Your brain was never designed for the modern world - and understanding that could transform how you manage stress, prevent burnout, and protect your mental health. In this episode I’m joined by Jodie Wilson -a respected health journalist and bestselling author of ‘A Brain That Breathes: Essential habits for an overwhelming world’. Jodi reveals the science behind why modern life is leaving us exhausted (and the surprising solution). She also draws on the latest neuroscience, biology, and her own journey through burnout. You’ll hear how our brains were never designed for today's endless stream of notifications, information, and constant productivity. Along with why rest isn't laziness, how small moments of downtime improve creativity and mental clarity, and why embracing "enoughness" may be one of the most important skills we can develop in today's overwhelming world. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why burnout has become an epidemic in modern life • How your brain processes stress, information overload, and decision fatigue • The surprising science behind "breathing space" and its impact on creativity • A simple walking trick that can rapidly improve mental clarity (try today) • How infinite scroll and digital overload are really affecting your brain • Is boredom important? Discover the surprising truth about being bored • Simple ways to regulate your nervous system throughout the day • Practical habits to reduce overwhelm and protect your mental health Key moments: 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:15 Backpedaling from burnout 00:05:15 The biology gap 00:10:15 “Infobesity” and clutter 00:14:35 Optimisation trap 00:17:55 The walking trick (try asap) 00:22:15 What season are you 00:26:15 Rest is subjective 00:32:55 Soft fascination 00:38:55 Enoughness 00:48:15 Benefits of reading - 👉About Jodi Wilson Jodi Wilson is a bestselling author, yoga teacher, and postpartum doula. Her work has been published in the Guardian and ABC, and she writes two weekly newsletters on Substack. She lives in Tasmania with her partner and their four children. Connect with Jodi: https://www.instagram.com/practisingsimplicity Check out Jodi’s best-selling book: https://geni.us/ABrainThatBreathes - 🟡Subscribe and follow along for more meaningful conversations with extraordinary people about living a boldly, connected, standout life. - 👉Here’s how we can stay in touch https://pragmaticthinking.com/ https://www.instagram.com/alihill/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/fromalihill/

Australia's first female commercial airline pilot was told she'd never get hired because she’s a woman. So she took the airline to the High Court and won. On this week's episode of the Stand Out Life podcast, Deborah Lawrie, author of Touching the Sky and the longest-flying female airline pilot in the world, sits down with me to share her story. You'll hear how she refuses to accept ‘no’ when Ansett Airlines continually rejected her pilot application. Her stubborn, sometimes naive fight became a landmark High Court discrimination case that cracked open commercial aviation for every female pilot who followed. She then went on to work for the very company she’s spent years in court fighting. Deborah's story is one of grit, equality, and backing yourself when no one else will. Tune in to hear about: Why stubbornness beats talent when the odds are stacked against you The moment at 16 that lights her up and never lets go What it really takes to earn a commercial pilot's licence The sneaky age trap Ansett used to stall female applicants The High Court case that changed Australian aviation forever The advice she gives every woman still waiting to be picked for something The wish flight that reminds her why she flies in the first place Tap play and hear how one woman rewrote the rulebook for an entire industry. Key moments: 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:50 The father who wanted to fly 00:07:10 Caught by the flying bug 00:10:10 The backup career plan 00:12:30 Commercial licence at 18 00:17:10 Air racing around the bay 00:19:50 Applying to the airlines 00:21:50 The 27 cutoff trap 00:23:50 Filing the discrimination case 00:27:10 Two wins in one day 00:35:30 Icing over the North Sea 00:39:50 The boy and the Ferrari 00:43:50 Advice for women who wait - 👉About Deborah Lawrie Deborah Lawrie AM was the subject of Australia's first contested equal opportunity anti-discrimination case. After more than a year of fighting Ansett Airlines, she won the landmark High Court battle in 1979, and became the first female airline pilot for a major Australian airline. Her accolades include induction into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2001, the Master Air Pilot award in 2017, and a place in the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame in 2022. In November 2023, Sydney Airport named a flyover in her honour. It sits directly over Sir Reginald Ansett Drive. - 👉Get your copy of Deborah Lawrie’s book https://harpercollins.com.au/products/9781460718599_touching-the-sky-the-extraordinary-story-of-an-australian-trailblazer-who-became-the-longest-flying-female-airline-pilot-in-the-world - 🟡Subscribe and follow along for more meaningful conversations with extraordinary people about living a boldly, connected, standout life. - 👉Here’s how we can stay in touch https://pragmaticthinking.com/ https://www.instagram.com/alihill/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/fromalihill/

Grief has no timeline, and despite what we might unconsciously believe, there isn’t a ‘right’ way to die. This life-affirming chat on death, dying, grief, and palliative care reveals why letting go of the ‘good death’ myth allows us to talk about the taboo topic of death and helps families face the end with less fear. Death and dying researcher Dr Hannah Gould joins me to unpack why grief does not follow a fixed path - and how a gentle awareness of mortality can help you live a richer, kinder life right now. Hannah shares key lessons that she’s recently collated in her book ‘How to die in the 21st century: A whole new way to talk about death’. This episode is for anyone grieving a loved one, caring for ageing parents, walking beside someone in hospice or palliative care, or curious about immortality. It’s also a simple, practical guide to death literacy, funeral planning, end-of-life wishes, and sharing the caregiving load (particularly carried by ‘The Eldest Daughter’) before a crisis hits. Tune in to discover: Why love, fear, and the unknown stop us from talking about death Why grief is something you learn to carry, not ‘get over’ How the myth of a ‘good death’ piles pressure on dying people and their families The difference between healthy death awareness and harmful death anxiety How thinking about mortality makes daily life more meaningful Simple ways to talk to your parents about ageing, dying and final wishes Why writing down your own end-of-life plan is a gift to your family Creative funeral ideas that honour the person who died Why humour is a normal, healing part of grief Key moments: 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:20 Why we avoid death 00:04:20 Hannah's path to death 00:13:20 The good death myth 00:16:20 Building a death muscle 00:19:40 Sunflowers on the bus 00:24:20 Women carry death 00:30:00 Starting hard conversations 00:40:40 Wills don't decide funerals 00:42:20 Mosh pits and footy goals 00:47:20 The impulse purchase trap 00:55:00 The standout life **Credit to Laura May Grogan for the photo of Hannah Gould used in this episode's artwork** - 👉About Hannah Gould Hannah Gould is a cultural anthropologist and Senior Lecturer in Buddhist Studies at the University of Melbourne, where she researches death, Buddhism, and material culture across Australia and North-East Asia. Alongside her academic work, she creates public programs that advocate for more equitable systems of deathcare for all. Author of her latest book ‘How to die in the 21st century’. - 👉Connect with Hannah Gould https://www.hannahgould.com/ - 👉Check out Hannah’s Book https://thamesandhudson.com.au/products/how-to-die-in-the-21st-century - 🟡Subscribe and follow along for more meaningful conversations with extraordinary people about living a boldly, connected, standout life. - 👉Here’s how we can stay in touch https://pragmaticthinking.com/ https://www.instagram.com/alihill/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/fromalihill/

You built a successful life, followed the rules, and did everything "right" - so why do you still feel disconnected from your true self? In this conversation with Kat John, we unpack authentic living, why we abandon ourselves to keep the peace, and how to stop performing for the approval of others. Kat wrote the book ‘Authentic’, runs the Zero F*cks Movement, and you'll feel every part of her story in your chest. You'll hear Kat's deeply personal journey through childhood trauma, six years of chronic pain, brain surgery at 23, and the single question from her neurologist that ended her pain in 10 months. We also get into the daily practice that rewired her body, the trap of weaponising "authenticity" once you find it, and the body-based check Kat uses the second she walks into any room. By the end, you'll have a clearer way to drop the mask, trust your gut, and feel at home in your own skin again. Tune in to hear about What authenticity really means in everyday life Why people-pleasing can become a survival strategy How childhood trauma can shape self-worth, relationships, and safety Kat John’s experience with chronic pain, brain surgery, and mental health Why high-achieving women often feel empty despite external success How to be authentic while still honouring your relationships, responsibilities, and family life Key moments: 00:00:00 Intro 00:03:00 Music as a Lifeline 00:07:00 The Four-Year-Old Inside 00:09:30 When the Mask Began 00:14:30 Self-Loathing and Love 00:17:30 What Authentic Means 00:27:00 The Sledgehammer Moment 00:33:00 What Do You Want 00:43:00 Zero Fucks Tuesday 00:51:30 Weaponising Authenticity 00:55:00 The Authenticity Dance 01:06:30 Trust the Timing - 👉About Kat John Kat John is an authenticity coach, speaker, and international author of “Authentic: Coming Home to Your True Self” - whose podcast has racked up over 2 million downloads worldwide. After walking through childhood abuse, bulimia, drug addiction, and brain surgery, she now helps people reconnect with who they really are (and live a life that actually reflects it). - 👉Connect with Kat John https://katjohn.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/kat.john/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kat-john/ - 🟡Subscribe and follow along for more meaningful conversations with extraordinary people about living a boldly, connected, standout life. - 👉Here’s how we can stay in touch https://pragmaticthinking.com/ https://www.instagram.com/alihill/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/fromalihill/

I took 18 months off from the Stand Out Life podcast that I didn't plan to. This is the first episode of the new season of the Stand Out Life Podcast. And I wanted to come back and share the story of where I've been, and what pulled me back to the mic. The truth is, like many people, 2025 asked a lot of me through various transitions. In being present to these the podcast took a back seat. But life wasn't the only reason the podcast stayed quiet. There were two fears, too: One told me the podcast was self-indulgent, whilst the other told me it wasn't big enough. As a psychologist, I knew why these fears exist, but I’m not immune to them, or the influence they can have on our internal narrative. In this episode, I’m sharing those fears, the single sentence that loosened their grip, and the phrase from Naval Ravikant that sparked that ‘yes’ voice that pulled me back to the mic. If you're moving through change right now - whether it’s grief, change at work, parenting older teens, a midlife transition, or self-doubt - then this may resonate. Tune in to hear about • The story behind why Stand Out Life Podcast paused… and why it is returning now • How ‘ordinary’ life transitions can reshape your priorities and sense of purpose • What caring for someone through grief and palliative care can teach us about presence • The brutal shift from being the author of our children’s lives to being their mentor as they step into their own • Why friendship becomes a lifeline during seasons of change, loss, pressure, and uncertainty • How fear can disguise itself as responsibility, perfectionism, or ‘I shouldn’t be doing this’ • How to return to a meaningful creative project after a long break without needing it to be perfect Key moments: 00:00:00 Welcome Back 00:03:00 A Time Of Transitions 00:06:00 Marathon And Friendships 00:09:00 Two Hidden Fears 00:12:00 Acknowledgement Is Freedom 00:15:00 Follow Your Intellectual Curiosity - 🟡Subscribe and follow along for more meaningful conversations with extraordinary people about living a boldly, connected, standout life. - 👉Here’s how we can stay in touch https://pragmaticthinking.com/ https://www.instagram.com/alihill/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/fromalihill/

Dr Karl is best known here in Australia for his ability to make science not only accessible, but engaging and fascinating, He’s been a staple in our media landscape from his early days on Triple J, to his multiple podcasts, books, and extensive media presence - a true science story-teller. With the launch of his memoir ‘A Periodic Tale’ we explore in this conversation his early years as the only child of Holocaust survives who fled to Australia in 1950. He then described undertaking a convoluted cacophony of a career. From working as a physicist in a steelworks, to racing modified rally cars, his drug-crazed hippie years in Papau New Guinea, to training as a medical Dr off the back of an off-handed comment that Dr Fred Hollows said to him once. After he applied to be a NASA astronaut in the 1980s and 'failed', he ended up live broadcasting the first space shuttle launch on Triple J instead. Unexpectedly, that blasted off his media career, and from there it was a stratospheric rise from radio to TV, books, newspapers, speaking, podcasts and the internet. You will hear from this conversation a little about how Dr Karl’s brain works - he has an insatiable curiosity that continues to drive pure wonder and awe. Actually he teaches us all that you don’t have to know the answers, as long as you continue to ask questions. This conversation is one worth holding onto, and allowing it to ignite your own curiosity. And I can thoroughly recommend Dr Karl’s memoir ‘A Periodic Tale’ to absorb more of his wisdom and experiences.

The decision to step away from a 20 year career and embark on a new endeavour is one that requires courage. Talitha Cummins is one of Australia’s most famous TV journalists having worked for Channel 7 across the span of 20 years. She has also led conversations about sobriety which saw her featured on The Australian Story, the cover of Stellar and Australian Women’s Weekly. Talitha recently decided to step away from news reading and return to where she started, which was in the jewellery business. Her Uncle Craig has been a jeweller for over 50 years. Talitha worked in the space over 20 years ago before she went into reporting. The Cut Jewellery is a new Australian jewellery brand that offers a taste of ethical luxury with its bespoke range of lab-grown diamonds. Despite launching only a month ago, their designs have already been worn on red carpets by the likes of Sylvia Jeffries and Edwina Bartholomew. We chat about the decision behind the career change, what Talitha is learning and loving in this new role, and unpack what exactly are lab-grown diamonds. This is a down-to-earth conversation with the real and courageous Talitha Cummins.

Mindfulness, enlightenment, inner-peace. If you are anything like me you might hear these words and glaze over a little bit. Seriously who’s got time for that - and does it even make any difference? Today’s guest is going to help me (and maybe you) sit with these terms a little longer and explore why they might be useful. Luke McLeod has become one of Australia’s most popular thought leaders and practitioners in mindfulness and meditation, having trained in these practices for over two decades. But he didn’t arrive on these through wanting to chase calm - he started to explore these as high performance tools. You may also remember Luke from the 2017 season of The Bachlorette here in Australia. His day-job though is teaching meditation practices to support those navigating overwhelm, anxiety, and wanting to drive higher performance. Luke is the founder of The Mindful Life App, Soul Alive, with thousands of members worldwide and the author of his book released this year, Everyday Enlightenment. Bring your curiosity to the forefront as we explore meditation and mindfulness with Luke McLeod.

It turns out you don’t have to be good at art or creativity, for creativity to be good for you. Caitlin Marshall and Lizzie Rose are the founders of MakeShift, an award-winning agency that provides trauma-informed creativity and mental health programs for communities, workplaces and groups. Since 2013 they have worked with thousands of people including corporate clients navigating an uncertain and ever-changing world. Caitlin and Lizzy talk about what lead them down a path of creativity together, the surprises they h ave found for their own mental health as well as the way they support others, and share a few super practical prescriptions any of us can do. This conversation was so delight-filled and practical that it’s ignited in me a greater desire to dance with creativity. Many of what Caitlin and Lizzy share in this chat is also covered in their book ‘Creative First Aid’ - which in itself is a colourful engaging guide and handbook that you’ll want to return to. Get ready to shed some of those creativity-is-not-for-me stories you might carry around and play in this conversation with Caitlin and Lizzy.

Bonnie Hancock has been competing in the Surf IronWoman series since she was 17 years old. Her drive to push her limits and extend herself into adventures is exemplified in her most recent and remarkable journey. Starting in 2021, for 254 days, across 12,700kms, seasickness, sharks, crocodiles and 6 foot waves Bonnie became the fastest person to paddle around Australia. But it was never really about the world record. In this conversation we dive into what sparked the idea for this adventure, what she encountered along the way….and the lessons that have stuck with her since - including the importance of sharing your fears with others and gathering your tribe. Bonnie now shares her story as a dynamic speaker, her book ‘The Girl who touched the stars’ and her documentary ‘Diamond of the Sea’ are ways you can explore more of her story. Bonnie has a heart for highlighting the importance of mental health and in our conversation she shares ways all of us to share our vulnerability and step into challenges whilst also letting go of the need to be perfect. Soak up this conversation and be inspired by the heart and warmth that is Bonnie Hancock.