Jordhan Mullen is 22 years old, Carolyn's PA, and one of the most self-aware people you'll meet at any age.

In this episode, Jordhan opens up about growing up with a mum who was unwell for as long as she can remember, a dad who worked around the clock to hold everything together, and a childhood where moving around meant her older sister was often her only constant.

She talks about the unspoken rule that held her family together for years, not talking about it, and how that silence followed her into adulthood. About arriving at her mum's door as a kid only to be turned around and taken home without explanation. About blaming her dad for years before finally understanding why.

Jordhan also shares the moment a best friend changed everything, the grief of losing her mum during COVID and missing the funeral, and the realisation that moving to Wollongong wasn't coping. It was deferring.

Honest, tender, and quietly powerful, this conversation is a reminder that opening up isn't weakness. It's the whole point.

What does it mean to be the person who holds everything together, even when you're the one who needs holding?

This week, Carolyn sits down with Kristie Melling, a Brisbane-based marketing consultant who spent most of her life as the quiet anchor for everyone around her: her friends, her partner, her clients, her team. From the outside, Kristie looked like someone who had it together. On the inside, she was managing a level of chronic pain most people couldn't imagine, and doing it without telling anyone how bad it really was.

Kristie grew up in Gladstone, Queensland, in a family she describes as genuinely wonderful, entrepreneurial parents, a community-minded mum, and a tight group of childhood friends. Life felt close to idyllic. Until, at 13, she woke up one morning unable to move.

What followed was years of chronic sciatic pain, undiagnosed, mismanaged, and quietly reshaping who Kristie was becoming. Bracing against physical pain taught her to brace against emotional pain, too. She became the tough girl. The protector. The one who stepped in front when someone came for her friends. The one who stayed sober so someone else didn't have to be responsible.

In this episode, Kristie speaks honestly about what it felt like to finally be chosen by someone and why that feeling kept her in a difficult relationship for nearly a decade. She talks about the moment she closed her massage business in two days to move home and be with her mum, who had just been diagnosed with stage four cancer three months after Kristie gave birth to her daughter. She shares what it was like to sit with her dad on the balcony after the funeral, and what he said that she's never stopped thinking about.

And she talks about burnout, the kind that sneaks up on you so slowly you don't realise how deep you are until the day it stops.

Kristie's advice at the end is simple, and it's something most of us avoid every single day.

"Say the thing."

Born on a farm near the Ugandan border with no electricity and horses as her best friends, Julia McDonald Buchanan has lived more lives than most people could dream of. Sent to boarding school at five, shipped to England at thirteen with nothing but a suitcase and a sister, then uprooted again to rural Queensland, Julia learned early that home is wherever you plant yourself next.

What followed was a life lived entirely on instinct: teaching kindergarten in Nairobi, running photographic safaris in Tanzania, sailing across the Pacific in a 54-foot steel sloop through Force 11 storms, running expeditions around Cape Horn, and somehow eventually landing on the Sunshine Coast with a macadamia farm and a question she'd spent decades avoiding.

It took a horse throwing her off at 4am, a marriage ending, and her son leaving for England with his father before Julia finally stopped running. A yoga teacher training course cracked open something she'd been holding shut since she was five years old.

This is a story about a woman who built her resilience so high she couldn't feel anything underneath it, and what happened when it all came down.

What happens when a parent cuts you off with a single email, days after your wedding?

In this episode, Carolyn sits down with Cass Wilson, CEO of the Rural Health Research Foundation, for a conversation that moves through small-town childhood, teenage courage, 17 years in banking, and one of the most painful kinds of family disconnection imaginable.

Cass grew up in regional South Australia before uprooting to the Central Coast at 12. Arriving at high school without a single friend. At 15, she made a decision that surprised even her parents: leaving the traditional school system to finish Year 11 and 12 at TAFE, where she discovered a love of bringing people together that would quietly shape everything that came after.

From the chaos of the Lindt Café siege lockdown and a ransom situation inside her own branch, to the sweetest workplace proposal you'll ever hear, Cass's banking years were anything but ordinary.

But the thread that runs through it all is belonging. How we find it, lose it, grieve it, and ultimately build it; sometimes in places we never expected. Today, Cass leads a foundation dedicated to community-led health solutions for rural and regional Australia. Her story is proof that disconnection, as painful as it is, can become the very thing that drives you toward your purpose.

The Rural Health Research Foundation: https://ruralhealthresearchfoundation.com.au/

The Ubuntu Foundation: https://www.ubuntufoundation.com.au/

Episode Breakdown

0:00 – 0:52 | Welcome + the theme of connection and disconnection. Carolyn sets the show's tone: none of us escapes disconnection, and that's exactly the point.

0:52 – 4:30 | Meet Cass + childhood in Gawler, SA A close-knit regional town, a nurse mum, a Navy dad, and grandparents who ran a strict ship.

4:30 – 8:35 | The move to the Central Coast. Mum's isolation drives the family to NSW, where they arrive at Grandma's tiny unit with a fresh start and zero friends.

8:35 – 16:20 | Not fitting in + the TAFE decision. Years of not belonging at an all-girls Catholic school, and a bold call at 15 to ditch it for TAFE. Parents said no. She pushed until they said yes.

16:20 – 19:20 | Meeting Aaron. Eighteen months of best friendship before he asked her out, five times. She finally said yes, and they're still together.

19:20 – 23:10 | Into banking: call centre to team leader. Straight out of TAFE at 17, Cass joins NAB and works her way up — finding a love for developing people along the way.

23:10 – 32:10 | The Lindt Café siege + a kidnapping at the branch. Locked down during the 2014 Sydney siege, and a customer who needed cash fast, because someone had taken his children. No trauma counselling for either.

32:10 – 35:25 | The proposal. Aaron put the whole call centre floor on hold, sent a courier with flowers, and proposed by note. She still has it in her wallet.

35:25 – 50:05 | Marriage, the email, and twenty years of silence. Days after the wedding, her father sends a page-long email cutting her off. No warning, no reason. They haven't spoken for 20 years. He passed away just before Christmas 2025.

50:05 – 55:30 | Leaving banking + the pivot into community work. At 37, the passion date arrives. A mentor named Beck sees something in Cass she hadn't seen in herself and tells her to make it a career.

55:30 – 1:02:10 | The Rural Health Research Foundation. Cass now leads a new charity funding community-led health solutions in rural and regional Australia. Mini grants open now.

1:02:10 – 1:04:17 | Life's lesson + close. Walk through every door that opens, even if you don't know where it leads.

In this episode of Your Neighborhood Show, Carolyn sits down with Brisbane adventurer and boat builder Tom Robinson, who became the youngest person to row the Pacific Ocean after setting off from Peru in a boat he designed and built himself. Tom shares how his love of solitude on the Brisbane River shaped his inner world, and how that quiet became fuel for an enormous self-made rite of passage. Along the way, he opens up about fear, surrender, and the unexpected kindness of strangers—from fishermen at sea to island communities who welcomed him as family. It’s a gripping story of resilience and risk, but also a heartfelt reflection on why disconnection is often the doorway to deeper connection.

Episode Breakdown

00:00 – 05:30 | Welcome + theme of connection/disconnection
Carolyn introduces the show’s purpose and sets the tone for a story that holds both struggle and meaning.

05:30 – 13:30 | Meet Tom Robinson + the record-setting row
Tom’s bio and achievement: building his boat, rowing the Pacific, and the journey’s dramatic end near Vanuatu.

13:30 – 22:00 | Childhood in Yeronga + the river as refuge
Triplet life, a chaotic home, and how rowing became Tom’s calm, independence, and meditation.

22:00 – 30:00 | The dream forms: “I’m going to row the Pacific”
Adventure books, the mirror moment at 14, and why rowing felt like the ultimate challenge.

30:00 – 39:00 | Preparation: apprenticeship, boatbuilding, and obsessive planning
Tom explains learning boatbuilding, designing “Maiwar,” and the thousands of decisions needed to survive at sea.

39:00 – 47:00 | Leaving Brisbane + arriving in Peru + delays and bureaucracy
Saying goodbye, customs setbacks, the unexpected “ransom,” and local helpers who make launch possible.

47:00 – 54:30 | The sendoff + early days alone at sea
A powerful departure ceremony, then immediate focus on survival near busy shipping lanes.

54:30 – 59:30 | Day 49: fear → connection with fishermen
A tense encounter turns into generosity when fishermen bring supplies and tuna after weeks of isolation.

59:30 – 1:08:30 | Day 75: blown off course + major reroute to Penrhyn
The emotional hit of losing the original plan, calling home, and aiming for a tiny island with a dangerous reef entry.

1:08:30 – 1:16:00 | Survival mode + surrender + “nirvana” at sea
Tom describes hardship, then a profound peace—accepting any outcome and finding inner stillness.

1:16:00 – 1:23:00 | Landfall at Penrhyn: towed into the lagoon + a new name
A cinematic arrival, safety at last, and being given the name Mata Hoho Asanga (“the warrior that has paddled from afar”).

1:23:00 – 1:27:30 | Island life + community values
Church, singing, work projects, and what Penrhyn taught Tom about meaning beyond individualism.

1:27:30 – 1:30:30 | Capsize + rescue near Vanuatu (high-level recap)
Tom recounts the terrifying overturn, the night on the hull, beacon activation, and being picked up by a ship.

1:30:30 – 1:32:00 | Advice + gratitude
Tom’s message to young people: make a plan, tell people, commit—plus thanks to his parents for freedom and support.

In this deeply moving episode of Your Neighborhood Show, Carolyn sits down with Julie, a participant-turned-volunteer at Sailability, to explore the remarkable journey of a woman who has quietly survived isolation, emotional abuse, neurodivergence, and chronic illness—and emerged with strength, creativity, and purpose. From early childhood mornings spent alone in convent gardens, to rediscovering joy on a sailboat in Townsville, Julie opens up about the challenges of being autistic in a world that often misunderstands, the long silence of an abusive marriage, and the radical act of reclaiming her voice through music, writing, and community. This is a story of resilience, reinvention, and the healing power of connection.

Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Introduction
Carolyn introduces the theme of connection and disconnection, and welcomes Julie from the inclusive sailing organization, Sailability.

02:30 – A Childhood in Solitude
Julie recounts her early years spent alone in convent and school gardens, reflecting on how solitude shaped her comfort with being alone and her hesitancy around connection.

08:00 – Autism, Observation, and Self-Sufficiency
She shares how her autism likely contributed to her isolation and her affinity for quiet, creative exploration through nature and books.

12:30 – Music as a Lifeline
By age four, Julie was playing piano. Through school, travel, and cruise ships, music became her sanctuary and mode of expression.

18:15 – Growing Up Different
Julie discusses the disconnect she felt with peers due to her family's extensive travel and her mature worldview, often keeping her experiences to herself.

22:00 – The Pen Pal That Changed Her Life
A French pen pal led to a lifelong friendship, a solo trip to France at 17, and a safe space to build connection at her own pace.

28:00 – The Marriage That Silenced Her
Julie opens up about her 25-year marriage where emotional abuse and coercive control silenced her music and joy, until she found the strength to leave.

33:30 – Homeschooling, Healing, and Motherhood
Julie reflects on channeling her energy into homeschooling her two children, using music and travel to help them thrive where she once felt limited.

39:00 – Rediscovery Through Travel and Culture
She shares adventures from Panama to Costa Rica, instilling in her children a love for the world and resilience through experience.

42:00 – From Breakdown to Breakthrough
After her divorce, Julie spent years unraveling chronic health issues and rediscovering who she was outside her roles.

45:00 – Sailing into Selfhood
A single ride with Sailability reconnected Julie with the ocean and community. Volunteering led her back to creativity through music and social media, reinventing how she gives back.

49:00 – Owning Her Story
Julie shares her greatest life lesson: that courage comes from leaning into community and vulnerability. “These are happy tears,” she says, as she embraces a new chapter with grace.🎧 For more stories of reinvention, resilience, and connection, listen to Your Neighbourhood Show.

📱 Available on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | ubuntufoundation.com.au/your-neighbourhood-show

In this deeply moving conversation, Julian Jakobs opens up about a life marked by sweeping transitions, heartfelt connections, and painful disconnections — and how each of these shaped the man he is today. From a childhood spent across Indonesia and Papua New Guinea to the isolation of boarding school in Sydney, Julian shares moments of joy, loss, resilience, and reflection. His journey through marriage, fatherhood, estrangement, and rediscovery — including a letter to his estranged children — reveals the raw emotional terrain of what it means to be human. Carolyn holds the space beautifully, allowing Julian’s quiet wisdom and emotional generosity to shine. This is a powerful, authentic conversation about love, memory, and the hope that connection can be restored.

⏱️ Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Welcome & Introduction
Carolyn sets the tone for the show, introducing Julian Jacobs and the theme of connection vs. disconnection.

03:00 – Early Childhood Across Continents
Julian recalls his nomadic early life in Sumatra, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. Vivid memories of playing in creeks and bonding with local children show his early affinity for connection.

10:00 – Boarding School and Emotional Isolation
At age nine, Julian is sent to boarding school. He shares his pain of separation, homesickness, and how he coped — from letter writing to friendships that spanned decades.

20:30 – The Power of Lifelong Friendships
Reconnecting with childhood friends like Conrad and a beloved teacher 45 years later, Julian reflects on why reconnection matters more as we age.

27:00 – Complex Parental Dynamics
Julian discusses his distant relationship with his father and the painful memories of sailing together — a missed opportunity for bonding.

35:00 – Love, Marriage, and Divorce
Julian details his two marriages — the first ending in heartbreak, the second in emotional estrangement. He reflects honestly on red flags he ignored and how longing for stability shaped his choices.

42:00 – Estrangement from His Children
In a heartbreaking segment, Julian opens up about the 12-year estrangement from his daughter and more recent distancing from his son. He reads a letter to them — raw, loving, and hopeful.

50:00 – Coping with Grief and Loss
Julian shares the tools that have helped him cope: compartmentalizing pain, staying active, and receiving counseling.

53:00 – A New Chapter with Judy
Finding true connection later in life, Julian speaks joyfully about his partner Judy and the authentic love they now share.

57:00 – Reflections on Life and Legacy
Julian offers powerful insights on making the most of each day, living honestly, and the healing power of human connection.

60:00 – Closing Thoughts
Carolyn reflects on the emotional depth of Julian’s story, expressing gratitude for his openness and courage.

🎧 For more stories of reinvention, resilience, and connection, listen to Your Neighbourhood Show.
📱 Available on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | ubuntufoundation.com.au/your-neighbourhood-show

In this heart-warming and deeply reflective episode, host Carolyn Vincent welcomes Colombian-born creative Caterin Castro, whose journey from Medellín to Brisbane is as rich in spirit as it is in resilience. A former English teacher turned Zumba instructor, circus performer, and cooking class leader, Caterin shares the challenges and joys of adapting to a new culture while staying true to her passions. Together, they explore the nuanced layers of connection and disconnection, childhood memories that shape us, and what it means to build community from the ground up. This episode is a celebration of authenticity, emotional intelligence, and the quiet power of starting over.

⏱️ Episode Breakdown

00:00 – Welcome & Show Intro
Carolyn introduces the podcast’s theme—navigating connection and disconnection—and warmly welcomes Caterin Castro.

02:30 – First Impressions & Background
Carolyn recounts meeting Caterin shortly after her move to Australia and shares admiration for her energy and positivity.

04:00 – Childhood in Colombia
Caterin shares vivid memories of her creative mother and studious father, including a delightful story about doing laundry with music—by stomping in soapy buckets like grape pressing!

10:45 – School Struggles & Emotional Growth
Caterin opens up about being bullied, excluded, and labelled "too much" as a high-achieving student—and how her brother's tough-love advice helped her reshape her approach to connection.

20:30 – Shifting Relationships
A reflective conversation on changing dynamics with family members and how emotional closeness evolves over time and distance.

24:15 – Circus & Self-Funding University
Caterin reveals how joining a circus helped her pay for university, all without her parents knowing. She shares her mother’s initial concerns and how performance art helped her grow in confidence and independence.

32:00 – Teaching Transformation
Her teaching journey—from students rejecting her methods to becoming one of the most sought-after instructors thanks to injecting fun, emotional connection, and creativity into her classrooms.

39:00 – Emotional Learning & The Joy of Movement
Caterin discusses her belief that emotional connection fuels better learning—whether in school, the kitchen, or the dance studio.

44:00 – Zumba, Community & Smiling Through Movement
Now teaching Zumba in Brisbane, Caterin reflects on creating joy and connection through eye contact, rhythm, and warmth.

47:30 – Being Held Back & Proving Herself Through Joy
From being told she’d “never be a belly dancer” to launching cooking classes despite being labelled “not qualified,” Caterin reveals how joy—not credentials—drives her forward.

52:00 – Migration, Faith & Full-Circle Generosity
Caterin and Carolyn revisit the emotional story of her arrival in Australia—no furniture, no history—and the beautiful chain of community generosity that helped her rebuild.

54:30 – Looking Forward: Dreams of a Movement & Healing Space
Caterin shares her vision for a dance, circus, and healing retreat space—rooted in joy, community, and holistic well-being.

🎧 For more stories of reinvention, resilience, and connection, listen to Your Neighbourhood Show.

📱 Available on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | ubuntufoundation.com.au/your-neighbourhood-show