Behind The Mask

In Australia alone we lose 1 man everything 3.5 hours to suicide. That’s 7 men a day, 213 a month and 2555 a year. In the US its every 13mins. In the UK, it’s the biggest killer of men under age 45. We have a growing mental health crisis that affecting men and all their relationships. 

In 2022 acclaimed Aussie performer Rob Mills wrote a book Putting on a show: Manhood, mates and mental health which brought a curious lens to the current state of masculinity. Organisations such as TommorowMan and their facilitators like Ryder Jack are helping young men to redefine masculinity, by questioning what’s working and what’s not. Their aim is to empower men to re-define a healthier version of masculinity for themselves that will positively impact those they love most.

In this episode we discuss:

-The clear difference between masculinity and manhood.

-Toxic masculinity and misogyny.

-Diminishing oneself, being non-confrontational and or non-assertive to avoid being labelled toxic or a misogynist.

-Father’s who are incapable or unreliable and the importance of having a village of positive male role models to raise a boy.

-The harrowing male suicide stats around the world and the suicide letters left by men who feel useless and worthless.

-The need for men to be vulnerable and really share their feelings, and to have safe spaces which enable them to feel comfortable in doing so.

-How Tomorrow Man go about teaching boys “the capabilities to give them better life outcomes.”

-Rob shares the importance of exploring new things, including sexuality.

-Ryder opens up a moment on what happened when he yelled at his partner.

-Josh shares the shame he’s felt for objectifying women.

-Rob shares why crying has been some of the best medicine for him across his life.

This episode is open, powerful and vulnerable. Nobody held back, and we all believe it’s one men from all walks of life at any age will truly benefit from listening or watching.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to WATCH the full episode @gobehindthemask

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Visit www.gobehindthemask.com.au for more information and sign up to our ‘Weekly Wisdoms’ to begin YOUR journey behind the mask.

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Carpe Diem or Seize the day is quote made famous by Roman poet Horace. It’s also the title of the 1986 film starring Robin Williams, and mentioned in several of his other famous films including; Hook, Mrs Doubtfire and Dead Poet’s Society. Our mutual love and appreciation for the late great actor, acts as a gentle vehicle for both the harrowing heaviness and belly laugh hilarity of this episode.

Grace Tame is a former Australian of the year and a strong and powerful activist and advocate for survivors of sexual abuse. As a survivor herself, she believes that ‘your truth is your power’. Despite everything she’s endured, Grace’s zest for life and sense of humour is unwavering.

Mark Humphries is a comedian, writer, actor, political satirist, and former quiz show host. He was a regular on the ABC’s Insiders, The Roast and 730. He is the current host of the very funny ‘6:57pm News’ on channel 7.

Trigger Warning: Listeners and viewers should know that this episode discusses issues of child sexual abuse and disordered eating.

In this episode we discuss:

-The extremity and complexity of the sexual abuse Grace endured as a 15 year old, including the horrific rituals used to groom and control her.

-The byproduct, when our empathy for others is far greater than it is for ourselves.

-The power of connecting vulnerably with people we feel safe with, to alleviate shame.

-How Mark political satirism and comedy is often sparked by anger and disappointment.

-The online vitriol they’ve both received (anonymous opinions or networked abuse), how that’s affected them and how they’ve handled it.

-The wonderful way blending nature and exercise helps to free the mind.

-Mark finally getting one up on an entitled shopper.

-How anorexia has impacted Grace’s life and journey.

-Mark’s incredible story where the onset of his physical ailments were simply his bodies stress responses telling him he had to make significant life changes.

-The importance of having the love of great supportive friends through divorce.

-Ensuring life has laughter, great friendships, and music from the 60’s and 70’s.

We got our karaoke on with some iconic BeeGees impersonations, and bonded on both divorce and a mutual love for the brilliance of Robin Williams. 

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to WATCH the full episode @gobehindthemask

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @gobehindthemask

Visit our website for more information and register to begin YOUR journey behind the mask.

www.gobehindthemask.com.au

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jeremy Fernandez and Michael Rowland are two of Australia’s most well-respected broadcasters and journalists. Jeremy has worked in various roles at the ABC, the 7 network and CNN International. He is one of the countries most versatile presenters, having hosted live broadcasts of Sydney Mardi Gras, New Years Eve, Australia Day Live and both state and federal elections. He currently co-hosts “Not Stupid’ a fantastic podcast with the equally fantastic Julia Baird and presents ABC news NSW nightly from Monday-Friday.

Michael Rowland is just as prolific with roles as a Business and Finance reporter, a Victorian state political reporter, and as the ABC’s US correspondent. He’s the former president of the Melbourne Press Club. Since 2019, he has co-hosted ABC breakfast television program and in 2019 took on the more expanded role as ABC’s senior network presenter. He’s also a proud ambassador for the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation.

In this episode we discuss:

-How uncomplicated and simple their lives are outside the rigours of work.

-The importance of detaching themselves from the news when they aren’t working.

-Michael being innately shy and introverted and learning to embrace the camera by ‘putting on’ the mask.

-Jeremy’s endless pursuit of joy and peace in the current world we live in.

-The wild world of misinformation, disinformation, agenda‘s and click bait.

-Michael using exercise as a vessel for switching off and letting off steam, when he has to put such a lid on his emotions on air.

-Jeremy being told that the colour of his skin will hold him back and his harrowing experience of racism travelling on a bus with his daughter.

-What the secret sauce for building resilience might be.

-Why you shouldn’t choose far away figures to be your heroes and who their heroes are.

-Michael’s shocking injury which almost resulted in his eye being removed.

-The quotes that have shaped their lives.

-The importance of poetry and song, and the lost art of pondering, remuneration and taking our time.

-What service means to them and how they choose to serve beyond their professional pursuits.

This episode is one of my absolute favourites, full of openness, vulnerability, intelligence and a tonne of valuable tools and wisdoms. Be sure to share your thoughts on it, by leaving a review.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to WATCH the full episode @gobehindthemask

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @gobehindthemask

Visit our website for more information and register to begin YOUR journey behind the mask.

www.gobehindthemask.com.au

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ali McGregor and Reuben Kaye are two of Australia’s most talented, versatile and unique performing artists. Between them they’ve traversed the world and the worlds of opera, jazz, television, cabaret, comedy, musical theatre, drag…. and pottery. But their stories and journeys are far from simple or linear and they’ve endured various hardships and adversities in ways that have asked them to embody resilience, courage and leadership

In this episode we discuss:

-Rueben’s harrowing ‘death of a thousand cuts’ experience of being beaten and marginalised because of his sexuality.

-The value of not having one clear goal, when it closes us to potential peripheral opportunities.

-How Ali was able to use this theory to feel less attached to the Opera world, and shift into Cabaret when the Opera door closed on her.

-Cancelled shows and death threats after Rueben’s controversial appearance on Channel 10’s ‘The Project’.

-The importance of having clear purpose in life.

-Reuben being bullied by his director and fired on his first Musical Theatre job, Evita.

-Good reviews, bad reviews, apathetic ones, and the challenge of separating the human doing from human being in the art form of Cabaret.

-How to be outrageous, play with an audience and still ensure people love you.

-The value of cracks in life and why live is everything for them in performance.

-The importance of continuing to walk on our journey when things don’t go our way.

-What freedom means to them, and the freedoms they choose to fight for.

-Love, connection and pride for the LGBTQIA+ community.

-The intersection between patriarchy, misogyny and transphobia.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to WATCH the full episode @gobehindthemask

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @gobehindthemask

Visit our website for more information and register to begin YOUR journey behind the mask.

www.gobehindthemask.com.au

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ella Pike and Nathan Freeman are co-owners and founders of Australia’s only studio purely dedicated to breath work. Breathwork is scientifically proven to have many mental and physical health benefits including; reduced stress, increased focus, reduction in negative emotions, increased positive emotions, increased present moment awareness.

Their paths to finding breath work could not be more polarising. Nathan a former professional AFL player who’s career ended prematurely due to injury is interested in the functional performance aspect, whilst Ella found breath work through her healing and spiritual journey

Trigger Warning: This is episode contains themes of drug addiction, self harm and suicide attempts, if this is triggering for you, we recommend you skip this episode.

In this episode we discuss:

-Nathan’s career defining hamstring injuries.

-Finally getting an AFL debut after more than 4 years of adversity.

-His innate resilience and ability to adapt himself and his game to his circumstances.

-Ella’s battles through drug addiction, anxiety, depression, self harming and suicide attempts.

-Her extraordinary first experience with breathwork, which changed her life.

-How they met and built the Breath Haus.

-The science and power of breathwork.

-How it can it can help you to self regulate both emotionally and physically.

-The difference between meditation and breathwork.

-Eye gazing as a gateway to the soul lens.

-The importance of stepping out of doing, checking in with yourself, slowing down or indeed stopping.

-What The Breath Haus offers to their community and its values.

-Bringing the normal into the woowoo!

-The beauty of having someone who truly believes in you.

Learn more about The Breath Haus at www.thebreathhaus.com.au

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to WATCH the full episode @gobehindthemask

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @gobehindthemask

Visit our website for more information and register to begin YOUR journey behind the mask.

www.gobehindthemask.com.au

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bonnie Anderson is a singer/songwriter, who won AGT at aged 12, she’s starred on Neighbours, is a presenter on Ch9’s postcard and was the winner of the masked singer 2020 (the irony of that is not lost on me)

Taylor Henderson is also a singer/songwriter who came fourth on AGT in 2010 and was a runners up on the X factor in 2013, his self titled debut album went platinum and to number 1 on the charts and his second album ‘Burnt Letters’ also went to number 1.

In this episode we discuss:

-What life is actually like on a TV singing contest.

-Taylor being asked to choose between his life in the Pentecostal Church and his music career.

-Getting dropped or let go from a record label, in this case Sony.

-Bonnie finding new perspective and priorities since becoming a mum.

-Josh and Bonnie break the stigma around vocal injuries and vocal surgeries.

-Striving to be 1% better each day.

-Undiagnosed ADHD.

-Bonnie being bullied post winning on Australia’s Got Talent.

-Strategies for coping when life gets overwhelming.

-The value of looking at life ten years from now.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to WATCH the full episode @gobehindthemask

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @gobehindthemask

Visit our website for more information and register to begin YOUR journey behind the mask.

www.gobehindthemask.com.au

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Celia Pacquola is an actor, writer and comedian, who’s worked extensively in Australia and the UK and is known best for her work on ‘Utopia’, ‘Rosehaven’ and her prolific stand up comedy career. She is the current host of the hit TV show, ‘Thank God You’re Here!’

Sammy J is an Australian comedian, writer, composer, and broadcaster. He's played in Edinburgh, Montreal and London, had a sitcom on Netflix, is one half of the man/puppet comedy duo “Sammy J & Randy", creates satirical sketches for ABC TV and currently hosts the breakfast show on ABC Radio Melbourne.

In this episode we discuss:

-Having our self worth defined by our careers

-The unconditional love Celia’s child has for her and how beautiful that is when we feel our life’s loves (in a our career) are conditional.

-Sammy’s appreciation for nature, the clarity he finds when he’s out there and how comedically subversive it is in a modern world to go bush.

-The flux between sharing, giving and receiving in our work.

-The 5 P’s to reclaiming your power.

-Sammy cheekily hating on sport!

-Trusting the stress and the anxiety pre performance.

-The fear of it all being taken away, and how that might actually be a good thing.

-The antidote to narcissism is zooming out and not being the centre of our own world or anyone’s world.

-Meditation taking time, patience, diligence, like any practice should, and it’s gateway to flow state.

-Not upsetting people as a radio host.

-Sentimentality being the least cool thing in comedy.

-The difference between being depressed and needing deep rest.

-How to deal with awkward and uncomfortable conversations when you ‘Love everybody and tell the truth.”

-Becoming irrelevant as we age.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel @gobehindthemask

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @gobehindthemask

Visit our website for more information and register to begin YOUR journey behind the mask.

www.gobehindthemask.com.au

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cody Weightman & Riley Garcia are AFL footballers currently playing for the Western Bulldogs. 

Cody was born and bread in the South-Eastern suburbs of Melbourne. He attended Haileybury College, and was drafted in 2019 with pick no.15. He’s played 66 games, is a passionate surfer and over the past couple of years has begun re-exploring visual art as a creative outlet.

Riley’s from Western Australia and was drafted via Caversham and Swan Districts in 2019 with pick no 62. He’s played 27 games thus far and is enjoying a breakout season this year. Riley’s sense of humour, his relaxed personality and his love for family and friends are at the core of his values.

In this episode we discuss:

-Who they are beyond football.

-The reasons behind their desire to separate the human being from the human doing.

-Meeting a wise owl sporting speedos.

-‘The Warriors Way’ men’s course at ‘The Fifth Direction’.

-Struggling through ice baths.

-Riley finding perspective through his battles with injury .

-Cody’s serendipitous encounter that reignited his love for art and creativity.

-Tackling anxiety and panic attacks and how learning to understand them is actually a tool for success on the footy field.

-Practical mindfulness solutions and learning how to listen to what the mind and body really need.

-The importance of family, friends and our support network through the tough times.

-The value of creating routines, rituals and structure in life.

-Reframing what success truly means to them.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to WATCH the full episode @gobehindthemask

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @gobehindthemask

Visit our website for more information and register to begin YOUR journey behind the mask.

www.gobehindthemask.com.au

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alinta Chidzey & Lucy Maunder are two astonishingly talented, well renowned and award winning ‘Leading Ladies’ of Australian Musical Theatre. For well over a decade, they’ve wowed audiences with their phenomenal performances.

Alinta has played many roles including; Velma in Chicago, Anita in West Side Story, Svetlana in Chess, Kathy in Singin’ in the Rain, Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar and most recently she dazzled us with her performance of Satine in the hit musical Moulin Rouge.

Lucy has starred as Miss Honey in Matilda, Mrs Banks in Mary Poppins, Cynthia Weil in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Rizzo in Grease, Janet in The Rocky Horror Show, and is currently playing the iconic role of Roxy Heart in Chicago.

In this episode Alinta & Lucy discuss:

-Auditioning for major roles at 37 weeks pregnant.

-Juggling motherhood and stage life.

-Dealing with the challenges of burnout and the strategies for coping with it.

-Anxiety and panic attacks before and during performances.

-The tips for keeping performances fresh 8 times a week.

-How to handle the pressures of auditions and live performance.

-Why they love the craft of musical theatre so much.

-The importance of stopping, meditating, or just having a disco nap!

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to WATCH the full episode @gobehindthemask

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @gobehindthemask

Visit our website for more information and register to begin YOUR journey behind the mask.

www.gobehindthemask.com.au

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jelena Dokic is a former world number 4 Women’s singles tennis player, having reached the Semi-Finals of Wimbledon and the Quarter Finals of both the Australian and French Open’s. She currently works as a tennis commentator and expert on Channel 9’s tennis team. Her much publicised journey dealing with the traumatic abuse of her father has inspired her to write two best-selling books. “Unbreakable” and “Fearless”.

Todd Woodbridge is a former number 19 Men’s singles tennis players and one half of the famous doubles duo ‘The Woodies’. He won an astonishing 16 Grand slam titles as a doubles player. He currently heads up the Channel 9 tennis commentary team as well as featuring on renowned travel show Postcards and recently became the host of the popular gameshow, The Tipping Point.

In this episode Jelena & Todd discuss:

-Seeing our self worth beyond what we do by establishing the core values of who we truly are.

-The brutally competitive and self focused world of tennis where winning is everything and friendships are hard to find.

-Moving through life with compassion, kindness and gratitude.

-The importance of discipline and hard work in achieving our goals.

-Shattering the myth of perfectionism.

-Jelena’s powerful ability to shift her personal narrative from ‘victim, to survivor, to thriver’

-Todd’s 5 box toolkit for ensuring our life is feeling full and in order, and how his heartache changed his life perspective.

-The value of having/finding a mentor (like Todd) and a core group of supportive people in our lives.

-Jelena’s desire for society to be having the type of conversations that happened in this episode.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to WATCH the full episode @gobehindthemask

Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @gobehindthemask

Visit our website for more information and register to begin YOUR journey behind the mask.

www.gobehindthemask.com.au

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.