Optimal Conversations

Optimal Conversations

Learning to talk is natural, but let's face it, finding the right words can be tough. We either stumble and risk losing respect, or stay silent and lose self respect. Enter the Optimal Conversations Podcast. Here, we explore effective communication through life changing stories and simple techniques for great conversations. We discuss what works and what doesn't, so you’re never lost for words again. I'm Mary Wong, founder of Optimal Life Solutions, and over the past 20 years, I've been helping people become better leaders and communicators. Join our podcast for some solo insights and incredible guest conversations and together we'll make communication a breeze.

Episodes

June 4, 2025 48 mins

Following a career transition, Aurora's work now focuses on sustainability. We discuss the effect of empowering employees at all levels to take ownership of sustainability initiatives as she shares examples of successful food waste reduction programs. Leaders, listen to find out how creating a culture of conversation and boundary-setting achieve desired outcomes with full team engagement.

Find our more about Aurora:

Mark as Played

Megan shares her amazing journey to living her yes, and evolving personal leadership. She talks about rediscovering herself amidst the turmoil of a relationship breakup, then shares how she has channelled her learnings into her soon-to-be-released debut novel, "It's Always Been Me".

It's an inspiring listen... and one that may well change your life!

Here's the quote she mentions: And the day came when the ris...

Mark as Played

Mel works with Women Leaders who are navigating their forties and fifties and has many enlightening strategies, tools, and resources that business leaders can use to support their female employees through menopause and peri-menopause.
We also discuss how boundaries are important in self-care and how self-awareness underpins successful navigation through difficulties.
More about Mel:
Mel's book, 'Fully Connect...

Mark as Played

The most powerful tool we have is a question! Listen and learn how questions help us connect, grow, and learn more about ourselves and others.
Emily Jane is a multi-talented, multi-skilled, young leader who walks her talk. In this podcast, she discusses how a powerful question helped her make a huge decision that has impacted her life in a very positive way.

Find out more about Emily by checking out her links below:

Mark as Played
November 21, 2024 47 mins

After 15 years in corporate leadership roles, Renee's life changes saw her leading as an entrepreneur. We follow her journey of change, as she relates how personal challenges guided her transition into her current business. We also discuss health, nutrition, and the role of non-judgement in a safe space for growth.

Find out more about Renee here: www.defininghealth.com.au

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/De...

Mark as Played
November 11, 2024 49 mins

Author of "The Coffee Table book for Mature Dating", Rylll shares her first-hand experience of where her dates went wrong in her search (and discovery) of the greatest love of her life. 
Join us as we discuss many subjects, including the differences between growing up last century and this one! It's a lot of fun and very informative.

Find Ryll at:

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/ryllgbooks?utm_...

Mark as Played

In this second part of two podcasts, Shevonne discusses the myth of perfection and the art of apology and shares her very personal journey through complete incapacitation and her ongoing recovery. 

This is an inspiring and uplifting listen filled with wisdom and grace. Don't miss it.

To find out more about Shevonne, connect with her on LinkedIn here https://www.linkedin.com/in/shevonne-joyce/

Great conversatio...

Mark as Played

She is passionate, a driver, creative but also analytical, and an astute problem solver. Meet Shevonne Joyce, a dynamic and neurodivergent leader featured in Harvard Business Review who is still happy to admit to stunning vocal faux pas!
Part one of two - this episode is packed with fascinating conversation. 
Find out why we are sometimes unlikeable, grow your understanding of autism and ADHD, and learn about different comm...

Mark as Played

Imagine having a scan as a teenager and discovering you are missing a significant part of your brain - the 'superhighway' that connects the left and right sides. That's what Michael experienced. It plays out in his life and in the lives of others with the condition of neurodivergence and often is coupled with mental health issues as well.
In this fascinating discussion, Michael shares his very personal insight in...

Mark as Played

When Jodi meets women who have so much adrenaline going on that they are constantly in fight or flight, she is reminded of her former life as a wedding planner - a life where everything has to happen promptly and perfectly.

That was before she found the power of stillness and the realisation that to speed up, she needed to slow down.

Listen to her journey and her tips to living a lit-up life, filled with self-loya...

Mark as Played

Have you ever wondered how other businesses seem to find the cash for large projects or equipment?
Or perhaps you have already realised that there is a grant that could help you but hold back because of the daunting task of applying.

Our guest, Liz Fleming, is a Chartered Accountant with more than 15
years of experience in corporate finance. She now works strategically with clients to get clear about their business...

Mark as Played

A trip to Sierra Leonne as part of her studies changed Jane's perspective on life. She decided to make a difference when she saw how little people there had. This led to her starting her own charity, the Figtree Children.
 Supported by a social enterprise gift store, multiple donors, and charity events, Figtree Children supports children to be cared for and educated in one of the world's most impoverished areas.
 ...

Mark as Played

Ana talks about how looking after ourselves is pivotal to successful leadership.

With a background in organisational psychology and later on in personal development and coaching, Ana has spent years supporting women in navigating the unique pressures of modern life. In her work with women, she often meets the mother-hens looking after all the chicks and forgetting to care for themselves. 

Here, she shares her top ...

Mark as Played

Natasha shares her journey from a young woman who hid herself away to an emancipated woman enjoying her freedom. Her experience has given Natasha a unique perspective on the world of self-talk. She says our conversations with ourselves are crucial to success in every part of our lives.

Insta: natashafountas

Great conversations underpin all successful leadership relationships and can create enduring transformational impact.
If yo...

Mark as Played

Take a walk in the world of prolific author and mentor Vicki Bennet. She talks about all things creativity, self-care, and emotional regulation, sharing her expertise from over 35 years of corporate training. 

Great conversations underpin all successful leadership relationships and can create enduring transformational impact.
If you want to change the world and don't know where to start, or if you’d like to level...

Mark as Played

Her life started with a tumultuous childhood in an abusive household with a Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde father and an unshrinkable, high-functioning mother who hid the abuse. Now, she has turned it all around.

Angela has lived the journey of trauma, resilience, healing, and transformation and now helps other women from struggling to thriving with her collaborative healing community, She Simply Impacts. Here, we talk about committing to h...

Mark as Played

As a mother of three young children, Narelle found herself falling over things and went to see her optometrist to discover she was facing permanent blindness. 

That hasn’t stopped her from living her life to the fullest, and she is on a mission to make sure anyone with a disability has the same opportunity. 

In this episode, we talk about resilience, innovation, country life, reflection, and opportunities. Join us for a remarkable co...

Mark as Played

Cybercriminals are mind-blowingly cunning and don’t care how much they hurt you!

If you have a business or organisation of any size (yes, even if you are the tiniest business on the planet) you cannot afford to miss this conversation with Luke Irwin. In this episode, Luke raises the cybersecurity profile for small businesses to make them aware of the risks they are exposed to and some steps they can take to give themselves the best ...

Mark as Played

Patty Beecham's life is filled with fascinating adventures. From the daughter of a priest in a country town to a roving breakfast reporter on 612-4QR, traveling via time as a funeral photographer and retiring between two cities., with so much more packed in between...
Join us as we chat about her journey of writing her childhood memoir and following it up with the grown-up volume. 
 As Patty suggests, wear your seatbel...

Mark as Played

In this episode, we talk with Karyn Takahashi. After living in Japan and taking her fashion onto Fashion Week runways around the world, Karyn returned home just prior to her Mother's devastating cancer diagnosis.
We talk about all kinds of things, including cross-cultural relationships, supporting a parent through severe illness, and creating a blog to give information on Living with a Stoma.

To find out more ab...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

    Ridiculous History

    History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.

    The Bobby Bones Show

    Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.