Narratives

In the latest episode of the Meanjin Narratives podcast, Chelsea Watego reads her landmark essay, 'Always Bet on Black (Power)', which details how she found her power in the fight against institutional racism.

The latest episode of the Meanjin Narratives podcast features writer James Bradley reading his major essay 'UNEARTHED: Last Days of the Anthropocene' from Meanjin's Spring 2019 edition. This urgent exploration of the existential implications of climate change is a compelling listen, and an important call-to-action for us to remain realistic yet hopeful in reimagining what the end of the world as we know it might mean.

In the latest episode of the Meanjin Narratives podcast, James Curran reads his triptych 'The Unknown Soldier', three poignant poems that muse on the Anzacs, distant sacrifice and remembrance.

In the fifth episode of the Meanjin Narratives podcast, poet Eileen Chong recites three of her works, spanning across continents and millennia in their inspiration.

'Magnolia' (published in Meanjin in 2016) is based on a legendary character in Chinese history, Hua Mu Lan, who was a warrior during the Northern and Southern dynasties period (420 - 580 AD). 'Lu Xun, your hands' (published in Meanjin in 2010) is a love poem addressed to one of China's leading modern writers. And in the present day, 'My Mother Talks in Numbers' (published in 2018) imagines a poignant conversation between the author and her mother.

Eileen Chong is the author of eight books. Her most recent full-length collection, Rainforest, was published by Pitt Street Poetry in 2018. Her books have shortlisted for several awards, including twice for the Prime Minister's Literary Award. She lives and works in Sydney, Australia. www.eileenchong.com.au

'We drive past the lap pool where I used to swim and I think of you, passing time at The Crossroads, chattering nonsense, the lucidity of prose. I could taste the unwritten words and drown in the warm air of evening.'

In episode 4 of the Meanjin Narratives podcast, Michelle Cahill reads her 'Letter to Virginia Woolf'-a poetic reflection on life as a mother and writer, and the tensions that exist in between. This piece was first published in Meanjin's Autumn 2015 edition.

Clementine Ford reads her essay 'The Turning Point'.

Shu-Ling Chua guides us through her journey of sexual awakening. 'Through the Looking Glass', published on the Meanjin blog in January 2018, is part memoir, part literary criticism.

This thought-provoking, arresting piece incorporates the influence of formative texts upon the author's relationship with her lover and ultimately, her own identity through the process of self-discovery and sexual exploration.

Shu-Ling Chua guides us through her journey of sexual awakening. ‘Through the Looking Glass’, published on the Meanjin blog in January 2018, is part memoir, part literary criticism.This thought-provoking, arresting piece incorporates the influence of formative texts upon the author's relationship with her lover and ultimately, her own identity through the process of self-discovery and sexual exploration.

Writer and poet Omar Sakr reads his remarkable essay 'Any Percentage of a Heart Is Still A Heart' from Meanjin's Autumn 2018 edition.

In this piece, Sakr uses a conversation between himself and his cousin about his own bisexuality to frame a wider discussion about Australia's controversial 2017 same-sex marriage postal survey. Sakr delves into the fallout of the survey on the LGBTQI community, his own status as a queer Arab-Australian man in Australia, and his complex relationship with western Sydney.

ON THE SHOWIn our first Meanjin Narratives episode, writer and poet Omar Sakr reads his remarkable essay 'Any Percentage of a Heart Is Still A Heart' from Meanjin's Autumn 2018 edition. In this piece, Sakr uses a conversation between himself and his cousin about his own bisexuality to frame a wider discussion about Australia's controversial 2017 same-sex marriage postal survey. Sakr delves into the fallout of the survey on the LGBTQI community, his own status as a queer Arab-Australian man in Australia, and his complex relationship with western Sydney.Editorial: Jonathan Green, Tess Smurthwaite, Marta Skrabacz and Jack Callil.

Producer: Jack Callil

Sound Engineer: Chris Hatzis

Thanks to Kosta T for use of his track 'Composition' licensed under CC BY 3.0