Episodes
Symphony of a Mind
"If you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism." Today I had the privilege to meet one person with autism. Stuart Ross Carlson is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder but he is defined by his extraordinary musical ability. He is a concert violinist and composer. I tried to understand the contradiction between the very earthly challenges that Stuart and his family face every day and the apparent ethereal effortlessness with which he communicate…
Confessions of a Voice Actor
Today’s guest spends a lot of time in his garden. But he cultivates voices rather than plants. Tim is a voice actor and his garden is where the real magic happens - in his voice booth. It’s his own personal oasis, except instead of palm trees and coconuts, he has microphones and soundproofing foam. Find out about the life of a voice actor as well as meeting a few of Tim’s friends; Liam Neeson, King Charles III, David Attenborough, Sean Connery and Nelson Mandela. His impersonations will make…
Vietnam War: The Trail
The story of the Vietnam War has been told many times in many different ways. But how often have you heard what it was like on the ground for infantry soldiers walking The Trail - that daily grind of cutting through the jungle in pursuit of the enemy? The unbearable heat, leeches, C-rations, booby traps, ambushes and counter-ambushes. It’s a gripping and terrifying story which my guest Robin, a Vietnam Veteran, tells with passion and surprising humour. It’s a story that must be told over and…
Access Denied: The Kursk Submarine Rescue Story
In August 2000, the Russian nuclear-powered submarine Kursk sank in the Barents Sea, resulting in the loss of all 118 crew members. At the time, the UK Royal Navy's submarine rescue team was one of the best-equipped in the world, and they offered their services to help save the trapped crew. Access was denied. Today’s guest, Mark, was part of that team.
Mark has led a colourful life, which has generally involved putting his life in danger for a cause. He tells his story with unn…
Gough Whitlam Was Out To Lunch
It was a mad moment in Australian political history; The 1975 Australian Constitutional Crisis - but don’t let that title put you off! It’s a story of double-crossing, conspiracy theories, the CIA, Australia - a mature world democracy - without a government, demonstrations, dissent and a country in crisis. And all, perhaps, because Gough Whitlam was out to lunch.
I was so grateful to Australian historian Barry York for talking me through this extraordinary story. Never has politics b…
Date Me
Dating can be hard enough. But imagine you had been involved in a life-changing accident, were adapting to a new life in a wheelchair and were ready to pick up from where you left off with… boys. Date Me is such a story of a young girl who experiences the highs and lows of human interaction. Find out how she takes back control.
If you’re feeling a little sorry for yourself right now, listen in to this episode for a pick-me-up. Kristin has endured more than most in her life to date. P…
Repeatedly Dead Fred
Cats have 9 lives. Fred Rutman has at least 20. One night in May 2009, he died - three times. That summer, he died another 17 times. Find out how this incredible story led to a new life of intermittent fasting. You will be surprised at the results.
Fred has certainly gone through the mill in his lifetime. He has managed to turn adversity into something very positive. His discovery of intermittent fasting as a new way of life was fascinating. His eloquence particularly struck me on th…
The Jar
Here’s a definition of insanity for you: throwing in a good job, leaving behind a salary and travelling 10,000 miles across the globe to follow a hunch, a seed of an idea. Then driving around the United States, randomly turning up in bars to interview complete strangers and asking them deep personal questions about themselves. That’s what Ken did. Find out how he got on.
Personal comment:
Ken was great fun to talk with. He’s taken some risks in life but his most recent one seems t…
The Arizonian Nomad
Can you imagine selling all your worldly possessions, your house, your car, your furnishings and reducing your ownership of ‘things’ to a 22-inch suitcase and a backpack? Well, that’s exactly what today’s guest did, leaving Arizona to travel the world as a digital nomad. Find out how she did it.
Personal comment:
Brenda was on a house sit for a friend near my home. Since she was from Arizona in the United States, some 5,000 miles away, I was curious. And so I sprung myself on Bren…
Better The Devil You Know
Having previously spoken to near-death experience witnesses, I was keen to uncover how science viewed this extraordinary phenomenon. I tracked down data scientist David Gerrelli. I wasn’t expecting what I heard.
Personal comment:
Having spoken with Kathy McDaniel in 4. Misfit in Hell to Heaven ExPat about her personal near-death experience, I was seeking some form of confirmation that near-death experiences could be more than just hallucinations. David provided anecdotal evidence …
Double Trouble
Can you imagine what it’s like to breathe through someone else’s lungs? Alastair Henry does. In 2020 he had a double lung transplant at the age of 75. He’s only too aware of his responsibility to the donor, to make the best of this gift of extra life. Alastair shares his story and thoughts on organ donation.
Personal comment:
It was great to have Alastair back on the podcast. You may remember him from Episode No. 9 - Awakening in the Northwest Territories where he shared an extrao…
Extroverts Don’t Need Any Help
How are your communication skills these days? No, I don’t mean public speaking or standing up to make a presentation. How are you communicating with your spouse, your children, and your postman? Brenden Kumarasamy, the founder of MasterTalk and top communications coach, shares some simple tips for us all. He’s a blast, by the way. His comments on introverts are hilarious (and I’m one!)
About Brenden:
Brenden is the founder of MasterTalk, he coaches ambitious executives & entre…
Edmund, Churchill and Thatcher
Have you ever wondered if Margaret Thatcher ever met Sir Winston Churchill? If you search, you’ll find that nobody really knows. However, one person does know; Edmund Murray, Churchill’s last bodyguard. Also, What happened when Winston Churchill demanded to see his bodyguard’s latest paintings?
This is the third and final part of the Edmund Murray trilogy. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have. It started with some writing on a wall and led me down an amazing rabbit hole leadi…
Edmund, Churchill and Onassis
Edmund Murray was Winston Churchill’s last bodyguard and as such he witnessed situations and events like no other. What happened when Mrs Onassis, Maria Callas and Jackie Kennedy ended up on the yacht Christina at the same time? What really happened to Churchill’s budgerigar?
This is the second of our Edmund Murray trilogy. This is the story that keeps giving. Reading through Edmund Murray’s autobiography - Winston Churchill's Last Bodyguard - is a pleasure. It’s packed with sto…
Winston Churchill's Last Bodyguard
Have you ever found a handwritten inscription behind an old bathroom cabinet and not stopped to read it? In that case, you may be kicking yourself by the time you’ve finished listening to the series of events which uncovered the life of one of Winston Churchill’s closest confidants - his last bodyguard.
Links:
Bill mentions below that he is currently Chairman of the Dartmoor Society. Why not take a quick look to see how one group in the South West of England looks to protect its l…
Secondhand Embarrassment
Have you heard of secondhand embarrassment? Imagine you’re sitting on a train next to a toilet with an automatic opening door. And then, for no reason, it starts to open. Think this could never happen?
If you’re going to ask others to sharing stories, then it is only fair if you share a story yourself. So, here goes - this is my first personal story on Batting the Breeze. I hope you like it.
Next week's episode
[Episode 12] Winston Churchill's Last Bodyguard - Ha…
A Holotropic Journey
In the 50’s and 60’s, a pharmaceutical company in Switzerland released the psychedelic drug LSD to encourage research of possible beneficial effects for psychological struggles or psychiatric illness. Psychedelic drugs were subsequently outlawed. Most people don’t realise that there is a legal, much safer option to achieve non-ordinary states of consciousness today. Neil Harris explains.
Neil has been a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst for over 30 years. It was fascinating to listen to…
Awakening in the Northwest Territories
If you’ve retired, are nearing retirement or have ever considered what life looks like after work, you may want to listen in. Alastair Henry provides an alternative to seeing out your days cutting grass and playing golf. And if you haven’t contemplated any of this, well listen in anyway. It’s a charming story.
Thank you Alastair for providing me with a smile and an insight into life well north of the 49th parallel. It's been a pleasure to listen in.
Connect with Alastair…
From Belarus with Love
At the last count, 221 million people have migrated, ie moved from their “country of usual residence”; that’s 3.5% of the world’s population. Of these, just short of 80 million were forcibly moved from their homes as refugees, asylum seekers, or internally displaced. But there are many that move to join their families, to study or to seek a new life. I was lucky enough to catch up with one such person seeking a new life. She’s a gem.
Thank you Varvara for sharing your story with me. …
Is Anybody There?
Have you ever visited a psychic medium? Perhaps you’re a little tentative? Or perhaps you think it's all hocus-pocus. You may be surprised on all three counts.
Thank Jules, for such an illuminating chat. You are a gem. It was a joy to hear these often misunderstood beliefs and happenings clarified in such a matter-of-fact way. Incidentally, if after you've listened to this episode you feel a need for some relaxation, then Jules can help there too - she's also a holisti…
How to Lose Friends and Alienate People
My guest today ran for the UK parliament in 2019. Spoiler Alert - he didn't get in! That was the year when the UK was devouring itself on the subject of Brexit. Listen to his hilarious account of fighting to become an MP and find out what advice he would give to anyone thinking of doing the same. [WARNING: This episode includes 1 expletive at 06:57]
A big thank you to Edward, we had a scream putting this episode together. It just proves that you can inject humour into politics b…
Marsy's Law
Listen to the tragic story of a young man and his family, and how the law fails families like this time after time. Also, listen to his subsequent fight for justice and find out how you could play a small part in helping. [WARNING: Contains adult themes.]
It has been a pleasure and a privilege to talk with David. He speaks with such strength and dignity for a man who has experienced such a devastating loss. I wish him, his family and all the Marsy's Law teams across the USA the …
Misfit in Hell to Heaven Expat
Have you ever had that experience where life was ticking over quite nicely, and everything felt normal? And then something happened, and suddenly life wasn't normal anymore. What about if that something was that you died?
AUDIOCLIP FROM MISFIT IN HELL TO HEAVEN EXPAT
It's hell in there...
You can find an extended version of this episode at:
youtube.com/@battingthebreeze
Thanks to Kathy for sharing a fantastic experience. If you would like to know more …
A Tale of Two Mothers
If you need a lift, listen to the story of David Figueroa. He was born with cerebral palsy in Puerto Rico with very little chance of creating a fulfilling life for himself. Take a look where he is now, and how the love of two mothers helped to get him there. Inspirational.
This podcast is also available as an extended version
youtube.com/@battingthebreeze/extended
Contact me:
steve@battingthebreeze.com
Contact David, he would love to hear from you.
David Figu…