I am inspired by many things and I’m committed to harnessing my inspirations and making a positive contribution to this world.

My first inspiration is my family and in particular my parents who have instilled in me the values of; working hard, hospitality, respect, integrity and the love of family and friends.

I love a good quote, they inspire me.

Artists inspire me, in particular musicians and MCs. I have an ecletic taste in music and will listen to essentially anything that isn’t mainstream/commercial music. I love aussie hip hop due to its honesty and I relate to the messages and stories aussie hip hop artists share. My main inspirations include; The Elefant Traks Fam (The Herd, Horrorshow, The Last Kinection, L-Fresh the Lion, Joelistics, Astronomy Class, Urthboy, Ozi Batla, Dale Harrison, Jane Tyrrell, Jimblah, Homeward Bound, Okenyo, B Wise & Joyride), Reason, Matty B, Hunter, Pegz, Bias B, Hilltop Hoods, Thundamentals, Spit Syndicate, Mr Grevis, Thorts, P Smurf, Rapaport, Baker Boy … the list can go on.

Other musicians/bands that inspire me include; Paul Kelly, Nick Cave, John Butler, Jack Johnson, Peter Tosh, Bob Marley, Gurrumul, Archie Roach, Kev Carmody, Jess Harlen, Aurora, Tones and I, Benee, Offspring, Public Enemy and Midnight Oil … this list could go on and on too.

Henry Rollins has also been a big inspiration for me through his music, spoken word and books.

Documentaries inspire me, particular those presented by Brian Cox and Iain Stewart and more recently the ‘Time of the Sixth Sun’.

Authors who continue to inspire me include; Tim Flannery, Ian Goldin and Chris Kutarna, Bruce Lipton, Deepak Chopra, Russell Shorto, Peter Fitzsimon, Peter Ellyard, Mark Manson, Ryan Holiday, Naom Chomsky, Simon Sinek, Bruce Pascoe, Bill Gammage, Stan Grant, AC Grayling, Viktor Frankl, Thich Nhat Hanh, Phakchok Rinpoche and Erric Solomon, Dana Richardson, David Deida, Richard Denniss, Tim Dunlop, David Attenborough, Gunter Pauli, Behrouz Boochani, Gregory David Roberts, Omar Musa and Jess Scully. I must also mention my dad, Paul Tol and my niece, Charlotte Dige.

Podcasts that inspire me include Everyday Buddhism by Wendy Shinyo Haylett and Philosophize This! by Stephen West. I also love ABC radio programs such as Big Ideas, The Minefield, Philosophers Zone and the Boyer Lectures.

I believe the world at a crossroads and we have a choice as humanity to either self combust into extinction through selfishness, greed and stupidity or raise ourselves to a higher consciousness and awareness and find a positive and sustainable way for us to peacefully and productively co-exist on our magnificent planet and enjoy this amazing thing we are privileged to have called life.

I am inspired to participate in, and contribute towards, finding a way for humanity to evolve and find that higher awareness and consciousness.