Safety Last

On the 10th of June, 2023, Theodore John Kaczynski took his own life in his prison cell where, in 1998, he had been sentenced to serve out several life terms in prison without the possibility of parole. When this news became public, there was a large outcry and a revitalised conversation on the internet about how he should be remembered. So, let's get to the facts, what did Theodore, or as we'll call him; Ted, do? Living from an isolated wood cabin in Montana, he sent packages with explosives to people whom he considered inextricably linked to modern capitalism, the continuation of the Industrial Revolution and foot soldiers of technology against Mother Nature. These killings went on for years before he was ultimately discovered by the authorities in another surreal twist of fate. So, who was Ted? Was he a philosophical revolutionary who has, pretty accurately, predicted the increasing grip that technology has on humanity? A man who foresaw the world transforming into a technological dystopia akin to that in Blade Runner? Or was he a misled genius whose sanity was broken by an illegal CIA psychological operation called MK Ultra? Whatever your stance is on this increasingly important philosophical question, Ted Kaczynski's writings and theories still continue to ripple across society. And it is for that reason, we've provided a one-hour long discussion on this man's philosophical treatise: Industrial Society and Its Future. Enjoy.

No franchise has left such a large impact on my life as has Pokemon. From the time I was 10 years old, throughout high school and even in university, Pokemon continued to have a dominating presence. Even now I still get nostalgic about the older video games that accompanied my youth; for example, Littleroot Town and Ecruteak's theme song still make me drift back to my childhood. Whether it's arguing with friends about the pronunciation of Groundon or my parents finally buy me a $20 Pokemon deck only for it to be stolen a few months later, this franchise has added so much colour to my life and imagination. During high school, I even played Pokemon competitively, which meant abiding by certain rules and regulations imposed by a larger community. For example, one-hit knock out moves such as Sheer Cold were banned and you couldn't put more than one Pokemon to sleep on the opposing team. But I am not the only one in my friendship group with such a nostalgic love for this franchise, one autumn night in Sydney, 2023. Lance, Nathan and I gathered to record a round of the Pokemon Draft Game, this time we went and drafted four different generations for your viewing pleasure. And with that out of the way, let's get to the rules. 1)     You must select 6 Pokemon. 2)     You can only select Pokemon that originated from that region. Therefore, you can only pick Gyarados in the first region even if you can catch it in almost every game. 3)     You can only pick one starter from that region. 4)     Once a Pokemon is picked, their entire evolutionary chain is disqualified. For example, picking Magikarp disqualifies Gyarados. 5)     No legendaries or pseudo-legendaries. Legendaries are pretty obvious, but pseudo-legendaries  such as Dragonite, Tyranitar, Metagross and Heatran are just too powerful and made the game less interesting. 6)     One cute Pokemon is mandatory. They must be able to ride on your shoulder or be carried. 7)     After the round is complete, everyone votes for their favourite team. They cannot pick their own team. Make sure you tell us which team is the best and make sure to catch them all.

No franchise has left such a large impact on my life as has Pokemon. From the time I was 10 years old, throughout high school and even in university, Pokemon continued to have a dominating presence. Even now I still get nostalgic about the older video games that accompanied my youth; for example, Littleroot Town and Ecruteak's theme song still make me drift back to my childhood. Whether it's arguing with friends about the pronunciation of Groundon or my parents finally buy me a $20 Pokemon deck only for it to be stolen a few months later, this franchise has added so much colour to my life and imagination. During high school, I even played Pokemon competitively, which meant abiding by certain rules and regulations imposed by a larger community. For example, one-hit knock out moves such as Sheer Cold were banned and you couldn't put more than one Pokemon to sleep on the opposing team. But I am not the only one in my friendship group with such a nostalgic love for this franchise, one autumn night in Sydney, 2023. Lance, Nathan and I gathered to record a round of the Pokemon Draft Game, this time we went and drafted four different generations for your viewing pleasure. And with that out of the way, let's get to the rules. 1)     You must select 6 Pokemon. 2)     You can only select Pokemon that originated from that region. Therefore, you can only pick Gyarados in the first region even if you can catch it in almost every game. 3)     You can only pick one starter from that region. 4)     Once a Pokemon is picked, their entire evolutionary chain is disqualified. For example, picking Magikarp disqualifies Gyarados. 5)     No legendaries or pseudo-legendaries. Legendaries are pretty obvious, but pseudo-legendaries  such as Dragonite, Tyranitar, Metagross and Heatran are just too powerful and made the game less interesting. 6)     One cute Pokemon is mandatory. They must be able to ride on your shoulder or be carried. 7)     After the round is complete, everyone votes for their favourite team. They cannot pick their own team. Make sure you tell us which team is the best and make sure to catch them all.

Will fill in later.

What we consider normal seems so obvious that sometimes the possibility of change seems impossible and unlikely. Every society that has ever existed has clearly preferred thinner bodies, right? That's just an unchanging law of nature, right? Wrong. Sometimes, when we're trying to understand society, it's important to step away from what learnt cultural assumptions that seem so obvious. Instead, view society in the same way that an alien would view it, with eyes unclouded by cultural biases. Well, in that case, I think it's safe to say that humans spend an absurd amount of time on beauty, whether it's picking out the right suit for a formal, getting a manicure, selecting the shiniest diamond for a wedding ring, spending an unhealthy amount of time deciding if you should change your hairstyle. The truth is, for a vast majority of people on this earth, we are all hopelessly vain and this desire to be beautiful is the cause for a lot of our pain. Companies exploit this insecurity, media elevates those who fit our beauty standards, and even worse, we assign labels of morality like goodness and honesty to people whom we find beauty. In this episode, I bring on Charlotte, a good friend whom I've discussed many of these topics with before, but finally deciding to record and broadcast our words in the hopes that you'll learn something from this. So, have a think about beauty, beyond the shallow conception of what looks good and bad, such labels are subjective and are slaves to our environment. Instead, think of beauty as an unrestrained force that beats at the very core of society. An unrestrained force that governs every action we take in our lives. TIME STAMP: (6:35) - Wearing make up in year 8 (11:40) - A man-eating auntie (16:35) - Obsession with pale skin (24:10) - Is beauty objective or subjective? (32:00) - Beauty is political and economical (48:25) - Moralising beauty (56:25) - Media representation (59:20) - Sacrificing a generation to change one's values (1:04:05) - Asian fox eye trend (1:10:50) - Dealing with one's own insecurities

North Korea (NK) is a nation that everyone has an opinion on, but no one has any experience. Throughout my entire life, this rogue state has been painted with the worst portrays possible, linked with human rights violation, poverty, a closed-off political system that no foreigner can seem to understand, and perhaps most damning a loose trigger finger with nuclear weapons. So, just imagine my surprise when I found a Westerner who hasn't just entered NK, she's done it multiple times and now she works for a travel agency in North Korea. This means, I finally have access to a place that previously seemed impenetrable. Does NK only allow a certain number of haircuts? Are blue jeans really banned? What are the poverty levels like? Will Koreans that speak English really be kidnapped and forced to teach English? So many questions, so little time. After listening this podcast, I realise that some people might feel that I didn't talk about the political situation enough, that I was too lenient with Zoe, by not pushing her harder to discuss the actions of the NK government. And while I think those criticisms are fair, when I first contacted Zoe, she stated that she generally tries to avoid the most politically sensitive parts of the country. This is probably because of her employment but also because she doesn't have an interest in those fields. And while I didn't push these topics, I don't think I shied away from it either, I do ask questions about the DMZ, how NK sees the South, and what are some things that you can and can't do or say in the country. Ultimately, I think Zoe's goal is to humanise the citizens of NK, not as political pawns in a geopolitical struggle with Western democrat and capitalist countries, but people like us. I hope you enjoy this podcast. A lot of my preconceptions about NK were broken and some of my older exceptions were reinforced. But how often do you get a chance to peer behind the curtain? Enjoy. Zoe's Instagram: @zoediscoversnk Zoe's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ZoeDiscovers TIMESTAMP: (6:05) - Media Exaggeration (8:50) - Telling your parents about visiting NK (11:30) - Why the interest in NK? (19:10) - How do people react to your job? (23:40) - The reality of NK (29:55) - South Koreans in NK (40:00) - Poverty in NK (50:50) - Political repression and the DMZ (57:55) - Marriage proposals in NK (1:04:15) - Crash Landing on You (1:12:35) - True or False about NK

I think men are terrified and obsessed with women because we inherently understand that a beautiful woman can basically level us with a single glance. That's probably why men have tried and still try to regulate women sexuality (Sharia Law or abortion). Subconsciously, it might be a defence mechanism. On the other hand, I also think that the opposite is true, and that women are both terrified and captivated by masculine strength and vigour. I think the fable of Beauty and the Beast is one of the best representations of the split in the feminine psyche. The awareness that men are dangerous; yet still, the desire to tame this aggression into something more productive and stable. Okay, well now I've recounted the basis of Jungian psychoanalysis to you, let's use that as a launching point for today's podcast with returning superstar Giorgio (lead singer of Pyramid Mission, check them out on Spotify and Instagram). Why is Andrew Tate so popular? Why have words like incels and sigma males entered our vocabulary, and why do so many young men consistently feel drawn to these dark and edgy anti-heroes that seem repulsed by society? I'm thinking about Joker, Travis Bickle from Taxi Driver, any modern version of Batman, Shinji from Evangelion Neon Genesis, Patrick Bateman from American Psycho and fittingly, the nameless protagonist from Drive. Some might say that these references are just ironic jokes meant to signal and scare, but let me ask you, how many times do you have to repeat an action before it stops becoming ironic? Incels and sigma males are difficult words to understand on the internet, mainly because any mention of them seem to create such polarised response. Some detest them and see them as the last vestiges of toxic masculinity, while others find comfort in these labels as the final barrier against an uncaring feminised world. So, let's define them before we start. Incels is short for involuntary celibate, which anyone who is unable to find a romantic partner despite wanting a relationship. Sigma males are different, as they are not really incapable of romantic love, but rather see women as agents who will lead them astray. A biblical example of this could be the tale of Adam and Eve, later in the podcast, Giorgio and I return to the Bible to discuss what might be the first incel/sigma male character in Abrahamic religions. Regardless, there's are two fundament similarities between both groups: A deep disgust for the standard gender relationships in a world where feminist ideas are relatively accepted in mainstream circles, and a mistrust for the traditional roles of masculinity. So, what does this mean for the modern man? Are we just damaged and jaded beyond repair? Or will masculinity be able to realign with a view that sees itself as a pillar of society? TIMESTAMP: (6:40) – A photograph of incel heroes (8:50) – What is an archetype? (13:00) – Similarities between modern incel archetypes (14:50) – Art can't be separated from context (17:10) – Male characters with failed relationships (21:15) – Is masculinity necessary in the 21st century? (25:15) – Has Tinder ruined dating? (30:15) – The Freudian Madonna/Whore complex (33:00) – Sacred violence against evil (39:20) – School shootings & traditional masculinity (42:05) – Are incels/sigmas just sexually frustrated? (44:30) – #BLM, The American Dream & incels (48:15) – 4Chan, r9k and the necessity of intimacy (52:50) – Glorifying the ‘everyday man' (57:00) – The original biblical incel/sigma (1:02:45) – The moral failure of incels

This is the second episode of a two-part series about China in the modern world. In the previous podcast, I was joined by Mr Mitchell History, a fantastic YouTube channel about history, to answer the million-dollar question. What political system does China actually have? For this episode, we are thinking more global with our focus turned away from the domestic to the international. As the American Empire or Pax Americana in Latin fades with the ascension of China, how will nations near and far adjust to the rise of another aspiring empire? So, in the age of ‘living dangerously', as coined by Australia's former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, how will China behave? And perhaps more importantly, how will other nations and states react to this reshuffling of geopolitical power? Will China get increasingly defensive and hostile as the United States attempts to prevent its economic rise, or will China turn to diplomacy to establish itself as the centre of a new system? With possibility of nuclear war looming over flash points in Asia and Europe, such as Taiwan, India and Pakistan and now Russia and Ukraine, I think it's high time that we all try to be a little more informed so we can better decipher the madness of the 21st century. From nuclear holocaust to building new alliances, and everything in between, I along with Mr Mitchell History will try to predict the twists and turns in the game of empire that await us this century. TIME STAMP: (2:45) - Will the American Empire fade? (7:55) - Taiwan's fate (14:05) - How a politician's ego affects history (15:30) - The American Chinese Trade War (19:05) - China and Russia's relationship (21:30) - China, South Korea and Japan (26:30) - China, the Middle East and oil (28:55) - Will the European Union continue doing trade with China? (32:10) - China and India (33:55) - Will China befriend South-America (38:05) - A possible Chinese and African union? (42:30) - Will Australia choose between the USA and China? (48:10) - Will Trump run for president in 2024?

I recently had a discussion that made me realise how opaque the Chinese government is. I was reclining on my friend's sofa when he turned his head and asked, “China is a communist country, right?” Right? I mean the central political body CPC does have ‘communist' in its name; yet, North Korea also refers to itself as the Democratic Republic of Korea, and it is neither democratic or a republic. How about the fact that China has huge state-lead companies, some of which are household names like Huawei and Alibaba; yet it when it comes to income inequality, the antagonist of any socialist or communist government, China ranks slightly higher than America. Or how about the fact that the Chinese government will politically talk about socialism and the necessity of wealth distribution, yet Shanghai contains one of the most important stock exchanges in the world. So, what type of government does China have? Is it authoritarian? Is it socialist? Is it nationalist? Is it democratic? Is communist? Is it populist? What other words ending with “ist” can we throw into this list? In this podcast, Mr Mitchell History, one of the best YouTube channels for those wanting to understand Chinese or Australian history, and I will try to decipher the vagueness of the Chinese state. As tensions between both of the world's superpowers heat up, it is imperative that both sides learn about each other. And one of Mr Mitchell History's response struck me as incredibly thoughtful, if, and touch wood, a conflict breaks out between China and America, there is a high chance that you the listener, yes you, will be drafted or expected to fight in a conflict abroad. So, before we commit ourselves down a path of a potential nuclear winter, keep in mind, one of the potential outcomes includes cities like Beijing, California, and Kyoto being glassed while radiation fallout spreads across the globe. Now more than ever, it is imperative that we try to understand the other side, and only through diplomacy and cooperation can the world slowly return to the state of peace found before Trump's presidency of 2016. This is the first of two podcasts, the next one will try to predict how China's relationships with other countries and regions will change and evolve over the next few decades. TIME STAMP: (8:50) - What is 'political realism'? (14:55) - Is China a communist nation? (27:50) - What type of government does China have? (32:40) - American or Chinese dream (39:50) - Politics for the domestic audience Mr Mitchell History's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MrMitchellHistory

Alain de Botton said “The furniture insists that we cannot change because it does not; the domestic setting keeps us tethered to the person we are in ordinary life.” I think this is a perfect summary of high school. The fact you see the same people everyday means you build really strong connections, but simultaneously, the fact that you are always surrounded by the same faces means that you're trapped by the judgement and expectations of your peers. So, do I regret attending a private high school? I think I do; however, I am also aware that as the years have passed, my feelings towards my high school have increasingly soured, something that I didn't feel when I was on the verge of graduating. So, why did this happen? What were the events and people that changed my mindset? To discuss this topic, I'm reuniting with Nathan; host of the podcast Pod Position, one of my best friends, a fellow student, and someone who has had to endure me for more than a decade. TIMESTAMP: (5:55) - Nathan's engagement (10:35) - Would I send my child to a private school? (12:30) - Fear of girls & house parties (16:50) - Benefits of co-ed education (19:40) - School formals & showing off (23:05) - Racism in high school (27:15) - Representation in media (32:05) - A personal story of self-hate (36:50) - My mum confronted me about my insecurities (42:10) - Nathan gate crashing a party (50:25) - Social anxiety (54:35) - My social clout (59:35) - Would I redo high school? (1:03:45) - Writing a letter to yourself

On 14/9/2022, Japan announced that it would fully reopen to tourists after more than two years of closed borders. To celebrate this event, along with humanity slowly learning to live with this new pandemic, I decided to record, edit and release a 90-minute podcast with two of my best friends and travelling companions to tell you “What you should and shouldn't do in the land of the rising sun.” This should spark the obvious counter-question in my intelligent and sceptical audience, “Why should I listen to you?”, to which I'll answer “All three of us have travelled to Japan twice with each stay lasting over a month, and during that time, we've zipped up and down the nation by shinkansen, car, ferry, and bus. Whether it is Kobe, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Kyoto, Sendai, Hiroshima, Sapporo. Yokohama, Nara… If you can name a city, we've been there. So, for all my travelling enthusiasts who want to know what stores we highly recommend, what events you should miss, what are the most beautiful castles in Japan, what is the most affordable way to travel the country, random Japanese facts, and tips, and much more… Stay tuned for a podcast full of tips and laughter! TIME STAMPS: (6:36) - Fuji-Q Adrenaline Park (14:45) - Robot Cafe Tokyo (17:00) - How long should you stay in a city? (19:35) - Amori & Hakodate (21:50) - Snowboarding in Niseko (25:00) - Sapporo (26:25) - Sendai (30:45) - The best shoes for the snow (36:40) - Should you go to the owl cafe in Tokyo? (40:45) - Thrift stores in Japan (42:00) - Yokohama (44:00) - Akihabara: Anime Capital (47:45) - Eating the hottest level of curry (50:00) - Ueno Park in Tokyo (53:20) - Airbnb Tours (56:30) - How to travel around Japan (59:00) - Osaka (1:03:15) - Spas and onsens (1:05:20) - Mount Koya near Osaka (1:08:35) - Japanese food (1:13:50) - Kyoto (1:17:35) - Airbnb Tours (1:21:50) - Kobe, Himeji & Awaji Island (1:31:10) - Team Labs in Tokyo (1:34:20) - A summary of key advice

If I had to make a list of the most common questions that I get asked about, anime and manga would comfortably sit within the top 10. So, today, we're giving the people what they want along with the second part from my discussion with Srijay Chatterjee from the Only Up podcast. Berserk? Vagabond? (4:50) Vinland Saga? (9:23) The most overrated anime? (11:50) Why I dislike A Silent Voice (16:10) along with a few minutes about how the genre-defining anime Cowboy Bebop influenced my novel (28:35).

I listened to my first podcast in my final year of high school, and honestly, my first reaction was this was a more niche radio broadcast. But during university, I started listening to basketball podcasts on the train ride to keep me occupied. Slowly but surely, my tastes expanded to include more than just dribbling an orange ball. Slowly but surely, other topics like politics, religion and philosophy started to appear on my feed and podcasts became a staple of my life. However, the first time that I legitimately considered creating a podcast was because of a homework activity I set as a teacher. The term was ending, and I was tired, so I kept the task as simple as possible, pick a period of history that interests you and then submit your research through whatever medium you want. Thankfully, one extremely bright student chose an audio recording. Not only was it informative, but they also included jokes and humour as well. And after that, the idea took root, and for a few months the thought of “why don't you start a podcast” would just randomly appear in my thoughts at random parts of the day. “Oh, I'm eating ice-cream? How about a podcast on the development of ice-cream into its current stage?” “Oh, I love films like Before Sunrise and YiYi? Well, how about I explain why I love them so much?” “Oh, Pokemon's new designs seem to be decreasing in quality, why is that?” And, if you haven't noticed, I have an opinion on everything. So, that's how we ended up here. A podcast about starting a podcast, I don't know how this can get anymore meta. And joining is me is another fellow podcaster, Srijay Chatterjee from the Only Up podcast where we try to answer the million-dollar question. Should you, yes you, the person listening to this, start your own podcast? In such a saturated market, what are ours hints and tips? Should your podcast have a particular niche, or should it talk about anything and everything like mine? Can podcasting help with insecurities and anxieties? What kind of gear do we recommend newcomers buy? Should you record with friends or by yourself? If you've got questions, then we've got answers. So, if you've ever considered sharing your thoughts and opinions on the air, if you feel like you've got insights that deserve to be heard then stick around. This is part 1 of 2 episodes, with the second episode heavily focused on anime and manga. TIMESTAMP: (7:24) – Podcasting as therapy (12:19) – Becoming a renaissance man (14:37) – Should you start podcasting? (18:24) – Editing podcasts & descript (20:34) – What traits are best suited to being a podcaster? (26:20) – Podcasting with friends or by yourself? (30:27) – My hints and tips for podcasting? (34:28) – The Vagabond podcast (36:32) – Learning to transition with Dave Chappelle (39:25) – Investing in your equipment (41:48) – Microphones (46:34) – Niche audiences (47:44) – Naming podcasts (50:46) – Adding timestamps (52:55) – Being politically correct (55:15) – Out upcoming episodes (1:02:04) – Inviting friends as guests (1:05:40) – Srijay and I's first interaction (1:09:58) – Reaching out to other people

There's a quote that haunts the dusty halls of the internet and it goes “New friends are great but old friends are gold.” Well, how about a friend that you've known since year 4? Well, that friend is Rennard; a friend who has existed in my life before the Global Financial Crisis (2008), the creation of Instagram (2010) and the debut of the iPhone (2007). Am I officially reaching the retirement age? As I often repeat, one of the objectives of my podcast is to bring interesting people and experiences to the forefront of discussion. This means, finding an unusual, or even niche, aspect of someone's life and then seeing what wisdom I, and hopefully my audience, can glimpse from the discussion. Well, Rennard is both a world-class hip hop dancer, having represented Australia and the state of NSW multiple times, an actor who has appeared in films like Shang-Chi (2021) and Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), and the young father to a daughter! Of whom I am the ninong (godfather) to! Join us as we learn how one makes a career in the arts industry, how Rennard balances his talents between dancing and acting, the celebrities that he has met when filming, his advice for other young parents and to hear us gush about the fact that we're still friends after so many years. Here's a list of time stamps for your convenience: (3:31): Being a godfather (9:25): Being an actor (11:08): Representing Australia in the World Hip-Hop Dance Championship (15:04): Pioneers Dance Crew (22:11): Being too muscular to dance? (23:58): How does one become a paid dancer? (29:23): Why did Rennard move towards being an actor? (31:33): Rennard's acting career (33:50): Shang-Chi and Thor: Love & Thunder (35:36): Playing a dumpling god in Thor: Love & Thunder (38:10): The pay for actors (42:50): Moving towards being the main actor in plays (44:20): Being a parent (50:20): Advice to young parents (53:32): A lack of sleep when raising a child (54:36): Raising your child with expectations (56:08): Message to Rennard's daughter (57:14): Shout out to Rosie Did I also mention that I'm also a ninong (godfather)? Oh, I did? Fine.

I had no idea what to title this podcast – “Friend Simulator” made me sound like a science geek and “Wining & Dining with Nicholas” sounded like we were dating. Eventually, I settled with for the milquetoast title of Last Night Conversations. However, as you can tell from the short snippet at the beginning, this podcast is anything but milquetoast, but rather a wild roller coaster of laughs, inside jokes and philosophical questions all wrapped up in urban vernacular. While I have traditionally orientated my podcasts around a single topic, as someone who has been friends with Nicholas (host of Legitimate Psychiatric Emergency & artist behind Self-Titled) for several years, I can't name many people who are more charismatic or comfortable in front of a microphone. So, we picked a time, set up the mics, poured the rose and spoke to our heart's content. So, if you're ever wondered what sitting in on an unscripted conversation between my friends and I sound like, well, wonder no more. For your convenience, I've added a list of timestamps down below as we jump between a myriad of topics during this podcast. Losing motivation (12:55) Vipassana (13:38) Baths or showers? (30:25) Happiness after COVID-19 (37:26) Inflation and capitalism (45:41) Climate change (49:49) Nazism and communism (52:36) Philosophy, activism and ego (54:32) Becoming vegetarian (1:01:30) Buddha and death (1:06:04) Why Nicholas knows he will have a son (1:11:07) Criticisms of Christianity (1:15:58) What in Buddhism was That? (1:22:49) Hindu mythology (1:31:02)

I know a handful of people who have said they want to become an author, people who have sworn that they have the winning recipe for the next best-selling novel, people have had revealed that they've always wanted to publish their thoughts onto a page. Yet, the stark reality is that I don't know a single person who has actually completed the task. Which is where I come in, I understand how daunting it may seem to have a passion but feel like you have no way to channel that into something concrete. In this podcast, I touch upon a number of different topics, all of which are aimed to help you finally succeed and transfer the thoughts swirling around your brain into something tangible that can be enjoyed by hundreds of others. Some of the questions that I answer are: Should you self-publish or traditionally-publish your novel? How to maintain your motivation? What are some pieces of art that inspired me? Is KDP better than IngramSpark? Should you get an editor, and how much did they cost? Along with much, much more.

Philosophy is a field of study often relegated to the margins of society; nowadays, telling someone you enjoy philosophy is akin to telling them you enjoy Latin or hunting with a bow. It's just bizarre. However, this ultimately seems to be a disservice to philosophy, as a lot of people imagine these ideas to be impractical or irrelevant to their life, something which I completely disagree with. In fact, I believe every action you take has a philosophical basis; after all, how can you make a decision that isn't based on values? Today, I am joined by Olivia Sun, a rising YouTuber and a student studying a Bachelor of Philosophy to (hopefully) bring this field of knowledge, based off dusty tomes and buried scrolls, into the 21st century. We jump between a myriad of different topics from “Is Western philosophy too rational?”, “What are some of our favourite philosophers?” and “How have these ideas improved our lives?” with the aim of answering, once and for all, “Is Philosophy Actually Useful?”

A big thank you for everyone who tunes into this podcast, your support is much appreciated. For this week's special podcast, we will celebrate 25 releases with a question and answer session! Thank you to everyone who submitted questions. For a sneak peak at some questions, have a glance below! 1) How has religion influenced sex? 2) What is a dystopian trope you wouldn't mind living in? 3) Are you a leftist? 4) Given the knowledge that you now know, how would you change your childhood? 5) How has my teaching career been after leaving Chatswood High School?

Sandy Hook, Columbine (34:55), Virginia-Tech. These are all names that have been etched into our collective memories, and as of 24th of May, we've a new addition Uvalde. For the rest of the world, we can't help but a sense of despair and confusion that these mass school shootings continue to happen so frequently in America. Why doesn't this happen in another other developed nation? Why do young men turn their firearms on innocent civilians (39:05)? Why has nothing been done since? Today, I'm joined by Clayton and his brother Tyler, Southern Americans who have been surrounded by weapons since their childhood (19:20). I brought them on because I wanted to understand the impact of gun violence not just through statistics and news reports but as people who have seen this violence manifesting in their communities. I recorded this podcast with two specific questions in mind: What is the legacy of Uvalde (1:04:00)? And what is it like raising a child in these conditions (1:05:50)? For reference, as of the release of this podcast, there have been another 41 mass shootings with 46 dead and 180 injured in the span of 19 days.

Flaws, those pesky things that we all try to hide from everyone. So of course, why not record a podcast with fan favourite Giorgio where we deep dive into one of my flaws. Am I too condescending? Interesting title, right? I hope it caught your attention. While originally trying to come up with a name for this episode, I toyed with other less abrasive titles such as “am I too motivated?” or “can positives become negatives”, topics that we certainly deal with, but the problem was that such titles emphasised my strengths much more than dealing with the real focus, how my attempts to improve has ingrained a ‘grind it out' attitude. And this realisation already begins to complicate the debate, what if I needed to internalise these ideas to complete my novel, something that I am very proud of? Does that make me a good person? A suffering artist? A martyr who traded their own mental health for the pursuit of greatness? Or does that mean I am just self-obsessed and egotistical, perhaps I even unironically fulfill some aspects of the sigma male archetype that the internet routinely makes fun of? This brings me to the my primary question, does one actually need to tap into their darker emotions to be successful? How about people like Michael Jordan who is subsequently celebrated as the greatest basketball player of all time but also someone who routinely used abuse and intimidation to achieve their goals? What does this say about me, and how does one tiptoe over the tightrope between motivation and condescension? During this conversation, we touch on a reoccurring point which may help the listeners in this very position. “Maybe our flaws are simply corrupted versions of positive values.” Enjoy.

Hojung Lee is an Asian-American author and the writer behind Tigerrabit, a new book written in response to the rising hate crimes against Asians since the start of the pandemic. We've been planning this podcast for a while and settled on linking our discussion of her book with Letterboxd's new highest rating film Everything Everywhere All At Once by Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan, affectionately as The Daniels. In particular, we focused on one aspect of Hojung's life, her troubled relationship with her parents and how it mirrored the protagonists Joy and Evelyn from the film, and secondly why do the Koreans insist their nation looks like a tiger instead of a rabbit?

What makes a good film? Does a film that represents a neglected community immediately make it ‘good'? Or do we only end up looking at its social impact and thus ignoring its other strengths? Shang-Chi featuring Simu Liu was hailed as another film that featured Asians in a media landscape that has traditionally emphasised white faces. Heralded as the first Asian-American superhero film in the West, it was also the first film during the Coronavirus period to break the $200 million dollar earning threshold in North America and it has since become the largest Labour Day weekend box office release. Ever. But this begs the question... Was Shang-Chi… actually good? I bring on returning superstar Chris to zip around a multitude of topics and much more, such as who is my secret celebrity friend? (1:25), our favourite parts of the film (19:30), aspects that we disliked (27:00), and how would Westernised Asians fare in East Asia in 2022 (1:03:55)?

All power is political, and all politics is power. This idea may not resonate to a lot of Westerners who see different political parties win and lose without really changing the course of the nation. And while that might be the ‘best' version of politics, the reality is that for 99% of human history has not been like this. So today, I want you to really think about this question. How much power should governments have? I bring on Chris, my Canadian friend, to discuss the recent Canadian Truck Protests, a series of protests where truckers drove their vehicles into major suburban areas and honked their horn to protests vaccine mandate. We touch on a range of issues like ‘Is this a peaceful protest?' (20:45) ‘The changing left and right-wing political constituents' (16:55) and finally ‘Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's heavy-handed tactics to suspend these protests' (24:15). And most interestingly, I think your conclusion to my answer says more about you then the question itself.

Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle... Studio Ghibli's influence upon Japanese and international animation remains immense. After 19 feature films, several short films, and countless commercials, Ghibli's simple aesthetic has become synonymous with animation. But how did a regular animation in Tokyo, and named after an Italian airplane, rise to such heights? What are some common themes and ideas scattered throughout the Ghibli world (33:25)? How does Miyakazi use nostalgia to influence his audience? And more importantly, I bring on our guest, Nathan Ng, to rank every Ghibli film we have ever watched (12:00).

One single question defines the entire field of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and that is whether or not it is real or fake. Does sticking needles in certain areas of your body, drinking certain herbs or even channeling one's "qi" (氣) actually help improve one's health? This is a certain that has always interested me, one of hand, I have been culturally exposed to Chinese medicinal practices, on the other hand, I've equally absorbed the Western skepticism about it. So, I have brought on Cole, a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine who insists that this field of knowledge is everywhere just as scientific and documentable as Western medicine. Have a listen, and keep an open mind.

Imagine growing up in an environment where you were expected to wake up before the crack of dawn to feed your farm animals, imagine having no internet until you were an adult, imagine riding your horse for hours after school. The suburbs and rural areas have long had an interesting relationship with each other, with both envying the other, yet simultaneously condescending the other party. For the people in the metropolitan areas, the wilderness represents freedom but also savagery, with 'bogans' representing the worst of society who cannot comprehend the social etiquette expected in the city. For the people in the country, 'city-slickers' are wealthy and educated, yet lack all connection to the earth and animals, and are too soft to do any physical labour. So what is truth and what is fiction? Today, I bring on my friend to discuss what it was like growing up in the country before migrating to the city as an adult.

The word that comes to my mind when I think of BTS is meteoric. For what might possibly be the most popular band in the world right now, I had no idea they existed a few years ago (seriously, the first time I heard their name in 2017, I was just confused). Since then I've been very curious how they managed to break into the Western market despite only a single member being fluent in English. How did BTS break the 'bamboo ceiling' and why wasn't another more internationally orientated group, such as GOT7 or Big Bang, the first to do it?

Society has not been kind of vegetarians as their defining depiction is a screaming banshee drunk off self-importance. However, isn't activism for animal rights just another off-shoot of climate change activism? Isn't the push for safer and more humane conditions for animals just another form of loving the planet and all that exist on it? Today, I speak with Yenfei, someone who is both a vegetarian and vegan, about the reasons for cutting meat and how transitioning to a more sustainable lifestyle is both moral and vital to preserving this planet.

[SPOILERS - This podcast will dive and discuss all parts of this manga] Buddhism, murder, violence, sex, philosophy, self-development, ego, greatness... Such large and varied topics that may not naturally seem like they can fit together. Yet Vagabond by Inoue Takehiko not only weaves together the previous ideas, it does it with such care and skill that one is regularly left at the edge of their seat or in tears when reading Inoue's magnum opus. Today, we bring back fan favourites; Nicholas (host of the Legitimate Psychiatric Emergency podcast) and Giorgio (who is about to release his new album Pyramid Mission). Together we explore the story of Musashi, the most famous samurai of all time, though a Buddhist lens. How can one be a killer and a Buddhist? Can one strive to be great without an ego? What does it mean to be truly free from suffering as a warrior? Have a listen and find out.

The dominating emotion I felt as I watched the class of 2021 graduate was a mixture of empathy and pity. As a teacher, and someone who has graduated from high school, I understand how important the rites of passage and rituals are to learning. A program without sport, camps or the chance for students to socialise is more akin to a prison than a school. So today, I interview the graduating captain of Chatswood High School, Tim. Interestingly, he was one of the first students that I taught, and even more bizarre, I encouraged and expected him to get the position of captain three years before it happened. We touch on a lot of topics, from how COVID impacted their learning, how stressful it was to study for the HSC from home, missed opportunities as a captain and the hidden restrictions that come with such a position. Overall, if you want a glimpse into the hidden mechanics of high school, have a listen.

The one who holds the pen, controls the narrative. This is part two of my interview with Uma. For the first half, please refer to #11 - Hallyu: Beyond the Pretty Lights. Today, we look at how K-pop is beginning to challenge traditional Western ideas of beauty that have spread around the world for the last two centuries. We'll also take a peek into how the growing cultural reach of East Asia has changed consumption, beliefs and fashion, and discuss what lies in store for this behemoth.

Hallyu (韓流/한류) refers to a cultural, aesthetic and artistic movement where Korean media continues to spread and grow more relevant around the world. In this episode, we look beyond the shiny exterior, thin waistlines and glossy skin, there is a much more serious and strategic aspect to Korea's immense soft power. From the United Nations selecting BTS as their official ambassadors, to the Oxford English Dictionary adding Korean words like mukbang or K-drama, to South Korea blasting K-pop songs over North Korean border, Hallyu has emerged as a cultural force, one that (like any artistic movement) prioritises the cultural assumptions and ideas of the society that created it. So what are these ideas? What are we implicitly absorbing when we watch the newest film from South Korea? What ideas does the plethora of Korean makeup companies push, and fundamentally how is this changing the cultural landscape in the 21st century? Join Uma and I as we attempt to address some of these questions in the first of two episodes.

"Generation" is a ten-letter word that tries to do the impossible, summarise the vast, vague and undefined zeitgeist of a group of people that span nations, religions, class and ethnicity. Yet to simply pretend there are no distinctions between people of various ages is just as far-fetched. Today, we bring on the intelligent and well-spoken Olivia (YouTube: olisunvia) to discuss what exactly constitutes and influences Generation Z. We touch on media, philosophy, 'stan-culture', media addiction and internet personas.

Teaching is a profession that everyone seems to have an opinion about. Perhaps this is because education seems to be a rite of passage that all must pass through. Today, I bring on my good friend Jacob to discuss the intricacies of this job. The Good, The Bad, The Ugly.

Are tarot cards just cardboard with fancy images or are they objects with deeply embedded with archetypes that lurk at the very centre of humanity's psyche? Today, I bring back Gio, a valued friend and a return guest to the podcast, to answer the fundamental question..."Do you believe in the heart of the cards?"

With the onset of this century, there seems to be a growing market (ironically) and drive for filmmakers and audiences to consume anti-capitalist films. What does this say about our society? What does this say about the new generation's trust in capitalism and the current economic structures? Finally, can a billion-dollar industry truly be expected or able to carry a torch of anti-capitalist rhetoric when their entire foundation is built upon capital?

What does it mean to live with Dwarfism? For most of us, physical disabilities are something we rarely come into contact with and we often speak about it in euphemism. Today, I talk to Becks, a friend of mine who has Dwarfism, as I try to better understand something that has been socially marginalised for too long.

Nietzsche famously spoke about "If you stare too long into the abyss, then it stares back at you." I talk to Shaun Phuah, author of Providence on All Fours, a new horror novel, whose job and passion is to do exactly that...to stare into the abyss. PAPERBACK: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09DFQ2FV2/ E-BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09DBD3KLQ/ SHAUN'S INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/mnolololo/

Today, I dive into a deep conversation about relationships, memories and life with Nick. As someone who is just recovering from being cheated on in his last relationship, we try to answer the most important question together "What is the function of a relationship?"

From April to June of 2021, we saw a nation brought to its knees by an invisible enemy. Today, I interview Tathagat Singh, an Indian man who experienced the devastation first hand, to discuss what life was like during the worst of the second wave (an average of 5,000 people were dying a day) and how India is faring in the aftermath.

Why have people spent so much time obsessing over every little detail in art? Why are we, as humans, so preoccupied with the creation of imaginary worlds and what do these imaginary worlds say about us, our community and our historical moment? What can we learn from the changes and repeated ideas in Asian art from the West? Today, we'll answer all these questions and more with our guest Chris Zhang. Chris' website: https://chrisreads.medium.com/

Why do people jump out of the sky? And more importantly, should you soar through the clouds? Today, I'll be bringing on my friend Gio to tackle a question that has been around since the myth of Icarus. Not only will we be talking about what skydiving feels like and how we felt before the initial jump. We will be tackling about the emotional and philosophical reasons why one should, at least for a brief moment, glide through the clouds.