A Higher Branch

Despite having access to more information than we have ever had before, many of us are still not taking the extra steps to really find out what we are consuming and its impact it has on our bodies and our planet. So today, Sam Makhoul is joined by educator, change activist, columnist, speaker and founder of Low Tox Life, Alexx Stuart to educate and inspire each of us on how we can live a Low Tox L...

When you woke up this morning, did you reach for your partner or your phone? Research has found that a confronting 90% of adults chose to reach for their devices - scary right? In today's episode, Sam Makhoul sits down with Dr Kristy Goodwin to gain insight and speak transparently on the relationship between digital consumption and our wellbeing. Dr Goodwin is one of Australia's leading digital pa...

We live in a world where the pressure to be the best can sometimes overshadow our true thoughts and feelings. And in some cases, we find ourselves moulding into someone we fail to recognise. So, to help you become the best version of yourself, Sam Makhoul reveals his 28 fast tips on how you can achieve greatness and success in all eight areas of life in this week's podcast. This quick, snappy epis...

We all dream; in fact, the average person has five dreams per night. But did you know that each dream consists of hidden messages developed by our thoughts and feelings? In today's episode, Sam Makhoul is joined by dream analyst and dream therapist Jane Teresa Anderson. With an Honours degree in Zoology specialising in neurophysiology, Jane has been researching dreams for nearly 30 years and is an...

Do you ever feel like you just run around in circles, trying to tick items off your to-do list and never have a moment to yourself? Many of us try and achieve as much as possible in our days; leaving us feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. This week, Sam Makhoul is joined by A Higher Branch faculty member and the voice of the slow movement, Carl Honoré who shares his top tips on slowing down in all...

Over the years, Barry Nicolaou has taught thousands of individuals how to best utilise the immense power of their subconscious and how to succeed not only in the workplace but in their personal lives as well. This week, the wellbeing growth strategist, corporate coach and bestselling author joins Sam Makhoul to discuss how COVID-19 has changed our working lives for the better and how we can naviga...

Understanding yourself on a deep level provides you with the clarity you need to take on challenges, make decisions and work towards a brighter future. So this week, Sam Makhoul is joined by meditation and mindfulness coach Tom Sullivan, who shares his steps on how to reach the back of our minds. During this episode, Tom and Sam discuss: Tips on how to be present and live in the moment How meditat...

When it comes to talking about sex, many people beat around the bush. But that isn’t the case for our faculty member and America's most recognised female psychologist Dr Jenn Mann. This week, Dr Mann joins Sam Makhoul on our podcast series to discuss sex droughts and how you can overcome them with your partner. During this episode, the pair also deep dive into: The causes of cheating The triggers...

This week, Sam Makhoul hands the hosting microphone over to motivational speaker, fitness coach and successful business owner, Helen Uskovic. In this episode, Helen interviews Sam on what it takes to live consciously, how to feel empowered every day and most importantly, how to overcome failures and avoid feeling lost. Sam also bares all and takes our listeners on his journey to self-acceptance an...

45% of Australians experience a mental illness in their lifetime and each day eight Australians take their own life after suffering from a mental health condition. With these alarming statistics continuing to rise; the need to reach out to those around us has never been more important. But when it comes to offering support to someone, it can become a daunting experience. That’s why this week, ment...

Did you know that more than 2,000 Australians die from skin cancer every year? And that one in three Australian’s are diagnosed with skin cancer before the age of 70? In this episode of A Higher Branch, Sam Makhoul is joined by skin therapist, nutritional medicine practitioner and educator, Chiza Westcarr to talk all things skin health and skin care. During this interview, Chiza shares the alarmin...

This week, Sam Makhoul is joined again by skin therapist, nutritional medicine practitioner and educator, Chiza Westcarr to provide you with the latest research when it comes to gut health and how it is linked to our skin health and digestive system. In this episode, the pair unravel the truth about the correlation between gut and skin health, and share tips on how you can improve the glow of your...

Have you ever wanted to say no to plans but you were worried about what other people would think or say? What if we told you, you can now say no without having the guilt attached? This week on our podcast, we teach you exactly that. In this episode, Sam Makhoul is joined by peak performance expert and DNA-enthusiast Alessandra Edwards, who teaches us how to say the magic word, ‘no’, minus the guil...

For many of us, COVID-19 has put our lives on hold - whether it is at work, in our love lives, with our family or even with our education. But what if we looked at this global pandemic differently? What if we used this time as an opportunity to grow - grow as individuals, grow in our careers, even grow in our relationships? This week, Sam Makhoul sits down with health and fitness expert, Rob Lyon...

Relationships fulfil one very important tree of our lives. But they also involve hard work to ensure it thrives and flourishes as time passes. So on the podcast this week, Sam Makhoul is joined by one of Australia’s most sought-after couple's therapists, Melissa Ferrari. With over 20 years’ experience in couples counselling and individual psychotherapy, Melissa has helped thousands of individuals...

The past six months has been a roller-coaster of a ride for many of us. Our emotions have been at an all-time high, as fear has been injected into our everyday lives. That’s why this week, I have invited Dr Amy Silver back onto the show to share her tips on how to manage our emotions and most importantly, our fears. During the podcast, Amy and I discuss: The emotions triggered by the pandemic How...

To wrap up our three-part Beauty & Ageing Series, we sit down with popular cosmetic injector Alex Pike who opens up about her time in the beauty and modelling industry. During our interview, Alex reveals the the importance of self-love and self-acceptance, the impact social media has our mental health and advice for parents with teenagers struggling with self-acceptance. We also discuss: How beaut...

There are hundreds of skincare products on the market. From moisturisers and toners, to cleansers and exfoliates, the list just goes on. So, to help you choose the right products and regime for your skin, we sat down with O Cosmedics founder, Maria Cocciolone. With years of experience under her belt, Maria shares her recommended daily routine to ensure you preserve your skins youthfulness and natu...

From Australian supermodel, Elle Macpherson to international model and actress, Emily Ratajkowski, Joseph Hkeik is truly the Aesthetic Skin Doctor to the stars. And this week, the renowned aesthetic physician sits down with Sam Makhoul to officially launch our three-week Beauty & Ageing Series. In this week's episode Dr Joseph addresses the stigma towards cosmetic surgery and discusses the emotion...

This week is our podcast's first-year anniversary and to celebrate we have decided to go back and revisit the best episodes, as voted by you, our listeners. In this very special episode, Sam Makhoul discusses what he has learned from each podcast and reflects on how it has impacted his life. And to add some extra sparkle to the celebrations, we make a very exciting announcement about what’s instal...

The world we are currently living in is unpredictable. We don’t know what tomorrow, next week or next year will bring - making us feel like we've lost control of our everyday lives. On this week’s podcast, Sam Makhoul discusses how you can regain control of your life and shares tips on how to shift your focus towards the eight areas of life to ensure you get the best out of every day. During his i...

This week, we bring you our third and final episode from the Body Movement Series with sports chiropractor and exercise physiologist, Luke Khoury. In our latest episode, Luke shares his tips on how to remove yourself from a negative state-of-mind, discusses the difference between emotions and feelings and goes into detail about how our mental well-being can impact our overall physical health. Luke...

Many of us experience interrupted sleep. We spend hours tossing and turning, waiting for our minds to shut off for the night. That's why in this week's episode of our Body Movement Series, sports chiropractor, Luke Khoury shares the best sleep hygiene practices to help us relax and move into a deep sleep every night. Sam and Luke also discuss: · Why sleep is important · How to regulate your Heart...

The health and fitness industry is continuing to grow, as gyms and lifestyle education becomes more accessible. So, we thought it was time to put the experts in the podcast hot seat and create a Body Movement Series to help you navigate through the noise surrounding exercise. Over the next three weeks, sports chiropractor and accredited exercises physiologist Luke Khoury will sit down with Sam Mak...

In this week’s podcast, I sit down with professional surfer Rusty Moran to discuss how he accepted his fears, overcame his childhood traumas and grew into a successful businessman after losing everything. During our raw, insightful chat, Rusty discusses: · The meaning of the red, blue and grey mindset; · How his Obsessive Compulsive Disorder overshadowed his thoughts; · The daily rituals he perfor...