So...Podcast John Mckenna

So... John Mckenna Podcast
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Documentary

So… is a podcast that’s about… Conversations with everyday people. Social workers and CEOs. Activists and politicians. Artists and accountants. Everyone with a story to tell. Diversity. Learning more about who’s in our community, what they do, and why they do it. Asking unique questions. Questions that are non-judgmental but probing. Getting to the heart of the matter. Focusing on individuals. Giving them a platform to pitch their initiatives for helping people, their organisation, or even the planet. Not being afraid. Allowing people to tell their story without reservation. Embracing controversial topics from all sides of the equation.

  1. 06/03/2021

    Hey Max, what's it like being Grace Tame's partner?

    Max Heerey didn’t know what he was getting into when he invited a fellow Hobart (Aust) runner out for a jog late in 2020. As it turned out, he had just organised a date with Grace Tame, who was named Australian of the Year 2021 just a couple of months later. In this So...podcast episode, Max talks publicly for the first time about his relationship with Grace, an advocate for survivors of sexual assault, particularly those who were abused in institutional settings. From the age of 15, Grace was groomed and raped by her maths teacher, who was later jailed for his crimes. Grace also fought and won for the reform of laws in Tasmania – Australia’s island state - that gagged survivors from speaking publicly and identifying themselves. Max has been by her side the whole time, despite their relationship being so new when she received the award. He reveals how he copes with hearing Grace discuss the abuse she suffered, his pride when she won the award, and how he prefers to keep a low profile. This couple bounce off each other in this relaxed – and often funny - conversation that even includes a discussion about Grace’s tasty banana bread. This episode contains references to grooming, sexual abuse, and mental health issues. If you feel that you need any support, please use one of the below resources. 1800respect.org.au beyondblue.org.au

    25 min

  2. 05/13/2021

    Brett Ashby - a Rolling & Flowing Contemporary Artist

    Melbourne based public, performance and contemporary artist, Brett Ashby talks to John McKenna on ‘So…’ podcast about flowing, ‘rolling’, and growth through art, creation, and connection. In his 15-year journey as both a local and international artist, Ashby opens up about how his artistic practice and connections helped him to discover his own story and healing. Using his childhood love of surfing and skating in a flow-state artistic process he calls ‘rolling’, Ashby explores how art can be created through interpreting energy and vibrations. Maybe that sounds a bit different – but that’s his story, and Ashby’s art has become an energetic therapy and avenue to connect with others. In a conversation with John that rolls and flows like Ashby’s art, they discuss his unique skateboard-riding-portrait-painting-process, and how connecting with young people through public art helped him to learn and rediscover his own journey, as well as produce public artworks that made a positive contribution to community. Stay connected with Brett on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brettashbyartist http://brettashby.com/

    21 min

  3. 03/11/2021

    How to Lose Friends & Influence White People

    Why are all television newsreaders blonde? This is something Antoinette asked herself when she was at the gym almost 4 years ago and confronted with a sea of blonde newsreaders across every news show that was being broadcast. She looked from the TV to the people in the gym and saw people of all cultural backgrounds. She saw that the media was failing to represent Australia’s diverse community. In that moment, Antoinette conceived the idea of Media Diversity Australia, a not-for-profit that advocates for more meaningful diversity within Australian media. Antoinette Lattouf is a Senior Journalist at Network 10, the Co-Founder/Director of Media Diversity Australia and is in the process of adding author to the list. She has built a successful career in Australian media, and as a woman of colour, has experienced firsthand the need for more cultural diversity within the industry. ‘We pat ourselves on the back for being a multicultural country, but we’re only multicultural to a certain point. There are certain institutions where that diversity isn’t allowed to prosper.’ Antoinette Lattouf She believes that the Australian media needs to do more work to reflect its audience and is a vocal advocate for increased diverse cultural representation. An exciting element of her advocacy is the upcoming release of her book How to Lose Friends and Influence White People. Antoinette’s ‘cheeky’ take on a book that has been read by generations of people is set to upheave some cultural tension, raise more than a few eyebrows, and make lots of people uncomfortable. And why? Because it’s important to provide a guide on how to navigate this complicated conversation, to challenge the status quo, and to provide the voice the Australian media has neglected. Is Antoinette scared of the potential backlash? Nope. She’s charging forward, brave and ready. She says, ‘If I don’t push myself out of my comfort zone, how can I ask others to do the same?’.

    23 min

  4. 02/09/2021

    The Power of Representation and Role Modelling

    International students in the Australian news and media often carry the negative connotations of being "foreign", "problems" that are "exploited". Belle Lim is here to challenge that stereotype. Coming from Malaysia at the age of 17, Belle completed a Bachelor's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences with honours as the Gold Medallist, received the prestigious Victorian Premier Award for International Students of the Year in 2019, and is currently pursuing a PhD degree in cancer genetics. Driven by her personal experience, Belle is also a passionate advocate for international students and women of colour. She is the founder of Future Female conference in Victoria and the national president of Council of International Students Australia. Belle joined the So…Podcast to explore her journey so far. From a shy, reserved girl whose culture praised her for being obedient, to a young woman confident in her quest to empower other women from culturally diverse backgrounds. Belle shared the inner thoughts, confusion and breakthroughs that she had throughout this journey of discovering her real abilities, whilst also unpacking the cultural transition that international students are confronted with and how the burden of assimilating is placed solely on international students. Belle strongly believes in the power of representation and role modelling to expand what young people from diverse cultural backgrounds expect from themselves. On tips to ambitious women, she emphasized on the power of knowing your values and having the right attitude - adversities and challenges will come, but it is how you approach them that will ultimately define your journey.

    21 min
  5. Women's Experiences of Violence Across the Lifespan

    01/27/2021

    Women's Experiences of Violence Across the Lifespan

    CONTENT WARNING: Violence against women and abuse. Violence against women is a major global public health problem. In Australia, one in six women have experienced violence from an intimate partner and more than one woman a week dies as a result of violence against women. PhD candidate Amy Warren and John discuss how this important issue is being addressed in Australia, around the world and what we can do to further these efforts. They look at the impact of fear and stigma, culture, and disability on experiences of abuse. Amy's PhD project, 'Violence against women across the lifespan', explores violence against women across three categories of abuse: child abuse, domestic/family violence, and elder abuse. The project also explores how we can better support women whose experiences don't fit into any of these categories, and how anyone can be a victim/survivor of violence. This episode may cover sensitive or triggering topics. If you feel that you need any support please use one of the below resources. https://www.lifeline.org.au/ https://www.1800respect.org.au/ To keep up with Amy's research, you can follow The WEVAL Project on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

    20 min
  6. Disability Advocacy & Counselling, Working together

    12/01/2020

    Disability Advocacy & Counselling, Working together

    In Australia we live in a world of 'Royal Commissions'. Currently, the conversations are around the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (known as the Disability Royal Commission). To dive into this further, So...Podcast is joined by two prominent people in the disability advocacy and trauma-informed counselling space. Mary Mallet is the CEO of the Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA), which is the peak body for independent disability advocacy in Australia. Dr Cathy Kezelman AM is the President of Blue Knot Foundation which is the National Centre of Excellence for Complex Trauma. Blue Knot operates the National Counselling and Referral Service for people with disability who have experienced violence, abuse, neglect or exploitation. The Disability Royal Commission emerged in response to the years of advocacy and self-advocacy work that aimed to create a platform where people could share their stories and have them heard. It's not surprising that a Royal Commission of this nature can cause many different reactions. Some people may feel empowered to make a submission, some may feel retraumatised as the Royal Commission opens up old wounds, and some may just feel confused and unsure of how to engage with it. Mary Mallet and Dr Cathy Kezelman represent two modes of support that currently exist for people who are affected by the Disability Royal Commission: advocacy and counselling. Mary says that "advocacy is doing the 'doing' work". It's supporting people with practical actions such as making a submission, or a phone call, or reading through a document. Counselling offers support of a different kind, the emotional. So how do you know what is right for you? There is no one answer. Trauma can present itself in many different ways, and affects each person differently. What is important to know is that each service exists to understand an individual's complex needs and support them as best they can. It's about providing trust, understanding and somebody to walk alongside you. This episode may cover sensitive or triggering topics. If you feel that you need any support please use one of the below resources. https://www.blueknot.org.au/ https://www.lifeline.org.au/ https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

    30 min
  7. Shedding leaf light with Trace Balla

    11/23/2020

    Shedding leaf light with Trace Balla

    Children's author and illustrator Trace Balla has always had a great fascination with trees and nature. Growing up, if she felt lonely she found companionship and comfort in the tree that grew in her garden. She called this her 'tree friend'. Trees, Trace says, have seen a lot and felt a lot. They carry a natural wisdom that is difficult for humans to tap into. Trace overcomes this by 'tree connecting', using a physical experience such as a hug to surrender her body into trees and let them hold her and her emotions. This relationship with trees has informed her work as an author and illustrator. Her children's book Rivertime showcases the beautiful wisdom of the natural Australian landscape that Trace is now surrounded by in her home country town in - Dja Dja Wurrung Country - Southern Australia. Trace's love for trees has gifted her with friendships, lessons and support that are completely unique, shedding 'leaf light' upon all aspects of her life and walking alongside her as she experiences the world.

    22 min
  8. The strength in being vulnerable - Rugare Gomo

    10/16/2020

    The strength in being vulnerable - Rugare Gomo

    In Australia we rely on the Western media to hear about what's happening across the globe. It shows us filtered versions of important world events and the voices of people these news stories are about can often be missed. Rugare Gomo, founder of the Gomo Foundation, joins the So...Podcast to bring some of these voices to listeners everywhere. Rugare grew up in Zimbabwe, in a context where white people were considered better than black people, where being gay could get you put in jail and where men were considered more valuable than women. Even though the women in his life were smart, entrepreneurial and driven, they were deprived of opportunity. He came to Australia when he was 16 with just a suitcase and the dream of having an education he would never have in his home country. Rugare lets us in on the ups and downs of his journey, from raising over $100,000 for his university education, to becoming a lawyer, to feeling alone and unhappy and eventually founding the Gomo Foundation. He started this not-for-profit to unleash the potential of girls in Africa through education. It has now grown into an organisation that gives young girls a voice and empowers them to create opportunity for themselves. His story is a unique one, that has seen many different sides of the world and significant tests and challenges. But, through the power in vulnerability, Rugare was able to accomplish everything he had ever wanted and more.

    27 min
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About

So… is a podcast that’s about… Conversations with everyday people. Social workers and CEOs. Activists and politicians. Artists and accountants. Everyone with a story to tell. Diversity. Learning more about who’s in our community, what they do, and why they do it. Asking unique questions. Questions that are non-judgmental but probing. Getting to the heart of the matter. Focusing on individuals. Giving them a platform to pitch their initiatives for helping people, their organisation, or even the planet. Not being afraid. Allowing people to tell their story without reservation. Embracing controversial topics from all sides of the equation.

Information

  • Creator
    So... John Mckenna Podcast
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2021
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © So... John Mckenna Podcast
  • Show Website
    So...Podcast John Mckenna