Roll With The Punches

After Stephen recently revisited the show for our second ah-mazing conversation it reminded me what a hit this first chat we had was with myself and listeners... so in the spirit of dishing up some great content to prompt you to reflect deeply on life, I dare say this one might be just the thing for wrapping up this time of year... 'We're all dying from the moment we are born.' It's the truth, but a truth we never really acknowledge or contemplate. I never could have imagined how much I was going to love this conversation with Stephen Jenkinson. He's a philosopher and a wordsmith, a deep-thinker and an articulate communicator, and he has a way of weaving linguistic magic that took my mind into places it loves to go.  We talk about death and what it means to die. How we wrestle with fear of it and thus in the process of which, do we truly live? As humans we are tiny, fleeting and somewhat insignificant on this earth... What happens if and when we make peace with this concept? Or can we make peace with it at all? SPONSORED BY TESTART FAMILY LAWYERS Website: testartfamilylawyers.com.au STEPHEN JENKINSON Website: orphanwisdom.com TIFFANEE COOK Linktree:  linktr.ee/rollwiththepunches Website: tiffcook.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

G’day team, this one’s me, myself, and my end of year brain dump. A little Christmas wrap-up where I’m basically talking to the void and hoping it talks back in downloads. I unpack what’s actually shifted this year, not just the highlight reel stuff. The Himalayas still has my heart in a chokehold, the Dandenongs became my weekly nervous system defrag, and jumping into Jacq’s speaking world cracked my routine wide open and handed me a whole new room of people, craft, and courage. I also tell on myself, hard. How I can preach 'white belt energy' and 'you might have to get worse before you get better', then the second it’s go time I’m like... hell no, delete my calendar, fake my death. I went anyway... nearly pulled the pin, got terrified, did it scared, and reminded myself for the millionth time that the fear doesn’t go away because it matters. Then it gets real real. I share the gut-punch of loss, and the strange, brutal beauty of letting grief exist without sprinting away from it. That reminder I keep coming back to in the philosophy that perhaps the good matches the bad in equal measure (and vice versa). We don’t get to numb one without numbing the other. So, I’m trying be conscious to stay present for the whole messy thing.   SPONSORED BY TESTART FAMILY LAWYERS Website: testartfamilylawyers.com.au TIFFANEE COOK Linktree:  linktr.ee/rollwiththepunches Website: tiffcook.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, this one was a ride. Tom Nash rolled into the studio with zero limbs, two hooks, a pirate vibe, and honestly one of the sharpest senses of humour I've ever tried to keep up with. We covered everything from meningococcal to martinis to Sharknado (yeah, you read that right) and somehow landed on life philosophy that was equal parts hilarious and profound. He talked me through losing all four limbs at 19 like he was describing a flat tyre, then dropped these ridiculous one-liners that had me lolling my heart out. And in the next breath he’s unpacking responsibility, identity, adaptation, and why sweating the small stuff is sometimes exactly the point. This chat was chaotic in the best possible way... funny, deep (even though he swears he’s not deep), and full of these moments that sneak up and smack you right in the perspective. Strap in. This one is an uppercut, kids!   SPONSORED BY TESTART FAMILY LAWYERS Website: testartfamilylawyers.com.au TOM NASH Website:  tomnash.com TIFFANEE COOK Linktree:  linktr.ee/rollwiththepunches Website: tiffcook.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Stedman is back in the saddle and we waste zero time going deep. We pick up where we left off last time - shitty childhood, DV, nearly dying, Steve Irwin, all of it - and drop straight into the messy stuff that shapes how we love, parent and show up. Jamie and I talk about the difference between 'getting over it' and just 'getting through it,' why the language we use around our own pain quietly scripts our whole story, and what happens when girls grow up tightroping for acceptance then end up accepting breadcrumbs from blokes who mistake control for love. We unpack coercive control, DV, cops, courts, locker room 'jokes,' Andrew Tate nonsense, and why real love is making someone feel safe enough to leave, not scared enough to stay. We also talk kids, marriage, ego, masks, curiosity and the tiny moments of change he sees in the men’s behaviour change room that keep him doing the work. It’s raw, it’s big, it’s uncomfortable in all the ways it needs to be. Bring your brain, your heart and maybe a mouthguard. SPONSORED BY TESTART FAMILY LAWYERS Website: testartfamilylawyers.com.au JAMIE STEDMAN Website:  jamiestedman.net TIFFANEE COOK Linktree:  linktr.ee/rollwiththepunches Website: tiffcook.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mate… this conversation with Mel lit me up. She is a walking spark plug, a human espresso shot, the Energiser Bunny with better lipstick. I knew she had a big story but holy hell, sitting across from her and hearing the layers, the grit, the heartbreak, the humour, the joy… it hit different. We talked about growing up in chaos, carrying responsibilities no kid should ever carry, and somehow finding a way to build compassion instead of bitterness. We talked about addiction, foster care, cutting hair for people who literally have nothing, prison programs, walking the streets with zero fear and an ocean of heart. Mel shares stories that'll crack you open and stories that'll stitch you back together two minutes later. This one is humanity on full display. Messy. Beautiful. Wild. Real.Mel is our real life Wonder Woman who shows us who we could be if we actually saw each other. SPONSORED BY TESTART FAMILY LAWYERS Website: testartfamilylawyers.com.au MEL ALSEMGEEST Website:  infectiousbehaviour.com TIFFANEE COOK Linktree:  linktr.ee/rollwiththepunches Website: tiffcook.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today I sat down with the absolute pocket rocket that is Heidi Horne and we went everywhere from kids having meltdowns to middle aged women building apps and writing books. Heidi is an author, speaker, coach and mum who has spent years teaching everyone from tiny humans to stressed out adults how to actually reset, not just talk about it. We talk about why kids are basically little mirrors for our own emotional tantrums, how easily they love, how quickly they connect, and how much we shut that down once we grow up and get 'sensible'. Heidi shares how she’s gone from tour guiding around the world to teaching meditation, building her One Minute Reset app, writing her second book and throwing herself into founder land at 50 with a bunch of cool tech kids. We jam on energy, friendships, shiny object syndrome, being 'addicted to busy', why boundaries are a spiritual practice, and what happens when you finally start backing yourself 100 percent instead of chasing crumbs. There is imposter syndrome, there is sport, there is hockey with teenage boys, there is a lot of laughing and a fair bit of truth. If you need practical ways to stress less, reset fast and find your childlike spark again, this one will land. SPONSORED BY TESTART FAMILY LAWYERS Website: testartfamilylawyers.com.au HEIDI HORNE Website:  heidihorne.com TIFFANEE COOK Linktree:  linktr.ee/rollwiththepunches Website: tiffcook.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holy moly, this convo with Dr Libby lit me up like a kid on red cordial. Every time she’s on the show I swear my brain grows three sizes and suddenly wants to eat more iron. We covered everything from perimenopause mayhem to the way adrenaline hijacks our days, to why half of us are out here living like exhausted, over-stimulated, iron-deficient potatoes. And honestly, Libby is so bloody good at weaving science with soul (#SeeWhatIDidThere) that I find myself wanting to text every woman I know and go “hey babe, get your ferritin checked.” We talked about winter blues, our fried nervous systems, the addiction to being ‘fine,’ the privilege of being alive, and the tiny practices that actually change our chemistry. It was deep, honest, hilarious, and wildly grounding.If you want less chaos, more energy, a calmer brain and a reminder you’re not broken... this one’s a must-listen. SPONSORED BY TESTART FAMILY LAWYERS Website: testartfamilylawyers.com.au DR. LIBBY WEAVER Website:  drlibby.com TIFFANEE COOK Linktree:  linktr.ee/rollwiththepunches Website: tiffcook.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maaaate, I thought I was ready for this one. I really did. I’ve heard Jason speak. I know the shape of his story. But sitting down with him in this format was a completely different beast. If you think you've heard some rough rides on this show, this one takes it up a level... There’s something about the way he unpacks his life - the trauma, the chaos, the faith, the identity stuff - that just hits different when it’s not on a stage… just him, sitting across from you telling the truth exactly as he knows it. And mate, it lands. Hard. Every answer felt like it came from a deeper place than the question. There were moments where I could almost feel what he was about to say before he said it.  This episode isn’t heavy for the sake of heavy. It’s powerful. It’s clarifying. It’s weirdly hopeful. And it reminded me why stories like Jason’s matter... not because they’re dramatic, but because they show what’s possible when someone decides their past doesn’t get to call the shots. Buckle up. Even if you think you know his story… you’re still not ready. SPONSORED BY TESTART FAMILY LAWYERS Website: testartfamilylawyers.com.au JASON BLYTH Website:  jasonblyth.com TIFFANEE COOK Linktree:  linktr.ee/rollwiththepunches Website: tiffcook.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wonder if you’re being too hard on yourself… or not hard enough? Welcome to the club. In this episode Harps and I throw ourselves into the old messy middle where self-improvement meets self-compassion. We call out the way we talk to ourselves and question when does the “you’ve got this” turn into delusion, and when 'being honest' becomes you verbally drop-kicking your own soul.  Typical us... a lil' wisdom, a lil' chaos, a whole lot of laughs. SPONSORED BY TESTART FAMILY LAWYERS Website: testartfamilylawyers.com.au TIFFANEE COOK Linktree:  linktr.ee/rollwiththepunches Website: tiffcook.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leon Purton strolled in for a chat in today's ep and we tumbled straight into that familiar territory you and I love... identity, leadership, masks, messy middles, self-belief, crucible moments, and why so many of us chase gold stars instead of growth. Leon unpacked how the Air Force shaped him, how a divorce cracked him open, how perfection cost him connection, and how he rebuilt himself by dropping armour instead of adding more. We danced through stories about boxing, leadership, values, and those little internal kids in us who just want a pat on the head. And mate… did we hit some big realisations about self-belief, surrender, stillness, and the weird way life forces you to grow in directions you never would’ve picked from the safety of your twenties. It was honest, warm, insightful, vulnerable, and bloody funny. A proper good yarn… I hope you love it! SPONSORED BY TESTART FAMILY LAWYERS Website: testartfamilylawyers.com.au LEON PURTON Website:  leonpurton.com TIFFANEE COOK Linktree:  linktr.ee/rollwiththepunches Website: tiffcook.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This one starts with the world's best cookies and ends with an existential gut check, which feels just about right for Roll With The Punches. I'm chatting with Dr Dinesh Palipana, who just casually happens to be a doctor, researcher, advocate, Australian of the Year and absolute legend who is also living with a spinal cord injury after a car accident at 25. We talk about growing up in Sri Lanka between Buddhism and Catholicism, and how that shaped his whole view on identity, labels and what actually matters. He is disarmingly funny, brutally honest and annoyingly humble. We get into discipline, temptation, materialism, food as a sensory lifeline after injury, grief for the body he once had, and the gratitude he feels now simply to wake up in Australia, talk about cookies and not be in a war zone without care. We talk presence, civility, social media, mums as superheroes, his book and the TV series in the works. It is equal parts cookies, poo jokes, philosophy and perspective. I loved this chat. I've a feelin' ya'll will too. SPONSORED BY TESTART FAMILY LAWYERS Website: testartfamilylawyers.com.au DINESH PALIPANA Website:  palipana.com TIFFANEE COOK Linktree:  linktr.ee/rollwiththepunches Website: tiffcook.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This one hit me right in the feels. Sally Pymer and I went full circle... from addiction and trauma to the power of one simple, radical act: smiling. What started as a keynote-writing journey turned into Sally birthing this contagious 'Smiles with Sally' movement that’s flooding social media (and the Bendigo Times) with genuine human connection. We unpacked how a smile can break barriers in hospitals, shift the mood in a room, and ripple into kindness that keeps going. Sally opened up about her own story - growing up with fear, loss, and the drive to prove her worth through exercise - only to discover what she’d really been running from. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s a bloody brilliant reminder that we’re all carrying invisible stories beneath the surface.   SPONSORED BY TESTART FAMILY LAWYERS Website: testartfamilylawyers.com.au SALLY PYMER Website: empoweredwithsally.com.au TIFFANEE COOK Linktree:  linktr.ee/rollwiththepunches Website: tiffcook.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Janine Shepherd. Holy snapping ducksh*t, where do I even start? This woman’s story isn’t just about resilience, it’s about rebirth. From Olympic hopeful to being hit by a truck and told she’d never walk again… to becoming a pilot, flying instructor, and now deep in her PhD on the in-between spaces of life - literally and spiritually. We spoke about that space between life and death (yeah, she took a trip there) - what she saw, how she came back, and the powerful choice she made to live again... not despite her disability, but because of it. We unpacked identity, forgiveness, shame, spirituality, language, and what it means to consciously re-story your life when the old one falls apart. Honestly, this has got to be one of my favourite kind of chats! You'll love her. SPONSORED BY TESTART FAMILY LAWYERS Website: testartfamilylawyers.com.au JANINE SHEPHERD Website: janineshepherd.com TIFFANEE COOK Linktree:  linktr.ee/rollwiththepunches Website: tiffcook.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As my feet begin to hit the ground after last week's speaking event I landed in this very human chat on resilience, the kind you actually feel in your bones, with Harps. We opened with the usual chaos, long nails, zero filters, and shenanigans... and from there we went straight into the good stuff. We talked about walking your talk when life is messy, why personal development isn’t a brand but a practice, and how sometimes life is just a total you-know-what and you still need to show up for an hour and be amazing. I shared the behind the scenes on my keynote build, the resistance (oh yeah, there was plenty of that), the almost pull-out, and the moment it all clicked. We swapped stories on freezing, failing, riding the wave anyway, and choosing the room that grows you, not the room that claps for you. It’s raw, honest, and actually useful. SPONSORED BY TESTART FAMILY LAWYERS Website: testartfamilylawyers.com.au TIFFANEE COOK Linktree:  linktr.ee/rollwiththepunches Website: tiffcook.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I sat down with Matt Formston and came away both humbled and absolutely wired. Matt’s story is next level... losing most of his sight as a kid, getting shoved into hard places, then using all of that grit to become a world class athlete, speaker, executive and dad. We talk about the ugly bits too... getting lost for a decade, raging at bullies, and learning to stop fighting everyone. There are mad moments, breath holds of nearly six minutes, big wave surfing, and his plan to chase freediving records... but the gold is in the practical stuff: accountability, ruthless time management, making plans from your future self back to today, and the quiet daily work that actually moves the needle. This is raw, useful, and weirdly comforting. If you want a blueprint for owning your life, not waiting for permission, and getting really good at the hard stuff, this convo is for you, kids.   SPONSORED BY TESTART FAMILY LAWYERS Website: testartfamilylawyers.com.au TIFFANEE COOK Linktree:  linktr.ee/rollwiththepunches Website: tiffcook.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Cam McDonald is back, and we’re diving deep into what really drives behaviour... in kids, classrooms, and us grown-ups too.  Cam breaks down how stress, environment, movement, food, and connection shape focus and behaviour. We unpack why punishment doesn’t work, why every kid (and adult) has their own 'best learning environment,' and how the right kind of AI could transform education - not by replacing teachers, but by helping them understand what each student actually needs. We also talk trauma, physiology, and why you literally can’t heal if you’re stressed. This one’s a fascinating mash-up of neuroscience, compassion, and common sense with plenty of light-bulb moments.  SPONSORED BY TESTART FAMILY LAWYERS Website: testartfamilylawyers.com.au TIFFANEE COOK Linktree:  linktr.ee/rollwiththepunches Website: tiffcook.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’ve known Holly since the boxing gym days when she was belting pads like an absolute weapon. Now she’s the founder of Wable, a social app built for neurodivergent humans to find love, friends, work and real support. We talk couch-to-global-startup, capital raises, late nights pitching investors from the car, imposter noise, and the grit it takes to keep moving when you’re wrecked. She shares the crap bits too… the sexism, the self-worth rollercoaster, and why empathy and obsession might be a founder’s real edge. We also go there on domestic violence and how speaking up can shift shame into strength. Holly’s humble, sharp, a downright legend, and building something that actually changes lives. BIG love for this one! Go Hol x SPONSORED BY TESTART FAMILY LAWYERS Website: testartfamilylawyers.com.au HOLLY FOWLER Website: hellowable.com TIFFANEE COOK Linktree:  linktr.ee/rollwiththepunches Website: tiffcook.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I sat down with Keith Banks and, mate, what a ride. From joining the cops at 17 to going deep undercover in the 70s drug world, then tactical ops, corruption, grief, survivor guilt, and the long road out of PTSD. We got into the messy middle most people skip over… the drinking to sleep, the hypervigilance, the identity crash, and the moment a stranger handed him a psychiatrist’s card that changed everything. This one’s about the real cost of being the tough one, why empathy and vigilance can coexist, and how vulnerability is not just a buzzword, but the way back. If you’ve ever tried to white-knuckle your way through pain, this ep will land. SPONSORED BY TESTART FAMILY LAWYERS Website: testartfamilylawyers.com.au KEITH BANKS Website: keithbanks.com.au TIFFANEE COOK Linktree:  linktr.ee/rollwiththepunches Website: tiffcook.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kel’s back from Italy, jet lagged and pasta-happy, and we get into the real guts of confidence. We talk travel as a reset, ditching the Apple Watch, eating the damn spaghetti, and remembering how good life feels when you stop performing and just live it. Kel shares how she went from second-guessing herself to using her voice at work, online, and in life. We get honest about external validation, doing it scared, and why the action often has to arrive before the feeling. It’s warm, human, a bit cheeky, and a solid reminder that confidence is less sparkle, more reps.   SPONSORED BY TESTART FAMILY LAWYERS Website: testartfamilylawyers.com.au TIFFANEE COOK Linktree:  linktr.ee/rollwiththepunches Website: tiffcook.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This one’s a raw and real continuation of the chat Mark and I had in episode 952. Mark’s back in the hot seat talking burnout, identity and doing the bloody work when your brain would rather watch cats play piano. We unpack the homework his coach set him, how much of his worth had hitched itself to work, and what it takes to sit in the mess without judging yourself. We talk fear of loss, walking your talk, Ben and Jerry’s, and why writing it down is where the truth shows up. For me, it was a mirror. For him, it was a line in the sand. Small shifts. Long game. Less performing. More honest living. SPONSORED BY TESTART FAMILY LAWYERS Website: testartfamilylawyers.com.au TIFFANEE COOK Linktree:  linktr.ee/rollwiththepunches Website: tiffcook.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.