The You Project

Patrick’s back for another chat on TYP and as always, we had fun. This time we talk about the increasing number of people using AI to make themselves look younger, more muscular and in general, more aesthetically pleasing (in their mind anyway). We chat about people falling in love with AI, which of course - and not surprisingly - ended in a discussion around sex bots. Yuck. We spoke about the idea of transhumanism - people becoming a fusion of biology and technology - and the potential consequences of this pursuit. Scientists using wool as a material to heal bones, growing stem cells in space, LED lighting and cellular energy production, silence being eliminated from modern life, the advancement of humanoid robots being used in China for street management (whatever that means), Air New Zealand using humanoid robots as travel companions.. and lots more. Enjoy.

The title is an expression that came out of David Gillespie‘s mouth mid conversation. For him, an unretrievable faux pas and for me, near the very top of my all-time funny moments on a podcast. We covered quite a range of topics in this chat, but maybe the most interesting is David’s claim that the science does not support salt’s bad reputation. In fact, quite the opposite. Enjoy.

Of course I’m fascinated with communication, it’s literally my job. Becoming an effective, if not elite communicator, has been a lifelong goal. Clearly, I’m not there yet. In this fun conversation, Bobby and I share a few stories, unpack some of the science around effective communication and share our personal thoughts about what does and doesn’t work. Enjoy.

Tiff, Scott and myself sit down to discuss the ins-and-outs (pun intended), of new relationships. This is very much a conversation (focused mostly on their relatively new status) and is in no way, intended to be any kind of relationship advice or coaching. In fact, you might learn what not to do. LOL. Enjoy.

The very handsome, clever, charismatic and charming Dr. Cam is back at TYP Central, and this time we talk about how to live, not just longer, but how to live well - for longer. Fit, strong, healthy, functional, and full of energy. We discuss the eight factors that we believe move the needle the most in the health span equation. Enjoy.

Among many other things, Chris Rhyss Edwards and I discuss the real-world reality of living our best life, self-optimisation, self-awareness, understand how 'we' work (individually), identifying weakness and flaws, and building an existence based around who and how we want to be, and what we want to achieve. **Chris Rhyss is an Australian army veteran, acclaimed author, and innovative researcher dedicated to sparking transformative dialogue and pioneering technological solutions. With a rich background that spans a decade of military service, influential writing, and breakthrough achievements in health-tech, Chris explores the dynamic intersection of human resilience, emerging technologies, mental health, and societal progress - aiming, hoping, and praying to drive impactful change at every step.

My weird little brother from another mother (Bobby) is back at TYP Central and this time, we talk about the things that AI can’t do and probably won’t be able to do in the future. In a time where there is so much uncertainty and fear about the role technology will play in the future and the impact it will have on humanity, do we really need to hit the panic button or will we be okay?

You know those movies that leave you feeling a bit sad, a bit inspired, a bit emotionally exhausted and a bit hopeful? Well, this podcast with the inspiring Katrina Umback is one of those movies. Well, a podcast equivalent, anyway. I could tell you more but I don’t want to ruin it for any of you. It’s definitely one of my favourite conversations this year. Enjoy.

The always fabulous and fascinating Dr Bill Sullivan is back at TYP Central and this time we speak about the world of scientific research, reason and funding, who makes great science communicators and why, fake science and conspiracy theories, Dr. Bill’s biggest discoveries as a researcher, a dangerous parasite that currently finds a biological home in 30 to 50% of the global population (what!!), and lots more. Enjoy. Or panic. Lol.

Dr Sam Casey is back at TYP Central and even as a non-parent I found this conversation fascinating for a bunch of reasons. We talk about the multitude of challenges in parenting and the impact that our own habits, patterns, actions, rituals, communication and personal weirdness can have on our kids, even without us knowing or trying.

Patrick's back at TYP and this time we talk about removing micro plastics from our water, why our Smart Watch might be contributing to our anxiety, the use of Al in psychiatry, the pros and cons of charging your electric car, the VR experiment where scientists change people's brain by giving them virtual wings, brain stimulating contact lenses that reduce depression, and lots more. Enjoy.

The fabulous Bobby is back at TYP dropping a few bombs, sharing the knowledge and sharing the love. This time we continue the conversation trying to understand the human experience, how others work and perhaps more importantly, how we work.

Some old dude (Socrates) told the world a coupla thousand years ago (400ish BC) that "the begging of wisdom is to know thyself", so it's clear that the whole - trying to figure out who the-fuck we are, and why the-fuck we are the way we are - is not a new human endeavour. This time on TYP, the very brilliant, charming and accomplished Professor Beau Lotto and the mildly-competent me, continue the exploration. Beau is an American neuroscientist, author, entrepreneur and keynote speaker best known for his work on perception, uncertainty, creativity and human behaviour. He's a visiting scholar at New York University and the founder of the Lab of Misfits, a creative studio exploring the intersection of neuroscience, art, technology and innovation. Lotto's research focuses on how the brain interprets reality - particularly the idea that we don't passively "see" the world as it is, but actively construct perception based on past experience, context, assumptions and survival needs. evolvable.me

Eggs sure have taken a beating over the years (see what I did there?). This is a fun one with Gillespo (the nutritional kill joy) where we unpack the BS surrounding the 'healthy' heart tick, the more current 'health star rating system', and lots more.Enjoy.

It’s been a rough week on Planet Harps, as I’m sure it has (is) for many of you. This might be a self-indulgent download or it might be a different TYP conversation that helps a few of you.

On this episode of The You Project, we explore one of the most misunderstood human emotions: fear. In a culture obsessed with "fearlessness," we often treat fear like a flaw, weakness or personal failure. But what if fear isn't the enemy at all? What if it's actually an important and protective part of the intelligence of being human?

This time around, Tiff has a humble brag about her double bodyweight deadlift, Bobby unpacks the firsthand experience of living with Tourette's, we talk about the aversion some women still have to strength training and why, we discuss where we each sit on the introvert-extrovert scale, I talk about my one-off panic attack, the challenge of training with an ageing body gets a mention and the idea of keeping our brain in shape - if not, improving - over fifty, and lots more.

Many cults don't look like cults, and many cult members would never consider themselves to be members. Most people think cults happen somewhere else... to other people. But cult-like dynamics can emerge almost anywhere humans gather around identity, certainty, emotion and power. In this episode, I explore the psychology of cults, coercive control groups and modern tribalism - from religion and politics to wellness culture, online communities and self-help movements. Why do intelligent people get pulled into unhealthy systems? How does manipulation happen gradually? And why are humans so vulnerable to certainty, belonging and charismatic leadership?

Dr. Sam is back and this time we chat about the impact of parents arguing in front of their kids, whether boredom is necessarily a bad thing, thoughts about toddlers and screens, the idea that the risk of tech-addiction is 'dose dependent', why letting kids experience a degree of risk, discomfort and uncertainty to build confidence, resilience and adaptability is okay, psychological safety vs. psychological flexibility and lots more. **Dr Sam Casey is a Registered Play Therapist, Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, has a PhD in Psychology and has spent over twenty years working with children and families. She's also the founder of the Play Prescription® Method.

The TYP Circus led by Patrick and Tiff is back in town with all its irreverence, misinformation, exaggeration and a sprinkling of legitimate information. Strangely, some people like this fortnightly extravaganza the most. Weird. Anyway, this time we talk about perv glasses (with cameras), the comeback of records, CD's and DVD's, a new material that 'self-repairs', new cars with actual knobs and buttons, medical self-diagnosing with Al, humanoid robots working as ground handlers at airports, switching from plastic to hemp and lots more. Enjoy.

Have you noticed how 'bendy' time is? Well, seems to be? I call this "the perceptual juxtaposition of time." Why does an hour of something that sucks feel like a f**king month but an awesome two-week holiday simply 'goes too fast?' In this solo episode, I explore the practical objective reality of time (a constant), how fast or slow it 'feels' to us (a subjective experience) and why (and how) this happens. A bit of psychology, a smattering of neurobiology and some general conversational meandering. Enjoy.

The thinking behind the title is revealed during this convo when Gillespo makes a never-heard-before verbal stumble - and I couldn't have been happier (lol). Among the general Tiff-Dave-Craig chit-chat, we manage to talk about how Australia is now the second-highest consumer of methamphetamine (meth) in the world, what's driving it, how it happened and what we might do about it. FYI, last year Aussies consumed 523 million doses of meth at a cost of $11 billion!

I'm a big note writer. It's how my mind and my process works. It's a theoretical starting point that might turn into something bigger. Like a book. Or podcast. Or workshop. Or post. Or keynote (address). Or project. I'm always having a lightbulb that needs to get out of my head, onto a screen and into a document ASAP. I have literally thousands of notes, ideas, questions, themes and concepts stored in my computer. They are single sentences or questions. They are paragraphs. They are unpolished. They are freestyle me. They are philosophical. Sciencey. Personal. Practical. Weird. They are starting points. Today I stumbled over some notes that I wrote years ago - they made me think, smile and wonder. Today was the first time l have read them, since they were written. They are not necessarily related and they do not flow from one to the next. They are really just me thinking out loud. But individually, I think they are worth considering. Enjoy. 

Addiction comes in many forms, expresses itself in various ways, impacts the lives of millions (billions?) of people, and comes at a huge mental, emotional, social, financial and real world (living life) cost. In this TYP chat, Mick Hall (and Tiff) and I open the door on the thinking, emotion, behaviour and chaos (internal and external) that underlies this global problem. Enjoy.

In the middle of the ambition, the grind, the hustle and the quest for success, can we also experience a level of contentment? At the same time? Can the drive to succeed in the future and over the long term, co-exist with an underlying calm and contentment in the moment? Or do ambition and drive need to be fuelled by a degree of insecurity, dissatisfaction and anxiety? Bobby and I opened this door and many others in this instalment of TYP. Enjoy.  

Professor Chris French is back and once again, we opened the parapsychology door for an hour plus diving into the science of weird shit (the title of his book). Chris is a British psychologist and Professor Emeritus at Goldsmiths, University of London, where he founded and led the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit. His work focuses on understanding paranormal beliefs and unusual experiences - why people believe in ghosts, psychics, UFOs, and other extraordinary claims - through the lens of psychology rather than the supernatural.

Imagine waking up in a hospital bed (in ICU) with wires, tubes, machines and monitors everywhere and in front of you is an attractive woman - who happens to be your wife - and you have no idea who she is. Zero. She doesn't even look familiar. On top of that, you're awake but can't comprehend WTF is going on, you literally don't know who you are, don't know your own name, and your mind has gone (in his words) "offline." I loved this chat with one of my mates who's never done a podcast, never been a public speaker and is currently working his way through a life-changing (and almost life-ending) 'brain event’. To say this experience has had a profound effect on - not only Christian's physiology and function - but also his philosophy, attitude and world view, would be a massive understatement. This is not a teaching, coaching or informing (type) of episode but nonetheless, I believe many of you will find it fascinating, insightful and maybe even, a little inspiring.

We're all aware by now that social media, doom scrolling and broadly speaking - smart phone addiction are hijacking attention, downgrading brains (cognitive performance), impacting mental health, decreasing social skills and changing the way we do (and don't) interact and communicate. Well, good ol' Gillespo has written a new book - not only about the predicament we find ourselves in - but also about how we might begin to undo some of the damage and turn it around. Great chat, great book and great real-world solutions and strategies. Enjoy. Booktopia: The Attention Recovery Plan

First-time podcast guest (on any podcast), Dr Anastasiya Suetin joined us in the TYP virtual studio for her debut and she was (is) a delight. Totally real, refreshing, interesting and of course, smart. Our conversation was broadly about her work in the neurodivergence space, but we covered plenty of territory - both related and not. She also shared some recently-discovered personal information for the first time in public. The good Doc is a Clinical Psychologist with more than 15 years experience working with children, adolescents, and adults across clinical, educational, and private practice settings. She holds a Master's and PhD in Clinical Psychology (Child and Adolescent specialisation) from the University of Melbourne and is a registered and endorsed Clinical Psychologist with Psychology Board of Australia. Enjoy.

Patrick and Tiff join me for yet another hour of somewhat inappropriate banter and a splash of science and technology news, all layered in the typical conversational mayhem and bullsh*t that transpires even fourteen days here at TYP HQ. So, same-same but different. If you're a regular listener you know what’s coming and if you're a newbie, all the best.

"Based on what I need/want to achieve (get done, change, address), what is the best use of my energy today?" "Based on my priorities, goals and desired outcomes, what should have my attention and focus today?" "What have I been wasting energy on and how do I change it?" These are questions I ponder each morning as I'm caffeinating myself at Coffee Central. In this TYP chat, Bobby, Tiff and I explore all of these questions and more than a few adjacent issues and topics. Enjoy.

As always, in this episode of TYP we covered a lot of medical, health, anti-ageing, pain and healing territory with the coolest Doc in Las Vegas (Dr. Jeff). While it was primarily a listener Q & A session, we did get sidetracked with some unplanned but equally~ interesting general chat. Enjoy.

This was another deep dive into the human experience with Dr. Cam. We spoke about the propensity some of us have to always look for a problem, while overlooking all the great stuff in our lives. "Looking for a needle of negativity in a haystack of hope", I call it. We also spoke about the lack of awareness many of us have around understanding our own potential, possibilities and power - and the subsequent consequences. We also chatted about our inability (or unwillingness) to understand or explore the objective reality of events, circumstances and situations, beyond the subjective stories we tell ourselves about those things. And lots of other stuff. Enjoy.

Most of you know my thoughts about the importance of understanding how other people think and having a level of social awareness and interpersonal insight bigger than us. So, l decided to record a casual, non-jargony tutorial on how we might improve that particular skill and make ourselves more informed, effective, inspiring and aware, in the middle of all kinds of human interactions.  Enjoy.

This time on TYP, I chat with Jessica Maguire - Physiotherapist, Speaker, and best-selling Author of "The Nervous System Reset." We explore what it actually means to "regulate your nervous system", not as a buzzword, but as a practical, trainable skill that shapes how you think, feel, and function. Jessica shares how early experiences - even from the womb — can influence our nervous system wiring, why two people can live through the same event but have completely different internal reactions, and how much of our suffering comes not from what happens... but the story we attach to it. We unpack interoception (your ability to sense what's happening inside your body), neuroplasticity, and how change is not only possible - it's biological. There's also a powerful and deeply human conversation around grief, loss, and trauma, as Jessica shares how personal tragedy reshaped her life and work - and how learning to work with the body, not just the mind, became her path forward. This is a conversation about becoming calm in the chaos... not by controlling the world, but by understanding your nervous system. Enjoy.

Dr Sam was back in the virtual studio all the way from W.A. and this was one of those free-flowing (no particular topic) conversations I generally have with someone at a café - one where we start out with no particular plan, concept or pre-planned conversational destination. Just two people (three with Tiff) riffing on whatever comes up next.

Can you imagine how excited the resident geek has been about NASA sending a crew to do a lap of the moon and him having access to 24-7 coverage? When we recorded this, they were due to splash down not long after our chat and the fifty-something teenager was like a kid in a candy store - keeping with the US vibe. Sitting there in his NASA hoodie, with a headset mic (NASA-esque) and lunar backdrop screen behind him, it was hard to keep him focused. Of course, Tiff joined us and this was a fun time. Enjoy.

This is a question I've been asking myself almost daily since I had a significant lightbulb moment (of self-awareness, possibility, potential) when I was a hefty teenager, who got un-hefty with almost no help, support, resources or knowledge. I was recently on the Andrew May podcast (Performance Intelligence) sitting in the guest chair and we chatted about this and many correlated topics. I loved it and here it is on TYP as a co-share (as the kids call it). Enjoy. Performance Intelligence Podcast

Consciously or not, intentionally or not, we are all creating our own day-to-day version of life. Planet You Planet Me. The world we personally build and inhabit. Our perception. Experiences. Stories. Context. Environment. Relationships. Career. Health. Life. And if we don't write our own story, one will be written despite us - not because of us - and instead of being the author we become a character playing a role in someone or something else's story. Bobby and I talk about this and lots more in this episode.

According to David Gillespie, artificial and "sugar-free" sweeteners are not the harmless alternatives we've been led to believe they are. Of course you’re not surprised. In fact, they're really sh*t. Scientifically speaking. Apparently, they hijack the brain's expectation of energy, leading to increased hunger and overeating, and may also disrupt gut health and metabolism. More recent compounds - like sugar alcohols and "keto" sweeteners - are framed as potentially more dangerous, with emerging research suggesting links to blood clots and cardiovascular risk. The core message in this episode is that there's no "free lunch" in biology - sweetness without energy comes with consequences. Which is personally very annoying, 'cause I inhale that sh*t. Sorry to disappoint you. I’ll try harder.

Gotta say I was in brand new territory with this conversation and this guest and honestly, I loved it and her. I felt somewhat unprepared and unqualified (just a feeling) but the gift for me was that I got to ask a bunch of questions that I didn't know the answers to (at all). My eyes were opened a little, I learned brand new stuff (always good) and I got to explore a different area of the human experience (for me) through the insights and stories of someone who's been on a wild ride. Perfect. Our guest Daviana Memont, used to be Dave - a Marine, Diesel Mechanic, Jacked Bro, National level powerlifter (6ft, 250lbs) and husband. I can guarantee that most of you will be surprised by her attitude towards when (and if) people should be able to transition, the pronoun thing, her issues with the LGBTQ+ community and lots more. Strap in, it's a ride. Enjoy.  

TYP's favourite Clinical Psychologist (Dr. Lillian) is back on the mic, pushing, probing, educating and enlightening us with her super smart brain and her silky-smooth voice. This was the most laid back and chatty episode we've done - kind of like an ‘easy listening radio station' with an overlay of psychology, human behaviour and education. Enjoy.

Okay, 'science' might be overplaying it a little but Tiff and I definitely did a deep dive into the theory, practicality, application, limitation, potential and misconceptions of motivation. Enjoy.

Our resident Geek is back riffing on all-things tech and as always, there's a sprinkling of everything.. including science, legal stuff, Al stuff, psychology, health and as I said, a smidgen (yep, correct spelling) of tech. Enjoy.

In this confronting and timely conversation, I sit down with Gillespo to unpack a landmark legal case that could change everything. For the first time, a jury has held tech giants like Meta Platforms Inc. and YouTube accountable - not for what's on their platforms, but for how they're designed. We explore the idea of "weaponised attention," the psychology behind infinite scroll, beauty filters, and algorithmic validation, and why developing brains don't stand a chance against billion-dollar systems engineered to hijack them. This isn't just about kids. It's about all of us. Are we using technology... or is it using us?

For a percentage of you, this might turn out to be your favourite TYP episode. It won't be for everyone, but for some it will be like finding an oasis in the dessert. 'The Weird Little Girl Who Talked to Ghosts' is the name of Chezzi Denyer's new book, it's fantastic, people are raving about it and it's selling like bog rolls in a pandemic. I won't say too much but there's definitely something special about Chezzi's energy, insight and story and I f***ing loved our conversation - which is why it went for almost ninety minutes (and could have gone way longer). *Note: Unfortunately we didn't have a great internet connection, so l apologise for that but please tough it out. I doubt you'll regret it. Enjoy. chezzidenyer.com.au Booktopia

A certain weight at the gym is heavy for you. And then over time, it’s not. Of course the weight is not heavier or lighter but you got stronger and as an experience, it is lighter. Easier. The weight, movement or task hasn’t changed, you have. Hard became easy because you’re different. This metaphor is true for so many aspects of the human experience. This chat with Bobby and Tiff is all about that (and other stuff). Enjoy.

What have you changed your mind about? What did you unlearn? Can we actually be objective? Are you okay with being wrong? Why do so many of us live in echo chambers? Why are we so drawn to people who think like us? Is experience the best teacher? When is a bad outcome a good lesson? Some people will avoid this chat because it's long, but I think those of you who strap in might really enjoy it. This could be my favourite Tiff and Harps chat. Enjoy.

In boxing, Mick Hall has won a state title, two national titles and a world title. And while that's impressive, more impressive is that he's still fighting at almost 55. And maybe the most impressive thing is that he stepped into the ring for the first time at 49. I'm not suggesting any of you take up boxing, but i am highlighting the fact that we humans can still achieve, create, transform and learn at a high level, heading into and past our fifties. Along with Tiff, Mick and I cover lots of fascinating topics in this chat. FYl, most of the episode isn't about boxing but rather, potential and possibility. Enjoy.

This episode is part coaching, part motivational presentation, part education session, part me thinking-out-loud and part me swearing either appropriately or inappropriately, depending on where you sit on the f**k scale. My observation over decades of working at the coalface of 'change' tells me that most people don't really understand or optimise their potential. In fact, not even close. Imagine having ten million dollars in the bank while living in poverty. Well, that's metaphoric equivalent I've observed thousands of times; people wasting what they have at their disposal.