The Culture Standard

How much more are we capable of than we give ourselves credit for?

In Episode 22 of The Culture Standard, Beau and Chris dive into David Goggins' Can't Hurt Me — a powerful, confronting book about accountability, mental toughness, discipline, and pushing beyond the limits we place on ourselves.

Goggins' story is extraordinary. From a difficult start in life to becoming a Navy SEAL, completing Army Ranger School and taking on some of the world's toughest endurance challenges, he demonstrates just how much change is possible when we stop accepting our current circumstances as our permanent reality.

But does becoming the best version of yourself mean being relentlessly hard on yourself? And is there a balance between Goggins' philosophy of callousing the mind and the message of self-compassion we have explored in previous episodes?

Beau and Chris unpack the lessons they believe can make a real difference, without suggesting we all need to become David Goggins.

In this episode, we explore:

• The Accountability Mirror: Being brutally honest about where you are, taking ownership and ditching the victim mentality.
• The Cookie Jar: Using past achievements and challenges overcome as evidence of what you're capable of when self-doubt creeps in.
• The 40% Rule: Challenging the point at which we convince ourselves we've got nothing left to give.
• Getting comfortable with discomfort: Why doing hard things can build confidence, resilience and self-belief.
• The cost of procrastination: Auditing how we spend our time and asking whether our daily actions align with the life we want.
• Self-compassion versus accountability: Can you be kind to yourself while still being honest about the changes you need to make?

We also discuss how these lessons translate beyond fitness and physical challenges into parenting, relationships, work, leadership, coaching and everyday life.

At The Culture Standard, we believe there isn't one blueprint for becoming the best version of yourself. The real value comes from taking the lessons that resonate, challenging the ones that don't, and learning from different perspectives.

You don't need to live like David Goggins. But perhaps there's something in his message that could help you stop holding yourself back.

The question is: Where in your life do you need to stop making excuses and start taking action?

Episode 21: The Wim Hof Method – Unlocking Your Potential

What if you were capable of far more than you ever imagined?

In Episode 21 of The Culture Standard, Beau and Chris dive into The Wim Hof Method by Wim Hof, exploring the incredible power of the mind, body, and our ability to push beyond perceived limits.

Known as ‘The Iceman’, Wim Hof has challenged conventional thinking through his extraordinary achievements in extreme cold, breathing techniques, and mental resilience.

But this book is about much more than ice baths and breathing exercises.

It’s about taking control of your mind, embracing discomfort, building resilience, and discovering what you’re truly capable of.

Beau and Chris unpack the key lessons from the book, share their own experiences with cold exposure and breathing techniques, and discuss how we can apply these principles to everyday life.

In this episode, we explore:

🧊 The power of cold exposure and stepping outside your comfort zone.

🫁 How breathing techniques can influence your mind and body.

🧠 The connection between mindset, resilience, and physical performance.

💪 Why we often underestimate what we’re capable of.

🔥 How embracing discomfort can help us grow.

🌱 Practical ways to challenge yourself and unlock your potential.

You don’t need to climb Mount Everest in shorts or sit in freezing water to benefit from Wim Hof’s philosophy.

Sometimes, growth starts with simply choosing to do something uncomfortable.

Better People. Better Teams. Better Culture.

🎧 Tune in, challenge your thinking, and raise your standard.

Some books sell a few thousand copies. The Alchemist has sold over 65 million — and become one of the most translated books by any living author. So what is it about this simple story of a shepherd boy chasing a dream that's resonated with so many people for so long?

In this episode we break down Paulo Coelho's modern classic — the fable of Santiago, a young Andalusian shepherd who leaves everything behind to follow a recurring dream to the Egyptian pyramids. What starts as a treasure hunt becomes something much bigger.

We unpack the ideas at the heart of the book: the concept of a "Personal Legend" and what it means to pursue your own, why the journey teaches you more than the destination ever could, and that line everyone quotes — "when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." We talk about fear as the biggest obstacle to any dream, the importance of reading the omens along the way, and whether the book's optimism holds up when you're standing in the middle of real life.

Is it profound wisdom or clever simplicity? We give you our honest take — what landed for us, what we pushed back on, and the takeaways worth carrying into your own journey.

What does it actually mean to live a successful life — and why do so many of us chase a version of success that leaves us feeling emptier than when we started?

In this episode we dig into Where the Light Gets In, the book from mindset coach Ben Crowe, known for his work with some of the world's best athletes and performers. It's a book about the perspective shifts that change how you show up — for yourself and everyone around you.

We get into the ideas that stuck with us: letting go of the need for external validation, the difference between your ego and your true self, and why self-acceptance isn't the enemy of ambition but the foundation of it. We talk about vulnerability as a strength rather than a weakness, how the stories we tell ourselves shape our reality, and what it looks like to define success on your own terms instead of borrowing someone else's scorecard.

Whether you know Ben's work or you're hearing about the book for the first time, this one's a conversation about wellbeing, mindset, and the small perspective shifts that create real change.

Episode 18 features Rachael Lynch OAM—Australia’s most-capped Hockeyroos goalkeeper, with 222 international appearances, two Olympic Games, three Commonwealth Games medals and the 2019 International Goalkeeper of the Year award.

But Rach’s impact stretches far beyond the hockey pitch. She is also a nurse, an R U OK? ambassador, an advocate for organ donation, a director at STOMP Goalkeeping and has worked closely with Australia’s wheelchair rugby team.

In this honest and wide-ranging conversation, we explore the realities of spending years on the bench, performing under pressure, navigating difficult team cultures and fighting for Olympic selection. Rach also shares her perspective on mental health, wellbeing, good leadership and how to support someone who is going through a tough time.

Rach has achieved an extraordinary amount, but she measures her success differently: not by caps or medals, but by how she has made people feel.

This is a conversation about resilience, kindness, pressure and building a legacy that reaches well beyond sport.

From local footy beginnings to coaching at Melbourne Football Club, his journey is one of persistence, growth, and continual improvement.

Rhett “Rooster” McLennan is one of Australian football’s most respected coaches. He’s the most successful coach in Gippsland Power history and now serves as Head Coach of the Casey Demons while also working as a Development Coach at Melbourne Football Club.

During his six years at Gippsland Power, an incredible 32 players were drafted into the AFL.

But this conversation isn’t about game plans, premierships or draft picks.

It’s about the person behind the coach.

Rooster has always been known as a great teammate, a great clubman and someone who genuinely cares about the people around him. He works incredibly hard, loves having a laugh, gives back to his community and is always searching for ways to improve himself and those around him.

We explore what leadership looks like when it isn’t just about winning football games, the importance of health and fitness, fatherhood, marriage, raising Harper and Fletch with his wife Melinda, and the role reading has played in his personal growth.

We also dive into the idea of “talent stacking”—the belief that you don’t have to be world-class at one thing to become exceptional. Sometimes being really good across a handful of important areas can create extraordinary results. Rooster shares why small daily improvements create a snowball effect over time and how compound interest applies just as much to life as it does to money.

Along the way we discuss the best player he’s coached, overcoming imposter syndrome, the value of voice memos and reflection, and yes… some of the outrageous outfits he’s become known for over the years.

This episode is packed with practical wisdom on leadership, family, coaching, personal growth and living a life of continual improvement.

Whether you’re a coach, parent, leader or simply someone wanting to become a little better each day, this conversation is full of lessons you can apply immediately.

Andrew Gaze is more than an Australian basketball legend—he’s one of our great people. 

Across five Olympics, two NBL championships and a record-breaking career, Gazey represented Australia with enormous pride. But behind the achievements is a humble, caring family man who brings fun, energy and kindness wherever he goes. 

We talk about his special relationship with his dad Lindsay, handling expectations and setbacks, the importance of teammates, what representing Australia truly means—and why the relationships built along the journey matter far more than any medal. 

Full of laughter, humility and beautiful perspective, this is Gazey at his very best. 

Some people don’t just come into your life… they change the direction of it. 

Outside of family, no one has had a bigger positive influence on Beau’s life than Andy Walton. 

Andy isn’t famous. 

He hasn’t coached AFL premierships or led a Fortune 500 company. 

He’s simply one of the finest people you’ll ever meet. 

A true blue Aussie. A country lad. A devoted husband and father. Hard-working, humble, authentic, and the type of bloke who makes everyone around him feel like they matter. 

Years ago, Andy was Beau’s boss as a house painter. But he was far more than a boss. He created a workplace where people genuinely loved turning up each day. He trusted people, challenged them, encouraged them and somehow managed to bring out the very best in everyone around him. 

That’s his superpower. 

Andy has an incredible ability to make people feel valued, believed in and capable of more than they ever thought possible. 

Life hasn’t always been easy. We talk about how Andy has been through some incredibly tough times, but what stands out isn’t the adversity—it’s the attitude he’s chosen to face it with. His positivity, resilience and ability to keep moving forward are nothing short of inspiring. 

Andy was also one of the driving forces behind the incredible culture built at the Phillip Island Football Club. As one of the club’s best junior coaches and later Beau’s senior assistant coach during one of the most successful eras in the club’s history, he influenced hundreds of players—not just to become better footballers, but better people. His fingerprints are all over the culture that made that club such a special place. 

This episode is about character. 

It’s about the kind of person we should all aspire to become. 

If you want to become a better leader, coach, parent, teammate, friend, or person this conversation is for you. 

We hope you enjoy it as much as we did. 

The Culture Standard 

Better People. Better Teams. Better Culture. 

In this episode of The Culture Standard, we sit down with one of the greatest leaders Australian sport has ever produced—David Parkin AM. 

His résumé is extraordinary. 

211 AFL games for Hawthorn. Premiership captain. Four-time premiership coach. Carlton Coach of the Century. AFL Hall of Fame. Australian Sport Hall of Fame. Legend status at both Hawthorn and Carlton. Order of Australia recipient. Educator. University lecturer. 

But this conversation isn’t about football. 

It’s about life. 

David reflects on the lessons he’s learnt through decades of leadership, success, setbacks, criticism, illness and personal growth. 

We explore the pressure that comes with putting yourself out there, dealing with judgement, being sacked despite reaching the top of your profession, and how leadership can become all-consuming if you’re not careful. David speaks openly about the sacrifices that can come with chasing excellence and how his perspective has changed over the years. 

For Beau, this conversation was particularly special. David became his mentor during his Level 2 coaching accreditation, generously giving his time through coffees, phone calls, training sessions and match-day feedback. What quickly became obvious wasn’t just how great a coach David was—but how remarkable he was as a person. 

His humility. 

His curiosity. 

His willingness to keep learning. 

His desire to leave people better than he found them. 

One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is that great leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about continually evolving. 

In this episode we discuss: 

• How great leadership changes over time 

• Having the courage to put yourself out there despite criticism 

• Learning from setbacks, sackings and failure 

• Why flexibility is one of a leader’s greatest strengths 

• The importance of physical and mental fitness 

• Finding trusted mentors and “critical friends” 

• Reflecting on legacy and what really matters 

• Lessons from a lifetime of coaching, teaching and leading 

As usual David also shares: 

✔️ His two greatest pieces of wisdom. 

✔️ The biggest hardship he’s faced. 

✔️ One area he’s still trying to improve. 

This isn’t just a conversation for football lovers. 

It’s a masterclass in leadership, resilience, self-reflection and living a meaningful life. 

We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did. 

Chris and Beau break down two of the more important conversations in health and longevity right now — neuroscientist Dr. Wendy Suzuki and longevity physician Dr. Peter Attia, both from Diary of a CEO. Together they unpack what the latest science actually says about exercise, brain health, and the habits that move the needle on how long — and how well — we live. From VO2 max to dementia risk to the mindset shifts that make these changes stick, Chris and Beau translate the research into what it actually means for everyday life, training, and the way we age. A must-listen for anyone serious about playing the long game with their health.

https://youtu.be/ZxXruY7llcc?si=-HFYO8HIL4aCLRik

https://youtu.be/5o-tRub-0pQ?si=s4fht2hxJcTaGOAm