Skip to content
Uncomfortable is OK Podcast podcast artwork

Uncomfortable is OK Podcast

by Chris Desmond

We explore the science, the stories, and the strategies of navigating challenge and discomfort.This is a mental wellbeing and performance podcast aimed at improving our ability to step outside our comfort zones and take on challenges, whether they be in pursuit of our goals, or the ones life hands to us from time to time.Join Chris Desmond and guests for some fascinating discussions.

From the show's RSS feed, refreshed Apr 13, 2026. Source feed.

Subscribe Bookmark

Episodes

  1. UIOK 314: Getting strategic about your resolutions for 2023 with James Brummer-Taylor

    Happy 2023 Expert business consultant, venture capitalist and my good mate James Brummer-Taylor joins the podcast for the first episode of 2023. It's that time of year when a lot of us are thinking about making change in our lives. We often do it at this time of year. And research shows us that...

  2. UIOK 313: James Clear re-release

    Hey everyone - I have Covid so no new episode this week BUT we do have a fantastic past episode for you fro back in 2018. It's with the author of "Atomic Habits", James Clear. James's work has had a big influence on how I shape my behaviour, and with the work I do with my clients. It's a great...

  3. UIOK 312: Playing the change game

    The end of the year is fast approaching, as is the time we start thinking about the changes we want to make in 2023. Change is hard, so once you've figured out the changes you'd like to make, here are some idea to help make them stick.

  4. UIOK 310: Brad Dixon, building holistic humans

    Brad Dixon, holistic physio, author, and expansive wellness practitioner joins the podcast. Our conversation centres on the concept of expansive wellness. How we can adopt health practices that are not only good for ourselves but good for our communities, the environments we live in, and the…

    more
  5. UIOK 309: Dr Kris Lee, worth the risk

    Author and behavioural science expert Dr Kris Lee joins the podcast to talk about micro-dosing bravery and the importance of taking strategic risks and building sustainable resilience. We talk in depth about What resilience is - not just the "ability to bounce back" The adaptability of the human...

  6. UIOK 308: Richard Bowles, embrace the dark side

    Richard Bowles joins the podcast today. Richard is a multi world record adventurer and founder of Adventure Alchemy which is dedicated to helpingleaders lean into the challenges of the modern world. Richard takes perverse joy in doing the things he doesn't like, watching his reactions in real…

    more
  7. UIOK 306: Kane Brisco, tools from the top paddock

    Kane Brisco farmer, father, partner, authour of "Tools from the top paddock", and founder of FarmFit joins the podcast. Kane is a dude from the 'Naki just trying to inspire others to be better. He is open and real, and has conversations about lots of important stuff that most of us keep hidden.…

    more
  8. UIOK 305: Ant Williams, a deep dive into discomfort

    Ant Williams, world record freediver, leadership expert, keynote speaker joins the podcast. Ant worked as a Sport Psychologist coaching big wave surfers, motoGP riders, rock climbers and other risk takers on how to break through mental barriers when he realised, according to him, he was a fraud.…

    more
  9. UIOK 304: Portia Bing, you're never too cool to try

    Portia Bing, counter fraud advisor and international track and field athlete joins the podcast. Our conversation explores the complexities of life, of performance, leadership, identity and personal growth with the lens of sportplaced over the top. We chat through - Experimentation and refining...

  10. UIOK 303: MY Health Plan

    Recently I put together a short e-book helping people to craft an individualised health plan. This episode is the audio version of the book plus occasional off script commentary around part of the topic This episode is proudly brought to you be www.healthmentors.nz

  11. UIOK 302: Belinda Morgan, solving the part time puzzle

    What does the future of work look like? How does it look for organisations? How does it look for you and me? They way we work is evolving and at times it's butting up against a lot of the social constructs we've previously held tight about what work is. Belinda Morgan, flexible work expert and...

  12. UIOK 301: Callum McKirdy, thinking different about thinking different

    Callum McKirdy joins us un the podcast. Callum is all about amplifying the power of ADHD+ minds. He is a speaker, author, facilitator host of the "You, Me and ADHD podcast" and author of the the upcoming book "Tilt: thinking differently about thinking differently" This is a conversation about...

  13. UIOK 300: James Brummer-Taylor, the business of high performance

    Wahoo 300 episode's not out In this special episode I'm joined by James Brummer-Taylor. International business consultant, Venture Capitalist, entreprenuer, and best man at my wedding. James has spent over a decade inside a multitude of companies helping them to perform better across all aspects…

    more
  14. UIOK 299: Luke McFarlane Kiwi Dude's talking mental health

    This week on the podcast I'm joined by an old High School mate, Luke McFarlane. Luke and a couple of his mates have set up The Lighthouse Project Charitable Trust which aims to raise money for local legends doing their bit to improve men's mental health here in New Zealand. Earlier this year…

    more
  15. UIOK 298: Responding to pressure - transcending the crisis interview with Si Alhir

    This episode flips the usual switch and I'm interviewed by Si Alhir. Our conversation was recorded back in early 2020 as Covid was ramping up for an event si organised called "Transcending the Crisis" Our conversation is all about pressure, it's effect on us, and how we can respond. We talk…

    more
  16. UIOK 297: Chase Hughes influencing behaviour

    In this episode we're joined by Chase Hughes Chase Hughes is a leading behavior expert in the United States and the #1 bestselling author of two books on tactical behavior skills. He is the author of the worldwide #1 bestselling book on advanced persuasion, influence and behavior profiling. ​…

    more
  17. UIOK 296: 5 ways to live more positively with Dr David Keane

    Dr David Keane, Founder and CEO at The 10 Behaviours of Successful People joins us for a conversation around increasing positivity and meaning in our lives. This conversation was originally recorded in 2020 at the kick off of Covid, so contextually we're having this dicussion with all that was...

  18. UIOK 295: Welcome Back

    It's been a little over two years since the last episode of Uncomfortable is OK went to air. Today it's officially back! Apologies for the abrupt finish. Hopefully this episode helps to clear some of that up for those of you who are still listening. Today Chris will talk through - What was going…

    more
  19. 294: I'm in

    Thomas Maharaj returns to the podcast for Round two. We catch up with what Tommie has been up to in the last few years and his exciting new project "I'm in" We chat through the challenges he is facing, what scares him the most, why he is doing it, and what is the hope that keeps him going.

  20. UIOK 293: Yeah I'm fine just .....

    Tom Ahern returns to the podcast for our annual-ish chat. It doesn't disappoint We talk through - Tommy's books - fatherhood - self identity - dealing with overwhelm - Tools for managing our mental state - Dogs - Finding wonder in the world - self development - learning - and getting uncomfortable

  21. UIOK 292: Put on your raincoat and head towards the storm

    JP Tocker joins us on the show today to chat through - getting started - going against what others think - the difficulty of getting over that first hump - dealing with FOMO - the power of perspective and mindset - and of course, getting UNCOMFORTABLE This one has been on the cards for a while…

    more
  22. UIOK 290: Leading through challenge

    This episode is something a little different. It's the first two episodes of a new show I'm putting out called "Leading through Challenge" If you want to up your leadership skill levels to better lead your team through adversity then this is the show for you. Subscribe on Apple...

  23. UIOK 289: Strategic Discomfort  

    I came across Ollie a couple of months ago when he posted on LinkedIn about going bungee jumping, and the fact that he needed to do it because it scared him. We have a great chat today about what strategic discomfort gives Ollie. How he chooses uncomfortable activities. How he shifts perspective....

  24. UIOK 288: Mentally healthy workplaces

    Today I'm chatting with Grant Pritchard, an in-house lawyer, technology enthusiast and workplace mental health advocate at Spark -- New Zealand's leading telecommunications, media, and digital services company. He leads Spark's thriving workplace mental health community and is working to inspire...

  25. UIOK 287: The opportunity-centric mindset

    One of my favorites, Cam Calkoen returns to the podcast to chat inspiration, motivation, dreaming big, being hopeful, and dealing with adversity. We recorded this prior to lockdown, but the messages are ones that we all need to hear at the moment.

  26. UIOK 286: Crazy Busy

    Kerene Strochnetter is the Managing Director of Mindful at Work, a business hell-bent on making the M-words cool in the workplace - mindfulness and meditation. She’s also a sort after public speaker with a clear message is - if busy is the new stupid, then mindful is the new smart! Kerene wants…

    more
  27. UIOK 285: Tomorrow's mindful leaders

    Jase Te Patu returns to the podcast. Jase is an award-winning facilitator with more than 25 years of experience in the health and wellness sector. He is co-owner of Awhi Yoga and Wellbeing, a teacher trainer, facilitator, keynote speaker and creator of M3. Jase’s students include the All Blacks,...

  28. UIOK 284: Mindfully Kicking Ass

    Today I'm joined by Annaliese Arnold. Mum, business owner, mindfulness teacher, who is aiming to live a kick-ass life and help others to do the same We chat about starting something hard, being mindful, following your curiosity, keeping going when things get tough, and of course getting...

  29. UIOK 283: Lisa Tamati is Relentless

    Lisa Tamati is an ultra runner who has pushed her body and mind to its limits. She has run ultra races in all corners of the world and has raced over 70,000 km. She returns to the Uncomfortable is OK podcast to talk about mental toughness, and to tell us about the toughest challenge she has faced...

  30. UIOK 282: Pulling the curtain back

    Two recent podcast favorites, Gareth Edwards and Paul Watkins return to record an episode together. These two dudes push the boundaries regularly and consistently get uncomfortable. Today we explore the idea of what it looks like when we decide to take the uncomfortable path and what we didn't...

  31. UIOK 281: We adapt to life - choose it wisely

    What are you choosing to adapt to?

  32. UIOK 280: Why you need to choose hardship

    In a society where comfort is the norm - choose hardship

  33. UIOK 279: Trying to understand my mind

    I'm joined by Maya Nova who is all about self-awareness, resilience, agile mindsets, and mindful leadership. Maya has spent over 25 years practicing mindfulness meditation, including a stint as a Buddhist nun. For over the last decade she has been distilling and teaching the practice of applying...

  34. UIOK 278: Giving a flip

    Gareth Edwards joins me on the podcast today. Together with his mate Tom, he holds the unofficial Tyre flipping world record for 24 hours. Coming soon Gareth is going to be flipping a Tyre by himself for 60 hours. He is doing this to raise awareness of the 60 men who lose their lives to suicide...

  35. UIOK 277: Embrace failure

    Failure is a dirty word in our society. It's something to be avoided at all costs. BUT failure is inevitable. It happens to everyone at some point even if we're actively avoiding trying things because we're scared to fail. This conversation turns the tables. It's a recording from the Augmented...

  36. UIOK 276: Getting real with your health

    Renee and Jenna from Real Health NZ join me on the podcast to talk starting business, parenting, juggling balls, health, battling doubts, getting excited, and getting uncomfortable. Show notes: The idea (4.00) The purpose of doing it (7.00) What really drove them to the way (12.15) The influences...

  37. UIOK 275: Shine your light with pride

    Life from a polar bear's perspective is how Josiah Pasikale views life. Today I sit down with him on the podcast. Our conversation covers many bases and Joe tells us heaps of stories but the main theme is around identity. Firstly understanding your own identity, and secondly having the courage to...

  38. UIOK 274: Design for purpose

    Happy New Year all! Today I'm joined by Blair Mainwaring owner of Ocean Design here in Wellington. Blair has owned and run Ocean for the past 3 decades and talks us through some of the ups and downs of business and life. Specifically, we discuss + Getting Started + Navigating change + Defining...

  39. UIOK 273: Step back, step up, step in

    Understand how to overcome discomfort by stepping back, stepping up, and stepping in

  40. UIOK 272: Lifelong learning

    I'm joined on the show by Carl Condliffe, Teacher, Learner, Business Owner, Speaker, podcaster and an all-around good dude. We chat through a raft of topics including; failure, learning, starting a business, purpose, prioritization, working hard, and of course getting UNCOMFORTABLE Links Twitter...

  41. UIOK 271: 4 Uncomfortable things 2019

    Chris runs through the 4 things that have made him the most uncomfortable this year. What they have been, where he is at with them, and what he has learned.

  42. UIOK 270: What is my intent?

    Cut through the decision fatigue holding you back and take action by asking yourself one simple question. www.getoutofmycomfortzone.com

  43. UIOK 269: Understanding privilege

    Dr Sarah Leberman is a professor of Leadership at Massey University, with has a particular interest in women in sport and academia. Among a myriad of other things she has been a steering group member of New Zealand Woman in Leadership program since its inception in 2006, and co-founded Women in...

  44. UIOK 268: The 4 reasons you give up

    There are 4 common reasons that you give up when faced with a challenge, find out what they are and start to plan to combat them. [email protected]

  45. UIOK 267: Never Be Complete

    Paul Watkins Mountain Climber, Adventurer, Entrepreneur, Pharmacist, Speaker, Husband, Father, Son, Brother, Nerd, etc joins me again on the podcast. Today we talk through defining ourselves, how others define us, and how we go about redefining ourselves. We dive into playing the long game, why…

    more

About this show

We explore the science, the stories, and the strategies of navigating challenge and discomfort.This is a mental wellbeing and performance podcast aimed at improving our ability to step outside our comfort zones and take on challenges, whether they be in pursuit of our goals, or the ones life hands to us from time to time.Join Chris Desmond and guests for some fascinating discussions.

Hosted by

Chris Desmond

Frequently asked questions

How many episodes does Uncomfortable is OK Podcast have?

Uncomfortable is OK Podcast has 309 episodes on PodParley. The most recent episode was published on March 21, 2023.

What is Uncomfortable is OK Podcast about?

We explore the science, the stories, and the strategies of navigating challenge and discomfort.This is a mental wellbeing and performance podcast aimed at improving our ability to step outside our comfort zones and take on challenges, whether they be in pursuit of our goals, or the ones life hands...

How often does Uncomfortable is OK Podcast release new episodes?

Uncomfortable is OK Podcast publishes weekly, based on its 309 episodes since May 2016.

Who hosts Uncomfortable is OK Podcast?

Uncomfortable is OK Podcast is created and hosted by Chris Desmond.
Link copied