IN CONVERSATION WITH Professor Vicknes Waran
BRAZEN sits down for a chat with Professor Vicknes Waran, whose insatiable curiosity and sense of playfulness informs not only his work — as a senior consultant neurosurgeon, medical director, university professor and engineer — but the way he lives his whole life.
BRAZEN RECOMMENDS: 5 Practical Steps to Become Less Shy and More Confident
BRAZEN recommends this Unjaded Jade video which we all needed in our awkward teenager/young adult phase, when talking to other people was the most difficult thing in the world. Whether you’re currently in that phase or have already moved past it, this video provides a nice dose of light and inspiration to put yourself out there and make some new connections.
WORDS OF WISDOM: Richard Feynman
“Study hard what interests you in the most undisciplined, irreverent and original manner possible.” - Richard Feynman
BRAZEN RECOMMENDS: All Work and All Play
BRAZEN recommends one of our favourite videos of all time — a call to arms for the creators, innovators and passion-driven young people who are changing the world as we know it; and a joyful dose of inspiration to start doing whatever it is that you love most.
INSPIRING CURIOSITY IN A DISTRACTED AGE
In an age where everything we could possibly want is at our fingertips, it takes a certain amount of intention to satisfy our endless curiosity without getting jaded or carried away. Luckily, Carissa Morais has some great perspectives to share on how we can do this.
BRAZEN RECOMMENDS: Forget What You Know
BRAZEN highly recommends this TED talk by young Jacob Barnett, whose autism diagnosis at just two years old prompted his mother to homeschool him and allow him to pursue his interests at his own pace — which turned out to be one of the best decisions they could have made.
EXPERIMENT: Asking the Right Questions
In this experiment, we explore how asking the right questions can turn any situation into an opportunity for learning and discovery.
BRAZEN RECOMMENDS: Curiosity is the Greatest Act of Rebellion
BRAZEN recommends this highly entertaining TED talk on curiosity and human behaviour by Robin Ince, whose passion and enthusiasm for his subject makes it all the more fun to watch!
ASKING FOR LOVE
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou
In this article, Shanita Lyn explores how asking the right questions can lead to deeper connections and, she hopes, a better world.
BRAZEN RECOMMENDS: Earthrise
BRAZEN recommends this online platform created by Jack Harries, Finn Harries and Alice Aedy which aims to provide “a new perspective on the climate crisis,” and harness the much needed dose of “optimism and imagination required to build the world we so urgently need.” 👏🏽
QUESTIONS ON CHANGE
What changes do you want to see in your lifetime?
What are you going to do to make them happen?
BRAZEN RECOMMENDS: Shit You Should Care About
BRAZEN recommends this highly informative Instagram account, run by three girls from New Zealand who work tirelessly to deliver no-bullshit updates on what's happening in the world that we really should be paying more attention to.
WORDS OF WISDOM: Roy T. Bennett
“Don’t just exist, live.”
Quote by Roy T. Bennett. Designed by Shanita Lyn.
BRAZEN RECOMMENDS: 5 Lessons I’ve Learned about Racism
BRAZEN recommends this video by Ali Abdaal who, in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, takes some time to reflect on his own privilege in society, what he’s learned about racism over the years, and where he’s still making efforts to improve.
EXPERIMENT: Changing the Story
Here’s a neat little mind trick to try the next time you’re in a situation that could do with some improvement. Have you tried it?
BRAZEN RECOMMENDS: The Kingdom
BRAZEN recommends this short documentary about Sonam Phuntsho, a forest caretaker who has singlehandedly planted over 100,000 trees in his lifetime.
FEAR AND CHANGE
A young Asian woman in a Western country muses on the fluidity of identity and figuring out what home means in an ever-changing world.
Written by Chloe Sim.
BRAZEN RECOMMENDS: The Danger of a Single Story
BRAZEN recommends this TED talk by the novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, on the dangers of buying into limited perspectives and the importance of seeking out more diverse narratives.
IN CONVERSATION WITH: Vix Chandra
BRAZEN sits down with Vix Chandra — otherwise known as Sayla, or one half of Dose Two — to chat about change, creativity, authenticity, fatherhood and his latest album.
Interview by Shanita Lyn.
WORDS OF WISDOM: Nothing Changes if Nothing Changes
“Nothing changes if nothing changes.”
Designed by Adwin Su.