The Kaizen Culture Pod
Join Kaizen Culture co-founders to keep the conversation moving within Australian Karate with The Kaizen Culture Pod! Mitchell Durham, Australian National Karate team Captain & Nathan Blockley, long-time karate fanatic turned media gun. You will be hearing us chat about all of the hot topics within Sports Karate as they come up, as well as the Get To Know series where we interview big names of Australian Karate and celebrate our rich history. Stay engaged with this nation-wide discussion!
Episodes
57 episodes
World Karate Cast | Episode 10: Abdalla Abdelaziz
In this episode of World Karate Cast, three-time Grand Winner and two-time World Champion Abdalla Abdelaziz reflects on his performance at the opening event of the 2026 Karate One Premier League in Istanbul. He speaks in depth about how he felt...
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48:10
Episode 45: Michelle Wilson | Hello 2026 & Welcome To The Team, Mish!
Happy New Year! Happy first episode of the Kaizen Culture Pod for 2026!We are buckling up for a big year, and what a way to kick it off with welcoming on to the board and team at Kaizen Culture, Michelle Wilson, also known as, Mish! We sit ...
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44:52
World Karate Cast | Episode 9: Maria Torres
World Karate Cast kicks off 2026 with Maria Torres 🇪🇸, back to back Grand Winner of 2024 - 2025. In this episode, Maria breaks down the work behind her success, how she is approaching the new season, and the mindset required to stay on top. She...
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44:18
World Karate Cast | Episode 8: Douglas Brose
In Episode 8 of the World Karate Cast, we sit down with Douglas Brose — the most recognised Brazilian athlete in the history of karate and a true legend of the sport.Douglas opens up about his incredible career at the highest level, sha...
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1:11:06
Episode 44: Last One For 2025, Let's Review The Year!
In the very last episode of the Kaizen Culture Pod for 2025, sit down with Mitchell and Nathan as they go through what a massive year it has been for Australian Karate and Kaizen Culture!We have seen so much growth and support, and could...
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56:26
Episode 43: Rory Attridge | 2 Weeks Out From Cairo & Managing Life With Karate
There is no better energy and vibe magician than Mr Rory Attridge! We are now 2 weeks out from the biggest competition of the year and we chat to Rory about how he is preparing for the Senior World Championships, and how he has been balancing l...
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1:05:39
World Karate Cast | Episode 5: Ariel Torres Gutierrez (Deep Dive)
Episode 5 of World Karate Cast features Ariel Torres 🇺🇸, one of the world’s top kata athletes, who shares the story behind his relentless pursuit of excellence. From starting out in both kumite and kata to dedicating himself fully to kata, Arie...
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1:29:08
Episode 42: Laura Golding | Road To The Senior World Championships
Laura Golding joins us on the podcast today talking about her unique journey, the father-daughter dynamic with Head National Coach of Australia, and all things Senior World Championships leading into Cairo next month! We are 4 weeks out from th...
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52:31
Episode 41: Daniel Tielen | Series A Bronze Medal & The Art of Persistence
What an incredible tournament the 2025 Series A in Malaysia was for our nation! We saw 31 Aussie athletes step out onto the Karate1 stage and in this episode, we are joined by Daniel Tielen who achieved a bronze medal from a division of 68! Joi...
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1:05:05
World Karate Cast | Episode 3: Kamran Madani
Mindset. Motivation. Mastery.World Karate Cast sits down with Kamran Madani, former USA male kumite 84kg athlete and now National Team Coach, to talk about the athlete’s mentality and the coach’s perspective. Discover how his journey fr...
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48:58
Episode 40: Max Noble | Training Camps With Friends & Competing Overseas At The Right Level
Kaizen Culture Pod on the road in Victoria! We are with Max Noble at his house after a massive week in Melbourne for the Super Seminar and Training Camp preparing for the Series A in Malaysia! Sitting down with Max to talk about his thoughts on...
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49:59
World Karate Cast | Episode 2: Niamh Junner
We sit down with Scotland’s own Niamh Junner 🏴 in the female kumite +68kg category, who’s been living and breathing karate since she was nine years old. From starting competitions at 12 to now preparing for the Karate World Championships ...
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43:02
Episode 39: IPP Tour So Far & Weight Cutting with Trevor Kan
Trevor Kan is our special guest today tuning in live from Portugal at the tail-end of the IPP international tour! After kicking off with solid performances at the Series A Salzburg and Budapest Open, Trevor and the team make their way to Lisbon...
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46:50
World Karate Cast | Episode 1: Elena Quirici & Eray Samdan
Episode 1 of World Karate Cast brings you an exclusive conversation with two of karate’s biggest stars. Hosts Nathan Blockley and Mitchell Durham sit down with Elena Quirici 🇨🇭 (#1 WKF World Ranking, 4x and current Grand Winner, Olympian) and E...
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53:36
Episode 38: Unsure About Your Karate Pathway? Meezaan Dickinson Joins Us To Give Insight Into Her Career & The Opportunities Karate Can Give You
Mitchell & Nathan, together with current Victorian State team kata coach, former National Team member and Senior World Championship representative, Meezaan Dickinson. In this episode, they discuss the immense and often under-appreciated val...
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1:01:09
Episode 37: National Coaches Matt Johnson and Robyn Choi & The Tour In China and Philippines
More national coaches join the Kaizen Culture Pod this week! Sensei Matt Johnson from Shingokan Karate, Adelaide, and Sensei Robyn Choi from Seiha Shitoryu Karate, Brisbane. With the head national coach of the Cadet, Junior & U21 program in...
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47:51
Episode 36: Dardan Jahiu Wins Gold at YL, Hannah Sullivan Joins Us For World Games Recap & Talking About Asian Youth Camp & Comp
For the first time in the new Karate 1 Youth League system, an Australian has taken home GOLD! Dardan Jahiu takes out the Cadet Male Kumite +70kg with a win in Monterrey, Mexico!! Hannah joins us after just coming back from the World Games a...
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36:50
Episode 35: National Coaches Darren Olsen, Lliam Worthington Chat All Things IPP & Big European Tour
Just because Nationals are over, doesn’t mean the season is done! National coaches for the International Pathways Program (IPP), Darren Olsen and Lliam Worthington join us on today's episode talking about the program itself and a very exciti...
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49:48
Episode 34: Recap of Nationals In South Australia & A Serious Chat About Competition Etiquette
What a National Championships that was! Adelaide, congratulations for putting on a great show! We talk about some of the big time results and moments that happened over the weekend, and share the love for the best community. A very important...
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56:43
Episode 33: Amy Connell On Guardian Girls & Her Time In Australia For The 51st National Championships
We have a special guest to help us preview the National Championships in Adelaide! Amy Connell is joining us to chat all things Guardian Girls and give us some insight to what it's like being a Scottish karate icon! Stick around to hear us c...
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54:43
Episode 32: Recap of Oceania in New Caledonia & Senior Worlds Athletes Locked In
We have been offline for a little bit as the Oceania championships took over the Australian karate world! This was one of the most insane events, some serious challenges were faced in New Caledonia for the Oceania Championships. New champions w...
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41:13
Episode 31: Oceania Championships Preview
We are nearing the Oceania Championships in Noumea, New Caledonia! Sit back and hear us go through the team and chat about what this means for the Senior athletes! Also Nathan and Mitch play some fun karate games, so play along!
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47:56
Episode 30: World Masters Games Includes Karate For The First Time & Chatting To Some Aussies Going!
For the first time ever, Karate will be showcased at the 2025 World Masters Games in Taipei in a few weeks time! We had to do an emergency pod to get the full run down on this massive moment. What makes it even more special, we chat to our very...
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47:51