Dan Brophy's Quit Your Day Job*

In this episode, Tim Duggan discusses his latest book, 'Work Backwards,' and the creative process behind writing. He shares his experience of separating his identity from the company he co-founded, Junkie Media, and the personal challenges he faced during that time. Tim also talks about his research process, including conducting interviews with experts and using music as a creative ritual. He acknowledges the presence of self-doubt throughout his writing journey and emphasizes the importance of constantly improving and pushing oneself. The conversation explores the themes of luck and timing, being in tune with trends, and the importance of starting with oneself. It delves into the problems with the current approach to work, such as overwork, disengagement, and apprehensiveness, and the need to fix the broken system. The conversation also discusses the healthier approach to work-life balance among Gen Z and the need for employers to create systems that support work-life balance. It concludes with practical advice for individuals who are dissatisfied with their current work situation and the importance of rebalancing life and work. The creative process involves solving a problem for oneself and then realizing it can also benefit others. Research and interviews with experts can provide valuable insights and inspiration for writing. Music can be used as a creative ritual to set the mood and enhance focus. Self-doubt is a common experience for writers, but it can be channeled into improving the work. Separating one's identity from a company or project can be challenging but also an opportunity for personal growth. Luck and timing play a role in success, but being in tune with trends is also important. Starting with oneself and finding a topic or idea that one genuinely cares about is crucial for long-term success. The current approach to work is broken, with issues such as overwork, disengagement, and apprehensiveness. Gen Z has a healthier approach to work-life balance, prioritizing life outside of work. Employers need to create systems that support work-life balance and prioritize employee well-being. Individuals who are dissatisfied with their work situation can start by rebalancing their life and work, focusing on work less, and improving their mind, body, and relationships.   For more on Tim: https://timduggan.com.au/ For more on Dan: www.brophy.world  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

*TAKE A MOMENT TO RATE THIS SHOW IN SPOTIFY OR ON APPLE PODCASTS* In this episode, I'm talking to Brooke Brash - co-founder of 'Imaginal' (previously 'Ritual Community'). I met Brooke a few weeks ago and got talking about her journey from working in finance - to starting her own purpose led business... I had to halt our real-life conversation until we could make it 'Podcast Official'. We dive into Brooke's background in business - and her journey to co-founding the holistic and integrative ritual community platform. We cover topics such as:  How a corporate job can prepare you for your purpose work. The signs of burnout and the cost of not listening to your inner voice.  The power of attuning ourselves to be guided by our own innate wisdom. Turning the every-day into an act of self-care through the power of intention.  If you'd like to find out more about Imaginal's unique offerings, you can check out Brooke's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brooke.brash or Imaginal's website www.imaginal.com.au Follow Dan: https://www.instagram.com/danbrophy/ To watch the episode on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/danbrophySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode I'm talking to Callum Mitchell - founder of Perdrisat Perfume. A few years ago Callum ventured into the world of fragrance - interested in creating his own signature scent...not knowing he would end up launching his own fragrance business - and all that might come with that His most recent launch of his summer collection has caused him to receive quite a bit of backlash from the online perfume community. In this episode we dive into the good and the bad of taking risks and launching your own business, and cover topics such as: What makes a perfume good? How do you even make perfume? The importance of having a good support system. How necessary it is to take risks in business. The steps and processes behind what inspires Callum to make each perfume, rather, 'characters' as he calls them.  The endlessness of creativity and what to do with it.  And we go over some of the comments he received during the backlash.  If you're as keen as I am to try out his range, you can find out more:  https://www.perdrisatperfume.com/ https://www.instagram.com/perdrisatperfume/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode I'm talking to one of my oldest mates, and the first winner of Australia's 'The Apprentice', Andrew Morello. Since then he's been doing even more incredible things and apart from being Australia's first winner of The Apprentice, he's also a public speaker, property investor, venture-capitalist, author, Head of Business Development at 'The Entourage', and an award-winning entrepreneur.  In this episode we take a deep dive into his biggest triumphs in business, the ways in which he helps others to succeed in business, and I chat with him about how creativity is a super factor in having a successful business.  We also cover the following topics... The top three things I believe business folk would benefit from within the creative world. The top three things Morello believes would bolster and boost creatives and their creative businesses.  How having or being with kids can boost your creativity and make you fall in love with it all over again. The power of going against the grain and pushing against the norm when it comes to how you run your business.  Morello's observations on creatives without business structures and businesses without creativity.  If you're interested in being part of The Entourage and gaining access to some of the magic that Morello has made there, here's the link to the website: www.the-entourage.com Or if you're interested in having a one on one session, see the link in his bio on his Instagram:  www.instagram.com/andrewmorello  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a simulcast of my chat with Rhys Livingston who interviewed me on his 'From Lambs to Lions' podcast. What you'll discover: My origin story  My business's origin story  The difference between content and advertising  Branding: it's a fine art. Tips to better your Brand ID My process as the founder and Creative Director at Brophy Media  My recent launching of "The Vision Planner" and how it can help you actualise your dreams! The issues I see within the creative media industry My own personal goals when it comes to my own career Measures of success and how important joy really is when building your business and your career   For Creative Coaching courses and tools: www.danbrophy.com For more on BROPHY Studio: www.brophy.media  For Dan's Creative Coaching Tips: www.instagram.com/danbrophy   For more on Rhys Livingston and Lambs to Lions:  https://fromlambstolions.buzzsprout.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lionstonephysiques  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode I’m talking to Hugh Crothers - a friend of fifteen years and founder of Drip Feed. Hugh’s professional journey began with a Bachelor’s of Design, and after various life experiences and professional ventures he found himself creating a business with the central idea being: offering products that look good and feel good, and educating the masses as to how to feel better about their bodies, sex, kinks, and fantasies. In this episode we talk all things Hugh and all things ‘Drip’. Some topics covered on this podcast are: Hugh’s personal experiences with shame and lack of confidence surrounding queer sex and how it was an integral experience for the birth of his business. The journey to incorporating all parts of yourself within your own business. The importance of listening to yourself and those who know you best when they point out that you haven’t found your passion yet. How Drip is fighting, breaking and shedding the stigmas and shame surrounding sex and sex products. The importance of having sex products that look good and feel good. For more on Hugh and his products: https://dripfeed.life/pages/about https://www.instagram.com/dripfeed.life/?hl=en See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode I'm talking to the wonderful Erin Schliebs - a Reiki healing of over ten years, and creator of ‘The Heart Codes' Oracle Deck. During the pandemic, Erin began running ‘Cloud Reiki Gatherings' which are online gatherings for anyone and everyone to experience the healing benefits of Reiki. In this podcast Erin and I dive into topics such as:  What Reiki is, where it came from as a mode of healing, the benefits of Reiki, and what a session with Erin looks and feels like.  The ways in which emotional illnesses can turn up as physical illness within the body, and where Reiki comes in as a remedy for it. Viewing illness in the body as a way to connect with yourself and pave your own way to a more joyful existence. The importance of allowing nature to guide us back into ourselves, our inner harmony, and into a life of ease. The steps involved in creating your own business and tailoring it to best suit you, your life, and your family's life.  How to find ‘pockets of time' in day-to-day life to connect with yourself and take a breath. For more on Erin:  https://www.instagram.com/erinschliebs/?hl=en https://erinschliebs.com/ https://www.facebook.com/erinschliebs/   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elouise Eftos is Australia's “first attractive comedian” and social media legend. She's well-known for her stand up shows which are sassy, thought-provoking, and as we find out in this episode - sometimes triggering. She errs away from self-deprecating humour and that can come as a shock to some people.  This episode is jam-packed with laughs, giggles and genuine insights into the life of Australia's “first attractive comedian”. If you're looking to get into standup comedy make sure to take some mental notes.  Finding a way to be accessible to everybody without dumbing yourself down.  The trials and tribulations of being a hot female comedian. Making comedy that makes people think.  Life as a creative, receiving exposure, getting paid your worth, and thriving.  Discovering the importance of doing nothing and taking a break.  Social media trolls and how to deal with them in a way that is healthy for you.  The importance of being true to your personal story and authorship, even if it comes at a cost.  For more on Elouise:  https://www.instagram.com/weezasqueeza See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s show I chat to legend of the Melbourne DJ scene, Prequel.  He’s just released an utterly brilliant new album called ‘Love or I Heard You Like Heartbreak’. I wanted to talk to him all about overcoming writer's block... and what it takes to commit to the multi-year process of creating - and releasing - his first album. www.instagram.com/djprequel www.instagram.com/danbrophy   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TUNE IN NEXT WEEK, WHERE I CHAT TO PREQUEL ALL ABOUT HIS NEW ALBUM... But in the meantime, this is episode is part of a mini-series within The Passion PT Show, called ‘These Could Be Heroes’. I chat to legend of the Melbourne DJ scene, DJ Prequel.  Prequel and I chat about a hero that we both share… and it’s not what you’d expect of two guys in their 30s … It’s Fran Leibowitz, a New York intellectual, social commentator, sixty-something, Jewish lesbian author and speaker who has recently released a series on Netflix directed by none other than Martin Scorsese called ‘Pretend Its a City’, In which she pretty much complains about the state of the world from the city she only occasionally and begrudgingly leaves, Manhattan. Along with the fact that she is a poster girl for working with your creative blocks – or as she calls it a creative blockade – I wanted to discuss what it is about this day and age that makes her particular brand of Curmudgeonly nihilism so welcome.  Tune in next week for a more music-centric chat with prequel but in the meantime please enjoy the very first episode of These could be heroes where we discuss Fran Leibowitz. MORE ON PREQUEL: https://www.instagram.com/djprequel/ MORE ON FRAN: https://youtu.be/MClMxqD-HNA MORE ON DAN: https://www.instagram.com/danbrophy/   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does the universe give you clues over the course of your whole life as to what your true purpose is? In this episode I’m talking to Tamica Wilder, a bodywork & somatic sex coach.  One of the reasons why I reached out to Tamica is because I noticed her online presence growing recently with her finding bite-size palatable ways for her to share her ideas to her community in a way that allows her to define her brand and grow her offering. In this chat you'll hear points about: The benefit of working with a coach-led think tank to level-up your business practices DIY Branding: How to tell YOUR story YOUR way - and knowing what your industry expects - so that you can DEFY EXPECTATION Tamica shares a great tool that you can use to make a first step towards working out your brand's look and feel. We discuss gathering research and being hyper aware of what else is around vs. creating in a bubble (hint: there's no 'right' way to create) The importance of showing up to the page or the screen or the camera or the instrument - regardless of how you feel... because if you waited until you felt ' inspired' you may never get anything done The importance of boundary setting and scheduling to balance life demands (like having multiple human being to take care of) For more on Tamica: https://www.instagram.com/theorgasmicmama/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guess today is Tim Duggan who is the founder and editor of Junkee Media.  Tim has just released a book called 'Cult Status', which I read in the lead up to having a chat. It's such a palatable and effortless read… well, 'listen' in that, I actually consumed it in a couple of days via Audible because I’m a self-confessed terrible reader. I wanted to talk to Tim because not only has he built largest millennial media platform in the country, but has found a way to continually reinvent Junkee's offering in a digital landscape where the only constant is change. I’ve known Tim for over 10 years – I was once a night club doorman at the Melbourne branch of a night he used to run with none other than Courtney Act called 'Disgraceland' and so we’ve always been on each other’s radars.  When I heard he was writing his first book about lessons learned in launching – and sustaining – a millennial media empire,  I couldn’t wait to learn from one of the countries best most pragmatic geniuses of creative business - and certainly one of the nicest. Cult Status contains magnificently practical and fun way to workshop your own business or brand in order to understand how to make it "sticky" – irresistible to your audience for the purpose of breeding a rabid fan base. In this chat, we discuss: Discovering your superpower - and using it to create an offering that resonates. How Tim transformed his schedule in order to find the time to write his first book. How Tim works with writers block - not against it. Why the most important part of any good idea is action This conversation is relevant for anyone looking to launch any sort of creative project, whether it be a business or brand or a rock band.You’re nothing without the support of an audience. remember: it's not enough just to have a talent - you have to have a talent for your talent. For more on Tim / his amazing book 'Cult Status' check out the show notes. http://cultstatus.com/ In this podcast, Tim also references 'The Miracle Morning' by Hal Elrod:https://miraclemorning.com/ For more on Dan: www.instagram.com/danbrophywww.danbrophy.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a second instalment of my chat with best-selling author, award-winning coach and founding editorial director of Girl Boss, the women's media empire, Jerico Mandybur. If you didn't catch last week's ep of this podcast, it's a great place to hear about Jerico's career origin story - and the path that lead her to  combine her career in journalism and her passion for tarot and spiritual eclecticism. The reason why I wanted to check back in with Jerico is because so much time had passed since we last spoke - I think there was about 6 months between recording and posting the episode, due to my own delays around rebranding my podcast - which meant it was also a great opportunity to discuss the frustrations that all creatives have with balancing the demands of work and the calling of our passions. This time around the episode is hot off the press, and I spoke to Jerico while she was in hotel quarantine, having just returned to Australia from living and working in LA. I loved talking to Jerico so much, what was meant to be a 30 minute check in ended up as a 90 minute shequel episode - but we just had to keep on going til it all stopped flowing. Some of the topics we discuss in the chat are: The practical ways to be both ambitious & goal-oriented - while also avoiding overworking How to structure your day for maximum productivity when you work for yourself How to fit writing a book into an otherwise full working life. How she developed her own unique visual aesthetic How she works with clients as a coach and branding & editorial consultant When is the best time to seek out a coach or consultant? FOR MORE ON JERICO: https://jericomandybur.com https://www.instagram.com/jerico.mandybur GET JERICO'S NEO TAROT DECK: https://www.booktopia.com.au/neo-tarot-jerico-mandybur/book/9781784882372.html   FOR MORE ON DAN: www.danbrophy.com https://www.instagram.com/danbrophy See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode chat I'll be talking to best-selling author and spiritual coach, Jerico Manydbur. I first discovered Jerico through her ‘Tarot Card of the Week Readings’ on Instagram - I love Jerico's candid, cool approach to tarot - turning it into something that felt as quotidian as a green smoothie. Last year, Jerico published her own tarot deck, Neo Tarot. Besides being some of the most beautifully illustrated, they are unique in that they are both gender non-binary and present a wide array of racial archetypes. True to form, the accompanying book presents a practical explanation of each card offering actionable next steps to further self-awareness, tying the entire practice to wellness - as opposed to an immovable fate that you have no control over. I wanted to talk to Jerico about the career path that lead her from Oyster Mag in Australia to being head-hunted by Sophia Amoruso to be the editorial director of Girl Boss. We also talk about: How to Avoid burnout by looking out for the signs. One month of rest could save 6 months of recovery down the track How to know which lane to pick when it comes to building a career that has real meaning and resonates with you The importance of committing to 'the long game' to create a career that you love And How to navigate supporting yourself financially while you support yourself creatively - the great juggling act.   I spoke to Jerico while she was based in LA and we had some sound issues  for the first part of this chat, so if you are an audio snob jump ahead to the 35 minute mark - however if you do stick around there is some gold to be had in the first half an hour.Jerico has is now back in Australia and offering her skills as a consultant, so for anyone who wants to leverage the skills she has gleaned from a decade defining some of the coolest brands in the world, get in touch with her via jericomandybur.com   FOR MORE ON JERICO: https://www.instagram.com/jerico.mandybur/ https://jericomandybur.com GET JERICO'S NEO TAROT DECK: https://www.booktopia.com.au/neo-tarot-jerico-mandybur/book/9781784882372.html   FOR MORE ON DAN BROPHY: https://www.instagram.com/danbrophy   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andy Mant is founder and CEO of BluBlox - the light-blocking eyewear that improves sleep, affects  mood and combat digital eye strain. Andy began his entrepreneur's journey after after feeling frustrated with a career in recruitment that left him wanting. However beyond just having a million dollar idea you need a 'million dollar strategy' to help bring it to fruition. Andy was an absolute GOLDMINE of wisdom and inspiration. Some of the topics that we discuss on this episode are: Discovering what you're passionate about - when you have no idea How to know when it's time to quit your day job Bridging the gap between your day job and your side hustle Identifying a gap in a market to create something that has an in-built audience The macro and micro shifts that you can take to transform your focus and productivity every day (some of them you'll wish you started doing yesterday Have a notepad ready, because you are going to want to be taking notes! For more on Andy: www.instagram.com/iamandymant  https://www.instagram.com/blubloxofficial/ www.blublox.com   For more on Dan: www.instagram.com/danbrophy Don't forget to subscribe, leave us a review in iTunes so that other people can find us and share the ep with someone who may find it life-changing (it's what we're here for.) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode I'll be talking to lifestyle and wellness power-couple Melissa Ambrosini & Nick Broadhurst Melissa is a bestselling author, host of the top-rated podcast The Melissa Ambrosini Show, a keynote speaker, content creator, and entrepreneur. Nick is a singer, songwriter and a former member of Sneaky Sound System, as well as a meditation advocate, visual artist and entrepreneur. We discuss: How to best understand your strengths to know what to look for in a partner Building an audience - and turning it into a customer base Creating the ideal work / life balance Growing and nurturing passive income streams Which professionals they have outsourced to enhance all areas of life - from health, to relationship to business   For more on Melissa: www.melissaambrosini.com For more on Nick: www.iamnickbroadhurst.com For more on Dan www.instagrma.com/danbrophy     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You've got a successful blog, you've built an audience, everyone tells you that you should write a book. Now I guess it's juts as simple as writing the book. Right?! For creatives of ALL disciplines, the hard part isn't STARTING a project, it's FINISHING. While our passion project is the thing we love to do, sometimes GETTING IT DONE is the hardest part. I chat to newly minted author, and old friend, Ashe Davenport (Sad Mum Lady) all about the process of writing: How much time she dedicated to it each week How she outsourced professionals for feedback - and at what stage in the development process How she overcame the paralysing self-doubt that threatened fo derail the project. This is a great chat for anyone who is dying to GET OUT OF THEIR OWN WAY in order to DO THE THING they love.   FOR MORE ON ASHE DAVENPORT: www.Instagram.com/AsheDavenport www.booktopia.com.au/sad-mum-lady-ashe-davenport/book/9781760877637.html   FOR MORE ON DAN BROPHY: www.linktr.ee/danbrophy IF YOU FIND THIS PODCAST INSPIRING...PLEASE SHARE IT! LEAVE A REVIEW & RATE US IN APPLE PODCASTS; OR POST A SCREEN-SHOT TO INSTA STORIES AND TAG @danbrophy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's Quit Your Day Job podcast (link in bio), I chat to Australian theatre LEGEND Trevor Ashley (Hairspray, Liza on an E, Fat Swan) - AS HE GET'S READY TO GO ON STAGE at the Sydney Opera House for his new play. 'The Lyin' Queen' was six years in the making before premiering this month - I wanted to chat to Trevor about the process of nurturing a PASSION PROJECT for that long - and how to know when it's time to launch!This is a great episode for anyone looking to TAKE THE LEAP into sharing their work... maybe the time is now?! LINKS: https://www.thelionqueen.com.au https://www.instagram.com/trevor_ashley/ Check out my Creative Wellness Vlog: https://www.instagram.com/danbrophy/

Shira O'Sullivan Linker is the founder of 'gentSac' an online and retail store in The Galeries in Sydney's CBD which curates luxury men's grooming products from around the globe. However, Shira is passionate about inspiring men to take as good a care of their inner life as their outer-self. For more: www.gentsac.com.au www.instagram.com/gentsac www.instagram.com/life.of.shira For more on host Dan Brophy www.instagram.com/danbrophy

How do you get out of your own way and make your best work? Artist Missy Gilbert AKA ØFFËRÎNGŠ says its by focusing on WHO the work is for. By dedicating it and setting intention for the work, it allows you to get out of your own way and channel your greatest level of focus to maximise your creative output. Missy is an artist, though she has only just started to call herself that - after 21 years working as a freelance creative. I wanted to talk to Missy about why it's so hard to claim that title - especially given she is one of the most successful creatives I know working across events (the immersive dining behemoth 'Hyper Real' in conjunction with Chin Chin Restaurant), Performance Art (QVB After Dark, Sydney) and she even runs a 2000 square meter artists space, The Nest Creative Space in Alexandria, Sydney! Missy shares much wisdom and magic - enjoy! For more on Missy: https://www.instagram.com/i_am_offerings/ For more on Dan: https://www.instagram.com/danbrophy/    

An entrepreneur journey lead Mike Campbell  from personal trainer to men's coach, published author and co-founder of men's health symposium 'Manifest' (Sydney Town Hall, Nov 16-17, 2019) More on Mike: http://mikecampbell.com.au www.instagram.com/mikecampbellmc https://manifestaus.com More on Dan: www.instagram.com/danbrophy

Tess has literally written the book on how to start - and grow - a creative agency (it's 263 pages and fabulous, an available for sale on her website, below). If turning your solo-preneur career into a small company is something you are entertaining, then this one's for you. Also you should listen because Tess is something of a low-key, genius. To see how it's done, check out:  https://smackbangdesigns.com https://www.instagram.com/smackbangdesigns/   For more on Dan: www.instagram.com/danbrophy    

Hannah and Eliza Reilly are a force to be reckoned with... Between them, in the last couple of years they have contributed to almost every media platform in the country, from TV (2 ABC series) to radio (Triple J's The Hook Up), to theatre (Belvoire Theatre) to standup (Sydney Comedy Fest)... They have just launched their own all-female writers room here in Australia and are about to launch TV careers in the US. But this is no overnight success. This is the result of over a decade's worth of dedication to their goals. The secret of their success? Among other things, their creative partnership.

Vanessa Muradian was working as a Newscorp journalist before the universe - her passion for real conversations about sex and sexuality - got in the way. For more on dan: www.instagram.com/danbrophy For more on Vanessa: www.instagram.com/miamuse.intimac www.instagram.com/vanessa.muradian

Josh Reid Jones was frustrated with the inefficiencies of the not for profit space, so he turned it on its head and started Just Be Nice Project - a world-first that matches people who want to give to charities with the organisations that need their specific skills. We can all stand to be more 'disruptive' in our thinking - and it it our greatest frustrations are usually a key to our greatest breakthroughs. Submit a 'creative process' question to my IGTV Vlog: https://www.instagram.com/danbrophy More on Josh: https://www.instagram.com/joshreidjones/ https://www.jbnproject.com/

Carla Uiarte is a multi-hyphenate artist, designer, filmmaker, art-gallery curator - but most impressive of al, is her philosophies on the fluidity and fluency that all creatives have - but so few take possession of. This is an incredibly motivating chat with an incredible creative.

My guest this week is Ross Harding.  Ross is creative sustainability professional, whose brainchild is the 'Off The Grid Festival' - a solar powered dance party that takes place right in the Melbourne CBD. Coming from an academic background in engineering and finance, Ross has found a way to combine his passions for conservation and social change with his love of techno and having a gosh darn good time. What started as a day party just off the Melbourne city grid evolved to encapsulate a festival of ideas featuring Australia’s leading environmentalists, architects, activists, entrepreneurs and foodies.This is how you make environmental awareness cool. I wanted to talk to Ross about how he went from working in the corporate space to starting his own festival, from conception to completion and the hurdles along the way. For Ross this is but a small stop on an ever-evolving journey to create real change in his local environment - with a view to affect bigger change in the wider community - and globally. The key realised in talking to Ross, is not to tell people what they should want - or even what they should do.It's to give them what they already want, and to use it as a means to equip them with the tools to make better choices - for themselves - in future. If you're looking to stage a never-before-seen event; make work that is designed to shift perspectives; - or create social impact using the skills developed through a 9-5 - this is a conversation for you. Find out more via: www.findinginfinity.com (www.instagram.com/finding_infinity) and www.offthegrid.global (www.instagram.com/offthgridfest)

Have you ever thought about opening your own cafe or restaurant? My guest this week did... until she decided to. George Woodyard is the owner, operator and cook at restaurant and bar, Bart Jr. Bart Jr may be named after a notorious stray cat in Sydney's slowly gentrifying Redfern neighbourhood, but there's nothing scrappy about this local institution.  The bar food menu is full of 'the best version of old favourites' - and a couple of your next new favourites.  For those of you who don't know that my entire life revolves around food, let me tell you: the way to my heart is through my stomach. When George designs a dish, it's the key ingredient that is celebrated. To taste a dish that is nothing more a baked potato, it's like no potato you've ever eaten. You can't imagine octopus fresher or more lithe. It comes garlic-infused and accompanied by a homemade hummus. The atmosphere is a vibrant small bar on a corner in a quiet neighbourhood. It has the perfect ambiance for a first date or an effortless night out and the menu changes every fortnight, so there is always a reason to keep going back.Although it is devastated when a favourite is retired, your heart will race to discover it's been re-instated. Good dining is like theatre, and I applaud after every meal at Bart Jr. But this isn't her first venture, George and her business partner Annie have started fires all around Sydney: first they launched cafes Scout's Honour in Redfern, then Morris in Paddington - all of which felt simple and impressive and punched above their weight in terms of quality of experience. Next up, it's a wine bar. However George is not a trained chef. George trained as a lawyer - and it was her decision to quit her day job to pursue her passion that I was most excited to talk to her about. This is a great conversation for anyone who has sat at a cafe and thought, 'I could do this'. Or for anyone who is feeling anxious about being stuck in a career path that they are no longer feeling connected to - in George's case, her career in law was one of the best foundations for her career reinvention as it gave her the startup capital and learning foundations that could equip her to take the leap.

My guest this week is artist Will Huxley. Along with his partner in art and life,  Garett, he forms one half of The Huxleys, which is a 'performance art experience' allowing him to play in the space of experimental theatre, costume design, photography and video. The Huxley's two of the most recognisable artists in the country - mainly due to their larger-than-life costumes and colourful performance that are as layered with meaning as they are widely accessible. They have been guests of every major art event and profiled by every major media outlet in the country.You may have seen them turn up to a functions in giant inflatable costumes and their glitter infused mock-glam-rock act Style Over Substance in which they perform as a band without music. Will and I came up alongside each other at film school. Since graduating in the middle of the 2000s have faced the disillusionment of trying to work out where we fit in ever-narrowing film and TV industry. We discuss the way Will has forged a path towards making work that he really believes in - and turned it into a career. This is a great chat for anyone feeling discouraged by the lack of opportunity within their dream industry, or for those who are unsure about how to make the bridge from they work they are doing to the work they want to be doing. It's great to be reminded that for Will this has been the journey of fifteen years, with every step along the way equipping him with another tool for making work that unlike anyone else. 

This week's guest on the Quit Your Day Job Podcast is a consummate creative entrepreneur, Amber Renae. She discusses making the transition through various career reinventions - from stylist, to TV presenter, to online marketing guru and personal branding coach. We discuss: How do you know when it's the right time to quit your day job? Adjusting your mindset to make the most of set-backs. Up-skilling and gathering the tools you need for your next career reinvention. Building your own online business and growing your database of true followers - which then become your loyal customers. This is a great chat for anyone looking to create a career path that speaks tp their spirit - and a reminder that the journey is along one, your 'overnight success' may be the result of years' worth of learning, planning and testing.  If you're a fan of the Quit Your Day Job series, please subscribe in iTunes and leave a review - and don't forget to share it with someone who may find it inspiring!

Damien Woolnough is the the former editor of Vogue.com.au, deputy editor of Elle magazine and fashion editor of The Australian. 2018 has seen Damien step out from behind the masthead of other magazine titles to launch his own online publication: Marry the Man, a luxury lifestyle online platform and one-stop-shop for the increasing wave of men looking to do just what the title says - perfectly timed with the changing of the law in support of gay marriage in Australia earlier this year. Marry the Man is defined by its well-curated lifestyle content and colourful, beautifully simple design. It is a timely and unique offering with a built-it, niche audience of traditionally double-income-no-kids earners looking to spend - making it incredibly desirable to perspective advertisers.  This is a great conversation for anyone looking to launch their own online platform, or those interested in the digital publishing space for fashion and lifestyle.

My guest today is journalist, author and documentary filmmaker Kale Brock. Kale cut his teeth in the media landscape as a teenage presenter on the TV series Totally Wild - AKA my childhood dream job. This year has seen Kale tour the country to promote his feature-length documentary The Gut Movie, a cinematic and widely accessible investigation into how our gut health can influence everything from our immunity to our happiness. Kale is my favourite kind of creative. He is a renaissance man with a can-do attitude; researching, writing, presenting and shooting content that has filled two published books (and counting) as well as a steady stream of short film, podcast, vlog and blog content that has filled his channels to the point that has carved out a niche as the distinct voice in the gut health space - which is one of the fastest growing areas of health and wellness. If 'Quit Your day Job is a philosophy then Kale is living it: the perfect example of what happens when you marry what you love to do with what you are good at with the change you want to see in the world. As in my own story, it was an ill-fitting corporate job that gave him the ‘dark night of the soul’ which encouraged his first great leap towards quitting his day job and moving towards a lifestyle in which he could define his own hours, work on his own terms, establish a passive income stream and most importantly create work that he believes in.

My guest this week is designer, artist and pop-phenomenon Stavroula Adameitis - though you may know her by her pop art moniker, Frida Las Vegas (www.instagram.com/fridalasvegas). I have long been a fan of Stav’s creative output, from her illustration, to her actually LOL-inducing Instagram captioning for said illustration, to the practical application of her aesthetic through jewellery design and now fashion and textiles and a foray into the “serious art world” through gallery shows and neon-fused illustrated artworks. There are a few people in the world who gave me more life as a creative.She is one of the most focused and dedicated practitioners I have observed, a master class in leveraging your skills to earn an income to facilitate a creative practice that speaks to your soul. I wanted to talk to Stav about the practical side of how she structures her day and designs the life to facilitate the work. She shares wisdom around motivation, determination and how to tackle the process of moving into a career path that is aligned with your what you’d not only love to do - but what you NEED to do. 

Gwendolynne Burkin is part of an exciting generation of Australian fashion designer that came up a the late 90s independent fashion boom time alongside alum such as Akira Isagowa and Lisa Gorman. But since then, a lot has changed in the Australian Fashion industry. Many of the names defined that period - how we dressed, what our high streets looked like, and the way Australian style was defined in the eyes of the world - have disappeared due to influences like highly competitive off-shore production, and inevitable defeat of online shopping by fast-fashion and overseas mega-brands. For Gwendolynne to still be in business 21 years later is a small miracle, due mainly to a series of creative business reinventions. I wanted to talk to Gwendolynne about what it was like coming up in that era of promise - and how she has managed to continuously adapt and evolve within her industry in order to do what she loves. This is a great episode for anyone who is looking to start their own business - especially one based around artisanal skill set. When you ARE 'the machine’ at the centre of your business - how do you ensure that you are taking care of your biggest asset? For some creatives, neglecting wellbeing for the sake of heightened productivity may mean you are getting results at the cost of your health. You need to ensure you are supporting your passion - not just creatively but also physically, mentally, nutritionally and with rest. It’s up to you to take care of your greatest asset. 

Jez Smith is a photographer. He as created arresting images of world-famous talent such as: Christy Turlington, Cate Blanchette, Serena Williams, Miranda Kerr, Megan Gale and Jennifer Hawkins.And he has shot for publications like: Vogue Italia, Hapers Bizarr UK, Instyle, Elle, GQ and The Australian's Wish Magazine (my personal favourite). When it comes to shooting high-end fashion photography in Australia, Jez Smith has a reputation for being one of the best in his field.  Why then, after almost 20 years building that reputation did he decide to move afield and relocate back to London for fresh start? This episode explores a theme that has come up a lot with my guests of late, and that is self-preservation & self care - which is not only necessary for those looking to forge a career doing what they love.It’s as important – if not more important – for those who are already working within the field of their passions - because your livelihood depends on your ability to create.  This episode is all about stepping back and taking stock - which is not a ‘one time only’ occurrence. Over the course of your creative career, you may need to do this on multiple occasions.  It was interesting for me to be reminded that no matter how successful you are are you still need to be responsible for your well-being. I’m really appreciative of Jez’s openness in talking about issues that were very personal to him – this is a great conversation for anyone who is wrestling with not only the question of HOW  to do what they love for a living - But WHY. 

For as long as I’ve known her, Mel Brady has been a stylist. However in the last couple of years, she has made the transition to model. And while this doesn’t sound too unusual in this, the era of ‘the slashie’, what is unique about this situation is that Mel is her mid-fifties… which has then meant she has added another slash to her career catchphrase: activist. Because, I found out, being a women in your fifties who decides not to fade into sexless oblivion IS is act of social rebellion - particularly, it would seem, in the eyes of the media. And thus the Embrace Age movement was born, in which Mel has rallied women from around the world to share their ideas of just how they choose to see themselves through the media. I wanted to talk to Mel about the growing popularity of this grey-roots movement - and the career in styling and image-making that got her to this place of proudly authoring her own content. This is a great episode for anyone who is looking to use their skills to forge not only a career - but a path towards the change they want to see in the world.

What does it take to make work that is excites people on a national and international level?What are you prepared to do in order to make work you are truly proud of? My guest this week is theatre writer and director Declan Greene. He has a body of work that spans every major theatre institution in the country. He got his start in Melbourne’s literal and figurative underground - staging plays in underground carparks and building sites - and is now of the best regarded theatre makers of his generation. But that doesn’t mean he’s lost his edge.  Declan's work still crosses genres and formats and merges high-brow and low-brow culture, queer performance art, multimedia, in-jokes, bad language, pop art and surrealist absurdity - but always with a view to comment on society or humanity or the profanity of culture - or all of the above. His recent direction of Blackie Blackie Brown - written by Nakia Lui and currently showing at the STC - is no exception. It melds Japanese manga iconography with Tarantino themes for a tale of aboriginal revenge on white-settler injustice.The play is simultaneously visually astounding, shocking, thought-provoking funny and tapping of some current-day zeitgeist that makes it feel truly progressive. Next up, in July this year, the MTC will stage Declan's adaptation of the Lars Von Trier film, Melancholia. And it is Declan’s tenacity that I am most admiring of.  In the decade, he has amassed a huge body of work - averaging the release of two plays a year. When I sat down with Declan for this interview last year, around the time of the release of his play The Homosexuals, I wanted to find out what his creative process looks like in a practical sense - how does he manage to average multiple major works in a year… and before someone was paying him to do so, how did create a lifestyle in which he could get good in the first place? This episode is great for anyone looking to get active in a their ideal career space by pooling passion and resources amongst your creative community. There’s never been a better time to ‘screw it - just do it’.  

Lillian Ahen AKA Flex Mami is a DJ, an MTV host and a content creator... and a social media genius. Having come from a background working in PR to realising that she may as well just use the skills she was applying to working with brands on behalf of influencers for herself, she has launched and continued to reinvent her own career, leveraging off her self-identified USPs and boldly going after the sort of opportunities she once helped create for others. Flex has been that frustrated creative working in a firm and feeling like she wanted more - and what she had forged for herself in only a few years is pretty inspiring. And one of my biggest take-aways is that it’s all about your mindset. This is a great episode for anyone who is looking to build a profile, leverage their skills into income stream by partnering with brands - and more than anything about bracing yourself with the right attitude and self belief to make the most of the myriad opportunities that are out there in this, the wild wild west of influencer marketing. 

What does it take to be one of the most in-demand creative thinkers in Australian radio? I thought I’d ask Sam Cavanagh. He’s been a producer at Southern Cross Austereo since the early 2000s,  and is best known for producing his good mates Hamish and Andy, but has has also acted as producer and a creative consultant on a countless other radio shows across the Austereo, Hit and Triple M networks. Sam Cav is revered in his industry. There’s no one who does what he does better. I wanted to chat to Sam about the practical day-to-day processes that go into being a leader in his field.  How does he plan his day? How does he stay on top of a never ending to-do list? When does he find time for exercise, personal reflection and the gathering of inspiration that will fuel his next great idea? The challenges that Sam faces in a creative and logitically demanding role within a fast-paced environment are relatable to us all - not just those in the radio industry. It is often our lack of systems and processes that prevents us from getting on top of our workload to be top of our game. Sam is a big-picture creative thinker who knows how to get the most of his day - the of people he works with. I’ve looked up to him for a long time, so it was an honour to have a chat to him for Quit Your Day Job.

Today I’m chatting with Jan Fran: journalist, commentator, writer and host of the SBS nightly news show, The Feed.  We have a practical chat about how to define and grow a personal brand. For many, this concept is still a bit on the nose, but it interested me to talk to Jan about it because she’s not an ‘influencer' - she’s a current affairs journalist - and yet she still needs to think about how to represent her work and elements of her personal life and process via social media in order to define her personal brand so as to best reach her audience. We talk about how she got her start and the importance of not just waiting for someone to give you an opportunity to do the thing you love - which for Jan meant moving to Uganda and shooting and producing her own documentary series.  This conversation offers great insight for anyone looking to get into journalism - or any sort of self-authored media gig. It highlights the importance of creating opportunities for yourself - being your own writer, director, producer, editor, and not waiting for permission in order to do the thing you believe in. IF YOU ENJOY THIS PODCAST, SHARE IT! You can send an episode link in a text or FB message, Or you can even screen-capture a point in the podcast that resonates with you and post it to your Instagram Live Story tagging @danbrophy and a leave word or two about what you found inspiring (I will then repost, tagging you right back and sharing inspiration.)Or you can do things the old fashioned way by rating it and write a short review in iTunes. It all helps to grow our creative community and continue to empower frustrated creatives to get their life! xDB

Nick Fordham is a name that is mostly known inside the Australian media industry. He is a talent manager for a number of Australia’s best known media and sporting personalities. Possibly his most celebrated client in recent months has been Lisa Wilkinson, who Nick has worked with for over a decade.  Nick Fordham is an ideas man. He belongs to a category of creative thinker that I like to call 'the strategist'. His super power seems to be in zooming out to see the bigger picture, observing how systems work and finding a way to connect disparate elements - usually for the purpose of satisfying a gap in the market. 2017 has seen many of Nick’s other projects blossom to fruition: Outback Wrangler - a 'Steve Irwin meets Bear Grills show for Nat Geo' is in its third season screened in over 130 countries; Nick’s re-invigoration of the Club Rugby has taken it from a forgotten subsidiary of Union to quite literally putting it in a league of its own; He is co-owner of health food brand The Man Shake which is one of the biggest in its category and he has co-created a TV series called ‘The Mentor’ in which Mark Bouris of The Apprentice acts as a coach to small business owners.And to top it off, he has just landed The Ellen Show as a client. All of these ideas originating from his observations of opportunities within the market - and doing the creative problem solving to fill in the gaps - usually with a solution that is innovative and enticing. I haven’t always thought of business as being creative, but in getting to know Nick I can see how much his process is like so many other creative disciplines I have observed: there are a set problems that are presented for the purpose of achieving a synergetic resolve, a number of movable parts organised around fixed parameters, and a set of rules to each game - some of which are observed purely for the purpose of bending them. This episode is especially inspirational for those who would like to be be more innovative in business - and in particular in the business of being a creative. As talking with Nick will show, the two are not mutually exclusive, rather they are a necessary part of each other - the yin to the other’s yang.  

My guest this week is Em Rusciano, who some of you may know as a top-rating breakfast radio host, a stand up comedian, singer, author, one time Australian Idol contestant and champion of all that is camp and glitter-encrusted. Em and I go a long way back- like ‘90s' "a long way back" and when I first thought about doing a podcast, she was one of the first people I couldn’t wait to talk to because she is the living embodiment of so many of the ideals that I’m hoping to champion with this podcast. In this episode we talk about:- Building your audience by getting really specific with who you are targeting and speaking directly to them;- Growing a viewership & fanbase online and then taking them with you to other projects.- The lack of self-censoring that has allowed her to move through so many mediums without hesitation around being the best at anything, but just to try it to see what sticks.It just so happens almost everything Em has put out there in the last couple of years have stuck. This is a great episode for those looking to shake things up and experiment with different outputs - and it doesn’t have to be performative like Em. You may use this inspiration as an excuse to pick up an instrument, learn a language, start a blog or go to a ceramics class. As Snoop Dog says: “Ain’t nothin to it, but to DO IT.

I like to start by asking my guests, 'when people say to you 'what to you do', what do you tell them?’ because for many people what we do can come to define who we think we are. Not having a job is often considered worse than having a job that makes you really unhappy.The security and structure offered by a role or a company is valued so highly, many people are content to stick around long after realising it’s not for them. After 17 years, rising up the ranks working in radio and network television, Naomi Shivaramen quit her day job. In the last month she has gone from 'network news Chief of Staff' -  to working behind the scenes at her local pub.  I was so interested in speaking to Naomi at this exciting time in her life, to find out why, after 11 years with Channel 7, she chose to take the leap into the great unknown. I wanted to know what that process looked like for her - and what she wants her next chapter to be all about. This episode is particularly useful for those who identify with the idea of wanting to quit their day job - but don’t know where to begin. Hopefully hearing a conversation where someone has gone through the paces will plant the seeds that will inspire you to begin your own journey of emancipation.

My guest today is Reece Carter, AKA The Herb Nerd, who has taken his love of creating remedies from things grown in his garden to building a platform where he can share ideas via videos for social media, TV appearances, speaking gigs and now books.    Reece talks about his daily process, his mindset and even his fears in stepping out from his work as a naturopath working one-on-one with clients, into the media space where he is now sharing ideas with a much broader audience.This is one of my most favourite discussions I’ve had so far on the show because Reece is at such in interesting stage in his journey that many of the ideas he shares are directly relatable to anyone who is looking to turn what they love into what they do. We discuss the benefit of making and sharing content for free in order to develop your tone of voice, your point of view, your ability to relay your message.  Another interesting topic that comes up is: in order to build your offering, you don’t need to know how to do every step of the process yourself. Instead, your role becomes one of a project manager as you pull in the skills of talented friends or professionals in order to share your message.    Another thing worth noting is how clever it is that Reece has branded himself ‘The Herb Nerd’ - it’s simple, it has a nice ring to it, but most importantly, you can tell exactly what he is offering: specialised knowledge in plant-based wellness.This idea of distilling your offering into key terms has come up a lot in interviews so far. You may do a lot of things really well, but it actually helps to pigeon-hole yourself as doing one thing better than anyone else - so that people know to come to you for that that thing. It also acts like a filter so that you make sure all of your content, while establishing your place in the market, reinforces your key offering. 

This week my guest is Callum Francis, the star of Kinky Boots, which is just about to finish it’s Australian theatrical run after playing in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.   Kinky Boots is the Broadway & Westend hit musical about a guy who inherits a shoe factory and the drag queen who inspires him to think outside the box - and make women's shoes for men who dress as women. The show's themes of celebrating diversity couldn’t be more apt now. It’s almost as if it was meant to come into the mainstream when it did. The purpose of this interview wasn’t necessarily just for those who want to get into musical theatre - it’s about setting your sights on a seemingly unattainable goal - your dream job - or in this case, dream role, of which Callum has performed two musical theatre leads (that those in his industry would step over a bitch to get to play): Simba in The Lion King and now Lola in Kinky Boots.  What I wanted to find out in talking to Callum was the mindset and day-to-day process that gets someone to be a leader in their field.  No matter what your chosen vocation, the climb is never ending - your always competing with your previous bests, if not your peers.  So what is the mindset that allows you to not only target your dream role - but, once you get there, to continue to re-invest your passion and your energy in order to keep it fresh.

Jess Harris is the co-creator of the 'Twentysomething' - now screening on Netflix. Born out of the fear of not knowing how to 'be good at life' in her twenties - she and creative partner in crime, Josh Schmidt wrote, directed and starred in a no-budget series that went from community TV to the ABC - and even to flirtations with Hollywood. I caught up with Jess - appropriately raspy-voiced on the Monday morning after a big weekend - to talk about the highs and lows on her continuing journey of learning how to turn what she loves into a career.

 When does time stop for you? When do you find yourself so deep in flow that an hour can fly by like a minute? Well that’s a great way to know that you are tapping your passions.  For my guest, who you may know as the wellness influencer Lola Berry, that feeling can come from cooking, writing about cooking - she’s now written 10 healthy eating books - teaching and practicing yoga and making video content. She’s also a public speaker and TV presenter, she has a smoothie bar in South Melbourne called Happy Place, and she has leveraged her background as a nutritionist into being a brand ambassador and media personality.  Lola has taken what she loves and turned into a career and a personal brand. The term personal brand seems to have a weird stigma around it, maybe because there are so many people trying to claim it, but when you are contributing as much to the health and wellness landscape as she is, I think it’s more than warranted. I couldn’t wait to talk to her about her creative process, how she got into doing what she is doing and how she manages to fit it all in - and still find the time to vlog about it. She is thoroughly modern business woman and an absolute inspiration. Please enjoy my chat with Lola Berry.

My guest this week is Harvey Miller. He and Monty Morgan are the front men and masterminds behind Client Liaison, who have been carving a niche in the Australian music scene for over five years. What started as the most ‘Melbourne' of concepts: a party-band with an irony-infused, 80’s pop aesthetic, has since become a national - and now international - sensation. There is so much to discuss when it comes to the Client Liaison offering: the music, the videos, the theatre of their live shows, their extensive merchandise and designer clothing collection and now their chauffeur driven off-white limousine service. So if you’re interested in how to create and grow a brand from the ground-up - or to make a place in the market for yourself when one doesn’t currently exist, this one’s for you. Please enjoy my chat with Harvey Miller.  

Why did I choose to call this podcast ‘Quit Your Day Job’?

DJ and artist an club auteur Levi Cross - also known by the club moniker Salvador Darling - is riding a wave of Melbourne nightlife renaissance.  In a time when Sydney and Brisbane struggle to find their dancing feet amidst increasing government restriction, Melbourne’s nightlife is ever-diversifying, ever expanding. Levi has been a part of the Melbourne night-life scene for over ten years - since he was 16. In previous of this podcast episodes I have spoken to creatives whose canvas was the photograph, the TV series, the mantle-piece or the workshop. This week I speak to someone who’s platform is the dancefloor. A place very near and dar to my heart.  For those that have little tolerance to Melbournians talking about how great Melbourne is, this podcast is not for you. You have been warned. For those that are mutually sympathetic: come on in, and enjoy my chat with Levi Cross AKA Salvador Darling.

You may know her from her work as a national radio host on both KIIS and Nova FM (right now she hosts the 3PM pickup on KIIS with Meshel Laurie) or you may have seen on the ABC quiz show Tractor Monkeys or through guest appearances on shows like Talkin’ Bout Your Generation, The Project, The Today Show, Weekend Today orThe Circle. However, the endeavour I was most looking forward to talking to Monty about was a creation that was all her own: Show and Tell Online, which is a website, a podcast and a youtube series, which - in a world of click-bait and trial by likes -  has been steadily building its viewership on content that is inline with its values as 'the home of conversations that connect women'. This is a great episode to listen to if you’re looking to build your own brand or platform - whether that be on radio, on TV - or in podcast or via Youtube, and a great reminder for those heartbroken by a creative industry to use the experience as fuel to your fire to turn it into something great.