Stumble Through

Bones aren’t the only thing that can break, and our mental health is just as instrumental to our well being as physical health. I’ve brought back my favourite med student, Janani, to have a chat about how we can take care of ourselves (and each other) in after a punch in the feels.

This will be the second last episode of the season, and Stumble Through will be back January 29th 2020 with more tips, chuckles and hugs through your headphones. If you have an idea for an episode, email me at [email protected] (I would LOVE to hear from you).

Keep well,

-Paula

Also, at about 18:30 minutes in there are some sirens in the background. Just a heads up in case you are listening to this while driving.

EPISODE NOTES:

Things We Mentioned

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Self-Soothing sounds weird, and it’s usually associated with parenting and new parents trying not to rush to their child’s cot each time they cry. It boils down to the things we do to centre ourselves when we’ve experienced something shocking or emotionally tumultuous. Some examples I found were having a cup of tea (like J says she likes to do); putting yourself in an observational mode where you observe your feelings, thoughts, and the world around you while creaing some distance from it emotionally; and being compassionate with yourself about all the things you’re observing. I wasn’t a big fan of any of the resources I found on the internet about this, so if you have a good one, or one you have found really helped you, send it through!

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Here is an article I enjoyed on the science behind giving a name to the feeling and why that helps us process it.

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Here is that Ted Talk I keep banging on about by Guy Winch.

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I found this article on Psychology Today about rumination vs reflection which made me think about some of my thought patterns and habits, and has made me look for signs that I may be dipping form one into the other.

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Journaling is a very powerful tool in general, but especially when it comes to giving us an opportunity to grasp messy feelings and big life stuff. The act of writing things down makes us put our thoughts in order, and the act of consciously constructing a narrative around it helps us take control of it (the emotion or our lives). So it’s great for being reflective instead of ruminative, processing emotions, and managing stress. Here’s a science-y article on it

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Holding space is an interesting turn of phrase form therapy doing the rounds on the internet now. I’ve found this piece on Medium about it which really interested me. Something that my therapist reminds me to do is to hold space for negative emotions, and allow them to be there without judgement. Rum put it beautifully in his poem The Guesthouse: …. Welcome and entertain them all! /Even if they are a crowd of sorrows /who violently sweep your house /empty of its furniture, /still, treat each guest honorably. /He may be clearing you out /for some new delight…
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One of your excellent submissions got us talking about being specific when you offer help. It’s...

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Hooray it’s a bumper episode! In this episode we get into the specifics of what it means to be plastic free. We talk about beginner, middle and champion level ways to incorporate it into your life. Jen, who you may remember from our episode on job searching, is a really passionate educator on the subject, and talks about it with a lot of humour, so it’s really easy to understand how it could apply to you.

Jen is a theatre maker, eco educator, clown, award winning actor and director, and just a phenomenal human. Check out her Instagram, check out her website, get to one of her market events for Fetch Vintage.

Keep well,

-Paula

Had a chuckle? Feeling less alone? Don’t forget to rate and review the podcast! It tells the algorithm to suggest us to other people.

If you’ve stumbled upon us, you can join the community on Instagram as stumblethroughpod here

And on Facebook as Stumble Through Podcast here

EPISODE NOTES:

Things We Mentioned

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Microplastics in sea salt

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Just in case you didn’t get enough scares on Halloween, here is a scary article about the projected levels of plastic waste and what we can do about it.

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Here is an excellent article outlining why recycling is not enough, and how we can go about looking to manage and eliminate our plastic waste

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Here is the collapsible coffee cup that I use, by a company called Stojo
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You can drop off all your soft plastics at Redcycle. Find your closest drop off centre here

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You can check our my excellent friend’s start up, Carapac, here! Carapac is developing 100% biodegradable plastic substitutes that could degrade in your own home compost heap. Such cool stuff. Find them on Facebook and Instagram (they’re rejigging their page right now, but stay tuned!).

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Biocup is a well known brand, but not actually easy to get rid of. Here is an article in the SMH about it, here is what Biopak say about the biodegrading process on their website (scroll down to the bottom and click through the drop down tabs), and here is an FAQ where they address if it is recyclable or not.

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That comedian I mention who talks about self-righteousness is Whitney Cummings, and she riffs on it in her Netflix special “Can I Touch It?”

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I couldn’t find that SBS report anywhere when I went looking, so if you find it, let me know!

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Remember when we had to do life-saving in PE? Or those first aid courses? Yeah, me neither. Which is why I think this is one of the most useful episodes we have made so far. Click through to see the most researched show notes I have ever done. There are numbers for non-emergency medical services for every state and territory, mental health help lines, Priceline first aid kits, and more! If you have any services to contribute, find our Facebook group and we can start a thread!

Janani is a final year med-student and soon to be trainee doctor. She is a wonderful human who is quite literally making the world a happier, healthier place. Neither of us are experts on the subject of health (yet), but we’ve done a lot of reading and research to put this together for you. J more so than me, but still. We had a lot of fun making the episode, and I hope you feel a bit more capable at the end of it.

Keep well,

-Paula

Had a chuckle? Feeling less alone? Don’t forget to rate and review the podcast! It tells the algorithm to suggest us to other people.

If you’ve stumbled upon us, you can join the community on Instagram as stumblethroughpod here

And on Facebook as Stumble Through Podcast here

EPISODE NOTES:

Things We Mentioned

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Components of a first aid kit include: bandages, antiseptic, the good band aids, bandage wraps for slings, self-adhesive bandages (the kind you can cut to size), safety pins, Panadol or something similar, I like to have a bit of leucoplast handy, instant ice, a plastic bag, and scissors.

Overwhelmed with the idea of assembling your own? Me too! I bought one from Aldi, you can find it here at Priceline.

Here is a slightly cheaper version

Here is a more expensive version, but I reckon you could keep half in your car and put half in your bathroom cupboard so you’re fully prepared.

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If you wanted to know more about bandages and band aids than you ever needed to, I found this hierarchy of band aids

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It’s summer, so it’s snake season. Yikes. Check out this video on how to treat a snake bite. Also, you don’t need to catch the snake, the hospital can test the venom to figure out what to treat it with. Snakes should be left alone and blocked on Instagram, not chased after.

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Non-emergency health contacts put ‘em in your phone! Copy paste go go go!

Australia Wide:

Health Direct: 1800 022 222

Poisons Info Hotline: 13 11 26 (it’s based in NSW but is available 24/7 from anywhere in Australia

Lifeline 13 11 14

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We’re long overdue for another career spotlight, and so this week I chat to my friend Teri Steer about her career path to becoming a stage manager at La Mama. La freaking Mama. That’s so cool I’m not even going to swear about it. Teri is a stage manager, designer, and a familiar face in Melbourne and Brisbane tech crews. One of the many things I admire about Teri is her resilience, and it really shines through as we talk about her journey to where she is now. Her path hasn’t been simple, and that is what makes her sharing it so valuable I think. One of the key lessons from this episode is that the most important thing to do for your career, is realise it is yours. And you have got to do what is best for you; do your degree slower, work on projects while you do it, change your major, whatever best serves you and your growth, do that.

Keep well,

-Paula

EPISODE NOTES:

Things We Mentioned

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In case you have been living overseas or under a rock, La Mama is a pretty big deal. Check out their website here

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Merriam-Webster defines Scenography as the art of perspective representation especially as applied to the design and painting of stage scenery. Here’s a more detailed description of it, and here is a series of super fun Youtube videos about it!

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You can find Teri here:

On Instagram

Had a chuckle? Feeling less alone? Don’t forget to rate and review the podcast! It tells the algorithm to suggest us to other people.

Produced by That’s Not Canon Productions. Graphics by Claudia Piggott. Music by Jessica Fletcher.

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Find us on FACEBOOK or INSTAGRAM.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/stumble-through.

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Freelancing is rewarding, empowering, difficult, wobbly, and a way of working that in many ways allows you to live life on your own terms. Freelancing is the most adult thing I can imagine because it requires you to be entirely responsible for your work, your time, your choices, your admin, everything. This week I get to talk to the brilliant Shashin, who is an advertising consultant, marketer, graphic designer and photographer. So basically, he’s like, a miracle worker. Sash is also just the most genuine, enigmatic, creative powerhouse and a bloody delight. Click on through to the show notes to see his work on Behance, or stalk his Insta for gorgeous landscapes.

Are you a freelancer? What do you do! Find us on socials and tell us how the episode resonated with you. I’d love to put faces to the numbers and get to know you all a bit better.

Keep well,

-Paula

EPISODE NOTES:

Things We Mentioned

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Getting great ideas in the shower, as it turns out, is a well-documented phenomenon. Apparently it taps into insight, and you can read all about it here in this fun blog from Headspace.

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Adam J. Kurtz’s approach to tricking your brain into working is outlined in his book,which I grabbed on sale at Booktopia. His website is super fun and just a great way to spend your commute because it teaches you stuff AND makes you laugh AND feel less alone. Win win win! If you want to learn more about how to utilise your procrastination, you can check out this Medium article which does a good job of explaining it.

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You can find Shash on Instargram, and check out his killer visual work on Behance

Had a chuckle? Feeling less alone? Don’t forget to rate and review the podcast! It tells the algorithm to suggest us to other people.

Produced by That’s Not Canon Productions. Graphics by Claudia Piggott. Music by Jessica Fletcher.

Subscribe to us on ITUNES, STITCHER, SPOTIFY, RADIOPUBLIC or your podcatcher of choice.

Find us on FACEBOOK or INSTAGRAM.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/stumble-through.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/stumble-through.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Breakups are, among other things, painful. Pain is a good teacher though. A tough, unnerving, total a****le, but a good teacher. I think we live in a society where we associate breakups with the end of romantic relationships, but they are far more widespread and nuanced than that.

In this episode I talk with Aimee Duroux (who you may remember from our social media episode) about why they hurt so much, how to go about them, and what is to be gleaned from them. Aimee is an actor, producer, writer, social media maven, voice over artist, and the human personification of sunflowers. She brings such warmth and insight to the conversation, and I genuinely cannot wait to share it with you. Let us know what you think! Tag us in your insta stories when you listen to it, or join our Facebook group to share your response! I’d love to put some human faces to the numbers.

Keep well,

-Paula

P.S our loud siren friends from the fire department make another appearance about halfway through this episode, so again, do not be alarmed if you hear some distant sirens, that’s on our end.

EPISODE NOTES:

Things We Mentioned

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Starlight Children’s Foundation is an amazing charity very close to my heart. Find out more here about them and how they bring some much-needed levity and distraction to sick kids.

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Generation Why? Is yet to be released but you better believe that Make sure you stay in the loop by following the Facebook page

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In the episode I talk about one of my most painful platonic break-ups from back when I was in primary school. I heard myself using the phrase “distress they caused me” and I just wanted to, firstly, clarify that break-ups cause emotional distress, but it would be unfair of me to blame that on the people involved, as they have no power or responsibility over my emotions. And secondly, I wanted to say that none of the people in question were cruel. Sure it hurt; it would always hurt. But they did it in the most mature way possible, which was really impressive considering we were all 13. I was aware at the time that there wasn’t a better way they could have handled it, and it was just going to hurt for a while. A lot of my distress came from the narrative I had created around it, and they had no control over that. I have since done a LOT of work on myself in therapy to rewrite this narrative, and address the nasty core beliefs it was rooted in. Yay progress!

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Memory distortion Look you don’t need me to tell you that memory is not perfect, they’re not even static. Memory is a malleable tool that our minds use to reinforce personal narratives and lessons, as well as survive. That’s why people can have repressed memories when they have a traumatic experience. Here’s a Psychology Today article on the mechanics of memory. And here is one on Business Insider for a more general overview of what it is and how we can use it as a tool.

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School of life is something you have almost certainly seen on YouTube. It was founded by Alain De Button (that dude with the TEDtalk about why you’ll marry the wrong person) and Sophie Howarth (a writer and social entrepreneur with quite a few interesting ventures, start here if you fancy a google). In case you haven’t heard of them, here’s a video on Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/stumble-through.

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In this episode I speak with inimitable Aidan Rowlingson; an actor, director, producer, entrepreneur, proud Butchulla man, and self-acknowledged unicorn (because he really is that rare and magical). We chat about what university doesn’t prepare you for, some lessons we learned the hard way, and the exorbitant price of a night out. This is advice and insight I wish I’d had, or thought to seek out when I was studying my degree. While we can only talk to our experiences of doing creative degrees, I certainly think there are a number of transferable insights into that gulf between uni and the real world. Particularly when Aidan talks about the need to look at your higher education as the beginning of your career. I hope you get a whole heap of value our of this; tell us what you think on Instagram or in our Facebook group!

Keep well,

-Paula

P.S There were some sirens in the background of this episode at the beginning, don’t be alarmed if you hear them while you’re driving.

EPISODE NOTES:

Things We Mentioned

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Talking yourself up is an icky tricky business, particularly when there’s a job involved. Here’s a quick read on Psychology today that talks about it, and how we can get better at writing good things about ourselves so people give us money.

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Being comfortable with discomfort is a skill that is hugely beneficial, especially when facing big scary uncertain times like the post-graduation swamp. I have since revised my opinion on the usefulness of two and five year plans for uni students who study creative courses that involve a lot of group work (like performing arts degrees). I think that having a set of goals and time frames is an excellent way to keep yourself accountable, and stop yourself from sinking into a whirlpool of anxiety when you face great discomfort and uncertainty in your career prospects, or life in general. That being said, I found this cool article on how rejection and these periods of uncertainty can actually benefit you in the long term. What do you think?

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Ancient Bloods you can find out more about them and Digi Youth Arts here or check out their music on Triple J Unearthed here

You can find Aidan doing cool stuff with Digi Youth Arts here on Instagram and here on Facebook!

Had a chuckle? Feeling less alone? Don’t forget to rate and review the podcast! It tells the algorithm to suggest us to other people.

If you’ve stumbled upon us, you can join the community on Instagram as stumblethroughpod here

And on Facebook as Stumble Through Podcast here

Produced by That’s Not Canon Productions. Graphics by Claudia Piggott. Music by Jessica Fletcher.

Subscribe to us on ITUNES, STITCHER, Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/stumble-through.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Folks, this is one I’ve super excited about, and have been sitting on for a while. It’s such a rich conversation, and I really hope this episode is as useful for you as it was for me.

Madeleine Little is a disabled artist, theatre maker, and researcher. She is also incredibly kind, articulate, and knowledgeable arts professional with a smile so arresting it will pull you across the room like that dance move with the invisible lasso. You should absolutely follow her on the accounts listed in the show notes and read her Mama Mia article, which MAMA FREAKING MIA APPROACHED HER TO DO (click through to it to get as excited about it as I am). Go send her big love for finishing off her masters! Go do some googling to learn more about the topic! Go follow some cool disabled artists on Instagram! Go go go!

Keep well,

-Paula

P.S. This is a phone interview, and there was a little itty bitty lag, but it’s not noticeable after the first two minutes.

EPISODE NOTES:

Things We Mentioned

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Non-disabled vs. abled as Maddie said in the episode, this comes down to context but non-disabled is generally the safer bet. Terminology is a really basic and easy thing to get around though, and it’s also a really simple way to start learning more about disability as an experience, the structural aspects of it within institutions, and much more. Here’s a guide on terminology by the Australian Network on Disability. For those feeling a smidge daunted, here is a great quote from the webpage:

While the above information may seem daunting if it’s new to you, the most important thing to remember is to simply focus on the person, rather than the disability. Don’t be so afraid of saying the wrong thing that you don’t say anything at all. Relax, be willing to communicate, and listen, (AND, 2019).

(Yes I just used correct APA citation formatting. I didn’t get a HECs debt to not remember this.)

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Emotional Labour was first defined in The Managed Heart. Read more about it here, as well as a little chat with Arlie Hochschild here if you’re short on time and just want a little more understanding.

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Alicia Grandey gives us an updated definition of emotional labour with some help from Aunt Bernadette here, in a quick and easy read.

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Privilege! What an important thing to know and examine! I have immense privilege with my non-disabled body, and one of the reasons I know this because the reason why I didn’t record with Maddie in person is because I couldn’t find a recording studio which was accessible for her. I had never before counted the stairs between the street and the recording chair, or paid any attention to hand rails, and that was an eye opener. Which is what privilege is: it’s not having to think about x, y, or z. It is the freedom and ease of not having to consider things that are very real everyday experiences for others. Privilege isn’t good or bad, and often isn’t a choice. It just comes with the responsibility of understanding it, acknowledging it, and using it to build a better future for people who don’t have the same. Here is an excellent look at the concept and what we can do...

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Surprise! I had so much fun with Peter and Kristen, I asked them if they could stay and answer just a few more questions. In this episode we focus on financing a fringe show, and a few other bits of wisdom that I am so pleased I get to share with you. It would be so amazing if you could share one of their posts on whichever platform you use. Just hitting “interested” on their Facebook event, or sharing one of their Instagram posts to your story is a tiny thing that really helps spread their name and the joy of Nutella a little further.

If YOU have a fringe show, tell us about it! If you are going to Boys Taste Better With Nutella at Melbourne fringe, tag us!

Keep well,

-Paula

EPISODE NOTES:

Things We Mentioned

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In case you didn’t know, Duck For Cover is the insurer of choice for artists, HOWEVER you should always always ALWAYS do your due diligence and talk to a professional before making big financial and legal decisions. Check out the website here:

https://www.duckforcover.com.au/html/

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MATCH Lab is a program run by Creative Partnerships Australia (Jump on their website and subscribe to their newsletter because they are an amazing resource for Australian creatives!)

Read more about it and Creative Partnerships Australia here:

https://www.creativepartnershipsaustralia.org.au/for-artists-and-arts-organisations/funding-programs/match/

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Oh look, yet ANOTHER Liz Gilbert quote:

“I held on to those other sources of income for so long because I never wanted to burden my writing with the responsibility of paying for my life. I knew better than to ask this of my writing, because over the years, I have watched so many other people murder their creativity by demanding that their art pay the bills.”

Here is an article I read on the subject when I was staring into a void of angst and existential dread in the bathrooms of Newark Liberty International airport:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucekasanoff/2017/06/09/creative-fields-make-for-crap-careers/#5f04e1505e23

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Here is an unsupported scientific look at the reality that Maccas fries don’t go mouldy:

http://thescienceexplorer.com/brain-and-body/video-experiment-mcdonald-s-fries-don-t-mold-after-10-weeks

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Shout out to Josh Lyons of Share House Theatre Company! An up and coming creative with a big heart.

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Caitlin Hill is the third member of Boys Taste Better With Nutella, and this week I would like to recommend her Chip Butty Snacks and Facts video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOVXqrxloD4&list=PLUnFCGmRF07E9cZeLyC-UGwwMHcVZeakh&index=11

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You can find Boys Taste Better With Nutella here:

Check out the Instagram account here: https://www.instagram.com/brdgt_m/

Look at the Facebook Event...

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You guys. I am so excited to share this episode with you. I sit down with two creative powerhouses Kristen Maloney and Peter Wood. Kristen is a producer, writer, director and casserole lover. Peter is an actor, writer, and dramaturg, and can turn anything into brilliant choreography.

To make sure that you don’t miss an ounce of the goodness that Peter and Kristen give, I have created a TRANSCRIPT which you can find in our Facebook Group and on the TNC website as of 5/9/19. Oh yes, I paid trint some money and now you can literally copy and paste a list together of all the documentation you will need to apply for a hub, the things that the Nutella crew have learned about marketing a fringe show, and so much more! This is part one of two, so stay tuned for even more invaluable information about how to make your fringe show happen.

Boys Taste Better With Nutella will be at Melbourne Fringe Festival 13 to 21 September and tickets are $29 OR LESS. It is a brilliant show, I have seen it in varying stages and loved it at all of them. And yes, yes I absolutely will be booking a plane ticket to see it tour in 2020. That is how good this show is. I am booking a $200 plane ticket to see a $29 show and sip $18 cocktails. Living my best life and all that.

Tell us what you think of the episode! Show the Nutella crew some love by heading to their instagram account and sharing a post, you will never believe how much those three taps help get them seen online.

Keep well,

-Paula

EPISODE NOTES:

Things We Mentioned

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Fringe vs Curated is something we discussed briefly on mic, but which I have thought about a LOT since. Here are two cool articles on the topic that I enjoyed.

This is one from Artshub, and Australian arts publication that is a must for creatives in this country (CHECK THEM OUT THEY HAVE REALLY USEFUL STUFF). The articles focuses on Melbourne Fringe, which where our Nutella crew are headed!

https://www.artshub.com.au/festival/news-article/opinions-and-analysis/festivals/simon-abrahams/why-fringe-festivals-are-the-centre-point-of-our-culture-255724

This one is a really insightful article from the of Dublin Fringe Festival which goes into the politics of fringe festivals more, partly because that is the Dublin Fringe festival’s MO

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/the-answer-is-more-dublin-fringe-director-on-choosing-acts-and-supporting-artists-1.3983826

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Peter mentioned he hadn’t had a break since May; we recorded this episode back in July, so while that is still a long time, it’s 2ish months not 3. But still definitely send him some nice messages on Insta

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Moreblessingma, AKA Moreblessing Maturure, is an activist, actor, writer, speaker, and has a goddamn TEDtalk (which 100% distracted me from editing this episode TWICE). Watch it (right now) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlrduXFtUQk

Find her on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/moreblessingma/?hl=en

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Boys Taste Better With Nutella won best actor, best script, best production at Short and Sweet QLD back in 2016, and a development at the Brisbane Powerhouse to turn it into a full length show. You should absolutely book tickets right now...

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