The Growth Concept With Keoni Upton

In this episode I sit down with Chad Aziz a 20-year-old engineering student about to attempt something most people wouldn't even let themselves think about. On Wednesday, Chad is lacing up and running 4,000 kilometres from Perth to Sydney, aiming to become the youngest person ever to run across Australia an official Guinness World Record attempt while raising $100,000 for Zero2Hero, a Perth-based youth mental health charity. That's roughly 65 kilometres a day. Every day. For 62 days straight.

We get into how this idea was born (and why he kept it a secret for so long), what it took to tell his parents he was deferring his engineering degree, and the real reason youth mental health is the cause he's putting his body on the line for.

We also dig into Australia's drinking and party culture, why Chad chose a different path coming out of high school, and what it actually feels like to be 11 days out from the start of something this big.

This one isn't just about running. It's about doing hard things on purpose, breaking free from the pressure to follow the crowd, and inspiring the next generation of young people to get outside, challenge themselves, and find a healthier way to live.

Back Chad's mission & follow the journey:

📲 Instagram – @chadazizz

🌐 Website – chadaziz.com

🎗 Charity – Zero2Hero (Youth Mental Health)

💰 Donate via MyCause (Zero2Hero) – mycause.com.au/events/chadazizrunacrossaustralia 🙌 GoFundMe (support the run) – gofundme.com/f/chads-run-across-aus-for-youth-mental-health

🏃 Strava (live tracker coming soon) – strava.com/athletes/132163803

This one was recorded live at Curtin University, and it did not disappoint.

Declan Edwards flew in from the other side of Australia — partly to visit family and to run a guest lecture at Curtin on the skills and science of happiness. We'd connected on LinkedIn about 18 months prior and had been meaning to sit down ever since. This was that moment.

Declan is one of Australia's leading voices in Positive Psychology a happiness researcher, speaker, and educator who has spent over a decade helping individuals and organisations build science-backed skills of happiness. He founded BU Happiness College in 2017 with a vision of making the skills and science of happiness more accessible to individuals, organisations, and the world as a whole. His work has been featured globally in the Harvard Business Review, Psychology Today, and Thrive Global. BU Happiness College + 2

In this episode we go deep on some real stuff impatience, identity, the masks we wear, why adults forget how to play, and a line that genuinely stopped me mid-conversation: why are you in such a rush to get through life when the finish line is death?

We also get into introspection as a skill, why fear yells while intuition whispers, and what it actually means to show up as the same person no matter the room you're in.

This is a conversation I'll come back to.

CONNECT WITH DECLAN

🌐 Website: declanedwards.com.au

🎓 BU Happiness College: buhappinesscollege.com

📺 YouTube: BU Happiness College

📸 Instagram: @declanedwards_bu

💼 LinkedIn: Declan Edwards

We recorded this one at the South Perth Foreshore on a perfect Perth afternoon — no conference room, no desk, just a real conversation about something most of us are genuinely bad at: having difficult conversations with the people we love most.

Yvette works in the space of communication and relationships, coaching individuals and couples to break the patterns that keep them stuck. She's a Master NLP Practitioner, hypnotist, and personal and corporate coach with over seven years of experience helping people communicate better — not just in business, but in the relationships that actually matter.

This episode isn't about conflict resolution tips or relationship hacks. It's about understanding why the same arguments keep happening — and what to actually do about it.

What we get into:

One word change that completely shifts how a conversation lands — swapping "but" for "and" sounds almost too simple until Yvette breaks down exactly why it works. We go deep on communication patterns — why some couples keep having the same fight for 20 years, and how changing one person's approach can break the whole cycle. The stuff we were given before we were eight — Yvette walks through how nearly every standard we hold our partner to, including making the bed, closing the toothpaste cap, putting glasses in the sink, came from our parents' values, not our own. And once you see it, you can't unsee it. How to actually set up a hard conversation — timing, checking in, managing the other person's anxiety before you've even started talking. The "we" vs "you" reframe — and why it's the difference between your partner feeling blamed and feeling like you're on the same team.

If you've ever walked away from an argument thinking how did we even get here, this episode is going to give you some real clarity.

Connect with Yvette: LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/yvette-lever

Want to be a guest on The Growth Concept? Head to thegrowthconcept.com.au

In this episode, I sit down with Josh Horneman for a powerful conversation around AI, business, creativity, privacy, and what it means to stay human in a world that’s changing fast. Josh is a business coach, AI consultant, and founder based in Perth, and throughout this conversation he shares a balanced perspective on both the opportunity and the danger of AI.

We unpack where this technology is heading, why curiosity matters more than ever, how businesses can use AI more intentionally, and why human qualities like emotional intelligence, discernment, and real connection will only become more valuable from here.

What I loved most about this conversation is that Josh doesn’t speak about AI from a place of hype or fear. He speaks about it with depth, caution, and clarity. We talk about privacy in business, the risk of outsourcing your thinking, the future of creativity, and why staying curious is one of the most important skills you can build in this next era. Josh also shares how he thinks about raising his kids in a rapidly changing world, why he values EQ over IQ, and how learning, awareness, and gratitude continue to shape the way he lives and leads.

If you want to connect with Josh, you can find him here:
Website: https://www.joshhorneman.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josh_horneman/
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/joshhorneman

Episode 5 of Podcasts on the Streets of Perth is the final episode of the Scarborough series, and in this episode I sat down with Sam G for a conversation full of laughs, energy, and real lessons around fitness, discipline, confidence, and personal growth.

We spoke about his journey through fitness, how he built confidence through training, and what he now teaches through his online coaching.

Sam shared the biggest things he wishes he knew when he first started in the gym, from learning proper technique and training with intensity, to focusing on whole-food nutrition and staying consistent. We also spoke about the insecurities people face when starting out, and why most of the growth happens when you stop worrying about being judged and start focusing on your own progress.

This episode is about more than fitness. It’s about building discipline, backing yourself, and understanding that growth comes from continuing to show up — one rep, one choice, and one step at a time.

Sams Links:

https://www.instagram.com/_samggym_/

Episode 4 of Podcasts on the Streets of Perth was recorded at Scarborough Beach, and in this episode I sat down with Bianca O'Donnell for a unreal conversation about life, resilience, and human connection.

We spoke about Bianca’s travel book, where she asks strangers for life advice, and how that project started as a way to step outside her comfort zone and turned into something much more meaningful.

We also got into the tougher parts of her journey grief, loss, major health challenges, and having to relearn how to walk after surgery. Even through all of that, Bianca has found a way to keep moving forward and use what she’s been through to help others.

This episode is honest, inspiring, and a reminder of how much perspective can come from both pain and connection.

Follow her on...

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bianca_odonnell99/

Episode 3 of the on the Streets podcast series of Perth was filmed at Scarborough Beach, and in this episode I sat down with Jill Thomas for one of the realest conversations I’ve had gave me shivers this conversations.

We spoke about mental health, the struggles Jill has been through, and why this topic means so much to her on such a personal level. From difficult life transitions to family trauma, community support, and the pressure social media puts on people to look perfect, this conversation opened up a lot.

Jill shared why vulnerability matters, why more people need to talk honestly about what they’re going through, and how healing starts when we stop pretending we’re okay and start doing the work on ourselves.

This is a powerful conversation about resilience, connection, and bringing more light into a world that can feel pretty heavy at times.

If you want a real conversation with real emotion and real lessons, this one is for you.

Follow Jill...

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillbarnard/

20 Talk Donation Link: https://www.20hoursfor20talk.com.au/fundraisers/jillthomas/20-hours-for-20talk-perth-march-28

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j1llybean77/

In Episode 2 of The Growth Concept, I sat down with Samson Swift at Scarborough Beach in Perth for a powerful conversation around mental health, discipline, burnout, and fitness.

We spoke about how we first met through our electrical apprenticeship, how Samson’s journey shifted toward helping others, and the personal experiences that made mental health such an important mission for him. Samson opened up about the impact of injuries, losing family members to suicide, and how training became a major outlet during tough times.

We also discussed his upcoming 100km run around the Swan River to raise money and awareness for mental health, along with the habits that keep him grounded — including journaling, routine, sleep, hydration, discipline, and adaptability.

This episode is a real conversation about what it takes to stay consistent, recognise burnout before it hits, and build a stronger mindset when life gets heavy.

Links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samsonswiftt/

Donation Link to the 100km Challenge: https://www.teamblackdog.org.au/fundraisers/mindthehundred

Mind The Hundred www.instagram.com/mindthehundred/

Recorded at Scarborough Beach in Perth during one of our open mic events that we run every few months, this conversation with Shannon Parker was full of heart, honesty, and a few powerful reminders we all need.

Shannon and I dive into what it really means to live authentically, back yourself, and keep moving forward even when fear, judgment, or other people’s opinions try to hold you back. We talk about personal growth, the power of reflection, why starting before you feel ready matters, and how the right people around you can completely change your journey.

What I loved most about this chat is how real it felt. It wasn’t about being perfect it was about being honest, embracing the process, and trusting that small steps forward still count. Shannon shares some beautiful insights around healing, purpose, self-awareness, and the importance of choosing courage over comfort.

If you’ve ever felt judged for chasing your dreams or questioned whether you’re on the right path, this episode is a reminder to keep going and stay true to yourself.

Our next open mic episode drops next Thursday, so keep an eye out for that one too.

What happens when you put the “CEO talk” aside and speak to the person behind the title?

In this episode, I’m joined by Jevon Le Roux, Co-Founder & CEO of Keeyu an AI-driven platform helping retailers prevent problems before customers ever complain. But before we get into business, we lead with real stories. Jevon shares his own behind-the-scenes moments that most people would never expect.

From there, we break down the real foundations of entrepreneurship:

• How to identify opportunities by reading customer pain,
• How to pitch and sell your business to potential investors
• How to construct a pitch to get sponsors and to close for deals
• Common barriers and challenges in modern business in scaling

We also go deep on sales, narrative-building, co-founder dynamics, overcoming setbacks, and why Jevon believes AI will augment jobs—not replace them.

This conversation is genuine, grounded, and full of tools you can apply immediately whether you’re just starting or already in the arena. This one is for you!

• (LinkedIn): https://au.linkedin.com/in/jevonleroux
• (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/jevon_leroux/
• Keeyu Website: https://www.keeyu.com/
• Keeyu “About”: https://www.keeyu.com/about
• Keeyu Customer Stories: https://www.keeyu.com/customers
• Keeyu on LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/company/keeyu-app