Last year, I got diagnosed with ADHD, and it explains literally everything.

If you liked last week's episode with my guest Kylie (KK), you'll enjoy this one. We started chatting about my diagnosis. It turns out I've spent my entire life running on ADHD energy without knowing it. The psychiatrist told me I've essentially forged an entire career out of it. Which, when you think about it, is 100% correct.

We dig into what that actually looks like: the anxiety that comes with it, the side effects of the medication, the time management stuff that drives people nuts, and all the random things I didn't realise were ADHD things until I started learning about it. (Like how I used to think I had a gluten intolerance for 10 years, only to realise it might've been anxiety the whole time.)

There's also a chat about hyper-focusing, the constant creative ideas, finishing nothing, beating yourself up about it, and trying to explain all of this to people who just don't get it!

And we end up talking about people like Cosi from South Aussie with Cosi, someone who's clearly got that same kind of energy and has built something incredible because of it, not despite it.

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In this sprawling, hilarious, and surprisingly moving conversation, I catch up with a long-time mate from Adelaide radio days who (in her new job) has learned to castrate goats, keep bees, run three massive fundraising gala balls, and personally escort a fugitive through Cambodia - all while never missing a single sports day for her kids.

The story is awesome. 10 years ago, our mate Cosi started a TV show from the dining room table in his house. That show became South Aussie with Cosi – and it's now in Season 15 on Channel 7 with a team of 11. Along the way, KK learned about bull semen, giant Santas, paperwork you can't imagine, and the kind of teamwork that makes impossible things happen.

We also chat about how a single Cambodian cow lead to the most important thing she's ever helped create – a charity that's since gifted over 150 cows and built a world-class cattle facility in the middle of nowhere.

This episode is all about saying yes without knowing the answer, burning the boats, handpicking good people, and the absolute chaos of building something from nothing!

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What happens when a Canadian psychologist becomes a high school teacher on the Central Coast and decides her Year 9 students need to see the world?

That's Brenda's story, and it's the kind of thing that makes you wonder why more people aren't doing this. (I reckon you'll love this episode!)

Brenda's been organising community give-back trips for her students – building houses with Habitat for Humanity in Cambodia, immersing Year 9s in First Nations culture on homeland in Cape York, and connecting kids with experiences that literally change who they are. We're talking about 24 students, 5 teachers, raising over $50,000 in 9 months, and doing all the fundraising themselves.

And here's the thing: the kids who showed up weren't always the 'model students.' Some had behaviour stuff to work out. But when they got there? They totally stepped up.

The stories Brenda shares – kids without passports getting on a plane for the first time, not a single one asking for their phone back while on homeland, watching a shy student lead an entire group - they're the kind of moments that remind you what education could actually be about.

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Julie Goodwin walked into Donut King, ordered a coffee and two cinnamon donuts, and was immediately offended.

This story is soooo funny!

In today's episode, we get into blood tests, sleep deprivation, and the utter chaos of watching a five-year-old play soccer - while totally distracted by something way more interesting...

Julie also shares something genuinely useful about how she tests her recipes, and what happens when you put something you've built in front of someone who has no idea what they're looking at.

Oh, and Smiley the Clown makes an appearance.

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What do a teenager with swimming goggles, a half-eaten Nutella cruffin, and a 20yr old x-ray result all have in common?

They all turned up in one conversation with my daughter Tiana, and every single one of them broke my brain a little.

Have you seen any kids wandering around shopping centres with swimming goggles around their necks? We can explain it! We also talk about a kinda secret (and awesome) thing that Baker's Delight do, doll hospitals, TLDR, WYSIWYG, and how I've somehow spent my entire life not questioning something that's actually very obviously wrong with my body!

Today's episode has lots of laughs and a bunch of things you may have never known about! 🧐

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This one starts with a warning… and a story that sounds like it belongs in a crime scene, not a bathroom.

Kyla from Cakes By Kyla jumps back into the van, and within minutes we’re talking about the recent moment she blacked out, hit the floor, and woke up surrounded by blood with no idea how she got there. It’s hectic, a bit scary, and somehow still very Kyla. But underneath that story is something a lot of us will recognise… running flat out for so long that your body eventually steps in and says, “that’ll do.”

We get into the way both of us operate at that constant 8 or 9 out of 10, why quiet weeks somehow get less done than chaotic ones, and the weird ways stress shows up when you ignore it for too long.

There’s ADHD chats, sleep struggles, late night brain spirals, meditation attempts, and the realisation that maybe… just maybe… rest isn’t optional. It’s one of those conversations that’s equal parts funny, gross, honest, and a little bit confronting... in the best way!

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If your kid has ever picked up a clarinet… there’s a fair chance this bloke had something to do with it.

Rowan McBride joins me in the van, and if you grew up on the Central Coast, you probably already know his name. He’s been running school band programs for over 20 years, shaping thousands of young musicians and watching everything from first-day squeaks to full-blown “that was the best thing I’ve ever done” moments on stage.

We get into what’s actually changed with kids over the years, why instant gratification is making music harder to stick with, and the surprising number of students who go from “can’t play five notes” to absolutely smashing it. There’s also a great chat about perfect pitch, the reality of conducting, and the surprising hardest part of being in an orchestra.

It’s a mix of funny stories, honest moments, and a really good reminder of why doing hard things properly still matters.

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I asked for driving stories… and got everything from written-off cars to someone literally driving into a fridge.

This one’s a bit different. You’ll hear from Leanne, Karen, Britney, Katrina and Harrison as I jump on the phone and collect some absolute ripper stories about getting your Ls, Ps and everything that can go wrong in between.

It all started with my daughter getting her Ls and our first driving lesson together which, honestly, was enough to remind me how much you take for granted once you’ve been driving for years!

And in something super special just for you... Right at the end, I can finally give you a sneak peek at something I’ve been quietly building for the past year.

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I did not expect to be talking about sexy cockroaches today… but here we are.

This week, I'm joined by the absolutely brilliant Ed and Amanda from the Not Quite Right podcast, and we get into some pretty wild territory! They're here to chat about their latest project, "Flesh Fiction" – a writing competition and now a book that challenged authors to make the unsexy, utterly irresistible.

We're talking about the incredible (and sometimes shocking!) entries they received, from intimate encounters with plants and mushrooms to stories that made even the legendary Blanche d'Alpuget fall for a cockroach.

You'll hear al about the surprising themes people chose, like Monopoly - and even doing the dishes. It's a fascinating peek into human creativity and what truly gets people going, even if it's just a giggle.

This chat is packed with laughs, some truly mind-bending concepts, and a whole lot of cheeky banter.

If you want to check it all out:
RSVP to the “sexy book launch”
Learn more about Not Quite Write
Listen to the Not Quite Write podcast
Pre-order your copy of FLESH Fiction

And of course, if you enjoy the episode, please leave a comment - and I'd love it if you'd hit the FOLLOW button!

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Up for a laugh?

Julie is back in the podvan, and things go off the rails almost immediately.

What starts as a nice catch-up quickly turns into a deeply important discussion about gyrocopters, and why calling a stranger on Easter Saturday about flying one over the Central Coast feels totally reasonable. Along the way, we get into the viral Gosford waterfront video, suspicious urns found under the house, and the kind of nonsense that only happens when we get together.

It’s loose, it’s ridiculous, and there's a LOT of laughs!

If you enjoy it, please share it around - and maybe give it a review or rating?

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