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What I've Learnt - Jon Stevens · WHAT I'VE LEARNT

• 1:17
  SPEAKER_00: Seven remixes one.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_00: Joining forces with the legendary organization Summer and Regis.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_00: The Woman Remix.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_00: He also released a charity single, Random Me, with all Christmas going to help the dread stricken farmers and victims of the bushfire crisis on the rural aid.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_00: So sit back, relax with a T or a G and T and let's get intimate.
• 1:49
  SPEAKER_00: So, John, we're thrilled to have you join the What I've Learned podcast.
• 1:53
  SPEAKER_00: And very excited.
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_00: Hey, I want to start with a quote.
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_00: I want to I want to read you, it's your quote, and I love it actually.
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_00: It's very John.
• 2:03
  SPEAKER_00: I will continue to create an experiment and do my very best every time I climb on the stage and share with the fans a moment in time that you can only get when you see a performer live.
• 2:15
  SPEAKER_00: So that's very much your thing, John, performing live.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_00: And that's why your fans love you.
• 2:20
  SPEAKER_00: So talk to me a bit about this year and how it's been treating you.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_00: How have you coped?
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_00: And what have you learned?
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_01: Well, you know, how I've coped is like everyone.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_01: It's uh been very much up and down, you know.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_01: Um uh the unknown, obviously, it's a lot better now.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_01: We we have a have uh uh movement at the station, so to speak.
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_01: But uh, you know, for me coming out of the Kokoda Trail uh in on March 20th um of 2020 to find that the whole world had changed was pretty pretty wacky and then pretty surreal.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_01: Very surreal.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_01: Catching the last plane out of Port Moresby Um back to Melbourne to be to spend you know two weeks in in a hotel that I couldn't walk out the door, couldn't do anything.
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_01: My son and I, Levi, um were stuck in the hotel.
• 3:13
  SPEAKER_01: So look, that was pretty weird uh as well.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_01: And then the ongoing saga for you know, fear, the fear, you know, just massive the media's really instilled it in everyone.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_01: This fear, it was just kind of really weird, you know.
• 3:30
  SPEAKER_01: Um but look, you know, I I think it was pretty unnecessary.
• 3:33
  SPEAKER_01: We're all grown-ups, we can deal with it, you know.
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_01: But eight months.
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_01: The long haul.
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and you're a Melbourne, you've been in Melbourne like me.
• 3:42
  SPEAKER_00: We've been in the real in the real tunnel, haven't we?
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_01: Like, like, you know, yeah, that's why I said it's been up and down, you know.
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, you know, um, I mean, fortunately for me, you know, my my uh family, my children, my grandchildren, my partner, you know, uh her family, etc.
• 3:59
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, just friends, um just staying in touch every day and seeing each other when we're cured, and you know, sort of uh helps you help us through it.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_01: But you know, I always gave a thought and a prayer to those who didn't have that, you know, who are from out of town who who couldn't get back to their loved ones, it must have been excruciating.
• 4:21
  SPEAKER_00: Um, so for you, like so there's the external supports, but then as somebody who's always on the road and and really, as you say, you're a performer and you engage with the audience and you've been doing that for a long time.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_00: And just the idea, I mean, quarantine would have been an extreme version for you.
• 4:36
  SPEAKER_00: We you know, what about the internal space?
• 4:39
  SPEAKER_00: Did you was it a time creatively you could access that?
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_01: Because that's the beauty of being oh, yeah, no, always being crap is you know, you're creating all the time, really.
• 4:46
  SPEAKER_01: So, I mean, initially, you know, I was pretty angry actually.
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_01: So it was a bit of that going on.
• 4:52
  SPEAKER_01: The first few months of lockdown.
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_01: Was that anger about the limits, or was it that you couldn't get out, you mean, as in just watching all the crap that was getting thrown around, you know, it's like, come on, man, who's leading this country?
• 5:05
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know.
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_01: I thought we're you know, I I thought the prime minister led the country, but I didn't realize that, you know, the premieres run their own states, and it's just been a big everyone's doing their own running their own little fiefdoms, I call it, you know, because it's everyone's doing it differently.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_01: We're Australia's one country, but this has really kind of like separated everybody.
• 5:27
  SPEAKER_01: And I don't like that.
• 5:28
  SPEAKER_01: I personally don't I personally think it's really bad that that's happened, and hopefully, you know, we'll be able to get it back together and be be one country again, you know, because all this stuff happening with the different states is you know, it's just it's bullshit.
• 5:43
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and it separates everyone, but it also it's weird now because now South Australia is sort of like the they've been blocked off, and it's it's quite confronting, I think, as citizens to know that gates can go up that we didn't know were there.
• 5:57
  SPEAKER_00: Is that is that what you mean?
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_00: It's quite scary that feeling.
• 6:00
  SPEAKER_01: Completely, completely.
• 6:01
  SPEAKER_01: It's uh yeah, it's yeah, our freedoms are gone.
• 6:08
  SPEAKER_01: They can call it out, call it anytime they like.
• 6:10
  SPEAKER_01: They've got an excuse now.
• 6:11
  SPEAKER_01: So, you know, it's that whole thing where you know you can just be locked down anytime they deem, deem it.
• 6:17
  SPEAKER_01: One person, three people, ten people, twenty people, covet, whatever, you know.
• 6:24
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, yeah, it is pretty confronting.
• 6:26
  SPEAKER_00: So, so for you, like a lot of your mates are in the arts, obviously, and musicians, you know, whether it's Kate or Jimmy or whoever you, you know, you work with everyone.
• 6:36
  SPEAKER_00: Have you found that it's united everyone in a certain sense that everybody's had to find your way to pivot?
• 6:44
  SPEAKER_00: Have you found there's been enough support?
• 6:46
  SPEAKER_00: Keeping in mind that obviously from a financial perspective, no one could work.
• 6:50
  SPEAKER_00: So that's a bit of a challenge.
• 6:52
  SPEAKER_01: Unless you're we're in November now, so you know, I don't my first gigs won't happen until March.
• 6:58
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I sat and I watched the state of origin the other night.
• 7:00
  SPEAKER_01: There's 52,000 people sitting next to each other, sold out in Queensland watching a football game.
• 7:06
  SPEAKER_01: There's 40,000 at the grand final, there's 30,000 at the AFL grand final.
• 7:12
  SPEAKER_01: And I kind of go, you know, we can't even play in front of 200 people in the park in the pub.
• 7:17
  SPEAKER_01: I just you know, I just find the arts have been absolutely kicked to the curb, stomped on, and then stomped on some more.
• 7:25
  SPEAKER_01: And there's been, you know, token the government's you know given given you know money to various uh institutions.
• 7:31
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know how I don't know any musician, not one that has received any benefits from any organization, yeah, or anything job keeper or the job seeker thing or whatever that thing was going on, but you know, for the multi-millions of dollars that were given to various um music companies.
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_00: Entities, yeah, yeah.
• 7:53
  SPEAKER_01: I know it's yeah, you know, so you know, they speak all these big numbers of where where'd they go?
• 8:00
  SPEAKER_01: Uh you know what I mean?
• 8:01
  SPEAKER_01: To help people.
• 8:01
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, you know, it's just been a bit weird.
• 8:04
  SPEAKER_01: And and it was and uh, you know, I talked to all my fellow musicians and artists that you know, we're the first ones to stand up and help out in any cause.
• 8:12
  SPEAKER_01: You know, we work for free to raise money, you know, for the fires, for the droughts, for the floods, for everything.
• 8:19
  SPEAKER_01: And we've been doing that for years and years.
• 8:20
  SPEAKER_01: And I just think that, you know, you know, we we've given so much, the the arts industry for many years.
• 8:27
  SPEAKER_01: And, you know, when this pandemic's hit and to be treated the way we're being treated, I think it's abysmal.
• 8:32
  SPEAKER_01: But that's just my opinion, you know what I mean?
• 8:35
  SPEAKER_00: Well, to be honest, it's it seems to be almost universal amongst anybody I've interviewed in the arts.
• 8:40
  SPEAKER_00: Like every musician, and I've interviewed a lot, have all had a pretty similar perspective.
• 8:45
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and and you know, like even speaking to Katie Noonan the other day, she was saying, you know, the arts are the four pillars of our culture.
• 8:55
  SPEAKER_00: They they are the base of our of our existence, and they're not valued in the same way for some reason.
• 9:00
  SPEAKER_00: And yet it's the first thing people want to do to find solace is listen to their favorite song, you know, access their favorite Netflix series or whatever.
• 9:10
  SPEAKER_00: It's it's quite ironic, isn't it?
• 9:12
  SPEAKER_00: That it's the arts that provide the comfort often through these really tough times.
• 9:18
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it is it is ironic, but you know, I guess um when sport is, you know, I love sport, don't get me wrong.
• 9:25
  SPEAKER_01: But when, you know, all these, you know, high high, they're all very highly paid people, and you know, musicians and road crews and you know, arts, people in the arts aren't, you know, some are highly paid, but most of them are just you know hardworking people.
• 9:40
  SPEAKER_01: Uh and you know, it's kind of not taken away from footy players or anything, but you know, it's kind of they didn't really miss out on anything.
• 9:49
  SPEAKER_01: We didn't do it tough.
• 9:50
  SPEAKER_00: No, I don't know.
• 9:51
  SPEAKER_01: I don't believe it.
• 9:52
  unknown: Yeah.
• 9:53
  SPEAKER_01: So they got to stay together in a in a camp training and eating together in Queensland, you know, swimming every day, what training every day, you know, getting looked after for whatever they did for six months.
• 10:05
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, good on you.
• 10:06
  SPEAKER_01: I'm sure we'd all like all that too.
• 10:08
  SPEAKER_00: So do you think it's so are you saying, do you think it's like a political um overlay here?
• 10:13
  SPEAKER_00: Or is that what you're saying?
• 10:14
  SPEAKER_00: It's like the people with the power?
• 10:15
  SPEAKER_01: I think it's really just uh uh you know, it's like I said before, you know, the arts kicked to the curb given token token support.
• 10:24
  SPEAKER_01: You know, we the the the arts provide, you know, like a 110, 120 billion dollars a year industry to Australia.
• 10:32
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, it's um put it this way, you know, for I guess for me anyway, just my own personal little stand, I suppose it's to do you know, any anything for the government is you know not gonna happen.
• 10:46
  SPEAKER_00: You're not holding your breath.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_01: Help out your government, you know, when they didn't help you out.
• 10:51
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's very true.
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_01: I'm talking all the people that you know work in our in our industry and the arts industry, you know.
• 11:01
  SPEAKER_00: You know, your um your single John rained down on me, which I think is absolutely a beautiful song, beautiful video.
• 11:07
  SPEAKER_00: Um you know, I thought it was really special because you as you often do things for the underdog, you seem to be quite uh tuned in.
• 11:17
  SPEAKER_00: You don't see yourself as high and mighty at all, even though you've got this extraordinary career.
• 11:21
  SPEAKER_00: You seem to be, no, because I know you, you're very, you're very tuned in and you reach out when you can.
• 11:27
  SPEAKER_00: Tell me what what sort of brought that into the foreground for you, because that was pretty, pretty special.
• 11:34
  SPEAKER_00: That song or just that well, the song and just the fact you did it and then you you got involved.
• 11:38
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, there's so many causes, but obviously that you have a strong affiliation with a lot of the rural.
• 11:44
  SPEAKER_01: Well, look, I'd I've done, I mean, I've done many things over the year for drought relief.
• 11:49
  SPEAKER_01: I I think the prior previous drought relief thing I did was in 1994 or 1992, something like that, 94, I think.
• 11:57
  SPEAKER_01: You know, so it's this long history of doing these charitable things and and and and I do it, you know, with all the love and and and hope that you know it does help somebody.
• 12:08
  SPEAKER_01: Because as a musician, as a songwriter, as a performer, you know, you kind of you make your music to make people happy, you know, and make yourself happy too.
• 12:15
  SPEAKER_01: So uh it's that sharing.
• 12:17
  SPEAKER_01: So um, you know, it's the healing thing is to talk about this whole period that we're unprecedented period that we've been through with COVID and still going through, you know.
• 12:26
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, luckily Australia seems to have it together.
• 12:29
  SPEAKER_01: Very, very good now, and uh compared to other countries.
• 12:33
  SPEAKER_01: But certainly, yeah.
• 12:34
  SPEAKER_01: But music is the healing force, music is what brings people back together again, and um, you know, for for a year for it to be a year before, you know, we've got gigs booked in March.
• 12:46
  SPEAKER_01: That's our first lot of gigs, and hopefully we'll be able to do them because anything can happen, right?
• 12:52
  SPEAKER_01: That's true.
• 12:52
  SPEAKER_01: I know.
• 12:53
  SPEAKER_01: But that's that's that's that's the thing, you know.
• 12:55
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but you know, we'll get out there as soon as we can and get out there and make people happy, you know, play them the songs they they've grown up to, and you know, and and and and bring joy to people's lives.
• 13:06
  SPEAKER_00: We certainly do that, John.
• 13:07
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, I've been to a few of your concerts, they're just so I mean, talk about loyal fan base, everyone adores you, you know, and and you'll be out there doing it and making people happy.
• 13:16
  SPEAKER_00: And that's you're absolutely right.
• 13:18
  SPEAKER_00: But I'm interested, you and I spoke the other day and we're talking about how music has changed separate, separate to the COVID crisis, but just as a general uh reflection, you know, you were talking about how when you started out, it wasn't that multicultural.
• 13:32
  SPEAKER_00: I'm really interested in that and how it's changed and how we're really responsive now to all of that.
• 13:37
  SPEAKER_00: Like, can you talk to me a little bit about that?
• 13:40
  SPEAKER_00: And you know, indigenous um music and culture is being much more appreciated on many fronts.
• 13:46
  SPEAKER_00: Katie was also speaking about that.
• 13:47
  SPEAKER_00: Can you talk to me a little bit about that?
• 13:48
  SPEAKER_00: Because I find that interesting.
• 13:50
  SPEAKER_01: You know, growing up in New Zealand, uh, you know, I'm half Moldy, um, half Scottish.
• 13:56
  SPEAKER_01: So growing up in in you know, in that country, there was a lot of um uh multiracial sort of music going on there.
• 14:06
  SPEAKER_01: But coming to Australia, it was a bit different, you know.
• 14:09
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so you know, yeah, I mean it's it's a different, there's so many more kids out there doing music, you know, with the with the technology available today, it's you know, you just get your computer and you've got garage band on and you can make music, you know.
• 14:26
  SPEAKER_01: Anyone can do that, you know, yeah, yeah.
• 14:29
  SPEAKER_01: And I think, you know, with that wonderful technology, it's just brought out so much so much talent, you know, of all sorts.
• 14:36
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, uh being indigenous.
• 14:39
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, we're talking about myself and Kate Soprano being we have great um chemistry because we're both Polynesian, half Polynesian, you know.
• 14:48
  SPEAKER_01: We're just from day one, where you know, 35 years ago, whatever, you know, 30 years ago when we first uh worked together.
• 14:55
  SPEAKER_00: So touching on you and Kate, just reflecting on that.
• 14:59
  SPEAKER_00: Um, yeah, you talk to her, you say she's like a sister to you, and I sort of love that.
• 15:04
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, she's definitely like a sister, you know.
• 15:06
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I I have six sisters, and Kate's definitely the seventh, you know.
• 15:10
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, she knows all my sisters as well.
• 15:13
  SPEAKER_01: I know all her family, you know.
• 15:15
  SPEAKER_01: It's uh it's but it's always been with her and I've you know being the Polynesian thing.
• 15:20
  SPEAKER_01: We just um it's just was unspoken, really, I suppose.
• 15:24
  SPEAKER_01: You know, a couple of brown people and in the world, you know.
• 15:30
  SPEAKER_00: Well, you're doing more you I think you're doing more than you bet.
• 15:32
  SPEAKER_00: You're doing damn well, both of you.
• 15:34
  SPEAKER_00: But listen, um, six sisters, okay.
• 15:36
  SPEAKER_00: That's really interesting because I was going to talk to you about family, because I know it's important to you.
• 15:40
  SPEAKER_00: But six sisters, so let me check.
• 15:42
  SPEAKER_00: Did they spoil you?
• 15:44
  SPEAKER_00: Were you did they fluff around because they're all brothers as well.
• 15:47
  SPEAKER_01: There's 10 of us, 11 of us on the 11th.
• 15:50
  SPEAKER_01: So it wasn't there's no spoiling, it's survival.
• 15:54
  SPEAKER_00: But that's actually 11th, you're the 11th of 11 children, John.
• 15:58
  SPEAKER_00: How did you survive?
• 15:59
  SPEAKER_00: What did you learn about how to survive?
• 16:02
  SPEAKER_01: Great.
• 16:02
  SPEAKER_01: We all looked after each other, looked out for each other, and we had a woman on reflection growing up in New Zealand, rural rural New Zealand, was freedom, like nothing, you know, freedom to do run around, do whatever.
• 16:16
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, you wouldn't let your kids nowadays.
• 16:18
  SPEAKER_01: I didn't let my didn't let my kids growing up, you know, be be away from me running around.
• 16:23
  SPEAKER_01: But we were.
• 16:24
  SPEAKER_01: That was the times then, you know, and um it was safe then, you know, people didn't have all these weird, weird things going on, you know.
• 16:34
  SPEAKER_00: So you think yeah, so that's interesting.
• 16:36
  SPEAKER_00: So 11 children.
• 16:38
  SPEAKER_00: So do you think that you as the youngest, do you learn who do you learn a lot from?
• 16:43
  SPEAKER_00: Probably all of them.
• 16:44
  SPEAKER_00: But is there anything any stands out?
• 16:47
  SPEAKER_01: Uh yeah, probably you know, like mum and mum and dad, obviously, you know.
• 16:51
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
• 16:51
  SPEAKER_00: But they teach you.
• 16:53
  SPEAKER_01: You know, my dad was a war, war veteran, you know, from the second world war.
• 16:57
  SPEAKER_01: Went through the whole second world war and you know, got shot three times and captured twice and escaped.
• 17:04
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, he had an incredible life.
• 17:06
  SPEAKER_01: He's he's a Scotsman from Glasgow and was in a was he was in the Seaforth Islanders.
• 17:11
  SPEAKER_01: And um, yeah, it was a pretty, pretty incredible life.
• 17:16
  SPEAKER_01: Hard, you know.
• 17:18
  SPEAKER_00: Was that your inspiration for Drink Cota?
• 17:22
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah, definitely part of it.
• 17:24
  SPEAKER_01: I've always always been on my bucket list, so just hearing the stories of the the diggers, you know.
• 17:29
  SPEAKER_01: My my my great uncle Frank Carnell, he was he was uh, you know um out of Brisbane and and uh part of the um Guillapilly and all that stuff.
• 17:41
  SPEAKER_01: So, you know, it was just always in the background growing up as a kid.
• 17:44
  SPEAKER_01: They were all all my uncles, you know, they're all war veterans, you know, that's what I grew up with, you know.
• 17:51
  SPEAKER_01: So what and the tales and you know so yeah, that would have been pretty amazing.
• 17:57
  SPEAKER_00: Was there anything that stands out that you learned from them?
• 17:58
  SPEAKER_00: Like when you're on Kokoda, you must have been reflecting a lot on that.
• 18:02
  SPEAKER_01: That's pretty first of all, Kokoda's not easy, but you know, yeah, no, look, you know, it's just one of those things we're just paying respect.
• 18:10
  SPEAKER_01: I took my son Levi and you know, he he's born and raised here in Australia, but then we moved to America for, you know, from all his youth, young schooling in in America.
• 18:21
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and then we came out to Australia and he's always identified with his New Zealand roots, you know, um his Moldy roots, and and uh he he's always been you know uh enamoured with America because he grew up there, his mum grew up there, etc.
• 18:36
  SPEAKER_01: And um and so he's into basketball, all things American, and he hadn't really tapped into his Australian side.
• 18:44
  SPEAKER_01: So, you know, for me it was just about taking him somewhere where he understood what you know Australians sort of went through so we could all be here, you know.
• 18:55
  SPEAKER_01: And um, so he came out of the Kokoda really a changed person.
• 18:59
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, we both did really, but him especially, I knew it would change him.
• 19:02
  SPEAKER_00: And how did it change him?
• 19:04
  SPEAKER_01: I just give him a much deeper understanding and respect for and proudness for being Australian, you know.
• 19:10
  SPEAKER_01: Well, it is his history, yeah.
• 19:12
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's his history, but he was more always leaning towards the New Zealand side.
• 19:16
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, interesting side, yeah.
• 19:18
  SPEAKER_01: So yeah, so now he's he you know, he even though now he's a he understands a lot more having walked in those footsteps and slept on those battlefields, etc.
• 19:29
  SPEAKER_00: I'm sure.
• 19:30
  SPEAKER_00: What an extent, and how did it change you?
• 19:31
  SPEAKER_00: What did you learn from that experience?
• 19:34
  SPEAKER_01: War as hell.
• 19:35
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I mean, really, I mean, you just cannot believe what these guys put themselves, went through, what they went through.
• 19:42
  SPEAKER_01: They didn't put themselves through it, they were ordered to do it.
• 19:44
  SPEAKER_01: It's just insane.
• 19:46
  SPEAKER_01: You can't even explain it because it's just beyond words, you know.
• 19:51
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, even now, watching just watching the news with all this SAS thing, you know.
• 19:55
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
• 19:56
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, I just keep thinking, really?
• 19:59
  SPEAKER_01: Now, now you want to bring this shit up media?
• 20:02
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, really?
• 20:02
  SPEAKER_01: Do you have to?
• 20:03
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, I Yeah, it's really, really tough.
• 20:06
  SPEAKER_01: I went to East Timor in you know 1999 on a troop ship out troop ship out of Darwin to film my whole thing.
• 20:13
  SPEAKER_01: I spent a week, you know, with uh uh with all the troops uh in Delhi with uh General Cosgrave, he was running the show.
• 20:21
  SPEAKER_01: You know, hearing people in their stories, talking to them, you know.
• 20:25
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, you know, proud of our forces, the Anzacs, you know, because that's what it is, you know.
• 20:32
  SPEAKER_01: Australia and New Zealand, we're so tied, tied together and everything.
• 20:36
  SPEAKER_01: And um, you know, it's just I just think that that whole, yeah, it's gonna swear, bad timing.
• 20:44
  SPEAKER_00: It is it's unfortunate timing, but I think it's also it's hard because it also, as you say, there's so many good men and women that have fought so hard for so long during that time.
• 20:54
  SPEAKER_00: It's just a shame this has become a you know, a trauma that has to be unraveled somehow.
• 21:00
  SPEAKER_00: And as long as it doesn't tar the brush of all the good work, that's what you're saying, yeah?
• 21:06
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, well, you know, they've already disbanded one of the um one of the regiments or AS guys already.
• 21:13
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, the media's the media's, you know, they just they can make you break you, they ruin you, or they you know, and it's the power, right?
• 21:21
  SPEAKER_01: The power is just too much.
• 21:24
  SPEAKER_00: We shouldn't catch and well it's being in it's under scrutiny a lot more than it was, that's for sure.
• 21:30
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, people are looking at the media in a new light, and I also think the power of the internet means there are other people that can access information.
• 21:37
  SPEAKER_00: But it's interesting.
• 21:38
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, yeah, you know the media well.
• 21:41
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's hard to believe anything or anyone nowadays, you know what I mean?
• 21:45
  SPEAKER_01: It's different.
• 21:47
  SPEAKER_01: But I think they're fighting a good fight, I think.
• 21:50
  SPEAKER_01: You know.
• 21:51
  SPEAKER_00: So, what have you learned about how to handle the media or how how to deal with things that you see?
• 21:56
  SPEAKER_01: It's not you though.
• 21:57
  SPEAKER_01: So I'm moving, it's just my, you know.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_01: Humble opinion on various things.
• 22:02
  SPEAKER_00: Well, that's okay.
• 22:03
  SPEAKER_00: That's a good important opinion.
• 22:04
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, you know, we talk about music.
• 22:06
  SPEAKER_01: I, you know, I don't really, you know, have a massive.
• 22:11
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, no, you don't.
• 22:12
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, what I'm really interested in actually is listening to you talk about Levi.
• 22:17
  SPEAKER_00: Um, what have your kids taught you?
• 22:20
  SPEAKER_00: Uh and your grandkids, because you're a grandfather now.
• 22:24
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 22:24
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, what have they taught me?
• 22:26
  SPEAKER_01: Uh patience, I suppose.
• 22:28
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, I was away a lot.
• 22:30
  SPEAKER_01: I was away a lot for the a lot of the growing up, you know, because touring and whatnot, and you know, just being away a lot.
• 22:36
  SPEAKER_01: I'm still away a lot, but they're bigger now.
• 22:39
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I think they can deal.
• 22:41
  SPEAKER_00: They're okay.
• 22:41
  SPEAKER_01: They're um, but yeah, I mean, you know, as I said earlier, I got a wonderful family and wonderful partner, and just, you know, um life's great.
• 22:52
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, whilst we've been through this COVID stuff, it's been hard on everybody.
• 22:56
  SPEAKER_01: But there's a lot of people out there did a lot tougher than me.
• 23:00
  SPEAKER_01: And I'm not complaining.
• 23:01
  SPEAKER_01: I'm just you know acknowledging the fact that you know, there's people out there that have been really struggling, and I and I wish them well and hope that you know and get through it.
• 23:08
  SPEAKER_01: And I'll do my best to lift the spirits with music, you know.
• 23:12
  SPEAKER_00: Well, we look forward to seeing you back on the road, John.
• 23:15
  SPEAKER_00: Is it March you're back on the road?
• 23:17
  SPEAKER_01: Hopefully before good gnaw.
• 23:20
  SPEAKER_00: Hey John, so I want to know just before you go, tell us what's your favorite music at the moment that you're listening to that you can recommend for all our listeners, and also what book are you reading?
• 23:32
  SPEAKER_01: Uh I downloaded Chris Stapleton's new album this morning, actually.
• 23:37
  SPEAKER_01: And I'm looking forward to having a listen to that.
• 23:39
  SPEAKER_01: I haven't had a listen yet, but I love Chris Stapleton, and he's a bloke that did uh Tennessee whiskey.
• 23:45
  SPEAKER_01: He's got a fantastic book.
• 23:47
  SPEAKER_00: Oh my god, I love that.
• 23:48
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 23:49
  SPEAKER_01: Sort of guy.
• 23:50
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but look, I listen to all sorts of different music, and you know, obviously, when with my son uh Levi, you know, he's got a studio um uh where he's pumping out you know hip hop all the time.
• 24:02
  SPEAKER_01: So I hear hip hop non-stop and I love some I love a lot of that stuff, you know, it's fantastic.
• 24:07
  SPEAKER_00: So who would have thought John Stevens would be listening to hip hop?
• 24:10
  SPEAKER_00: There you go.
• 24:11
  SPEAKER_01: I love music, I love classical, I love all I love every kind of music that I especially love and you know recognize you know when it's telling us from the heart, you know.
• 24:22
  SPEAKER_00: So John, is there an album that you can recommend for our listeners that you love that's one of your that really speaks to you?
• 24:29
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, there's heaps.
• 24:30
  SPEAKER_01: I know different ones for different periods in in in my life, I suppose, or in your life.
• 24:36
  SPEAKER_01: You've all got our different favorites, but straight off the bat, um Bob Dylan Infidels, it's one of my you know Desert Island uh albums.
• 24:46
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, Stevie Wonder Inner Visions Fulfillingness, um, back from the 70s.
• 24:52
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, you know, Led Zeppelin, any of theirs?
• 24:54
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, the Beatles, any of theirs, The Rolling Stones, any of theirs.
• 24:59
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, well, that's a great yeah.
• 25:01
  SPEAKER_01: AC DC, I just you know, their their new record, you know, I just got as well.
• 25:06
  SPEAKER_01: And um I heard it's great.
• 25:08
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's fantastic, you know.
• 25:10
  SPEAKER_01: So look, you know, I'm an older musician, I'm you know, over 40 years now and doing what I do, and uh yeah, I hope I can continue to do it, you know.
• 25:21
  SPEAKER_01: I try and stay healthy.
• 25:23
  SPEAKER_01: So I can keep moving, rocking.
• 25:26
  SPEAKER_00: And what about what book what what's your favorite book that you're reading at the moment, or one that you just love and you go back to?
• 25:33
  SPEAKER_01: One I'm reading at the moment is kind of interesting, I suppose.
• 25:37
  SPEAKER_01: I'm I'm interested in it.
• 25:38
  SPEAKER_01: It's called Afterlife.
• 25:41
  SPEAKER_01: It's the one I'm reading right now, and I think I'm you know, I saw this and picked it up because yeah, uh during during this COVID period in uh June, I lost one of my sisters uh back in New Zealand, so I still haven't been able to go home to uh sorry goodbye.
• 25:59
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I think that's why I'm reading this, because you know, this this you know gives you stories about people who have who have continued on, who are still around.
• 26:10
  SPEAKER_01: We that energy is still still um wouldn't say alive, but still around, you know.
• 26:16
  SPEAKER_01: So do you believe that?
• 26:18
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, of course I I believe that.
• 26:20
  SPEAKER_01: I do, I believe it very strongly, actually.
• 26:22
  SPEAKER_01: We're you know, we're just this dimension we're in, really.
• 26:27
  SPEAKER_01: The physical dimension.
• 26:28
  SPEAKER_01: But you know, there is definitely a spiritual and and you know dimension.
• 26:32
  SPEAKER_01: And um, I think you know, we're all gonna find it.
• 26:35
  SPEAKER_01: We're gonna find out in the end.
• 26:37
  SPEAKER_01: So it's nothing to be afraid of, it's something to um you know embrace.
• 26:42
  SPEAKER_01: Embrace when you get there, if you get there in that way, we you know can do that.
• 26:47
  SPEAKER_01: I suppose everyone does at the time, I guess.
• 26:50
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but anyway, that's what I'm reading at the moment.
• 26:53
  SPEAKER_00: Well, that's really interesting, and I and obviously I can see it gives you comfort, but also you're prepared to explore you you're you're like reading that book.
• 27:01
  SPEAKER_00: Is that a s a no a book you would normally read, or is it just as a result of a recent I think it's so picked up, I think it's picked it up because of my sister passing away.
• 27:10
  SPEAKER_01: But um look, it's something you know, you know, I've had plenty of plenty of death in in out throughout the course of my life, as I'm sure you have as well.
• 27:18
  SPEAKER_01: But it's just some people are so afraid of it, afraid of death and afraid of that whole thing, you know, and and other people you know live their lives just with blinkers on that, don't even think that it's gonna last forever.
• 27:31
  SPEAKER_01: So, you know, you know, it's like no, it's not gonna last forever.
• 27:35
  SPEAKER_01: You say you gotta stay in, I think you just stay aware that it's coming and um you know, be respectful of yourself, yeah, you know, and your opportunities.
• 27:47
  SPEAKER_00: You you sound you sound very grateful, and and maybe that's what you live life to the full.
• 27:53
  SPEAKER_01: So I'm very grateful to still be here, don't worry.
• 27:56
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, no, well, I know you've had your own health scares yourself.
• 27:59
  SPEAKER_01: Um lost a lot of people on the way, so you know, it's good to be alive.
• 28:04
  SPEAKER_01: I I shouldn't be here, but I am, so I keep thinking must be for a reason.
• 28:09
  SPEAKER_00: Well, I'm so glad that you are, John, on many fronts, and I know there's a lot of people that adore you.
• 28:14
  SPEAKER_00: And I just want to thank you for your time, and I look forward to seeing you hopefully soon up on stage.
• 28:21
  SPEAKER_00: Cool.
• 28:22
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks, John.
• 28:23
  SPEAKER_01: Thanks, Dave.
• 28:24
  SPEAKER_01: Cheers.
• 28:26
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks so much for listening.
• 28:28
  SPEAKER_00: I hope you've learned as much as I have.
• 28:30
  SPEAKER_00: The What I've Learned Podcast will now be coming to you weekly, with new episodes released every Tuesday.
• 28:36
  SPEAKER_00: And a subscription is the easiest way to have it downloaded straight into your pocket.
• 28:40
  SPEAKER_00: I'm blessed to have so many wonderful guests coming on the show, so check out my What I've Learned Instagram for updates.
• 28:46
  SPEAKER_00: For more stories or an opportunity to tell your own, please visit my website at mindfilm and publishing dot com.
• 28:54
  SPEAKER_00: Meanwhile, stay tuned, stay kind, and of course, stay curious.
• 28:59
  SPEAKER_00: Love to