Our Byron Community with Chris Hanley

Hosted by Chris Hanley

Business Investing

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Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Our Byron community is a podcast that explores the unique and diverse community here in Byron Bay. From how people ended up here to the thriving business scene, we cover a wide range of topics that make our community so special. We dive deep into the stories and experiences of locals, and share insights on everything from sustainability and wellness to art and culture. Whether you're a longtime resident or a visitor, join us as we celebrate and explore all things Byron!

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60 recent

June 3, 2026Episode 956 min

Patti Lowry – A Lifetime of Travel, Adventure & Byron Bay Stories

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Chris sits down with Patti Lowry to hear the remarkable story of a life lived across continents and decades of change. Born in England during the war and raised in Canada, Patti reflects on losing her mother early, travelling through Europe in the 1960s, hitchhiking across Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, marrying in Jerusalem, and eventually making her way to Australia. Patti also shares stories from Byron Bay’s early days, buying the old Arts Factory site in the 1990s, and watching the region evolve into the community it is today. A fascinating conversation filled with history, adventure, resilience and nostalgia for old Byron.

May 21, 2026Episode 841 min

Ed Mason | Pushing The Limits

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Chris sits down with endurance swimmer and Northern Rivers local Ed Mason for a fascinating conversation about ultra-distance swimming, mindset, pain, and pushing the limits of what’s possible.Originally from the Mid North Coast and now based in Brunswick Heads, Ed shares his journey from studying arts and law in Sydney to building a remote career in legal publishing while chasing a life centred around surf, nature, and adventure in the Northern Rivers.The conversation dives deep into Ed’s extraordinary cold-water endurance swims across New Zealand’s massive alpine lakes — including a brutal 40km crossing of Lake Taupō and another freezing challenge across Lake Tekapo. Ed opens up about swimming through darkness, injury, exhaustion, and extreme cold, while reflecting on mental resilience, pain management, and the strange beauty of testing yourself in the harshest environments.A powerful and honest conversation about endurance, discipline, nature, and discovering what the mind and body are truly capable of.

May 7, 2026Episode 759 min

Mel Macpherson - Life in Chapters

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Our Byron Community, Chris sits down with Mel McPherson for a deeply personal conversation about adventure, reinvention, creativity, and finding belonging.Growing up on Sydney’s Northern Beaches before moving through Avoca and eventually Byron Bay, Mel reflects on the chapters that shaped her life — from boarding school and film school to working alongside legendary surf filmmaker Jack McCoy on Blue Horizon, and building a career behind the camera across television, surf films, adventure productions and international events.Mel also shares stories from her years competing in surf boat rowing, winning four Australian titles, and explains how surf club culture gave her a lifelong sense of community and connection.The conversation explores much deeper themes too — leaving behind the life she thought she was “supposed” to want, navigating heartbreak and major life changes, choosing a different path, and ultimately finding a place in Byron where individuality, creativity and intuition could thrive.Chris and Mel also dive into her passion for restoring old homes, including the remarkable transformation of a century-old abandoned farmhouse "Longfield" in the Byron hinterland that many locals knew as the “haunted house on the hill.”An honest, thoughtful and inspiring conversation about trusting intuition, embracing change, and creating a life that feels truly authentic.

April 22, 2026Episode 647 min

Cameron Arnold – Building Tourism & Shaping a Destination

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Chris sits down with Cameron Arnold — long-time local, tourism operator, and one of the key figures behind the evolution of Byron’s visitor economy.They talk about Cameron’s early years growing up in Sydney, losing his father young, and finding his way through island life, hospitality, and eventually into Byron Bay in the early ’90s. From running hotels and building one of Australia’s first festival glamping operations to decades spent shaping tourism across the Northern Rivers, Cameron shares a lived perspective on how the industry has changed.The conversation explores the realities of tourism in a place like Byron — the opportunities, the pressures, and the need for clear direction around what kind of destination this community wants to be. They also get into the idea of “product,” what’s missing locally, and how culture, environment, and community can be better reflected in the visitor experience.A grounded and insightful conversation about tourism, community, and the future of the Byron Shire

April 8, 2026Episode 554 min

Zenith Virago – Honouring Life, Death & Community

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Chris sits down with Zenith Virago — long-time Northern Rivers local, celebrant, educator, and one of the leading voices around death, dying, and community-led funerals.They talk about Zenith’s journey from working-class London to the North Coast in the 1980s, and how a life shaped by travel, community, and a deep sense of presence led her into working with death over the past three decades. From early experiences with loss to supporting families through some of life’s most confronting moments, Zenith shares how her work found her — and why it continues to matter.The conversation explores how attitudes to death have changed, what it means to be truly present with people in grief, and why Byron and the Northern Rivers have developed such a unique, community-driven approach to honouring life and loss.A thoughtful, honest, and at times powerful conversation about death, community, and what it means to live fullyIf you’d like to share your story or provide feedback, please contact us via email at chrishanley@byronbayfn.com

March 18, 2026Episode 447 min

Elia Hauge – Engineering, Community & Local Politics

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Chris sits down with Elia Hauge — engineer, educator, environmentalist and Byron Shire councillor.They talk about growing up between cultures, leaving and returning to Byron, and how a love of maths, music, and the environment shaped her path. From studying engineering and working in water systems to stepping into local politics, Elia shares how values, community, and place have guided her journey.They discuss the realities of council life, the challenges facing the region, and what it means to make decisions for a community that cares deeply about where it lives.A thoughtful and grounded conversation about service, sustainability, and the future of the Byron Shire.If you’d like to share your story or provide feedback, please contact us via email at chrishanley@byronbayfn.com

February 4, 2026Episode 350 min

Rachael Calvert | Building a Business and Finding Alignment

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Chris sits down with Rachael Calvert.Rachael shares her journey through major life changes, personal growth, and the experiences that have shaped the way she sees herself and the world around her. They talk about the realities of navigating uncertainty, the emotional weight that can come with big transitions, and what it takes to rebuild confidence and direction when life doesn’t go to plan.Rachael also speaks about her work and the evolution of her brand, including what inspired her to create it, how it has grown over time, and the lessons that come with building something of your own. We explore the balance between ambition and wellbeing, the pressure that can come with running a business, and how personal experiences often influence the way we lead, create, and show up professionally.Throughout the conversation, Rachael reflects on self-awareness, learning to listen to your own needs, and the ongoing work of setting boundaries and making healthier choices. It’s an honest and grounded episode about growth, reflection, and creating a life — and work — that feels more aligned.If you’d like to share your story or provide feedback, please contact us via email at chrishanley@byronbayfn.com

January 21, 2026Episode 254 min

Andy Plummer — Creativity, Reinvention and Becoming an Artist in Retirement

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Chris sits down with Andy Plummer.Andy reflects on growing up with a father in the military, a childhood shaped by movement, change, and the need to continually adapt. He talks about how those early experiences influenced his sense of identity and reinvention, and how creativity became a constant through periods of transition.The conversation also explores Andy’s time working as a mining engineer, the contrast between technical work and creative expression, and how that chapter of his life helped clarify what he was missing and what he wanted to move toward. Andy shares how art, teaching, and community-based work became ways of reconnecting with purpose, wellbeing, and belonging.Together they discuss creativity as a grounding force, the importance of making space for expression, and the quiet responsibility of contributing to community over time. It’s a thoughtful episode about change, continuity, and finding alignment between how you live and what you create.If you’d like to share your story or provide feedback, please contact us via email at chrishanley@byronbayfn.com

January 7, 2026Episode 142 min

Aaron Tait - Leadership, Loss and the Long Road to Healing

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, we sit down with Aaron Tait, author of Far Horizons, for a wide-ranging and deeply reflective conversation about life, leadership, travel, and the experiences that shape us. Aaron shares his journey from a restless childhood in New Zealand to joining the military at just 17, the moral reckoning that followed his early deployments, and how travel, service, and storytelling became part of his healing.We talk about Byron Bay as a place people are drawn back to, what good leadership really looks like, and how entrepreneurship, education, and community-led work across Africa have shaped Aaron’s outlook. There’s also a thoughtful discussion on writing, vulnerability, masculinity, and why stories — and reading — still matter, especially for men.It’s an honest and generous conversation about finding meaning, letting go of what no longer fits, and choosing how to live the next chapter.If you’d like to share your story or provide feedback, please contact us via email at chrishanley@byronbayfn.com

December 17, 2025Episode 187 min

Chris Hanley & Su Reynolds - 2025 Annual Real Estate Market Wrap Up

Send us Fan MailChris sits down with local real estate expert Su Reynolds to unpack the Byron Bay property market in 2025. Together they explore current trends, challenges, and opportunities, and share insights into what the early months of 2026 could look like for buyers, sellers, and the wider community.