Interview with Andrew Denton

If Australians can agree about one thing, it’s that we’re not that impressed by our politicians. Julie Bishop is one of the very few exceptions to the rule. As foreign minister, it didn’t matter where she was in the world or how jetlagged she might’ve been, she always turned up immaculately dressed, super organised and on it. And usually after having done a six-kilometre run. But when it came to the crunch, her party chose to ignore the most electable alternative to Malcolm Turnbull and voted in Scott Morrison. How much did that hurt?

 

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Neil’s a musical legend. Liam’s had his own share of success in a 15 year career that started with the band Betchadupa. Now they’re finally playing together, when Neil can get time off from his Fleetwood mac duties. They recently made an album, Lightsleeper. How do two generations work together without it ending in tears?

 

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We all remember first seeing Jess as that kid from Darwin on Australian Idol, the shy girl who didn’t need to win that competition to be a star. Her voice and that inner radiance did it all. She’s since had a string of hits, sung with Snoop Dogg, supported Beyonce, represented us at Eurovision and on Sesame Street. She flexed her acting muscles in The Sapphires, Bran Nue Dae and The Secret Daughter. And is about to bring out a new album called Hilda. All this and she’s just turned 30.

 

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The man who has it all. Good looks, loads of talent, a hugely successful musical career, two beautiful kids, an equally smart and successful wife. Ahead of his Australian tour of Graffiti U, he spoke to Andrew from the stage of the Shoreline Amphitheatre in California, discussing his career, reminiscing about touring with Slim Dusty, and revealing that Nicole saved him from the downward spiral of drug and alcohol addiction with a “divine intervention”.

 

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She rode into our hearts as the first woman to win the Melbourne Cup, then followed the win with a rousing speech calling out sexism in racing. Now she reflects on her upbringing as one of ten siblings, a relationship with her tough-love father, and in quite extraordinary detail, the number of ways she has almost killed herself on the track.

 

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She’s arguably Australia’s most successful porn star, but she may not be what comes to mind when you hear those two words. She uses her real name for a start. She has no shame about what she does. And she’s no easily led dummy. She has an Honours Degree in Gender Studies from Melbourne University, her thesis on Women in the Porn Industry. She produces, directs and stars in her own videos. She calls herself a feminist. And she believes porn can be a force for good. Warning: this episode is adults only, pretty graphic in places.

 

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Amanda can probably lay claim to being the most successful woman working in Australian show business. No one else has achieved the double of being inducted into the Commercial Radio Hall of Fame and twice being nominated for television’s top award, the Gold Logie. She’s also one of Andrew’s oldest friends, which makes for a very special interview.

 

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In an era of cookie cutter pop stars, Lily Allen stands out. Where others seem obsessed with 24/7 permanent image management, manicuring their public self to the point that it no longer appears to be real, Lily is the opposite: flawed, messy and gloriously human.

 

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Carl Barron is Australia’s most successful, yet in some ways least known comedian. He’s incredibly funny on stage, but in real life manages to avoid attention wherever possible. This is a rare chance to find out what’s actually going on inside the head of an Australian enigma, a comic who hides in plain sight.

 

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Five time winner of the Australian Open, Logie-winning TV and radio host, author, disability advocate and organiser of Australia’s most inclusive music festival, Dylan Alcott is a human Energiser Bunny. This rocket-fuelled interview covers his life and the impact he hopes to have on Australia.

 

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