HAC Chats

On the surface of it - Luke Richmond is real life Action Man.

His career is one of a professional adventurer. 

Luke has travels across the world to battle the highest mountains, row the widest oceans and walk across the most inhospitable deserts. And thats not even scratching the surface...

You will not believe the story of his wedding that he shares in this podcast!

Putting the physical challenges to one side - Luke opens up about the psychological battles he has faced along the way.

From joining the Army at 17, to hitting rock bottom as a drug addict. 

It took one phone call (and whole lot of strength!) for Luke to turn his life around.

We talk about the lessons he has learnt along the way including how pulling the plug on an adventure often takes more strength than continuing...

Mark Mathews knows what its like to live the dream.

He was an elite big wave surfer who travelled the world on the hunt for the biggest swell.

Such are the dangers of the sport, that one misjudgment on a wave in October 2016 would change his life forever.

The injuries he sustained on that day were horrendous. Fortunate to not lose his foot entirely - his career was all but over.

And yet, it is exactly this part of his story which is the most inspirational. 

Over the course of the next few years, Mark picked himself up physically and emotionally to the place that he is today.

The lessons that he has learnt from the Science of Gratitude and the importance of facing your fears have not only given him a newfound appreciation of life, but a new career as a keynote speaker.

For more information head to Mark's website at: https://www.markmathews.com

Stevie Johnson knows exactly what it feels like to have your world turned upside down.

For Stevie, growing up in Germany, the first 12 years of his life were normal. Going to school, playing with friends and with a passion to become a professional footballer.

One day he woke up with a slight headache and blurred vision. He went to the doctor who found a huge brain tumour and rushed him to hospital. When he woke up from the operation, Stevie could see nothing, was unable to move and had lost the ability to talk.

The doctor promised him he would be back to normal in 2 weeks. Now 20 years later, Stevie is still recovering from that fateful day.

His story is a heartbreaking one but also one full of hope. His passionate views on the power of looking forward; not dwelling on the past or falling into self-pity were an inspiration to me and I am sure anyone who listens to the podcast.

The link to watch Stevie in the extraordinary documentary 'Calibrate' can be viewed here:

https://calibrate.global

Ken Ware’s story is a remarkable one. Driven to the gym with a passion after being bullied at school and losing his mother to suicide when he was just 16. His dreams of becoming a successful body builder appeared to be in tatters when he noticed his whole body shaking uncontrollably when he lifted the smallest of weights, at the slowest of speeds. Rather than give up, Ken explored what these tremors meant, why he felt a release of his anxieties and depression and how they could unlock something much deeper.

A few years later Ken was competing on the World Stage – winning Mr Universe but this success would prove pale in comparison to what Ken would achieve after his career in bodybuilding.

Ken used the lessons he had learnt from the tremors to fuel a desire to help others – most notably those who have suffered life changing injuries. The results have given him international acclaim and breathed hope into those who had little. Men like John Maclean who arrived at Ken’s Neurophysics Therapy Institute in the wheelchair that had been his home for 25 years – only to walk out 4 days later.

This week’s podcast is a story of the power of the mind. It is a story of miracles. I feel honoured that I got the opportunity to meet Ken and I am excited for you to hear his story.

More info on all of Ken's fantastic work at: https://www.neurophysicstherapy.global

Watch the Calibrate documentary here: https://calibrate.global

I am thrilled to be joined this week on my HAC Chats Podcast by the wonderful, funny and inspiring super-woman that is Vicky Vanstone - AKA The Drunk Mummy Sober Mummy. Vicky is an inspiration to anyone who has teetered the line between being a binge drinker and actually developing an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Since becoming sober herself, Vicky has helped countless others through her blog (www.drunkmummysobermummy.com), her podcast 'Sober Awkward' and her Sober Social groups. She has also just finished writing her memoir 'A Thousand Wasted Sundays' which I very much look forward to getting my hands on soon!

Australia and the UK are two countries with infamous drinking cultures. But where is the line between having fun and having a problem? One of the concerning outcomes of covid is that we are drinking more than ever, and this line is becoming increasingly blurred. In this episode, I am joined by Ben Holdstock, co-founder and Head Brewer of Heaps Normal, the non-alcoholic beer trying to normalise mindful drinking. I mention at the start of the episode that he has the toughest job in the world. Creating a good tasting non-alcoholic beer and making it cool to drink!  Over the course of this chat, Ben tells us exactly how his team and fellow co-founders are trying to help Australia beat its drinking habit and change the culture of a country! Enjoy and be sure to like, subscribe and check out our instagram page @hacchats.

With the world growing frustrated at being locked up with limited opportunities to venture out of the comfort of their own homes, it is perhaps important to discuss those for which this privilege is not an option. In this weeks’ episode of HAC Chats, I sit down with Ryan Naoum from Rough Edges – a Community Centre in Darlinghurst for the homeless and the marginalised. During our conversation we discuss the fascinating importance  a community can play in rebuilding the identity and self-worth of somebody experiencing homelessness. And the surprising gap between what the general public’s perception of what it is to be homeless is, and the truth.

Ryan invites us all to take part in Rough Edge’s Roughtober fundraising evening in which we are encouraged to sleep rough be it in our yards, balconies or even our offices in order to raise money and awareness for the homeless.

Visit https://www.roughedges.org to see how you can get involved.

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What an absolute pleasure this chat with Toks James was!

We covered some of the BIG topics mainly surrounding the problems related to labels and stereotypes.

Toks grew up a British man with Nigerian parents in London which was at the time a rare thing. So much so that it was not the white kids at school who gave him grief but the other black kids who were mainly from the Caribbean, rather than Africa.

From here, he fell into the modelling industry where he has flourished as a plus size model. This is not an easy thing to do, particularly when you have always been made to feel self-conscious about your body. Not to mention the fact that Toks admits he is 'incredibly shy' and 'uncomfortable getting his clothes off'.

Now the father of a bi-racial daughter and constantly fired up by the state of the world be it through racism, homophobia or pure naive views sprayed across the internet on similar such topics, Toks was inspired to act.

What he brought into the world is 'Undivided' - an activist fashion brand dedicated to giving its profits to the causes that Toks believes will improve the planet! For now, they sell a range of beautifully coloured and crafted caps, and Toks is hoping to expand into streetwear clothing and the sky's the limit from there!

So much more than a clothing brand, this is a brand with a message and a heart, led by one of the most wonderful men I have ever had the pleasure of meeting!

Enjoy this episode and check out all the amazing work Undivided are doing at: https://www.undividedinc.com

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With the inaugural Global Lung Day (and its founders 30th birthday!) coming up this week it seemed fitting to have Ed Jennings join me on HAC Chats.

We had the opportunity to talk all things Lung Club from its very foundation and the inspiration behind it, to some of the extraordinary things people have already achieved in its name.

We walk through some of the battles Ed has faced with his own mental health, particularly during a recent injury break that forced him out of a much anticipated Ironman event. And delve more deeply into the lessons he took from this time and how he believes these can also help others.

Ed is as inspiring a man as he is an athlete and it was an absolute pleasure to interview him for this very exciting episode of HAC Chats.

As always this episode is also available on YouTube - just search for 'HAC Chats', and an enormous thank you must also be made to Joel Hughes for creating the soundtrack.

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