Mere Mortals Conversations

We have reached half a (MIL)estone so let's give it a half assed effort! In Episode #500 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: six years of podcasting, the origin story of why we originally started, stats and highlights across YouTube and audio, mishaps (spiders, dead mics, random street cameos), how our focus on value has changed over the years, community shout-outs (thanks for the surprise cak...

Is the real world actually shaped for social interaction!? In Episode #499 of 'Musings', Juan & I discuss: 2 x books of Susan Cain’s 'Quiet' alongside Paul McKenna’s 'Instant Influence & Charisma', the quiet revolution of introverts rising up, what the book gets right (high reactivity, Big Five personality traits, pseudo‑extroversion), whether energy is the true differentiator, why environ...

It's time for our monthly check in where we review our goals from last month and see what's coming up for the next. Do you set yourself monthly goals and if so, how many do you set? Juan and I on the first week of every month go over our progress from the previous month and where we are heading for the next. Emphasis as always is on the shortcomings; what we didn't achieve in the previous monthly...

If you wish you could have let yourself been happier, then why didn't you? In Episode #498 of 'Musings', Juan & discuss: advice we’d give to our 20-something selves after a decade of lessons, cringeworthy moments that come closest to genuine regret, why regret often intensifies closer to life’s end, the feedback loop of could-have-beens, when remorse is useful versus when it’s self-punishment,...

After 15 years in law, Mel Storey walked away to build Career Big Sis, a movement helping ambitious professionals back themselves, set boundaries, and take the first step even when they can’t see the whole staircase. We go deep on burnout, the moment everything broke after Covid, rebuilding with a mental health plan, and the practical maths she used to leave corporate safely. This one’s honest, us...

The three fundamentals of lifestyle, action & communication. In Episode #497 of 'Musings', Juan & I discuss: the core idea of “true confidence” versus the old-school “fake it till you make it confidence” pickup playbook, startling a girl at the gym, how polarisation beats bland small talk, whether beginners sometimes need the “false confidence” phase to accrue the experiences that later su...

Guest: Sheridan — Owner/Head Coach, SUB 60 Coorparoo. Best contact: Instagram DMs (search “Sub 60 Coorparoo”) Sheridan (owner of SUB 60 Coorparoo) breaks down the reality of launching a hybrid gym: building a true community, programming for all levels, and grinding through 8 classes a day while raising a family. We cover HYROX ambitions, why she chose versatile equipment (yes, cables in a “functio...

What if God was one of us, just a machine like one of us. In Episode #496 of 'Musings', Juan & I discuss: if AI is becoming our new god, why some people are treating AI less like a tool and more like an authority, grift vs belief vs larping on social media, what would convince us that it is indeed God, the human propensity for subservience and control (Big Brother vibes), whether competing AI...

That's right, we're going to begin manifesting oioioahahaoiaoiaheyayy! In Episode #495 of 'Musings', Juan & I discuss: the power of language in goal-setting, how small word choices can meaningfully shift direction over time, changing nouns to verbs (e.g., “find” to “bond,” “create” to “forge,” “build” to “care”), softening health goals as we get older and injured more frequently, verbalising i...

It's time for our monthly check in where we review our goals from last month and see what's coming up for the next. Do you set yourself monthly goals and if so, how many do you set? Juan and I on the first week of every month go over our progress from the previous month and where we are heading for the next. Emphasis as always is on the shortcomings; what we didn't achieve in the previous monthly...

We're analysing what I got up to in 2025 and changing my focus to the future. In Episode #494 of 'Musings', Juan & I discuss: tax-optimising mistakes/language detours, fantastic one‑arm handstand progress, an only ok year in review, a new overarching theme of revitalising hunger/focus, quarterly fitness blocks (legs, pull, running, endurance) with side quests like ballet and the Brisbane Marat...

In this episode of Mere Mortals, I break down the crucial difference between trophies (wealth, fame, happiness) and generators (the daily actions and systems that actually create them). Chasing the scoreboard leads to shortcuts, burnout, and emptiness. But when you build the engine—your habits, integrity, and craft—the trophies arrive as inevitable by-products. I share personal stories, practical...

What does it really take to build a cult brand? Andrew Taylor, founder of Live Co, returns to share the uncomfortable truth: belief beats noise, community beats clout, and data beats feelings. We dig into 300% growth in a year, the Ultra Fit hat that solved a real problem, why followers/likes don’t matter, and his “push it till it breaks” method for scaling ad spend. We also cover picking the comm...

Is Juan about to create the newest version of LOTR or Gorillaz? In Episode #493 of 'Musings', Juan and I discuss: the origins of various types of lore, how these worlds are constructed with varying degrees of complexity and interactivity, hard versus soft world building, a creator's control over the narrative, how modern technology and platforms like Fandom wikis allow easier access, the challenge...

What's the current day equivalent of lead, radiation, asbestos or cigarettes? In Episode #492 of 'Musings', Juan & I discuss: hidden dangers in our environment that can significantly shorten our lifespan, whether you can do anything to avoid things like microplastics, how 'Bad Science' shows media & exaggerated information is unhelpful for informed decision-making, the potential future 'si...

It's time for our monthly check in where we review our goals from last month and see what's coming up for the next. Do you set yourself monthly goals and if so, how many do you set? Juan and I on the first week of every month go over our progress from the previous month and where we are heading for the next. Emphasis as always is on the shortcomings; what we didn't achieve in the previous monthly...

Juan didn't disappoint with his wacky, hair-brained ideas .... that he won't be able to protect! In Episode #491 of 'Musings', Juan and I discuss: a day in the life of the year 2100, the potential for cities to become the new countries, multigenerational housing as life expectancy increases, human-AI symbiosis plus normalised AI babies, humans becoming gods through digital universe creation, a wor...

Time for Giga big brain ideas on the future of content creation. In Episode #490 of 'Musings', Juan & I discuss: how creators can monetise their work without diverging into unrelated business ventures, the distinction between spending and investing in creators, why images, audio, and video will be monetised via new technologies in the coming years, the potential impact of AI on the quality and...

How did Juan go last year and what's he got his focus on? In Episode #489 of 'Musings', Juan and I discuss: his past year's achievements, the evolution from having numerous goals to focusing on fewer, why he wants to run a marathon (but not necessarily with people), expanding his mind with grand business ideas, filling up his soul by establishing family values/traditions and why we are both a bit...

Call it what you want (Malthusian trap, prisoner dilemma, race to the bottom, coordination failure, tragedy of the commons), the problems are real! In Episode #488 of 'Musings', Juan & I discuss: the concept of the Moloch problem (a philosophical idea that explores the unintended consequences of competitive behaviour), over-scheduling children's activities to the race for social media status,...

It's time for our monthly check in where we review our goals from last month and see what's coming up for the next. Do you set yourself monthly goals and if so, how many do you set? Juan and I on the first week of every month go over our progress from the previous month and where we are heading for the next. Emphasis as always is on the shortcomings; what we didn't achieve in the previous monthly...

In this episode, I explore the profound concept of hyperobjects, entities so vast they surpass our understanding and how recognising their presence can lead to mental clarity. I dive deep into the idea that life’s overwhelming nature isn’t always due to complexity, but our relationship to that complexity. By reframing calmness as a conscious acceptance of chaos, this discussion becomes a guide for...

Suns out, guns out! In Episode #487 of Mere Mortals 'Musings', Juan and I discuss: the stark differences in gym availability and fitness facilities of Australia vs the rest of the world, dilapidated gyms in Montenegro & well-equipped calisthenic parks in South America, the prevalence of gyms even in regional areas, whether Australia's high gym membership rates translate to a healthier populati...

Get ready for some observations that only the Mere Mortals could make. In Episode #486 of 'Meanderings', Juan and I discuss: how the travel setting can allow for memorable moments (such as a boat trip in Mykonos and meaningful one-on-one conversations with friends), a Mere Mortal exclusive comparison between Florence and a mining site, the challenges of maintaining a healthy lifestyle while travel...

We're back from Europe and giving you the downlow on where to travel to. In Episode #485 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: a tit for tat recounting of our European travels, a garage door mishap and newfound Zen, the unique experiences of staying in hostels, the stereotypes of Germans/French people that are way too true, the beauty of Switzerland and the livability of Zurich, the luxurious ye...