Defiance And Discomfort - Bob Brown On Life Outside The Orthodoxy

This week’s guest is an icon of Australia’s environmental movement and someone I was both thrilled and daunted getting to spend some time with recently. Bob Brown is on the show and he is someone who needs little introduction. Politician, environmentalist, doctor, activist - few in this country have done as much to protect and preserve wild places, to advocate for same sex rights and challenge political orthodoxy over the last 50 years.

Bob is a legend to me. He entered my consciousness in high school modern history along with Jack Mundy and their respective campaigns to prevent the damming of the Franklin River in the 1980s and the Green Bans in Sydney in the late 1970s respectively. Both represented efforts to avoid the destruction of natural beauty and cultural heritage. At the time of my schooling, Bob was a Senator in the Australian Parliament and leader of the Greens Party. His writings and speeches spoke to me - a kid who grew up confused by ecological destruction and determined to play a role in the injustice of human behaviour on landscape and other species.

When the opportunity to chat with Bob came up and even though he only had 30 minutes, I had to say yes. If this endeavour has taught me anything, it’s to say yes to what is daunting as on the other side of that fear and insecurity lies an experience both memorable and meaningful. Meeting one of my heroes was exactly that. We chat about Bob’s latest book - Defiance - as well as his history activating others, interrupting the US President in the Australian Parliament and what the campaign to save the Franklin Dam and what seemed like a near-hopeless effort teaches us in this moment.

So Bob Brown. This was an honour that I know will stay with me for a long time. I hope it resonates with you too.

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