First Things THRST

Kayla Itsines got her first PT job by holding a door open for someone, and she's here to explain why transformations sell everything and quick fixes teach you nothing.

Learn how Kayla went from charging a dollar per minute in her parents' backyard to selling millions of e-books before Instagram even had video capabilities. She breaks down why transformational content sells anything—body, business, or mindset—and how she transitioned from personal brand to scalable platform by admitting she wasn't an expert at everything.

This conversation exposes why coaches pushing aggressive calorie cuts for quick results don't care about destroying their clients' relationship with food.

00:00 Introduction
02:00 Starting out in fitness and falling in love with strength
08:48 Building a personal brand vs building a sellable business
11:21 How an accidental e-book launch turned global fitness empire
15:40 Turning the Sweat app into a platform beyond herself
21:46 Selling the company and feeling like she lost a child
25:53 Keeping Sweat ahead in a saturated women’s fitness market
32:22 Why long-term success is about consistency, not extremes
38:31 What women struggle with most in fitness today
40:25 Debunking myths about women lifting weights and eating carbs
44:39 Fitness shifting toward total wellness and biohacking
48:39 Stress, control, and the quiet chaos of daily life
53:15 Navigating motherhood while running a global brand

» Escape the 9-5 & build your dream life – https://www.digitalplaybook.net/
» Transform your physique – https://www.thrstapp.com/
» My clothing brand, THRST – https://thrstofficial.com
» Custom Bioniq supplements – https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston
• 40% off your first month of Bioniq GO
• 20% off your first month of Bioniq PRO
» Join our newsletter for actionable insights from every episode – https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/
» Join Whoop and get your first month for free – join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst

» Follow Kayla:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/kayla_itsines/?hl=en
Sweat – https://sweat.com/join

» Produced by Hack You Media: pioneering a new category of content at the intersection of health performance, entrepreneurship and cognitive optimisation
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hackyoumedia/
Website: https://hackyou.media/

Louis Armstrong is back for the annual catch-up — and this time we’re talking celibacy experiments, nicotine addiction, and why he thinks I need to go celibate for a month...

Louis ditched alcohol, nicotine pouches, and his right hand because he realised easy dopamine was making him deflated and unmotivated.

Tune in for a laid-back catch-up with plenty of insight — plus some valuable lessons on discipline, dating, and designing a better 2026.

00:00 Introduction
02:10 Catching up, lost Airbnb deposit and lessons for creators
06:00 Celibacy, dopamine addictions and cutting out vices
09:21 Women as a distraction and learning self-control
12:25 Relationships vs single life and patterns of avoidance
17:07 Trust issues, jealousy and choosing a secure partner
20:26 How men can build true security and self-worth
22:34 Balancing being a good partner without becoming a simp
27:01 Dubai dating culture and the rise of entitlement
31:00 Finding quality women and warning signs to watch for
38:44 Advice for young men on meeting women offline
41:56 Building confidence through small daily interactions
43:50 Mentorship, prioritising freedom and business balance
48:28 Scaling without burnout and staying focused
52:29 Writing, distractions, and designing optimal mornings
57:39 The “Let Them” mindset and emotional resilience
01:09:52 Reflecting on alcohol, fun vs optimisation
01:13:19 Goals for 2024 and building systems around creativity
01:19:40 Hosting transformational in-person masterminds and events

» Escape the 9-5 and build your dream life: https://www.digitalplaybook.net/
» Transform your physique: https://www.thrstapp.com/
» My clothing brand, THRST: https://thrstofficial.com
» Custom Bioniq supplements: https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston
• 40% off your first month of Bioniq GO
• 20% off your first month of Bioniq PRO

» Join our newsletter for actionable insights from every episode:
https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/
» Join Whoop and get your first month for free:
https://join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst

» Follow Louis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisarmstrong7/?hl=en
Creator Club: https://www.thecreatorclub.co.uk/

» Produced by Hack You Media: pioneering a new category of content at the intersection of health performance, entrepreneurship and cognitive optimisation
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hackyoumedia/
Website: https://hackyou.media/

Charlie Morgan dropped out of a business degree when he realised none of his lecturers had ever run companies, worked four jobs burning himself out to prove he wasn’t a failure, then discovered sales through an apprenticeship that changed everything.

You’ll hear why he made his Academy completely free to create a moat no one can compete with, how Hormozi owns the truth about offers the same way Charlie now owns agency fundamentals, and what happens when you realise “passive income” means working 16 hours a day so you can make money while you sleep.

Tune in for his take on systemising relationships with spreadsheets, why he told his girlfriend on the first date that work always comes first, and how building B2B software makes the info business look like a walk in the park.

00:00 Introduction
04:38 Making a free course as a moat against competitors
07:00 The arms race of flex marketing and selling the dream
10:39 How Tai Lopez and Lord Sugar nudged Charlie off the uni path
16:42 Burning out after juggling four jobs and chasing redemption
21:33 Becoming a PT and growing fast as a fitness OG on Instagram
24:33 The viral Dubai video and its polarising reactions
29:52 Why sudden wealth and no guardrails can derail your growth
33:21 Realising nice things don’t equal happiness or fulfilment
36:33 When you’re financially set in your 20s, then what?
42:26 Turning obsession into output and how love for work evolves
46:45 Gym as therapy, consistency, and reclaiming power through strength
50:59 Content, gaming addiction, and transferring energy into building
54:43 Saturation, short-form fatigue, and the trap of constant content
59:32 Cancel culture fading and leaning more into your true self
01:04:01 Collaborating with controversial guests and audience backlash
01:08:08 Why negativity often hides insecurity
01:18:40 Balancing work obsession with a relationship
01:25:12 Kids, priorities, and choosing the right partner for legacy
01:30:33 Making real friendships after success and the Dubai filter
01:33:44 Is London really that bad? Life post-Dubai and recalibrating safety
01:36:38 Building software to solve your own business pain points

» Escape the 9-5 and build your dream life: https://www.digitalplaybook.net/
» Transform your physique: https://www.thrstapp.com/
» My clothing brand, THRST: https://thrstofficial.com
» Custom Bioniq supplements: https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston
• 40% off your first month of Bioniq GO
• 20% off your first month of Bioniq PRO

» Join our newsletter for actionable insights from every episode:
https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/
» Join Whoop and get your first month for free:
https://join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst

» Follow Charlie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charliemorganbiz/?hl=en
Academy: https://www.skool.com/academy/about

» Produced by Hack You Media: pioneering a new category of content at the intersection of health performance, entrepreneurship and cognitive optimisation
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hackyoumedia/
Website: https://hackyou.media/

After going from low six figures to number one bestseller in 18 months — and dealing with the whiplash of overnight success — Mark Manson proves that learning to say no is a skill you have to relearn at every level.

You’ll hear why he quit drinking and immediately got stronger, why being a single podcaster giving relationship advice creates a dangerous vacuum for young men, and what happens when you realise your music dreams have to die so your actual talent can thrive.

Tune in for his take on why marriage is the most contrarian position for male influencers today, how his wife accelerated his career more than any business deal, and why hoping your future self cringes at you means you're actually growing.

00:00 Introduction
02:00 Reflecting on the lasting success of The Subtle Art
04:13 Misinterpretations of the book's meaning and message
08:52 Learning to say no as success scales up
12:22 Turning 30s into legacy-building vs the experimentation of your 20s
15:52 Shifting mindset around dating, time and future family
23:48 The brutal reality of the music industry and staying relevant
26:10 Creating from passion vs chasing algorithmic performance
30:33 Applying the Hollywood idea of “one for them, one for you”
35:23 Why Gen Z men and middle-aged women dominate the space
39:25 Encouraging younger guys not to skip being stupid sometimes
42:07 Could he have written the book without partying and mistakes?
45:27 How cutting alcohol levelled up his health, work and mindset
54:31 Friendship takes real effort now, and culture has shifted
56:09 Navigating friendship and relationship balance as you get older
01:00:18 Knowing he found the one and rewiring his views on commitment
01:08:39 Championing marriage as a contrarian but essential life upgrade
01:12:23 Why legacy now means being honest, useful, and long-term impactful

» Escape the 9-5 and build your dream life: https://www.digitalplaybook.net/
» Transform your physique: https://www.thrstapp.com/
» My clothing brand, THRST: https://thrstofficial.com
» Custom Bioniq supplements: https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston
• 40% off your first month of Bioniq GO
• 20% off your first month of Bioniq PRO

» Join our newsletter for actionable insights from every episode:
https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/
» Join Whoop and get your first month for free:
https://join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst

» Follow Mark
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markmanson/?hl=en
Purpose: https://purpose.app/
Website: https://markmanson.net/

» Produced by Hack You Media: pioneering a new category of content at the intersection of health performance, entrepreneurship and cognitive optimisation
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hackyoumedia/
Website: https://hackyou.media/

After building public speaking skills through brutal on-camera training and quitting a job after 15 days to go full-time on TikTok, Michael (higherupwellness) proves that authenticity matters more than polish.

You’ll hear why his parents being in their 70s gave him wisdom most 28-year-olds don’t have, how two and a half years of mandatory public speaking eliminated his number one fear, and what happens when you realise worldly success never fills the God-shaped hole.

Tune in for his framework on maxing out your stat lines in your 20s, why asking God to reveal himself changed everything after his dad died, and how silencing ego long enough to suck at something a hundred times is the barrier most people never cross.

00:00 Introduction
01:40 Growing up with much older parents and shaping his worldview
04:14 Supportive parenting made taking career risks feel safe
07:57 Comparing US optimism to UK mindset and ambition
12:35 Striking a balance between monk mode and reckless fun
17:27 Early career struggles and earning respect as the youngest
20:22 Vulnerability online builds real connection and community
23:40 Steroid accusations and the reality of 18 years training
27:21 Fitting training and nutrition into a hybrid athlete lifestyle
33:10 Flexible training splits and sustainable consistency
38:37 How calorie awareness gives you long-term freedom
44:43 Learning public speaking through immersive sales training
50:48 Communicating well, even in a non-native language
57:46 What Whoop taught him about sleep, alcohol and basics
01:04:32 Why coaching can be draining if boundaries aren’t set
01:12:55 Men need spaces where they can be both strong and soft
01:22:30 Even elite performers have major blind spots
01:26:10 Losing his dad showed him God’s presence through pain
01:35:57 Exactly how to start exploring faith without feeling lost

» Escape the 9-5 and build your dream life: https://www.digitalplaybook.net/
» Transform your physique: https://www.thrstapp.com/
» My clothing brand, THRST: https://thrstofficial.com
» Custom Bioniq supplements: https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston
• 40% off your first month of Bioniq GO
• 20% off your first month of Bioniq PRO

» Join our newsletter for actionable insights from every episode:
https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/
» Join WHOOP and get your first month for free:
https://join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst

» Follow Michael
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/higherupwellness/?hl=en
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@higherupwellness?lang=en