Alif Kusuma is a great young man of only 18 years from New Zealand and in this episode Alif shares his incredible journey from playing professional football in the Netherlands to hitchhiking in Europe, and now working as an abseiler in Melbourne. We discuss his “dog” mentality, the pain of missed opportunities, and Alif’s potential future.

Episode Highlights

1. “Sliding Doors” and The Cost of Saying No - Lui reflects on a pivotal moment in his own life where he declined an offer to move to Japan with a photographer friend to attend university instead. He uses this as a cautionary tale for Alif, encouraging him to embrace his freedom while he has it, noting that “responsibility is... restrictive” and urging Alif to take risks before commitments pile up.

2. Recognition vs. Standards - They discuss the philosophy of awards and recognition in sports. Alif admits he wants to do good without being awarded for it. Lui offers a counter-perspective: awards aren’t just for the individual; they set a standard for others to aspire to. As Lui puts it, “The recognition isn’t for you... It’s to show others what to aspire to be”.

3. The Value of Connection through Storytelling - Lui explains the origin of his podcast, born from a regret of hearing amazing stories from strangers (like during his skateboarding lessons) and letting them vanish into the ether. He argues that storytelling is a rite of passage and a way to acquire life experience vicariously, stating, “You kind of live it in your head... I feel like I know something more now because you learned it and told me about it”.

4. Routine vs. Freedom - There is a recurring theme of the “illusion” of a boring life. Lui mentions his busker friend Leo thinks his life is boring, yet to a corporate worker in a “concrete box,” Leo’s life represents ultimate freedom. Alif resonates with this, finding freedom in his job as an abseiler, cleaning high-rise windows, which he describes as “just playing around” and feeling free.

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101. Sharing Stories with Alif Kusuma