As the much loved footy Season looms with the excitement of packed stadiums team scarves and hot meat pies it’s the players the teams that thrill us the most !

So we’re excited to welcome a major footy legend to the Pod winning countless awards includingthe Brownlow Medal, Norm Smith Medal, Carji Greeves Medal and Leigh Matthews Trophy ·

An exceptionally skilled footballer, now director of football at Carlton Diesel Greg Williams - Greg would later become one of the highest-paid player in the AFL.

However, as a child in suburban Melbourne, any future sporting career looked impossible. At two-and-a-half years old, Williams' parents, Brenda and Leigh, sought medical opinion on his severely knocked knees. As a result, he wore full-length callipers on both legs until he started school.

The intervention worked, and it was only a short time before he began showing significant sporting promise. His football prowess came to the fore when the family moved to Bendigo, and he developed his game with the Golden Square Football Club. As part of the VFL's country zoning scheme, Bendigo belonged to Carlton, and after training with the club in the pre-season of 1982, he returned home with an official letter stating that h

Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/

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Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330

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David Southwick is the Member for Caulfield in Victoria. David has held several Parliamentary Positions.

In April 2013, David was appointed as the Parliamentary Secretary for Police and Emergency Services. In December 2014, David was appointed into the Shadow Ministry as the Shadow Minister for Innovation, Shadow Minister for Energy and Resources and Shadow Minister for Renewables.

In November 2018, David was appointed as Shadow Minister for Police, Shadow Minister forCommunity Safety and Shadow Minister for Corrections.

In September 2021, David was elected as the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party in Victoria and wasappointed as the Shadow Minister for Jobs and Employment, Shadow Minister for the Events Industry, Shadow Minister for Business Recovery, Shadow Minister for CBD Recovery, Shadow Minister for Small Business, and Shadow Minister for Business Precincts.

In the State election held in November 2022, David was re-elected for another 4-year term as the Member for Caulfield. His Party’s colleagues also re-elected him as Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party.

David is currently Shadow Minister for Police and Corrections, Shadow Minister for Youth and Future Leaders and Shadow Minister for Youth Justice.

David has an extensive background in innovation, entrepreneurship, and small business. He also spent several years in academia, including serving as RMIT’s first Entrepreneur in Residence and as Head of the Executive Education Unit at Victoria University.

David continues in his commitment to young people and various local charities. As the Member for Caulfield, David has supported local initiatives including a charity fundraising run at Caulfield Racecourse. As the inaugural Chair of the Social Inclusion Leadership Committee (SILC) he seeks to promote the inclusion of people with disability in employment and community life in Victoria. In recognition of his work assisting local youth, David was awarded the City of Stonnington’s Citizen of the Year in 2009.

David holds a Bachelor of Business from Victoria University. In 1991 he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his service on the Victoria University Council.

In his spare time David enjoys keeping fit, following the St Kilda Saints and spending time with family.

Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/

Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TQjCspxcrSi4yw2YugxBk

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Maggie Zhou is a Melbourne-based writer, editor, slow fashion advocate and the co-host of the Culture Club podcast.

She's written for publications such as The Guardian, ABC, The Age, Frankie, The Big Issue, ELLE, Harper's Bazaar and Cosmopolitan, and has been interviewed by the BBC, ABC, Nylon, The Project and Teen Vogue.

She's previously held positions at Fashion Journal and Refinery29 and is currently Broadsheet's fashion editor-at-large.

Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/

Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TQjCspxcrSi4yw2YugxBk

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• Dr Molly Ness Literacy Advocate “When There Are No Bedtime Stories: Obstacles to Children's Literacy Development”
• Janhvi M. Kanoria Director of EAA Foundation's Innovation Development Education Above All Qatar
• Henry Warren Co-founder of TOTS and Caterpiller CaptionsThe Power of Subtitles: An Educational Journey with Big Ambitions
• Michael Crawford Lead Education Specialist, GEDDR The World BankReading in Crisis: A look at Early Grade Literacy in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
• Fireside chat with the Education Ministers of Qatar, Her Excellency Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohammed Al Khater and Philippines Education Secretary Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Manalang Angara
• Josh Clark Landmark Schools USA United States United Kingdom The Intersection of AI & LD: Implications and Opportunities for Dyslexia in an AI-Infused World
• Sonali Nag Professor of Psychology and Education University of Oxford Supporting Oral Language for Literacy Development: Nuances and Applications
• Sheriff Christopher R. Swanson Founder & Presenter Major Jason Gould Genesee County Sheriff’s Office I.G.N.I.T.E.® FROM INCARCERATION TO EDUCATION “The 21st Century’s Answer to a Global Crisis.”
• Empowering the Future: How Non-Profits and Businesses Unite to Drive Global Literacy

Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/

Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330

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Third Wave Volunteers are now in full deployment, with volunteer firefighters in Los Angeles battling the fires and our local volunteers doing what they can to assist. This will all unfold over the following months.

Third Wave Volunteers have been disaster responders for the past 24 years and were founded at the Sept 11th, 2001 attacks in NYC by Dr. Alison Thompson.

A brave Australian Dr Allison Thompson joins me from the frontlines in LA where her team is assisting the ravaged communities with food water clothing medicines and support in any way they can.

They have grown to over 30,000 first responder volunteers running large refugee camps, field hospitals, and natural disasters worldwide for the past 24 years (including the Syrian, Afghan, Venezuelan, and Ukraine refugee crises.)

They have worked for the past 4 months in the North Carolina disaster with long-term ongoing work, as well as in Ukraine, and building water wells in the Nth Colombia desert for the Wayuu tribes.

Now they are in the heart of California and Dr Allison joins us for a deep dive podcast with updates insights and an overview of what they're doing and what they need so stay tune @thirdwavevolunteers

Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/

Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330

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Author Ella Ward

What does the world feel like when it’s ending for you, and no one else? What does life feel like when you are running away from it? This is a story that begins in a way you expect and ends very far from there. It is a story of creaking English hallways and vast Australian skies. Of hands that feel like warm sandpaper. Cicadas that sing so loudly they drown out the grief. Of white wine and an old piano and children who want their parents back from the dead. It is a magical tale of travel and mystery. And a very human tale of sex and loss and seawater and the primal joy of coming home. This is The Cicada House.

She has worked in advertising for many years. This means she has a proclivity for profanity and needs help with punctuation. Her words have been published in places like Frankie, Marie Claire and The Sydney Morning Herald. Her memoir, 27 Letters to My Daughter, was published in Australia in 2022 and the US in 2023. Ella lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her husband, child, pets and neuroses. The Cicada House is her first novel.

A Melbourne girl who moved to London and came home with a penchant for pork pies, Percy Pigs and a husband. In 2018 she was hit with the cancer stick, which apart from being rather frightening also encouraged a foray into oversharing on insta.

Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/

Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TQjCspxcrSi4yw2YugxBk

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Maggie Alderson is the author of ten novels and four collections of her columns fromGood Weekendmagazine. Her children’s book Evangeline, the Wish Keeper’s Helper was shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Award. Before becoming a full-time author she worked as a journalist and columnist in the UK and Australia, editing several magazines, including Mode and British ELLE. She writes a Substack called Style Notes and is on Instagram at @maggialderson. She is married and has one daughter.

Would You Rather, the new novel from bestselling author Maggie Alderson. It’s a heart-warming story about second chances and starting over and a great summer read.

Food stylist Sophie Crommelin has a beautiful life. Now that their two boys are grown up, she and her husband, Matt – an acclaimed artist – are leaving London for a new start on England’s fashionably boho south coast. But the day after the house is sold, a series of shocks leaves Sophie reeling – and suddenly she’s heading off to Hastings on her own.

Beau Crommelin has always been very much his father’s son. Charming, beautiful and creative, he gets on with everyone and is building a name as a jewellery designer. But after Matt’s sudden death, Beau finds himself on the wrong end of a scandal and everything he thought he knew about himself is called into question.

Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/

Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330

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Andy Kay

In his role as CEO of the World Literacy Foundation, Andy spearheads a powerful literacy organisation - he has the wonderful opportunity to meet likeminded amazing people and organizations around the world.

With more than 750 million people globally struggling with literacy this is an epidemic

It affects all aspects social health educational parts of their lives.

Sometimes, l wear different hats. One of those highlights over the past 20 years was running with the Olympic torch when my home country was the host. Sydney 2000.

Pictured is much younger and more native person who was early in his journey in a leadership role.

Today, our world is so much different. The numbers of children without basic foundational literacy skills is greater yet the passion still remains deep to serve others and deliver successful outcomes.

We discuss the literacy revolution and the exciting world Literacy Summit in Oxford London in April next year

Deborah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/what.ive.learnt/

Mind, Film and Publishing: https://www.mindfilmandpublishing.com/

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/what-ive-learnt/id153556330

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TQjCspxcrSi4yw2YugxBk

Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1365850