Better Bloke

Episode 133 is a conversation with Connor M Greene, best known for his work as an ADHD advocate, mentor and educator. Connor did not enter this space because it sounded interesting or because he stumbled into it. His work is grounded in lived experience. Growing up with neurodivergent tendencies and feeling like he was never properly understood or supported as a child and teenager gave him a persp...

This week’s solo episode is a recap of a massive weekend on the road and a reminder of why being boots on the ground matters. The Older But Not Wiser annual charity ride brought together more than 70 bikes, with incredible support from local businesses and everyone who attended. After the ride, Rob caught up with Ash and Thommo, who were stoked with how the day unfolded, particularly the conversat...

Episode 131 is a solo catch up on everything that has been happening around the Better Bloke Project. Rob reflects on the recent Ride for Tim and Podcast Royale events, the conversations that came from both, and the impact of bringing good people together around a shared purpose. It is often the chats before, during and after these events that remind us why the project exists in the first place. W...

Michael Forrest, better known as Mic Power, is the voice behind Podcast Royale and quite possibly the greatest ring announcer in Australia by a country mile. But announcing is not his full time job. When he is not behind the microphone, Michael works away as an offshore rigger while putting everything he can into turning his passion into a profession. He has announced some of the biggest names in...

This week’s episode is a little different. I sit down with my 11 year old son, Hemi, to recap the entire Podcast Royale 3.0 weekend through the eyes of a young boxer watching his dad step into the ring. I was lucky enough to have Hemi beside me for the whole experience, from the walkthrough on Friday and the press conference, to walking me out and standing in my corner alongside a world class team...

James Blackmore is one of the Better Bloke Project’s biggest supporters, not only financially, but through the time, energy and effort he puts into bringing people together. Through The Angler’s Inn in Wallaroo, where he is the manager, James has helped host multiple events in support of the project, including the annual Thunder Run. Despite meeting James in Adelaide a few months ago and having co...

Cris Cross is back for his second appearance on the Better Bloke Project Podcast. Cris is more than a friend of the project. He is a personal mate, and this episode was as much about catching up as it was recording a podcast. We chat about what Cris has been up to since his last appearance, including his art exhibition, the latest happenings in his creative world and a quick reminder for new liste...

This week, we step outside the usual studio and into Sacred Rose Tattoo for a raw and honest conversation with Migelly Shaw. Migelly is a tattooist, business owner, media man, father, gamer and all round good bloke. He is someone who keeps a lot of plates spinning, and as we unpack throughout the episode, staying busy is often his way of keeping the head noise from creeping in. We talk openly abou...

This wasn't supposed to be a solo episode. After camera issues killed our planned recording with Ryan McCarthy, it was 7pm the night before the episode dropped with one working camera. So we adapted. We also reflect on recent conversations with heavyweight fighters Haze Hepi and Brando Peričić, what they revealed about strength, vulnerability and the men behind the fighters... go read the latest u...

This one is a little different. It’s my first solo episode, and while it comes in at just over 18 minutes, it might be the rawest I have ever been on Better Bloke. I talk about losing my best mate, Brutus, and what it's like having to walk through the door without my dog there to greet me. Speaking about him brought out plenty of emotion, but that is what this podcast is meant to be about. Honest...

Kynan Hunt isn’t your typical real estate agent. A local character known for outrageous selling tactics, hilarious property videos and a healthy dose of Aussie larrikinism, he’s built a reputation for doing things differently. But before Kynan was selling homes and starting his own agency, he spent 12 years in the Australian Army, fulfilling an ambition he’d held since childhood. When his body cou...

From the outside, Brett "Knuckles" Hanly looks like a bloke who never stops. On the day we recorded this episode, he'd flown in from Vietnam, driven from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast for an IVF appointment with his wife, travelled back to Brisbane to sit down with us in the Better Bloke studio, and then headed straight to Brisbane Lions commitments. It was a full day by anyone's standards, but i...

In October, Mitch Farlow will attempt to run the length of Tasmania, around 300 kilometres to raise awareness and funds for Beyond Blue. Mitch is a lived-experience peer worker with Queensland Health, a former fringe professional footballer and someone determined to give life a red-hot crack. His motivation for taking on Tasmania is deeply personal. After watching his mum face her own struggles, M...

This week marks a new chapter for the podcast as Rob films, hosts and edits an entire episode on his own for the first time. There’s no intro yet, things are a little raw and choppy, and the learning curve occasionally shows. But that’s what the Better Bloke Project is all about: having a go, accepting that you won’t get everything right the first time and continuing to show up anyway. Joining Rob...

After more than 100 episodes together, every journey eventually reaches a point where priorities change. In Episode 119 of The Better Bloke Project Podcast, Rob and Matty sit down for one final episode together as co-hosts. This isn't a goodbye. It's the next chapter. The boys discuss why now feels like the right time to make a change, with both of their lives and commitments growing to a point wh...

Is there really a male loneliness epidemic, or are we simply talking about something that’s always existed? In this episode of The Better Bloke Project Podcast , Rob and Matty unpack one of the biggest conversations surrounding men’s wellbeing today. They discuss whether men are actually more lonely than ever, or whether social media and increased awareness have simply made it more visible. The co...

Most people know Jacob “Barnos” Barnfield from the Bondi terrorist attack and the footage that made headlines around the world. But that’s only part of his story. This week, Rob and Matty sit down with Barnos to talk about the life behind the headlines. He shares his battles with mental health, multiple suicide attempts, what helped him rebuild his life, and why he’s still here today. The conversa...

What is it about certain songs that can instantly transport you back to a moment in your life? In this episode of The Better Bloke Project Podcast, Rob and Matty dive into Spotify’s viral “Divorced Aussie Dad Tunes” playlist, featuring iconic artists like Creed, Nickelback, 3 Doors Down, Switchfoot, Shannon Noll and Incubus. More than just a music discussion, this episode explores how songs become...

At first glance, Mel Tolone is exactly what you’d expect from a bloke who’s built his life around strength sports and bare-knuckle fighting. He’s competed around the world, stepped onto strongman and powerlifting platforms, and built a career coaching others through his own gyms. But spend five minutes with Mel and you’ll quickly realise there’s far more to him than what you see on the surface. Kn...

This week we sat down with Brando Peričić, better known as The Balkan Bear, the #14 ranked UFC Heavyweight. On the outside, fighters are often seen as tough, fearless and unbreakable. But this conversation goes far beyond what happens inside the cage. Brando opens up about growing up without his father around, the sacrifices he continues to make in pursuit of becoming a UFC champion, and the role...

We are now accredited to deliver Mental Health First Aid training in-house, we discuss what this means for the future of the program and why we believe mental health doesn’t have an awareness problem, it has a communication problem. We unpack how The Better Bloke Project aims to bridge that gap by delivering training and conversations in a way that actually resonates with everyday blokes. It's not...

After years working as a plumber, Sammy found himself chasing something different. Like many blokes, he was sold the dream of e-commerce and online business, but quickly learned that building something from the ground up isn’t as simple as the ads make it look. We discuss the highs and lows of starting a business, the mistakes that come from trying to learn everything yourself, the importance of f...

This week we sat down with Aiden, better known online as Logan Kicks. We unpack his upbringing, the wrong paths he went down as a young bloke, and how he eventually found purpose through selling shoes, building a business and giving back to the community along the way. We also get into fatherhood, balancing work and family life, and the pressure that comes with running a business. The reality of b...

This week, we sit down with Andrew Carpenter for one of the most confronting, heavy, and important conversations we’ve had on the podcast. Known by many as “the man most hated by child sex offenders”, Andrew opens up about what led him into this line of work, the reality of what’s happening behind closed doors, and the alarming statistics surrounding both victims and the lack of meaningful punishm...

This week, we sit down with Nathan Marks, better known as The Curly Show, a bloke who packed up his life, moved into a van, and hit the road chasing something more meaningful than the standard 9 to 5. While most people know him from social media, this conversation goes a lot deeper than the funny reels, calling things "gay" and fighting. Curls opens up about the solo trip through South America tha...