I grew up obese, tipping the scales at 18 stone (114.4kg) and standing just 5'6" at my heaviest when I was only 16. I had always been involved in sports—rugby, karate, boxing, and strength training—but during my teenage years, my mental health took a sharp decline. As a result, I went from being one of the chubbier kids to one of the largest in my entire secondary school. Eventually, I withdrew completely from sports and the outdoors. I coped with my insecurities through binge eating, which only deepened the bullying I faced and further fueled my self-doubt. Thus began a vicious cycle of mental health struggles that continued to haunt me, even after I eventually lost the weight.

For years, I tried—and failed—to lose weight. I exercised relentlessly, followed restrictive diets, and devoured articles, magazines, and fitness advice, but no matter what I did, my mental health would knock me down time and time again. It was soul-crushing. I would stand in front of the mirror, grabbing at the fat around my midsection, feeling broken and ashamed. The cruel words people had thrown at me started to feel true. But then, one day, something changed. After years of pain, stress, and self-torment, a new mindset began to take shape. I made a decision: I would no longer be a victim—of myself, of others, or of the negativity that had plagued me for so long. That was the turning point. I shouted "NO" to the doubt and dug my heels in, vowing to rebuild myself from the ground up. What had once been a history of being targeted and shamed became the fuel for my mental conditioning—making me tougher, more resilient, and more determined to succeed. Those difficult years laid the foundation for me to become the adventure athlete I am today.

I took a drastic approach, overhauling my entire lifestyle and planting the roots for my diet, training, and philosophy. I chose the hard, grueling path to weight loss—hours of gut-wrenching training that built the endurance and mental toughness I thrive on today. I adopted a Spartan lifestyle, organizing my days around a lean, caveman-like diet, training as though my life depended on it. My routine involved long-distance cardio, followed by strength training, more cardio, cold exposure, and as much movement as I could manage. While my peers were out partying, I quit drinking and focused entirely on my transformation. It was a lonely journey, but it was all or nothing.

My life was far from glamorous, but it worked. In fact, I came to crave it. This relentless pursuit forged me into what I call an "adventure athlete"—a term I’ve coined to describe my philosophy and approach to training. For me, it’s about exploring every facet of mindset, sport, and movement to prepare for challenges no one has ever attempted before. It’s about venturing into uncharted waters, both physically and mentally.

While the physical changes were clear, I also battled an emotional rollercoaster as I wrestled with who I was beneath the weight. Years of bullying, humiliation, and self-doubt clashed with a newfound freedom—the realization that I could now achieve anything I set my mind to. Yet, the negativity and trauma from those years continued to pull me down. Without binge eating as a crutch, I had to find new ways to navigate my mindset. I drew strength and insight from ancient philosophy, Buddhism, therapy, religious texts, military history, martial arts, and more.

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Years after my weight loss, I began developing my own systemic approach to building a resilient, antifragile mindset—one that not only endures the stresses of life but thrives on them, honing an endurance-based spirit that seeks out challenge. During this time, I was progressing as a professional photographer, yet my physical abilities continued to evolve. I immersed myself in various sports and training techniques, including Olympic weightlifting, movement training, maces, rock climbing, martial arts, and surfing.

This hands-on physical experience expanded my understanding and opened my eyes to just how little we truly know about sports, fitness, and the depths of the human spirit. Each new challenge broadened my perspective, driving home the limitless potential of what the body and mind can achieve when pushed beyond comfort.

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"Using no way as way, using no limitation as limitation" - BRUCE LEE

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To this date my feats include (with more attempts planned): 

 

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• 2020, September 16th - The Pen-Y-Fan Tractor Tyre Push: pushed and flipped a 110kg (243lb) tractor tyre up southern Britain's highest peak for Mental Health Research UK.

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• 2021, May, 29th - The Mighty Hammerhton: set the worlds first record for the most sledgehammer slams in 24 hours by completing over 28,000 slams in 16 1/2 hours for The Centre for Humane Technology.

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• 2022, August, 13th - The Worlds Longest Yoke Carry:  Carried a 60kg (133lb) yoke 20 miles in 1 day.

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• 2022,  November, 30th - The Super Barbarian: Marching 1 mile with 428lbs of weight via various equipment in just 2 hours 30 min

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• 2023, February 18th - Carried a 100lb rock up a mountain... for fun?

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• 2023, November 25th - Hammerthon 2.0: beat my previous record by completing 30,000 sledgehammer hits in 12 hours 16 minutes to raise donations and awareness for functional neurological disorder 

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Fast forward to today, and I’m still pushing the boundaries of movement, lifestyle, and the uncharted potential of human performance. In recent years, I've found myself on both sides of the lens—transitioning from a once-depressed, morbidly obese individual to someone who now runs a podcast and produces content online. It’s been an intimidating yet exhilarating journey, constantly challenging me to step outside my comfort zone.

Today, I also help lead Brawd Health, a dynamic adventure fitness brand where I apply everything I’ve learned to help others conquer their own mental and physical battles. It’s about guiding them through their wins and losses, using the wealth of knowledge I’ve gathered over the years. The best part? I’m still learning every single day, and I’m constantly planning new, extreme, and unconventional world-first challenges—whether for adventure, fun, or charity.