Darren has been a teacher, theatre director, counsellor, three-time mayor and now CEO of the Gippsland Climate Change Network. He also talked so much in school they gave him his own desk, which feels less like a punishment now and more like early career development.

In this conversation, we talk about leaving the safe path, taking risks, theatre, politics, climate change, community work, and why change takes more than sitting on the sidelines. We also talk about listening to people you disagree with, finding the third way, looking after yourself when things get hard and why getting older might be better than people think.

Courtney has worked as a hairdresser for ten years and has listened to more life stories from behind a salon chair than most people hear in a lifetime.

In this conversation, we talk about growing up creative, receiving a diagnosis on the spectrum as a teenager, leaving school to start a hairdressing apprenticeship and building confidence through work. We also talk about great bosses, tough lessons, the reality of salon life, the stories people share from the chair and why listening is one of the most underrated skills a person can have.

Tahlitha is full of life, blunt in the best way and for reasons unknown, loves policies and procedures. 

In this conversation, we talk about being a shy kid, moving schools, finding confidence through banking, and what happens when a toxic manager slowly drains the joy out of work. We also talk about leaving an industry after ten years, stepping into youth justice, and how the right work can make you feel like yourself again.

This episode is about finding your voice, knowing when resilience has turned into tolerance, and choosing work that brings your energy back.

Jason can seem intimidating at first, but beneath that is someone deeply caring, fiercely driven, and very thoughtful about life.

In this conversation, we talk about growing up in a violent household, learning confidence early and how he went from being a hyper, aggressive kid to someone who now tries to lift other people up. We also talk about failure, masculinity, mental health and why passion matters more than following a path that was never meant for you. This episode is about self-worth, resilience, and what it looks like to choose a better way forward.

Disclaimer: This episode includes references to family violence and mental health themes. Listener discretion is advised.

Jonas grew up loving maths and being terrible at art, then built a career in cinematography, a field that looks creative from the outside, but runs on discipline, timing, logic, and getting the shot before the sun moves!

In this conversation, we talk about film school, moving from Germany to the US and what it really takes to survive in a tough industry. We also get into rejection, networking, teaching, commercial work, and the strange reality of loving the craft while questioning the career around it.

Reza grew up pulling apart TVs, toys and anything else he could get a screwdriver into, mostly to the horror of his parents. That curiosity turned into a career in engineering, then a life in academia, research and teaching.

In this conversation, we talk about childhood curiosity, studying engineering, moving to Australia and why he chose teaching over a more straightforward industry path. We also get into what students don't see behind the scenes, how he thinks about motivation and discipline, learning from failure, and why education can give people a bigger view of what their lives could be.

Manjil grew up in Nepal, became the first in his family to go to university, and moved to Australia thinking he’d land an engineering job quickly. That is not how it went.

In this conversation, we talk about strict schooling, family pressure, migration, rejection, bakery shifts, missed interviews, starting again, and the long road into the career he knew he was capable of. We also talk about resilience, leadership, community, and why hope matters just as much as hard work.

Zdenka is one of those people who is equal parts tough and caring, quick to speak her mind but always looking out for others. Raised in a strict Croatian household, she learned early how to work hard, adapt and stand her ground.

In this conversation, we talk about school, culture, being different, early work experiences that didn’t always go to plan, and how she found her confidence over time. We also talk about family, motherhood, and the kind of values she’s tried to pass on.

Bonus Rambles are the in-between episodes, just Ana reflecting on what’s been coming up through the conversations and whatever's been on her mind between episodes.

Kata is one of those people who lifts the energy in a room, warm, observant, and quietly tough. She’s worked across IT and the public sector and loves travel more than she loves small talk.

In this conversation, we talk about being a rule-follower with a mischievous streak, how work ethic can be both a strength and a trap, and what good managers do differently. We also talk about finding happiness in the work and the people around you, and how life can shift your relationship with time, control, and self-worth when you’re forced to slow down.