Building Better Humans Project

The Sixth Regret of the Dying

We've all heard about the Top Five Regrets of the Dying, made famous by Australian palliative care nurse Bronnie Ware. After spending years caring for people in the final weeks of their lives, she identified five common regrets that surfaced time and time again.

But what if there is a sixth regret emerging? In this episode, Glenn revisits Bronnie Ware's powerful work and explores what he believes could become one of the biggest regrets of the modern generation:

"I wish I hadn't spent so much time looking at my phone."

This isn't an anti-technology episode. It's a conversation about presence, connection and the limited time we have with the people we love. From families sitting together but disconnected, to couples spending more time scrolling than talking, Glenn challenges listeners to consider whether our devices are quietly stealing some of life's most meaningful moments.

Drawing on personal observations, Stoic philosophy and a heartbreaking story of a friend who lost his 22-year-old son, this episode asks a confronting question:

If you knew how little time you had left with the people you love, would you spend it the same way you do now? You'll learn practical strategies to become more present, reconnect with the people who matter most and ensure that technology remains a tool rather than becoming a barrier to meaningful relationships.

Because one day, the greatest regret may not be what we did. It may be what we missed while looking down.

Key Takeaways

• The original Top Five Regrets of the Dying centre around authenticity, relationships, courage and connection—not money, status or possessions.
• Modern technology has created unprecedented connection, but many people feel more disconnected than ever.
• Being physically present and being emotionally present are two very different things.
• Phones are not the problem; unconscious and habitual phone use is.
• Attention is one of the most valuable gifts we can give another person.
• Many of life's most meaningful moments are being interrupted by screens and distractions.
• We often assume there will be more time with the people we love, but none of us are guaranteed another conversation, meal or opportunity.
• Presence is one of the purest expressions of love and respect.
• Children learn what matters by watching what we pay attention to.
• Relationships thrive when we intentionally create space for connection.

The Building Better Humans Project is brought to you by ADVENTURE PROFESSIONALS. Visit www.adventureprofessionals.com.au

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Most people don't miss out on their dreams because they lack talent. They miss out because they never give themselves permission to try.

In this episode, Glenn explores the courage required to chase meaningful goals, the price of living according to other people's opinions, why failure is part of the process, and how to avoid carrying the burden of "what if?" through life.This episode is a reminder that courage isn't the absence of fear—it's moving forward despite it.

Key Takeaways

• Dreams require courage long before they produce results.
• Most people stop because they seek certainty before taking action.
• Other people's opinions are often projections of their own fears.
• Failure is not the opposite of success; it's part of the journey.
• Resilience is built through repeatedly getting back up.
• Self-respect grows when you honour your ambitions.
• The greatest risk isn't failure—it's lifelong regret.
• Courage is a skill that grows every time you act despite fear.
• Success is becoming the person willing to pursue the dream.
• A life spent chasing meaningful goals is far more fulfilling than a life spent wondering "what if?"

The Building Better Humans Project is brought to you by ADVENTURE PROFESSIONALS. Visit www.adventureprofessionals.com.au

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Most people believe they're stuck because of their personality, their past, or their circumstances. Neuroscience tells a different story.

In this episode, Glenn explores the concept of neuroplasticity—the brain's ability to physically rewire itself based on repeated thoughts, behaviours, and experiences. You'll discover why confidence, discipline, resilience and even self-belief are not traits you're born with, but skills you build through repetition.

If you've ever felt trapped by old habits, negative thinking or self-doubt, this episode is your reminder that you're never stuck. You're simply practicing something—and what has been practiced can be replaced.

Key Takeaways

• Your brain is constantly rewiring itself through repetition.
• Neuroplasticity means change is possible at any age.
• Every thought and behaviour strengthens neural pathways.
• Confidence, discipline and resilience are built, not born.
• Your brain reinforces whatever you practice most often.
• Identity follows evidence, not intention.
• Small daily actions create massive long-term change.
• You don't need a new life—you need new repetitions.
• Every action is a vote for the person you're becoming.
• You are literally building your future brain today.

Quote of the Episode

"The brain doesn't become what you want. It becomes what you repeatedly practice." – Glenn Azar

The Building Better Humans Project is brought to you by ADVENTURE PROFESSIONALS. Visit www.adventureprofessionals.com.au

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Boundaries, Friendship and the Fear of Disappointing People

Have you ever found yourself saying yes when you desperately wanted to say no?

Many people believe they struggle with setting boundaries, but the truth is often much deeper. The real challenge isn't the boundary itself—it's the fear of disappointing others, being judged, rejected, or losing relationships.

In this episode, Glenn explores why healthy boundaries are one of the most important forms of self-respect, how people-pleasing can quietly lead to resentment and burnout, and why real friendships are strengthened—not destroyed—by honest communication. If you've ever felt responsible for everyone else's happiness while neglecting your own wellbeing, this episode will challenge you to rethink what healthy relationships really look like.

In This Episode:

• Why most people don't actually struggle with boundaries
• The hidden link between boundaries and self-worth
• How people-pleasing leads to burnout and resentment
• Why healthy friendships can survive an honest "no"
• The difference between boundaries and walls
• How accountability applies to your relationships
• Practical questions to help you identify where stronger boundaries are needed

The Building Better Humans Project is brought to you by ADVENTURE PROFESSIONALS. Visit www.adventureprofessionals.com.au

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Everybody wants deeper friendships, stronger relationships and a greater sense of belonging. The problem is that most people are searching for connection in comfort, when connection is often forged through challenge.In this episode, Glenn explores why shared hardship creates stronger bonds than convenience ever could, drawing on lessons from the Army, Kokoda, the Youngcare Aussie 10 Peaks Challenge and decades of leadership experience. Supported by insights from Viktor Frankl, Émile Durkheim and modern psychology, this episode will challenge the way you think about friendship, community and personal growth.

Key Takeaways

• Hard roads lead to tight circles.
• Comfort creates acquaintances. Hardship creates family.
• The struggle is where trust is earned.
• Shared hardship accelerates connection.
• Meaning transforms suffering into growth.
• Shared identity creates lasting friendships.
• The view means more when you climbed it together.
• Stop looking for connection. Start looking for challenge.
• Go and do hard things with good people.

The Building Better Humans Project is brought to you by ADVENTURE PROFESSIONALS. Visit www.adventureprofessionals.com.au

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In today's episode of the Building Better Humans Podcast, I dive into a powerful concept from neuroscience that has the potential to completely change the way you approach your goals, challenges, and opportunities in life.

Most people think they're chasing success, but the reality is that our brains are wired to chase certainty. The problem? Growth, change, and success almost always require us to step into uncertainty. That's where so many people get stuck.

I unpack why your brain naturally prefers the familiar over the possible, even when the familiar isn't making you happy. Whether it's staying in a job you don't love, avoiding a difficult conversation, putting off a new business idea, or refusing to take a chance on something meaningful, our need for certainty often becomes the very thing holding us back.

Throughout the episode, I share lessons I've learned from years of leading people through challenging adventures like Kokoda, Kilimanjaro, and Everest Base Camp. Time and time again, I've watched people discover that confidence doesn't come before action—it comes because of action. The people who grow the most aren't the ones who feel fearless; they're the ones who take the next step despite the fear.

We'll explore why your brain often mistakes growth for danger, how to recognise when certainty is costing you opportunities, and what you can do to start building trust in yourself rather than waiting for perfect conditions.

If you've been waiting until you feel ready, confident, or certain before making a move in your life, this episode is your reminder that certainty is not the goal. Growth is.

Tune in and discover why your brain loves certainty more than success—and how understanding that one concept could help you create the life you've been wanting all along.

The Building Better Humans Project is brought to you by ADVENTURE PROFESSIONALS. Visit www.adventureprofessionals.com.au

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In this episode of the Building Better Humans Project, I want to challenge the way you think about fun.

Most people spend their lives chasing what is known as Type One Fun—the things that are enjoyable in the moment. Good food, comfortable weekends, nights out with friends, holidays, entertainment and all the things that make us feel good right now.

But what if the best moments of your life aren't found in comfort?

What if the moments that shape you the most are actually the ones that suck while you're doing them?

In this episode, I unpack the difference between Type One Fun and Type Two Fun. Type Two Fun is the kind of experience that feels hard, uncomfortable and sometimes downright miserable while you're in it. It's the challenge you almost didn't take on. It's the adventure that pushed you to your limits. It's the difficult conversation, the tough workout, the mountain climb, the business risk, or the moment you chose courage over comfort.

I've seen it countless times on the Kokoda Track, on Mount Kilimanjaro and through years of working with people who are trying to become the best version of themselves. The experiences people complain about the most while they're happening often become the stories they treasure the most afterwards.

Because growth doesn't live inside your comfort zone.

We live in a world that has become obsessed with convenience, comfort and instant gratification. The problem is that comfort rarely changes us. Challenge does. Adversity does. Pushing yourself beyond what you thought was possible does.

Throughout this episode, I share some personal stories and lessons from the adventures, challenges and experiences that have taught me this lesson time and time again. More importantly, I challenge you to look at your own life and ask yourself whether you've become too comfortable.

If you're looking for more confidence, resilience, growth and fulfilment, the answer may not be found in making life easier. It may be found in deliberately choosing the harder path.

The truth is, the best stories of your life are rarely written when everything is easy.

They're written when you decide to embrace a little more Type Two Fun.

Enjoy the episode.

The Building Better Humans Project is brought to you by ADVENTURE PROFESSIONALS. Visit www.adventureprofessionals.com.au

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In this episode of the Building Better Humans Project, I share some reflections from a recent trip back to Kapooka—the place where Australian soldiers begin their journey. Watching a new generation of recruits march out brought back a flood of memories and reminded me of something I believe deeply: the lessons we learn early in life have the power to shape who we become for decades to come.

As I stood there watching those young men and women, I felt an enormous sense of pride—not just in what they had achieved, but in the values they were committing themselves to. Values like respect, integrity, service, excellence and courage. They are simple words, but they have the power to guide us through every challenge life throws our way.

In this episode, I unpack what those values have meant to me throughout my life and why I believe they matter just as much outside the military as they do within it. We talk about treating people with dignity, doing the right thing when nobody is watching, serving something bigger than yourself, striving to be better every day, and finding the courage to keep moving forward when life gets tough.

I also share some personal stories and lessons from my own journey—times when I've got it right, times when I've got it wrong, and the reminders I continually come back to when I need to recalibrate and reconnect with what's important.

At its core, this episode is about character. Because when life gets hard, and it will, character is what remains. It's what carries you through adversity, helps you stay true to yourself, and allows you to become the person you're capable of being.

My challenge to you in this episode is simple: take some time to revisit the lessons and values that helped shape you. Ask yourself whether you're still living by them. And if you've drifted away from them, maybe it's time to reconnect.

I hope this conversation encourages you to build a stronger foundation, live with greater purpose, and continue the journey of becoming a better human.

Enjoy the episode.

The Building Better Humans Project is brought to you by ADVENTURE PROFESSIONALS. Visit www.adventureprofessionals.com.au

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In this episode of the Building Better Humans Project, I share a story about stepping outside my comfort zone and recording a podcast episode that sparked a huge response from women. It wasn't something I expected, but the feedback reminded me of the power of being willing to have conversations that matter, even when they sit outside your usual lane.

From there, I dive into five simple but powerful concepts from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) that have helped me better understand my own thinking and behaviour over the years. These are practical lessons that can help you take greater control of your thoughts, emotions and actions so you can create better outcomes in every area of your life.

We talk about why your thoughts aren't always facts, how avoidance often fuels anxiety, why action comes before motivation, and how the meaning you give an event can completely shape your experience of it. These aren't just psychological theories—they're tools you can apply immediately to improve your mindset and performance.

Throughout the episode, I share personal stories, lessons I've learned through my own experiences, and practical examples that will help you connect these concepts to your everyday life.

My challenge for you is simple: choose one of these five ideas and consciously apply it this week. Small shifts in the way you think, focus and act can create massive changes over time.

If you're looking to build greater self-awareness, strengthen your mindset and take more ownership of your life, this episode is for you.

The Building Better Humans Project is brought to you by ADVENTURE PROFESSIONALS. Visit www.adventureprofessionals.com.au

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In this powerful episode of the Building Better Humans Project podcast, we delve into the importance of emotional fluency in men, challenging the common notion that a happy wife equals a happy life. We argue that this oversimplifies the complexities of relationships and instead emphasizes the need for emotional safety, connection, and growth.

The conversation centers around the idea that men often struggle with accountability and growth in their relationships, leading to a lack of emotional maturity and fluency. 

The episode explores the concept of peace in relationships, moving beyond the idea that it's the absence of conflict or disagreement. Instead, we discuss that peace comes from being the best version of oneself, taking ownership, and doing the work to build a strong and healthy relationship. 

If you're looking to build a stronger, more meaningful relationship, this episode is a must-listen. 

The Building Better Humans Project is brought to you by ADVENTURE PROFESSIONALS. Visit www.adventureprofessionals.com.au

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