The Jabber

It's easy to beat up on social media, but every now and then, it gives us something special: the ability to look at our own mundane daily habits and just laugh. Let's talk about self-deprecation, everyday folks showcasing the human experience, and why laughing at ourselves is the ultimate antidote to modern outrage. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers...

I sat down to write this week's Jabber and hit a complete brick wall. But looking out at the sudden arrival of Spring down south, I realised something important: you can't force a bloom in the middle of winter. Let's talk about the law of cycles, active optimism, and why the grass is always greener where you choose to water it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other...

When Tim Cook took over as CEO of Apple in August 2011, the prevailing narrative was one of doom and gloom. Fast forward to August 2026, and Apple added over $4.2 trillion in value under his watch. Let's talk about exponentiality, Amara's Law, and why we need to open ourselves up to compounding possibilities before hindsight forces us to. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this...

I’ve been reading through Adrian Gore’s four core principles, and the one that hit me hardest is optimism. People often dismiss optimism as naive or unrealistic. But if you can't see things getting better, why are you there? Let's talk about why the grass isn't always greener on the other side - sometimes where you're standing just needs a little water and sunshine. This is a public episode. If yo...

I was flicking through old movies the other night and stumbled back onto Ferris Bueller's Day Off. That famous line hit me harder than ever: "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." Let's talk about why time speeds up as we age, and why the secret to a richer life isn't doing more, but taking it all in. This is a public episode. If you would l...

Walking through Makro over the weekend to stock up for my son’s school market day felt like stepping into a time machine. Thirty years ago, I was in those exact same aisles stocking up for my underground hostel tuck shop. Different eras, different circumstances, but the fundamental lessons of business haven't changed one bit. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other s...

If you had sixty minutes to sit on a park bench and talk with anyone in history, who would it be? While most people reach for global icons like Nelson Mandela or Muhammad Ali, I’d choose my granddad. Let's talk about why the stories closest to home are the ones that shape us the most This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes,...

I was chatting with my eldest son the other day about talent versus grit - and why the dog with pure hustle beats the talented dog 80% of the time. That led us down a fascinating rabbit hole about the 80/20 rule of life, where the thing that drives most of our success is often the exact opposite of what we focus on. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers...

Watching big tech earnings recently has laid bare a fundamental market truth: share prices aren't driven by actual results, but by raw expectations. Let's talk about why hype creates danger, despair creates opportunity, and why Mr. Market is the last person you should trust with your emotions. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus...

Have you ever felt your phone vibrate in your pocket - or felt your watch tap your wrist - only to look down and see... absolutely nothing? Let's take a funny, lighthearted look at how our tech has conditioned our nervous systems to invent notifications out of thin air. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjab...

My youngest son listens to The Jabber every morning. But after we tightened up the format, he called me out: "Why so short?" Let's talk about the beauty of honest feedback, experiential storytelling, and why sometimes the best lesson is knowing when to let a conversation linger. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visi...

A quote popped up on my timeline that stopped me in my tracks: "The world hates magic..." It got me thinking about how modern life has traded wonder, mystery, and deep exploration for quick, fluorescent-lit answers. Let's talk about why we need to fall back in love with the question. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes,...

My youngest recently broke his wrist. As a natural leftie, sitting on the sidelines feels like a tragedy. But watching him adapt - and even learn to write with his right hand - got me thinking about perspective, resilience, and the unintended benefits of life's forced detours. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit...

I wanted to take my kids to see Western Province play the All Blacks, but the online ticket prices were completely ridiculous. Then, right before game time, they plummeted. Let's talk about volatile sports pricing, cultural hostages, and why the system only changes when we change our habits. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus e...

I just wrapped up a week away at a conference - hosting delegates, making great connections, and having brilliant conversations. But coming home hit me with a massive wall of social fatigue. Let's talk about the invisible cost of being ‘on’ and why positive energy still drains the battery. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus epi...

At a recent work conference, a conversation turned to crime - from stolen bikes to guns held to heads. It got me thinking about how our personal experiences shape our threat models, and why a single bad experience will always shatter the most polished marketing. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabbering.s...

Watching the new Masters of the Universe movie sent me down a massive memory lane trip to the days of He-Man and Skeletor. But the real magic wasn't just the nostalgia - it was watching how a story from our childhood got re-engineered for the 21st century without losing its soul. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, vis...

My eldest son and I threw on an episode of 'The Economics of Everyday Things' on a recent drive. We expected a story about food - we got a masterclass on French car tires, unexpected connections, and the best twenty-minute conversation we've had all month. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabbering.substac...

Watching your eldest step into genuine independence brings a strange emotional whiplash. Sports games are easy to watch, but malls and boarding schools represent the true transfer of sovereignty. Why do we feel mixed emotions when our greatest goal actually succeeds. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabber...

A podcast quote unlocked a timeless truth: Old things usually keep lasting, while young things are still in the testing chamber. Why the amateur loses money hunting shiny novelties - and why realising you aren't an exception to time is your greatest asset. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabbering.substac...

Dropping my eldest son off at the mall triggered a wave of nostalgia. Decades ago, we trolled the same halls, ducking rival crews and hanging at the ice rink. Why human rites of passage are immutable, and how every generation mistakes their unique aesthetic for a brand new world. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, vis...

A morning school run turned into a real-time Aesop's fable. Choosing the longer route put us miles ahead of the car that took the ‘shortcut.’ Why the straightest path is usually a high-friction trap, and how sovereign operators choose flow over proximity. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabbering.substack...

Most brands hide their errors and scream about their accomplishments. The Jabber framework flips the script: Loud apologies for minor mistakes signal supreme confidence, while keeping wins quiet builds unassailable authority. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabbering.substack.com

A moment in a grocery store revealed a troubling cultural trend. By micro-managing every potential bump and scrape out of fear, we are replacing the joy of exploration with chronic anxiety. How to balance necessary boundaries with the essential freedom to learn from failure. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ke...

A coffee chat about modern politics revealed a universal truth about the changing world of work. Whether you are a politician, a founder, or a specialist, content creation is no longer an optional marketing layer - it is fifty percent of the job description. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabbering.subst...