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In September 2018, Christina's life changed in an instant after a motorbike accident resulted in her becoming a paraplegic. But despite this, she's now the most fulfilled and happiest she's ever been. On this week’s episode of Behind the Uniform, nothing is off limits as Christina very openly talks about everything from her everyday physical challenges, to what it's like having sex and using a vibrator when you don’t have pelvic sensation. Christina epitomises what it means to be an influencer and she is passionate about normalising disability and using her injury to demonstrate that happiness isn’t found from money or status, but from gratitude, helping others and appreciating what you have. Christina’s positivity and resilience is almost hard to fathom and this episode will leave your heart full and feeling inspired.

Today’s guest is none other than our host, Captain Hugo Toovey! In our podcast we often speak so casually about Hugo’s battles with cancer, but we’ve never properly dug 'behind his uniform' and explored the many lessons he’s learnt at such a young age. In today’s episode we discuss the impact that chronic bowel disease had on Hugo’s childhood, the heartbreak of losing his best friend to suicide, and how testicular cancer saved his life. Despite some emotional conversations, this episode is also filled with joy, laughter and even some pranks you can play with a fake testicle! This is definitely one of our most inspiring and moving episodes yet.

On this week’s episode of Behind the Uniform we are joined by former AFL Premiership player, Daniel Venables. At the age of just 19, Dan was on top of the world after winning the 2018 Premiership for the West Coast Eagles. However the following year Dan's life changed in a matter of seconds as he suffered a brain trauma injury in a marking contest. Dan spent the next 3 years undergoing rehabilitation, and in August 2021, he was forced into early retirement. In this open, honest and vulnerable conversation, Dan talks about the mental health impacts of living with chronic pain and a traumatic brain injury, and the importance of finding purpose after adversity. Dan is wise beyond his years and his attitude and bravery is so inspiring. We hope you enjoy the episode as much as we did!

Dr Izzy Smith is one of the hosts of this podcast, so we thought it was fitting to go ‘behind the scrubs’ and share Izzy’s story. Izzy is an Endocrinology Doctor with a passion for sharing health advice that is easy to digest. She is also a Movember Ambassador, mental health advocate and a running enthusiast! In this week’s episode of Behind the Uniform, Izzy opens up about what it was like losing her Dad at such a young age and the long-lasting psychological trauma grief can have on a child. Izzy also talks about the difficulties junior doctors can face when being confronted with death, and why reflecting on past experiences can help you get through some challenging times. We really hope you enjoy getting to know more about the wonderful Dr Izzy Smith, and you can follow Izzy on Instagram @doctorizzyksmith.

Wayne Schwass has lived an extraordinary life. During his 14-year AFL career, Wayne played 282 games, won three best & fairest awards, was an all-Australian, and a premiership player. But behind all of these accolades, Wayne lived with obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, anxiety and suicidal ideations. In this week's episode of Behind the Uniform, Wayne talks about how the cultures and attitudes of Australia in the 80s and 90s led him to believe that mental illness was only something that occurred in people from social disadvantage, and he refused to accept his own diagnosis, let alone share how he was feeling with others. Wayne also discusses why it's so important to have the communication skills and self-awareness to better understand and improve your own mental health & wellbeing. Through Wayne's personal journey and relationship with mental wellbeing, he created PukaUp - a social enterprise which aims to end suicide in Australia. This episode is full of wisdom, passion and hope. We learnt so much from Wayne and we have no doubt that you will too!

Behind the Uniform is proudly supported by Movember, so it is fitting that this week’s guest is the Director of Mental Health Training at Movember, Dr Zac Seidler… aka “The Man Whisperer”. Zac has dedicated his life towards further understanding men’s mental health and masculinity. His ultimate goal is to help reduce the staggering rate of male suicide worldwide. This episode is full of valuable takeaways, so please share it and help us spread these important conversations!

Lauren Rowe has lived with the roller coaster of Cystic Fibrosis her entire life. When she was 19yo she had less than 2 weeks to live and received a life-saving double lung transplant, and only a few months ago she had her second transplant. In this uplifting episode of Behind the Uniform, Lauren opens up about what it's like living with an invisible illness, her views on organ donation, and the power of sharing your story to help others. We also touch on the uncomfortable topics of terminal illness and death, and how humour can help normalise these taboo topics. This is one of our favourite episodes to date and not be missed! You can follow Lauren's journey on Instagram @rejectinglaurenrowe

Josh Reid Jones is a funny guy with a big heart who has always wondered why people don’t get help when they need it. He is the founder of the “Just Be Nice Project”, an organisation that supports people with housing, employment and mental health, and he is passionate about the importance of being good to do good. This week on Behind the Uniform, Josh opens up about how his challenging upbringing taught him valuable lessons in life, why helping people takes time, and what it means to be a good teammate. Josh also discusses what it’s been like living through the longest lockdown on the planet, and offers some wisdom and advice to those who have felt the ups and downs over the last 18 months. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did, and as always, there are plenty of laughs and feel good moments! Please share this episode with family and friends. We can all play our part in spreading these important conversations JUST BE NICE PROJECT - Home (jbnproject.com)

To kick things off for SEASON 2, Izzy & Hugo sat down with former AFL player and host of one of Australia’s biggest podcasts, Dylan Buckley! In this open and honest chat, Dyl opens up about finding a purpose in life away from the football field, and why it's so important to be a balanced human. Dyl is wise beyond his years, and there were so many valuable takeaways. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did! We are a non-for-profit production, and to help us grow, please share this episode with family and friends. We can all play our part in spreading these important conversations https://au.movember.com/ https://www.25stayalive.com/

It has been an eventful 12 months, but we are excited to be back for Season 2 of Behind the Uniform! Join Izzy and Hugo as they reflect on Season 1 and discuss what they have planned for Season 2. There will be some amazing episodes and guests this season, so prepare yourself for tears, laughter and goosebumps. We are a non-for-profit production, and to help us grow, please share this episode with family and friends. We can all play our part in spreading these important conversations https://au.movember.com/ https://www.25stayalive.com/

Behind the Uniform is proudly brought to you by Movember. So for our Season 1 finale, our final guest is none other than the Movember founder, Travis Garrone. Trav founded Movember back in 2003, and what started out as a chat between mates, has transformed into one of the largest men's foundations in the world. Movember has raised a staggering $1.2 Billion, has funded over 1,250 health programs, and has created a community of over 6 million Mo Bros and Mo Sistas all around the world. It truly is a phenomenal story. In this candid and insightful chat, Trav takes us right back to where it all started, and we talk about why 2020 is the most important campaign yet. Towards the end of the episode, Hugo and Izzy also open up about why Movember is so close to their hearts. Thank you to each and every one of you who have joined us on Behind the Uniform. We hope you have enjoyed the ride as much as we have, and we have some exciting things planned for Season 2. We are a non-for-profit production, and to help us grow, please share this episode with family and friends. We can all play our part in spreading these important conversations https://au.movember.com/ https://www.25stayalive.com/

From attempting suicide on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, to being a proud father, ultra-marathon runner, and mental health advocate. This is the story of Dan Price, a man who inspires all those around him and more. On this week’s episode of Behind the Uniform, we dive into the impact of not fitting in as a child due to his ADHD, led to living a life of constantly striving for perfectionism and external validation. From the outside Dan had everything, but he was living an exhausting double life which eventually led to rock-bottom and multiple suicide attempts. We discuss Dan’s journey to wellness, why good mental health is an ongoing journey rather than a destination, and that even at the lowest of lows, there is always light at the end of the tunnel... We are a non-for-profit production, and to help us grow, please share this episode with family and friends. We can all play our part in spreading these important conversations https://au.movember.com/ https://www.25stayalive.com/

Simon Dunn is a rugby player who felt compelled to leave the sport he loved due to his sexuality. Simon decided to move to Canada, where he became the first openly gay person to represent their country in the sport of Bobsledding. As often is the case, there is always a lot more going on behind the uniform... In this episode of Behind the Uniform, Simon opens up about the mental health impacts of being gay, falling out with friends and family, and the very real issue of homophobia in sport. Simon also discusses the pressure of sharing your life on social media, and the recent struggles he faced when he suddenly found himself living on his Mum’s couch. We learnt so much from our insightful chat with Simon, and we delved into aspects of mental health not often talked about. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did! We are a non-for-profit production, and to help us grow, please share this episode with family and friends. We can all play our part in spreading these important conversations https://au.movember.com/ https://www.25stayalive.com/

Sam Naismith is an AFL player for the Sydney Swans, a Black Dog Institute ambassador, and a proud Dog Dad... but unfortunately Sam has also been through more adversity than anyone should at his young age. On this week’s episode of Behind the Uniform, Sam opens up about the tragic loss of both his Father and Sister to cancer, and why he isn't giving up on playing AFL again despite multiple career threatening injuries. Sam also bravely talks about his own mental health battles, and what it was like when he finally built up the courage to tell his coach (John Longmire) he was struggling. Sam's outlook on life defies belief, and the inspiring work he is doing now would no doubt make his Father and Sister proud. You might need to get the tissues ready for this one...because there will no doubt be a few tears! We are a non-for-profit production, and to help us grow, please share this episode with family and friends. We can all play our part in spreading these important conversations https://au.movember.com/ https://www.25stayalive.com/

Khan Porter is a 6x CrossFit games athlete, instagram influencer, mental heath advocate, and self-described total weirdo. On the surface Khan looks like he has it all, however, there has always been a lot going on behind his uniform... In this real, raw and honest conversation, Khan opens up about his lifelong battles with mental illness, including ADHD, severe anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and being incorrectly diagnosed with bipolar. Khan's journey of ups and downs is truly inspiring, and he has now found his passion in helping others have a deeper understanding of the complexities of mental health. Nothing is off limits with our chat with Khan, and we were blown away with just how open he was in sharing his story. Thanks for tuning in! You can help us grow by clicking follow/subscribe and leaving a rating/review. As always, we love receiving your feedback! We are a non-for-profit production, and to help us grow, please share this episode with family and friends. We can all play our part in spreading these important conversations https://au.movember.com/ https://www.25stayalive.com/

This week on the podcast we are joined by Gus Worland - media personality, sports fanatic, founder of Gotch4Life, and one of the best blokes you will ever meet. In this real, honest, and vulnerable chat, Gus opens up about how the devastating loss of his mentor led to him realising that culture and attitudes towards masculinity and mental health needs to change. These experiences started a journey that ultimately resulted in him creating his own mental health foundation, Gotcha4Life. In this episode, Gus talks about his vision of zero suicides, the importance of having a gotcha for life buddy, and why everyone needs to make their bed… To find out more, visit www.gotcha4life.com We are a non-for-profit production, and to help us grow, please share this episode with family and friends. We can all play our part in spreading these important conversations https://au.movember.com/ https://www.25stayalive.com/

This week on Behind the Uniform, we chat to Scott Henderson, the man behind Australia’s most popular Men’s magazine, Men’s Health. Scott took over Men’s Health in 2018 with one goal, to redefine masculinity. Think of traditional men’s fitness magazine covers, and you’re probably picturing a ripped guy with his shirt off, it’s that image that Scott wanted to evolve. Good health means far more than perfect abs. Scott was instrumental in transforming the magazine to being about holistic wellbeing, with realistic and inspiring cover stories. But unfortunately Men’s Health was recently axed, and Scott opens up about the impact this had on his own mental health. In this insightful episode, we also delve into aspects of mental health not often discussed, such as male body image and eating disorders. As always, there will be plenty of takeaways, and just as many laughs. *We are a non-for-profit production, and to help us grow, please share this episode with family and friends. We can all play our part in spreading these important conversations https://au.movember.com/ https://www.25stayalive.com/

Steve Willis, aka Commando Steve, opens up about how a difficult childhood led to fear of failure and not being good enough. Although he tried to overcome these demons by becoming a Commando in the Army, the green beret and tough guy exterior was ultimately a band-aid that couldn’t heal the traumas from his past. In this week’s episode of Behind the Uniform, Steve also discusses his difficult transition from the Army, and how he ended up as the “Commando” on the Biggest Loser. Throughout his journey of discovery, Steve ultimately found the most happiness and fulfilment through learning to be present, the power of meditation, and realising he was always enough… We are a non-for-profit production, and to help us grow, please share this episode with family and friends. We can all play our part in spreading these important conversations https://au.movember.com/ https://www.25stayalive.com/

Moises Henriques was living his dream. He was playing Cricket for Australia, he had a beautiful partner, a close group of mates, and a life that most people would envy. But behind the uniform, Moises was depressed. In this week’s episode of Behind the Uniform, Moises opens up about his ongoing battles with mental health, what helped him get through his darker days, and why seeking help was the best thing he ever did. We also discuss what it means to be ‘successful’, and why dogs truly are a man’s best friend... We are a non-for-profit production, and to help us grow, please share this episode with family and friends. We can all play our part in spreading these important conversations https://au.movember.com/ https://www.25stayalive.com/

NRL Legend Braith Anasta has played over 300 games of Rugby, including a premiership, State of Origin, and has represented both Australia and Greece. At just 20yo, Braith was also one of the youngest Captains to play the game. Braith is now a FOX Sports commentator, a mental health advocate, and a devoted father of 3. When Braith was only 15 years old, his Dad tragically died by suicide. On this episode of Behind the Uniform, Braith shares what it was like growing up without his Dad, and how he has navigated his way through life. We are a non-for-profit production, and to help us grow, please share this episode with family and friends. We can all play our part in spreading these important conversations https://au.movember.com/ https://www.25stayalive.com/