Your Story

By Ian KathSociety & Culture Medicine Alternative Health Religion & Spirituality Arts Design Buddhism

Your Story episodes

February 22, 2012 Your Story Addendum Episode 29 : Settling in to Berlin Life.
It seems to have taken four weeks for my soul to catch up with me.
I’ve been in Berlin now for four weeks meeting people and spending time settling in to how this city operates, find where to live and how to decorate your home using resources as CraftSide home which are great for this. I find it takes time to find my feet in any new environment and understand how the basic functions of life operate. It’s a mix of confusion and excitement, that is both fun and distracting.
Now that the settling is hopefully completed I’m looking forward to seeing how things continue to evolve. I’m slowly developing a network of people who are openly and actively connecting with me and offering assistance both in general ideas of where to go and what to see but also who I could connect with. The open generosity of many of the people here is encouraging and maybe shows something of the personality of the people of Berlin.
This was cold!
I said in 2008 that Berlin is like a run down share house full of university students who are doing some interesting things. With that attitude comes a “we’re all in this together”, attitude. Everyone knows that we can all help each other to help ourselves. That attitude gives this city a vibrancy of purpose to create and build some amazing things, even if the specific direction isn’t clear.
If you want to follow all my content just go to About.me/IanKath or my daily Boos at AudioBoo
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9 min
February 21, 2012 Episode 67 : Henry. Opportunity for a Young Person in Berlin
Grabbing opportunities that can’t be found anywhere else.
When you’re young and exploring the world, there are chances for finding yourself wherever you are but the opportunities that present themselves will vary depending on location. Just take a moment to consider how different your life would have been and the opportunities that you took advantage of or missed simply due to where you spent your formative years.
Capturing the spirit of opportunity
In this episode of Your Story we chat to Henry Richards about the opportunities that are presented for him here in Berlin that weren’t available to him in Sydney where he grew up or London where he migrated from.
Henry is at that point in life right now, where he’s formulating the person he’ll become and it’s his current experiences in Berlin that will be part of that.
We chat about how he identifies himself, how Berlin culture allows people like him to be as they wish, to risk presenting in ways that other communities don’t allow and how he sees a future for himself here to continue to grow, study and become who he’ll one day be.
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Akir & R.E.K.S.
“The Good Life” (mp3)
from “Underground Overstood”
(alchemetric)
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The Glitch Mob
“Drive It Like You Stole It” (mp3)
from “Drive It Like You Stole It – Single”
(Glass Air)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at Amazon MP3
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24 min
February 17, 2012 Episode 66 : Rainer. Electronic One Man Band on an Acoustic Guitar
One Guitar for a DJ Mix Party
At a recent Betahaus event in Berlin, the Awesome Foundationawarded 1000€ to innovative musician Robin Sukroso, aka. Rainer, to help further the development of his one man band guitar modification.
Robin Sukroso
Taking the idea of percussive and traditional guitar playing, using the instrument as an input for a midi device, means that virtually any synthesized instrument can be played, looped and feed back into the mix all while performing in the best of the techno clubs here in Berlin.
Three years of development including cutting into his beloved acoustic guitar and now Rainer has his own performance instrument and a prototype to take to manufacturing. Time will tell if we see this as an add on available for musicians to help them with a new style of performing,
If you want to have an understanding of how his creation works just watch this video…

His website is Robin Sukrosos One Man Band
His email is [email protected]
Check-out Rainer’s music on SoundCloud Here
To automatically receive this podcast freely to you, click on one of the links to the left or search in iTunes for “Your Story.”
Subscribe freely in iTunes by Clicking here.
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Support Your Story by commenting on this episode with one of the social network sites below or writing a review on iTunes
← If you want to record the Life Stories of others, listen to my other podcast at Create Your Life Story.com or on iTunes.
…Or have a look at some other great shows available at LifeStyle Pod Network→
23 min
January 23, 2012Your Story Addendum Ep 28 : Megève. The Heart of the French Alps.
Megève’s a stunning place to see Snow and Ice, something I don’t know!
I’ve always wondered what it’s like to be in the Alps in winter. The cold, the snow, the strong biting sun but I’ve never had the chance, until now!
Megève from high up on the slopes
What we call mountains in Australia doesn’t really compare to what is the real alps scattered around the rest of the world. When I finally saw those mountainous rocks piercing the sky on my first visit to Megève in the summer of 1992 for my sister’s wedding I thought to myself, “these are real mountains!” …And as I left I wondered what it would be like in winter.
Now I’ve seen a real winter scene.
Megève at night
Coming from the sub-tropics, a real winter as experienced by most people is something that I’ve always wondered about. Sure I’ve experienced some cold moments in my life but never the ice and snow of the French Alps and all that it entails. It’s far too easy for me to have no idea what to do and how to live in this environment but there is also the fun of seeing for real what I’ve only every seen in film and images.
My first step when I arrived involved sliding on the ice. (The ground isn’t supposed to be slippery).
How do the hedges survive under half a metre of snow.
Amazement of the strength of the building to hold tons of snow on the roofs made by insured roofer.
Icicles forming from dripping water on the gutters.
Bitting cold that saps the warmth from every exposed or poorly covered part of the body.
Snow that remains dry and powdery even after days of warm weather.
Ice that melts (sublimates) to dryness without ever being liquid water.
How much air is in freshly fallen snow.
A large mouthful of snow results in very little water to drink.
Ice is really hard to walk on in leather soled shoes!
The comfortable inside temperature is no indication of how cold it is outside.
Ice crystals growing on the snow over the several days of fine weather .
Many of these I’m sure you think are completely obvious but with half a century lived without the experiences of this climate and the natural tendency to take things from my life for granted I’ve been amazed at what I’ve observed. In my personal world I don’t even have a heater for winter.
An Alpine Village
Megève is a quintessential French Alpine village with all the cultural aspects that come with that. The people are fiercely proud of their farming heritage even though tourism has developed into a major part of their community. The local produce from cheese to cured meats is of the highest standard and in no time at all you can indulge way too much of the good life.
And it’s the good life that attracts people to Megève.
It is seen as one of the most expensive ski resort areas in the world attracting the rich and famous. A little people watching and listening and you’ll see the furs and jewlery and hear accents from all around the world. Lately Russian tourists have decovered Megève, having been lead the way by the Germans and British over the decades. One group who are notable in their absence is the North Americans but with the great skiing they have in Canada and the US I can understand why. But it’s not all about the snow!
Mixing it with the Locals
A huge part of being in the French culture is connecting with other people and being in this quaint village in the French Alps with all the French attitudes that come with that make this holiday for me far more than just spending time in the cold.
Taking the time to sit and talk to people about the life in this part of France, either as a local or as an ex-pat British resident gave me more than just the superficial holiday in the snow. I ate far too much beautiful cheese, drank too much red wine but never did I have enough great conversations with the people I spent time with.
If you’re inclined and can afford it I would whole heartily recommend Megève as a place to visit and enjoy.
To automatically receive this podcast freely to you, click on one of the links to the left or search in iTunes for “Your Story.”
Subscribe freely in iTunes by Clicking here.
If you use another Podcast software Get the feed here.
Tycho
“Hours” (mp3)
from “Dive”
(Ghostly International)
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7 min
January 17, 2012Your Story Addendum Ep 27 : A New Trip to Europe
Letting life unfold as it will…
What will happen, will happen and we can do nothing about it because we don’t have any control despite the illusion that we do.
This, to my understanding is the way of life. We live an illusion that we make decisions about all manner of things but the reality is every decision we make is based on the sum total of experiences that we’ve had in our life. At the most fundamental level we are our genetics and our totality of experiences, nothing more. And those two criteria are all that we are and every decision is based on those things. We make our decisions based on this criteria but who are we, if not our genetics and our experiences which drive our decisions?
Todays Your Story Addendum episode is from the departure gate just prior to boarding my flight to Europe.
I’m off on a trip to Europe for 2.5 months. Initially I’ll be in Megève in the French Alps as a guest of my sister and her family then I’ll be heading north to spend a couple of months in Berlin.
Did I make the decision to go?
On My Way to Europe
Well, I may think and feel like I did but the reality is I simply reacted to the situations as they presented themselves with the final upshot being I’m now on my way as I write this somewhere over Indonesia. But more to the point this trip is about creating situations that could provoke opportunity.
In my everyday life I have a routine of situations and people who are a constant with little variation and without breaking away from the status quo I’ll continue to have the same opportunities.
It’s crunch time!
For five years now I’ve been working on Your Story and Create Your Life Story, to learn the skills and develop the sites to where they may be able viable as more than just hobbies. I’ve tried a few things to develop them but to date these things haven’t worked and it’s time to see if there may be some other opportunities that I haven’t considered.
Staying in my home environment will maintain a similar situation to what’s been the case for these last five years but travelling to Europe may, just may, create an environment that is different and present opportunities that I couldn’t find at home.
Everyone who’s had any level of success will be the first to credit the good fortune in their lives that has lead to them becoming who they are (actually that’s the same for all of us, good and bad), and that good fortune could turn up anywhere. It’s just that if you get around, meet more people and be in different situations there is a greater chance of that good fortune turning up.
It isn’t choosing anything!
For me this is just about putting myself out there where opportunity may arise and allowing things to unfold. When we think about it, that’s how life is for all of us.
I don’t know or can’t imagine what may come of this trip. Maybe something, maybe nothing but as I said when I started on this adventure of learning how to podcast I’d rather give a red hot go, than stay in the certainty of routine.
What may come.
I’ve a few ideas for content for Your Story. We may get to revisit some past stories to see how they’ve developed over the last few years and I’m sure we’ll discover a few new stories. I’m hoping to produce both video and audio content and I’ll be putting it out in all the usual channels.
Since my last trip social networks have continued to develop and with the power of my new iPhone 4S along with the video, photo, audio sharing networks there is an opportunity for me to put out a variety of content through multiple channels.
If you want to find all the major social channels that I use go to About.me/IanKath where you can link across to see all that I produce over the next many weeks.
If you have any ideas for people to meet of place to visit in Berlin please let me know using the contacts above.
To automatically receive this podcast freely to you, click on one of the links to the left or search in iTunes for “Your Story.”
Some Important Points About Defensive Driving
Defensive driving is all about avoiding unexpected dangers on the road. From bad weather to distracted drivers, there are all sorts of dangers that can lead to a crash. As a defensive driver, you can defend yourself against these threats by being cognizant of the road and knowing how to act quickly to avoid a crash.
Keep reading to learn about defensive driving and how it influences the importance of good driving techniques.
Defensive Driving Strategies
There are many actions to take if you want to be a defensive driver. One of the most relevant tips in today’s world is the fact that a safe driver is one that isn’t distracted. These days we’re preoccupied with our phones and changing the radio instead of giving the road our full attention. By driving distracted, you put all drivers at risk, including yourself. If you receive an important phone call or message that you must respond to, pull over and resume driving once the conversation is over. Make sure to visit website.
Other must-know defensive driving techniques include:
Staying focused
Obeying traffic laws, signs, road markings, and signals
Remaining alert at all times
Planning ahead
Paying attention to other drivers
Being aware of road conditions
The importance of defensive driving cannot be overstated. As a defensive driver, you’re much less likely to be involved in a crash. In turn, you’re much safer and aware of what to do in the event of another driver’s actions.
To learn more tips and tricks for defensive driving, look into a defensive driving course online. These courses will teach you everything you need to know about safe and defensive driving. Once you master these skills, you’ll be much more confident behind the wheel.
Other Benefits of Defensive Driving
While defensive driving courses teach you ways to keep yourself safe while on the road, these courses are also helpful in reducing or dismissing traffic tickets. If you were pulled over for speeding or received some other type of traffic citation, taking a defensive driving course help lessen or even dismiss the charges.
Many drivers are also unaware that taking a defensive driving school online can also reduce insurance rates. Many insurance companies offer a state discount if drivers take an approved driving safety or defensive driving course.
Trusted Traffic School Online
Your safety, as well as the safety of other drivers on the road, relies on your ability to drive wisely and defensively. Getting behind the wheel without 100% confidence and surety can leave you vulnerable to accidents and common driving hours.
One of our top goals at Ticket School is to teach, and promoting the importance of driving safely is a key goal of our team at Ticket School. At Ticket School, we offer a variety of different types of drivers training, including traffic school and online defensive driving school. Our online training can be accessed from anywhere at any time. online courses are super convenient, especially if you’re in a rush to take a class before a court hearing.
7 min