Dr. Ryan Gleeson

Mike Lush is a performance coach based in Perth, Australia. He works with athletes, C-suite executives and founders through his company Inner Known, and his background is in sports psychology and high performance. He's one of the most switched-on people I've sat across from when it comes to understanding what actually drives elite performance and what quietly kills it.

In this episode we go deep on the "locking in" trap, why your recovery strategy is probably costing you more than your business strategy, and the performance equation that explains why high performers consistently underperform against their own potential.

If you're a founder who prides yourself on being able to push hard, this one's going to hit close to home.

Connect with Mike:

IG: @dr_ryangleeson
TikTok: @dr.ryangleeson

Chloe is from Myanmar. In 2013 she graduated, got a corporate job, and felt completely unfulfilled despite doing everything right. She found fitness that year, started sharing free health and wellness content online for women like her, and people began asking her to coach them. She never intended to build a business. Then COVID hit, and 3,000 to 4,000 people signed up to her first fitness challenge overnight. She called her mum the next morning not knowing what had just happened. The community she has built since — tens of thousands of women, going seven years strong — is what she calls her greatest achievement.

This conversation covers the real timeline, the free work you have to do before anyone pays you, why feeling unfulfilled despite a good job is not a you problem, and what it actually looks like to build something people never want to leave.

Topics covered:

00:00 Introduction

00:43 What actually broke in 2013

04:00 Was fitness the missing thing or just the start

04:59 Were you depressed or just out of alignment

05:46 How do you explain that feeling to someone who doesn't have the words for it

07:54 What part of old Chloe still shows up

09:36 The shadow self and not killing off who you were

10:59 How fitness coaching became a career

12:33 Entrepreneurial DNA: selling stickers in Myanmar at grade five

14:08 Are entrepreneurs born or made

14:53 What were you like at school

17:22 High tolerance for uncertainty and Ryan's bankruptcy story

20:09 Instagram is lying about what entrepreneurship looks like

22:11 Why it actually takes ten years

25:03 What surprised you most about working with real clients

27:17 Why the mindset work is where transformation actually happens

29:12 What coaching thousands of Asian women revealed

31:40 People pleasing, resentment, and looking after others before yourself

33:01 Finding out at 22 or 23 it's okay to say no

34:35 How one hour of fitness gave Chloe ownership of her own life

37:23 What started to break as the business scaled

38:17 COVID and the morning thousands of people signed up overnight

40:36 Why it was never overnight: two years of building came first

41:38 When does life actually start to crack as you scale

44:06 Is the community your greatest achievement

46:07 Are you building the community you once needed for yourself

47:47 Did you start with free or low ticket

50:28 What men don't understand about women

53:14 The pressure on modern men

58:09 When clients come for fitness and stay for everything else

01:01:42 Would you ever work with men

01:03:19 Why expand into activewear in a saturated market

01:05:47 How do you manage multiple businesses at once

01:07:41 What is the highest leverage use of your time

01:11:11 What were you naive about when you first started hiring

01:15:28 Why competition doesn't scare her

01:18:49 Zero fear of failure

01:19:08 What are you building in the next ten years

01:23:56 What does success look like with no money, status, or approval

Follow Chloe

IG: @dr_ryangleeson
TikTok: @dr.ryangleeson

Virtually every high-performing man I've ever worked with has the same thing running underneath. Conditional love. A dad who was present but never said enough. A childhood where love came through achievement, sport, good grades, being useful.

Most founders never connect the dots between that wiring and the way they're running their business today. This conversation does.

Uma spent 20 years in corporate, became one of the youngest VPs on a senior leadership team in Singapore, and then walked away from all of it to figure out who she actually was. What she found in that process is something most high-performers spend their entire career avoiding.

We talk about where the drive really comes from, what it costs when you never deal with it, and why the body tends to carry everything the mind refuses to face.

Topics covered:

Follow Uma: @uma__raw

IG: @dr_ryangleeson
TikTok: @dr.ryangleeson

Pat first built a successful career as an online fitness coach in Ireland, then realised there was more to fulfillment than the surface wins. He’s since gone deep into shadow work, breath science, and guiding people through the inner world to uncover their true self.

We talk about:

• Why he moved to Bali 
• How the shadow shows up in ambitious high performers 
• The ego traps driven men face 
• What happens when you don’t do the inner work (and how it leaks into business, health & relationships)

If you’re someone who’s chasing success but wants it to feel aligned—this conversation will hit home.

Follow Pat: @patdivilly

IG: @dr_ryangleeson
TikTok: @dr.ryangleeson

In this deep-dive conversation, George Lewer shares how he turned a $50K crypto trade into $1.3M overnight—while working a 9-to-5 job. But this isn’t a crypto flex. It’s a brutally honest look at success, sabotage, and the inner work high-performing men can’t avoid. 

We cover: 

• The seductive chaos of fast crypto money 
• What trading reveals about your nervous system, ego, and shadow 
• Biohacking for clarity, calm, and longevity 
• Fatherhood, identity shifts, and raising kids in a broken system 
• Why digging one deep well beats chasing 10 shiny objects 
• Quantum physics, holographic reality, and the mirror of your results 
• Trading dopamine for discipline—and wealth for fulfilment 

This is a conversation for men who’ve hit the external wins… and are still asking, “Now what?” 

Follow George: @georgemlewer

IG: @dr_ryangleeson
TikTok: @dr.ryangleeson

He built a platform that reached half a million people. The brand was growing. The audience was listening. But behind the scenes — something felt off. 

In this honest and raw conversation, Jordan Candlish opens up about the hidden toll of building a personal brand in the performance coaching space. 

We unpack: 

What success really looks like when no one’s watching 

The burnout, identity crisis, and emotional suppression behind the metrics 

How shame and father wounds sneak into business and content 

The fine line between authentic leadership and performance 

Why he’s stepping away from the algorithm—and what’s coming next 

This one isn’t just about social media. It’s about the men behind the brands. And what it takes to come back home to yourself. 

Follow Jordan: @jordancandlish01 

Timestamps: 

0:00 Intro 

0:50 Why successful men still feel empty 

3:42 Entrepreneurs struggling in relationships 

6:43 Raising a son 

10:22 Jiu Jitsu 

14:49 Operating from pain vs purpose 

17:34 Jordan’s biggest shift 

19:43 Personal branding 

25:33 The struggle of building a personal brand 

33:49 Tall poppy syndrome

IG: @dr_ryangleeson
TikTok: @dr.ryangleeson

8x world champion Daniel Dawson shares the story behind his incredible success in Muay Thai, Kickboxing, and Boxing. Daniel dives deep into his journey, revealing both the highs and lows along the way.

Daniel talks about:

• Growing up with physical and emotional abuse and how it shaped his drive to succeed

• Earning the nickname “The Rock” for his resilience in the ring and life

• The battle with self-sabotage and chasing external validation

• The role of martial arts in healing deep-rooted trauma and finding purpose

• The impact of fatherhood on his personal healing journey

• How relationships exposed his deepest insecurities and pushed him to confront his past

• Redefining success and learning that personal growth goes beyond winning championships

If you’re looking for an honest conversation about overcoming personal demons, this episode is a must-listen.

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

1:17 Origins of “The Rock”

11:37 Not letting go of fighting

13:17 External validation

14:24 Retiring

16:36 Self-work

19:39 Healing Journey

23:29 How Daniel got into martial arts

27:55 Everyone has a story

32:16 Changes Daniel has made

35:26 Relaxation

38:48 Self-sabotage

1:01:23 If Daniel didn’t become a father

1:20:04 What’s important to Daniel

1:21:10 Picking 3 combat sports

1:22:58 Daniel’s international experience

1:29:18 Cultural differences between combat sports

1:38:02 Advice for young fighters

Follow Daniel: @danieltherockdawson

IG: @dr_ryangleeson
TikTok: @dr.ryangleeson

Ryan Wilson is a former SAS soldier, co-founder of Working Paws Australia and business consulting company, Exas Group, and general manager of Whipper Snapper Distilery. We discuss the mental and physical challenges veterans face and the incredible role therapy dogs play in supporting those with PTSD and other mental health issues. Ryan shares his journey from serving in the SAS to transitioning into civilian life.

We cover:

• How therapy dogs have become a lifeline for veterans struggling with mental health.

• The key lessons Ryan learned from the SAS, including mental toughness, resilience, and leadership.

• The difficulties of transitioning from military life to the civilian world and why finding a new purpose is critical.

• Ryan’s journey at Whippersnapper Distillery and how it helped him regain a sense of belonging.

• A deep dive into masculinity, emotional intelligence, and the struggles men face in building real connections today.

• The rise in veteran suicides and why it’s crucial to provide ongoing support to those leaving the military.

• Ryan’s story is a testament to resilience and finding meaning after military service, making this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in mental health, veteran support, or the incredible bond between humans and dogs.

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

0:55 Why we love dogs

2:51 Dogs for therapy

3:44 SAS Dogs

8:17 Working Paws Australia

10:22 What the SAS taught Ryan

12:44 The best part about the SAS

14:33 Filling the void

18:37 Transitioning to business

21:30 The worst part about the SAS

24:01 What it takes to be in the SAS

28:23 Stimulation

29:05 Who struggles most leaving the SAS

32:36 Processing trauma

35:24 Veteran mental health

38:02 The state of men today

42:51 Are we going to war?

45:00 War in 2024

46:14 Mandatory military service

Follow Ryan: @ryanwilson_1984

IG: @dr_ryangleeson
TikTok: @dr.ryangleeson

We're exploring the complexities of relationships with Louanne Ward, one of Australia's leading dating experts and matchmakers. We explore the often unspoken ways men and women sabotage their relationships without even realising it. From communication breakdowns to subtle behaviours that break trust. Louanne sheds light on the critical issues that lead to relationship failure. We discuss:

• Why men sabotage relationships without knowing it.
• How women break up with men differently, and why it hurts more.
• The secrets both men and women keep that are destroying their relationships.
• The importance of better communication and how it can save a relationship.
• The truth about why most men don’t intend to hurt women, but often do.

This episode is packed with insights to help you understand the hidden dynamics in your relationships and how to navigate them more effectively. Whether you’re struggling in your relationship or want to deepen your understanding, this conversation with Louanne is a must-listen.

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro
1:23 How men sabotage relationships
6:33 Communication
9:59 How women sabotage relationships
13:38 Social media
20:29 When women first meet someone
23:43 Single women
26:54 “I’m not sure”
29:53 Ghosting
39:08 Sharing too much too soon
43:35 First dates
48:49 Moving in together
50:00 Marriage
54:45 What makes men attractive
1:01:23 Instagram
1:13:01 Family
1:16:42 Childhood trauma
1:20:27 Narcissism
1:25:09 Men lying
1:32:34 The state of young men

Follow Louanne: @louanneward

IG: @dr_ryangleeson
TikTok: @dr.ryangleeson

I sit down with Ben Broadbridge from Beyond All Bounds, to explore the challenges and triumphs of mental health. Growing up as an Army kid, Ben’s journey is marked by resilience. He shares his journey battling loneliness and depression. Through his work with Beyond All Bounds, Ben now dedicates his life to advocating for mental health awareness and helping others navigate their struggles.

We cover:

• Ben’s unique upbringing in a military family and its impact on his life.
• The physical and emotional challenges that shaped his journey.
• How losing his identity led him down a path of depression and how he transformed his life.
• The creation of Beyond All Bounds and its mission to support mental health through empathy, emotional intelligence, and storytelling.
• Practical advice on mental health first aid and the power of human connection in healing.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in mental health, personal growth, or the power of storytelling in overcoming adversity. Join us as we dive into Ben’s inspiring story and learn how we can all contribute to a more understanding and supportive world.

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro
0:52 Ben’s origin story
10:48 Ben’s mental health
14:04 How Ben found himself
17:13 How to develop authentic storytelling
21:20 Emotional intelligence
25:58 Empathy
33:42 Social media’s effect
37:48 Mental Health First Aid
41:10 Signs to look out for
42:54 How to ask someone if they’re struggling
46:17 People pleasers
51:47 How men can learn to be vulnerable
59:35 The state of men today
1:07:12 Can you live a full life as a man without a family?

Follow Ben: @beyondallbounds

IG: @dr_ryangleeson
TikTok: @dr.ryangleeson