Table #4: The Power of Our Truth
A curated supper club exploring truth, storytelling and the power of lived experience — hosted by The REAL in collaboration with Mata Gathering.
We are back for another evening of REAL conversation and shared food around the table—this time exploring The Power of Our Truth, with award-winning filmmaker and broadcaster Helen Kapalos.
In a time when narratives move faster than ever and public discourse is shaped by algorithms, media cycles and competing agendas, the question of truth has become increasingly complex. What does it mean to stay anchored in our own truth? And what happens when individuals choose to speak it—especially when doing so carries personal, professional or social consequences?
Throughout her career as a journalist and filmmaker, Helen Kapalos has witnessed the powerful pull of storytelling—how the courage of one person speaking honestly can invite others to do the same. Her work, including the globally distributed documentary A Life of Its Own – The Truth About Medical Marijuana, has sparked national conversations around stigma, advocacy and the role of truth in shaping public understanding.
Together around the table, we’ll explore the role truth plays in our lives and institutions today: how it shapes the stories we tell, the leadership we embody and the cultures we help create. What does it mean to remain aligned with our values in complex systems? Where do we feel the tension between the narratives we present and the realities we live?
As always, this will be an intimate, facilitated conversation—designed to hold thoughtful dialogue across disciplines. A space to think deeply, speak honestly and explore perspectives that rarely find room in conventional public forums.
Please note: Seats are limited to maintain the intimacy of the conversation. As a professionally facilitated conversation and curated dinner experience for founders, creatives, leaders, and systems thinkers, many guests choose to attend as part of their ongoing professional development.
Our co-host for the night, Helen.
Helen Kapalos is one of Australia’s most respected broadcasters and an award-winning independent filmmaker. Her breakthrough documentary A Life of Its Own – The Truth About Medical Marijuana was distributed globally by Netflix and continues to be used as an educational film on medicinal cannabis.
Across her career, Helen has championed stronger social policy outcomes and amplified the voices of communities often excluded from public discourse. She has led numerous state and federal policy submissions representing marginalised communities across areas including multicultural policy, family violence and healthcare access.
Alongside her filmmaking, Helen designs and delivers media awareness programs for the Australian Defence Force through Melbourne Business School. She remains a leading advocate for medicinal cannabis patients, working to address systemic barriers to care and elevate patient voices in national conversations about health policy.
Our venue for the night, Bar Liberty.
This gathering will take place at Bar Liberty, one of Melbourne’s most celebrated wine bars.
Founded by a group of hospitality industry heavyweights, Bar Liberty set out to redefine the modern Australian wine bar—stripping away the pretension of fine dining while keeping its quality and craft. The venue blends world-class hospitality with a gritty inner-north soul, anchored in a deep respect for sustainability and low-intervention winemaking.
With an ever-evolving wine list championing both local renegades and international icons, and a menu built around clever produce-driven dishes, Bar Liberty has become a cornerstone of Melbourne’s dining scene.
We will gather in one of the venue’s intimate private dining spaces for a three-course shared meal, designed for thoughtful conversation and connection around the table.
About THE REAL.
The REAL is for founders, solopreneurs, creatives, and leaders seeking meaningful connections that cut deeper than surface talk.
The brainchild of Lisa Kjerulf and Nicky Kruse, The REAL is about uniting diverse backgrounds and perspectives in an intimate, shared space. It exists to cut through the noise and explore the conversations that often go unspoken in day-to-day life.
This isn’t about finding the next best strategy or sharing the latest ‘hacks’ to grow your business. It’s about creating a space for genuine human connection (max 15 guests per event) where we can show up as our real, unedited selves. A place to learn from and support one another, stretching our emotional intelligence through honest and sometimes uncomfortable conversations that drive both personal and collective transformation.
Rather than another panel discussion, each gathering is designed as an open conversation around the dinner table, shared over a beautiful meal and guided by a special guest. Together, we explore the deeper questions shaping our lives, our work and the world around us. It’s about showing up authentically, sharing stories, learning together—and moving forward, together.
About Mata
Mata exists to honour and share the wisdom found in lived experience.
Through patient stories, alongside practical resources and tools, Mata works to guide and support access to holistic healthcare. The platform was founded by Bee Mohamed, a healthcare policy advocate and leader in medicinal cannabis access and patient rights.
Bee previously served as Head of Advocacy and Government Relations at Astrid Dispensary and Clinic—Australia’s first female-led medicinal cannabis dispensary—and as Patient Advocacy and Stakeholder Manager for the Asia Pacific region of Canopy Growth, the world’s largest cannabis company.
Mata was created from the belief that stories reveal what hurts, what heals, and what truly matters. By bringing patients and practitioners closer through storytelling, community and trusted knowledge on holistic medicine, Mata aims to build trust, expand understanding and improve health outcomes.
At its core, Mata believes stories are not just reflections of experience — they are catalysts for change.