Steak Dinner Podcast

Josh Peterson ; Kieran Martin

Welcome to the Steak Dinner Podcast — hosted by Josh and Kieran. The Steak Dinner Podcast is for Australian men in midlife who refuse to drift — and are ready to take ownership of their health, their responsibilities, and the life they’re building. For men who want to live deliberately in midlife.

  1. 11/14/2025

    Order No. 15: Calming the Mind

    Most Aussie blokes are running on mental overload — work stress, money pressure, kids, guilt, phones, and that 2 a.m. loop where your brain argues with itself. In this episode, Josh and Kieran break down why men struggle to switch off, and how to reset the mind with simple tools you can use every day. We talk through the science of stress, why men get stuck in negative thought spirals, and what constant noise is doing to our mood, sleep, and decision-making. You’ll hear real stories, honest self-reflection, and plenty of laughs (including a “gay poodle,” home invasion chat, and why no man has ever had two wines and ordered a salad). We cover practical resets — breathing tricks from the Navy SEALs, short walks that drop cortisol, how to protect your attention from phone overload, and why silence feels awkward but heals your brain. We also explore minimalism, compartmentalising stress, gratitude, better sleep cues, and how an abundance mindset changes your whole outlook. If you want more patience with your kids, clearer thinking at work, fewer late-night spirals, and a calmer everyday rhythm, this episode is your circuit-breaker. Why men have 6,000+ thoughts a day (80% negative or repetitive) How stress shows up in the body, your temper, and your decision-making How phones and constant noise drive anxiety up by 40% The Navy SEAL breathing reset you can do anywhere The “go slow hour” that rewires your nervous system How calm improves parenting, leadership, recovery, conflict and gym performance Why gratitude, decluttering, and boundaries lower stress fast How belief, mindset and internal narrative shape your whole day 5-minute resets: • 90-second breathing • Walks to drop cortisol • Declutter one small space • Silent commute • Cold water on the face • Done-list before bed • One habit you break this week (e.g. phone on charger after work) One five-minute reset each day Cut one noise habit Sleep 7 hours with phone outside the bedroom Tell a mate what worked Queen’s University (thought patterns, 2020) National Science Foundation (negative thought ratio, 2005) Harvard University (mind-wandering study, 2010) Yale Medicine (cortisol and brain structure, 2023) Heart Foundation (stress and heart disease risk, 2024) Deloitte Mobile Consumer Survey (phone checks, 2024) University of Melbourne (digital overload + anxiety, 2023) Sleep Foundation (sleep + cortisol, 2024) ABS (men’s stress behaviours, 2024) UC Davis (gratitude effects, 2019) Princeton Neuroscience Institute (clutter and focus, 2011) ⏱️ What You’ll Learn🔧 The Toolkit🎯 7-Day Challenge📚 Sources Mentioned 🎧 Listen & Follow the Steak Dinner Podcast 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6zl2s791oFvpfrrfE9ZZkA?si=VEHwaxwrTvqa1Pi1L4nKdw 🍏 Apple Podcasts (Full Show): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/steak-dinner-pod/id1813293616 ▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@steakdinnerpodcast?si=vuJM9RdayIehhVAz 🔗 Connect with Us 🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@steakdinnerpod?_t=ZS-8wzStZPP9Jh&_r=1 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steakdinnerpod?igsh=eThlaWkxMnhnNzMx&utm_source=qr 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1GTKsVMWDL/?mibextid=wwXIfr 🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/steakdinnerpod?s=21

    Order No. 15: Calming the Mind
  2. 10/29/2025

    Order No. 13 – Fatherhood: The Hardest, Most Important Job You’ll Ever Love

    Most blokes underestimate how much their presence—not their perfection—shapes their kids’ future. In this episode, Josh and Kieran sit down and gets real about what fatherhood means in 2025: the pressures, the guilt, the wins, the repair work. We’ll unpack how your role as a dad has shifted, why your presence matters more than the paycheck, how to navigate fatherhood after divorce or separation, and the legacy you’re building simply by showing up. Backed by the latest Australian stats, grounded in story, and packed with practical tools to help you step up in the day-to-day. If you’re a dad, thinking of becoming one, or trying to reconnect—this episode is for you. 🔍 Key Facts, Stats & Resources (for Show Notes) The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) “Fathers and Work: A Statistical Overview” shows that while fathers’ employment patterns change little after having children, their ability to shape care roles is increasing. Australian Institute of Family Studies According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) projections, one-parent families headed by male lone-parents are set to increase the fastest by 2046—between 40% and 69%. ABC Research shows that stay-at-home fathers remain rare in Australia (~4-5% of two-parent families) and that the traditional model of fathering is still deeply embedded in culture despite evolving roles. Australian Institute of Family Studies+1 A comprehensive review by Save the Children Australia titled “State of Australia’s Fathers” highlights that many Australian fathers consider themselves “helpers” rather than primary carers—even as they want more involvement with their kids. Equimundo+1 Health outcomes among first-time fathers in Australia show that while fatherhood brings many positives, there are also challenges around sleep, mental health, and service use—highlighted in the AIFS Ten to Men Insights report.  ✅ Call to Action for Listeners Reflect on one small thing you’ll do this week to increase your presence with your kids (a check-in, an activity, letting the phone go away for 10 minutes). Write down one “legacy moment” you want your kids to remember you for—not the big trophy, but the quiet ordinary habit. Share this episode with another dad and commit together to one ritual you’ll keep.

    Order No. 13 – Fatherhood: The Hardest, Most Important Job You’ll Ever Love
  3. 10/10/2025

    Order No. 12 – “Bloke Myths: Beer, Baldness & Bullsh*t”

    Kieran and Josh torch the biggest bloke myths with a mix of evidence and straight talk—plus plenty of banter. We cover: Food myths:Red wine & the 90s “French Paradox,” why eggs/yolks aren’t the villain, why protein shakes are supplements (not meals), snap-frozen veg can be more nutritious, and how 2–3 coffees can still fit hydration if you drink water too. Fitness myths:Cold plunges = short, meaningless T bump (but good for mood); “no pain, no gain” vs overtraining (injury risk goes up); crunches don’t spot-reduce fat; sauna is recovery, not “detox”; recreational running tends to strengthenjoints. Relationships myths:“Real men don’t show emotion” (why expressing it helps), “once a cheater, always a cheater” (context + change), who should pay (offer, then share—depends who’s organising), and why divorce isn’t failure if you learn and rebuild. Grooming & bedroom myths:Baldness genes come from both parents (treat early: finasteride + minoxidil). Men don’t think about sex every 7 seconds (more like ~19/day). “Men peak at 18” ignores strength peaking ~25–35 and emotional maturity later on. Running gags & moments: Huberman name-drop, “swallowed a sheep,” felt sauna hats, avocado law, Northern Beaches “cougars,” and Josh’s ice bath going green. Next week: Showing Up for Your Kids (Even When You’re Falling Apart) — practical ways to be present, not perfect.

    Order No. 12 – “Bloke Myths: Beer, Baldness & Bullsh*t”
  4. 10/02/2025

    Order No. 11 – The Mental Reset: Winning the Battle in Your Head

    In this episode, Josh and Kieran close out the Reset Trilogy with the toughest challenge yet: your mental game. We dive into why silence is killing blokes, the real impact of loneliness (as deadly as smoking 15 cigarettes a day), and why one in eight Aussie men face depression each year. Suicide is still the leading cause of death for men 15–44, and we’re pulling no punches on what that means. From workplace stress and burnout to mateship, stoic wisdom, and simple tools like breathwork, exercise, and setting boundaries—this is a practical conversation every man in midlife needs to hear. 🔑 What you’ll learn in this episode: • Why loneliness can cut years off your life. • The biggest shifts in men’s causes of death from the 1930s to now. • Stress and burnout: how to recognise the signs and reset. • Why mateship and connection might be the strongest medicine. • How to choose the right help (and why not all psychologists are equal). 📲 Listen to the full episode: • Spotify → Steak Dinner Podcast on Spotify • Apple Podcasts → Steak Dinner Podcast on Apple • YouTube → Steak Dinner Podcast on YouTube 🛠️ Resources & Links from this episode: • Beyond Blue — info, support & mental health toolkit. • Lifeline Australia — 24/7 crisis support (13 11 14). • Men’s Line Australia — support service for men. • Black Dog Institute — fact sheets, resources & research. • Smiling Mind — free Aussie meditation app. • AHPRA Register of Practitioners — check psychologist/health professional credentials. • Book: Burnout by Emily & Amelia Nagoski → Penguin Books link • Daily Stoic (Ryan Holiday) → Daily Stoic Website ✅ Calls to action: • Call one mate this week with no agenda. • Try a non-drinking catch-up (gym, walk, surf, or just coffee). • If you’re struggling, reach out: GP, Beyond Blue, Lifeline, Men’s Line, Black Dog Institute. Blokes, strength isn’t silence—it’s having the courage to speak up.

    Order No. 11 – The Mental Reset: Winning the Battle in Your Head

About

Welcome to the Steak Dinner Podcast — hosted by Josh and Kieran. The Steak Dinner Podcast is for Australian men in midlife who refuse to drift — and are ready to take ownership of their health, their responsibilities, and the life they’re building. For men who want to live deliberately in midlife.