Engaging Conversations | Inspiring Dialogue, Empowering Communities

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  • 5.0 (6)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Engaging Conversations, the podcast that connects you with the pulse of our local communities. Hosted by Leon Goltsman, Founder of Ecolibrium Headquarters (EcoHQ), each episode invites you on an inspiring journey into the stories that shape and uplift our neighbourhoods. From visionary leaders and industry experts to everyday heroes making a difference, Engaging Conversations offers an exclusive look into our society’s diverse and dynamic fabric. This podcast is your gateway to broadening your perspective, building meaningful connections, and being inspired. Please note that the views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or EcoHQ. The discussions in this podcast are for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional, financial, medical, or legal advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek independent professional advice before making any decisions based on the content of this podcast. Tune in, join the conversation, and discover the people, places, and purpose driving positive change.

  1. 23 APR

    #47 - Beyond Crisis: Rebuilding Lives After Domestic Violence

    Send us Fan Mail Domestic and family violence doesn’t announce itself with a single dramatic moment. It often arrives quietly through coercive control, financial abuse, gaslighting, and isolation, until someone’s confidence and sense of choice begins to erode. That’s why we sat down with Katie Viviers, CEO of St Vincent’s Open Support, and Karen Devins, who leads their domestic and family violence program, to explore what recovery actually requires after a person leaves. We unpack how their purpose-built refuge supports women and children from immediate crisis through to long-term safety, and why wraparound case management matters. From court support and AVO processes to income assistance, childcare, and school transitions when families must relocate, this is about rebuilding from the ground up. Katie and Karen also explain their recovery model, bringing trauma-informed support in-house so barriers like transport, fear, or visa limitations don’t prevent access to care. The focus is dignity and independence, supported over 18 months to two years as families rebuild. We also step back to the broader picture. Domestic and family violence crosses every postcode and profession. Education plays a critical role in helping people recognise the warning signs, while workplaces have an opportunity to lead through clear policies and safer cultures. The conversation also highlights the importance of sustainable support through recurrent funding, measurable impact, and practical ways individuals and organisations can contribute. Subscribe, share this conversation with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more people access support and understand what meaningful action looks like. --- 📌  INFORMATION, CONTACTS & LINKS Open Support Community Connections Program Social Isolation - Connecting with Lonely People in Sydney | Open Support Open Support DFV Program - Domestic and Family Violence - NSW | Open Support (includes info on red flags, coercive control and supporting friends or family) Get involved with Open Support - How You Can Get Involved Support | Get involved If you have specific questions, you can email info@opensupport.org.au If you are experiencing any form of domestic and family violence or abuse and need support, contact DV Line on 1800 65 64 63 (NSW Residents), who can refer you to our program or another service depending on your needs. If you are anywhere else in Australia, call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 for further information and support. If you are in immediate danger or know someone who is, call the police on 000. Support the show Thank you for listening!

    38 min

  2. 10 APR

    #46 - True Inclusion Starts When People Feel Seen And Heard

    Send us Fan Mail Real support is not just a service delivered. It’s the moment someone feels safe enough to smile, speak, try, and belong. I’m joined by Lisa Mossman, CEO and founder of Lady Bumblebee Disability Services, to unpack what genuine empowerment looks like in disability support and why the small, human details matter more than most people realise.  We talk about the values behind “be confident, be creative, be you”, and how creativity, art, and experiences like pet therapy can unlock confidence and emotional expression in ways rigid programs often miss. Lisa also explains why environment matters so much, from sensory rooms designed for calm and regulation to the simple truth that everyone’s “sensory space” looks different. Along the way, we explore what true inclusion means beyond just being present in the community, and how supported social activities can move people from isolation into real connection.  We also get practical about the NDIS. Lisa shares what families and carers are up against, why the system can feel overwhelming, and how clear guidance and advocacy can stop people from putting support in the too hard basket. We finish with leadership, ethics, and Lisa’s vision for the future, including sensory gardens, expanded spaces, and new ideas like smart home technology that can improve safety and independence. If you care about disability services, trauma-informed support, community participation, and building stronger communities, subscribe, share this conversation, and leave a review so more people can find it. Support the show Thank you for listening!

    24 min

  3. 25 MAR

    #45 - Stronger Communities, Safer Lives: Inside Suicide Prevention

    Send us Fan Mail The scariest part about suicide risk is how often it hides in plain sight. People expect clear warning signs, but what shows up more often are small changes: someone goes quiet, stops turning up, withdraws from what they love, or feels like a burden. We sit with that reality and focus on what actually helps, not perfect words, just a real connection. I’m joined by Simone Stanley (Plan Tracker) to ground the conversation in the human layer behind the numbers, then Bradley Dunn, CEO of the Lake Macquarie and Newcastle Suicide Prevention Network, shares what community-led suicide prevention looks like when it moves beyond awareness. We talk about National Hope Week, the power of simple messages like Newy Loves You, and why campaigns work best when they give people practical ways to reach out, volunteer, fundraise, and learn mental health first aid or suicide awareness skills. Bradley also breaks down the biggest barrier many people face: access. We explore the Evolve Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub, a welcoming walk-in space designed to reduce friction, offer a broad mix of services, and provide free ongoing support with no wait list or eligibility criteria. We also cover outreach through a mental health checkpoint at events and markets, making check-ins feel normal and easy. If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone, and support is available. Listen, share this with someone you care about, and please subscribe and leave a review so more people can find these conversations when they need them most. Shownote Links: Kahi Simon Suicide Prevention FundraiserSupport the show Thank you for listening!

    36 min

  4. 4 MAR

    #44 - How One Surf School Sparked Careers, Confidence, And Community Across New South Wales

    Send us Fan Mail Waves don’t just shape shorelines; they shape people. From the heart of the Bondi Pavilion, we sit down with surf pioneer Brenda Miley to explore how a borrowed van, a teacher’s eye, and a stubborn belief in visibility for women turned Let’s Go Surfing into a community pillar across Bondi, Maroubra, Byron Bay, and Ballina. Brenda opens up about those first uncertain years, the leap from car park coaching to a tiny North Bondi shop, and the unexpected power of showing up as the only woman in the room until the room starts to change. We dig into practical playbooks for purpose-led businesses on the coast: navigating seasonality, building genuine local partnerships, and earning eco accreditation by auditing materials, cutting waste, and keeping the beach cleaner than you found it. Brenda shares how she and 'Wacca' blended complementary strengths, program design, PR, and contracts to build a culture that prizes people over hype, and how that culture scales with simple systems and a shared mantra: change lives one wave at a time. Along the way, we revisit a community dance fundraiser that raised close to $200,000 for cancer research, proof that fun and impact can go hand in hand. Mental health and belonging run through every turn in the story. Surfing becomes “me time,” a weekly reset where phones can’t follow, and salt water steadies the mind. Brenda explains how rookies grow into accredited coaches through clear pathways, why reading people matters as much as reading sets, and how a surf lesson can be a first step back to confidence. We close with advice for women entering male-dominated spaces keep showing up, speak even when your voice shakes, and look ahead to new locations, deeper mentoring, and a simple pact with Bondi: take care of your place, and it takes care of you. If this conversation moved you, hit follow, share it with a friend who needs a push to paddle out, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find stories that build stronger communities. Support the show Thank you for listening!

    31 min

  5. 23 FEB

    #43 - From Sail To Sky: Performance, Leadership & Sovereign Capability

    Send us Fan Mail What if the habits that win America’s Cup races are the same ones that power safer, long‑range drones? We sit down with engineer and founder Dario Valenza of Carbonix to trace a line from elite yacht design to fixed‑wing VTOL aircraft that are redefining aerial data capture across pipelines, power lines, mines and coastlines. Dario unpacks the performance mindset forged in sport: clarity under pressure, ruthless focus on outcomes, and a bias for measurable progress. We dig into separating signal from noise, turning piles of telemetry into a single “knob” that moves the metric that matters. From there, we get practical: why multirotors hit hard physics limits, how fixed‑wing platforms unlock endurance, and what it takes to hand control seamlessly between wing‑borne and rotor‑borne flight in real wind and turbulence. The result is a capability that rivals crewed aircraft without putting people in low‑and‑slow danger, and with a dramatic cut in carbon footprint. Beyond engineering, we talk culture and commercialisation. Dario shares how to avoid perfection traps, hire adjacent experts, from boat builders to medical device engineers, and keep org charts flat to prevent silos. We explore showing rather than telling to earn trust with customers and regulators: bring them to the field, let them see and touch, then scale from evidence. The conversation widens to sovereign capability in Australia: why local manufacturing, skills, and supply chains matter, how dual‑use markets sustain resilience, and where over‑regulation quietly pushes innovation offshore. If you care about drones, aerospace, high‑performance teams, or building a sovereign industry, this one delivers both hard‑won tactics and long‑view strategy. Listen, share it with someone who leads under pressure, and tell us your take on the balance between safety and speed. Subscribe for more conversations that build capability, and leave a review so others can find it. Support the show Thank you for listening!

    35 min

  6. 8 FEB

    #42 – Measuring Success by Impact Worth

    Send us Fan Mail What if success starts with generosity, not the other way around? We sit down with entrepreneur and mentor Shane Muller to explore how people-first leadership builds cultures that last, grows B and C players into A players, and turns good ideas into systems with real human impact. From coding a payroll program at ten to building a “cloud” company in 1999, Shane shows how reframing problems around service unlocks innovation that actually matters. We dig into SafeWatch, his mental health platform built on a village model where close, authentic relationships beat any “magic pill” app, and we talk through the Destiny Foundation’s focus on dignity, carers and children. Shane calls single mums sheroes for good reason: holding families together under pressure is nation-shaping work. Along the way we confront the limits of technology, the cost of social media’s curated certainty, and why buy-in can’t be purchased but can be inspired by purpose. When people feel valued and trusted, impossible goals become daily work. Shane also shares a powerful idea: impact worth. Just as we all track net worth, we can build a ledger for actions that outlive us, from mentoring emerging talent to protecting vulnerable kids. You may never see the full harvest, but you can design for it now. If you’re a founder, leader or community builder who believes work should serve something bigger, this conversation offers a practical blueprint: give while living, grow your village, and build systems that dignify people first. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend and leave a review to help more listeners find purpose-driven stories like this. Ready to start your own impact ledger? Tell us the first action you’ll take. Support the show Thank you for listening!

    42 min

  7. 17 JAN

    #41 - When Numbers Tell The Truth, People Heal Faster

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when rehabilitation is guided by evidence, clarity, and care — rather than assumption or delay? In this episode of Engaging Conversations, Leon Goltsman is joined by Dr Faisal Sheikh from Nepean Advanced Rehab & Allied Health Centre to explore a rehabilitation model that centres on dignity, transparency, and measurable outcomes. Drawing on Faisal’s background in public health, governance, and allied health, the conversation examines how modern rehabilitation can reduce uncertainty for everyone involved: patients, families, clinicians, employers, and insurers by replacing guesswork with objective insight and shared understanding. They discuss how evidence-based assessment and progress tracking support safer, more confident return-to-work decisions, reduce the risk of re-injury, and help align all parties around a single, realistic pathway to recovery. Just as importantly, the conversation highlights why multidisciplinary collaboration and preventive care are critical for easing pressure on individuals and the broader health and compensation systems. This is not a conversation about technology for its own sake. It’s about doing rehabilitation properly with intention, accountability, and respect for the people navigating recovery. For those involved in healthcare delivery, claims management, policy, or community support, this episode offers a grounded look at how thoughtful rehabilitation models can deliver better outcomes while preserving trust and dignity. Support the show Thank you for listening!

    26 min

  8. 6 JAN

    #40 - From Shock To Purpose: Reclaiming Community After Bondi

    Send us Fan Mail Start with the truth: some seasons don’t end with easy optimism. We chose to pause after the Bondi tragedy, to listen rather than rush to fill the air. That decision reshaped our compass for a new year. We return with a clearer purpose, conversations that strengthen communities, lift values-based leadership, and trade hot takes for human connection. Across 18 months and more than 50 interviews, we’ve sat with people who lead without applause. Community champions, clinicians, advocates, and neighbours who show up when it counts. Those talks changed how we listen. They helped us ask better questions, notice our blind spots, and hold space for complexity without losing compassion. That’s the energy we’re carrying into 2026: health, connection, clarity, and purpose as anchors for every story we tell. We share what made Bondi more than a headline, home, memory, and belonging and how messages from around the world reminded us that good people outnumber bad ones. Then we look ahead. You’ll meet Dr Faisal Sheikh from Nepean Advanced Rehab and Allied Health Centre, whose work turns rehabilitation into empowerment through movement. You’ll also hear from voices like Shane Muller, who challenge stigma, elevate lived experience, and push systems to become more humane. Expect clear, grounded conversations that help you build trust where you live, support mental and physical wellbeing, and translate empathy into action. Thank you for staying with us through the pause, for the notes and kindness, and for choosing empathy over noise. If this mission resonates, follow the show, share it with someone who needs it today, and leave a review so others can find these stories. Please tell us what value you’re carrying into 2026, and what conversation your community needs next. Support the show Thank you for listening!

    5 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Welcome to Engaging Conversations, the podcast that connects you with the pulse of our local communities. Hosted by Leon Goltsman, Founder of Ecolibrium Headquarters (EcoHQ), each episode invites you on an inspiring journey into the stories that shape and uplift our neighbourhoods. From visionary leaders and industry experts to everyday heroes making a difference, Engaging Conversations offers an exclusive look into our society’s diverse and dynamic fabric. This podcast is your gateway to broadening your perspective, building meaningful connections, and being inspired. Please note that the views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or EcoHQ. The discussions in this podcast are for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional, financial, medical, or legal advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek independent professional advice before making any decisions based on the content of this podcast. Tune in, join the conversation, and discover the people, places, and purpose driving positive change.

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