Talking Orangutans Podcast Talking Orangutans Podcast

Episode #54 Davey Du Plessis|English| Veganism, surviving & seeing life from a different perspective  How did this podcast happen? One, I did a podcast with a 50-year old gay Afrikaans recovering addict called Freddie (ep #4) whom now is one of my best friends. A year later I asked all my former podcast guests to hook me up with someone interesting. Freddie introduced me to Chris Barnard Hospital's trauma surgeon Dr Denis (ep #33). Denis in turn got me in touch with trauma counselor Robyn (ep #48) who in turn introduced me to her son Davey (ep#54).   Davey was, and still is, a young adventurer whom in 2012 during his solo crossing of the Amazon river was ambushed on his kayak and shot 5 times. Through a sequence of events he survived and continued his life as a adventurer. Check him out at http://www.daveyduplessis.com/  As an interviewer, I want to make the make the conversation with the guests as stimulating as possible not only for the listener but also the interviewee. A lot of times this means to step away from previous asked questions and to try and find a different side to the person by asking them things they have not yet been asked in order to gain experience from their whole being in a way where they enjoy talking. To hear about Davey's horrendous Amazon experience, please  read his book http://www.daveyduplessis.com/buy-the-book/ watch his seminar on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7Oztg_F9AU or listen to other podcasts such as WORDS WORDS SPEAK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpegF5xkr-g.   I went more into what makes him tick, how nature and nurture played roles in his mentality, and, how veganism changed his life and what we non-vegans can consider. Luckily at the end he acknowledged the refreshing approach which is a high-note for me to finish my podcast while I immigrate and consider if I want to continue. Davey was a tough nut to crack and by the second half we really got going and talked long after the podcast finished. I am very grateful for him meeting me - a complete stranger and someone he didn't know until our Skype session started on this evening - and sharing his life experience very honestly. I learned a lot from his thoughts and although not converting me, he actually made me appreciate a new perspective to life i.e. veganism.

TO PODCAST #53 Derrick Jensen |English| Author, Philosopher & Radical Environmentalist.

How did I get to have this chat? I asked my friend and fellow podcaster Freddie Van Rensburg (Meet me in the Field podcast) to hook me up with people whom I will have a nice chat. He referred me to Dr. Denis (Ep#33). Denis hooked me up with trauma counselor Robyn (Ep#48) whom in turn hooked me up with Derrick.    When I researched Derrick, this is what his website said: Derrick Jensen is hailed as the philosopher poet of the environmental movement. Learn about Deep Green Resistance & his other anti-civilization works. https://derrickjensen.org/  I was instantly intrigued. This podcast, and its the research that went into prepping it, helped me to start thinking about life and the way we interact with it in a different way. If you are like me and not 100% sure you are living the way you should or could, take a listen to not only this podcast but many of the others that Derrick has done (other podcasters) and is doing (Resistance Radio) https://deepgreenresistance.blogspot.com/p/derrick-jensen-resistance-radio-archives.html

Ep #52 Truchen Vorndran |Afrikaans| Teaching English in Korea   

As jy 'n onderwyser in Korea was, is dit maybe 'n walk down memory lane vir jou. As jy 'n onderwyser in Korea wil wees, is dit maybe 'n insightful chat oor wat om te verwag.   



Ek en Truchen het klomp jare terug saam gewerk en gereeld na werk lang stories gesels oor die lewe wat ek baie van gehou het. Deel van haar verlede waaroor sy baie passievol  praat is haar tyd in Korea as 'n Engelse onderwyseres. Sy het ook intussen in Vietnam as 'n Engelse onderwyseres gewerk en is huidiglik 'n voltydse skool onnie is SA ;)  



Hierdie podcast was om vir haar die volgende te vra: 1. Hoekom sy Korea toe gegaan het,  2. wat haar ondervinding was as 'n 'Westerner',  3. hoekom sy so baie van haar tyd daar gehou het,  4. wat van die Ooste lok haar en hoe compare ons onderwyssisteem met Korea, 5. Watter tipe aanpassing was dit? 6. Watter observasies kan sy maak van Korea en SA.   Ek love hoe Truchen meer level-headed as ek gesels en het dit vreeslik baie geniet. Ek hoop julle ook.

TO PODCAST #51 Willem Evenwel |Afrikaans| Programmer: What lessons did we not learn as kids?  



Ek ken vir Willem meer as 10 jaar. Ons het op dieselfde dorp groot geword en in dieselfde kringe beweeg. Op Stellenbosch gedurende die 2000s, was dit gewoonlik Mystics, Bohemia, trance parties, etc. Toe ek Willem bel vir 'n Covid catch-up tune hy my van sy idee van 'lesse wat ons nie as kinders geleer was nie wat ons sou help vir adulthood' bevoorbeeld hoe om 'n ordentlike CV te design. Ons chat het gegaan rondom hoe Suid-Afrika en die wereld verander het soos ons volwassenes geword het wat beteken die skool curriculums en ons ouers se waardes nie ons gehelp het nie, miskien teen ons werk.   



Willem werk as 'n Program Manager vir 'n internasionale firma, maak musiek in sy vrye tyd, is onlangs getroud met sy pragtige vrou, speel indoor krieket en is 'n mens wie sy lewe tot die beste van sy vermoë probeer leef met 'n sterk waardesisteem.

Guinness World Record Holder: Jason Lewis from England https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/first-individual-circumnavigation-of-the-globe-using-human-power/  http://www.jasonexplorer.com/ Jason Lewis is an English author, explorer and sustainability campaigner credited with being the first person to circumnavigate the globe by human power with Expedition 360. He is also the first person to cross North America on inline skates (1996), and the first to cross the Pacific Ocean by pedal power (2000). Together with Stevie Smith, Lewis completed the first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean from mainland Europe to North America by human power (1995).  He wrote 4 books about his journey which is available at: http://www.billyfishbooks.com/Books.html  OUR PODCAST It was a huge treat and great privilege to talk to Jason. Not only was the chat insightful into accomplishing goals, becoming sustainable and getting out of your comfort zone, the following days helped me gain a better perspective on my life and the editing of the video really helped with nailing home some massive life lessons. I hope you enjoy Jason's experience, sense of humor, passion, humility and determination as much as I did.   FOR A 17 MINUTE VIDEO ON WHAT AND HOW HE DID IT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7EbQ_mRSjg

My wife is Polish. We met in London where I lived and worked for 4 years. One of her best friends is Agnieszka whom I met when she and her boyfriend Daniel, now husband, came to South Africa on holiday many years ago. Aga's enthusiasm for life and people is infectious. This talk filled me with so much positive energy and I hope it will for you too!!  PODCAST topics: I met with Aga to talk about her experience of Africa,  how the volunteer work came about,  her thoughts about Africa and its people and culture.