The You Project

I think George Bernard Shaw was onto something when he declared "we don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." It's long been my opinion that many of us ‘get old before we need to' simply because we stop doing things which can help us maintain a level of physiological, psychological and cognitive function and performance 'younger' than our chronological age. In this episode, I share ten simple activities that require little or no skill, fitness, equipment or experience. Activities that, if done consistently (that's the all-important 'if'), can keep people more functional, healthy and independent for longer. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes you feel like physical, mental, and/or emotional crap but the situation, role, task, or job at hand requires you to step up, when you feel like lying down. This is a conversation about that. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes what we want is the couch, Cheetos and Netflix. Sometimes what we need is to get up, lean into the discomfort, and do the thing. Our resident Clinical Psychologist Dr. Lillian is back and we explore what gets in the way of behaviour change, how to manage anxiety, why understanding yourself matters, and how to strike the right balance between empathy, accountability and tough love. Enjoy.drlilliannejad.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Of all there is to know, how much does 'the smartest species' actually know? My guess is, not nearly as much as we'd like to believe. Dr. Cam's back and this was an atypically deep and philosophical conversation where we leant into religion, spirituality, parallel universes and all the 'woo-woo' stuff that doesn't really fit into our logical, explainable, comfortable, familiar, scientific box. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kelly Smith is back for more free coaching (I know what she's up to), hitting me with the hard questions about the multi-dimensional process of getting in shape, and maintaining it. Along the way, we chat about why some people change and some don't (even with the same resources and reasons), the pros and cons of sharing our health/fitness journey online, the role of psychology in changing physiology, the 'intimidation factor' in gyms, why Kelly's Psychologist prescribed her exercise over medication, and lots more. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mr. Popularity, Scotty Douglas, is back - regaling us with stories of his travels, trials tribulations and triumphs. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This time Bobby and I talk about dealing with (supporting, talking to, understanding) people who are stressed and maybe even having something of a meltdown. We also chat about the 'how, when and if' of providing feedback (it's fraught with danger), when to lean in and help people and when to let them help themselves, 'reading the room' (non-verbal communication), the difference between sympathy and empathy and the significance of the title will be explained. Enjoy.theselfhelpantidote.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amelia Phillips is a renowned Nutritionist and Exercise Scientist, doing lots of great stuff, helping lots of people, educating and inspiring the masses, working on the telly, hosting her own successful podcast, raising four kids (and one husband) and in general terms, equipping people to live longer and healthier lives. Not surprisingly, we had a great chat which was broadly relevant and user-friendly. Also, Tiff and Amelia may have hijacked the show for ten minutes chatting about perimenopause! Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This was one of my favourite chats with David and Tiff. It was super interesting and the great man's giant intellect and expansive knowledge never ceases to amaze me. We spoke about starting a cult, the psychotic nature of business and religion, the controversial storyline twist in the new Toy Story film (no. 5), the likelihood of Universal Basic Income (UBI) becoming a reality in Australia, the (potential) impending Al-driven unemployment crisis and I recommend my all-time favourite book on cults. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a title you probably won't see again. Doctor Bill goes above and beyond on in this episode of TYP, and we find ourselves chatting about the male fertility crisis, killer parasites, STD's, toxoplasmosis, decapitated sperm, plummeting testosterone levels, cat poo, raw shellfish, undercooked meat, plastics in food, endocrine disruptors, drastic cuts in funding for scientific research, insane politics and politicians, and lots more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every now and then I meet someone I want my listeners to meet. Someone I want to keep listening to. Someone whose story is simultaneously inspiring, fascinating, and entertaining. Well, Scott Douglas is one of those people and I think you're gonna love him. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We could call this a podcast-ette. This brief episode is me riffing on the nature of intelligence; an idea that some people might find ironic and I wouldn't totally disagree with them. Nonetheless, I did it. And here it is. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patrick's back at TYP Central sharing the tech love and a few borderline stories that may or may not p**s off his identical twin brother. This time we talk about China stopping students from accessing Al to curtail cheating on exams (seems reasonable), why we need a 'code word' for the phone to ensure we're actually chatting with a human (not Al), robot cats that can reduce stress in children, how to say 'no', why hitting the 'snooze' button could be a health problem, a VR game that improves eyesight (I need that) and lots more. Enjoy.websitesnow.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I've known Dee Dee Dunleavy for decades but this chat was literally the first time we have spoken (at all) in years. I won't give away too much about the episode but I will say that it ended up being a pretty raw, vulnerable and unfiltered conversation about rejection, identity, uncertainty, success, friendship, reinvention, healing, purpose and coming out the other side of an emotional and psychological sh*t-fest. *Dee Dee has worked in the media for more than 40 years (37 of those in radio) where she dominated on multiple platforms including Fox FM, Gold FM and more recently, 3AW in Melbourne. I was Dee Dee's PT for many years and even did a weekly segment with her for a while on Gold FM. Enjoy.@deedeedunleavy@theboyinthegoldmineSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Toby Morrison is back and we had a great conversation about everything from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, leadership, communication and problem solving, to the complexity of success, meaningful work and God. We didn't miss much! Enjoy. **Toby founded CFS Health in 2009 after personally experiencing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and enduring a long and frustrating journey to recovery. Recognising the lack of awareness and available treatment for M.E., CFS and Fibromyalgia, Toby developed a step-by-step recovery program to encourage and support other sufferers.cfshealth.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two Metre Peter (aka Pete Shepherd) is back dropping truth bombs, inspiring the masses, sharing his considerable wisdom and doing his best to make sense of the nonsense. Some people are just really good to listen to. He's one of them. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. John Demartini is a polymath, world-renowned human behaviour expert, internationally published author (forty-plus books), global educator and the founder of the Demartini Method, a revolutionary tool in human transformation. This conversation went far and wide, Dr. John told some amazing stories and it's instantly in my top three episodes for 2025. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Go where you grow" - yep it's a cheesy saying but behind the cheese, it's a solid message. So many of us talk about personal growth, while simultaneously avoiding the 'places' where we might grow. Wanting growth, choosing comfort. Saying all the right things, doing bugger all. If you're in need of twenty-minutes of slightly (okay, very) sweary motivational coaching, strap the f*ck in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We love the idea of being objective. Open-minded. Willing to learn new things, unlearn old things, admit when we get things wrong and to look at 'old things' through a new lens or perhaps even, someone else's lens. Telling others how objective we are makes us feel good about ourselves. It's considered a noble trait and something that's socially desirable and who doesn't want that? But as Anaïs Nin told us over a hundred years ago. "you don't see things as they are, you see them as you are." So there's that. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My ambitious goal was to distil my five and a half years of PhD research into an easy-to-understand, user-friendly, non-jargon-y, thirty-ish minute podcast. Not sure l really achieved it, but here it is.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Go hard or go home".. advice (I use that terms loosely) that has been handed out to all kinds of people in all kinds of situations for ever. But is it actually wise counsel? Me thinks not, Your Honour. In his weekly visit, Bobby and I talk about the 'good old days'(?) when we destroyed ourselves (and others) in the gym - all in the name of peak performance. More like peak risk and peak long-term injuries and issues. We also chat about lying ‘for a good reason' (ethical fibbing?), having a conversation with our younger selves, the childhood experiences that drove Bobby to obsessive and risky behaviour, creating a 'relationship' with Al and lots more. Enjoy.https://www.theselfhelpantidote.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You probably won't be surprised when I tell you that the incidence and diagnosis of ADHD has increased a bazillion percent over the last two decades (well about 1,100 percent in Australia, to be more accurate). According to Gillespo, it's got something to do with our 'dopamine set point' and also marketing people who are strategically trying to hijack our brain and attention, and what better way to do that than with the thing many of you are currently holding in your hand? Some of the info and insights that David shared in this chat are absolute revelations. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of TYP, Dr. Jeff introduces us to the idea of inflammaging, which is the chronic, low-grade inflammation that characterises aging. We also chat about lowering our biological age, women and testosterone replacement therapy (yes, women), the Enhanced (steroid) Games, the peptide revolution, the relationship between chronic pain and ageing, what anxiety does to the body, Tiff gets a free on-air consult about the changing state of her body (hormones, mood, energy, sleep, emotions) and finally, the Doc tells about his personal anti-ageing protocol (it's fascinating). Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Obviously once people succeed, they're perpetually happy. Obviously. Every day is Disney Movie of fun, laughter, and awesomeness, with zero problems or complications. In this episode Tommy and I chat about life after (and during) success, the potential psychological, emotional, and sociological price of being obsessed with achieving a certain goal, skill and experience vs. raw talent, gifted people who can't perform under pressure, how to find our purpose (or purposes) and Tommy getting a little 'God curious.' Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey Team, hope you’re great! I’m being an awesome son for a day or two, so I thought we’d revisit this episode that I recorded a while back, which was really well received, and I think it might be timely for some at the moment. *Treading water. Spinning our metaphoric wheels. Stuck in a Groundhog Day of mediocrity, dissatisfaction and frustration. Wasted time, talent and energy. Thinking, habits, behaviours, rituals and fears that keep us trapped in a prison of our own making. This episode is a workshop (of sorts) about stepping up, breaking through and getting unstuck. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey Team, hope you’re great! I’m being an awesome son for a day or two, so I thought we’d revisit this episode that I recorded a while back, which was really well received, and I think it might be timely for some at the moment. *Treading water. Spinning our metaphoric wheels. Stuck in a Groundhog Day of mediocrity, dissatisfaction and frustration. Wasted time, talent and energy. Thinking, habits, behaviours, rituals and fears that keep us trapped in a prison of our own making. This episode is a workshop (of sorts) about stepping up, breaking through and getting unstuck. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TYP'S resident geek (Patrick) is back trying to share the tech love - and while he did a pretty good job - I gotta say, this episode was one of the funnier, more inappropriate, revealing and irreverent experiences l've had in eight years of podcasting. Having said that, if you're easily offended, this probably ain't for you. Enjoy. Or avoid.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In part 3 with Kelly, we unpacked her last five questions and they, are these... 1. When did you stop equating your physicality with contentment/happiness? 2. What's next after the PhD? 3. You have the opportunity to interview anyone - dead or alive - who is it and why? 4. Name one thing that you have learnt in the course of your PhD that has absolutely surprised you? 5. If you died tomorrow what is the one thing you would want people to remember you for? Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kelly Smith is a long-time TYP listener and when I recently did a callout for some listener questions, Kelly volunteered to be the on-air asker of said questions. Rather than do that, I suggested she come up with some originals, slide into the virtual TYP studio and interview me on my own podcast. And she did. Not surprisingly I waffled, so this chat is going to air in three parts. This is part two and here's what I was asked. (1) What is it within yourself that has led towards what could be described as a life of service? (2) When did being accountable click for you? (3) Describe your favourite kind of person (4) How do you know when it's time to stop? Not quit but just pull back a bit in order to preserve energy or headspace (5) You can only do one exercise for the rest of your life - what is it? Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kelly Smith is a long-time TYP listener and when I recently did a callout for some listener questions, Kelly volunteered to be the on-air asker of said questions. Rather than do that, I suggested she come up with some originals, slide into the virtual TYP studio and interview me on my own podcast. And she did. Not surprisingly I waffled, so this chat will go to air in three parts. In part one, here's what I was asked. (1) In the health/wellbeing/fitness space is there anyone or any single message you feel is absolutely on point at the moment? (2) Opposite of that - is there any messaging that you feel is completely inaccurate? (3) Do you feel like your style has changed recently and that you are more vulnerable in your approach? And if so, why? (4) What is the biggest lesson you have learnt in the past ten years? (5) What has been the most challenging part of your PhD? Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Cam just got back from Bali where he did a deep dive on.. Dr. Cam. He went to the metaphoric room of mirrors for a long hard look, and he told me (us) it was one of the most powerful and amazing experiences of his life. I'm gonna say up front, I loved this chat. The Doc was incredibly raw, real and humble as he unpacked his recent life-changing experience. It was so nice talking with a bloke about feelings, vulnerability, authenticity, spirituality, learning, unlearning and having an inside-out personal revelation, revolution and transformation. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode I’m exploring more listener questions. I endeavoured to pick questions that were broadly relevant and as I always say, keep in mind that none of this personal advice or prescription, just me thinking out loud. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Of course, there's no single answer to that question - there are countless factors and variables. But with that in mind, Bobby and I had a chat about one of our favourite books (and one of the most influential psychological books of the 20th century): ‘Man's Search for Meaning’ by Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, and Holocaust survivor, Dr. Viktor Frankl. I really enjoyed this conversation.theselfhelpantidote.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood - 'once called the disease of Kings' because only rich people got it - and over the last decade or two, new cases have exploded across all social, cultural and financial demographics (so not just rich people). Historically, it was believed that gout was caused by eating too much red meat, seafood and dairy but of course, Gillespo is here to dispel that thinking and talk about the real culprit. Sugar, of course.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"What's the worst thing that can happen" is a question l've asked myself repeatedly over the years and many times it's been the single strategy that got me to say yes to things I needed to, which were often also the things that scared the metaphoric sh*t out of me. Believing that I could survive the worst-case scenario is often what got me to take a first step. Apart from that question, Dr. Jodi and I also chat about the power of delaying gratification, intelligence vs. knowledge, people who have zero fear because they have a 'broken' amygdala, the lifelong influence of our favourite school teacher, parents passing down their dysfunctional behaviours and habits to their kids and lots more. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

That title is not even a joke. Tammy Van Wisse actually lost 10kgs in 9 hours (and 6 minutes), swimming forty kilometres in the extremely cold water of Loch Ness, while trying not to get eaten by a f**king monster. This was Tammy's second visit to TYP and this chat was a truly fascinating insight into weirdness and wonder of marathon swimming at the highest jevel, from a practical, psychological and physiological perspective. Learn about Tammy's encounters with Tiger and Brown snakes while swimming the 2,438 kilometres of the Murray River (WTF!), the time she almost got eaten by a great white shark (for real), the buoyancy difference between fresh and salt water, the process of 'getting fat' for endurance events and the science behind it, the time her brother John 'kind of' died swimming the English Channel with her (and the Aussie Olympic legend who dived in to save him) and lots more. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andy Gowers is the President of the Hawthorn Football Club, former Director of Football, former player (140 games across three clubs) and member of Hawthorn's 1991 premiership team. Andy and I had fun chatting about all the football and non-football stuff that makes an AFL club 'work.’ Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Bill is back for another chat and as Mary Harper would say "this was a goodie". Among other things, we talk about the evolution of religion (sounds contradictory doesn't it?), the beliefs we have that we didn't choose, being emotionally attached to a particular ideology, philosophy and/or theology, religion being the ultimate drug, the 'self' as an illusion, our fear of uncertainty, our need to 'be right', the relationship between beliefs and identity, unconscious programming and how groups (of all kinds) manipulate members to think, behave and live a certain way. Just the simple stuff (lol).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bobby's back informing, educating and inspiring us towards bigger and better things. Or maybe, smaller and better things? Among other things, we talk about whether the 'all or nothing' approach is an effective or ineffective protocol on the 'thinking, doing and being better' journey. Personally, I'm all for some strategic 'nothing' days. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lucas Aoun is a Melbourne-based naturopath, biohacker, and health optimisation expert renowned for his work in enhancing human health and performance through cutting-edge strategies and now, he's pretty-much a TYP regular (it's his third visit). I gotta be honest, this chat was as funny as it was educational and inspirational. Admittedly, we may have spent too long chatting about the benefits of, and protocol for, 'Nocturnal Scrotal Cooling' (icing your balls at night) but I'll let you be the judge. Sorry. Not sorry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To be honest, the idea of a loved-one being 'brought back to life' using Al (images, video, audio) to create a virtual post-death version of that person, who can 'talk to loved ones left behind, kind of creeps me out. But that's just me. For some people, it's apparently comforting and therapeutic. Patrick, Tiff and I cover quite a bit of ground in this episode and not surprisingly, a lot of it isn't about tech. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I threw out the invitation, and in those questions came. Over the next few weeks, l'll record and post a few of these eps where l'm exploring different topics, ideas and questions sent in by you; our trusty and loyal TYP’ers. In this ep I explore training with dodgy knees, backs and general old-person injuries and issues, being motivated but not disciplined, the potential danger of being too hyper-focused on analysing and re-inventing every aspect of our lives, how I maintain high (ish) intensity training while minimising risk, where to start when you're trying to get your sh** together with your food and lots more. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By the end of June (2025) @pilates will comprise thirty Pilates studios; not a bad effort considering the organisation was little more than an idea for Russell and Tara Jarrett just four years ago. What I love most about their story is that is that these two are becoming peak performers in their 50's (Russ is 57, Tara 56) and having known them for three decades, it's been fun watching two people 'get better' (and not just in business) at a stage in life when most people are definitely not thinking about learning new things, unlearning old things, developing new skills, studying, taking risks, getting uncomfortable on purpose, winding back their biological clocks and of course, building a successful business and brand. And yes, we also tapped into the Exercise Physiologist's brain, spoke about all-things fitness/strength and answered some listener questions. Enjoy.atpilates.studioSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We sit more than ever. We move less than ever. And it's wrecking our health. In this episode, I unpack why sitting for eight-plus hours a day (with no movement) carries a death risk similar to smoking. From metabolic dysfunction to muscle atrophy, to brain fog to increased disease risk, we're paying the price for comfort. I share some facts, ask some hard questions, and offer simple, practical ways to reclaim your health... one movement at a time. Your body's not a chair accessory. Maybe it’s time to take a stand for your health - see what I did there? Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apologies team, I’m away from the mic today (back tomorrow) but in the spirit of ‘a daily podcast’, I thought we’d revisit our all-time most popular, most listened to, and most shared podcast. For whatever reason, this message resonated powerfully with many people and we have never received more feedback about any episode. For some of you it will be a brand new listen and for some of you, it might be a refresher. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Bobby and I talk about how, why and when people buy stuff (especially stuff they don't necessarily need), the psychology, perception and story of value, selling in a way that doesn't look or feel like selling, understanding what we're really selling (beyond the obvious product or service), establishing our own commercial worth in a market place of people doing what we do (or similar), how to impress without looking like you're.. trying to impress, a fascinating experiment involving a fake expensive shoe store (with a fake fancy Italian name) selling cheap shoes and manipulating people into paying a fortune for them. All that! Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Hannah is back and not only is she a Doctor of Neuropsychology but now (and even more impressive) she's a mum! As always the energy, info and inspo (as the kids call it) was great and we had fun chatting about the chasm between theoretical and experiential learning, the ever-increasing rate of diagnoses of mental health conditions, knowing when to chat to someone about your brain, creating an environment for optimal brain development for 0-5's (age group), Jeff the cat and the groundbreaking revelation (from the Doc) that babies require more effort, time and attention than pets. Who'da thought?Raising children networkSydney Neuropsych PracticeLifeline 13 11 14 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How much free will do we actually have? How much are we controlled, determined, and driven by our genetics? And brain chemistry? Subconscious mind? Decades of programming? Fear? Of course, we love to think we're in control, but are we? TYP favourite Josh Piterman is back telling us about his new book (Behind the Mask) and along the way we do a deep dive into the mind, ego, soul, consciousness, fear, happiness, equanimity; you know.. the basics (lol). Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gillespo and the old-bodgey lifter of heavy things opened the protein door and had some fun exploring the science, the stories, the misinformation, the assumptions and the challenges for people eating certain types of diets. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to Nicole Liddell, "discipline is freedom" and if what she's been able to change, achieve and create over the last ten years is a byproduct of discipline, then I'd have to agree with her. Navigating mental health issues, obesity, poverty, domestic violence and a range of other challenges, and then evolving into the inspiration she is today (she wouldn't call herself that but I would), is nothing short of incredible. This is Nicole's second visit to TYP Central and just like the first one, l'm pretty sure most of you will love our conversation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is me thinking out-loud about success. The idea of it. The experience of it. The cultural story of it. The marketing and branding of it. What it is and isn't. Why some 'successful people' are miserable and some people that society would label poor are mentally, emotionally and experientially rich. Why we keep moving the goal posts. Why the idea of it (success) is rarely the experience of it. And lots more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.