The Blunt Report

Richard Bunting works with Rewilding Britain and has over 30 years' experience campaigning with NGOs such as Amnesty International, UNICEF, WHO, Trees for Life and the UN. Today, Richard discusses this concept of Rewilding, how this conservation method differs from others, and how its reach extends to not only animals and biodiversity, but also battling climate change, assisting farmers and food production and improving our overall health. Not only that, Richard discusses ongoing projects, the concept of predator introduction and the importance of biodiversity for creatures such as bees, beavers and many more. He also provides ways in which you can get involved or help out at home. For more information, check out your local Rewilding organistation, or go to rewildingbritain.org.uk for more links and ideas.

Episode 1 in the Wildlife Series. We discuss the story of the Buffalo in America and how these great herds known once as the "Thunder on the Plains" with a population numbering 30-60 million, were deliberately and rapidly destroyed as a tool in the war against the Native Americans, to a number of only around 300.

Franck Marchis is a Planetary astronomer at the SETI Institute and the CSO at Unistellar. Franck starts the conversation today with some of the real time stats in the search for other worlds, such as numbers of planets and numbers of stars, that really shine a light on our place in the universe. He also discusses Astronomical research itself, and how things like citizen science can really bolster this pursuit. Lastly, Franck reflects on some of the philosophical and societal effects that looking to the stars really has. https://unistellaroptics.com/

Lewis Dartnell is an Astrobiologist, Presenter and Author. Today he discusses the series of contradictions that we have on the topic of life elsewhere. Life on Earth is somehow special, yet there is an abundance of Earth-like planets within our universe. Life is fragile, yet life always find a way. So In this conversation, Lewis discusses what is significant in Astrobiology, why it matters to us, its effects on society and ultimately what that means for humanity and for the future. For more information on Lewis, as well as his fantastic books, find him at lewisdartnell.com.

Episode 1 in the Other Worlds Series. We investigate humanities obsessive relationship with Mars, and subsequently, the idea of the martian. This tale follows how Mars played a role in the world's religions, the planet's involvement in the development of astronomy, and finally, the unfortunate tale of Percival Lowell and his "Martian Canals".

Tom is a Quantum Computing researcher and physicist, working at the intersection between physics and computer science. Today, he talks about this technology that could revolutionize the way we live life. He explains what quantum computing Is, from how it operationally differs from classical computing, to how it is actually an entirely different way of computing and should be treated as such. Tom also discusses some of the real world benefits and concerns about this technology. Particularly, how quantum computing could drastically advance our pursuit of higher tech medicines and vaccines, but also the potential vulnerability of our current information if we don't prepare for a quantum computing world now.

George Musser is a contributor to the Scientific American, an author and science communicator. Today, he talks about one of the most unexplained parts of the quantum world, known as quantum entanglement, or as was coined by Einstein, spooky action at a distance. George gives us a clear and easy to grasp explanation of what spooky action at a distance is, also discussing why it is that quantum physics is just so hard to explain compared to other areas of science. Lastly, the conversation covers some of the philosophy behind this quantum world, why its actually not that strange, and why unlearning things in science can often be just as important as learning them. Books can be found here: https://spookyactionbook.com/author/gmusser/

Episode 1 in the Quantum Series. We follow the story of Niels Bohr, a Jewish born physicist and one of the Fathers of Quantum Mechanics, during the invasion of the Nazi's to his home nation of Denmark. Bohr's escape is an incredible tale, ending in his eventual involvement in the nuclear weapons program that arguably changed the face of humanity.

Meeta Singh is a Physician who applies Sleep Science to enhance physical and mental performance, assisting athletes within the NBA, NHL, NFL and MLB. Today, Meeta discusses how and why sleep is such an important tool for high level performance, and that improving the one-third of our life that we spend asleep really can give us the extra percentage points over competitors. We also discuss the specific roadblocks athletes come up against in terms of sleep, such as early morning training times, competing in different time zones and the sheer pressure and stress they are under. Lastly, although it is obvious to a lot of us the importance of physical recovery and sleep, Meeta lays down why sleep is crucial for athletes learning new techniques or even its ability to create the correct winners mindset. www.meetasinghmd.com

David Cunnington is a Specialist Sleep Physician, diagnosing and treating sleep disorders out of his clinic in Melbourne, as well as via his podcast, Sleep Hub. https://drdavidcunnington.com.au/ Today, David discusses with me the strange cultural hangups we have about sleep, such as it being associated with weakness, when in reality it is one of the ultimate pillars to physical and mental well-being. We also discuss some of the research and methods behind a good nights sleep, as well as the lingering myths purported by wellness sights or bloggers, and how we circumvent these as a population.

Episode 1 in the series on sleep where we will follow the story of Silvano, a monumental figure in the world of sleep science who carried the condition fatal familial insomnia, and in the process, taught modern medicine the extreme case of what happens to a person when they do not get sleep.

Sasha Sagan is an Author and Science Communicator, as well as the daughter of world renowned educators Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan. Her new book "For Small Creatures Such as We" can be found here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/566611/for-small-creatures-such-as-we-by-sasha-sagan/ “I'm not a scientist, its not my job. And yet, it is my worldview and it is my philosophy.” On todays episode of the podcast, naturally, Konner and Sasha discuss humanities connection to the cosmos. Sasha derives a great amount of importance to this spiritual connection we all have to the universe around us, without the framework of religion, and discusses the interconnectedness of it all. The guys also chat about the poverty of language, and how things like spiritual or sacred are something we yearn for, yet these words are cemented with religious connotations, even if we don't mean it. Sasha discusses the wonder and the beauty that the natural world can give us, more so than the myths purported by pseudoscience. And how these facts of our world can and should influence our lives. Not only that, Konner and Sasha talk about the problem of education more broadly, and how this can bolster a lack of belief in the scientific method.

David Williams is a Research Professor at the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University who has worked on a number of NASA's Robotic Missions and is currently an investigator with NASA's Psyche mission. The Psyche Mission is an orbiter mission that aims to learn about the origins of planetary cores by exploring the metallic 16-Psyche Asteroid. “Science is a way of thinking that can provide information for making good public policy. It is not something that should be used or denied or distorted to confirm a particular political idea.” As a representative of NASA's Psyche mission, David discusses the importance of the Psyche asteroid and how it could provide answers to some of the biggest questions of our universe, like how the Earth itself formed. Konner and David talk about some of the specific science and engineering of this mission, as well as how metallic asteroids like Psyche could be holding untold riches. David also discusses the broader importance of space exploration and the very human question of why we explore. Lastly, the guys chat about the current status of science and how it is often distorted by politicians as a means of pushing certain ideologies. LINK FOR PSYCHE SLIDES: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uCSkTzht_1wba6LflmpjPOeX_C_sPX6b/view?usp=sharing

Justin Lehmiller is a Science-Backed Sex Researcher, Social Psychologist, Author of the Blog "Sex & Psychology", as well as his most recent book "Tell Me What You Want", which offers an unprecedented look at sexual fantasy based on the most comprehensive study ever conducted. "It's interesting when we say that 15 min a week of porn is an addiction, but the 3 hours of T.V. that the average American watches per day is not" The Book "Tell Me What You Want": Amazon - https://amzn.to/2Z19lxa Website (which provides extra features) - https://www.lehmiller.com/tell-me-what-you-want Today, Justin discusses the reality of Sex research. Namely, that public commentators of sex and the associated psychology tend to be from a place of personal experience – not evidence and facts – and we discuss some of the issues that this brings. Konner and Justin also delve into the anxiety around deciding your long term lover or partners that many young people tend to face nowadays due to the huge success and choice of online dating. However, Justin attempts to break the very common negativity surrounding new technologies and dating, and instead raises some very clear positives – such as the increased diversity within relationships. Justin also talks on a subject that is clouded with misinformation and fear – porn usage and addiction. We uncover some of the realities of this topic and how that could effect porn users.

Robin Ince is a Comedian, Writer and Host of the BBC Series The Infinite Monkey Cage alongside Physicist Brian Cox. Robin also has his own Broadcasts within the Cosmic Shambles Network. For more: https://cosmicshambles.com/ “They aren't just scientific facts – They are stories of what it is to be in the universe.” Today, Robin discusses the strange place he has found himself in, being the resident science comedian. He chats about why it's a good thing to be the stupidest person in the room and how, after having met some of quite literally the greatest minds to have ever walked the face of the earth, some of his opinions about people have actually changed. Konner and Robin also talk about the idea of "stupid questions" and how Robin has come to the realisation that although people may perceive certain questions as stupid, when they are motivated by curiosity, they can often be the most profound. Konner and Robin also discuss the idea of telling the story of science. For the longest time science has been looked at and delivered, in a very cold and unappealing way. Now, through shows such as the infinite monkey cage, we are starting to uncover the emotions, the poetry, and the human story of science and scientific endeavour.

Robert Degle has an Educational History in Philosophy, a Current John Danaher Brown Belt and is the Soon-To-Be Jiu Jitsu Coach at Evolve MMA in Singapore. https://www.instagram.com/robertdeglebjj/ "We've left serious thinking to the side in favour of intentionally esoteric bewilderment to get tenure. We're just playing games with words at this point." *NOTE*: This is a two part podcast. 0-45mins - Philosophy Segment; 45mins-Finish - Jiu Jitsu Segment Today Robert discusses the themes of philosophy closest to his heart, being that of Ludwig Wittgenstein. Specifically, the idea of Wittgenstein's ladder, and how nonsense pursuits can often be a crucial part of future goals. Also, the guys discuss the themes of language and culture, and how we have a strange relationship with language, in which we are controlled by it, while also, having control over it.   And finally, lays out his approach to Jiu Jitsu. Specifically, how to solve puzzles and have systematic approaches to solving these puzzles, something that covers all varieties of challenges. My guest also discusses some of this his systematic ideas and how you can use them too.

Tanya Harrison is a Former Mission Operator with the Mars Rovers and a Planetary Scientist Focusing on Martian Geomorphology as well as both Martian and Terrestrial Imaging. http://tanyaofmars.com/ "I would love to see the excitement come back toward mars like we had trying to get humans to the moon during the Apollo program" Today, Tanya discusses what it feels like to be able to control rovers and orbiters on an entirely alien planet a hundred-odd million kilometres away. Konner and Tanya also discusses why everyone has such a huge desire towards mars unlike any other planet. Tanya and Konner chat about the in's and out's of the Mars Rover operations, such as the goals and steps involved, and also talk about the philosophical and technological aspects associated with space exploration. Tanya also talks about the big question: Putting people on Mars, and how the face of this goal has changed with the likes of Elon Musk's spaceX and Blue Origin. Lastly, my Tanya lays out how Earth imaging is done, as well as some of the ethical considerations of our increasing technology and increasing ability to monitor and image our planet.

Stephan Kesting is a BJJ Black Belt and Firefighter with an academic background in Biology who has recently completed a 1,000 mile solo Canoe Trip through Canada's Arctic. For more: https://www.grapplearts.com/ "Just as you wouldn't take, necessarily, financial advice form your dentist, or take car mechanic advice from your doctor, you probably shouldn't take much advice from your Jiu-Jitsu instructor, other than Jiu-Jitsu advice."' Today, Konner and Stephan discuss the strange, but undoubtedly important, intersection between science and martial arts. Things like the ability to logically and cognitively break down ideas or techniques, or even how to have a little skepticism when it comes to things like martial arts instructors asking to be called professor or sifu. Not only that, the guys chat about being the best in a field vs. being highly skilled in many areas, and how this ties into ideas like diminishing returns, experiencing the richness of existence, and where the balance in life is between being disciplined, focused, and achieving a goal, and when you should actually quit and change tracks. Lastly of course, Stephan talks about his epic 1000 mile solo canoe journey through the arctic. He lays out some of the preparation, unexpected emotions, and a few of the experiences along the way. *Note* Coronavirus within martial arts is discussed for the first 15min of the episode. Feel free to skip ahead if you would not like to hear about this.   

Kristen Mark is a Sex and Relationships Researcher, with an academic background in behavioural health science and psychology whose work encompasses sexual health, sexual desire and desire discrepancies, as well as national and global sexual education policy and theory. More: http://www.kristenmark.com/ "Stop it with the abstinence only, it doesn't work. With kids especially, you tell them not to do something what are they going to do? They just go try it." On today's episode of the podcast, Kristen discusses our understanding, or lack thereof, of what sexual pleasure actually is. Kristen and Konner discuss things such as its purpose, why it arises, its peaks and troughs and how much of a role it plays in human existence. Kristen and Konner also look to the future and discuss how sexual education can and should change, while breaking down a couple of common misconceptions about ideas surrounding access to sexual education and abstinence. And lastly, Kristen also lays out some of the research conducted with individuals who have experienced sexual trauma and how these individuals have developed their own happy and healthy relationships despite the adversity.

Kristina Campbell is a Human Microbiome Writer, Documenting Gut Microbiota, Nutrition, Probiotics, Prebiotics and Fecal Microbiota Transplantation. Website: bykriscampbell.com "We've grown up and taken our health class in school and learned all the parts of our body. But then to think that's only half the story. That actually, at least half the cells are bacterial and not human at all, and they're invisible. That's something big to get your head around." On today's episode, Kristina sheds some light on what terms like microbiome and micriobiota actually are. Kristina and Konner discuss changing our ideas and paradigms about germs and bacteria. Not only that, Kristina lays out the incredible width of things that our microbiome can affect, ranging from overall mortality, to even the makeup of our brains. Lastly, and thankfully for everyone's sake, Kristina talks about things we can all do to assist our own microbiome, what is fact, what is fiction and how to avoid some of the people and products out there that are based on nonsense.

Sokeel Park is the Director of Research for Liberty in North Korea (LINK), an organisation that works to rescue thousands of North Korean Refugees who have escaped their country and are vulnerable to exploitation and capture, by ensuring their safe and dignified journey to freedom within South Korea. More Links: https://www.libertyinnorthkorea.org/ and "The Jangmadang Generation": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvsqpwI_IfU "The North Korean people deserve and need a lot more allies around the world - a lot more solidarity and support for them." Today, Sokeel discusses why he and many others with him at the organisaiton, are motivated to do this work with Liberty in North Korea. My guest, lays out what the process is for rescuing North Korean refugees. But perhaps most importantly, Sokeel describes how important it is to change the narrative and to highlight the people of North Korea.  

Chris Grant is a Science Historian specialising in the Space-Flight Era and the creator of Universe University, a Science History podcast and blog. Find more at www.universeuniversity.space "You can't help but wonder about the Human Mind and who was the first to conceive some of these truly fantastical ideas" On today's episode, Chris takes us back in time to a period when humans just began to explore the vast ocean of space for the very first time. Chris and Konner chat about some of the motivations and reasons behind the space race, such as the Societal reasons, political reasons and even some philosophical ones. Chris also talks about the impact soviet Russia had on space and technology as a whole, with people Yuri Gagarin and the satellite Sputnik, as well as what the future of space exploration looks like.

Deborah Hyde is a Folklorist, Skeptic and Cultural Anthropologist who specialises in the Supernatural, Paranormal, and Cryptozoology. deborahhyde.com "The big difference between Religion and Superstition is Politics".  Today, Deborah discusses why it is that people believe in weird stuff, and how in certain places throughout history the ideas of vampirism, witchcraft or fairies were commonplace beliefs. Not only that, Deborah and Konner discuss the reasons why we even have a distinction between the superstitious and religion, when once upon a time, these ideas were much more blended. Lastly, Deborah chats about Skepticism as a whole and the associated charlatans and conspiracies, ranging from sunning your anus to healers who claim to be able to cure cancer sufferers.    

Daniele Bolelli is a Historian, Author and Storyteller with his very popular "History on Fire" Podcast. "I don't think most people are evil, I think most people are weak". On today's episode, Konner and Daniele discuss some of the most infamous characters that have left a blaze through history. how legends become legends, and mostly, about the nature of evil. Not only that, Daniele discusses some of the recent controversies surrounding history such as the removal of confederate statues in the US, and also how loneliness has completely blindsided our society

Lisa Harvey-Smith is an Astronomer, Women in STEM Ambassador to the Australian Government, an advisor for the Australian space agency as well as an author and broadcaster. Lisaharveysmith.com On this episode, Konner and Lisa discuss her new kids book, Under the stars, astrophysics for bed time. Lisa also discusses her road map for implementing change in the world of STEM, as well as the genuine importance of astronomy and space exploration on the general public and society as a whole. Lisaharveysmith.com

Kyle Buller is host of the psychedelics today network and is a specialist within the field of non-ordinary states of consciousness, trans-personal psychology and mental health counselling. http://www.settingsunwellness.com/ "I think that a lot of people are just disconnected with deep philosophical questions." Today, Konner and Kyle discuss many of the factors that influence the epidemic of mental and spiritual neglect that our current society seems to be breeding. The guys chat about some of the reasons why our society is sick and some of the ways we can mitigate these issues creating cures and future prevention. Not only that, Kyle outlines some of the very real drawbacks of the current psychedelic revolution - as well as how we should be handling these very powerful compounds within a medical, clinical, or spiritual context. Kyle also shares a very personal story of the near-death experience he underwent in his teenage years and how that event completely altered his life's trajectory. Lastly, the conversation goes to people's relationship with death and, how that could be the source of many of our existential crises. 

Jack and Ada are Political commentators and hosts of their own podcast, Totally Unprepared Politics. twitter.com/thetupshow Today's episode of the podcast is very relevant in this Topsy-Turvy world, and the guys discuss a very broad range of topics. Jack and Ada layout some potential benefits to Brexit, as well as where it currently stands. They also riff about some potential ideas for a possible new structure of government. Not only that, they chat on the lighter side of politics and climate change by discussing how the future might actually be looking bright. twitter.com/thetupshow

Tristan Rose is an Ex-Australian Army Soldier and the founder of Blind Tiger Yoga. Tristan's military career spanned 10 years and multiple deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan, which led him to develop Blind Tiger Yoga, an organisation whose mission is to provide Yoga to Military, Veterans and Emergency First Responders in order to provide a method of maintaining their overall physical and mental health. www.blindtigeryoga.com "The ultimate key is: No one's coming to save you. This is all accountability on the individual." Today, Konner and Tristan talk about the unlikely transition from Soldier to Yoga teacher. They discuss some of the rightful praises, as well as genuine criticisms of the military and how that affects an individual reentering a civilian existence. But mostly, the guys chat about the role and importance of mindfulness and meditation. Including some tips and advice on how and why this should be implemented into your daily routine.

Connor Wander is an Alzheimer's Disease researcher specialising in GABA Neural Networks, and is one of the founders of "Straight from a Scientist", a Science Communication Network which works to communicate science to both academics and the wider public. https://www.straightfromascientist.com/ "To me, that's the most terrifying thing about Alzheimer's - you can lose your identity in the process." Today, Connor explains the fundamentals of Alzheimer's Disease, such as what the disease is, who suffers from it and what we know about things like risk, detection, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. The guys also discuss that the 21st century is the era of the brain and what it means for philosophical concepts of the human race when we have a greater understanding of things like consciousness and mental illness. Finally, as fellow science communicators, the guys chat about the general concept of education. What the structure of education could or should be like, how to get people more interested in different topics, and how we can break some of the old time expectations of an academic or a researcher.

Franck Marchis is a SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) senior planetary astronomer and chair of the exoplanet group at the Carl Sagan Center of the SETI Institute. Prior to this, his work has involved the discovery and characterisation of numerous asteroids, study of the volcanism on Io (one of Jupiter's moons) and the enhancement of adaptive optics. He is also the co-founder of Unistellar, a company that develops extremely high quality telescopes. To find out more, visit http://franckmarchis.com/ or https://unistellaroptics.com/. "We are a young technological intelligent civilization and we are like teenagers. We've only recently learned what we can do and how great life can be." To start off today, Konner and Franck chat about his origins, his studies of Io, the aversion of physical activity within academia, as well as the importance of branching out into other fields and travel for all of us. But around 30 minutes in, the guys begin talking about what all good discussions around astronomy eventually get to, which is aliens. They discuss some actual SETI findings, such as the staggering number of planets out there that could be harbouring life. We talk about the philosophy of alien life, how that might affect humanity, and finally, what it could be like if humanity became a space faring civilization.

Rob is the founder of McDojo Life, broadcaster and a martial arts veteran with over 22 years experience across multiple disciplines. "Keeping Martial Arts Legit" Today, Konner and Rob chat the motivations behind McDojos, ranging from the thought process of the perpetrator themselves, to the cult like mentality that their followers seem to attain. Rob discusses how women's self defence classes are deceitful and downright hazardous, and why the mentality of ‘something is better than nothing' is not a wise choice in the world of combat. Lastly, the guys talk about the beauty of martial arts, what it can do for a person mentally, physically, spiritually, and how we can best teach and inform those who are interested in a journey within the world of self defence and combat disciplines.

Dan Falk is the author of The Science of Shakespeare which delves into the history of science's relationship with Shakespeare's work. He is also a broadcaster and science journalist whose writing credits include Scientific American, New Scientist, Smithsonian, NBC, The LA Times, the Boston Globe, Sky News and Nature, just to name a few. For more information about Dan, his ‘Book Lab' podcast, or his published works, check him out on Twitter (@DanFalk) or at danfalk.ca. "It is so often the case in science that first you have an argument, then people call you crazy, and then eventually it just becomes the established truth." Today, Konner and Dan discuss a lot about his latest book, The Science of Shakespeare, which examines how Shakespeare's work was influenced by the science of his time. As well as how other great writers were altered by the science of their time too, like Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, for example. They discuss greatness and whether it comes from the time you were born, or something else. Lastly, the guys chat about why we all should get out of our comfort zones a little, by crossing into other subject matters, whether it be scientific or artistic, and how that might benefit us.

Hunter Farris is a musician who analyzes the music psychology behind why we like the songs we like, how sounds can produce emotions, as well as the actual science of how this happens. His podcast Song Appeal works to uncover some of the secrets behind famous hits and can be found wherever you listen to your podcasts, or at http://songappealofficial.com/. "If there is a formula for pop music, people don't want to do it. They want to consider their work an art and a craft" On today's episode, Konner and Hunter discuss soundtracks in movies and how it works to guide and mould the way you feel. Hunter goes through a few examples of how composers make you feel certain things, such as stress and sadness. Hunter also schools Konner on why the idea of "algorithms" making successful pop music might not be so accurate. 

Saul Goode is an artist and rapper from the international hip hop duo, Part Time Cooks, and Kelly Brassbridge is host of Korea's best podcast, Nothing's Really Real, about the world of art, music, comedy, and anything else (check them out on social media or http://www.parttimecooks.com/ and https://soundcloud.com/nothingsreallyreal). With two guests hugely embedded in the world of music, we talk about artists, performance, the feelings from songs, and the world of music in general. We chat about our pasts, presents and possible futures, about the balance between humour and support for your friends. But truthfully, we drink a lot of Korean sake, delicious beers, and basically ride the podcast out, letting it dissolve into chaos and disorder. Lastly, Saul Goode and Part Time Cooks are an incredible rap group. So stay tuned to the end of the podcas to hear their song ‘Sacrifices', called 'On The Way'. So keep listening after the episode ends to hear that. Not only that, Kelly's podcast Nothing's Really Real has a huge backlog of episodes with great comedians, great musicians and great stories. Check it out wherever you listen to your podcasts. 

Colin Marshall is a Seoul-based essayist, Free-lance Korean correspondent for the western world, broadcaster, and public speaker, working on cities, language, and culture. He has written for a number of publications such as the guardian, open culture and the times literary supplement. Check out http://blog.colinmarshall.org/ for his work. “‘Han' seems to me to be an anger that personally emerges or is barely controllable, an anger or a sadness combined” And today, Colin talks a lot about identity and where a person finds themselves fitting into this complex mesh that we call culture - especially those that have backgrounds from a number of different countries - or who have themselves moved to another country and became an expat. Konner and Colin discuss Korean culture and the direction in which it is moving. They talk travel, and the importance of the concept of ‘there is no light without the darkness'. Finally, Colin chat about some of the darker elements of cultural and human nature. Concepts like finding the grass that is greener on the other side, or jealousy, or drive, or the burning desire to be better than other people.

Alan Duffy is an Astronomer investigating Dark Matter, Lead Scientist of RiAus (Royal Institution of Australia) and a Science Communicator. "There's a worldview changing nature to Astronomy that I think is compelling." On today's episode, Alan discusses a number of mind-boggling cosmological facts, as well as what is required in terms of infrastructure for researchers to detect and understand the mystery of Dark Matter and Dark Energy. Konner and Alan also discuss how looking up at the stars is beneficial and good for the soul, and talk about the overall path and goal of scientific discovery. Lastly on a more serious note, Alan shares some of his opinions and ideals about how to effectively communicate science as a means of getting facts and reality into parliament and legislation to hopefully effect positive change.

Joe McPherson is a Food Writer and Korean Cuisine Consultant who works out of Seoul, South Korea, and operates Korea's longest running food blog, ZenKimChi. He has consulted for the likes of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown and Bizarre foods with Andrew Zimmern, while his work has been sourced and featured in publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and many more. For his work or for upcoming food tour dates, take a look at zenkimchi.com. "Something serious is happening. We are in a Golden Age in South Korea". On this episode of the podcast, Konner and Joe discuss the history, complexities and importance of Korean food in Asia and on the world stage. Joe tells of some of the behind the scenes moments in a few the western shows he has consulted for, such as Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown and Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre Foods. They also talk about the success of these shows, and how food is a window into different cultures across the world. Joe also talks about his secrets for Korean food etiquette as well as the different Korean foods everyone should try. Finally, the guys discuss smelly cheese, strong flavours and the personality of chefs.

Parkers and Daly are hosts of their own Comedy Podcast, "The Campfire with Parkers and Daly". Check them out at www.thecampfirewithparkersanddaly.com/podcast/ or on Social Media. On today's episode, Konner joins Parkers and Daly around their proverbial campfire for a banter filled hour and a half where they discuss fear of flying, sex toys, tattoos, hunting, survival, Bear Grylls, cannibalism, masturbation, the end of the world and a stack of other stuff.

Marty/Queenie is a drag performer and stand-up comedian who performs out of the Rabbit Hole in Seoul, South Korea. “For me, drag is like a superhero costume. I feel that I can get away with so much more and be more filthy, disgusting and offensive.”  In today's episode, Marty discusses the unconventional path he has followed that began with his career in the medical industry in the US, that then led to becoming a comedian and drag queen all the way in Seoul, South Korea. Konner quizzes Marty on the comedy scene as well as some of the motivations and reasons for a person that gets into the world of drag.  Finally, Konner and Marty discuss the importance of emotional outlets and staying mentally healthy, the relationship between make up and gender and how sexuality plays such a strong role in where you are placed within family structures and in society.

Konner sits down to discuss gambling industry related statistics, causes and ramifications.

Julia Cockram is a campaigner for Greyhound Welfare, a Gambling Industry critic and operates as the Behavior Coordinator within the organisation 'Gumtree Greys', a not-for-profit group whose work attempts to rescue and re-home Greyhounds rejected from the industry. For more information about adoption or their cause, go to https://www.gumtreegreys.com.au/. "Who gambles? It's the people that can't afford to do it. Promoting Greyhound Racing is morally reprehensible". In this episode of the podcast, Julia discusses the realities surrounding the Greyhound Racing Industry, exposing some of the facts that are often hidden behind closed doors. She talks about some of the cruelty these animals are subjected to, explaining how the laws do not protect Greyhounds in the same way they do for other animals. Julia also explores the role corruption has to play in the gambling system, coming in the form of altered and hidden statistics that attempt to shelter the truths of the sport, in-turn protecting the large amount of tax revenue that gambling produces. Finally, Konner and Julia chat about gambling as a whole. Specifically, who is at risk, some of the potentially negative ramifications of gambling addiction, as well as things that can be done to alter the state of the industry.

PT Hirschfield is an Oceanographer, Diver and Award-Winning Underwater Photographer whose Work has been Featured on National Geographic, The Dodo and BBC's Blue Planet. Check out her work at pinktankscuba.com. "None of us know how many days or how many years we have. But we all have today". In today's episode of the podcast, PT Hirschfield discusses her many conservation projects as well as some of her knowledge and opinions on the issues facing our oceans today; such as shark-finning and over-fishing. Konner and PT also reflect on the importance of apex predators within our oceans and how sharks are perceived by people, as well as the potentially unjustified negative image that the media depicts of them. Finally, PT discusses the transformative relationship she has with the ocean, as she herself was diagnosed with terminal endometrial cancer and being underwater has been a vital source of healing and treatment for her. Not only that, she talks about how the oceans have taught her realities in nature's relationship with life and death and how this knowledge could be used by every one of us.

Torty McManus is a Jiu Jitsu practitioner, advocate for drug reform and host of the Herbalized Podcast. Check out the podcast at https://soundcloud.com/herbalized, or on iTunes. "You don't even have to speak the same language, once you've got Jiu Jitsu in common, you're brothers". Torty McManus is a Jiu Jitsu practitioner, advocate for drug reform and host of the Herbalized Podcast. In today's episode of the podcast, Konner and Torty talk on a shared passion: the grappling sport of Jiu Jitsu. They discuss Torty's travels through the Jiu Jitsu Meccas of Southern California and Brazil. They also discuss some of the major factors in Jiu Jitsu that plays a big role in everyone's life, concepts like motivation, discipline, exercise and how that affects mental health. Finally, Torty talks on his topic of drug reform within Australia and the rest of the world. He discusses the relationship between the UN, conservatism and the royal family and what roles they will play in the alteration of drug related laws.

Mark Spencer is a Climate Change activist and host of the "Climactic" podcast. The podcast can be found at www.climactic.fm, as well as on iTunes and social media. "If things go on with our climate; business as usual, by even a couple more decades, we are going to start fighting over resources because there won't be enough for us". In today's podcast, Konner and Mark explore some of the ties between our current climate woes and how climate change has played a major factor in extinctions throughout history. They also deliberate on whether or not society truly can mobilize as one to combat climate change. Not only that, Mark also discusses how concepts like human nature and politics effect climate related progress. To learn more about Climate Change or to gain some insight on ways you can help, check out the Climactic Podcast at www.climactic.fm, on iTunes or on social media.

Dean Wright is a Neuroscientist, Therapist and one of the founding members of the Australian Psychedelic Society which advocates for the medicinal and therapeutic usage of psychedelic drugs. "We as a society could progress so much if we listened to the fringe a little bit more". In this episode of the podcast, Dean discusses some of the research surrounding psychedelics, showing that these drugs could be safer and far more effective than current mental health treatments. Not only that, we discuss some of the bumpy history of psychedelic medication and why the war on drugs might have created some unfounded misconceptions. Finally, Konner and Dean touched on what addiction is, how drugs should be viewed legally and reflected on the fact that mental health treatment could be very different today if research on psychedelics had not have been halted a few decades ago.

Ryan Collingwood is a South African born IT and Data nerd who has a passion for tech and has been involved in a variety of projects across his career. “Those mythologies and values that we grew up with and that society has been growing up with for a long time; maybe we are outgrowing them a lot quicker than we would like to admit." Ryan Collingwood is a South African born IT and Data nerd who has been involved in a variety of projects across his career. In this episode of the podcast, Ryan visits for the second time to provide an update on the Facebook data scandal to see what changes have been made as a result. Konner and Ryan also discuss the new EU data regulations and reflect on how these new data heavy technologies will force us to confront a new 'normality'. Finally, they touched on the abortion referendum in Ireland and how this contentious issue sheds light on humanity's complex relationship with death and suffering.

Simon Goode is an Astrophysics researcher who investigates unexplored data to better understand how galaxy clusters group together within the cosmic web. "The important thing about being a good human, is just to 'think'. And it sounds so obvious and simple. But when you think about it, we don't really do it enough" Simon Goode is an Astrophysics researcher who looks at unexplored data that exists between large scale structures in the universe in hope of better understanding how galaxy clusters group together within the cosmic web. In this episode of the podcast, Simon briefly explains his research, as well as other concepts in physics such as the sheer scale of the universe and the changing psychology of the human race relating to life on other planets. Konner also questioned why it is that humans do look up at the stars and ask questions like 'why' and 'how'. But mainly, Konner and Simon discussed morality surrounding influential topics like corporations, universal basic income and the ability of humans to do evil.

Hannah English is a skin-care junky with a background in pharmaceutical science who commits herself to uncovering the hard science behind cosmetics. "I think being protective of yourself and the space you've carved out; as well as your energy, is important". Hannah English (On Instagram at ms_hannah_e) is a skin-care junky with a background in pharmaceutical science who commits herself to uncovering the hard science behind cosmetics in an effort to separate fact from fiction regarding effectiveness and possible side effects of products on the market. In this episode of the podcast, Hannah discusses legitimacy and some potential exploitation from individuals on Instagram, as well as why make up and identity are concepts that go hand in hand and are here to stay in society. Finally, Konner and Hannah discuss the efficacy, as well as the issues associated with the various types of birth control available on the market.

Sara Webb is an Astrophysics researcher who is part of the deeper, wider, faster astronomy program which searches for the coolest, fastest and most unknown events in the universe. “The cool thing about the universe is that all of the energy that existed at the beginning just continues through to the end. It's transformed into energy, back into matter. It's this ever flowing beautiful thing” In episode 3 of The Blunt Report, Konner speaks with the Astrophysics researcher, Sara Webb, who is part of the deeper, wider, faster astronomy program. She explains the significance of this program in which they search for the coolest, fastest and most unknown events in the universe. Sara also touches on a few heavier topics like death and religion, discussing what incredible physics is involved in these things, in an attempt to show that science isn't cold and loveless like a lot of people think.

Deng Akuei is a Sudanese-Australian health and fitness enthusiast who has a background in exercise science; specialising in human movement and anatomy. "In order for you to not get lost, you need to remember your identity and where you came from" In episode number 2 of The Blunt Report, Konner speaks with the Sudanese-Australian health and fitness enthusiast, Deng Akuei. With Deng's background in exercise science, he discusses some of his health and exercise philosophies; ranging from why you should be eating more fat, to the importance of where the source of your motivation is in training. Deng was also born in Sudan and migrated to Australia as a child during the civil war period, so he provided some incredible personal stories as well as his own insights on what he thinks is being done well and being done terribly for those people who are currently migrating to western countries.

Ryan Collingwood is a South African born IT and Data nerd who has been involved in a variety of projects across his career. "Education is the slow solution, but I honestly think it is the one that sticks". In this very first episode of The Blunt Report, Konner speaks with the South African born IT and Data nerd Ryan Collingwood where he describes in laymen's terms the Facebook data scandal, as well as what that means for companies like Facebook and Amazon that aim to utilise massive amounts of our data. They also touched on Ryan's experiences and views on the evolution of South Africa during the removal of institutionalised racism that was condoned during the apartheid era.