
Advertise on podcast: Connect With Confidence - with Kerrie Phipps
This podcast has
141 episodes
Language
EnglishPublisher
Kerrie PhippsExplicit
No
Date created
2020/04/27
Latest episode
2026/10/18
Average duration
44 min.
Release period
18 days
Description
How well do you connect with yourself, and how do you connect with others? How do you manage your thinking and emotions in situations and seasons of uncertainty and fear? Connecting with confidence begins with self awareness and self-regulation. Join us for conversations about self-awareness, talking to strangers, friends, family and connecting with confidence with anyone, anywhere. Leave intimidation and inadequacies behind, and make a bigger difference in the world. Cheering you on, Kerrie Phipps
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Check latest episodes from Connect With Confidence - with Kerrie Phipps podcast
Conversations That Save Lives - Andy and Zoe Cullen on Hope and Healing
2026/10/18
Content note: This conversation includes experiences of war, trauma, suicidal thoughts, substance use and significant mental health challenges. Please listen with care.
We talked about pain and hope, moral injury, faith, relationships and the power of being heard.
This isn't simply Andy's story of recovery from military trauma. It's also Zoe's story; the often-unseen experience of the spouse, caregiver and family. And it's a conversation about what’s possible when we stop trying to carry everything alone.
Loved this episode? Support us to create more podcasts by “buying our producer a coffee” - he deserves it! - https://bmc.link/kerriephipps
Find Andy and Zoe here -
Website - https://ptsdresurrected.org/resources/
A LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-cullen-4a549612/
Z LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-cullen-47808a8a/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rebootaustralia/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PTSDresurrected/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@PTSDResurrectedinc-s3j/videos
Find Kerrie here -
Topmate - https://topmate.io/kerriephipps
Website - https://kerriephipps.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerriephipps/
Facebook public page - https://www.facebook.com/KerriePhipps1
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kerriephipps
Twitter / X - https://twitter.com/KerriePhipps
Water for Anyone, Anywhere - Shannon Lemanski on Turning Air into Impact
2026/10/12
Shannon Lemanski returns to Connect with Confidence with some extraordinary news — becoming the first Australian to receive a global King’s Trust Award.
In this conversation, Shannon shares what it was like to be recognised at the Royal Albert Hall, meet King Charles III, and have his award presented by Benedict Cumberbatch.
We also revisit the story behind Aqua Ubique — Shannon’s mission to generate safe drinking water from air and reduce reliance on bottled water, particularly in remote and regional communities.
Along the way, Shannon reflects on what three and a half years of building the business has taught him - especially the importance of solving the customer’s real problem, rather than simply selling the technology.
So, so much has been accomplished and so many lives changed since we first spoke to Shannon in 2023!
Loved this episode? Support us to create more podcasts by “buying our producer a coffee” - he deserves it! - https://bmc.link/kerriephipps
Find Shannon here -
Website - https://aquaubique.com.au/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-lemanski/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aqua-ubique/posts/
Find Kerrie here -
Topmate - https://topmate.io/kerriephipps
Website - https://kerriephipps.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerriephipps/
Facebook public page - https://www.facebook.com/KerriePhipps1
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kerriephipps
Twitter / X - https://twitter.com/KerriePhipps
How Small Connections Expand Our World
2026/10/06
When I first met Mithul Krishna Kumar Ramachandran, he was a teenager in Coimbatore. When we reconnected more recently, he was much taller, well-travelled, educated connected - and more curious and kind than ever.
Mithul shared his experiences studying overseas, building friendships with people around the world and approaching different cultures with a beautiful openness and curiosity.
In this conversation, we explore what happens when we’re willing to step beyond what’s familiar - and how the smallest moments of connection can expand our world.
From finance to cricket, food, friendships and cultural differences, Mithul has a genuine fascination with learning from the people around him. He shares stories from studying with people from over 100 countries, becoming more confident in starting conversations, the simple power of a smile or a “good morning”, and what we can learn from one another.
It’s a conversation about curiosity, courage and connection – and a reminder that sometimes a much bigger world begins with one small interaction.
What small connection might expand your world today?
Find Mithul here -
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mithul-krishna-kumar-ramachandran-0157a7282/
Find Kerrie here -
Topmate - https://topmate.io/kerriephipps
Website - https://kerriephipps.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerriephipps/
Facebook public page - https://www.facebook.com/KerriePhipps1
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kerriephipps
Curious Not Furious - Nuclear, Leadership and Better Conversations with Jasmin Diab CSC
2026/09/20
What happens when we approach a polarising subject with curiosity instead of certainty?
In this episode:
authentic and compassionate leadershipspeaking up with confidencenuclear science, medicine and safety culturecuriosity in difficult conversationsSTEM careers beyond the obviouslearning from people with different experiences and expertise
Kerrie chats with Jasmin Diab - nuclear security specialist, former Australian Army combat engineer, STEM advocate, mum and self-described nerd - for a wide-ranging conversation about science, leadership, courage and the value of asking better questions.
Jasmin shares insights from 22 years in the Australian Army, including the shift that helped her lead more authentically and with greater compassion. She reflects on what it means to speak up in environments where your voice may not always be the loudest, and why calm, respectful communication matters in high-stakes settings.
The conversation also explores nuclear science and safety, nuclear medicine, the culture of learning from near misses, and why Jasmin believes Australia needs more open and informed conversations about complex technologies.
But this episode is about much more than nuclear.
Kerrie and Jasmin talk about curiosity, fear, disagreement and the importance of understanding where another person is coming from before rushing to respond.
As Jasmin says:
“It can shift a conversation entirely once you actually understand what perspective someone’s coming from.”
They also explore STEM careers in unexpected places - from Formula One to skincare to coffee - and why young people don’t need to have all the answers to find their place in science, technology, engineering and maths.
A conversation about being curious, not furious - and about what becomes possible when we create space for better questions, kinder conversations and different perspectives.
Loved this episode? Support us to create more podcasts by “buying our producer a coffee” - he deserves it! - https://bmc.link/kerriephipps
Find Jasmin here -
Website - https://jasmindiab.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasmin-diab-csc-gaicd-22016b278/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/atomicblondestudio
Find Kerrie here -
Topmate - https://topmate.io/kerriephipps
Website - https://kerriephipps.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerriephipps/
Facebook public page - https://www.facebook.com/KerriePhipps1
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kerriephipps
Curiosity and Connection in Cyprus - with Peter Sewell
2026/09/08
I was recently in Cyprus with Peter Sewell, and we found ourselves talking about something that sits at the heart of so many meaningful connections: curiosity.
Pete and I were there working with teachers from Poland, and in between the training, the heat and the travel stories, we sat down for this conversation about what happens when we stay curious about people, places and perspectives that are different from our own.
Pete has travelled to around 120 countries, and his experiences continue to challenge assumptions about cultures, communities, Africa, travel and what it really means to connect across difference.
We talk about the conversations we have, and the ones we avoid, the importance of listening before judging, what travel can teach us about empathy, and why some “difficult conversations” may be better understood as essential conversations.
There are stories from Rwanda, Burundi, Libya and beyond, reflections from our work with Polish teachers, and a few travel disasters too.
But underneath it all is a simple invitation:
Choose curiosity. Ask another question. Connect a little more deeply.
In this episode, we explore:
cross-cultural communicationcuriosity and empathychallenging assumptionstravel and cultural intelligenceessential conversationsleadership and emotional intelligenceworking with teachers from Polandusing AI to support better thinkinglearning from mistakes, travel mishaps and unexpected encounters
Loved this episode? Support us to create more podcasts by “buying our producer a coffee” - he deserves it! - https://bmc.link/kerriephipps
Find Peter here -
Website - https://www.petersewell.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/petersewell/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/smileypete01
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/peter.sewell.author
Find Kerrie here -
Topmate - https://topmate.io/kerriephipps
Website - https://kerriephipps.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerriephipps/
Facebook public page - https://www.facebook.com/KerriePhipps1
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kerriephipps
From Anxiety to Impact: The Courage to Make the Call
2026/08/10
What does courage look like?
Sometimes it looks like standing on a stage or doing something dramatic. And sometimes it looks like picking up the phone and calling someone you’re nervous to speak to.
In this conversation, I meet three remarkable young women whose honesty, courage and compassion deeply moved me. One of them shares openly about her experience of social anxiety, fear of rejection and spending much of her college life keeping to herself.
Then something changed.
She made a call.
Then another.
She reached out to classmates she had barely spoken to and invited them to be part of a social initiative. They said yes, and those small, brave conversations grew into a team of 16 students working together to make a real difference.
Their ideas are not theoretical. They come from lived experience.
Scribe Tribe was inspired by the experience of volunteering as a scribe for a visually impaired student - and recognising how difficult it can be for students to find the support they need during exams.
Care Plus emerged from a deeply personal moment at college. Rather than simply accepting a common inconvenience, these young women asked a different question:
What could we do about it?
That question became a practical plan to make sanitary products more accessible on campus - and, importantly, to create something future students can continue after they graduate.
What I love about these women is that they’re not waiting until they feel completely confident. They are taking action while they are still finding their confidence. They’re having conversations they once avoided. They’re including people they once thought were too different from them. They’re sharing personal stories that could easily have remained hidden and they’re turning those experiences into something that may make life easier for someone else.
As I listened, three words kept coming to mind:
Courage. Curiosity. Compassion.
This episode is a beautiful reminder that impact doesn’t always begin with a grand gesture. Sometimes it begins with one person deciding not to let fear make the decision. One phone call. One invitation. One conversation. And from there, strangers can become friends, friends can become a team, and a team can create change that lasts long after they’ve moved on.
As one of these inspiring young women said, “Small steps is what makes big change.” They are living proof of it.
Loved this episode? Support us to create more podcasts by “buying our producer a coffee” - he deserves it! - https://bmc.link/kerriephipps
Find Kerrie here -
Topmate - https://topmate.io/kerriephipps
Website - https://kerriephipps.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerriephipps/
Facebook public page - https://www.facebook.com/KerriePhipps1
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kerriephipps
Sacrifice Stories - What Happens When We Truly Listen
2026/06/23
What happens when you slow down enough to truly listen?
In this episode of Connect with Confidence, I’m joined by photographer William Debois - someone who quite literally travelled thousands of kilometers to meet strangers and ask just two simple questions:
- What does sacrifice mean to you?
- What sacrifice have you made?
What emerged is a beautiful collection of portraits and stories - powerful, unexpected and inspiring.
William shares the heart behind his Sacrifice Stories project - from travelling with a medium format film camera (limited to just 12 shots per roll) to developing film in makeshift darkrooms across Australia. But more than the photography, this is a conversation about presence, listening and connection.
We explore:
- Why listening matters more than talking
- The beauty of “ordinary” lives and unseen sacrifice
- How constraints (like 12 frames) can deepen creativity
- What it means to meet people without assumptions
- The surprising impact of being truly heard
This conversation is a reminder that meaningful connection doesn’t require perfect conditions… just curiosity and willingness.
Who might you listen to today?
Loved this episode? Support us to create more podcasts by “buying our producer a coffee” - he deserves it! - https://bmc.link/kerriephipps
Find William here -
Substack - https://williamdebois.substack.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/william_debois/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sacrifice_stories
Find Kerrie here -
Topmate - https://topmate.io/kerriephipps
Website - https://kerriephipps.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerriephipps/
Facebook public page - https://www.facebook.com/KerriePhipps1
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kerriephipps
Saying Yes Before You Feel Ready - Rachel Hartigan on Amelia Earhart, Courage and Curiosity
2026/06/14
In this fascinating and beautifully human conversation, Kerrie speaks with journalist and author Rachel Hartigan, whose book Lost: Amelia Earhart’s Three Mysterious Deaths and One Extraordinary Life explores not only the mystery of Amelia Earhart’s disappearance, but also the people who have spent decades searching for answers.
Rachel shares how a chance hallway conversation at National Geographic led her to join expeditions to Nikumaroro, a remote Pacific island connected to one of the enduring theories about Earhart’s disappearance. From ocean-going ships and turbulent reef crossings to research vessels, bone-detecting dogs, and the eerie vastness of the Pacific, Rachel reflects on courage, curiosity and the humbling feeling of being far beyond the familiar.
Together, Kerrie and Rachel explore the line between courage and risk, the importance of remembering the real people behind public stories, the changing world of journalism, the grounding power of walking the dog, and the everyday communities that form when we take time to connect.
This episode is a reminder that courage may look like an expedition across the Pacific — or simply saying hello at the dog park.
Loved this episode? Support us to create more podcasts by “buying our producer a coffee” - he deserves it! - https://bmc.link/kerriephipps
Find Rachel here -
Website - https://rachelhartiganauthor.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/racheljhartigan
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rj_hartigan
Threads - https://www.threads.com/@rj_hartigan
Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/rjhartigan
Find Kerrie here -
Topmate - https://topmate.io/kerriephipps
Website - https://kerriephipps.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerriephipps/
Facebook public page - https://www.facebook.com/KerriePhipps1
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kerriephipps
Twitter / X - https://twitter.com/KerriePhipps
Building a Business You Actually Enjoy
2026/05/22
What if building a successful business didn’t have to mean carrying everything?
What if it could actually feel… enjoyable?
In this thoughtful and spacious conversation, I sit down with Ellen Bathgate - someone I’ve had the privilege of journeying alongside for nearly two decades.
We begin with a simple but powerful reflection from Ellen’s younger years, writing letters to her future self and what it reveals about how much we change over time… and how freeing that can be.
From there, we explore what it really looks like to build a business you enjoy:
How Ellen shifted from “baby-faced assassin” to a deeply relational leaderThe unexpected lessons of owning a beauty salon in her early 20sWhy systems aren’t about structure for the sake of it - but about creating freedomHow she and her husband now share leadership in a way that plays to their strengthsThe practical shift from doing everything… to automating, delegating and letting goAnd how AI can support your work - without replacing your thinkingWe also gently unpack something deeper, that enjoying your business isn’t just about what you do…
It’s about how aligned you feel with it.
Because knowing how to do something isn’t the same as being fully on board with it.
This is a conversation about designing your work in a way that fits you. About letting go of what no longer serves and giving yourself space to think… so you can build something that truly feels like your own.
Loved this episode? Support us to create more podcasts by buying our producer a coffee - https://bmc.link/kerriephipps
Find Ellen here -
Website - https://www.contentcollab.com.au/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellen-bathgate/
Facebook public page - https://www.facebook.com/EllenBathgateAU/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ellen_bathgate
Twitter / X - https://twitter.com/KerriePhipps
Find Kerrie here -
Topmate - https://topmate.io/kerriephipps
Website - https://kerriephipps.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerriephipps/
Facebook public page - https://www.facebook.com/KerriePhipps1
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kerriephipps
Twitter / X - https://twitter.com/KerriePhipps
A Little More Social with Nicholas Epley
2026/05/05
What if the conversations you’re avoiding are the very ones that could change your day, your life, or someone else’s?
In this warm and insightful conversation, Kerrie sits down with behavioural scientist Nicholas Epley to explore the surprising science behind talking to strangers and why we so often get it wrong.
From a quiet train carriage in Chicago to life-changing family decisions, Nick shares how his research and his own lived experience reveals a powerful truth: we consistently underestimate how meaningful connection can be.
Together, they explore:
Why we hesitate to reach out (and what’s really happening in our brains)The concept of data-driven courageHow small moments of connection create unexpected happiness, health and belongingThe surprising gap between what we expect and what actually happensHow habits - not just knowledge - transform our relationships
You’ll also hear deeply personal stories - including the journey that led Nick and his family to adopt their daughter Lindsay and how connection shaped that decision in profound ways.
This episode is both practical and deeply moving; a reminder that even the smallest act of reaching out can ripple further than we ever imagine
Loved this episode? Support us to create more podcasts by buying our producer a coffee - https://bmc.link/kerriephipps
Find Nick here -
Website: https://www.nicholasepley.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-epley/
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nicholas-Epley-2
Find Kerrie here -
Topmate - https://topmate.io/kerriephipps
Website - https://kerriephipps.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerriephipps/
Facebook public page - https://www.facebook.com/KerriePhipps1
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kerriephipps
Twitter / X - https://twitter.com/KerriePhipps
Talking to Strangers… or Meeting Angels?
2026/04/24
There are conversations that stay with you, not because they’re perfectly planned, but because they unfold with honesty, depth, and unexpected wisdom.
In this episode of Connect with Confidence, I reconnect with Mathew Samuel - a global business leader I met in India recently, over a simple cup of tea in Dr Ram’s office at GRD College. What followed was a conversation about life, business, intuition, and the surprising power of talking to strangers.
Mathew shares how his journey has been shaped not by rigid plans, but by openness to people, opportunity, and moments that didn’t make sense at the time but later changed everything.
From building brands across 40 countries to learning from failure, from navigating loss to recognising life’s defining moments; this is a conversation about staying grounded while thinking globally.
We explore:
Why “strangers” may actually be the people who shape your life mostHow setbacks are really moments of unlearningThe discipline behind good decision-makingWhy simplicity is harder and more powerful, than complexityWhat it means to be ready when opportunity appearsThis is a spacious, reflective conversation that that invites you to pause, zoom out, and consider:
Who are the “angels” that have appeared in your life?
Loved this episode? Support us to create more podcasts by buying our producer a coffee - https://bmc.link/kerriephipps
Find Mathew here -
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathew-samuel-536a53388/
Find Kerrie here -
TopMate - https://topmate.io/kerriephipps
Website - https://kerriephipps.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerriephipps/
Facebook public page - https://www.facebook.com/KerriePhipps1
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kerriephipps
Twitter / X - https://twitter.com/KerriePhipps
Once Upon a Stranger - Gillian Sandstrom on how Small Talk is a big deal
2026/04/02
What if the conversations we often dismiss as “small talk” are actually helping us build a richer, more connected life?
In this delightful and deeply affirming episode of Connect with Confidence, Kerrie is joined by Professor Gillian Sandstrom, researcher, speaker and author of Once Upon a Stranger. Together they explore the science and the story behind everyday interactions – from chatting on trains and in cafés to sharing a smile with someone on a hard day.
Gillian shares how her journey began – from watching her dad talk to everyone, to finding unexpected comfort in being recognised by the “hot dog lady” on campus, to one brave cupcake-inspired conversation that opened a whole new world. Along the way, Kerrie and Gillian reflect on introversion, belonging, networking, empathy, uncertainty and the ripple effect of simple human connection.
They also unpack Gillian’s practical QUICK framework for starting conversations:
Questions
In Common
Kindness
This is a warm, thoughtful conversation for anyone who longs for more ease, confidence and meaning in their interactions – whether in daily life, travel, work or community.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
• Why “small talk” isn’t small at all
• How weak ties and everyday interactions help us feel we belong
• The difference between introversion and shyness
• Why talking to strangers can actually suit introverts
• How authenticity changes networking
• The cumulative effect of brief, ordinary conversations
• How to start conversations using Gillian’s QUICK framework
• Why a smile, a question or a kind comment can matter more than we realise
Loved this episode? Support us to create more podcasts by buying our producer a coffee - https://bmc.link/kerriephipps
Find Gillian here -
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-sandstrom-5049951/
Website: https://gilliansandstrom.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgilliansandstrom/
Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/gilliansocial.bsky.social
X: https://x.com/GillianSocial
Profile: https://profiles.sussex.ac.uk/p555105-gillian-sandstrom
Find Kerrie here -
TopMate - https://topmate.io/kerriephipps
Website - https://kerriephipps.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerriephipps/
Facebook public page - https://www.facebook.com/KerriePhipps1
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kerriephipps
Twitter / X - https://twitter.com/KerriePhipps
Outback Connecting again
2026/03/25
Bonus Episode | Outback Radio 2WEB Conversation
This episode is a little different.
Recently, I joined Rod and Heather on Outback Radio 2WEB to talk about our upcoming Wisdom and Wellbeing Women’s Retreat at Lower Lila, just outside Bourke in far west NSW.
What unfolded was a genuine, unscripted conversation about something much bigger than a retreat…
✨ saying yes to unexpected opportunities
✨ stepping out of your comfort zone
✨ the growth that comes from trying something new
✨ and the power of reconnecting - with yourself and with others
You’ll hear stories of spontaneous decisions that turned into life-shaping experiences… reflections on why we often hesitate… and gentle encouragement to trust those small inner nudges.
We also talk about the beauty of the outback - especially after recent rains - and the unique experience of gathering, slowing down, and connecting in a place that invites clarity and perspective.
Whether or not a retreat is on your radar right now, this conversation is an invitation to pause… reflect… and consider:
Where might a simple “yes” open something meaningful for you?
Find Heather here -
Website: https://www.lowerlilaretreat.com.au/
Website: https://www.outbackradio.com.au/
Find Kerrie here -
Topmate - https://topmate.io/kerriephipps
Website - https://kerriephipps.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerriephipps/
Facebook public page - https://www.facebook.com/KerriePhipps1
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kerriephipps
Twitter / X - https://twitter.com/KerriePhipps
The CEO You Didn't See Coming
2026/03/10
What a gift it was to sit in Mansi’s home in India, sharing meals, stories and wisdom; and to record this conversation surrounded by warmth, generosity and care.
In this episode, I’m joined by Mansi Amlani author of Seven Management Lessons from a Homemaker. We explore what leadership really looks like when it’s rooted in empathy, presence and purpose.
Mansi shares her journey from a shy, introverted Mumbai girl with a science background, to a thoughtful homemaker, community-builder, author and a CEO You Didn't See Coming :) weaving together stories of arranged marriage, love, family systems, food as medicine, courageous decisions and the everyday leadership that happens quietly in homes across the world.
This conversation is spacious, grounded and deeply human, a reminder that some of our greatest leadership lessons are being lived, daily, around kitchen tables.
Loved this episode? Support us to create more podcasts by buying our producer a coffee - https://bmc.link/kerriephipps
Find Mansi here -
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mansi-amlani/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com//mansi.amlani/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Management-lessons-Homemaker-Mansi-Amlani-ebook/dp/B088G2LZFL
Find Kerrie here -
Topmate - https://topmate.io/kerriephipps
Website - https://kerriephipps.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerriephipps/
Facebook public page - https://www.facebook.com/KerriePhipps1
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kerriephipps
Twitter / X - https://twitter.com/KerriePhipps
Tiny Steps, Big Perspectives - Lessons from the Kokoda Track
2026/02/22
In this episode of Connect with Confidence, I’m joined by Tim Walmsley - recently named 2025 Defence Executive of the Year.
What unfolds is a conversation about impact, perspective and how both can shift when you step away from the familiar and into something that asks everything of you.
Tim shares the work he’s doing to connect Australia’s defence industry through new digital portals - alongside the “heart work” that runs in parallel: supporting This Story Australia to capture veterans’ stories before they’re lost and helping deliver practical support to vulnerable veterans through the Vulnerable Veterans Solar Program.
And then we head to Papua New Guinea.
Tim takes us onto the Kokoda Track, a trek he assumed would be straightforward (100km over eight days) until day two arrived with heat, humidity, steep jungle mountains, and a very quick reality check. What changes everything is the moment he stops pushing and starts watching; learning from the local porters who take tiny, steady steps that allow them to move for hours without exhaustion.
Along the way, we explore:
what hardship reveals about people and how groups help one another through itthe deep spiritual responsibility many Papua New Guinean porters feel for the track and its historyTim’s powerful remembrance on Brigade Hill, honouring his grandfather and the “unfinished” story he carriedan unexpected moment of clarity - a reset that shifts his priorities at home, at work, and within himselfThis episode is a reminder that sometimes the biggest perspective shifts don’t come from grand gestures.
They come from tiny steps, taken steadily, in the company of others, through places that hold history, sacrifice, and meaning.
Loved this episode? Support us to create more podcasts by buying our producer a coffee - https://bmc.link/kerriephipps
Find Tim here -
Website: https://www.benchon.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-walmsley/
Find Kerrie here -
Website - https://kerriephipps.com/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerriephipps/
Facebook public page - https://www.facebook.com/KerriePhipps1
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kerriephipps
Twitter / X - https://twitter.com/KerriePhipps
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