She’s shaped generations of young people by putting character before credentials. Michelle Carroll’s story spans decades of educational leadership, from leading elite girls’ schools in Melbourne to becoming Principal of Matthew Flinders Anglican College here on the Sunshine Coast. Her work is centred on one powerful belief: great education builds great humans.

In this episode, Michelle shares what real leadership in education looks like today, how schools can better support young people in a fast-changing world, and why character, belonging, and purpose matter more than ever.

You’ll learn what modern leadership looks like, how to develop resilience and emotional intelligence in young people, and why participation, service, and strong role models shape lifelong success.

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Michelle's Quick Fire Answers

What does success mean to you?

“Having people participate fully in what’s in front of them.”

What does happiness mean to you?

“The freedom to walk from point to point and see nature unfold — a lizard, a sea eagle, a whale passing by.”

What’s your normal morning routine these days?

“Early mornings, some exercise outdoors, and a coffee before heading into school.”

What piece of advice would you put on a billboard for the world to see?

“Listen to understand, not to respond.”

Who would you suggest as a future guest on the show?

“A graduate — hearing the voice of an 18-year-old would be powerful.”

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Listen To The Podcast

https://pod.link/1683066164?view=apps&sort=popularity

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Find Us On Social Media

https://www.instagram.com/sxhpod

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Chapters

(00:00:00) – Intro

(00:00:45) – Chapter 1 | The Responsibility of School Leadership

(00:04:56) – Chapter 2 | Michelle’s Journey into Education

(00:12:23) – Chapter 3 | Defining Leadership in Young People

(00:25:49) – Chapter 4 | Building Character, Belonging & Purpose

(00:45:31) – Quick Fire | Success, Happiness & Advice

(00:48:07) – Outro

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#podcast #education #leadership

From the outside, mastery looks effortless, but the real story is written in sacrifice.

Sam Lucas is a world-class cellist whose life has been shaped by obsession, discipline, and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence. From growing up in a deeply musical household to performing and studying across Europe, Sam’s journey reveals what it truly costs to chase greatness, and why fulfilment isn’t found at the finish line.

In this episode, Sam shares his path from prodigious talent to international performer, the mental and physical toll of elite musicianship, and how endurance sport transformed his performance on stage. Together, we explore high performance, identity, sacrifice, and the delicate balance between success and happiness.

You’ll learn what elite mastery really demands, why marginal gains matter, how physical fitness supports creative excellence, and how to sustain a long career without losing yourself along the way.

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Sam’s Quick Fire Answers

What does success mean to you?

“The pursuit of happiness in what you do, and being able to live from it while having a positive effect on the world.”

What does happiness mean to you?

“Appreciation for the world you live in, doing well for your family, being ethical, and keeping a sound mind.”

What’s your normal morning routine these days?

“In winter, I sleep in as late as possible, have cereal or a bagel, shower, and head to rehearsals. In summer, I usually start the day with a run or mobility work.”

What piece of advice would you put on a billboard for the world to see?

“Start physical sport early. Take care of your body — it takes care of your mind.”

Who would you suggest as a future guest on the show?

“My professor — one of the most philosophical and switched-on people I know.”

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Listen To The Podcast

https://pod.link/1683066164?view=apps&sort=popularity

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Find Us On Social Media

https://www.instagram.com/sxhpod

⸻

Chapters

(00:00:00) – Intro

(00:00:47) – Chapter 1 | Growing Up Inside Music

(00:06:01) – Chapter 2 | The Path to Elite Performance

(00:16:52) – Chapter 3 | The Cost of Mastery

(00:29:24) – Chapter 4 | Running, Recovery & Resilience

(00:54:06) – Quick Fire Questions

(00:58:41) – Outro

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#podcast #classicalmusic #highperformance

From turning grief into colour, Kirsten Jackson’s art proves that pain can become purpose. After losing her Mum at just 14, Kirsten found refuge in painting. A practice that would evolve into a globally recognised abstract art career built on flow, endurance and creative truth. Her story is one of resilience, patience, and trusting the long game.

In this episode, Kirsten shares her journey from childhood loss to building a thriving international art business, navigating rejection, self-doubt, motherhood, health challenges, and the discipline required to keep creating over decades.

You’ll learn how to find flow in your work, why endurance matters more than talent, how to turn passion into a sustainable business, and what it really means to keep going when there’s no finish line.

Get in touch with Kirsten Jackson – www.kirstenjackson.com.au

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Kirsten’s Quick Fire Answers

What does success mean to you?

“Continuing to do what I love, staying true to my values, and never stopping the creative journey.”

What does happiness mean to you?

“Presence, freedom, and being deeply connected to what I’m doing.”

What’s your normal morning routine these days?

“Early starts, movement, time in the studio, and creating before the day takes over.”

What piece of advice would you put on a billboard for the world to see?

“Keep going — even when it feels slow, it’s all adding up.”

Who would you suggest as a future guest on the show?

“Dr Wesley.”

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Listen To The Podcast

https://pod.link/1683066164?view=apps&sort=popularity

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Find Us On Social Media

https://www.instagram.com/sxhpod

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Chapters

(00:00:00) – Intro

(00:00:43) – Chapter 1 | Finding art through grief and flow

(00:06:47) – Chapter 2 | From passion to profession

(00:20:44) – Chapter 3 | Health, resilience and endurance

(00:24:47) – Chapter 4 | Scaling creativity without losing balance

(00:40:36) – Quick Fire Questions

(00:42:55) – Outro

#podcast #art #resilience

Great leaders don’t fail under pressure, their brains do. Today David Watson returns to unpack what actually happens in your mind when stress hits, and how the best leaders learn to regulate themselves before leading others.

In this episode, David shares hard-earned insights from working across eight countries in some of the world’s highest-pressure environments. We dive deep into emotional intelligence under stress, amygdala hijacks, peak performance curves, and why understanding yourself is the foundation to leading high-performing teams.

You’ll learn how to lead calmly in chaos, avoid emotional contagion, manage pressure without burnout, and create psychological safety that lifts performance rather than shuts it down.

Get in touch with David Watson – https://neurolead.net.au

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David Watson’s Quick Fire Answers

What does success mean to you?

“Being able to do what gives you joy, consistently.”

What does happiness mean to you?

“Happiness isn’t constant — it’s a feeling of clarity, openness, and willingness to engage.”

What’s your normal morning routine these days?

“Early wake-up, phone out of the bedroom, water with creatine and salt, affirmations, speech practice, and grounding before the day starts.”

What piece of advice would you put on a billboard for the world to see?

“Understand and lead yourself first — or your brain will make decisions for you.”

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Listen To The Podcast

https://pod.link/1683066164?view=apps&sort=popularity

-

Find Us On Social Media

https://www.instagram.com/sxhpod

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Chapters

(00:00:00) – Intro

(00:00:44) – Chapter 1 | Leading Under Pressure & Emotional Intelligence

(00:32:33) – Chapter 2 | Peak Performance, Pressure & Burnout

(00:58:14) – Quick Fire Questions

(01:04:28) – Outro

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#podcast #leadership #highperformance #neuroscience

He survived 650 days falsely accused of spying and imprisoned in a foreign country, an experience that reshaped his understanding of resilience, meaning, and the human spirit.

Professor Sean Turnell’s journey from Australian economist to political prisoner in Myanmar is one of the most extraordinary stories of endurance in modern times.

In this episode, Sean shares how imagination, history, and the concept of the hero’s journey helped him survive solitary confinement, uncertainty, and the constant threat of death. From economic reform and political collapse to meditation, meaning, and perspective, this is a conversation that goes far beyond geopolitics.

You’ll learn what real resilience looks like when everything is stripped away, how perspective can become a survival tool, and how to find meaning in your own “box” moments when life pulls the floor out from under you.

Get in touch with Sean Turnell – https://www.seanturnell.com

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Sean’s Quick Fire Answers

What does success mean to you?

“Doing work that matters, with integrity, and knowing you’ve helped others along the way.”

What does happiness mean to you?

“A sense of meaning, perspective, and connection, especially with the people you love.”

What’s your normal morning routine these days?

“Early mornings, quiet reflection, reading, and easing into the day with purpose.”

What piece of advice would you put on a billboard for the world to see?

“Control what you can, especially your attitude.”

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Listen To The Podcast

https://pod.link/1683066164?view=apps&sort=popularity

-

Find Us On Social Media

https://www.instagram.com/sxhpod

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Chapters

(00:00:00) – Intro

(00:00:48) – Chapter 1 | Childhood, Imagination & the Foundations of Resilience

(00:05:15) – Chapter 2 | Economics, Purpose & Helping Fragile Nations

(00:12:48) – Chapter 3 | Myanmar, Reform & the Road to Imprisonment

(00:28:16) – Chapter 4 | Arrest, Isolation & Life Inside the Prison Cell

(00:54:45) – Chapter 5 | Survival, Meaning & the Hero’s Journey

(01:05:37) – Chapter 6 | Release, Reflection & Life After Prison

(01:17:05) – Quick Fire Questions

(01:19:31) – Outro

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#podcast #resilience #humanspirit #myanmar 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Success x Happiness crew. As tradition dictates, Rich is joined by his two eldest kids, Teddy and Franks, for a Christmas Eve yarn about life, school, fears, goals, siblings, and what it’s really like being a kid right now. From surprisingly deep life lessons to absolute chaos, this conversation is equal parts heartfelt and hilarious. Headphone listeners… you’ve been warned.

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Listen To The Podcast

https://pod.link/1683066164?view=apps&sort=popularity

-

Find Us On Social Media

https://www.instagram.com/sxhpod

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Chapters

(00:00:00) – Introduction

(00:00:33) – Chapter 1 | Chaos

(00:10:14) – Outro

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#podcast #family #christmas

For decades, we’ve treated mental health like guesswork, but what if the science has been pointing somewhere else all along?

Dr Jim Lagopoulos has spent his career challenging the foundations of modern psychiatry, using brain imaging, neuroscience and precision treatments to reshape how we understand mental illness.

In this conversation, you’ll learn why traditional approaches are failing, what the data really says, and how new brain-based interventions could change millions of lives.

You’ll learn why most current treatments underperform, how stress physically reshapes the brain, what role lifestyle really plays, and why the future of mental health care lies in personalised, brain-based medicine rather than population averages.

Get in touch with Dr Jim Lagopoulos – https://www.thompsonbrainandmind.com.au

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Dr Jim Lagopoulos’ Quick Fire Answers

What does success mean to you?

“Mental health no longer being front and centre because so many people are suffering.”

What does happiness mean to you?

“Family, friends, climbing mountains and time together.”

What’s your normal morning routine these days?

“Up around 4–5am, in the office by 6–7am, emails, reviewing patient charts and getting the team ready for the day.”

What piece of advice would you put on a billboard for the world to see?

“Trust your instincts.”

Who would you suggest as a future guest on the show?

“Dr Megan Dutton or Professor Adam Kane.”

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Listen To The Podcast

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/1CCrfi7eB3zlANJ81D1C72?si=4221bec96c244a0c

Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/success-x-happiness/id1683066164

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Find Us On Social Media

https://www.instagram.com/sxhpod

⸻

Chapters

(00:00:00) – Introduction

(00:00:45) – Chapter 1 | Are We Treating Mental Health the Wrong Way?

(00:17:02) – Chapter 2 | From Guesswork to Brain Science: Rethinking Mental Health Care

(00:46:34) – Quick Fire Questions

(00:49:17) – Outro

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#podcast #mentalhealth #neuroscience #brainhealth

From surviving family bankruptcy at age 11 to becoming one of Australia’s most innovative orthodontists, Dr Vas Srinivasan’s story is a masterclass in resilience, courage, and possibility. Raised in a traditional Indian household, shaped by hardship and responsibility, and driven by the opportunities of the Western world, Vas carved an extraordinary path across India, the US, the UK, and ultimately the Sunshine Coast. His journey blends academia, entrepreneurship, aviation, and building one of the region’s most recognisable specialist practices.

In this episode, we unpack Vas’s childhood lessons, his global pursuit of knowledge, his courageous all-in business decisions, his philosophy on victimhood and ownership, and the legacy he hopes to leave for his family and community.

You’ll learn how to turn adversity into drive, how to think bigger in business, how to build and lead high-performing teams, and how to raise grounded kids in a privileged world.

Get in touch with Dr Vas Srinivasan – https://www.invisibleorthodontics.com.au

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Dr Vas Srinivasan’s Quick Fire Answers

What does success mean to you?

“To be able to provide to others who may not have the same option all the time.”

What does happiness mean to you?

“What I’m doing right now.”

What’s your normal morning routine these days?

“Normally between 4:30 and 5am, simple workout, prepare for the day, then quality time with family and a peaceful night’s sleep.”

What piece of advice would you put on a billboard for the world to see?

“Live for today. Build for tomorrow.”

Who would you suggest as a future guest on the show?

“Mark Barclay or Min Swan.”

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Listen To The Podcast

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/1CCrfi7eB3zlANJ81D1C72?si=4221bec96c244a0c

Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/success-x-happiness/id1683066164

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Find Us On Social Media

https://www.instagram.com/sxhpod

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Chapters

(00:00:00) – Introduction

(00:00:47) – Chapter 1 | Childhood Lessons, Resilience & Early Ambition

(00:23:04) – Chapter 2 | From Global Study to Building a World-Class Practice

(00:42:36) – Chapter 3 | Risk, Courage, Leadership & Building Teams

(00:51:32) – Quick Fire Questions

(00:53:58) – Outro

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#podcast #success #orthodontics

Kris Carver is the CEO of ENTAG and one of the Sunshine Coast’s most quietly influential leaders. Going from paying payroll on an Amex to steering a 150-person tech powerhouse backed by Anchorage Capital. His story is a masterclass in resilience, execution, and trusting yourself even when the odds don’t.

In this episode, Kris shares raw, grounded perspectives on leadership, risk, scaling, and the power of backing your people. From growing up fast with a legally blind father to building a national tech business from a garage, his journey challenges every assumption about what “success” really looks like.

You’ll learn how Kris thinks about growth, risk, culture, acquisitions, AI, ESG, and what it really takes to build something meaningful over time. This episode will change how you think about progress.

Get in touch with Kris - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kris-carver/

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Kris' Quick Fire Answers

What does success mean to you?

"A little bit of validation of the hard work."

What does happiness mean to you?

"Seeing people I know, my friends and family, in a better position."

What’s your normal morning routine these days?

"Impact Strength & Fitness, coffee at The Pocket, walk the dogs at Moffat Beach."

What piece of advice would you put on a billboard for the world to see?

"Back yourself."

Who would you suggest as a future guest on the show?

"Stuart Clout"

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Listen To The Podcast

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1CCrfi7eB3zlANJ81D1C72?si=4221bec96c244a0c

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/success-x-happiness/id1683066164

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Find Us On Social Media

https://www.instagram.com/sxhpod

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Chapters

(00:00:00) - Introduction

(00:00:44) – Chapter 1 | Kris' Story

(00:15:42) – Chapter 2 | Building ENTAG

(00:29:08) – Chapter 3 | Integrating Tech into Every Business

(00:46:35) – Chapter 4 | Community & Purpose

(00:53:35) - Quick Fire Questions

(00:56:29) - Outro

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#podcast #startup #tech

Scott Hoskins is a former professional golfer turned business owner and leadership facilitator with Leading Teams, known for transforming cultures through empowerment, accountability, and genuine human connection.

In this episode, Scott unpacks the real mechanics of high performance, why agreed behaviours matter more than talent, why culture is built in the “informal induction,” and how vulnerability, strong relationships, and genuine conversations underpin every elite team from restaurants to the Brisbane Lions.

You will walk away understanding how to build teams that fight for the standard, not against each other, and why, as Scott says, “leadership isn’t a title, it’s behaviour.” Learn how to create environments where people feel safe, valued, and willing to grow.

Get in touch with Scott Hoskins at Leading Teams - https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-hoskins-746802b7/

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Scott’s Quick Fire Answers

What does success mean to you?

"Having a meaningful, positive impact on others."

What does happiness mean to you?

"Doing stuff I like with people I like and trying to do more of that."

What’s your normal morning routine these days?

"Doing stuff I like with people I like and trying to do more of that."

What piece of advice would you put on a billboard for the world to see?

"Doing stuff I like with people I like and trying to do more of that."

Who would you suggest as a future guest on the show?

"Michael Kain, leader of Devcon."

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Listen To The Podcast

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1CCrfi7eB3zlANJ81D1C72?si=4221bec96c244a0c

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/success-x-happiness/id1683066164

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Find Us On Social Media

https://www.instagram.com/sxhpod

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Chapters

(00:00:00) - Introduction

(00:00:42) – Chapter 1 | From Golf Pro to Leadership

(00:16:19) – Chapter 2 | Leading Teams

(00:44:17) – Chapter 3 | Building a Team with Intention

(01:54:39) - Quick Fire Questions

(00:57:02) - Outro

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#podcast #teamwork #leadership