Books & Projects
A curated collection of Dan’s work — published books, current projects, and selected media. Scroll through to explore the body of work and the chapters created along the way.
What Now
Dan’s first published book traces the arc of a barefoot kid from a small dairy farm in South East Queensland to the highest levels of professional rugby league — and the reckoning that followed once the dream was achieved.
Shaped by early loss, ambition, identity, and the quiet teachers who appeared along the way, the story follows the rise, the unravelling, and the deeper questions that emerged when the crowds faded and the identity he’d built began to crack.
Grounded and honest, What Now explores humility, presence, and the demanding work of meeting life with kindness — especially toward yourself.
For anyone standing at a crossroads or searching for a way back to themselves, What Now offers a simple, human truth: the open sesame to change is simple kindness.
Getting High
Dan’s upcoming book, currently in development, challenges the way we think about what it means to feel “high.”
Rather than something to chase through achievement, substances, or external success, Getting High explores the idea that this elevated state is already within us — something that naturally emerges when pressure, noise, and limiting beliefs are removed.
Drawing on neuroscience, pain science, and lived experience, the book presents a grounded, evidence-based perspective on personal growth — not as something we need to force, but something we uncover by stripping things back.
This isn’t a self-help shortcut or motivational fix. It’s a deeper look at how clarity, presence, and progress come from committing to the process rather than escaping it.
Set to be released soon, Getting High offers a different way of understanding growth — simple, honest, and rooted in real experience.
My Way
My Way is the story of John Hills — a man who built a halfbilliondollar empire from nothing, lived on instinct, backed himself without hesitation, and refused to compromise on anything that mattered.
Told in Hillsy’s own voice — alongside the voices of the people who knew him best — the book captures a life driven by appetite, loyalty, risk, and the sheer momentum of a bloke who did everything his way. He didn’t talk about presence or selfreflection; he lived, decided, moved, and kept moving. Compromise was a dirty word.
From having the ear of the Prime Minister at lunch to drinking with backpackers in The Rocks that same night, from hosting family and friends in his Formula One corporate box to guzzling beers with his soccer mates in the gutter at Grays Point, his life ran in every direction at once — big, loud, loyal, and unapologetically his.
More than a biography, My Way is a portrait built from the inside out — a story told by the man himself and by those who stood closest to him. A raw, unfiltered record of a life lived at full tilt.
Media & Features
ABC News Interview
Dan spoke with ABC News about the process of writing What Now and how storytelling helped him make sense of early loss, identity, and the transitions that shaped his life.
The Legends Series – Dan Stains
A two-part conversation exploring Dan’s early life, rugby league career, and the experiences that forged his path on and off the field.
FOGS Queenslander Podcast
Dan shares insights into his playing career, life after football, and the stories behind the moments that defined him.
The Great Whites Interview Series
A detailed conversation covering Dan’s career, major transitions, and the journey of writing his autobiography.
If you’ve been thinking about capturing your story, this is a simple place to begin. You can reach out with any questions, or we can start with a conversation — a straightforward way to talk things through and see what direction makes sense for you.