Radio Woodfordia

"Our job as songwriters is not to ask people to feel better — it's to get better at feeling." — Dingo Spender, Mama Kin SpenderMama Kin Spender are Danielle Caruana and Dingo Spender — a duo flung to opposite sides of the country who make music by getting on planes, meeting somewhere in the middle, and going into the dark corners together to find the gold. Their 2025 album Promises debuted at number two on the ARIA Australian Albums Chart and was nominated for Best Blues and Roots Album at the 2025 ARIA Awards.This episode was recorded live at the 2025–26 Woodford Folk Festival, just hours after Mama Kin Spender played the Amphigrande. It's hosted by Jordan Royal stepping into the chair for Radio Woodfordia.Mama Kin opens with the observation that Woodford is one of those rare festivals that grows artists — the audience buys tickets before the program is released, trusting the programmers and trusting the experience, which means artists can bring their most vulnerable material and know the room will catch them. Dingo describes Woodford as a place where, if you fell backward, someone would catch you and buy you a delicious meal and sing you a song.They talk about Promises — how some of its threads existed as far back as 2019, how the songs were already there, waiting — not for words alone, but for music, rhythm, the body to fully understand itself. How the song that became their North Star felt at first like a sewer main, and turned out to be the truth.They talk about what it means to make music as two people on opposite ends of the country — the limitation as its own kind of grace, the trust that lets you go for things that are harder to reach, the creative producer who holds the space until you get to the hot spot. And they talk about what they're carrying into the new year. Joy — not as a blinder against grief, but as its equal. The realisation that being achingly human is itself an act of resistance. And Dingo's question for whatever comes next: what would the soundtrack to joy sound like?This episode is for:Anyone who makes things with another person and knows what it costs and what it givesPeople who have ever wondered whether it's okay to feel joy when the world is breakingWoodford devotees — and anyone who wants to understand why this festival means what it means to the artists who keep coming backDive in to hear about:Mama Kin on Woodford as a festival that grows artists — and why she wants to play here until she can't anymoreDingo's first Woodford: four or five gigs in a day, running between stages without putting his saxophone downThe full family Woodford — the year Mama Kin, Dingo, John Butler, and Mama Kin's daughter all played gigs, the same kid who was in nappies backstage at her mum's first festivalThe writing house, the songs that were waiting for language, and the track that felt like a sewer main and turned out to be the truthWhat a great music producer actually does — and why their creative friendship is the container that lets them go into the dark cornersJoy as practice, grief as fuel, and why being achingly human is the game worth playingKey topics: Mama Kin Spender, Danielle Caruana, Dingo Spender, Promises album, ARIA Awards, Woodford Folk Festival, songwriting, creative collaboration, folk soul, Australian music, joy, grief, communityTo come to the Woodford Folk Festival this year visit: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/FOR MORE: Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.au Mama Kin Spender: https://mamakinspender.love Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamakinspender Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mamakinspender Jordan Royal: https://www.instagram.com/j0rdanroyal/CREDITS: Host: Jordan Royal | Guests: Danielle Caruana and Dingo Spender of Mama Kin Spender | Executive Producer: Benny Wallington, Bree Hickson-Jamieson | Producers: Amelie Barham, Benjamin 'Tofty' Toft, Georgia Shaw, Madeleine Corcoran | Video Editing: Nick Haddow | Music by: The East Pointers | Recorded on Jinibara Country Join the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"You come home from Woodford with that feeling of, oh, okay, maybe the world's not so bad after all." — Matt GolinskiMatt Golinski grew up on a tropical fruit farm in Palmwoods on the Sunshine Coast — pawpaws, avocados, mangoes, bananas, and enough tomatoes and zucchinis to know instinctively what a good one looks like. That early understanding of where food comes from and what it takes to grow it has quietly shaped everything he's done since.He spent nine years on Ready Steady Cook, which is how most of Australia came to know him. He'd rather you call him a cook than a celebrity chef. He still cooks every day, he sources almost everything he uses directly from the farmers who grow it, and he'll drive hours into regional Queensland with a car stuffed full of pots and pans to cook a dinner for 300 people in Roma if that's what's needed. He does it alone, he does it happily, and he considers the friends he makes along the way as much a part of the job as the food itself.Harley Breen sits down with Matt for a conversation that covers a lot of ground — the farm, the TV years, the philosophy behind cooking with local producers, the honest economics of running a one-person catering operation in a tough industry, and what it actually means to care about where your food comes from. They also talk about what happens to the kitchen culture when the head chef is a psycho, why there should never be such a thing as a food trend, and the 50,000 pasta machines currently sitting unused in the backs of Australian cupboards.And then there's Woodford. Matt has been coming since the very first festivals at Maleny — living on home brand baked beans and a $20 tent that collapsed on the first night, surviving on very little and loving every minute of it. He's watched the trees grow from saplings to the canopy they are now, including some he helped plant. He lines up on Christmas Eve every year for his favourite camping spot. And he describes driving through the gates as feeling, simply, like coming home.This episode is for:Anyone who has ever stood in a paddock or a farmers market and felt that something was missing from the way we talk about foodWoodford lifers, and anyone who wants to understand why people keep coming backPeople who believe the best meals are the ones with a story behind themDive in to hear about:Growing up on a tropical fruit farm in Palmwoods and what it taught Matt about ingredients before he ever set foot in a kitchenNine years on Ready Steady Cook, why the term celebrity chef makes him cringe, and what he thinks most celebrity chefs stopped doing years agoWhy Matt refuses to give anyone a menu more than a week out, and why that's actually where the creativity livesCooking an 80th birthday dinner sourced entirely from the local producers the birthday boy spent a lifetime championingThe First Offenders, the Woombye Hall, Maleny in the early days, and a $20 tent that didn't survive its first nightWhy Matt stopped cooking at Woodford, and what he loves about just being a punterWatching trees he helped plant grow into the canopy that shades the festival todayPizza Loca: a thirty-five year love affair, and the most unexpected celebrity endorsement in festival food historyKey topics: Matt Golinski, Ready Steady Cook, local produce, farm to table, Sunshine Coast food, Woodford Folk Festival, Maleny Folk Festival, Australian food culture, community, seasonal cookingTo come to the Woodford Folk Festival this year visit: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/FOR MORE: Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.au Matt Golinski: https://mattgolinski.com.au https://www.instagram.com/mattgolinski https://www.facebook.com/ChefMattGolinskiCREDITS: Host: Harley Breen | Guest: Matt Golinski | Executive Producer: Benny Wallington | Producers: Cameron Scurrah, Bree Hickson-Jamieson| Video Editing: Nick Haddow | Music by: The East Pointers | Recorded on Jinibara Country | Recorded November 2025Join the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A note before you listenRadio Woodfordia reaches listeners around the world, and this episode includes discussion of bullying and suicide. Wherever you are, support is available.Australia Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) | https://www.lifeline.org.au QLife (LGBTQI+ peer support): 1800 184 527 (3pm–9pm daily) | https://www.qlife.org.auUnited States 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 (24/7) | https://www.988lifeline.org The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ youth): 1-866-488-7386 (24/7) | https://www.thetrevorproject.orgUnited Kingdom Samaritans: 116 123 (24/7) | https://www.samaritans.org Switchboard (LGBTQ+): 0300 330 0630 (10am–10pm daily) | https://switchboard.lgbtInternational https://www.befrienders.org — connects to crisis support services worldwide"I'm looking for hope in lots of places." — Shannon MolloyShannon Molloy started his first neighbourhood newspaper at age six — the Arthur Street Chronicle, covering the price of ham at Christmas and local goings-on. By 14 he was writing for online magazines from his bedroom in regional Queensland, using words the way some kids used escape routes. He needed one.Shannon is an award-winning journalist and the bestselling author of Fourteen — a memoir about growing up gay at an all-boys NRL-mad Catholic school in Yeppoon, central Queensland, in the year 2000. The book began as a single opinion piece about the Safe Schools debate that generated thousands of responses from people who recognised themselves in his story. It became a bestseller, was longlisted for an ABIA Award, and was adapted into a sell-out stage production that went on a national tour after what was meant to be a one-off season at Brisbane Festival.Harley Breen sits down with Shannon for a conversation that moves between the personal and the political with the ease of someone who has spent decades doing both. They talk about the fatigue of journalism in the age of relentless bad news and how Shannon has found an antidote in writing about hope and resilience. About the year that shaped everything — the violence, the isolation, the writing as refuge, and the small community of people, including a purple-haired youth worker in Yeppoon who insisted on drum circles, who made survival possible. About whether "it gets better" still holds as a message in a world that sometimes feels like it's moving backwards. And about men — where they're finding community now, why that matters, and what Shannon thinks is missing.This episode is for:Anyone who has ever used creativity as a way to survive somethingPeople who believe that small acts of kindness have more power than we knowAnyone thinking about what it means to build genuine community for men and boys in 2025Dive in to hear about:The flea market typewriter Shannon's mum brought home when he was five — and how it became the most important object in his lifeGrowing up gay at an all-boys Catholic school in Yeppoon, and the writing that got him throughThe Safe Schools opinion piece that generated thousands of responses and planted the seed for FourteenWhy Shannon thinks "it gets better" needs a more honest update — and what he'd say insteadKey topics: Shannon Molloy, Fourteen, memoir, LGBTQ+ Australia, journalism, men's health, community, hope, resilience, Queensland, bullying, Safe Schools, coming of ageTo come to the Woodford Folk Festival this year visit: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/FOR MORE:Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.auShannon Molloy: https://www.shannonmolloy.com.auFourteen and You Made Me This Way are available wherever books are sold.CREDITS: Host: Harley Breen | Guest: Shannon Molloy | Executive Producer: Benny Wallington | Producers: Cameron Scurrah, Bree Hickson-Jamieson | Video Editing: Nick Haddow | Music by: The East Pointers | Recorded on Jinibara Country | Recorded November 2025Join the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"You just got to grab it and go for it in that moment." — Jackson Van Issum, Beddy RaysBeddy Rays are four best mates from Redland Bay, Queensland who have been inseparable since they met on a school oval at age six. Their debut album hit #1 on the ARIA Vinyl chart and #2 on the Australian Albums chart. They've appeared in the triple j Hottest 100 multiple times. They won the Rock Award at the 2024 Queensland Music Awards. And they play like a band who never forgot why they started.Harley Breen sits down with vocalist Jacko (Jackson Van Issum) and lead guitarist Lewy (Lewis McKenna) on the afternoon of their first-ever Woodford Folk Festival performance — a headline slot at the Amphigrande, the festival's biggest stage — to talk about how they got here.The conversation covers the full origin story: four primary school kids bonding over Green Day and The Offspring on a school oval, eventually picking up instruments because someone had to play the drums and their mate Benny turned out to be frighteningly good at Guitar Hero. The house party at Jacko's place while his parents were away that became their first gig. The years of playing venues around Fortitude Valley without a manager, without a plan, and without quite understanding how the music industry worked — until they got one and realised how much they'd been figuring out the hard way.They also talk about the creative process — how Jacko writes from the centre of the song outward, why he tries to finish an idea the moment it arrives, and what it feels like to sit down to write and think: have I forgotten how to do this? (He hasn't. Neither has Harley.)And they talk about what it means to play a folk festival when your sound is breezy coastal punk rock — and why, once you understand that folk is the precursor to punk, to hip hop, to protest music, it makes complete sense.This episode is for:Anyone who has ever started something with their childhood mates and just kept goingFans of honest songwriting and bands who mean every word they playPeople who think folk and punk have nothing in common — this conversation might change your mindDive in to hear about:The school oval, the Green Day phase, and how four kids from Redland Bay became a bandLearning drums via Guitar Hero on expert mode — and why it actually workedThe house party that became their first gig (and the rum cans left up the side of the house)Five years without a manager, and what they learned when they finally got oneHow Jacko writes songs — and why finishing an idea in the moment is everythingPlaying the Amphigrande on their very first Woodford Folk Festival appearanceWhy folk music is the natural home of storytellers — whatever their genreKey topics: Beddy Rays, Jacko Van Issum, Lewy McKenna, Queensland punk, Australian indie rock, Woodford Folk Festival, songwriting, coastal punk rock, music origin stories, Australian musicTo come to the Woodford Folk Festival this year visit: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/FOR MORE: Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.au Beddy Rays: https://linktr.ee/beddyraysCREDITS: Host: Harley Breen | Guests: Jackson Van Issum and Lewis McKenna of Beddy Rays | Executive Producer: Benny Wallington, Bree Hickson-Jamieson | Producers: Cameron Scurrah, Georgia Shaw, Amelie Barham, Benjamin 'Tofty' Toft | Video Editing: Nick Haddow | Sound Editing: Kieron Atkinson | Music by: The East Pointers | Recorded on Jinibara Country | Recorded December 2025Join the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"A song is sort of like a flower coming out of a compost heap." — Charlie Mgee, Formidable VegetableCharlie Mgee once turned down $120,000 a year cutting carrots for a fossil fuel company. His finger wouldn't send the email. Instead, he took $2,000 and spent a year volunteering at festivals around the country — ending up at Woodford, where the seed of Formidable Vegetable was planted in a permaculture talk at the Greenhouse.More than 20 years later, he's built a straw house in Denmark, WA with 40 friends. For a while, he could buy a croissant from the local bakery made from the same wheat crop as his walls. He's played Glastonbury five times, quit flying for seven years, and written a viral song from a hotel room in Slovakia that got shared by Reggie Watts and contributed — he'll take it — to a wobble in a certain streaming giant's share price..Harley Breen sits down with Charlie for a conversation that covers an almost unreasonable amount of ground. They talk about what permaculture actually is once you get past the composting dunny of Charlie's childhood and into the systems thinking, the indigenous knowledge frameworks, and the radical idea that self-sufficiency is a myth — community is the point. About the impossible balance of being a touring musician who believes in living locally. About a major streaming platform investing artist royalties in AI killer drone technology, and the song Charlie wrote about it in a hotel room in Slovakia. About what it means to be a Luddite in 2025 as an act of resistance. And about active hope — the Joanna Macy framework that keeps Charlie going on the days when nihilism starts winning.Also: garden snails purged with flour, eaten like salami bites, and treated as pets first. You've been warned.This episode is for:Anyone who has ever wondered if the small ethical choices they make actually add up to anythingPeople who believe music can change the world — and want to hear from someone who has spent 20 years testing that theoryAnyone who has looked at the state of the world and needed someone to give them a framework for not losing their mindDive in to hear about:The $120,000 fossil fuel job Charlie's finger wouldn't let him accept — and the year of festival volunteering that followedHow a permaculture talk at Woodford's Greenhouse stage became the origin story of Formidable VegetableThe viral song recorded in a hotel room in Slovakia, Reggie Watts, and what it means to chip away at a giantWhy Charlie quit flying for seven years, what it cost him, and why he started againActive hope — Joanna Macy's framework for staying functional in the face of the world's problemsWhy AI music is the next frontier and Charlie's plan to troll it backKey topics: Formidable Vegetable, Charlie Mgee, permaculture, regenerative living, music activism, Woodford Folk Festival, sustainable building, Glastonbury, AI music, active hopeTo come to the Woodford Folk Festival this year visit: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/FOR MORE:Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.auFormidable Vegetable:Socials: https://www.instagram.com/formidableveg/https://www.instagram.com/not_just_charlieWeb: https://formidablevegetable.com.au/https://formidablevegetable.bandcamp.com/ Joanna Macy and the Work That Reconnects: https://workthatreconnects.orgCREDITS: Host: Harley Breen | Guest: Charlie Mgee of Formidable Vegetable | Executive Producer: Benny Wallington, Bree Hickson-Jamieson | Producers: Cameron Scurrah, Georgia Shaw, Amelie Barham, Benjamin 'Tofty' Toft | Video Editing: Nick Haddow | Music by: The East Pointers | Recorded on Jinibara Country Recorded December 2025#RadioWoodfordia #FormidableVegetable #CharlieMgee #HarleyBreen #WoodfordFolkFestival #Woodfordia #Permaculture #Sustainability #MusicActivism #AIMusic #RegenerativeLiving #ActiveHope #Podcast #LiveMusicJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"I started doing piano lessons and I started getting better at maths." — Grace AlexandraGrace Alexandra came to Woodford on a pay-it-forward ticket. The next year, she was performing at it.Grace is 16, Darug, and already the kind of artist who makes you lean forward. She first came to Woodfordia as a child, dancing with the Jinibara Dance Troupe in 2018. She came back in 2024 as a punter — watched Jaguar Jones, Yothu Yindi, and Caravana Sun — and left knowing she wanted to be on those stages. Twelve months later, here she is.Harley Breen sits down with Grace — and, delightfully, her mum, just off camera — for a conversation that's warm, unhurried, and quietly remarkable. They talk about the unlikely chain of events that led Grace to music: failing maths, choosing piano lessons over a tutor, and discovering, almost by accident, that she could sing. About growing up Darug , travelling to Sydney to connect with the Gadigal community, and writing a song about a place that moved her so deeply at age ten that she couldn't not write about it. About what it means to be a young Indigenous artist right now, and why the community of peers she needs doesn't quite exist yet in her area.What she's already done is not nothing. One of 15 First Nations artists nationally, Grace was selected for the First Sounds National Album, funded by AMRAP. She's played Bluesfest and the Gympie Muster. And now, Woodford.This episode is for:Anyone who believes the best origin stories start with failing mathsPeople who want to hear what the next generation of Indigenous Australian music sounds likeAnyone who needs a reminder of what it looks like when a young person is completely, quietly sure of themselvesDive in to hear about:How failing maths led Grace to piano lessons — and how piano lessons fixed the mathsThe pay-it-forward ticket that brought her to Woodford as a punter, and the moment she decided she'd be back as a performerThe place Grace visited at age ten that became the heart of an original songBeing selected for the First Sounds National Album out of 15 First Nations artists nationallyWhy there's a gap in peer community for young musicians in her area — and why Woodford helps fill itKey topics: Grace Alexandra, First Nations music, young Australian artists, Woodford Folk Festival, singer-songwriter, Indigenous storytelling, Sunshine Coast music sceneTo come to the Woodford Folk Festival this year visit: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/FOR MORE: Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.auGrace Alexandra: https://linktr.ee/grace_alexandra_music CREDITS: Host: Harley Breen | Guest: Grace Alexandra | Executive Producer: Benny Wallington, Bree Hickson-Jamieson | Producers: Cameron Scurrah, Georgia Shaw, Amelie Barham, Benjamin 'Tofty' Toft | Video Editing: Nick Haddow | Music by: The East Pointers | Recorded on Jinibara CountryRecorded December 2025#RadioWoodfordia #GraceAlexandra #HarleyBreen #WoodfordFolkFestival #Woodfordia #FirstNationsMusic #IndigenousAustralian #SingerSongwriter #AustralianMusic #NewMusic #Podcast #LiveMusicJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"It's a concentrated fantasy, this whole place." — Large MirageThey'd never been to Woodford Folk Festival before. You wouldn't have known it.AJ, Bailey and Blake of Large Mirage arrived at their first Woodford — first time as a band, first time as human beings — and immediately looked like they belonged. Within five minutes of their first set, the Pineapple Lounge was heaving. The second night was better still. And somehow, between all of it, they still had time to pull up chairs at a campsite bluegrass session and call it a private gig.Harley Breen sits down with three quarters of Large Mirage for a conversation that moves at the pace of one of their extended instrumental jams — warm, a little unpredictable, and genuinely fun. They talk about what psych rock actually means when you're the one playing it, why the genre label is both accurate and completely insufficient, and how AJ ended up in the band after being spotted at a lawn bowls club gig by a man in double denim. They talk about the band name — born from two bandmates both seeing the same thing on an airport tarmac, and a rhyme that only works in an Australian accent. And they talk about what it means to fly to New South Wales on New Year's Eve afternoon to play a show, then fly back to Woodford to play Bluestown stage at 1am.Stretching. Eating well. Drinking water before the set. Rock and roll has changed.This episode is for:Anyone who has walked into a tent at Woodford not knowing what was playing and ended up having the best timePeople who believe the best bands are the ones that can't quite be contained by their own genre labelAnyone who has ever dramatically underestimated how heavy a Hammond organ isDive in to hear about:What psych rock actually sounds like from the inside — extended jams, organ solos, Texas shuffles, and a sound that wears many hatsThe lawn bowls club gig, the double denim, and the very random encounter that brought AJ into the bandWhy "Large Mirage" only rhymes if you're Australian — and the airport tarmac moment that started it allThe New Year's Eve schedule that has them flying to a Central Coast show and back to a 1am Bluestown set at WoodfordKey topics: Large Mirage, psychedelic rock, Woodford Folk Festival, live music, Australian independent music, Hammond organ, festival cultureTo come to the Woodford Folk Festival this year visit: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/FOR MORE: Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.auLarge Mirage: https://largemirage.com/ https://www.instagram.com/largemirage/ https://www.tiktok.com/@largemirage CREDITS: Host: Harley Breen | Guests: AJ Stanton, Blake Rochester and Bailey Brown of Large Mirage | Executive Producer: Benny Wallington | Producers: Georgia Shaw, Amelie Barham, Benjamin ‘Tofty’ Toft, Bree Hickson-Jamieson | Video Editing: Nick Haddow | Music by: The East Pointers | Recorded on Jinibara Country Recorded December 2025#RadioWoodfordia #LargeMirage #HarleyBreen #WoodfordFolkFestival #Woodfordia #PsychRock #AustralianMusic #IndieMusic #LiveMusic #FolkFestival #Podcast #RockAndRollJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"For us being at Woodford from an early age, seeing so many shows — you walk into a tent and you just start dancing. That's the feeling we try to put into our shows, because we know how great that feels." — TjakaGeoff, Jake and Felix of Tjaka know exactly what a Woodford crowd feels like. They've been standing in one since they were kids. In 2024, they found out what it looks like from the other side.They are, in the truest sense, Woodford babies — kids who watched their dad perform on the Grande and the Amphitheatre stages, who spent years in the crowd absorbing everything from eight-piece jazz funk bands to carrot flutes before they ever set foot on a Woodford stage themselves. In 2024, that changed. Tjaka played four shows, including New Year's Eve just after the countdown, and the crowd went exactly as wild as they always knew it would.Harley Breen sits down with the three of them for a conversation that's as warm and chaotic as a Tjaka set. They talk about how a dislocated elbow, a radio show, and a very long friendship between families became a band. About touring Taiwan, playing The Great Escape in the UK, and still stacking yoghurt in the dairy aisle twenty-four hours after a sold-out show. About the Didjeribone — Charlie McMahon's slide didgeridoo invention, made from PVC pipe, capable of ten keys in one, and apparently a serious conversation starter with airport security.And they talk about what Woodford actually does to musicians who've grown up inside it: how the diversity, the energy, and the sheer what-the-hell-is-this-and-why-do-I-love-it magic of the festival becomes a philosophy of performance.This episode is for:Anyone who has stood in a tent at Woodford and had their mind completely changed by something they never would have chosenPeople who believe the best artists are the ones who grew up loving live music firstAnyone who wants to hear a slide didgeridoo improvised live in a podcast studioDive in to hear about:The Didjeribone — Charlie McMahon's slide didgeridoo invention, how it works, why it's perfect carry-on luggage, and the airport security performances it keeps generatingWhat happens when your own band is recommended to you by a stranger in a beer queueThe gap between "we're going on a national tour" and "I am stacking yoghurt in a supermarket right now" — and why Felix thinks he's already won anywayHow a dislocated elbow, a missed psychology exam, and a lifelong friendship became the origin story of TjakaWhy Woodford crowds hit differently when you've spent your whole life in themTo come to the Woodford Folk Festival this year visit: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/FOR MORE: Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.auTjaka: https://tjaka.bandcamp.com/music Charlie McMahon, and the Didjeribone: https://www.charliemcmahon.com/ https://didjeribone.com/ CREDITS: Host: Harley Breen | Guests: Geoff Fabila, Jake Fabila and Felix Fogarty of Tjaka | Executive Producer: Benny Wallington | Producers: Cameron Scurrah, Georgia Shaw, Amelie Barham, Bree Hickson-Jamieson | Sound Editing: Keiron Atkinson | Video Editing: Nick Haddow | Music by: The East Pointers | Recorded on Jinibara CountryKey topics: Tjaka band, Woodford Folk Festival performers, Didjeribone, Charlie McMahon, contemporary First Nations music, independent music careers, live performance culture#RadioWoodfordia #Tjaka #HarleyBreen #WoodfordFolkFestival #Woodfordia #Didjeribone #CharlieMcMahon #FirstNationsMusic #AustralianMusic #IndieMusic #FolkFestival #LiveMusic #Podcast #WoodfordBabiesJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"The wastewater doesn't lie."You've walked past it a hundred times without knowing it's there. Beneath the stages, the food stalls, and the dusty paths of Woodford Folk Festival runs more than 50 kilometres of sewers — and a treatment system so sophisticated it's now a cover story in American engineering magazines and a blueprint for festivals around the world.Harley Breen sits down with Ben Kele, the quietly hilarious wastewater engineer who has been running Woodfordia's decentralised water system for the past 16 years. What begins as a conversation about poo quickly becomes something much bigger: a story about world-leading science, practical environmentalism, and what it looks like when a festival takes its responsibilities to the land seriously.Ben explains how Woodford processes up to a million litres of wastewater a day during the festival — every drop treated on site, with not a single litre trucked in or out. He talks about the unique challenge of a system that swings from 15,000 litres on a quiet construction day to a million litres on the 27th of December, what the water chemistry reveals about who's on site and what they've been drinking, and how a small research project that started right here at Woodford became the foundation for Australia's national pharmaceutical wastewater tracking program — now used by public health agencies and federal law enforcement nationwide. He also tells the story of his brother Andrew, a flannel dressing gown, a dozen flushed bras, and a very unfortunate encounter with Chris Martin.This episode is for:Anyone who's ever wondered what actually happens when 130,000 people flushPeople who believe the most interesting infrastructure is the kind you never seeAnyone who finds genuine joy in a person who is brilliant at something the rest of us would rather not think aboutDive in to hear about:How Woodfordia became the unlikely birthplace of Australia's national drug-detection-via-wastewater program — and the AFP funding that got it startedWhat the water chemistry difference is between a Woodford Folk Festival crowd and other music festival crowds — and what it says about what people choose to drinkWhy composting toilets work brilliantly in Tasmania and terribly in a Queensland summer, and the fly hatching cycle that explains everythingThe story of Andrew the bog monster, a flannel dressing gown, a dozen flushed bras, and a very famous rock star who witnessed the whole thing from a stretch limousineTo come to the Woodford Folk Festival this year visit: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/FOR MORE: Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.au Ben Kele and Arris Water:Woodford Folk Festival Water System — Arris Water Case Study: https://www.arris.com.au/water/water-projects/queensland-folk-federation-qld/Woodford Folk Festival feature — The Onsite Journal, Summer 2024: https://www.nowra.org/Customer-Content/www/news/PDFs/Onsite_Journal_Summer_2024_Online.pdfCREDITS: Host: Harley Breen | Guest: Ben Kele | Executive Producer: Benny Wallington | Producers: Cameron Scurrah, Bree Hickson-Jamieson | Sound Editing: Keiron Atkinson | Video Editing: Nick Haddow | Music by: The East Pointers | Recorded on Jinibara Country#RadioWoodfordia #BenKeele #HarleyBreen #WoodfordFolkFestival #Woodfordia #WastewaterManagement #Sustainability #Environment #MusicFestivals #FestivalLife #Podcast #WaterScienceKey topics:Decentralized water systems for festivalsInnovative wastewater treatment techniquesResearch and monitoring of pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs in wastewaterJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners please be aware this episode contains references to a deceased person."The spirit of the old storytellers and the people who were protesters is not dead. It's alive and well in the next generation."Recorded ahead of his appearance at The Planting Festival in May, this conversation between Harley Breen and Troy Cassar-Daley is exactly the kind of yarn Radio Woodfordia was made for. Troy is calling in from his childhood home on Gumbaynggirr Country near Coffs Harbour, where he's been on a quiet sabbatical — renovating sheds, working with reclaimed timber, reconnecting with family, and slowly starting to write songs again.What unfolds is a wide-ranging, deeply warm conversation about what it means to come home — to country, to community, to the things that restore you. Troy talks about the campfire tradition he and his cousins hold each year on country, the song Shadows on the Hill and the story behind it, his daughter Jem's first year on the road, and why he thinks the kids from Tamworth he visits each December need to come to Woodford. He also has something to say to the person who wondered why a country music artist would be booked at a folk festival.This episode is for:Anyone who finds peace working with their handsPeople who believe storytelling isn't a genre — it's a way of beingAnyone who has ever felt restored by going back to the place that made themDive in to hear about:The campfire tradition that started with grief and became something vitalWhy Troy thinks telling stories and singing songs has nothing to do with genreJem Cassar-Daley's first year on the road with Troy — 82 shows, one red eye flight, and a moment that made Troy certain she was built for itTo come to The Planting Festival visit: https://theplanting.com.au/ To come to the Woodford Folk Festival and FWOD next year visit: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/FOR MORE:Troy Cassar-Daley: https://www.troycassardaley.com.auHarley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.auCREDITS:Host: Harley BreenGuest: Troy Cassar-DaleyExecutive Producer: Bree Hickson-JamiesonProducers: Josh Weier, Bree Hickson-JamiesonMusic by: The East PointersRecorded on Jinibara Country#RadioWoodfordia #TroyCassarDaley #HarleyBreen #WoodfordFolkFestival #ThePlanting #Woodfordia #Storytelling #FolkMusic #CountryMusic #Podcast #FirstNations #FirstNationsMusicJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"It's either your first Woodford or your hundredth Woodford. I think that’s how it works."This episode was recorded live from the Woodford Folk Festival as part of First Wine of the Day. It's New Year's Day, the final show, and the ironed-on Woodfordians are the only ones left standing. Harley missed the three minutes of silence after “overestimating his New Year’s Eve resilience.” Nikki spent hers at the pond thinking about her dog. Bars manager Linus turns up running on fumes but still manages to school everyone on Sauvignon Blanc. Business as usual.The astrologer said we're heading into seven of the greatest years ever to unfold on planet Earth. The Forest of Goodwill campaign is well underway, with the community steadily working toward its 5.7 million dollar goal. And somewhere under the AmphiGrande sign, there may or may not be buried treasure — courtesy of comedian Shad Wicka, who also reads the most heartfelt, hilarious love letter to Woodford you'll hear all year. Thea Newton pulls back the curtain on the Great Band Competition — 68 musicians, 15 randomly assembled bands, 24 hours to make something extraordinary. Holly Austin makes a live pitch for Kite Choir, an international peace project involving 200 kites, children's voices from around the world, and a sky full of sound. And Sunshine Coast brothers Frank and Louis, aged 17 and 19, close out the entire series with a song that makes Harley wish his kids were watching.This episode is for:Anyone who's ever been converted to something they didn't think they wanted to go toPeople who believe the world is about to get a lot better — cosmically speakingAnyone who knows that the last day of a festival belongs to a very special kind of humanDive in to hear about:Shad Wicka's letter to Woodford — from cult sceptic to true believer in five daysWhat Puglia, Italy has in common with the whole of Australia — a wine fact that will surprise youHow 68 strangers became 15 bands in 24 hours at the Great Band CompetitionTo come to the Woodford Folk Festival and FWOD next year visit: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/FOR MORE:Frank & Louis: https://www.instagram.com/frankandlouismusicHolly Austin: https://www.hollyaustin.netShad Wicka: https://www.instagram.com/wickedshadHarley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.auNikki Britton: https://www.instagram.com/thenikkibrittonA Forest of Goodwill: https://aforestofgoodwill.woodfordia.comCREDITS:Hosts: Harley Breen, Nikki BrittonGuests: Shad Wicka, Thea Newton, Holly Austin, Frank & Louis, Linus WilsonProducer: Bree Hickson-JamiesonExecutive Producers: Benny Wallington, Georgia ShawArtwork: Hannah RoseSocial Media: Eliza CowanAssistant: Madeline CorcoranCamera Operators: Amelie Barham, Ben 'Tofty' ToftEditing: Amelie BarhamMusic by: The East PointersRecorded on Jinibara Country#RadioWoodfordia #FrankAndLouie #ShadWicka #HollyAustin #WoodfordFolkFestival #HarleyBreen #NikkiBritton #LivePodcast #Woodfordia #NewYearsDay #FolkMusic #LiveMusic #ComedyJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the best descriptions of Woodford Folk Festival you'll ever hear comes from a friend experiencing it for the very first time: “Oh my god, it’s utopia.”"I think it is a place that brings out the best in people."-- Kate Miller-HeidkeThis episode was recorded live from the Woodford Folk Festival as part of First Wine of the Day. It's New Year's Eve, day five, Harley's voice is nearly gone, and Nikki Britton almost missed the show after getting stuck in her swimmers in a festival bathroom. Business as usual.Bar manager and sommelier Linus Wilson breaks down aromatic grapes, orange wine, and the one food and wine pairing you should never attempt. Harley's eldest son Leonard drops in as surprise co-host and promptly roasts his father in front of a live audience. Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall play a brand new song born out of Melbourne's COVID lockdown — a darkly funny apocalypse plan about the people you'd actually want in your corner when the ship goes down. And the Mast Gully Fellers close out day five with two songs about pubs, gold miners, and the eternal Australian pursuit of a cold drink after six o'clock.This episode is for:Anyone who's ever loved a place so much it changes the way they move through the worldPeople who spent COVID lockdown making questionable plans and even more questionable decisionsAnyone knows someone who’s been kicked out of a pub and still thinks they were in the rightDive in to hear about:Why Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall have been coming to Woodford since they were teenagers — and why they met here, fell for each other here, and keep coming backThe apocalypse survival song Kate and Keir wrote during Melbourne's 100-day lockdown — and the people they'd need in their cornerLeonard Breen's New Year's resolution: less girlfriends, more dirt bikesTo come to the Woodford Folk Festival and FWOD next year visit: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/FOR MORE: Kate Miller-Heidke: https://www.katemillerheidke.com Keir Nuttall: https://www.keirnuttall.com Mast Gully Fellas: https://www.instagram.com/mastgullyfellers Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.au Nikki Britton: https://www.instagram.com/thenikkibrittonCREDITS: Hosts: Harley Breen, Nikki Britton Guests: Kate Miller-Heidke, Keir Nuttall, Mast Gully Fellers, Linus Wilson, Leonard Breen Producer: Bree Hickson-Jamieson Executive Producers: Benny Wallington, Georgia Shaw Artwork: Hannah Rose Social Media: Eliza Cowan Assistant: Madeline Corcoran Camera Operators: Amelie Barham, Ben 'Tofty' Toft Editing: Amelie Barham Music by: The East Pointers Recorded on Jinibara Country#RadioWoodfordia #KateMiller-Heidke #KeirNuttall #MastGullyFellers #WoodfordFolkFestival #HarleyBreen #NikkiBritton #LivePodcast #Woodfordia #NewYearsEve #FolkMusic #LiveMusic #Comedy #OrangeWineJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"We might not have achieved what we wanted to, but by Jesus we tried."This episode was recorded live from the Woodford Folk Festival as part of First Wine of the Day. Day four, and Harley Breen and Nikki Britton are running on fumes, festival feeling, and a very good chilled red. They'd already cried before the show started — two men had just got married on the hill, and their friends sang to them. That's Woodford.Bar manager and sommelier Linus Wilson opens with a lesson in Beaujolais-style winemaking, Professor Ian Lowe delivers one of the most quietly galvanising conversations about our relationship with the natural world you'll hear anywhere, The Cartridge Family play two songs about tolerance and mismatched love, and Katie Noonan — in her 30th year at Woodford — closes the show with a performance dedicated to Quandamooka Country.This episode is for:Anyone who needs a reminder that the natural world is worth fighting for — and that the fight is winnableAnyone who loves a love story between two people who probably shouldn't work — but absolutely doAnyone who's ever cried at a Folk Festival and didn't even try to stopDive in to hear about:The hoop pine Ian Lowe planted at the first Woodford Folk Festival — now standing 20 metres tallWhy Professor Ian Lowe believes we're pulling random bricks out of the wall of life — and what we owe the generations coming after usKatie Noonan's 30th Woodford, her 30th album, and a song performed on the 30th of December — some things are just meant to happenTo come to the Woodford Folk Festival and FWOD next year visit: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/FOR MORE:Katie Noonan: https://www.katienoonan.com.auThe Cartridge Family: https://www.instagram.com/the_cartridge_family_bandProfessor Ian Lowe: https://experts.griffith.edu.au/9862-ian-lowe Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.auNikki Britton: https://www.instagram.com/thenikkibrittonCREDITS:Hosts: Harley Breen, Nikki BrittonGuests: Professor Ian Lowe, Rusty Berther & The Cartridge Family, Katie Noonan, Linus WilsonProducer: Bree Hickson-JamiesonExecutive Producers: Benny Wallington, Georgia ShawArtwork: Hannah RoseSocial Media: Eliza CowanAssistant: Madeline CorcoranCamera Operators: Amelie Barham, Ben 'Tofty' ToftEditing: Amelie BarhamMusic by: The East PointersRecorded on Jinibara Country#RadioWoodfordia #KatieNoonan #IanLowe #TheCartridgeFamily #WoodfordFolkFestival #HarleyBreen #NikkiBritton #LivePodcast #Woodfordia #Biodiversity #FolkMusic #Conservation #Comedy #LiveMusicJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the best reviews of Woodford Folk Festival you'll ever hear comes second-hand, from a new friend named Neil.This episode was recorded live from the Woodford Folk Festival as part of First Wine of the Day. Day three, and Harley Breen has finally had a shower. With Nikki Britton stranded on the Bruce Highway (again), comedian Oliver Clark steps in as co-host — and promptly gets upstaged by a surprise grandma in full polyester, and the national treasure that is Dr. Karl.Dr. Karl Kruszelnicki breaks down the three-part formula behind his seemingly infinite knowledge, sings a surprisingly committed rendition of Bad Case of Loving You, and reminds us all that science is simply a way to not get fooled. Then UK folk troubadour Beans on Toast, fresh off his first ever Woodford appearances the day before, drops in to play two songs — opening with the kind of song that sneaks up on you with Send Me a Bird, before closing out with the crowd singalong Beano, a love letter to Australian slang.This episode is for:Anyone who's ever had their faith in humanity restored by a communityPeople who want to know how Dr. Karl actually knows everythingAnyone who needs a good cry followed immediately by a singalong about prawnsDive in to hear about:What happens when your co-host gets stranded on the Bruce Highway and someone's grandma shows up insteadThe three-part formula Dr. Karl uses to make complex knowledge stick — and why a surprise midnight visit from a Hollywood A-lister is involvedBeans on Toast finding a home at Woodford on his very first visitTo come to the Woodford Folk Festival and FWOD next year visit: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/FOR MORE:Beans on Toast: https://www.beansontoastmusic.comDr. Karl: https://drkarl.comOliver Clark: https://www.instagram.com/theoliverclarkHarley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.auNikki Britton: https://www.instagram.com/thenikkibrittonCREDITS:Hosts: Harley Breen, Nikki BrittonGuests: Oliver Clark, Dr. Karl Kruszelnicki, Beans on Toast, GrannyProducer: Bree Hickson-JamiesonExecutive Producers: Benny Wallington, Georgia ShawArtwork: Hannah RoseSocial Media: Eliza CowanAssistant: Madeline CorcoranCamera Operators: Amelie Barham, Ben 'Tofty' ToftEditing: Amelie BarhamMusic by: The East PointersRecorded on Jinibara Country#RadioWoodfordia #DrKarl #BeansOnToast #OliverClark #WoodfordFolkFestival #HarleyBreen #NikkiBritton #LivePodcast #Woodfordia #FolkMusic #LiveMusic #ComedyJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Every time you visit Woodford you leave a different person."This episode was recorded live from the Woodford Folk Festival as part of First Wine of the Day. Harley Breen and co-host Nikki Britton open with one of the most quietly beautiful moments Radio Woodfordia has captured — the story of a she-oak walking stick, a stranger's generosity, and a carving made from a sapling found during a wilderness rites of passage ceremony. It's the kind of story that reminds you why Woodford exists.Poet Nick Grivas then takes the room by storm with his searing and uncomfortably accurate slam piece Chasing Cheap Dopamine, Bobby Alu plays the song that soundtracked the birth of Harley's first child, bars manager Linus Wilson finally explains what orange wine actually is, and the Beddy Rays close out with their very first Woodford performance.This episode is for:Anyone who needs to feel something real todayPeople who've ever been handed an unexpected gift by a strangerAnyone who's checked their phone at least once while listening to thisDive in to hear about:A she-oak walking stick, a family heirloom, and a gift returnedChasing Cheap Dopamine — slam poetry for the accidental cyborg in all of usThe truth about orange wine (and why sediment is your friend)To come to the Woodford Folk Festival and FWOD next year visit: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/FOR MORE: Bobby Alu: https://www.bobbyalu.com Nick Grivas Liquid Lyrics: https://www.instagram.com/liquid_lyricsBeddy Rays: https://www.beddyrays.com/ Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.auNikki Britton: https://www.instagram.com/thenikkibrittonCREDITS: Hosts: Harley Breen, Nikki Britton Guests: Nick Grivas, Bobby Alu, Linus Wilson, Beddy Rays Producer: Bree Hickson-Jamieson Executive Producers: Benny Wallington, Georgia Shaw Artwork: Hannah Rose Social Media: Eliza Cowan Assistant: Madeline Corcoran Town Cryer: Ché Pritchard Camera Operators: Amelie Barham, Ben 'Tofty' Toft Editing: Amelie Barham Music by: The East Pointers Recorded on Jinibara Country#RadioWoodfordia #BobbyAlu #NickGrivas #BeddyRays #WoodfordFolkFestival #HarleyBreen #NikkiBritton #SlamPoetry #LivePodcast #WoodfordiaJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was recorded live from the Woodford Folk Festival as part of the 'First Wine of the Day' and might just be better to watch on youtube if you can (not while driving please)Harley Breen alongside his cohost Nikki Britton, who arrives fashionably late after spending 12 hours on the Bruce Highway, light up the Piano Bar delighting the crowd with lots of cracking guests. fruity wine and funnies to keep you giggling. The ep features a custom-built pram vehicle (featuring trap doors, LED lights, an underground esky and a nutty contraption). We introduce a man described as 'Woodford', Costa Georgiadis, who as no beef with his new mate Brett Blake, and a surprise musical performance from the spectacular Jen Wynter.Costa shares why Woodford lit a fire in him that hasn't stopped burning since Bill first extended the invite. The importance of building mud pie kitchens in the children's festival to performing covers in Greek while wearing a silver unitard at 2am, Costa embodies the playful, joyful spirit that makes Woodford wild and special and weird in the best kind of way.Settle in, you might learn a thing or two about wine as well from Woodford's wine connoisseur and Bars Manager Linus Wilson. Muck Yeah!This episode is for:Anyone who needs a bloody laughPeople whose friends went to First Wine and feel FOMO they missed itAnyone who's felt isolated by modern technologyParents looking for ways to pass on childlike wonderFestival-goers who understand why Woodford feels like coming homeDive in to hear about:"Worm alerts"The Bruce Highway and muck in the bottom of fine wineHow to build a multi-purpose Radio Woodfordia promo vehicleHow to play Scrabble and give nil f*cks about a live show right next to you. Awesome.To come to the Woodford Folk Festival and FWOD next year visit: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/FOR MORE:Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.auNikki Britton: https://www.instagram.com/thenikkibrittonCosta Georgiadis: https://costasworld.com.au/Jen Wynter: https://www.jennywynter.com/ Brett Blake: https://www.brettblake.com.au/CREDITS: Hosts: Harley Breen, Nikki BrittonGuests: Costa Georgiadis, Brett Blake, Jenny Winter, Linus WilsonProducer: Bree Hickson-JamiesonExecutive Producers: Benny Wallington, Georgia ShawArtwork: Hannah RoseSocial Media: Eliza CowanAssistant: Madeline CorcoranTown Cryer: Ché PritchardCamera Operators: Amelie Barham, Ben 'Tofty' ToftVideo editing: Amelie BarhamMusic by: The East PointersSpecial thanks: Linus and the Piano Bar team Recorded on Jinibara Country#RadioWoodfordia #CostaGeorgiadis #BrettBlake #JennyWinter #WoodfordFolkFestival #HarleyBreen #NikkiBritton #GardeningAustralia #Woodfordia #LivePodcastJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Why can't we just live at Woodfordia? And why isn't this just how we all live?"In this episode, Harley sits down with Katie Noonan. It's Katie's 30th year at Woodford, and she's just finished her 30th studio album - serendipitous! Katie's Woodford journey started in 1995 when she won the Woodford band competition (prize: a ticket to next year's festival). That hook worked, and she's been back every year since, volunteering, performing with her band george, performing solo, with her family, and now with her new album "Alone But All One," which she's premiering at the festival.But this isn't just a musician's story. It's about growiing up with the opera-singing mum and witnessing the super talented Jeff Buckley at 18, before deciding to become a "musical weirdo." Katie now runs the Eumundi School of Music to provide children with free music education and still references Woodford as her church. This episode is for:Musicians wondering if they can survive making art in the streaming eraParents trying to explain to their kids why music matters more than moneyAnyone who's ever left Woodford wondering "why can't life be like this?"Dive in to hear about:Taking on Jeff Buckley's five-octave range (the ultimate artistic challenge)Brisbane's unique 90s music scene The joys and struggles of Woodford campingTo learn more about Katie Noonan: https://www.katienoonan.com.au/To come to the Woodford Folk Festival: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/FOR MORE: Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.auCREDITS:Host: Harley BreenGuest: Katie NoonanProducer: Benny WallingtonExecutive Producers: Cameron Scurrah, Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Georgia ShawVideo editing: Amelie BarhamAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East PointersRecorded on Jinibara Country#RadioWoodfordia #KatieNoonan #George #WoodfordFolkFestival #JeffBuckley #AustralianMusic #HarleyBreen #WoodfordiaJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"You can still dream. And I think that's what keeps me coming back."In this episode, Harley sits down with Chelsea, the circus programmer who's been shaping what happens under the big top at Woodford for the past decade.She's someone who's seen the festival from every angle, first as a punter drawn in by friends working the pedal-powered juice bar, then as a performer touring her own contemporary circus company (Scotch and Soda, Cantina), and now as the one deciding who gets to step into that big top circular space at Woodfordia.Chelsea's story is about choosing creative freedom over institutional validation.. These days she splits her time between programming aerial acts and teaching the fundamentals of being human to five-year-olds, and somehow both jobs make perfect sense.This episode is for:Programmers and curators navigating the messy reality of building festival programsCircus artists wondering what it takes to startParents who build carts for their kids and are looking for tipsDive in to hear about why:The buggy meet is a legitimate highlight of the festival where families line up to discuss their carts like hotted-up carsA 16-year-old aerialist who came as a punter five years ago, stayed in the circus tent the entire festival, and is now performing at WoodfordProgramming is a puzzle where "it still seems a bit out of order and I'm a bit unsure... but it all kind of works"To come to the Woodford Folk Festival: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/To learn more about the circus programme: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/programme/FOR MORE: Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.auCREDITS:Host: Harley BreenGuest: Chelsea McguffinProducer: Benny WallingtonExecutive Producers: Cameron Scurrah, Bree Hickson-JamiesonVideo Editing: Nicholas HaddowAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East PointersRecorded on Jinibara Country#RadioWoodfordia #WoodfordFolkFestival #CircusProgrammer #TrashTestDummies #Astrodinotto #ContemporaryCircus #FestivalLife #HarleyBreen #WoodfordiaJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Never play for exposure is a big piece of advice that we've taken... It makes a big difference."In this episode, Harley sits down with three members of Dizzy Days (Aisling, EJ, and Bridget – with Mikaela absent in Melbourne), Brisbane's disco-dance-pop-band, who came together through unlikely connection: a mysterious Facebook post and an awkward audition.The band is a unique blend of each member's cultural influence, but the artists have found cosmic chemistry in their unlikely network. The trio shares their stories through the years, and how they've mastered the art of staying in haunted prisons and national park bungalows to keep within tour budget.They're aware about what it takes to survive as emerging artists: never playing for exposure, making the most of resources provided (airport bikkies), and accepting that being a musician now means being an influencer, whether you like it or not.This episode is for:Emerging bands learning the economics of touringMusicians wondering if formal training helps or harms creativityArtists navigating the pressure of algorithmsDive in to hear about how:You should accept that random friend requestPost-COVID crowds have changedPlaying for exposure doesn't pay rentTo learn more about Dizzy Days: https://www.instagram.com/dizzydaysband/?hl=enTo come to the Woodford Folk Festival: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/FOR MORE: Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.auCREDITS:Host: Harley BreenGuests: Dizzy Days (Aisling O'Byrne, Bridgette Dabinet, EJ Carey)Producer: Benny WallingtonExecutive Producers: Cameron Scurrah, Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Jack Tindall, Georgia ShawVideo Editing: Nicholas Haddow, Amelie BarhamAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East PointersRecorded on Jinibara Country#RadioWoodfordia #DizzyDays #AustralianMusic #DIYTouring #EmergingArtists #WoodfordFolkFestival #HarleyBreen #WoodfordiaJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"There's something magical here. If you don't believe in magic or serendipity or whatever, you will by the time you leave."In this episode, Harley sits down with comedian and old friend Jen Wynter, who is a mother of six, a grandmother, and a Woodford veteran since 1998, back when she was throwing mud with hippies.Jen's story is about trust, timing, and the cosmic connections that so many Woodfordian's have experienced from the festival. From losing her wallet (and getting it back with extra cash) to having her mum's folk music legacy unexpectedly intersect with a stranger's memory, Woodford has given her lifelong memories that defy logic.Also, Jen shares her incredible story of meeting a British mum in a children's sandbox at Woodford, who just happened to be childhood friends with comedian-musician, Bill Bailey. Fast forward through years of friendship, and a wild leap of faith, now Jen is writing a TV show starring her comedy hero.This episode is for:Comedians navigating improv, standup, and live performanceWoodfordians with a festival connection storyArtists wondering if they should pitch their heroesDive in to hear about how:Improv saved Jen's sanity when she was raising her childrenThe kindest heckle she ever received was "improvise!"Woodford is the only place you'd lose your wallet and expect it back with moreTo learn more about Jen Winter: https://www.jennywynter.com/To come to the Woodford Folk Festival: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/FOR MORE: Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.auCREDITS:Host: Harley BreenGuest: Jenny WinterProducer: Benny WallingtonExecutive Producers: Cameron Scurrah, Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Jack Tindall, Amelie Barham, Georgia Shaw, Eliza CowanVideo Editing: Amelie BarhamAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East PointersRecorded on Jinibara Country#RadioWoodfordia #JenWynter #JennyWynter #BillBailey #WoodfordFolkFestival #ComedyMagic #Serendipity #HarleyBreen #WoodfordiaJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"I think the thing that has struck me the most is that if you just trust yourself and do the thing that feels the most honest to you, it always goes better."In this episode Harley connects with Georgia Mooney, who landed in Brisbane just hours before this conversation after a 60-hour journey from Prince Edward Island, Canada.She's a solo artist now, but you might know her from All Our Exes Live in Texas, the band that graced Woodford's stages and toured relentlessly for years.Georgia's story is about transformation, from studying jazz at WAPA (where she encountered the rigid, male-dominated world of jazz school), to finding her voice in a four-piece harmony band, to now stepping out on her own with her debut solo record, Full of Moon and her follow-up on the way.She's someone who's done the work. The unglamorous reality of being a touring musician, the loneliness of hotel rooms, the immediate consumption of complimentary biscuits, the strange intimacy of band life that's part marriage, part small business, part creative collaboration.This episode is for:Musicians navigating the shift from band to solo workAnyone interested in what the reality of touring feels likePeople curious about the Festival of Small HallsArtists wondering if formal training helps or hinders finding your voiceDive in to hear about why:Jazz school taught Georgia music theory but she had to unlearn the rules to find her creative voiceRegional audiences bring something to a performance that city crowds simply can't replicateThe stage is the one place you absolutely cannot fake it and that might be what saves live performance from AITo learn more about Georgia: https://www.georgiamooney.com/ To come to the Woodford Folk Festival: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/To keep up to date with Small Halls Tours: https://festivalofsmallhalls.com/FOR MORE: Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.auCREDITS:Host: Harley BreenGuest: Georgia MooneyProducer: Benny WallingtonExecutive Producers: Cameron Scurrah, Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Jack TindallVideo Editing: Nicholas HaddowAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Recorded on Jinibara Country#RadioWoodfordia #GeorgiaMooney #FestivalOfSmallHalls #AllOurExesLiveInTexas #AustralianMusic #RegionalTouring #harleybreen #woodfordiaJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just a heads up: There's going to be some chainsaw action, tree-dropping sounds and reversing of a crane thing during this chat. An arborist decided mid-interview was the perfect time for some timber work above our heads. An example of living and working on an ever-evolving site in the middle of a valley. "Everything we do in a modern society is to pull us away. So we forget how much we're just truly... a piece of the puzzle."Harley sits down with Joe H. Henry, a Métis musician from Nova Scotia who's returned to Australia for the Festival of Small Halls tour after falling in love with Woodfordia at our last Folk Festival.Joe's story is steeped in the Red River Valley, where his grandparents walked 260 miles with oxen and Red River carts to settle. He grew up between two worlds – his father's Métis community of fiddle music, trapping, and self-sustaining bush life, and his mother's world of horses. Music isn't just what Joe does; it's "the Henry curse," running through generations of riders, singers, and instrumentalists.He left home young with just his dog and his guitar, busking outside liquor stores and bars to survive. But that transient lifestyle was embedded in his DNA – the Métis people were always the storytellers, carrying songs and poems from community to community.The conversation moves between the profound and the practical, from raising five kids (aged 17 to 3) without screens dominating their lives, to the trapping industry keeping remote communities alive, to why we all need to feel our insignificance in nature.Joe explains why Woodford showed him the consciousness level of all Australians, how technology is changing the valley he once knew, and why he makes music.This episode is for:Anyone who needs reminding that we're magnificently insignificantPeople interested in Indigenous culture, storytelling traditions, and how communities preserve identityParents navigating the wilderness of raising teenagers in the digital ageMusicians and artists wondering if following their frequency is actually a viable life choiceDive in to hear about why:Feeling small in nature might be the most important thing we can doWoodford just might be proof of who we all can be in the "real world"Sometimes the best parenting advice is "be water" and ALSO know your kid's best friend's parentsKeen to come to Woodford: https://www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor more Joe H. Henry: https://joehhenry.com/ FOR MORE: Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/CREDITS:Host: Harley BreenGuest: Joe H. HenryProducer: Benny WallingtonExecutive Producers: Cameron Scurrah & Bree Hickson-JamiesonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Recorded on Jinibara Country#RadioWoodfordia #WoodfordFolkFestival #JoeHHenry #MetisMusic #FestivalOfSmallHalls #IndigenousStories #metis #canada #novascotiaJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"I love being surrounded by people that know about all this stuff - soil scientists, regen' people, and learning myself. That's how this place sort of works, isn't it? You get involved. You get pulled in."Harley sits down with Chris "Shervo' Shervey, Woodford's Site Manager, who oversees 500 acres with a team of five full-time staff and conservation land management trainees. It's a conversation about sustainability, slowing down and the surprising way a metalhead punk rock folky ended up finding purpose in his work at one of Australia's most ambitious environmental projects.Chris first came to Woodford as a patron in 1997 and returned as a volunteer before bringing his background in construction and bridge building to complement his passion for trees, plants, and regenerative land practices.He's the guy who can turn visionary dreams into timber, steel, and working infrastructure. His journey mirrors Woodford itself: someone who arrived for the music and stayed for the mission.This conversation digs into the philosophy behind a 500-year plan, the challenge of being patient when you want to fix everything at once, and why the best infrastructure is the lives on well after you.This episode is for:Anyone curious about what happens at Woodford when the festival isn't onPeople interested in regenerative land management and large-scale sustainability projectsFolks who wonder how festivals actually work behind the scenesAnyone considering volunteering or working at WoodfordDive in to hear about why:A 500-year plan makes more sense than trying to fix everything tomorrowThe best role isn't always being the visionary - sometimes it's being the person who can find the timberKids building three-story pallet forts with power tools is actually good parentingLeaving things better than you found them is part of the essence of WoodfordiaLearn more about what's on this year including hearing Chris on a sustainability panel: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/programmeJag your tickets here: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/tickets/ FOR MORE:Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/CREDITS:Host: Harley BreenGuest: Chris SherveyProducer: Benny WallingtonExecutive Producers: Cameron Scurrah & Bree Hickson-JamiesonVideo and audio: Coeur Visual Music by: The East PointersRecorded on Jinibara Country#RadioWoodfordia #WoodfordFolkFestival #Sustainability #RegenerativeLand #FestivalLife #SiteManagement #thankyouforyourshervice #shervology Join the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Excuse the microphones at the start. Small Malfunctions, appreciate your patience."My passion is the environment, and plants and the animals and everything. So each venue (at the children's festival) has a different feel to it, and I place artists in the space that match that feel."In this episode, Harley sits down with Becky Wandell, who's been running the Children's Festival (now Tin Lids) for 34 years, and Kate Day, a storyteller who first performed at the festival when she was 19 and is returning this year.Becky's journey started in the Burnett River Folk Club in Bundaberg in the 1980s, where she and a group of friends created a space for people who didn't quite fit anywhere else. That germ of an idea grew through the magical mystery tours and folk festivals, eventually becoming what we now know as Woodford Folk Festival.She's been there since the very beginning, working from the bottom up literally cleaning toilets at Maleny before helping to shape what the Children's Festival has become.Kate represents everything the festival nurtures. A theatre student with dreams of changing the world through art, she walked into Woodford as a young performer and found a community that believed in her storytelling when she didn't yet believe in herself. Now, she's a public servant and teacher who return to remember she's an artist at heart.The conversation gets beautifully personal about mentorship, legacy, and what it means to see potential in people before they see it in themselves. Harley and Becky reflect on the importance of people who sit behind the scenes, the facilitators who recognise talent and create the conditions for it to flourish. They explore the structure of the eight-venue children's program, the magic of creating spaces where kids feel genuinely respected, and why Professor Wallace's return to do Punch and Judy is such a big deal.This episode is for:Anyone curious about what goes on in the Children's Festival and why it's unlike anythingPeople interested in mentorship, legacy, and how communities nurture artistsParents wondering if Woodford is for familiesPerformers considering getting involved in kids entertainmentDive in to hear about why:The Children's Festival is structured chaos, eight venues all with different feels, each place strategically curatedSometimes the best moments happen when someone believes in you before you believe in yourselfKids are brutally honest critics who can smell inauthenticity from a mile awayKeen to bring your kids to Woodford—https://www.woodfordfolkfestival.comLearn more about Tin Lids Kids: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/programme?genres=TinLidsFOR MORE: Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/CREDITS: Host: Harley Breen Guests: Becky Wandell & Kate Day Producer: Benny Wallington Executive Producers: Cameron Scurrah & Bree Hickson-Jamieson Video Editing: Nicholas Haddow Audio mastering: Kieron Atkinson Music by: The East Pointers Recorded on Jinibara Country#RadioWoodfordia #WoodfordFolkFestival #TinLids #ChildrensFestival #FestivalLife Join the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"It's not their dream to be a touring musician because they're working hard on their farm, but there's so much soul and heart in their music and those stories are incredible."In this episode, Harley sits down with Izzy Bartlett, the producer of Festival of Small Halls, Woodfordia's regional touring project bringing world-class artists to some of Australia's most remote communities.Izzy's first Woodford was in her mum's belly, so she's a genuine Woodford baby, one of many who grew up in the Chai Tent, made lifelong friendships, and eventually found her way into making Woodford's magic happen behind the scenes.From her family's connection to the Toowoomba orchestra to having a hand in the producing of 47 touring shows across 13 years of regional Australia, Izzy's work is about far more than just bringing acts on the road. It's about access, community resilience, and the radical idea that people in towns of 500 or 5,000 deserve world-class art just as much as city dwellers.The conversation gets real about funding, regional touring costs, and why government support for arts isn't a luxury—it's essential infrastructure. They discuss the power of small venues, intimate performances with under 10 people, and how a show in a flooded community becomes about collective healing. Plus, Harley and Izzy get unexpectedly philosophical about craft. Who would have thought?This episode is for:Anyone curious about how regional touring actually works and what it costs to bring culture to remote AustraliaPeople from the cities learning about community from the regionsThose who believe small moments and small communities matter just as much as big festivalsDive in to hear about why:A woman who hasn't left her small town in years getting to see live music two doors from her house is worth the budgetIzzy's loves UNO with strangers who become best friends"Nothing too small cannot be done beautifully" is the motto that keeps the Festival of Small Halls running on humility and handwritten thank-you notesKeen to bring your kids to Woodford to maybe meet their new best friends who might become friends forever - https://www.woodfordfolkfestival.comKeep up to date with Festival of Small Halls here: https://festivalofsmallhalls.com/FOR MORE: Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/CREDITS: Host: Harley Breen Guest: Izzy Bartlett Producer: Benny Wallington Executive Producers: Cameron Scurrah & Bree Hickson-Jamieson Video Editing: Nicholas HaddowAudio mastering: Kieron Atkinson Music by: The East Pointers Recorded on Jinabara Country#RadioWoodfordia #WoodfordFolkFestival #FestivalOfSmallHalls #RegionalTourning #IzzyBartlett #CommunityArts #AustralianCulture #RegionalAccess #WoodfordBaby #ArtsAccessibility #RegionalAustralia #CommunityResilience #CraftMatters #HarleyBreen #WoodfordProgramJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"I've been discovering music my whole life, but every year Woodford brings a stack of stuff I've never heard of, that I know is going to become my next favourite thing."In this episode, Harley sits down with ABC's Sarah Howells / Aussie radio royalty with 21 years in the biz, including stints at Triple J and Double J. And would you believe, this was her first podcast ever!From winning Woodford tickets through her mum's competition obsession in 1998 to becoming one of the festival's most recognisable voices, Sarah shares her journey from small-town nerd in Murwillumbah to championing Australian music on a national stage.The conversation weaves through Sarah's origin story, her thoughts on Triple J's evolution and why she transitioned from music-focused programming to ABC Local Radio, falling in love with conversations in the process.They dive into the magic of discovering new artists at Woodford, the importance of regional music scenes like the Sunshine Coast and Sarah's role as vice chair of the Sunshine Coast Music Industry Collective. Plus, Sarah gives us the inside scoop on must-see acts from the freshly launched program. We'd tell you who but we'd prefer if you listened yourself.Sarah also reveals her pivotal Woodford moment and why maybe the sunsets deserve as much hype as the infamous sunrise on New Year's Day. This episode is for:People interested in how to crack into a career in radioMusic lovers who want the inside track on Woodford 2025/26's hidden gemsPeople on the fence about coming to Woodford and want some insights into what makes Woodford more than just another festival.Dive in to hear about why:The three minutes of silence on New Year's Eve is actually more important than the countdownRegional music scenes like the Sunshine Coast are thrivingThe best festival moments are the ones you can't plan forRadio careers can start with naivety, volunteering, and labelling CDs (well maybe not anymore - do they still have CD's?)Harley thinks he's one type of pumpkin when in fact we all agree he is another. Want to join Sarah, Harley and 450 other acts at this year's festival?TIX HERE: https://www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFOR MORE: Sarah Howells: https://www.instagram.com/sarahinthehowellsSunshine Coast Music Industry Collective: https://www.scmic.org/ Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/CREDITS:Host: Harley Breen Guest: Sarah Howells Producer: Benny Wallington Executive Producers: Cameron Scurrah & Bree Hickson-Jameison Audio mastering: Kieron Atkinson Music by: The East Pointers#RadioWoodfordia #WoodfordFolkFestival #WoodfrodFolkFestival25 #SarahHowells #TripleJ #DoubleJ #ABCRadio #HarleyBreen #WoodfordProgram #FestivalSeason #BobbyAlu #SpankieJackson #WilliamCrighton #FrankAndLouis #SunshineCoastMusic #SCMIC #AustralianMusic #FolkFestival #MusicDiscovery #FestivalCommunityJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"You could make a clarinet out of a carrot and a bagpipe from rubber gloves... The whole point is not taking the world around us for granted."In this episode, Harley sits down with long time Woodfordian Linsey Pollak, a musical wonder, craftsperson, and what Harley calls a "perpetual toddler" of endless curiosity and excitement.What starts as a conversation about the strange-looking instruments on the table becomes an epic tale of experimentation, craft, and following passion wherever it leads. Some would say, making your own luck with the opportunities life throws at you.With a lifetime of musical exploration, he shares his journey from picking up a secondhand clarinet at 11, through high school experimental bands to creating finely crafted renaissance instrument masterpieces and finding a mentor in Macedonia after a kombi breakdown.He talks about the beauty of being silly with your craft, why not taking things (or people) for granted matters, and how meeting the right people can completely reshape your creative journey.Linsey also brings his rubber glove bagpipe to demonstrate the instrument that perfectly captures his philosophy: function without pretense, silliness as serious art.Catch Linsey this Woodford with his band Gosti I Gosti serenading the Chai Tent.This episode is for:Musicians and makers asking themselves "is there another way to do this?"People who love craft and getting their hands dirtyAnyone who's ever felt called to drop their original plan and follow curiosity insteadPeople who believe you should question assumptions about what objects are "supposed" to doDive in to hear about why:A planned science career can completely pivot into something magical and unexpectedAustralian desert timbers like gidgey and mulga create instruments as unique as the makerCraft and playfulness aren't opposites - they thrive beautifully togetherFOR MORE:Linsey Pollak: https://www.linseypollak.com/Harley Breen: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Tickets to Woodford Folk Festival: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/CREDITS: Host: Harley Breen | Guest: Linsey Pollak | Producer: Benny Wallington | Recorded on Gubbi Gubbi Country | Music by: The East Pointers & Linsey Pollak | Executive Producers: Cameron Scurrah & Bree Hickson-Jameison#RadioWoodfordia #WoodfordFolkFestival #LinseyPollak #MusiciansOfWoodford #InstrumentMaker #DIYCulture #ExperimentalMusic #Craft #FoundObjects #QueenslandMusic #IndependentMusic #HarleyBreen #CreativeCurious #MusiciansLife #CommunityOverCommerceJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Your music, if it's as important as it is to me, is your soul."In this episode, Harley sits down with 21-year-old singer-songwriter Tiffany Grace before her Sunset Session at Lake Gula camping. Fresh from moving to Brisbane just six months ago, Tiffany shares her journey from performing at Mackay fairs at 13 to being selected for the APRA AMCOS Songmakers program at Woodford, where 10 artists from across Australia were chosen to co-write, learn from mentors, and perform at the festival.The conversation goes deep into what it means to be a young artist in 2025, navigating social media demands, staying independent despite industry pressures, and why sometimes you have to turn down opportunities to keep your soul intact. They discuss the brutal economics of streaming (sorry Spotify), why buying CDs and coming to live shows actually matters, the loneliness of being a solo artist, and how programs like Songmakers create communities that understand what it's like to be a young modern musician.Tiffany also drops news about her debut album "Ripples in Time", her first-ever tour, and why her only definition of success is making music.This episode is for:Young artists figuring out if they can actually make a career out of their passionParents of talented kids who want to know how to nurture their talent/ bring them to Woodford ;)Anyone who believes community and authenticity matter more than quick fameDive in to hear about why:Buying CDs and coming to live shows is how independent artists actually surviveBeing a solo artist can be lonely as hell, but the right community makes all the difference"Making it" doesn't necessarily mean stadiums but following your passion and being able to support yourself doing itMoving to the country to the city cold be part of a successful journeyFOR MORE: Tiffany Grace: https://www.instagram.com/tiffanygracemusicHarley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Join us at the Woodford Folk Festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comLearn about Songmakers: www.woodfordfolkfestival.com/songmakersBecome a Citizen: https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/become-a-citizen/CREDITS:Host: Harley Breen Guest: Tiffany Grace Producer: Benny Wallington Executive Producers: Cameron Scurrah & Bree Hickson-Jameison Video Production: Coeur Visual Audio mastering: Kieron Atkinson Music by: The East Pointers#RadioWoodfordia #WoodfordFolkFestival #TiffanyGrace #Songmakers #EmergingArtists #IndependentMusic #QueenslandMusic #BrisbaneMusic #MackayMusic #HarleyBreen #ArtisticIntegrity #YoungArtists #MusicCommunity #SupportLocalArtists #CountryFolkPop #IndieArtist #RipplesInTimeJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"The first time we met was at Woodford when I was volunteering... and then getting to open for you a few weeks ago was very, very special."In this ep' Harley brings together two artists whose paths crossed in the most beautiful way. Rhi (Merpire) was playing at Woodford last year and Tessa Fleur was volunteering in the production team. Fast forward to earlier this year and Tessa opened for Rhi at her show in Brisbane. The three dive into the beauty of mentorship over competition, why Melbourne isn't the only place for great music (Queensland punches way above its weight), the economics of being an artist in 2025, and how community support is the only thing keeping the whole creative ecosystem alive. Rhi shares why she's taking a break to figure out music's role in her life, Tessa drops some massive news about Berlin and upcoming releases, and they both talk about a curious Q&A format on stage that breaks down the fourth wall and builds real connection with artists and their audience. Also: horny songs, hot water bottle sausage dogs, the Woodford Lettering House, and why short toilet lines are an underrated festival flex.Dive in to hear about why:Putting out Instagram callouts for support acts can build genuine community.Queensland artists work their butts off to prove themselves to Sydney and Melbourne and it shows.Mentorship goes both ways.Taking breaks from the hustle isn't weakness.Volunteering backstage at festivals can literally change your career trajectory.Community over competition isn't just a nice phrase, it's how artists survive.Mum's love coming to WoodfordFOR MORE:Merpire: https://www.merpiremusic.com/Tessa Fleur: https://www.instagram.com/tessa__fleurHarley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Come to the Woodford Folk Festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comCREDITS: Host: Harley Breen Guests: Rhiannon Atkinson-Howatt (Merpire) & Tessa Fleur Producer: Benny Wallington Executive Producers: Cameron Scurrah & Bree Hickson-Jameison Video Production: Coeur Visual Audio mastering: Kieron Atkinson Music by: The East Pointers#RadioWoodfordia #WoodfordFolkFestival #Merpire #TessaFleur #QueenslandMusic #MusicCommunity #ArtistMentorship #BrisbaneMusic #HarleyBreen #FestivalConnections #Woodfordia #SupportLocalArtists #IndieMusicJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"We had no business plan, no rules... Because there'd never been one (A Chai Tent - Anywhere in Australia). So we could do what we wanted..."Grab a warm chai and listen to the history of Chai in Australia as Harley sits down with Robin Clayfield, part of the force behind the iconic Chai Tent. From humble beginnings with a truck tarp and bamboo structure to becoming the 24hour beating heart of Woodford's late-night culture, Robin shares the wild journey of creating a 24/7 haven that ran for 23 years straight. They discuss the infamous Peace Train, a stampede that changed everything, permaculture design principles applied to festival spaces, and why the Chai Tent became so much more than just a place to grab a drink; it was a sacred container for jamming, connection, and those 2am moments when you just needed to chill the funk out.Robin also shares the joys of another Woodford treasure, The Labyrinth, the financial stress of running what accidentally became a small business, and the beautiful news that the Chai Tent is making its comeback this year (though she's not telling you where it'll be, so don't get too excited - come and see for yourself).Dive in to hear about:The first chai stampede becoming a defining festival moment.Running a 24/7 operation for eight days straight requires more than just caffeine and good vibes.Permaculture principles shaping everything from cooling systems to seating arrangements.The bartering system where locals could trade tickets and chai for skills and services.Why the "dog shift" (2-6am on New Year's Eve) was both brutal and magical.Community spaces without alcohol can create their own powerful energy.Sometimes you need to let something rest for 13 years before bringing it back.The Chai Tent was never planned—it just evolved, year after year, with no rulebook.Keen to be a part of the next evolution of Chai at Woodford, join us at the Woodford Folk Festival as a patron or volunteer: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comBecome a Woodfordia Citizen:Perks -Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beatingSpecial invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.Bonus podcast contentEarly early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival ticketsEarly access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore from Robin: https://dynamicgroups.com.au/https://crystalwaters.org.au/For more from Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenGuest: Robin ClayfieldProducer: Benny WallingtonExecutive Producers: Cameron Scurrah & Bree Hickson-JameisonVideo Production: Coeur VisualAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers#RadioWoodfordia #WoodfordFolkFestival #ChaiTent #RobinClayfield #FestivalLegends #Permaculture #CrystalWaters #CounterCulture #HarleyBreen #FestivalHistory #ChaiStampede #DogShift #Woodfordia #CommunitySpacesJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Asking someone 'can I pay you with a story?' is literally the coolest f***ing thing ever."For this episode of Radio Woodfordia, Harley has a yarn with Mykel Dixon about the complex dimensions of creativity and its significance in our contemporary world. They explore the hurdles we face in reclaiming our creative essence, the dual role of technology as both a barrier and a catalyst for creativity, and the critical role of community in fostering artistic expression.Mykel shares his transformative journey from globetrotting musician to corporate speaker, highlighting the indispensable role of creativity in both business and personal realms. This ep' is laced with a powerful call to action, urging us all to embrace our creative potential and support each other in a society that often overlooks the value of artistry.Dive in to hear about why:Creativity is a cornerstone for both personal and professional development.Despite its economic impact, the arts industry remains undervalued.Community backing is vital for nurturing creative talents.Technology can impede creativity AND also opens new avenues.Parenting should foster creative expression in children.The creative process is as significant as the final product.Creativity should be a daily practice, not a scheduled event.Living creatively can lead to a more fulfilling and joyful life.Become a Woodfordia Citizen:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore from Mykel: https://www.mykeldixon.com/For more from Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Come to the Woodford Folk Festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comCredits:Host: Harley BreenGuest: Mykel DixonProducer: Benny WallingtonExecutive Producers: Cameron Scurrah & Bree Hickson-JameisonVideo Production: Coeur VisualAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers#RadioWoodfordia #WoodfordFolkFestival #FestivalStories #CommunityCulture #mykeldixon #corporatecreativity #HarleyBreen # Hecklershutdown #standupcomedy #woodfordia #woodfordfolkfestivalJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"The essence of a festival goes beyond just entertainment."For this episode of Radio Woodfordia, host Harley Breen sits down with McBride to explore the intricate world of festival management and the social experiment that is Woodford Folk Festival. Listen in as they dive into the journey from Canadian backpacker to festival operations expert, and discover what it really takes to bring together diverse communities for transformative experiences on 500 acres of Woodfordia.If you love festivals, community building, volunteering culture and stories about people turning passion into purpose, this is definitely a podcast for you.Dive in to hear about:The Social Experiment: How festivals bring together diverse people and create magic through managed chaosFrom Backpacker to Builder: McBride's journey from Canadian visitor to festival operations expert and what drew them to stayThe Art of People Management: The complex but rewarding challenge of coordinating thousands of volunteers and patronsBeyond Entertainment: What truly defines a festival and why it goes deeper than just music and artsCommunity Engagement: How citizenship programs and volunteer culture create the heart of Woodford's successNotable Quotes:"The festival is a social experiment bringing diverse people together.""Volunteering can be a privilege, but it also comes with costs."Want to support Woodfordia and this podcast? Become a Woodfordia Citizen: Perks:Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beatingSpecial invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.Bonus podcast contentEarly early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival ticketsEarly access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: www.woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenFestival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor more from Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits: Host: Harley Breen Guest: McBride Producer: Benny Wallington Executive Producers: Cameron Scurrah & Bree Hickson-Jameison Audio mastering: Kieron Atkinson Music by: The East Pointers#RadioWoodfordia #WoodfordFolkFestival #FestivalManagement #CommunityBuilding #VolunteerCulture #SocialExperiment #FestivalLife #Woodfordia #BackpackerJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"You can be your own character, your own avatar... You can be a part of the history of this world."For this episode of Radio Woodfordia, host Harley Breen dives into the magical world of live action role play with the creators behind 'Champions of Woodfordia'—the immersive gaming experience returning to Woodford Folk Festival. Listen in as they explore how video game mechanics meet festival culture, creating a space where creativity, community, and adventure collide on the 500 acres of Woodfordia.If you love gaming, festivals, community building and stories about people creating extraordinary experiences from scratch, this is definitely a podcast for you.Dive in to hear about:Evolution of LARP: How live action role play found its way back to Woodford with a new name - Live Action GamingChampions of Woodforia: The mechanics behind this immersive game that lets players create their own characters and write festival historyBuilding a World: From economy systems to character development—how they're creating a living, breathing game environmentCommunity First: Why the focus is on collaboration, not competition, and how spectators become part of the storyFestival Innovation: How gaming culture and festival culture are creating something entirely new togetherNotable Quotes: "You can be your own character, your own avatar... You can be a part of the history of this world.""The game mechanics are inspired by video games like World of Warcraft, but the heart is pure Woodford community."To attend the Festival and play Champions of Woodfordia: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comWant to support Woodfordia and this podcast? Become a Woodfordia Citizen: Perks:Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beatingSpecial invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.Bonus podcast contentEarly early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival ticketsEarly access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: www.woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenFor more from Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Rainbow Knights: https://www.instagram.com/champions.of.woodfordia/Credits: Host: Harley Breen Producer: Benny WallingtonExecutive Producers: Cameron Scurrah & Bree Hickson-Jameison Audio mastering:Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers#RadioWoodfordia #WoodfordFolkFestival #LiveActionRolePlay #ChampionsOfWoodforia #Gaming #CommunityBuilding #ImmersiveExperience #FestivalInnovation #LARP #CreativeExpressionJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"She picked her up with both hands, said nothing, and carried her out above the crowd"For the debut episode of Radio Woodfordia, host Harley Breen spins a yarn with comedian, writer, and activist Mandy Nolan.Listen in as they share laughs, honest moments, and a glimpse into a community where kindness, courage, and creativity come together on 500 acres of a regenerated dairy farm.If you love festivals, comedy, music, art culture and all the wild and wonderful things in between, plus stories about real humans radical things, this is probably a podcast for you.Dive in to hear about:Festival chaos and heart: Mandy’s funny stories from growing up with the festivalA glittery rescue: The moment a friend stepped in during a heckle-gone-wrong (and carried her out, literally)From Maleny to Woodford: A look back at how the festival has grown without losing its heartAWhy storytelling matters: And why being on stage at Woodford is never just a gigNotable Quotes: “It’s the kind of place where someone will carry you out of a gig if you need it… and probably offer you a cup of tea after.”“Woodford’s not just a festival, it’s a feeling. And if you’ve felt it, you know.”Want to support Woodfordia and this podcast?Become a Woodfordia Citizen:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenTo come to the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor more from Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/More from Mandy: https://www.facebook.com/mandynolancomedy/Credits:Host: Harley BreenGuest: Mandy NolanProducer: Benny WallingtonExecutive Producers: Cameron Scurrah & Bree Hickson-JameisonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers#RadioWoodfordia #WoodfordFolkFestival #FestivalStories #CommunityCulture #MandyNolan #HarleyBreen # Hecklershutdown #standupcomedy #woodfordia #woodfordfolkfestivalJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Let's go Radio Woodfordia" Thanks for dropping in! Join comedian and self-confessed Woodford tragic, Harley Breen as he introduces you to the show. Harley will be interviewing talented people about why they do what they do, love what they love and keep coming back to Woodfordia, this hidden valley an hour (or so) from the Sunny Coast and Brisvegas. It's also home to Australia's largest music and arts festival, the Woodford Folk Festival. Harley shares his personal connection to Woodfordia and most importantly why this is NOT a podcast about transportIn this podcast Harley shares Why: Festivals foster creativity and community spirit.Preserving creative spaces is crucial for cultural heritage.Engaging with diverse artists enriches our understanding of the world.Community support is vital for sustaining artistic endeavours.Creativity is a cornerstone of human connection and expression.If you haven't been yet, we'd love to see you one day. If you have a guest you'd love to hear us interview, leave a comment. And if you want to support us, share our episodes, like, subscribe and if you really really want to support us, join the Woodfordia Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating. - Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special. - Bonus podcast content - Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizen More information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenProducer: Benny WallingtonExecutive Producers: Cameron Scurrah & Bree Hickson-JameisonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers#trailer #podcast #launch #woodfordia #transport #Festival #newyearseve #goodtimes #comedy #comedianJoin the Woodfordian Citizens:Perks -- Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating.- Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special.- Bonus podcast content- Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets- Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk FestivalVisit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizenMore information at www.woodfordia.orgFor the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.comFor Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/Credits:Host: Harley BreenExecutive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny WallingtonAudio mastering: Kieron AtkinsonMusic by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.