Rambles and Shambles with Ana
Rambles and Shambles with Ana is a podcast exploring work, leadership, and everything that doesn’t fit on a LinkedIn profile. Relaxed conversations about careers, how people ended up where they are, and what’s shaped them along the way. It’s for people who are curious about how personal stories unfold, and who knows, you might have a few reflective moments yourself.
Episodes
18 episodes
EP017 - Behind the Chair: Tea, Tangles and Life Updates
Courtney has worked as a hairdresser for ten years and has listened to more life stories from behind a salon chair than most people hear in a lifetime.In this conversation, we talk about growing up creative, receiving a diagnosis on the...
EP016 - Banking Burnout and Finding Purpose in Youth Justice
Tahlitha is full of life, blunt in the best way and for reasons unknown, loves policies and procedures. In this conversation, we talk about being a shy kid, moving schools, finding confidence through banking, and what happens when ...
EP015 - Real Strength: Self-Worth and Finding Your Way Back
Jason can seem intimidating at first, but beneath that is someone deeply caring, fiercely driven, and very thoughtful about life.In this conversation, we talk about growing up in a violent household, learning confidence early and how he ...
EP014 - Behind the Camera: Discipline Over Talent
Jonas grew up loving maths and being terrible at art, then built a career in cinematography, a field that looks creative from the outside, but runs on discipline, timing, logic, and getting the shot before the sun moves!In this conversat...
EP013 - Electric Shocks, Big Questions and the Work of Teaching
Reza grew up pulling apart TVs, toys and anything else he could get a screwdriver into, mostly to the horror of his parents. That curiosity turned into a career in engineering, then a life in academia, research and teaching.In this conv...
EP012 - From Nepal to Australia: Rejection, Work and Starting Again
Manjil grew up in Nepal, became the first in his family to go to university, and moved to Australia thinking he’d land an engineering job quickly. That is not how it went.In this conversation, we talk about strict schooling, family press...
EP011 - The Rebel Who Crochets
Zdenka is one of those people who is equal parts tough and caring, quick to speak her mind but always looking out for others. Raised in a strict Croatian household, she learned early how to work hard, adapt and stand her ground.In this ...
Bonus Ramble #1
Bonus Rambles are the in-between episodes, just Ana reflecting on what’s been coming up through the conversations and whatever's been on her mind between episodes.
EP010 - Why Some People Stay: What Makes a Job Worth It
Kata is one of those people who lifts the energy in a room, warm, observant, and quietly tough. She’s worked across IT and the public sector and loves travel more than she loves small talk.In this conversation, we talk about being a ...
EP009 - Don’t Settle: Win the Day
Ron has spent decades in entertainment, from early rejection letters to senior leadership at NBC, working on campaigns for shows most people grew up with. In this conversation, we talk about getting your foot in the door, surviving uncertainty,...
EP008 - When the Plan Falls Apart: Rewriting Direction
Taman grew up in a first-generation migrant family where hard work wasn’t optional and expectations were often assumed. We explore how writing things down helped him clarify direction, how community shapes discipline, and what happens when corp...
EP007 - Starting From Scratch: How Migrants Build Trust When No One Knows Your Name
Inas moved to Australia and rebuilt her career from the ground up, carrying years of experience that weren’t always seen or recognised. She’s a migrant, a mother, and someone who cares deeply about doing meaningful work without losing her voice...
EP006 - A Life of Showing Up: What 88 Years Teaches You About Responsibility
Mick, aged 88, has dedicated his life to his community through his work, sports, local government, and volunteering.In this conversation, we talk about growing up during difficult times, learning to push through setbacks and why sport an...
EP005 - What You Don’t See From the Sidelines: Stop Doing Your Kid’s Homework
Matt is a teacher and footy coach who spends his days responsible for kids, parents, and the systems that come with that.In this conversation, we talk about what teaching and coaching actually involve, what surprises you when you’re entr...
EP004 - When Hard Work Isn’t Enough: Learning to Stay in the Game
Allen’s working life has unfolded across countries, industries, and repeated restarts.In this conversation, we talk about growing up around a family business, experiencing early instability, and how responsibility shapes decision-making ...
EP003 – She Survived a Bombing: Why Life’s Too Short to Stay Unhappy at Work
Deb has spent her career in high-pressure environments, where decisions carry real weight.In this conversation, an experience comes up that changed how tolerance, perspective, and limits are understood day to day.We talk about how...
EP002 - Bowling Overs in Corporate Hallways: People Want to Know Where They Stand
Beames grew up in a small town and later moved into corporate work, where figuring out how you’re doing isn’t always straightforward.In this conversation, we talk about learning to let go of rigid ideas about how work should be done, why...
EP001 - From Broomstick Nunchucks to Safety Advisor: How Support Turns Potential Into Confidence
Archie’s working life didn’t follow a clear plan. He moved through hands-on jobs, heavy industry, years of martial arts training, and work with UFC fighters.In this conversation, we talk about how confidence didn’t come from pushing hard...
