Like I'm A Six-Year-Old

Yes, he is the nerdy one with the glasses and the guitar from Tripod, but Scott "Scod" Edgar is also a politically-conscious clever-clogs who just so happens to be directing my upcoming show about Australia and refugees, Boundless Plains To Share.  I'm a huge fan of Scod's - Tripod were a huge inspiration for me getting into comedy in the first place - so working with him has been an absolute privilege. Here we talk about the history of Trades Hall (our venue and rehearsal space), how Scod's education shaped his worldview, the politics of the live music scene and what motivated him to explore this debate by working on this show. My article: Busting some myths about asylum seekers and refugees The World Keeps Happening is on now in Brisbane Boundless Plains To Share at MICF 2016, 11 shows only, cheap preview tickets for opening weekend  @podeggcarton @tripodactual 3pod.com.au Tripod’s 101 Hits at MICF 2016 The Perfectly Good Podcast on iTunes Dolly: An ASRC Benefit at MICF 2016 The Moosehead Awards Marches for Justice for Refugees this Palm Sunday Cause of the Week: 350.org  

Since 2011, Jay Weatherill has served as the premier of South Australia - a state where the Labor Party has been in power for the past 14 years.  He's been attracting some headlines over the past few months as he's spoken out in favour of raising the GST and offered his state as sanctuary for vulnerable people seeking asylum who are in danger of being returned to Nauru.  I was allowed into the Premier's (very nice) office to discuss what his thinking was here, as well as his journey into politics (as inspired by his father George), the number of lawyers in our parliaments, cynicism, the political history of SA, making submarines, the Bulmer-Rizi case and marriage equality and how he sees 2016 turning out.  Watch back the 2016 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras on SBS Demand The World Keeps Happening is coming to Brisbane, Melbourne & Sydney Boundless Plains To Share at MICF 2016   @jayweatherill premier.sa.gov.au Article: Premier apologises to Marco Bulmer-Rizi Cause of the Week: Catherine House (catherinehouse.org.au)  

I saw Irish comedian Aidan Killian performing at the Adelaide Fringe and knew that he'd be good value for a chat.  The former Bear Stearns investment banker is currently touring The Holy Trinity of Whistleblowers around Australia and the world and sat down to tell me about his karate his experience, why he opposed marriage equality, why he doesn't vote, his attraction to conspiracy theories and why Assange, Snowden and Manning matter.  The World Keeps Happening is coming to Brisbane, Melbourne & Sydney Boundless Plains To Share at MICF 2016  I'm co-hosting SBS's coverage of the 2016 Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras this Sunday night, 8:30pm aidankillian.com Aidan's tour dates @aidankillian Aidan on YouTube callmeluckymovie.com Cause of the Week: Wikileaks (wikileaks.org)  

Brad Chilcott is a highly-principled pragmatist. A progressive pastor, political activist and founder of super-cool outfit Welcome To Australia, I've come to know Brad over the last couple of years and find him to be an extremely inspiring dude.  Here we have a big fat yarn about how his faith has informed his life and his activism, what he's learnt from his son Harrison's battles with ill health, the luxury of dismissing things as "politics", his criticisms of the progressive left and the story of and idea behind WTA.   The World Keeps Happening is in Adelaide now, coming to Brisbane, Melbourne & Sydney Boundless Plains To Share at MICF 2016  My tour blog for TheMusic.com.au Me and my fellow hosts covering the 2016 Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras for SBS @bradchilcott Activate Life Church Campaign For Australian Aid   Article: I Donated A Kidney To My Son - Don't Tell Me Not To Make It Political Article: Fighting Hatred With Hatred At Reclaim Australia Rallies Is A Failure Of Progressive Politics Article on Brad and boat turnbacks at the Labor conference Cause of the Week: Food 4 Education (food4education.org)  

You probably know Corinne Grant best from her comedic work on Rove, skitHOUSE or The Glass House. She’s been passionate about social justice and politics all her life but has recently made the decision to get her law degree and get her hands dirty for what she believes in. Here we discuss Sophie Mirabella, unions, how she tried (and failed) to marry her comedy with her politics, the Glass House and ABC bias, the disappointments of Labor, writing speeches for Julia Gillard, Australians and their apathy and refugee rights. We also reflected on a difference of opinion we had a few years ago surrounding gay male comedians and misogyny. The World Keeps Happening is in Adelaide now, coming to Brisbane, Melbourne & Sydney Boundless Plains To Share at MICF 2016  Minus 18's 2016 Same Sex Formal & Gender Diverse Formal Mums4Refugees sing "Age Of Reason" to say #LetThemStay @corinne_grant corinnegrant.com.au Article: Let Them Stay Thousands Turn Up To Rallies But Millions Turn Their Backs I'm Dying Up Here: Heartbreak and High Times in Stand-Up Comedy's Golden Era Corinne's piece on gay male comedians and misogyny; my response Cause of the Week: The Fitzroy Legal Service (fitzroy-legal.org.au), on Facebook here  

Episode 50 you guys! Senator Scott Ludlam is a Greens Senator for Western Australia. He’s co-deputy leader for the party and its spokesperson for issues such as communications, housing, mining and nuclear power. Whilst in Perth I chatted with Scott about everything from DJing to his viral hit speech to the cult of personality to his journey into politics to why he’s a “Senate nerd”. Plus the issues that drive his passions: nuclear disarmament, digital rights, Julian Assange, our shitty foreign policies, the TPP, the NBN and the possibility of a Greens government. The World Keeps Happening coming to Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne AND NOW SYDNEY! Boundless Plains To Share at MICF 2016  Gimme Shelter: a fundraiser for Road to Refuge #LetThemStay No Shame: Why Most Australians Feel Okay About Tormenting Asylum Seekers Ep 48: Jim Coad @SenatorLudlam scott-ludlam.greensmps.org.au Scott’s blog: fieldnotes.org.au Julian Assange found to be unlawfully detained by UN Article: Foreign policy that blindly follows the US isn’t in our national interest CAUSE OF THE WEEK: Save Beeliar Wetlands (savebeeliarwetlands.com), Rethink The Link (rethinkthelink.com.au)  

January 26th is upon us again! To reflect on the issues of blind nationalism and patriotism that Australia/Invasion/Survival Day (of Mourning) throws up, here's a slice of Stan Grant's speech on racism and my conversation with artist Jim Coad, the man behind the Castlemaine civil event named "Chuck another flag on the barbie?".  The World Keeps Happening at Perth Fringeworld Boundless Plains To Share at MICF Stan Grant's speech IQ2 Debate: Racism is destroying the Australian Dream Australia Day is a time for mourning, not celebration by Nakkiah Lui The problem with Australia Day by Martin Flanagan @jim_coad Chuck another flag on the barbie? on Facebook ABC article on Jim's event #proudest100  proudest100.com Cause of the Week: Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (asrc.org.au)  

Mohammad Ali Baqiri is a former refugee who came to Australia by sea as a child. He spent three years in Australian immigration detention on Nauru.  Here he kindly shares his story with me and explains what it's really like to be a "boat person".   The World Keeps Happening at Perth Fringeworld Boundless Plains To Share at MICF @AliBaqiri Mohammad on Facebook Article: Burning the Stakeholders  Cause of the Week: Road to Refuge (roadtorefuge.com) Gimme Shelter! A Road To Refuge Fundraiser    

Fiona Patten is a former lobbyist for the sex industry, she's the founder and leader of the Australian Sex Party and she was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council in 2014 as the member for the Northern Metropolitan Region. Fiona is passionate about civil liberties and honest conversations about everything from sex to drugs to voluntary euthanasia. We had a great ol' time talking and laughing about sex work (and her personal experience with it), porn, the history of Fyshwick, abortion clinic buffer zones and more. Midsumma Hypothetical - 2022: A Queer Odyssey The World Keeps Happening at Perth Fringeworld Boundless Plains To Share at MICF @fionapattenMLC fionapatten.com sexparty.org.au Guardian profile on Fiona Cause of the Week: Harm Reduction Victoria (hrvic.org.au)   

Paul Farrell is a Guardian Australia journalist who writes about juicy stuff like national security, privacy and immigration. He’s concerned with what our government does and doesn’t let us know. In this conversation Paul and I discuss Freedom Of Information, data retention, whistle-blowing, what’s happening inside Australia’s detention centres and the shocking truth behind Channel Nine’s Border Security. The World Keeps Happening at Perth Fringeworld Boundless Plains To Share at MICF @FarrellPF Paul's writings at Guardian Australia The Detention Logs Episode 34 with Freya Newman Cause of the Week: Open Australia Foundation (openaustraliafoundation.org.au)