Engaging Conversations | Inspiring Dialogue, Empowering Communities
Welcome to Engaging Conversations, the podcast that connects you with the pulse of our local communities. Hosted by Leon Goltsman, Founder of Ecolibrium Headquarters (EcoHQ), each episode invites you on an inspiring journey into the stories that shape and uplift our neighbourhoods. From visionary leaders and industry experts to everyday heroes making a difference, Engaging Conversations offers an exclusive look into our society’s diverse and dynamic fabric. This podcast is your gateway to broadening your perspective, building meaningful connections, and being inspired. Please note that the views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or EcoHQ. The discussions in this podcast are for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional, financial, medical, or legal advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek independent professional advice before making any decisions based on the content of this podcast. Tune in, join the conversation, and discover the people, places, and purpose driving positive change.
Episodes
What if success starts with generosity, not the other way around? We sit down with entrepreneur and mentor Shane Muller to explore how people-first leadership builds cultures that last, grows B and C players into A players, and turns good ideas into systems with real human impact. From coding a payroll program at ten to building a “cloud” company in 1999, Shane shows how reframing problems around service unlocks innov...
What happens when rehabilitation is guided by evidence, clarity, and care — rather than assumption or delay?
In this episode of Engaging Conversations, Leon Goltsman is joined by Dr Faisal Sheikh from Nepean Advanced Rehab & Allied Health Centre to explore a rehabilitation model that centres on dignity, transparency, and measurable outcomes.
Drawing on Faisal’s background in public health, governance, and allied hea...
Start with the truth: some seasons don’t end with easy optimism. We chose to pause after the Bondi tragedy, to listen rather than rush to fill the air. That decision reshaped our compass for a new year. We return with a clearer purpose, conversations that strengthen communities, lift values-based leadership, and trade hot takes for human connection.
Across 18 months and more than 50 interviews, we’ve sat with...
A flood zone you didn’t check. An insurance premium you didn’t price. A lender policy you didn’t read until auction day. We sat down by Lake Macquarie with buyer’s advocate Deb Worthington to map a safer path through the property maze and to spark a bigger conversation about community, trust, and time.
Deb restarted her career at 58 after decades in hospitality and mortgage broking, guided by a simple lesson ...
The background laughter wasn’t noise; it was the cue. Recorded in Paddington, surrounded by young people finding their voice. Sitting down with technologist and board member Zina Kaye to dig into a simple truth: curiosity becomes courage when you ship small experiments and listen hard.
Zina takes us from the gritty origins of early compression tech to present-day AI, banking, and sustainability projects, show...
What if plan management felt human, transparent, and genuinely helpful from day one? We sat down with Simone Stanley from Plan Tracker to explore how a people-first approach can transform the NDIS from a maze into a map. Simone’s story begins at home, shaped by a family journey through surgeries, mobility challenges, and the quiet strength of carers. That experience drives a simple mission: empower participants and fa...
#36 - Rethinking Rehabilitation: What Happens When Engagement Becomes the Treatment with Craig Hewat
What if the missing piece in rehabilitation isn’t a new device, but a reason to show up tomorrow? We sit down with Craig Hewat, Managing Director of Engage VR, to explore how immersive therapy shifts the focus from compliance to genuine engagement—and why this change unlocks neuroplasticity for individuals with stroke, brain injury, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s.
Craig brings three decades in allied health an...
"Energy is everything and everything is energy." These words from Nini Fritz, founder of the Work Happiness Project, cut straight to the heart of our modern work dilemma. In a culture that celebrates busyness as a badge of honour, we've forgotten that productivity isn't measured by hours spent, but by the quality of our presence.
This conversation is a breath of fresh air – literally. Reco...
What happens when an architect decides there's a better way to build? Nerva Kay Ghamraoui, founder of Katalyst Construction, is reshaping Sydney's luxury residential construction landscape by prioritising people over profits and quality over shortcuts.
From winning her first drafting award at age five to becoming a standout leader in one of Australia's most male-dominated industries, Nerva&apos...
What happens when creativity meets compassion? In this heartwarming episode, we discover how a poem written during Australian bushfires has transformed into a nationwide movement supporting children with special needs.
Meet Christopher Williams and Anne Victoria, the creative force behind Karey & Kareful – a series of illustrated storybooks featuring a wheelchair-using koala and his kangaroo mate. Christo...
The fractures in our healthcare system aren't just statistics – they're people waiting months for knee surgeries, children losing developmental progress, and families watching loved ones suffer unnecessarily. In this powerful conversation, frontline social worker Tripti Deswal shares her eight years of experience witnessing the actual human cost of healthcare delays in the rapidly growing Nepean region.
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What if the leadership skills our world desperately needs aren't being taught in schools at all? Sophie Firmager, founder of the Realised Potential Group, reveals why the foundation of authentic leadership begins much earlier than most realise – often before the age of seven, when our core belief systems are formed.
Drawing from her extensive experience coaching CEOs and executives across global organisa...
When you meet David Fox, you might first notice the calm strength of a lifelong martial artist. What you might not see right away is the courage it takes to live each day with Parkinson’s disease — a condition he’s faced for nearly 15 years. Once a fierce competitor on the karate mat, David’s battles today are far more profound. This isn’t about trophies anymore — it’s about navigating life with dignity, confronting s...
What happens when compassion crosses continents? Astrid Hocking, Lake Macquarie's Woman of the Year, joins us live from the Philippines to share her extraordinary journey of protecting the vulnerable and building resilient communities.
From the orphanage that rescues children from trafficking to teaching young mothers income-generating skills, Astrid reveals how small acts of kindness create profound cha...
What happens when men finally find a space where they can be vulnerable without judgment? Lives transform, connections form, and healing begins.
Dave Martin, Director at Survivors R Us and founder of Sons of the Phoenix, knows firsthand the devastating silence that surrounds men's trauma. After experiencing profound loss, including three children, and spiralling into depression that nearly ended his life...
Solar power isn't just for sunny summer days—it's a year-round investment that transforms your roof into your personal power plant. Samuel Culhaci, a trusted expert from DNR Air Conditioning and Electrical, breaks down the surprising realities of solar energy that most salespeople won't tell you.
Did you know solar panels don't need direct sunlight to generate electricity? They work with p...
Transforming workplace culture isn't about quick fixes but fundamentally understanding what drives human performance. Trudy MacDonald, award-winning global keynote speaker and founder of Talent Code HR, brings over two decades of organisational psychology expertise to this illuminating conversation on building high-performance teams, particularly in regional areas.
Trudy unveils the psychology behind wha...
Vincent De Luca OAM doesn't just talk about community service—he embodies it. From starting advocacy work at just nine years old to becoming one of Australia's youngest Order of Australia Medal recipients, his journey reveals what happens when someone refuses to look away from society's most challenging issues.
Growing up under the guidance of remarkable women activists, Vincent learned early t...
What we say reveals who we are—especially when we think no one's listening.
Rachael Natoli, founder of Lokahi Foundation, brings raw honesty and practical wisdom to our conversation about the language that shapes attitudes toward women and ultimately fuels violence. As a mother raising twin boys and leading a foundation supporting abuse survivors, Rachel occupies a unique position at the intersection of ...
The Hillview Op Shop demonstrates how a social enterprise can harness community spirit to create a remarkable impact by transforming donated goods into life-changing community initiatives. Manager Theo Van Bezouwen shares the inspiring evolution of what locals affectionately call "the David Jones of op shops" — a 2,000-square-metre operation that generated over $1 million for community projects in the past y...
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