Get Off The Bench Podcast

Hello! I am Gavin McCormack, a co-founder of Upschool.co, a platform that empowers students to learn real entrepreneurship skills that have real impact. With over 20 years of experience as a Montessori-trained teacher, I have taught in multiple countries and developed a passion for innovative educational practices that foster essential skills in students from an early age.

I am also the Montessori Australia Ambassador and a TEDx speaker on how education can change the world. I have built nine schools and several libraries and run three teacher training centres in Nepal. I am a best-selling author of children's books and a book on Montessori education for parents. I have been recognized as one of the top ten most influential global educators in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 and a nominee for Australian of the Year in 2018. You can learn more about my personal pedagogy and educational philosophy at www.gavinmccormack.com.au.

I am always open to collaborating with schools and educators worldwide to share my expertise on programming, classroom management, and pedagogy. Feel free to connect with me to learn more about how we can work together to bring about positive change in the education sector.

'In the ideal classroom, love is the silent lesson always being taught. It is not spoken of as much as it is shown, felt, and understood. It is the light that guides children on their path to finding their voice, and once found, to using it with the surety that comes from knowing they are loved, without conditions, without pause.'

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Website: upschool.co

Website: www.gavinmccormack.com.au

LinkedIn: Gavin McCormack

FB: Education by Gavin McCormack

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Since Cherie Smirl’s first volunteering experience in Tanzania in 2013, the failure of the Government’s education system to deliver has been a driving factor in her work to break the cycle of inter-generational poverty in the country. One Love Tanzania is dedicated to encouraging personal development goals, fostering self belief and promoting better classroom practice, all integral to bringing hope through Education…..better Education.

Today, One Love Tanzania is financially responsible for the educational welfare of 8 individual children in a range of Government and Non Government schools and Technical vocations, Cherie’s long term students for 11 years now. Supporting a young Muslim boy from a desperately poor background to fulfil his dream to become a doctor, is a proud and immensely fulfilling current undertaking.

Teaming with in country NGO’s opens doors to creative opportunities to impact young lives through a raft of vocational and recreational workshops…ranging from health and wellbeing to expressing themselves through art mediums.

Through mentoring qualified young, but yet to be employed, local teachers and financially supporting them to volunteer in poorly staffed schools creates opportunities to improve classroom practices in an education system hamstrung by over sized classes, poor resources and outdated curriculum. Positive changes are seen daily in both teacher and student attitudes.

One Love Tanzania is a huge advocate for self-growth through entrepreneurialism and especially liaises with skilled women artisans in the country to develop jewellery, small homewares and artworks to appeal on the Australian market. Providing both an ethical fund base for the NFP, and encouraging a sustainable income for women incredibly skilled at their craft, but with little knowledge of converting that craft to a worthwhile livelihood.

One Love Tanzania has been collaborating with the children from Tumaini for Africa Children’s Centre for 11 years to improve living conditions at the centre through the sale of their handicrafts. Guided by the Mamas at the centre and influenced by their tribal background, the children create sophisticated beaded jewellery pieces in the knowledge they are actively enhancing their own futures.

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Website: www.OneLoveTanzania.com

FB: One Love Tanzania

Insta: One Love Tanzania @one_love_tanzania_

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Nicky and Ness are seasoned business leaders and coaches, dedicated to transforming the way business owners approach growth and success. With over fifty years of combined experience in leadership, sales, and coaching, they bring a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to the table. Both have successfully run coaching businesses since 2015, and together they co-founded Business Together, a business that helps business owners break free from the relentless cycle of busy and build businesses by design.

In 2024, Nicky and Ness co-authored Healthy Hustle: The New Blueprint to Thrive in Business and Life, a game-changing guide for business owners looking to achieve success without sacrificing their well-being. The book challenges the outdated notion that success requires relentless hustle, offering practical strategies for smart business growth, peak performance, and creating time freedom. With real-life stories and actionable tools, Healthy Hustle helps business leaders step away from the chaotic grind and embrace a more sustainable, balanced approach to thriving in both business and life .

Together, Nicky and Ness offer their clients the unique advantage of tapping into not just one, but two seasoned business minds. They specialise in helping established, service-based businesses move from chaos to clarity, giving business owners and leaders the time freedom they crave. Their approach is grounded in practical wisdom and real-world experience, ensuring that their clients not only succeed but thrive.

Nicky and Ness are also the hosts of the podcast ‘Smart Business Growth’

If you’re into the formal stuff, you might like to know that both Nicky and Ness are accredited in eDISC Behavioral Profiling, are Meta Dynamics Level 3 Practitioners of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), and are qualified Professional Coaches and Facilitators. 

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Website (consulting business): https://businesstogether.com.au/

Website (Book): https://healthyhustle.com.au

Podcast Smart Business Growth

LinkedIn: Nicky Miklos-Woodley

LinkedIn: Vanessa Medling

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When she was growing up, Ros wanted to be a vet or a scientist, but her fascination with human behaviour and neuroscience led her to a career in organisational development, specialising in improving business outcomes by developing individuals, teams, and organisations.

After more than 20 years in corporate human resources and organisational development roles, a successful battle with cancer gave Ros the nudge to take her passion for transforming leaders and improving how individuals and organisations cope with change in a new direction. 

Leaving her senior corporate role in 2012, Ros established her consulting business, Shaping Change, to achieve her goals. 

Ros is a solution and results-oriented facilitator, with expertise spanning strategic planning, leadership development, organisational culture, change management, emotional intelligence and employee engagement.

She is also a talented and multi-award-winning executive and leadership coach, with coaching clients at executive and senior levels in Government agencies, private enterprise, and the community sector. 

In 2016, Ros felt compelled to look deeply at the differences in the leadership styles of men and women. The result was the Women’s Leadership Archetypes model, now being used worldwide by women to discover how they can better leverage their natural strengths to lead with purpose, authenticity, and integrity. In 2022 Ros was recognised with a World of Difference Award by the International Alliance for Women (TIAW) for this work. Ros now licences other women coaches, facilitators, mentors, and trainers to use the WLA in their work, creating a ripple effect across the globe. 

Ros is a blogger and the author of The Resilient Employee. In addition, she contributes regular articles to Leaders in Heels, The Huffington Post, and People Development magazine. 

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Website (consulting business): https://www.shapingchange.com.au/

Website (Women’s Leader Archetypes): https://www.womensleaderarchetypes.com.au/

LinkedIn: Rosalind Cardinal

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Let’s just start this with a confession. I’m deeply in love with photography. And this love affair started young, as a kid growing up in a small regional town in Victoria. I used to pour over the pictures in the National Geographic—those photos were my window to the wider world. They showed me the power of a single image to connect people across cultures, continents and time.

My fascination with images grew after my grandparents lost everything, photo albums included, in the Ash Wednesday bushfire. It was such a huge loss, and growing up without access to those family stories made me realise how important photography is to engage us with our history. Since then, I’ve felt a deep responsibility to document our stories so nothing is forgotten.

This eventually led me to found Lauren Murphy Photography in 2013 while also working as the staff photographer at the Warragul and Drouin Gazette. Eight years later, it’s a busy photography studio specialising in compelling, authentic portrait and documentary-style imagery for people and brands across Melbourne, the Gippsland and Warragul region, and beyond. 

While I’ve had a camera attached to my hip in some form or another since high school, I also credit my time as a social worker supporting the refugee community for five years (along with my full-time role as a mother) for informing the way I approach my photography clients every day—with compassion, empathy and a desire for honest connection.

It matters to me that people feel truly themselves in their photos—empowered, confident and ready to tell their story. This pushes me to understand the real person, find the beauty in them and share it with the world. And what a gift that is! 

The first day I launched my business it was vital for me to have my values ingrained in what I do. I will always welcome people of any age, gender, sexual identity, and cultural background. Our world is made beautiful by diversity, the more we can embrace it the better.

I also wish to acknowledge the current Elders in my local community and thank them for being able to follow my dreams on the tribal lands of the Bratowoloong people. I pay my respects to their Elders both past and present and look forward to potential collaborations with the Kurnai community. My studio is not just for me, it’s grown into much bigger things with the MAST.

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

LinkedIn: Lauren Murphy

FB: Lauren Murphy Photography

Insta: Lauren Murphy Photography @laurenmurphyphotography

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Audra Agen is the Founder, Host and Chief Inspiration Officer of the ‘Women in the Arena’ Podcast.

As a corporate veteran, Audra has 25 years’ experience of being one of the few women in the room, and in many cases, the only one. While the women may have been outnumbered, they were all uniquely exceptional. She became fascinated learning more about them and their experiences. It became increasingly clear that these women were contributing significant value to their organizations, families and careers. Their contributions were either being taken for granted or overlooked, sometimes even by themselves. Audra aspired to change that; from that, Women in the Arena was created. It’s a platform unlike any other- it’s a celebration.

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Website: https://womeninthearena.net/

LinkedIn: Audra Agen

LinkedIn: Women In The Arena Podcast

FB: Women In The Arena

Insta: womeninthearenapodcast @womeninthearenapodcast

Youtube: Women In The Arena Podcast

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It’s amazing how often we feel guilty about something and we let it consume us. It’s even worse when you’ve created a narrative in your own mind about letting people down and not living up to the expectations of others. Yes, I teach this stuff, but yet I am human. Sometimes it’s absolutely OK to put your own needs first and fill up YOUR cup in order to serve more people. If only we could remember that more often!

Tiffanee Cook is a dynamic force in the worlds of boxing, coaching, podcasting, and speaking, driven by a passion to understand why some people thrive after life’s challenges. 

As a boxer and coach, her experiences shape her insightful approach to personal development.

Her podcast is a rich tapestry of narratives, where she explores a range of topics - from mindset and adversity to neuroscience and resilience. She blends personal stories with scientific research, offering listeners diverse perspectives on human potential and growth.

As a certified coach and personal trainer, Tiffanee is dedicated to guiding her clients towards holistic well-being, addressing mental, physical, and emotional health. She helps them unravel the stories and behaviours that limit their potential, advocating for a balanced and fulfilling life.

Tiffanee sees life as a grand boxing ring, embracing a philosophy of resilience and adaptability. Her message is clear:

'Let's embrace life's challenges and roll with the punches!’

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

LinkedIn: Tiffanee Cook

FB: Roll With The Punches

Insta: Roll With The Punches Podcast @rollwiththepunches_podcast 

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It seems we’re always quick to judge or blame others, and just as quick to sit in denial or to justify our position. Often even when we know were are in the wrong! But how often are we accountable for our words and actions? And do we take responsibility for things that need to sit with us? What about owning up when we make a mistake. The latter are all things that sit above the metaphorical line, and being above the line helps us to perform better and build stronger relationships. But is it OK to go below the line?

Happiness is that elusive thing we all chase, but what does it actually mean? What if we replaced that never-ending search with celebration and seeking moments of joy. Those things that bring us energy, put a smile on our dial, and fill our cups. What then, are we doing that is compromising our happiness and our opportunity to find those moments of joy, and can we do more of the things that are contributing to our wellbeing?

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Sam Horn