It’s a ‘rush’ to the head
WHY GETTING OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE IS THE BEST PLACE TO LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF
Watching your feet dangle atop Australia’s tallest free-falling ride and then plummeting 119 metres with the wind whipping your body at 135km/h is not everybody’s idea of a good time.
But for Nova host Josh Szeps, it was just the latest in a series of experiences which he hopes will ultimately help Australians to conquer their fears and learn some valuable life lessons.
His new podcast The Rush – in which he puts himself through all sorts of challenges – takes listeners on an experiential adventure into how and why we crave what we do over eight weekly episodes.
“This has been the most insane show I’ve ever hosted,” Szeps tells SMARTdaily.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the way our brains seek out experiences and why we’re drawn to the things that are both appealing and terrifying.”
While intense workouts and sugary treats can be overwhelming, Szeps says these experiences bring an insatiable appetite for life hacks and ingenious ideas to tackle everyday tasks.
ADRENALINE RUSH
After multiple rides on The Giant Drop in Dreamworld, Szeps says it was important to challenge yourself beyond your layers of comfort.
While it might feel frightening at first, the benefits of doing so far outweigh those initial feelings.
“You’ll experience greater enjoyment when you try out new experiences, and you’ll stimulate your brain which can have a positive effect on your mental health,” Szeps says.
“It’s an amazing feeling to do something you’ve never done before – whether that’s losing weight or jumping out of a plane. We live once so you may as well make the most of it.”
SUGAR HIGH
In another episode, Szeps was given a delicious eight-course feast to find out what happens in the brain when we get our sugar and fat fix.
His top tip is to pay close attention to how you feel after inhaling such foods.
“There’s nothing wrong with having a scoop of ice-cream, but if you are on your third scoop, it’s probably not about the ice-cream anymore,” Szeps says.
“One of the best things you can do for your health during the pandemic is to cut back on guilty pleasure foods and add in healthier options.
“Instead of muesli bars, I’ve opted for beef jerky which is high in protein and low in calories. Instead of icecream as a post-dinner craving, I’ve chosen vanilla yoghurt and strawberries.
“Don’t surround yourself with them as the obvious things to reach for. If you pay close attention to the actual experience then it’s unlikely you’ll overindulge.”
INTENSE EXERCISE
After an insane endurance boot camp for the podcast, Szeps lost a whopping 12 kilos.
“I ended up getting ripped just by lifting weights three times a week with no aerobic exercise,” he says.
Contrary to advice to “go at your own pace”, Szeps learnt that it was important to “go big or go home”, get the early wins in and fully commit from the get-go in order to start getting results.
He also found that fasting for the first half of the day was the easiest way to stick to the diet.
“I don’t eat breakfast and just have a few cups of coffee followed by a high protein lunch and then dinner.”
BUSINESS OF PLEASURE
Tied up and swung upside down by a Japanese bondage dominatrix forced Szeps to explore the difference between kinks, fetishes and sexual orientation.
“I got a glimpse into a community of people who have a strong desire for these things,” Szeps says. “I’ve learnt to be less judgmental of people and encourage everyone to own their own weirdness – whether in the bedroom or at a bondage club.”
A new episode of The Rush comes out each Wednesday and is available wherever you access your podcasts, or by downloading the Nova Podcast Player