PODCAST · education
PUSHING BACK CHAOS
by Heroes Media Group
Join Melon, Mike and Raf in their effort to push back against the chaos of life. Join these three close friends, who engage in very real, very raw, and transparent conversations about work, love, family, and everything in between. Their goal is simple. Help everyone listening by learning from their mistakes and victories, because we’re in this together. All three, veterans of multiple Middle East combat tours, two as pilots, one as a Special Operations soldier. In lock step, they are making their own effort to create a framework for anyone looking to push back against the chaos and optimize their own lives. They don’t claim to have all the answers, but they are willing to share what has worked and what has not, during their journeys.
Episodes
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EP: 109 — What Actually Makes a Man Change? (Part 2)
What does it really take for a man to change? Kris, Melon, and Justin “Porky” Nolan dive deeper into addiction, responsibility, pain, surrender, boundaries, and the power of brotherhood. All three share the personal stories behind the biggest changes in their lives, including the moments that...
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Ep: 108 - From Chaos to Service w/ Justin “Porky” Nolan (Part 1)
“Your mind is a dangerous neighbourhood. Don’t go in there alone.”Justin “Porky” Nolan knows what it means to lose your way & what it takes to find your way back.A talented boxer and rugby player, Justin spent years battling addiction, destructive habits and the consequences of his own decisions....
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Ep: 107 - Don’t Miss the Life You’re Building
We spend years building careers, families, fitness, security and capability. But there’s a trap: What if parts of the life we’ve been working so hard to create are already here — and we’re too busy looking at the next problem to notice? In Episode 107, Paul and Kris sit down together in Australia...
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PBC: 106 - Fast Cars, Slow Coffee, Good Men
The Men Beside You What makes some male friendships endure across distance, careers, family, and time? In this episode of Pushing Back Chaos, Kris and Melon reflect on their time together in Melbourne, the High Country, and along the Murray, sharing fast cars, coffee, hiking, hunting, boating,...
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EP: 105 - I’d Buy Me a Drink: Clean Relationships
The final chapter of the I’d Buy Me a Drink series brings everything together. Over the past five episodes, we’ve challenged you to take an honest look in the mirror, own your full ledger, accept reality without lowering your standards, build an internal barometer, and finally discover how that...
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Ep: 104 - The Internal Barometer
When External Validation Stops Working For most of our lives, the scoreboards are clear: Ranks Titles Promotions Praise They tell us we’re doing well. But at some point, something shifts. The applause fades… and the question becomes harder: Who are you when no one is clapping? In Episode 4 of the...
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Ep: 103 - Acceptance Without Drift
The question is: Are you correcting yourself — or attacking yourself? How do you accept who you are… without lowering your standards? In this episode, we unpack Acceptance Without Drift: Acceptance is a starting point — not a finish line. Self-hatred is not discipline. Compassion is not...
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Ep: 102 - The Whole Ledger
The question is: Are you managing the whole thing — or just the part that makes you look good? What changes when you stop hiding your weaknesses — even from yourself? In this episode, we unpack The Whole Ledger Principle: • Insecure men hide flaws. • Arrogant men deny them. • Grounded men account...
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Ep: 101 - “I’d Buy Me a Drink” — The Path to Earned Self-Respect
Part 1— The Mirror Test Can you look at your life honestly — strengths and failures — and still choose yourself? In this episode of Pushing Back Chaos, we start where real stability begins: self-respect. Not ego. Not self-hype. But the ability to assess yourself accurately without tearing…
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Ep: 100 - The Adventure “Dahn-Unda”
Six Years. 190 Episodes total. Growth Across Continents. Episode 100 is more than a number—it’s a full-circle moment. For the first time ever, Kris flew down to Australia to spend two powerful weeks with Melon, bringing the Pushing Back Chaos conversation to the same room, the same table, and the...
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Ep: 099 - Strong Enough to Not Be Hard
What does real masculinity look like when life gets heavy?In this episode of Pushing Back Chaos, Kris and Paul challenge cultural ideas of strength and explore a healthier model of masculinity—one rooted in presence, service, emotional awareness, and faith.“Masculinity isn’t proven by how much…
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Ep: 098 - Back in the Fight: Leadership, Hardship & Healthy Pathways Forward
After an extended break, Kris and Melon reunite behind the microphones for a powerful and deeply honest conversation. Life hasn’t exactly taken it easy on either of them during the time away, and this episode dives straight into the real-world challenges that have tested their leadership, their...
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Ep: 097 - ReWilding with Hugh Vail – Mustang Medicine
In this episode, Kris sits down with Hugh Vail, friend, founder, and lead facilitator of Mustang Medicine, an immersive program designed to help people reconnect with themselves, their emotions, and the natural world. Hugh guides participants through powerful practices that strip away the noise…
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EP 96: Honoring Legacy While Forging Your Own — A Conversation with Dion Pride
In this powerful episode, we sit down with our Co-host’s cousin, Dion Pride, son of the late Country Music Hall of Famer Charley Pride, to explore what it truly means to carry a legacy with honor—without losing your own identity in the process. Dion shares his journey from performing on stage at...
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Ep: 095 - Best Mental Health Practices: Building a Stronger You from the Inside Out
In the final part of our mental health awareness series, Mike & Melon dive into the everyday practices that help stabilize, strengthen, and sustain your mental health. Life doesn’t slow down—and neither does the chaos. But we can meet it with clarity and resilience when we take care of the…
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Ep: 094 -The Weight We Carry: Invisible Wounds from Service and Life
In today’s episode, we talk about the weight that’s hardest to see — the one we carry inside. Whether you’re in military service, a first responder role, or simply the one everyone relies on, this episode speaks directly to you. We explore the silent struggles of burnout, PTSD, anxiety, and...
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Ep: 093 - Mental Health - The Stigma
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the crew at Pushing Back Chaos is leading the charge with a powerful three-part series diving into some of the toughest questions and most necessary conversations surrounding mental health. Part 1: Stigma “The attachment of dishonor, embarrassment, or...
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Ep: 092 - The Power of Stillness: Finding Presence in the Noise
“Stillness is where creativity and solutions to problems are found" - Eckhart Tolle Episode Overview In this episode, we go deep into the power of stillness — not as a luxury or escape, but as a weapon for clarity, control, and connection. Whether you’re navigating combat zones, high-stakes...
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Ep: 091. - The Lies We Tell Ourselves – Escaping the Truth for the Comfort of Denial
We all crave truth, but when it hits too close to home, why do we run from it? In this episode, we dive into the many reasons people avoid the truth—fear, shame, comfort, and even survival. Whether it’s denying personal flaws, avoiding accountability, or clinging to a false reality, we explore…
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Ep: 090 - Integrity & Personal Growth: How Keeping Promises to Yourself Changes Everything
We all like to think of ourselves as honest, but integrity goes way beyond just telling the truth. It’s about doing what you say you will—especially when no one’s watching. And let’s be real, how many times have you promised yourself you’d wake up early, hit the gym, or finally start that big...
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Ep: 089 - Identity → Actions → Outcomes
Imagine a broke guy saying, “If I had a million dollars, I’d start my dream business and finally be successful.” Sounds logical—except he’d probably just blow it on a sports car and an espresso machine he never uses. Why? Because success isn’t about what you have—it’s about who you are. Most…
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Ep: 088 - Intentionality- Gratitude- Abundance
"Our intention creates our reality” - Wayne Dyer In this action packed episode, your hosts cover daily routines and practical steps that can be implemented into your day immediately. Melon and Mike share a conversation based around practices to gain mental clarity and focus throughout the day.…
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Ep: 087 - Welcome to the New Year!
All the best to you and your circle from Mike and Melon, plus the support guys here at Pushing Back Chaos and Heroes Media Group. We take the opportunity to re-introduce ourselves for new listeners. You’ll hear about our professional and personal backgrounds- where we are at in 2025. You’ll hear...
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PBC: 086 - 2024 Year in Review
Happy New Year everyone! We just want to take this time and wish you, your families, and loved ones a bright and prosperous 2025 filled with great achievement, memories, and filled with meaningful relationships. On this final episode of 2024, the guys recap their year while answering questions…
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PBC: 085 - Achieving the Goal- Establishing a team “WHY”
Last episode we started a conversation series about Achieving the Goal. The first episode was about gaining clarity on your individual goal- your personal “why”. This week we are starting to look at how we build teams that can achieve at the top levels. Join Mike and Melon as they share from…
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PBC: 084 - Achieving the Goal - What is your "WHY?"
Everyone wants to do something special on a beautiful sunny day surrounded by comfort, but what happens when that first obstacle lands in your path? Is it what you thought it would be? Is it still desirable? Are you still capable of moving forward? Can your reasons for starting overcome the...
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PBC, Ep: 083 - For We Walk in Faith, Not by Sight
Well, this one is going to be different. For the first time on PUSHING BACK CHAOS, we talk about a very powerful topic: FAITH. What is it exactly and what does it mean to you? This week, Mike welcomes our special guest and owner of Heroes Media Group, Adam Bird. A great friend who is like family...
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PBC, Ep: 082 - The End is only the Beginning
Well it’s been a minute, but here we are!Back after a long summer and full of stories! Melon and Mike welcome you back with an update after 2+ months of adventures between the two of them. From relocating to Australia from the Middle East with Melon to coming home after a successful final...
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PBC: 081 - Leadership- building and sustaining a Vision
If you are working on something exciting that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you. - Steve Jobs The term “vision” is thrown around a lot in the context of organisations and leadership. What is meant by this umbrella term? How important is it? How can we create…
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PBC: Ep 80 - Seasons of Leadership
It’s been said that in life, we go through seasons. Seasons of growth, relationships, wealth, development, etc. What about leadership? Are there periods of our lives where leadership evolves? When do roles and responsibilities change? What and when are they? How will we know? In this week’s...
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PBC: 079 - Unity in divisive times
Mike has deployed and Melon is doing his own training ahead of joining the team instructing Australian military pilots- so life has been very busy for your hosts. Both men have been practicing what they preach around focusing on basics and the individual pursuit of professional mastery as an...
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PBC: 078 - Feeding your Spirit
The spirit leads the heart, not the heart leading the spirit. This is a common battle for us all. A battle between mind, body and spirit. It can cause unhealthy thoughts, joy, heartbreak, gratefulness, or even physical expressions, such as fighting or hugging. In this weeks episode, Mike and…
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PBC: 077 - Actionable pathways for Change
“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.” - Lao Tzu “Your life does not get better by chance. It gets better by change.” - Jim Rohn Change often has a bad reputation. We fear the unknown, and change carries some aspect of the unknown. But if we don’t change, we…
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PBC: 076 - Air Cover and “Overwatch” w/ SGT Allen Weddington Jr.
This week, Mike welcomes a surprise guest., SGT Allen Weddington. A friend and teammate who he hasn't seen since his Afghanistan employment in 2012! In this episode, you’ll hear some shared stories from their time together in Afghanistan. Conversations about engagements, creating a family...
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PBC, 075 - Gratitude & Integrity: From Failure to success
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. - Melody Beattie Life throws up challenges for all of us. The challenges ARE life. There is no escaping them. How can we work through these…
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PBC, Ep: 074 - Transitioning from Life Experience- LTCOL Jimmy Carr (Part 2)
After an eye opening and informative part 1, the team welcomes back our special guest, British Army LT Col (Ret.) Jimmy Carr. After an exceptional 22 year military career, as everything else, it was time to move on. Time to transition. Time to change. In this episode, Jimmy, Melon, and Mike…
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PBC, Ep: 073 - Leadership through life experience- LTCOL Jimmy Carr (Part 1)
Some of us had easy childhoods and happy families. Some of us did not. Some were exposed to serious early childhood trauma and substance abuse- and flirted with our own demons. Not all of us had the discernment and wisdom to change the trajectory our life was on and forge a path of providence. In...
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PBC, Ep: 072 - Master of Puppets- Serving Two Masters
Have you ever stopped and questioned: “Am I serving two masters? Am I serving the right master? How do I know which one to serve most and why?” Life is extremely busy with endless branches of required action and attentiveness, but what should we focus on every day? How do we know which is most...
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PBC, Ep: 071 - The Valkyrie LEO: Women in Policing
This week, Melon and Mike proudly welcome on their special guest, Brenda, a 5 year Virginia Police veteran. As a former immigrant from Argentina turned American citizen, she proudly serves her community in uniform, pushing back crime and lawlessness. She discusses the challenges of operating as a...
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EP 70: True Grit: What is it & Do I have it?
Grit is a personality trait possessed by individuals who demonstrate passion and perseverance toward a goal despite being confronted by significant obstacles and distractions. Those who possess grit are able to self-regulate and postpone their need for positive reinforcement while working...
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PBC: 069 - Is consistency the secret to long term confidence, self esteem and respect?
Welcome back to a new year! Mike, Melon and the support crew wish our entire audience a meaningful and prosperous 2024! In this episode, Mike and Melon discuss consistency. Is this the secret to long term happiness? When life is working, is it because we have found our way to a solid routine?…
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PBC: 068 - Evaluating & Overcoming Our Stressors
Did you wake up today? Congratulations! You have stressors in your life! Now that we got that out-of-the-way, let’s talk about how to address them in a healthy way. This week, Mike and Melon rap about some of their own stresses and how they are dealing with them. Mike digs deep and shotguns Melon...
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PBC: 067 - Attachment Theory
There has been increasing attention paid recently to Attachment Theory, which came from research by John Bowlby (1951), and Mary Ainsworth (1967) and has been confirmed and expanded over the intervening decades. Attachment Theory described the psychological connection between humans, that is…
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PBC, Ep: 066 - We all have “Crutches”
This week, Mike and Melon return after a few days behind our regular release schedule. As we always share, nobody gets a pass in life and all that it has for us. Recently, the McFadden family lost a patriarch in the family. A father. Melon shares the struggles of dealing with death and how his...
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Ep: 065 - November 11- Veteran’s / Remembrance Day
Each year the western world stops on November 11th at 11am for a period of silent reflection. Why do we pause? What is it in memory of? On this day, at that time, the guns fell silent in 1918, signalling the end of World War 1. The next year, the first service was held in memory of the fallen who...
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Ep: 064 - Practical ways to Improve by 1% Each Day
"It is the responsibility to work intelligently with what is given and not waste time fantasizing about a perfect world of people and choices” -Marcus Aurelius This week Mike and Melon discuss more of their current challenges and how they have adapted an improve by 1% a day mindset. It’s very…
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Ep: 063 - Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional
All of us will be dealt difficult hands. All of us will have times when we feel pain. Do we all have to suffer? Is pain the same thing as suffering? Mike and Melon get together and cover the difficult topic of distinguishing pain from suffering. What is “pain”? What is “suffering”? Mike and Melon...
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Ep; 062 - Drugs, Alcohol, Sex, Nothing.
"Your hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of your life. Keep going. Tough situations build strong people in the end." -Roy T. Bennett In life, we have the ability and power to choose the outcomes of very little. What we wear, how we speak, and how we react to situations. Not much…
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Ep: 061 - Remaining Positive During Adversity
“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” -Marcus Aurelius This week we cover a topic that hits close to home to both hosts Mike and Melon. Recently, both have experienced physical setbacks that will effect their every day lives, which, as we all know can...
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PBC, Ep: 60 - Trusting Yourself vs Trusting the Majority
Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. - Mark Twain If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too… - Rudyard Kipling “If” There are times when all of us find ourselves in a dilemma, unsure of which...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Join Melon, Mike and Raf in their effort to push back against the chaos of life. Join these three close friends, who engage in very real, very raw, and transparent conversations about work, love, family, and everything in between. Their goal is simple. Help everyone listening by learning from their mistakes and victories, because we’re in this together. All three, veterans of multiple Middle East combat tours, two as pilots, one as a Special Operations soldier. In lock step, they are making their own effort to create a framework for anyone looking to push back against the chaos and optimize their own lives. They don’t claim to have all the answers, but they are willing to share what has worked and what has not, during their journeys.
HOSTED BY
Heroes Media Group
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does PUSHING BACK CHAOS have?
PUSHING BACK CHAOS currently has 108 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is PUSHING BACK CHAOS about?
Join Melon, Mike and Raf in their effort to push back against the chaos of life. Join these three close friends, who engage in very real, very raw, and transparent conversations about work, love, family, and everything in between. Their goal is simple. Help everyone listening by learning from their...
How often does PUSHING BACK CHAOS release new episodes?
PUSHING BACK CHAOS publishes regularly with 108 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to PUSHING BACK CHAOS?
You can listen to PUSHING BACK CHAOS on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts PUSHING BACK CHAOS?
PUSHING BACK CHAOS is created and hosted by Heroes Media Group.
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