The Reality Check Podcast

Unless we speak our truth, our narrative will be created for us. People will believe what they see online, pushed by the curators of their individual echo chambers. Thus other’s perception of you, and the people belonging to your groups, will not be correct. Quotes will be mined, small disagreements emphasised and conflicts stoked. All for profit. In this episode of The Reality Check Podcast I bre...

Neglect is the absence of love, support and guidance. It’s impact is multifaceted, spanning every aspect of a sufferers life. I have started blogging on the topic in the hopes to reduce the stigma, explain the impact, and to connect with fellow suffers. Two of my recent posts received a lot of comments and engagement, so I decided to feature and expand upon them here. 1: The Impact of Neglect on E...

I have just released KINK Volume 1. A collection of 33 erotic poems and short stories. The reception has been amazing, with some incredible reviews, responses and readings. In this episode I introduce the book, share some of the feedback, talk about the writing process, and discuss the connection between mental health and sexual expression. This episode is NSFW! Read KINK Volume 1, or grab a copy:...

When my 4 year old son asked me about death, I decided to be honest with him. In this episode I break down how I responded and why. The reality is that we will all pass. The fact that this all ends gives life meaning. If you are struggling to explain death to your children, or even to yourself, this short talk will help. It isn’t an easy conversation to have, but it is worth having - before someon...

To combat lockdown fatigue and build mental toughness, I have started the 75HARD challenge. For 75 days I will be: - Exercising 1.5 hrs - No sugar, fast food, or alcohol - Drinking 3l + water - Reading 10+ pages non-fiction - Cold showers - Daily progress pics Follow my progress on instagram.com/zacpphillips/ . I am also introducing KINK, Volume 1 : “Discover your hidden desires. Get ready to be e...

I have taken to doing 3-minutes of slow calm breathing during transitions as a way to reduce resting anxiety. In This episode I share how this simple intervention has had a profound impact on my mental state as well as my ability to fall asleep at night. Try it, take a just one slow calm breath and see how you feel! I also introduce my kids meditation series 'Silent Superheroes' - a collection of...

I am not in the best way ATM, but unlike previous times I have felt this way I have made a different choice. Rather than choosing to inebriate myself, I chose not to. I recognised how I would feel during and after the inebriation, and how I have previously felt and made a different choice. So now I have been left to sit with the pain, but also to recognise that my pain won’t last (because it never...

Maria joins me to discuss the concept of reframing our prior conditioning to observe reality as it is, first using our recent birth experience, but then taking that concept into all areas of life. It’s not ‘pain’ it is ‘tension’, this language change has profound impact on the outcome of birth. We also discuss how meditation and breathing help to control the mind Links mentioned: The Abundance Men...

We have a tendency to believe that happiness will come ‘when we make it’ or ‘when we accomplish the goal’. In this way we delay our happiness to some future state. The problem is that we live the majority of life in the pursuit, and when we finally do arrive, our happiness is short lived. Thus we risk living a life where we are delaying our happiness, and never actually enjoying it, or the present...

There is nothing in life that doesn’t change. Consider your body, your goals, your life. It is always changing and will always change. In this talk, I break down how mindfulness helps us to accept change and embrace it by living in the moment. By seeing reality as it is, for what it is, we can find peace. If this episode has resonated with you, I would love your support . Click here to find out mo...

Positive daily habits are the key to personal development and growth. Start slow and let life open up to accommodate the new habit. One minute a day is infinitely better than none - and the change will not come as a shock. Your mind, body, and life will accommodate to your new habit and it will stick. If this episode has resonated with you, I would love your support . Click here to find out more a...

Live morning mindfulness sessions, 6:40am AEST on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/zacpphillips/ Program: 06:40 - Welcome + short talk 06:50 - 5 minutes of mindfulness meditation 06:55 - QnA + Closing gratitude I would love to see you there! If this episode has resonated with you, I would love your support . Click here to find out more about my 1:1 coaching & counselling sessions.

Update and introduction to my new baby, new book and new webcomic! Mindfulness: A Guidebook to the Present Moment - ‘Meditation made easy’ - out now as a paperback, ebook & audio book. www.zachary-phillips.com/books-1/mindfulness-a-guidebook-to-the-present-moment Depresso Espresso - A comic about an introverted coffee cup’s attempt to understand the world. www.depressoespressocomics.com/ If th...

Everyone assumes they are the exception to the rule; that one person who will never trigger me, and who won’t cause me social anxiety. Who I can feel ‘truly safe’ to be myself around… In this episode I discuss how the symptoms of mental illness is not person dependent; friend, family and strangers alike can and do (by no fault of their own) impact me. I also talk about the importance of breaking t...

Ever find yourself stuck in the middle of a conversation that you weren’t prepared for? One that is triggering, intense and wholly inappropriate for the situation? I have. In this episode I discuss how to manage these conversations, in a way that both protects your mental state as well as the relationship. I also introduce ‘ Creative Writing For Healing’ - 10 Day Insight Timer Course If this episo...

Introducing my latest book ‘ Reflections of the Self; The Poetry, Insights and Wisdom of Silence ’, out now as a paperback, eBook and on audio. This book is one part poetry, one part introspective spiritual discussion. In this episode I share the chapter ‘ Finding Peace Through Perspective’, which begins with the poem ‘Two Leaves ’. If this episode has resonated with you, I would love your support...

Open and honest communication is essential to all relationships, yet the process of expressing ourselves in a way that can actually be understood is far more complex than it appears at first glance. In this episode I muse on all that is necessary for your words to accurately portray the meaning you intend. If this episode has resonated with you, I would love your support . Click here to find out m...

Introducing the Abundance Mentality Podcast - 20 minute snippets to improve your health, wealth, spirituality, and relationships! Each episode, Maria and I break down the best books out there, and share how we are applying the lessons learnt in our lives. There are five episodes already out, and more to come. Enjoy! Links mentioned: The Abundance Mentality Podcast If this episode has resonated wit...

Clearly 2020 was unprecedented - Bushfires, Covid, Trump, BLM etc. But looking back over it, what have we learnt, how have we grown, and where to from here? Links mentioned: How To Get Your Sh!t Together Insight Timer Skillshare Reflections of the Self If this episode has resonated with you, I would love your support . Click here to find out more about my 1:1 coaching & counselling sessions.

Christmas can force us to spend time with people we otherwise wouldn’t. This can produce a level of anguish, triggers, and awkwardness; all resulting in a diminished mental state. Fortunately there are ways that you can guard your mental state in order to survive the coming week. I’m Coming For You - Poem Reflections of the Self: The Poetry, Insights and Wisdom of Silence - Out now If this episode...

Life with mental illness is full of ups and downs. The acceptance of this reality is vital for healing and growth. I am increasingly wary of self-help gurus and life coaches who only project positivity - this is not how reality works. And denying it (or not showing it) can ostracise people into the belief that they are alone in their suffering. This is simply not true. Reflections of the Self: The...

Introducing my 10 meditation course on insight timer ‘ Your Mindfulness Toolbox For Daily Living ’. In this course you will learn a collection of traditional and novel practices, techniques, concepts and strategies to attain mindfulness, and take the benefits of clarity, calm and control off the meditation mat and into every day life. Daily meditation has helped me to reduce anxiety and depression...

In order to stay functional, I find it necessary to observe the trends. Am I acting, feeling and performing as normal? If not, why not? By monitoring my warning signs, I can best take preventative action to avoid a catastrophic downturn in my mental health. Read ‘ Notice Your Warning Signs ’ Ch 2:2, of How To Get Your Sh!t Together . If this episode has resonated with you, I would love your suppor...

Is it possible to see the world objectively, to understand events as another does, to truly empathise, and to step outside of ourselves? We are blinded by our bias; our upbringings, religions, parents, education, gender, age and ethnicity. These things will dictate what we believe, and how we interoperate new information, and thus how we perceive and act upon the world. Poem: Other Than Here Subsc...

Everybody’s life has unique challenges, but no matter where we find ourselves, there are still positives to embrace, along with the realisation that it could be worse. In this episode I discuss how contemplating darkness has helped me to better see the light, and how it could help you as well. Read ‘ Contemplate Darkness ’ Ch 2:1, of How To Get Your Sh!t Together . If this episode has resonated wi...