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Diving Deep With Sam Fricker
Damien Thomlinson || Former Australian Commando, Motivational Speaker and Author
In this episode of Diving Deep, Sam Fricker sits down with Damien Thomlinson, a former Australian Commando whose life took a dramatic turn in April 2009 during a night patrol in Southern Afghanistan. After his unit drove over an improvised explosive device, Damien sustained severe injuries leading to the amputation of both his legs. Demonstrating remarkable resilience, he not only learned to walk again with prosthetic limbs but also pursued a career as a motivational speaker, inspiring audiences with his story of overcoming adversity.
Damien's journey didn't stop there; he authored the best-selling autobiography Without Warning, participated in the TARGA Tasmania classic car rally, walked the demanding Kokoda Track, and competed in the 2014 and 2016 Invictus Games. Transitioning into acting, he was cast in the 2016 film Hacksaw Ridge, which received multiple Academy Award nominations. In 2019, Damien shifted his focus to golf, aiming to represent Australia on the international circuit. He won his first professional tournament in 2020, the Victorian All Inclusive Championship, and is now ranked among the top three multi-amputee golfers globally. Join us as we delve into Damien's extraordinary journey, exploring his unwavering determination and the lessons he's learned along the way. This is an episode you won't want to miss!
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John Polson || Tropfest Founder, Actor and Director
43:58|Tropfest returns this Sunday in Centennial Park and will be livestreamed globally on YouTube. In this special episode of Diving Deep, I sit down with Tropfest founder John Polson to unpack how hebuilt the worldâs largest short film festival from scratch and turned it into a cultural movement. Forover 30 years, Tropfest has been a launchpad for emerging filmmakers and actors long before theybecame household names. John shares what he looks for in raw talent, how he recognisesmomentum before itâs obvious, and why backing creators early matters more than ever. We talkcreativity, risk, judging art, spotting future stars, and what it takes to build something that lasts.Tropfest is back this Sunday. Watch it live on YouTube.
Mat Steinwede || From Homeless Drug Addict To The #1 Real Estate Agent
58:10|On Diving Deep today I sit down with Mat Steinwede, one of Australiaâs most successful real estate agents and thinkers on performance and life transformation.Mat openly shares his early years of addiction, homelessness and brushes with the law. He talks about hitting rock bottom, the moment he chose to turn his life around, and the relentless work ethic that saw him walk the streets door-knocking every day to build his first real estate career. We dig into how he rebuilt his life, became the number one agent in the McGrath network and a leader on the Central Coast with more than two decades in the business, and how he applies the same discipline that helped him escape addiction to his sales methods and mindset work. Mat also shares insights on resilience and how he stays disciplined in business and life, and what success really looks like when youâve clawed your way back from nothing. A raw, honest discussion about accountability, transformation, performance systems and what it means to create a life worth living.
Charlie Viola || Building Real Wealth
58:12|In this episode of Diving Deep, I sit down with Charlie Viola, Executive Chair and Founding Partner of Viola Private Wealth.Charlie has spent more than two decades at the top end of wealth management, advising high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutions. He has personally managed billions of dollars in assets and played a key role in scaling one of Australiaâs leading private wealth businesses from the ground up.We go deep into:What it actually takes to manage large amounts of money responsiblyLong-term thinking, discipline, and risk in investingFinancial literacy and why education matters more than shortcutsBuilding trust with clients at the highest levelLeadership lessons from business, sport, and lifeCharlieâs passion for motorsport and racing cars, and how that mindset overlaps with investingThis conversation is about far more than money. It is about decision-making under pressure, consistency over decades, and how high performers think across completely different worlds.If you are interested in wealth, business, performance, or learning from someone who has operated at the very top of their field for years, this episode is for you.
Lisa P. Jackson || Vice President of Environment, Policy & Social Initiatives at Apple
37:09|Today on Diving Deep I sit down with Lisa P. Jackson, Appleâs Vice President of Environment, Policy & Social Initiatives and the former head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under President Obama.We dive into Appleâs biggest sustainability moves: cutting plastics, reducing carbon emissions, transforming their global supply chain, and the companyâs push to make every device carbon-neutral by 2030. Lisa explains how Apple is scaling renewable energy, why sustainability is driving business growth, and what it really takes to shift a company of Appleâs size.She also reflects on leading the EPA, working with President Obama, and the leadership lessons sheâs carried into Apple.If you care about the future of tech, climate innovation, and how the worldâs biggest companies are changing, this is a powerful conversation.
Rob Williamson || Revolutionising the Future of Tech with Australian Minerals
55:14|On this episode of Diving Deep with Sam Fricker, Iâm joined by Rob Williamson, Managing Director (and former COO) of Alpha HPA, an Australian company pushing the frontier in ultra-high-purity alumina production.We dive deep into how Robâs team is powering the next wave of innovation supercomputers, microchips, electric vehicle batteries, and more by creating a material that helps those systems run cooler, safer, and more efficiently.I absolutely loved this conversation. Itâs inspiring to see game changing tech being developed right here in Australia home talent stepping up, solving real-world challenges, and helping push the world forward through better, more sustainable materials.
kal Glanznig || Ocean Advocate , Founder and Counsellor
01:03:04|On this episode of Diving Deep with Sam Fricker, Iâm joined by my good mate Kal Glanznig. An ocean advocate, youth leader, and one of the youngest councillors in Australia.Kalâs been leading change since high school, from putting solar panels on his campus to creating the doco Rising Up and starting projects like Plastic Free Cronulla and Blue Minds. Heâs proof that you donât need to wait for permission to make a difference.We dive into what it really takes to step up, create change, and stay driven when the world feels too big to fix. Itâs an awesome chat about purpose, passion, and just getting things done.
Hugo Toovey || Two time cancer survivor, Major in the Australian Army, Founder of 25 STAY ALIVE
01:14:25|In this episode, I sit down with Hugo Toovey, Major in the Australian Army, two-time cancer survivor, and founder of 25 STAY ALIVE.In his 20s, Hugo faced and survived two different cancers. Instead of letting it define him, he turned it into a mission: creating 25 STAY ALIVE, a charity focused on prevention, early detection, and breaking the stigma around physical and mental health.We talk about: ⢠Surviving cancer twice and what it taught him ⢠Lessons in resilience from the Army ⢠Why men need to take health seriously ⢠How 25 STAY ALIVE is saving livesAn inspiring and powerful conversation you wonât forget.
Vlad Rudenko || Former Australian Diver Reflects On His Career
01:08:44|Today on Diving Dee With Sam Fricker Vlad joins me to reflect on his diving career, the highs, the lows, and some of his best memories as an Australia athlete. From incredible moments in the sport to the challenges that tested him, we cover it all.A raw and honest chat about chasing excellence, overcoming setbacks, and what it really means to be an athlete.
Guy Sebastian || Australiaâs Most Successful Male Solo Artist
01:00:22|Experience The Raw Side of a Polished Star. On this episode of Diving Deep with Sam Fricker, Aussie music icon Guy Sebastian sits down with Olympic athlete and content creator Sam Fricker for a conversation that goes beyond the spotlight.We dive into Guyâs brand new album â100 Times Around the Sunâ, the story behind his first global smash hit âBattle Scarsâ (which Sam was obsessed with growing up), and open up about the personal side of his journey fame, pressure, and keeping a clear head through it all.Youâve seen the polished Guy on TV and on stage. This is something different. A raw, honest, and real chat you wonât see anywhere else.