I speak with the team from AFL Cape York House for Girls about their mission to connect Far North Queensland's Indigenous teenagers, who unfortunately face socioeconomic disadvantage, with quality education opportunities and solid, healthy pathways beyond school while keeping them connected to their cultures.

Waynead Wolmby is an outstanding young man from Aurukun, Cape York. He has managed to beat the nation's expectations of a young Indigenous male from a remote community and is now inspiring other youth in his orbit to live fulfilling and healthy lives.I speak to Waynead about how unique education opportunities helped him launch a good life and how he's gone from a boy sitting in the red Cape York dirt to running marathons overseas. I also get his opinion on the Voice to Parliament proposal.

Marc Harbrow is a leader in Far North Queensland's social work sector,  and has started several inspiring and wholesome entities and initiatives that focus on youth empowerment, Indigenous empowerment and community wellbeing.As a teenager, Marc was put through perilous adversity, and he shares how he pushed through and what he did with his new lease on life.Marc is the brains behind the successful youth engagement program the Fire Project, which motivates disengaged and disempowered children toward positive social outcomes.In 2022, Marc and his team successfully helped more than 1000 kids in Cairns.He also gives his opinion on what has driven the Far North's youth crime crisis.

Kim Edwards has truly had a life filled with adventure and benevolent achievement. Her journey has taken her across the world but her story is notably centred on the Middle East. She has opened schools and training institutions in Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan and has co-ordinated war relief efforts in Iraq and Lebanon. She has also co-ordinated underground endurance events, such as triathlons and marathons, in countries where it is illegal to conduct such events. She was even caught on a couple of occasions.Kim has narrowly avoided kidnapping, educated the earliest cohorts of Arabic women, represented Australia at the world triathlon championships and is now working with Indigenous Australians in the remote Torres Strait Islands, and there is little sign she is slowing down anytime soon.She speaks about all of this, and more, on the latest episode of How Good are Humans.Enjoy!

What kind of thinking goes into cooking the tastiest food, brewing the most satisfying coffees and constructing a distinct hospitality vibe?Olly James, the owner of three establishments in Cairns, joins me on the podcast to answer those questions.Olly owns Caffiend in Cairns City, Guyala in Cairns North and Tattooed Sailor in Bungalow where he also runs the Coffee School.On the podcast we geek out about Guyala's Indigenous themed menu, the constitution of flavoursome food, the creative construction of a menu, the international diversity of food, the history of coffee and other topics.Enjoy!

Episode 32: Exploring the realm of committing oneself to multiple causes, and sustaining oneself throughout the journey.On this episode, Lucy Friend introduces us to her life as someone devoted to several causes, both professional and personal, and explains. how she harmonises this high level of proficient  and benevolent output.Lucy co-ordinates big environmental projects in her job role. She cares for,  raises and rehabilitates injured wildlife. She volunteers as a crisis support worker for Lifeline. She volunteers as a youth support worker for the Pyjama Foundation. She would probably be found at most environmental projects, such as tree planting days and beach clean-ups, in Far North Queensland. While doing all this, she somehow manages to sustain herself.Lucy truly is an example of someone who has identified their authentic values and embodies those values daily. She shares with us exactly how she does it.And even if she avoids the term, she really is an inspiration.

Episode 31: Exploring the Great Barrier Reef with Passions of Paradise.On this episode, Scotty and Russell from Passions of Paradise join me to discuss all things Great Barrier Reef.Passions of Paradise is an eco-tourism business located in Cairns, Far North Queensland that specialises in aquatic tours of the Great Barrier Reef—diving and snorkelling in particular.Beyond this, Passions of Paradise is practically concerned with conservation of the reef and the magnificent and massive ecosystem that relies on it.Scotty, the CEO, describes the fair-dinkum history of Passions of Paradise and its contemporary, locals-focussed operations. He also outlines the key steps in operating as an eco-tourism business, and explains Passions's strategic vision: to transform itself from a tourism business that does conservation to a conservation business that does tourism.Russell, the Environmental Manager and Master Reef Guide, describes the company's conservation efforts and goals. He also outlines the current health of the Great Barrier Reef, explains the main challenges that it faces and concludes with some recommendations, for all of us, on how to protect and care for this precious resource and World Heritage Site.To find out more about Passions of Paradise, check out their website: https://passions.com.auYou can also find them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/passionsofparadise

For the 30th episode of the How Good are Humans podcast, I wanted to review the whole project and reflect on its journey to date.Helping me with this endeavour is my new friend Georgia Krause, who is a wonderful human in her own right. Georgia, a regular listener of the podcast, has treaded a fascinating path throughout her life and is no stranger to benevolent adventures. She is currently studying her final year of medicine and also regularly volunteers her time for several causes, including Climate Force and Doctors for the Environment Australia. Due to Georgia's powerful talents in curiosity, empathetic listening and insight, she makes for an excellent podcast co-host.I have no doubt that her future will be defined by positive impact as she continues to embody her core tenet: living a life in service of others.-----------------------------------------------------------------------To find out more about Climate Force, visit their website: www.theclimateforce.org

Welcome to the 29th episode of the How Good are Humans podcast.On this episode, we are unveiling two awesome humans whose approach to change agency and service delivery in Indigenous communities is realising some good, refreshing results.Tim and Vera coordinate an employment readiness program in Aurukun, Cape York. They have exceptional cognisance of local context and cultural needs, and their efforts to engage with the local population are extensive. Tim, a non-Indigenous man, has even learnt the local traditional language in order to better communicate with his clients, which is an effort seldom seen in Australia.I also speak with one of the beneficiaries of the employment program, young Charles. He gives his perspective on what will help him succeed, with regard to employment, and why he appreciates the work that Tim and Vera are doing.I hope you come to see, like I did, just how good these humans really are.  Don't forget to share this episode with your friends and family on your social channels!

How Good are Humans! is back for 2022!!!We kick off the year by having an awesome chat with Daniel and Stacee from Deadly Inspiring Youth Doing Good, or DIYDG.DIYDG is a youth-focused organisation that is helping young people in Cairns and Far North Queensland to live their best possible lives. Through a diverse suite of activities and programs, young people receive some healthy guidance, meaningful direction and true empowerment from fellow youth at DIYDG.I hope you come to see, like I did, just how good these humans really are.  To find out more about DIYDG, check out their website: https://diydg.org.auDon't forget to share this episode with your friends and family on your social channels!

In 2016, the number of people in Australia reported to be homeless was 116,000, or 1 in every 200. In fact, given the number of social connections that an average person maintains, it is likely that you know someone experiencing homelessness.You may think, "Surely not, I don't know anyone living on the street". But as this week's podcast guest explains, homelessness comes in a variety of forms.On this episode, we unveil Lyndal Lowth, the Cairns Service Leader for Orange Sky Australia.Orange Sky is a mobile laundry and shower service that focuses on creating a safe, positive, and supportive environment for people who feel disconnected from the community.In the week of recording this podcast, Orange Sky's 2000 volunteers did more than 1100 loads of washing across every state and territory of Australia. They also accompanied and engaged in conversation with their friends – their terminology for client — for more than 1600 hours. Lyndal joins me to talk about all of this, including the realities of homelessness and the social need that Orange Sky endeavours to address. I hope you come to find, like I did, just. how good a human she really is.

This week, on the 26th episode of the How Good are Humans podcast (and the 10th produced in Far North Queensland), we unveil two super fun and adventurous human beings: Lucy Graham and Mathilde Gordon.Lucy and Mathilde have been living plastic-free lives since March 2016. They also completed an impressive 2000km kayaking adventure along the inside passage, located on the western Canadian coastline.  As part of that adventure, they raised more than $20,000 for organisations concerned with cleaning the oceans.They made a documentary film of their adventure, a film titled 'Changing Tides', which is featuring in the 2021 International Ocean Film Festival. Lucy and Mathilde were kind enough to come on the podcast and speak about their adventure, their film, and how to do it all while living plastic free. We had a lot of fun and a lot of laughs, and I enjoyed every second of recording this episode.I hope you come to see, like I have, just how good these humans really are.Find out more about Lucy, Mathilde, their adventures, and how to live a plastic-free life at: passageadventures.org

This week, on the 25th episode of the How Good are Humans podcast, we unveil a courageous and admirable human being: Critty Wallace.Critty works with RespectMe—a violence prevention and respectful relationships education program.Informed by the National Standards for the primary prevention of sexual assault through education, the RespectMe program works with primary and secondary school students and school staff to raise awareness of ethical behaviour, and promotes the prevention of sexual and intimate partner violence by building appropriate knowledge and skills.Critty’s motivation to work in this field sits deeper than her personal values. Throughout her adolescent and adult lives, she has endured and overcome her own share of disrespectful behaviour, abuse, and trauma.Critty has trekked an arduous journey in regaining her sense of agency and finding her voice. This journey has surely not yet culminated, but has inspired a newfound purpose: doing everything in her personal and professional capacities to ensure that other women do not suffer the same circumstances.There is a lack of respect for women in Australian society.According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 1 in 5 women have experienced sexual assault or threats of assault, and 1 in 6 women have experienced violence by a current or former partner.It would be an understatement to say that we have a problem in this country, but we certainly do.Thanks to a group of indomitable human beings like Critty Wallace, this vital issue is getting the attention it deserves—but, more can surely be done. I hope our conversation serves as a catalyst for more informed conversations.Critty speaks about her own experience of intimate partner violence. She outlines the prevalence and types of gendered violence present in society, and explains the underlying causes. We address the topics of consent and unhealthy expectations in relationships. We conclude by talking about the RespectMe program and how it achieves its aims.Critty is a wonderful and wise person, and her calm and collected demeanour makes this topic just that little bit easier to engage with.I hope you come to see, like I have, just how good this human really is.Find out more about the Cairns Reclaim the Night event on Friday, 29th of October 2021: www.facebook.com/events/cairns-australia/reclaim-the-night-2021/873485513585804/Find out more about RespectMe: respectme.org.au

“If you’re happy and genuine at work, it makes everything better. It makes your staff feel better. It makes your customers feel better. It sounds cliché, but when you’re going to work you can choose happiness, which makes such a difference to the people walking through your doors.”How do you create the perfect vibes for customers? What is it like to rip the guts out of 300 fish in a day? What are the logistics behind eloping in Las Vegas? And how can one rediscover a dormant faith and weave it back into the fabric of their life?On this episode of the How Good are Humans podcast, we unveil Wendy Kumma, whose story runs deep, twists often and winds around far-flung pillars of authenticity and imagination.Wendy is a (multiple) cafe owner; she is someone who just gets hospitality. As the owner of the Nest café in Cairns (and also the Nook), Wendy has cultivated an F+B atmosphere that spoils the comfort senses of each patron. The Nest is a microcosm for harmonising community and business; it breaks the transactional barrier between staff and customer, and in its place opens the space to friendship. When you walk through the doors, the staff learn your name, your story, and — if you’re extra lucky — your birthday. They’ll remember how you like your coffee. They’ll ask about that thing that only a month ago you were really excited for. They’ll ensure, whilst you’re sitting under their roof, that it feels like an extension of your home. For Wendy, this is the only way a business ought to operate.Wendy’s story however is so much broader than hospitality. She’s grown up in a family that was afflicted, but not defined, by mental illness. She left her studies to chase intrepid experiences around the world. She met the love of her life on a beach in Cairns and found herself married, in Las Vegas, just months later. They then spent three Alaskan summers living on a boxy boat, chasing Atlantic salmon and getting to know each other (and the insides of fish) properly. Wendy also speaks about the role her Christian faith has played over the course of her life, and the meaning that she has discovered within.I hope you enjoy the conversation, and come to see, like I did, how good this human really is.

How young is too young to envision and plan out a professional life full of adventure? Could you do it as a young teenager? Realistically, is that even a worthwhile endeavour? Would you stick to your plans? Would you succumb to life's superficial distractions? Whilst planning an ideal future as an adolescent sounds a tad quixotic, I've interviewed many people who have demonstrated that embarking on such an endeavour and realising the resultant goals is an outcome within your grasp. This episode's guest is no different.Enter Michael Atkinson, an epic adventurer and film maker. At age 13, Michael, or 'Outback Mike', planned to travel the world, join the military as a pilot, become a survival expert, and then make adventure films. He's achieved every step of his plan and isn't slowing down.Recently, Mike embarked on an epic adventure wherein he crafted a dugout canoe from a single four-tonne log, launched it from Townsville and sailed around Cape York. He survived off what the land and seas offered him, which at times wasn't much. He also had to navigate rough seas and, occasionally, the dangerous wildlife.During his journey, he interacted with several tradition owners and Indigenous Australian communities, and enjoyed learning from their traditional way of life which is harmonious with the environment.We talk about all of this and more during this episode.I hope you enjoy the conversation, and come to see, like I did, how good this human really is.

He's played over 100 international rugby union test matches for the Wallabies. He's won a Super Rugby championship with the Queensland Reds, and a Tri-nations and SANZAAR Rugby Championship with the Wallabies. He's also competed in a Rugby Union World Cup final, and captained the Wallabies on four occasions.This week on the How Good Are Humans podcast, I am speaking with none other than Sanchez William 'Will' Genia, the former Wallabies' starting halfback who represented Australia in rugby union for a decade between 2009 and 2019.We talk about Will's backstory, which included his journey from Papua New Guinea — his country of birth — to Australia. He talks about his ascension from schoolboys to international rugby, and the work ethic it took to get there. We revisit the highlights and lowlights of his storied career, and how they made an impact upon him personally. We then address Will's future career prospects. We complete the discussion with a fun, rapid-fire round of questions, as well as dialling in a surprise podcast guest.Will's candid attitude made for an enlightening discussion, particularly concerning the topic of the future of rugby union in Australia, as well as the incidents which have hindered its standing on the world stage and in the public eye. I hope you enjoy the conversation, and come to see, like I did, how good this human really is. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Soundbite sourced from:FULL REPLAY | 2011 Super Rugby Final: Reds vs CrusadersRugby.com.au (YouTube channel)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BKXqEOTetc&t=4295s

Think you know a thing or two about crocodiles? You might know that they're big and carnivorous. You might know that they come in salt and fresh water varieties (not entirely accurate). You might even know where to find one, and what its reaction is likely to be if you poked it on the nose.But when you think about it, how much do you know about their social behaviour, peculiar habits and importance to the ecosystem? Did you know that they pre-date the dinosaurs? Did you know that the language we use to describe them may affect their conservation status? Did you know that First Nations people have always had a harmonious, symbiotic relationship with them, and could teach us a lot about their nature?This week on the podcast, I am speaking with David White and his wife, Jo, the owner-operators of Solar Whisper Wildlife and Crocodile Cruises on the Daintree River. For the past 20 years, Dave and Jo's quotidian routine has been to visit and watch crocodiles on the Daintree River. They do so with their solar-powered boats, and bring a group of tourists along with them each time. As well as an operator of an eco-tourism business, Dave sees his role as an educator - to bring about greater knowledge of the wildlife native to Far North Queensland, particularly the Indo-Pacific crocodile (salt water crocodile/estuarine crocodile). Dave takes the time to educate me on the nature and habits of salt water crocodile, as well as their vital importance to the ecosystem. He talks me through the crocodiles' greatest threats which, both interestingly and disturbingly, are attributable, in part, to the insidious language used to describe them.We recorded this episode while floating on the Daintree River at dusk, so you will hear plenty of bird noises over the audio. Dave tells many stories of his encounters with the local crocodiles — all of whom have their own names and quirks — and does so with a good deal of humour.I hope you enjoy, and come to realise how good these humans really are.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------To find out more about Dave and Jo's work and business: solarwhisper.comSolar whisper on social media: @SolarWhisper on Facebook, @solar_whisper on InstagramBe crocwise videos resources (mentioned in interview): becrocwise.nt.gov.au/education-and-resources/teaching-and-learning-kits/resourcesPodcast artwork: two baby crocodiles ride on the back of their mother, Lizzie, a Daintree River crocodile who was illegally killed in May 2023. Picture: David White Bob Katter soundbite was sourced from:"Let there be a thousand blossoms bloom!" Bob Katter on same-sex marriageABC News (Australia)Youtube channelhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i739SyCu9I

If you live in Australia, there's a 75% chance that you live in a city of 100,000 residents or more. That also means there's at least a 75% chance that you have never required the vital assistance of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, or RFDS for short.The RFDS is the organisation that ensures our rural and remote Australians remain connected with health support. They are an indispensable lifeline for over 6 million Australians. In 2020 alone, the RFDS had more than 320,000 patient contacts, or 876 per day. That is, every day, 876 souls were given hope of medical treatment and care.On this episode of How Good Are Humans, I am speaking with Mick Jess and Barry Dawson, two RFDS pilots who work in the Far North Queensland base of RFDS. The FNQ base services the Cape York and Torres Strait Island regions of Australia, two of the most remote and isolated regions in the country. Cape York and the Torres Strait are also characterised by harsh climatic and weather conditions, as well as disparately poor health outcomes amongst the resident Indigenous Australian populations—the majority inhabitants. Mick and Barry talk me through what it is like to fly in these conditions, and what happens when there is no air strip to land on. They recall their careers as aviators, and share a plethora of stories; some thrilling, others harrowing, all captivating.The lads also explain the broad variety of health services that the RFDS provide to the Australian community, as well as how the team-which consists of pilots and health professionals—works together to best provide this medical attention.Both Mick and Barry have a great sense of humour, no doubt forged by many years of arduous but rewarding working conditions. For example, Mick explains to me which kind of toilet paper makes for the best improvised landing lights. I won't spoil the answer for you here.I hope you enjoy, and come to realise how good these humans really are.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------To find out more about the RFDS, check out:Their website: www.flyingdoctor.org.auThe latest annual report: www.flyingdoctor.org.au/about-the-rfds/annual-reports/Their YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/RoyalFlyingDoctor

“Giving people the best experience when they come in to get their hair cut, and making them feel comfortable enough to share anything they need to get off their chest, is all part of my job.”This week, we are unveiling Josh Anderson, owner and head barber at Cartel Collective.Cartel Collective is a barber shop in Cairns with a contemporary feel, comfortable layout and a team of talented barbers. But just like the role of the barber, the shop is multifaceted and exists to serve its customers beyond a simple hair cut.Josh grew up a rural boy in the isolated desert town of Mount Isa, and felt like his post-schooling options were confined and lacking in motivation. He took a leap at his professional dreams, and the return on his self-investment has been remarkable.At the age of 25, he now owns his own business, and has provided a meaningful service to numerous customers over the past seven years. The journey of the young entrepreneur forms a good part of our conversation, as does the modern role of the barber—how they have become a patient and vital ear for the concerns of those in their chair. Josh tells of the support he and his team readily give to their customers, whilst also ensuring that they take care of their own mental health.Josh also opens up about his psychological struggles, and what it took to bring him back from the brink.Finally, as Josh has his finger on the pulse of the Cairns community, we also talk about the rising reports of youth crime, and discuss how this issue could be better framed, and what the potential solutions could be.Enjoy!

For young people to be positively engaged with their communities, they need to feel like their community values them. If this isn’t obvious to them, youth will make their own fun, often times at the expense of the community. Young men in particular find a lot of thrill and enjoyment pushing the boundaries of the law; it is just in our nature. This will see kids in trouble with police for petty crime, and invariably condemned by locals as ‘criminals’. An unfortunate flow-on effect is the tarnished relationship with authority. This is harmful not only to the fabric of community health, but also the viability that the community will prosper in the future.This week, we are unveiling SGT Chris 'Stingray' LeRay and the work of Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC). Specifically, we discuss the role of Aurukun’s PCYC, and how it is attempting to engage positively with local youth.Aurukun is an isolated, Indigenous community located in Far North Queensland on the Cape York Peninsula. Youth committing crime is a very present issue there. It falls onto the shoulders of people like Chris to re-engage with local young people, be a positive role model, and steer them towards a meaningful and salubrious life.We spoke about the background and purpose of PCYCs, how they give fun, active and appropriate outlets for youth, and why this is so important, especially in places like Aurukun. We also spoke about the nature of Aurukun as a community, and why it is conducive to higher rates of youth crime. Finally, we discuss how institutions like PCYC allow police to interact positively with the community, reframing the perception of their relationship with Indigenous peoples in particular. A cool little bonus, we recorded the podcast in Aurukun’s police station interview room. The acoustics were surprisingly great!Please enjoy, everyone!And remember, the most inspiring person that you've never met could be sitting right beside you.