December 10, 2025 • 11 mins
As we start to wrap up for the year, Christian asks listeners to sum up their entire year in just six words.. and the answers cut deep. He opens up about his own “leaving year and growing year,” from selling the family home to big changes on the show.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
I Heeart podcasts. You can hear more gold one I
four point three podcasts, playlist and listen live on the
free iHeart app. Got anything good?
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Hey, this is the Christian O'Connell show podcast.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
All right, So we're going to do this in the
next half an hour and it's I think something you'll
enjoy doing this. I'm asking you to tell me about
the story of your year in six words. Now. The
reason why it's six years six words is that actually hemingway,
so that you can tell a great story. You don't
need to write a great, big novel. You can tell
a story in just six words. So this year, when
(00:47):
you think about what's happened in your life, in our lives,
in any year, there's so much change that goes on.
There's so much joy, there's so much happiness, there's so
much regret, there so much loss, all of it what
it is to be alive, us human, gloriously messy human.
So have a think about your year, and how would
you tell me the story of it in six words?
(01:08):
So give you an example for me. I was thinking
about this last night. How would I sum up this
year another year of extraordinary just change in my life?
At home and at work, and I was thinking. Yesterday evening,
my wife and I closed the door, literally closed the door,
and it felt like the closing of a not a
chapter in our lives, but the entire book of our
lives on our family home that we've had since we
moved to Australia seven years ago. And obviously when we
(01:30):
moved here, both of our daughters were on the cast.
We're becoming teenagers. They're now nineteen and twenty one. They
don't live at home anymore. We've sold the family home.
We've downside, we moved out. Last night was the last
night I closed the door. My wife was getting emotional.
She said, Chris, I can't better close the little Can
you close the door and get it go and wait
in the car. I looked into that house and it
was like at a museum. It wasn't a home anymore.
(01:52):
It was like, this isn't a home anymore. Now, this
is somebody else's home. I felt like I needed to
get out of here. And actually, the new people they
move in to that at midday, and they've got young kids,
they've already picked out the bedrooms, and it feels like
it's already moving on. So how would I describe this year?
For me? This year'll be the leaving and the growing year.
Both of those things are in our lives, aren't they.
So for me it's like Jack at work leaving the show.
(02:14):
Not the year I thought we were going to get
this year on the show, nowhere near it. But Jack
suddenly left the show and with all my love as well,
and I wish him all the best. But Jack suddenly
left in the middle of this year. But with that
leaving our youngest daughter turned leaving home as well, tremendous
growth as well. The show has changed Jack I hired.
You know, when I start the show seven years ago,
(02:35):
it's me Jack and pats him. Leaving suddenly this year
was a really big thing. I wanted, how we're going
to how were we going to get through it? How
were we going to grow through it? But we did.
I'm very, very proud of the show this year, and
real came along and Alex kmerlong so as much as
it's been the leaving year at home and youngest daughter
moving out, and then Jackie Boy, which feels like another
sort of kid I had as well, moving after family
(02:55):
radio show home. That's how woud summon up in six words.
For me, it's the leaving year but also the growing year.
It's been an amazing year. I've loved this year. There's
been leaving and there's been growing. So yeah, that's it
for me. Patsy, what's it for you?
Speaker 3 (03:08):
I love that This for me, I think it's this
version of us even richer, and it's kind of a
little parallel to yours in a way in that Chris
and I coming up to Christmas have really been lamenting
about you know, there's no Christmas Elf anymore. There's no
going to visit Santa. There won't be making the reindeer
food to leave out on Christmas Eve because Audrey is
(03:31):
going on, you know, very close to fifteen now, and
it's like where have those years gone? The years are
going so fast, But what has replaced it is this
beautiful you know, we're pivoting into this beautiful, rich sort
of experience with her as she grows into herself. So
you know, she's really into a theater this year. We've
(03:51):
been to two live performances with Odds and just seeing
her shine and in her element. She's sung in front
of the school a couple of times, and she's just
got into this amazing peer program at school for next year.
She's charting her course as she should, and to see
that as a parent is beautiful and so Chris and
I have got to catch up to that. So we
(04:13):
feel like we're doing this massive, big pivot and it is.
It feels like a really big year in that we're
setting the course for twenty twenty six. We're all, you know,
doing our own thing and rocking with that. But the
major thing for us is our home life and just
axling into wear hernw orbit and moving along with it.
(04:35):
You'd know what obviously what that's like with the girls, but.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
It's a big thing. People don't talk about this from
mums and dads, right They talk about what happens with
the kids and the teenage and stuff like that. You're right,
that age that already is out now that fifteen sixteen seventeen,
when the girls were going through that, they really start
to see their character being revealed. You know. It's it's
like a flower. It's like an unfolds bit by bit
and you're like, oh wow, okay, and it's a marvel.
(05:00):
But also then what you actually also need to put
your attention on is like is finding meaning in this
second part of our lives and what that is. That's
been the big thing for Sarah and I. This year
is like working out all right suddenly, like they give
you the gift of time, they give it back to
you and then you have to go, oh, yeah, what
are we going to do?
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:18):
What next? And that's the thing we're finding, you know,
as she's going out to parties and sort of socializing more.
It is just more of Chris and I, which is beautiful,
and rediscovering each other and knowing that that friendship from
you know, because we've been together over thirty years now
that it's still there, which is really beautiful, and it's like, well,
what would we like to do tonight? Do you know
what I mean? Like, it's just it feels, yeah, why not.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
It's a big year for you, Chris and Andrea.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
At the language there's three in this relationship. But yeah,
so that's where no, that's where we're at. Is just
trying to, you know, keep up. It feels like a marathon.
It's like, okay, we're here now, this is a really
nice pay but do.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Not think my time since I've known you in seventy years,
I think this year that you've also grown Patsy as well. Yeah,
i'd like to think so already has as well. You're
constantly teaching your kids a lesson, and I don't mean
the ones that you say bore them with. I mean
how you actually handle and live your life. Yeah, that's
the biggest. The kids are always watching us. You're always
teaching you kids a lesson, and most of the lessons
don't involve words. They watch how you handle your life,
(06:19):
your joy, your pain, your anger. They're always watching you.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Yeah, that's right. It's like a mirror, isn't it when
you have kids, it's like a mirror of I.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Think it's more like a hall of mirrors.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Yeah, that's right, at a sideshow more to the point.
But yeah, it's actually quite beautiful. And to see her
forming her own opinions, and you know, we can have
discussions about world affairs and or simple as just sitting
and watching our shows together. That that's just the best.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
You're an awesome mummy. You and Christ the great parents,
as are you.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Thanks man?
Speaker 1 (06:46):
All right, So tell us what is this story? What's
this year for you? Twenty twenty five? What has happened?
Tell us the story of your year in six words,
Oh four seventy five three one oh four three We
go through yours next. The Christian O'Connell Show podcast, What's
What's this year? What is your year in six words?
(07:07):
Tell me all about it? Four seven five three one
o four three Fiona Big year for Fiona, moved to Paradise, Ballana,
love it beautiful Christian my year, hard work, Employee of
the Year. I love this one National Champion shot put
ruptured acl Oh sorry to hear that. That is a
(07:30):
rough way to end the year. Karen her year and
six words life changes are doable with friends. That's lovely
Karen Janelle Morning Janell six word year, heavy year, friendships formed,
book born. That is a lot. Good on there. Congratulations
on the book birthing as well. Someone's saund now lot
(07:51):
going on the ship. Chaos, Gremlins, Gremlins, You got gremlins,
Christmas chaos Gremlins. Growth, Family understanding, evolving Alex, what's it
for you? Big year for you and your family? You
now live in Melbourne?
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Oh my goodness, I've been shaking just getting ready to
talk about this because it's been such a massive, massive
year for myself and my family.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Wild is a.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Good word for it, Christian. You know, I've sort of
reflected on it, and it's funny. Bunnie and I look
at each other often and say, can you believe we're
living in Melbourne now? We just have those moments. And
it's just been an incredible year because my six word
year is ending much better than it started. It started
(08:33):
pretty badly with my departure from the Today Show and
I was in a real funk.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
I didn't know what I was doing was going so
much as well, you're a guy who's had a really
successful career as a journalist, right, you've got to do
some of the stuff. You must have so much shame
around that as well. An unfair and unfair way to
be let go of a job as well, Oh definitely.
And m so small, so sudden.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
As well, and so unexpected, And yeah, it just left
me and my family in serious limbo and we're like,
what do we do now?
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Where do we go?
Speaker 2 (09:04):
And so so started a few months of looking in
woods and reflecting on what comes next and where I
go with my career.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
There must have been a scary time. You were dad
with three young kids as well, terrified it was. We
thought this is it. This is the end of my
career that you've built up. Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
I was getting offers from mates to go and work
on their nurseries, which was nice. You know, I had
to do something, and luckily I had some other things
going on with particular sporting clubs like the Penwrith Panthers,
who are fantastic to me.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
And then and you became their actual mascot for a
couple of most time, we don't like to talk about
those moments you're in the outfit.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Yeah, the things I had to do, Christian the cart.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Wills, Hey, dads are going to earn a coin, exactly right.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
But then again, your good self came along.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
I'll never forget that phone call.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
That our long phone call out of the blow really
and we got on like a house on fire. And
here I am in Melbourne. Soe, thank you to you
and this wonderful team. What a team this is.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
We got it. We're blessed. We have a lovely team
here as well. I hope it comes across all that
if you ever enjoy the show, that is one hundred
percent because of the team environment we have here. It
is it all comes out of that.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
It's all embracing, and there's an enormous amount of support,
which I haven't always had in my past jobs, let
me tell you that much. So it's just a really
lovely place to be and so exciting for next year.
I'm so blessed, so thankful, and just cannot wait for
what comes next.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
All right, Keithi's coming. They're lovely, by the way, And
it might take you a bit of time to think
about it as well, because when you look back over
you so there's so much you actually forgets what's happen,
because actually we don't. We're rarely in the present. We're
always looking ahead or trying to strategize and manage today,
next week, Christmas, in a couple of weeks, time, New Year,
the job, home, work, You're constantly you're never hear You're
(10:47):
always somewhere else. And actually, when you take a moment
to reflect, which we never do, we're always constantly somewhere else.
And even before the show, we're all talking about next year,
because we are. I've spent seven years of my life
all building for next year. I can't wait. But I've
had to remind myself that actually, right here and now
that is magical, was wondering it's not going to get
better because I've got a nasal radio show. It's it's
(11:10):
allowing yourself to receive just all the blessings we've had
everything this year. Sometimes we're always like, oh, when I
get to that place, life will be better. And it's
the wrong way to live your life. It's all about now.
And you look back at your year and like what
you've been through that have been so much laughter in
your lives this year, sob tears, so much unbearableness of
it all, so much joy, so much excitement, all of
(11:30):
that wonder as well. So take your time think about
your year and it might be something you want to
sit down tonight with a pen and paper and actually
write out a few goes of it. That's what I
did yesterday. Took about half an hour to really fine
tune to what this year has been for me, the
leaving year and the growing year, and then send it
to me tonight. If you want, Christian at Christian O'Connell
dot com dot A you a Christian O'Connell Show podcast
I Heeart podcasts. You can hear more gold one I
four point three podcasts, playlist and listen live on the
free iHeart app. Got anything good?
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Hey, this is the Christian O'Connell show podcast.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
All right, So we're going to do this in the
next half an hour and it's I think something you'll
enjoy doing this. I'm asking you to tell me about
the story of your year in six words. Now. The
reason why it's six years six words is that actually hemingway,
so that you can tell a great story. You don't
need to write a great, big novel. You can tell
a story in just six words. So this year, when
(00:47):
you think about what's happened in your life, in our lives,
in any year, there's so much change that goes on.
There's so much joy, there's so much happiness, there's so
much regret, there so much loss, all of it what
it is to be alive, us human, gloriously messy human.
So have a think about your year, and how would
you tell me the story of it in six words?
(01:08):
So give you an example for me. I was thinking
about this last night. How would I sum up this
year another year of extraordinary just change in my life?
At home and at work, and I was thinking. Yesterday evening,
my wife and I closed the door, literally closed the door,
and it felt like the closing of a not a
chapter in our lives, but the entire book of our
lives on our family home that we've had since we
moved to Australia seven years ago. And obviously when we
(01:30):
moved here, both of our daughters were on the cast.
We're becoming teenagers. They're now nineteen and twenty one. They
don't live at home anymore. We've sold the family home.
We've downside, we moved out. Last night was the last
night I closed the door. My wife was getting emotional.
She said, Chris, I can't better close the little Can
you close the door and get it go and wait
in the car. I looked into that house and it
was like at a museum. It wasn't a home anymore.
(01:52):
It was like, this isn't a home anymore. Now, this
is somebody else's home. I felt like I needed to
get out of here. And actually, the new people they
move in to that at midday, and they've got young kids,
they've already picked out the bedrooms, and it feels like
it's already moving on. So how would I describe this year?
For me? This year'll be the leaving and the growing year.
Both of those things are in our lives, aren't they.
So for me it's like Jack at work leaving the show.
(02:14):
Not the year I thought we were going to get
this year on the show, nowhere near it. But Jack
suddenly left the show and with all my love as well,
and I wish him all the best. But Jack suddenly
left in the middle of this year. But with that
leaving our youngest daughter turned leaving home as well, tremendous
growth as well. The show has changed Jack I hired.
You know, when I start the show seven years ago,
(02:35):
it's me Jack and pats him. Leaving suddenly this year
was a really big thing. I wanted, how we're going
to how were we going to get through it? How
were we going to grow through it? But we did.
I'm very, very proud of the show this year, and
real came along and Alex kmerlong so as much as
it's been the leaving year at home and youngest daughter
moving out, and then Jackie Boy, which feels like another
sort of kid I had as well, moving after family
(02:55):
radio show home. That's how woud summon up in six words.
For me, it's the leaving year but also the growing year.
It's been an amazing year. I've loved this year. There's
been leaving and there's been growing. So yeah, that's it
for me. Patsy, what's it for you?
Speaker 3 (03:08):
I love that This for me, I think it's this
version of us even richer, and it's kind of a
little parallel to yours in a way in that Chris
and I coming up to Christmas have really been lamenting
about you know, there's no Christmas Elf anymore. There's no
going to visit Santa. There won't be making the reindeer
food to leave out on Christmas Eve because Audrey is
(03:31):
going on, you know, very close to fifteen now, and
it's like where have those years gone? The years are
going so fast, But what has replaced it is this
beautiful you know, we're pivoting into this beautiful, rich sort
of experience with her as she grows into herself. So
you know, she's really into a theater this year. We've
(03:51):
been to two live performances with Odds and just seeing
her shine and in her element. She's sung in front
of the school a couple of times, and she's just
got into this amazing peer program at school for next year.
She's charting her course as she should, and to see
that as a parent is beautiful and so Chris and
I have got to catch up to that. So we
(04:13):
feel like we're doing this massive, big pivot and it is.
It feels like a really big year in that we're
setting the course for twenty twenty six. We're all, you know,
doing our own thing and rocking with that. But the
major thing for us is our home life and just
axling into wear hernw orbit and moving along with it.
(04:35):
You'd know what obviously what that's like with the girls, but.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
It's a big thing. People don't talk about this from
mums and dads, right They talk about what happens with
the kids and the teenage and stuff like that. You're right,
that age that already is out now that fifteen sixteen seventeen,
when the girls were going through that, they really start
to see their character being revealed. You know. It's it's
like a flower. It's like an unfolds bit by bit
and you're like, oh wow, okay, and it's a marvel.
(05:00):
But also then what you actually also need to put
your attention on is like is finding meaning in this
second part of our lives and what that is. That's
been the big thing for Sarah and I. This year
is like working out all right suddenly, like they give
you the gift of time, they give it back to
you and then you have to go, oh, yeah, what
are we going to do?
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:18):
What next? And that's the thing we're finding, you know,
as she's going out to parties and sort of socializing more.
It is just more of Chris and I, which is beautiful,
and rediscovering each other and knowing that that friendship from
you know, because we've been together over thirty years now
that it's still there, which is really beautiful, and it's like, well,
what would we like to do tonight? Do you know
what I mean? Like, it's just it feels, yeah, why not.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
It's a big year for you, Chris and Andrea.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
At the language there's three in this relationship. But yeah,
so that's where no, that's where we're at. Is just
trying to, you know, keep up. It feels like a marathon.
It's like, okay, we're here now, this is a really
nice pay but do.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Not think my time since I've known you in seventy years,
I think this year that you've also grown Patsy as well. Yeah,
i'd like to think so already has as well. You're
constantly teaching your kids a lesson, and I don't mean
the ones that you say bore them with. I mean
how you actually handle and live your life. Yeah, that's
the biggest. The kids are always watching us. You're always
teaching you kids a lesson, and most of the lessons
don't involve words. They watch how you handle your life,
(06:19):
your joy, your pain, your anger. They're always watching you.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Yeah, that's right. It's like a mirror, isn't it when
you have kids, it's like a mirror of I.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Think it's more like a hall of mirrors.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Yeah, that's right, at a sideshow more to the point.
But yeah, it's actually quite beautiful. And to see her
forming her own opinions, and you know, we can have
discussions about world affairs and or simple as just sitting
and watching our shows together. That that's just the best.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
You're an awesome mummy. You and Christ the great parents,
as are you.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Thanks man?
Speaker 1 (06:46):
All right, So tell us what is this story? What's
this year for you? Twenty twenty five? What has happened?
Tell us the story of your year in six words,
Oh four seventy five three one oh four three We
go through yours next. The Christian O'Connell Show podcast, What's
What's this year? What is your year in six words?
(07:07):
Tell me all about it? Four seven five three one
o four three Fiona Big year for Fiona, moved to Paradise, Ballana,
love it beautiful Christian my year, hard work, Employee of
the Year. I love this one National Champion shot put
ruptured acl Oh sorry to hear that. That is a
(07:30):
rough way to end the year. Karen her year and
six words life changes are doable with friends. That's lovely
Karen Janelle Morning Janell six word year, heavy year, friendships formed,
book born. That is a lot. Good on there. Congratulations
on the book birthing as well. Someone's saund now lot
(07:51):
going on the ship. Chaos, Gremlins, Gremlins, You got gremlins,
Christmas chaos Gremlins. Growth, Family understanding, evolving Alex, what's it
for you? Big year for you and your family? You
now live in Melbourne?
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Oh my goodness, I've been shaking just getting ready to
talk about this because it's been such a massive, massive
year for myself and my family.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Wild is a.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Good word for it, Christian. You know, I've sort of
reflected on it, and it's funny. Bunnie and I look
at each other often and say, can you believe we're
living in Melbourne now? We just have those moments. And
it's just been an incredible year because my six word
year is ending much better than it started. It started
(08:33):
pretty badly with my departure from the Today Show and
I was in a real funk.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
I didn't know what I was doing was going so
much as well, you're a guy who's had a really
successful career as a journalist, right, you've got to do
some of the stuff. You must have so much shame
around that as well. An unfair and unfair way to
be let go of a job as well, Oh definitely.
And m so small, so sudden.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
As well, and so unexpected, And yeah, it just left
me and my family in serious limbo and we're like,
what do we do now?
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Where do we go?
Speaker 2 (09:04):
And so so started a few months of looking in
woods and reflecting on what comes next and where I
go with my career.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
There must have been a scary time. You were dad
with three young kids as well, terrified it was. We
thought this is it. This is the end of my
career that you've built up. Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
I was getting offers from mates to go and work
on their nurseries, which was nice. You know, I had
to do something, and luckily I had some other things
going on with particular sporting clubs like the Penwrith Panthers,
who are fantastic to me.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
And then and you became their actual mascot for a
couple of most time, we don't like to talk about
those moments you're in the outfit.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Yeah, the things I had to do, Christian the cart.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Wills, Hey, dads are going to earn a coin, exactly right.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
But then again, your good self came along.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
I'll never forget that phone call.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
That our long phone call out of the blow really
and we got on like a house on fire. And
here I am in Melbourne. Soe, thank you to you
and this wonderful team. What a team this is.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
We got it. We're blessed. We have a lovely team
here as well. I hope it comes across all that
if you ever enjoy the show, that is one hundred
percent because of the team environment we have here. It
is it all comes out of that.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
It's all embracing, and there's an enormous amount of support,
which I haven't always had in my past jobs, let
me tell you that much. So it's just a really
lovely place to be and so exciting for next year.
I'm so blessed, so thankful, and just cannot wait for
what comes next.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
All right, Keithi's coming. They're lovely, by the way, And
it might take you a bit of time to think
about it as well, because when you look back over
you so there's so much you actually forgets what's happen,
because actually we don't. We're rarely in the present. We're
always looking ahead or trying to strategize and manage today,
next week, Christmas, in a couple of weeks, time, New Year,
the job, home, work, You're constantly you're never hear You're
(10:47):
always somewhere else. And actually, when you take a moment
to reflect, which we never do, we're always constantly somewhere else.
And even before the show, we're all talking about next year,
because we are. I've spent seven years of my life
all building for next year. I can't wait. But I've
had to remind myself that actually, right here and now
that is magical, was wondering it's not going to get
better because I've got a nasal radio show. It's it's
(11:10):
allowing yourself to receive just all the blessings we've had
everything this year. Sometimes we're always like, oh, when I
get to that place, life will be better. And it's
the wrong way to live your life. It's all about now.
And you look back at your year and like what
you've been through that have been so much laughter in
your lives this year, sob tears, so much unbearableness of
it all, so much joy, so much excitement, all of
(11:30):
that wonder as well. So take your time think about
your year and it might be something you want to
sit down tonight with a pen and paper and actually
write out a few goes of it. That's what I
did yesterday. Took about half an hour to really fine
tune to what this year has been for me, the
leaving year and the growing year, and then send it
to me tonight. If you want, Christian at Christian O'Connell
dot com dot A you a Christian O'Connell Show podcast
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