What if the barrier to better mental health isn’t knowledge – it’s actually doing something about it? Most of us know meditation and gratitude are good for us, but how many of us actually practice them daily?
In this honest conversation, Dr. Jodi Richardson speaks with Cooper Chapman about the gap between knowing what helps and actually taking action. Cooper shares his personal journey from professional surfer to mental health advocate, shaped by early losses to suicide and his father’s struggles with depression in an era of “toughen up” masculinity.
The conversation explores a deceptively simple question: Can we give just 1% of our day – 14 minute – to mental health? And more importantly, what would that actually look like in practice?
Key insights from this episode:
- Why meditation isn’t about being “good” at it – it’s about showing up
- The water bottle metaphor: understanding why your mind feels so busy when you first sit down
- How to watch thoughts float by instead of getting swept away by them
- The difference between responding and reacting in challenging moments
- Five core values that support mental health: responsibility, gratitude, empathy, mindfulness, and kindness
- Why connecting with nature and our senses matters more than we realize
Dr. Jodi shares a powerful personal story about empathy in a Woolworths checkout line that reminds us how regulation and mindfulness show up in everyday moments. The conversation also touches on eco-anxiety in young people, the importance of male mental health, and why making mental health “cool” matters.
This episode is for you if:
- You’ve tried meditation and felt like you were “doing it wrong”
- You know what helps but struggle with consistency
- You’re looking for practical, science-backed approaches that don’t require hours of your day
- You want to understand how to be more present in daily life
A refreshingly honest discussion about mental health that moves beyond awareness into actionable practices anyone can start today.
Resources mentioned:
- Shiva Rasa (YouTube/Spotify) for breathwork and meditation
- The 1% framework: 10 minutes meditation + 4 minutes gratitude
- Join Cooper’s community: DM @thegoodhumanfactory on Instagram
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