Welcome back! This week we get to hear what it’s like to work for one of the biggest production studios in the world, and how it would be so good if ruminating wasn’t a thing.

Annaleese is a gem. She has done extremely well under pressure and become a sparkling, determined, multi-talented creative professional. As well as an excellent brunch companion. She has a lot of practical tips for anyone considering making a big move to further their career, and her observations on working in the film industry are excellent. Go find her on Instagram and tell her what a kick-ass human she is!

We recorded this episode last year, so the Charmed reboot has already aired! Have you seen it? Did you like it?

Keep well,

-Paula

Welcome back! It has been a while, and I do apologise for the delay. Life has been a bit rough and frantic on my end, and so it’s taken me a lot longer than I thought to get this baby going again. Thank you all for your patience.

This week we talk about the painful side of achieving things. We all know how glossy achievement looks on Instagram and how effortless it can appear. But what about when you’re in the midst of doing the thing and it just sucks? Why does the process not feel like achieving at all?

Zane is many things; designer, actor, podcaster, possibly Yoda’s alter ego, and a genuinely lovely human being. He is also highly accomplished, and has a way of steadily progressing which is pretty awesome. Talking to him always helps me, so if you’re feeling the pressure of the grind, I hope this helps you.

Keep well,

-Paula

P.S. There are a few background noises towards the end of this one. This was a spur-of-the moment thing, and TNC HQ is always busy.

It’s the season finale! Here are some chuckles and extra bits that I couldn’t leave in the episodes, but wanted you to have anyway. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. 

We will be back with Season 2 on Wednesday January 29th, 2020!

Until then, you can get in touch by emailing stumblethroughpod@gmail.com or hanging out with me on Instagram (we’re stumblethroughpod) or our Facebook page. Tell me the things you want to know about being an adult, or what you want an episode on. It would mean the world if you could leave a review; it talks to the algorithm so other people can find us, plus it puts a big silly grin on my face. Can’t wait to chat to you again in the new year!

Keep well,

Paula

Bones aren’t the only thing that can break, and our mental health is just as instrumental to our well being as physical health. I’ve brought back my favourite med student, Janani, to have a chat about how we can take care of ourselves (and each other) in after a punch in the feels.

This will be the second last episode of the season, and Stumble Through will be back January 29th 2020 with more tips, chuckles and hugs through your headphones. If you have an idea for an episode, email me at stumblethroughpod@gmail.com (I would LOVE to hear from you).

Keep well,

-Paula

Also, at about 18:30 minutes in there are some sirens in the background. Just a heads up in case you are listening to this while driving. 

Hooray it’s a bumper episode! In this episode we get into the specifics of what it means to be plastic free. We talk about beginner, middle and champion level ways to incorporate it into your life. Jen, who you may remember from our episode on job searching, is a really passionate educator on the subject, and talks about it with a lot of humour, so it’s really easy to understand how it could apply to you.

Jen is a theatre maker, eco educator, clown, award winning actor and director, and just a phenomenal human. Check out her Instagram, check out her website, get to one of her market events for Fetch Vintage. 

Keep well,

-Paula

Freelancing is rewarding, empowering, difficult, wobbly, and a way of working that in many ways allows you to live life on your own terms. Freelancing is the most adult thing I can imagine because it requires you to be entirely responsible for your work, your time, your choices, your admin, everything. This week I get to talk to the brilliant Shashin, who is an advertising consultant, marketer, graphic designer and photographer. So basically, he’s like, a miracle worker. Sash is also just the most genuine, enigmatic, creative powerhouse and a bloody delight. Click on through to the show notes to see his work on Behance, or stalk his Insta for gorgeous landscapes.

Are you a freelancer? What do you do! Find us on socials and tell us how the episode resonated with you. I’d love to put faces to the numbers and get to know you all a bit better.

Keep well,

-Paula

In this episode I speak with inimitable Aidan Rowlingson; an actor, director, producer, entrepreneur, proud Butchulla man, and self-acknowledged unicorn (because he really is that rare and magical). We chat about what university doesn’t prepare you for, some lessons we learned the hard way, and the exorbitant price of a night out. This is advice and insight I wish I’d had, or thought to seek out when I was studying my degree. While we can only talk to our experiences of doing creative degrees, I certainly think there are a number of transferable insights into that gulf between uni and the real world. Particularly when Aidan talks about the need to look at your higher education as the beginning of your career. I hope you get a whole heap of value our of this; tell us what you think on Instagram or in our Facebook group!

Keep well,

-Paula

 P.S There were some sirens in the background of this episode at the beginning, don’t be alarmed if you hear them while you’re driving.

Folks, this is one I’ve super excited about, and have been sitting on for a while. It’s such a rich conversation, and I really hope this episode is as useful for you as it was for me.

Madeleine Little is a disabled artist, theatre maker, and researcher. She is also incredibly kind, articulate, and knowledgeable arts professional with a smile so arresting it will pull you across the room like that dance move with the invisible lasso. You should absolutely follow her on the accounts listed in the show notes and read her Mama Mia article, which MAMA FREAKING MIA APPROACHED HER TO DO (click through to it to get as excited about it as I am). Go send her big love for finishing off her masters! Go do some googling to learn more about the topic! Go follow some cool disabled artists on Instagram! Go go go!

Keep well,

-Paula

P.S. This is a phone interview, and there was a little itty bitty lag, but it’s not noticeable after the first two minutes.

Surprise! I had so much fun with Peter and Kristen, I asked them if they could stay and answer just a few more questions. In this episode we focus on financing a fringe show, and a few other bits of wisdom that I am so pleased I get to share with you. It would be so amazing if you could share one of their posts on whichever platform you use. Just hitting “interested” on their Facebook event, or sharing one of their Instagram posts to your story is a tiny thing that really helps spread their name and the joy of Nutella a little further.

If YOU have a fringe show, tell us about it! If you are going to Boys Taste Better With Nutella at Melbourne fringe, tag us!

Keep well,

-Paula

You guys. I am so excited to share this episode with you. I sit down with two creative powerhouses Kristen Maloney and Peter Wood. Kristen is a producer, writer, director and casserole lover. Peter is an actor, writer, and dramaturg, and can turn anything into brilliant choreography.

To make sure that you don’t miss an ounce of the goodness that Peter and Kristen give, I have created a TRANSCRIPT which you can find in our Facebook Group and on the TNC website as of 5/9/19. Oh yes, I paid trint some money and now you can literally copy and paste a list together of all the documentation you will need to apply for a hub, the things that the Nutella crew have learned about marketing a fringe show, and so much more! This is part one of two, so stay tuned for even more invaluable information about how to make your fringe show happen.

Boys Taste Better With Nutella will be at Melbourne Fringe Festival 13 to 21 September and tickets are $29 OR LESS. It is a brilliant show, I have seen it in varying stages and loved it at all of them. And yes, yes I absolutely will be booking a plane ticket to see it tour in 2020. That is how good this show is. I am booking a $200 plane ticket to see a $29 show and sip $18 cocktails. Living my best life and all that.

Tell us what you think of the episode! Show the Nutella crew some love by heading to their instagram account and sharing a post, you will never believe how much those three taps help get them seen online.

Keep well,

-Paula

Dating has never been easy. Never. Which means it is one of the most interesting, absurd and hilarious human experiences to discuss. Now we live in a world where the logistics and a bunch of admin is done for us, but it’s a wild west of behaviour protocols and expectations. Of swipes, ghosts, strings of casual flings all messaging at once, serial monogamy, and “what are we??” texts to friends. In this episode we cover the pros, pitfalls, and transactional nature of dating apps, what the experience of dating can teach us about ourselves, finding someone with baggage that fits yours, and whether it’s easier to find someone online or in person (among many other things).

Bridget Morrison is what is commonly referred to as a Girl Boss. She’s a creative, co-editor of Kindred Zine, social media content creator and marketer, barista, and uni student. She is brilliantly funny and intelligent, and as in love with John Mulaney as I am.

In a startling turn of events, since recording this Bridget is now in a relationship with a gentleman she met on Hinge, and I’ve got a date with that guy I saw who made me think “oh shit.” So it looks like the universe or some such omnipotent force is having a laugh, and turning our lives in to romcoms. We have no complaints as yet.

Keep well,

-Paula

If you or someone you love has a uterus, then this episode is for you! As we mention in the episode, we are not medical professionals and you should get in touch with your GP if you have any questions or concerns after listening. We have done our googles, but not a PHD. Periods are bloody normal, bloody important, and honestly how are there not more widespread memes about it?

This was one of the first episodes I recorded with the wonderful folks at Brisbane Podcast Hub (an AMAZING resource for podcasters, highly recommend) and as I’m a novice when it comes to recording and editing, I had no idea what gain was. Until now. So unfortunately, this episode’s audio quality is not up to our usual standards. There will be a few more like this in the future I’m afraid, but I promise the content is worth it. Also, thank you all for being patient with me while I figured out how to edit things!

Jump on socials and let us know what you think! Don’t forget you can click through to read the full notes on the TNC website.

Keep well,

-Paula

Self-talk is probably one of the most intimate and important things we can master for our own good. The way we talk to ourselves links to the way we see ourselves, and the way we interact with the world. It’s an aspect of our communication skills that we never get enough time on in school. This week I talk to the marvellous Johanna Lyon about self-talk, within a special context. In this bumper special, you get to listen to the first ever recording of Stumble Through. A recording I held back on releasing because of my own self-talk around it. I am really excited to show it to you, and of course to introduce Jo (that will be funny after you’ve listened).

Jo is a young artist passionate about laughing with others. Jo is most interested in discussing and unpacking why humans do what we do in areas of life regarding love, childhood and discrimination, among other things. She aims to achieve connection between strangers within her work. She is a truly marvellous human being that I am so lucky to call my friend. I am really glad I get to share this, and her, with you this week. Don’t forget to get tickets to her Short and Sweet show this weekend! They’re pretty cheap, and it’s an excellent excuse to take a trip to the Gold Coast.

Keep well,

-Paula