The You Project

According to Gillespo, us blokes are producing less and less swimmers, fertility levels are plummeting and in the not-too-distant future, couples ability to be able to produce offspring could be dependant on some kind of medical intervention. It's a good thing l'm a hundred years past my use-by date. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Jeff is back and this episode is one of the more meandering, informal, getting-to-know-you (type of) chats I've had with the Doc, and I loved it. We spoke about self-experimentation, biofeedback, personalised medicine, biohacks, the future direction of it all, the need for some 'anti-establishment' thinking and why Big Pharma (and the like) definitely don't want any research dollars or energy going into any of that mind-body, self-healing (placebo type) stuff. Imagine if we actually had the potential to heal ourselves? That's definitely gonna f**k with someone’s bottom line a p**s off a few million shareholders. Enjoy.recellebrate.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is a deep dive into the single most powerful, confusing and occasionally uncooperative thing you own - your brain. In this episode we strip away the jargon and talk in normal-people language about how your 1.3kg prediction machine actually works - why it reacts before you think, why you repeat patterns, what stress does to your operating system, and how much you can genuinely rewire. It's not a neuroscience lecture; it's a user manual for running your brain - and your life - better. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if some of the physical benefits of exercise could be delivered in a capsule? It sounds like sci-fi, but two new scientific studies suggest we might be inching closer to that reality. In this fascinating episode, Tiff and I sit down with geneticist, author and science communicator Professor Bill Sullivan Jr. to unpack the growing field of exercise mimetics - therapies designed to replicate certain physiological effects of working out, without the sweat session. As you'd imagine, I have a few philosophical objections and questions but nonetheless, it's interesting research with vast potential, this was a fun chat with one of my favourites and no, the pill is not intended to become a 'replacement' (per se) but rather a potential option for some individuals with certain limitations and challenges. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This time Tiff and I explore the differing concepts of "the best" (diet, workout, job, lifestyle, strategy, protocol) and "our best," highlighting that what's optimal for one person will be sub-optimal, or even dangerous, for another. Is there really a "best" diet? Or fitness program? Is there a (single) best way to grow a business? Build a brand? What about relationships? Is there only one way to build a great marriage? Or friendship? As we continue on our personal growth journey, maybe our biggest challenges isn't to discover "the" best but rather, "our" best.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patrick's back at TYP Central opening the 'Tech' door - and few doors that should stay shut to be honest - but nonetheless, information was shared, stories were told, laughter was had, education was scarce, inspiration missed out altogether and Tiff did her best to wrangle the two overaged teenagers into some kind of cohesive, intelligible and meaningful dialogue. I'll let you decide if she had mission success or not. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're ever chatting with Tiff or Bobby, whatever you do, don't use the ‘M' word. It sets them off. I'm not even joking. I used it to describe a cookie that wasn't dry or brittle but apparently, it's an unacceptable adjective. To describe anything. Ever. Other than not-dry cookies, we chatted about the old-school self-help pioneers that greatly influenced Bobby and I when we were young up-and-coming Speakers and Coaches, we delved into the emerging reality of people forming 'relationships' with Al, my (and Tiff's) propensity to be 'polite' when chatting with ChatGPT (please love me), the many benefits of working in hospitality at some stage of our employment journey and apart from all the silly-ness, Bobby opened the vulnerability door and shared some amazing stories and insights from his childhood. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a Paramedic, Scott Douglas has seen some sh*t. Been in the middle of mayhem he'll never forget. Seen things that he can't unsee. And while those events, experiences and situations are in the past, the consequences still live in the now. As they do for many people. Maybe you? This instalment of TYP is not a solution or prescription but it is a conversation that's relevant for many and hopefully helpful for some. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

lan Williams is good man helping other good - but often struggling - men to manage their physical, mental and emotional health, which is why he created an app called 'Good Men Helping Good Men.’ lan and I are definitely kindred spirits, which is why I felt like I was chatting with an old Mate, even though we only just met. Oh, and in case you're wondering about the five pillars.. (1) Work and Life Flow (2) Health and Fitness (3) Social Connections (4) Internal Work (5) Love and Relationships. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your brain isn't responding to the world. It's responding to what it thinks the world is. In this episode, we explore the physiological consequences of thinking - how belief, expectation, interpretation, and meaning can literally change the body. Not metaphorically. Biologically. You'll hear about the knee surgery that "worked" even though the surgery never happened. Parkinson's patients whose brains released dopamine because they believed they were medicated. Hotel housekeepers who got fitter, leaner, and healthier without changing anything except how they thought about their work. Athletes who got dramatically stronger because they believed they were taking steroids - when they weren't. And a bloke who nearly died from an overdose that didn't exist - the nocebo effect in full flight. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kerryn Vaughan is definitely not your shy little-wallflower type. She's more a punch-you-in-the-face and then give you a hug... type. She encourages, supports, educates (and maybe scares) people to think better, do better, be better and create better results.She does that as a Speaker, Author, Podcaster and Coach and we sure had a fun (and somewhat loose) chat. EnjoySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Psychologists, Theologians, Philosophers, Stoics, Scientists and a Bogan from Latrobe Valley have been trying to identify, understand and get-to-know the 'self' for millennia. With absolutely no qualifications or credibility, Tiff and I continue the exploration in - what can only be described as - a convergence of pseudo-science, psychology, humour, and complete conversational mayhem. If you're looking for some high-brow education, this is not the episode for you but I will say that the last five minutes might be the TYP moment that gets us pulled off the air. Funny though. Totally worth it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For years, "Stage 3" toddler milk has been the food industry's most brilliant, cynical, and profitable loophole. It was a legal way to hook parents on a brand, all while selling them a sugary, unnecessary product. Now, that loophole is snapping shut. In Australia, it just destroyed a 30-year regulatory agreement. And in the US, it's the target of a new fraud lawsuit that's smarter, sharper, and far more dangerous than the "ultra-processed" cases that have already failed. The industry's celebrated loophole isn't just becoming its noose; it's the key that could unlock the industry's entire playbook of deception. *Copy thanks to Gillespo.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Personal development, self-help, human optimisation - they are all 'doing’ processes. Away from the products, programs, books, podcasts and workshops, personal development is something we do, not something we buy. Sometimes that 'doing' is messy, terrifying, uncomfortable and slow, but also... exactly what's required to achieve our goals and fulfil our potential. Tiff and I explore this idea and lots more in this somewhat vulnerable chat (I seriously need to stop having vulnerable on-air chats, it's exhausting - lol). Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I don't often say this but to be honest, it was a pretty sh*t week on Planet Craig. That's just the simple, practical truth. Lots of people that I care about (including my dad) going through some really tough stuff. Of course I'm not alone in this, it's a common occurrence for many of us but I thought I'd chat about my crap week and share my thoughts, ideas, choices and experiences about dealing with the stuff we don't want in our lives - sickness, death, uncertainty and frustration - in the hope that it might be helpful to some of you going through your own sh*t week (month, year).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I posted a whiteboard message on my Insta this week titled: "A Bit F**ked. A Lot Human." Dr. Sam reached out to tell me that the message resonated with her and that she wanted to unpack it with me on TYP, so that's what we did. drsamcasey.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are people building emotional attachments to Al? Are some of us in a (kind-of) 'relationship' with ChatGPT? Can biology connect with technology in that way? Do people really get weird around full moons? How long until humanoid (human-like) robots are in our homes? Why are ultra-HD TV's a waste of money? How can we improve our memory and recall? What are the pros and cons of online shopping? What's the deal with the raw milk movement? Can fitness trackers f**k with our self-esteem and make us feel bad about ourselves? Patrick and I covered it all in this action-packed TYPinstalment. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Research tells us (actual *research, not bro science) that it takes anywhere between 18 - 254 days to change a habit. Of course, that's not 'absolute' but it is the typical range. The giving up of ‘the old' and the hardwiring of ‘the new' is a multidimensional process. That is, there are a bunch of moving parts and variables. There's no three-step plan, no quick-fix and no magic habit-changing pill but nonetheless, Bobby and I give the topic a good crack. Enjoy. *REF: European Journal of Social Psychology (2009).theselfhelpantidote.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hi Team, today we're revisiting one of my favourite eps with the fascinating, funny and compassionate, Dr. Mark Cross. I loved our chat and personally, learned a bunch. He is the first openly gay man to win ‘Father of the Year’, he is a highly-respected Psychiatrist, Successful Author, Media Presenter and has lived experience of one of the conditions he treats - he’s been anxious since he was four. We spoke about too much to list here but I suspect most of you will love it and him. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, I happened across an amazing voice on Instagram (@franthesinger) and like a total anonymous loser, I reached out on the IG message thingy and said something clumsy and not-cool to the very-cool singer from New York like "hey Fran, you're ace, do you want to be on my podcast?" To my total surprise and delight, she said "yes." I absolutely loved this chat and towards the end Fran gave me (and you) a 'gift' which will go down as one of my all-time favourite TYP moments. Ever.@franthesingerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's hard anyway? Is it a universal standard? Or is it a subjective evaluation, experience or attitude? Could my 'hard' be your 'easy'? Could your 10 out of 10 'hard' become a 'not hard at all' over time? Does hard exist as an independent thing or is it just a personal story we tell ourselves? In this chat with Kelly, we unpack the psychology, emotion, purpose and value of 'hard' in our lives. BTW, I think this is our best chat to date. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wondered why some people thrive in high-pressure situations while others crumble under everyday stress? In this episode Tiff, Bobby and I explore the paradox of how we respond to different levels of crisis in - what can seem to be - an over or under reaction. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine having tech implanted in your head that connects your brain to the internet - meaning you could have both Y.I. (You Intelligence) and A.I. in your head at the same time. Well, it's coming. Apart from that terrifying prospect, Dr. Jeff, Tiff and I talk about reversing ageing, creating human tissue in the lab to treat injuries, grounding (feet in dirt), cardio vs. strength training, living long vs. living well, new tools and treatments on the biohacking horizon and lots more. **Note: Transhumanism is a movement that aims to enhance the human condition - physically, cognitively, and emotionally - through advanced technologies. At its core, it's about using science and technology to transcend biological limitations: aging, disease, cognitive decline, even death. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To be honest, I felt a little unqualified (and I am) to have this chat exploring the potential relationship between women who do or don't breastfeed, and how that might affect their chances of being affected by breast cancer. Nonetheless, it was an important and fascinating conversation which was prompted by some very recent research. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a world motivated and manipulated by the idea and reality of instant gratification, getting people to 'wait' when the dopamine button is right in front of them ain't easy. This is a chat about that and lots more. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"You're such a child" are words I've had directed at me for the entirety of my adult life. And to that I say, "correct." Just ask my mum. Without play, without fun, without creativity, I would be pretty miserable. Living a life of meaning, purpose and service (if that's of interest to you), doesn't need to come at the cost of play. In fact, the incorporation of intentional play (fun, problem solving, communication, teamwork, creativity - all parts of play) might be the very thing that makes us better at all the other 'grown-up' stuff. This chat with Cas Holman about the power of play was insightful, provocative (in a good way) and enjoyable.casholman.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the world of social media memes, madness and mayhem, the claim "I've done my research" is usually a euphemism for the far more accurate "I read, heard or watched something on the internet." In this TYP instalment, Professor Bill and I chat about the recent media hysteria around an alleged link between Tylenol (paracetamol in Australia) and autism. And while l'm no expert, it's fair to say that the bloke who's both a Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology and a Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Indiana University School of Medicine (The Prof.) is more medically informed and qualified to comment than most. So he did. And I listened. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nope, it's not resilience. And nope, it's not grit. Or discipline. Or will power. They might all live in the same psychological suburb but only hardiness is hardiness. Paul Taylor (with his brand-new shiny PhD.) is back at TYP chatting about his new book (The Hardiness Effect) and sharing the inspiration and education with the usual abundance of facts and fucks. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Self-worth is the fundamental sense of your own value and significance as a person, independent of achievements, appearance, status, or others' approval - well, according to the dictionary that's what it's meant to be anyway. But away from the 'theory' it seems that for many of us, our version of self-worth is actually intertwined with the very things the dictionary tells us it 'should' have nothing to do with. This chat with Kelly and Tiff was an interesting reflection on a complicated component of the human experience. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"It's not really about tech is it?" That's what someone asked (told?) me today, when talking to me about the fortnightly 'Patrick' episodes. To which I replied, "nah, not really." Of course, we have an intention to talk tech each time - and I even have a Patrick-supplied list of relevant topics - but mostly the conversation descends into some kind of mildly amusing ‘tech-flavoured' conversational rabble. This time is no different. You've been warned.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WTF is a coach? Business coaches. Life coaches. Performance coaches. Health coaches. Financial coaches (yep!). So many coaches. Who are they? Where did they come from? How did they become one? Are there any regulations? Specific qualifications? Do I need one? Should I avoid them? Have they been successful themselves? What does 'good coaching' look like? In this chat with Bobby and Tiff, we explore the rapidly expanding industry that is coaching (in all its forms). Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trying to understand how our individual mind, brain, emotions, and body respond to, and interact with, the myriad stimuli in a typical day - work, exercise, food, people, weather, environment, events - is an ever-present challenge. Trying to understand how to "optimise" ourselves in the middle of all that, is even tougher. That's what this chat with Dr. Cam McDonald is all about.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m surprised that Andrea Leigh Rogers is not perpetually exhausted. She done, and continues to do, a lot! This was a fun episode with someone who has optimised and operationalised her skill, talent, energy, intellect, and opportunities more than most. Positive, practical, and passionate, I loved chatting with her. It dawned on me during this chat that, while her and I are kind-of totally different (in a way), we are also kind-of the same. **Andrea Leigh Rogers is a wellness entrepreneur, celebrity trainer, and creator of groundbreaking fitness sensation Xtend, a creative combination of traditional Pilates methods, ballet, and cardio. Featured in Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Elle, with live appearances on NBC, ABC, and CNN networks, she is a popular thought leader in health and movement communities and a youth skincare advocate, and her online workouts have been viewed millions of times. Enjoy.andrealeighrogers.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm pretty sure my job is good for my health because for the most part, it gives me joy, fulfilment, growth, connection, meaning and purpose. Of course there's some unavoidable crap but overall, the good far outweighs the bad. And l'm grateful. Dr. Lillian is back and this time we chat about how our work (role, environment, boss, culture, responsibilities, relationships, hours, travel) affects our physical, mental and emotional health - for better or worse. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hi Team, today we’re revisiting one of my favourite eps with Heston Russell. Heston is a Retired Special Forces Major, who after 16 years in the military and over 100 combat missions serving within the Special Forces, found his way to TYP Central for a chat and it (the conversation) was a revelation, inspiration and in some ways, not what I expected at all. I thought it would be good but it was brilliant. He was brilliant. We chatted about the mindset, morality and ethics around killing people when it’s part of your job (weird, I know), performing under the ultimate pressure (someone shooting at you), returning to ‘normal life’ after combat and some fascinating stuff that I don’t want to share in this overview because it will ruin the listening moment. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kelly Smith is back from her overseas jaunt and back at TYP sharing the love and banging questions my (and Tiff’s) way. I may have gotten a little evangelical and bossy with a few of my responses, so if you don’t feel like a ‘be all you can be’ (type of) coaching moment with the only child, see you tomorrow.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This time around, we chat about Transcranial Electrical Stimulation (TES) - say that ten times fast. The TGA has just approved TES for treating things like mental health (anxiety, depression, addiction), physical pain, motor learning issues, stroke recovery and fatigue. We also talk about carrots, Tiff's anger issues, and David's lack of respect for my research skills. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an uncomfortable but important topic to explore because unfortunately, it's a phenomenon that is not only widespread, but it's also on the rise. According to PhD researcher (and TYP regular) Nicole Liddell, an ever-increasing number of people (mostly women) are being subjected to different forms of coercive control, manipulation and abuse via technology. This is a chat about that.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tiff and I head down a philosophical rabbit hole in this one, chatting about life design, contentment, climbing the mountain, who we are when nobody's watching, why we don't change (even when we want to), understanding our mind, escaping our mind and lots more. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

*Hi Everyone!! Before you listen to this, just a quick heads-up... my guest Jane has a vocal cord injury which means her voice is relatively quiet, so it might take a little more listening effort than normal... also, her internet connection and microphone weren't awesome which means there are a few small gaps. Jane is a good friend of mine, former on-air radio partner for eight years and truly one of the most inspiring, courageous and loving people I know.. and I know some awesome humans. Please excuse the average audio quality but Jane's story, attitude and energy is incredible. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the bloke who’s allegedly our resident ’Tech Expert’, Patrick has quite the ability to not talk about technology for most of the episode. I blame Tiff. And Patrick. It’s definitely not me. Nonetheless, this was a lot of fun. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For this TYP instalment I sat down with Dr. Avi Charlton and talked all-things wellness, nutrition, optimal health and why she stepped away from the mainstream medical model to better treat and serve her patients. Dr. Avi is a GP, speaker, author, and thought leader in lifestyle medicine. She is the founder of Melbourne Low Carb Clinic and Breathe in Health, where she helps people reverse chronic conditions and improve wellbeing through nutrition, functional breathing, and lifestyle interventions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This time at TYP Central, Bobby and I chat about the myriad of variables which impact the way our brain works (or doesn't work), with a specific focus on the relationship between nutrition and cognitive performance. Oh, and lots of other stuff. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, it seems that three-hours is quite the time commitment, especially when it comes to listening to a single podcast, like episode 2,000. With that feedback ringing in my ears, today I'm sharing just the 'Melissa part' of that verbal marathon as a stand-alone episode for the many who missed out on the Queen of TYP (AKA my boss). For my newer listeners, Melissa is my Business Partner who prefers to be off-mic and behind the scenes, but just like the super shy Red Panda of the Himalayas, every now and then I manage to coax her out of her natural habitat (the TYP subterranean bunker) and into the studio (usually by dangling some kind of new Apple product in her face). Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes it feels like we're doing life on autopilot and often, that's because we are. Same habits, patterns, choices, actions, conversations, broken promises (often to ourselves) and outcomes that didn't really 'work' the last ten thousand times. But nonetheless, we find ourselves in day ten thousand and one, like a character in a story we didn't write, unconsciously stepping back into our very own mental, emotional, social and behavioural Groundhog Day. Consciously and intentionally changing our 'personal operating system' (the way we typically do things) is easier said than done (of course) but totally worth the effort.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This was a fascinating conversation about some medical news (controversy?) currently doing the rounds about pregnant women supplementing with folate and a potential link to gestational diabetes and (in other news...) pregnant women using paracetamol for pain management and a potential link to Autism (according a certain President). I'm sure you know what I'm talking about but before you dive in, let me remind you that two dudes (and Tiff) chatting on a podcast about this stuff on no level qualifies as medical advice. Interesting though.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is meaningful discussion between people with different views so rare? I think this is an important and timely question, so I decided to unpack it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the outside looking in, some people appear to be winning at life. But sometimes the curtain gets pulled back only to reveal that things aren't as they seem. At all. A picture of success externally, but chaos, mayhem and discontent internally. So, is success about what people can see, or what they can't? Or maybe it's a combination of the two? Bobby and I explore those questions and lots more. Enjoy.theselfhelpantidote.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not too long ago, biohacking was the (apparent) domain of weirdos, whack-jobs and cultural outliers. In 2025, it's moving from weird to normal and from "that's ridiculous" to "tell me how that works again." In this episode, Dr. Jeff and I explore the ever-evolving development and acceptance of biohacking - and some other related topics. **Biohacking is the practice of intentionally altering your biology to improve health, performance, and longevity. It can involve lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, sleep), supplements, technology (wearables, neurofeedback), or even experimental methods (genetic tinkering, nootropics, stem cells). At its core, biohacking is about self-experimentation - using science, data, and habits to optimise the body and mind. Enjoy.recellebrate.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Of course I'm talking about episode duration and I guess we're about to find out if almost three hours is excessive, because that's how long it took us (Tiff, Melissa, Me) to reflect on eight years and two thousand episodes of The You Project. As objective as I can be (not very) about something I was in the middle of, I think this might be in our all-time top ten. I loved it and love all of you for supporting me, us and this for so long. Thanks. Harps. xxSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rachel Pope is back at TYP Central exploring one of the most misunderstood and misrepresented of human experiences - grief. These are tough, but important and helpful conversations, which are - unfortunately - relevant to all of us at some stage. Rachel's book is called 'Gifts from Grief: A Journey Back Home.’See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.