What Are We Drinking? w/ Rachel Carey

What Are We Drinking?

All the best conversations happen over a drink. Rachel Carey is a business owner, entrepreneur, coach, speaker, and leader in the NDIS space. With a passion for business, personal growth, and real conversations, she’s bringing people together to discuss the topics that matter most, all over a drink of the guest's choice. From business insights and industry trends to life, the NDIS, and everything in between, no subject is off-limits. So, the only question left is… What Are We Drinking?

  1. Jul 13

    Aden Perry on OurChoice Disability, Community Access & Building Real Capacity | What Are We Drinking? Ep. 22

    In this episode of What Are We Drinking?, Rachel sits down with Aden Perry — founder of OurChoice Disability — for a raw, funny and honest conversation about rugby league, disability support, community access, young leadership and building a business with purpose. Aden shares his journey from growing up in the Sutherland Shire and chasing rugby league, to entering the disability sector at 18 and being confronted by the reality of personal care, group homes and the lives of people who need genuine support. That experience became the foundation for OurChoice Disability — a business Aden started at just 21 years old with a simple mission: to give participants real experiences, real connection and real opportunities to build confidence, independence and capacity. Rachel and Aden unpack why community access is so much more than “just going out for fun.” From learning how to order a coffee, go shopping, build friendships, cook meals, move your body, regulate emotions and come home with a story to tell — this conversation is a powerful reminder of how much growth happens in everyday moments. They also discuss rugby league, resilience, knockbacks, mental health, tall poppy syndrome, the pressure of being a young founder, asking for help, building a young team, and the impact potential NDIS cuts to community participation could have on participants and families. This episode is energetic, emotional, hilarious and deeply relevant to the disability sector right now. Topics: Aden Perry’s upbringing in the Sutherland Shire Rugby league, resilience and knockbacks Playing footy across Sydney, Wollongong and representative pathways Rachel giving Aden his first job in disability Entering personal care at 18 The confronting reality of disability support work Working in group homes Supporting participants with complex needs Why Aden started OurChoice Disability at 21 What OurChoice is really about Community access as capacity building Helping participants build independence Social skills, confidence and friendship Giving participants “dinner table stories” Why community participation is not just playtime NDIS cuts and the risk to social/community participation The pressure of being a young founder Mental health, burnout and asking for help Tall poppy syndrome Building a young team and strong culture Why sport, movement and fitness matter Meal prep, life skills and future program ideas Rachel and Aden’s full-circle relationship

    Aden Perry on OurChoice Disability, Community Access & Building Real Capacity | What Are We Drinking? Ep. 22

  2. Jul 6

    Dain Walker on Personal Branding, Childhood Trauma & World Domination | What Are We Drinking? EP 21

    In this episode of What Are We Drinking?, Rachel sits down with Dain Walker — personal brand strategist, founder of Rivyl, author, speaker, creator and the man known as “the internet’s brand strategist.”Dain shares the full story behind his journey, from a chaotic childhood and time in foster care, to being $200,000 in debt, working at Telstra, and having a life-changing moment after seeing Gary Vee speak live. That moment became the spark that pushed him into content, branding, entrepreneurship and building the creative empire he leads today.Rachel and Dain dive deep into personal branding, why businesses without visible founders are already falling behind, and why people connect with people, stories and characters far more than logos. Dain breaks down the difference between authenticity and identity, why imperfect characters are more powerful, and how founders can use their story to build real trust online.They also unpack business growth, creativity, fatherhood, leadership, podcasting, content teams, trauma, resilience and the importance of designing the person you want to become.And yes — instead of whiskey, wine or a flashy cocktail, Dain chose vanilla custard. Naturally.This episode is funny, raw, practical and packed with gold for anyone building a brand, business or better version of themselves. Key Topics Discussed Who Dain Walker really is beyond the brandGrowing up in chaos and entering foster careHow childhood adversity shaped his empathy and creativityGoing from $200K debt to building RivylThe Gary Vee moment that changed his lifeWhy he chose vanilla custard as his drinkWhy personal brands matter more than everWhy people follow people, not logosThe difference between personal, product and company brandsSteve Jobs, Apple and the power of founder-led storytellingWhy authenticity can be a confusing wordBuilding a character, identity and online presenceSpider-Man, Batman and Iron Man as personal brand metaphorsHow to balance being real with being strategic onlinePersonal branding in regulated industries like the NDISThe role of entertainment and education in contentHow founders should think about social mediaInternal creative teams and modern content strategyPodcasting as business developmentFatherhood, family and staying presentWhat’s next for Dain, including live events

    Dain Walker on Personal Branding, Childhood Trauma & World Domination | What Are We Drinking? EP 21

  3. Jun 29

    Rhys & Jaxon on Belonging, Brotherhood & Building Empower Care | What Are We Drinking? Ep 20

    In this episode of What Are We Drinking?, Rachel sits down with Rhys and Jaxon from Empower Care Solutions Hub for a raw, funny and genuinely moving conversation about friendship, business, disability support and what it means to help young people feel like they belong. From becoming best mates and building a business together, to working long hours, navigating burnout and putting everything back into the people they support, Rhys and Jaxon open up about the real grind behind Empower Care. Their mission is simple but powerful: helping young people feel seen, heard, believed in and supported to take the next step. They share the stories behind Empower Care’s programs, including Teens Night, Fit Friends, 1:1 support and community-based activities that build confidence, connection and real-life skills. Empower Care’s own website describes these programs as spaces for young people to build confidence, friendships, independence and genuine connection. The conversation also dives into the viral learner licence moment, supporting young people through anxiety and isolation, the importance of genuine care in disability support, and why connection should always come before goals. This episode is about more than support work. It’s about belonging, confidence, brotherhood and the kind of impact that happens when people actually give a shit. Key Topics Discussed - How Rhys and Jaxon became friends - Building Empower Care from the ground up - The early grind of business ownership - Burnout, sacrifice and backing each other - Supporting young people with disability - Why young people need belonging and connection - Rhys’ personal experience with anxiety and feeling lost - Jaxon’s journey from stable employment into support work - Teens Night and the power of social connection - Fit Friends, cooking, gym and community activities - The viral learner licence success story - Building confidence through small wins - Professional boundaries vs genuine care - Why families want support workers who actually care - Imposter syndrome and showing up scared - Social media, storytelling and building a brand - Their long-term vision for an Empower Care community hub - Advice for young people and parents

    Rhys & Jaxon on Belonging, Brotherhood & Building Empower Care | What Are We Drinking? Ep 20

  4. Jun 23

    Amanda Rose on Tax, Small Business, Housing, Ai, & The Government's Lies | What Are We Drinking E19

    What Are We Drinking's first guest — Amanda Rose, returns, and she doesn't hold back. From women in business and government procurement to AI, taxation, entrepreneurship, financial independence and the future of Australia, Amanda doesn't hold back. As the founder of Small Business Women Australia, Amanda is on a mission to change how women access opportunities, contracts and economic power. She shares why only a tiny percentage of government contracts go to women-owned businesses, why she's built another business focused on changing that, and what she believes needs to happen to create genuine financial independence for women. Rachel and Amanda also tackle some of the biggest issues facing Australians right now — the cost of living crisis, small business pressures, AI's impact on jobs, payroll tax, housing affordability, government policy and why critical thinking matters more than ever. Whether you agree with Amanda or not, one thing is certain: she's never afraid to say exactly what she thinks.

    Amanda Rose on Tax, Small Business, Housing, Ai, & The Government's Lies | What Are We Drinking E19

  5. Jun 15

    Using Comedy to Challenge Disability Stereotypes | Madeleine Stewart on ABC, inclusion & NDIS cuts

    What happens when you combine sharp comedy, lived experience, and fearless advocacy?In this episode of What Are We Drinking?, Rachel Carey sits down with comedian, writer, filmmaker and disability advocate Madeleine Stewart for a candid conversation about using humour to challenge stereotypes and change perceptions around disability.Madeleine shares her journey from growing up in Campbelltown to performing stand-up comedy across Australia, appearing on the ABC, creating films, and becoming one of the country's most recognised disability advocates. Together, Rachel and Madeleine unpack the power of representation, the realities of dating and relationships with a disability, inclusion in mainstream media, and the impact current NDIS changes are having on people with disabilities.This episode is funny, honest, challenging and deeply important. Key Topics - Madeleine's journey into comedy and advocacy - Using humour to challenge disability stereotypes - Representation in Australian media - Working with the ABC and film projects - Growing up with a disability in Western Sydney - Dating, relationships and disability - Why "inspirational" can be a problematic label - Inclusion beyond performative diversity - The current state of the NDIS - NDIS cuts and their real-world impact - Creating social change through storytelling - The future of disability advocacy in Australia

    Using Comedy to Challenge Disability Stereotypes | Madeleine Stewart on ABC, inclusion & NDIS cuts

  6. Jun 8

    The Research Nobody Else Is Doing: Sex, Stroke & the LGBTQ+ Community | William Kokay

    What happens to your identity, your relationships, and your sex life after a stroke — and why is the healthcare system barely even asking the question? This week on What Are We Drinking, Rachel sits down with William Kokay — social worker, PhD researcher, and the man on a mission to bridge one of the biggest gaps in post-stroke care. Over a Cosmo (obviously), they get into a conversation that is equal parts hilarious, eye-opening, and genuinely important. William's work sits at the intersection of stroke rehabilitation, sexuality, gender identity and the LGBTQ+ community — and it's groundbreaking because almost no one else is doing it. He's spent years inside neurology wards, talking to patients and their partners about the things most clinicians quietly sidestep. And he's funding most of it himself. In this episode, they get into: Why sexuality and identity are almost always left out of stroke recovery conversationsThe gap in care for LGBTQ+ stroke survivors — and why it matters for everyoneWhat it means when your partner becomes your carer overnightThe NDIS, funding cuts to sexuality support, and who's getting left behindHow Donald Trump's policies are literally affecting research participants in AustraliaWhat healthcare professionals still don't understand about queer healthGrowing up in the 90s without role models, and how that shaped William's life's workWhy identity isn't fixed — and why that's actually a beautiful thingThis one is unfiltered, unapologetic, and full of moments that'll make you think differently about what it really means to treat the whole person — not just the medical condition.

    The Research Nobody Else Is Doing: Sex, Stroke & the LGBTQ+ Community | William Kokay

  7. May 25

    From 70k in Debt to Forbes' King of Sales: Adam McCaughey on Sales, Discipline & Building an Empire | What Are We Drinking E16

    What happens when you get expelled from school, end up $70K in debt, and find yourself living out of a Volkswagen Polo — and then decide that's not the end of the story? This week on What Are We Drinking, Rachel sits down with Adam McCaughey — chef turned Forbes-recognised "King of Sales" — for one of the most energetic and honest conversations we've had on the pod. Adam's journey is anything but linear. From scrubbing pans at Rockpool at 16, to cooking for billionaires on superyachts in Fiji, to rock bottom, to scaling sales teams closing $600K a month — he's lived a lot of lives. And he connects the dots between all of them in a way that'll make you rethink everything you thought you knew about sales, success, and self-belief. In this episode, they get into: Why conviction is the one thing you can't teach a sales repThe "cookie and the lion" framework for understanding your driveHow elite kitchen culture shaped Adam's approach to business and leadershipThe difference between a smokescreen objection and a real oneBuilding sales teams that don't churn — military discipline meets family cultureWhy being present (and bored) might be your biggest competitive edgeAdam's challenge to stop looking for external validation — and become your own biggest fanThere's also a live objection-handling roleplay that is genuinely impressive, a story involving heroin and hypnosis, and the long-awaited baby announcement (kind of). Raw, real, and packed with gold. Don't miss it.

    From 70k in Debt to Forbes' King of Sales: Adam McCaughey on Sales, Discipline & Building an Empire | What Are We Drinking E16

  8. May 18

    Penioni Tohi on Disability Employment, Tongan Culture & Fixing Wages | What Are We Drinking? E15

    In this episode of What Are We Drinking?, Rachel Carey sits down with Penioni “Penny” Tohi, founder of Able Minds, for a raw and honest conversation about disability employment, culture, business pressure, and building meaningful impact in the NDIS sector.From growing up in a traditional Tongan household in Western Sydney and chasing an NRL dream, through to working in autism support and launching Able Minds, Penny shares the experiences that shaped his mission to create fairer employment opportunities for people with disabilities.The episode dives deep into supported employment wages, why some participants are still being paid only a few dollars an hour, and the challenges providers face trying to create genuine innovation inside an increasingly difficult NDIS system.Rachel and Penny also unpack entrepreneurship, burnout, work-life balance, provider sustainability, masculinity, family expectations, and the reality of trying to build purpose-driven businesses in today’s climate.This is one of the most honest conversations yet about the future of disability employment in Australia.Key Topics - Penioni Tohi’s journey from rugby league to the disability sector - Founding Able Minds and creating supported employment pathways - The reality of subsidised disability wages in Australia - Why some supported employees earn under minimum wage - Tongan culture, family values, and serving community - Growing up in Western Sydney in a household full of women - Entrepreneurship, burnout, and relationship sacrifices - Challenges facing NDIS providers in 2026 - Innovation, sustainability, and fixing disability employment - Why meaningful work creates dignity and independence - Building gardening crews and employment opportunities through Able Minds - The future of disability employment in Australia

    Penioni Tohi on Disability Employment, Tongan Culture & Fixing Wages | What Are We Drinking? E15
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About

All the best conversations happen over a drink. Rachel Carey is a business owner, entrepreneur, coach, speaker, and leader in the NDIS space. With a passion for business, personal growth, and real conversations, she’s bringing people together to discuss the topics that matter most, all over a drink of the guest's choice. From business insights and industry trends to life, the NDIS, and everything in between, no subject is off-limits. So, the only question left is… What Are We Drinking?

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