1. Who is Alex Ranieri

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All right, g', day, guys, and welcome to the Real Dad Movement. First, very first podcast show. Exciting times, something I've wanted to do for a long time. And here we are, very first episode. So I thought what I'd talk about today with our very first episode of Real Dad Movement is myself. My background, I guess, my why, which is something that people dive into a fair bit these days. And stories. Everyone's all about their stories and storytelling. So sharing a little bit about myself, shedding some light on who Alex Ranieri is and who he continues to become and strive forth to be in this wonderful thing that we all call life. So welcome, guys. I do appreciate your time and effort, whether you're listening to this on a podcast channel or watching this right now on YouTube. Exciting stuff. I'm pumped to be doing this. I'm going to be doing this a lot more for you guys. Just giving as much value as I can moving forward to help you see the world through a different lens. That's what I'm all about. My life is passion and people, and my passion is people. Sorry. And that's something that I just. It really hits me to the core in having that belief that we can all be better, we can all strive for more in our lives, strive for that level of greatness inside of us that truly does exist. And it is all there. You absolutely have it. So please know that, understand that and deep down have that level of belief and certainty that you can create anything that you want to in this world. So let's dive into Big Al, Big Red, who he was, who he is and who he continues to become. Look, guys, a bit of background on myself. My father's full Italian. He came over when he was young. Mum's Australian, so hence the last name Ranieri or Ranieri or Ranieri. Ranieri, whatever. Have heard them all. There's many of them, the Italians, the wogs. They certainly love vowels, don't they? But yes, growing up with a family of three other brothers, so four boys in our family. I'm number three, I have two older brothers and one younger brother. And yes, what a household it was. What a life full of experiences. Sport was something we were massive on, thanks to Mum and Dad being quite athletic in themselves through netball. Mum's six foot, so she was a state netballer. And Dad's very gifted with afl, rugby and cricket back in the day. So it was good to see that they had that influence on us early on. And started soccer when I was three, so by the time I was in under sixes, being a strapping big lad that I was, I dominated. It was good fun, I enjoyed it. I have a few memories, not when I was three, but when I was six and seven and onwards, playing soccer and cricket as well. Two sports that I grew up with. I love them. And look, we grew up in a loving home. It was absolutely filled with love and energy and lots of crazy times too. You know, we've all got stuff going on and there's always something happening and good and bad times alike. It really was a loving home and the platform from which Mum and Dad laid for me and my brothers to have that level of belief in doing and striving for whatever we want in this world. And I remember dad saying that to me when I said, I want to play cricket for Australia, dad, when I was younger. And he said, son, you can do anything in this world if you put your mind to it. And that's held true and rung true with me. With everything in my life that I've done that I'll dive into. One of the hardest parts of my life, though, was the love for food. It was a tough period of my life. Between 8 and 15, I was heavily overweight and it really struck me. I blew out to 114 kilos. I was 12 years old and I guess by some standards that's considered obese. Yeah, I had some muscle in my body. I was still trying to be active, but geez, that was a big boy at that age. And it really rocked me hard, the bullying and what I faced in, in the opposite sex. Obviously no girls really interested Me and I had that lack of confidence and belief in myself through those teenage years and getting picked on, which is something that seems to be a standard across the board in all cultures of life. It's something that really hurt me, rocked me deep. I mean, I get goosebumps thinking about it now. Some tough periods of my life. And I remember carving in my desk at home that I hated myself and I'm useless and I won't achieve anything. Looking at myself in the mirror, coming home from school at days and just looking and screaming myself saying, you're a useless piece of. And so on and so forth. I'm not massive on swearing, but yeah, I said those things and looked in the mirror and there were some really tough times in my life. And it's something which is ultimately I look back on as a blessing, but when I look back on as well, I feel like my life was balancing on a bit of a nice. On a knife's edge. Could have gone one way or the other, to be fair. And that's something that holds true to me. I'll never forget and I'll never stop forgetting and having that point of reflection as I move forward in my life. It was funny at that time I started weights when I was 13. Dad put some weights in the garage and we had a pretty cool little gym garage set up and got me a couple of books and said, you got to start lifting him. My older brother Tim was a PT as well at the time, so he certainly helped me. My oldest brother Matt was getting into some training as well, so that sparked me. But I was still pretty overweight for those couple of years while trying to some weights and loving food and cordial and eating McDonald's and all the shit food in excess. And something inside of me clicked at the age of 15 and a half, just after the year 2000, it really struck home with me in going, there's something more, there's something more to life. You've got something deep down, you've got a gift that you can offer the world. There's greatness in you that you can achieve, you can do it alone. And so I gave up soft drink and junk food and cordial. They were three massive things for me, massive part of my life. And gave those up. And then the next step was I went down to the local soccer park and started running laps, just seeing how many laps I could run. And I got up to 23 in a short period of time. Just built bit by bit. I'm not sure of the length of the fields they're 100 meters roughly both sides and I think about 50 to 70 across. So looking at 300 meters, about a 5,6k run I finally got to. And heading into my years when I was 16, weights started to lift the intensity a little bit more. Like I believe in resistance training for everyone. I mean kids can do push ups and pull ups. There's no reason why I can't grab some form of resistance, whether it's a light dumbbell or kettlebell or something. But I started to up the ante a little bit heading into the years when I was 16 and then started to trim down a little bit and then into 17, got fitter and by the time I was in year 12 I was the arm wrestling champion, so to speak. That was a funny test of might and strength in our high school anyway and it was pretty funny to see see people going at it and wrestling and that defined how strong you were. Which is a crack up when I look back now. But it's massive overseas. Yeah, look when I finished school and school was something that I'm an intelligent man, intelligent person and I know what it is that I want to get after and I've got a lot of folks and ability to get that. But school never completely resonated with me. I'm not sure if it's the system or the structure. I'm not a huge fan that's for maybe another day or another episode, but not a huge fan of the structure or as it sits or at least the pressures on. That is a measurement or a metric to gauge your success. Especially for kids heading into university and all the stresses and it's hard. Like I don't feel like I was an adult till I was in my late twenties to be fair, with a little bit of experience under my belt and a little bit and I was pretty mature guy anyway but a little bit more maturity in age and there's a lot of pressure on kids of that age. So for me my UAI was, I think that's what it was called at the time was 30.3. Like it was horrible right down there and leaving school, continuing to trouble and get fit and healthy and doing some part time work, I decided to take up rugby league. I played a year back when I was 13 and had a stint with that on the bench in Division 4 or something and we ended up winning the comp. I don't even remember playing or doing any of that sort of stuff. So rugby league was still reasonably new to me and being fit and quite big and strong. From years of weight training at that stage I thought, I'll try my hand. And it was a team that won it the year before in Seagrave, which is my local stage sport out or local grade out at Penrith, which is where I grew up and spent a bulk of my life to date. And it was the St. Mary's saints, so I thought, well, I'll try with them. And just jumped on with a preseason training team. And I was very, very fit at the time from all the training I did and just ripped in and I guess really impressed the coaches. And it was something that at that time Troy Castle took me under his belt and under his wing and yeah, took me on board and I was blessed for the opportunity and started in the forwards and moved into front row and then moved from the bench into starting and had an awesome year. We made the grand final. We lost to the brothers, or St. Dominick's as they used to be called. Also another very strong club and had a few different teams to troll with, but ended up with the Penrith Panthers in the Jersey Fleg, that's the under 20s, which is amazing. And then made it through that squad and started on the bench, progressed into and and all of a sudden getting called up for reserve grad. I'm like, holy, holy shit. I'm like one step away from first grade in less than 18 months. It was amazing. I couldn't believe it. But it was that belief almost that naivety or people looking at going just that. I guess to a degree people might look at that as a delusional optimism that you can have. And just remembering those thoughts that dad said me, the words that dad spoke, that you can achieve anything if you put mind to it. And I just kept going. Value wasn't an option for me. It didn't matter what hurdle I I come across, what obstacle was in my way, I was going to get over it and get, get on top and move forward. And the first reserve grade game that I played, I hurt my AC joint, which is a little, little sort of sectional area above the shoulder there and put me out for a few weeks and went back to jersey flag and by then, confidence through the roof. I was crushing jersey flags. Got called up again to reserve grade and it was a pretty, pretty amazing, pretty amazing year. And from there I progressed into reserve grade and I so funny one day I rocked up at the wrong day of preseason and I was actually with first grade and you know, the coaches were there and all the first graders were there like Joel Clinton and Tony Piloteur. And Trent Waterhouse, and a lot of the boys I looked up to as was Heroes. It was a year after they won the comp, because it was the end of 2004, heading into 2005, and they won it in 03. And I just sort of starstruck and couldn't believe I was there. And. And I was there. And they said, oh, you're here at the wrong time. You're supposed to come at the afternoon on this day. I was like, oh, no. The coach and trainer said, I'll just bring him in. He can train with us today. And that day, oh, man. I trained like my life depended on it, and ripped in and again impressed the coach and got to do the entire preseason with first grade, which was awesome, and came in a reserve grade and was moving forward and moving on and up and trials, killing it and playing the games, doing really well. And unfortunately, at that stage, I can't remember if it was round six or round seven. I had a head clash with an Islander fellow from Newtown jets and couldn't believe it. Like, just bang. Shattered the jaw three places, fractured my cheekbone two places and I was out. I was like, oh, man, this is killing me. First major injury I had and had an operation, and they were braces that they wired into my gums, and then from there they had rubber bands. And for 12 weeks I had this face that was just banded shut, and it was a killer. Like, I had to learn how to talk with my mouth shut, which was pretty hard, as it probably sounds different for you guys listening on the podcast. And it was an amazing time because I got approached by the Dragons. They wanted to sign me. Nathan Brown was the coach at the time. And then the Panthers were stuffing me around a little bit and they come in last minute, but I'd already committed to the Dragons and signed with them. And 12 weeks later, after drinking through a straw, dropping all this weight, not knowing where my future lied, I end up signing with the Dragons. And the big move to Wollongong was going to happen because they're obviously some George Illawarra Dragons. And it was pretty. It was a pretty tough period of my life, I won't deny that. You know, having my mouth wide shut for 12 weeks and drinking through a straw, it was hard work. I dropped so much weight, was hard to keep my strength up, Wasn't sure my ability or what it would come back with when I played footy and I got desperate. Like, I'm talking, like, blending up hot dogs and just drinking hot dogs through a straw. You know, and it actually tasted like a nice, delicious hot dog. The mustard, the sauce, everything, it all went in there. And remember telling Mom, I need something. I'm sick of just having protein shakes and Metamucil to try and keep me regular. And mom ended up blending me steaks. And one time I had pizza blended up with a bit of water. Disgusting, I know, but you wouldn't believe it actually tasted delicious. And I think people don't realize how much they take it for granted when you can't actually eat food, you know, you've got to drink through a straw for three months. It's pretty, pretty hard yak. And all this pressure build up through my eardrum. Like it was hard work. I lost my face, my jawline, those muscles on the side there. It was really tough period. And it's amazing how the universe works. I wanted to line this guy up and get stuck in him. I went to put a big hit on him, and my actual comeback game was against the Newtown Jets. The exact same guy ran up, put a big hit on him. And in the. In that moment of that big hit, I fractured my cheek again. I couldn't believe it. I was like, oh, shit, what's going on? Maybe they were the signs. I look back now, like maybe they were. I should have given up the sport, but I couldn't believe it. Same bloke, first game back, three months down the track and bang, fractured my cheeks. I was out for a period of time, then. Didn't end operation, thank God. But yeah, it was pretty. It was pretty traumatic, to be fair, because I'd signed with the Dragons, didn't know where I stood. The Panthers, as people do, I guess, are invested in people that. That they're paying money for and who looking to the future. I didn't get a run anymore. I was sort of put back on the bench and wasn't looked at for first grade and whatnot and moved to Wollongong was a pretty challenging period of my life and not to go through every little bit and, you know, all the bits and pieces, but I moved down there, bought a home. My first place was a unit and had an off season or preseason with the Dragons and it was looking good. I love Browning as a real genuine bloke and real open and honest with me. So I connected quite well with him. And the first. First grade trial against the Bulldogs, I did my knee, got a hospital pass, and then bang, she snapped. So that was that year gone and Wayne Bennett came in the next year. And I looked at that and New coach and new players and coming back from a knee reco. And it was amazing because it really was a tough year in 08 for me because when I had the knee done, my shoulder was a little bit niggly and they looked like, oh, there's a little labral tear, which is a text tear at the back of the shoulder joint. We'll go in there now that you're out with your knee. So literally within a month I'm kicking back with my leg up, laying on the bed and then my arms in a sling. I had a knee and shoulder, full reconstructions on both because when they went in there, some stuff going on and geez, that rocked me. Like I'm laying down with my arm, slinging my leg up. Didn't sleep that year, that's for sure. Probably prepped me nine years earlier for childhood and having kids and not sleeping then. But that was rough. That was really, really rough. Trying to rehab my knee. I don't have full range back on my knee. The shoulder's good, I can move it around now. And since then I had another rico and it was a tough period of my life because I went from there to not connecting with Wayne Bennett at all. Everyone has different connections with different people and if you're a match, great. If you're not is what it is. We certainly aren't a match. And I'll be truthful and honest with that. You know, he has his style in his way, and I have my style in my way of being, interacting and creating connections and relationships. And I did not get along with him at all. And that is what it is. So my career ended there with the Dragons and from there I had nowhere to go, nowhere to turn. And with repayments and other things, I lost my home. I had no contract, no money. I was working my PT on the side. I'd done that since I was 18, just some side stuff, training family, friends and clients. So I was doing that as well, still remotely and whatnot. But it was hard because my dreams are shattered and I was like, oh, here we go, I'm not getting a run and this isn't happening. And I'm having all these operations. Had another knee arthroscopy at the end of. At the end of 09. So it was like another year, another operation. Then 2010 and then I went back and I played with the Magpies. Amazing year with the guys in reserve grade. There I was living in a shack in Liverpool where I was getting electrocuted by the. By the handles of the Showers and living with James Sharkey, one of my best mates now. And it was a horrible little time for living in. And like I said, I lost my home, didn't have anywhere to live. And then I moved in with Nat and Pop. Was just a whole whirlwind of period of time. Started working my brothers who own them. I had a pool business and I was laboring then and then became the head pool installer and it was just a whole whirlwind of emotion. I didn't know where I stood, what was next and kept dangling the carrot of that. No dangling for myself going, I can get there, I can still come back, I can make it. Busted my elbow. So I had an elbow operation as well at the end of that year in 2010 and 2011, retired and then came back out of retirement to play with with the Bunnies. And I was on the bench a few times as 18th man with them and. And that never come to fruition. I did have a contract with them for 2012 to still be there. So you can see this period of years, I'm just. I'm chasing, I'm chasing. I'm still doing my PT on the side. I'm still working for my brothers in the pool game and. And geez. I was driving about 1800 KS a week because I was living with Nan and Pop at the time and driving around either Northern Beaches or Liverpool when I was with the Magpies and then working with brothers on the Northern Beaches and it was, jeez, it was a traumatic time. I don't know if I could do it now. It's pretty hard back then, but I just didn't think about it again. Just that optimism, if I can get there, I can do it. And collectively, over the whole experience, it all come to an end when I went and played for Italy, being half Italian in the Rugby League World cup qualifiers in 2011, and we played over in Italy and in Serbia and it was an amazing experience. I love it. And looking back in, you know, playing in Serbia and Russia and Lebanon, Lebanon was the last game in that game against Lebanon. They were a fierce team and we only just won and we ended up making it through. But I didn't even get to see that because underneath the tackle, about 10 minutes in, I popped my shoulder again and it was done and raised off to the ambulance. They're jabbing me with stuff to try and make the pain and go away. I'm not feeling any change in that. The pain was real. And before I know it, I'm sitting there on the other side of the world in this hospital, which. Serbia is a beautiful country, but Jesus, some war torn places. And where I went, it certainly wasn't an ideal place. There were people where people were getting looked after or just the current way that it was. You know, I'm in there and there's this people bloodied up and it was like a war zone in this hospital and with all these different people, that thing going on in their life and what was happening then. I'm sitting there, this big fella with footy shorts on and socks and my arms popped out. Man, I've never felt more alone and further away from home. That was something else. That was a tough, that was a really tough moment. I'm sitting, the shoulder was still out, was out for three hours. There was a doctor there, one of them spoke English, thank God, and he popped it back in for me. But that period of time there, that's when I knew it was over. That's when I knew that my career was, was done. And I lost. I knew I'd lose my contract with Souths because I'd have to pass the medical. And I got home and that obviously wasn't going to happen. And I, you know, bandaged it up and no one was with me. Crin, my wife, girlfriend at the time, she was back home and it was just away with the, with the club and the team. And I got back home and failed my medical, lost my contract. And that was the end of 2011. I got my CrossFit certification at the time. At that stage, I'd had eight operations and reconstructions. Three on the knee, two on the shoulder because I had it reconstructed. One on the elbow, two on the draw and face. And man, What a time. 20, 25 years of age, you know, it was all but over 26 years of age. Sorry in 2011. And I had a friend of mine that I decided to. Why not? Let's go for it, let's do it. And we decided to open a gym together. And you know, it's something that never ended for me having that love and passion for people. It's funny how you look back in your life and you just see signs. You see things that are always there. And regardless of the footy and the fame, the glory, the money, all the, all the not wrong reasons, but different reasons in which I was trying to chase greatness in my own right, but coming from a level of self drive, self belief and challenging myself because that is at the crux of who I am from where I've been and who I've become in being that little fat boy who couldn't do anything to where I was, you know, and that really drives me. It wasn't the money, the fame, the glory, but they were some of the tangibles I was looking at and looking for in the pathway of playing professional sport. And I thought, why not start this gym? And we started CrossFit Wellbeing and it was amazing. It was just an unbelievable opportunity that I had from which I had no idea about business, what to do, where to turn next, how to make any money. The opportunity was an amazing thing for me to move forward in. But in terms of money, made no money, zero money in that. And it was a tough time racking up credit card bills and debts and living off Corinne and her wages. And this was a pretty tough period of our lives and looking at that and trying to still be that elite athlete. Because there was that at the time, look back now, there's that void that needed to be filled. You know, rugby league was torn away from me. I didn't know any better at that time. And I wanted to be an elite athlete. And fast forwarding over a few years, I played, sorry, I made the regionals, which is like the top in the country or top in Australia, New Zealand, three years in a row, 2013, 14, 50. All the while still running CrossFit Wellbeing and getting married at that time as well. And so many different things going on. Moving home seven times in that four year period. There's just so much instability. I look back now and it's okay because that, that has really shaped me towards who I am. And having someone stable like Corinne and what she was doing really balance out what we had and that cohesion in me getting after different things and testing the waters, which I believe is absolutely the time to do it in your 20s. And I look back now and there's so many different ways you can look at it. Like my life was a waste. I lost my 20s to injury and career and having no money, losing my home, nearly being homeless, living in a shack, getting electrocuted, then living and moving in with Nat and Pop. Mum and dad were in Queensland at the time. Thank God. Nat and Pop took me under there. I know, let me live with them out at Glenmore park. All these different things happening and it really has given me a level of resilience and persistence in overcoming adversity and the challenge that we face in life. But at this stage we looked in 2015, with the help of Quinn's parents, to Move up into the Central coast and buy our first home. And here we are a few years later, still living on the coast. And, you know, I had the opportunity to buy a CrossFit Royal Commando off a friend and I did that and here we are. I've had the gym for three years now and I traveled to Gateshead to run that. And it was funny because I've been In the industry 15 years at that stage, nearly 18 years now, since I was 17, I've been a PT. And it was really funny, everything you've been through. Like I said, I could feel that tap on the shoulder, so to speak, on helping people and helping people shift their perspective and change who it is they are into, who they can become. And I don't see people as they are. I see them for who they can be, the potential of what they can have, the greatness they have inside them, not as they currently sit. And people may call it weakness or kindness can be weakness or having that level of compassion and empathy, but it's there and it doesn't. If I get rejected or rocked from one person, I don't take it through to the next person. And this is something that became a realization for me when I entered fatherhood. Look, I've worked with fathers for over 10 years, 15 years now. I love working with old people, older men, I've got older brothers. I feel a bit more old school and mature in that sense. And when Stella was born back in 2016, it really rocked me. I didn't train for nearly six months and I own Royal Commando. I work in the office three steps from the gym and nearly six months, like bits and pieces here and there, but I was putting weight on again. I was creating excuses, eating shit food, food and just spiraling down. That little fat boy was coming out again. It was like he never left. And some lighthearted jokes from the members on my weight and my shape, and it really affected me. And it was funny because when this was hitting me and happening, someone who'd come from obesity and heavily overweight as a child, to professional elite sport, to rising up and starting businesses, not knowing what to do and just reacting and just putting out fires and trying to make do and make it real, it was a really confronting experience when I became a father. And Stella hasn't slept through in my whole life, so nearly three years without sleep. But it wasn't even just about the sleep deprivation, it was just how it affected me. And being the best I can be, which means being the best I can be for others. And My family. And I thought, shit, if this is hitting me, if this is affecting me, I've been elite athlete regionals multiple times, competed in several comps with CrossFit at a high level. Not many people, 110 kilos worldwide, can do what I can do. You know, I've looked at, I've looked up the stats like in regionals, the fittest man in the world for my size at a regional level, like, these are things that I prime myself on in myself. And having that going against the grain. I don't hold that over anyone or anything. I don't hold that from a line of arrogance. I'm the fittest. But looking at that and going, I've achieved these things, I've gotten after these things and done this, and it's still hitting me, it's still rocking me. Fatherhood, if this is hitting me, what is that doing for other guys? And what does this mean for other men? I'm not saying normal or average or ordinary guys. I'm saying guys who aren't in the industry, guys who maybe haven't had the transformation I've had, guys who don't have the level of education or knowledge in the health and fitness game and how to train themselves, and food nourishing the body and the headspace, the mindset, overcoming adversity. What does this mean for those dads out there who aren't getting that support? I'm not saying I'm the only person helping fathers, other people are. But as a whole, in bigger picture stuff, really providing that support. And there's some amazing programs out there that provide that level of support for fathers in a social networking sense. But I thought, who's really, really helping dads believe again, create that shift in their identity? Because life is change. Life will always be changed. The only one thing that is the same is change. If you think you're not change, well, you are. You're becoming worse. You either expand or contract. And if you're not expanding, you're contracting. If you're the same person day in, day out, where you're robbing future, present moments of who you can become with who you currently already are, the version that you've already become, you've already done that, you've ticked that box. And as people in this community and in a global sense, we get stuck in this rat race in this rut or this sort of wheel and cycle of not being able to break out and break that shift. And this is affecting fathers like, well, who's helping them? This has been so hard for me, who's helping them. And then when we looked at having our second child, who's now in this world, Lillian, I thought, you know what? I can't just get this through doing a bit of online coaching here and there and through my physical site, my gym with Royal Commando. There needs to be something. And I've known Lyn, he's my coach. Lynn Trinh, phenomenal guy. Unbelievable. He's relentless in helping people expand and have that reach in the online space. And, you know, credit to him for taking me on board. I appreciate the opportunity he's given me. And when I reached out and shared my vision of what I wanted to do and helping fathers empower themselves, get on top again, be the leaders in their own right. I'm not talking about wearing pants for the family or how your relationship or the dynamics of that with your significant other or with your children, but being a leader in your own right, being the best you can be from which everyone around you gets fed. If you're 100% within yourself first, then everyone gets a better version of you. Instead of giving and sacrificing, which is what it seemed like fathers are just doing, and mothers as well. I've got absolute respect and love for women and mothers and for children. My passion is children not having to go through what I've gone through. And with now cyberbullying and the Internet and technology, I didn't have that when I was younger. It's crazy where it's at now, but I can't go and advertise and offer programs to seven or eight year old kids. They are impacted and influenced through their environment, which is controlled ultimately through their parents. And if fathers can be better within themselves, then that means the women are going to get a better man, the children are going to get a better leader, role model. And father and I just went after it and real dad movement was born. It's a phenomenal thing, what we're doing, what we're creating. I've got fathers all over the country now and it will be global, it will be a massive movement. And it's just a passion of mine in helping fathers. And here we are now, I'm 33 years of age and I look back at all these moments, all the traumatic times in my life, the knee. I've still got issues like all these things that are affecting me and have affected me and all these moments in my life. The hardest times I feel like are blessings because I've come out the other end, the other side and what I'm Doing in the vision and the movement I have, it is special. It is absolutely something special. It is the change the world needs. But I'm not, I look at myself like, well, I'm not special. This is a standard, this is a given. I've got absolute passion and love for this. This is a gift that I want to give to the world. The power of perception and shifting your perspective is something I do very well, creatively and simply simplified ways that help people tap into changing that state and breaking out of the current norms that are their life. But it's funny because when I look at this and what we're creating with these fathers, it's crazy. The roll on effect this is having through the pathway, the nourishing the body and moving and training in the tribe, just fathers, but the mindset side of things and helping them shift that and redefine who it is they can be breaking through that glass ceiling, raising up the standards for themselves, creating new standards they otherwise didn't think existed, seeing that there is a high level of belief that we can have within ourselves and they can have. This is a standard, this is a given, a norm for me. And this is something that I feel we can all have, we should all have, and here we are. Looking back on those adversities over the years and what I've faced, I feel blessed. It is something that I just absolutely feel privileged to have in my life. And it's not easy having multiple businesses like this here and my gym and trying to be a father again for the second time with Lillian, and she's only four weeks old at the time of recording this in early May. And there's always going to be stuff, there's always something happening. I think that's the biggest realization I've had in my time here, trying to move forward. And no matter what happens, the external, the outside stuff, the things that are always happening to us, there's always an opportunity. Life is a series of choices. And where I am right now, through being that little fat boy, progressing into rugby league, having my career destroyed, shattered from me, lost my home, no money, living almost homeless, living with Nat and Pop and then moving out and renting with Krine, trying to make business do and, and I don't say I failed at those things. You only fail if you completely give up. But in terms of moving forward, making progress in certain areas, financial and others, not moving forward, not moving anywhere with that, the life experience, what it's given me, and the ability to help people in their own right, in their own life, in their mind, help them create that shift and redefine who they are. This is where we are and this is where we are. And real dad movement is absolutely the vessel from which we will be moving forward. And I will be expressing that love, that passion, that ability to help coach people and help them change their lives. That's what I love the most about this. It's not arrogance or ego in saying, I'm the man or I'm the one or I can do this, I will do this, I will absolutely do this. But knowing that, the humility that comes with it, I'm not changing these people's lives. It's all them. It's on them. They're taking the steps, they're moving forward. They call me a perception coach or an eye specialist. I'm just helping them get a new set of eyes in which they can see the world through a different lens and see the opportunities that are truly there for them in their life. What is truly possible for them to move forward and actually see that they can have a life of love and happiness and fulfillment. Not only that, you can't have day without night. I understand that there's always going to be something that hits us, but if we go for the easy path, if you do what is easy, your life will be hard. But if you go off to the hard stuff and the challenging stuff, your life will be easy. Because when we take these easy points or options, sooner or later there's something we can't control is going to come into our life. It's going to rock us and hit us hard, something we don't control. And if we've always opted out for the easy options and that hard thing hits us, it will rattle us. It will bring you unstuck. It will take you off your track, off your path. So helping people understand that life is a series of choices. Life is perspective. And your perception truly creates your reality and the actions you can take moving forward. When those tough moments come, we can get on top. We will move forward. This is something I will be known for. I will be known globally for doing this and helping people in their own right. I won't be the only one. I'm not going it alone. There's plenty of people out there who are high level motivators and influencers and that's amazing. This is what we need in the world. We need this. We need this level of connection and resonance to find ways to break out of our own thought processes, our own thought patterns, and change that state and move forward. That's what I love most. That's where I'm at. And I just love the ability of the opportunity to use technology to share this and share my story with you guys. We could talk for hours of this and we'll wrap it up here shortly. But I'm really appreciative of you sharing your time with me and being a part of my story and my journey and seeing what I'm all about and what I am. Truth and transparency is what you'll always see with me. And this is what I'm about. This is where I'm now. We're always moving, changing and evolving. Forward is the go, Forward is the key. We evolve upwards. We move forward together and in your own right. And this is something I'm so passionate about. I love being here and starting this, you know, first, first podcast. And look, I won't go out alone. I'm going to bring on some amazing guests in the future and I'll be diving in a couple of times a week, guys. So I really appreciate your time and jumping on and if there's anything I can ever do to help you or anything you ever need help with, please reach out alexrealdadmovement.com or hit me up on Instagram ealdadmovementalexranieri or Facebook realdadmovement dash. Alexranieri hit me up, guys, and find me and let me open up what is possible for you and yourself. If there's something you need help with, you need a change or a shift in your life, just let me know, I'm here. My life is service and service to you. And my passion is fathers and helping them see what is truly possible for themselves. Well, I think that's it. I think this is our, you know, this is the end of our first podcast show, first episode, and it's been an amazing time. I've actually gotten goosebumps a few times. And it's funny when you, when you go through this stuff and you speak it out clearly and you see it, you live it, you breathe it, you relive it, you can see the power of reflection in where you've been, we've come from and where you're moving forward. And also the power of gratitude. I feel so blessed. I don't feel lucky. I don't believe in luck. Luck is a perceived value system based off conditioning or your experiences. To see that someone should or shouldn't be grateful for where they are right now, you know, that's a whole other episode talking about luck. I feel blessed and happy. You know, 1 in 400 trillion is the, the breakdown, the equation for us to be here right now. Right. So we're all blessed. Anyone listening and watching this, it's, it's an amazing gift that we have in life. But thanks again for tuning in guys. I really appreciate your time as always and look forward to connecting with you guys in the future with more podcasts, more shows, more YouTube episodes. And like I said, if you ever need anything, please reach out. I'd love to help in any way, shape or form and look forward to seeing you in the next one. Please subscribe or find me or follow me and I'll be giving plenty of value and good stuff to you guys in future times. Thanks again guys and hope you enjoyed the episode and I'll see you shortly. Take care. Cheers guys. Bye. And that's a wrap.

I hope you enjoyed this episode and got some golden nuggets with possibly one or two aha moments as well. If you truly loved and enjoyed what you listened to, then I want to invite you to share this episode with someone who you know needs to hear this. It could be your brother, friends, colleagues.

Your uncle, even your wife.

If there's one thing I've learned, it's that none of us are alone in the hardships we face. But the solution to getting back on top, winning can start with a gift from someone else. And that gift could be an episode like this because another man transformed is another family saved. Which is exactly what we're all about.

Thriving and winning in life.

There is no alternative. It's possible. It has been done. It can be done, so it should be done. Appreciate your support in spreading this message. Cheers, mate.