Word for Word

Jamie Gardiner Jamie Gardiner has led an incredibly rich life and has been at the forefront of almost every major legal reform for the LGBTIQ+ community for several decades. His can list titles such as human rights activist, political lobbyist, community lawyer, researcher, teacher and consultant on his resume and has served on a variety of Boards and committees such as the Victorian Equal Opportu...

This week’s guest is the comedically talented Sunanda Sachatrakul Sunanda was born in New Delhi and adopted out a month later to a Punjabi/Indian/Thai couple who were living in Bangkok. She went to school in Bangkok but moved to the US to study in the early 2000s. She moved between Bangkok and the US for a time where she began her careers in filmmaking, theatre and stand up. In 2019 she tour...

This week’s guest is the always insightful and engaging Brenton Geyer. Brenton has been a fixture of Melbourne queer life for what seems like decades. His contributions have spanned the queer club scene as well as media, events and his current roles at Living Positive Victoria and the soon to be completed Victorian Pride Centre. Join host Lisa “Dano” Daniel as she sits down to di...

This week’s guest is the truly community spirited leader, Daniel Witthaus Author of Beyond Priscilla: one gay man, one gay truck, one big idea… , Beyond ‘That’s So Gay!’: Challenging homophobia in Australian schools and the Pride & Prejudice educational package, Daniel has spent much of the past two decades in schools, rural communities and developing countries to challenge homophobia an...

This week’s guest, Mark Trevorrow may not be instantly recognisable to some listeners, but chances are you know him. Mark has been a part of Australia’s media landscape for decades providing absolute media excellence at the Herald, ABC, and Australian Vogue, but most best know him for his stage persona, the Prince of Polyester himself – Bob Downe! Australian and UK audiences alik...

This week Lisa “Dano” Daniel speaks with the remarkable and lovely Hang Vo. Hang is the CEO of White Lion – an organisation devoted to helping at risk young people, and has a clear dedication to social justice. Having arrived in Australia as a Vietnamese boat person in 1978 , Hang recounts her experiences growing up in Melbourne’s southeast in a family full of love and happ...

This week’s guest is one of JOY’s favourite and most dedicated presenters, David Gale. Host of the award nominated Hooked on JOY 94.9 , David has used his very real-life experience of functional alcoholism and recovery to demonstrate the power to overcome at any age. Now 13 years in recovery, David is living a life of new experiences and successful enterprise while continuing to mentor...

This week’s guest will be very well known to JOY listeners, our very own David Hunt! Recently honoured as the latest JOY lifetime member, David has been a part of JOY 94.9 for over 13 years and is usually the one doing the interviewing when he is heard (almost) every Friday Drive as part of David & Sue , as well as on Sunday Arts Magazine . Having spent years working for the biggest record lab...

Alex Coombs is a former banker turned social worker specialising in clients with HIV/AIDS and blood disorders. Alex’s life took a major turn when, in 2011, he fell from his 3rd floor balcony resulting in major injury. Join host Lisa “Dano” Daniel to discuss with Alex his life and career both before and after this life-changing event. The post Alex Coombs appeared first on Word fo...

Peter Waples Crowe is an indigenous Ngarigo visual and performance artist who has also had an extensive career in community and Indigenous health. Peter was most recently featured in the NITV documentary insideOUT as part of ‘Our Stories’, won the 2-D Metro Tunnel award in the Koorie Art Show for his art book ‘Mirrigang Days’ as well as 2019 GLOBE award for Artist of the Ye...

Our first episode for 2020 brings you not one, but two amazing guests to Word for Word. Rebekah Robertson is the founder of Transcend – the first parent led peer support group for transgender and gender diverse children and their families,  Australian television and stage actor and author of ‘About a Girl’, detailing her experiences raising a transgender child. Georgie Stone is a...

Toni is a gender diverse advocate and life long volunteer. Recently winning the GLOBE volunteer of year award. Join host Lisa “Dano” Daniel as she is joined by Toni Paynter. The post Toni Paynter appeared first on Word for Word .

Dean Arcuri is one of queer Melbourne’s most recognised faces. Touted as the busiest homosexual in Melbourne, there is barely a queer event Dean doesn’t attend, either a performer, MC, photographer or spectator. He has worked as the editor of SameSame, the Executive Producer of JOY’s Informer program and has recently taken on the mantle of Melbourne editor of The Star Observer. N...

Bill Calder PHD, is a pioneer of Australian queer press. Having worked in queer media over 3 decades, he worked closely with some major publications in the early days of queer street press. When he saw that there needed to be more diversity in this sector, he started his own publications, including BrotherSister, Satellite and BNews, in Melbourne and across the country. Join Host Lisa “Dano&...

Ani Lamont is a journalist, activist and social developer. She has worked for the Star observer and credits it as one of the careers she is most proud of. She now utilises these skills in the Not for Profit sector. As a child she lived all over the world and her wanderlust for travel and multiculturalism has evolved to her current job as she advocates for womens rights and activism, across the wor...

Sanjeev Singh is a journalist, theologist and photographer. Growing up in Malaysia as a Christian coming out didn’t take place till he migrated to Australia later on in life. Now as he lives his life as an out and proud gay man, he has developed a multi media, photographic series called “Outings.” Which allows for visibility for those who need strength. As it follows people back...

Peter McEwan was out in 1967 at the age of 17 when he was charged with merely engaging in a consensual homosexual act. He then became the public face of the 2016 Victorian State Governments apology, to those whose sex lives were cause for conviction during previous homophobic governments and laws. He is now on the board of the Victorian Pride Centre, after a long career of town planning and fulfil...

Luke Williams is an author a journalist and a man who wears his heart and his life on his sleeve. Not shy to talk about his life and in all its imperfections Luke talks honestly about, drug addiction, mental health and overcoming suicidal ideation. As well as his travel adventures that had lead to being incarcerated in a Filipino jail and buying smoking in the slums of Thailand. Join host Lisa &#8...

Richard Chadwick is the man behind the mask, that is drag performer, Karen From Finance. And if you thought Karen was interesting, wait till you hear Richard’s story. In this open and revealing interview, Richard talks about loosing his Mother at a young age, over coming this tragedy and navigating life as a confused and broken hearted teen. He speaks of the inspiration behind his drag perso...

Davey Thompson is a out and proud, First Nations man. Who hails from the Bidjara, Iningai, Wakka Wakka and Gubbi Gubbi peoples. He is an accomplished writer, actor and director who is the most recent recipient of the annual Film Victoria internship. Like many queers people, Davey struggled through dark times and suicidal ideation in his teen years, growing up in remote Queensland. But faced these...

Jax Jacki Brown is a Melbourne queer icon and a pillar of the LGBTI and disability sector. She has had a life time of advocy in both communities and has no intention of stopping now. Jax is a mother, a performer and a voice for intersectionality. Join Host Lisa “Dano” Daniel as she is joined by Jax Jacki Brown. The post Jax Jacki Brown appeared first on Word for Word .

Ange Barry has spent a lifetime effecting change in the corporate and community sector. Spending 11 years as the inaugural CEO of Stephanie Alexanders Kitchen Garden Foundation. Which under her leadership grew to international success. She has most recently taken on the mantle of CEO of Australia’s only LGBGTI radio station – Melbourne based JOY 94.9. Join host Lisa “Dano”...

Ben Norris is best known as the first openly gay winner of Big Brother Australia. Since then he has had a successful career in the media, from hosting a number one ratings breakfast show for Southern Cross Austereo, to hosting this very program Word for Word. Some may see him as a reality television star and nothing more – however scratch the surface and you realise we all have a story to te...

Aram Hosie is an out and proud trans man. Who has been fighting for Trans rights since he was forced to undertake his transition in the public eye, while dating a high profile, lesbian politician, in Western Australia. Since his public outing, he has been a prominent voice in the Trans community and staunch LGBTIQ advocate. He is also a survivor of conversion therapy and in this earnest and open d...

Nick McEwan-Hall, has a story that many within the LGBTIQ community can echo. Rejected by a parent for living their truth. As if struggling with your identity, within your self and society isn’t enough, to then be disowned by a parent is simply heart breaking. Nick battled rejection after rejection, by his father  to build himself into a person who inspires and mentors others, despite his ow...