We are joined by Dr. Gary Klein, President of Shadowbox LLC, to discuss Naturalistic Decision Making, how to do a PreMortem, and how to gain Insights. If you found this episode interesting, consider reading some of Gary's work . We hope later to talk to Gary about his new findings in training measures with Shadow Box LLC . If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com Support the show: https://auscast-...
Aug 08, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 34
Judging people based on their music tastes has become a part of the adolescent experience, and a large part of maturing. We allow ourselves to think and display judgments of others ears, using microaggressive quips to bag any taste that is other to our own, revealing an insecurity that we are part of a small tribe of music genre. But what about music makes the alternative so attractive, why is it so important in our rebellious phase, and how do you find peace with your experience of music being ...
Aug 04, 2019•46 min•Ep. 33
Welcome to Blind Drunk, a spin-off podcast to the popular and thought provoking Blind Insights ! This is a podcast where Tim and David will wind down, have fun, and take life lightly. You can count on one thing, this is a podcast for spirited conversations, and ones we want you to be a part of! If you have any drink suggestions, or have a great idea for a spirited conversation, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com Support the show: https://auscast-network.myshopi...
Jul 31, 2019•19 min
This has been a great 32 episode start to the podcast Blind insights, but what are our goals, and what do we want for you, our audience? Catch up with this bonus episode or listen to it on the new Blind Drunk RSS feed ! Thanks for supporting us and make sure to share with your friends and family! If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com Support the show: https://auscast-network.myshopify.com/colle...
Jul 31, 2019•20 min
David and Tim chat to one of David's former students who has successfully written an essay that stopped David in his tracks with the significance of the writing. Morris joins us in the studio to discuss the matter of evil in the real world. Given the word's religious history, it's not something we use in a serious way very often, but can and should we use evil to describe the wretched acts we see humans commit across the globe? Does such a loaded word have any utility? Philosophers and theologia...
Jul 30, 2019•57 min•Ep. 32
It's tax time in Australia and the Prime Minister Scott Morrison has passed a tax break for people to stimulate the economy. What are you meant to do with this money? Spend it! What would you do if you had even more guaranteed free money? There's such a thing as a Basic Income Guarantee (also known as Universal Basic Income) which is an idea that has been put forth by progressive and conservative libertarians since the 18th century. What are the costs and the benefits of this system and why does...
Jul 18, 2019•49 min•Ep. 31
David and Tim discuss the looming energy and resource crisis with Richard Heinberg, who is Senior Fellow at the Post Carbon Institute, and hypothesise what the world and our lives might be like on the other side of The End of Growth. Please check out the Post Carbon Institute , their work with Resilience , and Richard's personal work on his website . If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwork.com Suppor...
Jul 11, 2019•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 30
In today's episode David and Tim discuss Strategic Culture. Strategic Culture is a tool for analysing states' security behaviour developed by Jack Snyder in the 1970s. Snyder argued that if we understand how security professionals and the political elite are trained to think about security and strategy, then we can understand how states might behave in relation to brinkmanship and warfare. With the current tension between the United States and Iran, Strategic Culture has immediate relevance. If ...
Jul 10, 2019•52 min•Ep. 29
For some of us there is nothing more frustrating than a vegan announcing their presence, or lecturing you on food. Pushy people, no matter the cause, get on our nerves, but vegans are in the spotlight at the moment with protests around the country and plenty of "VEGAN DESTROYED" videos on YouTube. Tim and David invite some lovely vegans into the studio to have a discussion about what makes a normal vegan tick, and how the identity is more than an ethical choice. Before a delicious lunch at Two-b...
Jun 23, 2019•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 28
Do you give to charity? Why or why not? It's complicated, right? Hopefully in this episode of Blind Insights we can offer you an explanation of why you don't give to charity, or if you do, what charities achieve the most. We turn to Peter Singer, a leader and proponent of Effective Altruism, to look for answers about what we could do, and discuss why his arguments, as logical as they are, haven't revolutionised collective action. This episode is a hefty discussion covering topics from abortion t...
Jun 19, 2019•51 min•Ep. 27
Penny Locaso is the world's first happiness hacker, someone concerned with helping others, or challenging others, to take control of their habits, vocabulary, and their approaches to learning. What Penny has to share is important and her conversation with David and Tim leads them to diagnose and approach complex problems. Between the faster pace of work, more digital distractions, less physical contact with people and nature, and the potential for technology, living and working is pretty complex...
Jun 11, 2019•58 min•Ep. 26
Anti-fragility is a phrase coined by Professor Nassim Nicholas Taleb in his eponymous book. To build on centuries of ancient knowledge and wisdom, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and Jess Freund is certainly alive and strong. During this episode we feature our first female guest, discuss the name of the podcast and address the considerations of antifragile people and antifragile societies. If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an a...
Jun 03, 2019•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 25
Bradley Wall is a special individual who did what most people do not - put himself in harm's way, in awful conditions, against his body's wishes, to experience some of Nature's splendour. David and Tim saw it fit to ask why anyone would do such a thing? Clearly Brad had a good idea of what he had to gain from this experience, and it goes to show that discipline has benefits in all of it's forms. If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audi...
May 24, 2019•40 min•Ep. 24
It's looking like a majority coalition government for Australia thanks to some very important seats being won for LNP - but this has a lot of people upset to say the least. The popular vote went to the Liberal and National parties but neither had as many votes individually compared to Labor. This was not expected by the media or the pollsters, but many individuals could have predicted it by virtue of their votes. David helps Tim unpack what happened, how the polls were so wrong, and what to do i...
May 20, 2019•45 min•Ep. 23
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, and a conceptualisation of self, to help you one step at a time... If you have any thoughts, questi...
May 17, 2019•56 min•Ep. 22
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 benefits of yoga. Youngblood also gives insight into the challenges David has faced in the practice being...
May 10, 2019•40 min•Ep. 21
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 thoughts, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffe...
May 07, 2019•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 20
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 itself to some skepticism bordering on cynicism over Australian leadership and political practice. If yo...
May 03, 2019•52 min•Ep. 19
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 maintain optimal performance and become more durable, resilient humans. Along with leading a life of ri...
Apr 26, 2019•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 18
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 offers his journey from Marxism to Centrism, David recounts his thoughts through Communism to Anarchism,...
Apr 19, 2019•58 min•Ep. 17
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, so what's the alternative? If you're feeling disillusioned by the coming Australian Federal Electio...
Apr 12, 2019•55 min•Ep. 16
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 discuss how the challenges that encourage moral learning are being stripped from western society gradua...
Apr 08, 2019•51 min•Ep. 15
"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 the world to form our ideas of a perfect society. Tim and David discuss why freedom is so important...
Mar 30, 2019•46 min•Ep. 14
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 good, and do well, at the same time. Got a suggestion for Best Ethical Coffee Spot? If you have any th...
Mar 22, 2019•39 min•Ep. 13
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 episode for those friends you can't convince to commit to our 30-60 minute episodes. If you have any ...
Mar 15, 2019•12 min
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 the transition from study to work can be so difficult. Have questions? Send them through to timwhiffe...
Mar 08, 2019•31 min•Ep. 12
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 about what makes a well-functioning society. If you have any thoughts, questions, or want to present yo...
Feb 27, 2019•48 min•Ep. 11
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 Network! Support the show: https://auscast-network.myshopify.com/collections/blind-insights See omnystud...
Feb 26, 2019•11 min
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, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnetwo...
Feb 15, 2019•29 min•Ep. 10
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, questions, or want to present your argument, contact us and send us an audio clip at timwhiffen@auscastnet...
Feb 08, 2019•57 min•Ep. 9
