Big Brain Channel

This is the most confronting episode of Blind Insights to date. David shares how the findings of William Glasser, founder of Choice Theory, and student of Abraham Maslow (of Maslow's hierarchy of needs), have informed his approach to teaching and his mental health. If you're down in the dumps, to trivialise a common human suffering, Glasser presents a solution - a process to take yourself through,...

Yemen is a benighted country just south/southwest of Saudi Arabia. The Saudi monarchy has overseen a 2004 Shiite uprising, and directly connected to its existential foe in the Middle East – Iran. The Saudi monarchy pointed its accusatory finger at Iran for stirring up unrest in Yemen, a self-fulfilling prophecy. The Saudis, fearing that the Houthi contagion might spread to its own significan...

David's physical discipline is the daily peaceful practice of Ashtanga Yoga. He has learned many poses within the primary series, despite his blindness, under the ongoing tutelage of Youngblood Roche—a yogi and the director of the Adelaide Ashtanga Yoga Shala. In this special episode, the dynamic shifts as David becomes the student while, together, Tim, Youngblood, and David explore the many...

Two honours economics students join David and Tim in the studio to school them on the country's economic standing before the upcoming election. Jaedon and Sam are well read economists who have some troubling analysis of the Australian economic system, and what to consider before the upcoming election. This episode is designed to be listened to without any economic literacy, so if you have any thou...

Australians are facing a federal election on May 18th, and it seems to Tim and David that voters are despondent or disinterested. Why? Does this matter? What can we do to fix it? All things that Tim, David, and special Guest Dr. John Bruni discuss. John is from SAGE International Australia, and an esteemed commentator on foreign affairs, someone well-versed in politics. The conversation lends itse...

It is said that technology of cyberspace is the new battleground, but what is cyber? For all intents and purposes cyberspace is an invisible force our personal devices are all plugged into it. We use the cyberspace to perform tasks in all areas of life and in all industries. There is not a thing that is untouched through this medium, and it's reach is only gowing. So, should the global internet be...

Derrick McManus is a medical marvel and an exemplar or how much the human body and mind can achieve or survive with the right practices and mindset. In a special episode of Blind Insights, David and Tim discuss Derrick's personal story and the concepts he is sharing with the world from his own learned experience. The three enjoy a great conversation about where the world could be if we were to mai...

Things that creep and crawl in the dark are scary, but Nick Warner the Director-General of the Australian Office of National Intelligence says there's more to stop us from sleeping peacefully. Sino-American competition, Disruptive technological change, Regional tensions, Population growth in PNG, North Korea, and Terrorism is a short list of the major threats to our world as we know it. Please don...

Have you found you political beliefs to change over time? So have Peter, Tim, and David. The reasons for changing your beliefs are varied, but theses three men discuss their journeys with similar outcomes in the wake of a more polarised culture. Regardless of your beliefs, you may find some use in thinking about your journey to your standing, and this conversation is an excellent start. Peter offe...

On May 1st, Japan's current Emperor Akihito is set to abdicate. As every Japanese emperor reigns in his own specific era, the post-Akihito era has been named Reiwa, promising a period of order and harmony. So, what will the Reiwa Imperial Era spell for Japan? Will it be an era of order and peace as the name suggests? In this episode, we’ll be joined by SAGE International Australia’s Pr...

Peter Thomson joins Tim and David to discuss the merits and consequences of violence and community in the face of oppression or political stagnation. In an increasingly polarised world (see Jonathan Haidt's Righteous Mind), the approaches we have to make change are varied in morality and efficacy. Violence should never be the answer, but can it be? Unionism seems to be underappreciated or misused,...

Despite our best intentions, not everyone with tendinopathy will respond to conservative treatments. Clinicians need alternative options like injection therapy. Injections such as steroid and platelet-rich plasma continue to be popular for tendinopathy, and there are other emerging injections such as the high-volume injection.   Injection TherapyIn Tendinopathy: Art & Science - 4th May 20...

John, David, and Tim take to the Adelaide Podcast Festival during the Fringe 2019 to talk to a live audience about the importance of security and showcase a bit of what STRATEGIKON is all about. With a brief overview of China, North Korea, and ISIS, the team briefly cover a lot of ground and give good insight into some well talked about topics. Thank you to the Adelaide Podcast Festival, and all t...

In an obscure conversation about moral compasses, David and Tim discuss experiences with a special Guest Peter Thomson, and how they impact our moral decisions. In this episode, expect to hear some anecdotes, some tips and thoughts for consuming knowledge and some great book suggestions. It's one to make you think, "what is my moral compass, and how did I get here?". Peter, David, and Tim also dis...

"Freedom from"s and "Freedom to"s make for a hot debate that has been circulating for centuries, if not since the beginning of civilisation. Liberty is sacred foundation to many societies and our desire for safety can often be in tension with this, and political debate ensues. Maybe freedom doesn't have to be a political topic, but a topic that each of us as individuals can think on, and act on in...

It seems for all its faults, capitalism is often crowned as the "system that works" where socialism is not afforded the same pragmatic assessment. But can we do better than capitalism? Is the merit in socialism able to be separated from the problems with devaluing the individual? David and Tim discuss some of the best business strategies and theories from this century, and why or how you can do go...

STRATEGIKON is the podcast of SAGE International Australia, Adelaide’s only private not-for-profit think tank specialising in defence, security & foreign affairs. In this episode we speak to former SIA Intern/Research Assistant Ms Shahrezad Ghayrat. Ms Ghayrat who now works for the World Uyghur Congress, based in Munich, Germany is currently interning at the European Parliament. She rece...

Auscast presents the #AdlPodFest featuring a range of shows from different genres. Now in its third year, this event is like speed-dating for podcasting. Blind Insights had the privilege of featuring in the 2019 Adelaide Podcast Festival in front of a live audience. Tim and David talk about a Albert Einstein in all of his wisdom and faults, as a teaser to our podcast. This is a good introductory e...

A quote, or an iteration of a quote David uses frequently when he consults for corporate and military teams has a lot of meaning behind it. Tim and David unpack what it means to go fast and what you need to go far. Drawing on some previously discussed themes, and referencing a few key texts along the way, the discussion deals a lot with why friends are important for any kind of progress, and why t...

Understanding how tendon recovers from injury and adapts to load is so important and has huge implications on how we manage tendons and the education and advice that we provide patients. This podcast features a relatively new study providing insights into the collagen turnover in healthy tendons and those with tendinopathy, adding critical knowledge to what we know about tendon collagen adaptation...

Do we earn what we get? David and Tim explore the merit in... well, Meritocracy! A system where people are rewarded for their skills and efforts sounds fair, but is it? What kind of system do we have now? Why is networking and social capability such an important part of how we progress in our society? These questions are not as straightforward as it seems, and the topic leads into a discussion abo...

Applying for public service after your study? David has all the advice a lecturer can offer to help you get where you want to be. With tips and tricks, as well as important reminders for wellbeing, David runs through the things to remember as you go through the application, and interview process. Good luck listeners! Questions, contact us at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com Thanks to the Auscast Netw...

Meaning. Everyone wants it but not many people say they have it, and fewer can describe it. What does suffering have to do with it? A lot actually, and it's strange to want suffering, but David can certainly convince you to add a bit of suffering into your life with this thoughtful discussion on Stoic philosophy. This episode can come as a shock to the system, so if you have any thoughts, question...

Tim and David get into the nitty gritty of blindness and vision impairment, as Tim asks popular questions that strike at core of disabilities, and David candidly and openly answers. This episode makes for a good understanding of David's background, and encourages consideration of what it is like to live a life with physical disability. Got more questions for David? If you have any thoughts, questi...

This week on Blind Insights with David, Tim brings an interesting question from Brad. He asks "Within every thinker, is there a doer trying to find a way to be released?". Of course this brings about great discussion from the two, who ponder on the different relationships between thinking and doing, practicality and dreaming, and stumble across some meaningful thought processes and attitudes to ad...