Uncommon Ground with Talal Yassine

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Real leaders. Real conversations. Real opinions. What drives someone to speak up, stand out, and keep going when the pressure hits hard? Uncommon Ground is a monthly podcast hosted by entrepreneur and philanthropist Talal Yassine, where he sits down with high-profile Australians who aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo. In each episode, Talal goes beyond the headlines to explore the values, convictions, and personal struggles that shape public figures. It’s not just about what they’ve done, it’s about who they are when things get difficult. Honest, raw, and deeply human, this is Uncommon Ground. Subscribe now and be part of the conversation.

  1. 19h ago

    A terror attack changes society | Aftab Malik

    What happens when the person appointed to combat Islamophobia discovers that parts of the very community he is meant to serve don’t trust him?   In this episode of Uncommon Ground, Professor Talal Yassine sits down with Aftab Malik, Australia’s Islamophobia envoy, for a wide-ranging and unusually candid conversation about identity, faith, social cohesion and the growing divisions shaping Australian society.   Aftab traces an unlikely path from a protected childhood in Bristol, the only son among four sisters, obsessed with books, cricket and Islamic history, to years spent studying the relationship between Islam and the West. He reflects on how September 11 transformed his career, why ignorance about Islam has grown rather than diminished over the past 25 years, and how social media is creating an environment where people increasingly “demonise and dehumanise” those with whom they disagree.   The conversation then turns to Australia. Aftab explains why Muslims should not have to choose between being Muslim and Australian, recounts a decade working on social cohesion and radicalisation inside government, and reveals the hostile reception he received after accepting the envoy role.   Talal also challenges Aftab on the criticisms surrounding his appointment, the government's response to his Islamophobia report, recommendations that remain unresolved, and the disparity between government responses to antisemitism and Islamophobia.   Subscribe to Uncommon Ground on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@talal.yassine   Links   Learn More About Talal talalyassine.com.au   LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/talaly   Facebook facebook.com/talal.yassine.1   Instagram instagram.com/talalyassine     Episode Running Order   Aftab’s childhood in Bristol and growing up in a close Pakistani family (00:00:57)• Education, family influences and growing up surrounded by his sisters (00:02:27)• Being a self-confessed “nerd” and developing a lifelong love of learning (00:06:32)• A life without a grand career plan and following opportunities as they emerged (00:08:08)• Studying Islam, history and theology and discovering how much there was still to learn (00:11:52)• Cricket, travel and his first experience of Australia as a teenager (00:14:44)• How September 11 transformed his career and drew him into debates about Islam and the West (00:18:00)• Why Aftab believes ignorance about Islam and Muslims has grown over the past 25 years (00:20:12)• Social media, misinformation and the growing inability to disagree respectfully (00:24:09)• Working with governments while maintaining his intellectual independence (00:30:56)• The decline of the Ottoman Empire, modernity and the relationship between Islam and the West (00:36:10)• Why being Muslim and being Australian should never be competing identities (00:45:29)• Joining government and approaching radicalisation as a social rather than simply a policing problem (00:56:12)• Learning how government really works and the lessons from his first bureaucratic brief (00:57:28)• Moving from the NSW Government to Australia’s Islamophobia envoy in just two days (01:02:23)• Responding to accusations that he was appointed by government to “sell out” the Muslim community (01:07:51)• The hostile reception to his appointment and his six-week “baptism by fire” across Australia (01:10:35)• Criticism, accountability and where Aftab draws the line between disagreement and personal attacks (01:18:29)• The challenge of building the envoy’s office while travelling, consulting, writing and engaging with the media (01:22:28)• The Islamophobia report and whether the Federal Government’s response went far enough (01:24:58)• The recommendations that remain unresolved, including religious discrimination and counter-terrorism laws (01:27:21)• Comparing Australia’s responses to Islamophobia and antisemitism and the question of unequal treatment (01:32:42)• The impact of the Bondi terror attack on government and community responses (01:33:13)• Whether Australia can rebuild social cohesion amid growing polarisation and division (01:34:54)• Why Aftab believes Australia is in a “very dangerous space” — and what still gives him hope (01:35:33)• Quickfire questions: misconceptions, guilty pleasures and the importance of having time to think (01:37:24)• The legacy Aftab hopes to leave: bringing people together to better understand one another (01:38:20)• The advice he would give his 18-year-old self: “It all ends well” (01:39:01) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    A terror attack changes society | Aftab Malik

  2. Sep 22

    Proving them wrong | Penny Bingham Hall

    In this episode of Uncommon Ground Talal Yassine sits down with Penny Bingham Hall, one of Australia’s most respected company directors and a former senior executive at Leighton Holdings. Penny reflects on her childhood, her parents’ migration to Australia, and the values of confidence, education and independence that shaped her. She shares how a background in industrial design unexpectedly led her into construction, infrastructure, strategy and eventually the boardrooms of some of Australia’s largest organisations. Subscribe to Uncommon Ground on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@talal.yassine Links Learn More About Talal talalyassine.com.auLinkedIn linkedin.com/in/talaly Facebook facebook.com/talal.yassine.1 Instagram instagram.com/talalyassine   Episode Running Order Penny’s childhood in Hunters Hill and her earliest memories (00:00:51)• Her parents’ migration to Australia and family background (00:02:09)• Growing up with education, independence and strong parental values (00:04:57)• School years, creativity and choosing industrial design (00:07:35)• University, work and discovering the value of practical experience (00:15:06)• Joining Leighton Holdings and finding her place in construction (00:21:23)• Working in strategy, investor relations and corporate affairs (00:27:35)• Navigating male-dominated environments and building confidence (00:32:43)• Family, marriage and balancing motherhood with senior leadership (00:42:01)• Leaving Leighton after 23 years and taking a career pause (00:46:51)• Moving into board roles and building a non-executive career (00:51:04)• Lessons on networking, sponsorship and getting onto boards (00:52:32)• How new directors should listen, learn and understand risk (01:00:32)• The challenges of governance, complexity and director responsibility (01:11:11)• What comes next for Penny and reflections on career, confidence and kindness (01:17:38) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Proving them wrong | Penny Bingham Hall

  3. Sep 8

    Your own mind can be a prison | Arthur Sinodinos

    In this episode of Uncommon Ground, Talal Yassine sits down with Arthur Sinodinos, former Chief of Staff to Prime Minister John Howard, senior minister, senator, and Australia’s former Ambassador to the United States. Arthur reflects on his journey from a Greek migrant family in Newcastle to the centre of Australian public life, sharing insights on economic reform, political discipline, leadership, and diplomacy. He discusses the Howard years, the GST, the changing culture of politics, his battle with cancer, and what he learned representing Australia in Washington during the Trump and Biden years. Subscribe to Uncommon Ground on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@talal.yassine Links Learn More About Talal talalyassine.com.au LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/talaly Facebook facebook.com/talal.yassine.1 Instagram instagram.com/talalyassine Episode Running Order Arthur’s childhood in Newcastle and growing up in a Greek migrant family (00:00:50) School, university and discovering economics (00:04:57) From Treasury to John Howard’s office (00:07:16) Working inside government and the road to Chief of Staff (00:10:50) The GST, economic reform and the discipline of policy (00:28:28) Lessons from politics, government and party leadership (00:47:57) His cancer diagnosis and recovery (00:55:15) Becoming Australia’s Ambassador to the United States (01:01:32) Trump, Biden and representing Australia in Washington (01:03:27) AUKUS, diplomacy and the changing strategic world (01:07:18) Life lessons, risk-taking and what matters now (01:15:47)   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Your own mind can be a prison | Arthur Sinodinos

  4. Aug 26

    You have to be able to fail | Adam Liaw

    In this episode of Uncommon Ground, Talal Yassine sits down with Adam Liaw, cook, writer, broadcaster and one of Australia’s most respected voices on food and culture. Adam reflects on his unconventional journey from a high-achieving young lawyer to winning MasterChef Australia, and why that moment didn’t change his life in the way most people expect. Instead, he shares how curiosity, storytelling and a willingness to embrace uncertainty shaped his career across television, publishing and business. The conversation explores growing up between cultures, the influence of migration and identity, and how food became both a personal anchor and a professional platform. Adam also opens up about work, success and why he challenges the idea that hard work alone leads to fulfilment. Subscribe to Uncommon Ground on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@talal.yassine Links Learn More About Talal talalyassine.com.au LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/talaly Facebook facebook.com/talal.yassine.1 Instagram instagram.com/talalyassine Episode Running Order Childhood in Malaysia and migrating to Australia (00:00:41) Family background and growing up between cultures (00:02:03) Early schooling, acceleration and finishing school young (00:03:34) Living independently and developing resilience as a teenager (00:07:58) University life, law and science degrees at a young age (00:14:24) The importance of friendships and perspective over academics (00:15:23) Learning how to think, not just study (00:18:06) Starting a career in law and working in high-pressure environments (00:23:39) Moving to Japan and working in-house at Disney (00:25:32) Learning language, culture and independence through food (00:36:53) Discovering a passion for cooking and cultural identity (00:34:57) Applying for MasterChef and taking an unconventional risk (00:31:28) The reality of MasterChef and approaching it as a “puzzle” (00:38:34) Winning MasterChef and the unexpected aftermath (00:42:48) Finding purpose through storytelling and SBS opportunities (00:44:13) Building a career in media, publishing and production (00:48:40) Lessons on opportunity, failure and resilience (00:49:02) Views on work, success and challenging the “hard work” narrative (00:55:26) Family, fatherhood and redefining priorities (00:53:30) The challenge of saying no and creating space for life (01:01:06) Quickfire reflections: identity, misconceptions and personal values (01:02:10) Advice to his younger self and what truly matters (01:08:17) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    You have to be able to fail | Adam Liaw

  5. Aug 11

    They thought I was a sleeper | Captain Mona Shindy

    Captain Mona Shindy is one of the most remarkable modern day Australian leaders — an engineer, trailblazer, and one of the first Muslim women to serve on an Australian warship.  Arriving in Australia as a young migrant, Mona’s journey is defined by resilience, from the loss of her father at 14, to navigating male-dominated environments, to serving in high-pressure military operations.  In this episode, Mona shares the realities of life inside the Navy, including the challenges of being one of the first women onboard warships, the complexity of serving during the Iraq War, and the personal cost of leadership in environments where trust, identity and performance are constantly tested.  She also reflects on her role as an Islamic cultural advisor, the misconceptions around faith and service, and what it truly means to lead with integrity in institutions undergoing change.  Subscribe to Uncommon Ground on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@talal.yassine   Links  Learn More About Talal talalyassine.com.au  LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/talaly  Facebook facebook.com/talal.yassine.1  Instagram instagram.com/talalyassine    Episode Running Order  Migration to Australia and early life between cultures (00:00:45)  Family background and her parents’ journey (00:02:11)  Growing up in Sydney and early influences (00:06:37)  Losing her father and stepping into responsibility early (00:10:18)  School, ambition and choosing engineering (00:17:44)  Being one of the few women in a male-dominated field (00:20:22)  Joining the Navy and early military training (00:23:14)  Life as one of the first women on a warship (00:29:20)  Proving herself in a high-pressure environment (00:32:10)  Iraq War deployment and ethical complexity (00:49:24)  Navigating identity as a Muslim in the Defence Force (00:53:29)  Marriage, family and balancing service (00:57:52)  Appointed Islamic Cultural Advisor to the Navy (01:02:04)  Internal resistance and public scrutiny (01:06:30)  The decision to wear the hijab and its impact (01:12:26)  Leadership, resilience and carrying the cultural burden (01:16:23)  Reflections on service, leadership and legacy (01:20:30+)  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    They thought I was a sleeper | Captain Mona Shindy

  6. Jul 28

    Tim Fung on failure, conviction and the road to airtasker

    In this episode of Uncommon Ground, Talal Yassine sits down with Tim Fung, founder of Airtasker, to unpack the real story behind one of Australia’s most recognisable tech platforms.  From growing up in Sydney and navigating a selective school environment, to landing at Macquarie Bank and ultimately being made redundant, Tim shares how pivotal moments, both planned and unexpected, shaped his entrepreneurial journey.  This is not a typical startup success story. Tim speaks candidly about self-doubt, false starts, working for free to get close to the right people, and the brutal early challenge of building a marketplace with no users.  At its core, this conversation is about conviction, resilience, and the long game of what it really takes to build something meaningful when there’s no guarantee it will work.  Subscribe to Uncommon Ground on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@talal.yassine   Links  Learn More About Talal talalyassine.com.au  LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/talaly  Facebook facebook.com/talal.yassine.1  Instagram instagram.com/talalyassine  Episode Running Order  Childhood memories and early life growing up in Sydney (00:00:03)  Family background and Chinese-Australian identity (00:02:54)  Growing up in St Ives and early schooling (00:03:43)  North Sydney Boys High and competitive academic environment (00:04:36)  Early academic struggles and developing discipline (00:16:40)  Learning focus, compartmentalisation and work ethic (00:18:52)  HSC pressure, achievement and uncertainty after school (00:19:41)  University life, hospitality degree and early jobs (00:26:15)  First exposure to business and entrepreneurship in hotels (00:27:24)  Breaking into Macquarie Bank through persistence (00:29:24)  Lessons from investment banking and entrepreneurial culture (00:31:12)  Redundancy as a turning point (00:35:24)  Treating job hunting as a full-time job (00:37:47)  Working for free to gain access and experience (00:38:41)  Learning entrepreneurship at Sheik Management (00:40:11)  Amaysim and scaling a high-growth startup (00:46:10)  Evaluating ideas and lessons from failure (00:53:07)  The origin of Airtasker and solving the trust problem (00:54:00)  Building Airtasker from scratch (00:56:57)  Early challenges of creating a two-sided marketplace (01:00:03)  Quickfire questions (01:23:09)  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tim Fung on failure, conviction and the road to airtasker

  7. Jun 30

    Bilal Hayek on opportunity, hard work and building community

    From arriving in Australia unable to speak English to becoming one of the youngest mayors in the country, Bilal Hayek’s story is one of resilience, service and deep community connection.  In this episode of Uncommon Ground, Bilal reflects on his migration journey from Lebanon, the challenges of adapting to a new country, and the teachers and mentors who shaped his path. He shares how an unplanned career in youth work led him into politics, and what it really means to represent one of Australia’s most diverse communities.  The conversation also explores the realities of local government, the pressures of public office, and the importance of standing up to racism and division with leadership grounded in respect, inclusion and action.  Subscribe to Uncommon Ground on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@talal.yassine   Links  Learn More About Talal talalyassine.com.au  LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/talaly  Facebook facebook.com/talal.yassine.1  Instagram instagram.com/talalyassine    Episode Running Order  Early memories in Lebanon and childhood influences (00:52)  Migration to Australia at 11 and adapting without English (01:55)  Family background, education and growing up between cultures (04:02)  Understanding the contrast between life in Lebanon and Australia (11:32)  The challenges of starting over and facing racism in school (14:42)  The role of teachers and school experiences in shaping his path (18:09)  Wanting to become a tradie vs pressure to pursue formal education (23:07)  Starting a karate dojo and early leadership experiences (24:28)  Marriage at 20, fatherhood and financial pressures (27:10)  Living with parents and the importance of culture and family (28:20)  Early career in youth work and finding purpose through service (31:49)  Joining PCYC and working with young people for a decade (32:50)  Accidental entry into politics and joining the Labor Party (34:23)  Running for council and becoming Deputy Mayor, then Mayor (36:33)  Leading one of Australia’s largest and most diverse LGAs (38:04)  Understanding local government systems and community expectations (39:09)  The realities of being on the frontline of government (43:03)  Balancing community needs, limited resources and public expectations (44:31)  Lakemba Nights, controversy and responding to public criticism (46:52)  Addressing racism, hate speech and political division (49:56)  Leadership philosophy: unity, respect and inclusion over politics (52:24)  The pressure of public office and staying grounded (54:55)  What’s next: politics, youth work and staying open to opportunity (57:42)  Major developments shaping Canterbury-Bankstown’s future (01:00:34)  Quick-fire: chocolate, misconceptions and life lessons (01:02:23)    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Bilal Hayek on opportunity, hard work and building community

  8. Jun 9

    Shaun Christie-David on changing the world one plate at a time

    In this powerful episode of Uncommon Ground, Professor Talal Yassine sits down with Shaun Christie-David, a social enterprise leader, restaurateur, and the founder of Colombo Social, Kabul Social, Kyiv Social, and the Plate It Forward Foundation. From his humble beginnings in Western Sydney to launching some of Australia's most socially impactful dining venues, Shaun is reshaping what hospitality means. His mission? Use food as a force for good, creating jobs for people from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds, and delivering over 750,000 meals to those in need. Shaun’s story is equal parts rage and resilience, from enduring racism in the corporate world to building businesses that fight injustice and feed hope. He opens up about his Sri Lankan roots, his parents’ migrant struggles, and why migrant women, ex-offenders, and people from disadvantaged communities deserve more than charity, they deserve opportunity. Subscribe to Uncommon Ground on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@talal.yassine Links Learn More About Talal talalyassine.com.au LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/talaly Facebook facebook.com/talal.yassine.1 Instagram instagram.com/talalyassine Episode Running Order  Intro — who is Shaun Christie-David and why his story matters (00:00)• Childhood in Fairfield & memories of early mischief and innocence (01:05)• Family dynamics — growing up the youngest of three Sri Lankan brothers (02:07)• School years — selective school entry, avoiding trouble & chasing opportunity (03:32)• Parents’ migration from Sri Lanka & sacrifices for a better life (04:57)• Dad’s career shift — from engineer to mobile mechanic in Australia (06:36)• Life at Holsworthy Ag High — navigating identity in elite academic spaces (08:39)• The turning point — how one teacher changed Shaun’s path (13:25)• University life — failing subjects, partying, and discovering purpose (16:54)• Why finance? — the Martin Place moment & chasing the suit-and-tie dream (17:41)• Early career in finance — process automation & questioning the status quo (20:29)• Experiencing casual racism in corporate Australia — from “Tamil Tiger” to “wrong side of the bridge” (28:16)• The call that changed everything — leaving finance after an Obama slur (34:04)• The ex-girlfriend’s mum story — racism in the home & drawing hard lines (40:07)• Returning to Sri Lanka — realizing his privilege & finding a new mission (48:04)• Founding Colombo Social — creating fusion food & a social impact model (51:47)• Why food? — the universal language that brings people together (53:29)• COVID pivot — launching Plate It Forward & 750,000+ donated meals (55:24)• Food insecurity in Australia — now worse than during the pandemic (56:42)• How the model works — restaurants, catering, and the Plate It Forward Foundation (58:06)• Funding the movement — 95% of donations from Shaun’s hospitality businesses (59:09)• The workforce model — 85% of staff from marginalized communities (1:01:45)• Launchpad — helping migrant women start their own food businesses (1:09:20)• Can Shaun cook? — decoding flavor without being a chef (1:06:01)• The future — endowment models, sustainability & replicating community care (1:11:32)• Quick-fire questions — misconceptions, guilty pleasures & defining conversations (1:13:53)• Closing reflections & outro (1:15:30) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Shaun Christie-David on changing the world one plate at a time
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Real leaders. Real conversations. Real opinions. What drives someone to speak up, stand out, and keep going when the pressure hits hard? Uncommon Ground is a monthly podcast hosted by entrepreneur and philanthropist Talal Yassine, where he sits down with high-profile Australians who aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo. In each episode, Talal goes beyond the headlines to explore the values, convictions, and personal struggles that shape public figures. It’s not just about what they’ve done, it’s about who they are when things get difficult. Honest, raw, and deeply human, this is Uncommon Ground. Subscribe now and be part of the conversation.

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