Season 5 - 2025

Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at Southern Cross University? Our student hosts take a deeper dive into life at Southern Cross, chatting with students, lecturers and researchers about their studies, work, and inspiration.

We acknowledge and pay respect to the ancestors, Elders and descendants of the lands on which this podcast is produced. We are mindful these lands always were and always will be Aboriginal Land.

Check out Season 1, 2, 3 and 4 for more.

SCU Buzz | The Southern Cross University Podcast | Season 5

There is no need for a gap year when you can travel as part of your studies. Southern Cross Global Director, Global Engagement, Christine Martin explains how global experiences work and how students can apply. Bachelor of Science student Yasmeen talks about her year abroad in South Korea thanks to a New Colombo Plan scholarship.

Learn more about global experiences: scu.edu.au/global-experience

The musical introduction to this podcast was written and performed by Alako Myles.

Study and travel: how to build a global experience into your degree

 It's no secret that Australians love coffee. We consume more than 6 billion cups of it each year. Yet less than 1% of this coffee is grown in Australia. Researchers from Southern Cross University, Dr Simon Williams, Dr Ben Liu and Professor Tobias Kretzschmar, speak on the SCU Buzz podcast about their research project that is looking to boost Aussie beans by developing a more suitable variety of coffee planet for the Australian climate, as well as a unique way to describe it.

Learn more about Southern Cross University’s coffee research project: https://www.scu.edu.au/news/2023/its-coffee-time--who-ordered-the-fresh-bread-flat-white/#d.en.514489

This research is part of the Harvest to Health Research Impact Cluster: https://www.scu.edu.au/research/harvest-to-health/

The musical introduction to this podcast was written and performed by Alako Myles.


Coffee: The science behind the perfect sip

With the rise of smartphones and social media, bullying has evolved far beyond the schoolyard, creating additional challenges for school communities to protect young people. 

In this episode of the SCU Buzz podcast, Dr Vanessa Miller and Dr Tony Yeigh from Southern Cross University’s Faculty of Education explore the growing issue of cyberbullying and share their expert recommendations for addressing this national problem. 

Learn more about research in the Faculty of Education: https://www.scu.edu.au/education/research/

The musical introduction to this podcast was written and performed by Alako Myles.

How do we tackle bullying beyond the school gates?

In this episode of SCU Buzz, Dr Owen Hogan chats with Lara Goode, SCU alumna and founder of Coastal Therapies, about her journey from new osteopath to thriving clinic owner. Lara shares the highs and lows of starting a business, including rebuilding after a flood, managing staff, and balancing work with motherhood.

They also discuss the upcoming Graduate Certificate in Small Business Management, designed to help professionals - especially in allied health - gain the business skills needed to launch and grow their own ventures.

Learn more about the Graduate Certificate in Small Business Management: https://www.scu.edu.au/study/courses/graduate-certificate-in-small-business-management-1008130/

The musical introduction to this podcast was written and performed by Alako Myles.

Launching a business as a health graduate

A special edition buzz from a BusinessNSW summit at Southern Cross University. Sophie Cruikshank, head of sustainability at Essential Energy, chats to Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Education Impact) Ben Roche about how to deal with change, from fundamental internal transformation to external pressures like COVID and the floods.

Transformation of a University - from curriculum to COVID

In this powerful panel discussion, four distinguished alumni — Greg Young (CEO, Coast Entertainment Holdings), Marion Charlton (COO, Queensland Airports), Will Brook (CEO, Brookfarm), and moderator Georgina Holt (Director, Co-Creative Studios) — share candid insights into what it truly means to lead in 2025.

From navigating crises like COVID and industry tragedies, to building resilient teams and staying true to values under pressure, this episode explores:
- Whether leadership is innate or developed
- The role of authenticity, trust, and culture in effective leadership
- How values are tested in real-world decision-making
- Practical tips for emerging leaders, including networking, self-care, and getting things done

Whether you're a student, entrepreneur, or seasoned executive, this episode offers rich, relatable stories and actionable advice to help you grow as a leader in any field.

This audio was recorded at our Lessons in Leadership: Alumni Lunch Series.

Study business: https://www.scu.edu.au/study/business/ 

The musical introduction to this podcast was written and performed by Alako Myles. 

Lessons in leadership: Executives share their path to success

Southern Cross University is a multi-campus university on Australia's east coast, with campuses in southeast Queensland adjacent to the Gold Coast Airport, in New South Wales at Lismore and in Coffs Harbour, where the University’s National Marine Science Centre is also located. We have metro and the Hotel School campuses in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth and Brisbane.