Long Distance Call

Eliza and Geraldine are back after their podcast sabbatical! And it wouldn't be an LDC without a big conversation about US politics and whether President Biden should run again or allow someone younger to have a crack at Donald Trump. Geraldine & Eliza do a recap of the past three months, including Eliza's looming 40th birthday and Geraldine's trip to Europe to celebrate the German composer, Mahler. There's all the usual discussion of books and podcasts and movies, with a small rave from Geraldine about the “Oppenheimer" movie. Thanks for listening! Get in touch via the email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com Wifedom – Anna Funder https://www.penguin.com.au/books/wifedom-9780143787112 Wifedom review by Susan Wyndham in the Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/jul/07/wifedom-by-anna-funder-review-a-brilliant-reckoning-with-george-orwell-to-change-the-way-you-read Last Man Standing – The UK Times podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/stories-of-our-times/id1501716010?i=1000567142277 Romantic Comedy – Curtis Sittenfeld https://www.penguin.com.au/books/romantic-comedy-9780857527509 The author Stefan Zweig https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stefan_Zweig

This week, a big announcement for the LDC community. After six years of weekly podcasts, Eliza and Geraldine are going to take a breather ... for a while. This podcast has been an unexpected joy in the lives of both women. The insights and loyalty of listeners will be treasured forever! But, life has become busy and Eliza is finding it tricky to make the regular podcast commitments. From now on, the aim will be to dip in and out of your ears once every quarter or so, and keep the "Best of" series every year. Until then, keep in touch via the website ldcpodcast1@gmail.com Thankyou for listening!!

Thanks for listening! Get in touch via the Facebook group "LDC Podcast" or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com

This week, Geraldine takes a dive into the latest concerning road toll figures. US journalist Seymour Hersh has won prizes and international acclaim for his investigations in the past. But is his latest theory on America blowing up the all-important Nord Stream pipeline a step too far? And how the TV adaptation of "Fleishman's in Trouble" has left some Manhattan mums wondering if they're in strife, too. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com How America Took Out The Nord Stream Pipeline - Seymour Hersh https://seymourhersh.substack.com/p/how-america-took-out-the-nord-stream ‘The Killing of Osama Bin Laden' The London Review of Books, Seymour Hersh https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v37/n10/seymour-m.-hersh/the-killing-of-osama-bin-laden Osama Bin Laden Situation Room photo https://time.com/84553/osama-bin-laden-situation-room/ ‘We profiled the “Signs of Crisis” in 50 years of mass shootings. This is what we found' New York Times, Jillian Peterson & James Densley https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/01/26/opinion/us-mass-shootings-despair.html Financial stress worse than COVID-19, says Beyond Blue CEO, Australian Financial Review https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/leaders/financial-stress-worse-than-covid-19-says-beyond-blue-ceo-20230209-p5cjbz Simone Young conducts Mahler's First Symphony https://www.sydneysymphony.com/concerts/simone-young-conducts-mahlers-first-symphony ‘The Fleishman Effect' The Cut, Caitlin Moscatello https://www.thecut.com/2023/02/the-fleishman-is-in-trouble-effect.html

Geraldine has been on an intermittent fasting diet for the past three months. The 'it' diet had been recommended by many friends and dieticians in the media as the easy, hassle free way to lose weight. However, over summer, she'd had enough. The biggest problem was that she wasn't losing weight. But new scientific studies have raised questions about the risks and impact on the body of this method of dieting. Also this episode, do you feel guilty when you board a plane, given the environmental damage from the emissions? Eliza's says no. And book recommendations after a summer of reading. Thanks for listening to the 6th year of LDC. Leave a review on your podcast app, join the Facebook group 'LDC Podcast' or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com What direction is travel heading? ABC Saturday Extra https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/saturdayextra/travel-predictions/101900786 Germany at war with itself over involvement in Ukraine conflict – ABC Saturday Extra https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/saturdayextra/germany-tanks/101900782 Why Germany dragged its feet over supplying Leopard tanks - The Conversation https://theconversation.com/ukraine-war-why-germany-dragged-its-feet-over-supplying-leopard-tanks-to-ukraine-198521 Who is the Wager Group? BBC explainer https://www.bbc.com/news/world-60947877 Spare – Prince Harry https://www.penguin.com.au/books/spare-9780857504791 Best of Friends – Kamila Shamshie https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/60410888 ‘Lone Wolf'- The Quarterly Essay – Katherine Murphy https://www.quarterlyessay.com.au/essay/2022/11/lone-wolf Salonika Burning – Gail Jones https://www.textpublishing.com.au/books/salonika-burning Jennifer Johnston books https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/52834.Jennifer_Johnston The Shipping News – Annie Proulx https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7354.The_Shipping_News Global news podcast - BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02nq0gn/episodes/downloads

Thanks for listening in 2022! ABC Boyer Lectures with Noel Pearson https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/boyerlectures Seasonal Symphony - Gardening Australia & Classic FM https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/how-to/seasonal-symphony/101776068 Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump Maggie Haberman https://www.amazon.com/Confidence-Man-Making-Breaking-America/dp/0593297342 Nancy Pelosi's Legacy - New Yorker podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-new-yorker-politics-and-more/id268213039?i=1000590452634 Prospects for Ukraine - ABC Saturday Extra https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/saturdayextra/mick-ryan/101780376 Long read on Roy Cohn https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/a29177110/wheres-my-roy-cohn-matt-tyrnauer-donald-trump-interview/ Project Rozana https://australia.projectrozana.org/ The Crown https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4786824/ How to dress ‘tech bro' https://www.ft.com/content/51cf1792-5955-4135-8b78-7346519c551b The Coming Storm podcast BBC Radio 4 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001324r The Split - TV series https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7631146/ Lucy by the Sea - Elizabeth Strout https://www.penguin.com.au/books/lucy-by-the-sea-9780241606995 Fleishman Is In Trouble - TV https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11527058/ The interest rate theory of everything - Derek Thompson https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/plain-english-with-derek-thompson/id1594471023?i=1000587112430 Ann Manov lashes She Said https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/film/2022/11/she-said-review-myopic-timid-trivial-metoo-harvey-weinstein We could have been friends, my father and I Raja Shehadeh https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/720387/we-could-have-been-friends-my-father-and-i-by-raja-shehadeh/ Geraldine's interview https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/saturdayextra/palestinian-s-past-and-future-at-the-heart-of-memoir/101775392 The Lost King https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13421498/ Blueback https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14201576/

Christmas parties are back and a long, hot summer is on the cards. Eliza and Geraldine have been wining and dining but Geraldine thinks people are feeling particularly tired this December, more so than previous years. She puts that down to the long tail of COVID disruption and two years of forced adaptation. Also, facing up to the challenge of the renewable energy transition. And Eliza's new sporting obsession. Thanks for listening! Get in touch via our Facebook page 'LDC Podcast' or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com Superpower of the zero-carbon world - ABC Saturday Extra https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/saturdayextra/superpower-of-the-zero-carbon-world-/101730346 To Barbra With Love – Adelaide Symphony Orchestra https://www.aso.com.au/events/to-barbra-with-love-an-80th-birthday-celebration/ Stolen Focus Johan Hari https://www.amazon.com/Stolen-Focus-Attention-Think-Deeply/dp/0593138511 Sydney Modern Project – Art Gallery NSW https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/sydney-modern-project/ Good Weekend article https://www.smh.com.au/culture/art-and-design/very-modern-so-sydney-the-inside-story-on-building-the-agnsw-s-sparkling-new-wing-20220726-p5b4nv.html Yiribana Gallery Sydney https://www.sydneybarani.com.au/sites/yiribana-gallery/ Between the Covers Bookclub (podcast) https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/between-the-covers-book-club/id1506557918 The White Lotus season 2 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13406094/ The Crown https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4786824/ The Wire https://www.hbo.com/the-wire Elizabeth Gyles Brandreth https://www.penguin.com.au/books/elizabeth-9780241637968 The Hour TV series https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1778108/ The Far Right Rises in Israel – The Daily https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/17/podcasts/the-daily/israel-election-benjamin-netanyahu-far-right.html

Geraldine's been focussed on Australia's international diplomacy this week but Eliza's been reading about America. First it was the surprising midterm election results and then the big correction happening in the tech sector. She thinks that the tech leaders like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg are the 'thought leaders' of this generation because they run media companies where an increasing volume of Australians get their news. They also discuss Sam Bankman-Fried and his failed crypto exchange FTX. Also this week, an exploration of whether trauma and infidelity can be passed on through the generations via DNA. And Eliza's new reading list. Thanks for listening! To join the conversation join the Facebook site "LDC Podcast" or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com Pivot podcast with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway https://podcasts.voxmedia.com/show/pivot How Sam Bankman-Fried's Crypto Empire Collapse https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/14/technology/ftx-sam-bankman-fried-crypto-bankruptcy.html ‘A Crypto Catastrophe: The Stunning Fall of FTX – and What Comes Next' Plain English with Derek Thompson (podcast) https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/plain-english-with-derek-thompson/id1594471023?i=1000586338986 Infidelity and Other Affairs Kate Legge https://www.booktopia.com.au/infidelity-and-other-affairs-kate-legge/book/9781760762810.html?source=pla&gclid=Cj0KCQiAveebBhD_ARIsAFaAvrFgtPZvZb9irK0DEYekFt1zY0qYjSVuzVhssziNVwH9kTJqnD2V_a0aAvQ5EALw_wcB The Madness: A Memoir of War, Fear and PTSD Fergal Keane https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/the-madness-a-memoir-of-war-fear-and-ptsd-fergal-keane?variant=39767823450190 Irish Independent's review of Keane's book https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/books/book-reviews/the-madness-fergal-keane-performs-an-exorcism-and-a-public-pledge-42128234.html The Rest is History podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-rest-is-history/id1537788786

This week, Eliza "interviews" Geraldine about her article in the respected journal "Australian Foreign Affairs". In it, Geraldine argues that America - not China - will be Penny Wong's greatest challenge in office. Geraldine cites the fact that America doesn't take too kindly to criticism, or the suggestion that Australia might go its own way in terms of foreign policy. Also this week, Eliza discusses Elizabeth Strout's devastating new novel "Lucy by the Sea". And Geraldine sings in a Puccini choir. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com Messa Di Gloria - Puccini https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDDsuvOK5-g Penny Wong: Testing herself and AustraliaAustralian Foreign Affairs https://www.australianforeignaffairs.com/journal More on the Australia - Japan security deal https://www.afr.com/world/asia/australia-s-anzus-style-defence-pact-is-new-territory-for-japan-20221023-p5bs52 Lucy by the Sea: A Novel Elizabeth Strout https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/706911/lucy-by-the-sea-by-elizabeth-strout/ NYT review of Lucy by the Sea https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/16/books/review/lucy-by-the-sea-lucy-barton.html Nick Bryant on England's political chaos https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/the-westminster-sitcom-has-a-new-male-lead-pass-the-popcorn-20221027-p5btmx.html

Eliza thought everyone knew about the concept of the 'mental load': a term for the invisible labor involved in managing a household and family. But the phrase wasn't on Geraldine's radar. As they discuss it, both women talk about how they remember all the little tasks in life, and how they're preparing for Christmas. Also in this episode: Geraldine's two-day ethics conference in Melbourne. Should we worry about nuclear warfare? And Eliza celebrates her birthday. Thanks for listening! Get in touch via the Facebook group 'LDC podcast' or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/668293/confidence-man-by-maggie-haberman/ ‘It's my curse and my salvation': Trump's most famous chronicler opens up https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/09/30/maggie-haberman-profile-00059343 Cranlana Ethics Centre https://www.cranlana.org.au Is Russia's threat to Ukraine the new Cuban missile crisis? ABC Saturday Extra https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/saturdayextra/new-cuban-missile-crisis/101514908 Are we in an anxiety crisis? ABC Saturday Extra https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/saturdayextra/are-we-in-an-anxiety-crisis-/101492086 What are Tactical Nuclear Weapons and What if Russia Uses Them? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-are-tactical-nuclear-weapons-and-what-if-russia/id1200361736?i=1000581902064

Eliza's back! And so is LDC. What a time it's been since the last episode, with the Queen's death and Russian President Vladimir Putin's chilling warning to the West as his war in Ukraine falters. This week Geraldine and Eliza discuss Russia and reflect on the future of the monarchy (and the propsects for the Australian republican campaign). They've both watched 'The Split' TV series. And Eliza mulls over Meg Mason's Sorrow and Bliss. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com The Elizabethan era is over – ABC Saturday Extra https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/saturdayextra/saturday-extra/14043860 The Weakness of the Despot The New Yorker (David Remnick) https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/stephen-kotkin-putin-russia-ukraine-stalin Sorrow and Bliss – Meg Mason https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49110165-sorrow-and-bliss The Split (Season 3) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7631146/ About The Split's writer, Abi Morgan https://www.theguardian.com/stage/abimorgan *My Salinger Year https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2222052/ The Finkler Question – Howard Jacobson https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8664368-the-finkler-question

In light of this week's Jobs & Skills Summit in Canberra, Eliza and Geraldine discuss the revolution that's occurring in the workplace. For Geraldine, COVID offered a professional reckoning. She's bounded back into the office, convinced of its power to assist creativity and collaborative work. For Eliza - still a big fan of the office - the workplace revolution has been transformative. The biggest change has been her ability to choose how to work: some days it's 9 or so hours with her colleagues, sometimes 5, sometimes WFH. With that choice and flexibility has come freedoms. But she's also mulling over how to best structure the work week. Also this week, new thinking about managing lower back pain. The power of Elizabeth Strout's novels. And Eliza's upcoming trip to Israel and the Palestinian Territories with her charity Project Rozana. We're taking a little break and will be back in 3 weeks. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page LDC Podcast or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com Empowering older Australians to keep working is the best solution to our skills shortage: Rebecca Huntley https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/31/empowering-older-australians-to-continue-working-is-the-best-solution-to-our-skills-shortage The Office is Dead - The Ezra Klein Show https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/16/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-anne-helen-petersen-charlie-warzel.html My Name is Lucy Barton - Elizabeth Strout https://www.elizabethstrout.com/books/my-name-is-lucy-barton Project Rozana Australia https://australia.projectrozana.org/

As this week's episode was drawing to a close, after a long conversation about movies and books, Geraldine dropped a clanger. She reckons young people struggling to buy a house should buy a weekly Lotto ticket, in the off chance they win and can spend the money on a house deposit. This sent Eliza into fits of laughter and left Geraldine bemused. Eliza and Geraldine would love to know your thoughts! Email 'ldcpodcast1@gmail.com' or join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" Also this week, the long Elvis movie. And the joy (and darkness) of Elizabeth Strout's books. Elvis movie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvis_(2022_film) Olivia Newton-John https://www.smh.com.au/culture/celebrity/lively-with-noteworthy-eyes-the-untold-story-of-olivia-newton-john-s-school-years-20220810-p5b8si.html Judith Durham https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/aug/08/judith-durham-obituary Afterlife https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8398600/ Oh William! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56294820-oh-william Smiley's People https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083480/ Gaslit https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11834592/ All The President's Men https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074119/ The Lives of Others https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405094/ Confederates in the Attic https://www.amazon.com/Confederates-Attic-Dispatches-Unfinished-Civil/dp/067975833X

How many new emails do you have in your inbox? Eliza's personal email is a lost cause but in her new job she's implementing a colour-coded ordering system that will get her to 'inbox zero' every Friday afternoon. Well that's the plan, at least. Also this week, is Angela Merkel's legacy in tatters? And what we can learn from the Country Women's Association (note: a lot more than scone making). Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page "Long Distance Call" or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com Full time https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13269580/ Haute Couture https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11610804/ Is Merkel's legacy in tatters? ABC RN Saturday Extra https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/saturdayextra/merkels-legacy-in-tatters/13995282 The Rest is Politics podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-rest-is-politics/id1611374685 Country Women's Association marks 100 years https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/saturdayextra/country-womens-association-marks-100-years/13995702 So You Think You Want To Live Younger Longer? Norman Swan https://www.booktopia.com.au/so-you-want-to-live-younger-longer--dr-norman-swan/book/9780733648342.html

There's a crisis in Eliza's life: her beloved, expensive high heels have become crippling. That's because she's developed a problem with the ball of her right foot, which is exacerbated by wearing this type of shoe. So she really needs to retire the heels and invest in some flats. But that process is easier said than done. Also this week, how do we work in the wake of the pandemic? Eliza ponders a new hybrid model. And going back to the french TV series, The Bureau. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com Eliza's charity - Project Rozana Australia https://australia.projectrozana.org How to be a Prime Minister - Don Watson https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2022/july/don-watson/how-be-prime-minister#mtr The future of the Liberal Party - George Megalogenis https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2022/july/george-megalogenis/future-liberal-party The Bureau https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/program/the-bureau

The women are back after Geraldine's big European trip. She had a wonderful trip, with a visit to Ephesus being a highlight. But her trip home turned into a 60+ hour nightmare and she still doesn't have her luggage. On this episode Eliza and Geraldine talk about Boris Johnson's demise and how much Brexit played a role. Eliza has been watching the January 6 hearings and reading about Ron DeSantis, the Republican Governor of Florida. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com

In this LDC special, Geraldine brings you an episode of her new series on young people's experience of faith and belief in the Catholic Church. She talks to Grace Brennan, who's been instrumental in uniting Australia's communities in the city and country. Raised in Sydney, she went to school at Loreto Kirribilli. Her story of marrying a farmer and moving to Warren in western NSW, becoming a mother and starting up ‘Buy from The Bush' is inspirational. She describes herself as a proud Catholic, but says that she's trying to navigate some of the more challenging positions of the church. In 2019 with much of the country experiencing devastating drought and bushfires, she founded the ‘Buy from The Bush' campaign. In the process, Grace started conversations, lifted spirits, created jobs, and saved businesses that otherwise may have failed.

As Geraldine prepares for her big European getaway, the women talk holidays and jetting back overseas post-COVID. Eliza is moving through a podcast slump and is listening to Tina Brown's 'Palace Papers' on Audible, an expose on the last 25 years in the House of Windsor. Also, the importance of a musical education. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page 'LDC Podcast' or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com The Palace Papers - Tina Brown https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-palace-papers-tina-brown/book/9781529124712.html Slow Horses https://tv.apple.com/us/show/slow-horses/umc.cmc.2szz3fdt71tl1ulnbp8utgq5o Madeleine – Helen Trinca https://www.booktopia.com.au/madeleine-helen-trinca/book/9781925773071.html The Women in Black - Madeleine St John https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/758037.The_Women_in_Black Why didn't they ask Evans? Agatha Christie https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14829590/ The Slow Fade of a Music Education – The Monthly - Anna Holdsworthy https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2022/june/anna-goldsworthy/slow-fade-music-education Plenary Matters podcast https://plenary-matters.zencast.website

Geraldine and Eliza are back after a short break and there's so much to talk about: the new Federal government, Eliza's new job and Geraldine's European jaunt. Get in touch and let us know what you think! Email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com or join the conversation at "LDC Podcast" on Facebook. Thanks for listening! Love and Deception James Hanning https://www.hachette.com.au/james-hanning/love-and-deception-philby-in-beirut Zelenksy: The Story (SBS in Australia) https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/2023040579635/zelenskyy-the-story Chums – How a tiny caste of Oxford Tories took over the UK Simon Kuper https://www.booktopia.com.au/chums-simon-kuper/ebook/9781782838180.html

In the final episode before the 21 May election, Geraldine and Eliza deliver their verdicts. The women agree that it'll be a Labor victory, but disagree on the merits of the campaign that's got Anthony Albanese to this point. They also wonder what the Liberal Party will look like in the wake of defeat. Also this week, Eliza on Louis Theroux's COVID diaries. And Geraldine is watching "Anatomy of a Scandal" on TV. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com Friday's RN Breakfast politics segment (featuring Sam Maiden) https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/politics-david-speers-samantha-maiden-scott-morrisons-launch/13880340 Tokyo Trial – Netflix https://www.netflix.com/au/title/80091880 Anatomy of a scandal - Netflix https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81152788 Theroux the Keyhole: Diaries of a grounded documentary maker - Louis Theroux https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781509880423/ Elizabeth Warren on leaked Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v Wade https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQxlBErbj4s

This week, Geraldine and Eliza discuss an article by former Federal Independent MP Tony Windsor about how personal greed is shaping politics. Also this week, the Solomons deal with China and the war in Ukraine are distracting Eliza from week 3 of the election campaign. And are we losing focus? Or are we just tired after a long haul with the pandemic. Don't forget to sign up to Plenary Matters on your podcast app for Geraldine's second season on the big council shaping the future of the Catholic Church. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation on Facebook at LDC Podcast or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com Tony Windsor – Saturday Paper - Rorters, rooters and the country's lost decade https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2022/04/23/rorters-rooters-and-the-countrys-lost-decade/165063600013751 Howard Jacobson's Mother's Boy https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/feb/27/mothers-boy-by-howard-jacobson-review-a-literary-titan-ill-at-ease-in-the-world What's wrong with diplomacy? Kerry Brown https://www.penguin.com.au/books/whats-wrong-with-diplomacy-the-future-of-diplomacy-and-the-case-of-china-and-the-uk-penguin-specials-9780734310569 Stolen Focus - Johann Hari https://stolenfocusbook.com Slow Horses – Apple TV https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5875444/ Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (Binge) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10244600/

Happy Easter LDC! This week: Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese is under pressure as week one of the campaign comes to a close. Eryn Jean Norvill's masterful performance in The Picture of Dorian Gray. And reflecting on the power of the selfie. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation on Facebook at LDC Podcast or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com

Eliza and Geraldine are back, after a big adventure in the SA countryside and a stint with the lurgy. This week, they discuss the Flinders Ranges and the challenges of the Aussie bush. While Geraldine was in isolation she caught up on a lot of reading about the war in Ukraine and Putin's leadership. And gearing up for the campaign sprint. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page LDC Podcast or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com LINKS The Intellectual Catastrophe of Vladimir Putin - Paul Berman, Foreign Affairs https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/03/13/putin-russia-war-ukraine-rhetoric-history/ More on the Maidan Revolution – written in 2019 https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2019/02/22/ukraine-looking-forward-five-years-after-the-maidan-revolution/ Leadership at War: How Putin and Zelensky Have Defined the Ukrainian Conflict – Margaret McMillan - Foreign Affairs https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/ukraine/2022-03-29/leadership-war Zelensky on Dancing with the Stars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlJywp7E3Gw Squiz Shortcut on Volodymyr Zelensky https://www.thesquiz.com.au/shortcuts/volodymyr-zelensky/ Deutsche Welle's Konstantin Eggert interviews Mikhail Khodorkovsky, an outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin https://www.dw.com/en/khodorkovsky-clear-position-of-west-will-help-putin-make-the-right-decision/av-61313230 The American Wife – Curtis Sittenfeld https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2807199-american-wife

THIS TIME WITH CORRECT AUDIO It's been grim news of late. Geraldine and Eliza try to make sense of what's happening in Ukraine and what history can tell us about the outcome of the current war. Shane - the King of Spin https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10366168/ Urban warfare descends on Ukranian cities - RN Saturday Extra https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/saturdayextra/military-strategy/13778346 Germany dramatically boosts defence spend to counter Russia - RN Saturday Extra https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/saturdayextra/germany-defence/13782614 Some background on Russia's intervention in the Syrian war https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34416519 Why is Kyiv being likened to the next Grozny? https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-kyiv-grozny-war-russia-b2030213.html

Geraldine and Eliza are mulling over this question after reading Nick Bryant's great article called "The Repairman" in the Monthly magazine. Bryant charts Albanese's political life and the discipline he's displayed in the role of opposition leader. But will it be enough? And is there a risk that he plays it so 'safe' that the electorate doesn't know what he stands for? Also this week ... war looms in Ukraine ... and Geraldine considers the repercussions for Europe. And important movements in the podcasting world. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com 'The Repairman' - Nick Bryant The Monthly https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2022/february/1643634000/nick-bryant/repair-man#mtr Emily Maitlis & Jon Sopel leave the BBC for podcasting https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10538893/Emily-Maitlis-Jon-Sopel-leave-BBC-join-Global-radio-exclusive-deal.html Maitlis interviews Prince Andrew for Newsnight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtBS8COhhhM Mike Cannon-Brookes' takeover bid for AGL https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/inside-project-arise-cannon-brookes-secret-plan-to-take-over-agl-20220221-p59yer.html

Geraldine has been mulling over the debate about women & society's expectations of their behaviour since the Grace Tame famously gave the Prime Minister the angry 'side-eye'. Geradline finally realised what had been making her uncomfortable: the notion that getting angry will somehow be cathartic & freeing. She believes the opposite - that anger is a dead weight that stops you from progressing. So this week, Eliza and Geraldine weigh in - about women's right to be angry, about the inequalities that still exist in the system, and how different generations of women feel about this conversation. Also this week, will there be a war in Europe? And why Boris Johnson has ceded his moral authority. Thanks for listening! Get in touch via the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com The Reason Putin Would Risk War - The Atlantic, Anne Applebaum https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/02/putin-ukraine-democracy/621465/ The reaction to Grace Tame leads to a question: Why are so many of us uncomfortable with the face of an angry woman? Virginia Trioli, ABC https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-12/grade-tame-brittany-higgins-unmasked-anger-by-product-of-trauma/100820420 Women are set to deliver political shocks - John Black, AFR https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/women-are-set-to-deliver-poll-shocks-20220208-p59usg

It's the first week back of Parliament in an election year, so hold onto your hats, because it's going to be a wild ride. In this episode, Eliza asks Geraldine to what extent the Prime Minister's character - and that of the aspiring leader Anthony Albanese - might influence people's votes? Also this week, Geraldine reads Oh, William! by Elizabeth Strout and enjoys the Summer of Soul. Thanks for listening! Get in touch via the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com

(Reloading this as version 1 had a lot of glitches) Welcome back to the first podcast of 2022! A fair bit has occured since Eliza and Geraldine last sat down for a chat. The Omicron variant of COVID is raging and scratched a bit of sheen off Eliza's earlier optimism. Two giants of the 20th century died over the Christmas break: South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu and American journalist & author Desmond Tutu. And Geraldine has explored regional Australia and the stories that underpin our national consciousness. Join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com Thanks for listening! Joan Didion obit https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/23/books/joan-didion-dead.html The Central Park Jogger Case - Joan Didion https://www.nybooks.com/articles/1991/01/17/new-york-sentimental-journeys/ The Year of Magical Thinking - Joan Didion https://www.amazon.com.au/Year-Magical-Thinking-Joan-Didion/dp/1400078431 The Coming Storm - BBC Radio 4 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001324r Desmond Tutu obit https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/26/the-most-rev-desmond-tutu-obituary The Power of the Dog https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10293406/ Munich: The Edge of War https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81144852

See ya later 2021, come on down 2022! Thanks so much for your company this year! Here are the links to our conversation: FMG's CEO steps down https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/elizabeth-gaines-steps-down-as-chief-executive-of-fortescue-metals-group-20211210-p59gji.html Robyn Denholm at Tesla https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-09/elon-musk-can-an-australian-woman-reign-in-tesla-maverick-ceo/10480926 The White Lotus https://binge.com.au/shows/show-the-white-lotus!10491 The Beatles: Get Back https://www.disneyplus.com/en-gb/series/the-beatles-get-back/7DcWEeWVqrkE Us – TV (ABC) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10669608/ 9/12 podcast – Pineapple Street studios https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/9-12/id1581684171 Journo podcast – Nick Bryant and the Judith Neilson Insitute https://jninstitute.org/education/journo-podcast/ The Living Sea of Waking Dreams by Richard Flanagan https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-living-sea-of-waking-dreams-richard-flanagan/book/9781760899943.html?source=pla&gclid=Cj0KCQiA5OuNBhCRARIsACgaiqUgyXZ3_fUFO9YwBXgTYYIu-YVyDdeXikEARJoZanLMtgJL4244EoYaAhWREALw_wcB Beware Prophecies of Civil War – The Atlantic - Fintan O'Toole https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/01/america-civil-war-prophecies/620850/ Jamie Raskin's Year of Grief and Purpose, Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/magazine/2021/12/06/jamie-raskins-year-grief-purpose/ A Person of the Year: Jamie Raskin – The New Yorker https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/a-person-of-the-year-jamie-raskin

Late in the episode, which is full of the usual politics chat, Eliza makes a big revelation: she's grown tired of the "Renegades" podcast. It features former President Barack Obama & rocker Bruce Springsteen talking American culture, masculinity and of course ... music! What's not to love? But it's long and meandering and ends up leaving her a bit blerg. Also this week, Hilary Clinton warns the world not to forget Russia as focus shifts to China. And the countdown to Christmas is on. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at LDC Podcast or email ldcpodccast1@gmail.com

As the political year draws to a close in Canberra, an election is looming for the not-too-distant-future. Geraldine and Eliza discuss an article published in the Australian Financial Review this week headlined “This election is about who you trust not the change your lives”. It's written by the head of a Labor-aligned think tank, the John Curtin Research Centre. The article concludes that “these are nation-building times, but people desire change with continuity”. So what does that mean for the contest at the next election? Also this week, Eliza's pick for TV interview of the year. Geraldine watches a new documentary on Billy Graham. And the pros and cons of fake fruit. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com -- Bloodlands - SBS on Demand https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11285548/ Say Nothing - Patrick Radden Keefe https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40163119-say-nothing Good Friday Peace Agreement https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Friday_Agreement Project Rozana https://projectrozana.org This election is about who you trust not the change your lives - Australian Financial Review https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/this-election-is-about-who-you-trust-not-to-change-your-lives-20211129-p59d6m BBC's Steve Rosenberg interview President Lukashenko https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdxBOOnVgnY Fake fruit is trendy again - NYT https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/27/style/fake-food-is-trendy-again.html

Geraldine and Eliza discuss a new three-part series on 'cancel culture' recently published in 9 Newspapers. James Button, the former speechwriter for Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and son of Hawke Government minister John Button, has undertaken the important but challenging task of looking at this movement which began in the United States. In this series, Button explores the rise of cancel culture in Australia and how these conversations are influencing progressive politics. Also this week, hunting for the right dress as we emerge back into public life. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com. 'They cancelled me as a human' What nearly killed logie winner Hugh Sheridan - article 1 https://www.smh.com.au/national/they-cancelled-me-as-a-human-what-nearly-killed-logie-winner-hugh-sheridan-20211027-p593ls.html Gender, Sex and Power: the debate dividing universities - article 2 https://www.smh.com.au/national/gender-sex-and-power-the-debate-dividing-universities-20211118-p599zz.html The educational divide that threatens to split the left - article 3 https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/the-educational-divide-that-threatens-to-split-the-left-20211118-p59a8k.html The demoralising search for the dress that fits - Kristie Clements, The New Daily https://thenewdaily.com.au/entertainment/style/2021/11/20/kirstie-clements-dress-shopping-sizing/

Have you listened to a new good podcast recently? Eliza recently trawled through the Apple iTunes Top Charts for new content. She found '9/12' which explores how September 11 shaped American culture. It's one of the best things she's ever listened to. Also this week, Geraldine on John Bell's Boyer Lecture series. And a new, dark twist on one of Geraldine's favourite TV shows, Grantchester. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com. 9/12 podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/9-12/id1581684171 Rolling Stone on the podcast 9/12 https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/9-12-podcast-september-11th-attacks-1219408/ Pineapple Street Studios http://pineapple.fm Because of Anita - podcast https://pineapple.fm/because-of-anita Mayday - BBC podcast https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000p6fd Life Sentences Biography Today - podcast with Caroline Baum https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/lucky-man-hermione-lee-on-tom-stoppard/id1559400094?i=1000537118791 The Boyer Lectures with John Bell https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/boyerlectures/ Grantchester - ABC Iview https://iview.abc.net.au/show/grantchester

Did you know that the Dollarmites program had been cancelled? Geraldine and Eliza missed the news. In October, the Commonwealth Bank cancelled its school-banking program after criticism that it pushed banking products on children, instead of being an educational tool about financial literacy. Eliza and Geraldine discuss the pros and cons of talking to kids about money and what it reveals about your family. Also, the nuance and depth of the TV show 'Morning Wars'. Eliza binged season 1 on her break from work and recommends it to her Mum. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com Commonwealth Bank drops Dollarmites - CHOICE https://www.choice.com.au/money/banking/everyday-banking/articles/commonwealth-bank-drops-dollarmites Morning Wars brings nuance, complexity to hot-button topics of the day - SMH https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/morning-wars-brings-nuance-complexity-to-hot-button-topics-of-the-day-20211004-p58x0g.html Hello Sunshine - Reese Witherspoon's production company https://hello-sunshine.com/our-story

We're less than two weeks away from the big climate change conference in Glasgow, COP 26. Which means news bulletins are heavy with acronyms and jargon that few of us really understand. Eliza wants to rebrand 'net zero' into something that makes a bit more sense. In fact she wants a whole new conversation around climate change and the ways in which we (and the Government) intend to respond to it. Also this week, deadly clashes in Lebanon. And the pros and cons of internet shopping. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com

Big news this week: Eliza has a new job! And she's launched a new podcast. She's moving to 'The Squiz' as Content Director. She'll write the Squiz Daily email and co-host the podcast, which is a quick hit of news designed to fit into busy people's morning routine - for the commute, the gym or over a morning coffee. Eliza started as an ABC cadet in the Hobart newsroom in 2007. It's a big & exciting change. Also this week, Eliza's launched 'Reunion: The Podcast'. She was meant to be celebrating her 20 year school reunion with a big party in Sydney. But Delta interupted those plans. So she's joined forces with her friend Grace Brennan to catch up with old school mates. Some loved their time at school, while others felt trapped. Grace and Eliza want to know why; and how school shaped their choices in later life. Geraldine reflects on her podcast 'Plenary Matters' and what it revealed about the state of the Cathoic Church. And why covid will be an era, not a crisis. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page 'LDC Podcast' or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com The Squiz https://www.thesquiz.com.au Reunion: The Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/reunion-the-podcast/id1589659461 Plenary Matters https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/plenary-matters/id1587458085 Past Pandemics Remind Us Covid Will Be an Era, Not a Crisis - NYT https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/12/health/when-will-covid-end.html

Geraldine is launching a new podcast called "Plenary Matters". She'll follow a big, important gathering of the Catholic Church in Australia called the Plenary Council which will govern the future of the institution, of which she cares for so deeply. You can find it on iTunes, Spotify or however you listen to your podcasts. Also this week - how should employers and employees navigate the "Great Resignation" resulting from the global pandemic? And Eliza follows the Theranos trial in America. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com Plenary Matters podcast https://plenary-matters.zencast.website/episodes/preview-plenary-matters Here comes the Great Resignation - ABC Radio National https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-24/the-great-resignation-post-pandemic-work-life-balance/100478866 The latest data on suicide rates https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-01/abs-data-suicide-rates-still-high-despite-2020-covid-drop/100504214 The Dropout podcast - Elizabeth Holmes on trial https://abcaudio.com/podcasts/the-dropout/ Bad Blood podcast - John Carreyrou https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/bad-blood-the-final-chapter/id1575738174

This week, Eliza saw a tweet from Dr Briony Scott, a revered high school principal in Sydney. It said "Parenting is a word - a verb - that did not exist prior to the mid 1970s. It sounds a bit like herding or directing or managing - none of which really work for children. They simply cannot be controlled, as much as it is tempting to believe. They are themselves." It made Eliza think about all the times she refers to 'parenting' .. rather than 'raising' or 'nurturing' children. Geraldine believes that parents are akin to the Managing Director and Chairperson of the family unit. And that ultimately, if you can find joy in your children, that's the best way to be a parent. Also this week, Eliza and Geraldine consider the left-right political divide. Hannah Arendt and Eichmann's trial. And the AFL Grand Final goes to Perth! Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com On All Fronts - Clarissa Ward https://www.amazon.com/All-Fronts-Education-Journalist/dp/0525561471 Eichmann in Jerusalem: The Banality of Evil https://www.amazon.com/Eichmann-Jerusalem-Banality-Penguin-Classics/dp/0143039881 Martin Heidegger https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Heidegger Kangaroo rescue in Canberra https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/good-news/2021/09/21/kangaroo-rescue-canberra/ The threat from the illiberal left - The Economist https://www.economist.com/leaders/2021/09/04/the-threat-from-the-illiberal-left

Eliza starts this week with a gripe about the new phrases creeping into modern English language. Lately, Eliza has heard references to people's professional 'space'. And it's not just 'space' - there's also been discussion of the 'piece'. So workplaces now have a diversity 'piece' and perhaps even a wellness 'piece'. Eliza thought her Mum would be a willing participant in this discussion, such is Geraldine's dislike of mangled English. But Geraldine thinks 'space' and 'piece' actually speak to the new zones and norms in the workplace that are often hard to define. Also this week, the Covid midlife crisis and how it's changing the lives of middle class women in America. Eliza reads Lisa Millar's new book 'Daring to Fly'. And Geraldine considers the joy of an uncomplicated life. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page 'LDC Podcast' or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com The Prime Ministers podcast - BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01083zj/episodes/player The New Yorker Politics & More podcast - Dexter Filkins https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/political-scene/dexter-filkins-on-the-fall-of-afghanistan The Briefing Room – Who's supporting the Taliban? BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000ymn1 Remembering 9/11 - Saturday Extra ABC Radio National https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/saturdayextra/the-cultural-legacy-of-9-11,-20-years-on/13535334 Worth - Netflix https://www.netflix.com/au/title/80226212 The Rise of the Covid Midlife Crisis – Lizzie Widdicombe https://www.newyorker.com/culture/dept-of-returns/the-rise-of-the-covid-midlife-crisis Nick Cohen on Sally Rooney. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/sep/11/so-sally-rooneys-racist-only-if-you-choose-to-confuse-fiction-with-fact?fbclid=IwAR03InNxp3UWcm1BPunOTs6WE-E7THyD7Lqwe4sOlYhfYw0WBC-0WYsJ7jQ Daring to Fly - Lisa Millar https://www.hachette.com.au/lisa-millar/daring-to-fly-the-tv-star-on-facing-fear-and-finding-joy-on-a-deadline

Where were you on September 11, 2001? Geraldine had gone to bed on Tuesday evening, September 10, expecting to do an ABC Radio "Life Matters" special on apprenticeships the following morning. Instead, she woke up to vision of the smouldering ruins of the Twin Towers. She furiously scrambled to line up a new show that captured that horrors of the previous 12 hours. Eliza and Geraldine discuss 9/11 and what came next - terrorism in Asia - and a generation of people forged in the reality of the War on Terror. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com The Falling Man documentary https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2021/09/06/stunning-documentary-9-11-the-falling-man-premieres-tonight-on-sbs/ The Looming Tower TV series https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6474236/ The Looming Tower (book) https://www.amazon.com/Looming-Tower-Al-Qaeda-Road-11/dp/1400030846 The Children of 9/11: Our Story https://www.channel4.com/programmes/children-of-911-our-story The AFR on David Jenkins new book on Soeharto https://www.afr.com/world/asia/it-took-me-longer-to-write-soeharto-s-story-than-for-him-to-live-it-20210825-p58lpj Heartburn Nora Ephron https://www.amazon.com/Heartburn-Nora-Ephron/dp/0679767959 Everything is Copy https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2831414/

When should you log into a Zoom meeting? Geraldine logged into a not-for-profit board meeting the other day at the scheduled start time, only to find that her colleagues had been there five minutes earlier. The women discuss the new electronic codes of conduct. Also this week, Geraldine reluctantly hands Harriet the dog back to the dog shelter. It's been a tough fortnight. Also, American politics journal 'Politico' sells to a German news agency for $1 billion. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com Inside Politico's billion dollar drama - NYT https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/29/business/media/politico-robert-allbritton.html Washington Post coverage of Politico sale https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2021/08/26/politico-sold-axel-springer/ Project Rozana https://projectrozana.org

Geraldine gets in a time machine and travels back to her 30-year-old self ... thanks to a new series called "The Newsreader" on the ABC. In 1986 (the year the TV series is set) Geraldine had just finished up as a newsreader on the ABC. She'd go on to work in commercial radio before a stint reading the news on Channel 10. Geraldine and Eliza reflect on the TV series and just how far the professional women have come in the decades since. Also this week, the desperation of Afghanistan. And Eliza watches a wonderful, joyful movie free of horrible themes! Hooray! Thanks for listening. Join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com Please leave us a review on the platform where you source your podcasts. *The Newsreader https://iview.abc.net.au/show/newsreader Broadcast News https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092699/ Kitchen Cabinet - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitchen_Cabinet_(TV_program) After the fall: what's next for Afghanistan - David Kilcullen https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/after-the-fall-whats-next-for-afghanistan/news-story/08e3f61b9550b2a744b89d8536d2995d The Crossroad Mark Donaldson VC https://www.amazon.com.au/Crossroad-Mark-Donaldson/dp/1742612288 Carrillo Gantner on ABC's Late Night Live program https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/latenightlive/rebooting-australias-relationship-with-china-through-the-perfo/13501862 CODA https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10366460/ War of the Worlds Season 2 https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/1927219267839/war-of-the-worlds-s2-ep1 *Nine Perfect Strangers - Amazon Prime On All Fronts - Clarissa Ward https://www.penguin.com.au/books/on-all-fronts-9780525561477 The Enemy Within Tim Ayliffe https://www.amazon.com.au/Enemy-Within-Tim-Ayliffe-ebook/dp/B08YB6V22Y

Geraldine has been wanting a dog for years after the death of her much-loved kelpie in 2014. Now felt like the right time. So, this week she adopted Harriet, an 18-month-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Also this week, the grim situation on the ground in Afghanistan as a resurgent Taliban takes back control of regional cities. Can the local forces protect the capital? Eliza reads a terrific expose in Good Weekend. She's also reading former Swans' player Brandon Jack's memoir "28". And the women read through LDC's wonderful correspondence. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at "LDC Podcast" Facebook page or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com. ABC Saturday Extra – David Kilcullen on Afghanistan https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/saturdayextra/david-kilcullen-offers-solutions-to-the-afghan-fiasco/13484218 ‘28' Brandon Jack https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/other-books/28-Brandon-Jack-9781760876777 'Jock Zonfrillo's Fantastical Life' - Tim Elliott, Good Weekend https://www.smh.com.au/national/he-s-very-nice-the-only-problem-is-chef-marco-pierre-white-on-jock-zonfrillo-20210714-p589q3.html Reaction to the original Zonfrillo article https://www.smh.com.au/culture/books/publisher-adamant-chef-jock-zonfrillo-s-memoir-stands-up-to-scrutiny-20210809-p58h9o.html The Wire https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0306414/ 'The Inquiry' podcast - BBC World https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-inquiry/id932499233 'The Intelligence' podcast – The Economist https://theintelligence.economist.com 'The Sit-In' – SBS on Demand https://www.sbs.com.au/guide/article/2021/08/02/sit-harry-belafonte-renaissance-man 'Grand Designs' - ABC TV https://iview.abc.net.au/show/grand-designs

The Olympics has been a balm for Eliza during the Sydney lockdown. But Geraldine hasn't been quite so engrossed. It's prompted her to ponder ... is competitive drive a virtue? Also this week, why friendships need intimacy. And Eliza finds joy in David Sedaris' writing in the New Yorker. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com Friendships need intimacy, too. Here's how to build it. By Melissa Pandika. https://www.inkl.com/news/friendships-need-intimacy-too-here-s-how-to-build-it?share=MqLBARSRoBX Can't focus on a book? Audiobooks, with the right narrator, are the answer? The Sun Herald https://www.smh.com.au/culture/books/can-t-focus-on-a-book-audiobooks-with-the-right-narrator-are-the-answer-20210727-p58d9f.html The Daughter of Time – Josephine Tey https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-daughter-of-time-9781446429334 Slow Burn podcast – Season 5 – The Road to the Iraq War https://slate.com/podcasts/slow-burn/s5/road-to-the-iraq-war 'Pearls' The New Yorker - David Sedaris https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/05/17/pearls

Eliza hoovered up every word of the Financial Review Magazine's recent travel liftout. And she's clearly not the only one: the magazine was printed on high gloss paper and full of advertising. Which means there's still money in travel, despite the fact that we're not leaving the country, or even travelling interstate. So this week, Eliza asked her Mum where she'll escape to when the borders open? Geraldine loves travelling to events, like festivals, or special garden events, or themes to explore and research. She doesn't want to sit on a beach. The women also discuss the role of the family holiday. And Eliza's need to go back to Beirut to bid it a proper farewell. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com (Almost) one year on from the Beirut blast https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/no-happy-anniversary-bride-caught-up-beirut-blast-2021-07-27/ Beirut's port explosion killed their daughter, but rather than return to Canada, they stayed for a better Lebanon https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-beiruts-port-explosion-killed-their-daughter-but-rather-than-return-to/ Bibbulman Track WA https://www.bibbulmuntrack.org.au The Abraham Path - Israel https://www.touristisrael.com/abraham-path/12898/ Knock Shrine - Ireland https://www.knockshrine.ie Ephesus - Turkey https://www.britannica.com/place/Ephesus Scarborough Beach - Perth https://www.westernaustralia.com/en/Attraction/Scarborough_Beach/56b266a82880253d74c4ec7d Pianoforte - Mildura http://www.milduraeisteddfod.com.au/pianoforte-2/ Piano competition in Shepparton, VIC http://visitshepparton.com.au/events/showcase-events/!/view/australian-national-piano-awards-7 Four Winds - Bermagui https://fourwinds.com.au/whats-on/ Bourdain's 'Parts Unknown' in Istanbul https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5154060/

No-one loves living in limbo. But with all the uncertainty that exists right now, Eliza and Geraldine are training themselves to live better without the normal certainties of life. Geraldine has stopped trying to forecast when the Covid lockdown may end. Eliza is drawing on her experience as an expat to live amidst the discomfort of a life (somewhat) beyond her control. Also this week: what do deadlines do to lifetimes? The New Yorker asks us the question and makes some suggestions. Do you favour the 'Pomodoro Technique' of working, or are you more in favour of time blocking? And revisiting the 1973 Yom Kippur war through the HBO series "Valley of Tears". Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com What Deadlines Do to Lifetimes? The New Yorker https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/07/05/what-deadlines-do-to-lifetimes David Leckie dies at 70 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-20/david-leckie-former-channel-seven-ceo-dies/100306650' The Pomodoro Technique https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique Valley of Tears – HBO Max https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8190688/ Incitement https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10122392/ NYT on ‘Valley of Tears' https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/12/world/middleeast/an-epic-israeli-tv-drama-exposes-war-wounds-old-and-new.html De Gaulle https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10880402/ The Economist on Macron https://www.economist.com/europe/2021/06/24/french-voters-punish-presidential-poll-favourites Sacred Space – Craig Foster – Compass on ABC TV https://www.abc.net.au/religion/watch/compass/sacred-space-craig-foster/13431714

Do you need a break from Covid content? Eliza and Geraldine do. So this week, they're masked-up talking about everything from the Rwandan genocide to the therapeutic benefits of tapestry. As well of lots of television and book recommendations. Enjoy! Join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com Do Not Disturb: The Story of a Political Murder and an African Regime Gone Bad, Michaela Wrong https://www.booktopia.com.au/do-not-disturb-michela-wrong/book/9780008294434.html Is nihilism compatible with the moral life? The Minefield, ABC RN https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/theminefield/whats-so-bad-about-nihilism/13435690 The Formidable Charm of Omar Sy - The New Yorker https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/06/21/the-formidable-charm-of-omar-sy Lupin - Netflix https://www.netflix.com/au/title/80994082 The Spymaster of Baghdad – Margaret Coker https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-spymaster-of-baghdad-9780241409107 Aftermath – Rachel Cusk https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/other-books/Aftermath-Rachel-Cusk-9780571351640 Valley of Tears - HBO https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/12/world/middleeast/an-epic-israeli-tv-drama-exposes-war-wounds-old-and-new.html (Note - you can watch this through the 'Binge' TV appp) Ms Represented - ABC https://iview.abc.net.au/show/ms-represented-with-annabel-crabb Cracking Covid - ABC https://iview.abc.net.au/show/cracking-covid And We Danced - ABC https://iview.abc.net.au/show/and-we-danced?fbclid=IwAR3a4_aFcbkpDXZjHDAMW6zuEqYa97rkVp0WS6w6Y8FuLprSPONq5s0JPvM

Did the virus escape from the Chinese lab? The lab leak possibility was written off by many as a conspiracy theory at first, but new calls for more rigorous investigation have shone a new spotlight on it. The US is among the loudest of a growing number of voices calling for a definitive answer about whether Covid-19 escaped from a lab into the Chinese community and then to the rest of the world. What we do know is that research on SARS coronaviruses was underway at the Wuhan Institute of Virology at the time, leading some to believe that a test or experiment may have gone wrong. President Biden has asked his intelligence agencies to get to the bottom on it. And Chinese authorities have vehemently denied the possibility of a lab leak since the beginning of the pandemic, accusing the US of spreading an “absurd story”. Geraldine had written off the lab leak theory, but has done more research and is starting to wonder if it might be true. Eliza thinks there's still a lot of evidence required to back up what she still labels a conspiracy theory. Please note – this episode was recorded late afternoon on Thursday 24th June. A lot has changed since the podcast was released. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page “LDC Podcast” or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com Gain of function research: high risk or high reward? Saturday Extra https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/saturdayextra/gain-of-function-lab-research-viruses-transmission-scientists/13419320?fbclid=IwAR1vYQsBsQxHGEUcfAI5Ue4KQo7EWOnJCA-WJVM8C0xT0PcMqi8KKxg0HNo The Lab-Leak Theory – Vanity Fair https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/06/the-lab-leak-theory-inside-the-fight-to-uncover-covid-19s-origins New Yorker on the Lab Leak theory https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-inquiry/the-sudden-rise-of-the-coronavirus-lab-leak-theory

This week Eliza and Geraldine talk about work ... and rest. Will the work from home phenomenon, or 'WFH', continue after the pandemic has gone? Will it be a help or a hinderance for working women? And will the ability to properly rest actually give you the edge that ambitious people are looking for in the workplace? Also this week, are you a caller or a texter? And Gladwell's latest deep dive into controversial General Curtis Le May and the firebombing of Tokyo. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com Colm Toibin – What if Ireland had been united? https://unherd.com/2021/05/what-if-ireland-were-united/ Burnout: Modern Affliction or Human Condition? https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/05/24/burnout-modern-affliction-or-human-condition?utm_source=onsite-share&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=onsite-share&utm_brand=the-new-yorker Remote workers work longer, not more efficiently https://www.economist.com/business/2021/06/10/remote-workers-work-longer-not-more-efficiently How to develop a “rest ethic” NYT https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/29/business/dealbook/quality-work-breaks.html The Bomber Mafia – Malcolm Gladwell https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-bomber-mafia-9780241535868

Geraldine and Eliza discuss the best way to convince more Australians to get the Covid-19 vaccine. Also this week: Geraldine shifts on her previous position about the Australians stranded overseas, much to Eliza's relief. And exploring the Torres Strait. Thanks for listening! Join the conversation at the Facebook page "LDC Podcast" or email ldcpodcast1@gmail.com Simon Reynolds on the Grim Reaper AIDS ads https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/how-to-sell-covid-19-vaccinations-to-australians/13351878 Amelia Lester - Australia is the New Hermit Kingdom https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/05/11/australia-borders-covid-hermit-kingdom/

Conflict in the Middle East