There’s a widespread assumption that we are all are better off in relationships, that you can and must find your soul mate, and that true love conquers all. Mandy Len Catron has been aware of the power of love stories, ever since her childhood in rural Appalachia in the American south. As the daughter of a cheerleader and a football coach, her family stories read like the perfect American Dream. But when the reality of life fell short of these idealised, and highly feminised, notions, Mandy turned to science to explore what other narratives might be available. From her research came a blockbuster essay in the New York Times, and then a book,  How To Fall in Love With Anyone. Mandy continues to write and think about how the powerful narratives from our childhoods and our culture can be flipped into something infinitely more interesting. This episode of It's a Long Story is hosted by Edwina Throsby Show notes Mandy Len Catron at Sydney Opera House Mandy's  New York Times Modern Love column Arthur Aron's  36 Questions to fall in love Elizabeth Brake on Amatanormativity   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mandy Len Catron

Behind every big idea, there's a long story. Produced by Sydney Opera House as part of the Talks and Ideas program, Edwina Throsby interviews some of the world's most interesting thinkers and culture creators. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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As it nears its 50th birthday, the Sydney Opera House is looking to the future with a 'Up Next' - a new podcast which talks to the artists who'll define the next 50 years of arts and culture in Australia. Join host Courtney Ammenhauser as she chats to a spectacular lineup of artists from a variety of creative disciplines as they make their way to one of the most famous performance venues in the world.
In this bonus episode, Courtney talks with Yve Blake - playwright, screenwriter, songwriter, and beloved creator of the hit musical Fangirls. They chat about her overnight success, the Fangirls of Fangirls, and the sacred Mount Franklin bottle that touched Missy Higgins’ lips.
Episodes of 'Up Next' are released monthly and you'll find them wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bonus Episode  - Introducing our new podcast 'Up Next'

Denise Ho was always going to be an activist. The canto-pop superstar had built a massively successful music career and could’ve continued on her path of major-label success. But, in 2012, she became the first mainstream female singer in Hong Kong to come out as gay, and was promptly abandoned by much of the industry. She responded by setting up her own label and becoming a high-profile advocate for the LGBTQI community. In 2014, when huge pro-democracy protests broke out in Hong Kong, Denise’s activism went to a whole new level. She’s become one of the most prominent figures in the umbrella movement, spoken at the UN and all around the world, and continues to risk her own life and freedom on behalf of the cause. In this episode, she’s speaking with Benjamin Law at Antidote festival in 2019. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Denise Ho

Not a lot of women get to practice law in Afghanistan, but attorney Kimberly Motley is one of the very few. Raised in a poor, majority black neighbourhood in Milwaukee in America’s midwest, Kimberly has made a career defending particularly difficult cases, and in learning how to navigate the Afghani legal system, she has also developed a unique understanding of inter-cultural approaches to justice. She’s talking to Benjamin Law at Antidote festival in 2019.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kimberly Motley

When 24 Year old Zadie Smith published her debut novel, White Teeth, in 2000, she became an instant literary superstar. Two decades and several more novels, short story and essay collections later, her voice remains every bit as relevant. Never one to follow a trend, her writing has earned a reputation for originality and intellectual independence. Head of Talks and Ideas Edwina Throsby spoke to Zadie Smith when she was visiting the Sydney Opera House in November 2019. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zadie Smith

Hello I’m Edwina Throsby Head of Talks and Ideas at Sydney Opera House and I’m here with some excellent news: this week we’re launching our new season of the podcast “it’s a long story”, where you can go deep with iconic writer Zadie Smith, Cantopop superstar and human rights activist Denise Ho, Miles Franklin winner Melissa Lukashenko, and loads more. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. 

Mandy Len Catron

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