FLOAT YOUR BOAT: Recent Episodes
FLOAT YOUR BOAT
WHAT FLOATS YOUR BOAT? We dig deep into people’s dreams, passions and desires in an effort get to the bottom of that age old question; a question that has initiated a world-wide phenomenon known as the Self-help industry.
On Float your Boat you will hear real people sharing their phenomenal stories of tragedy and success and back again. We interview the well known and the not so well known.
Anyone with a great story really!
Your hosts George Sabados and Brett Pattinson use their uniquely laid back, candid and humorous approach to try and answer that big question – “What truly makes you happy?”
So hop on board and strap yourself in and find out what it takes to Float your Boat.
That's it folks we are leaving the building! thank you everyone for listening to us over the last 7 seasons. Stay tuned we will be back with new shows from George Sabados and Brett Pattinson
Tom Cronin spent 26 years in finance markets as one of Sydney’s leading bond and swap brokers. He discovered meditation in the early stages of his career, when the anxiety and chaos he was experiencing hit a crisis point. Meditation completely transformed his world, both personally and professionally.
Today Tom is passionate about reducing stress and chaos in people’s lives, and his mission is to inspire one billion people to meditate daily.
His work in transformational leadership and cultivating inner peace through meditation takes him around the world as a speaker, presenting keynote talks, hosting retreats and teaching.
Tom has appeared on national TV, and been featured in Vogue, Daily Telegraph, Sydney Morning Herald, Business Review and Conde Nast Traveller. He is co-creator of The Portal film-book experience, author of six books.
My path hasn’t always been about being a Medium. I remember seeing a spirit as a young child and I was inconsolable. These incredible gifts were an inconvenience for me and they were not valued by society, my family or my social groups. These gifts made my life hard, so I denied my spirituality
So I denied these gifts, I hid them from myself and the world. I hid these gifts by denying and discrediting any spiritual experiences that I had. This was the only way I knew to be safe in the world.
Then I spent my whole adult life striving to become successful. I got near perfect high school grades, a Scholarship to University. I became a Chartered Accountant, then I went on to hold an MBA with Distinction. After leaving university, I climbed the corporate ladder to become a Chief Financial Officer of a global publishing house.
When I first started studying my MBA, I just wasn’t coping. My anxiety was off the scale. I knew the only way to heal myself was to explore what spirituality offered. I have been meditating for well over a decade and I have utilised so many different spiritual and mindful techniques in the corporate world. I would ground myself before a Board Meeting. I would remotely clear the energy in the room before important discussions and I learnt to cleanse my auric field after conflict. These practices were not only important but essential tools for a corporate executive who was developing as a psychic medium. Analytical and logical, I knew integration of my two separate lives was needed.
For 12 years I spiritualized my life. I cultivated my skills in Mediumship at the prestigious Arthur Findlay College in London. I studied mindfulness at Esalen with, Dr Shauna Shapiro and immersed myself in the Vedic teachings of Sri Kripalu Maharaj in Mangarh, India. I studied with world renowned Psychic Medium James Van Praagh at the Omega Institute. I started running intuitive workshops and did over a 1,000 client readings, whilst I was still working in the corporate world. During this time I broke through all of my limiting self beliefs and I found the courage to appear in regular Australian Television slots on Psychic TV and All About You, as a professional psychic medium.
On this long journey, I learnt many spiritual tools, but the greatest teaching I received was the innate wisdom that resided within myself. Today, I have left the corporate world behind and I am a Spiritual Teacher, committed to empowering women to honour the truth of who they truly are. I coach women to make the transition into an expanded, authentic and fully lived life. This is not easy and that is why support is so important.
Honouring my path and myself has been the hardest thing that I have done, but there really was no other path. It is the only path. It is your path too.
Identifying as an INFP on the Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator (i.e. a great big Introvert!), Naomi spent many years trying to find her place in the world of media, marketing and advertising agencies. Often feeling like an outsider in the more extroverted world of sales and marketing, it was only when she discovered her personality type and allowed herself to run her business her own way based on her strengths and core values that her career really started to thrive. Now, described by some as ‘Eat Pray Love Meets Mad Men’, Naomi is the founder of Brand Whisperers; a company that gives business owners the permission and the insight to tap into their own inner genius and unique way of doing business.
Lucy Good is the founder of Beanstalk, an online platform that inspires and supports Australian single mothers with a range of resources and a large interactive, inclusive community Her mission is to help single mums navigate the maze of separation and divorce and to confidently rebuild and embrace their new path in life. As well as having a blog and a podcast series, she is the creator of the “You’ve Got This” Single Mum eCourse which has already been downloaded and loved by 1.5K+ single mothers. She has appeared several times on national television, speaks regularly on national and local radio and writes articles for online and print parenting, news, lifestyle and business communities.
Maria Augustus-Dunn was born in Melbourne, Australia in 1961 and grew up in Reservoir, in the Northern suburbs of Melbourne. She married Brad, the love of her life, in 1990.
In 2011 both Maria and Brad retired at the age of 50 and opted for life as grey nomads, travelling the highways and byways of Australia, with no plans to stop. They have no children, but have plenty of nieces and nephews to dote on and even have great-nieces and great-nephews!
Maria enjoys doing tarot card readings, travelling, reading, writing, bushwalking and trying things that are well out of her comfort zone. She loves spending time with family and friends, and can talk the leg off a chair!
Before going to school I remember writing naive poetry for the spontaneous pleasure of forming words. Unfortunately for me this instinctive need to write was crushed by my teacher's seemingly obsessive need to humiliate children who struggled with 'correctly' written words. At my tiny 1960’s English village school we adhered rigidly to a curriculum based on the three 'Rs' and my inability to distinguish characters required for 'reading', 'writing' and 'arithmetic' (a play-on-words that went completely over my head for most of my life) made my teacher's very angry. Being a sensitive child I deflected their years of calling me lazy and stupid by creating a protective alter-ego who played me like a character on a stage until leaving my secondary school, with no qualifications, at the age of fifteen. After working as a Chef, Airport loader, Builder's labourer, and any other job that allowed me to hide my 'shameful weakness', I decided to harness my alter-ego's deflecting humour and verbal skills to become a salesman. Many unfulfilled years spent selling for companies like Xerox brought me to a financially successful career within the computer communications industry but the constant stress of pretending to be someone I was not, both professionally and socially, led to serious depression and my inevitable mental breakdown. During years of recovery the origins of my alter-ego had to be faced, fully explored and truly understood. This confronting healing process coupled with a lifetime of tumultuous relationships and calamitous conflicts with extraordinary characters is what I now call upon when writing my stories. From the age of five until my recovery I made it my mission to seek out artful ways of avoiding the written word, too afraid even to write a love or business letter, but after being diagnosed with Dyslexia I learned to use something as mundane as 'spell-check' to win a scholarship to The Film School in Seattle and a writing course at AFTRS Sydney. Now unable to contain the urge to write I have written four books, fifteen screenplays and, just as I could before attending school, I sense that there are many, many more characters and stories to come.
Focused on early intervention in mental health, The Banksia Project works together with mental health professionals, industry leaders and professional bodies across Australia to create best practices and practical solutions to drive community support, increase self-awareness, encourage positive lifestyle choices, and facilitate ongoing support groups.
Our two key programs include our Growth Rooms – supportive mental health community networks and our Garden Rooms – quarterly events which invite the public to hear from respected profiles and leaders on a range of different mental health topics.
All of The Banksia Project’s programs are supported by mental health professionals to ensure they are safe and effective.
George & Brett end of season wrap. Merry Christmas one and all. See you all in 2021 for season 7
Ivan is a published author and key spokesperson for the hospitality industry. He has over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, is an industry thought leader and profitability expert, and spinal cord injury survivor. Ivans latest adventure is launching Peiso, the Worlds first hospitality profitability software, www.peiso.com.au.
From being a wedding organist at the age of 13 to a 10-year career running a successful performing arts company and three reputable pop choirs in Melbourne to publishing her first #1 Amazon Best Seller, The Voice Factor, in 2013 a ‘how to sing’ basic book compressed in 5 easy steps, Dene has always worked on projects that connect people and that brings an element of technology into the mix.
One of Dene's giveback projects brought together people from 24 different countries to sing virtually via smartphone for International Peace Day 2016. The song - which was her rewrite of Waltzing Matilda, revamped for a global message was led by multi-award winning artist Kate Ceberano, and the video was shared across social media hundreds of times and received beautiful comments from all around the world.
Today, Dene is the Founder and Creative Director of Branthem®️ and a multi-award winning Sonic Brand Design Agency in Melbourne. With an authentic approach to amplifying visual brand recognition with music for audio inclusive channel reach as well as energised music-based team experiences, Branthem is a dynamic industry innovator in the brand engagement, employee engagement and marketing space, and a culmination of Dene's vision for innovation, her commitment to excellence and her belief in the 'magic' of music to connect deeply and authentically with the beauty in the human spirit.
With many hard lessons learned throughout his 30+ years in the stock market (including the 1987 crash), his expertise in global markets and future trends is renowned as being insightful and realistic.
Despite leaving school at 15, by the age of 27, David Novac was the Financial Controller of a $6 billion Merchant Bank. With a solid background in Merchant Banking, Finance and Accounting David was well established in corporate financial circles. David’s passion for the dynamic world of the stock market led him to leave the corporate world. In 1997 David Novac and Kate Sheehan co-founded Wealthwise Education.
David’s infectious passion for the markets means he keeps his finger on the pulse of global markets on a daily basis, ensuring the Wealthwise Education learning materials remain fresh and relevant.
He shares this wealth of knowledge in a refreshing, simple and clear manner. David leads you, step by step, through how the stock market really works. He is skilled at taking seemingly complex ideas and explaining them in a way that is readily understood and can be applied with confidence.
The world is more mysterious than most people are comfortable imagining. We cross paths with the mystical from time to time and may not even notice it. If we do, we quickly return to our usually mundane daily existence. But what if we not only acknowledged the unknown, we investigated it and spoke with those in the know? That’s what co-hosts Scott & Forrest, and their producer Tess Pfeifle do at Astonishing Legends. With the power of the well-vetted Astonishing Research Corps, they have access to information that most folks couldn’t find. Over 75 million downloads and hundreds of thousands of listeners have shown that exploring and embracing the wonders of our world can be not only enlightening but exciting. Welcome to Astonishing Legends!We’ve been friends a long time, and although it didn’t come up at first, sooner or later, we must have had that first conversation about Dyatlov Pass, Black Eyed Kids or some other story of equivalent mystery. After that, I think we were both amazed to have found someone with similar unusual interests, not just in Fortean events, but paranormal events, and mysteries of a wide variety across the passages of time. Eventually hanging out together evolved or devolved, depending on how you look at it, into long rambling discussions of every story imaginable, both of us not only having knowledge in common but having details that the other hadn’t heard.
As a former TV commercial editor with a passion for broadcasting and the skill set to put a podcast together or at least the ability to guess his way through it, Scott proposed to Forrest that they do their own show. The idea of a show restricted to just the paranormal was too limited, but it was hard for us to quantify all the other areas we wanted to cover, so we just went for it and here we are working through a file cabinet of over a thousand strange tales and interviewing people with stories of their own along the way.
Thanks for listening.
The story of Arthur Leggett, a young man growing up in Australia's developing years, patriotically serving his country in World War II, and surviving four and a half years in the hands of the Germans as a Prisoner of War.
Australian larrikanism shines throughout Arthur's journey from boyhood to manhood, through his war ordeals and on into his senior years.
But Life is never over and Arthur plunges headlong into a series of new challenges and adventures, proving Life begins after 60.
This wonderfully exciting celebration of Life will entertain, inspire, and reveal how an 'ordinary' man can indeed achieve extra-ordinary things.
Chickin’ Lickin’ was Lindsay Holliday’s first reading memory that started a life-long love for funny characters and good stories. Reading kept her company through boarding school and backpacking through-out Asia. She read War and Peace and Shantaram while solo trekking the Annapurna circuit in Nepal in flips flops! Her travels from England ended in Australia. Lindsay fell in love with the country and its people and determined to settle. Bills had to be paid and she pushed her writing to an enjoyable hobby while she pursued a fun and interesting career as a media & entertainment lawyer. Her legal career reached a high as the legal director for Yahoo! Europe, in London during the heady days of the internet explosion in the late 1990s. Determined to return to Sydney she left Yahoo! to volunteer and consult until 2014 when she had an epiphany. Writing was her true passion. Lindsay set to work in earnest to pursue her dream. A few draft manuscripts later, courses with the Faber Writing Academy; Writing NSW; and University of Sydney (which had to fit in with a young family) she finally wrote the first of the Danger series, Danger Versus the Ranger.
Lindsay has taken much of her inspiration from the world around her and that of her children. She had so much fun writing this first Danger story – she wrote the next four books. She doodled some drawings for a prototype book to entice children to read her first Danger book and get feedback. Kids liked the characters, the stories and, to her surprise, the illustrations too. COVID has been, in some ways, a positive for Lindsay as the frenetic pace of the modern family life slowed and a period of self-isolation gave her more time to concentrate on drawing over 250 illustrations and working out how to self-publish. She is committed to writing more Danger stories and other stories for children.
A prominent figure in the Australian music industry, Andrew McManus has garnered attention both locally and internationally as an enduring music promoter and his name is synonymous with some of the biggest tours to have come through Australia and New Zealand over the past 25 years.
Andrew’s foray into the music industry began in Sydney where he managed the iconic band The Divynls, delivering the band onto the world stage and making them a household name around the globe.
With Andrew McManus at the helm, One World Entertainment has had a fundamental role in entertaining Australians and New Zealanders for more than two decades.
Touring artists include KISS, Fleetwood Mac, Motley Crue, Guns n Roses, Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, Blondie, Simple Minds, Stevie Nicks to name a few, plus the festival brands Raggamuffin and Under The Southern Stars.
Michael Adams, a Sydney-based journalist, author and television producer.
Michael got the idea for the podcast while writing the biography Australia’s Sweetheart, about a forgotten movie star who went from Sydney to Hollywood and London in the 1930s. During his research he kept finding this amazing stories that no one had ever heard of, like an Aussie who had an unlikely role on the Titanic, the disappearance of a Brisbane socialite, unknown serial killers. He figured podcasts were the best way to be able to tell these stories and taught himself how to record, edit and publish podcasts. Michael Adams is an author, journalist, TV producer and screenwriter with a broad and deep knowledge of film. His memoir SHOWGIRLS, TEEN WOLVES AND ASTRO ZOMBIES is about a year-long search for the worst movie ever made. His book SHINING LIGHTS is a profile of Australian Oscar winners, based on interviews with Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe and Geoffrey Rush.
Michael also contributed to THE 100 GREATEST FILMS OF AUSTRALIAN CINEMA, edited the AFI yearbook, and hosted Showtime's MOVIE CLUB and SBS's THE MOVIE SHOW. For a decade Michael was reviews editor of the Australian edition of EMPIRE and has written extensively on film and pop culture for MEN'S STYLE, YEN, ROLLING STONE, Rottentomatoes.com and Movieline.com. He most recently worked as a writer and researcher for a TV show about Australian inventors for the History Channel.
Steve Plarre is the CEO of the century old Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses retail bakery chain. He is a 4th generation Aussie retailer in a business that has navigated two World Wars, The Great Depression and his own multi-generational family challenges…and now a global pandemic! His forefathers count the Queen of England and the President of the USA as past customers. Ferguson Plarre is still very much family owned & operated with 80 stores and a large bakery that crafts over 100,000 cakes & savouries daily. Steve is married with 2 beautiful young girls Felicity and Elizabeth. He’s recently turned to social media during the COVID lockdown to deliver the Ferguson Plarre “Baking You Happy” brand
Duncan McNab is an award-winning and bestselling investigative journalist, television producer/documentary maker and author of 11 books sold in Australia, UK and North America including the best selling Dead Man Running (Allen & Unwin 2007; Atlantic Books UK 2010), Roger Rogerson (Hachette 2016), and the 2017 Ned Kelly Award winner Getting Away With Murder (Random House 2017. He was the supervising producer of and appeared in the 7 Network’s blockbuster true-crime series Murder Uncovered (winner of the 2017 Kennedy Award and Clarion Award for best long-form documentary), 9 Network’s Murder Lies and Alibis and as a consultant to numerous productions. He also works as a media adviser specializing in crisis/issues management and In a former life, Duncan was a detective in the NSW Police a private investigator in the corporate world and major criminal defence.
Born in a London taxi in 1958, Charles Staunton emigrated to Sydney with his family in 1965. He joined NSW Police in 1978 but was drummed out in 1987 after refusing to 'grass' on colleagues. Charles built a career as a private investigator and Mr Fix-It in Sydney and then a globetrotting money smuggler for the Pacific Mariner Cartel. In 1997 in Montreal Charles was arrested by the DEA for trafficking 25 tonnes of hashish worth over one billion dollars. He served three and a half years in a supermax prison before moving to London. He has two sons, four grandchildren and lives in London.
Tony Wilson has had a successful and varied creative career.
He’s written twenty books for children, ranging from bestselling picture books like The Cow Tripped Ove the Moon and Hickory Dickory Dash, to middle-grade titles such as The Selwood Boy and A Boy Called Bob, to books for adults, including his most recent, a sports history on a footballing epic, ‘1989: The Great Grand Final’. http://tonywilson.com.au/1989-the-great-grand-final-signed-copies He’s written memoir, non fiction, fiction, and rhymes for kids.
He’s written animations for children (Kitty is Not a Cat) and co-produced and directed a feature-length sports history documentary (‘The Galahs’)
He’s penned magazine features, ads for the AFL and speeches for CEOs and politicians.
His love for speeches encouraged him to embark upon his Speakola project (https://speakola.com/#/sport/), a website and podcast dedicated to great speeches, both famous and otherwise. On Richard Fidler’s Conversations show, Tony told the story of how he became ‘The Speech Collector’. https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/conversations/tony-wilson/12191158 His Speakola site now has more than 2000 speeches and attracts more than 1.3 million hits per year.
His break into the media came through the ABC travel documentary show, Race Around the World’, which he won in 1998. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5O1LvWhUMc
Symmone’s gift is as a clairvoyant combining her skills as a counsellor and psychological astrologer to identify what beliefs are pressing pause on dreams, what unique evolutionary cycles are being activated and guiding the transformational process from an inner and outer level. She’s been an entrepreneur all her life, creating several businesses from the ground up across several industries, before taking on the incredible opportunity to work with the Cotton On Foundation and the University of Atlanta in food and water security, community development and other key humanitarian and sustainability projects. She’s has travelled the world learning about spiritual principals and energy from well-respected monks, nuns, shamans, healers and spiritual teachers to unlock a person’s potential and learn about herself. She now delivers a unique blend of intuitive guidance and spiritual teachings seamlessly blending it with a hands-on practical advice and strategic ideas to help women create a soul centred roadmap - moving from limited to limitless, their way.
Murray James Cook, AM (born 30 June 1960) is an Australian vocalist, songwriter, musician, guitarist and actor. He is best known as one of the founding members of the children's band The Wiggles. Cook was also a regular guest on the Australian TV show Spicks and Specks, with his good friend, host Adam Hills. Cook was born in Cowra, New South Wales. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia on 26 January 2010 for service to the arts, particularly children's entertainment, and to the community as a benefactor and supporter of a range of charities. After his retirement from The Wiggles, Cook continued to be heavily involved in the Sydney music scene; in addition to playing for Bang Shang A Lang and Marlene Cummins, he was the guitarist for Luke Russell and The Proposition and was involved in the production of the play Sons of Sun, which was about American music producer Sam Phillips, and regularly played in pubs to small audiences. "The other thing I find really rewarding," he stated, "is when guys like one of the members from Regular John will come up to you and say that The Wiggles were the first band they got into".
Julie Mason is regarded as one of the top 25 LinkedIn Experts worldwide by her peers, has been featured on the cover of Social Media Success Magazine Australia, and is the LinkedIn Tutor for the University Of Sydney and Recruiter.com (one of the largest job websites in the world). Julie is an in-demand speaker and founder and creator of Linked Sales Formula - one of the most comprehensive and supportive LinkedIn training programs for businesses in the world today.
Tara Hurster is the director and principal psychologist of The TARA Clinic, a private psychology practice based in Bondi Junction, NSW and currently providing services online. Tara and the team help busy and successful people to regain control over substance abuse and addiction while leaving the guilt and shame behind. With over a decade of experience helping thousands of people manage mental health and substance abuse-related problems, Tara provides holistic and practical tools and strategies to practice and build confidence in your own skills.
Over the last twenty years, Vashti has lived, worked, and breathed a life driven by her passion to provoke, inspire, and facilitate the transformation and development of human potential. Vashti marries her vast professional experience as an executive and performance coach, transformational facilitator, teacher and international speaker, with her poignant decision to convert her own tragic loss into a catalyst to educate and inspire millions of people around the world. Vashti now collaborates and consults with organizations, businesses, high-performance individuals and the ever-growing global community on the importance of harnessing human potential through personal and organizational legacy driven leadership
In this episode, we interview Mr AVI (pseudonym) about his life growing up in the tough streets of Melbourne, being on the wrong side of the tracks with the law, the success and pains experienced dealing with hits, jobs and the main characters seen in the 'Underbelly' series.
This is a story of a man who paid the price in order to take the 'road to redemption' and discover the sensitive side which was lost for many years. Now reformed and helping men to overcome fear, emotional trauma and find love and peace.
Debt Angels founder Kitty Thomas is utterly committed to changing the conversation around debt; committed to removing the alienation, shame and isolation that debt distress can cause and committed to showing people that talking about debt is not only OK, it is the first vital step to taking back control and regaining a positive financial outlook. At twenty something, fresh-faced and passionate and a social entrepreneur to her core, Kitty took a gamble with a business venture, overnight ending up with $150K worth of unsecured debt. Her initial response was a typical one, she buried her head in the sand and hoped it would go away. Of course it didn’t. Five years later, Kitty decided enough was enough and took steps to resolve her situation. This is a must-listen episode, especially in our current times. If you are finding it hard at the moment financially Kitty gives us the tools needed to navigate through these tough times.... so jump on and have a listen
A husband, father, son, brother and mate aiming to leave the world in a better place than when I arrived. Originally from Wellington, New Zealand I moved to Sydney in early 2000 and bar a 5+ year stint in Dubai from 2008, Sydney, and specifically Bondi Beach, has been home ever since. I love nothing better than spending time on the beach - in and out of the water - with my friends and family (I've been married for 16 years, have a 10 year old son and 14 year old daughter). About 5 years ago I started questioning my definition of success which started me on a journey into entrepreneurship (and finding a few answers to my questions along the way!). Over the past 3 years, along with my brother-in-law, I’ve developed Thriverapp which is a life-design app providing you with a single destination for the tools, techniques, habits and life-systems of hyper-successful people. It’s an AI life-coach in your pocket, making the life lessons of high performers like Tim Ferriss, Gretchen Rubin and Rob Moore your own. The beta version is live on the App Store and Google Play, and our Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) is to become one of the most trusted and effective wellness and self-development communities globally!
Adib Nagui is a young man with one hell of a story. All of us have a story, some stories are happy some are not, Adib's is both. Adib grew up in war-torn Lebanon where Adib dreamt of a better life with a better future, and so did his parents. So they packed him up when he was a teenager and shipped him to Australia to study medicine in hope of a better and safer life... he has a remarkably happy take on his life and is looking forward to the rest of his story playing out here in Australia...
Edith Anne "Edie" Widder Smith An American oceanographer, marine biologist, and the Co-founder, CEO and Senior Scientist at the Ocean Research & Conservation Association. ‘Edie’, as she likes to be known is the world’s leading expert on bioluminescence and has captured a great variety of creatures from the deep which generate their own light. She also developed groundbreaking techniques for luring in and capturing on film the legendary ‘Kraken’ (giant squid) for the first time in history. She has made over 250 dives in the JOHNSON SEA LINK submersibles ‘farting in the dark’. Her research involving submersibles has been featured in BBC, PBS, Discovery Channel and National Geographic television productions. In 2006, Edie was Awarded the MacArthur Fellowship for her efforts (the USA version of the NOBEL) for her efforts in protecting aquatic ecosystems.
Born: 11 June 1951 (age 68 years), Arlington, Massachusetts, United States
Residence: Florida, United States
Books: The Bioluminescence Coloring Book
James Stewart is the startup guru/entrepreneur. In his spare time, he spends his weekends as a Patrol captain at the legendary Bondi Surf Lifesaving Club. Today's chat is all about James and his Journey from Devon in the UK to the fair shores of Australia. So pop on the headphones and go for a stroll and have a listen to James story.
That's right folks the boys are back in town, after an eight-month sabbatical Brett Pattinson & George Sabados will take you on a roller coaster of human emotions all done with a smile, a wink, and a nod. The boys love to hear people's amazing life stories and this season will be bigger and better than ever before.
Well that's all Folks.. the last episode of FYB.... Elvis, Brett & George have left the building. Thank you to everyone who has been involved in Float Your Boat. A special thanks to Donovan Janks & Stevie Mac for their sound and editing, you guys are awesome. Thank you to everyone who has listened to our humble show and a big thank you to all of our Guests! Float Your Boat would never have happened without your amazing stories. It is sad for us to say goodbye but it's time.... be kind to each other and keep writing your own amazing stories. Much Love to all of you
On the last episode of Float Your Boat we talk to Australian adventurer Matthew Sweeney. This guy has an adventurous spirit that very few possess. He has walked, trekked, cycle and toured his way to some of the hardest and most wonderful treks on the planet. Once a corporate high flyer Matt chucked it all away to find out what his life really meant and we think he has found it. Matt has faced terrible depression and other mental issues, he has flirted with death on more than one occasion and has had the highest of highs and the lowest of lows over many years .This is remarkable story of courage and resilience and Matt does it in a very matter of fact sort of way. He has a wicked sense of humour and a big belief in his faith...... so sit back and enjoy this terrific story.
Today we speak with Miriam Hechtman..... and in Miriams own words here is her story I am a writer, journalist, poet, feminist, mother and world traveller. From methane digesters in San Francisco and lake salt discovery in Western Australia, to the inspiring tales of Holocaust survivors all over the world, I have had the privilege to give voice to a kaleidoscope of issues. An avid traveller, I have spent much time abroad on trains, planes and buses, meeting fascinating people with extraordinary stories. My intention is to enquire into my subject matter with depth, curiosity and insight.
I am interested in bringing about change, drawing attention to matters that might have gone under the radar and questioning the status quo. I believe everyone has a story and I am first the listener and then the messenger. I feel privileged to be Australian and having travelled all over the world I am grateful to be living in such a beautiful, multicultural and mostly peaceful country. I feel that when given the opportunity people are eager to be educated and this is best communicated through people’s stories. We are living in very precarious times and we have so much opportunity to learn from history and from our current status. Every day is an opportunity for evolution.
What’s with the trains? Trains have always been a favourite form of transport for me. I like the idea that something is on the move and is progressing forward. Travelling by train allows you to appreciate the landscape, feel the rhythm of the wheels in motion, inhale the aroma of places discovered and stay grounded. Riding on trains has given me the opportunity to write, listen, engage, watch and be in the world.
Today Brett & George have the pleasure of interviewing Entrepreneur and Business Leader Naomi Simson!! Naomi co-founded the Big Red Group with business partner David Anderson in 2017. BRG is all about serving experiences to different audiences through its various brands: RedBalloon, Adrenaline, Redii.com. BRG also includes Marketics AI the exclusive distributor of Albert AI in ANZ.
The experience economy is gathering momentum, and Naomi will share how she and CEO David Anderson have transformed the business and platforms to harness this opportunity.
Her enthusiasm is infectious. She is a prolific blogger and author, and as a true business influencer with more than 2.7 million LinkedIn followers, she’s Australia’s most followed person on the business networking platform.
She’s the author of two bestselling books, Live What You Love, and Ready to Soar. Before founding RedBalloon, she worked for big businesses including IBM, Apple, KPMG and Ansett Airlines – all of which influenced her views on workplaces.
Spooked Kooks’ mission is to make the best performing and most durable softboards containing as much recycled plastic waste as possible. “100% of all high-density polyethylene used in our boards is recycled post-consumer plastic waste. This includes the entire “slick” (underside of the boards), leash plug, fin boxes, fins and fin key.”
The Australian startup is looking at ways to integrate other recycled materials and sustainable non-plastic materials into their foamies. They aim at improving the manufacturing process, as well as packaging, to minimize the amount of new plastic used and waste created.
Well we made it! it's the end of the year and the end of this season of Float Your Boat, Brett & George want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for listening in all through the year. 2018 has been a big year at Float Your Boat, our numbers have grown and we are now heard in 15 countries around the world. This episode Brett & George talk about the year and the great guests. They also share a funny and embarrassing story from their youth so check it out. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy NewYear.... be safe and travel carefully over the silly season and we will see you in 2019
Well here we are again! our Penultimate episode for the year. Michael Delaney is a working class fellow from Blacktown in the outer suburbs of Sydney. Today we chat about Mikes life and his journey to where he finds himself today. If you love the beach and you love a good yarn this episode is the one for you. So sit back with your eggnog, mistletoe and a bag of prawns and have a listen to Mikes cracking story
Having met on the school run many moons ago, Nick Newey and Pat McInerney bonded over a mutual love of fishing and boating, which eventually led the pair to tinkering in homebrewing together. After years of experimentation, and with neither satisfied in their 9-5, they decided to turn their passion into profession. And so, Willie the Boatman was born.
With no experience in running, let alone building a brewery, Nick and Pat started from scratch with little else to keep them going other than a belief in their beer, a belief in their brand, and an unwavering support from their local community.
Countless buckets of blood, sweat and tears (not to mention many a late night beer) later, the brewery finally opened its doors to the public in 2015, and we haven’t looked back since. With community at the core of our business model, Willie the Boatman have stayed true to our original homebrewing ethos and remain dedicated to producing good, clean beer using an uncomplicated approach.
Today we pick up where we left off last week. Part 2 of the Dori Miller story, we speak with Dori herself. If we were to describe Dori to the world the word that springs to mind is "Humble". To Dori these amazing achievements are just apart of what she does as a matter of course, to us it's simply awe inspiring. So let us take you on a journey, a journey of Grit, toughness and sheer determination. This is a story that will inspire you to take a challenge and a journey of your own. So just keep swimming swimming swimming
Today we talk to Nick Nezval. Nick is a local Bondi bloke and a proud member of Bondi Surf Club. This story isn't about Nick it's about Dori Miller, but Nick played a big part in the puzzle. We dig deep today and try to get to the bottom of what makes Dori tick...what compels someone to push themselves to the brink. What Dori went through to achieve her goal will amaze you. Very few have achieved this goal and we take our hats off to Dori and Nick for his support in this remarkable feat. So grab your hat because we are in for a big ride
What started as a cheeky challenge has grown into a global movement. We have ambassadors in over 24 countries, amassed a community of over 90,000 people and gained millions in earned media. But by far our proudest achievement is that we now save an average of a life a week. People who might not be here if it weren't for our friendly, furry advice.
Not a bad excuse to unleash a majestic neck mane right? Well, if you're keen to get involved, save some lives and help make a massive difference - it'd be an honour to have you aboard.
What a treat we have in store for you all this week! Stacey June from the Thinker Girls popped in for a chat. Stacey is a complete surprise package we weren't sure what we would get? Stacey is delightful,funny and has a wickedly rude sense of humour and we suspect she drinks beer!!! So she fit right in with Brett Pattinson and George Sabados. You have to admire the passion of Stacey June. Her tenacious and loyal interest in women's conversations leaves no stone unturned. Where others fear to broach, Stacey dives in head first, with honesty, wit and humour, making her one of the most exciting broadcasters, writers and actors of her generation.
Today we chat with Jacqueline Bosscher. Jacqueline is a remarkably talented lady who is passionate about saving our reefs,oceans and waterways 1 piece of rubbish at a time. in her local area many people think she is a crazy bag lady,even her kids aren't sure! Jacqueline heads up Live The Difference Now and The Design Commission. So let's dive in and hear what she is up to.
There's a buzz about today's episode! To Bee Or Not To Bee that is the question.... Backpacker bees may save us and the planet. Professor Paulo De-Souza tells us how he has created Backpacks for bees, yes you heard correctly! we can now track our honey bees in the hope we can find answers to our declining Honey Bee populations around the world....this is crucial for the survival of the human race! Professor de Souza is a Physicist with PhD in Natural Sciences from Uni-Mainz, Germany. He has 20+ years of international experience in industrial innovation and consultancy. He is recognised for his work in miniaturised sensor development in fields including space exploration, environmental sciences, animal behaviour monitoring, and industrial process control. Paulo has 200+ peer-reviewed publications, patents and books. He is co-author of a series of papers identified as the Breakthrough of the Year 2004 by the prestigious journal Science. He is an Officer of the Chief Executive Science Leader at CSIRO | Data61, and is leading CSIRO’s research efforts in the field of micro-sensing technologies, including implantable devices for brain monitoring.
Sharnie Connell is the dedicated Sydney Marine Park Campaigner in a joint role between Australian Marine Conservation Society and the Nature Conservation Council NSW. She joins us to champion our campaign for a Marine Park for Sydney – a beautiful region in which less than 1% of our waters are protected.
Sharnie has a background in Science majoring in Psychology, she is fascinated by animal / human behaviour and interaction and how we can engage people in the protection of the marine environment. Sharnie is passionate about the ocean and spends much of her time underwater. She is a qualified dive master and regular long distance ocean swimmer. She brings a wealth of knowledge of experience previously working on the National No Shark Cull campaign. She has a great deal of hands on experience with working directly to rehabilitate sick and injured marine life and educating others about the importance of marine protection at her time working at SEALIFE Sanctuary.
Well that's it folks, it's a wrap, it's done, finito..... Hi folks today's episode is a quick wrap up of season three of Float Your Boat, We would like to thank all of you wonderful listeners for listening to our humble podcast. A big thank you to all of our tremendous special guests and our massive production team......well (Donovan Janks). But don't be alarmed, we will be back for season four in about a month.....We know you will all be lost at sea without us, but hang in we will (as Arnie says), We'll Be Back .... see ya's
John O'Hare is a Journeyman, an actors actor on the long and winding road of life! John's list of accomplishments is massive far to long to list on several pages, to be as good an actor takes many years of crafting and honing your skill but John has managed to achieve this lofty goal. John was dragged kicking and screaming from his beloved Manchester to the heat and dust of Fremantle Western Australia in the early 1970's. This is a story worth listening to, John is a storyteller from a long line of storytellers and performers. So pop on your earbuds and have a listen to John and what it takes to perfect your chosen craft.
Today we chat with Malin Frick on all things environmental!!
Malin is a super super Activist, over the year Malin has been in Indonesia helping to save orangutans, been part of polar bear research in the Arctic, saving whales and trying to stop illegal whaling with Sea Shepherd in Antarctica. Malin has worked with elephant rescue in Thailand, run a shark saving campaign and has her own environmental education business called WildAware where Malin educates people about conservation and how to save this planet.If that isn't enough she has also started a community based beach clean up crew called "Northern beaches clean up crew" to get the local community together to pick up rubbish and educate others about what we can do to change our plastic footprint. Last but not least Malin is an environmental educator in schools.
Tessa Lunney is a novelist, poet, and occasional academic. Her debut novel April in Paris, 1921 is published by Harper Collins Australia and Pegasus Books USA. In 2016 she won the prestigious Griffith University Josephine Ulrick Prize for Literature for her story Chess and Dragonflies and the A Room Of Her Own Foundation Orlando Prize for Fiction for Those Ebola Burners Them. She was also the recipient of a Varuna Fellowship. In 2013, she graduated from Western Sydney University with a Doctorate of Creative Arts that explored silence in Australian war fiction. In 2014 she was awarded an Australia Council ArtStart grant for literature. Her poetry, short fiction, and reviews have been published in Best Australian Poems 2014, Southerly, Cordite,Griffith Review, and the Australian Book Review, among others. She loves swing and rockabilly dancing, vintage style and lives in Sydney.
Ryan loves plastic and the environment. That is why he founded Globelet. Ryan spends a lot of time looking for shortcuts and Hacks, this guy is a deep thinker who loves to find proactive solutions to complex problems. Globelet is disrupting the disposable plastics industry. We help 1000's of events and venues save money, reduce waste and create better customer experiences. So sit back whack on your headphones and have a listen to this young entrepreneur.
Today we chat with champion boxer and local loveable rogue Kenny Salisbury. Kenny is one of the nicest fella's you will meet, he wears his heart on his sleeve and during our chat kenny's emotions truly came through on a couple of occasions. This is a story of struggle and then victory and his love for music,his kids and life in bondi. So Pull up an armchair and your drink of choice and have a listen to this remarkable fella.
Trevor Cracknell is a 32-year veteran of the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service based at La Perouse in the Botany Bay National Park in Sydney. Commencing as a Rescue Crew Officer in 1986, Trevor is one of the most respected & experienced helicopter rescue crewmen currently serving in Australia. He is also a fully qualified Air Crewman (winch operator) with over 3,500 flight hours of service, and now also holds the roles of Service Crew Chief and Check & Training Officer. Born and bred in Maroubra, Trevor is a highly accomplished surf lifesaver (Life Member and Hall of Fame Inductee at Maroubra SLSC). In 1978, Trevor represented Australia in swimming at the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada, competing in the 100m and 200m Butterfly. Over his career, Trevor has witnessed the evolution of helicopter rescue in Australia and has contributed to innovations in water rescue techniques that set the standard for emergency aviation services nationally. In 1992, Trevor walked away uninjured after the crash of a Dauphine helicopter in the Blue Mountains while on a rescue search. Trevor has been officially acknowledged for his efforts as a rescue crewman, twice awarded for bravery by the Royal Humane Society in 1996 and 1997 and the prestigious Group Citation for Bravery from the Governor General in 1996 for a dangerous rescue performed off Cronulla which saved the life of a surfer in 103km winds. Trevor is married to Jenny with two beautiful daughters.
Meet Amy and Annie; Bondi girls and surfing rebels. They weren’t always Bandits. But, while out looking to buy surf rashies for their kids, they noticed something very ’un-bandit'... there were only really two colours. Blue for boys, and pink for girls. So, while out on their boards waiting for the next wave, they decided to do something about it. They decided to bring cool, unisex and sustainable surfing apparel to the children’s surf industry. They decided to be Bandits. Bondi Bandits are on a mission. Actually...we’re on quite a few missions. Firstly.. we believe the ocean doesn’t care if you’re a boy or a girl. That’s why our Rashies are Unisex, designed to be worn by anyone. Secondly.. if you’re in the ocean, you should be looking after it. Our Rashies are made from discarded and recycled fishing nets. Instead of catching fish...they’re now catching waves. And wouldn’t you know it, our Swim Bags are also 100% recyclable too. Finally... we reckon even a start-up business like ourselves should be striving to leave a positive impact. That’s why we’re immensely proud to support Free to Shine, a charity fighting to put Cambodian girls in schools, and out of brothels. With every purchase you make - you’re supporting them too.
Today we talk to Pete wilson, Pete is your average knock about Aussie fella who grew up in a working class catholic family from the inner west of Sydney. Like most of us Pete has had some good times and some not so good times. Pete has battled with alcohol addiction and won, he got through those darker times by collecting Vinyl records and to date has amounted a massive collection. Pete's story is a great example of triumph over struggle....so pop on your headphones with a cup of tea and enjoy his journey
Today we talk everything Fifties with Marc(Rockan Rollera). Marc talks the talk and he walks the walk.... Authentic to the very last detail, but Marc has a secret Life....Dental Technology! yes that's right Marc has a very successful company allowing people to have that pearly white smile....this is a cracking interview if you are interested in the 1950's. at the age of ten, Rockin’ Marc Rondeau discovered 1950s ROCK AND ROLL – namely, his mother’s copy of Elvis doing “A Big Hunk of Love” – and he played it until the record was literally worn out. Since that day, he has surrounded himself with 1950s music and a 1950s lifestyle that to some might be seen as odd or, at the very least, eccentric. The thing is, for him this is normal – it’s everyone else who is weird. With more than 30 years of collecting and listening to 1950s music he knows his stuff.
Narelle Anderson is the founder and managing director of Envirobank. An accomplished business leader, mentor and speaker, Narelle is passionate about the the role recycling can play in cleaning up our environment. A born entrepreneur, Narelle grew an inner-Sydney waste management business, CBD Enviro Services, twenty-fold before selling it to a public company. Narelle then set her sights on rewarding Australia’s recyclers and founded Envirobank. Narelle is a current board member of The Australian Council of Recyclers (ACOR), the peak industry body representing the recycling sector of Australia. She is also a founding board member of the Green Building Council of Australia.
When we close our eyes and imagine what an Eco Warrior looks like we think long hair(maybe Dreadlocks), wearing Birkenstock's and a tye dye Greenpeace t shirt with an Roibos latte and a kale salad.George and I were pleasantly surprised to find that today's guest was nothing like that, he was tall, good looking with a twist of style and dressed like he knows what he is talking about...... Tim Silverwood is a passionate advocate for protecting our oceans and environment from human impacts. A keen surfer, Tim became alarmed at the increasing risks plastic pollution posed to our oceans and wildlife, co-founding the not-for-profit organisation ‘Take 3’ in 2009.
Today we talk to Lee Callister and his chance meeting with Brett from FYB. Lee has been a graphice designer and runs a business called Cal & Co. Cal&Co. is a small creative consultancy with big brand experience. in the last 18 months we have created new brands, evolved others and re-invigorated some that have got lost along the way. Cal&Co. is made up of two critical parts, Cal (lee Callister) Creative Director and Co. (collaborators). every project is different and demands that we have at our disposal talent that will bring projects to life. Our key Collaborators include strategy, project management, copy writing, graphic + digital design, digital development, print production and media management.
George & I sit down today with Rebecca Veksler. Rebecca is only 24 years of age but she has already created a super successful company called SOL Cups. As the popularity of plastic-free living grows, coffee-lovers are increasingly turning to reusable cups – but which to choose? Rebecca Veksler, 24, has made that decision easy with SoL Cups: the stylish glass cup and bottle range she created with her mother, Rimma. Made using plastic and chemical-free materials, SoL Cups are designed to wean society off disposable plastic, to a more sustainable and holistic option. For Rebecca, who was diagnosed with an Autoimmune disease 1 year ago, the benefits are not only environmental, but health-related. So grab a cuppa and have a listen to this successful young woman's story from hardship to success and back again
Today we dig deep into the amazing life of Freda Brown. Dr Lisa Milner (author of Swimming against the tide) and Kilty O'Brian (Grand daughter)speak to us candidly about this amazing woman, Freda Brown has been all but forgotten by the Australian History books, Lisa and Kilty will tell us why. Freda Brown was a political activist in the women’s, peace, and anti-apartheid movements, both in Australia and overseas. A passionate believer in equality, she occupied her busy life with action and organisation. While some of her greatest achievements can be seen in her work in helping to establish and lead pioneering women’s organisations, she travelled widely also in the service of political, peace and anti-racism causes. She was a widely respected activist and led an absorbing and very busy life with her political work both in Australia and overseas. She also worked as a journalist, political party organiser and theatre director. This biography is a long-overdue acknowledgement of the pioneering role Freda played at a time when second-generation feminism was decades away. At a time when women were not supposed to want anything more than being a wife and mother, Freda combined career and family successfully for decades, believed passionately in equality and peace, and fought for the rights of people all over the world. She was a leading member of the CPA long after many had left it, and remained a socialist all her life, preferring to hold her personal values rather than be fashionable. Behind Freda’s story lie much bigger cultural, social and political ones: the flowering of alternative political ideas, the development of second-wave feminism, the sexual revolution and the changing nature of reproductive rights, and the blossoming of decolonisation and globalisation. Her legacy underlines the lives of many of us in the 21st century
Mandy is a mama to 3 of her own little people.
She is also an university qualified nutritionist and food scientist. And at heart, she is a kitchen mess maker.
Working in varying roles in the world of food over the last 13 years. From inspecting mangoes from Mexico and testing oil, to knowing quite a bit about chicken. More recently, she has been involved with community groups, education providers and small businesses, consulting on nutritional issues and developing menu plan and recipes, as well as working with preschools and schools.
Mandy is passionate about children developing a positive relationship with food and that by nurturing the love and respect of food will in turn strengthen this relationship.
She is also enamoured with the stories behind food. The culture, history, language, love and geography about it.
Dr Catherine Crock, AM A physician at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne since 1994, Catherine has worked closely with patients and families to redesign services and improve quality and safety. She is the Chair of the Hush Foundation which transforms healthcare culture through use of the arts. Hush produces music for children, families and staff in hospitals around Australia. Hush has collaborated with renowned play write Alan Hopgood in the development of the plays “Hear Me”, “Do You Know Me” and “What Matters” which are performed in hospitals and Aged Care settings to raise awareness of patient centred care, communication and patient safety issues. Hush cofounded the Gathering of Kindness in 2016. In 2015 she became a Member of the Order of Australia for her contribution to medicine, to community healthcare standards and to the Arts. www.hush.org.au
Well we made it!! today Brett & George chat about season 2. they talk Turkey about Christmas and what's happening for 2018. Thank you to everyone for listening to FLOAT YOUR BOAT in 2017. It's been a fantastic first year and we are truly humbled by the overwhelming support....Merry Christmas to one and all be kind to one another and love, laugh and do what makes you happy.
For ten years Sally Cameron has delighted global audiences as a member of the critically acclaimed a cappella vocal group The Idea of North, bagging multiple ARIA awards across seven albums. Her solo debut release will transfix Cameron’s audiences with her superb festive release, Always Christmas. Today we talk Turkey with Sally and her Fiance Sam (who is another musical genius) about all things Christmas, today's episode is filled with Joy and Christmas tunes.... Ho Ho Ho!!!!
Yves is a reluctant star, actor, director, voice specialist, teacher, romantic and more recently writer. Yves wears his heart on his sleeve, today we talk to Yves about his latest project "Dinner Detectives" Travelling back in time and around the world to uncover magical stories behind the food we eat every day. Ever wondered why a sandwich is a sandwich or a pizza a pizza? Have you ever thought, where does pasta come from, or why the Chinese celebrate New Year with dumplings? Dinner Detectives, Clementine and Aksel travel back in time and around the world to uncover magical stories behind the food we eat every day. The only problem we had with Yves and today's interview is we had way too much fun....so we apologize for some of the sound quality (laughing) it messes with the sound.
Pete Smith is a unique combination of adventurer, philosopher, anthropologist, and a quintessential dork. When he's not facilitating large events for business leaders seeking greater Humanity in Business, he is often found working on mission critical assignments for the United Nations in far flung places like Afghanistan and Northern Iraq. Even CEO's call on him in his role as an executive coach to help them make sense of the world around them. If he's not canyoning in Oman, or riding a mountain bike up to the Russian Border to be detained for no reason, he will just as easily be swimming laps at his home beach in Sydney Australia. He sings 80's songs at the top of his lungs, is an anxious practitioner of Yoga and meditation, and is currently wondering if all the super foods he is eating actually make any difference
Darren is community leader with a strong passion for out-of-the-box thinking, innovation, leadership and has a track record of making a real difference in the world through social enterprise across a number of sectors including disability, environment, entrepreneurship, small business and education. Darren’s social enterprise is setting up WA’s very first PET plastic reprocessing facility called GREEN BATCH, recovering waste PET and turning it into 3D printer filament enabling any school with a 3D printer to become a micro-recycling plant themselves. Proceeds from the sale of the recycled filament will be reinvested back into programs which educate the community on how to reduce their personal impact on the environment. For his dedication and passion towards supporting the community we all live in, Darren has won a whole swag of awards including WA Young Australian of the Year, WA Citizen of the Year, and recently was named by the United Nation’s JCI as one of the Top 10 Most Outstanding Young People of the World.
Michael Bates started his career at the grass roots as an apprentice at Swanes Nursery and went on to study horticulture. He was mentored by Japanese master landscape architect Masayoshi Uchiyama before founding Bates Landscape in 1992 - now one of Sydney's leading landscape businesses. He has created over 1,000 gardens in collaboration with the best of Sydney’s architects, designers and builders, bringing his trademark experience, energy and commitment to each and every project. Michael’s own two gardens reflect his love and mastery of landform construction, his passion for seamlessly blending indoor and outdoor spaces, and his ability to create rich green havens in the heart of a city. Michael is also the author of The New Australian Garden, an insider's account of the journey to design, construct and plant 18 landmark gardens that represent a new movement in Australian landscape design.
There's a buzz about this episode! this is a truly Beeutiful story, a story of love, war, death and then re-generation. Cate Burton tells us about all things in the bee world. Cate is a passionate advocate for bees, for people and for buying local. Cate has a knowledge that goes way above your average fan of our Honey Bees. She also makes possibly the best beeswax candles in the world. Today's story is funny and informative all at the same time. So grab a cuppa and when you put some honey in your cup think about what it takes to produce this amazing golden substance...
In 1997 Jayne and her husband Peter decided to buy a farm. They needed to get away and de-stress from their professions as a brain surgeon and an emergency theatre nurse. Fast forward to now Rylstone Olive Press last week won multiple medals for their olive oils, including the best Olive oils in Australia. This is a journey of passion and down right hard work. Today Jayne pops into our studio to talk all things olive oil. George is excited(it's a Greek thing apparently)and after trying Rylstone Olive oils so was I. so pop on your headphones and have a listen to Jayne and her amazing story.
The Green Lion is the first vegan pub bistro in Australia, today we meet the owner Bhavani Baumann. Bhavani was born in inner sydney Paddington. At the age of 4 her parents sold their house and bought a Kombi, they painted a sun on it and call it Bertha. She spent the next several years travelling Australia living up and down the coast and around Byron Bay in various hippy communes. Eventually they settled in the cult Ananda Marga, this is where Bhavani learnt to cook vegan meals and other vegan delights. Bhavani has been a singer and Musician running a massive choir in Rozelle this is where she found the location for the Green Lion..... we won't say anymore so pop on your head phones, pour yourself a vegan red and a few vegan snacks and have a listen to Bhavani's Journey.
This week we talk to Maria Dunn, Maria's book Married quarter tells the story of life as a soldiers wife. It's a warts and all story of the trial and tribulations of being married to the armed forces. Maria admits to the overuse of alcohol and how she conquered and beat the booze. Now retired Maria and her husband have joined the grey nomads,circling Australia in their four wheel drive. Today we speak to her under her favourite tree in Roma far North Queensland.... Maria loves to talk and she loves to write. So put your headphones on,go for a walk and listen to her tale.
Paul is a self confessed suburban bloke, his life and career has been anything but ordinary in fact we would say it has been extraordinary . Paul grew up in the western suburbs of Sydney in a big loving family filled with Music and sport.
Paul's absolute obsession and love for music lead him to form a band called the Cockroaches in 1980 which went on to be one of the most loved 80's bands in Australia. After the cockroaches and a personal tragedy Paul decided to take a different direction and concentrate on his family. Today we dive deep into this fascinating fella, his life, his loves and his new book Gimme Shelter and the Wiggles. Paul is a great example of a suburban boy who has "done good".... we loved chatting with Paul and we are sure you will love his story.
When she was Young Kathryn Fox had a chance encounter with the Dalai lama...one that would change the course of her life. Kathryn Fox is an award winning, internationally acclaimed author. Her novels have been published in around 30 countries, in over a dozen languages.
Her debut novel, Malicious Intent, toppled the The Da Vinci Code from the number one crime spot on Amazon in the UK and Germany. It was also shortlisted for a prestigious Ned Kelly award and won Sister’s In Crime’s Davitt award for best novel. Her seventh book, Fatal Impact, was shortlisted for the CWA Ned Kelly award for best novel.
In 2014, the world’s biggest selling author, film and TV producer, James Patterson, invited Kathryn to co-author Private Sydney. Their first collaboration became an instant best seller in Australia, UK and US.
Just One Drop tells the little known story of homeopathy: the most controversial system of medicine ever invented.
Homeopathy is a specific form of medicine that uses minute doses of a highly diluted substance that stimulates the body to cure itself. To many, homeopathy seems implausible. They fear it is purely a placebo effect or worse, a form of deception or quackery. Yet, homeopathy has been around for over 200 years and is used by millions worldwide. The film explores the controversy, dispels myths and misconceptions, and asks whether or not homeopathy has been given a fair shake.
In 2007 Heather Hawkins was delivered a savage blow, The news she was given was bad, really bad, But Heather decided that this news wasn't going to define her. So like all great people Heather set about re-writing her story from scratch....off she went on a mission to take in as many new experiences as possible and experiences she did Lots of them. Fast Forward to 2017, Heather has packed in more than most people do in a lifetime. This episode will inspire you, it will make you feel like you can do anything and Heather's message is a simple one.....HAVE A GO! So put on your headphones and take this journey with Brett & George, Heather Hawkins; from Zero to Hero
Doug Hawkins is a local Bondi bloke. Raised in North Bondi in a different time, a time when Bondi was a working class hard nosed town. Back in a time when people hadn't even heard of Gluten free, bio dynamic almond milk or any such a thing. You could say Doug grew up on the wrong side of the tracks.... He's all grown up now and is a true real life Hero, A lifesaver, and the head of Nippers. This a an inspirational tale of a reluctant hero. Communities need Blokes like Doug, A great Man with a great story! we want to grow up and be just like Doug (the Hawk of Bondi).
when we were kids we believed in Santa, The Easter Bunny, Fairy Tales and of course Mermaids. Then when we grow up we lose the wonderment to believe in such things. Not Hannah Fraser! since she was a little girl she always believed she was meant to be a mermaid and then she grew up and guess what? she became a real life mermaid. No George and I haven't been smoking funny cigarettes..... Hannah is a fair dinkum Mermaid and even better she is trying to save our precious oceans singled handed. Today's episode is Funny, informative and full of love...... After you listen to this episode you will never want to use a plastic water bottle again.
We all tell lies, some little white ones and others that are bigger and more damaging. Renee McBryde grew up in a house full of lies....and one in particular impacted her life dramatically. Renee is a remarkably, resilient wonderful women who has grabbed life by the horns and wrestled it to the ground. This episode is an inspirational story from tragedy to ultimately triumph. So grab a coffee and take the time to listen to Renee McBryde Author of "The House of Lies".
Elvis has left the Building...well George (Elvis in his final days sequence jump suit and all) and Brett (gone Fishing) are taking a break. Today's episode is a summary of the first season of FLOAT YOUR BOAT.... Yes that' right we made it through a whole season. Today we talk about the first season's highlights and what is in stall for season II. There are a few laughs and a lot of talk. Float your boat has been so well received we want to thank everyone who has jumped on the Boat and subscribed. Season II promises to be bigger and better with the addition of a new sound mixer (Donny Darko) and a part time Producer (Amy the head mistress)....so stay tuned for season II.
Anastasia is driven by a passion to help, a thirst for knowledge and a desire for a fun, social and well-balanced life style. Anastasia is the Co - Founder of RiSe Women, Anastasia joined forces with her amazing friend, Jodie Bruce-Clarke who created Rise women originally . They laugh and learn together and they are on a mission to support women all around the world by providing practical confidence techniques to help them be the best version of themselves and live the life they really want, through their recently published book (Pumped), and their live presentations, workshops and upcoming online programs.
On Today's episode we laugh, we learn and we shed a tear together, we also learn that Anastasia is part of George's big fat Greek family (well George is the fat one) .
Tulsi van de Graaff is delightfully honest and really smart, today we explore her passions, struggles and desire for change. Tulsi is truly a child of the 70s. Born to hippy parents, by the time she was 18 years old, she had been to 9 different schools, missed a year of school and moved 25 times. As a teenager, she made a choice to overcome her excruciating shyness and discovered change was possible. Now Tulsi is the founder of Lead Your Own Change.
We all have stories of our childhood, most of them are pretty normal. Joy Smithers childhood was anything but normal!! Joy had a very tough start, as she says "my upbringing was your garden variety abuse" but throughout today's interview what strikes us clearly is how amazingly positive Joy is about everything! Joy is an actor, a singer a business owner and most importantly a mother, not to mention all the charity work she does in her spare time (ha ha). Seriously folks you need to listen to today's episode it is truly an inspiring story....and Joy is a beautifully amazing woman
On this week's interview episode - 016 we are talking all things natural. Emmily Banks lives what she advocates, she is down to earth, funny and a natural beauty. we talk to her about her life living in the Bubble of the eastern suburbs and how she needs to escape from time to time. Emmily say's "It's a big part of my mission to remove the ego associated with people wanting to look and feel beautiful. I am hoping to represent beauty in a holistic way and elevate the reputation of natural beauty and its performance"
Joanna Ferrari is a vocal advocate for the transgender community. From high power executive living the life to her coming out and crashing with 79 cents in the bank, this episode is an epic journey of Struggle and determination Joanna has that never say die attitude. It's raw gritty and truly honest, as Joanna says "everyone has a secret" and hers was a big secret one she kept for many years one she kept from herself.... please do not miss this episode.
Stephen Doggett is the Director of the Department of Medical Entomology at Westmead Hospital in Sydney, Australia. He has over 30 years’ experience in the field of medical entomology. Today we talk Bed Bugs a fascinating chap and a fascinating chat about all things bug related, this interview will have you Itching for more....get it....itching :)
Kilty has a rich and colourful background, she fights the good fight and does it with lots of grit, determination and integrity. Local communities need more people like Kilty.....her story is truly uplifting and inspiring. Her most recent project Kilty has Established (with others) a campaign to Save Bondi Pavilion from Council’s $38m plan to privatise this public building
Throughout her forty-something years, Vashti has lived, worked and breathed a life driven by her passion for exploring ALL that life has to offer. Her default mindset and overarching desire to provoke, disrupt and inspire by intuitively asking, ‘What is actually possible from any given situation?’ have her stand apart as a THOUGHT LEADER, STORM RIDER and CHANGE MAKER
During today’s podcast we laughed a lot, JJ (Janine) is funny, smart and motivated. We love her story and we think you will too. You have to listen right until the end where George and I secretly tape a great and funny story without JJ knowing…sorry JJ but it was too good to leave out . Janine started 100Mums in 2012 to try and solve the puzzle of bringing together highly skilled women with companies that desperately require their expertise. They now have a resource pool of over 5000 highly talented women available to companies to work on a part time or flexible full time basis. So far 100Mums has worked across infrastructure, defence, manufacturing, banking and even assisted smaller agile companies, proving no matter what your industry there are skilled women out there you just need the right approach to attract them!
Lena gets real on today’s Podcast you will be captivated with her story growing up in western Sydney as she says “I’m an Arab girl in fact a Muslim Arab girl” her heart felt story is the struggle she had growing up, torn between her Muslim culture and the desire to fit in with her piers….this is a compelling story that you must listen to Lena has over 25 years’ experience in Television post-production, photography, digital design, social media and print experience, before delving into the world of celebrity talent management.. Her impressive photography portfolio has a strong focus on lifestyle and portraiture. Lena has had a sea change and is now the co-owner of the Henrie Stride talent Agency. Lena also works as a volunteer photographer for the Heartfelt Organisation.
When we think about story tellers we think about sitting around a fire listening to an old grey haired lady with a softly comforting voice, well that’s a myth and Stu will prove that in this podcast. Stu is a former copper of 30 years and boy does he have some great stories. His love is contribution to community and he has proven over and over that he is the real deal. Stu tells us what floats his boat and why
This episode is really George & Brett summarising the first 7 interviews. It’s amazing how Float your Boat has evolved. Originally a small business Podcast Float your Boat has now really become A podcast about Peoples stories, journeys highs and lows and trying to find out what makes people happy. We all know that George & Brett are easily pleased….beer, whisky, food, laughing, family, friends and business…..well that’s what they think!! The Podcast has now flipped them on their big fat melons and is now asking them the big question “WHAT FLOATS YOUR BOAT”
Jane Thorpe: Jane has a story! and boy what a story….Jane has spent a good deal of her adult life in search of her inner peace. Jane, originally an actor/ singer who ended up married with kids and depression. After a failed suicide attempt Jane decided that it was time to find out who she really was. Author of Journey of Riches Jane has now gone onto transforming and re-inventing Jane Thorpe. This is a compelling interview leaving George spellbound and inspired….hop on board folks this is a must listen.
Brendan Torazzi is a local Bondi Larrikin, Surfer, meditator and Business dude. Brendan tells us his story from selling foreign language signs to sleep pods and then all things Training. His true passion is surfing, meditating and being with his family that is what really Floats his boat…so hop on board and have a listen.
Cindy is a serial entrepreneur, starting with Lukin & May cookies all the way to Luk Beautifood. Cindy's tells us her story and how she reach and found what floats her boat
Joining The Idea of North in February 2007 has given Sally the opportunity to combine two great loves – vocal jazz and a cappella music. From 2001-2006, as the lead vocalist and compere of The Band of the South Australia Police, Sally sang and played daily in many ensembles including a rock band, concert band, stage band, and small jazz combo and she also led a small vocal group within the band. Her versatility as an instrumentalist has served her well in the world of musical employment. Besides performing she also currently enjoys teaching and adjudicating engagements. In 1995 and 1996 Sally won the Adelaide Junior Vocal Championship two years running. As an Elder Conservatorium orchestral scholarship student for 1997 and 1998, Sally was able to further her skills as a saxophonist in conjunction with studying vocal jazz performance with the world renowned, Connaitre Miller. Sally was a founding member of the vocal group 'Pure Harmony' along with Naomi Crellin. They recorded and performed together for ten years until 2002 when Naomi joined TION.
Author Lee Holmes discovered supercharged foods after she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease in 2006. Eager to find a drug-free solution, she became a keen food and health researcher and developed a diet regime that led to her full recovery. Lee is a regular columnist for WellBeing magazine and a writer for Miranda Kerr's Kora Organics blog. She is also the author of the popular website www.superchargedfood.com.
What floats your boat? We dig deep into people’s dreams, passions and desires in an effort get to the bottom of that age old question, a question that has initiated a world-wide phenomenon known as the Self-help industry. Float your boat is real people with real stories, from small business to rock n roll; from tragedy to success and back again. Your hosts George Sabados and Brett Pattinson take their uniquely laid back and humorous approach in this candid podcast…… to ask their guests the big question “What truly makes you happy” so hop on board and strap yourself in and find out “what floats your boat”.