Breakfasters

The team explore their thoughts around coloured $2 coins; Professor Tim Entiwsle, Director and Chief Executive at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, talks about the future conservation of the Botanic Gardens in the face of climate change; Dr Jen is back for 'Weird Science' - this time she talks about the new fad of dopamine fasting; entrepreneur Adam Jacoby and Sonia Randhawa, the founder of the Coalition of Everyone, share their thoughts on how our democracy is broken, ahead of their upcoming event 'Democracy is Not a Spectator Sport'; with students heading back to school, the team wax lyrical about their school lunches of yore; writer Sean O’Beirne’s talks about his debut collection of short stories, A Couple of Things Before The End; and lastly, Daniel gives an update on the impending birth of Chub-Fish.. With presenters Sarah Smith, Daniel Burt and Geraldine Hickey.

They’re back! Sarah, Daniel and Geraldine kick off 2020 by summing up their holidays, with a highlight being swimming; The water theme continues as Gez explains her Jetty adventures in Busselton, WA; Daniel is getting very close to welcoming his long-awaited Chub-Fish to the world, so an update on the pre-labour situation is in order; Gez has been hanging out with dolphins, and shares her experience with five splashing and finger clicking kids; Singer-songwriter-comedian Selina Jenkins’ solo show BOOBS is playing at Art Centre Melbourne’s Midsumma Festival, and she comes by to chat about her returning show and her non-returning boobs; Feature Creatures this week sees a visit from marine biologist Ricky-Lee Erickson, who explores sea sponges; And lastly, Nat Harris talks about shenanigans on Melbourne trams in our Friday Funnybugger segment. With presenters Sarah Smith, Daniel Burt and Geraldine Hickey.

In their last podcast for 2019, Breakfasters speak to senior curator at Museums Victoria, Matthew Churchward, about the restoration of the Great Melbourne Telescope; at least 50,000 young people in Australia are missing from our school system, and Dr Jim Watterston, the Dean of Melbourne Graduate Schools, sheds some light on this complex issue; Gez tells Sarah and Daniel how TV-series The L Wordmade quite an impact in her life; With holidays just around the corner, the team trade stories of  Christmas morning traditions; and food journalist Michael Harden takes a closer look at the increase in non-alcoholic beverages in dining experiences. With presenters Sarah Smith, Daniel Burt and Geraldine Hickey. Please note: this podcast will resume in the last week of January, 2020.

Dr Amee Baird discusses her new book, Sex in the Brain; Breakfasters book reviewer Elizabeth McCarthy offers her take on Chris Fleming’s On Drugs; Writer, Musician and Superfluity host Casey Bennetto brings some musical comedy to the studio ahead of this year’s ‘A Swingin’ Bella Christmas’; Chris KP returns for Weird Science to talk about scientists who have experimented on themselves, with some rather harrowing examples; this week’s tattoo expo prompts the crew to discuss their weekend plans; Nat Harris is back for Friday Funnybugger, this time focusing on the sexually suggestive names of vacuum cleaners; and, State Library Victoria CEO Kate Torney stops by to talk about the completion of the Library’s redevelopment. With presenters Sarah Smith, Daniel Burt and Geraldine Hickey.

Scientist Chris KP explains the concept of dog years; Award-winning author Bri Lee’s new essay, Beauty, reflects on how beauty standards impact the way we interact with ourselves, and when she joins the studio we get a closer look at her own experience with the current beauty norms; How’s former Breakfaster Jeff Sparrow? Find out as Gez and Sarah retell their catch-up session in the sun; Nat Harris is filling in for Gez when the conversation starts evolving around bike dinking and their favourite dinking memories. Lastly, Breakfaster regular Christos Tsiolkas discussed his epic new novel Damascus and its range of intriguing topics. With presenters Sarah Smith, Daniel Burt, Geraldine Hickey, and Nat Harris.

The team get a visit from Melbourne illustrator and designer Beci Orpin, who talks about the inspiration behind her new book Take Heart, Take Action; Michelle Bennet returns to the studios and gives her assessment of Edward Snowden’s book Permanent Record; Christmas is for many synonymous with B grade Holiday movies, and Gez has seen newcomer Holiday in the Wild; new production Children of the Evolution features an all-child cast exploring topics of  importance to them, and two of its stars, Zara and Flynn, join the team to discuss their important topics; former RRR Breakfaster, author and comedian John Safran has launched the podcast John Safran vs The Occult, which takes a closer look at John's preoccupations; and with Sarah taking a sick day and Mon Sebire filling in, what better time to talk about sickies! With Sarah Smith, Geraldine Hickey and Daniel Burt, and Mon Sebire.

This week, filmmaker Em Baker joins Breakfasters to talk about her new film I Am No Bird; What is the proper etiquette for karaoke? Find out as the team discuss it; Apocalypse Meow: Crisis is Born is playing at Malthouse Theatre, and cabaret performer Meow Meow chats about the show and her extensive career; This year’s Christmas events have already started, and the team discuss the Christmas dinner’s they’ve already attended; Dr. Andi  presents some interesting facts about sleep in this week’s 'Weird Science' segment; Music expert Mary Mihelakos from the Melbourne Music Bus Tour talks about Melbourne’s cultural heritage. And last, but not least, X-men film producer Jason Taylor is in town for the Screen Forever conference, and manages to squeeze in an interview. With Sarah Smith, Geraldine Hickey and Daniel Burt

Daniel kick-starts things by telling a story fit for a horror film; Egyptian-American author, anarchist and feminist Mona Eltahawy is here for Broadside festival, and tells the team about her new book The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls; Dr Jen brings Weird Science to the studio when she looks closer at what science says about gratitude; The team share their muck-up day stories, involving garden gnomes and number plates; Terminator: Dark Fate has been received with mixed reviews, and film reviewer Simone Ubaldi gives her two cents worth; and lastly, a chat about unexpected guests brings back memories from time spent in share houses. With presenters Sarah Smith, Daniel Burt, and Geraldine Hickey.

This week, the team explore the intricacies of zip lining; Australian filmmaker Genevieve Bailey joins the studio for a talk about her latest documentary Happy Sad Man; Netflix series The Standups gives comedy’s freshest voices a chance to shine, and Canadian comedian Beth Stelling visits the studio for a chat about her performance in the series and other career highlights; Simon Hinlkley is checks in about the ongoing nature discovery project “Bush Blitz” at the Little Desert National Park; and a fascinating interview with palaeontologist, explorer and conservationist Tim Flannery, in light of his new book “Explore Your World: Weird, Wild, Amazing!”.

Film score composer Burkhard Dallwitz talks to the team about his award-winning work, and what it was like to score the new film Locusts;  Comedian, actor and writer Dylan Moran is busy with his upcoming Australian tour, but manages to squeeze in a chat with the team about his show Dr Cosmos; Daniel shares some very exciting personal news; Josh Earl proves that comedy and a quiz is a match made in heaven when he joins the team to talk about his live podcast Don’t You Know Who I Am? at The Catfish in Fitzroy. And last, but not least, Laura Dunemann flexes her play-wrighting skills for week’s "Friday Funnybugger" segment, and asks the team to pretend to be Royals.