What if the answer to one of life's biggest questions has been right in front of you all along, or rather, right where your face should be?

In this episode Mitch sits down with Richard Lang, a psychotherapist, author and one of the world's leading teachers of the Headless Way, a practical approach to exploring consciousness developed by Douglas Harding. Richard shares how a single encounter at just 17 years old transformed the way he understood identity and what it means to know yourself, and he has spent five decades since sharing it with anyone curious enough to look.

They walk through the simple experiments that introduce people to a direct experience of consciousness, the moment your hands seem to disappear and the world opens up with no edges, no face, no boundaries. Richard and Mitch dig into why we confuse who we are with what we look like, and why practice still matters even when the experience itself is instant and impossible to get wrong.

Rather than asking listeners to adopt a new belief system, Richard invites everyone to test this for themselves through curiosity and direct experience. Grounded, genuinely funny and occasionally profound, this is a fresh crack at one of humanity's oldest questions: who am I?

What drives someone to catch 7,000 waves in a single month?

In this episode, I sit down with professional surfer Josh Levey to unpack the mindset behind one of Australia's most remarkable endurance challenges. What started as a personal test on New Year's Day, with a goal of 5,000 waves, grew into something far bigger: a month long battle against the ocean, his own body, and sickness, that ultimately raised $106,000 for Newcastle homelessness charity Soul Hub and reshaped Josh's perspective on success, purpose and the impact one person can have.

We talk about growing up between Japan, where he was born, and Newcastle, where he moved at age seven; the discipline of competing on the World Surf League's Qualifying Series; and the physical and mental toll of surfing up to eight hours a day, including the final stretch of the challenge, when food poisoning nearly ended it all. Josh opens up about why serving others became more important to him than chasing personal records, how his Christian faith shapes the way he approaches life, competition and community, and why he believes our greatest gifts are meant to be used for others.

Whether you're an athlete, a surfer, or simply someone looking for more purpose and perspective, this conversation is full of lessons on resilience, discipline, generosity, and what it really means to live a life that leaves a positive mark on others.

Connect with Josh Levey

Instagram | joshlevey_

Connect with Mitchell

Instagram | ⁠mitchellbastock⁠

Email | [email protected]

Jacob Hodson is the owner of New Strengths in Newcastle, but this conversation goes far beyond fitness.

We explore the journey from a quiet kid searching for confidence to building a thriving business, raising a family, and learning that success isn’t just about pushing harder.

Jacob shares his experience competing in Strongman, chasing ambitious goals, and eventually facing a difficult question:

What happens when the thing you’re striving for starts pulling you away from the person you want to be?

We discuss identity, fatherhood, ambition, training, ego, balance, and the different seasons of life that require us to push, pull back, and sometimes pivot altogether.

This is a conversation about understanding the true cost of our goals and having the courage to redefine success when life asks something different of us.

Connect with Jacob Hodson

Instagram | @jacobhodson @newstrengthhq

Website | www.newstrength.com.au

Connect with Mitchell

Instagram | ⁠mitchellbastock⁠

Email | [email protected]

Life has a funny way of reminding us that no matter how much we plan, uncertainty is always lurking around the corner. The question isn't whether it'll show up, it's whether we're ready when it does.

Rich Diviney spent 21 years as a Navy SEAL officer, commanding teams in combat, running assessment and selection, and learning firsthand what separates people who fall apart under pressure from those who somehow get calmer. Since retiring, he's channelled all of that into two books, The Attributes and his latest Masters of Uncertainty, and a mission to help people understand how and why they perform the way they do, especially when the shit hits the fan.

This one is jam-packed with real, practical stuff. From the difference between skills and attributes and why knowing your own performance picture is a total game changer, to the neuroscience behind how we learn faster under pressure, and a beautifully simple tool called Moving Horizons that'll change the way you think about getting through hard moments. We also get into identity, dopamine, instinct vs rational thinking, the power of breath, and how the best teams are built on trust.

Rich is the real deal. Grounded, sharp, and genuinely passionate about helping people show up better. I loved every minute of this one and I think you will too.

Connect with Rich

Instagram | rich_diviney and theattributes

Website | theattributes.com 

Connect with Mitchell

Instagram | ⁠mitchellbastock⁠

Email | [email protected]

Most people are chasing confidence. But that might be the wrong target.

In this episode, Simon Williams joins the team to get into what's actually underneath it all — self-worth. Not the kind that spikes after a win and disappears after a loss, but the quieter, more durable thing that shapes how you experience your life regardless of outcomes.

They talk about shadow work (and why you genuinely can't outrun it), what it looks like to process loss in a way that actually moves you forward, and why so many people build confidence that crumbles — because there's nothing solid holding it together.

A lot of it comes through the lens of sport, but it goes way beyond that.

They cover:

• Confidence vs. self-worth — and why the difference matters more than you'd think
• Shadow work in practice, not just in theory
• Turning loss into something useful (eventually)
• Sport as a training ground for real resilience
• Parenting young athletes — effort, outcomes, and not screwing them up
• Moving from win/lose to win/learn

No performance, no fluff. Just an honest conversation about what it actually takes to feel whole — not just look like you've got it together.

Connect with Simon

Instagram | mapp_life

Website | mapplife.com

Connect with Mitchell

Instagram | ⁠mitchellbastock⁠

Email | [email protected]

Why do our brains cling to some emotions more than others? How do our neurons wire together, shaping our habits, choices, and emotional responses? In this episode, we dive into the science of positive and proactive psychology, exploring how our emotions serve as data, why anger arises when we feel blocked, and how stronger emotions enhance memories—for better or worse.

We’ll discuss the power of emotional literacy, the impact of physiology on decision-making, and why simple habits like eating, sleeping, and moving are crucial for self-regulation. Plus, we’ll uncover how high performers transform emotions into energy and why shared purpose helps us thrive.

Tune in for practical insights on rewiring your brain, protecting your energy, and finding balance in both negative and positive states—because it’s not about avoiding emotions, but learning how to navigate them effectively.

Connect with Sue

Instagram | suelangleyofficial

Website | www.learnwithsue.com.au

Connect with Mitchell

Instagram | ⁠mitchellbastock⁠

Email | [email protected]

Welcome to a thought-provoking journey where confidence meets uncertainty.

This podcast explores the art of showing up, embracing the moment, and releasing negativity. Through the lens of science and mindfulness, we challenge absolute truths taught by schools and parents, recognising that everything begins with a decision.

Dive into the polarity of values, the beauty of imperfection, and the power of owning your experiences.

Learn to take your work seriously—without taking yourself too seriously—and discover that outcomes and even emotions are choices.

Join us as we embrace the unknown and navigate life, confidently uncertain yet mindfully intentional.

Connect with Ellen

Instagram | ellenjlanger

Website | www.ellenlanger.me

Connect with Mitchell

Instagram | ⁠mitchellbastock⁠

Email | [email protected]

Our thinking mind is one hell of a ride. As human beings who have an ever evolving consciousness, the human mind can either be our greatest alley or our own worst enemy. We all pretty much know this to be true and yet we still find ourselves falling down the trap door from time to time.

How we think literally dictates our emotions & actions, and what we think predominately manifests from what we believe. For better or worse, this seems to be how we operate and as hard as a pill it is to swallow, what we believe is up to choice. 

This beautiful mind of ours sometimes gets a bad wrap just doing its thing, and maybe rightly so sometimes, but without it we quite literally wouldn’t be able to experience and enjoy our lives the way we do. 

All that being said, the healthiest way I’ve learned to have a relationship with our mind, is by questioning everything and not believing that my thoughts (feelings or emotions) define who I am. They are as much me as the clouds are to the sky. 

They come & go, and it’s up to us not to attach ourselves to them. 

Derek is what I would call a master observer and for this reason alone his ideas and perspectives are truly invaluable. 

We both froth on this stuff and discussed, the crucial moment after your first thought, how people look for validation, how to make the best decision, executing ideas, motivating beliefs and the difference between failure & success.

Connect with Derek 

Website | sive.rs

Connect with Mitchell

Instagram | ⁠mitchellbastock⁠

Email | [email protected]

Wholistic Health is an ongoing, ever evolving learning and practice of all things both physically and energetically. It’s about thriving, not just surviving. It requires effort in the form of time & energy, and I believe to truly thrive we must take all aspects of life into consideration.

In a time like never before, where there are endless opportunities to live unhealthily, there is also an abundance of good information for people to live optimally. That doesn’t mean we don’t get sick, have pain, entertain negative thoughts or succumb to everyday stresses. What it does offer, is the knowledge to live authentically and consciously participate. Both invaluable assets in this game of life. 

When these pieces of the puzzle begin coming together, our souls' desires seem to start sending us messages in the form of subtle energy. 

There are always potential distractions too, so we must cultivate stillness within our recipe.

Allison’s awareness and experience is extremely valuable when it comes to the connection between our physical and energetic bodies. A great ability to bring it all together in an informative manner and engage the audience.

Another fascinating episode where we dive into the importance of the energetic body, navigating the current shift in consciousness, honesty & authenticity in relationships and desires vs wants. 

Connect with Allison

Instagram | allisonpelot_

Website | www.pureenergypdx.com

YouTube | @AllisonPelot

Connect with Mitchell

Instagram | ⁠mitchellbastock⁠

Email | [email protected]

Seeds are buried in the dark, then they require water, sunlight and nature to grow into the beautiful being they were meant to be.

Sometimes our own human experience follows a similar process. The strong winds, droughts and flooding are all apart of the process, none of which can be anything other than what they are for the growth to naturally happen. 

Our lives seem to be naturally effected by what’s going on around us, and that makes us human, though it’s the cells deep down inside us that help shape who we grow into.

Daniel Brown (The Mullet Lord) has done his time amid the storms but now he is in full blossom. Other than a killer surfer, businessman, coffee brew master and devoted family man, Daniel is in inspiration for anyone who has forgotten who they were meant to be.

One of the best conversations I’ve had the pleasure of conversing in. Thank us later. Much love. 

Connect with Daniel

Instagram | mullet_lord

Business | Lords Coffee