Cut Through

Cut Through

Cut Through is a podcast for people who are tired of noise, outrage, and shallow thinking — and want clarity instead. Hosted by Christian Co, the show features honest, long-form conversations with thinkers, leaders, and everyday people who have lived through failure, doubt, faith, ambition, loss, and rebuilding. Together, they explore the ideas that shape a meaningful life — identity, purpose, power, truth, culture, work, and belief. While especially relevant for young men navigating adulthood in a fragmented culture, these conversations are for anyone who wants to cut through the noise and

  1. 3d ago

    28. I Got Tattoos For My Own Funeral

    Doctors gave Greg two years to live. After three catastrophic accidents, multiple traumatic brain injuries and severe epilepsy, they believed there was little more they could do. He was suffering multiple violent seizures every day, trapped in addiction, and convinced death was inevitable. So convinced, in fact, that he covered his body in tattoos designed for his own funeral. But Greg didn’t die. In this conversation, he shares the remarkable story of chasing fame through BMX, surviving devastating injuries, spiralling into drugs and alcohol, losing custody of his daughter, and the unexpected encounter that completely changed the direction of his life. Today, Greg has rebuilt what once seemed impossible. His health returned. His daughter came back into his life. And the man who once believed life had no meaning now spends his time helping others find hope in the middle of addiction, loss and suffering. Along the way, we explore some of life’s biggest questions: • Can people really change?• Why does suffering exist?• Can you come back after you’ve completely wrecked your life?• Are miracles still possible?• What if there’s more to reality than we can explain? Greg doesn’t offer easy answers. He offers a life that forces you to wrestle with the questions. Whether you’re sceptical, curious, or simply searching for hope, this is a conversation you won’t forget.

    28. I Got Tattoos For My Own Funeral

  2. Jul 9

    27. Military, Martial Arts & Mountains - Still Not Enough

    What happens when you finally achieve the things you thought would give your life meaning, only to discover you’re still empty? In this episode of Cut Through, Christian sits down with Trent Keegan, a former Australian Army reservist, outdoor wilderness instructor, martial arts instructor, personal trainer and self-confessed adrenaline junkie. Trent has spent years pushing himself to the limit through military service, extreme adventure, competition and relentless self-improvement, chasing the sense of purpose he thought was always just around the corner. But every new achievement left him asking the same question: Is this really it? Trent speaks candidly about the hidden search for identity behind ambition, the pressure many young men feel to prove themselves, his battles with depression, a teenage suicide attempt, the disappointment of hypocrisy within church, and why success, adventure and status ultimately couldn’t satisfy the deeper questions he was asking. Rather than walking away from faith forever, Trent decided to investigate it intellectually. His goal wasn’t to become a Christian. It was to prove Christianity wrong. Instead, his research into history, science, philosophy, biblical prophecy and apologetics led him to the opposite conclusion. Whether you’re interested in psychology, purpose, faith, leadership or simply trying to work out what life is actually about, this conversation explores questions that almost every young man wrestles with: • Why achievement often fails to satisfy• What extreme adventure reveals about fear, trust and character• The hidden costs of building your identity around career, status or performance• Why so many young men feel restless even when life looks successful• How to deal with disappointment, hypocrisy and unanswered questions about faith• The evidence that convinced a lifelong skeptic to take Christianity seriously• Why Trent believes your identity isn’t something you create, but something you discover This isn’t a conversation about becoming more religious. It’s a conversation about purpose, identity, meaning and whether the peace you’re searching for can actually be found. 📺 Watch the full video on YouTube:https://youtu.be/m54KN_02UIs If you’ve ever wondered, “Why do I still feel empty when life looks fine?”, this episode is for you.

    27. Military, Martial Arts & Mountains - Still Not Enough

  3. Jul 3

    26. Spiritual But Not Religious. Why?

    Why are so many young men walking away from religion while quietly searching for meaning, purpose and something bigger than themselves? In this conversation, we sit down with Dr. Quintin Betteridge to explore one of the defining questions of our generation: Why, in the most connected, wealthy and technologically advanced period in human history, are so many young people feeling more isolated, anxious and spiritually restless than ever before? Together we unpack the rise of what philosophers call “expressive individualism” — the belief that identity, truth, morality and meaning are things we create for ourselves rather than discover. The result? A generation told they can be anything they want, yet increasingly unsure who they are or what they’re living for.   We explore: Why trust in institutions, religion and authority has collapsed among younger generations.  Why “spiritual but not religious” has become the default worldview for millions of young people.  Why freedom and self-expression haven’t solved the problems of loneliness, anxiety and lack of purpose. Whether science and intellectual honesty still leave room for belief in God.  Why community and transcendence appear to be hardwired into human beings.  Why so many successful people eventually discover that achievement alone isn’t enough.  Whether Christianity offers something fundamentally different from religion as most people understand it.This isn’t a debate. It isn’t culture war commentary. And it isn’t an attempt to pressure anyone into belief. It’s an honest conversation for intellectually curious people who have questions about faith, scepticism, science, meaning and what it means to live a good life. If you’ve ever found yourself thinking: “Surely life is more than work, money, entertainment and distraction.” If you’ve ever achieved something you wanted only to discover the satisfaction disappeared faster than expected. If you’ve ever rejected religion but still felt drawn towards something transcendent. If you’ve ever wondered whether meaning is discovered rather than invented. This conversation is for you.

    26. Spiritual But Not Religious. Why?

  4. Jun 26

    25. Boom. Bust. Built Again.

    What do you listen to more: your fear, or your purpose? In this episode, Christian sits down with entrepreneur and business leader Warwick Schmitz for a conversation that cuts through hustle culture, self-help clichés, and the illusion that success solves the deeper questions of life. Warwick isn’t speaking from theory. He’s built and lost businesses multiple times. He started his first company at 20, went bankrupt more than once, rebuilt from rock bottom, worked labouring jobs to support his family, and eventually built businesses operating across Australia — to the point where buying an aircraft became a practical business decision, not a luxury.   But the most interesting part of his story isn’t the success. It’s what happened when success disappeared. After losing everything financially, facing bankruptcy, and then watching his wife battle cancer with two young boys at home, Warwick was forced to confront a question most young men spend years avoiding: What actually holds you together when your own strength isn’t enough anymore? This conversation explores: Why failure may be a better teacher than success.The hidden cost of comfort and safety.Why modern men are drowning in noise but starving for meaning.The difference between information, wisdom, and purpose.How resilience is less a personality trait and more a decision.Why faith became less of an idea and more of a necessity for Warwick.How prayer, peace, and purpose changed the way he approaches business, family, and risk.Whether you’re building a business, questioning your direction, wrestling with anxiety about the future, or simply wondering if there’s more to life than achievement and consumption, this episode offers something increasingly rare: An honest conversation about ambition, suffering, meaning, and faith from someone who’s lived through all four. Warwick’s credibility doesn’t come from credentials or theory. He left school early, never attended university, built national businesses, led major projects inside large organisations, survived multiple bankruptcies, rebuilt repeatedly, and now leads companies across multiple states. His perspective was earned the hard way — through responsibility, failure, rebuilding, and decades of experience carrying the weight of employees, family, and business decisions.   The challenge he leaves listeners with is simple: Cut through the noise. Work out what actually matters. Build your life around that.

    25. Boom. Bust. Built Again.

  5. Jun 19

    24. I Had It All By 25. But…

    Most people chase success believing it will finally make them happy. But what happens when you actually get there? Loren Justins is the founder and CEO of Netconn Technology — a business he started in his early 20s and has built over more than 25 years. After dropping out of university, Loren went on to build a successful technology company, work with major organisations, mentor young leaders, write for Golf Digest, travel to over 60 countries, and become an early supporter and associate producer of the global series The Chosen. By his mid-20s, Loren had achieved many of the things young men spend their lives chasing — money, cars, success and freedom. But he discovered success doesn’t answer life’s biggest questions. In this episode of Cut Through, Loren shares: • Why achieving your goals won’t automatically make you happy• The hidden pressure and guilt that can come with success• Why money, cars and status don’t create lasting fulfilment• The real cost of building a business young• Why trust matters more than talent in business and relationships• How to find mentors and surround yourself with the right people• Why losing opportunities can become your biggest turning points• What young people need to understand about AI, careers and the future of work• Why some incredibly successful people still feel empty• How to discover what actually matters before it’s too late• How losing his mum and facing his own health battles challenged his faith• Why following Jesus has given him hope, purpose and peace This isn’t just a conversation about building a successful business. It’s about building a life worth living. Watch the full conversation on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/ZGFXklGQLtk

    24. I Had It All By 25. But…

  6. Jun 12

    23. Leaving My Gang Almost Got Me Killed

    Josh Gonzalez grew up in a good home. He wasn’t supposed to end up in gangs. But as a teenager in South-East Sydney, Josh was pulled into the streets, surrounded by violence, drugs and a culture built around respect, loyalty and reputation. What started as hanging around older guys became something much deeper. A search for brotherhood, identity and a place to belong. Before becoming a pastor, Josh was involved in gang life, selling drugs, battling addiction and chasing success through rap music. His music was gaining attention, with a potential record deal and overseas tour opportunities opening up. On the outside, it looked like he was getting closer to everything he wanted. On the inside, everything was falling apart. His marriage was breaking down, his addiction was taking over, his past was catching up with him, and after a violent confrontation with his former gang, Josh reached the lowest point of his life. But that moment changed everything. In this episode of Cut Through, Josh shares the real story behind gangs, street culture and why so many young men are searching for meaning in the wrong places. We talk about: • Why young men chase respect and status• What gangs provide that society often fails to give• The power of your environment and the people around you• How success can leave you feeling empty• Drugs, addiction and trying to escape yourself• Why Josh believes Jesus gave him what nothing else could This isn’t just a story about leaving a gang. It’s a conversation about the question every young man eventually has to answer: What are you building your life on? Watch the full interview:https://youtu.be/TYQLpZzxJH0

    23. Leaving My Gang Almost Got Me Killed

  7. Jun 5

    22 . I Got My Dream Life… It Wasn’t Enough

    Spotify Description: Josh Newbegin had what many young men dream of. Travelling the world. Snowboarding in Whistler. Chasing adventure. Living with freedom. But after finally getting the life he thought would make him happy, he discovered something confronting: It was fun… but it wasn’t fulfilling.   In this episode of Cut Through, Christian sits down with Josh Newbegin — men’s coach, speaker, founder of Kaizen Coaching Solutions, and host of the Unchained podcast — who now works with men, leaders, schools, organisations and groups to help people build healthier mindsets, stronger identity, and a deeper sense of purpose.   Josh shares his journey from chasing pleasure and success, to burnout, emptiness and finally discovering what was missing underneath it all. After years of trying to prove he was “enough” through achievement and helping others, Josh reached a breaking point that forced him to rebuild his understanding of identity, masculinity, faith and purpose.   We explore why so many young men today feel lost despite having more comfort and opportunity than ever, why pleasure alone can’t satisfy, the crisis of modern masculinity, and why finding meaning matters more than chasing the next dopamine hit.   Josh also opens up about his return to faith — not as a set of rules that restricted his life, but as a framework that helped him understand who he was created to be.   If you’ve ever wondered, “Is this all there is?” — more money, more experiences, more success, more fun — this conversation is for you. In this episode: Why achieving your dream life can still leave you emptyThe difference between happiness and true fulfilmentWhy young men are struggling with purposeWhat healthy masculinity actually looks likeHow to stop proving yourself and start living from identityWhy asking for help is strength, not weaknessHow faith, mindset and habits can transform your life

    22 . I Got My Dream Life… It Wasn’t Enough

  8. May 28

    21. Will AI Kill The University?

    What happens when AI can write essays, replace jobs, and teach you almost anything online for free? Is university still worth it — or are young people being sold an outdated system? In this episode of Cut Through, we sit down with Malcolm Coulson, Vice Chancellor of Avondale University, educator, leadership expert, and long-time researcher in human development and learning, to unpack one of the biggest questions facing this generation. Malcolm has spent decades working in education, leadership and student development, and now leads one of Australia’s faith-based universities. Throughout the conversation, he brings both institutional insight and personal honesty — talking not just about degrees and careers, but about identity, purpose, service, relationships, mental health, and what actually makes a meaningful life.   We explore:• whether university is becoming obsolete• the jobs AI will and won’t replace• why human connection still matters more than ever• how universities are responding to AI and academic integrity• why many young men feel disconnected and directionless• how social media and influencer culture are shaping identity• the difference between information and transformation• why success without meaning can still leave people empty• faith, science, purpose and the search for truth Malcolm argues that the future won’t belong to people who simply collect information — but to people who can think deeply, communicate well, serve others, and build meaningful human relationships. He explains why education is ultimately about becoming someone, not just getting qualifications.   This isn’t just a conversation about university. It’s a conversation about what it means to build a life that actually matters in the age of AI. Full video Interview also available on Youtube: https://youtu.be/O-fsZwXjtWU

    21. Will AI Kill The University?
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About

Cut Through is a podcast for people who are tired of noise, outrage, and shallow thinking — and want clarity instead. Hosted by Christian Co, the show features honest, long-form conversations with thinkers, leaders, and everyday people who have lived through failure, doubt, faith, ambition, loss, and rebuilding. Together, they explore the ideas that shape a meaningful life — identity, purpose, power, truth, culture, work, and belief. While especially relevant for young men navigating adulthood in a fragmented culture, these conversations are for anyone who wants to cut through the noise and

Information

  • Creator
    Cut Through
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Cut Through
  • Show Website
    Cut Through

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