Episodes

What does it look like when a system learns to be compassionate? In this thoughtful and timely conversation, we explore that question with Professor Liz Grant from the University of Edinburgh. Liz is Professor of Global Health and Development at the University of Edinburgh, where her work brings together global health, compassion, planetary wellbeing, and systems change. Across research, policy, education, and advocacy, she has focused on turning global health knowledge into action, especially ...

In this episode, I’m joined by author, and mindfulness and compassion teacher Margaret Cullen for a thoughtful conversation on equanimity - the steady, grounded quality that helps us meet life’s uncertainty without being swept away by it. Together, we explore her new book Quiet Strength, and what equanimity really means, how it differs from detachment, and why it matters in a world that often pulls us toward reactivity, outrage and overwhelm. Margaret also discusses the Four Immeasurables - lo...

Empowering Wellness: Exercise as Medicine for Mind and Body Welcome to another episode from our series exploring the profound impact of taking deliberate actions on various aspects of health, where today, we’re delving into the interplay between physical exercise and mental health - particularly in individuals living with chronic illnesses. In a deeply engaging conversation with Dr. Sue Broadbent, a clinical exercise physiologist, we unravel the subtle yet powerful benefits of tailored exercise ...

“The brain is always capable of change ... behaviour is the price of admission.” How much can the brain really change - and what does it take to make that change last? In this episode, Dr Lara Boyd shares her winding journey from sport and physical therapy into neuroscience, sparked by a deep fascination with how the brain adapts through learning and recovers after damage. Along the way, she unpacks how advances like MRI and brain stimulation helped overturn the old idea that the brain is “hard...

Embracing Compassion: A Journey through Mindfulness and Resilience Welcome.This conversation is one I’ve been sitting with for a while. It was originally published in November on World Compassion Day in 2025. I had the chance to be interviewed by Jesse Spurr and Liz Crowe, from the 5 Things Podcast at Metro North, and together we explored compassion - not as a theory or a nice idea, but as something deeply practical. Something we come back to again and again when life is painful, uncertain, or ...

Welcome to this special holiday episode as we approach the end of 2025. As the year draws to a close, many of us find ourselves reflecting on what we’ve been working through - both personally and professionally. Today, we explore a profound question that I have been working with this year: What is the difference between pain and suffering in meditation? Pain is the raw, unavoidable sensation - physical or emotional. Suffering, however, sometimes called the “second arrow”: the mental resistance...

The Art of Being: Embracing Mindfulness and Compassion During Challenging Times with Cortland Dahl In this enlightening episode, we delve into the transformative journey and work of Dr Cortland Dahl, a meditation expert, scientist, translator and researcher at the Center for Healthy Minds. Cort’s true passion is using ancient wisdom and modern science to help people flourish. Cort shares his personal experiences from battling anxiety as a young adult to finding solace and purpose through extens...

Never Quit: Lessons in Leadership and Life - A conversation with Greg Robertson In this episode, Greg Robertson shares his extensive military background, from joining the Army at 17 and serving for 25 years, including 15 years as a sniper in special forces and regular army. Greg was inspired by the US Army Sniper Association, and after a few key experiences, established the Army Sniper Association (snipe.org.au) to maintain corporate knowledge, connection and support soldiers with practical res...

Crisis and Compassion: Meredith Parfet on Transforming Loss into Meaning In this episode, we delve deep into the multifaceted world of grief, crisis management, and emotional resilience with Meredith Parfet, a CEO, hospice chaplain and death doula. Meredith shares her poignant and personal journey with grief, having lost her sister during the early stages of the opioid epidemic, followed by a series of other profound losses. As CEO of Raynard Group, 'Meredith works with individuals and organi...

The Generous Exchange: Maria Sirois on Burnout, Resilience, Beauty and Excellence In this heartfelt conversation, Nick interviews Maria Sirois, Psychologist, Leadership Consultant and Author about her journey and her book 'The Generous Exchange.' Maria shares her experiences working with families facing life-threatening diseases, encountering resilience in its most profound form. We discuss the concept of resilience as more than mere adaptation, but as an alignment with one's true self and an ...

The New Happy A Journey into Compassion and Resilience - Stephanie Harrison In this insightful episode, we start with a tribute to the life and work of friend of the show Ralph De La Rosa, who graced our show on three different occasions, offering profound insights, support and wisdom. We are so grateful for their contributions and the light they brought. In our interview, we discus the importance of compassion, self-awareness, and vulnerability in today's world. Stephanie shares her personal ...

The Future of Behavioral Science with Steven Hayes: Beyond Bell Curves In this captivating episode, Dr Steven Hayes returns to discuss the significant developments in the landscape of behavioral science and the ACT model over the past four years. Steven explores the limitations of traditional scientific methods in characterizing individual human behavior and introduces innovative approaches that focus on individualized analysis. He delves into the concept of idio and nomothetic measurements, e...

The Healing Power of Expressive Writing: An Interview with Dr. Jamie Pennebaker In this enlightening episode, we delve into the transformative world of expressive writing with Dr. Jamie Pennebaker, a leading researcher in the field. Dr. Pennebaker recounts the fascinating journey from his initial studies on the impact of journaling on overcoming trauma to the development of the computer program, Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC). Discover how expressive writing can remarkably improve p...

In this insightful conversation, Chris Germer talks about his journey in discovering and co-creating mindful self-compassion with Kristen Neff. Chris shares his personal struggles with anxiety, shame and public speaking, and how practicing loving-kindness meditation transformed his experiences of fear and shame. He discusses the complementary roles of self-compassion and mindfulness in managing intense emotions, describing the three key components: mindfulness, common humanity, and self-kindne...

Dr. Liz Stanley is a renowned expert in resilience, stress, and trauma recovery. As a professor at Georgetown University, she has dedicated her career to understanding the social structures that drive human behaviour, especially during times of stress and conflict. Dr. Stanley is the creator of Mindfulness-based Mind Fitness Training (MMFT®), a groundbreaking program that has been empirically validated to help individuals build resilience and recover from trauma. Recently, Dr. Stanley has been ...

Transforming Lives with Self-Compassion and Mindfulness: An Interview with Dr. Shauna Shapiro. In this heartfelt and insightful interview, Dr. Shauna Shapiro, a renowned psychologist and professor, shares her journey into the field of mindfulness and self-compassion, shaped significantly by a life-changing spinal surgery at age 17, Shauna discusses how she overcame pain and anxiety through mindfulness practice and devloping Self Compassion. The conversation discusses her transformative experie...

Finding Meaning Amidst Chaos: A Journey Through Trauma, Compassion and Healing In this moving episode, I have a chat with freind of the show Ralph, who is a trauma therapist, meditation teacher and author. Ralph shares candid details about his recent harrowing experience of facing sudden liver failure. Despite dealing with immense physical and emotional pain, he offers valuable insights on trauma, healing, and finding meaning even in the darkest times. We discuss the critical role of compassio...

Nikki Szabo is a dedicated and compassionate professional with over 25 years’ experience in community welfare and the education sectors. Nikki holds a graduate diploma in social science and a degree in Community Welfare from Southern Cross University, and has worked in various roles including program and project management, advocacy, wellbeing support and case management. At the Iris Foundation, Nikki is deeply involved in research, training and development. She's passionate about delivering re...

Dr. Jane Compson is an Associate Professor in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences at the University of Washington, Tacoma. With a rich background in religious studies and ethics, she passionately applies insights from Buddhist traditions to contemporary contexts, including higher education, environmental education, and healthcare. Dr. Compson is a trained facilitator of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Compassion Cultivation Training, dedicated to enhancing well-being and resilience throug...

The Transformative Journey of Venerable Robina Courtin: Insights from "Don't Quit On Me" Podcast The latest episode of "Don't Quit On Me," is an an extraordinary conversation with Venerable Robina Courtin, a Buddhist nun whose life epitomizes the boundless potential of the human heart. Her journey from a rebellious youth in Melbourne, Australia, to becoming a beacon of wisdom and compassion in the Tibetan Gelugpa tradition is nothing short of inspirational. **A Beacon of Compassion and Wisdom*...

Rest and Recovery - the Keys for Long Term Success Nick Propper is a sought after expert, keynote speaker and facilitator on the topic of building sustainable human performance. Nick works extensively within the senior leadership groups of some of the world’s leading organizations, including Yale School of Medicine, Goldman Sachs, Procter & Gamble, Morgan Stanley, DaVita, G100, United States Ski & Snowboard Team, United States Air Force and the United States Federal Intelligence Community. Prior...

Mark McConville is a seasoned comedian and a respected lecturer in Suicidology. With over two decades of experience in the entertainment industry, he has become one of Australia’s most reliable and professional comedians. Mark’s academic journey in mental health is equally impressive; he graduated from Griffith University with a Master’s Degree in Suicidology and received the Griffith Award for Academic Excellence in 2016. His work now bridges the gap between laughter and serious discussions abo...

Maggie O'Shea is a relationship therapist and mental health social worker in private practice with over 30 years of experience in the field. Maggie lives in Castlemaine in Australia and teaches Masters of Counselling students in Melbourne at Swinburne University and Relationships Australia. Maggie’s practice MindfulPresence specializes in group-work and retreats for individuals and couples. She is trained and registered to teach the 8-week mindfulness based stress reduction and mindful self-co...

Amber Lea Starfire is a writer and writing coach who has published two memoirs and several journaling how-to books. She has also developed a series of online classes and workshops that have helped many people journal and deepen their writing practice. Amber says "Bringing truth and creativity into the world — and empowering others to do the same — is the work of my life. I truly believe that there is power in the story of people’s lives. My work here combines what I’ve learned from a career in...