Human Cogs Podcast

What if the stories we hide are the ones that shape us most?

Human Cogs is the podcast that rips the veneer off everyday life to reveal the raw human truths that lie underneath our everyday lives.

Hosted by award-winning entrepreneur, startup investor and ABC journalist and presenter Madeleine Hanger (Grummet), alongside psychologist and media commentator Sabina Read, each episode unpacks big ideas, untold truths and the messy magic of being human.

From life’s darkest moments to its most profound joys, our extraordinary guests share secrets they’ve never told, surprising insights into love, loss, success and identity — and the hard-won wisdom that just might change the way you live, think and feel.

If you're curious about what really makes people tick this is the podcast for you.

🎧 Subscribe now and listen wherever you get your podcasts.
🌐 www.humancogs.com

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Recent Episodes
  • Ep. 92 Pete Conroy on catastrophe, courage and what happens after the worst day of your life.
    Jun 19, 2025 – 39:40
  • Ep. 91 Don Watson on the power of words, political speechwriting and where to from Trump.
    Apr 8, 2025 – 59:43
  • Ep. 90 Julia Banks on boys' clubs, Trumpist politics and personal power.
    Mar 18, 2025 – 47:55
  • Ep. 89 Sarah Grynberg on shedding skins, letting old friends go and finding greatness.
    Sep 17, 2024 – 53:17
  • Ep. 88 Stan Grant on life post-Voice To Parliament, lament and writing beauty into the world.
    Aug 22, 2024 – 01:04:21
  • Ep. 87 Damian Chaparro on swapping a corporate job for a slower pace of life, founding a health retreat and honouring the reset.
    Jun 4, 2024 – 55:03
  • Ep. 86 Jo Stanley on women in media, comedy as catharsis and the case for vulvas.
    May 7, 2024 – 58:51
  • Ep. 85 Corrie Perkin on the Fourth Estate, storytelling and why words do matter.
    Apr 23, 2024 – 45:59
  • Ep 84. Dr Meg Jay on rethinking your twenties, why this decade isn't necessarily "the best years of your life" and thriving through skills not pills.
    Apr 16, 2024 – 55:45
  • Ep 83. Grace Tame on social justice, human connection and sharing our pain.
    Mar 28, 2024 – 01:01:34
  • Ep. 82 Cat Bohannon on the science of sex, why men have nipples and how the female body drove 200 million years of human evolution.
    Feb 13, 2024 – 58:26
  • Ep. 81 Cath Mahoney on over-sharing, a high-profile divorce, career change insights and coming back to self.
    Feb 5, 2024 – 49:06
  • Ep. 80 Rachelle Unreich on mothers and daughters, fate and the goodness of people.
    Nov 22, 2023 – 46:29
  • Ep. 79 Kate Legge on infidelity, extramarital affairs and how we become who we are.
    Oct 2, 2023 – 56:50
  • Ep 78. Michael Bunting on mindful leadership, owning our shadow self and the power of being vulnerable on LinkedIn.
    Sep 18, 2023 – 01:08:35
  • Ep. 77 Thomas Mayo on The Voice To Parliament and why you need to be informed.
    Sep 4, 2023 – 32:52
  • Ep. 76 Dr Lucy Hone on the three secrets of resilient people, navigating unbearable grief and coping with loss.
    Aug 21, 2023 – 55:27
  • Ep. 75 Kerri Sackville on the power of solitude, tips for turning inward and the great cost of avoiding ourselves.
    Aug 7, 2023 – 55:34
  • Ep. 74 Ange Harbinson on the impact of ending a marriage, pathways to separation and how to create a healthier divorce.
    Jul 25, 2023 – 43:03
  • Ep. 73 Jane Rowe and Prue Mahar on the ripples of parental addiction on children, kinship care and why it takes a village.
    Jul 10, 2023 – 51:33
  • Ep. 72 Jeremy Macvean on the power of fatherhood, using our superpowers for good and connecting with kids as a single parent.
    Jun 6, 2023 – 52:32
  • Ep. 71 Lael Stone on self-healing, present parenting and supporting the whole child in an educational system that isn't working.
    May 23, 2023 – 48:20
  • Ep. 70 Shaynna Blaze on tackling domestic violence, breaking the silence and catalysing change.
    May 9, 2023 – 46:38
  • Ep. 69 Dr Ahona Guha on understanding trauma, finding ways to heal, and recognising that trauma impacts us all.
    Apr 25, 2023 – 41:48
  • Ep. 68 Anna Oxley Rintoul on living with ADHD, raising neurodiverse kids and cherishing a good enough life.
    Apr 4, 2023 – 53:36
  • Ep. 67 Mariam Issa on crossing two cultures, healing from patriarchy and taking off the mask.
    Mar 21, 2023 – 58:18
  • Ep. 66 Michele Chevally Hedge on hormones, sleep, sugar and how to find joy in food.
    Feb 28, 2023 – 49:46
  • Ep. 65 Michelle Woolhouse on anxiety, burnout and leading from the heart.
    Feb 15, 2023 – 44:20
  • Ep. 64 Pete Dickson on how siblings shape us, brotherly love and unimaginable loss.
    Jan 31, 2023 – 44:48
  • Ep. 63 Dianne Draganovic on loss, stoicism and the enduring power of love.
    Jan 17, 2023 – 01:02:26
  • Ep. 62 Gus Worland on manning up, suicide prevention and Aussie men.
    Dec 19, 2022 – 31:08
  • Ep. 61 Dr Lexi Frydenberg on professional burnout, pandemic parenting and finding balance.
    Dec 9, 2022 – 45:37
  • Ep. 60 Oscar Trimboli on the transformative power of truly listening.
    Nov 16, 2022 – 53:29
  • Ep. 59 Aubrey Blanche on owning your story, Culture Amp and truly belonging.
    Oct 31, 2022 – 40:30
  • Ep. 58 Fergus Watts on Reach, casting off labels and talking about real stuff
    Oct 19, 2022 – 40:08
  • Ep. 57 Dr Amantha Imber on finding work you love, dating after divorce and using your time wisely.
    Oct 6, 2022 – 59:47
  • Ep. 56 Tarang Chawla on domestic violence and using his voice to effect social change.
    Mar 29, 2022 – 49:26
  • Ep. 55 Lisa Leong and Monique Ross on career changes, burnout and making your work life matter.
    Mar 14, 2022 – 58:07
  • Ep. 54 Laura Youngson on kicking goals, breaking world records and the shadow side of ambition.
    Feb 15, 2022 – 48:33
  • Ep. 53 Sushi Das on seeking truths, "deranged marriage" and raising strong daughters.
    Feb 1, 2022 – 56:58
  • Ep. 52 Yves Rees on radical self-inquiry, gender transition and being seen for who you are.
    Jan 17, 2022 – 47:38
  • Ep. 51 Melissa MacGowan on menopause myths, deep growth and honouring feeling over achievement.
    Jan 4, 2022 – 48:35
  • Ep. 50 Adam Schwab on the highs and lows of building a global business, and why we all need a great escape.
    Dec 28, 2021 – 52:50
  • Ep. 49 George McEncroe on challenging rigidity of thought, managing anxiety and hostility, and serving women through entrepreneurship
    Dec 14, 2021 – 44:04
  • Ep. 48 Jocelyn Brewer on tech addiction, online boundaries, and positive digital use for kids... and us adults too.
    Nov 30, 2021 – 41:15
  • Ep. 47 Craig Hopper on navigating deep grief, the magic of talking and the healing power of asking for help.
    Nov 16, 2021 – 40:23
  • Ep. 46 Rachael Neumann on fierce ambition, learning from loss and being worthy of joy and levity.
    Nov 1, 2021 – 49:52
  • Ep. 45 James "Fish" Gill on seeing beauty in conflict, why certainty is a red flag, and how to see the goodness in each other.
    Oct 19, 2021 – 57:47
  • Ep. 44 Kirsty Costa on losing a pregnancy, premature menopause and finding a way through hard things.
    Oct 5, 2021 – 49:53
  • Ep. 43 Scott Watters on outliers, stepping into the arena and finding a way to find the hero in ourselves.
    Sep 21, 2021 – 55:13
Recent Reviews
  • SarahMyWord
    Such a great listen
    Incredibly interesting people interviewed by talented, caring and interested hosts who ask the questions you want to know the answers to - and then some you didn’t think of. Love listening. Even when I look at the title and think that an episode isn’t going to hold my attention, it inevitably does. Highly recommend.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork on this page are property of the podcast owner, and not endorsed by UP.audio.