The You Project

TYP's Head Sh*t Stirrer and Feather Ruffler David Gillespie is back and as always, he doesn't disappoint. We finish off our previous conversation (from his last episode) about the declining state of blokes' swimmers and the impending shortage of potential dads, and then he sheds some light on some fascinating (and alarming) information about a certain group of men who are six-times more likely to get testicular cancer (than their counterparts), just because of their particular diet. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all want one, but what is it? Is it the same for all of us? Is it the same for you now versus you ten years ago? Can a person in a great ‘life situation' be having a bad 'life experience'? Is it about what's happening around us or within us? Or maybe both? Can we reach the top of the mountain only to discover that we climbed the wrong mountain? Can we design and create our own good life? Can we have a good life in a less-than-ideal situation? This episode, is me thinking out loud about something l've been chatting with people about for decades. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to Integrative Doctor Michelle Woolhouse, sometimes we are our own worst enemy. I know I can be somewhat 'self-critical' (to say the least) and to be totally honest, part of me feels like I need to treat myself somewhat harshly to get the best out of me. Clearly, I have some deep-seated, alpha-male bullsh*t that needs to be dealt with (lol). Anyway, apart from my numerous issues, the Good Doc and I chat about the intersection of East and West in Integrative Medicine, how our thinking affects our immune system (psychoneuroimmunology, PNI), how self-healing works, the strategic use of placebos as a legitimate treatment option, what inflammation does to our health, the power of encouragement to improve performance, mood and mindset, how a doctor's communication style with a patient can impact medical outcomes (for better or worse) and lots more. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you don't take control of your life, it will take control of you and you probably won't like the outcome. But you know this already. This is not news. So, what's stopping you? Your life is always telling you something. Always sending you messages. Informing you. Whispering. Screaming. About how you're living. What you're doing and not doing. What's great and what's crap. What's working and what's not. What's healthy and what's toxic. What's productive and what's destructive. Don't be a passenger in your own life. Get in the driver's seat.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The reason for this curious title is apparent early in the conversation. In this episode, Patrick and I talk about the ever evolving technological landscape, my strange habit of saying ‘please and thank you' to ChatGPT (in the hope that, in the robot uprising they will remember my courtesy), the new wildly expense Apple Vision Pro googles, the radio work Patrick has been doing to provide sporting commentary for people with vision impairment, my impending Tai Chi lessons (with Patrick the Tai Chi guru), new glasses for blind people (weird, I know) that can read and translate to audio for the wearer and lots more. Enjoy websitesnow.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being scared is an unavoidable part of being human. Of course we don't love it but perhaps choosing to do things certain things that scare us (not all) is a good idea? An opportunity for growth, learning, skill-development, resilience and understanding? An opportunity to build our courage muscles? Maybe some of the things we're scared of, need to be embraced, not avoided? I'm of the opinion that the right amount (and type) of 'scared' can change our lives (and us) for the better.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this somewhat unique episode, Food Scientist, Nutritionist and TYP regular Matty Lansdown and I discuss the recent Netflix series titled 'You Are What You Eat', which extols the virtues of a plant-based diet. In a time when people can get a little hysterical (on all sides) about how to eat, exercise, vote, live (etc.), it can be tough to have an objective and reasonable conversation about a topic that can divide, confuse and even incite hate speech. BTW, one of my best friends (Patrick, who features on TYP) is a healthy vegan, so I'm definitely not a critic but rather, a curious observer of what's currently happening in the great food debate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let's be honest.. life's not fair, it doesn't care about your feelings, bad things happen to good people, good things happen to bad people (WTF?), hard work doesn't always pay off and in general terms... sh*t happens. And in the middle of the unfairness, the mayhem and the discomfort (and also., the good, joyful and beautiful), you and I need to do what we can, where we are, with what we've got to work with. Well, Mark Berridge has been navigating the mess and mayhem in a very specific way for the last five years and he joins me on this episode to discuss the practical, emotional and psychological challenges of having your reality changed forever in a single moment. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luke Darcy is a former AFL champion, TV presenter, sports commentator, entrepreneur, father of 4 and husband to the lovely Rebecca (who was a brilliant PT in one of my gyms). Luke and I went far and wide in this catch-up; talking about life after professional sport, some funny moments as an inept (and reluctant) tennis commentator, how he trained himself to commentate on the footy as a kid, the stress of watching his 209cm son (Sam) playing in the AFL, building a retreat in Bali, becoming a businessman and lots more. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you understand you? Who you are, how you are and why you are, the way you are? Sometimes I don't understand my own thoughts, actions, reactions, choices and outcomes, and l've been on a journey of self-discovery, self-awareness and self-regulation for most of my adult life! And while I definitely haven't reached enlightenment, l'm happy to say that I have moved the self-awareness needle a little over the last few decades. I believe that having a greater understanding and awareness of ourselves on a physical, mental, emotional and sociological level is crucial to improving our life, both practically and experientially. Anyway, this episode is me thinking out-loud about all of that. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dayne Beams was an elite AFL player, having played 177 games for Collingwood and Brisbane between 2009 and 2020. Dayne was named in the all-Australian team, he is a Collingwood premiership player, he captained Brisbane for two years, won best & fairest awards at both Collingwood and Brisbane, and for a range of interesting reasons (which you'll hear about in this chat), he left footy at the ripe old age of 30. In this episode of TYP, Dayne and I talk about his battle with addiction (prescription drugs and gambling) and the dramatic (and dangerous) start to his sobriety journey, we talk about mental health, losing and gaining friends, self-discovery, finding a new purpose, connecting with people who have been where we are, and lots more. EnjoySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's official; blokes are shooting weaker loads. Less volume and fewer swimmers. Science huh? If I get too technical, let me know. Over the last eighty years, sperm production by the average producer (there's a term) is down by about seventy-five percent; from 134 million sperm (per ml) on average in 1941, to less than 40 million (per ml) in recent times. Typical sperm production and ejaculate volume (hope you're not eating breakfast) are both way down and continue to plummet. According to David Gillespie, at our current trajectory, by 2040 the average bloke's sperm production will make him unviable for fatherhood. So why is this happening and what can we do about it? Take a listen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Zac Pettit lost his best mate Zane to osteosarcoma, his life was forever changed. Being by his mate's side as he bravely battled cancer required Zac to navigate a broad range of practical, psychological, emotional and personal challenges that, at the time, were incomprehensible and somewhat terrifying for the (then) teenager. These days, Zac is running ultra-marathons, working as a sparky and doing his best to educate and inform the public about osteosarcoma, along with supporting people emotionally, practically and financially who are on their own cancer journey. He does this through the not-for-profit he created called T2KO. Good dude, good chat. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's self-help, the product (programs, books, courses, workshops, podcasts), and there's self-help the practical, roll-up-yer-sleeves, raise a sweat, step into the unknown, periodically terrifying, process. In other words, there's the theory of self-help and there's the practical work required to literally help yourself. And while the self-help theory is not all junk (but plenty is), it's the self-help practice (the doing, not just the knowing), that will change your life. In this episode, Tiff and I endeavour to sort the feel-good, pseudo-scientific, psycho-babble, self-help-fairy-floss, from the real-world, not-always-comfortable information and ideas which can actually move the needle when it comes to changing our lives. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's self-help, the product (programs, books, courses, workshops, podcasts), and there's self-help the practical, roll-up-yer-sleeves, raise a sweat, step into the unknown, periodically terrifying, process. In other words, there's the theory of self-help and there's the practical work required to literally help yourself. And while the self-help theory is not all junk (but plenty is), it's the self-help practice (the doing, not just the knowing), that will change your life. In this episode, Tiff and I endeavour to sort the feel-good, pseudo-scientific, psycho-babble, self-help-fairy-floss, from the real-world, not-always-comfortable information and ideas which can actually move the needle when it comes to changing our lives. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We humans have a propensity to make things harder than they need to be and without doubt, one of the things we complicate the f**k out of, is food. Has there ever been more confusion, disagreement and (let's be honest) hysteria around how we should eat and why? Echo chambers. Food cults. Pro this. Anti that. Ask ten experts (whatever 'expert' means) one question about diet and you may very well get ten different answers from people with multiple degrees, years of experience and no lack of confidence. In this fun chat, Dietician and Exercise Physiologist Kate Save and I don't provide the nutritional Holy Grail, but we do our best to offer some simple and practical ideas, simplify some of unnecessarily complex recommendations and sort through some of the straight-up nutritional BS. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can we become more effective thinkers? Can we expand our curiosity, creativity, awareness and cognitive output? In the simplest of terms, can we think better? And can that higher level thinking lead to higher level choices, behaviours and outcomes? Can we rise above the immediate context or subjective experience to access a more universal understanding, find more innovative and effective solutions, tap into profound insights and maybe even discover a sense of interconnectedness with a reality bigger than us? I believe we can. This is a conversation (well, monologue) about that.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I love connecting with Kate Save and this chat was a freestyle catch-up where the topics ranged from my social media sabbatical, the hypnotic power of mindless scrolling and addictive personalities, through to fake milks, cold exposure and why our body treats alcohol like a poison. Kate is the CEO and Co-founder of Be Fit Food (having featured on ‘Shark Tank'), she is a Clinical Dietitian, an Exercise Physiologist, a Diabetes Educator, a successful Entrepreneur, a Wife, Mum and inspiration to many. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Life doesn't care about your feelings, goals, dreams or happiness; your mum might care (or not), but life doesn't. Some people will be bothered by your success, and some people will even want you to fail. Yes it's sh*t, but it's also true. Opportunity probably won't 'knock' and you probably won't 'fall on your feet', so you might have to create your own opportunities, lean into the discomfort and consciously and courageously build your own version of success. Sometimes the right path is the uncomfortable path and sometimes hard work doesn't pay off. Sometimes life is beautiful and sometimes it sucks. Sometimes people are incredible and sometimes they also suck. Sometimes pain is growth and sometimes, it's just pain. And in the middle of the good and bad, the mess and mayhem, the awesome and awful, is you. The author of your own story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode with Niraj Naik was a mind-expanding, paradigm-shifting and enlightening conversation. For me anyway. I suspect it's a conversation that some people will listen to multiple times and others might find it a little to woo-woo for their liking. Which I get. But personally, I loved it. Niraj is a Pharmacist turned holistic health and breathwork expert, professional musician, serial entrepreneur, and one of the world's most sought-after spiritual ceremony facilitators. My intention going in was a 40-50 minute chat, but what eventuated was a two-part 75-minute chat, that I didn't want to end. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode with Niraj Naik was a mind-expanding, paradigm-shifting and enlightening conversation. For me anyway. I suspect it's a conversation that some people will listen to multiple times and others might find it a little to woo-woo for their liking. Which I get. But personally, I loved it. Niraj is a Pharmacist turned holistic health and breathwork expert, professional musician, serial entrepreneur, and one of the world's most sought-after spiritual ceremony facilitators. My intention going in was a 40-50 minute chat, but what eventuated was a two-part 75-minute chat, that I didn't want to end. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a long list of things which, for better or worse, impact how our brain 'works'. From getting punched in the face, to booze, to sleep, to dehydration, to nutritional deficiencies, to physical inactivity, to lifestyle and lots more. If you're interesting having a brain that works well, take a listen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Toby Morrison from CFS Health is back and this time we talk about the idea of having a purpose bigger than ourselves and the challenge of building a business, brand and/or career which works on both a commercial level (makes a few bucks), and is also a practical expression of our values, ethics, beliefs and aspirations to do good in the world. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The thing about a David Gillespie chat is, I never know WTF he's gonna talk about, where the conversation will go, whether l'll be smart enough to keep up and how many people he's gonna piss off with his insights. This time we spoke about some fascinating new research highlighting the significantly greater risk of concussion for women in contact sports, specifically, the AFLW which is 4-6 higher for women. We also spoke about the dangers of fluoride (yes, fluoride), the crazy amount of sugar consumed by the average Aussie per day and whether or not, fruit gets the tick of approval from the Chief of the Sugar Police. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Jodi Richardson is one of Australia's foremost speakers, authors and educators in the area of anxiety. And while she's pretty good at the science- and academic stuff, she also navigates her own challenges with anxiety on a daily basis. Amazingly, Jodi has found a way to not only survive her anxiety but more importantly, a way to perform, succeed and thrive, in the middle of it. Enjoy. drjodirichardson.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Jodi Richardson is one of Australia's foremost speakers, authors and educators in the area of anxiety. And while she's pretty good at the science- and academic stuff, she also navigates her own challenges with anxiety on a daily basis. Amazingly, Jodi has found a way to not only survive her anxiety but more importantly, a way to perform, succeed and thrive, in the middle of it. Enjoy. drjodirichardson.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Alon Loeffler is a scientist specialising in Synthetic Biological Intelligence, with his key research focus being the interplay between structure and function in neuro-memristive nanowire networks. What? (I hear you say) In simple terms, he is building a brain (of sorts) in the lab. At the very least, synthetic neurons (brain cells) which he's currently 'teaching' to play basic computer games (like Pong). Moving into the future, it's possible that his work will have a myriad of applications, especially in the medical space. Alon's interests lie at the intersection of psychology, neuroscience, nanotechnolosy and philosophy; areas such as brain-computer interface, neuroengineering and neuromorphics. You might wanna have a coffee before you listen to this (lol). Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I loved this conversation and I love Emmanuel Kelly. He is a true inspiration and I rarely say that because I think typically, it's an overused cliché. But not with this bloke. Emmanuel was found as an infant in a box on a battlefield on the border of Iraq. At an incredibly tender age, Emmanuel witnessed executions, bombings, and wondered every day if that day would be his last. At age 7, he was brought to Australia by humanitarian Moira Kelly for life changing surgery and learned to walk for the first time. After overcoming tremendous obstacles, and at only 18 years of age, Emmanuel became an Australian X Factor sensation, garnering over 500M views online. He has since toured with Coldplay, opened for Snoop Dog, performed with David Foster and legendary DJ Paul Oakenfold and performed at the United Nations Assembly multiple times. For me, conversations like this remind me of how awesome people can be. And Emmanuel is just that. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.