Connecting Good People: backyard rockstars

Enriching communities, one toothbrush at a time

This chat with Amber of @thetoothbrushproject shows just how small impacts can create big positive change. 

During their gap year spent teaching English in Cambodia, Amber and Georgie saw devastating health impacts when access to basic healthcare like a toothbrush was absent from daily life. In the wisdom, they sought out local bamboo toothbrushes, brought them back home to Australia and sold them with all profits directed towards helping others.

Ten years later and a whopping $22 000 raised so far, Georgie and Amber are true local backyard rockstars making a difference.

Speak and Share with Mason, Ben and Nath: where a problem shared is a problem halved.

Nath, Mason and Ben are motivated to make a difference. Each with their own personal reasons to create normality around sharing problems and checking in on mates, the Not for Profit creation "Speak and Share" is on track to make a difference. 

An insight into what drives them, how they care for their mental health and their big plans to help school students and adults alike.

Maggie @oceanbeachyogasorrento

Maggie's warmth permeates through both her voice and her teachings. She is an ever-evolving chameleon with the beautiful life choices she has made.

From a young 7 year old yogi practising off the television with her mum, to being there when the yoga explosion happened upon Australia, Maggie has enjoyed a deep connection to her practice.

We talk Harry Styles, her evolution from dancer to yogi and the high-flying corporate life as an Advertising Executive which enabled her to live and work both here and in London. A life of many beautiful chapters so far!

 

Intuitive mentor and personal development coach, Michelle @michellefortuna_

Backyard rockstar Michelle has a beautiful energy that hits you with that gorgeous big smile of hers.

Michelle sheds some light on some beautiful topics:

*Trusting and honouring your intuition

*The gifts of being sensitive

*How to deal with overwhelm

*Feeling safe within yourself

 

How lovely is that!

Wholehearted living with Ben of @benackermanmusic

When you fill your life and your days with family, meditation, writing, volunteering and exercising there seems little need to discuss what you do for a job.

That's what the conversation with Ben was like. Focussing on how he lives wholeheartedly and intentionally and always through the lens of joy and love.

A great chat about what life has given him as he moves through his forties, the ability to choose his choices and create the life of his dreams.

The warm and lovely Belinda of @mind_bud

Being in conversation with Belinda of @mind_bud is like relishing a gorgeous warm hug. She is warm, considered and full of supportive words.

 

A family health scare was what prompted Belinda to make her joyful personal growth into a side hustle. A keen and lifelong journaller, a well developed meditator and mum to 4, Belinda took the opportunity to make this something more and develop her skills during lockdown. Skills she now offers to help others develop their practice.

 

Listen in to hear what journaling means for both of us, how differently you can meditate and the joy of mindful practice as a force for positive physical healing.

Gayan Pieris, Head Chef at @manylittlebarandbistro

Gayan is as passionate as he is humble. Head Chef at Many Little Bar and Bistro for the last 18 months, Gayan has brought the tastes of his hometown Sri Lanka to the gorgeous pocket of Red Hill on our beloved Peninsula. 

 

He and the team at Many Little have been challenged and thrived in the Covid experience. Turning what was a menu celebrating Modern Australian food, to one that tells the stories of his hometown.

 

I loved the warmth and passion with which Gayan speaks about the storytelling behind his food, the glorious early mornings spent mushroom foraging on his family farm growing up in Sri Lanka and the humility with which he is processing all the glorious, much deserved praise, for the culinary journey he takes us on.

 

Can't wait to book a post-lockdown date night at Many Little and sample the delights of Sri Lankan cuisine as told through the mastery of Gayan. Wouldn't it be gorgeous if our CGP community booked the entire restaurant out ourselves - dream big I say!

Anelise of @bakedbythebay_aus

What does one do when you leave the city for a beautiful small community sea change? If you are Anelise, you follow your passion for being in the kitchen and setup your own baking empire.

Offering a treasure trove of sweet treats and desserts, Anelise looked at lockdown time as a way to get creative and connect with her inner kitchen goddess.

What a wonderful way to connect with her new community and build relationships with local suppliers. 

This is also a conversation about following a path that works for now and that is a beautiful thing indeed. 

Mick from @haltaustralia

**Content warning: Suicide is discussed in our chat** Mick is the representative for the Mornington Peninsula and Frankston areas for @haltaustralia. As a former TAFE teacher, Mick is in his element talking to young apprentices and tradies in their workplace, sporting clubs and even at their morning briefings normalising talking of mental health support. Mick meets people where they are at and conveys a powerful message in a succinct 15 minute talk. Through learning how to deal with his own mental health challenges, Mick helps others to help themselves. He fronts up with his barbecue in tow and over an egg and bacon rolls, starts the conversation that changes lives. In fact, he saves lives. Mick is undoubtedly inspiring. A man who shares his truth to save and teach others. I could not think of a more deserving backyard rockstar. 

Ben @benjaminwatkinscoach

Six months ago Connecting Good People landed on Instagram. Ben was right there, when it was only a week old, to help it along its journey and share our mission with his online community. Choosing now the path of a coach and soon to be Counsellor, Ben and I chat on some pretty cool topics: the concept of prefacing our conversations about ourselves with the word, “Just”; the beauty of listening; the idea of challenging people; asking permission to give advice and the joys of our Peninsula backyard.