01/02/2026
How depression became the greatest motivator: breaking free from tall poppy syndrome, the sunk cost fallacy, choosing radical change over comfort, and discovering that we suffer far more in our imagination than we ever do in reality.
This week I’m in Austin, Texas, where I sit down at Stiles Switch BBQ to hang out with my friend . Someone recently made a bold move. After finishing his journalism degree in Australia, Ewan felt completely lost and depressed about his future. But instead of forcing himself down a path he didn’t want, he did something most people only dream about: packed up his life and moved to Texas to learn barbecue from scratch.
Five years later, he’s thriving as a pit master at Stiles Switch BBQ in Austin Texas, and he’s a completely different person from the guy I knew back home. We talk about what happens when you’re your own worst enemy, how rock bottom can be the launching pad for your best life, and why finding something you genuinely love changes everything. If you’ve ever felt trapped by expectations or stuck on a path that doesn’t serve you, this one hits different.
Follow links in bio for the full episode on YouTube 📺