Part of doing the work I do for Big Little Brush is getting to meet really cool people who do really interesting things. So instead of keeping their yarns all to myself, I thought it would be cool to share them with you all too. Enter the Good Sesh, a podcast where I get to talk with good people doing good things. It’s been so fun getting to dust off the old audio production skills and putting them to good use (if we ever get a beer together, you can bet I’ll bore you with stories of when I used to play in bands around Melbourne). So far we’ve released 11 episodes and have a bunch to finish and publish over the next few months.
Now I know what you’re probably thinking, as if the world needs another over-woke, cis/hetero middle-class white dude with a microphone and access to the internet, to start a podcast. That’s what I thought too! I’ve tried as much as I can to get out of the way and to foreground voices and stories far more interesting than mine. I’m working on asking better questions and then shutting up, sure I haven’t mastered this yet but you be the judge!
It’s hard to choose favourite episodes (it’s kind of like having kids ay?) but there have definitely been stacks of highlights.
Meet Jonathan Lindsay-Tjapaltjarri Hermawan
Jonzy is a man of many talents inlcuding being a musician, a radio show host, a school teacher, a mechanic and a deadset legend
He's the cultural advisor for our good mates Red Dust who we partner with in the NT and host of the bloody ripper radio show Jam Pakt with Jonzy.
We talked about the Black Lives Matter movement, personal Reconciliation Action Plans, living in remote communites during COVID-19 lockdown & travel bans plus a whole bunch more
Meet Yatu Widders Hunt
Yatu is a director at Cox Inall Ridgeway, a social change agency focussed on disrupting disadvantage in Indigenous communities.
She's also the founder and curator of Australian Indigenous Fashion, a vibrant and growing community wrapped around the rapidly growing Indigenous fashion scene in Australia.
We talked about bringing Indigenous voices to the foreground and the positive impact that can have at all levels of government and community. Yatu also shared a whole stack of great designers and artists.
We also talked about listening and acknowledging Australia's true history.
Meet Jimmy Gleeson
Jimmy is co-founder and creative director at Bellroy, Melbourne's much loved carry goods company.
We talked about turning your passion into your job, what to do when you get stuck creatively and owning the full set of Derwent pencils.
We also talked about the value of certifications like B Corp for all businesses.
Meet Majorie Tenchavez
Marjorie is the founder of Welcome Merchant, a social enterprise that elevates businesses led by refugees and people seeking asylum in Australia. Welcome Merchant connects refugee entrepreneurs and their wider community. It aims to elevate the voices of refugee and asylum seeker entrepreneurs in Australia through curated dining experiences and their online directory.
Together we talked about the importance of supporting refugee originated businesses here in Australia, some of the challenges refugees might face, and the connectedness and value business can hold for refugees and their families in a new country.