Shows
The MTPConnect PodcastDr Jordan Nguyen on Purpose-Driven Technology Solutions for Better HealthDr Jordan Nguyen - world-renowned AI and biomedical engineer, inventor, TV documentary presenter and author of A HUMAN'S GUIDE TO THE FUTURE presented a thought-provoking keynote at MTPConnect’s Accelerator Showcase in Melbourne recently. Jordan joins the MTPConnect podcast to discuss innovations in disability and aged care from his social business Psykinetic, where biomedical technology, AI, extended reality and robotics are applied to create inclusive technologies with positive and life-altering impact. He shares his move from Resmed to set up his inclusive tech company Psykinetic, discusses his innovations including a mind-controlled wheelchair, and the importance of user-centred desi...
2025-12-2230 min
The MTPConnect PodcastRaising Capital with MTPConnect and Wholesale InvestorAre you developing a medical science innovation and need funding for your venture? MTPConnect and Wholesale Investor are collaborating on a dedicated capital engagement program designed for life science companies looking for private investment. Wholesale Investor Co-Founder and Managing Director Steve Torso is behind one of the largest capital raising platforms in Australia, and he joins the podcast to talk about how the MTPConnect Investor Ready program can help life science companies develop an investor network, build a skill base in investor communications and avoid some of the pitfalls when engaging with investors....
2025-11-2032 min
The MTPConnect PodcastReal Brain Technology is Powering Up Drug Discovery and Going GlobalTessara Therapeutics, a pioneering biotech start-up based in Melbourne, has developed a platform which creates 3D human brain models using stem cells.Its RealBrain technology generates reproducible, scalable micro-tissues that mimic the complexity of the human brain. Ready to accelerate neural drug discovery – without using animal models.From working with CSIRO’s Kickstart program, receiving a CRC-P grant with Xylo Bio, and the University of Sydney to develop neuroplastogens to research the treatment of addiction disorders and inking a new agreement with Swiss based InSphero, Tessara Therapeutics is helping to unlock human neuroscience. Joinin...
2025-11-0738 min
The MTPConnect PodcastShowcasing Victoria’s Innovative Medtech ManufacturersOne of the challenges we face in Australia is getting more homegrown medtech products purchased and used by local hospitals and health services. MTPConnect’s Pathway to Market – Medtech Capability Uplift Program has been supporting ten market-ready Victorian medtech manufacturers to position themselves competitively for local health procurement opportunities. The recent Australian Medtech Manufacturing Alliance (AMMA) Medtech Showcase profiled Victorian-made products and innovations from 25 local manufacturers spanning surgical care and diagnostics to hospital consumables and equipment. From a new nasal swab designed for children to smart bedding systems for aged care and healthcare sectors, the lineup...
2025-10-3050 min
The MTPConnect PodcastIntroducing Western Australia’s New Chief Scientist Professor SriramProfessor Sharath Sriram was recently appointed as the new Chief Scientist of WA, providing independent, expert advice to the WA Government on topics important to the future of science and technology in the State. At our WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub’s Spotlight event he joined MTPConnect’s Dr Tracey Wilkinson for a fireside chat sharing his vision for science and technology in WA, his ambitions for the three years ahead, and insights from his first few months in the role.Accomplished nanotech researcher and commercialisation champion, Professor Sharath spent 16 years at RMIT University in Melbourne most rece...
2025-09-1938 min
The MTPConnect PodcastWhy Space Matters for Advancing Life Sciences ResearchTo mark our 200th episode, we are taking you into Space to discover the benefits of microgravity for health and medical research and its real-world applications. Can we use space technology to advance medical discoveries to improve health here on earth? And should we be doing more to connect our life science sector innovators into Australia’s space research sector?We meet leading Australian superstars working at the intersection of space and health technologies at MTPConnect SA’s Insights Series event “What’s Your Place in Space’, celebrating Australian Space Week in Adelaide.Australia’...
2025-09-0550 min
A Podcast, By Kayleigh.111 - Natalie Rose Vella on Creating the Iconic IYKO kit bag and Being a Founder!This week I welcome Natalie Rose Vella, the phenomenal founder and creator of the IYKO pro kit bag, to the pod! We sat down to talk about all things artistry, stepping in to being a founder, and the creation of her game changing make up artist's dream. This included:- Her journey from counter life to founder.- How she got the idea for the IYKO pro and the creation process.- Conquering self doubt to be the boss you know you can be! Natalie is truly...
2025-08-0651 min
The MTPConnect PodcastBio Bites: Doing Business in BostonAs the world’s largest biotech partnering event took place in Boston in June, MTPConnect was there introducing an Australian delegation to the Boston ecosystem, hosting business events to drive international collaborations and leading the Australian Pavilion to highlight Australia's fast-growing life sciences sector to the international biotech industry.Our CEO Stuart Dignam was on the ground to find out why people are making the trip to BIO and what the buzz is all about. In this episode, Stuart speaks to Brent Owens, co-founder of Ballarat-based Vitrafy Life Sciences – a company pioneering cryopreservation technology and Brent...
2025-08-0425 min
The MTPConnect PodcastFast, Fearless and Future - Showcasing Research Excellence for Queensland HealthQueensland Health is one of the largest employers in the state with some 130,000 full-time employees, geographically dispersed with 16 hospitals and health services across the country. The Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) hosts the ‘Queensland Health Research Excellence Showcase’ to celebrate how translating research into practice is advancing medical research, workforce development and healthcare. The Showcase’s theme - Fast, Fearless and Future – is a unique opportunity for Queensland Health employees to promote their translation-ready research. MTPConnect partnered with ORI to deliver a research poster and pitch session for the Showcase – attracting more than 40 entri...
2025-07-3042 min
The MTPConnect PodcastLaronix Breakthrough Smart Wearable Voicebox is Changing LivesMedical device innovator Laronix aims to give people who have had their larynx removed due to laryngeal cancer, their voice back. And not a robotic voice, but a natural sounding voice for both men and women where even laughing and singing is possible.The pioneering company has worked with speech pathologists and surgeons around the world to develop the world’s first smart, wearable (non-invasive), electronic voice box - the first new voice technology in forty years! It uses the power of AI and a person’s respiration signals to generate a natural-sounding voice.In this...
2025-06-3039 min
The MTPConnect PodcastNurturing your Clinical Innovation with AUSCEPIn a special series dedicated to the Australian Clinical Entrepreneur Program (AUSCEP) we introduce you to some of the passionate health professionals taking part in this 12-month program to develop their innovative ideas into products and enterprises.Ibrahim Samaan is a senior physiotherapist and Managing Director of Purifas, an award-winning company developing and manufacturing clinically proven hygienic products for allied healthcare - like its FaceShield - now available in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Japan and the UK. The company is now branching out to develop a new innovation - Recyclable Single-use Hospital Bed Linen f...
2025-06-1917 min
The MTPConnect PodcastNurturing your Clinical Innovation with AUSCEPIn a special series dedicated to the Australian Clinical Entrepreneur Program (AUSCEP) we introduce you to some of the passionate health professionals taking part in this 12-month program to develop their innovative ideas into products and enterprises.Dr Monica Hadges is a Clinical Educator and Mental Health Therapist and founder of Mi Team Mental Health. Monica’s digital health innovation, I-CiE Mi Team, is an app for client involved e-collaboration giving consumers and families easy access to participate in clinical review dialogues about their care.Monica shares her start-up journey which began with th...
2025-06-0618 min
The MTPConnect PodcastNurturing your Clinical Innovation with AUSCEPIn a special series dedicated to the Australian Clinical Entrepreneur Program (AUSCEP) we introduce you to some of the passionate health professionals taking part in this 12-month program to develop their innovative ideas into products and enterprises.Dr Yagiz Aksoy is a Resident Doctor at Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney and co-founder and Director of EosGene Therapeutics, a startup developing a pioneering light-activated gene therapy for diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration using proprietary drug delivery technology – removing the need for painful eye injections.Yagiz explains how taking part in AUSCEP helped him shift from be...
2025-05-2921 min
The MTPConnect PodcastNurturing your Clinical Innovation with AUSCEPIn a special series dedicated to the Australian Clinical Entrepreneur Program (AUSCEP) we introduce you to some of the passionate health professionals taking part in this 12-month program to develop their innovative ideas into products and enterprises. Elleesha King is a registered nurse and ambulance paramedic, and founder of Pulsatile Innovations, a start-up developing a medical device called Pulse Tile™ to reduce delays to CPR and defibrillation. She takes us on the journey of turning her idea into reality and explains how taking part in AUSCEP and meeting like-minded entrepreneurs has paid off in spades. www.thepulsetile.com
2025-05-2315 min
The MTPConnect PodcastProfile Media: Telling Your Start-Up StoryFrom scientific breakthrough to compelling headline - how do medtech and biotech start-ups developing new medical products tell their stories to attract investors, partners and public attention?Profile Media hosted a development workshop for a group of medtech startups through MTPConnect’s Clinical Translation and Commercialisation Medtech accelerator program…helping innovation companies develop a story that goes beyond complex science and is relatable to mainstream media and investors. Sue Papadoulis is a journalist and founder of Profile Media and joins the podcast to share some valuable insights on how start-ups can develop a compelling public profi...
2025-04-2936 min
The MTPConnect PodcastFDA to Z of Getting Your Product to the USJeff Gibbs is a Director at Hyman Phelps and McNamara – the largest law firm specialising in FDA issues, based in Washington DC. With four decades of FDA expertise he delivers crucial insights for medical technology companies aiming to crack the US market. Peaking to the podcast during his national tour for the MTPConnect seminar series, this US-based regulatory veteran shares his strategic tips on the FDA submission process, and discusses the dramatically shifting FDA landscape that could make or break your US market entry strategy. Whether you're developing breakthrough medical technology or refining existing solutions, this epi...
2025-04-1033 min
The MTPConnect PodcastTap into Medical Alley’s Academy TrainingMedical Alley is a powerhouse in global healthcare innovation, connecting startups and Fortune 100 companies to transform healthcare solutions. Headquartered in Minnesota, it’s one of the world’s largest medtech clusters.At the 2024 MedTech Conference in Canada, MTPConnect and Medical Alley renewed an MOU to strengthen collaboration and support for Australian medtech companies looking to expand internationally.Now, Medical Alley is launching a game-changing online training program, Medical Alley Academy, designed to help innovators move into the US market - a great opportunity for Australian companies to tap into.Joining Caroline Duel...
2025-03-2322 min
The MTPConnect PodcastReady to Export Your Medtech to Europe?Dive into another episode coming to you from MTPConnect’s Development Workshop Series held recently in Sydney for 52 start-up organisations from around Australia. The 2-day program was a terrific opportunity for companies participating in our Accelerator programs to get ‘investor ready’.Exportia Australia’s Christelle Damiens, an entrepreneur and award-winning author, shared her insights in the workshop “Accessing Global Markets”. Christelle is described as the go-to person for Australian companies looking to expand into the European market and she shared her methodologies, winning strategies and key learnings from more than 20 years of business development in Europe. Christelle...
2025-03-0720 min
The MTPConnect PodcastUnlocking Intrinsic Value to Get Investor ReadyThis episode is coming to you from MTPConnect’s Development Workshop Series held in Sydney for 52 start-up organisations from around Australia. The 2-day program was a terrific opportunity for companies participating in our Accelerator programs to get ‘investor ready’.Advisory firm Intrinsika’s workshop, ‘Finding Your Intrinsic Value’, focused on how to reframe a company’s value beyond the financials, by identifying and maximising unique assets and pitching this value to investors. Intrinsika’s Brett Kensett-Smith and Michael Masterson joined host Caroline Duell at the event to discuss the importance of differentiating your company to captur...
2025-02-1922 min
The MTPConnect PodcastExploring the Australian Stroke and Heart Accelerator’s High Potential Research PortfolioThe Australian Stroke and Heart Research Accelerator, established through MTPConnect’s Targeted Translation Research Accelerator for cardiovascular disease and diabetes on behalf the Medical Research Future Fund, is a research centre with a bold vision to deliver new health outcomes in coronary artery disease, heart failure and stroke.Through clinical impact and entrepreneurship, an Australian wide network of academics, institutions, and industry partners are driving a high potential research portfolio and an education and training program with a commercialisation focus.We talk to stroke and heart research experts Professor Geoffrey Donnan AO and Professor Jason Ko...
2025-02-1234 min
The MTPConnect PodcastHeart and Soul: Dr Daniel Timms on Creating the First Successful Total Artificial HeartWe meet Dr Daniel Timms, the Australian biomechanical engineer behind BiVACOR who has dedicated his life to developing a titanium Total Artificial Heart (TAH) to restore the lives of people with end-stage heart failure, a disease that impacted his own family.It’s a 25-year quest that has taken him from a PhD at QUT, developing the device with his father in his parent’s kitchen in Queensland, to collaborating with experts around the world and expanding operations to the US on his mission to save lives.In 2024 Daniel made history in Texas, with the firs...
2024-12-1036 min
The View In Your MirrorSpecial Edition: Our 4th Anniversary Special (Fall 2024)Join us as we celebrate our 4th anniversary with a special edition episode where Lisa Rubin & Katie Harms reflect on the incredible journey over the past year. You’ll gain insights into our evolution to growing our dynamic interaction. We revisit highlights from early episodes on wardrobing and maximizing living spaces that have shaped our podcast’s direction.
Additionally, this episode is a heartfelt tribute to the inspirational women making a difference. We highlight Ella Engström and her unique take on Swedish death cleaning, an approach that has resonated with many. To Natalie Bushaw's advocacy for heart...
2024-08-1824 min
Take A Leap & Transform: A Neurodiversity JourneyUnlocking Potential: Neurodiversity Best Practices for HR ProfessionalsSend us a text🔍 What the live-stream will cover:In an exclusive session guided by Edana and Natalie, we embark on an in-depth exploration of HR best practices dedicated to supporting neurodivergent talent in the workplace.Some of the points well cover:1️⃣ Communication Strategies: Learn about tailored communication strategies that bridge gaps and promote a supportive dialogue between neurodivergent employees and their peers.2️⃣ Training and Development: Discover effective approaches for providing training and development opportunities that cater to diverse learning styles and strengths.3️⃣ Workplace Accommodations: Gain insights into creating a...
2024-05-071h 08
ExpiredA Bad Guy Killed The GoodmansStanley Eric Goodman was born on July 6, 1963 to Willard and Essie Goodman in Scott County, Tennessee. He was married at a young age to Sherry Goodman and was a father of 3. When Stanley and Sherry split, Sherry moved to Cleveland and the 2 children spent time with both their mother and father. Terri Sue Lawson Goodman was born February 10, 1963 to Clifford and Mary and was described as a sweet and sensible person who had overcome a tragedy in her 20’s. Terri Sue was almost killed in a car crash in 1985, which had her hospitalized for months and years of the...
2024-03-2542 min
Women Leaders on the Move - HerCsuite® RadioWhy Compassion Matters for Healthcare Providers with Dr. Erika La VellaIn this enlightening conversation, Dr. Erika La Vella and host Natalie Benamou take an in-depth look into the way nutrition, lifestyle changes, and stress impact our wellness. They discuss the centuries-old indicator called BMI (body mass index) and how it plays a part in deciding health outcomes for larger patients with a BMI over 40. Find out how one interaction with a patient transformed the way she approaches caring for patients.Dr. Erika discovered how compassion is so important in building trust with patients from her own experience in her practice. She shares how healthcare an...
2023-06-2822 min
Women Leaders on the Move - HerCsuite® RadioHow to Prioritize Your Health with Dr. Erika La VellaAre You Prioritizing Your Health the Right Way? As we navigate through the challenges of a busy life, it is essential to prioritize our health and well-being. In this two-part series, Dr. Erika La Vella, a board-certified general and bariatric surgeon, and gut health expert, shares her insights with HerCsuite™ Radio host Natalie Benamou, on the importance of a holistic approach to health, focusing on nutrition, surgery, and the mind-body medicine. Dr. La Vella emphasizes the impact of lifestyle choices and habits on our overall health and offers valuable tips on how to make the mos...
2023-06-2123 min
Listen To The Award-Winning Full Audiobook Now, Busy Professionals!The Marriage Auction: Book Four by Audrey CarlanPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/777513to listen full audiobooks.
Title: The Marriage Auction: Book Four
Series: #4 of The Marriage Auction: Season One
Author: Audrey Carlan
Narrator: Cj Bloom, Will Thorne, Aiden Snow, Zoe Mckay, Hans Roberts, Samantha Brentmoor, Summer Morton, Natalie Eaton, Amelie Griffin, Jeremy York
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 10 hours 47 minutes
Release date: May 9, 2023
Genres: Modern
Publisher's Summary:
From #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Audrey Carlan, discover The Marriage Auction: Book Four You can now dive into the Kindle Vella phenomenon with over 1 MILLON READS. This saga has ranked #1 for over a full year and continues to break r...
2023-05-0910h 47
Discover The Full Audiobook Everyone Is Talking About — So Uplifting!The Marriage Auction: Book Three by Audrey CarlanPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/777512to listen full audiobooks.
Title: The Marriage Auction: Book Three
Series: #3 of The Marriage Auction: Season One
Author: Audrey Carlan
Narrator: Hans Roberts, Samantha Brentmoor, Zoe Mckay, Cj Bloom, Will Thorne, Aiden Snow, Summer Morton, Natalie Eaton, Amelie Griffin, Jeremy York
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 9 hours 33 minutes
Release date: May 9, 2023
Genres: Modern
Publisher's Summary:
From #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Audrey Carlan, discover The Marriage Auction: Book Three You can now dive into the Kindle Vella phenomenon with over 1 MILLON READS. This saga has ranked #1 for over a full year and continues to break r...
2023-05-099h 33Get Latest Full Audiobooks in Romance, ModernThe Marriage Auction: Book Three by Audrey CarlanPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/777512to listen full audiobooks.
Title: The Marriage Auction: Book Three
Series: #3 of The Marriage Auction: Season One
Author: Audrey Carlan
Narrator: Hans Roberts, Samantha Brentmoor, Zoe Mckay, Cj Bloom, Will Thorne, Aiden Snow, Summer Morton, Natalie Eaton, Amelie Griffin, Jeremy York
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 9 hours 33 minutes
Release date: May 9, 2023
Genres: Modern
Publisher's Summary:
From #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Audrey Carlan, discover The Marriage Auction: Book Three You can now dive into the Kindle Vella phenomenon with over 1 MILLON READS. This saga has ranked #1 for over a full year and continues to break r...
2023-05-099h 33Get Latest Full Audiobooks in Romance, ModernThe Marriage Auction: Book Four by Audrey CarlanPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/777513to listen full audiobooks.
Title: The Marriage Auction: Book Four
Series: #4 of The Marriage Auction: Season One
Author: Audrey Carlan
Narrator: Cj Bloom, Will Thorne, Aiden Snow, Zoe Mckay, Hans Roberts, Samantha Brentmoor, Summer Morton, Natalie Eaton, Amelie Griffin, Jeremy York
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 10 hours 47 minutes
Release date: May 9, 2023
Genres: Modern
Publisher's Summary:
From #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Audrey Carlan, discover The Marriage Auction: Book Four You can now dive into the Kindle Vella phenomenon with over 1 MILLON READS. This saga has ranked #1 for over a full year and continues to break r...
2023-05-0910h 47
Get Latest Full Audiobooks in Romance, ModernThe Marriage Auction: Book Three by Audrey CarlanPlease visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/777512 to listen full audiobooks. Title: The Marriage Auction: Book Three Series: #3 of The Marriage Auction: Season One Author: Audrey Carlan Narrator: Hans Roberts, Samantha Brentmoor, Zoe Mckay, Cj Bloom, Will Thorne, Aiden Snow, Summer Morton, Natalie Eaton, Amelie Griffin, Jeremy York Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 9 hours 33 minutes Release date: May 9, 2023 Genres: Modern Publisher's Summary: From #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Audrey Carlan, discover The Marriage Auction: Book Three You can now dive into the Kindle Vella phenomenon with over 1 MILLON READS. This saga has ranked #1 for over a full year and continues to b...
2023-05-0905 min
Get Latest Full Audiobooks in Romance, ModernThe Marriage Auction: Book Four by Audrey CarlanPlease visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/777513 to listen full audiobooks. Title: The Marriage Auction: Book Four Series: #4 of The Marriage Auction: Season One Author: Audrey Carlan Narrator: Cj Bloom, Will Thorne, Aiden Snow, Zoe Mckay, Hans Roberts, Samantha Brentmoor, Summer Morton, Natalie Eaton, Amelie Griffin, Jeremy York Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 10 hours 47 minutes Release date: May 9, 2023 Genres: Modern Publisher's Summary: From #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Audrey Carlan, discover The Marriage Auction: Book Four You can now dive into the Kindle Vella phenomenon with over 1 MILLON READS. This saga has ranked #1 for over a full year and continues to b...
2023-05-0905 min
MemoriaBetween Two Worlds by Lucia BenavidesBetween two worlds Podcast flash story by Lucia Benavides The story is about the struggles of identity many migrants face; and the regret of having left home. It took place during a visit to my home country of Argentina. I had been living in the U.S. for 17 years at that point - after moving at the age of 9 - and had largely accepted my life in the U.S. by then. But it was during my uncle's wedding, watching family members dance around me and seeing them so grown and happy and different from when I...
2021-10-3105 min
MemoriaAbout You by Jennifer CraneAbout You Podcast flash story by Jennifer Crane This piece relates to a dream I had shortly before the unexpected passing of my husband at our property. I ask myself every day what I could have done to prevent an outcome that devastated our young family forever. 'If only' is hard to live with and writing the words doesn't answer the questions but expresses the pain. Jennifer Crane holds a Master of Letters, lives in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland and has been published in a number of formats and genre, She has a lo...
2021-10-0307 min
MemoriaSilent Sisters by Jay AlterSilent Sisters Podcast flash story by Jay Alter I wanted to explore a moment in my life that fills me with regret to this day. It was life-changing, not only for myself but for my entire family. I'm just sharing my story. About the author Jay Elle Alter is an Australian based creative studying Journalism at Charles Sturt University. Living in Armidale in the New England Region of New South Wales with her husband, cats and german shepherd Vader, she has a passion for the creative industries, making her a...
2021-09-0506 min
MemoriaDr Who in the Kitchen of my Childhood by Marina ByrneDr Who in the kitchen of my childhood Podcast flash story by Marina Byrne I come from a family of 8 kids. We had very little money and I always had the sense that I needed to walk on eggshells to avoid triggering simmering tensions. With so many kids to feed, the kitchen in my childhood house was always in use and was the backdrop to a lot of conflict. Winner of the 2018 QWC Flash Fiction prize, I have been writing for many years. I write and edit blogs, books and articles for businesses and other...
2021-08-0105 min
MemoriaThe Rollerskaters by Suzanne HermanoczkiThe rollerskaters Podcast flash story by Suzanne Hermanoczki The Roller-skaters is a short memoir piece about roller skating. My best friend’s dad used to take a whole bunch of us kids either to the rink or the drive-in. The rink was one of those 80’s Terminator and Stranger Things all-ages kids’ with big hair hang out kinda place; with video games, a DJ and a disco ball – and skating. Suzanne Hermanoczki is a writer and teacher of creative writing. Her writing has been published in local and international publications including the Australian Multiling...
2021-07-0407 min
MemoriaThe L-shaped Room by Maria GriffinAn L-shaped room Podcast flash story by Maria Griffin This is about processing a profound life transition. I was a chronic insomniac and operated on about 3-4 hours of sleep for the first 9 months of my daughter's life. I had very low coping resources and found the first year of being a mother very hard. Recently, I recalled these half-awake hallucinations experienced while breastfeeding her in the night. Maria's work appears/is forthcoming in Southerly, Not Very Quiet, Right Now, L’Ephemere Review, Talking Writing, StylusLit. In 2018 she participated in Writing In The Expanded Field, ACC...
2021-06-0608 min
MemoriaDanube DreamingSo now I’m lying in bed and listening to the rain. The sky is grey and heavy, the rain is heavy and wet.Fat drops fall to the concrete like drip drip drip. I could be anywhere in the world but I’m not.I’m in Budapest and the city is crying big fat tears. The Danube is flowing and filling, the Danube is threatening to flood. I’m safe in my bed and I’m sad it my apartment and I don’t know why. This piece was written while...
2021-01-0410 min
MemoriaThe Joint Before Xmas The joint was artfully constructed with three Tally Hos; a sort of stoner oragami. I sparked it behind Grandpa’s old shearing shed and it smouldered in the stifling Christmas Eve sun. Inhaling deeply, I felt my eyes droop and my brain numb. As a teenager on Christmas Eve, I escape the watchful eyes of my relatives for a moment of solitude. However, when a fire breaks out, the family must come together in a collective effort to save the farm. Nick Orchard is a Melbourne-based writer, social worker and former professional rapper. Nick...
2020-12-0707 min
MemoriaI Carried Him I was in labour - 20 weeks too early. The doctor was hopeful that they could slow the contractions and delay labour as my membranes had not yet ruptured. He did an ultrasound, sending images of our baby boy onto the small monitor. The baby was okay but if he was born they wouldn’t be able to do anything to save him – viability was still three weeks away. What happens when a baby is stillborn? It isn't something that is often discussed and we are rarely prepared for it. In April 1999, my second son Br...
2020-11-0205 min
MemoriaI Can See Through your Lululemons My Chinese herbalist is coming down off E She drinks diuretic tea on weekdays / on Sundays takes MD She talks the walk / connect the dots / as she aligns my chi Dysfunctional / functional / holistic / ballistic This lifestyle’s feeling so sadistic In my quest for health, I became sicker and sicker. I followed the advice of people in the fitness and wellness industries and ended up with chronic hives. My poem is a rant against the world that's more interested in creating a "picture of health" than anything real...
2020-10-0406 min