The You Project

Olympia Yarger is not what I expected. Sure, she’s creative, clever, smart and something of a pioneer, but what nobody told me was, she’s hilarious. This was an unexpected laugh-fest with the founder and CEO of Goterra, an insect farm based in Canberra. Olympia and I went head-to-head in some verbal jousting and I’m gonna be honest, I got smashed. Beyond the laughs, she is committed to changing the landscape of livestock feed and redefining how we look at sustainable waste management solutions. She is also focused on educating and developing opportunities to establish regionally based insect farms, by providing resources, mentoring and referral on the many ways insect farming can be successfully integrated into existing regional and agricultural ecosystems. An emerging industry, insect farming is a vehicle to manage waste streams and is a viable and sustainable protein for aquaculture, pork, poultry and pets. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Barbara Oakley is the Teacher of Teachers, the Sensei of Students and a true Leader of Learning. Apart from having four degrees, including a Master’s and PhD, she was also a Captain in the US Army, served four years in Germany as a Signal Officer, she co-created and taught one of the world’s most popular courses (Learning How To Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects), worked as a translator (Russian-English) on Soviet trawlers in the Bering Sea, taught in China, worked as a radio operator at the South Pole Station in the Antarctic (where she met her husband), has written four best-selling books and is an absolute to delight to chat with. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Jenny Brockis is a Medical Practitioner, Board Certified Lifestyle Medicine Physician and expert in brain fitness, who has long been fascinated with the brain and human behaviour. Jenny explores the idea of cultivating mental agility, flexibility and adaptability required to meet the needs of the modern workplace and beyond. She is the author of three books, including the best-seller ‘Future Brain’, has had numerous articles published in print and on-line and is in demand as a brain health expert and commentator for radio and TV. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Netball is played in more than 80 countries, it is the biggest team sport in Australia (played by over 1.2 million men, women and children) and on this episode of TYP, I chat with one of the best players in the world, Geva Mentor, about life, sport, psychology, being part of a team, discrimination, being adaptable, optimising potential and high performance. Geva has represented England 153 times, is Captain of the Collingwood Netball Team in the Suncorp Super Netball competition (the Aussie national comp.), has played in three Commonwealth Games and three World Cups, winning six medals ranging from bronze to gold (most recently beating Australia to win the Comm. Games gold in 2018) and last week, I had the privilege of spending four hours with Geva and her team. BTW, the meaning behind the title will become apparent during the show. Enjoy.  @gevamentorSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Daniel Ellenberg (PhD.) is back pushing my buttons, exploring my issues and going deep on the human experience. Specifically, we discuss vulnerability, why blokes (can) struggle to communicate and open up, the evolutionary programming of our brain, conformity, when and how to give feedback (and how not to), accepting compliments, diversity and inclusion and lots more. Enjoy. strengthwithheart.comrelationshipsthatwork.comrewireleadership.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Daniel Ellenberg (PhD.) is back pushing my buttons, exploring my issues and going deep on the human experience. Specifically, we discuss vulnerability, why blokes (can) struggle to communicate and open up, the evolutionary programming of our brain, conformity, when and how to give feedback (and how not to), accepting compliments, diversity and inclusion and lots more. Enjoy. strengthwithheart.comrelationshipsthatwork.comrewireleadership.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At 23, Captain Matina Jewell found herself at sea in charge of one thousand (mostly male) soldiers, when her senior officer (a Major) took ill and two weeks after setting for on the ship foot the first time (and just having been promoted to Captain from Lieutenant), she was elevated to ‘acting Major’ (a role she never relinquished). Major Jewell was the first female in the Army to complete the physically demanding Navy Diver course, the only Australian (and only female) at the dangerous ‘PB Khiam’ UN patrol base at the border junction of Israel, Syria and Lebanon, she received nine military service medals, was a star graduate from the Australian Army’s prestigious Royal Military College Duntroon and had a distinguished military career, culminating with a coveted posting to serve as part the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) in the Middle East. After full-scale war erupted between Israel and Lebanon, she was seriously injured (five fractured and crushed vertebrae plus nerve damage and other internal injuries) while commanding a UN convoy through war-torn Lebanon and had to be evacuated. Her injuries ended her military career and tragically, most of Matina’s colleagues – her ‘brothers’ – were tragically killed. Matina wrote about her experiences in her memoir ‘Caught in the Crossfire’, a frighteningly dramatic first-hand account of what really happens in modern warfare and the high price our soldiers pay for their country. Her story was featured in a two-part ABC Australian Story documentary. This woman is amazing. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tamara Barlette is a recently-retired Air Force fighter pilot with more than 3,000 total flight hours and over 1,500 hours of combat support time in both Iraq and Afghanistan supporting and protecting American and allied troops on the ground by providing real time reconnaissance and lethal support. In addition to the T-38, Lt. Colonel Barlette has flown the T-37 Tweet, the A-10 Warthog, the MQ-1 Predator and the MQ-9 Reaper. She is also a graduate of the prestigious US Air Force Weapons School (Navy Top Gun equivalent) and apart from navigating the significant challenges that come with being an elite fighter pilot, Tammy also had to contend with being in the ‘one percent’ (of female fighter pilots). So many great lessons and insights in this conversation. My job is awesome. EnjoySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Educator, Philosopher, Deep Thinker and Fascinating Human, Louka Parry is back at TYP and this time we go deep on finding our best learning model, the anti-ageing benefits of life-long learning, unlearning, conscious and unconscious learning, self-limiting beliefs, the difference knowledge and intelligence, our addiction to comfort and convenience and lots more. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Robb Kelly has overcome homelessness, alcohol dependency, trauma, major depression, PTSD and a whirlwind of events to be the ‘Gordon Ramsay’ of the addiction treatment world. Before Robb succumbed to addiction and mental health issues, he played bass guitar at Abbey Studio with Queen, David Bowie and Elton John. He is an accomplished musician and the money he made helped him attend Oxford University to complete his Ph.D. in Psychology. Robb experienced a spiritual awakening while homeless for 15 months (after getting his Doctorate!) on the cold streets of Manchester. Robb, who started drinking at 9 says “I’m not here to save your feelings, I’m here to save your life”. Enjoy. robbkelly.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.