Head Game

This week, we're taking a look back at the stars who live their life in the spotlight, but were vulnerable enough to give us a peek behind the curtain at the challenges who have made them who they are. Aussie music icon Pete Murray, NRL legend turned podcaster Matty Johns, and rapper 360 all opened up about the grit and pain behind their success, and how they dug deep to keep going.
LINKS
Listen to the full interview with Pete Murray here
Listen to the full interview with Matty Johns here
Listen to the full interview with 360 here
Follow Ant on Instagram, X, and Facebook
Learn more about Ant on his website antmiddleton.com
Follow Nova Podcasts on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind the scenes content – @novapodcastsofficial.
CREDITS
Host: Ant Middleton
Editor: Adrian Walton
Executive Producer: Damien Haffenden
Managing Producer: Ricardo Bardon
Nova Entertainment acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we recorded this podcast, the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. We pay our respect to Elders past and present.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The challenges in Paul Hockey's life started just weeks after he was born. His mother discovered a lump on his arm, which turned out to be cancer. The only option was to amputate little Paul's arm at the shoulder to save his life. Never one to play the victim, Paul would ditch his prosthetic arm at school, took up martial arts and even rode a motorcycle. But his biggest challenge came when he decided to climb Mount Everest. And in 2005, he became the first person with a disability to climb Mount Everest from the north side.
In this episode, Paul opens up about growing up being different, how he challenged societal norms with one arm, and what fuelled his passion to climb one of the most notorious summits.
LINKS
More on Paul here
Follow Ant on Instagram, X, and Facebook
Learn more about Ant on his website antmiddleton.com
Follow Nova Podcasts on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind the scenes content – @novapodcastsofficial.
CREDITS
Host: Ant Middleton
Editor: Adrian Walton
Executive Producer: Damien Haffenden
Managing Producer: Ricardo Bardon
Nova Entertainment acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we recorded this podcast, the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. We pay our respect to Elders past and present.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicholas Gibbons was still a teenager when was deployed to Afghanistan as a Royal Marine. One night while on patrol, an IED blast claimed the lower half of his right leg. After enduring five operations to repair the remainder of his limb and rehabilitation, Nick was fitted with a prosthetic leg and put his uniform back on, returning to training just three months later. He was deployed as an amputee to a non-combat zone, even competing in the Warrior Games. But after he was eventually medically discharged from the military, Nick lost drive and direction, finding himself in prison.
In this conversation, Nick details the warning signs he ignored that led him to spiral after leaving the Marines, how he has now turned his life around, and the process of finding a renewed purpose in life.
LINKS
More on the 'Once, We Were Warriors' documentary
Follow Ant on Instagram, X, and Facebook
Learn more about Ant on his website antmiddleton.com
Follow Nova Podcasts on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind the scenes content – @novapodcastsofficial.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michelle Lee was living an ordinary 9-5 life, with a stable corporate job in the banking sector. But looking for more out of life, she took to the water. Inspired by the book 'Rowing the Atlantic‘ by Roz Savage, she started an intensive training regiment. Her determination say her eventually become the first Australian female to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean, then the first woman in the world to row the Pacific Ocean solo and unassisted.
In this episode, Michelle opens up to Ant about her mindset shift to take on her many adventures, what it takes to spend months on end alone on the open water, and what's next for her.
LINKS
Follow Michelle on Instagram
Visit Michelle's website
Follow Ant on Instagram, X, and Facebook
Learn more about Ant on his website antmiddleton.com
Follow Nova Podcasts on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind the scenes content – @novapodcastsofficial.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luke Richmond has lived many lives: outback kid, infantry soldier, addict, inmate, endurance adventurer, author, and world-record holder. In this episode, Luke unpacks the moments that shaped his life, from growing up in remote Australia enduing relentless bullying, to joining the army at 17, and spiralling into an addiction that left him locked up in a foreign jail. And how hitting rock bottom became his turning point.
Luke shares with Ant how the brutal discipline of Muay Thai training helped helped him rebuild his identity and fuel a passion for extreme adventure. From climbing the some of the highest peaks in violent snowstorms to record-breaking ocean crossings, Luke reveals what endurance has taught him about fear, failure, and staying alive. Luke also explains the philosophy behind his book Five Years to Live, and why adventure isn’t about ego, it's about staying human.
LINKS
Follow Luke on Instagram
Grab Luke's books including 'Five Years To Live' here
Follow Ant on Instagram, X, and Facebook
Learn more about Ant on his website antmiddleton.com
Follow Nova Podcasts on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind the scenes content – @novapodcastsofficial.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.