Here’s a story about breaking the rules that I wrote and recorded for this cool podcast that takes on a different theme each episode.
Author Archives: Tom
31 – Kieran Hurley
Hello! I’m back! Sorry about the wait for a new episode. I’m in Scotland, so let’s talk to a Scot.
Kieran Hurley is a playwright and poet based in Glasgow. His work touches on the human stories involved in political events and he was a vocal supporter of the “YES” campaign in last year’s referendum on Scottish independence.
Together Kieran and I talked about the UK government banning rave music in the 90s, the London riots, May’s general election and what it means for British politics, Jeremy Corbyn, austerity, “Torycore”, nationalism and why he’s occasionally happy to be considered a “traitor”.
My show Taxis & Rainbows & Hatred at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (6 shows left!); at the Soho Theatre in September
Kieran’s 25 Reasons for Voting “YES”
Lost Voice Guy’s Disabilty For Dunces at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Cause of the Week: The Black Triangle Campaign (blacktrianglecampaign.org)
Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Day One
30 – Damien Power
I think Damien Power is one of the most exciting comedians in Australia right now. He opened for Tenacious D on their Australian tour a few years back (I saw the show and he crushed it) and his 2015 stand up show I Can’t Believe I Cared was nominated for the Barry Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Damien’s comedy is not only hilarious, it’s extremely well-informed and socially conscious. In this chat we covered cats (shout-outs to Jerry the Persian), what the film Jurassic World tells us about capitalism and the growth economy, anarchy, conspiracy theories and the impending World War III that’s coming to obliterate us all. Enjoy!
My show Taxis & Rainbows & Hatred at the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe & the Soho Theatre in London
My Chortle piece on comedy and gay rights
Damien’s podcast, Power to the People
Slavoj Zizek’s The Pervert’s Guide To Ideology and The Pervert’s Guide To Cinema
Oliver Stone’s Untold History of the United States
A Short History of Stupid by Helen Razer & Bernard Keane
Cause of the Week: GetUp!’s campaign to shut down Manus Island and Nauru (getup.org.au)
Edinburgh Fringe 2015
I am stoked/terrified to announce that I’ll be making my Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut in August 2015.
Here’s the shit to get that sweet international buzz cookin’:
Australian TV and radio star Tom Ballard has arrived for his Edinburgh Fringe debut. Having sold out shows across his home country and supported the likes of Stephen Merchant and Wil Anderson, his blistering new hour of stand up tackles the big issues: love, sex, loneliness, scabies and finding the courage to be one’s self.
At just 16 years of age, Ballard was a national finalist in RAW Comedy (the Aussie version of So You Think You’re Funny). In 2008 he was handpicked by the Melbourne Comedy Festival to be showcased in The Comedy Zone and the following year he became the youngest ever winner of the Festival’s coveted Best Newcomer Award for his hilarious and deeply personal show, Tom Ballard Is What He Is.
The Aussie public is mighty familiar with Tom’s voice and boyish, pale face. For four years, Tom co-hosted a top-rating breakfast show on national youth network triple j; a CD of his finer broadcasting moments took out the gong for Best Comedy Release from the Australian Recording Industry Association. Last year, at just 24, Tom hosted his very own TV panel show, Reality Check – a gleefully fun and whip-smart deconstruction of reality television.
But it’s live onstage that Ballard truly feels at home. Catch Taxis & Rainbows & Hatred and see what all the fuss is about.
Tickets are on sale now and you can get them here.
Haggis and good shout and heroin etc!
Chortle Piece
Ahhh classic Eddie. If that makes you uncomfortable, please read this piece I wrote for comedy website Chortle on gay jokes becoming hack.
29 – Van Badham
Van Badham exudes passion for political action. She’s a playwright, novelist, columnist for The Guardian, proud union member and vocal activist who’s appeared on Q&A, The Drum and Radio National.
Van outlined the case against the federal government’s approach to arts funding and spoke to me about the importance of the arts to a society’s understanding of itself, our lazy attitude to democracy, politicians’ failure to listen to the people, asylum seekers, education, taxes, why the marriage equality debate gives her hope and tackling trolls.
My show Taxis & Rainbows & Hatred at Phoenix Fringe, Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Soho Theatre
Van’s pieces for Guardian Australia
Article: Extremist groups wilt under public scrutiny by Van Badham
Jean-Paul Sartre’s Dirty Hands (Le Mains sans)
Richard Marles on Q&A, July 6th
Causes of the Week: Yes2Renewables (yes2renewables.org), Sisters & Brothers NT Launch Pozible campaign
Happy 250th Episode, Little Dum Dum Club!
(I’m not in the above photo).
This show was insane fun and was such a joy to celebrate the dickheadedry that is this podcast. Treat yourself and listen back to it here.
28 – Rod Quantock
Rod Quantock recently received a Medal of the Order of Australia for his 45+ years of being an outspoken comedian/environmentalist activist/shit-stirrer. He is a living legend of Australian comedy who has relentlessly used his work to explain, dissect and call out political issues that really piss him off.
In this wide-ranging chat, Rod told me about his thoughts on music, his political radicalisation, the origins of his groundbreaking shows Tram and Bus, the community campaigns he’s been involved with, being physically beaten at a protest at the 2000 World Economic Forum, his plans to close down the Murdoch press, how he keeps faith in the political system (or doesn’t) and how the realities of climate change colour his view of the future.
My show Taxis & Rainbows & Hatred at Phoenix Fringe, Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Soho Theatre
Catch CO2: A TedX Talk by Rod Quantock
What Happened Miss Simone? trailer
The Last Tim Tam pozible campaign
Save The Planet political party
Cause of the Week: Quit Coal (quitcoal.org.au)
27 – Tim Wilson
Tim Wilson is a former policy director at the Institute of Public Affairs, Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner, public commentator and tea-drinker. He describes himself as a economic and social liberal and a cultural and institutional conservative. He’s passionate about his principles and isn’t afraid to wade into whatever controversy those principles might him lead to.
Together we discussed the criticisms he’s faced since taking on his role at the AHRC, asylum seeker policy, what it’s really like at the IPA, his opposition to plain packaging cigarettes, the balance of marriage equality and religious freedoms, anti-discrimination legislation and his thoughts on the recent Q&A controversy.
My show Taxis & Rainbows & Hatred at Phoenix Fringe, Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Soho Theatre
Tim on The Fifth Estate podcast with Sally Warhaft
The Australian Human Rights Commission
The Resilient Individuals Report
Article: Tony Abbott’s human rights man Tim Wilson racks up $77000 in expenses
Culture War Two: conservatives get high on their own supply by Jason Wilson
Tim Wilson: Freedom Fighter by Tim Elliott
Religious freedom and same-sex marriage need not be incompatible by Tim Wilson
Tim Wilson on Q&A episode Radicalisation, Religion & Recognition
Cause of the Week: The Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (aief.com.au)