Two ex-special operations guys armed with MBAs seek out people leading lives less ordinary, in order to find out how they fill their ‘unforgiving minutes’, and what helps them go, always, a little further. Like intellectual bowerbirds, we collect shiny little objects of knowledge that will help build better humans. Co-hosted by Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis.
Episodes
Thursday Apr 25, 2024
Thursday Apr 25, 2024
As a special Anzac Day release, please enjoy our chat with MAJGEN (ret’d) Jake Ellwood. Jake is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, a role which puts him at the forefront of reconstruction and resilience within the state, particularly in the face of relentless natural disasters. And he’s definitely the man for the job, having spent a long, distinguished and varied first career within the Army, rising to the rank of Major General. In this episode, Jake talks to the boys about his early days, the highlights of his Army career, his philosophy of leadership and character and what he thinks can make a community resilient.
05:20 Straight out of the gate – why ‘Jake’?!
07:30 Jake’s military background, from a private in the Army Reserve….to a Major General in the fulltime Army (including run-ins with both hosts at various points in his career!)
12:00 From such a long, varied and distinguished career, what are the standout moments?
15:48 Jake’s view on character as an indispensable leadership quality… and the role of ethics within this
27:30 Are ‘kids these days’ less resilient than we used to be back in the day?
32:26 Jake’s current role as the CEO of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority
36:30 What are communities doing well to ensure their resilience against – and during – natural disasters?
42:10 What does Jake do for himself? (Answer: Running!)
45:05 The mental aspects of running – and how to overcome the mental difficulties of running
48:30 Jake on running the 2018 Boston Marathon (renowned as one of the most miserable Bostons ever! Check this out!)
52:44 Jake on Run Army, its beginnings and what it means to him
1:04:20 Jake looking forward to running the 2024 Run Army in a week’s time (postscript – while Jake spoke about doing this race at a casual, enjoyable pace, it turns out his version of ‘casual’ is probably different to most of ours – he came in the top 60 in just over 40 minutes!)
1:10:41 What is Jake’s ‘power song’?
External Links
Dr Simon Longstaff, Executive Director of The Ethics Centre
Queensland Reconstruction Authority
Contact Us
Email us at debrief@unforgiving60.com
Instagram, Twitter: @Unforgiving60
Music …. With thanks to:
The Externals – available on Spotify