Heston Russell - Voice Of A Veteran Podcast

Authenticity Ambush: Andrew Pap

An Ambush is a surprise attack on someone and Heston goes in for the kill with this one - Pap gets caught in  the authenticity ambush, but comes out alive - only after the walls close in on him during Heston’s question interrogation rampage.

 

Safe to say we now know way more than we probably should, about the man, the myth, the fitness legend Andrew Pap.

 

We know he is a sucker for a block of Kit-Kat, Sleeps on his back, snores after too many drinks and sleeps closest to the door so he gets killed first.

 

They discuss:

• Definition of balance 
• Physical, mental, emotional requirements 
• Self image and mindset
• Relevance 
• Fears
• If social media crashed tomorrow
• Shallow swimmers & deep sea divers
• The depth and substance behind predisposed superficial concepts

Join us again for a Pap pep-up #round2 in this light hearted and insightful authenticity ambush.

 

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Andrew Pap: Mindset, Perspective, Discipline & Fitness

In this episode Heston sits down with Andrew Pap - Self made warrior of mindset, perspective, discipline and fitness - Founder of Everyday 365.

To Heston’s surprise, physical fitness was just a byproduct to the depth and substance of self and situational awareness that Pap offers the world. Physical fitness is his vehicle to transcend others to lives of service with appreciation of their own unique strengths and weaknesses along the way.

In this episode they discuss;

- Choice and Privilege from a rocky upbringing
- The Veteran Journey
- From couch surfing to business boss
- Taking control of your own narrative
- Navigating the tall poppy syndrome
- Healing after loss and giving back
- Taking responsibility

This episode will inspire you to live life as the best version of yourself - reminding you of the choices and responsibility you have in steering your own life with purpose, depth and service; All the while challenging you to also give-up peeing in the shower - can you handle it?

An episode not to be missed.

 

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Connect with: @andrew_pap_

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Breathing, Biceps & Self Assessments

Heston and Scotty are back on the rooftop and this episode is like listening to a conversation between the boys that you aren’t supposed to hear. Heston gets pulled up on making excuses and playing victim to his own mental and physical health game. It is a provoking episode that will help you unlock the reminders you need in your own mental and physical health and inspire you into positive action.

They discuss:

• Personal self assessments of current mental and physical health.
• The way fitness and nutrition can actually create anxiety
• Eating habits & routines
• Patience in physical and mental health expectations
• Morning routine of channelling the inner child & being in the moment
• Finding a true purpose & motivation for physical fitness
• Transitions from high performance to regular performance
• Spiralling into victim mode & making excuses
• Unlocking through conversations

Let us know your biggest takeaway & self assessment reminder.

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Enjoy the Episode 🛡

Tony Abbott: Screaming at the Moon

In this episode Heston Russell sits down with former Prime Minister of Australia Tony Abbott, AC. During this very open conversation they talk on transitioning from duty & service and in particular from Tony’s political perspective and personal experience.

They draw and discuss parallels between both of their unique experiences - in the military and parliament - with authentic accounts spanning personal and professional reflections. They pull threads on topics including:

• Duty & Service
• The empty void of transitioning from purpose and leaving parliament
• Acceptance that things change and don’t last forever
• Importance in discovering your sense of self
• Physical Fitness as priority to create mental resilience
• Maintaining equilibrium to reduce stress
• Behind the ‘politics’ scenes
• Creating a network of people you can be yourself with
• Relationship with mental health
• Purpose, meaning and contribution.

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@voice_of_a_veteran

Ian Thorpe: Journey to Authenticity

People from all walks of life experience the struggles of life transitions, mental health hurdles and coming to terms with who you are at your true core in order to show up to life authentically. 

Heston sits down with Australia’s greatest olympian Ian Thorpe to discuss his Journey to Authenticity.

 

They get real on:  

• Transitions in life 
• Having a superior mindset
• Why practise is key
• Mental Health in young people
• A journey through depression
• Loving yourself, when you are the toughest critic
• Living up to success & why it’s hard to ask for help
• Performing at elite levels 
• Labels/Identity & Uncertainty 
• Proactive Measures for those off days 
• Sexuality and being your authentic self 

This episode is absolute gold for anyone to listen to and take away some profound and proactive insights. 

Enjoy the episode, please let us know what you think & don’t forgot to share it with someone you think will benefit from hearing it. 

Let’s keep these conversations coming. 

 

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Leadership, Politics & The Pendulum Swing of Transition

During the Christmas & New Year’s period Heston travelled around the country connecting with politicians, Veterans, families and everyday Australians. He found that there was a lot of emotion coming out and he used that time to ground some truth and unravel a lot of his own personal spiral during his transition from the military. 

 

Join Heston & Scotty in this episode as they open up and dive into some key topics such as;

• Aspiration in service
• Physical & Moral Courage
• Living a deep life Vs living hollow 
• The Identity Crisis
• Foundations of Culture 
• The pendulum swing in transition
• Minimising the extremes 
• Leadership and Politics 
• Manipulation vs Motivation
• Values, work ethic and attitude to be an asset

Please head to voiceofaveteran.org for more info and to get involved in what is currently going on and don’t forget to subscribe to the show and leave a review.

Enjoy the episode.

Tag us at: @voice_of_a_veteran

Heston & Scotty - Reflect & Refocus #RnR

Heston & Scotty get back on the mic and reflect on the back end of 2020 and refocus in on what’s next. Join them as they discuss:

 

- The simple life, that was deployment

- Impacts, anxieties and influence of your environment

- Self sabotage at it’s best

- Seeking and accepting responsibility

- “On the ground”

- Lessons on balancing life and increasing productivity

- Border closures

- Self help & the daily renewable contract

- Needed inspiration

- Veteran Connect (events)

 

Please head to voiceofaveteran.org for more info on Veteran Connect event in your area, help us with our current ESO survey and don’t forget to subscribe to the show.

 

If you would like to watch this conversation head to our youtube channel.

 

Enjoy the episode.

Learning My Military Life with Heston Russell & David Ure

This episode was such a key conversation in helping Heston to draw out lived experiences in the Military, that we wanted to share it with you here. 

Heston was interviewed for The Lead Wasps Podcast with David Ure, and they took on a deep dive conversation about 

• Life in Service
• Leadership and planning
• Outside the Wire
• Mateship and Bromance
• Special forces
• Career highlights
• Suicide ideation 
• The Brereton report
• Cultural Change

Let us know what you think of this episode, and thank you again to David for facilitating a great in-depth conversation.

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@voice_of_a_veteran

@leadwasps

 

Culture Crisis

Failings in culture are failings in leadership, with all the conversations in 2020 focused around Culture & Leadership (or lack there of) - Heston and Scotty sat down to discuss their lived experience and the exact needs for consideration within these moving forward.

They discuss:

- Warrior culture

- Lazy Leadership

- The Modern Warrior

- Alpha Males

- Females in Special Forces

- Layers of Culture, Leadership and Diversity

 

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Unboxing - ’Veteran Support Systems’

2020 provided an abundance of complex and confusing times for our Veteran community and the wider Australian public.

In this episode Heston & Scotty spend time unboxing some very key messages and Veteran support systems.

VOAV is here to support and activate all the people of Australia - to make and take the action that is needed - it all begins with education and understanding.

They unbox:

• Loss of Purpose and Identity - under attack in the Veteran Community
• The current Mental Health crisis
• DVA and Veteran Systems
• The wins and losses over the last few months of 2020
• Suicide prevention
• Accountability that needs to be made Royal Commission Vs National Commissioner
• Action that you can take now

Please subscribe to the podcast and share this episode with someone you think needs to hear it.

Take action to break down the stigma surrounding these conversations, to educate, understand and empower us all - together.

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