In this episode I explore conversation from a new angle and why it’s good to realise the trail you’ve been walking has run out.

For those who are curious as to some of the content that has inspired me of late, here are a few resources. Fair warning: some of it goes quite in depth. But it’s worth it.

Resources:

Sam Harris and Stephen Fry - Mindfulness and Egocentrism
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri9UjXQI054

Navigating reality: It’s all about perspective | Daniel Schmachtenberger
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNcyc_sEtpU

Perspectives Podcast: Daniel Schmachtenderer - Existential Risks and the Future of our Civilization
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0XKgMPTR4Rht5Qml4PCuuU?si=dgWgzliXRZi6ro9u9XzyVA
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV9PJhhqw5w

In this episode I introduce a 3-part mini series of solo episodes and share 2 pieces that breathed new life into old names.

Resources:
A poem by Brooke McNamara called 'No Wisdom' from her book of poems, Bury the Seed
https://www.brookemcnamara.com/bury-the-seed/

An excerpt from a book called Emptiness Dancing by Adyashanti
https://www.amazon.com.au/Emptiness-Dancing-Adyashanti/dp/1591794595

In this episode Stef and I talk about:
Her own story of discovering yoga and how it informs her approach to life
The history of yoga and how it has evolved through different cultures
What someone who may want to try yoga can expect from her public classes and private lessons
Yoga as a philosophy and spiritual practice
We both agreed we’d probably need to do a second interview to cover all the threads and topics we could cover.

Stef started Yoga as a 14-year-old dancer with sore feet, a short attention span and erratic sleeping patterns. Through school it was something she did with her mum and then something she did for herself and later became a special thing she shared with her dad. It was when she was literally balding from stress that Stef started to take her Yoga practice more seriously. Stef sees Yoga as an eternal medicine for the human condition and delights in sharing the benefits she has learned through the study and practice of Yoga and is inspired to evolve understanding of the bodymind through Yogic practice.

She offers, private lessons, public classes, Retreats, and online sessions. I found this episode very informative and fun. I’m sure you will too

Resources:
private lessons: https://www.yogawithstef.com/private-yoga
And public classes: https://www.yogawithstef.com/schedule

In this episode Prabha and I talk about:
State management
The Link between our breath and mind
Coaching individuals and couples to live fulfilling lives and relationships
Using relationship as your self-development path
Working through conflict in respectful ways
Creativity and play as a natural state of learning
Integrating body mind and heart

Prabha is an enthusiast for living life to the fullest. It is her passion and deep calling to explore the nature of life and to share her findings with the world. This led her to found her business, ‘SHFT Inside’ As a Holistic Life Coach for individuals and couples. She also offers yoga, mindfulness and meditation, programs. Links to her website and Facebook pages, where you will find her programs and event offerings, are in the resources below:

Resources:
https://www.shftinside.com
https://www.facebook.com/shftinside

In this episode Jhana and I talk about:
Erotic art
What is healthy sexuality
Taking responsibility for taking care of ourselves (physically mentally and emotionally)
How creativity and consciousness can inform each other
His courses and workshops, Romancing the beloved
When addictions and pretending to be something we’re not get in the way of expressing our gifts
Trusting the process and being patient
Showing up and being present in creativity and sexuality
And I ask Jhana to describe one of his works for the listeners

Jhana is a published author and illustrator. He draws on ancient wisdom and dreaming that reveal the bridge between consciousness and creativity. Discoveries of the healing capacities carried in painting, yoga, massage, meditation, art therapy and sexuality inform his practise. He has taught, mentored and exhibited in India, America, Germany and Australia over the past 20 years and his work is held in private collections internationally.

Resources:
https://www.instagram.com/consciouseroticart/
Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/JhanaBowensArt
Published book: 'Rainbow Turtle, Golden Dolphin: Messages From The Earth'
https://www.amazon.com.au/Rainbow-Turtle-Golden-Dolphin-Messages-ebook/dp/B074YZ6YG8

In this episode Jen and I talk about:
Transitions in how we make meaning
Ego Developmental Theory
Awakened Education
Integral Philosophy
The impact we have on each other in every interaction
Changing the goal and face of education
Growth and development from childhood, adulthood, and beyond
How a developmental lens may hold a key to helping Young people with anxiety, challenges with mental health and reduced engagement in school
And the reciprocal nature of learning and development

Jen Haynes is an Education Engineer who is challenging existing constructs of education and schooling, Jen’s passion is to share the powerful impact of ego development theory on working with children, Awakened Education AND reframing the perception of ADHD, as a person with ADHD herself.

Resources:

www.jenhaynes.com

Program on Stages for Educators through Stages International: https://www.stagesinternational.com/

Brisbane Independent School:
http://www.bis.qld.edu.au

https://www.cook-greuter.com/Background.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loevinger%27s_stages_of_ego_development

In this episode I talk with Jennifer Rumbell about:
Italian Futurism
The value of persistence in learning
What culture, music, and government have in common
The baroque style
how politics and arts influence each other
the avant garde
what it means when art is not highly valued in a culture
what happens when art is constrained or disconnected from culture

Jennifer is a piano teacher and musicologist. She was recently awarded her PhD from The University of Queensland. Her thesis explored the important role that music played in the political-aesthetic programme of the Italian Futurist movement. Her research interests include music of the historical avant-garde, music and politics, and the interaction between music and other artistic disciplines during the early twentieth century. She believes that having an awareness of how music functions within broader socio-political contexts is important to understanding our own human relationship with it—that is, how we interact with it, use it as a mediator and how it can be used towards not just positive but also sometimes dangerous ends.
Apart from her research, Jennifer is also passionate about teaching. For the last 4 years she has enjoyed casual teaching appointments at the School of Music at UQ, where she has taught subjects on music history and analysis. Over the last 10 years she has also run her own business teaching piano privately. Some of the things that Jennifer most enjoys about teaching are the human connection that is cultivated between student and teacher, and the self-confidence that people gain through musical expression. She is a big proponent for adult musical education and for changing the way we “value” taking up hobbies/ pursuits such as playing an instrument—that is, placing emphasis on the increased joy one gains in their everyday life, rather than on how good you can become or whether there is financial reward. Often, she feels as though her students end up teaching her a thing or two.

Resources and links:
Browning Street Sudios
https://browningstreetstudios.com.au

Video introducing Italian Futurism
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hRcuvFK4iQ

A futurist piece by one of the four "official" Futurist composers, Franco Casavola. Franco composed it for a stage production by the leader of the Futurist movement, FT Marinetti, called "Cabaret Epilettico" or "Epileptic Cabaret"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy0PBnfl-KM&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3e7qh9inQt7g5AEPFhPR-IiROZ5rUoYV3rxWAvFnp5n5mLwWvn-nNrN5E

In this episode I speak with my friend Steve
Steve has a Masters in public policy, a Degree in journalism, and is a Program producer on Radio 4EB.

In our conversation we talked about:
Flow states
Being distracted by obsessive thinking
Gardening
Public policy, political studies, and how things get done and made
Assumptions of traditional behavioural economics
Power structures in society
We ask; how can we as a society nurture and enable the innate talents and capabilities people have?
Exposing people to as many ideas and thoughts as possible in order for them to flourish as human beings
Bifurcation of systems in the natural world and the fractal nature of conversations

If you enjoy these conversations, you can support this podcast by leaving a rating, a review, subscribing or following on your favourite podcasting platform.

In this episode Aaron and I talk about; Having a lust for continuous learning
How working to develop yourself can keep your job from consuming you
We talk about the real challenges of his profession including PTSD and depression
The importance of talking about these with each other and not believing we can do it all alone and handle everything
The less spoken-about side of a paramedic’s job.
The Power of people investing in and believing in you and paying that forward.
Helping future generations
The value of mentorship in learning and challenging jobs
How we learn not just what we learn
Questioning our judgments and assumptions about people
and being a slave to learning

As well as an inspirational interesting and at times lighthearted conversation, due to the theme of Aaron’s work, We do talk about topics and details related to Life and death situations, mental health and suicide among others. I believe they are important topics but wanted to give listeners a heads up before diving in.

Aaron has been an Advance care paramedic with the Qld ambulance service since 2013. He is also a Co-founder and co-host of the Free radicals paramedic podcast, Australia's first paramedic podcast. Available on major podcast platforms including Apple podcasts.

Further resources:
Episode 12 of the Free Radicals Podcast: Resilience-and-burnout
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/12-episode-12-resilience-and-burnout/id1437228859?i=1000441185630

In this episode of the podcast I speak with Kali Marnane about recognising our biases when engaging in our passions, the impact and importance of how we name and classify things, the significance and meaning of thresholds in inner and outer spaces, spectrums of relationships between public and private, and the influence that spaces have on our wellbeing and resilience.

Kali is an architect and researcher working to build equitable, resilient and thriving communities. She is currently undertaking a Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Queensland on the built environment of informal settlements in Ahmedabad, India to understand how the built environment can marginalise or support different groups of people.

Kali's website: www.kalimarnane.com
Kali on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kalimarnane/

Other resources:
Manav Sadhna https://manavsadhna.org/
The Anganwadi Project https://www.anganwadiproject.com/
A side project Kali is involved in: https://www.newbuildbrisbane.com/