My brother James is someone I admire deeply. His approach to exercise, discipline and self-improvement still shocks me with its intensity. In this episode I try to understand the why behind the way he lives. We are wired so differently, yet we share the same history and the same hopes for our families. Exploring where we overlap and where we differ is always meaningful.

I loved this conversation and I hope you enjoy it too.

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What if the most powerful competitive advantage a company could have wasn’t technology, strategy or capital – but healthy people?

That’s the question at the heart of my conversation with Dr Patrick Aouad, neurologist and Founder and CEO of CU Health, on Episode 79 of It’s Never About Money.

Patrick has spent his career at the intersection of neuroscience, medicine and business. As a specialist neurologist, he has worked with patients facing complex conditions including stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. In those clinical settings, he saw something fundamental: health shapes everything about how a person lives and works.

But over time, he began to look at the bigger picture.

If most people spend the majority of their waking lives at work, why aren’t workplaces a central part of how we deliver proactive healthcare?

That question eventually led him to build CU Health – a digital-first health platform designed specifically for the workplace.

Moving beyond reactive healthcare

Much of modern healthcare is reactive. People seek help once a problem has already become serious: burnout, chronic illness, anxiety, heart disease.

But Patrick believes there’s a far more effective approach – prevention.

Rather than waiting until someone becomes unwell, the goal is to create systems that support people to stay healthy in the first place.

Through CU Health, employees can access an integrated team of health professionals including GPs, psychologists, dietitians, health coaches and executive performance coaches. 

The platform operates as what Patrick describes as “a clinic in the cloud”, bringing different forms of expertise together into one connected system – making high-quality care easy to access before small problems become big ones.

The hidden economic cost of poor health

One of the most interesting parts of our conversation was the business case for employee wellbeing.

Poor health doesn’t just affect individuals – it affects organisations in ways that are often invisible.

Patrick describes it as a kind of silent tax on productivity, and it shows up in many forms: burnout, disengagement, preventable sick days, higher attrition and the loss of experienced staff. When employees feel unsupported, they leave – and the cost of recruitment, training and lost intellectual capital can be enormous. But even when people stay, poor health often means they’re operating well below their potential.

On the other hand, when wellbeing is supported, the opposite happens: teams perform better, employees stay longer, and organisations benefit from stronger engagement and higher discretionary effort.

In other words, investing in health isn’t simply a wellbeing initiative – it’s a performance strategy.

Why personal responsibility isn’t enough

Individual habits matter: sleep, exercise and diet remain the foundations of good health. Patrick emphasises that prioritising these basics – getting enough sleep, moving your body and eating well – is critical for brain function, mood and long-term disease prevention.

But he also pushes back against the idea that people should simply “try harder”.

As Patrick points out, even highly disciplined people often need support at different phases of their lives. Knowing what to do is one thing – but having the structure, guidance and accountability to follow through is another.

The future of work and wellbeing

Employers already invest heavily in infrastructure, technology and strategy to improve performance. Yet the most important asset in any organisation – the people – is often left largely unsupported when it comes to health.

Rather than seeing healthcare access as a social responsibility or a cost, Patrick argues that organisations should see it as a strategic advantage – one that’s even more powerful than AI when it comes to the future of work.

In a knowledge economy where intellectual performance matters more than ever, that support can make a real difference. Because in the end, the health of a business is closely tied to the health of the people inside it.

Hear the full conversation with Dr Patrick Aouad in Episode 79 of It’s Never About Money.

The post The Business Case for Wellbeing [Dr. Patrick Aouad] appeared first on It's Never About Money.

Food shapes every part of our lives, yet many of us still treat nutrition as something separate from how we think, feel and perform. We eat for convenience, habit or comfort, rarely pausing to consider what that daily pattern might be doing beneath the surface.

In this episode of It’s Never About Money, I’m joined by Jackie Bowker – award-winning functional nutritionist, PhD candidate and CEO of the Global Feel Better Institute – to explore why nutrition is so often the missing link between energy, mood, sleep and decision-making, and why what we eat underpins everything from health to long-term performance.

From sugar highs to real food

Jackie’s journey into nutrition began with her own health unravelling. Years of being “obsessed with sugar” left her riding a blood sugar roller coaster she didn’t yet recognise, marked by fatigue, irritability, bloating and the unsettling feeling of being “wired but tired”. When conventional medicine couldn’t offer answers, she turned to real food – a shift that restored her energy and ultimately led her into nutrition research.

The true cost of an ultra-processed diet

We discuss how nutrition, sleep, stress and movement are deeply interconnected. Diets high in sugar and ultra-processed foods destabilise blood sugar, often disrupting sleep and leaving people exhausted, foggy and reactive the next day. 

Jackie explains how modern diets interfere with hunger hormones, insulin and gut health. Our biology hasn’t changed, but our food environment has – and the body often struggles to interpret foods designed in a laboratory rather than grown or raised.

The gut-brain connection

A key part of the conversation centres on the gut and its role in inflammation, mood and cognition. The gut and brain are in constant communication, with many neurotransmitters produced in the digestive system itself. Supporting gut health, Jackie explains, can have powerful flow-on effects for mental clarity, resilience and decision-making.

Why nutrition belongs in the bigger life conversation

Nutrition isn’t about perfection or restriction – it’s about giving the body the stable fuel it needs to think clearly, sleep deeply and show up well in life. When energy is steady, everything else becomes easier.

To hear the full conversation with Jackie, listen to this episode of It’s Never About Money.

The post Why Nutrition Matters More Than You Think [Jackie Bowker] appeared first on It's Never About Money.

When we think about financial advice, we often think about growth: assets under management, investment returns, and reaching retirement with enough.

But in this episode of It’s Never About Money, I speak with Mark Hedderman about a different measure of success – one centred on health, longevity and purpose. 

Mark is President of the LIA, Ireland’s leading professional education body for more than 12,000 financial professionals. He also serves on the board of the Financial Planners of Ireland and is a CFP practitioner and CEO of Hedderman Financial Solutions, the second-generation family firm founded by his parents in 2007.

But despite his roots in traditional financial planning, Mark believes the profession’s definition of success is too narrow.

Beyond wealth accumulation

A turning point for Mark came when his father was diagnosed with stomach cancer just four months after retiring. It forced him to confront a difficult question: if financial advice is designed to create security, why do so many people reach retirement depleted or unwell?

Today, Mark argues that money should be the vehicle, not the outcome. While advisers are highly skilled at helping clients climb the “Everest” of wealth, far less attention is given to what happens next – the 25 to 35 years of retirement where purpose, health and connection matter most.

In his own practice, that shift is practical. The team is intentionally reducing the time spent talking about money in meetings and expanding conversations around wellbeing and life goals – as well as exploring preventative health initiatives and creating opportunities for clients to build community and maintain purpose in later life.

A holistic approach to financial advice

Mark suggests that the financial component may only represent a small part of true wealth. Loss of purpose, loneliness and anxiety can undermine even the most well-funded retirement.

Hence the unusual questions he asks his clients: What did you want to be as a child? What passions were set aside because they didn’t “make money”? And how can your financial plan now support those pursuits?

For Mark, the future of advice lies in high-quality questions, listening and a genuine commitment to client wellbeing.

To hear the full conversation with Mark Hedderman, listen to this episode of It’s Never About Money.

Because when advice is about living well, money becomes the vehicle for the life you’ve always imagined.

The post What If Financial Advice Was About Living Well? [Mark Hedderman] appeared first on It's Never About Money.

Sleep shapes every part of our lives, yet most of us only think about it when it starts to fall apart. We sacrifice it to early mornings, long workdays and glowing screens, rarely stopping to consider what that trade-off might mean over time.

In this episode of It’s Never About Money, I’m joined by Simon Joosten, Associate Professor and one of Australia’s leading clinician scientists in respiratory and sleep medicine, to explore why sleep is not just a health issue, but a fundamental driver of how we think, feel and function.

From respiratory medicine to sleep science

Simon’s path into sleep medicine began through respiratory care and a PhD that revealed just how deeply sleep underpins almost every system in the body. From an evolutionary perspective alone, sleep wouldn’t exist unless it served a critical purpose. While we are more vulnerable when we sleep, the brain never fully switches off, remaining alert enough to protect us when needed.

What poor sleep really costs us

We talk about what happens when sleep is disrupted or chronically shortened, from obstructive sleep apnoea to everyday sleep issues. One of the most confronting insights is that people who are sleep deprived often believe they are functioning well, even when their performance is measurably impaired.

Chronic poor sleep is linked to:

• slower reaction times and reduced attention
• low mood, anxiety and depression
• impaired judgement and decision-making
• long-term health and longevity risks

Sleep, longevity and the long game

Sleep is often the first thing we sacrifice in the name of productivity or exercise, yet its consequences – much like poor financial choices – may not show up until years later. Simon challenges the myth that some people simply “don’t need much sleep”, explaining that most adults sit within a narrow biological range, with extremes linked to poorer cognitive outcomes and shorter lifespan.

The pillars of healthy sleep

At its core, healthy sleep rests on two key pillars:

Timing: going to bed at a consistent time matters more than most people realise
Duration: habitually sleeping around 7–9 hours

Rather than hacks or quick fixes, Simon emphasises simple behavioural strategies: predictable routines, clear boundaries between bed and waking life, and allowing the nervous system time to wind down.

Why sleep belongs in the bigger life conversation

Sleep is not indulgent or optional. It is as fundamental as eating, breathing and drinking water. When we neglect it, the ripple effects extend into our health, our relationships, our work and the decisions we make about our lives.

To hear the full conversation with Simon, listen to this episode of It’s Never About Money.

Because when we understand the rhythms that run our lives, we’re better placed to protect our wellbeing – now and into the future.

The post Why Sleep Matters More Than We Think appeared first on It's Never About Money.

When we talk about financial planning, we often focus on numbers. Income, savings, returns and time horizons. But there’s another layer that quietly shapes every financial decision we make: our health.

Halo, a longevity and healthspan assessment program created by Heather Holmes, brings together genetics, lifestyle and environment to help people understand how long and how well they might live. It also helps financial advisers and their clients make better, more personalised decisions about their future.

Heather’s idea for Halo began with two moments that changed her life. The first was in a hospital operating room, watching a family lose someone they loved and realising how little people understand about their health risks. The second was seeing her father’s declining health affect his financial decision-making, leaving her family uncertain about who to trust. Both moments revealed the same truth: health and money are deeply connected.

Bridging health and financial planning

Halo helps people bring health into their financial discussions. In just a few minutes, it creates a personal profile using family health history, lifestyle and environmental factors to show how those elements combine to shape longevity and quality of life.

What makes it different is how it turns data into action. Clients complete the assessment privately, and only a high-level summary is shared with their adviser. That summary helps shape planning decisions such as how long income may need to last, when to plan for aged care and how to balance enjoying the present with caring for the future.

For many, it changes perspective. Most people underestimate how long they might live, which can lead to short-term thinking. Seeing the data can prompt a shift from uncertainty to informed action.

Knowledge that empowers

Heather is clear that Halo is not about prediction. It is about awareness. While genes play a role, the choices we make each day can have just as much impact. What we eat, how we move, how well we sleep and who we connect with all influence our healthspan.

It is a concept that mirrors good financial advice: understand what you can control, prepare for what you cannot, and make decisions that protect your wellbeing.

When we understand our health more clearly, we plan our money more wisely. It is not about guessing the future. It is about being prepared for it.

The bigger picture

Bringing health into the money conversation helps us think more broadly about what we are really planning for. It shifts the question from “How much do you need?” to “What kind of life do you want to live, and for how long?”

For clients, it is a reminder that financial wellbeing and physical wellbeing are inseparable. The earlier we connect the two, the better our choices become.

To hear Heather’s full story and learn how Halo is changing the way people plan their lives, listen to our conversation on It’s Never About Money.

Because when you see the full picture, money stops being the goal. It becomes the tool that helps you live the life you want, for as long and as well as possible.

The post What if your health data could change your financial future? appeared first on It's Never About Money.

Willpower. Why is it so unfairly distributed?

Why is it that some people can build exercise into their lives almost effortlessly, while others struggle to summon the willpower even when they know how important it is for their health and wellbeing?

Bevan James Eyles has spent his career searching for answers to this question. As a three-time Kiwi Fitness Instructor of the Year, an elite Ironman athlete, a bestselling author, and a behavioural mindset coach, he has worked with everyone from first-time exercisers to high-performing athletes.

His insight is clear: willpower alone is never enough. Real, lasting change comes from reshaping identity and creating environments that make healthy behaviour feel natural rather than forced.

Bevan is on a mission to support people to make healthy choices. And if that means challenging a gym culture that can sometimes be awkward and exclusionary, then so be it!

If you have ever felt stuck on the treadmill of starting and stopping, or wondered why some habits never quite seem to stick, I think you will find Bevan’s perspective both practical and liberating.

Listen to the full conversation with Bevan James Eyles on It’s Never About Money.

The post Why Willpower Isn’t Enough (and What Really Builds Habits) [Bevan James Eyles] appeared first on It's Never About Money.

How Money Quietly Shapes Our Health: Insights From Nine Financial Advisers Across Australia

At the 2025 FAAA Congress, I walked the floor with one simple question:
How does money affect health?

What followed were some of the most honest and revealing conversations I’ve had this season. Across the busy convention floor, nine financial advisers shared stories from their work – stories of stress, clarity, overwork, grief, transition, and resilience. Their insights revealed one thing clearly: money and health are inseparable, and financial advice often becomes a health intervention long before clients realise it.

Clarity and Awareness May Help Reduce Stress

Several advisers observed that uncertainty around finances is a common contributor to stress. For many people, not knowing where their money is going can create ongoing anxiety.

Shannon Victor (Oxlade Financial) noted that some individuals avoid looking at their spending because they fear what they might find. Creating awareness of one’s financial situation may be an important first step in reducing unnecessary worry.

Similarly, Kelly King (Iconic Wealth) discussed how knowledge and understanding often matter more than income when it comes to lowering stress. Her experience suggests that guiding clients through the learning process can help them feel more comfortable with their financial decisions.

Bianca Musico (WARR HUNT) also shared that having a clear plan may give people a greater sense of certainty. For some clients, clarity may feel like “a weight lifted off their shoulders,” which in turn supports better mental wellbeing.

Overwork, Lifestyle Imbalance, and the Role of Perspective

A number of advisers reflected on the relationship between work and health. For some people, striving to improve finances may lead to long working hours or an unsustainable lifestyle.

Rob Pyne (HPH Solutions) highlighted that health, wealth, and happiness are interconnected, and overlooking one area may affect the others. Maintaining balance may be an important consideration for long-term wellbeing.

Mark O’Flynn (Oxlade Financial) observed that many clients are already on track to achieve their goals, which may mean they don’t need to work as hard as they think. Understanding this can help people make more informed choices about time, work, and rest.

For Sarah Leslie (Story Wealth), overworking can sometimes become a distraction from deeper personal challenges. She has seen how significant life events, such as health issues among family or friends, prompt individuals to reconsider their priorities.

Life Transitions and Rebuilding Wellbeing

Advisers working with clients through major life changes often see the close connection between money and health.

Jordan Vaka (PlanningSolo) explained that experiences like divorce can impact mental health long before the financial aspects are resolved. Small “wins” – such as allocating money to exercise, nutrition, or therapy – may help individuals regain control during difficult periods.

Nathan Fradley (Nathan Fradley Specialist Advice) frequently meets people who care deeply for others but struggle to prioritise themselves. In some cases, encouraging clients to allocate money specifically for their own wellbeing is a meaningful step in rebuilding confidence and balance.

Retirement specialist Martin McGrath (Financial Edge Group) noted that some people continue working out of fear of running out of money, even when their finances suggest they are ready to retire. Seeing their position clearly can help them make decisions that support both their health and lifestyle.

A Broader View: Money as a Support for a Good Life

Across these discussions, one idea stood out: financial advice can help people feel more in control of their lives, which positively influences wellbeing.

While money itself does not guarantee health or happiness, understanding one’s financial position provides confidence and allows people to make choices aligned with their values. Good advice is often about more than strategy – it’s about giving clients permission to invest in themselves, reclaim time, and focus on the things that matter most.

Personal Reflection

Walking the FAAA Congress floor, I was struck by how much insight comes from experience. These advisers have spent years sitting with clients, seeing real lives unfold, and witnessing the quiet ways financial stress erodes health.

It made me reflect on my own approach to money and wellbeing. So often, we focus on what we can earn or save, without recognising the impact that clarity, planning, and balance have on the quality of our lives. The conversations reminded me that financial advice is not just about numbers – it’s about human lives. And when done well, it’s a gift that extends far beyond the balance sheet.

Featuring

• Shannon Victor – Oxlade Financial
• Kelly King – Iconic Wealth
• Bianca Musico – WARR HUNT
• Mark O’Flynn – Oxlade Financial
• Sarah Leslie – Story Wealth
• Rob Pyne – HPH Solutions
• Jordan Vaka – PlanningSolo
• Nathan Fradley – Nathan Fradley Specialist Advice
• Martin McGrath – Financial Edge Group

Listen to the full conversation to hear how advisers across Australia are thinking about the relationship between money, behaviour, and wellbeing.

The post I asked 9 financial advisers how money affects health. Here is what they told me appeared first on It's Never About Money.

Why We’re in the Dark Ages for Hormone Health

When you think about hormones, you might think about puberty, pregnancy, or menopause. The reality is that “sex hormones” such as oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone influence every system in the body for both men and women.

They affect how you think, how you feel, how you work and how you relate to others. Which is why it is astonishing that hormone health is still decades behind other areas of medicine.

Outdated myths with real-world consequences

In my conversation with Dr Ceri Cashell, she explained how two myths continue to shape medical thinking today:

• Testosterone causes prostate cancer in men
• Oestrogen causes breast cancer in women

Both have become firmly held beliefs despite shaky evidence. In fact, the “testosterone causes prostate cancer” idea can be traced back to a single case from the 1930s. Yet the shadow of those fears still influences how readily doctors will prescribe hormone therapy, even when it could transform a patient’s quality of life.

Misdiagnosis is common

One of the biggest tragedies is that many people with hormonal imbalances are misdiagnosed.

Ceri often sees women in perimenopause or menopause who have been prescribed antidepressants for symptoms that are actually hormonal. Men can also experience a slow decline in testosterone from their late 20s onward, leading to low energy, reduced motivation and brain fog, but rarely get their hormone levels checked.

The ripple effect on work, relationships and the economy

When hormone health slips, the effects can be far-reaching:

• Reduced confidence and focus at work, sometimes prompting early retirement
• Strained relationships due to changes in mood and libido
• Lost income and productivity, with significant costs at a national level

For example, early menopause and its symptoms cost the Australian economy billions each year in lost earnings and increased healthcare needs.

Why we need a new approach

We would not accept outdated 1930s thinking in any other area of healthcare, so why here?
Improving hormone health awareness means:

• Updating medical training to include hormone therapy as a safe and viable treatment
• Busting myths with up-to-date research
• Encouraging both men and women to ask for hormone checks when experiencing unexplained symptoms

What you can do right now

If you are feeling persistently flat, foggy or fatigued and lifestyle changes have not helped, it is worth having a hormone conversation with your GP. Be specific. Ask for your testosterone, oestrogen and progesterone levels to be checked, and if they are not confident in managing hormone therapy, request a referral to someone who is.

Your hormones are not just about reproduction. They are about living and performing at your best in your career, your relationships and your everyday life.

Listen to the full conversation with Dr Ceri Cashell on It’s Never About Money

The post Why Hormone Health is Stuck in the Dark Ages [Ceri Cashell] appeared first on It's Never About Money.

The way we think shapes the way we live, work, and relate to money. But here’s the catch: not everything we think is true. Many of our thought patterns are just well-worn processes we have been running for years.

In this episode of It’s Never About Money, I sit down with executive coach and neuroscience practitioner Hannah Conkey to explore how biology, environment, and mental models influence our financial decisions, wellbeing, and sense of satisfaction in life.

Key Themes We Cover

Patterns and Processes

Hannah reminds us that our thoughts are often just processes we have learned over time. X happens, and we do Y. This can create loops of behaviour we do not even realise we are repeating. The good news is that with awareness, we can rewire those processes to create better outcomes.

The Environment Effect

We are not robots. Noise, light, smells, and even food choices all influence our brain chemistry and, by extension, our decisions. Want to improve your money decisions? Do not just focus on spreadsheets. Look at your environment. A simple tweak like natural light, greenery, or a walk outside can create clarity.

Human First, Not Hustle First

Overwork and what Hannah calls “systemic ADHD” keep us rushing and distracted. Her philosophy is simple: human first, not hustle first. By slowing down, checking in with ourselves, and introducing micro-practices like intentional breathing, we improve not only our own state but also the state of those around us.

The One Thing Question

When you feel overwhelmed or stuck, do not try to fix everything at once. Ask yourself: What is the one change that would have the biggest positive flow-on effect across my life? That question becomes the key to momentum.

Hannah’s Story

Hannah’s journey from banking to executive coaching was shaped by both professional curiosity and personal hardship. A serious car accident in her twenties, heart surgery during COVID, and the loss of her mother gave her firsthand experience of resilience, gratitude, and the importance of intentional living.

These experiences fuelled her passion to help individuals and organisations create environments where people can thrive physically, mentally, and financially.

Practical Takeaways

• Do not believe everything you think. Recognise patterns and rewire them.
  
  
• Design your environment. Light, sound, air, and food all affect your choices.
  
  
• Slow down. Use circuit breakers like deep breathing and micro-pauses.
  
  
• Ask the one thing question. Focus on the single biggest change with the widest impact.

Closing Thought

Better decision making, financial or otherwise, does not come from more information alone. It comes from aligning your biology, your environment, and your thought patterns.

This episode is a reminder that you have the ability to redesign your processes and live with more clarity, energy, and purpose.

Listen now: Don’t Believe Everything You Think on It’s Never About Money.

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