Long Distance Call

Eliza and Geraldine catch up at the tail end of a busy week.

Eliza is feeling overwhelmed by housework and not ashamed to admit that she's putting TV before tidying up. Geraldine believes that 'putting your feet up' is the best way to maintain physical and mental wellbeing.

Geraldine's been working hard too. She filled in on ABC RN Breakfast on Friday and had the pleasure of catching up with Andrew Potter, the man behind "Olive and Mabel" fame.

Also this week, Eliza invests in a new computer.

And Geraldine reveals the new thinking behind treating grazes.

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

Geraldine interviews Andrew Potter - ABC RN Breakfast

A Promised Land - Barack Obama

A Lonely Girl is a Dangerous Thing - Jessie Tu

Olive, Again - Elizabeth Strout

The Gatekeepers (About Shin Bet)

Mayday - BBC Radio 4 podcast

Season 4 of "The Crown" has been met with mixed reviews. But Geraldine is gripped, and so is Eliza, despite only being one episode in.

Geraldine met Charles and Diana on their trip to Australia in the 80s. She found the prince intelligent and charming, while Diana was painfully shy and very beautiful.

Also this week, Geraldine reflects on her interview with conservative British MP Rory Stewart.

And the cliches and overused phrases that the women despise.

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The Crown podcast

A Lonely Girl is a Dangerous Thing - Jessie Tu

Lord of Misrule - Rory Stewart reviews Tom Bower's book about Boris Johnson

President-elect Joe Biden gives his first press conference and the world (well, outside America) breathes a collective sigh of relief.

Eliza remembers the time before Trump when Rudy Guiliani and Mike Pompeo were respected public figures.

Geraldine is shifting her focus from America to the UK, where conservative advisor Dominic Cummings has been banished from Downing Street.

Also this week, Eliza shares her gripes about podcast conventions. Australia prepares for the public release of the war crimes report. The new season of The Crown has landed but neither Eliza nor Geraldine has watched (yet).

And the 2020 social media phenomenon - Olive & Mabel - are published in time for Christmas.

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

A Suitable Boy - Netflix

The New Yorker Radio Hour

The Circus – Stan in Australia

Dominic Cummings leaves Downing Street

Michael Connelly – The Law of Innocence

Learning from the Germans – Susan Nieman

Australia prepares for war crimes report – ABC RN Breakfast

Ben Roberts-Smith owes Kerry Stokes $1.9 million

Olive, Mabel & Me – Andrew Cotter

A post-election debrief with special analysis from Dr Darren Lim, senior lecturer in international relations at the ANU in Canberra.

In this special episode Geraldine and Eliza look back at the Trump era and discuss how it's changed America.

In the Financial Times newspaper, the venerable commentator Martin Wolf articulates why this election matters to those outside the United States: America is the repository of western values. Thus democracy must thrive in the US in order for it to shine globally.

Tune in for some commentary and analysis about foreign policy and about the power of money and greed to influence political parties.

And...the final tips and predictions.

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

US global role at stake in this election – Martin Wolf – Financial Times

The US electoral system is a shambles. They could learn a lot from Australia – Bob Carr – The Guardian

'There's only so much time left': Bruce Springsteen on life, love and voting out Trump – David Leser – The Good Weekend

Hacks on Tap (podcast)

Eliza's first week back has been an exciting blur of catching up with old friends and learning the latest software.

The prospect of navigating new technology makes Geraldine wince. Just this week she missed an update on her phone, which threw out her digital calendar and disrupted her day.

In the meantime, she’s caught up with the brilliant Aaron Sorkin drama “The Trial of the Chicago 7”, while Eliza's watching Russell Crowe’s charisma and menace in “The Loudest Voice.”

Also this week, how Syria’s disinformation wars destroyed the founder of an important humanitarian group called the White Helmets.

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

The Trial of the Chicago 7 - Netflix

The Loudest Voice - Stan

Bombshell - movie

How Syria’s disinformation wars destroyed the co-founder of the White Helmets

Eliza and her family have finally received their belongings, seven months after leaving Lebanon.

She's most excited about a new metal artwork that depicts the gracious old homes and streetscape of Beirut.

Amidst the boxes Eliza finds other reminders of her five years away: from Indonesia there's the electric mozzie bat and a guide about navigating culture shock.

Also this week, Eliza and her Mum discuss the challenge of completing tasks before starting new ones.

And what makes a good university education?

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Links

How to Think Like Shakespeare – Lessons from a Renaissance Education - Scott Nuwstok

This week, Eliza and Geraldine discuss a perennial question which stirs up so much emotion:

How do working women divide their time?

Eliza wants the conversation around motherhood and its challenges to be sprinkled with more positivity, so as not to frighten young people to aspire to a family and a professional career.

Geraldine's challenge this week is trying to not commit to too many projects.

Also this week, the philosopher Martin Buber.

Thanks for listening!

Join the conversation at the Facebook page "Long Distance Callers" or email [email protected]

Martin Buber “I and Thou” 1983

Women in the Workplace - McKinsey Consulting

The Wife Drought Annabel Crabb

The Leadership documentary

Two months ago a massive explosion tore through Beirut and wrecked Eliza's old home.

On Monday 5th October, Adam's documentary on the blast went to air on the ABC's 4 Corners program.

Eliza watched the program and cried for everyone affected by the catastrophe. It's so hard to make sense of the ineptitude and corruption that lead to this point.

Also this week, Geraldine reviews the latest non-fiction book by Australian writer Alex Miller.

And Eliza buys Trent Dalton's new novel.

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

Shock Wave – ABC 4 Corners (Youtube)

Max – Alex Miller

All Our Shimmering Skies – Trent Dalton

Geraldine's good friend and trailblazing feminist Susan Ryan died suddenly over the weekend. She was 77.

Susan Ryan was the first Labor woman to sit at the Cabinet table in Bob Hawke's Government.

The former ACT Senator was responsible for introducing the Sex Discrimination Act in 1984. But Geraldine reveals that her friend was most proud of raising the volume of high school students who went on to finish Year 12.

It's a short episode this week because Geraldine had to rush back into the ABC to appear on "The Drum".

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

Geraldine interviews Paul Keating on RN Breakfast about Susan Ryan's death

Anne Summers on her former boss Susan Ryan