Heston Russell: Former Special Forces Commando on Leadership, Identity & Finding Purpose Again

Ryan “R-Willy” Williams is one of the most influential action-sports athletes of his generation. From being mocked for riding a scooter to winning X Games gold, creating world-first tricks and completely changing what people believed was possible on both a scooter and BMX, Ryan has taken his sport to another level.

In this episode, I sit down with Georgie Giovannoni for a raw conversation about the experiences that shape who we become. We explore the lasting impact of family trauma and childhood experiences, and how the stories, wounds, and patterns we carry can quietly follow us into adulthood.

Tom Boyd had everything many young athletes dream of.The No.1 draft pick. A premiership. A multi-million dollar contract. The kind of success most people spend their lives chasing.But behind the headlines, Tom was fighting a battle nobody could see.In this episode, Tom opens up about the immense pressure of elite sport, the mental health struggles that nearly broke him, and the difficult decision to walk away from the AFL at just 23 years old.We explore his darkest moments, the toll that anxiety, depression and insomnia took on his life, and the steps he took to rebuild himself when everything felt like it was falling apart.We also dive into the culture of elite sport, whether enough is being done to support young athletes, the hidden cost of ambition, identity beyond football, and the lessons he's learned through his recovery.This is a raw, honest and deeply human conversation about pressure, purpose, resilience and what it truly means to look after your mental health.If you've ever felt overwhelmed, lost your sense of self, or questioned the path you're on, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Mind Your Head, I sit down with Jake Stone — co-founder of Corrective Culture, former professional bodyboarder, and CHEK Practitioner.We unpack what it’s like carrying loss quietly, the anger and fear that can come with it, and how those moments can either harden you or wake you up. Jake opens up about the self-doubt that followed, the inner work he had to do to keep moving forward, and the mindset shifts that helped him rebuild from the inside out.We also get into the deeper “why” behind Corrective Culture — not just fixing bodies, but helping people feel safe in themselves again — plus practical tools around stress, routine, recovery, and creating a life that feels aligned, not just successful.If you’ve ever felt stuck in grief, scared to back yourself, or like you’re trying to hold it all together… this one will hit.

This week on Mind Your Head, I sit down with Thomas Baulch, better known as Prime Train.A lot of people see the discipline, the physique, the confidence and the life he’s built online — but this conversation goes way deeper than that.We spoke about the pressure of always feeling like you need to keep pushing, the mental side of discipline, burnout, identity, rock bottom moments and the parts of life people don’t always see behind social media. Thomas opened up about the turning points that shaped him, the internal battles he’s faced, and the ongoing work it takes to stay grounded while building something big.This wasn’t just a chat about fitness or success. It became a really honest conversation about being a man, mental health, self-awareness, relationships, purpose and learning how to face yourself instead of running from things. An honest, real and important chat that I think a lot of people will connect with.