Natural Genius: Greater signal. Lighter work.

Natural Genius
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Hidden clever, made useful.  Natural Genius is a podcast and Lab for founders, operators, and leaders who want greater signal and a clear next move. Start with the Signal Check-In, or book a Signal Lab for focused clarity.More at naturalgenius.com.au

  1. #31 - Chris Hocking: Saying Yes, Solving Problems, and Building Tools That Ship

    1D AGO

    #31 - Chris Hocking: Saying Yes, Solving Problems, and Building Tools That Ship

    Say yes, solve the real problem, and ship the work. In this conversation, Chris Hocking shares how a childhood around backyard films, touring, live production, and generous mentors led to nearly two decades building LateNite across film, post-production, and software. Sam and Chris talk about impossible briefs, collaborative crews, underwater bars, burning beds, Final Cut Pro tools, CommandPost, Blackmagic RAW, and the kind of practical creative problem-solving that gets useful work over the line. A fun, generous conversation about staying useful, keeping things moving, and building with people who have your back. This episode explores: nearly 20 years of LateNite and why Chris still says yesfamily, grandparents, and early access to film, live production, and backstage workTweenies, animatronics, and growing up fast in touringwhy collaboration and mentorship matter so much in film and TVimpossible projects, small budgets, and making the brief work anywayCommandPost, BRAW Toolbox, and solving workflow problems for real editorshow software became both a business line and a creative pressure pointAI, product thinking, and why Chris cares more about shipping than perfectionGuest bio: Chris Hocking is the co-founder of LateNite, a Melbourne production studio he has helped build since 2007. His path has spanned animatronics on the BBC Tweenies, lighting design for live productions, post-production supervision, filmmaking, workflow design, and software development. Alongside production work, Chris created CommandPost, BRAW Toolbox, and other tools used by editors and filmmakers, and runs FCP Cafe. His credits include The Wizards of Aus, The Legend of Burnout Barry, Lambs of God, and music videos for artists including Peking Duk, Cosmo’s Midnight, Rufus du Sol, Casey Donovan, and Guy Pearce. Guest links: Chris Hocking - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisatlatenite/LateNite - https://latenitefilms.comLateNite Apps - http://fcp.cafe/latenite/Childhood Films - https://www.youtube.com/hockingstudiosChapters: 00:00 Chris introduction01:29 Nineteen years of LateNite and saying yes07:14 Backyard films, family influence, and early making12:11 Tweenies, animatronics, and growing up in touring18:18 Collaboration, impossible projects, and making things happen30:09 From tinkering to CommandPost37:02 BRAW Toolbox, software pressure, and AI49:35 Mentors, communities, and a rolodex of geniusesExplore further: Discover your Natural Genius one-on-one with Sam: https://naturalgenius.com.au Learn more about Sam: https://samanthabell.com.au Subscribe to hear future episodes About Natural Genius: Natural Genius is a podcast by Samantha Bell exploring how thoughtful people build, lead, create, heal, and live in ways that are true to who they are. Across conversations with guests from many walks of life, Natural Genius looks for the live signal beneath the noise, and offers insight, encouragement, and practical wisdom for hearing what matters. Credits: Hosted by Samantha (Sam) Bell in Violet Town and Melbourne, 17 March, 2026. Produced at the Violet Town office, 17 March - 3 April, 2026.

    55 min
  2. #30 - Serana Hunt-Hughes (Whitefeather): Practical Intelligence, Intuitive Intelligence, and Listening to Land

    1D AGO

    #30 - Serana Hunt-Hughes (Whitefeather): Practical Intelligence, Intuitive Intelligence, and Listening to Land

    Practical intelligence and intuitive intelligence belong together. In this conversation, Serana Hunt-Hughes, also known as Whitefeather, shares the thread running through a life that has included camels, horses, photography, emergency towing, community building, regeneration, and healing work. Sam and Serana explore listening to land, ancestral alignment, relanguaging, peace with Earth, and what it means to restore forms of intelligence many people were taught to dismiss. This is a generous conversation about courage, perception, and building a more relational way of being. This episode explores: • growing up where practical intelligence was everything • spirituality, land, and being guided in the outback • learning to listen to the wind • Eagleheart, apprenticeship, and the name Whitefeather • ancestral alignment and healing across past, present, and future • practical, rational, relational, and intuitive intelligence • relanguaging and peace with Earth • community-led cultural work Guest bio: Serana Hunt-Hughes, also known as Whitefeather, is a medicine woman, healing practitioner, visual artist, photographer, and regenerative land practitioner based near Violet Town, Victoria. Her path has included work as a cameleer, horse trainer, tow truck driver, first responder, artist, and founder of Whitefeather Healing Centre. Through healing work, photography, community cultural projects, and land-based restoration, Serana supports people to reconnect with inner strength, ancestral support, and a more relational way of living. Her work is grounded, intuitive, and deeply shaped by place. Guest links: • Serana Hunt-Hughes (Whitefeather): https://www.linkedin.com/in/serana-whitefeather/ • Serana's services writing: https://seranawhitefeather.substack.com/about • Ancestral Alignment: https://seranawhitefeather.substack.com/p/services • Eagleheart: https://www.eagleheart.com.au/ • Rose B Simpson: https://www.rosebsimpson.com/works • Dookie Earthed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=3E_WWLmS_Pc • Shepparton Art Museum (SAM): https://sheppartonartmuseum.com.au/collection/about-the-collection/ • Tiokasin Ghosthorse's work: https://firstvoicesindigenousradio.org/programs Chapters: 00:00 Serana introduction 03:33 Practical intelligence and spiritual longing 07:22 Horses, land, and listening to the wind 11:46 Eagleheart, Whitefeather, and early sensing 17:31 Cancer, ancestral healing, and intuitive intelligence 29:58 Relanguaging, peace with Earth, and regeneration 41:26 Dookie Earthed, art, and community Explore further: Discover your Natural Genius one-on-one with Sam: https://naturalgenius.com.au Learn more about Sam: https://samanthabell.com.au Subscribe to hear future episodes About Natural Genius: Natural Genius is a podcast by Samantha Bell exploring how thoughtful people build, lead, create, heal, and live in ways that are true to who they are. Across conversations with guests from many walks of life, Natural Genius looks for the live signal beneath the noise, and offers insight, encouragement, and practical wisdom for hearing what matters. Credits: Hosted by Samantha (Sam) Bell in Violet Town, 26 March, 2026. Produced at the Violet Town office, 26 March - 2 April, 2026

    47 min
  3. #29 - Michel Kelleher: Building Integrity, Family, and Peace Through Business

    2D AGO

    #29 - Michel Kelleher: Building Integrity, Family, and Peace Through Business

    Michel Kelleher has built a life and business around peace, values, and practical care. In this conversation, she shares how she left a high-stress chapter, built a business in Bali, and learned to navigate grief, menopause, remote work, and change with more clarity and self-trust. We talk about building family through business, creating simple systems that empower people, communicating across cultures, and making a life that feels aligned with what matters. It is a grounded conversation about maturity, compassion, structure, and surrender. This episode explores: • leaving a high-stress life and starting again in Bali • running a business remotely across Australia and Indonesia • using peace as a guide after grief and survival mode • communicating respectfully across cultures and languages • building a values-led team across different faiths and backgrounds • creating a workplace that feels like family • using simple systems to keep progress happening • creating the life you want, and learning to surrender along the way Guest bio: Michel Kelleher is an Australian business owner who built a business in Bali after leaving a high-stress job and looking for a more peaceful way to live and work. She now runs that business remotely, employs 15 people, and has spent years building simple systems, strong relationships, and a values-led culture across Australia and Indonesia. She is also a mother, grandmother, traveller, and thoughtful leader. In this conversation, Michel brings a grounded perspective on communication, resilience, family, and creating a life that feels aligned. Guest links: Michel Kelleher: https://www.facebook.com/michel.kelleher1 Chapters: 01:08 Emotional wisdom and the search for peace 02:20 Leaving a high-stress life and building a business in Bali 04:29 Grief, remote work, and finding the silver lining 09:02 Cross-cultural communication and using the right words 11:48 Building a values-led business and family through work 20:20 Simple systems, remote management, and empowering others 40:16 Grandchildren, joy, manifesting, and surrender Explore further: Discover your Natural Genius one-on-one with Sam: https://naturalgenius.com.au Learn more about Sam: https://samanthabell.com.au Subscribe to hear future episodes About Natural Genius: Natural Genius is a podcast hosted by Samantha (Sam) Bell, exploring the people, choices, and ways of working that make life and business more clear, useful, and alive. It is also a Lab for founders, operators, and thoughtful humans who want to hear the signal, make strong next moves, and build what matters with more clarity. Credits: Hosted by Samantha (Sam) Bell in Violet Town and Kiama, 5 March, 2026. Produced at the Violet Town offices, 5 March - 1 April, 2026.

    48 min
  4. #28 - Corinne Proske: Building for Forever in Nature, Leadership, and Impact

    3D AGO

    #28 - Corinne Proske: Building for Forever in Nature, Leadership, and Impact

    Corinne Proske is CEO of Trust for Nature and brings a rare combination of environmental science, commerce, social impact finance, and executive leadership to her work. In this conversation with Sam, she reflects on returning to her first love, nature, after years shaping financial inclusion initiatives, and on what it takes to build organisations that last. They explore private land conservation, the people drawn to caring for country, and why purpose-led work still needs commercial discipline. Corinne shares thoughtful perspectives on leadership, AI and workflows, giving people room to grow, family and flexible work, learning from failure, reading timing well, and protecting what matters for future generations. This episode explores: • returning to nature after years in financial inclusion and social impact work • what private land conservation looks like through Trust for Nature • why impact organisations still need commercial clarity and business discipline • how to use AI and systems thoughtfully without overcomplicating the work • trusting your gut, creating space to think, and resisting groupthink • hiring capable people, letting them grow, and leading with more range • family, flexibility, office culture, and supporting younger people at work • Budj Bim, First Nations knowledge, and caring for land and water for the long term Guest bio: Corinne Proske is the CEO of Trust for Nature, one of Australia’s oldest conservation organisations, working to permanently protect landscapes on private land. Corinne is passionate about ensuring non-financial value is understood and included in business and has a deep and long-standing commitment to protecting nature. Prior to that, she spent 13 years with NAB in business banking and social responsibility, where she was responsible for NAB’s $130 million financial inclusion programs focused on helping low-income Australians access financial services, in addition to helping the bank become carbon neutral. Guest links: • Corinne Proske: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinne-proske-7093122/ • Trust for Nature: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trust-for-nature/about/ • Australian Land Conservation Alliance: https://www.linkedin.com/company/australian-land-conservation-alliance/ Chapters: 00:00 Intro and Corinne’s return to nature 02:44 Trust for Nature and caring for land forever 05:37 Financial inclusion, Good Money, and designing programs that last 09:19 Building a business for forever, revenue for impact, and AI 14:24 Leadership, space to think, avoiding groupthink, and letting people grow 25:58 Country, First Nations knowledge, and Budj Bim 31:17 Family, flexible work, offices, and the next generation 42:03 Timing, failure, and protecting land and water for the future Explore further: Explore partnership or collaboration with Natural Genius: https://naturalgenius.com.au Learn more about Sam: https://samanthabell.com.au Subscribe to hear future episodes About Natural Genius: Natural Genius is a podcast hosted by Samantha Bell. Through thoughtful conversations with founders, leaders, creatives, and changemakers, it explores how people build meaningful work, live with greater signal, and create things that last. Credits: Hosted by Samantha (Sam) Bell in Violet Town and Melbourne, 11 March, 2026 Produced at the Violet Town office, 11 - 31 March, 2026

    47 min
  5. #27 - Christian Duell: Creativity, Collective Wisdom, and Designing Better Systems for Complex Challenges

    6D AGO

    #27 - Christian Duell: Creativity, Collective Wisdom, and Designing Better Systems for Complex Challenges

    How do you access the intelligence already present within a group? In this episode of the Natural Genius podcast, Sam Bell speaks with Christian Duell, educator, facilitator, and founder of White Light Education, about creativity, co-design, and guiding people and organisations through complexity. Christian’s work explores how individuals and groups think, create, and contribute together. His approach centres on the idea that creativity is available to everyone, and that with the right conditions, groups can access a deeper shared intelligence. This conversation moves through Christian’s career transition from architecture into facilitation, education, and systems work. He reflects on following curiosity, stepping into new directions, and building a body of work that continues to evolve. Together, they explore how to create environments where people can participate fully, contribute meaningfully, and work through complex challenges with clarity. This episode explores: • Creativity as something accessible and expressed in different ways • Collective wisdom and how groups can think and create together • Co-design and facilitation as ways of working with complexity • Career transitions and evolving professional identity over time • The role of curiosity, play, and experimentation in meaningful work • Designing systems, cultures, and experiences that support contribution Guest links: • Christian Duell https://www.linkedin.com/in/duellchristian/ • Clean Break, Christian’s latest EP https://misterrascal.bandcamp.com/album/clean-break • Bionic Chef, Eduardo Garcia’s Do Lectures talk: https://thedolectures.com/speakers/eduardo-garcia/ • Hamish Curry’s Natural Genius: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5BSx26FTvIBn0ASLTNrquQ • Nick Jaffe’s Natural Genius: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbJ2kXPGZrE&t=9s  Chapters: 02:18 Christian’s early career in architecture and the shift toward facilitation 06:42 Career transitions and following curiosity into new directions 11:05 Creativity and how it shows up in different forms 15:27 Collective wisdom and working with groups 20:14 Co-design in practice and navigating complexity 25:36 Culture, leadership, and enabling contribution 30:22 Play, curiosity, and learning through experience 34:48 Designing systems and environments for better outcomes 39:12 Reflections on meaningful work and evolving a body of work 42:05 Closing thoughts Explore further: Book a Lab: https://naturalgenius.com.au Learn more about Sam: https://samanthabell.com.au Subscribe to hear future episodes About Natural Genius The Natural Genius podcast explores how people discover and express their natural strengths, instincts, and contribution. Through conversations with leaders, thinkers, builders, and practitioners across many fields, the podcast explores the signals that guide meaningful work and the choices that shape a life. More at https://naturalgenius.com.au Credits: Hosted by Samantha (Sam) Bell in Violet Town and the Gold Coast, 29 January, 2026 Produced at the Violet Town, Peregian Beach and Benalla offices, 29 January - 27 March, 2026

    52 min
  6. #26 - Karlie Cummins: Saying Yes, Building Trust, and Growing a Fun Business

    MAR 25

    #26 - Karlie Cummins: Saying Yes, Building Trust, and Growing a Fun Business

    In this episode, Sam Bell speaks with Karlie Cummins about saying yes before you have every answer, building trust through action, and growing a business that feels both effective and fun. Karlie is the founder of Bali Buddies and Indo Buddies, two influential travel media platforms helping tourism and lifestyle brands reach Australian travellers through trusted storytelling, digital media, brand trips, PR, and strategic partnerships across Bali and Indonesia. Her background in education still shapes the way she leads, teaches, mentors, and builds. Together, Sam and Karlie explore the accidental beginnings of Bali Buddies, the courage it took to move a family to Bali without a backup plan, the role of trust and generosity in business growth, and why fun is not a distraction from serious work but part of what makes it sustainable. The conversation also moves through online schooling, raising very different daughters, adapting through Covid, and using new technology with curiosity rather than fear. This is a practical and energising conversation about backing yourself, learning in motion, and building a business and life that keep expanding. This episode explores • Saying yes before knowing exactly how • Turning a passion project into a trusted media business • Building trust with clients, communities, and tourism partners • Moving a family to Bali and going all in on a new life • Adapting business models through uncertainty and recovery • Teaching, mentoring, and consulting as a through-line in Karlie’s work • Using AI and new technology to work smarter • Fun as a strategic choice in brand, team, and client experience • Designing work that supports family life, adventure, and growth Guest links • Karlie Cummins: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karliecummins/ • Bali Buddies: https://balibuddies.com/ • Indo Buddies: https://indobuddies.com/ Chapters 01:34 From classroom teacher to accidental Bali business founder 05:07 The first paid client, clear communication, and backing yourself 08:18 Moving to Bali and nine years of expat life 10:48 Saying yes, figuring it out, and growing through action 13:11 Selling everything, moving a family, and going all in 15:29 Online schooling, family choices, and raising an academic and a hustler 17:03 The 12-year-old candle business and WhatsApp entrepreneurship 20:29 Family influence, multitasking, and being most like her dad 22:35 Building community and becoming known in Bali 24:28 Pandemic in Bali, helping hotels, and the long lead-up to growth 28:22 Learning new tech, using AI well, and staying curious 30:09 How Karlie likes to be seen: genuine, honest, and fun 31:00 Building a brand through parties, delight, and industry connection 34:11 Family, adventure, and moments that make the whole thing worth it Explore further Book a Lab: https://naturalgenius.com.au Learn more about Sam: https://samanthabell.com.au Subscribe to hear future episodes. About Natural Genius The Natural Genius podcast explores how people discover and express their natural strengths, instincts, and contributions. Through conversations with leaders, thinkers, builders, and practitioners across many fields, the podcast explores the signals that guide meaningful work and the choices that shape a life. More at https://naturalgenius.com.au Credits Hosted by Samantha (Sam) Bell in Violet Town and Bali, 27 January, 2026 Produced at the Violet Town, Peregian Beach and Sunshine Motorway offices, 27 January - 25 March, 2026

    35 min
  7. #25 - Cameron Stewart: Psychedelics, Building the Future of Mental Health and Unlocking Human Potential

    MAR 24

    #25 - Cameron Stewart: Psychedelics, Building the Future of Mental Health and Unlocking Human Potential

    What if the future of mental health isn’t about managing symptoms, and is about unlocking human potential? In this episode of the Natural Genius podcast, Sam Bell speaks with Cameron Stewart, entrepreneur and Managing Director of Mirabilis Health, about his journey from building and exiting startups and digital product studios into the emerging field of psychedelic-assisted mental health care in Northern Ireland. In this conversation, Cameron shares how a period of “doing nothing” and going deeply into meditation reset old patterns of thought and opened a new direction. He reflects on stepping into the highly regulated world of trauma therapy and research, and on what it takes to build a centre focused on safety, healing, and transformation. This is an expansive conversation about growth, courage, stillness, family, human potential, and the future of mental health. This episode explores: • Choosing life experiences over convention and creating meaningful memories • From startups and brand strategy into mental health innovation • “Doing nothing” as a deliberate reset and strategic pause • Deep meditation and the effect of stillness on old thinking patterns • Trauma, PTSD, and the limitations of traditional approaches • Psychedelic-assisted therapies and why they are gaining attention in research settings • Building Mirabilis Health and the future of accessible mental health care • Human potential, healing, and creating the right conditions for transformation • Fatherhood, identity, and changing definitions of freedom and fun Important note This conversation includes discussion of psychedelic-assisted therapies, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, and related mental health treatments. Laws, regulations, and clinical frameworks vary significantly across jurisdictions, including Ireland, Australia, and internationally. This episode is provided for general educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, mental health advice, or legal advice, and it is not a recommendation to use any substance or treatment outside approved clinical, research, or other lawful settings. Anyone considering treatment should seek advice from appropriately qualified health professionals and comply with the laws and regulations in their location. Guest links • Cameron Stewart: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camastewart/ • Mirabilis Health: https://www.mirabilishealth.co.uk/ Chapters 02:22 The Highway One trip and choosing experience over convention 06:23 From clothing brand to startups, strategy, and exiting Dawson Andrews 09:28 “Do nothing”: the note that changed Cameron’s next chapter 10:15 Deep meditation, stillness, and resetting old thought patterns 15:24 Entering mental health and building Mirabilis Health 19:19 Trauma, PTSD, and the limits of conventional treatment models 23:24 Psychedelic-assisted therapies and early research insights 29:28 The bigger vision: expanding access and unlocking human potential 39:27 Fatherhood, freedom, and redefining fun About Natural Genius The Natural Genius podcast explores how people discover and express their natural strengths, instincts, and contributions. Through conversations with leaders, thinkers, builders, and practitioners across many fields, the podcast explores the signals that guide meaningful work and the choices that shape a life. More at https://naturalgenius.com.au Learn more about Sam: https://samanthabell.com.au Subscribe to hear future episodes. Credits Hosted by Samantha (Sam) Bell in Violet Town and Holywood, Northern Ireland, 11 March, 2026 Produced at the Violet Town office 11 - 24 March, 2026

    48 min
  8. #24 - Michael Skinner: Earning Bigger Problems, the Skill of Surrender, and Digital Nomading

    MAR 21

    #24 - Michael Skinner: Earning Bigger Problems, the Skill of Surrender, and Digital Nomading

    What if you don’t solve problems, you earn better ones? Michael Skinner shares how learning to earn bigger problems, and practicing surrender, can reshape how you work, decide, and grow in a fast-moving world. In this episode of the Natural Genius podcast, Sam Bell speaks with Michael Skinner about growth, decision-making, and navigating an increasingly complex world. Michael shares a simple idea that reframes how we think about progress. You don’t eliminate problems. You earn bigger ones. Over time, those problems become more meaningful, more interesting, and more aligned with the life you are building. This conversation explores Michael’s path from running businesses to working across AI, systems thinking, and global communities. Along the way, he shares how he approaches uncertainty, how he decides what to focus on, and why surrender is a skill worth developing. This is a conversation about thinking clearly, following curiosity, and building a life that evolves with you. This episode explores: • Earning bigger problems and changing your relationship to them • Systems thinking and identifying real constraints in business • Digital nomading and building a life across different environments • Learning and applying AI in a practical way • Surrender as a skill in uncertain and fast-moving contexts • Curiosity, intuition, and choosing what to work on next • Community, connection, and creating meaningful environments Guest links: • Michael Skinner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/equanimas and https://www.equanimas.com/ • Recommended book: The Surrender Experiment by Michael A Singer Chapters: 02:10 Michael’s early work and path into business 06:45 Earning bigger problems and what it means in practice 11:20 Systems thinking and finding the real bottleneck 16:05 Moving into AI and learning new domains quickly 21:40 Digital nomading and living across environments 27:15 Slowing down, novelty, and appreciating place 32:10 Surrender as a skill in uncertainty 37:25 Decision-making, curiosity, and following signals 42:50 Community, connection, and building meaningful spaces 48:30 Reflections on growth, work, and what matters next 52:10 Closing reflections Explore further: Book a Lab: https://naturalgenius.com.au Learn more about Sam: https://samanthabell.com.au Subscribe to hear future episodes About Natural Genius The Natural Genius podcast explores how people discover and express their natural strengths, instincts, and contributions. Through conversations with leaders, thinkers, builders, and practitioners across many fields, the podcast explores the signals that guide meaningful work and the choices that shape a life. More at https://naturalgenius.com.au Credits Hosted by Samantha (Sam) Bell in Violet Town, Peregian Beach and Network School, 7 & 14 February, 2026 Produced at the Violet Town and Peregian Beach offices, 7 February – 21 March, 2026

    54 min
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About

Hidden clever, made useful.  Natural Genius is a podcast and Lab for founders, operators, and leaders who want greater signal and a clear next move. Start with the Signal Check-In, or book a Signal Lab for focused clarity.More at naturalgenius.com.au

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