You're A Good Kid

Today's guest has graced the absolute pinnacle of the Australian modeling and media landscape; author, podcaster, and former model Ali Brahe-Daddo. As the definitive cover girl for Dolly, Cleo, and Cosmopolitan, Ali built a public persona in the late 80s and 90s that looked to the world like the ultimate health, happiness, and triumph.
But what happens when you strip away the flawless public image? In this deeply moving interview, Ali connects with her youth in a profoundly raw and emotional way. She opens up about a pivotal reality that had a major impact on her development: the intense isolation she experienced as a young girl, spending much of her childhood feeling unseen despite her massive public visibility.
Ali shares how these early dynamics reshaped her internal messaging, her desire to downplay herself and please others back to her childhood search for safety and structure. We also dive into how Ali has come full circle for her audience. The very same generation of women who looked up to her as a teen icon on their favorite magazine covers now look to her for guidance in midlife. Through her hit book Queen Menopause: Finding Your Majesty in the Mayhem, Ali has broken down walls and destigmatized the aging process, helping many women step out of the shadows of the "invisible years" and reclaim their power.

In their post-interview debrief, James and Nick unpack the fascinating psychology behind Ali's childhood blueprint:
• The Blueprint of People-Pleasing: How early childhood isolation and unmet needs can subconsciously create rigid "schemas"—internalized rules that convince us we must morph to please others just to secure safety, structure, and avoid abandonment.
• The Cover-Girl Paradox: Exploring the disconnect between external validation and internal belief, and why being an "invisible icon" on the front of Dolly or Cleo proves that global adoration can never replace the foundational, focused attention a child needs from those closest to them.
• From Teen Icon to Midlife Guide: How confronting the vulnerabilities of her past allowed Ali to become the ultimate companion for women navigating menopause—shifting the narrative from societal invisibility to internal majesty.
This is a rare, captivating look at a familiar face, proving that no matter how flawless the image we build as adults, we are all still carrying the boys and girls we used to be.

📺 WE ARE ON YOUTUBE! Don't just listen—watch the full video version of this episode and subscribe to our channel so you never miss a moment: https://www.youtube.com/@YoureAGoodKidPodcast
📸 FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: For exclusive episode clips, behind-the-scenes insights, and show updates, follow us at @youragoodkidpodcast.
⭐️ LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re enjoying the show and want to support us, please take a quick moment to drop us a review or a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other "good kids" find our community!

Credits: Produced and Hosted by Dr James van Cuylenburg & Nick van Cuylenburg.
Audio production by White Owl Sound.
Season 2 is brought to you by Engage 1on1 Psychology

If you believe in what we are doing and would like to support us to make more, then we will gratefully accept any donations here: https://youreagoodkid.com.au/support

Today, we had the opportunity to speak to one of the most beloved media personalities in Australia. Our guest this week is advertising titan, broadcaster, and media executive Russel Howcroft. Widely known as the brilliant, sharp-witted panelist on ABC’s smash-hit show Gruen, and the co-host of Melbourne’s top-rated 3AW Breakfast radio program, Russel has spent decades at the absolute pinnacle of the Australian marketing world. He is the epitome of the refined, successful marketing man—a brand built on confidence, strategy, and triumph.
But what happens when you strip away the polished corporate image?
In this deeply moving interview, Russell connects with his youth in a way he rarely does publicly, in a revealing and emotional way. He opens up about a pivotal moment that had a profound impact on his development: the separation of his parents when he was a boy. Russell shares how this early disruption reshaped his worldview, and he traces the ultimate origins of his relentless drive to achieve and succeed back to his childhood dynamics.
He also shares a beautiful, deep connection to his past through nostalgic memories—particularly the safe, magical time spent at his grandfather’s house, which served as a crucial emotional sanctuary.
In their post-interview debrief, James and Nick unpack the fascinating psychology behind Russell's childhood blueprint:
The Architecture of Ambition: How early changes in family stability, like parental separation, can subconsciously ignite a powerful, lifelong drive to create order, security, and monumental success.
Nostalgia as a Psychological Anchor: The restorative power of childhood memories and how having a safe sanctuary provides a child with a vital blueprint for emotional security.
The Persona vs. The Inner Child: Exploring the contrast between the highly successful "adult brand" we present to the world and the deeply feeling child that still exists beneath it.
This is a rare, captivating look at a familiar face, proving that no matter how big the brand we build as adults, we are all still carrying the boys and girls we used to be.

📺 WE ARE ON YOUTUBE! Don't just listen—watch the full video version of this episode and subscribe to our channel so you never miss a moment: https://www.youtube.com/@YoureAGoodKidPodcast

📸 FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: For exclusive episode clips, behind-the-scenes insights, and show updates, follow us at @youragoodkidpodcast.

⭐️ LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re enjoying the show and want to support us, please take a quick moment to drop us a review or a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other "good kids" find our community!

As mentioned in the episode, please check out the wonderul podcast Modern Wisdom.
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/23-lessons-from-2025-1034/id1347973549?i=1000741796108

Credits: Produced and Hosted by Dr James van Cuylenburg & Nick van Cuylenburg.
Audio production by White Owl Sound.
Season 2 is brought to you by Engage 1on1 Psychology

If you believe in what we are doing and would like to support us to make more, then we will gratefully accept any donations here: https://youreagoodkid.com.au/support

On the second episode of Season 2, we are joined by someone who defines what it means to live authentically, fiercely, and out loud. Don't forget, you can watch this full, raw conversation right now over on our new YouTube channel!

Our guest this week is Australian media powerhouse, entrepreneur, and bestselling author Sophie Cachia. Rising to prominence as one of Australia’s first major digital creators, Sophie has built an absolute empire, founding successful businesses and capturing the nation's attention on Survivor Australia. She is also the author of the bestselling memoir Then There Was Her, a beautifully honest account of navigating her sexuality, identity, and life in the public eye.

But behind the business acumen, the digital influence, and the fierce public persona lies a deeply guarded childhood reality that Sophie is now sharing with a profound level of vulnerability: as a child, she was self-harming. It was a silent, internal storm—a secret pain that no one around her knew about. To the outside world, she was a bright, capable kid, but inside, she was navigating an overwhelming emotional weight without the tools to express it.

In their post-interview debrief, James and Nick step into the psychology of the "invisible struggle": A sensitive clinical look at why children turn to self-harm, exploring it not as attention-seeking behavior, but as a desperate attempt to regulate overwhelming internal pain when words fail, and the immense psychological freedom that comes from finally bringing your secret pain into the light.

This is a heavy, beautiful, and profoundly necessary conversation about the burdens children carry in silence, and the radical healing that happens when we choose to be honest with ourselves and each other.

📺 WE ARE ON YOUTUBE! Don't just listen—watch the full video version of this episode and subscribe to our channel so you never miss a moment: https://www.youtube.com/@YoureAGoodKidPodcast
📸 FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: For exclusive episode clips, behind-the-scenes insights, and show updates, follow us at @youragoodkidpodcast.
⭐️ LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re enjoying the show and want to support us, please take a quick moment to drop us a review or a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other "good kids" find our community!

Disclaimer: This episode contains discussions of childhood self-harm. If this raises any difficult feelings for you, please reach out for support. In Australia, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. International listeners can find local resources at findahelpline.com.

Credits: Produced and Hosted by Dr James van Cuylenburg & Nick van Cuylenburg.
Audio production by White Owl Sound.
Season 2 is brought to you by Engage 1on1 Psychology

Special thanks to the wonderful Julia Ferracane from Righteous PR for introducing us to Sophie and for recommending her as a guest.

If you believe in what we are doing and would like to support us to make more, then we will gratefully accept any donations here: https://youreagoodkid.com.au/support

Welcome back to You're a Good Kid! We are thrilled to kick off Season 2 with an absolute powerhouse of a guest. Not only are we back with a brand new lineup of deeply moving conversations, but we are officially on YouTube this season! You can now watch the full video episodes of our interviews and debriefs.

Our premier guest for Season 2 is the phenomenal Kween Kong (Thomas Charles Fonua). Before capturing hearts worldwide as a finalist on RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under (Season 2) and representing Oceania on RuPaul's Drag Race Global All Stars, Thomas was a celebrated principal dancer for New Zealand's Black Grace and the Australian Dance Theatre. An award-winning choreographer, cultural leader, Logie Award nominee, and founder of the Haus of Kong, Kween has spent her career breaking boundaries and advocating for Pacific and First Nations queer youth. But behind the global success, the runway glamour, and the artistic accolades lies a profound childhood story of survival, identity, and resilience.

Growing up as Thomas in South Auckland, life presented a complex web of challenges from an early age. Discovering his queerness as a young child meant navigating intense rejection from a strict Jehovah’s Witness church community and an abusive father. Yet, amidst the trauma and the pressure to suppress his true self, an extraordinary shield emerged. It came from the fierce love of his mother and grandmother, who handed him a psychological lifeline with a single, transformative sentence: "You are not different, you are more."

This is an unforgettable story about the heavy cost of hiding who you are, the breathtaking courage it takes to step into your truth, and the enduring power of unconditional love.

📺 WE ARE ON YOUTUBE! Don't just listen—watch the full video version of this episode and subscribe to our channel so you never miss a moment: https://www.youtube.com/@YoureAGoodKidPodcast
📸 FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: For exclusive episode clips, behind-the-scenes insights, and show updates, follow us at @youragoodkidpodcast.
⭐️ LEAVE A REVIEW: If you’re enjoying the show and want to support us, please take a quick moment to drop us a review or a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other "good kids" find our community!

Disclaimer: This podcast discussed mental health themes that may be triggering for some listeners. If anything in this episode causes distress, please contact your health professional, or if urgent, speak with Lifeline on 13 11 14

Credits: Produced and Hosted by Dr James van Cuylenburg & Nick van Cuylenburg.
Audio production by White Owl Sound.
Season 2 is brought to you by Engage 1on1 Psychology

If you believe in what we are doing and would like to support us to make more, then we will gratefully accept any donations here: https://youreagoodkid.com.au/support

Season 2 of You're A Good Kid has arrived! 12 new interviews with simply amazing guests, all of whom shared such vulnerable and powerful stories. We can't wait to share it with you all.
To see child-photos shared by guests, and some video clips from each episode, follow on Instragram: (https://www.instagram.com/youreagoodkidpodcast).
What we go through as kids will shape the course of our lives. Join James van Cuylenburg (Clinical Psychologist) and his brother, Nick van Cuylenburg (White Owl Sound), as they speak with a diverse range of people about how their childhoods have shaped them. Then, listen to guests read a letter to their child-selves. If you could say anything to your child-self, what would you say? Welcome back, to You're A Good Kid.