From racing bikes in the Australian outback to accidentally moving countries, we share the strange paths life sometimes takes.

• Richard's recent adventure racing through the desert corrugations of Alice Springs
• Ben accidentally moved to Canada for nine months
• Using Uber as a courier service to retrieve forgotten items from hotels
• Here's the link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/andrew-pullen_winning-activity-7363826413075890177-Km_V
• A listener defends proper Italian cooking and weighs in on the great pasta shape debate
• And sharing our gift-giving philosophy - what items are too personal to give and alternative gift strategies

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Ever wondered if you're getting the most bang for your buck from your streaming subscriptions? This week's episode might change how you view your entertainment options entirely. We uncover the surprising truth that YouTube has actually dethroned Netflix and Amazon Prime as the world's most-watched streaming platform – and for good reason.

The secret lies in YouTube's democratised content creation ecosystem. With creators now equipped with professional-grade cameras and equipment, the platform delivers stunningly specific content that mainstream services simply can't justify producing. From intricate woodworking tutorials to in-depth cycling content, YouTube serves the passionate niche interests that Netflix never will. We share our own content rotation strategy that could save you hundreds annually while still catching all your favourite shows.

For those planning European adventures, our Paris Metro hack alone is worth the listen. Ditch the overpriced tourist day passes and use the Navigo card through Apple Wallet instead – a simple change that could cut your transit costs by more than half. We also dive into the art of effective AI prompt engineering, revealing how giving your AI a persona and asking thoughtful follow-up questions dramatically improves results. And what's the deal with expiration dates on dental floss? We tackle this peculiar packaging mystery and question whether food expiry dates are genuinely necessary or if we're all capable of determining freshness without printed guidance.

Whether you're a streaming enthusiast, a budget-conscious traveller, or simply curious about the small peculiarities of modern life, this episode delivers practical tips and thoughtful observations to make you "12 and a half minutes more awesome" this week. Subscribe now and join us next week as we explore the gift-giving conundrum: what items are too personal to buy for someone else?

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Death, hydration, and notification overload might seem like an unlikely trio, but they weave together perfectly in this episode as we navigate the contradictions of modern life. We kick off with a powerful quote that stops us in our tracks: "The tragedy of modern man is he spends more time optimizing what is on his CV than what is in his eulogy." This springboards us into candid reflections on mortality and preparedness – Ben reveals he's written a eulogy for someone still living (who happens to be a listener and will learn this for the first time), while Richard has meticulously curated his funeral playlist chronologically from childhood discoveries to recent indie tracks.

The conversation pivots to practical wisdom with our essential travel tip: stay hydrated! Whether you're battling the moisture-sapping environment of a long-haul flight or navigating the inevitable alcohol consumption of business trips and vacations, carrying water is non-negotiable. We share listener feedback about ingenious travel hacks, including a packable shirt steamer https://amzn.asia/d/eE7uXwd that banishes wrinkles without ironing – perfect for the business traveler who refuses to check luggage.

What truly gets us fired up is modern communication overload. When did humanity collectively decide we needed fifteen notifications about a single Amazon package? Why does a buttonless medical device require a 128-page manual? And the email etiquette minefield – is it appropriate to text someone alerting them you've sent an email, or should you use those contentious read receipts? We're asking the questions everyone's thinking but few are discussing. Between Ben's insights on diabetes technology advancements and Richard's handwritten-but-digital letters to his daughter, we're exploring how communication has fundamentally transformed. Ready to pause the notification flood and think about what really matters? Give this episode a listen and join the conversation!

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In the Fully Awake Project, we set about exploring whether phone notifications should be on or off, and share our minimalist approaches to home screen organisation and journaling systems. 

We debate the merits of spending $3,500 on cat dental surgery and question if men really have any say in such household decisions.

• Keeping phone notifications off until around 5pm each day for better focus
• Using a minimalist home screen with only 8-16 essential apps
• Implementing a two-stage journaling system with Field Notes for daily tasks and permanent journals for important thoughts
• The surprising $3,500 cost of cat dental surgery and the inevitable outcome despite logical arguments
• SeatGuru.com as an essential travel resource for finding the best airplane seats
• Finally we end up debating whether it's possible to give 110% effort or if that means you weren't giving 100% initially

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Richard and Ben discuss how they encourage their children to invest. Ben shares exactly how listeners would know if they are in a hotel room that he has been in before. A listener follows up on the oil in non-stick pans conundrum with a great tip! And in this week’s conundrum we ask whether we shold be required to re-sit driving tests. Finally, Richard and Ben debate  how to make lasagne without lasagne sheets. 

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Richard and Ben unpack their most satisfying sound in the world, discuss why we even bother saving files on our desktops, share business expense claim hacks, offer book recommendations to a listener and ask what do you do with all those IT cables you'll never use. 

Ben promised a link to Matthew McConaughey's book also (no affiliation or commissions are earned on this share from bcc).

https://www.audible.com.au/pd/Greenlights-Audiobook/1472283554?source_code=SEMPP30DTRIAL4520711250018&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22472671384&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7Mjog7_kjgMVUc9MAh1aRyx8EAYYASABEgIyHPD_BwE

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Richard and Ben analyse the feedback received from dangerous species Ben is not scared of…..and get even more scared in the process. Ben asks what does “going viral” even mean and shares a great tip to save money on mobile network charges while travelling. Richard then shares how to handle that bunch of old computer cables you have no idea what to do with. Thanks for dropping by!

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Ever wondered who's behind the microphones of the bravo charlie club? In our 007 episode, we're channeling our inner James Bond by revealing the mysteries of who we are and why we started this podcasting adventure.

We're Richard and Ben - two middle-aged mates who first crossed paths in 2003 while training for Ironman New Zealand with "the Cycos." Since then, we've both traveled extensively, living across three continents each, which fuels our popular Travel Tip segment. Richard brings his software engineering background and contributes his global perspective while Ben channels apparent Matt Damon-like qualities and love for green sea turtles (inspired by his lifesaving days).

Through candid conversation, we share personal stories (including Richard's cringe-worthy tale of backing his girlfriend's car into his flatmate's car right before an international trip), our podcasting format, and our honest admission that we initially thought this would be easy - how wrong we were! Seven episodes in, we're thrilled with our 200+ listeners and growing community.

The bravo charlie club follows a consistent weekly format featuring The Fully Awake Project (things that caught our attention), Travel Tip of the Week (with a massive content pipeline we're excited to share), and Conundrum of the Week (which listeners tell us is already infiltrating their daily vocabulary). Our promise remains: making you 12.5 minutes more awesome each week by giving you a bcc on our conversations.

Want to become part of our Inner Sanctum? Join our WhatsApp group through the link in the show notes. Your feedback shapes our podcast - whether correcting our facts (thanks to the doctor who clarified our insulin storage information) or simply connecting with us. Leave a comment, send a text, or join the conversation - we're building this community together!

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Richard and Ben discuss Ozempic, why we need to take advantage of rewards programs for travellers and ask how many books can you buy without reading them before you should stop buying books? 

For those interested in learning more from Steve Hui “The points whisperer” head over to https://www.iflyflat.com.au 

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Join the WhatsApp inner sanctum for early access to all episodes as they drop and share feedback straight to us! Only 48million more subscribers to catch Real Madrid!

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Ben and Richard discuss what they think should never be automated. Do you agree? They go on to solve how to deal with lost wallets while travelling, share a breakfast tip and debate whether snorkels should be allowed in swimming pools. 

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Join the WhatsApp inner sanctum for early access to all episodes as they drop and share feedback straight to us! Only 48million more subscribers to catch Real Madrid!

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