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Shift Stirrers

Shift Stirrers

Written by: Michelle Benson And Rosemary Pattison
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Has there been a time in your life when you wanted to make changes? If you're changing something about your vocation and passion we are the podcast to help motivate you. Our focus is on interviewing people who have made life changing transitions

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Episodes
  • Shift Stirrers – Jenny Croom – Paint like a 5 year old

    Shift Stirrers – Jenny Croom – Paint like a 5 year old
    May 26 2026
    Send us Fan MailShift Stirrers – Jenny Croom – Paint like a 5 year oldIn this episode, we sit down with Jenny Croom, winner of Australia's first Portrait Artist of the Year competition in 2025. Recording in her beautiful home on the lakes, surrounded by her paintings, Jenny takes us through her journey from painting window ledges in her husband's dark electronics shop to winning a national competition and having her work hang in the National Portrait Gallery. We discover how returning to Australia after four years in Germany awakened her need to capture our brilliant light, why she "paints like a five-year-old" to start every canvas, and how stepping away from art during family life didn't end her creative journey - it just delayed it. Jenny's warmth, wisdom, and radical honesty about being the oldest contestant ("my future's a lot shorter than the others!") reveals how age, sacrifice, and staying playful can lead to unexpected triumph. This one's for anyone who's ever had to put their passion aside and wondered if it's too late to pick it back up. Thank you so much for listening to The Shift Stirrers podcast.If you enjoyed this episode, please hit that follow button so you'll get notified whenever we release new content. We'd love to hear from you—feel free to reach out at theshiftstirrers@gmail.com, or you can find our individual email addresses and websites in the show notes below. We love questions.You can also connect with us on Instagram @shiftstirrers.If you found value in today's conversation, we'd be incredibly grateful if you could leave us a review or rating on your podcast platform. It really helps others discover the show. And if you know someone who would benefit from this episode, please share it with them.Until next time, keep stirring things up.Ah just a quick disclaimer - Michelle and Rosemary are not experts in any of the discussions today. We present this podcast in the interest of getting curious about change.You can purchase Rosemary's books on Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0FS275RHJOur other contacts theshiftstirrers@gmail.comrosemarypattison@gmail.com info@michellebenson.com.au https://rosemarypattisonart.com/https://michellebenson.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/rosemarypattisonart/https://www.instagram.com/michelle_benson_art/ Music by Sound Designer Erin Krejanyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-krejany-186829355e.krejany@gmail.com Thank you so much for listening to The Shift Stirrers podcast.If you enjoyed this episode, please hit that follow button so you'll get notified whenever we release new content. We'd love to hear from you—feel free to reach out at theshiftstirrers@gmail.com, or you can find our individual email addresses and websites in the show notes below. We love questions.You can also connect with us on Instagram @shiftstirrers.If you found value in today's conversation, we'd be incredibly grateful if you could leave us a review or rating on your podcast platform. It really helps others discover the show. And if you know someone who would benefit from this episode, please share it with them.Until next time, keep stirring things up.Ah just a quick disclaimer - Michelle and Rosemary are not experts in any of the discussions today. We present this podcast in the interest of getting curious about change.You can purchase Rosemary's books on Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0FS275RHJOur other contacts theshiftstirrers@gmail.comrosemarypattison@gmail.com info@michellebenson.com.au https://rosemarypattisonart.com/...
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    41 mins
  • Shift Stirrers – Julie Cliff - One Space at a Time

    Shift Stirrers – Julie Cliff - One Space at a Time
    May 13 2026

    Send us Fan Mail

    In this episode, we meet Julie Cliff, a professional organizer with an unexpected journey - from cooking for her family at age 7 on a country farm, to becoming Melbourne Storm's first female life member, to running her own decluttering business. The twist? Julie isn't "naturally organized" - she taught herself because she couldn't stand the mess! We challenge Julie with our Creative Chaos Challenge: helping a hypothetical ceramic artist drowning in clay dust, mystery glazes, and 17 half-finished projects. Her advice is practical, compassionate, and surprisingly freeing. From the "cutlery drawer philosophy" to tackling shame and guilt, Julie shows us that organizing isn't about perfection - it's about clearing space and time for what actually matters. This one's for anyone who's ever felt overwhelmed by the mess and wondered where to start.the chaos rather than fighting it

    Professional Organiser Melbourne I Space and Time

    Thank you so much for listening to The Shift Stirrers podcast.

    If you enjoyed this episode, please hit that follow button so you'll get notified whenever we release new content. We'd love to hear from you—feel free to reach out at theshiftstirrers@gmail.com, or you can find our individual email addresses and websites in the show notes below. We love questions.

    You can also connect with us on Instagram @shiftstirrers.

    If you found value in today's conversation, we'd be incredibly grateful if you could leave us a review or rating on your podcast platform. It really helps others discover the show. And if you know someone who would benefit from this episode, please share it with them.

    Until next time, keep stirring things up.

    Ah just a quick disclaimer - Michelle and Rosemary are not experts in any of the discussions today. We present this podcast in the interest of getting curious about change.

    You can purchase Rosemary's books on Amazon

    https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0FS275RHJ

    Our other contacts
    theshiftstirrers@gmail.com

    rosemarypattison@gmail.com

    info@michellebenson.com.au

    Thank you so much for listening to The Shift Stirrers podcast.

    If you enjoyed this episode, please hit that follow button so you'll get notified whenever we release new content. We'd love to hear from you—feel free to reach out at theshiftstirrers@gmail.com, or you can find our individual email addresses and websites in the show notes below. We love questions.

    You can also connect with us on Instagram @shiftstirrers.

    If you found value in today's conversation, we'd be incredibly grateful if you could leave us a review or rating on your podcast platform. It really helps others discover the show. And if you know someone who would benefit from this episode, please share it with them.

    Until next time, keep stirring things up.

    Ah just a quick disclaimer - Michelle and Rosemary are not experts in any of the discussions today. We present this podcast in the interest of getting curious about change.

    You can purchase Rosemary's books on Amazon

    https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0FS275RHJ

    Our other contacts
    theshiftstirrers@gmail.com

    rosemarypattison@gmail.com

    info@michellebenson.com.au

    https://rosemarypattisonart.com/

    ...
    Show More Show Less
    59 mins
  • Shift Stirrers - Lygon St Market - The day the battery on the camera died

    Shift Stirrers - Lygon St Market - The day the battery on the camera died
    Apr 29 2026
    Send us Fan Mail In this "Out and About" episode, we headed to Lygon Street Market on Easter Sunday with big plans to interview makers for their upcoming Mother's Day market - and things didn't quite go to plan! The market was so busy that stallholders were run off their feet selling, our camera battery died mid-interviews, and Michelle was juggling her own stall while trying to film. But here's the thing: a market too busy to interview people is actually the best kind of problem to have. We managed to chat with Urban Dogs about their beautiful leather work and organic dog treats, Three Bees Honey (run by a former radio announcer!), and spotted stunning glass fish, handmade fingerless gloves, dried flowers, and so much more. This episode is our honest take on what creative markets are really like when they're thriving - chaotic, inspiring, and full of talented makers who genuinely love what they do. Plus, we're giving you the inside scoop on Lygon Street Market's Mother's Day edition (Sunday May 3rd) and what makes a good market from both a visitor and maker perspective. Sometimes the best podcast episodes come from embracing the chaos rather than fighting it!Thank you so much for listening to The Shift Stirrers podcast.If you enjoyed this episode, please hit that follow button so you'll get notified whenever we release new content. We'd love to hear from you—feel free to reach out at theshiftstirrers@gmail.com, or you can find our individual email addresses and websites in the show notes below. We love questions.You can also connect with us on Instagram @shiftstirrers.If you found value in today's conversation, we'd be incredibly grateful if you could leave us a review or rating on your podcast platform. It really helps others discover the show. And if you know someone who would benefit from this episode, please share it with them.Until next time, keep stirring things up.Ah just a quick disclaimer - Michelle and Rosemary are not experts in any of the discussions today. We present this podcast in the interest of getting curious about change.You can purchase Rosemary's books on Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0FS275RHJOur other contacts theshiftstirrers@gmail.comrosemarypattison@gmail.com info@michellebenson.com.au https://rosemarypattisonart.com/https://michellebenson.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/rosemarypattisonart/https://www.instagram.com/michelle_benson_art/ Music by Sound Designer Erin Krejanyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-krejany-186829355e.krejany@gmail.com Thank you so much for listening to The Shift Stirrers podcast.If you enjoyed this episode, please hit that follow button so you'll get notified whenever we release new content. We'd love to hear from you—feel free to reach out at theshiftstirrers@gmail.com, or you can find our individual email addresses and websites in the show notes below. We love questions.You can also connect with us on Instagram @shiftstirrers.If you found value in today's conversation, we'd be incredibly grateful if you could leave us a review or rating on your podcast platform. It really helps others discover the show. And if you know someone who would benefit from this episode, please share it with them.Until next time, keep stirring things up.Ah just a quick disclaimer - Michelle and Rosemary are not experts in any of the discussions today. We present this podcast in the interest of getting curious about change.You can purchase Rosemary's books on Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0FS275RHJOur other contacts theshiftstirrers@gmail.comrosemarypattison@gmail.com info@michellebenson.com.au https://rosemarypattisonart.com/...
    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
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