Antoinette Lattouf is an award winning journalist who is currently a senior reporter at Network 10. She is the Co-founder of Media Diversity Australia. Antoinette is an expert journalist who is so passionate and cares so much about diversity in media and also about integrity in journalism. I couldn't think of a more important guest to have on this podcast at this time in the world.

@antoinettelattouf

Emmet Kirwan is an Irish writer, actor, poet. I heard one of his poems 'Heartbreak' on the radio recently and it stopped me in my tracks. It won the IFTA Award for Best Short Film and for me personally it is one of the most powerful pieces of art I've ever been exposed to. His play Dublin Old School which he also adapted into a feature film has been showered in awards and praise. He also wrote and starred in the Irish cult classic series Sarah and Steve. Emmet speaks so passionately and eloquently, he is a joy to listen to. I'm sure you'll know what I mean when you start listening. 

Watch Heartbreak here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uv9oax2N160

Follow Emmet @emmetkirwan

Emmet's recommendations: Hugh Cooney, Joanne Mcnally.

Tom Ballard is a brilliant comedian and person. He writes searing political comedy that is hilarious and often really powerful. We had a great chat about politics, the problems with the left, climate change, comedy and trade unions. I learnt so much during this conversation and we also had some laughs which was nice. 

Listen to Tom's brilliant podcast Like I'm a Six Year Old especially if you have an interest in politics: https://likeimasixyearold.libsyn.com/

A clip of Tom doing stand up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKAkSYmsARw

@tomcballard on Twitter and Insta

Tom's Recommendation: Sam Wallman https://www.samwallman.com/

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Aidan Jones is a great comedian and friend. His festival shows in recent years have been hugely successful and highly regarded both in Australia and the UK. His show 'The Abersham Flat' was poignant and had a big effect on me. He is very good at articulating his emotions both on and off stage. His upcoming stand up show 'Taco' is about him meeting his biological father and will be touring around Australia (pandemic dependant) in 2021. We spoke about this and comedy and lockdown blues and love and mental health. Enjoy!

Aidan has a podcast called 'Sitting Under A Tree' listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sitting-under-a-tree/id1335993176

Aidan's recommendation - Bill Burr Paper Tiger

Sean Dooley is an absolute expert on the natural world, specifically birds. In 2002 he broke the record for most bird species sighted in Australia in a year (703). He works for Birdlife Australia and has written for The Guardian and The Age, you may have heard him on ABC Radio. He also wrote for legendary Australian comedy TV series Spicks and Specks.

 This is a fascinating chat about wildlife, climate change, the human psyche, and much more. Highly recommend this if you're into animals and the environment!

 Sean's recommendation - Paul Kelly (Thirteen Ways To Look At Birds)

 Get involved in the Aussie Backyard Bird Count: October 19 - 25

 @birdlifeoz

 birdlife.org.au

Dane De Leon is a spokesperson for Refugee Solidarity Meanjin. Currently there are 120 refugees who have committed no crime, being held in Kangaroo Point Central Motel which has been converted into a kind of makeshift prison. Some of these innocent people have been detained for 8 years by the Aus govt. RSM are a group dedicated to fighting for their freedom. 

 RSM have set up a blockade outside Kangaroo Point so that they can keep an eye on the prison and show solidarity with the people trapped inside. Dane and I chatted about all this and lots more.

 Follow RSM @rsmeanjin on insta and twitter or facebook.com/refugeesolidaritymeanjin

 Dane's recommendation - Mojo Juju (musician) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLQ4by3lUJo

Chas Licciardello is someone who I was inspired by comedically growing up. He co-created and co-hosted shows like CNNNN, The Chaser's War on Everything, The Hamster Wheel. These shows for me were so brilliant and impactful in shaping my view of comedy and also my world view in general. Chas now co-hosts Planet America on ABC TV on Wednesday nights. He is an absolute expert on American politics. In this pod we got to discuss comedy, The Chaser's War, Trump, media, society and heaps more. I enjoyed this conversation so much and I think you will too.

 @chas_usa

 @facebook/abcplanetamerica

 Chas' recommendation - Andrew Schulz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LMRCX1iXng&t=4s

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Andrew Gilbert is an academic researcher who specialises in sociology and social theory. He has worked at Monash University, La Trobe University and Victoria University. 

He currently works for the National Ageing Research Institute and recently presented evidence for the Royal Commission into Aged Care.

Some of his papers include: Conceptualising trust in aged care, The Crisis Paradigm, Conceptual histories and critical theories. 

We discuss the nature of crisis, COVID, climate change, capitalism, authoritarianism and aged care/ageing humanely. 

Andrew's Recommendation: John Townsend - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEA6wpFG8LA

Extra Video about Bunurong people - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD0Y2zSd8eM

This week's guest is the brilliant Patricia Cornelius. Patricia is one of the best playwrights in Australia and a founding member of The Melbourne Worker's Theatre. She writes incredibly stirring, thought provoking and provocative work that achieves much more than entertainment.

Winner - Patrick White Playwrights Award. Winner 2019 Green Room Life Achievement Award. Winner NSW Premier's Literary Award. Countless other wins and nominations. 

"Ms Dee and Ms Cornelius are producing exactly the kind of work that audiences around the world are currently looking for" - (New York Times, 2019)

"Patricia Cornelius is writing what the future will consider the great Australian plays of our era" - (The Guardian 2017)

Patricia's work includes: My Sister Jill (novel), SHIT, LOVE, DO NOT GO GENTLE, SLUT, WHO'S AFRAID OF THE WORKING CLASS, SAVAGES.

Find her work here: https://australianplays.org/playwright/ASC-242

Recommendations: Jada Alberts (playwright, performer), Melissa Reeves (playwright), Angus Cerini (writer, playwright, director, performer.

Intro music by SILT.

Tony Armstrong is an ex AFL footballer who now has a successful career in the media. He hosts Yokayi Footy on NITV, commentates AFL on ABC radio, and presents the sports bulletin on ABC News 24. In 2019 Tony worked at Triple M and became the first Indigenous person to commentate a game of football on commercial radio.

Tony kindly sat down with me (over zoom) to chat about the experience of playing AFL, the treatment of Adam Goodes by Australia, racism, black lives matter and representation of Indigenous people in the media.

@tonaaayy

Intro music by SILT - @silt_music