Big Brain Channel: Recent Episodes
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In this episode of Around the School Table (xuno.com.au/podcasts), host Steve Davis is joined by Dr Selena Fisk, a Data Storyteller and Founder of SelenaFisk.com, to explore how schools can move beyond simply collecting data and instead build a culture where evidence supports better teaching, stronger leadership, and improved student outcomes. Drawing on her experience as a former teacher, researcher, and education consultant, Selena explains why schools should strive to become data-informed rather than data-driven.
Throughout the conversation, Selena reflects on her early teaching career in the United Kingdom, where school performance was judged heavily against a single achievement metric. Consequently, she shares how that experience shaped her belief that data should never become a tool for compliance or fear. Instead, it should encourage curiosity, professional conversations, and thoughtful decision-making. She also explains why every dataset contains limitations and why triangulation, using multiple sources of evidence, helps educators develop a more accurate understanding of student learning.
The discussion also explores Selena's doctoral research into student perceptions of feedback. She reveals that many students genuinely want to understand where they sit within their learning journey. However, they also value meaningful conversations that help them interpret feedback rather than simply receiving grades. Furthermore, she explains how schools can foster confidence by encouraging dialogue between teachers and students while ensuring data remains connected to the people behind the numbers.
The conversation examines how school leaders can improve data conversations by creating practical frameworks that guide staff from analysing evidence through to prioritising actions. Rather than allowing meetings to become compliance exercises, Selena demonstrates how curiosity, structured questioning, and clear priorities can transform school improvement conversations into purposeful action.
The episode also discusses simplifying school data systems, reducing technology barriers, and making information more accessible for teachers. In addition, Selena highlights why educators should use data to celebrate progress, identify strengths, and recognise growth instead of focusing solely on gaps or deficiencies. Practical examples illustrate how recognising improvement can positively influence student identity, motivation, and engagement.
Finally, the conversation examines responsible interpretations of NAPLAN results and the importance of understanding school performance within its broader community context. Selena also shares inspiring examples from her work with remote Australian schools, demonstrating how careful analysis of attendance, engagement, and community feedback can lead to meaningful educational change.
This episode provides valuable insights for teachers, school leaders, and education professionals seeking to create ethical, evidence-informed school cultures where data prompts better questions, stronger collaboration, and more confident decisions.
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In this episode of Around the School Table (xuno.com.au/podcasts), host Steve Davis is joined by Stephanie Doyle, Founder of The Conference Planners (theconferenceplanners.com.au/), to explore how thoughtfully designed conferences can become powerful drivers of professional learning, leadership, and collaboration across Australian education.
Drawing on her experience working with education networks, government systems, peak bodies, and school leaders, Stephanie shares why successful conferences begin with strategy rather than logistics. Instead of focusing solely on speakers and schedules, she explains how understanding delegate needs, defining clear objectives, and designing purposeful experiences lead to meaningful learning that continues long after the event concludes.
Throughout the conversation, Stephanie explains why face-to-face professional learning remains invaluable despite the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and unlimited online information. While technology can provide quick answers, she believes genuine conversations, shared experiences, and collaborative problem-solving create insights that simply cannot be replicated online. As a result, conferences provide school leaders with dedicated time to reflect, connect with peers, and develop practical solutions for their own school communities.
The discussion also explores the evolving role of educational leadership. Stephanie highlights how increasing compliance, wellbeing responsibilities, staffing challenges, and operational complexity have transformed the work of school leaders. Consequently, she explains why modern conferences must provide opportunities to build leadership capacity, encourage peer learning, and create environments where authentic conversations can flourish.
In addition, Steve and Stephanie examine how conferences can better support both experienced and emerging leaders. They discuss the importance of intentional networking, structured collaboration, and creating welcoming experiences that help new leaders build meaningful professional relationships. Furthermore, Stephanie shares how exhibitors and education partners can achieve greater success by focusing on genuine engagement instead of transactional interactions.
The episode also considers the importance of purposeful conference design, meaningful reflection, and measuring success beyond attendee satisfaction surveys. Stephanie explains why the most effective events are built around clear outcomes, trusted relationships, and practical implementation that benefits schools long after delegates return to their classrooms and leadership teams.
Whether you are a classroom teacher, school leader, system leader, or education partner, this conversation offers valuable insights into designing conferences that inspire collaboration, strengthen leadership, and create lasting impact across Australian education.
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In this episode of Around the School Table (xuno.com.au/podcasts), host Steve Davis is joined by Paul Matthews, Author and Education Consultant at Paul Matthews.ai (paulmatthews.ai), to explore how educators can embrace artificial intelligence without losing the human qualities that make teaching meaningful.
Drawing on his background in humanities, leadership, and classroom teaching, Paul Matthews shares a thoughtful perspective on the opportunities and challenges AI presents for schools. Rather than viewing AI as a replacement for human thinking, Paul argues that it should be used to strengthen productivity while preserving wisdom, judgement, creativity, and authentic relationships.
Throughout the conversation, Paul explains the difference between technological capability and wisdom. He highlights how AI can save time on routine tasks. However, he also warns that technology can intensify workloads when used without clear purpose. As a result, educators are encouraged to develop habits that align with their values and educational goals.
The discussion also explores the concept of “organic intelligence” and why deep knowledge remains essential in an AI-powered world. Paul explains that effective AI use depends on strong domain expertise. Without that foundation, teachers and students may struggle to evaluate AI-generated content critically.
In addition, Steve and Paul examine practical ways schools can support students. They discuss teaching responsible AI use, maintaining opportunities for pen-and-paper learning, and ensuring students continue to build confidence through cognitive effort. Furthermore, Paul shares how AI can help teachers implement evidence-based literacy practices more efficiently, making it easier for every teacher to become a literacy teacher.
The episode also considers the future of education, the importance of intentional change, and the growing value of genuine human connection. Paul introduces his concept of “Matthews Law”, which suggests that if AI change is not intentional, it becomes accidental.
Whether you are a classroom teacher, school leader, or education innovator, this conversation offers practical insights for navigating AI with confidence, purpose, and wisdom. Above all, Paul demonstrates how schools can use technology to support learning while keeping humanity at the centre of education.
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In this episode of Around the School Table, produced by Xuno, host Steve Davis is joined by Dr. Gina Biancarosa, Ann Swindells Chair in Education, Professor in the Department of Special Education and Clinical Sciences, and Director of the Center on Teaching and Learning at the University of Oregon (uoregon.edu), to explore the origins, purpose, and growing impact of DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) in schools across Australia and beyond.
Throughout the conversation, Gina explains how DIBELS was developed to help educators identify students who may need additional support with reading. Rather than relying solely on lengthy assessments, DIBELS uses brief, targeted measures that provide valuable insights into a student's literacy development. As a result, teachers can monitor progress more frequently and make informed instructional decisions.
The discussion explores the science behind key DIBELS assessments, including letter naming fluency, phonemic awareness, nonsense word fluency, oral reading fluency, and comprehension measures. Furthermore, Gina explains how each assessment aligns with the research on how children learn to read and develop reading comprehension over time.
Steve and Gina also examine the importance of reading for meaning. While decoding words is essential, comprehension remains the ultimate goal. Consequently, the episode highlights why effective literacy instruction must support both accurate word recognition and deep understanding of text.
In addition, listeners will learn how Australian educators have embraced DIBELS through professional learning communities, including the highly active DIBELS in Oz network. Gina reflects on the collaborative efforts that led to the development of an Australasian version of DIBELS, ensuring greater relevance for Australian and New Zealand students.
The conversation also explores how literacy data can be used responsibly within broader school improvement strategies. While assessment data can guide intervention and goal-setting, Gina emphasises the importance of using DIBELS for its intended purpose rather than as a blunt accountability tool. The discussion also touches on how DIBELS data can be analysed and interpreted within broader school improvement processes using tools such as Student Maps.
Beyond assessment, Gina shares her personal reflections on reading as a lifelong gift. From childhood favourites to supporting readers with vision impairment, she highlights the profound opportunities that literacy creates throughout life.
This episode offers valuable insights for teachers, school leaders, literacy specialists, and education professionals seeking practical ways to support reading growth while maintaining a strong focus on student understanding and success.
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In this episode of Around the School Table (xuno.com.au/podcasts), host Steve Davis is joined by David Loader OAM, Chair of the Institute of Education Reform (IER) (educationalreform.org.au), to explore one of the most urgent challenges facing Australian education: Student Disengagement.
With research suggesting that between 30% and 50% of students are disengaged at school, David argues that attendance alone does not equal learning. Many students are physically present in classrooms, yet emotionally disconnected from their education. Others are refusing school altogether. As a result, he believes the current system must rethink how success is measured.
Drawing on his decades of experience as former principal of Methodist Ladies’ College and Wesley College, David reflects on introducing one-to-one laptops in schools in 1989 — long before digital learning became mainstream. However, he explains that technology alone was never the solution. Instead, the real goal was creating more agency, creativity and independence for students.
Throughout the conversation, David challenges traditional models of teaching that position students as passive learners. Instead, he advocates for schools that encourage curiosity, exploration and student voice. He also examines the growing gap between what students are taught and what they genuinely want to learn, particularly during the critical middle years of schooling.
Furthermore, he discusses why teachers need greater freedom, why rigid curriculum structures may be limiting innovation, and how education systems must better respond to individual student needs. The episode also explores the role of educational technology, alternative schooling models, residential learning programs, and why future-ready schools must become more flexible and personalised.
This thought-provoking conversation challenges long-held assumptions about education and offers a compelling vision for schools that prioritise engagement, agency and meaningful learning for every student.
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In this episode of Around the School Table (xuno.com.au/podcasts), host Steve Davis is joined by Kerry Williams Director Teaching and Learning at SPELD SA Inc(speldsa.org.au), to unpack one of Australia’s most pressing education challenges. Together, they explore how literacy instruction has evolved and why evidence-based practice is now gaining traction across schools.
Kerry shares her journey from classroom teacher to literacy leader. As a result, she brings a unique perspective shaped by years of supporting educators and students with learning difficulties. Moreover, she explains how organisations like SPELD SA bridge the gap between research and classroom practice.
The conversation highlights the shift away from outdated “wait to fail” models. Instead, Kerry explains how tools like DIBELS, linked to Student Maps (xuno.com.au/student-maps), enable early identification of struggling readers. Consequently, teachers can intervene sooner with targeted, effective strategies. She also outlines the five key components of reading, showing how each plays a vital role in building confident, capable learners.
In addition, the episode explores the rise of structured literacy and synthetic phonics in Australian classrooms. While progress is evident, Kerry notes that misconceptions still persist. For example, outdated practices and myths about dyslexia continue to influence teaching approaches. Therefore, ongoing professional learning remains essential.
Kerryalso addresses the importance of early intervention. She emphasises that support should focus on student need rather than diagnosis. As she explains, increased practice and targeted instruction often deliver the strongest outcomes. Furthermore, she highlights the equity challenges families face when accessing assessments and support.
The discussion also reinforces the importance of balancing foundational skills with a love of reading. Once decoding is mastered, students can fully engage with rich literature and expand their vocabulary. As a result, both skill and curiosity are nurtured together.
This episode offers practical insights for educators committed to improving literacy outcomes. Ultimately, it reinforces that when evidence meets action, every student has a stronger chance to succeed.
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In this episode of Around the School Table (xuno.com.au/podcasts), host Steve Davis is joined by Kelly McBurnie, Director of Business Operation at Academy of Queensland Ballet (academy.queenslandballet.com.au), to explore how elite arts education can balance performance, wellbeing and operational precision.
Drawing on her background in mainstream and Steiner education, Kelly shares how those leadership lessons now guide a world-class ballet programme. At the Academy of Queensland Ballet students undertake half-day academics alongside intensive dance training. As a result, excellence is pursued without sacrificing holistic development.
Throughout the conversation, Kelly explains how research has reshaped ballet training. Rather than relying on chronological age, physical readiness is carefully assessed before students begin pointe work. Consequently, injury risk is reduced and long-term development is prioritised. Moreover, wellbeing is embedded through daily touchpoints with experienced staff, physiotherapists and strength coaches.
Importantly, operational systems have also evolved. Previously, complex panel assessments were paper-based and manually averaged. However, digital platforms such as Xuno (xuno.com.au) and Student Maps (xuno.com.au/student-maps) now allow live moderation across four judges and 25 criteria. Therefore, reporting is streamlined and transparency is strengthened. Parents can track progress over time through clear data and visual insights.
Communication has improved significantly as well. With real-time calendar updates and a parent portal, families receive timely information about rehearsals and performances. In addition, a digital kiosk sign-in system provides accurate visibility across six studios and multiple training spaces. Consequently, safety, accountability and engagement are enhanced.
Beyond systems and structure, the episode highlights the human side of high performance. Students develop resilience, grit and collaboration through daily discipline. Furthermore, many graduates move into professional companies, including Queensland Ballet, while others pursue global opportunities in the arts.
This episode offers practical insights for school leaders seeking to integrate wellbeing, data and operational excellence. Ultimately, it demonstrates that high performance and care can coexist when vision is matched with thoughtful systems.
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In this episode of Around the School Table (xuno.com.au/podcasts), host Steve Davis is joined by Hans Moningka, Director, APAC from RM PLC Group (rm.com) to explore the evolving landscape of digital assessment. He brings a global perspective shaped by partnerships with major assessment authorities and education systems.
Throughout the conversation, Hans unpacks how digital exams are steadily replacing paper-based models. Rather than describing a sudden revolution, he outlines a careful and strategic shift. Moreover, he explains why accessibility is driving student preference for online assessment. Research across several countries shows most students favour digital formats, especially after direct experience.
Importantly, Hansaddresses the balance between innovation and integrity. While digital platforms offer flexibility, assessment authenticity must remain central. Therefore, the discussion explores tools such as secure exam browsers, focus tracking, and AI-supported proctoring. These technologies strengthen oversight, yet they also raise ethical considerations.
In addition, the episode examines the growing influence of artificial intelligence in schools. AI-generated content is becoming more common. Consequently, educators must rethink how originality and authorship are assessed. Hans shares practical insights into responsible AI use, emphasising preparation over panic.
For teachers and school leaders, the conversation highlights two key gaps: availability and preparation. Infrastructure, device access, and professional learning all shape readiness. Furthermore, mindset plays a critical role. Small, deliberate steps towards digital integration can build long-term confidence.
Ultimately, this episode offers cautious optimism. Assessment will continue to evolve, yet humane and credible practice can remain at its core. For educators navigating change, the insights from Hans provide clarity, reassurance, and strategic direction.
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Today on Around the School Table (xuno.com.au/podcasts), host Steve Davis is joined by James Thomas, Managing Director of Digital Education Partnerships Indonesia (DEPI) (depi.co.id). DEPI helps international edtech companies build trust and traction across Indonesia’s vast school landscape. It’s a market shaped by scale, complexity, and relationships.
Early in the conversation, James breaks down what makes Indonesia unique. There are tens of millions of students and hundreds of thousands of schools. However, size is only one factor. Just as important is how schools communicate, buy, and implement systems.
Next, the episode digs into a common assumption about “international schools”. Many people expect mature operations. Yet the reality can be mixed. James shares research across SPK schools (SPK stands for Satuan Pendidikan Kerja Sama, which translates to “Cooperative Education Unit.” These are Indonesian private schools officially licensed to deliver an international curriculum). While many use an LMS for learning, fewer rely on a dedicated school management system. As a result, critical workflows can remain manual.
Importantly, James clarifies the difference between an LMS, an SMS, and an SIS layer. An LMS supports teaching and learning workflows. Meanwhile, an SMS runs operations like attendance, wellbeing, parent communication, events, and payments. Then, an SIS layer can connect systems without forcing a full replacement. Consequently, schools can reduce fragmentation and improve workflow reliability.
Finance and payments emerge as a major pressure point. Schools often manage complex fee logic in spreadsheets. Unfortunately, one small change can trigger errors. In addition, many schools still depend on WhatsApp for parent communication. Because messages arrive constantly, teacher wellbeing can be impacted.
The episode also explores safeguarding and reporting. James explains Indonesia’s TPPK mandate (TPPK stands for Tim Pencegahan dan Penanganan Kekerasan, which translates to Team for the Prevention and Handling of Violence) and why structured incident recording matters. Moreover, he shares why many rollouts fail. They’re treated as IT installs, not organisational change. Instead, James recommends phased implementation, clear ownership, and realistic priorities.
If you’re a school leader reviewing systems, this episode offers a practical playbook. You’ll hear how to identify operational headaches, reduce risk, and build resilient school operations.
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Andre Casson joins Around the School Table (xuno.com.au/podcasts) for an audio conversation with host Steve Davis. Andre is the Headmaster of Brisbane Boys’ College (bbc.qld.edu.au), and he brings a science teacher’s lens to leadership. Moreover, his experience spans Australia, the UK, and international schools in Asia.
Firstly, Andre reflects on preparation and opportunity. He shares how unexpected doors can open in education. However, he also explains why readiness matters most. In addition, he encourages teachers to embrace growth and cultural learning when working abroad.
The discussion then turns to boys’ learning and school design. Andre explains why many boys need movement to think well. Therefore, learning spaces at Brisbane Boys’ College are designed for collaboration and flexibility. For example, breakout areas support group work and active tasks. He also shares a simple lesson on states of matter, using physical movement to build understanding.
Importantly, Andre highlights the value of sport and physical activity. Brisbane Boys’ College continues physical education into Years 11 and 12. As a result, students keep building teamwork, resilience, and self-control. Meanwhile, co-curricular programs create more ways to belong and thrive.
Relationships sit at the centre of Andre’s approach. He explains why authenticity matters with boys. Additionally, he outlines how staff are supported to build trust beyond the classroom. That includes coaching, presence, and everyday interest in students’ lives.
The episode also explores inclusivity and respectful relationships. Andre describes a clear, structured curriculum that teaches consent and safe behaviours from the early years. Furthermore, he explains how culture is shaped through consistent modelling and correction.
Finally, Andre breaks down the 6:1 positive-to-negative feedback ratio. He links it to research and daily practice. In particular, he shares how positive calls home can reinforce character. Over time, this approach supports “gentlemen of honour” through decency, accountability, and healthy vulnerability.
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In this episode of Around the School Table (xuno.com.au/podcasts) host Steve Davis is joined by Dr Jenny Donovan, CEO of the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) (www.edresearch.edu.au), Australia’s national evidence body for education.
Together, they unpack why nine education ministers backed a shared “national evidence institute” approach. Moreover, they explore how AERO turns research into practical guidance for schools. Importantly, the focus stays on what improves learning, not just what sounds appealing.
Jennyexplains why outcomes did not always match investment after the Gonski reforms. However, she also highlights what changed with the later focus on how funding is used. As a result, the conversation centres on teaching practice as the key lever. It also challenges the idea that money alone lifts results.
The episode then dives into initial teacher education reform. First, Jenny outlines four core areas every graduate should master. These include cognitive science, explicit instruction, classroom management, and responsive teaching. Consequently, the goal is classroom-ready teachers with consistent foundations nationwide.
Next, Steve and Jenny explore what explicit instruction looks like in practice. For example, lessons are sequenced to reduce cognitive overload. Then, students practise with guidance before working independently. In addition, classroom routines are taught clearly and reinforced consistently.
Professional learning is also under the microscope. Notably, AERO tested “booster” sessions using rigorous trials. Surprisingly, the extra sessions did not improve outcomes. Therefore, the findings help systems invest in what truly sticks.
Finally, the discussion turns to equity, disability, and First Nations education. AERO is examining concentrated disadvantage and access to effective teaching. Meanwhile, a national survey on disability in classrooms is planned for 2026. There is also close attention on two-ways learning approaches, with benefits that may extend to all students.
This episode offers grounded insights for teachers, leaders, and policymakers who want evidence that reduces guesswork and supports better learning.
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In this episode of Around the School Table (xuno.com.au/podcasts), host Steve Davis is joined by Shanti Clements, Principal of Seven Hills West Public School (sevenhillw-p.schools.nsw.gov.au), for the final interview of 2025. From the outset, Shanti shares a simple mission with real weight: growing great human beings every day.
With more than 30 years in education and a PhD in educational leadership, Shanti blends research with lived experience. Importantly, she leads within one of Western Sydney’s most culturally diverse school communities. As a result, the school’s purpose is shaped by both Eastern and Western perspectives on learning, leadership, and belonging.
Shanti explains how the school embedded the Leader in Me (leaderinme.com) approach in 2020. Then, she unpacks how the Seven Habits became practical, everyday habits for students and staff. For example, students are placed at the centre of learning decisions. Instead of being passive recipients, they co-design, co-construct, and reflect on what helps learning stick.
Next, Shanti describes the impact of student leadership through the SRC. Students run learning walks each term. They focus on the student learning experience. They also interview teachers and provide feedback on engagement. Additionally, they redesigned school signage to align behaviour expectations with the Seven Habits.
Wellbeing is treated as visible data, not guesswork. So, Shanti outlines how Life Skills Go (lifeskillsgroup.com.au) daily check-ins helped the school notice what students “walk in with”. Later in the day, the data often shifted positively. That change highlighted school as a place of safety and regulation. Furthermore, Shanti links wellbeing supports to practical strategies, including breakfast club, which lifts attendance.
The conversation also turns to staff culture. Shanti supports early career teachers with coaching and leadership pathways. Moreover, she invests in staff wellbeing through flourish and courageous culture work.
Finally, Shanti reflects on wisdom, service leadership, and lifelong growth. The result is a powerful reminder that schools shape far more than academic outcomes.
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In this episode of Around the School Table (xuno.com.au/podcasts), host Steve Davis is joined by James Wright, a physics teacher and Digital Innovation Lead at Garden International School (gardenschool.edu.my) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The school is home to around 50 nationalities. It also supports a thriving, multilingual community.
After 12 years in Malaysia, James on what changes when you teach internationally. Yet, he also shares what stays the same. Students are still students, wherever you teach. However, expectations around grades can vary wildly.
So, the conversation turns to assessment and reporting. Parents may be familiar with GCSE grades, IB scores, GPA, or Australian systems. Because of that, a single letter grade can create confusion. It can also create anxiety. Therefore, James explains why visual reporting can build clarity fast.
He breaks down how graphical reporting helps families understand progress at a glance. For example, a simple bar or curve can show “where your child is” right now. It can also show “where we expect them to be”. Meanwhile, teachers still get the numbers when they need detail.
The discussion also explores technology choices in schools. James contrasts “school-in-a-box” platforms with flexible tools. In particular, he explains why Accelerus stands out for reporting. It is curriculum agnostic. It is also highly customisable. As a result, schools can shape reports around their own language and processes.
Importantly, James talks about leading change without overwhelm. First, he starts with a clear shared vision. Then, he involves staff, parents, and administration early. Also, he looks for the people most likely to challenge the plan. Those voices are treated as valuable. Because of that, issues are spotted sooner.
Finally, the episode tackles data sovereignty and APIs. James argues that schools should be able to move data in and out easily. That flexibility supports long-term strategy. It also builds trust.
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In this episode of Around the School Table (www.xuno.com.au/podcasts), host Steve Davis is joined by founding principal Blayne Wallis. Together they explore what it takes to open a supported inclusion school in Melbourne’s west. Mindalk Primary School (www.facebook.com/mindalkprimaryschool) is preparing to welcome its first students in January 2026. During the conversation, Blayne explains how an almost accidental start in teaching became a deep commitment to inclusive leadership. Their journey from classroom teacher in Ballarat to leader across western Melbourne shows how quiet confidence can power lasting change.
Early in the episode, listeners hear how childhood experiences shaped Blayne’s belief in seeing every child. As a quiet student who often felt invisible, they remember wishing for a teacher who noticed the wallpaper kids. Because of that, Blayne Wallis now pays close attention to students who slip under the radar. Instead of accepting silence as compliance, they ask what might be missing from the learning environment. This perspective underpins their approach to wellbeing, curriculum and building trust with families.
Leadership also features strongly in this conversation. After years serving schools across Melbourne’s west, Blayne values grounded, community focused practice. However, they also encourage teachers not to stay in one place for too long. Moving between schools, they argue, stretches skills and broadens understanding of the wider system. As a result, leaders can support staff to grow beyond the walls of a single campus. For emerging leaders, Blayne offers practical advice on noticing potential in colleagues who may be quiet but highly capable.
Mindalk Primary School itself is designed as a supported inclusion school. In the episode, listeners hear how flexible classrooms, thoughtful transitions and clear policies all work together. Importantly, the school motto and values were considered even before staff were hired. Additionally, Blayne describes the play based uniform, with darker colours chosen to support active learning and reduce stress for families. Rather than asking children to protect pristine outfits, the school expects play, movement and occasional grass stains.
As opening day approaches, the countdown to 27 January 2026 brings both excitement and reflection. During the interview, Blayne outlines the challenge of being the only staff member in the early months. Yet that quiet period allowed space to shape policies, refine values and plan for inclusive practices. When recruitment began, they focused on hiring teachers who talk about students and learning before everything else. By hiring hard, Blayne believes the school will work easier, with a team aligned to purpose from day one.
Throughout the episode, listeners gain practical ideas for nurturing inclusive cultures in any school setting. From uniform choices to multi tiered support systems, every decision is linked back to student needs. For principals, teachers and aspiring leaders, this conversation with Blayne Wallis offers both reassurance and challenge. Ultimately, Mindalk Primary School is presented as a place where every child is seen, supported and encouraged to thrive.
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Stephen Crockford has spent 55 years in education, leading change and lifting expectations in Melbourne’s northwest. In this episode of Around the School Table (www.xuno.com.au/podcasts), host Steve Davis talks with Stephen about his long career and his final weeks as principal of St Albans Meadows Primary School (www.samps.vic.edu.au). Together, they trace his journey from classroom teacher to community leader, shaped by humility, consistency, and a deep belief in children’s potential. The conversation offers a rare long view of how one principal can help transform a school over decades. It also reveals how culture, not quick fixes, keeps improvement alive.
Rather than start with test scores, Stephen focused first on joy, belonging, and pride. Sport became a powerful lever to get students turning up, trying hard, and seeing themselves as part of something bigger. Performing arts followed, with concerts, choirs, bands, and dance groups reshaping how the community saw the school. As a result, students who once felt behind began to stand tall on stage and on the field. Then explicit teaching and careful curriculum work ensured that high expectations in literacy and numeracy matched the growing confidence.
Technology was never a gimmick for Stephen. Instead, he backed a one-to-one laptop model in a low socio-economic context, using leasing and clear educational purpose to make devices accessible. At the same time, he kept pen and paper, rich experiences, and front-loaded vocabulary at the centre of learning. Behind the scenes, he built a leadership “pyramid”, with emerging and emerging-emerging leaders always ready to step up. Consequently, the school now has deep curriculum expertise and a strong bench of future principals.
Listeners will hear practical insights on building culture through consistency, calmness, and respect. They will also discover how a free parent gym, kitchen garden and clubs for chess, Lego, sport, writing and more help families feel welcome without turning parents into unpaid teachers. Whether you are a new principal, an aspiring leader, or a classroom teacher, this episode with Stephen Crockford will spark reflection on legacy, resilience, and what it means to stay a “teacher first”.
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In this episode of Around the School Table (www.xuno.com.au/podcasts), Lisa Burt joins host Steve Davis to explore how inclusive leadership reshapes learning within a small school setting. As principal of Knox Central Primary School (www.knoxcentral.vic.edu.au), she leads a school community of 74 students and demonstrates how relationships, predictability and calm environments support every learner.
From the outset, Lisa explains how her move from a large suburban school to Knox Central changed her approach to leadership. With fewer staff layers, she is often the person who responds when challenges arise. However, this close connection means families and students see her as approachable and available. Her daily walk through each classroom builds trust and reinforces a strong sense of community.
Because Lisa also teaches PE, students see her as both principal and active participant in school life. This relatability helps families who previously felt uncertain about school to re-engage with confidence. Her visible presence also supports staff wellbeing, as teachers know she understands the pressures of the classroom.
The discussion turns to inclusive classrooms, where predictable routines and structured spaces help students, especially those with autism, feel secure. Daily schedules, quiet zones and Schoolwide Positive Behaviours create a consistent and supportive learning environment.
Literacy improvement is another key focus. After discovering gaps in early reading skills, the school adopted explicit phonics instruction and tools like DIBELS. As a result, students develop phonemic awareness and reading confidence, while teachers gain clearer data to guide instruction.
Technology also supports personalised learning at Knox Central. Google Classroom, Mathletics and Reading Eggs allow teachers to tailor tasks and help students practise skills beyond school hours.
Finally, Lisa reflects on funding, perception and the unique strengths of boutique schools. She highlights the importance of reframing “small schools” as environments rich in connection, opportunity and individual support. This episode offers practical ideas for leaders and teachers seeking to strengthen inclusion and rethink what small schools can achieve.
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Listener warning: This episode contains mild swearing and a brief reference to adult themes.
In this episode of Around the School Table (www.xuno.com.au/podcasts), host Steve Davis is joined by comedian and action learning coach Daniel Delby to unpack how humour can transform classroom management and teacher wellbeing. Drawing on his journey from drama and phys-ed teaching into science and special needs support, Daniel shows how laughter can keep both students and teachers engaged for the long haul.
As the creator of Teacher Comedy Night (teachercomedynight.com), Daniel has turned everyday school stories into a space where educators can connect, unwind and realise they are not alone. Teachers come for the laughs; however, they also leave with fresh perspective on behaviour, relationships and classroom management strategies. Along the way, Daniel shares how a professional learning course in Classroom Management Strategies (CMS) shifted his mindset from “these kids are the problem” to “what can I do differently?”
Throughout the conversation, Daniel explains why humour works so powerfully in the classroom. Teachers are constantly performing in front of up to 34 students. Therefore, they must learn to hold attention, break the ice and win the class over. Yet he is clear that not every teacher needs to be a stand-up comic. Instead, he argues that authenticity, clear boundaries and genuine interest in students matter just as much as punchlines.
The episode also explores how Daniel uses freestyle rap and improvisation to hook students into learning. From rapping about classes at assemblies to encouraging students to expand their vocabularies so they can rhyme, he demonstrates how creativity can sit alongside curriculum goals. As a result, humour becomes more than a gimmick; it becomes a tool for connection, confidence and student voice.
Listeners will also hear about Daniel’s touring Teacher Comedy Night shows, his links to major comedy festivals and the growing community of teachers who are discovering comedy as a way to stay in the profession. Ultimately, this episode is for any educator who loves their students, feels the strain of the job and wants practical, light-hearted ideas to bring joy back into teaching.
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In this episode of Around the School Table (www.xuno.com.au/podcasts), host Steve Davis is joined by Dylan Sulzer, founder of Not Just Teacher Education (www.notjustateachereducation.com), to explore how Dylan’s unique journey—from Port Lincoln to the Northern Territory and even mustering cattle—has shaped his deep understanding of emotional intelligence in education.
Dylan brings practical tools and insights to help teachers and students navigate tricky behaviour, build emotional regulation, and foster a positive classroom culture. He reframes defiance as a bid for independence and examines the balance between happiness and purpose, offering educators a fresh way to connect, support and empower young people both inside and outside the classroom.
Throughout the episode, Dylan explains the five domains of emotional intelligence — self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and relational communication — and shows how educators can apply them in the real world. He shares simple, applicable strategies such as breathing techniques and naming tasks to re-engage teachers’ thinking brains in stressful moments.
Furthermore, Dylan’s student-brand program demonstrates how young people can identify their character strengths, develop a sense of identity and shift from external rewards to intrinsic motivation. The conversation also touches on the role of choice in managing student independence, why banning social media might be a band-aid solution, and the importance of being more impressive in person than online.
This episode is ideal for teachers, school leaders and anyone interested in shaping classroom culture with emotional intelligence at the heart.
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In this episode of Around the School Table (www.xuno.com.au/podcast), host Steve Davis is joined by Tim Nolan, Principal of Port Melbourne Secondary College (www.portmelbournesc.vic.edu.au) to explore how leadership, vision, and creativity shape a school’s culture and community.
Tim leads one of Melbourne’s most distinctive schools, a striking campus inspired by the maritime character of Port Melbourne. From shipping containers to cruise-liner flair, the design mirrors a philosophy that values innovation, inclusivity, and connection. Throughout the conversation, Tim shares insights on leading with purpose amid rapid educational change and how culture and positivity drive effective teams.
Listeners will hear how Tim’s leadership journey across Catholic, arts-focused, and STEM-driven schools has helped him understand what makes communities thrive. He explains why aspiring leaders should “do the job of the person above you” to build capacity and confidence. This episode also explores the importance of cultural fit in hiring, the role of creativity in teaching, and why trust and communication remain the cornerstones of strong school culture.
The discussion turns to hands-on, real-world learning; from boat restoration projects to partnerships with community mentors at the local Men’s Shed. These programs help students discover confidence and purpose beyond the classroom while fostering intergenerational learning. Tim also reflects on how schools can stay visionary within regulatory frameworks, finding their “true north” by always asking what’s best for students.
From navigating funding and growth at Fishermans Bend to building pathways for vocational and inclusive education, Tim highlights how adaptability and collaboration future-proof modern schools. The conversation closes with his vision for graduates who feel supported, inspired, and ready to lead others with empathy and curiosity.
This episode offers practical inspiration for educators, school leaders, and policymakers seeking to balance innovation with community connection in Australian education.
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In this episode of Around the School Table (xuno.com.au/podcasts), host Steve Davis is joined by Tim Bullard, CEO of the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) (aitsl.edu.au), to explore the state of the teaching profession across Australia. With more than half a million registered teachers, Tim shares how the latest Australian Teacher Workforce Survey is helping policymakers, educators, and communities understand the evolving challenges and opportunities shaping schools today.
The conversation uncovers what the data reveals about teacher well-being, retention, and professional growth, and how education systems can better support teachers through every career stage. Tim discusses the importance of recognising teaching as a human endeavour, one grounded in connection, trust, and lifelong learning. He also highlights how returning teachers bring valuable life experience back into classrooms, enriching student learning and strengthening school communities.
Steve and Tim explore how AI can reduce teacher workload without losing the essential human connection that defines effective teaching. From workload management and flexible career pathways to national initiatives like the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, the discussion offers a clear-eyed look at how evidence-based policy and innovation can improve outcomes for both teachers and students.
As World Teachers’ Day approaches, Tim shares why celebrating educators year-round is essential to building a culture of trust, respect, and appreciation across the nation. This episode is a timely reminder of how teachers’ voices and data-driven insights can shape the future of Australian education.
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In this episode of Around the School Table (xuno.com.au/podcast), host Steve Davis is joined by Richard (Richie) Furber, Principal Consultant at the Motivation Foundation (motivationfoundation.com.au) and leader of the soon-to-launch Motivation Education Career School in Perth. Together, they explore how innovative education models are connecting learning with real-world industry opportunities.
Richie shares how Motivation Foundation is transforming outcomes for students at academic risk by combining practical training, strong industry partnerships, and a deep belief in belonging and hope. Students graduate with recognised VET qualifications in civil construction, mining, and workplace skills—equipping them for meaningful, long-term employment.
The conversation uncovers the school’s holistic approach: from teaching employability habits and professional behaviour to fostering resilience through trauma-informed practice. Richie explains how data-driven case management ensures each learner receives individualised support, while collaboration with organisations like the Construction Training Fund (CTF) and local employers builds confidence and purpose.
Listeners will also hear how the Motivation Foundation creates industry-simulated environments where students develop practical competence, re-engage with learning, and find hope in achievable futures. This inspiring discussion offers educators and school leaders valuable insights into alternative pathways that empower young Australians to thrive beyond the classroom.
Whether you’re an educator, policymaker, or training provider, this episode highlights how attitude, belonging, and authentic partnerships can change lives—and strengthen communities.
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Associate Professor Lisa McKay-Brown from Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne (education.unimelb.edu.au)joins host Steve Davis on Around the School Table (xuno.com.au/podcast) for a practical, compassionate look at school avoidance. This audio episode explores why attendance challenges are rarely a simple choice, and how schools can respond with care, clarity, and data-informed action. As Associate Dean of Diversity and Inclusion, Lisa offers grounded strategies that teachers and leaders can apply straight away.
First, the conversation addresses common myths about “wagging” and explains the differences between avoidance, truancy, withdrawal, and exclusion. Then, we consider early warning signs. For example, small shifts like late arrivals, early departures, or missed periods can signal growing barriers. Consequently, routine checks of attendance patterns—especially in the 90–95% range—become essential. Moreover, listeners hear how data systems such as Xuno help staff spot patterns quickly and start supportive conversations with families.
Importantly, Lisa highlights neuro-affirming practice. Clear routines, predictable expectations, and strong adult connections help neurodivergent students; in fact, they benefit everyone. Furthermore, flexible regulation supports—like planned breaks or headphones for focus—can reduce anxiety and increase engagement. Yet schools cannot carry the load alone. Therefore, respectful partnerships with families and allied professionals are vital.
We also step into multi-tiered systems of support. Lisa explains how MTSS for attendance builds universal, targeted, and intensive responses over time. In addition, she reflects on international collaborations and OECD insights linking belonging, safety, and achievement. As a result, listeners gain a broader perspective on what works here in Australia and abroad.
Finally, the episode calls for national leadership. A coordinated plan would amplify local innovations, reduce duplication, and elevate voices that are often missed. Teachers, leaders, and system thinkers will find actionable ideas, thoughtful nuance, and renewed confidence to tackle attendance with empathy and evidence.
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In this episode of Around the School Table (www.xuno.com.au/podcast), host Steve Davis is joined by Kirsten Ellis, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Information Technology at Monash University (www.monash.edu/it) to explore how her creation, TapeBlocks (www.tapeblock.com), is reshaping STEM learning for students of all abilities. These vibrant, foam-based circuit blocks help children build electronic circuits using simple conductive tape—no soldering, no fear, just curiosity and creativity.
Kirsten shares how her journey began with conductive jigsaw puzzles and evolved into a hands-on, accessible STEM resource that empowers every child to create, connect, and collaborate. Designed with inclusivity at its heart, tape blocks allow students with vision or motor skill challenges to build working circuits independently, experiencing both visual and tactile feedback.
The conversation uncovers how Kirsten combines engineering ingenuity with educational insight to spark imagination in classrooms. Teachers can use the blocks to introduce fundamental electronic concepts while promoting teamwork and problem-solving. Colour-coded components—red for power, yellow for switches, green for light or vibration, and blue for fans—make learning intuitive and engaging for mixed-ability classrooms.
Beyond accessibility, the episode explores the broader philosophy of natively built accessible design—creating tools that are inclusive from the start, not adapted as an afterthought. From integrating tape blocks with LEGO and micro:bits to inspiring creative classroom projects, Kirsten demonstrates that inclusive design benefits every learner, not just those with additional needs.
Listeners will also hear how initiatives supported by Google and National Science Week helped bring tape blocks into hundreds of Australian schools, empowering educators to make STEM more tactile, playful, and inclusive.
This episode offers practical inspiration for teachers seeking to blend accessibility with innovation—proving that when creativity meets inclusion, every student can shine.
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Deputy Principal - Education Support, Brent Passchier joins Around the School Table (xuno.com.au/podcasts) to unpack a practical blueprint for inclusive education at Atwell College (atwellcollege.wa.edu.au) in Western Australia. From sensory rooms and hydrotherapy to music programmes and smart use of technology, he explains how schools can widen access without always adding more staff.
The conversation begins with a mindset shift. Instead of “more hands”, Atwell focuses on “valued hands” and clear structures. Education assistants are redeployed to run targeted small-group sessions, which lightens teacher load and deepens impact. Moreover, the college embeds inclusion in the timetable: sensory engagement, literacy groups, and life skills are planned, not improvised.
Atwell’s three-pathway model sits at the core. Centralised learning supports students with higher medical, communication, or sensory needs. The Universal pathway offers a home base for core subjects while encouraging electives in mainstream classes. Meanwhile, students working at typical academic rigour receive needs-based check-ins from inclusive EAs. Consequently, support is flexible and evidence-informed.
Teacher workload is addressed head-on. Simple tech streamlines admin. Furthermore, QR-code workflows trigger assessment adjustments and scheduling, ensuring equitable access with minimal friction. General adjustments; preferential seating, scaffolded templates, and alternative outputs—are normalised. Therefore, teachers can focus on pedagogy, not paperwork.
Peer culture also matters. Health students design expos with differentiated activities, quiet spaces, and AAC options. As a result, learners support learners, and inclusion becomes a whole-school habit. Brent returns to a central theme: value over volume. Programmes succeed when they prioritise what each student needs to participate and progress.
For leaders and teachers, the takeaways are concrete. Start with what already works, then systemise it. Use data to direct FTE, not the other way round. In addition, make collaboration between mainstream and ed support staff routine. Ultimately, Brent shows that inclusion by design can lift outcomes and reduce cognitive load—while keeping passion for teaching front and centre.
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Senior Leader at XUNO Suite (xuno.com.au) and driving force behind the Student Maps platform, Anthony Sacker, joins Around the School Table (xuno.com.au/podcasts) to unpack how DIBELS can move from raw scores to real classroom action. In this interview, we explore how smart visualisations and simple workflows help teachers identify risk early and respond with confidence.
From pronunciation myths to progress monitoring, Anthony explains why consistent screening, clear benchmarks and collaborative review can lift literacy for every learner. First, we demystify DIBELS: what it measures, why it matters and how often to use it across year levels. Then, we shift to practice. Teachers gather accuracy rates, composite scores and fluency checks; however, those numbers only shine when they’re easy to read and share. That’s where student maps come in. With colour-coded results, distribution views and progress-over-time graphs, teams can see who needs intervention, who needs extension and which strategies to try next.
Moreover, Anthony outlines how schools can combine DIBELS with PAT, NAPLAN and other assessments without drowning in spreadsheets. Instead of copy-paste chaos, teachers use a single space to store results, add comments, attach work samples and prepare for handovers. As a result, Year 5 teams begin the year with a clear picture of strengths, gaps and goals. Parents also benefit, because one view shows growth, next steps and expected levels.
Beyond literacy, the episode considers career guidance. When counsellors view longitudinal data, conversations become concrete. Students see the link between habits, skills and aspirations. Meanwhile, leaders gain a dependable way to track cohort trends and evaluate support plans. Crucially, we discuss pace and practicality. Data should help, not hinder. Therefore, the episode focuses on quick wins: setting thresholds, using dashboards, and choosing graphs that tell a story in seconds.
Finally, we cover trials, so schools can try the tools with sample data before committing. If you want a clear path from assessment to action, this episode delivers. And yes, we settle the pronunciation debate early. It’s DIBELS!
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Rebecca Woolnough, Area Manager, Oceania at SMART Technologies (http://smarttech.com/en-au) joins Around the School Table (https://xuno.com.au/podcast) to unpack how right-fit edtech lifts learning, not workload. From “divisolation” to Universal Design for Learning, her lens is practical and hopeful. Crucially, she argues for outcomes before hardware. Consequently, schools avoid shiny-bauble mistakes and wasted spend.
Drawing on classroom leadership, Rebeccaexplains why sharing devices boosts collaboration. Instead of one-to-one, she recommends 1:2 or 1:3 in many activities. Therefore, attention shifts from screens to problem-solving and dialogue. Moreover, students practise negotiation, creativity, and critical thinking together.
Her formula for success is clear and repeatable. Start with exit outcomes, then pedagogy, then software, and finally hardware. Consequently, hardware is chosen to remove barriers, not add friction. Additionally, targeted professional learning ties everything to real curriculum goals.
The discussion also explores neurodiversity-informed design with the University of Melbourne. As a result, classrooms feel inclusive without extra teacher admin. For example, multiple modes for responses lift agency and reduce anxiety. Furthermore, SMART tools make those tweaks fast and repeatable.
Practical tips land throughout. Teachers can ink over PDFs or slides and keep the annotations. Then, share to students quickly through existing platforms. Meanwhile, the Smartboard Mini unlocks small-group collaboration and accessibility tweaks.
AI is addressed with balance and care. Yes, it speeds planning and routine marking for teachers. However, human judgement and scaffolding remain central. In short, Rebecca champions tech that serves pedagogy and people.
Listeners leave with a usable roadmap for smarter investment. Therefore, you can prioritise learning goals and choose tools that fit. Finally, Rebecca offers hope, clarity, and classroom-ready steps. As ever, host Steve Davis keeps the focus on real classrooms. Together, they surface mistakes leaders can avoid during rollouts. For instance, evaluate impact early and keep software platform-agnostic. Next, sequence capability building, not just device deliveries. Above all, remember why the investment exists in the first place.
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CEO and Founder Anna Vermooten joins Around the School Table (xuno.com.au/podcasts) to share how Parents Battle of the Bands (parentsbattleofthebands.com) grew from a St Kilda idea into a movement. This audio-only conversation captures the energy of community music. It also reveals how parent bands can strengthen connections between families and schools. From the first rehearsal room jokes to a packed Prince Bandroom, Anna traces the project’s unlikely rise. Ticket proceeds flow back into school music programs.
Therefore, each gig doubles as a fundraiser and a catalyst for arts participation. Along the way, friendly rivalry, sing-alongs, and clever set lists turn busy parents into confident performers. However, the story is about shows. Anna explains how one enthusiastic parent at each school becomes the spark. Word of mouth travels across playgrounds and sports courts. As a result, new bands form, venues come on board, and momentum builds.
Importantly, the model sits outside formal school administration. That choice keeps the vibe playful while still supporting music education. The episode explores Melbourne’s distinct live-music culture. It also follows new chapters opening in Bondi and beyond. Judges and special guests have added credibility, yet the real draw is the community in the crowd. Furthermore, intergenerational benefits are clear. When children see parents rehearsing and performing, they often start bands of their own. Anna outlines how schools and parents express interest, access a starter kit, and onboard through a purpose-built app.
Consequently, bands focus on rehearsals, song choices, and show night logistics. Tips include choosing popular, high-energy tracks, encouraging sing-alongs, and adding a twist. Mash-ups and creative arrangements often delight audiences and judges alike. Ultimately, Parents Battle of the Bands shows how music can cut through the noise of modern life. It forges friendships, celebrates creativity, and funds future learning. Moreover, it offers a scalable blueprint for any community keen to turn hidden talent into shared joy.
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In this episode of Around the School Table (xuno.com.au/podcast), host Steve Davis welcomes Danni Mattiazzo, assistant principal at Larrakeyah Primary School (larrakeyahprimary.com.au) in Darwin. Recently recognised with the Australian Education Award for Best Use of Technology, Danni Mattiazzo shares how her leadership has guided the development of IntelliLearn, a locally built platform that blends artificial intelligence with evidence-based assessment. Designed to give just the right level of support, IntelliLearn helps teachers differentiate learning while empowering students to take ownership of their progress.
Throughout the discussion, Danni explains how her school integrates Bright Path to transform writing assessment into an accessible, student-friendly process. She highlights the importance of avoiding information overload, showing how carefully crafted feedback builds confidence instead of discouragement. From using data maps to track student growth to embedding collaborative “sprints” that target skill gaps, her approach demonstrates how data can be a powerful ally for teachers rather than an overwhelming burden.
The episode also explores how school culture underpins innovation. Since 2016, Larrakeyah has championed the “Four C’s”- communication, collaboration, creative learning, and critical thinking - as a foundation for preparing students for the future. Danni illustrates how these values play out daily, whether through STEM challenges that link learning to the local environment or classroom practices that push students beyond comfort zones.
This conversation offers a valuable perspective for educators navigating the balance between technology and human connection. By weaving together leadership, assessment, and culture, Danni Mattiazzo presents a clear vision of how schools in diverse, dynamic communities can embrace innovation while ensuring every child feels supported and proud of their achievements.
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In this episode of Around the School Table (xuno.com.au/podcasts), host Steve Davis is joined by Ryan Ma, assistant principal of Saltwater P–9 College, one of Australia’s fastest-growing schools. Since opening its gates in 2019 with 490 students, Saltwater has expanded to more than 2,200 learners in just six years. With families representing over 29 nationalities and 81 languages, the school is a living snapshot of modern multicultural Australia.
Ryan explains how Saltwater balances the opportunities and challenges of such rapid growth. From welcoming new families every week to ensuring academic quality across a staff of 250 teachers, the college has re-imagined what it means to create belonging on a large scale. For students, being the “new kid” is a short-lived experience; soon replaced by another arrival: fostering a culture of welcome and adaptability.
Central to Saltwater’s philosophy is the International Baccalaureate framework, with its emphasis on inquiry, student agency, and multiple perspectives. Ryan shares how this approach allows students to move beyond rote learning into deeper, critical engagement with global issues, while also leveraging the diversity of the school community itself as a learning resource.
Staff retention and collaboration are also front and centre. Instead of isolated teaching roles, Saltwater builds faculty teams that plan and problem-solve together, much like diagnostic teams in hospitals. Teachers share insights, support each other, and collectively tackle challenges.
Data plays a pivotal role too. Inspired by the film Moneyball, Ryan demonstrates how tools like Student Maps is used to track progress, support teachers, and ensure strategies are effective. Rather than relying solely on instinct, evidence helps Saltwater refine practice and maintain consistency at scale.
Looking ahead, Ryan reflects on the future of education in Point Cook and beyond. With technology transforming access to information, he argues that schools must focus on relationships, resilience, and collaboration; the skills that will define success in the twenty-first century.
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In this episode of Around the School Table (https://xuno.com.au/podcasts/), host Steve Davis is joined by Darcy Nolan, lower secondary subschool leader at Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School’s Bullengerook campus (https://wordpress.smrss.vic.edu.au/). The school is the setting for the acclaimed ABC documentary This is Going to Be Big, (https://iview.abc.net.au/show/this-is-going-to-be-big) which follows a group of neurodivergent teenagers as they take on the challenge of creating and performing an original high school musical inspired by Australian music icon John Farnham.
Darcy shares how a “yes, and” philosophy helped transform the school’s music program from the humble confines of an automotive shed into a vibrant centre-stage experience. The conversation explores the courage and creativity needed to work under national TV cameras, the importance of student voice and agency, and the remarkable outcomes that emerge when young people are trusted with authentic opportunities.
From the documentary’s origin, sparked by a student’s heartfelt declaration, “This is going to be big” - to the decision to weave John Farnham’s music through a time-travelling storyline, Darcy explains how music, drama, and history combined to empower students. He reflects on building resilience, fostering vulnerability, and adapting productions to suit the diverse needs of the school community.
The discussion also delves into working alongside parents, production crews, and dedicated teaching staff to ensure dignity and respect for all students. With practical insights on encouraging participation, building confidence, and sustaining a positive school culture, this episode offers inspiration for educators and leaders alike.
Whether you’re an education professional, a creative arts advocate, or simply curious about what’s possible when schools embrace bold projects, this conversation with Darcy Nolan is a compelling example of leadership, collaboration, and the transformative power of performance.
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In this episode of Around the School Table, host Steve Davis is joined by Jason Mustin, assistant principal at Good Shepherd Lutheran College in Palmerston, Northern Territory. Drawing from 17 years in education and an early career in medical science, Jason Mustin brings a unique blend of analytical insight and heartfelt leadership to the table.
From navigating national education policy through a Territory lens to building genuine student connection in a transient workforce, Jason shares grounded, deeply reflective perspectives on what great leadership looks like in remote Australian contexts. He discusses the importance of creating clarity amid complexity, strategies for engaging digitally native teens, and how fostering identity and resilience starts with listening, not lecturing.
The conversation explores how staff turnover is managed through shared values like “connect before content,” and how culture-building is sustained through a radically welcoming mindset. Jason also unpacks how working closely with Indigenous communities has reshaped his understanding of connection to land, and why humility and curiosity are essential in leading schools in the Territory.
This episode offers rich, real-world insights for educators looking to lead with integrity, harness change with optimism, and embrace the unique challenges and opportunities that come with teaching in remote regions. Whether you’re in a classroom, leadership role, or education policy, this discussion with Jason Mustin will leave you inspired and ready to rethink your approach to student connection and school culture.
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In this episode of Around the School Table, Ben Sacco offers a fresh perspective on classroom behaviour. Drawing from his book ‘Disruption in Schools: Understand me before you mark me!’, he challenges traditional approaches to student discipline and reframes disruption as a signal, not simply a setback. With a decade of experience in education, policy, and innovation, he blends research and real-world strategies for today’s schools.
This interview explores the three underlying causes of disruption: intentional choices, personal challenges, and survival responses. Each requires a different approach. Rather than applying blanket consequences, Ben advocates for non-intrusive accountability, responding with both empathy and structure.
Listeners will learn how to create psychologically safe classrooms that support both teachers and students. When the right conditions are in place, explicit teaching becomes far more effective. Ben explains how teachers can build these environments through relational trust, clear expectations, and connection.
The conversation also covers mobile phone bans, educational policy, and school leadership. Ben argues that policies should reflect the reality of students’ digital lives. Banning tech, he suggests, may forgo key teachable moments. Instead, he calls for guidance, boundaries, and better digital literacy education.
Principals, teachers, parents, and policymakers each have a role in creating safe, inclusive schools. From cultural shifts to clever routines like “hot chocolate mornings,” Ben shares the small, powerful changes that shape meaningful learning environments. This episode is a must for anyone invested in improving school culture and student wellbeing. Ben Sacco offers a powerful call to rethink disruption and transform it into opportunity.
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Cameron Peverett may have stumbled into special education, but his leadership journey has been anything but accidental. In this episode of Around the School Table, host Steve Davis is joined by Cameron Peverett, principal at Lake Colac School and current president of the Principal Association of Specialist Schools (PASS). From humble beginnings and unexpected opportunities to pioneering best-practice leadership, Cameron shares a refreshingly candid account of what it takes to lead in the complex, rewarding world of specialist education.
Driven by a “yes, and” mindset, Cameron reflects on how his adaptability and commitment to equity have shaped his leadership approach across several Victorian specialist schools. He explains how instructional leadership, strong school culture, and trust-building strategies combine to transform student and staff outcomes, especially in schools where disadvantage is a daily reality.
Listeners will gain insight into the systems Cameron uses to support teachers while reducing cognitive load, from evidence-based planning practices to collaborative professional learning structures. He also explores the fine balance between instructional consistency and teacher creativity, and how modelling presence—being in every classroom, every day—has helped reshape culture and trust.
This conversation also dives into the broader implications of specialist education today, including the importance of data-informed teaching, the challenge of building team trust in politically complex environments, and the rewards of student-centred leadership. Whether it’s a quiet moment in the car, kicking a footy with students, or being challenged by past pupils at McDonald’s, Cameron draws deep motivation from his school community.
Packed with practical strategies, leadership wisdom, and heart, this episode is a masterclass in purposeful, people-first leadership that gets results.
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In this episode, Kristy Miller and Suzanne Litchfield share their journey founding Turrun Primary School on a greenfield site. In this episode of Around the School Table, host Steve Davis explores how they built a school identity rooted in local Indigenous language and meaning. From day one, Principal Kristy Millerand Assistant Principal Suzanne Litchfield focused on core values—respect, care, kindness and personal best—as the heartbeat of every decision.
This audio interview covers how they handled constant change and heavy cognitive loads. They explain their innovative hiring: prioritising “good humans” over skill sets and trusting gut instincts. Discover how they navigated Australia’s teacher shortage by sticking firmly to their high standards—even if that meant non-appointments. The pair also explain why they’re transforming open-plan learning spaces into calmer, wall-based classrooms, supported by evidence on reducing cognitive overload in students.
You’ll learn how these leaders fostered a strong, culturally rich school community speaking over 20 languages. Turrun’s leadership built from the ground up ensures every student, staff member and family feel known and valued. Kristy and Suzanne also detail their ‘At Turrun Guides’—short, sharp staff resources that create consistency, clarity and a human‑first school culture.
If you’re interested in adaptability, values-driven leadership and school culture, this episode offers practical lessons. Plus, hear how Turrun Primary balances administrative rigour with intentional, daily human connection—even as the school grows. It’s an inspiring example of shaping a school’s soul from the very start.
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In this episode of Around the School Table, host Steve Davis speaks with Kendall Lange and Wendy Tregenza from North Mandurah Primary School in Western Australia. Kendall Lange, the principal, and Wendy Tregenza, leader of the school’s Specialised Learning Programs for Autism (SLP-A), share real-world strategies for supporting autistic students and fostering inclusive school communities.
Kendall Lange and Wendy Tregenza explore how schools have shifted from one-size-fits-all methods towards personalised support that embraces every student’s strengths. They offer insights into recognising invisible disabilities, setting individual education plans (IEPs), and building a culture where all students feel happy, connected, and successful.
The conversation covers the complexities of autism diagnosis, emphasising collaboration between schools, families, and medical professionals. Kendall Lange and Wendy Tregenza highlight how tools like visual timetables, break cards, and token economies help autistic students transition into mainstream classrooms. Their program focuses on guiding students to full participation, using a strength-based approach and neurodiversity-affirming strategies.
Listeners will hear how North Mandurah’s model influences broader educational practice, including reverse integration programs in high schools and sharing inclusive practices with other schools. Kendall Lange and Wendy Tregenza stress that passion and mindset matter more than specialisation when building teaching teams—creating adaptable, compassionate learning environments.
Whether you're a principal, teacher, or parent, this episode with Kendall Lange and Wendy Tregenza offers actionable advice on creating truly inclusive schools. Their experience shows that inclusion is not just about programs or policies; it’s about relationships, flexibility, and always seeing the person behind the challenge.
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In this episode of Around the School Table, host Steve Davis talks with Paul James, ICT Manager at St Ignatius College in Geelong—a school where technology is no longer confined to the IT office but woven through every aspect of school life. From cybersecurity to AI-driven classroom tools, James is helping reshape how schools operate, protect, and innovate.
As the person responsible for all things with an electric current—from audiovisual systems to network security—James explains how artificial intelligence is creating safer, smarter learning environments. Using tools like Darktrace, the school’s network learns to recognise normal behaviour and can detect threats in real time, reducing manual monitoring and freeing up valuable time.
But AI isn’t just bolstering security. James and his team are experimenting with AI platforms like Cursor and ChatGPT to solve real operational challenges. From automating learning management tasks to developing user-friendly dashboards that help educators track assessments and reporting, these tools are transforming daily processes—allowing the IT team to focus less on troubleshooting and more on creative problem-solving.
The discussion also explores the human side of AI in schools. James reflects on how technology can be made more approachable by giving software personality, and how plain-English interfaces can help teachers and coordinators interact meaningfully with complex systems. The potential for AI to tailor student learning, personalise teacher insights, and even help with sustainability initiatives is also unpacked.
Beyond the immediate benefits, James raises thoughtful questions about AI’s role in education equity. While the tools are widely accessible, the impact will depend on school leadership, culture, and community engagement.
This conversation is a compelling look at how AI, used thoughtfully, can enhance—not replace—human connection, creativity, and care in our schools.
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In this episode of Around the School Table, host Steve Davis speaks with Anthony Rowe, principal of Huntingdale Primary School in Melbourne — a pioneering bilingual school where students navigate their learning in both English and Japanese from their very first day. With half the curriculum delivered in Japanese, including subjects like mathematics—the school challenges traditional education models and is achieving remarkable academic outcomes. Rowe explains that far from being a barrier, bilingual education enhances student capability, building resilience and cognitive flexibility. Mathematics, often described as a language in itself, proved the ideal entry point for the school’s 50/50 bilingual programme. The results speak for themselves: Huntingdale’s mathematics outcomes significantly outperform similar schools across Victoria, a testament to both pedagogy and perseverance. Beyond the numbers, Huntingdale fosters cultural fluency and global citizenship. With students from over 40 cultural backgrounds, the school community embraces traditions such as the Japanese Undōkai sports day, classroom rituals like bowing, and artistic exploration of Japanese masters like Yayoi Kusama and Hokusai. These daily experiences cultivate curiosity, respect, and connection. The discussion also touches on the challenges of integrating students who join in later years without Japanese language foundations, and how the school’s robust support structures—including tailored learning plans and dedicated language support—help bridge the gap. Rowe reflects on leading a bilingual teaching team, the cultural nuances that shape collaboration, and the importance of aligning language programmes with local community needs and secondary pathways. For Huntingdale graduates, bilingualism isn’t just an academic asset—it’s a springboard to future studies, global careers, and enriched worldviews. This episode is a fascinating exploration of how language, culture, and education can combine to create more than just dual fluency—they can create confident, adaptable learners ready for a complex world.
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In this episode of Around the School Table, host Steve Davis talks with Craig Ainsworth from Westport Public School about how a modest chess program in a low socio-economic school achieved elite educational outcomes over 18 years. Far from just a lunchtime club, Craig’s program developed students’ physical control, emotional intelligence, intellectual stamina, and creative thinking—all through the game of chess. Ainsworth shares that success wasn’t about innate giftedness, but about effort and process. Using a structured approach—such as the KM-PPS framework (King safety, Material, Pawn structure, Position, Space)—students learned to handle pressure, make strategic decisions, and apply consistent critical thinking under stress. Chess became more than a game; it was a vehicle for building resilience and a growth mindset. The program had broad academic impacts, boosting students’ performance in both maths and literacy. Notably, it also shattered stereotypes: many of the top players were athletic or quiet students who, through chess, discovered untapped cognitive strengths. Craig emphasises that coaching was not passive—it required active engagement, questioning students about their decisions, and creating an environment where learning was mutual. A key to the program’s longevity was its self-sustaining culture of mentoring. Elite players trained the next cohort, creating a legacy of peer-led excellence. Even though the program paused when Craig left in 2018, its ripple effects are seen in students now pursuing high-level studies and careers. When asked why chess still matters in the age of AI, Craig affirms that machines can analyse but not create. It’s human creativity, developed through tools like chess, that remains irreplaceable. This episode is a testament to how traditional games, paired with intentional teaching, can unlock transformative educational experiences—especially in places where they’re least expected.
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In this episode of Around the School Table, host Steve Davis speaks with Nikki Bonus, founder of Life Skills Group and the digital platform Life Skills Go. The conversation dives deep into the intersection of emotional intelligence, student well-being, and readiness to learn—arguing that emotional regulation is foundational to academic success. Bonus explains how Life Skills Go serves as a “student-facing technology for good” by helping children identify and manage their emotions daily. Drawing on neuroscience and trauma-informed practices, the platform provides real-time data on students’ emotional states, offering teachers actionable insights without disrupting classroom learning. One example: a quick morning check-in reveals if a student is emotionally regulated and ready to learn. If not, teachers are equipped to engage with empathy rather than discipline. Central to the platform’s philosophy is the understanding that emotions aren't good or bad—they’re data. Recognising, normalising, and validating feelings like anger or worry builds self-awareness and trust. As Bonus explains, being seen—truly seen—can make all the difference in a child’s day, improving engagement and creating a sense of belonging. The discussion also touches on National Check-In Week, a post-COVID initiative that revealed how many students mask distress. Bonus argues for cultural change within schools: data on student well-being should be as critical as academic metrics. Real-world examples show how unnoticed emotional patterns can surface through data, leading to early intervention and support. The episode ends with a call to action: rather than waiting for policy shifts, schools should act now using the tools and research available. Bonus’ message is clear—emotional literacy isn’t a luxury; it’s essential for learning, and schools have the power to transform lives by prioritising it.
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In this episode of Around the School Table, host Steve Davis visits Leigh Johnson, principal of Harkaway Primary School—a small, 150-year-old school nestled in Victoria’s scenic hills. Despite its modest size and absence from the national spotlight, Harkaway has gained international recognition for its innovative, student-centred approach to education, especially around resilience and disaster preparedness. Johnson describes Harkaway’s unique charm, rooted in deep community ties and aesthetic appeal. Many families bypass other schools to enroll there, drawn by its relational culture and meaningful learning experiences. The school’s educational philosophy is anchored in a "child-centred disaster risk reduction" manifesto developed collaboratively with students and experts. Its four pillars are: involving children in learning about risks, dismantling outdated myths, connecting students with real-world experts, and empowering them to teach peers. The school’s learning environment encourages action-based education. From participating in water quality monitoring with River Detectives to co-designing a climate education game with Indonesian schools, students engage as scientists and global citizens—not just learners. Harkaway also embraces the idea of "failing successfully." Inspired by Finland’s National Day for Failure, the school celebrates mistakes as part of the learning process, helping build student resilience and normalise the iterative nature of discovery. Johnson emphasises the value of understanding individual learners and acting on that knowledge—a principle he believes any school can adopt. The episode is a compelling portrait of how a small, rural school is pioneering meaningful, globally connected education rooted in empathy, inquiry, and agency.
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Strategikon is back in 2023 and we are kicking off the year with Round 5 of the Hyper Realist Bombs series. Our good friend Rhoderick Miller returns to the podcast to discuss the latest developments from the Russia / Ukraine conflict, from his hyper realist perspective.
John, David and Rhoderick discuss the present state of the Russian military, including whether it’s military production is struggling to keep up with the demands of the conflict, as well as the current situation in the eastern Ukraine city of Bakhmut and Russia's likely next step.
They also analyse the current and future trends of the post - covid global economy, as many countries attempt to fill a manufacturing void left by China.
This podcast is produced by Michael Migali for SAGE International Australia.
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This week I talk about a feasibility cohort study which sought to determine whether a larger cohort study addressing this question would be feasible. Listen to hear some interesting preliminary findings.
Merza, E.Y., Pearson, S.J., Mallows, A.J. and Malliaras, P., 2023. The relationship between psychological, cognitive, and contextual factors and rehabilitation outcomes in Achilles tendinopathy: A prospective feasibility cohort study. Physical Therapy in Sport.
Mallows, A., Jackson, J., Littlewood, C. and Debenham, J., 2020. The association of working alliance, outcome expectation, adherence and self‐efficacy with clinical outcomes for Achilles tendinopathy: A feasibility cohort study (the MAP study). Musculoskeletal Care, 18(2), pp.169-176.
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We have known for a while that type of exercise intervention (e.g. intensity, frequency, etc) does not seem to influence self-reported outcomes such as pain. Maybe all the benefits from exercise are explained by non-specific effects, or maybe exercise has benefits that do not depend on the type of exercise.
In this episode, I discuss 3 studies that look into (at least partly) other benefits that we may see at the level of the muscle and tendon from higher-load exercise interventions.
References:
Radovanović, G., Kunz, J., Bohm, S., Arampatzis, A. and Legerlotz, K., 2021. Reliable and effective novel home-based training set-up for application of an evidence-based high-loading stimulus to improve triceps surae function. Journal of Sports Sciences, 39(24), pp.2786-2795.
Radovanović, G., Bohm, S., Peper, K.K., Arampatzis, A. and Legerlotz, K., 2022. Evidence-Based High-Loading Tendon Exercise for 12 Weeks Leads to Increased Tendon Stiffness and Cross-Sectional Area in Achilles Tendinopathy: A Controlled Clinical Trial. Sports Medicine-Open, 8(1), pp.1-19.
Radovanović, G., Bohm, S., Arampatzis, A. and Legerlotz, K., 2023. In Achilles Tendinopathy the Symptomatic Tendon Differs from the Asymptomatic Tendon While Exercise Therapy Has Little Effect on Asymmetries—An Ancillary Analysis of Data from a Controlled Clinical Trial. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(3),
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This week, I had an engaging conversation with Anthony Nasser, an up-and-coming researcher on tendinopathy who recently completed his PhD on proximal hamstring tendinopathy. Our discussion covered the reasons for the lack of research attention towards this condition, the current state of evidence, and insights from his doctoral studies. You can find the full conversation here.
Here are Anthony's related publications:
Nasser, A.M., Pizzari, T., Grimaldi, A., Vicenzino, B., Rio, E. and Semciw, A.I., 2021. Proximal hamstring tendinopathy; expert physiotherapists’ perspectives on diagnosis, management and prevention. Physical Therapy in Sport, 48, pp.67-75.
Nasser, A.M., Vicenzino, B., Grimaldi, A., Anderson, J. and Semciw, A.I., 2021. Proximal hamstring tendinopathy: a systematic review of interventions. International journal of sports physical therapy, 16(2), p.288.
Nasser, A., Semciw, A., Grimaldi, A., Rio, E., Pizzari, T. and Vicenzino, B., 2022. Core outcome set development for proximal hamstring tendinopathy (COS-PHT): a study protocol. Physical Therapy Reviews, 27(4), pp.313-319.
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Palpation can be useful for the diagnosis and assessment of tendinopathy, but there are limits. This is because non-painful tendons can be tender, and tenderness in painful tendons seems to be very slow to get better.
Link to Evidence for Improvement in Local but not Diffuse Pressure Pain Thresholds Following Physical Therapist Interventions for Tendinopathy: A Systematic Review
Link to Reproducibility and clinical utility of tendon palpation to detect patellar tendinopathy in young basketball players
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Interesting perspective paper from Arampatzis et al talking about how we should consider tuning of muscle tendon unit in terms of muscle strength and tendon stiffness when considering training for specific groups.
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Watching David's career change over the course of this podcast can be a little perplexing. It might seem that a philosophy-trained academic wouldn't be that interested in marketing and communications, but these areas aren't as disjointed as they may seem. Tim and David discuss their love for communicating and how their academic interests have led to their professional pathways.
If you have any thoughts or questions on how to flourish and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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This talking tendons episode will discuss a study by Igor Sancho, PhD, assessing Achilles forces during common rehab exercises and habitual activities and how this relates to reported pain among runners. Some interesting implications for practice.
Achilles tendon forces and pain during common rehabilitation exercises in male runners with Achilles tendinopathy. A laboratory study
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At the end of 2022, David Finished his master's thesis with a High Distinction. David wrote a relatively comprehensive analysis of Inbound Marketing for his Master of Strategic Communications and pitched his writing for a professional audience while still achieving academic success. Tim and David discuss David's findings where he blended academic evidence with the professional application. This is an easy-to-understand but comprehensive introduction to inbound marketing, and David provides a reading list for you to dig deeper into what the future of marketing and sales looks like.
If you have any thoughts or questions on how to flourish and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Ever wonder what makes a mind? Philosophers have asked this question for millennia and don't have much concrete evidence to show for it. Tim asks David for his current thoughts and it turns out we now know a lot more about our brains. David can paint an interesting picture of what our conscious thoughts consist of, and why we have them.
If you have any thoughts or questions on how to flourish and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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David has been getting asked a lot about the plans to merge the University of Adelaide with the University of South Australia. This podcast discusses the possible negatives and the likely positives of the merger, giving a perspective the staff and university management will never admit or fail to see. There's a lot to look forward to if this merger succeeds and it's looking more likely than ever before.
If you have any thoughts or questions on how to flourish and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
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Friend of the podcast Rhoderick Miller is back on Strategikon and we find out what Rhoderick’s Hyper – Realist perspective has to say about the Russia / Ukraine conflict, 10 months after it began.
John and David also offer their predictions on whether Putin or Zelenskyy will come out of the war in a better position, before discussing the chances of Germany being able to right it’s economy despite it’s energy dependency on Russia.
Finally, with 2023 set to be characterized by food and energy insecurities, John, David and Rhoderick discuss how well the European Union and African states will be able to withstand the crises.
This podcast is produced by Michael Migali for SAGE International Australia
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In this episode, I am discussing kinesiophobia in the context of tendon rehab and how rehab can be conceptualised as graded exposure for some people.
References
1) Physiotherapy management of Achilles tendinopathy
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In this episode, I talk about load test pain assessment and how this can also be used to assess kinesiophobia and movement apprehension.
References
1) Physiotherapy management of Achilles tendinopathy: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36274038/
2) Kinesiophobia Severity Categories and Clinically Meaningful Symptom Change in Persons With Achilles Tendinopathy in a Cross-Sectional Study: Implications for Assessment and Willingness to Exercise: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35295417/
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Rutger Bregman says you are a decent kind human being. We agree.
Humankind deserves more credit, and in this episode Luke helps us reflect on the many reasons why and what that looks like in practice. If you want to harness more positivity and more connection to others, things that are essential to flourishing, we have some insight into starting.
While individuals and organisations are paralysed by the fear of things going wrong, what can be done to reduce collateral when problems inevitably arise? As Tim and David recommend books from time to time, when a new Stan McChrystal book comes out, we have to review it, and returning guest Luke brings lived experience to the discussion.
If you have any thoughts, or questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
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In this episode of Strategikon, John speaks with intelligence analyst and former British Royal Navy Officer CDRE Patrick J. Tyrrell OBE RN (RET’D), about the recent political and monarchical changes occurring within the UK.
Patrick discusses how King Charles III has been settling in and whether the monarch should have skipped a generation, as well as the functional role which the Royal Family plays within UK and Commonwealth civics.
Lizz Truss has also taken over the conservative party leadership from Boris Johnson and has inherited some major strategic problems, including the war in Ukraine, growing inflation and a coming food crisis. Patrick gives his take on how PM Truss will tackle the problems facing the country, while also taking a broader look at the issues which many liberal democracies are currently having to contend with.
This Podcast is Produced by Michael Migali for SAGE International Australia.
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While individuals and organisations are paralysed by the fear of things going wrong, what can be done to reduce collateral when problems inevitably arise? As Tim and David recommend books from time to time, when a new Stan McChrystal book comes out, we have to review it, and returning guest Luke brings lived experience to the discussion.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
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Following a deeply chaotic and introspective year, Tim comes to David with some revelations about his direction in life. David provides insights from his own metamorphosis and explains why we get hung up on incompatible representations of self. This concludes a mini-series on finding your way which included insights into the serendipity of unwelcome life changes, and a discussion about quarter-life crises.
This podcast draws inspiration from David's Blog; Why do Millennials experience quarter-life crises?
TELEPHONE COUNSELLING - IF YOU NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE, CALL:
- Lifeline on 13 11 14
- Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
- MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
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- Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36
- Headspace on 1800 650 890
- QLife on 1800 184 527
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
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John is joined by the editor of Australian Foreign Affairs Magazine, Jonathan Pearlman, for a discussion about how Australia’s new Albanese government will approach foreign policy.
They discuss the current status of The Quad, with a focus on India’s curious position within the group. How does the rising South Asian power’s tradition of non-alignment affect The Quad’s progress and furthermore, could India’s poor human rights record affect the group’s cohesion?
Jonathan also explains how Australia’s historically rigid approach to foreign policy and diplomacy, must become more adaptable amid the shifting power dynamics within the Asia-Pacific region.
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Following a frank conversation about quarter-life crises, Tim draws inspiration from the serendipity of unwelcome life changes. David gives insightful anecdotes to assist Tim in coming to terms with his new career trajectory, noting that there are actionable reflections to change perspectives and that this new chapter is not only defined by loss. This is a dialogue that explores the process of finding a path and making oneself and self-actualising despite the challenges of modern living.
This podcast draws inspiration from David's Blog; Why do Millennials experience quarter-life crises?
TELEPHONE COUNSELLING - IF YOU NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE, CALL:
- Lifeline on 13 11 14
- Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
- MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
- Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
- Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36
- Headspace on 1800 650 890
- QLife on 1800 184 527
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
If you're a keen follower of the podcast, you may have read David's blogs available on his website; https://davidolney.com.au/. David is an excellent writer, and you even be left wanting more of his writing than is currently available. Well, David has good news for you in this announcement, and it is your job to keep him accountable!
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
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When you think of shortcuts, what comes to mind? Cheating? Or the premise of working smarter, not harder? Tim and David stumbled on a fascinating book by Oxford Professor of Mathematics Marcus du Sautoy called "Thinking Better: The Art of the Shortcut" which provides insight into the practice of using and finding shortcuts. In this episode David and Tim reminisce with Marcus about how Mathematics became a daunting subject they disconnected from for various reasons. But Marcus proves that mathematics is a wonderful thinking language and provides the shortcuts to get excited about it.
You can find more of Marcus's work in mathematics here, and follow his newest book on bookshelves and Audible.
This episode references the AI Agents Podcast featuring Marcus talking about his previous book The Creativity Code.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
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We have some fantastic fans who email us or on this special occasion, send us a gift! Scott Murphy who reached out to us via email and then spoke to us on this podcast later sent us a rather unique and special present that has earned its rightful place in the studio!
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
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In this episode of Strategikon, John and David break down a recent book from geopolitical analyst Peter Zeihan, called The End of the World is Just the Beginning: Mapping the end of globalization.
Zeihan predicts the unraveling of globalization as we currently know it, to a world where states / regions will have to secure their own access to food, energy and security whilst simultaneously managing climate change and aging populations.
After analyzing the validity of Zeihan’s thesis, John and David map out what this dark reality means for Australia’s future and how key regional relationships will play a major role in helping our region evade catastrophe.
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In a frank conversation between Tim and David, Tim explains his struggles in 2022, while David offers firm advice and explanations that broadly apply to all people experiencing the diminishing returns of hard work in the 21st century. The decline of what Australians call "the fair go" is a conversation that few are willing to have, because it is confronting to reflect on the world around you getting worse, and the rising depressions that accompany this trajectory.
This podcast draws inspiration from David's Blog; Why do Millennials experience quarter-life crises?
Books mentioned in this episode: The Depths, Lost Connections, and The Captive Mind.
TELEPHONE COUNSELLING - IF YOU NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE, CALL:
- Lifeline on 13 11 14
- Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
- MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
- Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
- Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36
- Headspace on 1800 650 890
- QLife on 1800 184 527
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When veterans return to civilian life, the adjustment is immense, and the journey that people take from a life in the military to forging their own path in the civilian world is fascinating.
Jon Duncan is a fantastic example of someone who has chosen positive growth, as well as being a wonderful guest on the show, and as such we will be dedicating a small series to his life and work, so stay tuned for future appearances. This is the second part of Jon Duncan's Story, to listen to the other parts of his story, please follow the links below:
Listen to Part I.
Listen to Part IV.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
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This is an interesting study from the Delaware tendinopathy group among others investigating a host of structural, tissue property, functional and pain factors that may persist among people with Achilles tendinopathy making a return to running. Provides guidance to clinicians about potential impairments to consider assessing.
Here's the link to the study:
Corrigan, P., Hornsby, S., Pohlig, R.T., Willy, R.W., Cortes, D.H. and Silbernagel, K.G., 2022. Tendon loading in runners with Achilles tendinopathy: Relations to pain, structure, and function during return‐to‐sport. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports.
Here's the link to my upcoming course series in the UK in Sept:
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/mastering-lower-limb-tendinopathy-uk-sept-2022-670009
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To celebrate the release of their newest album, Tim and David speak to the frontman of Adelaide based, The Violets, to uncover what it is like to come back to a passion project after years of hibernation. Matt discusses the changes in the music industry today, the story of how the band reformed and uncovers some truths about how musicians tick. This episode features the first and final songs from The Violet's New Album, including "Sideways" to begin, and "Here I Am" to finish. The new album details can be found below:
From the day they first formed in Adelaide, Australia back in 1990, The Violets were an enigma. Created from a fusion of shimmering guitar lines, sonic abstraction and an almost cinematic vision, they smashed together light and dark and made beautiful agony dance cheek-to-cheek with pretty mystery. 2022 sees The Violets continue their idiosyncratic brand of alt-rock adventure, with a new album. Smoke, Mirrors & other half-truths is another mysterious and adventurous chapter. It brings the sound of The Violets into the 21st century.
Facebook: @TheViolets OFFICIAL Youtube: The Violets Australia IG: TheVioletsAustralia
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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In this episode I talk about three qualitative studies that aim to understand the patient perspective and patient motivations in Achilles tendinopathy. I find this work really helps clinicians to understand what patients are gong through so we are able to be empathic and help them. Hope you enjoy!
Here's a link to courses in the UK:
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/mastering-lower-limb-tendinopathy-uk-sept-2022-670009
Here are the studies:
Turner, J., Malliaras, P., Goulis, J. and Mc Auliffe, S., 2020. “It's disappointing and it's pretty frustrating, because it feels like it's something that will never go away.” A qualitative study exploring individuals’ beliefs and experiences of Achilles tendinopathy. PloS one, 15(5), p.e0233459.
Mc Auliffe, S., Synott, A., Casey, H., Mc Creesh, K., Purtill, H. and O'Sullivan, K., 2017. Beyond the tendon: experiences and perceptions of people with persistent Achilles tendinopathy. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 29, pp.108-114.
Mallows, A., Head, J., Goom, T., Malliaras, P., O'Neill, S. and Smith, B., 2021. Patient perspectives on participation in exercise-based rehabilitation for Achilles tendinopathy: A qualitative study. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 56, p.102450.
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We're back listeners, and with a small insight into our absence we bring you a meditation on being tired, or in Tim's case, stressed. David offers sound methods and micro-actions to assist in the battles against overwhelm. Rather ironically, Tim hasn't adhered to this advice and thus there's been a dearth of episodes of late, but we are back with a vengeance!
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
If you have any drink suggestions or have a great idea for a spirited conversation, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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This paper is more than 30 years old but it is a beauty. Farley et al talk about human preferred hopping frequency and how it relates to metabolic cost and how fast muscles are contracting, and also how our instructions can influence how well people hop (and the mechanisms that drive this). Important to consider hopping instruction when assessing submaximal hopping in the clinic.
Here's a link to the paper
Farley, C.T., Blickhan, R., Saito, J. and Taylor, C.R., 1991. Hopping frequency in humans: a test of how springs set stride frequency in bouncing gaits. Journal of applied physiology, 71(6), pp.2127-2132.
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There is so much debate about the use of steroids for tendinopathy. Opinions vary between 'you should never use steroid as will lead to recurrence, worse pain or rupture' to 'it's fine, do as much steroid as you like'. Opinions dominate as we have limited data. Until now. This is the first trial looking at 2 year outcome for exercise +/- steroid for Achilles tendinopathy. Interesting findings!
Here's the link to the study:
Johannsen, F., Olesen, J.L., Øhlenschläger, T.F., Lundgaard-Nielsen, M., Cullum, C.K., Jakobsen, A.S., Rathleff, M.S., Magnusson, P.S. and Kjær, M., 2022. Effect of Ultrasonography-Guided Corticosteroid Injection vs Placebo Added to Exercise Therapy for Achilles Tendinopathy: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Network Open, 5(7), pp.e2219661-e2219661.
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This podcast was recorded prior to Ukraine vacating from Luhansk
John and David are joined once again by friend of the podcast Rhoderick Miller, who offers an update on the Russia/Ukraine war through the lens of his contrarian, hyper-realist perspective.
They discuss why the Western European allies seem to have pulled back their supply of weapons to Ukraine, as well as how the military equipment supplied by the United States might match up against Russia’s on their home turf.
Additionally, how is Russia managing being involved in operations across the globe, including locations as far away as Central and South America, while being involved in a major conflict?
Finally, what are the prospects for food and energy shortages returning to normal levels in the near future?
This Podcast is Produced by Michael Migali for SAGE International Australia.
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This is a new and lovely to read randomised trial comparing pain science education (including lots of good biopsychosocial info) versus placebo education for Achilles tendinopathy. Some interesting findings and potential avenues for further study. Definitely worth a listen and read.
Here is a link to the actual paper:
https://journals.lww.com/pain/Abstract/9900/The_effects_of_pain_science_education_plus.122.aspx
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This is a new study from my PhD student, Igor Sancho. He looks at strength, psychological and other factors that may be different between health runners and runners with Achilles tendinopathy. Seated calf raise 6RM seems to be the strongest predictor of having Achilles tendinopathy. Some interesting other findings and clinical implications.
Here is a link to this paper, and Igor's other PhD papers: Sancho, I., Morrissey, D., Willy, R.W., Tayfur, A., Lascurain-Aguirrebeña, I., Barton, C. and Malliaras, P., 2022. Recreational runners with Achilles tendinopathy have clinically detectable impairments: A case-control study. Physical Therapy in Sport, 55, pp.241-247. Sancho, I., Malliaras, P., Barton, C., Willy, R.W. and Morrissey, D., 2019. Biomechanical alterations in individuals with Achilles tendinopathy during running and hopping: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Gait & posture, 73, pp.189-201. Sancho, I., Morrissey, D., Willy, R.W., Barton, C. and Malliaras, P., 2019. Education and exercise supplemented by a pain-guided hopping intervention for male recreational runners with midportion Achilles tendinopathy: a single cohort feasibility study. Physical Therapy in Sport, 40, pp.107-116.
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In light of the recent meeting of 'The Quad' nations India, Japan, US and Australia, we are joined by Emeritus Professor Purnendra Jain, from the Department of Asian Studies at the University of Adelaide, who offers a timely analysis regarding India's delicate tightrope walk in keeping ongoing Russia and US relations from cancelling eachother out.
Professor Jain delves into the nature of Indian foreign policy and their long standing relationship with Russia, as well as how the relationship adds to the complexity of alliance formation in the Indo - Pacific regarding the Taiwan issue.
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On this episode I focus on a new study from my PhD student Eman Merza. It is a cross-over randomised trial testing the effect of high and low contraction time and high and low intensity isometric contractions on acute changes to tendon volume and stiffness. Some very interesting potential insights for tendon adaptation. Good work, Eman!
Hope you enjoy.
Peter
Here is a link to the study (open access for a few weeks):
https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/225/10/jeb243741/275395
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Had a lovely chat with Shawn Hanlon who is a PhD candidate about his relatively new paper exploring patient features and clinical characteristics and how they may define certain subgroups of Achilles tendinopathy . Lots more to learn in this field and this is early work, but we discuss some of the juicy potential clinical implications.
Hope you enjoy!
And here is the link to the paper and also the
1/ Hanlon, S.L., Pohlig, R.T. and Silbernagel, K.G., 2021. Beyond the diagnosis: Using patient characteristics and domains of tendon health to identify latent subgroups of Achilles tendinopathy. journal of orthopaedic & sports physical therapy, 51(9), pp.440-448.
2/ And this is the bumper issue of JOSPT from 2015 that is all about tendinopathy: journal of orthopaedic & sports physical therapy, 45(11)
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Arthur Saniotis and Maciej Henneberg are David's colleagues from his days at the University of Adelaide and are Biological Anthropologists who have published extremely interesting research on what they term "endomyccorhizae ligand interface", or ‘ELI’ for short. David and Tim got to replicate the kinds of interesting discussions David has had many times in their old office, and discovered the incredible power of this prospective technology.
Articles mentioned in this podcast: Integration of Nanobots Into Neural Circuits As a Future Therapy for Treating Neurodegenerative Disorders. Neurosurgical robots and ethical challenges to medicine. Medicorobots’ As an Emerging Biopower: How COVID-19 Has Accelerated Artificial Intelligence in A Post Corona-World. Feasibility of Nano-based Neuroprosthetics in Neurosurgery.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
If you have any drink suggestions or have a great idea for a spirited conversation, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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There is lots of debate about the pain mechanisms, particularly if there are central changes, in Achilles and other tendinopathies. Most studies in the literature use proxy measures of central sensitisation like pressure pain threshold away from the painful site, Other measures like conditioned pain modulation have been investigated less frequently. In this episode of talking tendons I discuss a huge new study investigating CPM in Achilles tendinopathy with some interesting findings and implications.
Hope you enjoy!
Here is the link to the study:
Mkumbuzi, N.S., Mafu, T.S., September, A.V., Posthumus, M. and Collins, M., 2021. Conditioned pain modulation is not altered in recreational athletes with Achilles tendinopathy. Translational Sports Medicine, 4(1), pp.147-153.
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This is one of my favourite narrative expert reviews that discusses the benefits of human biologic springs like the Achilles tendon. These benefits can be summarised as follows: Metabolic energy conservation Amplification of muscle power output Attenuation of muscle power input
Some really interesting mechanisms and insights for rehabilitation . I hope you enjoy!
Here is the link to the study:
Roberts, T.J. and Azizi, E., 2011. Flexible mechanisms: the diverse roles of biological springs in vertebrate movement. Journal of experimental biology, 214(3), pp.353-361.
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I had a great time talking Gluteal tendinopathy with Chris Clifford. Chris is an experienced clinician from Glasgow who is in the throws of completing his PhD on this condition. We chatted about rehab, the use of isometrics, difficult patient groups and how to navigate them, and much more.
I hope you enjoy!
Here is 2 related publications from Chris' PhD:
1/ Clifford, C., Paul, L., Syme, G. and Millar, N.L., 2019. Isometric versus isotonic exercise for greater trochanteric pain syndrome: a randomised controlled pilot study. BMJ open sport & exercise medicine, 5(1), p.e000558.
2/ Clifford, C., Challoumas, D., Paul, L., Syme, G. and Millar, N.L., 2020. Effectiveness of isometric exercise in the management of tendinopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials. BMJ open sport & exercise medicine, 6(1), p.e000760.
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Patients often ask about dietary supplements and if they may be helpful in recovering from a tendinopathy problem. There is a new systematic review out which has attempted to answer this question and it is the subject of this episode of talking tendons.
I hope you enjoy.
Here is the reference
Qiu, F., Li, J. and Legerlotz, K., 2022. Does Additional Dietary Supplementation Improve Physiotherapeutic Treatment Outcome in Tendinopathy? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of clinical medicine, 11(6), p.1666.
And links to upcoming Mastering Lower Limb Tendinopathy course in Australia
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/mastering-lower-limb-tendinopathy-live-australia-211689
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Will midportion Achilles pain improve if you wait and see? This is often a really important question to discuss with patients. Luckily we have some evidence to answer it which I explore in this short podcast (9 minutes). Hope you enjoy.
Here are the related studies
1/ Horstmann, T., Jud, H.M., Fröhlich, V., Mündermann, A. and Grau, S., 2013. Whole-body vibration versus eccentric training or a wait-and-see approach for chronic Achilles tendinopathy: a randomized clinical trial. journal of orthopaedic & sports physical therapy, 43(11), pp.794-803.
2/ Rompe, J.D., Nafe, B., Furia, J.P. and Maffulli, N., 2007. Eccentric loading, shock-wave treatment, or a wait-and-see policy for tendinopathy of the main body of tendo Achillis: a randomized controlled trial. The American journal of sports medicine, 35(3), pp.374-383.
3/ de Vos, R.J., van der Vlist, A.C., Zwerver, J., Meuffels, D.E., Smithuis, F., van Ingen, R., van der Giesen, F., Visser, E., Balemans, A., Pols, M. and Veen, N., 2021. Dutch multidisciplinary guideline on Achilles tendinopathy. British journal of sports medicine, 55(20), pp.1125-1134.
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Rhoderick Miller is back. This time, Rhoderick offers his Hyper-Realist perspective on how China has responded to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and whether the conflict could inspire a People’s Liberation Army invasion of Taiwan.
Is it the right time for China to realize their decades-long ambition of claiming Taiwan, or is China facing too much internal insecurity to concern itself with large-scale invasion?
Furthermore, why has Australia’s response to the growing insecurity in the Indo-Pacific region been so inadequate, and what should Canberra be doing instead?
This Podcast is Produced by Michael Migali for SAGE International Australia.
Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dan Tyre from HubSpot joins David and Tim to discuss effective communication and the rise of Inbound Marketing.
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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David reflects on what has been described as a landslide election in ousting the existing Liberal government led by Steven Marshall, in favour of a new Labor government led by Peter Malinauskas.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
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Rhoderick Miller, an old friend of John and David, joins the podcast to break down the escalating war in Ukraine. Rhoderick offers a unique and contrarian analysis of what exactly is happening on the ground and what outcomes we can expect in the coming weeks.
Mainstream media narratives are depicting a surprisingly robust Ukrainian fighting force, making life unexpectedly difficult for the Russians. Additionally, the Western world have hit Russia with "crippling" sanctions and widespread corporate boycotting, making it seem like Putin's war has severely backfired.
Are the current media narratives a fairly accurate reflection of reality? Or is Russia’s war machine actually in a much stronger position than it seems?
This Podcast is Produced by Michael Migali for Co-host David Olney, and John Bruni, Director of SAGE International Australia.
Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What is happening to Ukraine, why is Russia exercising power through violence, and how can the world respond to maniacal bullies? As a follow-up to David Olney's Blog post on the 28th February 2022, Tim and David sat down to record some further reflections and commentary to gain help make sense of Russia's intentions in the future.
You can read David's Glod here.
David suggests some further reading with this video and this book.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
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David and Tim are joined by Stormie Andrews to discuss how The World’s Best Buyer Persona System can be used to identify and connect with your audience.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
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After Tim's bucks show in 2021, David and Tim were interested in the dynamics of mostly female audiences for burlesque. Unsure of what to make of this, an expert was needed to dissect what burlesque means, how it differs from stripping, and where this seeming resurgence has come from. Tim and David are graced with the presence of miss Burlesque South Australia 2014, Miss Burlesque Australia Miss Pin Up 2014, and Miss Burlesque Adelaide 2013, Miss Nona Mona, to discuss these ideas and her career.
You can also find Miss Nona's new fringe comedy/burlesque show here.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
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Here is my recent chat with Dr Ruth Chimenti about Achilles tendinopathy
We touched on some interesting topics, including Kinesiophobia and whether it changes with treatment Pain education for tendinopathy - what should it involve? does it work? Patient centred rehabilitation
Here is a link to some brand new trial data from Ruth's lab - she tested efficacy of pain education which is novel for Achilles tendinopathy.
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT04059146
And here is a link to the protocol paper:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33141102/
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With the resurgence of tabletop gaming, a phrase that may be unfamiliar, or even have unnerving connotations to some, what can we learn from this cultural practice? It turns out, as a microcosm for real growth, there's a lot to learn, and it truly is for everyone. David and Tim bring in special guests and DnD veterans Tom and Peter to discuss some of the intricacies and attractions to Dungeons and Dragons among other role-playing games.
We also hear special cameos from Courtney Starling, Kate Ross, and Jade Whiffen. Thank you for sending in the audio for this episode.
You can follow Peter's artistry and painting @pact.artwork
You can find Tom's work with websites at http://tombuzz.com/
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Since the surprise Capture of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and Russia’s active support of pro-Russian separatists in Eastern Ukraine, Ukraine has gone from relative obscurity to front-page news. The simmering Russian backed war in Eastern Ukraine, which began in 2014, catapulted to international infamy when in July 2014, Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over Eastern Ukraine by pro-Russian separatists operating a Russian-made book surface-to-air missile system, killing all 298 passengers and crew.
Since then, the war in the east has cost 14,000 lives with no end in sight. Late last year, Russia mobilized 100,000 troops at the Ukrainian border, this action as well as bellicose language from the Russian President regarding NATO pressing up against Russia's border has many speculating that a Russian war against Ukraine could start in the first part of 2022.
So, as we are in the first part of the 2022, are we on the precipice of the first major European war since the collapse of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, and if so, what can we do to avoid it?
This Podcast is Produced by Michael Migali for Co-host David Olney, and John Bruni, Director of SAGE International Australia.
Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/
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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Warning: Blind insights is not a medical health professional podcast. Luke sits down with Tim and David to discuss the lackluster coverage of Omicron and the availability of public health data and information. With the recommendations of our favourite medical health professionals, such as Dr. John Campbell, we distill some big takeaways for how Australia is facing up against COVID-19. Please seek your own medical advice from your doctor, we encourage you to ask about vitamin d supplementations.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
David and Tim ask what Christmas means to them in 2021, and offer some lovely thoughts for the holiday season.
From ours to yours, we wish you happy holidays and may the next year bring you the conditions for flourishing.
Listen to our Christmas Special from 2019!
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
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Tim was recently Married in 2021, to his beautiful Partner Jade. David, one of Tim's groomsmen, sat down with Tim to discuss how the day went, his own marriage to Karen, and why weddings are so impactful for not just the bride and groom, but their connected circle to witness.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In a return to formula, Tim and David sit down to discuss the mental health ramifications of COVID-19 and the increasing atomisation of society. To prevent disconnection from others we need to be proactive in checking in on each other. We want to know if you're okay because it matters to us that our community is doing well, and it should matter to you to ask that of your peers, this episode explains why.
A note around Blind Insights: We are not mental health professionals, though we'd like to talk to all of you, if you need someone, you can reach out to the following helplines: Lifeline on 13 11 14 Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978 Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36 Headspace on 1800 650 890 QLife on 1800 184 527
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We want to talk to you in real-time, so we are going to have our first Blind Insights Live! You (our audience) have excellent ideas and questions, and we like trying to provide answers. Please start thinking about what you would like to ask us at 19:00 (ACDT) Adelaide time on 1 December. Technical details will be made available soon.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
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David relies on accessibility software to get lots of things done, and today we are joined by Nathan Smith who created one of the software applications that increases David’s ability. Nathan is committed to coding to enable people to manifest their capabilities. You can find Nathan's work at Nathantech.net.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Some people become high performers, while other people help to empower them. David and Tim are joined by Scott Murphy, an Australian physiotherapist living in Ireland who does both things at once.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When veterans return to civilian life, the adjustment is immense, and the journey that people take from a life in the military to forging their own path in the civilian world is fascinating.
Jon Duncan is a fantastic example of someone who has chosen positive growth, as well as being a wonderful guest on the show, and as such we will be dedicating a small series to his life and work, so stay tuned for future appearances. This is the first story of Jon Duncan's Story, to listen to part IV (as a nod to Star Wars) please follow the link.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ian Bush has built Artist Guitars up from nothing, based on his experience in the musical instruments industry and his passion for putting exceptionally good value instruments into enthusiastic musicians’ hands.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We went into doing something very complicated with the French, building an entirely new submarine with an entirely different propulsion system. It's been seen to be too expensive and too much of a time lag, and we've come up with a complicated, but not as complicated alternative, which is dealing with allies, doing something very complex, but at least believing it's doable. Now we'll get to have a debate about whether it's actually going to happen. And it's really important that people remember this is about nuclear-powered submarines, not nuclear-armed submarines. This is a debate about how we make a platform move, not what kind of weapons we launch from it. So please audience, Remember that as much as this is confronting in new, it's very different to being a quote-unquote nuclear-armed power.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mexico is often linked in the public mind to two major issues - the global narcotics trade and illegal immigration into the United States. Of course, both are true, but there is also much more to modern Mexico. Join John, David, and Tim as they discuss Mexico, its multiple complexities, and challenges with returning guest Dr. R Evan Ellis, Research Professor of Latin American Studies, US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute.
This Podcast is Produced by Tim Whiffen of Whimsy Productions for Co-host David Olney, and John Bruni, Director of SAGE International Australia.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Life as an actor is colourful, or at least our guest Edmund's life has been. Through the years Edmund has played all kinds of roles and experienced some truly wonderful things, and with that career along came challenges. Detailed in his book "Forever Horatio" Edmund's life is a curious one and something we can all learn from, especially those looking to pursue creative careers.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
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In this episode we are joined by Richard Jacobs, the host of the Finding Genius podcast and the founder of the Finding Genius Foundation, to talk about his mission to reduce the impact of anxiety and depression. Too many people are suffering, and Richard is in the midst of doing something about it.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ethiopia entered a new age in 2018 with the election of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. No longer run by the former Tigray dominated Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), Abiy Ahmed ushered in a change to Ethiopia’s ethno-federalist structure and in doing so replaced the privileged minority Tigrayans with a new political elite consisting of the majority Oromo and Amharic peoples. In doing so, this move unleashed resentment among the former Tigrayan elite of Ethiopia which possibly lies at the heart of what seems to be a growing civil war between the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and Addis Ababa. Join John as he discusses Ethiopia and its ethnic complexities and challenges with the Director of the Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS), Dr. Yonas Adaye Adeto.
For more information on this from both sides of the story please watch - the BBC's Hard Talk:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/ncW2V_Y4jMw
https://www.youtube.com/embed/JtmXRE5kepk
This Podcast is Produced by Tim Whiffen of Whimsy Productions for Co-host David Olney, and John Bruni, Director of SAGE International Australia.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Roley Stuart is one of the Orientation and Mobility Instructors who taught David how to move around safely with a white cane while he was at primary school, and is now empowering children across South Australia as a Project Implementation Manager. Listen to former teacher and student discuss the relationship between competence and confidence, and the challenges of providing high quality education.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When veterans return to civilian life, the adjustment is immense, and the journey that people take from a life in the military to forging their own path in the civilian world is fascinating.
Jon Duncan is a fantastic example of someone who has chosen positive growth, as well as being a wonderful guest on the show, and as such we will be dedicating a small series to his life and work, so stay tuned for future appearances. This is the sequel to the upcoming prequels and as a nod to Starwars, named episode IV.
Listen to Part I.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
With speech and language dominating most of our communication, it is quite fun to ponder just how significant words can be in our lives. Steve Davis of radio and marketing fame, joins David, comms student and master wordsmith, and Tim, a loquacious student of English, to tangentially pontificate the efficacious lexicons available to specifically elicit desired outcomes in interpersonal relations. Or, in other words, three men have a prolonged chat about the wonders of speaking and writing. One may critique this description for being sesquipedalian (using for using long words unnecessarily), to which we retort by highlighting the irony of such a label.
Discover more of Steve's words through his podcast The Adelaide Show, or find his work with Talked About Marketing.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
‘Fool Me Twice’ is a podcast about diamonds. Jules and Zara were approached by a woman in Hong Kong who owns a diamond business, and had an incredibly compelling story to tell, full of twists and turns. Hearing her story, Zara became interested in diamonds themselves, and started doing some digging. This podcast follows the story of that scam, and attempts to unravel some of the shadier aspects of the diamond industry as a whole. We interview people related to the scam, a diamond miner, scam experts and individuals with their own personal diamond stories. This 8-episode true crime podcast will have you on the edge of your seat.
COMING SOON: Available on Auscast Network and all podcast platforms in July 2021.
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/36kbNmH
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3gBgOdR
Auscast Network: https://www.auscastnetwork.com/home/fool-me-twice
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In this episode I talk about a new systematic review on plantarflexor muscle impairments in Achilles tendinopathy. It is clear that the relationship is not as clear as what you might think, and there are also some very interesting insights to how plantarflexor dysfunctions may change following rehabilitation.
Link to paper
Are Plantarflexor Muscle Impairments Present Among Individuals with Achilles Tendinopathy and Do They Change with Exercise? A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis
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With the challenges facing modern democracy across various parts of the world, we can draw on modern research and understandings paired with classic theory to break down systems of power. Scott Ludlam, ex-deputy leader of the Australian greens party, and activist has done the hard work of drawing patterns in the Australian context with his new book, Full Circle. While Scott visited South Australia to talk to various active groups here, we brought him into the studio to talk about systematically taking down the capitalist entities capturing control of state affairs.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
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The Word Docs have returned! Out of the classroom and back at the mics, Amy, Alex and Sean are dissecting the fertile minds of director Lisa Harper Campbell and actor Gianluca Noble who have brought Alex’s latest play Watchlist to the stage. How do talented people turn scribbles on a page into a live event? Who does it belong to once the author has ‘died’ and the director has left the building? Why does Alex get arrested for public walking? Is it just the beard? We don’t think it’s the beard. Join us! We’re back!
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Jordan Peterson has been a formative part of this podcast's journey, gaining a significant audience in the very early days nearly 3 years ago! Whilst the first book for public consumption was well written and had excellent intellectual content, Dr. Peterson's follow-up book left us with more questions than answers. The book, "Beyond Order, 12 More Rules for Life" is an applied philosophy for a broad audience, but hasn't been met with anywhere near as much controversy as its predecessor, and arguably is less palatable. In this episode, David and Tim, along with Special Guest Peter discuss the background and consequences of the last 6 rules in the book. please see the previous episode for the first 6 rules.
Follow Dr. Jordan Peterson's work
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
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With the COVID-19 Pandemic raging its way continually through countries, savaging populations of India and South Africa, the question still on everyone's lips is "who's to blame"? With some rallying for independent investigations what seems to be apparent is that while the virus was released by accident, the following actions and containment were not handled well, and certainly there has been some opportunism by parties to gain strategic footholds during a delicate time. Joining us to discuss these pertinent issues is the Human Rights Law Professor at the University of Canberra, Sascha-Dominik Dov Bachmann.
This Podcast is Produced by Tim Whiffen of Whimsy Productions for Co-host David Olney, and John Bruni, Director of SAGE International Australia.
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Jordan Peterson has been a formative part of this podcast's journey, gaining a significant audience in the very early days nearly 3 years ago! Whilst the first book for public consumption was well written and had excellent intellectual content, Dr. Peterson's follow-up book left us with more questions than answers. The book, "Beyond Order, 12 More Rules for Life" is an applied philosophy for a broad audience, but hasn't been met with anywhere near as much controversy as its predecessor, and arguably is less palatable. In this episode, David and Tim, along with Special Guest Peter discuss the background and consequences of the first 6 rules in the book. A follow-up episode is to come!
Follow Dr. Jordan Peterson's work
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
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Three books we think could change the world; "The Deficit Myth", by Stephanie Kelton, "Doughnut Economics", by Kate Raworth, and "The Mission Economy", by Mariano Mazzucato, all describe how we can create a political vision in the 21st century. With the history of visionaries like Keynes, we're looking for the things to fight for and Jason Hickel has managed to provide it all in one succinct explanation with his book "Less is More". With the changing definitions of capitalism and the blurry words we use to describe the current state of things, Hickel is able to provide clear and solid ideas that need to change in order to start repairing the world. Steven Hail, Economist from the University of Adelaide and a regular guest of the show, joins Tim and David to discuss this fantastic book.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
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Multi-lateral frameworks have been unravelling slowly, and the dream of a unified globe along with it. With President Trump bringing multi-laterals into the limelight as a common enemy of the working people. many global powers are having to find their way in a new global era where there is much more potential. To discuss these pertinent ideas, John and David are joined by Nicholas Michelon, a 20-year veteran of Asia-Pacific business, finance & economics research. Nicolas is the founder of Asia Intelligence Advisory, an economic & strategic intelligence consulting firm based in Paris.
This Podcast is Produced by Tim Whiffen of Whimsy Productions for John Bruni, Director of SAGE International Australia.
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Since the recording of this podcast with Yossi Mekelberg, the Israelis and Palestinians are at it again with Hamas launching rockets at Tel Aviv and towards Israel's Dimona nuclear facility. While the Hamas rocket barrage has yet again failed to reach its targets, this Hamas attack has shown increasing capability and improvements in the organisation’s ability to strike deeper into Israel than before. Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system, while having destroyed most incoming Hamas rockets, was not foolproof in its defence leading to some questioning whether Iron Dome has reached its technological limits.
Credit to BBC for the introductory news update.
Professor Yossi Mekelberg joins John and David to discuss the nitty-gritty of Israel's current tensions, putting into perspective recent and ancient history, as well as predicting some of the actions Benjamin Netanyahu could or should take next.
This Podcast is Produced by Tim Whiffen of Whimsy Productions for John Bruni, Director of SAGE International Australia.
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Ever been in a group project, sports team, or in a work situation where there are too many cooks in the kitchen, or even just one over-bearing boss who takes all of your autonomy away? Well, it doesn't have to be that way, and in fact, it might not surprise you to know that those hierarchies can impede performance, and especially learning. David brings in his friend Christine Stothard who is a Ph.D. candidate writing on team learning environments drawing on some fascinating data from armed forces.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
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The CCP's assertiveness in the South China sea poses threats across all of South East Asia, but the Philippines is subject to extensive security threats. With no compromise or help in sight, what challenges does the Philippino political elite face to turn the tides in their favour? While it appears that Washington has all but forgotten the Philippines, how can regional players approach this regime in Manila? To answer some of these questions and provide insight from the ground, John and David speak with Dr. Chester Cabalza of the International Development & Security Cooperation (IDSC).
This Podcast is Produced by Tim Whiffen of Whimsy Productions for John Bruni, Director of SAGE International Australia.
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Why, when all the evidence points toward alien life, do we continue to err on the side of caution? Is admitting we have seen extraterrestrial technology too much for even astrophysicists to handle? While NASA insisted that 2017's phenomenon known as "Oumuamua" was a 'comet', Harvard Professor Avi Loeb who is famous for many pioneering discoveries, is correcting the leger. Tune in to Tim and David take a fun, but serious look into the controversy.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
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In this episode of STRATEGIKON, John, David, and special guest, Adelaide-based independent defense analyst Raspal Khosa, reflect on the "middle east" and the US operations throughout the region. With speculation of President Biden ending operations in Afghanistan throughout the media and the deadline to decide on May 1st, the Taliban has renewed relevance. President Biden has already shown his intentions throughout his vice presidency and the stakes are high for leaving. Luckily, Raspal is able to help David and John break down the political complications, explain the history of international influence and oocupation, and make educated guesses at what will happen next.
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Have you ever wondered about the Arab world and couldn't explain some of the seemingly strange things that happen there? Politically speaking, Iran is quite a foreign topic to most people, we might understand western interference and oil wars, but that's it. Derek Abbott who previously took the time to explain hydrogen to us, was curious about Iran one day and asked David to explain 'why they are how they are' - to which David gave an explanation something like what is in this podcast.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
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Over 50 years ago the human race succeeded in landing on the moon, a mission that was achieved with political willpower and plenty of resources. Today we don't have the equivalent of the moon landing mission, we aren't oriented toward much at all, and we certainly aren't getting there fast. Mariana Mazzucato's Book "The Mission Economy" describes exactly this problem, and empowers us to chose our mission for the future without the nonsense rhetoric of 'how will we pay for it' in dollars. Using real resources economies like that of Australia, the United States, or the United Kingdom have to potential to pick and achieve world-changing missions like the moon landing. Steven Hail Joins Tim and David to discuss Mariana's book and the eye-opening potential it reveals.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
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With mining magnates saying they'll convert their machinery to hydrogen, our governments are looking rather silly not realising the potential of hydrogen earlier. Especially when in 2010, one of David's dear friends from the University of Adelaide showed him an article that proved how a 'Hydrogen Economy' would work in Australia. With this information available and even private industry calling for green hydrogen, David brought Derek Abbott, a professor of engineering, to talk about his conception of a Hydrogen economy - updated for 2021. Tim and David, armed with their understanding of MMT wanted to delve into what we needed to do to start this now, and unsurprisingly it is just recognition of the need and investment in the area. We could make it happen tomorrow.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim of Whimsy Productions.
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In this episode of STRATEGIKON, John, David and Tim are inquiring into the intricacies of President Trump's second impeachment after he has left office, and the tides left in the Republican Party in 2021. Joining us from the United States to discuss these issues is Dr. Imad Harb, SIA’s Senior Non-Resident Fellow Greater Middle East & Director of Research and Analysis at the Arab Center Washington DC.
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David and Tim have been working on this podcast for 2 years, and with over 100 episodes under their belt, they thought it was time to take stock and give listeners a guide as to what they're up to, whats the podcast is going to look like, and update the schedule a bit.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Want to work with David? Get in contact on his website.
Need help with your podcast project? Ask Tim at Whimsy Productions.
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The Word Docs bare their bruised egos this week and attempt to find a balming (is that a word?) salve. Alex drags Sean and Amy into the cobwebby corners of their psyches, seeking to learn whether ego is a help or a hindrance in an artist's life. This week we'll learn about the book that broke Sean; traverse the Dark Place and the Vague Place; confront mediocrity; and try to ignore the fact that Alex's dad seems to be popping out of the wardrobe. We tackle troubling questions, such as: Is smugness perilous? What projects should we say no to? Where's the line between self-belief and delusion, or self-belief and narcissism? And is Caleb Lewis real? (Spoiler: we don't believe he's real.) Join us for an unusually serious and vulnerable episode Of Word Docs. Please...?
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Saqib Shaikh is a software engineer at Microsoft and project lead of Seeing AI, a mobile application that narrates the world. Through various technologies and 'channels' visually impaired users can navigate their surroundings or gain an augmented understanding of the world around them autonomously. David is an avid user of this application and of course a perfect test subject, and together with Tim, talk to Saqib about the inspirations and challenges of creating software that is at the bleeding edge of accessibility.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Australia faces three intersecting crises: climate change, systemic unemployment and rising inequality. What will our aspiring leaders do to create an economy that supports people and the planet? On Thursday the 28th of January 2021in The Braggs lecture theatre at the University of Adelaide, David and Tim Moderated a discussion with Independent Senator Rex Patrick, Professor Barbara Pocock (Australian Greens) and Susan Close MP of South Australian Labor. This episode is the recording of that event and especially relevant to Australia, however, the findings and overall themes apply globally; how do we move forward?
Thank you to the Sustainable Prosperity Action Group and the School of Economics at the University of Adelaide for hosting this event, as well as the guests for braving our questions.
A Message From the Future With Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Have you ever thought that a job was so pointless that no one would notice if you stopped doing it? Have you ever felt that something you were working was bullshit? Welcome to the concept from a famous essay by David Graeber, later turned into a book, called Bullshit Jobs. Unfortunately, across the developed globe, three-quarters of all jobs are in the service and admin sector where this is no clear link that any of it serves humanity in any way and a large portion of those workers are deeply dissatisfied with that reality. This work diminishes some people (but not all), but it stems from much larger societal problems than just hating work - which is what makes this study so powerful. Tim and David are joined by Jess Freund, a friend of the show, to discuss the book and the practical solutions to stop work diminishing people.
Find 'Bullshit Jobs; A Theory' by David Graeber here.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Mastery over an instrument, or any creative medium, brings great joy and satisfaction to those who dedicate the time and energy toward practise. David is in the unique position of learning guitar by ear and touch, where visual teaching dominates a lot of the resources out there, but don't feel bad, this is actually a great thing. Bill Brown is a world-renowned music teacher for multiple instruments, and he insists learning by ear as he did, is the best way to gain mastery over an instrument. Join Tim and David, as they talk to David's guitar teacher Bill Brown about his work teaching visually impaired musicians, as well as many talented visually abled players, through the power of hearing.
Check out Bill's lessons and resources here.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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In this episode of STRATEGIKON, we examine Britain one year after the decision to leave the European Union, and at the end of the time in which they could make a deal with the EU. Of course, we could not ignore the strategic goings-on in America and China with this discussion, so we also consider the UK and the EU in the context of the world economic and strategic orders. Our virtual studio is hosted by John Bruni, Co-Hosted by David Olney, and joined by our regular guest CDRE Pat Tyrrell from Cornwall in the United Kingdom. Producer Tim Whiffen was only able to make the discussion in spirit, so John recorded this one. Well done John!
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The Word Docs are stirring from their slumber and weaving their magic – both the whimsical technicolour kind and the wicked dystopian kind – on a raw 2021. How do writers recharge after an insane year? Is downtime part of the process? What do these people do when they're not abusing stationary? You may think the Word Docs simply fold up neatly into cupboards, but no...some of us jog!
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Johann Hari's book "Lost Connections" took on new relevancy in 2020, and still today in many places around the world. While social distancing and isolation have dominated much of human existence in recent memory, the essential elements of human life are disconnected from our way of living. Lost Connections is a book that details 9 main causes of depression and serves as a concise critique of modern living. While isolating, Peter, David, and Tim get together to chat over these topics while relating them to our current situation with COVID-19 especially. We encourage you to read this book as it is perhaps one of the most important books of the 21st Century.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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If you need to talk to someone (Aus):
Lifeline on 13 11 14 Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978 Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36 Headspace on 1800 650 890 QLife on 1800 184 527
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Value is a vague word, what we value morally and socially can be different from what value we give something in economic terms. What we call productive work is that which creates the most value, and thus the most productive work is the most rewarded financially. Do banking CEOs with massive salaries do the most valuable work? Or at least, more valuable work than nurses? That may seem wrong to us morally, but it is how we value things economically. It turns out, that there are many theories of value and Steven Hail joins Tim and David to discuss Mariana Mazzucato's book "The Value of Everything" and the history of value.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Have you ever wondered if humans are alone in the universe? It seems on the surface something that you may never be able to answer but there's plenty of people who try. Even if we are alone on the universe, is alien life staring up at their relative atmosphere and wondering the same thing as us? These questions have been pondered on for millennia, and though we don't profess to be experts in the area, David, Peter, and Tim provide some seemingly irrelevant insights that shed new light on the topic for your average stargazer.
We'd like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a safe and happy new year, all the best for 2021!
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Well, that's it for the grand old dystopian wonderland of 2020. Bring on the New Year! This week, the Word Docs are reflecting on the year that's been: deadlines missed and goals hit, unexpected delights and inevitable tipsiness, real estate bought, sold and fantasised about, and the fact that Amy never delivered on the promised scones. We're making plans for 2021 and even 2022: New bathrooms! Secret disco rooms! Starting our own magic writing school, where Alex will be potions master! Those bloody scones. And we introduce a new segment: Is this illegal? Amy takes the role of Alex's parent; Alex sings, undaunted; Sean promises to DJ for New Year's. Pour yourself a rum and Milo (don't ask) or a cheeky Moscato and settle in for some festive cheer from the three wise elves (is that a thing?).
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John, David and Tim are joined by Ambassador of Colombia to Australia, H.E. Alberto José Mejia Ferrero & Prof. R. Evan Ellis, US Army War College, to discuss the complications Colombia faces with the Venezuela crises. This region is of utmost significance to Australia as our interests shift from rising tensions with the Chinese Communist Party. With the Colombian embassy being closed in Venezuela and the Venezuelan refugee crisis at its peak, it is imperative for Australian's to watch with a keen eye for how assistance can be offered to strengthen important South American relations.
Merry Christmas and/or Happy Holidays from all of us here at STRATEGIKON, may 2021 bring along new challenges for sure, but also the wisdom carried through from 2020.
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"SAS Band of Brothers" is the latest novel from returning guest Damien Lewis. His works have been hailed as some of the most important books in uncovering secrets and insights from the special forces throughout history. David is an avid reader of Damien's books, and with his latest book, Tim and David had to talk with Damien about the details of another awesome story. Incidentally, this conversation once again proved to draw direct comparisons and inspiration to deal with problems we face in the 21st century. These books are a fantastic resource for entertainment and education for history and strategic culture, and it is no surprise that David is a fan of Damien's ability to tell these stories.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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This week we have a full pod of doctors and a bonus Word Dog, as the Word Docs are joined by playwrights Piri Eddy and Peter Beaglehole, and Piri's dog Murphy. We explore the experience of writing and producing plays, the life affirming joys of working with other humans, and the reasons why sometimes you just have to go a little nuts. There are power tools and secret ninjas, and Alex gets approximately 20% more manly. Come along and help us probe the vexed questions of playwrights the world over: Why theatre? Can we start a fight in the foyer? Why bring the world together when you can rip it apart? And when will the secret ninja come to our rescue?
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From big structural issues to hooks and semicolons, and everything in-between ... the Word Docs are all over it. Together, Amy, Sean and Alex have edited a lot and been edited even more. In this episode the docs become surgeons, unpacking the editorial process in forensic detail.
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With so many choices for what to eat from supermarkets or eateries, the impact of what we eat stretches thousands of kilometres and access decades. David and Tim invited Roman Davas-Fahey to give some insight into how what we choose to put on our plates makes a tangible difference for our health, for the planet, and for the community we live in. Roman's passion for food led him to create the Climate Proof Food platform, dedicated to breaking down the issues of the current and past models of food production, the new models available and what a sustainable and just food system might look like.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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This high quality trial provides further evidence to shift us away from eccentric training for Patelar Tendinoapthy.
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China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian tweeted a doctored photo depicting an Australian soldier committing a heinous act. This has ramped up tensions in an already stressed relationship between Australia and the Chinese Communist Party administration. This situation has been commented on and reported on to the nth degree, but what we are hearing is largely lacking sophistication and isn't particularly perceptive. David is here to give some insight into the crisis Australia faces and what can be done by the Australian Government and its allies to cope with these pressures.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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John, David & Emeritus Professor Purnendra Jain discuss SIA's report on the power dynamics of the Indo-Pacific & its recommendations. In this welcome back to the STRATEGIKON podcast, the discussion revolved around what has been keeping these intellectuals so busy! We are looking forward to creating more podcasts for you as the ever-changing world develops new and interesting dynamics.
In this past year, Sage International Australia has produced a report titled; "The Strategic Implication of Changing Dynamics & Regional Partnerships on Major Power Competition in Indo-Pacific" authored by Dr John Bruni, David James Olney, Prof. Purnendra C. Jain, Dr Jonathan Z. Ludwig, & CDRE Patrick J. Tyrrell OBE RN (Ret'd).
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This week, our intrepid Word Docs dig down into the relationship between writers and their words. Can you separate the fiction on the page from the reality of its wider context? Which matters more, the message of the author or the impact of the work? And what happens when your favourite creator turns out to be an appalling human? Join Amy T. Matthews, Sean Williams and a particularly hyper Alex Vickery-Howe as they unpack that thorny relationship between story and storyteller.
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Robert Putnam is an American Social Scientist who was awarded a National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama for "deepening our understanding of community in America" in 2013. Clearly being recognised for his outstanding work in social sciences for the benefit of democracy it would make sense to actively incorporate his studies into the American political system. So why was it after 4 years of President Trump someone who represented these views was not placed in Joe Biden's cabinet? In this episode, David is joined by Tim and Luke to discuss the complexity of bridging social divides for countries as big as the United States.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Albert Camus' 'The Plague' has regained significance in 2020 with very obvious parallels to the COVID-19 crises that have faced communities across the world. Perhaps less obvious is the relevance of Camus' commentary on how individuals and societies deal with the frailty of life and the attempts to control the chaos of human nature. Camus' fascination with the absurd brings with it wonderful imagery of people facing the waves in the ocean, working against them or being pushed by them. Joining Tim and David to discuss this book in a mini-book club, is Luke, who found us through David's Appearance on The Unforgiving60 podcast. This discussion introduces listeners to Albert Camus' most famous writing with an introduction into the absurdity we accept from fear of death and by no means requires you to have read the book first, and in fact, could summarise the learnings.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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There’s no getting around the fact that we live in strange and difficult times, from a global pandemic to a ‘Leader of the Free World’ who refuses to concede defeat –– but, never fear, the Word Docs are here to provide their remedies! Join Amy, Alex and Sean as they unpack the ups and downs of creating new work and telling new stories in the midst of isolation and upheaval. For Sean, it’s about chocolate. For Alex, it’s about Moscato. For Amy, it’s about finding a room without a random relative in it. Every decade has its challenges, and its lessons...now is the perfect time to reflect on where we've been and plan ahead for the tales of tomorrow.
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Inspired by the birth of a new family member, Tim has been considering what it takes to raise a child that contributes to society in a meaningful way. David raises the challenges faced by modern parents and explains how spread out the responsibility is of raising children in western society. Neither David nor Tim are parents, but in continuing the discussion about making a good society, it is a logical step to ask what we all can do to contribute to the next generations.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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In this episode, we compare submitting your work to setting up a profile on Tinder. How far can we take this metaphor? Too far. Much, much too far. As a Tinder virgin (metaphorically speaking), Alex is grilling the pros (not a metaphor, although they do get paid for it) on how to submit your work to agents and publishers. How do you find them? How do you talk to them? When are you being too pushy? Do you split the bill? The questions are endless. Don't fret, the Word Docs are here with the ultimate dating guide for writers seeking long-term love in the industry.
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Responding to a question from Bill Richardson, Tim and David discuss whether civilians could contribute to a discussion about veterans, or a man could contribute to a debate about abortion. Shrouded in the complexity we describe as identity politics lies age-old questions of human knowledge and commonality of experience. This fascinating conversation serves as a toolkit for people participating in democracy to navigate some of the most controversial issues of our time.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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The 2020 Presidential election in the United States of America is as emotionally charged as any election before it, and a lot seems to be at stake, but what are your options? On one side you have someone who is so emotionally directed that they seem unpredictable and rash (among other descriptions. On the other side, you have someone who seems to follow a mould, with their strings being pulled by an establishment. What is the right decision when you have to make a choice between two outcomes you might not like? What are the considerations when you compare possibly poisoning the water or more of the same? The greater point is whether you should vote at all...
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Are you ever confronted by particularly obtuse or inept people in your life? Whether it be at work, in politic, or at the post office, sometimes you can use all of the swear words available to you to describe the frustrations of dealing with people and it still not encapsulate what they are. David has found some words to describe people and it profoundly explains a chunk of society. Though we're trying not to be rude, please know that anyone reading this, to our mind, is neither monkey nor muppet because you're clearly here to expand and learn. Can you think of anyone in the limelight at the moment you could call a muppet or a monkey? Perhaps the US election is worth a look.
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Satirising war from a WWII Bombardier's perspective, Joseph Heller's most famous work Catch 22 is now synonymous with absurdity and bureaucracy. Like the main protagonist of the story, Joseph Heller served as a bombardier and had significant insight into war and the military which he satires, making the book all the more poignant. Like many works that precede this, Catch 22's "Tragicomdedy" narrative draws the reader in with relatable hilarity but leaves the reader on sour notes. Joining Tim and David to discuss this book in a mini-book club, is Luke, who found us through David's Appearance on The Unforgiving60 podcast. This discussion introduces listeners to Heller's writing with an introduction into the absurdity we accept from bureaucracy in our lives and by no means requires you to have read the book first, and in fact, could summarise the learnings.
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In this episode we're talking about how we juggle multiple projects, completely unaided by clones (lazy bastards). This week the Word Docs cram the muse back in her box and adopt a pragmatic approach to this juggling thing. Anti-romantic to the core, we tackle how to be multiple people at once, how to be one person on multiple projects, how to have a life, and whether balance is possible. Just ignore the mental traffic jams and post-deadline crashes and the fact that none of us know who Betty is or why she hijacked the end of the pod. It turns out we have a few strategies for keeping all our balls in the air. If you have balls too then this is the episode for you!
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Eddie Jaku is a German Jew who has lived a glorious 100 years and is still going strong. Born in 1920, by the time Eddie was 18, his homeland was a very different country than when he was born. On November 10th 1938 Eddie Jaku was arrested, beaten, and taken to a concentration camp before eventually being taken to Auschwitz, the deadliest camp of the Holocaust. By virtue of some miracles, Eddie managed to survive and escape, before getting married and moving to Australia where he has lived out many prosperous years with his family. Eddie has written a memoir titled "The Happiest Man on Earth", and with a book title like that, David and I knew we had to talk to him.
We are joined in the real and virtual studios by Jess Fruend and Luke from the Blind Insights Family.
If you wish to know more about the Holocaust and Jewish History in Australia, visit the Sydney Jewish Museum website or make the trip to see the extensive collection.
The Piano Piece in this clip is Nocturne in C Sharp Minor, a piece composed by Chopin and famously played by Polish Pianist Władysław Szpilman, as featured in the 2002 Polanski film The Pianist. Playing this piece to the audience of an SS officer, Captain Wilm Hosenfield, saved Szpilman's life in 1944, as Hosenfield not only let Szpilman go but provided him with food and warmth over several occassions.
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Why should you spend time going to the theatre, or listening to music when you could read a book or practice a physical discipline instead? Blind Insights has so far addressed how easy it is to get distracted from productive things by lounging with Netflix. While these habits are difficult to kick and we don't need any encouragement to relax with a movie, the cultural and personal significance of film, or music, or the broader arts is not to be scoffed at. Steve Davis the Arts Aficionado and official linguistic provocateur for Blind Insights joins David and Tim to explore the arts in all the guts and glory it takes the form in.
Steve Davis is a regular Host of Smart Arts on ABC Radio Adelaide, as well as host of School of Hard Knock Knocks and our favourite The Adelaide Show. The Adelaide Show is a fantastic podcast covering the fantastic culture, arts, food, and history of Adelaide, our home town! David's appearances on the podcast instigated Steve's appearance on ours.
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Our brains are complex systems, ones that we don't always have as much control over as we like. We're especially less adaptable than we'd like and there's a good explanation for why, and good work being done on how to combat it. Britt Andreatta is the author of Wired to Resist, and after David read the book we knew we had to talk to her. Between her portfolio with places like LinkedIn and her Ted Talk, Britt is a proven communicator and this conversation is yet another example of excellent ideas being communicated in an effective way. In this Episode David and Tim get a break down of why we resist change and how to implement change in our lives as professionals and everyday people, so that we can adapt to the changes chose to make, and the ones that come our way.
If you're interested in Britt's work with brains and human potential, you can access Wired to Resist here: http://bit.ly/WiredToResist
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This week the Docs are exploring some of their guilty reading pleasures, although as usual they don't stick to the topic and other guilts are exposed, not least of them someone's fantasies about Kevin Bacon's shorts. Prepare for the over-caffeinated enthusiasm, as we learn who was the bane of their primary school librarians, who has a sadistic streak, and who is a secret sports buff. High art/ low art divide be damned, we're taking on the hegemonic elite and flying our freak flags.
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We know that there’s an existential problem with climate change and an uptick in environmentalism hitting products and advertising, but can we even articulate what our actions do for the environment? It’s often too complicated and too detached from our everyday struggles to even justify trying to learn the massive literature out there, and climate activists shouting in the streets and in our online safe spaces might not be helping. Enter the Climate Communicator to ameliorate this situation.
Tim and David bring in Amelia Chaplin, a climate communicator and writer of the environment-blog, Ameli(a)orate. In Amelia’s efforts to make a better world, she has realised that effectively communicating the risks of climate change is our best bet to make the good choices easy and clear. Amelia brings her expertise to break down climate anxiety David and Tim and together construct a scalable and adaptable ladder to climate justice and environmental accountability.
Read more at Amelia’s blog or check out the Ameli(a)roate Instagram.
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COVID-19 threw us headlong into online teaching at a moment's notice, requiring flexibility, agility and the fleet-footedness of a moscato-soaked gazelle. Well, it threw Alex and Sean into online teaching and moscato. Amy was on study leave. Now as Semester Two hits, Amy's joining them on the frontlines, but swapping out the moscato for a nice Clare riesling or a McLaren Vale grenache. What tips can the boys offer? How do you convert a curriculum from face-to-face Socratic teaching to the chat rooms and vids of the interwebs? What are the pitfalls? And what are the unexpected benefits? Pop a cork on your wine of choice and get ready for some truth bombs from three dedicated educators in the age of Zoom.
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Trade economics is something we begrudgingly hear on the news as usually constraining or disrupting global relationships, where people win and lose and agreements are made and dismantled in the name of fairness. But the current paradigm is hardly fair. As it stands, $2 Trillion a year is extracted from the poorest countries and funnelled into the richest, and we don't know how to deal with that under the neoliberal agenda.
Luckily, we have Fadhel Kaboub, who is a world-leading MMT economist with a bent for Trade and globalised economies. David and Tim were lucky enough to speak to Fadhel to discuss the inadequacies of current attitudes toward trade and aid, tying it into the everyday experiences of the average citizen in America, Australia, or neighbouring regions.
You can catch more of Fadhel's work in this presentation.
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What have we been doing this year? Other than teaching through lockdown, eating too much chocolate, drinking moscato, and yapping away on this podcast... In this episode we get to catch up on the Word Docs' latest projects, which involve a theatre/film project which is not a porno (but does feature a dominatrix), music made in the Hall of Possibility, and more pseudonyms for the woman who has everything. What other writers do you know who can get kidnapped by pirates on their way to a writing gig? Like, for real. Not in their imaginations. And what other academics do you know who are willing to dish the dirt on what it's really like to be a working writer? Fine, lots of them. But how many of them also make ambient music? One. Sean. Well done, Sean. He's reason enough to listen to this podcast - especially if you're smart enough to listen all the way to the end.
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Albert Camus is a French 20th-century writer who has influenced much of existential philosophy, despite disliking being called a philosopher. One of his earliest works, titles "A Happy Death" was published post-humously and went on to heavily influence David's unfinished Ph.D. Joining Tim and David to discuss this book in a mini-book club, is Luke, who found us through David's Appearance on The Unforgiving60 podcast. This discussion introduces listeners to Camus' writing, and by no means requires you to have read the book first, and in fact, could summarise the learnings.
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Also titled Blind Drunk - Celts, Creatives, and Chords, this special episode which started with some fine drinks supplied by Pirate Life and Bridge Road Brewery at the Oxford Hotel, gave some fantastic insights into the processes and lifestyles of creating.
Joined by the talented Lucas Day (Liz and Lucas) & the skillful Pat Murray (Tig Junkie), David and Tim discover the inner workings of the creative mind, the process, the struggles, the good, and the bad of passions people can make a living from. But what stands true is that everyone is creative, so how do you express and balance your creativity in a 'busy' world? For those who make a living from their passion, where does the line sit between work and hobby? Join us with a pint of Pirate Life Cashmere, and another pint of Bridge Road Celtic Red Ale and sit back for this fascinating discussion about creativity. This podcast is also graced by a very special performance (and exclusive first listen!) to one of Lucas's new tracks "Without It" played live (42:00-48:00) on the podcast in one take, accompanied by Pat's improv. on the harp.
Make sure to check out Tig Junkie's Instagram or listen to more of Lucas Day on Apple Music or Spotify.
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In which Sean comes down from the mount, stomps out the burning bush and hands down the ten (and a half - don't forget the half) commandments of writing. After a healthy dose of heckling, his disciples agree they're pretty good. No 'thou shalt not covet thy neighbours ass' kind of good, but 'don't be a dick' is definitely a keeper.
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In this episode of Blind Insights, David and Tim are joined by James Nestor, author of Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art.
Joining the podcast for a second time, James Nestor brings his new research and insights after expanding his understanding of breathing in freediving to examining the fields of anthropology and archaeology. James has done fascinating work involving many experts and some obscure studies to weave together a holistic narrative of human evolution and the significance of breathing properly. This episode is bound to make you acutely, and perhaps infuriatingly, aware of your breathing habits and the health of everyone around you. There is much we are not told by our doctors to consider with breathing and it is because modern medicine is yet to draw on the eclectic research that James has distilled into his book. Stop, breathe in, listen to this episode of Blind Insights, and breathe out.
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Knifemaking is a special interest of David's, as a collector of fine handmade knives, he is especially interested in the tactile qualities of a well-made knife. Our guest Karim Haddad heads one of Australia's most creative and constructive workshops, Tharwa Valley Forge. The intricacies and details of the knifemaking world make it one deep hobby to get into and give plenty of options for collectors to admire and spend significant sums of money on. Tharwa Valley is more than just a place to make knives, it is an educational space, and even a therapeutic space for people who find an outlet in creating. As an exploration in craft and artisanship, David and Karim discuss the many aspects of using our hands in the 21st century to learn and flourish.
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In this episode of STRATEGIKON, we examine the ongoings in Belarus and the likely fate of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko. Also up for discussion, changes to European security caused by the recent decision of President Trump to relocate US forces from Germany to Poland. And finally, Europe’s southeast in the Eastern Mediterranean, tensions rise between NATO members and long-time regional rivals Turkey and Greece, making Europe a fascinating hot topic at the moment. Our virtual studio is hosted by John Bruni, Co-Hosted by David Olney, and joined by our regular guest CDRE Pat Tyrrell from Cornwall in the United Kingdom. Producer Tim Whiffen was unable to make the discussion so John recorded this one. Well done John!
This week's musical interlude comes courtesy of Lucas Day, check them out on Facebook, Spotify and Apple Music.
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Social media sometimes gets a bad rap; well, what if we used it more constructively? Chloe Grayling is the perfect example of using social media constructively and positively, as a means of enhancing her own life and the lives of others. David and Tim talk to Chloe (@lovechloejane) about her work as an influencer and as a consultant with small businesses to uncover methods of improving social media spaces for all kinds of users.
Find Chloe's socials here: Instagram - @lovechloejane TikTok - @lovechloejane
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Stephanie Kelton, professor of economics and public policy at Stony Brook University and Author of The Deficit Myth, Joins Tim and David to discuss her new book, globally rising unemployment rates, and the misconceptions of trade wars. These typically dry issues are explained with such elegance and passion that they feel imminently relevant and fascinating, which they truly are. This episode of Blind Insights is another look at Modern Monetary Theory - information the COVID-19 economic crisis is sorely missing. With commentators such as Stephanie in the world, there is hope that we can build a better ecopnomy for all, in many countries around the world, and that economies can serve the people, not the other way around.
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Plato's "The Republic" calls for rulers who are wise, intelligent, and humble in their lifestyle, where philosophers are kings. The question is, would you vote for us as Philosopher kings? Would we vote for us? Our society as advanced as it is, and for all the good we have by comparison to even recent history, is dissatisfactory to all of us in many ways. What would you do if you had the power to change it all? We take that thought seriously in this episode and discover some wonderful and frightening truths about ourselves and our society.
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It is a scary world out there in the cyber-universe, and while we have covered many of the public sector concerns from a political level, what are the threats facing every Australian from citizens to business owners? Cynch Security is a cybersecurity service for small business, and are at the forefront of the cyber-fitness, or indeed, lack thereof in the Australian community. Joining John, David, and Tim on STRATEGIKON to discuss the practical and real circumstances facing every Australian at the cyber front is Susie and Tim of Cynch Security. Susie, the CEO of Cynch, and Adam, the Chief Technological Officer, are leading experts in the field of cybersecurity with years in experience with a variety of public and private entities of diverse size. This episode of STRATEGIKON makes it abundantly clear just how at risk we are, and yet, provides some pragmatic discourse toward a more secure future in the virtual spaces we create.
Learn more about Cynch Security, their work in communicating the importance of these issues, and their services here.
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David and Tim have a beloved guest explaining her Quadrant Theory of choosing a life partner, that's right, Jess Freund is back! It is difficult to make a very hefty decision in today's world where we are given more choice, and more change is necessary over the course of our lives, perhaps life partners are the biggest commitments we make. Given the enormity of such a decision, our only guides can seem very clouded in clichés that don't connect with what love is to many people. What is truly important when we consider who to settle with? How long does that take and what time is appropriate? It can all seem very relative, but maybe there are some clues to help.
This episode features audio from Tash Loh and Chloe Grayling.
Jess's referenced article on Wait But Why.
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David is an avid reader of the very active author of both fiction and non-fiction military books, Damien Lewis. His works have been hailed as some of the most important books in uncovering secrets and insights to the special forces throughout history. Damien has reported from many war and conflict zones prior to becoming an incredibly well-established author who has accessed some pretty incredible information over time. So who better for Tim and David to talk to about some of the incredible things that make studying the topic so fascinating? Incidentally, this conversation proved to draw direct comparisons and inspiration to deal with problems we face in the 21st century. Beware, fanboy alert! This episode contains very minor gushing from David, and as you will notice, it is no surprise that David admires Damien's ability to tell a story.
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If you're making the effort to listen to this podcast, you're a learner, so reading and absorbing information should come naturally to you, right? Well, it doesn't for Tim and David, not conventionally, but David still reads a lot of books and Tim could stand to read a few more. In the 21st century books are dying out and maybe there's something lost in that, but what is a curious person to do with their time if they like learning? David makes a case for reading and convinces Tim to try a lot harder, while the two consider the positives and negatives of using your time otherwise to binge-watch Netflix.
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Blind drunk is back! Available wherever you drink and pod. A short announcement to tell listeners that blind drunk is back on track and helping bring back the conviviality of drinking post-lockdown. https://omny.fm/shows/blind-insights/blind-drunk-marijuana-mahouts-and-motivation-with
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Have you seen Blade Runner, Terminator, Altered Carbon, Gattaca, Robocop, or Ironman? These are fun movies but even better thought-experiments that delve into the dark world of transhumanism. Between uploading your consciousness to another body or computer, to altering your body to contain computers or robotics within it, the technological possibilities are putting into question what being human really means. With David's existentialism, Peter's Philosophical 'Geekiness', and Tim's introduction to the topic, the conversation brings many perspectives that will make you wonder what your limits and expectations of technology are now and into the future.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Part 2 of a two-part discussion: On June 19th Scott Morrison, Prime Minister of Australia announced that many public services were experiencing a hack from a 'state player' without giving any details as to who it may have been behind the attack. With many commentators speculating that China may be behind the attack and with their history of these tactics of information gathering it is a very real example of the new state of play for international security. Between the anti-Chinese sentiment in the public Australian sphere, and the hesitance for the Australian Government to decouple their dependence from China there is a lot to consider.
Joining the STRATEGIKON team are a few faces the audience will be familiar with in discussing some answers to many questions the public will have for these attacks. One thing is for certain, we need a change of language to discuss these ideas to avoid conflating cyber with kinetic warfare.
This double episode features Pete Warren Editor of Future Intelligence and Chair of the Cyber Security Research Institute; CDRE Patrick J. Tyrrell OBE RN (Ret’d) SIA Senior Non-resident Fellow Global and Maritime Security & Prof. Andrew Jones, Visiting Professor of Cyber Security, University of Suffolk.
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Money is an object we all use and yet is something many of us do not fully understand. Blind Insights has had many guests to explain the function of money in modern currency sovereign nations over the past year and this is fresh perspective that adds to the work of the many enlightened economists who have appeared on the show. David and Tim have some very general questions to ask Warren Mosler, a man who has pioneered part of the foundation of an economic understanding known as Modern Monetary Theory. As this theory is starting to popularise in media coverage, it is important to gain a practical perspective from someone who has used this knowledge to earn money and to engage with the private financial institutions of the western world. Warren Mosler, among many life achievements, has been a significant player in correcting the understanding and dialogue about monetary sovereign governments such as the Australian Federal Government. In this episode, we discuss how tax, banks, deficits, and trade all fit into the functions of many global economies today. If you're new to economics or Modern Monetary Theory, or you're a veteran, this is a great episode to gain a new perspective from a practitioner who has established himself in the academic sphere.
You can read more of Warren's work on his blog.
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Sean, Alex and Amy take almost a third of the episode to get to the point. Which is kind of the point. This week they're discussing the fine art of procrastination: procrastishopping, procrastibaking, Wikisurfing, how not to follow a recipe, stealing other people's nostalgia, and how great Frank Langella's eye performance is in the 80s classic Masters of the Universe. Sean is outraged by Alex's determination to put vanilla in everything, and disappointed by his own inability to find a goose neck phone clamp on the internet; Alex has a Save the Foxes t-shirt he can't remember buying, and a shameful secret about Back to the Future and the Pentagon; and Amy is stuck in the Matrix with this whole Frank Langella thing. Will they ever get to the point? Probably not.
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Part 1 of a two part discussion: On June 19th Scott Morrison, Prime Minister of Australia announced that many public services were experiencing a hack from a 'state player' without giving any details as to who it may have been behind the attack. With many commentators speculating that China may be behind the attack and with their history of these tactics of information gathering it is a very real example of the new state of play for international security. Between the anti-Chinese sentiment in the public Australian sphere, and the hesitance for the Australian Government to decouple their dependence from China there is a lot to consider.
Joining the STRATEGIKON team are a few faces the audience will be familiar with in discussing some answers to many questions the public will have for these attacks. One thing is for certain, we need a change of language to discuss these ideas to avoid conflating cyber with kinetic warfare.
This double episode features Pete Warren Editor of Future Intelligence and Chair of the Cyber Security Research Institute; CDRE Patrick J. Tyrrell OBE RN (Ret’d) SIA Senior Non-resident Fellow Global and Maritime Security & Prof. Andrew Jones, Visiting Professor of Cyber Security, University of Suffolk.
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A recent episode of The Mikhaila Peterson Podcast has inspired David to discuss the human side of self-help and the dangers of devoting life learnings to one source. Peterson himself will admit that he is not the source of all knowledge, and in this case isn't qualified to prescribe drugs, so it comes as no surprise that during the chaos of his life that he was prescribed with a hell of a drug called a benzodiazepine. Though Peterson is not out of the woods, he is getting effective treatment for a dependency that is commonly developed on the drug. Provided that his treatment continues to go well, he is working on his third book, which we will cover with the same perspective as his last book, just the content in its entirety exclusive of the gotcha questions and incomplete statements that result for intellectual traps and misleading editing from mainstream media.
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This week Alex, Amy and Sean interview their colleague Dr Lisa Bennett/Lisa L Hannett about her eerily beautiful dark fantasy fiction, her first draft agonies and second draft ecstasies, and her obsession with writing on trains. Turtles and tableaux, fine art and flying flips, Canadians, Scandinavians, and hillbillies from the Deep South - what more can you ask for? Writing talk? Oh yeah, we've got that too.
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This episode of Blind Insights discusses the masterful book that touts being part biography and part political and economic commentary by Zach D. Carter, a reporter at the Huffington Post in the US. "The Price of Peace: Money, Democracy, and the Life of John Maynard Keynes" is a fantastic read for anyone, no economics interest or understanding required.
Though the book tells a riveting story about the life of Keynes, his ideas are more relevant than ever and make a great companion to anyone who is interested in progressive change for a better world. Economics is a tool through which thoughtful people can make a vision for the future come true, and no economist understood this better than Keynes, who is perhaps the most influential economist of all time. Zach, who is now an expert in Keynesian theory is a renowned political commentator who has very nuanced and interesting views on the political discourse and the medias role in the western economic narrative. David and Tim spurred on by a fascination with the book, are able to tease out some fantastic discussion with Zach in this special episode of Blind Insights.
See more about Zach.
The book is made available through Penguin Random House.
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Will Sean ever achieve his life's ambition of getting his work on the banned book list? Will Amy give in and write a book without rude bits? Will Alex stop slandering salamanders already! Or will they just ignore all the critics and push on, puritans, prudes and salamanders be damned! This week, the Word Docs discuss criticism: the good, the bad, and the medium. We'll be exposing all our scars and showing you which slings and arrows were fatal and which were merely flesh wounds (spoiler: none of us are dead yet). We'll ask the questions: Can criticism be helpful? And how can you find the emotional resilience to weather reviews, hate mail, fan mail, stalkers, trolls, and your own inability to accept praise?
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In this episode of Blind Insights, David and Tim are joined by James Nestor, author of Deep: Freediving, Renegade Science, and what the Ocean Tells Us About Ourselves
David has been fascinated by James Nestor's work in a part science, part anthropology, part philosophy, and utter genius book that is a fantastic social commentary and looks into the fascinating sport of freediving. The book draws on some topics that are directly related to David's blindness but also gives great imagery into very unique experiences humans can have underwater. There are very few ways to describe the fluid divergence of this discussion except to say it is a fantastic discussion about a fantastic book. We will be discussing James' newest book when it is released in the near future.
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Whether you're opposed to phrases like the 'new normal', or you're optimistic about how the world will look after COVID-19, the world is going to be very different, at least for a while. Of particular interest is the shifting in tensions in the strategy and international relations world, which has been affected perhaps more than any other academic field as borders are closed and blame is thrown for lives and investments lost. Though COVID-19 is getting mainstream attention in almost every conceivable way, the international community is in need of more attention.
In this episode of STRATEGIKON, we’ll be trying something a little risky technologically, we have guests from the United Kingdom, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Canberra, and we're still recording from Adelaide, Australia. We have experts in European International Relations and security, Australian security, the Horn of Africa, Ethiopian politics. and a former Australian Army Special Forces Brigadier. So, we’ll have quite a bit of security heft on hand to tackle today’s topic which is – COVID19’s transformation of the international security order. Joining us will be David Khandan; Austability Executive Director Strategy & Relationships, Sandy Wade; Austability Regional Strategic Advisor Horn of Africa, Don Randall Ambassador at Austability & Brigadier Mark Smethurst DSC, AM (Retd) Austability Strategy Advisor Asia Pacific Region.
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They always say you should kill your darlings...but have Amy, Alex and Sean taken this too literally? Tune in as the Word Docs discuss all the (fictional) people they've murdered. From mythological creatures to wagon trains, hellish high schools to doppelgängers, it's an intergalactic bloodbath.
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Inspired by Timothy Wilson's Social Science experiment involving a voluntary 15 minutes of boredom in a plain room or an electric shock, a 'shocking' amount of people, especially men, chose the pain option over sitting with their thoughts for a short time. With the many possible causes and implications of these findings, David and Tim just had to talk about it and consider the dangers of distraction and the reasons we want to be distracted.
Winston Churchill on Speeches.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Civil-military relations can seem like daunting jargon to most civilians, but it refers to how the military engages with the public it defends. In the case of America, the largest military force in the world, it is very important what civil-military relations are like, and it is even more important when ex-military leaders talk about politics. For a traditionally taboo subject for military leaders, it is very uncommon for one, let alone two significant figures to speak out against an active president, let alone one they served under. David breaks down the messages from Mike Mullen and James Mattis while pondering the significance of these statements.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Ex-navy Admiral Mike Mullen's Statement Ex-marine General James Mattis' Statement on Trump
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While chaos plagues the streets of the US in the name of justice for George Floyd and for seriously disaffected black Americans we could be on the brink of serious change for America. This begs the question, what should we change in order to lift people out of disadvantage and suffering in a western democracy like Australia or the US where black populations experience radically different opportunities? As the Covid-19 have lifted in South Australia, Peter, Tim and David are reunited in the Auscast Network Studio to discuss the merits of different races adding to the conversation and what needs to be considered in order to enact serious change.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Through following Penny Locaso's LinkedIn page David noticed some very admirable and interesting ideas about connecting people through the strange period of the COVID-19 crisis. We knew that we had to get Penny back on the podcast to discuss the merits of such an exercise. Penny, David, and Tim discuss how we as humans adapt to the unfamiliarity of the world we live in through restrictions and what a brave new paradigm might look like on the other side.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Penny Locaso's Blog on Intentional Adaption through the COVID-19 Crisis.
Penny Locaso's Human First Podcast
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Everyone fails. No one fails forever. There are many ways to negotiate the gap between, in the arts and in academia. The Word Docs have risen through the ranks themselves, and now devote a large proportion of their life to helping others do the same. As teachers, mentors, positive role models, and occasional drinking buddies, Amy, Alex and Sean are here for you.
Episode 11 - tags
Accidental success
Blackface
Carpe Diem
Commercial flops
Computer crashes
Consultation
Covers
Cruelty to animals
Curses
Drafts
Editors
Fail better
Hindsight
Hubris
Ideal reader
Inertia
Jealousy
KPIs
Laziness
Log lines
Luck
Manuscript assessments
Marketing
Miscasting
Misjudgement
Misrepresentation
Numbers game
One-pagers
Opportunities
Owls
Playing Dice
Preparedness
Process
Public embarrassment
Regret
Sales figures
Self-failure
Selling out
Submissions
Teaching
Timing
Unpublished books
Vicissitudes
Whitewashing
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What’s the secret to getting published? Alex, Amy and Sean tell all, or at least as much as they can in thirty minutes.
Episode 10 - tags
acting
advice
awards
bottom drawer stories
bravery
commandments
community
conferences
contests
creative writing programs
deadlines
fear
feedback
flipside
fonts
footnotes
formatting
genres
heartbreak
industry knowledge
long game
marking
mentors
perfectionism
performance writing
PhD
resilience
rules
serendipity
shyness
soundtracks
study
titles
typos
validation
work
Writers of the Future
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It's been 6 weeks and David is finally allowed outside after 6 weeks of isolation. The mental maps and habitual practices that go unconscious for normally abled folk are pivotally important for David as he navigates through familiar territory with the distant memory of the journey ahead. In this bonus episode, David tells us about his first experience in the new world of loosened restrictions with specific reference to his disciplined practices and an insight into the daily life of a blind person.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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The international price of oil is now in negative territory and having an immensurate impact on the world, but especially in the Middle East where oil is the foundation of many sovereign states. The duel economic blows of the COVID-19 crisis and the oil price wars are forcibly dragging Gulf states backward, particularly affecting the burgeoning middle classes. If these issues are not dealt with adequately, questions could be raised about the capability of several authoritarian states in the region and force further unrest in an already tense area of the world. Joining us from the United States to discuss these issues is Dr. Imad Harb, SIA’s Senior Non-Resident Fellow Greater Middle East & Director of Research and Analysis at the Arab Center Washington DC.
Imad makes reference to this article about the Arab social upheaval.
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Boys are growing up without fathers, getting addicted to drugs, doing worse in schools, getting incarcerated, and committing suicide. With all the inequality in the world, how do we tackle these issues? How are men meant to establish a sense of meaning while their traditions are being torn down from their patriarchal heritage? Warren Farrell and Philip Zimbardo have written some excellent literature on the problems that face men and boys and Peter helps unpack these ideas for a heavy discussion on constituting maleness.
Consider Alian De Botton's account of modern male identity.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Gabrielle Bond and Steven Hail of the Just Transition Action Group asked David to give a Q&A forum vis Zoom moderated by Tim. The central point of discussion was about the comparatively fluid and cohesive undertaking of advice surrounding the COVID-19 crisis as opposed to the societal attitudes towards Climate Action, especially in Australia. With a focus on what individuals and groups can do to change things, David gives a thorough explanation of why people have different attitudes towards the two matters and how things will change with reference to historical crises.
If you are interested in watching the talk, it can be found, with many other fantastic resources for positive and just change on the Just Transition Action Group site.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Would you rather win all the awards or make all the money? “Both” is a valid answer, but few writers are so lucky. Sometimes peers and publishers will push you one way or another, when really, all you want to do is be yourself. How have the Word Docs managed this? In a lively conversation spanning everything from pop culture to professorships, Amy, Alex and Sean reveal all.
Episode 9 - tags
Academia
Awards
Bias
Classism
Comic-Con
Comics
Community
Competition
Conventions
Cultural capital
Cultural cringe
Defining success
F-bombs
Genre fiction
Inclusivity
Intellectual laziness
Literary fiction
Parental advice
Participatory culture
Polymaths
Pop culture
Popularity
Power relations
Prejudice
Reading habits
Representation
Sexism
Slang
Supanova
Tortured metaphors
Youth
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The fourth estate is an indirect and significant form of influencing the democratic process, so who and what we listen to is incredibly significant. So our broad society is controlled by journalists, and more aptly, editors who dictate the conversations we have, so why isn't the media held accountable? Can the media be held accountable? What can we do as a grassroots podcast to change the media landscape and responsibilities of networks?
To help tackle these questions we brought in our resident media academic, Peter Thomson.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Nations around the world are trying a variety of policy settings to cope with the unique set of economic circumstances that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused. In Australia we have guaranteed payments to a large portion of the population, and provided welfare to those affected at previously inconceivable levels. The neoliberal establishment is going to have a hard time returning to status quo after spending so much to keep the country afloat. David and Tim are joined by Dr Steven Hail from the University of Adelaide, a prominent Australian Modern Monetary Theory Economist, to explain the current circumstances and comment on the prospective future.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Who are Amy, Alex and Sean? What have they written? How do they juggle teaching and writing? Is it even possible to teach people to write? Why does this podcast exist? One of them swears too much, one makes an unconvincing soldier, one wrote epic D&D poetry as a teenager: by the end of this informal Q&A, you will know who, and much more about your Word Docs hosts.
Episode 7 - tags
ABC
Bad Poetry
Bob Roberts
Children's Book Council Award
Chocolate
Collaboration
Confessions
Coronavirus/COVID-19
Creative Writing
Creative Writing PhD
D&D
Drunk writers
Editing
Elbows
Failure
Fears
Flinders University
Genres
Gremlins
Heroes
Horror
The ideal reader
Ideas
Lockdown
Mentors
Networking
Nostradamus
NSW Premier's Literary Awards
Once Upon A Midnight
Playwriting
Power Rangers
Practice Led Research
Publication
Publishing
The Queen
Romance
Routines
Screenwriting
Secrets of writing
Short Stories
Space Opera
Star Wars
Teaching writing
Teletubbies
Tess LeSue
Thrill Me! anthology
Tom Young
Villains
Vulnerability
YA fiction
Interest plus hours
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“Two out of three Word Docs have books out this month, and so does special guest Lisa Hannett (aka Dr Lisa Bennett). How do you launch a book during lockdown? By asking Amy to interview all three authors and raise a virtual toast to their inevitable success. Happy book birthday, Word Docs!”
Bonus Book Launch Episode - tags
Allen & Unwin
Book Birthday
Book Launch
Currency Press
Her Perilous Mansion
Lisa Bennett
Lisa Hannett
Songs for Dark Seasons
Ticonderoga Publications
Watchlist
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People read stories about people, so learning how to write people is an important step on your journey. Whether you steal from real life or create out of whole cloth, whether you prefer heroes to villains, whether you regularly lose control of the characters you have brought into being – the Word Docs are right there with you. Their methods may differ, but one thing is certain: chocolate is likely involved.
Twitter: @TheWordDocs Instagram: @TheWordDocs Facebook: The-Word-Docs
Tags - Acting vs writing, Action scenes, Alcohol, Ambiguity, Authorial agency, Backstories, Book chocolate, Borrowing from real life, Capacity for change, Characters, Chocolate, Collaboration, Comfort food, Complexity, Conflict, Context, Creative constraints, Dublin, Evolution, Extras, Forced endings, Franchises, Galley slaves, Heroes, Internal conflict, Intuition, Kids, Killing off characters, Long-haul flights, Meaning of names, Merchandising, Metaphors, Moscato, Mundane details, Name dictionaries, Name dropping, Naming characters, Non-fiction, Obsession, Origins, Outlining, Parenting, Past/present/future thinkers, Past victories, Planning, Podcasts, Protagonists, Psychology, The Queen, Reading, Real people, Rebellious characters, Recurring characters, Relationships, Roll call, Rewriting, Runaway characters, Scale, Secondary characters, Shortlisting, Silent extras, Star Wars, Sugar addicts, Tea, Texture, “Tom the Paper Boy” phenomenon, Too many characters, Tragedy, Villains, Weather, Writing as therapy
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New writers beware: saying that you are one invites interrogation on the nature of your work, where it has been published, and how much you’re being paid – all difficult questions to answer when you’re starting out. Writers, ultimately, come in many different shapes and sizes. The Word Docs are here to help you find your place in the pantheon, and to guide your dealings with Grandma next time you visit.
Twitter: @TheWordDocs Instagram: @TheWordDocs Facebook: The-Word-Docs
Tags - The Act of creation, Agents, Alien ideologies, Audiences, Author copies, Awards, Bad Sex Awards, Baking, Being orphaned, Beta readers, Brag shelves, Bravery, Brutal honesty, Business cards, Cakes, Career paths, Character identification, Characters, Chocolate, Community, Competitiveness, Conferences, Confidence, Conflicting feedback, Consultation, Continuity, Criticism, Critics, Disappointment, Doctor Who, Downturns, Drawer stories, Dreamweavers, Editors, Exposure, Fact vs fiction, Failure vs success, Family, Feedback, Gender-swapping, Genre discrimination, Good news, Gratuitous side projects, Growing the pie, Happiness, Honesty, Hope, The Imagined reader, Imposter syndrome, Inadequacies, Innate genius, Jealous peers, Kids, The Loneliness of success, Luck, Madness, Milestones, Money, Moral arguments, Parents, Parody, The Passionate response, Publishers, Professional vs amateur, Pseudonyms, Public adoration, Punctuation, Qualifications, The Queen, Rated R, Respiratory diseases, Royalties, Self-assessment, Sex scenes, Sense of humour, Sharing the love, Skills, Star Wars, Stalkers, Tall Poppy Syndrome, Taxonomy of writers, Theses, Tribes, Validation, Vampires, Visibility, Wattpad, Werewolves, Withholding, Wordsmiths, Writers’ Associations, Writing for a living, Writer bling
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In this raw episode get an inside look at how to calculate the expenses of inaction on climate with a candid and minimally-produced conversation with Ecological Economist at the University of Adelaide, Phil Lawn. For context, this conversation was recorded in late 2019, so Tim and David met with Phil in the studio to gain a very insightful and descriptive basis for Phil's work. We often talk about the cost of climate action in financial terms or the impact it will have on our wellbeing or our capacity to make things and keep lights on. This episode reveals the lack of logic in framing the conversation that way, and how inaction costs not just the environment, but everything within it, including us. With a holistic look at real resources, we can gain a greater perspective on everything that contributes to our wellbeing and our synergy with the world around us. Ecological economics is a return to including all kinds of capital in the equations, from social capital to natural capital, to financial capital, and everything in between.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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In this episode, John, David and Tim are joined by Senator Jim Molan AO DSC. Jim is a former Australian Army Major-General and is now a high profile Senator for the Liberal-National Coalition known for his public interest in Australia’s strategic policy. We begin this episode by asking Jim about his military experience and his opinions on some of the pressing issues facing Australia in the near-term.
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While the COVID-19 Pandemic is ravaging the economies and societies of nations worldwide, Asia seems to have a large diversity of responses and impacts. What cultural and political settings have changed how the pandemic his hit each country, and how will this impact the region more broadly into the future. This is the first episode of two that examines a few key players in the Asian region to understand what factors change the social, economic, and diplomatic, consequences such a crisis can have. To help explain these issues Prof. Purnendra Jain, a member of the SIA Advisory Board and SIA's Head of Research & Academic Development, joins us in via Zoom to tackle Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, South Korea, and North Korea in the second half of the conversation.
This week's music comes courtesy of Leaf and Stem, check them out on Facebook, Spotify, and iTunes.
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While the COVID-19 Pandemic is ravaging the economies and societies of nations worldwide, Asia seems to have a large diversity of responses and impacts. What cultural and political settings have changed how the pandemic his hit each country, and how will this impact the region more broadly into the future. This is the first episode of two that examines a few key players in the Asian region to understand what factors change the social, economic, and diplomatic, consequences such a crisis can have. To help explain these issues Prof. Purnendra Jain, a member of the SIA Advisory Board and SIA's Head of Research & Academic Development, joins us in via Zoom to tackle China, Taiwan, and India in the first half of the conversation.
This week's Local Music thanks to SODA with "Slow March" Check them out at Spotify & Facebook.
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In this episode I talk about a relatively new trial investigating pressure massage versus eccentric exercise for Achilles tendinopathy in a randomised trial. I hope you enjoy!
Also, if you have some time on your hands during this time of isolation and need to catch up on CPD head on over to www.tendinoapthyrehab.com. I am offering my online Mastering Lower Limb Tendinopathy course for $295.
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Your book is done. What comes next? Finding the right editor is just one of the many challenges that the Word Docs have faced with aplomb – or if not aplomb, at least with a cocktail and a good conversational opener. Alex, Amy and Sean will help you break down the wall between writer and publisher that sometimes seem insurmountable.
Twitter: @TheWordDocs Instagram: @TheWordDocs Facebook: The-Word-Docs
Tags - Access, Authenticity, Being a dick, Bangers & mash, Brainstorming, Brutal honesty, Canapés, Chocolate, Cocktails, Collaborators, Community, Conferences, Confidence, Conventions, Coursework cohorts, Credibility, Doctor Who, Double entendres, Elevator pitch, Emma Thompson on a unicycle, Fabio pants, Fake it vs make it, Festivals, Gossip, Homonyms, Human scum, Introversion vs extroversion, Meat alternatives, Merchandising, Momentum, My Dad Wrote a Porno, Name dropping, Nanna Joy, Narcissism, Networking, Publisher’s assistants, The Queen, Selling yourself vs selling your work, Self-promotion, Sex, Shamelessness, Shyness, Social anxiety, Sounding boards, Stable ponies, Stakes, Strategic socialising, Support ponies, Tall poppy syndrome, Track records, Two out of three rule, The Tyranny of distance, The Work is the work, Writers’ Associations
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Whether you’re a reclusive garret scribe or a gregarious cafe scribbler, you’ve put serious thought into the space you write. Alex, Amy and Sean are no different. They’ve experimented with rituals and rooms of their own. They’ve wrangled writers’ groups and writing retreats. One of them has gone to Antarctica in search of the ultimate office. The Word Docs learned their lessons the hard way so you won’t have to.
Twitter: @TheWordDocs Instagram: @TheWordDocs Facebook: The-Word-Docs
Tags - Accomplishment, Administration, All-nighters, Antarctica, The Best time to write, Bob Roberts, Book proposals, Bragging rights, Caffeine, Cats, Coffee shops/cafe culture, Cone of silence, Control vs chaos, Define “writing”, Distractions, Dublin, Exposure, Fake news, Fellowships, The Flow, Hell is other people, Hot chocolate, Housework, Kids, Lofts, Massages, Moscato, Multitasking, Music, Nanna Joy, Noise, Nature, Networking, Offices, Parenting, PhD, Pizza, Privacy, Retreats, Rituals, The Romantics, Sample chapters, Scotch Finger biscuits, The Secret, Seeking perfection, Sheds, Shovelling, Silence, Spotify, Standing desks, Star Wars, Storms, Swimming, Tea, Teenagers, Theme music, Tuning out, TV, Weather, Work/life balance, The Writer’s revenge, Writer cats, Writing environment, Writing goals, Writing groups, Writing in public, Writing on the road
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What are the minimum essential skills, technology, manufacturing, real resources and infrastructure within any country to enable them to sufficiently survive global pandemic or equivalent crises? On today’s episode, John and David co-isolate before the restrictions would have disallowed to discuss the missing part of public discourse on COVID-19 - Sovereign capability. Australia is particularly exposed to dependency on trade with other countries who provide many of these capabilities and this has caused a shockwave of realisation in the political sphere. What lessons are to be learned from this global pandemic and will we do anything to learn from them? These are the questions missing from mainstream media dialogue and John and David seek to answer them with a particular focus on economics and strategy.
This episode's musical interlude: Hartway with "Better". Support them on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Spotify.
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Live from the quarantine bunkers (via the wonders of the internet) David and Tim explain what's worth worrying about and what we can do to calm the masses of very vulnerable and terrified people. Despite the complexity and bleakness of days ahead, there is a lot to feel opportunistic about, but fear has taken the driver's seat for most of us. Why? There's a lot of science and ancient ideas to back up the antidotes to fear, and we hope to share some helpful exercises and practices to keep relative mental equilibrium and perhaps even flourish through the adversity of our time.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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COVID-19 has brought about a socially depraved new world, but the health crises have consequences in ways not all of us have considered, and not all of us are appropriately reacting to. Tim and David ruminate on the consequences socially and economically, then the security issues caused by COVID-19 and address some of the health scares and hysteria. We are not health professionals, please seek health advice from the appropriate source, one of which would be the WHO who we respect and listen to for broad cross-cultural advice.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Fairly tumultuous times have occurred throughout history, but few compare to WWI, so why does David think it gave way to the golden age of human development? Australia and many other countries are facing crises that are likely to last for a long time and have consequences we haven't even thought about - but there's a lot to look forward to if that's the case. We're not being sadistic, Tim and David discuss why adversity can bring out the best in human nature (though it can also do the opposite), and how we can be prepared and adapt to changes as they come. This discussion was had in the context of the first lecture for Complex Problem Solving, David's undergraduate course at the University of Adelaide, but has taken on a very different meaning given how world events are unfolding at the time of posting.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Where do ideas come from? Are there any new ones left? Does taking a long shower count as work? Is chocolate tax-deductible? The Word Docs share techniques, traps, and tales of times when inspiration has fled but the words must be put down regardless.
Twitter: @TheWordDocs Instagram: @TheWordDocs Facebook: The-Word-Docs
Baking, Beginnings with no endings, Boredom, Bread, Cooking, Community, Creative combinations, Creative music, Creative prompts, Daydreaming, The Definition of work, Daily wordcount, Deadlines, Demons, Double entendres, Downtime, Drafting, Dreams, Drinking games, Editing, Exhaustion, Fishes, Free association, Grants, The Grind, Ideas, Inspiration, Intuition, Ions, Left brain/right brains, Lightning bolts, Loose construing, Love, Mentorships, Movies, Music, Neologisms, New ideas, Notebooks, Play space, Process, Procrastination, Psychics, Reading, Refilling the well, Remixing, Researchm, Routine, Shakespeare, Schenectady, Spotify, Stages of writing, Storms, Sustaining creativity , Thesaurus, Titles, Unstructured time, Weather
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The Idlib balance of power is threatened as the last rebellion holdout in Syria by threatened by conflicting and complex interests. There is a current cease-fire, but as the "Battle for Idlib" is the last stand against the Syrian regime's sovereignty, it seems only a matter of time until violence breaks out once again. This an extraordinary Civil war which has attracted the strategic and tactical interests of Iran, Turkey, and Russia, bringing the conflict to the attention of NATO and other European multilateral alliances. With so much tension spread so far wide, the question really is, when will the cease-fire collapse. and who stands to benefit from what outcomes may eventuate?
To discuss these issues, we’ll be joined today by SAGE International Australia’s Dr. Imad Harb. Dr Harb is the Director of Research and Analysis at the Arab Center Washington DC. He is also Senior Non-Resident Fellow Greater Middle East for SAGE International Australia (SIA) as well as Member of the SIA Advisory Board. Dr Harb often commentates on Middle Eastern issues for the US and international media.
Please direct any feedback you may have to the SIA website, we look forward to hearing from you!
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Alex, Amy and Sean check in from their underground bunkers, where their research, writing and teaching continue unchecked. How are they coping with physical isolation? How are you? New times call for new solutions. Stay safe, everyone
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Alex, Amy and Sean tackle a topic close to the heart of many writers and students: getting work in on time. When stopping is sometimes just as hard as starting, the question of how to know if a story is ready for the world is one the Word Docs have all wrestled with many times in their careers. From procrastination baking to life in the Zone, our experts take you on a deep, discursive dive into the life of a working writer.
Twitter: @TheWordDocs Instagram: @TheWordDocs Facebook: The-Word-Docs
Tags; Anxiety, Author copies, Caffeine, Cats, Chocolate, Christmas, Compulsive writing, Confessions, Contests/competitions, Cramming, Creative ownership, Deadlines, Discipline, Drafting and redrafting, Drinking games, Experimentation, Extensions, Fear of failure, The Freedom of the beginner, The Grind, Ideas, Kids, Letting go, Marking, Moscato, Neologisms, Perfectionism, Pseudonyms, Quality vs quantity, Skills, Star Wars, Structure, Students, Teaching, Twists, Work/life balance, Writing muscles, The Zone
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As a shorter, more shareable update on the COVID19 pandemic, David has recorded an announcement from home to update listeners on best practice. We are not health professionals, but we have thoughtful and well-read responses to the threats that face our communities. We need to be thoughtful about our actions in the world and be considerate of those most at risk.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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How are we as a society dealing with #coronapocalypse? The toilet paper company stocks might suggest we aren't coping well at all. Between Australia's media, Government, and cultural practices the Novel Corona Virus has highlighted a lot of problems for us to deal with now and into the future. The world has a lot on its plate but the point is to be alert and not alarmed. Tim and David discuss what we can do at all levels to counteract the dangers posed to the world.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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This episode is a conversation with Dr. John Bruni, David Olney, and Tim Whiffen concerning John and David's latest trip to Canberra. The report John and David must produce for the DoD has lead to many meetings with large and small states who either give or receive foreign aid. The implications from the different perspectives on aid gives a fairly dire diagnosis of the Australian approach to soft power. These observations include some ideas that for the sake of Chatham House Rules cannot be attributed to specific persons and the ensuing discussion considers the ideas and not necessarily those who hold them.
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Dr Liz Elliott is an academic cartoonist & author concerned with sustainable economies. She has opposed treaties, Big Banks & centralization ideas, and supported localisation & Love for many years. Her book A New Way Now is a diagnosis for Australia and a progressive prescription for individuals and society to do and feel better. This podcast doesn't specifically tackle MMT, but instead, the vast opposition MMT has in being accepted. If you don't already understand MMT, listen to our episode on sustainable prosperity here. Liz was an attendee to the Sustainable Prosperity Conference in Adelaide 2020 (which you can watch here) where we caught up with her to talk about her book.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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In light of all that David and Tim learned at the 2020 sustainable prosperity conference, it seems like change is needed, but is it possible? There is a lot to like about the world we live in by comparison with even 50 years ago, but there's a lot we could do better, and yet it feels harder to make changes. What is the health of western democracy in 2020, and how did we get here? Is there another way? David has some thoughts about what we could do to make the system work and discusses them with Tim to tease out what we should do next to make it happen.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Bill Mitchell is a founder of Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) and a leading academic in the campaign for full employment. He is a co-author of Reclaiming the State: A Progressive Vision of Sovereignty for a Post-Neoliberal World and has several honours and academic positions internationally, including being the director of the Centre of Full Employment and Equity (CofFEE). If you don't already understand MMT, listen to our episode on sustainable prosperity here. Bill has visited Adelaide for the Sustainable Prosperity Conference 2020 where he revealed his Just Transition framework (which you can watch here). David and Tim caught up with Bill after his presentation to discuss further.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Andrés Bernal is an Advisor to U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Andrés' research focuses on the political economy and policy design of the Green New Deal as well as the intersection of functional finance with democratic institution-building and the social/solidarity economy. Andrés is a well-regarded proponent of MMT in the United States of America, and a significant opponent to the neoliberal establishment. Our discussion with Andrés ranges from visiting Australia, another neoliberal state and his campaign for a Green New Deal. If you don't already understand MMT, listen to our episode on sustainable prosperity here. Andrés has visited Adelaide for the Sustainable Prosperity Conference 2020 (which you can watch here) where we caught up with him to talk further.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Robert Costanza is an ecological economics professor and the Vice Chancellor’s Chair in Public Policy at the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University. Professor Costanza is the author or co-author of over 600 scientific papers and 27 books. Bob is incredibly concerned with the importance of natural and social capital and brings several disciplines together to assess problems and formulate macroeconomic solutions for wellbeing. If you don't already understand Ecological economics, listen to our episode on measuring genuine progress here. Bob has visited Adelaide for the Sustainable Prosperity Conference 2020 (which you can watch here) where we caught up with him to talk further.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Labour underutilisation, or unemployment, is not an acceptable state for Martin Watts an Emeritus Professor at the University of Newcastle. Despite being retired, Martin is also a Research Associate at the Centre of Full Employment and Equity (CofFEE). Martin is a proponent of the Job Guarantee, an important part of the Just Transition or Green Transition proposed throughout the conference. Martin also has a sophisticated understanding of contemporary macroeconomic policy and has contributed to the literature surrounding MMT. If you don't already understand MMT, listen to our episode on sustainable prosperity here. Martin has visited Adelaide for the Sustainable Prosperity Conference 2020 (which you can watch here).
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Dr James Juniper is a lecturer in economics at the University of Newcastle, and an expert in the insufficiencies of neoclassical models, as demonstrated in his book The Economic Philosophy of the Internet of Things. The ecological economics approach to MMT that James brings to the sustainability conversation takes the MMT lens away from infinite growth models and toward expanded resource-based thinking. Throughout the conversation, it becomes ever-more apparent that transdisciplinary assessment of modern problems is required to gain traction. If you don't already understand MMT, listen to our episode on sustainable prosperity here. James has visited Adelaide for the Sustainable Prosperity Conference 2020 (which you can watch here) where we caught up with him to talk further.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Cameron Murray is a Post-Doctoral Researcher at the University of Sydney and the co-author of Game of Mates. Grey Corruption and hegemonic power are incredibly influential in establishing and maintaining the neoliberal model in Australia and many other states across the globe. Cameron's broader research and Australia-specific analysis ccombine for a damning diagnosis of the Australian system, and his findings are crucial to the success of a just transition to sustainable prosperity. This podcast doesn't specifically tackle MMT, but instead, the vast opposition MMT has in being accepted. If you don't already understand MMT, listen to our episode on sustainable prosperity here. Cameron has visited Adelaide for the Sustainable Prosperity Conference 2020 (which you can watch here) where we caught up with him to talk further.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Tyson Yunkaporta is an Indigenous Australian philosopher who has written an intriguing book, Sand Talk. As a preface to a 'yarn' or conversation about how to solve world issues, Tyson isolates a few problems with the current economic paradigm for modern societies. Tyson's presentation at the conference included some Indigenous perspectives on how a just transition might proceed in Australia. If you don't already understand MMT, listen to our episode on sustainable prosperity here. Tyson has visited Adelaide for the Sustainable Prosperity Conference 2020 (which you can watch here) we caught with him to discuss his book and ideas surrounding the conference.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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This episode is a conversation with Prof. Purnendra Jain, a member of the SIA Advisory Board and SIA's Head of Research & Academic Development about his research trip to India. The report John and David must produce for the DoD is in collaboration with Purnendra and his trip included meeting with staff from the Institue for Defense Studies and Analysis, an Indian Think Tank, and attendance at the Raisina Dialogue. These observations include some ideas that for the sake of Chatham House Rules cannot be attributed to specific persons and the ensuing discussion considers the ideas and not necessarily those who hold them.
This episode's musical interlude: Mum Thinks Blue with Gotten Away. Support them on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Spotify.
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Boris Johnson has won a landslide election proving the British people want Brexit and want a hardline, perhaps conservative approach to the deals yet to be made. Boris has many decisions to make and a lot of Britains future is uncertain with new alliances and old tensions brewing in the liberation of British people from the political and economic bureaucracy of the European Union.
To talk to us about this, in a general discussion, is Commodore Pat Tyrrell OBE RN (Retd), Pat is Chair of the SIA Advisory Board, Senior Non-Resident Fellow Global & Maritime Security.CDRE Tyrrell is Director of Vale Atlantic Associates which specializes in the provision of high-level, strategic consultancy in several fields including cyber warfare, security, intelligence analysis as well as current research in technologies applicable to defence and the intelligence world. He holds the Order of the British Empire, a Master of Arts degree in Chemistry and a Bachelor of Laws.
This week's music comes courtesy of Flat Moon Society, check them out on Facebook, Spotify, and iTunes.
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The Senior Economic Advisor to Bernie Sanders and the Professor of Public Policy and Economics at Stonybrook University NY joins David and Tim in the studio to discuss the historical precedent for dealing with the climate crisis and changing our societies to benefit everyone justly. Stephanie is a post-Keynesian economist who has significance in the world of MMT, which if you don't already understand, listen to our episode on sustainable prosperity here. Stephanie has visited Adelaide for the Sustainable Prosperity Conference 2020 (which you can watch here) and visited the University of Adelaide as the Harcourt Professor of Economics 2020.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Youngblood, David's ashtanga teacher, joins us in the studio to discuss Amy Chua's book The Triple Package. The book describes three traits that successful groups tend to have in common that explain how some cultural groups do better than others. Despite the initial controversy regarding Amy's argument, David, Tim, and Youngblood find merit through unpacking the core traits in an unbiased lens.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Qasem Soleimani was brazenly assassinated by the Trump administration on January 3rd, 2020. Iran responded with missile strikes on military bases in Iraq with no American casualties. Australia and the UK are wondering what its future is in Iraq and what will happen next.
To talk to us about this, in a general discussion, is Commodore Pat Tyrrell OBE RN (Retd), Pat is Chair of the SIA Advisory Board, Senior Non-Resident Fellow Global & Maritime Security.CDRE Tyrrell is Director of Vale Atlantic Associates which specializes in the provision of high-level, strategic consultancy in several fields including cyber warfare, security, intelligence analysis as well as current research in technologies applicable to defence and the intelligence world. He holds the Order of the British Empire, a Master of Arts degree in Chemistry and a Bachelor of Laws.
This week's music comes courtesy of Big Uncle Love Bus, check them out on Facebook, Spotify, and Apple Music.
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Really love a specific episode of the podcast but struggle to recall it when telling your peers about it? This is the episode for you. It's been a full year of Blind Insights and we would love nothing more than for you to feel not only that you have learned something, but also that you can take that information with you.
Enter Anastasia Woolmer, Australia's first female memory champion and two-time winner. With just 5 months of training, Anastasia went from an average memory to an internationally competitive. You too can achieve great things in a short period with some know-how and of course practice. This episode explains how different memory systems work, what you can achieve with greater memory and the implications of memory for the greater society.
You can watch Anastais'a TED X Talk here
Some of Anastasia's records and credentials
Anastasia's website
Want to improve your memory? Consider Anastasia's Master Recall Course
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Usually, on Blind Insights, we discuss frightening topics but this episode is very different: It will restore your faith in humanity. David and Tim interview Nicholas Christakis, author of Blueprint, a book that explains the cycles of human societies and instils or restores faith in humanity. Nicholas Christakis is the Sterling Professor of Social and Natural Science at Yale University. This title is awarded to Professor Christakis to recognise him as the best in the fields of network science; biosocial science; and public health, further proving the significance of his work.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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David and Tim ponder the craziness and stress that plagues this holiday season and come to the conclusion that we should all slow down and make the effort to connect with one another in the ways that mean most to our peers.
From ours to yours, we wish you happy holidays and may the next year bring you the conditions for flourishing.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Tim and David talk to Gabrielle and Steven about the potentially world-changing conference happening in Adelaide in January to help our listeners get access to what will be an amazing event. Excited to attend the conference, we discuss the details of attending and what can be done to support and get access to the event if it's not practical to attend.
Registration is now open! Click here for ticket information.
Please contact us if you are interested in presenting at the conference. You can also like or follow the MMT Economics for Sustainable Prosperity Facebook page for conference updates.
For speaker enquiries please email steven.hail@adelaide.edu.au
For registration enquiries please email gabrielle.bond@gmail.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tim and David talk to Gabrielle and Steven about the potentially world-changing conference happening in Adelaide in January to help our listeners get access to what will be an amazing event. Excited for another chat with Steven we go into detail about why this conference is important and what can be done to support and get access to the event if it's not practical to attend.
Registration is now open! Click here for ticket information.
Please contact us if you are interested in presenting at the conference. You can also like or follow the MMT Economics for Sustainable Prosperity Facebook page for conference updates.
For speaker enquiries please email steven.hail@adelaide.edu.au
For registration enquiries please email gabrielle.bond@gmail.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Rex Patrick is a Senator for South Australia representing the Centre Alliance Party who joined John, David and Tim in the STRATEGIKON studio to answer some questions pertinent to the future of Australia's security and flourishing.
The Centre Alliance Party's Website:
https://centrealliance.org.au/
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Rushan Abbas is a well known Uyghur activist who graced the STRATEGIKON studio with her presence to tell John and David more about her experiences of persecution and what the rest of the world could and should be doing.
Rushan Abbas’s Campaign for Uyghurs site at:
https://campaignforuyghurs.org/
The US Congress recently passed new sanctions on China for its treatment of Uyghurs. More information on this can be found by following this link:
https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/12/03/politics/us-xinjiang-bill-trump-intl-hnk/index.html
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On this episode of Blind Insights, David brings his favourite barista-turned-actor into the studio, Nic Darrigo, Nic has his own comedy podcast The Nick and Stefan Show, but more importantly, Tim and David talk to Nic about his career choice, and what it took for Nic to act and be himself. Why is being yourself so important? Nic has wonderful insights into presence and charisma, and what it takes to bring yourself up from lack of direction to habituating being yourself.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Hi All,
On this talking tendons episode, I dive into the very murky world of isometric exercise and their effect on tendon pain. A new study by Sinead Holden and team brings some (just a little) light to the evidence. I argue that isometrics are useful for managing tendinopathy, but using them for short term pain reduction is just the tip of the iceberg.
Also if you're wanting to earn some extra CPD before Christmas check out my two upcoming workshops in December in Sydney and Melbourne (bookings).
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We measure success by income and productivity, yet this misses the mark for comparing countries long term. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is an inadequate measurement for ecological economist Phil Lawn from the University of Adelaide. David and Tim caught up with Phil to discuss the shortcomings of GDP and the alternatives to measure the genuine progress of a country, it's a lot more complicated than you may think, and the implications for resource use and the welfare of people are massive.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Now we understand MMT, and have a model for sustaining our existence, what can we do to bring more people up from unemployment and poverty? A Federal Job Guarantee is designed to ensure everyone who can work and is willing, will have a job. Steven Hail, a Doctor of Economics from the University of Adelaide joins Tim and David in the studio to explain.
If you're interested in some of these ideas, please consider coming to the conference in Adelaide in January 2020.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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This episode is a conversation about SIA's research trip to Canberra. In an aim to talk about the interesting ideas at the ambassadorial/HC level meetings we had, this discussion maintains Chatham house rules: We talk about the ideas but not where the ideas have come from. The report John and David must produce with collaborators is being done on behalf of the Defense, as such this podcast presents learnings about small and medium states defence spending and priorities.
This week's music comes courtesy of Big Uncle Love Bus, check them out on Facebook, Spotify, and Apple Music.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hi All,
In this episode of Talking Tendons I have an enjoyable chat with PhD student and Spanish physio, Igor Sancho. He has recently published a study that assessed the feasibility of using jumping and hopping as rehabilitation for people with Achilles tendinopathy. We discuss the study and how to apply these findings in clinic.
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David and Tim were suitably impressed with Dr Steven Hail on the podcast in episode 40 of Blind Insights. The episode is a great listen but there was definitely room to debrief and revisit the information to solidify learning.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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When we work for others our sense of success often bears on feeling appreciated by our colleagues and bosses. So how do we communicate and receive appreciation in the workplace when we all feel it in different ways? Dr Paul White is the author of 5 languages of Appreciation in the Workplace, a book that details why we speak different languages and how to learn other languages.
If you're interested in Dr White's work, you can find more at Appreciation at Work.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Being honest is the key to mental health, acknowledging problems and doing something about them is difficult, but when you accept your responsibility you can accomplish great things in your relationships and in your personal life. David and Tim talk with Cortney Warren PhD & Clinical Psychologist, her new book "The Lies We Tell Ourselves: The Psychology of Self Deception" and how to confront our own self-deception and approach others who deceive themselves.
You can reach Cortney Warren at choosehonesty.com & Psychology Today
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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John Bruni, CEO of SAGE International Australia, recently went on a trip and found himself in Dubai, wherein an interesting conversation was had with David Khandan. Tim, John and David interview David Khandan, Executive Director of Austability to recreate the magic of that conversation. In this episode, we look at the Australian Government and diagnose some problems with the short elected terms and prescribe some new approaches to a range of issues for long term strategy.
This week's music comes courtesy of Leaf and Stem, check them out on Facebook, Spotify and iTunes.
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Iran has been placed in a very difficult bind by the US and other countries with extreme economic interest in Iranian Oil. The US has put blame for the recent attack on oil tankers off the Gulf of Oman on Iran, further sparking tensions in the area. Iran's fringe political groups are pushing back against the US administration in a big way since the dispute and the reality of an Iranian attack against the US is becoming serious. There are desires to remove the Iranian regime throughout the region and from many countries in the west. But what is the best approach to keep the peace after years, centuries, of subjegation of the iranians.
To talk to us about this, in a general discussion, is Commodore Pat Tyrrell OBE RN (Retd), Pat is Chair of the SIA Advisory Board, Senior Non Resident Fellow Global & Maritime Security.CDRE Tyrrell is Director of Vale Atlantic Associates which specializes in the provision of high-level, strategic consultancy in several fields including cyber warfare, security, intelligence analysis as well as current research in technologies applicable to defence and the intelligence world. He holds the Order of the British Empire, a Master of Arts degree in Chemistry and a Bachelor of Laws.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We've talked about the end of growth and that is damning enough for our current system, but if we come up with solutions for lack of resources, how can we afford them? Steven Hail, professor of economics at the University of Adelaide, is a proponent of Modern Monetary Theory, a system of thought about money that could turn Australian politics upside down. Settle in for a grand episode where money is demystified.
If this episode interests you, make sure to check out the conference with Stephanie Kelton in Adelaide for January next year: https://mmt-adelaide-2020.com/.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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In this episode of STRATEGIKON, David and Tim take listeners along to talk to some speakers from a recent event put on by Professor Purnendra Jain of The University of Adelaide and member of SIA Advisory Board. To discuss the Japanese Economy, Australia-Japan Relations, and Japan’s Politics and Foreign Policy, David interviews three academics from The Australian National University:
Dr Ben Ascione is a research scholar at the Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU. He is Japan and Korea editor at East Asia Forum and a research associate at the Japan Center for International Exchange in Tokyo.
Dr Lauren Richardson is the Director of Studies and a Lecturer at the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy. Previously she taught Northeast Asian Relations at the University of Edinburgh and Keio University. Her research focuses on the role of non-state actors in shaping diplomatic interactions in Northeast Asia. Dr Richardson holds Master’s degrees in Asian Studies (Monash University) and Political Science (Keio University), and a PhD in International Relations from ANU. She has been a visiting fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs and Keio University, a recipient of the Prime Minister’s Australia-Asia Award (2011), and a participant in the US-Korea NextGen Scholars Program (2015-16).
Professor Peter Drysdale AO is Emeritus Professor of Economics and Head of the East Asian Bureau of Economic Research and East Asia Forum at the Crawford School of Public Policy. His research interests include Asia Pacific economic integration, international trade and foreign direct investment, Japanese economic policy, and the East Asian economic transformation. Previously, Peter was Professor of Economics and founding Executive Director of the Australia-Japan Research Centre at the Crawford School. He is widely recognised as one of the leading architects of APEC, and is the author of several books on economic policy in the Asia Pacific, including the prize-winning International Economic Pluralism: Economic Policy in East Asia and the Pacific. Peter received his PhD in Economics from ANU.
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David and Tim were invited to give a talk to some of the most thoughtful and well trained ethicists in Adelaide, to discuss the tenability of effective altruism from the perspective of David as a person with visual impairment.
David trains people to use (and choose between) a raft of skills and heuristics, so that they can ask deeper questions, identify assumptions, challenge biases, communicate more effectively, plan more reliably, and empower themselves to create better outcomes. His ultimate aim is to help teams to embrace and apply creative problem solving. So naturally intelligent and curious persons from EA in Adelaide sought a discussion with David, where he rocked the boat and brought up some tensions.
If you have any drink suggestions, or have a great idea for a spirited conversation, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com.
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Anders Breivik has set a precedent of assessing young, white angry males as being psychologically unstable when in reality he was politically radical, committed, and motivated. In this episode of Blind Insights, David and Tim speak to Paj Sandu about the processes of right wing white radialisation in the west.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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After 20 years of mass shootings in America nothing seems to change. Could regulating firearms, like in Australia, work in the United States, and, if not, are there any workable alternatives?
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Following the popular episode where David and Tim explored many of William Glasser's ideas, they teamed up with Christine Duffield of the WIlliam Glasser Institute Australia to explore further.
Glasser Australia is a non-profit organisation that teaches the theories and practices of Dr William Glasser.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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It's cold, it's dark, it's painful, and it's probably the best thing you can do to start your day. Cold showers are a great habit to get into, David and Tim explain why and give you their tips for the long-held practice of water torture.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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David and Tim talk to Suzanne Eder about her excellent TED talk, The Dark Side of Self-Improvement, and how to get comfortable with the idea of loving yourself.
To find out more about Suzanne's work, and read some of her writing, please check out her website.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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A lot has been said of the state of American global power. But in the US itself there is little appetite among the people to be on a constant state of military vigilance and arguably the Trump win in 2016 played to a sense of national public war weariness. This is a time of confrontation with Iran in the Gulf, Kim Jong Un in North Korea, and most worrying of all, a rising China. Chinese power is increasingly seen to be pushing US power from the Western Pacific.
To plumb the depths of American power in the Pacific today, we are honoured to be joined by Lt. General Jerry Martinez, US Air Force (Ret.). Also in the Studio are John Bruni and David Olney.
This weeks music comes courtesy of Flat Moon Society, check them out on Facebook, Spotify and iTunes.
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We are joined by Dr. Gary Klein, President of Shadowbox LLC, to discuss Naturalistic Decision Making, how to do a PreMortem, and how to gain Insights.
If you found this episode interesting, consider reading some of Gary's work. We hope later to talk to Gary about his new findings in training measures with Shadow Box LLC.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Judging people based on their music tastes has become a part of the adolescent experience, and a large part of maturing. We allow ourselves to think and display judgments of others ears, using microaggressive quips to bag any taste that is other to our own, revealing an insecurity that we are part of a small tribe of music genre. But what about music makes the alternative so attractive, why is it so important in our rebellious phase, and how do you find peace with your experience of music being different to others? To talk to us about this, David and Tim invited Simon Blackburn of the popular Take My Tone podcast to discuss musical influence in general life. (Note: FKJ is not a duo as mentioned, but instead feature singers and other players in the songs often recording as a duo).
Please also check out David's appearances on Take My Tone, and on Simon's other podcast Apple Slice.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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This has been a great 32 episode start to the podcast Blind insights, but what are our goals, and what do we want for you, our audience? Catch up with this bonus episode or listen to it on the new Blind Drunk RSS feed!
Thanks for supporting us and make sure to share with your friends and family!
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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David and Tim chat to one of David's former students who has successfully written an essay that stopped David in his tracks with the significance of the writing. Morris joins us in the studio to discuss the matter of evil in the real world. Given the word's religious history, it's not something we use in a serious way very often, but can and should we use evil to describe the wretched acts we see humans commit across the globe? Does such a loaded word have any utility? Philosophers and theologians have exalted and banished the word in arguments for centuries, but what does a pragmatic use look like? Just a warning, this episode contains confronting content.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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The European Parliament’s creation, national ambitions, identities and interests have had an imperfect execution throughout its history. The last elections demonstrated that nationalism is making a come-back in a significant way. British 'nationalists' won the Brexit debate hugely, Northern Italian ‘nationalists’ won in Italy signalling a divided Italy may be in its future. Though there were some notable defeats for nationalist parties, overall they are a growing, permanent presence in the European political space. Upon scanning recent geopolitical articles on social media, Dr. John Bruni came across a piece written by a colleague and part-time contributor to SAGE International Australia, Prof. Dr. Julian Lindley-French.
To discuss these issues, we’ll be joined today by Prof. Lindley-French. Julian is Vice-President Atlantic Treaty Association, Senior Fellow of the Institute of Statecraft, Director of Europa Analytica & Distinguished Visiting Research Fellow, National Defense University, Washington DC.
Please direct any feedback you may have to the SIA website, we look forward to hearing from you!
This episode's feature artist is Hartway, with their track Dreaming. Find them on Facebook, iTunes and Spotify.
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It's tax time in Australia and the Prime Minister Scott Morrison has passed a tax break for people to stimulate the economy. What are you meant to do with this money? Spend it! What would you do if you had even more guaranteed free money? There's such a thing as a Basic Income Guarantee (also known as Universal Basic Income) which is an idea that has been put forth by progressive and conservative libertarians since the 18th century. What are the costs and the benefits of this system and why does it bother so many people? Imagine what you could do if you knew you could survive when your career falls to pieces... David and Tim are joined by economics expert Sam Burt to discuss the idea and its proponents.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Abiy Ahmed election as Ethiopia’s Prime Minister in April 2018 was welcomed as good news around the world. Ethiopia is critical to the Horn of Africa, and since the end of its sixteen year long civil war, the victory of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, rapidly stabilised the state.
Abiy Ahmed promised to enact reforms that would fully modernise and liberalise Ethiopia but his attempts have come unstuck. Critics claim that Abiy’s reform process is too fast, and that it is threatening to leave large parts of the population behind. On June 23 of 2018, Abiy was the target of an assassination attempt killing 2 people and injuring around 165 in Meskel Square, fortunately Abiy was unharmed. Then a coup attempt staged by Brig. Gen. Asaminew Tsige with the destabilising assassination of three senior officials of Amhara state. Can Abiy survive his reform process?
Today we are joined by Sandy Wade OBE JP. Sandy is Associate Director Horn of Africa at Africa Advisory Partners Limited and Horn of Africa Regional Strategic Advisor with Austability and Associate Director with Strategia Worldwide. He’s had and continues to have extensive experience in Ethiopia and Horn of Africa affairs.
Please subscribe to STRATEGIKON through your favourite podcatcher and like us on the SAGE International Australia Facebook site and follow us on Twitter. We appreciate your support! Also, please comment on any of our articles and podcasts through Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and of course on the SAGE International Australia site, we welcome any constructive feedback that can help improve our products and we look forward to engaging with our followers.
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The 2019 Hong Kong anti-extradition bill has incited protests and political unrest in Hong Kong and Taiwan, evoking emotions across the globe. The protests are demanding a withdrawal of the Fugitive Offenders and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation Bill 2019 proposed by the Government of Hong Kong. Though Hong Kong has extradition deals with other countries, it does not extradite citizens to mainland China, into the jurisdiction of the Chinese Communist Party. The "One Country, Two Systems" agreement between HK and the Mainland is threatened by these laws, but this is not the first time there have been proposals to blur the lines between the two states. To discuss the significance of these protests, we are joined by Professor Delia Lin, a Senior, Lecturer in Chinese Studies at the Asia Institute, University of Melbourne. Delia is a multi-disciplinary educator, her expertise range from engineering, to a PhD in Humanities from Griffith University, Australia. Her research in linguistics, sociology, and political science has all been rooted in chinese culture, giving her excellent scope for this discussion.
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David and Tim discuss the looming energy and resource crisis with Richard Heinberg, who is Senior Fellow at the Post Carbon Institute, and hypothesise what the world and our lives might be like on the other side of The End of Growth.
Please check out the Post Carbon Institute, their work with Resilience, and Richard's personal work on his website.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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In today’s episode David and Tim discuss Strategic Culture. Strategic Culture is a tool for analysing states’ security behaviour developed by Jack Snyder in the 1970s. Snyder argued that if we understand how security professionals and the political elite are trained to think about security and strategy, then we can understand how states might behave in relation to brinkmanship and warfare. With the current tension between the United States and Iran, Strategic Culture has immediate relevance.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
'Strategic culture can be defined as a set of beliefs, attitudes and norms towards the use of military force', often moulded according to historical experience' - Jack Snyder 1977
The Future of Strategic Military Leadership | Murphy Danahy | TEDxWestPoint
McFate, Sean (2019). Goliath: Why the West Doesn’t Win Wars. And What We Need to Do About It. Audiobook
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What does the future of war look like? Do we expect armies of robots, lazer guns, and multi terrain transforming jet fighters? What about the strategic elements of future war, how will major powers react to the technical advances in weaponry and surveillance? This is a fun thought experiment, but there is a deeper consideration, in delving into the current trajectory of defence for many world players a question arises, what happens when we run out of the complex systems, resources, and weapons we are investing in? Dr. John Bruni and David Olney discuss this in depth, and give warning to industry and political leaders to consider the practical implications of their technological defence endeavours.
This episode's musical break is courtesy of Leaf and Stem, with their song "Always Yours" Check them out on Spotify!
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For some of us there is nothing more frustrating than a vegan announcing their presence, or lecturing you on food. Pushy people, no matter the cause, get on our nerves, but vegans are in the spotlight at the moment with protests around the country and plenty of "VEGAN DESTROYED" videos on YouTube. Tim and David invite some lovely vegans into the studio to have a discussion about what makes a normal vegan tick, and how the identity is more than an ethical choice. Before a delicious lunch at Two-bit Villains, Jade, Soph, Tim, and David all give their perspectives, and knuckle down on why veganism is so contentious, and how to navigate the ethical, environmental, and physiological implications of eating animals or not. This is all in preparation for a talk Peter Singer will be doing over skype at the University of Adelaide, thanks to Effective Altruism Adelaide.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Do you give to charity? Why or why not? It's complicated, right? Hopefully in this episode of Blind Insights we can offer you an explanation of why you don't give to charity, or if you do, what charities achieve the most. We turn to Peter Singer, a leader and proponent of Effective Altruism, to look for answers about what we could do, and discuss why his arguments, as logical as they are, haven't revolutionised collective action. This episode is a hefty discussion covering topics from abortion to consciousness, so we'd love to hear from you about what you do for your community or charity and why.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Peter Singer's effective altruism is explained in this easy to listen to podcast: Philosophize this! Episode 85
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Penny Locaso is the world's first happiness hacker, someone concerned with helping others, or challenging others, to take control of their habits, vocabulary, and their approaches to learning. What Penny has to share is important and her conversation with David and Tim leads them to diagnose and approach complex problems. Between the faster pace of work, more digital distractions, less physical contact with people and nature, and the potential for technology, living and working is pretty complex and it's getting more complex as time passes. Questions, comments, or suggestions? Contact us at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Learn more about Penny
Penny's TED Talk: "Fear is your Future"
Check out Penny's podcast Human First
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Anti-fragility is a phrase coined by Professor Nassim Nicholas Taleb in his eponymous book. To build on centuries of ancient knowledge and wisdom, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and Jess Freund is certainly alive and strong. During this episode we feature our first female guest, discuss the name of the podcast and address the considerations of antifragile people and antifragile societies.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Book recommendations: Antifragility - Nassim Nicholas Taleb Man's Search for Meaning - Viktor Frankl Atomic Habits - James Clear The Coddling of the American Mind - Jonathan Haidt Resilience - Eric Greitens Highly Sensitive People - Isle Sand Death Road - John Mosier
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We’ll start off with a quote from our friends at Wikipedia: "Truthiness is the belief or assertion that a particular statement is true based on the intuition or perceptions of some individual or individuals, without regard to evidence, logic, intellectual examination, or facts." Today we are joined by Dr Sharon Mascall-Dare, Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of South Australia and by multi-award-winning journalist Peter Warren, to answer some big questions: Do our audiences fact check, or is there not enough time? Can the reporters cut through the guff? In today’s age where reporting the news is now in the hands of fewer and fewer media mega corporations, how do we get to the truth of the matter?
This episode's musical interlude: Mum Thinks Blue with Gotten Away Support them on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Spotify.
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Bradley Wall is a special individual who did what most people do not - put himself in harm's way, in awful conditions, against his body's wishes, to experience some of Nature's splendour. David and Tim saw it fit to ask why anyone would do such a thing? Clearly Brad had a good idea of what he had to gain from this experience, and it goes to show that discipline has benefits in all of it's forms.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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The Indian 2019 national election is upon us. Prime Minister Nanendra Modi has guided India as Prime Minister since his first electoral victory back in 2014.
To discuss how Modi and the BJP are affecting the Indian polity, society and strategy, we speak to Prof. Purnendra Jain, member of the SIA Advisory Board, and Dr. Stuti Bhatnagar, formerly with the University of Adelaide and regular contributor to the Lowy Institute on Indian affairs.
Please comment on any of our articles and podcasts through Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and of course on the SAGE International Australia site. We welcome any constructive feedback that can help improve our products and we look forward to engaging with our followers.
This week's Local Music thanks to SODA with "Silent Minds" Check them out at Spotify & Facebook. They're playing at The Lion Arts Factory on the 30th of May.
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Isometric exercise for tendinopathy has exploded onto the scene over the last few years. Unfortunately, the certainty of evidence surrounding their use is far less certain and compelling than what we are told about them but some people. They may work, but the reality is we don't fully understand how and for whom. This episode delves into this uncertainty and provides lots of top tips for how to use isometrics and when they are useful. Enjoy!
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It's looking like a majority coalition government for Australia thanks to some very important seats being won for LNP - but this has a lot of people upset to say the least. The popular vote went to the Liberal and National parties but neither had as many votes individually compared to Labor. This was not expected by the media or the pollsters, but many individuals could have predicted it by virtue of their votes. David helps Tim unpack what happened, how the polls were so wrong, and what to do if you're dissatisfied with the result.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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This is the most confronting episode of Blind Insights to date. David shares how the findings of William Glasser, founder of Choice Theory, and student of Abraham Maslow (of Maslow's hierarchy of needs), have informed his approach to teaching and his mental health. If you're down in the dumps, to trivialise a common human suffering, Glasser presents a solution - a process to take yourself through, and a conceptualisation of self, to help you one step at a time...
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
TELEPHONE COUNSELLING - IF YOU NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE, CALL: Lifeline on 13 11 14 Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978 Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36 Headspace on 1800 650 890 QLife on 1800 184 527
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Yemen is a benighted country just south/southwest of Saudi Arabia. The Saudi monarchy has overseen a 2004 Shiite uprising, and directly connected to its existential foe in the Middle East – Iran. The Saudi monarchy pointed its accusatory finger at Iran for stirring up unrest in Yemen, a self-fulfilling prophecy. The Saudis, fearing that the Houthi contagion might spread to its own significant Shiite population, decided to enter the fray in 2015 and snuff out this rebellion. But the international community has on the whole been quiet on the war in Yemen.
To discuss these issues, we’ll be joined today by SAGE International Australia’s Dr. Imad Harb. Dr Harb is Director of Research and Analysis at the Arab Center Washington DC. He is also Senior Non Resident Fellow Greater Middle East for SAGE International Australia (SIA) as well as Member of the SIA Advisory Board. Dr Harb often commentates on Middle Eastern issues for the US and international media.
Please direct any feedback you may have to the SIA website, we look forward to hearing from you!
This episode's feature artist is Hartway, with their track Beyond. Find them on Facebook, iTunes and Spotify.
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David's physical discipline is the daily peaceful practice of Ashtanga Yoga. He has learned many poses within the primary series, despite his blindness, under the ongoing tutelage of Youngblood Roche—a yogi and the director of the Adelaide Ashtanga Yoga Shala. In this special episode, the dynamic shifts as David becomes the student while, together, Tim, Youngblood, and David explore the many benefits of yoga. Youngblood also gives insight into the challenges David has faced in the practice being blind and how the experience of working with David has impacted Youngblood's teaching.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Two honours economics students join David and Tim in the studio to school them on the country's economic standing before the upcoming election. Jaedon and Sam are well read economists who have some troubling analysis of the Australian economic system, and what to consider before the upcoming election.
This episode is designed to be listened to without any economic literacy, so if you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Australians are facing a federal election on May 18th, and it seems to Tim and David that voters are despondent or disinterested. Why? Does this matter? What can we do to fix it? All things that Tim, David, and special Guest Dr. John Bruni discuss. John is from SAGE International Australia, and an esteemed commentator on foreign affairs, someone well-versed in politics. The conversation lends itself to some skepticism bordering on cynicism over Australian leadership and political practice.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
I Side With voting tool.
Leigh Sales interview with General Stanley McChrystal
STRATEGIKON can be found on the Auscast Network, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and on the SAGE International Australia website.
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It is said that technology of cyberspace is the new battleground, but what is cyber? For all intents and purposes cyberspace is an invisible force our personal devices are all plugged into it. We use the cyberspace to perform tasks in all areas of life and in all industries. There is not a thing that is untouched through this medium, and it's reach is only gowing. So, should the global internet be a free global commons to be used by government, citizen, criminal and terrorist alike? In this episode, we’ll be joined by SAGE International Australia’s latest member, Senior Associate Peter Warren. Peter is a multi-award-winning British journalist who has dedicated much of his professional life to understanding the interplay between people, technology and societies. Peter has his own internet-based think tank called Future Intelligence radio technology programme called ‘PassW0rd’ and we are happy to have him on STRATEGIKON.
This episode also features local South Australian band "Day Three; Dusk" with their fitting track "Tyrant". They can be found on Youtube, Spotify, and Bandcamp.
Please make sure to leave any feedback on our Twitter, Facebook or Website.
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Derrick McManus is a medical marvel and an exemplar or how much the human body and mind can achieve or survive with the right practices and mindset. In a special episode of Blind Insights, David and Tim discuss Derrick's personal story and the concepts he is sharing with the world from his own learned experience. The three enjoy a great conversation about where the world could be if we were to maintain optimal performance and become more durable, resilient humans. Along with leading a life of risk, Derrick has always been responsible for actions and consequences and shown discipline in anything he sets his mind too. As a case study for human durability and resilience, this would be one of the most convincing stories.
If you wish to learn more about Derrick, he has a seminar running soon. You can also find him on Facebook and Twitter.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Things that creep and crawl in the dark are scary, but Nick Warner the Director-General of the Australian Office of National Intelligence says there's more to stop us from sleeping peacefully. Sino-American competition, Disruptive technological change, Regional tensions, Population growth in PNG, North Korea, and Terrorism is a short list of the major threats to our world as we know it. Please don't forget to subscribe to STRATEGIKON, and follow the SAGE International Australia Facebook and Twitter accounts. We welcome feedback and discussion! Let us know what you think
Nick Warner Address
2011 Anders Behring Breivik Attack
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Have you found you political beliefs to change over time? So have Peter, Tim, and David. The reasons for changing your beliefs are varied, but theses three men discuss their journeys with similar outcomes in the wake of a more polarised culture. Regardless of your beliefs, you may find some use in thinking about your journey to your standing, and this conversation is an excellent start. Peter offers his journey from Marxism to Centrism, David recounts his thoughts through Communism to Anarchism, and Tim discusses his ever-swaying Left and Right leaning beliefs.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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On May 1st, Japan's current Emperor Akihito is set to abdicate. As every Japanese emperor reigns in his own specific era, the post-Akihito era has been named Reiwa, promising a period of order and harmony.
So, what will the Reiwa Imperial Era spell for Japan? Will it be an era of order and peace as the name suggests? In this episode, we’ll be joined by SAGE International Australia’s Prof. Purnendra Jain, our resident expert on Japan and Northeast Asia to discuss these issues.
We hope that you enjoy our exciting adventures through the world of geopolitics. You can subscribe to STRATEGIKON through the Austcast Network, iTunes, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Tunein and Spotify - and please like us on the SAGE International Australia FaceBook site and follow us on Twitter.
Thanks to Flat moon Society for providing the song "Double Down" this episode. You can find them on iTunes, Spotify, and bandcamp: https://flatmoonsocietyband.bandcamp.com/
We appreciate your support! Also, please comment on any of our articles and podcasts through Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and of course on the SAGE International Australia site, we welcome any constructive feedback that can help improve our products and we look forward to engaging with our followers. Until next time, goodbye!
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Peter Thomson joins Tim and David to discuss the merits and consequences of violence and community in the face of oppression or political stagnation. In an increasingly polarised world (see Jonathan Haidt's Righteous Mind), the approaches we have to make change are varied in morality and efficacy. Violence should never be the answer, but can it be? Unionism seems to be underappreciated or misused, so what's the alternative? If you're feeling disillusioned by the coming Australian Federal Election (or by your local politics) this episode will provide some food for thought and inspire your actions of influence.
If you have any questions, comments, disagreements, or local places in Adelaide you think we should eat at, contact us at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Relevant Link; Documentary about JFK Assassination - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2945784/
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Despite our best intentions, not everyone with tendinopathy will respond to conservative treatments. Clinicians need alternative options like injection therapy. Injections such as steroid and platelet-rich plasma continue to be popular for tendinopathy, and there are other emerging injections such as the high-volume injection.
Injection TherapyIn Tendinopathy: Art & Science - 4th May 2019 MELBOURNE
booking via link below:
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/injection-therapy-in-tendinopathy-art-and-science-tickets-57953819434
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John, David, and Tim take to the Adelaide Podcast Festival during the Fringe 2019 to talk to a live audience about the importance of security and showcase a bit of what STRATEGIKON is all about. With a brief overview of China, North Korea, and ISIS, the team briefly cover a lot of ground and give good insight into some well talked about topics. Thank you to the Adelaide Podcast Festival, and all the sponsors, including Omny and Zoom for having us.
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In an obscure conversation about moral compasses, David and Tim discuss experiences with a special Guest Peter Thomson, and how they impact our moral decisions. In this episode, expect to hear some anecdotes, some tips and thoughts for consuming knowledge and some great book suggestions. It's one to make you think, "what is my moral compass, and how did I get here?". Peter, David, and Tim also discuss how the challenges that encourage moral learning are being stripped from western society gradually, and what consequences this has.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Links for today's podcast:
Everything I Know I Learned in Kindergarten (and SEAL Training) Kevin Williams TEDxSaintThomas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXh1r0vOX0I
Overcoming Moral Injuries | Joshua Mantz | TEDxSantoDomingo - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORBf73HiJns
Iraq war remembered: inside the surge with US troops – YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35-nJI5ffLQ
3 great untruths to stop telling kids and ourselves - Jonathan Haidt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzGH97DQzA4&t=119s
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"Freedom from"s and "Freedom to"s make for a hot debate that has been circulating for centuries, if not since the beginning of civilisation. Liberty is sacred foundation to many societies and our desire for safety can often be in tension with this, and political debate ensues. Maybe freedom doesn't have to be a political topic, but a topic that each of us as individuals can think on, and act on in the world to form our ideas of a perfect society. Tim and David discuss why freedom is so important in many societies today, and how we should approach conversations of freedom, whether it be freedom to speak, or freedom from rape. If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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It seems for all its faults, capitalism is often crowned as the "system that works" where socialism is not afforded the same pragmatic assessment. But can we do better than capitalism? Is the merit in socialism able to be separated from the problems with devaluing the individual? David and Tim discuss some of the best business strategies and theories from this century, and why or how you can do good, and do well, at the same time.
Got a suggestion for Best Ethical Coffee Spot? If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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STRATEGIKON is the podcast of SAGE International Australia, Adelaide’s only private not-for-profit think tank specialising in defence, security & foreign affairs.
In this episode we speak to former SIA Intern/Research Assistant Ms Shahrezad Ghayrat. Ms Ghayrat who now works for the World Uyghur Congress, based in Munich, Germany is currently interning at the European Parliament. She recently launched the Unrepresented Women campaign for the UNPO: https://www.facebook.com/Shahrezadi As a key activist for the Uyghur cause, we speak to her on the plight of the Uyghurs, what are the levels of international support for the Uyghur people of PRC occupied East Turkestan & what can we expect in the future.
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Auscast presents the #AdlPodFest featuring a range of shows from different genres. Now in its third year, this event is like speed-dating for podcasting. Blind Insights had the privilege of featuring in the 2019 Adelaide Podcast Festival in front of a live audience. Tim and David talk about a Albert Einstein in all of his wisdom and faults, as a teaser to our podcast. This is a good introductory episode for those friends you can't convince to commit to our 30-60 minute episodes.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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A quote, or an iteration of a quote David uses frequently when he consults for corporate and military teams has a lot of meaning behind it. Tim and David unpack what it means to go fast and what you need to go far. Drawing on some previously discussed themes, and referencing a few key texts along the way, the discussion deals a lot with why friends are important for any kind of progress, and why the transition from study to work can be so difficult. Have questions? Send them through to timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com Also check out Penny Locaso's podcast "Human First": https://www.bkindred.com/blogs/human-first-podcast/
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Understanding how tendon recovers from injury and adapts to load is so important and has huge implications on how we manage tendons and the education and advice that we provide patients. This podcast features a relatively new study providing insights into the collagen turnover in healthy tendons and those with tendinopathy, adding critical knowledge to what we know about tendon collagen adaptation over time.
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Do we earn what we get? David and Tim explore the merit in... well, Meritocracy! A system where people are rewarded for their skills and efforts sounds fair, but is it? What kind of system do we have now? Why is networking and social capability such an important part of how we progress in our society? These questions are not as straightforward as it seems, and the topic leads into a discussion about what makes a well-functioning society.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Applying for public service after your study? David has all the advice a lecturer can offer to help you get where you want to be. With tips and tricks, as well as important reminders for wellbeing, David runs through the things to remember as you go through the application, and interview process. Good luck listeners! Questions, contact us at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com Thanks to the Auscast Network!
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Meaning. Everyone wants it but not many people say they have it, and fewer can describe it. What does suffering have to do with it? A lot actually, and it's strange to want suffering, but David can certainly convince you to add a bit of suffering into your life with this thoughtful discussion on Stoic philosophy.
This episode can come as a shock to the system, so if you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Tim and David get into the nitty gritty of blindness and vision impairment, as Tim asks popular questions that strike at core of disabilities, and David candidly and openly answers. This episode makes for a good understanding of David's background, and encourages consideration of what it is like to live a life with physical disability.
Got more questions for David? If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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This week on Blind Insights with David, Tim brings an interesting question from Brad. He asks "Within every thinker, is there a doer trying to find a way to be released?". Of course this brings about great discussion from the two, who ponder on the different relationships between thinking and doing, practicality and dreaming, and stumble across some meaningful thought processes and attitudes to adopt.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Following from talks of motivation from episode 4, David and Tim discuss the differences (and similarities) of Western and Eastern philosophy. They come to some very interesting conclusions. Despite cultural differences, there is a lot to learn from the philosophical journeys different countries took in the past few millennia. These observations draw dichotomies in spirituality, existentialism and morality. Come along for an unscripted but fascinating journey, and don't forget to send us feedback! If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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In part two of David and Tim's assessment of the teachings in Dr. Jordan Peterson's book, 12 Rules for Life, they dive into some of the deeper topics and try to find value in the words. While avoiding the religious, political, and philosophical assumptions that make up part of the rules, the overall conclusions that are discussed become quite useful, and alternatives are given to those who don't agree with Jordan Peterson, yet could still benefit from the rules. We'd love to have Jordan Peterson in the studio to chat when he's in Adelaide in February, but we'd also love to hear from you. If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Jordan Peterson is coming to town! Whilst not as popular or as kid-friendly as Santa-Claus, Dr. Peterson is a psychologist and respected author who has been on a fiery book tour around the world. The book, "12 Rules for Life" is an applied philosophy for all, and has been met with much media controversy. In this episode David and Tim discuss the background and consequences of the first 6 rules in the book. If you want more content like this, let Jordan Peterson on twitter and ask him on the show!
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Follow Dr Jordan Peterson's work
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What makes you want to get out the bed to work or be productive? Many people will think hard about this and not even consider the differences between the tangible and internal fruits of their labour. Winning bread for a family can be fulfilling for you internally, but the work result is extrinsic, there are external factors motivating you to work. What does intrinsic motivation do differently and why does it matter for the individual and for economy? David and Tim discuss new movements in the workforce, and how society could benefit from replacing meaning from work, with meaning in work.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Talking and interacting with others is the most important thing humans do, it's how we learn, understand one another, and keep informed. Why then, in an age of so many communication devices and innovations, is it harder to stay well informed, trust others, and get the most of our social relationships? David and Tim talk about our use of phones and consumption of news today. With the help of some good books, there is a lot of good discussion points made in this episode on how we communicate, make connections, and consume information.
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John gives his summary of SIA's & STRATEGIKON's year.
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In today's episode of Blind Insights, David teaches us a lesson about education and how to learn. With his vast experience as an educator, David has thought about the issues surrounding education in the 21st century, and has profound rules and strategies to help us learn. With consideration of the focus on STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Maths) where is the education system in Australia (and other western countries) taking us?
Any thoughts, comments, questions or disagreements? Email us at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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Welcome to the Blind Insights Podcast! This episode is an introduction to David as a educator and applied philosopher, and a blind citizen. Then, to set up a series on thinking deeply, we talk about how to argue and what to think about in discussions of complex topics. Argument is a highly complex social interaction, and it doesn't need to be a negative experience. David puts forth his argument, and Tim asks questions to clarify, resulting in a good example of argument itself.
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
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An introduction to an exciting podcast. Drop us a line about what you want us to discuss!
If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com
Upcoming topics include: The art of argument, How to learn, Communication, Extrinsic and intrinsic motivation, Western and Eastern Philosophy, Suffering as meaning, Meritocracy, Conscious capitalism, Pragmatism, Identity Politics, Freedom vs Safety, Privacy, Justice, Passivity and what is an ideal society?
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In this week's podcast, I delve into the minefield that is isometric exercise. Is it the best thing since sliced bread? Does everyone respond? What are the key questions we need to understand?
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Welcome to our Halloween Special! With the US Midterms around the corner, we thought we'd put this important electoral event under the STRATEGIKON microscope. In this episode, John speaks to SIA's Dr. Jonathan Z. Ludwig direct from Stillwater Oklahoma.
Usually, we’d take the time to put down a few helpful explanations – factoids if you will – however, as we are talking about a topic that is currently saturated with media coverage, mainstream and social, we just thought that this time around, the topic spoke for itself, so sit back, relax and enjoy this interesting episode of STRATEGIKON.
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John and David interview David Khandan, Executive Director of Austability. In this episode we look at this Aussie security company's approach to a range of issues from counter-terrorism, radicalisation, cyber as well as women & child protection.
Here is extra information on some of the names/terms used in this episode for those who may not be familiar with them:
Retired US Army Major Jim Gant, former Green Beret, also referred to as 'Lawrence of Afghanistan' for his Village Stability Operations (VSO) approach in which US Special Forces would embed themselves among Pashtun tribes in the hope of turning these tribes against the Taliban. Supporters of VSO (also called One Tribe at a Time) said this was the only tactic that worked in Afghanistan. Obama axed the program upon implementation of the US Status of Forces Agreement (signed by President Bush and actioned by President Obama) whereby the bulk of US forces would be withdrawn from Afghanistan.
Forensic linguistics, otherwise known as 'language and the law' seeks to understand how linguistic knowledge can be used to contextualise legal procedures.
Human Terrain System (HTS) - an American concept for integrating academics in the social sciences, especially anthropologists, into military units in the field for a better understanding of local populations and their motivation for action. The program started in 2005 but fell out of favour in the Pentagon in 2014 because of ongoing complaints about 'academic integrity' of those embedded scholars who could not return to academic work after their work with the military had ended; and, the idea of using academic knowledge to manipulate local opinion to favour the US military in its interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Emile Durkheim was a 19th Century French sociologist focussed on how rapidly changing and modernising societies could maintain their internal coherence once the old traditions and customs became irrelevant.
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John & David is joined by Special Guest Prof. Julian Lindley-French as they look deep into Russia's contemporary grand strategy. Was the fuss about Russian military exercise Vostok 2018 justified?
Here is extra information on some of the names/terms used in this episode for those who may not be familiar with them:
General Valery Gerasimov - Russian Chief of the General Staff
Glavnoye Razvedyvatel'noye Upravleniye (GRU) - Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Запад (ZAPAD) - is the name given to routine Russian military manoeuvres that started during the Soviet Union (1973). The largest ZAPAD Exercise was conducted by the USSR in 1981. The latest ZAPAD Exercise was conducted last year (2017) to much media alarm. See STRATEGIKON Ep 36 feat SIA Chairman CDRE P.J. Tyrrell OBE RN (Ret'd)
AirLand Battle - A US military concept designed for the defence of Western Europe from Soviet aggression. It called for the close coordination of Western (ie US-European forces under the auspices of NATO) forces. Land units to manoeuvre aggressively against a Soviet ground attack while Western air power attacked rear echelon Soviet formations to disrupt their offensive operations
Exercise Saif Sareea (Swift Sword) - A British military exercise conducted with the armed forces of Oman. It is the largest out of area military deployment conducted by the UK. There has been three such exercises, 1986, 2001 and 2018
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In this podcast we consider some new research exploring psychological factors and tendinopathy. There is emerging evidence that, as per other musculoskeletal conditions and as you would expect, they do play a role. I discuss which ones appear to be most strongly linked with tendinopathies.
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In this episode John & David interview Prof Albert Wolf. Albert recently moved to the KRG from his last posting in Afghanistan. Here, we discuss issues surrounding KRG, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Israel.
Here is extra information on some of the names/terms used in this episode for those who may not be familiar with them:
Hashd al Shabi - also known as the Popular Mobilisation Units, largely Shia Iraqi, but has some Sunni, Christian and Yazidi Iraqis as well
Sairoon Alliance of the Shiite Iraqi leader, Muqtada al Sadr. Al Sadr's seat of power is in Shiite-majority Basra
Hadi al Amiri - a Shiite Iraqi politician (parliamentarian in Baghdad), formerly the head of the pro-Iranian Badr Organisation. He heads the Fateh Alliance electoral bloc. Al Amiri is a rival of Al Sadr
Golden Division (also referred to the Golden Brigade) - Iraqi special forces focussed on counter-terrorism missions. Their rise to fame came about through their role in liberating the Kurdish city of Mosul from ISIS rule (2016-17)
Basel 1 Rules - minimum capital requirements for banks
Dayton Agreement 1995 - put an end to the Bosnian War in the former Yugoslavia
JCPOA - Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (more commonly referred to as the Iran Nuclear Deal) est. 2015
OBOR - One Belt One Road - also known by the acronym (BRI) Belt and Road Initiative. The strategic transportation network formulated by the People's Republic of China (PRC) in order to overcome America's dominance of global maritime trade routes.
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Prof. R. Evan Ellis, US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute discusses the problems plaguing the South American country, Venezuela with John Bruni.
Here is extra information on some of the names/terms used in this episode for those who may not be familiar with them:
Venezuela: Population - 31 million.
Colectivos: groups of criminal paramilitaries that support the Venezuelan government. They have been around since the 1960s, espousing leftist ideology and claiming to support the Bolivarian Revolution. In reality, they use this as a mask for their criminal activity which includes extortion, murder, kidnapping and drug trafficking.
MUD: Mesa de la Unidad Democrática, est. 2008. Opposition to the governing Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela.
Bolivarian Revolution: A term used by Hugo Chavez to cash in on the spirit of 19th Century revolutionary figure Simon Bolivar who successfully led the wars for independence from Spain. Chavez's aim was to use socialism and Latin American nationalism as a catalyst to create an inter-American bloc.
Tareck Zaidan El Aissami Maddah: Venezuelan politician (former Minister of the Interior & Justice) accused of acting as liaison to Hezbollah
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John Bruni and Col. Sandy Wade OBE (Ret'd) examine how solid the rapprochement between Ethiopia and Eritrea is. What is the likelihood of this peace being a permanent feature of the Horn of Africa?
Here is extra information on some of the terms used in this episode for those who may not be familiar with them:
The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) is the current ruling party of Ethiopia (formed in 1988 as a resistance group to the Derg military regime)
Ginbot 7 - an Ethiopian opposition group (est. 2008)
IGAD - an acronym for the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (est. 1986)
Birr - Ethiopian currency
Nakfa - Eritrean currency
COMESA - an acronym for the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (formed in 1994)
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FIVEaa's Jeremy Cordeaux interviews SIA's Dr. John Bruni on the Trump-Kim Singapore Summit (12 June 2018)
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Hi all, this episode we focus on two recent randomised controlled trials evaluating education and exercise interventions for gluteal tendinopathy, One of them is the best RCT I have read in ages. Well worth a look at their methods, findings and exercise interventions. Hope you enjoy!
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This episode we focus on technology use in rehab. I'm inspired by the patient will see you now by Dr Eric Topol which I recently read so this weeks podcast covers 2 technology focused systematic reviews. The first is on the efficacy of exergames for treating musculoskeletal pain, and the second is on basically the use of accelerometers and other wearable sensors to monitor rehab exercises. An exciting area that is set to grow hugely and will be part of all of our practices soon.
References to include at the bottom of the podcast and blog:
O’Reilly M, Caulfield B, Ward T, Johnston W, Doherty C. Wearable Inertial Sensor Systems for Lower Limb Exercise Detection and Evaluation: A Systematic Review. Sports Medicine. 2018;1-26.
Collado‐Mateo D, Merellano‐Navarro E, Olivares PR, García‐Rubio J, Gusi N. Effect of exergames on musculoskeletal pain: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports. 2018;28:760-771.
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John and David with Shaz absent but with us 'in spirit' take the opportunity to interview Prof. Albert Wolf again, this time on the fate of the nation he is currently working in, Afghanistan.
Here is extra information on some of the terms used in this episode for those who may not be familiar with them and also some useful terms to know when unpacking events in Afghanistan:
Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) the name of the branch of the Islamic State that is active in Afghanistan, Pakistan and parts of Central Asia
Afghan National Army (ANA)
National Directorate of Security (NDS) - the intelligence agency of Afghanistan
Afghanistan-Pakistan (AfPak) theatre
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) - part of China's proposed strategic One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative linking countries to China via a massive road and rail network
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), formally known as Zaire and before that, the Belgian Congo.
The Second Congo War (1998-2003) claimed 5.4 million lives, mainly through disease and starvation. Fighting was largely a byproduct of ethnic upheavals between the Tutsis and Hutus in Rwanda that spread into the eastern DRC, eventually sucking in the whole Great Lakes region of central Africa. Unregulated private companies and interests used the war as a cover for illegal resource extraction
Afghanistan's poppy crop goes into 90 percent of the world's production of heroine. Some have suggested that Afghanistan is in fact a 'narco-state'
Afghanistan's population is 33.3 million. The population broken into its ethnic parts: Pashtun 47%; Tajik 27%; Hazara 9%; Uzbek 9%; Aimak 4%; Turkmen 3%; Baloch 2%; Other 4%
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John, David (in the studio) and Shaz (not) discuss with Professor Albert Wolf the problems posed for Israel by Iran's close proximity to it in Syria. How will these enemy states traverse the Syrian landscape to fulfil their national security ambitions?
Here are a couple of terms that were used in the podcast that our listeners might not be familiar with:
Pasdaran - another term used to describe the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the guardians of the Islamic Revolution of Iran. The IRGC were founded on the 22 April 1979 by order of Iran's then Supreme leader, Ayatollah Khomeini. They are the strong arm of the Iranian theocracy, though they have become much more than the Iranian Mullahs' praetorian guard. It is the best equipped and most motivated part of the Iranian armed forces and is the hand behind much of Iran's widening strategic footprint in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Afghanistan
JCPOA - the abbreviation for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, more commonly referred to as the Iran Nuclear Deal.
Aqua Stella - the name the Turkish ship that (in June 2017) attempted to send 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid to the Hamas-ruled Palestinian territory of Gaza. It was impounded by Israeli authorities at the port of Ashdod since Gaza is under a strict Israeli blockade, preventing the territory from external supply. This was a provocative move by Turkish President Erdogan to antagonise the Israelis and undermine their control of Gaza.
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BBC5live's Dotun Abedayo interviews Assoc. Prof. Robert D. English, International Foreign Policy & Defense Analysis, University of Southern California School of International Relations and Dr. John Bruni, Founder & CEO of Australian think tank, SAGE International Australia on the US-led airstrike against three alleged chemical weapons sites in Syria.
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John & David are joined by Prof. Purnendra Jain, internationally renowned Japan scholar & Northeast Asian security expert from the University of Adelaide, Dept. of Asian Studies
Following is a list of some useful factoids regarding our Northeast Asian security special for those unfamiliar with some of the terms used:
KOREA UNDER JAPANESE RULE - 1910-45 the Korean Peninsula was one indivisible territory under Japanese imperial rule. It has been considered an ambivalent period. While Japanese rule was often considered extremely harsh, it did bring with it a degree of social and economic modernity to the Korean people.
COMFORT WOMEN - Between 1932-45 Japanese military conquests in Asia brought about the systemic exploitation of women from occupied territories - many forced into prostitution, but more properly, sexual slavery, to satisfy the requirements of the Japanese Imperial Army. Japan has failed to fully recognise this atrocity or adequately atone for it.
DIVIDED KOREA - In 1945 Korea was divided into Soviet and American occupation zones. By 1948 the Soviets and Americans failed to reach an agreement on reunifying the country. Two forms of government, one communist, one non-communist were declared, each one stating that it was the legitimate voice of the Korean people.
KOREAN WAR - 1950-53. Ended in a stalemate.
ABDUCTION ISSUE - Between 1976-83, North Korean agents abducted a number of Japanese citizens. Officially acknowledged figures are low (in the teens), though unofficially there may have been hundreds of Japanese abductees. These people were allegedly brought to North Korea to teach Japanese to North Korean spies. Former North Korean leader, Kim Jong Il, father of current leader Kim Jong-un admitted to 13 Japanese abductees and apologised for this. Some 5 of the 13 admitted Japanese abductees returned to Japan in 2004. Issues surrounding compensation and the full disclosure of this North Korean activity remains a sore point between Tokyo & Pyongyang.
HUBS & SPOKES - This wheel-like analogy describes the network of US alliances that keep the contemporary strategic balance of power in Northeast Asia. For example, the United States being the largest strategic power in the Pacific is considered 'the hub' while America's smaller Asia-Pacific allies, such as South Korea, Japan & Australia are considered the spokes.
1994 AGREED FRAMEWORK - A Clinton era initiative designed to smooth North Korea-US relations by promising energy aid to North Korea in return for North Korea freezing its nuclear program. This agreement ended in 2002 after North Korean and American officials accused each other of violations.
6 PARTY TALKS - Established in 2003, this multilateral forum between North Korea, China, Russia, the US, Japan and South Korea was created to move forward the idea of dismantling North Korea's nuclear program. North Korea pulled out of this forum in 2009.
NORTH KOREA - Becomes a nuclear power in 2006. It test-fired its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) 4 July 2017.
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John Bruni being interviewed by the BBC on the possible origin of the latest airstrike against the Syrian Arab Air Force airbase outside of the city of Homs. The Pentagon denies responsibility for the airstrike, so is it possible that an American proxy took the lead on this attack?
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Hi all
This week on Talking Tendons we discuss Non-uniform Achilles tendon strain and displacement and tackle the important questions…what is it? And should we care?
The paper is by Prof Finni from Finland supported by an international team. This is an exciting space that has already and will continue to improve our understanding of tendon function and ultimately our ability to prevent and manage these injuries.
Hope you enjoy.
Subscribe to the podcast to get the latest episodes.
Join the tendinopathyrehab website for exclusive resources and blog posts, and access to the Mastering Lower Limb Tendinopathy course.
See you next time
Peter
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John speaks with Special Guest noted author, commentator and scholar on Latin America, Dr. R. Evan Ellis, US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute.
Here is some extra information to highlight some of the terms/names and acronyms used throughout this episode:
MERCOSUR - South American Trade Bloc, founded in 1991.
CELAC - Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, a regional bloc founded in 2010.
FOCAC - Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, founded in 2000.
For more information on China-Latin American trade statistics see: https://www.bu.edu/pardeeschool/files/2014/11/Economic-Bulletin.16-17-Bulletin.Draft_.pdf
A.F.K. Organski (1923-88). An Italian-born academic who pioneered 'power transition theory' which explains general trends among warring states in the international system. Essentially it argues that the international order is one of violent struggle punctuated by periods of stability. And that during cycles of war, international dominance can and usually does transfer between states.
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John, David and Shaz ask Special Guest, CDRE Patrick J. Tyrrell on the implications of the Novichok nerve agent attack against former Russian spy & double agent, Sergei Skripal.
Here's some interesting links on the Skripal case & its implications thus far:
http://www.news.com.au/world/europe/sergei-skripal-exrussian-spy-possibly-poisoned-through-bmw-vents/news-story/5b2cffd599116bc7805385ae1466fa68
http://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/russia-retaliates-against-uk-in-spy-poisoning-standoff-as-threat-of-real-war-looms/news-story/7b7cfa705c078fe683ad33e0a28f74cd
https://www.ft.com/content/10d8a266-2b99-11e8-9b4b-bc4b9f08f381
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/03/skripal-theresa-may-russia/555392/
https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/19/17139338/sergei-skripal-poison-russian-spy-uk
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This episode I discuss a recent systematic review that concluded that PRP is more efficacious than control injections for tendinopathy, but the plot thickens when we scratch the surface a little.
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Please find some interesting factoids on the year that was (2017):
Trump officially begins his presidency of the US 20/01/17
Within this time, there were just too many events to note here that could adequately describe the international devolution from the post-World War II order – but here is a very short timeline to show just how disruptive 2017 was:
JANUARY
Mexican-US relations plummeted due to Trump’s proposed Wall to prevent overland illegal migration from Central & South America to the US
Russia investigation begins
Bannon-Kushner war for influence over ‘Trump’s brain’
Trump’s War Talk against North Korea begins
FEBRUARY
Trump’s raid in Yemen
MARCH
Trump signs an executive order banning migrants from 6 Muslim majority countries
APRIL
Trump’s military strike against Syria
Turkey’s Erdogan moves out of US orbit and moves towards Russia
MAY
Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia
JULY
Gen. John Kelly tries to impose order on the White House, to varying degrees of success. Cannot stop the Commander-in-Chief from Twittering
Trump’s ‘bromance’ with Vladimir Putin
Trump increases targeted sanctions against Iranian entities
AUGUST
Bannon’s fall from grace and exit from the Trump team
OCTOBER
Canadian-US relations waver on Trump’s ambivalence over NAFTA
ISIS Caliphate collapses in Iraq and Syria
America’s lack of action over the Qatar Crisis leaves the Gulf States divided
Controversy over Niger ambush in which a US soldier was killed
Trump threatens to walk from the Iran nuclear deal
NOVEMBER
Korean ICBM missile test
DECEMBER
UK-US relations plummet due to British public antipathy over a proposed visit by the US president to the UK
Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel’s undivided capital
Iranian mass demonstrations. Trump declares his support for protesters
Note, this is not at all an exhaustive list!
In this episode STRATEGIKON MC & SIA Research Assistant Ms. Shahrezad Ghayrat discusses the year that was and the road ahead for 2018 with Dr. John Bruni, CEO of SAGE International Australia & SIA’s resident existentialist philosopher, David Olney
Naval, Military and Air Force Club of South Australia
The Naval, Military and Air Force Club of South Australia was formed in 1879 as "The Militia Officers' Club of South Australia" in the old barracks behind the present State Library. In 1894 the name was changed to the "Naval and Military Club of South Australia" with the introduction of the South Australian Naval Officers. To fully reflect the membership of the time, "Air Force" was added in 1943. The Club has now grown to its current format of a much wider membership that embraces professional and business men and women, as well as serving and retired officers from all three services.
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Please find some interesting factoids regarding the history of Israel & the Occupation of Palestine & a link on PNAC (Project of the New American Century)
Jews were forced to leave Israel during the Roman occupation of ancient Judaea (70 CE). Surviving Jewish communities flourishing throughout the Mediterranean and within Europe.
Modern Israel was founded on the back of the NAZI Holocaust 1942-45.
Between 1945-47, an Exodus of surviving European Jewry to the British Mandate of Palestine, then a predominantly Arab land, linked up with existing local Jewish communities and began displacing local Palestinian Arabs which was capped off by the 1948 Arab-Israeli War – founding the state of Israel.
Palestinians displaced by the creation of Israel fled to neighbouring Arab states.
This Palestinian diaspora was called the Nakba. Arab & Muslim states became implacable enemies of Israel which they considered an illegitimate entity.
The Israeli victory over an Arab military coalition during 1967 War, Israel absorbed the predominantly Palestinian Jordanian territory of the West Bank, Arab East Jerusalem as well as the predominantly Palestinian Gaza Strip from Egypt – becoming the Occupied Territories. It also absorbed the Golan Heights from Syria.
Major Israeli-Palestinian peace initiatives include the 1993 Oslo Accord and the 2003 Roadmap for Peace – both of which supported a two-state solution with Occupied East Jerusalem forming the capital of a Palestinian state.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon pulled Jewish settlers out of the Gaza Strip in 2005. Jewish settlements in the West Bank started in 1968-77, expanding greatly from 1991 onwards complicating the idea of potential Palestinian territorial sovereignty under a two-state solution. In 2015, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Jerusalem the capital of the Jewish people.
Information on the Project for the New American Century can be found following this link - https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Project_for_the_New_American_Century
In this episode STRATEGIKON host, Dr. John Bruni discusses the implications of President Donald J. Trump’s decision to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s undivided capital with Dr. Imad Harb, Director of Research & Analysis at the Arab Center, Washington D.C. & SAGE International Australia’s resident existential philosopher, David Olney
Subscribe, rate and review STRATEGIKON on all good podcasting apps, including SoundCloud, iTunes, Stitcher, Tunein & YouTube. o RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss o Email: enquiries@sageinternational.org.au o STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia (SIA), follow SAGE International Australia on Facebook, twitter, and LinkedIn. If you’re enjoying our podcast, please help us out by sharing and telling your friends. Many thanks!
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Some interesting links regarding MBS & Saudi domestic and foreign policy:
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, power behind the throne, BBC, 6/11/17 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-40354415
How the War in Yemen Explains the Future of Saudi Arabia, The Atlantic, 8/11/17 https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/11/saudi-arabia-iran-yemen-houthi-salman/545336/
Qatar blockade and Saudi Arabia: could there be a power shift in Doha? The Conversation, 5/11/17 https://theconversation.com/qatar-blockade-and-saudi-arabia-could-there-be-a-power-shift-in-doha-86592
Syria crisis: Where key countries stand, BBC, 30/10/15 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-23849587
In this episode STRATEGIKON host, Dr. John Bruni discusses the rise of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and his impact on the state of Saudi Arabia as well as the broader Middle East with Dr. Imad Harb, Director of Research & Analysis at the Arab Center, Washington D.C.
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If you’re enjoying our podcast, please help us out by sharing and telling your friends. Many thanks!
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Some interesting links regarding observations on modern China:
Ikenberry G.J., The Rise of China and the Future of the West: Can the Liberal System Survive? Foreign Affairs, January/February 2008 Issue: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/asia/2008-01-01/rise-china-and-future-west
Luce E., The Changing of the Global Economic Guard, The Atlantic, 29/04/2017: https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/04/ china-economy-populism/523989/
Former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating, ‘Changes our world forever’: Paul Keating warns of breakdown in US-China relations, news.com.au, 15/11/2017: http://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/australian-economy/ changes-our-world-forever-paul-keating-warns-of-breakdown- in-uschina-relations/news-story/411bbe8fb9e946f54d0131d96d5f60ab
Dibb P. & Brabin-Smith R., Strategic Insights ASPI, Australia's management of strategic risk in the new era, 15/11/2017: https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/ad-aspi/2017-11/ SI123%20Australias%20management%20of%20strategic%20risk.pdf ?lUIbV_Q9FeuM_lYwudWYEqD9FfgmUS9x
"Communism with a human face" — a slightly amended version of 'Socialism with a Human Face" first termed by Czechoslovakian leader Alexander Dubček in 1968, calling for reform of the iron grip of the Czechoslovakian communist party.
Democratic Peace is a concept that argues that democracies do fight wars against other democracies. Its philosophical roots go back to 18th Century philosophers, Immanuel Kant & Thomas Paine.
In this episode STRATEGIKON host, Dr. John Bruni discusses Chinese international leadership in the international community. Has the West’s time come? Do Enlightenment values matter anymore? Or has autocratic capitalism, as represented by the PRC, replaced Enlightenment values and its sense of civilisational importance?
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A number of interesting articles regarding the Centenary of the Russian Revolution have been published. Below are a couple of links to the better ones we’ve found, including this visual anthology from American strategic forecast company, STRATFOR: https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/100th-anniversary-russian-revolution-visual-anthology
http://theconversation.com/why-putin-is-shy-about-celebrating-the-centenary-of-the-russian-revolution-74394
http://carnegie.ru/2017/10/05/past-that-divides-russia-s-new-official-history-pub-73304
The English translation to the words of the song 'Revolution' by DDT:
Two fingers up – that’s victory! And that’s – two fingers in the eyes. We fight to the death on Tuesday for Wednesday, But we do not understand Thursday. [0:28] CHORUS Is this world what we would like it to be? NO! Do we believe that we can change it? YES! But … Revolution, you taught us To believe in the injustice of good. How many worlds do we burn per hour In the name of your holy bonfire? [1:23, including musical interlude] Human meat is sweet in taste. Judases of the blockade winters know this. What do you need for breakfast? Again Jesus? Eat, but know this – we will not forgive you! [1:36] REPEAT CHORUS [2:31, including musical interlude] And what should we do? About what are we singing? Above whose shoulders is my head? What is the price of an Afghan death? If our life is not right? [2:45] REPEAT CHORUS [4:32, including musical interlude and conclusion]
In this episode of STRATEGIKON, Dr. Jonathan Z. Ludwig, Visiting Assistant Professor of Russian, Oklahoma State University & Member of the Advisory Board, SAGE International Australia discusses with STRATEGIKON host, John Bruni the legacy of the 1917 Russian Revolution, one hundred years on.
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Show Notes
In another explosive day in Washington DC, the Mueller ‘Trump-Russia’ Probe found its first two scalps – Trump 2016 campaign manager Paul Manafort & his deputy Rick Gates, both of whom were indicted on 12 counts ranging from money laundering to acting as unregistered foreign agents to the former pro-Russian Ukrainian government of Viktor Yanukovych. Presently, their alleged crimes and misdemeanours have nothing to do with the 2016 Trump campaign itself, therefore sparing the US President of any direct knowledge of their connections to Russian interests. For more information click on the following link: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/10/31/ex-trump-aides-charged-russia-probe
The indictment of George Papadopoulos is another matter entirely. His connections to Russia during the Trump campaign seems likely to have been proved, and perhaps further investigations may reveal something more damning against the Trump White House, although only time will tell. For more information click on the following link: http://www.smh.com.au/world/trump-foreign-policy-adviser-george-papadopoulos-pleads-guilty-in-fbi-probe-20171030-gzbeft.html
In this episode of STRATEGIKON, Dr. Jonathan Z. Ludwig, Visiting Assistant Professor of Russian, Oklahoma State University & Member of the Advisory Board, SAGE International Australia discusses with STRATEGIKON host, John Bruni what the ongoing ructions in Washington means for America and for those countries, like Australia, whose strategic interest will likely be guided by ‘what comes next’.
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Email: enquiries@sageinternational.org.au
STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia website: www.sageinternational.org.au
For more information from SAGE International Australia (SIA), follow SAGE International Australia on Facebook, twitter, and LinkedIn.
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SAGE International Australia (SIA) Chairman of the Advisory Board, CDRE Patrick J. Tyrrell OBE RN (Ret'd) joins us this week to analyse the implications of the latest Russian military exercise ZAPAD 17.
What was behind this massive display of Russian military power? Was is designed to frighten a weak and dishevelled European Union, especially the former Soviet occupied Eastern Europe? Was it to send a message to Ukraine? The Baltic States? Or was this show of force simply part of ongoing Russian military modernisation. What, if anything does it say of Russian military capabilities?
CDRE Patrick J. Tyrrell OBE RN (Ret'd)
https://www.sageinternational.org.au/about/management-board/
Links
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/31/world/europe/russia-military-exercise-zapad-west.html
http://www.newsweek.com/how-russia-got-away-masking-war-game-more-40000-troops-676315
https://jamestown.org/program/zapad-2017-lessons-learned-russia-implications-nato/
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STRATEGIKON can be found on iTunes, SoundCloud and the SIA website: www.sageinternational.org.au
Today we are joined by Col. Sandy Wade OBE (Ret'd) to discuss the current situation on the Horn of Africa region.
Col. Wade is an Associate at Africa Advisory Partners Limited, specialising in investment advice in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. This follows a recent career as a Defence Attache and then diplomat in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Recently involved in international and multinational work in diplomatic, electoral, peace and security, security sector reform, migration and communication strategy areas in Ethiopia.
Among the many areas discussed: Kenya's upcoming (October 2017) presidential re-election; Ethiopia's internal dynamics and development; South Sudanese civil war; Refugees; Somalia and the Somali people.
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John, and Shahrezad (Shaz) in absentia, interrogate David on his theory that identifying and eliminating marginal losses from institutions and systems of public and private governance can lead to better organisations and to better organisational outcomes.
STRATEGIKON can be found on iTunes, SoundCloud and the SIA website: www.sageinternational.org.au
What are 'marginal losses' and why is knowing about them important?
Can organisations be improved by identifying marginal losses?
What obstacles exist in current organisational thinking that would prevent the proper identification of marginal losses and why do they matter?
Will artificial intelligence liberate organisations from 'legacy thinking', creating a better work-space?
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John Bruni and Imad K. Harb discuss the current crisis between the Sheikhdom of Qatar and its GCC neighbours. What caused it? Can it be reversed? What is at stake?
STRATEGIKON can be found on iTunes, SoundCloud and the SIA website: www.sageinternational.org.au
Why is Qatar so unlike its GCC neighbours?
Does Qatar support terrorist organisations? Is this a fair and accurate picture?
Has Qatar over-stepped its mark?
What roles are Turkey, Iran and Russia playing in this dispute?
Can the US use its influence to heal this breach between vital American allies?
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John, David and Shahrezad discuss developments in Afghanistan with Prof Albert B. Wolf, Assistant Prof. in Political Science, American University of Afghanistan, Kabul. Special thanks to Ms. Zubaida Akbar, Director of Communications, AUA
STRATEGIKON can be found on iTunes, SoundCloud and the SIA website: www.sageinternational.org.au
Analysing the strength and resilience of the Taliban
Are the Afghan National Security Forces up to the task of protecting Afghanistan?
Looking at the continuing role of Pakistan in supporting the Taliban
The rise of Islamic State in Afghanistan
How are US/Coalition forces faring in their counter-terrorist mission? Do they have enough resources and what is their level of commitment?
What are other regional players doing in Afghanistan?
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SIA Associate & Co-host of STRATEGIKON speaks to ABC Adelaide's Ali Clarke on the difference in negotiating styles between traditional sieges and those involving terrorists.
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In this episode, John Bruni and Jonathan Ludwig examine the turmoil within the Trump White House. What has Russia got on the US president? Is Moscow pleased with developments in Washington DC? How will the Comey dismissal play out? And much, much more.
STRATEGIKON can be found on iTunes, SoundCloud and the SIA website: www.sageinternational.org.au
The Comey dismissal.
Washington DC in crisis.
Russian 'satisfaction'?
Trump's vulnerability to impeachment.
Can the US recover post-Trump and if so, how?
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In this episode, John, Jonathan and Imad analyze Russia's growing presence in the Middle East. In Part II, we look at the Turkey-Iran-Russia nexus; the role of Russian arms sales in winning friends in the Middle East and examine Russia-Israel ties.
STRATEGIKON can be found on iTunes, SoundCloud and the SIA website: www.sageinternational.org.au
Turkey's blossoming relationship with Russia, what is it based on?
What happened to the vaunted Russian S400 surface-to-air missile system? Why did it 'fail' during the April 7 US Tomahawk cruise missile strike against Syria?
How close are Iran and Russia?
Has Russian intervention in Syria been successful? If so, how?
Is Russia confronting Saudi Arabia?
Does Russian support for forces fighting for the Syrian government, especially Hezbollah, put it on a collision course with Israel?
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Do you want to hear more than just cynical rhetoric on Russia's Growing Presence in the Middle East? Then listen to the latest episode of STRATEGIKON and the analyses of Drs. Ludwig and Harb
In this Episode, John, Jonathan and Imad analyse Russia's growing presence in the Middle East. In Part I, we look at what brought Russia to this region and what its motivation is for staying. Does it have the strength to maintain itself for the duration?
STRATEGIKON can be found on iTunes, SoundCloud and the SIA website: www.sageinternational.org.au
Russia's intervention in Syria
Moscow's interest in spreading its influence to Libya and Afghanistan
Russian forces and their conduct in Syria, does it matter?
What do the Russians know of their government's campaign in Syria?
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John, David and Shahrezad discuss the foreign policy of Trump, 100 Days into his first term as president.
STRATEGIKON can be found on iTunes, SoundCloud and the SIA website: www.sageinternational.org.au
Trump's love affair with Russia, is it over?
Trump's congratulation of self-made Turkish autocrat Recep Tayyip Erdogan, does this say something about Trump's commitment to upholding democracy and human rights?
Firing Tomahawk cruise missiles at Syria.
The new Korean Crisis.
Dropping the MOAB on Afghanistan.
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SIA CEO John Bruni Interviewed by FIVEaa's Jeremy Cordeaux on the state of the world
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Today, John, David and Shahrezad discuss the recent issues with the South Australian electricity sector and Premier Jay Weatherill's plan to fix what critics have labelled a third-world standard of electricity supply
STRATEGIKON can be found on iTunes, SoundCloud and the SIA website: www.sageinternational.org.au
What is the South Australian government's plan to restore affordable and reliable power to the State's citizens?
To what degree did South Australia 'sleep walk' its way into a neo-liberal nirvana where overseas corporate interests trumped those of the people of South Australia?
Why would this local Australian issue rate as an international issue of significance?
How realistic are the South Australian government's solutions?
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In this episode, John Bruni interviews CDRE Patrick J. Tyrrell OBE RN (Ret'd), Chairman of SIA's Advisory Board. We examine the recent terrorist attack in London, NATO, Brexit and the push for a new referendum on Scottish independence.
STRATEGIKON can be found on iTunes, SoundCloud and the SIA website: www.sageinternational.org.au
The March 22 terrorist attack on Westminster, London
Co-operative arrangements in Europe for information sharing, how resilient are they?
How strong and relevant is NATO?
What are the implications for a second Scottish referendum on independence?
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In this episode, John, David and Shahrezad discuss the geopolitical points raised in the book Ghost Fleet. How relevant are they in today's world, two years after the book's publication?
STRATEGIKON can be found on iTunes, SoundCloud and the SIA website: www.sageinternational.org.au
Does the Sino-Russian alliance seem credible?
Where's China heading?
Where's Russia heading?
What's Europe's position?
Could Australia be blockaded as the book describes?
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In this episode, John Bruni and Jonathan Ludwig will be looking at the state of US education. If a nation’s strength is predicated on the effectiveness of its education system, what is the state of America’s tertiary education?
STRATEGIKON can be found on iTunes, SoundCloud and the SIA website: www.sageinternational.org.au
Has there been significant policy changes implemented under the Trump administration?
Who is the new US Secretary for Education, Betsy DeVos and is she qualified for the job at hand?
Is US education unbalanced, with too much emphasis on STEM, (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and too little on the social sciences, in particular language programs?
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STRATEGIKON can be found on iTunes, SoundCloud, YouTube and the SIA website: www.sageinternational.org.au
Topics covered:
The theme for today's episode is Ghost Fleet: A Novel of the Next World War
Do authors Singer & Cole point to real issues with regard to the prosecution of modern war?
Have Developed Countries, including Australia, foresworn their ability to manufacture whole high-tech weapons platforms in favour of being bit-players to and overtly dependent on defence Global Supply Chains?
How might Developed Countries and Near-Peer Competitors slug it out on the battlefield?
How will Less Developed Countries and Non-State Actors meet the challenge posed by high-tech military forces?
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In this episode, John Bruni, David Olney & Shahrezad Ghayrat examine what has been called the 'Trumpocalypse' - the first fortnight of Donald J. Trump's presidency and where it is going.
STRATEGIKON can be found on iTunes, SoundCloud, YouTube and the SIA website: www.sageinternational.org.au
Topics covered:
What do young Australians and Americans think of President Trump?
Will Trump's prescriptions to ban Muslim migration from 'proscribed countries' work in preventing another 9/11-style terrorist attack on US soil?
Will Trump's anti-migration policies, especially targeting Mexico, significantly destroy Mexican drug cartels' ability to penetrate the US homeland?
What of his foreign policy musings? In what direction will they take the world?
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In this episode, John Bruni & David Olney discuss the state of the world in 2017. Is the post-World War II international order finished? And what will replace it?
STRATEGIKON can be found on iTunes, SoundCloud, YouTube and the SIA website: www.sageinternational.org.au
Topics covered:
The contemporary international order
Multilateralism
US international leadership
The fitness of China to lead a new world order
The capacity for India to challenge Chinese power
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John Bruni is joined by special guest Dr. Jonathan Z. Ludwig, Visiting Assistant Professor of Russian at Oklahoma State University, via Skype, from Stillwater OK.
STRATEGIKON can be found on iTunes, SoundCloud, YouTube and the SIA website: www.sageinternational.org.au
Topics covered:
Exploring Putin's hold over Russia.
Western ignorance of Russian motives.
How the Russians see themselves.
Russia's ultimate fate.
The impact of the Karlov assassination on Syrian peace-talks following the fall of Aleppo to Russian-backed, Syrian government forces
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In this episode, John Bruni & David Olney discuss the appointment of General Mattis as US Secretary of Defense. Also discussed are some of the problems with military command today. Topics covered:
The idea of speaking truth to power when in uniform.
Mattis as 'rebel'?
Civil-military relations within the context of command.
Other potential military contenders for cabinet in the Trump administration & likely outcomes.
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In this episode, John Bruni & David Olney discuss Jeffery Goldberg's interview with Henry Kissinger in the December 2016 issue of The Atlantic.
Topics covered:
Kissinger's reflections of the Obama years, his views on president-elect, Donald J. Trump and how relevant is Henry Kissinger in today's world? Have his opinions on international relations stood the test of time, or are they of a bygone era?
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John Bruni and David Olney discuss the battle for Mosul, Iraq's attempt at liberating the Islamic State's 'jewel in the crown', and its implications.
www.sageinternational.org.au
Topics covered:
How will Islamic State fighters conduct their defence of Mosul - its highly prized and critical strategic asset?
Is the Iraqi Army and government capable of victory?
What will victory look like for the people of Mosul and Iraq generally if Baghdad is not committed to implementing good governance?
To listen to the full CNN News clip used in this podcast - Mosul: Most intense day of fighting since offensive began, By Ben Wedeman, Angela Dewan and Euan McKirdy, CNN Updated 2203 GMT (0603 HKT) October 20, 2016) - click this link:
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/20/middleeast/mosul-isis-operation-iraq/index.html
STRATEGIKON can be found on SoundCloud, iTunes as well as on www.sageinternational.org.au
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John Bruni is joined by special guest Dr. Daniel Twining, Director & Senior Fellow for Asia at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.
Topics covered:
US Asia policy - especially what both the Trump and Clinton camps stand for. We also look at the Obama 'Pivot to Asia' and the increasing importance and complexity of the Indian Subcontinent to America's 'grand strategy' in Asia.
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John Bruni and David Olney take a closer look at the Philippines under Rodrigo Duterte. Is the Philippines in danger of becoming a narco-state?Are Duterte's Dirty Harry-style methods effective on his 'war on drugs'? What's up with Duterte's colourful language on the diplomatic scene? Who is he really pitching to and why?
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John Bruni & David Olney discuss the possible line-ups for the position of Secretary of State for both the Trump and Clinton camps as well as the possible direction of US foreign policy under either a Trump or Clinton presidency.
www.sageinternational.org.au
Topics covered:
Possible Trump and Clinton choices for the post of Secretary of State; which of the presidential candidates is stronger on foreign policy and why should we care?
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John Bruni is joined by special guest Dr. Ibrahim Fraihat, Senior Foreign Policy Fellow, Brookings Doha Center to discuss the stability of the Middle East today and the future of the region.
Dr. Fraihat is a CAAR Visiting Fellow, sponsored by the Australian Government through the Council for Australian-Arab Relations (CAAR)of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). He is hosted by the Middle East Studies Forum of Deakin University.
Dr. Fraihat was Guest Speaker for the Department of Asian Studies, University of Adelaide through the efforts of Prof. Purnendra Jain.
Topics covered: Obama's foreign policy in the Middle East; the role of sectarianism in many of the region's contemporary conflicts; the 'Cold War' between Saudi Arabia and Iran; the Syrian civil war, Iraqi social and political turmoil, Iranian influence in Iraq, Israel & Palestine.
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John Bruni & David Olney discuss Vladimir Putin & Russia. What does Russian President Vladimir Putin want? Is Russia a power that knows its limits?
Also on this Episode is discussion of – the significance of Russian military deployments to Crimea, eastern Ukraine and Syria. The state of Russia's military modernisation. The possible emergence of an autocratic alliance between Russia, Turkey and Iran, (akin to the 1815 Holy Alliance between Prussia, Austria and Russia). Putin's indispensability to Russia's contemporary body politic. The West's reactions to Russia and Sino-Russian military cooperation.
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John Bruni is joined by special guest Prof. Purnendra Jain were today STRATEGIKON addresses 'Japan Today' following the July 10 Upper House elections.
How strong is Prime Minister Abe and the Liberal Democratic Party? Is Article 9 of Japan's Peace Constitution being successfully eroded by Japanese nationalists? Will Japan remain a 'Pacifist State'? How does China factor as a strategic threat to Tokyo? What did the loss of the Royal Australian Navy's AUD50 billion Collins class submarine replacement program mean to Japan's ambitions for becoming a significant defence exporter?
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John Bruni & David Olney discuss the relationship between immigration & terrorism in Europe.
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John Bruni & David Olney discuss Brexit, with a twist.
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John Bruni's take on the Chilcot Report's findings and the aftermath of the Anglo-American invasion of Iraq, March 2003
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