A Journey with Bernie

When I tell people I interviewed Ian Skippen on A JOURNEY WITH BERNIE, the standard response is “Well that would have been fun!” I know of no-one who enjoys and embraces life like Ian Skippen. He never takes himself seriously! He is joy personified. What is interesting is that his laughter is never at anyone’s expense. His happiness is something he simply shares with others. Whether he is prepared to admit or not, Ian was the voice of breakfast radio here in Queensland for 30 years. Everyone knows ‘Skip’.Yet his journey to becoming so joyous involves routine, habits and perspectives that are not common to all. In this podcast, he shares his daily strategies, actions and unique ways of seeing life that culminate in a daily celebration. That’s what makes this episode so unique. Today, laugh along with Ian Skippen and in the process learn how to find greater happiness in this beautiful game of life.

When Ken Pakenham was 13, he sat bedside and watched his mother slowly die after consuming rat poison. It was her final response to constant domestic violence. In the midst of his shattered family, Ken also suffered violent beatings at high school that continually punished his gender and sexual diversity. His deep desire to find meaning through his suffering led him on a roller-coaster of drug addiction, hippie communal living and homelessness. When he too was so close to giving up on the game of life, his sister introduced him to a straight and narrow pathway presented by the Pentecostal Church. It rescued him. University, marriage, fatherhood and career advancements followed. After being shattered by divorce, a new path opened that drew him back to his authentic self and gay love.Well, you can imagine, what learnings are on offer in this our first episode of A JOURNEY WITH BERNIE?Through Ken, you will come to fully understand the constant challenge we all have to identify, know and truly live our values not daily, not hourly but in every living moment. This episode suggests that somewhere in that state one experiences a freedom – a fullness of life. It might even be a definition for sustainable joy.Kenneth Pakenham, is an Emeritus Professor in the School of Psychology at The University of Queensland, Australia. His research and clinical practice spans 40 years. Through his 170 publications, 9,500 citations of his work, 3 research awards, 3 teaching awards, and more than 3 million dollars of competitive grant funding, Ken has become a global leader in assisting others to cope with adversity. His story is epitomised in his recently published must read memoir …The Trauma Banquet: Eating Pain - Feasting on Life : Pakenham, Kenneth: Amazon.com.au: BooksIt is a must read, just as this inaugural episode is a must listen. We simply could not have had a better first up guest.During the podcast COURAGE TO BE DISLIKED by Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimi was also referenced and highly recommended.Produced by The Podcast Boss

If you would like to look in the mirror and embrace the person you see then this podcast is compulsory listening.It is unashamedly about love … predominantly love for self.Fuelled by the thoughts, perceptions and actions of well chosen guests, who advocate the journey of life, you will learn of strategies and actions to help you appreciate the incredible being that is you.You will learn how to generate greater happiness within self by seeing yourself, others and the world differently.Your new paradigms will give your life greater meaning and purpose.This has been Bernie’s Journey and through his expert facilitation and coaching, the lessons of others will be presented for your consideration.Be warned some episodes may change your life permanently !