In this episode of Rule of Reason, I sit down with Trent Aquilina — an aviation professional, mentor, and marathon runner — to talk about resilience, hard work, and the power of starting again.

Trent was once told he’d amount to nothing.

Years later, after building a 35-year aviation career, he found himself at 156kg and experiencing a panic attack that changed everything.

What followed wasn’t motivation.

It was discipline.

He lost over 80kg, ran marathons, and now dedicates his time to mentoring the next generation — teaching young people that failing isn’t failure, it’s learning.

We talk about:
• Being told you’re not good enough
• Hard work vs entitlement
• Resilience learned from parents
• The panic attack that changed everything
• Losing 80kg and running a marathon
• Why “It’s not never — it’s just not now”
• Mentorship and helping the next generation
• What gives him hope for the future

This conversation isn’t about hype.
It’s about responsibility, discipline, and choosing to move forward — even when it’s hard.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, behind, or written off — this episode is for you.

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🎙 Rule of Reason is about sharing real stories from real people — stories that remind us we’re not alone and that meaning is built through responsibility, service, and perseverance.

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If this conversation helped you, consider subscribing and sharing it with someone who needs it.

Because hope spreads person to person.

In this episode of Rule of Reason, Zac sits down with Graeme Irwin OAM — educator, founder of St Philip’s Christian College, and national advocate for teachers — to explore how a life shaped by responsibility, faith, and service leads to lasting impact.

Graeme reflects on growing up on a working farm in rural New South Wales, where hard work, accountability, and respect for creation were not optional — they were part of daily life. That upbringing laid the foundation for a vocation in education, eventually leading him to found St Philip’s Christian College in 1982 with just 18 students, no funding, and a clear vision.

The conversation traces Graeme’s journey from the land to the classroom, from local school leadership to influencing education policy at a national level. Together, Zac and Graeme discuss the current state of education in Australia, the challenges facing teachers today, and why relationships — not systems — remain at the heart of meaningful learning.

Graeme also shares what gives him hope for the future: young people, dedicated teachers, and the enduring importance of purpose, faith, and responsibility in education.

This episode is a thoughtful reflection on leadership, vocation, and how education shapes not just minds, but lives.

🎧 Topics include:
– Growing up on a farm and learning responsibility early
– Finding purpose and calling in teaching
– Starting a school from nothing
– The state of education in Australia
– Supporting teachers and students in a changing world
– Why relationships matter more than systems

📌 Subscribe for conversations that explore meaning, responsibility, and hope.

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G’day everyone — welcome back to Rule of Reason.

In this episode, I’m in beautiful Samoa sitting down with Giovanni, the warm and unforgettable face behind one of the island’s most loved Italian restaurants, Paddles.

Giovanni’s story is one of identity, culture, and the surprising paths life takes when family makes a decision you don’t agree with — at least not at first. He grew up surrounded by hospitality, with an Italian father (from a village near Venice) and a Samoan mother (from Savai’i). After years living in Italy — studying, building a career, and living what felt like his “real” life — Giovanni was suddenly told the family was moving back to Samoa.

At first, he didn’t want to be there. He compared everything to Italy. He felt like his career had been taken from him. But over time, that resistance softened — and what began as frustration became a new home, a new mission, and a new understanding of what real wealth is.

In this conversation we talk about:

• Growing up Samoan–Italian and what that shaped in him
• Living almost three decades in Italy and thinking he’d stay forever
• The shock of being told: “We’re moving back to Samoa”
• How a family lease, a big risk, and a mother’s vision became a restaurant legacy
• Why Giovanni believes people are the real wealth — not money
• The power of gratitude, positivity, and choosing the next minute well
• A message to young people: don’t waste opportunities, and don’t miss real life by staring down at a phone

If you’ve ever felt torn between two places… stuck between who you were and who you’re becoming… or forced into a change you didn’t choose — I think you’ll get something out of this one.

If you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs a reminder that meaning is found in people.

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As we step into 2026, this episode of Rule of Reason is a moment to pause, reflect, and look ahead with clarity.

In this New Year’s episode, I reflect honestly on 2025 — what I hoped to achieve, what I learned, and why laying foundations mattered more than numbers or growth. I also share what I’m aiming for in 2026, including more long-form conversations, more stories, and a continued focus on meaning and hope.

This isn’t a political podcast. It’s a space for thoughtful conversation, for sharing real stories, and for reminding people that they’re not alone — even when life feels busy, overwhelming, or isolating.

We close with a simple but important question as we enter the new year:

What’s one thing you could focus on that would genuinely make your life — and the lives of the people around you — a little better?

If you’re interested in reflection, responsibility, faith, relationships, and building a meaningful life in a noisy world, you’re in the right place.

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Your body already knows how to heal itself — most of us just never learned how it works.
In 2016, Nobel Prize–winner Yoshinori Ohsumi discovered the mechanisms behind autophagy, your cells’ natural recycling and repair system.

In this Rule of Reason short episode, Zac explains autophagy in simple, everyday language — no jargon, no overcomplication — and shows how this discovery connects to personal responsibility, gratitude, stress, inflammation, and becoming the best version of yourself.

In this episode you’ll learn:
• What autophagy actually is
• How your cells repair themselves
• Why Ohsumi’s research matters for ordinary people
• How movement, rest, fasting, and lowering stress activate cellular repair
• Why modern life works against your built-in healing systems
• How to use simple choices to let your body reset

Rule of Reason exists to bring hope and perspective back into everyday life — cutting through noise, nihilism, and social media chaos by helping you see what’s still good, what’s still possible, and what you can still change.

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If you found this helpful, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs a hopeful perspective today.

This isn’t a science debate — it’s a human cost debate.

In this episode of Rule of Reason, I explain why the way Net Zero policies are being pursued risks punishing the poorest members of society first. Rising energy costs don’t hurt elites. They hurt families already struggling with the cost of living.

Intentions do not absolve outcomes.
A moral society protects the vulnerable first — not last.

This is a calm, values-based critique of climate policy that asks a simple question: who actually pays the price?

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Why does anger feel so justified after violent events?
Why does nationalism surge after tragedy?

In this episode of Rule of Reason, I explore what sits underneath public outrage — loss of trust, fear, and the breakdown of shared identity — and why dismissing these emotions only makes things worse.

Most people aren’t angry because they’re hateful. They’re angry because they feel unheard and unprotected. Understanding that distinction matters if we want stability rather than division.

Healthy nationalism protects what is shared. Toxic nationalism excludes. Knowing the difference is essential.

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Following a recent terrorist attack in Australia, emotions are understandably high. Fear spreads quickly — but reason often collapses.

In this episode of Rule of Reason, I discuss terrorism, immigration, and why collective blame is both morally lazy and dangerously naive. A society can be compassionate and enforce borders. A country can welcome immigrants and still take security seriously. These ideas are not opposites.

This is not about hatred or denial. It’s about naming reality honestly, resisting fear-based thinking, and refusing to reduce complex problems into slogans.

You can disagree with me and still belong here.

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