Phoebe Lindner on human rights, Stoicism, joy and finding your purpose

Squiggly Lives

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About this episode

In our very first guest episode we speak to Phoebe Lindner - a human rights lawyer, jazz singer/violinist and solo global traveller from Australia. She has represented asylum seekers in both the UK and Australia, and worked at numerous international human rights organisations, including Human Rights Watch.

Phoebe recently contributed to a three-book series on the subject of lesbian and bisexual woman and their place in history, culture and law in society. Presently, she works at the Victorian Law Reform Commission, Melbourne, Australia, where she is undertaking a project to make the jury system more inclusive.

In this episode we cover a huge range of topics from human rights to Stoicism; privilege to sources of joy. We delve deeply into subjects such as travel, finding meaning through service to others and following your passion.

Key topics:

• Asking for help from others to get into the career you want (02:00)
• Finding your purpose (07:30)
• Balancing your interests and finding energy for creativity (08:00)
• Philosophy, Stoicism and accepting what is (14:00)
• Travel and what we can learn from it (20:30)
• Where to look for joy (27:20)
• A decision to make when you’re young (or at any point in your life): 35:00
• Equality and privilege (37:00)
• The collective (47:50)

Book recommendations:

• Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
• When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron
• The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday
• Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez

Personal bio

Phoebe Irving Lindner is an Australian human rights lawyer and researcher, as well as a jazz violinist and singer. She graduated Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Music from Monash University. Phoebe has worked at various international human rights organisations in London, including Human Rights Watch and Human Dignity Trust, specialising in human rights advocacy and strategic litigation. She was Supervisor of the Public Law and Immigration service at Camden Community Law Centre and worked in private practice representing asylum seekers in London. She has collaborated with Professor Paula Gerber, Monash University - together they have published numerous articles and book chapters, including three chapters in Paula Gerber, ed. Worldwide Perspectives on Lesbians, Gays, and Bisexuals [3 volumes] Praeger, 2021; ‘Birth Certificates for children with same sex parents: a reflection of biology or something more?’(2015) 18(2) New York University Journal of Legislation and Public Policy 225; and ‘Modern Families: Should children be able to have more than two parents on their birth certificates?’(2015) 5(1) Victoria University Law & Justice Journal 34. Phoebe presently works at the Victorian Law Reform Commission in Melbourne, Australia.

Key Personal Links:

Music:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebackyardbanjoclub
• Insta: @thebackyardbanjoclub

Academic research:

• Paula Gerber, ed. Worldwide Perspectives on Lesbians, Gays, and Bisexuals [3 volumes] Praeger, 2021 - see chapters:

• • Gerber & Lindner, ‘Pathways to decriminalization of homosexual conduct’, Chapter 4, Vol.2.
  • Gerber, Lindner & Grover, ‘Using the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as a tool to advance LGB rights’, Chapter 7, Vol.2.
  • Gerber, Lindner & Nanlohy, ‘Constitutional protections for LGB persons’, Chapter 9, Vol.2.

• Paula Gerber & Phoebe Irving Lindner, ‘Birth Certificates for children with same sex parents: a reflection of biology or something more?’(2015) 18(2) New York University Journal of Legislation and Public Policy 225

• Paula Gerber & Phoebe Irving Lindner, ‘Modern Families: Should children be able to have more than two parents on their birth certificates?’(2015) 5(1) Victoria University Law & Justice Journal 34.

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