We begin Season 2 with a listener who contacted me because he feels so strongly that he is a part of Gen Jones. Matthew voices frustration he has felt being lumped in with Baby Boomers his entire life. Born in 1959, Matthew traveled the world in the Navy before settling in Portland to raise a family.

In this interview, I talk to a 64-year-old man from Fji. In some ways, this man’s experience growing up was the most different from the other people I interviewed in 2023. He grew up on the 2d largest island in Fiji, where they did not have broadcast television until the 1990’s. The world was changing exponentially in the South Pacific, as Fiji gained independence from Great Britain in 1970, and other Pacific island nations followed.

Some comments on accents and terminology: Our interview subject has lived in New Zealand for decades, and speaks with a NZ accent. Also, when he speaks of Itaukei people (sounds like, in U.S. accent, ee-tau-kay), he is referring to the indigenous population of Fiji, who comprise about 54% of the population. British brought in Indian people as indentured servants in the late 1800’s, and their descendants now comprise about 38% of the population. Finally, our interviewee references two coups – one in 1987 and one is 2000, that created division amongst the people of Fiji that is now beginning to heal. Although born and educated in Fiji, our interview subject emigrated to New Zealand to pursue advanced studies and stayed to build a career. First a lawyer,now a law professor, he lives in New Zealand but does what he can to help the people of Fiji.

In this interview, I talk to a 66-year-old woman from Victoria, Australia. Like several of the other folks I interviewed in 2023, her primary career was as a law professor before she retired in 2024. Unlike some of the others I interviewed, however, this woman had a very positive experience with religion as a child, and attributes her experiences in her church, along with her parents, and her education, as instilling her with values involving giving back to others, tolerance, and love – values that have stayed with her throughout her life. She has devoted her professional life to studying criminal law systems internationally, examining prison systems, violence against women and children, and human rights.

00:00:13-Introduction of episode

00:00:52-Introduction of guest

00:01:41-Identity & childhood

00:05:10-Education

00:19:28-Employment

00:30:10-Major national or international events

00:35:42-Education

00:41:10-Employment

00:51:40-Shifts in cultural attitudes

01:05:10-Climate change

01:07:15-Middle East

01:08:27-Parenting philosophies

01:14:50-Closing thoughts

01:15:19-Outro