In this episode of Rule of Reason, I sit down with Trent Aquilina — an aviation professional, mentor, and marathon runner — to talk about resilience, hard work, and the power of starting again.

Trent was once told he’d amount to nothing.

Years later, after building a 35-year aviation career, he found himself at 156kg and experiencing a panic attack that changed everything.

What followed wasn’t motivation.

It was discipline.

He lost over 80kg, ran marathons, and now dedicates his time to mentoring the next generation — teaching young people that failing isn’t failure, it’s learning.

We talk about:
• Being told you’re not good enough
• Hard work vs entitlement
• Resilience learned from parents
• The panic attack that changed everything
• Losing 80kg and running a marathon
• Why “It’s not never — it’s just not now”
• Mentorship and helping the next generation
• What gives him hope for the future

This conversation isn’t about hype.
It’s about responsibility, discipline, and choosing to move forward — even when it’s hard.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, behind, or written off — this episode is for you.

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🎙 Rule of Reason is about sharing real stories from real people — stories that remind us we’re not alone and that meaning is built through responsibility, service, and perseverance.

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If this conversation helped you, consider subscribing and sharing it with someone who needs it.

Because hope spreads person to person.

In this episode of Rule of Reason, Zac sits down with Graeme Irwin OAM — educator, founder of St Philip’s Christian College, and national advocate for teachers — to explore how a life shaped by responsibility, faith, and service leads to lasting impact.

Graeme reflects on growing up on a working farm in rural New South Wales, where hard work, accountability, and respect for creation were not optional — they were part of daily life. That upbringing laid the foundation for a vocation in education, eventually leading him to found St Philip’s Christian College in 1982 with just 18 students, no funding, and a clear vision.

The conversation traces Graeme’s journey from the land to the classroom, from local school leadership to influencing education policy at a national level. Together, Zac and Graeme discuss the current state of education in Australia, the challenges facing teachers today, and why relationships — not systems — remain at the heart of meaningful learning.

Graeme also shares what gives him hope for the future: young people, dedicated teachers, and the enduring importance of purpose, faith, and responsibility in education.

This episode is a thoughtful reflection on leadership, vocation, and how education shapes not just minds, but lives.

🎧 Topics include:
– Growing up on a farm and learning responsibility early
– Finding purpose and calling in teaching
– Starting a school from nothing
– The state of education in Australia
– Supporting teachers and students in a changing world
– Why relationships matter more than systems

📌 Subscribe for conversations that explore meaning, responsibility, and hope.

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G’day everyone — welcome back to Rule of Reason.

In this episode, I’m in beautiful Samoa sitting down with Giovanni, the warm and unforgettable face behind one of the island’s most loved Italian restaurants, Paddles.

Giovanni’s story is one of identity, culture, and the surprising paths life takes when family makes a decision you don’t agree with — at least not at first. He grew up surrounded by hospitality, with an Italian father (from a village near Venice) and a Samoan mother (from Savai’i). After years living in Italy — studying, building a career, and living what felt like his “real” life — Giovanni was suddenly told the family was moving back to Samoa.

At first, he didn’t want to be there. He compared everything to Italy. He felt like his career had been taken from him. But over time, that resistance softened — and what began as frustration became a new home, a new mission, and a new understanding of what real wealth is.

In this conversation we talk about:

• Growing up Samoan–Italian and what that shaped in him
• Living almost three decades in Italy and thinking he’d stay forever
• The shock of being told: “We’re moving back to Samoa”
• How a family lease, a big risk, and a mother’s vision became a restaurant legacy
• Why Giovanni believes people are the real wealth — not money
• The power of gratitude, positivity, and choosing the next minute well
• A message to young people: don’t waste opportunities, and don’t miss real life by staring down at a phone

If you’ve ever felt torn between two places… stuck between who you were and who you’re becoming… or forced into a change you didn’t choose — I think you’ll get something out of this one.

If you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs a reminder that meaning is found in people.

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