For those who have followed the tortuous path of Australian climate policy over recent decades, a 2024 report [https://www.aemc.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-03/AEMC%20guide%20on%20how%20energy%20objectives%20shape%20our%20decisions%20clean%20200324.pdf]by the Australian Energy Market Commission of a “shadow price” of A$70 a tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent elicits some painful memories.  Meet Ross Garnaut who if you are an economics tragic like me, will be a household name. In brief, Ross is a professorial research fellow in economics at the University of Melbourne. In 2008, he produced the Garnaut Climate Change Review for the Australian government. He is the author of many books, including the bestselling Dog Days, Superpower and Reset. Drawing on his unrivalled expertise in economics, industrial development and climate change, Garnaut makes the case for a levy on the big polluters that will help fund Australia to become a carbon-free energy giant, lower the cost of living and assist the world to cut emissions. His latest book ‘Let’s Tax Carbon – and other ideas for a better Australia’ Garnaut examines Australia’s economic history, breaking down which policies have worked and which haven’t. He critiques the Albanese government’s first term and presents a set of policies that, he argues, can deliver full employment with rising incomes for a growing Australian populations. As well as analysing Australian monetary and fiscal policy, Let’s Tax Carbonalso looks overseas to the consequences of Trump and Biden’s economic policies and how countries including China, Japan and the United States are responding to climate change.

He discusses in this show:

1. Taxing carbon is one of those areas of Australian politics that has stymied or worse still. toppled former Prime Ministers and other leaders for 15 years or so, and seems to be publicly avoided as a policy idea by those in power ever since. Explain why your new book is hinged on this being a great idea for a zero-carbon economy to become a reality?

2. How can Australia lead the way in keys areas like the energy transition, as by global standards we maybe considered an economic ‘mid weight’ vs a powerhouse like the US or China?

3. The shadow carbon price described in the March 2024 Australian Energy Market Commission is not a cost to be paid by carbon emitters. It’s an estimate of the marginal cost of meeting Australia’s emission cut target. The $70/tonne figure will be included when calculating the benefits and costs of rule changes. Is that approach the right one? Explain your view and why.

4. With the reality of a second Trump presidency is now confirmed, there concerns his mantra “drill baby drill” means that the focus on “old school energy” from oil and coal remain firmly on his economics agenda

5. Takeaway: What is your final message on The Politics of Taxing Carbon?

Connect further:

Ross Garnaut [https://www.rossgarnaut.com.au/]

Let's Tax Carbon by Ross Garnaut | Black Inc. [https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/books/lets-tax-carbon]

 251: The Politics of Taxing Carbon - Ross Garnaut

AI is everywhere and has impacting how we as humanity do our work, build our communities and even how we relax. Do you think much about how tools like generative AI platforms from ChatGPT to Chatbots we use when buying products and services online are changing our existence? Today, as AI-based technologies become more pervasive, machines can augment our cognitive capacity and automate our complex decision-making process in new ways. This has dramatically changed the way we work, leading to the Fourth Industrial Revolution some say. Is this what we want or need? My guest Christ Wright is the CEO and founder of the AI Trust Council, is leading a crucial mission against corruption in big tech, government, and the risks posed by AI. With over 25 years of experience in entrepreneurship and the military, his unique background as a US Army Attack Helicopter pilot, Civilian Commercial Pilot, and CEO of several successful startups makes him adept at navigating complex challenges. As head of the AITC, Chris's commitment to positive change and forward-thinking approach are evident. He is dedicated to optimizing digital trust online and mitigating the potentially negative impact of AI. With his vision, Chris aims to revolutionise the way digital trust is built and maintained in the modern world.

In this show hear from Chris on:

1. How did AI first come to your attention?

2. What exactly is speciation, and how does it tie into the idea of changing humanity?

3. What are some of the biggest ways you observe our use of AI changing the way we operate as humans not just in a task-based way but as a functioning society?

4. How do you see AI being misused and does that need regulatory controls and laws to stay up with the pace of AI evolution locally and globally?

5. What do you predict will happen with AI and how we as humans accept or reject it will change in coming years? Right now it is all about exploring its potential.

Connect further:

(43) Christopher Wright | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwrightaitc/]

Artificial Intelligence Trust Council (theaitc.com) [https://theaitc.com/]

POE listener offer: Zencastr is my podcast platform of choice. Use my special link (zen.ai/thepoliticsofeverything30 [http://zen.ai/thepoliticsofeverything30]) and use code "THEPOLITICSOFEVERYTHING" to save 30% off your first three months of Zencastr professional. #madeonzencastr

250: The Politics of Changing Humanity - Christopher Wright  

I met today's guest at the 2024 Stevie’s Asia Pacific Awards event in Manila, and as fellow Australian business owners we connected instantly.

Domestic violence is more than a domestic issue – it’s a well-known national problem in Australia that seems to be a permanent stain on our communities. Recent ABS statistics indicating 41% of Australians have been affected by violence of some kind since the age of 15 and 1 in 4 women and 1 in 14 men have experienced sexual or physical violence at the hands of an intimate partner. As CEO of The Trauma Recovery Network, Felicia Zsha’ Mirzze is an international speaker, advocate, and therapist with a Social Science background with a specialised focus on trauma. Felicia brings a blend of lived experience with a robust academic foundation. Holding a degree in Social Science and Counselling, Felicia is equipped with a wealth of knowledge that extends beyond traditional boundaries. Her academic background includes multiple diplomas spanning Journalism, Legal Services, Community Services, Counselling, and Communication, reflecting a diverse skill set that enriches her perspectives on mental health and well-being. Felicia has presented at the Inaugural Asia-Pacific Conference on Women's Mental Health, The World Conference on Gender and Women's Studies and the Stop Domestic Violence Conference.

This is a huge (adult) topic and given its nature won’t be suitable for all listeners.

Hear from Felicia on:

1. Domestic violence is certainly a national crisis in Australia but it feels like we say that every year. Can you share your perspective on why this seems like an epidemic in our society?

2. What impact does DV based on what you have seen in your own practice?

3. Your work includes advocating for the rights of women with a conviction history. How has this become a focus for you, and I imagine DV is many times a part of these women’s stories?

4. What role do governments play in solving DV – can’t be about money for new programs alone alone right?

5. How can we break cycles of DV in families from your professional view?

Connect further:

(3) Felitciana (Felicia) Zsha Mirzze | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/neurovitality/]

https://www.neurovhub.com/

www.traumarecoverynetwork.com.au [http://www.traumarecoverynetwork.com.au/]

POE listener offer: Zencastr is my podcast platform of choice. Use my special link (zen.ai/thepoliticsofeverything30 [http://zen.ai/thepoliticsofeverything30]) and use code "THEPOLITICSOFEVERYTHING" to save 30% off your first three months of Zencastr professional. #madeonzencastr

249: The Politics of Domestic Violence - Felicia Zsha' Mirzze

Oil is a divisive issue. Climate change debates remain as heated as ever in Australia with nuclear energy, renewables and the legacy realities of oil and gas necessity remaining at the heart of the story. In the face of our climate crisis, my guest says “today is the time for a wake-up call to the dangers of unchecked power and influence”. Royce Kurmelovs’s latest written work is titled Slick: Australia’s toxic relationship with Big Oil is a damning portrait of greed, ignorance and environmental neglect, leaving not a shred of doubt as to the oil and gas industry’s complicity in the climate crisis we currently face.

Royce is a journalist and author whose reporting has appeared in Rolling Stone, Science, The Guardian, The Saturday Paper, The Monthly, the BBC, Al Jazeera English and other publications.
Royce's bestselling first book, The Death of Holden, explored the closure of the Australian car industry on communities across South Australia and Victoria. His critically acclaimed second book, Rogue Nation, published in 2016 documented the fracturing of Australian politics. His third book Boom and Bust presented a portrait of Western Australia after the mining book, while his fourth book Just Money revealed the pyramid of debt on which the Australian economy was built.

In short, Royce has some challenging and well-researched ideas for us and in this episode, he discusses:

1. Why did you write your fifth book, Slick, which investigates the Australian oil industry to understand what they knew about climate change when they knew it, and how they worked to make sure nothing was done to address it.

2. How can we get off this oil-reliance train?

3. How can energy remain democratic – as in poorer nations like the Philippines or Africa can’t afford to invest in the new technologies needed as fast as say the USA or Australia. What would make that cleaner energy transition fairer and maybe faster?

Connect further:

(37) Royce Kurmelovs | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/roycekurmelovs/]

Royce Kurmelovs [https://www.roycekurmelovs.com/]

POE listener offer: Zencastr is my podcast platform of choice. Use my special link (zen.ai/thepoliticsofeverything30 [http://zen.ai/thepoliticsofeverything30]) and use code "THEPOLITICSOFEVERYTHING" to save 30% off your first three months of Zencastr professional. #madeonzencastr

248: The Politics of Oil - Royce Kurmelovs 

Traditional leadership tools are failing to meet the challenges and opportunities of the ecosystem we live and lead in now, according to my guest today. Leaders need a flexible and interconnected system of ideas and frameworks to successfully lead for high performance – and the good news is, her new book shows you how. In The Leaders Ecosystem: A Guide to Leading, Exceptionally (Grammar Factory $34.95), Dr Paige Williams provides a unique, practical framework for leaders to successfully lead themselves, others, and systems to feel well and perform well through uncertainty. Paige is also a keynote speaker, organisational psychologist, and Honorary Fellow at the University of Melbourne. A world leader in positive psychology, and the author of five books on leading well in modern times, Paige is obsessed with one question above all others: 'What does good look like?'. If you are leading now or are likely to become a future leader in your area of speciality or run a business, this is the podcast for you.

1. Do you each recall what you wanted to do for a job when you grew up? And how did your early career take shape to get you where you are now?.

2. What was your childhood career and life dream? Did it work out?

3. Does leading each generation always change and evolve? What is your view and an example please?

4. What is not working now in workplaces and why?

5. How has individualism impacted workplaces? Millennials and Gen Z are sometimes brushed with the general view it is all about them. Is that fair and does that makes them better leaders because they may be less likely to stick to the status quo?

6. How can a leader successfully disrupt cycles of underperformance and reset accountability?

7. Trust, psychological safety, and tapping into our creativity all seem to work well together to lead to overall success – how does an organization foster these to bring out the best in its people?

8. Your #1 business tool or hack (not a smartphone) and what can it do for you that helps?

9. Your biggest life lesson to date and why?

10. How do you define your version of success?

11. Takeaway: What is your final message for us on The Politics of Leading New Generations?

Connect further:

Website: https://drpaige.au/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drpaigewilliams/

247: The Politics of Leading New Generations - Dr. Paige Williams 

The idea of true balance in our lives can often feel allusive and at times impossible. What if there was a way to make it more of a reality in our personal and professional lives? I am speaking with Danielle Colley, integrative life coach, speaker, event facilitator and writer. For the past five years, she has been helping people who are feeling stuck and dissatisfied with their lives to reach their full potential. Hundreds of people have taken Danielle’s courses at Your Good Life that tackles confidence, self-worth and courage. Danielle also delivers leadership workshops for well-known brands that include Sony Pictures Television, F45, The Leadership Institute and Transport New South Wales.



Her latest book The Chocolate Bar Life made my ears prick up – the title was so unique. After being fired as a journalist at The Australian Women’s Weekly, the solo mum was propelled beyond stress and straight to burn out which many of us can relate to. Addicted to stress and self-soothing with whatever she could, Danielle realised at the heart of it was the ingrained conditioning that success proved you were a worthy human and should be attained at all costs.



But a chance comment about making life more like a Mars Bar changed how Danielle saw life forever. Deciding life should not feel like a constant uphill marathon, Danielle’s new mission centred around creating an ambitious life that still felt good to live. She lives by the sea one hour south of Sydney, with her husband, her two kids, and their dog, Rocky.

This show includes views from Danielle on:

1. Share with is what led you to ‘burn out town’ as you describe it? And what was your redemptive path back to balance?

2. Is the idea of work/life balance too binary and can set us up to fail because in truth real life is always a raft of ups and downs in any given period?

3. Your book The Chocolate Bar Life (Hembury Books $29.95) is both powerful and humorous = and it guides readers through powerful learnings, showing that if we prioritise the delicious balance between work, rest and play life becomes far yummier. How did you make this book stand out as there are so many others that tell us about how to stress less and seize the day already?

4. Your non-negotiable fave daily habit?

Connect further:

(31) Danielle Colley | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-colley-4b344926/?originalSubdomain=au]

https://daniellecolley.com.au

POE listener offer: Zencastr is my podcast platform of choice. Use my special link (zen.ai/thepoliticsofeverything30 [http://zen.ai/thepoliticsofeverything30]) and use code "THEPOLITICSOFEVERYTHING" to save 30% off your first three months of Zencastr professional. #madeonzencastr

 246: The Politics of Balance - Danielle Colley

AI is the hot topic of the past two years in all kinds of businesses from insurance to fashion to finance. What about the world of coaching? My guest today is on board. With over three decades of entrepreneurial success and the remarkable ability to overcome life-threatening health challenge, Katharine Loucaidou is a powerhouse of resilience and innovation. From founding successful businesses to revolutionizing the coaching industry with her groundbreaking AI platform, Katharine AI, she empowers entrepreneurs and leaders to reach unprecedented heights. Her book, AI Secrets for Unstoppable Business & Life Hacks, offers transformative strategies, blending her vast expertise with cutting-edge technology. She is also the host of the widely streamed Mindset Medicine Podcast, where her insights on mindset, performance, and business inspire a global audience. Katharine’s journey is a testament to the power of an unyielding spirit, making her sought-after speakers and coach who inspires relentless success – and in this show we discuss:

1. How does AI work as a business coach? Share your experience and story on how you use it and why.

2. What can’t it do well yet?

3. Do clients feel like their needs for coaching has to be more personalised than factual or technical to be worthwhile? What has your feedback been?

4. Do leaders need to refresh their AI skills and how best to do that?

Connect further:

(6) Katharine Loucaidou, M.Ed | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/katharine-loucaidou-m-ed-791330b/]

WWW.KATHARINELOUCAIDOUCOACHING.COM [http://www.katharineloucaidoucoaching.com/]

POE listener offer: Zencastr is my podcast platform of choice. Use my special link (zen.ai/thepoliticsofeverything30 [http://zen.ai/thepoliticsofeverything30]) and use code "THEPOLITICSOFEVERYTHING" to save 30% off your first three months of Zencastr professional. #madeonzencastr

245: The Politics of AI Coaching - Katharine Loucaidou

Retail has been undergoing an unprecedented transition of late and the global pandemic speeded that up in a way one could maybe not have predicted. Online platforms have led to new sales channels and fresh opportunities to reach out to a world of customers, and over the past 20 years more globalisation has opened markets and introduced new competitors into the mix in ways not seen before. In tougher economic times we are also seeing a wave of online brands come and go faster than ever as competition for our money gets harder. How can they win us over?

Grant Arnott is the CEO of Global Marketplace, an Australian-based e-commerce group with businesses in Australia and New Zealand. He is a highly respected veteran of online retail and business media, and an accomplished entrepreneur.

Grant is the founder of Click Frenzy, Australia’s original and best-known online shopping event, and Power Retail, the dedicated media and insights resource for the e-commerce industry. He also launched the E-Commerce Leaders’ Playbook in 2012, the Power Retail Top 100 in 2013 and the All Star Bash in 2016.

His pathway into e-commerce and entrepreneurship was somewhat unconventional – a university dropout, Grant spent six years in California teaching water skiing before deciding to get a real job (and that Americans were in fact quite looney). Qualified to drive a boat and yell “Arms straight!”, he returned to his hometown of Melbourne to try his hand at freelance writing.

Some initial gigs in tourism writing led to a real job with a publishing house specialising in business media, where he learned the craft of working with niche professional audiences to deliver engaging and useful content. In 2009, Grant helped launch the first Online Retailer Conference in Australia, and there he saw the greenfields opportunity for e-commerce at that time. He launched Power Retail in 2010 as a way to bring a burgeoning but fragmented e-commerce industry together, and the site soon became essential reading for Australian retail professionals.

Grant is married with two spoilt Golden Retrievers, plays Over 50s AFL (badly) and also has a commercial helicopter license, moonlighting as a tourist pilot on Phillip Island.

We discuss:

1. What is the current state of play for online retail locally and globally? Is it thriving?

2. Supply chain resilience was tested greatly during the COVID-19 pandemic when nations like Australia shut borders. How have retailers and brands learned from this?

3. I read in one McKinsey report that more big and small retail players are being pressured to reduce their environmental impact, with a special focus on climate change, biodiversity, and scarce resources. Fashion alone accounts for 4 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. Indeed, consumers are paying increasing attention – and sustainable retail is here to say it seems. It feels like we now have a generation that is extraordinarily focused on ensuring that waste does not exist in our fashion, furniture, etc. How are these factors driving businesses to leaner and greener?

4. The best trends or innovative tools in online retail right now?

CONTACT DETAILS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/grantarnott

Power Retail | Stay Up To Date On All Things Ecommerce [https://powerretail.com.au/]

Click Frenzy | Australia's Favourite Online Sale [https://www.clickfrenzy.com.au/]

POE listener offer: Zencastr is my podcast platform of choice. Use my special link (zen.ai/thepoliticsofeverything30 [http://zen.ai/thepoliticsofeverything30]) and use code "THEPOLITICSOFEVERYTHING" to save 30% off your first three months of Zencastr professional. #madeonzencastr

244: The Politics of Online Retail - Grant Arnott 

Meet Deborah Hart, a climate and environment-focused creative producer and writer based in Narrm (Melbourne). After 16 years working in development roles with leading Australian arts and culture organisations—as increasingly neoliberal government policies were forcing important public organisations to form ever-closer alliances with harmful industries—Deborah left her profession to devote more time to climate activism. Deborah founded LIVE (Locals Into Victoria’s Environment, 2006). She later co-founded CLIMARTE (2010) and ClimActs (2013) to harness the power of creative arts and ‘performative’ action to highlight the causes and urgency of the Climate Emergency as well as the readily available and socially and ecologically sustainable solutions. Deborah is the author of ‘Guarding Eden: Champions of Climate Action’ (Allen & Unwin, 2015) which tells inspiring personal stories showing how and why highly destructive, polluting industries that built immense wealth and influence last century are now using that power recklessly to maintain ‘business as usual’ (aka protect their profits), and the inspiring actions ordinary citizens are taking to safeguard nature and humanity’s future. For her role in sustaining a vibrant creative community, in 2023 Deborah was honoured with the City of Yarra’s ‘Contributions to the Arts’ award.

Tune in to hear from Deborah on:

1. When did you become engaged with climate action in your adult life?

2. How have you used or elevated art in various forms to raise awareness of the issues the planet and humans face since 2010 when CLIMATE began?

3. How do you describe the role of politics and also business interest has played a role in delaying the big decisions needed for faster climate action and what needs to be done differently moving forward?

4. Are there any ways you believe our creative thinkers and makers become more engaged with climate action in a practical way that means we don’t just listen and agree but do more rather than be idealistic?

Connect further:

https://climarte.org/

https://www.instagram.com/climarteaus/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-hart-1292a921/

POE listener offer:Zencastr is my podcast platform of choice. Use my special link (zen.ai/thepoliticsofeverything30 [http://zen.ai/thepoliticsofeverything30]) and use code "THEPOLITICSOFEVERYTHING" to save 30% off your first three months of Zencastr professional. #madeonzencastr

243: The Politics of Climate Action - Deborah Hart

We all need and want human connection – most of us do anyway. That could be in a variety of forms from friendship, family ties or via a more romantic or sexual nature. As a business leader and successful entrepreneur, Anna Grosman has been in my online social orbit for years and when I heard she was launching a new business, called Her Confidant I had to learn more. As someone who has a passion for empowering women, she has long been doing things her own way. As one of the founders of Aphrodisiac Male Escorts which thrived from 2012 – 2018, Anna takes a fearless approach to intimacy and the relationships that connect us. Her Confidant is more than just a business, Anna says it is her calling – to facilitate memorable connections where women can explore their sensual truth – without judgment. Warm, nurturing, and no-nonsense, Anna advocates for female sexuality without stigma and shame.

1. How did you become interested in running your male escort business and why did that end?

2. How does human connection differ from men to women, in your view?

3. What is the story behind Her Confident and talk us through the business model and your vision for it?

4. Have you experienced challenges in making this business seem legitimate and serious because of stigmas around female sensuality even in 2034? Share how you have navigated this.

5. What would an ideal client be for your business and how can they find the human connection that works for them?

Connect further:

https://herconfidant.com.au/

https://www.instagram.com/herconfidant/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-grosman-15212922/

POE listener offer:Zencastr is my podcast platform of choice. Use my special link (zen.ai/thepoliticsofeverything30 [http://zen.ai/thepoliticsofeverything30]) and use code "THEPOLITICSOFEVERYTHING" to save 30% off your first three months of Zencastr professional. #madeonzencastr

242: The Politics of Human Connection - Anna Grosman 

A weekly podcast series asking newsworthy experts and leaders the tricky questions about the politics of everything that matters to mankind in the 21st century. Host Amber Daines is a former journalist turned media trainer, speaker, and author who is also devoted to raising her young family.

The Politics of Everything