Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:00 Hello, and welcome to the, give yourself the chat podcast. I'm your host, Peter Lewis. And this show is all about leadership coaching and living
Speaker 1 00:00:07 The life of high performance. So might be one welcome to give yourself the chat podcast. I've got another
Speaker 0 00:00:20 Guests with me today. Uh, VGA, Shaw, BJ. How are you doing? Hello, Peter. I am so well, thank you. I'm living life, just like everyone else. Um, but you know what, I'm pretty much are. I'll have got that sorted. Actually. We've got ourselves a routine that has dominate our lives and actually means that nothing nothing's changed, but a few challenges there. Well, that's great that you, you have your house. I think that's the main thing. Um, so, so for the benefit of our listeners, um, VJ, I was put in touch with you via your brother who Sam who's over in Los Angeles. And I knew Tom was actually on a previous podcast, um, and talking about how the music industry and deejaying, but you have a very different sort of roots in your life. You describe yourself, you know, you're a rocket scientist is passionate about climate change. You're an Explorer who spent up to about the last three years, traveling and exploring. So there's so much that you're doing so locked down for an explore, and now that's gotta be an interesting and interesting challenge for you.
Speaker 0 00:01:42 It's quite difficult not to get out and go kind of, even as smaller ventures that I can get out with it with a little baby. I was kind of being able to do well my life or my life, but yeah, gosh. Yeah, it's amazing out there. And um, so I'd love to explore some of the exploration stuff and rocket scientists, but it's on your, and also I have to mention for the lessons as well because your, your, your name may be familiar with some people who may have watched the BBC series astronauts. Do you have what it takes, which I know myself and my family. Um, we love that we've been out to Florida a couple of times and the Kennedy space center is such a big draw for us. And there's something quite magical about space exploration, stuff like that. So, I mean, there's so much you can cover, but just give us a sense of what brings you to this point in your life. And some of that journey you've been on and you can go wherever you like with this, but, you know, um, what kind of brings you to this point in your life as a sort of climate change, passionate about climate change and, you know, so get more raising awareness and that, um, but also that astronaut adventure and bits and pieces.
Speaker 2 00:03:03 Yeah. Um, it says it's one of the first questions that everyone asks. Anyone really is like, you know, describe yourself, who are you? Um, and we typically, we always go for, uh, what, what kind of earns us money, our profession. Right. But, um, but that really is, um, is, is can't be determined just by sex and starts. You know, you have to have money. You might not necessarily be who you think you are. And so I like to describe myself as like what my passions are. Um, and my passions are, are nature. Um, it's science and, uh, furthering kind of our knowledge and pushing what we know further and beyond that, I'm actually fascinated by all the things we covered, especially as a teenager growing up and seeing how much we found out about our universe. Um, and the, and that kind of led me towards wanting to, uh, dedicate my life to be pursuing that knowledge and pushing that further.
Speaker 2 00:04:02 Um, but then that combined with kind of the nature and what kind of, how, how amazing, uh, the life is, not just for ourselves, but for every species on the tennis, that'd be to explore some of these, uh, uh, most, the most amazing, uh, habitat and prices across the earth. Um, and that, I said, I guess to my, um, passion, which is, I guess, plus social responsibility, and that's been, you know, responsible for who we are, how we live and how we treat each other and the planet. Um, and, uh, I'm not doing such a great job and that has led me to become an activist for, uh, climate change. Um, Tom, yet, I guess that's where, that's where I am. I'm trying to balance all of these different passions. And I guess that's kind of nice to near some sort of polymath, but probably not as great as the best part of myself, but it doesn't matter. It's about your passions is about exploring each one then when never just one facet of a diamond where all of those facets together, and we shouldn't shy away from any of those boxes and just let each one catch the light at some point,
Speaker 0 00:05:18 That's a beautiful way of describing actually that that's brilliant. So a word you used there, um, whereas you described yourself as an activist when it comes to climate change and everything else. So what does that mean to you when you describe yourself in that way?
Speaker 2 00:05:35 Taught me just not sitting around and keeping your mouth shut. Um, that is that if you, uh, know what needs to be done is to stand up, put your head above the parapet, how has that might be, we all have different skills that we could use, um, even just without bobbies, um, just there being standing up and saying, no, this is not right. Um, um, um, for me, um, I'm, I'm doing that as well as using some of the skills, some of the, um, um, I guess the publicity that I've had, um, uh, maximizing, uh, the use of that. Whereas other people that might be really good at, um, at that talking on the radio, uh, or making films or, or, or pushing the politics side of things or, or, or writing about climate change as generalist. Um, but even if people don't really have an ability to give a voice or just putting your body up there and saying, look, I'm standing with these people over here and we say, no, this is not okay. And we need to change. And so activism is, is many as many ways to be an activist. And I do what I can, uh, when necessary. Um, uh, it's really exciting the moment with the football prides depends on it. But, uh, with the, with the movement of fixings, from rebellion where such a great number of people have risen up and have joined together, um, really great organizations, um, um, an organizing that's going on to, uh, to progress, uh, this and that has to happen because if not, I really don't know how we can survive.
Speaker 0 00:07:19 It is. I mean, it's, it's amazing. Just the, so the, the, the, the swell and the, the momentum that extinction rebellion was getting and still has, and then we have pandemic. And, and yet there's a, there's a part of me that is hopeful that actually giving the planet a bit of a rest through, you know, massive reduction in travel and production and manufacturing and everything else like that. There has, I mean, what, what benefits have you seen coming out of this in forced, uh, guests, um, sort of giving, as I say, giving the planet a bit of a breather, what have you seen? I've, I'm guessing there's, there's some benefits, but have you actually seen some demonstrable? And so, and so data on this as to how the bent the planet might be benefiting?
Speaker 2 00:08:05 Um, well, we've, we've seen, we've seen it forever for ourselves and our own eyes, but the way that actually, um, that, um, uh, that nature is coming back to our strings, just in this very short period of time, we've also also had the time to appreciate it and to see what's out there between a large degree to slowed down. Um, I think most of those positives that we can see is probably in how we viewed about ourselves and everyone, I believe, um, what I've seen, the positive effects of stuff, whether it's that the air is cleaner, even the cities that we live in in fact, um, more so in the cities, because that's where you see the greatest chops in the air pollution. Um, uh, people, I know I grew up in London, um, my love, my family still live there. I talk about how clean the air is, um, um, on top of that.
Speaker 2 00:08:59 Um, but, um, when, um, I've seen kind of reports and videos and pictures, nature, uh, coming out of it kind of Xcel place and starting to, uh, come into these habitats that we've, we've overrun, uh, which is amazing. See just in the local woods there, I'm seeing more there, which is amazing. Um, but Peter, you know what, the 2020 on course, to be the hottest year ever this reduction in, um, in, in, in the emissions that we're experiencing June, this pandemic, it's just a small little blip in the, in the billions off of emissions that were admitted over these years. And, um, and it's really just brings home the point that it's the emissions and what we've released. It takes a number of years for that to really take effect. So where can I say we stop all emissions today for, for the foreseeable future, we will still see a lot of warming happening just from all the past the missions that we've released, um, which, which kind of should really bring it home.
Speaker 2 00:10:17 But, um, that actually, no, it's not something that we can fix just like that. If now, if, and when we decide to hit something we need to fix now for the future. Yeah. Yeah. I totally agree with your points there about how you can just notice it literally on your doorstep, but also perhaps people are getting more access to nature because they're going out for their, uh, their walks. And I mean, I, I go out running and I've never seen so many people on some, my trail runs, whereas several months ago I'd be by myself. And there's a part of me that hopes that that habits sticks. And in some small way, people's mindset has changed not only about nature, but also about how fragile our own existence is within this, this sort of ecosystem we've got. But like you say, there's a lot of work to be done yet.
Speaker 2 00:11:09 So are you hopeful for us as a species coming out of this, that in some ways things may change? I I'm so hopeful. In fact, this is in the, in the sort of way, it's probably the best thing to happen to us really, because it is a crisis. It is a massive health crisis, um, uh, that, that, um, that has taken us completely by surprise, but it's going to be a, quite a short lip crisis in respect, or, or rather relative to the climate crisis that we're kind of just at the beginning of experiencing. So it could be, you know, a wake up call and hopefully we do wake up from this and make us a change due to massive changes that is required before it is too late. So this is, I I'm really hopeful. And as you said, Peter is really, I think people, a lot of people have realized that, um, and sit and look at insights, look at the world in a different way than they have and realize that actually, you know, we are part of nature, not exclusives off it. And we live only within it's it's bias there for so long. We thought ourselves exterior to that, and really, really brought it home. I think it's a bit of a sobering moment,
Speaker 0 00:12:41 Very, very, and, uh, and also the effect it's had on, on relationships and people coming together. You know, I, for one, um, I'm optimistic and hopeful, uh, Mike, you are as well, but we shouldn't get complacent about it. And I think the human condition is such that we have very short memories. And, uh, I think going back to your, the activism piece there, I think it's for all of us to, to say, no, we can't go back to how it was. We, we must do things differently and look at the benefits that, that, so say, yeah, let, let's, let let's hope let's, um, let's turn our attention now. Cause I'm having watched the series. I'm, I'm fascinated to know about your experience with astronauts. Do you have what it takes? What, um, tell me about that, the whole, um, experience and, and kind of what you learned coming out, the other end of that, um, that whole thing.
Speaker 2 00:13:33 Um, so, um, I always wanted to be a national, you know, combining those aspects, like passions that I talked to you earlier about, about really chewing, uh, science and pushing the boundaries for what we can, what we can achieve, and I'm wanting to experience it first. I'm not, so I'm no better occupation bound to be a national clearly. Um, so it's kind of pushed me towards my career choices and studying aeronautics engineering, working as an aerospace engineer for over the last, uh, greater than a decade. Um, and so, um, I've always waited for the European space agencies that vacations open up to allow us to apply to be astronauts. But, uh, the last one was in 2007 and I had just come out of university then, um, that's when I was selected. Um, and there has to be one sentence. Um, and so when I saw that the BBC was doing this series to, um, um, to take people through a national selection program, I jumped at it cause I wanted to know what is it like to get to go through that process?
Speaker 2 00:14:49 And, um, you know, could I get through that true that was selected for one and then get, get through, um, um, I'm being selected as, as kind of a national candidate or be on TV. Um, and, uh, it was a fascinating experience. I mean, come on, the Hatfield was, uh, was leading this and he is a hero of mine that just to meet him was an amazing experience, but to be taught how to do things, to buy Amanda Hadfield, who had been the commander of the international space station was incredible. Um, on, I guess for me, the best experience was learning to dock the Soyuz, uh, capture, wanted the international space station as in a virtual simulator taught by c'mon that had a field in Russian that we'd only learn four days prior.
Speaker 2 00:15:41 Yeah, that was pretty incredible week. We, we were flown to Germany. In fact, we can know where we were going because we didn't have any wallets on the phones when it's possible, sometimes we're were in blind. Um, so, uh, we, we were flowing through Germany and turned up at this facility, which is the DLR, um, uh, which is, which is one of the European space agency. Uh, and then the other hat, uh, um, as a virtual simulator, Asheville and teller, she used to train on international space station and the <inaudible> taught us in Russian very only in a few minutes. And then we have to it for real, without any guidance, um, on that test. And that was pretty, uh, pretty incredible, also
Speaker 0 00:16:32 Amazing, amazing it's you've reminded me having watched that, that series, my family and I were, were glued to it. And, uh, uh, all the tests you had to go through. And I remember the one you've just talked about there, but there are lots of other ones as well about, you know, sort of testing, all sorts of elements of, of your capability by a syndrome member. One, there was a string of digits you had to remember, but then had to recite them backwards or something. There was some tests that was like, how on earth are you even get it? Can you remember that test? What was that about? Something about difference us.
Speaker 2 00:17:02 Yeah. Yeah. So that was, that was in fact that one of the tests that we have to, um, um, what we had to do was to do repetitive tasks just to, uh, um, I guess, to, to confuse us or occupy our, our, our Brian's. And that was just, and this particular task was stepping up and down or fulfill platform. So just continuously step up and down off this platform. And then, um, they will play a tape of someone in some form voice saying a string of digits, uh, to us and at varying speeds. Um, and so we started off with just string did it, and then it, and it kept on getting greater and greater until you got, uh, you've got too many wrongs. And then, and then, uh, and then test is Ava. We didn't just have to repeat them back. We had to repeat them back back.
Speaker 2 00:17:56 Um, and on top of that, there was about a five second pause between when we could alternate finished playing there's dishes before we could repeat them back. So you have to recall that information in your head, turn it around and then wait five seconds before emptying out to try to, I'm trying to recall that back correctly. Um, and it got really hard because, um, not only that obviously changed, remember a long string of patients, um, and then, and then reverse it, but the fact that it was a foreign voice and, um, it made me realize that I lost language is the ribbon. So when we say it as string of digits, uh, in our native tongue to come upon, but also now they could sound, you'll find that there's a melody to how we say that. Even when we're talking right now, Peter, I'm just talking in that particular melody, um, in, in sentences that we say, and when I ask you a question, for instance, uh, you know, I'm saying in a particular way, and the same thing we say about pitches, like in this fell on voice, it was so confusing. It was so confused.
Speaker 0 00:19:04 And, and I, um, you mentioned commander Hadfield there and, and, and Chris Hadfield, it's quite a remarkable chapter. There's a wonderful quote that is attributed to him. I think it's something, he said, something about there's no problem is so bad that you can't make it worse. And I love that quote and it strikes, strikes me that, you know, they are still in their astronaut training. They're looking for so many different things, but one of them has got to be that calmness under pressure and being able to keep your emotions in check. Um, and he comes across as a very sort of cool individual, but I guess they all are in terms of the tests that you had to do, what, what would you say, um, you've said one of the most enjoyable, what was the hardest test that you went through during that whole process? Would you say?
Speaker 2 00:19:59 Um, the hardest, uh, test for me? Um, it's actually quite simple, actually. It was when we had to make these origami beds. Um, so, uh, so we were, uh, again, we were split into this room. You have no idea what was going on, and we're told to sit down and then a bunch of square paper was put in front of us, and then we'll give him a, a set of instructions to, to, to fold, uh, step by step instructions. And then eventually you get sort of call me, but, um, and then you mentioned makes as many as you can in an hour and each one as perfect as the last, um, in fact, this is exact, this is the test that they do for the, uh, the Japanese national selection actually by, they have to make up a hundred or 150 birds, and each one has to be as perfect as the first one was that was made.
Speaker 2 00:20:52 Um, and so, okay. Yep. Fair enough. And it's not one of the major tests that we're doing. Wasn't, you know, we won't be spun around in a centrifuge. Um, but, um, um, but, uh, but it was tests on the lesson and we started and then, you know, talk to the fold, fold and making, take an extra care to make sure all of the creases were perfect and all of the poles are perfect. And then I got to, uh, one of the steps about, uh, three quarters of it in, and I, it was a bit confusing and the first bird just kind of fell apart, then it's like, okay, um, start again. So I started again and I was making them and already I can see one of the other candidates and finished the birth and then another candidate house they've finished the burden there on the second, third.
Speaker 2 00:21:41 And I was like, okay, everyone go through this. And then I came to that, thanks to that. And then I got stuck in, I couldn't see what was going on, why can't I get past this step? And it was wrong. And then within this hour, the hour had come through, there was a pile of paper, screwed up paper beneath me, almost all the other candidate part from one has a number of birds, or, you know, different bearing from the numbers varying on the qualities, but they all had thirds upstairs. Um, and there was, and there was just, there was just still just chatting through. And they just, me sitting there knowing that all of these other people had created that and the pressure, um, that I was faithful putting myself on the, uh, what was immense. And then I realized that, okay, you know, the more I'm getting pressured, the more I'm getting stuck on this really pick the problem.
Speaker 2 00:22:33 Um, and then, you know, there's only 10 minutes remaining and I hadn't yet made a single birth has only one as a candidate. He was stuck as well on some other problems as well. Uh, and, um, and I really, you know, the depression and Oxy really, I keep in check, um, because you could start panicking. So I, you know, it was a straight up strongly urge for me to just rush through fold, fold, fold as quickly as I could to try and get a bed out. I realized that if I see that I'm not gonna get past this step now, I got stuck in pecan. Um, in the end realized, um, uh, if just humans remaining there, calmly got to that step and a bit more time on it, realize that all it was or had it 180 degrees out of alignment around the fold work. And I got perfectly out of that, right. A crack there. This is, this is it. So I, I managed to get through a second bird just as a buzzer went and finished it, and we're finishing it while I've got, I've got two birds, a lot less than everyone else, but, um, it really shows that calmness under pressure is what is worth so much more, um, um, and, and starting to panic. And it really shows why those skills are so important.
Speaker 0 00:23:57 Absolutely. Who would have thought or origami birds on astronaut training would, would factor, but clearly it does. So, so, um, before we kind of move on to some of your exploration stuff, what did that whole experience that astronaut, um, have you,
Speaker 2 00:24:12 What did you learn about yourself having gone through that? What, um, uh, one of them about myself is that, uh, it gave me the confidence to realize that, um, I, I love all the people selected and, you know, there's about 3000 applications that were selected down to, uh, the 12 applicants that were showing on the, on the TV program. And I was, it was a whole about six months of selection that happened prior to us getting onto the TV program. Um, um, and the, um, that, and working through that and meeting all these other candidates who were all amazing at some spectacular things. The first thing I realized was actually, you know, I, I'm kind of standing up there with them, um, and that, uh, um, and to have the confidence that you go, okay, you know, quite I have over my lifetime have developed the skillsets and the knowledge and the experience, uh, to be able to do this job, to be standing up there with the best.
Speaker 2 00:25:18 And then the other thing that I realized, and that was a very positive thing to realize, um, was that they were testing us on all aspects of ourselves and our personality and our abilities. And it really highlights, I guess, the things that we are strong in as well as what their weekend. Um, and, uh, and it's like, no, I changed the word. Um, it's things that we need to work on because no one is born as the perfect national template Chris had. So it wasn't born, um, being the perfect candidate materials. No, he worked on it, worked on all aspects of his skill, his personality, um, uh, until he has all the skill sets required. And so, uh, that's what we need to do. We need to challenge ourselves in all different manners that highlights there is that we need to work. Um, it's pointless, just concentrating and doing all the things you're great at into that, because you're really challenging yourself. We need to challenge ourselves in these areas that, um, that we need to work on.
Speaker 0 00:26:25 I love that. Yeah, it is that the challenge to self. So, um, you've, I'm guessing, uh, BJ, you've been in some pretty challenging environments as well with your exploration, your travel.
Speaker 2 00:26:38 Um, it looks like you've been to,
Speaker 0 00:26:40 You've been to every continent in the world, or is there still,
Speaker 2 00:26:45 I haven't been to Antarctica. It's there waiting for me.
Speaker 0 00:26:52 We'll have to wait a little bit longer as soon as we get through this, this lockdown, but thinking about those, those moments where you've personally been challenged, and it may have been on national training, it may have been, as you've explored, um, in the spirits of give yourself that, that chat, what do you find when you're in those moments of either self doubt or tiredness, and all you want to do is do the easy thing more than the hard thing or the right thing. And it may even be in your activism as well, um, with climate change, how do you manage those moments, uh, for you personally?
Speaker 2 00:27:25 Yeah, so, um, uh, you're absolutely right. You know, anyone that has been, has pushed themselves to challenge themselves has had to face their own demons had at some point or the other, um, has had to give themselves to the chats and certainly on expedition, um, you, you, you can't just give up and, um, those, uh, there's no time for, to really give yourself the chats. Cause, you know, if you stop, you literally are going to die. So that's a really easy chat to give for that. Before that, before going on the expedition one just about symbolic on it. When, when you've done East, you spent loads of money. Um, you do train to go to care stuff, but you know, you are about to put yourself in immortal danger in some of these conditions and stuff. And, and, and, and I have a number of times going, right, should I be doing this?
Speaker 2 00:28:29 Am I, why am I doing this? We're not prepared. This is the best sentence. This is, this is stupid. Um, and in those moments, I've had to, uh, give myself the chapel and beforehand, even before when I'm knowing that I'm going to come to this point, like this is something that we didn't want to plan. And it is, as I respond to say, give myself the time. I only always go back to two words that define, I guess, pretty much everything I do. And that is a no regrets to have no regrets. I don't want to be looking back in in five years time or in 10 years time, wishing I had done X, Y and said, and, and certainly in doing it clients, they might know it, but they might've failed. Um, it might take them a direction that, uh, um, that, that wasn't very valuable or didn't come to anything.
Speaker 2 00:29:29 And it might've been a big waste of money or a big waste of time, but I'd rather be in that situation and looking back and saying, I tried, I tried the best of my abilities. Um, and, um, and I have no regret than, than the, and to be looking back and go, I wish I'd tried. I wish I'd done this. I really was passionate about doing, whether it be an expedition, whether it be, um, a new project, designing a new type of structure, whatever to explore a new planet, uh, that I do kind of in the day job or, or even in that, uh, I didn't stand up, standing up above the parapet to say, look, this is an issue we need to change the way with us. And, um, I don't want to be a, having to explain to my child what I did in 2020, um, uh, when the world was warming up and I alarm and pace, and it was clear what needs to happen?
Speaker 2 00:30:29 And I just sat there silently, no regret. Yeah. I love that. It's that, you know, this, uh, for me, it's the sort of big cliched, but that pain is temporary. Pride is forever piece, which speaks to the no regrets. Isn't it? No matter how hard it might feel now, or how scary living with the fact that perhaps you didn't try or didn't do your best is far worse. And I think you have to, you have to future pace yourself. You have to remind yourself, you know, VJ or Peter. You don't want to live with that. So therefore do this now. And, and, and that's not easy, but it's not supposed to be easy. And it's those moments where no regrets really, really kicks in someone as someone once told me anything worth doing it's not easily. No, no, absolutely. And yeah, everyone, everyone wants a hack.
Speaker 2 00:31:24 Everyone wants a life hack to try and get, but, but actually part of it is the love of the process. It's the, it's the preparation for these trips. It's the trip, you know, it's it, I think you have to remind yourself. And again, it's, you know, it's living in the now, but, but so much of the fulfillment for all these projects, you get involved as part of that process of either pushing knowledge or pushing an agenda, whatever it might be. I think we have to remind ourselves that the process is where the joy lies and we're coming to the end shortly BJ's was fascinating. But if your day job is as a, as a rocket scientist, is it not? Yes, that's right. Um, yeah, I used to work now. I work on, um, uh, sensors, these latest sensors to help, um, uh, to help land on, on other planets, which is bizarre, you know, think of a rocket scientist. But then again, it comes down to that, no regret side. I really wanted to get hardware and space when I'm working there as a rocket scientist in the UK. And I work on the most and most advanced project actually that's happening, um, probably in the world and developing new type of rocket propulsion engine, but there'd be many years before that in space right now, working on hardware that actually we might be launching very soon. So that's really cool.
Speaker 0 00:32:53 That is amazing. And a VJ week, we just scratched the surface on that. And so perhaps what we'll, we'll talk about that at some other time, but I've really enjoyed, um, getting to know you, um, on this and thank you so much for your, your time there. If people want to find out more about you and your cause and everything else, um, here's your opportunity, let them know how can they find out.
Speaker 2 00:33:15 So, uh, check out my website is, or, or hit me up on Twitter or Instagram or any one of those social media aspects, but there's some great stuff. You can see the pictures and videos that I've made of my expeditions, all of my, uh, all of my website, um, as well as, um, some great blog that I write, which I really write from kind of where my passion lies will come from the heart. So check it out, have a read. And if you like anything, you see, then just say, hi,
Speaker 0 00:33:48 Joining the conversation. Well, I, for one have loved this conversation. VJ has been absolute delight, chatting with you, um, stay healthy. And, uh, and then once it's locked downs out of the way, you can get back to your exploring, but I'm sure your brain is working overtime, making plans right now.
Speaker 2 00:34:03 <inaudible>
Speaker 0 00:34:15 Wow. Another great guest on the give yourself a chat podcast really enjoy chatting to VJ there. And there's a man that's packed several lifetimes worth of experiences into his life so far. And, and to have a rocket scientist and train the astronauts on the podcast show. Fantastic, fascinating, and, and also a committed activist and somebody passionate about the preservation and the celebration of this planet of ours. And I hope that this is giving you cause to think about what you can do either with your own exploration mindset or, or even just doing your bit, all of us doing our bit to preserve this wonderful planet of ours, then this podcast will have done its job. In the meantime, though, I get yourself over to LinkedIn, join me in the conversation, suggest which podcast guests you'd like me to feature on next and subjects. You'd like me to explore here on give yourself the chat. But in the meantime, look after yourself, we'll see you on the next one.
Speaker 2 00:35:14 <inaudible>.
