martinpluss: Recent Episodes
Martin Pluss
This is a recording of a fieldwork trip on 6 June 2025 with 11 Year 12 Northholm Grammar Students.The first part has a walk through the syllabus points/.The middle section is where I stop along different sections of the route.The final 12 minutes is an interview with a local resident of 12 years
This is a discussion with a local resident of Pyrmont and a discussion of some of the key syllabus points of the new HSC Geography Syllabus. The topic is a suburb in a large city and we discuss social and economic changes, sustainability and linkages to other areas beyond Pyrmont.
This is a series of chats with members of the community outside waving for Julian Leeser on the 5th of April on Peter Hills Road
Ecosystem of biodiversity is the final topic for the new HSC geography syllabus. This is a syllabus walk-through.
Rural on Urban Places is the second topic for the new HSC Geography to be examined in 2025. This is the syllabus walk-through.
Global Sustainability is the first topic in the new HSC geography syllabus which will be examined in 2025. This is the syllabus walk-through.
Each year a few mates get together and talk about the #NRL and other topics of interest. Mat is a Sea Eagles Supporter, Kevin always views the Storm as Number One, Glenn is often at home Rooster games and me - go the Eels. Enjoy the twenty minutes.
This Podcast is the one of a series where locals talk about where they live and their community. Let’s see how it goes. If you a re interesting in talking about where your live please let me know. This is Episode 1 and is a discussion with Glen Burns of Pyrmont but I have four other previous discussion before I came with the idea by speaking to Glenn - hence the number variation.
Audio of a walkthrough fieldwork in Pyrmont, Sydney. The focus is an examination of the urban dynamic urban renewal for HSC Geography. This includes a 26 minute chat at the end with a local resident.
This is a discussion with a winemaker for a unit of work on Viticulture and Winemaking for the topic Global Economic Activities
This is a Year 10 introduction to work on ecological footprint and biocapacity for students in class and at home in isolation.
This is an introduction to the final section of the Biophysical Interaction section of the NESA Stage 6 Geography Syllabus for Year 11 Geography.
It is for students at school and those in isolation
A brief outline of the role of topography, road and rail networks on the character, nature and location of residential land, commercial land and industrial development in Sydney.
Matt, Kevin and Plu talk about the first round of the NRL season.
Borrowing from The Cumberland Throw we answer a few questions about: 1. Where our teams will finish up?
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The bolters or teams that will do better than expected?
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The falters or the teams that won't do as well as expected.
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The wooden spooners.
Also we discuss if you have to win a Grand Final to be an Immortal.
We had the wedding 12 months earlier for 20’people and the gathering with friends in December 2021.
Last Saturday 26 July was the 2021 Western States Endurance Run Western States Run won by Beth Pascall and Jim Walmsley
This podcast chat is with Glenn Lockwood (aka Horrie) who run the rase twice with one finish in 2007 and one DNF in 2010 and Kevin Cassidy did the run in 1997. Mathew J Curtis was listening in after our chat about the NRL.
Not having been there I wanted to know what it was like. Glenn and Kevin chat about their experiences at Western States.
We followed this up with chatting about ultra running in Australia including the Six foot Track, Great Ocean Trail Walk 100 km and 100miler race and a few others. Including running on the lake at Ballarat with Steve Moneghetti passing them.
We discuss the pressure of running streaks - 15 Six Foot Tracks for Horrie and 20 Nepean Triathons for Plu.
We look into what it is like to train as we slow down and a little bit about MAFs Heart Rate Training and LSD running based on Arthur Lydiard training principles
We also touch on triathlons and the Olympic Triathon Races and long slow distance training and high good fats and low carbo diet by some countries.
We also we touch on triathlons and the Olympic Triathon Races and long slow distance training and high good fats and low carbo diet by some countries.
We follow this up with healthy living and training.
We also now and then refer to some legends of ultra running in Australia. Martin Fryer Jane Trumper Kevin Heaton Belinda Lockwood
cheers Plu
Nothing like a quick trip to Orange to chat with Brett.
His life experiences are full of successes and lessons of #LifeontheRun (dealing with all life throws at you) and #RunningandLife where running can help you in life).
Many of you know of you know of Brett. we hope you enjoy the chat.
NB: gear failure - we were sharing a mic.
Plu
Two Mates Chatting- NRL, writing and creativity, Bob Fulton, three things for high performance, coaching Ali.
All self indulgent but fun and learning new skills.
This is a 13 minute segment of Mates Chatting on 27 March 2021. The conversation went on a tangent where we discussed our reflections onto not having a drink for 1 year(Matty, 6 years(Plu) and 36 Years (Kevin)
Mates Chatting on Saturday afternoon - Matty, Kevin and Plu- continues again this week.we chat about floods, 48 hour racing Round 3 of the NRL, covid vaccine (58 minutes) and wrap it up with our reflections on not having a drink respectively for 1, 36 and 6 years (60 minutes).
Thanks Matty and Kevin.
Plu, Kevin and Horrie are having a chat about their common interests - running the Storm, Roosters and Eels.
Two in a car to start with then there was one in a car. Also enjoyed our discussions about exercises challenges when we hit our decade birthdays.
Life on the Run Observations 55-60 Episode 7 55. Mindfulness 56. Endurance 57. Planning 58. Triathlons 59. #6kmrunning 60. Writing
Life on the Run Observations 49-54 Episode Number 6 49. Concentration 50. Trust 51. Relaxation 52. Balance 53. Heart rate 54. Support
Life the Run Episode 5 Observations 43 - 48.
I really enjoyed doing this episode. It focuses
- Passion
- Legends
- Vision
- Implementation
- Simplicity
- Sharing
On Being Organised - Episode 3 - adaptive learners
Depth or breadth or learning in the context of adaptive learners.
Is it one or the other or one after the other?
On being organised is Episode 2 in a commentary and suggested strategies in guiding students to be more organised. Hopefully, this will enable strategies to assist with organisation and student learning.
The episode tries to apply to the teaching and learning environment the five steps suggested by Robert Fritz in The Path of Least Resistance on how to become the creative force in your own life.
- Conceive a result
- Take a mental audit
- Take action
- Learn the rhythm of the creative learning process
- Creat momentum
You can subscribe to my podcast directly here: podcasts.apple.com/lv/podcast/mart…ss/id1487451178
On being organised is Episode 1 with some thoughts and suggested strategies in guiding students to be more organised. Hopefully, this will enable strategies to assist with organisation and student learning.
You can subscribe to my podcast directly here: https://podcasts.apple.com/lv/podcast/martinpluss/id1487451178
Episode 4 Life on the Run Observations 37-42.
- Obsession
- Tolerance
- Forgiveness
- Storytelling
- Perspective
- Lifecycle
This is the third episode of my observations on about my life on the run.
25 Courage 26 Tenacity 27 Carefulness 28 Regret 29 Honesty 30 Humility 31 Freedom 32 Risk 33 Understanding 34 Love 35 Detail 36 Average
How to approach knowledge and information in running and life.
When is less more?
when do I have just enough knowledge
When is it best to be uninformed?
Podcast referred to in this episode:
Hidden Brain - Is it better to know? https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/is-it-better-to-know/
LifeontheRun
Compromise Tension Pressure Stress Effort Mastery Perfection Anxiety Sacrifice Faith Belief Arrogance Creativity Patience Ignorance Time Change Better
Transcript - well roughly.
Music by John Burland at johnburland.net Life on the Run Sixty Observations January 2021
There are many things I am grateful for in 2020.
2020 is a year in which I have had to approach personal, family and professional life differently, often challenging my perspectives and preconceptions.
For me I have enjoyed this experience and learnt a lot which I will carry forward.
I am grateful for the 14 weeks long service leave with Jenny in Pennant Hills and Avoca when we were allowed to go. It was not our planned trip to UK, but we really enjoyed each other's company and got a lot of things done.
I turned 60 and I am grateful that I have made it that far. I have a few goals in this decade which will be revealed in due course. Needless to say, it will be setting me up for the next 36 years of my life. I set a goal to live to the age 96 many years ago.
I am grateful for my life as a teacher in 2020. One thing that will be a change in 2021 is that I will be starting a new teaching position in different school. I am very much looking forward to this change and grateful for the past 11 years.
Finally, I am grateful for my running. I don’t think it is a coincidence that this year I have run the most kilometres I think ever. My runs gave me solace, peace of mind, time to reflect, has helped my fitness and health and so much more.
My running made 2020 so much easier to navigate and I started to think a bit more why this was the case. I have put together 60 thoughts or concepts about how running has helped me which I will share over the coming months on Facebook.
Each post starts with the hashtag #LifeontheRun.
This week on 1 February, 2021 was the #i4GiveDay
This has been established parents of four children killed by a driver in Sydney's west as a national day forgiveness.
We have an interview with John Burland who was part of the process and composer and musician for the song of the song written for the family - I forgive.
Neil and Martin discuss Hornsby Council Meeting Agenda for 14 October 2020. Lots of items on the agenda - we discuss the ned for comity awareness and knowledge building to enable engagement, tourism in Hornsby, Cycle and Walking paths, Play Areas, Vegetation Mapping.... We wrap up with Eyes and Ears where we talk about what we have been watching, listening to or reading. #communityradio
In this interview, Ward A Hornsby Shire Councillor, Nathan Tilbury, speaks about his life long connection to the shire, his community involvement, his decision to run for council in 2012, the successes and learnings from this term of council and the future for Hornsby.
Vince De Gallego Is the Ward C Councillor for Hornsby Shire Council. Hear about his background, professional life, successes and learnings from this council term, his ideas on representation, what is important to Hornsby and Vince's answers to the rapid fire questions.
On Streetbeat on the 21 August we had a conversation with Michael Rosettenstein and Judy Vincent on the NSW Government Crown Land consultation process.
This an interview in a series called Life on the Run where we talk to people who lead a busy life and yet have time to be actively engaged in their local community
The State Government has called for submissions to their Draft State Strategy Plan for Crown land. The submissions close on Thursday 20 August 2020. Here three Pennant Hills District Civic Trust members discuss the plan and the process around making decisions and encourage members to join the Trust with their feedback or make their own submissions.
This is Part 2 of an article and podcast on the changing numbers of students enrolled in studying geography in NSW schools between the period 1995 and 2019.
What does an ultra runner/marathon swimmer of the English Channel, someone who has worked in an aboriginal community for 4 years and a #6kmrunner have in common?
The NRL and all things sport. Of course there are some great insights into Kevin's sporting career. hear about his swim from south to north island of NZ and the last 100m which took over 30 minutes, the spin from Catalina Island to LA, a swim around Manhattan island and his experience in the World Masters Games in the 10 km walk. They all support different teams - the Sea Eagles, the #ParraEels and and the Storm.
Thanks for the chat Matty Curtis & Kevin Cassidy
In Term 2 2020 I took Long Service Leave and one of the things I did was to take a deep dive into the NESA website and had a closer look at the numbers of students studying Geography.
With this research I put together an article for publication at the end of the year in the GTANSW/ACT Geography Bulletin.
I am optimistic about the future of Geography, despite the title of this podcast, but I wanted to learn from the past and see why the numbers of Geography have declined, or at the very least levelled off at a lower level.
The is a lot to learn from the past to understand the present and hopefully shape the future.
This is part one and sets the background and the scene for more detail later and invites listeners to contact me if they would like to continue the discussion.
Councillor Vince De Gallego discussed his motion about out Cherrybrook Station Building Height. recorded 3 August 2020
Warren Waddell is the Hornsby Council Ward A Councillor. In this chat Warren tells us a bit about he personal and profession life, discusses what it is like representing Ward A residents and the wider Hornsby community, outlines some of the successes and learnings of this term of office, castes his eyes over the next 12 months and answers the rapid fire questions.
Listen to the discussion with councillor Mick Marr Ward A Hornsby Shire Council 30 June, 2020.
We discuss his personal and professional background, issues in Ward A, successes and learning from this term of office, his views on representation, we cast an eye towards the final 12 months and the rapid fire questions.
Janelle McIntosh Hornsby Shire Councillor. A wide-ranging chat about Janelle's background, what she brings to the council, council processes and representation, successes and lessons learnt, looking ahead to 2021 elections and rapid fire questions.
Otte Homan President Pennant Hills District Civic Trust - Pennant Hills to Epping Cycle Path. He provides the long term contact t the cycle path.
Emma Heyde is the ward C Council for Hornsby Council and this is a podcast of the whole discussion with Emma.
This is a summary of watching the Zoom Hornsby Council Meeting on Wednesday 10 June 2020. For more details and clarification it is best to look at the Business Papers which can be found online.
Streetbeat Eyes and Ears 22 May 2020 Neil: TV Series – What we do in the Shadows. Neil focused on Episode 2 about Council Meetings Mariko: Mariko has discovered I Heart Radio and the proem Fake Doctor Real Friends. In this program a couple of people talk about the different episodes of Scrubs Martin: Ian Lomond is a new crime fiction writer of the Reid and Kidman series. The Death Investor - who would kill for privacy?
This is a discussion with Councillor Warren Waddell (Ward A)concerning a much needed telecommunications tower on Dangar Island. This initiative is in the context of Berowra's Federal Member Julian Leeser representing the community to improve their access to WiFi and mobile phone connectivity and removing black spots.
This is a chat with a local resident and physio in the Hornsby shire. We discuss a situation where he goes the extra yard for a patient. Then we tease out the story about how good Paul was as a patient getting an injury while preparing for an ironman.
Paul Taylor is from Tailor Made Physiotherapy in Pennant Hills. I have not broken the chat down into parts but there are distinct sections. It have been recorded in zoom and unedited.
Part 1 0-6 minutes Impact of COVID -19 on his business Part 2 6-12 minutes strategic Approach to COVID -19 for the business. Part 3 12-20 minutes Impact on COVID-19 on Pennant Hills Part 4 20-30 minutes we lighten up and talk about a range of things more casually including his effort to get to then starting line of an ironman.
This is a chat between Matty Curtis and myself.
1 -3 minutes- NRL, Bathurst , WFH 4-7 minutes - drinking 7-14 minutes - cycling and running 14-20 minutes- societal lessons from Covid -19 20-25 minutes Reading Trent Dalton and Stephen King 25-30 minutes Mat Facebook stories 30- 42 minutes Eyes and Ears what we have been watching- The Wire, Toy Boy, Money Heist and Westworld,
Mike Cusack is a local Hornsby resident who has been working from home for the past three years and gives some interesting insight into working from home before many of us were asked to work from home.
Four years ago a group of people started a conversation to about a dream to have a cycle path from Pennant Hills to Epping. A lot of planning and thinking went into the proposal and the stage we are up to now. Listen to Andrew Wilson thoughts on the process who was there from the beginning.
What Does Good Friday Mean To You? A Conversation With Andrew Wilson
This is part of a series of chats with people who live a life on the run - a busy life
What does Good Friday mean to you?
Part of a series of podcasts with busy people leading a life on the run.
This is a segment of Streetbeat on Triple H 100.1 FM where we discuss five tips of everyone working and learning from home. 1. Vision , planning and routine 2. Relaxation 3. Concentration 4. Mindfulness 5. Feedback evaluation loops
This is a segment of Streetbeat on Triple H 100.1 FM where we discuss five tips of everyone working and learning from home. 1. Vision , planning and routine 2. Relaxation 3. Concentration 4. Mindfulness 5. Feedback evaluation loops
Paul Taylor is a local businessman in Pennant Hills who owns Tailor Made Physiotherapy. He offers some most interesting, well considered and thought through analyse of the state of play in the Pennant Hills business precinct.
Penny Becchio is a local resident in Hornsby who makes a difference to the community. Listen to her stories as a scout leader, musician, singer, novelist, Council Arts Committee Member and a lot more.
This is a conversation with Ultra Runner Kevin Heaton known in the running community as Brick.
In NSW NESA has made available a Curriculum Review Interim Report for public comment. I have been involved in group submission for the GTANSW/ACT and my school. This is personal submission based on a couple of comments on each theme.
Mathew Curtis worked for 4 years in the Aboriginal community Lajamanu in the early 2000s. This is an interview (in three parts) with him in 2018 about his his experiences.
Mathew Curtis worked for 4 years in the Aboriginal community Lajamanu in the early 2000s. This is an interview (in three parts) with him in 2018 about his his experiences.
Mathew Curtis worked for 4 years in the Aboriginal community Lajamanu in the early 2000s. This is an interview (in three parts) with him in 2018 about his his experiences.
In the Stage 5 Geography Syllabus in 2008 had a research activity called the Research Action Plan. This episode is a a guide through the steps of a RAP based on the examination of waste management at the school. It could be applied to any school environment.
After the Host City Marathon (2000) I went into runner's depression, put on weight and struggled with accepting the muscle memory was not enough and I was slowing down. Running was no longer part of my life.
At this stage I came across my running saviour - Cool Running Australia. I got back into running in May, 2004 and ran this race in Fitzroy Falls, my first trail race, in the area where I started running (Bowral)and the resurrection of running and life.
This is the story of my third marathon.
Early in the 1990s, when we won the rights to host the Olympics in 2000, I had a goal to run the marathon course. I kept an eye on a series of races over the years , which experimented with the marathon course.
At this stage I still had the goal of running a marathon a decade of of my life and I thought I would run the Host City marathon in 2000 and that would tick off the marathon for the 2000s. I ran the race with my good friend Murray and his brother-in-law, though they finished 20 minutes ahead of me.
It was technically the best marathon I have run to date, had a great atmosphere finishing in the Olympic Stadium and my second best marathon time after 1986 of 3:52 hours.
This is the story of my second marathon.
After my first marathon in 1986 I thought the best way forward was to run one marathon in each decade of my life. Yes that was my original goal. So even though I kept running over the 12 years, the marathon goal was put in the back ground in the decade (1990s)of deferred personal goals when Nick and Ali were born.
The reality was I was still scarred from 1986 but I could no longer ignore the fact that I only had less than two years to run a marathon. So Jeremy a friend from Bowral who was now living in Sydney went with me and this is the story of this race.
This is the story of my first marathon in 1986. It was the birthday of my grandfather who was born in 1901 and was also Anzac Day. I thought surely I could do a marathon - it would be nothing compared to those who were at Gallipoli.
I was living in Bowral at the time, had only been running for two years. Anyway I did everything wrong, went out the night before , had nothing for breakfast, went out too fast - on 3:12 pace at half way, blew up from 30-35 km and found out the benefit of Coke in the final 7 km to finish in 3:42 hours - and my marathon PB.
The race scarred me so much my next marathon was 12 years later in Canberra in 1998 where I came across Cool Running Australia.
There is a unit of work on the HSC on viticulture and winemaking. This podcast discusses the factors effecting this industry, particularly precision viticulture and sustainability. .
This is one of a series of podcasts where I walked my students through the urban place Pyrmont Sydney. Pyrmont is a peninsula rich in the history of urban Sydney and now alive as a redeveloped area. The walk through starts on the eastern side, around to the the northern most point and then back through the spine of Pyrmont - enjoy.
This is one of a series of podcasts where I walked my students through the urban place Pyrmont Sydney. Pyrmont is a peninsula rich in the history of urban Sydney and now alive as a redeveloped area. The walk through starts on the eastern side, around to the the northern most point and then back through the spine of Pyrmont - enjoy.
This is one of a series of podcasts where I walked my students through the urban place Pyrmont Sydney. Pyrmont is a peninsula rich in the history of urban Sydney and now alive as a redeveloped area. The walk through starts on the eastern side, around to the the northern most point and then back through the spine of Pyrmont - enjoy.
This is one of a series of podcasts where I walked my students through the urban place Pyrmont Sydney. Pyrmont is a peninsula rich in the history of urban Sydney and now alive as a redeveloped area. The walk through starts on the eastern side, around to the the northern most point and then back through the spine of Pyrmont - enjoy.
This is a narration of the NSW Geography Syllabus sub topic Urban Places- Urban Dynamics which leads into later series of podcast on the urban place Pyrmont.
This is a verbal summary of an article in the Australian Geographer which is used to link t a student excursion to the Allandale vineyard the Hunter Valley NSW
There is a unit of work on the HSC on viticulture and winemaking. This podcast discusses the factors effecting this industry.