Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Where are you now?

In this episode of Where Are You Now?, Barb sits down with Matisse, a prosthetist and orthotist whose career brings together healthcare, technology, engineering and craftsmanship to help people regain mobility and get back to the lives they want to live.

Matisse shares how a high-school teammate with a running blade first introduced her to the world of prosthetics, how studying Prosthetics and Orthotics led her into a career on the Gold Coast, and what actually goes into creating and fitting a prosthetic limb. 

We talk about the human side of the profession, the emotional highs and lows of working with clients, advances such as 3D printing and scanning, and the satisfaction of watching someone progress from losing a limb to walking out of the clinic with greater independence. 

Along the way, we also hear about Matisse's unusual high-school experience in Texas, surviving COVID quarantine alone at 18, her appearance on Tipping Point, and why her advice to students is simple: take the opportunities that come your way. 

And, of course, there’s the clarinet flute. Because apparently helping people walk again wasn't enough of a challenge. 🎶

A fascinating look at a career most of us know very little about - and the young woman who found her way into it.

www.custompo.com.au 

🎧 Where Are You Now? -real people, unexpected paths, and the stories of how they got there.

Created, written, directed and voiced by Dr Barbara Hadley, whose passion for storytelling brings each conversation to life.

Executive producer Sarah Elley.

🎖️𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗮 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆𝗱𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲?

For many veterans, leaving the military canfeel like starting again. But the skills developed through years of service - leadership, project management, technology, logistics, problem-solving and working under pressure - 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙨𝙪𝙙𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛𝙛. Importantly, 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗠𝗔𝗬 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛.

In the next episode of 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝘼𝙧𝙚 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙉𝙤𝙬?, I chat with US Navy submarine veteran Jeffrey Langley, now a Veteran Program Coordinator at Griffith University, about howmilitary experience can translate into 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝗥𝗣𝗟) and university credit. Jeff knows this from both sides, his own military experience contributed to credit towards his undergraduate studies, and today he helps other veterans understand how the skills and experience they gained while serving can translate into higher education. If you're a veteran who has ever thought 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙞𝙨𝙣'𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙚 - 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱.

Griffith Veterans College

veterans@griffith.edu.au

🎧 Where Are You Now? -real people, unexpected paths, and the stories of how they got there.

Created, written, directed and voiced by Dr Barbara Hadley, whose passion for storytelling brings each conversation to life.

Executive producer Sarah Elley.

What happens when the career you planned for yourself turns out not to be the life you actually want?

Mercedes Semaan (Swann) began a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at Griffith University with one very clear goal: become a doctor. But a move overseas, an unexpected introduction to public health, marriage, travel and eventually motherhood slowly rewrote the plan.

In this episode of Where Are You Now?, Mercedes joins us from Fiji to talk about choosing a different path and discovering that changing direction didn’t mean giving up on her ambition to improve health in the Pacific.

We talk about the identity shift that came with becoming a mother, studying across multiple countries, the mentalhealth struggles she experienced during pregnancy, and how searching for support she couldn’t find led her to create Mama Talanoa - a virtual community now connecting hundreds of Pasifika mothers across Fiji, the Pacific and beyond.

There’s also Zumba, a Blue Heeler with questionable walking etiquette, a watermelon strapped to her husband, anunexpectedly beautiful eight seconds of singing, and the difficult question of where exactly you hide a full-sized pig.

Mercedes’ journey is a reminder that thedots don’t always make sense while you’re living them. Sometimes they only connect when you look backwards.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please contact:

Online and Phone Support Services

Lifeline – 13 11 14

Beyond Blue – 1300 224 636 or 24/7 online chat

MensLine Australia – 1300 789 978

Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800

If you are a Griffith University Student:

Griffith Health Services

Online Health and Wellness Centre

🎧 Where Are You Now? -real people, unexpected paths, and the stories of how they got there.

Created, written, directed and voiced by Dr Barbara Hadley, whose passion for storytelling brings each conversation to life.

Executive producer Sarah Elley.

What if the opportunity that changes your entire career is just one email away?

If there is one episode of, Where Are You Now? That students should listen to before — or during — their degree, this is it.

Despena Vedis started Biomedical Science at Griffith knowing she wanted to be a scientist, but with very little idea of how to get there.

Then she started saying yes. An exchange took her to Hawaii. A networking event led to a summer research scholarship. That became a Master of Medical Research developing peptide-based vaccines for rheumatic heart disease.

An email from her supervisor led to a ThinkSwiss scholarship and three months conducting research in Zurich.

Now, she’s packing those famous pink suitcases again — this time to move to Arizona and take up a research position at the Mayo Clinic, working in cancer genetics.

But this episode isn't really about Hawaii, Switzerland or the Mayo Clinic.

It's about how she got there.

Despena talks candidly about being shy, feeling overwhelmed, imposter syndrome, experiments that fail, opportunities that don't work out, and learning to push herself out of her comfort zone before she ever feels ready.

Her philosophy is beautifully simple: don't be the person who says no to yourself.

Apply. Send the email. Go to the networking event. Put your name forward. Let somebody else decide whether you're ready.

Because sometimes an entire career really can begin with one email.

General website for IBG: https://www.griffith.edu.au/research/institute-biomedicine-glycomics

Study with us at IGB: https://www.griffith.edu.au/research/institute-biomedicine-glycomics/study

Created, written, directed and voiced by Dr Barbara Hadley, whose passion for storytelling brings each conversation to life.

Executive producer Sarah Elley.

What if the biggest career move of your life happened 17 years after graduation?

Adam Daniels left a successful physiotherapy business, returned to university as a mature-age PhD student, and is now developing wearable technology that could change the future of cricket injury prevention.

Along the way, he shares honest insights about entrepreneurship, burnout, taking risks, finding your purpose, and why it's never too late to start again.

Whether you're a student, researcher, entrepreneur or simply wondering what's next in your own career, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

Every year, complete strangers make one final gift to the next generation.

They donate their bodies so future health professionals can learn anatomy from real human donors.

It's an extraordinary act of generosity that most of us never see.

In this episode of Where Are You Now?, multi-award-winning Anatomy and Physiology lecturer Assoc Prof Leanne Kenway takes us behind the doors of the anatomy laboratory to reveal how these selfless donors continue teaching long after they've passed away. She shares the moving story behind Griffith University's annual Thanksgiving Service, where students honour the donors and thank the families who made this incredible gift possible.

We also explore Leanne's remarkable career - from working with babies in neonatal intensive care and burns units, to practising physiotherapy in the United States, before returning to university as a mature-age student and becoming one of Australia's most respected educators.

This is a conversation about science, humanity, gratitude, and the people whose final act of kindness helps educate generations of healthcare professionals.

Created, written, directed and voiced by Dr Barbara Hadley, whose passion for storytelling brings each conversation to life. Executive producer Sarah Elley.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode 2: Rachel Almaw – Research, Resilience and the Power of Conversation

What starts as a dream of becoming a doctor evolves into a passionate career in research, advocacy, and community impact. In this episode, PhD candidate and research assistant Rachel Almaw shares her remarkable journey from Canada to Australia, exploring osteoarthritis, sleep, health equity, and the importance of amplifying voices that are often overlooked.

From TEDx talks, 3 Minute Thesis and Stanford presentations to mentoring young people and supporting clean water initiatives in Ethiopia, Rachel reflects on the experiences that shaped her career. Along the way, she offers honest insights into imposter syndrome, networking, saying “yes” (and learning to say “no”), and why meaningful conversations can change lives.

An inspiring and refreshingly candid discussion about purpose, people, and finding impact beyond the expected career path.

Created, written, directed and voiced by Dr Barbara Hadley, whose passion for storytelling brings each conversation to life. Executive producer Sarah Elley.

What happens when your career takes a path you never expected?

In the debut episode of Where Are You Now?, Griffith University nutrition and dietetics graduate Claire Chapman shares her extraordinary journey from printer technician and doula—supporting more than 300 births—to becoming a PhD candidate.

Along the way, she balanced university with family life, navigated the challenges of COVID, cared for a seriously ill child, discovered a passion for teaching, and unexpectedly fell in love with research.

Claire also reveals why her PhD involves collecting blue poo for science, how her research could change the way we understand food energy, and why saying "yes" to unexpected opportunities transformed her career.

Honest, funny and inspiring, this episode is a reminder that the most rewarding careers are often the ones you never planned.

Link for PASS Leader

Created, written, directed and voiced by Dr Barbara Hadley, whose passion for storytelling brings each conversation to life. Executive producer Sarah Elley.