It’s always a special honour to introduce people to a new-to-them blog and I suspect many of you have not yet “met” Sophie.
Ironically, even though she is literally from the other side of the world – Australia – Sophie is the first blogger I met in real life!! We shared a delightful few hours together when she was visiting Canada for a work conference earlier this year.
Sophie is an academic researcher living in Queensland with her husband and their two young kiddos. You may recall her fame as the Cool Blogger who was able to submit pictures of LIVE kangaroos spotted on her daily walks during October’s walking challenge.
Welcome, Sophie!
Q. What aspect of your current life/career would most surprise 20-year-old Sophie?
That I am an academic! As a 20 year old, I thought I might be an aid worker or diplomat (I was studying International Studies at university). Even when I decided at age 22 to study psychology, it was to qualify for a clinical career, DEFINITELY not to get a PhD and enter academia – I never thought that career would appeal to me. I did work clinically as a psychologist, which I enjoyed, but turns out I LOVE being an academic (I could have stayed as a clinician, but chose this career path).
When it comes to other aspects of life, I hoped I’d be married with two kids, which is how it turned out. I also hoped I’d be living somewhere warm, and I live in Queensland Australia, which is subtropical, so 20 year old me would approve (I grew up in Melbourne, Australia, which has cold grey winters and unpredictable weather all year round and I always struggled). [Queensland weather sounds like sheer perfection to someone currently facing the prospect of another winter in Canada.]
Q. Do you have a go-to reset when you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling to stay focused?
Walk outside. Basically anything is better after a walk in the fresh air. Or after a nap, or after a coffee. Or after a combination of all three if I’m really struggling! [That is the trifecta of a good Saturday or Sunday afternoon for me: coffee, nap, walk.]
Q. If you could add (or subtract) one habitual behaviour in your life, what would it be?
I’d add a strength training habit in – this one has been a goal for a while, and I have not put the energy into it I should. As an early 40s woman, I’m aware how important it is to build and maintain strength as I age. Hoping I can make this a habit in 2025!
Q. What’s one piece of advice you wish you had heard (or understood) at an earlier age?
You never know what is good luck or bad luck. I used to worry a lot about things that happened (or hadn’t yet happened) – but things have a way of turning out ok, (and sometimes better). [Sage advice. Sometimes the things that go “wrong” can be life-changing in a good way!]
Q. What was your favourite purchase (under $200) so far in 2024?
My new carry on luggage (I think it was $198!). I’d been using an old carry on I’d had at least 15 years, and it had been a great purchase, but the handle stopped sliding up and down properly, and the zip started catching. Even the fabric had started to fray. My new carry on looks great, wheels SO well, and the handle slides like a dream. I felt like a new woman using it on a recent interstate trip! [Isn’t it amazing how the right tool for a job can make all the difference; a nice suitcase really does make travel more seamless – especially when you’d been living with a sub-par option for a while.]
Q. If you could eat only one meal on repeat for a week, what would you choose?
Ooh this is tough – I love a lot of cuisines, but what would I be happy to eat for a week straight… Maybe soft tacos? With a whole lot of fillings including fish, prawns, and chicken, guacamole, sour cream, hot sauce, and lots of fresh salads. Yes please!
Q. What international destination – that you’ve never visited – do you most want to see?
Japan! I wasn’t as interested earlier in life, in my 20s it was more the South East Asian beach destinations, or European countries, that was my focus and I did A LOT of travel in those regions of the world. But now I’m a bit older, I would LOVE to visit Japan. The culture. The food. The countryside. The onsens (hot springs). And it even has Disney. I think in a few years, perhaps when my son is 8 and my daughter 11 or so, would be a good time to visit. (And gives us time to save because it would be a big trip!).
Q. Describe your job in 100 words or less.
I am a senior researcher working at a university, with expertise in cognitive neuroscience and psychology. I lead a team which investigates how the brain changes as it ages, and how changes to lifestyle, like exercise and eating well, can boost brain health as we age. I spend my days writing papers and grants, supervising PhD students, managing projects, and university admin/leadership. I enjoy collaborating with people from different fields, interacting with our lovely participants, and travelling a few times a year to conferences and events. I’m lucky that I have a great team and I honestly look forward to work most days.
Q. If you could snap your fingers and have all the capabilities necessary to excel in any career or hobby (e.g. if your wish was to be a famous rockstar, you’d magically have the necessary vocal/instrumental skills), what would you choose and why?
Definitely sing and play guitar – I love acoustic, folk type music, and I’d love to have the skills and vocal talents to perform my favourite songs. My best friend has these talents and I love listening to her perform (and even just entertain around a campfire).
Q. List five things that would happen as part of your idealized “perfect day”.
Ooh this is fun. Early morning solo coffee in a nice cafe (doing some planning or writing a blog post). A long walk in the rainforest. A massage. Lunch with a good friend. And maybe dinner with hubby and the kids by the beach (at our favourite Mexican restaurant – probably ordering soft shell tacos with a beer to go with it 🙂).
Q. Share a weird/random/true fact – any odd skills or unusual experiences?
Jeg snakker Norsk! (I speak Norwegian!) I lived in Norway for 11 months on student exchange when I was in high school, and I learnt Norwegian fluently (this was a mission of mine when there and I REALLY practiced). I went on exchange with AFS (American Field Service – they are still operating for anyone with kids who might want to try this) who offer exchange to 50 countries around the world. I put my preference as somewhere in Scandinavia because it would be so different from Australia, I wanted to experience snow, and heard of some students ice skating to school (I never did get to do this, but I did get to ski and also ride a snow mobile). I had some AMAZING experiences, my host family were wonderful, and took me moose and deer hunting (such an experience for a “city slicker” like me), for holidays in their cabin, as well as looking after me well in our home town of Fredrikstad in Southern Norway. Was it difficult at time and did I miss my family? YES! Was it totally worth it? Also yes. And I speak (rusty) Norwegian to this day. It never completely leaves, and I’ve traveled back to Norway in the past and picked it up again within couple of days, which blows my mind. [This is so cool, Sophie!!! I had absolutely no idea you spoke Norwegian!! It sounds like the exchange was an incredible experience.]
Q. Did you have any pets as a child?
Cats! Burmese cats to be exact – my parents favourite breed (they are very friendly, affectionate cats), and at one point we had 3! Also a feral rabbit (named Easter) we got asked to temporarily look after, and then the owners tried to leave it with us! Turned out their son had spotted the rabbit on their property and asked if he caught it, could they keep it? They said yes, thinking he’ll never catch it – and then he did. It chewed through electrical cords, dug under its hutch and out of the yard, and would randomly bite and scratch! We eventually insisted on the owners taking Easter back, and never were tempted to get a rabbit after that! [Easter sounds like he’d be a good match for Yoda! I think you were wise to stick with cats after your rabbit experience.]
Q. If you were doing it for fun – and money was no object/didn’t factor into your decision – what would your dream job be?
A novelist. I have written fiction for fun a fair bit over the last decade, and have drafted a novel at one point, but that’s as far as I’ve gotten. [I’m rooting for you!]
Q. If you could give new parents one piece of advice, what would you say?
Survive til 5! I’m not someone who finds parenting small children easy. I think its reassuring that if you DO find it challenging, it gets easier over time. And yes, I know, bigger kids, bigger problems – BUT I am a more intellectual person, so those bigger problems are more mental and than physical, so I feel more equipped to help with them. [Ditto this. 100%.]
Q. How and when did you meet your husband?
At my friend’s 29th birthday drinks at a bar in Melbourne. I’d been single 6 months after a long term relationship, and was just thinking how fun it was to be single. I was also thinking that I’d like to move to the UK the following year. But life takes you in different directions 🙂
We got married in 2015. [That dress! Your hair! Those flowers! I need more exclamation points!!]
Q. What is your favourite time of day?
EARLY morning – like 5.30 am. Before the kids are up, sitting with my feet up on the couch, sipping coffee, looking out at the birds, and catching up on blogs.
Q. Tell us something about your personality you think might surprise readers!
That I love a good debate, and can be quite passionate (and possibly annoying!) when I think I’m right – I find it hard to let it go!
Q. What is the first thing you do in the morning/last thing you do at night?
First thing in the morning – boil the kettle for my coffee. Last thing at night, drink a glass of water.
Q. What words would your friends use to describe you/your personality?
Friendly, caring, smart, serious, messy (my physical space!), organised (my time!), talkative, loud.
Q. If you had a warning label, what would yours say?
Warning: Keep caffeinated at regular intervals.
Q. Favourite book/song/movie of all time?
Very hard to narrow these down to one! So many good books, songs and movies, but I’ll pick a few that I’ve consumed over and over again.
- Book: 4000 Weeks by Oliver Burkeman – I listened to this originally on audiobook and now when I re-read the paperback I hear his voice in my head.
- Song: The whole Hamilton the musical soundtrack – Lin Manuel Miranda you are so talented!
- Movie: Notting Hill – funny, heartwarming, Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant at their best.
Q. Introvert or extrovert?
I think I’m an ambivert! I do get energy from the right group settings with great people, BUT I also need alone time to process and recharge.
Q. Savoury or sweet?
Savoury all the way! I have a weakness for anything salty and fried.
Thank you, Sophie! Don’t forget to click on over to her blog and say hello. I’m curious if – based on the results of your research – you can suggest the top three things the average person can do to optimize brain health as we age? Which lifestyle decisions seem to have the biggest impact? Diet, exercise, deep relational connections?
Your turn. Any questions for Sophie. Who reading here has seen a live kangaroo? Does anyone else like to debate and hate to back down? Are there any positive pet bunny stories to be had? Michelle and Sophie aren’t inspiring much confidence!
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Nicole MacPherson
Hi Sophie! Nice to meet you! I also love the Hamilton soundtrack and think “look around, look around, how lucky we are to be alive right now” as a mantra every day! It’s so fun reading Australian bloggers, their lives are similar but also so so different from us Canadians!
Elisabeth
That is what struck me when I was in Australia. It felt more like being in Canada vs. time in the US even though we share a border. It must be since we see eye-to-eye on the superflous use of “u’s”…
Sophie
Its such a good mantra, Nicole! Yes I feel like Canadian’s way of looking at life is similar to Aussie’s in many ways, but our climate is SO different.
Jenny
Ooh! I have read Sophie’s blog, but I didn’t know brain health was her area of expertise. That is a fascinating topic.
I still can’t get over the kangaroos hopping around in Sophie’s photos. I almost think of them as mythical creatures and it’s funny to think of someone casually passing them on a walk.
Okay, I’m jumping over to Sophie’s blog to get caught up!
Alexandra
Hi Sophie, waves from the Frozen North (Canada) delighted to make your acquaintance, and thank you for sharing a part of your life with us, here on Elisabeth’s blog! In part I envy your living in Queensland, but only for the tropical setting and heat, not all the things that can bite, sting or eat me.
Elisabeth
Ditto. I would take her climate and my wildlife options. Well, I’d keep the kangaroos but ditch the poisonous snakes and spiders 🙂
Alexandra
Yeah, I think it’s those overly large spiders that would worry me the most! 😉
Sophie
Lovely to make your acquaintance, Alexandra! You might not envy our heat in summer (SO hot and humid in February), but in winter it is pretty dang nice 🙂 Truth is you are more likely to be bitten by someone’s dog in the street than any of our wildlife, but I do get that the thought of all those spiders and snakes (and sharks!) is a bit much. Ha!
Alexandra
Hi, Sophie – Funny thing is, the dog biting is just as problematic here. And while we don’t have all the critters, we still have people killed on the roads from Moose, Elk and other X-crossing roads and then, bear attacks too. So maybe we just don’t have the very bog spiders here is all. ☺️
Elisabeth
Moose are a big problem in New Brunswick. Anyone running into a moose with a car is almost guaranteed to be hurt, if not killed. They are very solid…:(
Lisa's Yarns
It was fun to get to know Sophie better. Our kids are similar ages so I can really relate to the stage of life that she is in. I studied abroad in Queensland during my junior year of college (at University of Sunshine Coast in Mooloolaba which sounds like a totally made up university). We saw soo many kangaroos which was very fun for a kid from North Dakota.
I used to like to debate but now I don’t. I’m very conflict avoidant. The only person I will debate with is my husband because he is very pragmatic and level-headed and we can disagree about things and still have a very positive, civil conversations. Sadly that does not seem to be possible in many places so I’d rather avoid debating with others, unless it’s over something inconsequential like whether we should observe Daylight Savings Time or the best Halloween candy.
Elisabeth
We should do away with DST…and the best Halloween candy, that’s tricky. Reese’s?
Lisa’s Yarns
Yep, I’m team get rid of it but would prefer to stay on DST. Otherwise it will be light until like 11 pm during the summer! Jenny wants to stay off DST. Either would be preferable to switching back and forth IMO. And I am team Reese’s Pb cup as well!
Sophie
We have no DST in my state, and its very confusing because most of Australia DOES have DST, so our clocks become out of sync for half the year. Also it gets light at 4.45 am in the summer, which is a bit early for the kids. I am glad I don’t have to worry about adjusting to a time change, though!
Elisabeth
I didn’t realize Queensland didn’t have DST. I also know Australia changes their clocks at a different time from Canada…so there are a few weeks where our time differential is even bigger.
Sophie
Hi Lisa, so that’s the uni I work at (though I don’t specify that on my blog because I want to keep my professional and blogging worlds separate)! What a small world we live in. I love that our kids are the same ages, I feel like I can relate to so many of your challenges. Solidarity 🙂
Elisabeth
It’s so helpful to have people that can relate. I think there are certain groups of parents that prefer different stages and it can be SUCH A RELIEF to find like-minded people who have the same preferences/personality traits <3
Lisa's Yarns
Oh wow, that is CRAZY that you work at the university that I attended for my study abroad program! What a small world! Do you live in that region as well? It was so so so pretty!! I really had the best time there – especially since I traded our cold winter season for Australia’s gorgeous summer season!
Sophie
Yes I live in the Sunshine Coast region, and just love it. 🙂 One day you should come back with the family and I can show you around (once the boys are older, perhaps!)
Daria
Sophie is awesome! I love reading her blog! She has kids similar to mine in ages so a lot of our every day battles are kind of similar lol I can definitely relate to so many things. Hamilton soundtrack, early morning BEFORE the kids wake up, and awwww Notting Hill!!! Salt!
Sophie
Aww love this Daria. I love your comments on my blog! And how good is salt! hehe
Tobia | craftaliciousme
Yeah for great exchange program experiences.
Learning Norwegian … what a challenge.
I am jealous you see kangaroos on your walks.
Sophie
Hey Tobia, thanks for reading 🙂 Norwegian was a challenge but not as hard as English I imagine, because its a largely phonetic language. Much simpler. Don’t know how I’d go learning it now though, I imagine it was easier at 16!
iHanna
Love this interview series and finding new, interesting bloggers! 💕
Hi Sophie. But how cold is Melbourne really? I’m in another rather cold country, so I need to know… hehe. 😎
Cheers from 🇸🇪
Sophie
Hi IHanna, nice to hear from you 🙂 Melbourne gets down to probably 2 degrees overnight and 10 degrees during the day in winter, but the real problem it is grey, cloudy and often windy, which can make it feel colder and sadder. If it was cold and snowy with sunshine, I think that would be easier. But also, Australians are “wimps” with cold weather – ha!
Elisabeth
I can’t imagine living in a world where the low was 2C!!!!! That said, I also would melt – MELT – with your summer heat.
Melissa
Hi Sophie, it was interesting learning a bit more about what files you are in. I knew you were an academic, but not in what. How is the heat and humidity in summer. I love Queensland in winter but summer not so much.
Of course, I have seen plenty of kangaroos in the wild. I do not like to debate, I don’t like conflict much, but if required I will argue my case.
Sophie
Hi Melissa! You are in Melbourne aren’t you? A fellow Aussie 🙂
Heat and humidity in summer is a bit much to be honest – February is not my favourite month. But then its a good time to visit my family and friends in Melbourne (if they aren’t in a heat wave too!)
Elisabeth
I think I’m quite similar to you. I don’t like to debate and I HATE conflict, but I definitely will argue my case if it’s something I’m passionate about.
Melissa
Yes, I’m in Melbourne and I can imagine that February would be a good time to leave Queensland for a holiday, a bit like leaving Melbourne in July or August.
Michelle G.
It’s so lovely to meet Sophie! I’ve been intrigued reading about the kangaroos seen on her walks! I love the movie Notting Hill – it’s one that I’ve re-watched many times and it never gets old. I don’t like to debate, but I do enjoy listening to both sides of an issue and quietly forming my opinion. Oh no – another bad bunny experience! Bunnies, like kangaroos, moose, and bears are best seen from afar!
Elisabeth
I haven’t watched Notting Hill in well over a decade – I really need to see that again. I bet some of those classic movies would feel so “dated” (in the best way). No smart phones!!!
Sophie
Easter and Yoda definitely would have gotten along well! I enjoyed reading your guest blog post last week Michelle!
Sophie
In answer to your question Elisabeth, the top things you can do for your brain health as you age are:
Regular physical activity, keep socially connected, eat a Mediterranean style (or other healthy) diet, look after your vision and hearing, look after your heart, and your mental health. They are all key risk factors for dementia. The vision and hearing risk factors are likely due to the social isolation and lack of stimulation that happens when we can’t participate in conversations or activities.
Elisabeth
Fascinating re. vision and hearing. I don’t necessarily eat Mediterranean (but generally eat a whole-food diet), but feel like I’ve got my other bases covered right now. Phew!!
Ernie
Nice to meet you Sophie. I was blown away by the kangaroo photos submitted during the month of walking. So cool. I had a pen pal in Australia briefly when I was in 4th grade (about 10 years old). The school arranged it and I was thrilled to learn about the difference in seasons, etc.
I’m ready to invest in new luggage too. My roller bag hasn’t been the same since my daughter, Mini, borrowed it. The wheels are all sorts of disagreeable now. Your study abroad experience in high school sounds amazing. That was so brave to go that far when you were so young. I studied in Ireland my junior year of college. I count it as one of the best choices I ever made.
Looking forward to reading more about you on your blog.
Elisabeth, I enjoy these interviews. Thanks for showcasing another fun blogger here.
Elisabeth
That’s so fun about the pen pal thing!
Awww. I’m so glad you enjoy these “interviews” – they’re fun to host!
Sophie
Nice to meet you Ernie! Aww I remember pen pals from when I was a kid, what a thrill to get that letter in the mail!
Highly recommend taking the plunge with new luggage!
San
Hi Sophie, great to learn more about you. I love that you speak Norwegian! That’s definitely not something that you hear every day (your exchange sounds amazing!) and I love that you get to see kangaroos on your walks. I mean, that’s everybody’s dream, isn’t it?
Anne
Oh, my goodness. It’s lovely to meet you Sophie, and learn more about you. Believe it or not (this is probably the weirdest reply you will get to your post if you are even seeing them anymore…) I would love to connect with you professionally. Your research and mind are kind of adjacent, and I’d love to hear more about what you do. Here, of course, is not the place. 🙂 I’ll wander over to your new-to-me blog and perhaps reach out to you there. 🙂
Otherwise, though, this was so much fun to read! Life has so many similarities wherever we are, and yet so many differences. I love that we can all come together in these online spaces and enjoy each other’s company. Thanks for sharing!