Your Neighbourhood Show
Episode 1: Building Connection and Finding Belonging with Mary and John
In the inaugural episode of Your Neighborhood Show, host Carolyn welcomes her dear friends Mary and John to discuss the vital role of connection in our lives. Through personal anecdotes of moving across communities and fostering relationships, they explore how disconnection can be a natural part of life and how we can overcome it.
From the kindness of strangers to their work with organizations like Servas and Sailability, Mary and John demonstrate the power of building supportive networks. This episode is a heartfelt dive into the importance of belonging and practical ways to create inclusive spaces for yourself and others.
Episode 2: Deb's Journey of Resilience, Community, and Joy
In this heartfelt episode, host Carolyn dives into a meaningful conversation with Deb, a Brisbane local whose life journey exemplifies resilience, courage, and the power of connection. Together, they explore stories of childhood, community, personal struggles, and triumphs, touching on themes like mental health, loneliness, and the importance of building support networks.
Deb shares how transformative life events shaped her path, from working on a remote cattle station at 16 to navigating single motherhood while training as a nurse, and ultimately finding joy and connection in her community. This episode is a moving reminder of the strength found in vulnerability and the importance of seeking help when needed.
Episode 3: Terry Fitzpatrick's Journey Through Community and Purpose
In this heartfelt episode of Your Neighborhood Show, host Carolyn delves into the extraordinary life of Terry Fitzpatrick, a leader in the St. Mary's in Exile community. Terry shares his deeply personal journey from growing up in a tightly-knit family in Toowoomba, Australia, to becoming a nurse, entering the priesthood, and later transitioning into social justice work. He reflects on the challenges of finding purpose, navigating connection and disconnection, and embracing his role as a father while honoring his spiritual calling.
Episode 4 -The Journey to Connection with Marty Richards
In this episode of Your Neighborhood Show, Carolyn sits down with Marty Richards, the owner of Blackstar, a vibrant cafe in West End, Brisbane. Marty shares his deeply personal journey from feeling disconnected as a child to building meaningful connections through community work, spirituality, and entrepreneurship. Marty opens up about his early struggles with loneliness, his transformative spiritual awakening as a teenager, and the intentional communities that shaped his path. He reflects on the joys and challenges of starting Blackstar and how he rebuilt the business during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaning on the relationships he had cultivated over the years.
Episode 5 - Finding Connection Through Music & Life’s Journey with Yani
Host Carolyn welcomes the incredible Yani Mills—choir director, vocal coach, and passionate community builder. Yani shares her inspiring journey from childhood disconnection to fostering deep connections through music. She opens up about growing up feeling different, her transformative experience as a Sai Baba devotee, and how a shocking revelation led her to reevaluate her beliefs.
Episode 6 - Finding Connection in Disconnection with Jack Terroni
In this heartfelt and deeply introspective episode, Carolyn welcomes musician, composer, and writer Jack Terroni to explore themes of connection, disconnection, and the mystical journey of self-discovery. Jack shares his upbringing in North London, the impact of family grief, and his transformative experiences in nature that shaped his creative path.
Episode 8 - Connection, Community & Healing with Christine Bagley-Jones
In this heartfelt episode of Your Neighborhood Show, host Carolyn welcomes longtime friend and community builder Christine Bagley-Jones—an experienced psychologist, author of Creative Connections, and mother of five. Together, they explore the deeply human experience of connection and disconnection through personal stories, childhood reflections, and professional insights.
Episode 10 - From Community Roots to Rebuilding Connection with Lauren McHutchison
In this heart-opening episode of Your Neighborhood Show, host Carolyn sits down with Lauren McHutchison, a Brisbane-based entrepreneur, mother, and passionate community-builder. Lauren shares her journey from a close-knit upbringing in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, to navigating life as a young expat in Australia. She opens up about the challenges of loneliness as a new mother, building connection from scratch, and the life-altering grief of losing her brother to suicide. Through vulnerability, resilience, and a deep commitment to living authentically, Lauren reveals how she found healing and purpose—both in her personal life and through her real estate business. A moving and inspiring story of courage, community, and reconnection.
Episode 7 : Rooted in Connection: Luke Dunning on Family, Business & Being Real
In this heartwarming and deeply authentic conversation, host Carolyn introduces Luke Dunning—creative entrepreneur, father of four, and the very person who helped bring this podcast to life. This episode delves into Luke’s journey from a childhood of connection and freedom on the Gold Coast to navigating disconnection, fatherhood at 21, and the entrepreneurial leap that shaped his life.
Episode 9 - Stories of Connection: Highlights from Episodes 1–8
In this heartfelt compilation episode, Your Neighbourhood Show reflects on the spirit of community, resilience, and connection through powerful stories shared across our first eight episodes. Host Carolyn revisits moving moments of building support networks after disconnection, finding belonging in new towns, overcoming isolation, and the deep impact of simple acts of kindness. From heartfelt personal journeys to inspiring reflections on friendship, family, and healing, this special episode captures the essence of what it means to belong — and how each of us can be a light in someone else's life.