Kurt Fearnley's Tiny Island

What's it like to represent your country at an Olympic Games and World Championship but not be known to almost all of the population? Welcome to the life of aerial skier, Sam Wells. Sam represented Australia at two Winter Olympics before retiring from her sport in 2018. Her journey from self confessed average gymnast with a major injury, to Olympian is bloody great. 

We all know Paul Hogan threw the shrimp on the barbie, but who got Bob Hawke to buy the prawns? Former Federal Minister John Brown was the man who sold the beauty of  Australia to the US in the 1980s and helped Sydney secure the 2000 Olympics. Beyond his Parliamentary career, John and his Sport and Tourism Youth Foundation, helped hundreds of Australians, including me, to follow their talents and dreams on national and international stages. 

When I was racing, every year I would treat myself to a cut-throat shave at a New York City barber on the 1st of Movember. Not for the 0.1 of a second aerodynamic advantage in the marathon two days later, but to kick-start my annual mo growth, helping to raise awareness and sometimes funds, for Movember, the leading charity changing the face of men's health. This Movember, I've pulled together three segments from previous episodes which deep-dive into some of the focus areas of Movember - in particular, mental health and suicide, and testicular cancer. If you haven't listened to my yarns with Osher Gunsberg, Drew Duggan and Craig Hamilton, this week's ep will give you a taste of their broader discussions. If you have, listen to this weeks ep again as a reminder of their stories and what we can do to help ourselves and others, and tell a mate about it too. We deep dive in these chats so a reminder if you're ever worried that someone's life is in immediate danger, call 000 or go directly to emergency services.

It's Movember, a cause close to my heart and one I've supported for more than a decade. This week I get to talk with a Mo Bro and good mate, Drew Duggan, who has battled one of the key areas Movember supports - testicular cancer.

A sporting career is finite but there's life either side to consider for all athletes. For elite sportswomen wanting to start a family, it's even more complex. For an Olympian in a contact sport, next level. Welcome to the life of 2016 Rio Olympic gold medallist in women's rugby 7s, Alicia Quirk. 

  I recently had former Managing Director of the ABC on the pod where we spoke about the current state of Australian media. This episode was an opportunity to hear from someone who has sat on the other side of the fence, John Hartigan, former Chair and CEO of News Limited. John has sat in many chairs and our paths have crossed on the board of Paralympics Australia and in our work with the Indigenous Marathon Project. 

Sometimes we need a voice to fight for a cause when we are silenced. Sister Diana Santleben has been that voice, a very loud one at that, for hundreds of refugees and other Australians throughout her life. A wonderful member of my community in Newcastle, Sister Di is a cracking Aussie.

Mark Scott is one of Australia's best known public servants. As the managing director of the ABC for 10 years he oversaw the introduction of Australia's first 24 hour news channel and a big shift towards digital delivery of content. As the current secretary of the NSW Department of Education he is taking on the epic battle of ensuring hundreds of thousands of students receive a quality education in a safe environment as the world battles Covid.

We've all moved and grooved to the sounds of this week's guest, Kirk Pengilly of INXS. Kirk and I have crossed paths a few times over the years and it was nice to sit down and deep dive into his life as an 80s rock god. But I think Kirk is best described by my dad "he'd fit in at the Carcoar pub".          

Craig Hamilton has had a successful and varied career. He has worked as an underground coal miner, radio sports commentator and is a mental health advocate, speaker and author. As a Beyond Blue Ambassador, Craig provides an insight into what it is like to experience a mental health condition and gives hope and encouragement to others. Craig is probably best known as a member of the Grandstand Rugby League commentary.

Lawrie McKinna has worn many hats and shirts! He arrived in Australia from Scotland in the 80s as a professional footballer, before moving into coaching and management in the national league and in China, with a sidestep into local government in between. Now in football administration as CEO of the Newcastle Jets, Lawrie brings his own perspective to what it means to be an Australian.

Victories shared are the sweetest and Adam Spencer helped me share mine with thousands. I fondly remember shooting down Fifth Avenue in a chauffeured car after winning the New York Marathon, alone but thanks to Adam and ABC radio, talking to a city of millions back home. Author, presenter, mathematician, Adam wears many caps and it was great to catch up.

There are always challenges as a parent. For me, it can be that tough night, awake at 4 in the morning, seemingly tortured through lack of sleep, feeling like it will never end. When I first met Kamalle Dabboussy I was having one of those nights. Kamalle's pain though, is on a different level with no end in sight. His child is trapped in Syria along with his three grandchildren.

Georgie Gardner is a face and name known to most Australians. She's been in our living rooms for more than 25 years and is one of few news presenters and journalists to work across our three main commercial television stations. In 2019, she was part of the first all-woman main presenter duos on Australian breakfast TV, when Deborah Knight joined her on the Today show. An all-round wonderful person, Georgie is another cracking Aussie.

Jordan O'Reilly is the co-founder and CEO of Hireup, an online platform connecting Australians with disability with support workers who fit their needs and share their interests. Last year Hireup was named Google.org Impact Challenge winner & named Australia's 2017 fastest growing tech company name by Deloitte.   

Wil Anderson is an Australian comedian, writer, presenter, and podcaster. Wil's rise to prominence started in 2000 when he co-hosted the triple j breakfast radio show with Adam Spencer. Between 2001 and 2006, Wil hosted the comedy talk-show The Glass House & is currently the executive producer and host of The Gruen Transfer. Wil also hosts numerous podcast, yet is most well known for Wilosophy, where Wil gets to explore how people think & the belief systems behind them

Liesl Tesch is one of those Australians who keeps challenging herself and coming out on top. School teacher, Paralympic medalist in two sports, world champion, Sydney to Hobart sailor, Member of Parliament, the list is long! I've known Liesl for 20 years and it was lovely to have a chat and reflect on sporting career and beyond.

Justin Hales wanted to revisit his childhood love of caravanning. When searching for the perfect van to hire, he couldn’t help but notice all of the un-used caravans and campers sitting on driveways around his neighbourhood. A stackload of entrepreneurial spirit, a passion for making camping holidays more accessible and investment from a local business accelerator, saw Camplify first say ‘G’day’ to Australia in 2015. Five years later, Justin’s nostalgia trip has led to a global community of thousands of van owners in Australia, the UK, Spain and New Zealand now boosting their income by sharing the joys of caravanning with others also earning him accolades such as Australian Entrepreneur of the Year in the tourism sector.

Nat Heath is a graduate of the Indigenous Marathon Project(IMP) and now Board Member of the Indigenous Marathon Foundation (IMF). Working in Indigenous mentoring and education his entire career, we speak about the importance of education and the difference it can make in lives. And we take time to digest some of the many issues currently being tackled by his community, many of which have been fought over for decades!      

Dave Rickards was a co-founder and CEO of Crazy Clints Bargain Stores in Australia from 1979 - 2001. Having sold this business in 2001, he along with his wife Kerry embarked upon a personal journey of giving. In 2010, they set up the DAK Foundation.​ Now they are one of Australia's most active philanthropic donors.