Gen IQ

About Gen IQ

Gen IQ — The Podcast I Wish I Had at 16. For young people, parents, mentors, and anyone who’s ever felt like they were drifting through life on autopilot. Gen IQ is a modern life education pod exploring the questions we’re rarely taught to ask early enough. From psychology, health, money, relationships, identity, and purpose to decision-making and personal growth, Gen IQ helps people think clearly, live consciously, and build a life that actually makes sense to them. Honest conversations and diverse perspectives, Gen IQ explores life beyond the classroom. Thru reflection, lived experience.

Publisher

Iqbal

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

11 May 2026

Latest episode

6 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

14 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Oct 2026

   War Taught Me to Survive. Nobody Taught Me to Live | Ivana Strbac Alfonso | Gen IQ

   Some stories stay with you long after the conversation ends.Ivana’s story is one of them. "The Girl Who Fled a War & Built a Life From Nothing"Born in Bosnia, refugee in Germany, raised Croatian, and now living in Australia, Ivana’s life has taken her across countries, cultures and identities. Her family left Bosnia as refugees, spent years in Germany, and eventually rebuilt their lives on the other side of the world.I had the privilege of spending the last eight days working on this episode, listening to Ivana’s story and then reading her own words about her journey. Her article gave me goosebumps more times than I can count. There was something about seeing the photographs, reading the memories and understanding more deeply what she has carried with her.And yet, what makes Ivana so special is the way she tells her story. Even when the subject is incredibly serious, she finds a way to bring warmth, humour and light into the conversation.This episode isn't simply about leaving one country and building a life in another. It's about identity, belonging, culture, displacement, what we carry with us, and the parts of ourselves we consciously choose to keep.And perhaps, underneath all of it, one question:Where is home?Ivana is on a special journey of her own — one of discovering something deeper about who she is and where she comes from. It was an absolute honour to be part of this conversation.Welcome to Gen IQ — The Podcast I Wish I Had at 16. If you love what we do at Gen IQ and want to help us, Please subscribe to our channel and share. It's totally free 🤗Ivana's Instagram: instagram.com/ivanastrbacalfonsoIvana's Spotify: anchor.fm/balkansisIvana's Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@UC2_nAju0kk1uhkjqDkUN1zA

2. 

   25 Sept 2026

   How to Become a Confident Driver? | Liz Lafferty | Gen IQ

   One of the ideas at Gen IQ is that we learn far more from what we observe than from what we're told. Before a young person has ever touched a steering wheel, they've already spent years watching parents, relatives, friends and complete strangers drive. Consciously or not, they've been learning what "normal" driving looks like. But which of those lessons are worth keeping... and which ones should we consciously unlearn? Recording this conversation with Liz was an absolute pleasure. She brings years of experience, a calm approach, and so much practical wisdom about learning to drive. Whether you're about to get your licence, supervising a learner, or simply want to become a safer and more confident driver, We're confident you'll take something valuable away from this conversation. Welcome to Gen IQ, The Podcast I Wish I Had at 16. This episode is part of the Practical IQ Series, where we discuss the practical skills and everyday habits that can help us make better decisions and live more consciously. Enjoy the conversation. Please follow us by subscribing & leaving a comment about: What's one driving habit you picked up from someone else that you've had to unlearn? or are glad you learned? Liz's Website: https://theartofconfidentdriving.comLiz's Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0YidjCbExynzdNkUhij0my?si=1affb50875594e85 Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is intended for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered professional, medical, legal, financial, or driving instruction advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified professional for advice specific to your individual circumstances. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Gen IQ.

3. 

   20 Sept 2026

   You've Only Heard One Half of the Story | Gen IQ

   For the first six episodes of Gen IQ, you've heard my story. But one of the biggest things I've realised while building this podcast is that one perspective is never enough. Some of the most meaningful conversations I've had haven't happened in front of these microphones. They happened after the cameras stopped rolling—on walks, over dinner, and on the drive home. Those conversations challenged my thinking, helped me see blind spots, and made Gen IQ better. Today, for the first time, you'll meet the person behind many of those conversations. In this episode, Kat and I talk about: - Why we decided to build Gen IQ together - Why different perspectives matter - Kat's childhood and what shaped her - The values that still guide her today - Why disagreement isn't something to fear - And where we hope Gen IQ goes from here Our goal has never been to tell you what to think. It's to help all of us ask better questions, understand different perspectives, and make more conscious decisions. If you're new here, welcome to Gen IQ – The Podcast I Wish I Had at 16. If you're curious about understanding life in a more meaningful way, we'd love for you to join us on this journey by subscribing.💬 We'd love to hear from you: What person in your life has challenged your thinking the most?Let us know in the comments. Please follow Gen IQ: Instagram: www.instagram.com/geniqpodcast TikTok: @geniqpodcast Facebook: @GenIQPodcast

4. 

   9 Sept 2026

   Can Exercise Change Your Mental Health? | With my Exercise Physiologist Stephanie Ho | Gen IQ

   Can exercise really change the way we think and feel? In this episode of Gen IQ – The Podcast I Wish I Had at 16, I sit down with my Exercise Physiologist and endurance adventurer Stephanie Ho to discuss how movement influences our mental health, confidence, resilience and long-term wellbeing. Together we discuss: Can exercise help with stress, anxiety and depression? What actually happens in our brain when we move? Why prevention is better than cure. Common mistakes people make in the gym. Why breathing and proper technique matter. Why injured body parts often need to be trained—not ignored. HIIT vs steady-state cardio and understanding heart rate zones. What every young person should know about building healthy habits for life. Stephanie also shares her incredible personal journey—from completing ultra-marathons and endurance expeditions to preparing for a 1,200 km solo ski expedition to the South Pole. Whether I'm 16 or 60, this conversation is a reminder that exercise can, yes change my body. But also how I experience life. At Gen IQ I'm asking the questions I wished I asked earlier in life. Through honest conversations and real stories, I'm exploring health, psychology, work, relationships, money and purpose. Helping young people (and the adults who guide them) make more conscious decisions. If you enjoy meaningful conversations like this, subscribe and join the Gen IQ journey with me. Thank you.

5. 

   2 Sept 2026

   How a Heart Attack Saved His Life | Adam Guthrie | Gen IQ

   It took a heart attack for Adam to change his life. In this episode he talks about how he Embraced his Second Chance, and shares his Journey of Transformation and Fulfilment. At age 39 he was obese and had the ultimate wake call. Turned his whole life around into becoming the best version of himself. Amazingly 5 years later, finished an Ironman Triathlon. Welcome to Gen IQ. The Podcast I Wish I Had at 16. If you're curious about understanding yourself in a meaningful way and making more conscious decisions early, we'd love for you to join us on this journey by subscribing to the channel. Adam's Website: www.adamguthrie.com Adam's Instagram: www.instagram.com/adamguthrie Adam's Youtube: www.youtube.com/@IFeelGoodWithAdamGuthrie

6. 

   25 Aug 2026

   It Was My Escape | Gen IQ #6

   I think I was running.My Realisation no. 6 of 7 from the 7772 Series.In this episode of Gen IQ – The Podcast I Wish I Had at 16, I talk about how I avoided the questions I wasn't ready to face. It wasn't until burnout forced me to stop that I realised work had become more than a career, it had become my escape.In this episode:• The difference between a healthy work ethic and work addiction• Why work can become a form of emotional numbing• How childhood experiences can shape our relationship with work• Why achievement and productivity aren't the same as self-worth• The hidden cost of always staying busy• How to recognise when work is serving your life or replacing itMy argument is not against hard work.It's an invitation to ask a difficult question:Am I working towards something... or running away from something?If this conversation resonates with you, I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments please. What does work mean to you? Has it ever become more than just a job?

7. 

   31 Jul 2026

   Where Is Home? | Gen IQ #5

   What does it really cost to leave home? We often celebrate the opportunities that come with a fresh start and new beginning. Moving to a new city, a new country, a new career, or a new life. But we rarely ever stop to acknowledge what we leave behind. In this episode of Gen IQ, The Podcast I Wish I Had at 16, I share my personal journey of leaving home at 15 and the hidden costs I only began to understand decades later. This is not just a story about leaving home. It's about family, identity, belonging, missed moments, and the emotional price we pay when we uproot ourselves in search of a better life. I share stories about: • Leaving home as a teenager • Missing years with my parents, sister, nieces and nephews • The unforgettable final conversation with my grandmother • Why so many migrants feel they're "behind" in life • The emotional trade-offs that come with every fresh start • Why progress is not only measured by what we've built, but also by what we've had the courage to leave behind. Whether you've moved countries, changed careers, left a relationship, changed schools, or even found yourself starting over, I hope this episode helps you give yourself a little more grace. Because sometimes the biggest sacrifices are the ones nobody else can see. If this episode resonates with you, I'd love to hear your story in the comments.Question for you: What has your fresh start cost you? If you're enjoying Gen IQ, please consider subscribing and sharing the podcast with someone who might need this conversation. Gen IQ – The Podcast I Wish I Had at 16 Helping people make more conscious decisions by exploring the questions that shape our lives.

8. 

   10 Jul 2026

   Achievement is not Belonging or Self Worth | Gen IQ EP 4

   Can achievement ever give us what only belonging can? This is the question I am reflecting on in this episode Gen IQ - The Podcast I Wish I Had at 16. Why success doesn't define our self-worth? Because is it one of the biggest misconceptions many of us carry through life: believing that success, promotions, awards, grades or recognition will finally make us feel enough. Drawing on my own experiences, from topping police training, building a career in hospitality, and receiving awards, to eventually questioning why none of it filled the gap and why I always felt empty going home. I reflect on the difference between achievement, belonging and self-worth. This conversation is not about lowering ambition. In fact, I am making sure we’re not asking achievement to do the job that only belonging and self-worth can do. In this episode: * Why achievement doesn’t always create belonging * The difference between being valued for what you do and who you are * Why external validation can become a trap * How belonging shapes our wellbeing * Why self-worth shouldn’t depend on performance * Questions we can all ask ourselves about success and identity If this conversation resonates with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. At what point did you realise that achievement and belonging aren’t the same thing?

9. 

   5 Jul 2026

   The World Needs Artists Too | Marcus the Acrobat | Gen IQ

   Marcus is an acrobat, performer, entertainer, husband and a father who has spent thousands of hours perfecting his art and bringing joy to audiences all around the world. But that’s not the only reason we had this conversation. We first came across Marcus while watching one of his performances. At the end, he said something that was meaningful and powerful in many ways and aligned perfectly with Gen IQ’s message. Addressing the kids, he said that although he had a degree, he consciously chose to become an artist because he believed the world needs artists too. That sentence in itself is fascinating. Because Gen IQ is not really about what people do for a living. It’s about understanding why people choose the paths they do, what they’ve sacrificed along the way, and what they’ve learnt about life because of it. This conversation turned into so much more than a discussion about acrobatics. It was about purpose, childhood dreams, discipline, fear, identity, serving others, and what it really means to build a meaningful life. Welcome to Gen IQ. The Podcast I Wish I Had at 16.

10. 

    19 Jun 2026

    At what point do we realise we have a choice? | Gen IQ #3

    Did you consciously choose the life you’re living today? Or did you slowly drift into it? This episode, a part of 7 Realisations from the 7772 series of Gen IQ, I explore a question that has been sitting in a little corner of my head: At what point do we realise we have a choice? Looking back on my own life, I don’t think I consciously chose many of the paths I ended up on. Like many people, I drifted into habits, beliefs, environments, and eventually a career without ever stopping to ask where those choices were leading. But somewhere along the way, something changed. This episode explores the idea of agency. The moment we realise we can influence the direction of our lives rather than just react to them. For me, its never about having all the answers. It’s an invitation to ask a better question: What decisions am I making right now without realising it? Welcome to Gen IQ. The Podcast I Wish I Had at 16.

11. 

    13 Jun 2026

    Years of Work for 18 Seconds of Performance | Chris Mitrevski | Gen IQ

    Today’s conversation is with Australian athlete Chris Mitrevski. Chris' Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrismitrevski?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== An Olympian who represented Australia at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games 2018 & 2022, World Athletics Championships and University Games, Chris is also a four-time Australian Champion. But this conversation is not only about athletics. It’s about discipline, resilience, sacrifice, setbacks, family values, heartbreak, mindset, and what it takes to dedicate years of your life to something meaningful. Imagine working for years, making sacrifices most people never see, all for a performance that lasts less than 20 seconds. What keeps someone going? What does excellence actually require? And are elite athletes just built differently, or do they develop habits and perspectives that we can all learn from? As always with Gen IQ, the goal is not to provide all the answers. It’s to ask better questions. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. What is something meaningful you’ve dedicated yourself to?Gen IQ — The Podcast I Wish I Had at 16 Peace & Love, Iqbal

12. 

    7 Jun 2026

    Can Silence Define You | Gen IQ #2

    Can silence shape us more than we realise? Exploring childhood, curiosity, belonging, and the stories we create when questions are never asked.

13. 

    29 May 2026

    How Much of Who We Are is Actually Chosen? | Gen IQ #1

    In this first episode of Gen IQ, I thought out loud about: How much of who we are is actually chosen? This episode is part of a 23-episode solo series based on the ideas and experiences that are the base of my book and, ultimately, this podcast. Together, we’ll explore 7 realisations, 7 mistakes, 7 lessons, and 2 pathways that have powerfully influenced the way I think about life. Looking back on my own life, I reflect on family expectations, culture, labels, education, identity, and the environments that shaped me long before I understood what was happening. From being labelled “dumb and stupid” as a child to discovering how a change in environment completely changed my relationship with learning. More importantly, it’s an invitation from me to you to reflect on your own story. What parts of your personality feel chosen consciously? And what parts feel shaped? I’d genuinely love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Gen IQ — The Podcast I Wish I Had at 16 New episodes exploring psychology, identity, health, purpose, relationships, culture, money, and the life lessons we’re rarely taught early enough. Peace & Love, Iqbal

14. 

    11 May 2026

    The Podcast I Wish I Had at 16 | Gen IQ Trailer

    Gen IQ is the life education I wish I had earlier.At 40, I realised that much of my life had been shaped without me ever consciously choosing it. Not because I wasn’t trying, but because I was simply following what made sense, what felt safe, and what was expected.This podcast is my attempt to ask better questions now.Through conversations and reflections on psychology, health, money, relationships, identity, and purpose, Gen IQ explores the things we’re rarely taught but are deeply affected by.Not from the perspective of having all the answers but through honest exploration, lived experience, and a commitment to figuring things out consciously.If this resonates with you, welcome to Gen IQ.#GenIQ #Podcast #SelfAwareness #Psychology #LifeEducation

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Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

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Guest appearances

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