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A podcast about the people behind the stories — everyday Australians with lives worth listening to.
The People We Meet is a collection of honest, relaxed conversations where real people talk about the moments, decisions, and experiences that shaped them.
No celebrities.
No scripts.
Just genuine conversations that reveal the heart of who we are.
If you enjoy thoughtful storytelling, gentle conversations, and the kind of moments that stay with you, you’re in the right place.
The People We Meet is a collection of honest, relaxed conversations where real people talk about the moments, decisions, and experiences that shaped them.
No celebrities.
No scripts.
Just genuine conversations that reveal the heart of who we are.
If you enjoy thoughtful storytelling, gentle conversations, and the kind of moments that stay with you, you’re in the right place.
73 Episodes
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From the back roads of Clare to racing professionally in the United States, Will Dickeson has lived a life built on bikes, grit, and momentum. After competing with the Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team, Will returned home to Australia where he worked with Cycling Australia before launching his own Adelaide-based business, Neutral Spares — a bike-service operation with a loyal following.In this conversation we trace his path from young rider to pro athlete, from the intensity of the American racing scene to the craft of precision bike mechanics. Will is also my son-in-law — husband to Olivia and dad to Audrey, Harriet, and Iris — which adds an extra layer of warmth and honesty to this chat.If you love cycling, stories of perseverance, or the journey behind the person you meet, this one’s for you.
At sixteen, Ron Smith left home to join the New Zealand Navy, beginning a 54-year career at sea. In this episode, he shares his extraordinary journey through Navy service, professional diver training, and the high-risk world of saturation diving. Ron also takes us inside life on tugboats, navigating dangerous conditions and commanding powerful vessels. If you’re interested in real-life maritime stories, Navy history, or commercial diving, this episode is packed with rare insights from a man who has lived it all.
Alan McDonald joined the Victoria Police Force in 1961 and went on to become Officer-in-Charge of D24, the central police communications hub inside Russell Street Police Headquarters.D24 — named for Corridor D, Room 24 — handled every 000 call, statewide radio dispatch, and urgent police communication across Victoria. It became an iconic part of Melbourne police history, even featuring in radio dramas and the TV series Homicide.In this episode, Alan shares what it was really like inside Victoria’s busiest and most critical command centre.
I met Mark Norval, a renowned Kimberley artist, at his studio in Derby, Western Australia. We sat beneath his giant Boab tree talking about art and community. Mark has lived in Derby since 1981, has exhibited widely in Australia and overseas, and has won more than 50 art awards.Instagram: @norvalgallery
“In the gardens of Derby’s Norval Gallery, Michael Gugeri shares raw, funny and thoughtful stories about life on the Gibb River Road and decades of change across the Kimberley.”
I met Rita Builder in the dark one morning when she knocked on my car window — and within an hour she turned out to be one of the funniest women I’ve ever met. Rita has spent 12 years touring Australia as a professional guide, leading groups across the outback and beyond. In this episode she shares life on the road, the places she’s seen and the characters she’ll never forget.
Steve Eales is one of Australia’s most decorated independent country rock singer-songwriters.Since releasing his debut solo album in 2007, he has earned 17 national music awards, achieved radio chart success across Australia, the USA and Canada, and won the APRA Award for Country Composition.Across albums like The Open Road and his newest release, Bus Roots Country & Blues, Steve has built a loyal following with his blend of country rock, roots and blues — and hit songs including Girls On Horses, The Battler, and Long Way Home.In this conversation, Steve opens up about life on the road, the evolution of his music, and a major turning point in his personal life — a stroke he experienced during the pandemic period, which forced him to reassess everything from his health to his career. His story is one of resilience, creativity, and finding new strength after a life-changing event.
Professor Ian Brighthope has been shaping integrative medicine in Australia for more than 40 years — from founding the first postgraduate nutrition course to launching the World of Wellness. In this episode he shares his mission, the battles, and what true wellness means for all of us.
Former Adelaide helicopter rescue crewman Danny Clarke may be one of the only fully deaf rescue crewmen in the world. I met Danny during our time flying rescue missions across South Australia, and his ability to work in high-risk situations without hearing remains one of the most extraordinary things I’ve witnessed.In this episode, Danny speaks about his career, the unique challenges of rescue aviation, adapting to deafness in a demanding environment, and the personal changes he’s facing today.A compelling story for listeners interested in rescue work, aviation, disability, and human resilience.
A recently discovered letter from 1978 sparked this unexpected and heartfelt conversation with Julie Anthony, one of Australia’s most iconic singers.In the letter, my father wrote about meeting Julie during a South Australian Tourism film shoot at Wilpena Pound—he was the helicopter pilot on the job.This episode isn’t just about a film shoot in the outback; it’s about the gentle way small encounters stay with us, shaping memory and meaning decades later.Julie reflects on that moment in time, the people involved, and the magic of Wilpena Pound captured both on film and in a single, handwritten letter.
Brett and I first met while flying the ambulance helicopter in Adelaide, but our connection goes much deeper. Today, we’re both instructors with RHO Aviation, teaching aircrew and passengers how to escape from an aircraft that has ditched at sea. It’s vital training—something Brett understands better than most.Years earlier, he was the flight air-crewman aboard a naval Wessex 31B helicopter when it suffered an engine failure off the coast of Malaysia. What followed was a controlled ditching, the kind of event most people train for but never experience.In this episode, Brett talks through what happened that day, what he learned from it, and how that experience now shapes the lifesaving training we deliver. A gripping story of calm under pressure, survival, and the importance of preparation.
Dr. Laureen Lawlor-Smith has been a doctor since 1982, spending much of her career owning and managing her own General Practices in Adelaide’s southern suburbs. Over the years she has shifted her focus toward lifestyle medicine—helping people improve their health through the choices they make every day.Laureen has long used a low-carbohydrate and ketogenic approach in her work, witnessing remarkable health transformations in both her patients and herself. In this conversation she explains why this way of eating is so effective, the science behind it, and how small changes can lead to profound improvements in long-term health.A thoughtful and practical discussion with a doctor who has seen firsthand what’s possible when lifestyle becomes medicine.https://www.chrispalmermd.com/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDq3HHExpnY
Fiona Marlow is an Occupational Therapist with a Master’s degree in Nursing and postgraduate training in Midwifery. Across her diverse healthcare career, she has worked passionately with families—especially in the world of childbirth.Driven by a commitment to normalising pregnancy and birth as natural human processes, Fiona established a Birth Hub dedicated to educating and supporting women through one of life’s most profound experiences. Her work focuses on creating calm, informed, and empowering environments where women feel confident and supported.In this episode, Fiona shares her insights into modern maternity care, the importance of education, and why reclaiming birth as a natural event can transform the experience for mothers and families alike.
Feeling overwhelmed by the endless stream of social media updates? Wondering what life might look like without the constant digital noise? In this episode, we explore the idea of a true “technology cleanse” with Adam Yardley—a man who has chosen to live completely free of social media.Adam shares why he stepped away from the online world, how it has changed his mental clarity and daily life, and what he’s learned from disconnecting in a hyper-connected age. If you’ve ever thought about taking a break from social media, reducing screen time, or simplifying your digital habits, this conversation offers real insight into what a more intentional, less distracted life can feel like.A perfect episode for listeners interested in digital detoxing, mental wellbeing, and reclaiming focus in a noisy world.
When Catherine was five years old, I would watch her teaching imaginary students in our backyard. Even then, it was clear she was meant to be a teacher. Two decades later, she found herself standing in front of a real classroom of thirty eager faces—living the dream she’d always had.But as she moved deeper into the education system, Catherine began to feel a growing sense of disillusionment. The gap between what she believed education could be and what she saw in practice led her to question the very purpose of school itself.In this episode, Catherine shares her honest reflections on teaching, the pressures inside modern classrooms, and why she now asks the powerful question: What is school for?A thoughtful discussion for anyone interested in education reform, teaching, and the future of learning.
My eldest daughter Olivia dives into our family history like a true detective, uncovering a love story that spans generations. In this episode, she pieces together the story of her grandmother and the father she never knew—revealing moments of romance, loss, and connection that had been hidden for decades.Olivia’s journey is part investigation, part personal discovery, and part tribute to the people who shaped our family long before she was born.If you’re drawn to stories about identity, ancestry, and uncovering long-buried family truths, this episode offers a powerful and emotional look at how the past continues to shape us today.
In this episode, we meet Gerard Donohue, a retired Victorian whose life has taken an unexpected turn toward electoral reform. After learning about the power of a writ—the formal legal document that triggers an election—Gerard became convinced that Australia’s electoral system has deep structural problems that need urgent attention.Born and raised in Country Victoria, Gerard has spent his retirement fighting for what he believes is a fairer and more transparent democracy. Encouraged by the imprimatur of his wife and motivated by his ten children and grandchildren, Gerard has made it his mission to shine a light on how elections are called, conducted, and controlled.If you’re curious about how Australian elections actually work, what a writ really is, or why one man would dedicate his retirement to reforming the system, this conversation is full of insight, passion, and surprising revelations.
On September 6th, 2020, Australian Olympic downhill skiing champion Steve Lee awoke on the icy floor of his Falls Creek bedroom, suddenly paralysed down one side of his body. What followed was a life-altering medical emergency—and the beginning of a long, uncertain road to recovery.Three years on, Steve sits down with his daughter Layla to share a powerful update on his condition, his progress, and the resilience required to keep moving forward. Together, they speak openly about the challenges, the breakthroughs, the support of their community, and their hopes for the future.This episode offers a deeply human look at recovery after paralysis, the strength of family bonds, and the determination of one of Australia’s most iconic winter athletes. Whether you’re interested in Australian sport, personal resilience, or stories of courage, Steve Lee’s journey is one you won’t forget.
Wendy’s aviation story is nothing short of remarkable. In 1986, she flew solo across the Pacific, carving her place in history long before women were welcomed equally into the aviation world. Trained at her father Jim Hazelton’s airfield, Wendy went on to instruct, fly the world’s first turboprop airliner in England, and lead air safaris across Australia.But her path wasn’t always straightforward. Despite her exceptional skill, Wendy’s dream of joining the RAAF was shut down simply because she was a woman—a barrier that would only fuel her determination to forge her own route through aviation.From country girl and horse trainer to international pilot, business owner, and volunteer supporting underprivileged communities in Asia, Wendy has lived a life defined by courage, generosity, and quiet grit. Now a mother and grandmother living on the Sunshine Coast for the past 22 years, she shares her story of flight, resilience, and service.This episode is perfect for listeners who love aviation history, women breaking barriers, and inspiring Australian stories that span continents and generations.
Professor Ian Brighthope is one of Australia’s most influential voices in integrative and nutritional medicine, with a career spanning more than 40 years. Beginning his journey in Agricultural Science in 1965 and later completing his medical degree at Monash University, Professor Brighthope has spent decades exploring the relationship between nutrition, chronic disease, immunity, and human wellbeing.In the 1970s he founded the Brighthope Clinic and Biocentre, and went on to become the founding president of the Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (ACNEM)—a major milestone in bringing nutritional and environmental principles into mainstream medical education. He pioneered Australia’s first post-graduate medical course in nutrition, and has long been an advocate for doctors working within integrative health.With extensive experience across crisis and risk management, pharmaceutical development, public policy, and health advocacy, Professor Brighthope continues to challenge conventional thinking as a Director of the National Institute of Integrative Medicine (NIIM). His mission is clear: to improve healthcare outcomes for all Australians and empower individuals to take control of their own health.In this conversation, we explore his lifelong work, his approach to strengthening immunity, his views on the future of medicine, and the philosophies that have defined his career.
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