YARNS

A teacher Matthew Noonan found a window in his busy schedule and came to chat about his love of teaching, Indigenous connection and family legacy. Recorded 2023.

Mainul Haque OAM is a former senior Australian public servant with nearly three decades of experience across government, academia and community leadership. A former ACT Multicultural Ambassador and President of the Canberra Muslim Community, he led the development of the Gungahlin Mosque — a symbol of inclusion and unity. Manuil continues to serve on government and not-for-profit boards and advisory bodies. He received the Order of Australia Medal for his contributions to the Canberra community and shares his experience of Mecca.

Recorded 2023.

Stacey Allen, a multi-generational farmer from ethically and sustainably grown beef, Claystone Meats, chats about farmer’s life and Australian beef industry. Recorded 2023.

Kathryn Allan is a feminist anthropologist, PhD researcher at the Australian National University, and founder of the Amnesty International Australia Feminist Network.She specialises in gender equity, social inclusion (GESI), and humanitarian action, combining research with strategic advocacy, including as a member of the Australian Feminist Foreign Policy Coalition. She was an activist with Amnesty International for over 10-years with a focus on campaigning on refugee and asylum seeker policy when we recorded this interview in 2023.

Johnathan Efkarpidis from the Molonglo Group chats about making Canberra into a more people-friendly place now and in the future, considered living and the stories behind the iconic places we all love so much; Hotel Hotel, Dairy Road. We talked about his Greek roots, family, vibrant international life and catching trams.

Recorded 2023.

A PACFA-registered clinical counsellor, psychotherapist and long-time women’s circle guide. For more than two decades Hollie supported people through psychotherapy, ecotherapy with her herd of horses, and women’s mysteries work.

Her work lives at the intersections of trauma healing, feminism, neurodiversity, and magick. Raised between the dojo and women’s circles, Hollie always walked edges; learning outside the mainstream and creating spaces where outsiders, rebels and dreamers belong.

The institute is where she weaves psychotherapy, mythic wisdom and embodied practice.

Hollie chats about living on the land and living well.

Recorded 2023.

Local Canberra artist Yanni Pounartzis chats about his creative practice and how the beloved 'Big Swoop' sculpture came to life and infinity on a collectible coin and stamp. What it takes to be an artist in Australia, living in Berlin and painting. It’s not often we have insight into the creative processes behind what so many love and embrace. Thanks to Yanni, Canberra just got less boring!

Recorded 2023.

If all you’ve heard about Beirut is on the news, you’d be forgiven for thinking the famous Lebanese capital is nothing but a city of war, hate and hostility. But as the saying goes, that’s bullshit.

The real Beirut is a buzzing epicentre of nightlife, renowned by party people from all corners of the globe as one of the places to be for beats, eats, vibes, love and cocktails… a cosmopolitan heart beating with bars and clubs open all hours, places where nobody cares about your religion, your race, or the hand you want to hold.

As wars have come and gone, Beirut has been continually reinvented by generation after generation of cocktail lovers and clubbers who revel together in its music, dance, and hospitality par excellence. Every day of the week and every person walking the street is equal in the eyes of a Beirut dawn, each sunrise bringing with it the polished pride of the Lebanese people.

Bar Beirut is about serving the fantastic possibilities of the future, one cocktail at a time.

The masterful hands behind the Bar Beirut cocktail menu, co-owner Soumi, learned his trade in the underground nightclub scene of war-torn Beirut, perfecting incredible cocktail skills, developing harmonious recipes and becoming a renowned personality in what is widely regarded as one of the best cities in the world for nightlife.

On a first name basis with most of Canberra, be sure you introduce yourself as this bartender is always up for a chat.

Soumi dropped in for a chat about growing up in Lebanon, passion for his craft since this interview was recorded in 2023, he has a few more hospitality awards under his belt.

Bar Beirut still feels like a second home to my family and me in Canberra where you can meet interesting people every single time!

From Paris to Canberra with love. Damian shares an intimate story of growing up in Paris and what brought him to Australia. I met him years ago in a flower shop in Canberra's fashionable Braddon and thought that behind his big smile must be an amazing life story! Recorded 2023.

Founder and president, HelpingACT. Canberra Citizen of the Year 2022. While teaching in Africa in the 1980s, Mohammed Ali saw the devastating effects of poverty up close. He recognised the same struggles in his birth country, Pakistan, and across the Asian sub-continent.

So, when Mohammed retired in 2018 after a long career as a biochemist and university lecturer, he launched HelpingACT to help people in need.

The charity provides food, clothing and household items to vulnerable Canberrans, including migrants and refugees, international students, domestic violence affected, people with disabilities and the homeless.

Demands for food tripled during COVID-19 and the organisation was active across Canberra.

During the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20, Mohammed donated goods to fire-affected areas and prepared meals for families at evacuation centres.

He and his volunteers also support other organisations, including Companion House, Havelock Housing, the Early Morning Centre homelessness hub, Woden Community Service, Community Services #1 and several local street pantries.

Recorded 2023.