GV Talks

In this episode, we speak with Tilliah Brooks, founder of GV Pet Adoption.  

Listen in as Tilliah discusses how her pet fostering and adoption service came to be, how she and her team aim to end the suffering of every animal that comes through their doors, their process for screening potential pet owners, and why people should look to adopt first.  

Key Highlights  

● [01:24] An introduction to Tilliah Brooks  

● [04:52] Where Tilliah’s love for animals began  

● [06:44] Dealing with high-risk cases  

● [08:36] How animals can help a person grow  

● [09:09] Is Tilliah a cat or dog person?  

● [11:37] Starting GV Pet Adoption  

● [13:18] Uncovering the source of an animal’s trauma  

● [15:35] How Tilliah stops the horrible stories of the animals she cares for to overwhelm her  

● [18:51] Teaching an old dog new tricks  

● [22:15] The end goal of GV Pet Adoption  

● [26:28] Managing the stray dog and cat population  

● [32:33] Why it should be harder for people to get pets  

● [36:37] Training different dogs differently  

● [38:30] GV Pet Adoption’s screening process for those who wish to adopt  

● [40:57] Why you should you adopt a pet versus shop for a pet  

● [45:19] How the Shepparton can help GV Pet Adoption  

● [51:50] Tilliah’s message to her team  

● [52:22] Who locally inspires Tilliah?  

Powerful Quotes by Tilliah  

● All the horrible stuff ends here when you come into care with us and when we find you that forever home. Our animals’ lives are never going to be how they were before they came in.  

● I think animals open your heart up. They help you to be more compassionate, more empathetic, and show you how to care for somebody else. Being with my animals helps me to unwind. It’s self-care. There’s no better sound to me than a purring cat or kitten; so I just love getting to spend my time with them every day.  

● The end goal of GV Pet Adoption is for us to not have to euthanize any animal in the country unless they’re actually really unwell.  

● Having a pet is a privilege. It’s not a right.  

● Adopt a pet. Don’t shop for a pet.

In this episode, we speak with Jai North on his journey in the world of fitness. 

Listen in as Jai talks about his past as a fat kid and what drove him to get in shape, how his mindset toward training and nutrition changed over the years, his dream to open a gym one day, and the most powerful lessons he learned from his family and as a Shepparton native.  

Key Highlights  

● [01:02] An introduction to Jai North and his background in the fitness industry  

● [02:05] Why Jai decided to get in shape  

● [04:53] How Jai trains and eats on a day-to-day basis  

● [06:53] Advice for those who are just getting into weight training  

● [07:38] Motivating yourself to stay in shape  

● [12:12] Jai’s plans for his career in the fitness industry  

● [16:27] Communicating your inner world to a large number of people  

● [19:06] What Jai loves about Shepparton  

● [20:19] Jai’s skydiving experience  

● [25:39] Fun things that Jai likes to do at Shepparton  

● [28:00] Jai’s personal goals  

● [31:11] Challenges Jai faced regarding his family and his greatest lessons learned from relatives  

● [37:21] Who locally inspires Jai?  

Powerful Quotes by Jai  

● If you’re just starting out in weight training, get your body used to different movements and just learn to enjoy it. It’s a marathon. It’s not a quick journey. It takes time; so learn to love it.  

● I look for any opportunity to get out of my comfort zone, because that is when you start growing.  

● Anyone who inspires me to do more and be more is someone worth following.

In this episode, we speak with Mel Emmi.  

Listen in as the mother of three talks about the destructive power of your ego and how to overcome it, choosing a reality defined by hope and happiness, why you should have a safe space and a support group, and her self-care tips.  

Key Highlights  

● [01:49] An introduction to Mel Emmi  

● [04:49] Defining “ego”  

● [09:46] Mastering your emotions  

● [11:02] Dealing with people who direct their anger toward you  

● [12:49] Holding on to moments of happiness and preserving your sense of self  

● [14:14] Choosing your intimate circle of friends and family  

● [14:59] Healing a life characterized by living in constant fear  

● [18:19] Blocking out noise on social media  

● [20:22] The hardest thing that Mel has overcome  

● [24:19] What Mel would tell her past self  

● [27:00] The benefits of earthing, meditation, and journaling  

● [31:14] Defining “love”  

● [33:53] Where fear and negative emotions come in  

● [39:00] Why Mel believes in reincarnation  

● [42:47] Who Mel wants to become  

● [44:36] Who locally inspires Mel?  

Powerful Quotes by Mel  

● Ego is a false sense of self about how you think you’re perceived or who you think you are.  

● Your limiting beliefs aren’t who you really are. You’re just conditioned to believe it.  

● At the end of the day, real happiness comes from within. Know that you can have those moments of happiness and moments of anger while knowing that, within you, you’re still safe and whole. Who’s to know if what you’re feeling is really real? All you really have is yourself.  

● I always ask myself, “Is this serving me, or draining me?”  

● It’s an illusion to think that we can control what happens around us. We can only really control ourselves.  

● Heal your trauma, heal your nervous system. Heal your nervous system, heal your emotional body. Heal your emotional body, heal your energy body. Heal your energy body, raise your vibration.  

● Love is the only thing that’s real. Love has the power to dissolve all that tries to oppose it. Love wins.  

● We choose our own reality.

In this episode, we speak with photographer and traveller Katelyn Morse.  

Listen in as Katelyn shares her passion for travel, photography and, most recently, vlogging. She recalls the various mountain treks and other notable trips she has done so far, including a once-in-a-lifetime trek to base camp in Nepal.  

Key Highlights  

● [00:27] An introduction to Katelyn Morse  

● [04:31] Katelyn on her first time picking up a camera  

● [05:22] Developing a passion for travel  

● [12:09] What Katelyn loves about nature and the outdoors  

● [14:30] Katelyn’s favourite mountain treks and how to prepare for one  

● [17:32] Mental obstacles to overcome while on the trail  

● [19:08] Katelyn’s trek to base camp in Nepal  

● [29:15] Katelyn’s thoughts on looking forward to the journey more than the destination  

● [32:06] How travel makes you forget about all your problems  

● [34:24] The hardest thing about travel  

● [37:40] Why Katelyn enjoys solitude on her travels  

● [38:34] What it is like to be a travel photographer and YouTuber  

● [42:31] Standing out among other travel YouTubers  

● [46:00] Who locally inspires Katelyn?  

Powerful Quotes by Katelyn  

● For me, it’s all about nature and the outdoors. When you’re outside the city, you really feel alive and free.  

● When I’m on a hike, I don’t really care if I don’t get to the destination. Sometimes I don’t even have a destination. I’m in it to explore and make my own path. It’s definitely the journey that is most important to me.  

● You’re just present and in the moment. You’re looking around yourself. When I was in Nepal, there was no internet half the time, no cars, and the power went out a lot. Life was just so simple. People were happy. We ate real food. It was so easy to drop everything and just enjoy the moment when I was out there.  

● The hardest thing about travel, always, is coming home.  

● Don’t put off travel. Do it now. Do it while you’re young and healthy. You can always earn more money later on. You just learn so much and experience things that you wouldn’t otherwise.  Connect with Katelyn on Instagram and YouTube

In this episode, we speak with radio announcer and show host Bill Bradley.  

Listen in as Bill shares his passion for radio and music, best practices for conducting interviews, his belief that social media does not hold a candle to tech-free interactions when it comes to building stronger relationships, the modern issue of political correctness and cancel culture, and how to achieve significance in life as opposed to simply achieving success.  

Key Highlights  

● [00:40] An introduction to Bill Bradley and his career as a radio announcer  

● [09:19] Bill’s opinion of social media and materialism in 2020  

● [19:11] Why Bill is so passionate about freedom of speech  

● [21:23] Bill’s level of creative freedom on his show  

● [25:16] The power of music  

● [28:14] Bill’s take on starting a family  

● [34:22] Managing stress and living a life filled with gratitude  

● [40:40] Becoming successful in radio  

● [50:43] Coping after leaving a job  

● [53:56] What Bill is looking forward to  

● [54:33] Bill sounds off on cancel culture and bullies  

● [1:05:03] Bill’s on starting his own podcast  

● [1:06:58] Mastering tonality when trying to get your message across  

● [1:11:06] Who locally inspires Bill?  

Powerful Quotes by Bill  

● Whenever I set out to interview someone, what I try to do is to tell a story.  

● I’m not afraid to voice my opinion, because everyone’s got one, and there’s no such thing as a wrong opinion. You’re allowed to have one. As long as you don’t force it on someone, and as long as you don’t call someone stupid because they don’t agree with your opinion—we need to have more of that.  

● Look at your friends and who you’d want to be in the trenches with.  

● The best gift you can give your kid is a musical instrument.  

● The things that make me happy are my family, my friends, and my work. Everything in-between is an added bonus.  

● If you want to change career and follow your passion, no one’s going to do that for you except you.  

● I think there’s a bit of luck involved with any success.  

● Your own happiness is your real wealth.  

● Your problems may be triggered by someone else, but they’re not caused by someone else.  

● You will never solve an issue without putting everything on the table.  

● It’s hip to be offended.  

● Something you have to do in an interview very, very quickly is establish trust.  

Connect with Bill on LinkedIn

Jeremy Grace In this episode, we speak with CrossFit athlete Jeremy Grace. 

Listen in as Jeremy discusses how he developed a passion for CrossFit, common myths that people on the outside tend to have about CrossFit, the importance of mental strength alongside physical strength, Jeremy’s experiences doing CrossFit competitions, and what motivates him as an athlete.  

Key Highlights  

● [00:33] An introduction to Jeremy Grace  

● [03:54] What is CrossFit?  

● [05:29] How Jeremy got into CrossFit  

● [08:57] How CrossFit is perceived by the public  

● [12:05] Who should do CrossFit?  

● [13:54] The difference between going to a CrossFit gym and going to a regular gym  

● [16:22] Why Jeremy gave up football to go all-in on CrossFit  

● [19:28] Participating in CrossFit competitions  

● [24:02] The mental factor in CrossFit  

● [27:00] How Jeremy views CrossFit competitions  

● [31:30] Tracking your progression at the gym  

● [34:32] How Jeremy stays motivated  

● [38:26] The best exercises to start with if someone is new to working out 

● [40:48] Jeremy’s toughest workout 

● [43:45] Jeremy’s end goal with training  

● [47:34] Who motivates Jeremy in the CrossFit world?  

● [50:29] Who motivates Jeremy locally?  

Powerful Quotes by Jeremy  

● You can be with someone for ten years, five years, or two months and think you love them; but when you have kids, that love is on a different level.  

● If you love something, go hard. Be 110% in life. Get in there and do it. If you want to do it, just do it.  

● I always try to push harder than my competition. Mentally it’s going to be harder; but physically, at the end of the day, it’s going to make me better for tomorrow.

Sophie De Wys In this episode, we speak with Sophie De Wys, founder of The Beauty Project. 

Listen in as Sophie discusses the evolution of trends in the beauty space, developing a good relationship with other professionals in the local beauty industry, her experience as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and what she loves about her partner Kellie. 

Key Highlights 

● [01:22] An introduction to Sophie De Wys 

● [04:42] Why fuller brows became a thing and thin brows have become outdated 

● [06:41] How Sophie started her business 

● [10:45] How first-time beauty artists should approach other professionals in the Shepparton beauty industry 

● [12:43] Sophie’s most in-demand services 

● [15:36] Building relationships with clients 

● [18:43] How Sophie adapted to the challenges posed by COVID-19 

● [20:34] Sophie’s end goal 

● [23:54] Achieving work-life balance 

● [25:23] Sophie’s experience as a member of the LGBTQ+ community 

● [29:38] Sophie and her partner’s family goals 

● [32:15] How Sophie and her partner intend to explain to their child the uniqueness of having two moms 

● [34:01] How Sophie dealt with hiding her relationship for a considerable period of time 

● [42:39] What Sophie thinks of Shepparton 

● [43:37] Who inspires Sophie? 

Powerful Quotes by Sophie 

● If you believe in your own skills and are driven to start a business, do it, and don’t let other people dissuade you just because you don’t have a lot of experience under your belt yet. 

● Viewing the beauty industry as competition rather than an ally is a big mistake if you’re looking to start your business. It’s important to make sure that you have a good relationship with those in the industry because you never know when you need to call them up for help or advice. 

● You can be whatever you are; but if you feel that it’s important to have a label, then embrace it. 

 Connect with Sophie on Instagram @thebeautyproject.sophie

In this episode, we speak with filmmaker and music producer Josh Cullen.

Listen in as Josh discusses the life of a videographer in Shepparton, what he loves so much about being creative, and the pitfalls of social media in a modern society with a thirst for instant gratification. 

Key Highlights 

● [02:41] An introduction to Josh Cullen 

● [04:49] Growing up and working on a farm 

● [15:42] Going full-time into videography 

● [18:38] Thriving as a filmmaker in Shepparton without mentorship 

● [21:15] Josh’s goals as a filmmaker 

● [23:52] Why Josh loves music production 

● [30:08] Can Josh still watch a movie or listen to music just to enjoy it and without analyzing it? 

● [31:48] Josh on his purpose 

● [35:07] Dealing with critics and watching/listening to your own work 

● [38:44] A culture of noise, yearning for the latest tech, and accumulating likes on Instagram 

● [40:31] Josh’s relationship with social media 

● [43:22] Rapid-fire questions for Josh 

● [45:07] Who inspires Josh? 

● [47:00] Who would Josh like to see on the show next? 

Powerful Quotes by Josh 

● I wanted to grow as a creative by doing things I like and heading in the direction that just feels right for me. I think taking this approach will allow you to do your best work. 

● I’m not good at everything. I want to get other minds around me so that, together, we can plan and execute on something amazing. 

● You can always work harder, but sometimes you don’t need to work harder. It’s about knowing when enough is enough and you’ve done all you can for this piece of art before finally putting it out. 

● We’re living in a world where everything’s disposable and the things we value are superficial. We get carried away with the fear of missing out when the next iPhone releases or the fear of not getting enough likes on social media. 

Connect with Josh on Facebook and Instagram @joshcullenfilms or send him an email at [email protected]

In this episode, we speak with Mickala Brady, award-winning photographer and owner of Pure Mac Photography.

Listen in as Mickala discusses how she developed a passion for documenting weddings and newborn babies with their excited parents, as well as how she is currently coping as an endo warrior and balances her work with family life. 

Key Highlights 

● [00:35] An introduction to Mickala Brady 

● [04:47] Capturing memories, one photo at a time 

● [09:39] How Mickala built her brand as a photographer 

● [14:14] Embracing competition with other photographers 

● [14:50] Building a following on social media 

● [15:34] Is photography art? 

● [16:54] Different styles of photography 

● [19:37] How Mickala describes her style 

● [20:43] Turning Pure Mac into a full-time endeavour 

● [23:09] Growing from adversity 

● [30:56] Living with endometriosis 

● [38:26] Balancing work and family life 

● [41:57] Mickala on being named Wedding Photographer of the Year 

● [45:54] What separated Mickala’s photos from others in the top 10 of the competition 

● [50:05] How would Mickala work with a bridezilla? 

● [51:49] Who inspires Mickala? 

Powerful Quotes by Mickala 

● I feel that photos are important and should be printed, even in our social media-driven world. 

● We’re all artists and we all have our own individual stuff. I’m really good friends with lots of local photographers around here. I don’t see them as competition. I see them as being in the same workforce as me. 

● Life’s too short to just sit around feeling sorry for yourself. I know that there’s more people out there with more horrible stories, and I know that my stories are nothing compared to theirs. I will get on with my life, tolerate the pain, and adjust. 

● I don’t have many bridezillas because I always try to take on the stress that they’re not meant to have. 

Learn more about Mickala and her business at PureMacPhotography.com or follow her on Instagram @puremac.photography