Dr Andrew Bengsen talks to us this week about controlling ferals! Animals that is. Andrew has over 15 years’ experience in pest animal management or research and has been with the NSW Department of Primary Industries, Vertebrate Pest Research Unit for a decade.

But also we discuss Andrew’s first career in the military- including serving in Rwanda over the period of the tragic and confronting Kibeyo massacre.

We talk about luck- both good and bad. And perspective.

As well as Andrews ‘role’ (very poor choice of words Tim) in the recent NSW floods, where Andrew’s family home was destroyed by the rising flood waters.

06:00 Andrew’s growing up and not finishing school. Joining the Army

11:45 Operational deployments being rare. Enter Rwanda

15:00 The complexity and challenges of peacekeeping operations

20:24 22 April 1995, the Kibeyo Massacre

24:00 Post Rwanda study … even without finishing school.

27:20 Being a bouncer in Townsville and learnings

34:00 Continuing study and enter into feral research (zoology and tropical ecology). The impact of feral animals and how we control them

47:20 Complexity!

55:00 Talking about the impact of the NSW Floods

1:01:00 The importance of community during the disaster

More on NSW DPI and Andrews Work is here:

https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/staff/profiles/andrew-bengsen

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-bengsen-b7913a193/

Contact Us

www.unforgiving60.com

Email us at debrief@unforgiving60.com

Instagram, Twitter: @Unforgiving60

Music …. With thanks to:

The Externals – available on Spotify

Mitchell Martin- available on Spotify

Ruth Clare, quite rightly, describes herself as a “multi-passionate human who doesn't fit neatly into a box!” Her formal credits include being a TEDx and motivational keynote speaker, award-winning author, embodied speaking coach, performer, mental health and child voice activist, as well as a qualified scientist with demonstrated expertise in authenticity, resilience and change. In this podcast, Ruth speaks with the boys about her traumatic childhood, which she captures in her truly moving memoir Enemy. But more than this, she also speaks about her growth from that point, and what she’s learned about the mind, the body and human interaction along the way.

04:42 Opening with a sobering quote from Ruth’s book

06:45 What was it like to be living as a child under the spectre of domestic violence?

10:30 Why Ruth wrote her book Enemy and what she’s learnt about some of the drivers for her father’s violence

16:30 Did Ruth ever feel safe at home?

20:30 How Ruth has worked to deal with the trauma that she suffered as a child, including focusing on her internal locus of control

27:00 Broaching the issues of PTSD with people who may be suffering…and the potential downsides of ‘trigger warnings’

37:15 Discussions on contemporary treatments for PTSD

47:30 Ruth’s resilience tools

52:20 Ruth’s power song!

External Links

Ruth’s website

Ruth’s Insta

Ruth’s book, Enemy

Contact Us

www.unforgiving60.com

Email us at debrief@unforgiving60.com

Instagram, Twitter: @Unforgiving60

Music …. With thanks to:

The Externals – available on Spotify

CONTENT WARNING- This episode discusses mental health challenges and suicidal ideations as well as discussing the tragic death of a veteran.

Adam Blum had a troubled start to life, plagued by health issues and enduring a debilitating series of surgical procedures.

His school years were a torture.

Experiencing health and weight issues and diagnosed with ADHD, Adam faced constant bullying. His self-esteem was shattered under the weight of the relentless taunts and physical abuse of his peers. The persistent bullying continued into adulthood and in the workplace. At the age of 22, while suffering from severe depression, Adam decided to take his own life. But one vision and then a phone call changed his destiny.

We discuss forging fortitude, and how, Adam’s life was saved to enable him to become Adam V2.0

Adam lives in the foothills of the Blue Mountains and is currently a firefighter with the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS). He is the creator and host of a highly successful podcast called True Blue Conversations (Formerly True Blue History).

Adam is the author of ‘Easy Target’ which he hopes will help others build their own inner strength and self-worth.

04:00 Adam talks growing up, health issues and bullying- and its impact

09:10 Adam’s social networks to combat the negativity

12:30 Adams advice now to his high school self

15:05 ‘I’m not a victim’- the mindset

16:30 Adam talks about the catalytic moment that triggered his suicide attempt

26:13 The psychological angle and link to Adam’s weight and physical appearance.

30:55 Losing fingernails in trying to get through repeated obstacles… what else was Adam doing outside the medical and psychological- the positive people

35:15 Happiness and people/ social connections. Where did Adam find his tribe?

39:05 Adam enabled and facilitated his own turn around- & the secret to success

41:50 Silencing the voice in your head…. And creativity

47:25 Creativity and inspiration- and discipline!

48:55 Why write the book?

49:33 Ben and Tim are two -thirds of an author

54:00 Talking about Nick Hill who Tim and Adam both knew

External Links

www.Adamblum.com.au

https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/adam-blum/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-blum-b49249218/?originalSubdomain=au

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/true-blue-conversations-podcast/id1508857453

Contact Us

www.unforgiving60.com

Email us at debrief@unforgiving60.com

Instagram, Twitter: @Unforgiving60

Music …. With thanks to:

The Externals – available on Spotify

Mitchell Martin- song ‘Hope’