Best Declan Fay Podcasts (2025)

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Dana Rubin: 'Throughout history, women have been changing the world with their voices', curator and author of Speaking While Female 1:03:03

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3M ago1:03:03

1:03:03

In March, I chatted to speech collector Dana Rubin for Women's History Month (there have been delays releasing the episode - my apologies, Dana). It's a great chat with a kindred spirit. Dana has created the Speaking While Female speech bank that showcases speeches by women across history and around the world. She also edited the book Speaking Whil…

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'The bells of St Stephen's, tolling for Mum' — eulogy for Margaret Wilson by Tony Wilson, Melbourne, 2025 23:37

4M ago23:37

23:37

My mother, Margaret Joan Wilson died on the 20th of April 2025 while I was away in Budapest. It was a big shock and a terrible day. We had a private family ceremony on 7th May and a more public celebration of life on the 8th. This speech was delivered at the second event. The text and video of the eulogy is up at Speakola newsletter and in the Spea…

1
'Bob, you're dead. Do you want a state funeral?' — John Safran's eulogy for Father Bob Maguire, May 2023, Melbourne, Australia 1:13:48

5M ago1:13:48

1:13:48

Author & documentary maker John Safran talks in this episode about his eulogy for 'the People's Priest', Father Bob Maguire at St Patrick's Cathedral Melbourne in May 2023. He also discusses his latest book 'Squat' about his week squatting at Kaye West's LA Mansion and his creative life as Australia's best known 'valid troll' (to use John's own exp…

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'Elon Musk will become the self appointed CEO of Mars' — Sammy J in Melbourne International Comedy Festival Great Debate, 2018 1:04:11

6M ago1:04:11

1:04:11

Comedian Sammy J is a Melbourne International Comedy Festival Great Debate regular. He is the interviewee for this first episode of 2025 and the feature speech is his opening argument for the negative team in 2018, 'That we must go to Mars'. Sammy J's currently touring show is 'The Kangaroo Effect' which is on in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Per…

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The Speakola podcast returns & Tony's film hits cinemas (March 13-17th) 7:15

7M ago7:15

7:15

A brief update confirming that the podcast will resume in March 2025. Episodes have already been recorded with Sammy J (on comedy debates), John Safran (eulogy for Father Bob Maguire) and Dana Rubin (speech collector, Speaking While Female). I'm also announcing the release of our documentary 'Ange & The Boss - Puskas in Australia'. After selling ou…

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'The greatest man I ever knew' — Andrew Moran's eulogy for father Lawrence Moran, Melbourne 2023 54:38

1+ y ago54:38

54:38

Since 2006, Andrew Moran has been a baritone with Opera Australia in Sydney. When he visited Melbourne as part of a touring production of Puccini's Tosca, Tony spoke to him about a lovely eulogy he delivered for his father, Lawrie Moran, the man who inspired him to sing, in Surrey Hills, Melbourne, on 9 November 2023. You can read and listen to the…

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Year 9s can smell fear — Declan Fay's tips and stories about speaking in schools, Eltham High Valedictory, 2023 1:40:22

1+ y ago1:40:22

1:40:22

Comedy writer Declan Fay is Tony's Speakola guest. Declan was the co-writer of Ronny Chieng International Student and the hilarious Crossbread podcast, about a Christian rap duo who hit the big time, but don't happen to be Christians (stars Megan Washington and Chris Ryan). Declan was head writer for this year's AACTA Awards, and has been part of w…

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'Laughter is the closest distance' — Jules Schiller's tips for the Best Man speech, Tony and Kate's wedding, 2003 1:03:08

1+ y ago1:03:08

1:03:08

The cohost of ABC breakfast radio in Adelaide, Jules Schiller delivered a beautiful best man speech for his old comedy partner Tony Moclair when he married Kate in 2003. It's a Speakola favourite, and in this episode, Jules comes on in the aftermatch of a Married at First Sight best man speech abomination to talk about what makes a great best man s…

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Best Speeches of 2023 — Tony presents 'The Speakolies' with Dylan Bird on The Grapevine, 3RRR 38:24

2y ago38:24

38:24

For the sixth year running, Tony awards his speeches of the year on Triple R's 'The Grapevine' with Dylan Bird. This year, no Kulya who has moved on from the show after 13 years. Congrats Kulya. Thank you to Triple R for the audio. Dylan will be back in 2024 with a new show called Future Perfect. Join Speakola's mailing list and Substack Join Tony'…

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The art of the MC — Julia Zemiro and Brian Nankervis talk about hosting and MCing 1:09:49

2y ago1:09:49

1:09:49

For 15 seasons and 181 episodes, Julia Zemiro and Brian Nankervis have been the dual hosts of 'Rockwiz', bringing their wit, charm and performance energy to Australia's legendary music quiz show. In this episode Tony chats to them about what makes a good MC, and they share tips and yarns from several decades of hosting big events. In the second hal…

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My husband had a magical cape — Lahra Carey's eulogy for husband Ben Cowen, Springvale Cemetery, Melbourne, 2017 58:08

2y ago58:08

58:08

Lahra Carey's husband Ben Cowen died in paragliding accident on 8th of January 2017. A few days later, Lahra spoke at her husband's graveside, paying tribute to 'the Ben effect' and summoning friends and mourners to 'Ben's Army'. The speech is recreated for the episode, and Lahra talks to Tony about love and loss, and the challenge of giving a eulo…

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'Men, you have ten minutes to live' — Dr Brendan Nelson's speech at a Soldier On charity gala, Canberra 2014 (witnessed by cohost Lehmo) 1:15:16

2y ago1:15:16

1:15:16

Dr Brendan Nelson was Liberal Party leader and Leader of the Opposition in Australia in 2007-08. After he retired from politics, he became Director of the Australian War Memorial, and has a masterly knack of sharing the stories of this country's military heroes. The feature speech here was delivered in 2014 at a Soldier On charity fundraiser. Tony'…

1
The year my brain broke — Clare Wright's 'Epic Fail' speech at The Wheeler Centre, Melbourne, 2014 42:00

2y ago42:00

42:00

Clare Wright is an award winning author and documentary maker and a previous guest on this podcast (Ep 46). This very personal speech about depression was delivered at a The Wheeler Centre event called 'Epic Fail' featuring well known authors and artists sharing their stories of failure. Clare's description of a state of depression is so evocative …

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We have been a collective failure — Brendan Gale's CEO address to players and officials, Richmond Football Club, March 2010 33:05

2+ y ago33:05

33:05

Brendan Gale became CEO of Richmond in late 2009, and delivered this speech to the whole of the football club in the rooms in the old Punt Road grandstand in early 2010. it was a vision for the future, and it was mocked in the press at the time. Richmond had not won a final for 30 years and had competed in finals twice in the previous fifteen. Gale…

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ARCHIVE: He is one of us ─ Don Watson on Prime Minister Paul Keating’s Eulogy to the Unknown Soldier, Remembrance Day, 1993 29:31

2+ y ago29:31

29:31

Tomorrow is ANZAC Day in Australia, our most important day for commemorating and recognising the sacrifice of armed servicemen and women. To coincide, here is a re-release of speechwriter Don Watson's interview about the Paul Keating's 'Eulogy to the Unknown Soldier' delivered at the Canberra War Memorial on Remembrance Day 1993. The occasion was t…

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'Won't keep you, Les' — Andrew Rule's eulogy for Les Carlyon, Flemington, Melbourne, 2019 24:36

2+ y ago24:36

24:36

A bonus episode with Walkley winning journalist Andrew Rule recorded when we chatted about his eulogy for his father (episode 44) This episode is about Andrew's eulogy for Les Carlyon, a fellow legend of Australian journalism and writing. The speech was delivered on March 12th 2019 at Flemington racecourse, the home of Australian racing and the loc…

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ARCHIVE: 'Lou was bigger than a legend' — Ron Joseph's eulogy for Lou Richards, RIP Ron Joseph 40:41

2+ y ago40:41

40:41

We've just had the terrible news that Ron Joseph, Speakola's guest for E36 of this podcast, died this week aged 77. He was so accommodating with this interview, and we chatted for nearly two hours about his incredible life in footy administration and in particular the North Melbourne footy club. I'll put up some of the general (non speechy audio) f…

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You daughters of freedom — Prof. Clare Wright on Vida Goldstein's campaign launch speech as first English speaking woman to stand for national office, Portland, 1903 1:14:00

2+ y ago1:14:00

1:14:00

Vida Goldstein was the first woman to campaign for elected office for a national parliament in the English speaking world. It was the election of 1903, Ms Goldstein ran for the Senate in the Australian parliament, and she lost! Her launch speech was at Portland in Victoria and podcast guest Prof Clare Wright read it aloud for the Sydney Writers Fes…

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No, Tony, I did not write the Misogyny Speech! — Speechwriter Michael Cooney on working for Prime Minister Julia Gillard, 2010-13 1:26:46

2+ y ago1:26:46

1:26:46

Between 2010 and 2013, Michael Cooney was speechwriter for Australia's 27th Prime Minister, Julia Gillard who was also its first female Prime Minister. Michael has written an excellent book about this experience, called 'The Gillard Project: My Thousand Days of Despair and Hope'. In this episode he talks about what a Prime Ministerial speech writer…

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Solomon in a singlet — Andrew Rule's eulogy for father Keith Rule, Lake Tyers, 1998 53:37

2+ y ago53:37

53:37

Andrew Rule is a Gold Walkley winning journalist and author (Underbelly) who grew up on a farm in Gippsland and made his way from The Maffra Spectator to the pinnacles of Australian investigative reporting. His father, Keith, spent his life felling and fashioning timber, and this eulogy is a beautiful ode to a man and his axe. It was written as a f…

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How to do a TED talk (or three) — Ruth Clare's 'The pain of hiding your true self', TEDx Melbourne, 2019 1:10:27

3y ago1:10:27

1:10:27

Ruth Clare is an Australian author who wrote the award winning memoir 'Enemy — A Daughter's story of how her father brought the Vietnam War home'. She suffered the trauma of domestic violence as a child, and has been talking about trauma for a living since she became a parent herself. She has delivered three TEDx talks: If you don't own your storie…

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Best speeches of 2022 - Tony presents 'The Speakolies' on Triple R's The Grapevine 44:38

3y ago44:38

44:38

For the fifth year running, Tony awards his speeches of the year on Triple R's 'The Grapevine' with Kulya Coulston and Dylan Bird. Thank you to Triple R for the audio. Listen to The Grapevine on Triple R Mondays 9-12am. They are on break now until 2023. This is the new hub/community base for Speakola with over 5300 subscribers, and a few of those a…

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You're more of a mattress — Laura Lexx on her bride speech, Somerset, 2015 58:45

3y ago58:45

58:45

Laura Lexx is an acclaimed British comedian who has appeared on many television shows ('Roast Battle', 'Mock the Week') and has written a novel 'Pivot' and a bestselling humour book 'Klopp Actually'. Her tweets imagining a steamy yet sensible love affair with Jurgen Klopp lit up Twitter for a weekend in 2020, and scored her a book deal! But this ep…

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Give me your children! — Holocaust survivor Abram Goldberg as eyewitness to Chaim Rumkowski's speech to Jews in Lodź ghetto, Lodź, Poland, 1942 (with memoirist Fiona Harris) 1:18:43

3y ago1:18:43

1:18:43

'Give me your children' is one of the most harrowing and disturbing speeches in history, It was delivered by Chief Elder and Nazi appointed representative of the Jews in the Lodź ghetto, Chaim Rumkowski. In the speech, Rumkowski announces that children under ten, the elderly, and the sick and infirm will be handed over to the Nazis to fulfill depor…

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The bald legend and the feral legend — A last interview with Uncle Jack Charles, Palais Theatre, Melbourne, September 2022 32:25

3y ago32:25

32:25

The great actor and activist Uncle Jack Charles died in Melbourne on the 13th of September 2022 of a stroke. Five weeks earlier, Speakola's Tony Wilson recorded a chat with him during filming of their AFL Finals promo. Tony had written the words. Jack delivered the voice. During Jack's break, Tony chatted to him about life and career highlights. It…

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We could quell these fires with tears — Ted Baillieu's speech for Black Saturday National Day of Mourning, Melbourne, February 2009 1:02:15

3y ago1:02:15

1:02:15

Ted Baillieu was the 46th Premier of Victoria, elected in November 2010. In this episode he talks about this speech he delivered as Leader of the Liberal Party Opposition in February 2009 at a Day of Mourning ceremony for the Black Saturday bushfire victims at Rod Laver Arena. Mr Baillieu is an excellent speechwriter and orator, and he shares tips …

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#202 - We're Done Boys 1:16:39

3y ago1:16:39

1:16:39

The final show live at The Rochester. Thanks to everyone who came along, and to everyone who has ever listened, or randomly shouted one of our references at us in public. A very big Boom Boom Pow to all of you.

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He bought the heady outside world into our house —James Button's eulogy for his father John Button, State Memorial Service, Melbourne, April 2008 1:10:47

3y ago1:10:47

1:10:47

Author James Button's 2008 eulogy for his politician father John Button was one of the first speeches ever added to Speakola. It's a beautiful speech, full of stories about one of Australia's most significant Labor politicians. It's also a eulogy that has an honesty to it, it talks about John Button's moodiness, his taciturn nature, his absences. B…

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#201 - We're (almost) done boys 42:20

3y ago42:20

42:20

After 12 years, 200 episodes, and 1863 anecdotes about kids Declan grew up with in Bulleen, it's time for us to finish the podcast and head back to the family farm for good. Thanks to everyone who listened along the way. But we're going to do one last final gig at the Rochester Hotel, Saturday 27 August, at 730pm. So come along and help up go out w…

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We get one shot to recover from a global pandemic — Premier Peter Malinauskas's election night speech, Adelaide, 19th March 2022 57:38

3y ago57:38

57:38

Peter Malinauskas is the 47th Premier of South Australia. He gave a terrific victory speech on election night, 19th March 2022, one described by The Australian's literary critic as having 'flawlessly controlled momentum' and reaffirming a belief in democracy. The Premier is a wonderful interviewee and talks about how he wrote the speech, and the im…

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Lou is bigger than a legend — Ron Joseph's eulogy for Lou Richards, St Paul's Cathedral Melbourne, May 2017 44:57

3y ago44:57

44:57

Lou 'The Lip' Richards was an icon of Australian football in the latter half of the twentieth century. He was an excellent player, playing 250 games for Collingwood between 1941 and 1955, including captaining the 1953 premiership. But he found fame in his home town of Melbourne as a columnist, television wit, and play by play commentator. He died i…

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A rat race is for rats! — Kenny MacAskill MP on Jimmy Reid's Inaugural Address as Rector of Glasgow University, 1972 1:09:19

3y ago1:09:19

1:09:19

A speech described by The New York Times in the days after delivery as 'the greatest speech since Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address'. Jimmy Reid's speech was reprinted in full and praised around the world. In this episode, Jimmy Reid biographer and Westminster MP Kenny MacAskill (member for East Lothian in Scotland since 2019) talks about this f…

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ARCHIVE: Gabriel Sterling's speech on steps of Georgia Legislature, 'Somebody is going to get killed', December 2020 1:16:37

3+ y ago1:16:37

1:16:37

Gabriel Sterling speech and interview re-release. Republican electoral official Gabriel Sterling was a witness called before the January 6 committee this week to give evidence into what went on in the days leading up to the attack on the Capitol. This is a Speakola interview released as episode 23 in August 2021, during the Olympics. Sterling talks…

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Masters of our fate — Richard Cohen on Sir Winston Churchill's rhetoric & address to joint sitting US Congress, December 1941 1:11:58

3+ y ago1:11:58

1:11:58

Terrific episode on Winston Churchill, his prodigious skills as a rhetorician, and in particular his speech to a joint sitting of US Congress on Boxing Day, 1941. Our guest is Richard Cohen, founder of the popular Winston Churchill facebook group and a legal scholar who has immersed himself in all things Churchill. He was a proof reader of Andrew R…

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Queen of the verbal stilletto - Wendy Harmer and the art of the comedy debate, World Series Debating, Canberra 1993 1:08:30

3+ y ago1:08:30

1:08:30

Wendy Harmer is a legend of Australian media, and comedy, a mainstay since 'running away to join the circus' and the standup scene in the mid 1980s. She talks about those years at the Last Laugh and Le Joke, and also the shows that established her, 'The Big Gig' and 'World Series Debating' on the ABC. where she captained a comedy debate team each e…

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I know, Mum! —Rana Hussein's 'Stranger than Fiction' story, 'Two Firsts', Comedy Republic, 2021 48:11

3+ y ago48:11

48:11

On the eve of her wedding in India, The Outer Sanctum's Rana Hussein got a birds and the bees talk from her devout, hijab wearing, doctor, mother. She told the story at Comedy Republic's 'Stranger than Fiction' night, in hilarious and excruciating detail. The story is about two firsts, and as funny as the birds and the bees bit is, it's heartbreaki…

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Speakola Reads #2— Tony Wilson's tribute to Shane Warne, published in 'Australia: A Cricket Country' 31:50

3+ y ago31:50

31:50

A different style of episode we're calling 'Speakola Reads' On 4th March 2022, Shane Warne, Australia greatest ever bowler, died of a heart attack in Thailand. This episode is Tony reading a tribute he wrote for Shane Warne in 2011. The piece was titled 'The Mile Wide Spin Club' and was included in a coffee table book called 'Australia: Story of a …

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It's not regular — Jahmal Cole's speech at MLK Jr Day Interfaith Breakfast, Chicago, 2018 1:06:24

3+ y ago1:06:24

1:06:24

Jahmal Cole is running for Illinois' First Congressional District in 2022 as a Democrat. He's a community activist and founder of My Block, My Hood, My City, which is an after school program that offers disadvantaged kids broader city wide experiences beyond their neighbourhoods in Chicago. 'it's not regular' is a brilliant speech that was delivere…

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Shock, awe and disbelief — John Doyle's Andrew Olle Media Lecture, Sydney 2005 1:48:41

3+ y ago1:48:41

1:48:41

John Doyle is one of Australia's greatest comedy performers, as the Rampaging Roy Slaven half of 'Roy and HG'. On October 7th 2005 he delivered this Andrew Olle media lecture for the ABC, which was a wide ranging speech discussing sensationalism in news, opinion, War in Iraq, 9-11, journalistic integrity, the ABC and fistfights at the Walkleys. It'…

1
#200 (Part 2) - With Steven "Greaser" Gates 38:40

3+ y ago38:40

38:40

For the second part of our 200th celebration we are joined by the great man, Steven "Greaser" Gates, just doing some of his very best work. DonateBy Sweetest Plum

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Best speeches of 2021 - Tony presents 'The Speakolies' on Triple R's The Grapevine 56:31

3+ y ago56:31

56:31

For the fourth year running, Tony awards his speeches of the year on Triple R's 'The Grapevine' with Kulya Coulston and Dylan Bird. Categories include sports, arts, issue, historical significance, young speaker, and pandemic related speech of the year. Tony has a new website for the books he has written. Speakola has a Patreon page which you can jo…

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Speakola Reads #1 — Martin Flanagan's story of his journey into the Tarkine wilderness, Tasmania 37:43

4y ago37:43

37:43

This isn't a regular interview + speech episode. Tony thanks the 15 guests who have appeared on the podcast in 2021, and shares a story from episode 26 guest Martin Flanagan about his journey into the Tarkine wilderness in Tasmania, with a Sherrin and six friends from his university football days to protest against the construction of a dam. The pi…

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#200 - Cut the String 54:45

4y ago54:45

54:45

Against all the odds, we have somehow stumbled to 200 episodes. Proudly bought to you by our new sponsors... Great Ocean Road Kebab Cocktails Mortgage Joint - Sharpen your mortgage by .01% today. Donate a Christmas Bonus

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Strangely, I wasn't nervous —Adam Elliot's Academy Awards acceptance speech for 'Harvie Krumpet', Los Angeles, 2004 1:03:47

4y ago1:03:47

1:03:47

Adam Elliot won the Academy Award for Best Short Animation in 2004 for his film 'Harvie Krumpet'. His nomination rocketed him to celebrity status in Australia, and the country celebrated as he received the gold statue with his producer Melanie Coombs beside him. His speech was short, and did the job of some important thank yous. In this episode, we…

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My name is Isra Mohammed — Isra Mohammed's speech to Kenton School on Islamophobia post Paris attacks, Newcastle, UK, 2015 54:35

4y ago54:35

54:35

Isra Mohammed's speech to her school in Newcastle, UK, went went around the world in December of 2015. She was a 15 year old student at Kenton School, Newcastle, and she'd been subjected to racist and Islamophobic taunts after the ISIS attacks on Paris, that killed 130 people and injured hundreds more. When her brother and sister were targeted, Isr…

1
Unsmoke the world — John Safran on Phillip Morris' CEO's speech about a world without combustible cigarettes, 2021 1:28:22

4y ago1:28:22

1:28:22

John Safran is an author and satirist who recently wrote the book 'Puff Piece, How Phillip Morris Set Vaping Alight and Burned Down the English Language'. He chats to Tony about a corporate message from Phillip Morris CEO Jacek Olczak, which is focused on 'unsmoking the world', 'ending the problem of smoking' and Phillip Morris ambitions to become …

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#199 - You Come at the Kid, You Best Not Miss 51:11

4y ago51:11

51:11

Dec has a run in at the Mac shop, Nick deep dives down the trade radio rabbit hole, and we launch a new segment, “Dad’s Doubling Down”. Tell us about the time your dad doubled down on a dumb decision, and win a free car tyre filled with burning hot melted cheese, delivered directly to your door. Troll us at the following places... Twitter Facebook …

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198 - The Epicentre of All Bad Information 40:38

4y ago40:38

40:38

Discussed: Dec's dubious career advice from Sean Hughes, the melancholy of the modern milkbar, the existential terror of tattslotto shops and why Nick is done with the Man in the Mirror. Donate and support our output of up to 3 whole episodes a year. Troll us on social media: Facebook Twitter Instagram…

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Thinking about you, Ron Barassi — Martin Flanagan's monologue for the Melbourne Demons, SEN radio, 2018 1:17:21

4y ago1:17:21

1:17:21

Martin Flanagan is a much loved Australian sportswriter, known for his lyrical phrase and passion for stories that intertwine sport and culture. In 2018 he delivered a monologue in praise of Melbourne Football Club legends, and also ordinary supporter and officials. It is a majestic piece, 'Thinking about you, Ron Barassi' and it first aired during…

1
#197 - A Knife into the Nervous System. 30:57

4y ago30:57

30:57

After a long stint at the family farm, we're back to discuss pretty much the same stuff we always discussed: Richard Roxburgh, Tony Martin, Gary Sweet, Cameron Ling, Cameron Ling's Mother, Simon Black, Slash, and some guy that Dec's dad clipped on the way into the MCG in 1999. Plus those annoying people who try to sound like they're way busier than…