Coffee Pod|cast

Love in a feed store lost in down the rabbit-hole of time. In their final episode, Ali and Emma return to one of their favourite authors, Jon Steiner to discuss 'Liebostod' narrated by Joel Horwood. Leave your feedback on this episode or on the series generally at the Coffee Pod|cast Facebook page. 'Liebestod' is published in Jon Steiner's debut collection, The Last Wilkie's and other stories (Spineless Wonders, 2016). About The Author Jon Steiner grew up in Washington, D.C. He went to Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, graduating in 1993 with a Bachelors Degree in Film. After a few years in Texas and a few years in New York City, he migrated to Australia in 2000. In 2008, he completed a Graduate Diploma in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney. He lives in the Sydney suburb of Tempe with his wife and daughter. About The Actor Joel Horwood trained in Western Australia and since moving to Sydney has performed in a number of independent theatre productions. These include the devisi

An evocative piece which stretches the imagination. In this episode, Ali and Emma discuss Tess Ridgway's 'It Stretches Our Shape' narrated by Sydney actor, Anni Finsterer. Let us know what you think, leave a comment of the Coffee Pod|cast Facebook page. 'It Stretches Our Shape' is published in Shuffle an anthology of microlit edited by Cassandra Atherton. About the Author Tess Ridgway is currently completing a Masters of Research at Western Sydney University. She has been published in Otolith, the Griffith Review, Axon Journal and the Meniscus Literary Journal. Her work was performed at a Little Fictions night. She also facilitated a poetry group, Mutts. About the Actor Anni Finsterer is an actor, writer and director in theatre, film and television. Anni was awarded an AFI Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Television Drama for her performance in 3 Acts of Murder. Her feature film credits include The True Story of the Kelly Gang and Sweet Country. She has appeared in the TV shows Wentworth, Rake, Gli

This disturbing episode carries a domestic violence content warning. Ali and Emma discuss Susan McCreery's microfiction, 'Disturbance' narrated by Sydney actor, Alex Neal. Join the discussion about the role that literature can play in depicting this  pressing social issue on the Coffee Pod|cast Facebook page. 'Disturbance' is published in Loopholes by Susan McCreery. About the Author Her poetry collection, Waiting for the Southerly, was published in 2012, and Commended in the Anne Elder Award for a first book of poetry. After the release of Waiting for the Southerly, Susan turned her attention back to prose, focusing initially on short fiction and microfiction, and now on a novel. Her collection of microfiction, Loopholes, was published in December 2016, and was a finalist in the Small Press Network’s Most Underrated Book Award (MUBA) of 2017. This Person Is Not That Person, a collection of short stories, was published in September 2019. About The Actor Alex graduated QUT Acting in 2017 before moving to

Older women drinking sherry and behaving badly at funerals, weddings, parties, anything. In this episode, Ali and Emma discuss Elizabeth Hodgins' 'Timeless Crones' narrated by Ella Watson-Russell. They ask if you have any thoughts on some of the common tropes used to portray older women in mythology through to popular culture. Join the discussion on the Coffee Pod|cast Facebook page. 'Timeless Crones' is published in the microlit anthology, Writing To The Edge. About the Author Elizabeth Hodgson is a Wiradjuri woman who lives in Wollongong on the New South Wales south coast. She was born in Wellington, New South Wales, but spent her childhood in a home for fair-skinned Aboriginal children in Sydney. She writes from the perspective of a fair-skinned Aboriginal woman with a dark-skinned father about the racism which has permeated her life. Her poetry collection, Skin Painting won the 2007 David Unaipon Award and is published by UQP. About the Actor Ella Watson-Russell has worked across Australia and inter

A surrealist microstory which is either a horror story about animal cruelty, the nightmarish abuse of a stuffed toy or just a typical breakfast in a long-term relationship. You be the judge of Lou Swinn's 'Particles In My Body' narrated by Eleni Schumacher. Let Ali and Emma know what you think, drop by the Coffee Pod|cast Facebook page. 'Particles In My Body' is published in the anthology, Escape edited by Bronwyn Mehan About The Author Louise Swinn is a writer, editor, publisher and reviewer. Her work appears regularly in the Age, the Australian and the Sydney Morning Herald. She was one of the founders of Sleepers Publishing, the Small Press Network and the Stella Prize. About The Actor Eleni Schumacher trained at Atlantic Acting School (NYC), has appeared on Foxtel’s A Place to Call Home and is due to appear in Black B*tch (ABC), as well as a schools tour for Echelon Productions in 2019. Eleni recently completed a tour across Australia, NZ and Hong Kong with Poetry In Action. Credits Presenters: Ali

Sydney author, Julie Chevalier gender flips the breast screening scenario in this microlit narrated by Lauren Hamilton Neill. Ali and Emma chat about 'PenisScreen' mulling over the question of whether reversals of this kind help to educate as well as entertain. Join the conversation on the Coffee Pod|cast Facebook page 'PenisScreen' was first performed as part of the Little Fictions' show, Vaginal Spray, feminist stories at Knox Street Bar, Chippendale. About The Author Julie Chevalier grew up in New Jersey and now lives in Annandale. Her third book, Darger: his girls was short-listed for the WA Premier’s Poetry Prize. Her collection  of stories, Permission To Lie is published by Spineless Wonders. About The Actor Lauren Hamilton Neill is Queensland born and holds a Bachelor in Music Theatre (CQCM).  She professionally has murdered several husbands in Deadly Women, was murdered in The Suspects, shamelessly flirted with a man far too old for her in ABC TV’s The Gods of Wheat St, and will soon be starring

A dark, psychological thriller or a poignant story of loss and resignation? Ali and Emma discuss 'Rescued' by Richard Holt read by Pam Nemeny. 'Rescued' is published in What You Might Find, a collection of short stories and microfiction by Richard Holt. About the Author RICHARD HOLT is a writer and artist from Melbourne. He produces text-based videos, artworks and interactive text-based installations for public spaces, and was co-founder of Melbourne zine store, Sticky. He is a former recipient of a Maurice Saxby Mentorship for Children’s Writers and Illustrators and was Bayside Writer in Residence in 2013. About the Actor Pam Nemeny is a volunteer reader for community radio station, 2RPH. Credits Presenters: Ali Morris and Emma Walsh Producer: Bronwyn Mehan Theme music: James Seymour Coffee Pod|cast has been produced with the support of the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body and we wish to also acknowledge the support of Little Fictions by the Copy

When the personal is political. Ali and Emma discuss the impact of the marriage equality legislation on a lesbian couple in Jenni Nixon's 'Proposal' performed by Lauren Hamilton Neill. 'Proposal' is published in Flashing The Square an anthology of microfiction and prose poems. About The Author JENNI NIXON is a widely published poet: café boogie and agenda! and included in many anthologies and journals ? recently southerly and overland ?2014. A member of the company of writers and roundtable writing groups. About The Actor LAUREN HAMILTON NEILL is a Queensland native and holds a Bachelor in Music Theatre (CQCM).  She professionally has murdered several husbands in Deadly Women, was murdered in The Suspects, shamelessly flirted with a man far too old for her in ABC TV’s The Gods of Wheat St, and will soon be starring as a vegetarian vampire chef in a short film that will also see her don the producers hat. Credits Presenters: Ali Morris and Emma Walsh Producer: Bronwyn Mehan Theme music: James Seymour C

'It happens everyday and yet it is so profound.' In this episode, Ali and Emma discuss the marvel of birth and the magic of microliterature which shows us a world in so few words. Listen to Eleni Schumacher reading Christine Howe's 'Sea Womb' and join the discussion on the Coffee Pod|cast Facebook page. 'Sea Womb' is published in the microlit anthology, Shuffle edited by Cassandra Atherton. About The Author CHRISTINE HOWE is a writer and academic who teaches at the University of Wollongong. Her poetry has appeared in Cordite and Law, Text, Culture, and her first novel, Song in the Dark, was published by Penguin. About The Actor ELENI SCHUMACHER trained at Atlantic Acting School (NYC), has appeared on Foxtel’s A Place to Call Home and is due to appear in Black B*tch (ABC), as well as a schools tour for Echelon Productions in 2019. Eleni recently completed a tour across Australia, NZ and Hong Kong with Poetry In Action. Credits Presenters: Ali Morris and Emma Walsh Producer: Bronwyn Mehan Theme music: Ja

Do organised crime syndicates serve decent carrot cake at their planning meetings? Ali and Emma discuss Jon Steiner's satirical 'Morning Meeting' performed by Ella Watson-Russell. Includes a great creative writing exercise to try. Let us know what you think of this episode on the Coffee Pod|cast Facebook page. 'Morning Meeting' is published in Jon Steiner's debut collection, The Last Wilkie's and other stories. Watch the book trailer here. About the author A native of Washington, D.C., Jon Steiner moved to Australia in 2000. He studied writing at the University of Technology, Sydney.  His work has been published in the 2007 and 2008 UTS Writers’ Anthologies and Spineless Wonders’ Escape anthology (2011). Two of his short stories, 'Gecko' and 'Robber' have been made into short films. Read more about this here. You can read an interview with Jon here. And you can watch a video interview with Jon, his editor Josh Mei-Ling Dubrau with host Emma Rose Smith, here. About the actor EllaWatson-Russell has worked a

The story of the opera singer who developed a hearing impairment. In this episode, Ali and Emma discuss Anna Spargo-Ryan's moving piece, 'Menieres' narrated by Anni Finsterer. Got a story to share about hearing damage? Join the discussion on the Coffee Pod|cast Facebook page. 'Menieres' is published in Shuffle an anthology of microlit edited by Cassandra Atherton. About the Author ANNA SPARGO-RYAN is the Melbourne-based author of The Gulf and The Paper House, and winner of the 2016 Horne Prize. Her work has appeared in The Big Issue, Island, Kill Your Darlings, Meanjin, Good Weekend, the Guardian, and many other places. She is a PhD candidate in Creative Writing at Deakin University. About the Actor Anni is an actor, writer and director in theatre, film and television. Anni was awarded an AFI Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Television Drama for her performance in 3 Acts of Murder. Her feature film credits include The True Story of the Kelly Gang and Sweet Country. She has appeared in the TV shows

How the seemingly insignificant landmarks can spark powerful memories. In this episode, our caffeine-feulled literary podsters discuss Jill Jones' microlit, 'All That Shudder' narrated by Anni Finsterer. Is the dawn non-binary? Join the discussion on the Coffee Pod|cast Facebook page. 'All That Shudder' by Jill Jones is published by Spineless Wonders in the microlit anthology, Shuffle edited by Cassandra Atherton. About the Author JILL JONES has published eleven books of poetry, and a number of chapbooks. Recent books include Viva the Real (UQP), Brink (Five Islands) and The Beautiful Anxiety (Puncher & Wattmann), which won the 2015 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Poetry. She is co-publisher, with Alison Flett, of Little Windows Press. About the Actor Anni is an actor, writer and director in theatre, film and television. Anni was awarded an AFI Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Television Drama for her performance in 3 Acts of Murder. Her feature film credits include The True Story of the Ke

In this episode, Ali and Emma discuss Deborah Van Heerkeren's 'Time of Death' narrated by Eleni Schumacher. Join the discussion about this poignant microfiction on the Coffee Pod|cast Facebook page. 'Time Of Death' is published in the Time anthology edited by Cassandra Atherton. About the Author Deborah Van Heekeren was born in Sydney and moved to Maitland from the Central Coast in 2013. Recently retired from her academic career in anthropology, she is concentrating on her creative art practice. About the Actor Eleni Schumacher trained at Atlantic Acting School (NYC), has appeared on Foxtel's A Place to Call Home and is due to appear in Black B*tch (ABC), as well as a schools tour for Echelon Productions in 2019. Eleni recently completed a tour across Australia, NZ and Hong Kong with Poetry In Action. Credits Presenters: Ali Morris and Emma Walsh Producer: Bronwyn Mehan Theme music: James Seymour Production Assistant: Hannah Oakshott Coffee Pod|cast has been produced with the support of the Australian

There's more on the blink than a car engine beneath the scorching outback Australian sun in Susan McCreery's 'Breakdown'. Ali and Emma share a coffee break while listening to actor Mark Dessiax reading 'Breakdown' and follow up with a wide-ranging discussion which looks at the many layers of this short short fiction. Join the conversation on the Coffee Pod|cast Facebook page, here. 'Breakdown' is published in Susan McCreery's collection Loopholes by Spineless Wonders. About the Author SUSAN MCCREERY is a writer from Thirroul, NSW. Her microfiction has been published by Spineless Wonders (Writing To The Edge, Flashing The Square, Out of Place), as well as by Seizure and Cuttlefish.  In 2014 she was awarded a Varuna fellowship and an Australia Society of Authors mentorship for her short story collection. She has worked as professional proofreader for the past eighteen years, and when not at her desk she can be found swimming long distances in the ocean. About the Actor MARK DESSAIX is the recipient of an o

Ever found yourself dregging on a bus on the way to work, fantasising about fries and pondering the metaphysics of seat allocation? Is there a word for mirroring manspreading behaviour? Is dregging even a thing? Find out the answers to these and other off-beat questions mulled over by Ali and Emma as they listen to Harriet McInerney's 'Average Morning' read by Joel Horwood. 'Average Morning' was first performed at 'Humans of Parramatta Road', Little Fictions, Knox Street Bar, Chippendale. About the Author Harriet McInerney is a Sydney-based writer. She is the author of the chapbook Houseplant (SOd), and recently completed a residency in text-based practice at Arteles Creative Centre (Finland). Her microlit, 'The City Was Growing Inside Her' is published in Landmarks (Spineless Wonders, 2017).She is commissioning editor and publicist at New South Books. About the Actor Joel Horwood is an actor, known for Secret City (2016), The Greenhouse and Infidels (2017). Joel is a graduate of the acting course at the

Finding the sublime in the suburbs, this performance piece from Papua New Guinean-Australian writer, Alana Hicks has our two hosts in awe. Ali and Emma chat about the pastiche of images Hicks writes about in 'Movements' and they wonder whether you think it ends on a pessimistic note or not. Join the discussion on the Coffee Pod|cast Facebook page. 'Movements' by Alana Hicks is published in Flashing The Square About the author Alana Hicks is a Papua New Guinean-Australian director and writer, who has worked on a range of projects from short films and documentaries to web sketch comedy and theatre. She spearheaded The Kvetch Set Sketch Collective’s three seasons, plus directed a number of live Kvetch Set productions. Alana completed a Graduate Certificate in Screenwriting from AFTRS and recently received the Writing NSW Early Career Writers Grant. Alana has been a collaborator with performance collectives Outspoken, Word Travels, and Token Word and participated as a slam poet and playwright at the Sydney Fes

She frets about droughts and flooding rains, about pressure system's and cold fronts - it's in her genes, it seems. Take a listen to Mark Smith's 'The Meteorologist's Daughter' and find out what our podcast hosts, Ali and Emma have to say about this emotionally-charged piece of microlit. 'The Meteorologist's Daughter' is published in the microlit anthology, Flashing The Square. About The Author Mark Smith lives on Victoria’s Surf Coast, where he writes novels and short stories, and runs outdoor-education programs for young adults. His second novel, Wilder Country, won the 2018 Indie Book Award for Young Adults. You can read an interview with Mark about writing microlit, here. Credits Presenters: Ali Morris and Emma Walsh Producer: Bronwyn Mehan Theme music: James Seymour Production Assistant: Hannah Oakshott Coffee Pod|cast has been produced with the support of the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body and we wish to also acknowledge the support of Littl

Ever wished you could be put on ice? In this episode, Ali and Emma discuss Sigley Hood's surreal microlit, 'Ice Cube' in which a woman finds herself literally frozen out by her family. Or is it she who is giving her husband and kids the cold shoulder? Listen to Eleni Schumacher's narration and decide for yourself. Join the discussion on the Coffee Pod|cast Facebook page. 'Ice Cube' is published in the Spineless Wonders' anthology, Shuffle. About the Author SIGLEY HOOD is currently studying the Associate Degree in Professional Writing and Editing at RMIT. She reports that the story idea for ‘Ice Cube’ surfaced when she was sitting in a bar waiting to meet friends—her mind being obviously just loose enough. About the Actor ELENI SCHUMACHER is an actor and theatre maker. She recently appeared in Montague Basement's production of Sarah Kane's "Crave" for the Sydney Fringe Festival. Credits Presenters: Ali Morris and Emma Walsh Producer: Bronwyn Mehan Theme music: James Seymour Production Assistant: Hannah

It's common to build a picture in our minds about new neighbours based on the sounds that come through the walls - but what if this eavesdropping becomes the stuff of vivid sexual fantasy? In this episode, Ali and Emma discuss a variety of reactions to noisy neighbours when they listen to Paulette Smythe's 'When B Moved In' narrated by Alex Neal. About The Author PAULETTE SMYTHE lives in Melbourne where she teaches English to migrants and refugees. Her writing has previously been published in Antipodean SF, Bewildering Stories, Verandah and Eureka Street. 'When B Moved  In' is published in the Spineless Wonders' anthology of sound-themed microlit, Shuffle edited by Cassandra Atherton. About the actor ALEX NEAL  graduated QUT Acting in 2017, and has been living and working in syd for 4 months.  In that time he has completed a TVC for ESS super and is currently working  on an AFTRS short film and will appear in the Australian film, Danger Close. Credits Presenters: Ali Morris and Emma Walsh Producer: Bro