Community Conversations with Pietro

In this episode we’re coming to you from Connect Global, a drug and alcohol rehabilitations centre. Unlike other centres, this one is about rebuilding the man and not just treating existing addictions. We would like to thank Ross Pene, Program Manager, and some of the men who are a part of the program for sharing from their heart in this episode. We encourage you to share this podcast across your network to spread the word about how men are released from the pain of addiction and incarceration to become role models for their families, friends and the community.

Everyone loves a 'best of' album because you get to hear all your favourite songs on one album. We, in the podcast world, love it too. For us, it's an opportunity to reflect on the various guests and the wealth of knowledge, skill and love they have for others. In this podcast, Pietro unpacks three episodes and provides an overview of some of the nuggets of gold that really stood out to him. Our guests come from a range of backgrounds, but what is always consistent, is their heart to help others. We hope this episode makes your heart sing and you feel encouraged to listen to the back catalogue. We may be biased, but we'd be telling porky pies if we said we never relistened to our podcasts. Not because we like the sound of our own voices, but because hearing from such amazing people encourages us.
Community Conversations exists to help share stories and experiences of the ways people are making a difference in the world. As a podcast, we aim to help provide information to people who work in the community services sector about services and people that go over and above, or, do something a bit different.

In this episode of Community Conversations our Producer, Michael Smith, jumps in to provide some insight to the highlights from podcasts we recorded in 2020 which was the year we started the podcast.

In this episode of Community Conversations Pietro speaks with Robert Sams, the Executive Director and Volunteer Crisis Supporter for Lifeline Newcastle and Central Coast. Nearly everyone would have heard of Lifeline before, but there are some things that you definitely might not have known about the services they offer, how they are engaging with the community and the process for becoming a telephone crisis support volunteer. It will come as no surprise, on the back of drought, bushfires, floods and COVID-19 that calls to Lifeline are unprecedented and like most organisations/businesses, their revenue is down. That said, in the true spirit of Lifeline, they have just put on another 30 volunteers and as you will hear throughout the podcast, that is not a cheap exercise given the cost of training involved.
We would encourage you to share this podcast to help raise awareness about the services offered and to consider how you or others might be able to get involved.
Lifeline can be contacted on 13 11 14 or SMS 0477 13 11 14

Until recently Tanya Davies MP had a Facebook following of about 4000 people and in a very short space of time it has grown exponentially to 84,000. Is it divine favour or that she was willing to go against her own boss, the former Premier Gladys Berejiklian and her own party, the Liberal Party, to stand up for her constituents? Whichever it may be, her voice has been amplifying the thoughts and feelings of at least 80,000 people from her electorate of Mulgoa.
When it comes to faith, there may not be a more diverse electorate than Mulgoa and it has been Tanya's faith driving her to serve people and be the difference. We hope you enjoy this episode that provides an insight to Tanya's heart and love for people.