Really Good Conversations

In 2025 Amy spoke to a range of amazing guests from across around the world - including UK, US, Cyprus & Australia!  This fun epioside is a snapshot of the responses our guests gave when asked the question "If you came with a warning label, what would it say?" This question always gets a laugh. Ask it to someone in your life and see what conversations spark Check out all our guests from 2025 and join us in 2026 for more Really Good Conversations. 

In this episode, Amy is joined once again by former Sportsgirl and Sussan CEO, award-winning leader, mentor, speaker and author, Colleen Callander. Colleen kicked off our 2025 guest line-up with "From Shop Floor to CEO: Burnout, Boundaries & Bold Leadership", and now we've come full circle as she returns to close out the year and explore the theme of confidence from her new book, The Power of Confidence. Amy begins by asking Colleen how her year has unfolded since their January conversation, and what tips she has for avoiding the end-of-year panic if we didn't achieve everything we expected. From there, they dive into the idea that confidence isn't something we're born with, but a skill and muscle we can build over time.  Colleen unpacks the cost of low confidence, the stories and self-talk that quietly hold women back, and the importance of surrounding yourself with a supportive inner circle. She explains how to challenge your inner critic, rewrite your story, and talk to yourself like you would your best friend. Colleen also shares her 30-day confidence transformation, showing how small, realistic daily actions can create surprisingly big shifts. This is an uplifting, practical conversation to help you close the year with gratitude and step into 2026 with more courage, clarity and confidence. Key Outtakes:  Focus on what you have achieved and not what you didn't  Confidence isn't something we're born with – it's a skill we can learn, strengthen and practise over time. The stories we tell ourselves can hold us back; changing the narrative can change the trajectory of our lives. Low confidence can quietly limit opportunities, decisions and experiences across a decade or more. Your inner circle matters – the people around you can lift your confidence or slowly chip away at it. Small, consistent daily actions create meaningful confidence shifts, as outlined in Colleen's 30-day transformation.   More about Colleen:  Website https://www.colleencallander.com.au/about Podcast episode: "From Shop Floor to CEO: Burnout, Boundaries & Bold Leadership" https://www.reallygoodconversations.com.au/pages/40-from-shop-floor-to-ceo-burnout-boundaries-bold-leadership  

What does it take to chase freedom, survive the sacrifices, and rebuild a life on your own terms? In this episode, Amy sits down with award-winning entrepreneur and bestselling author Tina Tower, founder of Her Empire Builder, to unpack the truth behind ambition, reinvention, and the pursuit of freedom. Tina shares her journey from launching a tutoring centre at 20 years old to building a franchise before realising that success had come at a cost. She opens up about the years of missing bedtimes, the burnout that followed, and the decision to sell it all in search of a different way to live and work. They talk about motherhood and identity, and what it means to build something without losing yourself along the way.  They touch on cultural differences Tina has experienced between Australia and the US, the fine line between drive and obsession, and why she believes a "healthy dose of delusion" is essential for entrepreneurs. Plus, she explains why she's bringing back in-person coaching, the myth of passive income, and what makes online courses work in an age of AI. A conversation full of honesty, humour, and perspective on redefining success.   Key Outtakes:  The money hungry 17 year old that fuelled her drive The real cost of building a successful franchise business, from burnout to missing bedtimes, and why she still wouldn't change it What she learned from selling the business and navigating an identity crisis after stepping away Why Australians (and Brits!) need a "healthy dose of delusion" - and how mindset differs from the US The future of online courses in an AI world, and why Tina is returning to in-person coaching for deeper connection   For more information about Tina Tower:  Her Empire Builder https://www.herempirebuilder.com/ Tina Tower https://tinatower.com/

Have we forgotten how to think for ourselves? In this episode, Amy speaks with critical thinking and human skills expert, speaker and author Bethan Winn, whose book The Human Edge: Critical Thinking in the Age of AI explores how we can reclaim the essential skills that make us human - curiosity, courage, creativity and conversation. Bethan shares her journey from teaching in London to moving to Perth, Australia, and building a business that helps people think more clearly and confidently.  A health scare became her career turning point, leading to a keen interest in how we form beliefs, make decisions and question assumptions. Amy and Bethan discuss what critical thinking really means, how conversation can be used as a thinking tool, the role of curiosity in learning, and why overthinking can sometimes hold us back. They touch on the risks of outsourcing our judgment to AI, the problem with education systems that reward the "right" answer, and the value of sitting with discomfort and uncertainty. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by information, stuck in indecision, or simply curious about how to think more clearly in a noisy world, this conversation will help you rediscover the lost art of thinking for yourself. Key points:  Bethan's journey from teaching to focusing on critical thinking We're often taught what to think, not how to think Critical thinking blends courage, curiosity and humility The pressure of standardised tests can stifle creativity in education Conversation helps us challenge our own assumptions Overthinking can paralyse us, sometimes all we need to ask is "What's the next right thing?" AI can assist but should not replace human thinking Human connection is vital in a technology-driven world   For more information: Bethan Winn https://www.bethanwinn.com.au/  

Part 2: Moral Codes & Living on your own terms  In Part 2 of my conversation with Maz Farrelly, we move beyond the world of television and into the personal. We talk about reinvention, how to know when to walk away, and how to build a life that actually feels like yours. Maz shares her decision to leave her successful TV career and how bowl of beads in Fiji helped her decide what to do next.  We discuss what it means to live by a moral code, and how her upbringing shaped the values she now brings into every room. She shares her journey to Australia and how a 3 week visit turned into a more permanent move. We also talk about the power of saying "I don't want this anymore" and acting on it. Plus, you'll hear the story she's most proud of which left her more inspired than any industry award. This second half of the conversation is thoughtful, inspiring and filled with life lessons.   You'll laugh, you might tear up and you'll definitely walk away feeling braver.   Tune in to hear: Why Maz walked away from a successful TV career The simple check-in questions she asks herself every year A moving story of impact beyond the screen Her family's influence on her values and voice What to stop worrying about by the time you hit 40 Find out more about Maz:  Website - mazspeaksglobal.com   Showreel - https://vimeo.com/1112852043   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/maz-speaks/