Into Deep

Sunshine Zerda is a wellness facilitator, community builder, and former Team USA gymnast who helps people create higher-quality life experiences through music, movement, and connection. In this conversation, we explore inauthentic living, the “golden handcuffs,” corporate burnout, trauma, identity, and what it takes to build a life that actually feels aligned.

Sunshine opens up about spending years in a high-paying corporate career that looked successful on the surface—but felt deeply unfulfilling underneath. Caught between stability and truth, she shares the internal conflict of knowing something wasn’t right, while feeling unsure how to change it.

She al...

Career change, burnout, purpose, and starting again in your 30s.

In Episode 26 of Into Deep, Geoff sits down with Ram Castillo — former design director, author, Lifeline crisis support worker, and psychology student — for a powerful conversation about identity, reinvention, and what it really means to build a life that feels aligned.

After spending 20 years in the creative industry and achieving many of the goals he once dreamed of — speaking around the world, writing books, and working at the top of the design ladder — Ram realised something surprising: success on the outside didn’t g...

Geoff sits down with world title–winning and commonwealth games medal winning boxer Kaye Scott — known in the boxing world as “The Glamour” — for a conversation that goes far beyond the ring.

Kaye shares how she fell into boxing at 19, walking into a PCYC gym where she was the only woman and was largely ignored for months… yet kept showing up anyway. We unpack what it takes to stay the course when you feel out of place, and how that relentless consistency shaped her mindset, identity, and career.

Kaye also opens u...

Rawson Kirkhope grew up in a home shaped by domestic violence, fear, and trauma — experiences that left him living in survival mode and carrying the effects of PTSD well into adulthood.

In this episode of Into Deep, Rawson shares his story of growing up in Tasmania, including the night his father attempted to take his mum’s life, the shame and silence that followed, and the years he spent not realising how deeply that trauma was still shaping his anxiety, anger, and hypervigilance.

We talk about the long road back — from joining the Navy and findin...

In Episode 23 of Into Deep, Geoff sits down with Nick Slater — actor and full-time content creator best known for his viral relationship skits and attachment-style characters — for a conversation that moves far beyond social media.

Nick shares his journey from growing up in Brisbane to acting from a young age, landing a US network TV show, chasing Hollywood, and ultimately returning home to rebuild his life. From there, the conversation opens into avoidant attachment, modern dating, self-esteem, and why Nick believes love is not just a feeling — but a daily choice.

Nick also speaks candidly about...

Breathwork, healing, and the courage to release control.

In Episode 22 of Into Deep, Geoff sits down with Elise Griffin — founder of Soul Breath, breathwork facilitator, and empowerment counsellor — for a deeply honest conversation about anxiety, control, and the body’s innate ability to heal.

Elise opens up about living with anorexia from her early teens into her late 20s, and how restriction became a coping tool — a way to feel in control when her inner world felt chaotic and unsafe. She shares how anxiety and shame isolated her, and the mome...

Somatic healing, grief, and learning to trust the wisdom of your body.

In Episode 21 of Into Deep, Geoff sits down with Alanna La Cioppa — somatic coach, yoga teacher, and psychotherapy & counselling student — for a deeply human conversation on loss, presence, and rebuilding purpose after grief.

Alanna shares her experience of growing up as a carer, losing both her sister and mother within 18 months, and the identity collapse that followed. Together, they explore how grief lives in the body, why we suppress instead of process, and how somatic work offers a grounded path back into...

Samuel Dreyfus is a provisional psychologist, ruthless optimist, and founder of the Unofficial Run Club. In this episode, he and Geoff explore the chaos of your twenties, feeling “behind,” and how the things that look like mistakes often become the foundation for who you are.

Sam shares openly about ADHD, self-doubt, and the belief he carried for years that he was “too dumb” for university. A single high-distinction changed his story — and set him on an eight-year journey to becoming a psychologist.

Together they unpack:

Sophie Handsaker returns to Into Deep for her second appearance after several clips from her first episode went viral. In this conversation, Geoff and Sophie dive directly into the core theme of the episode: how to overcome the fear of judgement.

They read through and discuss the negative comments and criticism Sophie received online, unpacking why judgement affects us so deeply and how it shapes the way we show up in the world. Sophie also opens up about a deeply personal chapter of her life — the years she spent being judged and blamed for her late partner’s su...

Founder of The 440 Run Club and mental-health advocate Trent Knox joins Geoff to explore addiction, sobriety, and how self-discovery begins once you stop running from yourself.

Trent opens up about his five-and-a-half-year journey of sobriety, the pain that led him to rock bottom, and how community, movement, and vulnerability helped him rebuild his life. From numbing with alcohol and drugs to leading one of Sydney’s most inclusive running communities, his story is a powerful reminder that addiction is the opposite of connection — and that healing starts with honesty and...

From film director to meditation teacher, Marcus Hamil’s nervous breakdown at the age of 40 became his breakthrough to a spiritual journey. 

Co-founder of The Sattva Life, Marcus shares how meditation rewires the mind, enhances focus and resilience, and helps high-achievers live more fulfilled, calm, and productive lives.

We explore crisis as awakening, the science of meditation, and what it truly means to master yourself from the inside out.

Follow Marcus: https://www.instagram.com/thesattvalife

Follow the Show: https://www.instagram.com/intodeep_pod

Host: https://www.instagram.com...

Human behaviour practitioner, manifestation mentor, and gym owner Sara McNelis joins Geoff to explore the intersection of science and spirituality — and how to truly rewire the subconscious mind.

Sara shares her four-step manifestation method, the psychology behind why most people stay stuck, and how integrating spirit with structure transforms every area of life. She also opens up about leaving her marriage, rebuilding her life in Sydney, and embodying her highest self through discipline, self-worth, and daily rituals.

What You’ll Learn:
✨ The real science behind manifestation
🧠 How subconscious programming shapes 95...

Physiotherapist, breathwork trainer, and yoga & pilates teacher Caoimhe Gibney shares how somatics, safety, and community can transform burnout and grief into purpose. We explore trauma-informed facilitation, why “devotion over discipline” beats rigid routines, the science–spirit tension behind her Onam Collective method, and how to rebuild trust in your body’s signals.

In this episode:
• Safety first — the foundation of trauma-informed work
• Somatics & embodiment — practical ways to meet your nervous system
• Turning burnout into purpose without “fixing” yourself
• Intuition as a muscle — head desires vs. soul desires
• Science x spirit — posture, fascia...

Dr Sarah McKay on optimising brain health & performance: why social connection beats most biohacks, how sleep powers peak performance, what visualisation really changes in the brain, and practical emotional regulation you can train—plus women’s brain health myths, phones vs attention, and when mindfulness programs help (or don’t).

Guest: Dr Sarah McKay — Oxford-trained neuroscientist, author, and science communicator.
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/drsarahmckay

Chapters
00:00 Intro & who is Dr Sarah McKay
03:08 From bench science to translating neuroscience
08:45 Zooming in/out...

In this episode, I sit down with Nerida Bint — Australia’s #1 Emotional Intelligence Educator — to explore how emotional intelligence can help us heal shame, fight fear, and build lasting self-worth.

Nerida’s story is one of powerful transformation. For years, she battled rejection wounds, shame, and the deep belief that she wasn’t “enough.” After a painful breakup in 2020, the collapse of her women’s gym business during COVID, and years of therapy that left her searching for more, Nerida hit rock bottom. That moment became the turning point — the beginning of her journey into emotional intelligence, somatic healing, a...

This week on Into Deep, I sit down with the incredible Rhiannon O’Loughlin — hypnotherapist, mindset coach, and event host — for a raw and honest conversation about healing, purpose, and modern relationships.

We dive into Rhiannon’s journey from fitness and coaching into hypnotherapy, the life-changing power of inner child work, and the story of a client who overcame addiction and transformed her life. We also explore her personal battles with eating disorders, toxic patterns, vulnerability in dating, and what it really means to love yourself.

From shaving her head to raise $10k for char...

In this powerful episode of Into Deep, I sit down with Jermaine Jones – endurance runner, cyclist, and adventurer – for a raw and inspiring conversation about resilience, mental health, and taking on the impossible.

Jermaine opens up about an intense period in his late teens when he faced multiple personal tragedies, job loss, and relationship heartbreak – a time that pushed him to the brink. We explore how he turned that pain into fuel, finding purpose through endurance challenges, including cycling 14,000km around Australia in just 50 days and his latest mission: running 34 marathons in 34 days while holding down a...

In Episode 10, I sit down with longtime friend and unapologetic force of nature Sophie Handsaker—personal trainer, podcast host, cafe owner, and mother. Sophie’s story is anything but ordinary. From falling pregnant the first night she met her now-fiancé, to losing her late partner to suicide, to building a business while raising a fiery little boy—she brings a level of candour and chaos that’s both hilarious and deeply moving.

We talk:

The raw truth of motherhood (without the Instagram filter)

ADHD, emotional regulation, and self-acceptance

Trauma, grief, and why conne...

What if the goal isn’t to quit alcohol or drugs forever—but to build a relationship with them that doesn’t ruin your life?

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Nick Blair—mentor, coach, speaker and founder of Mind Health Bender —to unpack our cultural obsession with extremes, and why the all-or-nothing approach to sobriety might be doing more harm than good.

We explore:
 🔸 Why total abstinence isn’t realistic (or necessary) for everyone
 🔸 How to shift from substance abuse to intentional use
 🔸 Nick’s raw personal story—from full-time party guy to helpi...

In this episode, I sit down with the magnetic and deeply grounded Andrew Marsh—better known as Marshy—a Vedic meditation teacher with over 30 years of experience guiding everyday people, elite athletes, and high performers toward inner peace.

We talk about:
🔹 His early sense of spiritual connection as a child
🔹 The wild years of psychedelic exploration that had to stop
🔹 Discovering a spiritual practice beyond meditation 
🔹 Why so many of us are chasing peace in the wrong places
🔹 How meditation can change your life and the life of those around you

This is a conver...

For years, Rachel Pfeiffer found herself stuck in a painful loop, drawn to emotionally unavailable partners and repeating the same toxic dynamics that left her feeling broken and disconnected. Through this pain came the lessons learnt on how to attract a more conscious and fulfilling relationship.

In this raw and revealing conversation, Rachel first stepped into a therapist's office at age 11. Now a psychotherapist, yoga teacher, and somatic healing practitioner,  she opens up about her healing journey and how it shaped the work she does today.

Together, we explore:
🔹 How to break negative patterns and...

What does it really mean to be vulnerable—and how does it shape the quality of our relationships?

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Bevan Pfeiffer, a relationship psychotherapist, former actor, and yoga teacher who brings deep emotional intelligence and embodiment into the therapy room. Drawing on Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Gestalt, and Internal Family Systems (IFS), Bevan helps individuals and couples reconnect with themselves and each other—especially when life feels overwhelming or disconnected.

Together, we explore:
 🔹 The transformative power of vulnerability in healing...

In this powerful episode, I’m joined by international speaker and leadership coach Matt Cogin, whose story is a wild, raw, and deeply inspiring ride. Matt opens up about his early years—leaving home at 14, dealing drugs in high school, a near-fatal motorbike crash, and an overdose that became a wake-up call. His path to healing was anything but linear, but it lit the fire for a complete transformation.

Now, after delivering over 1,000 workshops across 12 countries, Matt coaches students and young leaders to unlock their potential from the inside out. He shares the turning points that helped him...

In this powerful episode, I’m joined by mindset coach Zoe Dunlea, whose journey from self-destruction to self-mastery is nothing short of inspiring. Zoe opens up about her past struggles with drug and alcohol abuse, the deep feelings of unworthiness that consumed her, and the rock bottom moments that ultimately sparked her transformation. Her story is raw and honest and a testament that change is always possible, no matter how far gone you feel.

Now, as a coach helping others step into their power, Zoe shares the mindset shifts and daily practices that helped her rebuild her li...

Alexa is one of the most resilient and remarkable humans I’ve ever had the privilege of speaking with. Her story is one of grit, growth, and a relentless will to keep moving forward—no matter the odds. From growing up with an alcoholic father to surviving a near-death experience during what should have been a routine medical procedure, Alexa has faced more than most do in a lifetime—and somehow come out the other side stronger, not hardened.

We talk about her wild journey, including her time on a survival reality show where she was dropped—complete...

Lily is the founder of Metphysical Wellness. Trying her hand as an online wellness coach, people close to her told her it wouldn't work and she wouldn't make any money, but she has grown her business rapidly to 10 staff in the last 6 months that help an army of women globally improve their physical, mental and spiritual health.

Struggling with an eating disorder back in high school, she gives advice on how to pull yourself through tough times, navigating the murky waters of the misinformation in the health and fitness industry and what to do if you're feeling...

Lachy is a self-proclaimed health and fitness addict on a mission to the Hyrox World Championships. Between juggling a full-time job, life as a husband, and launching a new activewear brand, he opens up about what it takes to build resilience in the face of adversity.

In this episode, Lachy shares the tools that have helped him navigate some of life’s toughest moments—including the heartbreaking loss of his brother to alcoholism. He speaks candidly about grief, growth, and how changing his own relationship with alcohol became a powerful turning point in his journey.