Max's Island

On Max’s Island, we’ve spent the holiday period reviewing our purpose and taking the time to really connect with our creative reason for being.

It’s been exciting to re-discover that each story shared by guests to Max’s Island, can be aligned to one of the 5 values that guide our purpose.

In the new series for 2025, we will be highlighting this connection and the meaningfulness of each story … they all really matter.

So, get ready … New episodes are coming, and we’ll be spreading our message through a reimagined Instagram page.…stay tuned.

For our first episode in this new series, 5 individual guest stories are featured … each one matching a Max’s Island value. It’s a mini anthology of last year’s series and is a great way to launch 2025.

“Believe in Everyone” ... Estelle Blackman

“Trust the Truth” ... Davy Rowe

“Feel Emotion” ... Karen Rhodes

“Dare to be Human - Unique” ... Ali Horriyat

“Call It” ... Charlie Gunningham

John Meacock has had an extensive business life in consulting and professional services. This has taken him to the boardrooms of many companies and organisations around the world and allowed him to interact with senior C-Suite executives and influential world leaders.

Whilst John is well skilled, has extensive technical knowledge and is focused on achieving outcomes, his use of sound human principles of trust, honestly and building genuine relationships has been the key to success.

By adopting these approaches, that have led to him to be being in the same room as someone, or just by picking up the phone to regularly connect, John continues to build on his personal and professional life in a consistent and disciplined way.

John shares his “pearls of wisdom” in a way that is easily understood and these are things that can be adopted by all of us. He describes how relationship building is actually not that complicated, and just requires a genuine attitude toward connecting with others.

Jamie Larson has always been one to travel afar from his native New Zealand, challenge himself and find new ways to connect with people.

At one significant moment, with only a ‘basic’ high school level of Spanish, he made a decision to relocate from England and go to Argentina. With little expectation and not much of a plan, on arrival he set about using his instincts for meeting people as a way of fitting in and looking for work. He had immediate success … but then the pandemic hit, and Argentina was completely locked down … and his world of opportunity vanished overnight.

Once released from the clutches of Covid, he again set about finding his people. The impact was immediate and his life has been fulfilled by the connections made with an ever widening group of local’s and expats in a place where caring for others seems to be a priority … at least in Jamie’s case.

Jamie continues to work in the podcast space and uses his special communication talents to link passionate podcasters, from all around the world.

Shannon Ziegelaar has had some grass roots experiences in the various levels of local and federal politics. This included supporting a close friend in the City of Perth Lord Mayoral elections and then being a volunteer for Kate Chaney as she entered federal parliament at the last federal election as a successful independent community candidate.
The collective views and values of a group of like minded community focused citizens, who were also inspired to think there was a better way for effective representation, has led to the formation of Voices of Moore.

Shannon tells her story of being part of the establishment of this group and how it has evolved into a movement that has engaged many aspects of their community, created some common aspirations and is now positioned to find the “ideal” candidate to represent them.

Her story is uniquely personal but with a strong theme of “community” and how this has so many more benefits than just effective representation.

Voices of Moore can be found @ www.voicesofmoore.com.au/

And most importantly for this group, if you have an interest to be involved, or even an aspiration to consider being a candidate, then content them @ [email protected].

Davy Rowe was back at square one … his business was gone!

So what next … especially when the advice from his brother was … "You know, realistically mate ... you've got to forgive the guys that cheated you"

Was he really ready for that?

The first step toward accepting any change, occurred when he went with his brother to a “men’s retreat” for a weekend in the USA. The realisation of who he was, and what he wanted to be, was uncovered…along with an interest in “plant medicines” as a way to help his self discovery.

Next was a trip to Costa Rica, where Davy experienced the mind influencing and soul discovery effects of ayahuasca. It changed everything.

The enlightenment was immediate and from then his life direction changed. He is now focused on service of others and loves to work face to face coaching them to a better life.

He established the EQ Centre in Wangara and today continues to positively influence the life of many.

You can find Davy at :-

www.eqcentre.com.au/

www.davyrowe.com.au/

Part 1 :-

These words came from a voice in the mind of Davy Rowe one morning, as he was travelling down the freeway in Perth. It took him many years to share this experience with anyone … but it formed a catalytic moment for drive and purpose in his life from the moment he ‘heard’ them.

He had arrived in Perth from the UK in 1990 with a wife, two young kids, and a determination to build a business from scratch. The business was beginning to grow when he heard this message, and he was able to use it as motivation for success.

He went on to establish Vortech, a successful air-conditioning installation company — it was the biggest in Perth — and Davy was busy. Busy with work, busy with family, busy raising his kids.

Then his world collapsed when a trusted contractor refused to pay nearly $1 million in work Vortech had completed.

“At the time I felt so betrayed, I couldn’t believe that someone could have done that,” he says.

The betrayal forced the closure of the business, which pitched Davy into a low place.

https://davyrowe.com.au/

The inspired decision at a young age to study French in school, has lead Rachael West on a path of living and working in France on multiple occasions.

These visits were experiences that have shaped her thinking, allowed her to take study opportunities that have fuelled her passions and ultimately allowed her to be immersed in the French culture.

But, these are not the only interesting experiences she has had … there’s also “Clown School”. Being part of this intensive program of performance, has positively influence her understanding of how humans perform in front of crowds. She has taken this knowledge into her work as a “speaker coach”.

Rachael’s experiences are unique and prove that there is not one well trodden path to follow … rather, let yourself be guided by the moment and the realisation of how this can satisfy your passions.

To connect with Rachael, visit her website ….

https://rachaelwest.com.au/

…and listen here to her TedX talk from 2017….you’ll be amazed!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHrBFYhcQ6c

Frank Scatchard has led an interesting and varied life.

During his visit to The Island, Frank shared with us some really interesting details from his original career as an industrial “kiln operator”. Yep, it’s not every day you meet someone that has operated an industrial kiln at dangerous temp’s of over 1000 degrees…and has lived to talk about it.

But whilst that was a significant part of his early working life, there was a drive for the freedom to work for himself. So, after some careful planning and creative working arrangements with employers, Frank was able to build up from scratch … his own lawn-mowing business.

This freedom of working for himself allowed him to embrace one of his passions … music … and become involved in community radio. After a couple of goes at it, Frank eventually did a course in radio announcing and then began a commitment to hosting a regular show on 6HFM … RockAria. A show that has aired regularly for over 10 years. Tune in every Saturday on 6HFM 107.3 @ 3-6PM. For the best listening experience, use the Community Radio Plus app to find the station and RockAria.

https://www.facebook.com/rockaria107.3

Frank’s other indulgence is BBQing … it could actually be regarded as a “dirty habit” … especially since he has over 10 BBQ’s in his backyard, just waiting to be fired up.

You can see his regular culinary creations at https://www.instagram.com/frankinatorscatchard/

As a developing child, Larissa Muir’s son was being excluded from aspects of the community and faced challenges in his initial years of education. Through clinical support and a medical process of discovery, he was initially diagnosed with ADHD, and eventually this led to a recognition of autism.

But, what do you do when you realise that the way he thinks … is the way you think and view the world. For Larissa, this was a revelation and allowed her to also be diagnosed with both conditions. As a professionally successful adult in her mid 30’s, she was now in a position to realise why her intuition and behaviour was shaped the way it was. But, it also presented a dilemma … how would people acknowledge her when she shared with them this important information.

In her visit to Max’s Island, we get an intimate insight into this world and how she now navigates the professional landscape in a way that suits her … and no longer conforming to accepted stereotypes.

Larissa is a successful CEO of an NFP and loves to share her story.

IMPORTANT:- There is a BONUS lesson to be learnt by everyone in this episode.

When faced with the emotional pressure of a long term relationship break-up it would seem natural to find the security of a safe space, in the company of loved ones and looking for stability in your life.

But for Alexis Naylor, when this happened she chose something quite different. She decided to embark on an adventurous life of living on the road and travelling around the country. With her re-fashioned ex-ambulance named “Van…essa”, Alexis was able to spread her wings, re-capture her independence and take control of her own destiny.

Being a successful musician, Alexis spent the next two and half years travelling around Australia, booking into studio’s to satisfy her creative expression and just playing gigs wherever she could.

When the journey ended and life returned to a sense of normality, Alexis contracted a condition that impacted on her ability to play the piano and perform live. During this time of rest and recovery her creative appetite was fulfilled with the creation of her podcast “Through the Creative Door”, where she meets talented creative types who share personal stories of the creation of their art…whatever that my be.

Alexis’s music can be found at www.alexisnaylor.com

And the podcast - Through the Creative Door” is on all major podcast streaming platforms.