Better Thinking

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Tara J Lal about raising awareness around suicide and reducing the stigma associated with mental illness. Tara J Lal is a professional firefighter with Fire and Rescue NSW and a PhD candidate at the University of New England. She is the internationally published author of Standing on My Brother’s Shoulders – Making peace with Grief and Suicide; a memoir and self-help book that tracks her journey through childhood trauma to a life of meaning and purpose. She has been awarded an Australian Rotary Health scholarship for research into the mental health of emergency service workers and was a finalist in the Rotary Inspirational Woman of the Year awards in 2017. She is also a Mental Health First Aid instructor and has managed the psychological wellbeing program in Fire and Rescue NSW working with researchers at the Black Dog Institute to develop programs aimed at building resilience and improving mental health outcomes in firefighters. She is also a professional speaker, integrating research and story to create healthy conversation around suicide. Her mission - to gently reframe the public narrative around mental health and suicide by changing the way people think about illness and wellness. Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/tara-lalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Nic Newling about reducing mental health stigma and lowering the barriers of seeking help through helpful conversations. Nic Newling is an outspoken advocate for mental health, suicide prevention, and sharing personal stories. Having lived through the experience of suffering with a mood disorder throughout high school and losing his brother to suicide, he has since dedicated himself to changing the way mental illness is addressed in schools, workplaces, and communities. Nic has reached millions of people through television, live talks, radio, print, online, documentaries, and eHealth programs. He strives to make a continuing positive impact utilizing sharing and listening to encourage helpful, unscripted conversations around mental health, suicide prevention, and getting the most out of life. He has been featured on The TODAY Show, Australian Story, Huffington Post, and has shared his message through major radio stations and newspapers. He features in the men’s mental health documentary series Man Up and the upcoming documentary Suicide: The Ripple Effect, and was one of the subjects of his mother’s Human Rights Award winning memoir Missing Christopher. He also regularly features in awareness campaigns, most recently for an international suicide prevention campaign with Movember, and has contributed to news articles and research journals. He strongly believes in the power of research, leading the development of an online positive psychology intervention at the Black Dog Institute and collaborating on its effectiveness evaluation study through the University of New South Wales. Nic counts himself fortunate, lucky, and grateful to have received familial, peer, and professional support allowing him to recover and heal through his turbulent teen years. It has since enabled him to focus his attention on sharing directly to young people, families, workplaces, and professionals, and the broader public. Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/nic-newlingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Hayley Watson about supporting the mental health of students, parents, and teachers through a practical curriculum for developing mental skills. Dr Hayley Watson is a clinical psychologist, researcher, lecturer, and program developer who is passionate about helping people find and cultivate their inner potential and inherent value. Her most recent project is a cutting-edge video-based mental health curriculum for middle and high schools being rolled out across Australia, Canada, and the US. She also delivers teacher and parent training seminars worldwide. Hayley is an expert in the field of group and school interventions, having developed and delivered youth intervention programs in Canada, the UK, Australia and the US. She has worked with non-profit organisations, private corporations, and educational systems to create and deliver programs that inspire, motivate, and unlock the potential of youth from all backgrounds and circumstances. As a clinical psychologist, Hayley has extensive experience in the assessment, treatment, and support of children, adolescents, adults, and families with a wide range of emotional and behavioural difficulties, and has particular expertise in supporting adolescents dealing with anxiety, bullying/social exclusion, victimisation, and relational difficulties. She believes in a holistic approach and uses evidence-based clinical interventions that encompass mindfulness, the mind-body connection, and compassion for self and others, drawing on her training and experience in these areas. Her PhD focused on changing bully/victim dynamics through forgiveness, and she has a background in mentoring and supporting underprivileged youth. She has worked within the policing, victim services, and restorative justice fields, and has a solid grounding in academia, lecturing and teaching in the fields of both Psychology and Criminology, and holding research posts aimed at evaluating the impact and effectiveness of program implementation, and evaluating the need for specific mental health interventions. Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/hayley-watsonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Robb Kelly about his purpose in helping addicts and alcoholics to recover their lives from the disease of addiction. Robb Kelly, PhD is a world-renowned addiction expert who believes in treating the problem, not the symptoms. Based on his own experiences working with addicts and alcoholics over the last 20 years, combined with a PhD in psychology, and as a recovered alcoholic himself – he is a triple threat against the disease of addiction. Dr. Kelly’s philosophy may seem unconventional and unorthodox. But, they are based on extensive research and behavior studies that he conducted over the last 20 years. He pulls the disease out of his clients and empowers them to fight their disease head on. Some people have referred to him as "The Gordon Ramsay of the Addiction World" because of his direct, no-nonsense, and candid approach to recovery. He has discovered that in order to get his clients to change their thinking, they must confront their disease with candor and vigor. Dr. Kelly works to "make the road of recovery less of a mystery tour." Robb Kelly, PhD has worked with thousands of people including celebrities of film, music, and sports. He has lectured at many high profile universities and hospitals on the subject of addiction, and is recognized as a leading authority on addiction recovery methods that are changing lives all around the world. Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/robb-kelly  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Martin Fisk about helping young guys reach their full potential and become the great adult men they want to be through mentoring and counselling. Martin Fisk is the Chief Executive of Menslink and joined in March 2011 after a twenty-five year career in both the private and public sectors, including nearly ten years running his own business. Since joining Menslink, he has significantly expanded the reach of Menslink’s support programs, with nearly ten times the number of young men accessing their free counselling, mentoring and group programs than at the beginning of the decade. An active campaigner  for young men, Martin speaks to schools, businesses and community groups across the region about issues facing young men, their families and communities, including family violence, gender issues, youth mental health, drugs and suicide – still the leading cause of death in men under 40. In 2012, Martin designed the award-winning Silence is Deadly campaign to reduce the stigma of admitting to problems and encourage more young men to get help when faced with troubled times. This program has been successfully rolled out to tens of thousands of students across high schools, colleges and universities across the Canberra region and has resulted in significantly more young men opening up about their hassles in life and getting help when they need it. Martin is currently the Vice President of the ACT Council of Social Services (ACTCOSS) and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). He serves on the ACT Government’s Gambling and Racing Commission’s Advisory Committee. Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/martin-fiskSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Steve Zolezzi about outdoor learnings, spirituality, symbolism, and nature as a therapeutic aid. Steve Zolezzi is a Registered Psychologist with 25 years experience in education and psychology and is a leading expert on school well-being and positive psychology practice. He consults widely both nationally and internationally in helping schools move to integrated academic and well-being excellence. Steve has been a School Psychologist since 1994, having worked with the Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay, St Aloysius College, and currently as the Head of Positive Education at Knox Grammar School where he received the Knox Headmaster’s Award for Leadership in 2013.  Steve is also a Founding member of The Australasian Biofeedback Society and International School Psychologists Society.  He is a Qualified Teacher, certified Sports Psychologist and Physical Education Instructor. Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/steve-zolezziSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Prof David Sloan Wilson about how human attempts to solve problems from an evolution perspective can have unintended consequences. David Sloan Wilson is an evolutionary biologist with a wide range of interests, including natural selection as a hierarchical process, the nature of intraspecific variation, the evolution of ecological communities and human evolutionary biology. He is also SUNY Distinguished Professor of Biology and Anthropology at Binghamton University. He applies evolutionary theory to all aspects of humanity in addition to the rest of life, both in his own research and as director of EvoS, a unique campus-wide evolutionary studies program that recently received NSF funding to expand into a nationwide consortium.  Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/david-sloan-wilsonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Shaun O’Gorman about living a life with strength, tenacity, resilience, optimism, nurturing & generosity. Shaun O’Gorman has seen his fair share of violence and depravity throughout his life. In fact, more like many lives worth. But it has not defined the man he has become today, despite it trying its very best. Despite his parents' divorce, a violent 13-year Police career, a diagnosis of PTSD & depression, an extended battle with suicide, a bitter divorce, and a prolonged family court custody battle, he never gave in. Shaun now lives an amazing life, he has a beautiful relationship with his daughters, a fantastic loving partner, and he lives his dream career helping others and having an impact. Now he uses his experience to inspire other people to LIVE THE STRONG LIFE. Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/shaun-ogorman See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Will Henshall about personalized music that can help you focus, reduce distractions, and maintain productivity when working and studying. Will Henshall has achieved notable global success both as a musical/visual artist and as a technical inventor. In 1987, he founded the British pop soul band Londonbeat and had two Billboard #1 hit records, “I’ve Been Thinking About You” (91) and “Come Back” (95). He founded Rocket Network, a Paul Allen/Cisco-funded San Francisco company, in 1995 and created the professional audio media transfer system, DigiDelivery. He sold the company to Avid/Digidesign in 2003. Focus@Will started in Los Angeles in 2011 when founders Will Henshall and John Vitale became interested in why people like to listen to music while at work and studying. Research showed 2 out of 3 of people like to listen to music while they work or study, but it’s difficult to find and manage sounds that consistently work well. So we created a new neuroscience based music service that helps increase your focus by reducing distractions, energizing you and helping you hit those critical deadlines. Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/will-henshall  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Hugh van Cuylenburg about finding happiness through gratitude, empathy, and mindfulness. Hugh van Cuylenburg has been working in education for more than 17 years, teaching both primary and secondary in a range of educational settings. He has completed postgraduate studies looking at resilience and wellbeing, and has developed and facilitated programs for more than a thousand schools Australia-wide.  In 2015, the National Rugby League asked Hugh to design and implement a series of comprehensive workshops at every single club in the competition. Since then, he has worked with the Australian cricket team, the Australian netball team, the Australian women’s soccer team, the Australian women's rugby league team, ten AFL teams, the Australian Olympic Committee and every soccer team in the A-League. Beyond the team environment, Hugh has worked one-on-one with individuals such as Steve Smith, Billy Slater and Dustin Martin. Outside of schools and elite sport, Hugh has presented to hundreds of corporate organisations as a keynote speaker, and for three years running his national speaking tour has sold out. He is also co-host of the popular podcast The Imperfects. Episode links at https://neshnikolic.com/podcast/hugh-van-cuylenburgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.