Kyl Reber Podcast

I have not known this human for a very long time…But I have known her long enough to know she is a workhorse, a go getter, a doer and most importantly, someone who is genuinely passionate about helping people realise their full health and wellness potential, using herself as a true example. And along the way with a fair bit of attitude and sass……. Or maybe that is just with me.Kourtnee Baird already in her young life has been through it all.  Good times, bad times, pain, loss, and in amongst it, some amazing wins that even for an old fella like me, are pretty inspirational.She keeps reminding me how old I am as well….I’m very glad my family stumbled across her, and in a way, all I knew about Kourt was confirmed in this chat. It’s a good one.  

Ross and I have been friends for a long time, and we both have seen Jiu Jitsu in our city, state and country grow from being quite obscure, to how popular it is today.Amongst that, I have seen Ross take some BIG risks, back himself as we call it, and put himself out there, regardless of what the consequences his brain may or may not have constructed.And in the process…..  Succeed at the highest level.I’ve seen him make some tough decisions, learn the hard way, and be that person that others now look to for advice, the same way he looked to others for advice once.Whether he wants to admit it or not, he is one of the OG’s, and…. A role model for others looking to just give it a go and see where it may take them.This chat is very overdue, and I am so glad we finally got to do it.Have a listen, and maybe it will help you to stop thinking about what might go wrong, focus instead on what could go right, and…..  Back Yourself.

We all have that one friend. That one friend that always seems to have the strangest, most unbelievable things happen to them, and literally nothing surprises you with them.Well, my mate Reo…..  He is that one friend to me.I have known this guy since I was a teenager, and trouble always seems to have found him, but for some reason he is still standing, and living to tell the tale.And he has a lot of tales to tell. We are the same age, and he has squeezed a lot of triumph, pain and tragedy into that time.And like I said, he is still here to tell the tale, and tell others, no matter what is going on in your life, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel, and always a way out.You’re just going to have to have a listen, because if you don’t and someone tries to tell you the stuff that my mate Reo has done, you just would not believe it.He is always my back up, and a lifetime member of my “2am club.”Listen on, and you will see why.Follow Reo:Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/share/14YZV6EXssv/?mibextid=wwXIfrWebsite:https://nakedmaintenanceman.com.au/

I have known Darcia for over 10 years, but never really knew her past.We reconnected recently, and what she went through as a child, her story, and the way she used her pain to help others get through their pain is admirable.It is a true case of someone really finding out what they are destined to do, and using tragedy as a catalyst for real growth.  And, I can truly say from this amazing conversation we had, I was locked in, and I am so grateful for how upfront, vulnerable, and honest she was.We all have a story to share, and Darcia really has an amazing story that she has lived.You are just going to have to listen and hear how one person can find real beauty in strength. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darsha.mia/?hl=enWebsite: https://www.beautyinstrength.com.au/

I first met this guy about 9 years ago, and we instantly connected, talking about music, tattoos and a few things in between.Little did I know then, how many moving parts there are to this guy, and how much he has accomplished in his not even 40 years on earth yet.ArtistMusicianBarberTattoo CollectorAvid pram walkerAnd let's not forget husband, and father to two beautiful little girls.This guy is a walking example of just following your dreams, understanding it is not going to all happen overnight, and how the universe can be very good at steering you in the right direction, when you feel like you have lost your way.This was a great chat with Jack Rodgers, and the time flew.  Some good lessons in here, so have a listen, and pass it around.

Most people when they are finding their sport have a solid foundation, work their skills, go grass roots, and then move to the international stage…..Or they do what this fine human did, and do it completely in reverse, and make it work.Celest Hansen is one of the best female Muay Thai fighters Australia has produced, but she has only had one fight in Australia, and the rest have been in Thailand, slugging it out for years, finally now signed to One Championship, fighting as a member of the prestigious Fairtex Fight Team, and having made history, being the first female in history to fight at the iconic Lumpinee Stadium, the mecca of Muay Thai in Thailand.She has the skill, grit, and determination to go the distance with this love of hers, and it has become part of her.  And in the process of living her dream, she has inadvertently proved to so many other young girls out there, that dreams can very much become a reality.Have a listen, and get ready to be inspired.Find her on instagram here!!!

Time with TammieIt’s the most precious commodity in the world.No amount of money can replace it.You can’t store any in credit. You can’t buy it back.But, it’s the one thing in life we waste more than anything in the world.TIME.In this special chat, my mate Tammie Sarkozy, a master of using every second she has to it’s fullest effect, chats about time, how we can get maybe more from our time, and maybe some perspective on changing the way we look at time, so we can try to achieve all in life that we want to do…But we always say we never have the time for….

At the ripe old age of 27, Max de Been has already been doing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for 24 years.  Well, he thinks it’s about that long.  Truth is, he has been doing it for so long, he can’t remember when he officially started.  But what he does know, is that Jiu Jitsu, and all it gives to him and others, is part of his DNA.The son of my Jiu Jitsu coach and pioneer of BJJ in Australia Peter de Been, Max has created his own identity in Jiu Jitsu here in Australia and overseas, travelling, training, and competing, and now, running a successful full time academy in Torquay, Victoria.But as you will learn in this chat, there is way more to him, and like everyone we have interviewed, he has already lived a very interesting life. And at only 27, there is a heap left to do, and as you will hear, he has plans.I have know Max since he was a teenager.  He was driven then, but it seems now he is more motivated than ever to make his mark on the world.Have a listen and keep an eye on this kid.

There are people in your life I feel you meet at the right moments, and then when you do meet those people, you probably don’t realise until years later, how much of an impact they had on your life, and still continue to.When I first met Kas Seden I was new to the bright lights of the city, and soaking in all I could take from it, working inner city Brisbane nightclubs 30 years ago.  Kas guided me through the maze, and influenced my development in that area greatly, and to this day, is still someone I so greatly admire and respect.He is one of my mentors.I love him to bits, and he is a person that will talk to anyone, which is why this is such a great chat, and an honour after all this time to still call him a mate.Have a listen, and you will agree that he is a great storyteller, and you just cannot fall in love with the guy.

It’s always a little surreal when I talk to this guy, because every time I do, I just stop for a brief moment, and just to myself, wonder how this is even possible.And now, I would call this guys a mentor, a mate, and someone I can literally just sit down with, and talk for HOURS, as you will see in this chat.If you have been doing Martial Arts in Australia for any amount of time, Richard Norton would be a name so many of us are familiar with, and without this pioneer in not just Australian Martial Arts, but Martial Arts on the world stage, the world for me would be very different.60 plus years of training, travelling, learning, teaching, and innovation in the worlds of martial arts, security and body guarding, action movies, and stunt coordination.  Many hats, that all come down to a desire even at 74 years of age, to always be improving.This is an excellent chat that Richard admits pulls him a little out of the comfort zone, as it asks him questions he’s not used to getting in interviews, and that I love.This is one of my most favourite yet.Have a listen.

This was a real interesting chat, and one I think we may all need to hear, because a great deal of what we think we know about food, and the way it affects our body, may be a much bigger picture than we have ever thought.I met Rachel through training, and her expertise on food, and it’s relationship to mental health I find fascinating.  She has helped so many people from all walks of life, find a healthier way to holistically look at what they eat, and understand why it makes them feel the way they do.In an age where everywhere we turn, there is a different influencer or “expert” giving us advice on what, when and how to eat, Rachel has some real explanations on this, which is so good to hear.But as I said, the big one for me, is how she can explain what a connection our food has to our mental health, and how much our food choices can affect our overall well being, and how we feel about ourselves when we look past the mirror, and into our souls.And as you will hear, she has her own story to tell, and practices what she preaches.

Three things really stood out in my mind after this chat.1.Never let an opportunity pass you by, no matter how hard ot may be.2.Opportunities can if you work hard at them, grow into something bigger than you could have ever dreamed, and lead to even more opportunities.3.There never has been, and never will be, a substitute for hard work.There were many moving parts to this chat I had with Damien, but hey all cam back to opportunity and work, every single time.  He is living proof of what happens if you knuckle down, make some sacrifices, sleep a little less than you might want to, get out of bed, and just work hard.I loved all the moving parts of this chat.  The family dynamic growing up, the time in the military, the fight career, the family man, and the Martial Arts facility that has quickly become one of the largest and highest quality in Brisbane.Have a listen and see what happens when you just understand nothing is achieved without a little hard work.

 There’s a few people out there, that you meet, and you can see how much passion they have for what they do, and how much joy it brings them to know that this is what they do. This is Jaymee Watkin in a nutshell. From learning how to play music at an early age in rural Australia, to touring the world playing out a kids dream, to now mentoring and guiding so many kids through to young adults, showing them and being a living example that if you want something, get after it. The Buttery Music School has become a safe haven and place of learning and growth for so many kids in Brisbane, and as we will see, Jaymee is fully invested in it, and is not afraid to fight for it, and give everything she has for it. And I think there is much more to come from Jaymee and her team.  Much more. 

I have known Brad for some time, and when you say “I would trust this guy with my house”, that in his case is actually very true.But, besides being really good at selling things, after what he will admit not the most productive earlier years in life (listen and you’ll see), he has turned all that around, and with hard work, a work ethic that is admirable, and a commitment to his family that will never be broken, he is travelling forward in life now in leaps and bounds.And what is even better, is now he is mentoring so many others on how to do the same, and, just show them maybe all they have to do to get where they want to be in life, is work bloody hard, when everyone else has left, and everyone else has given up.I really enjoyed getting inside Brad’s head, and I think you will too.

I have a massive amount of admiration for this man, which I guess you could also define as a major man crush (there, I said it). Wayne Spear is to me what a Martial Artist should be.  Strong, humble, intelligent, progressive, a role model, and a protector. But, here’s the part of Wayne that I admire the most.  A man of his calibre, and his stature, is firstly never afraid to say he does not know it all, he is always keen to learn, but more than anything else, he is not afraid to admit when he needs help, and ask for it.That, is what I admire the most.  He has endured immense hardship, seen things that no one should have to see, but always through it all, been a protector, thought of others, and put others needs in front of him.To me, he is the perfect example of not just a Martial Artist, but a human being.I absolutely loved this chat with Wayne Spear, and was locked in for the whole time.  The message he sent really resonated with me, and I hope it can be as insightful for you, as it was for me.

I met this guy about a year and a half ago, and what impressed the most about him initially, was how much drive he had, and how much he wanted to make people better.Since then, we have formed a friendship, and he has assisted in not just helping me turn my business around and take it very much to the next step, he has also become a mate I can have a chat to, bounce ideas off, and know that I am going to get an honest answer.He is helping so many people in the business of Martial Arts navigate themselves through all that comes with running a small business, to help them grow their business into something that is truly amazing. But as always, there is a lot of moving parts to this human, and in this chat it was very interesting to learn and see how he has evolved into what he does today.This interview with George Fourie may help you see that anyone, can do anything.

It’s funny how you can have known someone for years, and not have fully realised that there is a passion inside them to excel at something you did not even know they were diving into head first, and now it is really paying off.  And I mean REALLY coming together.  We worked it out, and I think I met Connor over 10 years ago now, and until not long ago, I knew he was in a band, but now they are really hitting their stride, fronting stages around the world with a bunch of his mates, working his arse off, and living a dream that so many teenage kids (pardon the pun), can only dream of.It has not been without its hard work, struggles, some very hard decisions, and all along, what he has learnt from doing Martial Arts has helped him stay true to himself and his craft, and I honestly believe the sky is the limit for this kid and his mates, as they right now are touring overseas.It was an absolute honour to chat to Connor McLaughlin.  My mate, awesome Martial Artist, and also guitarist of Australian Band Teenage Dads.Official Website - https://www.teenagedadsofficial.com/Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/0GEHcYh6naBVfaLKy7CEhwInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/teenagedads/?hl=enTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@teenagedads?lang=en

This person is a real example of three things.EvolutionDisciplineSelf-Belief.The then 19 year old girl that I started training in fitness classes, having very avid discussions on not wanting her arms to get too bog from push ups, has now gone onto becoming a very successful personal trainer, CrossFit Athlete, winning MuscleMania in the United States and earning a pro cardBut now at 38, she herself is also now evolving as a mother of a very active one year old, running a thriving online coaching business, where she uses her experiences as being a young mother trying to make all the pieces fit, to guide other women who are “lost”, and help them find their way in the world by taking charge of their health and wellness.I have so much time and respect for Tammie Sarkozy, and have loved watching the little kid evolve to someone I deeply admire.She is showing so many other women, that it can be done.  You aren’t being selfish, you are giving yourself self love.

The thing that I have always admired about this woman, is how she has always just made things work, got stuff done, and in the meantime, had so much care and time for her family and those close to her.So much so, that she quite often puts their needs above hers, because she is just so invested in making other people better.Couple this with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, and what you have is a person that is now giving a whole demographic a sense of understanding their own identity, being proud of who they are, and learning how to navigate the world with their super power.It was so good to have a great chat to Tania Rowan, and after all these years of knowing her, hear the excitement in her voice with her life taking a new direction.https://vanguardcoaching.com.au/?fbclid=IwAR2zrj0WKcAou1SDiMbTZ-ANzcoqhZOIdsPiwT-gv8CDuiMl0kWPYVUuSmY

I met this guy 30 years ago, not long after I moved to Brisbane, and we have backed each other up (literally) ever since.  He was there for my first shift of security, and there for my last.But in between all of that, and especially in the last 10 years, he has been on a quest. A quest to leave something behind for his children, and do everything he can, no matter how small it may be in the grand scheme of things, by way of educating, and leading environmental missions as part of Sea Shepherd Australia.It is an amazing journey, and the way he sends his message is not with talk, it is with action.  As I always say, influence over authority.Grahame Lloyd is a father, a mate, and these days more than ever, a crusader.

I have known Matt for a number of years now, and one thing we have always connected on is work, work ethic, and the understanding that to get to where you want to be, it involves a lot of just that….  Work.We have had some pretty down to earth conversations over the years, in some pretty interesting locations, about how to make all the variables of life balance out, because it’s in our blood, to just work.After interviewing him, and learning so much more about his childhood, his father, and his approach to life, now it all makes sense.This guy has never been afraid to work hard, in Martial Arts, his “other” job, his family, and his kids.  He’s never half in, he’s all in.Have a listen, and you will see, that maybe the real thing that’s missing from where you want to be, is just to adopt Matt’s theory of work.

I call the guy affectionately “The Witch Doctor,” and rightly so, as the guy is pretty much one of the main reasons my body is still in a capacity to do what I want it to do. Creagh Court is my Chiropractor, he is a genius when is comes to human movement and injury rehabilitation and prevention, and in the 7 odd years he has been treating me on a regular basis, I have referred countless people to him, and they all say the same things about him I do.So how does a kid, who wasn’t terribly sporty at school, with this field not as his first choice as a vocation, end up being so successful in his field, treating every day people right through to professional athletes, and is now opening a second location, which at the time of this podcast going live is already thriving?Would you believe, a ton of hard work, an insatiable drive to succeed, a truckload of study, some big days, a couple of mistakes, and yep……. Backing himself…Listen on, and you will see why.

We talk about people getting second chances in life, and Bec Cooper had a second chance, and then a third, fourth, and a fifth, and yet she has lived to tell the tale.You will hear how I met Bec, hear her highs, her lows, and how we all need to remember that there is still so much good to live for.  Bec is an example that with a little hard work, some realisations in yourself, some good people around you that are in your corner, and some straight out luck, there is always a way out, and at the end of the day, it is ok to put your hand up, and ask for help.The interview with Bec really woke me up to how much we can really endure, and it’s not always about second chances, it maybe is about just having that one particular moment, after how many near misses, that we decide we are truly capable of being and doing better.Bec is the epitome of someone who was well and truly in the dark, and by backing herself, has brought herself back to the light.

Like so many of us, we have that one moment in our life, that can literally make, or unfortunately for some of us, break us.Kylie Shannon however, chose to use what is a pivotal moment in history, to not break her (although it may have come close), but to instead, make her, and although it didn’t happen straight away, move into a job that gives her a purpose, and a passion to help others. I knew Kylie only vaguely, but after having had her “referred” as a great choice for a podcast guest, you will see how locked I was into this conversation, and as much as her story is fascinating, what truly fascinated me, was that it could have gone either way, in the blink of an eye.This one was a real privilege for me to do, and I am very grateful for Kylie conquering some initial fear about being interviewed, to turn around and give a cracker of an interview.What was the moment?  You’ll just have to listen and find out.

Peter Smedley is one of my closest friends in Martial Arts.  He’s been doing it for a great portion of his life, and he runs a full-time school on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia.But there’s so much more to him than that.  There’s a guy that drove around Australia, there’s a father of two pretty cool boys, there’s a husband who has been through some tough times with his amazing wife Helen, and a guy who loves music nearly as much as me.We have travelled a lot together, and I am so grateful to call him a friend.Have a listen, and you will see why him and I get along so well, and how he has backed himself.