The You Project

Jaemin Frazer is the founder of The Insecurity Project and specialises in helping entrepreneurs, leaders, and business owners eradicate insecurity so they can show up to life unhindered by doubt, fear, and self-limiting beliefs. He is a leading voice globally on the subject of personal insecurity and is the author of Unhindered - The Seven Essential Practices for Overcoming Insecurity, Elegantly Simple Solutions to Complex People Problems. Jaemin and I spoke about why and how we’re so insecure (and what we might do about it), finding our identity in our job (good or bad?), seeking approval from people who don’t love us, when a ‘group’ becomes a cult, blokes becoming more vulnerable, backlash from leaving the ministry (he was an ordained Minister), being self-sufficient and we even disagreed on a few things (graciously of course - lol). Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tommy slid by TYP Central and we chatted about having ‘relationships’ with people we’ve never met (like podcast hosts), how friendships change as we age, blokes being increasingly vulnerable, rejection therapy (it’s a thing), confidence vs. cockiness, Tommy trying to give away free money to strangers, the misuse of the word ‘literally’, procrastination, the horrible sound of our own voice and lots more. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This was an interesting chat with someone (Evelyn) who has been working in and around bullying for decades. Bullies exist in all walks of life, can be a problem for anyone of any age and research suggests that the numbers (of bullies) are not dropping. Evelyn M Field, OAM is a psychologist, professional speaker, bestselling author and regular media commentator. She has spent over forty years helping students and adults develop social survival skills and manage school and workplace bullying. Her passion was recognised in the Australian Queens Birthday Honours, June 2014, “For service to the community, particularly though anti-school and workplace bullying initiatives.” Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For this episode, young Tiff and I riff about the ever-present challenge of creating forever results. Changing stuff and keeping it changed. Creating a new normal. A new standard operating system, that aligns with our goals and values. We share some thoughts and strategies and about escaping the on-again, off-again, start-stop merry-go-round-of-madness that so many of us have ridden for decades. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patrick is back at TYP and this time we chat about making a ‘tree change’ (moving to the country), robotic spiders (really), becoming a vegetarian, the Canadian town being extorted by a global ransomware gang, UFO’s (are they real), life on other planets, space junk falling to earth, the chess robot that broke a kid’s finger (ouch), how to dispose of your old computer and lots more. Enjoy. oksmartass.comgenesisfx.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unna is Back at TYP Central and on this episode, we chat about the pros and cons of being on ‘the pill’ (she shares some super interesting personal insights), why she and her bloke chose to not marry, why being a teen is so f***ing hard, why lifting heavy stuff is literally the best anti-aging tool in the world, how and why our mind ‘gets in the way’ and plenty more. Enjoy. unnamovement.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know the stuff you know without knowing how or why you know it? The stuff you’ve never been taught or told but somehow know? Some people consider this kind of ‘knowing’ a type of instinct or intuition. Some think it comes from a place more divine or spiritual. I think it’s a gift. I call it my internal Sat-Nav. It’s the life guidance system that I can’t explain but nonetheless, use daily. Whatever it is, wherever it comes from, it’s served me well over the years. I believe we all have access to a type of intelligence (knowing, insight, awareness) that doesn’t always ‘make sense’ and can’t always be explained. I was recently of Tiff’s show (Roll with the Punches) and we chatted about all this and more. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Josh Reid Jones is the real deal. And I loved our chat. His life is devoted to helping the people who most need help in a practical, loving and life-changing way. From a childhood marked by poverty, violence, and challenging circumstances to a purpose-led life, founding the Just Be Nice project with the aim of changing the way that people help people; until they are housed, employed and have positive mental health outcomes. Josh has been relentless in his pursuit of creating an environment that ensures people in need, get the help that they need, when they need it, for as long as they need it. This was a thought-provoking conversation and Josh definitely enlightened me about a few things I hadn’t considered. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apart from reducing environmental impact, aligning with sustainable development practices, educating the masses, bridging outdoor stewardship and conscious business practices, driving his tractor in one hundred percent humidity and generally ‘just saving the Earth’, Barney Swan doesn’t have much on. This was an illuminating chat with a young man who couldn’t be more passionate or committed to his life purpose. Oh, and he’s also funny, a little bit angry and tells a great story about (potentially) losing his er… ahem… ‘manhood’ while skiing a 1,000 kilometres to the South Pole. Enjoy. www.theclimateforce.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first half of this chat with Tor and Patrick has nothing to do with life-improving tech but nonetheless, it was super interesting. And unplanned. We learned about (younger) Tor being chased by the police while sitting on the front of her dad’s Mercedes holding a shotgun, Patrick ‘coming out’ on national TV (his identical twin brother, who was also on the show didn’t know) and I disclose a ‘Mary story’ that will probably get me trouble with the Old Darl. Oh well, (shoulder shrug). On a tech note, we talk about the father who warns his sons about their mum’s bad moods via text-alerts, a 'sand battery' that can store heat at 500C for months, TikTok stealing your cyber-stuff, personalised action figure dolls (with your face), the first company to implant a human brain-computer interface (WTF!), forty-dollar fitness trackers and new features on Android and Apple devices that can transcribe words in real-time (during a phone call), meaning that hearing impaired people can read (instead of listen to) the words of the person on the other end of the phone! Enjoy. oksmartass.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I didn’t realise how much I missed Geoffro until we reconnected. He is simultaneously grounded, hilarious, inappropriate, wise, laid back and (ironically) full on and this chat was awesome. The guy who, not-too-long-ago was up to his eyeballs in business deals, grinding and hustling, making money, TV appearances, booze, drugs, mayhem, madness and self-destruction, is now the guy living totally sober in the middle of nature with his two horses and four dogs, no television, limited hours of technology, minimal face-to-face human interaction, a crazy long beard and zero external ‘noise’. He has truly unplugged from the madness and reinvented himself from a soul level, up. If you told me eight years ago that the Geoff I knew then, would be living his current existence, I absolutely would not have believed you. We’re always talking (on TYP) about growth, evolution, transformation, self-awareness, living our values and choosing our path.. well, take a listen to this. @geoffjowettSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to David Gillespie, technically all toddlers are psychopaths. So, keep clear of sandpits, swings and slides, I guess. Once again, this was an illuminating and fascinating conversation with one of Australia’s most successful authors. We spoke about ‘resetting’ our brain, how to find credible research, the value (or not) of returning to formal study, the relationship between biochemistry and behaviour, David’s underwhelming opinion of psychology (as a field), why stress is like addiction (biochemically) and how he comes up with ideas for his books. Enjoy. davidgillespie.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last time Axle Whitehead was on, we had so much fun that he and I caught up a few days later for coffee and conversation about all-things psychology, philosophy, spirituality and human behaviour. You know; the small stuff. Well, we went deep and thought we would continue a version of that chat at TYP Central. Here’s what we covered in this episode.. the ‘common denominators’ of successful people, the good and bad of religion, Aussies and their bullshit filter, being in a cult, the challenge of not ‘over-protecting’ kids (so they can build resilience, independence and capability), evolutionary instinct, the value of delaying gratification, tuning in to our Internal Sat-Nav and lots more. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Genevieve Gregson is a three-time Olympian, two-time Olympic finalist, Australian record holder, one-time farm kid, Mum of one who’s married to a two-Olympian (Ryan Gregson). She specialises in the 3,000-metre steeplechase, is thinking about moving up to marathons and in our chat, admitted she’d like to compete up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, which could potentially make her a six-time Olympian. Oh, she’s also a Coach, Business Woman and Exercise Physiologist. Genevieve is a great communicator and we covered everything from training, recovery, nutrition, mindset, work ethic and discipline to ageing, biofeedback, financing an athletics career and why giving birth is performance enhancing. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“You never feel more alive than when someone is trying to kill you.” It sounds strange but, according to Australian Soldier Nathan Bolton, deploying to Afghanistan (twice) and being in combat was simultaneously the best and worst time of his life. This chat was an interesting insight into the mind of a Special Forces Operator who, like many, struggled to leave the war behind when he came home. Fortunately, he is now coming out the other side and helping others to do the same. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The rationale for the title will become apparent through the show. While Unna is always interesting and fun (and this chat was no exception), we spoke, not only about all-things health and wellness (as we do) but this time she opened up about her own personal challenges with body-image, a debilitating eating disorder, seeking approval in the wrong places and living in a toxic environment. Enjoy. unnamovement.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this conversation, Melissa and I talk about the art of compartmentalising, managing overwhelm, things that have a used-by date (jobs, relationships, projects, lifestyles, habits), work that doesn’t feel like work, the half-way point of my PhD, discovering and designing our optimal operating system and choosing the narrow path (doing what most won’t). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every so often on TYP, we do a co-share with another podcast that I’ve recently been on. Last week that was Matty Lansdown’s show (How to Not Get Sick and Die) and we did a deep dive on a range of issues pertinent to the living-your-best-life, self-management, human optimisation conversation. Enjoy. mattylansdown.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dietician, Exercise Physiologist, Educator and Entrepreneur, Kate Save is back, and while we’ve had a few chats on TYP, this episode is my favourite. I could give you a long list of what we covered (there was plenty) but for me, the awesome-ness was in Kate sharing her deeply personal story about her own significant health challenges (the ones that almost killed her). Enjoy. befitfood.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, a bloke spent his life savings buying some pretend land in the metaverse. If he’s happy with his ‘investment’, does that mean he got a good deal? Maybe my idea of ‘crazy’ is his idea of prudent market speculation. And down the track we might discover that he was the smart one, when another investor buys it from him for double! But what is value anyway? Is it about the objective ‘thing’ or is it about our subjective assessment of what we think that thing is worth? And could floating cities be one of the answers to rising sea levels (it’s happening)? And what about the Webb telescope that can see back in time (that idea does my head in)? And what new health gizmos and gadgets are coming into the market to make our ‘personal health management’ more effective and efficient? And what’s happening at the intersection of biology, technology and medicine? For better or worse, we’re increasingly moving towards replacing biological bits with non-biological bits; is it all positive or are there some potential dangers? It’s a busy show! Enjoy. oksmartass.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When I started my first business (Harper’s Personal Training), I had no management skills, little understanding of business, no marketing strategy, no idea how to talk to an accountant, lawyer or real-estate agent, no administrative skills, no idea how to employ (or fire) someone and an underwhelming collection of skills, resources, knowledge and confidence. In fact, I was so inept, I often didn’t even know what questions to ask. Nonetheless, I (and my team) figured it out. In 25 years of owning multiple centres, I employed hundreds of PT’s, we trained thousands of people, pioneered PT in Australia (first ever PT facility) and we did all of it, without being super educated, gifted or special and without spending one cent on marketing or advertising.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a conversation about a middle-age guy who left a super successful career in the TV business and ended up living at an Indian Orphanage. John Marshall is a storyteller, a Hollywood screenwriter, a 9-time Emmy award-winning TV producer/writer and author of the Random House memoir ‘Wide-Open World.’ So how and why does someone leave the highly addictive and lucrative entertainment world to become an advocate for orphaned girls’ education? Take a listen and find out. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Dan Dworkis M.D. Ph.D., believes deeply that all of us can improve how we function under pressure and in doing so perform at our best when we are needed the most. Dan is an attending emergency Physician and Professor at USC’s Keck School of Medicine, where he works at the Los Angeles County and USC Medical Centre (one of the largest and busiest emergency departments in the US). Dan is the founder of The Emergency Mind which helps individuals and teams perform better under pressure both in and out of the emergency department. His book, The Emergency Mind: Wiring Your Brain for Performance Under Pressure, is used by people working under pressure across a variety of disciplines from emergency medicine to entrepreneurship to athletics and beyond. Yet again, I have another man crush. Love Dr. Dan and loved this chat. Enjoy. emergencymind.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Richard Chambers is a clinical psychologist, an internationally-recognised expert in mindfulness, a spiritual seeker, a researcher, an author and a bloke who runs psychedelic-assisted leadership programs (yep, that’s a thing). I’m constantly grateful for the amazing people I get to meet on this show and Richard was (is) totally brilliant. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Doctor John is back at TYP Central and as usual, he amuses, entertains and educates us with his ideas, stories and unique perspective on the human condition. Among other things, we discuss his cancer story, immunotherapy, the pros and cons of retirement, floating restaurants (cruise ships), proactive vs. reactive health management, the power of words and lots more. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’re after a typical ‘be-all-you-can-be’ (self-help type of) TYP experience, this might not be the episode for you. Nonetheless, it’s full of interesting information, thoughts and ideas that may even be useful to you. Or not. Among other things, Patrick and I speak about the evolution of the good ol’ TV, using public Wi-Fi (yes or no?), augmented reality, the re-emergence of 3D films, the potential use of holograms, the dropping price of (some) tech, robotic dogs (Patrick wants five), VR for healing and why young dudes have been banned from wearing suits to the cinema. Enjoy. genesisfx.com.auoksmartass.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Derrick McManus was a South Australian Police officer operating in the elite Special Tasks And Rescue (STAR) Group. He held specialist skills as a sniper, diver and was trained by the military elite Special Air Services Regiment (SAS) in counter-terrorist tactics and worked in a physically, mentally and emotionally demanding environment. Derrick’s team had been tasked to arrest a high-risk offender, who was obviously not very keen on being arrested. He fired 18 times in less than 5 seconds and hit Derrick 14 times. Derrick was then lying on the ground bleeding for 3 hours prior to his rescue. How he didn’t die is still a mystery. To say this is a fascinating listen is an understatement. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of David Gillespie’s (many) books is called ‘Teen Brain’ (2019). This episode is a conversation about the challenges that come with living in a teenage body that’s riding a rollercoaster of biochemical urges, emotions and changes. *Book Synopsis: With their labile and rapidly developing brains, adolescents are particularly susceptible to addiction, and addiction leads to anxiety and depression. What few parents will know is that what we think of as the most typical addictions and problematic teen behaviours - smoking, drinking, drug taking, sex leading to teenage pregnancy - are on the decline. The bad news is that a whole raft of addictions has taken their place. Whereas once the dopamine-hungry brain of a teenager got its fix from smoking a joint or sculling a Bundy and coke, it is now turning to electronic devices for the pleasure jolt that typically comes from online playing games and engaging with social media. What is doubly troubling is that, unlike drugs, alcohol and cigarettes, electronic devices are not illicit. Quite the contrary. They are liberally distributed by schools and parents, with few restrictions placed on their use. And, to add fuel to the fire, emerging research shows that if addictive pathways are activated during the teen years, they are there for life, and that what starts as a screen addiction can lead to major substance abuse later in life. davidgillespie.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tommy Jackett is back at TYP Central and this time we wax lyrical about ‘self-help’ the product versus self-help, the practical process. We also discuss self-criticism, self-awareness and self-regulation, the value of lists and preparation, being taught ‘what’ to think versus ‘how’ to think, the enormity of conformity, the opposite of boredom, my numerous surrogate sons (I have a few) and lots more. vidpod.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I could tell you that this episode is a mind-blowing, life-changing conversation with some world-renowned Guru, where we unpack the secrets of the Universe, but it isn’t. Surprising, I know. Instead, it’s Melissa and I riffing about some random human stuff like, love languages, why we get offended, navigating political correctness, life in the echo chamber, people we love but don’t always like and the time I almost went on a TV dating show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I am not enough”; such a common, disempowering and unnecessary belief. Going in to this episode, I wasn’t sure that I would resonate with Marisa’s philosophy and approach to therapy, treatment and change but not only did she resonate with me, I learned a bunch, she’s an awesome story teller, she made total sense, challenged some of my thinking (in a good way) and lastly, she’s a bit funny, so.. winner! *BIO: Marisa Peer is a world-renowned speaker, Rapid Transformational Therapy trainer and best-selling author. She has nearly three decades of experience as a therapist and has been named Best British Therapist by Men's Health magazine and featured in Tatler's Guide to Britain's 250 Best Doctors. Marisa uses her experience of treating clients including rock stars, CEOs, elite Olympic athletes, royalty and Oscar-winning actors to inform her life-changing speeches and lectures. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not surprisingly, this is a conversation about the tendency many of us have to waste our considerable potential. In it, we explore the psychological, sociological, behavioural and practical variables which influence the way in which we use or don’t use (exploit or squander) our creative, physical, intellectual, professional and personal potential. As someone who isn’t naturally gifted, brilliant or exceptional, my drive to explore and exploit my ‘what’s-actually-possible-for-me’ list, is an every-present challenge. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This was an interesting chat with former professional ‘Big Wave’ surfer and Red Bull Athlete, Mark Mathews. Through his experience as a pro athlete, Mark has become obsessed with the relationship between personal growth, high performance and fulfillment. In this chat we talked about self-management, preparation and the perception (and it's effect) of anxiety in high performance sports and competition. Mark is fascinated by exploring the drivers behind what it really takes to be a high level athlete. Enjoy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Voted one of the most influential female entrepreneurs in Australia, Penny Locaso is the world’s first Happiness Hacker, on a mission to teach 10 million humans, by 2025, how to intentionally adapt in order to future-proof happiness. Penny is an international keynote speaker, educational innovator and author. Like me, Penny is super chatty and we had fun. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I loved this chat. It triggered so much thought and curiosity for me. Among other things, Michol (Mish-ol) and I went deep on the idea of a government, industry and medically supported health system aimed at the prevention (mitigation, reduction) of illness and disease; not to replace our current model but rather, to complement it. Potentially, a state and national system (programs, resources, infrastructure) designed to keep our population healthy and functional for as long as possible. So many potential medical, financial and, of course, personal benefits. We often talk a big game about being proactive with our health but the truth is that, on many levels (individual to collective) our operating system is largely focused on disease management, not prevention. Oh, and we also spoke about why crying is awesome for you (really), future-proofing, the limitations of will-power and discipline, hitting the pause button on our Groundhog Day(ness), turning ideas into action, the impact of loneliness and of course, creating a ‘new normal’. Enjoy. instituteofmotion.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, the TYP Geek and I wax lyrical about hackers, scammers, fake emails, online puppy and romance scams, Melissa’s addiction to Apple (the brand, not the fruit), dodgey links, cybersecurity, weird numbers calling your phone, Patrick’s issue with iPhones (I still won’t be switching), oldie’s getting ripped off, creepy Alexa with the potential to speak in the voice of people you know (even dead people) and lots more. Enjoy. oksmartass.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is self-awareness, why does it matter, what role does it play socially, how does it impact personal and professional relationships, is it a crucial piece of the self-improvement puzzle, is it trainable and if so, how can we improve it? In this episode, I open the door on the self-awareness conversation in some depth, using relevant and important questions as the conversational springboard. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canna Campbell is unintentionally hilarious and revealing in her first two minutes of this episode. It’s not often I’m (almost) tongue-tied but her debut caught me by surprise. Canna is a financial expert, keynote speaker, best selling author of The $1000 Project and Mindful Money, founder of the financial media platform SugarMamma TV and she regularly appears on Channel 9 as a financial commentator. She is also passionate about educating, inspiring and empowering every individual to create financial harmony, freedom and independence in their lives. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pharmacist Nima Alavi is back at TYP and this time we chat about nutraceuticals, psychedelic drugs being used clinically, strengthening our immune system, finding the ‘right’ dose (for everything), how many mice equal one Craig (it’ll make sense), how giving up dairy improved Nima’s health, physical vs. psychological addiction, the health benefits of social connection, when ‘drugs’ become medicine, how medicines are ‘scheduled’ and lots more. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s be honest, there aren’t too many Aussies who have ever played Major League Baseball (MLB). Well, Trent Oeltjen (pronounced Ol-chen) is one of an elite group who turned his childhood dream (obsession) into the real-world experience of playing his first MLB game in front of fifty thousand people. Trent’s career as a player includes making multiple State, Representative, National and World Cup Teams including the 2004 Australian Olympic Team, in which he helped capture the Silver Medal and his MLB career saw him play for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers. Post playing career, Trent founded Legacy Sports; an elite wellness-first, high-performance program that holistically develops the complete athlete both on and off the field. Trent is a ripper and we spoke about the triumphs and troughs, lessons and letdowns, pain and pleasure of life in elite sport and beyond. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ashton Applewhite is the author of This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism and a leading spokesperson against discrimination on the basis of age. Ashton has been recognized by The New York Times, National Public Radio, the New Yorker and the American Society on Aging as an expert on ageism. She has written for Harper’s, the Guardian and The New York Times. She has been named as a Fellow by the Knight Foundation, The New York Times, Yale Law School, and the Royal Society for the Arts. As someone who is fast approaching middle-age (if I live to 120), I totally enjoyed this chat with Ashton. She explains ageism (and many other ‘isms’) in such an interesting, funny and provocative way, that she is undeniable. Her messages are powerful and insightful and I loved her energy and attitude. Enjoy. thischairrocks.comoldschool.info@thischairrocksSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our favourite geek (Patrick) is back and to be honest these episodes are as much fun and silly-ness as they are grown-up tech talk but nonetheless, this episode we manage to explore café robots serving customers (they’re here), the pros and cons of electric cars (explained for non-geeks), why I definitely need a drone, a phenomenon called ‘the doorway effect’, some of the wild advances being made in the tech space, how and why tech gets cheaper over time (100 inch TV anyone?), the growth and potential applications of VR (virtual reality), Ron’s (dad) first time wearing expensive over-ear headphones (priceless) and lots more. Enjoy. oksmartass.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seamus Evans has worked successfully as a TV and radio presenter, comedian and corporate speaker, despite living with Tourette Syndrome, ADHD and a few other not-insignificant personal challenges. I enjoy exploring life through the eyes, understanding and experiences of other people and this chat, was definitely that and more. Among other things, we spoke about Seamus failing school and being in the ‘wrong’ academic model (for him). He told us about hiding his Tourette’s when casting for a TV show (at 18), only to have it discovered not long after he got the gig. We spoke about being stared at, misunderstood, judged and avoided. We also discussed the pros of being neuro-diverse and how his ‘different’ brain can be something of a superpower when it comes to all-things creative. I enjoyed this. *A few facts about Tourette Syndrome: it is a neurological condition made up of both motor and vocal tics. 1 in 100 kids are diagnosed with it. TS is more common in males than females. There is no cure for TS, just awareness. Most children with TS have above normal or high intelligence levels. The condition is named after French Neurologist, Gilles De La Tourette. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 843 Episodes, I can say that this chat goes straight into my all-time top ten. It won’t (be top ten) for everyone but it is for me. I absolutely loved it. For a range of reasons, this conversation resonated powerfully with me, challenged me and made me realise a lot of things about myself that I wasn’t fully aware of, hadn’t acknowledged and maybe didn’t even understand. Like, how I learn best. And what would have been an ideal learning environment and model for me, when I was kid. Gavin McCormack has been a teacher for more than 25 years, working in countries throughout the world and building many schools in the Himalayan regions of Nepal. As a Montessori ambassador for Australia and the co-founder upschool.co and Educationinfluence.com, Gavin has worked tirelessly for 25 years to change the face of education for those before him. He has trained teachers all over the world and currently runs the two largest teacher training centres in Nepal. Enjoy. XxSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mercedas Taaffe-Cooper (Merc) is a registered Psychologist (M.Sc. Clinical Psych), qualified Sports and Exercise Scientist (B.Sc.), former elite kickboxer (having won both European and World Championships) and an International Boxing Coach, with forty years of experience. These days Merc combines her vast knowledge, experience, skill, education and passion to improve the lives of young people, with her unique program called CounterPunch. Enjoy. counterpunch.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Managing ‘me’ and getting the most out of my genetics, potential, intellect, creativity, time, resources, energy and opportunities has been an ongoing experiment since I was the fat 14 year-old. Trying different things. Seeking my own truth, insight and discoveries by being both the researcher and the ‘researched’ (participant) in my own project. N=1 and I am the ‘n’. You can be too. Creating simple experiments. Observing outcomes. Interpreting data. Building your own understanding, awareness, knowledge and insight, through trial and error, personal experience and effort. I’ve done it with my genetics, the various evolutions of my career, my nutrition, values, lifestyle, sleep, recovery, energy optimisation, finances, my development as a speaker, author and podcaster, my study protocol, finding my optimal physical environment and lots more. This is a chat about the idea of strategic, practical, life-improving self-experimentation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For me, this episode was super interesting, partly because of the conversation itself and maybe even more because of who I chatted with. Andy J. Pizza is a highly successful illustrator and speaker who has written kid’s books and comics and done client work for the likes of The New York Times, Apple and Nickelodeon. He also inspires people from stage with his unconventional and interactive presentations, while navigating life with ADHD and in his own words, ‘a different kind of brain’. Rather than pretending he’s something he’s not, Andy leans into his neurodiversity and has a unique energy, insight and like-ability, which is why this scheduled 45-minute chat, became a two-parter. Not only is he ‘quirky and creative’ but I absolutely loved the way he sees, processes, navigates and explains the world, as he experiences it. Enjoy. andyjpizza.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For me, this episode was super interesting, partly because of the conversation itself and maybe even more because of who I chatted with. Andy J. Pizza is a highly successful illustrator and speaker who has written kid’s books and comics and done client work for the likes of The New York Times, Apple and Nickelodeon. He also inspires people from stage with his unconventional and interactive presentations, while navigating life with ADHD and in his own words, ‘a different kind of brain’. Rather than pretending he’s something he’s not, Andy leans into his neurodiversity and has a unique energy, insight and like-ability, which is why this scheduled 45-minute chat, became a two-parter. Not only is he ‘quirky and creative’ but I absolutely loved the way he sees, processes, navigates and explains the world, as he experiences it. Enjoy. andyjpizza.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ex Journo, Researcher, Tech-Nerd, Fellow Podcaster and long-time Mate, Patrick Bonello is back and I gotta say, podcasting with him is the conversational equivalent of talking shit, eating Twistie rolls (with butter), devouring chocolate Big M’s and hanging out with my mates at lunch time in year 8. In other words, fun. We covered a lot of ground, including.. dumb people (me) with smart technology, in-home robots (they’re here), A.I. becoming sentient (thinking for itself), lifelike humanoids working in customer service and nursing, robots being deployed into homes to provide ‘company’ for lonely people, emotion recognition technology, AI and ‘sexual wellness’ and lots more.  oksmartass.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Fitzgerald, is a renowned and respected Australian property expert with over 40 years’ experience in residential and commercial real estate, property development and property investment. After completing high school at 17, he hitchhiked from Melbourne to the Gold Coast with $200 in his pocket, started working in real estate, quickly mastered the art of building wealth and by 25, he owned over $1 million in net property assets (back when a million was plenty!). These days John is a wildly successful business bloke who has personally bought, sold and developed over 10,000 properties and while he’s great at ‘making money and teaching others to do the same’, he’s even better at serving, empowering and equipping  people who society and/or systems have put in the too-hard basket. He is the chairman and founding benefactor of Toogoolawa Children’s Home Ltd, which has fostered over 1,580 youth at risk or wards of the state. He also established and runs a unique school for boys (currently with 118 boys enrolled at no cost to them or their family) who have learning and behaviour problems, which make them no longer welcome in mainstream schools. This was an uplifting and inspiring chat. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.