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Claudia Hollingsworth went to the Olympics at just 19. The Australian middle-distance runner joins Dyl to talk about her first Olympic experience, the mental challenges she wasn't prepared for, and why she's now making the difficult switch from the 800m to the 1500m as she builds towards LA 2028. Claudia opens up about the brutal competition within Australian athletics, the controversy surrounding that race with Jess Hull, being disqualified and then reinstated, and eventually sharing a Commonwealth Games podium with Hull and Abbey Caldwell. They also get into the realities of being a professional individual athlete, from sponsorship and money to building a personal brand, as well as Olympic Village life, meeting Simone Biles, training around Europe and why Claudia believes “pressure is a privilege”. Plus, Claudia's love of footy, fishing and abalone diving, her fascination with sharks, whether she could ever play AFL, and the possibility of Brisbane 2032. Listen to Dyl & Friends: ⁠🎧 Spotify⁠⁠ 🎧 Apple Podcasts⁠⁠ 🎥 YouTube⁠ Follow Dyl & Friends: ⁠📸 Instagram ⁠📱 TikTok

Richard Baker, one of Australia's leading investigative journalists, returns to Dyl & Friends for a deep dive into cold cases, conspiracy theories and some of Australia's biggest unsolved mysteries. Fresh off the release of ABC's Lies In Lismore and the success of Conspiracy Cabal, Richard joins Dyl to explain what happens when criminal investigations go wrong, why some murders remain unsolved for decades, and whether Australia's most notorious serial killer, Ivan Milat, may have been responsible for more deaths than the seven backpacker murders he was convicted of. The conversation then takes a turn into some of the world's most enduring conspiracy theories and mysteries, including the JFK assassination, UFOs and UAPs, the moon landing, COVID vaccine conspiracies, ancient civilisations, the pyramids and whether we're really alone in the universe. They also discuss the Maria James case, The Confession, investigative journalism, police investigations and why some of the biggest mysteries may be hiding in plain sight. In this episode:• Richard's work on Lies In Lismore and Conspiracy Cabal• The disappearance of Simone Strobel• How police investigations can develop tunnel vision• Interviewing people accused of murder• The Confession and an overturned murder conviction• The Maria James case• Why conspiracy theories fascinate us• COVID vaccine conspiracies• The moon landing and JFK assassination• UFOs, UAPs and Area 51• The Dark Forest Theory and whether we're alone• Ancient civilisations and Graham Hancock• The mystery of the pyramids• The conspiracy theories Richard finds most convincing• Whether Ivan Milat may have killed more people Check out Richard's new podcast series: Lies in Lismore And Richard's Conspiracy Cabal podcast via the links below: Spotify Apple Podcasts Listen to Dyl & Friends: ⁠🎧 Spotify⁠⁠ 🎧 Apple Podcasts⁠⁠ 🎥 YouTube⁠ Follow Dyl & Friends: ⁠📸 Instagram ⁠📱 TikTok

Adam Gotsis spent a decade in the NFL... one of the toughest achievements in professional sport. Drafted by the Denver Broncos in 2016, the Melbourne product built a 10-year career across the Broncos, Jaguars, Colts and Buccaneers, surviving the constant cycle of training camps, roster cuts, injuries and one-week contracts that end most careers long before they begin. Adam joins Dyl to explain what life in the NFL is really like: the pressure of fighting for a roster spot, how contracts and signing bonuses actually work, the reality of being cut, the teammates and quarterbacks who stood out, and the mental health challenges that came with living in one of the world's most ruthless sporting environments. A rare insight into the NFL from an Australian who lived it for 10 seasons. In this episode: Why his AFL dream ended Getting drafted by the Denver Broncos The reality of NFL roster cuts What NFL contracts are really worth The pressure of staying in the league The best players and quarterbacks he faced Which AFL players could make the NFL Life after football His mental health turning point Listen to Dyl & Friends: ⁠🎧 Spotify⁠⁠ 🎧 Apple Podcasts⁠⁠ 🎥 YouTube⁠ Follow Dyl & Friends: ⁠📸 Instagram ⁠📱 TikTok

Brett Ratten is one of the most respected figures in Australian football. From playing over 250 games for Carlton to coaching the Blues, St Kilda and serving as a key architect behind Hawthorn's dynasty, Ratts has seen every side of the AFL. In this episode, Brett opens up about one of the most talked-about moments of his career: Carlton's decision to sack him in 2012 after starting the season as flag favourites. He takes us inside the boardroom pressure, the injuries that derailed the season, the conversation that ended his tenure, and the lessons he learned from one of the toughest periods of his life. We also dive into his relationship with Chris Judd, coaching Dylan Buckley, the Carlton teams of the late 2000s and early 2010s, the talent of players like Chris Yarran, Bryce Gibbs and Matthew Kreuzer, his time at Hawthorn alongside Alastair Clarkson, and what makes great leaders, coaches and teams. Listen to Dyl & Friends:🎧 Spotify🎧 Apple Podcasts🎥 YouTube Follow Dyl & Friends:📸 Instagram📱 TikTok

Nathan Chapman almost played for the Green Bay Packers. Instead, he came home and built ProKick Australia... the program that's helped transform Australian footballers into college stars and NFL punters. In this episode, Chappy joins Dyl to unpack his own journey from the Brisbane Bears, Brisbane Lions and Hawthorn, to chasing an NFL dream in America. He shares what really happened during his time with the Green Bay Packers, why his NFL career never quite materialised, and how that experience led him to create a pathway that has changed hundreds of lives. The pair also dive into the rise of Australian punters in the NFL, Michael Dickson's incredible story, the ruthless reality of professional football in America, how college scholarships work, and why more young Australians than ever are now pursuing the NFL dream. If you've ever wondered why Australians are suddenly everywhere in American football, the answer is Chappy. Listen to Dyl & Friends:🎧 Spotify🎧 Apple Podcasts🎥 YouTube Follow Dyl & Friends:📸 Instagram📱 TikTok

Scott Clayton is an AFL kingmaker. A premiership architect, master recruiter and one of the game's most influential list managers, Scott has spent decades identifying talent, building lists and pulling off some of footy's biggest deals. From helping build the Brisbane Lions dynasty and reshaping the Western Bulldogs, to launching the Gold Coast Suns and landing Gary Ablett Jr., few people have had a bigger impact on the modern AFL landscape. He joins Dyl & Friends to lift the lid on the deals, draft picks, negotiations and recruiting philosophies that shaped an era of football, sharing untold stories from inside AFL boardrooms and trade tables. We talk: How the Gold Coast Suns pulled off the biggest signing in AFL history and landed Gary Ablett Jr. The eight-month secret deal that almost nobody knew about Why Karmichael Hunt became the biggest sports story in Australia Building AFL expansion clubs from scratch The toughest trade negotiations of his career Why he still regrets missing out on Kurt Tippett The players he knew would become stars before anyone else Draft steals, recruiting wins and the picks that got away Why Callan Ward should never have left the Western Bulldogs The one trade philosophy that guided his entire career What recruiters are really looking for when they scout young talent The hidden traits that separate AFL stars from everyone else Why some clubs consistently develop players better than others The AFL figures who changed the game behind the scenes How Tasmania should build its inaugural AFL list Like the ep? Share the ep! Review the ep! Dyl & Friends Spotify Feed Dyl & Friends Apple Podcasts Feed

John Quinn has worked with some of the biggest names in Australian sport. We’re talking James Hird, Kevin Sheedy and Matthew Lloyd; Nathan Cleary and the Penrith Panthers; even Cathy Freeman as Australia’s sprints & relay coach at Sydney 2000. But his most remarkable story isn't about the athletes he's coached. After helping save Hird's career following a devastating foot injury, John would later face a battle of his own, surviving a rare brain disease that stole years of his memory and changed his life forever. He joins Dyl & Friends to share lessons from a lifetime in high performance, leadership, resilience and finding out what people are truly capable of when they're pushed to their limits. We talk: The phone call from Kevin Sheedy that brought him to Essendon… despite never watching AFL How he helped James Hird return from a career-threatening navicular injury The secrets behind Essendon's famous 2000 premiership season Why Matthew Lloyd was one of the hardest workers he's ever coached The AFL players who could have become elite track athletes Working with Olympians, AFL players, NRL stars and world-class athletes What separates good athletes from great athletes The three-part framework John believes underpins every elite performer Why modern athletes train differently to previous generations The biggest mistakes everyday people make with health and fitness The illness that nearly took John's life and the years of memory he lost How surviving a brain injury changed the way he coaches… and who he coaches Learn more about or contact John Quinn here. You can check out John’s recommendations on Audible below: Triumph: The Untold Story of Jesse Owens and Hitler's Olympics by Jesse Schaap Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi Like the ep? Share the ep! Review the ep! Dyl & Friends Spotify Feed Dyl & Friends Apple Podcasts Feed

Just 11 months after giving birth to her second child, Jess Stenson's 13th place at Paris 2024 clocked one of the fastest ever Olympic marathons by an Aussie woman. A year later in Valencia, she claimed the Australian record with a time of 2:21:24. Jess is an athlete at the very peak of her powers, pausing her career to have baby number three! She joins Dyl & Friends in Adelaide, some 37 weeks pregnant, to tell us not just if can do can it all again... but does she want to? This is an awesome conversation with one of the best to ever do it. We talk: How Jess, a fan of the show, first stumbled onto Dyl & Friends... The inspiration of Neale Daniher and her brother Jack Trengove’s time as Melbourne captain Her favourite Olympic moment and getting to Paris 2024 less than a year after giving birth Life in the Olympic village as a mother Pressing pause on her career for a third time Could being a mum actually be a marathon super power? Jess’ top 5 races and top 5 people to surround yourself with Do marathoners actually respect half marathoners? The big tips for Dyl in his Melbourne Marathon this year What’s next for Jess? Could it be LA 2028 and her fourth Olympics? It’s a bloody good chat with an inspirational Aussie who just keeps getting better and better. You can check out Neale Daniher's The Power of Choice on Audible. Like the ep? Share the ep! Review the ep! Dyl & Friends New Spotify Feed⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Dyl & Friends New Apple Podcasts Feed⁠

This week I’m joined by one of Australia’s best runners, Jack Rayner. Jack’s been absolutely flying, breaking Australian records and competing at the highest level of long distance running across the world. We get stuck into what makes him so good, how he trains, what he’s thinking when he races, dealing with injuries, setbacks, toilet breaks, and what he’s chasing next. With the Melbourne Marathon coming up, I also pick Jack’s brain on how to tackle my race, from pacing and fuelling to what to do when the wheels start falling off. We get into the Aussie running scene, run clubs, training with mates, whether stopping your watch is actually cheating, and plenty more. Listen out for: Jack’s journey from cross country kid to professional runner Breaking the Australian half-marathon record with a 59:53 in Barcelona Jack’s favourite courses, flow state and the races that don’t go to plan Injuries, setbacks and learning when you’ve pushed your body too far Why strength training matters for runners The do’s and don’ts of preparing for a marathon Dyl’s Melbourne Marathon plan and whether his sub-3:30 goal is realistic How to pace a marathon without blowing up Fuelling, hydration and toilet breaks Whether stopping your watch during a run is actually cheating The difference between running for a PB and just getting out for a run The rise of run clubs and the Aussie running community Jack’s business, Pulse Running, and coaching other athletes Competing against your mates while still being mates Jack’s plans for the World Road Running Championships, Berlin Marathon and the Olympics Here's the audiobooks I'm listening to on my runs, thanks to Audible: Stolen Focus by Johann Hari The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins Will by Will Smith & Mark Manson And if you’re looking to get into running or take your running up a notch, check out Pulse Running, founded by Jack and his mates to coach and support runners of all levels. Like the ep? Share the ep! Review the ep! Dyl & Friends New Spotify Feed⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Dyl & Friends New Apple Podcasts Feed⁠

This week I'm joined by one of Australia's most respected high performance leaders, Andrew Russell. Andrew has spent more than 30 years helping elite athletes perform at their best, working across the AFL and professional sport to build stronger, more resilient athletes and teams. With the Melbourne Marathon on the horizon, I sit down with Andrew to unpack my own running journey, how I'm going to get to the starting line, and the habits that actually help people stay consistent long after the motivation wears off. From there, the conversation broadens into elite performance, injury rehabilitation, leadership and the lessons Andrew has learned from rebuilding some of the AFL's biggest names throughout his career. We talk: The high performance myths and trends taking over social media right now Why I'm running the Melbourne Marathon Andrew's playbook for building habits that actually last Stories from working with Patrick Cripps, Charlie Curnow, Lance Franklin, Shaun Burgoyne and more What it really takes to rebuild elite athletes after injury How high performance has evolved over Andrew's 30-year career The high performance titles Andrew recommends for anyone wanting to improve, which you can find on Audible Want to learn more from Andrew? Check out his high performance coaching programs at Russell Performance: ⁠https://www.russellperformance.co/⁠ If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone who's chasing a goal of their own. Like the ep? Share the ep! Review the ep! Dyl & Friends New Spotify Feed⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Dyl & Friends New Apple Podcasts Feed⁠

This week I'm joined by youth advocate and speaker Daniel Principe. Daniel and I sit down for an honest conversation about growing up, finding your identity and the experiences that shape the person you become. We talk about the pressure young men face today, the insecurity that comes from trying to fit in, and how both of us have had to challenge our own ideas of what it means to be a man. From friendships and rejection to fatherhood, relationships and the lessons we've learned along the way, this conversation is about becoming a better mate, a better partner and a better person. We talk: Why so many young men feel pressure to be someone they're not The insecurity that comes from trying to fit in How our ideas of masculinity change as we grow older What actually makes someone a good mate Why difficult conversations are a sign of strong relationships The difference between having lots of friends and having real friendships How rejection can become one of life's greatest teachers The lessons we learn from our parents and the ones we want to pass on Creating safe spaces where people feel comfortable being themselves The challenges young people face growing up in an online world Why growth comes from being willing to admit when you're wrong If this episode resonates with you, share it with someone who might need to hear it. Like the ep? Share the ep! Review the ep! Dyl & Friends New Spotify Feed⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Dyl & Friends New Apple Podcasts Feed⁠

This week I'm joined by two-time Paralympic gold medallist, author, musician and life of the party, Alexa Leary. Just days after the five-year anniversary of the cycling accident that changed her life, we both lined up in the La Roche-Posay 10K at Run Melbourne. On recovery day, Alexa joined me in the studio to talk about the amazing journey she's been on since that day in 2021. Doctors told Alexa's family she wouldn't survive. If she did, they believed she'd never walk or talk again. Instead, Alexa rebuilt her life from the ground up; relearning everyday tasks, returning to the pool through rehabilitation, and, just three years later, standing on top of the Paralympic podium in Paris. But this conversation isn't just about what happened in 2021. It's about who Alexa is today. We talk: What happened on the day of Alexa's cycling accident Being told she'd never walk or talk again Relearning everyday life after a traumatic brain injury Losing five years of memories and rebuilding her identity Why she says she's "living a second life" The road from rehabilitation to two Paralympic gold medals The ongoing reality of living with an invisible disability Her mission to raise awareness for traumatic brain injuries Writing Sink or Swim and pursuing music beyond swimming What's next for this Aussie icon If this episode resonates with you, share it with someone who might need to hear it. Like the ep? Share the ep! Review the ep! Hit the NEW Dyl & Friends feeds below: Dyl & Friends New Spotify Feed⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Dyl & Friends New Apple Podcasts Feed⁠

This week I'm joined by Professor Matthew Sharpe, National Head of School of Philosophy at ACU and co-author of 'Philosophy as a Way of Life: Philosophy as a Way of Life: History, Dimensions, Directions'. Stoicism is a philosophy that's been around for more than 2,000 years, but its lessons feel more relevant today than ever. In this conversation, we unpack the practical ideas that have helped shape the way I think about adversity, anxiety, relationships and living a meaningful life. We dive into the foundations of Stoicism, where it came from, why it has stood the test of time, and how simple daily practices can help us stop worrying about the things we can't control. Whether you're completely new to Stoicism or you've already picked up Meditations, I think you'll take something valuable away from this conversation. We talk: What Stoicism actually is (and the biggest misconceptions about it) The simple question that can help stop overthinking Why strength of character matters more than money, status or success How to focus on what you can control and let go of what you can't Why adversity is essential for growth and resilience The Stoic exercises that can improve your mindset every day How Marcus Aurelius used Stoicism to lead through crisis The "two goals" framework that can change the way you approach work and life Why seeking validation from others will never lead to lasting happiness How reflecting on your day can help you become a better version of yourself Professor Matthew Sharpe's Stoicism reading list: Meditations — Marcus Aurelius Enchiridion (The Manual) — Epictetus The Inner Citadel — Pierre Hadot How to Think Like a Roman Emperor — Donald Robertson If this episode resonates with you, share it with someone who might need to hear it. Like the ep? Share the ep! Review the ep! Hit the NEW Dyl & Friends feeds below: Dyl & Friends New Spotify Feed⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Dyl & Friends New Apple Podcasts Feed⁠

Arriving in Australia as a child after fleeing civil war in Sudan, Moses Riek was a highly talented basketball prospect with the world at his feet.  Fast forward to only months after he finished school and he found himself behind bars. However, prison became the turning point that changed his life.  Today, Moses mentors young people involved in the justice system, works alongside Victorian Government agencies, speaks publicly about crime prevention and rehabilitation and is dedicated to showing young people there is another path. He joined Dyl to tell his story: -The injury that changed everything -Falling in with the wrong crowd -His arrest & entering adult prison -The first phone call to his mum -Release, relapse & the wake-up call -His mentoring method -Family & rebuilding trust If this episode resonates with you, share it with someone who might need to hear it. Like the ep? Share the ep! Review the ep! Hit the NEW Dyl & Friends feeds below: ⁠Dyl & Friends New Spotify Feed⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Dyl & Friends New Apple Podcasts Feed⁠

This week I'm joined by my psychiatrist, Dr Ranjit Menon. We've been working together for the past three years, so I wanted to sit down and ask him everything he's taught me about anxiety, identity and what it actually means to live a healthy life. We start with my own mental health journey before diving into the questions I think so many of us have. Why do we experience anxiety? Should we identify with a diagnosis? Why are more people struggling? And what are the simple habits that make the biggest difference to our health and wellbeing? Whether you've been through therapy yourself or you're just trying to better understand your own mind, I think there's something in this conversation for everyone. We talk: What my psychiatrist has learned about me over the past three years Why anxiety isn't something we should try to eliminate The difference between anxiety and an anxiety disorder Why your diagnosis should never become your identity How elite sport approaches mental health and high performance The four pillars of a healthy life Why doing hard things builds resilience The difference between being selfish and being self-centred Why reading is one of the most underrated tools for improving your mind How small daily habits help protect your mental health over time The one thing Ranjit believes every person should prioritise for better health If this episode resonates with you, share it with someone who might need to hear it. Like the ep? Share the ep! Review the ep! Hit the NEW Dyl & Friends feeds below: Dyl & Friends New Spotify Feed⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Dyl & Friends New Apple Podcasts Feed⁠