Feeling overwhelmed by the endless stream of social media updates? Wondering what life might look like without the constant digital noise? In this episode, we explore the idea of a true “technology cleanse” with Adam Yardley—a man who has chosen to live completely free of social media.

Adam shares why he stepped away from the online world, how it has changed his mental clarity and daily life, and what he’s learned from disconnecting in a hyper-connected age. If you’ve ever thought about taking a break from social media, reducing screen time, or simplifying your digital habits, this conversation offers real insight into what a more intentional, less distracted life can feel like.

A perfect episode for listeners interested in digital detoxing, mental wellbeing, and reclaiming focus in a noisy world.

Before you go to school

When Catherine was five years old, I would watch her teaching imaginary students in our backyard. Even then, it was clear she was meant to be a teacher. Two decades later, she found herself standing in front of a real classroom of thirty eager faces—living the dream she’d always had.

But as she moved deeper into the education system, Catherine began to feel a growing sense of disillusionment. The gap between what she believed education could be and what she saw in practice led her to question the very purpose of school itself.

In this episode, Catherine shares her honest reflections on teaching, the pressures inside modern classrooms, and why she now asks the powerful question: What is school for? A thoughtful discussion for anyone interested in education reform, teaching, and the future of learning.

My eldest daughter Olivia dives into our family history like a true detective, uncovering a love story that spans generations. In this episode, she pieces together the story of her grandmother and the father she never knew—revealing moments of romance, loss, and connection that had been hidden for decades.

Olivia’s journey is part investigation, part personal discovery, and part tribute to the people who shaped our family long before she was born.
If you’re drawn to stories about identity, ancestry, and uncovering long-buried family truths, this episode offers a powerful and emotional look at how the past continues to shape us today.

In this episode, we meet Gerard Donohue, a retired Victorian whose life has taken an unexpected turn toward electoral reform. After learning about the power of a writ—the formal legal document that triggers an election—Gerard became convinced that Australia’s electoral system has deep structural problems that need urgent attention.

Born and raised in Country Victoria, Gerard has spent his retirement fighting for what he believes is a fairer and more transparent democracy. Encouraged by the imprimatur of his wife and motivated by his ten children and grandchildren, Gerard has made it his mission to shine a light on how elections are called, conducted, and controlled.

If you’re curious about how Australian elections actually work, what a writ really is, or why one man would dedicate his retirement to reforming the system, this conversation is full of insight, passion, and surprising revelations.

On September 6th, 2020, Australian Olympic downhill skiing champion Steve Lee awoke on the icy floor of his Falls Creek bedroom, suddenly paralysed down one side of his body. What followed was a life-altering medical emergency—and the beginning of a long, uncertain road to recovery.

Three years on, Steve sits down with his daughter Layla to share a powerful update on his condition, his progress, and the resilience required to keep moving forward. Together, they speak openly about the challenges, the breakthroughs, the support of their community, and their hopes for the future.

This episode offers a deeply human look at recovery after paralysis, the strength of family bonds, and the determination of one of Australia’s most iconic winter athletes. Whether you’re interested in Australian sport, personal resilience, or stories of courage, Steve Lee’s journey is one you won’t forget.

#steveleefightback

Wendy’s flying history is an incredible one – she flew solo across the Pacific in 1986, has instructed at her father, Jim Hazelton’s airfield, flew the world’s first turbo prop airliner in England, and chartered around Australia air safaris.

However, her goal of joining the RAAF was hosed down, because at that time, women were not allowed to join.

From country girl to horse trainer to international pilot and voluntary supporter of underprivileged Asian communities, Wendy, a mother and grandmother who now runs her own small business, has lived on the Sunshine Coast for the last 22 years.

Professor Ian Brighthope is one of Australia’s most influential voices in integrative and nutritional medicine, with a career spanning more than 40 years. Beginning his journey in Agricultural Science in 1965 and later completing his medical degree at Monash University, Professor Brighthope has spent decades exploring the relationship between nutrition, chronic disease, immunity, and human wellbeing.

In the 1970s he founded the Brighthope Clinic and Biocentre, and went on to become the founding president of the Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (ACNEM)—a major milestone in bringing nutritional and environmental principles into mainstream medical education. He pioneered Australia’s first post-graduate medical course in nutrition, and has long been an advocate for doctors working within integrative health.

With extensive experience across crisis and risk management, pharmaceutical development, public policy, and health advocacy, Professor Brighthope continues to challenge conventional thinking as a Director of the National Institute of Integrative Medicine (NIIM). His mission is clear: to improve healthcare outcomes for all Australians and empower individuals to take control of their own health.

In this conversation, we explore his lifelong work, his approach to strengthening immunity, his views on the future of medicine, and the philosophies that have defined his career.

https://wowintl.org/

https://www.reignitedemocracyaustralia.com.au/jprof-brighthope-letter/

https://twitter.com/virusfightervi1

At 41, Matt Connelly has done what so many people dream of—he’s turned his passions into his full-time life. An entrepreneur with boundless energy and an unmistakable presence, Matt is deeply involved in Arm Wrestling Promotions, Arm Wrestling Clubs, podcasting, content creation, and property investment.

Known online as Hollywood Matt Connelly, he brings infectious enthusiasm to everything he touches, helping grow Australia’s arm-wrestling community while building a creative and entrepreneurial ecosystem around it. From running events to building online channels, Matt is proof that following your interests with intensity can create opportunities you never expected.

In this episode, we talk about the rise of arm wrestling in Australia, the mindset behind turning passion into livelihood, and the lessons Matt has learned across business, content and community-building.

Whether you’re into arm wrestling, entrepreneurship, or simply love hearing from people who live life at full throttle, this conversation delivers.

The phrase “the emperor’s new clothes” is often used to describe situations where people stay silent rather than question accepted ideas. For former science teacher and health educator Dr Judy Wilyman, that phrase has become central to her long and highly public journey into Australia’s vaccination policy debate.

After teaching science for 20 years, Judy completed a Master of Science in Population Health at the University of Wollongong in 2007, followed by a lecturing role in environmental health at Murdoch University. In 2015 she completed a PhD investigating Australian vaccination policies, a project that became one of the most publicly discussed—and contested—academic works in the country.

Judy’s ongoing focus includes examining human rights issues, medical mandates, and the concerns of people who want greater autonomy or choice regarding vaccination. Her work has sparked extensive discussion in the fields of public health, policy, ethics, and informed consent, with many critics strongly challenging her conclusions.

In this conversation, we explore Judy’s background, the motivations behind her research, the controversy surrounding her work, and why she believes certain voices are being left out of national conversations about health and choice.

This episode is ideal for listeners interested in public health policy, medical ethics, freedom of choice debates, and the complexities that arise when scientific, social, and personal beliefs collide.

Judy's website