Kurt Fearnley's Tiny Island

If Craig Johnston's soccer career happens in today's digital age there wouldn't be a kid in Australia who didn't know his name and have the Liverpool 7 on their back. Instead he's a bit of an enigma on our shores but has one hell of a story of making it to the big time against all odds, falling down over and over and dragging himself back up. It was wonderful to have a yarn with Craig in Newcastle and learn a bit more about his highs and lows, and what keeps him coming back for more. 

Sophie Roden is a humanitarian worker and lawyer. At 17 Sophie would volunteer in rural Zambia, not too many years after she would choose to join the fight against Ebola in Liberia. One of the youngest guest on Tiny Island, Sophie has a great story to tell.

Adam Goodes is one of the true gentleman of Australian sport. His genuine character and desire to make our country better shines through in every action. Adam had a long career as one of the best Australian Rules footballers of his generation, won the Brownlow as best in the game a couple of times, two premierships, four time All-Australian, Indigenous team of the century, the list goes on. He did alright on the field but his actions off the field are his ongoing legacy. A cracking yarn. 

While individual athletes are on their own in the sporting arena, there's still a team behind them. This week I had the chance to sit down with Mick Turner, whose been part of my team through the ups and down for the last 20 years. From his living room in the middle of the night while I race a world away, next to me on Kokoda or trying to talk me out of racing the Sydney to Hobart, Mick's been there through the lot.

In my life there's been a few key people who have said how do we make this work, rather than throw me to the Sharks, Anthony Bell is one of them. I had the distinct honour of crewing with Belly in the Sydney to Hobart onboard Loyal, a boat which won the 2011 race and raised hundreds of thousands for children's medical equipment. We recounted some of that trip and why he does what he does.

Catia Malaquias is a lawyer, board director and mother of three young children.  Catia works tirelessly progressing human rights and inclusion of people with disability. I think this quote sums Catia up perfectly.  “We need to take every opportunity to disrupt our culture’s mindset of exclusion of people with disability, which is so harmful.  When you think about the hierarchy of human need, belonging has to be right up there and belonging is what historically has been denied to disabled people, though exclusion, segregation and institutionalisation.  I feel that it is particularly important to foster in children an attitude of respect for human diversity and the rights and inclusion of people with disability.”

Alan Tongue and I have a lot in common. NSW country boys born in the early 80s, rugby league loving and nearly there Australians of the Year. After 10 years in the NRL playing for the Canberra Raiders, Alan's found a new direction in life and it was great to spend some time with him to share a yarn.

Warwick Green is a journalist, author & former Australian rules player for the St Kilda football club. Warwick is the author of biography's for Jim Stynes, Neale Daniher & my own. 

Curtis McGrath is an incredibly humble and hard working Australian paracanoeist & Paralympian. He took up canoeing competitively after having both of his legs amputated as a result of a mine blast whilst serving in the Australian Army in Afghanistan. McGrath is the current Paralympic Champion & has won ten gold medals at ICF Paracanoe World Championships between 2014 and 2019. 

Tiny Island Podcast will return from the break with fresh sounds and new stories from around Australia.

Today is a quick check in with Tiny Island listeners. We will be taking a short break between episodes. Now is a great chance to catch up on past conversations with some of the previous guests.

I am the product of Australia's world-leading and renowned public education system. Teachers changed my life, offering the support, direction and fight to guide me where I am today. They inspired me and two of my siblings to become teachers. My belief in public education is due to the work of teachers from day one that lived by the belief of equality. This weeks guest is Elaine Masters, a primary teacher and principal in rural Australia for a few decades an my first teacher. We share stories of our first years in Carcoar & our common belief in the power of education.

Kevin Mitchell is an Australian singer-songwriter; Mitchell uses the name Bob Evans for his primary solo project. He is also the founding lead vocalist for the alt rock band Jebediah. Kevin’s music would be the soundtrack to the lives of a generation of Australians & he takes it all in his humble creative stride.

There's an elite club of 15 athletes who have competed in full medal events at both an Olympic and Paralympic Games and one of them is an Aussie. In 2016 Milly Tapper wrote her name in the history books when she represented Australia in Rio, playing table tennis in both games, a few weeks apart. I guarantee after today's episode you will have caught some of Milly's infectious laughter and learned a bit more about what it's like to represent Australia at the highest sporting level.    

Craig Foster played football for Australia in the 90s, honing his craft in leagues across Asia, Europe and here in Australia. These days he is a sports analyst for one of Australia's state broadcasters, and recently came to prominence campaigning on behalf of Bahraini footballer Hakeem al-Araibi, who was granted protection as a political refugee in Australia but was detained upon arrival in Thailand  while honeymooning with his wife. We cover the power of sport, the need to give back to community and his love for the those who’s life is centred around the betterment of humanity.

Osher Gunsberg might be best known these days for handing out roses on the Bachelor Australia but his most important work happens away from the camera. Osher is an active advocate in the mental health space, sharing his own journey openly and trying to help others as host of the Osher Gunsberg podcast. We sat down a few weeks ago, and a week later Osher welcomed his first son, Wolfgang into the world.

It's hard to drive through a town in NSW without seeing the names of our first Governors Phillip, Hunter, or Macquarie on a sign for a landmark, but who are our most recent Governors? And what is the role of a modern Governor? My first exposure was as an 11 year old when I entered the residence of the NSW Governor, known as Government House on the door step of the Opera House. One of the few trips over the Great Dividing Range that wasn’t to see a doctor, I was receiving an award for what I believed to be a consolation prize for coming last in multiple cross country runs (that I would crawl). I was overwhelmed with the setting and meeting a person I had to call His Excellency. 27 years on I go back to interview our current Governor, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AO QC. We speak about the importance of the roll of Governor, the power of a teacher and the need for hope within the justice system

Recognition for the work and life has never been something that has sat comfortably with me. But being named as one of the four recipients for the various categories of NSW Australian of the year has been an incredible honour. In particular, sharing the honour with 3 powerful people. Jarred Wheatley, Sophie Smith & Heather Lee OAM have an amazing message. This conversation covers the power of optimism, healthy lifestyle and the importance of relationships.