The You Project

Andrew Hessel is a micro-biologist, geneticist, entrepreneur, author and speaker and this was one of those podcasts where I was just hanging in there by one or two neurons. The metaphoric ‘skin of my intellectual teeth’. And while it might sound too sciencey, the conversation is actually a fascinating (and mildly terrifying) peak into the future (and present) of genetic engineering, synthetic biology (it’s a thing), programming cells, the probability of (actually) winding back our biological clock and personalised drugs created specifically for your DNA. Amazing stuff. Enjoy. LinkedIn: Andrew HesselSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our favourite Anxiety Expert, Dr. Jodi Richardson, is back and as always, this was a fun and fascinating conversation. Among other things, we spoke about the idea of being open to feedback (in theory) versus the not-always-fun practical experience of receiving feedback. We talked about the idea of being teachable in a world where so many people seem to live in an echo chamber of thought, belief and behaviour. We discussed the not-very-effective concept of ‘waiting to feel confident’ before we start something new. The idea of being comfortable with initially ‘being bad’ at something (including the ‘me in a Yoga class’ story) in order to ‘get good’ at it (skill development, confidence, competence, mastery). The power of story-telling to share what-can-be complicated and/or confusing information. The amazing ‘ability’ we have to waste potential. The awareness of ‘who we’re becoming’ in the middle of what we’re doing. And lots more. Enjoy. drjodirichardson.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talking with Celeste Headlee was a little like interviewing myself. We had never met (until this chat) but it felt like we are somewhat kindred spirits and it very quickly turned into an organic meandering conversation, rather than an ‘interview’ for a podcast. Celeste is an award-winning journalist, professional speaker, author of four best-sellers, TED presenter, radio host and producer and renowned expert in human nature. I loved this chat. celesteheadlee.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Science can be overwhelming. Data. Studies. Research. Models. Graphs. Tables. Interpretations. Divergent theories. Confusing language and terms. And sometimes, it’s boring AF. In this chat, David and I discuss the ever-present challenge we have as speakers, authors and educators (of sorts) to share scientific information and ideas in a way which informs, resonates and connects (makes sense) with as many people as possible. He’s just submitted his latest book (to his publisher) and for the first time, he uses stories, examples and cases studies to explain and bring to life, the sciencey-stuff. Oh.. we also talk about psychopaths (of course) and David shares his thoughts on the potential good and bad of Artificial Intelligence moving forward. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fergus Watts is a high-level problem solver. He’s an entrepreneur, team-builder, brilliant communicator, visionary and inspirational leader who asks great questions, makes hard decisions, thinks clearly, turns ideas into realities, leads with passion and most importantly, does great work with, and for, people who need it most. Fergus is a former AFL footballer with St Kilda and Adelaide Crows, the CEO of The Reach Foundation (empowering and supporting young people), the founder (and current Chairman) of the Bastion Agency (employing over 300 people across Australia, New Zealand and the USA), father of three (all under 4) and husband of one. No wonder he’s tired. I knew Ferg when he was a kid and young man, and to catch up with him twenty years later and see what he’s done, who he’s helped, what he’s created and who he’s become, was the highlight of my week. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russ Jarrett is back at TYP and this time we dust off our Exercise Science hats and discuss the ins and outs of training our bodies at a higher level. Specifically, we talk about strength and conditioning for people (competitive athletes or not) who are training at (or want to be training at) a level somewhere between intermediate and elite. That is, anyone who wants to optimise what they have to work with. Not the worst plan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate Save took her business idea onto Shark Tank (the TV show), found herself a high-profile Business Partner and Coach (Janine Allis) and when the show aired, things went totally crazy in both good and bad ways. Kate is a high-performer who keeps finding a way to succeed. She is an Entrepreneur, Exercise Physiologist, Dietician, Founder and CEO of ‘Be Fit Food’ and in this episode we talk about the numerous peaks, troughs, triumphs, disasters and near misses that have been part of her personal and professional journey over the years. From a somewhat underwhelming and almost-catastrophic beginning in business, Kate and her team are now a multi award-winners, with her products sold in over a thousand outlets around Australia. This is a chat about growing something from the ground-up. Turning a plan into an outcome, a thing in your head into a thing in the world and building a multi-million dollar company in a highly-competitive market. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imposter syndrome. Feeling inadequate. Self-doubt. Self-sabotage. Insecurity. Anxiety. You. Me. All of us at some stage. Despite the fact that, Tiff and I have known each other and worked together for years and despite the fact that I coach her, support her, cheer her on and want her to succeed… despite all that, there are times and situations where she still feels uncomfortable, nervous and even anxious around me; the bloke who’s on her side. This interesting revelation is the starting point for this conversation. Lots of good and broadly relevant stuff in this one. Enjoy. *This chat is a TYP-RWTP (Roll with the Punches) co-share.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It can’t always be the other person or the other thing can it? There was a period of my life when, on a regular basis, certain components of my existence (for eg. finances, study, weight, relationships, career, training, diet) were going to sh*t but amazingly (wait for it), I was never the problem. Incredible huh? The f*cking Universe was always conspiring against me. My genetics. People who didn’t understand. My lack of opportunities. Lack of resources. Bad luck. The weather. Time. The government. Cops. Teachers. Bosses. God. And the beauty of me never being at fault was that I never had to change because clearly, I was never the problem… This episode is a solo chat by me (Harps) about being the problem (and solution) in our own lives. If you’re after a feel-good interview, this ain’t it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This was probably the funniest chat Patrick and I have had. There’s some tech talk, a few stories, some alarming admissions (Patrick has a remote-control dog that is synced to his phone and he also thinks that ‘everyone’ is talking about the new Hogwarts game), some inappropriate humour, some sound advice (not much), a little philosophy and psychological about the potential social and developmental impact of tech-overload on young minds, what schools are doing (and thinking) about ChatGPT and lots more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is part two of my Q and A sesh. I apologise in advance to the people whose questions I didn’t get to. I answered them in the order I received them and simply ran out of time. Here’s what I explore this time (and who asked).. MAGDA: Vibrational energy. Quantum physics. Please explain, I just want to know a true Aussie bloke’s take on this. *BTW (Harps here), asking me this question is liking asking your toaster to explain time travel. Prepare to be underwhelmed. ALISON: You don’t eat lunch so interested to know what sort of breakfasts you have to keep you going all day? JAIMEE: Thoughts on GP’s prescribing exercise literally on a script pad and visiting and exercise physiologist and exercise equipment purchases (eg. TheraBand) instead of leaving with a script for medications from a pharmacy. KYLIE: Piggy backing off Martin and Matt in regards to purpose. I have heard Harps talk some about purpose and purpose does come up in my own discovery of myself and journalling and with professionals. I'd like to hear Harps view on… Is your purpose and goals the same or are they different things? Is purpose what you are on earth to do and goals ways of achieving this purpose. ERIN: What are your best ideas for breaking out of a funk? Random ones, not run-of-the-mill stuff like sleep or exercise or meditation or the like. KYLIE P: What are you views on “manifestation” after Geoff’s views on part 2 of his podcast. FRANK: What do you do for your rotator cuff that brings relief? Op or no op.. that is the question! Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A few times a year, I record a Q & A episode, exploring listener questions. This is part one (of two) and here are the questions I ponder (and from whom)… ANDREA: What are your top 5 most influential books? What will you do when your become Dr Harps? MIKE: Why do so many men over 40 still fail to manage, focus on, prioritise their wellness (food / movement / sleep / mindset) despite the overwhelming evidence of the impact on relationships, physical and mental health? CORRINNE: What podcast episode would you direct someone to who is starting their journey with personal growth and metacognition. EM: What do you feel is the best method for prompting a behaviour change in people? What motivates people to change behaviour when education and information provided doesn’t result in the desired behaviour change? BEE: How do you remain staying positive when you're going through a really tough time, I know it can't last forever but so hard to see through it when in the middle of it. SARAH: How to stay fit with a chronic illness? CARLY: If you didn't have to work to earn money, how would you spend your time? Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I talk about the idea of running an experiment with you (or some component of your life) being the focus of your experiment. Things like lifestyle, food, exercise, sleep, health, habits, rituals, choices and typical behaviours. And not in a weird Frankenstein (type of) way but rather, in a ‘what can I tweak, change and/or adjust to produce better results on Planet Me’ type of way. My first self-designed and executed experiment at fourteen resulted in me losing about thirty kilos in four months by changing two key variables. I had limited knowledge, zero coaching or support and virtually no resources, but it worked because I paid attention to the data (my results) and didn’t stop. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two fitness industry dinosaurs get together to bang on about training, function, physical optimisation, the healing power of fun, joy and laughter, human potential, fitness and food echo chambers, learning and unlearning, creating an integrative approach to health and the importance of play at any age. This episode was essentially a chat between two Mates which happened to be recorded. Enjoy. feelsoma.com/eventsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Going into a conversation with Geoff Jowett is something you don’t want to plan for. There’s no real point. Just strap in, hold on, try to keep up and don’t get in the way. As a host, I endeavour to have a vague idea of topics and ideas that I might explore with a guest but a podcast with Geoff is the conversational equivalent of trying to herd cats. I’m just a passenger on the Geoff bus. A happy passenger. This two-parter covered vast territory as usual and we had fun but I will warn you that the great man gets a little intense, direct and sweary towards the end. Perfect.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Going into a conversation with Geoff Jowett is something you don’t want to plan for. There’s no real point. Just strap in, hold on, try to keep up and don’t get in the way. As a host, I endeavour to have a vague idea of topics and ideas that I might explore with a guest but a podcast with Geoff is the conversational equivalent of trying to herd cats. I’m just a passenger on the Geoff bus. A happy passenger. This two-parter covered vast territory as usual and we had fun but I will warn you that the great man gets a little intense, direct and sweary towards the end. Perfect.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to the science of ‘reading physiology’ (like body language and facial expressions), a scowling face would typically be classified (by an observer or computer program) as representing a person who is either sad, mad, or angry. Well, it might surprise to know that seventy percent of the time, when someone is scowling, they are neither sad, mad, or angry. They could be confused. Or scared. Deep in thought. Focused on a task. In pain. Or something else. Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett is an academic feather-ruffler, and in this chat, she shares with us that, for the most part, none of us can truly predict (with consistency and accuracy) the emotional and/or psychological states of others based on some physical observation we make. We can’t (reliably) read people because the exact same expression can represent a myriad of different internal states for different people across different ages, personality types, groups, cultures, and backgrounds. In this episode, Lisa and I go deep on the brain, emotions, flawed science, cognitive function, and lots more. *Bio: Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, PhD, is among the top 1% of most-cited scientists in the world for her research in psychology and neuroscience. She is a University Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Northeastern University, with appointments at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. She is also Chief Scientific Officer for the Centre for Law, Brain, & Behaviour at Harvard University. lisafeldmanbarrett.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know that being attracted to someone’s body odour via smelling a T-shirt they’ve worn for 14 days without showering (from a selection of smelly strangers, by the way) and then producing a child with that someone, could be great for your hypothetical kid’s health, immune system and longevity? And more broadly, great for the proliferation of the species? And yes, that 14-day stench-fest study is actual research. Did you also know that people spend more money shopping when they’ve recently had coffee (and that some companies exploit this)? And that judges are less likely to grant parole when they’re hungry (just before lunch)? Did you know that your taste buds change (often dramatically) over time? Or that 25% of people are genetically wired to hate broccoli? Did you know that our behaviours and environment (and maybe our thoughts) can change the way our genes work (for good or bad)? Fascinating chat. Again. Dr Bill is a Professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, Indiana, who specialises in Molecular & Cell Biology but his broad science knowledge is vast and luckily for us, entertaining. Enjoy. authorbillsullivan.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know that being attracted to someone’s body odour via smelling a T-shirt they’ve worn for 14 days without showering (from a selection of smelly strangers, by the way) and then producing a child with that someone, could be great for your hypothetical kid’s health, immune system and longevity? And more broadly, great for the proliferation of the species? And yes, that 14-day stench-fest study is actual research. Did you also know that people spend more money shopping when they’ve recently had coffee (and that some companies exploit this)? And that judges are less likely to grant parole when they’re hungry (just before lunch)? Did you know that your taste buds change (often dramatically) over time? Or that 25% of people are genetically wired to hate broccoli? Did you know that our behaviours and environment (and maybe our thoughts) can change the way our genes work (for good or bad)? Fascinating chat. Again. Dr Bill is a Professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, Indiana, who specialises in Molecular & Cell Biology but his broad science knowledge is vast and luckily for us, entertaining. Enjoy. authorbillsullivan.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I wasn’t sure what to expect going in to this chat because unlike a lot of people, I knew virtually zero about farmer Dave (my bad) but what ensued, was an hour of captivating conversation with a bloke who’s had (and continues to have) a fascinating life. After years navigating all kinds of darkness and eventually finding his way into the light of happiness, purpose, love and connection, he’s now helping others do the same. A movie could literally be made about Dave’s journey. Here are a few snippets. He was in charge of feeding, cleaning and caring for twenty farm dogs when he was 3. He is the youngest of 11. Was an international model at 19. Grew up on 100,000 acre farm. ‘Came out’ on national television (Big Brother). Has travelled to more than 80 countries. Was crippled with depression and anxiety as a teenager. Is a father of five. Currently lives on his farm in the country with twenty-something dogs, guinea pigs, rabbits, dwarf goats, alpacas, ducks, goose and a horse. Created RuffTRACK: a farm-based youth charity that protects kids, keeping them out of prison and up skilling them for a secure future (the story he shares around this is amazing), is an animal behaviourist, TV Presenter, speaker and good bloke doing good things. Enjoy. rufftrack.com@rufftrackSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So much talk about ‘finding our purpose.’ ‘Living with purpose.’ Having a ‘purpose-filled’ existence. So little agreement on what that actually means. Like, do we have one (single) purpose? Or can it be many? Does it change over time? Is it pre-determined or me-determined? Does it choose us or do we choose it? Does it need to be a profound save-the-world (type) thing? Or can it be something simple (but beautiful) like being a kind person? Are there rules? Do we need to meet some moral, ethical or behavioural criteria? And if so, who says? Who are the ‘purpose’ police? Well, like many ideas and concepts in psychology, sociology, theology and philosophy, ‘purpose’ is a concept for which there is very little consensus or consistency between, not only ‘experts’, but also between the different fields of research (see above). And now, reading over what I’ve just written, I wonder why I ever thought it would be a good idea for the ex-bouncer and the nerd to record a podcast about purpose. Oh well, I guess we’re as qualified as anyone. Enjoy. oksmartass.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Emily Balcetis, PhD, is an Associate Professor of psychology at New York University, who dropped by TYP to share some amazing insights, research, ideas and strategies for making our lives better, and ourselves better, in the middle of those lives. Like many great teachers, Emily has a gift for making the potentially-complicated, easy to understand through her use of stories, metaphors and real-life experiences. Enjoy. @emilybalcetisSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rabbi Dr. Mordecai Finley is the only Rabbi in the world who has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, so not only can he teach me Torah, provide spiritual guidance and explore philosophy with me but he can also D’arce choke me, Armbar me, Ezekiel Choke me (quite Old Testament), Heel Hook me and Omoplata the sh*t outta me (although he might not articulate it that way). The Rabbi is a spiritual psychologist, historian, philosopher, co-founder of Ohr HaTorah Synagogue in Los Angeles and holds a doctorate in Religion and Social Ethics from the University of Southern California. Oh (I nearly forgot this bit), he was also a Marine (straight out of school) for three years and single-handedly took down a gunman in a shopping centre with an automatic weapon and bad intentions. We both loved this chat so much that we decided to stay in touch moving forward. I made a new friend! That’s five now. As you’re aware, this episode is in two parts, the first one is a slower build (and us getting to know each other) but part two was super interesting and Rabbi Finley literally gave me a not-so-private coaching session. I hope you enjoy it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rabbi Dr. Mordecai Finley is the only Rabbi in the world who has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, so not only can he teach me Torah, provide spiritual guidance and explore philosophy with me but he can also D’arce choke me, Armbar me, Ezekiel Choke me (quite Old Testament), Heel Hook me and Omoplata the sh*t outta me (although he might not articulate it that way). The Rabbi is a spiritual psychologist, historian, philosopher, co-founder of Ohr HaTorah Synagogue in Los Angeles and holds a doctorate in Religion and Social Ethics from the University of Southern California. Oh (I nearly forgot this bit), he was also a Marine (straight out of school) for three years and single-handedly took down a gunman in a shopping centre with an automatic weapon and bad intentions. We both loved this chat so much that we decided to stay in touch moving forward. I made a new friend! That’s five now. As you’re aware, this episode is in two parts, the first one is a slower build (and us getting to know each other) but part two was super interesting and Rabbi Finley literally gave me a not-so-private coaching session. I hope you enjoy it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Julie Goodwin is a household name in Australia. She is a much-loved Australian cook, author, radio and television presenter, who came to public attention when she won the inaugural season of MasterChef Australia in 2009. She has since published six cookbooks, with one of them selling over 200,000 copies, worked in breakfast radio, hosted her own TV show, owned a cooking school and even re-appeared on MasterChef for the 2022 season, as a competitor among other champions and high-performers. We open lots of doors in this chat and Julie courageously talks about, not only the peaks, but also the troughs. She is one of the most authentic, humble and open people I’ve interviewed and although she’s well known, there’s nothing about her that screams ‘celebrity’. And maybe that’s why she is so popular. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is the end of ‘actual’ food drawing nigh? It may be closer than we think. After a few recent stand-out appearances, Scientist, Nutritionist and Food Educator, Matty Lansdown has been the ‘flavour’ of the month at TYP. See what I did there? Lots of nice feedback, plenty of questions and a liberal smattering of “can we have Matty back soon?” requests. So... you’re welcome. This time we chat about good ol’ sausages (snags, bangers), why pasta puts me into a coma, cooked vs. raw veggies, mineral vs. soda water, air fryers, fibre, pooing, carnivore diets, super interesting research looking at our beliefs about what we’re eating and the subsequent impact those beliefs have on the way our body metabolises that food (in a completely atypical way) and finally, we chat about the atrocious new food guidelines (food pyramid, of sorts) funded and endorsed by the US government which says that Lucky Charms, chocolate covered almonds, Honey Nut Cheerios and sweet potato fries are all healthier options than steak. WTAF? Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nearly a thousand episodes ago (pre-pandemic), TYP favourite Paul Taylor and I got together for our first podcast chat and to this day, it is still a conversation people talk to me about as being one of their all-time favourites. Knowing that many of you have not heard it, have forgotten what was said (it was four years ago) or didn’t know about it, we decided to wheel it out for an encore, with a little bit of post-pandemic (kind-of) 2023 Melissa and I commentary at the start. Enjoy. @mindbodybrainpiSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For a range of different reasons - some of them business, some of them personal - many of us are keen to build our level of social media ‘engagement’. Put simply, we want more people to watch, hear and interact with us. A drive for more reach, influence, sales, likes, comments, awareness, attention, credibility, interaction and/or social connection (and probably lots more). Well, the social media go-to guy on Planet Harps is Tommy Jackett; one of my five (or-so), pseudo sons. For this episode I pitted the virtual brain (Open AI) against Tommy’s organic brain to see where their ‘thinking’ diverged and converged. It was fun. Enjoy. vidpod.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Elaine Aron is a psychologist and world-renowned author who is best known for her research and writing on the topic of ‘high sensitivity’ or ‘sensory-processing sensitivity’ (SPS). She has written numerous books on the subject, including "The Highly Sensitive Person" (an award-winning and ground-breaking book, which opened the door for an avalanche of follow-up research world-wide), "The Highly Sensitive Child" and her latest offering “The Highly Sensitive Parent: Be Brilliant in Your Role, Even When the World Overwhelms You”. Dr. Elaine was both brilliant and (for me), slightly terrifying as she saw through my BS in the first ten minutes and proceeded to profile me to the world. I would have liked to argue with the 78 year-old Professor who’s fifteen times smarter than me, but (1) that was just my ego and fear and (2) it would have only proven her point. So, I bit my bottom lip and she told me all about Craig Harper with annoying accuracy (but also love and empathy). I love her. I hope you do to. hsperson.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 32 years of being together and 25 years of marriage, Florence Williams discovered her husband was in love with another woman when he handed her his phone with the wrong email open (by accident). For Florence, the subsequent break down of her marriage was (as is often the case) traumatic, painful and heartbreaking. This was a broadly relevant and super-interesting chat with a woman who went on a significant journey to truly understand the experience and science, of heartbreak. Her recent book is called ‘Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey’ is super-popular and has been critically acclaimed. In this chat we talk about managing stress, rejection, nervous system and immune system responses to threats (real or perceived), social pain and physical pain responses in the brain, her use of psychedelics (fascinating) as therapy, her month in the wilderness to find herself and a myriad of other healing ‘therapies’ she explored. Enjoy. *Bio: Florence Williams is a journalist, bestselling-author, and podcaster. She is a contributing editor at Outside Magazine and a freelance writer for the New York Times, New York Times Magazine, National Geographic, The New York Review of Books and numerous other publications. florencewilliams.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Give me 15 strategies to change my life.” That was the instruction Tommy Jackett typed into ChatGPT (Open AI) before we recorded and ten seconds after his request, he had 15 strategies generated by the virtual brain. He then shared them with me (in real time) on the show to see what my thoughts were about the advice being dispensed (for people) by Artificial Intelligence. It was fun and I may soon be redundant (LOL). Enjoy. vidpod.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it possible to ‘reset’ our brain? Can we overcome our massive dopamine (the pleasure hormone) addiction? What is at the core of our epidemic-like levels of depression, anxiety and stress? What about the addictive things we put into our body (drugs, booze, junk food and specifically, sugar) vs. the addictive things we feed our mind (porn, online gaming, shopping, social media, gambling)? How many addicts don’t recognise their own addiction? In this episode of TYP, David and I talk about all these questions and more. We also disagree on a few things (again) and discuss the possibility of the ‘mind’ being nothing more than a construct (or theory) created to explain the cognitive processes which actually happen in (arise from) our brain, such as memory, attention, perception, decision making, language, problem-solving, reasoning and lots more. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apart from having the greatest accent of all time (for this Aussie), Dr. Sarah Woodhouse has a gift for discussing what-can-be complicated concepts and ideas in an easy-to-understand and easy-to-listen-to manner. Today we took a departure from ‘trauma’, her key area of research, writing and speaking and instead, we had great chat about chakras, reflexology, treatments and healing that doesn’t ‘make sense’ (in the Western medical model), echo chambers and ‘cults of thought’, designing our life based on self-awareness, biofeedback, intuition and results, the impact of loneliness and social disconnection on physical health, the need to ‘be right’, being friends with people who have different ideas, beliefs, lifestyle, religion and cultural backgrounds. And a bit more. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your body ‘knows’ a lot. It is a magnificent example of biological intelligence and yours’ is always speaking to you; sometimes a whisper, sometimes a very direct chat and occasionally, a deafening shout. And if you’re like me, you’ve done some dumb sh*t to your body. Treated it badly. Abused it. Put toxic things in it. Ignored the messages. Lied to yourself. And others. Well, it can all change but only if you’re ready to own up and step up. I believe that in 2023, we pleasure-seekers, quick-fixers, instant-gratifiers and ‘one-day-sooners’ have never been less connected to the wisdom of our own bodies. Going through life with our metaphoric eyes closed and fingers in our ears. For some of you (not all), this conversation might be a wake-up call. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every now and then (about four times in a thousand episodes), we-revisit a slightly-updated version of an old episode, which proved to be super-popular first time around. This is such an episode. Many of you newbies have never listened to it, some hard-core TYPers have relistened a bunch of times and many have listened once and (understandably) forgotten most of what was spoken about. Anyway, the idea of becoming ungiveupable is one that clearly appealed to many listeners. Being more resilient, being calmer in chaos, being an effective decision-maker and action-taker under pressure, being able to persevere when it’s not fun, comfortable, quick or easy and staying productive, proactive and effective when the motivation has worn off. BTW, if you’re little presh, you might wanna put on your kevlar cardigan and Uggs for this one. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is was my favourite chat so far with Matty Lansdown, with a mix of incredible (occasionally terrifying) information about food ingredients, food marketing, food production, food preserving and the sneaky sh*t that food companies don’t want Matty and I chatting about. We spoke about the misrepresentation of products (via misleading and unethical marketing) and what’s actually in those products (for example, many of the ‘rye breads’, contain less than 10% rye flour and more than 40% wheat flour), ‘almond milk’ - no such thing by-the-way, it’s just a term created to sell a combo of distilled water (about 97%) and few almonds (about 3 %) in a ‘milk’ (type) carton, what companies do (with chemicals) to make chicken taste like chicken (not joking), is any booze actually healthy?, the good and bad of coffee and the deal with chocolate… it’s healthy right? Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This was my favourite chat so far with Matty Lansdown, with a mix of incredible (occasionally terrifying) information about food ingredients, food marketing, food production, food preserving and the sneaky sh*t that food companies don’t want Matty and I chatting about. We spoke about the misrepresentation of products (via misleading and unethical marketing) and what’s actually in those products (for example, many of the ‘rye breads’, contain less than 10% rye flour and more than 40% wheat flour), ‘almond milk’ - no such thing by-the-way, it’s just a term created to sell a combo of distilled water (about 97%) and few almonds (about 3 %) in a ‘milk’ (type) carton, what companies do (with chemicals) to make chicken taste like chicken (not joking), is any booze actually healthy?, the good and bad of coffee and the deal with chocolate… it’s healthy right? Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patrick, our Favourite Geek is back at TYP Central HQ sharing the cyber love, talking about the latest gizmos and gadgets and let’s be honest, nerding out about all-things tech. Among other things, we talk about our shared 3D Avatar experience, the pros and cons of Open AI and Chat PT (some schools are banning it), a gizmo that sits in your toilet and every time you wee on it, it analyses your pee to detect potential medical issues (science), we talk about the cognitive and physical benefits of standing while we work, cars that can change colours (really!), a mouthguard-tooth brush (combo) which cleans all your teeth thoroughly in ten seconds, band aids designed to not only help treat wounds, but also, to monitor healing status, a new type of BP monitor which might reduce white-coat hypertension (anxiety and elevated BP reading around the process) and lots more. Oh, and Patrick and Tiff picked on me for a solid ten minutes at the start, you might enjoy that. Back in therapy for me. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My adopted son (I have a few), Tommy Jackett, is back at TYP freaking me the-f*ck out with some voodoo, magic AI stuff where (before the show) he plugged some of my written work (whiteboard posts mainly) into an ‘Open AI’ program (it’s a thing), and then ‘asked’ the program to interpret my messages into language and terms that a second grader could understand, while not losing the essence of the message. And it f*cking did! It’s seriously amazing. He also asked the AI to prepare eight questions for an interview with Craig Harper (and that was the only instruction he typed in). And it did. Honestly, I’m not sure if this stuff is incredible, terrifying or both. I’ve never felt older (lol). Enjoy. vidpod.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do we have a difficult but-necessary conversation; the one we need to have but don’t want to have? The one we’d like to postpone until… forever? What are the consequences of not addressing the things that are creating work problems, social disconnection, relationship challenges, over-thinking and anxiety? What steps can we take to make that conversation as productive and positive as possible? Where and how do we start? Tiff and I recently discussed all this and more on a joint recording (Roll With the Punches and TYP) and I think many of you over-thinkers, procrastinators and avoiders will relate. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To say Dr. Sabrina Cohen-Hatton is impressive, is like saying the Universe is kind-of big. Sabrina is a Doctor of Neuropsychology, a Psychologist, renowned academic Researcher, best-selling Author and one of the most senior female Firefighters in the UK, overseeing twenty-five stations and a thousand staff. Oh yeh, she also grew up in poverty, violence and uncertainty, spent two years homeless and living on the streets (15-17), was the victim of physical, mental and emotional abuse, yet somehow found a way to not only survive, but thrive and now spends her life trying to make the world a safer and better place. If you need some inspiration, this is it. @dr_sab_cohenhattonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To say Dr. Sabrina Cohen-Hatton is impressive, is like saying the Universe is kind-of big. Sabrina is a Doctor of Neuropsychology, a Psychologist, renowned academic Researcher, best-selling Author and one of the most senior female Firefighters in the UK, overseeing twenty-five stations and a thousand staff. Oh yeh, she also grew up in poverty, violence and uncertainty, spent two years homeless and living on the streets (15-17), was the victim of physical, mental and emotional abuse, yet somehow found a way to not only survive, but thrive and now spends her life trying to make the world a safer and better place. If you need some inspiration, this is it. @dr_sab_cohenhattonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a slightly-updated encore edition of one of our most popular episodes which aired about five hundred shows ago, so I suspect most of you haven’t heard it or have probably forgotten most of what was said (understandably). Anyway, I loved Dr. Jeffrey Rediger from Harvard medical School and I hope you will too. Here’s the original blurb… **This was awesome and fascinating and I have a new man-crush. Jeffrey Rediger, MD, MDiv, is a physician, best-selling author and popular speaker. He is a Professor at Harvard Medical School and the Medical Director of McLean SE Adult Psychiatry and Community Affairs at McLean Hospital. A licensed physician and board-certified psychiatrist, he also has a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. His research with remarkable individuals who have recovered from incurable illnesses has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Oz Shows, among others. His best-selling book, Cured: Strengthen Your Immune System and Heal Your Life, is available at Amazon, local bookshops and in multiple languages. Love him. drjeffreyrediger.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’re after a mind-blowing, high-energy shot of inspiration, this episode is not that. This is Patrick and I chatting lazily about nothing particularly life-changing but nonetheless, you may find it interesting. I did. Along the way, we talk about our favourite countries and travel experiences (Patrick does a flawless Irish accent, good considering his Maltese heritage), the joy of volunteering, why there seems to be so much overt hate at the moment, how and why I got sacked from a Christian radio station (it involves the ‘F’ word.. shocker, I know), why I got abused by someone whom I complemented, the downside (and upside) of being an identical twin (like Patrick), random acts of kindness and lots more. Enjoy. oksmartass.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is not a conversation about what is or isn’t categorially ‘offensive’ (I’m not that stupid) but rather, it’s a chat about how the personal experience of ‘being offended’ works. Why are some people offended by something that’s not offensive to others? If something is not offensive to fifty but it is to one, is it the thing offensive (broadly speaking) or is it offensive to one person because of how they think? Paul and I go deep exploring the psychology, the mechanisms and the broad range of variables which play a role in the getting-offended experience. The conversation comes from a place of curiosity and seeking to understand (and maybe help), rather than one of judgement about who should or shouldn’t be offended and by what in particular. Enjoy. mindbodybrain.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Okay, not really ‘great’ but I can’t use ‘The Somewhat-Mild Debate’ as a title, can I? It’s fair to say that, while David and I agree on many things, there’s always some thought, idea or assertion where we part metaphoric ways. And while there is a level of divergent thinking in this chat, fortunately, our friendship is not dependent on the need for agreement, philosophical alignment or being each other’s cheer squad. And also, I’m totally okay with him being wrong. Lol. See what I did there? Seriously, this was a fun chat where we talked about New Year’s resolutions and the stats around their effectiveness (or lack thereof), social anxiety on Christmas Day, why a goal is not a plan, the difficulty of beating addiction and creating healthy new habits, the role of discipline, motivation and self-control and David and I butt heads (in a loving way) regarding the calorie equation conversation (energy in and out). Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This was a freestyle verbal fruit salad of a conversation with Tommy but as always, it was fun. Sometimes no plan is the best plan. Among other things, we spoke about how honest to be with your kids at Christmas time, what and who makes a good therapist, the idea of ‘the student being ready’, lying to yourself, a book I hated that became a book I loved, what I’m watching on Netflix and lots more. Enjoy. vidpod.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do some people start thinking and behaving ‘old’ when they reach a certain age? What is our potential for learning, growth, transformation and optimal health at fifty and beyond? And perhaps more importantly, how does our own self-limiting thinking get in the way of that potential? Why is retirement (often) bad for our health? What is the difference between purpose and calling and do we choose our purpose, or does it choose us? In this episode of TYP, Chip Conley and I explore all this and more. Chip is a New York Times best selling Author, award-winning Entrepreneur, Educator and stimulator of thought, who makes a great podcast guest. Along the way, we unpack some of the fascinating ideas in his book ‘Wisdom@Work: The Making of a Modern Elder’, which is essentially a conversation about age and ageism in the workplace in which he liberates the term “elder” from the stigma of “elderly,” revealing the value of wisdom that can only be accrued through years on the planet. Enjoy. chipconley.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If that title’s not inspirational, what is? Lol. I had intended to record a fresh ‘get-yer-sh*t-together-for-2023’ (type of) New Year’s message, but when I re-listened to this one from last year, I thought it’s still totally relevant, there’s no need to re-invent the inspirational wheel, we got awesome feedback about it and why record a slightly-different version of the same message, talking about the same things. Also, I’m lazy. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nobody needs another goal setting workshop, so this is not that. Instead, it’s a broad(ish) overview of how to turn the initial emotion (enthusiasm, excitement, inspiration) into a practical, strategic process, with real-world measurable outcomes. Lasting outcomes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.