Podcasts – The Chattering Classes

Author Inga Simpson (Willowman, Mr Wigg) joins me once again to talk about her latest book, The Thinning. It's a book about hope and action against things we do and don't notice. That's pretty vague but I don't like spoilers. … Continue reading →

Alyson and Wiggo join me to discuss a lot of stuff. Have we saved lives? Yes! Human lives? Find out. 1 band and 2 singers of discussion, what are the red flags we see in ourselves, how we were liars … Continue reading →

My dad spoke with me on the mic for the first time in 9 years. It was the day before he turned 75 and we discuss how that feels, and how it feels to see things change around you when … Continue reading →

Adam Lovgren joins me in the season opener to talk about how the US is going about now. We recorded just after the California fires and we discussed these, and our kids moving on without us. We then get into … Continue reading →

To end the year I go over the films, books and music I've enjoyed throughout the year. It's just me talking. Merry New Year to you all from all of us at The Chatterings. See you in the new year. … Continue reading →

The 4 of us from the 200th are back for the season finale where we go through all the questions we hadn't got to before. Funeral ideas, problematic sports, hot chips, art and artists, teaching strategies and unused talents. I … Continue reading →

Emily Squires joins me again to discuss many things about books and how creativity works. We go over miscommunication with your children and how to weigh up decisions that impact our kids. We also discover a book that the New … Continue reading →

The four of us are back, after some sound mishaps, and we finish answering questions for the 200th episode spectacular. We cover the nice times of your courtships, the books we would write but can't find, Simpsons references galore and … Continue reading →

The 200th Episode is here and it is spectacular. I start the podcast with the producer Nick answering questions from people from the show's past, but the mood changes with some special guests dropping by and much fun was had. … Continue reading →

Alyson asked me a question for the 200th episode but I thought we could spend a while discussing our shared history. But of course we get sidetracked immediately by ocean temperature, literary jaunts and severe haircuts. Plus we keep the … Continue reading →

My kids introduced me to Nova Weetman's books and then I've taught her novels to students, so this was a great time for me. We discuss her writing process, Koala nocturnal habits, interconnectedness and talking to young people. You can … Continue reading →

Angela Ward and I recorded in front of very large windows looking over a golf course so we got very distracted from the start. Started off talking about golf, a couple of interruptions along the way, until we discussed teaching … Continue reading →

Nick, the producer, joins me in this mini episode, to talk about the weird kids at school, self-acceptance and affectations. We then unpack a compliment and the ways our brains operate under pressure. Nick goes out of focus, which is … Continue reading →

Wiggo and Alyson join me to talk about travelling about the world with and without your children. We have a somewhat serious medical chat, that I wasn't sure I should leave in. But then we go onto discussions of travelling … Continue reading →

Sasha and Alyson, the front office ladies, are back to discuss their friendship in more depth than ever before. We go over the morning after pub carpet breath musk. How did they deal with rude teachers and how did they … Continue reading →

Leon Braun is back for the sequel to discuss his knowledge of Thailand and Laos, the connection to a famous Horror series, and the things that happen when we sleep. We finally get to the life of a diplomat living … Continue reading →

Rach and Stu, the hosts of ‘Swinging on the Flippity Flop' join me to talk about the 90s and all the other things. Corey Haim or Corey Feldman? Pauly Shore or Edward Furlong? The surprising movie Stu has in his … Continue reading →

The Mouse and the Flasha join me to discuss a friendship spanning 5 decades, many jobs, children, life changes and netball vomits. Alyson and Sasha were the ‘Front office ladies of Front office ladies.' We didn't even get to the … Continue reading →

Leon Braun has led an interesting life, and has taken his family all around the world. However we didn't get to it in this episode, because we got started on movies and that could've gone on for hours. We will … Continue reading →

Hannah Venn Brown has had a busy time since I spoke with her last. We cover a few big events and surprises that have come her way. Amongst the basketball and Olympics chat we also explore Allyship, Dry July, having … Continue reading →

Producer Nick, host me and Wiggins to discuss our friendship. Nick asks very very good questions, plus there are so many tangents. It was hard to work out what to call this episode. What makes friends link to each other … Continue reading →

Natalia is back to talk about her first year as a parent. We cover all the ways that we are challenged in the first year, what has been learned and what can be put into a spreadsheet for further reference. … Continue reading →

Emily joins me again for the 5th visit into her world of parenting. We've done an interview every July since she became pregnant and now we are dealing with a nearly 3 year old. We talk about the perceptions of … Continue reading →

Nick Maniatis (The Producer) and Melissa Beattie join me to talk about their friendship throughout the years. We talk about enjoying things with a different brain, love of really scary films, honesty in uncomfortability and being there. This one gets … Continue reading →

I decided to record a half year solo podcast to cover some great films and books I've got into so far in 2024. It’s just me rambling on too long, and then I am joined by Justine to discuss the … Continue reading →

The middle brother, Jason, joins me to have a discussion about big and small things. What is it like when your brother turns 50? Why did having children change Jurassic Park? Parents passing on sporting ideals and pain, being awarded … Continue reading →

Chezza (Episode 150) brings another friend to the podcast. Amy Wickerson joins us to discuss their 10 years of friendship, forced proximity and marriage counselling. We really get into how difficult it is to be dismissed in your job and … Continue reading →

Alyson is back to discuss how it has been zero days since…We cover all manner of things, such as odd parent interactions, Analogy Lad, wanting to be horizontal and a bad case of organ pitch. Obscure question, but is the … Continue reading →

The siblings are back to get loopy to cover the past 40 odd years. We discuss waking up in gardens, match flicking in public toilets, hidden talents and annoying habits. Why does white bread make Claire so angry and what … Continue reading →

The siblings, Ben and Claire join me to discuss all things brotherly and sisterly. Before we even get to that Claire takes us through her absolutely gnarly car accident story. Plenty of all over the place chat, East 17, Soup, … Continue reading →

Katherine Tammaro is mighty. I've known Katherine since a diminutive year 7 student marched through the door. In our chat we cover those teenage years, our 2012 school trip to Japan, dance lessons, Victorian era toilets and I guess slightly … Continue reading →

I am joined by two lovely friends, Ludwik and Emily, for a chat about their friendship for the past 11 years. Both were students of mine in 2018-19 and had very different experiences in English. They discuss what values they … Continue reading →

Amber Quigley (Episode 137) was once a student in my English class and is now an Art and English teacher. We talked about their love of ceramics, being a glass sibling, being a man stealer, and the benefit of knowing … Continue reading →

Alyson Hill joins me yet again for a virtual coffee catch up. I had a series of questions prepared and at the end of the interview Alyson wondered if she answered any of them. It doesn't matter because we have … Continue reading →

Nick Maniatis and Wiggo are back and we are chock full of metaphors and imagery. Plasticine man, arms and hands, tetris bodies and hats on top of hats. We go over our friendship again and discuss the specificity of our … Continue reading →

Adam Bode joins me for the first time but not for the last time. Adam has done many amazing things, studying gymnastics in Texas (they are skills not moves or tricks), studied a language, danced the night away, is currently … Continue reading →

Wiggo takes over the hosting job and talks to Nick Maniatis and me about the 17 years we've known each other. The intensity of discussion, fandom and interests and my issue with skipping between my two friends. Which sports make … Continue reading →

My lovely wife joins me again to discuss the 10 nominees for best picture at this years' Academy Awards. I just really liked all of the 10 films and wanted to talk about them. We go over the films that … Continue reading →

Stu is back to talk about what we wanted to talk about last time (ep 167). Of course we start off with some real obscurity – the 60s classic ‘Danger Man' which was not at all classic. We then get … Continue reading →

The host goes alone with the traditional end of year pod. I look over my favourite movies, music and books I've got to this year. This isn't a ‘best of the year' – just the best stuff I've found. See … Continue reading →

The friendly train rolls into the station once again as Alyson and Wiggo join me to talk over shared histories. We start with a bit of Vanuti corner, and then go over Alyson's Moroccan and Spanish adventures.. We look at … Continue reading →

Stuart Buckland (podcast host of Dad Pants, Bit Weird but Fair Enough (I Guess), What's The Go and the Angry Chimp) to talk about a bunch of stuff that we never got to. We immediately got derailed by a discussion … Continue reading →

Karen Rockawin (Team Competent – Ep 144) joins me to discuss the fact that she has three weeks till retirement. We discuss the idea of ‘just being' and not needing to fill time with activities, and having more to life … Continue reading →

Nick Maniatis went on a solo trip to Tasmania and had some adventures. But before we briefly discuss that we talk for quite a while about movies, music and memory slips. A lot of drive in chat. And of course … Continue reading →

Nicole is back (Episode 123 – The Walrus Gang) to discuss burning down the guilt factory for everyone's benefit. We talk about the same issues of control and patience and letting things be a bit crap for a while when … Continue reading →

Drez joins me to be double poppin after a slow old start. We cover the fluctuations of age, being insulted by your children, very specific insults, realising a special time when it's happening, and storm chasing. Drez is always up … Continue reading →

Natalia is back (from lighting Crutch Ep 149) – to talk about being a first time parent. We recap planning to be underprepared for the birth, baby height, and the ins and outs of stress. We also look at timing … Continue reading →

Part 2 of my chat with C Fresh and Pinno, as we talk more about them as friends. How they impress each other, engagement stories and parties. Who got nude with whom and why? What happens when you tell Claire … Continue reading →

Claire and Lyndsey are back due to their demand. We start by recapping how Claire has become the podcast's number 1 fan, what it means and how we engage with each other. We go over some origin stories and I … Continue reading →

It's a friendly train reunion as Wiggo and Alyson join me again to talk about friendship stuff. We only got through 3 questions this time because we got distracted by underpants, dining room tables, nursery rhymes, sandwiches and songs. We … Continue reading →

Dave Matthews joins me again to talk about the times that are a changing. We've been friends since 1987 and we cover some of those times and a surprise email from that very era. We cover having adult children all … Continue reading →