We Need To Talk

This episode I had the great pleasure of talking with historian, teacher, and public policy writer, Professor Peter Botsman. He's an Honorary Fellow at Melbourne University and was a founder and head of the Whitlam Institute, and led think tanks, the Evatt Foundation and the Brisbane Institute. Peter wrote, 'The Great Constitution Swindle: A Citizen's View of the Australian Constitution' in 1999, which sparked debate about who actually wrote the first draft of our constitution with him pointing to Tasmania's Andrew Inglis Clark as its 'unsung' author. He studied at Cornell and Yale universities and advised the U.S. government on healthcare, after completing his PhD at the University of New South Wales in 1987. Such is his respect in America, he was invited to President Clinton's inauguration in 1993. In Peter's push for Australia to become a republic he's developed a model, the 'Australian Executive Council', which he believes will best achieve this aim. He's a passionate advocate of Indigenous rights and frequently travels to the Outback and Arnhem Land to teach in First Nations communities. In Peter's 'spare time', (I mean does he ever have any?) he runs a Scottish Highland cattle property in NSW's stunning Kangaroo Valley. So grab yourself a hot or cold beverage, and sit back for a fascinating and deeply insightful discussion on Whitlam, the constitution and becoming a republic with Professor Peter Botsman. Chapters (00:00:11) - WE NEED TO TALK(00:00:56) - Peter Botsman(00:03:00) - Peter Botsman on Why We Need a Republic(00:04:00) - The Whitlam Institute and the dismissal(00:11:59) - The Life of Gough Whitlam(00:18:40) - The Life of Andrew Inglis Clark(00:26:23) - Australia should become a republic(00:36:00) - The role of the Governor General in an Australian constitution(00:41:34) - Tony Abbott on the constitutional reform vote(00:49:46) - No More Referendums in Australia(00:53:51) - Andrew Inglis on Australia's colonial past(00:57:41) - A Taste of Australia: Peter Botsman

This episode I'm talking with cognitive neuroscientist, Professor Mark Williams, who's spent over 25 years researching the connection between the human brain and our behaviour.  Mark's taught thousands of students and teachers about how to have a healthy brain and many more in the wider community with his numerous media appearances. He's had published over 70 scientific articles, along with his illuminating book, 'The Connected Species'. Mark and I discuss what drives our brain to think as it does and how we can rewire it to overcome serious issues such as bullying and racism, along with negative behaviour stemming from gender expectations around each sex.  Mark points out that kindness, compassion and empathy shape our brains to improve individual and community wellbeing.  So, sit back and make yourselves comfortable for a fascinating discussion with Professor Mark Williams. 

This episode, the first of our second series, I had the great pleasure of talking with Craig Foster, one of Australia's most respected sportspeople and human rights activists -  Since his Socceroo days, Craig has had an illustrious career as a sports broadcaster, alongside his unwavering human rights advocacy, primarily around multiculturalism, particularly in support of refugees and those seeking asylum in our country - Last year Craig was elected the chairperson of the Australian Republic Movement (ARM) and whilst he is a passionate campaigner for this cause, he is committed to Australia first having an Indigenous Voice to Parliament that is enshrined in our constitution - In 2021, Craig was appointed a member of the Order of Australia and is the current NSW Australian of the Year - Sit back for a deeply inspirational talk with the irrepressible Craig Foster on why standing up for human rights is vital to the wellbeing of each other, our nation and our global community -

This episode I'm talking with Social Justice advocate and educator, Catherine Knox, about Postnatal Depression and how we each got through this tough life challenge. Catherine and I go back almost 20 years when I interviewed her for my PhD research on this serious health issue. Between us, we have 13 children, 11 sons and 2 daughters, so we have plenty of experience around motherhood to share, as well as knowledge we've gained from our professional lives. Catherine and I discuss how feelings of anger, guilt and a loss of identity amongst new mothers often stem from gender expectations around the 'good mother' ideology. A sense of humour and keeping a healthy perspective as a mother are two of the main factors we talk about which led to our recoveries. So sit back and enjoy this very frank and open discussion between two experts on Postnatal Depression, Catherine Knox, and, 'yours truly'. 

This episode I had the great honour of talking with author and leading activist, Thomas Mayor, who carried the Uluru Statement from the Heart around Australia for 18 months from 2017. Thomas explains the three key elements of the Uluru Statement - Voice, Treaty and Truth, in particular, why our country needs an Enshrined Indigenous Voice to parliament. Our discussion helps to dispel confusion around what effect this change to our constitution will have and makes clear why this action is vital to the wellbeing of our First Nations people and therefore, to our nation as a whole. So sit back and enjoy this truly enlightening and inspirational talk with the irrepressible, Thomas Mayor.

This episode I'm talking with world-renowned forensic psychologist, Professor James Ogloff, about our punitive prison system, the causes of criminal behaviour, and how we can lower our high recidivism rate. For over 20 years, Professor Ogloff was a director of Forensicare, Victoria's leading provider of forensic mental health services. He has published 18 books, over 350 academic articles, and has just taken up his new role as the Dean of Health Sciences at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne. Jim talks about the toxic and highly masculine environments in our prison system which fuel violent behaviour. He explains why it's vital to provide the right support to offenders, during and after their incarceration, which is focussed on rehabilitation and reintegration. This compassionate approach is not just for the wellbeing of individuals who offend, but for the wellbeing of our society as a whole. So sit back for a truly insightful and fascinating discussion with Professor James Ogloff

This episode I'm talking with Maree Crabbe, author, film maker and educator, on pornography and the harm it causes, particularly to children, adolescents and young adults.Maree is director of the Australian Violence Prevention initiative, 'It's Time We Talked'. She co-produced and co-directed the documentary film, 'Love and Sex in an Age of Pornography', which has been broadcast in 36 countries. For the wellbeing of our society as a whole, we need to understand the negative impact from porn which alarmingly makes up one third of all internet traffic.

This episode I'm talking with one of Australia's leading historians, Professor Mark McKenna, about why a vital Indigenous Voice to Parliament needs to be enshrined in our constitution.  We also discuss how our nation becoming a republic is intertwined with this cause.  Mark is the author of numerous award winning books on Australia's history. His most recent, 'Return To Uluru', is a fascinating account of a true story from the 1930's that reflects the injustices inflicted on our First Nations People from European colonisation. Whilst Mark is a strong supporter of Australia becoming a republic, he makes clear why accepting the Uluru Statement From The Heart's primary purpose of having an Enshrined Indigenous Voice to Parliament, needs to happen first. So sit back for an illuminating and heartfelt discussion with Professor Mark McKenna.  

This episode I'm talking with Australia's leading authority on ethics, philosopher Dr. Simon Longstaff. Simon is the executive director of The Ethics Centre which he helped establish thirty years ago. His most recent book, 'Everyday Ethics', explains how ethics affects our daily lives in both simple and complex ways. In our deeply insightful discussion, Simon outlines the differences between values, morals and ethics and the importance of examining one's life. He talks about why Socrates is his favourite philosopher, the ethical dilemma his mother faced when he was a young boy of five, and the value of living an ethical life, in particular as a leader. So sit back and enjoy listening to one of Australia's deepest thinkers, Dr. Simon Longstaff. 

This episode I'm talking with Dr. Amanda Cahill, founder of 'The Next Economy' in Australia.  Amanda established this organisation in 2018 after witnessing the rising fear in our regional communities about maintaining a livelihood, particularly in relation to vital climate change action.  Whilst most people accepted the need for change in their workforce, they were unsure of how to go about it. So in came Amanda, who is constantly in high demand to share her knowledge about how to move forward across all industry sectors in a sustainable way. This benefits not just the individual and our regional communities, but our world as a whole.