“I had some real intentions to be a player agent … I was convinced I was going to be Jerry Maguire … Australia’s version.”

“But tending to all the needs of “Jock’s” was probably not something that was going to be fulfilling.”

Cameron Britt - CEO - SFFC

The biggest issue was … “what’s Trump’s America going to be like”

Al Brien and his wife Bev retired in 2017 and took the big, bold step to travel through the US in an RV for 6 months in 2018.

Their adventure didn’t just stop in the US. Further travels through South America filled up the rest of their year.

Clare believes if we have good routines and habits…we are resting and recovering…then we learn again and grow our brains.

Just imagine what it’s like to be in a distant country, with only a limited amount of the local language and being in total lockdown. Nonetheless, during this time Gareth has still been able to support social causes and provide his unique style of enthusiasm and expertise.

Aden says:-

“ The turning point for me was the realisation we were moving into a new normal … and it would be a period measured in months and not weeks.”

This is Part 2 of Darrell Brown’s story. He tells us how his book became an Amazon No 1 seller and has influenced the lives of thousands of men around the world.

“I said straight away … mate … I’m not a writer. I just tell stories from the heart … this is just a series of stories”

Darrell Brown.

Darrell Brown has spent much of his life tuning into his wisdom. A videographer and photographer, he has spent his professional life traveling the world meeting and learning from the stories of others.

His life’s work is captured in the book “Raised by our Childhood Voices”, his first offering securing his position as an up and coming thought leader when it comes to raising confident, connected, compassionate boys. It is this that makes him a fatherhood author to watch.

This social entrepreneur is using the power of human-centred stories to deepen empathy, create dialogue on contemporary issues and spark positive change.

Jeffrey has helped over 100 not-for-profit initiatives tell their stories by designing social brands and campaigns that rally people and fund important causes.

On Max’s Island, Ryan tells us about the time on long service leave he decided to join a square rigger ship and sail from Auckland … across the Pacific … circumnavigate Cape Horn … visit the Falkland Islands and spend some time in South Georgia. And if that’s not enough, then sail across the Atlantic to Cape Town.

This is pretty special when you consider that Ryan completely lost his sight before he went to school.

“Walking from Melbourne to Perth symbolises for me the way our journey to life’s end should be – long and arduous, sometimes painful, yes, but supported all the way by empathetic, loving people who reflect on what it might be like to walk in the shoes of others.”

Peter Elliot is back with another story about his life that intersects with his trip in 1978.

As it happens, Peter was born into a family that for many generations was part of a relatively obscure offshoot of Mormonism.

Max’s island has been a fantastic creative project and in this episode to launch the new season … there are excerpts from each of the 1st five episodes. It’s a great way to start the year with a timely reminder of the interesting stories we all have within our lives.

Peter and his two mates left Perth to travel in Jan 1978. It started with a boat to Singapore and then trains and planes to Kathmandu. Here is where the adventure really begins. They boarded a “bus” in Kathmandu and got off the same bus in London … 2 months later.

Simon White reckons he’s an OK writer and an average golfer, but has a real passion for both.

During his journey around the newsrooms of Australia, Whitey even spent some time at the Brisbane Lions Football Club…And it was here where he had to tell the great Leigh Matthews that he’d made a mistake.

Steve Standing is a talent. Whilst in the day he’s a St Georges Tce lawyer, he’s best known around town as a local singer songwriter who has released two albums.

2015 - Each Waking Hour

2019 - Little Rebellion

Writing songs is a passion for him and some of his great hits … including the song used for Max’s Island Podcast - “Island” - had their beginnings in lyrics written whilst he was on the Bibbulmun Track.

Kat believes that her experiences have been instrumental in her designing “white space” into her life. In her words…

… the ‘shoulds’ keep me busy and what my design challenge has been,

is how can I create more space and more band width for the things that really matter.”

Drinking is a huge part of the culture in the professional fashion industry she is in and now being able to have fun whilst doing what she enjoys without alcohol, is her life.

In her words … ”it’s about reframing … when you change the way you look at things … what you look at changes”

For more of Yvette’s incredible journey, check out her blog at #fromloathingtolove or at http://yvettegray.com/

“I’m a planner…I like to write things down!”

BUT ‘Happenstance’ has been a big contributor to the life experiences of Mariam Mukaty ... who is an internationally experienced change-maker and ironically a person with a penchant for detailed planning, both in business and life in general.

Cathryn Wilkinson says … “The day my life really made a huge change was the day I got retrenched (from an advertising agency in Melbourne) … everything changed!”

After that day she took half of her redundancy pay (left half with her Mum for safe keeping) and began a lifetime in advertising on 4 continents around the world.

“I want to introduce an assisted dying law so that no-one with a terminal illness has to die the way my mum did”

Belinda Teh

 Belinda has just completed a walk from Melbourne to the steps of Parliament House in Perth … over 3 million steps, to raise awareness for the passage of Voluntary Assisted Dying Legislation through WA parliament.

 Part2:

Belinda believes the best way to prevent others from suffering in the same way is for WA to introduce Voluntary Assisted Dying legislation.

 Go to www.gogentleaustralia.org.au