We see all the headlines and outrage regarding Australain Rugby Union, and to be honest, I’m a bit bored with all the media antics. I want to understand the real intricacies of what created this mess.

I sat down with Stephen Hoiles, a former Wallaby, grassroots rugby coach for Randwick, and TV analyst, who knows the current state of rugby inside and out. Drawing from his experience as a player, coach, and fan, Stephen provided an honest and interesting perspective on the numerous problems facing Rugby Union in Australia.

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These days, digging into real philosophy and virtues feels like a lost art.

It was cool to bounce ideas with Ryan Holiday, a prolific writer who’s breathed new life into stoicism and modern philosophy.

Ryan’s bestsellers like ‘Ego is the Enemy’ and ‘The Obstacle Is The Way’ have sold over four million copies and dominated bestseller lists for more than 200 weeks.

We spoke about his life in Texas, how Ryan became so passionate about stoicism, what his learnt from Marcus Aurelius, the problem with today's world leaders, his mentor Robert Greene, his body of work and much more.

Ryan will be touring around Australia starting 31 July, for more info click here.

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The Matildas are absolute superstars in Australia right now, and they’ve earned every bit of that title.

It was a great thrill chatting with Matildas star Caitlin Foord, and learning about her mindset and life story before she heads off to the 2024 Paris Olympics. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this one!

We had a great chat about Caitlin's journey from Shellharbour to becoming a football superstar. She shared how her passion for rugby league, as a big Manly fan, shaped her fierce style on the pitch. We dove into her experiences playing for Arsenal, her recent injury, prep for the Olympics, and her insights on the Matildas' growth and the state of football in Australia. Plus, Caitlin shares a classic Cathy Freeman story and opens up about her mission to inspire the next generation of female soccer players.

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Josh Szeps is an Australian-born broadcaster, writer, and commentator known for his work in media and journalism.

Josh's curiosity and intellect has seen him interview some of the biggest names in comedy, journalism and politics. Like many working in the media today, he’s dealt with the consequences of discussing controversial issues and agendas.

It was awesome to hear Josh’s unique perspective on the battle surrounding free speech, modern day movements, his departure from the ABC, how the hell he's managed to go on Joe Rogan’s podcast seven times and much more.

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Rick Grossman is an Australian rock musician renowned for his role as the bass guitarist for two iconic Australian bands, Divinyls and Hoodoo Gurus.

Rick's rockstar journey has seen incredible highs and challenging lows. He shot to international fame with the Divinyls but faced a tough battle with heroin addiction, which led to his departure from the band in 1987. After a long and hard-fought recovery, Rick made a remarkable comeback with the Hoodoo Gurus, with whom he continues to tour with today.

In our conversation, Rick shared insights into his musical beginnings, his experiences with Divinyls and Hoodoo Gurus, what makes Australian rock bands special, the drug culture in the rock and roll scene, his recovery journey, his passion for rugby league, and much more.

It's been quite a ride, and Rick has a wealth of wisdom and stories to share. Enjoy.

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Millie Ford is one of the fastest-rising creatives in Australia. Having amassed over 1.7 million followers online with her uncanny portrayal of everyday teachers, parents and shop assistants.

Millie has also appeared on Home And Away and has recently made her musical debut, collaborating with Hellcat Speedracer on the summer anthem Lovestruck.

We had an honest conversation on mental health, finding comedy in chaos, her creative process, the delusion of social media, modern dating and much more.

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As a kid from Punchbowl, I wasn’t your typical surfer, but I still became mad obsessed with the sport.

One of my fondest childhood memories was heading to my local news agency to pick up a surf magazine. Surf media has evolved significantly since those days, far beyond those paper magazines.

It was great chatting with the co-founder of Stab Mag Sam McIntosh to dive deeper into the surfing world.

We discussed his family's impactful move from inland to the coast during his youth, his beginnings working at surf magazines, a crucial book project with Taj Burrow that was a career turning point, the origins of Stab Magazine, the craziness that exists in the surf industry, the creative process behind Stab''s projects, our shared love for risk-taking and much more.

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Apart of my morning routine is getting into my car and tuning into Ben Fordham on 2GB.

It was great to finally sit down and chat with one of Australia’s leading voices on the radio.

We covered a wide range of topics including Ben's family dynamics and insights from growing up with his father, John, a legendary talent manager, and his mother, Veronica. We also spoke about how the fear of failure motivates him, his early days in the radio industry, his process when interviewing prominent figures such as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and internet sensation Spanian, current issues were facing in Australia, and much more.

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Whether you love him or hate him, you cannot deny Nick Kyrgios's uncanny ability to entertain.

It’s taken a while to get Nick on the pod but the wait is finally over.

It was awesome to get to know who the real Nick Kyrgios is. We covered a wide range of topics, including his Greek heritage, journey to success, challenges of fame and social media, his relationship with his girlfriend Costeen, interactions with the media, return to professional tennis, his various business ventures, involvement with OnlyFans, experiences interviewing icons such as Mike Tyson & Gordon Ramsay, speculation on the possibility of breakaway competitions in professional tennis similar to LIV Golf and more.

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As someone who has been a rugby league fan since the '60s, it's fair to say that the NRL could be in its best state yet.

Much of the strength we see in the game today is owed to the work of my latest Straight Talk guest, John Quayle.

John served as the General Manager and CEO of the NSWRL and ARL from 1983-1996. Under his leadership, the game underwent significant changes, including the iconic Tina Turner campaign, the Super League War, and the sport's expansion throughout Australia.

In this week's Straight Talk pod, John and I reminisced about the early days of rugby league, his role in professionalising the NRL, how he persuaded Tina Turner to sing in an NRL advertisement, his involvement in the Super League War, negotiation tales with Kerry Packer, and much more.

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