Raise The Bar Radio

For a big period of James ‘Hammer’ Harding’s life, he was a hard man. Hard jobs, lived amongst some of Melbourne’s hardest people, put on a hard exterior and had to deal with some pretty hard stuff. James dove into Melbourne’s underworld head first in various roles. He used his tough exterior to become a feared debt collector and drug dealer. But over time drug addiction took over and set him on a dark path. Today he’s a changed man. James has overcome his demons and now uses his powers to help other males going through the hard stuff. From prison inmates to ice addicts. James is on a mission to make a huge impact on men’s mental health and his heart and passion shine through in this episode.

This week Nick and Stu are talking to Lauren Curtain about all things women’s health and the practice of Chinese Medicine. We chat about EVERYTHING and discover how acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine is helping change people’s lives. We learn an incredible amount about cycles, hormones, contraception and even discover how women are attracted to different men when they are on the pill. This episode is not just for ladies. If there is a woman in your life you owe it to her to listen in.

Johnny Horrocks is an incredible character. This show bounces all around the place just like Johnny’s personality. He is pure passion and chases down any idea that comes to him. Johnny’s story is one of rebirth and reset. How to dust your self off and continue to move forward, both physically and spiritually. We go from Manchester dance music in the ’80s to Ultra Marathon running in the trails of Victoria. This episode was full of so many surprises. He is full of quirkiness and truly knows how to live a life of authenticity.

Can you make it as a woman in the fitness industry and still be your authentic self? Can you gain enough traction on Instagram to build a personal brand without selling your soul? Clare Green knows a few things about fitness and her passion for helping others is incredibly inspiring. Her journey and her beliefs are refreshing and she shares her hacks towards a healthier more fulfilling life. Listen in for some practical tips on how to make it as a trainer and how to level up your overall health and wellness

Stu challenges himself this week, by taking the podcast solo for the very first time. Stu discusses his views on fear and values and how they can positively or negatively influence your goals and pathways in life. Enjoy a change to our regular format and let Stu get you thinking about what it is you really want to achieve in life, and how to ensure you don’t let distractions or fears misguide you.

You would think stage IV ocular melanoma would change your outlook on life for the worst. Well that’s not how Jess Van Zeil responded. Sure she has had some dark days and as she puts it, having an armpit instead of an eye hasn’t been easy. However... Instead of allowing her circumstance to define her, she has unlocked the power of gratitude to make every day its very best. She inspires those around her and is currently influencing many people through social media, seminars and a soon to be released book.

Wykie is the owner of the highly successful Andfit CrossFit Auckland, is a globetrotting micro-gym business mentor with the Vive Group and is a passionate videographer. Recently Wykie closed down his second box, Andfit Gold Coast. We chat to him about the tough decisions he had to make and the reasons for closing his gym. We discuss the troubles other gym owners can endure when caught up in similar struggles... Should I close? Can I do it to my people? What does it say about me? Am I a failure? A very intriguing episode with a brilliant and humble guest.

Martin is a part of an incredible organisation making huge waves across Australia amongst national sporting groups, big corporations, but most importantly... in our schools. Teaching invaluable lessons in gratitude, empathy and mindfulness, Martin and The Resilience Project are delivering the messages that have gone missing from our communities and our culture for some time. Messages and lessons that will bring more value and love into your lives than ever thought possible. We hope you enjoy this very special episode, we wish we were able to talk for hours, and quite easily could have, because Martin CAN TALK! But what you will listen to today is absolute valuable gold. To learn more about The Resilience Project and how they can help you, check them out on the socials and at https://theresilienceproject.com.au/

This week we go a little out there... actually way out there. If you are open minded then tune in. We talk to Jayden Gardner who has just gotten back from his 2nd ayahuasca retreat. Ayahuasca is a plant-based hallucinogenic that Jayden refers to as physical and spiritual medicine. He has found his purpose and is on his way to becoming a Shaman. Be warned this episode is a mind warp! We learned about something that is very special and life-changing for a lot of people and can’t wait to share with you, our listeners. Nick and Stu will be back next week with CrossFitters, high performers and influences but for now, buckle up for an experience that you won’t forget.

- The Motivation Continuum - How to goal set without the bullshit - Double the benefits of a 1 hour class in 15 minutes - Hiring a VA and why you need one - The comparison cancer - unlocking the power of gratitude - mindfulness 101 - Extreme ownership - Fuck balance(Maybe) - Anti Hustle - time for your email to evolve - the software you can't live without - shoot, then aim - planning is overrated

To celebrate our 50th episode we had to go big. We don’t think we could get much bigger than 2008 CrossFit Games champion, absolute legend and OG of the sport of fitness, owner of the hugely successful and booming company NCFit, and now published author with the release of his first book, the AMRAP Mentality, Jason Khalipa. Jason shared an absolute tonne with us... We aren’t going to give a snippet away, listen on and enjoy what is one of our best episodes yet.

The term world class can be thrown around lightly but at Schwartz CrossFit Melbourne that is exactly what you have. Ben Schwartz is the man behind it all. Ben affiliated his gym in 2006 but has been in the game much longer than that. Training for most of his life and even winning The Teenage Mr Melbourne Award all the way back in 1994. Ben has led his gym and the individuals in it to many CrossFit Games appearances and Schwartz CrossFit Melbourne have been a mainstay on the Australian Competitive CrossFit scene for many seasons. There is no doubt Ben’s relentlessness towards high quality movement and the ability give people honest and sometimes brutal feedback has attributed to this success. We talk about how he has built such a centre of excellence and why he is still so passionate about it. Ben loves CrossFit but he is not blinded by that love and shares some of his critical thoughts into where the industry and the sport is going into the future.

Self awareness, is it a blessing or a curse? Living a simple life isn't for Bill. He questions everything and shares what he has discovered in his search for constant personal development. Bill is at the top of two companies Athena and AdventureFit which has provided him with a huge amount of wisdom. Listen up for what he has learnt at what the future holds for Bill.

Jeremy is the owner of Reebok CrossFit Gold Coast, one part of the CrossFit Games commentary team, partner and MC for the Allstar Affiliate Series as well as a long serving MC for prestigious competitive events including the CrossFit Pacific Regionals and most recently, the CrossFit sanctioned event, The Australian CrossFit Championships. We kick back with Jeremy at his box and chat all things CrossFit... The recent championship, the current state of the CrossFit Games, the direction it is headed and plenty more... Enjoy this competitive CrossFit fest is an episode!

Only a small percentage of people who seek meaningful lifestyle change actually achieve success. In this episode we define what success means but most importantly what it looks like. We draw on the thousands of people we’ve helped in the gym and then identify what processes the top 1% use to achieve their goals. In this episode we give our listeners a step by step guide on how to go from walking into a new gym to breaking through every self imposed limitation.