Claim OwnershipOur Byron Community with Chris Hanley
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© 2025 Our Byron Community with Chris Hanley
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Our Byron community is a podcast that explores the unique and diverse community here in Byron Bay. From how people ended up here to the thriving business scene, we cover a wide range of topics that make our community so special. We dive deep into the stories and experiences of locals, and share insights on everything from sustainability and wellness to art and culture. Whether you're a longtime resident or a visitor, join us as we celebrate and explore all things Byron!
65 Episodes
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Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Tory Trewhitt - author, executive health coach, exercise physiologist and motivational speaker, who grew up in the Mornington Peninsula and has called Byron Bay home for the past nine years. Tory shares the hard lessons that shaped him, from his early years at an all boys school to heading straight into university and eventually stepping into corporate health. After landing a role with Bupa in London, he worked across fitness-for-duty assessmen...
Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Radek Sali - entrepreneur, former CEO and a leading figure in Australia’s health and wellness space. Born in Scotland to an Albanian father and Czech mother, Radek grew up in Melbourne with strong influences in medicine, wellness and hard work. From managing a local cinema as a teenager to becoming CEO at just 27, he shares the early lessons that shaped his leadership and the decade that followed at the helm of a major business. Radek talks abo...
Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Emma Hargraves - second-generation Byron Bay local, teacher and lifelong advocate for creativity and connection. Born and raised in Byron, Emma shares stories of her early years, the teachers who shaped her, and how a love of English turned into a lifelong career. She reflects on what it’s really like inside the classroom, from the challenges young teachers face to the impact of technology and social media on students today. Emma also speaks ab...
Send us a text In this episode, we speak with Cleo Mundy, a 15-year-old student from Byron Bay who recently returned from a 4.5-month exchange in a small town in Greece. Cleo grew up in Sydney before moving to Byron at the age of four, and she’s currently a student at a local Steiner school - a place she describes as artistic, nurturing, and well-suited for those who learn at their own pace. Cleo shares what inspired her to choose Greece for her exchange, the challenges of learning a new lang...
Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Tiffany Richmond - a musician, voice artist and mother of four who’s built a creative life in Byron Bay. Originally from Sydney, Tiffany moved to Byron ten years ago, drawn by its community and creative energy. A musician at heart, she toured the world with the band Sparkadia before finding her rhythm here. It wasn’t until she was 40 that surfing really clicked, and she shares what it’s like to find that flow, the inclusiveness of Byron’s surf ...
Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Caitlin Reilly - artist, gallery owner and co-founder of the Bangalow Station Street Co Op with Hugh Stewart. Caitlin first came to Byron from Melbourne in 1997, where she’d spent years playing music before settling here for a decade. After completing a Bachelor of Arts, she moved to China in 2009 and lived there for six years before returning to start again from the ground up opening an art gallery beneath The Collective and, later, Gallery 3 ...
Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Che Devlin - a Byron Bay local shaped by family, travel and the hospitality industry. Che’s story begins at Fig Tree, the Ewingsdale restaurant his parents opened in 1981. Growing up with three brothers, he remembers childhood days in the paddocks, the sound of the kitchen, and the sense of family that made the place unique. At 19, Che set off with a one-way ticket to Sri Lanka, later travelling through Europe, India, Pakistan and Turkey, where...
Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Andrew Knight - one of Australia’s most celebrated writers and producers of film and television. Raised in Burwood, Melbourne, Andrew recalls a “boring” childhood in the 1950s, a time still shadowed by the war, where his love of storytelling first took shape through plays and characters. A scholarship to Melbourne University and later Monash set him on the path to writing. Andrew reflects on breaking into the industry, the early shows that gain...
Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Sam Saulwick - co-founder of The Bread Social and long-time Byron Bay local with deep ties to the town’s hospitality scene. Sam was born in Colombia and adopted by a Byron Bay family, moving here in 1983. His family quickly became part of the community, running the Beach Café from 1984 and later Oriental Express, one of the town’s go-to restaurants in the early 2000s. Growing up, Sam went to St Finbar’s and Trinity, and like many locals, found ...
Send us a text In this episode, we speak with Linda Sparrow - long-time Bangalow local, former media buyer, and the passionate force behind Bangalow Koalas. Linda grew up in the Blue Mountains before building a life in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, eventually settling in Bangalow over two decades ago with her mum. She shares reflections on the sense of belonging she found in the Northern Rivers, the value of community when starting fresh, and how her career in media led her to something entirely...
Send us a text In this episode, we speak with Steve Snow - celebrated seafood chef, founder of the iconic Fins Restaurant, and lifelong lover of food, family, and the ocean. Born on the Gold Coast and raised in Cronulla, Steve’s path didn’t start in the kitchen. He began with business and law, but quickly realised the corporate life wasn’t for him. What followed was a leap into a world where he could surf by day and cook by night. Steve shares stories of learning to cook with his mum, working...
Send us a text In this episode, we speak with Tim Watson-Munro, renowned criminal psychologist and author of Dancing with Demons and A Shrink in the Clink. Tim’s career began in Sydney, where he studied psychology at university before taking on the role of resident psychologist at Parramatta Gaol at just 25 years old. He shares stories from his time working in the prison system, including the well-known “Day in Jail” program and his appearances on the Mike Walsh Show. His insights into the cr...
Send us a text In this episode, we speak with Amanda Gorvin, General Manager of the Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. Originally from the Central Coast, Amanda began her career in sport, working with the Queensland Reds in ticketing and membership. A trip to Lennox Head in 2005 left a lasting impression - she instantly felt at home. Years later, during the COVID lockdowns, Amanda made the move to Lennox Head. She shares how that time shaped her connection to the community, including helping feed ...
Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with John Morgan - better known around town as Maddog - to explore his decades-long connection with Byron Bay, from the early surf scene to community service and everything in between. John moved from Brisbane to Byron Bay in 1976 at just 19 years old, landing his first job at the local meat works. He takes us back to what the town was like in those early years - the people, the energy, and how he was welcomed by the local community. Over...
Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Louise O’Connell, General Manager of the Byron Community Centre, to explore a life shaped by adventure, service, and a deep dedication to community. Originally from Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Louise reflects on the winding path that brought her to Byron Bay, including a few years travelling overseas, where a quiet moment on a beach in Croatia became the turning point. Instead of returning to Newcastle, she followed a feeling and made Byron home...
Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Geoff Cousins, a businessman-turned-environmental activist who has led major campaigns to protect Australia’s natural landscapes. From teaching teenagers at 19 to working in the corporate world, Geoff shares what ignited his passion for conservation and how he made the leap from business leader to activist. We talk about the challenges of bridging the gap between corporate and environmental sectors, his fight to establish the Great Koala ...
Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Cody Greenwood, a passionate producer whose upcoming film Birth Right is set for release in late 2025. Cody opens up about her creative journey, from studying at an art school to diving into the world of filmmaking, and how she’s built a career in a constantly evolving industry. We dive into her experiences with film, including her childhood fascination with cameras and storytelling, and the powerful role passion plays in sustaining a cre...
Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Karen Gross, an educator, and passionate advocate for special education and disability inclusion. Originally from Paddington, Sydney, Karen’s journey took her from studying art teaching to raising twin daughters and pursuing a career in special education. She opens up about growing up in a creative family and how it influenced her approach to teaching and learning. Karen shares what drew her to special education, highlighting how teachers are u...
Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Renaud Joannes-Boyau, Director of Higher Degree Research Training at Southern Cross Geoscience, Southern Cross University. Renaud's journey spans continents and disciplines, from his childhood in Paris to moving to the US at 15 to learn English, and ultimately finding his path in the world of research and academia. With a deep passion for understanding human evolution and the environment, Renaud shares how his curiosity has driven his caree...
Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Sarah Rosborg, co-founder of Rafiki Mwema, a non-profit dedicated to helping abused and at-risk children in Kenya. Born in Sydney and raised in the Northern Rivers, Sarah’s journey to creating Rafiki Mwema is nothing short of extraordinary. What started as a volunteer trip to Kenya in 2005 quickly became a life-changing mission to provide a safe haven for girls escaping the horrors of abuse. Sarah shares the story of how she fell in love with A...
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