The XYZ Experiment

This week on The XYZ Experiment, Fiona and Darsh get real about life with unpredictable guts.

From the shock of a coeliac diagnosis to navigating the daily realities of Crohn's disease, we share our personal stories, the things no one tells you, and how it's changed the way we eat, socialise and think about our health.

There are a few "you have to laugh or you'll cry" moments as we unpack the awkward, the frustrating, and the unexpectedly empowering parts of living with chronic conditions.

Whether you're dealing with gut issues yourself or just curious about what it's really like, this episode is honest and relatable.

Hosted by Fiona & Darsh

Produced by Fiona Kelly & Darsh Ayton

Show runner Darsh Ayton

Original music created and performed by Luke Champion

Social media content created by Darsh Ayton & Fiona Kelly

This week on The XYZ Experiment, we're asking the big question: are we manifesting or just really, really hoping?

Gen Z Luke is out there casually saying "I'm manifesting that for you", it's the new 'good luck'.

Our Gen Y Darsh takes us back to the glory days of The Secret , when we thought thinking just thinking about a wish enough would just make it happen.

Meanwhile, Gen X Fiona is sitting there like, "Isn't this just setting goals".

So what actually is manifesting? A mindset? A vibe? A rebrand of positive thinking? Or just optimism with better PR?

Hosted by Fiona, Darsh & Luke

Produced by Fiona Kelly & Darsh Ayton

Show runner Darsh Ayton

Original music created and performed by Luke Champion

Social media content created by Darsh Ayton & Fiona Kelly

This week we are talking about the world of budgeting - how we do it, why we do it or why some of us don't do it at all.

Across generations, money habits can look wildly different. From a budget planner who tracks every dollar, to the more relaxed approach, we look at our beliefs, tools and life experiences that shape how our different generations manage their finances.

Whether you are a spreadsheet lover, an app tracker, or someone who avoids budgeting altogether, this episode might just change the way you think about your finances.

Hosted by Fiona, Darsh & Luke

Produced by Fiona Kelly & Darsh Ayton

Show runner Darsh Ayton

Original music created and performed by Luke Champion

Social media content created by Darsh Ayton & Fiona Kelly

This week we’re talking about the world of decluttering—but not just the “tidy your drawer” kind. We’re exploring how different generations approach stuff.

What we keep, what we throw away, and what we just can’t let go of isn’t random. Is it shaped by our generation, our experiences, or the world we grew up in?

From those who hold onto everything “just in case,” to the Marie Kondo inspired minimalists who crave space and simplicity, decluttering is about far more than cleaning.

There can be a lot of emotional weight behind sentimental items and we can struggle to let things go.

And are younger generations redefining or rejecting clutter? Whether you find decluttering freeing or deeply uncomfortable we share our journey with you. What we keep, what we toss and why.

Hosted by Fiona, Darsh & Luke

Produced by Fiona Kelly & Darsh Ayton

Show runner Darsh Ayton

Original music created and performed by Luke Champion

Social media content created by Darsh Ayton & Fiona Kelly

What does it actually mean to be 'work fit' in today's world?

We are excited to be back for 2026 and today we are exploring how different generations prepare themselves to get through a working day, week, month - physically, mentally and emotionally.

Is being work fit about resilience and pushing through, as many older generations were taught? Or is it about balance, wellbeing and protecting your mental health, as younger generations are redefining it?

Come listen to us unpack the habits, expectations and reality of staying work fit and how it is possibly changing.

Hosted by Fiona, Darsh & Luke

Produced by Fiona Kelly & Darsh Ayton

Show runner Darsh Ayton

Original music created and performed by Luke Champion

Social media content created by Darsh Ayton & Fiona Kelly

In our final episode for 2025, we look ahead twenty years and ask: what might disappear and what would we truly miss?

From Melbourne's iconic trams to the magic of bookshops and cinemas, we explore the everyday joys that shape our sense of place.

We also reflect on youth itself, those years when freedom feels infinite and life is full of possibility.

Join us for a nostalgic and thoughtful conversation to end the year,

Hosted by Fiona, Darsh & Luke

Produced by Fiona Kelly & Darsh Ayton

Show runner Darsh Ayton

Original music created and performed by Luke Champion

Social media content created by Darsh Ayton & Fiona Kelly

In this episode, we explore how Gen X, Gen Y and Gen Z each build their sense of community and how those communities shift as we move through different life stages.

From neighbourhood friendships and university groups, to workplace tribes, online communities and chosen families, we unpack what "finding your people" looks like today.

We also ask: what keeps us connected, and what makes us drift apart?

Hosted by Fiona, Darsh & Luke

Produced by Fiona Kelly & Darsh Ayton

Show runner Darsh Ayton

Original music created and performed by Luke Champion

Social media content created by Darsh Ayton & Fiona Kelly

In this episode Gen Z Luke and Gen X Fiona dive deep into a very modern question: What is your algorithm showing you right now and what?

From TikTok rabbit holes to YouTube recommendations and Facebook, they explore how their feeds look completely different, built from different cultures, interests, and online behaviours.

Do they curate their content or is the algorithm doing all the curating for them? What does the algorithm say about who you are? Is your algorithm expanding your world or narrowing it?

Hosted by Luke & Fiona

Produced by Fiona Kelly & Darsh Ayton

Show runner Darsh Ayton

Original music created and performed by Luke Champion

Social media content created by Darsh Ayton & Fiona Kelly

Gen Z Luke is about to take his first big step into the workforce, whilst Gen X Fiona vividly remembers what that moment felt like decades earlier. In this episode the two compare their expectations, fears and dreams as they stand on opposite ends of the career starting line.

From first job fears to modern career hopes, they explore what each generation wants from work and what has stayed the same.

Fiona shares advice, Luke shares fresh perspectives, and together they uncover the generational gap (and the unexpected bridges).

Hosted by Luke & Fiona

Produced by Fiona Kelly & Darsh Ayton

Show runner Darsh Ayton

Original music created and performed by Luke Champion

Social media content created by Darsh Ayton & Fiona Kelly

It's Halloween in a couple of days, and on this week's episode Fiona and Darsh share memories of the first time they watched a horror movie and the unforgettable mix of fear, nightmares and fascination that came with it.

From VHS rentals and sleepovers gone wrong, too hiding behind hands and fingers in their ears, they relive the movies that scared them silly and the ones that turned them into lifelong avoiders (or fans).

Does the horror genre have a place in their adult lives through movies, books or true crime podcasts? Some scares just seem to stick with you forever.

Hosted by Darsh & Fiona

Produced by Fiona Kelly & Darsh Ayton

Show runner Darsh Ayton

Original music created and performed by Luke Champion

Social media content created by Darsh Ayton & Fiona Kelly