Change the Story

Impact Studios
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People working to change systems from the ground up — community leaders, researchers, activists and practitioners. Through short series and conversations, you’ll hear big ideas, urgent debates, and practical examples of community-led solutions in action. This podcast was previously called Life's Lottery, and relaunched in 2026 as Change the Story. Produced by UTS Impact Studios.

  1. 2d ago

    27. Mapping What Matters 5: The Harwood Approach - turning Outward

    What happens when we stop planning for communities and start listening to them instead? Bringing together the themes explored throughout the series, host Dr. Katie Blair is joined by community builder and youth advocate Giane Cole to explore the Harwood Approach - a philosophy of community engagement built on one simple idea: before we plan, we need to listen. Drawing on decades of experience working alongside young people and communities, Giane reflects on how genuine community conversations can shift perceptions, build trust and create lasting change. Through stories from her own practice, she describes how creating space for people to share their aspirations led to youth-led action, transformed public spaces and changed the way communities viewed young people - not as problems to solve, but as leaders and active contributors. Giane explores what it really means to turn outward: placing community aspirations ahead of organisational priorities, valuing lived experience alongside professional expertise, and recognising that people, relationships and stories are some of a community's greatest assets. Giane also shares a practical five-step guide for facilitating meaningful community conversations and translating what people care about into collective action. As the series draws to a close, this episode reminds us that every engagement method carries a mindset. When we begin by listening deeply, sharing power and trusting communities to shape their own future, we don't just change the questions we ask - we change the possibilities that emerge. Whether you're working in community development, education, government or social impact, this final episode offers practical inspiration for creating more authentic, community-led change. Voices Katie Blair, PhD is Manager, Research and Evaluation at the Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion at the University of Technology Sydney. Her work focuses on community-engaged research, participatory evaluation and strengthening community voice to support meaningful social change. Giane Cole is a community builder, youth advocate and community development practitioner with extensive experience supporting young people and communities to lead positive change. Her work focuses on youth participation, community engagement and creating the conditions for communities to identify their own strengths, build relationships and shape their own futures through meaningful participation. Credits Written by Mitra Gusheh, Tshinta Morris, Anusha Muller and Katie Blair. Recorded and edited by Jane Curtis and Lachlan A'Court. Executive producer, Impact Studios: Sarah Gilbert. Mapping What Matters is made by UTS Impact Studios, in collaboration with the UTS Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion and Glebe Youth Service. This project was also supported by the Paul Ramsey Foundation. Resources Mapping What Matters - The Harwood Approach Summary SheetHarwood Institute for Public KnowledgeHarwood Institute - Being Turned Outward

    27. Mapping What Matters 5: The Harwood Approach - turning Outward

  2. 2d ago

    26. Mapping What Matters 4: Body Mapping - making the invisible visible

    What if some of a community's greatest strengths can't be captured in a survey, a spreadsheet - or even a map? If Episode 3 encouraged us to see the wider system, this episode invites us to look more deeply into lived experience. Host Dr. Katie Blair is joined by Dr. Barbara Doran, an arts-based researcher and educator, to explore body mapping - a creative participatory method that helps people express experiences, knowledge and strengths that are often difficult to put into words. Barbara reflects on the limitations of traditional community engagement approaches, arguing that even strengths-based methods like asset mapping can overlook the emotional, embodied and deeply personal experiences that shape people's lives. Through stories from her own practice - including projects with young people, parents and carers, and women who have experienced trauma - she demonstrates how body mapping creates opportunities for people to share richer, more nuanced stories about themselves and their communities. The conversation explores how body mapping works in practice, from creating safe and supportive spaces through to using creative prompts and storytelling to uncover insights that conventional consultation methods rarely reveal. Barbara also shares practical guidance for introducing body mapping into your own work. More than an arts-based activity, body mapping is a different way of listening. It reminds us that knowledge doesn't only live in words - it also lives in memory, emotion, sensation and lived experience. When we create space for people to express these experiences in their own way, we don't just gather better information - we create the conditions for connection, understanding and transformation. Voices Katie Blair, PhD is Manager, Research and Evaluation at the Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion at the University of Technology Sydney. Her work focuses on community-engaged research, participatory evaluation and strengthening community voice to support meaningful social change. Barbara Doran, PhD is an arts-based researcher and educator at the University of Technology Sydney's Transdisciplinary School. Her work explores how creative and embodied methods can deepen participation, surface lived experience and support more inclusive approaches to research, education and community engagement. Credits Written by Mitra Gusheh, Tshinta Morris, Anusha Muller and Katie Blair. Recorded and edited by Jane Curtis and Lachlan A'Court. Executive producer: Sarah Gilbert. Mapping What Matters is made by UTS Impact Studios, in collaboration with the UTS Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion and Glebe Youth Service. This project was also supported by the Paul Ramsey Foundation.Mapping What Matters is made by UTS Impact Studios, in collaboration with the UTS Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion and Glebe Youth Service. This project was also supported by the Paul Ramsey Foundation. Resources Mapping What Mapping: Body mapping summary sheetBoydell, K.M (Eds). (2020). Applying body mapping in research: an arts-based method. Routledge.

    26. Mapping What Matters 4: Body Mapping - making the invisible visible

  3. Aug 26

    25. Mapping What Matters 3: Life-centred Design - seeing the bigger picture

    How can we move beyond mapping what exists to designing the futures our communities need? Having explored strengths-based thinking in the previous episodes, host Dr. Katie Blair is joined by Professor Martin Tomitsch to ask a different question: what happens when we zoom out and understand the systems that shape communities? Martin introduces listeners to life-centred design, an approach that expands our focus beyond individual people to include relationships, ecosystems, institutions and future generations. While identifying community strengths remains important, he argues that real change requires us to understand the wider systems in which those strengths exist. Drawing on examples ranging from IKEA's iconic Poäng chair to climate adaptation and disaster recovery, Martin introduces three practical steps - systems mapping, the middle-out approach, and backcasting - that help practitioners understand complexity, build coalitions and create shared visions for the future. Rather than treating communities as isolated places with fixed boundaries, this episode invites us to see them as interconnected systems. By combining strengths-based thinking with systems design and future-focused planning, Martin demonstrates how we can move beyond identifying assets to creating the conditions for lasting change. Whether you're working in community development, local government, design or policy, this episode provides practical tools for navigating complexity and planning collaboratively for the future. Voices Katie Blair, PhD is Manager, Research and Evaluation at the Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion at the University of Technology Sydney. Her work focuses on community-engaged research, participatory evaluation and strengthening community voice to support meaningful social change. Professor Martin Tomitsch is Head of the Transdisciplinary School at the University of Technology Sydney. His research focuses on life-centred design, systems thinking and transdisciplinary approaches to addressing complex societal challenges. Martin works with governments, industry and communities to design more sustainable, inclusive and future-focused systems and services. Credits Written by Mitra Gusheh, Tshinta Morris, Anusha Muller and Katie Blair. Recorded and edited by Jane Curtis and Lachlan A'Court. Executive producer: Sarah Gilbert. Mapping What Matters is made by UTS Impact Studios, in collaboration with the UTS Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion and Glebe Youth Service. This project was also supported by the Paul Ramsey Foundation.Mapping What Matters is made by UTS Impact Studios, in collaboration with the UTS Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion and Glebe Youth Service. This project was also supported by the Paul Ramsey Foundation. Resources Mapping What Matters - Life-Centred Design Summary SheetTomitsch, M. (2025). More-than-human cities: how to bring life- centred design principles to urban spaces. In E. Rosenzweig, &; A. Davis (eds), Usability for the World: Building BetterCities and Communities (pp. 97-124). Spinger.Tomitsch, M. et al. (2024). ‘Reflections on the usefulness and limitations of tools for life-centred design’, Design Research Society.Tomitsch, M. & Baty, S. (2023). Designing Tomorrow: Strategic Design Tactics to Change Your Practice. BIS Publishers.

    25. Mapping What Matters 3: Life-centred Design - seeing the bigger picture

  4. Aug 26

    24. Mapping What Matters 2: Appreciative Inquiry - starting with strengths

    What if the very first question we ask determines everything that follows? In this episode of Mapping What Matters, host Dr. Katie Blair is joined by social impact practitioner and systems thinker Mitra Gusheh to explore Appreciative Inquiry - a strengths-based approach that begins not with problems, but with possibility. Mitra reflects on how asset mapping has evolved from a radical, community-led practice into something that is often reduced to lists, inventories and data collection. Through stories from her own work, she asks whether we’ve become so focused on identifying assets that we’ve forgotten why we are looking for them in the first place. Drawing on the origins of appreciative inquiry, Mitra explains how beginning with stories of success rather than stories of need can fundamentally change the way people experience participation. Through examples including the 100 Voices project and community conversations with older residents, she demonstrates how asking different questions uncovers relationships, strengths and possibilities that conventional engagement approaches often overlook. More than a facilitation technique, Appreciative Inquiry is a different way of seeing communities. It reminds us that people are experts in their own lives, that every community holds stories worth learning from, and that meaningful change begins the moment we ask a better question. Whether your facilitating workshops, designing programs, or working alongside communities, this episode offers practical ways to shift conversations from problems to possibility. Voices Katie Blair, PhD is Manager, Research and Evaluation at the Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion at the University of Technology Sydney. Her work focuses on community-engaged research, participatory evaluation and strengthening community voice to support meaningful social change. Mitra Gusheh is a social impact practitioner and leader whose work focuses on advancing social justice, human rights and community-led change. She has extensive experience designing and facilitating community engagement processes that centre lived experience, strengthen relationships and support communities to imagine and create positive futures through strengths-based approaches such as Appreciative Inquiry. Credits Written by Mitra Gusheh, Tshinta Morris, Anusha Muller and Katie Blair. Recorded and edited by Jane Curtis and Lachlan A'Court. Executive producer: Sarah Gilbert. Mapping What Matters is made by UTS Impact Studios, in collaboration with the UTS Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion and Glebe Youth Service. This project was also supported by the Paul Ramsey Foundation.Mapping What Matters is made by UTS Impact Studios, in collaboration with the UTS Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion and Glebe Youth Service. This project was also supported by the Paul Ramsey Foundation. Resources Mapping What Matters - Appreciative Inquiry Summary SheetCooperriider, D.L., Whitney, D. & Stavros, J.M. (2006). The Appreciative Inquiry Handbook: For Leaders of Change (2nd ed). Crown Custom Publishing Inc.100 Voices: engaging community through deep listeningThe Centre for Appreciative Inquiry

    24. Mapping What Matters 2: Appreciative Inquiry - starting with strengths

  5. Aug 18

    23. Mapping What Matters 1: Returning to the roots of asset mapping

    What is asset mapping and why is it time to rethink it? In the opening episode, host Dr. Katie Blair is joined by Professor Amanda Howard to explore the origins of asset mapping and the ideas that shaped the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) movement. Amanda traces the history of ABCD back to the pioneering work of John McKnight and John Kretzmann, who challenged the dominant deficit-based approach to community development by arguing that every community already possesses the knowledge, relationships, skills and resources needed to create change. Amanda explores how this simple shift - from asking "What's wrong?" to "What's strong?" - fundamentally changed the way many practitioners think about community development. The conversation also examines how asset mapping has evolved over the past three decades. While the approach has become widely used across community development, health, planning and research, its original intent has often been diluted. Rather than empowering communities to identify and mobilise their own strengths, asset mapping can become a technical exercise focused on collecting data instead of building relationships, participation and community-led action. This episode sets the foundation for the series by asking an important question: How can we return to the original intent of asset mapping while reimagining it for today's communities? Whether you're working in community development, research, local government, health, education or social impact, this episode offers a fresh perspective on what it means to begin with strengths - and why that shift still matters. Voices Katie Blair, PhD is Manager, Research and Evaluation at the Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion at the University of Technology Sydney. Her work focuses on community-engaged research, participatory evaluation and strengthening community voice to support meaningful social change. Professor Amanda Howard is Professor of Social Work at the University of Sydney. Amanda's research focuses on community development, community-led change and participatory practice. She has extensive experience working alongside communities to understand how local knowledge, relationships and collective strengths can be mobilised to create lasting social change. Credits Written by Mitra Gusheh, Tshinta Morris, Anusha Muller and Katie Blair. Recorded and edited by Jane Curtis and Lachlan A'Court. Executive producer: Sarah Gilbert. Mapping What Matters is made by UTS Impact Studios, in collaboration with the UTS Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion and Glebe Youth Service. This project was also supported by the Paul Ramsey Foundation.Mapping What Matters is made by UTS Impact Studios, in collaboration with the UTS Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion and Glebe Youth Service. This project was also supported by the Paul Ramsey Foundation

    23. Mapping What Matters 1: Returning to the roots of asset mapping

  6. Mar 29

    22. My Language My Country 6: Ethical belonging

    In this final episode, we explore what it means to be colonisers on colonised lands. If we’re migrants from a colonising country like Japan, are our perspectives and connections to First Nations peoples different? We hear from two Japanese Australians, whose ancestors were involved in the Pacific War. How does carrying this personal history shape their sense of belonging? What can we all do to foster a more responsible or ethical sense of belonging? GuestsTofa Amanda Moors-Mailei is a Sāmoan educator, strategist and nationally recognised equity leader in Australian higher education. Her work includes shaping the UTS Humanitarian Scholarship Program, leading the design of the UTS Indigenous Outreach Strategy, advancing Pacific student success initiatives, and co-designing UTS’s first Women in IT Leadership Mentoring Program. Amanda is the Founder of the Australian Pasifika Educators Network, a founding member of the UTS Multicultural Women’s Network, and Executive Lead, Pacific for Equity Practitioners in Higher Education Australasia. Fainu'ulelei Unasa Moors is Amanda’s father Mayu Kanamori is an independent artist working in Australia and Japan. She works across mediums including photography and performances to tell stories of Japanese experiences in Australia. She is a founding member of Nikkei Australia. Mariko Smith (Yuin/Japanese) is Senior Specialist (Research & Publications) at the Australian Museum. Born in Sydney and growing up on the NSW Central Coast, her work explores Australian national history, historiographical practice, and the integration of Indigenous knowledge systems into museum and academic frameworks. Benjamin Oh is a Malaysia-born, multilingual leader in human rights and community development. He works across faiths, cultures and communities to advance dignity, equality, justice and inclusion, bridging faith, multicultural engagement, while fostering dialogue, understanding, and belonging for diverse communities in Australia and internationally. Benjamin leads several LGBTIQA+, faith and multicultural organisations. Acknowledgement of Country in Lisan ud-Dawat by Hasan Godhrawal Acknowledgement of Country in Tamil by Antonette Aileen Shibani Koto music ‘Chinkon’ composed by Mark Isaacs; performed by Satsuki Odamura Album: Pearl of May Label: Tall Poppies Records Tibetan Bells performed by Satsuki Odamura Mayu Kanamori’s Art ProjectsHeart of the Journey–Multimedia documentary about Lucy Dann’s journey to find her Japanese father In Repose–Multi-arts project of dance, music, sound and ceremony visiting Japanese gravesites and cemeteries in Australia When You Call My Name–Multi-arts project honouring the lives of 208 people who died while incarcerated as ‘Japanese enemy aliens’ during World War II CreditsThis series was produced on the Lands of the Gadigal People, the Cammeraygal People, the Darug People, and the Guringai People. Host: Elaine Laforteza Producer: Masako Fukui With the support of Jane Curtis, Sarah Gilbert of UTS Impact Studios Tile artwork by Alexandra Morris This podcast was created by the UTS Multicultural Women’s Network and is part of the broader UTS Acknowledgment of Country in Our Languages project.

    22. My Language My Country 6: Ethical belonging

  7. Mar 22

    21. My Language My Country 5: Learning Together

    Saying an Acknowledgement in our mother languages inspires us to learn more about First Nations histories and cultures. But many migrants and new settlers claim that they know little about First Nations ways of doing and being. How can we work together to educate each other? GuestsNema Madnani is a higher education professional with experience in student equity, project co-ordination and community engagement. In her past roles, she contributed to initiatives focused on inclusion and reducing barriers within education. She cares deeply about staying connected to her cultural roots and family, and believes that honouring where we come from shapes how we show up for our communities. Sukhmani Khorana is a Scientia Associate Professor at UNSW Sydney whose research focuses on media, migration, belonging, cultural politics, and food studies. Her work has been recognised through awards such as UOW’s Impact-Maker Award, the Faculty Arete Research Champion Award, and Western Sydney University’s Research Engagement Award. Khorana also collaborates with cultural and community organisations to translate academic research into public impact. She was one of the co-founders of ‘South Asians for Voice’. Mariko Smith (Yuin/Japanese) is Senior Specialist (Research & Publications) at the Australian Museum. Born in Sydney and growing up on the NSW Central Coast, her work explores Australian national history, historiographical practice, and the integration of Indigenous knowledge systems into museum and academic frameworks. Nik Armstrong is Assistant Principal of Marrickville West Primary School, responsible for coordinating Stage 3 and Aboriginal Education. Ruth Bradfield-Ling is the Principal of Marrickville West Primary School. She has been Principal for more than 20 years. Violet Laforteza Kennedy is Elaine’s Daughter Evan Laforteza Kennedy is Elaine’s Son Students at Marrickville West Primary School CreditsThis series was produced on the Lands of the Gadigal People, the Cammeraygal People, the Darug People, and the Guringai People. Host: Elaine Laforteza Producer: Masako Fukui With the support of Jane Curtis, Sarah Gilbert of UTS Impact Studios.

    21. My Language My Country 5: Learning Together

  8. Mar 15

    20. My Language My Country 4: Waking up languages

    How are languages that have been dormant being revived by First Nations peoples? We hear from Dr Lachlan McDaniel and Professor Lindon Coombes of the Jumbanna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research at UTS about their personal journeys with language. Are we making any progress in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language revival? And why is language revitalisation important to non-Indigenous Australians? GuestsLachlan McDaniel is a proud member of the Kalari Clan of the Wiradjuri Nation. He currently serves as Associate Dean of Research at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research at UTS. His doctoral research examines the revitalisation of the Wiradjuri language and culture through community-driven initiatives reconnecting people to Country, tradition and identity. Lindon Coombes is the Director of Research and an Industry Professor at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research, UTS. With over 20 years’ experience in Aboriginal Affairs, he has held senior leadership roles across government, community organisations, and PwC’s Indigenous Consulting. Alexandra Grey is a Chancellor's Research Fellow at UTS. She co-founded and co-runs the Law and Linguistics Interdisciplinary Research Network. Her research covers laws about minority, migrant and Indigenous languages in Chinese and Australian contexts, and the reception, impact and reform of those laws. Violet Laforteza Kennedy is Elaine’s daughter. ReferencesMaking linguistic diversity visible in parliament Celebrating Indigenous linguistic diversity in Australia’s parliaments CreditsThis series was produced on the Lands of the Gadigal People, the Cammeraygal People, the Darug People, and the Guringai People. Host: Elaine Laforteza Producer: Masako Fukui With the support of Jane Curtis, Sarah Gilbert of UTS Impact Studios Tile artwork by Alexandra Morris This podcast was created by the UTS Multicultural Women’s Network and is part of the broader UTS Acknowledgment of Country in Our Languages project.

    20. My Language My Country 4: Waking up languages
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About

People working to change systems from the ground up — community leaders, researchers, activists and practitioners. Through short series and conversations, you’ll hear big ideas, urgent debates, and practical examples of community-led solutions in action. This podcast was previously called Life's Lottery, and relaunched in 2026 as Change the Story. Produced by UTS Impact Studios.

Information

  • Creator
    Impact Studios
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Impact Studios
  • Show Website
    Change the Story

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