Taught, Not Told: Life Lessons That Stick

Season 2: A World Worth Keeping

Episode 5: Interview with Ms. Victoria McKenzie-McHarg - The Power of Leading Together

Victoria McKenzie-McHarg has spent years at the heart of Australia’s climate movement, helping build a future where women and gender-diverse people lead together - across generations, communities, and causes. As CEO of Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia (WELA), she’s focused on what true leadership looks like when it’s shared, not guarded.

In this conversation, we talk about the importance of supporting each other, working across generations, and remembering that none of us can do this...

Season 2: A World Worth Keeping

Episode 4: Interview with Ms. Grace Vegesana - Building Youth Power for Climate Action

It’s been incredible to see the voices of young people leading the fight for our planet - and no one embodies that better than Grace Vegesana, the National Director of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition.

At just 25, Grace has spent nearly a decade building youth power to end fossil fuel expansion. From her time at Future Super, where she launched the Not Business as Usual alliance that united over 3,000 businesses in support of the 2021 Cl...

Season 2: A World Worth Keeping

Episode 3: Interview with Prof. David Karoly - Turning Science Into Stories That Matter

It’s been a little while since the last episode - between schoolwork and a trip to Canberra lobbying for stronger climate action, life has been busy. Thank you for your patience, and I’m so excited to be back.

And what a way to return: with none other than Professor David Karoly, one of Australia’s most renowned climate scientists and a globally recognized leader in climate change research.

Duration: 00:49:16

Season 2: A World Worth Keeping

Episode 2: Interview with Amanda McKenzie - Building Australia's Climate Voice

In this much-anticipated episode of Taught, Not Told, I sit down with Ms. Amanda McKenzie - co-founder and CEO of the Climate Council, trailblazer for youth climate advocacy, and one of Australia’s leading voices on the fight for a livable future.

From starting out in law to co-founding the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, to building Australia’s most trusted independent climate communications body, Amanda’s story is a powerful reminder that real change is a marathon, not a spri...

Season 2: A World Worth Keeping

Episode 1: Interview with Dr. Gregory Moore OAM - On Trees, Time, and the Bigger Picture

I'm back - with a brand new season of Taught, Not Told.

This season, we’re exploring climate stories: not just the science or the headlines, but the people. The ones who are shaping the future with their choices, their knowledge, and their quiet persistence.

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Greg Moore - arborist, botanist, and former Head of Burnley College at the University of Melbourne. He’s spent...

Season 1: In the Footsteps of Those Who've Led

Episode 9: The World Isn't That Simple And That's the Problem (Reflection on "Divided")

This week, it’s just you and me again, and I want to talk about a book that I genuinely think every young person should read.

You’ve probably noticed how often the world gets reduced to us vs. them. Politics, economics, education - even basic human rights - are framed as a battle between two sides. But the truth? The world is rarely that simple. And when we force complex issues into...

Season 1: In the Footsteps of Those Who've Led

Episode 8: Interview with Dr. Geoff Raby AO

This week, I sat down with Dr. Geoff Raby AO, Australia’s former Ambassador to China, whose career has been defined by navigating one of the most complex and consequential relationships of our time.

What struck me most was his ability to find clarity in uncertainty - whether it was learning Mandarin, visiting every province in China, or making high-stakes decisions with incomplete information. His journey is a reminder that growth often happens when we lean into the un...

Season 1: In the Footsteps of Those Who’ve Led

Episode 7: Interview with Prof. Gillian Triggs AC

In this episode, I spoke with someone who has dedicated her life to using law as a force for good.

Professor Gillian Triggs AC is one of Australia’s most distinguished international human rights lawyers and advocates. As President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, she led national debates on refugee rights, gender equality, and freedom of speech - standing firm in politically charged environments.

As 2019-2023 Assistant Secretary-General of the UN and Assi...

Season 1: In the Footsteps of Those Who’ve Led

Episode 6: Life is Short – Make it Count

People have asked me, "Are you doing all of this because your parents are making you?"

And honestly, I get why they might think that. There’s this idea that working hard must come from pressure - whether it’s school, family, or some perfect future we’re supposed to chase.

But for me, that’s never been the reason. I do what I do because I care. Because life is short, and I want to spend my...

Season 1: In the Footsteps of Those Who’ve Led

Episode 5: Interview with Rev. Tim Costello AO

Some people dedicate their lives to a single cause. Mr. Tim Costello AO has spent his life standing up for the people and issues that too many ignore.

As a lawyer, pastor, former mayor, and the longtime CEO of World Vision Australia, Mr. Costello has been on the frontlines of some of the world’s most urgent social challenges - fighting for gambling reform, advocating for refugees, addressing poverty, and leading global humanitarian efforts. He’s worked in war...

Season 1: In the Footsteps of Those Who’ve Led

Episode 4: Thanks, Mum

This episode is personal.

Turning 16 while my mum turns 50 has made me reflect on our journey together - the lessons she’s taught me, the quiet ways she’s shaped my world, and the things I’m only now beginning to understand.

I reflect on what my mum taught me about working hard with purpose, how passion is something we build, not something we’re born with, and how parents and teens can navigate the gap between them.

But more...

Season 1: In the Footsteps of Those Who’ve Led

Episode 3: Interview with Dr. Elizabeth Carew-Reid OAM

Dr. Elizabeth Carew-Reid OAM is a GP who has spent her career balancing deeply meaningful work in paediatric palliative care at Very Special Kids hospice with volunteer medical projects in Pakistan. Her journey has been shaped by moments of uncertainty, growth, and discovery - experiences that feel surprisingly relatable, no matter where you’re at in life.

What struck me most in our conversation were her reflections on finding purpose. As young people, the pressure to figure out...

Season 1: In the Footsteps of Those Who’ve Led

Episode 2: Why Success Isn’t What You Think (Outliers Review & Reflections)

In this solo episode, I dive into Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, a book that challenges everything we think we know about success. From cultural legacies and hidden opportunities to the idea of the “self-made person,” Outliers explores the untold factors that shape extraordinary achievements.

Through stories like the Roseto Mystery, the legacy of rice farming in East Asia, and the surprising influence of birth dates in hockey, I share my reflections on the book’s k...

Season 1: In the Footsteps of Those Who’ve Led

Episode 1: Interview with Owen Hegarty OAM

In this very special episode, I have the privilege of speaking with Owen Hegarty OAM, a distinguished leader with decades of experience and wisdom to share. From his childhood in the countryside to his remarkable career achievements - transforming Oxiana Limited into one of Australia’s top companies and leading as Executive Chairman of EMR Capital - Mr. Hegarty’s journey is nothing short of inspiring.

As a young person, I’m incredibly grateful to have had the opportun...

Episode 0: Welcome to Taught, Not Told

In this first episode, host Ivy Sheng introduces Taught, Not Told and explains how it’s designed to meet a real need: giving young people practical, lived advice from those who’ve been through life’s challenges and triumphs.

Ivy shares the personal story that inspired this podcast and sets the foundation for what you can expect - authentic conversations with leaders, changemakers, and everyday people who share their wisdom in a way that’s honest, relatable, and actionable.

As the starting point for the series, this episode...