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What do you get when you combine a PhD, two master's degrees, 25 years of international engineering experience and a life journey that includes a story with coming to Australia as a refugee? One seriously fascinating conversation! This week on Life's a Mitch, I'm joined by Dr Manuel Membrillera Ortuño, an internationally experienced dam engineering expert whose career is nothing short of extraordinary. With a PhD, multiple master's-level qualifications and more than 25 years of hands-on experience across 355 dam projects in over 20 countries, Manuel has built a career that spans continents, cultures and some of the world's most complex engineering challenges. As Senior Technical Director at GHD, a university professor and an internationally recognised specialist in dam safety and risk assessment, his professional achievements are seriously impressive. Add his experience teaching at universities around the world and speaking multiple languages, and it's fair to say this bloke has packed a lot into his life! But on Life's a Mitch, we're going beyond the impressive qualifications and the incredible career. Manuel opens up about his experience as a refugee coming to Australia, the challenges of starting a new life in a different country, and the personal journey behind the professional success. We explore what it means to adapt to a new culture, overcome adversity and build a future when life takes you down an unexpected path. We also dive into his fascinating career, what it's like working on hundreds of dam projects across the globe, the importance of education, and what decades of international experience can teach you about people, opportunity and resilience. This is a conversation about much more than engineering degrees and impressive job titles. It's about the person behind the achievements, the challenges that shape us, and the determination it takes to build an extraordinary life. This is a story of knowledge, resilience, ambition and never underestimating what someone can achieve. 🎧 Tune in to Life's a Mitch for a conversation that will make you think, inspire you to dream bigger, and remind you that everyone's story has more to it than meets the eye. 🔥 355 dam projects. More than 20 countries. An incredible academic career. And a powerful personal story. This is one episode you don't want to miss!

What if nobody ever really taught us how to be an adult? In this episode of Life’s a Mitch, I sit down with psychologist and author Peter Charleston, who has spent more than 30 years working as a psychologist, to talk about his new book, "How to Adult A Psychological Guide" We dive into why adulthood can feel so overwhelming, why so many of us are secretly winging it, and the things nobody seems to prepare you for — relationships, work, confidence, boundaries, emotions, expectations and simply trying to keep your shit together. With more than three decades of experience helping people navigate life, Peter brings a wealth of psychological insight to the conversation, but this isn't a lecture. It's a real, honest and often funny chat and Peter gives his insight on how adulting and not having the right skillset can make things difficult — and states why his book can help teach valuable skills to every adult. Whether you're 25, 35, 95 or still waiting for someone to hand you the instruction manual, this episode is for you. Because adulthood doesn't come with a user manual… but Peter Charleston might just have written one. If you're interested in obtaining a copy or interacting with Peter find his details below : https://www.petercharleston.com/ tik tok is @Peter Charleston youtube is @peter charleston linkedin is petercharleston Thanks For listening guys this one was fun Mitch :)

This episode of Life’s a Mitch Podcast welcomes Australian radio and media veteran Stephanie Macfie, taking us behind the microphone and into a career spanning some of the most exciting eras of Australian radio. Stephanie shares stories from her time in the radio industry, the changing face of breakfast radio, and the milestones that have helped shape her career both on and behind the microphone. From the early days of radio to the modern media landscape, She offers a fascinating insight into what really happens when the microphones go live and the breakfast show begins. But Stef’s storytelling doesn’t stop at radio. We also dive into her book Once Upon a Breakfast Show — a fresh and wonderfully intriguing take on the romance genre. Described as a breakfast-radio romance, the book brings together the worlds of early mornings, radio chemistry, personalities and perhaps a little bit of love… creating a genre that feels both familiar and completely new. What happens when the people who spend their mornings talking to the entire city start developing a story of their own? Tune in for a conversation filled with radio nostalgia, behind-the-scenes stories, career lessons, laughter and a teaser of Once Upon a Breakfast Show. If you're interested in purchasing a copy of Stef's book links can be found below , The book is also available to listen as an audio book on all streaming platforms: https://stephaniemacfie.com/

What happens when the uniform comes off and you’re forced to find a new mission? This week on Life’s A Mitch, I sit down with Ryan Fox , Former Australian Airborne Infantry soldier, firefighter, entrepreneur, and Co-Founder of The Youth Regiment. Ryan shares the highs, the lows, and the difficult transition from military life into the civilian world. We talk resilience, leadership, purpose, mental health, and how life’s toughest challenges helped shape a mission that’s now changing the lives of young Australians. It’s a raw and honest conversation about identity, rebuilding when life doesn’t go to plan, and turning adversity into something bigger than yourself. If you’ve ever had to start over, find your purpose, or navigate a major life change, this episode is for you. If you'd like to interact with Ryan or his team find links to the website and the relevant social : https://www.theyouthregiment.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/theyouthregiment https://www.facebook.com/share/1CcR6Vh77B/?mibextid=wwXIfr https://www.facebook.com/share/18jfEXepMP/?mibextid=wwXIfr https://www.instagram.com/ryaanannthony?utm_source=qr

What drives an ordinary 20-year-old to become a radical anti-government extremist in just two years? In this episode, I sit down with author and advocate Brodie Finnegan Forbes to unpack his terrifying descent into the world of "sovereign citizens". Isolated by pandemic lockdowns, Brodie fell deep into an online echo chamber of pseudo-legal conspiracy theories. By age 22, he had been arrested 10 times, was signing documents with bloodied fingerprints, and was routing his life through a Romanian PO Box to evade government authority. Brodie takes us past the bizarre legal tactics and straight into his time living on a secluded, heavily armed extremist compound in rural Victoria. He opens up about the chilling realities of living alongside individuals manufacturing backyard weapons, the escalating radicalisation that put his life in danger, and the desperate midnight escape that changed everything. Tune in for a raw, firsthand look at the psychological traps of modern extremism, the allure of alternative realities, and what it truly takes to break free and rebuild your life. We also speak about is passion for writing , his published works , his poetry and much more if you'd like to check out Brodie's books or socials links are below this is a long one and after a long hiatus I feel I have my groove back I hope you enjoy Cheers Mitch :) https://www.brodiefineganforbes.com/ https://www.instagram.com/brodiefineganforbes

This week on the podcast, I sit down with the incredibly versatile Kelsey Moore — a kind, driven creative who’s been making serious moves in Hollywood while spinning plenty of plates. Kelsey has been involved in standout shows like Shrinking, Ted Lasso, and That ’90s Show, gaining experience across some of the most loved productions in recent years. But she’s not just working behind the scenes — she’s also carving out her own path through directing, acting, and writing her own original projects. We chat about the realities of breaking into the industry, what it takes to stay grounded in a fast-paced creative world, and how backing yourself can open doors you never expected. It’s an honest, insightful conversation with someone who’s quietly building an impressive body of work — and doing it her way. Thanks, Mitch

On this ep I speak with re-occurring guest Kip K as mentioned he's an Emmy award winning producer and he has worked on some massive shows in the entertainment industry. Such as "Ted Lasso" , "Shrinking" , "Bad Monkey" and my favourite all time show "Scrubs" and many more. All the shows mentioned are still in production "Shrinking" is currently airing on apple , and the rest have new seasons coming out and we speak about new show with comedy star Steve Carrell as the main character in the new show "Rooster" and the highly anticipated reboot of the comedy cult classic "Scrubs". Kip has been on a few times before and we chat about what he's been up to since our last chat (About 15 months ago). He shares some highlights of his work and shares some stories of being on set of these shows. Kip also answers my questions as to what his roles are and goes into detail as to some of the challenges he faces on a daily occurrence at work . If you're a fan of these shows like me or just a fan of good relaxed story telling tune in here Kip has a relaxed professional style about him which makes him incredibly easy to talk to . Thanks for listening scrubs airs on Feb 25-26 and Rooster March 8 on Hulu and Hbo . Keep your eyes out for Ted Lasso and Bad Monkey trailers coming out soon . Thanks for reading I hope you enjoy this second EP of 2026 Cheers Mitch :)

Happy 2026 Everyone Sorry It's been a while since the last episode . On this episode I speak to a friend and colleague Adrian "Pav" Lo Faro , WARNING - This episode contains conversation about potentially sensitive topics to some listeners . It contains references and content related to mental illness and suicide if this is triggering for you I encourage you to look up some services that maybe able to help like Beyond Blue , Lifeline or the Black Dog Institute and other licensed medical practitioners.. Pav has been in the mining sector for almost 20 years and he opens up and shares his insight and experiences in his time . Pav is a mental health workplace trainer and has an interesting story to share . His contributions onsite and in industry are in my opinion extremely helpful to many and go onto to help make the world shine a little brighter . He is kind, empathetic and above all else extremely genuine and he gives a unique perspective to an area that is in my opinion no spoken about enough especially in Australian men . This is a chat about his stories and some alarming statistics in relation to mental health in Australia, It has some laughs and some heart warming moments its a longer episode and I hope this helps starts conversations about mental health and why it's important to check in on your loved ones and even in on yourself. Pav also gives some tips on what to look out for and some simple ways you can help people and some of the warning signs someone maybe in distress. Also as mentioned if you're wanting to get in touch and ask Pav some questions please email them in [email protected] or inbox me on insta @lifesamitchpodcast I hope you enjoy Cheers Mitch

On this episode I speak with reoccurring guest Kim Dunlop . Listeners of this show will be familiar with the ever professional and kind soul Kim . We catch up for the 4th time and we go over what she has been up to . She opens up about the work she has been doing in the leadership space with her business partner and co-host of her new podcast Caroline Murphy from Ireland. They're two women from opposite sides of the world, Australia and Ireland, who met through a shared passion for leadership, people, and meaningful conversations. What began as a connection through a podcast soon revealed something more: kindred spirits with a shared mission to change the way they lead and live. ​Together, they bring decades of experience and insight Kim brings 30 years of corporate experience paired with deep training in psychotherapy and developmental psychology. The other, Caroline is a University Design Thinking Lecturer, Author, and Founder of FlourishByDesign personal identity development agency. Between them, they blend grounded wisdom, academic depth, emotional intelligence, and a whole lot of lived experience. Take a listen its always a good chat and If any of this speaks to you feel free to reach out to Kim Thanks for listening :) M! Links to Podcast and to interact with Kim : https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-dunlop-111ab989?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app https://www.suitsyoufacilitation.com/

Dear Listeners please forgive the long title and bio but it is appropriate in this instance because it's not often you meet a larger than life humble human with a story like this one ! Meet Asif Sultani as the title suggest he has done ALOT not all by design . He was Born In Afghanistan he is of Hazara heritage was exposed to things no child should have to face. He and is family had to cross the border into Iran to try and live a better life . Exposed to gunfire being separated from his parents and forced to seek a life for himself at the age of 16. He arrived to Australia as a refugee seeking asylum by boat and after being moved around the country settled in the Hunter Valley of NSW where he was given the opportunity to have an education , He also met his now lovely wife (As they were high school sweet hearts) and fell in love with Mixed Martial Arts. After over a decade he obtained his permanent visa and due to this he was able to start the process to try and bring his mother over in an attempt of a better life. He unfortunately lost his father and wasn't able to say good bye. He was in two viral video one of which was shared so much it received over 100 million views (yes I typed that correctly to which there is a link below.) The videos captured moments that were both heartbreaking and heart warming one was the first time he was able to visit his fathers grave to which he made the promise to bring his mother to Australia. After 12 years the moment was captured of him falling to his knees and holding his mother tight both videos bought me to tears. Asif recalls what it's like for someone actively seeking asylum and shows his sincerity and humble nature to those who have aided him on his journey along his journey he explains he wanted to learn how to fight to keep himself safe and fell in love with mixed martial arts. He is so talented he was offered a scholarship to train and possibly compete for the refugee group at the Japen Olympics. I can't do Asif justice despite all the adversity he and his family have endured he does good work raising money and awareness for refugees all over the world he truly is a remarkable human. Please listen to the whole thing its a powerful story and if you'll like to witness these powerful moments or donate to his marathon cause to raise some money please find the links below : Thanks for reading and listening M! Instagram handle: @asifsultani_ TikTok handle: @asif.grace Marathon donation link: https://sm25.grassrootz.com/unrefugees/asif-sultani?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAae4DxTdZBRt4K25zs3B9W0MPPb_PIgFwrg4W1MeTKX_VjOnPEKXqUr2svloQw_aem_vLIS6Y47aLHuggSGYT-1Tw UNHCR website (for info about refugees and how to help): https://www.unhcr.org/au/ Viral Video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8blgUZPlgp/?igsh=bDBvcDJjNWk2dzhq

On this episode I catch up with Reoccurring guest from episode 8 Jeremy Oxlade. This everyday Aussies opened up about his struggles with addiction this catch up was 4 years in the making. Jeremy and his family have been a busy bunch living life on the road touring around Australia with a remodeled bus. "5 Bogans on a bus" as they are known as have appeared on TV shows like "Sunrise" and have gained attention on a national scale. Doing community events for their fans, engaging local communities and much more I thought this story was an awesome one to share. Jeremy chats about how the journey got started the heart-breaking inspiration behind it and some of stories that they have experienced so far. They have an audience of over 20,000 followers and are doing great things I am glad we were able to share this story. If you'd like to follow Jeremy and the Bogans journey or interact, please find links below also, we talk about struggles with mental health I will include links to free services. Thanks, and sorry it's been a while happy listening Mitch links for mental health support : www.blackdoginstitute.org.au www.beyondblue.org.au Links to the 5 Bogans on a Bus Socials www.facebook.com/5bogansinabus Instagram: www.instagram.com/5bogansinabus – for epic travel snaps, behind-the-scenes moments, and all the random fun in between! TikTok: www.tiktok.com/5bogansinabus – for the real, raw, and ridiculous moments of life on the road! Expect laughs, fails, and maybe a few dodgy dance moves. YouTube: www.youtube.com/5bogansinabus – for our longer adventures, travel vlogs, and the stories that can’t fit in a short clip!

On this episode I catch up again with the awesome and talented author Bruce Lowery. Late last year we spoke about the release of his debut novel 'Catch The Wind from the Nullarbor to the far north west in '68" . On this episode we speak about the sequel to this novel titled "Out of Time roaring in Queensland in '69". The amazing story continues of Bruce's tails and the weird and wonderful people he meets as well as reflecting on Australian culture and what was prevalent in Australian society at the time. With amazing reviews and great story telling these books are a really great read. I encourage you all to take a listen and if you want to get in touch with Bruce or read his books everything can be found at www.brucelowery.com

Welcome back to 2025! I hope everyone had a good break on the first ep of 2025 I sit down and chat with a guy whose work I've enjoyed for a number of years. If you are a fan of Rugby League you may already be familiar with my next guests content. Whether it's on his podcasts "Rugby League Guru Podcast" or "Beers and Breakevens" with Tim Williams of "SC playbook podcast" . Or seen his as a regular host on the highly popular sports podcast "Bloke in a Bar" or the myriad of other sports podcasts out there you would know this guy lives and breaths rugby league. Nathan Durkin AKA (The Rugby League Guru) has been in content creation for the best part of a decade and is extremely talented. He and his producer "Kat" AKA the rookie bring his shows to life week to week and give the consumer inside perspectives into the world of footy. With regular supercoach chat , interviews with players and other rugby league stakeholders you're bound to learn lots about the greatest game of all . He speaks of his journey so far , how he got started and some highlights along the way . I hope you enjoy his story I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with the great man. We talk bold 2025 NRL prediction , Supercoach strategy and more. I hope you enjoy. If you'd like to interact with or check out his content links can be found below : Instagram and Facebook Search "Rugby League Guru" Http://rugbyleagueguru.com.au Patreon links can be found in Insta Bio

On this episode I speak to one of the unsung heroes of Hollywood . Like previous episode I speak to those who work behind the camera. Like Kip , Randall Winston , Carey Bennett and more I enjoy bringing stories to life of those who don't get the recognition they deserve . I would like to speak to the kind and extremely talented Ashley Rosenberg. Whether she is Producing films , Assisting in Production assisting actors in Dialogue or being an AD there isn't much she hasn't done in her career thus far. She sits down for a chat and shares some of her stories some insight on the shows she has worked on and currently working on and what the future has for her . I hope you enjoy this laid back chat Cheers Mitch

On this week's episode I have the pleasure of speaking to a very special guest my next guest has been on the show before we spoke about the genesis of his entertainment career some of the milestones he had achieved up to that point. He started out working in production department on my favorite show scrubs thus helping him have a career in entertainment spanning almost two decades with plenty of achievements . He has then has gone onto great things he's won Emmy’s and worked on several hit shows including but not limited to the great Ted Lasso , Shrinking which has it a second season coming out and the new production Bad Monkey staring Vince Vaughan on apple TV It has nearly been 3 years since we have had a chat it has flown by! He shares some behind the scenes stories of the productions he's worked on , A preview of things to come and more things entertainment and Hollywood ! I hope you all enjoy if you're interested in these shows they are all now streaming on Apple TV. Cheers Mitch