Speakola

On 26th April 2014, Megan Washington delivered a TEDx Talk that immediately trended on Twitter, and has gone on to be viewed nearly three million times. It's a beautiful public declaration about her stutter, and has so many interesting and funny moments about what a stutter is, and how it affects the life of a public performer. In her own words, Meg ends her TED Talk with a TED Sing, and it's absolutely spellbinding, a live performance of her song '‘To Or Not Let Go’.  In recent times, Meg has been the voice of Calypso on Bluey, and also the writer of the acclaimed Australian movie, 'How to Make Gravy', adapting the Paul Kelly song of the same name. Her song, 'Fine', won a AACTA Award last year for Best Original Song.  Megan's most recent album is GEM. She has gigs coming up in Feb-April 2026 in Tugun, Brunswick Heads, Cleveland, St Kilda and Main Ridge.  You can help Speakola library, podcast and newsletter survive by joining Substack, the Patreon, or straight donation.  Tony has written stories about taking his son Jack to music gigs on Good one, Wilson (3500 subscribers)  Tony has signed picture books for sale, as well as middle grade and sports books for adults. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2010, The Church were reluctant inductees to the ARIA Rock Hall of Fame, and reluctant speakers too. Steve Kilbey says in this interview that they hadn't planned to speak, but felt the pressure to say something as every other inductee spoke beautifully before them. What he eventually delivered was an after dinner classic, a funny, virtually off the cuff speech about Australian music, the other four inductees and tales from the road. In this Speakola episode Steve gives an account of that night, but also a wonderful biographical summary of his life in music, including his first gig in Canberra, his mum and dad, receiving his first bass, playing school shows, forming The Church, and much more.  Steve Kilbey's speech transcript is up on Speakola library.  The Church's The Singles Tour has announced some new dates in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide in February.  You can help Speakola library, podcast and newsletter survive by joining Substack, the Patreon, or straight donation.  Tony's 'How To Get on Race Around the World' articles are up at Good one, Wilson.  Tony has signed picture books for sale, as well as middle grade and sports books for adults. Grab a signed copy for Christmas!   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In March, I chatted to speech collector Dana Rubin for Women's History Month (there have been delays releasing the episode - my apologies, Dana). It's a great chat with a kindred spirit. Dana has created the Speaking While Female speech bank that showcases speeches by women across history and around the world.  She also edited the book Speaking While Female: 75 Extraordinary Speeches By American Women The episode is topped and tailed by two speeches in Dana's collection.  Emma Watson's HeForShe launch speech at United Nations, 2014 Oprah Winfrey's 'Times Up' speech at the Golden Globes, 2018 To support Speakola, make a straight donation at Speakola website, or become a paid subscriber to newsletterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My mother, Margaret Joan Wilson died on the 20th of April 2025 while I was away in Budapest. It was a big shock and a terrible day. We had a private family ceremony on 7th May and a more public celebration of life on the 8th. This speech was delivered at the second event. The text and video of the eulogy is up at Speakola newsletter and in the Speakola library. My brother Ned did the MCing and was brilliant.  My Mum truly was 'Margaret Wilson, Mother of Readers'  I'll miss her always.  Support Speakola by going paid Make a donation Read about Mum winning Miss Footy 1969. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author & documentary maker John Safran talks in this episode about his eulogy for 'the People's Priest', Father Bob Maguire at St Patrick's Cathedral Melbourne in May 2023. He also discusses his latest book 'Squat' about his week squatting at Kaye West's LA Mansion and his creative life as Australia's best known 'valid troll' (to use John's own expression)  Safran has a live show  Squatting at Kanye's and Other Adventures at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival on April 17th, as well as shows in Hobart and Paramatta.   He's our first return guest on the podcast. He was also on episode 27, 'Unsmoke the World'  Sign up to Speakola newsletter, either as a free subscriber or pay $50 a year to show your support.  Tony's film 'Ange & The Boss - Puskas in Australia' is currently showing at Cinema Nova (daily sessions) and Thornbury Picture House.  Follow the film's progress and Tony's writing generally at Good one, Wilson! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Comedian Sammy J is a Melbourne International Comedy Festival Great Debate regular. He is the interviewee for this first episode of 2025 and the feature speech is his opening argument for the negative team in 2018, 'That we must go to Mars'.  Sammy J's currently touring show is 'The Kangaroo Effect' which is on in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth in the next month or so. This years Melbourne International Comedy Festival Great Debate will take place on 12th April at Melbourne Town Hall. Tony's feature documentary 'Ange & The Boss' about Ferenc Puskas and his time at the South Melbourne Hellas is currently in cinemas! He is very excited about this, it has had a great run and stellar reviews. All sessions are up at angeandtheboss.com This week's sessions include the fiollowing Q&A events:  BRISBANE Thursday 27th March 6.30 The Barracks Q&A pre-film with Tony Wilson & Cam Fink BRISBANE Thursday 27th March 6.30 Five Star New Farm Q&A with Tony Wilson & Cam Fink plus 1991 Hellas star Daniel Wright ADELAIDE Saturday 29th March 7.00 Picadilly, North Adelaide Q&A with Tony Wilson & Cam Fink MELBOURNE Sunday 30th March 6.15 Thornbury Picture House Q&A with director Tony Wilson  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A brief update confirming that the podcast will resume in March 2025. Episodes have already been recorded with Sammy J (on comedy debates), John Safran (eulogy for Father Bob Maguire) and Dana Rubin (speech collector, Speaking While Female).  I'm also announcing the release of our documentary 'Ange & The Boss - Puskas in Australia'. After selling out at the Greek Film Festival (second most viewed film there) are in cinemas around the country from 13-16th March. Tickets and session times  MelbourneThurs 13/3 - Palace Pentridge Coburg, 6.30pm, guests Gus Tsolakis and Peter KhalilFri 14/3 - Nova Carlton, 6.30pm, guests Paul Trimboli and Francis LeachFri 14, Sat 15, Sun 16/3 - Sun Theatre YarravilleSat 15/3 - Classic Elsternwick, 3pm, co-director Rob Heath joins us;Sat 15, Sun 16/3 - Palace Westgarth, 3pm (Sun only), guest Kimon Taliadoris (pre film)Sat 15, Sun 16 - Palace Pennylane, Moonee PondsSat 15, Sun 16 - Palace BalwynSat 15, Sun 16 - Palace Brighton Church StreetSun 16/3 - Lido Hawthorn, 3pm, guest Kimon Taliadoris and Libbi Gorr;Sat 22/3 - Cameo Belgrave, 3pm, Hungarian community specialSat 22 & Sun 23 and Tues 25/3 - Thornbury Picture House, 6pm, guest David Bridie (Sun only) GeelongSun 22/3 - The Pivotonian, 1pm, with guest Steve Horvat SydneySat 15, Sun 16, Mon 17/3 - Norton Street Leichardt, 6.30pm (film maker introduction to film, Mon only)Mon 17/3 - Ritz Randwick, 7pm, guest Daniel Garb (Q&A post film) BrisbaneSat 15, Sun 16/3 - Palace James St Thurs 27/3 - Palace Barracks, 6.30, (film maker introduction to film)Thurs 27/3 - Five Star cinema, New Farm, 6.30pm (guest Daniel Wright) AdelaideSat 15, Sun 16 - Palace Nova ProspectSat 29/3 - The Picadilly North Adelaide, 7pm, guest John Thompson-Mills CanberraSat 15, Sun 16 - Palace Electric PerthSat 15, Sun 16 - Palace Raine SquareSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since 2006, Andrew Moran has been a baritone with Opera Australia in Sydney. When he visited Melbourne as part of a touring production of Puccini's Tosca, Tony spoke to him about a lovely eulogy he delivered for his father, Lawrie Moran, the man who inspired him to sing, in Surrey Hills, Melbourne, on 9 November 2023.  You can read and listen to the eulogy on Speakola.  To support the podcast and the one person operation that is Speakola Become a paid subscriber on Substack - I send one or two newsletters per week. The last few have been about D-Day speeches. Become a member on Patreon  Make a straight credit card donation Other ways to help the podcast are to leave positive reviews on Apple Podcasts, share episodes with friends, and find me a guest! (email is [email protected])See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Comedy writer Declan Fay is Tony's Speakola guest. Declan was the co-writer of Ronny Chieng International Student and the hilarious Crossbread podcast, about a Christian rap duo who hit the big time, but don't happen to be Christians (stars Megan Washington and Chris Ryan). Declan was head writer for this year's AACTA Awards, and has been part of writers' rooms for Rove, Dirty Laundry Live, Problems and You're Skitting Me. His The Sweetest Plum podcast with Chris Kennett was one of Australia's pioneering comedy podcasts, and ran for many years.  He also speaks regularly in schools via Booked Out Speakers Agency, who also represent Tony for school visits.  Join Speakola's mailing list and Substack Join Tony's personal writing Substack Donate to Speakola to keep us going! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The cohost of ABC breakfast radio in Adelaide, Jules Schiller delivered a beautiful best man speech for his old comedy partner Tony Moclair when he married Kate in 2003. It's a Speakola favourite, and in this episode, Jules comes on in the aftermatch of a Married at First Sight best man speech abomination to talk about what makes a great best man speech, or wedding speech generally.  Opening audio is from Tony Moclair afternoons on 3AW.  I wrote a piece about best man speeches recently for the Speakola podcast.  Join Speakola's mailing list and Substack Join Tony's personal writing Substack Donate to SpeakolaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the sixth year running, Tony awards his speeches of the year on Triple R's 'The Grapevine' with Dylan Bird. This year, no Kulya who has moved on from the show after 13 years. Congrats Kulya. Thank you to Triple R for the audio. Dylan will be back in 2024 with a new show called Future Perfect. Join Speakola's mailing list and Substack Join Tony's personal writing Substack Donate to Speakola Merry Xmas, Happy holiday, have a great New YearSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For 15 seasons and 181 episodes, Julia Zemiro and Brian Nankervis have been the dual hosts of 'Rockwiz', bringing their wit, charm and performance energy to Australia's legendary music quiz show. In this episode Tony chats to them about what makes a good MC, and they share tips and yarns from several decades of hosting big events. In the second half, Tony's 12 year old son Jack joins the conversation. He's a big fan of Julia and Brian (and Rockwiz), and fancies himself as a bit of an MC himself. He prepared some questions for his heroes, and it's a lovely and funny end to the episode.  There's some extra Jack questions that will be in the bonus Patreon feed, and on the Speakola newsletter.  To read about Jack's visit to the Rockwiz Good Friday Show. To read and see video of Jack going to the Bruce Springsteen show at AAMI Park.  Join Speakola's mailing list and Substack Join Tony's personal writing Substack Donate to SpeakolaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lahra Carey's husband Ben Cowen died in paragliding accident on 8th of January 2017. A few days later, Lahra spoke at her husband's graveside, paying tribute to 'the Ben effect' and summoning friends and mourners to 'Ben's Army'. The speech is recreated for the episode, and Lahra talks to Tony about love and loss, and the challenge of giving a eulogy in the toughest moments.  Lahra Carey's eulogy for Ben Cowen is one of the most popular speeches on Speakola.  Lahra Carey's speech at time of one year anniversary is also amazing.   Lahra works at Narrative Comms in crisis management Join Speakola's mailing list and Substack Join Tony's personal writing Substack Donate to Speakola Donate to the Cowen kids Parachute organisation, to help children who are dealing with death, illness or divorce of a parent, and are under financial hardship. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Brendan Nelson was Liberal Party leader and Leader of the Opposition in Australia in 2007-08. After he retired from politics, he became Director of the Australian War Memorial, and has a masterly knack of sharing the stories of this country's military heroes. The feature speech here was delivered in 2014 at a Soldier On charity fundraiser. Tony's cohost for this episode, comedian and Utopia star Anthony 'Lehmo' Lehmann was MC that night, and watched in awe as Dr Nelson explained the significance of a George Lambert print and its special frame, and watched bidding rocket from $1000 to $40,000 immediately. Lehmo says it is the greatest speech he ever saw live. The original audio is not available but Dr Nelson told the story as part of his 'five most significant artifacts at the Australian War Memorial' section of his Howard Oration in 2021, and that audio is included.  There is also some beautiful singing at the end of this 50th episode of the podcast, by Private Ken Gant who was killed at the Battle of Long Tan, and recorded a song for his mother the day before he was deployed.  /If you enjoy Speakola please do one or more of the things that help poidcasts:  Tell someione; Rate or review us in iTunes, or support me financially. There's no production company for this, just me.  Patreon, Speakola newsletter, one off donation Brendan Nelson's autobiography 'Of Life and Leadership' is available here. All proceeds to Legacy and Lifeline.  You can book Lehmo for comedy and more, here.  Tony's personal writing blog is Good one, Wilson!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clare Wright is an award winning author and documentary maker and a previous guest on this podcast (Ep 46). This very personal speech about depression was delivered at a The Wheeler Centre event called 'Epic Fail' featuring well known authors and artists sharing their stories of failure.  Clare's description of a state of depression is so evocative that Melbourne musician Suzannah Espie wrote a song using the words of the speech as lyrics, 'I'm sorry, I failed'. The episode concludes with that song.  Join Speakola newsletter for free here.  It's just $5 a month to be a paid subscriber.  Support on patreon Make a credit card donation This episode is sponsored by DocPlay. Sign up here for 45 days free on the world's best documentary streaming site, then if you choose to continue, $7.99/m. Clare's narrates the film, Utopia Girls , which you can stream at Docplay.  Tony's personal writing blog is Good one, Wilson! The number for Lifeline Australia is 13 11 14.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brendan Gale became CEO of Richmond in late 2009, and delivered this speech to the whole of the football club in the rooms in the old Punt Road grandstand in early 2010. it was a vision for the future, and it was mocked in the press at the time. Richmond had not won a final for 30 years and had competed in finals twice in the previous fifteen. Gale outlined a plan to win three premierships in ten years. It's an articulate corporate speech in a sporting environment with brave goal setting. I spoke to Brendan Gale as part of interview process for my Allan Jeans biography (Yabby, Hardie Grant, 2024)  The transcript and audio reenactment of Gale's speech is on Speakola.  Join Speakola newsletter for free here or you can choose to pay. Thanks also to those who are donors or Patreons.  This episode is sponsored by DocPlay. Sign up here for 45 days free on the world's best documentary streaming site, then if you choose to continue, $7.99/m.  Tony's personal writing blog is Good one, Wilson!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tomorrow is ANZAC Day in Australia, our most important day for commemorating and recognising the sacrifice of armed servicemen and women. To coincide, here is a re-release of speechwriter Don Watson's interview about the Paul Keating's 'Eulogy to the Unknown Soldier' delivered at the Canberra War Memorial on Remembrance Day 1993.  The occasion was the interment of the remains of one Australian solider, dug up from a battlefield on the Western Front. It is a revered speech in this country, the words are now chiselled into the Australian War Memorial itself and the phrase 'He is all of them, and he is one of us'; was even at the centre of a political stoush in 2013 over whether it should replace Kipling's 'Known Unto God' on the graves of Unknown Soldiers. (Kipling won the day). This is a shorter episode than the usual Speakola length. If you are interested in Don Watson and his speechwriitng career, the previous episode is much more detailed, and discusses Watson's somewhat broken relationship with the former Prime Minister. Watson's most recent books are 'There it is Again' (Collected Writings) and The Bush. The speech is now up on Speakola for the first time with vision thanks to Rhett Bartlett and Rhettrospective.  Become a free or paid subscriber to the Speakola newsletter.  Read analysis of this speech in newsletter  Read the Barry Humphries speech mentioned in the introduction, 'Through the Thin End of an Asparagus Roll', National Press Club, 1978 Make a donation or join the Patreon.  Please subscribe to the podcast, visit Speakola,  and share any great speeches that are special to you, famous or otherwise. I just need transcript & photo /video embed. Speakola also has Twitter and Facebook feeds.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A bonus episode with Walkley winning journalist Andrew Rule recorded when we chatted about his eulogy for his father (episode 44)  This episode is about Andrew's eulogy for Les Carlyon, a fellow legend of Australian journalism and writing. The speech was delivered on March 12th 2019 at Flemington racecourse, the home of Australian racing and the location for some of Carlyon's most beautiful writing. As Andrew says in the speech, he was the poet laureate of the turf.  Andrew Rule has a 'Life and Crimes' podcast and I was a guest talking footy rogues, 'Black sheep in footy boots'.  I read out a list of thank yous in this episode to people who have been 'super subscribers',(Beyond the $5 per month) either as 'founding members' at the newsletter or 'Standing Ovation' donors on Patreon  I'm also very grateful to every person who has helped me over these last two years to provide an income stream for this project.  Thanks also to those who are donors just through Paypal This episode is sponsored by DocPlay. Sign up here for 45 days free on the world's best documentary streaming site, then if you choose to continue, $7.99/m.  Tony's personal writing blog is Good one, Wilson! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've just had the terrible news that Ron Joseph, Speakola's guest for E36 of this podcast, died this week aged 77. He was so accommodating with this interview, and we chatted for nearly two hours about his incredible life in footy administration and in particular the North Melbourne footy club. I'll put up some of the general (non speechy audio) from that day on the Good one, Wilson podcast, which is at my personal newsletter page.  This is a republish of that episode from last year, which featured Ron Joseph's eulogy to Lou Richards, which is one of the great AFL speeches.  Join Speakola newsletter here.  It's just $5 a month to be a paid subscriber.  Thanks also to those who are donors or Patreons.  RIP Ron JosephSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vida Goldstein was the first woman to campaign for elected office for a national parliament in the English speaking world. It was the election of 1903, Ms Goldstein ran for the Senate in the Australian parliament, and she lost! Her launch speech was at Portland in Victoria and podcast guest Prof Clare Wright read it aloud for the Sydney Writers Festival's 'Friends, Romans, Countrymen' event in 2022.  In this episode, Clare talks about Vida Goldstein's speech, but also her place in the women's suffrage struggle of the 1880s and 90s. She explains quite brilliantly how that period of women's history unfolded, and how Australian women became leaders on the world stage helping other white women win their struggles in the UK and the USA. Vida was an invitee to the Roosevelt White House, and helped and inspired Emmeline Pankhurst. Clare also explains that the early suffragists did not help indigenous women win or in the case of South Australia, retain the vote. They were products of the White Australia' era they inhabited.  The audio of the speech as read by Clare Wright is courtesy of the Sydney Writers Festival. You can purchase tickets to the 2023 festival here.  Clare's books include the Stella Award winning The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka and You Daughters of Freedom.  Join Speakola newsletter here. For IWD, I released Part 1 and Part 2, Great speeches by women, decade by decade, 1910-2023. It's just $5 a month to be a paid subscriber.  Thanks also to those who are donors or Patreons.  This episode is sponsored by DocPlay. Sign up here for 45 days free on the world's best documentary streaming site, then if you choose to continue, $7.99/m. Clare's narrates the film, Utopia Girls , which you can stream at Docplay.  Tony's personal writing blog is Good one, Wilson!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Between 2010 and 2013, Michael Cooney was speechwriter for Australia's 27th Prime Minister, Julia Gillard who was also its first female Prime Minister. Michael has written an excellent book about this experience, called 'The Gillard Project: My Thousand Days of Despair and Hope'. In this episode he talks about what a Prime Ministerial speech writer does, and shares interesting and funny yarns from the coalface of political power, including his trip to Washington for the Prime Minister's meeting with President Obama.  Episode contains clips from Prime Minister Gillard's address to Congress, her speech at the Gallipoli Dawn Service 2011, The Misogyny Speech, and her remarks on losing the leadership ballot to Kevin Rudd in 2013.  Michael now works at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers as the General Manager of Public Affairs.  Join Speakola newsletter here.  It's just $5 a month to be a paid subscriber.  Thanks also to those who are donors or Patreons.  This episode is sponsored by DocPlay. Sign up here for 45 days free on the world's best documentary streaming site, then if you choose to continue, $7.99/m.  Tony's personal writing blog is Good one, Wilson!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Rule is a Gold Walkley winning journalist and author (Underbelly) who grew up on a farm in Gippsland and made his way from The Maffra Spectator to the pinnacles of Australian investigative reporting. His father, Keith, spent his life felling and fashioning timber, and this eulogy is a beautiful ode to a man and his axe. It was written as a feature for The Age in 1998, written as Keith Rule lay in the next room dying, and then adapted slightly to be read at the funeral in Lake Tyers on 27th June 1998. There is no audio of the original speech, so Andrew Rule has re-recorded the speech for this podcast.  Andrew Rule mentions his colleague Les Carlyon in this chat, and Andrew's eulogy for Les Carlyon is also on Speakola.  Andrew Rule has a 'Life and Crimes' podcast and I'm the current guest talking footy rogues, 'Black sheep in footy boots'.  Sign up as a free or paid subscriber to Speakola here.  $5 a month to be a paid subscriber.  Thanks also to those who are donors or Patreons.  This episode is sponsored by DocPlay. Sign up here for 45 days free on the world's best documentary streaming site, then if you choose to continue, $7.99/m.  Tony's personal writing blog is Good one, Wilson!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ruth Clare is an Australian author who wrote the award winning memoir 'Enemy — A Daughter's story of how her father brought the Vietnam War home'. She suffered the trauma of domestic violence as a child, and has been talking about trauma for a living since she became a parent herself. She has delivered three TEDx talks:  If you don't own your stories they'll own you, TEDxYouth@LGS The pain hiding your true self, TEDxYouth@LGS The power of Plan B Thinking, TEDxUniMelb (online event) Ruth talks to Tony about her traumatic childhood, her healing through therapy, the story of her most successful TEDx talk which has had over 100,000 views, and some tips on writing TED talks. She's brilliant!  Ruth Clare's website.  Sign up as a free or paid subscriber to Speakola here. If you love what I'm doing in this one-man speeches mission (43 episodes, 7 years of collecting) please become a $5 a month paid subscriber. It's really easy at news.speakola.com. Thanks also to those who are donors or Patreons.  This episode is sponsored by DocPlay. Sign up here for 45 days free on the world's best documentary streaming site, then if you choose to continue, $7.99/m.  Tony's personal writing blog is Good one, Wilson!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the fifth year running, Tony awards his speeches of the year on Triple R's 'The Grapevine' with Kulya Coulston and Dylan Bird. Thank you to Triple R for the audio. Listen to The Grapevine on Triple R Mondays 9-12am. They are on break now until 2023. This is the new hub/community base for Speakola with over 5300 subscribers, and a few of those are paying subscribers. Thanks so much! Signing up here either for free or paid is the best way to help me out. Speakola also has a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer regular support for as little as $3/mth. We also welcome donations in any format and any size, recurring or one off. This is my website for books I've written. There's a 20% discount for paid subscribers at the newsletter. Episode sponsored by Docplay, the best streaming service in the world for documentaries. Get a 45 day free trial. Tony has been writing about World Cup, family, general stuff at Good one, Wilson! Sign up for funny and uplifting reading, an email a week to your inbox!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Laura Lexx is an acclaimed British comedian who has appeared on many television shows ('Roast Battle', 'Mock the Week') and has written a novel 'Pivot' and a bestselling humour book 'Klopp Actually'. Her tweets imagining a steamy yet sensible love affair with Jurgen Klopp lit up Twitter for a weekend in 2020, and scored her a book deal! But this episode is about her real life wedding in 2015 to fellow comedian Tom Livingstone (The Noise next Door) and the excellent bride speech she gave thanking him and her sister. It's a hit on YouTube and Laura is great on the whole question of how to do a bride or groom speech.  Laura website Includes audio from this YouTube of Lin Manuel Miranda serenading bride Vanessa with help of friends and family at their wedding.  The newsletter has a new home! More than 5000 signed up here. If you love what I'm doing in this one-man speeches mission (42 episodes, 7 years of collecting) please become a $5 a month paid subscriber. It's really easy at news.speakola.com. You can also make straight donations or join Speakola patreon.  This is Tony's wedding speech to wife Tamsin. '10 Things I Love About You'.  This episode is sponsored by DocPlay. Sign up here for 45 days free on the world's best documentary streaming site, then if you choose to continue, $7.99/m.  Tony's personal writing blog is Good one, Wilson!  His books are for sale hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

'Give me your children' is one of the most harrowing and disturbing speeches in history, It was delivered by Chief Elder and Nazi appointed representative of the Jews in the Lodź ghetto, Chaim Rumkowski. In the speech, Rumkowski announces that children under ten, the elderly, and the sick and infirm will be handed over to the Nazis to fulfill deportation demands, in order to save the rest of the ghetto. Holocaust survivor Abram Goldberg was in the ghetto's main square on that terrible day, and heard the speech and the screams of the crowd. In this episode he talks about Rumkowski, the leader's controversial and tarnished reputation, as well as Abram's own incredible story of survival, including a heart breaking promise to his mother at the train station at Auschwitz. Assisting 97 year old Abram in our interview is Fiona Harris, the co-author of his recent memoir, 'The Strength of Hope' (Affirm Press, 2022). Fiona has written children's books and co-produced and starred in the hit series, 'The Drop Off'. The reenactment of Rumkowski's speech is voiced by Tobias Menzies (The Crown, Outlander, Game of Thrones for Almeida Theatre's 'Figure of Speech' series. It is on YouTube Speakola is made entirely by Tony and supported by listeners. There is a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer Tony regular support. Also welcome credit card donations,  which can be monthly or one off. Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Speakola is sponsored by DocPlay. Sign up here for 45 days free on the world's best documentary streaming site, then if you choose to continue, $7.99/m. The documentary 'A Film Unfinished' about a Nazi propaganda film in the Warsaw ghetto is excellent. Tony will share photos and write about his day with Abram and Fiona for his writer blog, Good one, Wilson. Email comments or ideas to [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The great actor and activist Uncle Jack Charles died in Melbourne on the 13th of September 2022 of a stroke. Five weeks earlier, Speakola's Tony Wilson recorded a chat with him during filming of their AFL Finals promo. Tony had written the words. Jack delivered the voice. During Jack's break, Tony chatted to him about life and career highlights. It was just recorded on a phone, so doesn't have the usual Speakola sound quality. it's a beautiful chat though, typically feisty and irreverent from Uncle Jack. Tony wrote it up for his column /newsletter Good one, Wilson, so it is up there too, with transcript. There is also a column about Tony writing what he calls his 'Nike poetry'. Uncle Jack talks about touring with Archie Roach on the Enter the Bloodstream tour and singing Archie's 'We Won't Cry'. That song finishes the episode, recorded at TEDx Sydney, 2017. Jack Charles was a proud and eloquent Bunurong and Wiradjeri man. RIP. Speakola is made entirely by Tony and supported by listeners. There is a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer Tony regular support. Also welcome credit card donations,  which can be monthly or one off. Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Speakola is sponsored by DocPlay. Sign up here for 45 days free on the world's best documentary streaming site, then if you choose to continue, $7.99/m. The documentary 'Bastardy' about Jack Charles is on the platform. Email comments or ideas to [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ted Baillieu was the 46th Premier of Victoria, elected in November 2010. In this episode he talks about this speech he delivered as Leader of the Liberal Party Opposition in February 2009 at a Day of Mourning ceremony for the Black Saturday bushfire victims at Rod Laver Arena.  Mr Baillieu is an excellent speechwriter and orator, and he shares tips and anecdotes gleaned across a long illustrious career in public life.  Subscribe to Tony Wilson's 'Good one, Wilson' substack, to receive a weekly taste of his writing. An email a week, like this one about 'Nike poetry'  Speakola is made entirely by Tony and supported by listeners. There is a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer Tony regular support. Also welcome credit card donations,  which can be monthly or one off. Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Speakola is sponsored by DocPlay. Sign up here for 45 days free on the world's best documentary streaming site, then if you choose to continue, $7.99/m. Email comments or ideas to [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author James Button's 2008 eulogy for his politician father John Button was one of the first speeches ever added to Speakola. It's a beautiful speech, full of stories about one of Australia's most significant Labor politicians. It's also a eulogy that has an honesty to it, it talks about John Button's moodiness, his taciturn nature, his absences. But it also demonstrates his intelligence, wit and charisma. There's a sadness in Senator Button's past that James didn't bring up in the eulogy, which he now regrets, as he discusses in the interview. it's a brilliant speech and episode. James Button's books include Speechless  A Year in My Father's Business and Comeback: the Fall and Rise of Geelong. Tony's footy books include 1989 The Great Grand Final. Subscribe to Tony Wilson's 'Good one, Wilson' substack, to receive a weekly taste of his writing. An email a week, with stories like this one about his son. Speakola is made entirely by Tony and supported by listeners. There is a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer Tony regular support. Also we welcome credit card donations,  which can be monthly or one off. Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Spread the speakola word! Tag @byTonyWilson @speakola_ on Twitter facebook and Instagram. Speakola is sponsored by DocPlay. Get a two week free trial on the world's best documentary streaming site, then if you choose to continue, $7.99/m. Email comments or ideas to [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Peter Malinauskas is the 47th Premier of South Australia. He gave a terrific victory speech on election night, 19th March 2022, one described by The Australian's literary critic as having 'flawlessly controlled momentum' and reaffirming a belief in democracy. The Premier is a wonderful interviewee and talks about how he wrote the speech, and the importance of victory and concession speeches in the peaceful handover of power in Australia and in democracies generally. And he talks about his footy career with 'the Scum' at University Blacks Adelaide. He's still playing, even as Premier! Speakola is made entirely by Tony and supported by listeners. There is a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer Tony regular support. Also we welcome credit card donations,  which can be monthly or one off. Thanks to Mike Jones, John Groarke, Marjorie Spiller, Alison Johnston and Geoffrey Stump for recent donations. Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Subscribe to Tony Wilson's 'Good one, Wilson' substack, to receive a weekly taste of his writing. Spread the speakola word! Tag @byTonyWilson @speakola_ on Twitter facebook and Instagram. Email comments or ideas to [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lou 'The Lip' Richards was an icon of Australian football in the latter half of the twentieth century. He was an excellent player, playing 250 games for Collingwood between 1941 and 1955, including captaining the 1953 premiership. But he found fame in his home town of Melbourne as a columnist, television wit, and play by play commentator. He died in 2017, and was honoured at a state funeral. Friend and North Melbourne administrator Ron Joseph delivered an excellent eulogy, much of it pitched in Lou's voice, that did justice to Richards' cheekiness and charm.  Speakola is made entirely by Tony and supported by listeners. There is a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer Tony regular support. Also we welcome credit card donations,  which can be monthly or one off. Tony AFL themed footy books include 1989: The Great Grand Final, A Boy Called Bob,  The Selwood Boys series and his debut novel, Players. He co-directed a footy documentary about an AFL tour of Ireland in 1967 called The Galahs.  Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Subscribe to Tony Wilson's 'Good one, Wilson' substack, to receive a weekly taste of his writing. He'll add the story of his mum's 1969 World of Sport trivia triumph shortly.  Spread the speakola word! Tag @byTonyWilson @speakola_ on Twitter facebook and Instagram. Email comments or ideas to [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A speech described by The New York Times in the days after delivery as 'the greatest speech since Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address'. Jimmy Reid's speech was reprinted in full and praised around the world.  In this episode, Jimmy Reid biographer and Westminster MP Kenny MacAskill (member for East Lothian in Scotland since 2019) talks about this famous speech, as well as 'no bevvying' shipyard address, and Reid's life and achievements as a worker advocate, politician, union leader, and media commentator.  There are snippets of speeches from Jimmy Reid's funeral, which included eulogies from Billy Connelly and Sir Alec Ferguson. Kenny MacAskill reads a full version of the Glasgow University speech as speech of the week, because no full audio version exists.  MacAskill's biography, 'Jimmy Reid: A Scottish Political journey' is excellent.  Speakola is supported by listeners. There is a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer Tony regular support for as little as $3/mth. Also welcome credit card donations,  which can be monthly or one off. Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Subscribe to Tony Wilson's 'Good one, Wilson' substack, to receive a weekly taste of his writing.  Tony's signed books are for sale at his website.  Spread the speakola word! @byTonyWilson @speakola_ on Twitter and Instagram. Email comments or ideas to [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gabriel Sterling speech and interview re-release. Republican electoral official Gabriel Sterling was a witness called before the January 6 committee this week to give evidence into what went on in the days leading up to the attack on the Capitol. This is a Speakola interview released as episode 23 in August 2021, during the Olympics. Sterling talks about the art of off the cuff speech making, as well as the anger he felt about threats of violence directed towards low level contractors working in the Georgia count. He also talks about the heat in modern day politics, the invective, and the push towards extremism. His 'Somebody is going to get killed' speech is the defining speech of The Big Lie period. As he says in this episode. 'It sucks to be right'. Tony Wilson has a new writing substack (free) you can subscribe to if you enjoy his words. Speakiola also has a newsletter where Tony unpicks a favourite speech. Subscribe here. Please donate on the patreon, or by paypal or credit card.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Terrific episode on Winston Churchill, his prodigious skills as a rhetorician, and in particular his speech to a joint sitting of US Congress on Boxing Day, 1941. Our guest is Richard Cohen, founder of the popular Winston Churchill facebook group and a legal scholar who has immersed himself in all things Churchill. He was a proof reader of Andrew Roberts 'Churchill: Walking with Destiny' biography, and a great interviewee for this one. Churchill speeches mentioned in the episode include, the Dunkirk 'Beaches' speech, and The Iron Curtain 'Sinews of Peace' speech. Richard Cohen's own candidature speech to Board of Deputies of British Jews is also on Speakola. Speakola is supported by listeners. I have a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer regular support for as little as $3/mth. Also welcome credit card donations,  which can be monthly or one off. Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. @byTonyWilson @speakola_ on Twitter and Instagram. Email comments or ideas to [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wendy Harmer is a legend of Australian media, and comedy, a mainstay since 'running away to join the circus' and the standup scene in the mid 1980s. She talks about those years at the Last Laugh and Le Joke, and also the shows that established her, 'The Big Gig' and 'World Series Debating' on the ABC. where she captained a comedy debate team each episode against Andrew Denton (who has also been a guest on this podcast). Wendy talks about the art of the comedy debate, what separates it from straight standup, shares snippets and stories. The debate featured as the speech for this 1993 episode is 'That Australia Needs the Royal Family' Tony has a new website for the books he has written, including Harry Highpants mentioned in this episode. Andrew Denton's episode on Speakola is his eulogy for John Clarke. Speakola has a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer regular support for as little as $3/mth. We also welcome credit card donations,  which can be monthly or one off. Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Episode supported by the Podcast Reader magazine. Issue #6 out shortly. For free pdf offer, email [email protected] and mention Speakola. @byTonyWilson @speakola_ on Twitter and Instagram. Email comments or ideas to [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the eve of her wedding in India, The Outer Sanctum's Rana Hussein got a birds and the bees talk from her devout, hijab wearing, doctor, mother. She told the story at Comedy Republic's 'Stranger than Fiction' night, in hilarious and excruciating detail. The story is about two firsts, and as funny as the birds and the bees bit is, it's heartbreaking to hear about the other first that finishes this great piece of writing and speaking. Speech audio courtesy of Comedy Republic. To see their MICF lineup visit website. Rana Hussein is the Inclusion and Diversity officer for Cricket Australia. She is also part of The Outer Sanctum team. Tony also spoke on the night, read this article, and he'll put that audio up on patreon . Tony has a new website for the books he has written, including Harry Highpants mentioned in this episode. Speakola has a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer regular support for as little as $3/mth. We also welcome credit card donations,  which can be monthly or one off. Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Episode supported by the Podcast Reader magazine. Issue #5 out now. For free pdf offer, email [email protected] and mention Speakola. @byTonyWilson on Twitter and Instagram. Email comments or ideas to [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A different style of episode we're calling 'Speakola Reads' On 4th March 2022, Shane Warne, Australia greatest ever bowler, died of a heart attack in Thailand. This episode is Tony reading a tribute he wrote for Shane Warne in 2011. The piece was titled 'The Mile Wide Spin Club' and was included in a coffee table book called 'Australia: Story of a Cricket Country' (Hardie Grant, 2011, ed. Chris Ryan). The book ranked the greatest players in Australia's cricket history, and the top 5 were each captured in a dedicated article. Tony spoke to junior coaches, cricket academy people, and Warne's teammate Damian Fleming to write this. The conclusion was updated to salute Warnie's early and tragic passing. Tony has a new website for the books he has written, including sports books 1989: The Great Grand Final, A Boy Called Bob, The Selwood Boys, and Australia United. Speakola has a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer regular support for as little as $3/mth. We also welcome credit card donations,  which can be monthly or one off. Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Episode supported by the Podcast Reader magazine. Issue #5 out now. For free pdf offer, email [email protected] and mention Speakola. Tony is @byTonyWilson on Twitter and Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jahmal Cole is running for Illinois' First Congressional District in 2022 as a Democrat. He's a community activist and founder of My Block, My Hood, My City, which is an after school program that offers disadvantaged kids broader city wide experiences beyond their neighbourhoods in Chicago. 'it's not regular' is a brilliant speech that was delivered at a Martin Luther King jr. Day Interfaith Breakfast in Chicago, on 21st January 2018. Full text and audio here. There were a thousand people in attendance, and Cole's speech was shared around the world. Jahmal gives such good speaking advice in this episode, and we wish him well with his campaign. If you wish to donate, you can at https://www.cole2022.com/ To support My Block, My Hood, My City, visit their site. Jahmal Cole's book is 'It's Not Regular: How to Recognise Prejudice in Palin Sight' Tony has a new website for the books he has written, including Harry Highpants mentioned in this episode. Speakola has a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer regular support for as little as $3/mth. We also welcome credit card donations,  which can be monthly or one off. Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Episode supported by the Podcast Reader magazine. Issue #5 out now. For free pdf offer, email [email protected] and mention Speakola. Tony is @byTonyWilson on Twitter and Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Doyle is one of Australia's greatest comedy performers, as the Rampaging Roy Slaven half of 'Roy and HG'. On October 7th 2005 he delivered this Andrew Olle media lecture for the ABC, which was a wide ranging speech discussing sensationalism in news, opinion, War in Iraq, 9-11, journalistic integrity, the ABC and fistfights at the Walkleys. It's very funny in parts, serious in others, and all delivered with a little of that Rampaging Roy lilt, even though this was pure John Doyle. John Doyle has a memoir out, written in lockdown, about being fifteen years of age in Lithgow. It's called 'Blessed: The Breakout Year of Rampaging Roy Slaven' Podcasts mentioned on the show: John Doyle on Conversations - The Dark Lithgow Childhood of Rampaging Roy Slaven Tony on Conversations - The Speech Collector Damian Callinan's The Bodgy Creek Community Podcast Slate's Slow Burn S5, War in Iraq Tony has a new website for the books he has written, including Players mentioned in this episode. Happy to sign and personalise. Speakola has a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer regular support for as little as $3/mth. We also welcome donations in any format and any size, recurring or one off. Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Episode supported by the Podcast Reader magazine. Issue #5 out now. For free pdf offer, email [email protected] and mention Speakola. Speakola also has Twitter @Speakola_ and Facebook feeds. Tony is @byTonyWilson on Twitter and Instagram. New patrons and donors: Andrew Pritchard, Jo Peake, Simon Balderstone, Mark Freeman, Phillip Lewis, Frances Colley, Ben Ellerton, Graham Thomas. Thank you! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the fourth year running, Tony awards his speeches of the year on Triple R's 'The Grapevine' with Kulya Coulston and Dylan Bird. Categories include sports, arts, issue, historical significance, young speaker, and pandemic related speech of the year. Tony has a new website for the books he has written. Speakola has a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer regular support for as little as $3/mth. We also welcome donations in any format and any size, recurring or one off. Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Episode supported by GreenSkin™ and PurpleSkin™ avocados at https://greenskinavocados.com.au/. Our other sponsor is the Podcast Reader magazine. Issue #4 out now.  Email and mention Speakola for a free copy of the latest edition as pdf. Speakola also has Twitter @Speakola_ and Facebook feeds. Tony is @byTonyWilson on Twitter and Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This isn't a regular interview + speech episode. Tony thanks the 15 guests who have appeared on the podcast in 2021, and shares a story from episode 26 guest Martin Flanagan about his journey into the Tarkine wilderness in Tasmania, with a Sherrin and six friends from his university football days to protest against the construction of a dam. The piece originally appeared in Footyology, and Martin reads it for Speakola here. His episode of the podcast was the most listened to this year, so Martin, almost like he is The Queen, gets to deliver the Christmas message. Tony has a new website for the books he has written. Speakola has a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer regular support for as little as $3/mth. We also welcome donations in any format and any size, recurring or one off. Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Episode supported by GreenSkin™ and PurpleSkin™ avocados at https://greenskinavocados.com.au/. Our other sponsor is the Podcast Reader magazine. Issue #4 out now. Email and mention Speakola for a free copy of the latest edition as pdf. Speakola also has Twitter @Speakola_ and Facebook feeds. Tony is @byTonyWilson on Twitter and Instagram.      See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adam Elliot won the Academy Award for Best Short Animation in 2004 for his film 'Harvie Krumpet'. His nomination rocketed him to celebrity status in Australia, and the country celebrated as he received the gold statue with his producer Melanie Coombs beside him. His speech was short, and did the job of some important thank yous. In this episode, we talk about the experience of being nominated for an Oscar while on the dole, attending the ceremony, the Governor's Ball, the after parties, with some discussion of the speech too, delivered to half a billion people. Adam thanked his boyfriend Dan in the speech and was credited with being the first person to thank a same sex partner in the ceremony. Dan and Adam are still together, seventeen years later. Here is the text and audio of Adam's speech  Tony has a new website for the books he has written. Speakola has a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer regular support for as little as $3/mth. We also welcome donations in any format and any size, recurring or one off. Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Episode supported by GreenSkin™ and PurpleSkin™ avocados at https://greenskinavocados.com.au/. Our other sponsor is the Podcast Reader magazine. Issue #4 out now.  Email and mention Speakola for a free copy of the latest edition as pdf. Speakola also has Twitter @Speakola_ and Facebook feeds. Tony is @byTonyWilson on Twitter and Instagram.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Isra Mohammed's speech to her school in Newcastle, UK, went went around the world in December of 2015. She was a 15 year old student at Kenton School, Newcastle, and she'd been subjected to racist and Islamophobic taunts after the ISIS attacks on Paris, that killed 130 people and injured hundreds more. When her brother and sister were targeted, Isra decided she had to do something, and so arranged to address the whole school, to tell her fellow students about Islam, and to try to dispel myths and ignorance about the religion. One delivery of this speech (she gave a few) was recorded, uploaded to YouTube and went around the world as a viral sensation. Speakola has a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer regular support for as little as $3/mth. We also welcome donations in any format and any size, recurring or one off. Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Episode supported by GreenSkin™ and PurpleSkin™ avocados at https://greenskinavocados.com.au/. Our other sponsor is the Podcast Reader magazine. Issue #4 out now. Email and mention Speakola for a free copy of the latest edition as pdf. Tony's books are available at https://www.tonywilsonauthor.com/ Speakola also has Twitter @Speakola_ and Facebook feeds. Tony is @byTonyWilson on Twitter and Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Safran is an author and satirist who recently wrote the book 'Puff Piece, How Phillip Morris Set Vaping Alight and Burned Down the English Language'. He chats to Tony about a corporate message from Phillip Morris CEO Jacek Olczak, which is focused on 'unsmoking the world', 'ending the problem of smoking' and Phillip Morris ambitions to become smoke free. John explains the contradictions at play here, the pressures on PMI from vaping and governments, and how tricky use of language, and a tobacco heating device called the IQOS, are potentially Phillip Morris' ticket to salvation. 'Phillip Morris always wins' is a phrase in Safran's book and he uses it again here. A funny and revealing chat, about corporate obfuscation and skulduggery. Buy Puff Piece here. John Safran's other books and TV shows are on is website. Speakola has a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer regular support for as little as $3/mth or as much as $20/mth. If it's easier, we also welcome donations in any format and any size, recurring or one off. If you're a regular listener, you can give Tony a financial kick along so he can keep making it! Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Episode supported by GreenSkin™ and PurpleSkin™ avocados at https://greenskinavocados.com.au/. Our new sponsor is the Podcast Reader magazine. Email and mention Speakola for a free copy of the latest edition as pdf. Tony's books are available at https://www.tonywilsonauthor.com/ Speakola also has Twitter @Speakola_ and Facebook feeds.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Martin Flanagan is a much loved Australian sportswriter, known for his lyrical phrase and passion for stories that intertwine sport and culture. In 2018 he delivered a monologue in praise of Melbourne Football Club legends, and also ordinary supporter and officials. It is a majestic piece, 'Thinking about you, Ron Barassi' and it first aired during Preliminary Final week, 2018 on radio station SEN. It's the feature speech of this episode, as Martin discusses his torn allegiances for Grand Final day, having spent lengthy periods as an 'embedded' writer at both Footscray (Western Bulldogs) and Melbourne. He also talks about key figures in the piece, Jim Stynes, Robbie Flower, Liam Jurrah, Sean White, Nathan Jones, and of course Ron Barassi. Because Flanagan wrote a book on the 2016 Bulldogs, 'A Wink from the Universe', he also has stories about Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore, Bob Murphy and Easton Wood. It's a great grand final episode, covering the Western Bulldogs and the Demons.  Speakola has a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer regular support for as little as $3/mth or as much as $20/mth. If it's easier, we also welcome donations in any format and any size, recurring or one off. If you're a regular listener, you can give Tony a financial kick along so he can keep making it! Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Episode supported by GreenSkin™ and PurpleSkin™ avocados at https://greenskinavocados.com.au/. Our new sponsor is the Podcast Reader magazine. Email and mention Speakola for a free copy of the latest edition as pdf. Tony's books are available at https://www.tonywilsonauthor.com/ Speakola also has Twitter and Facebook feeds.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2016, Julian Leeser was elected as the Liberal member for Berowra, an electorate comprising suburbs and bush north of Sydney. His maiden speech to parliament delivered 14th of September 2016 was shared around the world, as it told the story of the death of his father to suicide. He spoke about the tragedy of that day, and also what needs to be done in Australia on the suicide prevention and mental health fronts. RUOK Day embraced his 'signs' message as the theme of the 2017 campaign. This episode is being released on RUOK Day 2021, and Leeser discusses the mental health strain related to the pandemic and lockdowns. Julian also discusses federalism and the Australian Constitution, as well as his support for 'voice' proposals for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander recognition in the document. Australians seeking support and information about suicide prevention contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. There are equivalent services in most countries. Tony talks about the death by suicide of his best man, Chris Daffey. That episode of the podcast is here. Speakola now has a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer regular support for as little as $3/mth or as much as $20/mth. If it's easier, we also welcome donations in any format and any size, recurring or one off. If you're a regular listener, you can give Tony a financial kick along so he can keep making it! Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Episode supported by GreenSkin™ and PurpleSkin™ avocados at https://greenskinavocados.com.au/. Our new sponsor is the Podcast Reader magazine. Email and mention Speakola for a free copy of the latest edition as pdf. Tony's books are available at https://www.tonywilsonauthor.com/ Speakola also has Twitter and Facebook feeds.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In June 2011, Emily Rowe lost her husband Matthew Carney to a cardiac arrest, caused by his chemotherapy medication. In the tragic aftermath, Emily Rowe[ delivered a stunning eulogy, extolling Matt's philosophy of living in the present, and making the most of each moment. IN the period since, Emily became a grief coach in order to help other people overcome the pain of loss and sadness. For this episode, she talked about meeting Matt, falling in love, sharing a life, the loss, and the writing and delivery of this speech. She also recorded the speech, for which there was no original audio in existence. Emily's counselling service is The Good Grief Coach and she also has videos on YouTube. Speakola now has a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer regular support for as little as $3 per month. If it's easier, we also welcome donations in any format and any size, recurring or one off. If you're a regular listener, you can give Tony a financial kick along so he can keep making it! Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Episode supported by GreenSkin™ and PurpleSkin™ avocados at https://greenskinavocados.com.au/. Our new sponsor is the Podcast Reader magazine. It launched in August, issue one featuring Christopher Hitchens, Peter Thiel, Arlie Hochschild, Margaret Atwood and Frank Wilczek Tony's books are available at https://www.tonywilsonauthor.com/ Speakola also has Twitter and Facebook feeds.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gabriel Sterling was voting system implementation manager for his home state of Georgia during the heated aftermath of the 2020 election. President Trump and his supporters were claiming the election had been stolen, and were not accepting facts as provided by Sterling and other Republicans in the Georgia  administration. When a 20 year old employee and his family received death threats, an angry Sterling fronted the media and delivered this ad lib speech that went around the world. Speakola now has a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer regular support for as little as $3 per month. If it's easier, we also welcome donations in any format and any size, recurring or one off. If you're a regular listener, you can give Tony a financial kick along so he can keep making it! Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Episode supported by GreenSkin™ and PurpleSkin™ avocados at https://greenskinavocados.com.au/. Our new sponsor is the Podcast Reader magazine. It launches this month, issue one featuring Christopher Hitchens, Peter Thiel, Arlie Hochschild, Margaret Atwood and Frank Wilczek Tony's books are available at https://www.tonywilsonauthor.com/ Speakola also has Twitter and Facebook feeds.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Hawke was the 23rd prime minister of Australia and the most electorally successful Labor politician in Australian history. He delivered a speech on 9th June 1989, five days after the tanks and 27th Army rolled into Tienanmen Square and massacred  students gathered there. Hawke delivered this speech in the Great Hall of Parliament House in Canberra, which was largely written by speechwriter Stephen Mills who is our guest for this episode. In the middle of the prepared remarks, Hawke also read from a diplomatic cable that contained graphic descriptions of what went on in the Square. He wept as he read from the cable, and it became one of the iconic moments of his prime ministership. It's recently been revealed in an ABC podcast, China if You're Listening, hosted by Matt Bevan that the contents of the cable was not accurate in terms of the scale of atrocities or the number of deaths in the square. Listen to full episode of China if You're Listening with Matt Bevan. Listen and watch 730 Report story about the diplomatic cable. Speakola now has a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer regular support for as little as $3 per month. If it's easier, we also welcome donations in any format and any size, recurring or one off. Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Episode supported by GreenSkin™ and PurpleSkin™ avocados at https://greenskinavocados.com.au/. Tony's books are available at https://www.tonywilsonauthor.com/ Please subscribe to the podcast, visit Speakola, and share any great speeches that are special to you, famous or otherwise. I just need transcript & photo /video embed. Speakola also has Twitter and Facebook feeds.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jessie Street was a pioneering feminist in Australia, who fought for women's rights, equal pay, reproductive rights, as well as indigenous rights during an amazing 81 year life. She was one of the activists behind the changes in the 1967 referendum. Dr Lenore Coltheart is a historian who was employed by the Street family to update Jessie's autobiography and is now writing the first full blown biography of a great and  sometimes overlooked pioneer. There is no surviving audio for 'Is it to be back to the kitchen?' so it is read for this podcast by actor Blazey Best. The opening audio of Jessie Street speaking is from 'Women's Status in the United Nations Charter' recorded for the International Women's Radio League. Speakola now has a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer regular support for as little as $3 per month. If it's easier, we also welcome donations in any format and any size, recurring or one off. Episode supported by GreenSkin™ and PurpleSkin™ avocados at https://greenskinavocados.com.au/. Tony's books are available at https://www.tonywilsonauthor.com/ Please subscribe to the podcast, visit Speakola, and share any great speeches that are special to you, famous or otherwise. I just need transcript & photo /video embed. Speakola also has Twitter and Facebook feeds.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.