Thriving Matters Podcast

Our guest this episode is Helen von Dadelszon who is a communication coach, speaker and vocal trainer who helps people show up with clarity, courage and confidence, whether they're leading meetings, speaking on stage, or navigating tricky conversations.

Listen in as Helen shares what gets her out of bed each day - that her dog and helping smart people communicate with clarity and confidence are her motivation. Their conversation began by exploring how both Carrie and Helen's career paths in communication were influenced by their parents' encouragement.

Helen shared her journey with Toastmasters, explaining how she initially viewed it as intimidating but later found a community and passion for public speaking and communication. She discussed how communication can be affected by external factors like stress or distraction, and mentioned her focus on managing the nervous system, particularly for leaders who need to speak to larger audiences.

Public Speaking Skills Management

Helen and Carrie then discussed strategies for managing nervousness and improving public speaking skills. Helen shared insights from her book "Courageous Action," which covers practical techniques including breathing exercises, body awareness, and mental preparation. The discussion highlighted how nervousness can be managed through action rather than waiting for confidence to develop naturally, with Carrie noting the importance of addressing common speaking challenges like fillers and voice modulation.

They also spoke about communication strategies for speakers and leaders, focusing on understanding the audience and defining clear objectives before crafting a message. Helen advised recording presentations to analyze both audio and visual elements, suggesting specific areas to improve such as vocal tone and body language. They also discussed the importance of finding authentic role models closer to one's professional context rather than looking up to famous speakers like Obama or Oprah. The conversation concluded with Helen emphasizing that communication skills can be developed as habits, encouraging listeners to practice reflection and improvement in their communication practices.

If you have enjoyed this conversation with subscribe and share with your colleagues, family and friends.

To Connect with Helen:

LI: linkedin.com/in/helen-von-dadelszen

URL: academy.presentpotential.ch

Email: helenvond@gmail.com

 

To Connect with Carrie:

LI: linkedin.com/in/carriebenedet

URL: carriebenedet.com 

Email: carolinebenedet2@gmail.com

Our new episode of "Thriving Matters" podcast, Carrie interviews Bronwyn Coulthart about her AI-powered business consulting services. Bronwyn shares her journey from traditional IT consulting to developing an AI tool that helps entrepreneurs identify and monetize their professional skills through a 22-question expertise assessment.

Bronwyn discussed how the tool was inspired by helping a friend who cares for two children with autism navigate the NDIS system, transforming her from someone who claimed "I can't do tech" to someone building her own consulting business.

Bronwyn explained her service offerings include a free assessment tool that generates a custom report within 10 minutes, paid companion workbooks, and full business audits, with the goal of helping professionals transition from corporate roles to independent consulting without abandoning their existing careers.

The conversation also covered the importance of recognizing employees' transferable skills and the strategic challenges companies face when losing experienced staff.

The conversation showcased Bronwyn's background in IT and law, the market changes that drove her business evolution, and her philosophy that technology should support professionals rather than complicate their work.

If you enjoyed this conversation, share with your colleagues, friends and family. Don't forget to subscribe!

To connect with Bronwyn:

LI: linkedin.com/in/bronwyncoulthart

URL: seybienne.com.au

Side Hustle Interview: https://interview.seybienne.com.au/interview-details

To Connect with Carrie:

LI: linkedin.com/in/carriebenedet

URL: carriebenedet.com 

Email: carolinebenedet2@gmail.com

Today on The Thriving Matters Podcast, Carrie welcomed Carly Shorter, founder of Communicate Powerfully in New Zealand.

Carly brings more than two decades of experience across radio broadcasting, leadership, facilitation and professional development.

Her passion is helping leaders find the clarity, confidence and courage to have the conversations that matter, especially the ones we’re tempted to avoid.

As a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and Brain-Based Coach, Carly brings together practical communication strategies, neuroscience and a deep understanding of people.

Today, we explored how powerful communication can strengthen relationships, build trust and help leaders create workplaces where people and performance, can truly thrive.

Carrie and Carly dived into communication skills and leadership, where Carly shared her journey from radio broadcasting to founding Communicate Powerfully, a company focused on workplace communication training for senior leaders and CEOs.

Carly shared key communication techniques including the importance of genuine hellos with follow-up questions, the power of meaningful pauses, and the concept that every conversation builds either trust or breaks it. They explored how AI is impacting communication but emphasized that human skills remain essential, particularly for difficult but "vital conversations" that leaders must have. Carly recommended self-development and curiosity as key advice for aspiring leaders, also featuring the "Below the Surface" card game designed to help people build deeper connections through meaningful questions.

 

If you enjoyed this conversation, share with your colleagues, family and friends - don't forget to subscribe!

Catch you next time and don't forget that your are precious and your thriving Matters!

To Connect with Carly:

LI: linkedin.com/in/carlyshorter

URL: communicatepowerfully.com

Email: carly@communicatepowerfully.com

 

To Connect with Carrie:

LI: linkedin.com/in/carriebenedet

URL: carriebenedet.com 

Email: carolinebenedet2@gmail.com

This episode, Carrie's guest is Tracey Ezard, a highly regarded global educational leader, speaker, author and creator of Ferocious Warmth, a human-centred leadership approach that brings heads and hearts into powerful alignment.

Carrie and Tracey have known each other for a number of years and they hope you will listen in as they weave between a few different aspects of thriving in life and work! Enjoy.

Tracey and Carrie discussed the importance of creating a learning collective culture in schools, emphasizing the need for "challenger safety" where robust debates can occur within high trust environments. They explored how leaders can balance "ferocious warmth" - combining strong performance expectations with emotional connection and support - to drive excellence while fostering a positive culture. The conversation also covered the strategic implementation of AI in education, with Tracey advocating for schools to proactively learn about AI while maintaining ethical standards in its use.

They also talked about the importance of self-awareness and holding space for others during times of uncertainty and change. They explored how connection with oneself and others can help maintain balance and resilience, particularly in challenging situations. Tracey shared her upcoming silent meditation retreat and her approach to supporting leaders in holding difference constructively. They also touched on the value of holding generative dialogue and creating safe environments for diverse perspectives in educational and leadership contexts.

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe and share with colleagues, family and friends.

 

To Connect with Tracey:

LI: linkedin.com/in/traceyezard

URL: traceyezard.com

Email: tracey@traceyezard.com

 

To Connect with Carrie:

LI: linkedin.com/in/carriebenedet

URL: carriebenedet.com 

Email: carolinebenedet2@gmail.com

In this episode, Carrie connects with Dr Ramandeep Saini. Listen in to their conversation that moved between her personal and professional journey and approach to leadership, emphasizing the importance of learning from different generations and adapting to new perspectives in her role as a business school director. She shared her philosophy of reflecting on experiences weekly to identify lessons and growth opportunities.

Dr. Ramandeep also shared her approach to leading a team of 95% female staff, emphasizing the importance of patient hearing and understanding their challenges. They explored strategies for future readiness, with Dr. Ramandeep advocating for balancing global skills with local relevance and emphasizing the need for continuous learning and adaptation to technological changes, particularly AI. The conversation highlighted the importance of curiosity, wonder, and being open to new learning for both young people and leaders in today's rapidly changing world.

We also covered the importance of using AI ethically to enhance performance rather than relying on it completely, as this helps maintain human creativity and wisdom - using AI only for refinement.

Of note, we also discussed the impact of AI on education and employment, particularly in India. Dr. Ramandeep explained that India's 2020 National Education Policy aims to bring more flexibility and skill-based learning, allowing students to combine different subjects and acquire specific skills.

Key to the overall conversation was the importance of human connections, communication skills, and teamwork in adapting to technological changes, noting that while technology can enhance performance, human collaboration remains crucial. They agreed that interpersonal skills will continue to be essential regardless of AI advancement, and Dr. Ramandeep expressed enthusiasm about their current discussion as an example of successful human connection facilitated by technology.

If you enjoyed this episode, share with your colleagues, family and friends, and don't forget to subscribe.

Go gently, you are precious and your thriving matters.

 

To Connect with:

 

Dr. Ramandeep

LI: linkedin.com/in/drramandeepsaini

Email: ramandeepsaini2000@gmail.com

 

Carrie Benedet:

To Connect with Carrie:

LI: linkedin.com/in/carriebenedet

URL: carriebenedet.com 

Email: carolinebenedet2@gmail.com

In this episode of Thriving Matters Podcast , Carrie interviewed Jason Pascoe, currently Director of The Enactive Solution, discussing his transition from being Director of Consultancy Services at Growth Coaching International to running his own Consultancy that specialises in Solution Focused approaches for leadership and meaningful change as well as recently opening a Mediterranean-inspired cafe called Little Gozo with his family.

Listen in as Jason shared how his approach to leadership and solution-focused coaching has been applied both in organizational settings and now in managing his cafe, emphasizing the importance of crafting interactive spaces and listening for what's being called for rather than focusing solely on problems.

They explored how organizations and individuals can adapt to AI by starting with clear understanding of the work required, identifying what's already working, and then determining how tools like AI might support those goals rather than outsourcing thinking.

Jason explained his framework for working with AI through Haesun Moon's dialogic orientation quadrants, focusing on understanding why conversations are happening where they are and how to shift them toward solutions and possibilities.

A number of practical text resources were discussed including The Solution Focus by Paul Z Jackson and Mark McKergow and Host Leadership by Mark McKergow and Helen Bailey; Coaching Leadership 3rd Edition by Jan Robertson as well as Towards Solution Podcast by Jason Pascoe and Dion Sing.

If you enjoyed this episode with Jason Pascoe, share with family, friends and colleagues

 

To connect with Jason:

LI: linkedin.com/in/jason-pascoe-b5327922

URL: enactive.com.au

Email: jason@enactive.com.au

 

To Connect with Carrie:

LI: linkedin.com/in/carriebenedet

URL: carriebenedet.com 

Email: carolinebenedet2@gmail.com

 

This Thriving Matters podcast episode features Dr. Jan Robertson discussing her newly released third edition of "Coaching Leadership," a seminal book on educational leadership development.

Listen in as Carrie and Jan explore the book's key themes, including the importance of relationship-based learning, reciprocal partnerships, and building leadership capacity through coaching cultures rather than hierarchical approaches.

Jan shared insights from her experience as academic director of New Zealand's Aspiring Principals program, where she worked with 20 coaches supporting 220 aspiring leaders over six years. We discussed how transformative leaders need moral purpose for equity, courage to lead outside their comfort zones, and the ability to develop future leaders who will exceed their own capabilities.

The conversation also covers Jan's boundary-breaking leadership retreats at Paritahi Marae in New Zealand, which incorporate Maori cultural practices and alternative learning methods to help leaders cross cultural and personal boundaries. Jan emphasized that leadership development should be integrated into daily practices rather than treated as additional tasks, and she encouraged all educators including classroom teachers to recognize their leadership roles and embrace reflective partnership approaches in their work.

 

If you enjoyed this conversation with Jan, don't hesitate to share with your colleagues, family and friends and subscribe!

 

To Connect with Jan:

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janrobertson2020/

Email: info@janrobertson.co.nz

 

To Connect with Carrie:

LI: linkedin.com/in/carriebenedet

URL: carriebenedet.com 

Email: carolinebenedet2@gmail.com

Our guest this episode of Thriving Matters Podcast is Sonya Furlong, founder of the Centre for Life Therapies. You will be interested to look up The Centre for Life Therapies as it continues to grow as Australia’s number one Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) sanctuary for mental well-being, personal development and a powerhouse for transformative change.

Listen in as Sonya explains how NLP emerged from the human potential movement in the early 1970s, with Richard Bandler and John Grinder studying pioneers like Milton Erickson to develop structured techniques for personal transformation. They discussed the importance of understanding subconscious values and beliefs in achieving goals, with Sonya emphasizing that many people set goals with only 5% of their wisdom and often fail to achieve fulfillment because their goals aren't aligned with their true values.

Our conversation covered practical applications for leaders, including communication mastery courses and corporate workshops on meditation and breathwork, while addressing how personal development directly correlates with leadership effectiveness. Sonya explained how her personal experience with traditional therapy led her to seek out NLP coaches, which significantly transformed her life and inspired her to become a coach herself.

Carrie and Sonya also discussed the Center for Life Therapies, which focuses on setting achievable goals, communication, coaching, and mentoring to help managers and team leaders understand their colleagues better. They explored the importance of understanding the subconscious mind, which makes up 95% of the human mind according to Freud, and how unconscious values can impact behavior. Sonya explained that NLP techniques help bring these values into conscious awareness, aligning goals with one's true values and North Star.

If you enjoyed this conversation with Sonya, don't hesitate to share with your colleagues, family and friends and subscribe!

 

To Connect with Sonya:

LI: linkedin.com/in/sonyafurlongnlptrainer

URL: centreforlifetherapies.com

Email: sonya@sonyafurlong.com

 

To Connect with Carrie:

LI: linkedin.com/in/carriebenedet

URL: carriebenedet.com 

Email: carolinebenedet2@gmail.com

This episode of our Thriving Matters Podcast is with one of Australia's leading voices about the thoughtful adoption of AI in education.

Matthew Esterman is highly respected as an educational leader and AI education consultant who co-founded Educators Intelligence with Class Cover.

Matt shared his journey from teaching to AI consultancy, explaining how his perspective on AI shifted after experiencing a heart attack in 2024 at age 40, which prompted him to explore new opportunities outside of schools.

We discussed the current state of AI implementation in education, with Matt noting that while AI has been present for four years, many schools are still in experimental phases and lack systematic approaches.

Our conversation covered student perspectives on AI, with Matthew sharing examples of both negative views (including concerns about cheating) and positive uses (such as neurodiverse students using AI for translation and research).

Matt shared his thoughts on the current state of AI implementation in schools, noting that while AI has been present for about four years, adoption varies significantly across different organizations and individuals. He emphasized that young people are already using AI whether formally discussed in schools or not, and highlighted the need for secure enterprise-level solutions to protect student data. When asked about Australia's social media ban for under-16s, Matthew supported the approach, comparing it to other health-related regulations like smoking bans and seatbelt requirements, while acknowledging that parents still have responsibility in enforcing these rules despite existing workarounds.

We also covered Matt's work in educational leadership development, including one-off engagements, partnerships with schools, and the newly launched Educator Intelligence platform in collaboration with ClassCover. The platform offers courses on AI implementation in education, including topics like AI First Aid, assessment architecture, and workload reduction. Matthew expressed particular appreciation for the collaborative experience with ClassCover in developing the platform.

Matthew shared insights about young people's diverse views on AI, ranging from skepticism and hope to worry about future opportunities. He described a student's frustration with perceived hypocrisy in how AI was used in school, highlighting the need for better conversations about AI's appropriate use. Matthew also shared a positive example of a neurodivergent student who uses AI as a learning tool to translate and understand educational materials. He emphasized the importance of engaging students, staff, and parents in discussions about AI's role in education and highlighted recent efforts to address these topics in schools.

If you have enjoyed this conversation with Matt, remember to share and subscribe so you don't miss other extraoadinary "thriving" leaders and shakers!

 

To Connect with Matt:

LI: linkedin.com/in/mesterman

URL: nextwordnow.com

Email: learning.esterman@gmail.com

 

To Connect with Carrie:

LI: linkedin.com/in/carriebenedet

URL: carriebenedet.com 

Email: carolinebenedet2@gmail.com

This episode of Thriving Matters Podcast is with Mary Ann McGowan and focuses on her recent book launch "Put Who First: A Human-Centered Guide to Leading Yourself and Others."

Listen in as you will hear Mary Ann explain that her work in leadership training and coaching brings her joy due to the meaningful connections she forms with people in training rooms. Mary Ann describes what motivates her daily, focusing on the tangible connections and vulnerable sharing that occur in her leadership training sessions.

We discuss the link between leadership and coaching through workplace situations with Mary sharing two key moments that shaped her approach: a difficult experience in corporate HR during a restructuring where she learned the importance of embracing others' emotions during difficult conversations, and a situation as a single mother when her professional contributions were recognized but her personal circumstances were not. Our backgrounds in Emotional Intelligence through Genos International along with a coaching way of working with people has been life giving work for them both.

We also discussed the process of writing a book, with Mary sharing her experience of writing over a five-year period despite challenges including losing both parents and dealing with self-doubt. Mary described the non-linear nature of the writing process, emphasizing the importance of reflection, perseverance, and silencing the inner critic. The conversation touched on the book's conversational style and Mary's dedication to serving readers through her writing

Carrie asked Mary Ann to recall a significant memory from writing 'Put WHO First', with Mary Ann sharing how she included her Type 1 diabetic son in a chapter about their relationship dynamics using the drama triangle concept. Mary Ann described the emotional impact of writing this vulnerable content and getting her son's permission to include it. The conversation also touched on Mary Ann's book launch, where she was surprised to reconnect with former colleagues after 25 years, and her experience working with an editor who heavily redlined her manuscript.

Carrie praised the book's practical approach and referenced a Carl Jung quote about being authentic when connecting with others. Mary Ann shared an example from her work with a leader who was struggling with uncertainty during organizational changes, illustrating how questions can sometimes be perceived negatively despite being intended to create clarity.

They also explored the importance of human connection and empathy in leadership, as well as addressing current uncertainties, particularly around AI in education, and emphasized the need for well-being and human connection in leadership development, especially for the next generation.

A brilliant resource for all leaders to have for themself and when leading others!

If you enjoyed our conversation with Mary Ann, don't forget to subscribe and share with your colleagues, family and friends.

 

To Connect with Mary Ann:

LI: linkedin.com/in/maryannmcgowan

URL: maryannmcgowan.com (Company)

Email: hello@maryannmcgowan.com

 

To Connect with Carrie:

LI: linkedin.com/in/carriebenedet

URL: carriebenedet.com 

Email: carolinebenedet2@gmail.com