Best Michael Matera Podcasts (2025)

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH LUKE JOHNSON 58:38

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16d ago58:38

58:38

Send us a text Luke previously worked as the physiotherapist for the Geelong Football Club (while being a Western Bulldogs supporter, giving him a good understanding of a dual narrative). He has long been a lover of books and writing, and has three novels in a drawer, but when COVID-19 hit, he decided that it was time to take his shot. He won the 2…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH HANNAH ANDREVSKI 58:43

2M ago58:43

58:43

Send us a text On a number of occasions prior to 2017 Hannah wanted to donate some of her pre-loved baby items to local charities. Often the charities most likely to need these items were unable to accept donations due to a lack of both space and resources to sort, clean, safety check and store items. This meant that many valuable and needed pre-lo…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH JOE MATERA 1:01:37

3M ago1:01:37

1:01:37

Send us a text Joe Matera is an Italian-Australian guitarist, rock journalist and author. In addition to a solo career, Joe is the guitarist in the Sweden-based rock band Rough Rockers, and was formerly the lead guitarist of Australian famous pop rock band Geisha between 2007 and 2010. Joe is also well known as a rock journalist, having published o…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH SUNITA KOTNALA 1:03:15

4M ago1:03:15

1:03:15

Send us a text CEO Sunita Kotnala has been named the 2025 Canberra Citizen of the Year. Tinkering has been a lifelong hobby for Sunita Kotnala, who grew up crafting driftwood and blocks of wood into furniture for fun. When she became bored of her dining room table, instead of buying a new one, Ms Kotnala took out her tools and transformed it. Women…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSTION WITH JIM "J" GEDDES 59:08

4M ago59:08

59:08

Send us a text My guest on the ConFab with Michael G is a multiple woodwinds specialist Jim "J" Geddes. Jim has been touring the world being featured in groups such as the "World Famous Harry James Orchestra" to large Tony-Award winning Broadway shows such as "Ave Q" and "In The Heights." “J” has also played in countless American rock, swing and fu…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH BROTHER THOMAS OLIVER (OLLY) PICKETT 2025 SENIOR AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR 57:11

6M ago57:11

57:11

Send us a text Brother Thomas Oliver (Olly) Pickett AM co-founded Wheelchairs For Kids in 1996 to provide adjustable wheelchairs and occupational therapy expertise for children in developing countries, free of charge. Since then, more than 60,000 custom-built wheelchairs have been gifted to children in over 80 countries. With over 250 retiree works…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH SUE DELANY 59:55

6M ago59:55

59:55

Send us a text Dr Suzanne Packer is a pediatrician and child advocate who was the 2019 Senior Australian of the Year. Since starting her career as a paediatrician in 1972, she has worked tirelessly to advocate for the rights of children. Sue has been a leader in child abuse prevention and treatment and a champion of the importance of early childhoo…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH CORY TUTT 1:01:10

6M ago1:01:10

1:01:10

Send us a text As a young person, Corey developed a love of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects but found little encouragement for Aboriginal people to pursue careers in STEM. A key reason was that regional and remote schools were often critically under-resourced, and their students did not receive the same learning exp…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH JO 57:53

6M ago57:53

57:53

Send us a text Jo is a Green member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and was elected in 2020. Jo is a lawyer, writer, artist and businesswoman who has lived in Ginninderra for most of her life. Jo is strongly committed to urgent action on climate change and understands that we don’t have a moment to lose. As a child, Jo was concerned about climate c…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH VAL DEMPSEY SENIOR AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR 2022 1:00:31

7M ago1:00:31

1:00:31

Send us a text Starting as a cadet volunteer while still in primary school, for more than 50 years Val has dedicated her life to St John Ambulance. She’s one of the Australian Capital Territory’s longest-serving volunteers and, year after year, she still dedicates more hours than any other volunteer. In 2020, Val faced her biggest challenge yet as …

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH NICK JONES 1:01:50

7M ago1:01:50

1:01:50

Send us a text Nick Jones a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts and Herald-Sun Aria finalist is a brilliant young tenor who has performed with the Australia Opera company (AOC) and several other Australian Opera companies. He won the Green Room Award for his portrayal of David in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg for Opera Australia. He was …

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH CORINNE DANNY 53:50

7M ago53:50

53:50

Send us a text THIS A VERY EARLY EPISODE OF THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G AND THE NARRATIVE AND STYLE REFLECTS THE EARLY RECORDINGS OF THE CONVERSATIONS. Corinne moved to the Highlands over 25 years ago where she started a new job painting French provincial. Opening in late 2023, Corinne Dany Studios has fast become a hub of creativity and a wonderful …

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH FENJA T. RINGL 1:00:41

8M ago1:00:41

1:00:41

Send us a text Fenja a former archaeologist is an inspirational artist who creates hand-printed artworks that are inspired by the beautiful nature that surrounds her, and from a background of working as an archaeologist and palaeo-ecologist across various Australian regions. She has created unique prints on paper and on porcelain, using (and experi…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH PETER KAFER 1:04:38

8M ago1:04:38

1:04:38

Send us a text Peter is the senior artist of Duruga Aboriginal Art which was founded as a way to share the world's oldest culture through Art. It also promotes the art from some of Australia's Koori artists (east coast of Australia). Mabarraa Peter Kafer is a proud D'harawahl man, born in Newcastle ( NSW) and a proud Saltwater man. He lives in Port…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH MAURA PIERLOT 1:01:58

8M ago1:01:58

1:01:58

Send us a text Maura is an author, playwright and filmmaker based in Canberra. Her includes tackling youth mental health themes, Maura’s acclaimed play, Fragments, is now an award-winning web series. Maura enjoys writing creative non-fiction for children. She has won the 2018 ACT Writing and Publishing Awards and several overseas honours Maura also…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH MEGAN GILMOUR (THE ACT AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR NOMINEE FOR 2025 ) 1:00:29

9M ago1:00:29

1:00:29

Send us a text Megan Gilmour a social innovator wanted to create a world where all children are seen and heard. In Australia, over 1.2 million children are at risk of missing school due to complex medical and mental health challenges. Megan has advocated for change in education systems for these vulnerable children. She drew on her lived experience…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH CRAIG FOSTER 57:09

9M ago57:09

57:09

Send us a text Craig Foster AM is an Australian retired soccer player, human rights activist and sports analyst for a streaming service in Australia. Foster played soccer professionally including for the national team, the Socceroos. He is also known for his human rights advocacies, and is a vocal critic of the Australian Government's treatment of …

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSTION WITH MICHAEL BLASCH 59:37

9M ago59:37

59:37

Send us a text Michael is currently Acting Head of Department Foundation Skills Pathways College Canberra Institute of Technology and has been part of WorldSkills since 2009 when he was asked to judge regionals in the ACT. He has continued to be an ACT Judge and has become a Mentor. He enjoyed the experience of being part of WorldSkills so much, th…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH TASNEEM CHOPRA 56:00

10M ago56:00

56:00

Send us a text Tasneem is an experienced Cross Cultural Consultant and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) trainer helping business, not-for-profits and government understand and navigate diversity and inclusion. As a media presenter, (on the DRUM) she has provided an expert perspective on topics related to diversity, gender based violence female …

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH JOHN MICHELL 55:47

10M ago55:47

55:47

Send us a text John has been a full-time writer since 2018. His work takes a uniquely fresh approach to the Cold War Spy Fiction genre in that his style is to craft stories around the personal struggles of spies during the Cold War rather their spying pursuits per se. he has been a full-time author since February 2017. John has written four novels …

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH TIM WINTON 57:19

10M ago57:19

57:19

Send us a text Tim Winton is an Australian author and has written over 30 books. His novels range from children's books, non-fiction, and short stories. His work has been widely translated and adapted for film, television, stage and radio. In 1997, he was named a Living Treasure by the National Trust of Australia and has won the Miles Franklin Awar…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSTION WITH JULIE OLD 56:18

10M ago56:18

56:18

Send us a text Dr Julie Old is a wildlife biologist with a passion for conserving native wildlife, especially wombats. Her observations of bare-nosed wombats suffering from sarcoptic mange led her to develop the Citizen Science project, WomSAT, a project aimed at supporting wombat conservation. Through her academic position, and her position on the…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH DUCAN SMITH 1:04:42

1y ago1:04:42

1:04:42

Send us a text Duncan established Wiradjuri Echoes in 1998, since then the Wiradjuri Echoes have worked towards reconciliation and equality. He won the 2003 NAIDOC artist of the year award, Dare to Lead Education Award 2009, Friends of Education Award 2011, Ngunnawal Centre University of Canberra Award 2007, Senior Citizen Centre Award for sharing …

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH NICOLE GODWIN 1:01:18

1y ago1:01:18

1:01:18

Send us a text Nicole is a multi-award-winning author who shines a light on environmental, animal rights and social justice issues through captivating picture books. Her books engage readers and help to create a generation of thoughtful, committed and compassionate individuals. The themes in Nicole’s books have inspired school students and families…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH AMAR SINGH 59:15

1+ y ago59:15

59:15

Send us a text Amar is the President and Founder of charity organisation Turbans 4 Australia. Since 2015, they have been providing assistance to Australians from all walks of life while also promoting multiculturalism and religious tolerance. Turbans 4 Australia has worked tirelessly to help hundreds of thousands of Australians in need. They have a…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH MALCOM FARR 1:01:39

1+ y ago1:01:39

1:01:39

Send us a text Malcolm Farr was a highly respected senior political journalist in the Canberra Press Gallery covering the Parliament of Australia in Canberra, Australia. Based in Canberra, Malcom was the National Political Editor for News.com.au and contributing writer to The Punch. Most recently he is writing for The Guardian Australia to October …

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH ANN BRAY 56:13

1+ y ago56:13

56:13

Send us a text Ann has had a successful career in the public and private sectors. Ann’s professional journey has been diverse. She trained and worked as a Maths/Science Teacher joined a large food manufacturing company as a Quality Assurance Manager and Production Manager, supported her father in a small business venture and worked in Washington DC…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH JOHN MARSHAL HE WAS BETTER KNOWN AS MR FRUGII 56:59

1+ y ago56:59

56:59

Send us a text John a Canberra confectioner who founded the experimental ice-creamery Frugii Dessert Laboratory, sadly passed away in 2021. John had long indulged in his hobby — creating unusually flavoured ice-creams and desserts — while selling them from his home, until he launched the business on Braddon's Lonsdale Street. John's creations came …

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH CLÉMENT CHAUVIN 1:02:32

1+ y ago1:02:32

1:02:32

Send us a text Les Bistronomes Restaurant was founded in 2014 by two French men with a desire to extend Bistronomie to Canberra. It was originally located in the inner location of Braddon. The bistro was relocated to the community suburb of Campbell in 2019 where Clément Chauvin has become the Sole Owner and Executive Chef. Clément has experienced …

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH BERNARD COLLAERY 1:00:03

1+ y ago1:00:03

1:00:03

Send us a text Bernard Collaery is an Australian barrister, lawyer and former politician. Collaery was a member of the ACT first Legislative Assembly. He has served as Deputy Chief Minister and Attorney-General. In 2018, he was charged with disclosing protected intelligence information. The case related to the Australia–East Timor spying scandal ho…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH EMILY BIRKS 59:57

1+ y ago59:57

59:57

Send us a text Emily had previously been interested in depicting highly detailed portraits of Australian wildlife species, but now find herself inspired by the elements these animals leave behind such as bones, shells, feathers, and the plants of their environment. Emily arranges these elements along with treasured ceramic and glassware vessels, as…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH PAT DODSON 59:03

1+ y ago59:03

59:03

Send us a text This podcast was recorded in 2020 and is one of my earliest interviews. Unfortunately, Pat's audio is not the greatest and reflects use of a speaker phone in Parliament House. However, Pat's story, his perspective of reconciliation and truth telling as one of Australia outstanding first nation statesperson is highly regarded and will…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH ADAM CARREL 1:02:54

1+ y ago1:02:54

1:02:54

Send us a text Adam is a Partner in one of Australia’s major consultancy firms in the area of Climate Change and Sustainability Services. His role is primarily related to addressing the challenges of sustainable development – how can the world sustain a decent standard of living for all current and future human beings in a way that doesn’t undermin…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH GRAEME INNES 56:38

1+ y ago56:38

56:38

Send us a text Graeme is a lawyer, author, and company director. His autobiography Finding A Way achieved popular acclaim in 2016. Graeme has led the merger of four blindness agencies to form Vision Australia, and chaired the board of that agency. He is also a Director of: The National Disability Insurance Agency; The State Insurance Regulatory Aut…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH JIOJI RAVULO 59:25

1+ y ago59:25

59:25

Send us a text Jioji Ravulo is the Professor and Chair of Social Work and Policy Studies in the Sydney School of Education and Social Work at The University of Sydney. His research, writing and areas of interest include mental health and wellbeing, alcohol and other drugs, youth development, marginality and decoloniality. Jioji is involved in vario…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH KAARON WARREN 1:00:26

1+ y ago1:00:26

1:00:26

Send us a text Tonight, we are in conversation with Kaaron who is an Australian author of horror, science fiction, and fantasy short stories and novels. Kaaron is the author of the short story collections Through Splintered Walls, The Grinding House, and Dead Sea Fruit. Her short stories have won Australian Shadows Awards, Ditmar Awards and Aureali…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH LLOYD 41:09

1+ y ago41:09

41:09

Send us a text In 2019 while visiting England I spent some time contributing to community radio in Milton Keynes while touring the area we stopped off for a coffee at Twiggs Nurseries and coffee establishment in Buckingham as we were trying to find a decent coffee in the area. Lloyd the owner and barista has selected the best beans available in the…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH NINA CASTREE 27:25

1+ y ago27:25

27:25

Send us a text While I was visiting Milton Keynes I spent some time on a community radio station where I meet Nina Castree. During our initial meeting Nina told me that Across Milton Keynes, 1 in 4 children live in poverty, meaning that more than 16,000 children experience the affects of their household not having enough money, sometimes for basics…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSTION WITH ISAAC 58:00

1+ y ago58:00

58:00

Send us a text Canberra has a reputation for fantastic coffee, baristas, coffee roasters and a range of great cafes. On any sunny day of the week you will find these cafes (the great ones) full, people enjoying the sun on the streets and if they really fantastic coffee high end bikes leaning up on a wall. One one of thees occasions (after a long cy…

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S7.E52 - That’s a Wrap! 17:48

2y ago17:48

17:48

What can I say but thank you to the wonderful people in the Well Played community. It has been an honor to be part of your educational journey. I look forward to what is in store for future podcast ideas. Please consider joining in these shows by looking at MrMatera.com or Emc2Learning.com I hope you enjoy this personal show with a very special gue…

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S7.E51 - Managing it All in a gamified classroom!!! Plus an announcement! 15:45

2y ago15:45

15:45

In this episode I discuss some ways to stay organized in the gamified classroom. Also, I share what is next for me and the podcast! Thanks so much for listening.Check out mrmatera.com for more podcastsBy Michael Matera

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S7.E50 - Tests! Do They have to suck! 11:12

2y ago11:12

11:12

The answer is no! Have a listen to hear how you might level up your assessments tomorrow!By Michael Matera

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH LUKA MUSICKI 1:03:04

2y ago1:03:04

1:03:04

Send us a text Luka is actively involved with various volunteering organisations, including the Rainbow Ranters Toastmasters Club, and is a Justice of the Peace serving the LGBTIAQ+ community. Luka’s volunteer contributions have been recognised at the Volunteering Awards (Canberra Region), in which he has been awarded the Corporate Volunteer Award …

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH XAVIER WALLACE 57:53

2y ago57:53

57:53

Send us a text You may have meet Xavier at a market and saw a number of novels on display and wondered what was the genres and who was the author. I discovered that Xavier was the author and was based in Canberra, Australia. Xavier has published 5 novels, and a few more in the pipeline - including new exploits with Agent Max Shaw! He has a backgrou…

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH MIKE KELLY 56:01

2y ago56:01

56:01

Send us a text Mike was a former politician who twice represented the local Division of Eden-Monaro in the Parliament of Australia, Mike was also a member of the Australian Army serving in Somalia, East Timor, Bosnia and Iraq. In April 2020, he resigned from Parliament and is now working in the private sector. We gain a personal perspective of some…

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S7.E49 - Organizing Your Items & Badges 8:43

2y ago8:43

8:43

In this episode we are looking at ways to keep yourself organized in this gamified classroom! Enjoy!By Michael Matera

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S7.E48 - Student Centered 9:10

2y ago9:10

9:10

Take a moment to refocus your classroom and support students the way they want to learn.By Michael Matera

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S7.E47 - What if kids could create! 10:05

2y ago10:05

10:05

Listen to this crazy idea... Kids creating in front of your eyes, enjoying it, and sharing content...Look no further... We got you!By Michael Matera

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THE CONFAB WITH MICHAEL G IN CONVERSATION WITH BOSKO 57:09

2y ago57:09

57:09

Send us a text Have you recently wandered down to the Haigh Park Village Markets in Canberra and came across a stall holder selling Mother’s Treats (We just gather and blend them together to create magic **** Blessings!), who reminds you of the best of the Nimbin culture. Tonight, we gain a personal perspective of someone who has experienced in the…

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S7.46 - Big Sheet Keep Away Resource Dive 7:36

2y ago7:36

7:36

This one we take a look at a great activity I ran this week that I think you all should do right now! Seriously. Let's take a closer look, shall we?By Michael Matera