Wise As Podcast : Conversations about Life and Living in an Ever-Changing World

Wise As
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We are an Author and Artist who during COVID lockdowns developed a beautiful children's storybook - It was a modern day fable about an endearing donkey, who sets out one day to search for happiness. We even started an independent publishing house to bring 'stories with seeds of wisdom' to the world. Sounds idyllic, right? Well, the ride has been anything but smooth... In this series of conversation about life and living we discuss our ever-changing world - and what it all means for ordinary people like us, who are trying to leave the world in a better shape than we found it.

Episodes

  1. 07/30/2025

    Episode 5 : Unlock Creativity - Find Inspiration in Unexpected Places

    Where do your ideas come from? This is one of the most common questions we, and other creatives, get asked.   So here it is - a candid discussion on where we, an author and artist, think ideas come from. The good news - we don't think it's rocket science nor is it magic, but something that everyone can do.   To make the discussion as practical (and grounded in reality) as possible, we share the creative process and inspirations behind our beloved picture book series, 'Willow the Wonderer'. We walk through each of the four books in the series and explore the different and unexpected sources of inspirations for the stories and also elements of our creative ethos.   We share our personal journeys, the ups and downs of life, the many adventures we have been on and the work we have done through things like meditation to grapple with our mind and figure out life. Through the conversation you will get to see how these various influences found their way into our stories and the lessons we leave for our readers.   Discover how everyday moments, deep introspection, and even social and political dynamics have shaped our storytelling - and get practical tips on harnessing your own creativity and learn how to bring your ideas to life. Whether you're an aspiring artist, writer, or an avid reader of our Willow the Wonderer picture books and curious about what went on behind the scene, this episode is packedwith insights and inspiration you may be after. Hope you enjoy it :)

    Episode 5 : Unlock Creativity - Find Inspiration in Unexpected Places

  2. 06/17/2025

    Episode 4 : Love School or Hate School - It Needs to Change

    Darren hated school. Reeta loved it. What both agree on however, is that our education system needs to change - and soon! In this episode we look at one of the most formative parts of our lives - schooling. We share our personal schooling experiences from different parts of the world and discuss the impact that traditional education system had on us. With the benefit of hindsight and many years of 'adulting', as well as changes that are afoot, we also discuss the aspects that needs to change - From personalized learning that reflects a student's strengths, interests and learning abilities to integrating mind training and ethics into the curriculum, reducing rote learning, and even shortening the time spent in formal education. Yes, we believe that keeping young adults constrained within an institution isn't the best idea…School should be over by the time we are 16 and what should follow is a year or more of travel and selfless service.   We feel these are what will better equip children for the tumultuous world that they will inherit - and will make them better humans.   What do you think?If you could change something about schooling, what would it be? 00:00 Introduction to Education and AI 01:27 Personal Schooling Experiences from Darren and Reeta 02:50 Challenges and Reflections on Schooling - From Darren 04:15 Cultural and Family Influences on Education  - FromReeta 13:00 StrictSchooling and Discipline - Pros and Cons 16:06 Thoughts on Curriculum and Personalized Learning Opportunities 20:36 Struggles with Traditional Education 21:02 The Case Against Rote Learning 22:37 The Importance of History and General Knowledge 23:59 The Role of Memory in Modern Education 24:54 Innovative Approaches to Literacy and Numeracy 27:14 The case for incorporating Mind Training in Education 37:09 The Need for Ethical and Moral Education 38:54 Reimagining the School System 40:28 The Value of Volunteering and Travel 45:20 Final Thoughts on Education Reform   Don't forget to hit Like and Follow or Subscribe toour podcast. We will be dropping a new 30 minute episode every second week. We also commit to keeping our podcasts paywall free.   How you can support our work: Help us to spread the seeds of wisdom to the next generation :) Next time you have to buy a gift for a little one in your life, please consider Willow the Wonderer books - It's a great gift for grandkids, nieces, nephews, your own kids, their friends and cousins. Our books are available in hardcover, paperback andeBook editions. As you can judge from the five star ratings, are loved and cherished by all ages. Indeed parents love them as much as kids - even after they have read it a hundred times ;-)   Learn more about Willow the Wonderer here: https://www.wiseasstories.com/willow-the-wonderer Read about this episode and get full transcript onour blog:  https://www.wiseasstories.com/wise-as-blog/categories/wise-as-podcast   And, thank you for listening.

    Episode 4 : Love School or Hate School - It Needs to Change

  3. 06/02/2025

    Episode 3 : Will AI take our jobs? Essential skill to teach kids

    In this episode, we explore Reeta's 'viral' Reddit post predicting mass unemployment in white-collar professions and the arts by 2030 due to AI. As you can expect, a lot of people on the internet did not agree. We draw on our long history working in the arts and in white collar jobs to unpack the thinking behind the prediction, address some common counter arguments against AI and cognitive biases that is stopping people from seeing the 'writing on the wall'.   The discussion covers the role of AI in transforming creative processes and white-collar jobs, the limitations and potential future advancements of AI tools, and how society can prepare for these changes. We explore the history of technological disruptions in the art world, the concept of Universal Basic Income (UBI), and propose an innovative idea for equitable AI development as well as sharing the spoils that will come from AI - One for all aspiring AI founders to note! #equityfortraining This conversation aims to spark awareness and action around the impending tidal wave of AI-driven changes. We also discuss the implications for education and what we should be teaching our kids if traditional jobs no longer exist. Concluding with a discourse on wisdom traditions and mental resilience in uncertain times, this episode encapsulates a forward-looking conversation on navigating the impending AI-driven changes in our professional and personal lives - It's a conversation we all should be having … Don't forget to hit Like and Follow or Subscribe toour podcast. We will be dropping a new 30 minute episode every second week. We also commit to keeping our podcasts paywall free.   How you can support our work: Help us to spread theseeds of wisdom to the next generation :) Next time you have to buy a gift for a little one in your life, please consider Willow the Wonderer books - It's a great gift for grandkids, nieces, nephews, your own kids, their friends and cousins. Our books are available in hardcover, paperback and eBook editions. As you can judge from the five star ratings, are loved and cherished by all ages. Indeed parents love them as much as kids - even after they have read it a hundred times ;-)   Learn more about Willow the Wonderer here: https://www.wiseasstories.com/willow-the-wonderer Read about this episode and get full transcript onour blog:  https://www.wiseasstories.com/post/will-ai-take-our-jobs-essential-skill-to-teach-kids   And, thank you for listening.

    Episode 3 : Will AI take our jobs? Essential skill to teach kids

  4. 05/17/2025

    Episode 2 : How wisdom can help us get through hard times in life

    Navigating Life's Toughest Phases with Wisdom   In the second episode of our podcast series, we dive deep into the challenging stages of life and share our personal experiences. We explore the concept of getting through hard times in life, reflecting on our teenage and early adulthood years. We discuss the importance of wisdom and life lessons that could have made these phases easier. Our conversation underscores the significance of the Willow the Wonderer Series, which aims to impart timeless wisdom to children, helping them navigate life's ups and downs with a balanced perspective. Tune in to gain insights into how early wisdom can help alleviate suffering and guide you toward a more fulfilling life.   Don't forget to hit Like and Follow or Subscribe to our podcast. We will be dropping a new 30 minute episode every second week. We also commit to keeping our podcasts paywall free.   How you can support our work: Help us to spread the seeds of wisdom to the next generation :) Next time you have to buy a gift for a little one in your life, please consider Willow the Wonderer books - It's a great gift for grandkids, nieces, nephews, your own kids, their friends and cousins.   Our books are available in hardcover, paperback and eBook editions. As you can judge from the five star ratings, are loved and cherished by all ages. Indeed parents love them as much as kids - even after they have read it a hundred times ;-)   Learn more about Willow the Wonderer here: https://www.wiseasstories.com/willow-the-wonderer   And, thank you for listening.

    Episode 2 : How wisdom can help us get through hard times in life

  5. 05/07/2025

    Episode 1 : Our Origin Story

    We are back to where it all began - on pristine, sacred land, nestled in the heart of Nambucca Valley, in NSW Australia's Mid North Coast. This is where we (Darren and Reeta) first met and where we retreated to during COVID lockdowns in 2020. It is also where we had our first DMC on life and living. One of the starkest realisations of our lives has been how the narratives we grew up with, mostly let us down. This is what spurred us to start our own independent publishing platform, Wise As Stories. Our dream - To create beautiful stories for children with seeds of wisdom. Our hope - That these seeds would blossom with time and guide the little ones on their journey through life. In this video, we discuss why now, five years (and five books) later, we are starting a podcast to share what we learnt and how it is all going. We touch upon the changing times, what AI means for the creative arts and the reality of having a career in the arts overall. We also call out the contribution that small businesses like ours makes to the world. But mostly, we acknowledge all the ordinary people who are doing their bit to leave the world a little better than they found. And this is what future episodes on our podcast is going to profile: Real conversations about life and living, society and culture, and business and politics in our ever-changing world - And what it means for ordinary people, who like us, would like to leave the world in a better shape than we found it. Interested to learn more about our origin story? Here's a blog we wrote on the subject: ⁠Why stories we grow up with matter Don't forget to Follow or Subscribe to our podcast. We will be dropping a new 30 minute episode every second week. We also commit to keeping our podcasts paywall free. How you can support our work: Help us to spread the seeds of wisdom to the next generation :) Next time you have to buy a gift for a little one in your life, please consider Willow the Wonderer books - It's a great gift for grandkids, nieces, nephews, your own kids, their friends and cousins. Our books are available in hardcover, paperback and eBook editions. As you can judge from the five star ratings, are loved and cherished by all ages. Indeed parents love them as much as kids - even after they have read it a hundred times ;-) Learn more about Willow the Wonderer here: https://www.wiseasstories.com/willow-the-wonderer And, thank you for listening.

  • 5 Episodes

About

We are an Author and Artist who during COVID lockdowns developed a beautiful children's storybook - It was a modern day fable about an endearing donkey, who sets out one day to search for happiness. We even started an independent publishing house to bring 'stories with seeds of wisdom' to the world. Sounds idyllic, right? Well, the ride has been anything but smooth... In this series of conversation about life and living we discuss our ever-changing world - and what it all means for ordinary people like us, who are trying to leave the world in a better shape than we found it.

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