Kooky Talks

This interview was a very fortunate coincidence. After being driven on and getting to drive on Germany’s hallowed Nurburgring Nordschleife, I did some sightseeing in the surrounding area near Adenau. On a walk in the forest, I met a fellow traveller who shared some historical information about the area. It was a reminder that you can find your people just about anywhere. This also marks two years...

It is easy to say “neurodivergent people can struggle in life”. What does it actually mean to unlearn harmful messaging and become comfortable being yourself? Here’s one of my favourite conversations so far! This is why I started the podcast - to make sense of being a human and what it all means. There’s a lot of humanity there. Topics: neuroplasticity; permaculture; neurodivergence

Welcome! This previews a chat with a friend I met at a festival who had to unlearn a lot. Learning to show care for yourself and learning how to socialise is a thing. When you’re a neurodivergent brain, that comes with challenges. Full episode coming soon.

Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade is a spectacle. I asked attendees how they experience this thing called love, and how it relates to queerness. Note: the audio has a lot of background noise. Some meaningful stories shared, all the same. Topics covered: Authenticity, Grief, When community shows up, Family history, Coming out & reactions

How do you get yourself to function while still being present to whatever is going on for you? My guest for this episode takes us through a few things that helped in this - including a practice called NOWism. My guest talks about some of my favourite topics - accountability, growth, and thoughts about choosing the particular path that you do, to seek change. There are plenty of thinking tips and t...

This previews a conversation with a friend who has done a lot of personal development work, and has tried a lot to be a good contributor. This goes into a practice named NOWism that seeks to help people have a sense of playfulness even as they grapple with difficult endeavours. The full episode has a lotta wisdom! Coming soon.

“I don’t want to spend my career feeding prompts into AI” My guest for this episode has thought deeply about the many crises that do not have an easy solution - AKA the metacrisis. This conversation expresses some of his reflections on privilege, work, the environment and values. It is political, without getting jaded or in the details of politics - it talks about community resilience - with a par...

This previews a conversation with a friend who has thought deeply about the future of community, AI, global crises and our place in it all. My guest has some reflections on parenting and community resilience as well. Full episode will appear soon.

What is it like to begin a creative practice and keep at it? This conversation discusses that, and so much more. Topics covered include: Drawings transforming images [10min 44sec] The purpose of art [~24 min] The role of beauty in human flourishing [~26 min] Ideas on starting a creative practice [~31 min] Particularly fascinating for me were Sarah’s thoughts about the idea of a masterpiece and abo...

This previews a conversation with Sarah (who you may recognise from Episode 7). My guest developed a creative practice. It is a unique and personal way of seeing and being. There are ideas here that you can apply to any creative outlet or new endeavour. Full episode coming to you soon. < Originally published: October 20, 2025 >

Working with children, you sort of expect they can control their behaviour and manage their emotions. As an adult, can you do this? This is what my guest grappled with, working in childcare and then in life ... “How can I handle my emotions and take ownership of my experience of life?” If you spend time around children, or if you are embarrassed by other people’s displays of emotion - this episode...

This previews a conversation with a friend who worked in early learning, where you teach children emotional skills. My guest put his personal learning into practice. There are lessons here on emotional regulation that CEOs and Prime Ministers don’t have! Part one will appear soon. < Originally published: August 31, 2025 >

"How can I build resilience when the systems around me are failing?" Welcome! We continue where Episode 14 (Part 1 of the interview) finished, the problem our guest grappled with: losing your purpose and creating something from it. Content warning: mention of suicide. Also note that we talk about grief and rage. Swear words are present! If you are in a place where you can manage that, you will be...

Some of us are fortunate enough to have a purpose. What happens when we can't fulfil that purpose or have the impact we want? My guest has a deep love for the natural world. She wanted nothing more than to save ecosystems. This is what happened when she realised she couldn’t save them. Be aware: we talk about environmental futures, aka ‘the fate of humanity’ - a heavy topic. That said, my guest sh...

Continuing my track record of innovation with proven means of improving audio quality - this is my latest one-on-one interview, recorded indoors! Nicole has a story to tell - spanning society, the natural environment, and a passion for it. This is a preview of a very meaningful chat - most of this is content that didn't fit in the episode, though it gives an idea of the tone. Part one out soon. &l...

“There’s no one way to be queer...” Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras festival highlights so many unique expressions of queer community. This is part 2 of interviews with entrants in this year’s parade, where I asked: “where are you at in loving your queer self?” From aro ace to bisexual, drag king, drag queen, ally, femboy … this was people being themselves. If nothing else - this is a taste of...

Returning to a conversation with a friend named Kate, this follows Part 1 (Episode 8) of the "dos and don'ts of personal change". To recap, Part 1 covered Kate's motivations for seeking change, and some relatable pitfalls. We now explore some lessons learned along the way, including some benefits of personal development work. I was thrilled that we explored stories that we tell ourselves, and how...

Sydney's Mardi Gras parade has a reputation for celebrating diverse forms of queerness, from its origins as a solidarity protest march in 1978 to the present, as an arguably mainstream community event. Despite legislative, economic and cultural progress, queer folks everywhere have an uphill battle to cultivate self-love and acceptance. In their own words, those in the march shared their place on...

I went to this year's Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, and talked to the queers about the journey of loving yourself. Here's a preview of many chats. < Originally published: March 8, 2025 >

An interview with a friend who has invested bountiful effort in the great art of growing as a person. We discussed a few “dos and don’ts” of personal development. Topics covered include: personal journeys, motivations for change, feeling like a ‘good disciple’, and authentic relating games. If you've spent money on courses, read books that promised to help you, or simply contemplated doing any of...

Experiencing hope about environmental action can be a struggle. Here are some reflections by participants of the 2024 Rising Tide protest. If you doubt the impact of collective solutions … this is a dose of hope for you! < Originally published: February 1, 2025 >

Adventure has a particular place in the soul. It tends to animate us. The Sydney to Newcastle bicycle ride - a 170 kilometre overnight event - was a good place to talk about adventures. These people sure had some to share! < Originally published: December 30, 2024 >

New for the podcast, a one-on-one interview! A conversation with a mate of mine who is outdoorsy, plays a lot of sports and lives with purpose. We covered topics including moving countries and creating community. < Originally published: December 1, 2024 >

These are the kind of conversations I had in mind when I started the podcast. Deep chats about what it means to be yourself with other people, and self-expression – all of it. Enjoy it. Real appreciation for everyone I spoke to. All legends. < Originally published: October 18, 2024 >

City 2 Surf is a fun day out – and just the place for me to quiz active Sydneysiders about their mindsets and attitude towards health. Does my ‘talk to strangers and hope for the best’ approach work in my native Sydney? Tune in to find out! fyi: Bloopers at the end contain expletives. < Originally published: September 22, 2024 >