This Is Us Australia

"I was teaching social planning … I've gotten used to the Australian-English accent but in my first weeks I had real trouble understanding some of the [students], especially those from regional Victoria." "Because I do so much research about how disruptive migration can be for your networks, I was very much aware of the dangers." … Continue reading Se 02 Ep 10 Karien Dekker, Thornbury

“There is a vision in the book of Revelation which I love - in the Bible - that talks about how around the throne of God in heaven there are people of every tongue, tribe, language and people group.” “Every cross-cultural experience you have makes you richer.” “I would just like to encourage people to … Continue reading Se 02 Ep 09 Ellie Scott, Kangaroo Ground, Part Two

“I remember hospitality being a big thing in our family and it wasn’t until probably university when I realised that wasn’t normal for a lot of people.” “I wish I was better at picking up sarcasm. You’d think I’d be better at it by now.” In this episode, part one of a two-part conversation, Sharon … Continue reading Se 02 Ep 08 Ellie Scott, Kangaroo Ground, Part One

“There is more honesty you get when you train with someone because at that point they are only showing what is true to themselves.” In this episode, the host of the This Is Us Australia podcast, Sharon Southwell, returns to Martial Spirit in Brunswick for the second part of a conversation with Spring Sia. When … Continue reading Se 02 Ep 07 Spring Sia, Brunswick, Part Two

"Everything I do is about unpacking truth ... different kinds of truth ... let's embrace them and understand each other through them". In this episode Sharon interviews Amal Awad, Sydney-based journalist, author and screenwriter. In 2017, Amal’s book Beyond Veiled Clichés: The Real Lives of Arab Women was published by Vintage Penguin Random House. In … Continue reading Se 02 Ep 06 Amal Awad, Inner West Sydney

“I’ve been a professional Muay Thai fighter for three years now”. In this episode we meet Spring Sia from Brunswick, who migrated from Malaysia, at her business Martial Spirit, on busy Dawson Street in Brunswick. Here is a link to the interview. To see more of Spring in action, visit the Martial Spirit website and … Continue reading Se 02 Ep 05 Spring Sia, Brunswick

'He decided to improve his English by reading Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan.' In this episode we meet Jocelyn from Brunswick, whose father migrated with his family from The Netherlands. Here is a link to the interview. A rare photograph of the family photographer, Jocelyn's father, Kees. Next episode: We meet Spring from Brunswick. For … Continue reading Se 02 Ep 04 Jocelyn, Brunswick

‘Going to Japan helped me come out of my shell’. In this episode Sharon interviews Lori Cucinotta from Preston. If you haven’t heard Sharon’s interview with Lori’s mother, Rosa Cucinotta, listen to that interview first. Here is the link to the interview. Next episode: Jocelyn, Brunswick For Season 1 (2017) interview transcripts and photos, Season … Continue reading Se 02 Ep 03 Lori Cucinotta, Preston

'From the moment I stepped foot in this country, on this land, I fell in love'. In this episode Sharon meets Rosa and Lori Cucinotta, in Rosa's kitchen in Preston. Lori interprets as Rosa tells her story. Here is the link to the interview. Rosa as a young woman Two of Rosa's creations Next episode: … Continue reading Se 02 Ep 02 Rosa Cucinotta, Preston

"One of the amazing things that happen out of getting that job was my self-discovery that food and coffee ... I love that." In this first episode of season 2, we meet Nikhil Joy in his café. Nikhil tells me that the hum in the background is from four refrigerators. Here is the link to … Continue reading Se 02 Ep 01 Nikhil Joy, Fawkner