I might have a story for you - with Matt Levinson

Ebony Wightman - artist - episode 26

Ebony Wightman doesn’t like the term ‘trigger warning’ because it can stop people from talking about lived experience.

This deeply insightful conversation uncovers a whole life’s worth of experiences from the dark depths of loneliness, poverty and attempting to take her life through to the joy of creativity, community and expressing yourself.

Her work has been shown across Sydney from the Hawkesbury and Blacktown to the Biennale and Art Gallery of NSW, and her advocacy is driving real policy change.

In short, she’s doing the work of changing our city’s culture, and I’ve always wanted to know more. 

Caroline Butler-Bowdon - librarian - ep 25

Caroline Butler-Bowdon - universally known as CBB - has been a curator and a museum director, a PhD researcher, a government leader with a track record of significant change and she’s now the State Librarian.

She’s one of those people who seem to attract good people into their orbit, who become a centre of gravity all their own.

I see these people and the buzz of activity that forms around them, and especially with CBB, I’ve always wanted to know more.

Danièle Hromek - designer - ep 24

Danièle Hromek is at the centre of an incredible moment. Creative, entrepreneurial, full of ideas, she’s right in the centre of a profound shift that’s underway towards a growing appreciation of Country, and of connecting and designing with Country, and it’s changing the way we think about and plan our cities. What I love about her work is the fluid way she works across so many domains - built urban environments, theatre and art, culture. I’ve seen her name pop up in so many different places, and I’ve always wanted to know more about the person behind all that work.

James Bradley - author - ep 23

James Bradley grew up a couple of streets back from the beach, and it never let him go. Despite stints selling newspapers in a pub and working in a video shop, as a judge’s associate and a solicitor, it’s his career as a writer that’s given voice to that deep and abiding love and fascination with the ocean. With 10 books to his name and at least as many awards, his latest epic story is that of the ocean itself. It was a joy to sit down and hear how it came to be.

Cath Dwyer - radio maker - ep 22

Cath Dwyer is a radio maker and journalist who’s helped shape the culture of radio here. A former Young Journalist of the Year and Human Rights medal winner, she founded the ABC’s pioneering participatory journalism project ABC Open, and has worked in radio at all levels from community stations through to Radio National and Triple J. At a time when the role of public media is more contested than ever, I loved getting the opportunity to talk to someone who knows it inside and out. 

Brooke Webb - festivalist - ep 21

Brooke Webb is larger than life. From sneaking in to a Nirvana gig through a broken window (and landing right on the stage, in front of Dave Grohl’s massive right calf), to touring Sonic Youth. Running away to join the circus through to her current gig as Chief Executive of the Sydney Writers Festival. She’s lived a hundred different lives and relished every one. You often hear cliches about life being a journey, Brooke’s life is an adventure that criss crosses time zones and continents. 

Georgia Weir - Deadly Runners - ep 20

Georgia Weir founded the life changing community running program Deadly Runners. She competed in the New York, Gold Coast, North Coast and Chicago marathons. But she wasn’t always a runner, in fact she came to the sport as an absolute last resort, having lived through some incredibly tough times - the perfect prep for the high highs of running at the highest level, and coaching First Nations running talent. 

Belqis Youssofzay - architect - ep 19

Belqis Youssofzay is an architect who grew up in Afghanistan and India, moving to Sydney’s central coast as a teenager. From dreamy photography to the Powerhouse renewal, her work reflects that unique journey - this fascinating conversation covers so much ground, from Muriel’s Wedding and swimming cossies to the role of museums and culture in society. A real joy to get this time with one of the city’s most interesting new architects.