THE WANDERLUSTERS MIND PODCAST

Abby Lewtas 21/4/20 Abby Lewtas 21/4/20

Travel teaches us to be present with Hannah Ivanovskis.

Hannah Ivanovskis is a woman of many hats! Mum of three under 5, ex-pat Brit living on the Surfcoast in Victoria, qualified life coach, communications queen, exercise junkie and storyteller. She tells it like it is, and keeps it real, in every forum. Her corner of the 'gram is a mixture of mum life, positivity, motivation, laughing and swearing.

Hannah, quite simply….keeps it real. Mum of 3, now living on the Surfcoast in Australia after moving from the UK. Travel taught her how to be present but also knows….its’s not always going to be that way.

About Hannah

Since Hannah left home to go to uni at 19, she has always taken chances on starting over in new places. So when she met her husband at 33 and he was already moving to Australia, it was inevitable that she would give it a red hot go. She moved thinking it was temporary but it became clear quite quickly that Janis had no intention of going back to Europe. So began a 5-year struggle with settling into ex-pat life.

There were so many things Hannah missed about the UK, until she realised it really wasn't serving her or her family. In her 40th year, she finally realised she had to stop pining for home and invest properly in being here.

“The idea of presence [when you travel] you’re taking in absolutely everything.”

— Hannah Ivanovskis

In the episode...

Hannah followed her fiance to Australia, having known him for only 5 weeks. She never went home.
How growing up in the UK, travel was so normal… she took it for granted.
Stories from her backpacking adventures through South East Asia as a teenager.
How the further you go the more ‘foreign’ you feel.
There is still a culture shock in a similar country to your own.
When you travel, you have to trust your gut and your instincts.
Hannah is feeling so much more aware and present in her environment during this pandemic.
Being mindful as a parent is not something you can always embody as you are having to focus on so many things at the one time.
Hannahs story of immigration to Australia.
When Hannah finally let go of the idea of returning home to the U.K.
The importance of personal development and a healthy mindset for Hannah and her husband and how it has served them SO well.

Why Hannah continues to seek out travels and adventures…The promise of something new.

“Your gut and your intuition definitely play into it when you’re so far from home.”

— Hannah Ivanovskis

Links

Instagram - @hannahivanovskis

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Abby Lewtas 14/8/18 Abby Lewtas 14/8/18

The richness of travel, art and culture with Olympian Peter Van Miltenburg.

My very special guest on TWM Podcast today is one of my Coaches mentor and life long friend, Peter Van Miltenburg. Peter is a former Australian sprinter who specialised in the 200 metres. In 1984 he was the Australian 200 metre champion. He also went to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics where he competed in the 100/200 metres.

Travelling the world for athletics, art and fun to foster a global perspective, deep compassion, connection and empathy with culture and people.

About Pete

Peter is a life member of the Anglesea SLSC where he still competes and coaches one of Australia's most successful beach sprinting teams. More recently he has been coaching at Xavier College, Kew, Victoria as the Head Coach of Athletics and Cross Country.

Peter has an intense passion for art and recently completed a Masters in Art Therapy and wrote his thesis “An art enquiry into the experience of loneliness and aloneness.”

“When I came home, I had a reality check. How lucky we are here and also in terms of letting go, I realised it is a big world it is a global world and people live their lives according to how their lives, it’s not right or wrong. Some people are multi billionaires and some people have nothing.”

— Peter Van Miltenburg

When coming home...

The differences Pete faced - Comforts of home were very alluring and he was very appreciative. He felt grounded and conscious of the choices he was making back home. Is not as connected to material things.
What had changed for Pete - Felt far more conscious of his life and and developed deep compassion other peoples lives.
Biggest stress - Now struggles with seeing people who struggle with the basics of life.
3 Lessons learned from travel and reverse culture shock

Humanity and how precious it is - we are so connected, no matter where we come from.
Resilience - I can 'fall over' and I have the ability to 'get up.'
Humour - The one thing that connects people - there are some things that make everyone laugh and laughter is a global language.

Advise to himself for returning home - Whatever the experience is, good or bad, wherever you find happiness and love, wherever you provide happiness and love and share happiness and love that, wherever it is, home, or somewhere in some little country then seek that out and find what it is in life that you truely want and if that is where you are, then you are a very lucky person, if not go and find it.

“We really are connected in so many different ways.”

— Peter Van Miltenburg

“Whatever the experience is, good or bad, wherever you find happiness and love, wherever you provide happiness and love and share happiness and love that, wherever it is, home, or somewhere in some little country then seek that out and find what it is in life that you truely want and if that is where you are, then you are a very lucky person, if not go and find it.”

— Peter Van Miltenburg

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Abby Lewtas 10/7/18 Abby Lewtas 10/7/18

Margot Andersen - 7 years in London and returning home to help others in repatriation.

Margot spent 7 years living in London before returning 'home' to Australia approx 12 years ago. Whilst she loves being back and firmly believes she made the right decision to do so, the return journey was not quite as straightforward as she had anticipated. However it is these experiences that led her to start a network group called Insync aimed at helping repatriates reconnect as they return; as well as develop several career management and leadership programs in her consulting business to support both individuals and the organisations that they work for. She regularly writes and speaks on the topic of repatriation, global mobility and global careers and is passionate about helping people leverage the amazing experiences they have had as they return ‘home’.

Margot moved to London on a working visa and ended up staying there for 7 years. She faced challenges returning to the professional world when returning home before establishing her own successful business.

About Margot

Margot spent 7 years living in London before returning 'home' to Australia approx. 12 years ago. Whilst she loves being back and firmly believes she made the right decision to do so, the return journey was not quite as straightforward as she had anticipated.

However it is these experiences that led her to start a network group called Insync aimed at helping repatriates reconnect as they return; as well as develop several career management and leadership programs in her consulting business to support both individuals and the organisations that they work for.

She regularly writes and speaks on the topic of repatriation, global mobility and global careers and is passionate about helping people leverage the amazing experiences they have had as they return ‘home’.

“We are all hardwired to connect and belong and contribute and when we cant see it for ourself its very difficult to ask others to help us on that journey.”

— Margot Andersen

When coming home...

Challenges and Emotions Margot faced - Re-establishing herself in the professional world and in her career. Losing confidence and momentum in certain areas of her life.
How Margot supported herself - Spent time with people who understood the journey she was going through. Participated in short courses. Got involved in the local community.
Points about mindset - Get clear about why you want to come home
3 Lessons learned from travel and reverse culture shock

You can do more than you think you can - the magic is on the edge of your comfort zone.
Things wont always go 100% to plan.
I want a rich, full life, there is an enormous world out there to go and appreciate but you have to decide what we want and go after it

Advise to herself for returning home - Plan, aknowledge why you have come home and connect with others.

“Patience hasn’t been a big thing and we have to learn to be a little bit patient.”

— Margot Andersen

Natalie Roberts-Mazzeo - Leaving the corporate world for the Mediterranean, India and a spiritual journey.

Natalie left the corporate world and set off for Europe where she immersed herself in the Mediterranean countries of Turkey and Greece. For six months she lived in a treehouse, swam in the ocean, ate delicious food and learned about the local culture. She then headed to London to start a working holiday visa which didn't quite go to plan. She found herself packing up again and heading to India where she spent 6 months in Rishikesh practicing yoga and planting her spiritual seeds.

Leaving the corporate world to follow her calling to Europe and India, Natalie returned home to pursue her life of adventures and helping Miracle Mamas.

About Natalie

Natalie Roberts-Mazzeo is the founder of Miracle Mama, an online sanctuary that empowers and inspires mothers who are raising special needs children. Through coaching, community and connection, Natalie’s mission is to create a space for women to reconnect with themselves and what is most important to them.

Natalie is also a writer and speaker, based in Melbourne, Australia. She love’s a good chai, mojito and getting out into nature. Natalie also has a background in corporate, and is a qualified yoga and meditation teacher.

What Natalie is really known for is gathering, soulfully supporting and holding space for women who find themselves raising a child with conditions from mild to severe, to life-threatening. She supports them to find purpose and peace in their extraordinarily challenging circumstances, so that they can bring that love and compassion not only to their own families, but also to themselves.

“That sense of adventure and connection to mother nature has just been woven through my life.”

— Natalie Roberts-Mazzeo

When coming home...

Emotions Natalie faced - Unsettling time, the challenge was in merging her two lives together, it was a hard thing to work through.
Biggest stress - Felt like she was starting from scratch again, like her foundation was gone, Finances, pressures from society.
How Natalie supported herself - Get out and explore the cultures she had experienced in Melbourne. Tried to keep her sense of adventure. Yoga and Meditation.
How her thinking changed - learned to keep an open mind and push herself out of her comfort zone.
3 Lessons learned from travel and reverse culture shock

Adaptable and Resilate
Appreciating different cultures and making the most of your time travelling
Getting out of your comfort zone

Advise to herself for returning home - keep your mind open and keep living your life on your times and enjoy the ride.

“I’ve always liked to test my personal limits my limits have always been at the edges of full on fear.”

— Natalie Roberts-Mazzeo

Michelle Legge - 3 years 'leggin it' on a motorcycle through Europe

Michele Legge and her husband Ron are a West Australian couple in their 50s who decided not to wait until they retired to have a big travel adventure.

They spent 3 years motorbiking couch surfing house sitting and slow travelling around Europe. Michele welcome to the show and thank you for joining me.

Slow traveling with only 9kg lead and taking time to do the things you enjoy.

About Michele

Michele Legge and her husband Ron are a West Australian couple in their 50s who decided not to wait until they retired to have a big travel adventure.

They spent 3 years motorbiking couch surfing house sitting and slow travelling around Europe.

“I dont feel guilty just sitting and drinking coffee and doing whatever!”

— Michele Legge

When coming home...

Emotions Michele faced - Suffered with the idea of consumerism as she only travelled with 9kg. Realised she didn't need all this 'stuff.'
What had changed - Not much really Michele realised how important her female friendships were.
3 Lessons learned from travel and reverse culture shock

Don't spent your life asking 'what if.'
Life is short so don't take your health for granted.
No adventure is better than any other.

Advise to herself for returning home - Things will sort themselves out. Tears won't change anything.

“You cant get time back and its important to take time to do the things you really like doing.”

— Michele Legge

Jo Parker - Shaping her life during 12 months in Denmark.

Finding freedom and purpose in her life at sixteen years old whilst on Rotary exchange.

About Jo

Johanna Parker is a heart-centred life, confidence and public speaking coach, international speaker and MC, life coach trainer, authenticity-advocate, travel junkie and founder of her personal empowerment business, Heart Sparks.

Hailed by Women’s Fitness Magazine as a ‘positivity expert’, over the past ten years she has empowered thousands of young people and adults across not-for-profit, local government, education and community settings to become more connected to themselves, to confidently embrace their uniqueness, to bravely honour their voice and to build incredible, purposeful lives all over the world.

She is an avid traveller who caught the travel bug at a very young age and successfully built an location-independent business that nurtures her love of wandering while still allowing her to call Australia home.

“I just kept showing up and really threw myself into learning the language and connect with people.”

— Jo Parker

When coming home...

Emotions Jo faced - Resisted thinking about returning home. Looming expiry date of trip. Jo felt displaced, alone, misunderstood, sad and confused for 9-12 months after returning home.
What had changed - Felt like the world had stopped. Everything had changed but Jo felt grateful for the experience.
How Jo supported herself - Aligned with anything that connected with who she really was. Maintaining relationships in Denmark, talking to those who were excited about her travels. When she was feeling sad, she gave herself space to process the feelings.
3 Lessons learned from travel and reverse culture shock

Reverse culture shock is a real thing, its a natural part of travel so take the pressure off.
Home is on the inside, home is wherever you are.
The relationship that you have with yourself is paramount.

Advise to herself for returning home - Everything will be ok, you can always choose to do something different and you have the power and the control to change things.