Narratively Speaking

Do you believe in aliens? I don't know your answer, but I bet you have one ready!

Our culture is steeped in stories about off-planet entities, be it fling saucers, alien abductions, interplanetary civilisations seeding humanity, or full on interplanetary war. Ronald Reagan even wished for the latter, as it would make his job easier... !

But what keeps these stories circulating and why are we so attracted to them? Let's discuss...

Episode Links:

Ronald Reagan - wishes for an alien invasion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQxzWpy7PKg

Corbett - How to Fake an Alien Invasion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM4tkJGSSaU

SGT Report - UFOs, YouTube & The Alien Deception: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naJcX_VjJik

Drake Equation - Estimating the Odds of Finding E.T.: https://www.space.com/25219-drake-equation.html

Project Blue Beam conspiracy theory suggests NASA has secret plans to create new world order: https://www.news.com.au/technology/project-blue-beam-conspiracy-theory-suggests-nasa-has-secret-plans-to-create-new-world-order/news-story/25266f2c57e89e139f0fa9daddeb0953

Project Blue Beam Conspiracy Theory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfcbIErsuEc

We all know about body language, but are there other ways our bodies betray our private internal world?

Humans are subject to a wide assortment of non-verbal communications, and they are going on all the time, even when we'd rather keep the things they express to ourselves. Are these "tells" subconscious, or is it just more evidence that humans are storytelling machines?

Let's discuss...

Links:

Body Language Expert Dr. Carol Goman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NqnfpGsQaI

Tiny Crystals In Our Brain Could Unlock Psychic Powers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l34844iTAKQ

Why We Get Tattoos, by "Buzzfeed": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL_Fu_p5A1U

Tongue Posture by "What I've Learned": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbzT00Cyq-g

Intro clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR6lF73AtPU

Angus McAlpine recently ran as a Greens candidate for the seat of Footscray, using the campaign slogan "Put a Plumber in Parliament".

His campaign was derailed when the media discovered he had been a rapper in a past incarnation and had created some hip-hop tracks featuring lyrics that contained potential references to date rape and violence against women.

Now, we all know the media has a tendency to sensationalise stories for ratings, but this was a rare opportunity to investigate a real-life example of media duplicity, and find out exactly how far from the truth the media is willing to stray.

Today I sit down with Angus and get his side of the story, and discuss the real-life impacts of stories the mainstream media tells.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Intro clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmM8rE_LdFA

Grhyme Productions on Bandcamp: https://grhymeproductions.bandcamp.com/

News stories on Angus' campaign:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-14/more-video-of-rapping-greens-candidate-emerges/10496640

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/greens-candidate-exposed-as-rapper-called-fatgut-who-wrote-about-date-raping-women-and-hurting-his-girlfriend/ar-BBPE15z

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-13/victorian-greens-stand-by-footscray-and-sandringham-candidates/10494022

http://www.starweekly.com.au/news/footscray-greens-candidate-apologises-sexist-hip-hop-past/

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-12/victorian-election-greens-woes-not-due-to-preference-deals-alone/10612276

https://www.reddit.com/r/australia/comments/9wxh02/greens_defend_rapping_candidate_angus_mcalpine/

Adem Koci is host of the Podasta Non Grata podcast, which got my attention when he did an entire episode in the style of an elaborate old fashioned "radio hour" programme, performing the entire show in the character of an elderly gentleman called Gerald Twint.

In this episode, I speak to Adem about why we tell stories as characters, how they can function as shields against criticism, and whether it's possible to create so many characters, you lose track of yourself in the process.

You can find Adem's amazing podcast at: https://www.spreaker.com/show/podcasta-non-grata_1

Links to the episodes we discuss on the show:

The Gerald Twint Radio Style Programme: https://www.spreaker.com/user/ademk/the-gerald-twint-radio-style-programme

52_A dog named "Voldemort"?: https://www.spreaker.com/user/ademk/52-a-dog-named-voldemort

The Truth About Harv - A Channel Announcement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-L4uSgCvxc

Watchmen - A Popcorn Lobotomy Scathing Reveiw: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5Qksvp2C7Y

Intro clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBRlxs0q2QY

Doug Wilson is an international marathon runner, Kundalini Yoga practitioner, brain tumour survivor, and now author of the book "Kundalini Running". He has overcome substance abuse and severe health issues to achieve feats of physical fitness that most of us can barely imagine.

Today, we welcome Doug to the podcast to share his incredible story.

You can find Doug's work at: https://kundalinirunning.com/

Jay Ridley joins Harv in the studio to discuss music -- why it attracts us, why we create it, how it affects the brain, and how it might just be linked to the collective consciousness.

Or not, we can't really work it out either. But it's an interesting conversation nevertheless!

Intro Clip - "A Star is Born": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SnMhTOGh3E

Christmas can be a difficult time for many.

In this bonus Christmas Holiday episode we put our eggnog glasses down for a moment (seriously, what the fuck IS eggnog?) to reflect on the stories that lead such a supposedly joyous occasion becoming a depressing nightmare for so many.

Experts warn of Christmas suicide risk: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-12-18/experts-warn-of-christmas-suicide-risk/1183336

Is Suicide More Common At Christmas Time? https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/hide-and-seek/201212/is-suicide-more-common-christmas-time

Snopes - Christmas Suicides: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/unhappy-holidays/

Suicidal Ideation: 19 Words to Watch out For: https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/lifetime-connections/201806/suicidal-ideation-19-words-watch-out

The intention of this episode was to review and reflect upon the topics we've discussed on Narratively Speaking, and perhaps revisit our central premise.

I had it all planned out, but then story happened, and life made different decisions. The best laid plans and all that.

So fuck it. No clips, no research, no plan. Are you up for a story?

Intro clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX-Ec6Tmh-s

Jim Carrey has been in the media in the past few years seemingly wavering between depressed, confused and completely insane. But is he crazy, or is he undergoing a spiritual transformation that we just don't yet understand?

Today is the first in a new series on Narratively Speaking where we examine public figures and the stories they tell.

Intro clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4AmLcBLZWY

Jim Carrey speaks about autism on Larry King: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX-SCdjDOrA

Jim Carrey on the red carpet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JmNKGfFj7w

Jim Carrey's message to Emma Stone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNrkcY-I0RA

Jim Carrey Is An Asshole Method Actor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82rKQXEG7bQ

Jim Carrey exposing the Luminutty: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG9i7d8yfKQ

What really exists: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TucyzpHDNlE

Jim Carrey explains red carpet comments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEm1TFfRCUE

Jim Carrey on his dad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC8XJenmURY

Years ago conspiracy theorists told us we were being watched, monitored and spied on, with all our communication being catalogued into a massive surveillance database.

Then Edward Snowden came along and told us the conspiracy theorists were right!

But, true or not, how does this story of the Orwellian "Surveillance State" affect us, and how does it function to modify our behaviour as a society?

Let's dig in!

Scene from Cat's Eye: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wxy3lP-mH3Y

Before There Was Snowden: https://www.whistleblowersecurity.com/before-there-was-snowden-the-other-whistleblowers-who-came-forward/

Global surveillance whistleblowers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_surveillance_whistleblowers

Bentham, Foucault and the Penopticon | Philosophy Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHRPzp09Kqc

Veritassium on Learned Helplessness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMPzDiraNnA

Learned Optimism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hHNq45rEnU