Compiled by Tess Connery and Grace Gollasch
LiSTNR gets into the spirit of WorldPride as celebrations kick off in Sydney
WorldPride is in full swing in Sydney, and LiSTNR’s podcasts are bringing people the full experience.
First up, The Betoota Advocate Podcast spoke to to the Sydney Swans Gaybassador, Tim Abbott, about the history of the Mardi Gras and Pride to catch anyone up that might be wondering what’s happened to light up Sydney’s Oxford Street. To do so, they took listeners back to 1978 and the event that would become Sydney Mardi Gras.
Clancy Overell: “Was it a full blown Stonewall protest?”
Abbott: “It was a protest against I believe police brutality. The people that were there were arrested, and the Sydney Morning Herald published all the names of those arrested and their addresses, which is a huge breach of privacy. If that happened to one person that’s fucked, but they did it to the whole lot of them. That then kicked off the tradition of Mardi Gras.
“I’m so thankful and grateful for those people because it allows people like me to live a very safe existence. I’m extremely thankful, because the things that i would take for granted in terms of holding my partners and out in public is something that could’ve gotten me hurt of bashed.”
[Listen to The Betoota Advocate Podcast here]
On Beyond The Likes with Amy Gerard, Gerard is joined by Christian Wilkins to chat all things fashion and cocktails – as Wilkins is a Grey Goose ambassador. He touches on his relationship with his Dad, Richard Wilkins, and what 2023 holds for him, with events including World Pride and Mardi Gras.
Gerard: “Pride this year is meant to be the biggest one ever, aren’t you guys walking across the Harbour Bridge?”
Wilkins: “Yeah! We have Mardi Gras each year obviously, but then there’s one city in the world that hosts World Pride and Sydney has World Pride this year which is huge. I mean I’m going to the opening concert with Kylie Minogue – Kylie is my one and only, my cat is called Kylie Meow-gue. I’m just so excited for that.”
[Listen to Beyond The Likes here]
When it comes to what to wear for Sydney WorldPride, the team at Hot Nights with Abbie Chatfield have you covered.
Rohan: “Max is one of one of the great legends when it comes to Mardi Gras, he goes to everything – if there’s an event on, he’s at it. He finds a way to get to all the parties, even the ones where the tickets are really hard, he finds a way to manoeuvre himself in there. Then he always needs a new outfit for each event, and when you’re going to six events in a day, that’s a lot.”
Max: “It’s really expensive to be in the LGBTQIA+ community! We’ve got to go to lots of things, we’ve always got to look fabulous.”
Abbie: “It’s not like going to a festival where all of you straights just put on a linen button-up shirt and like some shorts, or… a party shirt with frayed denim shorts and shit sunnies. Within the LGBT community, you have to show your uniqueness, and also slay and serve. It’s very exhausting.”
Max: “Sequins do not come cheap!”
[Listen to Hot Nights with Abbie Chatfield here]
Chattr launches celebrity interview podcast, The Entertainment Hotline
Mediaweek’s entertainment brand, Chattr, has launched the new original podcast, The Entertainment Hotline. Hosted by the company’s Head of Entertainment, Anita Anabel, the series will feature celebrity interviews from all facets of the entertainment industry.
Each week, stars will drop in (or dial in) to discuss their latest projects, share behind-the-scenes stories, and give a glimpse into who they are as people.
The Entertainment Hotline has been created for fans of TV, streaming, film, and content creation and is aimed at providing an accessory to the content audiences love. Alongside the listening element, they can also view a video series on Instagram and Tiktok — biteable and shareable content to enhance the user experience.
Podcast Week spoke to Anabel about connecting with guests and what makes The Entertainment Hotline different.
What makes this podcast different from other entertainment/celeb interview podcasts?
Being a journalist for over seven years, you learn how to ask questions to get the most out of your guests, and this, in turn, gets great content. Also, knowing the other side of the industry really helps, and it creates an interesting dynamic for the audience. Plus, I bring a lot of myself into the interviews as well. For example, if they’re vulnerable with me, I am vulnerable with them.
How do you connect with your guests?
I’ve always been a people person who absolutely loves telling stories. Not only am I a huge consumer of entertainment myself, but I am passionate about the industry. I connect with my guests by remaining true to who I am. I make them feel comfortable by finding something we have in common, I ask questions that are not only interesting for them, but the audience, and I do my research, making them feel valued.
What do you hope listeners take away from The Entertainment Hotline?
I hope that they get enjoyment out of listening to their favourite celebrities in ways they may have never heard before. Since I like to create a space where it sounds more like friends talking, I hope that the audience feels closer to those we are chatting to.
The first episode features Paramount+ The Last King of the Cross stars Lincoln Younes and Claude Jabbour who gave Anabel insight into life on set, discussed the importance of physical exercise and mental health, and revealed what made them most nostalgic about the iconic Sydney suburb.
Who would be your dream guest?
My podcast inspiration has always been Armchair Expert’s Dax Shepherd. His story is remarkable, and I love what he has done with the medium. I also think he’s so entertaining and has lived a life that is so far removed from where I am.
How do you want to use social media to engage with your audience?
Social media is probably the most important element of content creation today. For most interviews, we will have a video to go with it and want to find a larger audience from TikTok and Instagram. When a guest shares the episode, you find a whole new audience of people that you never expected. It’s just a great way to bring people together.
[Listen to The Entertainment Hotline here]
Podshape launches season two of More Than Just a Mum with Courtney Thorpe
Former Miss World Australia winner and channel Seven presenter Courtney Thorpe is returning with a second season of her weekly podcast in which she tells her own story and talks to guests about how they’re More than just a Mum.
Thorpe is a newly single Mum after her public split from Gold Coast Titans and Queensland rugby league player Jarrod Wallace and is a step Mum to his two daughters.
More than just a Mum is a very candid and real approach to pregnancy, babies, and the struggles of being a new Mum. Season one was a huge success and has had a great response from listeners.
In the first episode of season two, Thorpe will open up about her long battle with an eating disorder for the first time ever. Throughout Season two, she will chat with other mums and discuss a variety of topics including Co-parenting with an abusive ex, Being a Mum with a terminal illness, Raising my niece because my sister is a drug addict and Postnatal depression from a Mum & psychologists perspective.
[Listen to More Than Just a Mum here]
Podshape releases new podcast with 15-year-old drag queen, What a Drag
Logan Kelly is a 15-year-old boy who loves karate, his mates & school. He’s also Australia’s youngest drag queen.
Kelly caught the attention of national media after being featured in the 2021 film Bowled Over which was broadcast on SBS as part of the Australia Uncovered series. Kelly will also be down in Sydney flying the flag for inclusivity at Sydney World Pride 2023.
In this 10-part podcast series celebrating diversity and empowerment, Kelly (aka Candy) talks to other drag artists about the industry, the struggles and how he too can fulfil his dreams.
What a Drag will be released on the 24th of February, lining up with the 2023 Sydney World Pride, which is taking place from Fri 17th of Feb – Sun 5th of March.
ARN gains AFL star Mason Cox
AFL Footballer Mason Cox is kicking goals as the latest signing to ARN’s iHeartPodcast Network.
Cox launched his podcast The Mason Cox Show in 2022, with the Collingwood star sharing a rare and vulnerable insight into his AFL career to his personal dating tales, as well as being joined by some of the most intriguing personalities that Australia has to offer.
Guests of the show share their own stories of crazy life experiences with previous episodes featuring the likes of Matt Preston, Eddie McGuire, Peter Bol and Dylan Buckley.
Of the announcement, Cox said, “I couldn’t be more pumped that The Mason Cox Show has signed with iHeart as we kick off season two of the podcast.
“With the support of iHeart, The Mason Cox Show is going to bigger and better than ever! The podcast will cover all things pop culture, insight into my life off the field, the latest AFL news, as well as interviews with some of Australia’s most interesting personalities. Season two is going to be action packed!”
[Listen to The Mason Cox Show here]
Neil Mitchell Asks Why in new podcast
With more than 30 years’ experience as one of Australia’s top broadcasters, 3AW’s Neil Mitchell is taking on a new challenge, launching his new podcast series, Neil Mitchell Asks Why?
Produced by 9Podcasts and released every fortnight, the six-part series, Neil Mitchell Asks Why? sees Mitchell sit down with leading Australians from all walks of life, who have something to say, and more importantly, a fascinating story to tell.
The premise of the podcast is based on the very question that Mitchell has become famous for asking: why? Why do people make certain decisions; why do they believe in what they do; why are they who they are… and what happened along the way.
Episodes of Neil Mitchell Asks Why? drop every fortnight from Tuesday 21 February.
[Listen to Neil Mitchell Asks Why? here]
Nova brings footy fanatics The Fantasy Lab
NOVA Entertainment has joined forces with two of the biggest fantasy football fanatics, to bring you the latest Nova original podcast, The Fantasy Lab launching on Tuesday, 21 February.
Hosted by former NRL star Tim Moltzen and Fantasy guru Josh Halling, The Fantasy Lab is your bible for the NRL Fantasy and Supercoach Leagues, giving you all the insight and stats, you need to become the Champion.
With the first two episodes dropping on Tuesday 21 and Thursday 23 February, listeners will have access to an abundance of pre-season prep in the lead up to season kick off.
During this time fantasy football fanatics start refining their strategy, finalising their salary cap and making final decisions on which players to draft, trade and captain each round.
[Listen to The Fantasy Lab here]
The Real Killer returns for season two
AYR Media and iHeartPodcasts’ hit show The Real Killer has returned for a second season to investigate another questionable conviction.
Season two spotlights the case of Keith LaMar, who has been on Death Row for almost 28 years and is scheduled for execution this November. Despite a lack of physical evidence, LaMar was convicted of murdering five men during the notorious prison uprising at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in 1993 (aka the Lucasville Prison Riot).
Host Leah Rothman returns to shed light on this complex case via in-depth interviews with LaMar himself, as well as other key witnesses, in an attempt to understand what really happened during the infamous riot.
The first two episodes of the 11-part series premiered last Thursday and new episodes drop every Thursday.
[Listen to The Real Killer here]
Little Creatures partners with LiSTNR, Hit and SoundCloud
Australian craft brewing company, Little Creatures, has developed a unique campaign and event with SCA, SoundCloud and media agency UM as part of its Sydney WorldPride 2023 Official Beer sponsorship.
Working with SCA, SoundCloud and UM, the ‘All Creatures Welcome’ partnership will cultivate a pride-sharing movement, with listeners across both SCA’s radio and digital audio networks invited to share personal stories around what pride means to them and their communities. The campaign will culminate in a bespoke VIP party event at Sydney’s hottest new and inclusive venue, The Ace Hotel on 23 February.
Throughout the campaign, Little Creatures will offer listeners across Australia the chance to attend the exclusive ‘All Creatures Welcome’ launch party, with flights and accommodation included outside of Sydney. The event will headlined by Client Liaison (DJ set) and will feature Little Creatures blended cocktails to kick-off the upcoming Sydney Mardi Gras and WorldPride calendar.
The campaign and event will be fronted by Justin Hill, TV presenter and host of the Streaming Service on LiSTNR and the just-announced new TV series Loud + Proud on Hayu.
