The moment is surreal on many levels. This week’s guest retired from AFL football soon after I started this podcast. As an avid Carlton supporter I had admired him from afar for, among other things, his whole-hearted approach to every contest in every game. I remember reading what he was saying was next for him after stepping away from football: to help other players with the journey he was now on, transitioning from being a professional athlete to something else.

Generosity is the word that came to mind during this conversation with Dennis: generous to the fans in all he gave on the field; generous with his time for this interview with me; and generous through giving so much of himself through his work.

As we walked around Melbourne's Hoa Nghiem Buddhist Temple, I start to develop a new perspective for my friend, and this week's guest, Hoang Anh Cat. This is not a new thing for my relationship with Cat - it seems that every time I spend time with her I become aware of a new part of her.

There has no doubt been much Cat has overcome to find her self in the position she is in, and with the opportunities she now has. Some of these are revealed in this conversation, but a lot, I am sure, remain unrevealed. There will no doubt be new sides to Cat that I come to understand, and that I can't wait to get to know.

Weaving a story of people and place through genuine curiosity and an intention to help, is something that seems to come naturally to Desmond John. A crucial connector across Melbourne’s start-up ecosystem, Des is a tour guide extraordinaire in the literal, abstract, and mythical sense.

This is the first episode back for the podcast after a long hiatus. I am grateful to Des for taking the step to be my first guest in some time. It was wonderful to be chatting to someone with such warmth. And it felt so good to be back doing this thing I enjoy so much.

Gilbert Rochecouste has played an enormous, behind the scenes role in shaping Melbourne to be the city it is today.

Garry Williams has navigated his way out of the corporate world, through General Assembly, Inspire9, FuckUp Nights Melbourne, and now working to help nurture Melbourne's innovation community at the University of Melbourne.

Most organisations have a mission statement, vision statement, values, and now even a purpose. But as useful as they are in setting the direction of an organisation, they can be very difficult to recall without having them in front of you. They tend to become dry bits of information in and of themselves, but when brought together with a relevant story they become full of life and meaning.

Eddie stopped me in my intellectual tracks: he was right...as I observed my words time was the topic I seem to talk the most about. And here he was telling me that reconceiving and redesigning time was within my power.

Caitlyn has a way of taking things that can be awkward, inaccessible and intangible, and making them safe, fun and empowering. Crucial when it comes to talking about mindfulness and play and sexuality.

While I thought I may talk about them in separate episodes, I did not consider that I may talk to a guest about feminism and football in the same episode. After spending an hour with Carmen Hawker, I am even more inspired by what gender equality and gender liberation could bring to the game I love, let alone the broader society within which I live.

Developing the mindset and tools to sustain our wellbeing and performance in an era of stress and busyness.

Innovation is something that everyone seems to be doing at the moment. But what constitutes innovation? Can it be taught? And is there a science and method behind it?

Suburban football clubs, the Australian variety, are an amazing microcosm of their local culture, a place that brings people together but where many of their unconscious prejudices and misgivings are given a place to camp and grow. Jamin talks about what he is doing with sports clubs so that sport can serve a far greater purpose than it currently does within local communities.

I remember the first time I walked past ‘The Good Copy’ on Johnston St in Collingwood, Melbourne. I knew there was something interesting and different about the space and it pricked my curiosity so much that I had to go in for a look.

I walked out with a wry smile and without talking to anybody, thinking that I have no idea what I was just inside of. But it was fascinating and unique and cool.