Aaron Tait joined the Australian Navy at 17, continuing a family tradition of military service. Following his officer training, he was selected for the Navy diver program. Shortly after the 9/11 attacks, he was deployed to the Persian Gulf, where he participated in aggressive night raids against smugglers.Tait returned home with post-traumatic stress and moral guilt regarding his missions. A significant interaction with an Iraqi man led him to question the war’s purpose. His research into the siege’s toll on civilians deeply affected him, prompting a desire to make amends.

Humanitarian work

After leaving the military, he spent six months in Spain, where he met his future wife, Caitlyn. They moved to East Africa for humanitarian work before he attended Cambridge University. Tait co-founded YGAP, a nonprofit assisting entrepreneurs globally, impacting over 1.6 million people. He also established an education company, which was sold recently.

Now a father of two, Tait is embarking on a year of travel with his family. His memoir, “Far Horizons,” reflects his journey from combat to compassion. He aims to prioritise fatherhood and hints at writing another book in the future.

Julia Ferracane, founder of Righteous PR, joins Penny Lane in this episode of In the Driver’s Seat to share her 25-year journey supporting creatives at the Australian Ballet, Penguin Random House, and beyond. She explains how courage and persistence, rather than talent alone, have shaped her career in public relations.

Ferracane discusses the importance of mentorship, overcoming early setbacks, and choosing clients based on the “courage factor” and compelling stories. From securing alpacas for a last-minute media shoot to navigating visibility and self-promotion, she reveals the adaptive problem-solving skills needed to thrive in PR.

She also highlights the value of podcasts for deeper audience engagement and shares insights into her current projects, including collaborations with Scott Pape and Sean Zeps.

Sooshi Mango, featuring Joe, Carlo, and Andrew, appeared on “In the Driver’s Seat,” hosted by Penny Lane. The group is recognised for blending nostalgia and cultural charm with sharp wit. They draw inspiration from their families, finding comedy in their childhood experiences. The group aims for nostalgic humour rather than mocking their backgrounds, with characters based loosely on family members. However, their families do not recognise their comedic potential.

Their viral success stemmed from a video titled “Italians Versus Greeks,” highlighting the friendly rivalry between the communities, released on November 24th. Joe left his job five years ago to focus on Sooshi Mango full-time, a decision made by all members who traded their stable careers for comedy.

Differing personalities

Fan favourites include their dad and mum characters, with the latter being particularly popular. Group dynamics reveal differing personalities; Andrew is seen as temperamental, while another member is easygoing.

The pressure to maintain high content standards is significant, especially for live shows. Sooshi Mango has achieved the unique feat of selling out an arena three times.

Looking ahead, a world tour is set for April to June, starting in New York, alongside plans for an Australian feature film to begin shooting next year.