The XYZ Experiment

Whilst we're on holiday we are revisiting some of our favourite episodes. This week it's Luke's choice and he is taking us back to Episode 101. In this episode we explore the age-old question that every book lover has asked themselves: "Why do we keep rereading the same books?" Whether it's the comfort of familiar characters, the thrill of uncovering hidden layers, or simply a nostalgic escape, we...

This week as we're on a break, Darsh has picked Ep88: Are You at Risk of a CyberScam as Dr Kate Gould gave some incredible tips on things to look out for in terms of are you being scammed, what is a scam and raising awareness of these crimes. Dr Kate Gould is a clinical Neuropsychologist, clinical lead, and Positive Behaviour Service Senior Research Fellow at Monash University - Epworth Rehabilita...

As we take a break over June, we are sharing our favourite episodes that you may have missed. This week Darsh has picked Ep85: Glimmers: Finding Light and Joy in Everyday Moments. Engaging in glimmers really help us to stay present, find joy and bring light into a world that can sometimes feel a little bit dark, and gloomy with some of the things happening in the world. Darsh was reminded about fi...

Fiona here from The XYZ Experiment. Throughout June we're diving back into our archives and revisiting some of our favourite episodes. My pick this week is Episode 107: Why Sleep Is the Most Important Thing You'll Do All Day. What if one of the most powerful tools for better health, clearer thinking, improved mood and a longer life was something you're probably not getting enough of? The answer is...

What have we been loving recently? This week, we share the books, TV shows and experiences that have recently bought us joy, sparked curiosity or simply made life a little more interesting. From old TV shows and card games to cooking with family and getting lost in a great book, we're sharing things we've genuinely enjoyed lately. Real recommendations from three generations with very different tas...

What does it actually mean to live your "best life"? Is it career success, financial security, family, freedom, good health. more sleep or simply feeling calm for five minutes? This week we compare how different generations define happiness, success and fulfilment and whether anyone truly feels like they've got life sorted. Hosted by Fiona, Darsh & Luke Produced by Fiona Kelly & Darsh Ayto...

How private are we anymore really? In this week's episode we discuss the complicated world of privacy, personal information and digital oversharing. From Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin to loyalty programs, online shopping and DNA ancestry kits, we explore how comfortable different generations are with handing over their personal data. Does Gen Z care less about privacy or have they simply grown...

Food is never food, especially when you're a kid. This week, we look back on meals that meant something; the dishes or trip to the fast food joint when you'd been particularly well behaved, the Friday night fish and chips and the family feast meals tied to religious or cultural traditions. From 'treat foods' used a rewards, to recipes bought out for celebration, we explore how food shaped our sens...

From a Margret Thatcher haircut horror story to the latest trends, fringes to full blown reinventions, this week we are talking about the highs, lows and hilarious memories tied to getting a haircut. How much does a good (or very bad) haircut affect your confidence? Are you loyal to one style for life, or have you tried every look going? We share stories of salon triumphs, haircut disasters, exper...

Last week, we asked do we still have "Best Friends"? This week we're going deeper into something a little more uncomfortable - money and friendship. In a world where everything feels more expensive, how is money quietly shaping our relationships? From dinners out, concert tickets, weekends away - are we unintentionally pricing friends out of spending time with us? And are we being priced out of ca...

What makes a best friend? This week on The XYZ experiment we ponder the idea of 'Best Friends". Is it a lifelong title or is something we grow out of? What makes a best friend in the first place? Is it history, loyalty, or something much deeper? And can you have more than one at anytime? But in today's world is calling someone your best friend comforting or maybe a little cringe? We unpack what a...

This week on The XYZ Experiment , Fiona and Darsh get real about life with unpredictable guts. From the shock of a coeliac diagnosis to navigating the daily realities of Crohn's disease, we share our personal stories, the things no one tells you, and how it's changed the way we eat, socialise and think about our health. There are a few "you have to laugh or you'll cry" moments as we unpack the awk...

This week on The XYZ Experiment, we're asking the big question: are we manifesting or just really, really hoping? Gen Z Luke is out there casually saying "I'm manifesting that for you", it's the new 'good luck'. Our Gen Y Darsh takes us back to the glory days of The Secret , when we thought thinking just thinking about a wish enough would just make it happen. Meanwhile, Gen X Fiona is sitting ther...

This week we are talking about the world of budgeting - how we do it, why we do it or why some of us don't do it at all. Across generations, money habits can look wildly different. From a budget planner who tracks every dollar, to the more relaxed approach, we look at our beliefs, tools and life experiences that shape how our different generations manage their finances. Whether you are a spreadshe...

This week we’re talking about the world of decluttering—but not just the “tidy your drawer” kind. We’re exploring how different generations approach stuff . What we keep, what we throw away, and what we just can’t let go of isn’t random. Is it shaped by our generation, our experiences, or the world we grew up in? From those who hold onto everything “just in case,” to the Marie Kondo inspired minim...

What does it actually mean to be 'work fit' in today's world? We are excited to be back for 2026 and today we are exploring how different generations prepare themselves to get through a working day, week, month - physically, mentally and emotionally. Is being work fit about resilience and pushing through, as many older generations were taught? Or is it about balance, wellbeing and protecting your...

In our final episode for 2025, we look ahead twenty years and ask: what might disappear and what would we truly miss? From Melbourne's iconic trams to the magic of bookshops and cinemas, we explore the everyday joys that shape our sense of place. We also reflect on youth itself, those years when freedom feels infinite and life is full of possibility. Join us for a nostalgic and thoughtful conversa...

In this episode, we explore how Gen X, Gen Y and Gen Z each build their sense of community and how those communities shift as we move through different life stages. From neighbourhood friendships and university groups, to workplace tribes, online communities and chosen families, we unpack what "finding your people" looks like today. We also ask: what keeps us connected, and what makes us drift apa...

In this episode Gen Z Luke and Gen X Fiona dive deep into a very modern question: What is your algorithm showing you right now and what? From TikTok rabbit holes to YouTube recommendations and Facebook, they explore how their feeds look completely different, built from different cultures, interests, and online behaviours. Do they curate their content or is the algorithm doing all the curating for...

Gen Z Luke is about to take his first big step into the workforce, whilst Gen X Fiona vividly remembers what that moment felt like decades earlier. In this episode the two compare their expectations, fears and dreams as they stand on opposite ends of the career starting line. From first job fears to modern career hopes, they explore what each generation wants from work and what has stayed the same...

It's Halloween in a couple of days, and on this week's episode Fiona and Darsh share memories of the first time they watched a horror movie and the unforgettable mix of fear, nightmares and fascination that came with it. From VHS rentals and sleepovers gone wrong, too hiding behind hands and fingers in their ears, they relive the movies that scared them silly and the ones that turned them into lif...

In this week's episode, Fiona and Darsh stir up a conversation about when they first learnt to cook. What they started with, who taught them, their favourite cook books, and how their relationship with cooking has changed over time. Our Gen X, Fiona finds peace in the kitchen, loving the creativity of baking and crafting meals from scratch. Meanwhile our Gen Y Darsh, admits it's more if a chore th...

This week's episode gets personal. Fiona opens up about the heartbreak of almost losing her beloved dog, Suki - her soul dog and constant companion. She shares the fear, the tears, and the overwhelming love that surfaced as she and her family did everything they could to save her (spoiler alert: Suki made it through). Darsh reflects on her own bond with her aging dog, Peduncle, and what it means t...

This week, Gen Y Darsh reveals how her friendship catch-ups come with a plan - from planned agendas to voice memo updates in recurring chat groups. Meanwhile, Gen X Fiona is amazed; her friendship catchups are random, spontaneous and unstructured. Together they explore how different generations maintain connection, the rise of 'admin in friendship' and whether planning makes us closer as we naviga...

Dr Minto Felix is not a stranger to migration across borders. In this episode we hear his experience of the Gen Y rite of passage of working and studying in the UK. But Mintos story extends beyond the experience of work, to stories of self discovery and becoming. Note: We apologise for the sound quality of this episode. Dr Minto was dialling in from the UK Hosted by Darsh & Fiona Produced by F...