From CVs for 12-year-olds to the ‘open day’ gauntlet, we look at the institutional stress-test of high school applications and why a ‘no’ might be the best thing that ever happens to your child.

Exploring the power of the ‘half-full’ flip, the endurance of hardships through the lens of Viktor Frankl, and why ‘this too shall pass’ is the ultimate mathematical truth of history.

Schools and workplaces love to use the word ‘voluntary,’ but the subconscious pressure to conform is a powerful engine. This episode explores the conflict of the Grade 7 camp, the ‘hidden curriculum’ of institutional bonding, and why teaching your child to say 'no' might be the best high school prep there is.

Pure commission is a gamble on your anxiety. In this episode, I share a personal business pivot: why my work colleagues and I chose a balanced salary/incentive model, and how ‘lifting the weight’ of lopsided risk has unleashed a new wave of energy.

What do you do when something you said or wrote no longer fits the reality of today? We discuss the ‘contradiction trap,’ the importance of staying kind when things go sideways, and why the only way to stay true to yourself is to keep speaking, even when the script changes.

We hit 10 subscribers. In this episode, we talk about why the ‘initial friction’ is the hardest part of any pivot. We explore the philosophy of compounding - not just in finance, but in showing up, building trust, and honoring the few before you reach the many.

Is the world actually worse than it’s ever been? This week, inspired by a thought from Vestact’s Byron Lotter, we look at the historical perspective of struggle. From near-misses with conscription to the modern career grind, we explore why our current ‘shitshow’ is actually a sign of the incredible freedom and choice we often take for granted.

What happens to your ‘sovereign values’ when your income is no longer guaranteed? This week, we discuss the intense psychological shift of moving into a commission-based role. We explore how to resist the urge to make money the ‘purpose’ of our work and why focusing on the craft is the only way to survive ‘year one’ of a career pivot.

Is the ‘logistical tax’ of modern parenting higher than it used to be? We dive into the relentless schedule of the modern family. We compare the ‘free-range’ childhoods of the past to the curated logistics of today and discuss how to maintain your own sovereignty while being the ‘engine’ for everyone else.

As my son enters his teenage years, I find myself drafting a ‘survival guide’ for him - only to realise it’s exactly what I need for my own mid-life pivot. We discuss dreaming big, the danger of "wishing it away," and why being yourself is the only way to stay sovereign at any age.