Podcast: Play in new window
An episode full of stories that, told at the pub, would trail off with “well, it seemed like a good idea at the time”. Like investing a significant chunk of your nation’s dwindling cash reserves in a musical re-imagining the life of Leonardo Da Vinci, in which Mona Lisa is the love interest who Leo knocks up. Or one of those relationships where you’re so in love that you’d do anything for the other person, and you’d let them do anything – or anyone – as well.
Impermanent Ink
We visit a laser tattoo removal clinic in Sydney’s inner west, to talk to a guy who deals in regret for a living.
Producer: Heidi Pett
Music: Falcor by Luchi
Nauru and the West End Musical
In the mid twentieth century, Nauruans were the richest people per capita in the world. The money came from the islands phosphate mine, which is essentially seagull poop. But the phosphate began to run out and the Nauruan government made some pretty foolish investment decisions, including sinking a bunch of money into a failed musical.
Producer: Selena Shannon
Music: Concrete and Clay by Unit 2+4, You’ve Never Been In Love Like This Before by Unit 2+4 and Let Me Be A Part Of Your Life, a recording from Leonardo, A Portrait of Love
Wouldn’t Do It Again
Laura Brierley Newton has always known that before her mother, her dad had another wife; her name is Susie and they remain good friends. As Laura got older she learned they’d had an open marriage. It was the 70s and that was, apparently, what people did. So she sat down and asked her dad to tell her about it. And as soon as Susie got wind of that, she called up and asked if she could tell her side of the story. Turns out, that’s not quite how it went.
Producer: Laura Brierley Newton
Music: Break It Up, by Patti Smith
Episode image by Flickr user Daniela