Australian Canoe Slalom and Kayak Cross athlete Merle Long chats to Andrea and Shane about being born into a paddling family in the USA, his background as an EMT and wilderness first aid trainer, how a Sydney flood led to him making Australia his home, and his experience transitioning from a junior and U23 athlete to the senior team in 2026.

Merle talks about his race prep and mindset, his offseason training routine and the realities of spending months overseas for the European racing season.

He also shares what the Olympic qualification process involves and his hopes for the 2028 LA Olympic Games, where the Kayak Cross event will be held in Oklahoma City, only a couple of thousand miles from his birthplace in Idaho.

Connect with Merle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/merle-long-34a372391/ | @merle_kayaks More from Aintree Group: https://aintreegroup.com.au/

Megan Dickinson from The Live Life Whole Project sits down with Shane and Andrea to talk about the work she and her business partner, Sarah Roughhead, are doing to improve health and wellness education for young women across Australia.

Drawing on her own health journey and the experiences she witnessed throughout her career as a physiotherapist, Megan (Meg) shares the story behind The Live Life Whole Project, the country’s only female-specific, evidence-informed health education platform.

The program has grown to reach more than 27,000 girls across Australia, with a new online platform giving teachers greater access to health and wellness resources launching officially in Term 1 2027.

Find out more about The Live Life Whole Project: https://thelivelifewholeproject.com.au Disclaimer: This episode contains discussion about mental health challenges and disordered eating. Please take care while listening and reach out for support if needed. https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ https://www.lifeline.org.au/ https://butterfly.org.au/

The Changing World of Recruitment with Tarryn Hogan

In this episode of Q&A with S&A, Andrea and Shane sit down with Tarryn Hogan, Director & Principal Consultant at Rae Recruitment, to discuss the realities of recruitment from both sides of the hiring process.

Tarryn shares her journey from falling into recruitment to building her own business specialising in professional services, and explains what it takes to build trust with clients and candidates in an industry where relationships matter.

The conversation covers the ongoing shortage of talent in accounting and professional services, how businesses can attract the right people, and why finding the right cultural fit can be just as important as technical skills. Tarryn also shares practical advice for candidates, including how to improve your CV, approach interviews, work with recruiters, and make your experience stand out.

Andrea, Shane and Tarryn also explore the impact of AI on recruitment, the changing expectations around working from home, the challenges of running a business, and why Tarryn believes recruitment will always be fundamentally a people business.

Whether you're an employer looking to hire, a candidate considering your next move, or simply interested in the changing world of work, this episode is packed with practical insights from someone working at the coalface of recruitment.

Check out Rae Recruitment:

https://au.linkedin.com/company/rae-recruitment

Get in touch with Tarryn:

https://au.linkedin.com/in/tarryn-hogan-public-practice

General Advice Disclaimer:

The information discussed in this podcast is general in nature and is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, taxation, legal, or other professional advice. Before making any financial or business decisions, you should seek advice from a qualified professional who considers your personal circumstances. Aintree Group and its representatives disclaim all liability arising from reliance on the information contained in this episode.