What happens when you stop rehearsing who you think you should be and start showing up as who you are?
In this episode, I sit down with Bronte Walker, a fellow Gestalt therapy student, musician, facilitator and all-round legend to explore what it really takes to find your voice and speak up for who you are - even when it feels risky.
Bronte shares his story of coming out, transitioning and learning to trust himself while navigating work, identity and belonging in both New York and Australia.
This is a conversation for anyone who’s:
tired of overthinking and craving self-trust
learning to speak up without burning bridges
caught between striving and contentment
seeking real connection instead of surface-level talk
Themes: uncertainty, identity, courage, Gestalt therapy, self-acceptance, men’s work, presence, self-expression
If you’ve ever felt stuck between who you’ve been and who you’re becoming - this one’s for you.
Connect with Rick: https://www.rickwatson.com.au/
Rick's Insta: https://www.instagram.com/rickwatson_/
In this solo episode, Rick introduces a new format — a space to be curious about a single theme and reflect on how it shows up in your own life.
This week, he explores the tension between being content with what is and still wanting to grow. How do we stay grounded in enoughness while staying open to possibility?
And what role does this play is keeping burnout at bay?
Drawing from his work in men’s circles, personal experience and Gestalt study, Rick unpacks the dance between contentment and drive — where one offers stillness and the other fuels movement.
It’s an honest, grounded reflection on learning to hold both, and on creating a life you don’t need to escape from.
Heres' a list of the reflection questions from the episode:
Contentment
Drive
The Tension Between
Have fun playing with those questions and leave a comment and let me know how you found this new episode format...
Work with Rick: https://www.rickwatson.copm.au/coaching
TAKE THE REPAETING PATTERN QUIZ: https://www.rickwatson.con.au/quiz
When life throws a curveball, it’s easy to talk about it after the fact — once the dust settles and the lessons land. But this conversation happens right in the middle of it.
My mate John Williams is in week five of cancer treatment and he sat down with me to share what it’s really like to live through something hard.
We talk about control, surrender, the gap between expectation and reality and how he is finding his way through such a massive experience that was not on his bingo card for this year.
It’s not a story about cancer— it’s a story about being human in the middle of life's challenges.
Connect with Rick: https://www.rickwatson.com.au
TAKE THE REPEATING PATTERN QUIZ: https://www.rickwatson.com.au/quiz
For years Pete Tansley was chasing it — the business, the hustle, the status, the approval. Underneath it all? A chip on his shoulder, the need to make his dad proud and a nice-guy mask that left him exhausted.
In this conversation we unpack the messy middle: rushing deals to look successful, bottoming out financially and emotionally, the wake-up calls that came through therapy, divorce and reconnecting with his dad.
Pete shares what it took to finally move from proving and pleasing others to actually being himself — as a dad, a coach, and a human learning to value presence over performance.
If you’ve ever felt stuck in the grind of needing to “look like you’ve got it together,” this one will hit home.
Connect with Rick: https://www.rickwatson.com.au
Connect with Pete: https://www.instagram.com/petetansley
TAKE THE REPEATING PATTERN QUIZ: htyps://www.rickwatson.com.au/quiz
What if your inner critic wasn’t the enemy… but the spark you needed to grow?
In this episode, Melanie Briony is back on the couch with me for round two. We talk about the messy dance between self-doubt and self-kindness, why mistakes aren’t really “wrong" and how breathwork and nervous system awareness can shift the way we show up in everyday life.
It’s equal parts raw, practical and even a bit funny (yes, donuts do make a cameo). If you’ve ever felt stuck in perfectionism, tired of people-pleasing or just sick of kicking yourself in the shins — this one’s for you.
Connect with Rick: https://www.rickwatson.com.au/
TAKE THE REPEATING PATTERN QUIZ: https://www.rickwatson.com.au/quiz/
Connect with Mel: https://www.melaniebriony.com.au/
Mel's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melaniebriony/
Mel's You Tube: https://www.youtube.com@melaniebriony/
Barney’s story is one a lot of men will recognise — pushing through pain, numbing with alcohol and holding it all together on the outside while quietly falling apart inside.
In this conversation, he shares the journey from living in a freeze state and repeating the harsh patterns of his past, to finding breathwork, forgiveness and a new way of showing up as a dad, husband and human.
We cover the messy middle of change — back injuries, depression, over-planning, shame and self-sabotage — alongside the unexpected gifts of joy, self-acceptance and the courage to do it differently.
If you’ve ever been sceptical of breathwork or put off by the “woo” around it, Barney brings it back down to earth with humour, honesty and a refreshing no-bullshit approach.
Connect with Barney: https://www.instagram.com/breathe.into.life/
Connect with Rick: https://www.rickwatson.com.au/
TAKE THE REPEATING PATTERN QUIZ: https://www.rickwatson.com.au/quiz
Our life has been a bit of a shit-show over the past 4-6 weeks, but it feels like we're coming out the other side. In this episode we share our stories of pushing too hard and then realising that (in different ways) we are actually way out of alignment.
Fear, scarcity and expectation all played weird roles in this one but in this very human episode, we share what it looks like to come back to what really matters.
If you have had a few "how did I get here?" moments lately, then this conversation is for you.
We hope you enjoy it.
Connect with Rick: https://www.rickwatson.com.au/
Connect with Jo: https://groundedatthemill.com/
TAKE THE REPEATING PATTERN QUIZ: https://www.rickwatson.com.au/quiz
In this heartfelt conversation, Rick sits down with Gestalt therapist-in-training Kellie Glab to explore what it really means to live a life outside the expected script.
From choosing not to have children to navigating loneliness, self-compassion, and the deep need to belong, Kellie shares vulnerably about her personal journey of embracing difference.
Together, they unpack how Gestalt therapy has supported her growth and what it looks like to truly support yourself — even when the world doesn’t always understand.
🗝️ Key Talking Points
The grief and freedom of choosing not to have children
What it’s like to feel misunderstood in your difference
How Gestalt therapy has transformed Kellie’s relationship to herself
The practice of self-compassion and supporting your nervous system
Reclaiming identity outside of societal roles and expectations
Loneliness, belonging and the cost of not conforming
Learning to sit with discomfort and let go of people-pleasing
Connect with Rick https://www.rickwatson.com.au/
TAKE THE REPEATING PATTERN QUIZ https://www.rickwatson.com.au/quiz
Clancy Simkins joins me for a raw, hilarious and unexpectedly moving conversation about all the messy parts of life — burnout, cancer, parenting, control and the endless dance between falling apart and holding it together.
We talk about permission to stop, black humour as a survival skill and the lifelong challenge of accepting ourselves (especially when our default is to fix, rescue or over-function).
This episode is brutally honest, surprisingly funny and full of the kind of real talk that reminds you you’re not the only one just trying to keep it together.
Connect with Rick: https://www.rickwatson.com.au/
TAKE THE REPEATING PATTERN QUIZ: https://www.rickwatson.com.au/quiz
In this episode, therapist and men’s group facilitator Linzey Biester joins me to talk about what it really means to show up — for ourselves and our relationships.
We unpack the old patterns men often carry (like ghosting, people-pleasing and self-blame) and explore how slowing down, building awareness and learning to feel can change everything.
We cover the power of men’s work, therapy without the crowbar and why real growth usually happens in small, supported steps. Linzey also shares how Hakomi therapy and co-regulation have shaped his practice and we talk about the difference between fixing and feeling, effort and honesty, and why “being a mess” might just be the doorway back to yourself.
Connect with Linzey: https://www.instagram.com/linzeyb/
Connect with Rick: https://www.rickwatson.com.au/
TAKE THE REPEATING PATTERN QUIZ: https://www.rickwatson.com.au/quiz/
In this conversation, I reconnect with Toni Mackay—an old friend from 30 years ago who’s now navigating life with stage four bowel cancer.
Toni shares what it’s like to live in 12-week cycles between scans, how her diagnosis has shifted her priorities, and why she still chooses joy, connection, and the occasional cheeky glass of champagne.
We talk about control, independence, the challenge of asking for help and what it means to carry heavy things while still making space for love and laughter.
This is a story about resilience without the clichés and the quiet courage it takes to keep showing up—again and again.
Connect with Toni: https://www.facebook.com/tonidiluca
Connect with Rick: https://www.rickwatson.com.au
What if the way you’ve been holding it all together is the very thing keeping you stuck?
In this episode, I sit down with Scott Ellis to talk about what happens when we stop running on autopilot and start facing the things we’ve been avoiding — grief, uncertainty and the deeper questions of who we really are.
Scott shares his raw and honest journey through loss, identity shift and emotional reconnection after the passing of his wife. We talk about what it means to move from control to connection — not just with others, but also with ourselves.
Expect an open conversation about:
Grief and the unexpected beauty that can come with it
The emotional cost of control and overachievement
Letting go of busyness as a measure of self-worth
What rest, presence and fatherhood look like in real life
The courage it takes to step into the unknown without a plan
If you’re navigating change, burnout or the long tail of grief, this one might land close to home.
Connect with Rick: https://www.rickwatson.com.au
In this episode, I sit down with Darci Charlie Dee – yoga teacher, retreat facilitator and fellow Gestalt therapy student – for a raw and reflective chat about the messiness of being human.
We talk about the quiet pressure to appear steady, the ways we mask our chaos with productivity or smiles and what it takes to actually let ourselves be seen – mid-process, not just once we’ve pulled it all together.
There’s talk of polarity, unearned guilt, structured group work and the liberation that can come from sitting in the shit long enough to know you’re still okay.
Who Should Listen
This one’s for anyone who’s tired of keeping it all together. If you’re someone who’s driven, high-functioning or the “steady one” in your crew—but secretly long to be met in your mess—this episode is a homecoming.
Also great for yoga teachers, therapists-in-training, anyone in a growth season, or people curious about Gestalt therapy and the beauty of being held in community.
Connect with Darci: https://www.instagram.com/darcicharlidee/
Connect with Rick: https://www.rickwatson.com.au
In this raw and unfiltered solo episode, I dive deep into the lived experience of being stuck—what it looks like across different parts of life (work, relationships, health, creativity), how it messes with your mind and what it might actually be trying to offer you.
I unpack the sneaky benefits of stuckness, the emotional undercurrents that come with it (hello shame, fear and guilt) and the quiet cost of staying still too long.
I also introduce a practical change framework I use with clients—and myself—to gently create momentum without burning out:
Awareness. Acceptance. Support. Choice for Change.
This one’s honest, imperfect, and a little sweary—just like the process of getting unstuck.
Joining the waiting list for the Unstuck audio series: https://www.rickwatson.com.au/getunstuck
In this episode of Humaning, I sit down with my old friend Paul Holland to talk about what it really means to live an adventurous life — not just the kind with planes and race cars (though he’s got those too), but the inner kind.
The kind where you keep showing up, even when the path isn’t clear.
Paul shares his recent move to a dream home on an acre in Canungra — a big milestone after years of renting and relocating. It’s a grounding chapter in a life that’s seen plenty of change and it sets the tone for a bigger conversation about freedom, identity and following what lights you up.
We dig into the real stuff: navigating professional uncertainty, becoming your own boss after a business split, and finding meaning in work that aligns with your values. Paul opens up about long-distance fatherhood, emotional growth and learning to regulate anger and stress in healthier ways.
Now in his 50s, Paul’s still picking up new passions — from crypto coaching to being in his first band. His story’s a reminder that adventure isn’t about age, it’s about attitude — and that the best chapters often begin when we give ourselves full permission to live.
Connect with Paul: https://www.meetpaul.co
Connect with Rick: https://www.rickwatson.com.au
In this follow-up episode with Katia Erokhina we revisit a conversation that never made it to air (thanks, tech gremlins). Ironically — or maybe perfectly — that first recording was all about imperfection, letting go of control and embracing the messiness of being human. So we leaned into the redo and what emerged was deeper, more spacious and somehow even more alive.
Katia shares her journey from Moscow to gestalt therapist, from existential 14-year-old to someone creating safe, relational spaces for others to meet themselves — as they are. We talk about unearned rest, the pressure to be “better,” the stories that shape our worthiness, and what it really means to give ourselves permission to just be.
There’s plenty in here on the messy art of therapy (on both sides of the room), the gift of long-term support and the radical idea that we don't always need to know — we can let it unfold.
Whether you’re a therapist, a client, or just a human trying to figure it out — this one’s for you.
Connect with Katia: https://www.instagram.com/relational_home/
Explore working with Rick: https://www.rickwatson.com.au/coaching
In this first Tell Me More episode, Rick and Jo dive into the well-intentioned mess of FRACing—that’s Fixing, Rescuing, Advice-giving, and Caretaking.
It’s the stuff we all do when we really care about someone… and yet, it often gets in the way of true connection. We explore the emotional drivers behind each one, share some honest personal examples, and reflect on what it takes to shift from helping to actually being with the people we love.
This one’s honest, a little exposing, and full of those “oh yep, I do that” moments.
Let us know what lands in the comments —and which FRAC pattern shows up most in your life.
Connect with Rick : https://www.rickwatson.com.au
Connect with Jo: https://www.instagram.com/jodobson_workshops/
Chris Slater normally prefers to stay out of the limelight, but behind his private persona is a compelling story .
In this episode, Chris and I talk about the internal chaos that was bubbling away as he tried to build his chiro practise. The combination of control, anger and co-dependency was created some real-life "challenges" and he then realised he was turning to alcohol to numb the knock-on feelings.
But Chris's story is one of serious self-responsibility.
Over the past ten years he has sought the support and guidance of a range of different practitioners, to now have him moving from a place of anger and control to more acceptance and imperfection.
His evolution is well worth the listen.
Leave a comment and share what you got from his story...
Connect with Rick: https://www.rickwatson.com.au
Emily Rockit is one hell of a storyteller.
In this episode, she shares her stories about navigating well-being, grappling with loss and the rollercoaster that is the music industry.
Along the way, we unpack the power of connection, the magic of storytelling and that all-too-familiar wrestling match with imposter syndrome.
Em also opens up about writing a book designed to empower indie artists, sharing hard-earned lessons from her own journey.
If you need some inspiration to follow your creative path, this one is for you...
Emily on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyrockit/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emilyrockitmusic
Connect with Rick: https://www.rickwatson.com.au
TOUCH THE STARS
Lyrics by Emily Rockit
I used to lie in my backyard
And look up at the inky sky
Reached out to touch the stars
And wondered about this life
A thorny maze of chases I cannot describe
Peppered with that sweet oasis
Heaven's endless night
It could have been no other way
I loved those altered states
And from that haze I found my perfect place
A spiral weaving
Journey to the sun
An all-star pantomime of faces
Melting into one
Now when I look back I lick my sticky hands
Cause I packed no regrets Into my travelling bag
Content warning: this episode briefly touches on baby loss. If this topic is sensitive or triggering for you, please take care while listening or skip this episode completely.
Nicole Dean is one inspiring human.
As much for her honesty and courage as for her actions and achievements.
In this conversation, we chat about burnout, identity shifts and what it took to rebuild after hitting rock bottom. We talk about how movement played a huge role in her transformation, the struggle to be kinder to herself and how nature became a big part of her healing.
Nic also opens up about the life-changing grief of losing her unborn baby and what it looked like to rediscover joy again.
This is a raw, honest convo about growth, resilience and the beauty of getting to know yourself.
Connect with Nicole on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19scvFHRwL/
Connect with Nicole on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onpoint_m_f_n/
Connect with Rick: https://www.rickwatson.com.au
Ricks Insta: https://www.instagram.com/rickwatson_/
