It’s not all about the United States, Trump or Brexit. All states and governments are under pressure, from technology and ‘automation’ to a new generation bringing all new grievances. Are robots really going to wipe out our workforce? And, in a more connected world, are we actually becoming more isolated? Join economist Will Witheridge and I for a discussion on the trends shaping our current world.
Continue readingHey, dudes, back off: a defence of millennials
Arguing the case for millennials can be tough. But hard work, discipline and personal responsibility form part of the millennial ethos, even if it’s not easy to see. Check out my piece here.
Continue readingEpisode 12 – Renewable Energy with Lauren Timms
Renewable energy targets, power bills, nuclear power, Paris agreements and a ‘carbon constrained environment’. Join energy policy specialist Lauren Timms and I as we come at the energy discussion from different angles. I even manage to throw Adam Smith in there. Lauren Timms Lauren is an energy policy specialist with the Queensland Government, who came to the energy sector by way of an Arts degree majoring in international relations She started her career as a baby analyst and with a boutique consultancy firm in Vienna and specialising in European and North East Asian natural gas markets before moving into electricity. […]
Continue reading3.2 Lessons Learned On The Way To 32
Edging my way into my thirties I thought I’d reflect and share some of the lessons from my recent book Winners Don’t Cheat: Advice for young Australians from a young Australian (Connor Court Publishing, 2018). A slow start out of high school, and not being able to get into university after eleven attempts, certainly refined my appreciation for adversity. But I worked through my international relations degree and things began to turn around. I had gone from a very poor writer with virtually no skills or experience to working under three prime ministers at the Department of the Prime Minister […]
Continue readingA margin of skill at the right time can be all you need
Listening to a recent chat between Russ Roberts – host of Econtalk – and Ryan Holiday – bestselling author and stoic expert – I noticed a great career message for young people, echoing messages in my new book Winners Don’t Cheat. While the discussion focuses on Holiday’s new book Conspiracy, documenting the billionaire Peter Thiel’s long-run campaign to take down the sensationalist publication Gawker, there’s a brief exchange on the anonymous 26-year old who first approached Thiel about the idea. The youngster’s daring approach – basically pitching to a billionaire co-backer of Facebook – opens up a wider discussion on […]
Continue readingHow identity politics programs for failure
My first piece published in the Spectator, arguing that stronger individuals, self-agency and improving one’s self can clash with identity politics. Please enjoy the read.
Continue readingEpisode 11 – Could a Hawke, Keating or Howard survive today?
From social media to our need for 24 hour news, we know that the world has changed. But how would past leaders survive today? And do we put our current political leaders under so much pressure, despite being able to do only so much? Talking through these topics with me is professional economist William Witheridge and Whig Capital’s Jordan Shopov. A special thanks to Sam Muller for his help in producing this episode! Jordan’s point that institutions should be our focus, instead of leaders themselves, is inspired by a Nobel Lecture from the late James M. Buchanan: https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/economic-sciences/laureates/1986/buchanan-lecture.html And links […]
Continue readingEpisode 10 – Individuals, Resilience and Staying Safe
My interesting discussion with Stephen Foote on public safety and staying resilient in a complex world. Steve is a co-founder of the International Safer Institute at www.saferinstitute.org.au.
Continue readingEpisode 9 – Australian Exceptionalism with Professor David Flint
How unique is Australia’s past? From the rule of law to civil society, and from Australia’s first Governor to the slim prospects of the Australian Republican movement, Professor Flint and I look at the benefits of Australian history.
Continue readingEpisode 8 – This Bitcoin Thing?
Like most I don’t understand or really get Blockchain? Or is it Bitcoin? Join Jordan Shopov and I as we discuss (in basic terms) what it is, how it works and if the hype is all worth it.
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