Uncomfortable is OK Podcast

UIOK 316: Dave Wood, pushing back against stress

Dave Wood 

UIOK 315: Improving our collective intelligence with Ian Harvey

UIOK 314: Getting strategic about your resolutions for 2023 with James Brummer-Taylor

Happy 2023 Expert business consultant, venture capitalist and my good mate James Brummer-Taylor joins the podcast for the first episode of 2023. It's that time of year when a lot of us are thinking about making change in our lives. We often do it at this time of year. And research shows us that usually those changes don't tend to stick around longer than a couple of weeks. James and I have a conversation about getting strategic about the changes we want to make, so that 1- they stick, a...

UIOK 313: James Clear re-release

Hey everyone - I have Covid so no new episode this week   BUT we do have a fantastic past episode for you fro back in 2018. It's with the author of "Atomic Habits", James Clear.   James's work has had a big influence on how I shape my behaviour, and with the work I do with my clients.   It's a great refresher coming into the new year and thinking about change.

UIOK 312: Playing the change game

The end of the year is fast approaching, as is the time we start thinking about the changes we want to make in 2023.   Change is hard, so once you've figured out the changes you'd like to make, here are some idea to help make them stick.

UIOK 311: Jennifer Young, learning and unlearning

UIOK 310: Brad Dixon, building holistic humans

Brad Dixon, holistic physio, author, and expansive wellness practitioner joins the podcast.   Our conversation centres on the concept of expansive wellness. How we can adopt health practices that are not only good for ourselves but good for our communities, the environments we live in, and the world at large. And they're not as hard to do as you might think.   We talk through Brad's journey to this point, how he has expanded his view of health and wellbeing and get stuck into some strate...

UIOK 309: Dr Kris Lee, worth the risk

Author and behavioural science expert Dr Kris Lee joins the podcast to talk about micro-dosing bravery and the importance of taking strategic risks and building sustainable resilience.   We talk in depth about What resilience is - not just the "ability to bounce back" The adaptability of the human brain and all our human systems Partying at university Keg-stand bravery and how to avoid it Dealing with insecurity Cultivating sustainable meaning The stigma of mental health A universa...

UIOK 308: Richard Bowles, embrace the dark side

Richard Bowles joins the podcast today. Richard is a multi world record adventurer and founder of Adventure Alchemy which is dedicated to helpingleaders lean into the challenges of the modern world.   Richard takes perverse joy in doing the things he doesn't like, watching his reactions in real time, and synthesising that information into practical learnings for others.   Today we talk about - The importance of doing things you don't like - Why you shouldn't rely on positive emotions ...

UIOK 307: Performance self-compassion

UIOK 306: Kane Brisco, tools from the top paddock

Kane Brisco farmer, father, partner, authour of "Tools from the top paddock", and founder of FarmFit joins the podcast. Kane is a dude from the 'Naki just trying to inspire others to be better. He is open and real, and has conversations about lots of important stuff that most of us keep hidden. His ability to do this comes firstly from his lived experience of pain and trauma, as well as the self-awareness he has developed and the skillset he has learnt to process and grow from these experie...

UIOK 305: Ant Williams, a deep dive into discomfort

Ant Williams, world record freediver, leadership expert, keynote speaker joins the podcast.  Ant worked as a Sport Psychologist coaching big wave surfers, motoGP riders, rock climbers and other risk takers on how to break through mental barriers when he realised, according to him, he was a fraud. He hadn’t done anything risky in his life. He wanted to know if anyone could learn how to become a risk taker. So, Ant decided to take up freediving and learn firsthand how to perform under pressur...

UIOK 304: Portia Bing, you're never too cool to try

Portia Bing, counter fraud advisor and international track and field athlete joins the podcast.   Our conversation explores the complexities of life, of performance, leadership, identity and personal growth with the lens of sportplaced over the top.   We chat through - Experimentation and refining processes - Watching for gaps that you can leverage or develop your skillset - The power of eliminating options - The joy of improving when you're a beginner - The value of having multiple...

UIOK 303: MY Health Plan

Recently I put together a short e-book helping people to craft an individualised health plan.   This episode is the audio version of the book plus occasional off script commentary around part of the topic   This episode is proudly brought to you be www.healthmentors.nz

UIOK 302: Belinda Morgan, solving the part time puzzle

What does the future of work look like? How does it look for organisations? How does it look for you and me? They way we work is evolving and at times it's butting up against a lot of the social constructs we've previously held tight about what work is. Belinda Morgan, flexible work expert and author of "Solving the part time puzzle" joins the podcast to help us make sense of this change and how it benefits us as individuals, as well as organisations. Bel brings her expertise to the conve...

UIOK 301: Callum McKirdy, thinking different about thinking different

Callum McKirdy joins us un the podcast. Callum is all about amplifying the power of ADHD+ minds. He is a speaker, author, facilitator host of the "You, Me and ADHD podcast" and author of the the upcoming book "Tilt: thinking differently about thinking differently" This is a conversation about understanding ourselves, and our superpowers and wading through the internal messiness as we do it. We chat through - Watching and understanding people - Watching and understanding ourselves - The ...

UIOK 300: James Brummer-Taylor, the business of high performance

Wahoo 300 episode's not out   In this special episode I'm joined by James Brummer-Taylor. International business consultant, Venture Capitalist, entreprenuer, and best man at my wedding.   James has spent over a decade inside a multitude of companies helping them to perform better across all aspects of their business. He has seen the themes that drive high performance, and also the things that don't work so well.   More recently James has left his decade long comfort zone in operationa...

UIOK 299: Luke McFarlane Kiwi Dude's talking mental health

This week on the podcast I'm joined by an old High School mate, Luke McFarlane. Luke and a couple of his mates have set up The Lighthouse Project Charitable Trust which aims to raise money for local legends doing their bit to improve men's mental health here in New Zealand. Earlier this year, Luke and his mates road tripped 6000km around New Zealand in 12 days stopping at 24 prominent Kiwi lighthouses along the way, and catching up with local legends striving to improve wellbeing in their ...

UIOK 298: Responding to pressure - transcending the crisis interview with Si Alhir

This episode flips the usual switch and I'm interviewed by Si Alhir. Our conversation was recorded back in early 2020 as Covid was ramping up for an event si organised called "Transcending the Crisis" Our conversation is all about pressure, it's effect on us, and how we can respond. We talk through - How we can become overloaded by pressure without even noticing - The relationship between pressure and performance - The importance of self-awareness and some practical tips - Lots of exe...

UIOK 297: Chase Hughes influencing behaviour

In this episode we're joined by Chase Hughes Chase Hughes is a leading behavior expert in the United States and the #1 bestselling author of two books on tactical behavior skills. He is the author of the worldwide #1 bestselling book on advanced persuasion, influence and behavior profiling. ​ Chase teaches elite groups, government agencies and police in behavior science skills including behavior profiling, nonverbal analysis, deception detection, interrogation, and advanced...

UIOK 297: Chase Hughes influencing behaviour

In this episode we're joined by Chase Hughes Chase Hughes is a leading behavior expert in the United States and the #1 bestselling author of two books on tactical behavior skills. He is the author of the worldwide #1 bestselling book on advanced persuasion, influence and behavior profiling. ​ Chase teaches elite groups, government agencies and police in behavior science skills including behavior profiling, nonverbal analysis, deception detection, interrogation, and advanced behavioral inves...

UIOK 296: 5 ways to live more positively with Dr David Keane

Dr David Keane, Founder and CEO at The 10 Behaviours of Successful People joins us for a conversation around increasing positivity and meaning in our lives. This conversation was originally recorded in 2020 at the kick off of Covid, so contextually we're having this dicussion with all that was going on at the time, AND the points David discusses with us are as valuable today as they were then. We talk about - How we define success for ourselves, and the impact it has on h...

UIOK 296: 5 ways to live more positively with Dr David Keane

Dr David Keane, Founder and CEO at The 10 Behaviours of Successful People joins us for a conversation around increasing positivity and meaning in our lives. This conversation was originally recorded in 2020 at the kick off of Covid, so contextually we're having this dicussion with all that was going on at the time, AND the points David discusses with us are as valuable today as they were then. We talk about - How we define success for ourselves, and the impact it has on how we live our li...

UIOK 295: Welcome Back

It's been a little over two years since the last episode of Uncomfortable is OK went to air. Today it's officially back!   Apologies for the abrupt finish. Hopefully this episode helps to clear some of that up for those of you who are still listening.   Today Chris will talk through - What was going on two years ago - What's been happening since - Why Uncomfotable is OK is back - What it's going to look like going forward   Email Chris with questions or discussion ...

UIOK 295: Welcome Back

It's been a little over two years since the last episode of Uncomfortable is OK went to air. Today it's officially back!   Apologies for the abrupt finish. Hopefully this episode helps to clear some of that up for those of you who are still listening.   Today Chris will talk through - What was going on two years ago - What's been happening since - Why Uncomfotable is OK is back - What it's going to look like going forward   Email Chris with questions or discussion topics for the sh...

294: I'm in

Thomas Maharaj returns to the podcast for Round two. We catch up with what Tommie has been up to in the last few years and his exciting new project "I'm in" We chat through the challenges he is facing, what scares him the most, why he is doing it, and what is the hope that keeps him going.

294: I'm in

Thomas Maharaj returns to the podcast for Round two. We catch up with what Tommie has been up to in the last few years and his exciting new project "I'm in" We chat through the challenges he is facing, what scares him the most, why he is doing it, and what is the hope that keeps him going.

UIOK 293: Yeah I'm fine just .....

Tom Ahern returns to the podcast for our annual-ish chat. It doesn't disappoint We talk through - Tommy's books - fatherhood - self identity - dealing with overwhelm - Tools for managing our mental state - Dogs - Finding wonder in the world - self development - learning - and getting uncomfortable

UIOK 293: Yeah I'm fine just .....

Tom Ahern returns to the podcast for our annual-ish chat. It doesn't disappoint We talk through - Tommy's books - fatherhood - self identity - dealing with overwhelm - Tools for managing our mental state - Dogs - Finding wonder in the world - self development - learning - and getting uncomfortable

UIOK 292: Put on your raincoat and head towards the storm

JP Tocker joins us on the show today to chat through - getting started - going against what others think - the difficulty of getting over that first hump - dealing with FOMO - the power of perspective and mindset - and of course, getting UNCOMFORTABLE This one has been on the cards for a while and very happy to get it finally up and going. JP's broadcasting and podcasting skillset comes through at times when he turns the tables and starts asking me questions Show notes: A formative...

UIOK 292: Put on your raincoat and head towards the storm

JP Tocker joins us on the show today to chat through - getting started - going against what others think - the difficulty of getting over that first hump - dealing with FOMO - the power of perspective and mindset - and of course, getting UNCOMFORTABLE This one has been on the cards for a while and very happy to get it finally up and going. JP's broadcasting and podcasting skillset comes through at times when he turns the tables and starts asking me questions Show no...

UIOK 291: Help yourself through adversity

UIOK 291: Help yourself through adversity

UIOK 290: Leading through challenge

This episode is something a little different. It's the first two episodes of a new show I'm putting out called "Leading through Challenge" If you want to up your leadership skill levels to better lead your team through adversity then this is the show for you. Subscribe on Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/leading-through-challenge/id1508020586?fbclid=iwar0zhxwo0vbs4iqwn7j6sw92gnrphkeu8jcmkkdwvp1e8sa2uu8sfklsk7w Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0raefZiV...

UIOK 290: Leading through challenge

This episode is something a little different. It's the first two episodes of a new show I'm putting out called "Leading through Challenge" If you want to up your leadership skill levels to better lead your team through adversity then this is the show for you. Subscribe on Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/leading-through-challenge/id1508020586?fbclid=iwar0zhxwo0vbs4iqwn7j6sw92gnrphkeu8jcmkkdwvp1e8sa2uu8sfklsk7w Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0raefZiVW0iJz2niG4otsq ...

UIOK 289: Strategic Discomfort  

  I came across Ollie a couple of months ago when he posted on LinkedIn about going bungee jumping, and the fact that he needed to do it because it scared him. We have a great chat today about what strategic discomfort gives Ollie. How he chooses uncomfortable activities. How he shifts perspective. The duality of life, and much more.   Show notes: A formative experience The moment of realization that, there is something wrong An interesting way of looking at perceptions How to ...

UIOK 289: Strategic Discomfort  

  I came across Ollie a couple of months ago when he posted on LinkedIn about going bungee jumping, and the fact that he needed to do it because it scared him. We have a great chat today about what strategic discomfort gives Ollie. How he chooses uncomfortable activities. How he shifts perspective. The duality of life, and much more.   Show notes: A formative experience The moment of realization that, there is something wrong An interesting way of looking at perc...

UIOK 288: Mentally healthy workplaces

Today I'm chatting with Grant Pritchard, an in-house lawyer, technology enthusiast and workplace mental health advocate at Spark -- New Zealand's leading telecommunications, media, and digital services company. He leads Spark's thriving workplace mental health community and is working to inspire other Kiwi organizations to take a fresh look at how they do mental health at work. We chat through mental health, how your workplace plays its part, Grant's path towards passionate advocacy, the...

UIOK 288: Mentally healthy workplaces

Today I'm chatting with Grant Pritchard, an in-house lawyer, technology enthusiast and workplace mental health advocate at Spark -- New Zealand's leading telecommunications, media, and digital services company. He leads Spark's thriving workplace mental health community and is working to inspire other Kiwi organizations to take a fresh look at how they do mental health at work. We chat through mental health, how your workplace plays its part, Grant's path towards passion...

UIOK 287: The opportunity-centric mindset

One of my favorites, Cam Calkoen returns to the podcast to chat inspiration, motivation, dreaming big, being hopeful, and dealing with adversity. We recorded this prior to lockdown, but the messages are ones that we all need to hear at the moment.

UIOK 287: The opportunity-centric mindset

One of my favorites, Cam Calkoen returns to the podcast to chat inspiration, motivation, dreaming big, being hopeful, and dealing with adversity. We recorded this prior to lockdown, but the messages are ones that we all need to hear at the moment.

UIOK 286: Crazy Busy

Kerene Strochnetter is the Managing Director of Mindful at Work, a business hell-bent on making the M-words cool in the workplace - mindfulness and meditation. She’s also a sort after public speaker with a clear message is - if busy is the new stupid, then mindful is the new smart! Kerene wants to get the message out: that mindfulness isn’t just limited to meditating but includes a set of robust well-researched practices, which when implemented, powerfully impact people’s lives and positi...

UIOK 286: Crazy Busy

Kerene Strochnetter is the Managing Director of Mindful at Work, a business hell-bent on making the M-words cool in the workplace - mindfulness and meditation. She’s also a sort after public speaker with a clear message is - if busy is the new stupid, then mindful is the new smart! Kerene wants to get the message out: that mindfulness isn’t just limited to meditating but includes a set of robust well-researched practices, which when implemented, powerfully impact people’s...

UIOK 285: Tomorrow's mindful leaders

Jase Te Patu returns to the podcast. Jase is an award-winning facilitator with more than 25 years of experience in the health and wellness sector. He is co-owner of Awhi Yoga and Wellbeing, a teacher trainer, facilitator, keynote speaker and creator of M3. Jase’s students include the All Blacks, the Hurricanes, the Pulse, the NZ School of Dance contemporary students and many more high-performance athletes. This conversation covers challenges, self-awareness, and identity, ...

UIOK 285: Tomorrow's mindful leaders

Jase Te Patu returns to the podcast. Jase is an award-winning facilitator with more than 25 years of experience in the health and wellness sector. He is co-owner of Awhi Yoga and Wellbeing, a teacher trainer, facilitator, keynote speaker and creator of M3. Jase’s students include the All Blacks, the Hurricanes, the Pulse, the NZ School of Dance contemporary students and many more high-performance athletes. This conversation covers challenges, self-awareness, and identity, human potential, ...

UIOK 284: Mindfully Kicking Ass

Today I'm joined by Annaliese Arnold. Mum, business owner, mindfulness teacher, who is aiming to live a kick-ass life and help others to do the same We chat about starting something hard, being mindful, following your curiosity, keeping going when things get tough, and of course getting UNCOMFORTABLE

UIOK 284: Mindfully Kicking Ass

Today I'm joined by Annaliese Arnold. Mum, business owner, mindfulness teacher, who is aiming to live a kick-ass life and help others to do the same We chat about starting something hard, being mindful, following your curiosity, keeping going when things get tough, and of course getting UNCOMFORTABLE

UIOK 283: Lisa Tamati is Relentless

Lisa Tamati is an ultra runner who has pushed her body and mind to its limits. She has run ultra races in all corners of the world and has raced over 70,000 km. She returns to the Uncomfortable is OK podcast to talk about mental toughness, and to tell us about the toughest challenge she has faced so far. Links: lisatamati.com

UIOK 283: Lisa Tamati is Relentless

Lisa Tamati is an ultra runner who has pushed her body and mind to its limits. She has run ultra races in all corners of the world and has raced over 70,000 km. She returns to the Uncomfortable is OK podcast to talk about mental toughness, and to tell us about the toughest challenge she has faced so far. Links: lisatamati.com

UIOK 282: Pulling the curtain back

Two recent podcast favorites, Gareth Edwards and Paul Watkins return to record an episode together. These two dudes push the boundaries regularly and consistently get uncomfortable. Today we explore the idea of what it looks like when we decide to take the uncomfortable path and what we didn't realise we were missing out on until we did.