Better Bloke

What happens when the system built to protect is used to punish? In this episode of the Better Bloke Project, we sit down with Jared Purcell, host of the Broken Fathers podcast, to unpack the emotional and legal minefield that many Aussie dads find themselves in.

We explore the family court system, lawyers promoting false domestic violence allegations, and how these accusations can tear fathers from their children with little recourse. This isn’t a rage-fuelled rant… it’s a nuanced, respectful conversation about a system that desperately needs reform.

We acknowledge the importance of DV protections for women and children, and this conversation never denies that. But there’s another side to this story that’s not being told - one where good men are being broken by a process that too often assumes guilt before innocence.

If you’ve been through it, you’ll feel seen. If you haven’t, this might change how you see the entire system.

See more from Jared: https://www.youtube.com/@Broken.fathers.podcast

If you've ever thought, "Something’s off but I can’t explain it", this one’s for you. We dive into the Better Bloke Blueprint, our new resources that helps blokes get their head around all the heavy stuff... grief, anger, anxiety, depression, and all the rest

We worked with the pro's to develop the Blueprint, but on this episode we share what we’ve learnt, what’s helped us, and how this new section of the site might just help a few more blokes find their feet. No fluff. Just real talk.

Find the Blueprint at www.betterblokeproject.org

Help us help the blokes who need it: https://www.betterblokeproject.org/pages/donate-now

Meet Morgz, a butcher who slipped on his gumboots and walked 1,800km from Cairns to the Gold Coast in the name of men's mental health. What started as a personal mission turned into something much bigger. Along the way, he met over 400 blokes who shared stories of heartbreak, family breakdowns, addiction, depression, and suicide. In this episode, we sit down to unpack those conversations, and how they opened Morgan’s eyes to just how many men are walking around carrying silent pain.

We talk stigma, especially in blue-collar industries like butchering, and reflect on how the culture around mental health is slowly shifting. This isn’t expert advice or therapy talk... it’s a raw yarn from one everyday bloke who decided to do something and in doing so, gave hundreds of others a reason to speak up.

In this episode, we sit down with Damien Rider, a man who’s turned mental resilience into an artform. Known for completing an 800km solo paddle from Gold Coast to Bondi, he isn’t just about pushing physical limits... he’s redefining what it means to take control of your mind.

From confronting childhood trauma to tackling brutal endurance feats, Damien has learned that mindset is certainly a lifeline. While many blokes might roll their eyes at breathwork and meditation, he strips the fluff and gives it to you straight: it’s not spiritual fluff... it’s hardwired human physiology.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re stuck in your own head, this episode might just crack something open.

This one’s going to ruffle feathers. Our guest has built a name (and a business) by saying the things you’re not supposed to say, and filming it all in comedy sketches that ride the line between hilarious and highly offensive. He’s been labelled sexist, racist, and accused of normalising domestic violence. Today, we go beyond the headlines and into the mind of the man behind the character.

In a raw, funny, and sometimes uncomfortable conversation, we unpack the role of humour in 2025, why he believes nothing should be off-limits, and what it means to be held accountable without giving up who you are... not to mention the raw emotions behind fatherhood, marriage, and depression.

You might not agree with everything said, but you’ll walk away thinking harder about intent, judgment, and whether society has completely forgotten how to take a joke. If you’re easily offended... maybe sit this one out. Or don’t. Up to you.

Tate Smith is just 21 years old, but he's already lived through one of the hardest things a bloke can face... losing his older brother to suicide. This conversation is raw, emotional, and painfully real. Nate opens up about the shock, the guilt, the anger, and the silence that followed his brother’s death, and how it’s changed the way he looks at life forever.

He shares his mission to make sure no one feels like a burden for speaking up, and the personal challenge he’s taken on to face his own fear of heights to prove that when things feel terrifying, the bravest thing you can do is step forward and ask for help.

This episode is for anyone who’s struggled, anyone who’s lost someone, and anyone who needs to know that the phone call will always be worth it.

Need someone to talk to, theres people to talk to right now:

https://www.betterblokeproject.org/pages/get-professional-support

Donate To His Challenge: https://www.gofundme.com/f/3ugtkz-a-leap-for-mens-mental-health

Join the BA group (blokes only, sorry ladies):

https://www.facebook.com/groups/280770292436702

Find us on socials:

https://www.instagram.com/betterblokeproject/

https://www.facebook.com/thebetterblokeproject/

https://www.tiktok.com/@betterblokeproject

By now, you’ve probably seen the face & heard the name, but in this episode, the boys sit down to peel back the layers. From life before the Better Bloke Project to the moment he walked away from a stable career in pursuit of something bigger, Matty opens up about the risks, the regrets, and the rewards that came with chasing purpose. 

They dive into the messier stuff too… relationship breakdowns, personal sacrifices, and the reality of becoming the face of a movement that’s been both celebrated and misunderstood. It’s raw, honest, and a reminder that behind every mission is a bloke just trying to figure it all out.

Nathan Schmid is back on the podcast… this time as the bloke who actually did it. In April, he completed 30 triathlons in 30 days, wrapping it all up with a full Ironman on Day 30. We first spoke to him before the challenge kicked off, and now he returns to reflect on the highs, the brutal lows, and the mindset it took to keep pushing when everything in him wanted to stop. This wasn’t just about physical endurance, it was about raising awareness for men’s mental health, and the impact was massive. 

The messages rolled in, from blokes who finally felt seen to strangers inspired to open up. We speak about the quiet battles behind the scenes, the community that rallied, and the reason why Nathan chose to suffer publicly. We couldn’t be prouder of what he’s done… not just for himself, but for every man who needed to see that it’s possible to keep going, even when it hurts.

Help us help the blokes who need it: https://www.betterblokeproject.org/pages/donate-now

Join the BA group (blokes only, sorry ladies): 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/280770292436702

Follow Nath and what he’s doing at:

https://www.instagram.com/triwithnathan/

Find us on socials:

https://www.instagram.com/betterblokeproject/

https://www.facebook.com/thebetterblokeproject/

https://www.tiktok.com/@betterblokeproject

On this one, the boys rip straight into the event highlights of the past weekend. Rob took on the challenge of a lifetime over the weekend, jumping in the ring at the Podcast Royale 2.0 - one of Australia's biggest and best boxign events in history.

Outside of dropping 15kg & unlocking his healthiest self in years, Rob embodied everything we stand for at Better Bloke - determination, accountability, resilience and taking a step outside the comfort zone. While he didn’t come away with the W, it was a win in our books when it comes to becoming a Better Bloke.

Help us help the blokes who need it: https://www.betterblokeproject.org/pages/donate-now

Join the BA group (blokes only, sorry ladies):

https://www.facebook.com/groups/280770292436702

Find us on socials:

https://www.instagram.com/betterblokeproject/

https://www.facebook.com/thebetterblokeproject/

https://www.tiktok.com/@betterblokeproject

In this episode of the Better Bloke Podcast, we sit down with Cris Cross, the bloke behind the 400HP split-colour Corvette Hellvette and those wildly popular custom car sketches. But this chat goes way deeper than cars.

Cris opens up about grief, identity, and how losing his stepdad in 2017 nearly broke him. From smoking weed and eating Macca’s to avoid pain, to journaling, going vegan, and rebuilding himself, this is a story of healing, horsepower, and the power of community.

Help us help the blokes who need it: https://www.betterblokeproject.org/pages/donate-now

Join the BA group (blokes only, sorry ladies): 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/280770292436702

Find us on socials: 

https://www.instagram.com/betterblokeproject/

https://www.facebook.com/thebetterblokeproject/

https://www.tiktok.com/@betterblokeproject

Follow Cris Cross on socials:

https://www.instagram.com/cris.cross.art/

https://www.instagram.com/hellvette_/

Skip to the juicy bits:

[00:00:00] Intro

[00:05:20] Building community through car events.

[00:09:18] Cars as personal storytelling.

[00:14:02] Fear of love.

[00:19:26] Facing inner demons.

[00:20:18] Identity and personal growth.

[00:25:36] Changing diet for personal growth.

[00:30:11] Volume and consistency in artistry.

[00:36:49] Diversity in creative expression.

[00:40:32] Work-life balance and separation.

[00:43:29] Positive vibes in creativity.

[00:46:28] Fear of parenthood perspectives.