The Battler

It’s 30 episodes of Battlerdom, and the fellas are on a tredecennial tear. They talk Millenial culture, Stitch race science, Barnxit and the collapse of the Coalition, rightwing grifter meme politics, the Radio National top 100 colouring books of the 21st century, Israel’s Blood Meridian (Epstein revelations). And an old friend joins the pod– Wokey Allen. Song is No Strain by the Southend Rainbows...

Ceasefire, all alone in the moonlight. Trump has saved the world and brought the Gazans back from the dead in their thousands. He has a stately pleasure dome decreed on the beleaguered strip. Meanwhile, Australian cookers are on the prowl and the patron saint of guys whose undies have lost their elastic (Paul Thomas Anderson) has made another movie. Pat and Tim talk One Battle After Another, consp...

This week, the boys talk about the March of the far right across the world. Trump in Amerikkka; Farage in the UKKK and Hastie’s hasty march forward in AuSStralia. In unrelated news they have discovered a cure for autism, and all our fans are lesbians. Pat and Tim also unveil the FY25-26 plan for cultural appropriation, dubbed the “axis accents” report. This is the year of Japanese Sopranos. Thanks...

This week, Tim is in Coffs and Pat is in Melbourne; so unclear as to who has the bum end of the stick. They talk through the stakes of recognising Palestine; Trump’s love of Andrew Lloyd Weber; the Kirk Memorial; Hamburgler Melania; ballroom pizzagate; Tim fielding accusations of Italian human trafficking; the Ausstralian Far Right’s love of Amerikkka; Pine gap; the disappearance of the liberal an...

On this episode the boys mourn their wonderful friend Charlie Kirk, murdered by the coward Tyler Robinson. They remember his calm, measured presence in debate; his commitment to democracy and his belief in a free, egalitarian, multi-ethnic America. They also talk about Trump’s ballroom (of course), Albo’s pitch into authoritarianism and the evil of creative writing programs. Song is No Strain by t...

This week on the pod The Battlers talk to the suddenly former deputy editor of Meanjin, Eli McLean, about the untimely killing of the 85yo literary journal. Jump to 37.55 for the interview. Before that, Pat and Tim discuss Australia under Iranian rule, Bondi ZioNazis, and Glorious Leader Xi Danping. As always, subscribe to Straying for the Morsel and Patrick Marlborough This is a public episode. I...

This week, Pat and Tim talk about the March for Australia that cooked on the streets of Sydney, Melbourne, and the other cities last weekend. Tim was there and gives an eyewitness account. The lads talk about why all nazis are pedos, and the poor honest racists who were blindsided by the presence of fash at the rally (sorry to Tim’s uncle). They also talk Trump, the New American Novel and Tim’s “...

This week it’s just Pat and Tim, the way God intended. Unencumbered by guests, they rage about the resposne of the government to the protest on Sydney Hamas Bridge; the rising tide of Naarm Nazism; the cowardice of Bendigo Writers’ Festival adopting a stifling definition of antisemitism in their code of conduct; and Christos Tsiolkas’ delightful article on the benefits of fencesitting. It’s a quic...

On July 18th, The Battler host Patrick Marlborough joined with the podcast’s most ‘faptastic’ fan, Giacomo Bianchino, to launch Patrick’s debut novel, NOCK LOOSE , in a city that counts (Sydney), at the big smoke’s best bookstore, Better Read Than Dead. A feral chat about OzLit and the creative process and long term unemployment, enjoy Giacomo’s attempts to get Patrick to admit he is horny for car...

This week Pat n Tim talk shop with author and artiste Madison Griffiths, who has just released Sweet Nothings, her second monograph after 2022’s Tissue . We talk about the book, which is a study of four relationships between students and university teachers. We walk through power dynamics; horny academia ; and the interminable thirst of European writers for stories of scholarly seduction. Producti...

This week, Pat and Tim talk with Max Easton, paesano and the author of novels liek The Magpie Wing and Paradise Estate and the reams of top-notch music crit over at Barely Human . We talk about “Western Sydney Literature,” the DIY ethos and class autonomy, the importance of self-publishing, and the singularity of Rugby League. It’s a big yarn, and a very invested take on writing in Aus in 2025. Sh...

20th EPISODE SPECTACULAR! The Battler Boys meet in person for the FIRST TIME and immediately attempt to kill each other as they reckon with show mascot, Mark Latham, being accused of doing Mark Latham things (allegedly). Also touched on (allegedly) is the pedogeddon of the Epstein files, Albo’s woeful drip on his China trip, the soothing sounds of Israeli psytrance, Ancient Greek pottery, and whet...

This week, Pat M talks to Pat L: Journalist, Writer and substacker at the Nonsense Newsletter We cover Lenton’s new book, In Spite of You; queer lit; youth media and vulture capitalism. Unfortunately, Tim had “technical difficulties” (nothing to do with queerphobia) on his extended Eurotrip at “Marxist summer school,” and couldn’t make it to the interview (mistimed his alarm and nursed a raki hang...

This week, Pat and Tim talk about the Sabsabi decision, the solidification of anti-protest reactionism across the world, and the transformation of the ALP into a Party of Order and domination. We talk about the brutalisation of Hannah Thomas and Tony Burke’s response; the practice of “slave day” in East Coast schools; and the changing structure of Labor’s branches. We are still on opposite sides o...

This week, Pat and Tim are guestless and ill, but stoked nonetheless as a self-proclaimed socialist takes the dem nomination in the New York mayoral elections. We talk about what the DSA is in 2025, how it has outgrown its own grad-student-podcast nexus, and what we can learn from the movement in Australia. We also talk about the importance of white genocide, Trump’s dropping of F and other bombs,...

Battlers! First off, sorry for the delay! With Pat sick, and Tim in Italy, and a few tech issues, producer Dan (that Saint, that Angel!) has had to work overtime to stitch this episode together. But thank CHRIST for him, because it is a BEAUTY! This week, we talk to award wining poet (author of Drop Bear ) and editor of Overland Literary Journal and overall genius, Evelyn Araluen, about what it me...

This week Pat and Tim talk to writer and painter Joseph Earp about writing and painting. There’s also a little bit about the importance of failure and unfinished works; about influence and about the insecurities of Australian writers. Before that, the Battler regular corps chat Gillard’s feminism, Western Liberal Leaders in their Noble Stand Against Israel and the Woodside North West Shelf Gas ext...

This week Pat and Tim talk to dan hogan, author of A Secret Third Thing, award-winning poet and co-founder of Subbed-In small press. We chat about the terrors of the lit “scene” in Sydney and Melbourne (and beautiful Boorloo); the agnosticism of Australian publishing on matters of class; and the squeamishness of the industry towards any sort of novelty. Beforehand, Pat and Tim talk Zionist zombie...

This week we chat with Crystal Andrews, journalist and founder of Zee Feed . We cover the “Stephen Graham effect” in talking about the politics of zoomer boys; the tension between legacy and new media; and the role of cringe in Ozpol. Pat and Tim also talk about Sussan Ley’s new role in a Guy Ritchie film; Ted O’Brien losing his milk arrowroot; and how all small business owners are fascists. Produ...

This week we celebrate the death of the parliamentary Liberal party and herald the millennium of Albanese’s Red Sea. We also speak with Pundit, Plaudit and Puerile Pedant Osman Faruqi, co-host of Lamestream with Scott Mitchell. We talk about the ghoulish indifference of Australian media and politics to Gaza; the devastating electoral result for the Greens in the lower house; and the superiority of...

Two days out from the election, things look set for a Big Fat Labor Drubbing. In this episode, Pat and Tim talk about what a routing would mean for the Tories; the possibility of a revanchist rapprochement between the minor and major Rightwing parties; Kyle Sandilands’ prospects as ambassador to Trump; Jackie O’s Archibald portrait; and the seeping evil of the Craft Beer era. Caveat: we spent seve...

In this ep, Pat and Tim talk to writer, musician and editor Cher Tan, whose Peripathetic was one of the better books to come out of Australia last year. We chat about the repression of pro-Palestine speech; the role of independent outlets and substack in Australian writing; the development of the internet-friendly “house style” among writers and the need to protect our nepo babies and venture capi...

An easter treat with two eps in a single week. Tim’s off to do the Yuppie Ghan (driving from Garramilla to Uluru) so we’re in early. Alithya anesti. Joined this week by Charlie Lewis from Crikey and RRR, chatting about the rizz problem in the Liberal party and Dutton’s calamitous campaign; the absence of intrigue in this year’s election and Crikey’s own bit of brattery in r unning a fake candidate...

This week we talk to Joana Partyka: artist and activist with Disrupt Burrup Hub. DBH have been protesting against Woodside’s gas mining bonanza up around the Pilbara for the last several years. Joana takes Pat and Tim through their strategy, their actions and the extreme, terrifying response of Western Australia’s police force. This is heavy stuff, and shows the lengths to which the petro-state is...

It’s not real campaign unless it’s from the campaign district of the Liverpool plains. In this episode, Pat and Tim talk about Dutton’s bareback entry to the electoral Stakes; the Tealification of politics; the “Australian Left;” Matt Canavan’s forehead and the smell of parliament. Things are moving quick, and we know that the world has changed in the short time since Thursday of Last Week. We’re...