The You Project

According to Integrative Doctor Michelle Woolhouse, sometimes we are our own worst enemy. I know I can be somewhat 'self-critical' (to say the least) and to be totally honest, part of me feels like I need to treat myself somewhat harshly to get the best out of me. Clearly, I have some deep-seated, alpha-male bullsh*t that needs to be dealt with (lol). Anyway, apart from my numerous issues, the Good Doc and I chat about the intersection of East and West in Integrative Medicine, how our thinking affects our immune system (psychoneuroimmunology, PNI), how self-healing works, the strategic use of placebos as a legitimate treatment option, what inflammation does to our health, the power of encouragement to improve performance, mood and mindset, how a doctor's communication style with a patient can impact medical outcomes (for better or worse) and lots more. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you don't take control of your life, it will take control of you and you probably won't like the outcome. But you know this already. This is not news. So, what's stopping you? Your life is always telling you something. Always sending you messages. Informing you. Whispering. Screaming. About how you're living. What you're doing and not doing. What's great and what's crap. What's working and what's not. What's healthy and what's toxic. What's productive and what's destructive. Don't be a passenger in your own life. Get in the driver's seat.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The reason for this curious title is apparent early in the conversation. In this episode, Patrick and I talk about the ever evolving technological landscape, my strange habit of saying ‘please and thank you' to ChatGPT (in the hope that, in the robot uprising they will remember my courtesy), the new wildly expense Apple Vision Pro googles, the radio work Patrick has been doing to provide sporting commentary for people with vision impairment, my impending Tai Chi lessons (with Patrick the Tai Chi guru), new glasses for blind people (weird, I know) that can read and translate to audio for the wearer and lots more. Enjoy websitesnow.com.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being scared is an unavoidable part of being human. Of course we don't love it but perhaps choosing to do things certain things that scare us (not all) is a good idea? An opportunity for growth, learning, skill-development, resilience and understanding? An opportunity to build our courage muscles? Maybe some of the things we're scared of, need to be embraced, not avoided? I'm of the opinion that the right amount (and type) of 'scared' can change our lives (and us) for the better.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this somewhat unique episode, Food Scientist, Nutritionist and TYP regular Matty Lansdown and I discuss the recent Netflix series titled 'You Are What You Eat', which extols the virtues of a plant-based diet. In a time when people can get a little hysterical (on all sides) about how to eat, exercise, vote, live (etc.), it can be tough to have an objective and reasonable conversation about a topic that can divide, confuse and even incite hate speech. BTW, one of my best friends (Patrick, who features on TYP) is a healthy vegan, so I'm definitely not a critic but rather, a curious observer of what's currently happening in the great food debate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let's be honest.. life's not fair, it doesn't care about your feelings, bad things happen to good people, good things happen to bad people (WTF?), hard work doesn't always pay off and in general terms... sh*t happens. And in the middle of the unfairness, the mayhem and the discomfort (and also., the good, joyful and beautiful), you and I need to do what we can, where we are, with what we've got to work with. Well, Mark Berridge has been navigating the mess and mayhem in a very specific way for the last five years and he joins me on this episode to discuss the practical, emotional and psychological challenges of having your reality changed forever in a single moment. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luke Darcy is a former AFL champion, TV presenter, sports commentator, entrepreneur, father of 4 and husband to the lovely Rebecca (who was a brilliant PT in one of my gyms). Luke and I went far and wide in this catch-up; talking about life after professional sport, some funny moments as an inept (and reluctant) tennis commentator, how he trained himself to commentate on the footy as a kid, the stress of watching his 209cm son (Sam) playing in the AFL, building a retreat in Bali, becoming a businessman and lots more. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you understand you? Who you are, how you are and why you are, the way you are? Sometimes I don't understand my own thoughts, actions, reactions, choices and outcomes, and l've been on a journey of self-discovery, self-awareness and self-regulation for most of my adult life! And while I definitely haven't reached enlightenment, l'm happy to say that I have moved the self-awareness needle a little over the last few decades. I believe that having a greater understanding and awareness of ourselves on a physical, mental, emotional and sociological level is crucial to improving our life, both practically and experientially. Anyway, this episode is me thinking out-loud about all of that. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dayne Beams was an elite AFL player, having played 177 games for Collingwood and Brisbane between 2009 and 2020. Dayne was named in the all-Australian team, he is a Collingwood premiership player, he captained Brisbane for two years, won best & fairest awards at both Collingwood and Brisbane, and for a range of interesting reasons (which you'll hear about in this chat), he left footy at the ripe old age of 30. In this episode of TYP, Dayne and I talk about his battle with addiction (prescription drugs and gambling) and the dramatic (and dangerous) start to his sobriety journey, we talk about mental health, losing and gaining friends, self-discovery, finding a new purpose, connecting with people who have been where we are, and lots more. EnjoySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's official; blokes are shooting weaker loads. Less volume and fewer swimmers. Science huh? If I get too technical, let me know. Over the last eighty years, sperm production by the average producer (there's a term) is down by about seventy-five percent; from 134 million sperm (per ml) on average in 1941, to less than 40 million (per ml) in recent times. Typical sperm production and ejaculate volume (hope you're not eating breakfast) are both way down and continue to plummet. According to David Gillespie, at our current trajectory, by 2040 the average bloke's sperm production will make him unviable for fatherhood. So why is this happening and what can we do about it? Take a listen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.