PODCAST · business
Optimal Conversations
by Optimal Life Solutions
Have you ever wondered what it takes to be an exceptional leader? Join us as we dive into the many layers of leadership with inspiring voices from all walks of life sharing personal stories behind their journey to the top. I'm Mary Wong, founder of Optimal Life Solutions, and over the past 20 years, I've been helping people become better leaders and communicators. Join our podcast for some solo insights and incredible guest conversations. Optimal Conversations - Real People, Real Conversations.
Episodes
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Mary Wong - Self-Knowing: The Key To Authentic Leadership
Send us Fan Mail Are you second-guessing your ability to lead? Has a mentor suggested a leadership style that you feel you have to follow, even though it doesn't truly feel like a fit? Do you wonder if maybe you should just go back to doing the kind of role you had before you were promoted? If…
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EP 63 - Beck Smith - No-Nonsense Momentum
Send us Fan Mail She's an absolute powerhouse! Beck shares her secrets to momentum and to facing the fear and making it happen as we discuss her journey of starting a business while you have five children in a country town, including twins under 18 months. We talk all things business, branding…
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EP 62 - Mary Wong - Is it Safe to Speak?
Send us Fan Mail The workplaces with the most innovation, the biggest successes, and the highest staff retention rates are those where everyone feels safe speaking up. In this episode, Mary discusses psychological safety, what it is, what it isn't, and the simple leadership actions every leader…
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EP 61 - Alpha Schulte - Intentional Wealth
Send us Fan Mail As a young adult, an epiphany about her own understanding of money brought a change of direction for our guest. She now helps others understand their financial direction and strategies for financial security. Alpha says it takes a village. We chat about what to do when things go...
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EP 60 - Mary Wong - Whoops! Sorry...
Send us Fan Mail Ever had that moment when you realised you got it all wrong? I've had plenty of them! And when they happen, it's easy to think you may have just wrecked your chances of being respected... then you get caught in a loop of beating yourself up or telling yourself (or others) white...
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EP 59 - Kylli Kidman - Organically Grown Leadership
Send us Fan Mail Join us as Kylli shares her organic leadership journey of learning while leading. Passionate about psychologically safe workplaces, Kylli speaks about how she engages and enthuses team members to achieve sustainable retention targets in excess of the industry average, with…
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EP 58 - Mary Wong - Ageism, Experience, and the Value we Overlook
Send us Fan Mail Are you missing out on opportunities because of age - either your age, or someone else's? Too often, leaders overlook people because they are seen as no longer relevant or too inexperienced. When we do that, we lose out on fantastic growth opportunities for our teams and our...
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EP 57 - Joan Dellavalle - You're Going To Be OK
Send us Fan Mail If you've ever thought it's all too hard, and you can't achieve because of circumstances, you need to hear what Joan has to say. From very humble beginnings, Joan has navigated enormous challenges to get where she is today - challenges that would have stopped many people in their...
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EP 56 - Mary Wong - Leading Across Generations
Send us Fan Mail "The young-ones these days need to be spoon-fed." "That generation just doesn't get it." "I wish they'd speak in a language I understood!" How many times have you heard these kinds of statements about people of differing generations in the workplace? In this episode, Mary…
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EP 55 - Richard Lowe - AI, The Death of Thinking?
Send us Fan Mail It looks like AI is here to stay, and even those of us who have avoided it are now discovering how much ease it can bring to our lives. But is there a hidden danger? Will we lose what we no longer use? Or is there a way we can fall under the AI spell, without dire consequences?...
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EP 54 - Mary Wong - Stressed to the Max
Send us Fan Mail In a chaotic world, there's an incessant hum of background stress, and that can be contagious. In this episode, Mary talks through what this looks like on a daily basis, how it affects our leadership, and strategies for managing those difficult moments that can overwhelm us....
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EP 53 - Jane Shakespeare - Compassion Fatigue: The Emotional toll of Caring Work
Send us Fan Mail When people care deeply for others and give their all to the cause, the question often arises. "Who cares for the carers?" Jane [from ep 17] returns to Optimal Conversations for an honest chat about the shadow side of compassion and her experience as CEO of The Figtree Children…
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EP 52 - Mary Wong - I know what you mean, but do I?
Send us Fan Mail Ever had that moment where you were sure you knew exactly what was going on, then discovered you got it all wrong? We all have them, sometimes. As leaders, those moments can have lasting repercussions. In this episode, Mary discusses how those moments happen, what goes wrong to...
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EP 51 - Nahla Summers - Lighting up the world with kindness
Send us Fan Mail In this grand journey of life, there are seasons of great grief. Nahla Summers, leader, Guinness World Record holder, social change researcher, and cultural change consultant, shares how her season of darkness led her to recognise the power of a small act of kindness, and how she...
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EP 50 - Mary Wong - Is this good Enough?
Send us Fan Mail Ahhhh.... pure perfection... or is it? If you constantly doubt what you are doing is good enough, you may be caught in perfectionism. In this episode, we consider where perfectionism serves us, where it doesn't, and some strategies towards embracing that which is imperfectly...
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EP 49 - Tanya McQueen - Spirituality in Business
Send us Fan Mail If you want to show up professionally in full alignment with who you are, and make an impact without losing your soul in the process, you will love this episode. I'm talking with Tanya McQueen, a Soul & Life Navigator and the founder of McQueen Creative Studios. She's the creator...
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EP 48 - Mary Wong - Are you Procrastinating or Percolating?
Send us Fan Mail How often do you beat yourself up over procrastinating? What if you were to discover that it wasn't always procrastination? What if, instead, it was part of your process? In this episode, I share my dirty secret - yes, I am guilty of procrastinating, but not as much as I once...
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EP 47 - Nyree Johnson - Creating Impact with Intentional Imbalance
Send us Fan Mail With experience spanning corporate, entrepreneurial and community leadership roles, Nyree simultaneously manages paid and volunteer workforces. Nyree shares her wisdom and strategies for managing the multifacets of being a business owner and community leader, while also having a...
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Ep 46 - Mary Wong - Celebrating your Brilliance
Send us Fan Mail If you grew up with the advice 'don't toot your own horn!' or 'don't brag,' you may find it challenging to own and celebrate the aspects of yourself that truly shine. You may even feel like you aren't brilliant at all... but I don't look at it that way. I believe every human has...
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Ep 45 - Alex Gardner - Fast, Focussed, and Driven to Lead
Send us Fan Mail Be amazed at the maturity of this 18-year-old, who is passionate about pushing limits and building partnerships in motorsport. He is the youngest Radical Cup National Champion worldwide, Rookie of the year and Pro-Champion. In 2024, he became the youngest driver to debut in the…
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EP 44 - Mary Wong - Setting up for Success
Send us Fan Mail How many times have you set a resolution, or intention, or even made a goal, but not achieved it? In this episode, Mary welcomes 2026 with her thoughts and tips on how to set yourself up to achieve your goals, resolutions, and aspirations. Great conversations underpin all...
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Ep 43 - Kathy McKenzie - The Role of AI in Modern Leadership
Send us Fan Mail A chance meeting while she boarded an Antarctic cruise liner led Kathy to see AI differently and to become an early adopter. Her perspective on where and how AI fits into our human-led businesses is part of this interview, in which she also shares her tumultuous journey of…
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Ep 42 - Mary Wong - Celebrating Leadership, Wisdom, and Gratitude
Send us Fan Mail Our final episode for the first quarter of the century! And in it we celebrate our guests, share wisdom highlights and pay tribute to the power of this community. Thank you, our listeners, for being part of this grand journey to the end of 2025. 2026 will bring even more... May...
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Ep 41 - Rebekah Woodbine - Leading with Tenderness for Nurses
Send us Fan Mail Trigger warning: this recording discusses topics that may be sensitive to some listeners. If you need support, please reach out. Lifeline 13 11 14. What do you do when you recognise a culture that is hurting those whose primary role is to care for others? You do something about…
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Ep 40 - Mary Wong - Self-Care - the Leader's Energy Source
Send us Fan Mail When burnout is affecting 49% of leaders globally, something is going terribly wrong, and it is worse in Australia... Find out how to be energised and enthused, maintain calm in a chaotic world, and prevent yourself from becoming a statistic as Mary shares with us her secrets to...
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Ep 39 - Birgitta Ravenhill - Transitioning to Leadership
Send us Fan Mail After navigating the transition from corporate life in Europe to family life in Australia, then successfully raising her children to young adulthood, Birgitta found herself at a crossroads. Realising she needed to reinvent herself, she emerged re-energised and re-connected…
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Ep 38 - Mary Wong - Self-Awareness - The Strong Leader's Secret Ingredient
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I explore the role of self-awareness in leadership - the ability to recognise your emotions, patterns, and impact on others. We’ll look at why leaders who understand themselves lead with greater clarity, empathy, and resilience, and how small shifts in...
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Ep 37 - Annette Densham - Leading in Awards
Send us Fan Mail Join us as we talk all things awards - why they are a strategy for success and how you grow through participating in them. Which awards should you enter? Have you done enough to enter an award? How do you deal with that inner voice that says you aren't enough? Annette Densham, a...
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Ep36 - Mary Wong - Feedback - the Magical Connection between Mistakes and Momentum
Send us Fan Mail If the word 'feedback' gives you the heebies, you really cannot miss this episode. Whether it is giving feedback, receiving feedback, or both that sets your teeth on edge, this episode will help you make feedback your friend. Feedback is the ultimate growth tool and imperative…
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EP 35 - Jaclyn Bold - Leading in a Male-dominated Industry
Send us Fan Mail When a customer is told to 'Talk to Jack, ' they're often surprised to find themselves chatting with Jaclyn. As someone who learned through the school of hard knocks, she has forged new frontiers in her business, specialising in Trailers and Caravan repairs in Sydney and is...
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Ep 34 - Angella Clarke-Jervoise - The Culture of Leadership
Send us Fan Mail After many years working internationally for major corporations, Angella returned to Australia and now works for herself. She shares her journey of repatriation, the excitement and the challenges of moving to a new continent with her family and furry friend. We talk about growing...
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Ep 33 - Rochelle Miller - The Connection between Leading and Writing
Send us Fan Mail In this not-to-be-missed episode, we discuss all things creativity, writing, and self-discovery as we explore the skill and craft of writing as a must-use leadership tool. Rochelle is enthusiastic about using story, journaling, and coaching as a pathway for personal development....
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Ep 32 - Joyce Santiago - The Road to TED
Send us Fan Mail If you've wondered how to level up through doing a TED talk, then this is a not-to-be-missed episode. Joyce shares her experience of being accepted to present a TED Talk and offers us insider tips on getting on the TED stage, along with lots of amazing advice about life. It's a...
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EP 31 - Kacie Brignell - Leveraging Networking for Leadership
Send us Fan Mail We all know networking events are your chance to get to know people in your community, whether that's local or globally, but what is a 'good' networking event? Take a listen and learn how to make networking your superpower, as we discuss all things networking with Kacie Brignell…
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Ep 30 - Mary Wong - Embracing Change
Send us Fan Mail We've changed our podcast! Find out more as you listen to this episode. Navigating change can be a leader's greatest struggle, and one of their most outstanding achievements. In this episode, Mary discusses the neuroscience of change and ways to become comfortable with adapting…
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Ep 29 - Darren Saul - Leading in Podcasting
Send us Fan Mail Serial podcaster and strategist, Darren Saul, shares the importance of podcasting for building authority through marketing, brand building, and credibility. We discuss common mistakes and the reasons many people give up early on their podcast aspirations. Darren shares his own...
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Ep 28 - Aurora Dawn Benton - Practical and Approachable Sustainability
Send us Fan Mail Following a career transition, Aurora's work now focuses on sustainability. We discuss the effect of empowering employees at all levels to take ownership of sustainability initiatives as she shares examples of successful food waste reduction programs. Leaders, listen to find out...
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Ep 27 - Megan Walrod - It's Always Been Me.
Send us Fan Mail Megan shares her amazing journey to living her yes, and evolving personal leadership. She talks about rediscovering herself amidst the turmoil of a relationship breakup, then shares how she has channelled her learnings into her debut novel, "It's Always Been Me". It's an…
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Ep 26 - Mel Kettle -Boundaries, Awareness, Self-care, and Menopause
Send us Fan Mail Mel works with Women Leaders who are navigating their forties and fifties and has many enlightening strategies, tools, and resources that business leaders can use to support their female employees through menopause and peri-menopause. We also discuss how boundaries are important…
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Ep 25 - Emily Jane Sarroff - The Power of Questions
Send us Fan Mail The most powerful tool we have is a question! Listen and learn how questions help us connect, grow, and learn more about ourselves and others. Emily Jane is a multi-talented, multi-skilled, young leader who walks her talk. In this podcast, she discusses how a powerful question...
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Ep 24 - Renee Bailey - Leading in Health
Send us Fan Mail After 15 years in corporate leadership roles, Renee's life changes saw her leading as an entrepreneur. We follow her journey of change, as she relates how personal challenges guided her transition into her current business. We also discuss health, nutrition, and the role of...
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Ep 23 Ryll Ganter - Where it all goes Wrong
Send us Fan Mail Author of "The Coffee Table book for Mature Dating", Rylll shares her first-hand experience of where her dates went wrong in her search (and discovery) of the greatest love of her life. Join us as we discuss many subjects, including the differences between growing up last century...
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Ep 22 - Shevonne Joyce - Part 2 - Neurodivergence in Leadership
Send us Fan Mail In this second part of two podcasts, Shevonne discusses the myth of perfection and the art of apology and shares her very personal journey through complete incapacitation and her ongoing recovery. This is an inspiring and uplifting listen filled with wisdom and grace. Don't miss...
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Ep 21 - Shevonne Joyce Part 1 - Neurodivergence in Leadership
Send us Fan Mail She is passionate, a driver, creative but also analytical, and an astute problem solver. Meet Shevonne Joyce, a dynamic and neurodivergent leader featured in Harvard Business Review who is still happy to admit to stunning vocal faux pas! Part one of two - this episode is packed...
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Ep#20 - Michael Shanahan - living with Corpus Collosum Disorder
Send us Fan Mail Imagine having a scan as a teenager and discovering you are missing a significant part of your brain - the 'superhighway' that connects the left and right sides. That's what Michael experienced. It plays out in his life and in the lives of others with the condition of...
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Ep#19 - Jodi Gagne - From Roller Coaster to Self-Loyalty
Send us Fan Mail When Jodi meets women who have so much adrenaline going on that they are constantly in fight or flight, she is reminded of her former life as a wedding planner - a life where everything has to happen promptly and perfectly. That was before she found the power of stillness and the...
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Ep#18 - Liz Fleming - Navigating Grants for Business Growth
Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered how other businesses seem to find the cash for large projects or equipment? Or perhaps you have already realised that there is a grant that could help you but hold back because of the daunting task of applying. Our guest, Liz Fleming, is a Chartered...
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EP 17 - Jane Shakespeare - Her Philanthropic journey with Figtree Children
Send us Fan Mail A trip to Sierra Leonne as part of her studies changed Jane's perspective on life. She decided to make a difference when she saw how little people there had. This led to her starting her own charity, the Figtree Children. Supported by a social enterprise gift store, multiple...
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EP16 - Ana Salido - Looking after Yourself as you Lead the Way
Send us Fan Mail Ana talks about how looking after ourselves is pivotal to successful leadership. With a background in organisational psychology and later on in personal development and coaching, Ana has spent years supporting women in navigating the unique pressures of modern life. In her work...
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EP15 – Natasha Fountas – The Conversations we Have with Ourselves
Send us Fan Mail Natasha shares her journey from a young woman who hid herself away to an emancipated woman enjoying her freedom. Her experience has given Natasha a unique perspective on the world of self-talk. She says our conversations with ourselves are crucial to success in every part of our...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Have you ever wondered what it takes to be an exceptional leader?
Join us as we dive into the many layers of leadership with inspiring voices from all walks of life sharing personal stories behind their journey to the top.
I'm Mary Wong, founder of Optimal Life Solutions, and over the past 20 years, I've been helping people become better leaders and communicators. Join our podcast for some solo insights and incredible guest conversations.
Optimal Conversations - Real People, Real Conversations.
HOSTED BY
Optimal Life Solutions
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Optimal Conversations have?
Optimal Conversations currently has 64 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Optimal Conversations about?
Have you ever wondered what it takes to be an exceptional leader? Join us as we dive into the many layers of leadership with inspiring voices from all walks of life sharing personal stories behind their journey to the top. I'm Mary Wong, founder of Optimal Life Solutions, and over the past 20...
How often does Optimal Conversations release new episodes?
Optimal Conversations has 64 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Optimal Conversations?
You can listen to Optimal Conversations on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Optimal Conversations?
Optimal Conversations is created and hosted by Optimal Life Solutions.
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