In this episode:

Poem, ‘Kindness’ by Naomi Shihab Nye, read by Emma Thompson;
Generosity at a wedding reception;
Film Chat: ‘La Belle Epoque’ and’Inside Bill’s Brain’.
Carrie Newcomer, ‘You Can Do This Hard Thing’.

When asking an economist what he thought the government should do about continuing with Job Keeper and Job Seeker, a reporter got the reply, ‘It just depends on how nice they want to be’. Now there’s a great question! What is the importance of kindness and compassion in economics? Discuss. English actor Emma Thompson comes out with a beautiful contribution, summing up her view in a poem.

I noticed a short film about an act of compassion by a radio station, expressed by one of their announcing teams. The cynical side of me immediately questioned the motivation behind this display of generosity – buying a good name for their radio bosses immersed in the competitive fight for dominance of the air-waves? But there it was. As they say, ‘it is what it is’. In this case, generosity and compassion. ‘Good things happen, when we treat each other well’.

Steve Parker @ontherunmovies reviews a film currently in cinemas. It looks like a good view. In prior conversation I had shared with Steve how much I had enjoyed a three part series about Bill Gates, on Netflix. On camera, Steve turned the tables on me! So we have two film reviews!

A new album has just been released by a singer I had not come across before, Carrie Newcomer. For me, an appropriate name! But I came across her because in this new album she sings words by Parker J. Palmer – a wonderful thinker and writer in the field of education. I have admired his work for a long time. But in trawling through YouTube videos of her singing I came across this song – ‘You Can Do This Hard Thing’, so appropriate for these times.

I hope you enjoy this edition. Follow me on this website if you want to keep in touch with new editions as they arise. They are not regular. I only share when I think there is something worthwhile for me to say (in my humble opinion!). And I always appreciate your feedback and suggestions.