4 – Senthorun Raj

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Tom

For an in-depth breakdown of what exactly is going on with Australia’s immigration policy and the number of laws we’re breaking, I talked to academic and advocate Senthorun Raj.

Currently completing his PhD in law at Sydney University, Senthorun has worked extensively with the NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, Amnesty International, ACON Health and many other organisations. Hear us discuss how his Tamil family background (and a TV show) influenced his passion for human rights, our society’s tendency to ignore certain kinds of violence and how Australia is, as we speak, complicit in state-sanctioned torture.

@senthorun

Senthorun’s writings for The Guardian

Cause of the Week: Amnesty International, The Pinnacle Foundation

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#PetsWatchingQandA

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Tom

On Monday nights I like to watch the ABC’s Q&A program.

This week during the show I tweeted this:

The only way to watch #qanda pic.twitter.com/RqmBTMbGnL

— Tom Ballard (@TomCBallard) February 9, 2015

And then, wouldn’t you know it, people responded with stuff like this:

@TomCBallard cat still here but the dog has left the room pic.twitter.com/CudNDlv1sX

— Team Lottie Schnauze (@LottieSchnauzer) February 9, 2015

and this:

@TomCBallard pic.twitter.com/2CPHC5Nw1v

— Emma (@emylee7) February 9, 2015

And from there it just got better and better and Buzzfeed even did a thing about it which you can check out here if you fancy.

Soooooo good.

Wittle Ol’ Me

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Tom

Children’s illustrator Claire Richards is putting on this lovely exhibition at the Urban Cow Studio in Adelaide during the Fringe called Funny Bunnies in which she’s illustrating comedians as children.

She very kindly asked me to be involved and this is what we came up with:

HOLY SHIT YOU WANT TO ADOPT ME RIGHT????

If you’re in Adelaide and would like to check out some gold like this, here’s the exhibition’s Facebook event.

A Story Set In The Magical Land of Adelaide

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Tom

It’s a February night in 2014 and I am travelling on a packed tram through the Adelaide CBD with a helium-filled representation of male genitalia on my head.

Let me explain.

You can read the full thing on indaily here.

And to hear me talk about such things live on stage with more swear words, check out the dates for my new show Taxis & Rainbows & Hatred here.

Next Week: Fully Furnished

Posted on February 9, 2015 by Tom

Last year my mate Tommy Dassalo and I cheekily stole some hard cash from SBS Comedy and made a pilot for a web series.

She’s out next week so keep an eye out or even both of them.

3 – Ian “Dicko” Dickson

Posted on February 4, 2015 by Tom

You probably know Dicko best as that arsehole judge from Australian Idol, but there’s a lot more to the old codger than that. He’s been a window washer, a music journalist, a radio host and more, all the while retaining his trademark unflinching honesty.

Here we discuss his father’s remarkable story, the political colouring of his youth, stories from his time working with everyone from Pearl Jam to Rage Against the Machine, political correctness and why he’s found himself in hot water with Quentin and Paulini.

Cause of the Week: The Australian Children’s Music Fund

Dicko’s story about Quentin on ABC iView

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Brilliant/horrific

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Tom

I Stand For Mercy

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Tom

Please sign the petition here.

2 – Kate Doak

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Tom

Kate Doak is a freelance investigative journalist who runs her own current affairs website (thedeadlynewt.com) and writes and reports for numerous publications.

She is a proud transwoman who’s passionate about confronting transphobia and other forms of discrimination facing the LGBTIQ community. Listen to hear about her coming out story (both of them), the physical threats trans people still face and the importance of language and visibility.

@katedoak

Cause of the Week: The Safe Schools Coalition

For more info check out The Gender Centre & short film In My Shoes

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1 – Samah Hadid

Posted on January 21, 2015 by Tom

Samah Hadid is a human rights and social justice campaigner who’s worked with the Global Poverty Project, the UN and grass-roots organisations all over the world.

She very kindly sat down with me in a Bankstown cafe to talk about being called a terrorist, wearing (and not wearing) a veil, Charlie Hebdo, foreign aid and being addicted to warzones.

samahhadid.com

Cause of the Week: www.globalpovertyproject.com

Direct download iTunes libsyn