Me&Him Podcast

This interview is a real pleasure! 

John Tooby is an 8th dan Karate master and Hall of Famer who runs one of the biggest Karate dojo's in the Southern Hemisphere. 

John shares his story from homelessness, housing commissions and violence to making a better life for himself and those around him. 

Learn more about his dojo Toodokan: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-h8jZytkjLWDpKkws0bDptSsY8vjTuLz?usp=drive_link 

What’s on yo...

Dad and I interview Dave Robinson, a men's advocate and regional coordinator for www.themenstable.org.

This interview is inspiring in its honesty. We discuss the trials of life and coping after relationship breakdown. The search for meaning and purpose is real.

Dave is an inspiring example of the how to serve others and, in turn, connect with oneself. His viewpoints on religion and spirituality will give you pause to reflect on ...

I am so proud and excited to welcome my youngest son Cormac onto the show today. 

Cormac is aware we've been doing the podcast and he expressed interest in sharing his point of few as a Gen Z'er, which Dad and I thought was a great idea! 

What I didn't expect was how deep Cormac would go in terms of the harm he believes social media and the porn industry are doing to his generation. Upon reflection, Gen X (my generatio...

OMG this episode it so good! 

I introduce Dad to my mate, Mark Head. Mark is besties with our last episode's guest, Mike, which makes for a fun chat.

Mark also became a quadriplegic after a freak surfing accident damaged his spinal cord. His story of perseverance and grit to one day surf again is inspirational. 

I love this man's heart. His positive attitude and 'don't give up' attitude has seen him make great...

This episode is a real treat! 

My good friend, Mike Stanley Jones (or 'MSJ'), joins Me&Him in the virtual studio for a wonderful yarn. 

Mike is such a positive person, and he plays a connecting role in his close-knit community of Avalon Beach. He openly shares stories of the strong influence of his father in his life, his love of challenge/adventure and surprisingly - how he got to be teaching Pre Natal classes! 

Whether...

Dad was unable to join me this episode (don't worry, he's fine and will be back next episode) - so I'm driving solo! 

I had the great pleasure of interviewing a local legend, Benny Cudmore from Self Seen, a men's health not for profit outfit based here in Port Macquarie. 

Benny shared his incredible story, with me of how he overcame meth addiction and bankruptcy to rebuild himself and his family and restore his jo...

Dad and I loved chatting with Marcello Colosimo from Momento Hospitality. 

Marcello shares how he and his wife Jenny, approach raising boys. We cover topics such as setting a family code, developing gratitude in kids as well as balancing work + home + more. 

We had few sounds issues with this one but did our best. Hope you like 👍 

Check out the Momento Hospitality website www.momentohospitality.com.au 

More about the Making of men boo...

Welcome to part 2 of our wide-ranging conversation with Dr Kim Kilgariff. 

In this episode, Kim delves deeper into the foundational elements that drive good health and sustained happiness. Whether owing to nature, nurture - or society in general - men's poor communication skills can often leave them feeling isolated and alone. 

Kim unpacks a couple of more of his patented techniques to assist men to improving their communication...

This episode is a real treat!

Dad & I interview Dr Kim Kilgariff, a long-time friend, acupuncturist, Ayurvedic practitioner and owner of Clear Health Centre up in beautiful Byron Bay, Australia.

I first met Kim at a business conference. After the event we all crowded the bar and, while the rest of us were chugging beers, Kim ordered a hot water with fresh lemon. When I asked him why this drink, he said that he felt dehydrated and...

Dad and I are excited to welcome our very first guest onto the Me&Him podcast!

Tim Allen is someone I was connected with through an agency called Mentoring Men when I first uprooted myself from Sydney to move closer to my daughter in Port Macquarie.

Despite a 20-odd year age-gap, Tim stood for me as a mentor and soon became a good friend. He has a drive to help other men, understanding the vital role they play in families and com...

The Me&Him Podcast returns with a new brand-new season of father and son dialogue - this time with special guests!

Dad heads back to his homeland of NZ to attend a friend's funeral and ends up in hospital with a health issue and has no choice but to read about the wide and various challenges men face in a fast-changing world. Yes, he's finally got with the program!

We preview some of guest speakers that we'll be in...

A parent's passing is always a difficult time, but especially so when there has been dysfunction in the relationship and needs have remained unmet.

When my grandad (dad's father) died, he quietly asked the furnace attendant if he could slip downstairs to watch him burn. Macabre perhaps, but it's what he felt he needed to close-out this chapter of his life.

This episode also brings season one of the ...

In this episode, dad and I discuss how the pressures of parenthood and financial stresses are applied often resulting in break-ups and divorce.

We chat about how important a boys environment is to his development. Like a seed growing into a tree, it needs all the right elements to thrive 

What’s on your mind? Reach out!

If you'd like to follow us, we'd welcome the company!

Website: meandhimpodcast.com
...

After 10 episodes of the Me&Him podcast, we finally arrive at the subject of becoming a new father - and how ill-equipped Dad and I both were for the task at hand!

We ponder why the survival skills of parenthood isn't taught more at school and why it's common for those with children to smile knowingly to those exuberant couples announcing they are soon to have a child (why spoil the moment?)

What’s on your min...

The narrative arc of dad life continues, this time dad gets insight from an elderly mentor who changed the course of his life.

We also delve (wade?) into the topic of booze; its history, its impacts, and how it interfaces with male health.

Episode Links:

The History of Alcohol - A Timeline
Link to website

Alcohol Consumption in Australia 2022
Link to webpage

What’s on your mind? Reach out!

If you&apo...

We've been tracking Dad's story over the past 7 episodes and we're now finally up to the part when he met my mum. Young and in love - and desperate to escape their parents!

Spirituality warning! Dad and I discuss the late Ram Dass (a former Harvard professor, LSD explorer and later Hindu mystic), and the impact that he has had on both of our lives.

Episode links:

Ram Dass
Love Serve Rem...

Dad grew up in inner city Auckland and reflects back on when an old cemetery was relocated to make way for a new highway. It made him ponder the meaning of existence and led him to (apparently) overcome his fear of death. 

We reflect on what powers the male/human ago and our insignificance amongst the cosmos. 

Episodes Links: 

Songs: 
Cat Stevens - Father & Son
Mike & the Mechanics - the L...

My conversations with dad continue with focus on the significant woman in his early years, his mother Jenny. I wondered how much his relationship with his mother shaped his future choice in partners. 

I also recount my continuous run of girlfriends from the age of six through to eventually marrying at twenty-four years old and reflect on how I used the comfort of females to deal with my own challenging childhood circumstan...

There is definitely a lot of gasbagging in this episode so apologies in advance!

I tell dad about what it's like working for local government and then we move onto animals and the role they play as a gateway for love in our lives.

Dad also shares his firm views on how to handle men who abuse women, based at least partly on the abuse he saw perpetrated on his mother at the hands of his father.

Link t...