Coffee Chats with Matt Collins

The Extinction Rebellion movement has left people all around the world divided. Their traffic blockages have caused hundreds of thousands of people to be late for work on a regular basis. But if you ask the members, that is a small price to pay for our planet's future. In their chat, Extinction Rebellion spokeswoman Miriam Robinson shares with Matt how she got involved with the group, their three major demands and what she would say if she had 30 seconds with our prime minister.

From the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Elton John and plenty of others in between, international music promoter Michael Chugg has spent the past 50-plus years working with the biggest artists on the planet. In their chat, Chugg shares with Matt his remarkable journey. From how he first got started in the music industry, to the artist he would never work with again. And why he has a couple of t-shirts that have cost him over $1million.

It is a very sad and emotional time when a relationship breaks down. It is sadder still when the two parents can not see eye-to-eye. Nobody wins, especially not the children. In this special edition of Coffee Chats, Matt interviews two fathers who have not seen their children for many years. The dads, who have asked to remain anonymous, share their tumultuous journey. They discuss their legal battles, when they last saw their children and just how much of a toll this ordeal has taken on them personally.

He may be one of the country's greatest actors and a much respected elder in the indigenous community, but there is another to Jack Charles. An award winning actor and an aboriginal icon in the field of arts and theater, but few know the darker side of the lovable rogue. A victim of the stolen generation, Jack is a former heroin addict and was imprisoned a remarkable 22 times. In their chat, Jack shares with Matt his proudest moments and his biggest regrets and why he could never cut his trademark hair.

Regardless of your thoughts on her poltical views, there is no denying One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson is a compelling figure in Australian politics. In their Coffee Chat, Matt wanted to find out about the woman behind the policies. Pauline opens up and shows her lighter side. She talks about her proudest moments and her biggest regrets, as well as recalling what helped get her through her time in prison. Enjoy this rare and intimate chat with one of the country's most captivating characters.

The same sex marriage survey divided the nation. One man who was at the forefront of the no vote was political activist and former managing director of the Australian Christian Lobby, Lyle Shelton. With the benefit of hindsight, Lyle shares with Matt his thoughts on how the country has been affected a year after the yes vote. As well as his opinions on another polarising political personality, Fraser Anning. And he explains what happened when he joined a group of alleged white power advocates for a drink recently.

Very few people can say there is a Hollywood movie made about their lives. Sam Childers aka the Machine Gun Preacher, is one of the few. He left behind a life of drugs and crime to help thousands of children in war-torn Africa. He has built schools, orphanages and provides 1000s of meals every single day. In their chat, Childers shares with Matt the night he realised he had to get out of his criminal world, why the film wasn't accurate and the emotions he felt when he first saw an African child who had been killed.

There is a small part of Australian singer, Shannon Noll that would love to just go back to the bush and sing to his steering wheel. Noll's life changed in an instant when he was runner up in the inaugural series of Australian Idol way back in 2003. He was catapulted into a life of fame and celebrity. Since then he has become a household name and has album sales into the millions. In their chat, Shannon shares with Matt life before Idol, advice for his kids and the miracle he experienced in the jungle.

Australian actor, Socratis 'Socs' Otto is a self-confessed 'chameleon'. He has played Charles Darwin, a psychopath, Hamlet, and even a transgender woman in a woman's prison, as he did in the TV series, Wentworth. But as an actor, and in his real life, Socratis has always been the underdog. He was bullied and ostracised as a child but this only helped him in his career as an actor and director. He will soon make his theatrical director debut with 'The Hope Song.'

Tani Beister and her husband Linzey have been in a happy, loving relationship for 17 years. They also both have sexual relationships with other people. In this chat, Tani shares with Matt the ups and downs of the world of polygamy. She discusses when she first realised she was attracted to someone outside of her marriage, she talks about emotions such as lust and jealousy and the fall out after sharing her unique world with her 12-year-old son and her family and friends.