Mere Mortals Conversations

What does it really take to build a cult brand? Andrew Taylor, founder of Live Co, returns to share the uncomfortable truth: belief beats noise, community beats clout, and data beats feelings. We dig into 300% growth in a year, the Ultra Fit hat that solved a real problem, why followers/likes don’t matter, and his “push it till it breaks” method for scaling ad spend. We also cover picking the community’s car (hello HSV), limited-edition strategy, and the next 5–10 years.

00:00 – Intro & setup
01:12 – Belief swings & 300% growth reality
03:36 – Community over everything; customer service focus
04:28 – Who buys Live Co...

Is Juan about to create the newest version of LOTR or Gorillaz?

In Episode #493 of 'Musings', Juan and I discuss: the origins of various types of lore, how these worlds are constructed with varying degrees of complexity and interactivity, hard versus soft world building, a creator's control over the narrative, how modern technology and platforms like Fandom wikis allow easier access, the challenges of maintaining a coherent narrative in a world where anyone can contribute to the story and the strategy we would take to create a new universe.

Huge thanks to The Late Bloomer Actor...

What's the current day equivalent of lead, radiation, asbestos or cigarettes?

In Episode #492 of 'Musings', Juan & I discuss: hidden dangers in our environment that can significantly shorten our lifespan, whether you can do anything to avoid things like microplastics, how 'Bad Science' shows media & exaggerated information is unhelpful for informed decision-making, the potential future 'silent killers' that could emerge with new technology, how our modern conveniences might come with hidden costs & the ultimate importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle as a defence against these unseen threats.

No boostagrams this week, very sad puppy.

Timeline:<...

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...

Juan didn't disappoint with his wacky, hair-brained ideas .... that he won't be able to protect!

In Episode #491 of 'Musings', Juan and I discuss: a day in the life of the year 2100, the potential for cities to become the new countries, multigenerational housing as life expectancy increases, human-AI symbiosis plus normalised AI babies, humans becoming gods through digital universe creation, a world where everything is nearly free & creativity/consciousness/reserve currency/physical space/robotics and why it will probably be neither utopian nor dystopian.

Many thanks to Anton for the support of the Mere Morpheus podcast, but...

Time for Giga big brain ideas on the future of content creation.

In Episode #490 of 'Musings', Juan & I discuss: how creators can monetise their work without diverging into unrelated business ventures, the distinction between spending and investing in creators, why images, audio, and video will be monetised via new technologies in the coming years, the potential impact of AI on the quality and accessibility of content, Juan's fancy formula for creator investing, why the attention economy will end up in measuring consciousness and a whole bunch of other things.

Huge shoutout to Cole McCormick for the...

How did Juan go last year and what's he got his focus on?

In Episode #489 of 'Musings', Juan and I discuss: his past year's achievements, the evolution from having numerous goals to focusing on fewer, why he wants to run a marathon (but not necessarily with people), expanding his mind with grand business ideas, filling up his soul by establishing family values/traditions and why we are both a bit less selfish when we compare ourselves to our younger versions.

Huge thanks to Cole McCormick for the support, we appreciate you greatly!

Timeline:
(00:00:00...

Call it what you want (Malthusian trap, prisoner dilemma, race to the bottom, coordination failure, tragedy of the commons), the problems are real!

In Episode #488 of 'Musings', Juan & I discuss: the concept of the Moloch problem (a philosophical idea that explores the unintended consequences of competitive behaviour), over-scheduling children's activities to the race for social media status, the silly idea of a dollar auction, how rational decisions can lead to suboptimal outcomes, uneffective philosophy & whether any of this is actually a problem.

Very sad puppy this week, send in a boost to show some support!
<...

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...

In this episode, I explore the profound concept of hyperobjects, entities so vast they surpass our understanding and how recognising their presence can lead to mental clarity. I dive deep into the idea that life’s overwhelming nature isn’t always due to complexity, but our relationship to that complexity. By reframing calmness as a conscious acceptance of chaos, this discussion becomes a guide for cultivating tranquillity in a turbulent world.

(00:00) - What If Life Is Too Big To Grasp?
(01:30) - Introducing Hyperobjects: Timothy Morton’s Mind-Bending Concept
(03:15) - How the Internet and Capitalism Are Beyond...

Suns out, guns out!

In Episode #487 of Mere Mortals 'Musings', Juan and I discuss: the stark differences in gym availability and fitness facilities of Australia vs the rest of the world, dilapidated gyms in Montenegro & well-equipped calisthenic parks in South America, the prevalence of gyms even in regional areas, whether Australia's high gym membership rates translate to a healthier population, statistics of obesity and Olympic medals per capita plus the potential economic benefits of a healthier population.

Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:15) Fitness Culture In Australia
(00:04:08) Travel Stories & Gym Experiences
(00:09:58) Comparing Global Fitness Cultures
(00:16:20...

Get ready for some observations that only the Mere Mortals could make.

In Episode #486 of 'Meanderings', Juan and I discuss: how the travel setting can allow for memorable moments (such as a boat trip in Mykonos and meaningful one-on-one conversations with friends), a Mere Mortal exclusive comparison between Florence and a mining site, the challenges of maintaining a healthy lifestyle while travelling, complaints about average pasta & lack of food choices (in general) and how our weight changes were rather unexpected.

Not much support this week, send us in a boost!

Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:00...

We're back from Europe and giving you the downlow on where to travel to.

In Episode #485 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: a tit for tat recounting of our European travels, a garage door mishap and newfound Zen, the unique experiences of staying in hostels, the stereotypes of Germans/French people that are way too true, the beauty of Switzerland and the livability of Zurich, the luxurious yet expensive allure of the South of France and a call for more places we should visit.

Huge shoutout to Lyceum & Cole McCormick for the support, we greatly appreciate it!<...

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...

fter a massive European break, wedding, honeymoon, the works, I knew I couldn’t just ease back into life and hope for momentum to return on its own. In this episode, I walk you through the exact protocols I’m using to rebuild discipline: a month-long training system, my morning routine, and why I believe structure isn’t restrictive, it’s liberating. This is about reclaiming control and setting the tone for the next few months of my life. No fluff, no hype, just systems that work. Aka Effective Philosophy.

(00:00) – The Return: Coming Back with Purpose
(00:38) – Why Discipli...

We're in Greece (and thank god not LA)!

In Episode #484 of Mere Mortals 'Meanderings', Juan & I (plus Joey, a long-time friend) discuss: Joey's challenges of stand-up comedy, the courage it takes to perform in front of a live audience, the impact of AI on creative industries, cultural experiences of traveling through Europe, our least favourite travel destinations, with Los Angeles/Alice Springs topping the list for their lack of charm and overwhelming tourist traps and a light-hearted attempt at stand-up comedy, as we each share a joke, bringing a humorous end to our Greek adventure.

...

In this deeply personal and reflective episode, one half of the Mere Mortals opens up about his recent wedding. From the quiet maturity of wearing a ring to the raw emotional challenge of delivering vows, this episode explores how major life events can reshape our identity in surprising ways. It's a meditation on commitment, vulnerability, and the power of presence.

(00:00) - The Big Reveal: I Got Married!
(00:28) - Does Marriage Change Anything?
(01:50) - Our Reverse Life Timeline
(03:08) - The Surprising Impact of the Ring
(04:33) - From Boy to Man: Maturity Hits
(06:46...

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...

Can anyone/everyone be a leader?

In Episode #483 of Mere Mortals 'Musings', Juan & I discuss: the differences between managing/leading/doing, why I'm not a natural leader (& Juan is a doer more than a leader), the ability to inspire others, why great leaders are accountable yet not necessarily good, the rarity of true leadership, anecdotes from our personal lives and observations on well-known leaders like Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Churchill and Hitler.

Huge thanks to Petar The Slav, Lyceum & The Late Bloomer Actor for the support, much appreciated!

Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:06:07) Leadership vs...

I don't understand Californians!

In Episode #482 of 'Musings' Juan & I discuss: the transactional undertone in interactions in Los Angeles (possibly influenced by Hollywood culture), the art of small talk and how it can be improved, Juan's natural inclination towards confrontation and how he navigates small talk in professional settings, appreciating small talk for its own sake and a look ahead to our upcoming travels.

Many thanks to The Late Bloomer Actor for the support this week!

Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:03:02) Experiences in Los Angeles and Minnesota
(00:13:12) Conversation for Conversation's Sake
(00:17:19) Small Talk...

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...

Juan has moved house and I'm getting ready to go travelling.

In Episode #481 of 'Musings', Juan and I discuss: the challenges and transitions of moving homes, the importance of maintaining a balanced state of mind amidst life's chaos, the idea of ataraxia (a state of serene calmness and freedom from emotional disturbance) and the balance between feeling emotions and striving for equanimity.

We really appreciate any support you wish to provide to the Mere Mortals :)

Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:28) Life Updates & Moving Experiences
(00:05:16) Exploring Crypto & NFTs
(00:09:19) Podcast Consistency/Future Plans
(00:13:21) Finding...

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...

Here's the kick in the butt you need to reach out to your old friends.

In Episode #480 of 'Musings' Juan & I discuss: the complexities of reaching out to people from the past, sharing personal anecdotes about past friendships, maintaining past relationships versus focusing on present/future priorities, our upcoming trips to Europe and why they will be so different, why it's a bad idea to try to recreate periods from your past and thinking about what you can get out of experiences like this.

Huge thanks to Lyceum for supporting the podcast, it is very much...

We survived the media onslaught fine but the real world effects linger.

In Episode #479 of Musings, Juan and I discuss: the fear & craziness of the recent Cyclone Alfred here in Brisbane, whether it lived up to it's fearsome reputation (it didn't), the panic buying & actual impact on his property, why hyper local media might be the future, why legacy media has to induce excitement/worry but won't actually show the things we're scared of and how we intend to consume information going forward.

Huge shoutout to Queen Mother for the boost & our other sat streamers...

Is work being equated to jobs undergoing a separation?

In Episode #478 of 'Musings' Juan and I discuss: the fundamental definition from a physics perspective, why my handstand training is more about persistence, how external validation can differ from internal satisfaction, future implications of an age of abundance where hard work may become less necessary due to technological advancements, why I value technique and Juan will teach his child how to grind.

Huge thanks to Petar for the support, it means the world to us!

Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:03) Defining Hard Work
(00:03:53) Subjectivity of...

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...

Some special guests (Brodie & Mansheel) are here to do some show and tell!

In Episode #477 of Meanderings, we discuss the intricacies of collecting Pokémon cards, the financials of the grading process, factors that influence the value of these collectibles, maintaining excellent card condition (Juan needs to take notes), nostalgia of collecting since children, the thrill of opening VeeFriends packs and the strategies for buying and selling cards.

Huge thanks to Cole for supporting this week (and Petar for the maple syrup). 

Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:02:21) Pokemon Grading & Card Conditions
(00:04:01) Opening VeeFriends & Storing Ca...

Will Juan's insanely ambitious predictions come true (likely) and why is he so sure (backed by evidence)?

In Episode #476 of Musings, Juan and I discuss: the rapid advancements in AI (drawing from his past experiences in AI sales and chatbot implementations), the slow progress of autonomous Haul Trucks I saw in the mining industry, .Juan's prediction that unemployment rates will more than double by the end of 2026, robotic process automation (RPA) and its potential to replace repetitive tasks traditionally done by humans, the types of drones, vehicles & machines we are likely to start noticing in every day life...

Why is investing in Game Stop going to cause the collapse of the financial system?

In episode #475 of Mere Mortals 'Musings', Juan and I discuss: Tom Bilyeu's perspective that all financial actions are a form of gambling, James Jani's videos on GameStop and Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY), how the irrational belief of "mother of all short squeezes" (MOASS) will lead to the financial system's collapse, our past financial delusions in stocks/properties/NFT's, the aftermath of bubbles bursting and Juan's current delusion of the impact of AI by 2026 (my opinion - correct).

Huge thanks to Lyceum...

They're always around so how do you pick them out?

In episode #474 of Mere Mortals 'Musings', Juan and I discuss: the definition of trickery for accruing value, personal anecdotes of being scammed, learnings from Edward Chancellor's book 'Devil Take The Hindmost', recognising red flags such as offers that seem too good to be true, whether certain societal structures like the education system or the 9-to-5 work model could be seen as scams and whether scams that lead to positive outcomes are actually scams.

Huge thanks to Cole McCormick for the support this week, it means...

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 is a solo episode heavily influenced by the book 'Devil Take The Hindmost'.

In Episode #473 of 'Musings' it is just myself Kyrin and I'm discussing: the beginnings, growth and eventual popping of financial bubbles across history (with examples like the Tulip Mania and the South Sea Bubble), why these criteria are all subjective and not numbers based, the reasons I believe there is a crypto/AI bubble that is midway through it's cycle and some predictions for what I think could happen in the next 6-18 months.

A huge thanks to Lyceum & Petar for...

We're no longer the Mere Mortals Podcast ...... we're now Mere Mortals Podcasts!

In Episode #472 of 'Meanderings, Juan and I discuss: the two new podcasts around AI and fitness that we are doing independently, why we will be experimenting with other monetisation models for the new shows (and tweaking existing), why people have black marks on their brand when they get sloppy with their collaborators/advertisers, community building and what more we can do for engagement and some personal updates, including upcoming travel plans & potential changes in living arrangements.

Another sad puppy for support this week :'(<...

We're revisiting an old topic .... with some updates.

In Episode #471 of 'Musings' we discuss: a previous episode from mid 2020 (#49) noting the changes in our perspectives, more on static/dynamic stretching, the specialised techniques of PNF (Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation) & ballistic stretching, why anyone can achieve a reasonable level of flexibility, how we injured ourselves by not following our own advice and how Juan likes to clean and jerk babies.

Very sad puppy this week, we miss your support :'(

Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:00:46) Main Topic: Flexibility and Stretching
(00:04:51) Reflections on Past Discussions
(00:08:39) Current...

 This chat’s all about tackling a unique 2025-calorie challenge. I dive into why I gave it a go, how it panned out (spoiler: not as planned), and the lessons I walked away with. It’s a mix of fitness, mindset, and how to frame challenges in life.

(00:00) - Kicking Off the Challenge
(00:40) - What is the 2025-Calorie Challenge?
(01:22) - Why I Decided to Try It
(02:38) - Planning the Challenge
(05:19) - Did I Actually Do It?
(08:30) - Lessons Learned from Failing
(12:02) - The Power of Focusing on Effort
(15:07) - Applying Learn...

A sucky year doesn't have to be the worst of your life.

In Episode #470 of Mere Mortals 'Musings', Juan and I discuss: our reflections on 2024, my sad year that despite the challenges ended with clarity and optimism towards the end, Juan's balancing of family life and spending as much time with his daughter as possible, predictions for 2025 with emphasis on the advancements of AI, a positive economic wave coming and why hardware might be more interesting than software.

Huge support from Petar the Slav & Cole McCormick, thank you so much!

Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro<...

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 episode reflects on my key takeaways from 2024, focusing on discipline, family priorities, balancing multiple roles, mindfulness, and adaptability.

Timeline:
(00:00) - Introduction to the Year in Review
(00:49) - Reflecting on Seasons of Life
(02:22) - Lesson 1: Discipline in Daily Routines
(04:26) - Lesson 2: Prioritizing Family
(07:16) - Balancing Multiple Roles and Eliminating Distractions
(09:35) - Lesson 3: Mindfulness and Emotional Intelligence
(11:26) - Lesson 4: Adaptability in the Face of Challenges
(14:22) - Building a Community and Future Goals
(15:19) - Memorable Quotes and Philosophical Reflections
(21:56) - Closing Thoughts on Conquering Oneself

Connect with M...

We're spending a lot more time playing around with models.

In Episode #469 of Musings, Juan and I discuss: why we think Agentic AI will be extremely useful, whether open source models can compete with closed source, why I believe they are necessary for privacy/freedom of expression/anti-advertising reasons, the bitter lesson with regards to compute, why governments will regulate and try to control the industry and similarities to cases with big tech.

No boostagrams again, very sad puppy :'(

Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:04:12) Decentralised Vs Closed Source AI
(00:14:20) Open Source AI: Current...