Compiled by Tess Connery and James Manning
Media Heads remembers MH17: Search Among the Sunflowers
Media Heads is a production company run by audio veterans Dave Carter (ex-MCM, Crocmedia, SCA) and Peter Rubinstein (ex-Radiowise). The business specialises in the production of podcasts, audio, and video content.
In recent years, it has been working on projects for the Australian Federal Police. The latest production for the force is the podcast series Search Among the Sunflowers, the five-part series which commemorates the 10th anniversary of the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 on 17 July. The commercial passenger plane was shot down over eastern Ukraine in 2014, killing all 298 passengers and crew on board.
The AFP and other Australian agencies were heavily involved in the humanitarian mission to enter the crash site (in the middle of an active conflict zone) to retrieve, identify, and repatriate human remains, as well as the examination of evidence for the forensic investigation and eventual criminal prosecution.
Dave Carter told Mediaweek the 18-month project featured some heartbreaking interviews with Australian families who lost loved ones on board MH17. The podcast also features exclusive interviews with members of the AFP, the Dutch National Police, the Dutch Prosecution Service, and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), as well as former Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and the former head of the Australian Defence Force, Sir Angus Houston.
[Listen to Search Among the Sunflowers]
Football Australia and Ogilvy create AI and children’s book-inspired Matildas podcast
Football Australia has partnered with Ogilvy to unveil the Dream Team, an AI and children’s book inspired podcast series that will tell the story of the Matildas’ Paris 2024 campaign.
On 25 July, The Matildas will commence their Paris 2024 Olympic Games campaign against world ranked number four, Germany at 3am AEST. In fact, all of Australia’s three group stage matches during the Games kick-off at 3am AEST, making it a challenge for young fans, both new and old, to cheer on the Matildas.
However, through the Dream Team Storytime series, fans of all ages will be able to listen via AI, as Matildas’ captain Steph Catley tells the story of the match which occurred overnight.
Following every Australian match, Football Australia will release a new story – narrated with Catley’s own voice – on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, with short, animated clips to assist with the storytelling.
Cold Case Breakthrough: New podcast investigates Anthea Bradshaw murder
On 16 April 1994, Anthea Bradshaw married her high school sweetheart in a beautiful ceremony at Adelaide’s Tusmore Park Uniting Church. 96 days later, she was found murdered—strangled and stabbed—in Brunei, South East Asia. Three decades later, her death remains a mystery.
In Just Married: The Anthea Bradshaw Mystery, 9News senior reporter, Ben Avery, and the 9Podcasts team launch an investigation into her murder. The podcast delves into the circumstances of her death, uncovering evidence and exploring theories, forensics, and alibis that have stumped investigators for years.
Avery interviews Anthea’s family, friends, and former detectives to piece together her life and final moments. The podcast seeks to answer two crucial questions: Who wanted Anthea Bradshaw dead, and why?
[Listen to Just Married: The Anthea Bradshaw Mystery here]
Breaking the menopause taboo: Rage Against The Menopause
ARN’s iHeart has announced the new podcast hosted by Melbourne’s GOLD 104.3’s beloved Patrina “Pats” Jones. Known for her candid and engaging presence on The Christian O’Connell Show, Pats is bringing her signature openness to Rage Against The Menopause.
Pats, who has built a strong connection with her listeners by chatting about menopause openly on-air, has created this podcast to tackle the often-taboo topic head-on. Her mission is to change the narrative around menopause through humour, honesty, and valuable information, aiming to normalise these conversations for women.
Jones said: “We talk a lot about conception, pregnancy and birth but why not Perimenopause and Menopause? Hitting this stage, I’ve felt completely out of control at times, lacking information and totally unprepared. I’m out to change that. To build a community of support for other women. And as a legacy to my own daughter.
“My series is a no-holds barred discussion, helping to remove the stigma and show the power and strength that comes with menopause.”
[Listen to Rage Against The Menopause here]
Medical misogyny: Unpacking gender bias in healthcare with SBS News
Is medical misogyny really a mystery? Why do we know more about some bodies than others? How do sex and gender influence our experiences in Australia’s health system?
SBS News journalist Catriona Stirrat explores medical misogyny and discrimination in the Australian health system in the new SBS News podcast, Hysterical. The series provides a health check on nuances of birth trauma, barriers on sexual and reproductive health, and patterns of delayed diagnoses. It delves into the medical challenges that women, trans and gender diverse people face every day, which may not be much of a mystery at all.
“I think the themes and experiences in this series will resonate with a lot of people. While we’re privileged in Australia with our health system, it’s clear there are certain communities that continue to feel dismissed or even discriminated against, and the current efforts to address this are offering hope in this space,” said Stirrat.
