In this birthday special, I share 18 powerful lessons from 30 years of life, fitness, and personal growth. Expect practical takeaways and real stories you can apply to your own journey.
Turning 30 has me reflecting on the last three decades and the biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way. In this special episode, I share 18 lessons from 30 years of life, spanning fitness, mindset, and personal growth. From my early injuries in South London gyms, to living in Japan, Vermont, and Texas, to mistakes I made with overtraining, calorie tracking, and balance, I cover the insights that shaped me as a coach and as a person. Whether you’re here for fitness takeaways or life perspective, these lessons will help you avoid the mistakes I made and give you clarity on how to move forward with confidence.
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Timestamps:
00:16 Introduction – Why turning 30 inspired this episode
01:51 Why Growing Older Truly Feels Like a Blessing
04:52 Physio over doctors: the injury lesson I learned the hard way
06:13 Vermont exchange year – balance beats extremes
07:53 Why saying no to tempura in Tokyo wasn’t freedom
09:48 A solid foundation buys flexibility later
12:01 Trusting your gut in training (hamstring tear story)
13:57 There’s always something you can do (training on crutches)
15:35 Train hard, not reckless – my obsessive 2019 phase
17:14 Chase strength, not “perfect” – beach t-shirt story
19:30 The solution is often easier than the excuse (dojo move)
21:58 Reframing exercise – from punishment to privilege
23:41 Streaks ≠ progress (Duolingo plateau story)
26:41 Why gym etiquette matters – unloading the leg press
27:57 Breaking habits by adding friction – the XBOX story
29:03 Your environment speaks a language – Montreal insight
30:57 Change the room, change the results – farm gym vs real gym
32:29 Naming the hunger – kuchisabishii and snacking
34:12 Boundaries in Morocco – why being “too polite” hurts progress
36:35 Growing older is a privilege – gratitude at 30
37:03 Closing thoughts and reflections