Mere Mortals Conversations

Courting Your Partner | 36 Questions To Fall In Love

I'm plotting my takeover of Juan's wife. In Episode #528 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: the famous “36 questions that can lead to love”, what these sorts of prompts actually reveal about a person, whether these questions help build genuine intimacy or just speed-run a connection that may not be viable in the real world, why it can sometimes be more useful to find the deal-breakers early rather than trying to fall in love with “anyone”. What are your thoughts on this, reach out and let us know! Timeline: (00:00:00) Intro (00:02:13) Dinner guests and what the answers reveal (00:09:15) Keeping the mind or body of a 30 year old (00:14:01) Secret hunches about death and odd dreams (00:17:26) The first 12 questions and first date practicality (00:20:01) Deeper questions, maturity and emotional timing (00:28:11) Set three, vulnerability and building understanding (00:40:46) Filtering for compatibility versus forcing love (00:51:53) Would these questions help with courting a spouse (00:54:24) Wrap up with goals, travel hints and crypto banter Connect with Mere Mortals: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBn Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts Value 4 Value Support: V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

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5 Ideas I’m Taking Into September | The August Codex

This is my August Codex, five ideas, plus one bonus, that kept surfacing as I reviewed a month of daily notes, training, family life, work, reading and trying to live a little better. The idea behind the Codex is simple: instead of collecting notes forever, I want to periodically compress them into principles I can actually use. This month: Capacity is not readiness — leaving some capacity unused creates room for recovery, exploration, serendipity and the unexpected. Recovery is where adaptation happens — rest isn't the absence of the program. It is part of the program. We before the world — family and the people closest to you shouldn't continually receive whatever capacity is left after everything else. Childhood is made in the transitions — the big holidays and milestones matter, but so do the hundreds of ordinary moments between them. Not every inefficient behaviour is mine to own — seeing a better way doesn't automatically make it my responsibility to intervene. And the bonus: The goal isn't to fit everything in. It's to know what belongs. 00:00 The August Codex 00:33 1. Capacity is not readiness 04:09 2. Recovery is where adaptation happens 07:13 3. We before the world 10:02 4. Childhood is made in the transitions 12:24 5. Not every inefficiency is mine to own 16:55 BONUS: The goal isn't to fit everything in 20:05 Why I make the Codex Connect with Mere Mortals: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBn Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts Value 4 Value Support: V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

Monthly Goals | September 2026

It's time for our monthly check in where we review our goals from last month and see what's coming up for the next. Do you set yourself monthly goals and if so, how many do you set? Juan and I on the first week of every month go over our progress from the previous month and where we are heading for the next. Emphasis as always is on the shortcomings; what we didn't achieve in the previous monthly goals and how we will fix that for the month that comes. We hope you get some value from this series, showcasing our own methodology. What do you do differently and why? Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals Timeline: (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:03) August goals review and content creation habits (00:08:23) August reset, work hours and handstand progress (00:10:31) Yoga teacher training and finding a better rhythm (00:16:42) September goals for training, nutrition and content (00:27:01) Choosing a physical boss battle and robot investing (00:33:01) September goals on dating, meaning and finances (00:48:31) Cleaning, moving plans, AI projects and book chat (00:59:08) Wrap up and ideas for the next conversation Connect with Mere Mortals: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBn Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts Value 4 Value Support: V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

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Time To Get Jacked | Juan's Annual Goals For 2027

Another birthday, another refocus. In Episode #527 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: becoming stronger, faster and more resilient without constantly chasing peaks, aiming to make Mere Mortals a more serious creative institution, build greater career and financial optionality, create a personal “codex” to better retain, apply and share what learnings, being more deliberate about marriage/daughters’ childhood experiences and showing up calmer, warmer and three bigger “boss battle” goals for the year: one major physical challenge, one flagship Mere Mortals project and one unforgettable family experience that creates a defining memory rather than just another busy season. Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals Timeline: (00:00:00) Intro (00:00:30) Kyrin's yoga training update (00:03:46) Why annual goals still matter and how to frame them (00:09:01) Body goals: strength, speed and staying hard to break (00:14:51) Mind goals: creativity, content and building a codex (00:29:30) Soul goals: marriage, fatherhood and staying present (00:37:29) Boss battles: a big challenge and a flagship project (00:40:02) Creating unforgettable family memories (00:49:50) Final reflections and what is coming next Connect with Mere Mortals: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBn Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts Value 4 Value Support: V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

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Robots Are Starting to Understand | Mere Mortals Robotics #1

Robots can already walk, lift, manipulate objects and drive through major cities, but when do they become reliably useful? Welcome to the first episode of Mere Mortals Robotics: a monthly, plainspoken exploration of robotics, physical AI, automation and the future of work. In this August 2026 state of play, I look beyond backflips, boxing demonstrations and futuristic marketing to ask where robots are beginning to perform useful, repeatable work. We explore: • Why robot intelligence is moving from “see and act” towards “see, plan, check and recover” • What Gemini Robotics 2 suggests about whole-body control and embodied intelligence • Whether robotaxis are becoming an ordinary part of life in American cities • Why 2026 may be a year of convergence for AI, hardware and robotics • How to separate edited demonstrations from pilots, paid deployments and real fleets • Where Figure, Agility Robotics, Boston Dynamics, 1X and other humanoid companies currently sit • Why warehouses remain the clearest economic proof point • China’s speed in manufacturing and commercialising robots • The difficult reality of robots inside homes and healthcare • Australia’s potential advantage in mining, remote operations and space robotics • The four-part equation for useful robotic labour: capability × reliability × economics × trust The key idea is simple: watch the work, not just the robot. 00:00 Why I’m starting a robotics podcast 01:39 Working Robots: August 2026 02:24 The robotics signal is getting stronger 03:56 Three developments defining August 06:43 How robot intelligence is changing 08:10 Are robotaxis becoming ordinary? 10:16 Is 2026 the year of convergence? 11:26 From imitation to orchestration 12:14 The robotics evidence ladder 14:05 Industrial robots versus spectacle 14:51 Why warehouses are the economic proof 15:43 China’s robotics manufacturing advantage 16:38 The difficult reality of home robots 17:49 Australia, mining and space robotics 19:52 The equation for useful robotic labour 22:01 What to watch through the end of 2026 24:36 Where Mere Mortals Robotics goes next Connect with Mere Mortals: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBn Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts Value 4 Value Support: V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

Monthly Goals | August 2026

It's time for our monthly check in where we review our goals from last month and see what's coming up for the next. Do you set yourself monthly goals and if so, how many do you set? Juan and I on the first week of every month go over our progress from the previous month and where we are heading for the next. Emphasis as always is on the shortcomings; what we didn't achieve in the previous monthly goals and how we will fix that for the month that comes. We hope you get some value from this series, showcasing our own methodology. What do you do differently and why? Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals Timeline: (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:21) A rough July of sickness, cleaning and winter slump (00:05:03) AI pet owl, Clippy vibes and motivation systems (00:07:59) August body goals: training, recovery and turf prep (00:11:21) Mind goals: content creation, money review and codex notes (00:16:54) Soul goals: marriage, fatherhood and staying calm (00:19:41) Boss battle, robotics podcast and holiday planning (00:22:00) No new goals, house cleanup and yoga training (00:24:39) The dream of frictionless livestreaming with AI (00:28:31) Getting back into training and closing reflections Connect with Mere Mortals: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBn Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts Value 4 Value Support: V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

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Juan's Robotic Future | How SciFi Are We Going To Get?

Juan's going to teach us about robots and stuff, beep boop. In Episode #526 of 'Meanderings', Juan and I discuss: when robots might actually arrive in everyday life, the difference between software progress in AI and the much tougher challenge of getting machines to move reliably in the physical world, why humanoid robots are so compelling yet so difficult, how the earliest large-scale robotics wins will likely happen in high-value/dangerous/efficiency-driven industries, thoughts on autonomous vehicles/robotic lawn mowing/nanobots/giant industrial machines and the economics that determine whether a robot is genuinely useful or just expensive theatre. Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals Timeline: (00:00:00) Intro (00:03:16) Will robots actually take jobs or just shift work? (00:07:26) Why tech adoption is slower than the hype (00:12:29) What counts as a robot and why AI matters (00:16:00) The hard engineering behind real world robotics (00:22:01) Robot fighters, humanoids and the money flowing in (00:27:30) Where robots will first make economic sense (00:34:22) Nanobots, giant machines and robot form factors (00:41:36) Movement data, manufacturing limits and home robots (00:49:28) A new monthly robotics podcast and final thoughts Connect with Mere Mortals: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBn Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts Value 4 Value Support: V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

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Stop Proving You Can Do Hard Things | 17 Lessons From 2026

At some point, doing harder things stops being growth. The more important question becomes: Is your ambition creating more life, or slowly consuming the life it was supposed to improve? In this Mere Mortals philosophy episode, I work through 17 personal lessons from the first part of 2026. These ideas have come from documenting my daily life as a husband, father of two young daughters, athlete, engineer, podcaster, business owner and someone still trying to understand how all those identities fit together. 00:00 Introduction 02:13 Life is a system 05:57 Stop proving you can do hard things 09:02 Strength should be useful 10:58 Recovery is part of ambition 12:23 Visible love beats assumed love 14:50 Attention is the rarest wealth 16:49 Build routines for bad days 17:53 Maintenance is deferred respect 18:38 Reduce fragility, not just cost 20:18 Wealth is reduced helplessness 21:13 Long-term games pay in capability first 23:27 Mere Mortals as a public curriculum 24:43 Curiosity needs a calendar 25:14 Why the access layer may matter 26:44 Family is the reason, not the interruption 28:11 Calmness is infrastructure 29:18 Tiny shifts need big meaning 30:31 Is your ambition creating more life? 31:39 Maximum intensity is not the goal 33:25 Final thoughts Connect with Mere Mortals: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBn Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts Value 4 Value Support: V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

Celebrating The Big Events | When Does Joy Turn Into Obligation?

How do celebrations differ in their rituals, level of fun & meaning? In Episode #525 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: where celebration can start to feel more like obligation, a run of weddings for close friends, the difference between meaningful commemoration and going through the motions, what makes effort feel worthwhile and the idea that the most memorable celebrations tend to be less complex and more intense. Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals Timeline: (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:54) Wedding rituals, obligation and finding meaning (00:04:42) Marathon medals and commemorating effort (00:09:03) How much do you really celebrate achievements (00:11:28) Three weddings compared: fun versus obligation (00:19:14) Half marathon, marathon and the Kokoda challenge (00:28:28) Joy, choice and having a strong why (00:35:31) What makes events memorable: intensity or complexity (00:46:46) How to design better celebrations and future plans Connect with Mere Mortals: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBn Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts Value 4 Value Support: V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

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Bitcoin Bros & Bear Market Blues | What's The Point In Owning Crypto?

Are we buying Bitcoin to compensate for our fragile masculinities? In Episode #524 of 'Meanderings', Juan and I discuss: are young men drawn to Bitcoin and crypto because of masculinity, how easy it is for commentators to analyse online language to cherry-pick the loudest voices and build a sweeping narrative from that, our personal journey with Bitcoin and why we still find it compelling today, whether Bitcoin’s future is as a widely used currency and what actually gives something value. Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals Timeline: (00:00:00) Intro (00:02:07) Bitcoin Bros and the masculinity angle (00:06:54) Where the book gets Bitcoin right and wrong (00:15:35) From NFT jokes to why they would buy Bitcoin today (00:23:22) Their personal Bitcoin journeys and travel lessons (00:30:04) Is Bitcoin mainly a financial asset or something more (00:40:16) Will Bitcoin usage shrink as tech and payments evolve (00:47:51) Bear market mood, volatility and long term adoption (01:05:12) Australian digital dollars, VC trends and market scepticism (01:17:01) Could energy or compute become the next currency? (01:19:49) Next week: celebrations, milestones and obligation Connect with Mere Mortals: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBn Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts Value 4 Value Support: V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

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Monthly Goals | July 2026

It's time for our monthly check in where we review our goals from last month and see what's coming up for the next. Do you set yourself monthly goals and if so, how many do you set? Juan and I on the first week of every month go over our progress from the previous month and where we are heading for the next. Emphasis as always is on the shortcomings; what we didn't achieve in the previous monthly goals and how we will fix that for the month that comes. We hope you get some value from this series, showcasing our own methodology. What do you do differently and why? Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals Timeline: (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:24) Marathon recap and keeping the running going (00:05:37) Book reviews, annual goals and June reflections (00:07:40) Dating, Stoicism and June goal progress (00:13:08) Kangaroo Point living and thoughts on attraction (00:18:54) World Cup distractions and missed financial focus (00:20:14) Simple July goals and annual review planning (00:25:02) AI work, podcast systems and workflow automation (00:32:39) Open versus closed AI and where to focus (00:37:09) Human connection in an AI heavy future (00:43:45) Fitness updates, planche training and prehab (00:46:41) World Cup chat and next week's book teaser Connect with Mere Mortals: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBn Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts Value 4 Value Support: V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

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The Problems Of Probabilities | Prediction & Gambling In The Future

After a year of gambling I am none the wiser of understanding probabilities. In Episode #523 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: probabilities/gambling/arbitrage, how my brother first found ways to exploit betting promotions, using sports betting apps in conjunction with Polymarket, how markets set probabilities, whether AI will become genuinely better than humans at predicting future outcomes, complexity making exact prediction almost impossible and the future of livestreaming and personal data. Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals Timeline: (00:00:00) Intro (00:02:33) How betting promotions can tilt the odds (00:05:52) Getting gubbed and the limits of beating bookies (00:07:28) Casino systems, card counting and roulette stories (00:12:29) Polymarket, lay bets and online arbitrage appeal (00:15:17) Bots, algorithmic trading and speed advantages (00:20:56) A human edge in clunky betting markets (00:23:04) Probability confusion and betting both sides (00:27:36) How do you build probabilities from scratch (00:35:52) Weather, complexity and what probability really means (00:43:58) Can AI actually predict the future (00:54:30) Why the betting edge disappears over time (00:57:15) Live data, streaming and future tech habits (01:03:26) AI music, data ownership and universal compute (01:09:04) Human judgement, long bets and future projects (01:15:22) Podcast updates, yoga training and closing notes Connect with Mere Mortals: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBn Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts Value 4 Value Support: V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

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We Ran A Marathon | .... But Why ?

The main question I have received is .... why do it in the first place? In Episode #522 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: the behind the scenes of our first official marathon, why “finishing” can be its own kind of win, the three layers of marathoners you meet on race day, solo marathon attempts compared to the buzz of an organised event, tips (racing lines, shade-hunting, aid stations), where the wheels came off (cramps and blistered feet), reflect on why we choose hard things, what it would actually take for us to go sub‑4 and why halves and 10ks might be our sweet spot. Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals Timeline: (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:15) Placings shock and expectations vs reality (00:03:59) Cut-offs, DNFs, and what "winning" really means (00:07:50) Atlas Events series and the gamification of running (00:13:02) Race day atmosphere: fun, roads and course quirks (00:17:16) Course difficulty matters: elevation and flatter options (00:19:14) Post-race reflections and future distance preferences (00:22:06) How their race unfolded: pacing, packs and turning points (00:25:28) The wall arrives: hills, slowing and first walks (00:29:29) Fuel, fluids, and the underrated racing line (00:33:34) On-course coaching with AI? Ethics and usefulness (00:38:03) Juan's rocky prep, surprises, and recovery week (00:41:04) Kyrin's near-perfect prep and where sub-4 slipped (00:45:02) Why do a marathon at all? Choosing hard things (00:48:12) Mental vs physical barriers: running vs lifting (00:51:09) What it takes to go faster: sub-4 and beyond Connect with Mere Mortals: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBn Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts Value 4 Value Support: V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

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Catching Up On Busy Life | Missing The End Of An Era

After a mini break we're back and tired as hell. In Episode #521 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: being very busy versus truly tired, how priorities shift as life gets more complex and why sometimes the smartest move is pruning commitments instead of optimising them, reminisce on the “end of an era”—pinpointing a final carefree night with friends before marriages, kids and tighter schedules reshaped everything & maxing out your skills to learn what truly fits. Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals Timeline: (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:32) Today’s loose topics: busy, tired, and ends of eras (00:04:29) Work surge, funding cycles, and context switching (00:07:14) Time slipping: dating, late nights, and sleep debt (00:10:52) Merging habits: training with podcasts, dropping networking (00:13:20) Reducing decision fatigue, going with the flow (kids) (00:18:18) Meal batching as an antidote to micro decisions (00:21:24) The Springwood night: last carefree gathering (00:25:56) Complexity vs difficulty: why coordination gets hard (00:31:04) Revisiting UQ: inner child, fear and growth (00:35:00) Wisdom with age and limits of advice to your younger self (00:39:37) Practices over time: identity, social media shifts (00:44:21) University credential vs building ‘monsters’ (00:47:20) Purpose can wait; in youth, max your stats (00:51:01) Generational shift: job hopping and portfolio lives (00:53:38) Looks‑maxxing influencers and the price of attention (00:55:57) Capping off: embracing the thirties era Connect with Mere Mortals: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBn Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts Value 4 Value Support: V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

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Monthly Goals | June 2026

It's time for our monthly check in where we review our goals from last month and see what's coming up for the next. Do you set yourself monthly goals and if so, how many do you set? Juan and I on the first week of every month go over our progress from the previous month and where we are heading for the next. Emphasis as always is on the shortcomings; what we didn't achieve in the previous monthly goals and how we will fix that for the month that comes. We hope you get some value from this series, showcasing our own methodology. What do you do differently and why? Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals Timeline: (00:00:00) Intro (00:00:31) Juan May 2026 Review (00:14:18) Kyrin May 2026 Review (00:22:27) Juan June 2026 Goals (00:29:51) Kyrin June 2026 Goals (00:40:16) Fitness (00:45:06) Wrap-up Connect with Mere Mortals: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBn Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts Value 4 Value Support: V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

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Fitter After 40: Strength, Tendons & Recovery | Chris Ryan

At some point, the body sends you the invoice. In this episode of the Mere Mortals Podcast, I sit down with Chris Ryan, former Division 1 runner, fitness coach, Men’s Fitness cover model, former Mirror coach and founder of Chris Ryan Fitness, to talk about what it actually takes to stay strong, durable and fit as you get older. The core lesson: fitness is not just about effort. It is about intelligent effort, repeated long enough to become identity. Connect With Chris Ryan Website: https://chrisryanfitness.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisryanfitness YouTube: Search “Chris Ryan Fitness” App: Search “Chris Ryan Fitness” in the App Store or Google Play 00:00 - Welcome to Mere Mortals 00:24 - Who is Chris Ryan? 00:42 - From sport to Division 1 running 01:26 - Why the 800m teaches toughness 02:26 - From athlete to fitness coach 02:48 - Men’s Fitness, NBC Strong and Mirror 03:15 - Mirror, Lululemon and building an app 04:41 - Why men learn about tendons too late 06:00 - Prehab beats rehab 07:09 - Why tendons need smart loading 08:16 - Marathon training mistakes 09:30 - The hidden cost of running on hard surfaces 10:00 - Why elite runners avoid too much pavement 11:19 - Zone 2 training and managing intensity 13:07 - Body checks and relaxed running 14:12 - What a coach sees that Google cannot 15:27 - Consistency as the foundation 16:10 - How to recover from a missed workout 17:05 - Heavy lifting after 40 18:39 - Pull-ups, grip strength and longevity 20:12 - VO2 max training and Hyrox 21:31 - Dumbbells, bands and simple home training 23:15 - Teaching people why they train 23:54 - Why people avoid hard intervals 25:37 - Run your fastest mile first 27:12 - Running form, heel striking and efficiency 29:13 - Four-minute intervals and VO2 max work 30:34 - How to raise active kids 32:15 - Making fitness fun for children 34:09 - Home gyms, pull-up bars and accessibility 36:27 - Building a fitness community 37:20 - Why community questions matter 38:53 - Members empowering members 40:36 - Chris’s expensive business mistake 42:04 - Why TV apps failed 43:36 - Let the marketplace tell you what it wants 45:01 - The overlooked power of rest and recovery 45:56 - Protect your bedtime 47:37 - Programming recovery into training 48:03 - Muscles grow when you recover 48:44 - Why 80% consistency still wins 49:43 - The habit most disciplined people neglect 51:07 - Where to find Chris Ryan Connect with Mere Mortals: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBn Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts Value 4 Value Support: V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

Monthly Goals | May 2026

It's time for our monthly check in where we review our goals from last month and see what's coming up for the next. Do you set yourself monthly goals and if so, how many do you set? Juan and I on the first week of every month go over our progress from the previous month and where we are heading for the next. Emphasis as always is on the shortcomings; what we didn't achieve in the previous monthly goals and how we will fix that for the month that comes. We hope you get some value from this series, showcasing our own methodology. What do you do differently and why? Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals Timeline: (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:40) April review (Juan): running ramp-up, Achilles issues (00:06:09) April review (Kyrin): energy, social push and AI chats (00:20:55) Podcasting 2.0 update: AI slop, indexing, and curation challenges (00:24:51) Setting May goals (Juan): body, mind, soul focus (00:30:14) Setting May goals (Kyrin): energy, courageous conversations (00:37:31) Streamlining podcast workflows: thumbnails, uploads, automation (00:42:31) Thumbnails by AI? Tools, costs and what to keep (00:44:54) Interviews vs effort: where the time really goes (00:48:00) Always-on media: "Monitor the Situation" and live nuance (00:50:12) Fitness wins: 2-minute handstand and one-arm progress (00:56:41) Life admin rant: hail damage, insurers, and time trade-offs (00:59:30) Wrap-up and next week’s plan Connect with Mere Mortals: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBn Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts Value 4 Value Support: V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

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Dreaming Big | Life Beyond The Average

Can you succeed without setting expectations & goals to hit? In Episode #520 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: riff on dreaming big: how our top‑level life aims can stay steady for decades while the reasons and execution evolve, whether you truly need a “big dream” to reach elite performance, how to cultivate direction in your twenties by chasing curiosity and I tease a 20‑year out‑of‑this‑world goal that’s resurfaced from childhood. Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals Timeline: (00:00:00) Intro (00:03:22) Decades, seasons of life and planning horizons (00:07:56) Hinting at a 20-year goal out of this world (00:10:29) Belief, luck, and the role of drive (00:14:29) Stumbling into success and the power of effort (00:18:14) Visualisation that works: mindset vs magic (00:23:01) Aspirations shift: presence over prestige (00:29:56) Massive Transformational Purpose and skill discovery (00:32:01) Follow your obsession? Benefits and pitfalls (00:36:00) Meaning, contentment and age (00:40:13) Small dreams, goals, and purposeful practice (00:45:26) Wrap-up and value-for-value sign-off Connect with Mere Mortals: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBn Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts Value 4 Value Support: V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

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Reward Thyself For Great Boon | Or Fall Into The Pit Of Hedonism

When does training become trickery become manipulation? In Episode #519 of 'Meanderings', Juan and I discuss: the messy art of celebrating wins, the difference between admiration and genuine celebration, how expectations can warp our enjoyment of milestones, how to separate rewards from celebrations, why minimum thresholds matter, and how to design simple, sustainable rituals that create real memories and why routine can quietly erase the impulse to recognise achievements. Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals Timeline: (00:00:00) Intro (00:02:00) State of the podcast: cadence, book reviews, life updates (00:03:45) Milestones hit but rarely celebrated: listens, views, totals (00:06:50) From optimisation to ease: audio quality, AI cleanup, and routines (00:10:40) Gratitude for better gear versus big milestone parties (00:13:44) Tiny rewards after effort: beer in the shower and habit loops (00:16:56) Long‑term mindset: willpower, running mileage, and durable rewards (00:21:58) Birthdays, experiences, and low‑key celebrations for others (00:24:52) Do milestones create memories worth keeping? (00:30:00) Expectations shape feelings: two athletes, same silver, different joy (00:32:14) Should celebration be separate from expectations? (00:35:15) Rewarding effort vs outcome: half marathon thought experiment (00:40:05) Positive manipulation, parenting and intent behind rewards (00:44:45) Overblown rewards backfire: the doughnut race cautionary tale (00:47:56) Ritualising post‑run rewards without overdoing it (00:51:41) Wrap‑up: goals for next week and tongue‑in‑cheek yacht plans (00:55:18) Closing thanks and sign‑off Connect with Mere Mortals: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBn Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts Value 4 Value Support: V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

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Lifestreaming Ruins Your Life | Is 'Real Life' Interesting To Others?

What do Michael Gerry, Big Brother and Clavicular all have in common? In Episode #518 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: broadcasting everyday life (potentially 24/7), how feasible it is to capture more of life with minimal setup, early backpack rigs to Michael Gerry’s 2019 year-long life stream, the pull toward performative behaviour, the appeal of using life streaming as a mirror for self-improvement, why human interest in real humans won’t vanish in an AI-simulated world, predictions on “life media”/consent challenges/audience capture risks and why intent matters more than ever if you’re thinking about streaming your life. Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals Timeline: (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:06) Wearables and the dream of frictionless livestreaming (00:05:56) Social impact: cameras change behaviour and relationships (00:08:46) Predicted effects on relationships and self-discipline (00:14:56) NSFW pivot: audience shift, consent, and consequences (00:17:38) Costs, logistics, and why fame is unlikely (00:20:55) Community, new friends, catfishing, and fallout (00:24:56) Why even boring streams get views (00:27:50) Motivations: fame, money, connectionand a private pensive (00:31:02) The sexual attention problem and why lines matter (00:34:39) If we did it: gyms, runs, handstands, and zero-edit streams (00:38:53) The consent minefield and protecting loved ones (00:41:04) Audience capture and changing your life later (00:45:25) AI editors, multimodal search, and the end of manual cuts (00:47:18) AI characters vs human messiness: what viewers really want (00:56:00) Forecast: life media expands; humans keep watching humans (00:58:16) Try-before-you-go: real-time looks at venues and events (01:06:01) Housekeeping: Boostagrams paused, V4V still valued (01:09:18) One-person unicorns and why wed watch their day (01:11:23) Wrap-up and Easter sign-off Connect with Mere Mortals: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/ Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBn Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts Value 4 Value Support: V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

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