1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:04,240 Speaker 1: L podcasting. It's Guess and will and what are all? 2 00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: Thanks to Medibank. We're driving you guys home on a 3 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:09,760 Speaker 1: Thursday afternoon. I'm not sure if everyone's across this. You 4 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:14,120 Speaker 1: should be. This week is Men's Health Week Woods and look. 5 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:16,200 Speaker 1: I mean it's always jarring when you hear it, but 6 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:17,799 Speaker 1: I think you need to hear it to shock you 7 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:20,919 Speaker 1: into well a sense of awareness. To be honest, six 8 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: mails a day suicide in Australia, and for every death 9 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:29,480 Speaker 1: they reckon, there's about thirty people who attempt suicide. It's startling, 10 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:33,839 Speaker 1: startling statistic. It's growing. We are losing that battle. If 11 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 1: you're not across it. I mean, it's the number one 12 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:37,560 Speaker 1: killer of men ounder the age of sixty. It's really 13 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:39,879 Speaker 1: terrifying stuff when you start to boil it down. And 14 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:42,199 Speaker 1: someone who does some wonderful work on that, I'm sure 15 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:44,240 Speaker 1: he would have heard him on a radio station which 16 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:47,560 Speaker 1: we are not allowed to mention is Gus Wallen is 17 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:51,080 Speaker 1: the founder of Godcha a Life. He joins us on 18 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 1: the phone right now, Thanks will. 19 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 2: No good beyond boys. I appreciate it. 20 00:00:56,840 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 1: Let's get right into it, because you guys are doing 21 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 1: some wonderful stuff with kem Warehouse all throughout Men's Health Week, 22 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:05,360 Speaker 1: but also just in and around what Godcha for Life 23 00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:08,680 Speaker 1: can provide for people. Can you just give some people 24 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:10,360 Speaker 1: an idea of how you guys can help? 25 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:12,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, of course. I mean it's nice to have a 26 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:14,080 Speaker 2: week where you can sort of reflect. But what I 27 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 2: really want to do is all your listeners and all 28 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 2: my mates and everyone you love and trust to actually 29 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:21,960 Speaker 2: do this and check in on a daily basis. Because 30 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:24,479 Speaker 2: they starts well set off at the top. They're frightening, 31 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 2: aren't they. When you think the number one way to 32 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:30,479 Speaker 2: diet your Australian mail is suicide, I'd just shake my head. 33 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:32,280 Speaker 2: And when I first told that about four or five 34 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:35,119 Speaker 2: years ago, I just couldn't believe it. So I started 35 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 2: Gotcha for Life and I just want I just want 36 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:39,959 Speaker 2: blokes to be a bit more open, honest and vulnerable. 37 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 2: Let's just get away from the banter just for a moment. 38 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 2: It doesn't mean we have to burst into tears every 39 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 2: five minutes or have a deep and meaningful conversation every 40 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 2: time we talk. But it's having someone in your life 41 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:53,559 Speaker 2: where you can go. You know what, it's a slightly different, 42 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 2: It's a slightly different situation, and I need to talk 43 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 2: to you about something that's really important, a conversation of 44 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 2: gravity which could actually change your life and save your life. 45 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 2: So that's all I'm asking as you boys to do, 46 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 2: is to just build a bit of emotional muzzle so 47 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:10,160 Speaker 2: we can actually get mentally fit. We get physically fit, 48 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 2: we know what we're talking about, but what's mentally fit? Man? 49 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 2: And that means we can have a proper chat. And 50 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:16,920 Speaker 2: you're not going to get embarrassed by it. You're just 51 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 2: going to allow the conversation to go vulnerable if it 52 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 2: has to be. But the conversation that means something. Boys. 53 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, Yeah, you guys had a great initiative. At the moment, 54 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 3: I'm reading gus co Live nineteen, which is actually reaching 55 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 3: out to someone nineteen days in a row? Can you 56 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:35,119 Speaker 3: talk us through that? And you know why nineteen days 57 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 3: in a row? 58 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:36,399 Speaker 1: Yeah? 59 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 2: I mean, coll you we're living through with COVID nineteen, 60 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 2: very good little skin on that and say, I've got 61 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 2: to co live through this situation that some people are 62 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 2: going back to work normally now, so you can sort 63 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:49,239 Speaker 2: of go, well, let's hope we've kicked up some good 64 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 2: stuff from you know, being what we've been through in 65 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 2: the last few months. But you know, let's try to 66 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 2: contact some people that perhaps you haven't contacted a little while. 67 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 2: So if you think of ninety days in a row, 68 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:03,639 Speaker 2: you need to contact one person. It's not easy. No, 69 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:06,239 Speaker 2: I'm not just contact them with a with an emoji 70 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 2: and a little bit and that it's actually purning them 71 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 2: up and say I'm thinking of you, I've missed you, 72 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:12,239 Speaker 2: and remember the last time we did this, or I 73 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 2: believe you, I'm sorry i haven't been in contact for 74 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 2: a while. Actually have a proper conversation and then say 75 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:19,079 Speaker 2: to them, why did you do the same thing in 76 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:21,760 Speaker 2: that way? Sladd it. Surely we can connect the whole 77 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 2: planet up. And that's what it's about. Connection, feeling like 78 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 2: someone gives a shit about you and they love you. 79 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 2: That's the most important thing. And I believe suicide is 80 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:32,960 Speaker 2: a death of loneliness. And let's keep connecting with each 81 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 2: other and having proper conversations and letting people know you 82 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 2: love them. 83 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 1: Great boy mate, I couldn't agree more. It is such 84 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 1: a good message. Guys. Please stick with us. We've got more. 85 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 1: Gus wall and right up next and go and support 86 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 1: mental fitness yourself by purchasing links Gotcha for Life products 87 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 1: from just two dollars seventy four at Chemist have Reality 88 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 1: Wow Men's Mental Health Week. I mean I said them before, 89 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 1: but I'll say them again. Six mails a day. Suicide 90 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 1: in Australia, wild stuff, guys. It's not something that is 91 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 1: easy to say, but it's worth getting your head across it. 92 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 1: Number one killer of men under the age of sixty 93 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 1: is people killing themselves. It's extraordinary for blokes. We're really 94 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 1: trying to put a stop to that and help out 95 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 1: in whatever way we can. We've got Gus Wallen, who's 96 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 1: the founder of Gotcha for Life. He joins on the 97 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 1: phone right now. 98 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:20,919 Speaker 3: It's worth mentioning that Gus is showing some incredible self 99 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:22,960 Speaker 3: control at the moment. He told us during the song 100 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 3: that he's got a cooked chicken and avocado sushi roll 101 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:28,040 Speaker 3: right next to him in his car. Now, Gus, have 102 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:30,719 Speaker 3: you been trying to sneak bites while we've been talking 103 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:31,040 Speaker 3: at all? 104 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:31,840 Speaker 1: No? 105 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 2: I did. I didn't know how Ricky to come back 106 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 2: to me, you youngsters. Last when we on the AFA 107 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:40,719 Speaker 2: station the song win six or seven minutes, I could 108 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 2: have got a full banquet him. 109 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 1: But now, Gus, I don't want to get I don't 110 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 1: want to get too personal or too emotional with your mate. 111 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:52,119 Speaker 1: But I know that the reason that you started Gotcha 112 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 1: for Life came from a pretty personal spot. And I mean, 113 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:56,680 Speaker 1: this is one of the things that hopefully sort of 114 00:04:56,680 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 1: pricks people's ears up as to why all this stuff 115 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:01,839 Speaker 1: happens and how you can help a bit more. Do 116 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:03,919 Speaker 1: you mind shedding a bit of light on that for 117 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 1: us and just talking about how connecting with someone can 118 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:11,400 Speaker 1: hopefully prohibit those sorts of situations from happening in the future. Yeah. 119 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 2: Sure, it is emotional. And every time I think of 120 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:17,600 Speaker 2: my friend, he took his life just over eleven years ago, 121 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:20,320 Speaker 2: and for around eight or nine of those years, the 122 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 2: wife and the children just never spoke about what exactly 123 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 2: had happened. So no one else felt like they had 124 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:29,479 Speaker 2: permission to have that conversation either, So we just waited 125 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:32,480 Speaker 2: and waited and sort of spoke around it. And then 126 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:36,480 Speaker 2: eventually his late wife said, right, I'm going to go 127 00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 2: and clone on Mount Kilimanjaro and I'm doing it for Lifeline, 128 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:42,760 Speaker 2: And that was just a little opening. Right, we can 129 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:46,159 Speaker 2: talk about it. But my friend Angus. He was just 130 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 2: amazing boys who to me was the epitome of what 131 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:52,200 Speaker 2: a man was. He seemed to have all the answers 132 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 2: and good looking at a lovely family. He seemed to 133 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:59,159 Speaker 2: be very successful and everything he did and he never 134 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:03,039 Speaker 2: asked for help. Literally was the guy if you had 135 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:05,919 Speaker 2: some problems. And he took his own life on the 136 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 2: night that his third and final child finished their HC jes, 137 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:13,159 Speaker 2: So he had a big circle in his diaryes like 138 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 2: that was the day that he was You'd check out 139 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:21,240 Speaker 2: and it was just incredibly sad for everyone. So I 140 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 2: then realized that the funeral was twelve hundred guys and 141 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:26,479 Speaker 2: girls there and we're all looking at each other going 142 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:28,400 Speaker 2: did you have any idea? Did you have any idea? 143 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 2: That started the journey for me to find out why 144 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 2: we lose so many beautiful blokes. So hit the program 145 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:37,120 Speaker 2: man up on the ABC, and that was me challenging 146 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 2: masculinity and wondering why we're losing so many blokes, and 147 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:43,480 Speaker 2: that started off Got your life after that and my 148 00:06:43,839 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 2: relationships now boys with my own son who's now twenty, 149 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:52,280 Speaker 2: my daughter's boyfriends, my friends, my schoolmates, my work boats 150 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 2: are so much deeper because I've just decided, you know what, 151 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:57,320 Speaker 2: love me the way I am. I'm going to be open, 152 00:06:57,360 --> 00:06:59,720 Speaker 2: honest and vulnerable, and if you don't like it, well 153 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 2: that's with me. And it's just it's just enriched my life. 154 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:06,279 Speaker 2: And I'm trying to sort of bueld that emotional muscle 155 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 2: up on in most dosis because I think we've still 156 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 2: got this old fashioned stereotime. I'll be right, mate, leave 157 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:17,240 Speaker 2: me alone on and to ury my emotion, hide. 158 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 1: Behind, hide it behind foota chat and a whole bunch 159 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 1: of sharcasm and whatever you can. 160 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 2: It's going to be on the banter, you know. And 161 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:28,440 Speaker 2: I love of our lives. Let's live in banter. Your 162 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 2: your success if you keep dancing it with your listeners. 163 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 1: All right, mate, Let's not try and take the show 164 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:37,560 Speaker 1: down with this. Come on, man, where this is quality 165 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:41,000 Speaker 1: entertainment here, mate, It's not just I'm just I was 166 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:41,720 Speaker 1: under the banner. 167 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 2: I know. I know you boys and your show. We've 168 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 2: had moments where you've said, right, putting your hand up 169 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 2: and you're going to be open honest, and that's really 170 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 2: what it's all about, having that little moment and that 171 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 2: relationship with someone where you can go a bit deeper. 172 00:07:58,160 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 3: I think before will and I used to have vulnerable 173 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 3: I know personally, Gus, I used to worry about, you know, 174 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 3: breaking away from the banter, that the relationship with a 175 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 3: friend of mine wouldn't be the same afterwards if I 176 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 3: was vulnerable with them, and I just couldn't stress enough 177 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 3: that that's just not the case, you know, it's not like, yeah, man. 178 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:21,680 Speaker 2: It is the same. Change, but change the better. 179 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 3: You've got a deeper relationship with someone. And then again 180 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:29,840 Speaker 3: the gags still come, like I'm still going to tease 181 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:31,680 Speaker 3: you about the faith that you're sitting next to a 182 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:35,200 Speaker 3: cooked chicken an avocado soushi role and I reckon I 183 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:36,559 Speaker 3: did hear you nibbling just before. 184 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 1: Really, it's a pleasure to talk to you, mate. I 185 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 1: think you're spreading a wonderful message. Gotcha for Life is 186 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 1: the charity that you found, and it's doing some wonderful 187 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:52,240 Speaker 1: work if people want to support it. You can support 188 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 1: mental fitness what Gus is talking about by purchase links 189 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 1: Gotcha for Life products in and around Chemist Warehouse at 190 00:08:57,440 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 1: the moment, Mate, thanks so much for coming on the show. 191 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 1: Good Luck for Men's Mental Health worak, I think you're 192 00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:03,719 Speaker 1: doing some wonderful stuff and yeah, hopefully we get to 193 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 1: talk to you soon. A thank you, no worries, guys, guys, 194 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:10,280 Speaker 1: real and podcasting now,