Ep 12 – The Man Behind the Fried Chicken: Wal Collins on Mateship, Mindset & the 600 km Walk

In this episode of Beyond The Noise, Luke and Tim talk about ambition, contentment and why reaching the next goal doesn’t always bring the feeling we expected. Can you appreciate the life you already have and still want more, or does being content mean losing your edge? In this conversation, we talk about: – Moving the goalposts instead of celebrating our wins – The fisherman and the businessman, and what each gets right – Enjoying what we’re building instead of waiting until it’s finished – What a genuinely good ordinary day looks like – The pressure to reach our “potential” and knowing what actually matters An honest conversation about wanting more without overlooking what’s already here, with a few tangents and some questionable dad jokes along the way. Proudly supported by our new major partner, Bendigo Real Estate. A massive thank you to Nekti and the team for backing the podcast and our community. Whether you’re buying, selling or leasing, check them out at bendigorealestate.com.au

In this episode of Beyond The Noise, we sit down with Rob Bennett. Rob has spent almost his entire life connected to the North Bendigo Football Club—as a supporter, player, captain, mentor and eventually the most successful senior coach in the club’s history. After going his entire playing career without a premiership, Rob went on to coach North Bendigo to three flags, including an emotional final premiership alongside his son, Will. But this episode isn’t only about football. It’s about the quiet, fiercely loyal man behind the coach, the people who shaped him and what years of leadership demanded behind closed doors. In this conversation, we talk about: – Growing up incredibly shy, the Bennett family’s connection to North Bendigo, his Michael Jackson impersonations and the Double Quarter Pounder era – Meeting Kristy, raising Millie, Will and Levi, and protecting their family life while coaching consumed so much of his time – Moving from butchering into the police force and youth justice, and how those experiences shaped the way he leads – His playing career, coaching success, the pressure he carried and the period that caused him to fall out of love with football – Last year’s grand-final heartbreak, returning to win one final premiership and sharing it with Will, Denise and his late father, Col – Stepping away from senior coaching, helping secure North Bendigo’s future and reflecting on the legacy he leaves behind This episode is about family, loyalty, leadership and the personal cost of giving everything to the people and places you love. It’s the story of a three-time premiership coach—and the husband, father, son, mentor and mate behind the success. 🎙️ Follow us on Instagram: Beyond The Noise — @thebeyondthenoisepodcast

In this episode of Beyond The Noise, Luke and Tim sit down for a conversation about a different kind of courage — the kind that has nothing to do with doing something physically hard, and everything to do with being vulnerable, saying what you actually feel, and letting yourself be seen. In this conversation, we talk about: – Why emotional courage can feel harder than physical courage – Telling people what they actually mean to you before it is too late – The difference between feeling love and making someone feel loved – Why being busy, productive or constantly “doing” can sometimes become avoidance – Learning to sit with uncomfortable emotions instead of immediately trying to fix them – Impermanence, and why knowing things will not last can make us appreciate them more – Letting go of control when there is no guaranteed outcome – Why a full life is not about eliminating the lows, but being willing to experience the whole thing A more vulnerable conversation about courage, connection, uncertainty and what it means to stay open even when there is something to lose. 🎙️ Follow us on Instagram: Beyond The Noise | @thebeyondthenoisepodcast

In this episode of Beyond The Noise, we sit down with Nick Woods. Nick grew up in Hopetoun surrounded by family, lifelong mates, motorbikes and plenty of wild times. In October 2012, two months before he was due to marry his partner Bec, Nick came off his mountain bike and sustained a spinal cord injury that left him paralysed from the chest down, with significantly reduced function in his hands. What followed was a 10-hour surgery, a pulmonary embolism that caused him to flatline three times, months in hospital and an enormous battle to rebuild his independence. But this episode isn’t only about Nick’s accident. It’s about the person he was before it, the people who stood beside him and the life he has built since. In this conversation, we talk about: – Growing up in Hopetoun, lifelong friendships, motorbikes, humour and the fearless younger version of Woodsy – The accident, his darkest moments in hospital and the relentless approach he took into rehabilitation – The incredible support from the Hopetoun and Bendigo communities, including a fundraiser that raised approximately $300,000 – Bec’s experience beside him, their postponed wedding, IVF journey and becoming parents to Charlie – Returning to Powercor, losing his dad, learning to accept help and gaining a perspective that means he no longer sweats the small stuff

In this episode of Beyond The Noise, Luke and Tim sit down for their first proper catch up in three months, and there is plenty to catch up on. Luke has some massive news to share. Tim has returned from travelling through eight countries. And Beyond The Noise has officially reached its first birthday.