The Mind Mate Podcast

“I think, when used correctly, MDMA could really help a lot of people. Maybe it could help those suffering from an existential crisis? Maybe it could help those that are struggling to find meaning in their lives. It’s not that we explicitly recognise a conscious will to live but we do have desires and incentives for the potential of self growth. We want to be better and when we struggle to find meaning, we stop caring about growth.” Writing this blog and reflecting upon this experience has been very eye-opening. It’s taken me a good few weeks to break down and comprehend the experience itself. From a logical perspective, the MDMA made me feel great and spending time with myself—feeling great—produced a positive outcome. However, I choose to recognise the experience as spiritually significant because it feels right to me. I think the MDMA did split different aspects of my consciousness. I think its intention was to outline and compare them. It taught me that I am capable of loving people and myself so much more than I do. It taught me that it is possible to reconcile the past; to move on and to accept it. Ultimately, it comes down to choice. We can choose to live in scarcity and fear in the assumption that the world is a frightening place and that good things happen only to those who take, steal and live through their ego (without any awareness as to the other aspects of ‘self’). Or we can choose to give and to share and love without any expectation or desire. I learnt that to be happy, one must be grateful. I learnt that to be happy, one must give. I consider myself a happy man and yet I have never felt happiness like I did when connecting with that entity of love; my higher self.

Michael Burge is Current Director of the Australian College of Trauma Treatment and has had over 25 years experience in psychology, counselling, education and training. Michael has published extensively both nationally and internationally in the field of PTSD, with a particular focus on psychosocial issues affecting Vietnam Veterans and their families.   He introduced PTSD treatment methods to most Melbourne Universities as guest Lecturer and in 1993 introduced short course, skills- based training for the treatment of PTSD into Australia.In the 2010 Australia Day Honours, Michael was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for service to psychology & the community for the development of training & treatment protocols for trauma. He is also a die-hard Collingwood fan, loves coffee and is incredibly humble! Enjoy this one mates!

I was lucky enough to be interviewed by Sarah and James from the Mind Gold podcast. We touched on a number of bizarre and legendary topics like getting probed by aliens, embracing fear, ways to find purpose and meaning as well as why challenges that cause physiological changes in the body are a one way ticket to happiness town. 

Erin Telford is a Breathwork facilitator and healer, acupuncturist, Reiki Master, herbalist and a teacher of David Elliott's Level One Breathwork Healer Training. Her work guides people to look within, open their hearts and heal their relationship with themselves. Her group sessions, trainings and retreats empower her clients to connect to their innate wisdom so that they can find the answers they are looking for.  I knew Erin was someone I wanted to chat with from the moment my lovely partner Siobhan told me about her! We ALL have trauma—trauma is subjective—and trauma affects us all in different ways. Coming to a deeper understanding of the ways it does, is (I would say) vital for our wellbeing, sense of self, purpose and connectedness with others.  IN THIS PODCAST, we go fucking deep (that’s the way we like it!). We get right into the nitty-gritty’s exploring our personal and collective shadows, discussing the scientific and spiritual approach to healing trauma through the breath as well as what it is we’re all fundamentally trying to do… be happy and live meaningful lives with the people we love. Enjoy mates!

Tony is the owner of Doherty’s Gyms around Australia, a highly sought after public speaker, interviewer, and media personality. Above all, he is a generous, humble and motivating individual. I love talking with him.  We head back into Tony's history including how he came from humble beginnings with a clear vision and how that vision became a reality, culminating in a befriending with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Together, they run the Arnold Classic Fitness Expo's. Tony's passion, pragmatic approach to life and positivity make me want to interview him regularly. Every time I leave having learnt a bit more about what it means to truly fulfil your potential in life. 

Siobhan Macleod (@siobhan_macleod) is opening a business! Coming early September, The Breathwork Shed uses a specific form of meditation (breathwork) to help people come to know themselves a little more personally, understand how things that have happened to them in the past have influenced their train of thought, behaviours and habits AND the best thing is, #theshed is a community of legends going through the process together. THIS WEEK’S PODCAST explored breathwork: What it is, how it works, what comes up, how you come to know yourself and how you can create a better life based on what you now know!

Stephen James "Steve" Moneghetti, AM, is an Australian long-distance runner and physical health consultant. Moneghetti has a degree in civil engineering, a graduate diploma in education and an honorary doctorate from the University of Ballarat. This was a legendary podcast and, believe it or not, we hardly spoke about his on-field performances! We got right into the philosophy/psychology of how to live life by finding your lane and sticking to it. 

Grant is a holistic psychotherapist and a member of the Australian Somatic Psychotherapy Association (ASPA). He has been a holistic educator and workshop facilitator for over 10 years. His focus is on the healing of the "traumatised soul", and holding the space that enables the safety and support necessary for change and growth to occur.  Head to http://www.consciouscounselling.com.au/ if you are keen to work with Grant :).

Born and bred in Melbourne, Adam is a fully qualified clinical psychotherapist. He owns Bayside Psychotherapy and publishes much of its content. He's been practicing in the Bayside area for 13 years. His main treatment orientation is psychoanalysis (Lacanian).   You can find more information about him here: https://www.baysidepsychotherapy.com You can find and subscribe to this podcast and all other Mind Mate podcasts in audio form via audio platforms including iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher etc.  Keep up to date with what's happening in my world through Instagram @tom.ahern or via my Facebook page /tom.ahern.life   Additionally, you can download a copy of my book 'Yes I'm fine, just tired' on kindle, audiobook or purchase a paperback copy through amazon by searching Tom Ahern and / or 'Yes I'm fine, just tired'.

My take on Carl Jung's insights, stepping into your future by becoming who you could be and reconciling with the past. Carl Jung said, “What did you do as a child that made the hours pass like minutes? Herein lies the key to your earthly pursuits.” It’s so powerful when you, in the most productive sense of the expression, ‘let your mind wander’. And I mean really let it wander. Get rid of all the distractions that are disallowing it to go where it actually wants to go and you’ll learn a thing or two. Either those lessons will be difficult because they’ll reveal some potential truths that are difficult to come to terms with or — which is also just a liberating — they’ll bring to the table what underlay your conscious experience up until that point. I believe there is so much truth in the unconscious. We just have to remember to listen to it and the more disconnected we get, the harder that becomes. Harder, but not impossible and if it is harder, then it is all the more worthwhile. Yes, Carl Jung was right about me in that my “earthly pursuits” lay hidden beneath a pile of A4 paper, pens — ‘the pen is mightier than the sword’ and Microsoft word software but this personal realisation did not necessarily come about when I read what Mr Jung had to say. I knew writing was for me — and I really knew — when it saved my life. In ‘Yes I’m fine, just tired’, I spoke about my ten tools that truly helped me through that rough trot. Learning about anxiety and mental health disorders proved more than worthwhile but it was the learning through writing, about objective and subjective truths that proved to be the game changer. After a panic attack one night, my mum told me to write my thoughts down as a way to to come to an understanding about what the real, internal issues were and I never looked back. Things take time and I lied to myself, even on paper, for many months before I could stare truth in the face but the journey began with those first, written words. What did you do as a kid and what’s really helped you when life gets in the way? What did you learn? Maybe therein lies your “earthly pursuits”? Enjoy!