In this chaotic, hilarious, and unexpectedly meaningful episode, Burso is joined by Fitzy, Juzzy, and Dave “Johnno” at Melbourne’s URBNSURF to reflect on their eight-week journey through the Waves of Wellness surf program—a mental health initiative blending group therapy and man-made waves.

The episode opens with mic mishaps, Ricky Bobby impressions, and awkward lollipop-style handling of audio gear—before settling into a rich and relatable conversation about why the surfboard might be the new couch for veterans and first responders.

They discuss what it was like stepping into a wetsuit for the first time in years—especially ones that feel more like sieves than insulation—and how man-made barrels (even if only 4 seconds long) created space for real emotional release. Amongst the banter, one surprising revelation stood out: the real healing didn’t happen in the chat circles—it happened during party waves and post-surf coffees.

The team jokes about flaps, velcro shoes, and microphones that feel like Cossack hats, but also get deep:

• Why are younger veterans so hard to reach?
• Why is it easier to open up during a wipeout than in a psychologist’s office?
• Has the loss of the “after-shift beer” killed off one of the best support tools we had?

Anecdotes You’ll Love:

• Dave Johnno DJ... pees in his wetsuit (accidentally?), only to discover it was a drysuit.
• Fitzy openly admits if he’s not having fun surfing, “no one’s getting up”—sabotage is the name of the game.
• Dave finally talks… and ends up being the most poetic, describing mic windscreens as “Russian hats for mice in Stalingrad.”
• They debate shrimp breeds and the philosophical merit of Neocaridina.
• Multiple running jokes around “adages,” eventually becoming a game of Adage Bingo.

Despite the laughs, there’s real substance here. They talk about how this kind of surf-based therapy helps where traditional models don’t—no pressure to perform, no clinical coldness, just mateship, motion, and momentum.

They reflect on the disconnect between veterans and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA), pointing out the flawed communication systems and outdated platforms like DVA TV. Even with good programs like this one, they say, “How do you help people if you can’t even contact them?”

The episode closes with a discussion on sustainability—can the crew keep surfing after the program ends? Would they pay to come back? Can this model work nationally? They’re not sure, but one thing's clear: connection, even over shrimp jokes and cold water, can be life-changing.

Matty Morris of https://www.zerolimitspodcast.com/ helps us out with a banger of a tune. If you want to hear about some real intense moments from Veterans and First Responders. Check out Zero Limits Podcast.

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Welcome to a very real, slightly unhinged debrief from the Surf Coast Trail Marathon — where fitness meets dysfunction and high-vis Team Veteran shirts try to outshine deep sand and cramping quads. Recorded on the move with DJI mics (and some very questionable mic technique), this episode captures Joe, Chris, and Burso unpacking the pain, pride, and hilarity of trail running in Torquay.

What does it take to run a trail marathon on zero prep?

How do you survive when your legs lock up halfway through the course?
And what happens when your support crew keeps popping out of bushes like budget wildlife photographers?

Joe kicks things off with a solid dose of humility — recovering from the flu, aiming for sub-2 hours, and ending up somewhere in the 2:15 range with calf cramps from the first hill. He shares how practicing gratitude kept him going when breathing felt impossible and feet kept finding puddles. His run started on the beach, ended in pain, and included two surprise ambushes by Burso and Fitzy hiding in the shrubbery like amateur trail trolls.

Meanwhile, Chris starts his day by accidentally salting his Weet-Bix, easing into the second leg of the race after a high-five handover, and immediately running into deep sand and a monster hill. The two teammates joke about their “very average” performance but somehow still manage a third-place finish — in a field of six, but who's counting?

Highlights & Laughs:

• Bush-Banter Ambushes: Burso and Fitzy pop out from behind bushes mid-race, leading to Joe swearing, forgetting questions, and nearly throwing the mic in a cramp-fueled rage.
• Socks, Sponsors & Silence: Asked live mid-run about sponsors, Joe blanked entirely. “His brain stopped,” Burso notes. “All of the above,” Joe replies.
• Post-Race Pub Chat: The lads recap over beers at Four Pines in Torquay, where even the winner of the marathon casually mentions he's gunning for a 2:30 at the Gold Coast — on a deload week.
• Podium Ditching: Despite coming third, the boys skip the ceremony to eat chips and get home to stretch and sulk.
• Parkrun Shade: The friendly rivalry continues as Chris edges Joe in both trail and Parkrun times, though Joe claims moral victory for showing up sick.

Future Fun:

• Spartan races in Geelong? Stadium stomps? Highlander trail events? Burso’s working on it.
• Puffing Billy run in September? Maybe. If Blue doesn’t explode another hammy first.

🔥 What This Podcast Answers:

• How do two untrained blokes survive a trail marathon without killing each other?
• Is there any dignity in being overtaken by a 14-year-old mountain goat?
• Can you really hide in bushes twice and still be invited back?
• Why are Snickers and salted cereal now part of elite-level nutrition?

Matty Morris of https://www.zerolimitspodcast.com/ helps us out with a banger of a tune. If you want to hear about some real intense moments from Veterans and First Responders. Check out Zero Limits Podcast.

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This episode brings the trio—Burso, Fitzy, and Joe—back together for a mix of trail-running prep, personal stories, and absolute chaos. With Joe signed up to run the first 19km leg of the Surf Coast Trail Marathon (while still recovering from Influenza A), and his mate Chris doing the second leg, the episode dives into the unfiltered realities of amateur endurance sports: the motivation, the gear, the setbacks, and the questionable preparation.

There’s no shortage of friendly roasting and classic Fitzy shade as the boys cover everything from text message ghosting, to accidental podium finishes, to toe trauma. Joe admits to doing “almost zero prep” for this race, aside from a solid pasta meal and packing some emergency Skittles. He reflects on the brutal Wilson’s Prom Marathon, where dehydration and searing granite heat saw him sheltering under a tree for 15 minutes before walking the final 6K—only to discover he’d placed on the podium due to mass DNFs.

Open-ended questions this episode answers:

• Can you run a trail marathon without training and still have fun—or even place?
• What’s more important—running tech or snacks?
• Why do your toenails always betray you when the running gets tough?
• Can banter, resilience, and a bit of stubbornness carry you through a cold 19km?

The episode also explores the infamous Surf Coast Century, the appeal of team-based endurance events, and the possibility of putting together veteran teams for bigger challenges. Fitzy, ever the pragmatist, gives gear tips while shaming everyone’s Strava usage. Meanwhile, Joe’s story about getting his best half-marathon time after stepping off a submarine becomes one of the many “how the hell did that happen?” moments.

But it’s not all running. From Burso being taunted by an 11-year-old parkrun assassin, to Fitzy’s blackened toenails, and heated arm-wrestle rivalries with tattooed authors, there’s no shortage of off-track stories that make this episode a rollercoaster of laughs and relatable chaos.

🧩 Anecdotes Listeners Will Enjoy

• Joe’s surprise podium at Wilson’s Prom because no one else finished.
• Burso’s park run rivalry with a child who stops, stares, then sprints away just to mock him.
• Fitzy pulling off his sock mid-episode to show a still-black, half-missing toenail.
• The tragic tale of a ring camera catching Burso in a shirt-over-head stealth mission.
• The running gear debate that somehow ends in a savage takedown of Dave’s pace.

Matty Morris of https://www.zerolimitspodcast.com/ helps us out with a banger of a tune. If you want to hear about some real intense moments from Veterans and First Responders. Check out Zero Limits Podcast.

Support the show