In this episode, host Connor, an Environment & Sustainability student and fitness coach, shares his alternative vision for a future where protecting the planet and bringing people together go hand in hand. He’s joined by William Brown – a truth-seeker, nomad, former personal trainer, and health optimiser, who’s making waves on X by cutting through the noise and pushing honest conversations.

Together, we dive into the clash between environmentalism and the polarising mainstream media, the role of tech pioneers like Elon Musk (Tesla, SpaceX, The Boring Company), and how innovation could shape a better future. We also unpack the politics of division – from Trump to Doge, and everything in between – exploring how we can break free from the noise and work toward unity.

This is a raw, open discussion about the realities we face, the future we hope for, and the bridges we need to build to get there.

On this episode host Connor was joined by previous guests, Teddy Lomas, Minty Lawson-Smith & Sean Thompson.

January is probably one of the if not the biggest month for people wanting to make positive changes in their life. Following on from the Christmas hangover where we most definitely over indulged on food and drink, we now have the realisation that this trend cannot continue an due most get ourselves back in action. But the turning of the new year also offer some the opportunity of a clean slate from which to work from, a sort of "new beginning", especially if they have wanted to make a big change in their life.

But does this "New Year, New Me" phenomenon expose people to a false sense of change? Our people blindly following the hype and trends which promise a better life? Or is this a moment which can be harnessed in the pursuit of greatness?

Well we broke down our thoughts around this, shared goals that we have set ourselves along with the motivations behind them.

As you'll here in this episode, Minty along with two friends will be taking on an epic Three Peaks adventure this summer and all for a good cause:

"We are cycling to the 3 highest peaks in the UK, and climbing them in 4 days to raising money The Eve Appeal. That's over 700km of cycling and 3000m of climbing by foot!

The Eve Appeal is the UK’s leading gynae cancer charity. They fund research to help prevent and earlier diagnose the five gynaecological cancers. They are aiming to expand the testing process in the UK so that more people can become aware of their cancer risk and take preventative measures or spot cancer at the earliest stage possible when it is most treatable."

You can click this link and support the girls on their journey and find out how you can get that simple but important test.

Also, we have just released our "House Of Growth" T-shirt which you can purchase from our website here - Use Code: CONNECTED for 15% off.

Thanks for your support, we really do approached it. If you did like this episode, please share with friends, family and on you social.

Your host,

Connor

It was a pleasure to welcome Alex onto our podcast to explore the world of Exhale coffee. If like me, coffee is one of the first things that you look forward to in the morning then this podcast might blow your mind!

Not only does coffee taste great but it has the potential to be one of the healthiest drinks that you can consume, if grown, harvested, and processed in the right conditions. This means that coffee can play an important role in your health and wellness journey.

More about Exhale:

Exhale Coffee is a UK-based brand focused on producing healthy, organic coffee. They emphasize a unique process involving nine independent lab tests to optimize for polyphenols, ensuring their coffee is an antioxidant powerhouse, free from mycotoxins and pesticides, and naturally rich in vitamin B3. The brand values sustainability and health, sourcing organic, sustainably produced coffee, and using a roasting process that retains the coffee's natural health benefits. Exhale Coffee promotes a lifestyle of outdoor activity, social connectedness, and overall health and wellness, enhanced by their high-quality coffee. For more detailed information, you can visit their website at Exhale Coffee.

At the end of this enlightening conversation with the Alex, we'd like to invite all our listeners to hop over to our website. In addition to our passion for coffee, we're also dedicated to sustainability, and we have an exciting range of sustainable sportswear products that we can't wait for you to explore. So, after you've enjoyed this episode, be sure to visit our website and discover how you can elevate your active lifestyle while making a positive impact on our planet. Your journey to a healthier and more sustainable you begins here!

On this episode we chatted with Minty Lawson-Smith who is Head of Sports at TenZing Natural Energy. As well as playing a role in the story of Tenzing, Minty is also an avid cyclist and runner, having completed two half Iron-Mans to date. In this podcast we covered the mission behind the brand, their goals and objectives within the energy drink industry, and the importance of building a community with shared values.

About Tenzing: In a world saturated with generic energy drinks, Tenzing embarked on a mission in 2016 to redefine the game, introducing a revolutionary beverage that's plant-based, low-calorie, and totally natural.

Tensing not only disrupted the energy drink industry but also took a stand against artificial ingredients and excessive sugar, redirecting billions away from petrol-guzzling marketing to invest in environmental projects. They've created a community of like-minded adventurers who wholeheartedly support their mission to make a positive impact on our planet.

But the journey doesn't stop there! Our guest uncovered a powerful recipe in the Himalayas, used by Sherpas – the elite mountaineers. Fueled by the energy, respect for nature, and pure plant power of these extraordinary individuals, they founded TENZING, named in honor of TENZING Norgay, one of the first men to conquer Mount Everest.

Today, Tenzing is on a mission to give back more to nature than they take, proudly boasting a carbon-negative footprint. They're dedicated to protecting our natural playgrounds so that together, we can climb clean mountains, surf pristine oceans, and run through fresh air.

Get ready to be inspired and join us in welcoming our incredible guest Minty as she shares their journey of crafting a beverage that not only fuels your adventures but also fuels positive change for our planet.

Minty: @mintys_fress_fitness

https://tenzingnaturalenergy.com/pages/our-story

In the episode host and co-founder of United We Are Connor Mcdonald is joined by fellow coaches and creators of 'Move For Muddy' Sean Thompson and Teddy Lomas.

Following the tragic passing of Sean's cousin, Matthew Hallas, who took his own life after long fought battle with alcohol addiction and depression, Sean noticed his own mental health starting to deteriorate. Realising the challenges ahead, Sean to it upon himself actively improve his own health from movement whilst also honouring his late cousin, giving rise 'Move For Muddy'.

This year Sean teamed up with Teddy to push the movement out to more people where they aimed to get as many people moving throughout the month of November - with the total goal of 260km.

It was an honest conversation, and we thank both Sean and Teddy for sharing their stories, tips and thoughts behind the movement.

If you would like to support further then you can donate to MFM charity partner https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/matthew-2022

If you, like so many of us are struggling with mental health, or have in the past and need someone to talk to, then please see the links below where you can get the support you need.

Samaritans. To talk about anything that is upsetting you, you can contact Samaritans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can call 116 123 (free from any phone), email jo@samaritans.org-

SANEline. If you're experiencing a mental health problem or supporting someone else, you can call SANEline on 0300 304 7000-

National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK. Offers a supportive listening service to anyone with thoughts of suicide. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK on 0800 689 5652

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM). You can call the CALM on 0800 58 58 58 (5pm–midnight every day) if you are struggling and need to talk. 

Young Minds. It has a series of guides for young people on mental health conditions, coping with life, medications, and more, which can be found here. There is also support for parents, with a helpline on 0808 802 5544 open from 9.30-4, Monday to Friday and a web chat service available here.

Find out more about United We Are and the mission we are on to protect our sports environment. www.unitedweare.co.uk

Thanks for listening,

Team UWA