The JRNY

Paul Cohalan

Welcome to THE JRNY — Risk, Roadblocks & Resilience. A space built on a simple truth: every one of us carries chapters — personal, business, and everything in between. Some chapters are messy, some are triumphant, and some reshape us in ways we never expected. But together, they form the story of who we are and who we’re becoming. This podcast digs into the pivotal moments — the risks you took, the roadblocks you hit, and the resilience those experiences forged. Because success was never meant to be a destination. It’s a journey. Your journey. Our journey. This is THE JRNY. Let’s turn the p

  1. 6 days ago

    Episode 26: Why Fear Is Never a Reason to Hold Back with Laura Wilkins

    How do you go from working behind a desk in a 9-to-5 job to performing live on stage with a 100-year-old saxophone? In this episode of The JRNY, Paul sits down with freelance saxophonist and live performer Laura Wilkins for a candid chat about taking risks, embracing chaos, and letting life unfold. Laura shares the story of touching down at Perth Airport with just £250 and nowhere to stay, the post-breakup moment that forced her to confront what she truly wanted out of life and why she decided early on that being scared of something is no excuse not to give it a go. From cleaning pearl shells up north and touring the WA coast with brass bands to falling backwards off pub tables mid-solo and reading dance floors alongside DJs, this conversation explores resilience, ADHD and backing yourself to pivot whenever you need a change. In this episode: - Flying to Australia on a one-way ticket with £250 in the bank - Recognising envy as a compass for what you actually want to do - Managing ADHD, tapping into flow state and tackling imposter syndrome - Touring regional WA and improvising live with DJs - An in-studio demonstration on a vintage 1920s tenor sax Show notes, guest links and the full transcript: https://thejrny.au/episodes/backpacker-to-perth-saxophonist-laura-wilkins

  2. 14 Oct

    Episode 25: How Heath Ledger Inspired His Filmmaking Journey with Michael Guerrini

    In this episode of THE JRNY, host Paul sits down with Perth actor, director, and filmmaker Michael Guerrini. Michael shares the unforgettable moment at age five when a conversation with Perth icon Heath Ledger sparked his lifelong obsession with acting and cinema. From choosing hands-on TAFE training over university to launching Yokai Productions, Michael breaks down the reality of independent filmmaking. He details the logistical grind of funding and shooting his neo-noir short film Full Circle on a $5,000 budget, how he applies entrepreneurial distribution models to indie cinema, and his year-long journey directing an authentic documentary on an underdog female bodybuilder. Michael also reflects on his Greek and Italian immigrant roots, family resilience, and his mission to help put Western Australia on the global film map. In this episode, we cover: - Meeting Heath Ledger at age five and finding his creative spark - Choosing practical TAFE production experience over university theory - Writing, directing, and funding his neo-noir short film Full Circle - The business of indie film: self-distribution, VOD tiers, and merch consignment - Directing a documentary following a female bodybuilder through pregnancy and lockdowns - Preparing his horror short Eye Candy and developing an upcoming feature film - Honouring his Greek and Italian family heritage and building Perth's film scene Show notes, guest links and the full transcript: https://thejrny.au/episodes/how-to-make-a-short-film-michael-guerrini

  3. 7 Oct

    Episode 24: How She Built Cookie Loaded from Her Kitchen at 18 with Nadia

    In this episode of THE JRNY, host Paul sits down with Nadia Nesevski, the 24-year-old founder of Perth's viral dessert hot spot, Cookie Loaded. Starting the business at just 18 from her family’s kitchen after a strict bodybuilding prep, Nadia turned a craving for loaded desserts into a thriving brand. Nadia opens up about her wild journey - from getting kicked out of markets for drawing too big of a crowd to navigating shop opening nightmares, including a flooded store and an emergency room visit on launch night. She also speaks candidly about overcoming eating disorders, finding faith, honouring her parents' Macedonian sacrifices, and why true creative vision can never be copied. In this episode, we cover: - Launching Cookie Loaded at 18 out of her family’s home kitchen - Getting kicked out of her first market for being "too busy" - Opening her flagship store in Perth and surviving launch-night disasters - Pioneering viral dessert trends like Dubai chocolate in Perth- Overcoming bodybuilding, binge-eating cycles, and healing her relationship with food - How her parents’ Macedonian heritage and sacrifices fuel her business drive - Faith, grounding, and staying true to herself amidst growth Show notes, guest links and the full transcript: https://thejrny.au/episodes/home-kitchen-to-cookie-loaded-nadia-nesevski

  4. 30 Sept

    Episode 23: 23 Years in Adult Entertainment, Nursing, Egg Freezing & Freedom with Hayli Hooper

    In this episode of THE JRNY, host Paul sits down with nurse, adult entertainer and entrepreneur Hayli Hooper for an unfiltered conversation about independence, hustle, and breaking stereotypes. From leaving home at age 15 to juggling multiple careers - from agency nursing to 23 years in the adult entertainment industry - Hayli shares how relentless drive and resilience shaped her path to financial freedom. Hayli opens up about overcoming toxic past relationships, embracing her ADHD as a productivity superpower, and navigating modern dating as an independent woman. She also candidly shares her personal fertility journey, detailing egg freezing, property investing, and why she refuses to live by anyone else's rulebook. In this episode, we cover: - Leaving home at 15 and building early independence on the Gold Coast - Navigating 23 years in the adult industry and winning top national performance awards - The reality of agency nursing, ICU work, and running medical charity missions in the Philippines - Overcoming toxic relationships, rebuilding self-worth, and embracing intentional singlehood - Her egg-freezing journey, AMH testing, and navigating Australian fertility laws - Building passive income through property management, Airbnbs, and solo global travel - Channeling ADHD into productivity and what truly matters in modern dating

  5. 23 Sept

    Episode 22 - From Fractured Spine to Electrical Empire & NDIS Housing with Lewis Offenburg

    At just 26 years old, Lewis Offenburg has lived several lifetimes' worth of lessons. From dropping out of school at 14 to managing an electrical company at 15, surviving a near-paralysing spinal injury at 17, and building an AI tech startup, Lewis brings an extraordinary perspective on resilience, focus, and adaptability. In Episode 22 of The JRNY, host Paul chats with Lewis about the reality of early business hard knocks, building Trade Guru to solve real-world trade problems, dodging major property development pitfalls, and creating accessible NDIS homes designed to make a genuine impact. Key Topics Covered:- School Dropout to Business Owner: Leaving school in Year 10 with ADHD and dyslexia, and stepping straight into business with his dad at age 15. - The Injury That Changed Everything: Fracturing two vertebrae playing footy at 17, working through the pain, and spending 4.5 months in a neck brace on the verge of paraplegia. - Building Trade Guru: Pivoting a 2-year AI startup project from complex industry regulations into a fast, on-site troubleshooting tool for tradies. - Property Hard Knocks: Losing $30,000 at age 18 to a dodgy builder, paying off a house by 23, and developing custom NDIS disability housing. - Culture & Leadership in Trades: Running State Electrical Company with a 90% client retention rate and empowering employees rather than holding them back. - Mindset & Self-Compassion: Shifting away from aggressive result-chasing to enjoying the daily process and prioritizing open communication in long-term relationships.

  6. 16 Sept

    Episode 21: From 11 Years in the Army to Building a Tradie Empire with Dan Bailey

    From 11 years in the Australian Defence Force to abseiling off skyscrapers as a rope-access electrician and founding TradieHQ, Dan Bailey’s story is a masterclass in resilience, adaptability, and self-work. In Episode 21 of JRNY, host Paul sits down with Dan to unpack how military discipline transfers to civilian business, why ADHD can be an entrepreneur’s greatest superpower, and what it took to build Perth’s premier co-working incubator for tradespeople. Dan also opens up about the raw realities of parenting twin boys, navigating personal setbacks, and learning to extend the same compassion to yourself that you give to others. Key Topics Covered: - Military to Civilian Transition: Why the reasons you join the military are often the reasons you leave, and how to channel rigid discipline into trade success. - The BHP Sign & Rope Access: How abseiling down Brookfield Place set the stage for starting his own electrical business. - The Birth of TradieHQ: Solving privacy, parking, and storage challenges for single-operator tradies with a flexible co-working model. - ADHD as a Superpower: Harnessing impulsivity, choosing speed over perfection, and turning fast-paced thinking into business momentum. - Parenting & Resilience: Lessons from coaching youth sports, navigating school conflicts, teaching self-defense, and protecting your kids. - Mental Health & Self-Compassion: Shifting from high-stress burnout to genuine happiness, therapy, and Jordan Peterson’s rule on treating yourself like someone you love.

  7. 10 Sept

    Episode 16: Pro Boxing and the Pursuit of Greatness With Jackson England

    In this episode of JRNY, host Paul sits down with professional boxer Jackson England for a raw conversation about resilience, family lineage and overcoming personal adversity. From growing up across Western Sydney and Mandurah to finding his path through difficult times, Jackson shares how boxing became his ultimate escape and purpose.Jackson opens up about his fighting lineage, turning pro, the mental discipline required to excel in the ring, and how he channels inspiration from icons like Michael Jackson into his movement and mindset. Beyond the sport, Jackson speaks candidly about his hardest battles outside the ring: making tough decisions to protect his mental health and relearning self-worth.In this episode, we cover:- Growing up in Sydney & Mandurah and finding boxing at age 13- Honouring an iconic Australian fighting lineage- Using music, dance, and perfectionism to sharpen fighting instincts- Turning ring losses into fuel for unshakeable self-belief

  8. 8 Sept

    Episode 20: From Barista to Designer: Unbreakable Resilience, Kicks & Fatherhood with Leo Gonzalez

    In Episode 20, host Paul sits down with self-taught sneaker designer and creative force Leo to break down his raw, inspiring journey from the Dominican Republic to New York City and Perth.From sneaking a look at a friend’s Timberland sketchbook on a basketball court to teaching himself design on an Apple G5 at 4 AM while working as a barista, Leo's story is a masterclass in relentless passion and resilience. In this episode, Leo opens up about: - Finding the Spark: Moving from the Dominican Republic to NYC, learning to draw anatomy, and self-teaching shoe design while working at Starbucks. - The Mayweather Era: Flying to the U.S. to live with and design custom kicks for Floyd Mayweather's Money Team. - Building "Live of Viral": Relocating to Perth, launching Labyrinth Footwear, and creating the "Live of Viral" (LV) brand. - Pivots & Hustle: Running a unique barbershop inside a Victoria Park pub and going viral with Dominican rapper Lapis Conciente. - Mastering the Craft: Shoe lasts, sole construction, glow-in-the-dark soles, money-printed bottoms, and designing luxury sneakers while colourblind. - Life, Family & Mindset: The power of a supportive mother, raising his kids in Perth, taking radical self-accountability, and why quitting is never an option. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a comment with your favourite moment from Leo's story!

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About

Welcome to THE JRNY — Risk, Roadblocks & Resilience. A space built on a simple truth: every one of us carries chapters — personal, business, and everything in between. Some chapters are messy, some are triumphant, and some reshape us in ways we never expected. But together, they form the story of who we are and who we’re becoming. This podcast digs into the pivotal moments — the risks you took, the roadblocks you hit, and the resilience those experiences forged. Because success was never meant to be a destination. It’s a journey. Your journey. Our journey. This is THE JRNY. Let’s turn the p

Information

  • Creator
    Paul Cohalan
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Paul Cohalan
  • Show Website
    The JRNY

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