The Wheeler Centre

A unique critical observer of art and violence, Sarah Sentilles digs into our world’s most brutal and profound instincts with critic and writer Maria Tumarkin.

In this meeting of the Longform Society, Sophie Cunningham, Mel Campbell, Maxine Beneba Clarke and Cameron Adams discuss and dissect the writing that celebrates our ongoing fascination with celebrity, and some of the most memorable pieces by, or about, the superstars of our times.

The past decade or so has seen incredible changes in how we read. New devices, platforms and marketplaces for books have risen and fallen, while traditional publishing houses and booksellers have adapted to suit readers’ changing habits and preferences. But how have things changed for authors? In the midst of all the upheaval, who’s looking out for them – and what role does copyright play? Spoiler alert: broadly, authors’ incomes have plummeted. In this discussion, Professor Rebecca Giblin and Canadian American activist and author Cory Doctorow speak with literary agent Alex Adsett and copyright expert Zoë Rodriguez to help us get to the bottom of who advocates for what, and who actually benefits.

At the Wheeler Centre in conversation with Don Watson, Stan Grant talks about why brighter futures for Indigenous people require all Australians to reckon with past and present injustices. He also shares his ideas for meaningful self-determination and building sustainable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.

In a major new biography of the Australian rock icon, Bon: The Last Highway, journalist Jesse Fink offers an exhaustive, fascinating study of Bon Scott – the man and the myth. In conversation with Jacinta Parsons, Fink discusses the remarkable story of this blazing figure in Australian rock history.

For this special episode of the Wheeler Centre podcast we brought together two of Australia's best book designers for a podcast-only conversation about their careers, their craft and how it all comes together. Sandy Cull is a freelance book designer and a member of the Australian Book Design Hall of Fame, while Imogen Stubbs is an emerging designer and art director at Text Publishing. Coming at this conversation with different experiences, they compare notes on the book design industry, how they approach the creative process and how they have worked with authors and publishers to create the perfect cover.

Helen Razer, Alyx Gorman, Max Gillies and Nazeem Hussain discuss their practical agreement – and their useful dispute – with Karl Marx, at a time when his work is breathing life into a range of Western movements from UK Labour to Bernie Sanders' 'Revolution'.

At the Wheeler Centre's annual Show of the Year, we brought together a stellar line-up of comedians, musicians, writers and raconteurs to remember the year that was. 2017 didn't always treat us right (nuclear war threats, postal surveys, The Mummy) but it had its charming moments (BBC Dad, Beyoncé’s twins). The year crept up on us fast; we sent it packing in style. There was plenty of material for performers to choose from, and this episode brings together highlights from the show for your listening pleasure.

In deciding the winner of the second annual So You Think You Can Pod competition, we invited three Australian podcast hopefuls to have their pitches prodded, workshopped and sharpened by our panel of audio producers in front of a live audience – with a Wheeler Centre mentorship and prize pack worth $8,000 up for grabs. Listen in as the judges – Eric George (Australian), Kate Montague (Audiocraft) and Julie Shapiro (Radiotopia, USA), alongside Sophie Black and Jon Tjhia from the Wheeler Centre – delve deep into new audio ideas. Joining us as finalists for this event were Coel Healy (Perth, via Skype), Penelope Bartlau (supported by team members Darius Kedros and Patrick Humbert) and Melanie Thomson (with Nick Henderson of the Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives).

Podcast master listener Julie Shapiro visits Melbourne to share insights from her long career in listening – and to discuss collaboration, reinvention and the long view in the era of the podcast, with host Sophie Black. Back in 2000 – before podcasting was invented – Shapiro was a co-founder and the artistic director of the highly respected Third Coast International Audio Festival in Chicago, dedicated to extending the craft and awareness of artful radio storytelling. She did that for 14 years: a time during which the creative audio community, listenership and marketplace exploded. Today – amid all the excitement, investment and real innovation around podcasting – she’s the executive producer of Radiotopia, the tightly curated Boston-based network widely considered the ‘indie record label’ of podcasts … and home to 99% Invisible, Ear Hustle, The Heart, Song Exploder and many more. Shapiro also boasts a strong connection to Australia. From 2014 to 2015, she lived in Sydney as executive producer of ABC RN’s Creative Audio Unit, which produced the boundary-blasting Soundproof and the storytelling show Radiotonic.