In a recent episode of the Finding Genius podcast, Richard Jacobs and I discussed what might happen next in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. I began from the position that the global vaccination program won’t be perfect, but will gradually get the job done, and that drug companies will be able to update their COVID-19 […]
A Unique Perspective on Responses to and Consequences of COVID-19 Around the World
Finding Genius Podcast www.findinggeniuspodcast.com/podcasts/a-unique-perspective-on-respon ses-to-and-consequences-of-covid-19-around-the-world/ How have governments around the world differed in their responses to COVID-19? How have various countries been impacted by the lockdowns? Tune in for the answers, and to learn: . How “building citizens to build a nation” has become less practiced in countries around the world, and how this might […]
I Want You to Improve the World
During the final fifteen minutes of the Clean Recovery Forum in Adelaide, the audience and panellists engaged in an important discussion about what citizens in a democracy need to do to get the outcomes society prefers. The classic line from Joseph de Maistre was mentioned, “every nation gets the government it deserves,” and then the […]
Why do Millennials experience quarter life crises?
In late January I was speaking to one of my former students who is three years into her post-university life. We were catching up on what we have both been doing and the conversation was bubbling along in the normal way it tends to with my former students: a relaxed combination of friendly banter and […]
Blind Insights – Getting News from Facebook in Australia
On the morning of February 18th 2021, the Australian people woke up to find that no Australian news content can be posted or shared in their Facebook news feeds. Tim and I decided to make a little video about the opportunity this gives everyone to take responsibility for their news intake. Listen and subscribe to […]
Cause and Effect: Can You Make Things Happen?
We recently recorded an episode of Blind Insights about David Graeber’s book, Bullshit Jobs, with returning guest Jessica Freund. If you already know what a Bullshit Job is and are intending to read the book, then definitely skip chapters 3 to 5, as they are unnecessarily repetitive. What Graeber has to say about where Bullshit […]
David Olney Discusses the Future of Warfare on the Finding Genius Podcast
I was pleased to be a returning guest with Richard Jacobs on the Finding Genius Podcast. We discussed the professionalisation of modern militaries, the difference between tactical and strategic ability, the need for cognitive adaptability, the changing nature of war, the difficulty of balancing ethics and effectiveness in combat, and the implications of winning in […]
The Transformative Power of Accessible Technology
Accessible technology has had an enormous, positive impact on my life. It has enabled me to do things that used to be impossible, as well as facilitating my ability to empower other people. When I started setting up my home on the internet, I was very lucky to be introduced to David Murrin (a talented […]
A Clean Recovery Requires Knowledgeable, Active Citizens
I would like to begin by thanking the Sustainable Prosperity Action Group for inviting Tim Whiffen and me to be the moderators of their Clean Recovery Forum. It means a lot to both of us that you trust us to be a part of such an important event. I would also like to thank the […]
Overcoming Political Polarisation and Paralysis
When Tim Whiffen and I were invited to be the moderators for the Clean Recovery Forum in Adelaide on 28 January (2021) the significance of the three major themes to be discussed at the event immediately resonated with us: Climate change, systemic unemployment, and rising inequality. If Australia, and the rest of the world, do […]