How good is the Friday before a long weekend? Wow-wee team, we’re fired up and ready to throw down the work shackles and pick up the weekend…shackles? I’m not sure what you’ve got planned, but I already have a laundry list of tasks that I told my wife I would get to on the long weekend. Now that it’s almost arrived, I’m more inclined to stay at work. Enough of my whinging, let’s get into Feel-Good Friday.
Australian Podcast Awards Shine a Spotlight on Positive Causes
It’s no secret that health and wellness is big business in the podcast space, but it stretches far beyond the latest dating advice and breathing techniques. In fact, as the Australian Podcast Awards shortlist, which was released earlier this week, proved, men’s health is as popular as ever. In addition to the career-positive advice pieces and public interest series, the shortlist for this year included a range of powerful, mental health-focused programs designed to combat the growing challenges of everyday life.
Among those recognised in the shortlist were, Young Blood, a series that tackles the often-overlooked topic of men’s mental health, breaking stigmas and offering vital support and Fade Out: Conversations for Men, which dives deep into honest discussions about navigating modern masculinity. Also up for nomination is The Pool Room with Tony Armstrong, which blends sports and lifestyle together, bringing listeners both entertainment and insight into men’s daily lives.
The winners will be celebrated at the awards ceremony held at the Sofitel Sydney, Darling Harbour, recognising outstanding talent across 30 categories, including the prestigious Podcast of the Year and Best New Podcast. Listener’s Choice voting is now underway and will remain open until October 10.
Free Rotisserie Rolls & Street Side Take-Out
There is nothing I enjoy more than a hot chicken and gravy roll, except perhaps a FREE hot chicken and gravy roll and that’s exactly what we’re getting. Iconic Surry Hills institution, Harry’s, has announced a new Rotisserie & Grill offering that includes Hot Chicken & Gravy, Porchetta and Lamb Rolls. The delicious new menu is served hot and fresh directly from the street level, providing the first true takeaway option for Harry’s. As Brett Robinson, CEO of Harry’s operator, The Point Group, explained, the new lunch offering is a no-brainer.
“Harry’s has long been a cornerstone of Surry Hills, a place where everyone can find something to love,” Robinson said. “This new menu not only honours our classic favourites but also introduces exciting new dishes including juicy roast chicken, delicious salty and crispy porchetta as well as standout Rotisserie Rolls!”
To celebrate the opening of the new Rotisserie & Grill offering, Harry’s is dishing up a swathe of delicious goodies for free. On Thursday 10 October, you can grab the Hot Chicken & Gravy, Porchetta and Lamb Rolls for free, all yours to satisfy your lunch cravings. Available on a first come first serve basis, 12PM to 2PM until sold out. Get into it.
Garnier’s Reef Revival Commitment
International beauty brand, Garnier, has announced the return of its ‘Plant a Coral’ campaign, in partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. The multi-year support program is designed to aid in the survival of the Great Barrier Reef through new coral dispersion. As part of the project, Garnier Australia has committed to dispersing 700,000 new corals to enhance the resilience of Reefs in the Whitsundays region, following the 500,000 baby corals dispersed in 2023.
The move comes after a torrid period for the Reef, which recently experienced its fifth mass coral bleaching event in eight years. According to Garnier, the project will help restore damaged areas of the Great Barrier Reef through coral planting, with the brand confirmed that by the end of 2024, the number of corals dispersed will reach 1.2 million baby corals.
“For over 120 years, Garnier has been committed to more sustainable beauty for all of us, with products that offer maximum efficacy for you and reduced impact on the planet,” Garnier Australia and New Zealand marketing director, Alexander Bachem said. “But this commitment goes beyond just our products, and as one of the world’s biggest beauty brands, we feel a strong responsibility to help protect the natural beauty of the world, and what better place to start than the natural wonder that’s right in our backyard – the Great Barrier Reef.”
Garnier’s commitment to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation falls under parent company, L’Oréal Groupe’s “L’Oréal for the Future” program which has seen the Groupe commit to a range of social and environmental goals by 2030. To learn more about Garnier’s partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, visit the Plant a Coral website.
Lifeblood Calls Out for 100,000 New Donors
Australian Red Cross Lifeblood has launched a bold new campaign asking people to find their reason to give. The project is calling for 100,000 people to become blood and plasma donors, as demand for blood reaches a 12-year-high. According to Lifeblood, just over 560,000 active donors currently maintain the blood and plasma supply for our population of almost 27 million, but new donors are crucial to continue to meet the growing nation’s needs.
“We know 100,000 people will show up if they have a compelling reason to do so, like cheering on their team at the MCG. We’re calling on 100,000 people to find their reason to show up to donate blood and plasma,” Lifeblood’s executive director of Donor Experience, Cath Stone said. “It might be for a family member battling cancer, to give a patient more time with their family, or it might simply be for the free party pies or the warm fuzzy feeling you get from helping save a stranger’s life.”
Demand for blood has increased by 10 per cent in the last four years, and demand for plasma in Australia and worldwide is at an all-time high. In fact, Lifeblood now collects more plasma than blood, and donated plasma is now used to treat more than 50 serious medical conditions. To make a donation, call 13 14 95, book online or on the DonateBlood app.
Breville Supports an Aboriginal Culinary Journey
Australia’s favourite home cooking and appliances company, Breville, is inviting people from around the globe on a unique culinary adventure. The brand has launched a new collection that combines ancestral Australian art and food culture with the best of contemporary design. The new ACJ x Breville Collection sees the brand commission bespoke artworks from a range of First Nations artists and craftspeople to adorn the existing product lineup. The artists own the copyright for their work and receive a royalty for each product produced.
The project is curated by founder of the National Aboriginal Design Agency and Wadi Wadi and Walbanga woman of the Yuin nation, Alison Page, who described the stories of family and sustainability as critical.
“When we step into a modern kitchen, it’s easy to forget that our wondrous appliances – while efficient, convenient, practical and aesthetic – provide the same service that our ancient ancestor’s campfires, grinding stones and stone age tools did over millennia,” Page said. “These stories of family and sustainability are the stories that the world is ready to hear.”
Best of all, Breville is donating 100 per cent of the profits from the sale of the ‘Aboriginal Culinary Journey’ range to create opportunities for Indigenous Australians. The brand expects to raise just over AUD$1,000,000 through the sale of these items globally, with half of the funds yo be used to support the National Indigenous Culinary Institute’s work to create employment opportunities for aspiring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander chefs and the ‘Indi-Kindi Program’ by the Moriarty Foundation to support better childhood nutrition and sharing Indigenous Food Culture. The other half will be used for Indigenous scholarships and initiatives at the University of Technology Sydney to create pathways for employment in engineering, technology and design.
According to Breville, the new ACJ Collection represents an invitation to experience, celebrate and be part of maintaining the world’s oldest living food culture while giving back to the artists and communities who have shared their art and stories for the collection. You can browse the new collection at Breville.