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.

If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at [email protected]

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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.

If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at [email protected]

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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.

If you have any thoughts, questions, If you have any drink suggestions or have a great idea for a spirited conversation, contact us and send us an audio clip at [email protected]

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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.

If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at [email protected]

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The boys from the Auscast Network are back! Joining Tim and David as they explore some of the many fine beers on tap at the wonderful Crafers Hotel. Between the Lobethal Bierhaus Chocolate Oatmeal Stout, the Little Bang Brewing Brown Flacon IPA, and the Mismatch Brewing Hazy IPA, our hosts were already pretty sloshed before starting this one. Featured in the episode is also the Mountain Goat 2018 Aged Stout, and Tim splashes out on a can of whisky-barrel-aged Deeds Brewing Once More Into The Fray Stout.
Safe to say this episode is pretty rowdy.
Between talk of what we had to eat and the future of the network, this is a very convivial episode and one that might be a little explicit for some ears.

The Crafers Hotel was especially kind to house us, feed us amazing food, and give us fantastic service. Make sure to check out their Craft beer list regularly for what is on tap, and also consider their massive selection of wine and other spirits.

If you have any drink suggestions, or have a great idea for a spirited conversation, contact us and send us an audio clip at [email protected]

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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.

If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at [email protected]

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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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