S3E4 – Nick Hudson: Chief of Push-ups - The Push-up Challenge

The Unforgiving60

Nick Hudson has the world’s coolest job title – Chief of Push-ups. As the originator and driving force behind the Push-up Challenge, Nick has raised millions of dollars in just a few short years to assist research and support into depression. The genesis of this amazing endeavour comes from Nick’s own experience, both through his family and his personal exposure to mental health challenges, brought on in part as a result of undergoing open heart surgery. In this episode, Nick tells us his story and how he was able to harness his experiences to create the Push-up Challenge and develop it into what it has since become. Along the way, we learn a little more about depression, a lot more about the Ross Procedure, and we even find out Tim’s perfect job title!

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[Trigger warning- we discuss depression and mental health in this episode]

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Intelligence Summary (INTSUM)

04:00 Nick’s excellent job title…

04:25 …and what Tim’s job title should be

05:00 Nick’s background and what got him to the point where he decided to do push-ups and raise money for charity – including open heart surgery at the age of four

05:40 Nick’s first encounters with depression

10:00 What is depression? (Hint: it’s not just about ‘being sad’)

15:10 Why is there such a stigma associated with depression and mental illness?

19:50 One technique to broach the subject with a friend who you think might be experiencing depression – the ‘accidental chat’

21:45 So – how can push-ups help?!

22:00 The benefits of ‘relentlessly competitive mates’

24:00 A $200 app – the start of the Push-up Challenge platform

26:45 2018 – 1 million push-ups completed, and $50,000 raised!

28:00 ..and then – a personal health scare

32:00 The terrifying diagnosis. And the second opinion. And the third opinion (Hint: the diagnosis didn’t get better!)

33:30 Slipping into depression

34:30 What does depression feel like?

36:45 You know you’ve hit rock bottom when even The Bachelor doesn’t bring you joy!

38:15 How Nick realised that he was suffering from depression

39:20 What was worse – open heart surgery or depression?!

40:45 The Ross Procedure – amazing

41:45 Tim learns that the ‘Iron Man’ nuclear heart replacement option isn’t a real thing

51:30 Recovery – and taking the Push-up Challenge to the next level

52:35 2019 – almost 50,000 participants and $2.5m raised!

53:45 The Push-up Challenge target concepts explained

55:15 2020 - $5.1m raised! And the impacts (positive and negative) of COVID on the challenge

57:30 The 2021 Challenge – 3,318 push-ups – one for every person who died by suicide in Australia in 2019

58:00 How to participate in the challenge – individually, as a team – and you don’t even have to do push-ups!

1:00:00 Nick’s plans and goals for the Challenge in 2021

1:01:30 How you can find out more and participate in the 2021 Push-up Challenge

External Links

• The Push-Up Challenge
• If you need help in this area, some great resources (within Australia) include Beyond Blue, Lifeline, Kids Helpline and Crime Stoppers

Music

The Externals – available on Spotify

Atlas Chasers – available on Spotify

Mitchell Martin- available on Spotify