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Big Brain Channel

Auscast Network

"Big Brain" A term to describe the most intellectual of individuals.

This channel is dedicated to our podcasts where you'll learn something!

Episodes

Hyper Realist Bombs 5 - A Russian Thunder Run to Kyiv? Battle of Bakhmut and Future Economic Trends

Strategikon is back in 2023 and we are kicking off the year with Round 5 of the Hyper Realist Bombs series. Our good friend Rhoderick Miller returns to the podcast to discuss the latest developments from the Russia / Ukraine conflict, from his hyper realist perspective. John, David and Rhoderick discuss the present state of the Russian military, including whether it’s military production is struggling to keep up with the demands of the conflict, as well as the current situation in the eastern Uk...

Apr 16, 202357 minEp. 109

Do psychological, cognitive, and contextual factors influence rehab outcomes in Achilles tendinopathy?

This week I talk about a feasibility cohort study which sought to determine whether a larger cohort study addressing this question would be feasible. Listen to hear some interesting preliminary findings. Merza, E.Y., Pearson, S.J., Mallows, A.J. and Malliaras, P., 2023. The relationship between psychological, cognitive, and contextual factors and rehabilitation outcomes in Achilles tendinopathy: A prospective feasibility cohort study. Physical Therapy in Sport . Mallows, A., Jackson, J., Littlew...

Mar 01, 20237 minEp. 39

Does high load and high strain exercise have any benefit for Achilles tendinopathy?

We have known for a while that type of exercise intervention (e.g. intensity, frequency, etc) does not seem to influence self-reported outcomes such as pain. Maybe all the benefits from exercise are explained by non-specific effects, or maybe exercise has benefits that do not depend on the type of exercise. In this episode, I discuss 3 studies that look into (at least partly) other benefits that we may see at the level of the muscle and tendon from higher-load exercise interventions. References:...

Feb 21, 202315 minEp. 38

Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy - the forgotten tendinopathy

This week, I had an engaging conversation with Anthony Nasser , an up-and-coming researcher on tendinopathy who recently completed his PhD on proximal hamstring tendinopathy. Our discussion covered the reasons for the lack of research attention towards this condition, the current state of evidence, and insights from his doctoral studies. You can find the full conversation here. Here are Anthony's related publications: Nasser, A.M., Pizzari, T., Grimaldi, A., Vicenzino, B., Rio, E. and Semciw, A....

Feb 15, 202325 minEp. 37

How useful is palpation for diagnosis and assessment?

Palpation can be useful for the diagnosis and assessment of tendinopathy, but there are limits. This is because non-painful tendons can be tender, and tenderness in painful tendons seems to be very slow to get better. Link to Evidence for Improvement in Local but not Diffuse Pressure Pain Thresholds Following Physical Therapist Interventions for Tendinopathy: A Systematic Review Link to Reproducibility and clinical utility of tendon palpation to detect patellar tendinopathy in young basketball p...

Feb 07, 202315 minEp. 36

Muscle and tendon tuning and implications for tendon rehabilitation

Interesting perspective paper from Arampatzis et al talking about how we should consider tuning of muscle tendon unit in terms of muscle strength and tendon stiffness when considering training for specific groups. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 31, 20237 minEp. 35

Blind Insights - How a Philosopher Makes a Great Marketer

Watching David's career change over the course of this podcast can be a little perplexing. It might seem that a philosophy-trained academic wouldn't be that interested in marketing and communications, but these areas aren't as disjointed as they may seem. Tim and David discuss their love for communicating and how their academic interests have led to their professional pathways. If you have any thoughts or questions on how to flourish and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an au...

Jan 29, 202334 minEp. 145

Achilles forces during common rehab exercises and habitual activities.

This talking tendons episode will discuss a study by Igor Sancho, PhD, assessing Achilles forces during common rehab exercises and habitual activities and how this relates to reported pain among runners. Some interesting implications for practice. Achilles tendon forces and pain during common rehabilitation exercises in male runners with Achilles tendinopathy. A laboratory study See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Jan 25, 20239 minEp. 34

Blind Insights - What is Inbound? David's Master Thesis in a Nutshell

At the end of 2022, David Finished his master's thesis with a High Distinction. David wrote a relatively comprehensive analysis of Inbound Marketing for his Master of Strategic Communications and pitched his writing for a professional audience while still achieving academic success. Tim and David discuss David's findings where he blended academic evidence with the professional application. This is an easy-to-understand but comprehensive introduction to inbound marketing, and David provides a rea...

Jan 15, 202344 minEp. 144

Blind Insights - Consciousness

Ever wonder what makes a mind? Philosophers have asked this question for millennia and don't have much concrete evidence to show for it. Tim asks David for his current thoughts and it turns out we now know a lot more about our brains. David can paint an interesting picture of what our conscious thoughts consist of, and why we have them. If you have any thoughts or questions on how to flourish and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com ...

Jan 08, 202337 minEp. 143

PSA - The Adelaide University Merger

David has been getting asked a lot about the plans to merge the University of Adelaide with the University of South Australia . This podcast discusses the possible negatives and the likely positives of the merger, giving a perspective the staff and university management will never admit or fail to see. There's a lot to look forward to if this merger succeeds and it's looking more likely than ever before. If you have any thoughts or questions on how to flourish and contribute to your community, c...

Jan 05, 202321 min

Hyper Realist Bombs 4 - 2023 Predictions: Ukraine / Russia, China / Taiwan and Resource Insecurity Across The EU and Africa

Friend of the podcast Rhoderick Miller is back on Strategikon and we find out what Rhoderick’s Hyper – Realist perspective has to say about the Russia / Ukraine conflict, 10 months after it began. John and David also offer their predictions on whether Putin or Zelenskyy will come out of the war in a better position, before discussing the chances of Germany being able to right it’s economy despite it’s energy dependency on Russia. Finally, with 2023 set to be characterized by food and energy inse...

Dec 24, 20221 hr 7 minEp. 108

Graded exposure in tendinopathy rehabilitation.

In this episode, I am discussing kinesiophobia in the context of tendon rehab and how rehab can be conceptualised as graded exposure for some people. References 1) Physiotherapy management of Achilles tendinopathy See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 12, 20228 minEp. 33

Load test pain and kinesiophobia and how they interact in tendinopathy assessment

In this episode, I talk about load test pain assessment and how this can also be used to assess kinesiophobia and movement apprehension. References 1) Physiotherapy management of Achilles tendinopathy: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36274038/ 2) Kinesiophobia Severity Categories and Clinically Meaningful Symptom Change in Persons With Achilles Tendinopathy in a Cross-Sectional Study: Implications for Assessment and Willingness to Exercise: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35295417/ See omnystudi...

Dec 08, 202212 minEp. 32

Blind Insights - Humankind is Kind (Special Guest Luke)

Rutger Bregman says you are a decent kind human being. We agree. Humankind deserves more credit, and in this episode Luke helps us reflect on the many reasons why and what that looks like in practice. If you want to harness more positivity and more connection to others, things that are essential to flourishing, we have some insight into starting. While individuals and organisations are paralysed by the fear of things going wrong, what can be done to reduce collateral when problems inevitably ari...

Oct 19, 202243 minEp. 142

Two PMs and Two Monarchs Within a Week - A Shock To The System?

In this episode of Strategikon, John speaks with intelligence analyst and former British Royal Navy Officer CDRE Patrick J. Tyrrell OBE RN (RET’D) , about the recent political and monarchical changes occurring within the UK. Patrick discusses how King Charles III has been settling in and whether the monarch should have skipped a generation, as well as the functional role which the Royal Family plays within UK and Commonwealth civics. Lizz Truss has also taken over the conservative party leadersh...

Oct 01, 202229 minEp. 107

Blind Insights - Mitigating Risk (Special Guest Luke)

While individuals and organisations are paralysed by the fear of things going wrong, what can be done to reduce collateral when problems inevitably arise? As Tim and David recommend books from time to time, when a new Stan McChrystal book comes out, we have to review it, and returning guest Luke brings lived experience to the discussion. If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffe...

Sep 28, 202251 minEp. 141

Blind Insights - Choosing your Life Path; It isn't all or nothing

Following a deeply chaotic and introspective year, Tim comes to David with some revelations about his direction in life. David provides insights from his own metamorphosis and explains why we get hung up on incompatible representations of self. This concludes a mini-series on finding your way which included insights into the serendipity of unwelcome life changes, and a discussion about quarter-life crises. This podcast draws inspiration from David's Blog; Why do Millennials experience quarter-li...

Sep 14, 202219 minEp. 140

Hitting Reset - Australia’s Foreign Policy Challenges Under Albanese

John is joined by the editor of Australian Foreign Affairs Magazine , Jonathan Pearlman, for a discussion about how Australia’s new Albanese government will approach foreign policy. They discuss the current status of The Quad, with a focus on India’s curious position within the group. How does the rising South Asian power’s tradition of non-alignment affect The Quad’s progress and furthermore, could India’s poor human rights record affect the group’s cohesion? Jonathan also explains how Australi...

Sep 06, 202227 minEp. 106

Blind Insights - Changing Life Direction and the Power of a Skills Audit

Following a frank conversation about quarter-life crises, Tim draws inspiration from the serendipity of unwelcome life changes. David gives insightful anecdotes to assist Tim in coming to terms with his new career trajectory, noting that there are actionable reflections to change perspectives and that this new chapter is not only defined by loss. This is a dialogue that explores the process of finding a path and making oneself and self-actualising despite the challenges of modern living. This po...

Aug 25, 202234 minEp. 139

Blind Insights - David Makes a Commitment...

If you're a keen follower of the podcast, you may have read David's blogs available on his website; https://davidolney.com.au/ . David is an excellent writer, and you even be left wanting more of his writing than is currently available. Well, David has good news for you in this announcement, and it is your job to keep him accountable! If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@a...

Aug 09, 202232 minEp. 138

Blind Insights - Thinking Better (Special guest Marcus du Sautoy)

When you think of shortcuts, what comes to mind? Cheating? Or the premise of working smarter, not harder? Tim and David stumbled on a fascinating book by Oxford Professor of Mathematics Marcus du Sautoy called "Thinking Better: The Art of the Shortcut" which provides insight into the practice of using and finding shortcuts. In this episode David and Tim reminisce with Marcus about how Mathematics became a daunting subject they disconnected from for various reasons. But Marcus proves that mathema...

Aug 06, 202250 minEp. 137

Bonus Insights - A Parcel from Ireland!

We have some fantastic fans who email us or on this special occasion, send us a gift! Scott Murphy who reached out to us via email and then spoke to us on this podcast later sent us a rather unique and special present that has earned its rightful place in the studio! If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com Want to work with David? Get in contact on his webs...

Aug 03, 20227 min

Looking Through Peter Zeihan’s Glass, Darkly - A Vision of Deep Global Change

In this episode of Strategikon, John and David break down a recent book from geopolitical analyst Peter Zeihan, called The End of the World is Just the Beginning: Mapping the end of globalization. Zeihan predicts the unraveling of globalization as we currently know it, to a world where states / regions will have to secure their own access to food, energy and security whilst simultaneously managing climate change and aging populations. After analyzing the validity of Zeihan’s thesis, John and Dav...

Jul 31, 202247 minEp. 105

Blind Insights - The Millennial Quarter-life Crisis

In a frank conversation between Tim and David, Tim explains his struggles in 2022, while David offers firm advice and explanations that broadly apply to all people experiencing the diminishing returns of hard work in the 21st century. The decline of what Australians call "the fair go" is a conversation that few are willing to have, because it is confronting to reflect on the world around you getting worse, and the rising depressions that accompany this trajectory. This podcast draws inspiration ...

Jul 28, 202242 minEp. 136

Blind Insights - From Infantry Platoon Sergeant to Artist and Advocate; Jon Duncan’s Story (Episode II)

When veterans return to civilian life, the adjustment is immense, and the journey that people take from a life in the military to forging their own path in the civilian world is fascinating. Jon Duncan is a fantastic example of someone who has chosen positive growth, as well as being a wonderful guest on the show, and as such we will be dedicating a small series to his life and work, so stay tuned for future appearances. This is the second part of Jon Duncan's Story, to listen to the other parts...

Jul 26, 20221 hr 11 minEp. 135

Functional impairments persist in Achilles tendinopathy when people are returning to running

This is an interesting study from the Delaware tendinopathy group among others investigating a host of structural, tissue property, functional and pain factors that may persist among people with Achilles tendinopathy making a return to running. Provides guidance to clinicians about potential impairments to consider assessing. Here's the link to the study: Corrigan, P., Hornsby, S., Pohlig, R.T., Willy, R.W., Cortes, D.H. and Silbernagel, K.G., 2022. Tendon loading in runners with Achilles tendin...

Jul 25, 202211 minEp. 31

Blind Insights - Returning to your Passions (Special guest Matt Cahill of The Violets)

To celebrate the release of their newest album, Tim and David speak to the frontman of Adelaide based, The Violets, to uncover what it is like to come back to a passion project after years of hibernation. Matt discusses the changes in the music industry today, the story of how the band reformed and uncovers some truths about how musicians tick. This episode features the first and final songs from The Violet's New Album , including "Sideways" to begin, and "Here I Am" to finish. The new album det...

Jul 23, 202237 minEp. 134

Understanding the patient perspective in Achilles tendinopathy

In this episode I talk about three qualitative studies that aim to understand the patient perspective and patient motivations in Achilles tendinopathy. I find this work really helps clinicians to understand what patients are gong through so we are able to be empathic and help them. Hope you enjoy! Here's a link to courses in the UK: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/mastering-lower-limb-tendinopathy-uk-sept-2022-670009 Here are the studies: Turner, J., Malliaras, P., Goulis, J. and Mc Auliffe, S., 2...

Jul 19, 202210 minEp. 30

Blind Insights - Being Tired and Stressed

We're back listeners, and with a small insight into our absence we bring you a meditation on being tired, or in Tim's case, stressed. David offers sound methods and micro-actions to assist in the battles against overwhelm. Rather ironically, Tim hasn't adhered to this advice and thus there's been a dearth of episodes of late, but we are back with a vengeance! If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to how to best manifest destiny and contribute to your community, contact us and send us an a...

Jul 18, 202230 minEp. 133