The Hope Initiative

By Rien MacDonald

Stories with everyday people. A podcast learning about humans on planet earth. The success and struggle in their life, to help inspire hope in yours.... more

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FAQs about The Hope Initiative:

How many episodes does The Hope Initiative have?

The podcast currently has 232 episodes available.

The Hope Initiative episodes:

June 18, 2020 #49 - Feet on the Ground, Head in the Clouds
"The biggest gift music gives me is, is a channel for me to help others and to serve others. It's interesting when I've started my own fronting my own trio, playing my own music and running it. I get really uncomfortable in that and I kind of do it for the reason that I'm trying to grow in that way a little bit more, but me at my happiest and my most feeling of fulfilled the most is when I'm standing behind an artist that I really, really believe in and really want to give something to, and I'm able to play something that makes them feel safe and supported on stage to then transport into a room of people who were really moved by it.
Being apart of that experience where I can provide a service to someone else or to an audience as well; I just get blown away... Some people come up to me after a show and say how moved they were, to even sometimes it might be just to see a female guitarists on stage... Or sometimes they might point out something that I did that they loved.
And to me, that's when I'm at my most happiest, when I'm able to actually do something for others, with music and music is the best way that I can come up with that..."
Episode #49 with Kathleen Halloran
Kathleen and I crossed paths after working separately with Kate Ceberano and Lee Rogers respectively.
Kathleen is an incredible guitarist and is shredding her way to becoming one of Australias all time guitarists.
In this conversation we chat about how she got started at the age of 11, being the youngest of 9 children, consistency is key, working with the Queen of Australian music, and never missing two days in a row...
Thanks so much again to Kathleen for taking the time, and to you for listening!
Also a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Kathleen who turns 25 on the day this episode is released - 18 June 2020!
Thanks again, I hope you enjoy!
Cheers,
Rien
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1h 3min
June 11, 2020 #48 - The Art of Life
"I just think enjoying your children is really key. I don't think has to do with triplets, but definitely enjoy your children.
That's what life's all about... Being part of their life all the way - from school to boyfriends to pathways to learning things. Even right now, I still work with them. We do things like when they look for job interviews or a path, and they'll talk to me because of the way we grew together and their grandparents were with them...
It's the thing of life. But I'm a businessman, I grew up great business and I'm going to build another great consortium, sharing the wealth, but it's still the number one - it is the family. My advice is to enjoy it."
Episode #48 with Domenic Chiarella
In this personal conversation with Italian American Domenic Chiarella, we speak about his family and business. Two things that define him, but as a self described "lifetime learner" at the ripe young age of 62, he isn't slowing down any time soon.
Having built the family business up to a 15 million dollar company based on it being value driven instead of profit driven, he looks for and applies these values everywhere in life.
The father of triplet girls, an engineer and a loving father and family man, this chat was full of life including;
- The idea around 3 types of intelligence that leads to success
- Value Driven & Profit Driven and the differences
- His thoughts on parenting
- How he developed his entrepreneurial mindset from a young age
All that and so much more!
Thanks again to Domenic - I hope you enjoy.
Nice one!
Rien
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1h
June 04, 2020 #47 - The World at Your Hands
"When things aren't going your way and you're constantly making mistakes, it's challenging to keep pushing forward. And there's been many moments where it's a snowballing effect. It ends up being like 1 step forward and 10 steps back...
When it gets to that, I normally stop what I'm doing, walk away and go away do something else so your attention units are on something different and then come back to it in a new unit of time."
Episode #47 with Jackson Fairlie
Jackson is a family friend and big fan of the podcast, but more importantly, an incredible humble and talented young man.
After being born 14 weeks premature (not even into the final trimester!) doctors gave him little chance to walk, let alone craft some of the finest pieces of furniture I've laid eyes on.
In this episode of The Hope Initiative, we talk about how he knew what he wanted to do from the age of 10, how he has so far crafted his own life around his passion, the thousands of hours he's put in already, tips for the creative process, and what he hopes life looks like in 30 years time...
A massive thank you to Jackson! I hope you enjoy as much as I did in speaking with him.
Thanks and much love,
Rien
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58min
June 03, 2020 #47 - Jackson Fairlie
Episode #47 with Jackson Fairlie
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41min
May 28, 2020 #46 - Discovering Why
"Sadly for me, I figured out there was lots of things not going will in my relationship, things such as cheating and things that come out right in the middle of the trip. And that was a huge slap in the face for me and kind of changed the trip. We ended up breaking up, and I decided that instead of going travelling, I was like, 'You know what? I think there's enough on my plate to sit down, put my suitcases down and think about this entire life story, and just kind of start again with a clean slate...
Not a clean slate, but just, how to start anew and figure things out..."
Episode #46 with Anya Meidell
Anya and I are modern day internet pen pals. After seeing her instagram via a mutual friend, we struck up a correspondence through a mutual desire for self improvement and growth. After a year, I asked her to be a guest on my podcast and she was so kind and accomodating!
In this conversation, we discuss her life as one of 6 kids between divorced parents, how she had to become the mother at the age of 15 and help her own mother who was suffering with a mental illness at the time. Her desires to travel and study abroad, make or break moments and discovering her Why.
Thanks so much to Anya for sharing a piece of her life with me.
I hope you enjoy as much as I did!
Thanks :D
Rien
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1h 6min
May 21, 2020 #45 - Comfortable with the Uncomfortable
"One thing I learned from dad and probably the biggest lesson was just open your ears. Just be that person to sit there and listen. Because not everyone wants advice...
It's like, no dude, like some people just want to be confident. They will just want you to sit there, shut your mouth, open your ears and just pay that level of comfort.
So for me, I saw the way dad did that, and it allowed people to feel when people go through like depression, anxiety, and mental illness, all they want is to be safe."
Episode #45 with Damien Bugeja
Damien Bugeja is a man on a mission. An inspiring individual with a big heart, in late February -March of this year, he ran well over 250km in 6 days from Craigieburn to Yarrawonga in memory of his late Father, Joseph Bugeja who passed away from a rare form of cancer called ‘Pseudomyxoma Peritonei’ in January 2017.
2017 was a tough year for Damien. Not only dealing with his fathers loss, he also tore his ACL (not for the first time) and broke up with his long term girlfriend.
Despite this, he is now in a place where each and every day he leans in to the fear by choosing not to fear, and practices gratitude and resilience daily.
It was a truly generous conversation and one I'm sure you'll enjoy!
Thanks again to Damien.
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1h 8min
May 14, 2020 #44 - Above & Beyond
"You don't necessarily have to go off and be a screaming expert or something before you actually try and do it. Just do it. Make mistakes, learn from it and move forward."
Episode #44 with Andrew Nott
Andrew is the father of three of my best mates, wife to my godmother and like a father to me! He's also a housemate on a semi-casual basis, working in Melbourne but living in Cooma, New South Wales.
In this off the cuff conversation recorded in our living one Saturday morning, I ask Andrew - a man of many talents as well as the master of quite a few - questions relating to production in his line of work, what his hope are for the future as well as my favourite, advice for his 20 year old self...
Thanks for checking it out, I hope you enjoy it!
Please note, this episode was recorded in January 2020 and I felt there was enough relevant conversation to be released now in May 2020. But the world has changed so much. Bushfires into COVID-19. The points are still applicable and above all, we need to be kind to one another. If you're able to donate to the RFS bushfire appeal, then great - if not, no stress! Thanks for being here and keep on going!
Love always, Rien
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43min
May 07, 2020#43 - Give a Crap with Sinead Coulter
"I hope that I still give a crap when I'm 40 about these issues and everything, and that if I have kids by the time I'm 40 I hope I'm enforcing that notion on them to give a crap. Giving a crap is cool."
Episode #43 of The Hope Initiative with Sinead Coulter
I have known Sinead for almost 20 years now since playing soccer with her eldest brother and one of my best mates, Liam. I'm lucky enough to call the whole Coulter family very close friends and in this conversation with Sinead I got to sit down on zoom with her after a few months of trying to line up a time, it what was likely our longest one on one conversation in all those years.
A 20 year old with the world at her feet, she is doing so much to make a difference already.
In this conversation we discuss;
How growing up with 2 older brothers shaped her into a natural leader.

Learning more outside of the classroom.

Volunteering and why she does it.

Why she is a blend of her parents personalities and how they work so well.

Her definition of Youth Empowerment.

Being rigidly flexible.

And why giving a crap is cool!
Thanks for listening. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did bringing it to you.
Thanks again to Sinead.
Enjoy!
Much love,
Rien
Coulter Creations on Instagram - her design page.
Lord Somers Camp
Who partner with Very Special Kids, Mirabel Foundation, Diversity and Atlas.
Oaktree
Best4Free
Whitehorse United
Book recommendation - Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
Follow and connect with The Hope Initiative on;
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hopeinitiativepod/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@thehopeinitiative
Music by Jess Fairlie - jessfairlie.com
Made by RUKKUS - instagram.com/makearukkus
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45min
May 06, 2020 #43 - Give a Crap
"I hope that I still give a crap when I'm 40 about these issues and everything, and that if I have kids by the time I'm 40 I hope I'm enforcing that notion on them to give a crap. Giving a crap is cool."
Episode #43 with Sinead Coulter.
I have known Sinead for almost 20 years now since playing soccer with her eldest brother and one of my best mates, Liam. I'm lucky enough to call the whole Coulter family very close friends and in this conversation with Sinead I got to sit down on zoom with her after a few months of trying to line up a time, it what was likely our longest one on one conversation in all those years.
A 20 year old with the world at her feet, she is doing so much to make a difference already.
In this conversation we discuss;
- How growing up with 2 older brothers shaped her into a natural leader.
- Learning more outside of the classroom.
- Volunteering and why she does it.
- Why she is a blend of her parents personalities and how they work so well.
- Her definition of Youth Empowerment.
- Being rigidly flexible.
- And why giving a crap is cool!
Thanks for listening. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did bringing it to you.
Thanks again to Sinead.
Enjoy!
Much love,
Rien
...more
45min
April 30, 2020 #42 - Trust the Process with Cat Preston
"I probably didn't rely on that in my twenties, early thirties... When you embark on the journey of becoming a parent and you are looking to other people, but you haven't really questioned what your own values and beliefs are before you ask advice from other people. So, I think to sort of trust your own wisdom from an earlier age is probably something that I would say to my younger self."
Episode #42 of The Hope Initiative with Cat Preston
I had the pleasure of meeting and learning from Cat in the Story Skills Workshop. A lady from the south of England originally, she has truly called a lot of the world her home for years, berthing her 3 children on different continents, supporting her husband through different opportunities which has seen them live in France and across South East Asia including Malaysia and Hong Kong to name but a few.
In this conversation we talk about how Cat's life didn't turn out how she'd expected it to be, but how she is truly taking everything in her stride to now be living an eclectic life. Asking important questions such as, "Who's it not for?" and being in a place where she now trusts is her own instincts and wisdom as she approaches half a century in this lifetime; I am proud to share this conversation and learnings from the wonderful, Cat Preston.
Please enjoy.
catpreston.com
Cat on Instagram & Facebook
The Story Skills Workshop via Akimbo
Bernadette Jiwa - Bernadette is the co founder and brains behind the workshop. She has become a good friend to Cat, who said in an email post the show of Bernadette, "...an inspirational leader. I have learnt so much working alongside her on the Story Skills Workshop. So with that in mind, if you could reference the workshop in the show notes with a link to the course I’d be very grateful."
I also personally highly recommend checking it out. Cracking course!
Seth Godin
Marie Forleo
Zig Ziglar
Clifton Strength Finder
Follow and connect with The Hope Initiative on;
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hopeinitiativepod/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@thehopeinitiative
Music by Jess Fairlie - jessfairlie.com
Made by RUKKUS - instagram.com/makearukkus
...more
1h

FAQs about The Hope Initiative:

How many episodes does The Hope Initiative have?

The podcast currently has 232 episodes available.