Roll With The Punches

It's fair to say Michael Dobbie-Bridges is adaptable... and one hell of an athlete! Oh and on top of that, he's an advocate who has made significant contributions to both sports and disability advocacy in Australia. From a tragic motorcycle accident at 21 to becoming a celebrated Paralympian with six World Cups under his belt in Wheelchair Tennis, Michael has become a key figure in promoting inclu...

Despite the title (which will make sense when you listen), there's no nightmare to be found here... well, maybe Ben Plunkett has danced around the edges of what you may call a nightmare or two along the way. But like most difficulties in life (in my opinion), each of his have brought about a shiny side with meaning and purpose. In this chat we meander through an array of topics ranging from busine...

What if we approached life as an ongoing experiment, much like a game of Monopoly? How would the weight of our decisions, circumstances, opportunities, successes, and even failures shift and shape our experiences and outcomes? Mark LeBusque joins us again today, bringing his thought-provoking perspectives as we discuss some of our own current "experiments." Tune in and come along for the ride, we...

Reversing Alzheimer's & Dementia... Hang on, what? Up until now we've 'known' Alzheimer's & Dementia to be a degenerative neurological condition for which there is no cure or solution. But today I'm speaking with Dr. Heather Sandison who brings with her evidence of a very different reality emerging around the improvement and reversal of these conditions.  Dr. Heather Sandison is the founde...

Who says you can't? Grant Siedle is all about challenging that narrative and proving that the impossible is within reach. One of his standout ventures is Rip Swim, an open water swim through 'The Rip' from Point Nepean to Point Lonsdale. This 3.5km stretch across the entrance to Port Phillip Bay is famed as one of the most thrilling and notorious waterways in the world (don't mind the sharks). In...

In this episode, Craig Harper and I discuss the different forms of intelligence. While high IQ is often seen as the pinnacle of intelligence, it doesn't encompass social, emotional, or intrapersonal intelligence, among others. We also touch on the impact of various learning styles on perceived intelligence. Harps admits to being a naturally slow learner, but once he learns something, it stays with...

Charles Brice began his journey into aviation by starting flight classes at the age of 15 and went solo at 16. His aspirations to become a professional pilot however were tragically altered by a motorbike accident at 19, which left him quadriplegic.  Sharing his early (and ever-present) love for motorbikes, a passion ignited at the age of four, Charles opens up about the impact of his accident and...

When I meet Matt De Gruchy for the first time this year at a Gala event, I could have mistaken him for someone with 20/20 vision... Until I noticed he was 'looking' a little to the left of me when he spoke to me. On the path to losing 96% of his sight to Stargardt's disease, Matt grappled with acceptance, self-isolation, weight-management, and generally landing himself in a pretty dark place - met...

Ever catch yourself 'out to impress', and behaving in ways you assume might gain approval over your usual behaviour? Ever notice how when we observe that trait in others, it's quite off-putting? Ever wonder why we can observe that in others, realise it's off-putting, and still catch ourselves doing it anyway? Human behaviour is a funny thing, and today Harps and I are chatting about exactly this. ...

Dr. Mark Williams tells me that Still Face Syndrome is real - a consequence of our attention shifting from human interactions to digital devices. The terrifying part is that it's robbing infants of critical emotional development, with repercussions that are hard to imagine. This is just one of the mind-blowing facts Dr. Williams shares in this episode. Who is Dr. Mark Williams? He's a rebellious h...

In this episode I'm welcoming back Sergeant Mark Thomas, the legend behind The Code 9 Foundation, and we're talking about complexities of identity, trauma, and resilience, particularly within the realm of first responders. Mark shares how he navigates managing his PTSI (PTSD) while simultaneously continuing to serve in the Victoria Police and discusses the importance of separating work identity fr...

Another cracking chat with the wonderful Kerryn Vaughan as we explore some fundamental questions that shape our lives. We explore our values, our character, and why we often sweat the small stuff. And speaking of small, why do we tend to play small in life? In this episode, we get philosophical about how to live well and navigate the inevitable hormonal rollercoaster (a journey I’m just beginning...

Imagine riding a motorcycle at a breathtaking speed of 270 kph. Now, picture doing it with your eyes closed, unable to see a thing! That’s the reality for Ben Felton, who couldn’t see a thing even before he even got on the bike. Teaming up with Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix legend Kevin Magee - who has an impressive 36 Grand Prix races under his belt and is the winner of the 1988 Spanish Grand...

The episode title might sound intense, but the reality is that these kinds of things are happening around us every day, and someone has to handle it. Many times, that someone was former Detective Narelle Fraser (and wow, what a powerhouse she is). She’s definitely not what I expected when I sat down to talk with someone who's been at the coalface of some of Australia’s most high-profile and horrif...

Another brilliant chat with the wonderful, brutally honest and ever insightful Mark LeBusque in the bag today!  We explore our 'stop and go' stories, you know the ones that hold us back or propel us forward, but often run on their own accord in our heads and dictate our behaviour. I discover my internal 'little miss nobody' identity (have you got one of those too?).  How do we get out of our own w...

Today, I had the pleasure of talking with Gavin McCormack and his brilliant friend, Dan Lakis, diving deep into the world of education and learning. What could unfold if us 'grown-ups' and our traditional 'the-way-it's-always-been-done' philosophy stood back for a second to consider taking a new approach to teaching and developing the minds of the next generation? The lads and I explored the profo...

Upon meeting Sean Turnell, I can tell you first impressions sure don't conjure up an image of a prisoner. He's brimming with enthusiasm, optimism, and an undeniable zest for life. In fact, Sean had me somewhat perplexed at how he could be so cheerful as someone who had recently been thrown into one of Southeast Asia's most notorious prisons for 650 days (Myanmar), charged with being a spy and viol...

Join me for a meander down a deep rabbit hole of contemplation about this grand little thing we call 'life'. This journey we're sitting in the middle of (or the beginning, or maybe closer to the end than we even know). What I do know is that we seldom pause to reflect on how fleeting it really is. How insignificant we really are (in relationship to the significant worry and anxiety we allow oursel...

Love. What a minefield it seems to be! People falling in and out of it, chasing it, dreaming of it, yearning for it, crying about it, running from it and some even downright avoiding it at all costs (What? Don't look at me like that.. I have pets!). Jillian Turecki shares thoughts, ideas, suggestions and often, compelling hard truths on her Instagram to her 2 million followers, and so after apprec...

In this chat, I sit down with hip-hop artist Donny Pelsoczy, who rocks the mic under the alias Eloquor, which means to shout out or express one's self. He's joined by his long-time friend and producer, Seven Six (7'6), and together we dive into the depths of their musical adventures and the powerful bond they've developed along the way. Donny shares how he's been in the game for over 15 years, sta...

Today, I'm joined by Mark LeBusque, and we delve into a variety of topics, including the dynamics of making new friends as a couple. Prompted by a loving comment from his much-admired other half, Allison "I can't be your only friend, mate", we explore the importance of having personal time, the impact of first impressions, and the expectations we set for others.   SPONSORED BY TESTART FAMILY LAWYE...

From a whole lot of life going wrong, to a whole lot of life going right. Summer McStravrick developed 'Flowdreaming' amidst her own journey of inner healing and the quest for a better life experience and results... Now it's followed by over 180,000 avid flowdreamers across the globe.  So, what is it? I hear you say... Thanks for asking! It's a technique that lives at the intersection of daydreami...

In this cracking episode of the show, we are blessed with the brilliant mind of Professor Jayashri Kulkarni, a titan in the world of women's mental health. Jayashri breaks down the intricate dance between hormones and mental health like nobody else. She's not just the top dog at the Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, she's also been on the front lines, pioneering research that digs into how...

Good grief... how many of us have been holding out for that perfect moment to transform our lives? Be it our situation, circumstances, lifestyle, career, habits, health, or outcomes. Here we seem to be yearning for improvement & change, but all too often finding ourselves continually engaging in counterproductive behaviors that only set us back. We squander time, talent, energy, and opportunit...

In this episode I had the opportunity to sit down once again with Rae Bonney, a passionate and proactive advocate for men's health. Our discussion dives into the critical need for inclusive health policies that specifically address men's mental health. Rae highlights the startling gap in global health policies - very few countries have frameworks that adequately address this issue. She shared insi...