Podcast appearances and mentions of John Birmingham

As the summer series grinds on we're joined once again — well, after a gap of more than a year — by author and columnist John Birmingham. In this episode we talk, inevitably, about the nexus between Elon Musk and Donald Trump. But we also chat about Brisbane and the good old days, cancer, the Apple Vision Pro, World Expo 88, digital locks, physical fitness, and the links between hypermasculinity, Gamergate, and fascism.It also sees the return of the chia seed protein pudding, and yet more mentions of Umberto Eco.Full podcast details and credits:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00243/Please consider supporting this podcast with your cash-type money:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

The American space agency NASA says a huge star explosion is expected to light up the night sky later this year. NASA describes it as a “once-in-a-lifetime” event.美国航天局NASA表示，预计今年晚些时候会有一次巨大的恒星爆炸，将照亮夜空。NASA将其描述为“一生一次”的事件。The event is known as a nova. It happens when changes to a star cause it to release a large amount of energy and it becomes very bright. This activity is only temporary and such stars usually return to their normal state after experiencing a nova event.这一事件被称为新星。当恒星发生变化导致其释放大量能量并变得非常明亮时，就会出现新星。这种活动只是暂时的，经历新星事件后，这些恒星通常会恢复到正常状态。Astronomers have predicted the nova is likely to happen by September 2024. The expected event will involve a two-star system – called a binary system – in the constellation Corona Borealis, also known as the Northern Crown. This constellation is about 3,000 light years from Earth. A light year is the distance light travels in a year – about 9.5 trillion kilometers.天文学家预测，这次新星事件可能会在2024年9月之前发生。预计的事件将涉及一个由两颗恒星组成的双星系统，位于被称为北冕座的星座中。这个星座距离地球大约3000光年。一光年是光在一年内行进的距离，大约为9.5万亿公里。The binary system is called T Coronae Borealis. It contains two gravitationally linked stars – a white dwarf and a red giant.这个双星系统被称为T Coronae Borealis。它包含两颗通过引力连接的恒星——一颗白矮星和一颗红巨星。NASA describes a white dwarf as the remains of an Earth-sized star that died. A white dwarf is formed when the star burns off all its central nuclear fuel and loses its outer layers.NASA将白矮星描述为一颗死亡的地球大小的恒星残骸。当恒星燃尽所有核心核燃料并失去其外层时，就会形成白矮星。A red giant forms when a star releases large amounts of hydrogen at its center. This loss of energy causes the star to begin to collapse. But the process also increases the red giant's temperature and pressure, leading to new releases of energy that can affect nearby objects.当恒星在其中心释放大量氢气时，就会形成红巨星。这种能量的损失导致恒星开始塌缩。但这一过程也会增加红巨星的温度和压力，导致新的能量释放，从而影响附近的天体。Astronomers say a red giant's release of hydrogen in a binary system causes a heavy buildup of pressure and heat on the white dwarf. Over time, such buildup can cause a “thermonuclear explosion” large enough to blast away the material the white dwarf had collected.天文学家表示，双星系统中红巨星释放的氢气会在白矮星上造成巨大的压力和热量积聚。随着时间的推移，这种积聚可能导致“热核爆炸”，足以炸飞白矮星积聚的物质。This process differs from a supernova. NASA describes a supernova as an “extremely bright, super-powerful explosion of a star.” The main difference is that a supernova is the final destruction that happens at the end of a particular star's life. In a nova, the white dwarf remains active after the event.这一过程与超新星不同。NASA将超新星描述为“极其明亮、超强力的恒星爆炸”。主要区别在于，超新星是特定恒星生命终结时的最终毁灭。而在新星中，白矮星在事件后仍然活跃。Scientists believe novas appear to repeat, on average, about every 80 years. NASA notes that nova events can keep happening “for tens of hundreds or thousands of years.” That is why the space agency called the upcoming nova a “once-in-a-lifetime event.”科学家认为，新星平均大约每80年重复一次。NASA指出，新星事件可能会持续“数百年甚至数千年”。这就是为什么航天局将即将到来的新星称为“一生一次”的事件。Scientists say the nova explosion will be so bright, people should be able to see the resulting light without telescopes or other special equipment. The bright light can make it appear as though a new star has formed in the sky.科学家表示，新星爆炸将非常明亮，人们不需要望远镜或其他特殊设备就能看到产生的光亮。这道亮光会让人感觉天空中好像形成了一颗新星。It will be at least the third time humans have witnessed a nova, the French news agency AFP reports. The event was first discovered by Irish astronomer John Birmingham in 1866 and then reappeared in 1946.据法国新闻社AFP报道，这将是人类至少第三次目睹新星事件。1866年，爱尔兰天文学家约翰·伯明翰首次发现了这一事件，然后在1946年再次出现。Sumner Starrfield is a professor of astrophysics at Arizona State University. He told AFP he was very excited to see the nova event. He has studied the T Coronae Borealis star system at different times since the 1960s.萨姆纳·斯塔菲尔德是亚利桑那州立大学的天体物理学教授。他告诉AFP，他对看到这次新星事件感到非常兴奋。自20世纪60年代以来，他在不同时间研究了T Coronae Borealis星系。Starrfield is currently working on a scientific paper to predict what astronomers will learn about the repeating nova, whenever it shows up. "It could be today... but I hope it's not," he joked.斯塔菲尔德目前正在撰写一篇科学论文，预测天文学家将在重复新星事件中学到什么。他打趣道：“可能是今天……但我希望不是今天。”Rebekah Hounsell is a research scientist specializing in nova events at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. She said that interest in the event may “create a lot of ... astronomers out there.” She hopes this can give young people “a cosmic event they can observe for themselves, ask their own questions, and collect their own data.”丽贝卡·豪塞尔是NASA位于马里兰州的戈达德太空飞行中心研究新星事件的科学家。她说，对这次事件的兴趣可能会“培养出很多……天文学家”。她希望这能给年轻人“一个他们可以自己观察、提出问题并收集数据的宇宙事件”。She added that the nova event might even be helpful to “fuel the next generation of scientists.”她补充说，这次新星事件甚至可能有助于“激发下一代科学家”。

In the second episode, Saj and Alice delve into the 2001 film "He Died With A Felafel in His Hand," based on John Birmingham's 1994 book of the same name. This film explores the often chaotic and humorous world of house sharing in Australia and emphasizes the importance of having standards. Alice and Saj discuss whether this film is a classic gem or utter rubbish. Does it stand the test of time? Listen and find out.

Now that the solar eclipse has passed, there is another celestial event on the calendar later this year - and it involves a massive explosion 3,000 light years from Earth... Astronomers will get the rare once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the binary star system in the constellation T Corona Borealis - "northern crown" - light up the night sky, caused by an exchange between two stars which will give it the appearance of a new star. Normally, Corona Borealis is too dim to see with the naked eye, but this runaway nuclear explosion should be visible to the unaided eye for several days and just over a week at the peak of its brightness with binoculars before it dims again, according to NASA which says it will look as bright as the North Star when it appears in the sky. The last time the explosion occurred was 78 years ago in 1946 and after this year, it will be another 80 years (year 2104) until the next one - so a long wait if you miss out. It is only the third time humans have witnessed this event, Irish polymath John Birmingham first discovered it back in 1866. Sumner Starrfield, an astronomer at Arizona State University is rushing to finish a scientific paper on predictions for the recurring nova when it reappears soon, Since the 1960s, he has worked on T Coronae Borealis and told AFP he is very excited to see the nova's impending "outburst". "I could be today... but I hope it's not," he said with a laugh.

In a serendipitous moment, Andrew Dunkley's passion for astronomy was sparked by a chance encounter with a telescope at a friend's house. Little did he know that a simple gaze through the lens would ignite a lifelong curiosity for the mysteries of the universe. As he delved into books, documentaries, and conversations with fellow enthusiasts, his thirst for cosmic knowledge only grew stronger. What cosmic wonders await those who seek to understand the stars and galaxies?In this episode, you will be able to:· Explore the fascinating world of galaxies' rotation curves and their intriguing variations. · Discover the hidden secrets of spiral arms visibility through the lens of infrared observations. · Understand how gravity bends space and its profound implications on the universe.· Uncover the crucial distinctions between dark matter and dark energy, unraveling cosmic mysteries."You can do anything in science fiction.' - Andrew DunkleyBending of Space due to GravityGravitational influence on the bending of space is a central concept in Einstein's theory of relativity. It proposes that the force of gravity resulting from an object's mass distorts space around it. This remarkable insight about the interplay between gravity and spacetime allows us to understand extraordinary phenomena, such as the distortion of star positions during an eclipse. This theory immensely enriches our understanding of the universe and shapes our perception of space and time.The resources mentioned in this episode are: · Visit spacenutspodcast.com to send in your own audio or text questions for the show.· Check out the AMA link on the website to submit your questions for the next episode. ·Click on the tab on the right-hand side of the homepage to send in your audio questions. · Listen to the Space Nuts podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or your favorite podcast player. ·Stream on demand at bitesz.com to catch up on previous episodes. · The key moments in this episode are:00:00:00 - Thank you and break announcement 00:02:22 - Q&A Episode Introduction 00:08:01 - Understanding Gravity 00:11:14 - Theoretical Walk on a Neutron Star 00:16:46 - Clarification on Biochemical Processes 00:17:25 - RNA as the precursor to DNA and proteins 00:18:57 - Dark energy and dark matter web 00:22:17 - Universe's expansion and the role of dark energy 00:25:03 - White holes and dark matter 00:29:13 - Period of inflation and the speed of light 00:34:21 - The World Wide Web nickname 00:36:14 - Speed of light and space travel 00:37:22 - Counting stars in the Milky Way 00:43:16 - Planetary diversity and moon composition 00:47:22 - Tipler cylinder and time travel 00:51:37 - The spacecraft design and terraforming challenges 00:52:29 - Science fiction and John Birmingham's latest series 00:53:38 - The Super Dunk series and a request to the author 00:54:27 - Audience engagement and question submissions 00:55:23 - Conclusion and farewell Variation of Rotation CurvesThe variation of rotation curves is an intriguing aspect of galaxies that fascinates astronomers. It refers to the speed at which stars and other celestial objects move around the center of a galaxy, and how this speed impacts the overall shape and structure of the galaxy. This element of astrophysics provides critical insights into how galaxies evolve over time, contributing significantly to our understanding of the universe's dynamics.Infrared Observations and Spiral ArmsInfrared observations are pivotal to astronomy, allowing us to perceive celestial bodies and phenomena that remain concealed in other wavelengths. One interesting feature that can be detected in this way is the dust in spiral arms of galaxies. Observing these spirals in the infrared offers us enriching perspectives on the galaxy formation and evolution, as well as the intriguing role of shockwaves and dust in these processes.Bending of Space due to GravityGravitational influence on the bending of space is a central concept in Einstein's theory of relativity. It proposes that the force of gravity resulting from an object's mass distorts space around it. This remarkable insight about the interplay between gravity and spacetime allows us to understand extraordinary phenomena, such as the distortion of star positions during an eclipse. This theory immensely enriches our understanding of the universe and shapes our perception of space and time.#AskanAstronomerBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/show/space-nuts/support.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/2631155/advertisement

The summer series takes a disturbing turn this week with one of our favourite guests, author and columnist John Birmingham — who admits to eating something that I simply do not understand. In this episode we also talk about Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese, Donald Trump,Bluesky versus the site formally known as Twitter, cosplay, why sheep love solar energy projects, pork, alcohol, Christmas (of course), the Cybertruck (sorry), and why paying attention to the news is bad for you. And much more.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00208/Please support this podcast:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

This week Nate didn't read the book. Hey, you win some you lose some. Actually Nate offered for Ben to hold off on this episode for a week so that he could read it but Ben just really, really needed to talk about this one.That's right we're deep into the November of our Discontent! Ben has to discuss an action... spy thriller... alternate history thing starring Prince Harry. If you think that sounds funny, well, you're wrong according to Ben. Check it out!Support the showDiscord - https://discord.gg/6BaNRtcP8CTwitter - https://twitter.com/wabpodInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/wordsaboutbookspodcastBlog - https://blog.wordsaboutbooks.ninja/Buy the Books - https://bookshop.org/shop/wabpod

How can fiction influence national security policy and its development? What is the role of fiction in future scenario planning? How does reading fiction assist with developing empathy, and why is this important to the national security community?In this episode of the National Security Podcast, Danielle Ireland-Piper, Chris Uhlmann and John Birmingham join Dayle Stanley in conversation to discuss the role of fiction in national security and policy making.Dr Danielle Ireland-Piper is Associate Professor at the ANU National Security College and an Honorary Adjunct Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at Bond University.Chris Uhlmann is an author and former journalist and broadcaster who was political editor for both the ABC and Nine News. John Birmingham is a former Defence researcher turned author and journalist. His work spans across genres including science fiction, alternative history and non-fiction.Dayle Stanley is the Director of Strategy and Engagement at the Futures Hub at the ANU National Security College. Show notes:Blog post: Fiction and national security by Dr Danielle Ireland-Piper ANU National Security College academic programs: find out moreWe'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out on future episodes. The National Security Podcast is available on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The spring series of The 9pm Edict continues with another visit from author, columnist, and man of words in so many, many dubious contexts, John Birmingham. We talk about food crimes, JB's Big Green Egg, Margaret Thatcher, Australian opposition leader Peter Dutton, custard, trickle-down economics, how the world has changed since Peter Dutton became opposition leader, the war in Ukraine, Liz Truss, the history of TV clip shows, iceberg lettuce, and sparkles.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00187/Please support this podcast at:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

Antony reads the first in a rip-roaring space opera series in which humanity is faced with an existential threat, and comes away impressed. Antony Johnston.

Antony reads the first in a rip-roaring space opera series in which humanity is faced with an existential threat, and comes away impressed. Antony Johnston.

Review and Breakdown of The Stand chapters 61-Epilogue – Stephen King's 1978/1990 Novel Chapter Summaries by John Birmingham: https://medium.com/@JohnBirmingham/stephen-kings-the-stand-a-chapter-by-chapter-breakdown-e998ac5b6dba Join our Stephen King book club; tune in as we discuss a different novel each month on The Podcast That Floats Down Here! Subscribe:https://www.youtube.com/DrawbridgeMedia Support us on Patreon by joining the Imaginary Legion:https://www.patreon.com/StayImaginary Check out the … Continue reading "Stephen King | The Stand | Chapters 61-Epilogue | Book Review and Breakdown" The post Stephen King | The Stand | Chapters 61-Epilogue | Book Review and Breakdown appeared first on The Podcast That.

The first chapter can make or break a reader's engagement with a story. We as writers must craft brilliant opening pages in order to hook those picky readers, so let's study the stories of others to see how they do it! With The Shattered Skies by John Birmingham, we have a unique situation. This is a new release in Science Fiction, but it's also the second book of a trilogy, which means a lot of establishment of character, conflict, and setting have already been accomplished. So, we've got to seriously temper our expectations when it comes to worldbuilding and character development, for much of that could be present in the first book, The Cruel Stars. That said, the conflicts and worldbuilding alluded to by the first chapter's primary character sound epic in their scope, and the character's voice certainly fits a military mind. I just wish this character could have interacted with someone instead of reflecting on it all while waiting to land on a planet! You know me--I'm a sucker for a beginning with some action. :) And what will you, fellow creatives, make of these first five pages? Let's find out!

Review and Breakdown of The Stand chapters 53-60 – Stephen King's 1978/1990 Novel Chapter Summaries by John Birmingham: https://medium.com/@JohnBirmingham/stephen-kings-the-stand-a-chapter-by-chapter-breakdown-e998ac5b6dba Join our Stephen King book club; tune in as we discuss a different novel each month on The Podcast That Floats Down Here! Subscribe:https://www.youtube.com/DrawbridgeMedia Support us on Patreon by joining the Imaginary Legion:https://www.patreon.com/StayImaginary Check out the … Continue reading "Stephen King | The Stand | Chapters 53-60 | Book Review and Breakdown" The post Stephen King | The Stand | Chapters 53-60 | Book Review and Breakdown appeared first on The Podcast That.

The autumn series of The 9pm Edict continues with another visit from author, columnist, and reprobate John Birmingham to chat about strategic things, the election, and breakfast martinis.We talk about the great power competition between the US and China, Nazis, racism, the Yellow Peril, coprophagia, cocktail recipes, and of course the upcoming federal election.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00166/Please consider supporting this podcast:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

Review and Breakdown of The Stand chapters 48-52 – Stephen King's 1978/1990 Novel Chapter Summaries by John Birmingham: https://medium.com/@JohnBirmingham/stephen-kings-the-stand-a-chapter-by-chapter-breakdown-e998ac5b6dba Join our Stephen King book club; tune in as we discuss a different novel each month on The Podcast That Floats Down Here! Subscribe:https://www.youtube.com/DrawbridgeMedia Support us on Patreon by joining the Imaginary Legion:https://www.patreon.com/StayImaginary Check out the … Continue reading "Stephen King | The Stand | Chapters 48-52 | Book Review and Breakdown" The post Stephen King | The Stand | Chapters 48-52 | Book Review and Breakdown appeared first on The Podcast That.

Australian author and reprobate John Birmingham joins me yet again for another conversation about everything from journalism to turnips. In fact, journalism and turnips. Yes, it's another episode of the Spring Series 2021.We talk about Generation Z, adding chimpanzee hormones to chickens, #ThisIsNotJournalism, dreams, logarithms, how to organise your work, the simulation hypothesis, the Fitzgerald Inquiry, the privilege of having no hair, The Matrix, the pee tape -- plus of course Scott Morrison, those submarines, and the art of lying.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00149/Please support this podcast at:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

The U.S. is wiped out by a massive wave of energy with only 1 percent surviving.

For this 12th episode I'd like to take a moment and reflect on the significance of the number 12, as it cannot be understated. The 12 Apostles, 12 months in a calendar year, 12 Olympians in Greek mythology, 12inch Subs, 12 glazed doughnuts, VitaminB12, 12 gauge shotties because;"Yeah shotties are good mate", The 12th Man and 12 year old whisky.But none has a deeper connection to this podcast than the 12 days of Christmess and for this 12th episode of Christmess this podcast gives to thee – Steve Le Marquand. Steve has had guest and lead roles in a plethora of Aussie tv shows from Home And Away, Underbelly Razor, Les Norton to name but a few. A prolific theatre actor and noted co-writer, producer/director as well as starring in the immensely successful theatrical production of He Died With A Felafel In His Hand (based on the book by John Birmingham) and of course a captivating and intuit character actor both internationally as Cyril Beach in the US film Vertical limit, to local features like Wozza in Gregor Jordans Two hands, the Tall thug in Jeremy sims Last Train to Freo (nominated for Best Lead Actor at both the AFI & Flim critics circle awards) and of course as a long-time collaborator on Heaths previous 3 films (Broke, Bookweek and Locusts) now returning for the Superfecta to play Chris Flint, aka Santa in Heaths 4th film Christmess. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Links1. The Ship by C.S. Forester, reprint of the ed. published by Sun Dial Press in 1944.2. Sea Control 247 - 2034 with Admiral James Stavridis and Elliot Ackerman3. Ghost Fleet, by Peter W. Singer and August Cole, Eamon Dolan Books, 2016. 4. Burn In, by P.W. Singer and August Cole, 2020. 5. An Eye for a Storm: Imagining the Future of Professional Military Education and Its Effect on the ADF of Tomorrow, by August Cole and PW Singer, The Forge. 6. Zero Day Code: A novel of the End of Days: a cyberwar apocalypse, by John Birmingham, Gigantic Bombs Corporation, 2021.

Australian author and reprobate John Birmingham joins me yet again for another conversation about everything from China to gonzo journalism, from Australia's federal budget to Irish scammers.We talk about JB's books and the end of the world, Israel, Palestine, Scott Morrison, Peter Dutton, gonzo journalism, endometriosis, fans, and Brisbane's Cafe 63.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00134/You can always support this podcast at:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

This episode of Public Problem was recorded live on Facebook Live on January 18th, 2021. Here's the link to the video: https://www.facebook.com/PublicProblemsPodcast/videos/1166301500453277 In this episode, Justin provides updates on the podcast, reflects on the reading from last week, reads Danse Russe, reads Ch.1 of Odd John, and in memory of Martin Luther King Jr reads a portion of Letter from Birmingham Jail. The links to each of the sources are below. Also, please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustinBullock?fan_landing=true https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46483/danse-russe https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odd_John https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html

John Birmingham found himself rebuilding his life years after the devastating loss of his father (R)

John Birmingham found himself rebuilding his life years after the devastating loss of his father (R)

Australian author and reprobate John Birmingham joins me once again for the first sensible episode in The 9pm End of Spring Series 2020.We talk about the US presidential election (obviously), the echoes of history, drugs, optimism, Blue Lives Matter, solar power, fake news, the Queensland election, love and hate, disinformation, media balance, and fundamentalist evangelicals.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00121/Support this podcast at:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

Australian author and reprobate John Birmingham joins me for the first in this podcast's Spring Series 2020.We talk about Cobra Kai, Elon Musk's high-energy cyberpig, QAnon and weaponised BS, pea and ham soup, the nature of democracy, baby fascists, the re-election of Donald Trump (obviously), and the collapse of civilisation generally.Full podcast details at:https://stilgherrian.com/edict/00115/Support this podcast at:https://stilgherrian.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

I've decided that during spring there will be a special series of the Edict, with guests! Roughly one per week. Author and reprobate John Birmingham is first, with more to follow, but let me tell you how you can be part of it.Full podcast details at:https://stilgherrian.com/edict/00114a/Support this podcast at:https://stilgherrian.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

The first month of 2020 proves that the climate story has no chill at all. From the Australian bushfires to big important stories on everything from climate vision to radiioactive fracking, the story just keeps getting bigger and crazier. Special guest co-host Meera Subramanian joins Mary and Amy to break it all down. About Meera: Meera Subramanian is an award-winning freelance journalist whose work has been published around the world, and her first book is A River Runs Again: India’s Natural World in Crisis from the Barren Cliffs of Rajasthan to the Farmlands of Karnataka, published in 2015 by PublicAffairs. She is currently serving as the president of the Society of Environmental Journalists and the Currie C. and Thomas A. Barron Visiting Professor in the Environment and the Humanities at Princeton University. Transcript: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/171s0nlm8xvncu4/AAB9wsO7RJNFMnio5J3poKVva?dl=0 Reading list: United in Change, Meera Subramanian https://orionmagazine.org/article/united-in-change/  It’s Not Just Australia, Rachel Ramirez: https://t.co/xCu8Qh7LUn?amp=1    ‘Scarier’ Than Hurricane Maria: A Deadly Earthquake Terrifies Puerto Rico https://t.co/Gwlecq5FhV?amp=1  At the 7th Democratic debate, candidates took every opportunity to talk climate, Zoya Tierstein  https://grist.org/politics/at-the-7th-democratic-debate-candidates-took-every-opportunity-to-talk-climate/ For the first time, the Alarmed are now the largest of Global Warming’s Six Americas https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/for-the-first-time-the-alarmed-are-now-the-largest-of-global-warmings-six-americas/  Emily Townsend's Resignation Email https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/jan/10/news-corp-employee-climate-misinformation-bushfire-coverage-email  We, the Media, must take some of the blame as Australia Burns, John Birmingham https://t.co/eIp4YB9aOO?amp=1  It's Not Arson, You Absolute Fucking Morons, Brian Kahn https://earther.gizmodo.com/its-not-arson-you-absolute-fucking-morons-1840862475  Pregnant Women are Asking for Ultrasounds in Australia, Gina Rushton https://t.co/XUTwPTsdWp?amp=1  The Concession to Climate Change I Will Not Make in the Atlantic, Jedediah Britton-Purdy https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/01/becoming-parent-age-climate-crisis/604372/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share  Noah’s Rainbow , James Murray https://www.businessgreen.com/blog-post/3084916/noahs-rainbow-raising-children-in-an-age-of-climate-crisis  Amazon’s New Rationale for Working with Big Oil: Saving the Planet, Maddie Stone: https://t.co/kf8UxXdsrJ?amp=1  Google and Amazon Are Now in the Oil Business, Adam Cole: https://www.vox.com/recode/2020/1/3/21030688/google-amazon-ai-oil-gas  David Roberts, The Sad Truth About Our Boldest Climate Target https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2020/1/3/21045263/climate-change-1-5-degrees-celsius-target-ipcc  Diego Arguedas Ortiz, Is It Wrong to be Hopeful About Climate Change? https://t.co/1Heh58QNcQ?amp=1  Looking to the Future: In 2030, We Ended the Climate Emergency. Here’s How, Eric Holthaus  https://thecorrespondent.com/214/in-2030-we-ended-the-climate-emergency-heres-how/28330740746-6b15af77  A Year in Climate Conversations, Emily Raboteau https://t.co/UDePWvCr4L?amp=1  Baby Boomers: You Can Still Be Heroes in the Story of Climate Change, Laura McGann: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/1/8/21055097/baby-boomers-climate-change-australia STAND OUT PIECES Meera: What Climate Change Tells Us about Being Human by Genevieve Gunther https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/what-climate-change-tells-us-about-being-human/ Mary: Here Comes the Sun was an Anthem of Hope, Now It’s a Reminder of Climate Change, Amy Brady:  https://t.co/8uA55iCI2M?amp=1  Amy: America’s Radioactive Secret, by Justin Nobel https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/oil-gas-fracking-radioactive-investigation-937389/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first month of 2020 proves that the climate story has no chill at all. From the Australian bushfires to big important stories on everything from climate vision to radiioactive fracking, the story just keeps getting bigger and crazier. Special guest co-host Meera Subramanian joins Mary and Amy to break it all down. About Meera: Meera Subramanian is an award-winning freelance journalist whose work has been published around the world, and her first book is A River Runs Again: India’s Natural World in Crisis from the Barren Cliffs of Rajasthan to the Farmlands of Karnataka, published in 2015 by PublicAffairs. She is currently serving as the president of the Society of Environmental Journalists and the Currie C. and Thomas A. Barron Visiting Professor in the Environment and the Humanities at Princeton University. Transcript: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/171s0nlm8xvncu4/AAB9wsO7RJNFMnio5J3poKVva?dl=0 Reading list: United in Change, Meera Subramanian https://orionmagazine.org/article/united-in-change/  It’s Not Just Australia, Rachel Ramirez: https://t.co/xCu8Qh7LUn?amp=1    ‘Scarier’ Than Hurricane Maria: A Deadly Earthquake Terrifies Puerto Rico https://t.co/Gwlecq5FhV?amp=1  At the 7th Democratic debate, candidates took every opportunity to talk climate, Zoya Tierstein  https://grist.org/politics/at-the-7th-democratic-debate-candidates-took-every-opportunity-to-talk-climate/ For the first time, the Alarmed are now the largest of Global Warming’s Six Americas https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/for-the-first-time-the-alarmed-are-now-the-largest-of-global-warmings-six-americas/  Emily Townsend's Resignation Email https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/jan/10/news-corp-employee-climate-misinformation-bushfire-coverage-email  We, the Media, must take some of the blame as Australia Burns, John Birmingham https://t.co/eIp4YB9aOO?amp=1  It's Not Arson, You Absolute Fucking Morons, Brian Kahn https://earther.gizmodo.com/its-not-arson-you-absolute-fucking-morons-1840862475  Pregnant Women are Asking for Ultrasounds in Australia, Gina Rushton https://t.co/XUTwPTsdWp?amp=1  The Concession to Climate Change I Will Not Make in the Atlantic, Jedediah Britton-Purdy https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/01/becoming-parent-age-climate-crisis/604372/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share  Noah’s Rainbow , James Murray https://www.businessgreen.com/blog-post/3084916/noahs-rainbow-raising-children-in-an-age-of-climate-crisis  Amazon’s New Rationale for Working with Big Oil: Saving the Planet, Maddie Stone: https://t.co/kf8UxXdsrJ?amp=1  Google and Amazon Are Now in the Oil Business, Adam Cole: https://www.vox.com/recode/2020/1/3/21030688/google-amazon-ai-oil-gas  David Roberts, The Sad Truth About Our Boldest Climate Target https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2020/1/3/21045263/climate-change-1-5-degrees-celsius-target-ipcc  Diego Arguedas Ortiz, Is It Wrong to be Hopeful About Climate Change? https://t.co/1Heh58QNcQ?amp=1  Looking to the Future: In 2030, We Ended the Climate Emergency. Here’s How, Eric Holthaus  https://thecorrespondent.com/214/in-2030-we-ended-the-climate-emergency-heres-how/28330740746-6b15af77  A Year in Climate Conversations, Emily Raboteau https://t.co/UDePWvCr4L?amp=1  Baby Boomers: You Can Still Be Heroes in the Story of Climate Change, Laura McGann: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/1/8/21055097/baby-boomers-climate-change-australia STAND OUT PIECES Meera: What Climate Change Tells Us about Being Human by Genevieve Gunther https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/what-climate-change-tells-us-about-being-human/ Mary: Here Comes the Sun was an Anthem of Hope, Now It’s a Reminder of Climate Change, Amy Brady:  https://t.co/8uA55iCI2M?amp=1  Amy: America’s Radioactive Secret, by Justin Nobel https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/oil-gas-fracking-radioactive-investigation-937389/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Words matter, and the right words matter most of all. In the end, they’re all that remain of us.” John Birmingham   High performers live intentionally. They consider the ways they can be their best. The one word allows them to live on purpose throughout their day. They keep their word front and center.   Power Phrase this Week: “I am intentional with my words. I show up as my best, on purpose with purpose.”

What would happen if the world began to run out of food? How does cyber security play a role in global food supply? We sit down with renowned author John Birmingham to discuss his new book 'Zero Day Code', set in a world where dwindling global food supplies are under increasing pressure from worsening droughts, floods and extreme weather events. John Birmingham worked as a researcher for the Australian Department of Defence but left to write features for magazines in a decade before publishing 'He Died With A Falafel In His Hand'. He was a contributing editor for Rolling Stone, Playboy and won the National Award For Non-Fiction with 'Leviathan: an unauthorised biography of Sydney'. You can find more information about John at https://cheeseburgergothic.com and the audio only book Zero Day Code is available here: https://www.audible.com.au/pd/Zero-Day-Code-Audiobook/B07T23C177

After writing more than 30 books, including memoirs, military science fiction, alternate histories, and a book of writing advice, John Birmingham was ready to try his hand at the sweeping and dramatic science fiction subgenre known as space opera. But you’d never know The Cruel Stars(Del Rey, 2019) is his first attempt at epic, interstellar, battle-of-the-ages storytelling. His deft hand has produced a tightly paced, suspenseful, and bitingly funny adventure full of wild military tech, high-stakes conflict, and five eloquent characters. “I'm a huge fan of the [space opera] genre, but it took me a while to get the confidence to write my own,” Birmingham says. The conflict at the core of The Cruel Stars pits the Sturm—who believe with Nazi-like conviction in keeping humans “pure,” i.e. free of genetic or technological enhancements—against the rest of humanity. “I very much based [the Sturm] on the ultra-right, which was coming to scary prominence as I was first putting this book together. But in a way, the system against which they set themselves isn't particularly pretty either.” Set in the far future, the story follows multiple protagonists: a scrappy lieutenant who suddenly finds herself commanding a powerful warship, a pre-pubescent princess on the run from the Sturm, a sharp-shooting pirate, a centuries-old, reclusive and foul-mouthed war hero, and a prisoner convicted of treason whose computer-generated soul is facing permanent “deletion.” Each character has a distinct voice and unique challenges. Princess Alessia, for example, transforms overnight from a coddled heir to an embattled leader while war hero Admiral Frazer McLennan must finally confront the guilt he feels for decisions he made hundreds of years ago when he last battled the Sturm. But the story’s center of gravity is Lucinda Hardy, the lieutenant-turned-commander. “Hers is the story I want to investigate most of all,” Birmingham says. “She grew up poor, and she finds herself moving through rarefied and powerful centers of society. Early on, one of the other characters tells her ‘You don't belong here.’ And the thing that she has to come to terms with over the course of her story is whether or not she does.” The Cruel Stars, which came out in August, is the first installment of a planned trilogy. Rob Wolf is the author of The Alternate Universe and The Escape. A former journalist, he directs communications at a non-profit dedicated to justice reform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After writing more than 30 books, including memoirs, military science fiction, alternate histories, and a book of writing advice, John Birmingham was ready to try his hand at the sweeping and dramatic science fiction subgenre known as space opera. But you’d never know The Cruel Stars(Del Rey, 2019) is his first attempt at epic, interstellar, battle-of-the-ages storytelling. His deft hand has produced a tightly paced, suspenseful, and bitingly funny adventure full of wild military tech, high-stakes conflict, and five eloquent characters. “I'm a huge fan of the [space opera] genre, but it took me a while to get the confidence to write my own,” Birmingham says. The conflict at the core of The Cruel Stars pits the Sturm—who believe with Nazi-like conviction in keeping humans “pure,” i.e. free of genetic or technological enhancements—against the rest of humanity. “I very much based [the Sturm] on the ultra-right, which was coming to scary prominence as I was first putting this book together. But in a way, the system against which they set themselves isn't particularly pretty either.” Set in the far future, the story follows multiple protagonists: a scrappy lieutenant who suddenly finds herself commanding a powerful warship, a pre-pubescent princess on the run from the Sturm, a sharp-shooting pirate, a centuries-old, reclusive and foul-mouthed war hero, and a prisoner convicted of treason whose computer-generated soul is facing permanent “deletion.” Each character has a distinct voice and unique challenges. Princess Alessia, for example, transforms overnight from a coddled heir to an embattled leader while war hero Admiral Frazer McLennan must finally confront the guilt he feels for decisions he made hundreds of years ago when he last battled the Sturm. But the story’s center of gravity is Lucinda Hardy, the lieutenant-turned-commander. “Hers is the story I want to investigate most of all,” Birmingham says. “She grew up poor, and she finds herself moving through rarefied and powerful centers of society. Early on, one of the other characters tells her ‘You don't belong here.’ And the thing that she has to come to terms with over the course of her story is whether or not she does.” The Cruel Stars, which came out in August, is the first installment of a planned trilogy. Rob Wolf is the author of The Alternate Universe and The Escape. A former journalist, he directs communications at a non-profit dedicated to justice reform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After writing more than 30 books, including memoirs, military science fiction, alternate histories, and a book of writing advice, John Birmingham was ready to try his hand at the sweeping and dramatic science fiction subgenre known as space opera. But you’d never know The Cruel Stars(Del Rey, 2019) is his first attempt at epic, interstellar, battle-of-the-ages storytelling. His deft hand has produced a tightly paced, suspenseful, and bitingly funny adventure full of wild military tech, high-stakes conflict, and five eloquent characters. “I'm a huge fan of the [space opera] genre, but it took me a while to get the confidence to write my own,” Birmingham says. The conflict at the core of The Cruel Stars pits the Sturm—who believe with Nazi-like conviction in keeping humans “pure,” i.e. free of genetic or technological enhancements—against the rest of humanity. “I very much based [the Sturm] on the ultra-right, which was coming to scary prominence as I was first putting this book together. But in a way, the system against which they set themselves isn't particularly pretty either.” Set in the far future, the story follows multiple protagonists: a scrappy lieutenant who suddenly finds herself commanding a powerful warship, a pre-pubescent princess on the run from the Sturm, a sharp-shooting pirate, a centuries-old, reclusive and foul-mouthed war hero, and a prisoner convicted of treason whose computer-generated soul is facing permanent “deletion.” Each character has a distinct voice and unique challenges. Princess Alessia, for example, transforms overnight from a coddled heir to an embattled leader while war hero Admiral Frazer McLennan must finally confront the guilt he feels for decisions he made hundreds of years ago when he last battled the Sturm. But the story’s center of gravity is Lucinda Hardy, the lieutenant-turned-commander. “Hers is the story I want to investigate most of all,” Birmingham says. “She grew up poor, and she finds herself moving through rarefied and powerful centers of society. Early on, one of the other characters tells her ‘You don't belong here.’ And the thing that she has to come to terms with over the course of her story is whether or not she does.” The Cruel Stars, which came out in August, is the first installment of a planned trilogy. Rob Wolf is the author of The Alternate Universe and The Escape. A former journalist, he directs communications at a non-profit dedicated to justice reform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Birmingham, Hung Le and Caro Llewellyn speak with Sunil Badami about the often complex relationships we have with our fathers, and the enduring influence they have on our lives and who we become.

Meet John Birmingham, author of cult book and movie He Died With a Felafel In His Hands and The Axis of Time (the Philadelphia Experiment meets War ... The post John Birmingham appeared first on Dark Matter Zine.

Join acclaimed authors John Birmingham and David Vann as they reflect on how they have grappled with their fathers’ deaths, and how they subsequently brought their memories to bear on the page. John is the author of On Father, a beautifully written homage and unflinching account of surviving profound grief. In Halibut on the Moon, David draws on his father’s suicide to deliver a darkly intimate portrait of a man teetering between life and death. They appear in conversation with ABC Radio Sydney’s Richard Glover.

This fortnight, Bridget Hassed comes in to talk about John Birmingham's Australian share-house memoir, He Died with a Felafel in his Hand, as well as our own accommodation experiences and, for some reason, stories about fucked animals we've seen. On the next episode, Sam Bowden joins the show to discuss Vladimir Nabokov's controversial classic novel, Lolita. There's a lot going on with that book. It's available at libraries and most book shops and everything. My ex gave me her copy because she had no intention of ever reading it and was gonna give it to St Vinnie's otherwise. My point is that it's easy to find. Bridget's Twitter Joel's Twitter Joel's Facebook Ryan Sim made the logo! Thank you Ryan! Pay him to design something for you. Ryan's graphic design page Subscribe to the podcast, rate and review etc.

In the second episode of Cook Blub, Brisbane writer, comedian, and musician Ryan Sim brings in Tenth of December, a short story collection by George Saunders. We touch on each of the stories, as well as some of the issues they raise. Ryan brought his dog over, and so our dogs are barking in the background for a fair bit of this. Next fortnight, Bridget Hassed comes in to talk about John Birmingham's share-house memoir, He Died with a Felafel in His Hand. It's almost certainly available at your library. Ryan's Twitter Ryan's Facebook Joel's Twitter Joel's Facebook Ryan Sim made the logo! Thank you Ryan! Pay him to design something for you. Ryan's graphic design page

Hello my fellow Hemp nuts! Are you ready for the cannabis bonanza?! Welcome to the New Hemp Times show recorded at Gotham Studio, the sweetest smelling podcast studio in the world. Today’s episode is partially powered by McSorley’s Chilli Dogs, McSorley Ale house, the oldest ale house in the United States. Also, powered by Five and Dimes Old Fashioned, hand crafted by Erin.We have a fun show for you today!Segments:Our word of the day is tinctures.Research: Lancet article on Psychosis and cannabis.We will test your knowledge of recent cannabis news and science.And time permitting we will provide a Q&A about PTSD and cannabis and other issues in the hemp and cannabis space.We are joined by Jan Roberts, our resident clinician and LCSW, CEO of the IRCCMH.Also participating today is the Unapologetic Farmer, Randy Cameroon, Jr. CEO of Brooklyn Sprouts Social Enterprises, engaging in one of the most radical things you can do, grow your own food and medicine in an urban environment. Working with Interfaith medical center And from HBO’s crashing, performing every week in Manhattan, living the dream, Greer Barnes!And, of course Dr. J (aka Jahan Marcu,Ph.D)Word of the day: Tincture - Notes below:What is a tincture you may ask? Tinctures are liquid extracts made from herbs that you take orally (by mouth). They are usually extracted in alcohol (known here on our website as "regular"), but they can also be extracted in vegetable glycerine or apple cider vinegar (non-alcohol). Tinctures are easy and convenient to use. Tinctures are also easier to give to children as they have to take only small amounts (see Children's Dosage Guide for suggestions). Because they are taken directly under the tongue, they enter the bloodstream much more quickly and directly than by any other means. This means that the action in the body is usually quicker. Although some herbs will have an immediate effect, such as those used to help one relax, others that are more nutritive and building in nature may take several weeks of continual use before best results are seen (much like a multi-vitamin).In the 19th century, the Irish surgeon O’Shaughnessy reintroduced the use of cannabis from India into Western medicine. Cannabis sativa L. (Cannabaceae)—largely in the form of ethanolic tinctures—was then part of main Western pharmacopoeias until the 1930s, when it was removed gradually with increasing recreational use and its legal prosecution In the second half of the 19th century, over 100 scientific articles were published in Europe and the United States about the therapeutic value of cannabis.13 The climax of the medical use of cannabis by Western medicine occurred in the late 19th and early 20th century. Various laboratories marketed cannabis extracts or tinctures, such as Merck (Germany), Burroughs-Wellcome (England), Bristol-Meyers Squibb (United States), Parke-Davis (United States), and Eli Lilly (United States).As non-alcohol tinctures have no alcohol content to them to act as a preservative, they can easily become contaminated and are at risk for growing mold. Alcohol, pregnancy and drug interactions: One dose of an alcohol-based tincture has approximately the same alcohol content as eating a very ripe bananaSativex is licensed in about 30 countries, an insane about of gold standard clinical research is published about this product, which is essentially a tincture with a spray nozzle. LANCET ARTICLE, additional articles:https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S2215-0366%2819%2930048-3https://nypost.com/2019/03/20/daily-marijuana-use-linked-with-higher-risk-of-psychosis-study/https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/03/19/704948217/daily-marijuana-use-and-highly-potent-weed-linked-to-psychosishttps://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/marijuana-psychosis-lancet-study-810568/https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/435448-will-smoking-cannabis-make-you-psychotic-not-likelyTools for Understanding Lancet data:Odds ratioOR=1 Exposure does not affect odds of outcomeOR>1 Exposure associated with higher odds of outcome OR

A rollicking time-travel adventure featuring an 1870s lawman and a 21st century game developer, lost in time—and on the run from historical danger as well as deadly time police. It’s fun! Host Jason Snell.

Today we insert the Probe into author and columnist John Birmingham, most famous for the novel "He Died with a Felafel in His Hand", which was made into a film, but also the Axis of Time trilogy and a whole bunch of airport novels -- mostly techno thrillers -- as well as the "Dave versus the Monsters" series.A few weeks ago I found myself in John Birmingham's secret writing bunker, where we talked about everything from the culture wars to the end of civilisation, and from the mythology of the Anzacs to why he likes fan fiction. We also mention his blog "The Burger" at http://cheeseburgergothic.com.This episode was recorded on Monday 4 June 2018 in Brisbane, Australia.Full episode credits are at:https://stilgherrian.com/edict/00077/

Historian turned novelist Peter Cochrane on his book The The Making of Martin Sparrow, Nick Earls in the Green Room with fellow Brisbanite John Birmingham, Australian author Suneeta Peres da Costa's second novel Saudade which is set in Angola and Australian author Maryam Azam's debut poetry collection The Hijab Files.

British-Australian author John Birmingham was forced into a crash course on self-publishing when, through no fault of his own, his trad deals disappeared. Luckily for readers, John turned those lemons into a new, lucrative self-publishing career. This week’s highlights include: John’s success as a freelance writer, and his unplanned, rapid switch from trad publishing to […]

Plenty of news, two reviews, and one great interview.

Plenty of news, two reviews, and one great interview.

On this episode we discuss Harper Lee's letters failing to sell at auction. a new Beatles stage musical focusing on their time recording at Abbey Road, the TV adaptation of Neil Gaiman's "American Gods" and more. Our featured books are Depth by Lev A.C. Rosen and Dave Versus The Monsters: Emergence by John Birmingham. #LiteraryLoitering #TheGeekShow #Books #Novels #Arts #Theatre #Comedy #News #Reviews #Podcasts #Depth #Lev_A_C_Rosen #Dave_Versus_The_Monsters_Emergence #John_Birmingham

We kick things off this week with the fallout from the release of Harper Lee's "Go Set a Watchman", the auction of a one-page illustrated poem by A. A, Milne, the controversial sale of paintings by Adolph Hitler in Nuremberg (seriously, who thought that was a good idea), and more. Our featured book is Dave Vs. The Monsters: Resistance by John Birmingham. #Dave_Vs_The_Monsters_Resistance #John_Birmingham #LiteraryLoitering #TheGeekShow #Books #Novels #Arts #Theatre #Comedy #News #Reviews #Podcasts

Don't snooze! We've got news, interviews, and so many reviews.

Don't snooze! We've got news, interviews, and so many reviews.

Are you writing a hybrid book? Discover the people writing poetry as a service and the predictive text generator writing fan fiction. We dive into the huge self-publishing success of romance writers and share the meaning of ineluctable. Our writer in residence is author John Birmingham. Find out how a literary agency discovered a writer on social media, and much more. Read the show notes.  Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com

Benjamin Law is an author, freelance journalist, columnist and screenwriter. Since I first ventured into full-time freelance journalism in 2009, he's been someone that I've greatly admired, not only for his ability to write well across a range of publications and styles, but also for the simple fact that he's a generous and enthusiastic supporter of other writers. I first met him in early 2010, when I emailed him to introduce myself and ask for a meeting, and from that point, he has remained as a firm friend and mentor. I interviewed him for The Courier-Mail that same year, for an article that coincided with the release of his first book, The Family Law, a memoir which described his upbringing as a Chinese-Australian. The following year, he spoke about freelance journalism alongside John Birmingham at an event I hosted in Brisbane as part of National Young Writers' Month. I reviewed his excellent second book, Gaysia, for The Weekend Australian in 2012, and since then, he has taken me suit shopping, offered me a place to crash while visiting Sydney, and provided some timely advice when I was negotiating my first book contract. As you've no doubt already gathered, I'm a big fan of Benjamin's. His career has recently taken an interesting turn into screenwriting, as his first book was turned into a six-part SBS television series. The Family Law debuted on Australian screens in early 2016; it was very well-received, and Benjamin is currently writing the second season. His regular writing gig is his weekly column in Good Weekend, which never fails to make me laugh. When he visited Brisbane in late April for a QUT Journalism and Media Society event, where we were both speaking to university students about feature writing, I took the opportunity to interview Benjamin in an empty classroom before the crowds arrived. Our conversation touches on how a mentorship with Matthew Condon helped him to pitch stories and get his head around writing longform features; how he was approached by a publisher to write The Family Law; what he learned about the book industry while working at Brisbane bookstore Avid Reader; how he comes up with ideas for his Good Weekend column, and how he views being in a relationship where both partners work in the creative industries. Benjamin Law is a Sydney-based TV screenwriter, journalist and newspaper columnist, who has PhD in creative writing and cultural studies. He’s the author of two books—The Family Law (2010) and Gaysia: Adventures in the Queer East (2012)—and the co-author of the comedy book Shit Asian Mothers Say (2014) with his sister Michelle and illustrator Oslo Davis. Both of his books have been nominated for Australian Book Industry Awards. The Family Law is now in its fourth reprint, has been translated into French and is now a major SBS TV series. Gaysia was published in India in 2013 and North America in 2014. Benjamin is a frequent contributor to Good Weekend (The Sydney Morning Herald/The Age), frankie and The Monthly. He has also written for over 50 publications, businesses and agencies in Australia and worldwide. Show notes and links to what was discussed in this episode: http://penmanshippodcast.com/episode-24-benjamin-law/ Benjamin Law on Twitter: @mrbenjaminlaw Penmanship on Twitter: @PenmanshipAU penmanshippodcast.com

@JohnBirmingham (John Birmingham) If you join my Bookclub below you will be my new favourite. Quiet possum in the corner The hamburger as a culinary form Streaming hell McCartney & McLennan JB's book club

Fiona Stager is a bookseller and co-owner of two independent bookshops. Positioned side-by-side on Boundary Street, in Brisbane's inner-city suburb of West End, her shops Avid Reader and Where The Wild Things Are cater to a wide range of readers. The latter store was launched in March 2015 and specialises in titles for children and young adults. Its neighbour, Avid Reader, opened in 1997, and has since established itself at the centre of the city's literary culture by hosting regular book club meetings and author events. Avid is where I launched my first book, Talking Smack, in August 2014, in conversation with Brisbane author – and previous Penmanship guest – John Birmingham, who also used the cosy room above the store as a place to write his novel Without Warning (2008). It's my favourite bookshop in Brisbane, not only because it's my local, but because walking through its front door always feels like returning home. This is a wonderful feeling for a bookshop to give to its customers, and I suspect that I'm not the only one who has this experience at Avid Reader, since it is now approaching two decades in business. My conversation with Fiona took place in early November, in the writers' room above Avid, where handwritten plot outlines and chapter structures are posted on the walls. Our conversation touches on her unusual path into bookselling; her philosophy and vision for what she wanted Avid Reader to represent; the advantages of hiring writers as her staff; how she manages a formidable reading schedule, and her recent involvement in a national news story which highlighted the store's decision not to stock the biography of the former Premier of Queensland. Fiona Stager is the co-owner of Avid Reader Bookshop and Where the Wild Things Are Bookshop. Avid Reader has gained a national reputation for its extensive events program which regularly features international, national and local authors. The Queensland Writers Centre named her the winner of the 2009 Johnno Award for her contribution to the Queensland writing community. She is a regular judge of literary awards including the inaugural Stella Award and the Queensland Literary Awards 2015. After sitting on the board of the Australian Booksellers Association for twelve years, Fiona was awarded life membership in 2014 for her services to the Australian bookselling industry. National Bookshop Day was one of her initiatives. Fiona lives in West End with her family, three chickens and her native bee hive. Show notes and links to what was discussed in this episode: http://penmanshippodcast.com/episode-14-fiona-stager/ Avid Reader on Twitter: @AvidReader4101 Penmanship on Twitter: @PenmanshipAU penmanshippodcast.com

Our Freelance Focus conference in Brisbane saw some of the best writers in Australia and abroad talk about the future of the industry and how to get ahead as a freelancer! Are you in control of your social presence? Make social media work for you, rather than creating more work for yourself. Take your work to the next level, using simple tools to monitor story opportunities and maximise your efficiency and minimise risk with scheduled posting. We cover social media strategy and blogging. John Birmingham, writer & author Michelle Law, screenwriter, author, reporter & playwright Moderator: Natalie Bochenski, writer Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of The Walkley Foundation.

John Birmingham is an author, columnist and freelance journalist. Since I began venturing into freelance journalism six years ago, John has loomed large in my life. At first, I admired him from afar by devouring his autobiographical books, including his cult classic He Died With A Felafel In His Hand and its sequel, The Tasmanian Babes Fiasco. I read his journalism in magazines like The Monthly, his online columns on Brisbane Times, his cannabis travelogue Dopeland and his collection of essays with the memorable title, Off One’s Tits. All of that writing was rooted in reality. In 2010, I also read one of John’s fiction titles, After America, and I leveraged my interest in that release, and in John’s work in general, into a short feature article for The Big Issue that same year. That’s where I first met John Birmingham: as a young freelancer interviewing him for a national magazine. I was thrilled by this opportunity, because I was essentially being paid to interview one of my favourite Australian writers.  In 2015, John remains a giant of the literary scene, a true chameleon who can jump between fiction and non-fiction, short-form and long-form, with enviable ease. He’s an outrageous talent and I’m honoured to consider him a freelance colleague and a friend. He’s someone who has seen and done it all, as far as Australian writing is concerned, yet he maintains a freakishly prolific output and a young man’s hunger for the craft. For me, he remains a source of inspiration as dependable as the tides.  Our interview took place at John’s home, in the inner-east suburb of Balmoral on a Tuesday morning in April . He led me downstairs to his writing room, which features an enormous floor-to-ceiling book shelf stacked with titles and a couple of awards he’s earned over the years. John kicked his dog out of the room so she didn’t stink up the place, and we settled into comfortable chairs opposite one another for a conversation which touches on his upbringing in Ipswich, Queensland; his early interest in writing, which led him to manually copy some of his favourite writers line-by-line; his move from journalism into fiction writing, and his short-lived job as a producer for the national television program A Current Affair.  John Birmingham has published lots of books. So many that he sort of loses track of them. He wrote features for magazines in a decade before publishing He Died With A Felafel In His Hand, working for Rolling Stone, Playboy and the Long Bay Prison News amongst others. He won the National Award For Non-Fiction with Leviathan: An Unauthorised Biography of Sydney. He started writing airport novels because they were more fun. His most recent series of books that improve with altitude are the Dave Hooper novels. He blogs at cheeseburgergothic.com.  Show notes and links to John’s writing discussed in this episode: http://penmanshippodcast.com/episode-3-john-birmingham/ John Birmingham on Twitter: @JohnBirmingham Penmanship on Twitter: @PenmanshipAU penmanshippodcast.com

We are still looking for a name for this podcast and we may continue to do so until one or both of us are dead. If you still have a suggestion, let us know on Twitter: @darrengroth and @simongroth. Hat tip to John Birmingham who has made a decent suggestion, which we may or may not modify. Vale the Groth Bros Chevrolet Dealership in Livermore, California. The Yelp reviews do not suggest our podcast is at fault. The Books We Could Not Put Down: I’m not Scared by Niccolo Ammaniti (Darren) The Road by Cormac McCarthy (Simon and Darren) The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Domnique Bauby (Simon…oh and Bauby was the editor of Elle, not Vogue) Laugh, I Thought I’d Die: My Life with ALS by Dennis Kaye (Darren) The Books We Couldn’t Finish…oh man… here we go: Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut (Darren) Death of a River Guide by Richard Flanagan (Simon) The Cold Six-Thousand by James Ellroy (Darren) The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz by Mordecai Richler (Darren)

This weeks discussion on Fourth Estate revolves around press freedom and the questions raised by the the super-injunction and the ethics of recording conversations in the wake of the Age dictaphone saga or as the panelists call it "dictagate". This weeks panelists: Cassandra Wilkinson - The Australian/FBi Radio Andy Park - SBS Claire Stewart - freelancer, ABC and Fairfax John Birmingham - columnist, Fairfax and author of "He Died with a Felafel in his Hand" Follow 2SER: www.facebook.com/2serfm www.twitter.com/2ser www.2ser.com Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of The Walkley Foundation

Today’s special guests are Sean Williams, Marianne de Pierres, John Birmingham and Meg Mundell. World-building in near-future science fiction Contents list (click for quick-links without ... The post “World-building in near-future science fiction” with Sean Williams, Marianne de Pierres, John Birmingham and Meg Mundell appeared first on Dark Matter Zine.

Alt-history novels and military sci-fi. - The winner of our iTunes review contest had us read John Birmingham’s “Weapons of Choice,” which our Book Club used as a jumping-off point to talk about alt-history novels, time travel, military SF, and a whole lot more. You don’t need to read the book to appreciate the episode! Plus: What are we reading? Host Jason Snell with David J. Loehr and Scott McNulty.

This podcast did not die with any variety of middle eastern food in it's hand. It was, in fact, delicious. This podcast episode features stand-up comedian and stand-up guy, Nick Morgan Moore, host of the Gentleman's Militia, plus, the-man-who-is-word-perfect John Birmingham, author of many things, but in particular, blogger at Cheeseburger Gothic and the Brisbane Times, podcaster at Spartacast, and author of a book you've probably read before, ever heard of He Died With A Felafel In His Hand? Listen to the other 28 Thing Committee meeting s by subscribing on one of these podcast thingies.

Offcuts from the John Birmingham interview, a chat about blood and the debut of the song 'Harrison' by Dan.

Australian accents, John Birmingham, Sound and Light Challenge, Transparent Aluminium. Sketches: New Years Resolution, Who's on first, History.