What Are We Drinking? w/ Rachel Carey

The NDIS is changing. But are these reforms creating a better future for participants, or putting the entire ecosystem under pressure?

In this special NDIS Reform Roundtable episode of What Are We Drinking? with Rachel Carey, industry leaders come together for an honest, unfiltered conversation about the biggest challenges facing the disability sector.

From registration changes and SIL Practice Standards, to pricing, participant choi...

In this episode of What Are We Drinking?, Rachel sits down with Aden Perry — founder of OurChoice Disability — for a raw, funny and honest conversation about rugby league, disability support, community access, young leadership and building a business with purpose.

Aden shares his journey from growing up in the Sutherland Shire and chasing rugby league, to entering the disability sector at 18 and being confronted by the r...

In this episode of What Are We Drinking?, Rachel sits down with Dain Walker — personal brand strategist, founder of Rivyl, author, speaker, creator and the man known as “the internet’s brand strategist.”Dain shares the full story behind his journey, from a chaotic childhood and time in foster care, to being $200,000 in debt, working at Telstra, and having a life-changing moment after seeing Gary Vee speak li...

In this episode of What Are We Drinking?, Rachel sits down with Rhys and Jaxon from Empower Care Solutions Hub for a raw, funny and genuinely moving conversation about friendship, business, disability support and what it means to help young people feel like they belong.

From becoming best mates and building a business together, to working long hours, navigating burnout and putting everything back into the people they support, Rhys a...

What Are We Drinking's first guest — Amanda Rose, returns, and she doesn't hold back.

From women in business and government procurement to AI, taxation, entrepreneurship, financial independence and the future of Australia, Amanda doesn't hold back.

As the founder of Small Business Women Australia, Amanda is on a mission to change how women access opportunities, contracts and economic power. She shares why only a tiny percentage...

What happens when you combine sharp comedy, lived experience, and fearless advocacy?In this episode of What Are We Drinking?, Rachel Carey sits down with comedian, writer, filmmaker and disability advocate Madeleine Stewart for a candid conversation about using humour to challenge stereotypes and change perceptions around disability.Madeleine shares her journey from growing up in Campbelltown to performing stand-up comedy across Au...

What happens to your identity, your relationships, and your sex life after a stroke — and why is the healthcare system barely even asking the question?

This week on What Are We Drinking, Rachel sits down with William Kokay — social worker, PhD researcher, and the man on a mission to bridge one of the biggest gaps in post-stroke care. Over a Cosmo (obviously), they get into a conversation that is equal parts hilarious, ey...

What happens when you get expelled from school, end up $70K in debt, and find yourself living out of a Volkswagen Polo — and then decide that's not the end of the story?

This week on What Are We Drinking, Rachel sits down with Adam McCaughey — chef turned Forbes-recognised "King of Sales" — for one of the most energetic and honest conversations we've had on the pod.

Adam's journey is anything but linear. From scrubb...

In this episode of What Are We Drinking?, Rachel Carey sits down with Penioni “Penny” Tohi, founder of Able Minds, for a raw and honest conversation about disability employment, culture, business pressure, and building meaningful impact in the NDIS sector.From growing up in a traditional Tongan household in Western Sydney and chasing an NRL dream, through to working in autism support and launching Able Minds, Penny shar...

In this episode of What Are We Drinking?, Rachel sits down with Paul Simmons, CEO of Ability SDA, for a deep dive into the realities of Specialist Disability Accommodation, the future of disability housing in Australia, and the challenges providers are facing within the NDIS landscape.Paul shares his journey from economics and healthcare banking into retirement villages, before making the pivot into SDA alongside his wife Angie. To...

In this episode of What Are We Drinking?, Rachel sits down with Indi Cleary for a real, refreshing conversation about carving your own path and refusing to live an “average” life.From growing up between the Northern Beaches, New Zealand, and Western Sydney, Indi shares how her environment, family, and sense of identity shaped who she is today. She opens up about the influence of her dad, Ivan Cleary, and her brother, Na...

In this episode of What Are We Drinking?, Rachel sits down with Kieran Watts, a Powerchair athlete and advocate, for a real and eye-opening conversation as the Powerchair Hockey Team aims to fundraise their trip to the World Championships in Finland.

They unpack what it actually takes to compete in Powerchair sport, from the discipline and preparation to the often overlooked reality of constant fundraising just to get to competition...

In this episode of What Are We Drinking? Rachel sits down with fitness mogul and modern-day monk Matt Gamble — founder of G3 Fitness, self-development addict, father, partner, and the man who literally went into the Colombian jungle to have an ego death and rebuild his life.Matt opens up about growing up in housing commission, dropping out of school, building a fitness empire from Penrith to 75 locations, surviving the chaos ...

In Episode 10 of What Are We Drinking?, Rachel Carey sits down with Western Sydney’s hospitality powerhouse Jessica Jenkins — the woman behind some of Penrith’s most iconic venues, including Mr Watkins, Elton Chong, and Harry Hartog.

From coffee to cocktails, Jess has built more than venues — she’s built a community. In this unfiltered chat, she opens up about the hustle behind hospitality, the realitie...

In this episode of What Are We Drinking?, Rachel Carey sits down with the ever-charismatic Jack Traynor, Business Development Manager at Care Done Differently and founder of Caffeine Connections.Over a glass of red, they unpack what it really means to build a personal brand in the disability sector, the power of genuine human connection, and how authenticity always wins over a sales pitch.Jack shares his journey from aged care to d...

In this episode of What Are We Drinking? w/ Rachel Carey, we sit down with Dr. Yasser Zaki — Global CEO of TLC, entrepreneur, innovator, and fearless leader in the Australian NDIS and disability services sector.Yasser’s story is nothing short of extraordinary. From being homeless after migrating from Egypt to Australia, to founding and scaling Tender Loving Care (TLC Global) into an organisation with over 1,200 staff ac...

In this episode, Rachel sits down with Chris Lapa, founder of The Growth Academy, to unpack what truly drives growth for NDIS and care sector businesses. From his Italian roots to his obsession with simplifying marketing, Chris shares the mindset shifts that turn bland providers into bold brands.

They dive into:

• Why most providers market to everyone (and reach no one)
• How to find your niche and own it
• Why brand clarity beats fancy ...

In this episode of What Are We Drinking?, Rachel Carey sits down with Michael Graves, CEO of Visual Care, to unpack how technology is transforming the NDIS landscape. From his unconventional path—from law to footwear startups, edtech, and now disability care tech—Michael shares what it takes to lead change, manage rapid growth, and simplify complexity in Australia's disability services sector - all discussed over the mo...

On this special edition of What Are We Drinking? Rachel Carey sits down solo to talk about her life, career, and all things podcasting!Get a sneak peak behind the scenes at Rachel's processes, business insights, experiences with guests and production, and get know everything you want to know about her and the podcast in this special episode in celebration of World Podcast Day!From NDIS, Business, and all things What Are We Drinking...