In this episode of What Are We Drinking?, Rachel sits down with Dain Walker — personal brand strategist, founder of Rivyl, author, speaker, creator and the man known as “the internet’s brand strategist.”Dain shares the full story behind his journey, from a chaotic childhood and time in foster care, to being $200,000 in debt, working at Telstra, and having a life-changing moment after seeing Gary Vee speak live. That moment became the spark that pushed him into content, branding, entrepreneurship and building the creative empire he leads today.Rachel and Dain dive deep into personal branding, why businesses without visible founders are already falling behind, and why people connect with people, stories and characters far more than logos. Dain breaks down the difference between authenticity and identity, why imperfect characters are more powerful, and how founders can use their story to build real trust online.They also unpack business growth, creativity, fatherhood, leadership, podcasting, content teams, trauma, resilience and the importance of designing the person you want to become.And yes — instead of whiskey, wine or a flashy cocktail, Dain chose vanilla custard. Naturally.This episode is funny, raw, practical and packed with gold for anyone building a brand, business or better version of themselves.

Key Topics Discussed

In this episode of What Are We Drinking?, Rachel sits down with Rhys and Jaxon from Empower Care Solutions Hub for a raw, funny and genuinely moving conversation about friendship, business, disability support and what it means to help young people feel like they belong.

From becoming best mates and building a business together, to working long hours, navigating burnout and putting everything back into the people they support, Rhys and Jaxon open up about the real grind behind Empower Care. Their mission is simple but powerful: helping young people feel seen, heard, believed in and supported to take the next step.

They share the stories behind Empower Care’s programs, including Teens Night, Fit Friends, 1:1 support and community-based activities that build confidence, connection and real-life skills. Empower Care’s own website describes these programs as spaces for young people to build confidence, friendships, independence and genuine connection.

The conversation also dives into the viral learner licence moment, supporting young people through anxiety and isolation, the importance of genuine care in disability support, and why connection should always come before goals.

This episode is about more than support work. It’s about belonging, confidence, brotherhood and the kind of impact that happens when people actually give a shit.

Key Topics Discussed

- How Rhys and Jaxon became friends

- Building Empower Care from the ground up

- The early grind of business ownership

- Burnout, sacrifice and backing each other

- Supporting young people with disability

- Why young people need belonging and connection

- Rhys’ personal experience with anxiety and feeling lost

- Jaxon’s journey from stable employment into support work

- Teens Night and the power of social connection

- Fit Friends, cooking, gym and community activities

- The viral learner licence success story

- Building confidence through small wins

- Professional boundaries vs genuine care

- Why families want support workers who actually care

- Imposter syndrome and showing up scared

- Social media, storytelling and building a brand

- Their long-term vision for an Empower Care community hub

- Advice for young people and parents

What Are We Drinking's first guest — Amanda Rose, returns, and she doesn't hold back.

From women in business and government procurement to AI, taxation, entrepreneurship, financial independence and the future of Australia, Amanda doesn't hold back.

As the founder of Small Business Women Australia, Amanda is on a mission to change how women access opportunities, contracts and economic power. She shares why only a tiny percentage of government contracts go to women-owned businesses, why she's built another business focused on changing that, and what she believes needs to happen to create genuine financial independence for women.

Rachel and Amanda also tackle some of the biggest issues facing Australians right now — the cost of living crisis, small business pressures, AI's impact on jobs, payroll tax, housing affordability, government policy and why critical thinking matters more than ever.

Whether you agree with Amanda or not, one thing is certain: she's never afraid to say exactly what she thinks.

What happens when you combine sharp comedy, lived experience, and fearless advocacy?In this episode of What Are We Drinking?, Rachel Carey sits down with comedian, writer, filmmaker and disability advocate Madeleine Stewart for a candid conversation about using humour to challenge stereotypes and change perceptions around disability.Madeleine shares her journey from growing up in Campbelltown to performing stand-up comedy across Australia, appearing on the ABC, creating films, and becoming one of the country's most recognised disability advocates. Together, Rachel and Madeleine unpack the power of representation, the realities of dating and relationships with a disability, inclusion in mainstream media, and the impact current NDIS changes are having on people with disabilities.This episode is funny, honest, challenging and deeply important.

Key Topics

- Madeleine's journey into comedy and advocacy

- Using humour to challenge disability stereotypes

- Representation in Australian media

- Working with the ABC and film projects

- Growing up with a disability in Western Sydney

- Dating, relationships and disability

- Why "inspirational" can be a problematic label

- Inclusion beyond performative diversity

- The current state of the NDIS

- NDIS cuts and their real-world impact

- Creating social change through storytelling

- The future of disability advocacy in Australia

What happens to your identity, your relationships, and your sex life after a stroke — and why is the healthcare system barely even asking the question?

This week on What Are We Drinking, Rachel sits down with William Kokay — social worker, PhD researcher, and the man on a mission to bridge one of the biggest gaps in post-stroke care. Over a Cosmo (obviously), they get into a conversation that is equal parts hilarious, eye-opening, and genuinely important.

William's work sits at the intersection of stroke rehabilitation, sexuality, gender identity and the LGBTQ+ community — and it's groundbreaking because almost no one else is doing it. He's spent years inside neurology wards, talking to patients and their partners about the things most clinicians quietly sidestep. And he's funding most of it himself.

In this episode, they get into:

• Why sexuality and identity are almost always left out of stroke recovery conversations
• The gap in care for LGBTQ+ stroke survivors — and why it matters for everyone
• What it means when your partner becomes your carer overnight
• The NDIS, funding cuts to sexuality support, and who's getting left behind
• How Donald Trump's policies are literally affecting research participants in Australia
• What healthcare professionals still don't understand about queer health
• Growing up in the 90s without role models, and how that shaped William's life's work
• Why identity isn't fixed — and why that's actually a beautiful thing

This one is unfiltered, unapologetic, and full of moments that'll make you think differently about what it really means to treat the whole person — not just the medical condition.

What happens when you get expelled from school, end up $70K in debt, and find yourself living out of a Volkswagen Polo — and then decide that's not the end of the story?

This week on What Are We Drinking, Rachel sits down with Adam McCaughey — chef turned Forbes-recognised "King of Sales" — for one of the most energetic and honest conversations we've had on the pod.

Adam's journey is anything but linear. From scrubbing pans at Rockpool at 16, to cooking for billionaires on superyachts in Fiji, to rock bottom, to scaling sales teams closing $600K a month — he's lived a lot of lives. And he connects the dots between all of them in a way that'll make you rethink everything you thought you knew about sales, success, and self-belief.

In this episode, they get into:

• Why conviction is the one thing you can't teach a sales rep
• The "cookie and the lion" framework for understanding your drive
• How elite kitchen culture shaped Adam's approach to business and leadership
• The difference between a smokescreen objection and a real one
• Building sales teams that don't churn — military discipline meets family culture
• Why being present (and bored) might be your biggest competitive edge
• Adam's challenge to stop looking for external validation — and become your own biggest fan

There's also a live objection-handling roleplay that is genuinely impressive, a story involving heroin and hypnosis, and the long-awaited baby announcement (kind of).

Raw, real, and packed with gold. Don't miss it.

In this episode of What Are We Drinking?, Rachel Carey sits down with Penioni “Penny” Tohi, founder of Able Minds, for a raw and honest conversation about disability employment, culture, business pressure, and building meaningful impact in the NDIS sector.From growing up in a traditional Tongan household in Western Sydney and chasing an NRL dream, through to working in autism support and launching Able Minds, Penny shares the experiences that shaped his mission to create fairer employment opportunities for people with disabilities.The episode dives deep into supported employment wages, why some participants are still being paid only a few dollars an hour, and the challenges providers face trying to create genuine innovation inside an increasingly difficult NDIS system.Rachel and Penny also unpack entrepreneurship, burnout, work-life balance, provider sustainability, masculinity, family expectations, and the reality of trying to build purpose-driven businesses in today’s climate.This is one of the most honest conversations yet about the future of disability employment in Australia.Key Topics - Penioni Tohi’s journey from rugby league to the disability sector - Founding Able Minds and creating supported employment pathways - The reality of subsidised disability wages in Australia - Why some supported employees earn under minimum wage - Tongan culture, family values, and serving community - Growing up in Western Sydney in a household full of women - Entrepreneurship, burnout, and relationship sacrifices - Challenges facing NDIS providers in 2026 - Innovation, sustainability, and fixing disability employment - Why meaningful work creates dignity and independence - Building gardening crews and employment opportunities through Able Minds - The future of disability employment in Australia

In this episode of What Are We Drinking?, Rachel sits down with Paul Simmons, CEO of Ability SDA, for a deep dive into the realities of Specialist Disability Accommodation, the future of disability housing in Australia, and the challenges providers are facing within the NDIS landscape.Paul shares his journey from economics and healthcare banking into retirement villages, before making the pivot into SDA alongside his wife Angie. Together, they built Ability SDA with a focus on creating beautiful, functional housing that genuinely improves quality of life for people with disabilities.The conversation explores everything from construction costs, NDIA funding challenges, choice and control, and the saturation of poor-quality SDA stock, through to the importance of aesthetics, accessibility, and future-proofing disability housing.Paul also opens up about working alongside his wife, raising three daughters while building a business together, and why creating meaningful spaces for people matters so deeply to him.There’s also an incredible story behind his drink choice — Ink Gin — involving sugar cane, entrepreneurship, Margot Robbie, and a reminder that sometimes the opportunity you never expected becomes the thing that changes everything.This episode is honest, insightful, passionate, and packed with real conversations about where the disability sector is headed.Key Topics Discussed - Paul Simmons’ journey from banking into SDA housing - Building Ability SDA alongside his wife Angie - The origin story behind Ink Gin and entrepreneurship - The evolution of Specialist Disability Accommodation in Australia - Why apartments became a major SDA solution in Sydney - NDIA funding challenges and policy instability - The impact of rising construction costs on disability housing - Why poor SDA design is becoming a major issue - Future-proofing SDA builds through quality and aesthetics - Choice and control for people with disabilities - Separation of housing and support providers - Fraud and accountability within the NDIS sector - The shortage of accessible housing outside SDA funding - Why beautiful, mainstream-style housing matters - Working with your spouse and balancing business with family life - Raising children while running a purpose-driven business - AI, innovation, and the future of business

In this episode of What Are We Drinking?, Rachel sits down with Indi Cleary for a real, refreshing conversation about carving your own path and refusing to live an “average” life.From growing up between the Northern Beaches, New Zealand, and Western Sydney, Indi shares how her environment, family, and sense of identity shaped who she is today. She opens up about the influence of her dad, Ivan Cleary, and her brother, Nathan Cleary, and how those relationships impacted her perspective on life and direction.Indi walks through her career journey, from starting a university degree in teaching, to leaving it behind and exploring different industries including beauty, hospitality, and real estate. She reflects on what she learnt in each phase, what felt aligned, and what didn’t.This episode dives into the pressure of choosing the “safe” path, the reality of figuring things out as you go, and the importance of backing yourself even when it doesn’t make sense to others.Honest, relatable, and full of self-awareness, this is a conversation about identity, growth, and building a life that actually feels like yours.

In this episode of What Are We Drinking?, Rachel sits down with Kieran Watts, a Powerchair athlete and advocate, for a real and eye-opening conversation as the Powerchair Hockey Team aims to fundraise their trip to the World Championships in Finland.

They unpack what it actually takes to compete in Powerchair sport, from the discipline and preparation to the often overlooked reality of constant fundraising just to get to competitions. Kieran shares the financial challenges athletes face and why community support is so critical.

The conversation also dives into the NDIS, breaking down misconceptions, media narratives, and the frustration of navigating a system that often requires people to repeatedly prove permanent disabilities.

This is a raw discussion about autonomy, accessibility, and changing the way we view disability in Australia.

Donate Today! ANY amount helps 🩷https://asf.org.au/campaigns/australian-powerchair-hockey-association-nsw-inc/help-the-australian-sliders-go-to-finland

Topics Discussed:

- Kieran’s background and journey into Powerchair sport

- The mindset and discipline required to compete at a high level

- Behind-the-scenes reality of training, competing, and preparation

- Financial challenges in disability sport and lack of funding

- The role of sponsorships and community support - Misconceptions about people with disabilities and capability

- The “protection vs autonomy” debate in disability

- Barriers to mainstream participation and accessibility improvements

- NDIS funding controversies and media narratives

- The emotional and administrative burden of NDIS processes

- Advocacy for participant choice, control, and dignity

- Why lived experience voices need a bigger platform