This episode explores upsetting themes include mental health, trauma and suicide. One hour and fifteen minutes of me talking about my experience as someone who was diagnosed and has struggled with a Depressive Disorder a while ago. I am someone who has been challenged and crippled by serious episodes of depression for most of my adult-post-pubescent life. I don't want to feel ashamed for feeling the way I do. I don't want to have to hide it from people (but hey, I don't want to throw it at people either). I want to feel comfortable talking about it when I need to. That's why I made this episode. I want discussion and dialogue and discourse on the topic of mental health to be normalised. I want more conversation about Mental Health. I don't want any more stigmatisation. This episode was hard to record. It was hard to edit. It brought back unwanted thoughts and feelings. I'm sure it'll be challenging to listen to. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks /// If you are having a hard time yourself or know someone who is, these organisations will listen and help: Australia: 1300 22 4636 - https://www.beyondblue.org.au / United Kingdom: 116 123 - https://www.samaritans.org

If you have ever felt like you aren't able to make a big lifestyle change because it isn't within your power, this podcast will do wonderful things for you. Today I spoke with a really cool guy. His name is Dr. Jonathan Gingerich. He has studied at pretty much every elite University ever (Harvard, UCLA, Georgetown etc). Now, you might be thinking: sure, those are some good Universities, but why should I listen to this podcast? Well, Jonathan wrote his PhD on spontaneity. Jonathan and I spoke about the reasons why spontaneity is so important. One claim that Jonathan makes is that moments of human brilliance (e.g. Music, Art, Whatever), seem to arise out of instances where an individual can be spontaneous. There is also a degree of peacefulness and stillness that I feel when I realise that I can, within the boundaries of the confines of my universe (social, legal and economic boundaries), do whatever I want whenever I want to. Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks

This is the most challenging and important episode that I've done so far. What is unique about this episode is the way it deals with conflict. Sometimes, among my friends, there is a tendency to 'cancel' people for crossing boundaries. The person who I interviewed, Ralph, crossed a very sensitive boundary in the interview; I was made to feel silenced on the topics of Colonialism and Race. However, instead of this becoming a point of tension between us, we explored its nuances with the help of a close friend of ours called Oliver (who was present for the interview). Together, in light of a resounding example of how NOT to talk about Colonialism and Race the three of us searched for the safest and most respectful avenue to discuss these heavy topics. This episode is structured to capture the journey from upset and discomfort to acknowledgement of wrongdoing and collective support. Here's how it's structured: In the first part of the interview, you will hear the challenging and upsetting final few minutes of the original conversation with Ralph. Ralph is my housemate. He is also a close, supportive and honest friend of mine. The conversation took an uncomfortable turn and we ended up having a very uncomfortable and one-sided conversation about Colonialism. I was very upset and ended the interview early.In the second part of the interview, you will hear a discussion of what went wrong, why I felt the way I did, and how 'Colonisers' and the 'Colonised' can have safe and respectful conversations about Colonialism and Race. Oliver, who also lives in the same house as Ralph and I, was present for the first interview and will contribute to the second part of the episode. He provided a unique perspective on how Ralph's behaviour may have been harmful, and helped me articulate how I want to be listened to on such delicate and poignant topics. Thank you for continuing to show interest in this podcast. This episode was extremely difficult for me to record and edit. Conversations like these can re-open inherited wounds. Conversations like these can also promote reconciliation, respect and harmony.Please take care of those around you. Please listen to your friends. Please create space for those around you to speak. Protect the voices of the marginalised. Listen before you share. Today, my heart beats for my family, my friends and those are who are willing to respectfully engage in dialogue about matters.Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks

Here it is. Finally. Here is the long awaited, critically acclaimed, profoundly esteemed, highly regarded and tastefully requested first episode of the On Being mini-series. The On Being series aims to distil and investigate questions of what it means 'to be'. How cool is the art for the episode? Thanks @fkncoco! In this episode, I talk about the Philosophy of Being (duh...). I set out the parameters for a philosophical understanding of Being by looking at three central figures of Existentialist Philosophy (Sartre, Heidegger and Nietzsche). I elucidate the challenges posed by matters related to being - free-will, consciousness, artificial intelligence, the ethics of decision making and whether anything is intrinsically valuable. (I also have a discussion of why I chose these three old problematic white men as opposed to drawing on non-Western-white-male Philosophers). Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks

Today I spoke with Pia (@piacattapan), an influencer and model from Melbourne who now lives in London. Pia shared her experience as someone who has significant influence over a large online audience, as someone who has a curated online identity, as someone whose appearance has been commodified to advance the interests of companies and as someone who has to regularly consider the "fine line" between financial stability and saying "no" to work that is unethical or immoral (such as modelling for Marlboro or Amazon or something like that). Pia also spoke about her relationship with insecurity and self-consciousness in light of her success in the modelling world and on instagram.I want to thank Pia for her openness and honesty in exploring these very personal and challenging topics.I also want to note that this episode covers mental health and body image related themes. If you are having a hard time yourself or know someone who is, these organisations will listen and help:Australia: 1300 22 4636 - https://www.beyondblue.org.auUnited Kingdom: 116 123 - https://www.samaritans.org // Enjoying Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks

This is a pretty funny episode. I made some important announcements and I also read out a funny short story that I wrote. The story is based on something that happened to me earlier this week. I suppose it's up to you to decide how much is fact and how much is fiction. Back to those announcements:I made a website. Go and explore it - www.aleks.coYou can now support the podcast. I rambled on about how and why you should support me in the episode. You can do so in two ways:Via PayPalVia PatreonYou can find more info on the Contribute tab of www.aleks.coAs usual, please reach out to me. You can do so by messaging @alekslistens on Instagram or you can email [email protected] Aleks Listens? You can support it on Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/join/alekslistens — for more of my work, visit https://www.aleks.co — or follow me on instagram @alekslistens https://www.instagram.com/alekslistens — or subscribe on YouTube ~~~~ sending love your way, Aleks

Today I had a chat with my dear friend Grant. Also, sorry it's been so long since I released an episode. I've been distracted for nearly three months now.Anyway, Grant and I met under maybe the most miraculous circumstances ever (someone thought I was Grant for half a year). In the interview we spoke about really cool things. One of the coolest things we spoke about was love. But, we also spoke about things that weren't love. We spoke about what it's like growing up in a world where people (including us) struggle to translate thoughts about morality into good actions.We also explored what drives us and Grant tried to explain to me how he understands occupying a position of privilege in terms of whether this gives rise to particular duties. You should listen to this episode if you're wondering how you can begin helping those around you (Grant is extremely insightful on this topic). Thanks for listening.Love,AleksFor extra resources, visit www.aleks.co Enjoying the podcast? Think about supporting it via Patreon or Paypal.

The boys from Good Morning came and spoke with me today. Stefan and Liam talk to me about their friendship, what works and what doesn't in terms of creating music, and their experience with performance anxiety and touring. We speak about what if feels like to present an honest and raw part of ourselves to the public. We speak about the internal confusion that follows when experiences with depression and anxiety are channeled through creative forms, or even just channeled through our personality, and are received by others as communicating something light and positive.Stefan and Liam spoke very openly in what they told me was their longest interview as a band. Their honesty means very much to me.Thanks for listening.Love,Aleks

Where should we draw the line in terms of what we can say in public? Where should we draw the line in terms of what academics can research and teach? What can students and young people to do protect Freedom of Speech when it is challenged? In my fourth interview, I explore these questions with Professor Adrienne Stone of the Melbourne Law school. Adrienne is an expert on topics of Freedom of Speech, Academic Freedom and the relationship these topics have with the law and with the constitution (Adrienne is the editor of the Oxford Handbook on Freedom of Speech and holds many other incredible positions).I ask Adrienne who should be able to speak at Universities and what they should be able to speak about, which role Universities should play in society, and, of course, I ask about Assange and Freedom of Press.I also ask about the ethics of deplatforming and how to understand and navigate competing views. For more about Adrienne, click here  Thanks for listening.Love,Aleks

Steph is my housemate. I wanted to interview someone who I had shared experiences and spaces with, who could empathise with my experience as the child of an Arab father, and who knew how to navigate the interview format so as to elicit insights from me that I may not have felt comfortable exploring with someone else. For a bit of background on Steph, she studied psychology and anthropology, currently works in a bookshop, makes really good soup, and draws things that put Alex Grey to shame.We speak about all kinds of things from the experience of growing up with Arabic parents, to living in an 'exotic' body, to the ethics of having kids, to the wearing of a 'mask' when socialising. We analysed a lot and covered a lot of ground. It is a raw, open, honest and heartfelt conversation.Thanks for listening.Love,Aleks