Really Good Conversations

Amy Faulkner
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In our hyperconnected world, it feels like we are becoming more disconnected than ever, so we are on a mission to bring people together through conversation. Welcome to 'The Really Good Conversations Podcast', where we delve into the minds of the wonderful people and businesses we have met in the processes of launching our card game. We will be uncovering their secrets, learning about their biggest mistakes, and sharing the key lessons they have taken from it all. So, if you're looking for an engaging chinwag mixed with business insights and a good pinch of fun, you're in the right place. Let's have a really good conversation...

  1. 2d ago

    Gut Health, Food Myths & Why Inflammation Isn't Just About What You Eat with Lee Holmes

    Summary How much of our health starts with what's happening in the gut? In this episode, Amy speaks with Lee Holmes, clinical nutritionist, bestselling author and founder of Supercharged Food and Supercharge Your Gut. Lee shares her own health journey, from autoimmune symptoms and fibromyalgia to discovering the role food, gut health and lifestyle can play in healing. They discuss the connection between trauma, chronic stress, the nervous system and inflammation, as well as the food marketing myths we're sold, what to watch out for in supermarkets, and why healing isn't always about having the perfect diet.   Guest Lee Holmes is a clinical nutritionist, yoga and meditation teacher, wholefoods chef, bestselling author and founder of Supercharged Food and Supercharge Your Gut. After experiencing autoimmune symptoms and fibromyalgia, Lee began exploring food as medicine and went on to build a global wellness platform, product range and collection of health-focused books. Her latest book, Eat to Heal, explores the connection between trauma, the nervous system, inflammation and chronic illness.   Overview Lee Holmes joins Amy to discuss her latest book, Eat to Heal, and the bigger conversation behind it: how food, stress, gut health and the nervous system all connect. Lee shares why symptoms such as bloating, tiredness, inflammation and brain fog shouldn't always be dismissed as "normal", and why the body often gives us clues long before we listen. The conversation also dives into misleading supermarket labels, the low-fat myth, ultra-processed "health" foods, children's food marketing, and why Lee would remove protein bars from the health food aisle. Lee also reflects on building Supercharged Food across Australia, the UK and the US, and shares the wisdom she wishes she had known sooner.   Key outtakes Why gut symptoms such as bloating, constipation, diarrhoea and tiredness after eating can be signs your body is trying to communicate with you How chronic stress, trauma and nervous system dysregulation may contribute to inflammation and long-term health issues Why "low fat", "natural", "heart healthy" and "high protein" labels can sometimes be misleading The supermarket section Lee would cull first Why healing isn't about perfection, and why food fear and self-criticism can become part of the problem   Find out more:  Lee Holmes Supercharged Food https://www.superchargedfood.com/ Eat to Heal - https://superchargedfood.myshopify.com/collections/books/products/eat-to-heal-book-by-lee-holmes Supercharge Your Gut - https://www.superchargeyourgut.com/     Transcript  Welcome to the Really Good Conversations podcast. Today I am joined by Lee Holmes, a clinical nutritionist, bestselling author and founder of Supercharged Food and Supercharge Your Gut. After her own experience with autoimmune symptoms and fibromyalgia, Lee built a career around helping people use food, gut health and lifestyle tools to support healing. Her latest book, her 12th, Eat to Heal, explores the connection between trauma, the nervous system and inflammation. It asks whether chronic illness needs to be understood not just through the body, but through our stress responses, our microbiome and our lived experiences.   In this conversation, we'll go beyond the book and speak to Lee about the wellness myths we're sold, the supermarket habits that are keeping us stuck and what she wishes more people understood about healing.   Welcome to the podcast, Lee.   Lee (01:32) Thank you so much for having me. It's great to be here.   Amy (01:36) Thank you so much for your time. I've already been diving into the book and I've been loving it. This particular topic of gut health and inflammation is something I've been keen to learn more about.   For anyone listening who perhaps doesn't know your work, how would you describe what you do today?   Lee (01:57) I'm a qualified clinical nutritionist, as you mentioned. I'm also a yoga and meditation teacher, and I run a business with a product line of 20 different products.   My work sits across the holistic side of health and wellness. I love talking to people about the gut and food as medicine. How do you use food as a healing instrument in your life? That's the basis of it. My work cuts across clinical nutrition, gut health, the brain and the nervous system.   Amy (02:32) Brilliant. There was a quote in the book that jumped out at me. You said your kitchen is your best form of medicine, without needing a prescription. This is now your 12th book, so where did this journey begin for you? This wasn't your previous career.   Lee (02:53) No, it wasn't. Previously, I worked at the ABC in Sydney. I was in the music department, working with The Wiggles and Bananas in Pyjamas, helping to make their albums and videos. I worked in the children's music department, which I really loved.   During that time, I was a single mum and I became really sick. I was going in and out of hospital. At the beginning, I wasn't listening to my body. I kept working and pushing myself, but my symptoms were getting worse. My hair was starting to fall out, I had hives all over my body, I was achy, I was exhausted and I lost a lot of weight.   Eventually, when the symptoms were really screaming at me, I went through what I found to be a very complex medical system. I was trying to get answers and going from doctor to doctor to figure out what was wrong. I had lots of needles, scans and tests, and it took a long time. Eventually, I was diagnosed with a non-specific autoimmune problem and fibromyalgia, which is where you feel really tired and achy.   I was put on a combination of medications, and those medications also came with side effects. It became hard to differentiate between the symptoms of what was going on and the side effects of the medication I was taking.   I spoke to my doctor and said, "Do you think this has anything to do with my diet or my gut?" I had noticed that when I ate certain things, my symptoms would really flare up. They said, "No, nothing to do with what you're eating. It has no relevance." I asked if I could change my diet and give it a go, and they said, "Yes, certainly. It won't make a difference, but you can try."   I had to leave work, which was my dream job, so I was really sad about that. But after coming in and out of hospital, I went back into my kitchen and started experimenting at home.   For some reason, I knew my tummy needed gentle foods. When I was working full-time as a single parent, I had been putting ready meals in the microwave, not knowing I was reacting to MSG, preservatives and other ingredients in those meals.   I went back to basics and started to discover that some of the things I was eating were making my symptoms worse. I changed my diet and started eating very real, gentle, simple foods. I documented it on a blog called superchargedfood.com.   From there, I started writing, and writing about it really helped me. Social media had just started, so I began writing little blogs and putting them on Facebook.   It was amazing because people from all over the world would contact me and say, "That happened to me. I was put on steroids. I blew up like the Michelin Man. I had the same symptoms as you. Then I changed my diet, my tummy got better, the hives stopped and my hair started to grow back."   It was really interesting. From there, I started to write my first book. That's how it all started and how I got into health and wellness.   Amy (06:22) Wow. It makes me think that many of us are brought up to believe you go to the doctor and the doctor has the answers. Different generations can have different views on this. My own parents in the UK might say, "I'll go to the doctor for a prescription," and I'll ask, "Have you considered other things, like diet?"   As humans, we've been trained to want the quick fix. In some health systems, it can become, "Go and get some medication and that will fix it." But often, for people, that can be masking something deeper.   Lee (07:02) Yes, I think it can. When I started looking into food and ingredients, I realised there were certain foods that gave me similar relief from symptoms to the medications I had been given.   For example, things like curcumin and turmeric. The curcumin within turmeric is powerfully anti-inflammatory, and it helped a lot of the inflammation in my body without all the side effects from the medication.   Then I learnt about garlic. I was exploring different ingredients and how garlic is antiviral and antibacterial. Instead of relying only on the antibiotics that were affecting my gut microbiome, I started to lean more into real foods. They really are quite powerful, and they did help.   Obviously, I'm not against medication. If you need medication, I'm not against it. But for this chronic condition, I wanted to find things I could use that felt less damaging in the long run. That's how I looked at it.   Amy (08:06) Your latest book, Eat to Heal, explores the connection between trauma, the nervous system and inflammation. In simple terms, what is that connection?   Lee (08:18) There is a connection. I didn't learn this at the beginning. I went through years of practising clinical nutrition and studying to become a qualified clinical nutritionist. Over time, I saw more and more patients in my clinic and started to put together the link between trauma, chronic stress and the body.   Trauma and chronic stress are not just emotional experiences. They can affect the body and lead to inflammation through a rise in cortisol, blood sugar dysregulation and changes in the gut. Chronic stress can affect the gut lining, the gut microbiome and the vagus nerve, which is part of the communication between the gut and the brain.   These things work together and can keep your nervous system in fight or flight. You could tak

  2. Jun 30

    Live by your standards, not your excuses with Matt Formston

    Summary What does it really take to stop making excuses and become someone you can trust? This conversation isn't just about blindness, sport or breaking records. Matt Formston AM joins Amy to explore identity, trust, accountability and what it really takes to stop making excuses and become someone you can trust. Guest Matt Formston AM is a world champion surfer, world champion cyclist, Paralympian, Guinness World Record holder, business leader, keynote speaker, husband and father of three. Overview Matt Formston AM has built an extraordinary life across elite sport, business and leadership. Diagnosed with macular dystrophy at the age of five, Matt was told he would lose most of his sight and face a life of limitation. Instead, he went on to become a world champion athlete, business leader and author. In this conversation, Amy and Matt explore why blindness was never his biggest fight, how bullying and anger shaped his early years, and what it took to rebuild himself through trust, accountability and what Matt calls his hard standards. They discuss the difference between genuine limitations and inherited excuses, why "standards without consequences are just wishes", and how self-trust is built one small promise at a time. Key outtakes Why blindness can be deeply isolating, and what people often misunderstand about it The difference between genuine limitations and inherited excuses How Matt's parents helped shape his "Why Not?" mindset Why standards, consistency and time are essential to building trust How one small non-negotiable helped Matt rebuild self-trust   For more information:  Matt Formston https://www.mattformston.com/ Pre-order the book 'Why not?' https://www.mattformston.com/books/why-not-pre-sale   Transcript  Amy: Welcome to the Really Good Conversations Podcast. Today I am joined by Matt Formston. Matt is a world champion surfer, world champion cyclist, Paralympian, Guinness World Record holder, business leader, keynote speaker, husband and father of three. At the age of five, Matt was diagnosed with macular dystrophy and told he would lose most of his sight. He now has less than three per cent peripheral vision and no central vision, but has gone on to build an extraordinary life across elite sport, business and leadership. His story is featured in the Netflix documentary The Blind Sea, and his new book Why Not? explores what he calls his eight Hard Standards: the principles that helped him rebuild his life from the inside out. This conversation isn't just about blindness, sport or breaking records. It's about identity, trust, accountability and what it really takes to stop making excuses and become someone you can trust. Welcome to the podcast, Matt. Matt: Thank you, Amy. That was a bit of a mouthful, so I appreciate you getting through all that. Amy: There is certainly a lot to include in your bio, across life, work and sport, so thank you for joining me. People hear about your achievements, the Guinness World Record and the Netflix documentary, but in your book Why Not? you have the opening line: "Blindness was never my biggest fight." So we'll start there. What was? Matt: People often assume that because I'm blind, that is my biggest challenge in life. And there can be an excuse for that. But actually, I went through school and got bullied a lot. Kids would say, "How many fingers am I holding up?" I was one of the first kids in Australia to have a laptop, and I'd write stuff on my laptop, walk away, come back, and they'd highlight everything and delete all my work. It was endless bullying. It escalated to the point where, if I was running after someone, they'd run under a tree branch and duck, and I wouldn't see it, so I'd run straight into it. It was full on. Because of all that, I found that the way to resolve bullying was through physical altercation. If someone bullied me, I would end up fighting them. I learnt that if I hurt someone, they would not bully me again. So I had this learned behaviour that if you fight someone, you get an outcome. Talking never got an outcome. The teachers would say, "It's okay, Matt, they only just did this," because they didn't see the mountain of little things that built up to the absolute destruction of my psychology. I took that behaviour out of school and into early adulthood. I would get into pub fights. I played elite sport through school: representative rugby league, ice hockey, full-contact sports. Against all the odds as a blind kid, I played these sports, but then I lost sport and I basically lost my identity. I went into this spiral. I had bad relationships with women. I had bad behaviour. So my biggest challenge was getting out of that learned behaviour and thinking the whole world was out to get me. That was my biggest challenge: getting my way out of that bad behaviour and getting back to being the kid who was able to be selected in rugby league, rugby union and ice hockey over sighted kids because he put the hard work in. Amy: Gosh. So many of us listening cannot even relate to that experience. School can be hard enough, never mind with a disability and the bullying as well. What do you think most people misunderstand about blindness? Matt: There are so many things, but one thing I would say is that blindness is a very isolating disability. For example, if you go into a pub environment and it's loud, most sighted people start lip-reading without realising they're doing it. If you go into a loud environment one day, put your hand over your mouth and try to communicate with your friends. You'll realise how much you're using your eyes to lip-read. I'm not able to use that skill, so I go into a pub environment and I'm isolated. I'm there by myself. At school, if my mates left the classroom and the teacher said, "Matt, can you just stay back for a bit to make sure you understood the lesson?", they were actually isolating me. I would never find my friends at lunch and I'd spend lunch by myself. Blindness creates a lot of isolation. Obviously, you can't drive, so you're not able to get to places. It really creates a lot of isolation. The other thing I'd say is to do with any sensory disability. People say, "When you lose one sense, your others get stronger." I'm sure you've heard that phrase. Amy: I have, yes. Matt: Because of the amount of times I've told my story now, in interviews and media, I've worked out my take on it. I've spoken to doctors about this and I believe it's accurate. It's not that the sense gets better; it's that your ability to capture the data gets better. You live in a visual world where most of the data you trust, you see with your eyes. That data is supported by things you hear, smell and sense in other ways. I'm not able to trust my eyes, so I don't trust that data. I use data from my ears, for example. I can hear in a courtyard, or I can hear things that will tell me where a certain type of food is. Then I can use my nose to smell and verify that that's what it is. I can smell a chemist. The reason I know my hearing definitely isn't better is because I'm a husband, and I'll always not hear my wife when she asks me to unpack the dishwasher. Amy: I think that's a common husband trait. Matt: Exactly. But it's not about the hearing. It's more about the data not being captured. So the misconception is that when you lose one sense, the others get better. I don't think they do. You just get better at capturing data from those other senses. Amy: That makes a lot of sense. You're tuning into it more and verifying if that's a trustworthy source or not. You were told from a young age that there were things you wouldn't be able to do. How did you learn the difference between a genuine limitation and an inherited excuse? Matt: This is where I have to give credit to my parents. At the age of five, my parents were told at Sydney Eye Hospital by a professor, one of the heads of ophthalmology in Australia, that I was going to go blind. I had full vision until I was five, we believe. They were basically told that the son they had all these aspirations for — getting married, having a job, playing sport — that was all gone. He won't be able to play sport. He won't really get an education. He'll never get a good job. He won't have many friends in life. That was the prognosis. My parents believed the diagnosis: yes, he is going to go blind. But they didn't believe the prognosis. They never told me all that. They protected me from that information. When discrimination happened behind the scenes with my parents, they didn't tell me, "We've been told you can't do this." They just said, "Get on with it. Go and do this." They would deal with the "you're not welcome" conversation until they got to, "Okay, we'll let him have a crack." In the first rugby league team I played on, parents were saying, "You're bad parents for putting your child with a disability in harm's way," rather than, "You're great parents for giving him an opportunity." The other part is that we were brought up in a household where we weren't allowed to use the word "can't". That's where the name of my book, Why Not?, comes from. A lot of people say, "My dad said that too — there's no such thing as can't." But my dad didn't stop there. He would say, "Why not?" It was the worst idea you could ever have to say, "I can't do my homework," or "I can't do something," to my dad, because he would say, "Why not?" And he would keep asking. "Explain more. Explain more." As you start explaining your "can't", you actually start explaining the solution. Then he'd say, "Right, so it's not a 'can't' problem. It's an 'I'm not able to do this yet' problem, or 'I don't have this capacity yet', or 'I need X to help me get to this.'" Then he'd say, "Okay, you've now found what you need to do, so go and do it." Amy: That is amazing. Credit to your parents, because what the medical professionals were saying was

  3. Jun 16

    What is one piece of wisdom you want to pass on to future generations?

    What is one piece of wisdom you want to pass on to future generations? In this special compilation episode, Amy shares how a family loss helped inspire Really Good Conversations and why it is so important to ask meaningful questions while we still have the opportunity. Hear the varied responses from this year's podcast guests as they reflect on the lessons, values and advice they hope future generations will carry forward. It may leave you considering the wisdom you have received, the stories you still want to hear and the answer you would give yourself. Key takeaways: Why meaningful questions can unlock stories that may otherwise go untold The importance of learning from people across different generations Wisdom and life lessons from this year's podcast guests Why we should not wait to ask those closest to us about their experiences A question to consider and share with your own friends and family   Guests include:  Maz Farrelly Isiah McKimmie Jodie Whelan and Jodie de Vries Andrew Sloan Phillip di Bella  Maku Fenaroli  Kylee Dennis  Dara Simkin Nova Eden   Trancript:  Amy Welcome to the Really Good Conversations podcast. Today, I'm going to invite you to consider one question: What is one piece of wisdom you want to pass on to future generations? It is a question from our first edition pack of Really Good Conversations cards, and one I have been asking all of our podcast guests this year. It has been fascinating to hear the different answers people have shared, so in this special compilation episode, I'm bringing those responses together. This is a shorter episode, but it is centred around a question that has been on my mind quite a lot recently. I have seen a growing amount of content online, particularly on social media, where people stop strangers in the street and ask them questions such as what advice they would give to their younger selves, what they would do differently if they were in their twenties again, or whether they have any regrets. It is amazing to hear the responses from people of different ages, backgrounds and walks of life. Seeing these conversations has reminded me why we started Really Good Conversations in the first place. Many of you will already know our story, but for those who do not, the idea began after Alex's grandad passed away in 2019. He was in his nineties, from the north of England, lived in Leeds and had served during the war. After he passed away, we found ourselves talking about how, when older generations are no longer with us, we lose the opportunity to ask them questions, hear their stories and learn from their experiences. For Alex in particular, it raised the question of how much he had ever really asked his grandad. It made us realise how easily we can move through life without having these deeper conversations with our friends and families. At different stages of life, we naturally have different priorities. When you are a teenager, you often want to spend most of your time with your friends rather than your parents or grandparents. Then, perhaps, you go to university, move away, travel or begin meeting people from different parts of the world. We were fortunate enough to travel and meet people from all sorts of places. It was incredible to hear their stories and learn about their lives. But sometimes, while we are busy learning about new people, we do not always take the opportunity to hear the stories of those closest to us. My great-grandad started our family business in 1920, and I remember wondering what it must have been like to start a business at that time compared with today. Why did he start it? What was he hoping to achieve? I asked my dad, who has been involved in the business himself since he was ten years old, whether he had ever asked his grandad those questions. He said no. I think that is often the case. These conversations do not always arise naturally. Sometimes, we need to make a conscious effort to ask. That is why I wanted to share this episode now, in the middle of the year, and bring together the wisdom our guests have shared so far. It is clearly a topic that is resonating with a lot of people, and I would encourage you to ask this question of the older people in your own family. But I would also invite you to consider your own answer. What wisdom would you want to pass on? Right now, we are in what is sometimes called the sandwich generation, with young children on one side and ageing parents on the other. The reality is that we can learn from every generation around us, from young children through to those who have lived long and varied lives. I hope you enjoy hearing how our guests answered this question, and I would love to know what your answer would be too.

  4. Jun 2

    Why Children Need An Analogue Childhood

    Summary What's disappearing from childhood & why children need an analogue childhood in a digital world In this episode, Amy speaks with Nova Eden from One Collective Power and the Smartphone Free Childhood movement about how smartphones, social media, iPads, EdTech and AI are reshaping modern childhood. They explore what children may be losing to screens, from boredom and play to imagination, attention and real-world connection, and share practical ways families can build healthier digital habits at home.   Guest Nova Eden is a leadership and systems change advocate, founder of One Collective Power, and a campaigner with the Smartphone Free Childhood movement. Her work focuses on children's wellbeing, digital habits, smartphone-free schools and parenting in the digital age. Nova works with parents, schools, organisations and policymakers to help create healthier relationships with technology, and has presented her work in Parliament as part of the growing conversation around children, smartphones, social media and digital wellbeing. Overview Smartphones, social media and digital devices are now woven into childhood, family life and education. But did we move too quickly? In this conversation, Amy and Nova Eden explore the impact of screens on children's wellbeing, development, attention and relationships. Nova shares the personal moment that led her into this work, why she believes children are living through a global digital experiment, and how parents, schools and policymakers can start to rethink the role technology plays in modern childhood. The conversation covers smartphone-free schools, EdTech, early years screen use, social media safety, dopamine, sleep, boredom, analogue childhood and the emerging risks of AI. It is a thoughtful and practical discussion for parents, educators and anyone interested in what children need to thrive in the digital age.   Key Outtakes • Why children are living through a digital experiment • What screens are replacing in childhood • Why boredom, play and imagination still matter • Why "digital literacy" isn't the same as digital wellbeing • Simple ways families can build healthier screen habits • Why AI may change the conversation again More Information Collective Power https://onecollectivepower.co.uk/ Smartphone Free Childhood https://www.smartphonefreechildhood.org/   Transcript  Amy Welcome to the Really Good Conversations podcast. Today, I am joined by Nova Eden, who has been at the centre of one of the biggest conversations facing parents right now: children, technology and modern childhood. Through her work with One Collective Power and the Smartphone Free Childhood movement, Nova has been working with parents, schools and policymakers to rethink how and when children engage with smartphones, social media and digital life. This isn't just about screen time. It's about what kind of childhood we're designing and what role we as adults, parents and educators need to play in that. Welcome to the podcast, Nova. Nova Thank you so much, Amy. It's lovely to be here this morning. Amy Even before we've hit record, we have already been talking about so many elements of this. It's been a busy year in the UK as well with this topic of conversation around social media, phones and bans. But what I first wanted to ask you was how you got into this space of digital awareness, digital wellness, education, and the use of devices for children and in education. Nova I've always worked with children, and my speciality has been children's mental health and wellbeing. A few years ago, my eldest son came to me and said, "Mum, everyone's getting a smartphone. I'm the only one without a phone." Of course, like every parent, I felt that pressure to conform to the social norm of giving my son a smartphone. I was worried about him being socially isolated during that crucial stage of his development. So I gave in to the peer pressure and realised very quickly I had made a mistake, because I saw him change. I saw that he didn't want to play anymore. All he wanted to do was look at his phone. Around the same time, I was having conversations with parents and friends, and everybody kept saying, "These phones and kids, it's such a nightmare." I started hearing all these horror stories about this child sending this naked picture or that child being bullied. I started hearing one too many awful stories about what was happening with phones, with kids, online. It was around the time when I read an article about a young girl called Molly Russell, who sadly and tragically took her own life because she was pushed harmful content into her newsfeed. So I realised that I wanted to do something about it and I really wanted to get involved. It was just when the Smartphone Free Childhood campaign first took off. I was very aware that I wanted to make different decisions with my younger children, and I wanted to help other parents really understand what they were getting themselves in for. Years ago, when I first started campaigning, there wasn't the awareness that there is today. This wasn't a big national conversation. So I was very passionate that I wanted to protect other parents and other children, and it snowballed. It became a big national campaign very quickly with Smartphone Free Childhood. It became a big conversation. I started working with head teachers and schools, and really trying to raise awareness. I remember people telling me back then, "Nothing's going to change." I'm delighted to say they were wrong. Things have changed. I've presented my work in Parliament, in Scottish Parliament and with the Department for Education. People really are listening. We now have legislation to make all schools smartphone-free here in the UK, and we are working towards raising the age for social media for under-16s, which is a fantastic step. There's still a lot of work to do, but we are definitely moving in the right direction. Amy Fantastic. Do you feel it is a bit like we've been living through, and still are in, a social experiment with all of this? Perhaps at the beginning, we adopted social media and phones before anyone really understood the consequences. Nova Absolutely. Our children and Gen Z are living through an experiment. I think it's time for us to advocate that our children are not the test subjects anymore. We now know the harm that's being done to children via smartphones, social media and excessive screen time. It's time for meaningful, accelerated change. We need to start challenging these norms that are no longer serving our children, and we need to make real behaviour change. We need education. We need policymakers to step up and implement legislation. Parents are struggling and children are suffering, and this can't continue. I think that not only is this now a big national conversation, it is a global movement. Amy Absolutely. As you know, I'm sitting here in Australia, originally from the UK. Australia went ahead with the social media ban. I think the jury is still out on the effectiveness of these things because, as we've touched on before, children are tech savvy these days and they sometimes find ways around these mechanics. But when we talk about screen time, is it no longer actually just about screen time, but also what else these children are missing out on in their childhood? Nova Yes, that's exactly right. I think there has been some negative press about what Australia is doing not working. But actually, we do know that it's working. It's just going to take a long time to see the results. We know that five million children have come off social media. We know that book sales have increased, which is brilliant and exactly what we want. Of course, the tech companies are making it very easy for these children to get around it. But what we really need to look at is not just the fact that these children are having excessive screen time, but what they're missing out on. We know they are no longer outside as much as they used to be. They're not socialising face to face as much as they used to be. It's the interactions and healthy activities that they need at this critical stage in their development. I think if we are going to tackle screen time in our teenagers, we need to look at what's happening in the early years, because digital wellness and healthier digital habits need to start in those early years. We've just had some recent government guidelines come out in the UK where they are saying that under-two-year-olds shouldn't have screen time, which I completely agree with. As little screen time as possible for under-fives, an hour a day, is what we should be aiming for. But I think it should be more than that. I think we should be advocating for no iPads for under-fives. We now know that excessive interactive screen time in the early years is causing developmental delays and speech and language delays. We know that children who have excessive screen time in the early years often find it more difficult to regulate their emotions. It's about what they're missing, because if a child has a choice between a toy and a screen, the screen will always win. What they need at that crucial stage in their development is free play, time, space, creativity and imagination. That's what we're really lacking. There's been a sharp rise in children going to school not being able to read, and not having basic life skills. So we need to raise awareness. I think everybody knows about smartphones and social media now, but we need to really look at iPads. If Steve Jobs, who was instrumental in creating iPads, didn't give them to his own children, we need to reconsider why we are handing out iPads to our young children. Amy Absolutely. That totally hits a nerve when you hear that about Steve Jobs. Everything you're saying resonates because we've got a four-and-a-half-year-old and, in his life, we had at times succumbed to him having the

  5. May 18

    Why Adults Forgot How to Play

    Summary Amy speaks with Dara Simkin about why adults forget how to play and what we lose when life becomes too focused on productivity, achievement and keeping up. Dara explores play as a mindset, not just an activity, and shares why it can help us reconnect with curiosity, creativity, joy and each other.   Guest Dara Simkin is the founder of Culture Hero and co-author of Full Stack Human. Her work explores play, creativity and human connection, helping people and teams build the human skills that technology cannot replace.   Overview From achievement syndrome and success amnesia to the pressure to always be doing, this conversation looks at why play is not childish, but deeply human. Dara explains how small, low-stakes moments of play can help us feel more present, connected and alive in a world that often asks us to optimise everything. Key Outtakes:  *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-6a015108-756c-83ec-bb9b-91fabc1ac4c0-5" data-turn-id-container= "request-6a015108-756c-83ec-bb9b-91fabc1ac4c0-5" data-testid= "conversation-turn-60" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn= "assistant"> Why play is a mindset, not just something children do How achievement can stop us enjoying the life we've built Why adults need permission to be less serious How play helps us reconnect with joy, curiosity and other people Simple ways to bring play back without adding more to the to-do list   For more information: Dara Simkin - https://www.culturehero.co/ The book Full Stack Human - https://www.culturehero.co/full-stack-human-book   Transcript Amy: Welcome to the Really Good Conversations podcast. Today I'm joined by Dara Simkin, founder of Culture Hero and co-author of Full Stack Human: The Mindset Upgrade You Need to Stay Human in a World Ruled by Technology. Dara's work explores the role of play, creativity and human connection in the way we live, work and lead. In this conversation, we'll explore why adults forget how to play, what we lose when everything becomes about productivity, and how play can help us connect, create and stay human in a fast-changing world. Welcome to the podcast, Dara. Dara: Hello, Amy. Amy: Thank you so much for joining me today. You're regarded as one of Australia's leading voices in play at work. So before we get into why adults need to get back to playing, can you explain for our listeners what you actually mean by play? Dara: I think when we often hear the word play, we think of something quite specific. Let's have a little go, shall we? When you think of the word play, what immediately comes to mind? Amy: Having fun. Dara: Exactly. And I think that's a very universal idea of play, which it is. Play is absolutely about having fun. But when we ask adults what they associate with play, they often say dogs, babies, kids, sports, board games and so on. When we talk about play through the lens of serious play, intentional play or purposeful play, it's really about play as a mindset or a mode, rather than an activity. It's about how we allow ourselves to get into a place where we feel more open, more relaxed and more capable of accessing dynamic thinking. We're able to be more generative in the way we think. We suspend judgement as best we can. We're open to failing, experimenting and giving things a go. So when I think about play, it's really this capacity to arrive in our lives in a very different way to how we normally arrive: overwhelmed, rushed, up to our eyeballs in things to do, in fight or flight, going, going, getting things done. I always liken it to those "aha" moments we have in the shower. We solve world hunger in the shower because it's probably the first time in our day where we're relaxed, in our body, by ourselves, and our mind is able to open because of those conditions. Amy: Yes, I can totally relate to that. It makes me think of previous roles I've had in other companies, where you're sitting at a desk all day and then you go into a meeting room and it's suddenly: "Right, we need to have a creative brainstorm. Everyone has to be creative now." You've got a one-hour meeting in the diary where you have to crack creativity, and it can feel like the most forced environment. It's not what you've just described at all. When you're in the shower, you remember things. You have ideas. You suddenly remember what you forgot to do. When I was preparing for this podcast, I was reminded of that old phrase: "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." I looked it up and it was first recorded in print in 1659 in James Howell's Proverbs. It's a saying we all know. We know it from films and popular culture, but I wonder whether we're really leaning into the meaning of it. Do you think adults have forgotten how important play is? Dara: One hundred per cent. I think we've actually created a culture that is suspicious of play. When we think back to the Puritan work ethic, which dates back 500 or 600 years, there's this idea that work is salvation, play is demonised, and productivity is a form of godliness. I think most institutions have been created around that perception. When you think about the Industrial Revolution and the point where we started replacing human labour with machines, we became cogs in a system. I don't think we've really been able to rectify that until now. I think conversations are being had where we look around and realise so many people are depressed, anxious, overwhelmed, stressed, burnt out or on multiple medications. We are incredibly unwell. I think we're realising more and more that the lifestyle that has been put upon us, around efficiency, getting a mortgage, having a nice car and this idea of success that's been sold to us, sucks. Amy: Definitely. The amount of times I've said to Alex, my husband, "I'm not sure about all this adulting." There's just such a long list of life admin to function as what we perceive to be an adult. We've both got young children, and seeing them play, and seeing their curiosity, is amazing. It's definitely brought that back to me. At what point do you think adults start to lose that natural instinct to play? Dara: I think it starts in adolescence, to be honest. When we start to gain more of a sense of individuality, identity and ego, we begin to compare ourselves to other people. My son is only five, and he's already talking about how other kids' clothes are cooler than his. I'm thinking, "Where is he getting that from?" Because it certainly isn't me. I'm astonished by this need to fit in and conform, but at the same time, it makes complete sense from an evolutionary perspective. We had to be part of a tribe. We had to belong and be included, otherwise we wouldn't survive. A lot of Full Stack Human is about understanding our evolutionary wiring, the things we are biologically designed to do in order to survive, and how the culture we live in can distort and over-sensitise those things, especially when it comes to belonging. We now understand so much about the brain, dopamine, reward and motivation. Brilliant people work in advertising and marketing, and when the message is "look like this, smell like this, wear this, buy this, do this, be this", that pressure starts from a very young age. So not only are we trying to conform and belong when we're young, we're also put into classrooms where we're expected to sit down, be quiet and learn numeracy and literacy. I've just been on a school tour for my son. He's five, so I was looking at what his primary school experience might be like. I asked the principal, "How much time do they have for imaginative play? How much time do they spend outside?" He could tell me about morning tea, recess and lunch, but when it came to imaginative play in the classroom, he didn't really have an answer. Amy: I absolutely feel you because we're in the exact same space right now. I had the same thoughts when I went on school tours earlier this year. It all felt quite restrictive inside the classroom. I looked at some of the classrooms and thought, "This feels the same as when we were at school." If we think about how we've evolved as adults, have we attached everything to having an outcome? Are we obsessed with everything needing some form of achievement? You talk about achievement syndrome. What do you mean by that, and how does it affect our ability to play? Dara: I came across this concept through a newsletter by a great researcher and writer called Michael Simmons, who is based in the States. Achievement syndrome is also this idea of achievement addiction, and it's really the thing that happens before burnout. As a society, especially in Western culture, we have a big obsession with burnout at the moment, and that's an important conversation to have. But based on the work and research I've done around achievement syndrome, the burnout conversation can be too late, because by then we're already at the end point. Michael talks about going back to childhood, where we get gold stars for doing the right thing. We start to realise that when we are good, smart or achieve something, we get accolades, recognition and validation. For many of us, especially those who had baby boomer parents, we didn't always get that validation at home. My parents had a hard time telling me they were proud of me, so we start to seek that out in other places, from teachers, sports coaches and so on. We start to learn that our value is connected to an output or an achievement. That gets reinforced when we go to work, where we get raises and promotions. If you're in sales, maybe you get the trip to Hawaii or whatever it is. So we double down on output. The more we do, the more we're recognised and revered. Then w

  6. May 5

    "We touch our phones more than our loved ones": Dr Niraj Lal on Life Behind The Screens

    Summary "We touch our phones more than our loved ones." It's a jarring statement from scientist and broadcaster Dr. Niraj Lal, but the data backs it up.  In this episode, we go "Behind the Screens" to understand why our biology is no match for the modern algorithm. From the "junk food" of digital connection to the looming challenges of AI and deepfakes, we explore how to build guardrails that protect our attention, our children, and our human relationships.   Guest Dr. Niraj Lal is a scientist, ABC presenter, and host of the Imagine This podcast, which has reached over 16 million listeners.  With a background in solar cell physics and science communication, Niraj is dedicated to sparking critical thinking in the next generation.  His new book, Behind the Screens, serves as a guide for young people (and adults) to navigate the ones and zeros of our digital world.     Overview Why do we find it so hard to put our phones down, even when we know the content we're consuming isn't good for us? Dr. Niraj Lal joins Amy to pull back the curtain on the economic and biological structures that keep us hooked. We dive into the "Awareness Trap"; the idea that simply knowing how an algorithm works isn't enough to change our behavior because these platforms are designed to hijack our most basic social needs for validation and connection. Niraj explains the "frictionless" design of the internet and why we need to move beyond simple screen-time limits toward true digital agency. As global conversations ramp up around social media bans for children, Niraj offers a timely perspective on how to prepare the next generation. We discuss the rise of AI, the death of "seeing is believing," and why, in an increasingly automated world, the most valuable thing we can hold onto is the direct evidence of our human relationships. Key Outtakes  The 2,000-Touch Reality: Why we touch our phones more than our loved ones and how to reset that balance The Awareness Trap: Why simply "knowing" how algorithms work isn't enough to stop the scroll Digital Junk Food: How to identify "low-nutrition" content that hijacks your social needs Beyond the Ban: Practical "guardrails" for kids that go deeper than just setting screen-time limits How to navigate a world of AI, deepfakes, and computer-generated truth The Ultimate Happiness Hack: Why scientific data proves human connection is still our greatest currency For more information: Dr. Niraj Lal website https://nirajlal.org/ The book 'Behind the Screens' https://www.uqp.com.au/books/behind-the-screens     Transcript: "We Touch Our Phones More Than Our Loved Ones" Amy:  Today I'm joined by Dr. Niraj Lal, scientist, ABC presenter, and host of the Imagine This podcast, which has gained over 16 million listens. His new book, Behind the Screens, helps young people understand how the digital world really works. It covers everything from algorithms and AI to social media, gaming, and online behavior. This conversation isn't just about kids and screens. It's about how all of us are learning to live, think, and connect in a world shaped by technology. Welcome to the podcast, Niraj. Dr. Niraj Lal: You can call me Nidge, Amy, if you'd like! But yeah, great to be with you. Thanks for having me. Amy: Fantastic. Now, I have your recent book here, Behind the Screens. It feels like such a topical book right now. There is a lot of talk around the world about social media bans and kids' use of technology, and also our own use as adults. I'm really keen to dive into this topic with you. But firstly, you come from a scientific background. What drew you to understanding how things work, from your science work right through to the digital world we're living in? Dr. Niraj Lal: Well, I think I was always just asking questions. I probably was an annoying kid, but I just try to figure out how the world works and the things that matter to all of us. I studied science and art at university: physics, maths, politics, and philosophy. Then I concentrated on physics to figure out how to make the world work for all of us. My background is in solar cell physics, trying to make solar panels more efficient. I still work in that field, but I increasingly do science communication for young ones. The aim is not just to teach facts, but to spark the skills of creative and critical thinking. It is about learning how to distinguish true information from everything else. This book stems from that: helping a young generation navigate the internet and learn what's going on "behind the screens" so they can make it work in their best interests. Amy: So many of us are walking around and we don't even question how things work or the technology we're using. When was the moment you thought, "Actually, I need to dig deeper on this"? Dr. Niraj Lal: It went by degrees. You just look at adults today: catching public transport or anywhere you are, we're all really plugged into our devices. The average adult in the Western world checks their phone more than 85 times a day. That's every 10 minutes during waking hours. We touch our devices more than 2,000 times a day. We touch them more than anything else: more than our loved ones, and more than we touch ourselves. We're all a little bit hooked. Seeing the impact this has on our society and our civic conversations, how we speak to each other and see the best side of someone else's viewpoint, it's becoming harder. We're getting more polarized. There was a wonderful documentary, The Social Dilemma, that talked to tech executives who knew exactly what drives engagement. It's not always true information, and it's not always in our best interests. I wondered if we could teach that to kids before they get a phone, to give them a bit of armor before they go online. Amy: We put a lot of focus on kids, but as you highlighted, as adults, we're all doing it. What do you think most people misunderstand about how the internet actually works? Dr. Niraj Lal: It's designed to be incredibly seamless. It's like, "How does a fish recognise water?" It's just around us. That frictionless design is intentional. I think it's helpful to be aware of what happens when your device sends something online: what metadata is, how it's used to create a profile of you, and how that's used to figure out which ads to show you. Nothing is "evil" there; it's just how it works. If we're aware of it, it helps. I think the same thing will happen for AI. Amy: You've touched on metadata and algorithms. Why is it that as humans, we might understand this intellectually, but our behavior doesn't actually shift? Dr. Niraj Lal: Because we're human. Our brains evolved as social creatures on the savanna with an almost infinite capacity for being liked and connected. App developers have found a way to hijack that for profit. It's a bit like junk food; we know it's bad for us, but we still eat it. The difference is there's a physical limit to how much junk food you can eat before you feel sick, but I don't know if there's the same limit to feeling validated or connected. Amy: In your view, are we dealing with a technology problem or a human behavior problem? Dr. Niraj Lal: I don't know if it's a problem so much as an outcome of who we are as biological organisms and how our society is structured around profit-making. We're usually catching up with technology, and we're trying to catch up now with legislative changes. The first step is awareness. Amy: Is it too late? Are we so far into it that we can't go back? Dr. Niraj Lal: I don't think we're too late. It is tricky for the generations that have already slipped through. I don't know if we did right by the young people who were online before these social media bans. But every other technological revolution has found ways to have appropriate guardrails, and we can do the same here. It's up to us to say, "Hey, we want this to work in our best interest." Amy: I'm conscious of my phone use around my son. What are kids really learning from watching adults use technology? Dr. Niraj Lal: It's absolutely critical. "Monkey see, monkey do." It's hard to be those role models when we feel so time-pressured with work and life admin. Kids are observing how we do it well and how we don't. But the kids I spoke with for the book are actually quite savvy. They can see what's going on and they want to make it work for them. Amy: What is the one conversation parents should have before giving a child a phone? Dr. Niraj Lal: My tip is that it doesn't have to go from zero to 100%. It can be a gradual process. "Here's a device with messages and a phone; we'll talk about adding more apps over time." Keep the conversation as open as possible. Let them know: "If you see something that makes you feel weird or yuck, that's totally okay and you can talk to me." Make sure they have a safety network. If they're gaming, join them. If they're scrolling, do it together sometimes. Keeping that connection open is the most important part. Amy: We are now in this world of AI, and you talk about the difficulty of knowing what's "real." Are we moving toward a world where truth is about trust rather than facts? Dr. Niraj Lal: We're certainly in an age where any image or video has a real possibility of being computer-generated. Trust, independent verification, and being aware of your media sources will become vital. I think face-to-face, in-person experiences will become even more important: the things we can learn through direct evidence. Amy: What concerns you most about this shift? Dr. Niraj Lal: The conversation is accelerating so quickly. It's helpful to look under the hood of what a Large Language Model actually is, because that gives us agency. We shouldn't assume that just because an AI can converse in a personable manner, it carries the same empathy, value judgments, and ethical frameworks that we take for granted as humans. Amy: I've got some quick "Mythbuster" questions for you.

  7. Apr 21

    Why Smart People Still Get Scammed

    Summary Scams are no longer just about dodgy messages or obvious red flags. In this episode, Amy talks to scam investigator Kylee Dennis about the human side of online deception; how trust gets built, why loneliness can make people more vulnerable, and how AI is changing what feels believable online. From romance scams to voice cloning, this is a timely conversation about manipulation, digital safety and the conversations families need to be having now.     Overview Kylee Dennis is the founder of Two Face Investigations and Scam Prevention Australia. With 14 years in law enforcement behind her, she was drawn into this work after her own mum became the victim of a romance scam. In this conversation, Kylee shares what that experience revealed, how scammers use persuasive language to build trust, why intelligent people still get caught out, and what all of us should be more aware of in a world shaped by loneliness, technology and AI.     Guest Kylee Dennis is a scam investigator and digital safety specialist, and the founder of Two Face Investigations and Scam Prevention Australia. Her work focuses on exposing online deception, supporting victims, and helping people better understand how scams really work; from romance scams and sextortion through to emerging AI threats.     Key Outtakes Scams are often less about technology and more about trust, timing and emotional vulnerability Persuasive language is one of the biggest tools scammers use to create connection quickly Loneliness and isolation can make people far more vulnerable than many realise AI is making scams more convincing, with voice cloning and deepfake video adding new risks One of Kylee's clearest messages   For more inofrmation:  Two Face Investigations www.twofaceinvestigations.au

  8. Apr 7

    How Maku Fenaroli Quit Finance & Built an Art-led Fashion Brand

    Summary Maku Fenaroli went from a career in finance to building Maku The Label — an art-led fashion brand from Melbourne that scaled fast and forced her to back herself sooner than expected.  In this episode, we talk about the real tipping points, the behind-the-scenes challenges of rapid growth, and what it takes to turn creativity into a sustainable business. Guest Maku Fenaroli is the founder and creative force behind Maku The Label, an art-led fashion brand known for bold, wearable designs. With a background in teaching and finance, Maku now combines hand-made creativity with modern e-commerce to build a fast-growing label with a loyal community.   Overview Maku Fenaroli, founder of Maku The Label, shares the leap from "safe job" to building a brand in public. Maku originally trained as a teacher, then fell into the world of superannuation when she moved to Melbourne; a role that felt comfortable, if not aligned. Creativity was always there in the background, but like many people, she didn't believe it could become her full-time life. Everything shifted when she finished breastfeeding her second child and found herself living in T-shirts - but unable to justify the designer price tags or support fast fashion. So she did what most people only think about: she made her own. Starting with a low-risk print-on-demand model, Maku tested designs in real time and quickly discovered what customers were truly craving. We unpack the point where the business became "real": the six-figure Boxing Day sale, the strain of juggling a full-time job alongside late-night production work, and the moment she knew she had enough data to step away from corporate life. Maku also shares the cost of rapid growth, from customer service pressure to product development setbacks, and why building something meaningful requires both resilience and humility.   Visit Maku The Label https://makuthelabel.com/ Transcript Today, I'm joined by Maku Fenaroli, founder of Maku the Label, a bold art-led brand that's built serious traction in a short space of time. Maku started the business while working in finance, created a few t-shirts when she felt she had nothing to lose, and within four months, the momentum was strong enough for her to quit her job. Recently named in the top 50 people in e-commerce, she is building, navigating growth, marketing, self-doubt and the realities of backing yourself. Welcome to the podcast!   Maku (01:06) Thank you. Thank you so much for having me. Lovely intro.   Amy (01:09) It's a fascinating journey that you've been on and different worlds from your finance background to now fashion. And I thought it would be great to tap into that journey a bit more and for listeners to get a bit of an insight of how a change can happen  in your life or direction. So firstly, take us back because before launching Maku, which is a fashion brand, you started in finance. So how did you end up in the financial world?   Maku (01:39) Yeah. So I had a job in a superannuation company and actually back in New Zealand, I was a teacher. So I'd moved to Melbourne thinking I would get another teaching job. I couldn't get the position that I wanted. So one of my friends worked in HR for the superannuation company. And I went in for an interview thinking this would just be like a short term thing. And then I was there for 13 years.   Amy (02:06) It's crazy where the years go. Maku (02:09) Yeah. And I think I just remember thinking when I started, wow, this is so easy. Like, it's such an easy job from teaching, you just go in, do emails and all that stuff, have your lunch and then go home and you're not there still thinking about the children and the program that you're going to teach for the next day. So yeah, I ended up just staying because it was quite comfortable at the time, but it was obviously never my passion.   Amy (02:31) Have you always had a creative…   Maku (02:32) I've always been an artist, yeah. So I've always been an artist, but it was always my side hustle. It was never something that I thought I could do full-time. I always wanted to. Obviously you always want to do your passion full-time, but I was never in that position. But funnily enough, the company that I worked for always used to hero that you can work flexible and you can do your passion. And so I would be the spokesperson for flexible working and I have my career as an artist as well. So I would talk about it at work as well.   Amy (03:03) Oh that's brilliant. And what prompted you to actually, you know, finally take the leap, finally start it and in particular start with t-shirts?   Maku (03:18) Yeah, so t-shirts obviously wasn't on the bingo card for me. But I'd just finished breastfeeding my second child and I was living in t-shirts and I wanted to buy a couple of new tees at the time and they were really expensive. All the ones that I liked that felt like they were me were in the $200 mark or designer t-shirts and I just couldn't afford them. So I was like, whatever, I'll just print my own.   And there are a lot of companies around Australia, like the T-Shirt Company and the Print Bar where you can just upload your artwork onto their website and they'll print you the t-shirt and send it to you. And I thought, let's just give this a go. I've got nothing to lose. I'm not investing any money in this. Even if I pop these up on my website and nothing sells, I haven't pre-bought these t-shirts. So I did that. And of course, you know, my sister and cousin were the only people that bought them when we started.   But then a couple of influencers that I reached out to agreed to let me send them the t-shirts and it just took off. I think one of the reasons that it took off was I was designing pieces that I really wanted to wear. So I knew they were wearable and they weren't just me trying to copy something that another t-shirt brand has done or, you know, trying to come up with the same formula that everybody's used to.   They were looking for something different and for something really colorful. So yeah, it was a very unexpected shift in my career at the time.   Amy (04:50) And at that point as well, by leveraging these other companies as well from a manufacturing point of view, initially then you didn't have to have that big outlay of, buying upfront all of the products, you could actually utilise that service, you know, print on demand, if you will. And then that I imagine gave you a good insight to what are people actually buying and what they want.   Maku (05:13) It was really amazing and it was a really great way to start the business because there was absolutely no risk. You know, I would paint something and then 30 minutes later pop it on Instagram and people could buy it. And it didn't matter if the designs didn't sell because as I said, you know, we weren't buying stock in these. So I was really kind of testing what worked and what didn't. But what wasn't great was it would take people like 10 to 15 days to get their order because they were printing the t-shirts to go.   We didn't manage this company. It was a company that -- this is their standards. You get your printed t-shirts within this time. So not great customer service, but great in terms of learning and great for us as a business who were just kind of testing the water.   Amy (05:59) Very much. And we often talk about it's kind of putting something out there, you know, test, iterate, learn, then, you know, build from it. So not having that huge, you know, risk at the beginning is really useful. And many people, you know, who are perhaps, you know, working corporate worlds or even just other jobs, you know, they might have this idea to, they've got a business idea or something they want to do, but you end up in this situation where, well, you can't fully leave the job yet because you're wanting to cover your salary, perhaps. But then on the next side, you can't grow the other business because you don't have the time to do it because you're working full time elsewhere.    How did you navigate through that period? And when was the tipping point that you thought, right, we're onto something here and I can consider actually leaving my job?   Maku (06:44) Yeah, it was after we had our first ever sale, which was Boxing Day. Bear in mind, the business only started officially in December. And then we had our first Boxing Day sale that same month. And I think we did six figures, and we were like, what?    So I think it was kind of that point that we started thinking maybe this is going to be something we can continue. And then the sales continued in January. We had our biggest month ever in February, which we've learned now that in retail, that's quite unusual. And I think it was at that point that I was working till 12 o'clock at night, setting up these artworks on the website that we were using, cause it was so manual that my mental health was starting to struggle trying to do the two things. I thought, I can either lean in and do the business that I feel most passionate about or we scale back the side hustle and I try and keep the two jobs, but I just wasn't mentally in a place to keep the boat.    And my husband was like, let's do it. I back you. We had just brought on Colleen, the business advisor, and she was like, I think you're safe. So it wasn't without a lot of thought behind it. And also, although, you know, four months isn't that long, we felt like we had enough data there to say, we can comfortably quit our jobs knowing we can expect this amount of revenue for the next year. So I think that was what made us comfortable to quit our jobs at that point -- we felt like we had enough data to say it was safe for us to quit and we would be financially stable. But yeah, it definitely wasn't without hesitation and without a lot of strain on us both.   Amy (08:31) And it is harder, especially with two childr

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In our hyperconnected world, it feels like we are becoming more disconnected than ever, so we are on a mission to bring people together through conversation. Welcome to 'The Really Good Conversations Podcast', where we delve into the minds of the wonderful people and businesses we have met in the processes of launching our card game. We will be uncovering their secrets, learning about their biggest mistakes, and sharing the key lessons they have taken from it all. So, if you're looking for an engaging chinwag mixed with business insights and a good pinch of fun, you're in the right place. Let's have a really good conversation...

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