Blind Insights

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.

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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 [email protected]

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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 [email protected]

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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 [email protected]

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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 [email protected]

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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 [email protected]

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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.

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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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.

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

Support the show: https://auscast-network.myshopify.com/collections/blind-insights

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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.

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

Support the show: https://auscast-network.myshopify.com/collections/blind-insights

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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