Talk To Me with Charlie McCarron

Everyone knew Andrew Boniface as the happy-go-lucky bloke. At home, he was overwhelmed, and the way he wanted people to see him was getting in the way of looking honestly at himself.

Andrew joins Charlie McCarron to talk about people-pleasing, the breakdown of his marriage and the patterns he wanted to change as a father. A helicopter pilot, mentor and dad to twin girls, he describes how stress had become so familiar that he barely recognised it.

They talk about the warning signs he missed, the shame he felt when his marriage ended, and what taking responsibility looked like in everyday life. That includes losing his patience with his daughters, coming back to apologise and learning to stop holding himself to an impossible standard.

Andrew also shares his experience of coaching, counselling and men’s groups, and why he wishes he had asked for help sooner.

If you spend a lot of energy keeping everyone happy, this conversation leaves you with something to consider: how much of your self-worth depends on what other people think?

Talk To Me with Charlie McCarron

Episode 4 · Andrew Boniface

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00:00 🧠 Journey of Self-Discovery and People Pleasing

00:51 🚀 Transition to Personal Development and Skills Training

03:28 ✈️ Aviation Career and Personal Challenges

10:19 🧠 Navigating Emotional Overwhelm and Responsibility

13:08 👨‍👧‍👦 Parenting Challenges and Emotional Management

17:52 🌱 Personal Growth and Relationship Reflections

21:20 🧘‍♂️ Navigating Personal Stress and Self-Value

22:12 🌿 Balancing Hustle Culture with Personal Well-being

25:06 👥 The Journey of Personal Growth and Men's Work

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📩 GET IN TOUCH

For all guest enquiries, sponsorship opportunities, speaking engagements and newsletter sign-ups — everything is at:

👉  https://www.talktomewithcharlie.com/

We read every message and will get back to you.

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Podcast production by Beach Shack Productions

🔗 https://beachshackproductions.com/

What happens when you’re good at winning, but still feel lost?

Olympic gold medallist Duncan Armstrong joins Charlie for an honest conversation about identity, competitiveness and finding purpose beyond achievement.

Duncan reflects on the difficult transition out of swimming, how his need to compete affected his friendships, and recognising that chasing the next thing helped him avoid facing himself. He also shares his experience of surviving a heart attack, the central role of his Christian faith, and learning to accept help from the people around him.

Together, Duncan and Charlie explore honesty in relationships, the uncomfortable work of personal growth, and why family means more to Duncan today than any medal.

In this episode:

• Rebuilding your identity after Olympic success

• Looking successful while privately feeling lost

• Competition, avoidance and the need to prove yourself

• Faith, vulnerability and life after a heart attack

• Deeper friendships, family and accepting support

If you’ve ever wondered why achieving more hasn’t made you feel more settled, this conversation offers plenty to reflect on.

Subscribe to Talk To Me with Charlie for more honest conversations about who we are, what shapes us and how we change.

What part of Duncan’s story stayed with you? Let us know in the comments.——————————————————————————

👉 CHAPTERS 00:00

🧩 Reflecting on Personal Identity and Faith 00:42

🏊‍♂️ Career and Influence in Sports and Business 02:19

🏅 Rockhampton's Olympic Aspirations and Legacy 07:45

🏊‍♂️ Inspiration from Olympic Athletes 09:10

🏅 Challenges of Transitioning from an Olympic Career 10:56

🎯 The Importance of Purpose Beyond Sports 15:27

🌟 Overcoming Personal Struggles and Finding Authenticity 17:09

🇦🇺 The Significance of Representing Australia 18:30

❤️ Facing Health Challenges and Learning from the Past 23:43

💪 The Importance of Doing the Work 24:26

👨‍👦 Family Challenges and Personal Growth 29:40

🙏 Faith and Personal Transformation 31:09

🎭 Ego-Driven Lifestyle and Personal Struggles 32:37

🙏 Spiritual Awakening and Transformation 35:36

❤️ Faith, Family, and Personal Growth 39:58

💔 A Heart Attack Experience 41:45

🙏 Emotional Recovery and Spiritual Reflection 44:49

🌱 The Importance of Authenticity and Personal Growth 48:06

🤝 The Importance of Authenticity in Relationships 49:31

🌱 Overcoming Personal Challenges and Building Community 51:44

💬 Navigating Relationships and Personal Growth

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🎙️ TALK TO ME WITH CHARLIE McCARRON

Real conversations with people who have lived through something worth sharing.——————————————————————————

📩 GET IN TOUCH

For all guest enquiries, sponsorship opportunities, speaking engagements and newsletter sign-ups — everything is at:

👉 https://www.talktomewithcharlie.com/

We read every message and will get back to you.

——————————————————————————

🔔 NEVER MISS AN EPISODE

If this conversation added value to your day, subscribe, leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it.It takes 30 seconds and it means everything to an independent show like this.

——————————————————————————

Podcast production by Beach Shack Productions

🔗 www.beachshackproductions.com

Andrew Crowell was tough enough to keep turning up after collapsing during his first training session with the Adelaide Crows. Tough enough to build an AFL career and to start again after a knee reconstruction brought it to an end.

Years later, after helping rebuild the culture at the Brisbane Lions and navigating the loss of a close friend, the lesson he kept returning to was not about toughness at all.

Andrew’s career has taken him from playing for the Adelaide Crows to supporting young people experiencing homelessness, helping develop players and culture at the Brisbane Lions, and becoming Head of High Performance, Wellbeing and Culture at Ray White.

In this conversation, Andrew talks honestly about resilience, grief, leadership, sacrifice and the advice he wishes he had listened to earlier.

“I reflect now and say, if I had actually made the sacrifices I needed to make, listened to my coaches, listened to the advice of those people around me, I probably would’ve played a lot better. I know I would’ve had a much longer career.”

Toughness got him in the door.

But looking back, it wasn’t what he needed more of.

CONTENT ADVICE

This episode includes a brief discussion of suicide and grief.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this episode contains the name and discussion of an Aboriginal person who has died.

If this conversation raises anything for you, Lifeline is available 24/7 on 13 11 14 or at lifeline.org.au. If life is in immediate danger, call 000.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 🏉 Andrew Crowell, Early AFL Journey

00:55 🌾 From Farm Life to AFL Aspirations

03:33 🏆 Pursuing AFL Dreams with Determination

07:08 🏉 Journey to Becoming an Adelaide Crows Player

08:37 🤔 Reflections on Football Career and Personal Challenges

10:08 😞 Personal Struggles and Lack of Commitment

12:08 💪 Reflecting on Career and Resilience

14:09 🔄 Transitioning to a New Career

17:42 🤝 Finding Purpose in Helping Others

19:26 🤝 Building Trust with Homeless Youth

20:59 🌟 Success Stories and Personal Growth

23:26 🏉 Challenges and Cultural Change at Brisbane Lions

27:13 🏉 Building a Positive Culture in AFL

29:43 🧠 Player Development and Wellbeing

33:21 🎸 Musical Journey and Cultural Connection

35:28 🎶 Memories of a Musical Friendship

36:48 📀 Preserving Musical Memories

39:16 🕯️ Keeping Memories Alive

42:23 🌊 Understanding Grief and Its Unpredictability

44:31 🤝 Dealing with Blame and Seeking Support

48:39 🏢 The Importance of Culture in Sports and Corporate Worlds

51:42 🏢 Journey to Joining Ray White

54:49 💪 Maintaining Personal Well-being

57:47 🧠 End-of-Day Reflection and Improvement

59:44 🤝 The Importance of Emotional Support and Culture

1:01:40 🏈 Reflecting on Career and Sacrifices

1:03:38 💼 Experience and Hard Work in Career Development🎸 WATCH ANDREW AND SETH PLAY TOGETHER

Andrew speaks in this episode about keeping Seth’s memory alive through stories and music. Watch a recording of Andrew and Seth performing together: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T--yUJQcwOA

🎙️ TALK TO ME WITH CHARLIE McCARRON

Real conversations with people who have lived through something worth sharing.

🔔 NEVER MISS AN EPISODE

If this conversation added value to your day, subscribe, leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

It takes 30 seconds and it means everything to an independent show like this.

Podcast production by Beach Shack Productions

🔗 www.beachshackproductions.com

Dan Withers is a 2x World Cup Champion in touch football, a successful business owner and founder of VidaFit gym.

By every measure, he was winning. But on a Friday night at Red Rooster, his partner asked one simple question, "How are you?" and he broke down in tears.

This is for anyone who has ever ticked all the boxes and still felt

like something was missing.

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In this conversation, Charlie and Dan go deep on:

→ Why success and happiness are not the same thing

→ The daily practice Dan uses to check in with himself every morning

→ What anxiety actually is and where it comes from

→ How your first 8 years of life are still running your decisions today

→ The inner world vs outer world framework for dealing with judgment

→ Why motivation comes after action — not before it

→ How to take the first step when you can't see the destination

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"We shouldn't be asking 'Are you okay?' once a year. We should be asking ourselves every single day, Am I okay?"

— Dan Withers

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TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 😢 Emotional Breakdown at Red Rooster

00:20 🏆 Journey to Success and Happiness

03:57 💪 Defining Success and Overcoming Doubts

08:23 💪 Proving Others Wrong

09:35 🧠 Internal vs. External Motivation

13:41 👶 Childhood Influences and Seeking Validation

16:14 👶 Parenting Challenges and Transitions

18:52 🌱 Personal Growth and Life Coaching

22:26 🧘 Understanding Anxiety and Spiritual Growth

23:50 🌅 Personal Growth Through Morning Rituals

26:31 🧘‍♂️ Understanding Meditation and Anxiety

27:44 🧠 The Nature of Anxiety and Ego

30:48 🧠 Understanding Ego and Personal Development

31:32 👶 Conditioning and Identity Formation

34:21 🤔 Judgment and Shame

37:06 📱 The Anxiety of Social Media Validation

38:27 🌍 Inner World vs. Outer World: Understanding Judgment

42:41 🔮 Making Conscious Choices and Future Pacing

44:50 🤝 Understanding Human Connection

46:27 🌱 The Value of Mentorship and Personal Growth

51:30 🏠 Challenges and Growth in Real Estate

53:23 💼 The Struggles of Balancing Work and Passion

54:26 🚀 Starting a New Venture and Facing Financial Hardships

57:05 🏆 Belief, Work Ethic, and the Journey to Success

1:00:58 🏗️ Building a Business from Scratch

1:01:42 📈 Growth and Strategy in Real Estate

1:05:33 🔄 Adapting to Market Changes

1:08:44 🏡 Real Estate Negotiation Strategies

1:09:33 📈 Coaching and Skill Development in Real Estate

1:11:20 📊 Market Dynamics and Client Communication

1:15:59 🏡 Real Estate Negotiation Strategies

1:17:14 💼 The Importance of Skillset in Real Estate

1:17:58 💪 Passion for Helping and Health Transformation

1:21:08 🏋️‍♂️ The Birth of a Fitness Journey

1:21:58 💪 Overcoming Self-Worth and Taking Action

1:25:20 🙏 Motivation and Gratitude

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Follow Dan Withers:

Instagram: danwithers25

Facebook: Daniel Withers

Website: V2Fit: www.vidafit.com.au

Talk To Me with Charlie McCarron

New episodes every month

Guest enquiries, sponsorship and newsletter: www.talktomewithcharlie.com

Podcast production by Beach Shack Productions

www.beachshackproductions.com