Uncommon | Learn From Unique Individuals, The Ultimate Way To Improve Yourself

For more podcast show notes see neuralle.com/podcast Danielle Weber ( @daniellesartworkofficial ) is an incredible Australian artist based here in Melbourne, Victoria. Her passion and love for painting is highlighted by her distinct portraits and sheer quality of work. Danielle’s work has extended to include original pieces for a number of high profile clients including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. It was Melbourne I Love You Founder Chris Cincotta, that first introduced me to Danielle’s work, and I thank him for the exceptional suggestion. Danielle is one of the most hard working artists I’ve come across, and one that truly has talent. She’s the type of artist that helps me appreciate the art form, by focusing on the individual beauty in each piece of work - whether a mural or portrait. I’ve often struggled at art galleries, particularly when they have interpretive modern art that honestly makes me wonder why it’s there. Danielle’s work is so innate and I think she opens up the door for many to appreciate this world. This was a great chat, in a completely new area for me - where we covered: Deadlifting and training Early interests Her mother’s encouragement Preferred discipline and process Conor McGregor The Rock Starting her business, work ethic, and anxiety Her early drawings and influences Ridiculous requests and difficult clients Mistakes myths of becoming an artist Show notes 01:03 - Introduction 04:10 - Deadlifting and training 05:14 - Early interests 08:57 - Favourite dishes 10:40 - Lessons that have stayed with her 11:59 - Her mother’s encouragement 13:03 - Preferred discipline and process 16:06 - Layers, focus and flow 18:40 - Teaching art and her method 21:52 - Her favourite brands, materials 23:17 - Conor McGregor and The Rock 28:47 - Starting her business, work ethic, and anxiety 30:56 - What her schedule looks like 33:26 - Her early drawings and influences 36:37 - Personal development 40:03 - Her partner and relationships 42:51 - Virtual assistant and her future 47:00 - Is her work still a burden at times? 48:05 - Ridiculous requests and difficult clients 51:39 - David Choe 55:02 - Mistakes myths of becoming an artist 56:45 - How she would teach people without experience 58:43 - Exercise routine and best purchase under $200 01:01:20 - What seems obvious to her but not to others 01:03:01 - If she could have a billboard anywhere Links Danielle’s website Taubmans paint Conor McGregor Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) David Choe Amy Winehouse John Legend Similar episode: Chris Cincotta Similar episode: Kim Michaelides

For more head to:  neuralle.com/podcast Dr Prash Puspanathan ( @drprash ) is a medical doctor Neuropsychiatry Fellow at The Alfred Hospital Melbourne, Founder and Managing Director of Cryptocurrency Broker Caleb Brown, and a clinical advisor to the Australian Psychedelic Society. A medical doctor by training, with years of experience in the field of psychiatry, Prash was first drawn to psychedelics through his philosophical beliefs and the power they’ve shown to impact your mind. This in turn, exposed him to the world of cryptocurrencies. Prash is a unique combination of a conscientious (crypto) creative (psychedelics) individual, drawn to both areas of work. Both crypto psychedelic research worlds are just at the beginning of the great leap forward, and I’m certain that Prash will be at the forefront of that here in Australia. In this slightly longer episode we covered many topics including: Life, politics and formative experiences Dealing with racism Psychiatry vs. psychology The state of psychedelic research MDMA assisted treatment for PTSD Crypto and decentralisation Advancements uses of technology Caleb Brown, how he evaluates digital assets Enjoy the episode! Show notes 00:55 - Introduction 03:44 - Toblerone 05:33 - Life and politics in Singapore 13:59 - Japan 16:11 - Singapore dealing with racism 20:49 - Lessons learned from his parents 23:09 - What he wants in life and how he plans to achieve it 26:53 - Benjamin Franklin 28:08 - Why he chose to study in Australia 30:32 - Psychiatry vs. psychology 33:42 - The psychedelic paradigm and psychedelic therapy 40:11 - Researchers and the state of psychedelic research 43:23 - On ‘Psychonauts Onymous’ 47:12 - MDMA assisted treatment for PTSD 52:28 - How to conduct safe and effective research 56:18 - Resources for self-learning psychology 01:00:57 - Crypto and decentralisation 01:07:40 - Advancements uses of technology 01:15:27 - Caleb Brown how he evaluates digital assets 01:21:20 - Venezuela, the petro currency liquidity providers 01:23:02 - Advice on how to start investing 01:24:14 - Going back in time, what he would do 01:25:23 - Morning evening rituals 01:27:37 - What he’s reading at the moment 01:30:42 - Meditation and best purchase under $200 01:31:25 - What seems obvious to him but not to others 01:33:28 - What music he’s listening to 01:34:02 - Where he would have a billboard 01:36:01 - Final word Links Prash on Linkedin Caleb Brown Toblerone Matterhorn Carl Lewis Malcolm X Muhammad Ali Jiddu Krishnamurti Benjamin Franklin Carl Jung Sigmund Freud Epilepsy Tim Ferriss Albert Hoffman Imperial College NYU University of South Carolina David Nutt Dr Ben Sessa Charlie Munger Bitcoin Global Financial Crisis 2007-2008 The Drunkard’s Walk, by Leonard Mlodinow The Doors of Perception, by Aldous Huxley The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, by William Blake Alborosie Alina Baraz

For more head to: neuralle.com/podcast Ed Husic MP ( @ehusic ) is The Honorable Member for Chifley, Shadow Minister for the Digital Economy, Employment Services, Workforce Participation and the Future of Work. He is a Labor Party Member, a mad Chicago Bulls supporter and as he’s said himself “Blacktown through and through”. Ed is one of the most straight-talking MPs I’ve heard in the modern political era. He’s incredibly gracious, clearly well-read and - I believe - a politician that instills confidence in an era where polarisation and political correctness is the word on everyone’s lips. I have no doubt that we’ll see important work from Ed over the coming years. This was an enjoyable conversation covering many points, including: Basketball, his favourite Michael Jordan memory, and US travels His experience and love for Western Sydney Lessons from his parents Immigrant communities their upbringing Homogeneous and diverse societies His political voice and views The evolution of politicians in politics The difference of being in government shadow government Enjoy the episode! Show notes 00:56 - Introduction 03:55 - Basketball, favourite Michael Jordan memory, and USA travels 08:10 - His experience and love for Western Sydney 10:54 - Lessons from his parents 18:11 - Immigrant communities and their upbringing 22:15 - Homogeneous and diverse societies 25:46 - His political voice and views 31:48 - The evolution of politicians in politics 36:50 - The difference of being in government shadow government 39:03 - Morning routine and recent books he’s read 41:04 - Best purchase under $200 41:18 - If he could have a billboard anywhere Links Ed on Facebook, LinkedIn Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls StubHub Rupert Murdoch Donald Trump Mathias Cormann Paul Keating Paul Keating: The Big-Picture Leader, by Troy Bramston Andrew Bolt Still Lucky, by Rebecca Huntley Hugh Mackay Wonderland, by Stephen Johnson Thank You for Being Late, by Thomas Friedman Similar eps: Philip Dalidakis MP | Tom Ballard

To check out our full list of episode show notes head to  neuralle.com/podcast Geert Hendrix ( @farm_wall ) is the founder CEO of Farmwall. Farmwall is a socially responsible, high-tech, urban agriculture company that aims to transform cities into food producing ecosystems. Their subscription-based, urban aquaponic-inspired farm supplies naturally-grown, fresh and delicious greens to award-winning cafes restaurants such as well-renowned Top Paddock. Geert is an incredibly humble and intelligent guy, building one of the more interesting local startups that I’ve come across. The trajectory for an infrastructure-based startup in the agriculture space is not as rapid as your typical software startup, but I have a strong belief that Geert is laying down the groundwork for a paradigm shift in agriculture. Many thanks to our previous guest, Seb Lindner (Ep 41) for the introduction. Key topics we covered include: Geerts first experience of Vipassana Travel, and how he got to Australia Transitioning from craft beer to agricultural tech Aus market compared to globally Aquaponics and Farmwall How his business model works Advantages and impacts of an aquaponics style system The future of Farmwall The future of for-profit food production Agricultural tech leaders Enjoy the episode! Show notes 01:43 - Introduction 04:28 - Geerts first experience of Vipassana 12:12 - Meditation 13:46 - Travel, and how he got to Australia 20:28 - Earliest childhood memories 23:08 - Why he stayed in Australia 25:17 - Transitioning from craft beer to agritech 26:50 - Aus market compared to globally 31:10 - Aquaponics and Farmwall 37:59 - How his business model works 41:35 - Advantages and impacts of aquaponics style system 45:48 - The future of Farmwall 55:21 - Farmwall’s leverage and momentum 58:48 - Farmwall’s new location 01:04:09 - The future of for-profit food production 01:06:53 - Agricultural tech leaders 01:08:40 - Books and resources 01:10:39 - Other careers of interest 01:12:17 - Morning and evening routines 01:14:33 - Most influential book 01:16:47 - Types of fish he has 01:18:11 - What he’s been listening to 01:19:15 - Who he thinks of in terms of success 01:20:37 - If he could have a billboard anywhere Links Geert on Instagram, LinkedIn Farmwall Vipassana Vipassana Centre Queensland Kiwi Experience Palm Breweries Pirate Life Brewing 4 Pints Beer Balter Brewing Aquaponics Finding Your Element, by Ken Robinson Rene Redzepi Attica Jeff Bezos Kimbal Musk The Vertical Farm, by Dickson Despommier Intelligent Gardener, by Steve Solomon The Urban Farmer, by Curtis Allen Stone Similar episode: Ep #041 - Seb Lindner Similar episode: Ep #019 - Jordy Kay

For full show notes and links head to  neuralle.com/podcast Dr Monica Barratt ( @monicabarratt ) is a social scientist at Australia's National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, based out of the University of New South Wales (UNSW). Monica’s research concerns the social and public health implications of internet technologies for people who use illicit drugs, and the impacts of legislative responses to drugs. She is particularly interested in how we respond to the emergence of novel drug trends (like the Silk Road) and how these trends are enabled by digital technologies. This has allowed Monica to engage hard-to-reach networks behind the Dark Web, in conversations about research and policy. Drug policy, and the use of psychoactive drugs, has fascinated me since I developed a generalised anxiety disorder in my early 20s. In other episodes we’ve engaged psychologist Dr Stephen Bright, and criminologist Dr James Martin. By including a sociological perspective, we can all better understand the mechanics and implications of using such drugs in society. This is another meaty episode where we focus on the topic of drug policy, prohibition and the current social commentary around it - especially in the digital space. In this episode we covered: Silk Road and the media Positive outcomes of the darknet Case of Preston Bridge How Ross Ulbricht was caught his court case Early career and how she got started The internet’s role in the growth of new drugs How the internet is used today Censorship, human intelligence human error Drug use and how humans have evolved The future of drug policy Her experience reaching hard-to-reach networks Max Keiser and RT Enjoy the episode!

For full show notes and links head to  neuralle.com/podcast Michelle Bourke ( @michellebourke ) is an entrepreneur, public speaker and CEO of Artlivemedia. She’s an incredibly honest and deep thinker who’s clearly well read. Her driven attitude maintains a passion for learning to consume all available knowledge, but her extraverted nature ensures that she’s understanding and humble about it. Artlivemedia and Michelle have built a reputation as an award winning digital agency in Australia over a very short period of time. From inception of the business it won the 2016 Telstra New Business award, Michelle has sat on the board of Startup Vic (of which she recently left) and has spoken at numerous events including a panel with former Prime Minister Julia Gillard. In my assessment, Michelle is a very fair and honest entrepreneur, who has built a brilliant business. We share many personality traits that sometimes push us to the brink mentally - so I enjoyed being able to bounce ideas and learn from someone like this. This episode is a great conversation to share with anyone who’s in an early stage startup (or at least thinking of starting one) to provide a refresher on their thinking, preparation and motivations. Michelle uncovers how she works and what she finds motivating and productive, and I believe we could all benefit from her insights. In particular we covered: Her background in singing Extroversion and over sharing Dealing with perceived prominence Public speaking and preparation Politics and women in business tech Balance and time management Recording family history Women's movement and having children Her interest in health, sleep, and nutrition Carnism and the transition away from meat Futuristic literature, social change and sci-fi Business: how she got started, and how she manages it Acquiring clients, generating business Enjoy the episode!

For show notes and links: neuralle.com/podcast It’s been a year since our debut episode - so at Episode 52 we decided to do a year in review. This is our second try at what we are coining as the ‘Semi-Regular Show’. This format is more discussional and allows us to explore self-improvement topics, tools, gadgets, and recent events in the media. It’s incredibly important as long form content creators that we take time to reflect and pause, at least a few times every year, all the while building the community on conversation. These Semi-Regular shows provide the best format for that. This time we have two guests. The first is Lauren Lopatko ( @laurenloko ), who is Neuralle’s co-founder, the Uncommon Podcast producer, and additionally my fiancée. Our second is Michael Jayaranjan ( @michaelcjay ), who is a good friend, wandering salesman and now perennial traveller. You may remember MJ from episode 5 33. As usual, enjoy the episode and we thank you for tuning in.

For show notes and links: neuralle.com/podcast  Lauren Pei-Lee ( @lauren_peilee ) is a semi-pro who competes nationally in the burgeoning performance art of pole dancing - a sport that combines dance and acrobatics on a vertical pole. Pole dancing is a sport that has fascinated me since I met Lauren, because at the same time I was learning about the GymnasticBodies movement and people such as Ido Portal. This form of exercise and control over my body was a lot more interesting to me, rather than just completing rudimentary weight training. When I saw people like Conor McGregor also start to use Ido Portal as part of his training camp, I was intent on broadening my exercise routine into this area. The sport has rapidly changed over the last decade, to the point where it’s now been provided observer status by the GAISF, the body in charge of classifying sports for the Olympic committee - possibly paving the way for its inclusion in years to come. The connotations of stripping still remain for the layperson, but I think there’s enough BuzzFeed VICE videos online now to show that perception is changing, there’s numerous studios providing a base for talent, and competitions that become more competitive as each year goes by. Lauren is a good friend of mine, and an incredible talent. She’ll help broaden your understanding of this new sport, and what opportunities it provides for athletes interested in the performance. In terms of topics we covered: Her earliest experience and how she began dancing Different styles of dance What pole dancing is as a sport, and how it works Training, trainers, and competition Where, what, and who she draws inspiration from Staying in shape day-to-day Training for competitions and F45 training Pole Star Idols: Pole dancers she looks up to How she got into competing and how competitions work What dancers overlook and Lauren’s strengths and weaknesses Advice for beginners on getting started Enjoy the episode!

For show notes and links: neuralle.com/podcast   Kim Michaelides ( @spencerandrutherford ) is an iconic fashion designer, creative genius, colour savant and incidentally, my auntie. I could make the excuse again that this is another selfish episode, where I look to document as much of the knowledge and experiences from members of my family. My reasoning is pretty straightforward, having had a grandmother develop dementia over the last few years I feel it’s necessary to interview the family around me. But it would be disingenuous of me to say that this episode with Kim is only for selfish reasons. As you may have learnt in our interview with her partner Chris, Kim is a well regarded Australian handbag designer. Spencer Rutherford is an iconic local brand, designed by Kim for well over 18 years now, appreciated in both the local and international markets. Chris would be the first to admit that she’s the smarter of the two. My first memories of Kim are the witty dry jokes she would tell, that I never really understood at such a young age, but have come to appreciate in time. Kim has achieved more than most in her career, all the while being able to have children in the process. There’s immeasurable lessons that both young, career driven women, and couples considering entering business together, can learn from this episode. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Key topics we covered in this episode include: Her earliest fashion/design memory Artistic disciplines and how she got started Early work experience and how it shaped her career Her grandmother’s influence The transition from school to the workforce Spencer Rutherford, and working with your spouse Advice for women looking to juggle children and work Creative process Enjoy the episode!

For show notes and links: neuralle.com/podcast   Michael Jankie ( @jankie ) is an entrepreneur who’s built multiple companies in completely different industries, that have shown a nous for operating with small-medium businesses. It’s funny that I’m reading Small Giants by Bo Burlingham at the same time I’m tasked with writing an apt introduction for Michael’s episode. So often you’re told that you must grow at all costs, raise massive amounts of capital, only ever serve the institutional end of a marketplace, and eventually flip the business on to an investor “who’ll do the right thing for the company”. During the entirety of the interview, and as I learnt about his decision to pivot his former business - you could get a sense of how deeply he cared for his customers (an often overlooked segment of the market). This deep care for his customers, and the creation of a high quality product - shows that he’s already hitting 50% of the criteria for becoming a “small giant”. Being that I’m also travelling in Japan I thought it fitting to assign a Japanese proverb to Michael’s attitude in business. The proverb goes: “Nothing Lasts, Nothing is Finished, Nothing is Perfect”. If you want to build any business, I think that’s a good attitude to have. Topics discussed in this week’s episode included: Earliest memory of wanting to sell Lessons learnt from his parents Background, family childhood memories What is PoweredLocal? Niche markets and the problem of retail Highest leverage activity Targeting small businesses and startups Least crowded advertising channels Common mistakes among startups Sources of inspiration Advice for young entrepreneurs Enjoy the episode, Jordan Lauren

For show notes and links: neuralle.com/podcast  Justin Dry ( @justinldry ) is the Co-Founder and Joint CEO of Vinomofo, an online platform focused on sourcing, selling, and creating community over a love for wine. Justin is the greatest example of an entrepreneur (that I’ve met so far) who has pursued something he loves to do, integrating his occupation into his life - rather than the other way around. By doing so, you’re able to grab a sense of the passion and credibility Vinomofo wields amongst winemakers and distributors alike - ever wary of dealing with the price-conscious larger players. While some may compare Vinomofo with Aussie tech giants like Canva, Justin insists (and is right to do so) that he doesn’t run a tech company, or even a startup. Vinomofo is a massive, locally grown, e-Commerce business. A business that has experienced exceptional growth and a loyal following in such a unique niche - gaining strong media attention in the process. A proponent ourselves of goal-setting and visualisation, Justin runs by many inspirational mottos and quotes lining his office walls. But our favourite is one that really captures the essence of success and contentment in life. To put it simply; “Give No Fucks”. In this short but sweet episode that packs a punch, we covered: How Justin’s upbringing affects his persistence Going to extreme lengths to win at something Sources of drive motivation How to separate family from business Advice to those in family business The best story he’s heard over a bottle of wine Managing expectations as a founder Visualising the future Enjoy the episode, Jordan Lauren

For show notes and links: neuralle.com/podcast  Rohit Bhargava ( @RohitBhargava7 ) is an entrepreneur and fellow podcaster, hosting one of Australia’s top startup and tech shows - The Startup Playbook. There are incredible lessons to be learned from Rohit’s interviews, for any budding entrepreneur and business owner. But I think the greatest lessons are in Rohit’s own experience. A failed startup will always teach you grit, while entering the content media business will teach you that quality and time is king. Rohit underlines how important the classic parables extolled from the likes of Gary Vaynerchuk can really be; time, consistency, and never expecting success. These are valuable virtues for anyone to have in their life, and lessons that I’ve learnt myself in the last year of recording and publishing a podcast. I know there are useful bits of gold in this episode for everyone, so I hope you enjoy it. In this episode we discussed: Rohit’s earliest memory of entrepreneurship Breaking out of the mould Lessons learnt from his parents The Startup Playbook podcast How did Playbook Media come about? What is brand storytelling? Gary Vaynerchuk Enjoy the episode, Jordan Lauren

For show notes and links: neuralle.com/podcast  Oliver Phisher (@OPhisher) aka Michael Crinall, is an author, and good friend of mine currently residing in the beautiful city of Belfast. From the early stages of our friendship, I had always known that Oliver, with his introspectiveness, was going to be a writer in some form. His experience of toiling away in self-publishing is invaluable to any wannabe author and novice writer out there, who struggles to make movement on their writing project. There are many parallels with self-development and writing, because so much of what you achieve is ultimately dependent on what you set your mind to and complete. To be a writer is the ultimate form of ownership of your life. Oliver is an incredible friend, who will always challenge me on a belief, viewpoint or process in my life. I hope this episode underlines how valuable that can be to your own life. Topics we discussed: Where the moniker Oliver Phisher came from Anthropomorphic Animals his earliest childhood memory Why he’s focused on self-improvement Combatting the futility of life Dealing with dark periods in life Stoicism What he aims for with his writing What is “The Plain White Room” about? Being self-aware and emotionally intelligent How “The Plain White Room” is important to him What he’s learned about the publishing industry The main thing that aspiring authors miss Tips for first-time writers learning from respected authors Enjoy the episode, Jordan Lauren

For show notes and links: neuralle.com/podcast  Claire Connelly ( @_ClaireConnelly ) is an award winning freelance journalist, Founder of Hello Humans, Editor-in-Chief of Renegade Inc and soon-to-be author. To me, Claire underlines the importance of the Fourth Estate, and what their role in society is - to make you think. My recent discussion with Dr James Martin illuminated this more than any interview, with his example being the mainstream media’s treatment of drugs busts. More often than not a large scale drug bust will be broadcast on the news, with Australian Federal Police in tactical gear (as if they’ve just come straight from the bust), and broad assumptions on market value dictated to the interviewing media. No one questions whether this is the best investment of drug policy dollars, or whether it indeed saves lives of the dependent users. This example, underlines the importance of Claire’s exacting and critical analysis of the realities of our society. She’s an incredible writer, with a clear-headedness that allows her to identify her own biases as she works. I have much respect for all she’s achieved, and all she will achieve in future. I strongly suggest that if you enjoy this discussion you go support her work through Patreon Hello Humans. Key talking points: Knowledge, wanting to be right Claire’s Jewish background Being a good journalist Objectivity vs. opinion Deconstructing popular narratives of history Politics, the internet net neutrality On the truths of war, Smedley Butler Sapiens Commentary on the world today What is government for? Decentralisation, centralisation, govt. business An ultimate form of government Capitalism, inequality and democratic socialism Self-sufficiency in media Hello Humans What is Renegade Inc? Advice to prospective journalism students Enjoy the episode, Jordan Lauren

For show notes and links: neuralle.com/podcast  Steve Hui ( @iflyflat ) or “The Points Whisperer” as he’s affectionately known, is the Founder and CEO of iFLYflat - a rewards points specialist service based in Australia. If you’ve ever wondered how to create a level of luxury and access through your spending, then Steve is your man. There’s no doubt that at some stage in your life, you’ve endeavoured to use your frequent flyer points, aimed for an upgrade or maybe just dreamed about a beautiful flying experience for once. Like most of us you’ve probably come to be shocked at how out of reach that really is, or how long it takes to accrue anything of value. So with all of the noise out there on earning points through spending - how do you know the best way to go? With Steve’s knack for numbers (thanks to his accountancy background), his passion for flying, and ability to analyse opportunities assists in this process of identifying the how, where and why for any business traveller, or individual wanting to book their trip of a lifetime. As Steve mentions, Rich Dad, Poor Dad was the book that shaped his view on how he values money. It’s all about maximising those dollars to provide you with access - where you really can get that experience, if you just do the numbers right...and with far less money than you’d think. In this episode we discussed: How the nickname ‘Points Whisperer’ came about The most impactful trip of his life The moment Steve realised iFLYflat was a business Finding his first customers How the service works The highest leveraged decision Important methodologies buying points The experiences that can come with maximising points His favourite airline to fly with Simple decisions to make now, for better flights later How to learn more about the world of points How Rich Dad, Poor Dad influenced his life Enjoy the episode, Jordan Lauren