The Jabber

Society EN ↓ 185 episodes

The Jabber is the honest, no-filter journey of a middle-aged family man navigating the second half of life. From weekend parenting wins (like umpiring Mini cricket) to deep dives into life's biggest challenges (like finding your agency and purpose), this is where practical life lessons meet raw, daily reflection. If you're chasing dreams, striving for better, and sometimes wondering "where did the joy go?" - this show is for you. Love yourself. Keep jabbering. keepjabbering.substack.com

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: keepjabbering.substack.com

Author

The Jabber

Episodes

The gravity of the miracle: From the top to the third tier 05.05.2026 2:40

Exploring the rise and fall of Leicester City. How a miracle can become a trap, why staying at the top is harder than getting there, and the importance of enjoying the peak before the descent. 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

The Carragher rule: Leaving before the game leaves you 04.05.2026 3:01

Why Tim Cook's departure marks the end of an era. Exploring the discipline of ‘the handover,’ the myth of the irreplaceable founder, and how to know when your season has reached its natural conclusion. 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

The dark season dividend: Winning before the first ball 30.04.2026 2:33

Exploring the psychological edge of winter training. Why your son’s cricket season isn't won in the summer sun, but in the cold nets of July. A guide to using the ‘quiet season’ to outpace the competition. 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

The sovereign exit: Beyond the founder’s shelf life 29.04.2026 2:44

Exploring the rare discipline of the ‘clean break.’ How Reed Hastings avoided the ‘founder trap’ and why your greatest achievement might be the day you decide you’re no longer needed. 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

Paying the gravel tax: Why it’s never too late to balance 28.04.2026 2:55

My nine-year-old is learning to ride. Some say he’s late; I say he’s right on time. Exploring why we’ve become a society that fears the bruise more than the stagnation, and why the best lessons are learned when the training wheels come off. 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

The golden ticket: Celebrating the High School win 23.04.2026 2:18

My eldest just got into his high school of choice. A celebration of a target met, a journey secured, and the transition from ‘applying’ to ‘becoming.’ 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

The day the fibre died: Life behind the digital umbilical cord 22.04.2026 2:50

Exploring our total dependence on Tim Berners-Lee’s invention. From the death of satellite TV to the ‘coffee shop refugee’ crisis - how to build a life that doesn't collapse when the internet does. 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

Exposing the decision trap: Sitting on the spikes 21.04.2026 2:50

Exploring the psychological discomfort of inaction. How ‘action bias’ tricks us into thinking a bad move is better than a pause, and why the most sovereign decision you can make is sometimes to do nothing at all. 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

Deconstructing the billionaire: Sour grapes at $67,000 20.04.2026 2:58

Exploring the intellectual friction of Nassim Taleb and the Bitcoin ‘zero’ argument. How the ‘I could have bought it for a pound’ trope is used to mask FOMO, and why ego is the biggest ‘absorbing barrier’ to true sovereignty. 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

Wimpy at the runway: Auditing the ‘witness’ phase 16.04.2026 2:57

My eldest wants to be a pilot. We spent an hour watching the FlySafair Springbok plane and staircases on wings. Exploring why ‘passive observation’ is the most active thing a parent can do, and how to fuel a 200x dream from a restaurant window. 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

The southern season: Auditing the finite winter 15.04.2026 3:04

A northern parenting trend goes viral, but we’re auditing it from the southern hemisphere. As we head into winter, the countdown doesn't stop. Exploring the finite nature of childhood phases and why presence matters most when the world gets cold. 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

The shared court: Auditing the family algorithm 14.04.2026 2:56

Most family activities are a compromise - one person loves it, the others tolerate it. Exploring the rare magic of the ‘shared court,’ where every generation finds a ‘flow state’ together. Why Padel, and other shared physical realities, are the antidote to the digital silo. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kee...

The three-day pivot: Auditing the 40-hour relic 13.04.2026 3:12

Exploring the science of the 3-day weekend. Why two days isn't enough to ‘switch out,’ how admin kills recovery, and why a four-day week actually protects your output from the law of diminishing returns. 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

The social friction tax: Why being yourself is expensive (A One Piece audit) 09.04.2026 2:08

The straw hat episode resonated because everyone secretly wants to stand out. Exploring the ‘cringe barrier,’ the true ‘aspirational branding’ of individuality, and how to build a crew (or a life) that can handle the social friction tax. Inspired by Monkey D. Luffy. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabberi...

The marginal year: How five minutes buys you twelve months 08.04.2026 1:58

Research shows that five minutes of sleep, two minutes of exercise, and half a serving of veg can add a year to your life. Exploring why ‘stacking small’ beats ‘going big,’ and how to reclaim your longevity through the path of least resistance. 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

The ceiling of delusion: Auditing high-altitude targets 07.04.2026 2:03

We’ve all sat in sessions where the targets feel like science fiction. Exploring the psychological necessity of ‘seeing it to believe it’ versus the operational reality of ‘doing it to survive it.’ How to set goals that stretch the spirit without snapping the spine. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabberi...

The digital smoke break: Is social media having its ‘big tobacco’ moment? 02.04.2026 2:00

A recent $6 million award against a social media giant suggests a massive shift is coming. Exploring the ‘warning label’ future, the absurdity of the ‘digital smoking room,’ and why education - not just regulation - is the only way to reclaim our focus. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabbering.substack.c...

The desktop athlete: Paying the ‘dads' cricket’ tax 01.04.2026 2:03

A friendly game of end-of-season cricket left a trail of sore bodies and a realisation: You can’t live a sedentary lifestyle and expect peak performance on demand. Exploring the ‘padel boom,’ the chiropractor’s dividend, and the importance of ‘greasing the groove.’ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keepjabberin...

The three-ply trap: Auditing the law of diminishing returns 31.03.2026 2:00

We all remember the one-ply hostel days - a character-building trauma. But as we move up the ladder of quality, we hit a ceiling where ‘better’ is just a marketing label. Exploring the sweet spot of value and the gimmick of the upper tier. 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

The toxic win: When the ‘how’ wrecks the ‘why’ 30.03.2026 1:53

We’ve all been there - the goal was reached, the decision was correct, but the way it was handled left everyone involved feeling worse. Exploring why a ‘righteous why’ doesn't excuse a ‘wrecked how.’ 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

The mirage of enough: Auditing the algorithm’s version of success 26.03.2026 1:58

Watching financial influencer Nischa sparked a deep dive into ‘moving goalposts.’ Exploring how aspirational branding and social media have hijacked our ‘why,’ and how to reclaim your own definition of financial independence. 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

The cost of cheap: Why skimping on cents costs you Rands 25.03.2026 1:59

A dead car at school pickup revealed a brutal lesson in value. Exploring the ‘warranty wall,’ why quality name brands are a hedge against chaos, and how to spot the difference between a bargain and a liability. 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

The bike boundary: Parenting between protection and agency 24.03.2026 1:45

My eldest biked to the shop. A simple errand, but a massive psychological hurdle. Exploring the ‘car key’ conundrum, the fear of the ‘what if,’ and why we must love our children enough to let them face the road. 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

The straw hat philosophy: Why we all need a pirate king narrative 23.03.2026 2:02

Watching Netflix’s One Piece with my youngest sparked a realisation: The ‘pirate’ isn't a villain; it’s a mindset. Exploring why the ‘chase’ is more important than the ‘treasure’ and the value of shared adventure. 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

The street-pole test: Why transparency is your only real shield 20.03.2026 1:58

If your decision was plastered on a street-pole headline tomorrow, would you stand by it? Exploring the Warren Buffett ‘newspaper test’ and why comfortable transparency is the ultimate goal of a sovereign life. 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