This is the first of a two-part episode that focuses on the definition of physical beauty in the 21st century and why we are so vested and obsessed with physical appearance like never before.

Did you know that the human immune system is the most complex biological system we know about after the human brain? Have you ever wondered how your immune system protects you from harmful agents like bacteria, viruses, and fungi? This week’s episode provides a very simple and easy-to-understand version of how your immune system works to kill harmful microorganisms that invade your body and keep you alive.

I want to share a story with you today and like every story, this one has a message behind it. It is a story of sacrifice. It is a story of bravery and courage. It is a story of willpower and endurance. It is a story of mateship and the power of unity. It is a story that is over 100 years old but despite its age, is more relevant now than ever. It is a story about WWI and our beloved ANZACS who forged their legacy on the shores of Gallipoli. It is story that was meant to end before the autumn leaves fell, but ended dragging out in a four-and-a-half-year-saga that resulted in unprecedented levels of carnage and killed 20 million souls. 

This episode discusses the relationship between focus and success, and then provides three proven strategies that can help you improve your levels of focus. These strategies are: (1) Finding something that is valuable to you; (2) Eliminating distractions; and (3) Avoiding doing too many tasks at once.

This week's episode explores the science behind expressing gratitude. As always, never forget to SMILE and be KIND!

Nick Blow is a support worker, country musician, and most importantly a FATHER. Working in the rehabilitation sector assisting vulnerable people with a range of psychological disorders, Nick talks about trauma, the therapy of music, and the importance of parenting. As always, never forget to SMILE, and be KIND!

The word ‘persona’ meaning ‘mask’, originated in the 20th Century in an era that was dominated by theatre. Playwrights would use a range of personas to underemphasise and or accentuate a character’s personality by directing the person in that role to put on an act and behave accordingly. A perfect example of the latter is Shakespeare’s play, Othello. If you closely examine Shakespeare’s work, you will find that the main character, Othello, undergoes extreme change. In the early stages of the play, Othello is characterised as a fair and trusting individual who loves his wife Desdemona. However, as the plot progresses, Othello transforms to a raging, irrational and jealous husband who murders his wife. In this week’s episode I draw on the notion of personas and discuss how the metaphorical masks we have adopted are consequently preventing so many us from expressing our true colours. I will then provide listeners with ten strategies I have endorsed which have (1) enabled me to rediscover myself, (2) fostered a more positive outlook on life, and (3) allowed me to be happier in my skin. As always, never forget to SMILE, and be KIND!

Among the myriad psychological therapeutic interventions, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is by far the most empirically validated approach in treating mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Even when compared to leading anti-depressant medication such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, CBT withstands the scientific rigour to demonstrate comparable results in remedying psychological disorders. CBT’s effectiveness lies in its direct but non-judgemental collaborative approach (client-therapist) that restructures untrue and distorted beliefs such as “I am worthless” and “I am not good enough”. For those of you wondering what does this have to do with helping me overcome fear? The answer is simple: Most of the fear we experience today is not based on real physical danger, rather it is irrational thoughts that we conjure up. Since CBT is the number one preference of psychologists for addressing irrational thinking, its inclusion would be wise and beneficial. As such, in this week’s EP I will (1) Discuss the origins and evolution of CBT for some context, (2) Explain the Cognitive Behavioural Model, and (3) Provide two simple but highly effective exercises for addressing fear and anxiety. As always, never forget to SMILE, and be KIND!

When viewed through the lens of a psychological framework, you will find that human motivation is sparked by the energy that our (1) AMBITIONS and (2) EXPECTANCIES create. Let’s consider Alina who is currently singing at local pubs on weekends but has an ambition to become an international singer. Because Alina wants something greater for herself, her motivation is sparked. However, Alina’s ambition is one part of the equation in that if she lacks expectancy, her motivation will not be sparked fully. It is ultimately deflating when you have an ambition that you don’t believe can materialise. Even if Alina has the strongest desire and truly expects that she will realise her dream, this is just the beginning of the process. When a fire is sparked, it is essential to continuously fan the flames otherwise they will sooner or later burn out. Similarly, ambitions and expectancies need to be fanned to sustain motivation. This week’s EP draws on easy-to-understand examples to illustrate how to effectively spark and sustain motivation. As always, never forget to SMILE, and be KIND!