From a glimpse into the reality behind brilliant true crime stories, to a deep dive into the wellness industry and a look at the media’s role in democracy, the City of Norwood Payneham and St Peters’ Raising the Bar event brings big and compelling ideas to your local front bar this August.

Derrick McManus was shot 14 times while working as a Special Tasks and Rescue Group (STAR) officer. As he lay on the ground alone for three hours, bleeding profusely, he felt no fear.

here are only a handful of South Australians who will ever need to navigate something as extreme as Derrick’s do-or-die situation. But, in the nearly 30 years since the shooting, Derrick has come to realize, after becoming (at first reluctantly) a regular speaker, that the skills that got him through his worst moments are easily transferable.

“I talk to kids in schools,” says Derrick. “For children, their challenges have to do with bullying, exclusion, homework, getting along with teachers, sports that interrupt their studies.

“For hairdressers, what is your challenge? It could be clients, staff or finances, so let’s talk about your real challenges and take what I took to the special forces and apply it to you. It’s about preparing for what you can really expect to find as a result of your choices.”

On Tuesday, August 9, Derrick will bring his thoughts on human strength and durability to the Alma Tavern. His talk will be one of 20 to take place in 10 bars and pubs that night in the Norwood Payneham and St Peters (NPSP) neighborhood as part of Raising the Bar Adelaide.

This is the fifth year that the city of NPSP has hosted a Raising the Bar event, with the format, which aims to make complex topics more accessible by bringing experts to a relaxed bar environment, which originated in New York in 2014.

Among the other ideas explored at places like Little Bang Brewing and Lambrook Wines are the relationship between law and religion, South Australia’s role in the first space race, and the human cost of the true crime genre.

Mayor Robert Bria says the expanded program of 20 talks is a testament to how Raising the Bar is moving forward with locals.

Read the full article —>

The New York-born global initiative is returning to Norwood and surrounds with locals given the opportunity to raise the bar through a series of free pub talks, which have been hosted in cities across the world since 2014.

As in past years, the subjects vary with everything from voluntary assisted dying, to sex work laws in South Australia being discussed by the 20 speakers presenting across 10 venues on Tuesday, October 12.

However, this year’s event will see several speakers explore themes that carry over into the business world, with wellbeing, prioritising goals and taking the uncomfortable option among the key takeaways.

Here are three tips to take from some of this year’s experts:

1. Have a clear vision

Dr Kim Le, an author and psychiatrist who specialises in video gaming addiction, says one of the keys to productivity is to maintain sight of the goals you set yourself despite the challenges that arise.

“You have to remind yourself of your business journey, and why you’re doing it, and keep track of where you’re at in terms of how you’re progressing,” he says.

“Video games are very good at giving you cues to come back into the game, with new features, new releases and your teammates will remind you to keep coming back to the highly addictive and dark world of gaming so you have to constantly remind yourself that you’re on a real journey in life that requires time and thought to succeed.”

Dr Le will speak at the Robin Hood Hotel at 6.30pm on the topic of “The dark side of gaming”.

2. Self-reflect and repeat

John Purl, a wealth advisor at Affinitas Capital and wellbeing coach, highlights the importance of self-reflection in beginning any journey – financial or health-related.

“I bang on a lot about the importance of self-reflection and I think that’s one of the most important things to start anyone’s career or financial wellbeing journey,” he says.

“You have to go through self-reflection and if you don’t, you’re just spinning your wheels down the wrong road.

“I think that constant self-reflection and visualisation of the end goal are the two most important things.”

Purl will present his talk “Achieve success through wellbeing” at the Britannia Hotel at 8.30pm.

3. Begin with the end in mind

When it comes to stepping out of your comfort zone, few things are tougher than those awkward conversations.

Leadership Strategist and Made for More podcast host Ally Nitschke says getting on top of uncomfortable situations early on will save you time and money down the road and having a clear goal in mind when you approach a sticky situation will make all the difference.

“By the time we’ve put it off, we’ve kind of escalated it in our own minds as well – this mountain out of a molehill – where we could’ve nipped it in the bud early on, felt a little bit uncomfortable, used our courage muscles and had a tough conversation,” she says.

“Very rarely do we actually go ‘What is it that I actually want to happen? What is the resolution-solution progress? Where do we want the conversation to finish?’”

Nitschke’s talk on “Courageous conversations – why we keep avoiding those tough conversations” will be at the Britannia Hotel at 6.30pm.

Raising the Bar talks are free events, however bookings are essential and tickets are going fast.

Eleven world-leading researchers from The University of Western Australia are set to transform Perth bars into learning spaces, hosting free public talks for this year’s Raising the Bar event on Tuesday 26 October.

Join researchers at one of five CBD bars, enjoy the atmosphere and discover how our researchers are tackling global, national and regional issues to make the world a better place. 

This year’s talks range from the entrepreneurship of food delivery drivers to achieving social equality, keeping corporations honest, Indigenous yarning in the health sector and uncovering the adult retailing sector. 

Read more >>

What does a robotic future really look like? Is wifi always the strongest connection? Do we need more social media regulation?

20 speakers will answer the big questions of our time on Wednesday 28 April in 10 bars and venues around the city.

From Circular Quay to Surry Hills, we're turning Sydney bars and cultural spaces into a hub of ideas for Raising the Bar. A food scientist, an experiential futurist, a musicologist and other innovators will give free talks in interesting venues for one night only.

Produced by the City of Sydney, the events span design, media, business, technology, food, health and contemporary topics. Get inspired in fun night-time spots including Belvoir Street Theatre, The Shakespeare, Jazzy Café & Bar, Strawberry Hills Hotel and Dove & Olive. All locations are a quick walk from a light rail stop.

Raising the Bar: Light Rail edition is the perfect after-work activity for curious minds. The free talks will happen at 6pm and 7.30pm, so you can pop into a talk with a friend, and still have time to enjoy dinner and a drink.

Hear about edible insects and cell-based meats while sampling whiskey and cocktails based on local Chinatown ingredients at Banchō. Learn how the power of design can influence change in a stunning 200 square metre gallery Courtesy of the Artist atop the Strand Arcade. Understand why the right music at the right time can save your life at Stitch Bar. All Raising the Bar venues are a few minutes’ walk from one of the Sydney light rail stops.

Read More ->

The global movement to take leading academics out of lecture theatres and into pubs to present their latest research is returning to Auckland.

Tonight, 20 University of Auckland lecturers will host talks in 10 local bars. The topics range from the search for alien life to the risks of vaping and whether gaming could help solve the housing crisis.

The talks, known as “Raising the Bar” have been in Auckland since 2017 but due to Covid-19 took place online in 2020.

The idea of turning bars into mini “think tanks “ came from a group of New York students. In 2014, the group invited 50 leading professors and researchers from the University of Colombia and University of New York to host talks in the city’s best bars and share their knowledge with the public.

Read More ->

It’s where education and inspiration meet a midweek drink, and the City of Norwood, Payneham & St Peters is the only place in the world in 2020 that can host it live.

The award-winning Raising the Bar series is making a grand return to pubs around Norwood on Tuesday 20 October – while also providing live streams on various social media platforms.

Ten of the best local bars and pubs in the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters will host top academics, industry experts and thought leaders for the free, one-of-a-kind events.

“Following the overwhelming success of previous years, the Council is absolutely delighted to be bringing this global initiative back to our City for another night of inspiring talks with a range of experts,” says Mayor Robert Bria.

Read more >>

‘Raising the Bar – Home Edition’ is a live, refreshed series of talks featuring some of the most popular speakers from previous years, with space for up to 500 people to log-on.

Six academics will give six talks over six weeks, including Associate Professor Siouxsie Wiles on her research into bioluminescence superbugs, and Professor Olaf Diegel on the untapped potential of 3D printing.

Raising the Bar would usually fill pubs and bars across Auckland as the public cram shoulder-to-shoulder to hear University of Auckland academics talk about research breakthroughs, issues and how the world is changing.

With this year’s physical event cancelled, the best-of zoom series promises something for everyone from big bangs and impact investing to metaphors for working from home.

Speakers will give their talks twice a day, so if you prefer a coffee with your conversation there’s an 8am session, or an 8pm. Registrations are essential at RTB Home Edition.

The best activities bars once offered were pull tabs, pool tables, darts, and maybe the occasional pub trivia game. But in recent years, Americans have learned just how much more they can do while drinking.

First, there was the jock era: Everyone was throwing axes and smashing things in rage rooms. But now geek-chic is back at the bar, and around the country, the pub is becoming a classroom.

While pub trivia serves as a chance to show off knowledge, newer events represent the opposite: an opportunity to learn in a way that people rarely get as adults—from an expert, in an organized, directed fashion. For some, this might incite scary flashbacks to days at school. But there’s no test to take and no homework here: The only thing you need to remember to bring to class is some cash for beer.

Read the full article here

Earlier this year, the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters was transformed into a giant classroom as experts from a range of industries took over pubs just east of the city as part of Raising the Bar Adelaide. CityMag’s own publisher spoke.

Come October 1, the council area will host a second event tailored to those wanting to refine their hustle, be inspired, or simply satisfy their curiosity when it comes to the world of entrepreneurship. Over the course of the evening, 10 thought leaders will explore topics like using your passion to change the world and future-proofing your job from robots.

A well-seasoned speaker at corporate meet-ups, Myriota business development executive Tom Rayner will discuss some of the advancements in technology that’s enabled the satellite communications company to have a cosmic impact.

Tom says he’s looking forward to seeing what new conversations the bar setting will stimulate. “Hopefully it’s… an inspirational, broadening-people’s-horizons type of casual event, given it’s a really casual setting. People should be there to learn and have fun,” he says.

Read the full article here

Just as any vehicle relies on a well-oiled engine to thrive, a daily dose of inspiration is critical to keeping our passion and hustle strong. For many of us, finding motivation can become a neglected priority and carving out the time in our busy schedules to learn something new continues to be a challenge. We fail to recognise that inspiration comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and sounds.

Outside of the museum visits and reading lists, simply investing a couple of moments every day to renew your sense of purpose can make a world of difference in our productivity, enthusiasm and well-being. Whether you need some easy listening to wind down or an inspiring talk to get your brain cells, here are our the top 10 podcasts from Raising The Bar Talks around the country:

1.

Bad Blood- Women, Danger and Popular music

By Rebecca Sheehan

From Beyonce to Ariana Grande, female artists are the biggest selling in the world, yet the realm of popular music undermines their power by focusing on feuds between women, exploiting female desire and indulging male power. In this podcast, hear from Rebecca Sheehan about the ways in which women can navigate the pleasures and dangers of popular music and create new social norms.

2.

Quantum physics rules everything around me (and you)

By Michael Biercuk

It may be hard to fathom but the realm of quantum physics facilities every part of our daily life. Technology such as smartphones, internet services and GPS services only scratch the surface of the potential of quantum physics if we were to exploit the full richness of the field. Tune in to hear Professor Michael J. Biercuk as he unpacks quantum-enhanced technology and its influence on the way our societies are organised.

3.

Humour:

It's funny how it helps you learn

By Kate Offer

Specialising in Thoughts and Evidence at the University of Western Australia’s law school, Dr Kate Offer shares the invaluable contribution of humour in storytelling, teaching and communication. Whether it’s slapstick, a hint of sarcasm or a good old pun, Dr Kate Offer reveals how different types of humour act as a powerful social tool to improve promote cohesion and improve learning environments. Have a laugh with Dr Kate Offer here.

4.Does evil exist?

By Luke Russell

After hearing news of spree killings and other atrocities, it can be tempting to explain devastating happenings as an act of someone ‘evil’. But is this the right conclusion? Philosopher Luke Russell challenges our notions of the reality of evil, our acceptance of evil and whether ‘evil’ is a supernatural force or merely a label to condemn the vicious people? Hear the talk here.

5.It's Only Natural, discovering the ecology of cities

By Dieter Hochuli

When we think of ‘cities’, we think of concrete jungles and bustling streets. But, surprisingly, there’s a number of animals and plants that share our cities with us. By 2050, it’s predicted that up to 80 per cent of humans will live in an urban area so it’s vital that we learn how to live in an ecosystem that can flourish. In this talk, hear Associate Professor Dieter Hochuli discuss how nature can adapt to city life and why living with nature is better for us all.

6.Beware Your Actions As They Become Your Habits

By Troye Wallett

If you’re one of many people that love to start a new years resolution but struggle to see lasting results, Dr Troye Wallet’s talk is for you. According to the Aged Care GP and co-founder of ethics-based medical practice, GenWise, Dr Troye Wallet walks us through why he thinks outcomes-based goals are ‘rubbish’. You’re better off starting again with process-based goals that will get you over the line. Hear more from Dr Troye Wallett’s talk from Adelaide here.

7.Making Darkness Visible

By Alan Duffy

For half a decade, astronomers have realised the existence of an invisible mass, outweighing all of the atoms, planets and people in the universe five times over. This invisible mass is responsible for making the galaxies form together, yet astronomers are yet to uncover its nature. Fancy yourself a space junkie? Feel small again as Alan Duffy unpacks how Australia’s most powerful telescopes may be the key to making this invisible darkness, visible. Listen now.

8.Beauty and the Beast: Indigenous Beauty Decolonised

By Sasha Sarago & Nayuka Gorrie

Every day, Indigenous women in Australia are confronted with demoralising statements such as ‘you’re too pretty to be Aboriginal’. In this talk, a former Indigenous model, Sasha Sarago, and freelance writer, Nayuka Gorrie, explore the objectification of Indigenous beauty in Australia’s colonial history. Hear how beauty is viewed by Indigenous women and join a global movement that reclaims the inherent beauty of Indigenous values and traditions.

9.Next time you see a person who is homeless…

By Lisa Wood

As a tireless advocate of dignity and public support for people who are homeless, Dr Lisa Wood talks about three decades of public health research and teaching that has helped her understand why there are certain assumptions and stereotypes of homeless people. With almost seven per cent of people in Western Australia identifying as homeless, it’s time to address homelessness in a respectful and relevant way. Grab a drink and tune into Dr Lisa Wood’s talk here.

10.Viral ideas, writing in the digital age

By Chris Rodley

From ‘listicles’ to memes and daily quizzes, the internet has seen the rise of a host of new ways to express and share ideas. In this talk, hear from academic Chris Rodley traces the origin and rise of these emerging genres that are taking over our collective digital culture. With an emphasis on visual communication, hear how these new forms of media are remixing the way we write and think about the world around us...

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Keep the daily inspiration flowing with some easy listening from academics, professors and speakers in Australia and beyond here or stay tuned with our upcoming events by joining our mail list today.

Wow, what a year we’ve had!

As 2018 draws the curtains and turns off the lights, we want to thank you all for making it one of the biggest seasons of Raising The Bar. 

We’ve been to five cities this year! From microbiomes in Adelaide to cassava warriors in Perth, thousands of people showed up at local bars to learn from, laugh, and engage with some incredible academics and thought-leaders.

Sydney talked the end of the world. Auckland broke speed records. Melbourne put academics on the line for a karaoke extravaganza. It couldn’t have happened without our amazing partners and of course, all of you. 

As we wish you a happy festive period and safe holidays, we want to journey with you on a recap of RTB 2018…

2018 saw the first RTBADL, as we hit 10 local bars with 20 different speakers. The night covered everything from mental health and wine through to crime and lasers! Huge crowds were treated to selfies with the speakers and beautiful settings for a drink and some knowledge.

Listen to full-length podcasts from your favorite talks here!

We returned to Auckland for the second year, and heard 20 speakers across 10 bars. The locals got to have a drink in hand whilst learning about Blockchain, Big Brother and travelling at 400km/h!

Listen to those talks and many more podcasts from our Auckland event here!

Melbourne saw a return of RTB with 22 talks across 7 bars, and had audiences wowed and worried. Data privacy drove some insightful questions from the crowd, and Loop Bar was bursting at the seams with eager RTB’ers.

In a RTB first, Melbourne bore witness to an academic karaoke session which ended with Bijan Shekibi wowing the audience with brain-controlled prosthetics!

RTB loves Sydney, and that was no different for the 2018 edition! Our 4th visit to the Harbour City saw another 20 speakers encite thoughtful reflections on a range of topics, and had #RTBSYD trending on Twitter!

From the paradox of the prison system to the potential ending of our world, Sydney-siders got what they were hoping for on an amazing evening. They heard why generational categories aren’t proven and how we should go about finding happiness!

Listen to the incredible talks from Sydney here!

As with all the other RTB 2018 events, Perth was a sold out affair, with 10 amazing talks in 10 bars. The people of Perth heard about cassava warriors, humour and homelessness while the renowned astronomy expert Prof Peter Quinn enlightened a crowd of eager learners on the wonders of the universe.

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Special thanks to our partners who made these wonderful events possible!

In 2014, a few New York University and Columbia students had a similar idea. “We wanted to share the knowledge and access to professors we’ve got in New York,” says Inbar Dankner, who was then a business student at NYU. “And we came up with this idea of doing it at local bars.”

They aimed high: their first event was to stage 50 hour-long lectures in 50 bars, all on one night, with topics ranging from neuroscience to music history to philosophy. Neither professor nor bar embraced the idea at first, she says. They had to convince the professors that people would show up and be attentive, and convince bars to close their doors to regular customers for a few hours one evening, with the vague promise that a cadre of new drink-buying customers would stream in.

Neither professor nor bar needed to worry. All 50 venues sold out within 48 hours of the event’s announcement; 5,000 curious drinkers filled the bars around the city that one night. (Tickets were free, but were reserved online in advance.) Afterwards, the organizers were deluged with emails from other universities and students wishing to stage similar events in their cities.

Dankner and others formed a business to organize these, and called it Raising the Bar. They staged a program the next year in San Francisco (with closer to 20 bars), and the next year moved overseas, with events in London, Hong Kong, and Sydney. Australia has been especially keen to expand the program. “In the last year, it’s really exploded,” says Ben Gilden, head of digital and social strategy at Raising the Bar. The crew is currently working with universities in Melbourne and Adelaide on events there, as well as in Auckland, New Zealand. And they’ve twice repeated the New York 50-bar extravaganza.

Raising the Bar’s model calls for universities to pay to underwrite the events, such that tickets for attendees remain free. “It’s a way for universities to engage with their communities in a way they couldn’t before” Gilden says, and move learning out of the classroom and into spaces where people already gather.

The one-hour events also encourage people to sample ideas and concepts that they might ordinarily not be exposed to. Attending doesn’t require a commitment to an entire semester’s run of classes, but offers a low-risk introduction to unfamiliar topics. And you can have a drink or two in the bargain.

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Let's face it — you don't normally expect to walk out of a bar feeling smarter. But global initiative Raising the Bar looks to do just that, pulling education out of classrooms and injecting it into unexpected locations. Hailing from New York, Raising the Bar is heading to Aussie shores, in partnership with the University of Sydney, to take over Sydney bars for one night only.

Ten Sydney haunts — including Della Hyde, Since I Left You, Mojo Record Bar and The Taphouse —are getting involved in this free event, with each venue hosting talks at 6.30pm and 8pm. The bars will be open for business, too, so you can grab a beer to sip on while you try to memorise some new facts to share at parties.

Some of Sydney's brightest minds will come together to discuss their research. And the conversation topics are about as varied as you can get — from heatwaves to happiness to the bioethics of human tissue.

Read more…

We're Hiring!

What: Social Media Coordinator

Location: Remote, Australia-Based

What we’re looking for:

We’re looking for a rockstar social media coordinator who can take the lead on our social channels and email newsletter campaigns. We need someone who will manage our content calendar on social media, draft and run our email newsletters, and post content during events!

Our ideal candidate has a strong interest in digital marketing, and is hungry to dive into the social media and content space. If you live, eat, and breathe all things social, this is for you!

Responsibilities:

• Managing content calendar and scheduling posts on our social channels

• Devising creative ways to help grow digital presence

• Posting content during Raising the Bar events

• Drafting and sending email newsletter blasts to our community of tens of thousands of people

• Responding to inquiries and engaging with RTB community on social

Next steps:
To apply, please send your CV to ben@rtbevent.com with a few sentences about who you are, and why you would be a good fit for the role!

What are the most in-demand events in Auckland at the moment? Katy Perry, Rodriguez, Dire Straits?

Try free university lectures.

Yes, tickets to 20 talks by University of Auckland lecturers on August 28 are a hot item. To be fair to the music superstars it is not a legitimate comparison – the lectures are free and they are being held in pubs and bars.

Following the success of last year’s series of Raising the Bar, the university is embarking on a second round of talks by academics who are swapping “tower for town”.

“Last year succeeded beyond our wildest expectations so it was kind of a no-brainer to do it again.” Director of alumni relations and development, Mark Bentley told Newsroom.

With just under two weeks to go, more than half of this year’s talks are sold out and the others are filling up. Read More. 

It might not be how you normally hit the pub with mates, but it'll guarantee the chat will be better. 

Auckland University is bringing back Raising the Bar for its second year running: a worldwide initiative to bring knowledge to the city's nightlife.

Twenty talks from different experts take place across 10 bars on one night - August 28.

Such topics include 'Race and Queerness in Bounce music' at Little Easy on Ponsonby Rd, 'Big Brother is Everywhere' at Snickel Lane on Customs Street or 'Apples, Ancestors and Rock Hard Evidence' at Sweat Shop Brew Kitchen on Sale Street.

Read More..

We are excited to announce that we're partnering with the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters to launch the first Raising the Bar Adelaide event!

On Tuesday, 7 August 2018 we'll be hosting 20 talks at 10 local Adelaide bars on everything from mental health to wine to criminals & and even lasers!

We have an amazing line-up of speakers including world-renowned professors, economists, marketers, surgeons & more, so it is sure to be a night you won't soon forget! 

Once upon a time, a night out on the town meant drinking and dancing.

But knock-off drinks had a different feel when Raising the Bar took over 10 venues in Melbourne city, hosting 20 talks from academics and experts.

The event was conceived in New York, but spread to Melbourne last year, where a booked-out program ensured a repeat appearance.

The topics range from arts and culture, to science and technology, sociology and philosophy.

And while the subjects may seem dry, another sell-out night suggests there is a strong thirst for learning.

Jacinta Young and Steve Taitoko were ready to settle in for a long evening of discussion about topics from legal storytelling to cryptocurrency.

Mr Taitoko is clear on the appeal.

"I mean it's like TED talks in bars, I think that's becoming more of a way that people can engage and again it's about telling stories so you want something that's quite informal," he said.

Ms Young agreed.

"It's a relaxed atmosphere, it's different to a seminar where you might go and sit in an auditorium," she said.

Lucy Plisko and Tassie Williams also aimed for a big night out with academics and experts, signing up for three separate sessions.

Considering university students spend thousands on their education, only to sleep through their lectures, the pair pondered the popularity of informal learning after a full day of work.

"So I think the engagement is higher when people have chosen to come."

Ms Plisko agreed.

"It's a good way of seeing Melbourne, the city as well. We hadn't been to any of these bars before, so it's a good reason to come back for a bite to eat," she said.

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