My First Step Ever

In this week’s episode, I speak with Naga Chaithanya, an independent education consultant, edtech strategist, and startup advisor who has spent over two decades designing, teaching, and transforming learning experiences.

From leading academic programs to advising education startups, Naga’s journey is a blend of intellect, curiosity, and authenticity. But beyond the credentials lies a deeper philosophy — that education isn’t about answers; it’s about asking better questions.

💡 We discuss:

• His early fascination with teaching and learning

• Lessons from building entrepreneurial and financial literacy curricula

• The qualities that define an inspiring teacher

• How travel and exposure shape worldviews

• Why taking the offbeat path leads to lifelong growth

🎧 A rare and reflective conversation that celebrates curiosity, courage, and the art of lifelong learning.

***Recorded in August***

About Your Host –

Hi, I’m Ishani Nigam, a podcaster, presenter, and storyteller! 🎭💡 My passion is to EDUTAIN (educate + entertain) my audience through powerful conversations that help dreamers, disruptors, and underdogs turn their doubts into action.

👉 Connect with me on Instagram for behind-the-scenes fun: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3zl0IN6⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎬💃Sound and music credit: www.pixabay.com

In this week’s episode, I chat with Shihan Wayne MacDonald — 3x Karate World Champion, 7th Dan Black Belt, Australian National Team Coach, and World Chief Instructor of Karate Budokan International (KBI).

Wayne’s story begins in a small town, where bullying left deep scars — but also lit a fire within him. From training with his cousin to representing Australia at 18, Wayne went on to compete globally for over 17 years and later founded one of the most successful karate academies in the world.

💬 In this episode:

• Overcoming bullying and finding purpose through Karate

• Competing for Australia and winning multiple world titles

• Starting Karate Budokan in Noosa and teaching 3000+ students

• Building confidence and leadership in kids from age 3 to adulthood

• His work in corporate speaking, mentorship, and bully awareness

Wayne’s wisdom goes far beyond martial arts — it’s about living with discipline, gratitude, and purpose.

🎧 Tune in for an honest, powerful conversation that proves every challenge can be turned into strength.

learn more: www.academyglobalwellness.com

About Your Host –

Hi, I’m Ishani Nigam, a podcaster, presenter, and storyteller! 🎭💡 My passion is to EDUTAIN (educate + entertain) my audience through powerful conversations that help dreamers, disruptors, and underdogs turn their doubts into action.

👉 Connect with me on Instagram for behind-the-scenes fun: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3zl0IN6⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎬💃Sound and music credit: www.pixabay.com

In Part 2 of my conversation with Getrude Matshe, international speaker and founder of HerStory Circle, we explore how she transformed adversity into abundance.

From rebuilding life as a migrant in New Zealand to founding multiple million-dollar enterprises and mentoring thousands of women globally, Getrude’s story is one of vision, reinvention, and unshakable belief in purpose.

💡 We discuss:

• Navigating migration and starting from scratch

• The mindset behind her business empire

• How storytelling became her healing and leadership tool

• Mentoring women to own their truth and share it boldly

• The ripple effect of one woman’s dream

🎧 This episode is your reminder that leadership begins with courage—and every comeback starts with one brave step.

About Your Host –

Hi, I’m Ishani Nigam, a podcaster, presenter, and storyteller! 💡 My passion is to EDUTAIN (educate + entertain) my audience through powerful conversations that help dreamers, disruptors, and underdogs turn their doubts into action.

👉 Connect with me on Instagram for behind-the-scenes fun: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3zl0IN6⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎬💃Sound and music credit: www.pixabay.com

In Part 1 of this heartfelt two-part conversation, I speak with Getrude Matshe, a global storyteller, author, and founder of HerStory Circle. From growing up in Zimbabwe to navigating studies in the UK, early motherhood, and life-changing travels across Europe, Getrude shares the turning points that shaped her mission to empower women through storytelling.

💬 Key Moments:

• Pearls of wisdom from her entrepreneurial father

• Facing cultural barriers and embracing independence

• Acting in Europe and exploring creativity

• Living through apartheid and the search for belonging

• The unexpected path that led her to New Zealand

Her story is a masterclass in resilience, adaptability, and the power of believing in your purpose.

Connect with me on Instagram for behind-the-scenes fun: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3zl0IN6⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎬💃Sound and music credit: www.pixabay.com***Subscribe and follow the podcast on :Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3CkEhJEApple: https://apple.co/39kVVjW***Sound and music credit: www.mixkit.com

This is more than a milestone—it’s a conversation that marks a turning point.

In our 185th episode of My First Step Ever, I speak with Brilliant Liu, founder of House of Leaders, whose content has reached millions—but whose personal journey is even more impactful.

Brilliant speaks openly about growing up under immense pressure, navigating painful family dynamics, and nearly losing his life twice. But it was one mentor, one decision, and one mindset shift that changed everything.

💡 What we explore:

• The invisible scars of childhood trauma and pressure

• Learning to break free from unrealistic expectations

• The role of near-death experiences in shaping gratitude and drive

• Why real success starts with healing and self-leadership

• How House of Leaders became a global movement

• Decision-making lessons that go beyond business

🎧 Listen in for one of the most honest and impactful episodes yet.

About Your Host –

Hi, I’m Ishani Nigam, a podcaster, presenter, and storyteller! 💡 My passion is to EDUTAIN (educate + entertain) my audience through powerful conversations that help dreamers, disruptors, and underdogs turn their doubts into action.

👉 Connect with me on Instagram for behind-the-scenes fun: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3zl0IN6⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎬💃Sound and music credit: www.pixabay.com

⚠️ Disclaimer: This episode includes lived experiences involving trauma and suicidal thoughts. It is not a substitute for professional mental health care. If you’re struggling, please seek support from a licensed professional or contact a mental health helpline near you.

This week, I’m joined by Nicole Zink, a multi-dimensional creative, wellness mentor, and founder of With Zinky—a startup helping wellness practitioners build their digital presence with clarity and confidence.

Nicole shares her incredible journey of reinvention—from a turbulent upbringing to healing through travel, confronting profound personal loss, and ultimately launching a business aligned with her truth. She’s also entering the world of commercial modelling, aligning with brands that value authenticity and purpose.

💬 In this episode, we talk about:

• The emotional weight of growing up in an unstable environment

• Leaving behind what no longer aligns

• Healing through travel, self-work, and meaningful relationships

• Losing someone dear—and finding purpose on the other side

• Building with Zinky and backing herself in business

• Finding new creative expression through modelling

🎧 This is a story of strength, softness, and stepping fully into your power

Tune in if you’re ready to step off autopilot and into bold, values-driven action.

Learn more here - www.withzinky.com

About Your Host –

Hi, I’m Ishani Nigam, a podcaster, presenter, and storyteller! 💡 My passion is to EDUTAIN (educate + entertain) my audience through powerful conversations that help dreamers, disruptors, and underdogs turn their doubts into action.

👉 Connect with me on Instagram for behind-the-scenes fun: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3zl0IN6⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎬💃Sound and music credit: www.pixabay.com

What if the career you’re meant for hasn’t been invented yet?

This week on My First Step Ever, I chat with Seshnie Taylor, a multi-lingual changemaker, mother, and founder of Vocare — an incredible business helping skilled migrants communicate confidently and succeed at work using AI and cultural fluency.

Her journey is anything but linear — from apartheid-era South Africa to the UK and now Australia — and it’s filled with powerful lessons on grit, gratitude, and creating your own lane when none exists.

🎙️ In this episode, we dive into:

• Life lessons from growing up in an affluent family during apartheid

• Embracing change after moving to the UK and discovering holistic education

• Her bold move to UNICEF and the pivotal advice that changed everything

• Launching her first venture in Shanghai and founding Vocare in Australia

• Why helping others communicate is her true calling

✨ This is an episode for the doers, the dreamers, and the ones still figuring it out.

🎧 Tune in and let Seshnie’s story give you the courage to start.

Learn more here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vocare-speech/🎧 Tune in if you’re ready to step off autopilot and into bold, values-driven action.About Your Host –Hi, I’m Ishani Nigam, a podcaster, presenter, and storyteller! 🎭💡 My passion is to EDUTAIN (educate + entertain) my audience through powerful conversations that help dreamers, disruptors, and underdogs turn their doubts into action.👉 Connect with me on Instagram for behind-the-scenes fun: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3zl0IN6⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎬💃Sound and music credit: www.pixabay.com

Sharon Connolly didn’t grow up with much—but she grew up determined.

In this episode, we talk to the powerhouse behind Change Superhero, who now works as a leading Change Consultant in financial services, speaks globally, and has given away over 500,000+ templates to help Change Managers around the world.

But behind the awards and accolades is a powerful story of setbacks, rebuilding, and dreaming bigger than your circumstances.

🎙 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Sharon's modest childhood gave her a lasting mindset advantage

• Her journey from IT trainer to global speaker & Microsoft MVP

• How to rebuild your confidence after you fall

• The power of sharing generously in your field

• Why decision-making and networking fuel long-term growth

• How to spot possibilities even in your lowest moments

✨ This episode is for the dreamers, the rebuilders, and the quiet fighters.
You’re going to love this one.

🎧 Listen now — and get ready to start your next chapter.

Learn here: https://www.changesuperhero.com.au/****Press the bell icon for weekly episodes are up every Wednesday and Saturday!****About the host:Hi, I am Ishani Nigam, a podcaster and content creator. I aim to create content that EDUTAINS [educates and entertains] my audiences. I am a curious and enthusiastic soul who loves to question the norm and probably found this podcast as a way to let my energy flow in the right direction. I am a creative, warm and fun-loving soul and become all of these when surrounded with like-minded people :)If you are curious to know the Bollywood dancer, dramatic and friendly side of me, follow me on my Instagram account, where you get to me my true colours and learn about podcasting :) For behind-the-scenes fun and to peek into my world, follow me on: https://bit.ly/3zl0IN6***Subscribe and follow the podcast on :Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3CkEhJEApple: https://apple.co/39kVVjWGoogle: https://bit.ly/3hHPSKP***Sound and music credit: www.mixkit.com

How far can one's belief in oneself take one?

In this inspiring episode, I sit down with Jane Carey, who grew up in the Australian countryside as one of six siblings on a family farm. Her dream? To one day work in an office. But what followed was far beyond even her wildest hopes.

🎙 We discuss:

• Leaving the family farm and facing cultural shock in the city

• Dealing with homesickness and self-doubt

• Earning respect and success in a professional world she once feared

• Leaving a successful career to pursue her Master’s degree

• Becoming a Telstra Business Woman of the Year Finalist

• The mindset that helped her evolve, rise, and thrive

✨ This episode is about taking risks, honouring your roots, and boldly becoming who you’re meant to be.

🎧 Listen now and let Jane’s story inspire your next big step.

Learn more about Jane Carey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janecarey/🎧 Tune in if you’re ready to step off autopilot and into bold, values-driven action.About Your Host –Hi, I’m Ishani Nigam, a podcaster, presenter, and storyteller! 🎭💡 My passion is to EDUTAIN (educate + entertain) my audience through powerful conversations that help dreamers, disruptors, and underdogs turn their doubts into action.👉 Connect with me on Instagram for behind-the-scenes fun: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3zl0IN6⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎬💃Sound and music credit: www.pixabay.com

What does it take to design a life that truly feels like yours?

In this joy-filled episode, I chat with Giles Roberts—coach, linguist, creator, and all-around creative from Perth, Australia—on building a life around freedom, values, and creativity.

💬 We cover:

• Growing up in a curious, academic household

• Becoming financially independent early (and why that matters)

• Monetising creativity while staying true to your purpose

• Building a life around energy, joy, and alignment

• Rethinking success and what “rich” really means

If you’re tired of chasing someone else’s version of success and ready to build a lifestyle that suits you, this episode is your fresh dose of inspiration.

🎧 Hit play and let the good vibes flow.

Learn more about Giles Roberts here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/giles-roberts/🎧 Tune in if you’re ready to step off autopilot and into bold, values-driven action.About Your Host –Hi, I’m Ishani Nigam, a podcaster, presenter, and storyteller! 🎭💡 My passion is to EDUTAIN (educate + entertain) my audience through powerful conversations that help dreamers, disruptors, and underdogs turn their doubts into action.👉 Connect with me on Instagram for behind-the-scenes fun: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3zl0IN6⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🎬💃Sound and music credit: www.pixabay.com