On the NPR TED Radio Hour, Sunday 19th July, Newstalk FM

'Quiet':

How do we make a conscious effort to step back and escape from our fast-paced and increasingly noisy world?  

For almost three decades, John Francis has been a planetwalker, traveling the globe by foot and sail with a silent message of environmental respect and responsibility. 

In 1971, John witnessed two oil tankers collide and leak thousands of gallons of oil into the water. From then he vowed to give up gas powered transportation and walk everywhere. 

As people argued with him about his environmental decision John decided to end the dialogue and stop talking altogether. For seventeen years John didn't speak a word. 

The value of introverts

In a culture where being social and outgoing are celebrated, it can be difficult to be an introvert. Susan Cain argues introverts bring extraordinary talents to the world, and should be celebrated.

Susan references a 'culture of character' from America's early days, when qualities such as morality and self awareness mattered most. However as time moved on and capitalism overtook agriculture as the main economic earner, qualities such as magnetism and charisma became the new currency in the 'culture of personality'.

So in a world designed for extroverts, from school to work places, where can the introvert flourish?

Megan Washington is one of Australia's most popular singer/songwriters, and to the outside world she would appear to be a confident extrovert. She took to the TED stage to reveal that since childhood she has had a stutter. "It might seem curious given that I spend my life on the stage.. but I have spent my life up to and including this point living in mortal dread of public speaking."

The Cloud Appreciation Society

You don't need to plan an exotic trip to find beauty and perspective. Just look up, says Gavin Pretor-Pinney, founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society. He calls for us all to stop for a moment every day and admire the beauty in the sky above and in our normal lives.

"If you live with your head in the clouds every now and then, it helps you keep your feet on the ground."

Changing Pace

Writer and journalist Pico Iyer says sitting still and reflecting is hard work. But we bring so much more to our experiences, and relationships when we make time to think. 

He moved from a fast paced, successful life in New York City, a life he aspired to have, to the back streets of Kyoto, Japan. "I realised I had so created my life that I didn't have enough minutes in the day to work out if this was really making me happy. I thought I need to stop right now and go to a clear environment and take stock of things."

Pico describes why the choice to move to a remote, new life was the best decision he ever made.