Senator Jordon Steele-John | Politics, Leadership & Community | Bridged By Words
How do you go from feeling like politics was built for somebody else to becoming an Australian Senator at just 23?
In this episode of Bridged By Words, Ethan Urch sits down with Senator Jordon Steele-John, Australian Greens Senator for Western Australia, to explore his journey from a politically curious teenager to life inside the Federal Parliament.
Jordon shares how growing up around family experiences with Centrelink, Medicare and the health system sparked an early curiosity about why institutions sometimes fail the people they are supposed to serve. That curiosity eventually became political involvement, with Jordon joining the Greens as a teenager and finding a movement where he could turn frustration with the status quo into action.
Together, they unpack what it was like entering Parliament at 23, navigating political institutions as a disabled and neurodivergent person, building a team that helps you perform at your best, and why aspiring leaders should never be afraid to clearly communicate the support they need.
A major theme throughout the conversation is listening. Jordon explains why politicians should see themselves as representatives rather than simply decision-makers, why community experience can reveal problems that briefing papers miss, and why staying connected to ordinary people is essential if leaders want to avoid becoming absorbed by the political bubble.
They also explore collective action, political pressure, the reality of working with people you disagree with and Jordon’s belief that systems are not fixed — they were created by people and can therefore be changed by people.
Bridged By Words is the podcast where aspiring leaders connect with experienced politicians, gaining the lessons and inspiration they need for their own political journeys. Watch full interviews on YouTube or listen on Spotify.
What You’ll Learn:
• How Jordon’s childhood experiences with government systems helped shape his interest in politics
• Why he joined the Greens as a teenager and what helped him find his political community
• What it was really like entering the Australian Senate at just 23
• Why building the right team, mentors and support network matters for leadership
• How Jordon navigates politics as a disabled and neurodivergent leader
• Why listening to the community should be one of a politician’s most important responsibilities
• How collective action and community pressure can create real political change
• Why aspiring leaders need to stay connected to life outside the political bubble
• Why political institutions and systems can be changed rather than simply accepted
• Jordon’s three-step advice for anyone wanting to make a difference: find what lights you up, find your people and find the lever for change
