EPISODE · May 7, 2025 · 1H 4M
The Man Behind the Push-Up Challenge | Nick Hudson
from Young Blood - Men’s Mental Health · host Cal MacPherson
Before his chest was cracked open on the operating table, Nick Hudson was already battling something less visible — depression.He refused to talk about it, pushed people away who tried to be there for him, and wouldn't admit the truth to himself...Then came the life-saving open-heart surgery that forced everything to stop. Recovery was brutal. The silence got louder. And the darkness got darker before it got better.Years earlier, Nick had kicked off a casual push-up challenge with his mates — just a fun way to stay active. But now, faced with his own mental health spiral, he realised it could be something much more.He reimagined the challenge as a national movement to raise awareness and funding for mental health — tying each push-up to a powerful statistic, breaking down stigma one rep at a time.Today, The Push-Up Challenge has raised over $50 million, engaged hundreds of thousands of Australians, and helped spark honest conversations in homes, schools and gyms across the country.The Push-Up Challenge's success is rooted in it being a fun way to spark mental health conversations and foster a positive culture of looking after yourself and others - turning a physical challenge into a shared mission.This is Nick Hudson...
What this episode covers
Before his chest was cracked open on the operating table, Nick Hudson was already battling something less visible — depression.He refused to talk about it, pushed people away who tried to be there for him, and wouldn't admit the truth to himself...Then came the life-saving open-heart surgery that forced everything to stop. Recovery was brutal. The silence got louder. And the darkness got darker before it got better.Years earlier, Nick had kicked off a casual push-up challenge with his mates — just a fun way to stay active. But now, faced with his own mental health spiral, he realised it could be something much more.He reimagined the challenge as a national movement to raise awareness and funding for mental health — tying each push-up to a powerful statistic, breaking down stigma one rep at a time.Today, The Push-Up Challenge has raised over $50 million, engaged hundreds of thousands of Australians, and helped spark honest conversations in homes, schools and gyms across the country.The Push-Up Challenge's success is rooted in it being a fun way to spark mental health conversations and foster a positive culture of looking after yourself and others - turning a physical challenge into a shared mission.This is Nick Hudson...
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The Man Behind the Push-Up Challenge | Nick Hudson
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