It's Never About Money

Hosted by Joe Stephan

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Latest episode

May 2026

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EN-AU

About the show

When it comes to success, there is a big difference between money and wealth. In It's Never About Money, host Joe Stephan interviews business owners who are pursuing deeper purpose and meaning in their life, rather than just chasing the dollar. Our guests put their values front-and-centre in business and are driven by making a positive impact in the world. Tune in to hear how their stories have unfolded and the key moments that got them there. Whether you are already pursuing meaning in your life or work, or wondering how the most successful are doing it, this podcast will encourage and inspire you to think differently, because It's Never About Money. --- JOE STEPHAN is a Financial Planner with Stephan Independent Advisory, based in Melbourne, Australia: www.siadvisory.com.au IT'S NEVER ABOUT MONEY is powered by Stephan Independent Advisory: www.itsneveraboutmoney.com.au

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60 recent

May 17, 2026Episode 8147 min

Taking a Deep Dive Into My Long-Term Health [Joe Stephan]

Welcome to Episode 81 of It's Never About Money. To conclude this health-focused season, I'm doing something a little different – and frankly, it's pretty confronting. Because of my family history of stroke, cancer and high blood pressure, I've long carried a belief that I wouldn't live a long life. That mindset has shaped the way I live, work, manage money and plan for the future – but it's always been driven by fear rather than fact. So I decided to change that. I recently undertook the HealthScreen Platinum Program with Dr David Badov – a full-day, hospital-grade diagnostic deep dive that examines everything from heart health, cancer risk and genetic markers to biological age, gut health and over 100 blood biomarkers. Rather than guessing about my future, I wanted to understand – in clear, data-backed terms – where I actually stand, and whether, despite my genetics, there's a way I can influence my environment to live not just a long life, but a healthy one. In this episode, I share the entire experience, including: My mindset before completing the HealthScreen The preparation process What the assessment involved, from MRIs and ultrasounds to blood tests and body composition scans The cost and my honest reflections on the experience My cardiac, cholesterol, blood and hormonal results – and my doctor's recommendations How my environment and lifestyle choices have influenced my health My family's reaction How this knowledge will change the way I live and plan for the future We often say we want to invest in our health. Yet when it comes to proactive testing, many of us avoid it – much like estate planning or writing a Will – because it forces us to confront uncomfortable possibilities. Wherever you are on your own health journey, I hope this episode provides clarity, perspective and the impetus to prioritise your own wellbeing and longevity. Because money means very little if you're not here to enjoy it. Disclosure: I received a 20% discount on my HealthScreen and donated this amount to Cufa – an independent Australian not-for-profit development agency focused on alleviating poverty in the Asia-Pacific region. HealthScreen is offering It's Never About Money listeners a 10% discount. Click here to book your appointment, enter "Joe10" in the comments section, and pay a refundable $750 deposit to secure your appointment. The 10% discount will be automatically applied to your final invoice. FIND OUT MORE: https://healthscreen.com.au/ ABOUT IT'S NEVER ABOUT MONEY: Joe Stephan is a Financial Planner with Stephan Independent Advisory, based in Melbourne, Australia: https://siadvisory.com.au/ It's Never About Money is powered by Stephan Independent Advisory: https://itsneveraboutmoney.com.au It's Never About Money is a proud supporter of Cufa: https://www.cufa.org.au/

March 29, 2026Episode 8025 min

Decoding the formula for being healthy, happy and present dad [James Stephan]

This episode is a little different. When we decided to focus this season of It's Never About Money on health, I knew there was one conversation I needed to have. My brother James has always been someone I admire, but his approach to exercise and self-improvement continues to surprise me in its intensity and consistency. In this conversation I try to understand the why behind the way he lives. We could not be more different in how we think, plan and move through the world, yet we share the same history, the same family story and the same hopes for the future. Exploring where we overlap and where we diverge has always been meaningful and, at times, complicated. I hope you enjoy listening to this as much as I enjoyed recording it. FIND OUT MORE: 🔗 SIA Website: https://siadvisory.com.au/about-meet-the-team/ 🔗 James on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-stephan-49903115/ ABOUT IT'S NEVER ABOUT MONEY: Joe Stephan is a Financial Planner with Stephan Independent Advisory, based in Melbourne, Australia: https://siadvisory.com.au/ It's Never About Money is powered by Stephan Independent Advisory: https://itsneveraboutmoney.com.au It's Never About Money is a proud supporter of Cufa: https://www.cufa.org.au/

March 15, 2026Episode 791 hr 8 min

The Business Case for Wellbeing [Dr. Patrick Aouad]

Imagine if your employer supported you to be your healthiest, sharpest, most energised self – not just in the office, but at home as well. Not simply a fruit bowl in the kitchen or the occasional wellbeing webinar, but meaningful, integrated support: access to doctors, psychologists, dietitians and performance coaches, alongside practical tools to help you manage stress, improve sleep and reduce your risk of chronic disease. In this episode of It's Never About Money, I'm joined by Dr Patrick Aouad, specialist neurologist and Founder and CEO of CU Health, Australia's leading health and wellbeing platform for employees. Patrick began his career in clinical neurology, working with complex brain conditions and seeing firsthand how profoundly health shapes a person's capacity to live and work well. Over time, he became increasingly drawn to prevention, and found himself asking the question: if most people spend the majority of their waking lives at work, why aren't workplaces central to how we deliver proactive healthcare? That led him to build CU Health, a connected digital platform that brings together general practice, psychology, dietetics, health coaching and executive performance coaching in one place, designed specifically for the workplace. The mission is far-reaching – to improve employee mental and physical health in a way that creates real value for both individuals and organisations. In our conversation, we unpack the economic impact of poor health – from burnout and disengagement to the hidden cost of people operating below their potential. Patrick explains why mental wellbeing is the primary workplace health risk, and why he believes that investing in employee health is more important than AI when it comes to the future of work. We also talk about individual responsibility – prioritising sleep, movement and diet as non-negotiable foundations – and the reality that guided support is often the bridge between knowing what to do and actually following through. This episode takes a look at the real return that can come from your employer investing in your health, and why wellbeing might just be the most undervalued asset in modern life. FIND OUT MORE: > www.cuhealth.com.au ABOUT IT'S NEVER ABOUT MONEY: Joe Stephan is a Financial Planner with Stephan Independent Advisory, based in Melbourne, Australia: https://siadvisory.com.au/ It's Never About Money is powered by Stephan Independent Advisory: https://itsneveraboutmoney.com.au It's Never About Money is a proud supporter of Cufa: https://www.cufa.org.au/

February 22, 2026Episode 7857 min

Why Nutrition Matters More Than You Think [Jackie Bowker]

Many of us think of nutrition as something separate from the rest of life – what you eat on one side, and how you feel, think and perform on the other. But this week, I sat down with Jackie Bowker, award-winning functional nutritionist, PhD candidate and CEO of the Global Feel Better Institute, to explore why food is so often the missing link between energy, mood, sleep and decision-making – and why it underpins everything from health to wealth. Jackie shares her journey into nutrition, which began after years of riding a blood sugar roller coaster fuelled by sugar addiction, chronic fatigue and feeling "wired but tired". When traditional medicine couldn't offer answers, she turned to real food and discovered just how powerful our diet can be when the body is struggling. Our conversation unpacks how unstable blood sugar affects sleep, focus and emotional regulation, how ultra-processed foods are disruptive to hormones and gut health, and how closely the gut and brain are connected. We also explore practical, realistic ways to support better health without chasing perfection. Jackie explains why small changes matter, how sleep and nutrition reinforce each other, and why there is no single "right" diet. If you've ever felt flat, foggy or wondered why willpower alone isn't enough, this conversation reframes nutrition as a foundation for energy, clarity and better decisions in every area of life. I've certainly found it to be food for thought, and I hope you do too. FIND OUT MORE: https://feelbetterinstitute.com ABOUT IT'S NEVER ABOUT MONEY: Joe Stephan is a Financial Planner with Stephan Independent Advisory, based in Melbourne, Australia: https://siadvisory.com.au/ It's Never About Money is powered by Stephan Independent Advisory: https://itsneveraboutmoney.com.au It's Never About Money is a proud supporter of Cufa: https://www.cufa.org.au/

February 8, 2026Episode 771 hr 3 min

What If Financial Advice Was About Living Well? [Mark Hedderman]

I met Mark Hedderman at the FAAA Congress in Perth, and it didn't take long to realise we were aligned. Beyond the Irish accent, Mark brings a deeply human view of financial advice – one shaped by family, his own experience, and a belief that money is the vehicle, not the destination. In this week's episode of It's Never About Money, we explore why financial advice needs to move beyond numbers and net worth, and towards wellbeing, health, purpose and connection. Mark shares how his family's story – including his father's cancer diagnosis just months into retirement – reshaped how he thinks about success and legacy. We talk about reimagining retirement as a time for unrealised dreams, not an end point, and how advisers can help improve health and life outcomes by asking better questions. Mark also explains how his firm is redesigning its advice model – reducing the focus on money and building in preventative health, social connection and family-wide conversations. We finish with a powerful reminder of what great advice really looks like: someone who cares about you first, the money second – and who helps you live well, not just retire wealthy. Because in the end, it's never just about money. FIND OUT MORE: https://hedderman.ie/ ABOUT IT'S NEVER ABOUT MONEY: Joe Stephan is a Financial Planner with Stephan Independent Advisory, based in Melbourne, Australia: https://siadvisory.com.au/ It's Never About Money is powered by Stephan Independent Advisory: https://itsneveraboutmoney.com.au It's Never About Money is a proud supporter of Cufa: https://www.cufa.org.au/

January 25, 2026Episode 761 hr 8 min

Talking with a Sleep Expert About the Rhythms That Run Your Life [Simon Joosten]

Sleep shapes every part of my life, yet I used to think about it only when it stopped working. This week, I had the chance to sit down with Associate Professor Simon Joosten, one of Australia's leading clinician scientists in respiratory and sleep medicine, to explore why sleep matters so much and what we can all do to protect it. Simon combines deep clinical experience with world class research, and our conversation opened my eyes to just how interconnected sleep is with memory, mood, attention and long-term health. We talked about why consistent timing can matter even more than total hours slept, the hidden risks of chronic sleep restriction, and the reason natural light still runs our internal clock. He explains why waking up during the night is completely normal, why sleep becomes harder to "fix" when life is stressful, and how predictable routines remain the most powerful tool we have to support high quality sleep. We also explored chronotypes, individual differences, the impact of modern technology, and the tension between our personal rhythms and the structures of work and school that run to a fixed timetable. If you have ever wondered why you feel flat, foggy or emotional after poor sleep, or why your best ideas appear after a solid night, this conversation makes the science clear. More importantly, it offers practical steps anyone can take to build healthier sleep habits in a world that constantly pulls us away from rest. I learned a lot from this one, and I think you will too. ABOUT IT'S NEVER ABOUT MONEY: Joe Stephan is a Financial Planner with Stephan Independent Advisory, based in Melbourne, Australia: https://siadvisory.com.au/ It's Never About Money is powered by Stephan Independent Advisory: https://itsneveraboutmoney.com.au It's Never About Money is a proud supporter of Cufa: https://www.cufa.org.au/

January 12, 2026Episode 7554 min

What if science could show you how long and how well you'll live? [Heather Holmes]

What if science could show you how long and how well you'll live? In this conversation, Joe Stephan speaks with Heather Holmes, Co-Founder and CEO of Halo, a longevity and healthspan assessment tool helping people understand how genetics, lifestyle, and environment shape their future wellbeing. They explore how Halo combines data with human insight - turning family health history, lifestyle habits and environmental influences into practical knowledge that can improve both health outcomes and financial decisions. Heather shares the personal experiences that inspired her to create Halo, including the loss of a patient during her time in healthcare and her father's declining health and financial decision-making. Together, they discuss the link between health and money, why genes aren't destiny, and how understanding your "healthspan" can transform how you plan for the years ahead. FIND OUT MORE: Halo: https://www.halohealthspan.com/ ABOUT IT'S NEVER ABOUT MONEY: Joe Stephan is a Financial Planner with Stephan Independent Advisory, based in Melbourne, Australia: https://siadvisory.com.au/ It's Never About Money is powered by Stephan Independent Advisory: https://itsneveraboutmoney.com.au It's Never About Money is a proud supporter of Cufa: https://www.cufa.org.au/

December 14, 2025Episode 7449 min

Why Willpower Isn't Enough (and What Really Builds Habits) [Bevan James Eyles]

Stop saying "I'm not a runner." Use this reframe instead: "I'm a Grade 1 runner." This changes it from being an all-or-nothing proposition. It is also redefining what success looks like. For a Grade 1 runner, simply getting outside once or twice a week without hurting themselves is a success. That simple reframe can be enough to change behaviour, and build confidence and momentum. Bevan James Eyles, in my latest conversation for It's Never About Money, struck me as someone full of practical advice like this. Having wrestled with the question of willpower his whole career, I asked him: why is it that one person can find the willpower to train for an elite Ironman, while others struggle to exercise at all? FIND OUT MORE: >🎧 Listen to Episode here: https://itsneveraboutmoney.com.au/why-willpower-isnt-enough-and-what-really-builds-habits-bevan-james-eyles/ ABOUT IT'S NEVER ABOUT MONEY: Joe Stephan is a Financial Planner with Stephan Independent Advisory, based in Melbourne, Australia: https://siadvisory.com.au/ It's Never About Money is powered by Stephan Independent Advisory: https://itsneveraboutmoney.com.au It's Never About Money is a proud supporter of Cufa: https://www.cufa.org.au/

December 1, 2025Episode 7331 min

I asked 9 financial advisers how money affects health. Here is what they told me

At the 2025 FAAA Congress, I walked the floor with one question in mind. How does money influence health? What followed was a series of thoughtful, honest and sometimes surprising conversations with advisers from across Australia. In this roaming special, you will hear from nine advisers who work at the intersection of finance, behaviour and wellbeing. Together, they reveal how financial stress quietly erodes health, how clarity changes the way people live, and why good advice often becomes a health intervention long before clients realise it. We talk about avoidance, overwork, life transitions, grief, retirement, identity and the surprising ways people use money to rebuild their wellbeing. Each adviser brings a different angle, but they all arrive at the same conclusion. When people understand their financial position and feel safe in their decisions, they sleep better, work less, feel more in control and reclaim time for the things that matter. This episode is a reminder that financial advice is not only about growing wealth. It is about supporting the conditions for a good life. Featuring: Shannon Victor, Kelly King, Bianca Musico, Mark O'Flynn, Sarah Leslie, Rob Pyne, Jordan Vaka, Nathan Fradley and Martin McGrath. Listen to this special episode to hear what they each had to say. ABOUT IT'S NEVER ABOUT MONEY: Joe Stephan is a Financial Planner with Stephan Independent Advisory, based in Melbourne, Australia: https://siadvisory.com.au/ It's Never About Money is powered by Stephan Independent Advisory: https://itsneveraboutmoney.com.au It's Never About Money is a proud supporter of Cufa: https://www.cufa.org.au/

November 16, 2025Episode 7249 min

Why Hormone Health is Stuck in the Dark Ages [Ceri Cashell]

Hormones influence every system in the body. So why are they so often overlooked in mainstream healthcare? In this episode, Dr Ceri Cashell joins Joe Stephan to bust myths, explore why hormone health is decades behind, and share practical steps for protecting your wellbeing. We cover: Why "sex hormones" is a misleading term The mental health conditions that may be hormone-related How poor hormonal balance can derail your work and relationships Environmental factors quietly disrupting your health What to ask your GP if you suspect hormone issues FIND OUT MORE: Healthy Hormones: www.healthyhormones.au Dr Ceri Cashell: www.drcericashell.com ABOUT IT'S NEVER ABOUT MONEY: Joe Stephan is a Financial Planner with Stephan Independent Advisory, based in Melbourne, Australia: https://siadvisory.com.au/ It's Never About Money is powered by Stephan Independent Advisory: https://itsneveraboutmoney.com.au It's Never About Money is a proud supporter of Cufa: https://www.cufa.org.au