In this solo episode, I unpack the sneaky psychological pattern known as the 'hedonic treadmill' - the reason we feel amazing when we hit a goal, and kinda flat not long after. We discuss why we keep chasing the next shiny thing. Why our wins wear off so fast. Why happiness doesn't keep up with our progress. Why and how our brains adapt to both the good and the bad. Why contentment often feels just out of reach, and - most importantly - what we can actually do about it all.This episode is part neuroscience, part psychology, part philosophy, and part practical. If you've ever wondered why success can still feel unsatisfying, or how to find more meaning between the wins, this episode is for you. Enjoy.

So much busy-ness, so little efficiency. Such a big investment of time, effort, energy and resources, such a poor return on that investment. So much potential, so little success. Ever had someone say "busy" when you ask them how they are? Me too. Ever had someone say "efficient". Me either. This is about that.

Among other things, this episode is a chat about tricking your mind into believing something that isn't real, in order to create an outcome that is both amazing and real, with your body. The chat revolves around some fascinating research that was conducted over fifty years ago involving one significant lie, fifteen athletes, fake steroids (placebos), and some mind-blowing test results. I love this story. Enjoy.

Bobby is back and this time we talk about the difference between self-care and self-indulgence, the intersection of frustration and curiosity, whether we have beliefs or they have us, doing meaningful work, opinions about opinions, training for mental fitness, finding the right protocol (for each of us individually), resilience, doing scary sh*t and lots more. Enjoy.  theselfhelpantidote.com

Of course Gillespo has written an article (on Substack) about the world's most controversial, talked-about and in-demand drug. So of course we chat about the magic product(?) that tells your brain you're full (so you eat less), slows down digestion (so you stay full longer) and lowers blood sugar levels (helps diabetics manage insulin). We should probably also mention the potential side-effects of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain and bloating, loss of appetite, fatigue, burping and acid reflux. Oh, and muscle loss, but who needs muscle?

Some people think I'm too blunt. Too direct. Too unsophisticated. Too bogan. Sometimes I agree with them. Some people resonate with my approach to personal development, human behaviour and the psychology of change and some don't. Of course. It's to be expected. And of course, I'm okay with that. I'm not trying to be all things to all people. In this brief solo episode, I chat about why I talk, write and teach the way I do. It's not a 'defence' but rather an insight into the rationale and reasoning behind my methodology.

Mary wouldn't like this title. Shh.. don't tell her. Dr. Jodi returns for another laid-back conversation with her calming voice, comforting energy, beautiful vulnerability and super-smart mind. Apart from lots of other interesting things, you'll learn about your sh*t threshold. Enjoy. drjodirichardson.com

This episode with Dr. Cam was my all-time favourite (with him) and it was f**king fascinating, broadly-relevant, enlightening and super practical. Having said that, it's a little sciencey in parts but I'm sure it'll resonate with the vast majority. If you struggle to sleep well, this is for you. Among other things, we talk about the impact of inadequate sleep (volume and/or quality) on cognitive function, mental health, hormones, immune function, recovery, sporting performance, energy levels, health (and life) span, and lots more. This. Was. Great. shae.group/dr-cam-mcdonald

l've always loved comedy and wanted to give stand-up a try for years. Having said that, there are two key reasons I haven't and won't; (1) I'm too scared (2) I'm not funny enough. Bobby - who's clearly braver than me - has done it and survived to tell the tale, so l'll just live vicariously through him. Apart from comedy (and my cowardice), we also chat about the idea of 'getting ready to get ready' (a very common avoidance tactic), emotional contagions, resolving ambivalence and lots more. Enjoy. theselfhelpantidote.com

The band's back together talking tech and this time we discuss the physical impact of living in zero gravity for a long time (after SpaceX just retrieved the stranded Astronauts), a new Chinese EV that can be charged for a driving range of 400km in just five minutes, car companies that are reverting to using actual buttons, switches and knobs (instead of screens only), Deepfakes being used to scam unsuspecting oldies (Ron and Mary types), a wearable camera that helps blind people 'see', Patrick's obsession with a new 'Al' pen, the cognitive benefits of writing with a pen (vs. typing on a keyboard) and lots more. Enjoy.

This is a follow on from yesterday's chat. Right now, it seems like we're in the middle of an internet avalanche of disempowering ideas, illogical concepts, pseudo-science, psycho-babble, misleading and magical thinking, masquerading as logic, science and research, and in this episode, I'm sharing some of my 'favourites' with you.

The self-help industry promises transformation, happiness, and success through simple formulas, positive thinking, five-step plans and the occasional sunset, fluffy puppy and unicorn. Yet beneath this shimmering surface lies a troubling reality: much of what passes for "self-help" is a hodgepodge of feel-good platitudes, pseudoscience, magical thinking and oversimplified solutions that can do more harm than good. 

Dr. Bill's back and this time he almost scared me out of my toilet texting habit (I say 'almost'). According to the good Doc, in such scenarios the device in our hands has more germs on it than the device we're sitting on (yes, I said 'sitting'). Apart from our phones being home to a fascinating assortment of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms, we have nothing to worry about. Well, maybe the potential pooing and spewing extravaganza that can accompany the above mentioned germs (seriously, where else can you find show notes like this?). On a brighter (and less graphic) note, we also chat about hand sanitizers versus water and soap, extricating oneself from a public toilet with touching door handles after hand washing (f*ck that’s tricky), our propensity to stick germy fingers in our face, the bacterial breeding ground that is the gym, what level (if any) of germ exposure might be good for our immune system, and lots more. Enjoy!

Once upon a time, Greg Riley was crowned Australia's most gifted Psychic (on national telly), which is kind of weird when you meet him because he doesn't seem 'woo-woo' at all. He's a regular ex-footy playing, suit-wearing, father-of-three, husband-of-one corporate bloke who has done 'readings' (of the psychic variety) for famous people (heads of state, royalty, entertainers) from all over the world. These days he's straddling the corporate, human behaviour, psychology, psychedelic and spiritual space(s), helping people to figure out who they are (and aren’t), and why they are the way they are. This intended forty-five-minute chat turned into something way bigger, so we'll share it in two instalments. Enjoy.  gregriley.com.au

Once upon a time, Greg Riley was crowned Australia's most gifted Psychic (on national telly), which is kind of weird when you meet him because he doesn't seem 'woo-woo' at all. He's a regular ex-footy playing, suit-wearing, father-of-three, husband-of-one corporate bloke who has done 'readings' (of the psychic variety) for famous people (heads of state, royalty, entertainers) from all over the world. These days he's straddling the corporate, human behaviour, psychology, psychedelic and spiritual space(s), helping people to figure out who they are (and aren’t), and why they are the way they are. This intended forty-five-minute chat turned into something way bigger, so we'll share it in two instalments. Enjoy.  gregriley.com.au

Perfectionism (n.): the tendency to demand of others or of oneself an extremely high or even flawless level of performance, in excess of what is required by the situation. It is associated with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and other mental health problems. *Our resident Clinical Psychologist Doctor Lillian is back and (no surprise) we unpack the psychology, sociology, physiology and practical consequences of perfectionism. Enjoy. drlilliannejad.com

For me, this was one of the most enjoyable, relevant, funny and amusing podcasts Tiff and I have done in a long time. While it's impossible to be objective about something you're in the middle of, to me it felt like a conversation that most people will connect with, relate to, benefit from or laugh at somewhere along the way. We spoke about 'getting good' at stuff, the social appeal and value of humility, our mutual inability to follow a script (versus going freestyle), my favourite guests (and why), the time my ego got destroyed in an airport lounge, the science and value of meaningful conversations, the intersection of purpose and work, and lots more. Enjoy.

Once upon a time (back in the old days), a Bodybuilder called Keith and a Scientist called Paul got together to create some nutritional products for themselves and a few friends to supplement and support their diet, training, and recovery. Three and a half decades later, they're still doing the same thing but on a slightly bigger scale. Since 1989, Max's (their company) has become one of the most successful and well-respected supplement companies in the world. This was a fun chat with two old friends. Enjoy. **Good news: Max’s have generously setup a discount code for TYP listeners. Use the code YOUPROJECT20 for 20% off Max’s and Maxine’s products.**

Gillespo's back talking about his tuba career (it was short-lived), his reluctant piano years, his total lack of musical aptitude (and tone-deafness) and he throws some shade at the validity of the 'ten thousand hours of practice makes perfect' theory (to be honest, l'm with him). We also talk about an amazing molecule (Molecule of the Year in 1992) that can blow sh*t up (literally), treat numerous cardiovascular issues (like angina) and is also used (broadly) to help blokes get an... ahem. you know. Enjoy the chat. Erection. Couldn't help m'self.

This time on TYP, Tiff and I do a deep dive into the idea that you and I exist and operate in two-worlds; one that's external, physical, and visible (where 'life' happens) and another that's internal, non-physical, and invisible (where 'living' happens). We talk about the ever-present challenge of constantly navigating these two very-human 'places’.

While this episode has been requested hundreds of times, it definitely won't be of interest to all. For better or worse, some people want me to do an episode on my personal health protocol, so here it is. In it, I talk about my diet, training (weights, cardio, flexibility), supplements, caffeine intake, sleep protocol, biological age, current fitness and health status (as rated subjectively by me), current body-fat level, weight, medication, cognitive function and training, and lots more. Enjoy. Or avoid (lol). 

While this episode has been requested hundreds of times, it definitely won't be of interest to all. For better or worse, some people want me to do an episode on my personal health protocol, so here it is. In it, I talk about my diet, training (weights, cardio, flexibility), supplements, caffeine intake, sleep protocol, biological age, current fitness and health status (as rated subjectively by me), current body-fat level, weight, medication, cognitive function and training, and lots more. Enjoy. Or avoid (lol). 

Bobby and I have been friends for about twenty-five years and it hasn't always been smooth sailing. Mostly yes, but not always. There have been some hard conversations, healthy disagreements, slightly-less-healthy disagreements and the odd honest misunderstanding but underneath it all, there was (is) always love, trust, respect and a strong brotherly bond. And fun, silly-ness and laughter. Of course. I liked this chat where we both got a little vulnerable and raw and spoke about all-things communication, connection, social and emotional intelligence, self-awareness and of course, friendship. Enjoy.

According to our resident Tai Chi-teaching, tech-obsessed, loveable, father-of-one (Fritz the wonder Schnauzer), more and more people are making an 'appointment' with 'Dr. ChatGPT' (or similar) to diagnose and treat whatever ails them. Of course, it seems like a terrible idea as Al gets stuff wrong but then, so do humans. Humans also get tired, hungry and distracted but Al doesn't. Personally, I'll keep consulting my human option but Al is certainly opening us all up to a new world of virtual possibilities. Tiff, Patrick and I chat about this and lots more in today's episode. Enjoy.

Brad McEwan is best known as an Australian Television Presenter and Sports Journalist, having hosted Network Ten's 'Sports Tonight' for almost a decade. Apart from being a media superstar (my words, not his), Brad and I have been friends for decades, having first met when he trained in one of my gyms. Brad is a man of depth, integrity and kindness and as always, this was a fascinating an insightful conversation where we went deep down the rabbit hole of OCD, anxiety, physical, mental and emotional health, self-regulation and lots more. Enjoy. youniversal.com.au

Health Coaches. Business Coaches. Executive Coaches. Life Coaches. Exercise Coaches. Mind Coaches. Nutrition Coaches. High-Performance Coaches. And on it goes. In the old days, my Coach was the bloke who screamed at me on the footy field. Back then there was only really one kind of coach; the sporting kind. Not anymore. In this episode Pete, Tiff and I talk about the good and bad, the how and how-not-to, the what-to-seek and what-to-avoid in the ever-expanding field of coaching. Enjoy.

This was a fun chat between the fledgling pianist and the old bogan, and we sure covered some ground. On the conversational menu was living authentically, the ten-thousand-hour mastery rule, the value of paying attention to the wisdom of our body (bio-feedback), the other side of goals, the benefit in doing something 'un-you', the willingness to bravely 'be the worst' at something (in the beginning) and Tiff's curious tendency to say the (non)word.. "haffening": Enjoy.

Well, this chat was a steep learning curve for the old bogan from Latrobe Valley. In this episode, Gillespo and I discuss the fascinating and complex history of the birth control pill - how a scientific breakthrough, a feminist movement, and a social revolution collided to change the world. But we also explore the unintended consequences, particularly for teenage girls. While the pill has empowered millions, emerging research suggests it may also pose serious risks to mental health, brain development, and long-term reproductive well-being. We dive into the hidden costs of hormonal contraception, why teenage brains are uniquely vulnerable, and whether the medicalisation of puberty is doing more harm than good. Are we too quick to prescribe the pill for acne, cramps, and irregular periods? And what alternatives should young women consider? This conversation is about science, ethics, and the delicate balance between freedom and risk. Whether you're a parent, a doctor, or someone who has taken the pill yourself, this chat might make you think differently about a drug that has shaped modern society. It’s an eye-opening discussion about empowerment, hormones, and the truth behind the tiny tablet that changed everything.

In this thought-provoking episode of The You Project, we challenge the conventional wisdom that "picking a side" is always the right move. What if the most insightful perspective comes from the fence itself? We explore why our culture pushes us to choose teams, how tribal thinking warps our perception, and why maintaining thoughtful neutrality might be an act of courage rather than indecision. Join me as we examine the hidden benefits of seeing both sides and discover how "fence sitting" could be the vantage point we need in an increasingly polarised world. 

This chat with Dr. Jeff was a conversational smorgasbord of health, medicine and human optimisation. The good Doc and I spoke about hormesis (where exposure to a low dose of a potentially harmful stressor triggers a beneficial adaptive response), the truth about biological age, melatonin, hormone replacement therapy (for men and women), heat shock proteins, senescent zombie cells and we even get Dr. Jeff's thoughts on the ramifications (good and bad) of the new US Government (the Doc lives in Nevada). Enjoy.

I'm not a parent (so take this with a grain of salt) but I'm pretty sure that 'perfect parenting' is not the best or most realistic goal. In this chat, Dr. Sam and I discuss the pressure, expectations and demands (internal and external) around parenting in 2025, the 'thriving formula' for different kids, my very low-tech (no tech?) childhood compared with kids growing up never having seen a cow, walked in a forest, ridden a bike or played in mud, whether or not kids are more fearful now than a generation ago, the challenge of raising resilient, capable, adaptable kids and lots more. Enjoy.

Imagine growing up in the Gillespie household; no chemicals, no processed food, no seed oils, lots of cow, chook and fish in the fridge, probably some weird kind of filtered water, and definitely not a gram of sugar in sight. This was a fun chat where the feather ruffler and I put the Australian Healthy Eating Guidelines under the microscope and also took a run at a few other controversial topics. Enjoy. substack.com/@davidgillespie147423

The super smart and loveable Bobby Cappuccio is back downloading the gold, as he does. Wow, this was a good chat (he says humbly). Well, I loved it; you might too. We spoke about the idea of 'quitting every day' (it'll make sense), self-compassion, ego-deconstructing experiences, the 'need' to be right, our shared experiences about being (essentially) dogmatic and unteachable (at times), electronic income-reducers (again, it'll make sense), Bobby's new-found agnosticism (to most things) and he shares a really vulnerable and powerful story about living hundreds of metres from the Twin Towers at the time of 9/11 and the impact it had on his life and his mindset. Enjoy.  theselfhelpantidote.com

I'm fascinated with human potential; what's actually possible when somebody is genuinely prepared to do the work, face the fear, embrace the pain, overcome their self-sabotaging bulls**t and completely commit to the process of optimising what they have to work with. As someone who isn't wildly talented, brilliant or genetically gifted, l've long been obsessed with the challenge of defying my innate mediocrity and getting the most out of what l've got. This is a chat about that.

Is it weird that at sixty-one I feel like I'm learning like a teenager? And that l'm going through a 'cognitive growth spurt'? And that my brain feels like it 'works better' than it did in my forties? While I spend much of my life teaching and coaching, l'm also a life-long learner who is still excited about what's next in my never-ending classroom. In this informal chat, Tiff and I talk about the fun, value and anti-ageing benefits of being a perpetual student. Enjoy.

In an industry overflowing with male CEO's (Real Estate), Sally O'Connell is something of a unicorn; she is the CEO is of the very fancy-schmancy (my term, not theirs) Abercrombys Real Estate, which operates primarily at the end of the market that I won't be shopping in any time soon. This was a fun and insightful conversation with an old friend (and employee) who continues to evolve, learn and lead with a refreshing blend of intellect, empathy, common sense, passion and social intelligence. And as per the title, Sally has a no DH policy. Enjoy. abercrombys.com.au

In Exercise Science there's a concept (tool, scale) that's used to assess how hard a person thinks they're working (1-10) based on their capacity, with 10 being their (perceived) absolute physical limit. It's called the 'Rate of Perceived Exertion' (RPE) scale. It's a subjective self-assessment (which makes it makes it more science-ish, than hard science) but nonetheless, I'm always interested in how hard people 'think' they're working (or perhaps, how much of their potential they think they're using) in the gym, but also outside the gym. In life. In this TYP extravaganza, Dr. Jodi (who has a PhD. in Exercise Physiology) and I do a deep dive around this concept (and lots more). drjodirichardson.com

Technology scares the crap out of Mary Harper. It's a language she doesn't speak, a skill she doesn't have and at eighty-five, she doesn't want to learn it and I don't blame her. For people like my mum, even having a conversation with someone who lacks awareness, patience and/or empathy (a person in a business or on the end of a phone call perhaps) can result in confusion, frustration, embarrassment and even anxiety. For the 3.1 million Aussies aged 70 and above, the ever-shifting technological landscape can be terrifying. As always, this is a fun chat with our resident nerd, boxer and potty-mouthed host. 

Paul Joy is a School Chaplain, ordained Baptist Minister, religious TYP listener (pun intended) and freakishly talented Sketch Artist (weird combo, I know). I might be insulting some religious folk when I say that he's uncharacteristically relatable, real and open-minded but.. oh well, I said it. Sorry, not sorry. Anyway, we decided to get together and chat all things God, religion, the validity of the bible, love, connection, the co-existence of faith and doubt, the declining numbers in (most) churches, Christianity's 'PR' problem, my church journey and plenty more. I very much liked this chat. handdrawntoday.com

According to Clinical Psychologist Dr. Lillian Nejad, life blockers are psychological, emotional and practical challenges, beliefs, issues and barriers that stand between us and what we want to do, be, create and change. Some of those blockers exist despite us, some because of us, and some of them only exist in our mind. Enjoy.

Who knew that happiness is way more than just an emotional state we get in? There's so many interconnected variables and factors (emotional, psychological, sociological, biochemical, and even genetic) that influence our overall sense of happiness, including neurotransmitter activity (like dopamine and serotonin), hormonal balance, cognitive patterns, social connections, life circumstances, and even gut microbiome health. Dr. Bill knew!! Of course he did.

Wow, this was an awesome chat. It's not often I talk to a guest for ninety minutes and it feels like it's been thirty. I honestly could have chatted with Leila McDougall (pronounced 'Lee-la') for hours. Her energy, outlook, personality and authenticity make her conversationally intoxicating. She is an amazing woman, doing amazing things, overcoming adversity, inspiring communities and giving help where it's needed most. Amazingly, the girl who couldn't read or write until she was fifteen (due to undiagnosed dyslexia), went on to become an actor, movie producer, script writer, fashion designer, farmer, mum, school teacher, mental health advocate, business woman, Mrs Australia winner, cancer survivor (we didn't even get to that in our chat), former 'Farmer Wants a Wife' participant (is that the right word?), the focus of a recent episode of 'Australian Story' and as the title suggests, high-level problem solver. Enjoy.

Wow, this was an awesome chat. It's not often I talk to a guest for ninety minutes and it feels like it's been thirty. I honestly could have chatted with Leila McDougall (pronounced 'Lee-la') for hours. Her energy, outlook, personality and authenticity make her conversationally intoxicating. She is an amazing woman, doing amazing things, overcoming adversity, inspiring communities and giving help where it's needed most. Amazingly, the girl who couldn't read or write until she was fifteen (due to undiagnosed dyslexia), went on to become an actor, movie producer, script writer, fashion designer, farmer, mum, school teacher, mental health advocate, business woman, Mrs Australia winner, cancer survivor (we didn't even get to that in our chat), former 'Farmer Wants a Wife' participant (is that the right word?), the focus of a recent episode of 'Australian Story' and as the title suggests, high-level problem solver. Enjoy.

Dietitian, Exercise Physiologist and Diabetes Educator Kate Save is normally way more polished, professional, polite and charming than the potty-mouth host but this time at TYP Central, she calls out some of the big movers and shakers in the food space, including the government) and their (apparent) lack of care factor' about the ever-expanding volume of 'food-like' substances masquerading as nutrition, filling the shelves of our supermarkets, and the stomachs of our children. befitfood.com.au

To say that Tobias Quinn didn't have the dream childhood, grow up in an ideal situation or enjoy the warm-cosy family (model), would be an understatement. Although all things considered, he turned out pretty well. And I can speak with some confidence because we've been friends for twenty-five years. This is a very casual chat between two old friends about life, purpose, meaning, living overseas, overcoming adversity, working in security (both of us), the evolution of the fitness industry, living our values and finding happiness. So, just the small stuff (lol).  krunk.com

Who knew! Regularly eating eggs supports a lower risk of cardiovascular disease-related death (no, not a typo). New research from a Monash University-led team has found that a daily egg (instead of one a week) is associated with a 29 per cent lower risk of cardiovascular disease-related death in relatively healthy older adults. Gillespo loves this sh*t and as he so often does, he took to the nutritional dinosaurs with a verbal baseball bat over the revelation that not only won't daily eggs kill you, they're (statistically) likely to make you live longer. And in other breaking news, he's also a fan of adding (not removing) salt from our diet ('course he is). 

Paul Taylor just had open-heart surgery. It was addressing a genetic (not a self-induced lifestyle) issue but nonetheless, not everything went smoothly for Mr. ‘hard-as-a-cat's-head’ and as you'll learn in this chat, things got a little intense, serious and excruciating for a bit. This was an interesting chat where we managed to open the philosophical, psychological, physiological, medical, stoicism and psychedelic doors (all the biggies). Enjoy.

Hi Team, I had a guest pull out of today’s episode (they are unwell), so I’ve decided to re-share one of my all-time most popular monologues. I still get feedback about it, a few years on. It’s short, in-your-face and not for the precious snowflakes. 

It's fair to say that Exercise Physiologist and Change-ologist Unna Goldsworthy and I don't see eye to eye on everything, which is perfect because (1) that would make for a boring conversation and (2) if we did, we'd be in some kind of cognitive cult or philosophical echo chamber, and nobody wants that. This was a fun episode, talking about the mind stuff and emotional stuff that drive the practical, physical and behavioural stuff. Enjoy.

Is ambition always a good idea? Even if it leads to 'success' (whatever that means to the individual), does that necessarily guarantee happiness, joy, fulfilment? Obviously, it can be an asset in certain contexts and situations but what are the potential psychological, emotional and interpersonal 'costs' of ambition? Seems to me that some super ambitious people might not be the most balanced (or healthy) cats going around. It also seems that if 'more' is always the goal then 'enough' is not a possibility. Maybe the challenge is to balance our ambition with our gratitude for what we have and where we are, right now?