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The Collective West Podcast

by Michael Lim and Julia Truong

We help young people to connect and thrive. For young people who feel a bit lost and dissatisfied with life, Collective West is a podcast that provides a platform for university students and young professionals to connect and thrive. Unlike other self-development podcasts, Collective West is hosted by young people so that it is relevant and applicable for what young people are going through right now. We see our audience as our peers. Julia and Michael have diverse experiences that cover entrepreneurship, social impact while also being conscious about building a local community.

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Episodes

  1. Episode 40: Self-Care, Being A Nurse and Having a Baby During COVID-19 and What You Can Do To Improve Your Mental Health with Jessica Bonello

    🌯 We wrap up Part 2 of our #HealthyWest Series with the release of yet another insightful interview!​ ​In episode 40, Julia talks to Jessica Collard - who has been working as a Registered Nurse specialising in Oncology and Immunisation at the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne for the past 7...

  2. Episode 39: Being A Doctor In A COVID-19 Hospital, Dealing With Adversity and Self Care with Dr Melissa Garwood.

    😮 This is the episode that left Michael speechless (yes, it is possible!) and brought tears to our eyes... ​So, grab the tissues and join us for this extra special interview with Dr Melissa Garwood, as she shares what it was like working in a public hospital during the pandemic! ​​From not being...

  3. Episode 38: Running An Event Management Business During COVID-19 with Julia Truong and Victor Tran

    Starting and running a business is difficult at the best of times. Even more so when you are running an event management business during COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns. Today, Michael interviews Julia Truong (co-founder of Collective West podcast) and Victor Tran (Julia's partner in life and...

  4. Episode 37: Managing Your Mental Health During Uncertain Times with Dylan Alexander

    For episode #37 we had the privilege of speaking with Dylan Alexander, a clinical psychologist and the founder of WestSide Psych, a private practice in Footscray - the heart of #MelbsWest In high school, Dylan dreamed of being an actor but his interest in helping people and hearing their stories...

  5. Episode 36: Our Experiences Getting and Avoiding COVID-19: Staying Safe, Managing The Impact of the Virus & Life Updates

    We are so excited to be in the studio recording new episodes and interviewing more inspiring community leaders. So much has happened since our last episode, so we thought we'd take a moment to reflect and share our experiences with COVID from the past couple of months. If you're living in…

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  6. Episode 35: Promoting Community Well-Being and The Importance of Community Trust with Amy Leong

    🎧 Listen to episode 35 for some great advice for this busy time of year, from our latest podcast guest, Amy Leong - who works as a Physiotherapist and is the CEO of the @chase.program in #MelbsWest 🏃 CHASE - which stands for Community Health Advancement & Engagement, is an organisation that...

  7. Episode 34: The Myths Behind COVID-19 Vaccines, Managing Burnout in the Healthcare Sector and Much More with Dr Simon Benson

    👨🏻‍⚕️ 🩺 We wanted to talk to someone whose been on the front line in #MelbsWest, working in our healthcare system before, during and now post-pandemic (sort of!) - so we asked Dr Simon Benson, a Senior GP at Sunshine Medical Centre, one of Melbourne's largest medical clinics to talk to us for...

  8. Episode 33: Talking About Victoria's LARGEST Health Infrastructure Investment with Kelvyn Lavelle

    Are you interested in hearing more about the LARGEST health infrastructure investment in Victoria's history? 🏗️ 🏨 Well, we've got the podcast just for you! This week we are speaking with Kelvyn Lavelle who is the Chair of Plenary Group Health, the organisation responsible for bringing the new...

  9. Episode 32: Chatting about COVID-19 Vaccines, Mental Health and Social Media with Dr Michael Mrozinski

    🥳 🥳 🥳 We are so EXCITED to release our second #HealthyWest episode with Dr Michael Mrozinski on the podcast this week! Dr Mike - as we now call him, graduated from medical school in Glasgow, Scotland back in 2008, before moving to Australia - settling in the inner-west suburb of Yarraville…

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  10. Episode 31: We've got EXCITING News + Life Updates and Much More

    We know, the health of young people living in Melbourne's west has been significantly impacted as a result of the pandemic - so we've secured funding from the Department of Health to run a new five-part series that will look at the effects of COVID_19 and how we can create a #HealthyWest. ​ ​💪...

  11. Episode 30: Creating Global Change Through Local Action, Confronting Adversity and Navigating Unexpected Career Journeys with Marisha Nair

    Marisha Nair is 28 years old and was born in Australia and raised in Melbourne’s Western suburbs by migrant parents. Her dad is from Malaysia and has an Indian background and her mum is from India and has a British and Persian background. She grew up in Hoppers Crossing and attended Victoria...

  12. Episode 29: Using Sports to Drive Social Change, Alternative Career Paths and Managing Expectations with Simon Rodder

    Simon is a dedicated member of the community who has extensive experience working in youth-related programs with governments (all levels), community groups, the education and training sector and national sporting organisations. Simon has a proven track record of designing, developing and…

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  13. Episode 28: The Changing Landscape of Education, Skills and Employment with Deirdre Hardy

    Deirdre Hardy is currently the Executive Officer of Future Connect, a not-for-profit seeking to support young people in their transition from education to employment across Brimbank and Melton. Future Connect has extensive local networks and connections with schools, training providers and...

  14. Episode 27: Empowering Young People Through Scholarships and Fun Marine Biology Facts with Zac Lewis

    Zac Lewis recently commenced as CEO at Western Chances, an organisation dedicated to assisting young people in Melbourne's west realise their potential by providing scholarships, opportunity programs and ongoing support. Zac joined Western Chances after more than 12 years working across the...

  15. Episode 26: First Nations Sovereignty, Managing Emotional Burnout and Self-Care with Karen Jackson

    Karen Jackson is Yorta Yorta, a Footscray resident and a member of many local western suburbs Aboriginal community groups and committees. She is an advocate for the recognition of Sovereign First Nation Peoples and traditional lands never ceded; for developing culturally safe spaces that enable...

  16. Episode 25: Politics, Mental Health and Social Procurement with Wade Noonan

    The Hon. Wade Noonan is the Executive Director of the West of Melbourne Economic Development Alliance and operates a consulting business (Impulsum Consulting), specialising in social procurement, executive leadership, and public policy. In addition, Wade serves on a number of boards and advisory...

  17. Episode 24: Social Impact, Capacity Building and Culture with Mehak Sheikh

    Mehak Sheikh has been in Australia since 2012, and in this time, she has exclusively dedicated her work and passion to the Western suburbs. Some of her notable works in this area are running a travelling exhibition called the Humans of Brimbank (2015-2017), supporting placemaking and community...

  18. Episode 23: The Invisible Skills Gap, Future of Work and Education with Gail Bray

    Gail Bray is responsible for leading a team to create the digital division of VU Polytechnic, the TAFE arm of Victoria University. This includes leading three strategic initiatives, the Wyndham Tech School, Sunshine Skills Hub and Cybersecurity Training Centre to provide STEM training from Year 7...

  19. Episode 22: Social Entrepreneurship and Creating Community Impact with Jeffrey Lai

    Jeffrey Lai is a social entrepreneur working with communities in Melbourne’s West. A first-generation migrant from Hong Kong, Jeff has lived in the West ever since arriving when he was 3 years old. Passionate about education and becoming ever more aware of the disparities in career and education...

  20. Episode 21: Cultivating Creativity and Overcoming Resistance with Lachlann Carter

    Lachlann Carter is co-founder and CEO of 100 Story Building, a social enterprise providing creative learning opportunities for children and young people in Footscray. Since opening doors in 2013, 100 Story Building has had over 30,000 program participants, supporting their literacy skills...

  21. Episode 20: How To Influence Anyone and Speak With Confidence

    How much does public speaking make you sweat? After death, public speaking is the most commonly reported fear. They call it Glossophobia and it is estimated to affect up to 75% of the population. That’s crazy! This means that most of the world does not like public speaking. What’s up with that?...

  22. Episode 19: Stress Management and Burnout

    We’ve all been there. Tired, anxious and stressed out. As chronic over workers ourselves, we’ve had our fair share of encounters with work-related burnout. We are not proud and we don’t wear it like a badge of honour. But the great part of this podcast is that you can live through our experiences...

  23. Episode 18 - Interview tips, tricks and hints!

    No matter what you do, being able to communicate your value in an interview format is essential. Improving your interview skills is going to be a challenge but a worthwhile investment. They aren’t just a necessary part of getting a job but also being able to get a promotion, board positions or…

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  24. Episode 17: Growing Up Asian in Australia

    This podcast episode is a bit more personal and a topic that is really important for us. As first generation Asian-Australians, we reflect on some of our experiences growing up as third culture kids. From trying to fit in at school, reconciling differences in Australian and Asian cultures and...

  25. Episode 16: International Women's Day Wrap-Up

    Join Julia and Michael as they reflect on the #ChoosetoChallenge podcast series, featuring three incredible and inspiring interviews with: ​ 💜 Rhyll Dorrington, formerly the CEO of Western Chances ​ 💜 Reana Cazar, a senior associate at a social enterprise in Melbourne’s west 💜 Jasmine Nguyen…

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  26. Episode 15: International Women’s Day Mini-Series (Jasmine Nguyen)

    We are running a Collective West mini-series for International Women’s Day. Michael will be taking a back seat for these podcasts, whilst Julia interviews some incredible women who have done or are doing incredible things in Melbourne’s west. We are blessed to have strong, empowered and…

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  27. Episode 14: International Women’s Day Mini-Series (Reana Cazar)

    We are running a Collective West mini-series for International Women’s Day. Michael will be taking a back seat for these podcasts, whilst Julia interviews some incredible women who have done or are doing incredible things in Melbourne’s west. We are blessed to have strong, empowered and…

    more
  28. Episode 13: International Women’s Day Mini-Series (Rhyll Dorrington)

    We are running a Collective West mini-series for International Women’s Day. Michael will be taking a back seat for these podcasts, whilst Julia interviews some incredible women who have done or are doing incredible things in Melbourne’s west. We are blessed to have strong, empowered and…

    more
  29. Episode 12 - #Goals

    New Year, New Me! January is when most of us start to set our goals for the year. Whether it is getting fit or saving more money, the start of the year fills us with an infectious energy for change. Whatever goal you have we know how exciting it can be to embark on a journey of self-improvement....

  30. Episode 11 - Reflections, Goals and Ambitions for 2021

    Can you believe that 2020 is already almost over? We wanted to take some time out to reflect on the whirlwind that was 2020. From pandemics, presidential elections to racial injustice, 2020 has served up to be a year that no one expected. At times 2020 was difficult to just downright miserable…

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  31. Episode 10 - Networking (The Collective West Podcast)

    It is all about WHO you know, not WHAT you know. I am sure we have all heard that saying in one way or another. Whether it is from guidance counselors, teachers or family members, everyone understands the importance of having industry connections and social capital to finding meaningful...

  32. Episode 9 - Employment In The Era of COVID-19 (The Collective West Podcast)

    There is no denying that COVID-19 has hit young people the hardest. The industries that traditionally employ young people such as arts, hospitality, retail have been the first to close down and will likely be the last to reopen. Research and lessons from the last recession in 2008/09 demonstrated...

  33. Episode 8 - Question and Answer Part 2 (The Collective West Podcast)

    Episode 8: Q and A (Part 2) We couldn’t fit everything into one episode, so we decided to make a part 2. Enjoy getting to know us a little bit more! ------------- Want to connect, partner or collaborate with us? Reach us at: - INSTAGRAM: @_collectivewest - WEBSITE: www.collectivewest.com.au -...

  34. Episode 7: Question and Answer (The Collective West Podcast)

    We’ve known each other for almost 4.5 years and have witnessed the highs, lows and everything in between in our lives. In this episode, we wanted to ask each other some deep and not so deep questions about things we didn’t really know about each other. We learned about our favourite movies…

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  35. Episode 6 - Leadership (The Collective West Podcast)

    Whether we are leading one person, a big group or just ourselves, we will all be in a role of leadership at some point in our lives. Being a leader is hard. You’ll be forced to make tough decisions, have difficult conversations and take risks with little or no information. Julia and Michael both...

  36. Episode 5 - Hobbies and Habits (The Collective West Podcast)

    How do you like to spend your spare time? Whether it is binge watching Netflix or starting your own side hustle, your hobbies and habits make up who you are and what you become. We explore some of our own respective hobbies and habits and the impact they have on our life, relationships and work....

  37. Episode 4 - Following Your Passion (The Collective West Podcast)

    We love challenges at Collective West. In this podcast, we tackle the age-old debate of following your “passion” versus having “security” in your work. Following your passion is a value that is heavily praised in theory, but rarely implemented in practice. It is a phrase that you will inevitably...

  38. Episode 3 - What's COVID-19? (The Collective West Podcast)

    COVID-19, what's that? Unless you've been living under a well-resourced rock, you would have been bombarded with messages about the Corona Virus pandemic. It has gripped the world's imagination and fundamentally changed our 'normal' way of life. It is a crazy time to be alive. In this podcast, we...

  39. Episode 2 - Mentors and Mentees Part 2 (The Collective West Podcast)

    Part 2 of our podcast on mentors and mentees! ------------- Want to connect, partner or collaborate with us? Reach us at: - INSTAGRAM: @_collectivewest - WEBSITE: www.collectivewest.com.au - EMAIL: [email protected]

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

We help young people to connect and thrive. For young people who feel a bit lost and dissatisfied with life, Collective West is a podcast that provides a platform for university students and young professionals to connect and thrive. Unlike other self-development podcasts, Collective West is hosted by young people so that it is relevant and applicable for what young people are going through right now. We see our audience as our peers. Julia and Michael have diverse experiences that cover entrepreneurship, social impact while also being conscious about building a local community.

HOSTED BY

Michael Lim and Julia Truong

CATEGORIES

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does The Collective West Podcast have?

The Collective West Podcast currently has 39 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is The Collective West Podcast about?

We help young people to connect and thrive. For young people who feel a bit lost and dissatisfied with life, Collective West is a podcast that provides a platform for university students and young professionals to connect and thrive. Unlike other self-development podcasts, Collective West is hosted...

How often does The Collective West Podcast release new episodes?

The Collective West Podcast has 39 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to The Collective West Podcast?

You can listen to The Collective West Podcast 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 The Collective West Podcast?

The Collective West Podcast is created and hosted by Michael Lim and Julia Truong.
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