It's Never About Money

Welcome to Episode 81 of It's Never About Money. To conclude this health-focused season, I'm doing something a little different – and frankly, it's pretty confronting.   Because of my family history of stroke, cancer and high blood pressure, I've long carried a belief that I wouldn't live a long life. That mindset has shaped the way I live, work, manage money and plan for the future – but it's alw...

This episode is a little different. When we decided to focus this season of It's Never About Money on health, I knew there was one conversation I needed to have. My brother James has always been someone I admire, but his approach to exercise and self-improvement continues to surprise me in its intensity and consistency. In this conversation I try to understand the why behind the way he lives. We c...

Imagine if your employer supported you to be your healthiest, sharpest, most energised self – not just in the office, but at home as well. Not simply a fruit bowl in the kitchen or the occasional wellbeing webinar, but meaningful, integrated support: access to doctors, psychologists, dietitians and performance coaches, alongside practical tools to help you manage stress, improve sleep and reduce y...

Many of us think of nutrition as something separate from the rest of life – what you eat on one side, and how you feel, think and perform on the other. But this week, I sat down with  Jackie Bowker , award-winning functional nutritionist, PhD candidate and CEO of the Global Feel Better Institute, to explore why food is so often the missing link between energy, mood, sleep and decision-making – and...

I met Mark Hedderman at the FAAA Congress in Perth, and it didn't take long to realise we were aligned. Beyond the Irish accent, Mark brings a deeply human view of financial advice – one shaped by family, his own experience, and a belief that money is the vehicle, not the destination. In this week's episode of It's Never About Money , we explore why financial advice needs to move beyond numbers an...

Sleep shapes every part of my life, yet I used to think about it only when it stopped working. This week, I had the chance to sit down with Associate Professor Simon Joosten , one of Australia's leading clinician scientists in respiratory and sleep medicine, to explore why sleep matters so much and what we can all do to protect it. Simon combines deep clinical experience with world class research,...

What if science could show you how long and how well you'll live? In this conversation, Joe Stephan speaks with Heather Holmes , Co-Founder and CEO of Halo , a longevity and healthspan assessment tool helping people understand how genetics, lifestyle, and environment shape their future wellbeing. They explore how Halo combines data with human insight - turning family health history, lifestyle habi...

Stop saying "I'm not a runner." Use this reframe instead: "I'm a Grade 1 runner." This changes it from being an all-or-nothing proposition. It is also redefining what success looks like. For a Grade 1 runner, simply getting outside once or twice a week without hurting themselves is a success. That simple reframe can be enough to change behaviour, and build confidence and momentum. Bevan James Eyle...

At the 2025 FAAA Congress, I walked the floor with one question in mind. How does money influence health? What followed was a series of thoughtful, honest and sometimes surprising conversations with advisers from across Australia. In this roaming special, you will hear from nine advisers who work at the intersection of finance, behaviour and wellbeing. Together, they reveal how financial stress qu...

Hormones influence every system in the body. So why are they so often overlooked in mainstream healthcare? In this episode, Dr Ceri Cashell joins Joe Stephan to bust myths, explore why hormone health is decades behind, and share practical steps for protecting your wellbeing. We cover: Why "sex hormones" is a misleading term The mental health conditions that may be hormone-related How poor hormonal...

In this episode of It's Never About Money , Joe speaks with neuroscience strategist and executive coach Hannah Conkey , Founder & CEO of Mind Pilot . Hannah works with CEOs and executive teams to rewire the way they think, feel, and lead — helping them optimise decision making, improve wellbeing, and unlock new levels of performance. Together, they explore: Why most of our thoughts are just old pr...

Over the years, It's Never About Money has quietly become one of the most meaningful things I do. Not because of how often I publish or how many people listen, but because of what it allows me to explore: curiosity, health, purpose, legacy, and how money fits into all of it. This episode is a little different. In this opening episode, I talk about how the podcast started, what I have learned throu...

On this episode of It's Never About Money , I am joined by Daron K. Roberts , a former NFL coach and award-winning college professor. Named as a "Top 20 Global Speaker" in 2024, Daron's clients range from professional sports teams to Fortune 100 companies.   Join us as Daron shares his inspiring journey from law student, to NFL coach, to being a "Top 20 Global Speaker". This episode explores the c...

On this episode of It's Never About Money , I am joined by Philip Pryor , CEO and founder of Family Business Central . With over 28 years of experience advising family businesses across New Zealand, Australia, London, and New York, Phil blends his expertise in family psychology, change management, and business strategy to help families thrive personally and professionally. In our conversation, Phi...

On this episode of It's Never About Money , I am joined by Rachael McLennan , the CEO and co-founder of People for Purpose . For over a decade, People for Purpose has championed outstanding leadership and governance in Australian charities—a cause close to Rachael's heart. In our conversation, Rachael shares her inspiring journey into philanthropy, her experiences as the founding CEO of Australian...

On this episode of It's Never About Money, I am joined by Shaun Maslyk , a trained and practising Certified Financial Planner® and Certified Financial Behavior Specialist® . Shaun integrates psychology, positive psychology, and coaching psychology theories to help people understand their money stories and flourish beyond their finances.   In our conversation Shaun shares his journey into financial...

In this episode of It's Never About Money, I welcome David Delisle . David is founder of The Awesome Stuff™ , an Amazon bestselling author, entrepreneur, real estate investor, speaker, and most importantly, a dad. This episode is centred around David's book, The Golden Quest , as we discuss teaching financial literacy to children and how to live a richer life with what is most important to you. We...

In this episode of It's Never About Money, I welcome Peter Winneke , author of Give While You Live . With over 20 years of experience in strategic philanthropy, Peter has established more than 100 philanthropic family foundations and has served in leadership roles with several prominent foundations in Australia.  In our conversation we discuss the importance of impactful giving and the current sta...

In this episode of It's Never About Money , I am joined by Dr Alain Bestavros , a renowned oncologist and haematologist, based in Montreal, Canada. He has been a cornerstone at the Integrated Cancer Centre at Laval , and also serves as an adjunct Professor and leading researcher at the McGill University. He also happens to be my cousin. In this wide ranging and at times deeply personal conversatio...

In this episode of It's Never About Money, I am joined by Simon Brown , co-CEO of Banqer . Banqer is a leading financial education platform that has reached over half a million school students across Australasia. In his role, Simon combines his deep passion for finance, technology, and education to empower teachers and elevate students' financial literacy and overall well-being.  In our conversati...

In this episode of It's Never About Money , I am joined by Maya Marcus , CEO of Kids in Philanthropy . Kids in Philanthropy is a not for profit focused on supporting young people experiencing disadvantage by empowering the next generation of Australians to be philanthropists; giving their time, talent and treasure to those in need.    In this episode we explore the impact children can make through...

In this episode of It's Never About Money, I am joined by Scott Rick , Associate Professor of Marketing at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business . Scott's research, which spans across marketing, psychology, economics, and neuroscience, provides a science-based guide to understanding and transforming how we manage money in relationships.   In our conversation, we delve into a number...

In this episode of It's Never About Money, I am joined by Alex Kirby , Founder and CEO of Total Family Management . A visionary leader based in the Washington DC-Baltimore area, Alex established Total Family Management in 2022, driven by the belief that family is central to everyone's life.      In our conversation we navigate the complex terrain of aligning family values, social fitness, the impo...

In this episode of It's Never About Money, I am joined by Daniel Flynn , co-founder and managing director of one of Australia's most successful startups, Thankyou . Thankyou's products are stocked by major retailers in Australia, with every product contributing to helping end global poverty. To date, Thankyou has raised over $17 million to impact the lives of people across 22 countries.     In our...

This week on It's Never About Money, I am joined by David Ward , the Technical Director of Australian Philanthropic Services (APS) . David worked in banking for nearly 20 years before moving into the philanthropy sector. In that time, he held senior positions at ANZ, including Chief Economist (New Zealand). David is a director of several Private Ancillary Funds and is Chairman of the Australian Ph...