The JRNY

In this episode of THE JRNY, host Paul Cohalan sits down with Tim Keogh, founder of Empyrean Build, to discuss his journey from a carpentry apprentice in country Victoria to leading a luxury building company in Perth. They delve into the critical importance of relationships - both with family and professional contractors - and how a strong work ethic forms the foundation of any successful venture. Tim shares candid insights into the strategic decisions that kept his business afloat during the pandemic, including the rare move of closing his books to ensure existing project quality.Key Discussion Points:- Career Beginnings: Tim recounts how helping a neighbor with a sliding door led to his first building job and launched his company in 2018.- Pandemic Strategy: Discussion on why Tim chose to "shut the books" and stop marketing during the COVID-19 building boom to avoid overextension and protect his reputation.- Operational Excellence: Insights into managing a team, including leveraging remote estimators in the Philippines for repetitive tasks while keeping core roles local in Perth.- Work-Life Balance and Routine: The role of a 4:30 AM routine, gym sessions, and ice baths in maintaining mental clarity and staying ahead of the demands of running a business.- Resilience Under Pressure: Tim shares the harrowing experience of his fully loaded truck catching fire just days before a major project on Rottnest Island and how he navigated the logistical fallout.- Family and Values: The influence of Tim’s builder father and the support of his wife in shaping his professional standards and personal drive.

Paul sits down with Darcy Lowe to explore her unconventional path from a "privileged" upbringing in an all-girls school to the gritty, disciplined world of amateur kickboxing and Muay Thai. Darcy shares the raw details of her formative years spent living and working in Europe with zero financial safety net, and how those moments of survival built the resilience she carries today.Key Discussion Points Include:The Power of Risk: Packing one suitcase for Europe at 22 and eventually landing a restaurant management role in Amsterdam with her last few dollars.Identity and Combat Sports: Discovering kickboxing at 23, navigating the psychological weight of an early loss, and finding a voice through striking and martial arts.Resilience Through Injury: Managing a major setback after a physical injury and the mental challenge of questioning her identity when she couldn't train.Building a Personal Brand: Overcoming the "cringe" of social media to inspire other women and launching her own female-only kickboxing retreats in Bali.The Philosophy of the Journey: Embracing the process of growth rather than focusing solely on the end goal, and the importance of self-reflection and vulnerability.Join us for a conversation about why "speed trumps perfection" and how taking ownership of your own space is the ultimate form of self-love.

In this powerful episode, Paul sits down with Mo (Maurice) - Mauritian-Australian community builder, psychologist, exercise physiologist, and strategic lead at Happiness Co Foundation - for one of the most honest conversations we've had on the show.Mo shares his full journey: growing up on a chicken farm in Canning River, running away from school because he couldn't speak English, becoming WA Aerobics Champion, pivoting through multiple redundancies and hitting rock bottom at 50 - fetal position on his bedroom floor, a plan ready to end his life.And how he came back from it.In this episode we cover:→ Growing up as a first-generation Mauritian-Australian and the language barrier that shaped him→ The sliding door moments he stepped through - and the one he didn't (and why it didn't matter)→ His "Harvard MBA" - 5 years in a business partnership that nearly broke him→ Micro traumas, burnout, and what happened when he landed his dream role at 50→ Suicide ideation, depression, and the road back→ Why "busy" is just avoidance in disguise→ The ABC model: Attitude, Behaviour, Consequence→ Momentum Revolution - the men's workshop changing lives→ Happiness Co Foundation, Moving Mountains (Everest Base Camp fundraiser), and the Road to Happiness Tour→ What it really means to hold space AND energy for someoneWhether you're a business owner, leader, or just a human going through it - this one will hit."What if it happened FOR us, not TO us?"🎙️ Roadblocks, Risks & Resilience PodcastConnect with Mo: @mo_thespiritlevelConnect with Happiness Co Foundation: https://happinesscofoundation.com/#MentalHealth #Resilience #Leadership #BusinessPodcast #Podcast #SuicidePrevention #HappinessCo #PerthPodcast

In Episode 6 of The JRNY Podcast, Paul sits down with Michael McHugh from Signarama to unpack the real story behind building multiple sign installation businesses across Perth. Michael shares how he got started, the setbacks he had to push through, and the lessons that came from taking real risks in business. The conversation covers what it actually looks like to be an entrepreneur in 2026, how the landscape has changed, and what it takes to keep moving when the pressure is high. This is a grounded conversation about business ownership, resilience, calculated risk, and the journey behind long-term success. Subscribe to JRNY Podcast for more real conversations with builders, operators, and business owners.

In Episode 5 of the JRNY Podcast, Paul Cohalan sits down with Tegan Larkins, founder of Talent Mining & Minerals and host of The Mining Mum Podcast, for a conversation about leadership, resilience, and building a career in the mining industry while raising a family.Tegan shares her journey through the mining sector, working her way up from utilities roles to leadership positions including Supervisor, Coordinator, and Superintendent. Along the way she discovered a passion for people, team culture, and helping businesses find the right talent.As a proud mum of two, Tegan also speaks openly about balancing motherhood with the demands of the mining industry and why more women — especially mothers — have an important role to play in shaping its future.This episode explores:• Building a career in the mining industry from the ground up• The realities of being a working mum in a demanding industry• Leadership lessons from managing teams in mining• Why culture and people are the foundation of strong businesses• Supporting diversity and opportunity for women in miningA powerful conversation about career growth, leadership, and the evolving role of women and mothers in the mining industry.Watch or listen to the JRNY Podcast:https://thejrny.au/Subscribe to the JRNY Podcast.

In Episode 4 of the JRNY Podcast, Paul Cohalan sits down with Shane Hasler for a raw and honest conversation about resilience, discipline, and rebuilding life after adversity.Shane was diagnosed with cancer in his early twenties after years of unexplained symptoms. What followed was major surgery, the loss of a kidney, and a long road of recovery — both physically and mentally.Instead of letting that chapter define him, Shane turned to discipline and boxing to rebuild his life. Within months of returning to the sport he went on to win the Victorian State Title, later adding Australian and interstate titles before eventually turning professional.This episode explores:• Facing cancer at a young age• The mental battle that follows survival• How boxing helped rebuild discipline and purpose• Fatherhood, perspective, and gratitude• Starting a new chapter in business and entrepreneurshipA powerful conversation about resilience, perspective, and the lessons that come from life’s hardest challenges.Watch or listen to Episode 4 of the JRNY Podcast:https://thejrny.au/Subscribe to the JRNY Podcast.

Paul sits down with Leon to unpack what “roadblocks” really look like when they’re internal: self-judgment, imposter syndrome, and the pressure to be perfect before you start. Leon traces his path from early customer service lessons and tough relocations to mastering a new domain through obsessive learning; then making the jump into a role built for the “weird skills” life hands you.They talk timing, pivots, and why mistakes are data. The through-line: reflect honestly, use the right people to sense-check decisions, and turn doubt into a competitive advantage.Key Takeaways- Internal Roadblocks: Identifying and overcoming self-judgment and imposter syndrome.- Obsessive Learning: How to master a new domain by diving deep.- Weird Skills: Leveraging the unique combination of skills life has given you.- Mistakes as Data: Reframing failure as essential feedback for growth.Visit: thejrny.au

Episode SummaryAdrian and Freda break down what it really takes to build a construction business in WA’s most volatile years; without losing your name, your margins, or your family. From tiling floors after school to earning a building diploma at night, Adrian shares how Distinguished Homes was forged through early pressure, a partnership split, and projects that forced him to grow before he felt ready.They unpack the grants-fuelled boom of 2020–2022, the temptation to scale too fast, and why they chose controlled growth and transparent client conversations over shortcuts and contract fights. This episode is a grounded look at resilience in the trenches: protecting quality, keeping trust, managing staff, and surviving the chaos while still showing up at home.Key Takeaways- Controlled Growth: Why saying "no" to rapid expansion saved their business during the boom.- Transparency Wins: Choosing honest conversations over contract disputes.- Partnership Dynamics: Navigating business challenges as a husband and wife team.- Resilience in the Trenches: Protecting quality and reputation when the industry is in chaos.

Dave Clare breaks down the difference between speed bumps, hurdles, and the walls you invent in your own head; then shares the 2017 “pizza box” moment where the business bombed and he chose to commit anyway.The conversation gets practical on leadership: lead people, manage resources, and never reduce humans to “resources.” Dave unpacks a key business shift; stop selling programs with an end date and start selling a process that creates recurring revenue and stability.Levi Saunders widens the lens into relationships, seasons, and growth: adversity shows who steps forward, who steps back, and who can’t handle your evolution. Levi brings it back to what matters; presence, fatherhood, and rebuilding relationships after hard chapters.The Pizza Box Moment: The defining moment of commitment when everything else falls apart.Humans vs. Resources: Why you lead people but manage resources—and never confuse the two.Recurring Revenue: Shifting from selling programs to selling a process for long-term stability.Adversity as a Filter: How hard times reveal who is truly with you on the journey.SUBSCRIBE

JRNY Podcast is The JRNY with Paul Cohalan, where he sits down with founders, operators, creators and athletes to unpack the real lessons behind discipline, resilience and leadership.Launching 16 February on Spotify and YouTube. New episodes out everywhere.Follow our socials for sneak peeks, clips, and first drops.thejrny.au