This week I’m joined by the founder of More Than Happy—Matty Lawrence. What I love about Matty is that he’s never satisfied with surface-level answers—especially when it comes to happiness, purpose, and what it actually means to live well.

In this conversation we talk about transitions, the kind you choose, and the kind that choose you. We explore why happiness is fleeting, why life is more than happy, and how nature, walking, and journaling can become powerful tools for clarity and healing. Matty also shares his experience walking the Kumano Kodo in Japan—a pilgrimage trail thousands of years old—and how that journey helped shape the work he’s offering now: guiding others through their own ‘journeys in true nature.’

We also get into rites of passage, why modern life often misses them and how kids and parents alike can benefit from healthy initiation, mentorship, and community as they move through change.

If you’d like to connect with Matty or find out more about potentially joining the next pilgrimage in Japan, visit morethanhappy.life

I hope you enjoy this conversation with Matty.

Big hug

Rich

If your child suddenly got all their screen time back…What would they actually do with it?

That’s the question at the heart of this week’s podcast episode.

I sat down with Kai Tang, founder of the Light Phone, and John Stewart, founder of Living School, to talk about:

* Why the real problem isn’t phones… it’s the business model behind them

* How Kai went from building smartphones for Motorola, Nokia and BlackBerry to walking away from the attention economy and creating Light Phone — a “tool, not a toy” that’s designed to be used as little as possible

* What John is seeing in the classroom: how phones are reshaping kids’ social lives, learning and independence

* And why Living School is about to trial Light Phones as intentional learning tools on buses and expeditions, instead of portable slot machines in kids’ pockets.

We also dig into:

* Australia’s upcoming under-16 social media ban

* The uncomfortable but accurate analogy between smartphones and cigarettes

* Why our kids don’t just need new rules — they need a change in environment and for us to model a different relationship with tech.

Underneath it all is this one big idea:

If we stop letting tech hijack our attention,what kind of parents — and what kind of humans —do we get to become instead?

If you’ve ever looked at your phone after scrolling Instagram for an hour and thought “Why did I just waste all that time?”, I think you’ll really get a lot from this episode.

And if it sparks something for you, I’d love to hear your thoughts or stories—just hit reply.

Big HugRich

Click here to find out more about Light’s new Light Phone III being trialled at Living School.

Click here to find out more about Living School.

Hi there,

What if the way you react today has more to do with your past than you think? In this episode, Lael Stone and I dive into how our childhood experiences—and even the stories passed down through generations—shape the way we show up in the world now.

We talk about why self-awareness matters, how healing old wounds can transform your relationships, and what it really means to come home to yourself. If you've ever felt stuck in old patterns or wondered why certain triggers hit so hard, this one's for you. Let’s explore how understanding your past can help you live a more connected, compassionate, and fulfilling life.

If you’d like to find out more about Lael and read her new book, Own Your Story visit her website here.

Also, if you like consuming your podcasts via YouTube, this episode is the first to be published on the Dad Mindset YouTube channel. Check it out, if you like it, please subscribe and give it a thumbs-up. I’d also love to hear what you think in the comments.

Big hug

Rich