Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia and its incidence is increasing – with 1 in 7 Australian women and 1 in 716 Australian men expected to be diagnosed in their lifetime. Every day, at least 55 Australians will be told they have breast cancer and Kathryn Elliott was added to this list when she received a diagnosis of locally advanced triple positive breast cancer on the 23 August 2019, aged 46. Kath so generously share her gnarly experience with breast cancer and talk about how the men in her life, husband, Paulos and sons, Oscar (15), Tom (14) and Hugo (12) responded to her diagnosis, treatment and recovery. It’s quite a story and definitely one not to miss. Remember, it really is OK to not be OK!! @healingbreastcancer #breastcancersurvivor #breastcancerawareness #malebreastcancer

Way back, on 24 July 24 2015, I was pretty jazzed to share a stage with David Burroughs, world-renowned psychologist and strategist at the Sydney Safety Symposium, talking about creating environments that support good mental health. Mind blown by his presentation – as he was with mine :-), we’ve come a long way in our friendship and collaboration. To this day, Dave continues to hold his own, making massive waves in workplace mental health and, like me, embraces the extension of men’s health. Most recently, Dave co-founded Mantle, a men’s health service that provides specialist, confidential, virtual mental health support, addressing the stigma surrounding barriers men experience in seeking and engaging with support. This ties into what International best practice tells us, that one of the key ways to improve men's access to healthcare is by developing male-friendly services, which was acknowledged in Australia’s first National Male Health Strategy https://lnkd.in/dq5gzNi

Back in the studios at 94.1FM 3WBC in November I prepared a “cook up” of great minds and mentors, for a flavour packed panel, who delivered a rich and nourishing radio recipe. First on the pass, was none other than chef, founder and writer, Matt Wilkinson, who has recently taken up residency at the Mornington Peninsula winery restaurant Montalto. In his spare time, Matt is the creative director at Four Pillars Gin. He was followed closely by writer, eater, traveler and cook, Dani Valent who is also well known for spectacular journalism at The Age Epicure, Good Food. We topped the show off with Robbie Bell, founder of City Larder Charcuterie. He also runs his own podcast called 'Cooking the Books' where he interviews prominent chefs and food industry professionals. I asked my trademark question “what does it feel like, being you, today?” not to mention, drew upon their ideas, insights and contribution to good mental health in the hospitality industry.

Remember, it really is OK to not be OK!! #hospitalityindustry #workplacementalhealth #chef #cooking #suicideprevention #menshealthawareness

Sometime in the 1980’s, Darren Wagner began his love of theatre in San Jose California, which led to a short-lived career treading the boards. As it happened, Darren was not destined to be a Broadway actor and re-imagined his life to become a deputy sheriff at Clark County, Ohio during the 1990’s. The next time Darren stepped onto the world stage was in 2012, when the community of his new home town of Sandy Hook, Connecticut, experienced a school shooting that became one of Americas deadliest massacres. Hear what it felt like being Darren back then and what it feels like today, including his involvement with 26 Pebbles - a verbatim play about the members in the Sandy Hook community and how they experienced the tragedy - building endless strength of community, courage and compassion. Tune in tomorrow, Sunday 12 July, 10.30am-12 noon at 94.1FM 3WBC - You can also stream live from anywhere around the world https://lnkd.in/gz7qgNT. Remember, it really is OK to not be OK!! #ohio #SandyHook #26pebbles #Thehumanracetheatrecompany #entertainmentassist #SanJoseCity #clarkcounty #connecticut #posttraumagrowth #compassion #community

There are more than six million mothers in Australia and between one and two billion mothers around the world caring for children and other people every day of the year. I spoke to a few of these remarkable women, during a very isolated Mother’s Day 2020, back in May. We kicked off with Dr Nicole Canham, a Doctor of Philosophy with a PhD in Music and a penchant for caring for just about anyone who comes into her sights. Next up was Organisational Psychologist, Rachael Palmer who has a passion for supporting parental-leave, work-life and mature-age transitions. My old friend and founder of Digital White Space and co-creator of Digital Women's Network, Angela Mellak talked about her newly acquired riad in Morocco and her upcoming motherhood. We finished the show getting a little closer to home, celebrating my Aunty Betty who takes such beautiful, motherly care of me and another mum who grew wings only a week before Mother’s Day. Listen right here at my YouTube channel along with many others like it. What does it feel like, being you today? #mothersday2020 #workingmothers #careermothers #aunties #grandmothers #granddaughters #sisters #nieces #daughters

People who are connected with their co-workers often have better physical and psychological wellbeing – reducing the risk of mental health challenge. Feeling connected, cared for and validated is a fundamental human need and without it we don’t function very well. In the workplace, being connected can present health and safety outcomes that positively impact efficiency, productivity and ultimately, the bottom line. Last month, I caught up with my friend, Tricia Roessler – we connected in the workplace more than 30 years ago and recently caught up to reflect on what it felt like, being us back then. We talked about the concept of connection - recognising how simple acts of kindness and care helped us achieve our best and be safe in a pressured environment. Also, we celebrated INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY (MARCH 8), acknowledging Tricia's work, over the decades – connecting people, across the world, to higher education and creating opportunities for so many to engage in academic pursuits that may have been out of their reach. Remember, it really is OK to not be OK!! #workplacewellbeing #healthandsafety #mentalhealth #kindness #care

The mistaken belief that men don’t show emotion, seek help or speak out has become a dangerous acceptance, that abandons much needed investment in men centric services that can lead to reduction and minimise the risk of male suicide. I spoke with Adam Garone, founder of global men’s health charity, Movember. He spoke for the first time about his own experience of situational crisis and his rocky road to finding help that saved his life. An unexpectedly emotional and raw moment, many were bought to tears, hearing Adams message of courage and gratitude - Listen in from 26.20 min. Before that, we heard from controversial Australia Day awards recipient, Bettina Arndt who talks more broadly about her work in achieving gender equity through advocacy for men, including the lack of attention given to men surviving prostate cancer. Listen in at my YouTube channel along with many others like it. What does it feel like, being you today? #situationalcrisis #menshealth #malesuicide #prostatecancer #suicideprevention

The magic of musical theatre combines singing, acting and dancing to project emotion to communicate joy and inspiration to an audience. Many of us think of cast members - dancing in a colourful spectacle, often forgetting other contributors like, roadies, costume designers, composers and stagehands, to name only a few. Back in 2015, industry health promotion charity Entertainment Assist released startling facts from a research project, conducted in association with Victoria University, Melbourne Australia, "Working in the Australian Entertainment Industry". Based on the general population, some of the stats highlighted: *suicide attempts for industry workers are more than double; *levels of moderate to severe anxiety symptoms are 10 times higher; and *levels of depression symptoms are five times higher. Conversely, a major theme emerged that workers expressed an overwhelming passion for their industry - a powerful and positive attitude to challenge some of the negative culture. I had the pleasure of hosting two singing, dancing and acting super stars from very different generations: 11 year old Flynn Turner, had recently played the lead role of Aladdin in his school production; and Will Centurion, an accomplished veteran of musical theatre also performed in Walt Disney’s Aladdin – years later, reinventing himself as a qualified counsellor for young entertainers. Hear Flynn and Will compare their thoughts and experiences around how we can influence generational and systemic change for this wonderfully, entertaining industry.