The Thankful Imperative

Jessie McLachlan – CEO & Co Founder of Altru

Too often we take the little things in life for granted, fresh water, food on our tables and a roof over our heads.  In this episode of the Thankful Imperative Jessie McLachlan the CEO and Co-Founder of Altru, explains how we could all find ourselves in the situation of being homeless, and why we shouldn’t take the roof over our heads for granted.

Through the Altru Festival, Jessie is transforming the way our community responds to the needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness and challenging times, and reminds us all to see the people and humanity within the homelessness crisis.

Matt Moran - Chef, Restaurateur & 4th Generation Farmer

Have you ever stopped to think about who grew your food and how it was grown?

It's easy to take the abundance of fresh and healthy produce on our supermarket shelves for granted.

In this episode of the Thankful Imperative podcast, we're joined by Chef and 4th Generation Farmer, Matt Moran, who is an Australian food icon and pioneer of the 'paddock to plate' philosophy. Matt's unwavering commitment to quality, seasonal, and locally sourced produce is what inspires him to create exceptional food experiences.

Matt shares the importance of understanding where our food comes from and why it matters.

Dr Gennifer Herley PhD - Founder of Trans New York

Living your most authentic life and being true to yourself is not always easy.  It takes courage to be who you are.  In this episode of the Thankful Imperative Podcast we talk with Dr. Gennifer Herley PhD, who is the founder and executive director of Trans New York, and a proud transgender woman.  She generously shares her personal story and reminds us all to celebrate and be thankful for being our most authentic selves and living our best lives.

Trans New York’s mission is to bring awareness to the issues facing the transgender non-conforming (TGNC) community and gives guidance and support to individuals and their loved ones within an open and safe environment. It is an informative source for transgender resources, activities, and events and provides individual and group counselling that address issues such as gender dysphoria and encourages transgender individuals to share their stories.

Major Matina Jewell (Retired) CSP, Author, International Speaker

In this episode of the Thankful Imperative podcast, listen to Major Matina Jewell (Retired) CSP, share her inspiring story as a Peacekeeper with the United Nations in Syria and Lebanon until she sustained lifechanging injuries.  She shares her story of recovery and how gratitude helped her see life with a new perspective.

Matina is an inspirational trailblazer, and she has earned her military accolades in some of the toughest environments on earth. She is an Advisor and Ambassador and is helping leaders across the globe build resilient teams to thrive through change.

Monica Yunus - Soprano and Co-Founder of Sing for Hope

Music has the ability to elevate our mood and lift our spirits. But it can also break down barriers between different communities, cultures and backgrounds.  In this episode of the Thankful Imperative Podcast, Monica Yunus the CEO and Co-Founder of Sing for Hope, shares how she is using the power and gratitude of music to mobilize artists to unify and benefit communities in need.

Internationally renowned soprano Monica Yunus has performed on the world’s leading stages. She is acclaimed for her sterling artistry as well as for her leading role as a social entrepreneur and advocate for arts and culture.

Rob Smith - CEO, Founder The Phluid Project

The only label that matters is ‘Human.’  Rob Smith is the Founder of the Phluid Project, a gender-free fashion brand grounded in activism and community and in this episode of the Thankful Imperative podcast he shares how he is using gratitude as a powerful force to remind us all to embrace our individuality and celebrate our humanity.

Rob Smith has worked for multi-billion dollar brands from Macy’s, Levi’s, Nike, and Victoria’s Secret, and has spent decades of work fighting for human rights and social equality. Through The Phluid Project, Rob has got to know humans of every generation, gender, race, religion, and socioeconomic status, to better understand the reality of the limiting labels society prescribes to us.

Dr Kerry Howells - TEDx Speaker, Award winning author of Untangling You: How can I be grateful when I feel so resentful?

Why is gratitude a powerful force to help overcome life’s challenging situations?  In this episode, Dr Kerry Howells helps us understand the power of gratitude and she shares her learnings and experiences from over 25 years researching, teaching and practicing gratitude.

Dr Kerry Howells is an author award-winning educator, experienced researcher and has published several academic papers.  Kerry has recently written her award winning book “Untangling You: How can I feel grateful when I feel resentful” and is currently a visiting Professor at Tallinn University, Estonia, where she teaches an online postgraduate course, Gratitude in Practice.