Samuel Leighton-Dore is an author and artist who literally wears his heart on his sleeve, as he uses his artistic practice to authentically refocus the usual narratives that we sometimes put up, as walls around us speaking to honesty and truth. 

His latest book Wow It’s All A Lot is a celebration of not quite having life figured out. He is also the artist behind The Smile Tiles and he and his husband run The Sad Man Studio an animation studio focusing on queer-centric artworks.  

Sam joined Rach & Dean on JOY Breakfast to chat about ‘Wow, It’s All a Lot’.

‘Reaching through time’ is the powerful story of a Bundjalung womans journey to uncover her family history. Revealing the cataclysmic impact of colonization on Aboriginal families, and how this ripples through to the present. It also shows how family research can bring a deeper understanding and healing of the wounds in our history. 

As a former primary school teacher, Shauna Bostock’s curiosity about her ancestors took her all the way to a PhD in Aboriginal history. Shauna says she experienced an inner yearning to find out about her ancestors and what they experienced in life. Reaching Through Time is the story of her journey.’ 

Shauna joined Rach & Dean on JOY Breakfast to discuss the book, and the importance of her journey.

‘Sunflower’ is an Australian film that tells the story of a teenage boy, Leo, growing up in the outer suburbs of Melbourne hanging out with his friends and kissing the prettiest girl in school, but something bubbles beneath the surface, his feelings for his best friend Boof, and introvert Tom, and when rumours at school circulate about his sexuality, his life begins to fall about. But when romance blossoms, will this grow into something more, or lead to hurt and rejection. 

It got its world premiere at the Sydney Film Festival in May and tickets are already sold out for the screening at the Melbourne International Film Festival, which must have writer/director Gabriel Carruba pretty chuffed.  

Gabriel joins Rach & Dean on JOY Breakfast as they find out all about this coming-of-age film. 

You may have noticed recently that here on JOY Breakfast, you’ve started hearing more and more about The Voice to Parliament and what it actually means in the lead up to the Referendum. When you look at how the conversation is being portrayed in the media, both mainstream and social, confusion seems to be growing, and we want to help you cut through that noise. 

So, what is the voice, and what will it do? It seems like the answer to that question is getting more and more confused depending on who you ask.

So The University of Melbourne has launched a series of short explainer videos on the Voice, offering clear and concise information to help Australians make an informed decision in the lead-up to the referendum later this year. 

These short VOICE fact videos are hosted by Professor Cheryl Saunders, who joins Rach & Dean on JOY Breakfast. 

You can check out the VOICEfacts vids here.

Joel King-Mayne is JOY Breakfast very own Gossip Gay, and every week Rach & Dean find out about all the latest LGBTQ+ gossip from the queer Emmy Nominations to Troy Sivan’s RUSH.

How do you take your coffee?

Is Barbie the new pink washing?

Can Rach make it from one side of the country to the other without her car breaking down?

Rach and Dean have a tonne of great interviews on JOY Breakfast, which you can see in their podcast list, but they also have plenty of fun, so here are some highlight on air from the past week.

International Non-Binary People’s Day, held on the 14th of July during Non-Binary Awareness Week.

This day raises awareness and visibility around the issues faced by non-binary people worldwide, as a part JOY Breakfast, Rach & Dean shared the voices of non-binary members of our communities on the airwaves, who talked about what the day means to them, and why this disability is so important.

A special day in our communities calendar, Non-Binary Peoples Day, meant Rach & Dean knew they needed to get some familiar voices on air to share their stories, so, earlier this week they were lucky enough to catch up with G Flip from our many different locations across Australia.

Aussie singer, song writer, Drummer, Producer, all-round muso and you can probably now say TV personality G Flip has been singing their way into our hearts with sometimes comedic, sometimes soul touching music since 2018. Listen to their super important chat for International Non Binary People’s awareness day, listen to their super important chat for International Non Binary People’s awareness day. 

Nyikina/Kimberley-born Indigenous business leader Charles Prouse has spent decades working in Indigenous affairs across the corporate, government and non-profit sectors. He’s been asked many times how to fix ‘the Aboriginal situation’, and he’s also been asked about the Voice to Parliament.  

So what’s the answer?

That’s the question we keep seeing circulating in the media with people being pushed to the YES or the NO side, but the answer can be as simple as listening, having compassion and trusting that together we can do this.  

Charles joined Rach and Dean on JOY Breakfast as they discussed his book ‘A voice to Parliament’. 

 

 

Jess Hitchcock is a NAARM/Melbourne-based Indigenous singer-songwriter who has stirred the Australian music and performing arts scene as a genre-defying force.

Her powerful voice and knack for storytelling has seen her shine across pop, country, folk, opera and music theatre, sharing the stage and studio with some of Australia’s favourites.   

 Earlier this month singer songwriter Jess Hitchcock released her new album Unbreakable encouraging others to persevere and overcome the challenges of their youth.

Jess joined Rach & Dean on JOY Breakfast for a Live Lounge performance and some insight into this inspirational new album.