YARNS

The Gallery Next Door: Making Space for Emerging Artists.

A once-quiet shopfront in Duffy has become a welcoming home for local art. Jennifer Baird, founder of The Gallery Next Door and owner of The Fifth Season Artworks, is a seasoned artist with 30 years of industry experience. She established her gallery to provide a platform for the creative community, proving her favourite sentiment right: 'Dreams can come true.' She shares how she turned a long-held idea into The Gallery Next Door—a space supporting emerging artists, connecting neighbours with original art, and bringing new creative energy to the community.

Jennifer reflects on the realities of opening a gallery, from the admin and fit-out to finding artists and setting approachable prices. She and Petra discuss the cost of exhibiting, why group shows can be a valuable starting point, and how galleries can make art feel accessible to both artists and first-time buyers.

They also explore the importance of community support, artist-led workshops, and keeping a creative practice alive through busy seasons of life. Jennifer offers encouragement for artists facing rejection or waiting to feel completely ready: keep making, look for opportunities to show your work, and don’t wait for perfection.

A warm, practical conversation about creativity, resilience, and building a space where artists can grow—and where the local community can discover art just around the corner.

"A quick note before we begin: This episode includes frank discussions of domestic violence and sexual abuse that some listeners may find distressing. Listener discretion is advised"

What if the art you make from your hardest experiences could help someone else feel less alone? Australian conceptual fine art photographer, author and mixed-media artist Livonne Larkins shares how fairy tales, fantasy worlds, and digital composites became a way to transform trauma into healing, connection, and striking artwork. Livonne began photography at 51. Since then, she has created surreal, richly layered images inspired by dreams, secondhand finds, handmade props, and the stories she carries. She talks about the many steps behind each image—and why she sees photography and art as meeting in the middle. In this conversation, Livonne reflects on her exhibition From Fractured to Fairy Tale, how art gave her a safe way to tell difficult stories, and the powerful responses her work has sparked from people who recognise parts of their own lives in it. She also shares the meaning of the blue butterfly that appears in many of her images, in memory of her daughter. Plus, Livonne discusses creative confidence, comparison, AI and the human heart in art, her residency in a 12th-century French chateau, and her upcoming exhibition Daydreams and Detours with artist Cate Neil. A conversation about creativity, grief, resilience, and the stories art can help us share.

Episode Summary:

Petra talks with Kerrie Atherton, founder of Stories of Hope Australia, about the challenges facing boys and young men—from isolation, mental health stigma, and online influences to addiction and pressure around masculinity. Kerry shares practical ways parents, mentors, and educators can build trust, spot warning signs, and support young people through connection, honest conversations, and early intervention.

Episode Description:

Boys are being pulled into a pressure cooker most adults still barely understand—and the fallout shows up in silence, shame, addiction, and isolation. Kerrie Atherton, founder of Stories of Hope Australia, breaks down what young men are really up against and what actually helps them come back from the edge. Petra sits down with Kerry to unpack the hidden forces shaping boys and young men today, from the manosphere and porn exposure to the mental health stigma that keeps so many from speaking up. Kerry brings two decades of work as an addictions and trauma counsellor, plus years in schools, mentoring programs, and family support, to a conversation that is equal parts urgent and practical. You'll discover why trust matters more than tough love, why connection is the real antidote to isolation, and why so many parents miss the warning signs until a crisis hits. Kerry also shares the role of love languages, the power of positive role modelling, and why even a small daily check-in can change the trajectory of a young person's life.We break down the reality of hypersexualised media, early pornography exposure, drug risks that many families still misunderstand, and the growing pressure on boys to define success through looks, money, and dominance. Kerry explains why schools alone cannot carry the burden, and why prevention, early intervention, and honest family conversations matter more than ever. This episode is a wake-up call for parents, mentors, educators, and anyone who cares about the next generation of men. If you want to understand what young boys are navigating right now—and how to be part of the solution—this conversation belongs in your queue.

What happens when the coping mechanisms we use to survive our deepest traumas begin to destroy our lives? In this raw and deeply moving episode of Yarns, host Petra sits down with 20-year veteran coach, counsellor, and author Kerrie Atherton to unravel the complex relationship between hidden trauma, systemic addiction, and the long road to recovery.

Kerrie opens up with absolute vulnerability about her own "rock bottom"—sharing her 44-year journey of sobriety and the profound spiritual breakthrough at age 50 that allowed her to finally put down the crushing weight of unearned shame from a youth marked by sexual assault. Together, Petra and Kerrie strip back the clinical labels of substance abuse to examine why people run to addictions as a last resort to survive unbearable emotional pain.

Later in the episode, the conversation shifts to the profound impact of addiction on the household. Petra shares a deeply personal account of being around her stepfather—her mother’s second husband—and witnessing the destructive ripple effects his drinking had on the household from afar since she was 18. She illustrates the severe reality of family life under the shadow of chronic alcoholism, from financial manipulation and emotional erosion to the exhausting pressure on the family to constantly protect a public image. Whether you are battling an addiction, supporting a loved one on a tightrope, or trying to heal from generational baggage, this episode offers a vital roadmap toward hope, boundaries, and internal peace.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The Root of Substance Abuse: Why addiction is a "disease of denial" used to escape the self and numb trauma.

• The "Line in the Sand": How active forgiveness can strip control away from your past perpetrators and set you free from chronic self-loathing.

• The Six Stages of Change Model: A breakdown of how individuals move from denial (pre-contemplation) to lasting behavioral modification (maintenance) using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

• The Danger of "Propping Up": Why connection—not enabling—is the true opposite of addiction, and how families can protect their own mental health.

• Typologies of Drinkers: Understanding the structural differences between Social, Heavy, Crisis, and Chronic drinkers.

Resources Mentioned:

• Stories of Hope Worldwide (Hosted by Kerrie Atherton)

• Mentoring Men & Fearless PTSD Organisation

• Al-Anon & Alateen Support Networks

Note: This episode contains open discussions about sexual assault, trauma, and substance abuse. Please look after your well-being while listening.

The Heart of Canberra's Book Community: A Second-Hand Bookshop's Story. Book Lore

In this engaging interview, a seasoned second-hand bookstore owner in Canberra shares insights into the community-driven nature of his shop, the diversity of book interests, and the passion that keeps him dedicated to his craft. Discover how his shop reflects local culture, the evolution of book genres, and the joys of running a community hub.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Bookshop and Community Engagement

02:50 Diverse Book Offerings and Customer Interactions

06:03 A Day in the Life of a Bookshop Owner

09:03 The Evolution of the Bookshop and Its Legacy

12:02 Community Connections and Personal Reflections

15:12 Changing Trends in Book Genres and Reader Demographics

18:06 The Role of the Bookshop in Social Interactions

21:09 Future of the Bookshop and Personal Aspirations

For this yarn I've visited Phil Bevan aka Majura the Magician in his Queanbeyan castle, filled with hundreds of magical books and props. There are not many magicians around, especially as funny and engaging as Phil and seeing the cards on the kitchen table while Phil was magicking up a cup of coffee for me, I was excited to see some fun card tricks! It's like being transported to another world and I loved every bit of it! Majura Comedy Magic has won numerous awards for close up strolling magic at the Crown Casino in performed at the lodge and parliament house for two Australian Prime Ministers. Phil travels to international conventions for magicians and is a rockstar teacher who brings joy and magic to everyone who knows him. We talked about the business of happiness, schools, parties and Disneyland.

I was fortunate to visit the first JBPP held at the Jervis Bay Breweng & co and interview Randall Sinnamon and participating artists with their muses! The co-organisers of this new art prize, Randall Sinnamon and Vanessa Harries, were inspired by a now defunct exhibition that had been a favourite component of the region’s former SeeChange Festival, The Little Archies (named of course in honour of the much loved Archibald Prize for Australian portraiture). Randall is himself a past Archibald Prize finalist – his portrait of Egyptian-Australian oud virtuoso Joseph Tawadros was selected in 2023, at the Art Gallery of NSW. You can hear Vanessa on 927FM each Wednesday from 4.30pm-5.30pm. Her program the SLAM profiles local artists, musicians, bands, exhibitions and festivals. The works had to portray a Shoalhaven resident, but the artist could be from anywhere. This yarn has 8 various interviews and was recorded with background music, so the sound quality is slightly compromised.

* Randall Sinnamon 0:00 - 0:48

* Clayton Campion 6:59 - 12:14

* Allana Valentine 1st Prize 12:31 - 24:15

* Sarah Yee 2nd Prize 24:26 - 28:38

* Alfie Campion (12 years) Brewers Choice 28:48 - 31:38

* Glenn and Giuseppina (Pina) Miller 32:02 - 38:39

* Catherine Woods 3rd Prize 38:50 - 47:09

* Vanessa Barbey 47:21 - 53:47

Brad Tucker is an Astrophysicist/Cosmologist at the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Mt. Stromlo Observatory and the National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, at the Australian National University. Brad shares the history of Mt. Stromlo, cultural connections, exploding stars, NASA and what the hidden life on the mountain looks like. Recorded 2024.

Mijica Lus chats about her migrant journey and humanitarian work with the Red Cross and the food bank in Canberra. Recorded 2023.

Sheriden Carroll chats about bodybuilding, women's health and resilience. Recorded 2023.