Long Distance Call

Eliza is reading the new Liane Moriarty book "Nine Perfect Strangers". One of the themes is women's rage and frustration with life. It's a recurring message in Moriarty's novels which explore the complex lives of the suburban "Mum". Eliza thinks the anger stems from the crunch between personal career ambitions and private domestic duties. It leaves little time for joy. Somehow, the notion of "having it all" has been re-cast as a bit greedy. Women are told they shouldn't aim for personal and professional bliss all at once. "You can't have it all, just not at the same time." Which may be true, but prompts Eliza to wonder what women are willing to give up? The truth is that Eliza found motherhood much more fun when she gave herself time to enjoy it. Geraldine thinks women are angrier than generations past, or possibly more willing to be honest about it in public. But she also acknowledges that there are many societal pressures making that work/life juggle harder than before. It wouldn't be a Long Distance Call

Does advertising belong on the Sydney Opera House? How about advertising for a horse race? Eliza and Geraldine hate the idea, as do thousands of others. But it’s gone ahead and prompted a debate about how the demands of big business should be weighed up against the protection of the important cultural icon. The controversy was augmented by a particularly nasty exchange between Sydney broadcaster influential broadcaster Alan Jones and the Chief Executive of the Opera House. Eliza and Geraldine discuss the disgraceful interview (the audio has been posted on the Facebook page ‘Long Distance Callers’). And Geraldine reveals that many years ago she used to work very closely with Jones at a commercial radio station. In other news, Geraldine is still basking in the glory of selling her house. She’s waking up early to pack it up, including the spare room with many of Eliza’s old school memorabilia and high heels! The things we do to our parents. Thanks for listening! LINKS The Everest horses Alan Jones will have

Geraldine has sold her home! Hooray! It's been a white-knuckle time. She broke the rules of real estate by buying a new home before selling her current place. The Sydney market has dipped recently adding to the stress. Geraldine began the moving process this week by emptying old red wine bottles down the sink. Eliza is mortified by the waste and can’t believe her Mum has given Merlot the flick. Eliza is back in Beirut after a brief holiday in Australia for her Dad’s birthday. She’s caught up on books and TV as well as the incredible Supreme Court nomination hearings out of the America. Finally, Eliza tells Geraldine about some criticism on the Facebook page, which she takes on the chin! Just type “Long Distance Callers” in the search function on your Facebook page to join the discussion. LINKS Playground at HMAS Platypus Sydney https://concreteplayground.com/sydney/arts-entertainment/sub-base-platypus-sydney-harbour-park/ *FEAR: Trump in the Whitehouse https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear:_Trump_in_the_Wh

The podcast begins with reaction to the startling news out of Australia that the Managing Director of the ABC – Michelle Guthrie – was sacked on Monday. Geraldine believes there are lessons to learned about running the public broadcaster in the 21st century. And perhaps even some lessons for women seeking big leadership roles too. Eliza had a funny encounter at Beirut airport over the weekend with some Australian men who were back in Lebanon for curious reasons. She’s back to Australia on a flying visit this week for her Dad’s 70th birthday. Eliza and Geraldine plan to sneak in a quick meal on Saturday night after watching the AFL Grand Final. NOTES Why the ABC Board sacked Michelle Guthrie https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/sep/25/why-the-abc-board-sacked-michelle-guthrie Mark Day’s interview with Fran Kelly http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/michelle-guthrie-why-was-the-abc-boss-axed/10301964 MI5 and Me – Charlotte Bingham https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/mar/07/mi5-and-me-by

Eliza’s son Sean started school this week. It’s a big week in any family but made harder by moving to the other side of the world. Eliza thought she’d be skipping through the streets with glee after the long three month break. But it was upsetting and she spent the morning worrying if he was ok. He was, of course. But sometimes life doesn't turn out like you planned. It’s those unexpected reactions and feelings which change our opinions on the big issues. Geraldine thinks life is all about changing your mind. Recently she received an email from the former Governor General Bill Hayden, inviting her to his baptism. Yes, that’s right, the former aggressive atheist was converting to Catholicism at 85. He’d changed his mind. And it prompts a conversation about why that’s not prized in Australian politics. It seems voters are more attracted to those who stick to their views regardless of the circumstances. Eliza finish this week's episode with the best of the Facebook group “Long Distance Callers” and muse about

No, this is not a podcast about cooking or fertility, but about what it takes for women to succeed at work. The episode begins with a discussion about Geraldine’s television interview with the man known as “Mao’s Last Dancer”. Li Cunxin is a brilliant Chinese ballet dancer who is now running the Queensland Ballet. He’s a fascinating man with an incredible discipline, which prompts a discussion about how discipline and a systematic approach to life can be very useful for your career. Right up until the point where you have to be willing to break those rules and structures if they’re holding you back. Then it’s onto Julie Bishop’s failed tilt at political leadership in Australia. And the ongoing challenge to British PM Teresa May by Boris Johnson: foppish cad turned Chief Wrecker. Eliza finishes with an update on the homeless Syrian boy who sleeps rough outside her Beirut apartment. Eliza and her family are making rapid progress establishing their new lives in Lebanon, except for a slight glitch last weekend

Geraldine and Eliza are back for their first Long Distance Call from Beirut to Sydney. Beirut is a beautiful city full of cool people who are obsessed with food. Beirutis are loud, emotional, warm and very friendly. Most corners of the city are a reminder of the country's turbulent past and trouble across the border in Syria. A truly fascinating place! It's also dysfunctional and full of bureaucratic challenges. Eliza thinks she's aged twenty years in the past month alone. Geraldine reveals her first impressions of life under a the new Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. She's still in a bit of shock about all the political upheaval and doesn't think the country will be richer for it. In true LDC style the women finish up on a lighter note. Do you wear sunscreen under your makeup? No, Geraldine doesn't either. Tune in!

Eliza has been staying with Geraldine for the past five weeks. And they're still on speaking terms! This episode is a wrap of the holiday's greatest hits: the Fourth Estate documentary on the New York Times, Ken Burns' Vietnam War and the latest on American politics. Oh and there's a healthy dose of chat about the perils of growing your hair and personal grooming. We hope to have an episode next week, but Eliza isn't sure if the internet will connected in her new home. Fingers crossed. Thanks for listening!

Life is changing for Geraldine and her daughter Eliza. Geraldine has bought a new house and Eliza's about to leave Indonesia for Beirut (via Sydney). Geraldine is downsizing from the family home she built with her late husband Ian. The prospect of getting the house ready for sale is daunting as well as exciting. The packers are coming to Eliza's house tomorrow, so she's procrastinating by buying more furniture. Eliza has come to really enjoy Jakarta after a tough start. It's been a warm and gentle place to raise her kids but Eliza and her husband Adam are looking forward to their new adventure in the Middle East. Don't forget to visit the LDC website longdistancecall.com.au or log onto the Facebook page Long Distance Callers. This week the women discussed: Oprah talks to Maria Shriver http://www.oprah.com/app/super-soul-sunday.html Germaine Greer and the Menopause http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/saturdayextra/germaine-greers-climacteric-updated/9896346 Anatomy of a Scandal https://www.theguardia

Welcome to a special edition of Long Distance Call. This week Eliza brings you a report from Indonesia. It's a story about her time here and an incident that's bookmarked the posting. In January 2016, shortly after she arrived with the her journalist husband Adam, a group of terrorists attacks central Jakarta. They killed four people. It was the suicide attack in Jakarta for over a decade and the first time ISIS had hit Indonesia. Eliza was appallled and fascinated. She wanted to know who planned the attack, and what happened to the victims? That was three years ago. Eliza's now in her final fortnight in the country and the mastermind of the Thamrin Attacks has just been sentenced to death. Eliza and her mum Geraldine will be back next week for their regular Skype chat.

Eliza and Geraldine are international news junkies so this week's episode is all about the Trump-Kim summit in Singapore. Is this the end of diplomacy as we know it? Is Trump being played by a murderous thug? Should we care as much as we do? What are the chances that it prompts change on the ground in North Korea? The Singapore meeting comes on the back of Trump's disastrous outing at the G7 in Canada. Just as the women were getting warmed up...the internet cut out. And so did Skype. So unfortunately this is a shorter episode than normal. Eliza and Geraldine will have to wait a week to talk about the absence of good chardonnay on the shelves in Australia. Until then, thanks for listening!

It's moving season in the expat world. And in Indonesia the city is frantically busy in the final few days before Islamic New Year. Eliza and Adam have one more month in Jakarta before they move to Lebanon. Geraldine has been for a sobering visit to her financial planner. And she's so engrossed in the Americans TV show that she's breaking a habit of a lifetime and binge-watching tv.

Eliza and her family are moving to Beirut! Her husband Adam will start his new job as the ABC's Middle East Correspondent based in Lebanon in August. There's a lot to organise before then. Geraldine is in Jakarta for one last holiday and the women discuss Indonesia and the lessons learnt over the past three years. Tune in!

Do we allow enough time in our busy lives to play together as a family? Not enough, is the conclusion. It's hard when the news cycle is whirring away. Geraldine is back in Jakarta on the weekend for a visit and will be doing lots of hide and seek with the grandkids. But Eliza and Geraldine did make time to watch the royal wedding. Geraldine didn't see enough of Idris Elba for her liking. Eliza thinks it's been a welcome distraction from the bleak news in Indonesia for the past fortnight. And what a time it's been in Malaysia. Finally a good news story out of the region. Bishop Michael Curry stole the show at the Royal Wedding https://www.vox.com/identities/2018/5/17/17361848/michael-curry-episcopal-priest-royal-wedding-sermon Who is Michael Curry? https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/may/19/royal-couples-chosen-minister-is-campaigner-on-equal-rights ABC News Malaysia coverage http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-11/malaysia-election-mahathir-mohamad-sworn-in-as-prime-minister/9749230 ABC Saturday Extra Mo

Indonesia is in mourning after a string of particularly brutal terror attacks over the weekend. Whole families, including young children, embarked on suicide missions in the city of Surabaya. The barbarity has stunned the country in the lead up to the holy month of Ramadan. But life goes on in Jakarta. Eliza is trying not to alter her daily life as a protest against groups who want to spread fear. Geraldine saw a thought provoking movie about motherhood this week. The women discuss how young women talk about the challenges of motherhood now as opposed to thirty or even fifty years ago. And keeping your digital life under control. ABC News coverage of the Surabaya attacks http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-15/the-surabaya-police-officer-who-ran-to-save-8yo-after-attack/9764738 More details on the terrorists https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/15/families-behind-indonesia-bombings-belonged-to-same-religious-study-group-suicide-attacks-east-java?CMP=share_btn_tw Tully https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tully_(

Geraldine is back from a mini-break in Adelaide. Her only gripe was the Airbnb on the outskirts of town. Eliza thinks Airbnb is a false economy. It claims to be cheaper, more convenient and the best way to travel. But she'd take a humble hotel room any day. While Geraldine was admiring the Impressionists in South Australia, Eliza was reading the latest about American politics. John McCain is dying but doing so with his indefatigable spirit. Calling all "Crown" fans out there -- they've announced the new actress to play the Queen. Geraldine isn't so sure. But she's able to watch most episodes without reaching for Google which is a step up from her daughter. Colours of Impressionism: Art Gallery of South Australia https://www.artgallery.sa.gov.au/agsa/home/Exhibitions/NowShowing/Colours_of_Impressionism At His Ranch, John McCain Shares Memories with Friends https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/05/us/politics/john-mccain-arizona.html John McCain, Prisoner of War: A First-Person Account https://www.usnews.com/news/a

Geraldine had a depressing morning shopping for new activewear. Eliza likens the experience to buying a bikini. It’s no fun for anyone. Eliza LOL’d about Angela Shanahan’s opinion piece on the New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. The funniest bit is when Shanahan referred to breastfeeding a “greenie left pursuit”. Just when you thought breastfeeding couldn’t get more political. Eliza and her mum discuss the huge identity shift that occurs after motherhood, from which Jacinda Ardern is not immune. The NZ PM seems like a welcome breath of fresh air in modern politics. Finally, Geraldine gives Eliza a “Banking Royal Commission for Dummies” tutorial. Tune in! Angela Shanahan: From here to maternity https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/inquirer/from-here-to-maternity/news-story/4b980fc122fa15f1f0bd2d7975b8ca56 Geraldine Doogue interviews Alan Kohler about the Banking Royal Commission http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/saturdayextra/banking-royal-commission/9702648

What does Anzac Day mean to you? Eliza did a history degree but doesn't know much about the great Australian wartime leaders. Geraldine thinks it's time to make new myths about the defence of Australia. Just like the novellist Richard Flanagan, the women agree Australia is a nation of dreamers. Can you be a Republican and be excited about the new Royal? Of course you can. But just don't try to copy the Duchess & wear heels seven hours after you've given birth. She's a warrior. Film: Heroes - A critical look at the Anzac Legend https://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/turkish/en/audiotrack/former-enemy-eyes?language=en https://johnmenadue.com/marilyn-lake-anzac-from-a-turkish-point-of-view/ The Little Stowaway Vicki Bennett http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/the-hub-on-books/hub-on-books-24-april-2018/9687096 Richard Flanagan at the National Press Club (text) https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/apr/18/richard-flanagan-national-press-club-speech-full-politics-black-comedy Video http://www

Eliza has just returned from a minibreak in Bali. The island is beautiful, but its history is violent. Bali is also the setting for Eliza's first attempt at fiction. Think Liane Moriaty with crime, sex, drugs and bikies. What's not to like? Geraldine has done a big interview with Australian artist Ben Quilty in his 'sacred space' -- the NSW Southern Highlands. Eliza & Geraldine discuss a terrific article from their friend and colleague Brigid Glanville on her battle with post natal depression. Brigid Delaney Wellmania https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/books/wellmania New Yorker Fiction Podcast https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/fiction Brigid Glanville on her battle with postnatal depression https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/my-battle-with-postnatal-depression-20180412-p4z95n.html Film: Chappaquiddick https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chappaquiddick_(film)

Geraldine is settling back into a hectic working week after visiting Eliza in Jakarta. She believes more is being asked of reporters these days, which doesn't always lead to better journalism. The industry is increasingly dominated by opinion and outrage. Eliza thinks it takes a toll on all who participate. The women revisit an earlier discussion about John Le Carre's "A Legacy of Spies". Geraldine has stopped reading Ian McEwan and Eliza thinks it's time for her husband Adam to give "God of Small Things" another go. And more than a year on since the US Election, Eliza is finally willing to acknowledge Hillary Clinton was the wrong candidate for the Democratic Party. Gaza and the Great Return March - Saturday Extra http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/saturdayextra/gaza-and-the-great-return-march/9619292 Michael Ignatieff - Saturday Extra http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/saturdayextra/orban-and-fdr:-two-very-different-leaders/9627792 A Legacy of Spies: John Le Carre https://www.theguardia