On this episode of The Searchers Podcast, we had the pleasure of having ex Professional MMA fighter and Professional basketball player (who was inducted into The Hall of Fame at Hawaii Pacific University and had a stint with the Dallas Mavericks), Michael McDaniel join us in the studio.

Michael came to the land down under in 1995, struggled on the court, came back later on got league MVP in 1988 and the rest was history. This was a really fun episode and we're super appreciative of Michael for coming through and sharing his story which I believe will be of value to you guys. and we had a great time recording this... so we hope you do too watching, enjoy!

💬 Timestamps

0:00 – Being a fool when you’re young — lessons from growing up
2:25 – Michael’s first experience coming to Australia
5:48 – The expectations and pressure of being an import player
7:02 – Atem gets called in by the NBL1 President for poor performance
8:48 – Life on $150 a week: chicken, spinach, and “white girls” 😂
13:51 – Kirron & Michael’s shared basketball history
15:00 – Michael on life as an NBL1 referee
16:03 – Michael’s top players to ref in the league
19:46 – From basketball to MMA: how Michael started fighting
29:26 – Kirron on coaching AFL and building competitive teams
31:04 – “You’ll never make it in reffing” — proving doubters wrong
35:00 – Reflecting on anger, change, and maturing as a man
41:07 – The best advice Michael ever got from his dad about fighting
46:11 – Hawaii stories and finding balance outside sport
47:40 – Atem vs Michael: the one-on-one showdown
49:50 – Talking back to refs — does it ever work?
58:56 – Michael’s bold prediction for the Boomers basketball team 🇦🇺🏀

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Support The Searchers Podcast on Patreon We’re building this from the ground up — real convos, real energy. Your support helps us drop more episodes, upgrade our setup, and bring in guests who elevate the conversation.

🪙 Join the movement for just $10/month: → ⁠https://patreon.com/u15047571?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink⁠

You’ll get:

• Early episode access
• Behind-the-scenes clips
• Your name shouted out on the show
• A front-row seat in our journey 💯

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple & More and Follow Socials @THESEARCHERSPODCAST 

Anchor - https://anchor.fm/s/cd2722d4/podcast/rss

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2GRrhtrHF5zjPTmvEriXpT

Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-searchers-podcast/id1656166965

TikTok- http://tiktok.com/@thesearcherspodcast

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In this thoughtful and funny episode of The Searchers Podcast, Atem and Kirron sit down with Han Chiu — a scientist, mentor, and all-around deep thinker — to talk about leadership, confidence, and why science might just be the best (and weirdest) way to understand life.

From overcoming shyness and learning to speak up, to leading a research team and balancing cultural identity, Han shares how curiosity can change who you are — and why not every student should chase a PhD.

They talk about Taiwanese culture, science, love, confidence, and the beauty of building something bigger than yourself.
It’s clever, human, and quietly inspiring — the kind of episode that leaves you thinking long after it ends.

💬 Timestamps

0:00 – Introduction: Who is Han Chiu?
11:00 – What is BSBL and how Han got involved
15:28 – Why Han loves improving the league and giving back
20:00 – “Anyone can do anything if…” — Han on growth mindset and self-belief
20:20 – How Han leads his team and keeps motivation alive
23:15 – From shy to confident: how science helped Han find his voice
28:40 – The gender gap surprise — girls vs. boys in science
32:38 – Where to take a researcher on a date (yes, really)
36:55 – How Taiwanese culture continues to shape Han’s worldview
43:00 – Why Han does what he does — the purpose behind the research
48:40 – Why people don’t appreciate free opportunities
1:00:00 – Why Han talks some students out of doing a PhD

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#TheSearchersPodcast #AtemBior #KirronByrne #HanChiu #SciencePodcast #LeadershipPodcast #TaiwaneseCulture #SelfImprovement #Confidence #ResearchPodcast #OvercomingShyness #EducationPodcast #AustralianPodcast #BSBL #GrowthMindset

Support The Searchers Podcast on Patreon We’re building this from the ground up — real convos, real energy. Your support helps us drop more episodes, upgrade our setup, and bring in guests who elevate the conversation.

🪙 Join the movement for just $10/month: → ⁠https://patreon.com/u15047571?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink⁠

You’ll get:

• Early episode access
• Behind-the-scenes clips
• Your name shouted out on the show
• A front-row seat in our journey 💯

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple & More and Follow Socials @THESEARCHERSPODCAST 

Anchor - https://anchor.fm/s/cd2722d4/podcast/rss

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2GRrhtrHF5zjPTmvEriXpT

Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-searchers-podcast/id1656166965

TikTok- http://tiktok.com/@thesearcherspodcast

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090537573686&mibextid=LQQJ4d

In this powerful episode of The Searchers Podcast, Atem and Kirron sit down with Robbie and Jarred to talk about faith, struggle, and what it really means to change your life.

From educating inmates on Islam to overcoming crystal-meth addiction, this episode explores the darkest corners of human experience — and how love, belief, and support can pull someone back into the light.

They discuss religion, forgiveness, unconditional love, feeling out of place, and why the most remarkable people often come from the hardest trials.
It’s raw, real, and deeply human.

Timestamps 1:30 – Kirron & Robbie’s experience working inside prisons
4:22 – How Robbie began educating inmates about Islam
8:43 – Why so many inmates embrace Islam while locked up
10:44 – Robbie’s personal journey to faith and spiritual awakening
14:45 – Surviving addiction: Robbie’s battle with crystal meth and his mother’s support
18:20 – Is love the common denominator we keep rejecting?
19:02 – Jarred shares his own beliefs on religion and Islam
24:48 – Atem admits to “borrowing” a Muslim skullcap 😂
26:20 – Kirron’s experience with Muslims while working in prison
39:00 – “Love is long suffering” — how to support people through darkness
46:10 – Feeling out of place and disconnected from society
53:08 – Jarred’s big question: what keeps faith alive in hard times?
1:06:51 – How to walk through darkness and survive extreme hardship
1:11:30 – The most remarkable people are forged in pain and resilience
1:14:51 – Jarred opens up with a personal story of hope
1:17:41 – The kid with terminal cancer who told Kirron: “We all think we’re superheroes”
1:34:18 – Atem’s final question: “What do you want most in life?”Listen on Spotify, Apple 🎧the searchers podcast, atem bior, kirron byrne, robbie interview, jarred interview, faith and addiction, islam in prison, religion podcast, redemption story, australian podcast, crystal meth addiction, overcoming addiction, unconditional love, how to find faith, spiritual journey, darkness and light, podcast about struggle, muslim australia

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#TheSearchersPodcast #AtemBior #KirronByrne #FaithPodcast #AddictionRecovery #IslamPodcast #Redemption #SpiritualGrowth #ReligionPodcast #OvercomingAddiction #UnconditionalLove #AustraliaPodcast #LifeStories #HopePodcast

Support The Searchers Podcast on Patreon
We’re building this from the ground up — real convos, real energy. Your support helps us drop more episodes, upgrade our setup, and bring in guests who elevate the conversation.

🪙 Join the movement for just $10/month:
→ https://patreon.com/u15047571?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

You’ll get:

• Early episode access
• Behind-the-scenes clips
• Your name shouted out on the show
• A front-row seat in our journey 💯

Follow The Podcast @THESEARCHERSPODCAST On all streaming platforms

Anchor - https://anchor.fm/s/cd2722d4/podcast/rss

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2GRrhtrHF5zjPTmvEriXpT

Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-searchers-podcast/id1656166965

TikTok- http://tiktok.com/@thesearcherspodcast

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090537573686&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Apes vs Humans. Academia vs Athletics. Imposter Syndrome vs Confidence.

Atem and Kirron drop into one of their wildest convos yet — asking the ultimate question: who’s more civilized, apes or humans? From there, they dive into a deep and hilarious conversation with Padua College Assistant Coach and academic powerhouse Jarryd Pickering.

Jarryd opens up about his journey from Australia to playing college basketball in the U.S., getting dunked on his first day, and how being both an athlete and academic shaped his view on success. The boys touch on everything from imposter syndrome and self-worth to the Manti Te’o catfish saga and the beauty of being “the dumbest one in the room.”

It’s an episode that blends brains, banter, and basketball — where intelligence meets humility and humour.

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Who’s more civilized: apes or humans?
2:33 – Intro music
3:35 – The real start of the pod
5:40 – Introducing Jarryd Pickering (Padua College Assistant Coach)
6:16 – Jarryd’s academic credentials: Chemistry, Mathematics & more
7:22 – How Jarryd got to college basketball in America
11:08 – Getting dunked on, Day 1
15:22 – Being the cool white guy with Jordans
17:04 – Book talk: Zero (biography of the number 0)
18:00 – Jarryd’s math degree
19:24 – Genius classmates & exam stress
22:30 – “Good school, but not Ivy League”
23:43 – Perks of being an Academic Superstar
26:46 – Manti Te’o catfish story
30:49 – Girlfriend in Week 1 of college
35:43 – Imposter syndrome & self-worth
37:24 – Trojan horse story (TikTok moment)
40:15 – Being elite but still having doubts
46:12 – Separating your worth from your work (TikTok moment)
49:00 – Jarryd’s superpower: connecting with everyone
55:00 – Jarryd’s question: “Do we like what we’re good at, or are we good at what we like?”
1:00:00 – Can Atem swim?
1:01:40 – Law talk: would Jarryd make a good barrister?
1:09:11 – Open source vs closed source software

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Support The Searchers Podcast on Patreon
We’re building this from the ground up — real convos, real energy. Your support helps us drop more episodes, upgrade our setup, and bring in guests who elevate the conversation.

🪙 Join the movement for just $10/month:
→ https://patreon.com/u15047571?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

You’ll get:

• Early episode access
• Behind-the-scenes clips
• Your name shouted out on the show
• A front-row seat in our journey 💯

Follow The Podcast @THESEARCHERSPODCAST On all streaming platforms

Anchor - https://anchor.fm/s/cd2722d4/podcast/rss

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2GRrhtrHF5zjPTmvEriXpT

Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-searchers-podcast/id1656166965

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#TheSearchersPodcast #AtemBior #KirronByrne #JarrydPickering #PodcastAustralia #BasketballPodcast #ImposterSyndrome #AthleteMindset #ApesVsHumans #PhilosophyPodcast

Atem and Kirron sit down for a real one — talking about what it means to search for your next challenge when you’ve already achieved so much. From traveling the world to keeping that inner fire alive, the two explore what drives people forward and how to stay grounded in the process. They dive into everything from Nikola Jokić’s brilliance to the heavier global issues shaping our generation. It’s part hoops, part philosophy, part world talk — the kind of mix that defines The Searchers Podcast.

Support The Searchers Podcast on Patreon
We’re building this from the ground up — real convos, real energy. Your support helps us drop more episodes, upgrade our setup, and bring in guests who elevate the conversation.

🪙 Join the movement for just $10/month:
→ https://patreon.com/u15047571?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

You’ll get:

• Early episode access
• Behind-the-scenes clips
• Your name shouted out on the show
• A front-row seat in our journey 💯

Follow The Podcast @THESEARCHERSPODCAST On all streaming platforms

Anchor - https://anchor.fm/s/cd2722d4/podcast/rss

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2GRrhtrHF5zjPTmvEriXpT

Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-searchers-podcast/id1656166965

TikTok- http://tiktok.com/@thesearcherspodcast

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090537573686&mibextid=LQQJ4d

#TheSearchersPodcast #NikolaJokic #Billionaires #PodcastAustralia #BasketballMindset #MotivationPodcast #TravelAndCulture #AtemBior #KirronByrne #PhilosophyPodcastnikola jokic, jokic podcast, the searchers podcast, atem bior, kirron byrne, podcast australia, self development podcast, basketball mindset, athlete mindset, billionaires, billionaires discussion, billionaire submarine, titanic submarine, world issues podcast, global awareness podcast, travel stories podcast, purpose and growth podcast, motivation podcast, searchers networkhow to find your next challenge, staying motivated, modern success mindset, nba podcast australia, jokic mentality, basketball and life, how to stay grounded, podcast about travel and culture, searching for meaning, deep conversations podcast, australian podcasters, podcast motivation 2025, philosophy podcast, atem bior podcast

From a being cut from a U16 QLD State team, to representing Australia in 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brock Motum has had quite the journey. But It wasn't an easy road. On this episode, Brock shares his story woth The Searchers Podcast… enjoy!Timestamps:- (0-2:30) Pre-Show banter- (3:25) Brock Motum’s first disappointment in basketball? - (6:40) When Kirron met Brock: and began their to question for the NBA- (7:17) Brock speaks on how his only goal was to become a professional basketball player- (8:30) The importance of writing down goals!- () Attacking “crazy” aspirations- (14:40) Brock’s training program after not making the AIS! - (16:29) Kirron’s most unusual training techniques he made Brock do- (21:12) Kirron speaks on why he believed Brock could become a pro, despite others’ doubts- (23:33) Brock’s relationship with fellow Boomer Cameron Bairstow - (24:20) Brock speaks on the advice he got from the AIS - (27:24) Brock’s speaks on his time at Washington State - (29:47) Brock cried everyday during his first month in college - wanted to quit!- (33:13) Klay Thompson’s influence on Brock- (35:20) Brock used to pretend he was Klay when he trained/shot- (37:37) Atem gives Brock his flowers and shares a heartfelt story- (42:35) Brock’s willingness to help others in their journey- (45:48) Brock speaks on being overlooked despite his accomplishments and abilities- (47:48) Brock on being a father and husband- (50:10) The guys share their thoughts on the benefits of playing different sports when growing up- (55:00) Approaching the game differently- (58:10) Brock shares how players need to approach a season to stand out! - (1:03:53) What do we think about athletes posting everything about their training on social media? - (1:08:07) Why Atem dislikes Kirron and Brock 🤦🏿‍♂️ - (1:09:42) The relationship with failure- (1:14:14) Brock’s final message to people with aspirations and dreams!Support The Searchers Podcast on Patreon


We’re building this from the ground up — real convos, real energy. Your support helps us drop more episodes, upgrade our setup, and bring in guests who elevate the conversation.

🪙 Join the movement for just $10/month:
→ https://patreon.com/u15047571?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLinkYou’ll get:

* Early episode access

* Behind-the-scenes clips

* Your name shouted out on the show

* A front-row seat in our journey 💯

Follow The Podcast @THESEARCHERSPODCAST On all streaming platforms

Anchor - https://anchor.fm/s/cd2722d4/podcast/rssSpotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2GRrhtrHF5zjPTmvEriXpTApple - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-searchers-podcast/id1656166965TikTok- http://tiktok.com/@thesearcherspodcastFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090537573686&mibextid=LQQJ4d

In this episode of The Searchers Podcast, the crew starts off reflecting on that familiar feeling — when life starts pulling you toward something new. From there, we dive headfirst into Zodiac signs, personality traits, and how accurate (or not) astrology really is.

We also get into some real and ridiculous moments:

- Are Ranko and Kirron “not good white people”?! 😂

- The squad reacts to some spicy mean comments

- A convo on the future of value in the age of AI: will being different be the most valuable commodity?

Plus, we go full conspiracy mode talking The Great Reset, and of course, Atem hits the crew with a philosophy bomb near the end.If you're into convos that mix vibes, vulnerability, and straight-up madness, this one’s a ride.

Timestamps 00:00 – Feeling the Pull for Something New in Life

10:19 – Reading Each Other’s Zodiac Signs and Star Traits

24:30 – "Ranko and Kirron Aren’t Good White People??" 😂

29:55 – The Searchers Read Some Wild Mean Comments

36:30 – What Will Be Valuable in the Age of AI? (Thinking Differently Might Be Currency)

39:56 – Conspiracy Mode: The Great Reset 👀

56:27 – Atem Drops a Big Philosophy Question to Close It Out

Support The Searchers Podcast on Patreon
We’re building this from the ground up — real convos, real energy. Your support helps us drop more episodes, upgrade our setup, and bring in guests who elevate the conversation.🪙 Join the movement for just $10/month:
→ https://patreon.com/u15047571?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLinkYou’ll get:* Early episode access* Behind-the-scenes clips* Your name shouted out on the show* A front-row seat in our journey 💯Follow The Podcast @THESEARCHERSPODCAST On all streaming platforms

Anchor - https://anchor.fm/s/cd2722d4/podcast/rss

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2GRrhtrHF5zjPTmvEriXpT

Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-searchers-podcast/id1656166965

TikTok- http://tiktok.com/@thesearcherspodcastFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090537573686&mibextid=LQQJ4d