Inspired Radio, February 15, 2026

Inspired Radio with Helen Taylor Guest, Mike Palmer - Know Your Rights Mike knows his stuff and that comes from years of real-world experience, hard conversations, and hands-on work helping everyday Australians understand their rights. In this episode of Inspired Radio, host Helen Taylor speaks with Mike Palmer, the frontman for the "Know Your Rights" group and a longtime activist. The discussion explores Palmer's journey from a police contractor to a legal educator, offering practical strategies for challenging systemic injustices and reclaiming personal agency. The Genesis of "Know Your Rights" Mike Palmer’s transition into activism was sparked by a personal experience with systemic unfairness. After running a successful transcription company for the Victoria Police for 13 years, his contract was abruptly terminated in favor of a questionable deal with an outside firm. This prompted Palmer to investigate the legal system, where he discovered a fragmented landscape of small groups holding valuable but uncoordinated information. He eventually stepped into a leadership role to consolidate these resources, helping to create websites, books, and the "Know Your Rights" umbrella group to reach a wider audience. Challenging the "Authority Trance" A significant portion of the conversation focuses on the psychological barriers to exercising legal rights—specifically, the fear of authority. Palmer explains that most people operate in a "day-to-day trance," reacting to authority figures like police or magistrates with programmed anxiety. He advocates for "reframing" these interactions: viewing police and judges as fellow humans with their own stresses and mortgages. By maintaining a respectful but confident and questioning demeanor, individuals can often bypass the "bravado" of the system and achieve better outcomes. Conscious Living and Personal Responsibility Beyond legal battles, Palmer emphasizes that true change begins with conscious thinking. He encourages people to audit their lives—from the media they consume to the food they eat—to identify where they are "asleep at the wheel" 45:34-46:4654:46-55:14. He argues that the energy spent on "train wreck TV" or mindless social media scrolling could be redirected toward building side businesses or improving one's community. Palmer’s philosophy is rooted in the idea that one cannot fix a problem they are not aware of; therefore, self-awareness is the first step toward both personal and societal freedom. Mike Palmer’s message is a call to move from a state of "comfortable" compliance to one of "uncomfortable" growth. By reclaiming the power of critical thinking and taking conscious, incremental actions, individuals can break free from limiting systems and leave the world better for the next generation.