WHAT I'VE LEARNT

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The core values at Angela Ceberano’s successful agency Flourish PR are based on honesty and integrity. Their mantra: Never, ever, ever give up. It seems to be an apt reflection of Angela herself.

Angela has represented the biggest celebrities and brands touring within Australia such as Steven Tyler, Mariah Carey, The Backstreet Boys, Celine Dion, John Mayer, Guy Sebastian, The Foo Fighters, Olivia Newton John, Justin Timberlake and John Farnham to name a few.

Prior to opening Flourish, Angela was the National Publicity Manager at Sony Music Entertainment. At 28, she saw an opportunity to create a new-school communications agency.

She works closely with husband Phil Ceberano, Kates Ceberano’s brother and talented professional musician and content producer, musical director and composer.

They’re connected on many fronts - work, family and their passion for all things music!

Recently they’ve been front and centre of an intimate intense issue one that they decided to take public - their determination to have a baby.

Their IVF battle has recently become a public one. Other than their very intimate blog - My IVF journey which gives an insight into the complex trials and tribulations of embarking on an IVF journey, they have also been caught in another unfortunate drama.

Disturbingly an apparent Monash IVF bungle had her leaving Monash IVF in tears with a sense of betrayal as she tried desperately for a baby.

It started When she was told by Monash IVF last year her embryo was not viable and had been discarded, before discovering it had, in fact, been kept in storage for several months. We discuss how she’s travelling on this very special journey to conception.

Angela is used to being strong, focused and has had her challenges before ..

A few years ago she basically ended up with “entrepreneur’s disease” – yes that’s right; working yourself to death is actually a condition now.

“I ended up getting very, very, sick and had a really bad case of pneumonia. My organs were starting to shut down. I had to be on oxygen for quite some time. The surgeon that I saw explained that I had entrepreneur’s disease. The doctor said: 'If you didn't come to hospital today, you wouldn't be here tomorrow.' It was that bad. I couldn't walk. I couldn't talk.”

We discuss work life balance her IVF journey and her very special Relationship with Phil and Her sister in law the talented singer Kate Ceberano … 

Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/

Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330

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300 million streams and counting PNAUs Nick Littlemore’s Collab with global legends Elton John and Dua Lipa “cold Heart” is a brilliant remix of the quintessential rock anthems Rocket Man, Sacrifice and Kiss The Bride .... the exquisite mash up has catapulted PNAU and Nick, a Sydney born producer and his collaborators, to global stardom.

The down to earth local Aussie is a creative chameleon morphing and adapting to resonate the artists he works closely with to conjure up some of the most memorable music

Also a founding member of Empire of the Sun and the awesome electronic trio PNAU, Nick has carved an extraordinary career creating and filling our cups and ears with a brilliant blend of harmony and instrumental genious ..

Nicholas is an Australian musician, record producer, singer and songwriter.

As a musician, he is the frontman of the electronic outfit Pnau, and part of the popular electro pop-project Empire of the Sun.

As a record producer, he has worked with Elton John, Lover Lover, Groove Armada and Mika.

Pnau the Australian electronic dance trio, have achieved multiple successes throughout their career with their award-winning debut album Sambanova.

They are also recognised for their heavily publicised apprenticeship under musician Elton John, who signed them after listening to their record Pnau.

Several of their recent projects have featured John's involvement, such as Their album Soft Universe and an album featuring Pnau recreations of Elton John's hits called Good Morning to the Night.

So We’re super excited to have Nick join us live from LA LA Land on the whativelearnt podcast …welcome ..

Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/

Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330

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Adam Schwab is a former corporate lawyer, company founder, angel investor and the co-founder of Luxury Escapes, a Melbourne-based travel company. 

He has written for Crikey and SmartCompany since 2005 and is the author of Pigs at the Trough: Lessons from Australia’s Decade of Corporate Greed. 

He is a board member of Private Media, the publisher of Crikey.

Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/

Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330

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Don Henry AM is Enterprise Professor of Environmentalism at the Melbourne Sustainable Society Melbourne university

Well finally the prime minister has confirmed he’ll attend the Glasgow Climate Summit where 200 leaders from across the globe will meet on Climate change and there’s not a news site that is ignoring this pivotal meeting taking place in three weeks time.

Everyone everywhere is talking about Climate Change as we edge closer to the Climate summit in Glasgow leading up to one of the worlds most critical summits in Paris the COP26 conference.

So what’s all this about - it’s confusing and overwhelming for many ..

For some like

Mission Zero a humble Australian non-profit that few everyday punters have heard of , it’s clear and they’re expecting an eye-watering $40 trillion from all over the world … they like many, are banking on a net zero economy, with the number of businesses backing sustainable investments tripling in the past five years.

Even Most AFL players have signed onto the “cool down” climate change grid initiative to drive zero emissions!

One person at the absolute forefront of the climate Change debate and revolution is Don Henry AM an Enterprise Professor of Environmentalism at the Melbourne Sustainable Society, Melbourne university.

He has spent a lifetime dedicated to the protection of our planet.

Whether it’s as former head of the Australian Conservation Foundation or in his current pivotal roles as professor of environmentalism

or

As an International Board Member of The Climate Reality Project chaired by the Hon. Al Gore, former Vice President of the United States.

Concern about climate change is at record

high levels with 75 pc of Australians worried - its the highest level of concern since Climate of the Nation began tracking.

Don and his team’s global mission is spearheading the critical drive to zero emissions by 2050.

As a trained Climate Reality leader myself the Climate Reality project is an initiative that helps equip and educate people to inform others about the threat of climate change.

His current engagement program is to support the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change, negotiated by the global community in December 2015.

Don is working with researchers, government, civil society, global institutions, and business to provide leadership in the fields of environmental policy development, reform, climate change, and sustainability.

As our world rests on the precipice of an inexplicable climate reality- educating informing and engaging are key to catapulting change and elevating Australia’s position on the global stage in the desperate fight to protect our planet.

The government’s long-term emissions reduction strategy – the centrepiece of Australia’s climate offerings ahead of the COP26 summit – will support traditional export sectors With a focus on

low-emissions technologies,

international partnerships, developing clean hydrogen and ammonia export industries, no new taxes, supporting electric vehicle ¬uptake, delivering reliable and cheap energy and limiting intervention in market and consumer choices.”

It seems the changes are coming slowly but surely as the world wakes up to an irrefutable, powerful and terrifying reality that there is no longer a choice but to embrace 2050 zero emissions.

Well It seems clear Mother Nature has been seriously disturbed and we need to urgently repair, renew rejuvenate and recalibrate .. to heal her ..

Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/

Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330

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Maurice Terzini is a true self-made man, starting at 16 years old packing shelves, today, three decades later, along with slew of high and low moments, he has become an institution in Bondi and an icon in the fashion industry.

From his experience in hospitality – currently at the famous Icebergs, Da Orazio Pizza, The Dolphin and Bonnie’s Wine Bar – to entering the fashion-sphere with Ten Pieces and collaborating with international DJ’s, he is also known for his New Year’s Day event when Icebergs flips to become the most anticipated party in town.

A culture vulture immersed in hospitality roots but embracing his inner fashionista Maurizio is evolutionary - always creating and evolving. 

A creator, a collaborator he connects and networks trusting snd celebrating with his inner sanctum to feed his passion to give to serve and to nurture his clientele. 

Perched high on the Bondi clifface with spectacular views that would match some of his Italian homeland’s ocean vistas he works hard and is opening a plethora of new restaurants  in Melb Sydney and Byron Bay.

Then there’s His fashion label Ten Pieces 

“Ten Pieces started over a few bottles of wine with Ian Nessick at Restricted Premises in Kings Cross. “We had been wanting to do stuff for a while and I had had some dabbles in fashion with KSUBI and others. So we got really drunk and came up with a capsule of 10 mainly punk/rude boy inspired suits… we decided to stop there and call it Ten Pieces! We sold out! “

When Lucy [Hinkfuss] and I hooked up (Lucy coming from an Arts and fashion background) we took to relaunch it. However this time we looked at free running urban sports and Oz subcultures (where boys and girls often looked dressed the same) as an inspiration. 

Well I first met Maurice When I was interviewing him for my What I’ve Learnt column in the Melbourne age in the early days when Icebergs had just launched and he gracefully featured in my compilation interview book .. yet so much has changed .. 

Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/

Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330

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Artist Scotty So was recently been mistaken for the prominent politician and Chief Executive of Hong Kong Carrie Lam on an Italian news site his life changed.

Scotty So cuts a jaw-droppingly beautiful figure as his alter-ego Scarlett So Hung Son.

“Scarlett is the symbol of an Oriental silhouette,” he says. “She’s the drag persona that allows me to become the beauty that I always wanted to see. And when I look at myself in the mirror, I see the woman who I wanted to become.”

He then uploaded these images to Wikipedia. “At the time I didn’t realise that when you have pictures on Wikipedia they become part of this huge database of images that are free for anyone to use. Lots of the newspaper or news sites not wanting to buy copyrighted material use this archive to find content,” describes So with a wry smile.

Enamoured with the idea that an artist might somehow rewrite history by editing an archive, So began uploading pictures to pages all over the website. “I put a picture of me dressing up as a burlesque dancer in the '40s and put it up on Asian Fetish …  then there was one of me dressing up as a Manchurian lady, a noble lady, with a huge headpiece.”

Plucked from art school after just graduating Scotty So is mesmerising .. and super talented with his toungue firmly planted in his cheek.

For the NGV Triennial So will present a series of eight porcelain face masks alongside six photographic prints. The masks are accurate representations of the real PPE the world has become intimately acquainted with, such as the KN95, N95 and respirator masks (even if you don’t recognise those names, you’ll definitely recognise the masks).

The first mask So made for the series was the Qihua glazed respirator mask, which also doubles as an incense burner. “I wanted to play with the idea that this is something that is supposed to protect me but has become this beautiful, fragile ceramic piece,” he says.

“I wanted to play with the idea that this is something that is supposed to protect me but has become this beautiful, fragile ceramic piece.”

Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/

Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330

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Zali is a stunning powerhouse who has worked and modeled for creative campaigns for brands including Champion and Adidas. Not afraid to push boundaries, the model signed by Chadwick is inspiring for her unique take on modeling and creativity. At just 22 she has African American, Native American, Cuban, Italian & background, and her multicultural heritage shines through in her passion for fashion and food. 

A creative vegan Zali relishes the food she creates offering vegan catering and a kaleidoscope of specialized cuisines.

Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/

Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330

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As Spring fashion looms large against the backdrop of this brave new world creative fashion designers like Lisa Barron are at the optimistic helm as always, championing her beautiful Australian designs with her original Australian Designer Collection worn by everyone from Linda Evangelista, Claudia Schiffer, and Helena Christensen in the 80s through to Australian fashionistas surfer Layne Beachley and an array of renowned artists, musicians, and presenters.

Lisa's designs have also been showcased at every Melbourne Fashion Festival since its inception.

With $500 and a portable sewing machine, Lisa crossed to set up a garage business in Melbourne. Designing, sewing, and selling the collections to iconic fashion retailers through the '80s and '90s saw the label become a strong player in the Australian fashion industry.

The label is proudly made in Australia and Lisa is a strong supporter of local manufacturing. Lisa sits on the Advisory board of Creative Victoria and is a founding Australian member of The International Women's Forum.

It’s a strange time for Australian fashion - many shopping strips seem desolate as some retailers thrive in the online world while others flounder … but Lisa is positive and hopes and prays the iconic Melbourne Spring Carnival will go ahead as she reflects on an era that is like no other. We still need to create, dress up, celebrate, and feel glamorous. 

Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/

Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330

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Julia Tink is co-founder of St Remio, the socially conscious global coffee brand.

 Melbourne mother and businesswoman Julia Tink has learnt a lifetime of business lessons over the past six years since starting her company which she says was born in Rwanda, raised in Melbourne. 

Six years ago, St Remio was founded by Julia and her husband, former Head of Lavazza Australia Trent Knox. They wanted to develop a new taste in coffee set up a business that could make a genuine difference to the lives of people somewhere in real need and recognize the most valuable part of the chain, the coffee growers.  

With approximately 70% of the world’s agricultural producers being female, they decided to create a coffee brand that not only sourced sustainable coffee but went one step further and invested back in coffee communities to empower female farmers to increase consumption and their earning capacity.  

St Remio started in Rwanda, where Trent met female farmers who weren’t even aware of the product they were growing, its value nor how it was consumed. From there, they collectively realized that not only was greater education and investment needed in these communities but also that it was important to shine a light on coffee growers and challenge consumers to stop and think about exactly where coffee comes from and the people that it impacts.  

“I’d spent 10 years working in coffee, but it was only on a trip to Rwanda in 2015 that I saw coffee for what it really was – people,” Trent said. “I realized I could do more, and with the support of my wife, embarked on a journey to change people’s mindset away from commodity to the community.”  

Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/

Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330

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If you haven't heard of Pacha Light yet remember the name because the rising star in Aussie surfing is about to be everywhere. She is making her mark whole changing the world one wave at a time.

The 20-year-old is currently ranked fourth in the World Surf League’s Pro Junior series and is gunning for the World Championship Tour.

Aside from an incredible talent the Go Pro ambassador also has a heart of gold, using her significant Insta following to spread her love for the sport with young girls and encourage awareness about the environment. 

I chat to the Gold Coast native about everything from how she got her start to what a week of surf training looks like.

Growing up either in the forest or on the beach, She loved and felt comfortable in wild nature. Her mother is an environmentalist and she spent her first years living in the cloud forest of Ecuador, one of the top 10 biodiversity hotspots in the world. 

“Mum was working with the local communities to set alternatives to industrial mining and we were living the sustainable model – permaculture, eco-house, solar power, compost toilet… I learnt about human impacts and threats from a young age, always being aware that you can make a positive change no matter how small. So it's been a natural transition to bring this awareness to protecting the ocean that gives us the most incredible sport of surfing!”

Surfing means you are literally immersed in the ocean – it surrounds you, supports you, and connects you with this source of life – it is only natural that you would want to look after it! 

I’m involved with a number of groups, including the Surfrider Foundation, and do what I can where I can, and trying to reduce my own impact wherever possible. 

Here on the Gold Coast, I feel especially proud to have been involved in getting the southern Gold Coast coastline declared a World Surfing Reserve, helping protect it from destructive developments for generations to come! It feels very special to have a place you can share with future generations! I always bring a GoPro with me to share these stories and to capture beautiful moments in both the forest and the ocean. I think we are reaching a momentous point in history as people are beginning to use their voice and questioning our global systems and the inaction on climate change. We will always have hope. 

She surfed every day for a month to raise funds for SurfAid. 

“Fundraising you give people in remote communities connected to us through surfing a hand up, rather than a handout. “

SurfAid's geographical focus is on the heartlands of surfing where few visitors but surfers go, make their work unique. They specialize in working in very isolated villages where the maternal and child mortality rates are some of the highest in the world. 

She works with Surfaid to give families the best chance of getting ahead by providing access to healthcare, clean water and sanitation, and improved nutrition.

Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/

Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330

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