Episode Transcript
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Sonia Nolan (00:03):
Hello, and thank
you for taking a seat at My Warm
Table during season two. I'mSonia Nolan, and I'm so grateful
for your support of my podcast,passion project, and all that we
have achieved together in ourfortnightly episodes in our
second year. Looking back, wehave added to the eclectic
season one catalogue of smartconversations with heart with 16
(00:26):
new episodes of WesternAustralians sharing their
passion and purpose duringseason two. I've learned so much
and I've been inspired by theconversations around the Warm
Table, starting with our veryfirst oxytocin fix with
Charlotte Ingham Ellery, whoshared her knowledge on how to
hack our brain chemicals to makeus happier, more connected, and
(00:49):
calmer. Charlotte's was a superpopular episode with so many of
you sharing it widely andresonating with a deeper
understanding of how we can showup in the world more
intentionally, and even becomebetter parents with this
knowledge about how our brainswork. And I know this because I
was so delighted midway throughthe year to attend a high tea
(01:11):
networking event, and as we wereintroducing ourselves, a woman
named Hazel on the other side ofthe table exclaimed, "are you
Sonia from My Warm Tablepodcast. I was just talking
about your podcast at my bookclub the other night, and we all
downloaded it and shared theepisode on brain chemicals."
Well, Hazel, you truly made myday. In fact, you put me on a
(01:35):
high for weeks knowing that myhumble little podcast was
stretching its reach past familyand friends who might feel they
have to listen to an even widercircle of smart, kind and
curious people are interested inlistening and learning from our
Warm Table conversations. Thankyou, Hazel, sincerely for your
(01:55):
encouragement. Passion andpurpose have been our themes and
we've amplified so manydifferent reasons why people get
out of bed each day, and theychannel their skills and
energies to make a difference totheir communities and to our
world. We had the magnificentAlicia Curtis talking about
(02:16):
community leadership and herrole in running programmes to
encourage people to show up andstep up in their community life
to make a difference. I had theextended privilege of again
being a mentor on one ofAlicia's programmes which
develop women from diversebackgrounds to gain confidence
skills and networks for theirleadership journeys. She is a
(02:37):
true inspiration and I know thatthe ripple effects of the
confidence she inspires throughher programmes will impact for
years to come. Christin Smithspoke to us about how she
stepped up in her community bystarting a petition, which led
to the restoration of herneighbouring beach and
highlighted the issue of coastalerosion, which her local council
(02:59):
is now taking action on. Fromlittle things big things grow.
In fact, Christin is a big fanof this saying and she's also
started a movement very cleverlycalled EarthMAD, which stands
for "everyone acting responsiblytoday helps make a difference."
So clever. There are so manyamazing women doing things in WA
(03:23):
to lead change which is alignedwith their passions. Alanagh
Godderidge is another example ofthis. Alanagh gave up her job to
start a charity called Motion bythe Ocean to connect seniors and
people with disabilities withthe opportunity to feel salt and
wind in their hair, as theybreathe in the sea air on a
trishaw ride along the Sorentobeaches. Volunteer cyclists
(03:47):
pedal with purpose and theyshare conversations, memories
and special moments with theirpassengers. And Alanagh has been
very rightly recognised for herwonderful efforts to connect
community and make people lesslonely in their days. Loneliness
is a big topic, which we touchedon briefly during our two part
(04:08):
episodes on grief with theincredible Shelly Skinner and
Professor Lauren Breen. Shellyis the CEO of Lionheart Camp for
Kids. It's a charity focused onmaking grief a normal and
healthy conversation, especiallyfor children and families who've
experienced the death of asignificant person in their
(04:28):
life. Lauren is on the Lionheartboard, and she's devoted her
career to researching andunderstanding grief, and she
also shared her insights andwisdom with us. Lionheart
continues to provide safeopportunities to talk about
grief and loss. During the yearShelly launched a wonderful new
children's book called FindingFwebbers, which will continue to
(04:51):
evoke these importantconversations, answer children's
questions, and normalise thosereally big feelings that
children experience with death.
The courage and strength of alion featured twice in our
topics this season fromLionheart Camp to kids here in
Perth, to the savanna in SouthAfrica, where we heard about
both the beauty and the plightof lions. Fremantle woman,
(05:14):
Donalea, Patman, shared themoment she locked eyes with the
lion, and how it changed herlife forever. She sold her
house, gave up her corporatecareer, and founded a charity
called For The Love of Wildlife,which addresses the plight of
mass extinction, andspecifically the tragedy behind
the canned hunting industry. Ispent most of our conversation
(05:38):
speechless at the cruelty andthe environmental crisis that
our world is on the cusp of,because we're entering what
scientists call the "sixth massextinction." It was a real wake
up call. Donalea remainshopeful, though, and continues
to invest her energy andexpertise in long term projects,
to rewild our world. She was anamazing and inspiring guest to
(06:01):
have graced My Warm Table.
Underpinning many of ourwonderful guests this season and
their passion projects is a teamof volunteers. So it was
important to talk about theimportance of volunteering and
its impact on our communities.
There was no one better to joinme around the Warm Table on this
topic than Craig Spencer, whowas one of the pioneers in
(06:24):
corporate volunteering in WA. Hestill sits on the WA
government's volunteering board,and he regularly rolls up his
sleeves as a volunteerfirefighter, among other things.
He was passionate aboutvolunteering, and equally
purposeful in talking aboutevery home having a fire plan.
Have you got yours sorted? It'sa good question. If not have
(06:45):
another listen to our Warm Tableconversation with Craig and get
your fire plans in place. I wasalso really humbled to have
Jenny Baraga as my guest, Jennyis a trusted voice and
experienced health and mentalhealth practitioner, and a proud
Garra Yarra woman. During ourWarm Table conversation, Jenny
also shared the legend of thepainting she created some years
(07:08):
ago, which tells her family'sstory of loss and pain and the
legacy of being part of thestolen generation. As
Australians, we have much tolisten and learn about the
stories and experiences of FirstNations people. And it was a
privilege to be able to amplifyJenny's knowledge and wisdom,
especially during the year avery mixed discussion on 'the
(07:30):
voice.' Lived experience issomething I'm passionate about
amplifying through the podcast.
The lived experience ofendometriosis was captured so
eloquently from the point ofview of two generations. Emma
Dixon who's in her early 20s,and recently diagnosed with
(07:50):
endo, and Kath Sloan, who's inher 50s and has endured
endometriosis throughout heradult life. These two women
helped us understand thedebilitating pain of this
invisible disease, and heartheir passion and purpose and
encouraging other women toadvocate for a diagnosis and the
roads that they've taken to livewith the disease. I said it then
(08:12):
and I'll say it again. Emma andKath are two of the most
generous, engaged and proactivewomen I've met. They are ready
with a laugh and an encouragingword. And you'd never know that
they were in almost constantpain or discomfort.
We talked to experts in theirfields this season too. Franca
Sala Tenna, founder and directorof EEO Specialists talk to us
(08:36):
about the new laws in bullying,sexual harassment and
discrimination. This was apopular episode especially
thanks to Franca's contagiousenergy and the way she was able
to explain the laws in arelatable and even fun way. It's
a must listen if you have a job,or if you are leader in the
workplace. Franca's message wasclear. The laws have changed
(08:59):
more in the last 18 months thanin 20 years prior. So it's
really important to know how tokeep your workplace safe and
free from these behaviours. Frombehaviours in the workplace to
behaviours on the roads. Wereally did talk about everything
this season. Ex-trucky RobSharpe joined us to remind us
(09:19):
about road safety and sharingour roads with trucks. The
number of trucks on our WA roadsis set to double in the next
decade, and then triple by 2050.
That's a lot of trucks. Rob isthe CEO of Transsafe WA and it's
fabulous big purple projectInsTRUCKta!, which is a truck
decked out with a virtualreality goggles and games to
(09:41):
give you a bird's eye view ofwhat it's like to be a truck
driver and all the close callsyou see on the roads. Look out
for InsTRUCKta at local fairsand schools and make sure you
say hi, and of course that youheard about them on My Warm
Table podcast. This season. Iloved sharing the Warm Table
with family and old friends. Itwas a real treat to invite my
(10:02):
very much admired brother in lawimmunologist Dr. Richard Nolan
to explain allergies to us.
These are chats we don't oftenhave around our extended family
table. So I was able to ask hima heap of questions I had stored
up and wanted to share with theWarm Table community. My old
friend Vannessa Van Beek alsopopped over for a chat. I've
(10:25):
watched Vannessa's careertrajectory climb over the
decades and now she is acybersecurity expert with a
passion for people andleadership. It's amazing how
people are still at the heart ofall things technical, and our
psychology and ways of workingdeeply influence how safe we are
online. With all the onlineshopping and transactions we do,
(10:46):
it's important to rememberVannessa's biggest message,
which is to pause, stop beforeyou respond to something unknown
online and ensure it'sauthentic, and that it really
does need your attention. We areso connected in cyberspace, but
it's imperative to know when todisconnect and pause. Connection
(11:09):
was a key point in our finalepisode for season two, which
honoured the legacy of ElectricPower Transmission or EPT. This
is the company which connectedAustralia by building
electricity towers across thecountry from the 1950s. This
work was the catalyst for energywhich then powered our
industries, especially here inWA, it powered our economy and
(11:32):
the opportunities in modernisingAustralia. Matthew Quomi, an
unconventional researcher,passionate historian and an
architect joined me for thisemotional conversation around
the Warm Table. Both Matthew andmy father worked for EPT and
their legacies and stories haveshaped us both. My Papa's legacy
(11:54):
includes My Warm Table, as theywere his words and passion about
creating a Tavola Calda, a warmtable of acceptance, curiosity,
and positivity, and theyinspired this podcast. All of
these stories and Warm Tabletears would not have been
possible without the support ofseason two sponsor Females Over
(12:17):
45 Fitness, or FOFF as welovingly know it. FOFF founder
Kelli Reilly shared her journeyand creating her women's only
personal training sessions tohelp build strength, muscle
mass, and inspire women as theyage. She's created a sisterhood
in something really special andempowering for women at her gym
in Victoria Park. And I'mthankful for her encouragement
(12:40):
of both my podcast and myfitness. Kelli joined us each
episode with a health tip forwomen. So hopefully you listened
to the very end of eachconversation, and you were
equally inspired to consideryour own health and well being
into the future. A big thanks toKelli and Females Over 45
Fitness in Victoria Park forsponsoring Season Two of My Warm
(13:03):
Table podcast. Thanks also toWill Spence for writing and
producing the music of ourepisodes. And to Damon Sutton
for his audio engineering andpolishing up each episode ready
for launch. Thank you to ourgenerous guests. And of course
to you, our listeners and peoplewho join us around the Warm
Table and make it a realcommunity of learning and
(13:25):
sharing. My Warm Table podcastis an independent podcast, which
is unashamedly focused onWestern Australia. It's my very
small way of adding somepositivity to our state's media
landscape and amplifying thesmart, kind values-driven people
in our communities who are outthere doing good and there's so
(13:48):
many of them. There are so manymore I could have highlighted
during the season. But it justwasn't possible. But for all of
the people who do amazing workin their small not for profits,
or their large workplaces. Ifyou're doing good, then you're
doing it for our community. Sothank you. It's now time for a
(14:08):
break and for me to recalibrateto see what the next season
might hold for the Warm Table.
In the meantime, be sure tolisten to any episodes you might
have missed. Share the podcastwith your family and friends.
And please continue creatingyour own Warm Tables of curious
conversations with your familyand friends. Thanks for
listening.
Kelli Reilly FOFF (14:29):
Hi I'm Kelli
from Females Over 45 Fitness.
I'm the owner and I have beenthe sponsor for Sonia's My Warm
Table and oh, this has beenamazing. I've learned so much.
I've been inspired by Sonia.
Information and feedback andstories that you can get from
(14:49):
listening to podcasts. I've gotnew members which is absolutely
fantastic as well from mysponsorship to My Warm Table and
the knowledge and the ability tobe able to share through My Warm
Table. FOFF and its health andwell being programme and how we
(15:10):
inspire so many women who areover the age of 45. And I think
it's been the most amazingcollab. I've enjoyed it, and I
would do it again at the drop ofa hat. Yeah, listen to My Warm
Table. It's amazing. So thankyou so much.