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So the father of six (Gillespo) and the and the Bloke and the Hybrid (Tiff) with zero kids between them, had a chat about parenting, recent research on the relationship between screen time and mental health in kids, the ancient and apparently outdated concept of kids doing chores, addiction wiring and the very real experience of withdrawal when kids are separated from their screens. I’ll never know, but it’s quite possible that I would’ve made a terrible parent.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Olivia Ong is back at TYP Central and this time we endeavour to gain a deeper understanding of burnout - what it is, what it isn’t, who it affects, how it affects us, how to recognise it and what we might do about it. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This was another genuinely fascinating conversation with Prof. Robert Coplan from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. It turns out that being alone is bad for some and great for others. And that we don’t need to be alone, to be lonely. We spoke about the difference between loneliness and solitude, the fact that some people suffer when they don’t get enough time on their own, how introverts are often mistaken for extroverts, that some of us need to find the right ‘dosage’ for being around others, that some people are mitigating loneliness with AI and we discover that I might actually be a social misfit. No shock there, I guess. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your mind could be the most powerful drug you will ever have at your disposal. A single thought can change your physiology. Lower or increase your heart rate. Produce stress hormones or happy hormones. Elevate or lower your blood pressure. Shift your emotional state. Put you into a state of calm or a state of panic. And in some well documented cases, heal people from incurable diseases. In this episode of TYP, my favourite molecular biologist (Prof. Bill Sullivan) and I do a deep dive in to the power of the mind and beyond. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Self driving cars, self driving trucks, driverless taxis and maybe in the not-too-distant future, self-flying passenger planes. F**k that. That’s a big fat “no thanks” from me. I’ll take the human pilot option, thanks. This was yet another fun conversational escapade with Patrick and Tiff, full of appropriate and inappropriate subject matter. As always. Enjoy. Or avoid. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Fuschia Sirois is a psychologist and internationally recognised researcher specialising in procrastination, self-regulation, motivation, stress and wellbeing. She is a Professor of Social and Health Psychology at Durham University in the UK. Her research explores why people procrastinate, particularly the role of emotional regulation. One of her central arguments is that procrastination is less about poor time management and more about managing uncomfortable emotions. Her book "Procrastination: What It Is, Why It's a Problem, and What You Can Do About It" is a best seller and according to the good Doc, procrastination often stems from emotional and cognitive processes - including fear of failure, perfectionism, low confidence, or difficulty regulating emotions - rather than laziness alone. In our chat, Fuschia shares how delaying tasks can temporarily reduce discomfort while reinforcing a cycle that makes future action even harder. So interesting! Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This was a fun chat with Dr. Lillian, where we explored the variables of human connection, building rapport, trust and functional relationships in different settings, situations and contexts. How can we consciously build connection with people that we don’t have a natural connection with? What are the attributes, skills and qualities of people who consistently find a way to build great connection with anyone, anywhere, anytime? And what determines a healthy friendship? Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adapt or die; it’s the evolutionary requirement for the survival of any species isn’t it? And on a far less dramatic note, it’s also a prerequisite for you and I to flourish, prosper and succeed in our day-to-day lives. We live in a world that is in a constant state of shift and change and being incapable of adaptation in such a dynamic environment is a recipe for frustration, stagnation and failure. This time around Tiff and I wax lyrical about our triumphs and failures while doing our best to adapt and evolve when the goal, situation and circumstance require it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For no particular reason, TYP and Gillespo have not been in the same room for a while but finally, the gang is back together. This is a slightly longer than normal chat (for us) and we covered some really interesting topics, including why Meta forked out $18 billion to avoid going to court, why behavioural addictions and drug addictions are kind-of the same, gamers becoming air traffic controllers (not even a joke), using AI without destroying your brain and why David’s favourite “country” is the Sunshine Coast. This was one of the more fun episodes with Tiff joining in the mayhem. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Australia, Benjamin Siong is at the pointy end of fitness, strength, health, high-performance, education and human optimisation (my words, not his) and I valued the opportunity to chat with somebody with so much knowledge, experience and passion for helping people explore and fulfil their potential. Ben is the founder of LEARNASP, an international education platform redefining how trainers turn knowledge into real-world results. With an Honours degree in Applied Science, majoring in Psychology, Ben's approach to body composition, nutrition and performance is underpinned by behavioural psychology. Ben has spent more than two decades coaching and educating, working with elite athletes across 16+ sports, champion bodybuilders, fitness models and pageant winners. Today, through LEARNASP, he educates trainers across more than 15 countries to think critically, coach the individual, influence behaviour and turn science into results. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This might be my favourite episode of the year. Inspirational, educational and at times, confronting. I loved this chat. *Professor Munjed Al Muderis is an internationally recognised orthopaedic surgeon, humanitarian, author and pioneer in osseointegration surgery. Born in Iraq, he fled Saddam Hussein’s regime in 1999 after refusing an order to mutilate army deserters, eventually arriving in Australia as a refugee and spending ten months in immigration detention. He went on to become a leading orthopaedic surgeon, developing innovative techniques and implants that allow prosthetic limbs to connect directly to bone. A Clinical Professor at Macquarie University, Munjed has performed surgery and humanitarian work around the world. He was named the 2020 NSW Australian of the Year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the context of my last few months, this was an interesting conversation to have with Professor Tarvez Tucker, whose latest book “The Brain at Twilight: The Neuroscience of Our Last Words and Moments” explores the science of what happens in the brain as we approach death. Among many other things, we spoke about my dad‘s final words. It sounds like it might be a tough listen but it is actually quite fascinating. Enjoy.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What should and shouldn’t we expect of others? If anything? Do we expect others to be how we want them to be? Or do we expect them to be what they’ve been the last hundred times? And while we’re at it, what do we expect of ourselves? Other than expectations, Bobby and I spoke about positive and negative drivers (moving away from the thing we don’t want, moving towards the thing we do want), the confusion around values and purpose, the overuse of self-help cliche’s, motivation as a driver versus motivation as an emotional state and plenty more. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prof. Gordon Parker was almost too smart for me to interview. Nonetheless, I gave it a crack and we covered some hefty subject matter and explored a few things on the lighter side, like Crapsules. And yes, they are actually what they sound like. Enjoy your breakfast. The good Prof. is one of Australia’s most distinguished and respected psychiatrists and mental health researchers who has published more than 1,000 scientific papers, written 23 books, is the founder of the Black Dog Institute and is an Order of Australia medal recipient (OAM). He’s also a ripper Bloke and I enjoyed our conversation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What role does genetics, upbringing, culture, experiences, environment and social context have on the way we think, behave and treat others? Is free will real or an illusion? To what extent can science and religion coexist harmoniously and even agree? Are doctors and scientists less respected than they were 20 years ago? And if so, why? Are we getting our information from credible sources? And is our information actually information, or is it marketing? This was a fun chat with Dr. Bill. Enjoy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.