The You Project

Confirmation Bias. Free will. Religious programming. The origin of beliefs. The separation of our 'self’ and our identity. Happiness as a goal. Our need for certainty and familiarity. In this chat, Dr. Julian Baggini and I explore all these topics and more. Julian is a Philosopher, Journalist, and the Author of over 20 books about philosophy written for a general audience. He is co-founder of The Philosophers' Magazine and has written for numerous international newspapers and magazines. In addition to writing on the subject of philosophy, he has also written books on atheism, secularism and the nature of national identity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is essentially a mini-workshop about building an existence that aligns with your beliefs, goals and values. It's about defining who you want to be, how you want to be, understanding your drivers (the reasons behind your desire to change) and then turning those intentions into a meaningful real-world lived experience and day-today existence. This is a totally freestyle, in-the-moment, organic, me-thinking-out-loud (type of) download, so please excuse the ums, aahs and periodic pauses (you'll hear my cogs turning). For many of you, I think this will be an important message.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chantel Prat is a Professor at the University of Washington with appointments in the Departments of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Linguistics, and at the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, the Centre for Neurotechnology, and the Institute for Neuroengineering. A cognitive neuroscientist by training, her interdisciplinary research investigates the biological basis of individual differences in cognition, with an emphasis on understanding the shared neural mechanisms underpinning language and higher-level executive functions. In other words... she's a smarty pants. Also lots of fun, also great communicator, also we had fun and I'm sure, you'll love her. *Her latest book is called ‘The Neuroscience of You: How Every Brain is Different and How to Understand Yours'. chantelprat.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chantel Prat is a Professor at the University of Washington with appointments in the Departments of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Linguistics, and at the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, the Centre for Neurotechnology, and the Institute for Neuroengineering. A cognitive neuroscientist by training, her interdisciplinary research investigates the biological basis of individual differences in cognition, with an emphasis on understanding the shared neural mechanisms underpinning language and higher-level executive functions. In other words... she's a smarty pants. Also lots of fun, also great communicator, also we had fun and I'm sure, you'll love her. *Her latest book is called ‘The Neuroscience of You: How Every Brain is Different and How to Understand Yours'. chantelprat.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Technology can be awesome and life-saving. It can also be terrifying and destructive. To be honest, l'm simultaneously excited, curious and fearful about the impact of technology on us as a species, moving forward. Anyway... Patrick is back and this time we chat about the therapeutic benefits of music for mind, body and healing, lifestyle factors which can influence lifespan (marital status, owning a pet, religion, faith), kids trust in robots vs. adults, the convergence of our real (physical) world with virtual reality, an electric car with a 1,000km range on one charge, cars becoming 'too smart' for low-tech drivers (okay, me), Patrick's dream of being able to teleport and lots more. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Technology can be awesome and life-saving. It can also be terrifying and destructive. To be honest, l'm simultaneously excited, curious and fearful about the impact of technology on us as a species, moving forward. Anyway... Patrick is back and this time we chat about the therapeutic benefits of music for mind, body and healing, lifestyle factors which can influence lifespan (marital status, owning a pet, religion, faith), kids trust in robots vs. adults, the convergence of our real (physical) world with virtual reality, an electric car with a 1,000km range on one charge, cars becoming 'too smart' for low-tech drivers (okay, me), Patrick's dream of being able to teleport and lots more. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a something of a medical mystery and for those who live with it, it's a total f**ker. And while there's still no single 'cure' (as such), no consensus on treatment and no clear understanding of what causes it (the underlying 'why'), there is hope, people do fully recover and progress is being made. At the same time, it is still a misunderstood condition, with many people (some in the medical field) still believing it's all "in the mind", sufferers just need to "try harder", stop "being lazy" and to "toughen up" (good grief). Toby Morrison (and his team) from 'CFS Health’ have helped thousands of people in more than sixty countries navigate their CFS journey and they are doing some amazing work, giving people hope and helping them regain their health and lives. For those impacted by CFS in some way (directly or indirectly), or maybe those who just want to learn more, this conversation is an eye-opener. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is our potential for 'getting better' after forty? Physically, mentally, emotionally, practically, personally and professionally? Can we change the way our body ages? Can we learn new things, develop new skills, overcome fears and destructive habits, reduce anxiety and build a better life with better experiences and outcomes? Can we build muscle and strength, change our body composition, improve posture, strengthen our immune system, improve cognitive performance, immerse ourselves in academic learning, change the way we think and understand ourselves better? This episode is a conversation about all that and more. Enjoy. *Warning: I may get a little evangelical, soap-boxy, arse-kicky and intense at times.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a brief chat with our favourite Nutritionist where we do our best to clarify some of the confusion and misinformation surrounding BMI, height-weight charts, body-weight vs. body-composition and what actually matters, from a health perspective. We also talk about why l'm classified as over-weight (almost obese) by the Body Mass Index and what that means. mattylansdown.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Daniel Goleman is the Michael Jordon of Emotional Intelligence (EQ). More than any other individual on the Planet, Daniel has brought awareness, understanding, curiosity and the science around EQ into the collective consciousness of the masses. For me, this chat was an opportunity to meet an academic hero, and also the bloke whose 1995 book 'Emotional Intelligence' sat on the NY Times bestseller list for almost two years. Don't miss this chat. danielgoleman.infoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James Gillespie (son of TYP regular, David) created ‘Cleanbill' in order to help Aussies access the best health care, at the best price, in the most convenient location. This is a fascinating chat with perhaps the smartest twenty-six year-old l've ever met. Enjoy. cleanbill.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Would you let Neuralink (an Elon Musk enterprise) implant a small device on your skull (under the skin) called a 'Link' which plugs into your brain via tiny, flexible electrodes, giving you instant wireless access to external devices like computers and smartphones? In other words, would you like instant internet access (all the online information in the world) 'in your brain' anywhere, anytime? Well, for better or worse, it seems this reality isn't far away. In this episode, David and I unpack the pros, cons and potential risks of current and emergent technology. freeschool.org.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thea Baker is a counsellor and body-based (somatic) psychotherapist with special interests in all aspects of women's health, trauma (PTSD, C-PTSD) and couples / relationship therapy. She's also had an interesting journey of her own and in this chat, Thea and I talk about breaking habits, self-sabotage, the pros and cons of boarding school, integrating into a new country, culture and friendship group, finding the 'self that is you, losing her husband, figuring out 'what's next, exploring potential and lots more. theabaker.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Craig unpacks ten (more) powerful self-awareness questions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Craig unpacks ten powerful self-awareness questions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Years ago, a wise old Dude told Craig “how well you can do life is essentially about how well you can solve problems”. This is a chat about that idea. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Craig talks about why understanding (not necessarily agreeing with) others is crucial for healthy and productive interactions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While we all like to see ourselves as totally open-minded and objective, we’re not. Neither is Craig. In this episode he explains why and what we might do about it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Craig talks about resilience and how we can develop it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Craig talks about the power of pain and suffering as a tool for growth, learning and perspective. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Craig explores two key questions… where does my 'identity' and sense of self come from and does that 'identity' empower me or limit me? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Craig discusses the idea of being the scientist and subject in your own real-life experiment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Craig talks about the importance and consequences of asking high-value questions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Craig discusses the propensity we have keep doing what doesn't work, despite the warning signs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Craig talks about understanding how and when your mind, emotions and body work optimally. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stumbling towards the annual finish line and this episode is my reflections and insights from 2023 (personal and professional) along with my thoughts, intentions and hopes for 2024. Happy Christmas Team.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this verbal fruit salad of an episode, Tiff and I discuss the propensity we humans have to live in echo chambers, to be critical of those who disagree with us, our need to be 'right', our aversion and resistance to admit when we're wrong and our curious habit of hanging out with people who think like us, live like us, behave like us and talk like us. We also talk about the myriad of responses, reactions, emotions and experiences that Christmas seems to have on us mere mortals. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of TYP, our favourite Nutritionist and I go deep talking about some of the psychological, emotional, behavioural, cultural and social variables which influence how we treat our body, what we put in it (and why), the choices we make and the outcomes we produce. Enjoy. mattylansdown.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2021, a group of researchers set out to determine whether parenting style had any effect on the personalities of their children. They wanted to know whether it mattered if you show physical affection, whether you are consistent, whether you are predictable, whether you are encouraging and attentive or whether you are more likely to be scolding and controlling. The study used data from almost 4,000 students in 99 German schools who first undertook personality testing in year 5 and were then followed up for the next three years. This chat with David was (as usual) fascinating, and it's fair to say, a few feathers may be ruffled. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You lose the weight, then what? Get the dream job, then what? Hit 10,000 followers, then what? Buy that thing, then what? Beat your best time. Get a new nose. Win the argument. Get fifty compliments. Impress someone. Succeed. Then what, then what, then what? It seems that no matter what's going on in our lives (situation, circumstances, events' outcomes) we're rarely satisfied. Or content. Not for long, anyway. Maybe we're looking for answers in the wrong place? Maybe we need to turn our attention inwards? Maybe success is about what people can't see? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Francis Leach is one of Australia's most experienced and respected journalists, broadcasters, and presenters, having worked in television, radio and print for more than three decades. He is also one of my mates, my favourite polymath (someone who knows a lot about a lot of subjects) and also, a ripping bloke who, for this episode, made my job (as host) super easy. This was fun. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does a healthy Christmas look like? Does it need to equate to deprivation, carrot sticks, zero booze and cold showers? Nah. Thankfully. TYP favourite Matty Lansdown is back and this time we discuss the mental, emotional, social and physical challenges of navigating the Christmas-New-Year period in a healthy manner. mattylansdown.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What needs to happen for someone to really change? As in thinking, choices, habits, behaviours and outcomes? Their operational default setting? Forever? As someone who has spent decades helping people change their lives, this question is something l've been contemplating for a very long time. And while there's no single answer (of course), it's my belief that, without some kind of significant internal revolution, the majority of people will continue to spend their lives getting on and off the change merry-go-round. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patrick's back and this time we talk about brain implants designed to improve our cognitive performance, downloading our consciousness, memories and knowledge into a computer, A.l. being able to read human brain waves with a high level of accuracy, why peripheral relationships (like the one with your gardener or barista) can be good for good for your mental health, how ChatGPT is leading people on medical goose chases and lots more. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s chat is a re-boot of something I shared two years ago, which ended up being one of our most popular episodes ever. It’s still relevant and for some of you, it might help sharpen your focus for another chapter in the book of you (the 2024 chapter). Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all know sugar is bad for us (isn’t it?) but how many of us know its origin story as a jar of white stuff sitting on our table? Did you know that for most of our existence as a species, we didn’t have anything resembling today’s version of sugar? And how does sugar, which contains no fat, contribute so much to obesity? What’s the mechanism? And are all sugars equal? Lactose? Fructose? Glucose? Maltose? And what about artificial sweeteners? Do they produce a similar reaction in the body to sugar? Well, in this fascinating TYP chat, David Gillespie (the bloke who really got the sugar conversation started in a big way with his 2008 book ‘Sweat Poison’) and I unpack a few sugar myths and a few truths. Enjoy. davidgillespie.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone wants to be successful but what does that actually mean? Success is a slippery construct. Is it the same from everyone? Is it different for the same person over time? Is it a number? An experience? An outcome? An emotional state? A spiritual state? Is it qualitative, quantitative or both? Or neither? Is it about what's happening in our external world or our internal world? Does a ‘successful life' (you know.. money, house, car, brand, career, etc.) necessarily equal an experience of success? Is it possible to tick the 'success boxes' and in the middle of all of those ticks be anxious, unhappy, depressed and incapable of sleeping well? Yeppity yep. Sure is. This episode is a chat about all that. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode might be somewhat confronting for some but like it or not, death is an inevitability (obviously) and Nikki Morrison and I do our best to be sensitive and compassionate as we navigate this fascinating insight into her incredible work as a Pastoral Carer and End of Life Doula. Nikki is also an Exercise Scientist, Registered Nurse, Oncology Specialist and Earth Angel. It's not often I interview someone who genuinely lives their life in the service of others, but she is that person.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This was a fun chat with one of my 'old athletes". I had the pleasure of working with Nathan Burke when I was at St. Kilda Football Club for a few years. And of his 3 Best & Fairest Awards, 4 x All-Australian Teams, St. Kilda Team of the Century, 323 games and Australian Hall of Fame induction, I contributed exactly zero to his success but nonetheless, it was an absolute pleasure working with him. This is a casual chat with Burkey about life in and outside of sport. Enjoy. *TYP Triva: Nathan was our first ever guest.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Daniel Ellenberg is back at TYP and it's been too long. Nonetheless, we had a fun catch-up (which we've broken into two parts because we're both chatty AF) and we spoke about the science and psychology of being a bloke. Bloke-ology. Apparently, we don't all have our sh*t together. Who knew?Shocker. Anyway, the good Doc and talk about our evolutionary need to be part of a tribe, the health benefits of care and connection, the risks of isolation and social exclusion, self-doubt vs. self-loathing, recognising our own programming and conditioning, being able to challenge our existing beliefs, the importance and value of understanding people who aren't like us and Daniel opens the vulnerability door and talks about his own issues with anxiety and depression. Enjoy. strengthwithheart.comrelationshipsthatwork.comrewireleadership.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Daniel Ellenberg is back at TYP and it's been too long. Nonetheless, we had a fun catch-up (which we've broken into two parts because we're both chatty AF) and we spoke about the science and psychology of being a bloke. Bloke-ology. Apparently, we don't all have our sh*t together. Who knew?Shocker. Anyway, the good Doc and talk about our evolutionary need to be part of a tribe, the health benefits of care and connection, the risks of isolation and social exclusion, self-doubt vs. self-loathing, recognising our own programming and conditioning, being able to challenge our existing beliefs, the importance and value of understanding people who aren't like us and Daniel opens the vulnerability door and talks about his own issues with anxiety and depression. Enjoy. strengthwithheart.comrelationshipsthatwork.comrewireleadership.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Exercise Physiologist, Women's Health Specialist and University Lecturer Unna Goldsworthy is back and this time we discuss the challenge of giving and receiving feedback in a constructive, productive and empowering way (easier said than done), tailoring communication to suit the individual, how our thinking and perspectives change over time, the power of instinct and intuition when dealing with others, giving without expecting anything in return, helping others see (and tap into) their potential and lots more. [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marita Cheng AM was inducted as the youngest Member of the Order of Australia in 2019, named by Forbes as one of the World's Top 50 Women In Tech 2018, Forbes 30 Under 30 2016, and awarded the 2012 Young Australian of the Year. Marita is a technology entrepreneur and women in technology advocate, who is the founder and CEO of Aubot which makes a telepresence robot (Teleport) for kids with cancer in hospital to attend school, people with a disability to attend work and to monitor and socialize with elderly people. Teleports have been sold to offices, museums, coworking spaces, for kids with cancer in hospitals and for security. As well as telepresence robots, aubot does research and development in robotic arms, virtual reality and autonomous mapping and navigation. This was a fun chat with a brilliant woman who is using her creative and engineering genius to make the world a better place. Her new book is called ‘Smart Girl Books’. maritacheng.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nikki Morrison is an Exercise Scientist, Registered Nurse, Oncology Specialist, End of Life Doula, Pastoral Carer and Earth Angel. In this chat, we discuss our individual challenges (hers and mine) with eating issues, body image issues, body dysmorphia and obsessive food, lifestyle and exercise habits, which derailed big slabs of our (respective) lives. We also explore some of the underlying emotional, social and psychological drivers of our seemingly-crazy behaviours.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bobby is back and this time we explore the how, why and what of 'purpose'. We also talk about the idea of having a version of a mission statement for our lives. We discuss living a values-driven existence in a money-driven world. We also explore the concepts of 'anti-selling' altruism and integrity (actual, not manufactured) in the context of businesses driven by profit and shareholder happiness. All that and lots more. Enjoy. theselfhelpantidote.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Exercise Physiologist, Women's Health Specialist and University Lecturer Unna Goldsworthy is back and together, we explore the power of exercise for treating stress, anxiety and depression, breathwork as a self-regulation tool, the variability of responses to the same stimuli, the pointlessness of quick-fixes, the influence of hormonal changes on mental health and lots more. [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Team Geek is back talking all-things tech, life and human optimisation. Along the way we discuss adaptive eye glasses which have adjustable lenses, meaning the magnification can be changed instantly. We also talk about how Tiff and Patrick wasted money on a high-performance toothbrush that turned out to be low-performance junk. Grounding mats, Patrick's addiction to Op Shops, Zoom fatigue, the world's (new) fastest passenger jet, recycled leather, humans settling on other planets, the way some primary-aged kids are having their brain activity tracked during classes and lots more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My weird-but-loveable ‘brother from another mother’ is back after a break, and this time we talk about surviving the mess and mayhem, dealing with results we don't want, learning and growing though pain, letting go of the need to 'be right', becoming aware of our lack of awareness, the relationship between our expectations and our disappointment and plenty more. Enjoy. theselfhelpantidote.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Exercise Physiologist Russ Jarrett is back at TYP and this time we talk about the do’s and don’ts of strength training for absolute beginners. I apologise about the audio quality from my mic, we didn’t realise it wasn’t working properly until post recording. russelljarrett.com.auatpilates.studioSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jody Avirgan is a podcast host, producer and editor. His production company is Roulette Productions, he is the host of the Radiotopia show "This Day in Esoteric Political History," and "Good Sport" from the TED Audio Collective, and serves as story editor and executive producer for a number of projects. Oh, and for a long time, he was a professional Ultimate Frisbee athlete and yes, it's a real sport with real athletes. Among other things, we chat about how training for, and competing in sport, can translate into real-world benefits and skills outside of the sporting arena. Enjoy. jodyavirgan.com@jodyavirganSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.