.jpg)
Into Deep
Into Deep is a podcast that dives into the mindset and stories behind the humans making an impact. Join host Geoff Goddard—wellness coach, psychotherapist-in-training, and lifelong seeker of human potential—as he sits down with deep thinkers, high performers, and purpose-driven guests to explore what drives them, what challenges shaped them, and how they elevate their mental and physical well-being.
Expect raw conversations, practical wisdom, and a whole lot of heart. Whether you’re seeking inspiration, insight, or tools for personal growth—this is your place to get into deep.
Into Deep
Reinventing Your Life in Your 30s When Achieving Feels Empty - Ram Castillo EP26
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Career change, burnout, purpose, and starting again in your 30s.
In Episode 26 of Into Deep, Geoff sits down with Ram Castillo — former design director, author, Lifeline crisis support worker, and psychology student — for a powerful conversation about identity, reinvention, and what it really means to build a life that feels aligned.
After spending 20 years in the creative industry and achieving many of the goals he once dreamed of — speaking around the world, writing books, and working at the top of the design ladder — Ram realised something surprising: success on the outside didn’t guarantee fulfilment on the inside.
What followed was a deep personal reinvention.
Ram shares the story of stepping away from an established career in design to pursue psychology in his mid-30s, the fears and doubts that came with that decision, and how mentorship, reflection, and support from his wife helped him navigate a major identity shift.
We also explore Ram’s work as a Lifeline crisis support worker, where he’s spent years holding space for people experiencing loneliness, emotional pain, and suicidal thoughts. Through this work he’s come to understand a powerful truth — that sometimes people don’t need to be fixed, they need to be witnessed.
Ram also opens up about his childhood experiences with bullying, growing up in a Filipino immigrant family in Sydney, and a recent spinal surgery that forced him to confront fear, surrender control, and reassess what truly matters.
This episode is a deep reflection on purpose, mental health, personal growth, and life transitions.
What You’ll Learn
• How Ram realised his “ladder was leaning against the wrong wall”
• Why external success doesn’t always equal fulfilment
• The identity challenges behind major career transitions
• Lessons from working on the front line at Lifeline
• Why witnessing people can be more powerful than fixing them
• How Ram navigated fear and surrender during spinal surgery
• The importance of mentors during life reinventions
• Ram’s evolving definition of success
Connect with Ram
Instagram: @ramcastillo
LinkedIn: Ram Castillo
Follow Into Deep
Instagram: @intodeep_pod
Follow Geoff
Instagram: @geoff_elevate
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a rating or sharing it with someone who might need to hear it. It helps the show grow and allows us to bring more meaningful conversations to the podcast.
Topics: career change, burnout, purpose, psychology, mental health, loneliness, identity, personal growth, life transitions