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

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

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

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

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

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

Collette Dinnigan 🌺

Her style is one of simple yet sophisticated

beauty. Bellissima: An Australian–Italian

Affair takes you into Collette’s world of

beauty – interiors, gardens, food, friends,

curiosities, art and travel – in Italy and

Australia. It shows us Collette’s remarkable

eye for detail, vignettes, texture and colour.

She shares her design inspiration and

reveals stunning photos never before

published of her homes in Bowral and

Darling Point, along with a Rome apartment

and holiday house in Puglia.

Collette and

her photographer, Earl Carter, travelled the

length of Italy, from Naples to Turin, to

capture the essence of what inspires

Collette that she then brings home to

Australia, the ‘great Southern light’

.

Collette not only takes us into her own

private worlds but also those of her friends

such as Mimi Thorisson in Turin, Neil Perry

in Sydney, and Louise Olsen and Luke

Sciberras in country NSW, where they

share their recipes and art.

This is a book of inspiration and delight, a

joyous journey of creativity with one of

Australia’s foremost fashion designers. Full

of glorious imagery, it is a must-have book

for those who love travel and interiors.

BELLISSIMA: AN AUSTRALIAN– ITALIAN AFFAIR

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

THE POWER OF TWO

LISA MESSENGER & SARAH MEGGINSON

A life-changing story of friendship, surrogacy and true connection

Fourteen years of friendship. Eight years of ‘trying’. Eighteen rounds of IVF

and now, one beautiful baby boy. The Power of Two is a remarkable true story

that shows how together, we can do more than we ever thought possible.

Lisa and Sarah’s journey begins with a working relationship and transforms

with a life-changing act of love and friendship, but this book is about so much

more – a powerful ode to community, resilience, and the power summoned

when we support each other.

From the outside, Lisa Messenger was the consummate success story, a highly

respected publishing professional, a shooting star in the entrepreneurial

space. But privately, Lisa was struggling with the one thing she could not

achieve through hard work and a positive attitude. She had almost given up

on having a child, when her dear friend, Sarah Megginson, came to her with

an extraordinary offer.

A deeply personal exploration of grief, hope and rebirth, this book is

proof that together we are stronger, more resilient and infinitely more

powerful. This is the power of two.

The essence of your relationship is huge trust .. how hard was it to trust each other and the process …

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

Janice BREEN Burns

Janice Breen Burns is a highly respected fashion journalist, editor and features writer of more than 30 years experience in metro daily newspapers and more recently, digital media.

Voxfrock.com.au is her digital blogzine based on the variety of content and style of newspaper fashion pages.

Renowned for her industry knowledge and witty, realistic insights into the role of fashion in everyday life. She is a frequent contributor to workshops and seminars, industry panels, radio and television reports relevant to fashion and its culture.

She is listed annually from the inaugural issue of “Who’s Who of Australian Women”, was admitted to the Stonnington Fashion Hall of Fame in 2011.

She has also judged the Victoria Racing Club’s Fashions on the Field series during the Melbourne Cup Carnival since 1982.

So we’re thrilled to have her join us on the pod to talk all things fashion after a stunning sun soaked Melbourne cup with Oaks Day tomorrow the ladies are getting ready to launch …

In 2013 she was appointed to the board of the Melbourne Fashion Festival, a not-for-profit event that attracts more than 350,00 fans every year.

So welcome back Janice thrilled to have you join me again on the WhatIveLearntPodcast podcast .. for a fashion check up ! Noting it’s the US election today which feels rather dystopian let’s hone in on our premium local fashion fare here in downtown Melbourne

From Heiress Nicky Hilton Rothschild and Australian designer Rebecca Vallance to .. Elizabeth and Damien Hurley to dapper Sir Bob Geldof and Singer Ronan Keating there was a vast array of who’s who .. from here and abroad .. why do they love us so much ?

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

Nikki Gemmell

An explosive, contemporary literary thriller from international bestselling author Nikki Gemmell -

Wing is Lord of the Flies meets Picnic at Hanging Rock meets Promising Young Woman.

Students from an elite girls' school go on a camping trip into the Australian bush. Four of them - a girl gang, a group of best friends dubbed 'The Cins' by the teachers - become separated from the main group. A male teacher volunteers to look for them.

None of the five come back.

Nikki has done it again enthralled us with her storytelling capturing the essence of the female lense

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

Ben Shewry

Chef Ben Shewry strives for truth in life and perfection in his new memoir, Uses for Obsession.

This year marks 19 years for Ben Shewry’s Ripponlea fine-diner Attica, a restaurant whose legacy was built on imagination and creative fearlessness. It also marks the release of his second book, a memoir aptly titled Uses for Obsession. “Ultimately,” says Shewry, “this book is about using imagination and creativity to solve problems”.

Uses for Obsession is Shewry’s second book. Despite containing three recipes for Bolognese ( love) and the 10 commandments that make for a good one, Shewry insists it isn’t really about food. “It’s also about the search for the meaning in everything,” he says. “Really this book is not just about food; it is about an acute dislike of bullshit.”

I come from a long line of storytellers, and in my childhood, the way we communicated was through stories. It was how we coped with the difficult things that were happening, how we brought light and humour to those moments, the way we connected. Sharing ridiculous situations and turning them into humour was a source of entertainment for our extended family. To bring to life a story is to feel that you are not alone.

I was also motivated to write a book that defied the tough-guy energy that is unfortunately still so often associated with chefs – okay, male chefs – at the top of their game.

The pitch to the publisher was… My incredible publisher Murdoch Books pitched to me. They visited and asked me what I’d like to write about, and I said, “Well, definitely not a cookbook, and it could be this or that”. I then went and wrote something totally different to what was discussed, which I think is appropriate when writing a book; writers should go where the process takes them, but this requires a high level of trust from a publisher. I feel fortunate to have the immense support of a group of people who totally believed in my ability to deliver something meaningful to them, to an audience of readers, and audiobook listeners. (By the way, I narrated my book, which was really important to me and a total thrill.) The main thing I learnt writing it was that having courage and telling the truth is the most important thing an author can do. Truth is what writing deserves, nothing less. WithUses for Obsession, I have tried to honour that truth. That requires a writer to go down rabbit holes, and to sit with deep discomfort for extended periods of time to reflect upon their actions, and of the things happening around them. Even more so when an author has been critical of power structures and systems, in the ways that I have. To write an honest book requires a level of fearlessness, owning your own culpability, and an ability to see the world as a bigger place than something that just serves any one individual’s needs.

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