The Outback Mind Podcast

Hawthorn premiership player and former Narembeen boy Max Bailey joins me for a chat about his life growing up on a farm, losing his Dad at an early age and transitioning into his AFL career where he was riddled with injury before finally stabilising and finishing his last game with a premiership medal in 2013. Max then moved into coaching, had a break doing life changing work in Tanzania before mo...

If your looking for motivation to change your life this is it. At age 44 Andrew was overweight, burnt out and depressed. Through a stressful work life he lost touch with his wellbeing and hit rock bottom. An adventurer at heart he began chipping away to improve his wellbeing then at age 50 started his own filmmaking business and has never looked back. Andrew recently became the first person to win...

Many of us eat because of habit and not being emotionally aware. Dr Lyn McCormack gives us great insight into the triggers around this and strategy on how to self regulate and use our minds more intentionally. Dr Lyn has her own lived experience with emotional eating and is passionate about helping others create new pathways for change. Hope you enjoy this conversation. Available on Spotify and iT...

Could you work five and a half months for 17 hours a day without getting a break? Former Australian Army Major Joel Tunstall joins me for a chat about his military career and what it takes to be a leader in challenging environments. Joel gives great insight into the highs and lows of military life and transitioning on post career. I’m sure you will enjoy this conversation. Available on Spotify and...

Former professional cricketer Aiden Blizzard joins me for a chat about country life growing up in Shepparton and his transition to elite sport. Aiden openly shared the challenges he had with uncertainty and the surrounding anxiety that goes with being on edge as and athlete. Aiden’s career was filled with ups and downs which he managed well and is now enjoying a much needed break. Hope you enjoy o...

Former NT boy, Geelong and Essendon player Matthew Stokes joins me for a chat about his culture, career and beyond. Matthew was successful in playing in two AFL premiership and has a passion for giving back and helping others thrive. Hope you enjoy our conversation. Available on Spotify and iTunes - The Outback Mind Podcast

For anyone battling with finding your purpose please listen to this. Helen Shanahan has become an acclaimed singer/songwriter but it never came without its challenges. She thought of giving up many times and doubted herself to simply learn to play guitar. Through the encouragement of her father she pushed through, started to gain some belief and has since released two albums and is not stopping th...

When faced with rejection many of us react with negativity. Dale Morris got multiple knock backs in his quest to live his dream of becoming an AFL player. Finally in 2004 he got his chance as a mature age player and never looked back. Whether you are a footballer or an average human that quite hasn’t reached your true potential, Dale’s journey will give you hope that you can achieve anything you s...

Former world champion surfer Mark Occhilupo joins me for a chat about life on and off the professional tour, his battle with alcohol and what he does now to keep himself well. Mark is on a new journey in his mid 50’s with a groundbreaking new venture, surf lakes bringing the joy of surfing away from the ocean and into the lives of people throughout the world. Hope you enjoy our conversation. Avail...

Life can take many twists and turns, it’s how we respond that makes all the difference. Former Hawthorn and Sydney Swans player Luke Brennan and I both hail from the same western Victorian town which he shares many fond memories. Luke and I discuss his journey, the challenges that came from being a high draft pick and how his life changed post career to lead him into and unexpected role doing his...

Former Adelaide, Hawthorn & North Melbourne footballer Lance Picioane take a dive into his journey through the AFL system and coming out the other side which led to mental health challenges, taking a proactive approach and coming out the other side. In 2013 Lance began the Love Me Love You foundation which has evolved to deliver outstanding awareness programs throughout Victoria and beyond. Lance...

From playing his first AFL game at age 17, a defining moment in 1992 with Kevin Sheedy, and struggling to transition into modern life after more than 25 years in the system, Dean Wallis has remained a salt of the earth type, staying true to his country roots and he wouldn’t change a thing. Dean shares his journey, the highs and lows and some of the battles he faced on and off the field. Hope you e...

It’s one thing to have a healthy body, it’s another to have a healthy mind. Nick Sutherland is the founder of the well known personal transformation business Mynd Fit. Nick has been helping people change their thought patterns, belief systems and the way they see themselves for more than a decade with outstanding results. In this podcast Nick and I explore how current systems may be failing and ho...

Almost all of us may have, or at some stage will experience separation or divorce from our partners, Tamir Beckman, AKA the Divorce Cowboy went through his own traumatic experience which resulted in reliance on drugs and alcohol before getting help and navigating his way through. Now Tamir is doing wonderful things to help support other men successfully manage their way out of a relationship and i...

Former Fremantle & StKilda footballer Brett Peake and I talk about his career from being a plumber, then becoming a professional footballer and returning to mainstream life. Brett is now enjoying living simply, surfing, farming and fishing and loving every minute. I’m sure you will enjoy our conversation. Available on Spotify and iTunes - The Outback Mind Podcast.

In this episode I chat with Top Blokes Foundation Queensland state manager Rachel Hinds about how she became passionate about helping young men and the wonderful work she and her organisation are doing to build awareness in southern Queensland schools and communities. Hope you enjoy our conversation. Available on Spotify and iTunes - The Outback Mind Podcast.

Jason Muldoon is the Regional Manager for AFL Wimmera Mallee. Through this discussion Jason and I discuss club structure In communities, how mental health is going and being managed, and the impact of COVID over the past 2 years which is bringing excitement to the season ahead. Hope you enjoy our conversation. Available on Spotify and iTunes - The Outback Mind Podcast.

Professional musician Tomi Gray and I take a deep dive into his musical career and the flow on it has to becoming reliant on drugs and alcohol. Tomi bravely became aware that his habits were contributing to poor mental health and took steps to change his life in his late 20’s. Now as a touring musician with well known outfit Kallidad he is stepping into his real potential and starting to thrive. H...

Professional musician Tomi Gray and I take a deep dive into his musical career and the flow on it has to becoming reliant on drugs and alcohol. Tomi bravely became aware that his habits were contributing to poor mental health and took steps to change his life in his late 20’s. Now as a touring musician with well known outfit Kallidad he is stepping into his real potential and starting to thrive. H...

Former Fremantle & Geelong player Marcus Drum take a journey into his life growing up in regional Victoria, his pathway into the AFL and the proactive way he approached his transition from being a player riddled with injury to becoming an outstanding player welfare leader. Marcus is now helping many other young men and women through his own experiences and having a positive influence inside and ou...

Founder of the cultural change organisation organisation Hello Sunday Morning Chris Raine and I take a look at his own relationships with alcohol, when it began and why things started to change. Chris openly and honestly shares his journey and experiences which have led him to now being a leader in helping others in need of support. Hope you enjoy our conversation. Available on Spotify and iTunes...

Former Fremantle & StKilda footballer Heath Black and I take a deep dive into his career, his challenges with Bipolar Disorder and ADHD and some of the interesting experiences he’s had on an off the field. This is a great conversation for anyone who may be having some mental health issues as we go into some practical self management strategies. Heath is now doing wonderful things inside the AFL sy...

Former Brisbane Lions full back Daniel Merrett and I have a deep dive about life before, during and after his playing days, life on and off the field and the challenges guys face finding identity outside of the workplace. Daniel shares his journey openly and honestly which may be helpful to those going through transition and change. Hope you enjoy our conversation. Available on Spotify and iTunes...

If we want to improve our mental health getting back to the foundations of what it is to be a man is not rocket science, it’s critical to navigate our way through the modern world. Jason Bluett has seen life through a different lense and is passionate about helping guys relearn the skills in which we need to thrive, not just survive. This important conversation is a must for every man looking to i...

Episode 133 of The Outback Mind Podcast is available - Aaron Shanks. For a young man of just 35 years Aaron has jammed a hell of a lot in, and he’s not stopping anytime soon! From travelling the world multiple times, living in nature and learning to survive on his own to being kidnapped in India, Aaron has had an incredible ride. One key thing that you will learn from this conversation is that tru...