The Byron Cooke Show

Thousands of fruit and vegetable pickers are urgently needed RIGHT NOW! 

The current labour shortage is a result of coronavirus travel restrictions leading to a huge drop in overseas workers, who in the past have made up a large proportion of the Australian workforce.

So why aren't local Aussies applying? Just how tough is the job? What are some of the positive aspects of this work and what government incentives are in place?

Joining Byron Cooke for this episode : Jane Richter from https://qldstrawberries.com.au/ and Tyson Cattle from www.ausveg.com.au 

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Men are encouraged to show strength and many find it difficult to open up when they are struggling. So how should a man behave when his child is diagnosed with cancer?

Research from www.redkite.org.au has revealed that men are less likely to ask for Redkite's cancer support services than women. Redkite's Dad Connect Groups provide a great example of how important it is for men to speak up in times of hardship.

Joining Byron Cooke live for this episode - Jonathon Coles, Senior Social Worker, Redkite Community Based Support. Peter Morris, who's son Benjamin was diagnosed with cancer in January 2018. 

Also contributing to this episode are Gus Worland, Founder of www.gotcha4life.org.au and Josh Kennedy, co-captain of Sydney Swans [proud Redkite partner]

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HIGHLIGHT : In the wake of recent controversies, former Melbourne Storm player Sandor Earl takes aim at Rugby League journalists Paul Kent, Danny Weidler and James Hooper. 

Earl believes both the NRL and the Rugby League Players Association should be doing more to hold journalists without any "moral compass" to account.

Listen to the full episode "Stars vs Journalists" now on your favourite podcast platform.

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In this age of clickbait, journalists that push the most provocative and extreme content are standing out. If winning the ratings means offending a high profile person at the centre of a story - so be it.

With controversial opinions out-rating straight factual news content, many journalists are now quite openly smashing their star subjects regardless of accuracy or fairness.

Former Melbourne Storm NRL Star Sandor Earl has had enough and wants the worst offenders in Rugby League journalism to be silenced. In his opinion, sports journalists like Danny Weidler, Paul Kent and James Hooper are bringing the game into disrepute. 

Where should the line be drawn? How can stars defend themselves? Could we see a power shift away from journalists and mass media? What might it look like?

Joining Byron Cooke for this episode : Ethan Bearman, Analyst from Fox News and owner of https://thebearmanfirm.com in Los Angeles CA. Sandor Earl, former professional Rugby League player.

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The global adult toy market is estimated to reach a staggering USD $36.1 billion by the end of 2027 and much of this growth is female-led.

One local company experiencing a spurt in sales is www.sexyland.com.au who opened their first store in Melbourne 21 years ago. Female adult toys are their fastest growing retail sector and single women are the leading contributors to this market.

So what are the big selling products? How has the industry changed over the past 21 years? What pop star loved one adult toy range so much she launched her own collaboration with them? Get it all in this fun filled episode!

Joining Byron Cooke for this episode : Rebecca Grech, Sexyland Australia, and from the recent "Valentines Day Survival Guide" episode, Hannah Furst of the Beauty IQ Uncensored podcast.

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Every year Australia sends 85% of textiles to landfill. "Fast fashion" is fast becoming a big environmental problem.

Born in 2015, www.huntermarkets.com.au connects influencers like Hannah Orval with girls who want to snatch up a fit straight from their wardrobes. Hundreds of influencers have since recycled thousands of items that would otherwise have been thrown away.

The focus is on circular fashion and rescuing items from heading to landfill.  Grass roots organisations like Little Litter Project are also making important contributions to this recycling push against fast fashion.

Joining Byron Cooke for this episode : Sarah Kokkinos, Founder of Hunter Markets. Candace Colaco, Founder of Little Litter Project. Hannah Orval, Influencer.

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The global pandemic has forced couples who want to get married to get VERY creative. You won't believe these crazy spontaneous wedding stories!

A ceremony conducted at 40,000 feet on a domestic plane flight? A big wedding brought forward by a day with only a few hours notice. The countless stories of destination weddings completely turned on their heads.

Joining Byron Cooke for this episode : Sheree Cavenett, Founder of She Designs Events. Mel Jacob, Melbourne celebrant from The Ceremony Store. Elaine Tiong, former Wedding Planner who married her husband mid-air. Pete Lazer, sports personality. Dirk Fielding, Publisher of Wedding and Bride magazine. Vic Horvatincic, local groom who married Robyn in a wedding covered by The Byron Cooke Show.

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Ali Halkic, lost his son Allem on 5 February 2009 as a result of cyber bullying.

Allem Halkic was a 17 year old from Melbourne who tragically fell victim to persistent and callous bullying. Ali has since worked tirelessly to educate Australians about the dangers of bullying and cyber bullying.

To mark National Be Kind Day 2021, Byron presents a special episode alongside Ali in honour of Allem.

Hateful comments online are increasing. 2-3 young people EVERY week are ending their lives due to bullying. The key focus of the episode is the opportunity to create meaningful change by creating even closer ties between Bully Zero and schools across Australia..

Also featuring on this episode - Kind Is Cool Ambassador Bonnie Anderson, Bully Zero Ambassadors Preeti Daga, Bianca Braun, Lucia Hou, Puneet Gulati, Gary Lee, James Liotta and Sonya Karras, Leading Teams facilitator and director Brendan Maher, AFLW Player and Pro Boxer Tayla Harris.

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Researchers at the University Of Queensland recently concluded that those who reported to be in happy romantic relationships weighed almost 6 kilos MORE than their single counterparts!

In this episode, Byron blames his weight gain over the past year on the move from his bachelor pad into his girlfriend Alex's apartment.

Countless other personal stories are also examined across a range of relationship situations.

Melbourne based personal trainer Amadu Koroma provides his professional training, mindset and nutrition insights. Even Alex herself joins the show to face the music!

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HIGHLIGHT : Melbourne Storm premiership winning halfback Jahrome Hughes and former star Sandor Earl open up on The Byron Cooke Show for a conversation around resilience. Both players credit the Melbourne Storm club culture as a major influence in turning their careers and lives around.

Get the full episode at www.byroncookeshow.com

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