My Warm Table ... with Sonia

Grazie ... thank you for your company around the warm table during another season of wonderful Western Australian guests making our communities better. 

We recap the Season 3 conversations we enjoyed around La Tavola Calda.

What if you could empower people with disabilities while simultaneously making strides toward environmental sustainability?

Kane Blackman, the CEO of Good Sammy Enterprises, a beacon of positive change in Western Australia joins us around the warm table. We uncover the inspiring history of Good Sammy, from its roots in 1958 to its current role as a leader in disability employment and sustainable fashion. Kane shares how the organisation not only creates inclusive work environments with over 50% of its workforce having disabilities but also diverts millions of kilograms of textiles from ending up in landfill each year.

...

Unlock the secrets to navigating your "second spring" with career counsellor and reinvention coach Lois Keay-Smith. Lois joins us to share modern job search strategies and the importance of staying active and connected. This episode is packed with actionable insights that will empower you to embrace your next chapter with strength and purpose. 

Lois shares invaluable insights on recognizing and managing perimenopause and menopause symptoms, and how these often-overlooked changes can impact your career and personal life. 

We'll also dive into the revolutionary ideas presented in "The 100-Year Life" by Linda Gratton and Andrew Scott, ch...

What if you could transform your life through the power of community and touch? Today, we sit down with the incredible Tamala Bosveld, a mother of five, marathon enthusiast, and compassionate massage therapist, whose work has touched countless lives.

Join us as Tamala shares her inspiring journey, from balancing family life to organizing a family-friendly running event that brings people together. You'll hear about the  planning behind these events and the profound sense of belonging they foster.

Imagine the healing power of a single touch. Tamala delves into her expertise in remedial and oncology massage, o...

Ever wondered why mainstream agriculture seems so destructive? Picture a grandfather and his grandson pondering the question of why growing crops often involves killing. This profound moment sets the stage for a transformative conversation with Anthony James, the host of the Regeneration podcast, and a fifth-generation Western Australian. Together, we explore how regenerative agriculture is breathing life back into our lands, bringing forth a resurgence in biodiversity and natural water sources. Anthony shares compelling stories of farmers who have radically altered their methods, resulting in healthier ecosystems and communities.

Warm thanks to:
Sponsor: Females...

Can multiculturalism truly shape the identity of a region? Join us as Sonia Nolan welcomes Karla Benitez, a dedicated advocate for culturally and linguistically diverse communities, to explore the vibrant tapestry and challenges of multicultural life in Western Australia.

Karla shares her compelling journey from Mexico to Australia and her impactful work with the Multicultural Labor Organisation. Together, we reflect on the significance of multicultural input in shaping Western Australia’s identity, and the essential efforts needed to ensure representation and inclusion across all facets of society.

Boldly addressing the intersection of gender and cultural di...

What if understanding the intricate relationship between mental and physical health could be the key to holistic well-being? Join us at My Warm Table as we chat with Nicola Cooper, a highly experienced mental health nurse and therapist with a rich background in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) from the UK. Nicola shares her compelling journey and deep insights into the complexities of mental health, focusing on pressing issues like eating disorders, emotional regulation, and the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. Through Nicola's expert lens, we explore how integrating holistic care can transform lives and foster genuine...

Witness the strength of the human spirit through Olga Hurina's eyes, a Ukrainian humanitarian entrant whose life took a dramatic turn when war forced her from her homeland to the unfamiliar shores of Perth, Australia. Leaving behind her husband and a career in public service, Olga's story is one of resilience and hope. Amidst the backdrop of the ongoing Ukrainian crisis, she shares her emotional journey, the challenges of adapting to a whole new world, and how she's now contributing to her new community while reaching back to aid those in Ukraine.

Our conversation with Olga culminates...

Imagine being captivated by a voice that weaves humor and vulnerability into a tapestry of tales, drawing you into the very heart of storytelling. That's precisely what Andrea Gibbs, a storyteller extraordinaire, does as our guest. As she unravels the intricacies of performance, from the raw exposure of acting to the subtle rhythms of narrative comedy, we explore how each story, whether whispered in a theatre or laughed over at a comedy club, forges connections that ripple through our lives.

Andrea takes us into her world where humor and hardship dance in the delicate balance of storytelling...

Have you ever wondered what it takes to turn a spark of inspiration into a beacon of hope for others? Desley Delic and Megan Hancock sit at my warm table, sharing the heartfelt origin of Lightbulb Skills, a testament to their determination to help individuals with additional needs learn life and independence skills. Their stories, steeped in personal family experiences, will touch you as they discuss the transformation of challenges into opportunities for growth and social connection within their workshops.

As we gather around, you will feel the genuine passion Desley and Megan have for their transition...

Today we are talking about our seniors, our young people, intergenerational relationships, the old-school village approach to looking after each other in communities, and how we can find hope in loneliness. 

 Yes we’re asking lots of big questions! 

 These big human challenges, are deeply embedded with the whole range of emotions from love and joy to pain and suffering. 

 There is no-one better to dive deep into this discussion with than Dan Minchin.  I know that Dan will instil hope around the warm table with a fresh approach about what we can do...

Lisa Holland is a truly remarkable woman. She embodies the words hope and inspiration equally as much as she personifies strength and resilience. 

During our warm table conversation Lisa shares her fight with two different types of breast cancer and also thyroid cancer and how she has been both a victim and a hero of her own story and has survived to become wiser, more generous, and inspired to leave a legacy.

Lisa is a non fiction author, publisher, truth teller, lover of life and experiences. She thrives in complexity, she pushes the status quo a...

Welcome to Season 3 of My Warm Table. 

I’m so delighted that you’ve joined us again for more smart conversations with heart around a warm table of acceptance, curiosity and empathy.

This Season, which is our third, we are focussing on HOPE. 

The world is a crazy place right now, and I believe we all need to channel the power of hope into our days. 

What is hope? 

What does it mean for you? 

Does it drive people differently? And what situations and life challenges have people fo...

Thanks for listening to Season 2 of My Warm Table Podcast.

In this episode, Sonia wraps up the season with highlights of the previous episodes.

Thanks to all of our wonderful, generous guests and to you our listeners for supporting a warm table of curious conversations, acceptance and spreading positivity in our communities.

Warm thanks to:
Sponsor: Females Over Forty-five Fitness in Victoria Park
Sound Engineering: Damon Sutton
Music: William A Spence
... and all our generous and inspiring guests around the warm table this...

In this episode  we  stop a moment to think about how we are so connected to electricity. 

We’re going to honour the courageous and skillful men who climbed heights without fear to assemble and construct those tall steel structures which look like mini Eiffel Towers across our Australian landscape.

We’re going to step back in time to 1951 when the Australian branch of an Italian company set up in Australia to connect our vast, remote country to a reliable electricity source which enables a future of possibility and prosperity.

Electric Power Transmission Pty Ltd...

We are in what scientists call the 6th mass extinction with wildlife disappearing at a rate of 1000 times the natural extinction rate.  

Today’s warm table conversation is a big one.

We share tears and fears with Donalea Patman who, 12 years ago, locked eyes with a lion - one of the world’s most majestic and revered creatures – and from that moment she has dedicated her career to ending the cruel and barbaric industry of canned hunting, followed by the closing of the domestic trade in ivory and rhino horn in Australia and worked on moderni...

The number of trucks on WA  roads is set to double within the decade and triple by 2050.  In fact we'd all  come to a stop if it wasn’t for the work of our amazing truck drivers carting everything from milk to machinery across our vast state.  

 So it’s really important as drivers that we know how to share our roads safely with trucks.

Rob Sharpe of Transafe and InsTRUCKta! has traversed more than 1.4 million kms as a truckie and he’s had a birds eye view of more than his fair share of close calls...

Have you ever been hacked? Are you worried about your data privacy? Do you know someone who has been unscrupulously scammed and lost money, lost data and basically lost their trust in the cyber world?

Cyber security is a growing concern for everyday people like you and me, as well as every organisation and government body - costing millions in our economy.

Cybersecurity specialist Vannessa Van Beek joins us to help us learn how to protect ourselves online.  

Vannessa was a finalist for Australia’s most outstanding woman in protective security, has been awa...

PASSION: The study and mastery of allergic conditions.
PURPOSE: Investigating, managing and relieving allergy symptoms through his practice Perth Allergy so people can live healthier, happier lives.

Is hay fever your nemesis in the Springtime or maybe the sentence “may contain traces of nuts” gets your heart racing. Allergies have become a common companion for many and so often they rob us of our energy levels, concentration and wellbeing … and of course sometimes they can be life threatening. 

Dr Richard Nolan – allergy specialist and immunologist – is our guest a...

PASSION: Changing workplace behaviours for the better.
PURPOSE: Translating the law on workplace behaviours through interactive theatre and training workshops through her business EEO Specialists.

The laws have changed around workplace behaviour. In fact more change has occurred in the last 2 years than 20 years prior …

So this is an important episode for everyone with a job - because you need to know where the new line in the sand is when it comes to sexual harassment, discrimination and bullying.

Now it might sound like a...

One of the greatest ways we can channel our passions for purpose is through volunteering. It’s good for civic society, it’s good for our local clubs, and research tells us that volunteering even increases our sense of wellbeing. 

Today I’m joined around the Warm Table by Craig Spencer – who has volunteered most of his adult life and knows better than most the importance of giving things a go and getting involved. 

As Head of Community Engagement at Bankwest some years ago, he was among those who spearheaded the movement in corporate volunteering and today...

Jenny Baraga is a pioneer of Aboriginal mental health practice and training in Western Australia’s north west region. 

Jenny describes herself as a quiet achiever. She is a trusted voice, an experienced health practitioner and a proud Garra Yarra woman with a compelling story about the importance of taking the time to have a yarn and show cultural respect to people – especially when they are at their most vulnerable. 

During our warm table conversation Jenny also shared the legend of a painting she created some years ago which tells her family’s story of loss and...

Endometriosis is a chronic and painful condition which affects about 176 million women worldwide. One in 9 women suffer (almost daily) with this condition which impacts a woman's physical, emotion and social wellbeing. 

There is currently no cure, the cause is unclear and diagnosis takes an average of 7 years.

Kath Sloan and Emma Dixon are passionate about sharing their lived experience of endometriosis so that more women are aware of the condition and seek help and diagnosis. This is an intergenerational conversation with Kath in her 50s and Emma in her early 20s sharing their wisdom and i...

Christin Smith is an award winning earth scientist with qualifications in geology, natural resources, sustainability and environmental management, and education.  

She's the founder of EARTHMAD - an acronym which stands for Everyone Acting Responsibly Today Helps Make A Difference.

Christin found herself leading the charge in her Mandurah coastal suburb to protect her local beach from coastal erosion and with the support of 1200 petitioners she started a movement for change!

Link to EarthMAD:  https://earthmad.com/

Warm thanks to:
Sponsor: Females Over Forty-five Fitness in Victoria Park
...