Memoria

Between two worlds Podcast flash story by Lucia Benavides The story is about the struggles of identity many migrants face; and the regret of having left home. It took place during a visit to my home country of Argentina. I had been living in the U.S. for 17 years at that point - after moving at the age of 9 - and had largely accepted my life in the U.S. by then. But it was during my uncle's wedding, watching family members dance around me and seeing them so grown and happy and different from when I had left, that I wondered: What would it have been like if I had stayed? I couldn't shake off the feeling that I had been robbed of something; of a life. I wasn't meant to live my life in the U.S., I was meant to live my life in Argentina. But, in the end, that's not the way things panned out. Lucía Benavides is a writer and journalist currently based in Barcelona, Spain. Originally from Argentina, her interests revolve mostly around women's issues and identity. Before Spain, she worked as a reporter/ producer at the NPR station in Austin, Texas. She's been published on NPR, The Atlantic and LA Review of books, among others. "What It's Like To Hear Paul McCartney In Liverpool," NPR "In Search of the Naples — and Women — of Ferrante's Novels," LA Review of Books "Living With Gabriel García Márquez's Ghost," LitHub   Acknowledgements: Memoria was written,  produced, edited and presented by Natalie Vella Between two worlds was written and read by Lucia Benavides. The story was sound edited by Natalie Vella. Music in this episode was by Blue Dot Sessions,   Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope. Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/memoriapodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About You Podcast flash story by Jennifer Crane This piece relates to a dream I had shortly before the unexpected passing of my husband at our property. I ask myself every day what I could have done to prevent an outcome that devastated our young family forever. 'If only' is hard to live with and writing the words doesn't answer the questions but expresses the pain.   Jennifer Crane holds a Master of Letters, lives in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland and has been published in a number of formats and genre, She has a love of horses, a passion for the well-being benefits of writing and volunteers to facilitate the craft of writing workshops for veterans.   Acknowledgements: Memoria was written, produced, edited and presented by Natalie Vella About You was written and read by Jennifer Crane.  The story was sound edited by Natalie Vella. Music in this episode was by Blue Dot Sessions,   Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope. Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/memoriapodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Silent Sisters Podcast flash story by Jay Alter I wanted to explore a moment in my life that fills me with regret to this day. It was life-changing, not only for myself but for my entire family. I'm just sharing my story.   About the author Jay Elle Alter is an Australian based creative studying Journalism at Charles Sturt University. Living in Armidale in the New England Region of New South Wales with her husband, cats and german shepherd Vader, she has a passion for the creative industries, making her a long-time writer, artist and crafter. With no published works to date, Jay Elle is an up and comer to watch out for!   Acknowledgements: Memoria was written, produced, edited and presented by Natalie Vella Silent Sisters was written and read by Jay Alter.  The story was sound edited by Natalie Vella. Music in this episode was by Blue Dot Sessions,   Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope. Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/memoriapodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Who in the kitchen of my childhood Podcast flash story by Marina Byrne I come from a family of 8 kids. We had very little money and I always had the sense that I needed to walk on eggshells to avoid triggering simmering tensions. With so many kids to feed, the kitchen in my childhood house was always in use and was the backdrop to a lot of conflict. Winner of the 2018 QWC Flash Fiction prize, I have been writing for many years. I write and edit blogs, books and articles for businesses and other people through my business (Marina Catherine Editing Services), but love to work on my own creative writing projects when time permits. Her website.   Acknowledgements: Memoria was written,  produced, edited and presented by Natalie Vella Dr Who in the kitchen of my childhood was written and read by Marina Byrne.  The story was sound edited by Jen Farrow Music in this episode was by Blue Dot Sessions,   Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope. Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.   Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/memoriapodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The rollerskaters Podcast flash story by Suzanne Hermanoczki The Roller-skaters is a short memoir piece about roller skating. My best friend's dad used to take a whole bunch of us kids either to the rink or the drive-in. The rink was one of those 80's Terminator and Stranger Things all-ages kids' with big hair hang out kinda place; with video games, a DJ and a disco ball – and skating.   Suzanne Hermanoczki is a writer and teacher of creative writing. Her writing has been published in local and international publications including the Australian Multilingual Writing Project, Cha: An Asian Literary Journal, TEXT and Verge Anthology. She has a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Melbourne, where she currently works.   Acknowledgements: Memoria was written,  produced, edited and presented by Natalie Vella The Rollerskaters was written and read by Suzanne Hermanoczki.  The story was sound edited by Natalie Vella. Music in this episode was by Blue Dot Sessions,   Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope. Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/memoriapodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An L-shaped room Podcast flash story by Maria Griffin This is about processing a profound life transition. I was a chronic insomniac and operated on about 3-4 hours of sleep for the first 9 months of my daughter's life. I had very low coping resources and found the first year of being a mother very hard. Recently, I recalled these half-awake hallucinations experienced while breastfeeding her in the night.  Maria's work appears/is forthcoming in Southerly, Not Very Quiet, Right Now, L'Ephemere Review, Talking Writing, StylusLit. In 2018 she participated in Writing In The Expanded Field, ACCA Melbourne. Her work was a runner up in the Grace Marion Wilson Emerging Writers competition in 2020.     Memoria was written,  produced, edited and presented by Natalie Vella An L-shaped room was written and read by Maria Griffin.  The story was sound edited by Natalie Vella. Music in this episode was by Blue Dot Sessions,   Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope. Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.   Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/memoriapodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So now I’m lying in bed and listening to the rain. The sky is grey and heavy, the rain is heavy and wet. Fat drops fall to the concrete like drip drip drip. I could be anywhere in the world but I’m not. I’m in Budapest and the city is crying big fat tears. The Danube is flowing and filling, the Danube is threatening to flood. I’m safe in my bed and I’m sad it my apartment and I don’t know why.     This piece was written while I was working as a tour guide in Europe and essentially questioning what the hell I was doing there. The piece moves back and forth between Budapest and Melbourne and is about missed opportunities and missing home. Patrick's first word was ‘No’ and he's spent the majority of his life attempting to remedy that attitude. When he's not writing he's walking, be it across countries, through mountains or to his local pub, taking curious baby steps to wherever it is he's going. You can keep up with him – he's really very slow – at www.patboxall.com Pat is also the winner of 2020 Stuart Hadow short story competition.   Acknowledgements: Memoria was written,  produced, edited and presented by Natalie Vella. I carried him was written and read by Pat Boxall.  The story was sound edited by Jen Farrow. Music in this episode was by Blue Dot Sessions,   Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope. Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/memoriapodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The joint was artfully constructed with three Tally Hos; a sort of stoner oragami. I sparked it behind Grandpa’s old shearing shed and it smouldered in the stifling Christmas Eve sun. Inhaling deeply, I felt my eyes droop and my brain numb.     As a teenager on Christmas Eve, I escape the watchful eyes of my relatives for a moment of solitude. However, when a fire breaks out, the family must come together in a collective effort to save the farm. Nick Orchard is a Melbourne-based writer, social worker and former professional rapper. Nick has previously published on The Dad Website, and is currently writing a novel exploring themes of homelessness, community and overcoming trauma.   Acknowledgements: Memoria was written,  produced, edited and presented by Natalie V. I carried him was written and read by Nick Orchard.  The story was sound edited by Jen Farrow. Music in this episode was by Blue Dot Sessions,   Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope. Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.   Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/memoriapodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I was in labour - 20 weeks too early. The doctor was hopeful that they could slow the contractions and delay labour as my membranes had not yet ruptured. He did an ultrasound, sending images of our baby boy onto the small monitor. The baby was okay but if he was born they wouldn’t be able to do anything to save him – viability was still three weeks away.     What happens when a baby is stillborn? It isn't something that is often discussed and we are rarely prepared for it. In April 1999, my second son Brendan was stillborn at 20 weeks, his birth was traumatic as were the years following with grief and loss. Megan Warren is an aspiring writer living in Esperance WA. She has a Master of Arts (Writing and Literature) and has facilitated writing and creativity workshops. Megan writes on the topics of pregnancy loss, stillbirth and grief. Writing My Way through Grief in Surviving My First Year of Child Loss: Personal Stories from Grieving Parents, Nathalie Himmelrich, Ed. 2017.     Acknowledgements: Memoria was written,  produced, edited and presented by Natalie V. I carried him was written and read by Megan Warren.  The story was sound edited by Jen Farrow. Music in this episode was by Blue Dot Sessions,   Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope. Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/memoriapodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My Chinese herbalist is coming down off E She drinks diuretic tea on weekdays / on Sundays takes MD She talks the walk / connect the dots / as she aligns my chi Dysfunctional / functional / holistic / ballistic This lifestyle’s feeling so sadistic     In my quest for health, I became sicker and sicker. I followed the advice of people in the fitness and wellness industries and ended up with chronic hives. My poem is a rant against the world that's more interested in creating a "picture of health" than anything real. Jenny Hedley's writing appears in SCUM, Gone Lawn, Travel Play Live magazine and Vanishing Act. She studies creative writing at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia.   Acknowledgements: Memoria was written,  produced, edited and presented by Natalie V. I can see through your Lululemons was written and read by Jennifer Hedly.  The story was sound edited by Jen Farrow. Music in this episode was by Blue Dot Sessions,   Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope. Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.   Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/memoriapodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I heard the creak as our bedroom door was opened, very slowly, and left ever-so-slightly ajar. The thin shaft of light revealed the shadow of a man moving towards the bed behind the door. The bed of my eight-year-old sister.     In the late 1960s, family structure was largely uncomplicated: hardworking dad, stay-at-home mum and a couple of well-groomed kids. Parties were invitation-only and probably as well structured as the families who held them. I wouldn't know – our family wasn’t invited to any parties. Our family structure was too complicated: a pensioner mum (aka a deserted wife) with three innocent kids. My first memoir was accepted by Memoria in 2017, I have been steadily writing in my downtime since ... from editorials and a radio ad to children's books and another memoir. Writing makes me feel comfortable - regardless of the subject matter, I am in my happy place when I am writing. Acknowledgements: Memoria was written,  produced, edited and presented by Natalie V. Do you hear what I hear was written and read by Simone Bowers.  The story was sound edited by Jen Farrow. Music in this episode was by Blue Dot Sessions,   Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope. Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.   Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/memoriapodcast See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

75 years, 8 months and 19 days seems like a very short life, doesn’t it? I stand here and see hundreds and hundreds of you here to grieve my father, a man so widely loved and admired.     When my father died, my brothers and I talked about what, if anything, we would say at his funeral. For reasons that this piece hopefully makes obvious, we chose not to say anything. But while we were talking about our childhood, I kept mentally composing phrases and sentences that I would have used if I'd delivered the eulogy I'd been brave enough. So, while the eulogy is fictional, insofar as I never delivered it, the stories it tells are true. Lyn is a fiction writer as well as a consulting corporate writer and editor, Her first novel, a literary suspense thriller entitled The Silent Listener, is to be published by Penguin Random House in 2021. Acknowledgements: Memoria was written,  produced, edited and presented by Natalie V. Jack was written and read by Lyn Yeowart.  The story was sound edited by Jen Farrow. Music in this episode was by Blue Dot Sessions,   Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope. Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/memoriapodcast See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

The story of my grandfather and how mean he was has been like a family echo for many years. This poem is my attempt to capture what it must have been like for my father, the burden of the farm debt, and the way this story is part of us all. Sherryl Clark is a writer and poet, who has published children's books, poetry and been the co-editor of Poetrix magazine for 20 years. After teaching writing for many years, she is now focusing on her own writing, and especially her crime fiction. You can find the latest on her website. Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/memoriapodcast

I have died. I have died many times—before I was even born. After my birth, they still wanted me gone, but they failed. They pressured my parents to sign me away for adoption, but my mother held onto me for dear life.     The story of my birth defined my personality early on, and it continues to inform who I am. When I tried to write about walking across Kyrgyzstan, I realized that a more pressing story needed to be told. I needed to first understand myself before I could write about my actions. My birth story, therefore, became my coming home story. Youjia Song is an English language teacher, adventurer and new writer. Her article about her 2-year expedition called “Crossing Kyrgyzstan: A Woman's Journey on Foot Through Land, Culture and History” was published by She Went Wild in 2018. Youjia is currently working on her memoir. You can find more of her work at http://acrosswildlands.com    Acknowledgements: Memoria was written,  produced, edited and presented by Natalie V. I died before I was born was written and read by Youjia Song.  The story was sound edited by Jen Farrow. Music in this episode was by Blue Dot Sessions,   Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope. Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Support the show.

My ex rang to tell me you’d finally died, Yiayia and the tears still linger in my eyes, refuse to trickle I’m still suffering the effects of that drink last night staying out late, partying with the Aussies     I wrote the poem Yiayia mou (My grandmother) on the day my grandmother died. I was estranged from my family having recently separated from my husband. When I was told she died it was as if the generational pain of women in my family was crashing down on me, that my grandmother lived a life dictated to her by patriarchy, and I broke out of it. The poem is from my book, Just Give Me The Pills, and my theatre show, "Saying the wrong things" Koraly Dimitriadis is a Cypriot-Australian writer and actor. She is the author Love and F--k Poems and Just Give Me The Pills, and together they form the basis for her theatre show “Saying The Wrong Things”. Koraly makes short films of her poems. She has been published in The Washington Post. Koraly was awarded the UNESCO City of Literature residency in Krakow.  You can find more of her work at www.koralydimitriadis.com      Support the show.

Every night he rampages across our tin roof, night dueling with other toms chorusing strangled cries; murderous children running amok.     My childhood was filled with animals. Domestic and native - from stray cats and roaming dogs to backyard magpies, blue tongue lizards and more exotic, deadly tiger snakes. We co-existed in a haphazard kind of way. Mostly because of my parents I grew up feeling intrigue and respect for other creatures rather than fear. My piece circles a moment when, although I was striving to be responsible and do 'the right thing', my actions went against my nature. Polly Watkins has written and directed documentaries and short films. Her evocative account of smell-walking through Melbourne's lanes and arcades, 'Scents and the City', was published as part of 2017 Melbourne Knowledge Week. She was recently published in RMIT's Suspiria Anthology. Acknowledgements: Memoria is written,  produced, edited and presented by Natalie V. Rage is written and read by Polly Watkins.  The story is sound edited by Jen Farrow. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,   Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope. Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Support the show.

Tweenage angst. A first sexual awakening. So many hopes and so many regrets. My first kiss was about to happen and - stupidly, stupidly, I tried to outsmart it. Because I felt so smug, being able to spy through some holes in my straw sunhat. Oh, how I regretted doing that. I would never have this opportunity again. I thought immediately after the moment was gone. I was 12. And of course, I did have that opportunity again. And while it hurt so deeply for so long that I'd sabotaged a potentially profound moment - it taught me two things - 1. know an opportunity when it arises and 2. realise that sometimes a missed opportunity is not that, it's just the timing isn't right. Trust that I'll know when the timing is better. Trust that instinct to help you know when you're ready. I learnt so much about accepting that sometimes it's better to wait. Katrina wrote the winning screenplay NO MAIL, for the Australian Series II of 'Project Greenlight' and was a Tropfest finalist director with THE REFEREES. She co-wrote a sitcom that was performed by the Queensland Theatre Company called FUNNY BUSINESS and she’s had an original interactive project GIRL MECHANIC TV selected to take part in X|Media|Lab’s development lab and a VR project called LITTLE MATCHES selected for the VR Plot Twist lab. She’s also written countless hours of corporate and branded content and childrens’ TV animation. Alongside working in production, Katrina has had a successful career as an actor - having been a regular writer/performer on the comedy series FLIPSIDE (ABC TV) and main cast writer/performer for THE WEDGE (Network10). Katrina was a Moosehead Award recipient for the comic stage-play FOOTY CHICKS, and she’s appeared in a host of TV productions, radio series, independent films and theatre. Katrina's website ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Memoria is written,  produced, edited and presented by Natalie V. Holes in my Sunhat is written and read by Katrina Mathers.  The story is sound edited by Jen Farrow. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,   Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope. Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Support the show.

Spirit of Punk Live storytelling The final part of our two-part series of live stories we recorded in conjunction with the Spirit of Punk at the end of last year at Buck Mulligan's bar in Melbourne. The principle of Spirit of Punk is simple. All you need to do is show up and read a piece of your work no longer than the duration of a Ramones song. How easy is that? The recordings are live so there are some little mic disturbances here and there. But more than anything there is the unmistakeable courage of writers taking to the stage to read their non-fiction stories. Writers in this episode  Confessions of a Boarder by Lacey Smith I came to write this piece to answer the main questions everybody asks me when I mention that I endured boarding school. Many people have an idealistic view of boarding house life: beautiful buildings, a good education, working air conditioning etc.; I felt the need to set the record straight. Lacey Smith is an Australian-Canadian writer and podcaster, currently working on her first novel. At 14 she was selling merchandise for a satanic metal band but has now put those wild days behind her. She lives in Melbourne with her long-suffering husband and their Westie, Maisie.   Hell Bent by Noeleen Ginnane End 2019, nearly a wrap on my Diploma Writing/Editing, Swinburne. I’d relocated on 15 November, before which 15 June. Exhausted. Broke as a freak. ‘Provide 500 words, memoir,’ teach said, as if you could whip that up with a thought, pause and muse. I panicked, pulled out past sufferances; re-felt, altered, submitted it. ‘I’ve written since forever,’ Noeleen Ginnane tells us. ‘It kept me sane, teen years. If I hadn’t wagged school so much to write, I’d never have failed it as well as I did.’ Modestly published in Australia, and (erotica) in the U.K. and U.S., Noeleen’s ‘only recently confessed to/begun living the writer I am.’ She has been published in: I can’t Breathe - Fremantle Arts Review, The TV - Western Word, Mother In Top Gear - Perth Child Magazine, Quiet – Oz Poetic Society,  Sweet Selection, Army Style, Blossoms Full Bloom, Sweatbox, Aunty Said - In The Buff (UK), Aunty Said - Best Women's Erotica (USA), Batman and The Fisherman, My Mother's Torment - Reader's Digest   The Stink by Laura Wild I have terrible taste in romantic partners. This memory always makes me laugh and it’s a story I tell friends when we get bogged down. At least our pillows are clean, mate. Poorly navigating the internet one LiveLeak video at a time, Laura Wild is an Australian writer currently studying at Swinburne University of Technology. She lives in Melbourne, Victoria with her partner and the four houseplants that have managed to survive her ineffectual care. She has been published in Backstory Journal and Other Terrain Journal.    Acknowledgements: Memoria is written,  produced, edited and presented by Natalie V. Special thanks go to Jen Farrow for her recording tech on the night and Nic Brasch for letting us record his event. Thank you to the writers who took part in this episode: Lacey Smith, Noeleen Ginnane and Laura Wild. The stories in this episode are sound edited by Natalie Vella. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,   Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope. Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Support the show.

Spirit of Punk To begin our new season, we have something very special for you. A series of live stories we recorded in conjunction with the Spirit of Punk at the end of last year at Buck Mulligan's bar in Melbourne. The principle of Spirit of Punk is simple. All you need to do is show up and read a piece of your work no longer than the duration of a Ramones song. How easy is that? The recordings are live so there are some little mic disturbances here and there. But more than anything there is the unmistakeable courage of writers taking to the stage to read their non-fiction stories.. So to kick it all off, here is Nic Brasch to tell us how he started the Spirit of Punk. And as with every Spirit of punk event, Nic follows his introduction by reading one of his own pieces. Tonight, Nic reads his flash memoir, I Can Tell Anyone Anything. Writers in this episode I Can Tell Anyone Anything by Nic Brasch My story is prompted by some advice I got from the writer, Christos Tsiolkas, who told me, ‘You can tell anyone anything’, after I had related an experience related to my sister’s suicide. His advice was spot on. Nicolas is a writer, a teacher of writing, Chair of Writers Victoria, and the founder and host of Spirit of Punk, an open mic event for emerging writers. Mind Your Own Business by Erica Murdoch You think that you know everything there is to know about your parents. You have them pigeonholed and all worked out. Or so you think. Then life throws a curveball and you are left breathless, skeptical and scared. And underneath it all maybe not surprised. Maybe the clues were there all along and you just chose to ignore them. Erica is a freelance writer and has completed an Associate Degree of Professional Writing and Editing at RMIT She has been published in Fairfax Media, Weekend Notes and N-scribe. Kindness by Annie Drum Kindness is a story about somebody in her family. Annie Drum is a Ballarat-based writer whose work has appeared in anthologies and poetry chapbooks. She writes short stories and poetry and is working on a novel as well as a young adult novel. Purchase her short story collection, Like Trees. Nadine by Helena Spyrou Harking back to my youth when almost every week I would listen and dance to live music in pubs around Melbourne. Helena Spyrou is a Melbourne-based writer. She has been previously published in a number of journals, including Meanjin and Going Down Swinging. She works for the Union movement. Support the show.

his piece was written the day after my grandpa's funeral. He'd been dying for such a long time that his actual passing seemed somewhat routine. This story explores the ceremony and banality of life ending. Zoë's writing has been recognised in the 2017 and 2016 Grace Marion Wilson competition, the 2017 Rachel Funari Prize and the 2016 Overland Story Wine Prize. Acknowledgements: Memoria is written,  produced, edited and presented by Natalie V. Your Big Hands is written and read by f  The story is sound edited by Jen Farrow. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,   Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope. Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Support the show.

My parents were part of a friendship group and all the offspring would flit between each others houses, backyards and the neighbourhood largely unsupervised. 'Burn' is about the beginning of the end of innocence and friendship. Emily Anderson is a writer, editor and lawyer from Melbourne, Australia. She was recently published in Visible Ink's annual anthology and you can find her at emilyanderson.com.au Acknowledgements: Memoria is written,  produced, edited and presented by Natalie V. Burn is written and read by Emily Anderson.  The story is sound edited by Jen Farrow. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,   When in the West, The Envelope and Sage the Hunter. Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Support the show.

*This episode contains descriptions of assault that may not be suitable for all listeners. Please use discretion. In a night of real trauma and fear, I had to reimagine and reclaim my role from that of being 'the prey' so that I could survive. Freelance Writer, Fashion Journalist, Professional Movie Critic, Nationwide Australian Style Writer, Yogini, Founder of theloveauthentic.  Curious and trained as a Journalist, Private Investigator and Fashion Designer, writing a psychological thriller novel. Acknowledgements: Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Natalie V. I Confess, I Let Him Touch Me  is written and read by Simmon Wagner. The story is sound edited by Jen Farrow. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,  “Pat Dog” and “Heliotrope”. Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Support the show.

I sat in the waiting room, teeth chattering, gasping for breath between counting down the numbers flashing on the screen next to the TV running the seven am news at ten, the reporter regurgitating reports of this disaster in this country and that tension between those two parties, the volume turned down low, almost deliberately so you were forced to think. And to over-think. The lips of the news anchor mouthing along to the chatter that had become my inner-monologue, nagging. Gnawing. Stop. Three more to go. Salting the Reaper’s Fields by Ashvin Jeevan   Salting the Reaper’s Fields is based off the journal entries documenting my experience as a young gay man newly diagnosed with HIV. It is a story of triumph and recognising one’s own resilience when faced with adversity. Aashvin is a peer-worker with Living Positive Victoria who responds to persons newly diagnosed with HIV or presenting with complexities from an earlier diagnosis. Acknowledgements: Memoria is written,  produced, edited and presented by Natalie V. Salting the Reaper’s Fields is written and read by Ashvin Jeevan. The story is sound edited by Jen Farrow. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,   “Pat Dog” and “Heliotrope”. Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.   Support the show.

Official definition: a false belief of a person that he or she is impoverished or will be deprived of material possessions. *A warning. This episode is about suicide and may not be suitable for everyone. Please use discretion. Poverty Delusion by Nicolas Brasch Sometimes you learn about things when you least expect to - and when you don't want to. Have you ever heard of poverty delusion? It's an official psychiatric condition. I hadn't heard of it until ... I wish I'd never heard of it. I hadn't heard of it until ... my sister had it. Until she took her life. Nicolas is a writer, a teacher of writing, Chair of Writers Victoria, and the founder and host of Spirit of Punk, an open mic event for emerging writers. You can find Nicolas on his website and Instagram. Acknowledgements: Memoria is written,  produced, edited and presented by Natalie V. Poverty Delusion is written and read by Nicolas Brasch. The story is sound edited by Jen Farrow. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,   "Pat Dog" and "Heliotrope". Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Support the show.

We’d been planning it for days, loitering at the drinking trough beside the tuck shop window. Leigh distracted him. I snuck up from behind. What a rush! How funny was that? It was 1963—a time when funny was defined by the Three Stooges. The Cream Bun by Roy Mears Few moments from your childhood live on. Memories are often suppressed. Yet, a smell, a sound, can immediately transport you back, to relive what you felt at the time. Mostly not by choice, you’re called to this memory for a reason. This season’s theme led me to explore suppressed memories and led to surprising discoveries about who I am. Writer, reader, teacher and coach, Roy Mears was, for several years, author of The Week That Was for The Climate Project. He has been published in PEN Quarterly and Melbourne Observer. You can find Roy on Twitter and Instagram. Acknowledgements: Memoria is written,  produced, edited and presented by Natalie V. The Cream Bun is written and read by Roy Mears. The story is sound edited by Jen Farrow. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, Sage the Hunter and Plaque. Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.   Support the show.

Writer Interview Rijn Collins This bonus episode is an interview Nat V had with Rijn Collins about her writing process. The interview was recorded in 2018. Rijn has two stories featured in season two of our podcast: The Eyes of the Bird and Rapunzel, Rapunzel.    Episode edited by Nat V. Music in this episode by the Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to our Patrons for their support. You can become a Patron for as little as $1 per month! See our Patreon website for more details. Support the show.

Writer Interview Ash Rehn This bonus episode is an interview Nat V had with Ash Rehn about his writing process. The interview was recorded in late 2018. Ash's #flashnonfiction story, Something Beginning With Chaos is our last episode for season two.   Episode edited by Nat V. Music in this episode by the Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to our Patrons for their support. You can become a Patron for as little as $1 per month! See our Patreon website for more details. podcoin Support the show.

Writer Interview Aprill Allen This bonus episode is an interview Nat V had with Aprill Allen about her writing process. The interview was recorded in early 2018. Aprill's #flashnonfiction story, The Sacrament, featured in episode 1 of our second season. Episode edited by Nat V. Music in this episode by the Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to our Patrons for their support. You can become a Patron for as little as $1 per month! See our Patreon website for more details. Support the show.

Writer Interview Annie Drum This bonus episode is an interview Nat V had with Annie Drum about her writing process. The interview was recorded in November 2017. Annie's #flashnonfiction story, Tattooed Mother, featured in episode 16 of our first season. Since then, Annie has been on a writing retreat in Amsterdam and is currently being mentored by Toni Jordan to expand her novella into a novel. Episode edited by Nat V. Music in this episode by the Blue Dot Sessions. Special thanks to our Patrons for their support. You can become a Patron for as little as $1 per month! See our Patreon website for more details. Support the show.

Mum’s driving the station wagon, Jenny, Jack and Grace in the back. Butch and Becky in the footwells grizzling. Esky, bags, towels, birdcage. The back-back is full. Suitcases on the roof rack. Butch looks guilty. ‘Mum, Butch farted.’Something Beginning With Chaos by Ash Rehn Our family holidays were predictable yet anxiety-ridden occasions, drama always within striking distance. With dogs, kids and my parents own baggage packed tightly together, hurtling down the highway, something had to go wrong. It's only now looking back can I see the humour of my childhood. Ash was grazed in Brisbane and almost destroyed on the Gold Coast. Now he writes ficto-memoir as self-therapy. He publishes on Patreon and on his website. Something Beginning with Chaos is read by Glen Morrow. Glen is a voice-over artist and host of the podcast, Stories Of You. Acknowledgements: Memoria is written,  produced, edited and presented by Nat V. Ash Rehn's short story, Something Beginning With Chaos, is written by Ash and read by Glen Morrow. The story is sound designed by Natalie Vella. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,   "Pat Dog" and "Heliotrope". Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Support the show.

I touched his face, his hair. His body. Cold. Hard. His face had no lines. It’s been said, the worry lines leave you instantly upon death. Will I lose my creased brow, I thought.Redemption by Lyn Mitchell Reflections in old age can grab your mind and transport you in fractions of time. Moments in our unique journeys are like flag posts in a desert of inconsequential living. A word, a smell, a piece of music. Redemption was always waiting to be written, to be purged. Dad’s death mask was always in my mind’s eye. It never left me. I tried to paint out the memory but it was in a tute at Uni, a trigger was set up and I could expel what had been festering inside. Understanding, without forgiving, never forgetting, but finally being able to accept being born was to be regaled, and thankful that the sins of the father are not visited upon the sons or daughters. We can learn from before, and we can set a different path. Lyn never felt educated. She left school in 1961 at year 10 level and fleeing from an abusive home life enlisted in the WRAAF. But the need to write never left her. At 72 she has almost completed her BA in Professional Writing and Editing. The obsession to write about her Dad’s story, a Barnardo’s boy, has led her on a journey of education. Along the way she studied an Advanced Diploma of Information Technology (aged 47), Diploma of Professional Writing & Editing (aged 68), and she has been published in Morning Bell, Dame Quentin Bryce’s, 'Dear Quentin Letters of a Governor-General', and The Age. Redemption is read by Petra Glieson. Acknowledgements: Memoria is written,  produced, edited and presented by Nat V. Lyn Mitchell's short story, Redemption, is written by Lyn and read by Petra Glieson. The story is sound designed by Natalie Vella. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,   "Celestial Navigation" and "Plaque". Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Support the show.

Jesus wept, the saying goes, and there he was, on his crucifix, laid out on the unceremonious bench, cast rigid into a plaster block, laid to waste on the Swanston Street spine.Forsaken by Anna Sublet To see a crucifix, abandoned at a tram stop, spoke to me of false hopes, salvation, loss and delusion. Who knows when or if they will be saved? And who, if anyone, will be their saviour? I watched a couple wrestle with their mess at that tram stop, testing the gristle and tendons of their connection. They were bound together, yet I could sense her straining at the edges. Her tattoo of a square within a square spoke to me of their enclosure, and the sense of inevitability about her journey felt like a heavy weight. And so, the crucifix lay abandoned. And we are forsaken. Anna Sublet is a freelance writer.  Her personal essays have been published in The Guardian. Her latest piece for Fairfax Media was about suburban surfers, and their search for waves. You can find her on Twitter, and Facebook. Her words have a home at Notes of Substance. Acknowledgements: Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Nat V. Anna Sublet's short story, Forsaken, is written and read by Anna. The story is sound designed by Natalie Vella. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,   "Sage the Hunter" and "Waypost". Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Support the show.

There is no photographic evidence of us together; you didn’t bother with the father-daughter bonding this time. You didn’t stay in my life long enough to form any type of bond. Our family of four (soon to be five, with Mum heavily pregnant) shared the winter of 1965. And then you were gone.And Then You Were Gone by Simone Bowers Whoever said that all children need a mother and a father has never suffered parental rejection. It's not until we sit down to write about an event in our past that the truth comes hurtling at us from out of nowhere. That's what happened when I decided to write about the day my father came to visit. I was five. Simone Bowers decided to pursue her love of words at the age of 52 and has just completed a two-year writing course. She describes herself as an unpublished 'emerging writer'. And Then You Were Gone is read by Petra Glieson.   Acknowledgements: Memoria is written,  produced, edited and presented by Nat V. Simone Bower's short story, And Then You Were Gone, is written by Simone and read by Petra Glieson. The story is sound designed by Jen Farrow with additional edits by Natalie Vella. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,   "Sage the Hunter" and "Plaque". Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Support the show.

*The episode comes with a warning. Violence is portrayed in this story. Discretion is advised.   Before I had been imprisoned, I never thought of the physical and psychological effects of constant hunger. Some prisoners talked about what food they missed, and how it tasted. Prisoners reminisced about food.One Woman's Struggle in Iran by Nazrin Parvaz I couldn't separate Iran from the rest of the world. We all are in the same boat that is running fast with the current towards a future full of more misery unless we do something about it. In Iran, the same as in the rest of the world - we need a just system that safeguards freedom and equality. Nasrin Parvaz became a civil rights activist when the Islamic regime took power in 1979. She was arrested in 1982 and spent eight years in prison.  You can find Nasrin on her website,  Twitter. Her novel, The Secret Letters from X to A is available here.  Acknowledgements: Memoria is written,  produced, edited and presented by Nat V. Nasrin Parvaz's short story, A Woman's Struggle in Iran, is written by Nasrin and read by Maryam Babaali. The story is edited by Jen Farrow. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,   "Mogul" and "November Mist". Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Support the show.

everyone’s teeth are broken but people keep chewing rocks. everyone’s stomachs are empty but people keep drinking gasoline. Boy in a Closed Mill Town by Zackary Lavoie Rural Maine was once a hotbed for Mill Towns. Entire communities were built around mills, offering a promise of wealth and stability. Unfortunately, most of these mills were eventually closed and torn down, leaving the towns once centred around them helpless. Many families felt the destructive impact of the closings. Poverty, drug addiction, depression, and many, many other difficult scenarios soon followed. This poem explores the impact on the relationship between a father and son in a closed mill town. Zack Lavoie graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington and is the author of the chapbook UPHEAVALS (Pond Bench Press). He was awarded the 2017 Alice James Books Director's Chair Fellowship in Farmington, Maine and is the winner of the Franklin & Somerset County Poetry Competition.  works as an EFL editor for a global trading platform and as a copy editor locally. His work can be found in Empty Mirror Magazine, OCCULUM Journal, Dirty Paws Poetry Review, Longleaf Review, FlyPaper Mag, OXIDANT | ENGINE, and on the 'Memoria' podcast.                     UPHEAVALS can be purchased directly through his website or on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. You can find Zack on his website,  Twitter, and Instagram.   Acknowledgements: Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Nat V. Zackary Lavoie's short poem, Boy in a Closed Mill Town, is written and read by Zack. The podcast story is edited by Jen Farrow. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,   "Sage the Hunter" and "Wax Paper Jewel". Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Support the show.

Alcohol is not a necessity when travelling…but it does help. It helps when the cold is so fierce your phone screen cracks. It helps when your housemates visit the local fish factory and realise, too late, that the stench of fish guts stays embedded in clothes for days. It helps when the avalanche sirens make you jump, when you step into a snowdrift and sink to your thighs, and when the lack of fresh fruit makes you google ‘what are the signs of scurvy?’The Eyes of a Bird by Rijn Collins I studied Icelandic at university and fell in love with this magical, magnificent land and language. It’s claimed that half the population believe in elves and trolls and that being charmed by Iceland is a result of their spells. If so, then I am willingly spellbound. My memories of my trips there are some of the happiest of my life. Rijn Collins is an award-winning writer with over 100 published short stories. She writes for ABC Radio National and won the inaugural Sarah Awards for Audio Fiction in New York. You can find Rijn on his website, Twitter, and Instagram.   Acknowledgements: Memoria is written,  produced, edited and presented by Nat V. Rijn Collin's short story, The Eyes of a Bird, is written and performed by Rijn. The story is edited by Jen Farrow. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,   "When in the West" and "The Envelope". Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.   Support the show.

In Paris, alone, five stories’ high, naked and taut, she perched like a still life gargoyle come to life.The Naked Woman in Paris by Simmon Wagner The Naked Woman in Paris has maturity only in hindsight. On this trip, I was very much in love with my wonderful husband, exploring Switzerland, Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, London and Paris, but in all our busyness, I had forgotten I need stillness too. Paris awoke in me my stillness. Melbourne Creative, Freelance Writer, working as a Professional Movie Critic, Nationwide Australian Style Writer, Yogini and Founder of theloveauthentic. Curious and trained as a Journalist, Private Investigator and Fashion Designer, now creating content to tell stories, feature friends, wellness, travel and inspiring people. You can find her on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Movie Critic,Style Blogger and at The Love Authentic.Acknowledgements: Memoria is edited and presented by Nat V. Simmon's short story, The Naked Woman in Paris is written by Simmon Wagner and read by Petra Glieson. The story is edited by Nat V. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,   "Floating Whist" and Dana Boule "Tomorrow Comes". Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.   Support the show.

‘I have not run from the POLICE for over 40 YEARS. But I know HOW to’ Those are my FATHER’s words. It’s the 1ST of October 2017 He is ready to VOTE for a NON-BINDING referendum I am on the PHONE to him and I CAN’T breatheWhy You Should Care About Catalonia by Silvia Brown On 1st October, before police used violence against voters in a non-binding referendum, I was on the phone to my father, when he said to me: 'I haven't run from the police in over 40 years but I know how to' My piece is a speech created for RMIT PWE course. My motivation is to stir people's consciences. Silvia Brown is a creative writer who calls Australia home. Her dark fiction stories are available in different anthologies on Amazon and she is a contributor writer for GoMovieReviews. You can find Silvia on Twitter.  Acknowledgements: Memoria is written,  produced, edited and presented by Nat V. Silvia Brown's short story, Why You Should Care About Catalonia is written and read by Silvia. The story is edited by Jen Farrow. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,   "Outside the Terminal" and "Shifts of Currents". Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.       Support the show.

The voices were loud. They always were. Once more he had come home long after dinner. Drunk. Always drunk.*A warning that this episode contains scenes of domestic violence and may not be suitable for everyone. Discretion is advised. Freedom 1964 by Lyn Mitchell I have lived for 70 years and for 60 of those years, I have lived with the knowledge I was not wanted. In the post-war environment, it was not politically or religiously correct to be pregnant before marriage. My mother tried to get rid of me but I needed to be born. Life for the Kyte Family was harsh. 70-year-old University student, Lyn Mitchell has a Diploma of Professional Writing. Her need to write her story led her to this phase of her life. She has been published in Morning Bell Magazine.  You can find Lyn on Twitter @LauraLyn   Memoria is written,  produced, edited and presented by Nat V. Lyn Mitchell's short story, Freedom 1964 is written and read by Lyn. The story is edited by Nat V. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,   "Periodicals" and "The Envelope". Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Support the show.

I knew I would survive if I lived under my parents’ roof until I was married, however, deep down I knew I wouldn’t thrive. I wanted the same experiences my friends were having. It wasn’t just about the alcohol and drugs, although there was plenty of them around and they were mostly good fun. It was about first times, first partners, first shared house, first cooked meal at home, first electricity bill, first bitching session about our flatmate who left the kitchen a mess.Choices of Maha Sidaoui Maha has been writing for over thirty years. First it was letters, then lyrics and later stories. Maha has a love for words and writes stories to search her childhood and early years for whatever it was that made her the person and writer that she has become. The first chapter of her manuscript, One Arabian Girl, was shortlisted for the Deborah Cass Prize. She is currently working on her second big story that has everything to do with family, facing up to big truths and Salman Rushdie. You can find Maha on Twitter. Acknowledgements: Memoria is written,  produced, edited and presented by Nat V. Maha Sidaoui's short story, Choices is written and performed by Maha. The story is edited by Nat V. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,   "Sage the Hunter" and "Chapel Donder". Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.   Support the show.

I only ever saw Dad go to church for weddings and funerals, and I asked him once, “but why do you believe in all that?”The Sacrament by Aprill Allen My father died of a brain tumour at 69 years old in the January of 2016. He was admitted to hospice on a Thursday and died the Friday of the following week. Nobody really talks about the process of dying and what those who will go on living can expect to see. This is one moment from those 8 days. Aprill is a freelance management consultant and content writer, a volunteer board member, a parent and a creative writing major at the University of Melbourne. You can find Aprill on her website, Twitter, and Instagram.    Acknowledgements: Memoria is written,  produced, edited and presented by Nat V. Aprill Allen's short story, The Sacrament, is performed by Aprill. The story is edited by Jen Farrow. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,   "Last Lights" and "Sunset on Sandy Isle". Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Sound effects used in this episode by: Bpcycle By Nofeedbak CC BY 3.0 Door-open-close By Amholma CC0 1.0 Eating Human By Virtualwindow CC BY-NC 3.0 Groaning By Vmgraw CC0 1.0 Male breathing By FALCONS SHADOW CC BY-NC 3.0 Hospital room ambience with oxygen system noise By Nixeno CC BY-NC 3.0 Organ By Caquet CC BY 3.0 Pouring-water By Adamjordaan14008 CC BY-NC 3.0 Towel Off After Bath By Sgcardinal CC0 1.0Donate and help support our podcast. Or become a Patreon for as little as $1 per episode. Support the show.

I read about Rapunzel syndrome, where sufferers ate the hair they wrenched free. The strands knotted inside them, plump and dark, deep within their belly like a swallowed secret.Rapunzel, Rapunzel by Rijn Collins For many years my fingers would creep into my hair to wrench it out by the root. The sweet relief of this was extraordinary, and addictive. If obsessive-compulsive disorders are difficult to explain, they're even more difficult to stop. My route back to health involved a tattooist's chair, the mythology of Medusa, and the grimmest of fairy tales. Rijn Collins is an award-winning writer with over 100 published short stories. She writes for ABC Radio National, and won the inaugural Sarah Awards for Audio Fiction in New York. You can find Rijn on his website, Twitter, and Instagram.    Acknowledgements: Memoria is written,  produced, edited and presented by Nat V. Rijn Collin's short story, Rapunzel, Rapunzel is written and performed by Rijn. The story is edited by Jen Farrow. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,   "When in the West" and "Lamplist". Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Support the show.

First came the hair cut – off with the curly locks, never to return, even today. Then taking the scissors to the jeans. Slash, slash, slash. And, of course, boots, Doc Martens. Black, sixteen holes – what else?  The Spirit of Punk by Nicolas Brasch Originally wrote this piece for an open mic event I host for emerging writers called The Spirit of Punk, in which writers are encouraged to read their work without fear of judgement or failure or criticism - in the spirit of punk. Nicolas is a writer and teacher of writing; Chair of Writers Victoria and former host of The Garret podcast on which he interviews leading writers on the craft of writing. You can find Nicolas on his website, Twitter, and Instagram.    Acknowledgements: Memoria is written,  produced, edited and presented by Nat V. Nicolas Brasch's short story, The Spirit of Punk is written and performed by Nicolas. The story is edited by Jen Farrow. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,   "Stale Case". Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Support the show.

Coming of Age by Anna Sublet Teenage years were interesting for me, as the only girl in a neighbourhood full of boys. But when the boys from the other side of the tracks crossed the line, I had a rude awakening to the threats existing beyond the home zone. 'Smile!' Anna Sublet is a curious reader and an undercover scribbler. She is slowly coming out from behind the fences. You can find Anna on her blog, Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram.  Acknowledgements: Memoria is written,  produced, edited and presented by Nat V. Anna Sublet's short story, Coming of Age, is performed by Anna. Story is edited by Nat V. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,   "When in the West" and "Lamplist". Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Sound effects used in this episode by: Cicadas in Melbourne by dr19, Car Passing By by  audio_stock, Outside Atmos at Night (Crickets and Dogs) by Jeanet_Henning, Fluorescent Lightbulb Hum by ftpalad, Door opening and closing 2 by JakLocke, melbMetro by polymorpheva, 00512 male group laugh 2 by Robinhood76, Train Pass by by OroborosNZ, Bike Pedal and Chain by JZProductions  Support the show.

 In that moment I knew I loved you. The bitter months that led up to that night were nonexistant. Wiped clean. A different kind of love overwhelmed me.To Wait by Zara Marimuthu We have this picture of what love should look like. We see “perfect couples” and want to embody their relationship. But for me, I had to relearn what that image was. It wasn’t prince charming. It was looking at my partner in his rawest form and still choosing to stand by him. Zara Marimuthu lives through words and movements. She hails from Malaysia but is currently a third-year Creative Writing student at RMIT. She hopes to inspire others with her work. You can find Zara on Instagram and Tumblr.Acknowledgements: Memoria is written,  produced, edited and presented by Nat V. Zara Marimuthu's short story, To Wait, is performed by Zara. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,   "Vittoro" and "Sage The Hunter". Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Sound effects used in this episode by: RoooDyDoooDy, SkeetMasterFunk69, reznik_Krkovicka, Eirikr, magedu, Tomlija, joncro, SpliceSound, mrshadow170, MAJ061785, kyles  Support the show.

He tries to appear calm and explain to the doctor that she is dying. Why am I the one to do this, he wonders?Melting Moments by John Bartlett (part two) Melting Moments' is a reflection on remembering my mother from my childhood and then when she became older and dependent on my care for her like adult to child, all now 'melting moments'. This episode is part two of a two-part story. John Bartlett ‘s non-fiction has been published in The Age, The Canberra Times, The Australian, Good Weekend and he has published two novels and a collection of short stories. You can find John on his website.Acknowledgements: Memoria is written,  produced, edited and presented by Nat V. John Bartlett's short story, Melting Moments, is performed by Roy Mears. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,   "Overhead" and "Sunset at Sandy Isle". Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Sound effects used in this episode by: alienistcog Superex1110 hja qubodup Heart Monitor Beep ERH sindhu.tms nofeedbak alienistcog ERH Support the show.

The kitchen is a warm comfortable womb on these afternoons. From the shelf the old brown Bakelite radio announces in its strident voice —'Portia faces life — for those who are in love and for all those who can remember.' He wonders if this Portia is like his mother?Melting Moments by John Bartlett (Part One) Melting Moments' is a reflection on remembering my mother from my childhood and then when she became older and dependent on my care for her like adult to child, all now 'melting moments'. John Bartlett ‘s non-fiction has been published in The Age, The Canberra Times, The Australian, Good Weekend and he has published two novels and a collection of short stories. You can find John on his website.  Acknowledgements: Memoria is written,  produced, edited and presented by Nat V. John Bartlett's short story, Melting Moments, is performed by Hayden Burke and Roy Mears. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,  "Solace" and "Overhead". Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Sound effects used in this episode by: peridactyloptrix http://freesound.org/people/peridactyloptrix/sounds/213345/ nebulousflynn http://freesound.org/people/nebulousflynn/sounds/269062/ fordps3 http://freesound.org/people/fordps3/sounds/336697/ Greencouch http://freesound.org/people/Greencouch/sounds/103558/ bone666138 http://freesound.org/people/bone666138/sounds/198847/ jpkweli http://freesound.org/people/jpkweli/sounds/154757/ stijn http://freesound.org/people/stijn/sounds/22890/ nmscher http://freesound.org/people/nmscher/sounds/86232/ squashy555 http://freesound.org/people/squashy555/sounds/353416/    Support the show.

What is it about lanes? What stories did you conjure up when your curious eye peered through the cracks of rusted corrugated back fences? What feet did you imagine trampled on bluestone surfaces?Lanes by Helena Spyrou Lanes is a remembrance of my teenage hood where I spent a lot of time walking through the lanes of Carlton in the early 1970s. I wrote the first draft of this piece in 1999 in a workshop with Arnold Zable that explored our relationships to cities. I was so pleased when it was later published in Meanjin (Vol 60, Issue 1, 2001). - Helena Spyrou Helena Spyrou is of Cypriot and Greek heritage. She is a writer of non-fiction, literary fiction and poetry. Her work has appeared in literary journals, including Meanjin, Going Down Swinging and Visible Ink. She has performed her work at La Mama, Loop Bar and other venues and has worked as a project artist with communities in Melbourne. She studies Writing and Editing at RMIT and works full-time for the National Tertiary Education Union.Acknowledgements: Memoria is written,  produced and presented by Nat V. Helena Spyrou's short story, Lanes, is performed by Nat V. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,  "November Mist" and "City Limits". Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Sound effects in this episode by:Carlton AmbienceBy JenFarrowCC BY 3.0 Traffic LightBy JenFarrowCC BY 3.0 Beating RugBy Jen FarrowCC BY 3.0  Kissing_Smooches_01.wavBy Lex777CC BY 3.0  Ronda - Steps in the stone - Pasos sobre piedraBy sergeeoCC BY 3.0 Heartbeat_1.WAVBy Adam_NCC0 1.0 Corrugated Iron Crash.wavBy ReyDrosCC BY-NC 3.0 ChickensBy Dann93CC0 1.0 Chicken in enclosure.wavBy BW Productions CC BY 3.0 Support the show.

In the end, she only remembered that husband and son-in-law. Until the last days she’d score them with her wasp tongue.Wasp Tonguesby Chaille Bos This story is in response to the death of my grandmother. It was my way of working through the reality that I never knew the real her and never had a chance to, and yet I found myself in a part of her nonetheless. - Chaille Bos. Chaille Bos has published microfiction, narrative nonfiction and pop culture articles. As well as writing her own crime and speculative fiction novels, she is a ghostwriter and co-writer. You can find her on Twitter, her website and Facebook.  Acknowledgements: Memoria is written,  produced and presented by Nat V. Chaille Bos' short story, Wasp Tongues, is performed by Melbourne-based actor, Petra Glieson. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions,  "In Paler Skies" and "The Answer". Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Sound effects used in this episode by: Church sounds By Klankbeeld Cemetary atmo By Outdoor_recordings WW2 gunfire By Cheeseheadburger Low airplane flyby By Snipperbes Bees getting a drink By Tbaucom  Support the show.

The Rock Dove keeps to himself, head down, pecking aimlessly at refuse lining the pillars of the bridge.    Rock Dove Under Ditmarsby Zackary  Lavoie This poem explores the seemingly ignored issue of abuse towards men in today's world. In this moment, a man (a Rock Dove) is verbally abused by his girlfriend (the Falcon) and leaves him to "die" in an apartment in Queens. This poem attempts to overlay the images of birds fighting and that of a struggling relationship. - Zachary Lavoie. Zackary Lavoie is a graduate of University of Maine at Farmington with a degrees in English and Creative Writing. His book titled "Upheavals" is set to release later this year. You can find him on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.       Acknowledgements: Memoria is written,  produced and presented by Nat V. Zachary Lavoie's short poem, Rock Dove under Ditmars, is performed by Melbourne-based actor, Hayden Burke. The poem is sound designed, edited and mixed by Jen Farrow. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, "Last Lights",  "Sunset at Sady Isle" and "Inside the Origami Violin". Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Sound effects used in this episode by: Feeder-sergiyevposad-141209 By oontzru Candy-bar-wrapper By Coltures Traffic-in-town By Inchadney Bus-leaving-bustop By Cribbler Stairs By Screamstudio Running-up-stairs By Maj061785 Peregrine-falcon-2 By Digifishmusic Beating-wings By Juskiddink Plastic-snap-snapping.wav By Deleted-user-7146007 Door-open-close By Amholma Footsteps-sneakers-wet-sidewalk-01-r By Hupguy   P.S. There is a little relationship riff right at the very end!   Support the show.

Each time I entered the room I felt a shift in my body, as if accepting the uncomfortable things I was about to feel. As if knowing, that I was going to grow there.    Acceptance, a short memoir by Tah Jimenez While I was writing this piece I felt a shift in my thinking as I walked into the mindset I used to have about mental health. I fit awkwardly in the skin of my younger self, the self that in this piece learns what it is to accept your emotions - Tah Jimenez. Tah Jimenez is a writer of non-fiction and literary fiction, focusing primary on short story and personal essays. I study at RMIT where I am to craft my writing skills further.  You can find her on Medium   Acknowledgements: Memoria is written,  produced and presented by Nat V. Jo Penney's short story, Memorial, is performed by Melbourne-based actor, Petra Glieson. Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, "Chapel Bottom",  "Quiet Sill" and "Plate Synthesis". Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now. Sound effects used in this episode by: sgcardinal Support the show.