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What does leadership look like when there’s nothing left in the tank? In this episode, I sit down with Peter Baines following one of the most physically and emotionally demanding challenges of his life - running 1,400 kilometres across Thailand over 26 days to mark twenty years since the Boxing Day tsunami. But this conversation isn’t about endurance for the sake of it. It’s about leadership under pressure. About what it means to show up when you’re empty. About why leaders bring the weather, and how your response in the hardest moments shapes everyone around you. Peter shares the mindset that carried him through extreme conditions, why whatever the conditions, they’re my favourite, and the critical role trust, preparation and team played in getting him to the finish line. We also reflect on the deeper work behind his mission with Hands Across the Water, and what two decades of service has taught him about purpose, resilience and perspective. This is a conversation about going further than you think you can - and what leaders can learn when the outcome isn’t guaranteed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I’m joined by Christina Howard, a former Fortune 100 HR leader and founder of Intently, to explore what it really means to lead with intention. Christina’s career spans large corporate environments, executive leadership, and coaching senior leaders through complexity and change. Along the way, she’s built a reputation for helping leaders move beyond theory and into practical, human-centred leadership. We discuss how leaders can build self-awareness as a foundation for better decision-making, why values only matter when they are translated into everyday behaviours, and how to create cultures that are designed with purpose rather than left to chance. We also explore the realities leaders are facing today. Navigating difference within teams, creating space for diverse perspectives, and leading with empathy without losing clarity or direction. Christina shares the distinction between intellectual and emotional empathy, and why that gap will matter even more as AI becomes embedded in the workplace. This is a thoughtful and practical conversation for leaders who want to lead with intention, stay grounded in their values, and build organisations that are both high performing and deeply human. https://www.intentlyco.com/about-us See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when the career you worked so hard to build no longer fits? In this episode, I speak with Dr Taryn Fletcher, a former school superintendent who led 18 schools and dozens of leaders before making a significant shift into entrepreneurship and leadership coaching. From an early age, Taryn understood what it meant to have a voice, and what it feels like when environments ask you to quiet it. That tension stayed with her as she moved through leadership, eventually leading to a series of pivotal moments that forced her to reassess how she worked, led, and made decisions. We talk about her Pivot Framework, purpose, integrity, vulnerability, ownership, and transition, and why vulnerability is often the hardest step for high-performing leaders. We also explore burnout as feedback, the pressure to be the one holding everything together, and what it takes to step out of that role. This is a practical conversation about leadership, identity, and making decisions that align with the life you are actually living. To find out more https://www.drtaryn.co/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What makes a message land? In this episode, I sit down with Carmen Sederino, founder of Illuminated Story, to explore why storytelling is one of the most underused leadership skills today. Carmen brings a rare perspective. With a background in performing arts and nearly two decades in corporate leadership, she works with CEOs and executives to strengthen how they communicate when it matters most. We talk about the gap between delivering information and actually connecting with people. Why data alone rarely sticks. And how leaders can use story, presence, and energy to bring their message to life. This is a practical conversation on executive presence, communication under pressure, and how to move from simply presenting information to creating real impact. If you lead people, present often, or carry responsibility for communicating change, this episode will give you a clearer way forward. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with James Chisholm, co-founder of Peeplcoach, for a conversation that goes well beyond traditional leadership advice. James shares his journey from leading in a global corporate environment to experiencing a mental health breakdown that forced him to step back and reassess everything. What emerges is not a story of failure, but one of clarity. A shift from chasing results at all costs to building leadership that is human, sustainable and grounded in purpose. We talk about the reality many leaders don’t speak about. Burnout that goes unnoticed. Cultures where people stay silent. And the pressure to perform that quietly ties self-worth to outcomes. James challenges the way we think about resilience. Not as pushing through at any cost, but as self-management. Knowing when to step forward, when to slow down, and when to ask for help. We also explore what leadership needs to look like now. Empathy not as a soft skill, but a commercial one. Coaching not reserved for executives, but essential for emerging leaders. And the growing expectation that people can show up as themselves at work without judgement. There’s a clear message in this conversation. The old playbook is no longer enough. Human-centred leadership is not optional. It is what will define the organisations that attract, retain and grow the best people. If you lead people, or aspire to, this is a conversation worth your time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does leadership look like in a world where robots inspect our infrastructure, AI shapes our healthcare, and automation transforms entire industries? In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with Dr Sue Keay, one of Australia’s leading voices in robotics, AI ethics and the future of work. Sue began her career as a geologist before moving into robotics and commercialisation, eventually leading major national initiatives in robotic vision and cyber physical systems. We discuss Australia’s unexpected global strengths in field robotics, from automated ports to autonomous mining vehicles, and why we risk losing our competitive edge if we continue to export our best talent. Sue shares her perspective on AI adoption in Australian workplaces, the growing divide between early adopters and those resistant to change, and why AI literacy is becoming a non-negotiable leadership capability. We also explore ethical accountability in AI systems, the importance of keeping humans in the loop, and how robotics can support climate resilience, disaster response and personalised healthcare. And in a powerful discussion on diversity in STEM, Sue speaks candidly about structural barriers for women in technology and why future systems must be shaped by diverse voices. Her three words for a future fit leader? Curious, kind and authentic. This is a practical, forward-looking conversation for leaders navigating rapid technological change and wanting to stay ahead of what’s coming next. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Domestic violence is not a fringe issue. It is not a private matter. And it is not someone else’s problem. In this episode, I sit down with family lawyer Cassandra Kalpaxis for a direct and deeply confronting conversation about domestic and family violence in Australia. Cassandra shares that in her practice, around 95 percent of her cases now involve domestic violence. Not always physical. Often invisible. Coercive control. Financial abuse. Psychological harm that slowly strips away identity and autonomy. We discuss the warning signs many people miss, what meaningful support actually looks like, and why pressure can push survivors further into danger rather than towards safety. We explore where our systems are falling short, from policing to prevention, and the accountability that sits not just with government, but with workplaces, leaders, communities and men. As International Women’s Day calls us to Balance the Scale, this episode asks a harder question. Where are we still failing? And what responsibility do we each carry to change it? If you need support, confidential help is available through 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this solo episode of Future Fit Leadership, Sadhana Smiles steps into the conversation herself.  In this special International Women’s Day episode of Future Fit Leadership, Sadhana Smiles offers a candid reflection on the 2026 theme Balance the Scale and what it means in the world we are navigating today. For several years, Sadhana stepped back from celebrating International Women’s Day, not because progress has not been made, but because progress has not moved fast enough. In Australia, one woman a week is killed through domestic and family violence. Women retire with significantly less superannuation than men, and older women are the fastest growing cohort experiencing homelessness. If balance is the goal, it suggests something remains out of alignment. This episode explores the role leaders play in correcting that imbalance through policy, culture and accountability. Because balance is not symbolic. It is structural. And it requires action. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with Phillip Heath, Head of Barker College, to explore what it truly means to lead a school community in a rapidly changing world. With more than three decades in education, Phillip shares his vision for future-ready learning — one that goes beyond academic results to shape young people of character, courage and compassion. We talk about digital literacy, global citizenship, Indigenous partnerships, and the role schools play in preparing students not just for work, but for life. One of the most powerful parts of our conversation centres on bullying - how it shows up in modern school environments, the impact of social media, and the responsibility leaders carry in creating cultures where every student feels safe, known and valued. Phillip speaks candidly about the need for proactive leadership, strong community partnerships, and embedding respect as a lived practice, not just a policy. This is a thoughtful and timely conversation about education, responsibility, and the kind of leadership our young people need now more than ever. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it really take to succeed as a CEO today and what does it take to leave a legacy that lasts? In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I’m joined by the brilliant Kate Mason, a trusted advisor to CEOs, boards, and executive teams across some of the most complex organisations in Australia and globally. Kate shares what she’s seeing at the top of organisations right now. How CEO pathways are changing. Why diverse experience matters more than ever. And why the most successful leaders know they cannot, and should not, do it alone. We talk candidly about the CEO–board relationship, where trust is built or quietly eroded, the rookie mistakes that derail succession planning, and why starting that conversation too late is one of the biggest risks businesses take. Kate also unpacks the idea of the “glass cliff”, how leaders can assess whether someone is truly ready for the next role, and the question she always asks: how far down the runway are they? This is a practical, honest conversation about leadership at the top. About empathy, adaptability, forward thinking, and keeping the human at the centre of decision making in an environment that keeps shifting. If you are a CEO, an aspiring leader, a board member, or someone thinking seriously about what the next generation of leadership should look like, this conversation is for you. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I’m joined by educator, speaker and author Bethan Winn for a timely and thoughtful conversation about critical thinking in an age shaped by AI, speed and constant information overload. Bethan’s journey began in a small Welsh town, grounded in language, community and curiosity, before taking her from teaching in London to building a new life and career in Australia. What started as a one year adventure became a long term commitment to education, learning and helping others think more clearly. A personal health scare in 2019 became a turning point, prompting Bethan to step away from traditional roles and focus on the work she now does so powerfully, helping leaders, teams and organisations strengthen judgement, curiosity and courage. We explore the ideas behind her book The Human Edge: Critical Thinking in the Age of AI, including what critical thinking really means beyond the buzzwords, how AI is subtly reshaping the way we process information, and the early warning signs leaders should watch for when thinking starts to slip. Bethan shares practical frameworks, real world examples and a deeply human perspective on why experience, reflection and dialogue still matter. This conversation is for leaders navigating complexity, change and technology, and for anyone who wants to think well, lead well and stay human in the process. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than half of Australian workers say they are quietly cracking. Not burning out. Not falling apart in obvious ways. Just holding it together on the outside while something frays on the inside. In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I’m joined by Dr Michelle McQuaid, senior fellow at the University of Melbourne and founder of The Change Lab, to unpack the findings from her latest national research, The Change Lab 2025 Workplace Report. Drawing on insights from more than 1,000 workers across Australia, Michelle shares what “quietly cracking” actually looks like, why younger workers are feeling it most, and how leaders are being impacted in very different but equally challenging ways. We talk about the supercycle of change leaders are operating within, the cost of living pressures shaping behaviour at work, the hidden risks of poor change management, and why wellbeing initiatives are falling short when they miss the emotional and social realities people are living with. Michelle also shares her HEART framework for leading change, practical ways leaders can support their people right now, and why connection matters more than communication in this next chapter of work. This is a timely, data-led conversation for leaders who know their people are carrying more than they can see, and who want to lead with clarity, care, and credibility in a decade that will demand all three. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What began as a single Instagram story became a national reckoning. In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with Chanel Contos, founder of Teach Us Consent, to talk about how thousands of young people sharing their experiences forced Australia to confront what it was not teaching about consent, sex and power. Chanel takes us back to the moment she asked one simple question online, the flood of responses that followed, and the twelve month sprint that led to consent education being mandated in schools across the country. We talk about rape culture as a system, not a single act, why consent cannot be taught as a one off lesson, and how silence quietly protects harm. We also explore the harder conversations. Porn literacy. Online influence. The rising hostility she sees in some young men. The emotional cost of carrying thousands of stories. And what real leadership looks like when culture change, not comfort, is the goal. This is a conversation about courage, responsibility, and what it takes to turn anger into action. Not just for educators and parents, but for leaders everywhere who shape culture whether they intend to or not. Please enjoy this powerful and deeply important conversation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if you only had 4000 Sundays in your lifetime? And what if the way you work today is quietly stealing them away? In this conversation, Dr Kristy Goodwin takes us inside her own life-altering wake-up call — a moment in a Code Red hospital ward that forced her to confront burnout, mortality, and the “success tax” so many high performers pay. Kristy shares why our bodies keep score, how to stop crawling to Friday and start arriving at Sunday fully alive, and why protecting your focus, energy, and relationships is non-negotiable if you want to lead into the future. This is not just about wellbeing, it’s about the kind of leaders we choose to become — human-first, sustainable, and fiercely intentional. 🎧 Listen now and ask yourself: how many Sundays do you have left, and how do you want to spend them? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with Jodi Geddes – co-founder of Circle In, keynote speaker, and a passionate advocate for caregivers in the workplace. Jodi shares her remarkable journey of building (and selling) a global platform that supports working parents and caregivers across life stages – from parental leave to menopause and beyond. We talk about the reality of returning to work after children, what true empathy in leadership looks like, and how burnout can creep up on even the strongest among us. Jodi opens up about her personal experiences with burnout, the power of vulnerability, and why creating a psychologically safe, family-friendly workplace isn’t just nice to have – it’s essential. We also explore how leaders can role model care, build trust through storytelling, and rethink flexibility in a hybrid world. This is a must-listen for leaders ready to embrace whole-person leadership and for anyone navigating the beautiful, messy juggle of career and caregiving. 🎧 Available now wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.