The Last Post Radio Show

The Last Post Radio Show speaks with singer-songwriter Fred Smith about his work and observations whilst in Afghanistan and the songs that came from that. Fred also speaks about his upcoming tour...and about a mate who told Fred that his wife could sing.

In this, the final episode of the Invictus Australia series, we speak with Invictus Australia's Neil Burgin about the previous episodes and the evidence-based role of sport as a solution. We speak about the positive experience of engagement and of finding a trusted pathway.

Directed by Hayden Keenan and starring Tracy Mann, Julie Barry, Moira Maclaine, David Argue and others, this film, produced in 1982, was lost to audiences until found in a bin in New York. Featuring a bustling, real life and grungy Sydney, a girl comes into money...and then loses it. Here, Director, writer Stephen Vagg discusses the film on The Last Post Radio Show.

On this episode of The Selection Table, Ben Eames looks at AFL Round 19, talking about Geelong, their coach and their team changes. Ben also gives the lowdown on the numbers behind the Carlton/Collingwood rivalry, pumps up Mason Cox, recommends that coaches should self-medicate and reminds us of his 9 out of 9 selection success from last week. For the NRL Round 20, Michael Bridger reminds us of the recent State-of-Origin result, predicts cyclonic conditions at Cronulla, talks up "Marky Mark" (again lol), talks about his planned Saturday night at Roosters HQ, with a glass of wine in the members, watching his Roosters beat Storm. Michael also talks about grass length in NZ and reassesses his view of the Dolphins.

Here we speak with NBCF Head of Community Fundraising, Lana Do Canto. Register now to walk or run 56km during the month of August to help breast cancer research and the 56 Australians diagnosed with breast cancer, every day. Visit the NBCF website and get involved - by yourself or with a team.

With poetry and free-style writing from Greg T Ross, Dr Melanie Jensen, Jeremy Roberts, Richard Lawson, Stephen House and others.

The Last Post Radio Show speaks with author, historian Peter Mitchell about his latest book, I'll Walk Beside You, a sequel to last years Under The Same Moon. In this soul-stirring account, Peter talks about wartime love, loyalty, cruelty, courage and sacrifice from a momentous time in Australia's wartime history.

In the world today, stress has become almost the norm. In this chat, Elizabeth Jane talks about how to take steps to minimise stress. Amidst discussion on self-care, a focus on finding gratitude in the now and how negative thoughts can often be mistaken for the truth, how addictions can often be used to numb feelings and about taking steps before burnout.

In conversation with Mudgee Arts Precinct Gallery Curator Lizzy Galloway about Reg Mombassa's Up The Golden Highway Exhibition that reflects the golden and the red and the textures and the colours of the Mudgee and adjoining areas landscapes. Until July 19. Also, coming up, the Lustre Exhibition that looks at the Allies Operation Lustre, during WW2, through the eyes of contemporary artists. The artists retraced the steps of the withdrawing Allied forces and painted their impressions. Extraordinary, striking work from some of Australia's best artists. From July 24.

Michael Bridger takes us in to the Bridger household on the night of the Blues' historic win in the State-of-Origin decider and gives us his view on the status of the Campbelltown Stadium. And, of being stranded at Homebush and having to walk to Lidcombe. Ben talks about the AFL's Round 18 and picks winners before introducing The Run Home, detailing all teams remaining matches and where they may finish at seasons end.

The Last Post Radio Show sits down with IGY6 Ambassador + Chair, John Giampino. John speaks about his role and transition and the support that IGY6 offers veterans, first responders, their families and NDIS participants. John also lets us know a little more about IGY6's Life After Service Workshops and their Women Veterans Retreats. Visit the IGY6 website for more information - doing some great work.

In this inclusive and intimate episode, intrepid traveller and The Last Post Radio Show foreign correspondent Dr Mary Anne Whiting (Wing Commander Retired) takes us to the Moroccan desert experience of Merzouga, Tangier and Timbuktu. Mary Anne talks about the history, the beauty and significance of orange blossom water, the single, refined way of life in Morocco and yet, its complexity and the generosity of their citizens...and even their olives, vibrancy, colour and food. Mary Anne asks questions about the philosophy of travel and speaks to fellow-travellers, Elizabeth, Pam and Phil. And watches the sun set amongst the sand dunes of the Sahara, after an evening camel-ride

Sounds of Australia is a collection that celebrates the recordings that have shaped our nation. From 1896 until now. Nominate now to have your favourite piece put into the NFSA sound capsule. It might be a song, a podcast, a radio broadcast, a sporting moment, a field recording, a movie or TV score or something else. Join Skippy, Archie Roach, Gough Whitlam's Kerr's Cur speech, Horrie Dargie, the 1956 Oylmpic Games, Robyn Archer, The Seekers, Martin+ Molloy, The Saints, Julie Gillard's misogyny speech, Dad and Dave, Dame Nellie Melba, Paul Keating, Don Burrows, Lionel Rose, Percy Grainger, Not Drowning, Waving and more. Visit the NFSA website now and nominate your favourite Sounds of Australia.

Author and historian, Mia Martin Hobbs speaks with the Radio Show about her new book and the word Anzac, asking what has it come to portray and mean. Mia speaks about Australian manhood, the cult of the warrior and an environment where asking questions can be deemed offensive and about how politicians and veterans groups have used the word. Mia also speaks about veterans for peace and the difference between the Australian and American experience.

In this episode of The Selection Table, Ben gives his AFL insights and predictions, happy to say bye-bye to the byes, examines Brisbane's re-awakening, gives his thoughts on having two Friday night matches, blows the whistle on the Freo train and laments having to stay up to watch his beloved Crows go down to Power. Michael looks at the coming round of NRL matches, talks about getting 2 points without having to play, his temptation to wage a dollar or two on the Rabbitoh's, speaks about the revival going on at Manly and his plans to watch Wednesday nights State-of-Origin, with a glass of red.

The Last Post Radio Show speaks with GMR CEO Miriam Kent about their amazing new podcast series. Miriam speaks with us about amplifying the story of the patient and those attached to the GMR research work, of transition and the importance of listening to the lived experience. With a list of great guests, The Voices of Gallipoli Medical Research is a giant step forward.

Shannon Hennessy is the CEO of VESPIIA (Veterans, Emergency Services + Police Industry Institute of Australia). Here, on the back of VESPIIA's 5th policy paper-release, in the Future Frontline series, Shannon speaks about the importance of women in these roles, and their experience. Amongst this huge breadth of work, we find and discuss the things that are missing for women in these roles. We speak about the workplace culture and safety, sexual harm and harassment and career progression for women, ahead of the Future Frontlines Conference in Adelaide, in August.

Tune in, anytime, anywhere, to this great new podcast series with guests that leave you wanting more. Voices of Gallipoli Medical Research, out now on Apple, Spotify and all good podcast channels.

Ben Eames looks at AFL matches coming up for Round 16 and talks about how Brisbane might go after the Bye, how GWS may be at The Last Chance Corral, asks if Nick Daicos listens to The Selection Table and gives his insight into the 60th Showdown while recalling The Ramsgate Incident. Michael Bridger looks at NRL's Round 17, talks about his favourite red, monsoonal rain, a missing laptop and Marky Mark.Thanks again, to Greg Champion.

Amidst the ancient history, culture and artwork of Espana, Mary Anne first takes us to the Spanish village of Zahara de la Sierra to learn more of the Festival of Corpus Christi and we visit the Santa Maria church for a celebration of Mass with a choir of local voices. Through Mary Anne, we visit too, the streets of Granada and a tour of the gardens of the masterpiece of the Royal Palace, with local guide, Elisa.

Bradley Manera, Curator at the Anzac Memorial, Hyde Park and Amanda Penrose Hart, participating artist, discuss their experience of retracing the footsteps of the Allied soldiers as they were overwhelmed by German forces in Greece and Crete in 1941. Accompanied by Brad, the artists painted their impressions during the journey. The result, the Lustre Exhibition, is running at the Anzac Memorial until July 15th. Please ring 02 8262 2900 to find out more, or visit the Anzac Memorial website. Lustre, the exhibition, will be touring other venues in Australia, following Anzac Memorial.

A conversation with Intensive Care Specialist, Clinical Ethicist and poet, Dr Melanie Jensen. Melanie is in the frontline of hospital work and spends her working life trying to save the lives of injured children. In these extreme circumstances, Melanie has turned to writing poetry as a sense-making activity. We speak about Melanie's book, 'All That Could Be Lost', finding your writing voice at talking points in our lives, visiting dark places and emerge feeling better and remembering, while grief may be in the air, happiness is too.

Michael Bridger talks about how he loves the MCG but still feels no need to talk about the NRL State-of-Origin 2. Michael also speaks about the toilet and bar facilities at Leichhardt Oval, the over-use of the word stadium and suggests a loss this week, for his team The Roosters, will spell the end for their Premiership hopes. In the AFL analysis, Ben Eames explains the meaning of the word blockbuster, tries not to get too excited about the prospects of his team, the Adelaide Crows and questions the 2026 output of Magpie, Nick Daicos

TLP Radio Show speaks with historian and author, Frank Bongiorno about his new book, edited with Carolyn Holbrook and Joshua Black, that examines the legacy of the 1980's Hawke government.

We return to the travels of Dr Mary Anne Whiting...joining her for breakfast in Tangier, from Casablanca to Marrakesh, the Atlas Mountains, small towns with carpetmakers and miners, catching a ferry to Seville in Spain, enjoying its food and culture and history.

Ben Eames and Michael Bridger give their thoughts on the coming rounds of AFL + NRL. Ben gets stuck into Chris Scott, Collingwood and umpiring and reasons on players difficulty of second-guessing in seconds. Michael predicts a flogging for the Rabbitohs, a win for the Roosters and reflects on his time in the Under-5's.

Author, columnist, social commentator Jane Caro speaks with The Last Post Radio Show about her 2026 education essay, Rich Kid, Poor Kid

Young veterans, Luke Adamson and Benny Yoemans have joined together to produce strikingly beautiful sporting guernseys for clubs around Australia. And, at the same time, raise awareness of the fight against breast cancer. Honouring the Anzac spirit and the memories of those that have served, each guernsey tells the story of a soldier. These personalised, beautiful guernseys are available for community and sporting organisations around the country. Honouring the service and helping to fight breast cancer, you can contact Luke Adamson through Linkedin or through The Last Post magazine and Radio Show. This episode was recorded live at the Rival Brothers Cafe, in Mt Barker, South Australia.

I became engaged in this book, in this conversation to a degree I had not expected. Here, I speak with Karin Keays, travel-writer and author and the wife of the late-Jim Keays, about her new book, It's Because I Love You. We speak of Karin meeting Jim, their relationship and marriage and their two beautiful daughters. We then moved on to discussion about Karin's third pregnancy and the death, soon after birth, of their third child and first son, William. In this bold and confronting book and conversation, Karin speaks about wanting to follow her intuition in having misgivings about inducing, about loss and about not being able to describe the feeling of letting her son go and how her son is still with her (I love him with all my heart, he's with me everyday). Karin also speaks about the beauty and kindness of good friend, the late-Daryl Cotton and the benefits of a hot curry, a long walk and sharing her story in the hope it will help others. On a lighter note, Karin speaks about the lazy, big and insecure cat, Ricky...and his fights with the nasty Rusty the cat.

Watching yachties in Townsville, walking around in his speedos and still getting over the Roosters loss, Michael Bridger gives his NRL tips and insights into Round 14. Our AFL expert, Ben Eames takes us into Round 13 and who will win and why and we go with Ben and take sound bites from the recent past players meeting of Blackwood FC, reminding us just how good and vital, local football is for the community. Big thanks to Greg Champion.

Wing Commander (Retd) Dr Mary Anne Whiting, continues her travels for The Last Post Radio Show and takes us back to a famous 1942 movie

From June 1 - August 1, Griffith University in Queensland honours world renowned photojournalist Tim Page, with this expressive exhibition. Tim was a definitive photojournalist and well known, primarily, for his coverage of the Vietnam War. This exhibition covers that but also gives a new perspective with looks at some of Tim's lesser known works from his impressive oeuvre. Here, we speak with Collections Manager, Curator + Acting Director of Griffith Uni's Art Museum, Carrie McCarthy about Tim and the exhibition and the striking and cinematic quality of the works of Tim Page.

We speak with author, Chef, Kishwar Chowdhury about her latest book and how it is an aesthetic delight. Kishwar speaks about her parents arrival in Australia, with a determination to preserve their heritage. We speak of the areas rich history of spices and how the rules of preserving Bengali cuisine were passed onto Kishwar and her sisters. In this wonderful chat about a beautiful book, Kishwar invites you into the community sharing kitchen with dumplings, samosas, plum chutney, smoked eggplant salsa and more, and the culture that gave birth to these mouth-watering recipes.

For the coming rounds, NRL's Michael Bridger reflects on seeing Wednesday nights State-of-Origin from a bar in Fiji and speaks about E-Bike injuries, the woeful Dragons and why he's tipping Manly. For the AFL, Ben Eames speaks about how tipping can go down the drain, how a Blues fan has tipped Carlton not to lose another match this year, how the Cats may be up for the big-dance and, offers an apology to the Tigers Tom Lynch.

Wing Commander (retd) Dr Mary Anne Whiting joins The Last Post Radio Show with this evocative report from Morocco's economic and business capital, Casablanca. Mary Anne invites us to join her in a trip back to December 1941 and to the now, where the cosmopolitan modern metropolis provides wonders for the visitor. First in a series of reports from Mary Anne.

The Last Post Radio Show speaks with author and journalist Martin McKenzie Murray about his intimate look at the lives of three first responders, The Paramedic, The Copper, The Firie. A book about trauma. And traumatic work.

Peter Simms from Land Title Communities, speaks with the Radio Show about creating micro-suburbs and communities on sites around the country. And, without compromising quality or lifestyle, of allowing people to leave a legacy with affordable costs for housing and land. Where the building of houses can be done within 8 weeks, and with costs starting at $288,000.

The Last Post Radio Show speaks with National Film + Sound Archives' Curatorial Assistant, Dr Zach Karpinellison. We chat with Zach about his role in the upkeep, repairing and restoring of Australian films; the iconic, the classics and the cult. From Wake in Fright to Proof and Sweetie and to Muriel's Wedding and more. Making these films available for future generations. We speak with Zach about what led him to this amazing job...and why coffee is not allowed in the Red Zone.

Listen in as our NRL expert Michael Bridger and AFL expert Ben Eames give their selections on who will win and why. With a special bonus as Michael dissects next Wednesday nights State of Origin match and Ben speaks about favourite indigenous players to help celebrate the Sir Douglas Nicholls Round.

After disco came punk and then post-punk and new wave. From a military family, clinical psychologist John Watts created Fischer Z, a group that morphed into art-punk. Formed in 1976 and hitting it big with the 1980 single So Long, Watts and Fischer Z went on to challenge the listening world with words, music, art and the feeling that there is always more to do. Touring Australia later this year, Fischer Z celebrating 50 years of artful chaos. Here, we speak with John about all of the above, and his love of cricket and rugby and the fact that life has strings.

Delving deep into the archives of Australian history, we speak with historian Effie Karageorgos about her new book, Quiet Protest. The Vietnam War sparked the largest demonstrations Australia had ever seen. In this episode, Effie allows us a realistic look at the numbers and diversity of this movement. During Australia's involvement in the war, members of parliament from both sides, clergy and church-goes, housewives and mothers, public servants, the arts and sporting figures attended, spoke up or were involved in novel ways to raise public awareness. And, of Mabel Wilson, who donated one-third of her pension cheque to bring our boys home.

Singer-songwriter Michael G Jones speaks with the Radio Show about the story behind his new single, They Do Us Proud. Michael speaks about the connection to his serving son and the song as a reach-out to all those serving, their families and the toll it can extract.

Ben Eames and Michael Bridger sit down at the selection table and give a match-by-match summary. With Greg Champion and host Greg T Ross.

Here, we speak with writer, historian Stephen Vagg about Outpost, a forgotten TV Play, filmed in 1959. Outpost is set in 1943, deep in the New Guinea jungle with Australian soldiers and an Air-Force Sergeant who manages to offend everyone. Before Mavis Bramston, Homicide and Bellbird, when channels were reluctant to show Australians, Australian content.

In the beginning the NDIS was created to save money and now it's blown out, amidst urgings for state and territorial governments to step up. Ahead of the Federal Budget, The Last Post Radio Show speaks with ADA Australia CEO, Geoff Rowe about the disability scheme and it's likely future.

A story of miraculous survival and an amazing life. The Australian College of Nursing Foundation partners with SA Film Maker Ash Starkey to produce a documentary about Vivian Bullwinkel and the 21 nurses who perished at Radji beach in 1942. The Last Post Radio Show speaks with Ash about the film, the process and the life of Vivian Bullwinkel.

The Selection Table - Listen to Ben Eames and Michael Bridger give their tips and reasons why for the coming rounds of AFL and NRL matches this weekend. With help from Greg Champion and news about the AFL's Footy Shorts, coming to the Melbourne International Film Festival in August.

From Daniel Reynaud's new book, listen to Daniel tell the story of Walter Dexter, Australia's most decorated chaplain. Decorated three times over two wars with a disdain for pomp, boarded his first ship at age 14, a brilliant public speaker and sea captain, being on a sailing ship with a crocodile and teaching himself ancient Greek and Hebrew whilst on board, a respected horseman who saved the lives of 70 people at sea. A man who sailed the world and had a tent as a parish in Wonthaggi, nicknamed 'The Pinching Padre' who would do anything for his soldiers and of landing at Gallipoli, insisting he go onshore with the first wave. The chaplain who sprinkled wattle seeds over the graves of Anzacs before he left the Peninsula and, as a farmer, bought back the same cow he had sold, without knowing. At Durham University, a successful debater and rower, a working-class man who had the ability to communicate with all.

The Last Post Radio Show speaks with Uncle Col Watego OAM, about Serving Country, a landmark exhibition that is now available in book form. Attached to that and on the back of one of Australia's most significant cultural and historical initiatives, Uncle Col speaks about the identity of respect in modern Australia and for truth-telling and for recognition of the role our original Australians, who have partaken in more than a century of contribution across conflicts and peacekeeping missions. With the storytelling of 311 participants across 619 pages, Serving Country is a quality historical publication.

The Last Post Radio Show speaks with Prof and author Paul Strangio about his new book, The Alchemy of Leadership, a look at and account and stocktake of Australian politics in the first 1/4 century of the new millennium.