“I don’t want to spend my career feeding prompts into AI”

My guest for this episode has thought deeply about the many crises that do not have an easy solution - AKA the metacrisis. This conversation expresses some of his reflections on privilege, work, the environment and values. It is political, without getting jaded or in the details of politics - it talks about community resilience - with a particularly emotional tale of community disaster response after recent floods.

If you have thought about packing up your city life and moving to a rural/regional area, this episode is for you.

Topics covered include:

The lone hero myth // Localism // How Artificial Intelligence tools shape our language // Using AI in a business // Parenting // Cultural narratives // How do we relate to each other through all this?

Content warning: grief is mentioned in the conversation.

This previews a conversation with a friend who has thought deeply about the future of community, AI, global crises and our place in it all.

My guest has some reflections on parenting and community resilience as well.

Full episode will appear soon.

What is it like to begin a creative practice and keep at it? This conversation discusses that, and so much more.

Topics covered include:

Drawings transforming images [10min 44sec]

The purpose of art [~24 min]

The role of beauty in human flourishing [~26 min]

Ideas on starting a creative practice [~31 min]

Particularly fascinating for me were Sarah’s thoughts about the idea of a masterpiece and about legacy.

There are a heap of lessons in here about organically approaching a hobby, project or dare I say it, a calling.

If you’ve hesitated to call yourself an artist, scientist or anything else - this episode is for you!

Links - follow Sarah's creative practice:

Instagram: ⁠@sarahjanefordyce⁠

Website: ⁠https://sarahfordyce.com/⁠

Video of Sarah’s exhibition we mentioned: ⁠https://sarahfordyce.com/a-nest-of-trying-2024-a-k-bellinger-gallery/⁠

The poem read by Sarah: 'Experience as Visitation' - Jane Mead (2003)

-Cover art is a tree photo that I’ve edited-

This previews a conversation with Sarah (who you may recognise from Episode 7).

My guest developed a creative practice. It is a unique and personal way of seeing and being.

There are ideas here that you can apply to any creative outlet or new endeavour.

Full episode coming to you soon.

< Originally published: October 20, 2025 >

Working with children, you sort of expect they can control their behaviour and manage their emotions.

As an adult, can you do this?

This is what my guest grappled with, working in childcare and then in life ...

“How can I handle my emotions and take ownership of my experience of life?”

If you spend time around children, or if you are embarrassed by other people’s displays of emotion - this episode is for you!

Topics covered:

Dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) communication tips [~ 4min]

Emotional regulation skills and how these shaped our guest’s life [12min] and work [14min]

What behavioural science says about applying consequences for children’s behaviour [~19min], including implications for encouraging intrinsic and extrinsic motivation [~20min]

A new model of developing children’s emotional skills: co-regulation [~21min]

Co-regulating vs giving in to a child [22min]

A simple model of brain functions: Barking dog, Wise owl, Memory elephant [~23min]

< Originally published: September 22, 2025 >

This previews a conversation with a friend who worked in early learning, where you teach children emotional skills. My guest put his personal learning into practice. There are lessons here on emotional regulation that CEOs and Prime Ministers don’t have!

Part one will appear soon.

< Originally published: August 31, 2025 >

"How can I build resilience when the systems around me are failing?"

Welcome! We continue where Episode 14 (Part 1 of the interview) finished, the problem our guest grappled with: losing your purpose and creating something from it.

Content warning: mention of suicide. Also note that we talk about grief and rage. Swear words are present!

If you are in a place where you can manage that, you will be treated to some hard-earned observations and a practical perspective on creating change. There are ideas on understanding effectively deploying effort/resources within a system.

At times playful, at times v e r y s e r i o u s about the fate of planet earth as we know it. Listen for the conclusion to a wide-ranging conversation.

< Originally published: July 31, 2025 >

Some of us are fortunate enough to have a purpose. What happens when we can't fulfil that purpose or have the impact we want?

My guest has a deep love for the natural world. She wanted nothing more than to save ecosystems. This is what happened when she realised she couldn’t save them.

Be aware: we talk about environmental futures, aka ‘the fate of humanity’ - a heavy topic. That said, my guest shares many lessons learned, and you get to hear about a systems-level approach to resilience.

If you are concerned about human impacts on the environment, 'doing the right thing', burnout, or the pointlessness of it all - and how to make sense of your role … this is for you!

< Originally published: June 30, 2025 >

Continuing my track record of innovation with proven means of improving audio quality - this is my latest one-on-one interview, recorded indoors!

Nicole has a story to tell - spanning society, the natural environment, and a passion for it.

This is a preview of a very meaningful chat - most of this is content that didn't fit in the episode, though it gives an idea of the tone.

Part one out soon.

< Originally published: May 16, 2025 >

“There’s no one way to be queer...”

Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras festival highlights so many unique expressions of queer community. This is part 2 of interviews with entrants in this year’s parade, where I asked:

“where are you at in loving your queer self?”

From aro ace to bisexual, drag king, drag queen, ally, femboy … this was people being themselves.

If nothing else - this is a taste of the incredible energy on parade night … come out next year and experience it yourself!

< Originally published: April 16, 2025 >