Witness artistic evolution in real time. In this profound second conversation, Dobell Prize winner Godwin Bradbeer accepts Dr. Steven Stolz's challenge to select three pivotal works from his 40+ year career and reveal the paradigm shifts that transformed both his art and his understanding of creative expression.

Through intimate analysis of three carefully chosen pieces, discover how artistic breakthroughs emerge from technical experimentation, philosophical questioning, and the courage to abandon what's comfortable. This is a masterclass in artistic development from one of Australia's most celebrated figurative artists.

🎯 THE CHALLENGE: Dr. Steven Stolz challenges Godwin to select three works that represent major shifts in his artistic journey—moments where technique, vision, and meaning converged to create something entirely new.

Step into the extraordinary world of one of Australia's most celebrated figurative artists. Godwin Bradbeer, winner of the prestigious Dobell Drawing Prize and former Head of Drawing at RMIT University, shares profound insights into the transformative power of art and creative expression.

In this captivating conversation, discover how large-scale figurative drawing becomes a meditation on the human condition, why technical mastery serves deeper spiritual purposes, and how four decades of artistic dedication has shaped one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary Australian art.

A major 2022 study tracking students over multiple years found that "adaptive perfectionism was related with better performance on the exam, whereas maladaptive perfectionism was not" (Endleman et al., 2022). Even more surprising, a 2024 study of 1,287 university students discovered that students with high perfectionism scores showed "higher levels of fatigue, anxiety, depression, and hostility" despite their academic focus.

"Can someone with PTSD fully recover?" This question haunts millions of trauma survivors and their families worldwide. The answer, according to Professor Sandy McFarlane's four decades of research, is both profound and hopeful: recovery doesn't mean returning to who you were before—it means becoming who you're meant to be.

After studying thousands of trauma survivors across military, civilian, and emergency service populations, Professor McFarlane has witnessed remarkable transformations that challenge our understanding of trauma's long-term impact. His research reveals that not only is recovery possible, but many survivors experience post-traumatic growth—emerging stronger, wiser, and more resilient than before their trauma.

Imagine a veteran with PTSD putting on VR goggles to safely confront their trauma triggers while AI monitors their stress responses and adjusts the therapy in real-time. This isn't science fiction—it's the current reality of digital health innovation in trauma treatment.

Professor Sandy McFarlane, whose research has shaped international PTSD treatment standards, recently shared his perspective on how technology is transforming trauma care. His insights reveal a future where human expertise is amplified by artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and sophisticated digital tools.

First responders are 10 times more likely to develop PTSD than the general population. Healthcare workers show rates of trauma-related symptoms comparable to war veterans. Yet most organizations treat mental health as an afterthought rather than a business imperative.

Professor Sandy McFarlane's groundbreaking research with over 25,000 military personnel, police officers, firefighters, and healthcare workers reveals a stark truth: workplace trauma is predictable, preventable, and costly when ignored—but manageable with the right strategies.

His research has influenced policy changes across multiple industries and countries, providing a roadmap for organizations serious about protecting their people's mental health.

Scroll Instagram for 10 minutes: perfect study setups, flawless skin, amazing vacations. Research shows "perfectionism rates among young people have skyrocketed 30% in recent decades"—and social media plays a major role.

Marcus has a 98% average but hasn't started his major project due in three days. How can someone who cares SO much about quality avoid doing the work? Research from Tehran University studying 200 students found that "individuals with higher scores in perfectionism scale revealed more academic procrastination in comparison with individuals with lower scores."

"One size fits all" approaches to PTSD treatment are becoming obsolete. After decades of research involving thousands of patients, we now understand that effective PTSD treatment requires personalized approaches that match specific interventions to individual needs and trauma types.

Professor Sandy McFarlane, whose research has influenced PTSD treatment protocols worldwide, recently shared insights that challenge many assumptions about trauma therapy. His work with over 25,000 military personnel and countless civilian trauma survivors reveals a treatment landscape far more sophisticated than the traditional talk therapy model.

Discover the fascinating research behind trauma resilience. Learn why most people don't develop PTSD and what factors protect mental health after traumatic experiences.

When we think about trauma, we often focus on its devastating effects. But what if I told you that most people who experience traumatic events don't develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? In fact, research shows that approximately 70% of trauma survivors demonstrate remarkable resilience, recovering naturally without developing chronic symptoms.

This surprising statistic comes from decades of groundbreaking research led by experts like Professor Sandy McFarlane, whose work following Australia's 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires fundamentally changed how we understand trauma and recovery.

For a comprehensive exploration of loneliness's health impacts and evidence-based strategies to address them, listen to our complete episode on the Deep Thinking Podcast, Episode 004. Dr. Stolz provides detailed guidance on recognising loneliness's health effects and implementing proven strategies for recovery. The episode includes extensive coverage of treatment approaches, prevention strategies, and hope for those experiencing the health impacts of chronic loneliness.

Dr. Steven Stolz brings unique credentials to this discussion. A Senior Lecturer at the University of Adelaide with a decade of secondary teaching experience, he hosts the popular podcast "Deep Thinking with Dr Steven Stolz." His interdisciplinary scholarship sits at the intersection of philosophy and education, with particular expertise in educational philosophy and theory.

As former Convener of AARE's "Educational Philosophy & Theory" special interest group and current editorial board member of leading academic journals, Stolz offers both theoretical depth and practical educational insight.

In the landscape of mental health research, few figures have had as profound and lasting an impact as Professor Gordon Parker AO. Over five decades, this distinguished psychiatrist has revolutionized our understanding of mood disorders, pioneered new diagnostic frameworks, and transformed how we approach mental health treatment—not just in Australia but globally.

In today's high-pressure work environment, burnout isn't just an individual health concern—it's a critical organizational challenge. According to Professor Gordon Parker AO, founder of the Black Dog Institute and Scientia Professor of Psychiatry at UNSW, workplace burnout costs businesses billions annually through lost productivity, increased absenteeism, higher turnover, and diminished innovation.

The Plot Twist: Your Drive Isn't the Enemy

The goal isn't eliminating high standards. Recent research distinguishes "perfectionism" from "excellencism," showing excellencism correlates with "academic performance, creative achievement, self-esteem, and openness to experience" while perfectionism correlates with "symptoms of depression, psychological distress, and dropout intentions" (Gaudreau et al., 2024).

The secret: Transform rigid perfectionism into flexible excellence.

Wanting to do well on a test? Healthy. Spending 12 hours on a single math problem because it's "not perfect enough"? Dangerous territory. Professor Tracey Wade developed the Clinical Perfectionism Questionnaire (CPQ) to distinguish between healthy striving and problematic perfectionism.

Burnout doesn't happen overnight. It's not a sudden collapse but rather a progressive deterioration—a slow erosion of energy, engagement, and effectiveness that many don't recognize until they're deep in its grip.

In a world where burnout has reached epidemic proportions, accurate identification remains surprisingly elusive. Traditional burnout measures often miss crucial dimensions of the experience, leading to delayed intervention and prolonged suffering. This gap in assessment tools prompted Professor Gordon Parker AO, founder of the Black Dog Institute and Scientia Professor of Psychiatry at UNSW, to develop a more comprehensive, nuanced approach: the Sydney Burnout Measure (SBM).

Are you the person who triple-checks your work? The one who stays late to "get it just right" while colleagues have long gone home? Do you find yourself unable to celebrate achievements because you're already focused on the next challenge?

If this sounds familiar, you may possess the perfectionist traits that drive success—but according to Professor Gordon Parker AO, founder of the Black Dog Institute and world-renowned psychiatry expert, these same qualities could be putting you at higher risk for burnout.

In our latest Deep Thinking podcast episode, we had the privilege of sitting down with Professor Gordon Parker AO, Scientia Professor of Psychiatry at the University of New South Wales and founder of the Black Dog Institute. With over five decades of clinical and research experience, Professor Parker has revolutionized our understanding of burnout and its relationship to depression – a distinction that proves critical for proper diagnosis and treatment.