What happens to a piece of toast when you drop it on the floor? Obviously if you pick it up within 5 seconds, all us clever folks know the answer: nothing. You should just pick it up and munch away.
This is the universally acknowledged “5 second law”, and it protects us all from unnecessarily peanut butter wastage, or worse, from scoffing terrible, tainted toast.
Much like the theory of evolution and quantum mechanics, the 5 second law is unambiguously based on sound biological principles and rigorous scientific research. But sometimes objects - and people - become tainted in ways that are far more complex.
Would you try on Tony Abbott’s (thoroughly sterilised) speedos? OK even we think that’d still be gross. What about Hitler’s gloves? If not, why? What harm could these objects possibly cause you?
How’s about this one? Would you read a book that had been applauded by critics for decades if the author was later convicted of sex offences? Yeah that’s a biggie, eh?
We at KindaThinky feel kinda…awkward about all this whole taint thing, so naturally we figured you'd like to share that awkwardness with us live. With other people. And 4 guests. We promise, nothing will rub off.
Science communication academicator and thoughticulturalist. Snowboardophile and guitar fetishist. Simply gushing with authentonesty. “One thing that defines me? My passion for homemade orthotics."
A scien comunicat academ with passon for politic and polic and tec, be the chang you want to see in the worl, Will grant willozap he that chang.
Amanda Laugesen
Sasha Grishin
Trang X. Ta
David Tscharke
David Tscharke is an Associate Professor at ANU affiliated with the John Curtin School of Medical Research and the Research School of Biology. He studies viruses and the way the body fights them. In particular he is interested in working out how herpes simplex virus hides out in neurons and how vaccines like the smallpox vaccine are recognised by the immune system.
VENUE: The Whisky Room at the Civic Pub, Braddon, Canberra [see here for directions].
TIME: Doors open at 7pm for a 7:30pm start and food is available. End at 9:30pmish.
COST: $18 + 30c booking fee. $25 at the door if still available.
In the olden days, trolls were ugly wee fictional creatures who lurked under wooden bridges near picturesque olde worlde villages. Olden day trolls wanted nothing more than to eat a goat (or on good day, the goat’s whole family). Ok maybe they’d also occasionally chow down on human or two. And when they weren’t enjoying a live chunk of meat, they were content to be left alone in the dark, thinking sour thoughts and grumbling about how horrible all non-trollie things were.
But then the gods invented the intertubes, and the intertubes begat social media, and social media begat real, live, interested-in-much-more-than-just-raw-flesh-and-brooding, trolls.
These modern day trolls are way worse than their ancestors. First, they exist. So there’s that. Second, rather than eat people, they want to shame and humiliate them. For many, this is a fate much worse than death. To be fair though, some trolling is just thigh-slappingly hilarious as well.
Here at Kindathinky, we really like the funny trolls, but we are fascinated by the dark kind as well. So why not come along and join us as we honour the ghosts of all billy goats-gruff, and unpack the mind of the 21st Century troll. If you don’t, you will get warts.
Science communication academicator and thoughticulturalist. Snowboardophile and guitar fetishist. Simply gushing with authentonesty. “One thing that defines me? My passion for homemade orthotics."
A scien comunicat academ with passon for politic and polic and tec, be the chang you want to see in the worl, Will grant willozap he that chang.
Samantha Maiden
Scott Bridges
Jacqui Hoepner
Grahame Thompson
VENUE: The Whisky Room at the Civic Pub, Braddon, Canberra [see here for directions].
TIME: Doors open at 7pm for a 7:30pm start and food is available. End at 9:30pmish.
COST: $18 + 30c booking fee. $25 at the door if still available.
If you’re like us (and we’re pretty sure you are), the world is full of people more worthy than you. See the person on your right? Five years ago they quit their high-flying, big-city finance career to teach underprivileged children in sub-Saharan Africa. And that person to your left? They just donated a kidney. Anonymously. To a stranger. Who didn’t even need it.
You’ve been there. You’re at a party, and you’re talking-up how brilliantly your new SUV handled the weekend’s blizzard conditions at the snow with 5 people and all their gear in the car. Then someone next to you nods sage-like, closes their eyes, and recounts how they only ever drive their Prius to church and back on Sundays. And they only use it then because they drive other people to church, too.
How can us mere mortals compete with that? The secret is, just don’t.
See, if you become more worthy, then they wont look as good, and that wouldn’t be fair to them. The worthy need us to reflect how super-awesome they are. By not being worthy, we are actually supporting worthiness. It all makes sense, right? So the best thing you can do to support worthiness in all its forms is to come to KindaThinky on Sept 9 and help us reflect the immense worthiness of our guests. Come on, you owe it to them. Do it for them…
Science communication academicator and thoughticulturalist. Snowboardophile and guitar fetishist. Simply gushing with authentonesty. “One thing that defines me? My passion for homemade orthotics."
A scien comunicat academ with passon for politic and polic and tec, be the chang you want to see in the worl, Will grant willozap he that chang.
Aidan Byrne
Lyndall Strazdins
Sean Quercini
Tammy Ven Dange
VENUE: The Whisky Room at the Civic Pub, Braddon, Canberra [see here for directions].
TIME: Doors open at 7pm for a 7:30pm start and food is available. End at 9:30pmish.
COST: $18 + 30c booking fee. $25 at the door if still available.
Who doesn’t like a little extra, eh? We love a spot of abundance, a tasty bonus, and getting just a little bit more.
Why not eat that second slice of pie, add that spare room, and keep hoarding that superfluous cash? It’s a rare person who’ll refuse a tad extra, cos goddam it’s hard to say no.
While our planet might orbit in the goldilocks-zone sweet-spot of perfect balance between too little and too much, most of us living on the surface really just don't.
We lurch from too much to too little every ferkofting day: battling our EXcess, craving some exCESS. In these troubled modern times, it seems most of our problems come from having too much, never too little.
So what’s going on? How did we end up like this: swimming in our own trash, building triple XL houses, and living so long that all we want is to live even longer? What do we do now that abundance has become glut, spare become swamped, and oversupply just overkill?
More importantly, how do we make sense of where we’re at and whether we even like being here?
Well, we start by grabbing a primo waste recycler, a longevity expert, an architectural virtuoso and a pot-stirring priest. Then we mix in a few ales, a like-minded audience, and two hosts who are regularly referred to as the most aesetic* science communicators in the world. Finally, we repeatedly punch the more button until we've worked out exactly when too much might almost be (maybe) nearly enough.
*not out loud, or by people
Science communication academicator and thoughticulturalist. Snowboardophile and guitar fetishist. Simply gushing with authentonesty. “One thing that defines me? My passion for homemade orthotics."
A scien comunicat academ with passon for politic and polic and tec, be the chang you want to see in the worl, Will grant willozap he that chang.
Father Rod Bower
Dr Samantha Solon-Biet
Garth Lamb
Melonie Bayl-Smith
VENUE: The Powerhouse Museum (licensed) Café
500 Harris Street, Ultimo, Sydney, NSW 2007
(at the end of the new Goods Line green walkway)
TIME: Doors open at 7pm for a 7:30pm start and drinks are available for purchase. End at 9:30pmish.
COST: Admission + Pizza with the KindaThinky team and special guests! $35 + 30c booking fee.
Admission only. $20 + 30c booking fee.
$35 at the door (no pizza) if still available.
Pain is just pooh, right? It distracts us, it costs us money and it needs to be avoided at all costs. Pain bloody hurts, and hurting is un-fun.
But at KindaThinky, we kinda secretly like pain (but not cos we’re, like, freaks or nuthin). We’re interested in pain cos there’s so many kinds. You know, like physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual pain. And probably others, too. We also know that some pain is good for us because we’ve been to the gym they told us there that pain is just weakness leaving the body. How awesome’s that!
So tonight on KT, we say no to the anaesthetic and start scratching below
the surface of pain in all it’s fascinating forms.
Science communication academicator and thoughticulturalist. Snowboardophile and guitar fetishist. Simply gushing with authentonesty. “One thing that defines me? My passion for homemade orthotics."
A scien comunicat academ with passon for politic and polic and tec, be the chang you want to see in the worl, Will grant willozap he that chang.
Anna Scanes
Simon Le
Simon says:
"The show isn't what you'd expect from a science podcast. It's loud, fast-paced, and relentlessly entertaining.
The panel discussion typically features 4 guests, and is filmed in front of a live audience and streamed online.
The subject of the show I participated in was ‘Ouch’, an exploration of the topic of pain."
Ayesha Kaak
Dr Clarke Jones
VENUE: The Whisky Room at the Civic Pub, Braddon, Canberra [see here for directions].
TIME: Doors open at 7pm for a 7:30pm start and food is available. End at 9:30pmish.
COST: $16 + 30c booking fee. $25 at the door if still available.
Like all mega-educated, anglo-saxon, middle class, white males, we don’t believe in anything (ever) that isn’t four thousand percent supported by rigorous, double-blind, randomised-control-trials and reviewed by every relevant expert in the world.
But other people, sheesh… they’ll believe anything anyone tells ‘em.
Of course we know you seasoned KindaThinkists are just like us, which means you’ve never even heard of some of the cray-cray myths and tales people buy into. But admit it, you’re at least a wee bit curious, entcha?
Join us as we light our skull-candles, gobble down some superfoods, avoid sitting on cold surfaces (you know why) and try and work out why it’s only the wives that have all the tales.
Science communication academicator and thoughticulturalist. Snowboardophile and guitar fetishist. Simply gushing with authentonesty. “One thing that defines me? My passion for homemade orthotics."
A scien comunicat academ with passon for politic and polic and tec, be the chang you want to see in the worl, Will grant willozap he that chang.
Dr David Caldicott
Beccy Hall
Dr David Stephens
Dr David Stephens is Secretary of Honest History. Honest History is a coalition of historians and others supporting the balanced and honest presentation and use of Australian history,
particularly during the centenary of World War I. David spent twenty years in the Australian Public Service, then ten years
as a consultant and government relations lobbyist. During 2011-13 he worked intensively on the successful campaign to prevent
the building of additional World War memorials in Canberra, to rival the Australian War Memorial.
Dr Greta Hawes
VENUE: The Whisky Room at the Civic Pub, Braddon, Canberra [ see here for directions].
TIME: Doors open at 7pm for a 7:30pm start and food is available. End at 9:30pmish.
COST: $16 + 30c booking fee. $25 at the door if still available.
It’s not often you hear someone being accused of heresy. And when you do, it’s usually a jaw-slackening example of balls-to-the-wall, first-order religious hyperbole of the first order.
But we at KindaThinky spared no expense when we looked up the word on our Googles and it said heresy is “… any provocative belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs or customs”. Suddenly, we realised there are heretics everywhere (everywhere).
So in the true spirit of the renaissance (or the enlightenment or something…), we thought we’d have a few beers and a nice chat about heresy with some like-minded deviants.
Science communication academicator and thoughticulturalist. Snowboardophile and guitar fetishist. Simply gushing with authentonesty. “One thing that defines me? My passion for homemade orthotics."
A scien comunicat academ with passon for politic and polic and tec, be the chang you want to see in the worl, Will grant willozap he that chang.
Robin Ince @robinince
Comedian, writer and that sort of thing. More at http://robinince.com/. See Robin's show Happiness Through Science in Canberra in April 2015.
Dr Caroline Fisher
Lecturer in journalism & creative writing at the University of Canberra discussing censorship in journalism.
Nathanael Coyne @NathanaelB
Christian cult escapee and survivor after twenty five years. Now 32 years old,
works in IT as a software designer, volunteers in environmental conservation, injured
wildlife rehabilitation and dog rescue.
Dr Simone Dennis
Dr Simone Dennis is an anthropologist who’s major research interests coalesce around theories of embodiment, migration, memory and the senses, and contemporary relations between bodies, power and space. But when it comes to real life Heresy, it’s her research into smoking and smokers in Australia that has really made people stare and point their fingers. Curious? Damn right you are...
VENUE: The Whisky Room at the Civic Pub, Braddon, Canberra [see here for directions].
TIME: Doors open at 7pm for a 7:30pm start and food is available. End at 9:30pmish.
COST: $16 + 30c booking fee. $25 at the door if still available.
In world full of risk, uncertainty and pants-wetting danger, all we everyday chaps and chapettes really want to know is that the monsters are being kept in their cages. And woah, are there a LOT of monsters to keep caged.
Start listing the things you want controlled and your head will get all twirly – there’s baddies and neighbours and financial advisers and sick people and strong people and guns and teenagers and traffic and physics and foreigners and diseases and … and, well heaps.
Not only is it exhausting keeping the monsters controlled, it’s at least as arduous agreeing on just who and what the monsters actually are. And that’s before arguing about how best to control the fekkers.
To kick-off KindaThinky season 2, we’re turning our all-seeing security cameras to everything controlly to check if things maybe aren’t quite as well ordered as we hoped.
Science communication academicator and thoughticulturalist. Snowboardophile and guitar fetishist. Simply gushing with authentonesty. “One thing that defines me? My passion for homemade orthotics."
A scien comunicat academ with passon for politic and polic and tec, be the chang you want to see in the worl, Will grant willozap he that chang.
Dr Jason Payne
Jo Cameron
Station Sergeant. Jo has been a police officer with the AFP for 18 years. She is currently the Officer-in-Charge of Tuggeranong Police Station. Prior to this she has worked in Crime Reduction and Intelligence, in a variety of roles including as an intelligence analyst and team leader. She has also worked in Criminal Investigations, is a designated Detective and started her career in General Duties including Beats and as a part-time member of ACT Policing’s former Search and Rescue Team.
Kristian Newell
Kristian is one of the Airservices air traffic controllers that safely and efficiently manages the airspace and aircraft movements at Canberra Airport. From the control tower, Kristian works between roles as the Aerodrome Controller, Surface Movement Controller and Tower Coordinator.
Cheryl Renouf
VENUE: The Whisky Room at the Civic Pub, Braddon, Canberra [see here for directions].
TIME: Doors open at 7pm for a 7:30pm start and food is available. End at 9:30pmish.
COST: No more tickets available for CONTROL. Book your tickets for HERESY.
How awesome is it being a creature of reason, huh?
We bloody love it, and we know you do too. Like you, we’re open-hearted, broad-minded, firm-buttocked and accepting creatures. We judge all arguments on their merits. We reflect on our own biases and let the facts drive them from us when we realise they’re based on evidence-free malarky.
And if you believe that, then we have a nice shiny bridge over Sydney Harbour we’re happy to sell you reeeal cheap.
Denial is everywhere. Denial is productive. Denial is comforting.
Denial is rational as all hell, but it is also totally, appalling and bowel-looseningly trashing many of the things smart people hold dear.
Sounds like something worth getting kinda thinky about, doesn’t it?
Rod Lamberts @rodl
Science communication academicator and thoughticulturalist. Snowboardophile and guitar fetishist. Simply gushing with authentonesty. “One thing that defines me? My passion for homemade orthotics."
Will Grant @willozap
A scien comunicat academ with passon for politic and polic and tec, be the chang you want to see in the worl, Will grant willozap he that chang.
Patrick Stokes
Lecturer in Philosophy at Deakin University. Winner of the Australasian Association of Philosophy Media Prize for 2013.
Florian Wertenauer
Psychiatrist at ACT Mental Health, Clinical Lecturer at ANU Medical School.
Dr Deborah Hill aka Bambi von Smash'er
Exhibition Coordinator, National Gallery of Australia, skater for Canberra Roller Derby League and Team Australia. Photo by Brett Sargeant, D-eye Photography.
VENUE: The Whisky Room at the Civic Pub, Braddon, Canberra [ see here for directions].
TIME: Doors open at 7pm for a 7:30pm start and food is available. End at 9:30pmish.
COST: No more tickets available for DENIAL. Sorry!
Want more? Let us know if you think we need more KindaThinky...
Murder is wrong, right? So's stealing. And racism, incest, lying, cheating, taking drugs, bullying, disrespecting your elders, failing to dob in a co-worker, dobbing in a co-worker, blaspheming, leaving the toilet seat up, forgetting your gran’s birthday, swearing at work, inappropriate touching, not living up to your potential, telling children there’s no santa and, and, and…
Jeebuz, being not-wrong is thirsty work. It's also completely, utterly and entirely impossible. Wrongness is based on ideas that people in the olden days simply made up. Seriously. The things that make you squirm make you squirm just cos somebody else told you to.
Don’t believe us? Come and get kinda thinky as we shine the bright light of rationality on why being wrong can feel just so goddamn right.
Rod Lamberts @rodl
Science communication academicator and thoughticulturalist. Snowboardophile and guitar fetishist. Simply gushing with authentonesty. “One thing that defines me? My passion for homemade orthotics."
Will Grant @willozap
A scien comunicat academ with passon for politic and polic and tec, be the chang you want to see in the worl, Will grant willozap he that chang.
Father Rod Bower
Post theistic, non-smoking, pro drinking meddlesome priest who avoids Christians, distrusts politicians and loves his wife and kids.
Dr Emmeline Taylor
Mancunian criminologist (a question, wrapped in a mystery, shrouded in an enigma).
Owen Nicholson
Sales Assistant, Christian, Dungeon Master and fan of tiny pastel horses.
Jules Kim
Sex worker activist, Acting CEO of Scarlet Alliance, Australian Sex Workers Association. Photo by Daniel Boud for Time Out Sydney magazine.
Wherever we go, our thinking, and our behaviour, is governed by limits. And so often we accept these limits with nary a passing thought.
But is this wise?
Think about it…
How much do you really know about the limits we impose upon ourselves, or that are imposed upon you? Why is 40 KPH OK in a school zone, but 41 is dangerous? Where’s the line between well and unwell? Who is just too middle class for middle class welfare?
Hell, how high is up? At what age are you old? Where's the line between us and them? And when, oh when, does enough officially become too much?
We’ve thought a lot about this, but it’s just no fun without you.
Come and get get kinda thinky with us as we bend our brains looking at who sets the limits, and burrow through some of the thinking behind them…
Rod Lamberts @rodl
Will Grant @willozap
A scien comunicat academ with passon for politic and polic and tec, be the chang you want to see in the worl, Will grant willozap he that chang.
Craig McPherson
Jody Fisher
Greg Jericho @GrogsGamut
Julie Grant
There’s more than one way to use a PhD, and this is some of them. KindaThinky rummages in the underpants of society’s hairiest issues. Who sets the limits? How do we know what’s wrong? Is denial just a river in Africa?
This is not your standard “smart folks bark facts at the masses” schtick. This is moderate velocity thinkings direct from the people who think them. With expert guests. And beer.
With a dedication that leaves no evidence-based stone unturned, KindaThinky unleashes a factopalanche of feelpinions on attractive and courageous* audiences.
Need something to talk about at work the next day? KindaThinky is your ticket to morning glory.
*You are attractive, you are courageous. Be all you can be. You’re worth it.
"
@rodland
@willozap's destructive, city-destroying asteroid of intellect can be stopped only by Bruce
Willis."
- Ketan Joshi, Wind Farm Guy
"My foul-mouthed acting teacher would pat these two guys on the head and tell you, "They make all the right choices."
- Randy Olson, author, "Don't Be Such a Scientist”
"Rod and Will - science’s definitive double act - remind us that serious stuff doesn't have to be dull."
- Catriona Jackson, CEO, Science & Technology Australia
“It is a fact that all scientific discussion is elevated by dick jokes. These guys do it the best."
- Dee Madigan, As seen on TV (a lot)