Topic: Human Soul

Nic Askew explains the methodology behind his "Soul Biographies," which involve sitting in silence with a subject just one meter away without prepared questions. He contrasts this approach with traditional interviews, noting that silence allows people to drop their facades and speak from a deeper, unguarded place. The process aims to see the human being beyond their self-conceived ideas and the "myth" of their public persona.

Nic Askew shares a story about filming an elderly man named Ted, who was later revealed to be a US Congressman, during a leadership institute event. By asking Ted to sit still with his eyes closed and requiring nothing from him, Askew facilitated a moment where the politician moved past his "stump speech" to a state of deep, trembling honesty. This event illustrates Askew's belief that true presence requires the absence of an agenda or the need to "fix" the subject.