The Ridiculously Human Podcast

Growing up in Zimbabwe, Laurence Blair's family faced numerous challenges, leading them to have no choice but flee.

He married his wife, an American, whom he met in Kenya. They tragically lost their first child at 34 weeks pregnant due to his wife's sudden liver rupture. Nearly losing his wife too.

At the birth of their twins, after 33 minutes without oxygen, their son suffered severe complications.

This is a story of a man prepared to do anything for his and his family's wellbeing. I highly enjoyed this.

Discussion Topics: What you will discover from listening to this Podcast:

• Growing up in Zimbabwe
• Fleeing your country of birth
• Schooling in Malawi and Tanzania
• Bullying in the corporate environment
• Gentle parenting
• The treasures of parenting
• Enneagram character types
• Understanding your partner's personality type
• Losing a child

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Your fellow being

Gareth

SHOW NOTES

Background, Context & Reference

Connect with Laurence Blair:

• Website
• LinkedIn

Discussion Links

• Enneagrams
• CBT Therapy
• Petals Charity

People Discussed

• Forrest Galante - Discovery Channel
• Mark King - Founder Dineticq

Music By

• Matthew Parker

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Justin Breen is a Life Path 11 when it comes to Numerology. Those with a Life Path 11 can become incredibly spiritual. In order to fulfil their Master Number potential, they must not turn their backs on their special abilities or they will face inner turmoil.

Why do I mention this? Before I started recording this Podcast I was expecting to have a conversation about high performing entrepreneurs and tapping into how they operate. Most interviews Justin has done before he spoke about his entrepreneurial success and how he works with and helps the top 1%. Although, there was an outlier conversation he had in December 2024 where I noticed a shift in him… The journey of a Life Path 11, is basically a life of two halves. Almost, two different people. The changes they experience are often a battle for them to cope with.

Now you might be thinking, "Gareth, this is a little esoteric and airy fairy!" and to be honest with you….that is a FAIR CALL. However, before this conversation none of this Numerology theory/understanding was something I had heard of. But, Justin is living proof of it being quite accurate.

Needless to say, this chat went on a path I did not expect, and I am SO GLAD it did! Very interesting conversation which might help you better understand yourself!

Discussion Topics: What you will discover from listening to this Podcast:

• Society's Generational Trauma
• Human Design Types
• Attachment Disorders
• Dealing with rejection as a man
• Word Etymology
• Life Path - Numerology
• Your life journey halfway mark
• Ego attached to outcome
• Finding your Soul Mirrors
• Shedding baggage from your life
• Asking yourself "Who the f*ck am I?"
• Fulfilment in creating music

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Your fellow being

Gareth

SHOW NOTES

Background, Context & Reference

Connect with Justin Breen:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Twitter

Discussion Links

• Corvia AI Music Creation
• Neckar Island
• Numerology
• Documentary - Samadhi
• Valentine Song by Justin Green

People Discussed

• Adam Rossi
• Carl Jung
• Patricia Noelle
• Adam Lane Smith
• Seth Godin

Books Mentioned

• Epic Journey by Justin Green
• Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer

Music By

• Matthew Parker

Right Hook Request

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Hugh Wahla has certainly lived an extraordinary life.

He has experienced atrocities you would not wish on your worst enemy.

Losing his Mom in a tragic accident and being sent to Pakistan to live as a 6 years old, taught him harsh realities and early life lessons.

It also forged a belief system that helped him navigate life's challenges and allowed him to excel in his career.

While serving as CEO for a Globally recognised brand, he was introduced to the concept of 'Productive Working Life' which played a role in deciding his next steps.

Many lessons in this conversation!

Discussion Topics: What you will discover from listening to this Podcast:

• Witnessing your mother being burnt alive
• Sent to Pakistan as a 6 year old to live
• Brutal extremities witnessed in Saudi Arabia
• Loneliness of being a CEO
• People's focus on financial success
• Happiness v Pleasure
• Smart Goals v Meta Goals
• Samsara
• Social implications of quitting booze
• 3 Chairs exercise
• Your 'Productive Working Lifespan'

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Your fellow being

Gareth

SHOW NOTES

Background, Context & Reference

Connect with Hugh Wahla:

• Website
• LinkedIn

Discussion Links

• The Conran Shop
• Urban Outfitters
• Stutz Documentary
• Packraft

People Discussed

• Sir Terence Conran
• Oscar Chalupsky

Books Mentioned

• The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama
• Man's Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Music By

• Matthew Parker

Right Hook Request

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Shaun Fuchs is far from a small thinker. Which is why he has taken on the mammoth task of disrupting the education industry.

In 2021, he recognised the time was ripe for our children to break away from the norms of the current education system.

It wasn't just an off-the-cuff decision, it's something he has been manifesting since he became a sports and history teacher (all those years ago)

Shaun is someone I admire because he has always challenged the status quo, as well as pushed the boundaries in everything he's done.

This Podcast is special because it's me exploring a new style of Podcast, in-person and walking around exploring Shaun's own school, Centennial Schools, in Johannesburg.

As a mentor of mine and best friend, it felt like the perfect opportunity to venture into something new.

This new style is best watched on YouTube (please do subscribe if you haven't already) and I have more of these Podcast formats coming in the future.

I think you'll love this conversation and experience with Shaun Fuchs, an astute entrepreneur, author, and inspiring human.

Discussion Topics: What you will discover from listening to this Podcast:

• Inspiration behind starting Centennial Schools
• How to disrupt education
• Blue sky education syllabus
• Removing examinations
• Gamifying education
• What makes Centennial Schools unique
• How to keep re-imagining schooling
• Reducing kids social media usage
• Benefits of gaming in education
• Does online schooling work?
• Thoughts on homeschooling
• Disturbing trend of parents in schools
• How best to handle conflict
• Entrepreneurial programs in school
• Africa's largest E-sports centre
• Life changing impact of teachers

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Gareth

SHOW NOTES

Background, Context & Reference

Connect with Shaun Fuchs:

• Website - Shaun Fuchs
• LinkedIn - Shaun Fuchs

Connect with Centennial Schools

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• TikTok
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

Discussion Links

• E-Sports
• Coin-Ed
• Crypto
• Dubai Esports Festival
• YouTube Gamers

People Discussed

• Jon Jon Park
• Reg Park
• Jennie Gow

Books Mentioned

• The Dip - Seth Godin

Music By

• Matthew Parker

Right Hook Request

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Mandy Lehto is no ordinary lady.

In fact, she has one of the greatest minds out there, and is highly sought after as a top C-Suite Executive Coach.

Her authenticity and intellect is what makes her so relatable.

From a shiny leotard wearing aerobics teacher in the 80s, to a high flying investment banker, to suffering from burnout in all of her 40s… she walks the talk having experienced the massive highs and lows that life throws at us.

Mandy makes you feel seen and heard when you speak with her and this conversation is no different.

Absolutely top-notch cracker!

Discussion Topics: What you will discover from listening to this Podcast:

• Going into profound grief
• What lies beneath anger?
• Perfectionism as a coping mechanism
• Re-framing imposter syndrome
• Why nobody actually cares
• Are humans negatively biased?
• Happiness vs Resilience
• Masculine vs Feminine Energy
• Dominant vs Submissive Energy
• Why high performers suck at relationships
• Workaholics identified with their persona
• Nervous system regulation
• Considering death
• The concept of life-force
• Re-imagining goal-setting
• Awe-hunting
• Zone of excellence vs Zone of genius
• Filling up your own cup

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Your fellow being

Gareth

SHOW NOTES

Background, Context & Reference

Connect with Mandy Lehto:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• The Enough Podcast

Discussion Links

• Gay Hendricks's - Zone of genius v Zone of excellence

People Discussed

• Katherine Morgan Schafler
• Rich Litvin
• Kasia Urbaniak

Books Suggestions

• The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control - Katherine Morgan Schafler
• Unbound - Kasia Urbaniak
• Dopamine Nation - Dr. Anna Lembke
• Awe - Dacher Keltner
• Growing Brave - Donna Ashworth

Music By

• Matthew Parker

Right Hook Request

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Christmas Eve 2024, we were dining in a cosy Italian Restaurant, in Hoi An, Vietnam. It felt like we were in some little nook of Manhattan.

We got speaking to the owner, Tu Nguyen, to find out more about her business and how she learned to make delicious authentic Italian Food, like an Italian Grandmother would make.

She is a trained Barista, who taught herself how to make Greek and Vegan Yogurt to sell online and survive financially during Covid.

She then learned how to cook rather exceptional Italian cuisine from YouTube videos, cooking shows and recipe books.

She now owns The Lions Room, Italian Restaurant and The Piatti Cafe, in Hoi An, Vietnam.

Her story really inspired me.

An absolutely courageous young woman, who also had the confidence to speak to me in English, in my first ever in-person Podcast interview.

Discussion Topics: What you will discover from listening to this Podcast:

• What inspired her to become a Barista
• Surviving financially during Covid
• Using YouTube to study
• Starting an Italian restaurant in Vietnam
• The difficulties of running a business
• Challenges in retaining staff
• How to keep staff happy
• What is life like in Vietnam
• Her Grandparents involvement in the Vietnam War
• How she fell in love with coffee

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Your fellow being

Gareth

SHOW NOTES

Background, Context & Reference

Connect with Tu Nguyen:

• Instagram - The Lions Room
• Instagram - Piatti Cafe

Discussion Links

• Hoi An, Vietnam
• Vietnam War

Music By

• Matthew Parker

Right Hook Request

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Raja Miah is a UK grooming gang activist.

Raja has worked directly with world leaders and is internationally recognised as an expert in tackling extremism, safeguarding children and strengthening communities.

By the age of 30, he was awarded an MBE for his services to the community.

In his second life, he has been responsible for leading a six year campaign exposing UK politicians who were involved in protecting Pakistani Rape Gangs.

Parts of this conversation may be difficult to comprehend. Please protect your daughters at all costs.

Discussion Topics: What you will discover from listening to this Podcast:

• What is Extremism?
• How big of a threat is extremism
• Why aren't Governments serving people?
• Hypothetically how do governments regain our trust?
• How rigged are Governments and elections?
• Living in fear of exposing truth
• Who commits the trafficking of children
• How we've lost the sense of community
• Has the state of society declined
• The atrocities of the UK Grooming Gangs
• The importance of whistleblowers
• Why get involved in activism?
• Protecting your daughter from public limelight
• What it's like to receive an MBE

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Your fellow being

Gareth

SHOW NOTES

Background, Context & Reference

Connect with Raja Miah:

• Website
• X
• YouTube
• FaceBook
• Patreon
• Buy Raja a Coffee

Discussion Links

• Civil Rights Movement
• Suffragette Movement
• Southport Riots
• Maggie Oliver Foundation

People Discussed

• Emmeline Pankhurst
• Andrew Gold
• Rupert Lowe
• Jess Phillips
• Maggie Oliver

Books Mentioned

• The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie

Music By

• Matthew Parker

Right Hook Request

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Maxim Wheatley, is an inspiring young man. He's spent his professional life as somewhat of a misfit toy and cowboy!

Fortuitous events led him to building his current business, Jet Patient, which is disrupting a mammoth…the US Medical Industry.

He currently finds himself as the CEO of a business aspiring for a $25bn valuation within the next few years.

Maxim's worldviews are uncommon due to being an immigrant living the American Dream.

He has garnered a unique perspective of business and leadership after studying Cognitive Science and Psychology, and also having successfully transacted an Exit from his first business, Life Fuels.

Banger of a conversation with so much to learn from this Pod.

Discussion Topics: What you will discover from listening to this Podcast:

• Being an Immigrant with a global perspective
• Everyone is living different realities
• Risk taking culture of humans
• Importance of mentorship
• Looking for the good in people
• Training as a rescue diver
• Are NDA's important?
• Inviting critical feedback
• Effectiveness of feedback cycles
• Maintaining company culture
• Higher slow, fire fast - does it work?
• Employee training for performance
• Jet Patient explained in a nutshell
• Medical tourism facts
• Are US health costs maintainable?
• Slowing down Start-Up culture

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Your fellow being

Gareth

SHOW NOTES

Background, Context & Reference

Connect with Maxim Wheatley:

• Website
• X
• LinkedIn

Discussion Links

• Virginia Tech
• PADI Seals

People Discussed

• Adam Rossi

Books Mentioned

• Growth Mindset - Carol Dweck

Music By

• Matthew Parker

Right Hook Request

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Happy New YEAR! I hope 2025 is off to a cracking start.

Speaking to other people is hands down one of the best ways to increase your knowledge and understanding of how the world works, and what drives other humans.

Today's Podcast I talk about the important lessons and reminders learned in 2024 from speaking to amazing guests!

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LESSON 1: Remove Toxic Friends from Your Life

LESSON 2: How an 83 Year Old Mentor Changed her Life

LESSON 3: Re-directing an Addictive personality

LESSON 4: What is Nice Guy Syndrome?

LESSON 5: How your Body Holds onto Pain

LESSON 6: Why we Must be Altruistic about the Next Generation

LESSON 7: How To Keep Your Kids Grounded

LESSON 8: How To Deal with Male Adult Loneliness

LESSON 9: The Life Changing Impact of Fatherhood

LESSON 10: The Importance of Playfulness and Laughter

LESSON 11: The Mental Preparation of an Olympic Athlete

LESSON 12: The 4 Main Issues with Modern Footwear

LESSON 13: Essential 4 Levels of Trust for a Deep Relationship

LESSON 14: Life Long Impacts from an Abusive Alcoholic Father

LESSON 15: Breaking and Exploring Your Victim Mindset

LESSON 16: Preventing the Deep Cycle of Childhood Abuse and Trauma

LESSON 17: Why do Women Live in Fear?

LESSON 18: Homeschooled Kids have No Socialisation Issues

LESSON 19: Is Free, Wireless Energy Scalable, or just a Myth?

LESSON 20: AI is Being Yourself on Steroids

LESSON 21: Environmental Issues Destroying Livelihoods of many Africans

LESSON 22: Show up with Big Dad Energy!

LESSON 23: Life changing Impact after Suffering a Stroke

LESSON 24: Testing AI Avatars - Life is now a Simulation

My Pod this week is with Vicky…

Vicky is actually an AI Avatar created through HeyGen Labs

As it's nearly the end of the year, I wanted to have a little fun and also test how good these AI Avatars really are.

There were some glitches in the matrix when it came to her voice screeching a few times.

However, for a product in its infancy, it is incredible what they have created. Well, it's half incredible and half as scary as hell!

She is specifically trained to help with tough conversations, so I put her through the ringer and was pleasantly surprised.

AI is taking us by storm, so best we all start getting familiar with it.

Discussion Topics:

What you will discover from listening to this Podcast:

• Role play of an employee losing their job
• Trump and Putin negotiating world peace

Right Hook Request

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