Chronic disease keeps stealing years from our mob and it’s happening earlier than ever. We sit with Mengui - Torres Strait Islander entrepreneur from Badu Island - to unpack a practical, culture-first path back to health: fast smarter, eat real food, honor spirit and take ownership. He started by living the change six years ago, then found the science matched what Elders already knew: food is medicine, recovery requires space and gratitude tunes the mind like a radio to better choices.

 We walk through the nuts and bolts: how chronic inflammation hides behind busy routines, why constant snacking blocks deep repair and how simple rituals - intermittent fasting, whole-food smoothies and a soothing, natural-leaning tea - make healing convenient without the hype. There’s a live taste test, a full ingredient rundown and a look at why magnesium and ashwagandha play supporting roles. Mengui shares the story-driven way he speaks with Elders about change, keeping jargon out and culture in, so the message lands with respect. This yarn goes deeper than diet. We talk about ownership over victim mentality, the real weight of trauma and the uncomfortable but freeing work of accountability. 

Mengui opens up about dark, numb seasons and the turning point that brought him back, turning pain into a mission: if I can, you can. From there, we map his bigger vision - shopfronts in Cairns and Brisbane, a manufacturing and ideas hub for Indigenous creators, research-backed transparency with QR-linked data and frozen products that can travel to remote communities and humanitarian efforts. If you’ve felt stuck - tired, stressed, inflamed - this conversation offers a clear first step. Swap one processed habit for a whole-food choice, set a five-minute gratitude practice, or try a gentle fasting window and notice the difference.

What if the first step isn’t glamorous, just necessary? 

Nathan joins us to share how he went from a factory floor in modular construction to leading Avendo Design, a residential architecture and design studio known for plans that actually build. He walks through the early years of scraping by and how support from IBA helped sharpen his brand, strengthen his messaging and give his business the structure it needed to grow. That shift opened the door to better clients and a more consistent pipeline. 

With guidance from mentors and the right people around him, one bold move turned into a six-figure development deal. This isn’t theory; it’s timelines, feasibility and the kind of opportunities that come from backing yourself and asking better questions. We also go deeper than profit and projects. Nathan opens up about divorce, co-parenting and building a blended family while growing a business. He talks about investing in therapy and NLP, writing goals he forgot about and later achieved and the discipline of being honest on good and bad days. There’s a through-line of men’s mental health here: the courage to make the call, admit you’re not okay and let support do its job. That shift changes how you lead, how you price, and who you say yes to. If you’re a builder, designer, or creator trying to bridge the gap between drawings and ground truth, you’ll take away practical steps on approvals, marketing and client experience. 

If you’re a founder stuck at the first leap, you’ll find a map made of small dots: test, fail, learn, adjust, repeat. And if you’re carrying more than you’re saying, you’ll hear why vulnerability isn’t weakness - it’s leverage..

A tough childhood. A pair of gloves. A phone call that changed everything. 

Dennis joins us to share a raw, generous story about turning pain into purpose- first through boxing, then through community service and finally through the steady courage of buying a home for his family. He opens up about growing up in public housing, feeling like an outsider, and finding structure at a local gym where uncles and aunties set a standard that kept him clean and focused. Titles and medals followed, but so did a deeper lesson: kids can tell the difference between someone who has walked the road and someone who only studied the map.

We dig into his role as a Community Education Counselor supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families - removing barriers to health, housing and school attendance - and the simple, human tools that work: being present, asking “Do you need a hug?” and showing kids what’s possible through representation. Dennis’ mindset is a masterclass in agency. He shows how tiny choices add up, from inventing games with nothing but socks to navigating IBA seminars, pre-approval and the path from rent stress to keys in hand. The result isn’t just property; it’s dignity, stability and the freedom to plan the next step instead of surviving the next week.

We also sit with men’s mental health: the quiet after the spotlight, the myth that strong men don’t cry and the healing in speaking up, reconnecting with mob, and grounding on country. Dennis shares his next move - teaching Food Tech and HPE while finishing his degree - to reach kids earlier and offer a different arc. He closes with a call to claim culture and ancestors’ stories: you’re not half anything, you’re whole and you have an obligation to know who you come from. 

Come for the boxing yarns, stay for the blueprint on choice, culture and never stopping the dream. If this resonated, follow, share with a mate who needs it, and leave a review to help more listeners find these modern day yarns.

Meet Kaylah Truth, a powerhouse Meerooni woman of the Gurang Nation whose journey through hip-hop, activism and cultural reconnection will leave you inspired and reflective. 

Growing up in Brisbane's south side, Kaylah's earliest memories revolve around her grandmother's bustling "black house" – a hub of community activism where young Kaylah absorbed the passionate discussions of politics and social justice happening around her. From nearly being whisked away to the Tent Embassy as a toddler to witnessing her first Salt-N-Pepa concert at age six, these formative experiences shaped her path in ways she couldn't yet understand. After facing significant losses in her late teens, Kaylah found herself at a crossroads. Choosing the Aboriginal Center for the Performing Arts became her lifeline – "hip-hop saved my life," she shares with raw honesty. What followed was a remarkable career balancing professional performance with profound community service, taking her from remote Australian communities to international stages alongside artists like TLC, Nelly and Lupe Fiasco. 

The heart of this conversation reveals the beautiful intersection between hip-hop culture's "each one, teach one" philosophy and Indigenous knowledge-sharing traditions. Now returned to Brisbane after years in Victoria, Kaylah speaks movingly about her evolving priorities – stepping fully into her role as an aunty, deepening her connection to country and embracing the responsibility of language revival and cultural preservation following her grandmother's passing. This episode offers much more than a career retrospective – it's a meditation on healing through creative expression, finding purpose in community service, and recognising when life comes full circle. Kaylah's parting wisdom resonates deeply: "Try to be in the moment, acknowledge all the hard work that you did to get to that moment, but don't rush into the next one quicker than you have to." 

Ready to be moved by a story of resilience, purpose, and coming home?

Discover the powerful story of how a simple website for a family cabinet making business sparked a digital entrepreneurship journey that's now transforming Indigenous businesses across Australia. Adam Wooding, a proud Wemba Wemba man, takes us through his evolution from reluctant website developer to founder of Empower Digital, a thriving Indigenous-owned digital agency.

https://bit.ly/Adams_Website

What began with helping his father establish an online presence in the early 2000s has blossomed into a mission to empower First Nations businesses in the digital realm. With refreshing honesty, Adam shares practical wisdom about the right timing for digital investment—advising businesses to build social media presence first before investing in e-commerce solutions when direct message orders become unmanageable. This strategic approach has helped numerous Indigenous businesses scale effectively without premature digital investments.

The conversation reveals how pivotal relationships with support organizations like Indigenous Business Australia have been to Adam's success. From reluctantly attending workshops to becoming a valued service provider delivering digital training, his story demonstrates how engaging with support ecosystems can create unexpected growth opportunities. Most striking is Adam's insight that despite working in technology, it's real-world human connections that drive business success.

With a new Shopify app called POS Cafe and specialized programs for service-based businesses on the horizon, Adam and his partner Carmel continue expanding their impact while balancing business growth with family life and cultural connection. Their journey offers a blueprint for aspiring Indigenous digital entrepreneurs: start with relationships, understand the practical needs of your community, and create solutions that truly empower others to thrive.

Join us for this candid conversation about Indigenous entrepreneurship, digital strategy, and the importance of maintaining well-being while building businesses that serve future generations. Be inspired to take your next step in the digital landscape.

Walking into Good Good coffee shop in Brisbane's West End feels like being welcomed into a community where everyone knows your name and how you take your coffee. Owner Josh Power has created more than just a café—he's built a space where genuine connection happens over exceptional coffee.

https://bit.ly/Joshuas_Website

Josh's journey to business ownership is as rich as the coffee he serves. Growing up in Bowen, North Queensland as an Aboriginal and South Sea Islander man, he describes himself as "a dreamer" who would imagine creative futures while his father cast fishing nets along the shoreline at dusk. After moving to Brisbane to study remedial therapy, Josh worked in Indigenous health before spotting an opportunity to start a coffee window alongside his sister's medical clinic.

What began as "Little Peaches," a tiny coffee operation, quickly grew into Good Good—a thriving café that's now expanding to include deli-style sandwiches and eventually a wine bar. But what truly sets Josh's business apart isn't just the quality products—it's the intentional culture he's created. Drawing from his experience in health and HR, Josh has challenged the notoriously toxic hospitality industry by implementing professional workplace practices and creating a safe environment where staff feel valued and supported.

"We love our staff and it shows," Josh explains, describing how this translates directly to the warm, personalized customer service that's become their hallmark. This commitment to people—both employees and customers—has built a loyal community following and positioned Good Good for continued growth.

Beyond his business success, Josh maintains his creative spirit, planning to use the financial stability from his café ventures to return to his passion for music production. His story embodies a powerful message for other Indigenous entrepreneurs: trust your instincts, take risks, and create paths that honor both practical needs and creative dreams.

Ready for coffee that comes with community? Visit Good Good at Shop 2, 24 Beasley Street in West End, and experience what happens when business meets heart.

Have you ever felt that persistent gut feeling telling you there's something more meant for you than just clocking in at a job you don't enjoy? That's exactly what led Jordan from Ocean View to establish NHQ Slashing, a business that's now thriving in its specialised niche between large commercial operations and residential lawn care.

https://bit.ly/JordansWebsite

Jordan's story isn't about an overnight success or a carefully mapped business school strategy. Instead, it's a refreshingly honest account of following intuition despite lacking formal business education or entrepreneurial family connections. "I was stuck in a job which I wasn't into for many, many years," Jordan shares, describing the gradual build-up of courage that eventually pushed him to make a change. His path to business ownership began with devouring podcasts and audiobooks, seeking wisdom from successful people while researching his industry thoroughly.

The turning point came when Jordan discovered Indigenous Business Australia (IBA), whose business courses and support made entrepreneurship feel accessible rather than intimidating. Their guidance through the business planning process and subsequent financial support proved crucial for someone without traditional business networks. As Jordan puts it, "I don't think there's a lot of banks that would be willing to invest their time into me as much as IBA has."

Perhaps the most valuable aspect of Jordan's candid conversation is his openness about the challenges—particularly burnout. His realization that "if you're just doing nothing but your business, even though you like it, you're going to get burnout" led to important lessons about maintaining connections and proper work-life balance. Now past the critical three-year mark where many businesses fail, Jordan is expanding his services and learning about contracts and tenders while never forgetting his core advice: "Life's short, give it a crack, follow your gut."

Ready to be inspired by a real entrepreneurial journey with all its ups, downs, and hard-won wisdom? Listen now and discover how Indigenous business ownership can transform not just livelihoods but lives.

*This episode was filmed prior to the World Premiere of James' Film - As mentioned in this episode

What does it take to build a business that stays true to cultural values while thriving in today's fast-paced digital landscape? James Saunders, founder of Baraji Maweng, shares his remarkable journey from childhood in Logan as part of a family of nine children to becoming an entrepreneur, filmmaker, and advocate for authentic Indigenous representation.

https://bit.ly/James_Website

Growing up in a three-bedroom rental with eight siblings after his father returned to Victoria, James credits his mother with instilling both educational values and cultural connection. Despite financial hardships, she ensured her children maintained ties to their Gunditjmara and Wiradjuri heritage while embracing local Murray and Torres Strait Islander communities in Queensland. This foundation of cultural strength would later become central to James' business philosophy.

James speaks candidly about his winding path through early adulthood – from unemployment in regional Victoria to working at fitness clubs, health organizations, and eventually landing a media role that exposed him to national Indigenous politics. These experiences revealed a troubling pattern: his cultural knowledge and connections were generating wealth for others rather than building something sustainable for himself or his community.

This realization led to the creation of Baraji Maweng, a digital marketing business whose name combines the Wiradjuri words for "fly" and "together" – embodying James' vision of mutual success while maintaining cultural integrity. His approach focuses on empowering small Indigenous businesses with the skills they need to thrive in the digital space, with support from Indigenous Business Australia helping to forge crucial connections in the sector.

Beyond business, James is pursuing creative projects that reflect his commitment to authentic storytelling – from producing the documentary "Yoloo Country" about environmental justice in Western Australia to writing a book about his great-uncle, the first Indigenous person commissioned in the Australian Army. These endeavors demonstrate how entrepreneurship can create platforms for stories that might otherwise go untold.

Looking to support Indigenous businesses and authentic storytelling? Follow James' journey and discover how slowing down might be the most revolutionary act in a world that values constant hustle above all else.