Shift Happens

August 21, 2025

In this new series of podcasts, Bruce chats to some of the interesting, funny and resilient people he has met since his accident 6 years ago.


Medicine can be a very limiting and intensely personal career. Bruce now has the opportunity to listen and learn from other’s experiences.

Episode 1:

In this first episode, we hear from Bruce himself.

Episode 2:

In this episode of Shift Happens, we meet Cam, a remarkably brave and generous man.

Episode 3:

Alex is one of Fremantle Dockers doctors, looking after the well-being and fitness of the players both on and off the pitch. Engaging and modest, Alex shares some of his journey and his leadership skills.

Episode 4:

Will is a highly regarded senior arts, travel and music journalist as well as a warm generous fellow. We chat about music, writing and a host of other topics.

Episode 2:

In this episode of Shift Happens, we meet Cam, a remarkably brave and generous man.

Episode 3:

Alex is one of Fremantle Dockers doctors, looking after the well-being and fitness of the players both on and off the pitch. Engaging and modest, Alex shares some of his journey and his leadership skills.

Episode 4:

Will Yeoman joins Bruce to discuss creativity, art, journalism and quantum physics in a wide-ranging and engaging conversation with one of Western Australia’s most respected journalist and presenter.

Episode 5:

Geoff chats about his long career at the ABC and his new book. Insightful, funny and thought-provoking conversation.

Episode 6:

In this episode, Bruce is joined by Christie, an AI expert who breaks down what artificial intelligence really means for our lives today – and tomorrow.

Smiling person soaking in a bathtub with a white foam beard and wet spiky hair
By Bruce Powell April 27, 2026
Rethinking “bad behaviour” in brain injury: less about intent, more about control, shame, and the gap between clinical labels and lived reality.
Close-up of an arm with a small black abstract tattoo near the elbow.
By Bruce Powell April 25, 2026
NDIS access relies on executive function many applicants lack, turning support into a barrier. When paperwork decides outcomes, the system fails.
Large brown dog resting on a beige couch beside a black-and-white toy elephant
By Bruce Powell April 22, 2026
NDIS cuts risk shifting costs, not saving them. The issue is not spending less, but spending smarter on supports that change outcomes.
Black-and-white portrait of a man in a beret and zip-up jacket, looking straight ahead.
By Bruce Powell April 20, 2026
Saving lives is not the endpoint. Recovery is. This article examines how underpowered rehabilitation drives bed block, delays discharge, and weakens systems.
A watercolor painting of a rusted, white kettle with the red letters
By Bruce Powell April 8, 2026
Two convincing emails. One tax bill, one refund. Both felt real. Put the kettle on. Pause, step out, and avoid getting scammed.
A person wading in a clear, rocky tide pool at the base of a large, craggy mountain under a bright blue sky.
By Bruce Powell March 22, 2026
Rehabilitation is the missing link in Australia’s hospital crisis. Underfunding and COVID disruptions continue to block recovery and system flow.
A person with light-colored hair and facial hair sleeping peacefully on their side in a bed with white linens.
By Bruce Powell March 22, 2026
Featured in MJA InSight+, this article explores brain injury advocacy, the reality behind the Royal Commission findings, and why meaningful change is still overdue.
The DonateLife logo: a fuchsia heart shape formed by three rotating arrows, with the text
By Bruce Powell March 17, 2026
Reflective insights from a former ICU doctor on organ donation, community trust, ethics, and the quiet realities behind transplantation.
Watercolor painting of a rusty blue and orange kettle with a wooden handle. Splattered with blue and red paint.
By Bruce Powell March 10, 2026
Scammers rely on urgency and confusion. The Kettle Rule shows how slowing down, even making tea, can break the spell and protect vulnerable people.
Man at a microphone, in a recording studio, holding a coffee and working on a laptop.
By Bruce Powell March 5, 2026
AI has industrialised deception, making scams harder to detect. As trust becomes procedural, can AI also help us defend ourselves without replacing human judgement?
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