Roll With The Punches

Ohmigoodness, this one got me. I sat down with the absolute legend that is Leah Ashton, founder of Hand in Hand Ballarat, and what started as a chat about her incredible foundation (and a laugh about my inevitable wardrobe malfunctions and high-heel dramas at the recent gala ball we met at) turned into one of the most raw and brave conversations I sure didn't expect to be having today...
Leah runs under the Sebastian Foundation banner, funding programs in local schools, giving kids from kinder through to year 12 the tools, the language, and the awareness to navigate the hard stuff before crisis hits. But then... amidst all this she shared something that stopped me in my tracks. Her own son... A 1am phone call... A car accident that was not an accident.... And the moment she realised she knew nothing about mental health at all.
This episode is everything. It is brave, it is honest, it is heartbreaking in parts and full of hope in others, and it landed with me at the timeliest of moments (as I share in the conversation). Leah is doing the most important work and she is doing it with her whole heart.
Go listen and then go give Hand in Hand Ballarat a follow because these guys are a pack of legends!

SPONSORED BY TESTART FAMILY LAWYERS
Website: www.testartfamilylawyers.com.au
LEAH ASHTON
Website: handinhandballarat.com.au/
TIFFANEE COOK
Linktree: linktr.ee/rollwiththepunches
Website: tiffcook.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This one started as a bit of a yarn about paramedics and ended up punching me in the guts a lil' bit. We got into the day-to-day of the job. The pager going off, the adrenaline, the fact that what most of us would call chaos… just becomes a Tuesday for these guys.
Scotty’s one of those humans who downplays everything. Reckons he’s 'not that interesting' while casually dropping stories about delivering babies, walking into absolute carnage, and being what they call a 'shit magnet' on the road.
So here we are talking about instincts and that feeling when something’s off and you just know. The pressure of walking into someone else’s worst moment and needing to be the calm one in the room. And how your nervous system kind of adapts to that world.
There’s some epic lol-worthy stuff in here too. Bit dark... Bit cheeky... and the kind of humour you wholeheartedly need for a job like this...
And then… Scotty tells a story and this whole thing shifts gears.
I won't spoil it for ya'll with details... but yeah, this one might stay with you.

SPONSORED BY TESTART FAMILY LAWYERS
Website: www.testartfamilylawyers.com.au
SCOTT DOUGLAS
Website: horatio-jones.com.au
TIFFANEE COOK
Linktree: linktr.ee/rollwiththepunches
Website: tiffcook.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 1000… and somehow I landed it with one of the most honest, straight-shooting, no bullsh*t humans I’ve come across in the gender transition space. Daviana sure doesn’t tiptoe or dress things up to make people comfortable. She says what she thinks, stands in facts over feelings, and lets it land where it lands.
We got into identity, gender transition, parenting, sport, pronouns, and the very real, very messy experience of living in a body and a world that don’t always line up the way you expect. From navigating relationships and raising a daughter, to finding a version of yourself that actually feels right… this one covers some ground.
Underneath all of it though, this is a conversation about honesty. About choosing to live in a way that feels true, even when it’s complicated… even when it costs you.
There are moments that will make you laugh, moments that will make you go 'holy shit,' and moments that might stop you in your tracks… like hearing about rocking up to a daddy-daughter school dance in full glam and owning every second of it.
It’s bold, it’s unfiltered, and maybe for some it's going to be uncomfortable in places...
Exactly how episode 1000 should be.
SPONSORED BY TESTART FAMILY LAWYERS
Website: www.testartfamilylawyers.com.au
DAVIANA (DAVID MEMONT)
Website: facebook.com
TIFFANEE COOK
Linktree: linktr.ee/rollwiththepunches
Website: tiffcook.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Buckle up for this absolute firecracker of a guest... I stumbled across Jordana recently when she presented at an event I was attending and it was instant wannabe bestie vibes for me!
She's one of those humans who aren't afraid to dive into new (and somewhat terrifying) adventures, like learning a lil' abracadabra to become a magician and doing stand-up comedy. You know, the kind of stuff that makes getting in the boxing ring for a punch in the snoz seem like a walk in the park, if you ask me.
We talked about beginner energy, the magic of being gloriously average at new stuff, and why talent is overrated and reps are everything. Oh, and Jordana shares some cracking stories about bombing on stage and being brutally heckled on an inescapable cruise ship (ouch).
Enjoy!
SPONSORED BY TESTART FAMILY LAWYERS
Website: www.testartfamilylawyers.com.au
TIFFANEE COOK
Linktree: linktr.ee/rollwiththepunches
Website: tiffcook.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I jumped on the mic after a morning doom scroll that left a bad taste in my mouth (as they often can). Two smart, credible humans I follow and generally value their content... One publicly and shamelessly tearing the other apart. But this is not the exception these days, it's sadly becoming the rule. Just today's standard algorithm bait dressed up as 'education.'
And it got me thinking. We say we value integrity, kindness, critical thinking. Then we reward outrage, pile-ons, and public shaming because it gets clicks and views. We tell kids not to bully while modelling the exact behaviour online (and offline). F*cking wild, huh?
So, here’s my general consensus...
If you’re putting yourself out there, expect heat. Life is a contact sport... (online sure effing is)
If you’re the one throwing the heat, ask who you’re becoming.
Cos guess what...
We can share ideas without being dickheads.
We can disagree without tearing people down.
We can influence without manipulating.
Be loud if you want.
Just don’t lose your integrity on the way.
Tune in if this interests you as much as it did me...
SPONSORED BY TESTART FAMILY LAWYERS
Website: www.testartfamilylawyers.com.au
TIFFANEE COOK
Linktree: linktr.ee/rollwiththepunches
Website: tiffcook.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.