Seize the Yay

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Ben and Dan Pronk // Mastering the military, MBAs, micro goals and mindset Sep 09, 2021

Show notes

Most of you are already aware of my fascination with the military (the origins if which I’m still not really sure about but which I’ve stopped questioning because we also all know that weird things will make you yay, so just roll with them because you're already far better off than those who haven't found their yay yet). So, you won’t be surprised how much I enjoyed this week’s two episodes but I promise the military connection was a timing coincidence!

If you haven’t listened yet, our #yaysofourlives guest Tom Howell, Director of Field Operations for Disaster Relief Australia, a partner of our partner Mitsubishi( so part of the yayborhood). Tom started out as an army combat paramedic doing some fascinating work in Afghanistan, then later worked in the jungles of Papua New Guinea before becoming a full-time firefighter which he does alongside his work with DRA. Today, we’re joined by two fellow veterans and legendary brothers, Ben and Dan Pronk, who along with their close friend Tim Curtis just published (and already sold out) their first brilliant book, The Resilience Shield. All three were elite soldiers in the SAS which is already impressive enough but later went on to complete their MBAs launching successful post-military careers AND the brothers now fondly refer to themselves as two thirds of an author setting today’s warm, self-deprecating tone.

I already gush about Resilience Shield enough in this episode, but whether you’re interested in the military or not, it is a transformative handbook for our crazy times. Aiming to help us build a shield of resilience against the undeniable uncertainty and unfairness of the world, high adrenaline military anecdotes are weaved seamlessly in among dense philosophy, science and research from around the world about timely themes like fulfilment, loss and rebuilding of identity, trauma, modern information overload and goal setting. No size 12 font storytelling, Resilience Shield is packed full of a methodology built over three stellar careers to date but with endearing relatable language like one of my favourite chapters,But what about my dickhead boss?

I’m pretty much just rehashing what we talk about now, so I’ll let the boys tell you more themselves. I truly enjoyed this one so much and hope you do too.

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We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give. // Tom Howell, Disaster Relief Australia Sep 07, 2021

Show notes

Back in your ears again, beautiful people, how time is flying by! It’s been another crazy week of a crazy year and in amongst the madness, the yayborhood has truly kept me going. A few days ago was the anniversary of the Seize the Yay book coming out (which I still can’t believe is a thing) and again, some of you sent the loveliest heartfelt messages about how it's impacted your lives sharing your a-ha moments or back stories. I know I say it all the time but the only thing that’s hard about podcasting is that I don’t get to interact with you WHILE you’re listening to see what you think or how the show lands, so when you take the time to send messages separately it really makes my day.

As for our guest, as you all know I’ve zipping around in the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross aka the yay-mobile to bring you some incredible stories from yayborhood heroes and we have another fascinating guest today here to share bit more about one of Mitsubishi’s partnerships that makes me so proud to have them as one of our partners. Mitsubishi renewed its partnership with Disaster Relief Australiaearlier this year providing SUV and all-terrain vehicles to help DRA in its mission to provide rapid disaster response in the wake of natural disasters.

You may have seen some of DRA’s work during the catastrophic bushfires last year during which the Mitsubishi fleet helped deploy volunteers to five operations across three states. And today we’re joined by the National Director of Field Operations, Tom Howell to tell us a bit more about it, along with his own fascinating story. Tom served in the Australian Army as a company medic with operational experience in the middle east, predominantly Afghanistan. He completed his paramedicine studies with the Army and upon discharging worked over in Papua New Guinea as a paramedic for a few years specialising in remote area trauma. Alongside his work with DRA, he is also a full-time firefighter with Fire Rescue Victoria and has been a member of DRA since 2017, beginning in the training space but now managing the field operations team to facilitate deployment of our members across Australia and wider area of operations.

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Jess Fox // Canoe even believe how oar-some this woman is? Sep 01, 2021

Show notes

I would almost go so far as to say it would be un-Australian not to know who today’s guest is or have shed a tear watching her incredible Olympic performance in Tokyo a few weeks ago. While all our athletes bore the weight of great expectations on their shoulders, having debut-ed at the London Olympics at 18 years old to win silver, then taking a Bronze in Rio, Jess Fox probably faced more pressure than most as she tackled the canoe slalom. Add two Olympic canoeists as parents (one as Jess’ coach) AND the fact that Tokyo was the first ever Olympics to include the C1 class (which you’ll learn about in our chat) for women, and I had a breakdown just thinking about competing. And yet, the legendary Jess charged her way through to a gold medal (just 48 hours after taking bronze in the K1 class) and lived to tell the tale.

If you listen often, you might be able to recognise my fan-girl related babbling – I talk quickly and inarticulately when I get this excited and I was chuffed to have this amazing woman on the show just weeks after her win while she’s already preparing for the World Cup in Spain. Even more so because I know she’s been listening to Seize the Yay since 2019, which blows. my. mind. If you watched Jess at the games and thought her warmth and humility shone through on TV, she is equally as delightful one-on-one and I learnt so much about canoeing, maintaining razor sharp focus and allowing yourself to focus on doing your best rather than winning being your only objective. We also clarified the condom story, among many other chuckles and plays to yay outside of sport – I hope you guys enjoy getting to know our champion as much as I did!

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You don't stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop laughing // Ang Roan Aug 30, 2021

Show notes

Back with another instalment of #yaysofourlives and since you loved her so much of you weeks ago, the legendary Ang Foot is back again this week. And that was just as much for my benefit as it was for yours – I'm sure everyone's been feeling that the last few weeks have been even more intense in the news cycle than things already were and I was just feeling a bit flat and exhausted so I called in the big guns to bring the yay back to your ears.

Just like last time, this is another very unplanned, very last-minute chit chat that’s probably even more random and all over the shop than last time, which really is saying something. I always say how much I love the banter that comes out of these more casual episodes, but this time, I feel like I might've let too much of my crazy out of the bag - my brain has been so much less articulate lately than usual, so apologies in advance.

We do cover some really interesting stories as well about Ang’s family's experience through the Vietnam war, my adoption anniversary, and Ang’s grandma going viral for her AFL skills, which since the time of recording, which is only yesterday, has also gone on to national TV. And they’re even going live on ABC this week, what an absolute JOY! Hope you enjoy and this brings you a little smile!

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

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Dr Richard Harris SC OAM // A deep dive into the anaesthetist, adventurer and Australian of the Year 2019 Aug 26, 2021

Show notes

RE-RELEASE - We had a freshy ready for this week, but it's been one year exactly since one of our most popular episodes ever so it felt like a good time to bump it back into your ears. Especially with so many of us still in lockdown, I personally loved the escapism of this one so hope you do too! Please ignore any time specific references, although most of our yay is evergreen so hopefully you enjoy as much as I did!

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Sometimes, I choose our guests out of purely selfish curiosity to converse with a particular person regardless of whether anyone else would find them interesting, although I suspect most of you will be as fascinated by Dr Richard Harris as I am. After a random news article led me off on a multi-hour internet tangent a few weeks ago, I bought Dr Harris’ book - Against All Odds - and got it in my head that I HAD to talk to him and I’m so glad he kindly agreed to jump on the show.

You know I get overly excited about the unique way our talents and interests can intersect to create a yay-filled life and Dr Harris (or Harry as he insists I call him) has a truly unique set of skills as an anaesthetist and technical cave diver. So unique, in fact, that he was pretty much the only person in the world equipped to help sedate and thereby save the 13 young Thai boys of the Wild Boars Soccer team who got stuck 4km into a cave in Thailand in the rainy season of 2018 (along with diving mate and co-author, Dr Craig Challen with whom he won Australian of the Year last year). I don’t think I need to say much more to explain why I’m fascinated by his story - I gush a LOT in this one but I just couldn’t fathom the enormity of the task before him the details of which definitely went over my head watching it on the news at the time.

Among many other things, Harry also has his own wonderful podcast, Real Risk, so was equipped with a proper mic - such a pro - I highly recommend both his book AND his podcast the latest episode off which is with legendary James Cameron of Titanic fame. See links below! Hope you enjoy!

>>> LISTEN TO THE REAL RISK PODCAST HERE <<<

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If what you're doing isn't working, don't do it harder // Emma Isaacs Aug 23, 2021

Show notes

When I say #yaysofourlives has a looser structure than our OG interviews, I took it to all new levels today chatting for probably half an hour before I asked the first question. But, with the inimitable Emma Isaacs jumping back on the show who I haven’t seen forever AND who has written her second, brand new book with SO MUCH painfully relevant content to cover, I’m surprised I even got to my questions at all!

If you haven’t heard Emma’s backstory yet, head back to episode 11 to hear how she has blazed a trail for female entrepreneurs (and all entrepreneurs for that matter) since the age of 18 leading her to become the founder and global CEO of Business Chicks. If you follow me at all, you’ll know what a huge impact Emma and her team have had on me both professionally and in all areas of who I am as a person and I’ll forever be indebted for the opportunities and connections they have made possible in my life (including the fact that Emma had faith enough in Seize the Yay to jump on the show just 11 episode in).

In this chat, we just have a good old catch up with bursts of me gushing about her brilliant second book, The New Hustle, in between. You’ll probably tell that once I get started, I keep linking idea after idea making my way through almost the whole book before realising I haven’t even asked about quote of the yay – but that’s why it’s such a timely read with 77 amazing messages about navigating times of challenge and change. Emma is one of the women I look up to most in the world and to have her in your ears at a time like this is so invaluable, so I hope you enjoy and take as much out of her as I do. She is at once impeccably professional and wise as well as a totally open book about parenting six kids or having breakdowns on the daily – the relatable content we all need to hear. Link to The New Hustle will of course be in the show notes

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Rachael Sarra // From sixth Spice Girl to symbolism, storytelling and starting Sar.ra Aug 18, 2021

Show notes

I only met today’s guest in person recently, but we happen to share the same management which basically makes us family (big shout out to Gen and her team at Day Management) and I’d separately been a great admirer of her work since long before then. Rachael Sarra is a contemporary Aboriginal artist and designer from Goreng Goreng country whose work is a powerful tool for storytelling, change making and spreading the yay.

Crashing right through the dot painting stereotype and challenging society’s perception of Aboriginal art and identity, Rachael’s style is uniquely energetic, engaging and colourful. She pushes art to new boundaries from being projected onto the William Jolly Bridge to the packaging of some incredible brand collaborations like Matrix Hair which you’ll hear about as well as The Body Shop and How We Roll Co. I found out, however, that she originally hoped to be the sixth Spice Girl until I planted a big fat nay to yay all over that – this was also my first time as an accidental killjoy and probably a hint at how much fun we had going off on random tangents between exploring her pathYAY to date. She is another great example that what you advocate for might not be trendy until it is but the change makers are the ones who stick with it anyway. I love this woman and everything she's about and hope you do too.

MATRIX TOTAL RESULTS MIRACLE CREATOR SPRAY

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Don't be afraid of death, Winnie. Be afraid of the unlived life - Piglet // Ang Roan Aug 16, 2021

Show notes

It wouldn’t truly be #yaysofourlives if I didn’t get our little yaymaker Angelena Roan to jump on for an episode. I’ve been getting so many lovely messages about how these tangential banter sessions have been helping you guys keep smiling, but honestly it’s more therapy for me that I just happen to record, so the fact that you’re enjoying too is a bonus.

You may remember Ang from the VERY first episode of the podcast, her own interview in episode 33 or all over my socials - I’ve had three messages JUST this week asking about my sister which she is not but which you’d be forgiven for assuming. She’s my mini me, best friend and has squeezed more into life at 24 than many do in a lifetime having ridden 800km from Adelaide to Melbourne for charity, started boxing for fun only to win her first fight by TKO, played in the VFLW for North Melbourne, started her own creative agency and now just happens to be a full time Physiotherapist at Royal Melbourne Hospital.

We swing from hysterically brainless to deeply philosophical which is one of my favourite things about our friendship and which definitely comes out in this chat today - apologies for the parts that don’t make sense to anyone but that we clearly find hilarious. Again for this one, I had no notes at all which I’m loving so much between our regular schedule and hope you enjoy following our crazy brains all over the place.

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Sophie Cachia // Change, challenge and chapters of a BRAND NEW BOOK Aug 10, 2021

Show notes

I’ve been feeling this a lot lately and was wondering if it was just me until I started getting quite a few messages from you guys remarking that our guests lately seem to have been just who we needed to hear from to get through the tumultuous past few weeks with the nation in and out of lockdown. This week, the universe has delivered yet again with the delightful Sophie Cachia on the very day she announced her brand new book sparking an incredible conversation about navigating life’s unexpected twists and turns with grace, strength and positivity. (You’ll notice it’s come out a little earlier than usual and I skipped #yaysofourlives to get it out asap – we literally recorded AS Sophie was making her announcement so it's hot off the press!)

This chat highlights one of the things I love so much about this podcast – the opportunity and privilege of sitting down with people many of you have heard of but whose eloquence and poise often gets glossed over with our short attention spans on social media. Even in my own research, it was pretty hard to get past Sophie’s marriage to then separation from Jaryd Cachia, current relationship with her new partner Maddie and a very wonky chronology of everything in between. But you’ll hear pretty quickly what a switched on, emotionally intelligent and articulate woman Sophie is making the news of her new memoir, Then There Was Her just SO exciting. Add four businesses to her belt, two beautiful children and the fact that she’s only 30 years old and just getting started and you’ve got a serious force to be reckoned with who I hope you gain as much from as I did.

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Diana Nyad // Fifth time's a charm - on failure, fearlessness and finding a way Aug 05, 2021

Show notes

Today’s is a guest who I count as one of my favourite speakers of all time who I was lucky enough to hear from on Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island during our incredible trip with Business Chicks. I have been hoping to share her infectious enthusiasm, energetic storytelling and MIND-BLOWING story since that moment two years ago and am SO excited to finally share her with you now.

It's probably no surprise that Diana Nyad ended up as a marathon swimmer given that her surname means water nymph in Greek mythology (which I know because it was the name of one of my high school houses). With many achievements in competitive swimming over her lifetime, it was an idea that hit her at 9 years old to swim from Cuba to Florida that never left her. Starting from 2010, Diana began the journey to swim of over 50 hours through freezing, shark and jellyfish infested waters making not one but FIVE attempts before successfully covering the 180km and get this… at 64 YEARS OLD. As Hilary Clinton puts it perfectly, when you’re facing big challenges in your life you can think about Diana and nearly anything else seems doable by comparison.

Before we jump in, I just wanted to throw a very big shout out to Emma Isaacs and the Business Chicks team again for continually creating invaluable, unforgettable experiences for so many of us and making some of the world’s most fascinating and inspiring people accessible like Diana to its members. If you aren’t already a member, I can’t recommend anything more highly for seizing your yay so SIGN UP HERE. I hope you are as invigorated by this one as I am and please excuse a bit scratchier audio than usual – the tech woes got us good but in true Diana fashion we pressed on.

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