‘There’s no shame in asking for a hand. Accepting that you need help and asking for it is the brave part. Giving someone a hand is just as brave.’ Ben Higgs

Welcome back to Tea with Jules 2020. We continue on with the brave series, learning that bravery comes in all kinds of forms. Ben Higgs is the founder of The Rise Foundation. A foundation that exists to educate and teach the everyday practical tools we can use so people no longer have to suffer with mental illness or poor mental health.

Angela Ceberano has been my friend for over a decade. We first met when my husband Guy signed to the music label BMG (later becoming Sony Music) after winning the very first Australian Idol! Ange was his assigned publicist at the label. The first thing I noticed about Ange was her Hollywood actress looks and her kind nature. I was very new to the world of the public eye, so anybody who showed me genuine kindness and was down to earth, I clung to! We grew closer over the years and it has been a pleasure to watch Ange blossom into the business mogul she is today.

I first heard Leane Flynn speak at 2 events I attended earlier this year. Her story sparked inside of me an urgency to get her message out as far and wide as I could, so I invited her for tea. I’m grateful she came to willingly deliver what I think is vital information to women everywhere.

Leane was suddenly diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in April 2017. There were no obvious signs, no pain or convincing warnings that a large tumour was growing on each ovary and another tumour was growing between Leane’s diaphragm and liver. She had put her consistent bloating and frequent need to urinate down to menopause. After the appropriate surgery, she was diagnosed with Stage 3C advanced ovarian cancer.

 

Continuing along with our brave series on Tea with Jules, I could not go past the story of my next guest. As we sat and shared our tea, I was more and more taken with her tale of courage, determination and passion. Rabia Siddique begins her story in suburban Perth growing up as a Muslim. Her life changed forever when she became the victim of abuse and decided at a very early that she wanted to dedicate herself to helping others access justice in a way that she wasn’t able to as a little girl.

My friend of over 3 decades, Alex Perilli joins me for this deeply connected conversation today. As some of you know about me, I grew up in a Pentecostal church in Adelaide. It’s a place that I hold very dear to me. It’s a place that helped mould me into the human I am today. The environment set me up with strong values and morals and a connection with God that I cherish and call upon daily. For me, it was a wonderfully positive experience where I made life long friends and even met my future husband!

It is in this church that I met Alex. A life of the party, talented and all round awesome guy. He is magnetic, kind, thoughtful and fun. We were instant friends (albeit – we were 5!), and have remained close since then. Unbeknownst to myself and our close knit community of friends, Alex was in a battle we never saw – a struggle with his sexuality.

To say it was an honour to have Carla Zampatti for tea is an understatement. With 50 years of fashion under her belt, Carla is the authority on style. Her designs transcend age and era. She is equally cool as she is elegant. To not throw this episode back as a Tea with Jules THE PODCAST, The Chronicles – would be a fashion crime!

‘Don’t let perfect get in the way of better’ ~ Three Birds Renovations

Get ready to renovate and delve into the creative minds behind these three inspiring women Bonnie, Erin and Lana together make up the Three Birds Renovations as they transform houses into heavenly dream homes.

I recorded this episode of Tea with Jules in September 2017, but it is so worth the revisit!

The sweetest episode of Tea with Jules yet! I first met Katherine Sabbath when I was hosting an event for Pandora, and Katherine was commissioned to make the yummy desserts. We chatted, I loved her immediately, I ate the cake and that was it!

Fwwends – awww!

Who loves books?! ME!

I wanted so share a sneak peek into some of the books I have read that have really helped propelled me forward in my personal and professional life.

Mother of 3 beautiful children and Founder and Director of Blacklist Jaynie Johnson and her husband, Nate started the business 11 years ago and have built a loyal following in the creative space. I love their description of what they do – ‘We create art. By dreamers, for dreamers.’ Make sure you check out their work.

I first met Janie a few years ago and I was struck by her calm and positive nature. She’s one of those people who seem to glow from the inside out. The more I got and get to know her, the more impressive she becomes – not only because she oozes coolness, but she has a strength and wisdom that is rare. When Jaynie and Nate became pregnant with their second child Dare, they were to discover at birth that he was born with down syndrome. I’ll leave it to Jaynie to tell the unfolding of life after Dare, but I think you will agree with me that this family know how to do family right. Their goal is to raise their kids to be resilient, kind and loving humans, to show them that anything is possible in life, no matter what the circumstance.