Long Distance Call

What does Israel's wily Prime Minister have to do with this latest conflict?

That's the 64 million dollar question.

Before the conflict erupted between Israel and Hamas, Benjamin Netanyahu was losing his grip on power. He's been Prime Minister for more than a decade but has been unable to form a Government after the last four elections.

In the past fortnight the President asked opposition figures to try and form a Government. And then a dispute over the forced eviction of Palestinians from the East Jerusalem settlement of Sheikh Jarrah broke out into into conflict.

And now, there's so much bloodshed. Eliza and Geraldine anxiously contemplate what comes next.

Also this week, Geraldine loses a beloved budgie.

And Eliza laughs at Jonathan Biggins' take on Paul Keating.

Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email [email protected]

Haaretz on the politics of the Arab-Israeli conflict

Helen Clarke - the covid pandemic was entirely preventable

The Gospel According to Paul - Jonathan Biggins

Biggins on RN Breakfast

Gates and Epstein

How do you heal America?

That's the question at the heart of the conversation between former President Barack Obama and rock superstar, Bruce Springsteen.

Geraldine has been captivated by the podcast conversation about their lives, music and their mututal love of an increasingly divided America.

Also this episode, Eliza leans into the climate debate.

And Geraldine ponders what makes a good Grandma.

Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page 'LDC Podcast' or email [email protected]

Norman and Jonathan Swan at the Sydney Writers Festival

Anna Swan's long way back from brain trauma

Renegades – Born in the USA

David Remnick interviews Bruce Springsteen

How it Happened podcast – Axios – Jonathan Swan

The Journal – US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm

John Kerry – Foreign Policy

Carole Middleton – London Daily Telegraph

Exciting Times is just the tonic for a global pandemic when we're all trapped at home.

It's a coming of age novel set in Hong Kong, where the lead character Ava explores her sexuality. It's a book about class, about relationships and whether we need to leave home to really grow up.

When young Dubliner, Ava, finishes university she moves to Asia to teach english to primary school kids.

She's fiercely smart but socially awkward. Ava falls for the similarly intelligent but selfish Julian, who ends up being her boyfriend and landlord.

When the relationship with Julian implodes, Ava falls for Hong Konger, Edith.

The book is sharp and funny. Eliza and Madeleine enjoyed it but felt it needed a stronger plot.

Sarah wasn't so kind ... labelling it a wannabe Sally Rooney novel.

Let us know what you think! Join the conversation at the Facebook page LDC Podcast, or email [email protected]

Please leave us a review on your podcast server!

In May, we're Jacqueline Maley's debut novel 'The Truth About Her'.

The review in the Guardian

New York Times

It's 25 years since Australia's worst massacre in Port Arthur in Tasmania.

In the hours after police arrested the gunman, Geraldine and her colleagues travelled from Sydney to Tasmania to report on the horrific crime.

It was a galvanising event. Australia went from having patchy & relatively lax guns laws to some of the strictest in the world. But in the decades since, some of those safeguards have been eroded as state and territory Governments have done political deals with minor parties to pass big legislation.

Also this episode, Eliza wonders whether she should retire the puffer jacket.

Dating ads in the London Review of Books.

And Geraldine critiques Jeremy Paxman.

Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook group "Long Distance Callers" or email [email protected]

25 years on from Port Arthur - ABC 7.30

Brenton Tarrant

The Drum Wednesday 28th April

The Hoddle Street massacre

The Spymaster of Baghdad - Margaret Coker

Mosul - movie

The curious resignation of Margaret Coker - Washington Post

The Lock In podcast with Jeremy Paxman

Geraldine's investigation of the notion of 'duty' in the wake of Prince Philip's death has prompted a big conversation.

Geraldine interviewed two people on her ABC program who suggested that we should stop talking about a duty 'of' care and reframe it as a duty 'to' care.

Another said that there's a perceived duty of parents to care for their children, but what about the other way around?

It prompts Eliza to suggest that the Baby Boomers are the most powerful group in our modern society, but she think they sometimes struggle to acknowledge that influence.

Also this episode - Geraldine revels in the Australian female artist, Clarice Beckett.

Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email [email protected]

Duty revisited – Saturday Extra

Dan Tehan's trade negotiations in an uncomfortable chair

Clarice Beckett

The Conversation

'The Lock In' podcast with Jeremy Paxman

Eliza has done a backflip and has reinstalled the LDC Facebook page.

Sometimes, when you've made a mistake, you've got to cop it on the chin and acknowledge the mistake.

Which brings us to Christine Holgate.

The former Chief Executive of Australia Post used a Federal senate inquiry to flay the Government over the Cartier watch scandal and accuse the Prime Minister of bullying.

Also this week, in the wake of Prince Philip's death, Geraldine asks Eliza about 'duty'. Does it have the same resonance for younger generations as it does for baby boomers?

If you'd like to join the group, open Facebook and search for "LDC Podcast" and ask to join the private group.

Otherwise, we'd love to hear from you via email: [email protected]

Thanks for listening!

The Truth Behind the Holgate Saga: Robert Gottliebsen

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/leadership/the-real-dispute-behind-the-christine-holgate-saga-at-australia-post/news-story/8d1c2a6f2661a52c23c304275c70db60

The Daily on the union push at Amazon's Alabama factory:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/01/podcasts/the-daily/amazon-union-vote-alabama.html

Eliza's story on the Raven bookstore in Kansas and the fight against Amazon (48 minute mark onwards)

Chinese Govt fines Alibaba

Remembering Prince Philip - ABC Saturday Extra

We wanted to love this book!

But ... we didn't.

Mayflies is written by the London Review of Books 'Editor at Large', Andrew O'Hagan. There's been a lot of hype about this book with some rave reviews.

It just didn't gel for Eliza and Madeleine.

Maybe it was the 80's references (neither Gen-Y reader is into 'New Order' or 'The Smiths') maybe it's a book for men? Maybe it's just ... dull?

The second half really improves and both women were happy they pushed on. The writing is strong and the characters have matured. Tully's death is covered with nuance and grace.

But it's only two stars from Madeleine, three from Eliza.

In April, LDC Bookclub is reading 'Exciting Times' by Naoise Dolan and in May it's Jacqueline Maley's debut novel 'The Truth About Her'.

Let us know what you think by email at [email protected]

Please leave us a review on your podcast server!

In the late 1990s, Australian psychologist Steve Biddulph wrote the best-selling parenting guide "Raising Boys".

Geraldine did extensive interviews with Biddulph at the time. She says some women saw it as a negative commentary about women moving further into the professional workplace and and out of the home.

Now, Steve Biddulph has released a new article in the UK's Daily Telegraph newspaper. It notes that the phrase 'educate your sons' has become a mantra of the times, following testimonials from women and girls who feel unsafe.

He decided to go back and investigate how childhood shapes the man.

Also this episode, Geraldine reflects on the year she spent Easter in Israel. Eliza remembers the beauty of Jerusalem.

Please note: the next edition of LDC Bookclub will be released on Friday April 9. In March, Eliza, Madeleine Genner and Sarah Gerathy read "Mayflies" by Andrew O'Hagan.

Thanks for listening! Please leave us a review on iTunes or however you listen to your podcasts. Email us at [email protected]

LINKS

What science tells us about raising boys - Steve Biddulph

Kingdom of Heaven - Ridley Scott

Easter in Jerusalem - Geraldine Doogue

Mayflies - Andrew O'Hagan

Hamilton!

She pushed through her normal reticence about musical theatre to revel in the joy and dynamism that is Hamilton.

Also this week, what are the pros and cons of a (non-alcoholic) liquid lunch?

Has yoga changed in the wake of the pandemic?

Geraldine's found a new Boris Johnson critic to rival Fintan O'Toole.

And the American authorities raise concerns about the data used by Astra Zeneca over the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccine.

Thankyou for listening! Please get in touch via email [email protected]

Mayflies - Andrew O'Hagan

The clown king: how Boris Johnson made it by playing the fool | Boris Johnson | The Guardian

US health officials say AstraZeneca may have included 'outdated information' in coronavirus vaccine trial

U.S. Health Officials Question AstraZeneca Vaccine Trial Results

It’s been ten years since a peaceful uprising in Syria quickly evolved into a full scale civil war.

Now, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad clings to power with the help of some powerful friends in Russia.

The UN estimates 13 million Syrians have fled their country over the past ten years. The millions of children who remain in country desperately need protection, food and education.

In this episode, Eliza reflects on a grim decade of warfare which has transformed the Middle East and arguably politics in the West, too. She speaks to a 26-year-old Syrian dentist who was working in Lebanon while Eliza was living in Beirut.

Also this week, Eliza and Geraldine address some audience concerns from last week's episode.

And Geraldine attends the Jewish film festival.

Thankyou for listening! Let us know your thoughts via [email protected]

Eliza is in the final stages of setting up a newsletter to accompany the weekly podcast

LINKS

The Last Vermeer - movie

Incitement - movie