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 Aug 22, 2019
Thursday Aug 22, 2019
Chris Collard is a world champion indigenous kickboxer and professional fighter. But it has not been an easy path. Chris spent his early years in and out of the juvenile justice system. Chris ‘celebrated’ his 18th birthday in prison BUT five years later he won his world title fight.
This is a story of inspiration- from a broken home to a happy home. A man wanting only to encourage belief in those who feel there is none.
Chris has over 70 professional fights across kickboxing, Muay Thai and pro boxing. He is also a three times Victorian middleweight boxing championship
And he’s also a bricklayer! Chris talks also about how being a brickie has been great for his fighting career.
With no role models and coming from a broken family this is also a story of tenacity and hard work. On how to turn your life around. It is a heart-warming interview with a man who now only wants to inspire and mentor those who may have started life like him….
“Fighting is like a game of physical chess. The best man with the best moves’ wins” – Chris
Breathing and mindfulness? No.
On visualizing the fight? No.
Pre-match rituals? No.
Footnote: Ben also got in the ring with Chris. He got punched a lot .… Ben that is! Marc Wohling (in Episode 23) talks about this fight, and describes Ben as looking like he was working out a puzzle.
Intelligence Summary (INTSUM)
- 4:00. How, where and why it started.
- 4:50. Chris’s recollection of his first ever fight in the ring.
- 5:25. Chris’s tough upbringing.
- 8:30. Chris’s professional record.
- 12:30. That world title fight!
- ‘He planted him like a tree!’ … Footage of that fight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-3VDWhtL_8
- 16:40. That feeling of winning a world title
- 18:50. How to work through pain.
- 27:10. Chris’s next MMA fight.
- 29:40. Being a role model.
- 32:45. About being a bricklayer.. and the benefits!
- 34:10. On fear, nerves and fighting.
- 35:40. On breathing and mindfulness, visualizing the fight and pre-match rituals
- 36:05. The Steve Dale fight… and Chris wearing silver sunnies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CpW7qxhEoQ
- 41:40. A Hypothetical Fight with Danny Green.
- 42:20. A Hypothetical fight with Anthony Mundine.
- 43:20. Chris’s toughest fight.
- 43:35. Chris’s shortest fight.
- 44:10. The one must do training exercise for boxers.
- 47:10. Home life now in comparison to Chris’s upbringing.
Music by The Externals: Song is Seven Brothers from the Album Bushranger Rock .... available on Spotify.
- Hear our interview with The Externals on Episode 16.
Thursday Aug 08, 2019
Thursday Aug 08, 2019
In this episode we head into the depths of a Kenyan slum with Susan Saleeba. Susan is one of the most selfless people we have come across. She gave up her lifestyle to start Nakuru Hope's Orphanage in the slums of Kaptembwa, Nakuru, Kenya. She now has integrated an orphanage, school and farm to bring education, hope and a life to hundreds of kids…. who previously were literally living on piles of rubbish.
She left behind her idyllic lifestyle in Australia to pursue her purpose - or what our previous guest Greg Wallace has called – ‘following your bliss’.
This is an amazing story. Of joy and frustration and sadness. Of loss but also gain.
Life I feel tends to move quickly the older I get, or is it that I endeavour to pack so much in, as there is still so much to do?- Susan
And boys- Susan is single!!!!
Get involved in this great cause. Make a difference.
Music as always by.... The Externals.
Monday Aug 05, 2019
Monday Aug 05, 2019
There's plenty in this RV. Ben and Tim reflect on the episodes with Phil HSC and Sans Tattoo; as well as hearing from Phil HSC on Sans Tattoo! Then musings on the Cynefin framework and why hindsight isn't as great as people think it is!!
We then detour to LAX and meet Ben and Tim in the lounge discussing their trip to Alaska and Alaskan real estate deals!
Then what was taught in recent junior leadership workshops. Plus what about emotional contagion, imposter syndrome, Tim's thinking on micro leadership ..... and much more.
* Our question posed to all is: "What would you do today, if you knew you couldn't fail?"
* Who reads show notes anyway!?!?
As always Music from The Externals.
Thursday Aug 01, 2019
Thursday Aug 01, 2019
This episode is a fire side chat. Literally! Marc Wohling discovered surfing, music and martial arts early in life. These three things gave him a pattern for life; but also a structure for loss. Working in remote communities and with underprivileged youth, Marc has been using techniques drawn from surfing, music and martial arts to teach, coach and mentor.
And Messr Sans Tattoo joins our chat by the fire.
In this episode we discuss Marc’s eclectic background and adventures. From West Timor, to the red dust of outback Australian aboriginal communities through to the best guitar rifts and then into the boxing ring. This is another great yarn.
And we conclude with a song from Marc’s band Handsome Frank ….
Intelligence Summary (INTSUM)
- 9:23 - Cats in the Cradle, Harry Chapin lyrics-https://genius.com/Harry-chapin-cats-in-the-cradle-lyrics
- 13:00- Victorian College of the Arts. https://finearts-music.unimelb.edu.au/about-us/vca
- 17:06- John Coltrane, My Favourite Things: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWG2dsXV5HI
- 19:30- Tragedy in West Timor
- 22:25- Coping with trauma and tragedy of a child’s death
- 25:45- Using breathing techniques to regulate stress and anxiety
- 28:05- Into the Australian outback!!!
- 37:05- On positive role models
- 40:30- Chris Collard breaks Ben’s ribs. About Chris: https://www.deadlyvibe.com.au/2007/11/chris-collard/
- 49:30- On Movement! (and the Blog)
- 52:50- Do you believe in luck?
- 56:15- Quick Questions/ Quick Answers
- 1:00:15- Marc’s Recommended Book: https://www.booktopia.com.au/what-i-talk-about-when-i-talk-about-running-haruki-murakami/prod9780099526155.html?source=pla&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIt7mH2_be4wIVg4BwCh2QaA5mEAQYASABEgL1V_D_BwE
Website & Contact
Marc’s Blog: https://movementisastory.com
Music by Handsome Frank (‘On Me’)
Wednesday Jul 17, 2019
Wednesday Jul 17, 2019
From bouncer to the boardroom. ‘Sans Tattoo’ is an ex-soldier and former bouncer who designed the fighting system that was taught to Nelson Mandela’s personal bodyguard.
But that’s the short version of a longer story.
In order to get there Sans dealt with months of rejection. He was out of money, but not out of belief, when he seized on one small opportunity. His fighting system has been used by many police and military units including the US FBI and 22 SAS (UK).
This interview is full of philosophical goodness. San’s recounts his interactions with President Mandela, and how he uses his knowledge, skills and experiences as a bouncer in his current career as a highly regarded professional speaker.
And unlike a lot of ex-Bouncers, Sans has studied post-graduate law and taught conflict resolution strategies to executives on five continents. Sans has shared the speaking stage with major identities that include former Australian Prime Minister John Howard, Olympic Gold Medallist Lauren Burns, and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.
Sans blends humour, hard facts and practical tools anyone can apply to reduce conflict and build trust. He also shares his resilience model with us that provides a toolkit on how to deal with the everyday stressors that we all confront in the ‘age of outrage’.
‘The common thread of successful people is discipline’- Sans Tattoo
Intelligence Summary (INTSUM)
- 2:30- Which is more difficult- being on a nightclub door or speaking to a corporate audience ?
- 4:05- Sans’ endearing memories of Africa
- 7:11- Dealing with rejection… and overcoming it
- 10:12- ‘Entrepreneur’ by another name (in 1994)
- 14:20- Being receptive to ritual dissent
- 16:30- An anecdote about Nelson Mandela
- The story more formally: https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/mar/28/theobserver2
- 19:05- San’s first meeting with Nelson Mandela
- 7 things you don’t know about Nelson Mandela (via BBC): https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-22006386
- 21:50- Nelson Mandela’s advice on what a child owes a parent
- 23:45- On stoicism
- 28:10- Using combat techniques to deal with fear
- 30:45- Sans outlines his ritual recitation before each keynote
- The Man from Snowy River (Full Version): https://www.poetrylibrary.edu.au/poets/paterson-a-b-banjo/the-man-from-snowy-river-0001004
- 32:20- The importance of narrative and storytelling for leaders.
- 34:26- Aesops Fable on video for kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFv0qs60KQ4
- 35:55- What are the secrets to communicating a good message?
- 41:10- Education v Entertainment… which do you need?
- 45:10- The evolution of the human species into a goldfish (our decreasing attention span)
- Time Magazine Article on Attention Span: https://time.com/3858309/attention-spans-goldfish/
- 49:05- The Goldfish Series of Questions (Quick Questions/ Quick Answers)
- 51:45- San’s Resilience Model (….. get your pens out!)
- Mind
- Body
- Social
- Global
- 1:00:20- Is Sans Tattoo really Sans Tattoo?
Website & Contact
www.sanstattoo.com.au
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sans-tattoo-17a778187/
Music by The Externals available on Spotify
Thursday Jul 04, 2019
Thursday Jul 04, 2019
This episode is for anyone who dreams big …. And then wants to build that dream from scratch. It’s for anyone wanting to tenaciously solve a problem. This episode is for entrepreneurs and start-ups ….. and anyone working in a café wearing a hoodie!
Phil Hayes- St Clair (HSC) is a career entrepreneur. With a shortened first career in the military, Phil has made his career turning kitchen table ideas into reality. Mentoring dozens or entrepreneurs himself, Phil also teaches entrepreneurship to MBA candidates at Australia’s leading business school, the Australian Graduate School of Management at UNSW.
With a Bachelor of Science (Microbiology) from QUT and an MBA from AGSM, today Phil is CEO & Co-Founder of DROP Bio, a direct-to-consumer biotechnology venture. He is a Member of the Board of Directors at Sangui Bio and an Advisor at the BlueChilli HealthTech Accelerator for Southeast Asia.
Here's to start-ups! And here's how!
Seize your moment. Latch onto that chance!
Fill your Unforgiving Minute!
Intelligence Summary (INTSUM)
- 02:45: The Early Years – Phil at Ben go to School.
- 05:15: How Tim gets amused.
- 08:15: How and why Phil got started as an entrepreneur … and why he didn’t give up when he failed the first time.
- 11:00: About failing and moving on.
- 15:15: The #Entrepreneur hashtag… isn’t it just #SmallBusiness?
- 16:35: What you need to start! And scaling.
- 19:30: What the motivation and enticement for being an entrepreneur?
- 21:35: The critical importance on wanting to solve big problems.
- 24:59: Why failure is necessary.
- 28:00: Enticing capital into your start-up
- 30:21: What new industries, sector or disciplines are investors looking to?
- 31:45: Venture capital in the US versus Australia
- 35:15: Making good entrepreneurs and celebrating successes (even if small)
- 40:20: Phil tests Ben and Tim on their entrepreneurial skills inside the Unforgiving60 podcast:
- Have you set yourselves up to learn quickly?
- How would you rate yourselves on marketing and distribution?
- Have you built a community around the U60 podcast brand?
- 47:40: Tim (and Ben) throw down the challenge to Hamish and Andy!
- 48:19: Having fun! ‘Humour is a free circuit breaker’- Phil HSC
- 52:15: Quick Questions/ Quick Answers to Phil
- What do you do for fun?
- What’s your definition of success?
- Definition of happiness?
- Any sources of inspiration?
- How does one become mentored by Phil HSC?
- Why are you running in a weight vest?
- What sort of writing does Phil do?
- How can I give a shout out of encouragement to someone?
- 57:45: Wider ramblings and other nonsense
- What it’s like to meet Tim (from Ben)
- The challenge (redux)
Website & Blog
https://philhsc.com
Podcast: Founder to Founder
Music by The Externals
** Opening Comments the Podcast by Lucy (age 13)
Friday Jun 28, 2019
Friday Jun 28, 2019
Welcome to RV8!
Reflections on Jess Dane, 'Motorsports IS for Girls' .... and about authentic leadership as it trades off to the 'theatre of leadership'.
Greg Wallace, building 'More than Just a Surfboard'. Generosity of spirit and energy.
Then Ben's reflection on his favourite guest- himself! .... As he is interviewed by Andrew Leigh, MP.
And Tim begs forgiveness in using the audio of Ben's band playing on operations. Wider reflections on music and Ben recording a song in the bathroom of one of Saddam Hussein's palaces in Iraq.
Lastly, some discussions on art and therapy.
Reference:
* Music by The Externals.
Thursday Jun 20, 2019
Thursday Jun 20, 2019
This episode is a reciprocal interview where Ben is interviewed by Andrew Leigh, MP on his podcast The Good Life. You will will remember Andrew from our episode: 'The Tale of Two Andrews'.
Ben talks with Andrew about entering the Army, SAS Selection Course and broader life in the Unit as well as fitness and a slice of business. And of course, why specialisation is for insects. Also some beautiful reflections by Ben on what is important in life.
AND! In some Bonus Material: Tim also shares some audio from the battlefields of the Middle East that is relevant to Ben. Listen until the end of the episode.
Friday Jun 14, 2019
Friday Jun 14, 2019
How do you know when you are at your very lowest? Well, Greg Wallace has probably been lower. As a troubled youth, he realised that his journey was full of evil energy which would likely lead him either to jail ….. or death.
Greg tells us the story of how he rebuilt himself with purpose from this point. And how he committed to be the best person that he could be. Greg discovered his passion was building surfboards. But not any surfboard ..... wooden surfboards- that perform better in the water than their fibreglass alternatives. He also realised that in teaching people to make surfboards he could apply philosophies that he believed in and loved. But in turn, those people building boards with him, also realised that the surfboard was only a small part of the journey.
Incredibly well read, Greg also shares insights in life, balance and outlook. There is plenty of reflection.
There is no true happiness without struggle. And this episode certainly has that.
Intelligence Summary (INTSUM)
- 0:22- Point Break, The Movie: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_Break
- 9:19: Carlos Castaneda: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Castaneda
- 9:40: Castaneda said: “Death is the only wise advisor that we have. Whenever you feel, as you always do, that everything is going wrong and you're about to be annihilated, turn to your death and ask if that is so. Your death will tell you that you're wrong; that nothing really matters outside its touch. Your death will tell you, 'I haven't touched you yet.”―Journey to Ixtlan
- 13:55.
- Rudolph Steiner: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Steiner
- HP Blavastsky: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helena_Blavatsky
- Theosophy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theosophy_(Blavatskian)
- 17:20. The Leviathan (Greg’s first book read). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leviathan_(Hobbes_book)
- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/91953.Leviathan
- 18:00. Jonathan Livingston Seagull (book). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Livingston_Seagull
- 18:30. Alice A Bailey. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Bailey
- 32:30. Entrainment: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entrainment
- 32:35. Sympathetic Vibratory Resonance. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sympathetic_resonance
- 38:10. Paulownia Tormentosa (the wood): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulownia_tomentosa
- 52:00. The Bodhi Tree. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhi_Tree
- 52:30. Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who postpone their own salvation in order to help all sentient beings. Bodhisattvas are compassionate figures who help worshipers.
Bodhi Tree Surf: https://www.bodhitreesurf.com.au
Bodhi Tree Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bodhitreesurf/
Coming Soon: Connected By: www.connectedby.org
** As always music by ‘The Externals’, Birds of a Feather – The Externals music is available on Spotify.
*** Thanks to Drew for the connection to Greg. You had to prompt and prod us .... and we thank you for your persistence!
Friday Jun 07, 2019
Friday Jun 07, 2019
Jessica Danes is a force for women in Motor Sports. A granddaughter of one of the founding members of the British SAS and daughter of Roland Dane, Jess is forging her own career and ignoring all doubters and critics.
Her first foray into motorsports was working in the Triple Eight Race Engineering Team gear box shop as a sub-assembly mechanic! She was acutely aware that she was building the brakes that would need to make a V8 supercar stop on a dime. Enjoying being out of her comfort zone, Jess then moved into a marketing, media and PR role in the Red Bull Holden Racing Team/ Triple 8 Race Engineering. She talks how she managed negativity on social media.
Jess talks about the business of motorsports and her commercial role. The franchise, the team and its leadership. She gives fascinating insights into the role of drivers and other technical experts in the ‘team’s leadership’.
Jess talks about gender disparity - and why it exists in motor sports - and more broadly - and indeed what she says makes great practical sense. Parents and teachers take note!
Not being content with her current commercial role in Triple Eight she is also the Chairperson of the Australian Women in Motor Sport Commission, which has been designed to provide a voice for women in motorsport. And not being content with all that- Jess is also studying law!
An amazing human being- Jess is breaking all stereotypes and ignoring everything except high performance – Jess’s insights in this episode are inspiring. She coins a phrase when asked about her myriad of challenges- ‘I don’t think there was ever anything I thought I couldn’t do’.
And we will simply leave you with that!
Intelligence Summary (INTSUM)
About Red Bull Holden Racing: http://www.redbullholdenracing.com/team/
- From 08:20- About Jess’s Grandfathers:
- John Graham: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Graham_(British_Army_officer,_born_1923)
- And John Graham Interviewed by the Imperial War Museum: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80008134
- David Dane: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Dane
- 11:00- Operation Bulbasket by Paul McCue: https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-au/books/paul-mccue/sas-operation-bulbasket/GOR003586916?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI76PK5rfU4gIVQYqPCh22zACxEAQYASABEgI-V_D_BwE
- From 16:00- About Roland Dane (RD): http://www.redbullholdenracing.com/department/roland-dane/
- 19:25. Jess talks about the toilet wall of social media….
- 25:20. On women drivers and women in motorsports.
- 27: 10. Jess speaks about judging on ‘performance’.
- 30:58. Onto the business of motorsports and the V8 Supercar franchise.
- 33:30. Motorsports and TV and entertainment…. the future of media, vision and how motorsports fans want to be engaged.
- 35:50. The structure and vision of Triple Eight Race Engineering.
- 39:10. Leadership in the Red Bull Holden Racing Team. How to fuse drivers and garage functions with analysts and commercial ends.
- 41:50. On losing and learning.
- 43:20. How much do the drivers lead the team. Their influence.
- 46:00. Jess on gender relationships and gender disparity
- 48:00. Jess’ goals as Chair of the Australian Women in Motorsport Commission, and her views of how we realise greater inclusion.
- 51:16. On Fitness. About Ben’s professional Crossfit career. And Jess on the importance of staying fit.
- 53:25. Jess’s most liked and disliked Crossfit workouts.
- From 54:03. Jess on ‘IF’ and what books and poems she reaches for….
- Music by The Externals