more scared that her kids may not have a mother if she didn’t somehow make her way out of this terrifying situation.

After a few days of being scared, even in the safety of her own home, she knew she had to look for the silver lining and find a way to reduce the chance of this type of thing happening to others.

By March, Rachel had founded Whispering Force - self defence classes for women and girls.

Despite being challenged by the lack of spare time to run this program, Rachel says there is no choice - the community has to be safe.

“I never want any woman or child to feel fear in their own community and that they cannot take care of themselves.”

Mentions:

FB - https://www.facebook.com/whisperingforce

With over 25 years in management with Australian public service, the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the University sector, Erin Lord strives to make complex situations simple. Her current work as Director of Aeromedical Solutions, Australia’s only medical repatriation broker sees her and her co – Director Steve McLaren arrange the return of Australians who have been injured or suffered an illness overseas.

“It’s an incredibly complex situation for families to work their way through, you have the emotion and fear for your loved one as well as the complexities of both the clinical situation presenting at the time and then you add the aviation aspects and it’s pretty easy to see why you might be out of your depth”.

Over the past year Aeromedical Solutions has assisted more than 40 patients and their families with their return home. They’ve extended their offer to work with Governments and insurance companies with the aim to disrupt the market and find different platforms to return patients home and provide 24/7 care and contact with families throughout the journey home.

A committed Gippslander, Erin works from home in Sale and enjoys the challenge of assisting people all around the world in what is often the worst moment in their lives. In fact she considers it nothing short of a privilege.

Mentions:

Website - https://www.aeromedicalsolutions.com.au/

Royal Flying Doctor Service - https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/

DFAT - https://www.dfat.gov.au/

Darren Chester - https://darrenchester.com.au/

Grandpa Baileys - https://grandpabaileys.com.au/

Start Up Gippsland - https://startupgippsland.com.au/

GippsTech - https://gipps.tech/

Launch Victoria - https://launchvic.org/

Latrobe Valley Authority - https://lva.vic.gov.au/

Wellington Shire - https://www.wellington.vic.gov.au/

Socials:

Facebook - aeromedical solutions

LinkedIn - Aeromedical Solutions

Rachel is a radio host, model, spokesperson, and a fierce advocate for people with disabilities - particularly those with autism.

A senior at University of South Florida, double majoring in English and communications, Rachel advocates for those with disabilities through her non profit, The Ability Beyond Disabilities which inspires and helps those that have challenges to strive for their dreams as well as educating those who might not understand the challenges faced.

As an individual with autism, she often felt like she could not do many things. People with disabilities or anyone who is different are often targets for bullies as she was, but because of her life and social experience, she has overcome many challenges.

Today Rachel is a spokesperson for the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at the University of South Florida (CARD-USF) and also on their board. She also holds board positions at Unicorn Children’s Foundation, The Els Center for Excellence, Kulture City as well as the Dyspraxia Foundation USA, all of which provide services to individuals with disabilities. Her focus is now to bring awareness to individuals and companies to provide an opportunity for employment for people on the spectrum.

Rachel has performed the National Anthem at major sporting events and at Madison Square Garden. She also spoke at the United Nations on World Autism Day and recently filmed a short documentary for Sephora.

She has her own segment at a radio station in New York, and is currently working on a series of fantasy novels. Rachel is also no stranger to beauty pageants, and has just be named runner up Miss Florida.

Mentions:

Website - https://rachelbarcellona.com/

Tampa Children’s Museum - https://glazermuseum.org/

Tampa History Museum - https://www.tampabayhistorycenter.org/

Video - In Search Of Me - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_nvq2PgQ0o

Video - Teens With Guts - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6lLGf5kbxM

Socials:

Facebook - Rachel Barcellona

Facebook Page - Ability Beyond Disabilities

Instagram - rachelbarcellona

Twitter - @barcellonaR

LinkedIn - Rachel Barcellona

As a performer and scriptwriter for stage, television, radio, magazines and newspapers, Jean Kittson came to national attention on 'The Big Gig', followed by Let the Blood Run Free, Kittson Fahey, Good News Week, the Glasshouse, Flat Chat, The Einstein Factor, Media Dimensions and Strictly Speaking.

Well known for her comedy debates for the ABC, Channel 9 and Channel ten, she has been a regular columnist with New Weekly, Sunday Telegraph, the Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney Magazine, Inspire Magazine, the Readers Digest Health Smart magazine and The Hoopla.

She is the author of 'Tongue Lashing', published by Penguin, as well as her recent book 'You're still hot to me', published by Pan Macmillan. Jean’s 3rd book, ‘We need to talk about Mum and Dad’, also published by Pan Macmillan, is a no-nonsense guide to parenting ageing parents.

Her film credits include Hating Alison Ashley and The Nugget. Theatre includes Mum’s the Word, Calendar Girls, Siren, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She is a regular guest on ABC 702 radio drive programme, Thank God It’s Friday.

Jean is an experienced MC, keynote speaker, panellist, debater and facilitator of conventions, conferences, award nights and other after dinner frolics, in corporate, government and community arena.

She was a founding Director of the National Cord Blood Bank, the inaugural Chair of the Australian Gynaecological Cancer Foundation (AGCF) and a founding Ambassador for Ovarian Cancer Australia.

Jean Kittson is currently an Ambassador for The Macular Disease Foundation, Northcott Disability Services, The Raise Foundation, Taldumande Youth Services and the Australian Gynaecological Cancer Foundation.

Most recently she has been appointed the Patron of Palliative Care Nurses Australia.

As an advocate for women’s health issues, Jean was invited to speak about her experiences of menopause at the National Press Club. This lead to her recently published book; ‘You’re Still Hot to Me. The Joys of Menopause’ (Pan Macmillan).

“It’s informative, accurate, funny and just so accessible. I love it and finally have the definitive book to recommend to my patients.” ~ Dr Penny Adams, GP and medical media personality for women’s health.

Jean Kittson is also a wife, mother and daughter, and is married to cartoonist and political satirist Patrick Cook. Jean is the mother of two daughters, Victoria and Charlie.

Mentions:

Website - https://www.jeankittson.com.au/

Lynda Gibson - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynda_Gibson

Girls With Hammers - https://girlswithhammers.com.au/

Greenhouse model aged care

Shameless Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/shameless/id1352875216

Socials:

LinkedIn - Jean Kittson

FB - Jean Kittson @JeanKittson . Comedian

Insta - Jean Kittson

Bob Harris is a screenwriter, speaker, author, and has been a quiz show superstar, radio commentator, TV host, and comedian.

As a screenwriter, Bob has written for Bones and CSI, was a consultant for Marvel’s Avengers: The Age of Ultron (the 10th top-grossing film of all time); head of the writers’ room on El Pantera, Mexico’s top action series; and the instructor of the graduate screenwriting program at the International Filmschule in Cologne, Germany.

Bob has written five books, including The International Bank of Bob (Walker/Bloomsbury), whose readers chipped in more than US $10,000,000 to fund businesses in more than 90 developing countries.

He was an Associated Press award-winning radio commentator for five years, and has contributed to dozens of publications ranging from The New York Times to The Intercept to National Lampoon. Bob has also contributed to Star Wars comic books, and as a travel writer for Forbes.

His speaking appearances include Adobe, Google, eBay, Visa, more than 200 US colleges; TEDx; and conferences hosted by the European Parliament and the US Department of State.

Bob has been a TV presenter and Co-host, and has appeared on dozens of talk shows, and was a stand-up comedian whose appearances included opening for Jerry Seinfeld, Tim Allen, and Paula Poundstone.

And in quizzing, Bob’s US appearances include 14 episodes of Jeopardy!, and giving the fastest phone-a-friend response in the history of the American version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

Bob is on the advisory board of the National History Bee and Bowl, the largest academic quizzing organization in the world, and The Pop Culture Hero Coalition, an anti-bullying charity.

Offstage, Bob has kissed the Blarney Stone, rocked the Casbah, performed three marriages (becoming an ordained minister once to do so) including one on the Jeopardy! set itself, and obtained a bachelor’s degree with honours in electrical engineering and applied physics.

Originally from a small factory town in Ohio, Bob now lives gratefully in Sydney.

Mentions:

Website - http://www.bobharris.com/

KIVA - https://www.kiva.org/

Socials:

LinkedIn - Bob Harris

FB - Bob Harris

Insta - bobharrisdotcom

Sandra Pankhurst is truly label-defying.

A transgender woman, Sandra has lived many lives, rising above adversity. Her remarkable life is the subject of the internationally acclaimed, multi-award- winning book ‘The Trauma Cleaner’.

Sandra (then “Peter”) was adopted into an abusive family, relegated to a backyard bungalow, malnourished, excluded from family life and escaped home in his teens.

Marrying young, he soon realised it was not possible to continue his life as a husband and father – so he left that life to become Sandra -- drag queen, sex worker and a gender reassignment patient in the early 80s. With an enviable work ethic, she went on to become Australia’s first female funeral director, a trophy wife and a local government candidate.

Sandra is now CEO of one of Australia’s most successful trauma cleaning businesses, transforming the filth and squalor of murder, suicide, drug dens, crime, and mental illness. The idea for her trauma cleaning business emerged when she was a funeral director, as there were no death/crime scene specialist cleaners. Sandra saw a gap in the market and created a business that combined her ‘neat freak’ CSI stain-removing genius with her next level ability to relate and connect to people in difficult situations, specifically in trauma. With a unique ability to treat her clients with unpatronising dignity and respect, she transforms their properties back to their former glory.

An active advocate for aged care rights, disability, mental health and ethics, Sandra has recently been an Ambassador for ‘Becoming Colleen’, a documentary about a woman who transitioned at 82. Sandra is extremely passionate about making a positive impact on the welfare of people of all lifestyles in the aged care and mental health sector.

As a public speaker, Sandra does keynotes, panel discussions, interviews and book-clubs, and has been featured on ABC Radio, Nova100, SBS, Studio 10, and in The Guardian, Herald Sun, Life Matters and The Australian

Her incredible story reminds us there can be an after, survival and a next chapter.

Mentions:

Website - https://www.sandrapankhurst.com.au/

STC Services - https://www.stcservices.com.au/

Socials:

FB - Sandra Pankhurst - The Trauma Cleaner

LinkedIn - Sandra Pankhurst

Instagram - pankhurst_the_trauma_cleaner

Roy Juarez Jr. is a speaker, author and activist, and travels to inspire youth.

At the age of 14 years old, Roy found himself homeless due to domestic violence, moving from house to house to survive. With only a duffle bag to call home, he was at the mercy of the streets and after navigating his way to college, Roy swore to never return to that life again.

Roy is extremely passionate about helping young people and providing them with hope for the future. He has dedicated his entire life to creating positive change in communities across the country, partnering with organisations such as the U.S ARMY, Ford Motor Company Fund, and the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute.

His work has also been featured on CNN and in the Chicken Soup For The Soul book - Extraordinary Teens

Roy is still young, but has lived a life beyond his years. Since 2010 Roy has been able to lecture to over 450,000 youth, educators, and parents throughout the US and abroad, as a motivational speaker and activist fighting for homeless youth, families and higher education.

He vulnerably shares his heart wrenching personal story of surviving the streets of San Antonio, Texas.

In 2005, Roy created and founded IMPACTtruth, Inc. which supports youth through variety of programs.

He is the author of the Book - ‘Homeless by Choice’ - A memoir of love, hate and forgiveness (2018), and the co-author of the Book - ‘4 steps to not allowing the pandemic to affect your home’ Co-authored with Ret. LTC Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch (2020)

Mentions:

Website - https://www.homelessbychoice.com/

Hardin-Simmons University - https://www.hsutx.edu/

Janet Hogan spent 30 years as a serial entrepreneur, running everything from restaurants to an advertising agency to multi-million dollar land developments. It wasn't till she was well into her 50s, during a simulated death experience, that she heard a voice deliver the ultimate brickbat : "You've let everyone down."

In that one wake up call, she realised that by being what she thought was selfless, sacrificing her life to work and family, she was in fact being selfish, denying the world her gift.

Today, this former consumer brand builder (remember "Aussie Kids Are Weetbix Kids"?) devotes her time to reshaping the human brand, through her pragmatic and provocative self-discovery program: The 5th Door. She loves nothing more than taking people on a deep dive into themselves to conquer their Core Destructive Belief, the one thing that, according to Janet, keeps so many of us feeling stuck and unfulfilled.

"I am here to wake people up to who they truly are and from there, craft a living that they love."

Mentions:

Website - https://www.janethogan.com/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/the5thdoor/

Penny Cula-Reid began her journey at just 6 years old, playing football with the boys. It wasn't until the age of 14 after a training session one day, that she realised she might be different. She was tapped on the shoulder and told she couldn't play football anymore "because she was a girl" - but instead of listening, Penny asked "why?"

Alongside her peers Helen Taylor and Emily Stanya, Penny took Football Victoria to VCAT (Victorian Civil Administrations Tribunal), and the case was a landmark moment for sexual discrimination in Australian sport.

Girls could now play in mixed competition football up to the age of 14 (originally 12), and a girls competition for U/17's was introduced, effectively creating a pathway for girls and women in Australian Rules Football that previously did not exist.

With the birth of the AFLW (Australian Football League for Women) in 2017, Penny was drafted to play for her beloved Collingwood Football Club. Penny quickly realised that her passion lay in supporting other women, and helping to build them up in their own sporting journeys.

Penny began coaching the Collingwood VFLW team, and in just her first year led the team to become minor premiers and took out the Coach of the Year award for the VFLW. In 2019 she coached the team to back-to-back minor premierships, and finished the season winning the 2019 VFLW Grand Final.

Despite having achieved so much so early on, Penny continues to work hard and develop her coaching skills, currently with Williamstown Football Club.

Hoping to spread her message to as many young women as possible, and with a passion for empowering women to work together, Penny inspires many through her speaking events across Australia. She engages audiences as she talks about her experiences with facing adversity, and shines a light on how women can effectively work together.

Penny's latest achievement is being a part of the new Australian Sports Museum exhibition, where she is a feature piece in the creation of the AFLW.

It hasn't been smooth sailing for this young ambitious woman throughout her journey, overcoming many obstacles along the way, but that's what makes Penny determined, focused, and unstoppable.

Insta: @pcula

Mentions:

AFLW - https://womens.afl/

VFLW - https://vfl.com.au/women/

Collingwood Football Club - https://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/

Williamstown Football Club - https://www.williamstownfc.com.au/

Even Girls Play Footy - http://www.evengirlsplayfooty.com/

Dr. Ash Pachauri is the president and founder of the Center for Human Progress in India. Founded in 2009, with the aim to improve the quality of life of individuals and societies by supporting, promoting and encouraging healthy behaviours and human rights.

He has also co-founded with, and inspired by, his late father R.K Pachauri, two global organisations - Protect Our Planet Movement (POP Movement) and the World Sustainable Development Forum.

The POP Movement’s aim is to empower youth to play an active role in addressing issues of climate change faced by our planet.

While the World Sustainable Development Forum, aims to mobilise global action for the effective implementation of both the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the UN General Assembly.

With a PhD in Decision Behaviour and Master’s degree in International Management, Dr Pachauri has contributed to several initiates in the field of HIV prevention, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and sustainability.

As a master trainer in in behaviour change communications and strategic leadership, Dr Pachauri has led over 20,000 workshops, events, and activities globally to outreach to youth and communities to promote health and sustainable development.

As well his academic work being widely published and celebrated, Dr Pachauri has also been recognised by the United Nations for his dedication and leadership. He is valued member on boards and advisory groups of several organisations worldwide.

Social Media

FB:

The POP Movement @popmovement

Center for Human Progress - Ash At Work

World Sustainable Development Forum - @theworldsdf

Insta:

POP Movement - pop.movement

Center For Human Progress - centreforhumanprogress

WSDF - theworldsdf

Mentions:

World Sustainable Development Forum - https://worldsdf.org/

Protect Our Planet - https://thepopmovement.org/

Center for Human Progress - https://www.thechp.org/