Learn it. Plan it. Make it Real.
Why leave the Island?
Ship it Sundays in Richmond.
Hello, Nice to Meet You
Most creative business ideas die in the gaps between “I want to” and “I did it.”
Life gets busy. Courses drag on. The day job saps your energy. And the “I want to” list gets longer.
You’ve learned a lot over the years, but translating ideas into something commercially tangible/viable like a pitch, a book, a podcast, can be overwhelming without a clear plan and a bit of expert guidance is hard.
It's not for lack of good ideas. You’ve got concepts, drafts and plans for something that could be great, but they’ve been gathering dust. Finding time and building skills is hard amidst the whirlwind of the day-to-day. Confidence plays a part too. You wonder: Is my idea good enough? Is it worth the time? And you find yourself drifting back into research mode, stuck between thinking and doing.
Going it alone is a slow road. Without the feedback and energy of others around you, it’s easy to lose momentum and second guess yourself until the spark fades. The truth is, the problem isn’t your ideas. You know the answer isn’t in taking another online course. You need time to focus, gain the skills you need to move forward, alongside people who get what you’re trying to do.
That’s exactly what Why Leave the Island? Ship It Sunday sessions give you.
One Sunday a month, right here in Richmond’s creative heart, you’ll step into a space built for momentum. You’ll learn from people who’ve done it before and work in a community with others applying the same lessons on the spot. You’ll leave with tangible progress: new skills and a plan for what’s next.
You don’t need to go elsewhere to get the skills, confidence, and community you’ve been looking for. It’s all here, on the island
Ship it Sunday sessions
Designed to work as a single learning experience, or a year-long program of asset-creation.
Expand to learn more about, and to book, each session.
Session #1: Set up your own Podcast - Oct 19
You have a unique voice and something valuable to say. Let’s give others the opportunity to hear it
In one session you’ll:
Craft a podcast concept
Practice recording and producing an episode
Leave with an actionable plan to produce your first season
Your hosts for this session are Adam Murray and Penelope Barr.
Adam is the creator and host of the Subtle Disruptors podcast, with over 90 interviews with creatives, entrepreneurs and meaning makers all over Australia.
Penelope has started several podcasts and has 2 more in the works. She’s created several expert interview series to support her books and grow her communities.
Sunday Oct 19 / 9:30am - 4:00pm
Want to make this your best year yet?
This is your invitation to create an annual plan on your own terms; to take an intentional pause to reflect, reset, and move forward with clarity.
We’ll gather to map what matters, align your energy and set a rhythm that actually works - for your life, career and creative work.
You’ll be gifted a structure that sets your focus and flow
Tools to plan with intention rather than overwhelm
Friendly accountability and real momentum
A community of curious, multi-passionate humans like you
Come as you are. Leave with a plan to sustain you through the year.
Your host for this session is Penelope Barr.
Planning is a superpower Penelope loves to share. A lifelong love of planning and list-making means she’s seen it all, tried it all and settled on what works.
Sunday 23 November 2025 / 9:30am - 4:00pm
One day, 100% focused on turning what you already know, love and do into real money.
In one session, you’ll identify your quickest wins, design offers people want, and leave with a life structured to optimise your expertise and energy, and packaged into something enticing.
Your host for this session is Penelope Barr.
Penelope structures her life in seasons and will share the framework she uses to turn her life into income streams - fast, focused and fun.
Sunday Feb 22 2026 / 9:30am - 4:00pm
Yes, you too can be an amazing guest on someone else’s podcast. And it can really help grow your business.
You’ve wondered how you get to be the person sharing our amazing insights on the podcasts you love best? The places you know your prospects are listening?
By the end of the day you’ll have:
Defined how podcasts fit with your business
Worked out what will make you a go-to guest
Are clear on your offer
Surfaced the podcasts where you’ll shine
Written a pitch
Role-played your podcast interview
Your hosts for this session are Penelope Barr and Adam Murray.
Adam is the creator and host of the Subtle Disruptors podcast, with over 90 interviews with creatives, entrepreneurs and meaning makers all over Australia.
Penelope has created a few podcasts, has 2 more in the works and has developed several interview series. She’s also guested on several podcasts and has a 100-podcast goal for 2025.
Sunday Mar 22 2026 / 9:30am - 4:00pm
Stop waiting. Stop second-guessing. Stop overthinking.
This is your invitation to start.
Start focusing on your ideal customer, nail what they want and build a clear, compelling offer from the ground up - all before the day ends.
You’ll leave with a product or service defined, messaging that sells, pricing confidence and a launch plan you can be confident in.
This is your fast-track Ship it session to move from idea to income.
Start making money and growing your brand, this Sunday.
Your hosts for this session are Penelope Barr and Taural Rhoden.
Penelope helps solopreneurs, portfolio careerists and organisations move from ideal to income drawing on 25+ years of product, innovation and digital business creation skills.
Taural helps solopreneurs and small businesses commercialise their ideas.
Sunday May 10 2026 / 9:30am - 4:00pm
Stop treating your book as the end point. Because really, it’s the beginning of a much bigger opportunity.
You may feel completing a book is the end of the journey. Many authors struggle to know how a book can be used to attract clients, invite collaboration, spin-off new services, create speaking opportunities, generate products, enable digital resources, etc etc.
Whether you’re still writing, about to launch, or have a published book ready for greater visibility, this is your day to turn pages into possibilities. You’ll discover ways your book can become a platform to drive your literary and commercial aspirations further.
You’ll leave with:
a clear understanding of how to commercialise your book
multiple examples of how successful authors have used books to grow their business
practical steps about integrating a book into your offers to generate ongoing returns in profile, influence, and income.
This is your fast-track to move from “I have a book” to “My book works for me.”
Your hosts for this session are Penelope Barr and Taural Rhoden.
Penelope is a 2-time author with 2 on the go. She’s optimised her books in numerous ways for greater visibility and greater commercial opportunities.
Taural is a multiple-book author and a commercial expert. Taural has many stories to tell about the boundless commercial opportunities available to authors today.
Sunday Jun 14 2026 / 9:30am - 4:00pm
You’ve seen it done badly: a meeting that drifts; a workshop dominated by one or two individuals; a session that leads nowhere. You’ve seen us lead these workshops and now it’s your opportunity to build confidence in facilitating groups, meetings and projects.
You’ll learn through experience and practice, including:
Principles of quality facilitation
Skills and insights needed for a skilled facilitator
How to design a session you’re facilitating
Learning several facilitation techniques
Putting this all into practice with a supportive group
Your hosts for this session are Adam Murray and Penelope Barr.
Adam has facilitated everything from executive offsites for leadership teams across the globe, to co-founder sessions with small-businesses in Richmond.
Penelope grew up in a court where her job was to facilitate fun days for the many, many kids to provide some respite for the parents. Since then, she’s done it all, all over the world - MCing conferences, creating and leading offsites, hackathons, unconferences and mediations. She no longer lives in a court but still loves to facilitate outcomes at work and home.
Sunday Jul 26 2026 / 9:30am - 4:00pm
You’re invited. A one-day writing retreat to unlock your creativity.
Step away from daily distractions and dedicate a full day to your writing in a supportive, inspiring environment. Whether you’re starting a new project, polishing a draft, or overcoming writer’s block, this retreat gives you the focused time and expert guidance needed to make real progress.
You won’t be writing alone. You’ll be together, alone.
Draw on the shared creativity energy of a group who’ve come together with one intention, to write. And you’ll receive personalised coaching, constructive feedback and collaborative support from writers who understand your journey.
By the end of the day, you’ll leave with fresh inspiration, actionable next steps and tangible progress on your manuscript or writing goals. Plus, the confidence to keep moving forward.
Your host for this session is Penelope Barr.
Penelope has written 2 books and is writing 2 more. She runs writing retreat in Australia and overseas and is constantly amazed at the progress people write when they come together.
Sunday Aug 23 2026 / 9:30am - 4:00pm
It’s time to bring your work into the spotlight.
This is part pitch practice, part Shark Tank, part creative show-and-tell. Fully designed to sharpen your delivery, test your ideas, and showcase what you’ve built over the series.
You’ll present your project, offer, or creative work to a panel of peers and facilitators who want to see you succeed. Expect constructive, actionable feedback to help you refine your messaging, strengthen your positioning, and boost your confidence.
Whether you’re rehearsing for a real pitch, launching to your audience, or simply ready to share your work in a safe, supportive environment, this is where you put it into practice.
You’ll leave with the next version of your pitch or presentation ready to go and the clarity and confidence to use it.
This is your moment to step up, be seen, and own your space.
Your hosts for this session are Penelope Barr, Adam Murray and Taural Rhoden, who are cheering you on and can’t wait to see what you create.
Sunday Sep 20 2026 / 9:30am - 4:00pm
Are Sunday Ship it Sessions for You?
Are you a Thinker and Doer? Not a Dreamer and Don't-er
You may already have something worth sharing: a book, a service, a side-hustle, an offer. And you want to take it further, to make it more visible, more commercially viable.
If you recognise yourself here, come along. We'd love to help you.
Corporate and Curious?
Ship it Sundays are for you if you’ve realised the safety of the corporate island isn’t as useful or attractive as it once was.
You’ve seen people successfully working for themselves, and you want to develop the skills and tools so you can do this too.
Side-hustler?
If you’ve been working on a business on the side, developed some skills and seen a path to something larger, you're going to learn the 'how'. How do you create this transition? How do you progress your passion to a real business opportunity?
Solopreneur?
If you’ve made the step to work for yourself and had some wins along the way, Yay you! You know there’s still much to learn, and you want to keep enhancing and expanding your offers, and new ways to generate revenue.
FAQs
Don't worry, we got you. Here are some answers for your questions
We’ll provide morning and afternoon tea, along with tea, coffee and water
You can bring your own lunch or purchase something on Bridge Road
We are keeping it intimate to maximise connection which means a maximum of 16 people in each session
Absolutely! Pick a session or sessions that will best serve you right now
We have discounted packages available for those who want to attend three or more sessions
Full refund: Cancelled more than 4 weeks prior to each session
50% refund: Cancelled between 1-3 weeks prior to each session
No refund: Cancelled within a week of a session
At the marvellous co-working space, Meet and Gather
Metered street parking is available and there's a tram stop directly in front of the building
Something to write with and/or on, analog or digital, you decide
Comfortable clothing
Water bottle
An open and curious soul
No, all experience levels are catered for
If you’re new to writing or a seasoned creative, podcaster or author, we ask you bring along an idea or a project you’d like to work on
No prescribed pre-work is required but we’ll send some provocations before each session to get you in the creative frame of mind
Please contact Penelope Barr - 0419 322 213 or penelope.c.barr@gmail.com
Your Coaches
Penelope Barr
The Portfolio Careerprenur
“Live a life that feels good to you rather than a life that looks good to others“
Penelope is an author, innovator, and transition coach with two published books and two in progress. With over 25 years of globally-awarded experience across 11 countries, she blends corporate expertise and coaching to help people and organisations through transitions.
Penelope mentors writers, hosts writing retreats worldwide, and creates supportive communities and courses. As a portfolio careerpreneur, she balances interim executive roles, writing, product development and travel in her unique 6:3:3 life design. She also produces podcasts and drives digital innovation.
Adam Murray
The Subtle Disruptor
“Making it easy to find and take the next step”
Adam is a facilitator, strategist, investor, and business builder—often called the “business therapist.” With experience in management consulting, tech scale‑ups, and SMEs, he guides businesses through pivotal moments.
He hosts the Subtle Disruptors podcast, showcasing people and ventures creating beauty and impact, and invests in similar businesses, including a co‑working space, e‑commerce company, and energy start‑up.
Adam excels at helping people clarify strategy, operationalise plans, and continually refine them over time.
Taural Rhoden
Commercial Creativity
Taural works at the intersection of strategy, creativity, and service. He’s spent over 20 years helping people shape and run successful businesses internationally. His career has taken him from military leadership to international consulting, and today he splits his time between writing, advising, and building creative commercial endeavors.
A community host of the Expert Author Community, he’s co-authored books on Burmese refugee communities in Thailand, cookbooks, travel guides, and currently leads a major storytelling project on Australian family businesses. Taural has launched successful podcasts, a German language YouTube partner channel, and produced a DVD about American BBQ.
At his core, he enjoys helping people move from “I have this idea” to “here’s how to make it real” He brings a love of clarity, creativity, and commercial thinking to every conversation.
Register Now - for one session or more
Learn it. Plan it. Make it Real.
What you'll walk away with
Each session has been designed for you to create something real.
You’ll learn the theory and frameworks, but you’ll also have something tangible you can take the next step with, straight away.
Walk away with:
A Pitch Deck
A Prototype
The concept and outline of a Book
A Podcast that's ready for recording and production
An Offer ready for market testing
The knowledge of how to turn your curiosity into a new skill
As an added bonus, you'll create a bunch of new connections among supportive peers walking a similar path to you.
CONTACT
Get in touch
Earnings Disclaimer
Please review our Earnings disclaimer or, our ‘We can teach you to fish but we’re not fishing for you’ disclaimer. By creating and facilitating these sessions, we’re going to teach and support you in learning some new or augmented skills. Our intention is you leave these sessions with new knowledge, new assets and a new-found confidence that you can replicate and scale your learning. As with any learning experience or professional development, how you then apply these skills and assets is up to you.During these sessions, we’ll be sharing our experiences and successes. These should not be interpreted as any kind of guarantee of your potential revenues by applying our methods. Overall, we’re here to teach and support rather than provide any promise of specific outcomes.
© 2025 Penelope Barr and Co. All rights reserved.
