In this deeply nourishing episode, I journal alongside the ever-wise and fabulously candid Rebecca Lister, a writer, playwright, counsellor and MC of the storytelling event, Generation Women Melbourne.

Rebecca reflects on how journalling, particularly stream-of-consciousness writing, offers her freedom, release, and surprising insight. She describes her writing practice as therapeutic and how it helps her to get out of her own way and leave the inner critic at the door. With the joy of her newborn granddaughter, Rebecca explores the micro and macro cycles of life: from the helpless beauty of a baby to the universal human need for unconditional love.

A beautiful thread through our chat is curiosity, how being curious with ourselves softens judgment, opens space for reflection, and reconnects us with what matters most.

Some Wonderful Takeaways:

• Feelings are waves: they move, shift, and don’t last forever. Learning to ride them brings resilience and calm.
• Journalling is therapeutic: a space for freedom, expression, and unexpected insight.
• Leave the critic at the door: give yourself space to write without judgement or outcome.
• Self-care and contentment can be simple: finding peace in the ordinary is powerful, real, and sustaining.

This episode will invite you to pause, reflect, and meet yourself where you are, with compassion, curiosity, and a pen in hand.

About Rebecca Lister

Rebecca Lister is an award-winning playwright, writer, arts producer, MC and social worker. She is the Co-artistic Director of arts company Anvil Productions, works as a social worker in private practice and as a sessional worker for Eating Disorders Victoria. She is the host of live chat show ‘On the Couch with Beck Lister’ and the MC of the monthly storytelling show Generation Women. Her book, co-written with Tony Kelly, ‘Growing Pineapples in the Outback’ was launched in 2020. Rebecca is a volunteer committee member of the arts and literary festival Words in Winter.

Rebecca is currently working on a new play, big beautiful female theory (bbft) based on the book by Eloise Grills. Rebecca lives and works on Dja Dja Wurrung country.

Website: Rebecca Lister

Thank you for joining me for this journaling journey. I hope this episode gave you new insights, inspiration, or a fresh perspective to take to your own journal.

If you enjoyed this conversation, I’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts, tag me on social media, or leave a review. It helps others discover the power of journalling too.

If you’d like to start journaling or enhance your current journal practice, here are some ways you can get started:

• Journal alongside like-minded people as part of an online Journal Community
• Learn to Journal with a Self-Paced Video Tutorial
• Do an Individual Journal Challenge
• Enrich your relationship with a Couple's Journal Challenge
• Book a session for a Group, Organisation or Workplace

Connect with Ingrid

• Sign up for the Journal With Ingrid Newsletter
• Follow Journal with Ingrid on Instagram
• Follow Journal...

In this episode I’m joined by a treasured Journal Community member, Wendy Smith, who brings warmth, wisdom, and a deep love for writing to our journalling session.

Wendy shares how journalling with a structured framework has allowed her to creatively problem-solve and imagine new ways of being and reframe the stories she tells herself.

Wendy’s Journalling Gems:

• Journalling is a container for growth: Through regular practice, Wendy has observed herself becoming more reflective, calm, and content in life, moving away from reactive patterns to intentional living.
• The ripple effect of journalling: Insights from journal sessions often cross pollinate into other areas of Wendy’s life, from therapy to creative writing to deepening personal relationships.
• Themes that stay with you: Wendy recalls memorable journal themes, like turning life moments into headlines, exploring the science of awe, and confronting tricky emotions like anger. Each one left a unique imprint on her life.
• A beautiful shift: Over time, Wendy has grown more comfortable with expressing love and gratitude to others, which she acknowledges in part to the emotional clarity and awareness developed through journalling.

This conversation is a gentle yet powerful reminder of the ongoing journey of self-awareness and the role journalling can play in helping us truly see ourselves and the world around us.

About Wendy Smith

Wendy Smith retired at the end of 2022 after a long career that involved writing lots of reports, policies and briefings on social issues for government. Now she is free to write for pleasure. She writes stories about her life and times as part of a fortnightly writing group, keeps a dream journal and a gratitude journal and journals with Ingrid and the Saturday morning online community. Writing, especially guided by Ingrid, is a great way to reflect and helps her reflect on her life and live more intentionally. That she sees is the main task for this part of her life.

Thank you for joining me for this journaling journey. I hope this episode gave you new insights, inspiration, or a fresh perspective to take to your own journal.

If you enjoyed this conversation, I’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts, tag me on social media, or leave a review. It helps others discover the power of journalling too.

If you’d like to start journaling or enhance your current journal practice, here are some ways you can get started:

• Journal alongside like-minded people as part of an online Journal Community
• Learn to Journal with a Self-Paced Video Tutorial
• Do an Individual Journal Challenge
• Enrich your relationship with a Couple's Journal Challenge
• Book a session for a Group, Organisation or Workplace

Connect with Ingrid

• Sign up for the Journal With Ingrid Newsletter
• Follow Journal with Ingrid on Instagram
• Follow Journal...

In this thought-provoking episode, I chat with the wonderful Gray Tham. Gray is the founder of Simply Gray Photography. She is creative, warm and passionate about about helping women see themselves in a new light.

Our conversation uncovers gems, from personal reflections, unexpected insights, to a powerful discussion about the role of technology and the importance of trusting yourself.

Gray reflects on our journal session together and dives into the impact AI can have on her inner world, especially its role in over-productivity and the way it can unintentionally drown out her inner voice. She expressed a need to “break up” with "Chad" (aka ChatGPT) in order to reclaim space for her own thoughts.

Gray also opens up about her evolving journalling practice and how it helps her process emotions and ideas that might otherwise remain hidden. Her Wise Women initiative is a beautiful example of what can emerge from making space to reflect.

Whether you’re new to journalling or looking to reconnect with yourself in a digital age, this conversation is a grounding reminder that your inner voice matters, and it’s often just a pen stroke away.

About Gray Tham

Gray Tham is the founder of Simply Gray Photography. She’s known for her warm, natural portrait style and passion for helping women see themselves in a new light.

From a simple photography studio to creating a movement. In 2023, Gray published The 50 & Wiser Club book, celebrating 74 inspiring women over 50. The launch event drew over 450 people and raised $20,000 for the Go Girls Foundation. In 2024, she created a Wise Women exhibition featuring 36 remarkable women and their stories.

Now in 2025, Wise Women continues to grow with an online magazine and a special print edition planned later this year, honouring stories of women over 40.

Beyond the camera, Gray is a beekeeper, mum of three, and community-builder who believes every woman has a story worth sharing.

Website: Simply Gray

Instagram: @simplygrayphotography

Facebook: Simply Gray Photography

LinkedIN: Gray Tham

Thank you for joining me for this journaling journey. I hope this episode gave you new insights, inspiration, or a fresh perspective to take to your own journal.

If you enjoyed this conversation, I’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts, tag me on social media, or leave a review. It helps others discover the power of journalling too.

If you’d like to start journaling or enhance your current journal practice, here are some ways you can get started:

• Journal alongside like-minded people as part of an online Journal Community
• Learn to Journal with a Self-Paced Video Tutorial
• Do an Individual Journal Challenge
• Enrich your relationship with a Couple's Journal Challenge
• Book a session for a Group, Organisation or Workplace

Connect with Ingrid

• Sign up for the Journal With Ingrid Newsletter
• Follow Journal with Ingrid on Instagram
• Follow Journal...

In this episode, I journal and chat with the vibrant Bonnie Crafter.

From our journal session together, Bonnie shares how she’s currently navigating a season of personal change, letting go of limiting beliefs and embracing a mindset that supports and validates how far she’s come.

She describes how her glass half full outlook has been shaped by learning to forgive herself.

Bonnie’s story about recently skydiving, became a metaphor for doing hard things and gaining perspective. She describes how facing fear and stepping out of her comfort zone has helped her reconnect with her potential and purpose.

The conversation touches on:

• The transformative power of forgiveness and how it fuels optimism
• Learning to love and rely on yourself instead of seeking external validation
• Shifting language and mindset, from “difficult” to “challenging”
• How drama school and improv has helped Bonnie remove emotional masks and build self-awareness
• The importance of surrounding yourself with people who inspire you in tangible ways
• Letting go of ego and embracing humility as a path to personal growth

Bonnie shares her experience with journal writing, how it’s been a tool she’s returned to during times of emotional intensity. Using a guided framework was eye-opening for her, helping her to gain insight and alignment.

It’s a feel-good episode full of leaps, aha moments and a little nudge to trust yourself, take the jump, and enjoy the view on the way down.

About Bonnie Crafter

Bonnie is a dedicated professional working in a corporate environment while passionately building her own business focused on financial empowerment and personal development. With a love for extreme sports and dancing, Bonnie finds joy in adventurous activities and helping others overcome challenges.

Instagram: @bonniecrafterofficial

Thank you for joining me for this journaling journey. I hope this episode gave you new insights, inspiration, or a fresh perspective to take to your own journal.

If you enjoyed this conversation, I’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts, tag me on social media, or leave a review. It helps others discover the power of journalling too.

If you’d like to start journaling or enhance your current journal practice, here are some ways you can get started:

• Journal alongside like-minded people as part of an online Journal Community
• Learn to Journal with a Self-Paced Video Tutorial
• Do an Individual Journal Challenge
• Enrich your relationship with a Couple's Journal Challenge
• Book a session for a Group, Organisation or Workplace

Connect with Ingrid

• Sign up for the Journal With Ingrid Newsletter
• Follow Journal with Ingrid on Instagram
• Follow Journal...

In this episode, I journal and chat with the insightful Karen Hollenbach.

Karen is an educator, mentor and writes for therapy. She is the founder of Think Bespoke, an educational consultancy and is a LinkedIn expert consultant. Karen likes to read, unlearn and garden.

Karen opens up about her personal journey with journalling, from teenage “Dear Diary” entries to developing a meaningful reflective practice that supports her mental clarity, emotional wellbeing, and decision-making.

She shares how journalling has become a sacred space to slow down, process emotions in healthy ways, and reconnect with herself. It’s a practice that hasn’t just transformed how Karen moves through the world, but how those closest to her experience her, too.

Through journalling, Karen has:

• Learnt to notice, name, and nurture her emotions with more clarity and kindness.
• Discovered that pain and discomfort, when explored with compassion, can be powerful teachers.
• Developed a deeper emotional vocabulary, one she now sees as a gift for herself and the next generation.
• Embraced the idea that insight doesn’t always require action and that sometimes, simply noticing is enough.
• Found a ritual of self-love and gentle accountability
• Cultivated a sense of inner peace that her family has not only noticed, but thanked her for.
  
  

This is a generous conversation about slowing down, honouring what you feel, and letting journalling be the quiet companion that helps you come home to yourself.

About Karen Hollenbach

Karen is an educator, mentor and writes for therapy. She is the founder of Think Bespoke, an educational consultancy and is a LinkedIn expert consultant. Karen likes to read, unlearn and garden.

Website: Think Bespoke

LinkedIn: Karen Hollenbach

Substack: Karen Hollenbach

Instagram: @thinkbespoke

Thank you for joining me for this journaling journey. I hope this episode gave you new insights, inspiration, or a fresh perspective to take to your own journal.

If you enjoyed this conversation, I’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts, tag me on social media, or leave a review. It helps others discover the power of journalling too.

If you’d like to start journaling or enhance your current journal practice, here are some ways you can get started:

• Journal alongside like-minded people as part of an online Journal Community
• Learn to Journal with a Self-Paced Video Tutorial
• Do an Individual Journal Challenge
• Enrich your relationship with a Couple's Journal Challenge
• Book a session for a Group, Organisation or Workplace

Connect with Ingrid

• Sign up for the Journal With Ingrid Newsletter
• Follow Journal with Ingrid on Instagram
• Follow Journal...

In this expansive and grounded conversation, I journal and chat with the fabulous Sheree Rubinstein.

Sheree is a wonderful mum of two, a former corporate lawyer turned entrepreneur and cofounder of One Roof, an Australia-wide leading membership and community dedicated to supporting entrepreneurial women to start, grow and even exit their businesses.

Sheree shares how journalling has helped her navigate the emotional terrain of growing a business, becoming a mother and leading with heart. From teenage notebooks to navigating sleepless nights, motherhood, identity shifts, and the emotional rollercoaster of running a business

We dive into the layered beauty of everyday life, from insomnia, stress and anxiety to gratitude, possibility and personal growth. Sheree is relaxed, open and honest about her journey through life so far. For the last few years, I've loved running weekly guided journal sessions to support the One Roof community she's built.

Whether you’re a journal-curious founder, a parent in transition, or someone seeking more spaciousness in your day, this episode offers warmth, insight, and a gentle reminder that you’re allowed to slow down, breathe, reflect and soften.

About Sheree Rubinstein

Sheree Rubinstein is a former corporate lawyer turned entrepreneur and cofounder of One Roof, an Australia-wide leading membership and community dedicated to supporting entrepreneurial women to start, grow and even exit their businesses. Sheree successfully led a major pivot in the business from a co-working operator to a digital membership growing the community by over 400%.

Sheree is a mum of two little ones and lives in a home with 9 people; 4 adults and 5 children because it takes a village to raise children and businesses! Sheree is on the board of the Victorian Women's Trust, a regular public speaker and has been recognised for her work with a number of awards including Australian Financial Review 100 women of influence, Telstra Business Women's Award finalist and a Victorian Young Achievers Award winner.

Website: www.weareoneroof.com

One Roof Instagram: @weareoneroof

Sheree Instagram: @shereejaderuby

Thank you for joining me for this journaling journey. I hope this episode gave you new insights, inspiration, or a fresh perspective to take to your own journal.

If you enjoyed this conversation, I’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts, tag me on social media, or leave a review. It helps others discover the power of journalling too.

If you’d like to start journaling or enhance your current journal practice, here are some ways you can get started:

• Journal alongside like-minded people as part of an online Journal Community
• Learn to Journal with a Self-Paced Video Tutorial
• Do an Individual Journal Challenge
• Enrich your relationship with a Couple's Journal Challenge
• Book a session for a Group, Organisation or Workplace

Connect with Ingrid

• Sign up for the Journal With Ingrid Newsletter
• Follow Journal with Ingrid on Instagram
• Follow Journal...

In this episode, I’m joined by Christie Flora, a time and energy coach at Flor and Order, for a rich and honest conversation about growth, self-awareness, and journalling.

Christie shares how she shifted from feeling scattered to grounded by noticing that perfectionism had crept in, and reframing challenges as learning opportunities. One of her key journal intentions was a “daily learning stocktake,” which has her looking for three takeaways from each day to focus on progress over perfection.

We also dive into her creative practice of colour-coded journalling to track her menstrual cycle, helping her stay attuned to emotional patterns, energy levels, and relationship dynamics. Christie reflects on journalling as a safe space to explore her inner world and understand what’s truly hers versus what’s been shaped by others.

This honest and heartfelt conversation is a beautiful reminder of how journalling can support growth, self-awareness, and emotional clarity.

About Christie Flora

Christie is a time and energy coach at Flor and Oder, who helps people align with their natural rhythms for greater well-being and flow. With a compassionate approach, she creates space for individuals to reconnect with what truly works for them—so they can thrive, feel balanced, and focus on what matters most.

Website: www.florandorder.com

Instagram: @florandorder

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christie-flora/

Facebook: Florandorder

YouTube Channel: @florandorder

Thank you for joining me for this journaling journey. I hope this episode gave you new insights, inspiration, or a fresh perspective to take to your own journal.

If you enjoyed this conversation, I’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts, tag me on social media, or leave a review. It helps others discover the power of journalling too.

If you’d like to start journaling or enhance your current journal practice, here are some ways you can get started:

• Journal alongside like-minded people as part of an online Journal Community
• Learn to Journal with a Self-Paced Video Tutorial
• Do an Individual Journal Challenge
• Enrich your relationship with a Couple's Journal Challenge
• Book a session for a Group, Organisation or Workplace

Connect with Ingrid

• Sign up for the Journal With Ingrid Newsletter
• Follow Journal with Ingrid on Instagram
• Follow Journal...

In this soulful episode, I journal with the inspiring Mariam Issa - A visionary change agent, storyteller, author, and community builder.

We explore journaling as a portal into clarity, healing, and transformation, how even the simple act of writing can unlock new stories, soften old ones, and offer calm and connection.

Mariam shares how journaling has helped her rewrite her narrative over the years. Her intuitive daily practice allows her to sit with emotions without judgment, offering herself love, compassion, and forgiveness.

Journaling has been supported Mariam’s mental health, helped her through trauma, and connect with her deeper self. It also led to the creation of her book, A Resilient Life.

She reflects on the themes of rebirth, the pull of big dreams, and the gentle reminder that even without a clear path, we are always supported.

This conversation is a gentle invitation to pause, reflect, and appreciate the journey, even when the road is unclear.

About Mariam Issa

Mariam Issa is a visonary change agent, a highly skilled coach and person of extraordinary compassion and strength.

Throughout her own life, Mariam has triumphed over numerous obstacles and challenges associated with culture, race, migration, and gender. With her deep understanding of adversity, Mariam illuminates a path forward with individuals and groups, weaving her African heritage and her Islamic faith into contemporary expressions of compassion and connection.

Mariam is the author of A Resilient Life, a community builder, and an inspiring facilitator who sees diversity as an essential element of a unified world. Her life vision is that all women lead lives of joy and purpose.

Connect with Mariam:

Website: www.mariamissa.com.au

Instagram: @mariamissaofficial

Get the book (Kindle): A Resilient Life

Thank you for joining me for this journaling journey. I hope this episode gave you new insights, inspiration, or a fresh perspective to take to your own journal.

If you enjoyed this conversation, I’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts, tag me on social media, or leave a review. It helps others discover the power of journalling too.

If you’d like to start journaling or enhance your current journal practice, here are some ways you can get started:

• Journal alongside like-minded people as part of an online Journal Community
• Learn to Journal with a Self-Paced Video Tutorial
• Do an Individual Journal Challenge
• Enrich your relationship with a Couple's Journal Challenge
• Book a session for a Group, Organisation or Workplace

Connect with Ingrid

• Sign up for the Journal With Ingrid Newsletter
• Follow Journal with Ingrid on Instagram
• Follow Journal...