Good Humans with Cooper Chapman

The Good Human Factory
  • 5.0 (41)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

Good Humans is a podcast hosted by professional surfer Cooper Chapman and produced by The Good Human Factory. Each Friday episode features a different guest, who shares their unique perspective on life and offers insight into what makes them a good human. From athletes and artists to activists and entrepreneurs, the guests on Good Humans come from all walks of life, but they all have one thing in common: a passion for making the world a better place. Every Wednesday on the 1% Podcast Cooper shares insights around gratitude and mindfulness in celebration of the 1% Good Club Instagram accountability groups dedicating 1% of their day to their mental health. Each we we champion multiple good humans of the week and also discuss a thought-provoking question. Join Cooper on a journey of discovery, as he sits down with some of the most interesting and thought-provoking people around, and learns from their wisdom and experiences. The Good Human Factory is a business that seeks to celebrate and uplift individuals who are making a positive impact in the world. Through the Good Humans podcast and other projects, The Good Human Factory aims to inspire and connect people who share a passion for making the world a better place. The Good Human Factory 2020 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 1d ago

    #264 Shaun Tomson — 1977 World Surfing Champion, The Code & the Story Behind One of Surfing's Greatest Legacies

    ⚠️ Content Warning This episode contains open discussion about the loss of a child and grief. Please take care of yourself first. If you're not in the right headspace, come back to this one when you're ready. If you need support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (available 24/7) or visit lifeline.org.au This week I sat down with Shaun Tomson, and this one genuinely stopped me in my tracks. Shaun grew up in Durban, South Africa, in a family deeply connected to the ocean. From a young age he was one of the most exciting surfers in the world, and in 1977 he became the IPS World Surfing Champion — one of the most celebrated titles in the history of the sport. He competed on the professional tour for 16 years, winning 19 major pro events, and was named one of the ten greatest surfers of the century by Surfer Magazine. He also revolutionised surfboard design and tube riding, leaving a mark on the sport that is still felt today. But Shaun's story doesn't stop at world titles. After retiring from competition he built successful surf apparel brands, became a passionate environmental advocate through his work with the Surfrider Foundation, and produced the award-winning documentary Bustin' Down the Door — the story of how his generation put professional surfing on the map. And then, in 2006, his teenage son Mathew died during a schoolboy prank gone wrong. By his own words, Shaun was totally lost in grief. What followed was one of the most remarkable acts of transformation I have ever heard — channelling unimaginable loss into a powerful message about resilience, purpose and living with intention. His books, including the bestselling Surfer's Code and The Code, and his keynote speaking work have since inspired everyone from Fortune 500 executives to students across the world. This conversation covers all of it. Shaun is warm, deeply human and one of the most inspiring people I have ever spoken to. This one will stay with you. In this episode we cover: Growing up in Durban, South Africa and falling in love with the oceanHis surfing career and winning the 1977 IPS World Surfing Championship16 years on tour, 19 major pro events and redefining tube ridingRevolutionising surfboard design and his impact on the sportBuilding iconic surf apparel brands Instinct and SolitudeHis environmental advocacy and work with the Surfrider FoundationProducing the award-winning documentary Bustin' Down the DoorThe death of his son Mathew and navigating unimaginable griefHow loss became the catalyst for his greatest purposeHis bestselling books Surfer's Code and The CodeHis keynote speaking and the Code Leadership MethodWhat he wants people to take from his story If this episode brought something up for you help is always there: 📞 Lifeline 13 11 14 | lifeline.org.au Follow Shaun Website https://shauntomson.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/shauntomson/?hl=en Connect with Cooper Workshop and Speaking Enquiries https://form.typeform.com/to/DSPSnvEH 1% Good Club Book https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/e1xrkr https://amzn.to/46ve1i2 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cooperchapman/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@cooperchapman_ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/cooper-chapman-08a278151/ The Good Human Factory Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thegoodhumanfactory/ The Good Human Factory https://www.thegoodhumanfactory.com THE GOOD HUMAN FACTORY™️ 2020 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    #264 Shaun Tomson — 1977 World Surfing Champion, The Code & the Story Behind One of Surfing's Greatest Legacies

  2. Aug 20

    #263 Dr Jemma King — Why 65% of Australians Are Getting Sleep Wrong & What to Do About It

    This week I sat down with Dr Jemma King, and this one is going to change the way you think about sleep forever. Jemma is a behavioural scientist and sleep researcher with a PhD in Human Behaviour, a Research Fellow at The University of Queensland School of Psychology and a specialist external advisor to McKinsey & Company. Her brand new book Sleep First is out now through Wiley. 65% of Australians report that poor quality sleep is affecting their focus and wellbeing. Yet despite endless wellness advice, most of us still don't understand what is actually happening in our brains and bodies when we sleep. Irregular sleepers carry roughly a 50% higher all-cause mortality risk than consistent sleepers — not people sleeping less, but people sleeping at different times. There is even a name for the weekly version of this: social jet lag. Jemma is sharp, practical and genuinely one of the best communicators I have spoken to on this show. This one will stick with you. In this episode we cover: Jemma's journey into sleep science and human behaviourWhy 65% of Australians are struggling with poor quality sleepWhy your brain needs to clean itself every nightWhy waking at 3am happens and what your body is trying to tell youHow caffeine, alcohol, screens and late meals disrupt sleep qualityBuilding a personalised sleep formula for energy, focus and recoveryHer new book Sleep First and what's inside it Jemma's Book — Sleep First Jemma's Website https://www.jemmakingbio-pa.com.au/ Follow Jemma Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dr.jemma.king/ Connect with Cooper Workshop and Speaking Enquiries https://form.typeform.com/to/DSPSnvEH 1% Good Club Book https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/e1xrkr https://amzn.to/46ve1i2 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cooperchapman/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@cooperchapman_ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/cooper-chapman-08a278151/ The Good Human Factory Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thegoodhumanfactory/ The Good Human Factory https://www.thegoodhumanfactory.com THE GOOD HUMAN FACTORY™️ 2020 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    #263 Dr Jemma King — Why 65% of Australians Are Getting Sleep Wrong & What to Do About It

  3. Aug 13

    #262 Nathan Moss — What Nobody Tells You About Your 20s & the Book He Wrote When He Couldn't Find the Answers

    This week I sat down with Nathan Moss, known as Uncle Nathan, and this one is going to hit close to home for a lot of people in their 20s. Nathan spent a good chunk of his twenties doing what a lot of us do — feeling a bit lost, a bit unfulfilled, and not really sure why. So he did what made sense. He packed up, moved to Bali and set out to build the dream life. And from the outside it looked great. But on the inside, something still wasn't right. So he came home. And then he did something about it — he wrote a book. Sort of OK, Sort of Not is Nathan's self-published debut, and it is exactly the kind of honest, unpretentious conversation about life in your twenties that most people are desperate for but rarely find. It's a book for people who are figuring it out and tired of pretending they already have. We talk about what it really felt like to chase a dream life and feel nothing, what moving back to Australia taught him, why he decided to write and self-publish rather than wait for permission, and what he hopes people take from the book. Nathan is warm, self-aware and refreshingly honest. This one is for anyone who has ever felt sort of ok, and sort of not. In this episode we cover: Struggling and feeling lost in his early twentiesMoving to Bali to build the dream life and feeling unfulfilledComing back to Australia and what that decision taught himWriting and self-publishing Sort of OK, Not OKHonest conversations about the reality of life in your twentiesWhy so many people are figuring it out and pretending they aren'tWhat he hopes people take from the book Nathan's Book — Sort of OK, Not OK https://www.amazon.com.au/Sort-Okay-Not-twenties-yourself/dp/1764607414 Follow Nathan Website https://unclenathan.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/unclenathanco/ Connect with Cooper Workshop and Speaking Enquiries https://form.typeform.com/to/DSPSnvEH 1% Good Club Book https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/e1xrkr https://amzn.to/46ve1i2 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cooperchapman/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@cooperchapman_ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/cooper-chapman-08a278151/ The Good Human Factory Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thegoodhumanfactory/ The Good Human Factory https://www.thegoodhumanfactory.com THE GOOD HUMAN FACTORY™️ 2020 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    #262 Nathan Moss — What Nobody Tells You About Your 20s & the Book He Wrote When He Couldn't Find the Answers

  4. Aug 4

    #261 Matt Formston — Told He'd Never Play Sport Because He Was Blind. Now He's a 5x World Champion & World Record Big Wave Surfer at Nazaré

    This week I sat down with Matt Formston AM, and I genuinely don't know where to start with this one. At five years old, Matt was told he would go blind and never hold down a job or play sport. The doctors were half right. Matt did go blind. But everything else they said? He has spent his entire life proving wrong. Matt is a four-time Adaptive Surfing World Champion, a World Champion cyclist, an Australian Paralympian, and holds the Guinness World Record for the largest wave ever surfed by any para-athlete in history. He has had an award-winning Netflix documentary made about him — The Blind Sea — and has just released his debut book Why Not? through Wiley, out now. We talk about what it actually takes to trust someone with your life on the biggest waves in the world, the mental health challenges that don't always make the highlight reel, what resilience really looks like when the odds are stacked against you from the age of five, and why the word "can't" has never really stuck with Matt. We also get into his next chapter — Matt has become a world class free diver and is heading to Tonga in August to freedive with humpback whales. Because of course he is. This is one of the most extraordinary human beings I have ever had the privilege of sitting down with. This one will change the way you think about limits. In this episode we cover: Being told at five he would go blind and never work or play sportFour-time Adaptive Surfing World Champion and Guinness World Record holder at NazaréWorld Champion cyclist and Australian ParalympianThe Netflix documentary The Blind SeaThe role of trust on the biggest waves in the worldMental health, resilience and life at the edgeHis new book Why Not? and the message behind itFreediving shipwrecks and swimming with humpback whales in Tonga Matt's Book — Why Not? https://www.amazon.com.au/Why-Not-Breaking-Limits-Business/dp/1394434626 Matt's Website https://www.mattformston.com/ Follow Matt Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mattformston/?hl=en Connect with Cooper Workshop and Speaking Enquiries https://form.typeform.com/to/DSPSnvEH 1% Good Club Book https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/e1xrkr https://amzn.to/46ve1i2 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cooperchapman/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@cooperchapman_ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/cooper-chapman-08a278151/ The Good Human Factory Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thegoodhumanfactory/ The Good Human Factory https://www.thegoodhumanfactory.com THE GOOD HUMAN FACTORY™️ 2020 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    #261 Matt Formston — Told He'd Never Play Sport Because He Was Blind. Now He's a 5x World Champion & World Record Big Wave Surfer at Nazaré

  5. Jul 29

    #260 Declan Edwards — Why Chasing Happiness Is Making You Miserable & the 5 Skills to Actually Create It

    This week I sat down with Declan Edwards, known as That Happiness Guy, and this one is going to make you rethink everything you thought you knew about happiness. Declan is a happiness researcher, founder of BU Happiness College, holds a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology, and has shared his work everywhere from TEDx stages to the United Nations. His brand new book How To Be Happy is out now through Wiley, and it challenges a really powerful assumption — that happiness is something you find, achieve or stumble into if the circumstances are right.It isn't. Happiness is a skillset. And most of us were simply never taught how. We get into why Australians are pouring billions into the self-help industry yet becoming less happy, not more. We talk about the real predictor of happiness — and spoiler, it isn't success or money. We dig into why small daily actions matter far more than big life milestones, and Declan walks us through the five practical, science-backed skills that actually move the needle. This is one of those conversations that is equal parts challenging and practical. Declan is warm, sharp and genuinely walks the talk. I think you are going to love this one. In this episode we cover: Why we have been sold the wrong idea of happinessWhy global happiness levels are dropping despite record self-help spendingThe real predictor of happiness — and it's not successWhy chasing happiness is actually working against youThe five skills to create happiness in everyday lifeWorking with your emotions instead of fighting themHow to train your brain to notice the good without ignoring the hard stuffGetting clear on your values and building a life with direction and purposeWhy small daily actions matter more than big life milestonesHow To Be Happy — Declan's new book and what's inside it Declan's Book — How To Be Happy https://www.amazon.com.au/How-Be-Happy-Chasing-Happiness Follow Declan Website https://declanedwards.com.au/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/declanedwards_bu/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/declan-edwards-bu-happiness-college/ Connect with Cooper Workshop and Speaking Enquiries https://form.typeform.com/to/DSPSnvEH 1% Good Club Book https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/e1xrkr https://amzn.to/46ve1i2 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cooperchapman/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@cooperchapman_ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/cooper-chapman-08a278151/ The Good Human Factory Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thegoodhumanfactory/ The Good Human Factory https://www.thegoodhumanfactory.com THE GOOD HUMAN FACTORY™️ 2020 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    #260 Declan Edwards — Why Chasing Happiness Is Making You Miserable & the 5 Skills to Actually Create It

  6. Jul 21

    #259 Simmo Braun — Busting the Myths Around Blood Donation & Why One Hour of Your Time Saves Three Lives

    This week I sat down with Simmo Braun, and this one is a little different — and I love it. Simmo is a father of three, a committed blood donor, wellness advocate, workshop facilitator and the man behind The Bloody Good Tour — an adventure around Australia on a mission to save 100,000 lives through blood donation.' This conversation really got me. We talk about the power of contribution as one of the most underrated pillars of wellbeing, and how something as simple as giving blood — which takes less than an hour — saves three lives every single time. Three lives. From one donation. I also share something I didn't realise until speaking with Simmo — I always assumed my tattoos meant I couldn't donate blood, and it turns out that hasn't been the case for years. If you've been sitting on the same assumption, this episode is for you. There are thousands of Australians in exactly the same boat, and this conversation will change that. We are also doing something really special off the back of this chat. I have signed up to give my very first blood donation on July 31st — Bloody Good Human Day — and I want you to come with me. We have set up a team called the Bloody Good Humans Factory and I want our community to be part of something that could genuinely save hundreds of lives together. Doing good feels good. Let's go. In this episode we cover: Simmo's journey and the mission behind The Bloody Good TourWhy every blood donation saves three livesThe importance of contribution as a pillar of wellbeingWhy so many Australians wrongly think they can't donateTattoos, hereditary traits and other myths around blood donationCooper's first ever blood donation on July 31stHow the Good Human Factory community can get involved togetherWhy Bloody Good Human Day on July 31st mattersThe power of small acts creating massive collective impact Join the Bloody Good Humans Factory Team & Donate https://my.donateblood.com.au/app/myteams_home?org=Bloody%20Good%20Humans%20Factory&orgId=209416&search=factory The Bloody Good Tour https://thebloodygoodtour.com.au Follow Simmo Instagram https://www.instagram.com/simmobraun/ Follow Cooper and TGHF 1% Good Club Book (use code PODCAST for 25% off) https://www.thegoodhumanfactory.com/products/1-good-club-book Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cooperchapman/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@cooperchapman_ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/cooper-chapman-08a278151/ Workshop and Speaking Enquiries https://form.typeform.com/to/DSPSnvEH The Good Human Factory Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thegoodhumanfactory/ The Good Human Factory https://www.thegoodhumanfactory.com THE GOOD HUMAN FACTORY™️ 2020 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    #259 Simmo Braun — Busting the Myths Around Blood Donation & Why One Hour of Your Time Saves Three Lives

  7. Jul 14

    #258 Alexa Leary — The Triathlete Who Almost Died, Learned to Walk Again & Then Won 2x Paralympic Gold

    ⚠️ Content Warning This episode contains discussions about a near-fatal accident, traumatic brain injury and the challenges of recovery. Please take care of yourself first. If you're not in the right headspace, come back to this one when you're ready. If you need support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (available 24/7) or visit lifeline.org.au This week I sat down with Alexa Leary, and honestly this one gave me chills. At 19 years old, Alexa was a champion triathlete heading downhill at 70km an hour when she clipped the wheel in front of her. She says she died that day. She wasn't expected to survive. She spent 111 days in hospital learning to walk and talk again, living with the impacts of a severe traumatic brain injury that changed the course of her life forever. What followed is one of the most extraordinary second acts in Australian sporting history. After re-learning to walk and talk, Alexa jumped back in the pool and found a new purpose — and within two years was representing Australia at the World Para Swimming Championships. At the 2024 Paris Paralympics she won two gold medals and a silver, breaking the world record in the 100m freestyle. She then went on to repeat that same medal tally at the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore. She has since been awarded an OAM for her extraordinary achievements in sport. We also get into the sides of Alexa that don't always make the headlines — her deep love for house music and Fisher, her journey into DJing and music, and what swimming really means to her beyond the medals. And we talk about her brand new memoir Sink or Swim, where she tells the full truth of her two lives for the very first time. This is a conversation about resilience, identity and what it really means to rebuild yourself from zero. Alexa is joyful, honest and completely magnetic. This one will leave you fired up. In this episode we cover: The bike crash that should have killed her and how she survived111 days in hospital learning to walk and talk againLiving with a traumatic brain injury and what that looks like every dayFinding swimming and making the Australian Paralympic teamTwo gold medals and a silver at the 2024 Paris ParalympicsBreaking the world record in the 100m freestyleRepeating the medal tally at the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships in SingaporeHer love for house music and Fisher and her journey into DJingWhat swimming means to her beyond sportHer new memoir Sink or Swim and why she wanted to tell her full story Alexa's Book - Sink or Swim https://www.penguin.com.au/books/sink-or-swim-9781761354601 Follow Alexa Instagram https://www.instagram.com/alexa_leary/?hl=en Follow Cooper and TGHF 1% Good Club Book https://www.amazon.com.au/1-Good-Club-Transform-Minutes/dp/1394332823 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cooperchapman/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@cooperchapman_ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/cooper-chapman-08a278151/ Workshop and Speaking Enquiries https://form.typeform.com/to/DSPSnvEH The Good Human Factory Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thegoodhumanfactory/ The Good Human Factory https://www.thegoodhumanfactory.com THE GOOD HUMAN FACTORY™️ 2020 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    #258 Alexa Leary — The Triathlete Who Almost Died, Learned to Walk Again & Then Won 2x Paralympic Gold

  8. Jul 7

    #257 Sarah Rosenberg — What Nobody Tells You About Reporting Sexual Assault in Australia

    ⚠️ Content Warning This episode contains open discussions about sexual assault, trauma, and the legal system's treatment of victim-survivors. Please take care of yourself first. If you're not in the right headspace, come back to this one when you're ready. There is no rush. If you need support, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 (available 24/7) or visit 1800respect.org.au - This week I sat down with Sarah Rosenberg, and this conversation genuinely stopped me in my tracks. Sarah is a victim-survivor advocate and Executive Director of With You We Can, and her work sits at the intersection of lived experience and real legal and policy change. But before any of that, there is her story. At 23, Sarah reported a violent assault by someone she had been dating. What followed wasn't just a legal process — it was a complete loss of control over her own story. Without her knowledge or consent, the defence accessed thousands of pages of her private medical and counselling records, including deeply personal notes from when she was a teenager. Doctors she hadn't seen in years were contacted. Sensitive details about her health and her life were read aloud in court. She describes it as a total free-for-all. What is striking, and not widely understood, is that at no point was she automatically given a lawyer to represent her own interests throughout that process. For a long time, Sarah thought this was just her experience. It wasn't. Now her work is dedicated to making sure others understand their rights, and pushing for the systemic protections that should have been there from the start. She speaks about all of it without polish — thoughtfully, honestly, and grounded in what it actually feels like to go through something like this. This is a conversation about trust, agency, and what happens when the systems we assume will protect us simply don't. It is one of the most important episodes I have released, and I think it will stay with you. In this episode we cover: Sarah's experience reporting a violent assault at 23The defence accessing thousands of pages of her private medical and counselling records without her consentWhat it felt like to have her most personal history read aloud in courtWhy victim-survivors are not automatically provided legal representationHow she came to realise her experience was far from uniqueHer work as Executive Director of With You We CanThe legal and policy changes she is fighting forWhat real agency and justice should look like for victim-survivorsWhat she wants people to know about their rights If this episode brought something up for you: 📞 1800RESPECT (sexual assault and family violence counselling) 1800 737 732 | 1800respect.org.au 📞 Lifeline 13 11 14 | lifeline.org.au Learn more about the justice system, and support Sarah’s advocacy at www.withyouwecan.orgFollow With You We Can on IG @withyouwecan_ to better support someone who might need it 1% Good Club Book (use code PODCAST for 25% off) https://www.thegoodhumanfactory.com/products/1-good-club-book Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cooperchapman/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@cooperchapman_ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/cooper-chapman-08a278151/ Workshop and Speaking Enquiries https://form.typeform.com/to/DSPSnvEH The Good Human Factory Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thegoodhumanfactory/ The Good Human Factory https://www.thegoodhumanfactory.com THE GOOD HUMAN FACTORY™️ 2020 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    #257 Sarah Rosenberg — What Nobody Tells You About Reporting Sexual Assault in Australia
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About

Good Humans is a podcast hosted by professional surfer Cooper Chapman and produced by The Good Human Factory. Each Friday episode features a different guest, who shares their unique perspective on life and offers insight into what makes them a good human. From athletes and artists to activists and entrepreneurs, the guests on Good Humans come from all walks of life, but they all have one thing in common: a passion for making the world a better place. Every Wednesday on the 1% Podcast Cooper shares insights around gratitude and mindfulness in celebration of the 1% Good Club Instagram accountability groups dedicating 1% of their day to their mental health. Each we we champion multiple good humans of the week and also discuss a thought-provoking question. Join Cooper on a journey of discovery, as he sits down with some of the most interesting and thought-provoking people around, and learns from their wisdom and experiences. The Good Human Factory is a business that seeks to celebrate and uplift individuals who are making a positive impact in the world. Through the Good Humans podcast and other projects, The Good Human Factory aims to inspire and connect people who share a passion for making the world a better place. The Good Human Factory 2020 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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