When a winemaker builds a giant Rubik’s cube in McLaren Vale, fills it with Salvador Dali sculptures and art, and creates wines that pair with songs and poems, you know you’re about to discover something extraordinary. Chester Osborn has constructed what shouldn’t work but absolutely does – a surrealist manifesto planted in the heart of South Australian wine country that would make André Breton proud and the Márek Brothers, those Czech surrealist pioneers who shocked Adelaide in 1948, absolutely delighted.

Our SA Drink of the Week flows directly from the architect of this impossible vision, as Chester pours his Vociferous Dipsomaniac 2010 – a wine that transforms before our very palate, revealing violet gardens and a scattering of spices whilst teaching us that great winemaking is really just the elegant management of faults. Like the Cube itself, this shiraz demonstrates that the most revolutionary act might simply be saying “yes, and” to the impossible.

The Musical Pilgrimage takes an unprecedented turn as we hear both Chester’s stream-of-consciousness theory connecting wine to quantum physics and time dilation, followed by Steve Davis’ original piece called “Folded Clocks” – a meditation on Salvador Dali’s persistence of memory, created in response to his visit to the Cube where he experienced its artistic revelations firsthand.

You can navigate episodes using chapter markers in your podcast app. Not a fan of one segment? You can click next to jump to the next chapter in the show. We’re here to serve!

The Adelaide Show Podcast: Awarded Silver for Best Interview Podcast in Australia at the 2021 Australian Podcast Awards and named as Finalist for Best News and Current Affairs Podcast in the 2018 Australian Podcast Awards.

And please consider becoming part of our podcast by joining our Inner Circle. It’s an email list. Join it and you might get an email on a Sunday or Monday seeking question ideas, guest ideas and requests for other bits of feedback about YOUR podcast, The Adelaide Show. Email us directly and we’ll add you to the list: [email protected]

If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review in iTunes or other podcast sites, or buy some great merch from our Red Bubble store – The Adelaide Show Shop. We’d greatly appreciate it.

And please talk about us and share our episodes on social media, it really helps build our community. Oh, and here’s our index of all episode in one concise
page.

Running Sheet: Surrealism In Wine And Life With Chester Osborn

00:00:00 Intro

Introduction

00:01:56 SA Drink Of The Week

The South Australian Drink Of The Week is d’Arenberg‘s 2010 The Vociferate Dipsomaniac, which Steve tastes with winemaker, Chester Osborn at the Duke Of Brunswick, which has a full suite of these intrepid wines.

The name alone suggests Chester Osborn’s approach to wine nomenclature – dreamt up, he cheerfully admits, during morning toilet contemplation whilst reading the dictionary for “really interesting words.” This particular shiraz demands vigorous pursuit because it’s so compelling you’ll vigorously drink it, potentially earning the archaic designation of “dipsomaniac” – an alcoholic, for those unfamiliar with the term’s English parlance.

What unfolds in the glass defies every expectation of a fifteen-year-old wine. Where vintage wines typically announce their age with that slightly pruny, sweaty character, this Vociferous Dipsomaniac reveals itself like a perfectly adjusted doona on a winter’s night – balanced, enveloping, with tannins that recline gently into your tongue like a tired person settling into an armchair. The secret lies in Chester’s philosophy of elegant fault management: picking at relatively low sugar levels to avoid shrivel, eschewing nitrogen fertilisation since the nineties, and using super-light toast French oak that lets the 34-to-56-million-year-old limestone terroir speak its chocolatey, bloody truth.

As the wine breathes – and Chester insists it breathes better in the bottle than in the glass, for complex reasons involving condensation and molecular romance – it evolves from subtle violet gardens to dark chocolate and beyond, revealing why this particular vineyard, nestled beside the d’Arenberg Cube, consistently produces the only wine in their 23 single-vineyard collection that always carries a whisper of violet. After our toast to Queen Adelaide and an hour of conversation, the wine has transformed into something resembling an IMAX cinema experience for the palate – bigger, bolder, more ornate, yet somehow more at home with itself.

00:21:21 Chester Osborn

Chester Osborn has achieved something that should be impossible: he’s built a giant Rubik’s cube in McLaren Vale that functions as both architectural marvel and alternate reality museum, creating a space where Salvador Dali’s melting clocks teach visitors about the fluidity of time while wine ages gracefully in barrels around the sprawling property. The d’Arenberg Cube stands as testament to the “yes, and” principle of improvisational theatre – that beautiful concept of taking an idea and running with it, which Chester has literally fermenting in his cube through careful design.

When Chester woke up in the early hours and abandoned plans for another “fake heritage” homestead in favour of “something iconic, something like the Opera House,” he wasn’t just changing architectural plans – he was embarking on a surrealist manifesto. The Cube doesn’t merely showcase wine; it’s an Alternate Realities Museum where eight parameters of weather transform into real-time sound as you approach, where hundreds of Chester’s sculptures tell stories connecting rocks, flowers and fruit to wine, and where 30-second surreal videos play on loop in a 360-degree room, each one representing a different wine in their collection.

The building itself challenges conventional wisdom at every turn. Engineers, architects and builders all declared various elements impossible, leading to the invention of new glass sealing systems, wind tunnel testing in Melbourne, and the development of facade techniques that won national glass awards. “There is nothing impossible,” Chester declares, channelling his mother’s wisdom that “out of every bit of bad that happens, twice as much good happens.” This philosophy permeates not just the Cube’s construction but his entire approach to winemaking, where managing faults becomes an art form and time dilation theories merge with tannin structure.

What makes the Cube truly revolutionary isn’t just its architectural audacity but how it functions as a catalyst for unexpected conversation. Chester describes watching visitors – including tourism professionals who know each other well – suddenly following tangents, becoming more open to possibility when surrounded by surrealist art. It’s as if Dali’s telephone with a lobster on top starts conversations about what we might be when we’re talking, whether we’re boiling away like lobsters, whether some people really do chew our ears off. The Cube becomes a space where lateral thinking flourishes, where Chester’s Asperger’s brain – storing wine knowledge in imagination rather than automation – finds kindred spirits among visitors ready to embrace the extraordinary in the seemingly ordinary.

Perhaps most remarkably, Chester pairs each of his 85 wines with a specific song and poem, creating a multimedia sensory experience that will be captured in his forthcoming book. For the Vociferous Dipsomaniac, he’s chosen The Doors’ “Riders on the Storm,” paired with his own poem connecting Morrison’s soft voice to wine’s penetrating vigour. It’s this integration of art, music, literature and wine that transforms the Cube from novelty to necessity – a place where South Australians discover that their square metre of earth punches well above its weight, where time becomes malleable as Dali’s clocks, and where saying yes to the impossible becomes the most natural thing in the world.

01:03:20 Musical Pilgrimage

In the Musical Pilgrimage, we listen to Folded Clocks by Steve Davis and his Virtualosos.

The Musical Pilgrimage takes an unprecedented turn with a dual revelation of consciousness and creativity. First, Chester shares his stream-of-consciousness theory recorded whilst driving – a spontaneous exploration of how energetic wines might age slower through quantum mechanics, where tannin tension creates light-speed vibrations that literally slow the aging process. His “Energetic Wines Explained Theory” suggests that great wines contain atoms vibrating near the speed of light, creating time dilation effects that preserve the wine’s essence – a notion that would make Salvador Dali proud with its beautiful impossibility.

Following this quantum leap of imagination, we hear “Folded Clocks” – Steve’s original meditation on time, memory and surrealism created in response to experiencing Dali’s sculptures within the Cube. Using virtual tools to bring his words to musical life, the piece captures that transfixing quality of standing before art that refuses to be easily categorised, where melting timepieces suggest that our rigid relationship with chronology might be the real illusion.

Support the show: https://theadelaideshow.com.au/listen-or-download-the-podcast/adelaide-in-crowd/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Political commentator Robert Godden returns to examine how Trump's policies ripple through South Australian vineyards and shipyards, while introducing us to diverse local voters shaping our electoral landscape - from climate-conscious Ellie in Goodwood to disillusioned Mick in Morphett Vale.

Robert's record for calling elections correctly stands firm as he reveals which South Australian electorates might swing in the upcoming federal vote. Though Labor appears headed for a reduced majority, the real question is how our vote might influence America's orange-tinted decisions affecting our exports and defence agreements.

In the Musical Pilgrimage, Lizzie Hosking's soulful track "Can't Figure You Out" perfectly captures the electoral indecision many South Australians face heading into the May 3rd poll, while a Good Friday interview with Richard Pascoe uncovers the gruesome history buried at St. Mary's Anglican Church.

There is no SA Drink Of The Week this week.

You can navigate episodes using chapter markers in your podcast app. Not a fan of one segment? You can click next to jump to the next chapter in the show. We're here to serve!

The Adelaide Show Podcast: Awarded Silver for Best Interview Podcast in Australia at the 2021 Australian Podcast Awards and named as Finalist for Best News and Current Affairs Podcast in the 2018 Australian Podcast Awards.

And please consider becoming part of our podcast by joining our Inner Circle. It's an email list. Join it and you might get an email on a Sunday or Monday seeking question ideas, guest ideas and requests for other bits of feedback about YOUR podcast, The Adelaide Show. Email us directly and we'll add you to the list: [email protected]

If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review in iTunes or other podcast sites, or buy some great merch from our Red Bubble store - The Adelaide Show Shop. We'd greatly appreciate it.

And please talk about us and share our episodes on social media, it really helps build our community. Oh, and here's our index of all episode in one concise
page.

Running Sheet: From Trump to Two Wells - SA's Political Crossroads In AusVotes 2025

00:00:00 Intro

Introduction

00:00:00 SA Drink Of The Week

No South Australian Drink Of The Week, this week.

00:03:41 Robert Godden

Robert Godden, our regular political analyst who correctly called the 2018 South Australian election before Antony Green, joins us to examine the upcoming federal election through a South Australian lens. With the shadow of Donald Trump's presidency louring over international relations, the conversation begins with the "Trump factor" and its potential impacts on our state.

"We can look at what happened with China when they put tariffs on us," Robert explains when discussing Trump's trade war implications for South Australian exports like beef, wine, and seafood. "Remember Christmas before last when people were indulging in lobster who'd never had it before because it was so cheap?" He suggests diversification of markets is essential, noting how Australia pivoted successfully during the China tariff challenge.

The conversation takes a more serious turn when examining the AUKUS agreement, with Robert noting that America's treatment of Australia has drawn criticism even from US politicians like Democratic Senator Mark Warner. "He spent a good half hour listing all the reasons... anyone with brains and shame would've gone, 'He's right, let's help Australia out.' But Trump hasn't shown great quantities of either."

Robert's assessment of climate policy delivers perhaps the episode's most cutting insight: "The easiest way for the Liberals to have a chance at getting back in power would be to embrace the climate cause." He argues that the six Teal candidates in parliament are essentially "liberals with climate views," representing votes the Coalition has surrendered to independents.

When Steve asks whether anything Australia does could influence Trump's policies, Robert responds with characteristic frankness: "He doesn't understand international trade. I mean, look, he doesn't understand shoelaces."

The interview shifts to a fascinating examination of voter personas Robert has created, representing different South Australian demographics and their voting intentions. These include Ellie from Goodwood (a 29-year-old non-binary arts worker voting Green), Tyler from Lightsview (a 21-year-old apprentice electrician leaning Liberal), Andrew from Aldgate (a 45-year-old high school teacher supporting Rebecca Sharkie), Mick from Morphett Vale (a 53-year-old injured truck driver voting One Nation), and Jade from Christies Beach (a financially stretched childcare worker who remains undecided).

When discussing cost of living concerns, Robert delivers one of the episode's most provocative statements: "If Peter Dutton wants to win this election at all costs, all he has to do is chuck money at people. If he said to the electorate, 'If you vote for me, I'll give you $300 a week from now until the next election' – job done."

Robert heartily recommends using the ABC Vote Compass to help you see where you sit idealogically, and how that aligns to the parties.

01:04:04 St Mary's Anglican Church Cemetary

Steve shares a recording from his Good Friday conversation with Richard Pascoe on FiveAA, discussing the upcoming cemetery tour at St. Mary's Anglican Church on Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 10am to 2pm. The segment reveals fascinating South Australian history, including the burial sites of Richard Hamilton (father of South Australia's wine industry) and Benjamin Herschel Babbage (son of computing pioneer Charles Babbage).

The conversation takes a macabre turn as Steve describes university researchers' discoveries in the cemetery's pauper section, including bodies broken to fit into smaller coffins, teeth ravaged by untreated cavities, and even evidence of leprosy in early South Australia. "It just fires up gratitude for me of what we've actually been able to achieve," Steve reflects, noting how easily we forget the harsh realities our ancestors faced.

01:16:06 Musical Pilgrimage

In the Musical Pilgrimage, we feature Can't Figure You Out by Lizzie Hosking.

Steve praises her "breathy and hearty voice" with its "clear, clean, strong" qualities that draw listeners in. The song's sultry jazz feel and title perfectly mirror the electoral indecision many South Australians feel approaching the May 3rd federal poll.

As Steve notes, "I chose it because frankly, I can't figure out who is worthy of my vote."

Support the show: https://theadelaideshow.com.au/listen-or-download-the-podcast/adelaide-in-crowd/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adelaide’s scientific community wades into the global conversation about de-extinction as Associate Professor Bastien Llamas from the University of Adelaide’s School of Biological Sciences and the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA brings cool-headed expertise to recent claims about dire wolves being “brought back from extinction.” What began as scientific curiosity became urgently relevant when Steve overheard his teenage daughters excitedly discussing how “wolves aren’t extinct anymore and mammoths will be back soon” – highlighting the real-world consequences of misunderstood science.

The SA Drink Of The Week segment isn’t included in this episode, as our focus remains squarely on the fascinating scientific ground being covered, from the definition of true extinction to the uncomfortable realities of dropping long-gone predators into modern ecosystems.

In the Musical Pilgrimage, we’re treated to Professor Flint’s Rumble Rumble, a song about the Permian extinction that carries a message of both disaster and hope – perfectly complementing our exploration of extinction, science communication, and the resilience of nature given sufficient time.

You can navigate episodes using chapter markers in your podcast app. Not a fan of one segment? You can click next to jump to the next chapter in the show. We’re here to serve!

The Adelaide Show Podcast: Awarded Silver for Best Interview Podcast in Australia at the 2021 Australian Podcast Awards and named as Finalist for Best News and Current Affairs Podcast in the 2018 Australian Podcast Awards.

And please consider becoming part of our podcast by joining our Inner Circle. It’s an email list. Join it and you might get an email on a Sunday or Monday seeking question ideas, guest ideas and requests for other bits of feedback about YOUR podcast, The Adelaide Show. Email us directly and we’ll add you to the list: [email protected]

If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review in iTunes or other podcast sites, or buy some great merch from our Red Bubble store – The Adelaide Show Shop. We’d greatly appreciate it.

And please talk about us and share our episodes on social media, it really helps build our community. Oh, and here’s our index of all episode in one concise
page.

Running Sheet: Making De-extinction Claims Extinct

00:00:00 Intro

Introduction

00:00:00 SA Drink Of The Week

No South Australian Drink Of The Week, this week.

00:02:52 Assoc. Prof. Bastien Llamas

Winter isn’t just coming, apparently it arrived in October last year when Colossal Biosciences announced they’d successfully “de-extincted” the dire wolf after a 10,000-year absence. Now, for anyone watching the news or scrolling through social media lately, you might think you’ve stepped into an episode of Game of Thrones—and the connection is no coincidence, with George R.R. Martin himself serving as a “cultural adviser” to this company. I first caught wind of this story through our good mate Michael Mills, better known to many South Aussie school kids as Professor Flint, who was absolutely scathing about these claims. And I’ll admit, I thought exploring this topic might be a bit of scientific curiosity until I was driving my teenage daughters recently, and overheard them chatting excitedly about how “cool it is that wolves aren’t extinct anymore” and that “mammoths will be back soon too.” That’s when I realised we needed some cool-headed expertise on the subject.

With us today is Associate Professor Bastien Llamas from the University of Adelaide’s School of Biological Sciences and the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA. Bastien’s work on ancient DNA and human adaptation to environmental and cultural stressors puts him in the perfect position to help us understand what’s actually happening with these de-extinction claims. Welcome.

The interview opens amid the cultural echoes of Game of Thrones, with Steve noting how Colossal Biosciences has seemingly found a “middle ground” in the stark binary of winning or dying in the game of thrones – by claiming to resurrect dire wolves after a 10,000-year absence. This connection is no coincidence, with George R.R. Martin himself serving as a cultural advisor to the company.

“If it looks like a dire wolf and it howls like a dire wolf, it’s… well, a dire wolf for the sake of PR purposes,” Steve observes, setting the stage for Bastien to methodically dismantle the scientific validity of these claims. The discussion begins with fundamentals, as Bastien explains what extinction actually means from a scientific perspective: “The extinction process is really the total disappearance of a particular species from the surface of the earth.”

The conversation takes a fascinating turn when Bastien addresses the technological impossibility of true de-extinction: “To de-extinct means literally bringing back individuals from that very species to life… if that extinction happened hundreds or thousands of years ago, it means that we would need to have intact cells from these particular individuals. And through some cloning technologies, be able to create an embryo… Now we’re talking about science fiction.”

When pressed on the ecological reality of reintroducing extinct species, Bastien paints a vivid picture of the challenges: “If a species got extinct in the first place, it’s very likely because there were some factors — environmental change or human overkill — that means the world has slowly changed to the point where that species was not adapted to their environment.” His specific example about dire wolves resonates with practical concerns: “A nice big cow would probably be a great prey for that wolf. And I am just waiting for the reaction of the farmers.”

The scientific breakdown of Colossal’s claims is particularly enlightening, with Bastien revealing that dire wolves and grey wolves split evolutionarily 5.7 million years ago: “For 5.7 million years, they evolved differently. Dire wolf became those big whoopy canid, um, you know, hypercar, the gray wolves were more adaptable, uh, smaller size, and a diet that was a little bit more diverse.” This evolutionary divergence created approximately 12.5 million genetic differences, yet Colossal made only 20 genetic changes to grey wolves. “Twenty changes out of 12.5 million is nothing,” Bastien emphasises.

The interview takes a philosophical turn when Steve asks about the one motivation that might have ethical value – atonement for human-caused extinctions. Bastien thoughtfully responds, “Even atoning for that doesn’t mean that we’re going to change our behaviors,” noting that such technology might create a dangerous sense of complacency about current conservation challenges.

Perhaps most powerfully, Bastien offers an analogy that crystallises the issue: “If we take a chimp and we introduce 20 changes in the genome of the chimp, so it loses the hair, for example, and the shape of the skull is modified… would we consider that genetically engineered chimp a human?” The answer is clearly no, undermining the claim that genetically modified grey wolves are actually dire wolves.

The conversation closes with wisdom about critical thinking, with Bastien suggesting that while we should allow ourselves to be amazed by scientific headlines initially, we must follow with critical reflection: “You need to let it go. At first you need to be amazed. You need to be curious. You need to be dreaming a little bit. But then once that first phase is over, you need to sit down a little bit and think about really what the information is about.”

00:51:09 Musical Pilgrimage

In the Musical Pilgrimage, we feature Rumble Rumble by Professor Flint.

This is a song about the Permian extinction, known as The Great Dying, in which 96% of all life was wiped out. It reminds us of the fragility of nature, and the impermanence of all things. It also reminds us of nature’s resilience. While it took millions of years to recover, given the chance, and time, nature was able to recover, and we enter the remarkable Age of Dinosaurs. The death of some, allows for the evolution of others.

Michael Mills, the man behind Professor Flint and HeapsGood Music, is highlighted as someone gaining popularity by “staying true to the science” – a refreshing counterpoint to the misleading headlines discussed throughout the episode. Steve shares exciting news about Michael’s upcoming performances at the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival in the UK (making history as the first Australian to grace that stage), as well as his Commonwealth National Science Week grant supporting “The Ammonites,” an all-female dinosaur-loving supergroup touring across Australia this August.

Support the show: https://theadelaideshow.com.au/listen-or-download-the-podcast/adelaide-in-crowd/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Robert Godden joined us in 2018 for Episode 235, we read tea leaves to predict Steven Marshall’s election victory. Today, Robert returns with his tea expertise as we sit down with two Senate hopefuls – Dianah Walter and Dr. Rod Pearce AM – who are campaigning together under the “SA Matters” banner. While sipping tea, we explore how these candidates plan to navigate Canberra’s corridors while maintaining their commitment to South Australian priorities.

In a refreshing departure from party politics, Dianah and Rod share their journey from collaboration on women’s health initiatives to forming an unendorsed Senate ticket focused squarely on local issues. With Dianah’s background in regional advocacy and Rod’s decades of experience as a respected GP shaping national health policy, they present a compelling case for representation that transcends party loyalty.

There is no SA Drink Of The Week, this week.

And in the Musical Pilgrimage, we close the show with Swap Meet’s dreamy indie folk-rock track “Ceiling Fan” – an apt choice given the band’s own journey of rebranding from Sour Sob and striking out with a new identity, just as Dianah is doing with her political realignment.

You can navigate episodes using chapter markers in your podcast app. Not a fan of one segment? You can click next to jump to the next chapter in the show. We’re here to serve!

The Adelaide Show Podcast: Awarded Silver for Best Interview Podcast in Australia at the 2021 Australian Podcast Awards and named as Finalist for Best News and Current Affairs Podcast in the 2018 Australian Podcast Awards.

And please consider becoming part of our podcast by joining our Inner Circle. It’s an email list. Join it and you might get an email on a Sunday or Monday seeking question ideas, guest ideas and requests for other bits of feedback about YOUR podcast, The Adelaide Show. Email us directly and we’ll add you to the list: [email protected]

If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review in iTunes or other podcast sites, or buy some great merch from our Red Bubble store – The Adelaide Show Shop. We’d greatly appreciate it.

And please talk about us and share our episodes on social media, it really helps build our community. Oh, and here’s our index of all episode in one concise
page.

Running Sheet: SA Matters This Election

00:00:00 Intro

Introduction

00:00:00 SA Drink Of The Week

No South Australian Drink Of The Week, this week.

00:02:30 SA Matters: Behind the Independent Campaign

In a political landscape where party loyalty often overshadows regional advocacy, Dianah Walter and Dr. Rod Pearce have emerged as “SA Matters” – an unendorsed Senate ticket with a decidedly local focus. Dianah, fresh from her departure from the Legalised Cannabis Party, and Rod, a respected GP whose voice has shaped national health policy, have joined forces at a time when social media giants face increasing scrutiny for their influence on political discourse.

“South Australia does matter” isn’t just their campaign slogan – it’s the philosophy that brought them together through a shared history of advocacy that includes women’s health initiatives. Their promise is straightforward: representation that puts our state first, regardless of partisan pressure.

“Our loyalty is to the work we’ve done together in the past and to basically being an advocate for South Australia,” Rod explains, citing specific examples of how party senators might face conflicts between state interests and party priorities. This unwavering focus on South Australian priorities forms the cornerstone of their campaign.

Dianah’s recent encounter with caregivers of a disabled woman reveals their grassroots approach: “What can we do to help you?” she asked after a lengthy discussion. Their response was telling: “In all of the last two years they’ve been coming to that place, not once had anyone stopped to talk to them.” This approach reflects the StoryBrand framework where the voter is the hero and candidates are guides – something Dianah intuitively grasped at their campaign launch: “You are not here because of me… I believe you’re actually here because you’re here for you.”

For Rod, this connection to community has been central to his 40-year career as a GP: “You need to have that 15-minute, one-on-one conversation, which I have with 20 or 30 people every day… but that’s gotta translate into effective advocacy.”

Robert highlights how traditional media creates lasting trust: “I’ve been an avid listener to ABC radio since I was 18… I’ve just heard your voice so many times,” he tells Rod. “We don’t necessarily believe what we read on Facebook, but we certainly believe what we hear on the radio.”

Dianah shares radio’s crucial role during emergencies: “We recently lost power for nearly 24 hours on the YP. I’m a Country Fire Service volunteer… our mobile phone towers went down and we had no connection as emergency services volunteers. But I got me little transistor out that dad gave me, and I tuned into ABC and I knew what was going on.”

The darker side of modern media becomes apparent when Dianah describes setting up her campaign Facebook page: “Three seconds in my feed, I had Trump, Elon Musk, lots of right wing extremists in my feed!'”

Robert, a self-described “below the line voter, like 10% of the population,” offers perspective: “Australian democracy is based on the person who the least people have a problem with gets in… it’s not about who’s the best, it’s about who’s the least worst.”

This conversation reveals the complexity facing independent candidates – they must define themselves by values rather than party policies, building trust through personal connection rather than political shorthand.

01:03:30 Musical Pilgrimage

In the Musical Pilgrimage, we feature Murray Bridge’s own Swapmeet with Ceiling Fan.

Swapmeet began life as Sour Sob before a legal threat forced them to change their name. This journey of rebranding while maintaining artistic integrity mirrors our Senate hopefuls’ commitment to authentic representation.

The name “Swapmeet” carries special significance for lead singer Venus O’Broin, who got her current guitar at a swap meet – a grassroots connection that echoes our candidates’ approach to building their campaign from the ground up.

Swapmeet’s debut EP “Oxalis” (cheekily named after the genus of the sour sob plant) features today’s track “Ceiling Fan,” which captures the dreamy indie folk rock sound that earned them Best Song at last year’s SA Music Awards. Like our guests today, Swapmeet proved that sometimes starting fresh can be liberating while staying true to your roots.

Support the show: https://theadelaideshow.com.au/listen-or-download-the-podcast/adelaide-in-crowd/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How’s it, indeed! Episode 411 of The Adelaide Show takes us on a remarkable journey with Ben Voss, a South African performer who’s recently landed in Adelaide, bringing with him a treasure trove of stories, a global talent visa, and a one-man show that dissects the intricate process of finding a new home.

We also keep the international feel going with an exclusive interview with Bettina Bitchkinky, who will be in Adelaide this month to host Club Eurovision. She is a major star in Belarus and she’s teaming up with Glynn Nicholas and dozens of glittering performers to create one crazy night at the Arkaba Hotel.

For the SA Drink Of The Week, we are imbibing our beverage through the medium of Barossa Valley Gourmet Fudge.

And in the Musical Pilgrimage, we’re dipping back into the archives of Fergus Maximus and Dr D with another track about South Australia from their Fringe show, Back in ADL.

You can navigate episodes using chapter markers in your podcast app. Not a fan of one segment? You can click next to jump to the next chapter in the show. We’re here to serve!

The Adelaide Show Podcast: Awarded Silver for Best Interview Podcast in Australia at the 2021 Australian Podcast Awards and named as Finalist for Best News and Current Affairs Podcast in the 2018 Australian Podcast Awards.

And please consider becoming part of our podcast by joining our Inner Circle. It’s an email list. Join it and you might get an email on a Sunday or Monday seeking question ideas, guest ideas and requests for other bits of feedback about YOUR podcast, The Adelaide Show. Email us directly and we’ll add you to the list: [email protected]

If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review in iTunes or other podcast sites, or buy some great merch from our Red Bubble store – The Adelaide Show Shop. We’d greatly appreciate it.

And please talk about us and share our episodes on social media, it really helps build our community. Oh, and here’s our index of all episode in one concise
page.

Running Sheet: From South Africa And Belarus With Love This Adelaide Fringe

00:00:00 Intro

Introduction

00:02:25 SA Drink Of The Week

The South Australian Drink Of The Week this week is actually a fudge with port by Barossa Valley Gourmet Fudge.

Steve met Julie at a workshop he was running through the week for Regional Development Australia (RDA) Barossa Gawler Light Adelaide Plains (BGLAP). You’ll find her wares at the Barossa Farmers Market. She makes her fudge by hand in the Barossa Valley using local fresh cream, fresh Australian butter, and basically everything that is wholesome (in that special way that fudge does it).

In a delightful twist, Steve Davis and Ben Voss eschew traditional liquid libations for a tasting of Barossa Valley Gourmet Fudge. They sample two decadent varieties: Port and Roasted Almond Truffles and Dark Chocolate Port and Raisin Fudge. The duo engages in a playful, descriptive tasting that transforms the fudge into a sensory journey, complete with metaphors ranging from “grandma’s feather bed” to “an air safety bag for your palate”.

00:10:20 Ben Voss

Ben Voss opens up about his theatrical migration from South Africa to Australia, sharing the profound personal and artistic motivations behind his one-man show “Becoming Benno”. He candidly discusses the pivotal moment during the Durban riots that sparked his family’s decision to seek a new life, painting a nuanced picture of leaving one’s homeland not out of desperation, but with hope and intentionality.

The conversation explores Ben’s artistic reinvention, from being a established performer in South Africa to becoming an eager newcomer in Australia. He reflects on the humbling yet invigorating experience of rebuilding his artistic identity, emphasising his belief that quality work will ultimately speak for itself.

Particularly compelling are Ben’s observations about South Africa and Australia, comparing their social dynamics, discussing the complexities of cultural representation in comedy, and celebrating the egalitarian spirit he sees in his new home.

Becoming Benno at the Woodville Town Hall and The Warehouse Theatre in Unley.

00:47:20 Bettina Bitchkinky, Club Eurovision

In a riotous segment, Bettina Bitchkinsy, the “glittering jewel of Belarus Broadcasting,” brings her larger-than-life persona to the show. Hosting Club Eurovision at the Adelaide Fringe, she offers a hilariously unfiltered perspective on European culture, performance, and audience participation. Her advice is as bold as her personality: come prepared to wave flags, use “clackers,” potentially drink vodka, and absolutely not be shy.

Bettina describes Eurovision as a “cosmic salad” of European identity, complete with feta cheese and “nuts” (both literal and metaphorical). She promises an interactive show where audience members get to vote live, emphasizing it’s “not like the Trump election” but a truly democratic experience. Her tips for attending include bringing 23 friends (for some mysteriously precise statistical reason), being ready to make noise, and potentially spending $10 for her coveted autograph.

Get tickets for the March 19, 2025, glittering spectacular, here: Club Eurovision.

01:02:05 Musical Pilgrimage

In the Musical Pilgrimage, we feature Cross Out The King by Fergus Maximus and Doctor D. (You can hear a full show with this duo in Episode 387).

They have a Fringe show again this year, with tickets here: Back in ADL (more Sweet Home Songs).

The episode concludes with a musical tribute by Fergus Maximus and Dr. D, featuring their song “Cross Out The King” – a playful exploration of Adelaide’s street-naming quirks. The track delves into the local myth that one cannot cross King William Street, revealing the humorous backstory of how Adelaide’s founding fathers managed their street-naming ambitions.

Support the show: https://theadelaideshow.com.au/listen-or-download-the-podcast/adelaide-in-crowd/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The battle lines are drawn over UniSA’s Magill campus site, where a proposal to rezone from community use to residential threatens to replace a cherished green space with up to 400 dwellings. As urban infill pushes local infrastructure to its limits, Magill Matters representatives Denise MacGregor and Charlotte Reimer make their case for preserving this vital community asset, home to 350 trees (some predating colonial settlement), thriving wildlife corridors, and essential recreational spaces.

While there is no SA Drink of the Week in this episode, the thirst for preservation of community assets runs deep through every moment of the conversation, as does the sobering realisation that once green spaces are lost to development, they’re gone forever.

In a poignant Musical Pilgrimage, The Danger Dolphins’ “Blackfish Blues” serves as an unintentionally perfect soundtrack to the episode’s themes, its raw, blues-driven exploration of confinement resonating with both the threatened creek-dwelling creatures and future residents who might find themselves in an area stripped of its natural cooling canopy.

You can navigate episodes using chapter markers in your podcast app. Not a fan of one segment? You can click next to jump to the next chapter in the show. We’re here to serve!

The Adelaide Show Podcast: Awarded Silver for Best Interview Podcast in Australia at the 2021 Australian Podcast Awards and named as Finalist for Best News and Current Affairs Podcast in the 2018 Australian Podcast Awards.

And please consider becoming part of our podcast by joining our Inner Circle. It’s an email list. Join it and you might get an email on a Sunday or Monday seeking question ideas, guest ideas and requests for other bits of feedback about YOUR podcast, The Adelaide Show. Email us directly and we’ll add you to the list: [email protected]

If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review in iTunes or other podcast sites, or buy some great merch from our Red Bubble store – The Adelaide Show Shop. We’d greatly appreciate it.

And please talk about us and share our episodes on social media, it really helps build our community. Oh, and here’s our index of all episode in one concise
page.

Running Sheet: We Will Discover Destroying UniSA Magill Matters When The Green Has Gone And Temperatures And Tempers Rise

00:00:00 Intro

Introduction

00:00:00 SA Drink Of The Week

There is no South Australian Drinks Of The Week this week.

00:07:25 Denise MacGregor and Charlotte Reimer, Magill Matters

Standing at Third Creek on the UniSA site, one immediately understands what developers might miss in their spreadsheet calculations. The space serves as a vital community hub where the background hum of urban life fades away, creating what our guests describe as a “movie set” atmosphere of tranquility. From early morning Tai Chi practitioners to soccer-playing families and solitary readers, the campus grounds provide what Denise MacGregor poignantly describes as “dwelling spaces, not just dwellings” – a profound distinction in an era of shrinking private yards.

The land’s history deepens its significance, having been bequeathed by Sir George Murray in 1942 to the university for community and educational purposes. This legacy faces an uncertain future as plans emerge for potential medium to high-density residential development, which could see buildings up to six storeys high replacing the current green space.

Magill Matters advocates aren’t opposed to all development but propose creative alternatives that would maintain the site’s community focus while addressing housing needs. Their vision includes repurposing existing buildings for aged care facilities (addressing Minister Champion’s goal of freeing up family homes), maintaining recreational spaces, and preserving the vital green corridor that helps cool the suburb by up to 5 degrees Celsius.

Links:

Magill Matters, public Facebook group

Magill Matters submission to Renewal SA that you are encouraged to read and submit before February 10, 2025

00:37:20 Musical Pilgrimage

In the Musical Pilgrimage, we feature Blackfish Blues by The Danger Dolphins.

For our Musical Pilgrimage this week, we’re diving into “Blackfish Blues” by Adelaide’s The Danger Dolphins, and the timing couldn’t be more poignant. As we’ve discussed the proposed rezoning of UniSA’s Magill campus, this raw, blues-driven track speaks to the confinement and constraints that echo through our main discussion.

When Zac sings “Nothing changes every day, another dolphin out of sea, just glass between you and me,” it’s hard not to think of both the threatened creek-dwelling creatures and future residents who might find themselves in an area stripped of its natural cooling canopy and breathing spaces.

The Danger Dolphins, born from late-night jam sessions between Zac Gerhardy and Nick Barone, have crafted a song that, while written about a different context, resonates deeply with the environmental concerns surrounding Third Creek’s ecosystem. Their sound, influenced by Led Zeppelin and The Black Keys, brings a powerful urgency to themes of restriction and environmental impact that mirror our concerns about urban development’s effect on both wildlife habitats and human wellbeing.

While “Blackfish Blues” is a few years old now, The Danger Dolphins have recently released an EP, Jam Factory Vol. II, which captures their raw energy in a stripped-back two-day recording session that feels worlds away from their meticulously produced Vol. I. For a chance to experience their evolution in the flesh – and witness what they’re cryptically calling “a sneaky lil on stage treat” – catch them at the High Fever Festival at Macclesfield’s Three Brothers Arms on Saturday, February 8. With free camping available, you can let loose without watching the clock.

Support the show: https://theadelaideshow.com.au/listen-or-download-the-podcast/adelaide-in-crowd/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a special episode themed around Chinese New Year, we explore how Adelaide embraces cultural connections through three distinct lenses. The centerpiece is our conversation with Carolyn Lam, whose journey from Hong Kong to Adelaide has helped weave classical music into our city’s cultural fabric through Amicus Strings’ 100+ annual performances.

The celebration begins with 23rd Street Distillery’s extraordinary Year of the Snake Whisky, one of only 3,600 bottles produced, showcasing Kangaroo Island barley aged in 15-year-old Galway Pipe casks. The resulting spirit proves as transformative as the year it honours.

Our musical pilgrimage breaks new ground as we debut vinyl playback in the studio with Jayne-Anne Power’s “What’s Your Rush” from The Analogue Sessions, bringing soul-drenched wisdom to match the Year of the Snake’s themes of transformation and growth.

You can navigate episodes using chapter markers in your podcast app. Not a fan of one segment? You can click next to jump to the next chapter in the show. We’re here to serve!

The Adelaide Show Podcast: Awarded Silver for Best Interview Podcast in Australia at the 2021 Australian Podcast Awards and named as Finalist for Best News and Current Affairs Podcast in the 2018 Australian Podcast Awards.

And please consider becoming part of our podcast by joining our Inner Circle. It’s an email list. Join it and you might get an email on a Sunday or Monday seeking question ideas, guest ideas and requests for other bits of feedback about YOUR podcast, The Adelaide Show. Email us directly and we’ll add you to the list: [email protected]

If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review in iTunes or other podcast sites, or buy some great merch from our Red Bubble store – The Adelaide Show Shop. We’d greatly appreciate it.

And please talk about us and share our episodes on social media, it really helps build our community. Oh, and here’s our index of all episode in one concise
page.

Running Sheet: Snake Whisky And Symphony Herald Adelaide’s Chinese New Year

00:00:00 Intro

Introduction

00:03:43 SA Drink Of The Week

The South Australian Drinks Of The Week this week is the  23rd Street Distillery Year Of The Snake Whisky.

The 23rd Street Distillery Year of the Snake Whisky arrives in packaging that would make any emperor proud – deep burgundy and gold boxes revealing a snake-adorned bottle that’s as much art piece as vessel. Our resident palate, John Gledhill, discovers layers of butterscotch and warming spices dancing with sun-dried raisins and vanilla, while the 15-year-old Galway Pipe cask influence emerges like a wise elder offering quiet counsel.

00:16:00 Carolyn Lam, Co-founder, Amicus Strings

From playing in total darkness at Mawson Lakes Planetarium to accompanying Elaine Paige, OBE, Carolyn Lam’s musical journey embodies the cultural bridges being built in Adelaide.

She shares insights on everything from making classical music accessible through popular music arrangements to the surprising connection between Philip Glass and organised personalities.

Her reflections on Hong Kong’s vibrant classical music scene and the differences between Eastern and Western musical approaches offer fascinating glimpses into how music transcends cultural boundaries.

Amicus Strings booking information

Hong Kong String Orchestra performance details for January 31st at Her Majesty’s Theatre

00:50:55 Musical Pilgrimage

In the Musical Pilgrimage, we feature What’s Your Rush by Jayne-Anne Power.

In a first for the podcast’s 11-year history, we spin vinyl right in the studio with Jayne-Anne Power’s “What’s Your Rush” from The Analogue Sessions EP.

The funked-up soul and gritty grooves perfectly complement our Chinese New Year theme of transformation and wisdom, with Shane Ellery’s keys and the powerful vocal harmonies creating a soundscape that rewards patient listening – truly embodying the “what’s your rush?” philosophy.

Support the show: https://theadelaideshow.com.au/listen-or-download-the-podcast/adelaide-in-crowd/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alison Pilborough bridges two worlds often seen as incompatible - artisanal coffee roasting and premium loose leaf tea blending - offering insights from her Aldinga Eco Village base about why some roasts deserve second chances and why tea drinkers are increasingly seeking calm through chamomile.

The SA Drink of the Week ventures into new territory with Fleurieu Roast's 18-hour cold brew coffee, challenging even the most orthodox espresso lovers to expand their horizons.

We wrap up with The Saucermen's "Devil's Elbow", their rockabilly tribute to that infamous stretch of the old South Eastern Freeway that tested nerves and brakes in equal measure before the Heysen Tunnels arrived.

You can navigate episodes using chapter markers in your podcast app. Not a fan of one segment? You can click next to jump to the next chapter in the show. We're here to serve!

The Adelaide Show Podcast: Awarded Silver for Best Interview Podcast in Australia at the 2021 Australian Podcast Awards and named as Finalist for Best News and Current Affairs Podcast in the 2018 Australian Podcast Awards.

And please consider becoming part of our podcast by joining our Inner Circle. It's an email list. Join it and you might get an email on a Sunday or Monday seeking question ideas, guest ideas and requests for other bits of feedback about YOUR podcast, The Adelaide Show. Email us directly and we'll add you to the list: [email protected]

If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review in iTunes or other podcast sites, or buy some great merch from our Red Bubble store - The Adelaide Show Shop. We'd greatly appreciate it.

And please talk about us and share our episodes on social media, it really helps build our community. Oh, and here's our index of all episode in one concise
page.

Running Sheet: Small-Batch Coffee Revolution At Fleurieu Roast Aldinga

00:00:00 Intro

Introduction

00:03:27 SA Drink Of The Week

The South Australian Drinks Of The Week this week is the 18-hour Cold Brew by Fleurieu Roast.

Picture this: an elegant Kilner jar filled with what looks deceptively like strong-brewed tea, but is actually an 18-hour immersion cold brew using light-roasted Ethiopian natural processed beans. The result offers medicinal and herbal notes that dance across the palate before cleanly disappearing - like watching a train pass at the station, leaving just a whisper of breeze in its wake.

Steve's initial trepidation gives way to intrigue as Alison explains how this concentrated elixir can be enjoyed neat or mixed with water/milk in a 50:50 ratio. A revelation for summer refreshment that might just convert even the most ardent hot coffee purists.

00:12:27 Alison Pilborough, Fleurieu Roast, Wyverstone Tea, and Elevenses

From the moment Alison shares her first tea memory - being allowed the "second dunking" of her mother's teabag at age 11 - we're drawn into a world where beverages become storytellers. Her journey from service station barista counting shots to award-winning roaster demonstrates how South Australian artisans are elevating everyday drinks into extraordinary experiences.

The conversation deepens beyond mere beverage talk as Alison reveals the meditation-like focus required during roasting, where a single phone call at the wrong moment can transform carefully sourced beans from sublime to scorched. Yet even "mistakes" find their audience - Steve's enthusiasm for an accidentally dark-roasted batch proves the old adage about one person's trash becoming another's treasure.

Between discussions of "blooming the grounds" and the politics of milk in coffee, we discover why some of Alison's tea blends now include blue lotus for enhanced dream recall - though she remains vague about some of the features of her tea-induced dreams!

Learn more about:

• Fleurieu Roast
• Wyverstone Tea
• Elevenses

01:05:58 Musical Pilgrimage

In the Musical Pilgrimage, we feature Devil's Elbow by The Saucermen.

The Saucermen's "Devil's Elbow" provides a rockabilly backdrop to memories of navigating that notorious stretch of the old South Eastern Freeway, where mastering your momentum was an art form all its own.

For those planning ahead, catch them battling Melbourne's Scar Vendors at Ska vs Rockabilly at The Highway on March 15, 2025.

Here's this week's preview video

There is no featured video this week.

SFX: Throughout the podcast we use free SFX from freesfx.co.uk for the harp, the visa stamp, the silent movie music, the stylus, the radio signal SFX, the wine pouring and cork pulling SFX, and the swooshes around Siri.

Support the show: https://theadelaideshow.com.au/listen-or-download-the-podcast/adelaide-in-crowd/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In an episode celebrating South Australian innovation in unexpected places, Bickford’s Group Marketing Director Chris Illman shares how a 150-year-old drinks maker is modernising adult soft drinks while preserving quirky local traditions like our distinctive brown lime cordial. Between sips of their sophisticated new Pineapple Passion Fruit and Cloudy Lemonade soft drinks, we discover why South Australians developed different taste preferences from the rest of the nation.

Port Adelaide’s Tanya Keen then unravels the surprisingly radical world of contemporary knitting from her Yarn Trader sanctuary, where cinema crafters work their magic in the flickering dark and being “knit-worthy” separates the appreciative from the uninitiated.

We wrap up with Dr. D and Fergus Maximus transporting us to balmy Somerton Beach evenings with their perfectly timed summer anthem “Somerton Nights,” previewing their upcoming Fringe show that promises to time-travel through Adelaide’s musical history.

You can navigate episodes using chapter markers in your podcast app. Not a fan of one segment? You can click next to jump to the next chapter in the show. We’re here to serve!

The Adelaide Show Podcast: Awarded Silver for Best Interview Podcast in Australia at the 2021 Australian Podcast Awards and named as Finalist for Best News and Current Affairs Podcast in the 2018 Australian Podcast Awards.

And please consider becoming part of our podcast by joining our Inner Circle. It’s an email list. Join it and you might get an email on a Sunday or Monday seeking question ideas, guest ideas and requests for other bits of feedback about YOUR podcast, The Adelaide Show. Email us directly and we’ll add you to the list: [email protected]

If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review in iTunes or other podcast sites, or buy some great merch from our Red Bubble store – The Adelaide Show Shop. We’d greatly appreciate it.

And please talk about us and share our episodes on social media, it really helps build our community. Oh, and here’s our index of all episode in one concise
page.

Running Sheet: Knitting Renaissance Meets Nostalgic Sips: Adelaide’s Love Of Tradition

00:00:00 Intro

Introduction

00:02:39 SA Drink Of The Week

The South Australian Drinks Of The Week this week are Cloudy Lemonade and Pineapple Passionfruit “Adult Style” soft drinks by Bickfords.

Picture this: you’re in a backyard on washing day, sheets flapping in the summer breeze. That’s the exact moment Steve captured while savouring Bickford’s new Cloudy Lemonade, a drink that took an astounding decade to perfect. Chris Illman reveals it’s all about the real lemon concentrate creating that nostalgic weight across the palate.

The Pineapple Passion Fruit follows, floating what Steve dubbed “Willy Wonka aromatics” through the studio. It’s a sophisticated departure from standard soft drinks, though Chris assures us there’s still room for that “permissible indulgence” we occasionally crave.

Between sips, we discover South Australia’s unique relationship with Creaming Soda and learn why cloudy pear juice is cheekily known as “young person’s prune juice” – a revelation that had Steve reconsidering his medicine cabinet.

00:24:04 Tanya Keen, Yarn Trader

Step into Yarn Trader, where Tanya Keen is revolutionising Port Adelaide’s crafting scene one stitch at a time. Who knew knitters were nervous about crafting in public? (“It’s usually because people decide that knitting or crocheting in public is an invitation to open a conversation,” Tanya explains with knowing wisdom.)

Steve’s live attempt at mastering the knit stitch provides both comedy and insight – though his suggestion of passing down a “hand-knitted mankini” as a family heirloom might not make it into Tanya’s customer recommendations.

The real eye-opener? Contemporary knitters are crafting everything from precision-fitted socks (“like Cinderella’s slipper”) to “knitted knockers” for post-mastectomy support. As Tanya notes, “We’re like a confessional – people come in and tell us of their plans and their woes and their traumas.”

01:06:15 Musical Pilgrimage

In the Musical Pilgrimage, we feature Somerton Nights by Fergus Maximus and Dr D.

Dr. D and Fergus Maximus wrap up our summer vibes with “Somerton Nights,” painting an audio portrait of those perfect Adelaide evenings when the sun dips low over the beach, the shark patrol makes its final announcement, and the choice between gelato or one more swim seems like life’s biggest decision.

“Back in ADL” at Fringe 2025: Dr. D and Fergus Maximus time-travel through Adelaide’s musical history.

Support the show: https://theadelaideshow.com.au/listen-or-download-the-podcast/adelaide-in-crowd/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our main interview, Peggy Byrne discusses the 15th anniversary of Bowerbird Design Market, exploring the tension between consumerism and thoughtful acquisition while showcasing how handmade and thoughtfully-designed items can add value without contributing to clutter.

In the SA Drink Of The Week, we taste Victor Harbor Gin from Heaps Good Spirits, featuring local coastal daisy bush botanicals that create a unique savory profile.

And in the Musical Pilgrimage, we finish with a festive splash of song, with Dino Jag’s uplifting Christmas track, celebrating South Australian musical talent.

You can navigate episodes using chapter markers in your podcast app. Not a fan of one segment? You can click next to jump to the next chapter in the show. We’re here to serve!

The Adelaide Show Podcast: Awarded Silver for Best Interview Podcast in Australia at the 2021 Australian Podcast Awards and named as Finalist for Best News and Current Affairs Podcast in the 2018 Australian Podcast Awards.

And please consider becoming part of our podcast by joining our Inner Circle. It’s an email list. Join it and you might get an email on a Sunday or Monday seeking question ideas, guest ideas and requests for other bits of feedback about YOUR podcast, The Adelaide Show. Email us directly and we’ll add you to the list: [email protected]

If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review in iTunes or other podcast sites, or buy some great merch from our Red Bubble store – The Adelaide Show Shop. We’d greatly appreciate it.

And please talk about us and share our episodes on social media, it really helps build our community. Oh, and here’s our index of all episode in one concise
page.

Running Sheet: Bowerbird Design Market 2024: A Guide to Meaningful Gift-Giving

00:00:00 Intro

Introduction

00:03:36 SA Drink Of The Week

The South Australian Drink Of The Week this week is the Victor Harbor Gin from Heaps Good Spirits.

A tasting of Heaps Good Spirits’ Victor Harbor Gin revealed complex flavors including coastal daisy bush botanicals, creating a unique savoury profile that captures the essence of the region. The gin demonstrated careful craftsmanship and local ingredient selection. Peggy and Steve both agreed it is perfect for drinking neat, such is its elegance.

00:11:47 Peggy Byrne, Bowerbird Design Market

Throughout human history, the act of gift-giving has undergone remarkable transformations. In prehistoric times, people exchanged food and tools not as commodities, but as ways to strengthen social bonds and build alliances. Ancient civilisations like Egypt and Rome elevated gifting into elaborate diplomatic and religious practices, where gifts carried deep symbolic meaning. During the Middle Ages, gifts – often food-based – became powerful symbols of status and authority between nobles and their subjects.
But perhaps the most dramatic shift came with the rise of modern consumerism. Gift-giving transformed from something that cost the giver primarily time and care – like a handwoven blanket or carefully preserved foods – into something that primarily costs money. Instead of gifts emerging from hours of careful labour, they now typically emerge from shopping bags.
Today, we face a fascinating paradox. While neuroscience shows that gift-giving activates pleasure centres in our brains, many people feel overwhelmed by receiving yet another item that adds to their household clutter. This tension between the joy of giving and the stress of accumulation makes this conversation particularly timely.
Today we’re speaking with Peggy Byrne, owner of Adelaide’s Bowerbird Design Market, which for 15 years has been creating a space where handmade crafts and artisanal products can find their place in our modern gift-giving culture.

The Bowerbird Design Market runs November 22-24, 2024, at the Wayville Pavilion, Adelaide Showground. Friday night runs 4-9pm with a special 2-for-1 entry offer, while Saturday and Sunday run 10am-5pm. Entry is $6 for adults, with children under 13 free. The event features golden ticket prizes all weekend, workshops for both adults and children, and even a visit from Santa supporting Catherine House with gold coin donations.

Peggy Byrne, entering her fifth year at the helm of Bowerbird Design Market, provided several profound insights.

On Quality vs Quantity: She shared a personal journey from filling her first apartment with mass-produced items to later choosing fewer, more meaningful pieces: “I bought one really good knife and I kept the teacups my grandmother gave me because they meant something to me.” This philosophy underpins Bowerbird’s approach to modern consumption.

On Curation and Selection: Byrne revealed the complex balancing act of curating the market, explaining how she manages categories like jewellery: “I need a bit of silver, and I need a little bit of ceramic, and I need a little bit of polymer… But as a whole, I still have 20 jewellers.” Her careful consideration extends to price points within each category, ensuring accessibility alongside exclusivity.

On Maker-Customer Connection: The market mandates that designers must be present at least one day, fostering genuine connections. As Byrne emphasised, “They don’t mind if you approach and don’t end up buying. They love to tell their story.”

15th Anniversary Highlights: The upcoming market (November 22-24 at Adelaide Showground) features exciting new additions including:

• George the Slug: Whimsical ceramic creations that “make you happy”
• Hey Lady: Traditional braided guitar straps with contemporary colours
• Dog Boy Knives: Recycled steel transformed into premium kitchen tools
• Emma Clow Glass: Hand-blown stemless glasses that marry function with art

Workshop Innovation: The market offers hands-on experiences including:

• Natural silk dyeing with Garden to Gallery
• Polymer clay jewellery making with Berry Beret
• Silver ring casting with Claire Brooks
• Children’s art workshops with Little Picassos

Environmental Consciousness: Byrne discussed how makers increasingly incorporate sustainability, from using offcuts for smaller items to choosing environmentally responsible packaging. The market encourages thoughtful consumption rather than mass acquisition.

The interview concluded with Steve, who was initially resistant to acquiring more possessions, finding himself convinced of the value in choosing fewer, better items that carry meaning and story. As Byrne noted, “It’s not necessarily volume… it’s about what’s behind it. Once you learn what’s behind it, it just becomes special.”

01:07:02 Musical Pilgrimage

In the Musical Pilgrimage, we feature You Don’t Have To Wait For Christmas Day by Dino Jag.

The episode concludes with a celebration of South Australian musical talent, featuring an uplifting holiday song that embodies local creative spirit, first featured in episode 174 back in 2016.

However, in recent years, Dino created a video to go with the song, so get this ready for your Christmas playlists!

Support the show: https://theadelaideshow.com.au/listen-or-download-the-podcast/adelaide-in-crowd/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.