Roll With The Punches

The issue of consent is a serious one that demands our attention. The boundaries are blurred, and it's shameful that in a whopping 99.5% of cases, perpetrators of sexual assault walk free and continue to harm others. It's a mess, to say the least. But we're fortunate to have people like Dr. Lisa Smith leading the charge for change. Through her website, Right2Consent.com, Lisa is creating new avenu...

In this ep I had the opportunity to chat with Ollie Ollerton, former Special Forces soldier, entrepreneur, author, and host of SAS Australia. We had a brilliant conversation about Ollie's life experiences, up and downs, and finding calm in the chaos. It's been a wild and insightful ride for Ollie and I loved sitting down and hearing firsthand of the moments that became his own break point, (which...

Raise your hand if you ever worry about failing. Welcome to the club, that's pretty much just human beings being human. What's interesting though is the times (like this week) when I have caught myself out red-handed as my mind scrambles for a story or excuse and falls embarrassingly short, leaving the oh-I'm-just-scared-I'll-fail door swinging wide-open in front of my very eyes. Yep, I busted mys...

When I first started boxing, I thrived on the hashtags #winnersneverquit and #quittersneverwin. At the time, it made perfect sense, and I still very much believe there's truth to it. But now, I also wonder: In what situations can quitting actually be a win? And when is it not? In this episode, our resident human behavior expert Bobby Cappuccio and I delve into the nuances of quitting, exploring wh...

The novel idea of leading an easy life is a common aspiration, but doesn't it raises some important questions? First, what exactly constitutes a so-called "easy life"? Secondly, can a life that is easy also be a happy, strong, resilient, and fulfilling one? Conversely, does a life full of ups and downs, messiness, and emotional highs and lows necessarily result in unhappiness, unproductivity, and...

Are you (like me) one of those last-minute people who thrives on the self-imposed stress of flying by the seat of their pants? Well, turns out we're not alone! In fact, some of us are quite simply hardwired that way. If you can relate (or even if you can't), you're going to love this episode. Stress inoculation is a process that involves exposing ourselves to manageable levels of stress to build r...

As I spoke with Curtis McGrath in this episode, I was struck by his extraordinary mindset. This is precisely what we all hope to emulate, so I sat mesmerized, listening closely and hunting for clues. Curtis was a combat engineer deployed to Afghanistan when he stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED) and lost both legs. Astonishingly, just twenty minutes after his injury, he set his sights...

It's fair to say I have a hell of a passion for engaging in meaningful conversations, which is why, when the world as we knew it shut down in 2020, I grabbed the opportunity with both hands to dive into the conversational deep-end and launch this podcast. With the uncertainty of the pandemic, I wanted to invest my time into something that couldn't be taken away from me, should that crazy turn of e...

How do you feel right now? And if you answered 'good' what does that even mean? Good like happy ? Good like productive ? Good like hopeful ? Good like grateful ? And is this feeling based on one lingering circumstance, or does it encompass a whole day, week or particular length of time? In today's episode, prompted by a new mindfulness meditation app and practice I've been doing each day I'm talki...

Is it possible to reconcile science and spirituality? Can a researcher and neuroscientist be open to having their coffee grounds read? And can psychopaths truly change? Meet Mona Sobhani, a cognitive neuroscientist, researcher, and author with over 15 years of experience. Like me, she is fascinated by the intersection of science, technology, and society. However, unlike me, she has delved into thi...

Humanity is spoilt for choice when it comes to diets, information and protocols to manage and harness our (so often strained) relationships with food. Though it stands to reason that no matter how suitable any single protocol we land on might be for us, this very approach lacks one crucial ingredient, honouring our body's innate wisdom. Just like every other species on the planet, we were built wi...

I have been eagerly anticipating my conversation with Professor Moran Cerf for some time now. He is a professor of neuroscience and business with a PhD in neuroscience, an MA in Philosophy, and a BSc in Physics. In layman's terms, he is a professional white-hat hacker turned neuroscientist and human behavior expert who has been tasked by the US government with rethinking the current US Nuclear lau...

When I joined my first boxing gym it didn't take long before I adopted the regular hastag #FightFamily to describe the people surrounding me in this training environment. It was the sense of belonging, connection and being 'in it together' that lured me in and had me hooked.  Today Bobby and I talk all things training hard, seeing (or not seeing) our results and what really motivates us to be a co...

Anxiety. We've all experienced it in moments, whether that be short term and circumstantial in the lead up to something nerve-wracking, or chronic and multi-layered from long-term stress or worry. In today's episode I'm sharing one tip that I find extremely useful when it comes to understanding, processing and essentially turning the dial down on the experience of anxiety. I hope you find it helpf...

Emotions can be a mighty turbulent ride, leaving us feeling somewhat seasick by the time we reach adulthood. But what if we could learn to master our emotions in just 90 seconds? According to Dr. Joan Rosenberg, this is an achievable goal, as she explains in her latest book, '90 Seconds To The Life You Love.' She sure has me listening at this point... In this episode, we explore Dr. Rosenberg's in...

In this episode, we talk to Dr. Kelly Ruef about female hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Dr. Ruef is a licensed naturopathic doctor who completed her medical education at the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. We discuss the different types of HRT available, including estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, and how they can be used to alleviate symptoms such as hot fl...

The age-old saying goes, "comparison is the thief of joy" , but they forgot to add the very important "sometimes" to this statement. Let's we wrap context around how we use comparison, which might then dictate whether or not it may thieve us of joy? Craig Harper and I unpack some ideas around the difference between unhealthy comparison and healthy competition, how we can aim to manage the balance...

Bobby and I are exploring how we can adjust and develop ourselves to adapt to and keep pace with the constantly changing world we inhabit. As evident from the episode title, we will be contemplating the factors that impede change. We will also delve into the validity of the "21 days to make or break a habit" notion and consider the psychosocial implications of our involvements and how community an...

SLEEEEEEEEEEP, such an elusive little beast... I recorded a podcast on becoming a champion sleeper (episode 502) when I returned from my New Year's break in January. As someone who has grappled intensely most of my life with sleep and suffered at times somewhat debilitating bouts of insomnia, I shared some of the things that can help (if we actually get serious and do them, spoiler alert: we usual...

Mark LeBusque is back and today we've swapped seats, so to speak. The last couple of chats, Mark donned his coaching hat and rummaged around through that mind of mine, leaving the practice door wide open for you all to come along for the ride. Well, this week I'm returning the favour as we answer a listener question that was sent in for Mark around his growth around emotional intelligence, change...

Dr. Mike Rucker is an organizational psychologist who specializes in the science of fun. He is a founding member of the International Positive Psychology Association, and his research has been published in peer-reviewed academic journals. Today, we're delving into an appropriately entertaining discussion about none other than... FUN. Dr. Rucker recently authored a book titled "The Fun Habit," in w...

Lisa Hardeman is one hell of a woman. Introduced to be by Mark Thomas of The Code 9 Foundation. Lisa is a Commander with Victoria Police and a pioneer and leader in women's football, as in a significant leader. Lisa has lived and succeeded in her professional and sporting lives, which were traditionally male dominated industries. In the process Lisa has been able to influence and cause significant...

Is being skeptical really a negative trait? Bobby and I talk endlessly about mindset, beliefs, perceptions and things that influence our behaviour and thus, our lives. This week we're looking at the role of skepticism and the benefits (especially in today's world of ever-present information) of having the correct dose of skepticism around anything we're learning or taking on board.  It goes withou...

In a world where bigger, better, faster and more seems to be the focus, it's not all too often we are encouraged to sit back just be happy about what's great right now. Well this episode is about me sitting back and doing just that... asking myself (and encouraging you to) "What's outstanding in my life right now?" The truth is, you might just find so much more than you realise. It's human nature...

Do you ever consider the frequency of your food? I don't mean how often you consume food, rather the vibrational frequency of the food you're consuming. It might seem like a weird concept at first, but as we dive into the conversation with Serena Poon, you might just find (as I did) that it's a valid consideration given how much we know nature and our environment impacts our wellbeing.  Serena is...