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

    2h ago

    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.

    1h 8m
  2. Andrew Robb on dairy farms, trade deals and daily bipolar

    May 26

    Andrew Robb on dairy farms, trade deals and daily bipolar

    In this episode of Uncommon Ground, Talal Yassine sits down with Andrew Robb, former Trade and Investment Minister and one of the most influential political strategists of his generation for a rare and deeply personal conversation. Andrew reflects on his journey from a childhood on dairy farms as one of nine children, to helping deregulate Australia’s economy and negotiating major trade deals across Asia. He also speaks candidly about living with a daily bipolar condition he hid for decades, explaining how adrenaline, crisis and high-pressure roles became his coping mechanism. From the “unlosable” 1993 election and the Hawke–Keating economic reforms, to multiculturalism, controversy over his post-politics China work, and the emerging promise of psychedelics for mental health, Andrew offers an unfiltered look at leadership as it’s lived, not performed. 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 Andrew Robb & why this story matters (00:00) Childhood on sheep & dairy farms, first memories (01:07) One of nine kids: big family, responsibility & a happy farm life (02:39) Parents’ sacrifice & the family’s deep commitment to education (06:03) Moving to Melbourne, migrant suburb life & “shh, your father’s asleep” (09:01) Faith, family tree & a 97-year-old mother with 90+ descendants (11:04) The first signs of mental illness: violent teachers, fear & Year 7–8 trauma (13:42) Daily bipolar: waking depressed, “not a morning person” and acting through it (16:24) Discovering adrenaline as a coping mechanism & thriving in crises (18:36) The fork in the road: turning down Harvard for the National Farmers Federation (20:00) Deregulating Australia: floating the dollar, free trade & dismantling old systems (22:50) From NFF to federal director: class, power and “knowing your place” (26:50) The Hewson years: Fightback!, the “800-page political suicide note” & the unlosable election (36:31) Hawke, Keating, Howard & Costello — how tension at the top can still serve the country (43:05) Life after the machine: Packer years, big data & building a marketing powerhouse (44:33) Inside the 1996 campaign: targeting 33 marginals, data, ads & swing voters (47:03) Immigration & multicultural affairs: detention centres and what loyalty really looks like (50:36) Loving two countries: Italians, Indians at the MCG & Chinese-Australian identity (53:09) English tests, women’s independence & stopping grandmothers being locked out of family life (57:26) Returning to mental health: mornings of sadness, walking hard and five pills a day (01:00:15) Why psychedelics might change everything for PTSD & depression (01:06:44) The China controversy: Darwin Port myths, post-politics work & being labelled “treasonous” (01:10:17) Horses, polocrosse & a final reflection on guilt, family and legacy (01:15:57) Closing thoughts & Uncommon Ground sign-off (01:17:05) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 18m
  3. Ronni Kahn on OzHarvest, food waste and ending hunger

    May 12

    Ronni Kahn on OzHarvest, food waste and ending hunger

    In this episode of Uncommon Ground, Talal sits down with OzHarvest Founder and social entrepreneur Ronni Kahn to explore the personal journey behind one of Australia’s most impactful purpose-led organisations. From growing up in apartheid-era South Africa to living on a kibbutz in Israel, Ronni reflects on the formative experiences that shaped her understanding of inequality, community and responsibility. She shares how a successful events business in Sydney ultimately led to a life-changing moment, witnessing thousands of kilograms of perfectly good food being thrown away, and the decision to redirect her life toward rescuing surplus food to feed those in need. Ronni discusses the risks of walking away from commercial success, the courage required to challenge entrenched systems, and how OzHarvest has grown from a simple act of giving into a national movement spanning food rescue, education and social innovation. 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: Ronni Kahn, OzHarvest and the fight against food waste (00:03)• First memories: childhood in Johannesburg with two older sisters (01:29)• Her father’s accident and the lesson of resilience (03:30)• Growing up during apartheid and witnessing inequality (06:50)• Family values, activism and early exposure to social justice (08:14)• Jewish identity, youth movements and community discipline (11:06)• Schooling at King David and living in a liberal bubble (11:45)• The impact of losing “Flory” — her childhood carer (17:25)• Leaving South Africa at 17 to study in Israel (18:48)• Culture shock, independence and life on a kibbutz (19:15)• 10 years in a socialist commune: values vs individuality (21:23)• Moving to Haifa and building a successful florist business (26:52)• Political changes in Israel and deciding to leave (28:22)• Choosing Australia: familiarity without overt apartheid (29:13)• Starting over with $10,000 and building an events company (30:21)• The Star City pitch and scaling a creative business (31:34)• The moment that changed everything: thousands of kilos of wasted food (32:44)• Midnight at Matthew Talbot Hostel — the OzHarvest spark (33:10)• Closing the events business to pursue purpose full-time (34:24)• Risk, naivety and the entrepreneurial leap of faith (37:02)• OzHarvest today: beyond food rescue to education (38:36)• Feast, NEST and Nourish — empowering the next generation (39:44)• OzHarvest Ventures: social enterprise in action (42:22)• Conscious Drink & partnering with Indigenous business (43:47)• Founder to CEO transition and scaling impact (45:21)• The Hunger Solutions Lab and ending hunger in Australia (46:39)• Quickfire: misconceptions, essentials and advice to her younger self (48:03)• The conversation that shaped her purpose: “go out and feed people” (49:11)• Closing reflections & outro (49:44) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    50 min
  4. Yasser Zaki on hope, grit and disability advocacy

    Apr 28

    Yasser Zaki on hope, grit and disability advocacy

    From homelessness to hope, from law school dropout to CEO of a purpose-driven disability services organisation, this is the extraordinary journey of Yasser Zaki, Global CEO of TLC Disability Services. In this powerful episode of Uncommon Ground, hosted by Professor Talal Yassine, Yasser opens up about his early life in Egypt, migrating alone to Australia, and experiencing homelessness at just 24. But it's what came after, a life-changing encounter with a stranger on a train, and a shift from corporate sales into disability support, that shaped his purpose-led path. From building a company with just $500 and no network, to leading one of Australia's most innovative NDIS service providers, Yasser shares the lessons of leadership, empathy, and why “a ship without goodness sinks.” Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about resilience, service, and creating real change in vulnerable communities. 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 Yasser Zaki and why his story matters (00:00) Childhood in Egypt & early memories of injustice and speaking up (01:05) Family life: a judge for a father, a lawyer for a mother & private-school years (03:14) Choosing law… failing… and being forced into engineering (05:21) Studying in Dubai at University of Wollongong (06:02) Opening a tourism business in Egypt while studying (07:53) Visiting Australia for the first time — and choosing it as a new life path (09:07) Arriving in Australia alone at 24 — and three weeks of homelessness (11:17) Getting his first job at Nick Scali — the “bad Christian” moment (12:10) Sales hustles, manipulation from colleagues & becoming #1 in the company (18:40) Discovering the power of helping others — meeting Margaret on the train (24:13) Leaving corporate life to become a disability support worker (26:24) “A ship without goodness sinks” — the advice that changed everything (28:59) Studying hard: diplomas, a master’s, a PhD — building real expertise (29:56) Working in government (DAC / ATAC) & early NDIS transition years (32:13) Leaving government for the private sector & founding Tender Loving Care (36:39) Building TLC with $500, networks and trust — leading by agility (41:42) What TLC actually does: jobs, education, health & housing (44:07) The NDIS: what works, what doesn’t & why it matters (45:25) The coffee company — employing people with disability in a coffee culture (48:05) The TLC Foundation: endowment model & COVID pivot to food manufacturing (50:11) Lessons from the journey: resilience, purpose & “one hand can’t clap” (54:44) Leadership philosophy: hiring great people and letting them lead (57:44) Quick-fire questions: misconceptions, guilty pleasures & role models (1:00:47) Closing reflections & outro (1:04:08) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 5m
  5. Anthony Mundine on being original, outspoken and standing his ground

    Apr 14

    Anthony Mundine on being original, outspoken and standing his ground

    From Redfern ovals and Canterbury streets to world-title nights under bright lights, Anthony “Choc” Mundine has lived more than one lifetime in Australian sport. In this raw and unfiltered conversation, Choc sits down with Talal to trace the full arc of his journey – from precocious footy kid and Australian Schoolboy who walked away at the peak of his powers, to becoming a world-title winning boxer who refused to bow to the system. Mundine opens up about growing up between cultures, the racism and over-policing that shaped his militancy, and the deep frustration of being overlooked for national selection despite dominant seasons on the field. He talks candidly about his father’s legacy, the pressure of carrying a family’s hopes, and the backlash that followed his conversion to Islam and his most controversial public statements. Along the way, Choc reflects on depression, discipline, faith, money, and why he believes no Australian athlete has matched his achievements across two brutal codes. If you’ve only ever known Anthony Mundine through headlines and highlight reels, this episode will challenge, surprise and humanise one of Australia’s most talked-about figures. 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 Anthony Mundine & why his story matters (00:00) First memories: Zetland Jets, dreaming big at 4 years old (01:22) Family story: Mum, Dad (Tony Mundine) & blended siblings (02:12) Parents separate; growing up between Canterbury & Earlwood (02:58) School years: four schools, culture shock & Greek mates (03:31) Rugby league obsession & natural gifts in sport (04:26) Repeating Year 11 twice & leaving school early for footy (05:11) Early representative years: Harold Matts to Australian Schoolboys (07:10) Winning Buckley Shield & chasing national selection (08:30) Early rise: SG Ball, Jersey Flegg & straight into first grade (10:09) Feeling overlooked: “What more do I have to do?” (10:31) Dominant 1999 season & frustration with selectors (11:10) Big money: St George, Brisbane, ARL vs Super League war (13:13) Playing with legends: Langer, Tallis, Webcke, Lockyer (16:40) Ego, confidence & trash talk as competitive tools (17:22) Racism, representation & being the only outspoken Blackfella (18:31) Leaving rugby league: fed up with the system (29:56) Transition to boxing: chasing a title his father never had (30:30) First world title shot in Germany — knocked out after 10 rounds (31:28) Depression, recovery & rebuilding to world #1 again (32:34) Becoming world champion: and proving himself right (34:18) Rivalries: Sam Soliman trilogy, Kessler & the best he faced (35:59) Boxing legacy: three world titles & Australian records (38:23) Conversion to Islam: faith, identity & cultural alignment (50:29) Faith becomes discipline: Ramadan & five daily prayers (55:00) Discipline as the foundation of greatness (57:38) Mental health, resilience & spiritual grounding (01:01:30) Mundine Mindset: teaching discipline & life choices (01:02:57) Quickfire round: guilty pleasures, biggest myths & advice to young Choc (01:03:48) Closing reflection & sign-off (01:08:20) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 9m
  6. Hugh Riminton on storytelling, turmoil and life on the frontline

    Mar 31

    Hugh Riminton on storytelling, turmoil and life on the frontline

    In the latest episode of Uncommon Ground, Talal Yassine speaks with veteran journalist Hugh Riminton about a life spent reporting from the world’s flashpoints. Hugh reflects on his childhood in Sri Lanka and New Zealand, the unlikely path that led him into journalism, and the coup in Fiji that first exposed him to danger in the field. He shares powerful memories from covering Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa and the collapse of the Soviet Union, moments that shaped his understanding of courage, suffering and humanity. Hugh also discusses the role of journalism in an age of propaganda, the importance of holding the centre as democracies fracture, and why, after witnessing the worst of the world, he still believes love is the force that binds us. Subscribe to Uncommon Ground on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@talal.yassine  Learn More About Talal at www.talalyassine.com.au LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/talaly Facebook facebook.com/talal.yassine.1 Instagram instagram.com/talalyassine Episode Running Order • Intro: Who is Hugh Riminton? (00:00)• Earliest childhood memory in Sri Lanka (00:48)• Realising the nanny wasn’t his mother (02:30)• Parents’ wartime histories: German occupation & RAF nursing (04:18)• Leaving Sri Lanka: the shock of England’s cold (07:05)• Childhood in New Zealand & early depression (10:49)• Aimlessness, drinking, psychology books & searching for purpose (14:20)• How he accidentally fell into journalism via a radio play (16:05)• First major story: the Erebus plane disaster (18:07)• Discovering the responsibility of journalism (19:54)• Auckland years: Springbok riots & reporting from a plane (22:05)• Moving to Perth at 22 & buying a house on a low income (30:48)• Covering Australian politics: Keating, Howard & early lessons (33:12)• First major conflict: the Fiji coup and being arrested at gunpoint (37:15)• Mock executions, danger & early war-zone lessons (40:48)• Decision-making under stress & the appeal of tight teams (42:15)• Becoming a foreign correspondent: Africa, conflict and collapse (44:05)• Rwanda with Malcolm Fraser: witnessing genocide (48:41)• Northern Uganda: LRA child soldiers & finding hope in despair (52:30)• Interviewing Elie Wiesel & learning true humility (54:55)• What global suffering taught him about humanity (58:40)• Power, propaganda & whether truth still exists (01:01:30)• Quick-fire questions: misconceptions, guilty pleasures, essentials (01:05:30)• Closing reflections: love as the force that binds us (01:07:50)• Outro (01:09:20) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 11m
  7. Nabil Hafza on business, belief and building with integrity

    Mar 17

    Nabil Hafza on business, belief and building with integrity

    From humble beginnings in Western Sydney to leading one of Australia’s largest structural package firms, Nabil Hafza’s story is one of grit, sacrifice and long-term belief.   In this episode of Uncommon Ground, Nabil reflects on his upbringing, leaving school early to pursue a trade, starting Future Form with just a few thousand dollars, and building it into a major player on some of the country’s biggest projects.   He also speaks openly about family, fatherhood, loss, culture, ambition and what it takes to keep going when the pressure is high and the road is uncertain. This is a conversation about leadership, patience, integrity and building something that lasts.     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 Casula and growing up in Western Sydney (01:04) Family background, siblings and school life (01:55) Liverpool Boys, Kasula High and finishing school at All Saints (02:37) Leaving school early and choosing a trade over university (04:33) What formwork is and why it matters in construction (05:50) Starting out in 2002 with $4,000 and an EB Falcon (07:27) His parents’ migration story and early family life in Sydney (09:03) The influence of his brother Khalil and early mentorship (12:08) Buying a first home young and backing himself in business (12:51) The slow build of Future Form and the turning point in Sutherland (13:11) Winning first tier-one work and breaking into the big league (15:17) Marriage, fatherhood, custody and the lessons of raising children (17:18) Loss, patience and how family shaped his perspective (19:31) The sacrifice required to grow a business from the ground up (21:42) Landmark projects, legacy and building structures that outlive him (23:03) Where Future Form sits in the national market today (25:22) Culture, team building and why family remains central to the business (26:47) Working with Australia’s biggest builders and scaling nationally (27:33) The values behind the company’s growth: integrity, honesty and win-win partnerships (28:40) Supporting community causes, women in construction and cerebral palsy advocacy (30:51) Life outside work: fishing, the beach, cars and switching off (32:59) Navigating stereotypes as a Western Sydney builder of Lebanese heritage (35:43) The future of Future Form and plans for continued growth (39:06) Why he backed the Bulldogs and what business can learn from elite sport (39:28) Quick-fire questions: chocolate, misconceptions and what keeps him grounded (42:10) The advice he would give his 19-year-old self (45:30)   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    47 min
  8. Billy Dib on boxing, cancer and a champion's mindset

    Mar 3

    Billy Dib on boxing, cancer and a champion's mindset

    World champion boxer and cancer survivor Billy Dib sits down with Talal to trace an extraordinary life. From a corner shop in Engadine and schoolyard racism to the bright lights of world titles, celebrity promoters, heartbreak, and healing. Billy shares how his father’s “kill them with kindness” philosophy and a devoted English teacher (who taught him to read with boxing magazines) shaped the resilience that carried him through two world championships, ‘boxing politics’ with Floyd Mayweather and 50 Cent, the grief of losing his first wife Sarah, and his own brutal battle with cancer. This story is about faith, family, and choosing courage when everything inside you wants to quit. Billy opens up about what it really takes to become (and stay) a champion and the day he was ready to “die in the ring” to keep a promise. He also talks about his new children’s book Boys Can Cry (And Billy Dib Does Too) a message to young boys that strength and tenderness can live in the same heart. Episode Running Order   Intro (00:00) Engadine beginnings, standing out & schoolyard racism (01:05) “I couldn’t read” — Ms Chetty, boxing mags & a new path (06:30) Family corner shop, customer service & “kill them with kindness” (12:10) Discovering boxing at 12 (PCYC Sutherland origin story) (17:40) Amateur grind, self-belief & the “Muhammad Ali” robe (23:30) World title mindset: going where your opponent won’t (28:20) Life as champion: training load, team, injuries (the shoe mishap) (35:15) Golden Boy years: Tyson, De La Hoya & big-league lessons (41:30) Mayweather vs 50 Cent: deals, fallout & career detour (48:00) Love & loss: Sarah’s illness, grief & learning to ask for help (55:45) “Something’s wrong” — pain, hospital chaos & diagnosis (1:02:20) Chemo war: bone-deep pain, faith, nurses & not quitting (1:08:40) Remission, secret comeback bout & Ring Magazine award (1:13:10) New chapter: fatherhood, faith & Boys Can Cry (1:18:30) Quick-fire: misconceptions, guilty pleasures & advice to 21-year-old Billy (1:22:00) Closing reflections & outro (1:25:30)   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 28m
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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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