Former professional wakeboarder Brad Smeele was living an adrenaline fueled life, travelling the world and pushing the boundaries of his sport, until a devastating wakeboarding accident left him a C4 Quadriplegic.

A raw and open conversation about the realities that often sit behind the inspirational headlines. Exploring grief, identity, masculinity, mental health, relationships, carers, accessibility, Disability Schemes and the difficult process of accepting a life you never expected to live.

Brad also discusses his memoir, Owning It: The Ride That Changed My Life, the determination required to write his story and how he eventually began rebuilding a sense of happiness, purpose and control.

This is not simply a story about “overcoming” disability. It is a genuine conversation about confronting your darkest moments, adapting without losing yourself and taking ownership of the life that remains in front of you.

Whether you live with disability, support someone who does, or are navigating your own major life change, Brad’s perspective will challenge how you think about resilience, acceptance and what it means to truly own your life.

Want to become a Keep Rolling Patron and help further support the channel, hit the Patreon link below and Roll with the Squad! https://www.patreon.com/street_rolling_cheetah

Add, Follow or Contact Brad Smeele
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradsmeele/?hl=en

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Email: streetrollingcheetah@gmail.com
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-briggs-77b867100/

Timestamps
(00:00:00) Intro

(00:01:47) Sponsors: Culture Connex and Permobil

(00:03:55) Welcome Brad Smeele

(00:05:20) Home on an Auckland Lifestyle Block

(00:07:46) Writing A Book To Reflect on Life

(00:09:42) Wakeboarding or Hockey?

(00:15:50) Winter Training

(00:18:07) Winning World Champs and NBDs

(00:28:56) The Trick That Changed Everything

(00:33:00) The Crash and Chaos

(00:37:03) Orlando ICU, Hallucinations and Ventilator

(00:41:26) Flatlining in Front of Mum

(00:48:04) From Suing Sponsors to Credit Card Loophole

(00:54:15) A C4 Injury and Impact on Life

(01:09:46) Online Trolls, Dark Humor and the X8 Chair

(01:15:51) Jet the Dog and Back in the Water

(01:23:43) Travel Costs and Why Good Caregivers Matter

(01:28:18) Losing Control then Educating People

(01:35:16) Dating and Relationships Post Injury

(01:41:24) Three Steps and Writing a Book

(01:49:47) Vulnerability

(01:53:15) Neuralink, Cures and Quack Injections

(02:03:09) Financial Responsibility and Business

(02:05:36) Where to Find Brad, and Outro

Dr Stephen Morse is an expert in Modern Slavery, Human Trafficking and Enforced Labour. Having lived experience abroad, Dt Stephen and his wife created an organisation to help large companies and supply chains to recognise any human rights abuse in their own systems, build compliance and protect vulnerable people.

Want to become a Keep Rolling Patron and help further support the channel, hit the Patreon link below and Roll with the Squad! https://www.patreon.com/street_rolling_cheetah

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Website: https://unchainedsolutions.com.au/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenbmorse/

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Email: streetrollingcheetah@gmail.com
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-briggs-77b867100/

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:04:29) What modern slavery is

(00:06:22) How Steven got into this work

(00:09:14) Trafficking routes into Europe

(00:14:16) Modern slavery in Australia

(00:18:18) Wage theft and the ABN trap

(00:21:05) The low-risk myth

(00:25:23) Rana Plaza and the law

(00:32:56) Beyond compliance

(00:35:31) Cobalt mines and scam compounds

(00:41:11) Warning signs to look for

(00:50:47) Highest risk industries

(00:55:39) Jake's worksite raid story

(01:03:42) Who to contact

(01:08:48) Where Australia wins and falls short

(01:13:58) Australia's hidden history

(01:18:27) Stolen wages and the stolen generation

(01:23:47) Blackbirding and generational trauma

(01:32:38) Fear of deportation

(01:45:43) Temu, Shein and cheap goods

(01:51:48) Exploitation in the disability sector

(01:59:25) Freedom Business Alliance

(02:04:38) Sex work and trafficking

(02:10:32) The story of Pablo in Madrid

(02:18:54) Sage advice

(02:21:05) Wrap-up

Lawrie McKinna is a leader whose journey spans professional football, elite coaching, business, and politics.
From playing professionally in Scotland to becoming the inaugural coach of the Central Coast Mariners, Lawrie helped shape one of Australia’s most recognised sporting clubs. He went on to lead teams to grand finals and later step into executive leadership roles across Australian football.
Today, as Mayor of the Central Coast, Lawrie brings that same leadership mindset into community, infrastructure, and regional development. Driven by values of teamwork, persistence, and real impact.

Want to become a Keep Rolling Patron and help further support the channel, hit the Patreon link below and Roll with the Squad!
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Add, Follow or Contact Lawrie:
Website: https://www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/mayor-mckinna

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Email: streetrollingcheetah@gmail.com
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Face book: https://www.facebook.com/StreetRollingCheetah/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-briggs-77b867100/

Timestamps
(00:00:00) Introduction - Lawrie McKinna's Journey

(00:01:49) Sponsor Shoutout

(00:03:57) Welcome Lawrie McKinna

(00:04:22) Growing up in Scotland and the Ten Pound Passage

(00:07:15) Starting Out - Lace Mills and Meeting Christine

(00:11:55) Professional Football Beginnings - Darville Juniors and Dundee United

(00:15:38) Signing with Kilmarnock FC

(00:20:14) Competitive Life in the Scottish Football League

(00:22:45) The Old Firm Rivalry - Rangers vs Celtic

(00:26:06) Moving to Australia - Melbourne and the NSL

(00:30:00) Life in Sydney - Blacktown City and Major Injuries

(00:34:03) Transitioning into Coaching and Sydney Olympic

(00:37:26) The Birth of the Central Coast Mariners

(00:41:55) Building the Mariners Culture and Identity

(00:47:20) Bringing Mark Bosnich Back to Australia

(00:52:20) Coaching in China - Chengdu Blades and Chongqing Lifan

(00:59:48) John Singleton and the 5-Year Menu Contract

(01:07:49) Stepping into Politics - Mayor of Gosford

(01:10:42) CEO of Newcastle Jets and Financial Sacrifice

(01:19:44) Team Central Coast and the Amalgamated Council - Mayor of the Central Coast

(01:26:26) The Reality of Local Government - Roads, Rates and Rubbish

(01:35:34) The Future of Gosford and Regional Development

(01:41:50) New Library & Connecting with the University of Newcastle

(01:47:35) Community Champions and Giving Back

(01:53:27) Sound Advice and Closing Remarks

(02:02:53) Outro and Sponsor Gratitude

Belinda Mason is a social documentarian, internationally recognised photographer, artist, and advocate. Capturing powerful human stories, her work is both technically masterful and deeply meaningful. Beyond the lens, Belinda is a driving force in inclusive, socially engaged art — collaborating with people with disability and marginalised communities and presenting work on global stages.

Want to support the show? Join the Keep Rolling community:
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Connect with Belinda:
Website: https://www.belindamason.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/belindamasonau/

Connect with me:
Email: streetrollingcheetah@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/street_rolling_cheetah/?hl=en
Twitter: https://twitter.com/st_rollcheetah
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StreetRollingCheetah/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-briggs-77b867100/

Timestamps
(00:00) Host intro
(04:47) Subscribe & sponsors
(07:31) Interview begins
(08:17) Early life
(13:27) Balancing commercial & advocacy work
(16:28) First exhibition
(20:29) 1988 Bicentenary & Redfern
(24:31) Intergenerational trauma
(28:30) Identity & belonging
(33:33) Long-term storytelling impact
(37:06) Moving to Sydney
(40:39) Intimate Encounters
(45:09) Banned exhibition global tour
(49:11) Working with Aboriginal communities
(52:30) Aurukun workshop
(56:07) Unfinished Business origins
(57:31) Serving Country
(1:00:17) ADF experiences & racism
(1:05:40) Veteran stories
(1:08:05) Film to digital transition
(1:18:30) Powerful storytelling moments
(1:20:48) Women in photography
(1:24:55) Silent Tears project
(1:29:33) Photography techniques
(1:33:04) Global impact of Silent Tears
(1:35:27) International stories
(1:38:23) Voice & empowerment
(1:40:23) Exhibition design
(1:46:57) Outing Disability
(1:55:20) Unfinished Business explained
(1:59:08) Disability in First Nations communities
(2:03:32) Advocacy challenges
(2:09:47) Community accountability
(2:11:13) United Nations presentations
(2:14:42) Global Indigenous parallels
(2:19:15) Grand Designs journey
(2:27:30) Stage production
(2:29:17) Opera House highlights
(2:38:24) Connecting with Belinda
(2:39:48) Advice on storytelling
(2:41:46) Closing thoughts

Going solo on this one, just giving an update on the podcast, life, business, the mental game, past, present and future.

Timestamps added below

Add, Follow or Contact me:
Email: streetrollingcheetah@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/street_rolling_cheetah/?hl=en
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Face book: https://www.facebook.com/StreetRollingCheetah/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-briggs-77b867100/

Want to become a Keep Rolling Patron and help further support the channel, hit the Patreon link below and Roll with the Squad!
https://www.patreon.com/street_rolling_cheetah

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Intro & Life Update

(00:01:52) Mental Resilience & Life's Rollercoaster

(00:03:08) The Mental Game of Being a C5/C6 Quadriplegic

(00:04:05) Podcast Growth & The Power of Conversations

(00:08:19) Career Journey: Construction, Advocacy & Service Provision

(00:10:41) Working with Remote Communities

(00:12:16) Founding Culture Connex During COVID Pandemic

(00:14:18) The New Tuggerah Studio & Scaling the Business

(00:16:58) Reimagining Accessible Housing the right way

(00:18:26) Navigating the NDIS & Consulting Work

(00:22:28) The Importance of a Solid Support System with my wife, Amy

(00:23:07) Wheelchair Travel (Flying Qantas) & Tasmania Trip

(00:25:27) Family, Loss, & Honouring My Grandmother

(00:26:27) The Studio Team & What's Next for the Podcast

(00:29:16) The Impact of Yarning & Call for Future Guests

(00:31:33) Gratitude, Perspective & People that make it happen

Paul Turley was a promising swimmer that landed in prison because of a fatal error. Found resilience and a path forward with time spent in solitude. A new career in mining and also teaching young and individuals in general what to do when presented with risk and channelling the right decision before it’s too late.

Timestamps added below if you want to skip to your juice.

Want to become a Keep Rolling Patron and help further support the channel, hit the Patreon link below and Roll with the Squad!

https://www.patreon.com/street_rolling_cheetah

Add, Follow or Contact Paul: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-turley-00238659

Add, Follow or Contact me:

Email: streetrollingcheetah@gmail.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/street_rolling_cheetah/?hl=en

Twitter: https://twitter.com/st_rollcheetah

Face book: https://www.facebook.com/StreetRollingCheetah/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-briggs-77b867100/

Timestamps

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:03:42) Starting out swimming with Ian Thorpe and making mistakes

(00:06:40) Resilience - the test

(00:08:40) Substances & driven by ego, ends in a crash

(00:17:51) Realisation. Mistakes have consequences

(00:21:20) Dealing with guilt by talking about it

(00:23:25) The sentence

(00:27:52) Staying sane and safe in prison - training

(00:32:55) Lost time

(00:35:25) Building back with endurance events

(00:40:02) Creating a charity

(00:41:28) Healthy after incarceration is hard work

(00:48:00) Moving to Perth, breaking away

(00:52:18) Channelling your best self

(00:53:40) FIFO & mental health

(00:57:55) Speaking so people drive sober & safe

(01:06:05) Paul's closing message

Bronwyn Penhaligon is a psychotherapist that helps individuals and business's strategically implement intervention strategies for burnout, anxiety, imposter syndrome, procrastination, conflict and boundary settings. How to set goals and have a clearer path of direction and also bring in clinical hypnotherapy if necessary.

Timestamps added below if you want to skip to your juice.

Want to become a Keep Rolling Patron and help further support the channel, hit the Patreon link below and Roll with the Squad! https://www.patreon.com/street_rolling_cheetah

Add, Follow or Contact Bronwyn:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bronwyn-penhaligon-32977313/

Add, Follow or Contact me:
Email: streetrollingcheetah@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/street_rolling_cheetah/?hl=en
Twitter - X: https://x.com/st_rollcheetah
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StreetRollingCheetah/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-briggs-77b867100/

Timestamps:
(00:00:00) Intro

(00:02:16) Sponsor announcement

(00:04:56) Introducing Bronwyn Starting in Tasmania

(00:07:17) Girl Nerd plans life in teens

(00:08:35) Covid happens & finding meaning

(00:11:15) Inspired by that meaning instead of marketing

(00:15:26) Reinvention looking forward

(00:18:16) The role as a psychotherapist

(00:26:35) Growing mental resilience & strength

(00:30:55) Talking about burnout

(00:35:35) Hustle Culture

(00:37:15) How some people handle mental health

(00:41:40) Leaders need to increase awareness

(00:43:36) Anxiety as a loss of control

(00:49:00) Hypnotherapy's role can be fast

(00:54:00) State of mind impact on work

(00:56:00) Imposter syndrome

(01:00:29) Procrastination broken down

(01:06:00) Addictions, control & support

(01:13:00) Working with leaders & organisations

(01:16:03) It's about change

(01:20:30) Rest and sleep

(01:25:00) In person and online services

(01:28:05) What next?

(01:30:15) Connecting with Bronwyn

(01:31:30) Closing & recap
.

Brendan Rogers is a leadership and business coach who helps business owners, organisations and senior leaders scale through what's necessary to be effective in their chosen field and balance life.

Timestamps added below if you want to skip to your juice.

Want to become a Keep Rolling Patron and help further support the channel, hit the Patreon link below and Roll with the Squad!
https://www.patreon.com/street_rolling_cheetah


Add, Follow or Contact Brendan:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjrogers01/

Add, Follow or Contact me:
Email: streetrollingcheetah@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/street_rolling_cheetah/?hl=en
Twitter: https://twitter.com/st_rollcheetah
Face book: https://www.facebook.com/StreetRollingCheetah/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-briggs-77b867100/

Timestamps
(00:00:00) Introduction

(00:03:44) Welcome Brendan Rogers

(00:04:18) Starting from the very beginning

(00:05:10) Starting in shipping

(00:07:22) Being the youngest in the office

(00:09:08) Off to the UK

(00:11:20) Office stress shielded during trying times

(00:12:22) The tattoo YNWA

(00:13:40) Return to Sydney Australia in shipping business

(00:18:00) Dealing with sea pirates

(00:19:26) Shipping impacts all people of the world

(00:22:44) Remaining humble in our area of expertise

(00:25:38) From shipping to COO at the sports college

(00:32:30) The world of compliance and continuous improvement

(00:35:45) Being inspired to apply cultural improvements

(00:45:35) Why build community and a quality culture

(00:54:50) The light bulb moment - a new focus

(01:00:00) Coaching in parenting, foster care, school, business and sports

(01:09:00) The future on the Central Coast

(01:17:45) The role of leadership coach is about questions

(01:26:40) Coaching in context

(01:30:15) The journey to becoming a digital nomad

(01:33:00) The People Impact System

(01:38:30) The customer perspective can teach you

(01:42:00) Credentials vs experience

(01:49:30) Measuring leadership through feedback

(01:52:05) Growth Opportunities

(01:57:00) Avoiding selfish behaviour

(02:01:52) Adding AI into your business

(02:07:30) A powerful authentic AI avatar

(02:11:23) The PROMPT

(02:18:22) The Culture of Leadership podcast

(02:27:45) Learning through other’s challenges

(02:36:10) Unconventional story- A journey to better business

(02:42:09) Brendan's daily ritual

(02:45:10) The future plans - a membership model

(02:49:09) Closing & connecting