In this episode, Ollie and Vinny dive deep into the world of New Year's resolutions, exploring the psychology, science, and societal pressures behind this annual tradition. From the biological roots of change resistance to the commercialisation of self-improvement, they leave no stone unturned in their quest to understand why we make (and break) these yearly commitments.

Join them as they discuss practical strategies for setting realistic goals, navigating the minefield of toxic positivity, and harnessing the power of habit formation to create lasting change. With a healthy dose of humor and relatable anecdotes, this conversation will make you rethink your approach to personal growth and embrace the ups and downs of the journey.

• ⏱️ [00:05:30] 📅 New Year, Same You? Examining the arbitrary nature of New Year's resolutions and the societal pressures that fuel them.
• ⏱️ [00:14:20] 🧠 The Science of Willpower: How our brains resist change and what we can do to overcome it.
• ⏱️ [00:28:45] 😊 The Trap of Toxic Positivity: Why embracing negative emotions is essential for personal growth and mental well-being.
• ⏱️ [00:42:10] 🎯 Micro-Resolutions and Habit Stacking: Practical strategies for setting achievable goals and building lasting habits.
• ⏱️ [00:52:12] 😅 Flops, Failures, and Small Triumphs: Vinny and Ollie (or not) share their own humorous attempts at change and learnings.

• 🌐Reads, Feeds, and everything you need at filterfeeders.fyi.
• 📚 Atomic Habits by James Clear: A must-read for anyone looking to understand the science of habit formation and create lasting change.
• 🧐 The Filtration Station: Join the conversation on our Discord server and share your own stories, struggles, and successes.

• 🗣️ Got a question or topic suggestion? Email us at pod@filterfeeders.fyi or leave a comment on the reads on filterfeeders.fyi.
• 📱 Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for bonus content, behind-the-scenes moments, and updates on upcoming episodes.

✨ If you enjoyed what you heard, please leave us a 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟review on your favorite podcast platform—it is literally the lifeline to keep us filtering! ✨

(...we are happy to return the favour, just tell us where!)

New Year's resolutions are a double-edged sword—they can inspire us to strive for personal growth, but they can also set us up for disappointment and self-judgment. By understanding the science behind change, setting realistic goals, and embracing the journey (flops and all), we can create a more compassionate and sustainable approach to self-improvement. So, as you embark on your own resolutions this year, remember to be kind to yourself, celebrate the small victories, and keep filtering out the noise to find what truly matters.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What’s life really like for monks and in monasteries? Forget the romanticized visions of perfection—this episode invites you behind the serene façades as Ollie and Vinny welcome Delson Armstrong, an accomplished meditation teacher and author whose deep dive into the monastic world offers unparalleled insight. With humour, raw honesty, and Delson’s years of experience navigating both traditional Buddhism and modern spirituality, this conversation uncovers the hidden truths of Buddhist practice. From debunking meditation myths to examining how monasteries adapt (or clash) with the modern world, Delson helps redefine what it means to walk the path to enlightenment.

So settle in—whether you’re a 🧘‍♂️ mindfulness novice or a seasoned seeker 🕉️, there’s something here for anyone curious 🤔 about the reality behind the Buddha’s iconic smile 😊.

⏱ [00:01:07] 😲 Breaking Down Enlightenment: Delson busts myths about what it means to spiritually awaken—can you have sex, relationships, and still find your inner Buddha?

⏱ [00:06:40] 🌓 The Shadows We Fear: How repressing life’s challenges under “toxic positivity” often leads to mental burnout and the courage it takes to face our darker selves.

⏱ [00:23:00] 📜 Buddhist Ethics in a Nutshell: Can spirituality adapt to a world of social media and capitalism? Ollie questions, Vinny ponders, Delson enlightens.

⏱ [00:37:50] 📱 Monks in the Digital Era: Delson elaborates on navigating 21st-century pressures—from social media to financial obligations—and whether modern monasticism can survive.

⏱ [00:52:12] 🕒 Too Busy to Be Mindful: How modern schedules clash with traditional practice—and ways to reclaim inner time.

• ✨ All things Delson Armstrong can be found at his site delsonarmstrong.com.
• 😱 Kill the Buddha! An exclusive article written by Delson for Filter Feeders Friends.
• 📝 Catch up with the latest newsletter and be reminded (not spammed) by subscribing to our site filterfeeders.fyi.

• 🗣️ Join the conversation at The Filtration Station, our Discord space for debates, memes, and mindfulness chat.
• 📨 Got a question or feedback? Write to us at pod@filterfeeders.fyi.
• 📱 Links to our socials are available on the Filter Feeders site, plus updates and bonus musings.

And don’t forget to leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review—Vinny’s mum awaits your thoughts.

So breathe deeply, question deeply, and keep seeking your own middle path.

Stay curious and, just maybe, a little mischievous. 😏

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this very first edition of UNFILTERED, Ollie and Vinny throw caution (and filters) to the wind to tackle the chaos surrounding Trump’s re-election. From emotional reactions to global implications, they’re diving deep, ranting responsibly, and asking the big questions:

• “Why is everyone so obsessed with America when we live in the internet?” and...
• “Is it time to start stocking up on canned goods... or tanning oil?”

Expect candid reflections, some healthy emotional unpacking, and even a bit of self-deprecating humor as they navigate the political circus that is modern democracy. Whether you’re democrat, republican, or don't man, we are here to commiserate, celebrate, or simply make sense of it all.

---

0:00 – Introduction: Welcome to UNFILTERED! Ollie and Vinny set the stage for a no-holds-barred discussion about Trump’s re-election. 🎤

03:08 – Why talk about it?: Ollie dives into why Trump’s presidency matters globally—even to Australians. 🦘

06:45 – Emotional reactions: Ollie shares how he went from denial to acceptance in 20 minutes like breaking up with a toxic ex.

😲😧😰😱😵‍💫😕☹😓😭😢😤😠🤬😵‍💫😒😑🤨🧐🤔🙂‍↕😌😊🙃🙂😌😎

17:47 – Media bias: Are we all just parroting narratives? 🦜

21:30 – Objectivity probably not useful: Ollie refeclts on the sisyphean reality of being objective in todays media soup.🍲

23:50 – Our resident facts guru: Vinny surprises Ollie with the numbers behind the events. What story do they tell? 🙀

44:30 – Looking ahead: Why JD Vance might make you wish for the “good old days” of Trump. 🔮

32:50 – Embracing uncertainty: Why we all need to trust the process, and focus inwards for lifes true purpose, even if we don’t love the results. 🗳

59:10 – Bernie Sanders drops in: He is Bernie Sanders! 👴

---

🧠 Want to dive deeper? Read Ollie's full article "Maybe: A Reflection on Trump's Re-Election" on our site.

📬 Email: Got thoughts? Send them our way at pod@filterfeeders.fyi

💬 The Filtration Station: Join our Discord community, where debates are as lively as Vinny’s metaphors.

---

🌟 Rate & Review: If you love what you hear, drop a 5-star rating and a review! Help us climb the charts (and impress our parents). Every star and follow keeps our mics on, our brains ticking, and our dreams afloat 🛟

🙏 Thank you for being part of the Filter Feeders community. Your support means the world to us 🌎

Tune in, chuck the filter out, and give your brain some peace...

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we delve into the intricate web of sustainability, exploring how our actions today shape the world of tomorrow. Join Ollie, Vinny, and special guest Kylie Beale as they dissect the essence of sustainability, challenge the role of corporations, and discuss innovative solutions for a greener planet. From urban agriculture to the impact of policy, we're filtering out the noise to bring you the pearls of wisdom - and unlike fast fashion, these insights never go out of style!

---

0:00 – Introduction: Welcome, welcome, welcome! Our hosts set the stage for a deep dive into sustainability. 🎤

01:12 – Is sustainability just a buzzword? Kylie tackles the corporate co-opting of environmental terms. 🗣️

05:47 – The reality of recycling: Kylie explains why not consuming is the ultimate sustainable act. ♻️

09:22 – Global vs. local: The importance of localized food systems in the face of global challenges. 🍅

13:31 – Greenwashing explained: How companies use sustainability for profit rather than impact. 🌿

20:03 – Urban agriculture and city design: The future of green urban spaces. 🌆

24:55 – The role of governments: Kylie discusses the need for regulatory frameworks to enforce sustainability. 🏛️

29:11 – Consumerism and capitalism: A critique on how these systems affect our planet. 💸

33:42 – Technological solutions: Innovations in farming and waste management for a sustainable future. 🌐

37:21 – The power of policy: How legislation can drive systemic change in environmental practices. 📜

40:42 – Regenerative agriculture vs. traditional farming: Understanding the shift in agricultural practices. 🌱

45:29 – The future outlook: Are we doomed or is there hope? Kylie shares her insights on humanity's path. 🌍

---

🧠 Feeling curious? Dive deeper and find our socials, feeds, and reads at filterfeeders.fyi

✉️ Email us at pod@filterfeeders.fyi

💡 Don't let your curiosity go hungry, dive deeper at filterfeeders.fyi and get lost in the The Reads – our companion blog featuring episode insights and the occasional extra ramble. Make sure you subscribe now and let's keep those mental gears turning! 🧠🚀

🫧 Dive into The Filtration Station—our Discord community, where curiosity meets conversation!

--

🌀 Don’t let us drift in obscurity! Help us impress our parents and sail to podcast stardom by rating, subscribing, and sharing Filter Feeders with your fellow curious minds.

🌟Every star and follow keeps our mics on, our brains ticking, and our dreams afloat 🛟

Tune in, filter out, and give your brain a feast...

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Where we ponder, peel back, and plunge into the depths of art’s influence on society! In this episode, we take on the timeless allure of art and its profound impact through human history. Join Ollie and Vinny as they debate what art means, question whether beauty is an innate or learned response, and even chuckle over a shredded Banksy piece. Let’s untangle how art not only mirrors but shapes the world we live in.

---

00:00 – Take two! Ollie and Vin kick off the show with a synchronized start attempt 🎬

01:12 – Defining art: Is it subjective or universal? 🎨

05:47 – Cave art origins: Earliest humans leave their mark 🪨

09:22 – The ‘Fountain’ dilemma: What makes something art? 🚰

13:31 – Beauty and biology: Darwin, dopamine, and aesthetic evolution 🌱

20:03 – From Renaissance to Pop Art: Shifts in societal reflection 🖼️

24:55 – Banksy, activism, and the “shredded painting” stunt 🔥

29:11 – Art, value, and capitalism: What drives the price tag? 💸

33:42 – Can art truly drive social change? 🌊

47:21 - Salvador Dalí: Ollie's favorite surrealist and his unexpected connection to a famous candy logo. 🍭

50:42 - Art for Art's Sake?: Do artists create for themselves or for their audience? 🎭

55:29 - The Future of Art: What forms might visual art take in the future? Holograms? AI? Cats in space? 🚀

---

🧠 Feeling curious? Dive deeper and find our socials, feeds, and reads at filterfeeders.fyi

✉️ Email us at pod@filterfeeders.fyi

📖 Discover more on our blog at filterfeeders.fyi/the-read

🫧 Dive into The Filtration Station—our Discord community, where curiosity meets conversation!

Don't let your curiosity go hungry - subscribe now and let's keep those mental gears turning! 🧠🚀

Love what you’re hearing? Don’t let us drift in obscurity! 🌊

Help us impress our parents and sail to podcast stardom by rating, subscribing, and sharing Filter Feeders with your fellow curious minds.

Every star and follow keeps our mics on, our brains ticking, and our dreams afloat 🛟

Tune in, filter out, and give your brain a feast...

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Where we sift through the sea of ideas so you don't have to! Join us for our first official episode as we dive into the choppy waters of technology. Is it friend or foe? Are we sailing towards a digital utopia or heading for a shipwreck? Tune in as we navigate these murky depths with a dash of humor and a boatload of curiosity!

---

Episode Highlights:

00:00 - Meet your captains: Ollie and Vinny set sail

00:56 - Technology: Lifesaver or anchor?

03:03 - Vinny's birthday bash (and food poisoning bash)

05:00 - Ancient wisdom meets modern tech: Bhagavad Gita insights

07:36 - Ollie vs. AI: The great vacuum cleaner standoff

10:19 - Improv class: Where "yes, and" meets tech

15:36 - From quills to qubits: Tech's wild ride

20:11 - First wheel, first traffic jam: Unintended consequences

25:49 - Is tech solving problems or creating new ones?

30:33 - Reclaiming your brain in the digital age

37:45 - The sneaky ways tech pulls our strings

45:02 - Modern Luddites: Resisting the robot overlords

---

How good is your attention span? Watch the following video to find out:

Test for severity of attention deficit - https://youtu.be/EI-bIfC4rVM?si=rqGJKuV5X6sFALnT

---

Feeling curious? Dive deeper and find our socials on filterfeeders.fyi!

Join our Discord community, The Filtration Station - where open minds and diverse perspectives collide!

Read our Filtered Feed - the blog accompanying each pod at filterfeeders.fyi/the-read

Don't let your curiosity go hungry - subscribe now and let's keep those mental gears turning! 🧠🚀

Tune in, filter out, and give your brain a feast...

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Where two global nomads sift through the sea of ideas so you don't have to! In this pre-launch bonus episode, Ollie and Vinny reunite in person for the first time in years, proving that time zones, hemispheres, and questionable taxi decisions can't keep them apart. Prepare yourself for a whirlwind introduction to the chaos of Third Culture Kids (TCKs), their globetrotting misadventures, and the beauty of asking more questions than finding answers. Strap in for a laugh, a ponder, and maybe a few awkward silences as we kick off this journey of curiosity!

Episode Highlights

00:00 - The universe aligns: Ollie and Vinny's first in-person podcast! 🤜🏽🤛🏻

01:15 - Vinny's travel saga: From wrong airports to wallet-crippling taxi rides 💸

03:40 - Border Patrol adventures: The power of smiley face t-shirts 😊

07:55 - Australian wildlife management 101: Cane toads, freezers, and the weirdest school competition ever 🐸

12:31 - The birth of Filter Feeders: From high school phone calls to podcast dreams 🎧

18:22 - Deep-diving into random topics: From sewing machines to quantum mechanics (yes, really) 🪡⚛️

23:45 - Global nomads unite: What's it like to never truly feel at home? 🏠🌎

27:58 - The Third Culture Kid (TCK) experience explained

34:12 - Patriotism vs. open-mindedness: Are we breaking down borders or building walls? 🧱

40:31 - The fine art of listening: How to survive a debate without yelling 🗣️👂

47:50 - Ollie's top tip: Don't say what you want to say, say what they need to hear 💡

52:09 - Wrapping up: Can we all just get along? (Spoiler: We're trying)

• Feeling curious? Dive deeper and find our socials on filterfeeders.fyi!
• Join our Discord community, The Filtration Station - where open minds and diverse perspectives collide!
• Read our Filtered Feed - the blog accompanying each pod at filterfeeders.fyi/the-read

Let's kick off this conversation with more questions than answers, and maybe learn something unexpected along the way! 🧠💬🌊

Tune in, filter out, and give your brain a feast...

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

IA09Otchp0CN5nJxLK5b

From the granular to the cosmic, from the ephemeral to the eternal, Filter Feeders are cognizant explorers with open minds, casting a wide web on science, spirituality, and everything interconnected in between.

Are you constantly why-ing the world around you? Welcome to Filter Feeders, the podcast where everything is food for thought. Hosted by Ollie and Vinny—two friends with wildly different obsessions but a shared love for deep dives—this show serves up a polymathic buffet of ideas, stories, and some light chaos.

From philosophy and science to art, modern culture, and the occasional weird internet rabbit hole, we dish out smart, funny, and occasionally life-changing conversations. (Yes, we said life-changing—don’t judge.)

Expect the unexpected. Hot takes, deep explorations, guest experts, and random disputes await you. And we’ll always leave room for dessert: humour. 🍰

You are here. Filter Feeders are here. As you read this, even from afar, the neurons in our brains are firing in sync, craving new connections—a deeply ingrained yearning satiated only by diving into the thoughtforms and structures of perceived reality.

The gates of data are wide open. The reservoirs of your mind are flooded by rivers of information, shimmering beams of particulates and fractals in all directions. The fluxional matrix projects outward from binary black boxes and server rooms. The structure holds itself together, for now. What is truth? What is illusion?

Just like you, Filter Feeders are here to discover what we know and what we don't know, as individuals and as a collective.

Where have we been? Where are we now? Where are we going?

Filter Feeders are curious, but not experts! Filter Feeders have opinions, but not judgements! Filter Feeders embrace the questions, but not illusionary answers!

🔗 Subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts and join the conversation over at filterfeeders.fyi, for all your reads, feeds, and information you need!

📬 Email: Got thoughts? Send them our way at pod@filterfeeders.fyi

💬 The Filtration Station: Join our Discord community, where debates are as lively as Vinny’s metaphors.

---

🌟 Rate & Review: If you love what you hear, drop a 5-star rating and a review! Help us climb the charts (and impress our parents). Every star and follow keeps our mics on, our brains ticking, and our dreams afloat 🛟

🙏 Thank you for being part of the Filter Feeders community. Your support means the world to us 🌎

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.