The You Project

The title of this episode is the name of Ben Shewry's new book. It doesn't really represent the chat but I just loved the title because, over the years I've masterfully (and clumsily) turned my obsession (human behaviour) into a job, a business, a PhD Project, multiple books, a podcast and conveniently, a way to pay a few bills. If you don't know who Ben is, he is one of the most respected Chefs in the world and owner of the internationally renowned restaurant, Attica (it's been in the "World's 50 Best Restaurants' list for over a decade). Ben was my surprise interview of the last six months. I'm not sure what I expected going in to our conversation but coming out the other side, he was (is) an inspiration and revelation; deep-thinking, fiercely intelligent, creative, kind and as the title suggests, just a little obsessed. Enjoy. @benshewrySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happiness, we all want it but how do we 'get' it? Or, do we just 'be' it? How much of 'being happy' is about our mind? Situation? Bank balance? Job? And what is its relationship with things like contentment, calm, joy and the absence of anxiety? Andrew Matthews is an Australian author and international speaker who has sold more than 8 million books in 48 languages, making him one of the world's foremost authorities on the topic of happiness. I really enjoyed connecting with Andrew, and I loved the fact that his manner and energy (both on and off the podcast) was completely consistent with what he teaches. That means a lot to me. EnjoySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luke Reynolds is a Professional Strongman Athlete, Coach, Actor and Commentator and at 6'7" (over 2 metres), he's just 'trimmed down' to a diminutive 150kgs (from 173kg). Now before you think this episode ain't for you, think again. Many of you will find this conversation fascinating for a range of reasons; the training, psychology, preparation, injuries, competition, rituals and science of competing against the strongest people on the Planet, is not a simple (or painless) process. I loved this chat, Luke is a big, gentle, smart, strong-as-f**k giant, and l'm sure you'll enjoy him.@luke_bluemountain_reynoldsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m tied up today, so I’ve decided to re-share one of my absolute favourite TYP chats. *Here’s the original synopsis.. In seven years of podcasting and twenty years of radio, this conversation is in my all-time top ten. Justin Wren is a both a cage fighter and freedom fighter, who has fought on the world-stage in the UFC and in the jungles of the Congo, championing the cause of one of the most marginalised groups of people in thew world; the Mbuti Pygmies. Justin's personal story (as an elite athlete battling all kinds of problems) and the story of his mission and purpose to liberate, empower and love the Mbuti, is both inspiring and confronting. Enjoy. *Warning: parts of this conversation might be confronting for some.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No matter when I talk to some people, today is never the 'change' day. It's always soon. Not now. Not today. Soon. The mystical, mythical, magical... soon. Sadly, some people have been waiting for the right time for years. They are the 'almost brigade'; almost making the necessary decision, almost taking action, almost doing the work, almost using their potential, almost creating positive change but actually, doing f**k all. And then one day they mysteriously ask "how did my life end up like this" and say something intriguing like "this wasn't my plan", when in fact, they had no plan. Don’t. Waste. Your. Potential. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Like it or not, want it or not, you've been programmed. By life. Family. Friends. School. Culture. Religion. Society. Media. Social media. Experiences. Interactions. Relationships. In many ways, you weren't taught how to think but rather, told what to think. If you're like most, then many of your beliefs were not consciously chosen (by you) but rather, unconsciously adopted. In other words, their beliefs became your beliefs and you had very little say or awareness in it, or of it. Without knowing or choosing, you became a version of them. And when you pushed back against the group think, you were quickly corrected, chastised and coerced back into conformity and compliance, because that was the price of 'membership'. And no, not all programming and conditioning is bad (of course) but now that we're grown-ups, the challenge for us is to find the place where our programming finishes, and we start. Unconscious. Conscious.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Depending on where you're at on your personal growth journey, this episode will sit somewhere on the relevance scale between totally irrelevant (the bottom) through to 'do you have a f**king camera in my house' (top of the scale, pay attention, take notes, re-listen)? This list is a collection of some of the most common self-destructive, time-wasting, talent-wasting, toxic habits and behaviours that I've observed (in myself and others) over the years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Obviously it's no revelation to suggest that the combination of young kids and vast amounts of time spent on smart phones (and the like) is problematic but it might shock to you know just how bad it is for the developing brain, nervous system, emotional system and mental health of our future grown-ups. Interestingly, one of the UK's largest mobile network providers is now (to their own commercial detriment) advising parents not to buy smartphones for their primary school-aged children. Gillespo earns his keep in this episode. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we dig down deep into people's goals (the 'why' behind their ‘what’), what they really want is generally something in the ballpark of emotional and psychological calm, contentment and peace. In other words, the opposite of anxiety. Less over-thinking. Better sleep. An internal state of bliss. As always, this was an informative and helpful chat with clinical psychologist and author, Dr. Lillian Nejad. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carly Taylor is Japanese Psychology Practitioner, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Practitioner, Counsellor and personal friend. This time we had a conversation, essentially exploring the 'how, when, why and why not' of personal transformation. Among other things, we chat about why have some people been 'almost' changing their lives for years. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our body is always speaking to us; trying to gain our attention so that we might give it more of what it needs, and less of what it doesn't. Yep, the human body is an amazing biofeedback system and it's constantly communicating some kind of wisdom. Sadly, sometimes we inhabitants (of that amazing biofeedback system), have our metaphoric fingers in our ears. While this conversation with Unna and Tiff was mostly focused on female health, I think it's universally interesting. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sure, you've had lots of days 'like' this one but you've never had, and will never have, this particular day again. For me, that day (as I write) is Sunday, August 25, 2024. And while I've had thousands of Sundays, I've never had this one. This one is unique because, in the history of humanity, there will only ever be one August 25, 2024. And this is the one. This is my one. We commonly say that every day is a gift (and it is) but in the proximity and familiarity of so many days, gratitude (for a single day) and awareness (that every day is precious) are typically absent. If you could magically have a billion dollars right now but only 365 more 'todays'.. or you could live into old age with your potential and possibilities intact (but no additional money), l'm pretty sure what you'd choose.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hi Everyone. I’m having a TYP breather today, so we’re re-visiting this chat I had a while back with Dr. Adam Mastroianni. He is a postdoctoral research scholar at Columbia Business School who studies how people perceive and misperceive their social worlds, from the person sitting across the table to the broader community buzzing around them. He writes a great blog called Experimental History, is a stand-up comic, a Harvard Graduate and I think even he'd admit that he's kind of a quirky academic-comedian-philosopher hybrid. This conversation was about as loose, freestyle and entertaining as you can get with a post-doctoral researcher. Enjoy. Twitter: a_m_mastroianniexperimental-history.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're after some brain food, philosophical insights, groundbreaking wisdom or personal development gold, you definitely shouldn't listen to this. If, on the other hand, you're after something silly and (arguably) entertaining in your ears while you go about your day, this might be it. I say, might.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Okay, so I might have been somewhat lazy and negligent when it comes to looking after my skin and having regular checks. I may have also just got off the phone with the Skin Doc who told me that I'm an idiot for waiting, avoiding and being irresponsible. The pathology just came back from two biopsies (forehead, elbow) and one surgery (chin) and let's just say none of it was great news (basal cell carcinomas) but it could have been worse. I'll be fine but it was heading towards… not fine. Two more surgeries next week and five more biopsies on remaining 'concerns' So, what's my long-winded point? Well, this episode revolves around the idea of paying attention to the ever-present signs, symptoms and messages (in all areas of our lives) and not waiting for sh*t to break. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Years of incarceration. Addiction, alcoholism, attempted suicide, rehabilitation, recovery, redemption and re-invention. Depression, anxiety, healing, happiness. Fatherhood. Peaks and troughs. More troughs. Breakdowns, break-ups and breakthroughs. Addiction counsellor. Business owner. Entrepreneur. Radio presenter. And now in his fifties, Mick Hall is an elite athlete; a world boxing champion. This is a fun catch up and a story of potential and possibilities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You're gonna find this hard to believe but, some people don't like me, what I do or how I do it. Shocking, I know. I mean, l'm so fucking adorable, how can they not? Of course I jest, and of course, me and my stuff (podcasts, whiteboard messages, conversations, personality, language, humour) will land well with some, and not with others. Of course. The same exact message will confuse person A, inspire person B, inform person C, make person D laugh, and piss person E right off. It's a statistical inevitability (over time) and while I try to create optimal connection and impact, l'm aware I never will. It was with that reality in mind, that I recorded this episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My favourite professor of pharmacology and toxicology Dr. Bill Sullivan is back (okay, he's the only one I know but he's legit awesome) and this time we chat about the way our genetics affect (and/or relate to) everything from introversion and extraversion, to our likelihood of becoming an addict, our physiological responses to stress, anxiety and depression, the idea of creating an environment in which we 'work best', why Ozzy Osbourne is a genetic freak (literally) who can consume profound amounts of booze without the (normal) damage, whether we actually have free will, the relationship between genetics, discipline and self-control, and lots more. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today I’m re-sharing one of my favourite chats with the dynamic duo that is Grant and Chezzi Denyer. I love it when I’ve know somebody from watching them on TV for years, and then I get to meet them and they’re even better in real life. Grant and Chezzi are a breath of fresh air and I hope you enjoy this. It's All True?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do I think the way I do? What is success (or failure) for me? What is my body saying? Where do my beliefs come from (and did I choose them)? How much of my potential am I using? What am I currently doing that's not working? What habits do I need to make (or break)? Are my fears keep me safe or are they keeping me stuck? And what's the gap between ‘the' (objective) world and my (subjective) world?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Almost getting in shape, almost facing that fear, almost making that decision, almost committing, almost doing the work, almost starting that project, almost changing that habit, almost building that business, almost writing that book, almost doing that course, almost changing that life. Some people have been in the 'almost' club for decades. If you need to get out of the 'almost' club, take a listen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode covered a lot of territory and for two people with commitment issues, Tiff and I sure opened a lot of doors. Vulnerability. Self-awareness. Abstinence. Self-control. Trust. Authentic friendships. Talk therapy. Marriage. Being alone versus being lonely. Whether I would have made a good dad. And lots more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our frantic, fast-paced world, where instant access to everything is just a click away, the idea of delaying gratification might seem outdated and even, counterintuitive. You and I live in a culture that celebrates the now; quick wins, fast food, magic pills, quick fixes, two-minute abs and instant results. The case for instant gratification is indeed a compelling one, if you pay attention to those care only about your money, and not about your well-being (brands and business trying to sell you shit). But the truth is, when it comes to building a better life and a better version of you in the middle of that life, the practice of exercising restraint, living consciously and delaying gratification is possibly the most important you can do.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hi Everyone, I’ve been tied up with corporate work, so today I’m sharing a chat I had with one of my favourite humans Jacqui Cooper (five-time time Olympian, five-time world champion). Like all our conversations, this one went far and wide. I’ll be back tomorrow with a freshy. EnjoySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the Olympic review that nobody needs, Gillespo and I chat about the Paris games, his underwhelming vehicle choice, his parenting model around technology in the home, the relationship between rising tech use, rising mental health issues and rising crime rates, New Zealand producing so many gold medals with such a small population (FYI, the population of California is 7.5 times that of NZ) and yes, the Aussies were spectacular too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every so often, I share an interview that l've done on someone else's podcast because I feel the conversation is worth sharing directly with my listeners and obviously, today is such a day. l've known Andrew May (host of Performance Intelligence) for more than twenty years, so you won't be shocked when I tell you that this conversation is a somewhat 'loose' affair, with a liberal smattering of objectionable language, stories and opinions but fortunately, there is also a healthy serving of science, strategy, high-performance and insight. Enjoy.www.andrewmay.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meggie Palmer spent fifteen years as a journalist and foreign correspondent in Europe, the USA and Australia, working for BBC World, CNBC, SBS Dateline, Channel 7, Channel 10, SKY, Vogue, Marie Claire and News Corporation. She is a founder, speaker, journalist, and proud Aussie who now calls New York City home. She founded ‘PepTalkHer’ and is on a mission to close the gender pay gap. She travels globally speaking and helping companies with retaining female leaders and diversity. Meggie is a human dynamo, a self-confessed workaholic, a fighter for equality, a problem solver, an outside-the-box thinker and a brilliant communicator, and I loved our chat.peptalkher.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it human art or Al art? And if it is Al art, is it actually art? Was it written by a human or a Bot? Is it inspired creativity or 'programmed' creativity? Did he do the assignment or did ChatGPT do it? Is it a real photo or an image generated to look like a photo? Is the 'information' I'm getting through Al actual (accurate, objective) information or is it a 'story' about something, designed to influence the thinking of the researcher/reader in a certain way? Is it a legitimate opportunity, or is it a well-crafted scam? Is this a real link, or is it a pathway to my financial ruin? For better or worse, reality is becoming harder and harder to discern. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Katsidis has a fascinating story that I can't do justice in this brief synopsis but let me tell you that it involves elite sport (including world titles and Olympic representation), childhood dreams, passion, triumph, personal tragedy, drug addiction, prison, mental health and thankfully, recovery, redemption and second chances. I really enjoyed this chat with a kindred spirit. If you don't like swearing, you'll fucking hate this. Enjoy. Or avoid.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the pursuit of a better 'us' (what ever that means on an individual level), sometimes we need to turn down the emotion and turn up the planning, logic, structure and accountability. Less finger-crossing and hoping, and more strategy and science. This is a conversation about that. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It sounds like something of a cliché' but Annabelle Chauncy OAM has literally built her life, her work and her not-for-profit (School for Life) on the principle of 'service above self.' For nearly all of her adult life, she has made the health, welfare and (specifically) the education of children and adults living in danger, disadvantage and poverty her mission and purpose. Annabelle is a courageous, compassionate and inspirational woman, doing amazing work and it was privilege to chat with her. schoolforlife.org.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the next five days, I’ll be unpacking five simple but effective ideas (strategies, practices, habits) that have consistently proven to be high-yield psychological and behavioural investments on, not only my own journey of falling down and getting up, but also for the thousands of people I’ve worked with on their own journeys. Today I’m talking about taking the right path. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vulnerability can be complicated. If not conceptually, then in the doing. Or is it in the 'being'? Like when, in what situation, with which person(s) and exactly how vulnerable (to what extent) should we be? And does vulnerability always equal some positive? I think not. So, what are the pros and cons of opening the vulnerability door? This was a deep, revealing, courageous and dare-I-say.. vulnerable conversation between Tiff and I (with all the courage coming from Tiff). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"WTF is body literacy?"… I hear you ask. Well, that's a good question which gets explored in this chat with Exercise Physiologist (and women's health guru), Unna Goldsworthy. We also Riff about the Olympics, the non-existent financial rewards for the athletes, the evolution of sport science, race walking (ouch), interviewers shoving microphones in the faces of an athletes at the worst times, how our priorities shift as we age and lots more. Enjoy. unnamovement.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm tied up today, so with the Olympics currently in full swing, I thought we'd revisit my chat with two-time Olympian Harry Garside, who just finished his campaign in Paris. It's fair to say that Harry's Olympic dream didn't eventuate this time and while he was bitterly disappointed with his loss, it's also fair to say that he definitely gained some new fans with his humble, emotional and vulnerable post-fight response. He literally apologised to the entire nation (not that he needed to, of course), saying that "Australia is such a sporting nation and I'm so sorry, I honestly, I feel like a failure right now" and shortly after, he broke down in tears, unable to speak. If you haven't seen any of the post-fight footage, I encourage you to find it. A great athlete but an even better human. Love him. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well this claim (the one in the title) from Gillespo might set the metaphoric cat among the pigeons! This was a fun chat covering hidden sugars, crap breakfast cereals, why sugar is super addictive, athletes who gained massive weight post-career only to lose it and successfully return to competition (Mark Occhilupo, et.al), the link between giving up booze and sugar, David's forty kilo weight loss (OMG!), why you should avoid barbeque sauce and lots more. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this fun chat, Tiff and I talk about being on ‘lipstick duty' (all will be revealed), the importance of having an unreasonable friend, the skill of giving and receiving feedback, navigating the complicated social terrain of different personalities, proclivities and expectations, knowing when and where to have the ‘hard conversation', being more interested in someone's long-term well-being than their short-term emotional state, best friends and lots more. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone's favourite Phantom (of the Opera) and Jean Valjean (from Les Miserables) is back, and this time Josh and I talk about life beyond the stage, performance and spotlight, and the ever-present challenge of being a good human, doing good things and putting some 'goodness' (in all its forms) out into the world. Also... Josh does a little impromptu singing (he goes okay) and the lovely, but microphone shy, Melissa is back for a rare TYP cameo. This was fun. joshpiterman.com.au@joshpitermanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of TYP, Tiff and I chat about the pros and cons of working for someone else, versus working for yourself. Creating and growing your own thing, versus being part of their thing. We unpack some of the lessons, insights, problems, benefits and f**k-ups we've each experienced in both career 'models'. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are so many people doing a job they hate, living a lifestyle that’s destructive, eating food that’s making them sick, making choices that are a form of self-sabotage, killing themselves slowly with destructive habits and behaviours and in many cases, waiting for the mystical, magical ‘right time’ to turn their lives around. If you and I don’t choose to live consciously and courageously, we’ll be unconscious passengers in our own lives. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For many people who didn't grow up with tech, the unavoidable and ever-increasing integration of Al, online everything, cashless transactions and virtual worlds is a great source of confusion, discomfort and anxiety. My eighty-five-year-old parents feel like they're living on Mars and the world is becoming alien to them. The idea of not being able to pay bills with cash or a cheque has caused my mum more than a few sleepless nights and considerable anxiety. And in other news... as always, this chat with Patrick and Tiff was of a conversational smorgasbord of bullsh*t, banter and a smattering of tech-talk. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I often wonder who and how I would be if I (me.. the same bloke, same brain, same genetics, same personality, same innate potential) grew up in a different environment and culture, having different experiences, surrounded by different people and with different influences, education and programming. This episode is a conversation about that idea.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chatting with Matt Formston, you'd think that his blindness has, in some ways, been a blessing. A platform to learning and growing, to pushing back, to challenging the status quo, to high-performance, to understanding human potential and possibilities, to creating opportunities, to step up when most would give up and perhaps most importantly, to inspire others to explore and optimise their own potential. Matt was diagnosed with Macular Dystrophy at age five and has since lived life with only 3% of his vision. Growing up in 1980s Australia, he shattered stereotypes by excelling in mainstream school and sports, including Rugby and surfing (he recently surfed a 51 ft wave). Battling negativity and bullying, Matt transformed into a world-class athlete, setting a cycling world record in 2009, riding 1,200 km from Sydney to Melbourne. *A documentary-movie about Matt's life is out in cinemas Australia-wide on August 15. It's called 'The Blind Sea’. mattformston.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tammy Van Wisse is one of Australia's greatest ever marathon swimmers and endurance athletes, having swum the Murray River (2,438 kms) in a record 106 days without a single day off, the treacherous Bass Strait (97.4kms), the English Channel (multiple times), the freezing cold Loch Ness (40kms) in a record time of 9 hours and 6 minutes, Cook Strait (NZ) and plenty more. In short, Tammy has swum the equivalent of one-and-a-half times around the world, setting six world records, five of which are still current. Of all the elite athletes l've trained (over four decades), Tammy is my all-time no.1 for mental toughness (she literally embraced pain), as well as being perhaps the most positive person (athlete or not) I've ever worked with. I love her, so will you.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tammy Van Wisse is one of Australia's greatest ever marathon swimmers and endurance athletes, having swum the Murray River (2,438 kms) in a record 106 days without a single day off, the treacherous Bass Strait (97.4kms), the English Channel (multiple times), the freezing cold Loch Ness (40kms) in a record time of 9 hours and 6 minutes, Cook Strait (NZ) and plenty more. In short, Tammy has swum the equivalent of one-and-a-half times around the world, setting six world records, five of which are still current. Of all the elite athletes l've trained (over four decades), Tammy is my all-time no.1 for mental toughness (she literally embraced pain), as well as being perhaps the most positive person (athlete or not) I've ever worked with. I love her, so will you.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Bill Sullivan, TYP regular and author of 'Please to Meet Me' is back and this time we discuss 'discordant twins’ and why having the same genes doesn't always equate to 'identical people'. We also talk about Joe Biden stepping down, why (some) low-income people are among the happiest in, the world, the numerous variables which influence how our genes express themselves, Bill's personal 'health protocol', his love of running (and the numerous benefits) and lots more. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When I was an eighteen-year-old Gym Instructor, I would never have imagined the multitude of twists and turns that my forty-two-year career (so far) would take. Especially considering the fact that Personal Trainers, Podcasters and High-Performance Coaches weren't even ‘invented' back then. Even Corporate Speakers and Exercise Scientists were few and far between and in a million years, I didn't ever see myself as being a published Author or a Neuropsychology Researcher (neither did any of my long-suffering Teachers - lol). But before we explored the career stuff, Tiff and I got off to a funny start discussing the 'bits' of our body that we may (or may not) like to have surgically... er, improved.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We make thousands of decisions every day and while most of them are incidental and kind-of autopilot (hitting the brakes as we approach the lights), some of them are significant and intentional (choosing to help a stranger in distress) and some of them are potentially life-changing (giving up booze). There's definitely a correlation between our decisions, actions, outcomes and the quality of our lives and sometimes, it's the decisions we're not making that have the most impact.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apart from being one of my Mates, Francis Leach is a highly-regarded Australian radio announcer, sports editor and journalist, who also happens to be a deep-thinking, philosophical polymath (has a broad knowledge) and I love chatting with him. As we're at a stage of our lives where we both have elderly parents, we decided to talk about some of the philosophical, moral, physical and practical issues surrounding morbidity and mortality. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it mean to 'live in alignment'? What are the (alleged) benefits? And how do we do it? While it kind-of sounds like a cheesy self-help cliché, I think there's something to it, if we operationalise it (do something with it) in an intelligent and thoughtful way. In this very freestyle episode, Tiff and I talk about the psychological, emotional and practical benefits of building a life and lifestyle based on our personal values, beliefs and goals. Enjoy. *Language warning (yes, even worse than normal).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.