Episodes
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What is it about certain songs that can instantly transport you back to a moment in your life?
In this episode of The Better Bloke Project Podcast, Rob and Matty dive into Spotifyâs viral âDivorced Aussie Dad Tunesâ playlist, featuring iconic artists like Creed, Nickelback, 3 Doors Down, Switchfoot, Shannon Noll and Incubus.
More than just a music discussion, this episode explores how songs become tied to memories, emotions and different chapters of our lives. From heartbreak and resilience to fatherhood, mateship and growing up, we unpack why certain tracks continue to resonate long after theyâve left the charts.
Part nostalgia trip, part therapy session, and part celebration of the soundtrack that shaped a generation of Australian blokes.
Help us help the blokes who need it: https://www.betterblokeproject.org/pages/donate-now
Find us on socials:
https://www.instagram.com/betterblokeproject/ https://www.facebook.com/thebetterblokeproject/ https://www.tiktok.com/@betterblokeproject
The Better Bloke Project is an ACNC-registered charity focused on reducing male suicide through connection, conversation and practical support for men, families and communities across Australia.
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At first glance, Mel Tolone is exactly what youâd expect from a bloke whoâs built his life around strength sports and bare-knuckle fighting. Heâs competed around the world, stepped onto strongman and powerlifting platforms, and built a career coaching others through his own gyms.
But spend five minutes with Mel and youâll quickly realise thereâs far more to him than what you see on the surface.
Known as âThe Revenantâ, Mel carries a nickname that reflects more than his fighting style. Itâs a mindset forged through adversity, setbacks and the ability to keep getting back up when life knocks you down.
In this episode, we unpack Melâs journey growing up in Port Macquarie, his path into strength sports and combat, his battle with addiction and time spent in rehab, and the life-changing experience of being diagnosed with testicular cancer and losing a testicle.
Despite everything heâs faced, Mel remains one of the calmest, most genuine blokes youâll meet. If youâve crossed paths with him at an event, youâll know exactly what we mean.
This is a conversation about resilience, identity, purpose and what it really means to rebuild yourself when life forces you to start again.
Help us help the blokes who need it: https://www.betterblokeproject.org/pages/donate-now
Find Mel here:
https://www.instagram.com/mel_therevenant_tolone/
Find us on socials:
https://www.instagram.com/betterblokeproject/ https://www.facebook.com/thebetterblokeproject/ https://www.tiktok.com/@betterblokeproject
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Missing episodes?
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This week we sat down with Brando PeriÄiÄ, better known as The Balkan Bear, the #14 ranked UFC Heavyweight. On the outside, fighters are often seen as tough, fearless and unbreakable. But this conversation goes far beyond what happens inside the cage.
Brando opens up about growing up without his father around, the sacrifices he continues to make in pursuit of becoming a UFC champion, and the role faith has played in shaping the bloke he is today. We spoke about identity, discipline, purpose and the reality that even the toughest men carry their own battles.
It quickly becomes clear that Brando isnât just focused on becoming the best heavyweight fighter in the world. Heâs equally committed to becoming the best person he can be and using his platform to help others along the way.
This is a raw and honest conversation that shows strength isnât about hiding your emotions. Sometimes, itâs about having the courage to share them.
Help us help the blokes who need it: https://www.betterblokeproject.org/pages/donate-now
Brando's Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/balknbear/
https://www.facebook.com/balknbear/
https://www.tiktok.com/@balknbear
https://www.youtube.com/ âš@balknbearâ©
Find us on socials:
https://www.instagram.com/betterblokeproject/ https://www.facebook.com/thebetterblokeproject/ https://www.tiktok.com/@betterblokeproject
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We are now accredited to deliver Mental Health First Aid training in-house, we discuss what this means for the future of the program and why we believe mental health doesnât have an awareness problem, it has a communication problem.
We unpack how The Better Bloke Project aims to bridge that gap by delivering training and conversations in a way that actually resonates with everyday blokes.
It's not all heavy though, we also chat about coffee breaks, shitbox cars, social media outrage, and why negative content often gets more attention than the things that genuinely help people.
If youâre interested in Mental Health First Aid training for yourself, your workplace, sporting club or community group, or would like to support the First Responder Program, reach out to us at [email protected]
Help us help the blokes who need it: https://www.betterblokeproject.org/pages/donate-now
Find us on socials:
https://www.instagram.com/betterblokeproject/ https://www.facebook.com/thebetterblokeproject/ https://www.tiktok.com/@betterblokeproject
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After years working as a plumber, Sammy found himself chasing something different. Like many blokes, he was sold the dream of e-commerce and online business, but quickly learned that building something from the ground up isnât as simple as the ads make it look.
We discuss the highs and lows of starting a business, the mistakes that come from trying to learn everything yourself, the importance of finding the right mentors, and the reality that success rarely happens overnight. Itâs a conversation about taking risks, backing yourself, and pushing through the setbacks to build something you can be proud of.
If youâve ever thought about stepping outside your comfort zone and having a crack at something of your own, this oneâs for you.
Help us help the blokes who need it: https://www.betterblokeproject.org/pages/donate-now
Follow Shade Eyewear on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shade__eyewear/
Shop Shade Eyewear: https://www.shadeeyewear.com.au/
Find us on socials:
https://www.instagram.com/betterblokeproject/ https://www.facebook.com/thebetterblokeproject/ https://www.tiktok.com/@betterblokeproject
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This week we sat down with Aiden, better known online as Logan Kicks. We unpack his upbringing, the wrong paths he went down as a young bloke, and how he eventually found purpose through selling shoes, building a business and giving back to the community along the way.
We also get into fatherhood, balancing work and family life, and the pressure that comes with running a business. The reality of being physically present with your family, but mentally stuck thinking about work, stress and responsibility.
Itâs a raw and open conversation with a bloke not many people truly know behind social media. A chat about growth, purpose, mistakes and trying to be better while carrying the pressure that comes with it.
Help us help the blokes who need it: https://www.betterblokeproject.org/pages/donate-now
Follow LoganKicks: https://www.instagram.com/logankicks_/
Find us on socials:
https://www.instagram.com/betterblokeproject/ https://www.facebook.com/thebetterblokeproject/ https://www.tiktok.com/@betterblokeproject
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This week, we sit down with Andrew Carpenter for one of the most confronting, heavy, and important conversations weâve had on the podcast.
Known by many as âthe man most hated by child sex offendersâ, Andrew opens up about what led him into this line of work, the reality of whatâs happening behind closed doors, and the alarming statistics surrounding both victims and the lack of meaningful punishment many offenders actually receive.
We also dive into the law changes he has fought to push forward, the resistance and roadblocks heâs encountered from higher powers, and why these conversations need to happen, even when they make people uncomfortable.
This episode isnât easy listening. But itâs an important one.
Learn more about Andrew Carpenter here https://www.instagram.com/andrewcarpentersolicitor/
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This week, we sit down with Nathan Marks, better known as The Curly Show, a bloke who packed up his life, moved into a van, and hit the road chasing something more meaningful than the standard 9 to 5.
While most people know him from social media, this conversation goes a lot deeper than the funny reels, calling things "gay" and fighting. Curls opens up about the solo trip through South America that changed the trajectory of his life, the lessons he learnt travelling alone, and how stepping outside his comfort zone helped shape the bloke he is today.
We unpack mateship, accountability, backing yourself, and the reality of chasing a dream in a world where everyoneâs quick to judge from the outside looking in. Itâs a raw and honest chat about growth, identity, and figuring life out without pretending to have all the answers.
If youâve only ever seen the online version of Curls, this episode gives you a very different insight into the man behind the camera.
Help us help the blokes who need it: https://www.betterblokeproject.org/pages/donate-now
Find us on socials: https://www.instagram.com/betterblokeproject/ https://www.facebook.com/thebetterblokeproject/ https://www.tiktok.com/@betterblokeproject
See more of The Curly Show: https://www.instagram.com/thecurlyshow__/
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No one really tells you what becoming a man actually looks like. You just figure it out as you go⊠and most of the time, youâre winging it.
In this episode, we unpack the pressure, the mixed messages, and the expectations that come with it. From the idea that no one is coming to save you, to the influence young blokes are facing online, and the confusion around what it even means to âstep up.â
We talk about why blokes should be chasing happiness, not just pushing through, and how mental health plays a big role in relationships, work, and everyday life.
Thereâs also a real conversation around money, pressure, and the reality a lot of men are facing right now trying to provide while still being present.
At the end of the day, itâs simple: Do the work. Take responsibility.
But understand⊠you donât have to have it all figured out overnight.
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In this episode of The Point, we take a look back at our conversation with Haze The Huntsman and unpack one of the most uncomfortable topics in modern society: the role of violence, and whether good men should still be capable of it.
Violence is usually spoken about as something purely destructive, and for good reason â in the wrong hands, it can do serious damage. But Haze, a professional bare-knuckle fighter, sees it differently. To him, violence is a tool. Like any tool, it can be used to build something, protect something, or destroy something. This conversation challenges the idea that violence itself is the problem, and instead asks a deeper question: what kind of man is holding the tool?
See the full episode: https://youtu.be/V-CC3UlQWeM?si=CM9vwI4JXzteiuel
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Nathan's a member of our community who caught our attention while taking on a challenge: a walk to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer. What stood out wasnât just the cause, but the reason behind it. Nathan is doing it to set an example for his nine-year-old son, showing through action the kind of man he hopes his boy grows up to be. With prostate cancer taking his grandfather and affecting multiple men in his family, this fight is deeply personal.
This episode goes far beyond the walk. We get into fatherhood, raising boys, the pressure of trying to lead by example, and the hard truths men often avoid until itâs too late. With Rob and Nathan both raising sons of a similar age, the conversation opens up into a relatable and honest look at modern dad life.
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This week is one of those conversations that goes in a few different directions, but all of it matters. On the serious side, we unpack the development of the First Responder Program and what it looks like as more men come into the fold to be trained, equipped, and better prepared to have meaningful conversations in their own communities.
That leads us into one of the heavier and more confronting parts of the episode: what happens when someone comes to you for help, but their past, their actions, or the circumstances around them create a real moral dilemma. Do all people deserve support? What does redemption actually look like? Do second chances have limits? And where is the line between your own personal discomfort and your responsibility to do good?
Itâs a raw and honest conversation, but not without some lighter moments too, as we also give our take on rising fuel prices, the latest Ben Robert-Smith developments, and some of the more bizarre cultural conversations happening right now, including the push to change place names back to their traditional names.
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Welcome to The Point, a quick hit from the full conversation - beyond the bullshit & the banter⊠straight to the stuff that matters.
Addiction is more than just bad luck & bad decisions, but it requires a person to become aware of all the different aspects that lead them down that path.
Jock opens up about his experience, and what was enough to make him make change.
See the full chat with Jock at: www.betterblokeproject.org/blogs/the-podcast/077-beyond-the-biffs-jock-on-addiction-discipline-soreheads.
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Bradly isnât pretending the prognosis doesnât exist... heâs just refusing to let it dictate how he lives.
On this weekâs ep, we sit down with Bradly Gillis, a young bloke many will know as Train4Survival. Bradly is now facing round three against brain cancer, after first being diagnosed at just 16 years old and given a prognosis that suggested he wouldnât make it to where he is today. 10 years on, here he is... still swinging, still planning ahead, and still carrying a mindset thatâs hard not to respect.
This conversation isnât about pretending the reality isnât serious. Itâs about what it looks like to keep living when the odds arenât in your favour. We get into the toll that journey takes, the way it shapes your outlook, and how Bradly has approached everything from treatment and training to relationships, purpose, and the simple act of getting on with life. Itâs raw in parts, but far from hopeless, and more than anything, itâs a look at the kind of grit most people donât understand until theyâre forced to find it.
Stay up to date with his journey: https://www.instagram.com/train4survival
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Rowan, a South African who moved to Australia in search of a better life, joins us on the couches. We get into the real story behind immigration: the visas, the cost, the setbacks, the uncertainty, and what it takes to back yourself and start again in a new country.
Itâs a conversation about risk, failure, gratitude, relationships, and the lessons Rowan has learnt through a very different life path to most. We also unpack the contrast between South Africa and Australia, and why migrants often have a perspective that reminds us not to take this country for granted.
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Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere has exploded online, hit Netflix with major attention, and sparked a heated argument about masculinity, role models, and what young men are actually being fed in 2026. In this episode of the Better Bloke podcast, we break down the documentary, where it lands, where it completely misses, and whether itâs a necessary exposĂ© or just another shallow hit piece dressed up as insight.
We donât defend the idiots. Some of the men featured say genuinely embarrassing, damaging, and flat-out stupid things. But we also ask the bigger question: did this documentary actually explore modern masculinity, or did it cherry-pick a few internet clowns and call it a diagnosis? This is a blunt conversation about what the film got right, what it got wrong, and the real issues facing men and boys that barely got touched.
Find us on socials:
https://www.instagram.com/betterblokeproject/ https://www.facebook.com/thebetterblokeproject/ https://www.tiktok.com/@betterblokeproject
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Kristen Sorrenson is the kind of person you notice straight away... loud, funny, ultra-positive, creative, and fully herself, but that version of her didnât come easy.
In this episode, the Gold Coast tattoo artist and Australian Tattoo Expo host opens up about the trauma, heartbreak, toxic environments, family struggles, and self-development that shaped who she is today. We talk about what happens when you outgrow old versions of yourself, why changing can cost you friendships, and how hard it can be to find peace in your own skin.
Itâs also the first time the podcast dives into family breakdown from a womanâs perspective, alongside a bigger conversation about healing, alternative therapy, creativity, identity, and the weird tension that comes when you start becoming the person you were meant to be.
See more from Kristen: www.instagram.com/kristen_sorrenson
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For years, blokes have been told to check their skin, their heart, their blood pressure and their prostate... but almost no one talks about checking testosterone.
In this episode, we are joined by one of the country's most accomplished doctors, Professor AndrĂ© van Zundert from Hormn, to unpack what testosterone actually does in the body, what TRT really is, and why so many men ignore the signs when something feels off. We talk through the symptoms a lot of blokes brush off as âjust stressâ or âjust getting olderâ - low energy, brain fog, low libido, poor motivation, trouble in the bedroom, mood changes, poor recovery, and feeling like a watered-down version of yourself.
This isnât a bodybuilding chat, and itâs not about telling every bloke he needs TRT. Itâs about understanding what low testosterone is, who it can affect, what getting checked actually involves, and why proper bloodwork matters more than guessing or listening to blokes online.
We also get into the biggest myths and misconceptions... whether TRT is just steroids, what happens with fertility, whether treatment is forever, and why a lot of men are told theyâre âfineâ without ever getting the full picture.
Bottom line: if you havenât felt like yourself for a while, donât just put up with it. Get checked.
Get Your Testosterone Levels Checked in 24 Hours with Hormn: https://bit.ly/checkyourtest
More about Low T from Blokes Advice: https://www.blokesadvice.com/blogs/best-of-blokes-advice/low-testosterone-check-australia
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Episode 100 of the Better Bloke Podcast had to be this one.
For over two and a half years, Dave Holcomb has become a true icon inside Blokes Advice. Every Friday, without fail, heâs raised a VB tallie, called the first beer, and helped thousands of blokes punch into the weekend. To many, heâs the timekeeper, the face of knockoff drinks, and a symbol of consistency, humour, and community.
But behind the Friday posts is a much deeper story... In this episode, Dave opens up about his lifelong battle with bipolar, the highs and lows of relationships, and the devastating impact of carrying a secret for 25 years after experiencing abuse of the worse kind connected to the church. Itâs a raw, honest, and powerful conversation about trauma, survival, identity, and what it takes to keep going when life keeps trying to drag you under.
Dave shares how heâs fought to stay, as he puts it, âabove ground for another weekâ and why the version of someone we see online is rarely the full story. This is one of the most important episodes weâve ever released.
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Croc Turnbull joins us on the couch! The man many Aussies know from his viral Australiana content, and no-BS love for this country... but thereâs a lot more to Croc than what you see online. He shares the full story of how he went from a trapeze artist to working in the crocodile industry, and years spent as a tour guide showing locals and international visitors the best of Australia.
We also get into the harder side of his journey, including the debilitating injury that ended his first career, the mental toll of not knowing what came next, and what it took to push through some of the darkest periods of his life. Croc opens up about resilience, seizing opportunities, rebuilding identity, and becoming a father later in life, plus he shares some unreal stories from his journey so far.
See more from Croc: https://linktr.ee/CrocTunbull
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