Better Bloke

What is it about certain songs that can instantly transport you back to a moment in your life?In this episode of The Better Bloke Project Podcast, Rob and Matty dive into Spotify’s viral “Divorced Aussie Dad Tunes” playlist, featuring iconic artists like Creed, Nickelback, 3 Doors Down, Switchfoot, Shannon Noll and Incubus.More than just a music discussion, this episode explores how songs become tied to memories, emotions and different chapters of our lives. From heartbreak and resilience to fatherhood, mateship and growing up, we unpack why certain tracks continue to resonate long after they’ve left the charts.Part nostalgia trip, part therapy session, and part celebration of the soundtrack that shaped a generation of Australian blokes.Help us help the blokes who need it: https://www.betterblokeproject.org/pages/donate-now Find us on socials: https://www.instagram.com/betterblokeproject/ https://www.facebook.com/thebetterblokeproject/ https://www.tiktok.com/@betterblokeprojectThe Better Bloke Project is an ACNC-registered charity focused on reducing male suicide through connection, conversation and practical support for men, families and communities across Australia.

This week we sat down with Brando Peričić, better known as The Balkan Bear, the #14 ranked UFC Heavyweight. On the outside, fighters are often seen as tough, fearless and unbreakable. But this conversation goes far beyond what happens inside the cage.Brando opens up about growing up without his father around, the sacrifices he continues to make in pursuit of becoming a UFC champion, and the role faith has played in shaping the bloke he is today. We spoke about identity, discipline, purpose and the reality that even the toughest men carry their own battles.It quickly becomes clear that Brando isn’t just focused on becoming the best heavyweight fighter in the world. He’s equally committed to becoming the best person he can be and using his platform to help others along the way.This is a raw and honest conversation that shows strength isn’t about hiding your emotions. Sometimes, it’s about having the courage to share them.Help us help the blokes who need it: https://www.betterblokeproject.org/pages/donate-nowBrando's Socials:https://www.instagram.com/balknbear/https://www.facebook.com/balknbear/https://www.tiktok.com/@balknbearhttps://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@balknbear⁩ Find us on socials:https://www.instagram.com/betterblokeproject/ https://www.facebook.com/thebetterblokeproject/ https://www.tiktok.com/@betterblokeproject

In this episode of the Better Bloke Project Podcast, we sit down with Cooper Chapman - ex-pro surfer turned motivational speaker - who’s become one of the most relatable voices in youth mental health, resilience, and personal values. Cooper doesn’t preach fluff or psychological jargon. He breaks down a science-backed, real-world approach to feeling better: 1% changes, focusing on what’s going right (not just what’s wrong), and learning how to live in a way that actually matches your values... not the version of “success” you were told to chase.We go deep on what young people are facing right now in 2026 from social pressure, identity, attention, anxiety, comparison, to a world that moves faster than their parents ever had to deal with. Cooper sits in a rare lane: he can speak to youth in their language, while also helping parents and adults understand what’s really happening beneath the surface. If you’ve ever felt like there’s a growing gap between generations, or you’re trying to raise a strong, grounded young human in a chaotic world, this conversation will hit hard.Keep up to date with Cooper: https://www.instagram.com/cooperchapman/

Jeremy Van Akerlaken, better known as Clown Repellent, has gone from relatively unknown to impossible to ignore in a matter of months. In this episode, we sit down with the man behind the name to unpack the rise to “infamy,” the heat that comes with having loud opinions, and why he believes woke culture has been used to justify or protect some genuinely ugly behaviour in recent years. It’s not a highlight reel... it’s a look at what drives the rage, what he thinks is true, and why he keeps stepping into the fire.Before all of that, Jeremy was an entrepreneur who took an exit, and that reset gave him the space to rethink what he actually wanted to build next. We get into business, mindset, identity, and the shift from chasing wins on paper to chasing something that feels meaningful. He shares what surprised him most about putting his voice out there, and how relatability can open doors you never expected... for better and worse.It goes deeper than “hot takes.”Mr Repellent tells stories of conversations with followers that go way beyond likes, views, and yelling at a camera... moments that hit hard, challenge assumptions, and show what’s really happening under the surface for a lot of everyday people.See more from him at: https://www.instagram.com/clown_repellent/Help us help the blokes who need it: https://www.betterblokeproject.org/pages/donate-now

Lets rip into a deceptively simple question that’s been lighting up convo's everywhere: is life genuinely harder… or are we just getting softer? Modern life is packed with creature comforts, convenience, and safety nets, yet blokes are still stressed, burned out, and feeling like they’re carrying the world. So what gives?On this episode we compare today’s pressures to what our dads and grandads dealt with, and unpack the myth of the “tough old-school man” who never complained. Not because life was easy, but because talking about it wasn’t really an option. We dig into whether “soft times create soft men” is wisdom or just nostalgia, and whether we’ve lost resilience… or we’re simply facing a different kind of hard.If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking “man up” and “I’m cooked” in the same week, this one’s for you.