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We’re told to always be in the present moment … we’re told to set goals and achieve them … we’re told that life’s short and to live every moment as if it where our last. Arrrgh, what does all this mean?? As one great lyricist wrote … “No-ones an island and sometimes it’s good to pretend” When was a time in your life you let yourself be ‘you’ and gave yourself the time to pretend? “Max’s Island” the podcast, exists so you can tell others WHY!
120 Episodes
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Being a lover of pets, and dogs in particular, is something familiar to
many of us on Max’s Island. However, few of us go so far as to dedicate a
big part of our lives to making sure ALL dogs have the best possible life.
Karen Rhodes was introduced to Homer at the Shenton Park Dogs Home many
years ago and that relationship became deep and loving through a mutual
bond between them. Homer was a big, strong masculine dog … but with a heart
of gold and a loving disposition … and he became the companion Karen needed
at the time. She could always depend on him.
Barry Mone is just like any dad … he’ll do anything for his children.
Since late 2017, when his son Charlie had just turned 8, Barry and his
family have been on a crusade. Around this time, through a series of
circumstances and even observations of others … including a lady who they
met at the local park … Charlie was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular
dystrophy (DMD) — an incurable and ultimately fatal condition caused by a
lack of dystrophin protein.
Charlie had earlier in life been diagnosed with Persistent hyperplastic
primary vitreous (PHPV) … a common congenital developmental anomaly of the
eye that causes a level of blindness, so when his “Duchenne” was diagnosed
… life became more complicated.
As Charlie is the only “boy” in the world with both conditions.
Charlie Gunningham was a little uncertain about the long term future of his
teaching career in the late 1990’s. But, like many changes in life, there
was a sequence of events … some unplanned and generally not expected, that
eventually catapulted his professional life from teaching to something
totally different … the tech world of digital real estate.
This mixture of influential events included completing an MBA, connecting
with an American “hedge fund” manager and entrepreneur who had found
himself in Perth WA, investing in untried mapping technology … and even
being on stage with his wife at a Dame Edna Everage show at the Regal
Theatre in Subiaco WA.
And … all of this coming together just as the world wide tech bubble was
about to burst.
Estelle Blackburn OAM, is an acclaimed journalist with a career that has
included working for WA Newspapers, the ABC and as a media advisor for
Carmen Lawrence, Western Australia’s first female State Premier.
However, for this Walkley Award winner, perhaps her greatest achievement
has been the impact made on the lives two men, wrongly imprisoned for
crimes committed by Eric Edger Cooke, WA’s last man hanged in Fremantle
Prison.
A chance meeting with the brother of John Button, one of these falsely
convicted men, sent Estelle on the passionate pursuit for truth and the
quest to right the wrongs of these injustices. And this included giving up
her full time job and selling an investment house to fund this journey.
Pat O’Donnell is a couple of years through her graduate degree at Notre
Dame University in Fremantle WA. Like many new university students, she
started with an initial subject choice, but also like many, that has now
evolved and a double major is likely to result…there’s even talk of an
Honours year and additional studies.
This current journey and the planned outcomes sound typical of any new
student embarking on a tertiary education…It’s just that Pat began this
journey at 83 years of age.
Brooke Jones experienced a strong career, which was most recently within
the health policy and research sector in WA. With the necessary academic
qualifications, she was a knowledgeable policy maker. This allowed her to
be involved in the monitoring and implementation of key programs to support
those in our society.
However, this career was interrupted with her becoming a mother. As can
often be the case after a significant life event, she reassessed her
professional outlook during pregnancy, after child birth and through the
wonder mothering a new born. Brooke changed her focus and has successfully
studied to become a “midwife”
We are all confident in what we believe and know that our life experiences
are true to us.
Thanks again to all the regular listeners to Max’s Island for your loyal
support.
Continuing our reflection of recent special moments on Max’s Island … in
this episode we’re highlighting another important Value we like follow on
the island.
In this second BONUS episode to start our 2024, we will hear stories from
recent guests to the island who truly embrace the value of “Daring to be
Human” … you know…being uniquely themselves.
Last year we had visits to teh island from two musicians who have uniquely
different lived experiences that have dramatically influenced the way they
make music today.
For this years reflection of special moments on Max’s Island we are
highlighting the important Values we follow on the island.
So … to begin with this year … we’ll feature some stories from last year,
where visitors to Max’s Island truly reflected one of these values.
In this BONUS episode we will hear stories that embrace the value “Believe
in Everyone” … we know the world is full of individual personalities who
add to the richness of our relationships and connection.
David Maddocks recently travelled to New York with many “diehards” to see
the final Kiss concert at Madison Square Gardens… all dressed in their
favourite black Kiss t-shirts.
This was Kiss concert number 69 for David and it delivered exactly what he
expected…lot’s of pyrotechnics … lots of familiarity and as usual … and
finished with “Rock’n’Roll all night”.
The Kiss army was out in force at the concert in NYC …and they were joined
on-line from all around the world as a pay for view event. Kiss, always
looking to make money!
AND, the show finished with a teaser for the future … it looks like Kiss
will live on !!!!
Laura has 4 children who have never been to school, that is, in the formal
sense of learning. But this does not mean they haven’t experienced an
education process that has prepared them for life and their future
endeavours.
Initially through specific circumstances and then from a deliberate desire
and a belief in her eyes to give her children the best opportunities to
learn, Laura has chosen to home school them all. She in fact does not call
it home schooling, but refers to them as a ‘home educating family”, with
the ‘holy grail’ of achievement is her children being able to read.
Laura and the children have also managed a number of neuro diverse
conditions that have added to the complexity of their journey.
After suffering from a work related head trauma, Mark Ewing developed an
acquired brain injury that needed to be managed as he attempted to return
to work. But this was challenging when colleagues kept saying “you look
fine to me” … and his manager even said “if you don’t recover, you will be
dismissed”.
It took the astute recognition from his GP, of his real condition, for
things to change … finally someone who took interest in his post traumatic
growth recovery. And then, a considered referral to a psychologist who knew
what was possibly happening to his brain, unlocked the inspiration for
taking positive action.
The link to art, as a way for Mark to demonstrate his emotional position
and feelings, provided the inspiration to follow a path toward recovery.
Initially, this art reflected how Mark associated these emotions
exclusively through colours and positioning them together.
Rutchi Kaushal was embedded in her chosen career in accounting and finance
… and behind the closed door of her CBD office, she had the confidence and
skill to successfully be herself and achieve peer recognition.
However, whilst always maintaining this professional outlook and persona,
there was a hidden desire to something different. Something that was a true
reflection of who she was … what her passions were … and something she saw
as her real future.
It took a few years for Rutchi to begin to share these dreams with friends,
family and then her work colleagues. But once the “idea” had been released,
there was no turning back.
Cynthia Bartolomei and her husband decided it was really important for
their family to experience a journey around Australia together. So taking
their two boys out of school, with the blessing of the headmaster, they
chose to follow the sun and head north from Perth WA in April 2021. This
was just when WA was being locked down due to the pandemic … and whilst
getting into WA was not possible, actually leaving Perth and eventually the
state, was not a problem.
They soon discovered the two boys were actually learning so much from their
experiences on teh road and most importantly, learning from things that
interested them … and not just what was in a formal curriculum.
In her own words, Jay Wood got a “bop on the head” in a motor vehicle
accident. But this was really serious … and resulted in a major “invisible
injury” … a catastrophic traumatic brain injury.
The symptoms are so unique and specific to Jay it often makes it difficult
for her to acknowledge how her behaviours are perceived by others.
Nonetheless, she honestly believes she didn’t lose her essence following
the accident … as she says …”her heart didn’t get damaged”. She still
believes LOVE is the most important thing in the world and tries to live
her life this way.
The impact of the accident, which happened in her early twenties, robbed
her of many youthful experiences and doing the things she wanted to do. So,
re-learning the forgotten skills of her life … those lost in the brain
injury … was important. Especially re-capturing the magic of her music that
now inspires her ongoing passions. It took two years for Jay to re-learn to
play the guitar and understanding the essence of her songs … how the lyrics
and music went together …was her greatest challenge.
Suzie Aries … actor, performer and someone with a positive outlook on life.
Her world was shattered following the removal of a “mass” from her body and
the realisation she had to acknowledge the diagnosis of cancer.
Her acting career was still at the forefront of her life focus, even when
the cancer treatment resulted in losing her hair and having to deal with
the physical and mental challenges of fighting this horrible disease.
Recovery was long … but positive … and eventually Suzie was able to recover
her health and the zest for a full life. BUT, this became a new life …
different from being an actor. She discovered a passion for “sign language”
and the career path toward becoming a “communications support worker” for
people who are deaf and hard of hearing.
With a “glass half full” approach to life, Suzie is now forging this new
career and looking forward to a future that is exciting and complete.
Paul Hansen is a confident, well educated and strong professional, who has
built a successful career for herself in organisational development and
leadership. This has been both as a senior manager in major mining
companies and as an independent consultant in the sector.
So it came as a shock, when once a ‘new’ manager of her team adopted an
adversarial approach that featured a high level of personal bullying and
unsupportive team behavour. The explicit negative actions and the implied
undermining of individuals in the team … including Paul … saw a number of
them leave within a 3 month period. Paul was the second to leave the team,
and this was at a time that coincided with the start of the infamous GFC in
October 2008.
Tara Ulrich went on a years travel following high school. This gave her a
chance to reflect on the career expectations she had to be an Auslan
interpreter … and those encouraged by close friends and family. Whilst this
expected career direction was something she new well, was emotionally close
to and was something she could easily do … she had doubts. Did she really
want to do this.
On her return to Perth, an opportunity to enter the corporate world
appeared … she took a leap of faith, and ultimately has found a place to
professionally thrive.
This was quite different to her previously “expected” career.
Stefan West is a solo artist from Melbourne Australia. Pulling from his own
life experiences he uses music as a canvas to paint the experiences of his
own life. His previous project, The Velvet Addiction, saw many successes
with the likes of national airplay on Triple M, Rebel Fm and MTV.
During his visit to Max’s Island, Stefan continues to openly share his past
experiences with drug addition, mental health and friends lost to suicide.
He uses this opportunity to weave a story of how his realisation of the
past and the personal reconciliation of his actions can be shared through
his music.
Stefan has just left the studio finishing his debut album “Cambridge”, with
the first single “Take what you need” to be released on September 1st,
2023.
Shaun Williams was well entrenched and purposefully building on the
foundations he had already laid in his corporate life.
Then, following a chat with a friend at a party, he became aware of a
“nature quest on Noongar Boodja”, run by Claire Vanderplank from Partnering
with Nature. He researched, prepared and finally made the decision to do
it.
So, not long after the suggestion was made to him, Shaun found himself
travelling to country Western Australia early one morning - after attending
a “bucks night” - to test himself over 8 days - 4 of them in solitude - and
experience some something that was approaching spiritual enlightenment.
James Hoare was born with a brain injury called hydrocephalus and had 4
brain surgeries before he was 7 years old. However, that didn’t hold back
his inherent competitive nature to try challenging and exciting past times
during his life.
He started mountain climbing in 2011 with Mt Kosciusko then Mt Kilimanjaro
in 2013. After Mt Kosciusko he created the goal of being the first person
with hydrocephalus to ever climb the 7 summits - the tallest mountain on
every continent.
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