Loose Change - Conversations about social change

Daniel talks to Judy about her road to activism and work connecting the intersections between LGBTIQ+, cultural and religious identities and experiences - in both positive inclusion and the ongoing fight against racism, homphobia and transphobia. Judy brings in her experiences as a Victorian Multicultural Commissioner and neuropsychologist.

Judy is someone who approaches social change with both a smile on their face and a fierce determination to amplify voices and break down barriers for those around her. She is also one of the loveliest people I know and it has been a pleasure working with her from time to time.

This episode was recorded on 9 January 2024 and broadcast on 3 September 2024.

Daniel talks to Margherita about ILGA World, Inclusive Rainbow Voices, photography, being a gold medalist and how far we have come (and still need to go) around LGBTIQ+, disability, gender and cultural equality - and the intersections between them.

Margherita is a vibrant change agent, with a diverse range of skills and interests relating to workplace diversity and inclusion, as well as in the training arena. She is an experienced manager of diversity and inclusion projects with government, business, social justice organisations and the wider community.

This episode was recorded on 17 August 2022 and broadcast on 28 February 2023.

Daniel talks to Morgan about the growing lived experience and peer support movements and some of the current challenges and opportunities for the practice of consumer participation within organisations and systems. She shares her thoughts on a wide range of topics and offers a range of resources for people who want more.

Morgan is a social innovation trainer and consultant, as well as the Senior Manager Youth Engagement at Berry Street where she leads the Y-Change initiative. Find out more about Morgan’s work here: www.linkedin.com/in/morganleecataldo

This episode was recorded on 23 August 2022 and broadcast on 18 January 2023.

Resources mentioned:

Understand and reckon with power (personal and structural)

• Lukes and Gaventa – Three Faces of Power
• Maya Goodwill – Power Literacy Toolkit
• VeneKlasen and Miller – Power as a positive force

Understand systems thinking and value different ways of knowing, being and doing

• Donella Meadows – Dancing with Systems
• Nora Bateson – Warm Data
• Paul Callaghan and Uncle Paul Gordon – The Dreaming Path

Understand the impacts of personal and systemic trauma

• Gabor Mate – The Myth of Normal
• Good Therapy – Systemic trauma
• Judy Atkinson – Trauma Trails

Use creative and alternative communication methods

• Noterie Abrams & Jerrod Schwarz – Make Blackout Poetry: Activist Edition
• Poetry Foundation – Poems of Protest, Resistance, and Empowerment
• We Al-li – Dadirri

Daniel talks to Maria about academia, activism, allyship and (nearly) everything under the rainbow, including building up a new organisation, tracing her Southern Italian heritage and watching a generation of LGBTIQ+ activists grow and flourish as agents of change.

Maria is an academic, author and activist specialising in the study of gender, sexuality and intersectionality. She is an Honorary Fellow at Deakin University and a member of its Gender and Sexuality Studies Network and LGBTIQ+ Network.

This episode was recorded on 3 May 2022 and broadcast on 8 August 2022.

Daniel talks to Gerard about long and winding careers, personal re-invention, attitudes to ageing and elder abuse - as well as how we can understand people's different life experiences and the music of Bob Dylan.

Gerard is Victoria's Commissioner for Senior Victorians and Ambassador for Elder Abuse Prevention.

This episode was recorded on 7 April 2022 and broadcast on 22 June 2022.

Daniel talks to Harriet about finding her voice and place in the world, the highs and lows of politics, her career as a lawyer, and the importance of friends, family and animals when times are tough.

Harriet is a lawyer, Labor Member for Eastern Victoria, and Parliamentary Secretary for Creative Industries, Equality, Water and Digital Government.

This episode was recorded on 11 April 2022 and broadcast on 18 May 2022.

Daniel talks to Dan Stubbs about his journey from Macleod Tech to become Victoria's first Disability Worker Commissioner - with international development work, running community legal centres and continuous advocacy for disability inclusion along the way.

Dan is a lawyer, former community sector CEO and the Victorian Disability Worker Commissioner.

This episode was recorded on 7 October 2021 and broadcast on 15 December 2021.

Daniel talks to Mohamed about his work on the Victorian covid vaccine rollout, racism and islamophobia since 9-11, growing up in Colombo, and his approach to overcoming fear and building bridges towards understanding and social change.

Mohamed is a microbiologist, community leader, interfaith ambassador, Vice-President of the Islamic Council of Victoria; and a Victorian Multicultural Commissioner.

This episode was recorded on 30 September 2021 and broadcast on 7 December 2021.

Daniel talks to Chris about Australia's anglocentric approach to health care; the mistakes made during the 'hard lockdown' of public housing residents in Flemington, Kensington and North Melbourne; his childhood growing up in Australia, the United Kingdon and Sierra Leone; and how capoeira has contributed to his work.

Chris is an infectious diseases and public health expert based in Dandenong. He has a rich experience of the strengths and weaknesses of our health system and is outspoken about the things we need to do to improve it.

This episode was recorded in November 2020 and broadcast on 18 December 2020.

Daniel talks to Lee about digital campaigning, youth-led movements, racism in the progressive community and growing up in the Hillsong Church as a trans-nonbinary young person.

Lee played an important role in the Marriage Equality campaign, founded Young Campaigns and the Tomorrow Movement, in addition to being a sought-after digital consultant.

This episode was recorded in September 2020 and broadcast on 23 November 2020. Thanks to Thomas Hayes for his assistance in editing this episode.