The Uplift Podcast

This week, we sit down with Beck and Anthony (Loz) Lojszczyk and their son Taylor, a local Singleton family sharing their deeply personal journey through parenthood, diagnosis and resilience. Taylor lives with a rare and complex undiagnosed syndrome, Beck and Loz open up about the realities of navigating medical uncertainty, schooling, family life and the emotional toll that comes with not having all the answers. We talk about the challenges they have faced, the strength it has taken to keep going and the community that has supported them along the way. Taylor also shares his dream to ride a bike and what that would mean for his independence, confidence and everyday life. This episode is a powerful reminder of the impact of community support and how coming together can help turn one young person’s dream into a reality.

This week, we are joined by Di Sneddon, a respected local journalist whose reporting has helped keep our community informed, connected and supported for many years. Di has covered thousands of local stories, from everyday achievements and milestones to major events, emergencies and natural disasters that have shaped our region. But beyond the headlines, who is the person behind the articles? In this episode, Di shares her journey into journalism, her role in local media and what it is really like reporting on a community you care deeply about. We talk about the responsibility of telling local stories with accuracy & compassion and the moments that have stayed with her most. We also explore Di’s strong connection to community service, including how people can support our town during emergencies by volunteering with the Red Cross Emergency Disaster Response team, and why having trained local volunteers makes such a difference when disaster strikes.

This week we are joined by Jeremy Brett, General Manager at Morgan Engineering, a long standing family business that has been part of the Singleton community for generations. Jeremy shares his perspective on leadership, workplace culture and the responsibility businesses have to give back to the communities they operate in. We talk about the importance of building strong, values driven teams and how investing in people, particularly through apprenticeships and career pathways creates lasting impact well beyond the workplace. We also dive into how a positive internal culture can uplift a workforce, empowering employees to feel proud of where they work and motivated to support local causes and community initiatives. We wrap up with Jeremy’s call to action for managers and leaders: practical ways to strengthen culture, lead with purpose and create workplaces that not only perform well, but actively contribute to the wellbeing of their people and their community.

This week we are joined by Kay Sullivan, a Singleton local who has dedicated over 40 years of her life to serving the community, with a deep and lasting commitment to the Singleton Cancer Appeal.   Kay shares her journey and the incredible impact of the Singleton Cancer Appeal, including the vital funds raised to build four palliative care rooms at Singleton Hospital, with two more currently underway. We also talk about the many other projects supported by the appeal, from the memorial sensory garden and ongoing room maintenance to weekly assistance for local people undergoing cancer treatment.   We also dive into Kay’s role coordinating Dolly’s Op Shop, a much loved local charity store that allows the community to give back while raising essential funds for the appeal.   We wrap up by sharing how you can get involved! Whether that is volunteering, donating, supporting Dolly’s Op Shop or becoming part of the ongoing work of the Singleton Cancer Appeal.

This week we are joined by Kim Nguyen - Singleton local, mining leader and the heart behind Soft Cogs Inc.  Kim opens up about his journey, career and personal hardship and how that led him to build a bike riding community that has now raised over $1 million for charity. We also chat about the Soft Cogs groms mountain bike academy where local kids are learning to ride safely, grow in confidence and connect through cycling.   We wrap up by sharing how you can get involved, from joining a Soft Cogs ride to supporting the cause or signing your kids up for the Groms mountain bike academy and becoming part of this incredible local movement!  

Before the stories drop, meet the voices! Rachel Baigent (CEO) and Harrison Kirkwood (Community Engagement Officer) are here to bring you The Uplift Podcast. Where community, inclusion and inspiring stories collide.   In this trailer, we are setting the vibe, sharing why this podcast exists and what is coming next.   Hit follow - new episodes every fortnight!