Advertise on podcast: WakingWorld

It was January 2024, and we were kicking off the new year with two of the most controversial and heavily scrutinised events in modern American history: the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Nothing like starting the year with something light. Both events changed the course of history, generated decades of speculation and left behind questions that continue to provoke fierce debate. In this episode, we explore some of the better-known conspiracy theories surrounding JFK and 9/11, along with a few of the more obscure interpretations that rarely make it into mainstream discussions. But there’s another dimension to the conversation. What happens to a population when it experiences an event of enormous collective trauma? How do fear, uncertainty and national tragedy influence public opinion, political decisions and people’s willingness to accept official explanations? We examine the idea that mass traumatic events can be exploited to shape public behaviour, reinforce authority and influence how societies understand the world around them. Some theories are familiar. Others are considerably more extraordinary. And, as always, the challenge is separating legitimate questions from speculation. Another journey into the more uncomfortable corners of history, where the official narrative is only the beginning of the conversation. Explore Anything. Question Everything.

Another perfectly sensible collection of subjects for an episode of Is It News?Book publishing.Ryvitas (again).AI targeting systems.Tandoor ovens.US Midterms.Australian school curriculum.007.This episode, I spend a considerable amount of time talking about what I've been up to, including my adventures in book publishing, the finer points of Ryvita consumption and a rather unexpected connection between tandoor ovens and maintaining a spotless toilet bowl.Eventually, I get around to the newspapers.There's a bit about artificial intelligence, military targeting systems and who's responsible when things go horribly wrong. Then it's a quick wander through American politics, what's being taught in Australian schools and who might be slipping into the next James Bond tuxedo.Nothing particularly structured. Just a few headlines, some opinions and the occasional tangent.As usual, there's no particular reason for any of this...other than to shamelessly try and rustle up some interest in my debut novel!!Welcome to Is It News? — where the news is occasionally discussed, usually towards the end.

It was that strange little period between Christmas and New Year in 2023. Nobody quite knew what day it was, the festivities were winding down, and we decided it was the perfect opportunity to discuss aliens. Naturally. In this episode, we explore the fascinating subject of UFO disclosure, extraterrestrial life and the increasingly public conversations surrounding unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs). We discuss the possibility of governments withholding information about extraterrestrial encounters, the growing interest in disclosure, and whether some of the extraordinary stories appearing in the media might be serving another purpose entirely. Which brings us to the subject of red herrings. Could sensational revelations about UFOs and aliens be used to distract public attention from more uncomfortable political and institutional questions? Or are we simply witnessing a genuine shift in how these subjects are being discussed? And then, somehow, we arrive at flat Earth. Now, you might imagine that someone with an extensive knowledge of occultism and esoteric traditions would be open to just about any unconventional theory. Apparently not. Even my co-host had his limits. Another wonderfully meandering conversation from the early days of WakingWorld, recorded as 2023 drew to a close.

I've just recorded 'Is It News?' on Friday 30th October. I've got a 3-day old Australian paper that I still don't touch. But the banal conversation will keep you audibly occupied for approx. 45 MINSSSSSS.Topics, thus:Murder. Ryvita toppings.V8 Super Cars.Old Fashioneds.Book.Blood pressure.

It was December 2023. Christmas was just around the corner, the Australian summer was in full swing, and we’d settled in for a few drinks on a rather balmy evening. What better opportunity to put the world to rights? After several episodes exploring some fairly extraordinary subjects, we decided to take a slightly more relaxed approach. Although, as you’ll quickly discover, our idea of a relaxing conversation wasn’t necessarily everyone’s. We revisited the aftermath of COVID, reflected on the political decisions and controversies of the preceding years, and shared our thoughts on the state of politics and the institutions we’re supposed to trust. There wasn’t any particular destination. Just two blokes enjoying a few drinks, asking questions, sharing opinions and occasionally wandering off on a tangent. Looking back, it’s a rather nice snapshot of WakingWorld in its early days, when we were still finding our feet and discovering just how far our conversations could wander. So, pour yourself something nice and join us for a little trip back to Christmas 2023.

I've just recorded 'Is It News?' on Saturday 24th October. I've got a 10-day old Australian paper...so I talk shit for a bit, then have a chat with ChatGPT.Topics, thus:Ear Wax. Morbid Obesity.Books.Framing Iran.Rain.

If there’s one subject that’s guaranteed to divide a room, it’s COVID-19. And this week, we’re diving straight into it. Following on from our discussion of propaganda and public messaging in Episode #12, we take a closer look at the events leading up to the pandemic, the global response and some of the organisations and influential figures that became central to the debate. Bill Gates, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Economic Forum all feature prominently as we explore pandemic preparedness, the predictions and exercises that preceded COVID-19, and the rather extraordinary claims surrounding what certain organisations knew — or believed might happen — before the outbreak. We also revisit the extraordinary level of public messaging, political pressure and institutional influence that characterised those years. For me, one of the most interesting questions is how we distinguish legitimate preparation for a potential global crisis from the more speculative theories that emerged afterwards. And how much should we question the information we’re given, particularly when it comes from organisations with enormous influence over public policy? It’s a controversial conversation, and we certainly don’t shy away from challenging the official narratives. Whether you agree with our interpretations or not, there’s plenty here to think about.

It's an overcast Saturday afternoon and we're checking in after a busy 5 weeks of not doing 'Is It News?':Book.Another 'Birthday Week'.Dressage.Blood clots.Special needs bed.…and he might have S'd his P's.That's it. Not even a paper.

This week, we’re exploring what’s happening above our heads, what’s going into our drinking water, and how much of what we’re told we should actually believe. Well, when I say we’re exploring, I mostly mean I’m asking questions while my co-host does the talking. We begin with geoengineering, examining the technologies and theories surrounding deliberate attempts to influence the environment, particularly the atmosphere and weather. From there, we move into drinking water, fluoridation and claims that certain substances may have effects on human behaviour beyond their stated purposes. We discuss the idea that fluoride could have a pacifying influence on populations, and the wider questions surrounding water adulteration and public health. And, inevitably, we find ourselves revisiting the COVID years. We discuss the messaging, propaganda allegations and information campaigns that accompanied the pandemic, asking questions about public trust, institutional authority and how narratives are shaped. It’s another conversation that moves between documented practices, controversial claims and some rather uncomfortable questions about the relationship between governments, institutions and the people they’re supposed to serve. As always, I’m interested in understanding the arguments, not simply accepting them. And if nothing else, this episode might make you think a little more carefully about what you’re being told — and who’s telling you.

Have you ever looked at a familiar corporate logo, symbol or icon and wondered whether there’s more to it than meets the eye? I can’t say it was something I’d spent a great deal of time worrying about. But, as I’m rapidly discovering, there’s apparently an occult interpretation for just about everything! In this episode, we explore the fascinating world of sigils, symbols and the imagery that surrounds us in everyday life, from popular culture to some of the world’s most recognisable commercial brands. We discuss the use of sigils in magical traditions, the meanings attributed to particular symbols and the idea that imagery can carry intention beyond its obvious visual purpose. But the conversation goes a little deeper than logos and iconography. We also explore the relationship between intention, will and reality itself. Can focused thought influence the outcomes we experience? Is there something more to the symbols we create and the meaning we invest in them? It’s an interesting intersection of occult philosophy, psychology, symbolism and the rather extraordinary idea that our intentions might play a greater role in shaping our lives than we realise. And after this conversation, you might find yourself looking at a few familiar logos rather differently.

We’ve explored some fairly extraordinary subjects over the first nine episodes of WakingWorld, but this week things get considerably more personal. My co-host takes me through his experiences with drugs, beginning with his introduction to illicit substances at a relatively young age and the journey that eventually led him towards the world of plant medicine and shamanic traditions. We explore Ayahuasca, psychoactive cacti, Kambo and Bufo alvarius, discussing the substances themselves, the experiences associated with them and the very different cultural and spiritual traditions in which some are used. What I find particularly fascinating is the distinction between taking a substance recreationally and approaching it as part of a spiritual or ceremonial practice. For my co-host, these experiences weren’t simply about altered states of consciousness. He describes a genuine reverence for the traditions, rituals and philosophies surrounding them. As usual, I’m asking questions, trying to understand experiences I’ve never personally had, and occasionally wondering just how far down the rabbit hole we’re going to venture. It’s a candid conversation about psychedelics, personal experimentation, altered consciousness and the search for something beyond ordinary experience.

This week, I get to sit back and enjoy a rather extraordinary bit of storytelling. And our subject? John McAfee. Yes, the antivirus software millionaire. Although, as I was about to discover, computer security was probably one of the least interesting things about him. We take a journey through McAfee’s extraordinary life, his increasingly eccentric adventures, the controversies that surrounded him and the circumstances of his death. But this being WakingWorld, we don’t stop there. The conversation takes us into the murky world of alleged blackmail operations on Caribbean islands, the Mexican drug cartel Los Zetas and claims surrounding its connections to occult practices and Voodoo. And somehow, we find ourselves discussing Robert Maxwell, his daughter Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein and the shadowy world of intelligence operations. It’s a fascinating mixture of documented history, extraordinary personalities and some decidedly controversial theories about how these worlds might intersect. How much is coincidence? How much is speculation? And how much of the story do we really know? I certainly didn’t expect an episode about the bloke who invented antivirus software to end up here. But then again, this is WakingWorld.

It's a hot Sunday afternoon and we're skimming through The Weekend Australian and The Saturday Telegraph to see how many more people have been antisemitic. On the way we discuss: Summer.A 'Birthday Week'.Darts.Yatala Pies.Snorting & stifled burps.…and a few other things found in the Aussie rags.That's it. Total bollocks.

This week, I’m taking the lead as we explore a subject I’ve found fascinating for years: Esoteric Christianity, sometimes referred to as Inner Christianity. And before anyone switches off at the mention of religion, this isn’t a sermon. Far from it. What if some of the stories in the Old and New Testaments were never intended to be understood purely as literal historical events? What if they also contain deeper teachings about the human mind, our emotions, consciousness and the way we experience reality? In this episode, I explore the mystical and psychological interpretations of biblical scripture, looking beyond conventional religious teachings to consider what these ancient texts might be telling us about ourselves. We also get into the practical side of things. I share some of the principles and rules I’ve come to understand about how we think, behave and interact with the world around us — and how living in greater alignment with those principles might change our relationship with what some people call God, the Universe or a greater metaphysical intelligence. You don’t need to be religious to find this interesting. In fact, you might find it even more intriguing if you’re not. For me, this is less about what we’re supposed to believe and more about how we’re supposed to live. And perhaps that’s where some of the most interesting interpretations of Christianity begin.

The lackadaisical host of WakingWorld finally decides it’s time to upload the next thrilling instalment of ‘Is It News?’. Lame horses.AI software builds.2.4-litre-capacity gussets.The wanking prince.…and a few other things found in the online Express. No headlines this week—just a catch-up on the week that’s been, a few stories, a few observations and a general wander through whatever happens to come up.