I was decorating yesterday so listened to a few of your episodes that I hadn't gotten around to. Usually I listen to them as they come out so it was really interesting feeling out all the connections between them (Ian, Gaya, Gladys, Clancy and Tyson - it was a lot of decorating!)
And after reading this post today, the beautiful questions I'm curious about are 'do we even want to survive?' and 'is all of this an act of global self sabotage?'. When I listen to people like Gladys or read accounts of the 30s/40s, an overwhelming desire to survive comes across. Do we have to face the worst situations, personally/up close, in order to see the bigger picture, feel an overwhelming need to act and understand that we must all work together to make it through? Maybe that's too much to ask of humans in such a competition driven society. Would we prefer to lose it all than to check our egos?
Great question. We often have to face death to fully live. I think we will have to get up super close to our potential death before we'll come online. Ppl like us asking these questions now can get onto this stuff early though. I'm at a conference right now discussing this -Pro-social prepping. Stay tuned for an upcoming pod on it all
Vote cast! I wished more of us listened to things like your Wild podcast. About important topics that widen our brains and horizons and get us to think about things (with curiosity!) - fingers crossed.
Really enjoyed the rest of your substack too.
Re Burning Man, I read an excellent piece on Narratively from someone who was there, really insightful. Especially how there's the leave no trace rule and yet people just wanted to get out of there, they left their cars and RV's stranded, it could be someone else's problem to get them out :(
Also, I went to the Santos gas protest in Sydney yesterday. There were a few hundred people there. People were honking their horns at us because the traffic hold up was inconveniencing them. I thought, I'm also inconvenienced, I also have other places to be today, rather than protesting yet another new fossil fuel project.
A student from Western Sydney asked me to fill out a form on why I attended and one of the questions was 'what was I feeling?' I chose:
- Proud: because I'm glad I showed up, that it helps me sleep at night and that I can say to kids and people that I actually try. Rather than just complain about the heat, fires etc, I take action. I walk the walk.
- Empowered: because it's my democratic right to protest, especially with new anti-protest laws.
- Worried: because sadly I felt like it's probably not going to change anything because not enough people came. Ironically this is was all happening as Sydney was shrouded in smoke from back burning so it will only be much worse from raging bushfires. What we were protesting (fossil fuels, climate change etc) was the thing that causes such a grave risk for bushfires, yet so few showed up :(
Thanks Sarah. I personally think it's cool to give a shit about the world and the planet and take action. That's the type of person I rate. Maybe it's just the circles I'm part of, whose reaction to such things are #snooze and 'well, don't get arrested.' I feel like a total outlier and not someone who is bringing sexy back to protesting lol But oh well, I'll keep trucking on!
Sarah, do you have any other previous posts on the Australian private schools issue? I would be very interested to read, it’s a curious topic for me currently!
I think I've made passing reference. But David Gillespie wrote a book about it - he has 6 kids and wanted to fully investigate the worth. It is a few years old now, but I think he still shares info on it on Twitter
I’m an American who lived in the UK (albeit Scotland which I think has a whole different vibe than England), and it was so eye opening to see my home country through the lens of the people I met there. It made me notice all sorts of things I’d never considered before, and made for quite a disillusioned return to the US a few years later. Still reckoning with living in the US and seeing it in this new, more honest light!
This happened to me as an Australian who moved to the US 20 years ago and also spent time in the UK. I've always thought we were a pretty good egg in the world standings but my American husband (who will happily admit his own country's growing list of errors and has lived in Australia) played devil's advocate on a number of social/political issues over the years that have helped me to see how good we have it in some respects but in others where we are tending to turn a blind eye. I don't see any place as having it all with all the right answers but there are still too many (Oz and US) who believe they are in the greatest country on earth and that probably needs to change if we are going to create a global response to the current issues facing the world.
Totally agree: Continuing to say we’re the greatest country (whatever country we’re claiming) prevents us from addressing the problems. We get to say ‘sure, that’s a problem, but we’re the greatest country in the world, so we must being doing things right!’ It’s a fragile place to be, prone to defensiveness rather than honesty
Your thoughts about 'why would anyone live in the UK' really press directly on a sore point, as someone who feels this intensely but has also lost the freedom of movement they once had. Visas are possible to obtain for European countries but they're not easy or guaranteed. Just one of the many acute senses of loss in the UK post-Brexit years. (Maybe a gloomy take, but I don't think I'm alone in this!)
After violently colonizing the rest of the world, they've now effectively colonized themselves, taken back control of their people and lands. They felt like they were being taken for granted by the EU but there must be so much cognitive dissonance there as they were the OG colonizer who took advantage of our people and lands. Its very difficult to feel that you are the victim and the perpetrator at the same time. If you've got any critical thinking skills at all, you are confused and conflicted as a citizen. The tight upper lip has served people well until now. It made for a strong and resilient people during world war 2. It has allowed England in particular ignore the shame, guilt and grief of the wrongdoings in the past. But now, it's like an open wound because the people voted to be colonized, by themselves. Its so intriguing. Lots of great stuff in here https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17449855.2020.1818440
I don't know what's next but would suggest a dedicated pause for reflection and maybe some group therapy. I feel for the people because it must be difficult to feel grounded within all of this.
I'm Irish so just reporting on what I'm seeing and sensing and fully acknowledge my potential biases.
I think the most disappointing outcome on Oct 15 will be the realisation of how the Gov & yes campaign completely misunderstood the concerns of the no vote & broadly showed apathy towards wanting to understand. In point form:
- The vote is a bundle of two components - constitution recognition AND the voice. Most no voters would vote yes to recognition but alas they can't.
- Not one yes campaigner has been able to answer what they think would change. Not what the voice is, or how it would work or the mechanics. Most people get this. For example, I have asked numerous people & even talk back radio to provide one example of a concern/change/outcome/action etc they think we may hear/learn from the voice that we don't already know. Not one person has suggested anything.
- Leads to the fact most no voters see the indigenous challenges as Government incompetence & an execution problem - not a lack of knowledge or being heard.
Case in point the ineptness of this campaign and providing a referendum with two questions.
We could at least have constitutional recognition - something the majority do believe in.
Hi Grant, I appreciate your points, particularly because I do think they reflect a broader confusion (which is your point). The thing about a constitutional change - it enables a govt to take things from there. It enables. It doesn't dictate. I'd also add - very competent reps of Indigenous community have thrashed this out for a long time, drawing on studies from OS that show that when First Nations People advise on matters affecting them, they get much better outcomes, and they are asking the Aust people to do this...why not say yes? Why not trust they might know more than us on this matter? Why not trust that they would not go to so much trouble unless it was so vitally important?
Regarding the two points - the main point is the Voice (and this requires the recognition).
Glad you come from a place of experience having worked in these communities. I too have heard from others deeply involved in similar work expressing the same concerns.
Sadly it's another example of a much needed conversation that's easily hijacked by the race & political argument and void of the challenging, uncomfortable truths needed to find solutions.
One uncomfortable truth is the virtual signalling from many yes campaigners who will vilify no voters come the 15th instead of the people and orgs you mentions & acknowledge the woke policies making people feel good but in fact perpetuate the declining life metrics of the indigenous people.
Noel won't always be the loudest "voice" in all this. And I think a constitutionally recognised Voice will best ensure the problems you refer to (and I'm aware of them) are avoided.
Hi Sarah - a bit late to commenting here, but just to add:
Private schools: I might be wrong here but it seems like most private schools in Australia receive government funding? This is NOT the case in the US. I've worked with the independent school system here in a previous career and while they are not crying poor they're also on their own when it comes to raising money for building projects, scholarships, professional development, etc. I wish this were the case in Australia. The private school system needs a wake up and their money should be going to fund other public schools. Trust me - many have an adequate alumni system to tap into.
American exceptionalism: married to an American and living in the US for the last twenty years. I have to say it has become worse and their whole concept of nationalism while everything is going downhill (politics! Health care! Being woke! Not being woke enough! Social media! The Economy!) just makes me cringe. With the upcoming election (and one in the UK next year) I am nervous and also curious to see how this all plays out. It's not all bad but the bad bits are taking over more and more :(
The UK: in the past five years I have lost count of the number of times I have said that I am glad my (British) father and grandparents and other older family members are not alive. The ONLY reason being that they would just be utterly appalled at the state of things now across the board. Especially my grandmother. And I miss my dad terribly - he would 100% have the right words to say to keep things perspective while also providing some thoughtful responses to discuss.
I was decorating yesterday so listened to a few of your episodes that I hadn't gotten around to. Usually I listen to them as they come out so it was really interesting feeling out all the connections between them (Ian, Gaya, Gladys, Clancy and Tyson - it was a lot of decorating!)
And after reading this post today, the beautiful questions I'm curious about are 'do we even want to survive?' and 'is all of this an act of global self sabotage?'. When I listen to people like Gladys or read accounts of the 30s/40s, an overwhelming desire to survive comes across. Do we have to face the worst situations, personally/up close, in order to see the bigger picture, feel an overwhelming need to act and understand that we must all work together to make it through? Maybe that's too much to ask of humans in such a competition driven society. Would we prefer to lose it all than to check our egos?
Its baffles me... Help 🫠
Great question. We often have to face death to fully live. I think we will have to get up super close to our potential death before we'll come online. Ppl like us asking these questions now can get onto this stuff early though. I'm at a conference right now discussing this -Pro-social prepping. Stay tuned for an upcoming pod on it all
Looking forward to hearing about it all!
Vote cast! I wished more of us listened to things like your Wild podcast. About important topics that widen our brains and horizons and get us to think about things (with curiosity!) - fingers crossed.
Really enjoyed the rest of your substack too.
Re Burning Man, I read an excellent piece on Narratively from someone who was there, really insightful. Especially how there's the leave no trace rule and yet people just wanted to get out of there, they left their cars and RV's stranded, it could be someone else's problem to get them out :(
Also, I went to the Santos gas protest in Sydney yesterday. There were a few hundred people there. People were honking their horns at us because the traffic hold up was inconveniencing them. I thought, I'm also inconvenienced, I also have other places to be today, rather than protesting yet another new fossil fuel project.
A student from Western Sydney asked me to fill out a form on why I attended and one of the questions was 'what was I feeling?' I chose:
- Proud: because I'm glad I showed up, that it helps me sleep at night and that I can say to kids and people that I actually try. Rather than just complain about the heat, fires etc, I take action. I walk the walk.
- Empowered: because it's my democratic right to protest, especially with new anti-protest laws.
- Worried: because sadly I felt like it's probably not going to change anything because not enough people came. Ironically this is was all happening as Sydney was shrouded in smoke from back burning so it will only be much worse from raging bushfires. What we were protesting (fossil fuels, climate change etc) was the thing that causes such a grave risk for bushfires, yet so few showed up :(
You should be proud of yourself! And empowered.
And this is the vibe we need to keep promoting...change happens when we make the new way sexier than the status quo
Thanks Sarah. I personally think it's cool to give a shit about the world and the planet and take action. That's the type of person I rate. Maybe it's just the circles I'm part of, whose reaction to such things are #snooze and 'well, don't get arrested.' I feel like a total outlier and not someone who is bringing sexy back to protesting lol But oh well, I'll keep trucking on!
You're in good company in this space!!
Vote for Sarah #WILD ✅
What's the election Pez?
Sarah, do you have any other previous posts on the Australian private schools issue? I would be very interested to read, it’s a curious topic for me currently!
I think I've made passing reference. But David Gillespie wrote a book about it - he has 6 kids and wanted to fully investigate the worth. It is a few years old now, but I think he still shares info on it on Twitter
Thank you for taking the time to respond. I’ll definitely look at his work.
It was voting for your WILD Podcast 🙂
of course! thank you
I’m an American who lived in the UK (albeit Scotland which I think has a whole different vibe than England), and it was so eye opening to see my home country through the lens of the people I met there. It made me notice all sorts of things I’d never considered before, and made for quite a disillusioned return to the US a few years later. Still reckoning with living in the US and seeing it in this new, more honest light!
This happened to me as an Australian who moved to the US 20 years ago and also spent time in the UK. I've always thought we were a pretty good egg in the world standings but my American husband (who will happily admit his own country's growing list of errors and has lived in Australia) played devil's advocate on a number of social/political issues over the years that have helped me to see how good we have it in some respects but in others where we are tending to turn a blind eye. I don't see any place as having it all with all the right answers but there are still too many (Oz and US) who believe they are in the greatest country on earth and that probably needs to change if we are going to create a global response to the current issues facing the world.
Totally agree: Continuing to say we’re the greatest country (whatever country we’re claiming) prevents us from addressing the problems. We get to say ‘sure, that’s a problem, but we’re the greatest country in the world, so we must being doing things right!’ It’s a fragile place to be, prone to defensiveness rather than honesty
Defensiveness rather than honesty - such a great description!!
Your thoughts about 'why would anyone live in the UK' really press directly on a sore point, as someone who feels this intensely but has also lost the freedom of movement they once had. Visas are possible to obtain for European countries but they're not easy or guaranteed. Just one of the many acute senses of loss in the UK post-Brexit years. (Maybe a gloomy take, but I don't think I'm alone in this!)
That sense of loss and grief in the UK is palpable. Feels like it's stuck in a holding pattern between the past and the future.
I'm hearing you both. Very much what I'm picking up on...a palpable sadness and lostness. Where to now for the UK?
After violently colonizing the rest of the world, they've now effectively colonized themselves, taken back control of their people and lands. They felt like they were being taken for granted by the EU but there must be so much cognitive dissonance there as they were the OG colonizer who took advantage of our people and lands. Its very difficult to feel that you are the victim and the perpetrator at the same time. If you've got any critical thinking skills at all, you are confused and conflicted as a citizen. The tight upper lip has served people well until now. It made for a strong and resilient people during world war 2. It has allowed England in particular ignore the shame, guilt and grief of the wrongdoings in the past. But now, it's like an open wound because the people voted to be colonized, by themselves. Its so intriguing. Lots of great stuff in here https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17449855.2020.1818440
I don't know what's next but would suggest a dedicated pause for reflection and maybe some group therapy. I feel for the people because it must be difficult to feel grounded within all of this.
I'm Irish so just reporting on what I'm seeing and sensing and fully acknowledge my potential biases.
I think the most disappointing outcome on Oct 15 will be the realisation of how the Gov & yes campaign completely misunderstood the concerns of the no vote & broadly showed apathy towards wanting to understand. In point form:
- The vote is a bundle of two components - constitution recognition AND the voice. Most no voters would vote yes to recognition but alas they can't.
- Not one yes campaigner has been able to answer what they think would change. Not what the voice is, or how it would work or the mechanics. Most people get this. For example, I have asked numerous people & even talk back radio to provide one example of a concern/change/outcome/action etc they think we may hear/learn from the voice that we don't already know. Not one person has suggested anything.
- Leads to the fact most no voters see the indigenous challenges as Government incompetence & an execution problem - not a lack of knowledge or being heard.
Case in point the ineptness of this campaign and providing a referendum with two questions.
We could at least have constitutional recognition - something the majority do believe in.
Hi Grant, I appreciate your points, particularly because I do think they reflect a broader confusion (which is your point). The thing about a constitutional change - it enables a govt to take things from there. It enables. It doesn't dictate. I'd also add - very competent reps of Indigenous community have thrashed this out for a long time, drawing on studies from OS that show that when First Nations People advise on matters affecting them, they get much better outcomes, and they are asking the Aust people to do this...why not say yes? Why not trust they might know more than us on this matter? Why not trust that they would not go to so much trouble unless it was so vitally important?
Regarding the two points - the main point is the Voice (and this requires the recognition).
Glad you come from a place of experience having worked in these communities. I too have heard from others deeply involved in similar work expressing the same concerns.
Sadly it's another example of a much needed conversation that's easily hijacked by the race & political argument and void of the challenging, uncomfortable truths needed to find solutions.
One uncomfortable truth is the virtual signalling from many yes campaigners who will vilify no voters come the 15th instead of the people and orgs you mentions & acknowledge the woke policies making people feel good but in fact perpetuate the declining life metrics of the indigenous people.
As I say below...Yes, and...
Let's not let one or two examples ruin the broader message.
This conversation is very valid and needs to happen. But doesn't contradict the validity of the Voice
Noel won't always be the loudest "voice" in all this. And I think a constitutionally recognised Voice will best ensure the problems you refer to (and I'm aware of them) are avoided.
Just voted WILD again for the Australian Podcast Awards. I'd like to see you win Sarah X
I just wanna hide under coats 🤦♀️
but don't! let's live as we want to, create the new identities!
Hi Sarah - a bit late to commenting here, but just to add:
Private schools: I might be wrong here but it seems like most private schools in Australia receive government funding? This is NOT the case in the US. I've worked with the independent school system here in a previous career and while they are not crying poor they're also on their own when it comes to raising money for building projects, scholarships, professional development, etc. I wish this were the case in Australia. The private school system needs a wake up and their money should be going to fund other public schools. Trust me - many have an adequate alumni system to tap into.
American exceptionalism: married to an American and living in the US for the last twenty years. I have to say it has become worse and their whole concept of nationalism while everything is going downhill (politics! Health care! Being woke! Not being woke enough! Social media! The Economy!) just makes me cringe. With the upcoming election (and one in the UK next year) I am nervous and also curious to see how this all plays out. It's not all bad but the bad bits are taking over more and more :(
The UK: in the past five years I have lost count of the number of times I have said that I am glad my (British) father and grandparents and other older family members are not alive. The ONLY reason being that they would just be utterly appalled at the state of things now across the board. Especially my grandmother. And I miss my dad terribly - he would 100% have the right words to say to keep things perspective while also providing some thoughtful responses to discuss.