Some conversations stay with you long after the microphones are switched off.

In this solo episode, I look back on five of the most impactful conversations from recent episodes of The Average Jacks Podcast and share the lessons that have stuck with me the most.

From Sharon McSorley rebuilding her life after a career in policing, to Dave Morris creating lasting change through Boxing for Better, Jon Fox opening up about therapy and childhood trauma, Max Vernon challenging the food industry through transparency, and Grace Vella fighting her way back from injury to professional football—each story offers a different perspective on resilience, purpose, and personal growth.

This isn't just a recap. It's a reflection on the themes that connect these conversations: overcoming adversity, embracing authenticity, and taking ownership of your future.

Whether you're building a business, navigating a difficult chapter, or simply looking for a bit of perspective, there's something in this episode for you.

🌐 More episodes, coaching & content: www.jackmckiernan.co.uk

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If you enjoy the podcast, don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and Share the episode—it really helps more people discover these conversations.

Resilience isn’t built when life is easy it’s built in the moments that test you the most. In this episode, we sit down with Ellen Johnston, whose incredible journey through four ACL surgeries, multiple knee reconstructions, and years of rehabilitation has completely changed the way she views fitness, coaching, and life.

Ellen shares how a serious knee injury at just 14 years old forced her to redefine her identity, overcome setbacks, and discover a new purpose through strength training and coaching. We explore the mental side of injury recovery, the importance of patience, and why focusing on what you can control is often the biggest step towards moving forward.

We also dive into Ellen’s coaching philosophy, discussing why sustainable health is about far more than aesthetics or the number on the scales. From building confidence through strength training to creating healthier relationships with food, exercise, and yourself, Ellen explains why real progress comes from consistency, self-compassion, and resilience not quick fixes.

This conversation is about embracing setbacks, finding purpose through adversity, and understanding that your toughest moments don’t define you, they shape you.

Whether you’re recovering from an injury, struggling with your mindset, or simply looking to become a stronger version of yourself, this episode is packed with honest insights and practical lessons that you can apply to your own journey.

📲 Follow Ellen: @ellenjohnstonpt

🌐 More episodes, coaching & content: www.jackmckiernan.co.uk

⸻

🤝 Support the Podcast

Revive Active – Scientifically formulated supplements supporting energy, recovery, immunity and overall wellbeing.

Shop: https://tidd.ly/3PE8Pmc

Use code JACK15 for 15% OFF

Affiliate link – purchasing through this link helps support the podcast at no extra cost to you.

Viribus Strength – Premium backpacks, recovery tools and apparel built for active lifestyles.

Use code AVERAGEJACK for 20% OFF across the entire range.

Tune in now. 🎧🔥

Building a business is hard. Building one that genuinely changes lives is even harder.

In this episode of the Average Jacks Podcast, I sit down with Dave Morris, founder of Boxing for Better CIC, to talk about what it really takes to grow a purpose-driven organisation without losing sight of why you started.

Dave shares the journey from running small community boxing sessions on his own to leading a growing team across multiple locations, supporting young people and communities through the power of boxing. We dive into the challenges of stepping away from doing everything yourself, building trust in others, and creating systems that allow real impact to scale.

We also discuss:

• Leadership through service
• Overcoming imposter syndrome
• Scaling without losing your mission
• Building trust and empowering a team
• Lessons boxing teaches about resilience
• Creating lasting change in communities

This conversation goes far beyond business. It's about purpose, resilience, and understanding that success isn't measured by what you achieve it's measured by the lives you impact.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, coach, leader, or simply someone trying to build something meaningful, this episode is packed with practical lessons you can apply immediately.

🥊 Boxing for Better🌐 Website📸 Instagram: @boxingforbetter

🎙️ Jack McKiernan🌐 www.jackmckiernan.co.uk

Revive Active – Scientifically formulated supplements supporting energy, recovery, immunity and overall wellbeing.

🛒 Shop: https://tidd.ly/3PE8Pmc🎁 Use code JACK15 for 15% OFF

Affiliate link – purchasing through this link helps support the podcast at no extra cost to you.

Viribus Strength – Premium backpacks, recovery tools and apparel built for active lifestyles.

🎁 Use code AVERAGEJACK for 20% OFF across the entire range.

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🎙️ New Episode – The Average Jacks Podcast

Most people know Jon Fox as a fitness influencer, musician, and content creator but behind the confidence is a story of self-discovery, trauma, and learning to become comfortable in his own skin.

In this episode, Jon opens up about the mental health struggles that shaped his life, the impact of therapy, and how facing his past allowed him to stop chasing validation and start living more authentically. We explore the role of childhood experiences, neurodivergence, and why vulnerability became one of his greatest strengths.

We also dive into the connection between fitness and creativity, how music became an outlet for processing emotion, and the stories behind his songs I Went to Therapy and Clown. Jon shares why boundaries, rest, and self-awareness are essential for long-term success.

This conversation goes beyond social media. It's about finding confidence through honesty, embracing who you are, and building a life that aligns with your values.

📲 Follow Jon: @jonfox__

🌐 More episodes, coaching and content: www.jackmckiernan.co.uk

🤝 Support the Podcast

Revive Active – Scientifically formulated supplements to support energy, recovery, immunity and overall wellbeing.

🛒 Shop: https://tidd.ly/3PE8Pmc
🎁 Use code JACK15 for 15% off

Affiliate link – purchasing through this link helps support the podcast at no extra cost to you.

Viribus Strength – Premium backpacks, recovery tools and apparel built for active lifestyles.

🎁 Use code AVERAGEJACK for 20% off across the entire range.

She’s back on the podcast and this time, we go even deeper.

Professional footballer and MISSKICK founder Grace Vella returns to share the real story behind her 14-month ACL recovery. Opening up on the mental battles, setbacks, and resilience it takes to come back stronger.

In her previous appearance, we touched on her journey. But in this episode, Grace breaks down what injury rehab is really like behind the scenes, from the loneliness and doubt to the discipline and mindset required to rebuild trust in your body.

We dive into how she used data and visual progress to stay focused, why recovery is never linear, and the key mindset shifts that helped her turn one of the toughest periods of her career into a catalyst for growth, both on and off the pitch.

What you can expect:

• How to stay locked in when progress feels slow and repetitive
• Why tracking data can keep you grounded during long-term recovery
• The importance of building the right support team—and investing in your comeback
• How to overcome the fear of re-injury and regain confidence
• Why sharing your journey can be a powerful tool for resilience

Whether you're an athlete, building a career, or navigating a difficult phase in life, this episode is all about turning setbacks into progress.

Grace Vella plays for Bolton Wanderers Women and is the founder of MISSKICK, a fast-growing movement in women’s football. She’s known for her honesty, resilience, and commitment to growing the women’s game.

Follow Grace: @gracevellaCheck out MISSKICK: @misskick

Explore more episodes and content: www.jackmckiernan.co.uk

If you’ve ever had to rebuild, reset, or push through adversitythis one’s for

Thank you to the brilliant crew:

Emma Coombes

Joe FrenchAndy Unsworth John Melling

Success isn’t just about working harder, it’s about understanding yourself better. In this episode, we sit down with Adam Idowu, a health and mindset coach based in Dubai, who shares how injury, setbacks, and self-discovery shaped his approach to fitness, business, and life.

From growing up in Liverpool to building a coaching career overseas, Adam opens up about the challenges he faced along the way and how a serious injury sparked his fascination with psychology, mindset, and human performance. We explore the lessons that helped him rebuild both physically and mentally, and why understanding your own behaviour is often the key to lasting change.

We dive into the difference between motivation and discipline, the habits that drive long-term success, and why accountability is the foundation of any transformation. Adam also shares his thoughts on the coaching industry, the dangers of chasing shortcuts, and how to identify genuine expertise in a world full of quick fixes.

This conversation goes beyond fitness. It's about taking ownership, building resilience, and creating an environment that supports growth. Whether you're an aspiring coach, entrepreneur, athlete, or simply someone looking to level up, there are practical lessons throughout this episode that you can apply immediately.

If you're serious about improving your mindset, building better habits, and creating sustainable change, this episode is one you won't want to miss.

Tune in now. 🎧🔥

📲 Follow Adam's journey: @adamidowu_

🌍 Based in Dubai, helping people unlock their potential through health, mindset, and performance coaching.

Most of us go through life carrying past versions of ourselves that no longer serve us, until we finally learn how to let them go. In this episode, I sit down with Scott Lackey, whose powerful story explores resilience, identity, and what it really means to rebuild yourself from the inside out. 

Scott shares his journey through military service, entrepreneurship, setbacks, and personal transformation and how his philosophy in “Wake Up to Die Again” is about continuously shedding old identities to grow into who you’re meant to become. We dive into the mindset shifts that come with failure, the importance of discipline and ownership, and why success alone never leads to fulfilment. 

We also break down how to deal with self-doubt, rebuild trust in yourself, and stop negotiating with the voice that holds you back. Scott shares how small daily actions, consistency, and honesty with yourself are what ultimately create real, lasting change. This conversation is about stepping out of comfort, facing the truth, and learning to build a stronger version of yourself through challenge rather than avoiding it. 

If you’ve been feeling stuck, misaligned, or unsure of your direction, this episode is a reminder that change doesn’t come from waiting, it comes from deciding. 

📘 Grab Scott’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Wake-Up-Die-Again-Breaking-ebook/dp/B0H19QJKXV
🌐 Learn more: https://scottlackey.com

For more from me: www.jackmckiernan.co.uk

Most self-improvement advice tells you to do more, push harder, and never stop grinding but what if that mindset is actually making people more anxious, burnt out, and unhappy?

In this solo episode, I break down the reality of self-improvement the good, the bad, and where people often lose themselves in the process. We dive into how fitness became the foundation for my confidence, discipline, and personal growth, while also discussing the dangers of obsession, toxic productivity, and constantly comparing yourself to others online.

I share the mindset shifts that helped me focus on sustainable progress instead of perfection, why ownership and reflection are key to lasting change, and how to recognise when self-improvement stops being healthy and starts becoming destructive.

This conversation is about building a life that actually feels better, not just looks better from the outside.

Whether you’re just starting your journey or deep into it already, this episode is a reminder that growth doesn’t need to come at the cost of your happiness, relationships, or peace of mind.

Find out more: www.jackmckiernan.co.uk

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to constantly improve, this one’s for you.

Tune in now. 🎧🔥

Most Podcast stop before they ever build momentum but after 70+ episodes navigating plenty of ups and downs, this episode is a look behind the curtain at what it actually takes to keep going.

In this solo episode, I break down the reality of building The Average Jacks Podcast from scratch, the lessons learned along the way, how things have evolved, and what it takes to stay consistent when motivation dips and doubt creeps in.

I talk about why consistency matters more than perfection, how community feedback has and will shape the direction of the show, and why I think authenticity will always beat polish when it comes to building something real.

I also share lessons around imposter syndrome, staying motivated through setbacks, and why real growth in podcasting (and anything else) comes from showing up even when it’s not perfect.

This one’s for anyone building something from the ground up whether that’s a podcast, a business, or just trying to stay consistent with something you care about.

If you’re in the early stages or feeling stuck, this is your reminder: keep going, stay real, and trust the process.

Tune in now. 🎧🔥

www.jackmckiernan.co.uk

Most of us carry patterns from childhood that quietly shape how we think, feel, and act, often without realising it. In this episode, I sit down with Meidi Goodson, who shares how those early experiences can hold us back, and more importantly, how to break free from them.

From a high-pressure career to a life dedicated to self-healing, Meidi opens up about her journey through trauma, self-doubt, and a life-changing experience during pregnancy that forced her to rethink everything. We dive into how techniques like hypnotherapy, EFT, and self-awareness can help rewire negative patterns and create lasting change.

We break down the link between your thoughts, language, and beliefs and how they shape the story you tell yourself. From guilt and unworthiness to control and negative self-talk, this episode explores the patterns that keep people stuck, and the simple, practical tools that can help shift them from grounding and movement to building real self-awareness.

This conversation is about taking responsibility, understanding your past without being controlled by it, and creating a life that actually aligns with who you are.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or caught in the same cycles, this episode gives you a starting point to change that.

Find out more about Meidi: https://www.meidigoodson.com/