In today's episode, we venture into the mysterious realm of sleep with Michael Gradisar, the Head of Sleep at 'Sleep Cycle' – an app trusted by over 2 million users worldwide. As a recognized authority in his field, Michael highlights the paramount importance of sleep and underscores the need for a consistent bedtime routine. But brace yourself, as many myths are about to be debunked. Thought blue light was the arch-enemy of good sleep? Think again. Worried that your coffee habit is wrecking...

In this enlightening episode, we dive deep with Nathan Jones, founder of the Mood Institute and TEDx speaker with over 21 years of experience in the communications field. Recognized as an Emotions Researcher, Nathan's groundbreaking work has been prominently featured in major media outlets, including the Sydney Morning Herald, The Daily Telegraph, Sky News Breakfast, ABC Radio, and The Age. Beyond just understanding emotions, Nathan unveils the secret behind healing from childhood...

In an ecosystem where 90% of startups falter, Connor O'Rourke stands tall as an emblem of perseverance and innovation. This episode delves deep into the fabric of what makes Connor tick.From being crowned Entrepreneur of the Year in 2023 in South Australia to his recognition as one of the "40 Under 40" by InDaily, Connor's accolades hint at a story bursting with lessons, risks, and rewards. But beyond these titles and accolades, who really is Connor O'Rourke?Journey with us as we explore the...

In an ecosystem where 90% of startups falter, Connor O'Rourke stands tall as an emblem of perseverance and innovation. This episode delves deep into the fabric of what makes Connor tick.From being crowned Entrepreneur of the Year in 2023 in South Australia to his recognition as one of the "40 Under 40" by InDaily, Connor's accolades hint at a story bursting with lessons, risks, and rewards. But beyond these titles and accolades, who really is Connor O'Rourke?Journey with us as we explore the...

In an ecosystem where 90% of startups falter, Connor O'Rourke stands tall as an emblem of perseverance and innovation. This episode delves deep into the fabric of what makes Connor tick. From being crowned Entrepreneur of the Year in 2023 in South Australia to his recognition as one of the "40 Under 40" by InDaily, Connor's accolades hint at a story bursting with lessons, risks, and rewards. But beyond these titles and accolades, who really is Connor O'Rourke?Journey with us as we explore the...

Join us for a journey into the mind of Sushil Karam, a leader with an impressive 20 year career in business strategy, commercial marketing, and research. In this episode, we go beyond the titles and achievements, uncovering the person behind the professional facade.We delve into Sushil's childhood experiences, exploring the dreams, passions, and moments that shaped him. What makes Sushil tick? Who is he without the accolades and job titles? The answers to these questions reveal a...

Unlock the journey of resilience and self-discovery with our latest guest, Rebecca Christianson, renowned executive coach and founder of Thriving People Consulting. This episode takes a deep dive into Rebecca's extraordinary childhood influenced by thought leaders like Dr. Wayne Dyer and Marianne Williamson. Discover how her agile upbringing amidst diverse families and continents forged her path to becoming a global figure in leadership coaching and personal development. We explore the...

Welcome to a riveting episode of Open Diaries where we sit down with Eloise Hall, the formidable co-founder and managing director of TABOO. Dedicated to eradicating period poverty, Eloise's story speaks volumes about the power of purpose-driven entrepreneurship.With a degree in Business and International Relations from Flinders University, an extensive background in hospitality, and numerous accolades to her name, Eloise has journeyed through the highs and lows of starting a social enterprise...

Join us in this compelling episode as we dive deep into the life and career of Alison LLoydd-Wright, the dynamic Government Executive Director. In a heart-to-heart conversation, Alison reminisces about her formative years, revealing how her humble childhood influenced her life path and instilled a profound patience for public service.She candidly shares her journey navigating the bureaucratic labyrinth and working tirelessly to effect change from within, all while wrestling with personal...

Join us in our latest episode as we welcome Puneet Sanchev, an award-winning, globally experienced, senior human capital and digital change leader. Puneet is renowned for his commitment to fostering inclusive and innovative workplace cultures, his focus on People Analytics, Change Management, and Digitally Enabled Employee Experience. Actively seeking to bring gender balance to the VC industry, he offers a fresh perspective on the future of work and digital HR.In our compelling discussion,...

In this episode, we're delighted to welcome Dr. Nick Fleming, a celebrated global strategist, and founding director of Innergise. Known for his knack for bringing clarity amidst complexity across various sectors, Nick is also a highly respected thought leader and award-winning mentor. His commitment to a more inclusive and sustainable society and his groundbreaking book, 'Smashing the State of Dumb-struck,' have propelled him to the forefront of his field.In this episode, Nick will share his...

In this inspiring episode, join us as we delve into the world of international student challenges, entrepreneurship, and the pursuit of success with James Martin, the founder of Insider Guides—a media company dedicated to supporting international students in Australia. James opens up about his personal journey, shedding light on the hurdles that international students often face and the transformative experiences that shaped his path. Through captivating stories and insightful reflections, we...

Welcome to the latest episode of Open Diaries, where we dive deep into the minds of exceptional individuals to bring you their unique life stories, experiences, and wisdom. In this thrilling episode, we're joined by John McGlothin, a former military paratrooper and author of the eye-opening book, "How to Deal with Damn Near Anything: The Paratrooper's Guide to Life."John shares his incredible journey from serving in the military to becoming a writer and sp, using the invaluable lessons he...

In this thought-provoking episode, we delve into the inspiring story of Sophie Bretag, the Kindness Mentor who has dedicated her life to fostering empathy and compassion in the workplace. Growing up amidst adversity, Sophie shares her personal journey of overcoming hardship and how it shaped her perspective on life. She opens up about the transformative power of kindness and its impact on both personal and professional relationships. Listen in as we explore Sophie's mission to create a...

In this episode, we speak with Lisa Sarayeldin, author of "Love More," a book about self-love and overcoming divorce. Lisa shares her personal journey of going through the hardest time of her life - her divorce - and how she was able to find self-love through the process.Lisa explains that self-love is not just about pampering yourself, but it is a deeper, transformative process that involves accepting and embracing all parts of yourself, including the ones that you may consider as flaws or...

In this episode, we speak with Ally Nitschke, a leadership expert and the author of "The Rise of the Courageous Leader." Ally shares her insights on the three pillars of leadership: self-awareness, team awareness, and organisational awareness. Ally explains that self-awareness is the foundation of leadership, as it helps leaders understand their strengths, weaknesses, and values. By being self-aware, leaders can be more authentic and lead with purpose. Team awareness is the second pillar, and...

Justyna Jochym is a powerful and inspiring figure in the arts community, whose journey as a migrant has deeply influenced her advocacy for artists and their vital role in society. As the CEO of Festival City Adelaide, Justyna understands the emotional toll of leaving one's home behind and starting anew in a foreign land. Growing up in a family of migrants and cleaners, she knows firsthand the struggles and challenges faced by those who seek to build a new life in a foreign land. Justyna's...

Society’s expectations and life’s challenges dim the lights we all have within us. The expectations and challenges steal pieces of us, and we carry on with life not feeling whole. Gemma is an expert in lighting up leaders. Through her expertise, she helps us lift the blankets we have placed over our light to feel whole again and live an authentic life. Having inspired over 72000 people, Gemma has spoken to audiences at Google, Amazon, PayPal, Qantas, Vodafone, and the NHS in London. Her...

We all are on a quest to find our purpose. But for some of us, our purpose is determined long before we set foot in this life. This was the case for Chris. Today, Chris works at Red Cross, the organisation that once extended a helping hand to Chris's mom, who escaped the Vietnam War. In this episode, Chris spoke about his childhood as a son of a refugee, his thoughts on leadership and his story of coming out to his family.

In our part 1 episode, Stephan Knoll shared intriguing stories across different areas of his life, from politics and family to business and leadership. In this part of the episode, part 2, we delve deep to hear about his personal life and core beliefs to uncover the human behind the title.We covered personal aspirations, life, fears, death and everything in between. As well as other sensitive topics such as COVID-19, refugees and migration. Stephan has been on a long and challenging journey...

Privilege, or in layman's terms, "the head start in life," is generally hard to grasp if you haven't had it taken away. And what's more of a privilege than being a minister?Growing up in a reputable family with a well-established business might make you think that's a privilege, but it's merely the case with Stephan. When Stephan Knoll decided to pursue a career in politics, he did acknowledge the privileges of being a minister and the duty of service he had at hand. Still, he didn't...

As a people leader at one of the most globally known organisations, Coca-Cola Amatil, Dorodea brings a refreshing and unique perspective to leadership whilst combining her passion for coaching teams and corporate finance experience gained at Coca-Cola Amatil for over a decade.In this episode, Dorodea highlights some well-tested and easily implementable hacks to help engage with those around us and ourselves. Dorodea is an accredited coach with credentials from the Institute of Executive...

In this episode, Toni shares with us some of the most practical and proven techniques to catch those unconscious decisions that we make every day in our personal lives and professional environments. She highlights the significance of self-awareness on a much deeper neurological level and how it can drive us to understand and change our behaviour.Toni is a mindset coach, mentor and highly qualified Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) trainer who works with leaders to help them develop an...

In this episode of our 2 part series with Brad Ebert, we delve deep into the key life lessons Brad learnt on the pitch and how some of which have served him in the business world, while others acted against him.Retiring at 31 may seem like a great way to kick-off life in your 30's, but in reality not every athlete is equipped to have a solid grip on their personal and professional life post retiring.Tune in and hear it from Brad on what he thinks is truly transferable and what he had to...