Big Brain Channel

COVID-19 has brought about a socially depraved new world, but the health crises have consequences in ways not all of us have considered, and not all of us are appropriately reacting to. Tim and David ruminate on the consequences socially and economically, then the security issues caused by COVID-19 and address some of the health scares and hysteria. We are not health professionals, please seek hea...

Fairly tumultuous times have occurred throughout history, but few compare to WWI, so why does David think it gave way to the golden age of human development? Australia and many other countries are facing crises that are likely to last for a long time and have consequences we haven't even thought about - but there's a lot to look forward to if that's the case. We're not being sadistic, Tim and Davi...

Where do ideas come from? Are there any new ones left? Does taking a long shower count as work? Is chocolate tax-deductible? The Word Docs share techniques, traps, and tales of times when inspiration has fled but the words must be put down regardless. Twitter: @TheWordDocs Instagram: @TheWordDocs Facebook: The-Word-Docs   Baking, Beginnings with no endings, Boredom, Bread, Cooking, Community,...

The Idlib balance of power is threatened as the last rebellion holdout in Syria by threatened by conflicting and complex interests. There is a current cease-fire, but as the "Battle for Idlib" is the last stand against the Syrian regime's sovereignty, it seems only a matter of time until violence breaks out once again. This an extraordinary Civil war which has attracted the strategic and tactical...

Alex, Amy and Sean check in from their underground bunkers, where their research, writing and teaching continue unchecked. How are they coping with physical isolation? How are you? New times call for new solutions. Stay safe, everyone See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alex, Amy and Sean tackle a topic close to the heart of many writers and students: getting work in on time. When stopping is sometimes just as hard as starting, the question of how to know if a story is ready for the world is one the Word Docs have all wrestled with many times in their careers. From procrastination baking to life in the Zone, our experts take you on a deep, discursive dive into th...

As a shorter, more shareable update on the COVID19 pandemic, David has recorded an announcement from home to update listeners on best practice. We are not health professionals, but we have thoughtful and well-read responses to the threats that face our communities. We need to be thoughtful about our actions in the world and be considerate of those most at risk. If you have any thoughts, questions,...

How are we as a society dealing with #coronapocalypse? The toilet paper company stocks might suggest we aren't coping well at all. Between Australia's media, Government, and cultural practices the Novel Corona Virus has highlighted a lot of problems for us to deal with now and into the future. The world has a lot on its plate but the point is to be alert and not alarmed. Tim and David discuss what...

This episode is a conversation with Dr. John Bruni, David Olney, and Tim Whiffen concerning John and David's latest trip to Canberra. The report John and David must produce for the DoD has lead to many meetings with large and small states who either give or receive foreign aid. The implications from the different perspectives on aid gives a fairly dire diagnosis of the Australian approach to soft...

Dr Liz Elliott is an academic cartoonist & author concerned with sustainable economies. She has opposed treaties, Big Banks & centralization ideas, and supported localisation & Love for many years. Her book A New Way Now is a diagnosis for Australia and a progressive prescription for individuals and society to do and feel better. This podcast doesn't specifically tackle MMT, but instea...

In light of all that David and Tim learned at the 2020 sustainable prosperity conference, it seems like change is needed, but is it possible? There is a lot to like about the world we live in by comparison with even 50 years ago, but there's a lot we could do better, and yet it feels harder to make changes. What is the health of western democracy in 2020, and how did we get here? Is there another...

Bill Mitchell is a founder of Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) and a leading academic in the campaign for full employment. He is a co-author of Reclaiming the State: A Progressive Vision of Sovereignty for a Post-Neoliberal World and has several honours and academic positions internationally, including being the director of the Centre of Full Employment and Equity (CofFEE). If you don't already unders...

Andrés Bernal is an Advisor to U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Andrés' research focuses on the political economy and policy design of the Green New Deal as well as the intersection of functional finance with democratic institution-building and the social/solidarity economy. Andrés is a well-regarded proponent of MMT in the United States of America, and a signific...

Robert Costanza is an ecological economics professor and the Vice Chancellor’s Chair in Public Policy at the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University. Professor Costanza is the author or co-author of over 600 scientific papers and 27 books . Bob is incredibly concerned with the importance of natural and social capital and brings several disciplines together to a...

Labour underutilisation, or unemployment, is not an acceptable state for Martin Watts an Emeritus Professor at the University of Newcastle. Despite being retired, Martin is also a Research Associate at the Centre of Full Employment and Equity ( CofFEE ). Martin is a proponent of the Job Guarantee, an important part of the Just Transition or Green Transition proposed throughout the conference. Mart...

Dr James Juniper is a lecturer in economics at the University of Newcastle, and an expert in the insufficiencies of neoclassical models, as demonstrated in his book The Economic Philosophy of the Internet of Things . The ecological economics approach to MMT that James brings to the sustainability conversation takes the MMT lens away from infinite growth models and toward expanded resource-based th...

Cameron Murray is a Post-Doctoral Researcher at the University of Sydney and the co-author of Game of Mates . Grey Corruption and hegemonic power are incredibly influential in establishing and maintaining the neoliberal model in Australia and many other states across the globe. Cameron's broader research and Australia-specific analysis ccombine for a damning diagnosis of the Australian system, and...

Tyson Yunkaporta is an Indigenous Australian philosopher who has written an intriguing book, Sand Talk . As a preface to a 'yarn' or conversation about how to solve world issues, Tyson isolates a few problems with the current economic paradigm for modern societies. Tyson's presentation at the conference included some Indigenous perspectives on how a just transition might proceed in Australia. If y...

This episode is a conversation with Prof. Purnendra Jain, a member of the SIA Advisory Board and SIA's Head of Research & Academic Development about his research trip to India. The report John and David must produce for the DoD is in collaboration with Purnendra and his trip included meeting with staff from the Institue for Defense Studies and Analysis, an Indian Think Tank, and attendance at...

Boris Johnson has won a landslide election proving the British people want Brexit and want a hardline, perhaps conservative approach to the deals yet to be made. Boris has many decisions to make and a lot of Britains future is uncertain with new alliances and old tensions brewing in the liberation of British people from the political and economic bureaucracy of the European Union. To talk to us ab...

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The Senior Economic Advisor to Bernie Sanders and the Professor of Public Policy and Economics at Stonybrook University NY joins David and Tim in the studio to discuss the historical precedent for dealing with the climate crisis and changing our societies to benefit everyone justly. Stephanie is a post-Keynesian economist who has significance in the world of MMT, which if you don't already underst...

Youngblood, David's ashtanga teacher, joins us in the studio to discuss Amy Chua's book The Triple Package. The book describes three traits that successful groups tend to have in common that explain how some cultural groups do better than others. Despite the initial controversy regarding Amy's argument, David, Tim, and Youngblood find merit through unpacking the core traits in an unbiased lens. If...

Qasem Soleimani was brazenly assassinated by the Trump administration on January 3rd, 2020. Iran responded with missile strikes on military bases in Iraq with no American casualties. Australia and the UK are wondering what its future is in Iraq and what will happen next.  To talk to us about this, in a general discussion, is Commodore Pat Tyrrell OBE RN (Retd), Pat is Chair of the SIA Advisor...

Really love a specific episode of the podcast but struggle to recall it when telling your peers about it? This is the episode for you. It's been a full year of Blind Insights and we would love nothing more than for you to feel not only that you have learned something, but also that you can take that information with you. Enter Anastasia Woolmer, Australia's first female memory champion and two-tim...