Unpacking Creative Lives: Recent Episodes
Banipreet
My name is Banipreet, and I chat with people about their interesting lives. I find the 'arty farty' folk, and unpack. I hope you enjoy the conversations.
Welcome back, friends! In this episode I speak to comedian Lizzy Hoo.
We talk about how Lizzy handled money growing up, where to draw the line with humour, running a business as a comedy woman, and more. You can find Lizzy at the next comedy festival in your nearest city. If you want to watch this interview, head to www.youtube.com/@bani
Connect with Lizzy
Instagram - @lizzyhoo
Website - www.lizzyhoo.com
Connect with me
Instagram - @iambanipreet
Website - www.iambanipreet.com
Timestamp
00:00 Intro
01:04 How we met
02:31 Tree trails
05:39 Netflix specials and Lizzy’s show
08:54 American comics
14:29 Crafting a joke
19:31 Finding the voice
21:21 Aging for comedy; role of a director
24:03 Where to draw the line with humour?
25:50 Big Magic shit sandwich; Lizzy’s first gig
30:50 Lizzy coming on the comedy scene; quitting day job
35:24 Obsessed with money growing up
40:11 Working as a comedy businesswoman
43:43 Typical day and advice
Dr Lisa Cooper is a florist, artist, doctor of philosophy, and author of the book, The Flowers - which is what our episode is about. We talk about ballet, flowers, process, violence, and grace. I do mention in the episode about how we met, so I won’t say too much but I like to refer to myself as the hot minute intern in her life, and I stand by that position.
Connect with Lisa
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/doctorcooper/
Buy The Flowers - https://www.bookdepository.com/Flowers-Lisa-Cooper/9781743363386
Connect with Banipreet
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iambanipreet/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4-t0bagQbSzyAAMtTJNTpQ
Our season finale for this podcast is with Zipporah Doiron. Zippy is a registered counselling therapist who lives in a tiny house in Canada. We talk about language, the beauty of grief, how common sense is cultural, and being okay with the unknown.
Connect with Zippy
Website - https://creativeartstherapy.ca
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/imwithzippy/
00:00 Intro and thank you
04:00 Learning languages and translation
05:59 Theatre and connecting off stage
09:05 High performance podcast; failing more
11:45 Teaching Portugal and learning portugese
19:03 Zippy finding her sound on the ukulele
24:52 ‘Common sense is cultural’ in Vietnam
28:15 Vietnam’s exceptional and so hard experience
33:02 Hard things
37:10 Tiny house, van-life renovations, and rest
44:28 Hedwig, summer, and a magic life
Episode 21 is with Agam Darshi - actor, writer, and director of Donkeyhead (available now on Netflix). Agam has been acting for 18 years and this film is her directorial debut. I was so inspired by this film, that as soon as I watched itI contacted Agam for a chance to interview her - and she said yes!
This week we talk about Donkeyhead, Agam’s career and her approach to her work, destiny finding you, and my favourite moments in the film.
This week we’re talking to Gill and Hayley. Gillian Kayrooz is an artist from Western Sydney. She has completed residencies in China, Japan, and most recently is at the Parramatta Artist Studios program. Hayley, who has been on the show (you can check her episode out - it’s number 7) joins Gill and I as we talk about SCA, Gill’s artistic journey and being open.
Connect with Gill -
Website - https://gilliankayrooz.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gilliankayrooz/
Connect with Hayley -
Website - https://www.hayleyzena.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hayleyzena/
This week we’re talking to Kirstyn - a multi disciplinarian. Kirstyn is a performer, actor and singer-songwriter based in Sydney. In this week’s episode we talk about setting boundaries, Kirstyn’s writing process, motorhomes and campervans, travelling, and saying yes to life.
Connect with Kirstyn-
https://www.instagram.com/kirstyn_niccolle/
00:00 Intro; growing up in the UK
02:04 Living on a motorhome around Australia
05:50 Art as self-reflection
08:30 Travelling and self-discovery
11:05 The ‘bohemian’ hustle
14:35 Camper Concerts around Europe
16:14 ‘I’m fucking exhausted.’
21:29 Relationships and being impressionable
23:45 Kirstyn’s original music and process
29:53 Artist vs entertainer
33:13 The musical journey
Nabu, also known as Nabil Pala, is an upcoming rapper and musician based in Sydney. In his early years he used to dance and now that outlet has moved into music. He has immersed himself in understand music production to work on his upcoming solo project. In this week’s episode we talk about creative risks, everyone on their own timeline, and Nabu’s writing process.
Felicia Darbyshire-Pirie is the owner of The Pilates Centre based in Canberra. She has studied massage therapy, professional pilates instruction, the pilates method, a Bachelor of coaching science, and more. In this week’s episode we talk about the golden handcuffs, running a business, growing up on the farm, and mindset.
Connect with Felicia
www.instagram.com/pilatescentrecbr
www.pilatescentre.com.au
Carmel is an artist and owner of Scratch Art Space gallery based in Marrickville, Sydney. She studied at the National Art School. She also studied a Bachelor of Visual Art (Honours) in Canberra, Masters of Fine Art at UNSW. She’s held exhibitions in Australia and internationally. In this week’s episode we talk about letting go, how drawing skills impact day-to-day life, and navigating energy.
Connect with Carmel
www.instagram.com/carmelbyrneart
www.scratchartspace.com
Eli Haski is the owner of Canberra Yoga Space based in Phillip. She has trained in anatomy, fitness, dance fitness, kinesiology, and yoga. She also plays the sound bowls every Friday at the studio for members and non-members - for free. These sound bowls changed my life, and I wanted to bring her on the show to share her life story.
This week we talk about not sweating the small stuff, healing with sound, absorbing grief in different ways, and diamond grading. You can listen to her sound bowl meditation sessions on SoundCloud. Just look for Canberra Yoga Space.
Connect with Eli
www.instagram.com/canberrayogaspace
www.canberrayogaspace.com.au
Olga Tamara is an advanced classical pilates trainer, actor, former ballet dancer, and owner of Authentic Pilates Studio based in Balmain, Sydney. She went to the Australian Ballet School, and then worked in the Australian Ballet Company, then moved to acting and pilates. In this week’s episode we talk about memories from the Company, work ethic, and unconditional love.
Connect with Olga
https://www.instagram.com/olgatamara2
https://authenticpilatesstudio.com.au
TejInder Singh Khamkha is a still photographer based in Bombay, India. He’s worked on the Netflix film White Tiger, Chhapaak and his most recent film, Rashmi Rocket. In this week’s episode we talk about trusting the process, the limits of talent, and TejInder’s journey from the village of Punjab to working at MAMI (Mumbai Academy of Moving Image) Film Festival that got his big Bollywood break.
Connect with TejInder
https://www.instagram.com/khamkhaphotoartist
Ajoy Joshi is the chef and owner of Nilgiri’s Restaurant based in Cremorne, Sydney. Born in Hyderabad, India, he has been working as a chef for over 3 decades now, celebrating all regions of India’s diverse cuisine.
In this week’s episode we talk about Chef’s upbringing, living in the moment, and cricket analogies. We unpack how he and his wife, Meera Joshi, have sustained the longevity of their restaurant, family, and community.
Connect with Ajoy
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cookwithajoy/
Website - https://nilgiris.com.au
Connect with Banipreet
Website - www.iambanipreet.com
Harpreet Singh is the founder and owner of Muscle Honey. He has planted hives over the east coast of Australia. When he’s not a beekeeper, he’s a full-time finance business partner. In this week’s episode, we unpack bee facts, coping with grief, viral tiktoks, and how stress is vital to growth.
Connect with Harpreet
Website https://www.musclehoney.com.au
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/muscle.honey/
Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@musclehoney?
00:00 Intro
02:17 How muscle honey started
05:07 Tiktok viral videos and ASMR
08:05 Starting an organic farm
10:15 Harpreet on resilience and grief
13:56 Working solo on muscle honey
16:15 Marketing from spoon to mouth
17:36 The 2019 Australian bushfires’s impact on the hives
21:29 Stress is key to growth
26:11 The queen and the collective colony
31:46 Getting stung by bee and bee traits
34:07 A bee’s typical day
36:47 Learning from bees
38:08 Bee travel and orientation flights
40:22 Myths about bees
41:57 Brand integrity
44:37 Outro
Inder Dhillon (aka Preet) is a fashion designer based in Sydney. She is the creative director of twosix., a teacher at Ultimo's TAFE Fashion Design Studio, and a mum of an 8-year-old.
In this week's episode we unpack Inder's journey from working at Macquarie Bank in finance to creating a swimwear brand. We talk about standards, grief, freedom, the cultural narrative, and absorbing into work.
Connect with Inder -
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_inderdhillon_/
Website - https://www.twosixswim.com
Pandora Jones is a watercolour artist based in Perth, WA. She is also a sailor and yoga instructor. She currently runs her own watercolour workshops and believes in the force of women as a collective.
In this week’s episode we chat about what is involved in a sailor’s life, the artist’s work process, and the interconnectedness of life.
Stay tuned with Pandora’s work at www.pandorajones.com and follow her on Instagram @pandorajonesart.
Flynn Singh Drage is a surveyor, country boy, and photographer based in Geraldton, WA. Born and raised in North Hampton, we chat about what it means to live in a country community, friendship roles, Cyclone Seroja, and cricket.
Flynn’s upcoming exhibition combines his love for WA landscape and photography. Follow @ocean2outbackimagery to stay updated on Flynn’s photographs or go to www.ocean2outbackimagery.com to purchase a print.
Hayley is an artist and curator based in Sydney. She studied a BVA (Painting), honours, and masters of curating a UNSW and USYD. She has a cat name Remy. In this episode, we unpack art school, art process, the romantic notion of the struggling artist, and the beauty of life. Buckle up.
Hayley’s last solo show, Aisle of Spirits, showcased at White Rhino Gallery. Check out her works for purchase at www.hayleyzena.com
Connect with hayley on instagram @hayleyzena
Dom Diaz is a musician based in Sydney. He studied at the Conservatorium of Music High School and lives a full-time musician's grind. He's a rapper, beatboxer, singer/songwriter, instrumentalist, and producer.
In this week's episode we talk about Dom's decisions that led him to his full-time musician's life, the importance of confidence, and the value of your uniqueness.
Connect with Dom - https://www.instagram.com/d0mdiaz/
Watch Dom's new video 'Whiskey Girl,' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA5nxxTHEFs
00:00 Intro
01:20 Studying at the Conservatorium of Music High School
05:38 Underground jazzy tunes
10:00 Drugs as a responsible tool
14:06 Leaving a comfortable salary
16:22 Dom’s first life-changing festival
19:25 Dom on friendship
21:05 The musician’s grind and confidence
25:28 The imperfections in the groove
28:27 Lessons from performing live
31:13 Live looping and beatboxing
34:11 Dom on his father’s soul and zest
37:12 To be free and making people happy
40:55 Releasing the new single ‘Whiskey Girl’
Meghna is a journalist and photographer based in Sydney. She has worked for publications such as Xplore Sydney, Hijacked, Network ten, and the ABC. She’s now working with the ABC’s Triple J Hack where she writes and produces radio and digital stories for triple j’s youth current affairs.
In this week’s episode we talk about her work, cultural expectations, solitude and friendships.
Connect with Meghna - https://www.instagram.com/meghnab92/
Follow her stories - https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/meghna-bali/13315256
00:00 Intro
01:15 Appreciating solo time and solitude
03:20 Embracing discomfort and change
06:39 The catalyst for Meghna's journalism career
12:34 Having the talk with South Asian parents
18:16 Xplore Sydney, privilege and the journalism industry
20:37 Community and an imbalanced friendship
27:39 Long-term relationships and impulsive acts
32:44 Your inner child’s essence as an adult
37:17 Intention with financial decisions
38:55 The farmers’s protest impacting Australians
42:20 Meghna’s goal to create impact and change
Shaun Premnath is a music composer and educator. He runs a small music school and works with businesses to create their own unique sound. In this episode, we talk about teaching, dreaming, working hard and putting food on the table as a creative.
Connect with Shaun -
https://www.instagram.com/shaunmakesmusicau/
https://shaunmakesmusic.com
Sarah is a local Glebe citizen in Sydney. She grew up in Buffalo NY, went to culinary school, and worked in NYC's restaurant industry. After discovering the blend of her holistic therapy, nutrition and cooking, she moved to Sydney and found a place in Glebe where her presence defines wellness.
In this episode we talk about the rat race of NYC, instincts, dog psychology, and community.
Sarah is currently the manager of The Source Bulkfoods Glebe, and a new mother of one.
Kate Klonaris is a nutritionist, holistic meditation coach and founder of Project Soul. In this episode we talk about motherhood, friendships and what intuition feels like in the body. Kate’s meditation classes are on Wednesday evenings via zoom. It is for anyone who wants to relax and feel just so damn good.
Baran Yildiz is a percussionist based in Sydney. Born in Turkey, Baran discovered the handpan in 2016. In his words, it was ‘love at first sight.’ In our first episode, we unpack this UFO shaped instrument, what it means to be a whole musician, and Baran’s journey of music. Baran completed a masters and PhD in renewable energy and is currently a researcher and lecturer at UNSW. His debut album, ‘Interbeing,’ is on Spotify and new song ‘Children of the Universe,’ on Baran’s YouTube Channel.