Fearless Conversations

Damian Karaula and Dimitri Antonopoulos sat down on a humid Melbourne morning. No agenda. No topic brief. Finally making time for a conversation.We started where a lot of conversations start right now: how do you stay sane in 2026? The noise, the news cycle, the algorithms designed to keep you anxious and activated. Damian talked about what that constant stimulation actually does to your nervous system, not as theory, but as something he notices in his own body. And we both landed on the same place: you don’t solve it by consuming better content. You solve it by reclaiming your spaces.From there we went deep. Rituals. Posture. Breath. Journaling. The difference between safe spaces and brave spaces. Why complaining is usually grief wearing a mask. Why most leadership failures start with unresolved inner work, not a lack of strategy.Damian talked about the idea of threshold keepers. Ancient figures in cultures who held space for people to move through difficult passages. He’s convinced we’re missing them now, and that there’s something profound in rebuilding that role for this moment, not through credentials or titles, but through the willingness to do your own work first.I shared what I’ve been reading about community and belonging, and what I keep coming back to: that every time we gather, we have the potential to model the future we want to create. Most people running meetings, workshops, conferences and boardrooms have never stopped to think about that.We also talked honestly about what excites us. Younger generations who aren’t buying the old story. Community as a genuine form of leadership. A Moth-style storytelling event we’re planning. Some panel conversations we’re putting together. The possibility of something more substantial, a few days together, later in the year._Referenced in this episodeThe Moth — the American storytelling organisation and podcast that inspired the spoken-word event format Damian and I are developing. Worth listening to if you’ve never come across it. themoth.orgMentor Hub — Damian Karaula’s organisation, where a lot of the resilience and leadership lab work he references is grounded.If this episode sparked something, here’s further readingCommunity: The Structure of Belonging — Peter Block. This is the book I was reading when we recorded. On what it actually takes to build genuine community, and why most attempts fail before they start.The Art of Gathering — Priya Parker. How we gather shapes what’s possible. One of the clearest books on why most meetings and events fail before they start.In Over Our Heads — Robert Kegan. On the gap between what modern life demands of us and what we’re actually equipped to handle. Dense but worth it.Lost Connections — Johann Hari. A readable, well-researched case for why belonging and community aren’t soft ideas, they’re survival.The Body Keeps the Score — Bessel van der Kolk. Everything Damian was pointing to about the nervous system, activation, and what we carry in our bodies. The science behind the conversation. Get full access to March First at marchfirst.substack.com/subscribe

In this powerful conversation, Dimitri and Damien sit down with Reverend Jon Owen, CEO and Pastor at Wayside Chapel, to explore the depth of what it means to live a life of purpose, service, and grace.From his early days working with asylum seekers and Aboriginal communities in Western Sydney, to his current role walking alongside people on the streets of Kings Cross, Jon has dedicated his life to what he calls “the work behind the work” — the inner journey that sustains outward service.Jon shares stories of courage, hope, and humility — from sheltering East Timorese families in the 1990s to reimagining leadership at the edges of society. He speaks with rare clarity about burnout culture, the power of slowing down, and why true spirituality isn’t about centring ourselves, but decentring — finding purpose in connection and community.Listen for:The difference between doing the work and being the workHow to sustain hope in the face of despairWhy leadership begins with humility and serviceThe spiritual discipline of getting out of your own wayWhat it means to “die well” — and finish with grace Get full access to March First at marchfirst.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Fearless Conversations, Dimitri and Damian sit down with Cameron Schwab, former AFL CEO turned artist, coach, and leadership thinker. The conversation traces Cameron’s remarkable journey from the pressure of football boardrooms to the quiet practice of fine art, and how both worlds shaped his philosophy of leadership.The discussion begins with art as a mindful practice and the courage required to create space for interpretation. Cameron reflects on his time at the Victorian College of the Arts, where a teacher challenged him to bring vulnerability into his drawings — a lesson that resonated deeply with his approach to leadership.From his turbulent childhood and early appointment as CEO of Richmond at just 24, Cameron shares how courage became a learned skill. He talks about the difference between complex and complicated problems, the shift from a “got to” to a “get to” mindset, and the importance of defining reality while giving hope. His long-standing journaling practice — anchored in two questions, What’s important? and What’s possible? — provides a daily rhythm for resilience and clarity.The conversation moves into authenticity and creativity in leadership. Cameron explains why authentic leadership cannot exist without bravery, and why creativity is essential for leaders facing ambiguity and complexity. He draws on influences from Rick Rubin, Steven Pressfield, and his own legacy in pioneering women’s football, showing how constraint often sparks innovation.The episode closes with reflections on legacy, human leadership, and the responsibility to create workplaces that balance high performance with high well-being. Cameron leaves us with a powerful reminder: leadership is less about answers, and more about creating the conditions for people to thrive together. Get full access to March First at marchfirst.substack.com/subscribe

Damian and Dimitri catch up after both turn 50 and reflect on the power of vulnerability, the need for connection and how the hustle-pressure to remain productive is not serving as well at all.…..⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the podcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe for podcast updates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tank Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mentorhub Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to The Weekly Journal of Creative Leadership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to The Tank Quarterly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get full access to March First at marchfirst.substack.com/subscribe

What does it take to make an impact with creativity, leadership, and a camera?Michelle Hunder is one of Australia’s most celebrated, awarded and revered music photographers. Her transformative journey to becoming a renowned music photographer, and her projects like 'Rise' and 'Her Sound, Her Story,' demonstrate her resilience against adversity, and the discovery of her identity.Enjoy this wonderful conversation with one of our dear friends, Michelle Hunder Get full access to March First at marchfirst.substack.com/subscribe

This conversation series features Elisabeth Tuckey, the Executive Director of Research, Engagement and Advocacy at Neami National.With a deep sense of social justice, and a connection to the many stories of her family, we explore these stories and more with Elisabeth.We talk through her early career as a journalist, and the impact of her father’s influence. She bravely discusses her ADHD diagnosis, adversity throughout her career, and themes emerging in the writing of her book.Balanced with our shared passion for social justice advocacy, we touch on lessons of connection, privilege, empathy, and how Elisabeth’s work brings her close to marginalised communities where she confronts issues like mental health, youth homelessness, and family violence.Not to be missed.…..⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the podcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe for podcast updates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tank Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mentorhub Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to The Weekly Journal of Creative Leadership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to The Tank Quarterly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get full access to March First at marchfirst.substack.com/subscribe

When the opportunity arose to have our first ever guest back, we jumped at it.Retired Australian Special Forces Commander, Reg Crawford has had a remarkable career — one filled with lessons, insights and stories of leadership.Today we share a conversation about Reg's charity work, his thoughts on resilience and how he embraces solitude to reflect on his own leadership.Our conversation highlights the importance of empathy, determination and the connection to our own personal purpose to be able to lead others amidst struggle and complexity.—Welcome to Fearless Conversations — A simple dialogue between two friends on purpose-driven, impactful leadership. Conversations that are sometimes challenging and confronting, Hopefully insightful and helpful. which are always fearless. …..⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the podcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe for podcast updates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tank Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mentorhub Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to The Weekly Journal of Creative Leadership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to The Tank Quarterly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more about Reg Crawford Get full access to March First at marchfirst.substack.com/subscribe

We are joined by Marita Davies, Author, Writer and Storyteller — we discuss our shared experiences with discovering our cultural identities, the importance of fun and play to unlocking the awareness of who we are, and how important it is to nurture connection and a strong sense of belonging. A wonderful episode with one of our most valued partners.—Welcome to Fearless Conversations — A simple dialogue between two friends on purpose-driven, impactful leadership. Conversations that are sometimes challenging and confronting, Hopefully insightful and helpful. which are always fearless. …..⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the podcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe for podcast updates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tank Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mentorhub Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to The Weekly Journal of Creative Leadership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to The Tank Quarterly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—Buy Marita's book Taote and The Wall Get full access to March First at marchfirst.substack.com/subscribe

Damian and Dimitri reflect on the previous episode, their cultural identities, what it takes to show up authentically and the importance of good necessary trouble to create change.A reflective episode that sees the duo touch on a number of subjects that are very personal to them both.…..⁠⁠⁠Support the podcast.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe for podcast updates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tank Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mentorhub Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to The Weekly Journal of Creative Leadership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to The Tank Quarterly⁠⁠⁠ Get full access to March First at marchfirst.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to Fearless Conversations — A simple dialogue between two friends on purpose-driven, impactful leadership. Conversations that are sometimes challenging and confronting, Hopefully insightful and helpful. Conversions which are always fearless. Today, Dimitri Antonopoulos and Damian Karaula come back after a two year hiatus, regrouping on everything that occurred in their lives and their businesses since June 2021 and they discuss the importance of discovering the child within us to unlock our creativity and leadership potential.…..Support the podcast.Subscribe for podcast updatesTank WebsiteMentorhub WebsiteSubscribe to The Weekly Journal of Creative LeadershipSubscribe to The Tank Quarterly Get full access to March First at marchfirst.substack.com/subscribe

Damian and Dimitri discuss the art of authentic storytelling. Get full access to March First at marchfirst.substack.com/subscribe

Damian and Dimitri discuss the idea of mindfulness and entrepreneurs, how the two ideas are often mistaken as enemies, but actually belong together. Join the duo as they begin a series of discussions on finding mindfulness in the journey of entrepreneurship. Get full access to March First at marchfirst.substack.com/subscribe