Build Your Ideal Day

In 2015 Nepal experienced a devastating earthquake. I recently interviewed Neill Johanson , a prominent principal architect at Davenport Campbell and an experienced mountaineer, including summiting Everest. His life's purpose was transformed when a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Nepal on April 25, 2015. While in the region for an ANZAC centenary trek, he witnessed widespread devastation: nearly 9...

What can we learn about workplace wellbeing from the happiest people? In 2025, Finland was voted the happiest country in the world for the eighth consecutive year. Finnish educational expert Dr Terhi Nissinen shares her insights on job crafting and the power of SISU.

Caroline Anderson, Olympian, performance psychologist and dedicated mum of three, shares her insights on the critical elements of wellbeing, particularly for high performers in both sports and the workplace. With a wealth of experience in elite sports, Caroline blends her professional knowledge with personal practices to advocate for a holistic approach to wellbeing. Some takeaways Foundational Re...

  Nir Eyal, author of bestsellers "Hooked" and "Indistractable" with over 1 million books shares insights on how best to control attention and become indistractable.   Key Topics Discussed:  Nir's personal journey to becoming "indistractable" over five years (why he wrote the book) and how applying these principles has improved his physical health, personal relationships, and professional producti...

How likely would you change your diet if it improves your mental wellbeing? Clinical nutritionist and researcher Dr Jessica Bayes joined us recently on the Build Your Ideal Day podcast and has been studying the impact of traditional diets on mental ill health in young men aged 18-25 with clinical depression. Although nutrition is just one pillar of lifestyle medicine, it is good to know that there...

Dr John Chan joins the Build Your Ideal Day Podcast series to talk about burnout and what workplaces can do about it. John emphasizes the importance of creating a sustainable work culture to combat burnout, which has affected 38% of employees in the last year. Burnout, defined by the WHO as a syndrome due to chronic workplace stress, includes exhaustion, disengagement, and professional inefficacy....

Have you ever felt bogged down by all the negative things going on in the world?  If so, remember that despite all the hardships, there is a lot of good in this world, too. And it's by focusing on the good that we can find the motivation to make the world a better place for ourselves, our loved ones and our communities.   In this podcast, you'll about learn the benefits of positive psychology, and...

What can an elite sports mental health expert teach us about the effect of wellbeing on the workplace? And is it true that rest and recovery are the keys to high performance? In a recent episode of the Ideal Day podcast, I spoke with Dr. Phil Hopley to find out what he's learned about wellbeing and high-performing teams from working within elite sports. Some takeawys Health is the key to long and...

Tina Hoffman is an exercise physiologist at global wellbeing business Firstbeat. She has an elite sports background in cross-country skiing as an athlete and as a coach. She is an expert in understanding stress and recovery through the measurement of heart rate variability which helps people see the direct relationship between what they do and their body's response to various activities. Having wo...

The future of work. How the pandemic changed our relationship with work. Aaron McEwan, VP, Research and Advisory for Gartner Australia HR Practice and was recently names in the top 100 global HR influencers. He provides strategic advice to world leading companies and helps leaders manage their most critical relationships across C-suites and business more broadly. He shares his insights on the futu...

Social Biome – how you shape your daily relationships and interactions can enhance your wellbeing and help build social fitness. We have all heard about 'gut biomes' and eating a wide range of foods but have you considered your social biome may be similar? A daily dose of alone time, communication types and relationships can help us thrive and flourish. Joining us on the podcast is Jeffrey Hall wh...

An inspirational story about community and scientists working together to enhance marine ecosystems. Living seawalls have been recognised in the Prince of Wales Earth Shot awards with a runners-up award. The project had its humble start in Sydney Harbour but now has a global reach and operates across three continents. 

An incredible story of ocean restoration at Cabbage Tree Bay, Australia, one of the most marine biodiverse places on the planet, but this has only sometimes been the case. During the 60s and 70s, pollution and runoff destroyed much of Sydney's underwater crayweed forests and the vital marine habitat. The podcast explores how a dedicated group of locals lobbied the government to create a marine san...

Interview with Camilla Frumar, Senior consultant at Gallup. As Gallup's research shows, to truly thrive, we need to find a balance between those five universal wellbeing elements seen worldwide. Wellbeing is all about a healthy combination of loving what we do daily, the quality of our relationships, the security of our finances, the vibrancy of our physical health, and how we contribute to our co...

How can we reconnect and build the kind of thriving communities were we want to live? An interview with Andrew Leigh: parliamentarian, academic, author, podcaster and marathon runner about creating a connected and thriving Australia. His book 'Reconnected' is a community builders handbook and offers practical insights to help us all build a stronger society together

We all need to start moving more. Modern technology and changed working patterns have lead to an increase in inactivity and sitting. Research shows our sedentary patterns and high amounts of sitting are associated with an increased risk of early death but also an increased risk of a number of the major chronic diseases.  Professor David Dunstan is the head of the Baker-Deakin Department of Lifesty...

Can you prevent a heart attack? – One man's mission to remove, stop and prevent out-of-the-blue heart attacks. An interview with Dr Warrick Bishop. A Tasmanian cariologist whose goal is to help prevent heart attacks and the diseases that cause them. Educating and supporting people to understand the importance of heart health. Challenging them to live heart-smart so they can stay alive to be their...

How might we shape work in small ways to align our passion, strengths and interests? By applying job crafting principles, we can make your current job a better fit for you and lift your enjoyment of work every day - interview with Rob Baker, chief positive deviant at workplace consultancy Tailored Thinking.

Have you ever wondered where the happiest people in the world live?  Professor John Helliwell the editor of The World Happiness Report shares his insights on what makes for a happy life and what we can learn from the countries who consistently feature in the top of the 157 country survey. This year the report celebrated its 10 th anniversary. Interest in the beyond GDP and happiness is growing and...

Creating the world we want to live in. How positive psychology can build a brighter future. Podcast with Felicia Huppert. A book about hope and call to action to make the world the kind of place we want to live in for individuals, leaders and organizations.

Jennie Sager is the Australia CEO of neighbourhood app Nextdoor. Nextdoor's research suggests that small acts of kindness can improve mental health. Additionally, knowing as few as six neighbours can reduce loneliness and is linked to lowering depression and social anxiety.  

Ken is the clinical services manager at leading scientific research organisation Microba Life Sciences. Their leading DNA research is helping unravel the mystery of our gut microbiome and its impact on our physical and mental health.

Martin is an eco-psychologist combining the power of nature with his training as an organizational psychologist and head of Frontier Wellbeing's European operations. We interviewed him in the Southern Tyrol region of Italy, where he is the only certified nature and forest therapy guide.

Could talking to strangers help boost your happiness? Gillian Sandstrom's research into the power of inconsequential conversations is fascinating. It will make you think differently about your everyday interactions, which boosts your mood and deepens the connection with the communities we live in.

Jay is a health tech entrepreneur and founder of Employee Assistance Program provider UPRISE who shares his insights on mental health during the COVID-19 lockdowns.