The Growth Voyage Podcast

How much of your adult identity was actually chosen? In this episode of The Growth Voyage Podcast, Dave Cottrell shares the experiences that shaped his need for external validation, from trying to meet the expectations of two very different parents to navigating depression, bipolar disorder, relationships, and the search for self-worth. Together, we explore how the beliefs we form in childhood can...

In this episode of the Growth Voyage Podcast, we welcome Tyler Walker, better known as The Prince of Peckham, to explore the mindset behind becoming a professional wrestler, overcoming self-doubt, and creating a life through authenticity instead of conformity. This episode is part of The Max Moody Lens series - where we look beyond the performance to understand what it reveals about identity, expr...

At some point, every man has to decide what kind of struggle he's willing to endure. In this solo episode, I explore the pursuit of potential, the sacrifices that come with ambition, and why achievement alone never seems to satisfy us for long. Drawing on personal experiences from jiu-jitsu, pro wrestling, podcasting, and personal growth, I reflect on the tension between success and fulfilment...

In this episode of The Growth Voyage Podcast, Tommy Tanner shares the story behind becoming “The Ultimate Geezer” — from university rugby culture and social performance, to stepping into professional wrestling and learning how to channel a larger-than-life character under pressure. This episode is part of The Max Moody Lens series - where we look beyond the performance to understand what it reveal...

In this first episode of a brand new series, I explore a question that emerged through my journey into professional wrestling and the creation of my wrestling character, Max Moody. We're often told that the best wrestling characters are simply amplified versions of the person behind them. That idea led me to a deeper question: if a character allows certain parts of us to come alive, were those par...

In this episode of The Growth Voyage Podcast, Nuno Tavares shares the experiences that shaped him, from growing up in difficult circumstances and living in a car as a child, to being severely bullied, finding martial arts, and building a life through persistence and hard work. Together, we explore resilience, discipline, identity, and the role adversity can play in shaping a person. Nuno reflects...

In this episode of the Growth Voyage Podcast, we welcome Matteo Kotch for a conversation about resilience, grief, mental health, and the responsibility that comes with personal growth. Matteo shares his journey through adversity, exploring how childhood bullying experiences, internal struggles, and the loss of his father shaped the person he is today. Together, we discuss mental health challenges,...

In this episode of The Growth Voyage Podcast, we sit down with Mikey Glenn to explore his journey through addiction, sobriety, and rebuilding a life from the ground up. Mikey opens up about the reality behind substance use, the boredom and disconnection that fuel destructive habits, and the deeper question most people avoid: what happens when your life doesn’t feel aligned with who you are? We dis...

In this episode of the Growth Voyage Podcast, we welcome Ibby Adem for a conversation about resilience, identity, entrepreneurship, and building a meaningful life through chaos. From leaving corporate finance behind to creating martial arts academies, Ibby shares the reality of navigating financial pressure, living in unconventional spaces, surviving lockdown through community, and developing a mi...

In this episode of the Growth Voyage Podcast, we welcome Rob Kalwarowsky for a conversation on identity, success, accountability, and the hidden patterns that keep people stuck. Rob opens up about the moment in Hawaii that completely shifted his perspective on life, moving from constantly chasing achievement to becoming more grounded and intentional. Together, they explore how the brain resists ch...

Many men grow up feeling different, but never fully understand why. In this episode, I sit down with John Hickey to explore what it’s like to feel out of place from a young age — struggling to connect, searching for stimulation, and carrying an intensity that doesn’t seem to fit the world around you. We get into early experiences with isolation, drugs, and that constant need for more — more feelin...

In this episode of the Growth Voyage Podcast, Harison sits down with Ivor Stratford for a raw conversation on discipline, identity, and what it truly takes to transform your life. From surviving a brutal 270km ultra-marathon in the Sahara Desert to rebuilding his life through sobriety and extreme consistency, Ivor shares the reality behind endurance, mental toughness, and long-term fulfilment. Thi...

In this episode of Growth Voyage Podcast, we sit down with Jonny Oladunni to explore what it truly means to face everything life throws at you. From early discipline and channeling aggression through rugby, to dealing with injury, loneliness, and emotional growth, this conversation dives deep into resilience, masculinity, and personal transformation. Jonny shares how boxing, meditation, and small...

If you keep putting yourself last, this might be the reason nothing’s really changing. In this episode, we're joined by Neil Giller for a conversation about what happens when you start choosing yourself - not in a surface-level, motivational way, but in a way that actually shifts how you live. We get into people-pleasing, burnout, and that feeling of being slightly off… even when things look f...

In this episode of The Growth Voyage Podcast, we sit down with Harry Clough to unpack what it really feels like to grow up in a system that was never built for you. From being labelled “the kid who can’t sit still” to navigating ADHD, anxiety, and identity struggles, Harry shares the raw truth behind his journey. We dive into school challenges, family turmoil, and the pressure to succeed, along wi...

In this episode of The Growth Voyage Podcast, we sit down with Grant Brown to explore what it really means to become your authentic self in a world shaped by social masks and expectations. From childhood coping mechanisms to the identities we unconsciously perform, this conversation unpacks how we lose ourselves - and how we find our way back. Grant shares his personal journey through depression,...

In this episode of The Growth Voyage Podcast, we sit down with David Chernick to explore a powerful shift in perspective — what if the problem isn’t you, but the system around you? From growing up feeling different to navigating corporate expectations at IBM, David Chernick shares his journey of self-discovery, a late ADHD diagnosis, and the hidden cost of “high performance.” This conversation div...

In this episode of The Growth Voyage Podcast, we sit down with Chidi Egbujie to explore what happens when you step outside the life you were told to live. Chidi shares how following social scripts — education, career, stability — initially gave structure, but eventually led to deeper questions around purpose, time, and identity. A small external shift triggered a much bigger internal realization:...

In this episode of The Growth Voyage Podcast, we sit down with Joshua Samuels, a former professional chef whose journey through the hospitality industry exposed him to the intense realities of kitchen culture, mental health struggles, addiction, and identity. Josh shares what it was really like working long hours in high-pressure kitchens, the lack of belonging many chefs experience, and how physi...

In this episode, Thomas Maher shares the morning he woke up suicidal - and the long road back from severe depression. We talk about childhood anxiety at 11 years old, a 2012 surgery that triggered a major breakdown, the role ego played in delaying help, and how he rebuilt himself from the ground up. Thomas also shares the philosophy behind Koalogy - a framework rooted in compassion, accountability...

In this episode, we sit down with Hana Esselink, an Inner Light Igniter, to explore spirituality in practical, grounded, real-life terms - not as something abstract or “woo-woo,” but as self-awareness, presence, and discovering who you truly are beneath conditioning and ego. Together, we dive into detachment, identity, energy management, environment shifts, subconscious reprogramming, manifestatio...

In this conversation we explore growth, healing, identity, purpose, and mindset transformation - from battling addiction and self-doubt to breaking through psychological barriers and rewiring belief systems. Our guest, Richard Newman, is now a dedicated healer and guide helping people reconnect with themselves through authentic energy healing, sound therapy, qigong, and mindful movement. Drawing f...

What do you do when walking away no longer feels possible? In this episode, we’re joined by Iranian-born investigative journalist and documentary filmmaker Potkin Azarmehr. We explore the tension between freedom and duty, the cost of integrity, and what it’s like to be pulled into a life you never planned. A conversation about honour, discernment, and the moment staying silent stops being an optio...

Help shape the podcast: https://forms.gle/iUJ3vNzN6qDET2dF8 In this episode of The Growth Voyage Podcast, we sit down with The Soul Doctor Oliver Dolby to explore how healing, awareness, and self-responsibility shape an honourable man. Oliver explains why healing isn’t something done to you, but a process you actively participate in - and why awareness, rather than ego or techniques, drives real c...

In this episode of The Growth Voyage Podcast, we welcome Jason Mo to discuss podcasting, consciousness, fear, manifestation, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and the hero’s journey - exploring what it means to grow, think freely, and live deliberately. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 03:08 - Freedom of Expression & Challenging the Status Quo 15:49 - Behind the Scenes of Podcasting 21:21 - Receiving Feedback &am...