Best Joe Birch Podcasts (2025)

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Eat Pray Love author Elizabeth Gilbert: 'True grief feels like the end of the world' 59:45

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1d ago59:45

59:45

In this episode, we talk to Elizabeth Gilbert. Her memoir – Eat Pray Love – sold millions, became a hit movie starring Julia Roberts and encouraged readers to embark on their own spiritual journeys. But for the author, it was the death of her new partner many years later that actually helped her find what she was looking for. That’s all detailed in…

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'I just felt like such a loser': Olympic champion Cate Campbell on loneliness and depression 44:23

9d ago44:23

44:23

In this episode, we talk to Cate Campbell. Australian Dolphin number 665 debuted at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 at the tender age of 16. The teenager won two bronze medals at those games, and that was only the beginning. In her 16-year career in the pool, Campbell won eight Olympic medals – four of them gold – and breaking seven world records (her…

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The “fusion of hilarity and horror” that inspired children’s author Andy Griffiths 40:32

16d ago40:32

40:32

In this episode, we talk to Andy Griffiths. The children’s author has written 40 books, including The Day My Bum Went Psycho, and the wildly popular Treehouse series. Griffiths has been published in more than 35 countries, and sold an astonishing 13 million copies in Australia and New Zealand alone. He’s led an interesting life, too. He wanted to b…

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Tracey Holmes: Meeting a Beatle, driving with Pele – and ‘this thing that still exists’ in sport 40:08

23d ago40:08

40:08

In this episode, we talk to Tracey Holmes. The TV trailblazer has spent more than three decades covering Australian sport and dissecting some of the biggest sporting events on the planet, bearing witness to the rise and rise of women's sport, which has had to bust through the walls of misogyny and male chauvinism. Her new book, The Eye of the Drago…

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Radar: Gina Birch - The Raincoats 47:58

23d ago47:58

47:58

Gina Birch has been creating groundbreaking sound and images for nearly five decades. Best known as a founding member of the pioneering post-punk band The Raincoats, Birch helped shape a musical vocabulary that was raw, self-determined, and unconcerned with the rules. Formed in 1977 with Ana da Silva while at Hornsey College of Art, The Raincoats b…

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‘Connecting your identity to sport is a dangerous game’: AFLW star Libby Birch 30:07

30d ago30:07

30:07

In this episode, we talk to AFLW star Libby Birch. She's done something no other female or male player has done - winning three premierships at three different clubs, with the Western Bulldogs, the Melbourne Demons and the North Melbourne Kangaroos. Since joining the league in its inaugural season, Birch has also played 91 consecutive games of AFLW…

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The Last Place 29:52

29d ago29:52

29:52

When you spend so much of your life moving around, getting to the next chapter, what's it like to find yourself in the last place? This week, we revisit audio diaries from a retirement home. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choicesBy Radio Diaries & Radiotopia

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Radar: Natasja Alers - Grauzone Festival 51:28

1M ago51:28

51:28

Natasja Alers is the co-director of Grauzone Festival, a multidisciplinary event in The Netherlands that brings together post-punk, experimental music, visual art, and film. She’s also a sculptor, DJ, and painter with a background in ceramics, installation, and collage. Grauzone alumni include Echo & the Bunnymen, Lebanon Hanover, Anja Huwe (Xmal D…

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From dance floor to ‘orgy room’: What happens on a typical swingers’ night? 31:03

1M ago31:03

31:03

In this episode we talk to Jess Cattelly, the co-founder of Sydney swingers club Our Secret Spot. The 32-year-old got into swinging – also known as The Lifestyle - when she was just 20, and her Parramatta Road venue has since become an example of the way in which the swinging community is changing. Middle-class suburban key parties are no longer, n…

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Radar: Joe Concra of O+ 29:46

1M ago29:46

29:46

Joe Concra is a painter, a builder, and the CO+ founder of the O+ Festival, based in Kingston, NY. O+ is a community-rooted organization that connects artists and musicians with health and wellness care through a radical exchange model that started with an annual music & healthcare exchange festival and has expanded into year round care. In this ep…

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The View from the 79th Floor 16:30

1M ago16:30

16:30

Eighty years ago, on July 28, 1945, an Army bomber pilot on a routine ferry mission found himself lost in the fog over Manhattan. A dictation machine in a nearby office happened to capture the sound of the plane as it hit the Empire State Building at the 79th floor. Fourteen people were killed. Debris from the plane severed the cables of an elevato…

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What worries Sarah Wilson? Nothing less than the collapse of civilisation 49:32

1M ago49:32

49:32

In this episode, we talk to Sarah Wilson. She’s had an incredibly diverse career - from teenage model, to newspaper columnist, to women’s magazine editor, and then best-selling author of the book, I Quit Sugar, in 2012. More books followed, on anxiety, and finding purpose in a disconnected world, especially through the climate change crisis. Now sh…

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Radar: John Adams - Adams Family Films 50:04

2M ago50:04

50:04

I recently sat down with my old friend John Adams. John is an artist, songwriter and filmmaker. I first know him from his punk party band Banana Fish Zero that was based here in NY. You all may know him more from his incredible work as a filmmaker with his family, Adams Family Films. They have made eight features since 2012 including 2021’s Hellben…

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Meet Hugh de Kretser - president of the Australian Human Rights Commission 49:40

2M ago49:40

49:40

In this episode, we talk to Hugh de Kretser. The president of the Australian Human Rights Commission has quite the job. Never has society been more polarised, with distressing displays of religious and ethnic hatred bursting onto our streets - while at the same time the relevance of the commission itself has been called into question. De Kretser, w…

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Two Years in the Life of a Saudi Girl, Revisited 37:17

2M ago37:17

37:17

When we first met Majd Abdulghani, she was 19 years old, living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We gave her a recorder to keep an audio diary about her life. Majd chronicled her dreams of being a scientist, her resistance to having an arranged marriage, and what it was like to be a teenage girl living in one of the most restrictive countries in the world …

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Radar: Pablo Martin 1:06:52

2M ago1:06:52

1:06:52

I recently sat down with my partner in music & life, Pablo Martin. Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pablo is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer, engineer and master mixer. He’s been making music since he was sixteen years starting with Argentinian goth heroes El Corte. We spoke about his early musical life & journey to New York. Fi…

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Soprano singer Danielle de Niese - making opera cool again 39:14

2M ago39:14

39:14

In this episode, we talk to Danielle de Niese. The internationally acclaimed soprano has dazzled audiences since childhood – from her breakthrough on the TV show Young Talent Time at just nine years old to starring on the world’s greatest opera stages. She joins us to chat about her life in music, and what keeps her voice – and spirit – so vibrant.…

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Radar: Jay Mumford 1:13:12

2M ago1:13:12

1:13:12

I recently sat down with my former bandmate and friend, Jay Mumford. Jay’s career as a session and touring drummer has paired him with artists across multiple genres. From Hermanos Gutierrez, to Danger Mouse; Lulu Lewis; Adrian Quesada; Vampire Weekend; Just Blaze; Dan Auerbach; Greyhounds; Madlib; Michael Kiwanuka and many more. He’s also co-found…

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True crime writer Mark Dapin on cops, Chopper, and the good within bad people 39:40

2M ago39:40

39:40

In this episode, we speak with Mark Dapin. Dapin is a veteran true crime writer, with a career including a stint as editor of the lad mag Ralph - but also as a columnist for Good Weekend. He has spent many, many hours with infamous hardened criminals, and now - for a story in the current issue of Good Weekend - has flipped sides to see through the …

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The End of Smallpox 14:14

2M ago14:14

14:14

Vaccines have been in the news recently. Over the last few weeks, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has changed vaccination recommendations and gutted an influential committee that recommends which shots Americans should get. Some experts worry that these changes could lead to outbreaks of diseases the US has long had under control. So this we…

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Artist Vincent Fantauzzo on fighting, dyslexia – and painting Heath Ledger 44:36

2M ago44:36

44:36

In this episode, we talk to Vincent Fantauzzo – the Melbourne portrait artist famous for hyperrealist renderings of a long list of prominent people. He’s painted movie stars (like Hugh Jackman), underworld figures (like Mick Gatto), politicians (like Julia Gillard), sporting heroes (like Oscar Piastri) and icons (like Michael Gudinski). Good Weeken…

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Radar: Suzi Ronson 34:23

2M ago34:23

34:23

Suzi Ronson is stylist, writer, musician and the woman who helped shape one of the most iconic eras in music first by co-creating David Bowie's groundbreaking look for Ziggy Stardust. Her memoir Me and Mr. Jones describes this along with the wild & interesting journey she shared as a part of the core group of people who propelled Bowie & themselves…

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Crime writer Mark Brandi on the ‘incredibly painful’ experience that changed his life 39:51

3M ago39:51

39:51

In this episode, we talk to Mark Brandi. The renowned crime novelist writes about outsiders: heroin addicts, former prisoners and child victims of poverty and violence – and joins us to chat about his new book, Eden, out on June 25. We take a look at Brandi's family background, including the racist, small-town harassment of his father – as well Bra…

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How China ate Apple – and is now weaponising its technology against the West 35:53

3M ago35:53

35:53

In this episode, we talk to award-winning investigative journalist Patrick McGee, who for years led the Financial Times’ reporting on the meteoric rise of Apple Inc to become the world’s most valuable company after being on the brink of bankruptcy in 1996. As the iPod, iPhone and iPad revolutionised the way we live, Apple injected eye-watering amou…

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The Detainees of Crystal City 16:16

3M ago16:16

16:16

To justify mass deportations, President Trump has invoked an old wartime law: the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. The Alien Enemies Act was last used after America’s entry into World War II. In response to the Axis countries’ detainment of Americans who were deemed potential spies, the Roosevelt Administration came up with an elaborate plan: find and ar…

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Radar: Producer William Garrett 58:37

3M ago58:37

58:37

I recently spoke with producer William Garrett. William is probably best known for his work as lead producer of Spotify Singles where artists re-recorded one of their original songs alongside a cover of their choice. Over the course of this project, he recorded an amazing array of artists. The list is wild. I’ll just shout out some of my favorites …

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Dos and don’ts of home renos and building: A checklist from Grand Designs’ Anthony Burke 41:06

3M ago41:06

41:06

In this episode, we talk to Anthony Burke. You might know him as the ubiquitous host of multiple renovation TV shows on the national broadcaster, including Grand Designs Australia, Grand Designs Transformations and Restoration Australia. (He's even got a new one about Asian design, called Culture by Design.) Today, he shifts from sympathising with …

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Radar: Mona Kayhan - The Bridge Recording Studio 26:19

3M ago26:19

26:19

Mona Kayhan is the owner of The Bridge, a large room recording studio in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. A stunning space devoted to making exceptional recordings in a manner that has become less common and is upholding the tradition of sonic excellence. The new tradition that should also be celebrated here is that this space is a woman-owned commercial re…

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'I was so scared': A forced-marriage survivor's harrowing story – and escape 25:46

3M ago25:46

25:46

In this episode we bring you the remarkable story of Miriam* (not her real name), a survivor of forced marriage. Often confused with arranged marriage, forced marriage means one person is not giving their full consent – sometimes due to coercion, deception, incapacitation or threats. Each year the Australian Federal Police deal with about 90 cases,…

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Chef prodigy Hugh Allen on his new restaurant, creativity – and recognising critics 37:54

4M ago37:54

37:54

In this episode, we talk to Hugh Allen. Allen, of course, was made executive chef of iconic three-hat Melbourne restaurant, Vue de Monde, at the tender age of 23. The son of a nurse and a paediatrician – both terrible cooks, it must be said – Allen was once marked at high school as a "struggling" student, but through food, he became a star. Allen j…

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Radar: Andi Harriman / Synthicide 43:22

4M ago43:22

43:22

Andi Harriman is a NY based DJ, producer, music journalist, and the boss of the party / label, SYNTHICIDE, which promotes live and DJ events all over NYC. She is the author of Some Wear Leather, Some Wear Lace, the worldwide compendium of post-punk and goth in the 1980’s. She is also an EBM artist. We recently spoke about her upbringing in a Pentac…

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Sleep expert Matthew Walker on snoring, napping, nightmares and the power of slumber 51:53

4M ago51:53

51:53

In this episode, we speak with Matthew Walker. The British neuroscience professor is the author of “Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams”, and he’s coming to Australia shortly to speak at Vivid Sydney in conjunction with the Sydney Writers' Festival. Walker has lately become the sleep expert of choice around the world for his deep …

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Radar: Jon King - Gang of Four 57:47

4M ago57:47

57:47

On this episode of Radar, I spoke with Jon King, co-founder and lead singer of Gang of Four, about his new memoir, To Hell with Poverty! A Class Act: Inside the Gang of Four. The book offers an account of his journey from a working-class upbringing in South London to international success with the band. We discuss Jon’s early days in the slums of L…

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Novelist Hannah Kent on writing, nightmares – and the ghost who lives with her 39:05

4M ago39:05

39:05

In this episode, we talk to Hannah Kent. The South Australian author burst onto the literary scene in 2013, with the publication of her debut historical novel, Burial Rites, about the execution of a young woman in Iceland, two centuries ago. The book was a global bestseller, optioned by Hollywood with Jennifer Lawrence attached to star in the film …

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Radar: Jaco Jaco 25:36

4M ago25:36

25:36

Jaco Jaco is the project of Philadelphia-based musician, visual artist, and former member of beloved indie-rock trio Sports, Jacob Theriot. The music Theriot makes as Jaco Jaco straddles genre: a little funk, a little psych, a little dreamy 70s AM rock. The follow up to Jaco Jaco’s 2024 debut Splat, Gremlin is a playful, elegant record that isn’t d…

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Meet historian Rutger Bregman – fighting the good fight with 'realistic idealism' 37:28

4M ago37:28

37:28

In this episode, we talk to Rutger Bregman. You might remember the Dutch historian and author from a 2019 appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, which went viral after he called out millionaires and billionaires for tax avoidance. He joins us to talk about everything from the loss of America's moral authority after the re-election of Dona…

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Prisoners of War 19:51

4M ago19:51

19:51

It's been 50 years since the end of the Vietnam war. In honor of the anniversary, we're revisiting a story about a notorious American military prison on the outskirts of Saigon, called Long Binh Jail. LBJ wasn’t for captured enemy fighters—it was for American soldiers. These were men who had broken military law. And there were a lot of them. As the…

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Radar: Angela Jaeger / I Feel Famous 40:46

4M ago40:46

40:46

I Feel Famous: Punk Diaries 1977-1981 is a girl’s coming of age story set to the pulse of punk rock. The book tracks 17-year-old Angela Jaeger’s exciting discovery of punk music and its accompanying lifestyle in 1977. A music enthusiast living in New York’s East Village, Angela’s story unfolds chronologically, charting her late adolescence in tande…

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Inside the battle to retain Labor's traditional heartland voters 39:29

4M ago39:29

39:29

In this episode - one week before the federal election - we talk to Kos Samaras. Samaras had a long career as a Labor strategist - particularly in running campaigns for the Victorian party - before founding the political consultancy firm RedBridge in 2020. He's one of the big thinkers in Australian politics, who grew up in a blue collar Labor famil…

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Radar: Anika 34:53

5M ago34:53

34:53

I recently spoke with Berlin based artist Annika Henderson about her wonderful new album Abyss, her early years in Bristol, a little bit about Tricky and her process. From the Press Release: British-born, Berlin-based musician Annika Henderson, better known as Anika, has created her new, third album Abyss out of the frustration, anger, and confusio…

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You Am I's Tim Rogers on addiction and anxiety, playing footy and prowling the stage 42:06

5M ago42:06

42:06

In this episode, we talk to Tim Rogers. Best known as the frontman for rock band You Am I, Rogers was born in Kalgoorlie, WA, but lived all over the country growing up, spending time in Adelaide, Sydney and Canberra, and now, rural Victoria. The 55-year-old has lived a big life so far as a songwriter, raconteur, talking head and author. He's had hi…

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March of the Bonus Army 16:18

5M ago16:18

16:18

Author James Baldwin once wrote, "I love America more than any other country in the world and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually." On this episode, we go back to 1932 when a group of World War I veterans set up an encampment in Washington, D.C., and vowed to stay until their voices were heard. It was a rema…

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Melinda French Gates on perfectionism and pain, parenting and philanthropy 41:34

5M ago41:34

41:34

In this episode, we talk to Melinda French Gates. Famous as one half of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – one of the largest philanthropic outfits in the world – Melinda spent more than two decades overseeing the giving-away of more than $US77 billion. Then, in 2021, she and Bill divorced after 27 years of marriage, and Melinda began to chart a…

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Radar: Jeff Bridges 26:44

5M ago26:44

26:44

Slow Magic, 1977-1978, is a collection of never-before-heard songs that Jeff Bridges wrote and recorded with a band of his oldest and closest friends. Culled from a single decaying cassette tape labeled “July 1978,” these recordings are a window into the musical life of one of our greatest living actors who holds music as dear as all the art forms …

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‘My goggles filled with tears’: Ellie Cole on medals, motherhood – and silver linings 42:28

5M ago42:28

42:28

In this episode we speak with Ellie Cole. Cole, of course, is a childhood cancer survivor whose right leg was amputated when she was 3. Within weeks of that operation, she was swimming as a form of rehab, before ultimately going on to become the most decorated Aussie female Paralympian of all time, with 17 medals over four games. In recent years sh…

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The Girls of the Leesburg Stockade 16:14

5M ago16:14

16:14

On July 19, 1963, at least 15 Black girls were arrested while marching to protest segregation in Americus, Georgia. After spending a night in jail, they were transferred to the one-room Leesburg Stockade and imprisoned for the next 45 days. Only twenty miles away, the girls' parents had no knowledge of their location. A month into their confinement…

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Radar: Vox (fka Mark Burgess) of The Chameleons 1:11:05

5M ago1:11:05

1:11:05

Post-punk legends THE CHAMELEONS are gearing up for a brand new full-length album due later this year (their first full-length in over 20 years!), they've released two new EPs Where Are You? and Tomorrow Remember Yesterday - the former consisting of new material and the latter of archival material recorded with the current lineup. Their latest five…

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Rethinking resilience in the modern workplace — with Bruce Daisley 35:03

5M ago35:03

35:03

In this episode of The Good Growth Podcast, we sit down with Bruce Daisley — workplace culture expert, bestselling author, and former VP at Twitter and YouTube — for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, resilience, and the realities of scaling fast-growing businesses. Bruce shares his personal lessons from leading Twitter through hypergrowth,…

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'Crazy, yeah?': Jane Flemming on Aussie athletics' new golden age (including Gout Gout) 50:04

5M ago50:04

50:04

In this episode, we speak with Jane Flemming, who made her name in the late '80s and early '90s as a golden girl in track and field, a two-time Olympian – and Commonwealth Games gold medallist – specialising in the heptathlon and long jump. Flemming retired before the Sydney 2000 Olympics and transitioned into a career in media, marketing and manag…

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Radar: Studio Electrophonique 23:08

6M ago23:08

23:08

I spoke with author & filmmaker Jamie Taylor about his new book Studio Electrophonique, which is the amazing story of the home studio in Sheffield that helped launch some of Britain's most beloved bands. Sheffield mechanic Ken Patten’s makeshift home studio became the launch pad for a group of young musicians who would shape the futuristic sound of…