Wide Open Air Exchange

Nyssa Millington is an accredited financial counsellor with experience providing crisis services and a great interest in the potential good of broader financial education services and consumer advocacy. Nyssa has an interesting vocational history from studying and working in computer programming followed by a range of business support services through to financial counselling and money coaching.

Fran Grant is a Yuin woman, educator, and advocate with vocational experiences as an early childhood educator and classroom teacher and frontline roles in the airline industry. During her time in the airline industry Fran was Chair of Daramu, QANTAS' Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employee network.

An introduction to the Irish sport hurling with Richard Bromhead aka Bromy who coaches a kids' team in Dublin.  This conversation covers some of the history and contemporary culture of hurling and a discussion of the skills that are required to do well at hurling from an early age and beyond.

Ariana Morgenstern is Executive Producer of Music at radio station KCRW in Los Angeles where she leads the station's music curation and works on live events and other special projects. Joining KCRW as a volunteer in 1983, Ariana went on to become producer of the signature music program Morning Becomes Eclectic from 1984–2015. With a commitment to public radio and the station's wider community, Ariana is motivated by helping to grow the culture of LA through her life's work at KCRW.

Andy Scerri from the Department of Political Science at Virginia Tech is a Fulbright Scholar with research interests in environmental political theory and policy. Some of his research looks at the tensions that have emerged between labor movements and environmental movements, and what these tensions mean for democracy. This conversation also covers some of Andy's earlier experiences working in the building and construction industry and following music on his travels before going on to academic studies.

Danielle Ponter is winner of the NAIDOC Sportsperson Award. Danielle advocates for more opportunities for Aboriginal players in the AFLW and cares deeply about helping the next generation. As a guest on the Wide Open Air Exchange, Danielle made time to honour her Uncle Michael Long who was awarded the NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award. The conversation covers some of Danielle's story of playing club football in Darwin from age eleven against older girls, and going on to become a star player for the Adelaide Crows where she has won two premierships. Since joining the Crows in 2019, Danielle has played 72 games and kicked 82 goals and she holds the record as the leading goal kicker of the AFLW competition.

Professor Eddie Cubillo is winner of the 2025 NAIDOC Education Award, and he kindly spoke with the Wide Open Air Exchange program about his reaction to the award in the context of the ongoing problems he sees as an educator and academic, lawyer and advocate.

Blak Brews is winner of the 2025 National NAIDOC Innovation Award. Entrepreneur Troy Benjamin is co-founder of the premium tea business together with his wife Cerisa Benjamin.

Dr Liz Giuffre is an Associate Professor of Media and Journalism at UTS and shares some of her approach to higher education teaching. Liz is a music journalist and commentator who has been writing for street papers and the online versions for many years and is a regular contributor to ABC radio. As an academic, Liz researches popular music and popular cultures and has taught music and sound design, journalism, and communications. Liz is co-host of the podcast and radio program Music Mothers and Others with Shelley Brunt which you can hear on 2SER 107.3FM on Mondays at 730pm AEST.

Rhonda Davis shares her approach to art curation ahead of the exhibition Eric Smith: The metaphysics of paint which is on at the Macquarie University Art Gallery from June 18th to August 1st 2025. Rhonda is Senior Curator of the gallery and its collection with 25 years of experience.

Fran Grant is an educator, advocate and Yuin woman who is on a journey of learning about her family as the child of a Stolen Child, her father. Fran is planning PhD research informed by her own experience of using DNA to explore family connections. Fran is a lecturer at UTS and Director of Koori Education offering cultural consultancy services.

A conversation about Western Sydney Literature and Working Class Literature with creative writer Emma O’Neill-Sandham who is a PhD researcher at the University of Sydney. Emma's research and creative writing are in part informed by her own life experiences in Western Sydney. This episode features Emma reading parts of her creative nonfiction piece 'The Salon' set in her mother's home hair salon. Emma is interested in stories that are told from Western Sydney cultural perspectives, and her research is spotlighting the creative works of other writers from the western suburbs. Part of Emma's doctoral research is exploring working class and Western Sydney themes through a novel she is writing as a creative practice part of her PhD. Among other milestones Emma has been awarded a Varuna Fellowship, a Western Sydney Emerging Writers Fellowship, and a Master of Creative Writing qualification from Macquarie University.

Dr Benjamin Pope is an Associate Professor in Statistical Data Science at Macquarie University at the Astrophysics and Space Technologies Research Centre. Since being awarded a DPhil in Astrophysics from the University of Oxford, Ben has been a NASA Sagan Postdoctoral Fellow and an ARC Decra Fellow among other accomplishments. Ben is active in public science communication and other meaningful civil society engagement. This is a great introduction to concepts related to Astrostatistics and Astrophysics and data science, This is a great introduction to concepts related to Astrostatistics and Astrophysics and data science, and Ben's approach of combining flexible statistical models with rigorous physical models. There are discussions of astronomical imaging, philosophy of science debates in statistical inference reasoning, and some history of radio astronomy in Australia including the pioneering work of Ruby Payne-Scott.

Associate Professor Kathomi Gatwiri has led the development of a Racial Dignity Framework informed by her academic research and clinical practice as a psychotherapist. Dr Gatwiri is an Afro-diasporic scholar, an ARC DECRA Fellow at Southern Cross University, and founder and director of Healing Together Psychotherapy.

In a career spanning 25 years, Clint Drieberg has worked across radio and television in production, presenting and management roles, and as a showbiz reporter and entertainment interviewer. Clint shares family influences and the story of his entry into media along with insights into navigating life as a media specialist and his approach to leadership as a radio program director. We also go behind the scenes of The Graham Norton Show when Clint was invited on set to interview Graham.

An introduction to swing dancing with discussions of Lindy Hop and Balboa and other styles including Shag. Michael Jones has been involved in the Sydney swing scene for more than twenty years and participates in events around the world, particularly for Balboa these days.

Haydee Rojas-Judd is a senior lawyer with an impressive approach to being a lifelong learner. Haydee has a Diploma of Counselling and is part way through a Bachelor of Health Science (Acupuncture Therapies) motivated by her love of learning. She had also taken singing lessons for a few years as a way to challenge herself. This conversation will be of interest to you if you're starting out in your vocational life, if you're considering a mid-career change, or if you're looking for inspiration to learn for non-vocational reasons.

This week's episode features three vocational stories by Brigit Busicchia. These were originally produced for a radio segment called 'What Job is That?' on Brigit's Thursday Drive program on 2SER 107.3FM Sydney. This episode features the voices of Tugboat Master Andy Wilson, Activist Liz Millen, and Philosopher Simon Lumsden.

An insight into what is horology and the training and apprenticeships system in Australia. Oliver Broos Revitt trained in Australia and followed with qualifications from the American Watch and Clockmakers Institute and the British Horological Institute. He now runs his own watch repairs business, OBR Horology in Adelaide.

Dr Anne Casey is an internationally acclaimed poet from west Clare in Ireland. Throughout this conversation, Anne kindly reads and introduces several of her poems and shares insights from her academic research. Anne Casey's doctoral research was on 'The second-wave impact in Australia of the Great Irish Famine: reviving lost histories through poetics of resistance'. We hear about some of Anne's archival research and her own family history that evidence British colonial atrocities in Ireland. Anne's poetry also vividly takes us to her seaside hometown on the Atlantic coastline of west Clare, showing her strong connections to place and culture

Former US champion barista Charles Babinski is now in Sydney as owner-operator of Cafe 143 in Bronte.  In this conversation, Charles reflects on some of his vocational experiences as a coffee specialist and his approach to running a coffee shop.

For the week of International Women's Day, we're putting a spotlight on research related to gender equality and social inclusion in the WASH workforce (water, sanitation and hygiene services). Our guest is Avni Kumar who is a Senior Research Consultant in the Institute for Sustainable Futures at UTS with a background in development economics. The discussion extends to themes that are relevant for women in the wider workforce, the importance of including men in gender inclusion efforts, and Avni's own experience of returning to work from maternity leave.

Lucy Haslam from United in Compassion reflects on her more than 10 years as a medical cannabis advocate in Australia as she prepares for the UIC 2025 Australian Medical Cannabis Symposium.

Dr Emma Lawrance from Imperial College London specialises in the intersections between climate change and mental health. Emma is the Climate Cares Centre Lead and Mental Health Lead at the Institute of Global Health Innovation. Emma explains how climate change is a risk multiplier for mental health difficulties and how climate action is an opportunity multiplier for better mental health. With a DPhil in Neuroscience from the University of Oxford and a background in studies of Science and Science Communication, Emma brings to her work a great technical knowledge along with a longstanding personal interest in nature and a curiosity about the human mind.

Tangiora Hinaki shares stories and insights from her varied and impressive vocational life including running a shearing shed and home schooling her eight children to being CEO of Ngaarda Media, the only First Nations media hub in the Pilbara. 

This is a good one for holiday listening. I'll be back with new conversations in Feb 2025. Take care and dig in to the Wide Open Air Exchange podcast back catalogue in the meantime. Best wishes, Christine Gallagher. This episode was first broadcast on radio 2SER 107.3FM Sydney: A Song for You is a vocal ensemble with a rotation of around 50 members from a community of artists in the Berlin live soulful music scene. Co-founder Dhanesh Jayaselan shares the origins and ethos of the project which serves to elevate the voices and stories of BIPOC artists.

Film aficionado Davis Rivera shares his memorable movie viewing of the past 12 months including The Brutalist, Menus-Plaisirs Les Troisgros, Aggro Dr1ft, Juror #2, In Water, and Last Summer.

For more than 30 years, Bonnie Barlow has been involved in the narration and writing of audio description for the theatre, television, feature films, museums, historical sites, and more. Bonnie gives us an introduction to the role of an audio description specialist and her professional approach to providing accessible services for people who are blind and visually impaired. Bonnie is also a trainer of other audio description specialists and shares some of the foundational lessons and core principles she teaches.

Dr Erica Sze Lok Ho is a founder of peer support communities for PhD candidates and other higher degree by research (HDR) students and a Research Analyst at UTS Business School where she promotes HDR student engagement and wellbeing.

Michoel Moshel is a PhD researcher of Clinical Neuropsychology at Macquarie University. Michoel's current research is on the topic of disordered and problematic screen usage. This episode has a discussion of the problems of screen addiction and some interventions and related policy, along with some of Michoel's vocational story.

Discussing art, science, and disability advocacy with multidisciplinary artist Magnets aka Dr Siobhan McGinnity. Siobhan is a clinical audiologist with a PhD in Audiology on the prevention of hearing injury in the music industry. This episode was first broadcast on radio 2SER 107.3FM and features music from Magnets' debut album DIPLACUSIS including excerpts of the tracks 'ADHme', 'Anxiety', 'Desire', 'Down', and 'Speak'. The album explores themes of self-acceptance and identity. Diplacusis is a hearing condition that Siobhan has experienced with Meniere's Disease.

Professor Nancy C. Unger is an historian with a special interest in the progressive era in American history and an author of biographies of progressive era reformists Bob and Belle La Follette. Senator Robert La Follette was a third-party candidate at the 1924 US presidential election (100 years ago) for the Progressive Party and Belle La Follette was active on the women's suffrage circuit.

Andrew Max Levy was one of the first comedy photographers carving out a scene in Los Angeles by providing photography services to comedy clubs and stand-up comedians. Andrew is now well established and trusted as Justoffthesix Photography and is expanding into directing specials. As well as having a fascinating vocation, Andrew has an interesting vocational history from starting out as a playwright and comedy writer and working as a maitre d’ in the restaurant industry for a decade to teaching himself photography before finding a niche as a comedy photographer.

Kankawa Nagarra discovered the guitar as an adult and found that Blues music resonated with her as a "soothing ointment" for healing pains and mending scars. As a Blues musician and environmental activist from Gooniyandi and Walmatjarri country in north western Australia, Kankawa has earned the title of "Queen of the Bandaral Ngadu Delta".

Dr Laura Tuohilampi is an academic researcher at UNSW with a specialty in mathematics education. Laura is currently working on a book about popularising maths and discusses some of her thinking about the value of maths for the wider population. Laura is author of the book, Seriously Fun Maths, and also shares insights about what makes learning fun and engaging in a classroom setting.

Andrew Leavold on his turn to gonzo filmmaking for his latest project, Film Safari Ghana, and the story of how he came to be featured in a no-budget, no-script, DIY digital film made by Ghanaian director 'Ninja". Andrew also reflects on the various ways that he has connected with likeminded people in cult film circles and outsider DIY culture in different parts of the world including through his iconic Trash Video store that he ran for many years in Brisbane.

An introduction to ethical investment with Dr Rodger Spiller along with Rodger's personal story of becoming interested in making a positive social impact from an early age and how that informed his vocational choices.

Multi-talented artist Demi Jenkins aka Peachy Skaterr shares her approach to living a creative vocational life. Peachy discusses the origins and development of her interests in roller skating, dance, choreography, hula hooping, film production, dopamine dressing, and the community connections she has made along the way.

Karima Hazim shares the motivation behind her efforts to document and share Lebanese food culture in Australia and how it relates to the history of the migrant experience.

Professor Maxine Piggott is a molecular biologist with a PhD in Genetics and a speciality in tropical biosecurity. Maxine has degrees in Business and Science and a background working in legal and government settings. Currently Maxine Piggott leads the Tropical Biosecurity Group in the Research Institute for Northern Agriculture (RINA) at Charles Darwin University.

Mango's early artistic influences were in skate and graffiti culture and he developed a multidisciplinary practice as a visual artist including painting on canvas, graphic design, and street murals. Mango's art is infused with the colours of the Australian landscape and inspired by his practice of taking time to slow down and observe the world around him.

Darren Fittler on his life philosophy, the social model of disability, and his interest in stand up comedy. This radio edit of a previous podcast conversation with Darren was broadcast on 2SER 107.3FM ahead of Darren's Sydney Fringe Comedy show.

Jasper Peach is a trans, non-binary and disabled writer and speaker. They are author of the book "You’ll Be a Wonderful Parent: Advice and Encouragement For Rainbow Families of All Kinds", a contributor to Able radio, and host of a new television talk show called "Unmasked" featuring neurodivergent guests and conversations about life as a neurodivergent person.

A discussion of organic gardening with Toni Salter aka The Veggie Lady. Tony shares her story of turning an interest in organic gardening into a vocation in teaching people how to grow veggies. Toni offers gardening workshops and seminars as well as horticultural therapy programs informed by her training in diversion therapy and recreational therapy.

A Song for You is a vocal ensemble with a rotation of around 50 members from a community of artists in the Berlin live soulful music scene. Co-founder Dhanesh Jayaselan shares the origins and ethos of the project which serves to elevate the voices and stories of BIPOC artists. The music in this episode is used with permission.

Aunty Cino (Cynthia Morrison) is an elder in her communities in various roles as head of the Garabara Dance Group, President and founder of the Didjurigur Netball Club, and as a much loved Aboriginal Education Officer teaching culture to primary school children K-6.

Dr Alistair Sisson is an academic researcher with a speciality in studying public housing and the relationship between stigmatization and gentrification. Alistair is a Macquarie University Research Fellow with the Macquarie School of Social Sciences in the Discipline of Geography and Planning.

Allison Dibben has recently made a vocational change from a career in the corporate sector to starting up her own local dog walking service, Wagtopian. Allison shares what's been involved in making that change along with some dog walking tips. 

Port Chaplain Sister Mary Leahy RSJ OAM is a longtime advocate for the human rights and welfare of seafarers and other members of the maritime community. This conversation is shared ahead of International Day of the Seafarer on 25th June.

Jeremy Ray is host of Grokludo, an independent podcast covering topics at the intersections of gaming and cognitive psychology, game design, academic research, and policy. This conversation is a window into topics covered in the first three episodes of the Grokludo podcast including player responses to morality meters, workplace culture at games design studios, and video game classifications.