Two ex-special operations guys armed with MBAs seek out people leading lives less ordinary, in order to find out how they fill their ‘unforgiving minutes’, and what helps them go, always, a little further. Like intellectual bowerbirds, we collect shiny little objects of knowledge that will help build better humans. Co-hosted by Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis.
Episodes
Thursday Mar 04, 2021
Thursday Mar 04, 2021
Nick Hudson has the world’s coolest job title – Chief of Push-ups. As the originator and driving force behind the Push-up Challenge, Nick has raised millions of dollars in just a few short years to assist research and support into depression. The genesis of this amazing endeavour comes from Nick’s own experience, both through his family and his personal exposure to mental health challenges, brought on in part as a result of undergoing open heart surgery. In this episode, Nick tells us his story and how he was able to harness his experiences to create the Push-up Challenge and develop it into what it has since become. Along the way, we learn a little more about depression, a lot more about the Ross Procedure, and we even find out Tim’s perfect job title!
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[Trigger warning- we discuss depression and mental health in this episode]
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Intelligence Summary (INTSUM)
04:00 Nick’s excellent job title…
04:25 …and what Tim’s job title should be
05:00 Nick’s background and what got him to the point where he decided to do push-ups and raise money for charity – including open heart surgery at the age of four
05:40 Nick’s first encounters with depression
10:00 What is depression? (Hint: it’s not just about ‘being sad’)
15:10 Why is there such a stigma associated with depression and mental illness?
19:50 One technique to broach the subject with a friend who you think might be experiencing depression – the ‘accidental chat’
21:45 So – how can push-ups help?!
22:00 The benefits of ‘relentlessly competitive mates’
24:00 A $200 app – the start of the Push-up Challenge platform
26:45 2018 – 1 million push-ups completed, and $50,000 raised!
28:00 ..and then – a personal health scare
32:00 The terrifying diagnosis. And the second opinion. And the third opinion (Hint: the diagnosis didn’t get better!)
33:30 Slipping into depression
34:30 What does depression feel like?
36:45 You know you’ve hit rock bottom when even The Bachelor doesn’t bring you joy!
38:15 How Nick realised that he was suffering from depression
39:20 What was worse – open heart surgery or depression?!
40:45 The Ross Procedure – amazing
41:45 Tim learns that the ‘Iron Man’ nuclear heart replacement option isn’t a real thing
51:30 Recovery – and taking the Push-up Challenge to the next level
52:35 2019 – almost 50,000 participants and $2.5m raised!
53:45 The Push-up Challenge target concepts explained
55:15 2020 - $5.1m raised! And the impacts (positive and negative) of COVID on the challenge
57:30 The 2021 Challenge – 3,318 push-ups – one for every person who died by suicide in Australia in 2019
58:00 How to participate in the challenge – individually, as a team – and you don’t even have to do push-ups!
1:00:00 Nick’s plans and goals for the Challenge in 2021
1:01:30 How you can find out more and participate in the 2021 Push-up Challenge
External Links
- The Push-Up Challenge
- If you need help in this area, some great resources (within Australia) include Beyond Blue, Lifeline, Kids Helpline and Crime Stoppers
Music
The Externals – available on Spotify
Atlas Chasers – available on Spotify
Mitchell Martin- available on Spotify