The Authentic Me: Hosted by Mel Yu

Mel Yu
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A mental health advocate with an honours in Psychology, and no stranger to the commercial world through her entrepreneurial endeavours, Mel is a sought-after empathetic and inspiring speaker. Mel Yu guides and encourages her community to live a meaningful life through the power of authentic story-telling. The Authentic Me connects powerful stories and life lessons to the ears of listeners by interviewing successful game-changers from all walks of life. Popular guests include Australian influencers, entertainment artists, life coaches and creative entrepreneurs. Common topics discussed involve self-development, successes, failures, mindset and how to create a life of purpose. 

  1. Building, Scaling & Exiting a Business | Michael Laps | Ep 56

    May 21

    Building, Scaling & Exiting a Business | Michael Laps | Ep 56

    Scaling sounds exciting until you’re in it! Michael Laps breaks down what actually happens when a business starts to grow. More responsibility, harder decisions, and a level of pressure most people don’t talk about. Michael Laps is a marketing strategist and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience helping founders and leadership teams grow. At 25, he founded Yoghurt Digital, building it into one of Australia’s leading independent agencies, working with brands like ANZ, H&R Block, R.M. Williams, Converse, and the NRL. After exiting in 2022, he launched VCMO, where he now helps companies build marketing engines that drive real revenue. He’s been recognised by the AFR, SmartCompany, AMI, and B&T, and outside of business, he’s travelled to nearly 70 countries and finds his downtime in the kitchen, cooking for the people he cares about. In this episode, we cover leadership, team dynamics, and the mindset needed to keep moving when things feel stretched. If you’re building something and feeling the weight of it, this one will hit home!  Love ya xx Connect with Michael Website: https://www.michaellaps.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaellaps/ Instagram: @michaelfrommarketing If you loved this episode, please leave us a quick review as this helps us reach more people that may also love this show!  Stay up to date on all things Mel Yu over on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn or Facebook. Thanks for supporting!

    1h 16m
  2. He built the party. Then built the system - What it takes to run Australia's largest festival brands | Corey Topp | Ep 55

    May 3

    He built the party. Then built the system - What it takes to run Australia's largest festival brands | Corey Topp | Ep 55

    Okay this one feels different! I finally got Corey on The Authentic Me Podcast. First time ever. And honestly, it’s been a long time coming. You guys see what I do, but you’ve never really seen the man I’m dating and how he actually operates in business. So this episode is me bringing you into his world. Corey is the co-founder behind Reminisce, Tailgate and eventflo. What started as backyard parties now pulls 11,000+ people, built on consistency, culture, and knowing exactly what keeps people coming back. We get into the real story. The early days. The risks. The pressure. The decisions that shaped Reminisce into what it is today. We also unpack his newest move, eventflo. A ticketing platform built because he got sick of the gaps in the system and decided to fix it himself. And yes… we touch on us :) Not enough, which means there’s probably a Part 2 coming but you’ll get a glimpse into how we think, how we handle business, and what it’s like dating another entrepreneur who moves at this level. I’m excited for you to hear this one. Let me know your key takeaways from this one! Connect with Corey - Instagram: @coreytopp If you loved this episode, please leave us a quick review as this helps us reach more people that may also love this show!  Stay up to date on all things Mel Yu over on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn or Facebook. Thanks for supporting!

    1h 2m
  3. Not All Friendships Survive This… Ours Did: The Real Work Behind Strong Friendships | Olivia Porter | Ep 54

    Apr 12

    Not All Friendships Survive This… Ours Did: The Real Work Behind Strong Friendships | Olivia Porter | Ep 54

    This one’s personal. For the first time, I’m sitting down with my best friend, Olivia Porter, and we didn’t hold anything back. This isn’t a highlight reel friendship. This is the version built through hard conversations, distance, growth, and choosing each other again and again, even when it would’ve been easier not to. We get into what really tests a friendship. The moments that almost break it. The things you don’t say out loud. The identity shifts that force you to either grow together or grow apart. There’s parts of this conversation that felt uncomfortable to say. But that’s the point. Because real friendships aren’t built on convenience. They’re built on honesty, self awareness, and doing the work when things get messy. If you’ve ever outgrown people, held onto friendships that didn’t fit anymore, or wondered what it actually takes to keep something real, this episode will hit. Sit back. This one goes deep. CONNECT WITH OLIVIA  Instagram: @drummersdaughter_ If you loved this episode, please leave us a quick review as this helps us reach more people that may also love this show!  Stay up to date on all things Mel Yu over on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn or Facebook. Thanks for supporting!

    56 min
  4. AI Is Not Your Shortcut. If Your Systems Are Broken, It Won’t Fix Them! | Jon Wellman | Ep 53

    Apr 9

    AI Is Not Your Shortcut. If Your Systems Are Broken, It Won’t Fix Them! | Jon Wellman | Ep 53

    Everyone’s talking about AI right now. Few people are actually telling the truth about it. This episode cuts through the noise. I sat down with Jon Wellman, CEO of Vokke, and we got straight into it. No hype. No buzzwords. Just what actually works when you’re building real businesses with real stakes. We unpack what most founders get wrong about AI, why more tools don’t fix broken systems, and how clarity beats speed every time. Jon shares the lessons that only come from building, breaking things, and having to rebuild them again properly. We also get into risk and we dive deeper into being a dad + entrepreneur. The decisions that look small but shape everything long term. If you’ve been feeling behind, overwhelmed, or unsure where AI fits into your business, this will reset how you think about it! CONNECT WITH JON WELLMAN: LinkedIn: Jon Wellman (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-w-8b59b068/)  Website: vokke.com.au If you loved this episode, please leave us a quick review as this helps us reach more people that may also love this show!  Stay up to date on all things Mel Yu over on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn or Facebook. Thanks for supporting!

    51 min

  5. Mar 12

    Solo Ep: The Goal You Keep Avoiding Is the One That Matters | Ep 52 | Mel Yu

    As we close the Year of the Snake and move into the Year of the Horse, this episode is about momentum, identity shifts, and the one thing you know you’ve been avoiding. In this solo episode, I share how I set goals using the four quadrants of life: business, mindset, relationships, and health. I walk you through a simple scoring system to assess where you sit right now and how to move the needle forward. But this year, I’m doing something different. Instead of setting ten goals, I’m choosing one big one. The goal I’ve avoided for years. Writing my book. We talk about why high achievers hide behind smaller wins, how productivity can become a distraction, and what it takes to upgrade your identity so you can finally do the thing that scares you. If there’s one goal sitting in your gut, this episode is your nudge. If you loved this episode, please leave us a quick review as this helps us reach more people that may also love this show!  Stay up to date on all things Mel Yu over on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn or Facebook. Thanks for supporting!

    15 min

  6. Mar 5

    Solo Ep: The Smartest Move I Made Was Getting on a Plane... Insights from my South America Trip | Ep 51 | Mel Yu

    The Privilege of Travel and the Power of Perspective | Mel Yu | Ep 50 In this solo episode, I reflect on my recent trip to Brazil and Peru, from celebrating New Year’s Eve in Rio to hiking the Inca Trail and witnessing Machu Picchu in all its glory. Beyond the beaches, the music, and the views, this trip gave me something deeper: perspective. As entrepreneurs, we spend so much time optimising, building, and pushing forward. But sometimes the greatest growth happens when we pause. I share why travel has made me a better business owner, a better leader, and a more compassionate human. We talk about rest, reflection, cultural awareness, and how understanding people across the world directly impacts how we show up in business. If you’ve been in go-mode for too long, this episode is your reminder that perspective builds better leaders. If you loved this episode, please leave us a quick review as this helps us reach more people that may also love this show!  Stay up to date on all things Mel Yu over on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn or Facebook. Thanks for supporting!

    16 min
  7. The Human Side of AI Nobody Is Talking About | Ange Kallinikos | Ep 50

    Feb 12

    The Human Side of AI Nobody Is Talking About | Ange Kallinikos | Ep 50

    In this episode, we dive into the real story behind Aussietel Technologies and the founder who built it with grit, discipline, and heart. Ange Kallinikos opens up about growing up with a single mum, discovering work ethic through sport, stepping into sales young, and eventually creating a telco company that puts people before profit. We talk about trust, leadership, customer experience, and why AI can actually bring humanity back into service when it’s done right.  Ange shares honest insights about purpose, resilience, and the mindset that carried him through some of the toughest seasons of business. If you’re curious about AI, building a company with meaning, or what it truly takes to lead well, this conversation will stay with you. CONNECT WITH ANGE Email: gday@aussietel.com.au Website: https://www.aussietel.com.au If you loved this episode, please leave us a quick review as this helps us reach more people that may also love this show!  Stay up to date on all things Mel Yu over on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn or Facebook. Thanks for supporting!

    1h 6m
  8. The Real Link Between Fitness, Mindset, and Success | Danny Kennedy | Ep 49

    12/11/2025

    The Real Link Between Fitness, Mindset, and Success | Danny Kennedy | Ep 49

    Mel Yu chats with Danny Kennedy, host of the Fitness and Lifestyle Podcast and founder of Younify Active, about the real connection between fitness, mindset, and success. Danny shares his lessons on consistency, self-awareness, and creating space for growth — both in business and life. This one’s packed with honest insights, practical advice, and plenty of laughs. Connect with Danny Instagram: @djkfitness | @younify_active Podcast: Fitness and Lifestyle Podcast Website: https://www.dannykennedyfitness.com Brand: https://www.younifyactive.com If you loved this episode, please leave us a quick review as this helps us reach more people that may also love this show!  Stay up to date on all things Mel Yu over on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn or Facebook. Thanks for supporting!

    56 min
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About

A mental health advocate with an honours in Psychology, and no stranger to the commercial world through her entrepreneurial endeavours, Mel is a sought-after empathetic and inspiring speaker. Mel Yu guides and encourages her community to live a meaningful life through the power of authentic story-telling. The Authentic Me connects powerful stories and life lessons to the ears of listeners by interviewing successful game-changers from all walks of life. Popular guests include Australian influencers, entertainment artists, life coaches and creative entrepreneurs. Common topics discussed involve self-development, successes, failures, mindset and how to create a life of purpose. 

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