Malleable Minds - Byron Drage Byron Drage

Topics discussed:


Introduction: Importance of the Voice to Parliament  
What is a Referendum and Democracy in Australia  
The Three Branches of Government: Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary  
The Need for Constitutional Laws: Role of the Constitution  
The Voice to Parliament: Definition and Objectives  
Closing the Gap: Well-being Outcomes for Indigenous Australians  
Previous Indigenous Representative Bodies and Their Impact  
Examining the Cost and Practicality of the Indigenous Advisory Body  
The Importance of Avoiding Veto Power  
The Uncertain Future: What Happens After the Referendum?  
The Emotional Compassion vs. Rational Consideration Debate  
Considering Alternatives to the Voice to Parliament  
Conclusion: Encouraging Informed and Balanced Discussions 

 

Reference list: 


Closing the Gap. (n.d.). National Agreement on Closing the Gap: Targets. Retrieved from https://www.closingthegap.gov.au/national-agreement/targets  
Uluru Statement from the Heart. (2017). Retrieved from https://ulurustatement.org/the-statement/view-the-statement/  
Parliamentary Library. (n.d.). Former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Representative Bodies. Retrieved from https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp2223/Quick_Guides/FormerAboriginalandTorresStraightIslanderRepresentativeBodies  
Voice.gov.au. (n.d.). Voice Principles. Retrieved from https://voice.gov.au/about-voice/voice-principles#voice-principle-2  
Institute of Public Affairs. (n.d.). The Voice: Daniel Wild at 23:00 Minutes. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dtZg0W2BNg  
Fremantle Shipping News. (2023). Getting the Voice: The Calma-Langton Report. Retrieved from https://fremantleshippingnews.com.au/2023/04/14/getting-the-voice-the-calma-langton-report/  
Sky News Australia. (n.d.). Budget Papers Reveal the $364.6 Million Cost of Delivering the Voice Referendum. Retrieved from https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/voice-to-parliament/budget-papers-reveal-the-3646-million-cost-of-delivering-the-voice-referendum/news-story/80a7550b3113a0ff07902cb6da6850e1  
John Anderson. (n.d.). The Voice: Four Myths at 10:47. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be8E9aagdls  
The Guardian. (2019). Marcia Langton and Tom Calma to Lead Indigenous Voice Advisory Group. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/oct/30/marcia-langton-and-tom-calma-to-lead-indigenous-voice-advisory-group

In the spirit of hip-hop, I’d like to kick off this podcast with a quick poem, a slick text, a brisk message for the man with a sixth sense for music.
I’ll never regret, befriending Henning, many, say they are attending to the world comprehending what is felt and accepting. But few have proof of it and Hoonstoff (Henning) is a true conceptual thinker with plentiful pieces to move off of.
His agenda as a genuine gentleman engenders a sense of exploration at the level of independence. This I’ve meant as a quintessential inner essence it's been a blessing to spend a minute mixing intersecting subjects together.

- Trips to Europe through a discographic tour of artists, Amsterdam and farther for scarcer samples to tear apart from producers who might as well wear a marker yelling “Here is not where is awesome”. We’re with, not them.

- Instead, a philosophical lens. There is, Hilltop Hoods, the clearest of em, myriad options mirrored off with serious contests; Jehst, bliss n eso, Kerser, Big-L, Slim, they’ll take the bid like you’re near an auction, and Chillinit not one - not quite.

As if Blackwood has a magic book in the back pocket for hip-hop prospect’s to latch onto and launch off of. Music and art is like a fifth element all relevant tools relished in full effort to get others to scratch being the best off their wish list. Like stellar mental entered the set, henning on decks definitely disciplined and then in respect to innate values, sending a message that you’ll compete with the rest without needing beat on your chest.

A great day for me, a mate with a frame to see the world as a nascent region. I couldn’t agree more.

I'll leave it with this. You won’t make it to the honour role if you’re not on a roll unless you’re Henning and you’ve got a role, working at the bakery.



Enjoy!

A very casual sitting last Saturday with my brother Callum discussing his upcoming first album launch. Callum has always been a loyal creative with a very eccentric view of the world. Through this, I've found exploring his conclusions to different questions fascinating as the methods he uses to reach them may differ from mine, though we unite more often than not.



His new album 'Lonely Heart' features a range of songs and genres that capture his journey over the past 5 years. We talk about how constructing an album is more than a random assortment of songs, but rather an embodied and perhaps self-intuitive narration of an overarching story. Whether this is verbal, melodic or instrumental Callum aims to express his views honestly and with intent, though never to be taken as absolute imperatives for others to blindly accept. He is, as I said, a creative, meaning in terms of psychological personality an individual comparatively high in openness to experience. This translates to all aspects of life, demonstrated by his responses to questions about encountering conflict with others.



With old-soul morals and a new-age enthusiasm, Callum is the one you want in your corner and in this case, in your updated playlist.



Thanks for everything bro!

Topics covered:

- The journey from undergraduate to honours and the pursuit of a PhD

- Questioning the substrate of reality (materialism vs cosmic consciousness in the Aboriginal spiritual tradition)

- Stages of sleep

- The difference between sleep apnea and insomnia

- Brain waves and synchronicities

- The value of not taking yourself too seriously



I have known Josh for over a decade now and though we have never shared the closest of circles, he has always been a person with whom I have felt a great deal of respect. Josh carries with him a curious and compassionate aura that offers others in the conversation a feeling of comfort and a sense of being heard. With a dynamic conversational style, Josh has the ability to listen carefully during sensitive topics while maintaining a strong understanding and ability for contextually appropriate humour. During all our conversations I feel a sense of aspiration towards his capacity for calmness and consideration, while at the same time a sense of encouragement to share my thoughts without fear of judgement. Though only touching the surface of Josh's humble storage of knowledge, I have left the conversation with a sense of playfulness and excitement to continue life's journey of learning. I hope you can share the same enthusiasm as I do to learn more from the future Dr. Fitton in the coming years.

Topics covered:

- Business venture: pH Balance and Wellness

- The areas of physical and mental exercise for wellbeing

- Comparisons of eastern and western traditional medicine

- The mind/body connection

- The similarities and differences between yoga and pilates

- Benefits of visual imagery for memory and cultivation of a stable mind  

- A wholesome practice

- Upcoming events at pH Balance and Wellness



An extremely grateful moment today to share an hour or so talking freely with my mum, Penny. Comparing my current self to that of the person before age 16-17, I must acknowledge the pivotal influence of my learning from mum. In particular, I feel I have journeyed away from a rigidly enclosed mind, strict on the belief that caterpillars are caterpillars, and they can never be butterflies. Mum has taught me the value of patience and the worth of balance in the body and mind. I owe the majority of my child-like curiosity about the workings of the world to the foundations that mum has savoured, and sometimes laboured to offer me. She has shown an insurmountable degree of what I would call faith that has allowed me to be what I am today. All parenting is risky, but to show unrelenting, unconditional love, while dialogically guiding your children through life is a quality of immeasurable extent. 



It brings tears to my eyes to reflect on the mum I have and I hope to share many more moments like this together.

Topics Covered:

- Martial arts

- Entrepreneurship

- Forex trading

- Commodities vs currencies

- Tools of the trade

- Recognising an inner ethic



From the get-go, Tarun brought energy and enthusiasm to the initial meeting and the following conversation. Without knowing what to expect I was blown away by Tarun's ability to articulate language related to trading in an accessible format for a novice such as myself. Underneath Tarun's humility, I sensed a passionate individual inspired to play an active and collaborative role in the world. Very few individuals who invest time and money into trading are able to restrain their ego, adjust their language and remain patient for others to learn. Tarun does not have this problem, his broad smile evoked a radiance in me while listening. I can say I was pleasantly surprised at such a rich conversation in which time flew by. 



Let us know what you think of the episode!