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Out of the Blue: Ryan’s life-changing physio lecture

August 14, 2025 / 33:27

This episode of the Domy podcast features Ryan, a final-year physiotherapy student from New Zealand, discussing unexpected health complications related to his hip. Key topics include the importance of health insurance, mental health impacts of physical limitations, and the journey of recovery through physiotherapy.

Ryan shares his background as a Palestinian living in New Zealand and his passion for physical fitness. He emphasizes the significance of movement and exercise for both physical and mental well-being, especially after experiencing debilitating hip pain.

He recounts his gradual realization of his hip issues, the diagnosis of a labral tear and cartilage damage, and the role of Southern Cross Health Insurance in facilitating his treatment. Ryan highlights the importance of health insurance for young adults and encourages listeners to consider their health needs seriously.

Throughout the conversation, Ryan reflects on how his experiences have shaped his perspective as a future physiotherapist, emphasizing empathy and understanding for patients facing similar challenges.

The episode concludes with Ryan expressing gratitude for his recovery and his commitment to maintaining an active lifestyle, including aspirations to run a half marathon.

TLDR

Ryan shares his journey of overcoming unexpected hip complications and the importance of health insurance for young adults.

Episode

33:27
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Hello and welcome to this very special episode of the Domy podcast. This is sponsored by Southern Cross Health
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Insurance. It's called Out of the Blue because health complications always come
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when you least expect them. Out of the blue. And our guest today is someone that has experienced this firsthand.
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Some unexpected complications with his hip. Out of the blue. Ryan, welcome to my podcast. Thank you for having me,
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Dom. >> This is cool. This is something very different. First time we've done this on
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the Dom Harvey podcast. So, first of all, um, let's start at the very beginning. Tell us a little bit about
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yourself. Where are you from? What are you studying? What do you like to do outside of uni?
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>> Yeah. So, hello. My name is Ryan. I'm originally Palestinian, but I've been
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living in New Zealand for six years now. Um, really loving it over here. Uh, while I'm studying, I'm currently in my
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final year, actually, final placement of physiootherapy. So hopefully could be qualified in the next few months. So I'm
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very very looking forward to that. Yeah. >> Amazing. Amazing. I'm I'm a big fan of
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physios. I'm a distance runner so they're a big part of my life. >> So I'm sure I'll see you in the practice
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in the future >> at some stage. And you'll ask me on my return visit if I've done the exercises
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and I will lie and say yes. >> Yeah. I I'll pretend that you've done
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that too. >> I appreciate that. Um, what age did you become a Southern Cross health insurance
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member? >> I've been a Southern Cross member since I was uh really young. My parents have
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kind of always reinforced that we need we need this just in case things took a turn from for the worst. So, yeah, I
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think a big big part of Southern Cross was making sure that you always have something that something that has your
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back or someone that has your back. That's that was a big part of it for why
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my parents reinforced it. >> So, >> yeah. and it's paid off big time for you
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already and we'll get into that. But is this is this something that's quite
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common or or really uncommon for people your age like in your friend group? Is it is anyone else insured?
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>> I think most of them have health insurance. Does there's obviously a
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select few who we haven't swayed but um there I think most of us do and I think
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they understand because a lot of my friend group are physio students or are healthcare in some way shape or form. So
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they are they're all very their health literacy is all very good and they understand the importance of having it.
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>> So yeah it's it's quite a common thing amongst I think people who have gone
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through the degree and have an adequate amount of health literacy. I think that's a that's a common theme around
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us. >> Oh that makes sense. Now you're clearly someone that values um physical fitness.
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What does a typical week look like for you in terms of your training and staying active? Yeah, a typical week is
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on a good week where I'm not feeling lazy. I I do love the gym. I do love going on um hikes. Do love um just doing
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outdoor stuff. I do love spending a lot of time with my family. We do this. We have every night. It's a a theme. We all
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make a pot of tea and we all sit and talk about our day and it's just that it's the small things I really enjoy.
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But I also physical fitness is something that's really important to me, especially after everything that's just
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happened. I think it's important that that me move and I just I don't know. I
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I'm just not someone who can sit still as I'm sure you could tell me just
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rocking my legs this entire time. >> I'm the same. I'm the same. Yeah. Um
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Yeah. What does exercise mean to you? What does it bring to your life? >> Yeah. I think exercise is just it
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basically for me I I think exercise is a part of it but movement is we need to really count our blessings on that.
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Movement is such a thing that's so undervalued and once you've lost it like
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yes you can regain it but it becomes a little more difficult. I think for me, exercise is just a way to kind of it's a
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way for me to work on myself, a way to address your holistic well-being. That's
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a that's a big part of it. It's yes, your physical health improves. Yes, your
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squats improve your deadlifts, all that type of stuff. But also, it's how that
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improves your mental health and how that improves your like everyday life. And I
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think that's something that's so that's so important with exercise is making
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sure that or at least having that improvement in your mental health. That's that connection for me is been a
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game changer. >> Yeah, >> I agree. It's not something that's
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talked about often enough. Like everyone knows about the benefits of exercise from the neck down. Um but the mental
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health benefits associated with exercise um are just incredible. >> Yeah. Yeah. It's it's not something I
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feel like it's not something you can know, but you won't really understand
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until you've like been in the gym or been exercising or been doing kind of your physical hobby. You don't
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understand kind of the impact it has on your well-being >> in lots of different aspects. You just
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feel you wake up feeling a little better. You wake up feeling less brain fog. You wake up
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>> actually wanting to get out of your bed. You know, >> I I it's it's really un it's always
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something that you hear people say, "Oh, yeah, you should go to the gym. It's
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good for your physical health. It's it's good for your mental health." But once
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you actually realize that that kind of that rhetoric is actually correct, it it actually does make significant changes
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in your life. >> Yeah. the self-esteem boost you get, eh? >> Um, yeah, getting sick sucks for
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anybody, but when you're a person that um values and prioritizes their physical
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health, it it sucks even more, I think, when it's something that's taken away.
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How was your mental health over that time when you got unwell >> w with my with my hip issues? I think it
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was it was a it was progressive. That's what it was. Like it just once I noticed
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my physical health decreasing, I started noticing like I'm withdrawing from activities. I'm I'm not doing things
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that I used to do. I'm not getting up um not getting up as much as I used to. I'm
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not going to the gym, not having that motivation. It's kind of like I felt like as my function deteriorated and as
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I started noticing uh the pain and debilitation a lot more, I started noticing that I was Yeah. It just
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started getting worse than mental health. And >> I guess at that point I was you kind of
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you kind of miss that you were able to just get up and run. You miss you're able to just get up and go to the gym.
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And now I was finding like set sitting to standing really painful. And I every time I'd walk I'd just get this ache in
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my hip and it would start locking and I'd start tripping over. And I'm like
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I'm at the time I was like I'm 20 years old. But I'm not I'm not in my 80s, you
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know. >> So I think the effect it had on my mental health was quite significant to
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be honest. Yeah. >> Yeah. Cuz the things that you would have taken for granted your entire life that
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suddenly you can't do anymore. >> Yeah. >> So um yeah, what happened? How did it
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all begin? >> I think it all began with me realizing in the gym that I could never squat as
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much as my mates. So I know that's it seems a bit funny to have that competition and stuff
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>> in terms in terms of the the amount of weight or in terms of the depth >> in terms of the depth. Okay.
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>> My mates were always more flexible. It's like it was this ongoing joke that I
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have no flexibility and all that stuff. And I think just over time the more I went to the gym the more I noticed like
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okay um something isn't entirely right. and my hips just started hurt. the left
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hip started hurting >> quite a lot over I'd say 2023 that's probably when it started when I started
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actually fully gyming properly like frequently and >> I I think that the pain just
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progressively became worse and the amount I could tolerate became worse and I'd say start of 2024 I started seeing
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the massive changes in okay wow it's actually why is it hard to get out of bed and then Over time, it just became
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more and more like, oh, why is why is walking hard? Why is why am I finding my squats getting worse so my mates are
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winning? You know, that that that type of thing. And I think it it didn't it
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wasn't until I'd say mid2024 when my physio was reassessing my left hip that
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he was like, "Okay, um, something's not right here." And I think that validation
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was huge that, okay, there's something not right. It's not just it's not just
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your brain. It's not just in your head. And that's when we went off for specialist opinion. And by the time that
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by that time of the specialist opinions, that's when my function had gotten to to
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its worst. I just started every time I'd go in a little even jog for a second,
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the pain would just skyrocket and stay there. or when um I'd do a weird movement or when I'd you know it it was
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just it was quite like quite like well why I why am I moving so so like it unorthodox? It's it wasn't
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>> it just wasn't it wasn't normal. That's what I was saying. And I noticed it
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wasn't normal and that's when I started just every day became it became a chore
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to go in a walk. it be gave it chore to even get into the car and do those movements to get in and out of the car
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and that was it was all just really painful >> and eventually once you get the
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validation that okay there is actually something wrong here um it's it's not
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mental you there's something we can actually do >> that's that's when I feel like things
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started going back up the trajectory started improving >> yeah how how long do you think you were
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suffering in silence A lot of my mates won't say it with silence because but but yeah
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>> you know what I mean before seeking um you know some some professional opinions.
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>> Yeah. I think I think it was a good solid year because I it was kind of like
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intermittent in and I'd say in around 2023 time around 2024 it became constant. I think it was a solid year
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where I wasn't really doing much and yeah, I I just think it took it took a turn for the worst. So, it took me quite
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a while, I'd say, to to get it checked out because I was like, I'm young. I'm
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fit. Surely it will go away. Surely when you're younger, your healing abilities
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are better. That that type of thing. But it just actually didn't get better. And
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I remember one of the surgeons saying, "Look, look, man, it's not going to get
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better by itself. This is something that needs to be treated." Like it's that I
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think that that really hit hit home and I was like, "Oh, so if I just left it, I
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would have just been in the same boat as I am in now." >> That's what it's kind of what the
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thought process was at that time. >> And the diagnosis, um, yeah, that must
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have been a relief. >> Oh, yeah. >> If if I was you, I'm probably here, but
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my mind would have been just going crazy. I would have been like googling symptoms. And that always takes you down
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a very dark and dangerous hole. >> Yeah. I was I was googling non-stop going back to my lecture slides. I was
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even using chat GPT to Google my symptoms like chat GPT for my symptoms and yeah I I think a big thing of being
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a healthc care student and actually knowing about conditions a big thing of it is catastrophizing and
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catastrophizing once you're in that feedback loop from hell you're stuck in
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it. So I feel I always kept telling myself, "Oh yeah, it could be a fracture. It could be this. It could be
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this." But actually I I needed someone to look at it. So that's when I once I
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found myself in that loop, I was able to take a step back and be like, "Okay,
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that maybe we need a prof professional opinion, not some at the time, not some thirdyear student who's who's just read
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things off a textbook kind of thing." I >> I think that cat catastrophizing thing
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is human nature. >> Yeah, definitely. >> Across the board. So what were you
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diagnosed with? What's the name of the condition? >> So I initially had had a laboral tear in
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my hip. So lab is just kind of like that shock absorbing gel-like structure in your hip and it just kind of stops the
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shock from being transmitted to kind of like your bones and stuff. >> And then I also had some cartilage
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damage. We we call it medically it's a condra flap lesion. But I also had something called femoraset tablo
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impingement which is just like a bone bone growth on your hip from like repetitive traumas or can be from birth.
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I'm pretty sure imagine my supervisors listening to me on this being like that's so wrong. So I'm really trying
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here. >> You're sounding really knowledgeable. >> I'm glad. I'm really glad.
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>> Hopefully you don't fail your papers because of this podcast. >> Yeah. I hope not. Surely they sure
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they'll understand. It's off hours. But um yeah, there there's that. And I also
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so I did I ended up getting my my labum repaired. I ended up getting a bit a debridement just a wash out of like the
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damaged pieces. And I also had an osteoplasty where they basically reshaped um my hip so it can have well
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the top of the hipbone so it has good better movement. And I am honestly the left hip's probably better than the
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right hip right now >> which is which is crazy considering >> wow >> what's happened?
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>> Yeah. >> Yeah. So so why physio? Where where did your passion for physiootherapy come
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from? Was there a moment or experience that led you down that career path? I >> I think that um a big one was my
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experience with that. I growing up I had like these dizziness balance problems and I I went and saw um a vestibular
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physio which is like nobody knows what they do but >> I've I've literally never heard what's
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the V word >> vestibular like it's like your inner ear stuff. >> Never heard that word before in my life.
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>> Yeah, it's like your inner ear disorders. We went and got treated by
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one and I saw how just like honestly the technology I can't remember like specifically what the names of the
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technology were but there were these technologies that could give them like real time feedback on what I was doing
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and I I just found that like so cool to use that technology and I thought in the
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future how cool I'd look if I was using that but also I think how the exercises
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what they the exercises they gave me were just a simple thing put your thumb there and kind of put your eye there and
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just just shake your head while looking at it. Stabilize on that. And I just saw
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how that actually completely shifted my quality of life. Yeah, it was like it was arduous the whole process. But I
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just saw how like I became better. I was able to go to school without feeling well like crap basically and I was able
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to go and I was able to run and do all that sort of stuff. So I think at that point I saw how it improved my quality
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of life. And I think for me it wasn't about curing things for people. It wasn't about coming up with this and
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being in a lab pouring potions together. For me it was what can I do? What relationships can I build that can help
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people get back to what they were doing or get back or or get to do what their goal is.
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>> I think for me that was that was why physio medicine was too hard. So I had
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to find an in between as well. I think just to put that on there. >> Oh, it's it's a really cool really cool
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occupation in the respect that you are literally like improving someone's quality of life and unlike a lot of jobs
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like when you when you lose a patient or you stop seeing them um it's a good
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thing because it means the job's done. >> Yeah, I know. It definitely is a good
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thing. And I've I've had experiences on placement where you've just helped
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people get to the bathroom when previously they were just stuck in the bed, you know, and even something as
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simple as that is like just helping them walk up to the bathroom. That is so rewarding. And you see the look in their
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eyes when they've done something they haven't been able to do. And I think
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that kind of the basis of our species is being social butterflies. And I think that
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>> plus my personality and plus with what I've experienced that's I felt like it
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was the perfect role for me. >> And especially seeing post-operatively with my hip and everything, seeing how
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much my physio helped me and how how good my function is now. And I think seeing seeing what he's done has just
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make it's just it just further reinforces what I want to do. I want to be able to get someone from walking and
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tripping over because the hip isn't is keeps locking and and just being in all
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that pain to, wow, they're actually doing hops. They're actually doing jumps. They're actually going on hikes.
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I I don't know if I mentioned already, but I went on a hike the other day. It
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was Kangahake and I just like I think I mentioned I saw I saw the light at the end of the tunnel and there is a tunnel
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there. So you literally saw the light at the end of the tunnel. >> Yeah. Yeah. I I just clocked that. But
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yeah, we did walk in the tunnel. Yeah. Yeah, it was it was cool that. But I was like I remember walking we went on one
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of the mountain walks and I just remember being at the top like >> wow like physio played a massive role.
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What I'm doing is going to get people from literally hobbling around to walking up mountains. And I just think
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it was so surreal in that moment >> when I was just looking out looking out
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at um the view. I was actually I was actually frightened as cuz I don't like
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heights. But I also was looking out at the view being like I wouldn't have been
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able to do this a year ago. Like this completely that wouldn't even be out of
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the question if my mate before they even finished the sentence of do you want to
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go on a hike? It would have been no. And now I'm walked up 3 hours. I know it's
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not the hardest walk in the world, right? It's no like Mount Rae who walk but it's for me that was so so
00:18:01
lifechanging just doing that walk up the mountain. So that's kind of like where
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my passion came that you can get people to doing things that they never usually used to do or that they're finding
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difficult to do you know >> through your training as a physio. Were you familiar with the condition? Like is
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this something that Oh, you'd studied it. >> Yeah, that that's why it was weird.
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That's why it was weird. I I literally remember the lecture where I'm just
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sitting there and I'm like h like that's a it's an unfortunate condition. Like
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I'm just reading through it and the type of operation and it kind of just goes
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over your mind. It's it's kind of this weird reality when you're like oh I am
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what that what that lecture is saying or I am what that condition is. Like you that's a thing when you go through any
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healthcare degrees like you look at all these different conditions and you never
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think that you're going to have it. You never think that you're going to suffer
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like that if you know what I mean. You never >> It's always someone else.
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>> Yeah, it's always you're always thinking of someone else. But then when you
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actually have that condition, you're like it's it's such a trippy feeling.
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It's it was it was weird. So I actually knew the condition. I was quite well
00:19:01
verssed in the path. We call it pathologies. >> I I kind of I understood it but
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>> like you don't think about the usually you're just like okay this person might
00:19:10
have this this and this symptom X Y and Zed. But then with with me, I'm like,
00:19:15
"Oh, I have X, Y, and Zed condition." And that was Yeah, it was it was a
00:19:20
really weird experience to actually feel the symptoms that they were feeling because the empathy changes then. So now
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when I see someone who's who's having hip problems, the empathy is always
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going to be different now because of what I've gone through. >> Oh, 100% deeper level of understanding.
00:19:34
Yeah. >> So what role did your Southern Cross Health Insurance play in your journey?
00:19:39
Honestly, every the way that they all all the health care professionals interacted with each other, the way that
00:19:45
they funded the surgery was a really Yeah, that was that was a game changer because it surgeries aren't cheap, you
00:19:53
know, like they nobody ever claimed that they were they aren't they aren't cheap.
00:19:57
So I think them helping out by funding it was it actually just got the ball rolling knowing that okay well this
00:20:07
who's going to pay pay this massive bill it's not going to be us. So I think that
00:20:12
was the first step was that but also kind of the care that the providers that there was just so much so much passion
00:20:20
in what they do the providers and Southern Cross helped with post-operative physio as well. So like
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it was very it was a big part of my journey and that's why I was like I was happy to come and talk about it.
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>> Such a relief. >> Oh massive. >> Yeah. And how quickly were you able to
00:20:38
get you know scans see specialists and get the surgery done? >> I think it was it was relatively quick.
00:20:44
The scans like X-rays and stuff but they were quite easy to get. >> Um you could kind of like just refer
00:20:50
walk in. The MRI does require specialists to do it. So yes, the wait was still a few weeks, but people who
00:20:58
have have my condition wait a year or sometimes a really long time to get to get the appointment to get those MRI
00:21:08
scans and all that stuff. So it's the fact that that process was sped up for
00:21:11
me. >> I think that was I think that that made my life a lot easier in the long term as
00:21:17
well. And also just timing wise when the hips started getting really painful and
00:21:24
like debilitating. That's when first placement the year nearly started again. So there was the
00:21:29
question of am I going to be able to go and do what I'm passionate about go do
00:21:34
my final year get my degree or am I going to have to take a year off to focus on recovery and all the Southern
00:21:40
Cross providers made that process easier. It's like it's why I'm here
00:21:44
today to be honest. >> I can I can tell you how grateful you are. Yeah, it's yeah, so grateful. It it
00:21:51
really Yeah, not everyone gets that opportunity. So, I was I feel I feel really lucky to have been able to go and
00:21:58
do what I really I want to do. And I want other people to have that ability as well.
00:22:02
>> That's the thing. >> Are any or many of your mates the same age insured?
00:22:07
>> I think most of them are insured. It's just some I think some people don't
00:22:12
really have the understanding of what health insurance is. It's it's immediately seen as like this this taboo
00:22:18
this oh it's expensive but if you kind of look at the pros and the cons I feel
00:22:21
like for me I know I have a bit of bias towards that but for me the big the pros
00:22:26
and the cons the pros outweigh them completely >> like it was >> it was it was just such a it was such a
00:22:33
handy experience and the fact that my quality of life now is better than it was then and they facilitated this
00:22:41
journey I I do recommend it but yeah some most of My friends do have it, which is thankful.
00:22:47
>> Are all your friends like, "Yeah, Ryan, we get it. You stop going on about it.
00:22:51
That guy in the friend group now." >> Yeah. Honestly, just that guy who's
00:22:54
like, "Okay, we we got it. You had the operation. Why is it still being brought
00:22:59
up?" >> Yeah. Okay, Dad, leave us alone. >> Yeah, it's exactly that.
00:23:03
>> Have you thought about how different the experience could have been without
00:23:07
Southern Cross Health Insurance? >> Yeah. uh given that way too much thought
00:23:11
a lot of like sleepless nights went into when I was like am I going to be able to
00:23:16
get this operation or not cuz I don't think I can do this fun I don't think I
00:23:20
can function with this much pain and debilitation anymore. I I was I think there was if I didn't have Southern
00:23:28
Cross I definitely would have missed this year of placement have had to prolong the degree for a year and then
00:23:35
not had something to work with. I think it's for me it's very important that I
00:23:38
have something to work towards a big overarching goal whether that's uni or back in the day whether that was school
00:23:43
or whether that was or in the future whether that's getting good at the job and progressing towards things. So
00:23:49
>> I feel like that goal wouldn't have been able to be achieved without like
00:23:54
Southern Cross's intervention. >> I really don't think so. So yeah, I
00:23:59
definitely would have just been at home been my quality of life would have been better from the operation, but
00:24:07
you know, it's it's it's hard to say what would happen, but I don't think it
00:24:10
would have been as good of an outcome as it is now. >> Yeah. >> And you're back at the gym now doing all
00:24:15
the things you love. >> Yeah, I'm happily back at the back at the gym. Back I I did a hike the other
00:24:20
week. Um don't if you know the Karanga Hake Gorge. >> Oh, do I know it? Yeah. Yeah. By Pawa.
00:24:26
It's beautiful. It's awesome. Wow. >> Yeah, I did that walk. I know it's not
00:24:29
the the hardest walk in the world. But for for me, like I remember saying to my two mates when we were on there, I was
00:24:35
saying, I'm actually doing this like a year ago from now would that that wouldn't even have been a like I
00:24:41
wouldn't even have like given it thought to do it. And here I am actually going
00:24:45
up the mountain. It was honestly that was that was so different. And then you take I think for me it was that this
00:24:52
actually worked. Everything worked out well and there's always that light at
00:24:56
the end of the tunnel and for me while I was walking up I was like I was not in pain in my hip. I was like keep mostly
00:25:03
keeping up with them. >> Yeah, mountain walks are tiring. So >> ironically in the uh the gorge you're
00:25:10
talking about there actually is a tunnel with a light at the end. >> Ironically. Yeah. Yeah. I didn't even I
00:25:16
didn't even clock that. Yeah. We actually walked through it. Yeah. >> So you literally did see the light at
00:25:21
the end of the tunnel. There actually was a light at the end of the tunnel. That's
00:25:24
>> And what about your your squats? How's your you back doing leg day at the gym?
00:25:28
Must have been nice for a while having an excuse not to do leg day. >> Yeah,
00:25:32
leg day was Nobody likes leg day, but >> but no, it's been it was weird for me
00:25:37
cuz now leg day's become my favorite day because you you ne I neglected it so
00:25:41
much last year to the point where I'm like I I can't lift a heavy squat anymore. Can't do that. But now it's my
00:25:47
favorite day. I'd go do it every day if I could, which is unpopular opinion,
00:25:51
>> but it's just when you're deprived of it for so long, you start being like, "Oh,
00:25:56
it's actually not that bad and all that." It's not >> Yeah. a new appreciation for it.
00:26:00
>> It is like even for something as something as awful as leg day, you start
00:26:05
being like, you know what, you're not so bad. It's not so bad. >> You know,
00:26:09
>> has this experience um changed how you view your own health? >> I think so. Yeah. I think it it kind of
00:26:15
show I think we had a little chat about it beforehand that like exercise actually has such an such a positive
00:26:21
influence not just on rehab but everyday life. It's kind of it's made sure I do
00:26:26
my physio exercises. Yeah, I know. >> No one does the physio. >> Nobody does. But it actually made me
00:26:33
want to do them constantly. And now every time I get an exercise I make sure that I'm doing it. And I think
00:26:40
>> it just showed me that movement was a blessing. >> It like there's there's a lot of things
00:26:46
to appreciate in the world, but the fact that we're able to move, the fact that
00:26:49
we're able to kind of just do small things, get up and get a glass of water,
00:26:54
it it's so it just made me appreciate every small thing in my life because I
00:26:58
saw how much it changed. can't imagine someone who's in a worse situation
00:27:02
>> than I was and like it's just it just makes a mess of makes you really count
00:27:08
your blessings like oh I've just got I've got up out of bed to to like go up
00:27:14
to the bathroom and to go get water and it's that not everyone can do that. People require like full-on support to
00:27:20
do it require full assistance to do those things. So I'm very grateful for Yeah. very grateful for movement. So
00:27:27
like the message is continue moving even even small amounts is the message. >> Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. It's still it's
00:27:34
still quite fresh for you but yeah you you want to hang on to that gratitude. Eh yeah
00:27:38
>> and never never forget this feeling you've got now. >> Yeah. I want to be that that like I want
00:27:42
to be one of those 90-year-old guys that are just walking around without any aids. That's kind of it's kind of like
00:27:48
where I want to be in the future. I want I want to make sure I prioritize my physical activity because it's it's not
00:27:53
just good for your physical health. your whole psychosocial well-being gets better just from physical exercise as
00:28:00
well. And yeah, that whole that whole concept of kind of, you know, tifata, that whole holistic well-being is very
00:28:09
important. >> Yeah. Yeah. I feel the same way about my running. I mean, all all along, all
00:28:15
through my life and all through your life as well, we've always been aware of
00:28:18
the um the benefits of exercise from the neck down. Yeah. >> Um but the mental health benefits e
00:28:22
>> Yeah. >> Incredible. It's that yeah it it's game changers for your mental health if you
00:28:27
can get up and move >> as much as you can. >> Uh what you've been through the last
00:28:31
couple of years um how has it shaped your future as a physio? Like do you think you'll approach patients
00:28:36
differently now? >> Yeah, I think obviously I have to get some experience first. But I think it
00:28:42
would just make me believe in what they're saying and have empathy towards what they're saying that even if you're
00:28:50
not if I don't have the same exact condition or the same exact pain or problems in my life, I can take a moment
00:28:56
to sit and empathize with them and show them that like yeah, I do I do get what you're saying. something similar has
00:29:03
happened to me and I've turned out well and I'm not the most athletic or most
00:29:09
most sporty person ever and it I had such a good outcome. It's kind of it just changes it will change how you
00:29:17
>> see people and how you see that it's not just a condition or a problem. It's the
00:29:23
person behind the problem that what is the condition? What is it causing? Is it causing are they not able to do their
00:29:29
everyday activities? and they're not able to do their hobbies, that type of thing. So, makes you see them as a whole
00:29:36
person rather than as just a condition. That's what this whole experience has
00:29:40
shown me. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Even though it's an awful thing to go through, it it does kind of in a way
00:29:45
put you um at a position of advantage over your peers. Eh, >> yeah. >> Having gone through this.
00:29:50
>> Pros and cons. >> Yeah. Pros and cons. Yeah. Obviously, I would prefer not to be put under
00:29:55
anesthesia, but >> No, it it definitely does. It gives you kind of like puts you in their shoes.
00:30:01
That that's that's the best way to explain it. >> Yeah, that empathy piece that you talked
00:30:05
about earlier. And >> what's next for you professionally and personally?
00:30:08
>> Yeah, I think professionally what's next for me is seeing where once I finish the
00:30:12
degree and if I once I get registration. I was going to say if I'm going to be
00:30:17
positive once I get registration and start working for a bit. I think but next for me is I think it's going to be
00:30:24
a long shot. I know a lot of my mates are going to be laughing when they hear this, but I I do want to do a marathon.
00:30:30
>> Maybe hopefully 2026 can be they'll start with a half. I'll be realistic
00:30:34
with it. But I think to do a half marathon is probably my next thing. I I think that that's a good goal to go up
00:30:41
to. And even just small things like getting into summer footy again, getting into getting more time in the gym,
00:30:49
getting more time doing hikes. I think I'm going to make the best of my movement and best of like the blessings
00:30:56
I've got with my body. >> Yeah. A life without restrictions. How good.
00:31:00
>> I know. >> And um finally, what would your message be for anyone who thinks they're too
00:31:03
young, too fit to worry about health insurance? >> Yeah. I think if if you can, these are
00:31:10
conversations you can have with like if we're talking like young people can't
00:31:15
help like support themselves who aren't self-sufficient. I think it's definitely
00:31:19
something that that it's conversation you should have with your with your caregivers because it just your your
00:31:27
world's your avenue and if you have resources to kind of take those different turns I think definitely take
00:31:34
it and to people who I guess my age a bit kind of young adults um if you're self-sufficient I know that it's like
00:31:42
expensive but also at the end of the day that your health comes first, your physical, mental, like everything comes
00:31:54
before other things. It's not a material I think people view health insurance as
00:31:57
a materialistic thing. It's it's really not really. It's a >> it's a very I feel like it's a necessity
00:32:05
to make sure you're well equipped for the worst case scenario >> for if it does happen.
00:32:10
>> Yeah. I'd say instead of asking yourself, can I afford it? Ask yourself,
00:32:14
can you afford not to have it? >> Yeah. Oh, that's a really nice way to
00:32:18
think of it >> actually. Yeah, there's someone cross health insurance can use that. That can
00:32:21
be their new life. >> I hope they're taking notes. So, >> yeah. >> Hey, this has been great. Um,
00:32:29
>> yeah, it's been really nice connecting with you today and I I you know, I can
00:32:32
see there's been a couple of occasions where I've seen your eyes light up and
00:32:35
it's where you're talking about um >> the physical activity that you do. Yeah.
00:32:39
>> And it's also where you talk about work. >> Um, so I think you're going to be a
00:32:43
fantastic physio >> hopefully. Um, and I'm pleased that um, thanks to having Southern Cross Health
00:32:48
Insurance, you're back doing the things you love again as well. >> That's so cool.
00:32:52
>> Yeah. Thank you for having me on anyway to talk about it. >> Oh, no. I appreciate it. What are we
00:32:56
doing now? Should we go to the gym? >> Yeah. Oh, >> do some squats. >> Oh, if you want to, we can go do a leg
00:33:00
day. >> I'm going to make you go deep. Yeah, >> we're going to go parallel to the floor.
00:33:04
>> Oh, no. If As long as there's no pop again, I think I'm happy. >> I appreciate it, Ryan. You're a good
00:33:09
man. much.

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Episode Highlights

  • Out of the Blue
    Health complications can strike unexpectedly, as Ryan shares his personal journey.
    “Health complications always come when you least expect them.”
    @ 00m 13s
    August 14, 2025
  • The Importance of Movement
    Ryan emphasizes how movement is undervalued and crucial for well-being.
    “Movement is such a thing that’s so undervalued.”
    @ 03m 50s
    August 14, 2025
  • The Journey to Diagnosis
    Ryan recounts the struggle of seeking help for his hip issues and the eventual diagnosis.
    “If I just left it, I would have just been in the same boat as I am now.”
    @ 10m 57s
    August 14, 2025
  • A Life-Changing Hike
    After recovery, Ryan reflects on the joy of hiking and regaining his physical abilities.
    “I wouldn’t have been able to do this a year ago.”
    @ 17m 42s
    August 14, 2025
  • The Unexpected Reality of Health
    Experiencing a health condition changes your perspective on empathy and understanding.
    “It's such a trippy feeling.”
    @ 18m 55s
    August 14, 2025
  • The Role of Health Insurance
    Southern Cross Health Insurance played a crucial role in funding surgery and care.
    “That was a game changer.”
    @ 19m 48s
    August 14, 2025
  • A New Appreciation for Movement
    Recovery has led to a deeper appreciation for physical activity and health.
    “Movement was a blessing.”
    @ 26m 42s
    August 14, 2025
  • The Importance of Health Insurance
    Health insurance is essential for young adults, not just a materialistic choice.
    “Your health comes first.”
    @ 31m 54s
    August 14, 2025

Episode Quotes

  • Movement is such a thing that’s so undervalued.
    Out of the Blue: Ryan’s life-changing physio lecture
  • You wake up feeling less brain fog.
    Out of the Blue: Ryan’s life-changing physio lecture
  • I wouldn’t have been able to do this a year ago.
    Out of the Blue: Ryan’s life-changing physio lecture
  • It's always someone else.
    Out of the Blue: Ryan’s life-changing physio lecture
  • Movement was a blessing.
    Out of the Blue: Ryan’s life-changing physio lecture
  • Can you afford not to have it?
    Out of the Blue: Ryan’s life-changing physio lecture

Key Moments

  • Ryan's Background00:42
  • Health Insurance Discussion01:24
  • Importance of Exercise03:38
  • Hip Issues Begin07:14
  • Empathy Shift18:55
  • Health Insurance Impact19:48
  • Future Aspirations30:30
  • Health Awareness31:54

Tension Over Time

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