Dyslexic. Told he wasn’t smart enough. Kicked out of university. Then he went back to become a teacher. Phil Yates struggled through school, repeated Year 12 and was eventually expelled from university. Lecturers told him he probably didn’t have the intelligence to succeed. But Phil refused to let others define his future. He returned to the same university, graduated and spent 14 years teaching, helping young people who struggled just like he once had. His story is a powerful reminder that your struggles don’t have to define your future. In the full Cut Through interview, Phil opens up about: • Overcoming dyslexia, failure and rejection • Surviving childhood trauma and learning to forgive • Finding purpose through helping others • What it really means to be a man • How faith helped him find peace, hope and joy • Why your past doesn’t determine your future If you’ve ever felt like you’re not good enough or wondered whether your life could become something more, this conversation is for you. Full story on Cut Through 👇 🎬 Watch the full interview: https://youtu.be/g3KaqNlpmqQ 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1W6TTK9fA320mp8TW3gbS5?si=hqE2_15NSd-21Gx7ydhn3g #CutThrough #Dyslexia #OvercomingAdversity #NeverGiveUp #SelfWorth #FindingPurpose #MensMentalHealth #PersonalGrowth #FaithAndHope #Resilience

What was Steve Irwin really like when the cameras stopped rolling? Former Australia Zoo employee Darren Cheers remembers his first day at work when Steve Irwin rode straight over on his motorbike, shook his hand and personally welcomed him to the zoo family. Was the Crocodile Hunter’s larger-than-life personality just for television? Darren shares what Steve was really like behind the scenes and why he believes Steve was the real deal. In the full Cut Through interview, Darren shares his extraordinary journey from working alongside Steve Irwin to becoming a paramedic and eventually a pastor. We explore: • What Steve Irwin was really like off camera • The day Steve Irwin died and what happened at Australia Zoo • Steve’s passion, personality and lasting legacy • Life-and-death experiences as a paramedic • A man whose heart stopped twice and what he remembered • Miracles, science, faith and what happens after death • Finding purpose and making your life count Full story on Cut Through 👇 🎬 Watch the full interview: https://youtu.be/RxfVZNA4ibE 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5dwNDmz5yqBT7IHMzS1V8D?si=ynep31wHS9Oy3UWTVDRGBA #SteveIrwin #CrocodileHunter #AustraliaZoo #BehindTheScenes #SteveIrwinLegacy #LifeAndDeath #FindingPurpose #FaithAndScience #CutThrough

Why are we so afraid to disagree with each other? These days, having a different opinion can cost you friendships, relationships, or even your reputation. So instead of having difficult conversations, many of us choose to stay silent. But is avoiding disagreement actually making things worse? In this Cut Through conversation, Christian and faith advocate Blair Lemke explore why disagreement has become so personal, how fear of judgment shapes what we say, and whether it’s possible to stand up for your beliefs without losing people you care about. In the full interview, we go deeper into: * Why we’re afraid to speak our minds * How to disagree without destroying friendships * Cancel culture and the pressure to fit in * How social media fuels outrage and division * Free speech and where we should draw the line * How to know if your beliefs are actually true * Why Blair believes Christianity offers a better way forward * Finding the courage to stand for something meaningful Whether you’re religious, sceptical, or still figuring out what you believe, this conversation challenges you to think for yourself and question what really matters. What’s more important to you: being liked or being honest about what you believe? Let us know in the comments. 🎥 Watch the full Cut Through interview: https://youtu.be/4z_aY6N4A5s 🎧 Listen to the full conversation on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/48TmT9NeAU7TFJKKl78W2R?si=-YCsY4d0Tf-EFPwbFBfzug Subscribe to Cut Through for honest conversations about faith, purpose, truth, and life’s biggest questions. #CutThrough #FreeSpeech #FearOfJudgement #CancelCulture #FindingPurpose #CriticalThinking #FaithAndDoubt #DifficultConversations #FindingTruth #Christianity

Are you afraid to speak your mind? What if standing up for what you believe costs you friendships, your reputation, or your future? We live in a world where social media rewards outrage, disagreement turns into hatred, and staying silent often feels safer than speaking up. But what if staying silent comes at a greater cost? In this episode of Cut Through, Christian sits down with Blair Lemke, a faith advocate who’s taken his convictions beyond social media and into the real world. Blair has participated in controversial protests and grassroots movements, stood alongside thousands outside NSW Parliament House, and publicly defended his beliefs on some of Australia’s most divisive issues. He’s faced online backlash and navigated difficult conversations with people who fundamentally disagree with him. But this conversation goes deeper than politics. How do you know what you believe is actually true? Are you thinking for yourself? And what does it take to stand for something meaningful? In this episode, we explore: * The courage to stand alone: Why Blair risks friendships and reputation to defend his convictions. * Are you being manipulated? How misinformation, algorithms, and personal bias shape your beliefs. * The outrage economy: Why social media rewards anger and division. * Cancel culture and free speech: Why young people fear speaking up and who should decide what’s acceptable. * Can you disagree without hating? How to have difficult conversations without destroying relationships. * Faith and politics: Should Christianity influence society, and where should the boundaries be? * Is Christianity blind faith? The evidence and experiences that convinced Blair to believe. * Finding courage and purpose: How to develop convictions that give your life direction. Whether you’re Christian, atheist, agnostic, or still figuring out what you believe, this conversation will challenge you to think independently, question your assumptions, and discover what really matters. Because if you don’t know what you stand for, how do you know you’re living a life that’s actually yours? What’s one belief you’ve been afraid to share because of what others might think? Let us know in the comments. Subscribe to Cut Through for honest conversations about life’s biggest questions, faith, culture, truth, and finding meaning. 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/48TmT9NeAU7TFJKKl78W2R?si=-YCsY4d0Tf-EFPwbFBfzug #CutThrough #FindingPurpose #FaithAndDoubt #FreeSpeech #CriticalThinking #Christianity #FindingTruth #Courage #MeaningOfLife #CancelCulture

Governments want to give us an off switch for social media algorithms. But here’s the uncomfortable question: have we become so addicted to our phones that we need someone else to control them for us? The algorithms are powerful. They’re designed to keep us scrolling, clicking and coming back for more. But at what point do we take responsibility for our own attention? Maybe the real problem isn’t just social media addiction. Maybe it’s that we’ve lost sight of what actually matters. You don’t beat endless scrolling by trying harder to resist your phone. You beat it by finding something better to live for. A goal worth chasing. Something worth building. People worth serving. A purpose bigger than yourself. Because your attention is your life. And every hour you give away is an hour you’ll never get back. So here’s the question: What would you chase if your phone disappeared tomorrow? Drop your answer in the comments. Follow Cut Through for honest conversations about life, purpose, faith and finding something worth living for. #CutThrough #SocialMediaAddiction #Algorithm #SelfControl #PersonalResponsibility #DigitalAddiction #FindYourPurpose #MensMentalHealth #DopamineDetox #MeaningAndPurpose

Imagine winning five awards at school, only to hear your parents say you could have done better. That’s exactly what happened to SJ Foaga. What should have been one of his proudest moments left him feeling crushed. For years, SJ believed his worth depended on achievement and earning the approval of others. Even his best never seemed good enough. In the full interview, SJ shares his journey through: • Being diagnosed with epilepsy at 14 • Failing university, gaining 25kg and getting kicked out • Chasing approval through achievement, fitness and appearance • Growing up Samoan and navigating family expectations • Learning why one failure shouldn’t define your identity • Discovering the difference between conditional and unconditional love • How faith changed his understanding of identity and self-worth • What it really means to become a man If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly trying to prove yourself, this conversation is for you. Full story on Cut Through 👇 🎬 Watch the full interview: ⁠https://youtu.be/q4cQ3xV2nkM 🎧 Listen on Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/2YwXYRbUYARJtsLUEfZ31F?si=Wud0gWC1R7myivgz4j1l3A #ParentalExpectations #SelfWorth #Identity #YoungMen #MentalHealth #FindingPurpose #MensMentalHealth #Faith #CutThrough

She refused to move for Nelson Mandela. What happened next was unforgettable. While protecting Nelson Mandela during his visit to Australia, former Australian Federal Police officer John Rixon encountered two Aboriginal women determined to meet him. One declared, “He’s our man.” John replied, “He’s not your man. He belongs to the world.” What followed was a beautiful moment of humanity and respect. In the full Cut Through interview, John shares extraordinary stories and powerful life lessons: • Nearly dying in a landmine encounter in Cambodia. • The courage, discipline and mindset behind elite police special operations. • Protecting Nelson Mandela, Queen Elizabeth II and other world leaders. • What young men can learn about resilience, purpose and responsibility. • How losing his wife transformed his perspective on life. • Why he believes God protected and guided him through it all. From facing death to discovering faith, John’s story is a powerful reminder of what really matters in life. Full story on Cut Through 👇 🎬 Watch the full interview: https://youtu.be/JXblPVoDZWs 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Yx7FBN6tSXj8merJk3LPg?si=7oAc31P5S5ifKCH3nJYS_A #CutThrough #NelsonMandela #JohnRixon #TrueStories #Courage #LifeLessons #FindingPurpose #FaithAndLife #MensMindset #InspirationalStories

What would you do if the person who was supposed to protect you was the one who hurt you most? Phil Yates was abused by his own father as a child. Years later, his father sent him a message asking for forgiveness. But Phil had already made a decision that would change his life. He chose to forgive, not because what happened was okay, but because he refused to let the anger control the rest of his life. “I forgave him, and I never forgot.” Phil never spoke to his father again before his death. But he says forgiveness gave him something he’d been missing for years: peace. Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting. It doesn’t mean rebuilding trust. And it doesn’t mean pretending the pain never happened. Sometimes it’s about refusing to let what someone did to you define the rest of your life. In the full Cut Through interview, Phil opens up about his remarkable journey through childhood trauma, anger, failure, forgiveness and faith, including: • How childhood abuse affected his confidence, identity and relationships • The moment painful memories resurfaced at university • Why forgiveness doesn’t mean reconciliation or restoring trust • How he broke free from anger and found peace • Overcoming dyslexia, failing school and being kicked out of university • What his experiences taught him about masculinity, responsibility and resilience • Why he believes asking for help is a sign of strength • How his faith was challenged by suffering and the question of where God was • Finding hope, purpose and joy after years of pain • His simple challenge for anyone wondering whether God is real If you’ve ever struggled with anger, betrayal or something from your past that you can’t seem to escape, this conversation is worth hearing. You can’t change what happened to you. But your past doesn’t have to control your future. Full story on Cut Through 👇 🎬 Watch the full interview: https://youtu.be/g3KaqNlpmqQ 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1W6TTK9fA320mp8TW3gbS5?si=hqE2_15NSd-21Gx7ydhn3g #CutThrough #Forgiveness #ChildhoodTrauma #MensMentalHealth #FindingPurpose #Healing #Faith #OvercomingAdversity #LifeLessons #FindingPeace

This fight was never just about gender. What is a man? What is a woman? And why has asking these questions become so controversial? But there’s a bigger question underneath the gender debate. What happens when you’re pressured to say something you don’t believe? When questioning an idea gets you labelled hateful? When disagreement becomes something to fear? You can respect someone’s dignity without agreeing with everything they believe. You can care about people and still ask difficult questions. Because truth matters. Words matter. And your ability to think for yourself matters. Whatever side of the debate you’re on, don’t just accept what you’re told. Ask questions. Examine the evidence. Challenge your own assumptions. And have the courage to say what you actually believe. You don’t have to hate someone to disagree with them. At Cut Through, we’re asking the deeper questions about truth, identity, freedom, faith and what it means to live with conviction in a world full of competing voices. Follow Cut Through for conversations that challenge you to think deeper, question more and discover what really matters. #CutThrough #ThinkForYourself #GenderDebate #TruthMatters #CriticalThinking #FreeSpeech #QuestionEverything #IndependentThinking #MeaningAndPurpose #SpeakTheTruth