Welcome to Harry’s Gym Chat, we’re in my gym and we’re going to chat! This is a podcast powered by USN; we’ve got some exclusive offers for you that we are going to be giving away a little bit later in the episode. At the same time we are on YouTube so make sure you subscribe, we’re going to be talking about all things health and wealth and fitness. But, also all things positive because I’m a positive guy and we like to keep it fun and friendly.
When we lace up our shoes and hit the track, it's not just about the physical grind – there's a whole world of mental toughness and joy in the journey. That's what my super coach friend Diren Kartal (https://www.instagram.com/diren.kartal/ ) and I, Harry AA, your GB 100 meter sprinter, get into in the latest heart-to-heart on Harry's Gym Chat. We're breaking down the walls between fitness triumphs and the happiness hustle, sharing our personal tales from the athletic field to the coaching corner, and how these experiences sculpt our pursuit of growth.
The conversation takes a heartfelt turn as we grapple with the weight of communal responsibility, especially in times of global challenges like the recent earthquake in Turkey. With no stone left unturned, we wade through the complexities of managing donations and fostering trust within teams, all the while pondering the role of community in shaping how we raise our kids. Our light-hearted banter on cultural parenting contrasts will tickle your funny bone, yet leave you pondering society's deep-seated values.
Rounding off this episode, we expose the raw edges of modern communication, confidence, and authenticity, and how they shape our approach to life and sport. We're pulling back the curtain on the paradox of personal branding and sponsorship in athletics, dishing out our unfiltered take on staying genuine amidst commercial pressures. Whether you're a budding athlete or just looking for that spark of authenticity in your daily grind, join us for laughs, truth bombs, and a dose of real talk on embracing your greatness without compromise.
Harry Aikines Aryeetey is an Olympian having represented Great Britain in the Rio Olympics as well as the Commonwealth Games, World Championships and European Championships earning him medals, including 5 gold medals, in 4x100m relay and 100m events. Harry is also a well-known fitness influencer where he shares his passion for sport and fitness with his audiences on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
For more from Harry visit:
Instagram: @aikines https://www.instagram.com/aikines/
TikTok: @harryaikines https://www.tiktok.com/@harryaikines
YouTube: @aikines1 https://www.youtube.com/@aikines1
Exclusive Offer:
Harry’s Gym Chat is powered by USN. For an exclusive offer use code HGCDiren for a 20% discount at checkout from product purchased through https://www.USN.co.uk available for the first 300 shoppers and while stocks last. T&C apply and can be viewed here: https://www.usn.co.uk/pages/harrys-gym-chat-offers-terms-conditions
Find more from our sponsors USN:
Website: https://www.USN.co.uk
Welcome to Harry’s Gym Chat, we’re in my gym and we’re going to chat! This is a podcast powered by USN; we’ve got some exclusive offers for you that we are going to be giving away a little bit later in the episode. At the same time we are on YouTube so make sure you subscribe, we’re going to be talking about all things health and wealth and fitness. But, also all things positive because I’m a positive guy and we like to keep it fun and friendly.
When we lace up our shoes and hit the track, it's not just about the physical grind – there's a whole world of mental toughness and joy in the journey. That's what my super coach friend Diren Kartal (https://www.instagram.com/diren.kartal/ ) and I, Harry AA, your GB 100 meter sprinter, get into in the latest heart-to-heart on Harry's Gym Chat. We're breaking down the walls between fitness triumphs and the happiness hustle, sharing our personal tales from the athletic field to the coaching corner, and how these experiences sculpt our pursuit of growth.
The conversation takes a heartfelt turn as we grapple with the weight of communal responsibility, especially in times of global challenges like the recent earthquake in Turkey. With no stone left unturned, we wade through the complexities of managing donations and fostering trust within teams, all the while pondering the role of community in shaping how we raise our kids. Our light-hearted banter on cultural parenting contrasts will tickle your funny bone, yet leave you pondering society's deep-seated values.
Rounding off this episode, we expose the raw edges of modern communication, confidence, and authenticity, and how they shape our approach to life and sport. We're pulling back the curtain on the paradox of personal branding and sponsorship in athletics, dishing out our unfiltered take on staying genuine amidst commercial pressures. Whether you're a budding athlete or just looking for that spark of authenticity in your daily grind, join us for laughs, truth bombs, and a dose of real talk on embracing your greatness without compromise.
Harry Aikines Aryeetey is an Olympian having represented Great Britain in the Rio Olympics as well as the Commonwealth Games, World Championships and European Championships earning him medals, including 5 gold medals, in 4x100m relay and 100m events. Harry is also a well-known fitness influencer where he shares his passion for sport and fitness with his audiences on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
For more from Harry visit:
Instagram: @aikines https://www.instagram.com/aikines/
TikTok: @harryaikines https://www.tiktok.com/@harryaikines
YouTube: @aikines1 https://www.youtube.com/@aikines1
Exclusive Offer:
Harry’s Gym Chat is powered by USN. For an exclusive offer use code HGCDiren for a 20% discount at checkout from product purchased through https://www.USN.co.uk available for the first 300 shoppers and while stocks last. T&C apply and can be viewed here: https://www.usn.co.uk/pages/harrys-gym-chat-offers-terms-conditions
Find more from our sponsors USN:
Website: https://www.USN.co.uk
Welcome to Harry's Gym Chat. We're in my gym and we're going to chat. Now. It's a podcast powered by USN. We've got some exclusive offers for you that we are going to be giving away a little later in the video, but at the same time, we are on YouTube, so make sure you subscribe. We're going to be talking about everything health and wealth and fitness, but also all things positive, because I'm a positive guy, I'm a big guy. We're keeping it fun and friendly. So look, jump in, turn the volume up and let's do this. What's happening? People? Harry AA here, your GB 100 meter sprinter, and I am here today on a podcast with someone I would class as a friend someone that I am. I really enjoy watching their content. Someone who I'd call a super coach during cartel. Here we are live and kicking.
Speaker 2:What you got for me, bro, my 100 meters is about 10.2 seconds on a good day uh just to start, this guy is guy is.
Speaker 1:I'm excited for this chat, because, more so because obviously I'm Harry, we're in my gym, we're going to chat in some podcasts. Now you are Mr. Would you say you're Mr? No Filter.
Speaker 2:I don't know, or just the truth. Oh, I like that.
Speaker 1:The truth, the truth, the truth, yeah the truth cart, the Truth, yeah, the Truth Cartel that's going on a t-shirt.
Speaker 2:That is going on a t-shirt With Project X underneath it. Oh nice, I like that. I'm going to take that. I'm going to take that. Yes, all in one tee. All in one tee.
Speaker 1:Bro, like I don't even know what label to give you Because genuinely You're a man of many trades. You've got a sporting background.
Speaker 2:That's my problem, you know. Yeah, because I don't know which direction to really go. Honest to god, I'm having a bit of a quarter-life crisis again but no, legit, you've come from a sporting background.
Speaker 1:That's what not a lot of people understand. Obviously, when you look at my guy's socials, he you know you're active yeah, you do your bj. The man's active, he's out there, he's outside. Yeah, you're, you're active, you've done, you do your bjj. But yeah, you also play football to a high level. Yeah, you partook in other sports to understand them at a fairly high level. Yeah, so tell us more about that.
Speaker 2:You know what? Let's put it like this. I guess I've utilised I'm going to take that high level football comment because I never thought I did. You know, signed professional.
Speaker 1:We've all got dreams Signed, professional, you know for about two weeks.
Speaker 2:Then I got injured. They cut the contract out.
Speaker 1:We don't need to talk about that. That's brutal.
Speaker 2:That's Australia for you. But I guess I've done a solid base of like a sporting background with football from a young age and then any other sport or environment I've been in where I have a lot of friends that are athletes, professionals in their realm. I've kind of utilized that, along with the individuals that I've coached over the years, kind of put those things together to help people using sport and exercise to kind of make them happy. I guess you know, because everyone really when it comes from a coaching perspective, it's to get people fit, but really it's all about being happy. You know, really this it's to get people fit, but really it's all about being happy.
Speaker 1:You know, really, ultimately, this is where, this is where people I'm excited for this again because I feel like people can see how much, how passionate you are, how caring you are. The truth, the truth, this is the truth.
Speaker 1:People can see how passionate caring you are like you're using experiences from other ways of life to ultimately, you could just be like, yeah, I want to make people fit, healthy, this. But you're talking about happiness. Yeah, happiness is key because, ultimately, what I come from athletics background I've never seen, uh, an unhappy athlete thrive. Yeah, I see happy athletes do well, that's a good point. Yeah, I see happy athletes have longevity and I've seen happy athletes go on to you know, break boundaries and surpass their, their normality of what they expected. So when we really talk about happiness, you're a super coach. I would class you as a super coach because you speak the truth, you've got experience and you have an abundance of clients. So talk to me more about that happiness aspect when you're dealing with them.
Speaker 2:I guess it's like um, you know what sport does or exercise does. It kind of it challenges you and creates obstacles mental obstacles more than like physical ones really for you to kind of overcome them. And that is when you really see like kind of the truth with individuals. You see people's like true colors, yeah, and I think when people realize, I think sometimes people actually see their own true colors, yes, and they're like holy shit.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I'm a weak fucking person.
Speaker 1:So are you there to highlight the factor of the bubble, pop the bubble to some degree for a lot of individuals to be like look, you thought you were doing this actually, but this is how you want to be doing it, to allow yourself to be here.
Speaker 2:I think it's about kind of pushing people outside their comfort zone the right amount to keep them going, but also test them and help them grow, instead of kind of completely throwing someone in the deep end.
Speaker 2:But, again, it depends on the individual and what they respond to the best, and I guess for that you have to be a good communicator and be able to assess how I would speak to you compared to someone else, and I think that's probably one of the traits most coaches, I think probably lack yeah, which probably makes me look probably better than what I am. Yeah, no, because at the end of the day, you're like I said you're, you're a people's person.
Speaker 1:You actually read people in what very good circumstances and situations. Is it easier to do, obviously, as an online coach? Yeah, is it easier to do with the experience that you've had as a PT in actual gyms, or is it the case or something you just learned with people?
Speaker 2:I've learned that through people, I feel like I communicate well with people. So wherever I've traveled and whatnot, whether it's different cultures, whether you're black, white, indian, wherever you're from, or if you're poor, rich, whatever you are, because I've had so many conversations with individuals, I kind of understand their cultural background, which gives me a better indication of how I can speak to them. I guess I'll try to be in it and then I guess you speak to them in a way that they're gonna understand how they're gonna relate, yeah, which they're gonna respond to better. When it comes to a coaching perspective, you know and that's.
Speaker 1:I think that's the most fun of it you know, communication and humans, you know but, but this is where it kind of like sits on me quite heavy. You're, you're, you know we, we see, we see what we see on socials and you can see what you want to see on socials, but when you're actually talking about happiness and individuals, yeah like you're kind of a big cuddly bear man like my man's going out to turkey and doing absolute favours. You know, you're literally doing, you know, obviously, with whatever travesties happened out there.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:First flight out there, yeah.
Speaker 2:That was a bit mad. Yeah, what was that like? It was weird, didn't it? Obviously, because it's home, it's my dad's town, so, like when the earthquake happened in Turkey and I'm sipping on my fucking Starbucks, walking down the high streets in SW, I've just felt like an utter prick. I was just like you've got the power to influence people, do something, so why don't you go ahead and do something? And it hit home. I'll be honest, I didn't do that when the shit happened in Ukraine. Yeah, it's not the same feeling. So, when it the truth, yeah, so like and so like, and I went there, did what I can, which was weird because I didn't know what to do. I just wanted to go there and kind of show people, uh, what's actually happening instead of what the media show.
Speaker 1:Okay, because it's weird, you make, you make. I saw a different light, I saw different.
Speaker 2:Oh good, okay good yeah, and that was the goal. And even now I've raised, I think, 108, 109k Mate. It was 100K in 24 hours. That's madness, that was mad. Yeah, but I still haven't used it. Yeah, and I'm not using it until it goes to the right place Turkey can be a very corrupt place.
Speaker 1:Careful who you kind of hand the money over to, because now it's just about the responsibility. Like you, you're holding a big responsibility.
Speaker 2:It is, yeah, I won't lie when it happened and it hit 100k. I was like, oh my god, dude, you've just created even more work for yourself, because I'm already kind of there's a lot of stress with work coaching people.
Speaker 1:You're already managing so many personalities coaches that uh what was happening like talk to us more on a personal level, like day to day. Yeah, you've got this weight over your head in terms of you. You've got something in your gut that's telling you I need to go out and help. You've gone out and helped, but in a certain sense, you put life on pause, right?
Speaker 2:yeah, had to, but luckily now this year I've built like a solid team. I've got someone on operations, product manager, coaches, a team that's supporting me now, which allows me to have more freedom in the things that where I can do things like this throughout the day to be able to give more value to individuals.
Speaker 1:You hear them things there yeah, business acumen.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, not influencer, you know, like most of the guests here, no, I'm joking, I'm joking, I'm joking, yeah, so that's kind of gave me the freedom to be able to do stuff like that.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And now it's just about figuring. But I was very honest about everything. Yeah, I was like, guys, just a heads up, this money that you'll send probably won't get used for a year or more and I will send the money back to everyone If I have to. I have to make sure it goes to the right place. You know so, and I was real honest about it and luckily people's responses were really positive because I was just very open about it. You know so for that reason it was good, but it was. I've been raised like that in it. I've been raised from a poor background and in a poor background you need communities to survive and I think with coaching I kind of create that community. In coaching and no matter what anyone says, whether you're trying to get fit, confident, whatever it is, most people are lonely, facts, you know so, and when you just give the right nudge in the right community to individuals, you can really kind of just push them in the right way.
Speaker 1:On that, community topic here, like I know. I know for me I've got a daughter, three years old, um, and when I look at western culture, I find it really odd that you know, to a certain degree I'm I'm going to be kicking her out at 18 or I'm going to be trying to send her somewhere else, or yeah, and I look at I'm west african ghanaian when I go back home and I see how they raise children. It is a community feel. You know whether they live in one compound with different households in one compound within a certain area. You know you're able to watch someone else's kid whilst they go to work or they have your kid whilst they go to everyone's raising. It takes a village to raise the children as they do say and I've put so much investment and time into this.
Speaker 1:You know, this life, this person, and I'm really trying to get rid of them. Do you know? I mean that thing is always sort of I'm like do you know what, wherever I live, you'll be able to live with me forever. Do you know? I mean that's my mindset around it. So when you talk about community and that, that feeling of you know, happiness and not being lonely, I don't get why we're always trying to be away from other people. We're trying to be away from our core connectivist.
Speaker 2:It's always throwing me off the weird thing about western world. If the western world could take rent off their kids at the age of six, they'd probably fucking do it. You know what I mean. So that's like all of them baby models.
Speaker 1:They get in.
Speaker 2:They're in the business now you know what I mean man walking up to Harry when he's six years old. Big man, why haven't you got a job yet you?
Speaker 1:know? Do you know what? You're not wrong because inflation at the minute, yeah, people looking at their heating bill and they're just going. Do you know what? Yeah, they're looking at their heat like, yeah, you know what you? Yeah, you owe me something.
Speaker 1:You think you're having a hot mark today not even go get that new model because people say to me why are you not like that? And I'm like, well, firstly she wouldn't sit still and secondly, it's just not something I put. I have such limited time, I'd prefer to spend it with her. I understand if kids do that sort of stuff because there's a, there's an avenue for it, yeah. But you know there's that. What's it? That beauty pageant mom? You know that pushy parent that's doing it for them but it's not for them. I think if you've got that mindset around it, I mean yeah that to me.
Speaker 2:Just I don't think it's healthy. Personally, do you know? I mean, I think for kids. I think if you start growing them up with that sort of environment around them, everything they're going to seek validation from the way they look and obviously as a coach, you're going to come across so many individuals that have been in that space oh, loads, loads, loads all the time and it's just about kind of reassuring, kind of what's important, yeah, but, like I said, most people like the western world yeah, can be shit.
Speaker 2:Right Facts your parents came here to make money, bruv. It's not like like they came here because times are probably tough in Africa. You come to the Western world to make a bit of money, right.
Speaker 1:It's not exactly.
Speaker 2:It's not a matter of which is why, when I went and traveled in Australia, my parents were like we came to England, so you guys have an opportunity. Why are you fucking off to Australia, you know?
Speaker 1:So I got a British passport. Yeah, exactly, exactly.
Speaker 2:But then what Western world does is what happens when someone has money. When you have money, you don't need community right, you can reach out, you can buy anything, you can order anything to your house. If you're poor, you need to rely on community to survive. It's a resource, you need it. You need to rely on community to survive. It's a resource, you need it. You need to knock on your next door neighbour and be like yo, you got salt. If you did that around here, someone's going to tell you to fuck off go to Sainsbury's down the road.
Speaker 1:You don't feel comfortable enough to knock on someone's door Exactly, let alone asking for a sign 100%. Can I?
Speaker 2:get my package back. Exactly Do you see that our next door neighbor knocked on the door. What, oh my gosh, how dare you? How dare you exactly I know? How dare he ask how I was?
Speaker 1:you know I'm looking for his blinds.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so, like, whatever it is, it's, it's now like communicating with people, like was it today or yesterday? I think I was at a? I was at a coffee shop and like a guy was like staring at me and like I don't know why he was staring. Was it because he maybe recognised me on socials or whatever it was? So I went, he went, oh sorry.
Speaker 1:I was like oh, you're staring so I just thought I say hello. I just thought I say hello, yeah, and you're confused yeah and now.
Speaker 2:But then his reaction was like I'm fucking weird, so so. So I'm like so, what are you doing here, bro?
Speaker 1:this sounds like such a weird space and point in time where you were caught in like yeah, some sort of parallel universe, yeah, and I'm like I've been friendly and someone is off the back of you staring and making me feel uncomfortable. Exactly, I've tried to make it an okay situation for you and now I'm the croup.
Speaker 2:A hundred percent. And it's weird because then it's like then lucky for me, I don't question myself with that, I'm like oh, it's not you, bro, you're just being normal. But then someone that's probably not confident will question what they did and go I'm such an idiot, I'm never going to do that again. Yeah, Then they feel even more alone. Do you know what I mean?
Speaker 1:It's a knock on effect, so like it's gonna like where do we go with this Exactly?
Speaker 2:And I think people it's getting worse, but people don't even know how to hold a conversation. Every man telling me I do know you of people what I have.
Speaker 1:Basic skills, yeah. But I saw something the other day like obviously I remember growing up and I would be able to leave my house, ride my bike no internet hoping my friends would be in knock on the door yes it's so and so in, can they come out to play?
Speaker 1:and then they'd be like no, they're already out. Or, and that first initial knock took bravery, like yes, especially if it was a parent that you knew was a strict parent or whatever, so and so parent or you know, or if that parent thought you were the bad influence on the friend or whoever you had to fix up, knock on the door not too loud, yes, and say, oh hi, how are you? Are you okay? Not, none of this. Where's Sam? Because, boy, are you okay? Not none of this. Where's Sam?
Speaker 1:Because, boy, when that door closed, the shoe come off and Sam was getting beat to the ear 100% Because my parents if someone called my house phone and someone would just be like is Harry there, you're calling my house phone and you can't say good evening, good afternoon or hello, like you know. Just manners, it's manners.
Speaker 2:Just manners, it's manners. It's weird and it's like, and I've had this, if I've like, posted something like this on a story and there was a question box and they're like oh, it's easy for you to say that, darren, because you're a confident individual, you have good friends and blah, blah, blah. Big man, I put myself in a situation. I put myself out there to create that.
Speaker 1:I'm not confident talking or any person on the street, because I didn't come out my mum's vagina like that. It didn't happen like that. Man didn't come out the womb and say yo, yo, joey Star, joey Star, yo, how you doing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, exactly. So I put myself in situations like you said. That made me nervous and got rejected a lot, yeah, but then you build the courage and you build that resilience of some.
Speaker 1:It's just like training. That resilience of some it's just like training. But then it ultimately comes from that form of play and training. Yes, because I remember playing. 40, 40 years, I remember playing. You know all of this British Bulldog just grouping together.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:I find it so funny how, like to this day, my sisters, my wife, like when I tell them I started playing football, let's say, on a Monday, one friend who introduced me to that group of people, so the group chat has started, and there was a week where my friend who introduced me to this group chat yeah, to play football, um, wasn't there. And so my missus was like, so why are you going if he's not going? And I was just like, well, to go play football, what do you mean? Well, obviously, like what, you don't know anyone there. So why would you go? Yeah, because we're gonna play football. I don't need to know, like we understand what the mission is, and when I get there I'll say hello to everyone, everyone will treat me with the same amount of respect and I will go play football and I will go there and leave. You know, I'll enjoy myself and eat. But for a lot of individuals, like, well, gosh, why would you do that if you don't?
Speaker 1:know it's mad like where's the confidence gone in this world? I appreciate some females might have a different mindset around it, but for me as a boy I could rock up to a pitch. If I see certain dons playing football, I'd be like can I join in?
Speaker 2:yeah, yeah, for sure, and I think the more like technology is obviously great. It can be like I know you because of instagram initially, and then we end up being friends and whatnot. That's great, yeah, positives, yes, but majority of people, they're gonna suffer from never knowing how to communicate like I was. I've got a lot of young cousins I've got. I've got 72, 73 first cousins from my dad's side.
Speaker 1:Wow, my granddad was busy, busy, busy. My granddad was busy in the village.
Speaker 2:My granddad was busy. He said hold my beard, yeah, what you think I can afford, you think you think I can afford condoms in the village my man said you know what I want?
Speaker 1:a I want to be good elderly man. Yeah, 100%.
Speaker 2:Come on. So, like I see, I chat to them a lot, and then I see some of their friends and I'm looking at them. I'm like these kids, they're like, they're so their awareness. There's no awareness, Nothing. I'm just they're walking on the street, One's like bumping into me. Yo, little man, what are you doing? Look up, bruv, You're going to get jacked with your phone or whatever it is. They don't know how to communicate.
Speaker 1:You're creating a space, ideally, for someone to struggle, when actually you can, you know, have an honest conversation about things, address it in the right way, I think. Obviously, like some things that we talk about, sex for me in an African household is like a taboo, isn't it? You don't really talk about these sort of things. You don't talk about even. But then it goes deeper than that because you don't touch on things like failure. You don't talk about, you know, the negative side of things, Like even your mental health. They don't touch on those side of things. So, if you are able to have an honest conversation before these things become a factor, if you introduce the thought of something, because you know we're talking about individuals now, like we need to talk more, we need to talk and address things with the people around us. That's my own honest opinion about it For sure.
Speaker 1:If I could, if you as a friend, if I see you posting something, I'm calling you and I'll be like yo, what's going on, man? You all right? Can I help? Can I help? Yeah? Let me get involved like don't, don't, don't worry. I know we need to reach out to people on social. There's a positive, it could be used, but not so much your point when someone keeps yeah, you know yeah, it's weird, isn't it?
Speaker 2:it's. I think what's happening now, like with a lot of people, is even when they don't have struggle, which is why I get really annoyed with some of these influencers that create these fake, fucking uh things that I know they're not going through, whether it's creating fake roles or drawing some level of attention to their self, creating a struggle when your life is good, bruv okay, so, so with that one, what you're talking about in a certain sense is individuals that see something where a space, yeah, that they can sort of they're creating a struggle.
Speaker 2:It's like I think this is my opinion. I could be completely wrong here, but like I, I've struggled in my. A struggle, it's like I think this is my opinion. I could be completely wrong here, but like I, I've struggled in my time. Whether it's from being from a council estate family, being political refugees, whatever it is, I don't really talk about it enough. I reckon if I did, I reckon I'd get way more attention on socials, probably get a fucking tv deal on bbc, you know yeah, you'd be visiting places and doing whatever else.
Speaker 1:100 something to talk about.
Speaker 2:Be yeah, yeah so what happens when someone talks about like mental health and I know this for a fact people talk about mental health and that haven't had mental health issues, or even create a post about anxiety when they just had an anxious feeling one day, which is a very normal feeling.
Speaker 1:We all feel so you can feel anxious, but doesn't't mean you suffer with anxiety.
Speaker 2:Exactly, and it's almost like disrespects people that are actually diagnosed with anxiety from doctors and professionals, right. So what happens is they almost like create this scenario where they put their self in a place where they are now a victim when they didn't need to be, for if it's attention or whatever it is. You even see this in some rich areas. You got rich kids wearing fresh air forces and they're making them dirty to look to fit in, yeah I'm like are you mad, bro?
Speaker 2:when I get a crease on my air force, I'm fuming it's not happening. I'm walking on my heels, you're like take it off when you drive so you don't crease.
Speaker 1:See, these are my shitty ones you've got a driving yeah and then you've got a casual pair.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but like now you seeing anyone's doing anything to draw any level of attention on social media to then benefit them in a certain way because everyone, it seems like on social media most influencers could be. I'm not fucking wrong. Actually they're looking for validation from other people because they're not happy inside.
Speaker 1:Okay, that's a no, but that's fair enough. I think so, like when you talk about that bracket of influencers. Then where are we going with this?
Speaker 2:because you know you could be classed as an influencer.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah so. So how would you put yourself in that position? Would you say you are looking for some form of validation?
Speaker 2:no, I think whatever I put out is to genuinely, uh, help people or whatever I have that's worked for me. Okay, I put it out there and if it helps people, it people and also I'm having a lot of fun, like I don't record something and go. Oh my God, my hair doesn't look good there. I'm like whatever innit If it bangs it bangs.
Speaker 2:If it doesn't, it doesn't, whereas a lot of people are putting things out that how many times have you gone to an event and met someone and go? You're very different in real life.
Speaker 1:Yes, do you know what I mean? And I mean like you think someone's a bit more confident than what they would be. Yes, in certain spaces, if anything, you're kind of like shocked. Yeah, you're shocked. You kind of think did I see something I wasn't meant to see, or did they just not like me, or have I offended them?
Speaker 2:And then what happens is like in this realm. It's weird because this actually frustrates me. Sometimes someone would be like someone would say wasn't an alcoholic and they, they, I don't know they had a spiritual awakening and finally they're no longer an alcoholic. Their life was on the line and all of this stuff. And now I'm alcohol free and blah, blah, blah and I'm like big man. I had the discipline all my life not to do that. Why don't I get that respect?
Speaker 2:yes yes, so now you're getting advice from an alcoholic yeah, yeah, how does that make sense?
Speaker 1:Are you dumb? It's experience, isn't it so is the fact of the matter is again but do you think that you like, do you think you should explore that space a bit more? But then, does that make you happy?
Speaker 2:Because that's what it comes back down to Exactly, that those are brand deals with people from people, right. I haven't really taken one because something hasn't fit right.
Speaker 1:If.
Speaker 2:Nike came to me and be like yo. I love.
Speaker 1:Nike. I've always wanted Nike or Adidas or whatever it is, and low key. I've seen you in their bits.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and if I don't know, some car spray came up to be like or some beard oil. Yeah, beard oil might work, bro. I need it. You know what I mean I need it. So if it was something, that I just can't do something. The truth in it, I can't do something, I go yeah, I just. Anytime there's something where it doesn't feel like it's me, you can. You can see it, cause I can't hide my face expressions. I can't hide myself. This is a problem.
Speaker 1:I've closed so many doors because of this man 100%, because I don't keep my mouth shut, so why don't you? I feel like you need to start a new topic, and I feel like this point should be Dieran turns down what moment? Do you know what I mean? In what moment you'd be like, rather than actually talking about what you are doing? Yeah, because people aren't seeing enough of what you're turning down. Yeah, so you're like oh, so what's happening today? People? So, just so you know, I turned down this.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but then you look like a prick.
Speaker 1:But it's just a fact, though, because I didn't believe in this.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because, in a certain sense, you're talking about you because of this, and people aren't seeing how much, how truthful you are being yeah, because, like someone will say, oh, this USM product you gave to me, I'll be like oh, cheers, bro, thanks, I appreciate it. Like I'm not, like I hate this. They all taste the same.
Speaker 1:Why is Mando?
Speaker 2:acting like wine tasting, whatever like.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah is as simple as that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, does this fit in with you as an athlete? It fits in, so you work with these things.
Speaker 1:So when you're saying flavour like yes, I personally don't like banana, so I won't promote any. You won't see me holding a banana protein shake.
Speaker 2:Exactly, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:But chocolate, yeah, my raspberry ripple, I love it. Do you know what I mean? I'm there for thing. You just know it's a lie. It's a lie on the topic of supplements. Um, if you don't believe, dirin and uh, you want to find out for yourself whether everything tastes the same? I've got an exclusive offer for you. Usn are going to be giving out a little bit of an exclusive offer on that note. So it's hgc. Dirin, put that in the website, sort yourself out, have a little taste test and let me know what you think. Some goodies for you. Yeah, because I'm nice like that. I like, I like to make sure that you're, uh, you know you're, you're welcome properly, you know, thank you, you make the journey to me now.
Speaker 1:We've got some sups in there. What, what in there would you use? So obviously, again, I'm talking from usm perspective. We've got some protein bars, yeah. We've got some, uh, muscle fuel anabolic, which is like a mass gainer, talking about like 2000 calories. Got some zma, which personally I absolutely love, yeah. And then we've got some, uh, ashwagandha what are?
Speaker 2:you taking to be a first specimen. Like myself, who's quite high in testosterone and has all these things, I'll go for whatever tastes the best so you're training, you're not supplemented you know what? Only protein, protein creatine. I started using this year no way first time.
Speaker 1:You've only just started using. How are you feeling? You feeling tight one?
Speaker 2:yeah, I closed a little bit, no actually the first time I ever used it. First time I touched it was when we did that sprinting training and something happened to my hamstring yeah, then I stopped.
Speaker 1:Yes, I was I loaded for like three.
Speaker 2:I'd loaded for like three days, yeah, and I was like fuck this, I'm coming off this, I'm not doing this again.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it does make you feel tight, obviously. It obviously stores more water and could like widen your cell and make you feel tighter, so yeah, I've popped some tendons when hitting 10 grams a day.
Speaker 2:But if I'm not 97 kilos, where from 93, 94? You're chucking it on I'm chucking it on, but then I'm gonna, next summer I'll probably lean out. Yeah, you know I not always lean, but, um, I was like you know what? I'm gonna just train hard, lots of strength training and creating. How does it actually make a difference? Fucking out it does.
Speaker 1:Creatine is one of those things I would say from a performance perspective especially. Obviously it's used as an energy source as well gives you a little bit extra boost, but, like in terms of the fine margins, yeah, it can make a difference in my opinion.
Speaker 1:It that extra few reps, 100%, 100% does and then energy in terms of what you're doing in that moment. If you are a performance-led athlete and you are doing something at a very intense level, why are you not taking creatine? Yeah, 100%, 100%, yeah, and I think the thing that I find funny. So when you talk to most of your clients, as you would do, because this is your life, you're talking more so about food supplementation a lot. You know calories in versus calories out. Yeah, yeah, but one piece that I liked the other day was that you and James now you, james and Aleema, have got your own thing going on.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:Your guys' bromance is amazing to watch, but I think James made a point of being like yeah, you gave him some really good advice, but he's like Because obviously as a coach. How does it feel to be judged on your appearance?
Speaker 2:Do you know what?
Speaker 1:I would care, but Because we're talking about what's it? Gen Z.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, Gen Z or even I don't know whoever. It is the only reason I would care. I genuinely don't yeah, I genuinely don't yeah. And that do I? Just insecure? Okay, fair, I'm not insecure so you're sat there going.
Speaker 1:Just because I don't have a six-pack doesn't mean I'm not good yeah, I'm, I'm fit.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean my purple belt in jiu-jitsu.
Speaker 1:I can strike, I can play football, I can ball jump, I can sprint, yeah choke him out.
Speaker 1:I can fight, like you know, so I'm fit tell me to do a 10k right now, I'll be able to do it easy. So for me I find that so alien because obviously I'm a hundred meter sprinter and most of my coaches have either partaken in the sport, may not have even been at the highest level in the sport competing themselves, but you know, I remember my first coach was an old man. I didn't judge him on the basis that he was an old man, because the information that he was giving me and the teachings that he was offering me was of valid nature. So I don't understand why you have to look a certain type of way.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's to be a coach boys, I guess that's media for you in it. Like, yeah, if you, if you're a pt, you need to make sure you're absolutely shredded. And don't get me wrong, if you're completely out of shape and you don't know how to train, then I would personally turn around and be like yo, big man, you kind of need to sort it out yeah, because it's like if I'm gonna to walk into a barber shop and the brother's got a messed up trim, I'm not going to trust him if you go into a barber shop and the barber's not got a trim yeah.
Speaker 1:I don't mind that if he hasn't got a trim, oh really, if he hasn't got a trim, like he's chosen not to cut his hair or whatever else, he's just looking nappy like he's gone wrong on his hair. That's when I'm like nah, I'll see you.
Speaker 2:You just know, yeah, that motherfucker is not stable.
Speaker 1:So the fact you're okay to step out the house. That's not okay. A hundred percent.
Speaker 2:It's not when people wear Nike trainers with Adidas socks. I'm like there's something happening.
Speaker 1:There's a clash, two parties that you can't mix.
Speaker 2:I'd question it. So, which is why, like when I was on the gym floor and I was, um, fully booked out when I was working in sydney, london, whatnot? In good shape I was. I was a. I was an athlete. I was playing football at the time. I wasn't the leanest guy, but I could shift, I could move. You know so and you know. But you see some big guys.
Speaker 1:You're like that guy was an athlete or is an athlete there's a move, there's a way you walk, there's a confidence, yes, you know there's a way that they carry themselves.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that rugby players, yeah you know I mean. So, like you just know that, okay, I would trust that guy. Yeah, compared to someone that has got none of that, then I would, then I would, then I would question it. But majority of the best snc coaches that I know are guys that are not really in shape. That's fair, you know, I know that's fair. You know, think about it probably you know, in like the Olympics or like all the Well. No, that's what I'm literally trying to say.
Speaker 1:The majority of coaches at peak level are people that obviously retired from sport and, like, you know someone that I would regard high, my last coach, benkei, a guy, he's just a dude, like he's. He's just, he's just a dude. Like, yeah, he's not just a dude, but he's like one of the best hurdle coaches in the world, but I've never seen him hurdle. Yeah, I've never seen him. You know, see, I've never seen him sprint. So you know, obviously, limp for christy, for example, he's a great coach, um, and he's been able to make that transition from. Because not all coaches, let's be real, most athletes, yeah, maybe some content creators I'm not influencers, I'm saying some content creators are selfish people.
Speaker 1:Because, as an athlete, you are a selfish individual. Your goal is the thing that matters and people are there to supplement your goal. So when you actually there's nothing wrong with being selfish, there's nothing wrong with being selfish as well, because you are driven, you've got a target. You're in a unique position in this world where you want to go and get something.
Speaker 1:So that's fine, but You're in a unique position in this world where you want to go and get something, so that's fine. But that doesn't mean you make a great coach 100%, because we've already spoken about how caring you are. We've spoken about your perspective on when things hit home. Some people they might not have that affinity with other people I know. I think I would make a great coach in the sense that I like people and I like to talk to people For sure.
Speaker 1:And I've care, I care you care, and I like to hear other people's happiness that that gives me some form of purpose to some degree. However, there's some people that'd be like you know what they might consult. Yeah, because I've got the patience and the time for you know the, the, the grass root all the way up to the top, yeah. And then there's some people that just need to stay away because some people annoy them.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and that's okay for sure, it's just identifying who you are right, yeah for sure, and I think sometimes and I think sometimes people forget, like you know, when people are like hard work beats genetics, I'm like big man. Have you seen this guy's fucking genetics? How am I going to beat his genetics? Look at this.
Speaker 1:He's like king of. I'm flexing my pecs. Yeah, do you know what I mean For those people listening I'm flexing my pecs right now, you know.
Speaker 2:So like, how am I? Yeah, so how am I going to? Of course I'll be in good shape or whatnot, but if someone has got ridiculously superior genetics, that person is going to have an advantage. I'm going to. Probably I'm going to have to work so much harder to get into the shape that you're in. Right, I know you train really hard.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I even know guys that were, that were even trying to say that you're on something and I was like and it was guys from Australia and I was like that is because you have no black friends, you don't know what Africans are like.
Speaker 1:There's a gene pool there that can be tapped into when you're looking at recruitment, like why there's not people from Africa in the NFL?
Speaker 2:I don't know For example, because they love football. Yeah, because majority of the country is more football driven. Do you know what I mean? It's a cultural thing. Again, it's a cultural thing Everyone loves to play ball.
Speaker 1:Exactly, they'd be playing it wherever. But NFL, if any, if the NFL Academy is listening, get yourself down to Africa as a continent, look at a dumbbell and get bigger, yeah, yeah. The thing is that what I would like to say on that matter is that I, you know, I am I'm very unique in the sense that I can look how I look but still move as fast as I do. Yes, that's the bit that people can't seem to fathom. There's people that look like me, which is fair enough, but then there's people also that run, jump and sprint like me, like obviously I'm an impian. But then, when I posted a video the other day, me jumping again because obviously that's my little trademark thing, I like to show certain things like that and people are just like oh, is he natty or whatever? What's the thing? Is he natty or juiced? Someone's like of course he's like, why would you even ask? Of course he's juiced.
Speaker 1:People will believe the liver king's not on anything, yeah. And yet the scandal comes out about him, the email stuff, yeah. And then people are, oh, I wouldn't have thought so. But then me, someone who's uniquely yeah, fast, I'm an Olympian, I've got all these. I've been training since I was. Why would that confuse you and make you wonder? So, in a certain sense, yeah, genetics play a massive part. I'm part of the 1% in terms of my abilities and my superpowers, as you would say. So, from an advert perspective of coaching, yes, I can look a type of way as your coach 100% but doesn't necessarily mean I might be the best coach for you, right? Yeah, 100%.
Speaker 2:Because I like performance.
Speaker 1:I'm going to be driven in one capacity, you're going to be driven in another, but then that doesn't take away anything from someone.
Speaker 2:But you're also great with people.
Speaker 1:I like to be. That's because I just enjoy that. Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2:That's why you'd be good at it, because you'll be able to pick up on an emotion and be like, which is why, even when I was playing football, back in the day I'll think about some of the conversations I've had with coaches and now I think about I'm like fucking hell, they, they were so bad Abroad. Yeah, at the time they were telling me when I was playing football in Turkey, I was 16 and I was 80 kilos Okay, 80 kilos and they said I was too big for football.
Speaker 1:Which is kind of crazy, because some people say you're too small for football at certain points.
Speaker 2:But I was like but I'm stronger than everyone on the pitch.
Speaker 1:Like the majority, I was stronger than most guys there.
Speaker 2:So I was like why is no one playing to my strength? Yeah, but they're so old school, they're like no, no, they used to be like Darren. After training you've got to do 20 laps of the pitch.
Speaker 1:You need to drop weight.
Speaker 2:They're not looking into going.
Speaker 1:Oh this guy holds a bit more weight genetically. I'm. You look like someone again.
Speaker 2:You do BJJ, but you look like someone that could wrestle, do you know?
Speaker 1:what I mean, like you'd be one of the gladiators of the arena type concept.
Speaker 2:You know what I mean.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah, man's coming out and saying this is Sparta 100% literally to that degree and I always think when I look at individuals, I think everyone would have been an athlete at a world-class level, just depending on what sport, your sport picks you 100%. Yeah, but some people don't get exposed to the right sport. Yeah, yeah, facts. I wish I did fighting for that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, boy, I always say this to my dad you would have been gripping some people up and twisting their differently. I always say this to my dad.
Speaker 1:For example, there's some people that would would have been great you know great at ballet but they weren't exposed to it because either the financial aspects or there wasn't options around. So I think that's tough, and the fact of the matter is that you were told you're too big for something yeah a lot of pole vaulters in athletics get come from gymnastics.
Speaker 1:And what then happens? Once they do gymnastics, they'll be told you're too tall. Yeah, you're too tall, you're too big. Yelena is in Baieva the first woman to break five metres, which is obviously quite a very high mark. Literally, she was told that she was too big to be a gymnast and then she started doing athletics and it's a natural transition. I think Holly Holly Bradford, again one of our leading pole vaulters, she did the same thing, um, using bolt. He was a he was a.
Speaker 2:He was a speed bowler. He was told he was too big for the sport he was like.
Speaker 1:I know the person that told him that he failed at one thing goes on to be the best?
Speaker 2:yeah, for sure. I think that's why, as well, when you, when you like, have kids, yeah, it really does make a huge impact on the parent to kind of guide in the right way in her at all.
Speaker 1:I'm giving her every option possible, every option, even if she doesn't want to do sport, that's fine, that's fine. But equally, I'm giving you the options. So, on that topic, what sport would you do again and how would you approach it if you had that chance again?
Speaker 2:Oh, oh my days, oh my days I would definitely do some form of fighting. Yeah, masculine energy or they try to take it away so much that I would love to be locked up. So I went to Bali two weeks ago. I've got friends out of fighters. I went out there with my friend that owns a fight club. I know a lot of fighters, I speak to them, and I was like I've had enough of London, I need to get away. I literally flew 17 hours to get punched up by professional fighters because and I walked away with a smile because I was like I'm not made out of glass- I want to challenge.
Speaker 1:This is nice, I'm not made out of glass.
Speaker 2:This is great. Yeah, I'm so sick of people being fake, like people, like they won't say they won't speak their mind because they might get cancelled, yeah, or whatever it is. I don't know which is real. Council culture is real and I think it does make everyone.
Speaker 1:I mean, we've touched on some topics today that some people say, oh, you know. But equally, at the same time, council culture is real. So if you can just be true to yourself, there's nothing wrong with having an opinion and learning and adapting from it. If you put your opinion out there, someone might correct you and it actually makes you a no 100%, and if I was to do another sport, I would actually love to probably do.
Speaker 2:I've always wanted to be a footballer, though I've just loved, like you know but I'll probably want to do some form of fighting and I'll probably sell tickets because I can talk a lot of shit.
Speaker 1:You'd be at this table now being like you see you, yeah, you see you yeah, I'd be like honestly, mate, if it weren't.
Speaker 2:Would you really be here? You know he's going to fight me now.
Speaker 1:I think that's where I would fail, yeah you're nice yeah like I genuinely would sit there and be like oh it's a fair point, mate, but we'll just see what happens in the ring and then that's when the aggression comes out.
Speaker 1:I have me personally. I've got a switch. I literally just flick a switch and then there's beast mode, Harry, and then I can. It comes out subtly you won't see it because obviously it's always been in processes but I can get pushed to certain degrees. But then I'm like right, I think I should have done some form of contact sport, because I've played football and you know I'm strong. But when I've had little scrums with people or whatever, I've got an angry side to me.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah, I think I would have been like a good running back of some form.
Speaker 1:But equally at the same time, I think you've got to channel energy in the right way, exactly, and if you don't, you will lose your mind.
Speaker 2:That's it If you don't, which is why I love jujitsu, which is why I love form of fighting, because it's this sounds so weird, but like there's something about choking a brother out and him surrendering to you.
Speaker 1:Submission, submission, submit and him going to me now.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and then him going why are you whispering in his hair? It's gonna be okay I'll do me, I'll say this to a limo all the time I'll be rolling with a limo and I'll be like it's gonna be okay, yeah I've got this.
Speaker 1:We need to draw a picture of this now someone out there.
Speaker 2:It's gonna be okay. Ai ai draw a picture of different saying it's gonna be okay, it's gonna be okay, it's gonna be okay. Ai AI draw a picture of Dyrren saying it's gonna be okay it's gonna be okay.
Speaker 1:It's gonna be okay, paul, don't worry, it's okay. Go to sleep, go to sleep.
Speaker 2:Go to sleep but it's there's just some form of something that is like oh, you beat me, respect yeah.
Speaker 1:And then you go again and it's like and it bro the whole concept of winning and losing. We've lost it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we have lost it in this country.
Speaker 1:Like you know, no one can lose, Everyone has to win.
Speaker 2:If I have a, when I have a kid one day and they go to school and they do a race and they got like and everyone's a winner medal, I will burn that shit. Yeah, it's okay to lose, you're a winner.
Speaker 1:No, you're not sometimes you will be the best person that you need to be in those situations. My nephew, he's, he's been, he's been part of this product and we played a game the other day. The guy a few years ago a guy lost in a game and he cried because he was like I don't know what losing feels like. I don't know how to handle these emotions of losing, like bro like it's okay.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's what I'm trying to say like bro, it's okay to lose Like you, you make yourself better off the back of it, but then within, within academics and academia, you're still rewarding that fact. So for individuals that don't necessarily do that well, or their, their currency of conversation is not that they're they're then to make to feel a type of way so they're actually benefiting from, but they're not benefiting at the same time.
Speaker 2:so yeah, and it's. I think people need to. Any level of struggle that I've had mentally, physically, wherever it is, any time in my life, or whatnot uh, I think it's really important for individuals to like embrace the struggle so ultimately would you say, you're a winner in life yeah, I'll tell you because you're, because you know how to fight, yeah, and you're gonna fight right, oh, for everything.
Speaker 1:And that's the difference. Winning doesn't necessarily mean you've crossed the line first. Winning doesn't because someone can win but their energy sucks and how they got there sucks, and you know some people cheat to win. You know what I mean. But equally, you could finish second and still be a winner because the journey that you've been on, because of the processes that you've chatted like you say yeah, and I sense that yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure, and it's what I think it's in my blood anyway.
Speaker 2:My name, dirin, in Turkish means resist, come on, so, like I have to, I have to resist it's a political name, isn't it so? Like left with my dad, he got locked up when he was 18 because in Turkey, which is why they like fled. So like it's in my bloodline to resist against what's wrong.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so it's like part of the resistance, Part of the resistance, star Wars, and that the truth? Yeah, exactly, exactly the truth. So talk to me then. Yeah, with certain challenges, one of my favourite things, one of my favourite stories about you is going during COVID lockdown. Oh, yeah, and we talk about challenges. Yeah, yeah. 10,000 steps a day in a hotel room yeah, what the hell is that about?
Speaker 2:A lot of people were telling me oh, you're going to struggle in a hotel room Because I had to be there for two weeks, that's mental. In the room and there was oh mate, it was just air con. There was no windows or nothing With the dead food. It's not like the whole Smith and some of the boys in Australia. They were sending me food.
Speaker 1:Mate followers were sending me food wow, yeah, it was cool, it was real nice. This is what we talk about.
Speaker 2:Community, though yeah, it's great, it was really cool. And I was like people were like I think Smith was like let me send you a play thing. She was like no, no, no, because I've got. I'm not even going to say the now. Yeah, fucking hell, that's another topic. First it was anxiety, now it's adhd. Everyone's going. I'm an ad, it's on their profile now. Yeah, anyway, we won't go there.
Speaker 2:That's a whole nother hour, that's a whole nother hour yeah, that's a whole nother hour, so my attention span is not good. Fair I could, I would always get kicked out of class but that's understanding something about yourself. Yeah, yeah, always, always I just knew there were certain things that I can't do. Right, like, get me to read a book, bruv. I'd read pages and I'm like what did this?
Speaker 1:even mean it doesn't cross you. Yeah.
Speaker 2:I don't understand it, but draw a picture or talk to me and I'll pick up everything. Okay, right, anyway, so this is actually perfect for someone like me, because I've got no distractions, no FOMO, I can't leave, I'm locked in somewhere, I've got my laptop, my work, I've got a bed, I've got an enough corridor. Sonny Webster sent me an assault bike and some dumbbells and some bands. Mad, I had all of that and I was like bruv, you can walk out of it in two weeks like a fucking animal so I walked, so I walked out with like an extra 75,000 followers.
Speaker 1:I was on the BBC, I was on the news, I was watching you. I was sat there, my guy just walking around his room, yeah, so I was like I was like, like you can, you can literally do, deal with whatever you have yeah so I just kind of focused with what I have instead of what I don't and I just fucking hustled in there.
Speaker 2:I'd get up, I'd have a shower like it was a normal day, I'd put on my trainers, I'd make the bed. I would not lay on the bed unless I was sleeping. You gave yourself some form of routine, exactly. And there was like so I was like, yeah, I had to create that routine.
Speaker 1:Or if I was staying in the bed all day and then I wouldn't be able to fall asleep, You'd get bed sores mate A hundred percent, You'd get uncomfortable Two weeks like 24 hours a day.
Speaker 2:So I was just doing podcasts, content training. It was good, smashing stairs, chatting to my family and my friends. It was. I was actually. It's probably the one time I had the most growth, which is why I'm now like I might have to move away from London. Yeah, block out more noise and to kind of focus on that growth again yeah, yeah, but um, I enjoyed it putting yourself in some form of struggle question when have you ever for two weeks been completely alone?
Speaker 2:oh no yeah, never, and it's mad. You get time to think it's good.
Speaker 1:No, that's what I'm trying to say, like I often say to some people when you're in situations that really challenge you, you find a way to grow. Oh, and sometimes, when the worst thing happens, that doesn't necessarily mean it's the worst thing in the world, because it offers you an opportunity.
Speaker 1:You know, when someone says you want to take the blue pill or the red pill yeah, it's one of those circumstances, you can either sit there and wallow and fade or you can prosper and grow 100, so like once you've come away from that growth period. Yeah, what did you do with that?
Speaker 2:you know what it was. Um, it's weird, isn't it? And it's actually quite nice thinking about this, because there's always elements of you have you know what it's like on socials or business or whatnot. You have growth and then it's flat the algorithm likes you or not? Yeah, another growth or flat. Yeah, I'm sure you have it in athletics as well.
Speaker 2:There's times where, like your head, space is good for like overloading with whatever it is Right. So it was nice because I was like, oh my God, finally something has like worked, like now utilize this and have fun with it and enjoy it before it flattens kind of out again. And it was just nice to kind of being seen for doing something which is quite simple that everyone can do. But it was made out to be something a lot more than what I think it was and I thought it was a simple task yeah, do you know what I mean?
Speaker 2:yeah, and it was just nice to show people that you can. You can do anything with whatever you have you know.
Speaker 1:So going back on that point, then, when you actually look at the grand scheme of things you've like for a dude, that sort of makes it seem so simple in a lot of different ways. You know you've done a lot, you've experienced a lot. Obviously you know ifs, you're a speaker there and you know you have a big influence on individuals. Yeah, what would you tell a younger dirren now? Yeah, if you could go back in time. What would you tell your younger Dieran now? Yeah, if you could go back in time, what would you tell your younger self.
Speaker 2:I always find that quite interesting. I'd be like, fuck, you're a legend. No, honestly, when I was younger as well, and it's weird, you, you might've had this feeling, and some people that I've spoken to I think they're lying. You can tell me. We might not agree on this. I think luck is quite important, right, but for you to like something to work and to be lucky, you need to try, keep trying, and something works. A bit of luck helps, all right, but when I was younger, I was always like, no, I want to be great at something. I actually don't even know what it is quite yet. Is it football? I'm not sure. Whatever it is, but I don't see myself as average. You almost have to be borderline delusional. So when people get shocked, will you be like did you ever expect this? I was like, yeah, Cause like I've put myself in a place, I worked hard for it, yeah. So when people like, no, I never expect, I'm like you're fucking lying. Yeah, you're lying.
Speaker 1:No, I can agree with you on that. Success loves preparation and although there is such a thing as luck, you've still got to put yourself in the right positions in the right places. I do believe in a higher power. I think you know I've been looked after in some aspects and I would say it's more so from the degree of when things have gone wrong. It could have been so much worse. When I've popped a hamstring, I've actually been able to reconnect to my family. When, you know, I find the silver lining that makes me a better individual, that puts me back on the course I'm meant to be on and thrive and succeed.
Speaker 1:Um, so when you're talking about you know, some people say, oh, I just got here by accident. Yeah, again, I don't. I agree with you on that point because do I think that I'm special in some sort of way? Yeah, because the physicalities that I have. No sprinter looks like me. But yeah, I've been able to be a sprinter amongst certain people. But then I can still do other things. So, to some degree, everything I did as a youngster I ended up doing as an adult, and I'm even talking about going on some tv shows and performing as certain people. I watched some shows I ended up being on which is crazy.
Speaker 1:You visualize yourself as a kid, maybe the olympics and I've ended up getting there these are things that you visualize, you hope, you train for, and then, when it materializes, you shouldn't be surprised 100.
Speaker 2:So when people are like trying to act humble, I'm like let's just be real about it let's talk about humility, because being humble, what does that really mean?
Speaker 1:I don't know, man. I think most people just put it on because I feel like this might be a little bit funny to hear. But when you're being humble, is that not you suppressing yourself around individuals to make them feel better?
Speaker 2:Yeah, kind of. Yeah, well, you're not being yourself, I guess, is that something so?
Speaker 1:when someone says that they're humble, isn't that just if you are humble and someone just says oh, he are humble and someone just says oh, he's a really nice guy, he's really humble.
Speaker 2:What does that mean? If, why couldn't you just say that person's a really nice guy?
Speaker 1:yeah I think it's weird if it's a thing, then it's put on, if that makes sense. Like I really want to be humble in front of certain people because for me, I find that, yeah, if you're, if you're being, if you're being you, yeah, and I connect with you and I like you. I'm not going to say you've been real, because there's certain aspects I want to get to know more about you. Yeah, when I've been around certain people, they will say that, like I'm competitive, yeah, I'm outgoing, you know, and I've been called humble and I appreciate it because it's a positive label.
Speaker 2:But labels aren't necessarily positive I would say you're humble, but more than that. I'll just say you're a nice guy and you're just being yourself fair, you know, I mean. So that's the question I asked, right, yeah?
Speaker 1:what does humble, what does the term being humble mean? Is it making people feel better in a certain circumstance? Yeah, I think, or is it just a factor of like? Am I watering down my superpowers to make everyone feel better? Because obviously, or is it just being yourself?
Speaker 2:yeah, you know what it's weird, isn't it? You probably do that in some place, but then when you're with your real friends, you can open up about everything you know. I mean so, even if it's like, um, what is it I get? I actually get, because I coach a lot of women and, uh, a lot of them actually hold their greatness back because they feel type of way around their colleagues or their friends. They don't want to make their friend feel shit, wow. So they don't actually express how they feel or what they are if they're someone, something this happens should be accepting of that.
Speaker 2:This happens with tall girls. They make themselves smaller. This happens with beautiful girls. They sometimes make their self. I'm not gonna put too much makeup. It's gonna draw attention from fucking suzy or whoever suzy is you know?
Speaker 2:so like they'll bring their self down to fitting instead of going, instead of I'm gonna shine, my greatness and whoever I attract with myself is the kind of tribe that I'm gonna create, and that's like a weird barrier, that's like a mind fuck. I know, I know a lot. I know a lot of women that do that. I know a lot of women that.
Speaker 1:Do that people out there, please just shine, be you.
Speaker 2:Be the greatest version of yourself, please, because it only makes everyone else better, no 100, and if you don't know how to come to me, I'll show you. Yeah, I know that on that point, like genuinely like.
Speaker 1:Dieran is a super coach. He, he gets to know people, he gets to know the individuals. He, he wants to know more about you and it's a journey that you're going to embark on with him and, from a coaching perspective, people, females if you're out there, if Dieran's for you, make sure you get in touch, you know. I mean like we're going to put your socials in and everything it's one of those things where it's like yes, this is, this is someone that can help you.
Speaker 1:There's different people to help you and at different parts of your journey that you might need that help, and definitely for some people yeah, and just have a good time in it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so it's bad. It's just having a good time and training and having fun eating good food and be happy, be being happy.
Speaker 1:Are you happy?
Speaker 2:I am actually, yeah, but there's always work to be done. Yeah, always inside.
Speaker 1:Always Inside or outside.
Speaker 2:Inside, inside, inside.
Speaker 1:What's next?
Speaker 2:I'm sure you have this problem. You achieve things, and what's next? You're never, you're never, fully happy, bruv, isn't it? There's always satin. That's another hour. That's another hour.
Speaker 1:To be fair we we, we you back in. Yeah, of course it's been an honour to chat to you. I really appreciate your time. Thank you, sir, Appreciate you coming down and, you know, giving me a little bit a teaspoonful of Diren. I appreciate you. I will take it. No Pause, no, I was excited for this, but people out there look, follow, subscribe. Hope you've