The Battler

This week, Tim is in Coffs and Pat is in Melbourne; so unclear as to who has the bum end of the stick. They talk through the stakes of recognising Palestine; Trump’s love of Andrew Lloyd Weber; the Kirk Memorial; Hamburgler Melania; ballroom pizzagate; Tim fielding accusations of Italian human trafficking; the Ausstralian Far Right’s love of Amerikkka; Pine gap; the disappearance of the liberal and the consequences of privatisation.

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Song is No Strain by Southend Rainbows; thanks as always to “Dictator” Dan Dare for production.

On this episode the boys mourn their wonderful friend Charlie Kirk, murdered by the coward Tyler Robinson. They remember his calm, measured presence in debate; his commitment to democracy and his belief in a free, egalitarian, multi-ethnic America. They also talk about Trump’s ballroom (of course), Albo’s pitch into authoritarianism and the evil of creative writing programs.

Song is No Strain by the Southend Rainbows.

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This week on the pod The Battlers talk to the suddenly former deputy editor of Meanjin, Eli McLean, about the untimely killing of the 85yo literary journal. Jump to 37.55 for the interview.

Before that, Pat and Tim discuss Australia under Iranian rule, Bondi ZioNazis, and Glorious Leader Xi Danping.

As always, subscribe to Straying for the Morsel and Patrick Marlborough

This week, Pat and Tim talk about the March for Australia that cooked on the streets of Sydney, Melbourne, and the other cities last weekend. Tim was there and gives an eyewitness account. The lads talk about why all nazis are pedos, and the poor honest racists who were blindsided by the presence of fash at the rally (sorry to Tim’s uncle). They also talk Trump, the New American Novel and Tim’s “Class and Art” survey results.

Thanks as always to Dictator Dan Dare for production. Song is No Strain by the Southend Rainbows. Photo credit Michael Bianchino.

This week it’s just Pat and Tim, the way God intended. Unencumbered by guests, they rage about the resposne of the government to the protest on Sydney Hamas Bridge; the rising tide of Naarm Nazism; the cowardice of Bendigo Writers’ Festival adopting a stifling definition of antisemitism in their code of conduct; and Christos Tsiolkas’ delightful article on the benefits of fencesitting.

It’s a quick one; when Pat gets back to Boorloo we’ll be back in the Castro saddle and giving five-hour diatribes.

Thanks as always to Dan Dare: producer, friend and defamation prophylactic.

Song is No Strain by the Southend Rainbows.

Onya,

Battlers.

On July 18th, The Battler host Patrick Marlborough joined with the podcast’s most ‘faptastic’ fan, Giacomo Bianchino, to launch Patrick’s debut novel, NOCK LOOSE, in a city that counts (Sydney), at the big smoke’s best bookstore, Better Read Than Dead.

A feral chat about OzLit and the creative process and long term unemployment, enjoy Giacomo’s attempts to get Patrick to admit he is horny for cartoons, amongst other things.

Forgive us for the patchy audio quality: the crowd’s laughter was so uproarious it literally broke the mics. 

Thanks to Dan, as always, for the audio edits. Follow Straying for the Morsel and Patrick Marlborough and buy and read NOCK LOOSE!

The Battler will return to its regular programming next week!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebattler.substack.com

This week Pat n Tim talk shop with author and artiste Madison Griffiths, who has just released Sweet Nothings, her second monograph after 2022’s Tissue. We talk about the book, which is a study of four relationships between students and university teachers. We walk through power dynamics; horny academia; and the interminable thirst of European writers for stories of scholarly seduction.

Production as always from “Dictator” Dan Dare. Song is No Strain by the Southend Rainbows.

Also, if you live in Shit City, don’t forget to come down to Readings at 630pm this Wednesday, 6th August to hear Pat launch Nock Loose with friend of the show Evelyn Araluen!

This week, Pat and Tim talk with Max Easton, paesano and the author of novels liek The Magpie Wing and Paradise Estate and the reams of top-notch music crit over at Barely Human. We talk about “Western Sydney Literature,” the DIY ethos and class autonomy, the importance of self-publishing, and the singularity of Rugby League. It’s a big yarn, and a very invested take on writing in Aus in 2025.

Shout out as always to Dictator Dan Dare. Title song is No Strain by the Southend Rainbows.

20th EPISODE SPECTACULAR!

The Battler Boys meet in person for the FIRST TIME and immediately attempt to kill each other as they reckon with show mascot, Mark Latham, being accused of doing Mark Latham things (allegedly).

Also touched on (allegedly) is the pedogeddon of the Epstein files, Albo’s woeful drip on his China trip, the soothing sounds of Israeli psytrance, Ancient Greek pottery, and whether or not Tim and Pat are ‘hoteps’.

as always, subscribe to Straying for the Morsel and The Yeah Nah Review, share The Battler far and wide, and buy Nock Loose!

This week, Pat M talks to Pat L: Journalist, Writer and substacker at the Nonsense Newsletter We cover Lenton’s new book, In Spite of You; queer lit; youth media and vulture capitalism. Unfortunately, Tim had “technical difficulties” (nothing to do with queerphobia) on his extended Eurotrip at “Marxist summer school,” and couldn’t make it to the interview (mistimed his alarm and nursed a raki hangover).

He’s back now, and will be there to watch Pat and friend of the program Giacomo Bianchino launch Nock Loose, at Better Read Than Dead in Newtown, this Friday at 6pm! Come down and say hi/punch them in the back of the skull.

As always, thanks to Dictator Dan Dare. Song is “No Strain” by Southend Rainbows.