Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m Heath. Dad of two kids aged five months and a nearly five-year-old. We live in Scarborough and expect to be here for the far future. Growing up in the Blue Mountains, I’d always say it would be a perfect place to live – if only it had a beach. But we have family connections here with my Dad’s uncle being the station master at Coledale train station for many years. He would often win “best garden”. Imagine the care and precision that would have gone into maintaining those Gardens – for nothing but to please the eye of the station platform crowd. A thing missed. 

We would often holiday in the area growing up. 

I’ve had many careers. A 20-year career in radio with my best mate from school – The Heath and Normy show – which I just loved. I was all in with Normy for many, many years and hope to rekindle the humour in years to come. I’ve been a wellbeing teacher in the Illawarra for the past six years and now I interview people for a living. I feel this is the space in which I belong. I truly mean that. 

Why did you start Playback Interviews?

I started it after a long list of attempts to be truthful to myself. What value, with my skills, experiences in life and perspectives, can I add to my community? What am I actually good at?

We always hear it's important to have a meaningful job. I wasn’t finding much meaning in teaching. It just occurred to me – after going through my own personal version of hell in the last little while – when I called my dad, on my lowest of days, he actually had some very wise, kind and profound and tangible (bordering on scientific, he was a science teacher for his whole career) life advice.

I just made the realisation that people of vintage, those who have lived many decades, have lived through some incredible experiences and have great wisdom to share. So after quite some thought, and talking to those around me I admire, Playback Interviews came to life. And it really has brought me back to life.

I just feel, deep within my bones, that I’m meant to do this job. For the rest of my life. Interview the patriarch or matriarch on families and capture the essence of that person asking deep questions to hear their often profound answers. 

Who has helped you build the business?

My darling wife. Honestly. I owe her so much. I will love her for the rest of my days. My four-year -old son, Aero, has also been a big supporter. My mother-in-law is one of the very good ones. My parents and two brothers rev me up every time I speak to them. 

I’d like to thank all of my friends – in fact, so many people have reached out to either commission me to interview someone or just say hi after starting Playback. I’m not one to burn bridges, so it's been wonderful to speak to people I haven’t spoken to in years and years. Like we’d never not spoken. An area of my life I need to improve. Especially as during interviews, 90-year-olds often give the advice of “keeping in touch with friends throughout your life” because at the end – at 90+ – they are all you’ve got.

What advice would you give to parent who is looking to start their own business?

Be kind to yourself. You will be your own worst critic, so it really doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks of you or your business. You just have to fundamentally, to your core, believe in the idea and what you can do. I also believe if you just start the thing – something will happen… head down and do the work. 

For more information, visit the website at Playbackinterviews.com.au, Facebook and Instagram