Wide Open Air Exchange

By Christine Gallagher

Society & Culture Education Business Careers

What's Wide Open Air Exchange about?

A program for lifelong learners seeking to expand their general knowledge, the Wide Open Air Exchange is a place to meet people with fascinating vocations, interesting ideas and special interests.

Hosted by Christine Gallagher.

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Wide Open Air Exchange episodes:

06.24.2024
Dog walker Allison Dibben
Allison Dibben has recently made a vocational change from a career in the corporate sector to starting up her own local dog walking service, Wagtopian. Allison shares what's been involved in making that change along with some dog walking tips.
06.17.2024
Seafarer welfare advocate, Sr Mary Leahy
Port Chaplain Sister Mary Leahy RSJ OAM is a longtime advocate for the human rights and welfare of seafarers and other members of the maritime community. This conversation is shared ahead of International Day of the Seafarer on 25th June.
06.03.2024
Gaming research and policy, Jeremy Ray
Jeremy Ray is host of Grokludo, an independent podcast covering topics at the intersections of gaming and cognitive psychology, game design, academic research, and policy. This conversation is a window into topics covered in the first three episodes of the Grokludo...
05.27.2024
Professor Anna Clark on fishing and History
Professor Anna Clark is an historian and fishing enthusiast whose interests have intersected with her book, The Catch: Australia's love affair with fishing. Anna Clark is co-director of the Australian Centre for Public History at UTS and author of numerous critically...
05.20.2024
Crossword puzzle creator Fred Piscop
Fred Piscop is a master puzzle creator and a legend of crossword construction. He has been a regular contributor to The New York Times, a former daily crossword editor for USA Today, former editor of the Washington Post Sunday crossword,...
05.13.2024
Barkindji lawyer and academic Gemma McKinnon
Gemma McKinnon shares the story of her entry to Law and the development of her interest in issues at the intersection of law and poverty. This conversation includes a discussion of Gemma's experiences as a First Nations lawyer in...
05.07.2024
Latin America and socioeconomic inclusion, Adriana Rueda Barrios
Adriana Rueda Barrios is a project officer at the Trust for the Americas which is a non-profit, non-government organisation that promotes economic and educational opportunities for vulnerable people in the Americas. As well as working on socioeconomic inclusion, Adriana has...
04.22.2024
Te Rina Taite on swimming and stand-up comedy
Te Rina Taite has had a varied and interesting vocational life starting as an elite swimmer and more recently turning to stand-up comedy with a lot of experiences in between.
04.19.2024
Dr Cathy Monro on Aged Care Governance
Dr Cathy Monro is a specialist in aged care policy and governance with a PhD in Health Policy from the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney. Cathy shares insights about the aged care system in Australia from...
04.05.2024
Anthony Dockrill on radio, media, and his early interests in film
Anthony Dockrill is a media professional who was most recently Program Director at radio 2SER 107.3FM Sydney for 17 years. Prior to joining the staff at 2SER, Anthony had worked in various roles at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and for...
03.18.2024
Heart transplant specialist, Professor Peter Macdonald
Professor Peter Macdonald MBBS FRACP PHD MD FCSANZ is a world-leading cardiologist with a speciality in heart transplants who has made significant contributions to translational medical research including the "Heart in a Box" technology".
03.16.2024
Sharing a few things, 16th March 2024
Sharing music and film recommendations for St Patrick's Day, a podcast preview with cardiologist Professor Peter Macdonald, life news, and an invitation to support the Wide Open Air Exchange.
03.11.2024
Basketball and the NBA, William Lyttle
An introduction to the five player positions in basketball with reference to legendary NBA players along with an explanation of the NBA conference and division structures and historical rivalries. William Lyttle is a sports commentary enthusiast with a special interest...
03.04.2024
Naomi Lewis, Homelessness NSW
A wide-ranging conversation about the problem of homelessness and the potential for Housing First policies and principles to lead on to greater economic empowerment. Naomi Lewis is Senior Project Officer, Together Home at Homelessness NSW and a former senior case manager for...
02.26.2024
Generalist, Pauline Futeran
A discussion of what it can mean to be a generalist in your vocational life with Pauline Futeran whose skills and attributes have transferred across professions in different sectors and in various kinds of roles. This conversation includes a discussion of...
02.19.2024
Christine Gallagher, Wide Open Air Exchange host
2SER's Danny Chifley is a special guest host this week turning the tables to interview me (Christine Gallagher) on my own program. The episode covers the origins of the Wide Open Air Exchange podcast and includes the story of when I...
02.12.2024
Handywoman, Norma Dann aka MsFixet
Norma Dann aka MsFixet is a handywoman providing lawn, garden and home repair services. Norma shares what informs and motivates her vocational choices and comments on some of the gender issues she observes through her work.
01.29.2024
Musician and Physician Dr Eki Shola
Eki Shola is a medical doctor who turned to making music after losing her home and clinic in California wildfires. Eki's latest album 還 Kaeru ("to return home") was recorded in Japan where Eki experienced another sense of home. All...
01.22.2024
Decolonising names, Dr Elaine Laforteza
Dr Elaine Laforteza leads the "Say My Name" campaign at UTS, an education initiative for improving literacy about names that are deemed "foreign" or "tricky" "unfamiliar" within a dominant linguistic context, which in Australia is an Anglo-British postcolonial context. Elaine...
01.01.2024
The Simpsons as a special interest
Rachael Hunter has been a fan of The Simpsons since she was the same age as Bart Simpson during the first season of the show. Rachael shares some of her favourite characters, musical numbers, celebrity guests, and literary and historical...
12.24.2023
Growing up with a Christmas tree farm
Melanie Junghans is a return guest, this time sharing with us her experience of growing up with her family running a Christmas tree farm business that has been active for more than forty years.
12.18.2023
Swedish Christmas, John Tenho
A discussion of Swedish Christmas traditions with John Tenho, a Swede living in Australia. From the winter setting in Sweden and specific Christmas decorations to Advent rituals, St. Lucia celebrations and St. Knut's Day, this conversation covers a broad range...
12.14.2023
Aviation Safety, Jorge Lobarinas
An introduction to aviation safety as a vocation with insights from Jorge Lobarinas who works for an aviation safety regulator. Jorge also shares the story of his mid-career change from anatomical pathology to aviation management.
12.04.2023
Impact measurement, Maxine Morrison
An introduction to impact measurement as a process of demonstrating and articulating the positive impacts of an organisation's programs and projects beyond the reporting of activities and outcomes. Maxine Morrison has a qualification in Social Impact from UNSW and...
11.27.2023
Adult Educator Adam Nobilia
An introduction to some of the principles of adult education and adult learning. Adam Nobilia is an adult educator who has worked across various settings including at Long Bay prison working with inmates and more publicly as a teacher on...
11.21.2023
East German progressive rock of the Honecker era
Musicologist Padraig Parkhurst is a doctoral researcher studying East German progressive rock (Ostrock) and other popular music of the early Honecker era. This conversation incudes a discussion of anti nuclear war songs of the Honecker era and Padraig's general...
11.13.2023
Post-referendum discussion with Peta MacGillivray
Peta MacGillivray is an Aboriginal justice advocate, a Kalkutungu woman, lawyer and doctoral researcher with strong connections to community. Australia’s referendum to vote on Constitutional recognition of First Peoples is part of a many decades-long history of advocacy for self-determination....
11.06.2023
River Health Specialist, Sarah Holland-Clift
A discussion of river health and Natural Resource Management with Sarah Holland-Clift. Sarah is a river health management specialist and General Manager of Community and Catchment Services at Corangamite Catchment Management Authority in Victoria. This conversation includes a focus on the...
10.30.2023
Museum curator, Dr Tuan Nguyen
Dr Tuan Nguyen has a PhD in Museum Studies with a speciality in LGBTQIA+ inclusion. Tuan's curatorial practice is with the Powerhouse Museum as an Assistant Curator, working on the recent Absolutely Queer exhibition among others.
10.23.2023
Halloween cultural exchange
Exploring how the American and Australian Halloween experiences compare. This is a video link up between Austin and Sydney with guest Davis Rivera.
10.16.2023
Musical artist, Radical Son
Singer-songwriter Radical Son on finding his voice and why he sometimes chooses not to explain the lyrics of his songs. Radical Son invites listeners of his new single, 'I Hear You Call My Name", to interpret the lyrics for yourself: "I hear...
10.08.2023
Information about the Voice referendum
Bridget Cama is a lawyer and Co-Chair of the Uluru Youth Dialogue and a Wiradjuri and Pasifika Fijian woman. Bridget shares her knowledge of the process that has led to the proposal for Constitutional Reform and what Australians are being...
10.02.2023
Ocean swimming, Melanie Junghans
Melanie Junghans took up ocean swimming while recovering from a foot injury a few years ago and now she does charity ocean swim events with Can Too, a non-profit organisation raising money to fund early career cancer researchers. Mel swims...
09.25.2023
Marketing academic Dr Sonika Singh
Dr Sonika Singh shares insights about the kinds of research and projects she works on as an academic specialising in digital marketing and data analysis. Sonika is a Marketing lecturer and Marketing Post Graduate Program Director at the UTS Business School....
09.04.2023
Charities and Social Sector Lawyer Darren Fittler
Darren Fittler is a senior lawyer who runs a Charities and Social Sector practice. He shares his vocational story and life philosophy. Darren is a person who is blind and he explains the difference between the social model of disability as...
08.21.2023
Roller Derby with Shreddy Kruger
Roller Derby skater Paula “Shreddy” Kruger gives us an introduction to what is roller derby and provides insights to the subculture and philosophy of roller derby as an inclusive sport and community.
08.14.2023
Radio station manager, Paula Kruger
Community radio station manager Paula Kruger shares the origins of her interests in radio and storytelling and in doing so tells some of her own personal story. This episode features a discussion of Paula's approach to overcoming a fear of...
08.07.2023
Futurist and infophile Ross Dawson
We hear about the vocational pathway of futurist Ross Dawson and his interests in systems thinking and feedback loops. Ross is an author and his most recent book Thriving on Overload contains practical strategies and tools for managing in a world...
07.24.2023
Biotechnology and Plant Science, Associate Professor Tien Huynh
Scientist Tien Huynh is involved in research projects as diverse as developing fire retardant building materials from fungi and exploring the possibilities for planting seedlings on the Moon. Tien has an inspiring personal story of growing up in wartime Vietnam and...
07.24.2023
Where to find my Tony Bennett tribute and a preview of the next podcast episode on biotechnology and mycology
A short check in with an audio excerpt of my tribute to the late great Tony Bennett and a preview of our next Wide Open Air Exchange guest (a scientist specialising in biotechnology and mycology, who explains what that means).
07.19.2023
Musical artist, Anarchosophist
Padraig Parkhurst aka Anarchosophist shares his approach to creating music and concept albums inspired by themes and musical ideas.
07.10.2023
Tea specialist, Katelyn Kent
Tea specialist Katelyn Kent describes five types of tea and shares her knowledge and interest in tea with us. The teas featured are a Japanese Sencha, Oolong, Grand Yunnan, Lapsang Souchong, and a Herbal Tisane Blend.
07.03.2023
Economic historian, Dr Nora Yitong Qiu
Dr Nora Yitong Qiu is an economic historian of East Asia, specialising in the Qing Empire and 20th century China. Nora is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Oxford in the Faculty of History as part of a...
06.28.2023
Health and wellbeing specialist Melissa Tenho
A conversation about preventative health and wellbeing practices with wellness leader Melissa Tenho. Melissa is head of a corporate health hub that provides health and wellbeing services and programs for employees of a major financial institution, and the information discussed is...
06.21.2023
Emeritus Professor Roxanne Doty
Emeritus Professor Roxanne Doty from Arizona State University has transitioned from academic writing as a Politics and Global Studies specialist to creative writing as a published poet and novelist. During her academic career, Professor Doty's work on anti-immigrantism and human rights...
06.12.2023
Losing your distinctive voice in academic writing
Emeritus Professor Roxanne Doty on how an academic can lose their distinctive voice in anonymised academic writing. This is an excerpt of a longer discussion about Roxanne Doty's turn from academic to creative writing and is intended as a preview...
06.05.2023
50th anniversary World Environment Day
Professor of Environmental Politics, David Schlosberg is Director of the Sydney Environment Institute and joins the Wide Open Air Exchange this week for a discussion of global environmental governance on reflection of 50 years of World Environment Day. It...
06.01.2023
Playwright Alana Valentine
Playwright and dramatist Alana Valentine shares her approach to telling the stories of individuals and communities across her works including Parramatta Girls, Letters to Lindy and My Beautiful Man, and for the State Library of NSW exhibition Send for Nellie.
05.22.2023
Heritage Interpretation, Sue Hodges
With 30 years of experience in the heritage sector, and as Managing Director of SHP, Sue Hodges exercises best practices in enabling the rights of Firsts Nations peoples to determine how their histories are told in the design and production...
05.17.2023
University Queer Officer Sara Chaturvedi
A wide-ranging conversation about gender, race, ethnicity and university queer spaces. Sara Chaturvedi is a third-year student in the Communications/BCII course at UTS majoring in Social and Political Science. Sara is a member of the UTS Ethnocultural Collective and the...

What's Wide Open Air Exchange about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Wide Open Air Exchange episodes:

Dog walker Allison Dibben

Seafarer welfare advocate, Sr Mary Leahy

Gaming research and policy, Jeremy Ray

Professor Anna Clark on fishing and History

Crossword puzzle creator Fred Piscop

Barkindji lawyer and academic Gemma McKinnon

Latin America and socioeconomic inclusion, Adriana Rueda Barrios

Te Rina Taite on swimming and stand-up comedy

Dr Cathy Monro on Aged Care Governance

Anthony Dockrill on radio, media, and his early interests in film

Heart transplant specialist, Professor Peter Macdonald

Sharing a few things, 16th March 2024

Basketball and the NBA, William Lyttle

Naomi Lewis, Homelessness NSW

Generalist, Pauline Futeran

Christine Gallagher, Wide Open Air Exchange host

Handywoman, Norma Dann aka MsFixet

Musician and Physician Dr Eki Shola

Decolonising names, Dr Elaine Laforteza

The Simpsons as a special interest

Growing up with a Christmas tree farm

Swedish Christmas, John Tenho

Aviation Safety, Jorge Lobarinas

Impact measurement, Maxine Morrison

Adult Educator Adam Nobilia

East German progressive rock of the Honecker era

Post-referendum discussion with Peta MacGillivray

River Health Specialist, Sarah Holland-Clift

Museum curator, Dr Tuan Nguyen

Halloween cultural exchange

Musical artist, Radical Son

Information about the Voice referendum

Ocean swimming, Melanie Junghans

Marketing academic Dr Sonika Singh

Charities and Social Sector Lawyer Darren Fittler

Roller Derby with Shreddy Kruger

Radio station manager, Paula Kruger

Futurist and infophile Ross Dawson

Biotechnology and Plant Science, Associate Professor Tien Huynh

Where to find my Tony Bennett tribute and a preview of the next podcast episode on biotechnology and mycology

Musical artist, Anarchosophist

Tea specialist, Katelyn Kent

Economic historian, Dr Nora Yitong Qiu

Health and wellbeing specialist Melissa Tenho

Emeritus Professor Roxanne Doty

Losing your distinctive voice in academic writing

50th anniversary World Environment Day

Playwright Alana Valentine

Heritage Interpretation, Sue Hodges

University Queer Officer Sara Chaturvedi