Austin Morris New Zealand

Dave and Marc explore the concept of happiness. Is it all it's cracked up to be? Did happiness exist before it was defined in the 1500s? 

Excuse the tin cans on a string start to the audio - a product of the social distance between the speakers (6km). The audio gets better as Dave and Marc warm to the concept of happiness being sold, being innate, existing without humour and being anthropomorphised in animal videos. 

Thanks to Austin Schmid for the unsplash episode art. 

Marc and Dave return (excuse the pun) to one of their more popular subjects: hauntology. In this time of slow living Marc wonders if there is a chance to reset the clock to a less stressed age. Dave sees the echoes of 1960s and 1970s culture and music seeping back to  us surreptitiously. The big difference of course is that though we may be isolated we are not truly alone given the ubiquity of modern communication. Mark Fisher's cultural contribution is noted and Dave gets technical with Derrida.

Episode art by Miguel Pinto Unsplash.

Life under lockdown - Kiwi style. 

Dave and Marc reflect on how life has changed since New Zealand went into lockdown 2 weeks ago. They ponder the different values Kiwis may be exhibiting and whether this state is likely to continue. 

Will we continue with our goals based obsessions and consumer addictions? Or is there a more reflective and less productive life waiting for all of us?

Image by Annie Spratt at Unsplash.

The remix version slightly shorter and faster!

Dave and Marc consider whether democracy is threatened or enhanced by recent world events. How does democracy mean so many different things to different people and does it always make people's lives better

The freedom of expression that Dave and Marc enjoy so much in New Zealand is not the norm in many countries. How do their residents cope? Is it true that many citizens don't notice democracy til it stands on their foot and is this what is happening in many countries now?

Cover art by EV at unsplash.

Dave and Marc consider whether democracy is threatened or enhanced by recent world events. How does democracy mean so many different things to different people and does it always make people's lives better

The freedom of expression that Dave and Marc enjoy so much in New Zealand is not the norm in many countries. How do their residents cope? Is it true that many citizens don't notice democracy til it stands on their foot and is this what is happening in many countries now?

Cover art by EV at unsplash.

Marc and Dave wonder if the plethora of misinformation on the web is bringing as much enlightenment to the world as we think.

They roam fearlessly from the Dark Ages to the future examining how well we are preparing future generations to distinguish fact from fiction and who really knows.

Cover art by Adrian Swancar

Dave and Marc discuss some of the unique characteristics of New Zealand, some good, some bad.

New Zealand's remoteness and relatively sparse population contribute to the culture of the country. So does the indigenous culture and language. Dave and Marc see explore how some of these aspects of New Zealand make us the way we are.

Episode cover photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash.

"Is New Zealand a satellite state of the USA?" asks Dave Berry.

"Hang on. Not so fast." Marc Paterson is not so convinced in this wide ranging and relevant discussion about New Zealand's place in the world. Somehow they get through bottled water as an issue and the international space station as well.

What is the place of small independent states such as New Zealand that is equidistant from Beijing and Los Angeles? What do we have to offer? Marc and Dave proffer many questions but ultimately come to a comforting conclusion.

Dave and Marc discuss how artists have deviated from the norm over the years. They find the three most revolutionary music years in the last fifty and discover that subverting the norm comes from within an artist as much as from without.

Samples of music from Austin Morris and Austin are interspersed with Dave and Marc's opinions. Enjoy, but don't start a revolution just yet. (We're waiting on the royalties.)

Privacy, publicity, in camera, off camera - what has changed about the way that we hide or display ourselves?

Dave Berry and Marc Paterson discuss the issues of privacy with a modicum of knowledge, and a maximum amount of opinion. This is the fourth public offering from Dave and Marc - we expect it'll be heavily subscribed by private investors. Get in quick.