Two years ago, I went walking on the Mediterranean island of Gozo with my Mum and brother to celebrate Mum’s 70th birthday. What began as a celebratory family getaway evolved into a profound lesson in living life fully at any age.

For five glorious days, we wandered along Gozo's dramatic coastline, where the crystalline Mediterranean sparkled on one side while wildflowers swayed in the breeze on the other. Our paths led us through meadows, up rugged cliffs, and into ancient caves. Despite the island's rich tapestry of history, archaeology, and colonial remnants, there was something disarmingly simple about the landscape – charming vegetable gardens perched on terraces, quiet rural towns untouched by development, and the ever-present glint of those turquoise waters.

But the true gift of this journey wasn't just in the breathtaking scenery – it was in the opportunity for connection. It’s uncommon for my brother and I to share such uninterrupted moments together. Living on opposite sides of the world, our adult interactions have typically been limited to family gatherings and celebrations. Here, on the walking trails of Gozo, we found ourselves having deeper conversations, about childhood memories and family dynamics, discovering how we had each experienced shared moments of our past.

Perhaps the most unexpected delight came from our walking companions – a vibrant group of septuagenarians who completely transformed my perception of what it means to age. These weren't people simply passing time; they were living life with an enthusiasm that was nothing short of contagious. Among them were newly signed authors, career changers, and widowers trying their first mojitos whilst others were planning the next expedition to far flung places. They shared stories of global expeditions, new relationships, and the joys of grandparenthood with a candidness that was both humbling and inspiring.

What struck me most was their complete comfort in their own skin. There was no striving for perfection or apologizing for who they were – just a pure embrace of life with all its complexities and joys.

At least a third of our companions were experiencing what they considered their "best lives," pursuing new passions and deepening connections with loved ones.

*Jo and her mother, against the turquoise waters of Gozo Island.*

Which is what essentially was happening to me. During one of our conversations, my brother Matt shared his vision for a radio documentary about Patagonia's groundbreaking announcement to make Earth their only shareholder. It was one of those rare moments where our professional worlds – his in extreme action sports and mine in philanthropy – perfectly aligned.

As we discussed the possibilities and challenges of such a project, something clicked. I knew whose voices would bring depth to the exploration through their collective knowledge, expertise, and experience connections with leaders who've been working to disrupt capitalist norms for the past twenty years suddenly seemed valuable in a new way.

I’d had a similar experience studying for an MBA recently. The course director presented a case study on a charity that was disrupting the norms through strategy. I’d been part of the original start up philanthropy team and lived that case study. And I knew the important parts that were missing to make the case study real and meaningful.

After decades of work in the philanthropy and charity sectors across the world I had contacts and insights that would help shape The Announcement into something of value. As philanthropy moves more into the mainstream with all its idiosyncracies, challenges and opportunities, I am keen to reach new audiences, because whether you realise it or not it, this concentration of wealth power and privilege affects us all.

As Oxfam reported in September 2024: The richest 1% have more wealth than the bottom 95 per cent of the world’s population put together,

Billionaires are exerting new levels of control over economies, with a billionaire either running or the principal shareholder of more than a third of the world’s top 50 corporations. The combined market capitalization of these corporations is $13.3 trillion. And here in Australia, billionaire wealth is 61% higher than it was before the pandemic.

I wanted to have a nuanced conversation about the various roles philanthropists play - with both positive and unintended consequences. To talk about the army of grass roots philanthropists who show up in their communities everyday, who know what needs to be done to make change and who, often with scant resources, are at the forefront of disrupting systems, often at great personal cost. I wanted to have a grown up conversation about the climate crisis and the role of capitalism and philanthropy as tools to combat the polycrisis.

That walking holiday conversation has blossomed into a two-year collaboration with my brother. I’ve loved observing Matt’s journalistic prowess crafting the radio doco. I’ve learnt a lot from how he collaborates with other skilled creatives to produce the episodes. I believe we’ve created something special and accessible about a range of themes which are essentially both geeky and important.

The first episode of the Announcement is launched today. You can listen to it here. I'm deeply grateful to our guests who trusted us with their stories and expertise. The Announcement has evolved into a three-part exploration: episode one sets the scene about Patagonia’s Announcement. Episode two delves deeper into the issues, and episode three examines the systemic changes needed to reshape capitalism if we’ve got even a smidgen of a chance of addressing our current challenges.

As I reflect on that time in Gozo, I realize that among the wildflowers and ancient paths, I received not only a masterclass in living but also the seeds of an unexpected creative partnership with Matt. Those conversations with our septuagenarian companions showed me that life's greatest adventures and collaborations can emerge at any moment – even during a birthday celebration on a Mediterranean island. Sometimes, the simple act of walking and talking can lead us down paths we never expected to.

Walking with wisdom: A journey through Gozo

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