A Griffith University program is empowering women over 50 to have the confidence to start their own business, in the face of sometimes extraordinary challenges. The Sisters Support Business Together program created and led by Dr Dhara Shah, has had great success in helping women realise their business dream, as well as prevent homelessness and social isolation. The participants meet mentors who guide them through their concept, and encourage them to achieve independence.

Comedy is perhaps not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of potential treatment for mental illness. But comedian Mark McConville is hoping to change that. In this episode of Remarkable Tales, the renowned comedian with more than two decades of experience on the professional speaking circuit tells how a chance meeting on a cruise ship led to a dramatic career change of direction, into research for Griffith University’s Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention. Mark is now also a recent Masters graduate of Griffith University, and adjunct lecturer, specialising in suicideology. He has taken his Laughter Clinic to organisations around Australia, exploring the power of laughter to soothe the troubled soul, and lessen people’s stress and depression.

From butcher's apprentice to barrister, Joshua Creamer shows that determination and resolve to fight oppression can get you anywhere in life. This self-proclaimed boy from the bush who grew up in Mount Isa in outback Queensland, says his time at Griffith University Law School was crucial in his path to becoming a barrister, and the school's focus on social justice still informs his work. Against all the odds, Joshua has taken on and won significant cases, including the Palm Island class action lawsuit and Stolen Wages. In this episode of Remarkable Tales, Joshua calls for more to be done to encourage more Aboriginal people to the Bar, to ensure a more just law system for all.

The struggle facing early career researchers looking for a clear career path and recognition after completing their PhD, is a common dilemma. Neuroscientist and recent Phd graduate Dr Alison Wright is a trailblazer, showing how embracing social media can lead to career opportunities that many thought were out of reach. That combined with her groundbreaking research in Griffith University’s Spinal Injury Project is now taking her overseas, to a position with a renowned research centre for environmental health in Germany. But the path was not an easy one, and in this edition of Remarkable Tales, Alison shares her story of transitioning to her true identity as a transgender woman, to encourage others that overcoming personal issues on the way, is all part of the journey to becoming a successful scientist.

Many people work towards their dream of creating and steering their own company. But not many achieve that only a few short years after graduating. Griffith University Masters of International Business graduate Jacob Hansen Karaduman hopes to help change that, and inspire others to follow his entrepreneurial footsteps. He has shaken up the Scandinavian loan industry as co-founder and director of fin-tech company Enklare, which now employs around 150 people. On this episode of Remarkable Tales podcast, he tells how it all started from his belief in making the loan application process fairer and more accessible to all, particularly young people. Jacob’s entrepreneurial skills were recently recognised with Griffith Business School’s Outstanding International Alumnus Award, and he now travels the world mentoring other young startups and entrepreneurs.

The sounds of the world around us are familiar and extensively recorded. But what about the noises of rivers, below the water’s surface? What does it sound like in the watery depths, and how does that sound tell what is happening in that environment? Simon Linke is a senior lecturer in the Griffith University Environment School, and a research fellow at the Australian Rivers Institute. In this episode of Remarkable Tales recorded at the Woodford Folk Festival, Simon tells us how his team’s recordings are opening a window to a world that has previously been little understood.

For Indigenous artist Delvene Cockatoo-Collins, it is never too late to fulfil your dreams. The respected artist has built an impressive body of work, with many coming to know her talent during the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, where her designs of the rare white whale Migaloo were featured on the commemorative medals, and in the opening ceremony. She has just opened a new gallery and studio space at Minjerribah, also known as Stradbroke Island, where her arts practice is inspired from. On this episode of Remarkable Tales, the winner of the 2018 Griffith Business School Outstanding First Peoples Alumnus Award tells us how important her family and Quandamooka ties are to her continuing development as an artist, as well as also preserving and telling the story of her culture and country.

As Australia recovers from natural disasters, with drought and bushfires destroying swathes of land across the country, many people are wondering how they can help native animals caught up in the aftermath. But the question of whether it is ever ok to feed native animals, is a controversial topic that is highly divisive among conservationists. To help people through this dilemma, Griffith University Environmental Science Professor Darryl Jones has written a new book, Feeding the Birds at Your Table, as a guide to what is nutritionally appropriate for native animals, and what foods to avoid. And as he explains on this episode of Remarkable Tales, speaking to me at the Woodford Folk Festival, one of the most common foods given to native birds, is particularly harmful for their health.

For Luke Yokota, one of the most challenging aspects of being a male nurse, is not the work, but people’s attitudes towards his choice of profession. His determination to challenge gender stereotypes and show that it’s ok for men to care, saw him nominated as 2020 Qld Young Australian of the Year, and also appointed as chair of the national Men in Nursing Working Party. On this episode of Remarkable Tales, Luke Yokota tells us how he’s found his voice to encourage more men into the profession.

Read the podcast transcript at: https://www.griffith.edu.au/podcasts/remarkable-tales/luke-yokota-podcast-transcript/

The start of the new decade is also the start of a new era for human rights in Queensland, with the Human Rights Act taking effect from January first 2020. Human Rights lawyer, president of the LGBTI legal service and Griffith University graduate and lecturer Matilda Alexander brought in the new decade by speaking on a panel at the Woodford Folk Festival, about the significance of this legislative change. She says it’s the culmination of a huge grass roots campaign, to ensure the right of all citizens are respected and protected. On this episode of Griffith University's Remarkable Tales podcast, Matilda tells about the impact of this new legislation, urging each of us to find out how the Human Rights Act will affect us individually, and as a community.