Speakola

'Singing for me is sweet relief': Meg Washington's TEDx speech about stuttering — Sydney, 2014

On 26th April 2014, Megan Washington delivered a TEDx Talk that immediately trended on Twitter, and has gone on to be viewed nearly three million times. It's a beautiful public declaration about her stutter, and has so many interesting and funny moments about what a stutter is, and how it affects the life of a public performer. In her own words, Meg ends her TED Talk with a TED Sing, and it's absolutely spellbinding, a live performance of her song '‘To Or Not Let Go’.  In recent times, Meg has been the voice of Calypso on Bluey, and also the writer of the acclaimed Australian movie, 'How to Make Gravy', adapting the Paul Kelly song of the same name. Her song, 'Fine', won a AACTA Award last year for Best Original Song.  Megan's most recent album is GEM. She has gigs coming up in Feb-April 2026 in Tugun, Brunswick Heads, Cleveland, St Kilda and Main Ridge.  You can help Speakola library, podcast and newsletter survive by joining Substack [https://news.speakola.com/], the Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/c/speakola/home], or straight donation [https://speakola.com/donate].  Tony has written stories about taking his son Jack to music gigs on Good one, Wilson [https://goodonewilson.substack.com/] (3500 subscribers)  Tony has signed picture books for sale [https://www.tonywilsonauthor.com/], as well as middle grade and sports books for adults [https://www.tonywilsonauthor.com/].  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Steve Kilbey: 'We've been kicked off the best record companies in Australia!' — The Church's ARIA Hall of Fame induction, 7 November 2010, Sydney

In 2010, The Church were reluctant inductees to the ARIA Rock Hall of Fame, and reluctant speakers too. Steve Kilbey says in this interview that they hadn't planned to speak, but felt the pressure to say something as every other inductee spoke beautifully before them. What he eventually delivered was an after dinner classic, a funny, virtually off the cuff speech about Australian music, the other four inductees and tales from the road. In this Speakola episode Steve gives an account of that night, but also a wonderful biographical summary of his life in music, including his first gig in Canberra, his mum and dad, receiving his first bass, playing school shows, forming The Church, and much more.  Steve Kilbey's speech transcript is up on Speakola library [https://speakola.com/arts/steve-kilbey-aria-hall-of-fame-2010].  The Church's The Singles Tour has announced some new dates [https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=CHURCH25] in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide in February.  You can help Speakola library, podcast and newsletter survive by joining Substack [https://news.speakola.com/], the Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/c/speakola/home], or straight donation [https://speakola.com/donate].  Tony's 'How To Get on Race Around the World' articles are up at Good one, Wilson [https://goodonewilson.substack.com/p/racey-tips-1-i-actually-turn-25-today].  Tony has signed picture books for sale [https://www.tonywilsonauthor.com/], as well as middle grade and sports books for adults [https://www.tonywilsonauthor.com/]. Grab a signed copy for Christmas!    See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Dana Rubin: 'Throughout history, women have been changing the world with their voices', curator and author of Speaking While Female

In March, I chatted to speech collector Dana Rubin for Women's History Month (there have been delays releasing the episode - my apologies, Dana). It's a great chat with a kindred spirit. Dana has created the Speaking While Female speech bank [https://speakingwhilefemale.co/] that showcases speeches by women across history and around the world.  She also edited the book Speaking While Female: 75 Extraordinary Speeches By American Women [https://speakingwhilefemale.co/book/] The episode is topped and tailed by two speeches in Dana's collection.  Emma Watson's HeForShe launch speech at United Nations, 2014 [https://speakola.com/ideas/emma-watson-gender-equality-un-2015] Oprah Winfrey's 'Times Up' speech at the Golden Globes, 2018 [https://speakola.com/arts/oprah-winfrey-cecil-b-demille-award-golden-globes-2018] To support Speakola, make a straight donation [https://speakola.com/donate] at Speakola website, or become a paid subscriber to newsletter [https://news.speakola.com/] See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

'The bells of St Stephen's, tolling for Mum' — eulogy for Margaret Wilson by Tony Wilson, Melbourne, 2025

My mother, Margaret Joan Wilson died on the 20th of April 2025 while I was away in Budapest. It was a big shock and a terrible day. We had a private family ceremony on 7th May and a more public celebration of life on the 8th. This speech was delivered at the second event. The text and video of the eulogy is up at Speakola newsletter [https://news.speakola.com/p/have-a-great-trip-a-eulogy-for-my] and in the Speakola library. My brother Ned did the MCing and was brilliant.  My Mum truly was 'Margaret Wilson, Mother of Readers'  I'll miss her always.  Support Speakola by going paid [https://news.speakola.com/] Make a donation [https://speakola.com/donate] Read about Mum winning Miss Footy 1969. [https://goodonewilson.substack.com/p/world-of-sport-on-both-sides-of-my]  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

'Bob, you're dead. Do you want a state funeral?' — John Safran's eulogy for Father Bob Maguire, May 2023, Melbourne, Australia

Author & documentary maker John Safran talks in this episode about his eulogy for 'the People's Priest', Father Bob Maguire at St Patrick's Cathedral Melbourne in May 2023. [https://speakola.com/eulogy/for-father-bob-maguire-by-john-safran-state-funeral-2023]He also discusses his latest book 'Squat' [https://www.penguin.com.au/books/squat-9781760890179] about his week squatting at Kaye West's LA Mansion and his creative life as Australia's best known 'valid troll' (to use John's own expression)  Safran has a live show  Squatting at Kanye's and Other Adventures [https://comedy.com.au/tour/john-safran/] at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival on April 17th, as well as shows in Hobart and Paramatta.   He's our first return guest on the podcast. He was also on episode 27, 'Unsmoke the World'  [https://open.spotify.com/episode/422Tp7me36t3rLZB2H74kQ] Sign up to Speakola newsletter [https://news.speakola.com/], either as a free subscriber or pay $50 a year to show your support.  Tony's film 'Ange & The Boss - Puskas in Australia [https://angeandtheboss.com/]' is currently showing at Cinema Nova (daily sessions) and Thornbury Picture House.  Follow the film's progress and Tony's writing generally at Good one, Wilson! [https://goodonewilson.substack.com/]  See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.