Conversations In Noosa

Yenny describes herself as a life thriver. Have you heard that term before? If not, listening to Yenny talk passionately about her travel, photography, podcast, land paddling and general love of life might paint you a clearer picture of exactly what a life thriver is. And how did she end up in Noosa, Queensland, having been born and raised in Sweden?

It's hard to categorise John. He was a reality TV contestant on The Biggest Loser, he worked as a bouncer at Melbourne nightclubs and pubs in the thriving pub rock scene of the late '70s and '80s when bands like Midnight Oil, The Angels, Noiseworks and The Uncanny X Men were all making a name for themselves. He tells me as a bouncer he was shot at and stabbed. He's worked in retail and these days he owns his own gym, Jetts Noosa. John Morrall is passionate about business and passing on what he knows and understands about the game.

Growing up as a young boy with a passion for art, in a big country town in the '60s, meant that Lew felt somewhat like an outsider. People kept telling him that he was different, and he says that he struggled with the school system from year 4 onwards. Those challenges, however, didn't stop Lew from becoming a community leader, a local government councillor, and a much sort after artist. If you're familiar with Lew's art, you know that it is extremely intricate and detailed. It's a passion that he is committed to daily, working away in his private space on his property in Cooran.

Do you love beer? Do you brew your own? Maybe you've been a long-term fan of mass-produced, traditional amber liquid, and you've been satisfied with that. Craft or independently brewed beer just might open up a world of flavours and experiences you never thought possible. Josh Donohoe is a beer fanatic, and his love of beer was the catalyst for the creation of Sunshine Coast Craft Beer Tours. Bottoms up!

Katja has the kind of accent that's hard to pick. Her mum was from Finland and Katja was raised in a small place called Formello just outside of Rome in Italy. Photography, travel, wildlife, cooking and the environment are all things that Katja is passionate about. In this podcast we cover all of those subjects and more; and is there a secret to photographing food correctly? A topic for those of us who like posting food pics on Instagram & Facebook.

Johnny, from Noosaville based online clothing retailer Boom Shankar, has always had an adventurous spirit. Heading off into the Colorado mountains to spend the night camping when he was a kid with a group of his friends was common. From ski resorts to water sports, Johnny has always believed that a healthy body equals a healthy mind and ultimately that makes you a better business person. How did he end up in Noosa? Who in the business and entrepreneurial world does he admire and why? What forms the foundations of his business and marketing strategies and what plans are there for Boom Shanker to expand into the US market? The answers are in the pod!

Mark's dad was a Queensland policeman, so his family moved about often. The kids developed the ability to make new friends quickly and Mark says that some of his fondest memories were spent in remote parts of the state. As a petroleum geologist, Mark gets to spend a lot of time in the great outdoors. He's an advocate of alternative energy sources, setting his own home up completely off the grid, however, he does still see an environmental cost with things like the manufacturing of lithium batteries and the amount of plastics that go into the construction of say an electric car. In this podcast, we talk about the finite resources that lie beneath our feet. The legacy we'll leave our kids, alternative energy sources and why we still need to do more.

June was a businessperson who for a long time, ignored the signs and what her body & brain were telling her, to continue to invest in her professional life. Without a balanced work/life existence, her health took a serious hit. Unhappiness, depression and then cancer and on top of that a loss in the family. It was time to re-evaluate her life, re-discover her identity and chart a new course in an environment that would nurture her body and her soul

"Women share in a very different way to men. Women have a deep understanding of their stories and I can see it in the way they produce art" - Alicia Sharples, co-ordinator Butter Factory Arts Centre. In this podcast we talk, art, inspiration, exhibitions, travel, homeschooling kids and how Alicia coped with the death of her mum who was in a coma for six years.

Matt has been a drag performer for almost 30 years, starting in Melbourne back in the 80s. He grew up on the outskirts of Melbourne with a desire to always entertain others. He came out to his mum when he was in his early teens however he says that the pressures he put on himself were the biggest challenges to deal with. Matt is involved with the Sunshine Coast Pride Festival, the Rainbow Formal, RSPCA, and the Million Paws walk. Plus, he cares full time for his partner while still performing three to four times a week..

Jon talks about growing up in New York City, getting your foot in the door in the movie business, the highs and lows of the film industry, meeting his Australian wife, moving to Noosa and a renewed passion for scriptwriting.

Sam Coward doesn't believe in "having something to fall back on" when it comes to his career. It's an all or nothing approach for Sam whose passion has always been to perform. His choices may not have always had his father's blessing, however, Sam's involvement in theatre has led onto film roles and now a successful breakfast radio show on Hot 91. Sam talks about the first time his father came to see him in a stage production, and why they never spoke for six months after that event, starting out in radio and the car crash that could have easily ended his life

This podcast is about men's mental health issues from someone who has ​travelled that road and worked with other men who, all too often, are reluctant to talk about what's going on inside them. We talk about the effects of anti-depressants, how quick doctors are to prescribe them, and the culture that surrounds men that prohibits them from truly expressing how they feel.

"How far away can I get and how extreme can the surroundings be?" -  Mille Stoevring

Giuseppe left Italy together with his family in 1967 unaware his father had organised an arranged marriage for his sister. Giuseppe's passion was always music and once in Australia that passion drew him into a copyright battle with the government, importing vinyl from overseas and eventually establishing Central Station Records in Melbourne. His entrepreneurial spirit, together with his partner Morgan Williams, saw them launch a line of clothing off the back of the brand as the business continued to build. These days they call  Black Mountian, in the Noosa hinterland, home where they work on their other passion, conservation and the protection of the environment.

If you ask Sandy Bolton how she felt understanding that her father walked away from her mum, leaving four children behind, she'll tell you that you never miss what you never know. Sandy's resilience and determination have been part of her character from when she was very young, right through to when she was elected as the first-ever female councilor in the newly de-amalgamated Noosa Council, to her current position as an independent MP representing the state government seat of Noosa. What makes Sandy Bolton tick? Why a life in public office? Download the podcast NOW

Getting fired from her job was the best thing that ever happened to Katie Johnston. It was the catalyst that started Eco Bling, a range of planet-friendly fashion accessories, with a global customer base. How do you build a successful business from nothing? What are Katie's most effective marketing tools? What was the advice that her six mentors gave her? Where to next? Listen to the podcast for the answers.

JV has done it all. He's been a high profile sports presenter across Queensland for 7 Local News, the CEO of the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles rugby league team, he managed the Yandina Flyer, Chris Vermeulen, during his brief stint with Moto GP and now he runs his own successful business in Noosa.

"No woman I know is happy with their body. Every woman has body image issues. I wouldn't believe it if a woman said she didn't." - Carlie Wacker ​

"Everyone was nervous when Mugabe took over, fearing massive changes and retaliation against the whites" - Ian Pugh