Oblivious Witness

"You’ve got to put yourself out on the edge of the cliff, waiting to catch the wind."

The artist is present There’s something incredibly special about recording a conversation in a podcast guest’s own home. For this episode, I was lucky enough to sit with Australian artist and illustrator Jeremy Ley in his studio, which is attached to the beautiful home he shares with his partner and two children in Kerobokan, Bali. During our conversation, Jeremy often picked up books or artworks he’d created, or pointed to boxes of memorabilia from his mum and his late wife. It was like having a brief and beautiful glimpse into his spectacularly creative and philosophical brain, and I feel so much richer for the experience.During our long conversation (which felt, in real time, as though it took only a few minutes!), Jeremy and I covered so many topics, including: * Jeremy’s early travels with his parents * The life and death of his beloved mother* The birth of his beautiful sons and the tragic death of their mum in her early thirties* His ability to put himself in the path of golden opportunities* His work in books, aged care and a hugely successful Australian start-up* His approach to life and travel* His openness to finding love and happiness after lossDo check out Jeremy’s Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jeremyley.artist/] to see more of his work.Please enjoy this conversation with the wonderful Jeremy Ley. And I’d love to hear your stories too If anything in this episode inspires you to see the world a little differently or to expand your own horizons in any way, I’d love to hear from you. Please drop a note in the comments or send me a message about a story you’d like to share. Every heart-squeeze and comment makes it more likely that someone else might happen upon a conversation that might just widen their world. MUSIC: Defining Life, by Bill Conn PHOTOGRAPHY: Michelle Neeling Written and produced by Michelle Neeling Oblivious Witness is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit michelleneeling.substack.com [https://michelleneeling.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

"Change is hard for me but I love the idea of a new life."

I always love speaking with people who follow their curiosity to create a life filled with movement and change, and those conversations are even more intriguing when the people I’m speaking with have made it their life’s work to encourage other people to seek adventure too.Alison Emerick is an American photographer, writer, and accidental expat navigating life abroad with two small children. She shares insights on family travel, expat life and parenting abroad through her Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/semicuratedlife/] and Youtube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@semicuratedlife]. This year she’s moving her family from Bali to Portugal to embark on a new European adventure.Please enjoy this conversation with the inspiring Alison Emerick. And I’d love to hear your stories too If anything in this episode inspires you to see the world a little differently or to expand your own horizons in any way, I’d love to hear from you. Please drop a note in the comments or send me a message about a story you’d like to share. Every heart-squeeze and comment makes it more likely that someone else might happen upon a conversation that might just widen their world. MUSIC: Defining Life, by Bill Conn PHOTOGRAPHY: Michelle Neeling Written and produced by Michelle Neeling This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit michelleneeling.substack.com [https://michelleneeling.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

"Curiosity is the closest thing to life force that we have."

A week, six decades (and three continents) in the life of a truly brilliant writer So far this week, Peter Godwin has launched his beautiful new book in the US, been interviewed at his NYC launch party by Booker Prize winner Marlon James [https://marlonjameswriter.com/], and been featured in the New York Times [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/09/books/booksupdate/peter-godwin-exit-wounds.html]. And today here he is on the Oblivious Witness podcast, talking with me about Exit Wounds: A Story of love, loss and occasional wars [https://buythebook.online/exit-wounds?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaddTWjZRqtymnJqYLD4BItMulSn_MIxzAIULpHTRZlUuiSqYc1XG2D-6p0TpQ_aem_6807Ti0EWubdyyzHrK6wSw], which focuses on his changing relationships with the three women who shaped his life. It was an incredible honour to sit down with Peter for this conversation, and I’m so thrilled to share it with you here.Oh and breaking news that you’ll get here on Oblivious Witness first! Having now written four brilliant memoirs, Peter’s considering writing a book called First Person Singular that might help the rest of us to write our own… I’ve pre-ordered my copy on the strength of this announcement! Let me know if you’d like to do the same! And I’d love to hear your stories too If anything in this episode inspires you to see the world a little differently or to expand your own horizons in any way, I’d love to hear from you. Please drop a note in the comments or send me a message about a story you’d like to share. Every heart-squeeze and comment makes it more likely that someone else might happen upon a conversation that could just widen their world. MUSIC: Defining Life, by Bill Conn PHOTOGRAPHY: Michelle Neeling Written and produced by Michelle Neeling This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit michelleneeling.substack.com [https://michelleneeling.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

"When we reclaim Aphroditic power we become untameable"

What happens when you forge your own path Maya Vassallo di Florio was born into a family of doctors and dentists, and it was assumed by everyone around her that she’d follow in the footsteps of her family. Her parents were shocked when she declared that she wanted to study journalism, even more shocked when she moved on to drama, and completely alarmed when she became a priestess and temple keeper. Maya, however, always single-mindedly forged her own path, and after years of fighting for recognition, she’s become a respected speaker, author and mentor of sacred sexuality.For more about Maya’s life, story and incredibly important work, check out her Instagram, here. [https://www.instagram.com/mayavassallodiflorio_sacredsex/]Please enjoy this inspiring conversation with the extraordinary Maya Vassallo di Florio. And I’d love to hear from you too! If anything in this episode inspires you to see the world a little differently or to expand your own horizons in any way, I’d love to hear from you. Please drop a note in the comments or send me a message about a story you’d like to share. Let’s all tell each other about the things we’ve witnessed, so that we can learn from one another and see that, despite the differences in the details of our lives, we’re all global citizens of one beautiful and intricately interconnected world. MUSIC: Defining Life, by Bill Conn PHOTOGRAPHY: Michelle Neeling Written and produced by Michelle Neeling This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit michelleneeling.substack.com [https://michelleneeling.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

"For all who are trying to find a place among flags and nations"

Spend some time with the artist As much as I want you to hear this conversation with the incredibly talented Robin Block, I have a suggestion… Head to Robin’s website first! [https://www.robinblock.nl/] I was lucky enough to see Robin on stage at the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival [https://www.ubudwritersfestival.com/] before I had the privilege of meeting him in person for this conversation, so I know that his music and mesmerising sensory performances are a wonderful introduction to his life and work. Please go and have a look then hurry on back! I love talking to people about their travels around the world, and those conversations have an extra resonance when the person in question has documented their explorations in poetry, music and performance. Robin’s poetry collection, Handbook for the Displaced (available for sale here) [https://www.gramedia.com/products/handbook-for-the-displaced], was launched in Indonesia last year, and the day after we spoke I was lucky enough to attend a viewing of the beautiful poetry film he made with documentary filmmaker Jeremy Flohr [https://www.instagram.com/michael.jeremy.flohr/]. For this conversation, Robin and I were generously hosted by Erasmus Huis, the Dutch cultural centre in Jakarta, Indonesia [https://www.instagram.com/erasmushuis_jakarta/?hl=en]. Please enjoy this conversation with the wonderful Robin Block [http://instagram.com/robinblock]. And I’d love to hear from you too! If anything in this episode inspires you to see the world a little differently or to expand your own horizons in any way, I’d love to hear from you. Please drop a note in the comments or send me a message about a story you’d like to share. Let’s all tell each other about the things we’ve witnessed, so that we can learn from one another and see that, despite the differences in the details of our lives, we’re all global citizens of one beautiful and intricately interconnected world. MUSIC: Defining Life, by Bill Conn PHOTOGRAPHY: Michelle Neeling Written and produced by Michelle Neeling I want to know about the things you’ve witnessed too! Please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit michelleneeling.substack.com [https://michelleneeling.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]