Better Bloke

Better Bloke Project
  • 2.7 (110)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

The Better Bloke Podcast shares honest conversations with Australian men from all walks of life. From athletes, business owners and first responders to fathers, tradies and everyday blokes, each episode explores the experiences that shape us, including mental health, resilience, relationships, fatherhood, purpose, identity and the challenges men often carry quietly. Not every conversation has to be serious. Some episodes go deep, others are full of laughs, stories and the kind of banter you would expect between mates. There is room for both. We are not here to pretend we have all the answers. We are here to listen, learn and share the moments that help blokes feel less alone, understand themselves better and start more meaningful conversations. Real conversations with real people, the way it should be. The Better Bloke Project is an Australian charity registered with the ACNC, creating stronger connections and better outcomes for men, their families and communities.

  1. 4 days ago

    #127: Cris Cross | The Mundane Keeps You Sane

    Cris Cross is back for his second appearance on the Better Bloke Project Podcast. Cris is more than a friend of the project. He is a personal mate, and this episode was as much about catching up as it was recording a podcast. We chat about what Cris has been up to since his last appearance, including his art exhibition, the latest happenings in his creative world and a quick reminder for new listeners about who he is and what he does. There is plenty of shit talk and banter between mates, but there is also a reason I wanted Cris back in the chair. The conversations we have had off camera are the kind you need when you are stuck in a rut and things are not quite adding up. It is important to have blokes around you who you can lean on, talk things through with and trust to tell you what you need to hear. One idea that stayed with me from the conversation was that the mundane keeps you sane. When we compare our lives to what we see on social media, we are usually looking at someone else’s one percent. We do not see the ordinary days, the boring jobs or the everyday routines that keep everything moving. But often, that boring stuff is what puts fuel in the tank and gives us the drive to keep going. This is a conversation between mates about art, AI, renovations, self doubt, life and a whole heap of other shit in between. It is honest, loose and exactly the kind of chat I needed. Help us help the blokes who need it: https://www.betterblokeproject.org/pages/donate-now Follow Cris Cross: https://www.instagram.com/cris.cross.art/ Find us on socials: https://www.instagram.com/betterblokeproject/ https://www.facebook.com/thebetterblokeproject/ https://www.tiktok.com/@betterblokeproject

  2. 8 Sept

    #126: Migelly Shaw | Ink, Intrusive Thoughts and Finding Purpose.

    This week, we step outside the usual studio and into Sacred Rose Tattoo for a raw and honest conversation with Migelly Shaw. Migelly is a tattooist, business owner, media man, father, gamer and all round good bloke. He is someone who keeps a lot of plates spinning, and as we unpack throughout the episode, staying busy is often his way of keeping the head noise from creeping in. We talk openly about the intrusive thoughts that can find their way into anyone’s head, and how we use reason and logic to challenge them rather than allowing them to take control. At the centre of everything is fatherhood. Migelly speaks about finding his purpose in being a dad, why his family is his everything and how becoming a father gave him something bigger than himself to live for. In many ways, it is what saved him. We also talk about the pressure to provide for your family, building a business and the many layers behind the bloke people see online. Migelly describes himself as an onion, or maybe a cake, because there is always another layer underneath. Despite regularly putting himself out there on social media, sitting down as a podcast guest is not something that comes naturally to him. Even in the comfort of his own studio, the nerves are real. But as the conversation begins to flow, he settles in and realises the experience was far worse in his head than it was in reality. As one of the greats said, we suffer more in imagination than reality. We explore tattoo culture, how it has changed and the unique relationship between an artist and the person sitting in their chair. Tattooists can become therapists in their own way. There is a trust that develops between the artist and their client, and when someone is sitting still for hours with their guard down, the conversation often goes far beyond the tattoo itself. This is a conversation about fatherhood, finding purpose, managing the noise in your head and becoming comfortable enough to show the bloke behind the work. Help us help the blokes who need it: https://www.betterblokeproject.org/pages/donate-now Follow Migelly: https://www.instagram.com/migelly/ Find us on socials: https://www.instagram.com/betterblokeproject/ https://www.facebook.com/thebetterblokeproject/ https://www.tiktok.com/@betterblokeproject

  3. 1 Sept

    #125: Sometimes Shit Goes Wrong

    This wasn't supposed to be a solo episode. After camera issues killed our planned recording with Ryan McCarthy, it was 7pm the night before the episode dropped with one working camera. So we adapted. We also reflect on recent conversations with heavyweight fighters Haze Hepi and Brando Peričić, what they revealed about strength, vulnerability and the men behind the fighters... go read the latest update on the website with the lessons learned. Sometimes the plan goes to shit. You work with what you've got. Thats life! 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

  4. 25 Aug

    #124: Going Solo | Grief, Growth and Backing Yourself

    This one is a little different. It’s my first solo episode, and while it comes in at just over 18 minutes, it might be the rawest I have ever been on Better Bloke. I talk about losing my best mate, Brutus, and what it's like having to walk through the door without my dog there to greet me. Speaking about him brought out plenty of emotion, but that is what this podcast is meant to be about. Honest conversations, even when they are hard. I also reflect on returning from Bogged Brakes. I do not go into too much detail because it is a bit like Fight Club. You need to go to understand it. I unpack the speech I gave at Mitch Farlow’s charity dinner, the conversations that followed and why delivering a proper speech in front of a full room still makes me uncomfortable. Maybe it was the setting. Maybe it was the suit and tie. Either way, it pushed me outside my comfort zone. Now a month into this solo chapter of Better Bloke, I reflect on those early thoughts of “Can I actually do this?” and the positive feedback I have received since putting myself out there. I also share a few life updates, including finishing the retaining wall and fence and making way for the shed that will eventually become a proper Better Bloke studio. Finally, I try some fudge from OG Fudging Delicious, some friends who are going hard at building their business and deserve every bit of recognition. No guest and no polished answers. Just an honest check in on grief, discomfort, self doubt, progress and backing the people around you. 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

  5. 18 Aug

    #123: Kynan Hunt | Army, Agent and the Art of the Handshake

    Kynan Hunt isn’t your typical real estate agent. A local character known for outrageous selling tactics, hilarious property videos and a healthy dose of Aussie larrikinism, he’s built a reputation for doing things differently. But before Kynan was selling homes and starting his own agency, he spent 12 years in the Australian Army, fulfilling an ambition he’d held since childhood. When his body could no longer meet the physical demands of military life, Kynan was forced to consider what came next. That transition involved plenty of personal work before an unexpected path led him into real estate. In this episode, we talk about his journey from the Army to becoming an agent, the realities of launching his own agency and why breaking the traditional real estate mould has become such an important part of his success. We also get into parenthood, navigating life as a girl dad, having children later in life and making sure there aren’t any more, with a very honest conversation about vasectomies. Finally, we discuss the lost art of the handshake, what it says about a person, why it still matters and whether younger generations are losing an important form of connection. It’s a funny, honest and raw conversation with a genuinely good bloke who has an unreal story. Help us help the blokes who need it: https://www.betterblokeproject.org/pages/donate-now Follow Kynan Hunt: https://www.instagram.com/kynanhunt/ Find us on socials: https://www.instagram.com/betterblokeproject/ https://www.facebook.com/thebetterblokeproject/ https://www.tiktok.com/@betterblokeproject

    #123: Kynan Hunt | Army, Agent and the Art of the Handshake

  6. 11 Aug

    #122: Brett "Knuckles" Hanly | Country Trucker Caps, Fatherhood, IVF & Get Yourself Checked

    From the outside, Brett "Knuckles" Hanly looks like a bloke who never stops. On the day we recorded this episode, he'd flown in from Vietnam, driven from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast for an IVF appointment with his wife, travelled back to Brisbane to sit down with us in the Better Bloke studio, and then headed straight to Brisbane Lions commitments. It was a full day by anyone's standards, but it also summed up the reality of juggling business, family and purpose. Most people know Knuckles as the founder of Country Trucker Caps (CTC), one of Australia's biggest success stories to come from a simple side hustle. What started while he was working as a sparky in the mines has grown into a nationally recognised brand, but the journey wasn't without risk. In this episode, he shares what it was really like making the decision to walk away from a secure career and back himself. We talk about the highs, the uncertainty, and the lessons learned from building a business that now employs a growing team and reaches tonnes of Australians every day. But this conversation goes well beyond business. Knuckles opens up about being a husband and father, and the deeply personal journey he and his wife are currently navigating through IVF. It's an honest discussion about the emotional toll fertility challenges can place on both partners, and why it's important for men to recognise that they're allowed to feel the weight of it too. Fatherhood becomes a central theme throughout the episode, particularly the desire so many parents share, to give their children opportunities they never had themselves. It's a conversation every mum and dad will relate to, exploring the balance between providing for your family, staying present, and making sure success doesn't come at the expense of the people you're working so hard for. We also unpack the pressure many Australian families are feeling in today's economic climate. Both of us are speaking with countless hardworking blokes who feel like they're being punished for trying to get ahead, working longer hours, paying more tax, and simply trying to keep a roof over their family's head and food on the table. Knuckles shares his thoughts on why so many Australians feel left behind and offers some candid ideas about where he believes change needs to start. No conversation with Knuckles would be complete without talking about Get Yourself Checked, the charity initiative that's encouraging Australian men to take prostate health seriously. With September marking Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, it's a timely reminder that looking after your health isn't a sign of weakness, it's one of the most important things you can do for yourself and the people who rely on you. Of course, we couldn't finish the episode without talking about Podcast Royale 3.0. We share a few exciting updates, tease what's coming in the lead-up to fight night, and reveal a couple of firsts that hadn't been publicly discussed before. Whether you know Knuckles from Country Trucker Caps, Get Yourself Checked, Proper True Yarn or simply admire what he's built, this episode is a reminder that behind every successful business is a bloke trying to navigate the same challenges many of us face... family, purpose, pressure, and finding the courage to back yourself when it matters most. Find out more about Better Bloke Project: https://www.betterblokeproject.org/ Find out about Get Yourself Checked: https://www.getyourselfchecked.org Find us on socials: https://www.instagram.com/betterblokeproject/ https://www.facebook.com/thebetterblokeproject/ https://www.tiktok.com/@betterblokeproject

    #122: Brett "Knuckles" Hanly | Country Trucker Caps, Fatherhood, IVF & Get Yourself Checked

  7. 4 Aug

    #121: Running Tasmania for Mental Health | Mitch Farlow

    In October, Mitch Farlow will attempt to run the length of Tasmania, around 300 kilometres to raise awareness and funds for Beyond Blue. Mitch is a lived-experience peer worker with Queensland Health, a former fringe professional footballer and someone determined to give life a red-hot crack.His motivation for taking on Tasmania is deeply personal. After watching his mum face her own struggles, Mitch found purpose in running for a cause and discovered how much meaning can come from doing something difficult for people beyond yourself. We talk about the challenge ahead, the family story driving him and the role running now plays in his life. Mitch also opens up about becoming a “banned athlete” following some poor decisions during his football years and explains why the real story isn’t what most people might assume. This is a raw conversation between two blokes getting to know each other: honest, occasionally uncomfortable and ultimately hopeful. The episode itself nearly didn’t make it. Camera failures, missing footage and audio dramas made this one of our roughest edits yet, but we persisted. That’s all part of the game, and somehow it feels fitting for an episode about continuing to move forward when things don’t go to plan. FOLLOW MITCH'S JOURNEY: https://www.instagram.com/mitch.farlow/ 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

    #121: Running Tasmania for Mental Health | Mitch Farlow

  8. 28 July

    #120: The Impact Sensation: A Shot at Redemption

    This week marks a new chapter for the podcast as Rob films, hosts and edits an entire episode on his own for the first time. There’s no intro yet, things are a little raw and choppy, and the learning curve occasionally shows. But that’s what the Better Bloke Project is all about: having a go, accepting that you won’t get everything right the first time and continuing to show up anyway. Joining Rob is Kyle Van Der Poel-Ashburn, aka The Impact Sensation. Kyle is stepping in as Rob’s tag-team partner for their fight at Podcast Royale 3.0, and they use this episode to make it official. Both Rob and Kyle lost their respective fights at Podcast Royale 2.0, but one loss doesn’t have to define what happens next. Instead of walking away, they’ve chosen to learn from it, join forces and come back with something to prove. Between the redemption talk, the questionable fight strategy and an immense amount of shit-talking, this episode is also a reminder not to take life too seriously. Becoming a better bloke isn’t about being perfect or winning every time. It’s about how you respond when things don’t go your way, having good people in your corner and being willing to get back in the fight. The podcast continues with Rob behind the mic and different guests joining him for a chat. It may be a little rough around the edges while he learns the ropes, but that’s part of the journey we’re going on together. You might fail. You might make mistakes. You might even look like a bit of an idiot along the way, but none of that matters if you keep showing up. 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 Follow Kyle's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kvanderpoel/ Podcast Royale 3.0 Tickets here: https://www.alpha-events.com.au

    #120: The Impact Sensation: A Shot at Redemption
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2.7
out of 5
110 Ratings

About

The Better Bloke Podcast shares honest conversations with Australian men from all walks of life. From athletes, business owners and first responders to fathers, tradies and everyday blokes, each episode explores the experiences that shape us, including mental health, resilience, relationships, fatherhood, purpose, identity and the challenges men often carry quietly. Not every conversation has to be serious. Some episodes go deep, others are full of laughs, stories and the kind of banter you would expect between mates. There is room for both. We are not here to pretend we have all the answers. We are here to listen, learn and share the moments that help blokes feel less alone, understand themselves better and start more meaningful conversations. Real conversations with real people, the way it should be. The Better Bloke Project is an Australian charity registered with the ACNC, creating stronger connections and better outcomes for men, their families and communities.

Information

  • Creator
    Better Bloke Project
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    129
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Better Bloke Project
  • Show Website
    Better Bloke

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