My Friend Ron

What is it feel like to grow up between cultures, never quite feeling like you fully belong to either? In this episode, I sit down with Acayla Naidoo to explore the unique challenges that can come with immigrating from a less common cultural background. From navigating cultural expectations and identity to finding your place in a community where few people share your experiences, we unpack how the...

What can a professional poker player teach us about building community? In this episode of My Friend Ron , we sit down with ex-professional poker player Grant Fullston to explore what the game can teach us about human connection, trust, and the way we navigate relationships. Poker is all about reading people, taking risks, and knowing when to show your hand. But what happens when we apply those sa...

Why is asking for help so much harder than it should be? We all need a little help sometimes, but actually reaching out can feel awkward, uncomfortable or even like admitting we’ve failed. That’s where Gather My Crew comes in. In this episode, we chat about the idea behind Gather My Crew — an NFP making it easier for people to ask for and receive practical support from the people around them. We e...

What happens when the people who are supposed to stop and help… don’t? After being hit by a car at 60km/h while riding his bike, Tom found himself in a situation where he needed help from the people around him. Yet, the witness didn’t stop. Despite this, his positive view of society and the world more broadly wasn’t shaken, and he chooses to view those involved with sympathy and understanding. In...

What if social media was actually designed to help you make friends? In this episode, I sit down with the founders of Be Social , an app taking a different approach to social media — one focused on real connection, meeting new people and building genuine friendships. We chat about why so many of us can have hundreds of followers but still feel lonely, what traditional social media gets wrong about...

How much are our morals really worth? We live in a world where money is often treated as the ultimate measure of success — but what happens when making more money comes at the expense of doing what we believe is right? In this episode, we dive into the uncomfortable tension between money and morality . Why do we value financial success so highly? Would we compromise our principles for the right pr...

More matches than ever before, so why are we so lonely? Dating apps have given us endless options, social media keeps us constantly connected, and yet somehow, loneliness among young people continues to grow. So what’s going on? In this episode of My Friend Ron , we explore the strange paradox of modern dating: how can a culture built around connection leave so many of us feeling disconnected? We...

I started My Friend Ron with one simple idea: that maybe we can only tackle the loneliness epidemic if we understand what's causing it. But after a whole season of conversations about loneliness, community, culture, relationships, courage and the experiences that shape us, I’ve realised I’ve learned far more than I ever expected. In this season finale, I’m reflecting on the biggest lessons I’v...

What does your smile say about the world around you? In this episode, we sit down with Kaseer Shikrani, the man behind Salam Smiles, a not-for-profit working to improve oral health within Muslim communities. But this conversation goes beyond teeth. We talk about what motivates someone to start an NFP, what it takes to turn an idea into meaningful change, and why looking after a community can be on...

Is art still relevant or are we wasting our time? In this episode, we explore what art really is, why humans have always created it, and whether AI changes its value. Is the purpose of art the finished product, or is it the process of creating? Can something generated by an algorithm move us in the same way as something born from human experience? More importantly, we ask what role creativity play...

On the surface, some people seem completely calm. They're composed, grounded, and rarely show signs of stress. But what if that isn't the whole story? In this episode, we're joined by the calmest person I've ever met, Talha Salahuddin, to unpack the many faces of anxiety. We explore the different ways anxiety can show up, why it's often invisible to the people around us, and ho...

How do we seize the day and achieve our goals even when the process is uncomfortable? In this episode, we explore the power of mental fortitude through the experiences of marathon runner and world traveller, Bonnie Burgess. Together, we unpack what resilience looks like in the face of both physical and mental challenges, how to keep moving when every part of you wants to quit, and the incredible p...

Talking to new people can feel awkward, intimidating, or downright impossible but it doesn't have to be. In this episode of My Friend Ron, we break down and analyse the art of conversation with the bright, bubbly and utterly articulate real estate agent Eleanor Currie. Whether you're trying to make new friends, expand your social circle, or simply feel more confident speaking to strangers,...

Changing the world can feel impossible—until you realise it starts with one decision: choosing to be brave. In this episode of My Friend Ron , we explore how to find the courage to step out of your comfort zone and why its important in fostering community. From starting conversations with strangers to standing up for what matters, every meaningful change begins with someone willing to take the fir...

What if being a little selfish is exactly what the world needs? Volunteering is often framed as an act of pure selflessness. But what if we stopped pretending that helping others doesn't help us too? In this episode, we explore the surprising benefits of giving your time, from building connection and community to improving your mental health and creating a stronger sense of belonging. We chall...

There are moments in your life that are rare and seemingly small, yet change your outlook entirely. This is what happened when I met Ron. Suddenly, I realised problems that needed to be talked about, things that we all seem to acknowledge but as a vast majority don't know how to address. It was like the blindfold had been taken off and I was looking at things to which I had previously cast a b...