What would you do if your town was infiltrated by a controversial movement that would garner cult status?

Author and former Sannyasin Bruce Menzies was a young, educated, family man when he decided to join in.

The Sannyasins, colloquially known as The Orange People for their bright orange clothing, were a group dedicated to Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (1931-1990).

It’s controversial practices provoked the local communities they occupied, including Fremantle, which became a hub for the guru’s followers.

So how did a global movement make it’s way to Perth? Jeff Bullen finds out in this episode of Planet Perth. He speaks with Bruce, documentary film make Joseph London and journalist Sarah Steele.

Planet Perth is an RTRFM podcast series about the weird, wacky and unexplained history of our eccentric city.

Join Jeff Bullen each fortnight for a deep dive into the events, personalities and bygone icons that have shaped one of the most isolated cities in the world.

The Great Perth Hailstorm of 2010 lives in the memories and perhaps on the bonnets of cars across Boorloo.

By the time locals started their commute from work, gusts reached 120 kilometres per hour, with eerie grey clouds rolling in from the north, unleashing the fiercest storm in living memory.

In fact, it was one of the costliest weather events in the state’s history.

Today on Planet Perth, host Jeff Bullen recounts the events of that fateful day with former Bureau of Meteorology manager for severe weather Andrew Burton and assesses the damage at one of Perth’s most iconic landmarks – UWA’s Winthrop Hall.

Planet Perth is an RTRFM podcast series about the weird, wacky and unexplained history of our eccentric city.

Join Jeff Bullen each fortnight for a deep dive into the events, personalities and bygone icons that have shaped one of the most isolated cities in the world.

The 1932 Great Emu War might just be the weirdest, most futile military exercise in Australian history, so much so that it’s captured the minds of folk across the globe.

Professor Andrea Gaynor shares her extensive knowledge and little-known facts about the Great Emu War with Jeff Bullen in the latest episode of Planet Perth. 

He also catches up with State Library of Western Australia librarian Peter Edwards to unpack the incredible media coverage surrounding the event.

Planet Perth is an RTRFM podcast series about the weird, wacky and unexplained history of our eccentric city.

Join Jeff Bullen each fortnight for a deep dive into the events, personalities and bygone icons that have shaped one of the most isolated cities in the world.

Why are there over 400 tiger snakes on Carnac Island?

One of the most popular theories is a man by the name of Rocky Vane – a snake charmer who started performing across Fremantle in 1926.

Rocky Vane was a man with a checkered past, known for letting his reptiles bite him or other people to promote his snake bite remedy as well as showcasing his scaly friends in sideshow alley performances.

Legend has it, he released many of these snakes onto the island after an ultimatum from the WA government. 

In episode two, Jeff Bullen sits down with Dr Mitch Ladyman, a Perth based environmental consultant and the co-author of a study into the origin of Tiger Snakes on Carnac Island.

Jeff also pays a visit to Perth Reptile Company, to get up close and personal with the snakes Rocky Vane would have been dealing with.

Planet Perth is an RTRFM podcast series about the weird, wacky and unexplained history of our eccentric city.

Join Jeff Bullen each fortnight for a deep dive into the events, personalities and bygone icons that have shaped one of the most isolated cities in the world.

When Australia joined the global internet in 1989, it was far from what we know and love today. Digital music, video and images were not widely distributed online – that is, until James Pinakis entered the chat.

James was studying his PhD in computer science and software engineering at UWA when he decided to write a computer program to distribute pornography. People from all around the world logged into his server to download images, which eventually grinded Australia’s internet connection to a halt.

What was it like to send porn to the entire world in the early days of the internet?

Jeff Bullen returns for season two of Planet Perth with James, otherwise known as the Porn King of UWA.

We also hear from Justin Zobel, Professor in Computer Science at the University of Melbourne.

Planet Perth Episode One The Porn King of UWA

David Bowie famously pondered if there was life on mars, and though it may sound absurd, knowledge of extraterrestrial life has been pursued seriously for decades; from academics to historians and increasingly Governments. 

Many even claim to have witnessed these interactions right here in WA, with some sightings making their way into local police reports. These have never seen the light of day…until now. 

In today’s season finale of Planet Perth, Jeff is taking a peak into the State UFO files – a series of documents tucked away in the State Records Office which outline reports of UFO sighting – with senior archivist Damien Hassan. 

Curtin radio astronomer Professor Steven Tingay also stops by to discuss the likelihood of alien existence.

Planet Perth is an RTRFM podcast series about the weird, wacky and unexplained history of our eccentric city.

Join Jeff Bullen each fortnight for a deep dive into the events, personalities and bygone icons that have shaped one of the most isolated cities in the world.

7. The State UFO Files 

With over 23 years of practice in Perth, the late Bulgarian born Iwan Iwanoff slowly but surely cemented himself as one of the most iconic architects the State has seen. 

From the modernist Madashi House in Dianella to Northam Town Council House, Iwanoff’s idiosyncratic, Besser block homes took European sensibilities and adapted them to the harsh climate of Western Australia. 

On today’s episode of Planet Perth, Jeff sits down with architectural photographer Jack Lovel, who grew up in Iwanoff’s 1954 Jordanoff House in Claremont, to learn more about the man behind the brick facade and his nuanced creations which stand to this day. 

Planet Perth is an RTRFM podcast series about the weird, wacky and unexplained history of our eccentric city.

Join Jeff Bullen each fortnight for a deep dive into the events, personalities and bygone icons that have shaped one of the most isolated cities in the world.

6. Episode Six Iwan Iwanoff

If you walk along Barrack Street between the Murray and Hay Street malls, you’re likely to stumble upon a series of old abandoned buildings, including the bygone Liberty Theatre.

First opening its doors in 1954, The Liberty Theatre was home to Perth’s first arthouse cinema, playing host to exclusive film society nights, before closing its doors in 1997.

Now, after sitting empty for almost 26 years, the area is set to be redeveloped, reigniting what was once a grassroots cultural hub. 

In today’s episode Jeff Bullen chats with arts researcher and cinefile Barry Strickland to discuss how the Liberty Theatre redefined Perth’s cultural scene following World War Two and the unique arts and cultural scene in Perth.  

Developer Randal Humich also stops by to talk us through how the theatre will be revived for the 21st Century.

Planet Perth is an RTRFM podcast series about the weird, wacky and unexplained history of our eccentric city.

Join Jeff Bullen each fortnight for a deep dive into the events, personalities and bygone icons that have shaped one of the most isolated cities in the world.

5. Episode Five The Liberty Theatre Mastered

The continental roll, the hoagie, the submarine…

The Re Store in Northbridge is often associated with the birth of the humble Italian sandwich.

But did you know that at the height of The Great Depression a poor Sicilian migrant pawed his wife’s wedding ring to start what would become the home of Perth’s unique culinary hallmark?

In episode four of our series Jeff sits down with The Re-Store manager Moreno Berti to learn more about how the continental roll came to live in the hearts and stomachs of locals.

He also chats with University of Sydney Associate Professor in Business Teresa Davis about the link between food and migration and how it was possible for a continental roll to simultaneously emerge amongst Italian-American communities in Portland, the largest city in the US state of Oregon.

Planet Perth is an RTRFM podcast series about the weird, wacky and unexplained history of our eccentric city.

Join Jeff Bullen each fortnight for a deep dive into the events, personalities and bygone icons that have shaped one of the most isolated cities in the world.

On Monday June 23, 1975, mother-of-three Shirley Finn lay slumped over the wheel of her white Dodge Phoenix in a glittering ball gown at the Royal Perth Golf Course.

The well know socialite, brothel madam and nightclub operator was shot four times in an execution style killing just days before she was set to blow the whistle at a hearing on illicit dealings by a number of high profile Perth politicians, businessmen and police officers.

Award winning journalist Juliet Wills spent 25 years gathering evidence, including interviews and witness reports to try and find out what really happened that night.

In episode three of Planet Perth, Jeff Bullen sits down with Juliet Wills, investigative journalist and author of Dirty Girl: The State Sanctioned Murder of Shirley Finn, a book which sparked an inquest into the cold case.

So what happened to Shirley and who was behind the grisly, high profile crime?

Planet Perth is an RTRFM podcast series about the weird, wacky and unexplained history of our eccentric city.

Join Jeff Bullen each fortnight for a deep dive into the events, personalities and bygone icons that have shaped one of the most isolated cities in the world.

3. Episode Three Shirley Finn FINAL