Ashley Semmens is a former Royal Australian Navy Clearance Diver who served for 18 years, specialising in explosive ordnance disposal. He has deployed multiple times, including to Afghanistan, and participated in Australia's military withdrawal in 2021. After surviving trauma from an IED attack, a sniper incident, and a horrific shark attack aftermath in Sydney Harbour, Ashley was medically discharged due to PTSD. Now, he's preparing to swim the English Channel — not just any swim, but on his ba...
May 31, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 5Ep. 59
Jade MacDonald Razvi is a prominent Australian free diver and occupational therapist. She holds the second deepest dive in Australian history and recently won a bronze medal at the Free Diving World Cup. On this episode we talk about Jade’s growing up and freediving- how it works and how she trains. As well as EH4AR (‘everything happens for a reason'). 00:40 Starts with Ben’s hijack! 04:15 Jade on her lineage and growing up. 07:15 Sign language demonstration for the podcast audience 11:45 Jade’s...
Oct 31, 2024•1 hr 33 min•Season 5Ep. 58
We first had the privilege of meeting Leigh Anderson on the 2022 Resilience Retreat and have been stoked to stay in touch from there – particularly so given the recent publication of his book, ‘The Paramedic Mindset’. In this episode, Leigh talk with us about that book, as well as his 14+ years as a paramedic. Leigh discusses the ups and downs of the role including not only the amazing lifesaving assistance he has provided on countless occasions, but also those rare moments when his best wasn’t ...
Sep 09, 2024•57 min•Season 5Ep. 57
Kat Rae is an artist who works across an incredible variety of media. Her confronting work, Deathmin, was recently recognised as winner of the 2024 Napier Waller Art Prize and represents the fourth time Kat has been shortlisted for this prestigious award. In this podcast, Kat talks about her artistic journey, including her first career within the Australian Army during which time she met her husband Andrew. Tragically, it was Andrew’s death that inspired her prizewinning piece and Kat very brave...
Jul 25, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 5Ep. 56
This week we host Bill Lennan who will teach us how to be 40% better! He was a kit who was introverted and had social anxiety.. so Bill built his own toolkit. As Bills tells his story... Friend: How'd you get that role? Me: Talking with strangers. Friend: What? Talking with strangers is a gateway skill. It enables you to talk with team-mates, stakeholders, leaders, execs, and clients. It also makes interviews way easier. Let’s get into it 04:50 Bill growing up… and Tim needs to grow up (accordin...
Jul 18, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Season 5Ep. 55
Tim and Ben love breathing. Not just for the fact that it keeps them alive (although that is undoubtedly a strong benefit…) but also for the opportunity it gives to tap into the body’s autonomic nervous system and impact its emotional state. In this episode, they speak with Martin McPhilimey – someone who was researching the impacts of breath long before it was cool - and find out how the differences between some popular breathing techniques and when these are best applied. 07:30 Breath as the ‘...
Jun 20, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 5Ep. 54
Dr Andrew Bengsen talks to us this week about controlling ferals! Animals that is. Andrew has over 15 years’ experience in pest animal management or research and has been with the NSW Department of Primary Industries, Vertebrate Pest Research Unit for a decade. But also we discuss Andrew’s first career in the military- including serving in Rwanda over the period of the tragic and confronting Kibeyo massacre. We talk about luck- both good and bad. And perspective. As well as Andrews ‘role’ (very ...
Jun 03, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Season 5Ep. 16
Ruth Clare, quite rightly, describes herself as a “multi-passionate human who doesn't fit neatly into a box!” Her formal credits include being a TEDx and motivational keynote speaker, award-winning author, embodied speaking coach, performer, mental health and child voice activist, as well as a qualified scientist with demonstrated expertise in authenticity, resilience and change. In this podcast, Ruth speaks with the boys about her traumatic childhood, which she captures in her truly moving memo...
May 22, 2024•58 min•Season 5Ep. 15
CONTENT WARNING- This episode discusses mental health challenges and suicidal ideations as well as discussing the tragic death of a veteran. Adam Blum had a troubled start to life, plagued by health issues and enduring a debilitating series of surgical procedures. His school years were a torture. Experiencing health and weight issues and diagnosed with ADHD, Adam faced constant bullying. His self-esteem was shattered under the weight of the relentless taunts and physical abuse of his peers. The ...
May 13, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Season 5Ep. 14
On Riana during SAS Australia: “She’s a brilliant human. No bullshit, no ego, she just knuckled down and suffered well on the show” - Dr Dan Pronk In this episode, Ben and Tim speak to television personality, SAS Australia candidate and all round superstar Riana Crehan- footnote that she is also a fellow West Coast Eagle supporter! Brought up on a chicken farm Riana spent most of her childhood outdoors and dancing. In 2007 Riana got a work experience role with the V8 Supercars working on their o...
May 02, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 5Ep. 13
As a special Anzac Day release, please enjoy our chat with MAJGEN (ret’d) Jake Ellwood. Jake is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, a role which puts him at the forefront of reconstruction and resilience within the state, particularly in the face of relentless natural disasters. And he’s definitely the man for the job, having spent a long, distinguished and varied first career within the Army, rising to the rank of Major General. In this episode, Jak...
Apr 25, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Season 5Ep. 12
This week’s guest is Dr Luana Main, a Senior Lecturer in Applied Sport Science at Deakin University. An athlete herself, Luana’s research focuses on optimizing human performance and, in particular, finding the sweet spot between optimal load and overtraining. She has applied this research in areas including elite sport and the military and talks with Ben and Tim about how we can all apply some of these same concepts in our day-to-day lives. 04:45 Luana’s background – and the third-year uni lectu...
Apr 22, 2024•50 min•Season 5Ep. 11
Ben and Tim try to remember what an 'RV' actually is.... reconciliation and reflection, before we talk about our respective travel. From Morocco, Barcelona, Chicago, Brisbane, Hobart .... and more! Then reflections on Jaz Diab, Dr Rob Barbour, Ian Prior and the Festival of Veterans Art. Then as usual talking rubbish about the perfect Easter Egg, Popcorn from Chicago..... and encouraging outright criticism! Music: With thanks to The Externals as well as Ben Frichot Contact: www.unforgiving60.com ...
Apr 08, 2024•46 min•Season 5Ep. 10
In this episode, Ben and Tim speak to Rachel Vickery. Rachel spent her formative years as a national level gymnast and Commonwealth Games representative for her native New Zealand before training as a respiratory physiotherapist. Drawing from this unique background, Rachel now works to help people increase their performance in domains ranging from NBA basketball to the boardroom. Rachel shares her thoughts on how to deal with stress, both in your daily life and at ‘go time’ and provides a unique...
Mar 15, 2024•1 hr 28 min•Season 5Ep. 9
Do you believe that being creativity builds resilience? Well this week we aim to convince you so get ready. In support of the the upcoming www.fova.org.au we outline how: when you engage in creative activities, you increase your brain’s capacity for creative thinking, pattern recognition, and developing visual-spatial skills. These skills enhance your problem-solving abilities in real-life situations From Ruth Richards (Harvard), “Engaging in creative behaviours, makes us more dynamic, conscious...
Mar 07, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 5Ep. 8
Ian Prior is MORE than just a professional rugby player with over a decade of ‘high speed collisions in confined spaces’. He’s incredibly well read and researched. He meditates and practices journaling. He uses ice baths and loves the beach. He’s about performance and optimisation, but uses that to improve his being a dedicated father and husband. This is also a story about tenacity. In the early stages of his career Ian was on the fringes of representative and first class rugby. But his determi...
Feb 29, 2024•1 hr 36 min•Season 5Ep. 7
Get a medical degree and then do SAS selection – as a Doctor!? Sounds mad. Well listen in. Born in Kenya, Dr Rob Barbour spent his formative years in Australia gaining a medical degree and serving in the Australian special forces including on peacekeeping missions.Having never lost his love for his birthplace, Rob migrated to Tanzania to start a socially responsible and community conservation orientated safari operation and a private community conservation area. Rob subsequently joined Epic Priv...
Feb 22, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Season 5Ep. 6
In this episode, we continue our chat with Jaz Diab, the multi-talented former Commanding Officer of the Australian Special Operations Engineer Regiment. Jaz reflects on her experiences as one of the first females in combat roles within Special Operations, before looking at her transition out of the military and subsequent focus on nuclear science. Jaz then talks us through some of the difficulties in progressing the conversation related to nuclear energy in Australia, as well as her role as the...
Feb 15, 2024•57 min•Season 5Ep. 5
In this special double episode, we talk with Jaz Diab – a mum, a self-described ‘nerd’ and crochet aficionado, who also happens to be a nuclear scientist and the former Commanding Officer of the Australian Special Operations Engineer Regiment. Jaz talks us through her childhood, getting bitten by the science bug and her eventual entry into the military, as well as her experiences as a (very humble) trailblazer for females in combat roles. And along the way, reflects on some of the key decisions ...
Feb 06, 2024•45 min•Season 5Ep. 4
In this RV Ben and Tim discuss last year’s events, why they didn’t podcast last year, and where and what they have been up to. 01:00 Where have we been and why have we been off air? 01:50 Thanks to you and Vale Tim ‘Robbo’ Robertson- an inspiration to us 06:30 Tim runs The Wine Marathon 09:30 Ben talks running 14:00 Talking about 2023 travel destinations 15:00 Languages…. And Emily drops in to give an opinion 26:30 Tim talks about losing his Dad in October 2023 30:00 Resilience Mentor courses 32...
Jan 27, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 5Ep. 3
The Externals are 'Back on the Cans' .... as is the Unforgiving60 podcast. This is Season 5. New guests. New material. Same buffoon hosts. #unforgiving60 #podcast
Jan 26, 2024•2 min
Ben and Tim are back for Season 5 of the Unforgiving60 podcast..... some amazing new guests lined up as well as new format (albeit with the same old dudes). debrief@unforgiving60.com
Jan 26, 2024•2 min
This episode is a rerelease of our interview with Tim 'Robbo' Robertson. 'Robbo' was tragically killed in an aircraft accident in Queensland. Forever the professional. Forever the character. Forever the Chronic Overachiever. Forever in our memories. Vale Robbo. To where the Wandering Warriors roam. ***** Tim Robertson is an ex F18 fighter pilot who got bored of that and then successfully completed the Australian Special Air Service (SAS) Selection course! Robbo then saw operational service in Af...
Nov 16, 2023•43 min•Season 4Ep. 21
In this RV Ben and Tim discuss the years events, trends and ‘best ofs’ now that the world has opened back up and life has returned to having velocity. From books, global change, travel, music ….. and what challenges have the boys set themselves for 2023. 01:30 What is an RV? 03:15 Let’s start with some stats 05:30 What is the 5th rated country by download? You’ll be surprised! 07:00 Some of the guest episodes…. Reflecting 14:15 How guests fight back…. Maccas Christmas Card to the boys. 18:00 Mus...
Dec 21, 2022•1 hr 29 min•Season 4Ep. 22
Ben and Tim are interviewed by Emily and Callum from Golds Gym. *********** The SAS guys with MBA's and Authors of the best-selling book 'The Resilience Shield' join us on the Gold's Gym podcast! Tim Curtis and Ben Pronk are leaders in their field and chat to us about all things resilience. You can also take their test to find out how resilient you are. Assess, understand and improve your resilience here: https://resilienceshield.com/assess-your-resilience/ Resilience is a lifelong individual en...
Dec 12, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Season 4Ep. 21
Senator David Van is a Liberal Senator for Victoria, who was elected to the Senate in 2019. As part of this, and arguably as the main reason many Australians might recognise him, David has recently been very prominent in his support for the people of Ukraine. In this discussion, we speak with David about what this cause means to him and what the situation there might mean for all of us in Australia. We also explore David’s fascinating background, which includes time as a horticulturalist, in pub...
Nov 17, 2022•51 min•Season 4Ep. 20
TRIGGER WARNING. This episode discusses the 2002 Bali Bombing and involves content that some might find disturbing. ‘Macca’ is a knock about Aussie guy who 20 years ago at 19 years old played some pretty sub amateur footy at Kingsley Football Club in Perth. In October 2002, they won the team's first premiership and 20 people flew to Bali for an end-of-season trip to celebrate their victory. But only 13 of the teammates made it home. The remaining seven were killed in the Bali bombings, a terrori...
Oct 13, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Season 3Ep. 19
Through their work with The Resilience Shield, Ben and Tim have become fascinated with the topic – and in particular, with evidence-based research related to it. A few months back, they saw an article talking about an Australian academic conducting a range of ground-breaking research into this exact topic and reached out to see if she would be interested in sharing her perspectives with the Unforgiving60. Associate Professor Justine Gatt is Lead Scientist of the Gatt Wellbeing & Resilience G...
Sep 21, 2022•50 min•Season 4Ep. 18
Our chat today is with world champion para-surfer Sam Bloom, and her husband Cam. Born on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, Sam had everything she had always dreamed of. She’d travelled extensively, fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming a nurse and was a happily married mother of three young boys. But without warning, the dream turned into a nightmare when on a 2013 family holiday in Thailand, Sam fell through a rotten balcony railing and crashed six metres onto the concrete below. Lucky to be...
Sep 15, 2022•1 hr 21 min•Season 3Ep. 17
We first spoke to David way back in Season 3 , when he was kind enough to dial in from Antarctica and talk about his experiences as an Australian Antarctic Division Station Leader. At the time of that episode, David’s team’s trip had already been extended due to COVID, however at that point, he didn’t realise just how long he would be on the ice for, nor what sorts of challenges his trip would present him with. Turns out, the total deployment time was 537 Days, which ended up being the name of h...
Aug 24, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Season 4Ep. 16
