PEAK PODCAST WITH BEN SANFORD - EPISODE 5 - JOSH SAUNDERSI lost $30,000 in a scam. In this raw, no-holds-barred episode, I sit down with Josh Saunders, one of Australia’s top heavyweight jiu-jitsu athletes, to talk about mindset, resilience, failure, and doing the hard things that truly matter.If you’ve ever felt stuck, burnt out, or like life has knocked you down — this one’s for you.What does it take to become Australia’s best heavyweight jiu-jitsu athlete in just four years? Josh is both brains and brawn. Learn how he’s built an unbeatable mindset through tough lessons, powerful habits, candid conversations about performance-enhancing substances, and more.Follow Josh's Journey: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkpajYT3Rh_1WGDwoAnvkLg https://www.youtube.com/@UCJ9PrL_6gn7uzA7EpURykfw https://www.instagram.com/hpucoaching/https://open.spotify.com/show/2dOofHs1HTocmFk3SUKbjQ?si=a5873840d7934421HPU Athletic: https://hpuathletic.com/passwordFollow Ben Sanford's Journey:https://www.bensanfordmedia.comhttps://www.instagram.com/bensanfordmedia/https://www.instagram.com/peakpodcastau/https://www.tiktok.com/@bensanfordmediahttps://www.tiktok.com/@peakpodcastauhttps://www.facebook.com/bensanfordmedia/Get 15% OFF Radix Protein and Freeze Dried Meals (lightweight yet dense nutrition, no preservatives.)USE LINK: https://radixnutrition.com.au/SANFORD15 or CODE: SANFORD15%Check Out My Equipment Recommendations:https://amzn.to/4akGasc00:00 - $30k Scam & MMA Street Fight Story02:15 - What would you do if money wasn't a factor?04:10 - How Ben got scammed & lost everything08:00 - Starting a business at 20 and losing it fast10:00 - I would've self-destructed with too much money12:00 - Alan Watts, determinism & chasing meaning15:00 - Why failure is essential (Post Malone story)18:30 - YouTube, embarrassment, and taking a swing22:00 - Starting a podcast, and confidence from doing26:00 - Josh on rugby league, dreams & broken windows29:00 - Living the dream... and letting it go31:30 - Rediscovering purpose through jiu-jitsu34:00 - What separates great coaches from average ones38:30 - Mentorship & work ethic stories42:00 - What drives Josh's mindset (and others who inspire him)46:00 - The day that changed everything50:00 - Josh’s biggest fears and how he faced them53:00 - Jiu-jitsu explained for total beginners56:30 - Why jiu-jitsu gives calm, confidence & resilience01:01:00 - Training through injury, and dealing with ego01:05:00 - Starting from nothing and proving yourself01:10:00 - Josh’s real mission: changing lives, not chasing status01:14:00 - From rugby glory to gym wisdom01:18:00 - How success can come from unexpected places01:21:00 - Struggling with failure, addiction & distraction01:26:00 - The influencers who shaped Josh’s journey01:30:00 - The viral speech that changed everything01:34:00 - Performance-enhancing drugs & sports pressure01:38:00 - Deep dive: steroids, peptides & medical risks01:44:00 - Placebo, pain, and why shortcuts aren’t worth it01:49:00 - Should you take PEDs? The balanced truth01:54:00 - Final take: purpose, risk, and making your move02:00:00 - Josh’s advice for anyone who’s stuck02:05:00 - How mindset changes everything02:10:00 - Wrap up & how to support the podcast
PEAK PODCAST WITH BEN SANFORD - EPISODE 4 - BRUCE CAMERONFires, Floods, Tsunamis, Earthquakes, Cyclones, you name it, he's seen it. We explore the Fire & Rescue career of Bruce Cameron's 42 years working for FRNSW. Follow Ben Sanford's Journey:https://www.bensanfordmedia.comhttps://www.instagram.com/bensanfordmedia/https://www.instagram.com/peakpodcastau/https://www.tiktok.com/@bensanfordmediahttps://www.tiktok.com/@peakpodcastauhttps://www.facebook.com/bensanfordmedia/Get 15% OFF Radix Protein and Freeze Dried Meals (lightweight yet dense nutrition, no preservatives.)USE LINK: https://radixnutrition.com.au/SANFORD15 or CODE: SANFORD15%Check Out My Equipment Recommendations:https://amzn.to/4akGasc
PEAK PODCAST WITH BEN SANFORD - EPISODE 3 - PAUL THOMSON
Paul’s story is remarkable, aside from just being generally impressive academically and his rock climbing achievements, he has done all this while managing a degenerative eye condition and a couple of brutal accidents of late. Thank you for joining us—this is an inspiring episode you won’t want to miss!Paul's Book The Shadow Chasers: https://amzn.to/42oZtyahttps://youtube.com/@paulthomson9986https://www.instagram.com/frothy.thomson/Follow Ben Sanford's Journey:https://www.bensanfordmedia.comhttps://www.instagram.com/bensanfordmedia/https://www.instagram.com/peakpodcastau/https://www.tiktok.com/@bensanfordmediahttps://www.tiktok.com/@peakpodcastauhttps://www.facebook.com/bensanfordmedia/Get 15% OFF Radix Protein and Freeze Dried Meals (lightweight yet dense nutrition, no preservatives.)USE LINK: https://radixnutrition.com.au/SANFORD15 or CODE: SANFORD15%Check Out My Equipment Recommendations:https://amzn.to/4akGasc
PEAK PODCAST WITH BEN SANFORD - EPISODE 2 - SAM VENN
An insight into the life of Surf Photographer Sam Venn.
Follow Sam Venn's Journey: https://www.instagram.com/samvennphotography/
https://www.instagram.com/studioahwa/
https://www.studioahwa.com.au/
Follow Ben Sanford's Journey:
https://www.bensanfordmedia.com
https://www.instagram.com/bensanfordmedia/
https://www.instagram.com/peakpodcastau/
https://www.tiktok.com/@bensanfordmedia
https://www.facebook.com/bensanfordmedia/ @bensanfordmedia
Get 15% OFF Radix Protein and Freeze Dried Meals (lightweight yet dense nutrition, no preservatives.)
USE LINK: https://radixnutrition.com.au/SANFORD15 or CODE: SANFORD15%
Check Out My Equipment Recommendations:https://amzn.to/4akGasc
00:00 Intro – Near blackouts & wipeouts
00:23 Meet Sam Venn – Surf photographer & creative founder
03:42 Getting started in photography & going full-time
09:17 Mentorship & one email that changed everything
13:05 Wildest surf moments & photography dangers
22:07 Climbing, skiing, and adventure shoot struggles
30:55 Favorite coastlines & close calls in a kayak
34:22 Support network & family behind the lens
37:08 Shooting surf, cars, and building a 4WD life
47:10 Long-term goals, AI tools, and creative evolution
Glen Fisher’s life reads like fiction—but it’s all real. In this powerful episode of the Peak Podcast, Glen opens up about surviving childhood abuse, homelessness, heroin addiction, and over a dozen overdoses.
From being dismissed as a “walking dead” teenager to founding The Leg Up charity and writing a book, Glen’s story is one of brutal truth, deep pain, and incredible resilience.
This is an unfiltered conversation about trauma, recovery, faith, and the power of giving back.
Support Glen here:
Leg Up Website:
Book: https://amzn.to/43yjaUX
TikTok: / tiger4life66
Instagram: / tiger4life66
Youtube: @Tiger4life666
Facebook: / the-legup-project-61553560995744
DONATE:THE LEGUP PROJECT AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
Glen Fisher
P.O. Box. 125. Blaxland NSW. 2774
BSB 112879
Account 205 273 934
Soon to receive charity status and all donations are tax refundable, receipts will be sent as soon as possible.
Follow Ben Sanford's Journey:
https://www.bensanfordmedia.com
00:00 Glen’s early life – trauma, violence, and survival
01:00 Childhood abuse, neglect, and life on the streets
05:00 Turning to drugs and sleeping in clothing bins
10:00 Addiction, prison, and a moment that changed everything
20:00 Confronting his abusers and deciding to write a book
30:00 Getting off heroin & rebuilding from rock bottom
35:00 Homelessness: what people don’t see
45:00 Reconnecting with faith & starting The Leg Up charity
60:00 How to actually help someone on the streets
70:00 Final reflections, values, and choosing a better path
In this premiere episode of the Peak Podcast, host Ben Sanford sits down with Adam Darragh, an IFMGA certified mountain guide, outdoor educator, and Antarctic field trainer with decades of experience in high-risk, high-reward environments. In this deep and wide-ranging conversation, Adam shares stories of a terrifying near-death avalanche in Pakistan to a solo first ascent of Cholatse a 6,400m Himalayan peak, Adam shares raw and gripping stories of survival, mentorship, and the search for meaning through risk. This conversation blends epic adventure with deep reflection on the personal cost and lasting reward of a life spent chasing purpose in wild places.
Follow Ben Sanford's Journey:https://www.bensanfordmedia.comhttps://www.instagram.com/bensanfordmedia/https://www.instagram.com/peakpodcastau/https://www.tiktok.com/@peakpodcastauhttps://www.facebook.com/bensanfordmedia/Get 15% OFF Radix Protein and Freeze Dried Meals (lightweight yet dense nutrition, no preservatives.)USE LINK: https://radixnutrition.com.au/SANFORD15 or CODE: SANFORD15%Check Out My Equipment Recommendations:https://amzn.to/4akGasc
00:00 Avalanche near-death experience & Antarctic storm
05:00 Mentoring young climbers & early teaching stories
10:00 Surviving a 2000m cliff avalanche & 9/11 reflections
20:00 Decision-making, risk, and learning from close calls
30:00 Guiding in Antarctica & the role of science in exploration
40:00 Spiritual beauty of the mountains & climbing with purpose
50:00 Soloing Cholatse & the mindset of high-risk ascents
60:00 The IFMGA path – sacrifices, growth, and grit
75:00 Climate change, Indigenous wisdom & legacy in guiding
90:00 Final thoughts on meaning, gratitude, and moving forward