Comedy writer Declan Fay is Tony's Speakola guest. Declan was the co-writer of Ronny Chieng International Student and the hilarious Crossbread podcast, about a Christian rap duo who hit the big time, but don't happen to be Christians (stars Megan Washington and Chris Ryan). Declan was head writer for this year's AACTA Awards, and has been part of writers' rooms for Rove, Dirty Laundry Live, Problems and You're Skitting Me. His The Sweetest Plum podcast with Chris Kennett was one of Australia's pioneering comedy podcasts, and ran for many years. He also speaks regularly in schools via Booked Out Speakers Agency, who also represent Tony for school visits. Join Speakola's mailing list and Substack Join Tony's personal writing Substack Donate to Speakola to keep us going! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The cohost of ABC breakfast radio in Adelaide, Jules Schiller delivered a beautiful best man speech for his old comedy partner Tony Moclair when he married Kate in 2003. It's a Speakola favourite, and in this episode, Jules comes on in the aftermatch of a Married at First Sight best man speech abomination to talk about what makes a great best man speech, or wedding speech generally. Opening audio is from Tony Moclair afternoons on 3AW. I wrote a piece about best man speeches recently for the Speakola podcast. Join Speakola's mailing list and Substack Join Tony's personal writing Substack Donate to Speakola See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For 15 seasons and 181 episodes, Julia Zemiro and Brian Nankervis have been the dual hosts of 'Rockwiz', bringing their wit, charm and performance energy to Australia's legendary music quiz show. In this episode Tony chats to them about what makes a good MC, and they share tips and yarns from several decades of hosting big events. In the second half, Tony's 12 year old son Jack joins the conversation. He's a big fan of Julia and Brian (and Rockwiz), and fancies himself as a bit of an MC himself. He prepared some questions for his heroes, and it's a lovely and funny end to the episode. There's some extra Jack questions that will be in the bonus Patreon feed, and on the Speakola newsletter. To read about Jack's visit to the Rockwiz Good Friday Show. To read and see video of Jack going to the Bruce Springsteen show at AAMI Park. Join Speakola's mailing list and Substack Join Tony's personal writing Substack Donate to Speakola See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lahra Carey's husband Ben Cowen died in paragliding accident on 8th of January 2017. A few days later, Lahra spoke at her husband's graveside, paying tribute to 'the Ben effect' and summoning friends and mourners to 'Ben's Army'. The speech is recreated for the episode, and Lahra talks to Tony about love and loss, and the challenge of giving a eulogy in the toughest moments. Lahra Carey's eulogy for Ben Cowen is one of the most popular speeches on Speakola. Lahra Carey's speech at time of one year anniversary is also amazing. Lahra works at Narrative Comms in crisis management Join Speakola's mailing list and Substack Join Tony's personal writing Substack Donate to Speakola Donate to the Cowen kids Parachute organisation, to help children who are dealing with death, illness or divorce of a parent, and are under financial hardship. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Brendan Nelson was Liberal Party leader and Leader of the Opposition in Australia in 2007-08. After he retired from politics, he became Director of the Australian War Memorial, and has a masterly knack of sharing the stories of this country's military heroes. The feature speech here was delivered in 2014 at a Soldier On charity fundraiser. Tony's cohost for this episode, comedian and Utopia star Anthony 'Lehmo' Lehmann was MC that night, and watched in awe as Dr Nelson explained the significance of a George Lambert print and its special frame, and watched bidding rocket from $1000 to $40,000 immediately. Lehmo says it is the greatest speech he ever saw live. The original audio is not available but Dr Nelson told the story as part of his 'five most significant artifacts at the Australian War Memorial' section of his Howard Oration in 2021, and that audio is included. There is also some beautiful singing at the end of this 50th episode of the podcast, by Private Ken Gant who was killed at the Battle of Long Tan, and recorded a song for his mother the day before he was deployed. /If you enjoy Speakola please do one or more of the things that help poidcasts: Tell someione; Rate or review us in iTunes, or support me financially. There's no production company for this, just me. Patreon, Speakola newsletter, one off donation Brendan Nelson's autobiography 'Of Life and Leadership' is available here. All proceeds to Legacy and Lifeline. You can book Lehmo for comedy and more, here. Tony's personal writing blog is Good one, Wilson! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clare Wright is an award winning author and documentary maker and a previous guest on this podcast (Ep 46). This very personal speech about depression was delivered at a The Wheeler Centre event called 'Epic Fail' featuring well known authors and artists sharing their stories of failure. Clare's description of a state of depression is so evocative that Melbourne musician Suzannah Espie wrote a song using the words of the speech as lyrics, 'I'm sorry, I failed'. The episode concludes with that song. Join Speakola newsletter for free here. It's just $5 a month to be a paid subscriber. Support on patreon Make a credit card donation This episode is sponsored by DocPlay. Sign up here for 45 days free on the world's best documentary streaming site, then if you choose to continue, $7.99/m. Clare's narrates the film, Utopia Girls , which you can stream at Docplay. Tony's personal writing blog is Good one, Wilson! The number for Lifeline Australia is 13 11 14. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brendan Gale became CEO of Richmond in late 2009, and delivered this speech to the whole of the football club in the rooms in the old Punt Road grandstand in early 2010. it was a vision for the future, and it was mocked in the press at the time. Richmond had not won a final for 30 years and had competed in finals twice in the previous fifteen. Gale outlined a plan to win three premierships in ten years. It's an articulate corporate speech in a sporting environment with brave goal setting. I spoke to Brendan Gale as part of interview process for my Allan Jeans biography (Yabby, Hardie Grant, 2024) The transcript and audio reenactment of Gale's speech is on Speakola. Join Speakola newsletter for free here or you can choose to pay. Thanks also to those who are donors or Patreons. This episode is sponsored by DocPlay. Sign up here for 45 days free on the world's best documentary streaming site, then if you choose to continue, $7.99/m. Tony's personal writing blog is Good one, Wilson! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A bonus episode with Walkley winning journalist Andrew Rule recorded when we chatted about his eulogy for his father (episode 44) This episode is about Andrew's eulogy for Les Carlyon, a fellow legend of Australian journalism and writing. The speech was delivered on March 12th 2019 at Flemington racecourse, the home of Australian racing and the location for some of Carlyon's most beautiful writing. As Andrew says in the speech, he was the poet laureate of the turf. Andrew Rule has a 'Life and Crimes' podcast and I was a guest talking footy rogues, 'Black sheep in footy boots'. I read out a list of thank yous in this episode to people who have been 'super subscribers',(Beyond the $5 per month) either as 'founding members' at the newsletter or 'Standing Ovation' donors on Patreon I'm also very grateful to every person who has helped me over these last two years to provide an income stream for this project. Thanks also to those who are donors just through Paypal This episode is sponsored by DocPlay. Sign up here for 45 days free on the world's best documentary streaming site, then if you choose to continue, $7.99/m. Tony's personal writing blog is Good one, Wilson! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vida Goldstein was the first woman to campaign for elected office for a national parliament in the English speaking world. It was the election of 1903, Ms Goldstein ran for the Senate in the Australian parliament, and she lost! Her launch speech was at Portland in Victoria and podcast guest Prof Clare Wright read it aloud for the Sydney Writers Festival's 'Friends, Romans, Countrymen' event in 2022. In this episode, Clare talks about Vida Goldstein's speech, but also her place in the women's suffrage struggle of the 1880s and 90s. She explains quite brilliantly how that period of women's history unfolded, and how Australian women became leaders on the world stage helping other white women win their struggles in the UK and the USA. Vida was an invitee to the Roosevelt White House, and helped and inspired Emmeline Pankhurst. Clare also explains that the early suffragists did not help indigenous women win or in the case of South Australia, retain the vote. They were products of the White Australia' era they inhabited. The audio of the speech as read by Clare Wright is courtesy of the Sydney Writers Festival. You can purchase tickets to the 2023 festival here. Clare's books include the Stella Award winning The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka and You Daughters of Freedom. Join Speakola newsletter here. For IWD, I released Part 1 and Part 2, Great speeches by women, decade by decade, 1910-2023. It's just $5 a month to be a paid subscriber. Thanks also to those who are donors or Patreons. This episode is sponsored by DocPlay. Sign up here for 45 days free on the world's best documentary streaming site, then if you choose to continue, $7.99/m. Clare's narrates the film, Utopia Girls , which you can stream at Docplay. Tony's personal writing blog is Good one, Wilson! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Between 2010 and 2013, Michael Cooney was speechwriter for Australia's 27th Prime Minister, Julia Gillard who was also its first female Prime Minister. Michael has written an excellent book about this experience, called 'The Gillard Project: My Thousand Days of Despair and Hope'. In this episode he talks about what a Prime Ministerial speech writer does, and shares interesting and funny yarns from the coalface of political power, including his trip to Washington for the Prime Minister's meeting with President Obama. Episode contains clips from Prime Minister Gillard's address to Congress, her speech at the Gallipoli Dawn Service 2011, The Misogyny Speech, and her remarks on losing the leadership ballot to Kevin Rudd in 2013. Michael now works at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers as the General Manager of Public Affairs. Join Speakola newsletter here. It's just $5 a month to be a paid subscriber. Thanks also to those who are donors or Patreons. This episode is sponsored by DocPlay. Sign up here for 45 days free on the world's best documentary streaming site, then if you choose to continue, $7.99/m. Tony's personal writing blog is Good one, Wilson! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Rule is a Gold Walkley winning journalist and author (Underbelly) who grew up on a farm in Gippsland and made his way from The Maffra Spectator to the pinnacles of Australian investigative reporting. His father, Keith, spent his life felling and fashioning timber, and this eulogy is a beautiful ode to a man and his axe. It was written as a feature for The Age in 1998, written as Keith Rule lay in the next room dying, and then adapted slightly to be read at the funeral in Lake Tyers on 27th June 1998. There is no audio of the original speech, so Andrew Rule has re-recorded the speech for this podcast. Andrew Rule mentions his colleague Les Carlyon in this chat, and Andrew's eulogy for Les Carlyon is also on Speakola. Andrew Rule has a 'Life and Crimes' podcast and I'm the current guest talking footy rogues, 'Black sheep in footy boots'. Sign up as a free or paid subscriber to Speakola here. $5 a month to be a paid subscriber. Thanks also to those who are donors or Patreons. This episode is sponsored by DocPlay. Sign up here for 45 days free on the world's best documentary streaming site, then if you choose to continue, $7.99/m. Tony's personal writing blog is Good one, Wilson! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ruth Clare is an Australian author who wrote the award winning memoir 'Enemy — A Daughter's story of how her father brought the Vietnam War home'. She suffered the trauma of domestic violence as a child, and has been talking about trauma for a living since she became a parent herself. She has delivered three TEDx talks: If you don't own your stories they'll own you, TEDxYouth@LGS The pain hiding your true self, TEDxYouth@LGS The power of Plan B Thinking, TEDxUniMelb (online event) Ruth talks to Tony about her traumatic childhood, her healing through therapy, the story of her most successful TEDx talk which has had over 100,000 views, and some tips on writing TED talks. She's brilliant! Ruth Clare's website. Sign up as a free or paid subscriber to Speakola here. If you love what I'm doing in this one-man speeches mission (43 episodes, 7 years of collecting) please become a $5 a month paid subscriber. It's really easy at news.speakola.com. Thanks also to those who are donors or Patreons. This episode is sponsored by DocPlay. Sign up here for 45 days free on the world's best documentary streaming site, then if you choose to continue, $7.99/m. Tony's personal writing blog is Good one, Wilson! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Laura Lexx is an acclaimed British comedian who has appeared on many television shows ('Roast Battle', 'Mock the Week') and has written a novel 'Pivot' and a bestselling humour book 'Klopp Actually'. Her tweets imagining a steamy yet sensible love affair with Jurgen Klopp lit up Twitter for a weekend in 2020, and scored her a book deal! But this episode is about her real life wedding in 2015 to fellow comedian Tom Livingstone (The Noise next Door) and the excellent bride speech she gave thanking him and her sister. It's a hit on YouTube and Laura is great on the whole question of how to do a bride or groom speech. Laura website Includes audio from this YouTube of Lin Manuel Miranda serenading bride Vanessa with help of friends and family at their wedding. The newsletter has a new home! More than 5000 signed up here. If you love what I'm doing in this one-man speeches mission (42 episodes, 7 years of collecting) please become a $5 a month paid subscriber. It's really easy at news.speakola.com. You can also make straight donations or join Speakola patreon. This is Tony's wedding speech to wife Tamsin. '10 Things I Love About You'. This episode is sponsored by DocPlay. Sign up here for 45 days free on the world's best documentary streaming site, then if you choose to continue, $7.99/m. Tony's personal writing blog is Good one, Wilson! His books are for sale here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

'Give me your children' is one of the most harrowing and disturbing speeches in history, It was delivered by Chief Elder and Nazi appointed representative of the Jews in the Lodź ghetto, Chaim Rumkowski. In the speech, Rumkowski announces that children under ten, the elderly, and the sick and infirm will be handed over to the Nazis to fulfill deportation demands, in order to save the rest of the ghetto. Holocaust survivor Abram Goldberg was in the ghetto's main square on that terrible day, and heard the speech and the screams of the crowd. In this episode he talks about Rumkowski, the leader's controversial and tarnished reputation, as well as Abram's own incredible story of survival, including a heart breaking promise to his mother at the train station at Auschwitz. Assisting 97 year old Abram in our interview is Fiona Harris, the co-author of his recent memoir, 'The Strength of Hope' (Affirm Press, 2022). Fiona has written children's books and co-produced and starred in the hit series, 'The Drop Off'. The reenactment of Rumkowski's speech is voiced by Tobias Menzies (The Crown, Outlander, Game of Thrones for Almeida Theatre's 'Figure of Speech' series. It is on YouTube Speakola is made entirely by Tony and supported by listeners. There is a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer Tony regular support. Also welcome credit card donations, which can be monthly or one off. Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Speakola is sponsored by DocPlay. Sign up here for 45 days free on the world's best documentary streaming site, then if you choose to continue, $7.99/m. The documentary 'A Film Unfinished' about a Nazi propaganda film in the Warsaw ghetto is excellent. Tony will share photos and write about his day with Abram and Fiona for his writer blog, Good one, Wilson. Email comments or ideas to tony@speakola.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The great actor and activist Uncle Jack Charles died in Melbourne on the 13th of September 2022 of a stroke. Five weeks earlier, Speakola's Tony Wilson recorded a chat with him during filming of their AFL Finals promo. Tony had written the words. Jack delivered the voice. During Jack's break, Tony chatted to him about life and career highlights. It was just recorded on a phone, so doesn't have the usual Speakola sound quality. it's a beautiful chat though, typically feisty and irreverent from Uncle Jack. Tony wrote it up for his column /newsletter Good one, Wilson, so it is up there too, with transcript. There is also a column about Tony writing what he calls his 'Nike poetry'. Uncle Jack talks about touring with Archie Roach on the Enter the Bloodstream tour and singing Archie's 'We Won't Cry'. That song finishes the episode, recorded at TEDx Sydney, 2017. Jack Charles was a proud and eloquent Bunurong and Wiradjeri man. RIP. Speakola is made entirely by Tony and supported by listeners. There is a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer Tony regular support. Also welcome credit card donations, which can be monthly or one off. Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Speakola is sponsored by DocPlay. Sign up here for 45 days free on the world's best documentary streaming site, then if you choose to continue, $7.99/m. The documentary 'Bastardy' about Jack Charles is on the platform. Email comments or ideas to tony@speakola.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ted Baillieu was the 46th Premier of Victoria, elected in November 2010. In this episode he talks about this speech he delivered as Leader of the Liberal Party Opposition in February 2009 at a Day of Mourning ceremony for the Black Saturday bushfire victims at Rod Laver Arena. Mr Baillieu is an excellent speechwriter and orator, and he shares tips and anecdotes gleaned across a long illustrious career in public life. Subscribe to Tony Wilson's 'Good one, Wilson' substack, to receive a weekly taste of his writing. An email a week, like this one about 'Nike poetry' Speakola is made entirely by Tony and supported by listeners. There is a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer Tony regular support. Also welcome credit card donations, which can be monthly or one off. Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Speakola is sponsored by DocPlay. Sign up here for 45 days free on the world's best documentary streaming site, then if you choose to continue, $7.99/m. Email comments or ideas to tony@speakola.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author James Button's 2008 eulogy for his politician father John Button was one of the first speeches ever added to Speakola. It's a beautiful speech, full of stories about one of Australia's most significant Labor politicians. It's also a eulogy that has an honesty to it, it talks about John Button's moodiness, his taciturn nature, his absences. But it also demonstrates his intelligence, wit and charisma. There's a sadness in Senator Button's past that James didn't bring up in the eulogy, which he now regrets, as he discusses in the interview. it's a brilliant speech and episode. James Button's books include Speechless A Year in My Father's Business and Comeback: the Fall and Rise of Geelong. Tony's footy books include 1989 The Great Grand Final. Subscribe to Tony Wilson's 'Good one, Wilson' substack, to receive a weekly taste of his writing. An email a week, with stories like this one about his son. Speakola is made entirely by Tony and supported by listeners. There is a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer Tony regular support. Also we welcome credit card donations, which can be monthly or one off. Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Spread the speakola word! Tag @byTonyWilson @speakola_ on Twitter facebook and Instagram. Speakola is sponsored by DocPlay. Get a two week free trial on the world's best documentary streaming site, then if you choose to continue, $7.99/m. Email comments or ideas to tony@speakola.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Peter Malinauskas is the 47th Premier of South Australia. He gave a terrific victory speech on election night, 19th March 2022, one described by The Australian's literary critic as having 'flawlessly controlled momentum' and reaffirming a belief in democracy. The Premier is a wonderful interviewee and talks about how he wrote the speech, and the importance of victory and concession speeches in the peaceful handover of power in Australia and in democracies generally. And he talks about his footy career with 'the Scum' at University Blacks Adelaide. He's still playing, even as Premier! Speakola is made entirely by Tony and supported by listeners. There is a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer Tony regular support. Also we welcome credit card donations, which can be monthly or one off. Thanks to Mike Jones, John Groarke, Marjorie Spiller, Alison Johnston and Geoffrey Stump for recent donations. Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Subscribe to Tony Wilson's 'Good one, Wilson' substack, to receive a weekly taste of his writing. Spread the speakola word! Tag @byTonyWilson @speakola_ on Twitter facebook and Instagram. Email comments or ideas to tony@speakola.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lou 'The Lip' Richards was an icon of Australian football in the latter half of the twentieth century. He was an excellent player, playing 250 games for Collingwood between 1941 and 1955, including captaining the 1953 premiership. But he found fame in his home town of Melbourne as a columnist, television wit, and play by play commentator. He died in 2017, and was honoured at a state funeral. Friend and North Melbourne administrator Ron Joseph delivered an excellent eulogy, much of it pitched in Lou's voice, that did justice to Richards' cheekiness and charm. Speakola is made entirely by Tony and supported by listeners. There is a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer Tony regular support. Also we welcome credit card donations, which can be monthly or one off. Tony AFL themed footy books include 1989: The Great Grand Final, A Boy Called Bob, The Selwood Boys series and his debut novel, Players. He co-directed a footy documentary about an AFL tour of Ireland in 1967 called The Galahs. Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Subscribe to Tony Wilson's 'Good one, Wilson' substack, to receive a weekly taste of his writing. He'll add the story of his mum's 1969 World of Sport trivia triumph shortly. Spread the speakola word! Tag @byTonyWilson @speakola_ on Twitter facebook and Instagram. Email comments or ideas to tony@speakola.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A speech described by The New York Times in the days after delivery as 'the greatest speech since Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address'. Jimmy Reid's speech was reprinted in full and praised around the world. In this episode, Jimmy Reid biographer and Westminster MP Kenny MacAskill (member for East Lothian in Scotland since 2019) talks about this famous speech, as well as 'no bevvying' shipyard address, and Reid's life and achievements as a worker advocate, politician, union leader, and media commentator. There are snippets of speeches from Jimmy Reid's funeral, which included eulogies from Billy Connelly and Sir Alec Ferguson. Kenny MacAskill reads a full version of the Glasgow University speech as speech of the week, because no full audio version exists. MacAskill's biography, 'Jimmy Reid: A Scottish Political journey' is excellent. Speakola is supported by listeners. There is a Patreon page which you can join If you want to offer Tony regular support for as little as $3/mth. Also welcome credit card donations, which can be monthly or one off. Subscribe to our newsletter if you want a fortnightly email setting out great speeches by theme. Subscribe to Tony Wilson's 'Good one, Wilson' substack, to receive a weekly taste of his writing. Tony's signed books are for sale at his website. Spread the speakola word! @byTonyWilson @speakola_ on Twitter and Instagram. Email comments or ideas to tony@speakola.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.