Deep Thinking with Dr. Steven Stolz
Join Dr. Steven Stolz, education philosopher and Senior Lecturer at the University of Adelaide, as he translates complex academic research into practical wisdom for everyday challenges. This bi-weekly podcast explores topics like burnout, loneliness, sleep science, and mindfulness, offering evidence-based strategies for personal development and mental wellbeing. Through thoughtful solo deep dives and expert conversations, Stolz breaks down sophisticated concepts without oversimplification. Each episode delivers research-backed takeaways for professionals seeking intellectual depth and practical clarity in navigating life's complexities.
Episodes
Bharat Sundaresan: Cricket, Belonging & What Sport Teaches Us About Identity | EPS 022
What can sport teach us about identity, belonging, and purpose that no classroom ever could?It is a question that sits at the heart of this season finale of Deep Thinking with Dr. Steven Stolz, and it is a question that Bharat Sundaresan is uniquely qualified to answer. Because Bharat's journey to becoming one of the most distinctive and celebrated voices in cricket journalism did not begin in a p
Prof. Norm Friesen: Does Technology Actually Teach? A Sceptic's Guide to E-Learning & AI in Education | EPS 021
So why does this cycle keep repeating? Why do educators, policymakers, and technologists keep making the same promises, and why do those promises keep falling short? And, most urgently, what should we do differently this time, before we make the same mistakes all over again with AI?These are the questions at the heart of this episode of Deep Thinking with Dr. Steven Stolz, in which Dr. Steve sits
Prof. Dor Abrahamson: Learning Is in the Body: How Movement Shapes the Mathematical Mind | EPS 020
For centuries, mathematics has been understood as the paradigm case of abstract, disembodied thought. Numbers, equations, and geometric proofs seem to exist in a realm entirely separate from the physical world of bodies, movement, and sensation. And our classrooms reflect this assumption: students sit still, look at symbols on a page or screen, and are asked to manipulate abstractions in their hea
Prof. Todd McGowan & Prof. Ryan Engley: The Why Theory: Psychoanalysis, Ideology & Why We Think the Way We Do | EPS 019
What if the way we think, desire, and enjoy is not freely chosen, but structured by forces we can barely see? And what if the frameworks we most commonly use to understand human behaviour, psychology, economics, political science, self-help, are precisely the frameworks that prevent us from seeing those forces clearly?In this rare and intellectually exhilarating double-guest episode, Dr. Steven St
Prof. Gert Biesta: What Is Education Actually For? A Philosopher's Answer | EPS 018
Prof. Biesta has spent his career developing a body of work that is both philosophically rigorous and urgently practical. His books, including "Good Education in an Age of Measurement," "The Beautiful Risk of Education," "The Rediscovery of Teaching," and "World-Centred Education", have been translated into multiple languages and have shaped education debates across Europe, North America, Asia, an
Prof. Jack Schneider: What Counts as Evidence? The Real Battle Behind Education Reform | EPS 17
In this episode, Dr. Steven Stolz sits down with Prof. Jack Schneider of the University of Massachusetts, historian, policy researcher, and founder of the Beyond Test Scores Project, for a conversation that cuts through the noise of education debate to ask what evidence in education actually means, where it comes from, and who controls it.Schneider's work sits at a rare and important intersection:
Prof. David Labaree: Why Schools Were Never Meant to Change: The Hidden Logic of Education | EPS 016
Prof. Labaree has spent decades studying the history, sociology, and politics of American education. His books — including "How to Succeed in School Without Really Learning," "The Trouble with Ed Schools," and "Someone Has to Fail" — have fundamentally shaped how scholars and policymakers understand why schools behave the way they do.In this conversation, Dr. Steve and Prof. Labaree explore:— Why
Fred Stolz: Master Craftsman: Leadership, Legacy & the Art of Teaching Well | EPS 15
Fred W. Stolz spent 54 years in education. He taught in New South Wales state schools before spending 15 years in Papua New Guinea as the Foundation Principal of Balob Teachers College in Lae, where he helped train over 1,500 teachers during a critical era of nation-building. Returning to Australia in 1980, he became the Foundation Headmaster of Grace Lutheran College in Queensland — arriving to a
The Science of Laughter: How Comedy Triggers Brain Chemistry for Better Health & Relationships | EPS 14
⚠️ CRITICAL WARNING: Not all humor heals - discover when teasing and sarcasm become psychologically harmful, especially for children and in workplace dynamics.🎯 Perfect For: Parents seeking research-based family bonding strategies | Healthcare professionals interested in therapeutic humor | Anyone struggling with stress, anxiety, or depression | Comedy enthusiasts curious about the science behind
The Original Biohack: A Love Letter to Walking and Human Transformation EPS 013
Key insights include:The 60% creativity boost from walking vs. sittingNeurological mechanisms behind the "feel-good" effectCultural walking practices from Japanese forest bathing to Aboriginal walkaboutsPractical frameworks for sustainable movement habitsThe philosophy of "the good life" and physical activity's role in human flourishingThis isn't another fitness podcast—it's an invitation to disco
Art as Creative Expression: Drawing the Human Spirit with Godwin Bradbeer
ABOUT GODWIN BRADBEER: Born in New Zealand in 1950, Godwin Bradbeer has established himself as one of Australia's seminal drawing-based artists. His monumental figurative works—some reaching ceiling height in his Melbourne warehouse studio—are held in prestigious collections including the Australian National Gallery, National Gallery of Victoria, and Art Gallery of New South Wales.Career Highlight
Overcoming Perfectionism: Evidence-Based Strategies with Prof. Tracey Wade
Meet Professor Tracey Wade, an internationally recognized expert in perfectionism research from Flinders University. Her groundbreaking work has transformed our understanding of how perfectionism develops, manifests across different life domains, and connects to serious mental health conditions including eating disorders, anxiety, and depression. Professor Wade's research has been published in num
PTSD Beyond the Battlefield: Trauma Recovery Insights with Prof. Sandy McFarlane
About Professor Sandy McFarlaneProfessor Alexander Cowell McFarlane AO is Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Adelaide and one of the world's most influential trauma researchers. With over four decades of groundbreaking work, he has fundamentally shaped our understanding of PTSD and trauma recovery.Chapter Timings & Descriptions00:00 - Opening & Guest Introduction | Profe
Why Your Stress Is Killing You (And How to Fight Back) | EPS 008
Key Takeaways🧠 Stress Evolution - Your stress response system evolved to save your life, not ruin it⚖️ Optimal Stress Zone - Peak performance occurs between too little and too much stress🦓 Control Beats Intensity - Sapolsky's research shows perceived control matters more than stressor severity💪 Stress Inoculation - Gradual exposure to manageable stressors builds resilience🧘 Mindfulness Rewires Bra
Stop Counting Calories: What Nutrition Science Really Says About Weight Loss with Dr. Ahmad Saedisomeolia | EPS 007
What You'll Discover:~ Why the Food Pyramid failed and what nutrition guidelines actually work~ The calorie counting trap and why it sabotages weight loss~ How your genetics affect weight (and when they don't matter)~ Evidence-based weight loss strategies for lasting results~ Why BMI is misleading and better ways to measure health~ The truth about trending diets: keto, intermittent fasting, Medite
Burnout Breakthrough: Expert Insights from Black Dog Institute Founder Prof. Gordon Parker | Episode 006
EPISODE CHAPTERS:00:00 - A brief explanation on the phenomenon of burnout04:38 - Professor Parker's academic background08:52 - Did you suffer from burnout?10:54 - The origin of the term burnout15:43 - Differences between burnout and depression23:59 - Burnout, personality styles, and perfectionism30:28 - The physiology and neurobiology of burnout32:02 - Burnt out vs. burning out phases38:25 - Diagn
The Perfectionism Trap: Breaking Free from Impossible Standards
Episode Highlights00:00: The Perfectionism Paradox - Why striving for flawlessness often leads to diminishing returns and creative paralysis05:00: Revealing Case Studies - Thought-provoking stories that illuminate perfectionism's hidden impact10:14: The Self-Imposed Prison - How perfectionist tendencies create invisible barriers to success and happiness10:57: Cultural Icons & Perfectionism - E
The Loneliness Epidemic: Connected Yet Alone
This episode explores the science behind loneliness, examining how modern work culture, changing living arrangements, and digital technology contribute to our increasing sense of isolation. Dr. Stolz discusses the physical and mental health impacts of chronic loneliness, including its effects on cardiovascular health, immune function, and cognitive processing. Key topics include the distinction be
The Focused Mind: Mastering Attention in a Distracted World
Chapters:00:00 - Modern Attention Crisis: The Battle for Your Cognitive Focus06:33 - The Birds Study: Groundbreaking Research on Attention Practices11:34 - ADHD vs. Poor Focus: Neurological Differences Explained15:24 - Attention Networks: The Brain Science Behind Focus17:44 - Cognitive Bandwidth: Understanding Your Mental Resource Limits22:23 - Sustained vs. Dynamic Attention: The Two Essential Fo
Deep Sleep Secrets with Dr. Mark Kohler: How Rest Transforms Your Brain
00:00:00 - Introduction to Sleep Science and Brain Health00:02:02 - Evolutionary Purpose of Sleep: Why Our Brains Need Rest00:03:11 - Sleep Architecture: NREM and REM Sleep Cycles Explained00:12:50 - Common Sleep Disorders: Symptoms, Causes and Solutions00:13:10 - Insomnia: Types, Triggers, and Evidence-Based Treatments00:24:30 - Stress-Related Sleep Disruption: How Anxiety Affects Rest00:27:33 -
Burnout: When Your Mind Says No!
In this premiere episode of Deep Thinking with Dr. Steven Stolz, Dr. Stolz explores the complex and increasingly common phenomenon of burnout. While frequently discussed in today's workplace culture, burnout is often misunderstood, oversimplified, or dismissed. This episode provides a comprehensive examination of what burnout truly is, why it happens, and evidence-based strategies to overcome it.W
