Reuben Cotter didn't think any of this would happen. Two ACLs and three years on the sideline before he'd properly started — now he's not only a State of Origin player but a Wally Lewis Medal winner (Player of the Series) and captain of the Cowboys.

Ahead of Origin tomorrow night, we pulled this part of the podcast we recorded with Reuben back in mid-2024. He talks about how he actually got there, what Billy Slater's camp is really like, the day seven Cowboys got the Origin call at a team dinner, and why he wouldn't change those three years for anything.

Listen to the full episode - #52: Reuben Cotter: Journey to Captaincy, ACL & Family Life:
Spotify
Apple
YouTube

Or you may also enjoy:
#164 Jai Arrow: Fatherhood and What Really Matters
#34 Harry Grant: Melbourne Storm Captaincy, Almost Dying and Happy Birthday

Reuben Cotter didn't think any of this would happen. Two ACLs and three years on the sideline before he'd properly started &mdash; now he's not only a State of Origin player but a Wally Lewis Medal winner (Player of the Series) and captain of the Cowboys.
Ahead of Origin tomorrow night, we pulled this part of the podcast we recorded with Reuben back in mid-2024. He talks about how he actually got there, what Billy Slater's camp is really like, the day seven Cowboys got the Origin call at a team dinner, and why he wouldn't change those three years for anything. Listen to the full episode - #52: Reuben Cotter: Journey to Captaincy, ACL &amp; Family Life: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/00LkA5At7gcAd6dD4Prids?si=OFnph1CGRk2W-_s1xwS67A">Spotify</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/52-reuben-cotter-journey-to-captaincy-acl-family-life/id1695873736?i=1000659148772">Apple</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBXuh3oPct0">YouTube</a> Or you may also enjoy: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/0pt58KGH008CDE9ICD8gkF?si=YhcRUEfST2-izuLqFJRTQQ">#164 Jai Arrow: Fatherhood and What Really Matters</a> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/2CZl3VJsXm7r9Hsl3auqzt?si=kF56hNdXR0e_NQWMtYge6A">#34 Harry Grant: Melbourne Storm Captaincy, Almost Dying and Happy Birthday</a>

Ever wondered what drives the world’s top athletes beyond the scoreboard?

Former professional NRL player Keegan Hipgrave uncovers the untold truths about mental health, resilience, and redefining success - one candid conversation at a time.

Ever wondered what drives the world&rsquo;s top athletes beyond the scoreboard?
Former professional NRL player Keegan Hipgrave uncovers the untold truths about mental health, resilience, and redefining success - one candid conversation at a time.

Keegan and Company

Reuben Cotter: Origin & Billy Slater in Camp | Moments Episode #20

This week we sat down with Adam Elliott. He signed his first NRL contract at 14 and has played nearly 200 games since.

Last year tested all of it. His dad died of cancer. His partner was pregnant, his bicep was ruptured, his contract was up, and for the first time in a career that started as a teenager, people were openly questioning whether he could still play. So he leant in, kept putting in the work on his own, and landed a spot at South Sydney under Wayne Bennett. Despite all the challenges reckons he has never felt more grateful for what footy has given him.

We get into the last conversations he had with his dad and the words his old man left him with, what it actually takes to keep going when the doubt is loudest, the dinner-plate trick he uses to stay a present father, why he still writes things down, and the moment his brother James became part of the team.

For more just like this, listen to:
#101 Kieran Foran: "I Just Wanted to Have Peace". 
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
YouTube

#79 Reagan Campbell-Gillard: Losing Mum & Brother in 18 Months. 
Spotify 
Apple Podcasts
YouTube

Listen and subscribe: 
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
YouTube

Follow for more: 
Podcast Instagram: @keeganandcompanypodcast
Keegan's Instagram: @keeganhipgrave
TikTok: @keeganandcompany

This week we sat down with Adam Elliott. He signed his first NRL contract at 14 and has played nearly 200 games since.
Last year tested all of it. His dad died of cancer. His partner was pregnant, his bicep was ruptured, his contract was up, and for the first time in a career that started as a teenager, people were openly questioning whether he could still play. So he leant in, kept putting in the work on his own, and landed a spot at South Sydney under Wayne Bennett. Despite all the challenges reckons he has never felt more grateful for what footy has given him.
We get into the last conversations he had with his dad and the words his old man left him with, what it actually takes to keep going when the doubt is loudest, the dinner-plate trick he uses to stay a present father, why he still writes things down, and the moment his brother James became part of the team.
For more just like this, listen to: #101 Kieran Foran: "I Just Wanted to Have Peace". <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/5EqN4EDNha4N1tHmbF99xQ">Spotify</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/101-kieran-foran-i-just-wanted-to-have-peace/id1695873736?i=1000704173075&amp;uo=4">Apple Podcasts</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZsxlYbs3O8">YouTube</a> #79 Reagan Campbell-Gillard: Losing Mum &amp; Brother in 18 Months. <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/3qdYMdfgl5hSJnYJYWa8D0">Spotify</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/79-reagan-campbell-gillard-losing-mum-brother-in-18/id1695873736?i=1000677204693&amp;uo=4">Apple Podcasts</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOg12Npoxmk">YouTube</a>
Listen and subscribe: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4L7zyEBXeNYBDK4rRjBK0K">Spotify</a> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/keegan-and-company/id1695873736">Apple Podcasts</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Keeganandcompany">YouTube</a>
Follow for more: Podcast Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/keeganandcompanypodcast/">@keeganandcompanypodcast</a> Keegan's Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/keeganhipgrave/">@keeganhipgrave</a> TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@keeganandcompany">@keeganandcompany</a>

#187 Adam Elliott: Injury, Grief & Fatherhood In One Year

Alexis Fernandez-Preiksa is a cognitive neuroscientist, best-selling author and host of one of the world's biggest psychology podcasts, Do You F*cking Mind? She is also one of the warmest, most down-to-earth people to ever sit across the mic from Keegan.

We talked about the fluke that pulled her out of acting and into neuroscience (one guest lecture, a slide of a dissected brain, and a snap decision to change her major), and why she reckons passion never just shows up at your door fully formed. We got into monotasking, the dog walks with no headphones and the shower ideas that come when you finally let your mind be bored, and the line that stuck with Keegan: your thoughts get quieter and your creativity gets louder. Alexis broke down the Gottman research on "bids for connection" and the tennis-ball rule that quietly decides whether couples last, the "treat them like the love of your life for three months" experiment that ended in a marriage, why desperation is really just fear of loss, and how to actually move through a breakup, including the science of the tactical cry. Plus becoming a present dad, the nights being long but the years being short, and Alexis's three pillars of happiness: growth, purpose and connection.

If you enjoyed this episode you will also enjoy: 
#171 The Psychology of Flow w/ Dr Megan Lee 
#184 Alexi Pappas: How to Become Fearless & Why Shortcuts Are Poison
#170 Grace Grove: Doctor, Runner & Content Creator Being Yourself & Ditching Toxic Productivity

Follow Alexis: 
Instagram: @alexisfernandezpreiksa
Podcast Instagram: @doyoufkingmind
Spotify: Do You F*cking Mind?

Alexis Fernandez-Preiksa is a cognitive neuroscientist, best-selling author and host of one of the world's biggest psychology podcasts, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6PBH5UKhZ4P8rtmwQ84Dfg?si=7f32f23795db46d2">Do You F*cking Mind?</a> She is also one of the warmest, most down-to-earth people to ever sit across the mic from Keegan.
We talked about the fluke that pulled her out of acting and into neuroscience (one guest lecture, a slide of a dissected brain, and a snap decision to change her major), and why she reckons passion never just shows up at your door fully formed. We got into monotasking, the dog walks with no headphones and the shower ideas that come when you finally let your mind be bored, and the line that stuck with Keegan: your thoughts get quieter and your creativity gets louder. Alexis broke down the Gottman research on "bids for connection" and the tennis-ball rule that quietly decides whether couples last, the "treat them like the love of your life for three months" experiment that ended in a marriage, why desperation is really just fear of loss, and how to actually move through a breakup, including the science of the tactical cry. Plus becoming a present dad, the nights being long but the years being short, and Alexis's three pillars of happiness: growth, purpose and connection.
If you enjoyed this episode you will also enjoy:&nbsp; <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/2KrRA27SEWyFK5COKEVF1O?si=SK-kqfGzT7KPkvkSTr4JOQ">#171 The Psychology of Flow w/ Dr Megan Lee</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/6rtUO816tmsRMX6S0PQ1PD?si=gRsU7dakTjWPI0da0Hp8HQ">#184 Alexi Pappas: How to Become Fearless &amp; Why Shortcuts Are Poison</a> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/66s6NgrIrs0qikhJTksnpN?si=yqvu5DBiQ3m3sRnIJ6PVvg">#170 Grace Grove: Doctor, Runner &amp; Content Creator Being Yourself &amp; Ditching Toxic Productivity</a>
Follow Alexis: Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/alexisfernandezpreiksa/">@alexisfernandezpreiksa</a> Podcast Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/doyoufckingmind/">@doyoufkingmind</a> Spotify: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6PBH5UKhZ4P8rtmwQ84Dfg?si=7f32f23795db46d2">Do You F*cking Mind?</a>

#186 Alexis Fernandez (DYFM?) The Neuroscience of Connection, Creativity & Heartbreak

You can't outthink your mental health problems. You can sit at home and ruminate, or you can get outside and move. One of those makes it worse. The other doesn't fix everything, but it's a foundation. Strong body first, stronger mind from there.

Kori got sober nearly four years ago, got diagnosed with ADHD, and has spent the years since chasing bigger and bigger things. His first marathon, then a 50k in the Alps, a 220km race in Africa, running the entire length of England. Now he's signed with On and completing all the World Marathon Majors.

We discuss what drove him to keep going bigger. What was the point of it all? Why running across a country didn't give him the fulfilment he expected, and how he came to realise that bigger isn't always better. That at some point, you've done enough.

You can't outthink your mental health problems. You can sit at home and ruminate, or you can get outside and move. One of those makes it worse. The other doesn't fix everything, but it's a foundation. Strong body first, stronger mind from there.
Kori got sober nearly four years ago, got diagnosed with ADHD, and has spent the years since chasing bigger and bigger things. His first marathon, then a 50k in the Alps, a 220km race in Africa, running the entire length of England. Now he's signed with On and completing all the World Marathon Majors.
We discuss what drove him to keep going bigger. What was the point of it all? Why running across a country didn't give him the fulfilment he expected, and how he came to realise that bigger isn't always better. That at some point, you've done enough.

Reuben Cotter: Origin & Billy Slater in Camp | Moments Episode #20

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