Looking Inwards

In this episode of Inner Dialogue, I'm joined by Justine Baxter and Bianca Cimino to explore their experiences in powerlifting, the realities of competing, and how years in the sport can shape your identity.

With 35 competitions between them, we discuss what initially drew them to powerlifting, the sacrifices that come with competing, and what keeps them coming back year after year.

We also explore the relationship between identity and performance. When does something you enjoy become part of who you are? What happens when injury, setbacks, or changing priorities challenge that identity? And how do you know whether you genuinely still enjoy something or are simply continuing because you've invested so much into it?

Justine also shares her experience competing internationally at ABS Pro in Ireland and stepping outside powerlifting to compete in strongman.

A conversation about commitment, identity, personal growth, and learning to understand who you are beyond the things you do.

Are you being dragged along by the expectations of others, or are you driven by something that genuinely matters to you?

In this episode of Looking Inwards, I explore the difference between being dragged through life and being driven by a deeper sense of purpose. Whether it's work, training, relationships or the expectations we place on ourselves, it's easy to become complacent, follow a path that no longer aligns with us, or chase a version of success that we never really wanted in the first place.

I discuss the role of ownership, adversity and self-awareness in understanding what drives us, why we sometimes hold on to things out of fear, and how we can reconnect with the interests and ambitions that give us a sense of fulfilment.

Because being driven doesn't mean everything comes easily. It's about understanding why you're doing what you're doing, taking responsibility for your direction, and recognising what makes the difficult parts worthwhile.

What is your driving force? And are you moving towards something you genuinely want, or simply being dragged along?

How often do you question your ability to do something, without taking a moment to look at what you've already done?

In this episode of Looking Inwards, we explore the evidence we create throughout our lives, both through the challenges we face and the difficult things we choose to pursue. From overcoming adversity to preparing for opportunities, our experiences shape what we're capable of and how we perceive ourselves.

We look at the relationship between evidence, anxiety and self-doubt, the importance of being honest about the work we've put in, and why luck might have more to do with our own preparation than we initially think.

Your life is full of evidence. It's full of times that you keep showing up. That is every single damn day.

So, what is your evidence?

Why do we let superficial rationalizations block our progress the moment friction shows up? This week, we examine the true cost of making excuses and how to condition your brain for radical resilience. From navigating the brutal trial-and-error discovery phase to shifting from obsession back to discipline, this episode is a raw look at what it takes to see a goal through to absolute completion.

What makes you unique? And how much of that uniqueness have you sacrificed to fit in with the expectations of other people?

As we grow older, we become increasingly aware of how others perceive us. We start comparing ourselves, questioning our personalities, and changing parts of who we are to fit into the environments around us. Over time, we can lose touch with the things that once made us feel most like ourselves.

In this episode, I explore the role perspective plays in shaping our identity, why we become so concerned with how others view us, and how we can learn to protect the characteristics that make us who we are.

Drawing on the idea that our life's task is to return to the inclinations and uniqueness that marked us from birth, we explore the importance of self-awareness, curiosity, and unlearning the beliefs that prevent us from being ourselves.

Because someone can be stronger than you, smarter than you, more successful than you, or further ahead in life than you. None of that takes away from who you are.

No one can beat you at being you.

Learn to spend time alone, explore the things that interest you, and stop allowing the opinions of others to dictate the person you become.

Allow yourself to fail, be embarrassed, be misunderstood, and change. Allow yourself to explore the things that interest you.

Ultimately, this is the only life that is yours to live.

In this episode of Looking Inwards, I sit down with Kivah Nova Franze to talk about his journey through powerlifting, the people and experiences that shaped his introduction to the sport, and the current state of powerlifting today.

We discuss what first drew Kivah towards powerlifting, the role the sport played in his development, and the people who helped shape the way he approached training and strength.

From there, we take a wider look at powerlifting as a sport — how it has evolved, what has changed, what has improved, and some of the things that make the sport and its community so valuable. We talk about the culture surrounding powerlifting, the accessibility of information, social media, competition and the positives that can sometimes get overlooked when discussing where the sport is heading.

We also dive into Kivah's own experiences as both a lifter and coach, including training philosophy, overcoming setbacks, developing athletes, competition pressure and the lessons that come from years spent pursuing strength.

A conversation about powerlifting, its past, its present, and what makes people dedicate years of their lives to getting stronger.

In a culture that often clowns people for trying, what does it actually take to be 23, give a damn, and build something real?

In this episode, we sit down with Noah for a raw, unfiltered conversation about ambition, execution, and purpose. Drawing inspiration from timeless frameworks like Robert Greene’s Mastery, Ryan Holiday’s Courage Is Calling and Discipline Is Destiny, James Clear’s Atomic Habits, and Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act, we break down what it means to step away from average expectations and commit to a lifelong craft.

In this episode, we cover:

• Finding Ambition: Reconnecting with your primal inclination, filtering out the "try-hard" noise, and defying a culture of apathy.

• Doing the Thing: Building non-negotiable daily standards, managing outcome anxiety, designing friction-reducing systems, and turning resistance into feedback.

• Following Calling: Navigating the fear of the unknown, staying patient on a slow timeline, and transitioning from a career to a true vocation.

If you’re tired of playing it safe and ready to take your ambition seriously, this episode is your blueprint. Hit follow and join the journey.

What is the single biggest distraction or piece of noise you are trying to block out of your routine right now?

How much time do you actually spend alone?

Not scrolling. Not watching something. Not drinking. Not surrounded by other people. Just you, your thoughts, your feelings and everything that comes with them.

Being alone can be fucking hard. When we remove the distractions, we are often left with the insecurities, inadequacies, experiences and thoughts that we have spent so much time trying to avoid. We turn towards people, entertainment, substances and other vices because sitting with ourselves can feel uncomfortable.

But what if being alone isn't loneliness? What if it isn't punishment, but an opportunity to understand yourself?

In this episode, I talk about the difference between isolation and solitude, why we use people and vices as forms of escapism, how insecurities shape the way we see ourselves, and why being alone can force us to confront the gap between where we are and where we actually want to be.

I also break down three simple ways to start becoming more comfortable with your own company: separating isolation from solitude, journaling, and simply starting small.

Some of the best growth, ideas and self-awareness can come from the moments where there is nothing left to distract you from yourself.

On the 7th of April 2026, Looking Inwards was born out of a selfish endeavor—a raw, long-form commitment to show up for myself, learn in public, and figure out who I am. Four months and 50 episodes later, the journey has evolved into something far greater than I ever imagined.

In this milestone 50th episode, I look back at the chaotic, rewarding, and brain-melting process of writing, recording, editing, and putting two episodes out every week. More importantly, I’m breaking down the 5 core lessons this podcast has forced me to learn the hard way:

• 1. Showing Up: Why starting with the smallest, least actionable task is the only cure for the massive mountain of creative resistance.

• 2. Comfort, Complacency & Safety: How to recognize the brain's natural urge to seek the path of least resistance—and how to actively pull yourself out of the trap.

• 3. Momentum: What it takes to keep the plane in the air once you have takeoff velocity, and why stopping means crashing.

• 4. Conscious Thought to External Action: Why the things you say to yourself matter, and how changing your internal narrative changes your reality.

• 5. Looking Inwards: The realization that introspection isn't selfish; it's the foundation of growth, wisdom, and showing up for the world.

To everyone who has listened, watched a clip, shared an episode, or reached out along the way—thank you. This started as a personal experiment, but sharing it with you has made it all worth it.

In episode #49, we sit down with Josh Sternberg for a deep, unfiltered conversation exploring the friction between physical specialization, personal growth, and self-discovery.

We unpack the psychological weight of stepping away from powerlifting and identity-driven training, examining what happens when you stop chasing numbers and start rebuilding physical versatility. From there, we dive into the anatomy of courage—how to stop cowering behind social perception, lean into embarrassment, and answer the call to take creative and personal risks. Finally, we look inward at self-awareness, solitude, confronting what we cannot control, and why true confidence means being okay with failure.

If you’ve ever felt trapped by your own optimization, this episode is a blueprint for breaking out.