This episode is about living outside of your comfort zone and realising that it’s actually an enjoyable space to inhabit. Today we chat to Faye Ripley. A nature-loving, effervescent, go-getter who lived and traveled around Australia for two years in a Nissan Patrol with her partner Max. During this chat, Faye takes us on an entertaining journey through the trials and tribulations of living out of the confines of a vehicle, set amongst the backdrop of the untamed Australian wilderness.

We unpack many topics, such as what the trip taught her about herself, how she went about honoring her needs, and how traveling for so long without any first world luxuries is actually a gift and nothing to shy away from, menstrual cups and all!

She also shares how she ended up working in extremely close proximity with crocodiles at the Top End Safari Camp in the Northern Territory, with Matt Wright (Netflix’s crocodile extraordinaire). This was a paradoxical place for her to land, considering she has a strong aversion to crocodiles (understandably), but it also demonstrates her give-anything-a-go attitude. She leads by example here, showing us that even when something is daunting, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it.

We also talk about the over precautions that people imposed on her and Max as they journeyed through uncharted territory, but also the times when sleeping with a knife under her pillow felt like a perfectly normal thing to do.

Faye also shares her insightful learnings from her most recent adventure, motherhood. She is keen to try another trip on the road but this time, with kids, believing anything is possible if you plan accordingly and have a positive outlook.

Get ready to be entertained and simultaneously inspired by Faye and perhaps consider hitting the road yourself or at least try something out of your comfort zone, whatever that may be.

SHOW NOTES;

Faye’s travel Instagram⁠

⁠Moved By Nature Instagram⁠

⁠Sunsmith website

Sunsmith website - Faye’s episode page

Top End Safari Camp

Tracks: A Woman’s solo trek across 1700 miles of Australian Outback, by Robin Davidson’s

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Thank you so much for joining me on this journey of uncovering tales of inspiring women.

Brigid x

This episode is about pushing your limits with the power of mindset. So what type of person do you picture when you think of ultra marathon runner? Is it a humble, unassuming, Aussie country girl that hails from a Dairy farm in rural Victoria? Probably not, and therein lies the beauty of Lauren Theodore.

A woman who’s achievements and commitments to doing really hard things (as Glennon Doyle would say), stretch far beyond what many people think is humanly possible. She recently competed in the Cocodona 250, a grueling 402 km ultra marathon set in the Arizona desert, USA, where athletes run through breathtaking scenery and elevations, day and night in an attempt to cross the finish line and see how far their bodies and minds can take them.

How did Lauren get to this point? This tipping point of committing herself to a goal that seemed so ‘crazy’ to others, that many people told her to see a psychologist to unpack this. Lauren does indeed share with us how running outdoors helped her get through a particularly difficult and isolating period of her life, but she thinks of the sport as a gift. She tells us that since discovering this sport and spending more time outside, she has shed layers of herself that don’t serve her anymore, allowing her to live a more authentic life.

As a kid who excelled at various team sports such as Netball and AFL, discovering the world of trail running has been the ultimate personal adventure for Loz where she has found a new community she likens to family and enjoys looking up to other inspiring female role models in this space.

We cover it all in this chat, including the specifics of ultramarathon running (which there are many! Like umm…how do you sleep and eat!?), the positives that come out of mental health challenges, commiting to a career as a Podiatrist serving remote Indigenous communities across Australia, the potential of the human spirit and the importance and relevance of mindset in everything we do in life.

Lauren wants to inspire others by showing the world that ‘ordinary people’ like herself, don’t need all the bells and whistles to achieve great things. She doesn’t have a coach or a sponsor, she works a full time job and she only discovered the sport a few years ago. She is a true inspiration, so get ready to grab your sneakers and head outside.

SHOW NOTES;

Lauren’s Instagram

Moved By Nature Instagram

Sunsmith website

Sunsmith website - Lauren’s episode

Thursday Island Running Group - Deadly Runners

Book - Bravey by Alexi Pappas

Ultramarathon Run - Coast to Kosci, Australia

Ultramarathon Run - Cocodona 250, Arizona, USA

For this new podcast to grow, your help would be greatly appreciated. Please consider any/all of the following meaningful gestures;

• Share this episode with a friend who you think will be inspired by it

• Hit ‘subscribe’ on your podcast app of choice

• Rate the show with 5 stars

• Leave a review

Thank you so much for joining me on this journey of uncovering tales of inspiring women.

Brigid x

This episode is about finding and then committing to a creative practice that helps build a deep connection to one's self and ultimately the wider energy and network of the world.

Karina Jambrak is an Australian artist who does exactly this. I’ve been friends with Karina since high school and have witnessed her go through many of life's stages. To sit down with her now and reflect on the journey so far has been a blessing, as it’s a beautiful thing when you see a friend finally arrive at a place within themselves that feels authentic and true. This is the place where Karina is at. And the process of art making and turning towards nature has helped her get there.

After going through a tough period of losing it all, she transformed this pain into powerful energy, realising it was time to take a risk and back herself. After training to be a designer working for brands and fashion houses for 15 years, she knew deep down she had the capacity not only to start her own business as a full-time artist, but for it to be a roaring success. She is deeply inspired by Mother Nature and it has been a persistent underlying influence in her work over the years. However, now she is not beholden to anyone else's vision or brief, the Natural world takes centre stage in her work, as she takes the viewer on a journey into dreamy sunsets and landscapes with curious creatures and beautiful colour palettes. She talks openly about being receptive to the universe's signs and signals in order to find her flow, allowing her to sink into the zone and create from the heart.

Karina has learnt a lot along the way, and talks candidly about the value of being authentic to your vision and yourself in order to build a business that is sustainable for the long term. She goes into the challenges of working solo, and how being in tune with her body and mood can dictate the trajectory of the day or outcome of the work. She talks about her urge to give back to people or animals in need, often donating large scale original artworks to charities such as the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital and helping out when the disastrous Northern Rivers floods hit in 2019/20. We also hear about the learnings she gained from motherhood and the perils and positives of having a business rooted in social media platforms.

If you’re interested in understanding the workings of a creative and intelligent mind, whilst also having a laugh, then this episode is for you.

PLUS COMMUNITY DISCOUNTS!! - Karina is generously offering listeners 10% off artwork from her website, use the code SUNSMITH10 at checkout.

SHOW NOTES:

Karina’s Instagram

Karina’s Website

Moved By Nature Instagram

Sunsmith Website

And for this new podcast to grow, your help would be greatly appreciated. Please consider any of the following meaningful gestures;

Share this episode with a friend

Hit ‘subscribe’ on your podcast app of choice

Rate the show with 5 stars

Leave a review

Thank you so much for joining me on this journey of uncovering tales of inspiring women.

Brigid x