Tall And True Short Reads

Since Episode 100, I've taken a break from podcasting to plan a new direction for Season Five of Tall And True Short Reads, which I hope to launch early next year. Meanwhile, I've "gift-wrapped" the first episodes from Seasons One to Four of the podcast for this year's bumper Kris Kringle episode. The stories written and narrated by Robert Fairhead [https://www.robertfairhead.com/profile/] for The Kris Kringle - Xmas 2024 first appeared on the Tall And True [https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/] writers' website. Read the stories on Tall And True: • Five Meet on Zoom: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/five-meet-on-zoom • The Last Book That Made You Cry: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/the-last-book-that-made-you-cry • Once Upon A Time: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/once-upon-a-time • Some Things Change – Perth, Western Australia, 1979: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/some-things-change Podcast website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com [https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com] Episode 100, Twin Souls in the Universe: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/twin-souls-in-the-universe/ Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads [https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads] Buy Robert's short story collections online: • Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM [https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM] • Apple Books:  https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436 [https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436] • Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead [https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead] Podcast Theme and Sound Effects Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan. Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org: • Santa’s Sleigh Bells: https://freesound.org/people/BrianJamesLong/sounds/330415/ Five Meet on Zoom: • None The Last Book That Made You Cry:  • Page turning: https://freesound.org/people/Kodack/sounds/256475/ Once Upon A Time: • Slow Clock Ticking: https://freesound.org/people/Julien%20Matthey/sounds/457651/ • Conference Noise: https://freesound.org/people/shazam118/sounds/83788/ • Glasses Clinking: https://freesound.org/people/KenRT/sounds/319994/ • Applause: https://freesound.org/people/Breviceps/sounds/462362/ Some Things Change – Perth, Western Australia, 1979: • Kids playing: https://freesound.org/people/cognito%20perceptu/sounds/61503/ • Glasses Clinking: https://freesound.org/people/KenRT/sounds/319994/ • Car Interior: https://freesound.org/people/devy32/sounds/439252/ • Sipping Wine: https://freesound.org/people/bbrocer/sounds/382656/ Production Notes Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity.  The podcast episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. Acast Podcast Supporter Page Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads [http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

If you thought about it, the process for selecting the first matter transference test pilot was archaic, although Mae considered it a lucky omen when she drew the Blue 15 raffle ticket. Blue, not pink, was her favourite colour as a girl, and at 15, Mae had decided she wanted to become an astronaut. Twin Souls in the Universe is a short story from the Tall And True [https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/] writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead [https://www.robertfairhead.com/profile/]. Read the story on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/twin-souls-in-the-universe [https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/twin-souls-in-the-universe] Read the "What's in a Name?" blog post: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/whats-in-a-name [https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/whats-in-a-name] Tall And True Short Reads website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com [https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/] Listen to Episode 8 of Tall And True Short Reads, Splendid Views: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/splendid-views/ [https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/splendid-views/] Episode 92 of Tall And True Short Reads, The Lost and Found Story: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/the-lost-and-found-story/ [https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/the-lost-and-found-story/] Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads [https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads] Buy Robert's short story and microfiction collections online: • Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM [https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM] • Apple Books:  https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436 [https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436] • Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead [https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead] Podcast Theme and Sound Effects Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan. Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org: • Ambient Universe Hum: https://freesound.org/people/FALL-E/sounds/713436/ • Hooray!: https://freesound.org/people/Vesperia94/sounds/403057/ Production Notes Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity. Podcast episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation [https://www.sydneybarani.com.au/sites/aboriginal-people-and-place/]. Acast Podcast Supporter Page Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads [http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

I'm getting too old for this. My speechwriter's pulse quickens as the PM mounts the flag-decked stage, flanked by senior ministers and mining industry executives, to announce her government's green coal plan. Panned by environmentalists and scientists, polling suggests it could be a vote winner … if the PM nails my speech. My Speech is a short story from the Tall And True [https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/] writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead [https://www.robertfairhead.com/profile/]. Read the story on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/my-speech [https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/my-speech] Tall And True Short Reads website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com [https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/] Listen to Episode 90 of Tall And True Short Reads, A Good Story: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/a-good-story/ [https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/a-good-story/] Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads [https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads] Buy Robert's short story and microfiction collections online: • Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM [https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM] • Apple Books:  https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436 [https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436] • Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead [https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead] Podcast Theme and Sound Effects Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan. Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org: • Camera shutter burst: https://freesound.org/people/Lumamorph/sounds/505476/ • Tapping microphone: https://freesound.org/people/susychristiansen/sounds/149034/ • Applause: https://freesound.org/people/sagetyrtle/sounds/32260/ • Typewriter: https://freesound.org/people/supersupernator/sounds/519622/ Production Notes Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity. Podcast episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation [https://www.sydneybarani.com.au/sites/aboriginal-people-and-place/]. Acast Podcast Supporter Page Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads [http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The local dog club, where I volunteered as a trainer for twenty years, ran season-ending Fun Days with events like Fancy Dress, Agility Slalom, Waggliest Tail, and other novelty races that changed from year to year. One of my favourites was the Sack Race, where my dear old dog and I always placed third. For the Sake of a Story is a blog post from the Tall And True [https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/] writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead [https://www.robertfairhead.com/profile/]. Read the post on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/sake-of-a-story [https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/sake-of-a-story] Read How to "Kill Your Darlings" and Survive the Process by Ruthanne Reid: https://thewritepractice.com/kill-your-darlings/ [https://thewritepractice.com/kill-your-darlings/] Read My Good Dog and Muse on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/good-dog-muse [https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/good-dog-muse] Listen to Episode 72 of Tall And True Short Reads: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/my-good-dog-and-muse/ [https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/my-good-dog-and-muse/] Post with Jet sleeping in the home office podcast study: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/introducing-tall-and-true-short-reads [https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/introducing-tall-and-true-short-reads] Tall And True Short Reads website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com [https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/] Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads [https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads] Buy Robert's short story and microfiction collections online: • Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM [https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM] • Apple Books:  https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436 [https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436] • Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead [https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead] Podcast Theme and Sound Effects Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan. Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org: •  Dogs Barking: https://freesound.org/people/Mafon2/sounds/676407/ •  Plane: https://freesound.org/people/bigpickle51/sounds/262753/ •  Clapping: https://freesound.org/people/sagetyrtle/sounds/32260/ •  Typewriter: https://freesound.org/people/supersupernator/sounds/519622/ Production Notes Tall And True Short Reads produced using Audacity. Podcast episodes recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation [https://www.sydneybarani.com.au/sites/aboriginal-people-and-place/]. Acast Podcast Supporter Page Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads [http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Excuse me, humanity, please pay attention. I have an urgent message. "What? Not in the middle of my reality TV show!" I'm sorry. I'll be brief. But first, a little background. My message concerns the fate of a pale blue dot in the inky expanse of the universe. Beyond its fragile borders is vast nothingness. You Have Been Warned is a short story from the Tall And True [https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/] writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead [https://www.robertfairhead.com/profile/]. Read the story on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/you-have-been-warned [https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/you-have-been-warned] Listen to Episode 59, Once Upon A Time: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/once-upon-a-time/ [https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/once-upon-a-time/] Not Quite Write Podcast and Prize website: https://notquitewritepodcast.com/ [https://notquitewritepodcast.com/] Tall And True Short Reads website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com [https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/] Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads [https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads] Buy Robert's short story and microfiction collections online: • Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM [https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM] • Apple Books:  https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436 [https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436] • Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead [https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead] Podcast Theme and Sound Effects Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan. Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org: • TV Static: https://freesound.org/people/Kleber_KGF/sounds/354019/ • Gunfire: https://freesound.org/people/C-V/sounds/523404/ • Screaming Voices: https://freesound.org/people/craigsmith/sounds/486179/ • Angry Voices: https://freesound.org/people/craigsmith/sounds/486193/ • Car Horn: https://freesound.org/people/felix.blume/sounds/684521/ • Bicycle Bell: https://freesound.org/people/altazor80/sounds/367744/ • Storm Wind: https://freesound.org/people/craigsmith/sounds/481139/ • Story Rain: https://freesound.org/people/2887679652/sounds/164921/ • Flood Waters: https://freesound.org/people/martialway47/sounds/258187/ • Desert Crickets: https://freesound.org/people/felix.blume/sounds/641589/ • Fire: https://freesound.org/people/craigsmith/sounds/483309/ Production Notes Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity. Podcast episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation [https://www.sydneybarani.com.au/sites/aboriginal-people-and-place/]. Acast Podcast Supporter Page Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads [http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.