It’s been four years since Noaky last appeared on the podcast, and a lot has changed. From working at Shine with my now boss, Steve Chapman, to playing a key role in brand strategy at Pepsi, James has grown through some huge decisions, a couple breakups, and plenty of moments of honesty.

In this episode, we unpack the two decisions that changed his life: honesty (with yourself and others) and investment (in your time, health, and energy). We talk about gut decisions, alignment, delayed gratification, and how to rewrite your 20s with intention, even when it’s uncomfortable.

This one dives deep into the realities of growing up, evolving friendships, and balancing structure and freedom in your 20s.

💭 New episodes every Thursday 7am

📩 Submit your next community question via Instagram @unclenathco

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All links (checklist, book pre-save, socials, podcast feeds):

👉 https://linktr.ee/unclenathanco

DM me with your questions!

IG: @unclenathanco

If this helped, send it to a friend!

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CHAPTERS

00:00 – Reuniting with James after 4 years

00:44 – The two most impactful decisions in life

01:15 – Decision #1: Honesty with yourself

03:10 – Learning to be honest about who you are

05:00 – Following your gut vs logic and emotion

07:00 – When your gut knows before your mind does

08:00 – Decision #2: Investing in yourself and your life

09:20 – Viewing life decisions like investments

11:00 – Compounding habits and delayed gratification

13:40 – Building discipline and staying consistent

16:00 – Avoiding burnout: when investment becomes obsession

18:10 – Balancing heart, logic, and fear when making changes

20:00 – Outsourcing thoughts vs trusting your gut

22:30 – Avoiding confirmation bias when seeking advice

24:40 – The “30-second rule” for feeling emotions

26:30 – Learning to self-regulate and sit with thoughts

29:10 – The power of changing your stimulus

31:00 – Figuring out your 20s: lessons so far

33:00 – Pivotal breakups, growth, and perspective shifts

36:00 – How heartbreak shaped honesty and alignment

39:00 – Redefining goals in your mid-20s

41:30 – Why goals should be based on feelings, not outcomes

43:10 – The shift from external success to internal alignment

45:10 – Freedom vs structure: finding the right balance

48:00 – Prioritising peace and rewriting your own life path

50:00 – Investing in yourself before anyone else

52:00 – The “100% rule” in friendships and relationships

54:40 – Wrapping up: honesty, investment, and living aligned

#PersonalGrowth #Mindset #LifeAdvice #genzpodcast

You finally get the win… then your brain whispers “you don’t belong here.” In this episode I break down why imposter syndrome hits hardest in your 20s, how social media warps your self-image, and a simple playbook to act with confidence before you feel ready. We’ll cover reframes, evidence stacking, and a quick test to tell humility from self-sabotage - plus a community Q&A at the end.

You’ll learn:

✅ Why imposter syndrome = proof you’re growing

✅ How to stop comparing your Year 2 to someone else’s Year 10

✅ “Confidence follows competency” (and how to build both)

✅ A 4-step toolkit: reframe, stop the comparison, collect evidence, talk it out

If this helped, drop a comment, share it with a friend who’s doubting themselves, and hit that subscribe button!

💭 New episodes every Thursday 7am

📩 Submit your next community question via Instagram @unclenathco

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All links (checklist, book pre-save, socials, podcast feeds):

👉 https://linktr.ee/unclenathanco

DM me with your questions!

IG: @unclenathanco

If this helped, send it to a friend!

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Chapters

00:00 – The moment success triggers self-doubt

01:01 – Imposter syndrome = internal vs external gap (+ social media effect)

01:45 – “Smart topics” trap: politics, money, global affairs

03:09 – Early Uncle Nathan days & feeling unqualified

03:48 – Reframe: no one is ever fully ready (growth requires discomfort)

05:01 – Trust your opinion: why the ask itself is evidence

05:45 – Relationships & work: responsibility means you’re ready enough

06:23 – Your 20s = one long identity crisis (confidence after competency)

08:04 – “Fake it till you make it” (without being a fraud)

08:28 – My book story: loud vs worthy, conviction over volume

10:59 – Don’t wait for doubt to disappear—move anyway

11:14 – Practical toolkit: reframe, stop comparing, collect proof, talk about it

13:55 – Community Q&A: humble or self-sabotaging?

15:27 – You’re not a fraud: start, learn, adjust, repeat

#impostersyndrome #lifeinyour20s #confidencebuilding #mentalhealth

We’ve turned “independence” into an aesthetic - solo dinners, glow-up routines, “protect your peace.”

But if we’re so independent, why do so many of us feel lonely multiple times a week?

In this episode I unpack how independence ≠ isolation, why modern dating feels broken, how “boundaries” sometimes become walls, and the practical shifts to rebuild real connection - without losing yourself.

💭 New episodes every Thursday 7am

📩 Submit your next community question via Instagram @unclenathco

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All links (checklist, book pre-save, socials, podcast feeds):

👉 https://linktr.ee/unclenathanco

DM me with your questions!

IG: @unclenathanco

If this helped, send it to a friend!

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Chapters

00:00 – The independence lie & loneliness poll

01:25 – Independence ≠ isolation: connection needs vulnerability

03:50 – Boundaries vs walls + why pain is part of love

05:45 – When did you last let someone in? Fear & self-sabotage

07:38 – Redefining independence without shutting people out

09:39 – Dating culture is broken (AU): expectations vs reality

12:20 – Single by choice… or by fear? Rejection & resilience

15:05 – Healing vs hiding: you can’t heal what you won’t face

17:05 – Practical playbook: stop performing, kintsugi, ask for help

19:15 – Redefine independence & reconnect offline

20:31 – Community Q&A: being single without feeling lonely

23:35 – Closing riff: take the risk to earn connection

26:40 – Life update: Hyro, the book, what’s next

28:31 – Outro & how to submit next week’s question

#lonely #growingup #lifeishard #independence

12 months ago, I was living what looked like the dream — Bali villa, girlfriend, dogs, freedom, and money. But it didn’t feel like me anymore. So I blew it all up and started from zero.

In this episode, I share what it’s really like to rebuild your life in your 20s — how to know when it’s time for a change, why starting over doesn’t mean failure, and the exact steps I used to reset from scratch.

We’ll talk values, alignment, and how to design a life that actually feels good, not just looks good.

💭 New episodes every Thursday 7am

📩 Submit your next community question via Instagram @unclenathco

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All links (checklist, book pre-save, socials, podcast feeds):

👉 https://linktr.ee/unclenathanco

DM me with your questions!

IG: @unclenathanco

If this helped, send it to a friend!

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Chapters

00:00 – Why I Blew Up My “Dream Life” in Bali

01:45 – The Digital Nomad Life That Looked Perfect

04:30 – When Success Doesn’t Feel Like Success

06:40 – Choosing Between What Looks Good and What Feels Right

09:20 – Why It’s Okay to Start Again in Your 20s

11:45 – Signs It’s Time to Change or Reset

15:00 – Feeling Stuck and Disconnected from Yourself

17:40 – Step 1: Define Your Core Values

19:40 – Step 2: Run a 30-Day Life Experiment

21:10 – Step 3: Build a Financial Safety Net

22:40 – Step 4: Let Go of Your Old Self

24:00 – Step 5: Design Your Future and Build New Habits

25:50 – You’re Never Too Deep to Start Over

27:10 – Community Question + Life Update

#lifeinyour20s #startingoveragain #lifereset #lifedecisions

Money in your 20s isn’t about getting rich fast. It’s about building a simple system that lets you enjoy life now and invest for future you.

In this solo episode I break down my automated buckets — fixed expenses, a More Life fund, an emergency fund, and investing — plus the 5-phase roadmap I’m using to hit semi-retirement by 35.

We cover earning potential vs penny pinching, balance over extremes, and practical steps you can copy today.

New episodes every Thursday 7am.

Comment your biggest money challenge and I’ll feature a few next week.

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All links (checklist, book pre-save, socials, podcast feeds):👉 https://linktr.ee/unclenathanco

DM me with your questions!IG: @unclenathanco

If this helped, send it to a friend!

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Chapters

00:00 Money is an enabler not the goal

01:07 Redefining success after school

03:19 Hemorrhaging vs hoarding money

05:18 Why systems beat willpower

06:26 Balance today’s fun with tomorrow’s goals

08:06 Stop obsessing over coffees focus on earning more

09:14 My money system: fixed expenses → More Life → emergency → investing

13:02 Automations tracking and the 70/30 everyday split

15:05 Goals and 10-year plan mindset

16:23 Phase 1: capital stacking and skills mastery

17:44 Phase 2: first investment property and scaling

20:05 Phase 3: portfolio growth and compounding

21:08 Phase 4: shift to safer passive scaling

22:00 Phase 5: semi-retire at 35 and live off assets

24:31 Why starting now matters more than perfection

25:41 Actionable takeaways: build a system stack skills balance passions

31:15 Community Q: the best investment in your 20s

33:21 Closing ideas on exploration and systems

34:44 Life update: book progress, new role at Drink Hyro

36:16 Outro and call for your money stories

#lifeinyour20s #personalfinancetips #moneymanagement #youngandrich

This one’s raw.

I open up about losing my Bali puppies, Luna and Olive + what grief did to my head, and why you don’t “move on” but instead, learn to live with it.

We talk identity shifts, the pressure to be “strong,” and the exact tools that helped me get through the worst days (the 30-second rule, circuit breakers, and tackling the scary “firsts”).

Community Q: how to live with regret after loss.

If this episode brings anything up for you, please reach out to someone you trust or Lifeline (13 11 14 in Aus).

Chapters00:00:00 — Why this episode matters

00:02:36 — Losing Luna: my first real grief

00:11:02 — Olive: love, loss, and letting go

00:20:23 — How grief reshapes who you are

00:25:35 — What helped: feeling it, routine, and firsts

00:29:07 — Q&A: living with regret + final thoughtsAll links (checklist, book pre-save, socials, podcast feeds):👉 https://linktr.ee/unclenathancoDM me with your questions!IG: @unclenathancoIf this helped, send it to a friend!

In your 20s, it feels like everyone else is miles ahead - getting married, buying houses, landing dream jobs - while you’re still piecing things together.

This episode breaks down the pressure to “have it all figured out,” why that expectation is flawed, and how to reframe your 20s as a time for growth, mistakes, and progress over perfection.

I share personal stories (like moving back in with my parents after Bali), unpack the trap of social media comparison, and offer simple reframes to stop feeling “behind.”

Community Question: “How can I stop comparing myself to my friends?”

If you’ve ever felt stuck, behind, or lost, you’ll want to hear this one.Chapters

00:00 – Revamping the studio & today’s topic

02:00 – The pressure to “have it all figured out”

06:00 – Checkpoints, milestones & the myth of timelines

12:00 – Social media and the comparison trap

18:00 – Progress over perfection (practical reframes)

24:00 – Community Q: How do I stop comparing myself?

29:30 – Book update & outroAll links (checklist, book pre-save, socials, podcast feeds):👉 https://linktr.ee/unclenathancoDM me with your questions!IG: @unclenathancoIf this helped, send it to a friend!

Everyone online makes Bali look like a dream: coconuts, pool villas, working two hours a day from a laptop. I lived it for 2.5 years — and while parts of it were incredible, the reality is way more complicated.

In this episode, I break down what life as a digital nomad in Bali is really like. The freedom, the hidden costs, the loneliness, the constant pressure to “live the dream”… and why it didn’t fully click for me. If you’ve ever thought about moving overseas, this one’s for you.Chapters:

00:00 – The dream vs. the reality of Bali life

05:50 – The hidden costs of being a digital nomad

10:00 – Building a routine from scratch overseas

15:00 – Loneliness, distractions & why Bali didn’t click

20:40 – Practical takeaways & community Q&AAll links (checklist, book pre-save, socials, podcast feeds):👉 https://linktr.ee/unclenathancoDM me with your questions!IG: @unclenathancoIf this helped, send it to a friend who's thinking about moving out!

Today we’re talking about moving out in your 20s... more specifically, the gap between the dream and the reality.

I'll dive into the hidden costs, setting up a home from scratch, the time suck of chores, the family trade-offs, and the difference between independence and loneliness - don't worry, there's some fun stuff in there too!

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All links (checklist, book pre-save, socials, podcast feeds):👉 https://linktr.ee/unclenathanco

DM me with your questions!IG: @unclenathanco

If this helped, send it to a friend who's thinking about moving out!

The Post-School Podcast is back!

This isn’t self-help, it’s a space for honest conversations about the chaos of your 20s - money, breakups, moving out, bad decisions, good lessons, and the pressure to have life sorted when nobody actually does.

In this episode, I’ll share what’s changing with the podcast, where I’ve been, and why I want this to be more about real stories and less about polished advice.

Think of it as a weekly check-in with an older brother... unfiltered, sometimes messy, but always honest.

Links:
🎁 Free “20s Clarity Checklist” → Download HERE
📖 My book This Isn’t a Self-Help Book → Pre-Save HERE
📲 Instagram → @unclenathanco
🎥 Watch on YouTube → Watch HERE

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Tags/Keywords:20s podcast, figuring life out, real talk 20s, growing up, money in your 20s, relationships in your 20s, moving out, quarter-life crisis, honest conversations