It looks like I've accidentally started the year with a theme of pursuing dreams and goal setting...

I have found that the fulfillment of a goal or dream almost never happens in isolation - we need a cheer team to encourage us and help provide clarity when needed.

My guest this week has taken her passion for creativity and coaching people, then combined them into a wonderful program called Compass Checkers.

It's about getting together and making sure people stay on track for their dreams, so I wanted to give you the opportunity to hear the wisdom she has to share as we begin 2019!

If you want to know more about Compass Checkers, head to www.compasscheckers.com

Many people talk about making changes to their lives, very few appear to follow through.

Marcus and Jo Slagel are the exceptions to the rule, and as we start the new year, I wanted to share their story with you.

We all carry dreams and passions for what our lives can be. We can also push against the discomfort and pain of a life that's not in line with who we really are and what we want.

If you've ever wondered what taking that next step could look like, maybe this episode will give you the courage to make the change you've always wanted.

We talk about the personal, practical and spiritual factors that came into play, and what comes next!

You can also follow Jo's musical adventures via her Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/joanneslagel/

When I began to consider post graduate study a few years back, it reignited my interest in tertiary education.

I suddenly saw the changes that had taken place, culturally and technologically, then began to wonder if our models of tertiary education had adapted to meet those changing needs.

My instinct was that they hadn't, but I was very encouraged to discover a report from the New Zealand Productivity Commission that came out in March 2017 with some very interesting suggestions to get the ball rolling.

Terry Genet was a senior advisor on the report and made the time to go through the report's finding and its recommendations with me.

If you or someone you know is considering tertiary education, you'll find this a valuable resource for the questions our institutions need to be able to answer.

The summary report can be found via this link

https://www.productivity.govt.nz/inquiry-content/2683?stage=4

Welcome to the final step in our Self Authoring journey.

In this episode, Josh and I recap what we have found most valuable from taking a look at our past and seeing the impact it has had on our lives up until.

We also get a little more philosphical than usual (if that's possible....haha)and talk about the implications of the search we all have for meaning, purpose, and dealing with 'wilderness experiences'

Remember that if you want to try Dr Jordan Peterson's Self Authoring program, just head to www.selfauthoring.com

Welcome to the second of my "Taking On" series.

This is where I like to use my podcast to look at difficult or controversial topics that might be difficult to cover sufficiently in a traditional newspaper article or news segment

One of the most requested topics was mental health awareness, something I was eager to cover but also wary of not adding more noise than substance as I'm only an unqualified psychologist ;)

On further reflection, not only did I find an angle to discuss, but its something I think has wider applications too.

Can't wait to hear what you think of this one!

In 1980, Kenneth E. Hartman murdered a homeless man in a Los Angeles area park after a drug-fueled binge. He was then sentenced to life without the possibility of parole by the state of California.

Locked up and thrown away, this is not where his story ends

This episode of The Andrew Curtis show is the story of a man who did not succumb to the darkness of the only world left to him. It offers definite proof that there is no such thing as a life beyond redemption.

If you're inspired to support Ken, you can do so here:

http://www.kennethehartman.com/

https://www.gofundme.com/lifer-for-life-coach-training

ps. We also discuss this video during the episode: https://vimeo.com/191317314

Today marks a new direction for The Andrew Curtis Show

My impression is that most people are unhappy with the coverage we receive, so I want to experiment with providing an alternative.

In addition to the regular interviews that will still appear, I'd like to try a more news/current affairs themed episode without an interview guest where I can take a look at one of the major issues being covered in mainstream media.

With that in mind I present to you, The Andrew Curtis Show taking on Serena Williams!

Welcome back for round three.

The longer this series runs, the more convinced I am that Josh and I need a regular show.

Although the main thread of discussion was supposed to be focused on the ideas uncovered by looking at our faults as a means to greater personal growth, we looked at much more.

One of the many things I've enjoyed about this series is how it leads to powerful questions of meaning and significance, so I hope you'll feel the same way with this episode.

We also segway into politics and economics so I'm hoping you'll find something here that will inspire you to think about what really matters in your life.

As someone who loves to see a clash of ideas, this has been a fascinating fortnight in New Zealand

The arrival, non-event and departure of Stefan Molyneux and Lauren Southern provoked an unprecedented debate around Free Speech, Hate Speech, and where the boundary lines will be drawn in New Zealand society.

I have found the mainstream media discussion on this topic embarrassingly brief, being of the opinion that a long form discussion is the only way to do justice to the topic of free speech.

With that in mind, I'm very pleased to present this discussion with Stephen Franks from NZ's Free Speech Coalition.

I've also departed a little from my usual format to share my personal thoughts and flesh out some of the things Stephen and I weren't able to cover.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts (freely expressed, of course...)

Welcome to the second part of my new special series, exploring the experience of Self Authoring with my special guest, Josh Storey.

The Self-Authoring Suite is a set of three online writing programs: past, present and future.

This week we take a look at the first part of the Present Authoring section, which is about helping identify your virtues (strengths) and then finding a way of making a greater difference in the world as a result.

We also talk about the impact the program has had on our lives up till now and how we're tailoring it to work for us, because the last thing you want is to invest time into something that becomes a drag!

Josh and I were really pleased with this conversation - personally I think he was on fire with his insights so I'm looking forward to hearing what you think.

If you'd like to try self authoring for yourself, use the link below:

selfauthoring.com/