One True Measure

Blake OConnell
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  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

One True Measure is about the journey each of us must take to understand, define and in time measure success in our lives. At One True Measure, we believe success is and should be an individual journey. We also believe in the importance of building a community in which we all grow and support each other on our collective journey. The goal of the One True Measure podcast is to create the space for long-form, in-depth conversations we can all learn from with exceptional people who embody their own One True Measure. This isn’t a show about chasing more. It’s a show about choosing better.

  1. 5d ago

    Damien Thomlinson - Unbreakable | OTM #027

    Damien’s story is one of extraordinary courage, resilience and reinvention. Inspired by his grandfather's military service, Damien joined the Australian Defence Force and, at just 24, achieved his dream of becoming a Commando and joining one of Australia’s top-tier special forces units.While serving in Afghanistan with the 2nd Commando Regiment, Damien’s life changed forever. In April 2009, whilst on night patrol in Southern Afghanistan, Damien’s unit drove over an improvised Taliban bomb. Damien suffered horrendous injuries in the explosion, which resulted in both of his legs being amputated. The damage to his body was so severe his medical team claim it is a miracle he wasn’t killed.Since then, Damien has shown his unconquerable spirit to make the most of his life by hiking the exceptionally arduous 100km Kokoda Trek dedicated to a fallen mate, Scott Palmer. Represented Australia at the Invictus Games. Wrote the best-selling autobiography Without Warning. Grown a new career as an actor, appearing in the Academy Award-winning film Hacksaw Ridge directed by Mel Gibson Competed on Australian Survivor: Champions v Contenders (2018). Rebuilt his life again post-military as a golfer, now ranked #1–2 in the world in multi-amputee golf.He is also world-class motivational speaker, sharing his journey of triumph against adversity; the power of positive attitude and ambition for the future that continues to resonate with people from all walks of life.What do these things have in common special forces and service, Prince Harry, Mel Gibson in flip-flops, Kokoda, golf and Top Gun nicknames? The exceptional and the unbreakable Damien Thomlinson!Learn more about Damien: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/damienthomlinsonofficialInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/damienthomlinson/Website - https://www.damienthomlinson.com/

  2. Sep 30

    Luke Richmond - One Life. One Chance | OTM #026

    Luke Richmond is a professional adventurer, author, endurance athlete and world record holder. He grew up in the Australian outback and joined the Army at 17, serving with 1RAR and deploying to East Timor. After four years he packed it in, chasing the next challenge overseas, and ended up in the UK. The move out of military life didn't go the way he planned. Heavy drinking and drug use followed, and eventually rockbottom: addiction, and time in one of Her Majesty's prisons. That became the turning point. Luke moved to Thailand to train Muay Thai full time and detox his body and mind from the ground up. Since then he's climbed the highest peak on six continents, survived minus 60 degrees in Antarctica, rowed across the Atlantic and set a world record doing it, and trekked 1,800km across Mongolia's Gobi Desert, dragging his wife along to stress test their marriage. But the real story isn't the mountains or the ocean. It's the gap between what we think we can handle and what we're actually capable of. Through his books, expeditions and speaking, Luke talks about fear, suffering, resilience and how little time we actually have. His philosophy comes down to two words: One Chance. Learn more about Luke: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/olocadventures Instagram - @luke_olocadventures Website - www.olocadventures.com

  3. Sep 25

    Jayden Francis & Jack Fryer - Special Episode | OTM #025

    Without Blake in the chair this time, Jack Fryer turns the mic around and sits down with Jayden Francis for a conversation about his own story. In the chat they talk through Jayden's childhood growing up in Singapore, being diagnosed with thyroid cancer at just 14, and being on Mount Kinabalu with his Tanjong Katong Primary School group during the 2015 Sabah earthquake. They also unpack what it was like moving from Singapore to Perth, how those early experiences shaped the way he sees resilience and risk, and the highs and lessons of his entrepreneurial journey.

  4. Sep 24

    Dr Dan Pronk - The Debrief | OTM #024

    Blake and the team sit down to discuss the conversation with Dr Dan Pronk, their takeaways, key learns, as well as heading down a few philosophical rabbit holes. In the chat the team talk through Dan's path from chasing a professional triathlon career to an Army medical scholarship and passing SASR selection, and what four deployments to Afghanistan as a Special Forces combat doctor taught him about leadership and decision-making under fire. They also unpack his openness about post-traumatic stress and the transition to civilian life, the practical strategies behind The Resilience Shield, and how he juggles emergency medicine, TacMed Australia, SAS Australia, three businesses and counting, and life as a dad of three boys.

  5. Sep 22

    Mark Direen - The Debrief | OTM #023

    Blake and the team sit down to discuss the conversation with Mark Direen, their takeaways, key learns, as well as heading down a few philosophical rabbit holes. In the chat the team talk through Mark's 20 years in the Australian Army, from infantry sniper with 1 RAR to passing SASR selection in 1997, and how he recovered from being seriously wounded by an IED in Afghanistan in 2007 to return to operational service. They also unpack what almost two decades in Afghanistan taught him about its people and culture, his transition into expedition guiding in places like Mongolia and Papua New Guinea, and how founding Point Assist, writing What's the Point? and creating Dog Tag Whiskey reflect his belief in continuous learning and adapting after adversity.

  6. Sep 17

    Julian Pace - The Debrief | OTM #022

    Blake and the team sit down to discuss the conversation with Julian Pace.In the chat the team talk through how Julian turned profound personal loss into the mission behind Happiness Co. Why he believes happiness is something you can build rather than wait for, and what speaking to more than 63,000 people across 10 countries has taught him about human connection. They also unpack his recent trek to the Everest and Annapurna base camps, which raised over $165k for charity, and how he balances an ambitious goal of positively impacting 10 million lives in 10 years. The One True Measure: Follow us on: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/onetruemeasure LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/blake-o-connell-a829b369/ Website https://www.onetruemeasure.com.au/ LinkTree https://linktr.ee/onetruemeasure

  7. Sep 15

    James Jensen - The Debrief | OTM #021

    Blake and the team sit down to discuss the conversation with James Jensen. In the chat the team talk through why James chose the front line over an officer's path despite graduating from ADFA, what 14 years as an SAS Patrol Commander taught him about leadership under real pressure, and how accountability looks different when lives are on the line. They also unpack his transition from soldier to consultant, and why he believes the principles that build elite military teams translate directly into building high-performing businesses. The One True Measure: Follow us on: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/onetruemeasure LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/blake-o-connell-a829b369/ Website https://www.onetruemeasure.com.au/ LinkTree https://linktr.ee/onetruemeasure

  8. Sep 13

    David Flanagan - The Debrief | OTM #020

    Blake and the team sit down to discuss the conversation with David Flanagan.In the chat, the team talk through what it takes to build a billion-dollar company from a junior explorer, why loyalty and relationships can matter more than pure strategy in volatile industries, and the courage it took to return and rebuild Atlas Iron. They also unpack David's transition from mining entrepreneur to educator and philanthropist, and why he believes leadership is ultimately measured by the people you bring with you. The One True Measure: Follow us on: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/onetruemeasure LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/blake-o-connell-a829b369/ Website https://www.onetruemeasure.com.au/ LinkTree https://linktr.ee/onetruemeasure

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About

One True Measure is about the journey each of us must take to understand, define and in time measure success in our lives. At One True Measure, we believe success is and should be an individual journey. We also believe in the importance of building a community in which we all grow and support each other on our collective journey. The goal of the One True Measure podcast is to create the space for long-form, in-depth conversations we can all learn from with exceptional people who embody their own One True Measure. This isn’t a show about chasing more. It’s a show about choosing better.

Information

  • Creator
    Blake OConnell
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Blake OConnell
  • Show Website
    One True Measure