We’re boiling the kettle, popping the popcorn and dusting off the Snuggies. The news has been pretty dire in Victoria, so we’re gearing up for a lot of watching, listening, reading and absorbing all the content. So here are our top recommendations for things to sink your teeth/ears/eyes into while we all prepare ourselves for another lockdown.
LISTEN
This should win an award for Gentlest Podcast of the Year. Do It With Me is a podcast where host Monica gently and non-judgmentally talks you through your daily tasks. Especially in isolation, some daily tasks feel daunting and extra difficult. Monica’s soothing voice will coach you through these tasks slowly and support you every step of the way. In Monica’s words, “don’t forget: being productive isn’t your purpose. And it doesn’t decide your worth. I’m proud of you.”
You can also support Monica’s podcast here!
Just like a regular Saturday morning around the breakfast table, host John Leary invites new guests each week to attempt the quiz in The Saturday Paper. In the first episode of this new iteration of the podcast, John has the hilarious Kate McLennan and Kate McCartney from Get Krack!n give the quiz a red hot go. Grab your paper to follow along and see if you can get the elusive perfect score.
This fantastic and important podcast is co-hosted by EWF20 Ambassador and journalist Amy McQuire. It delves into the case of Kevin ‘Curtain’ Henry, an Aboriginal man charged with murder in 1992, despite little DNA evidence and Henry’s claim of innocence. The podcast is an integral look into the racism that underpins the court and justice system. Last week, they released a new episode interviewing Amy’s father, Sterling McQuire, who worked at the prison Henry was held at.
WATCH
Providing an antidote to our ongoing in-person festival FOMO, this year Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) is coming straight to our home screens. Running August 6 – 23, we’re about half way through the festival, so there’s still plenty of time to feast your eyes on their brilliant program. There’s even a section of the program that’s entirely free! We’re particularly excited for the Documentary Shorts.
ABC iView have put together a collection of videos, ranging from short clips to full-length documentaries, that share stories and highlight the history of First Nations communities. It’s part of ABC’s Walking Together initiative, which aims to “build awareness among individuals, communities and organisations about the history and experiences of Australia’s first inhabitants.” There’s a whole lot of great and important content to watch spanning a whole lot of experiences and topics.
The Joys of Painting with Bob Ross
Sometimes TV is about educating, sometimes it’s about entertainment. And sometimes it’s about watching a very gentle man talking to his tiny little painted trees. Whether you’ve got paint in the house so you can follow along or just want to watch Bob Ross softly muse on the joy of painting, turning this on and tuning out for the afternoon is a sure fire way to relax.
READ
Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi
Our Artistic Director Ruby has just finished Freshwater, the debut novel from Akwaeke Emezi exploring the surreal experience of having a fractured self. It centers around Ada, who develops separate selves as a result of being born “with one foot on the other side.” An incredible (if confronting) read, perfect to get lost in ahead of Emezi’s upcoming September release The Death of Vivek Oji.
Frankisstein: A Love Story by Jeanette Winterson
We couldn’t believe our eyes when we read the description of Frankisstein: “In Brexit Britain, a young transgender doctor called Ry is falling in love – against their better judgement – with Victor Stein, a celebrated professor leading the public debate around AI.” And yes, Victor Stein as in Dr. Frankenstein. This is an adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic novel incorporating the ethics of Artificial Intelligence, gender, robotic sex dolls and more.
Voiceworks #119, ‘Butter’
The latest Voiceworks issue from our pals at Express Media is a true celebration of young writers. With phenomenal buttery comics, fiction, non-fiction and poetry, this latest issue has made us feel excited about and connected to the young writers making really cool work at the moment. Available for print or digital purchase here! You can also watch their “cooking-show literary-event digital hybrid” launch of Butter here.
Enjoy!
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