Advertise on podcast: Bravewords

Hi there, I'm away up north for an exciting TV project, and Adrienne is at home working on the Bravewords courses, and hosting Bravewords live at the Funhaus Factory in Gosford, so it's been too difficult to record our podcasts! So, a quick break. We'll be back mid November with more great stories. Thanks Rob Music as always, courtesy of the ridiculously talented, and utterly delightful, Sean Peter.

A first time mum prepares the perfect birth. Donné Restom is a singer, writer and storyteller. She is the founder of sell-out storytelling event, Kink in the Tale: Storytelling for Grownups and her debut one woman show, Everyone in my Family is Dead or About to be was nominated for Sydney Fringe 2024’s Best in Theatre Award. Donné has written and released three albums, and her fourth album, Anatomy of Heart, just released. Now on all streaming platforms. Music courtesy of Sean Peter

A rough trot with his health sends Peter thinking back through life to find the causes of his ill health.  Peter Byers is co-writer and producer of two plays, the much-loved 'Labyrinth of Love' and its silly sequel 'Child of the Labyrinth', that were performed variously at the Harold Park Hotel, Downstairs at the Belvoir Street theatre and at the  Bondi Pavilion for the original Sydney Fringe festival.Also co-writer and producer of the highly acclaimed musical 'That's the Ticket!' at the Bondi Pavilion.Co-writer of a film script that received two rounds of funding by the NSW Film & Television Office and was optioned by Fox Studios Australia but which, alas, did not make it to production - but that's show business! Music courtesy of Sean Peter

A young girl, growing up in soviet East Germany, worries about her mum. Andrea Buschner was born and raised in socialist East Germany. She found her way to Australia at the age of 31. Here she found peace, escape and safety in books and writing. She didn't start taking art seriously before arriving in Oz. Once here she studied photography at Tafe at age 33. She's worked as a freelance photographer, recycled textiles into toys and is now a ceramicist. Andrea continues to write. Music courtesy of Sean Peter.

Should I imagine how other people 'do it'... or shall I tell the world how I 'do it'? A TV writer with a curious mind wonders just how much to share! Debra Oswald is a novelist, screenwriter, playwright, creator of the TV series Offspring and two-time winner of the NSW Premier’s Literary Award. Debra has published nine children’s books and four adult novels, including The Family Doctor, and most recently One Hundred Years of Betty. Her stageplays include Gary’s House, Dags, and Stories in the Dark. Television credits include Police Rescue and Bananas in Pyjamas.Debra performed her one-woman show, Is There Something Wrong With That Lady? at Griffin Theatre and the Ensemble. Music courtesy of Sean Peter

When a teenage girl falls pregnant in the 70's... what to do? Debbie Leidich has lived on the Central Coast for 40 years. She is a retired primary school teacher and now teaches yoga locally. Debbie is married and mother of 5 — 3 living and 2 deceased children. She says, “My adult children have taught me much about life, and love, and the value of laughter.” Music courtesy of Sean Peter

A young doctor faces very high stakes, with loads of moving parts, and the most precious thing in the world is at stake. Linda Atkins is a medical practitioner and writer living in Dharug, NSW. She is a Ten Pound Pom and grew up in Western Sydney.She has been writing for five years and in that time, she has won or been shortlisted in numerous awards such as The Calibre Essay Prize, the Olga Masters Prize, Grieve 2024 and 2025, the AAPT Meniscus Emerging Writers Prize, Not Quite Write Prize, and most recently the Heroine's Women's Writing Prize of 2026. She has been a participant as an invited playwright in the Parramatta Playmates and the Parramatta Play Project, and her debut play The Leftovers was read by professional actors as a part of Parramatta's lit! festival in 2025. She is a co writer of a work 'I can't Believe its not Parramatta,' produced by the Parramatta Play Project, which is seeking development in 2027. Her debut novel, What We Left Behind, is to be published by Summit Books on Dec 1st, and was named by the Age as one of 2026 most anticipated books. What We Left Behind was featured by Books and Publishing at London Book Fair of 2026. She lives with the nicest two of her three kids.

In the 1960's in Terrigal NSW, a little pair of 5 year old eyes was listening, watching, and remembering. These are some of his recollections. Michael Kilp was born and bred on the central coast.  He and his wife ran the paddleboat business, Aquafun, on Avoca Beach Lagoon for 26 years, hence his nickname, Paddleboat Mick.  Mick never dreamed he could write a great story but he had a lot locked in him. Bravewords writing courses have drawn them out and our community love listening to them through BRAVEWORDS LIVE. Now we’re thrilled to share them around the world.  Music Courtesy of Sean Peter

A young girl worries about the "infinity of space, the eternity of hell", and after a time discovers her part in it. Sian works as a mediator, helping families navigate conflict and change across the lifespan. Music courtesy of Sean Peter

Richard wants to talk about his failing body!! Richard Glover is the author of a few best-selling books – in particular  “The Land Before Avocado” is a journey into the bizarre Australia of the late 60s and early 70s. Until a year or two ago, he presented the comedy program Thank God It’s Friday on ABC local radio.. And his weekly column has appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald for close to four decades….. Here's a link to his books! https://www.amazon.com.au/stores/author/B001K8BOSS Music courtesy of Sean Peter

A weary young backpacker sits on a train a long way from home and ruminates on all that got her there. Cas Castellano is a writer of poetry and creative non-fiction from Philadelphia living in Australia. Her work has been featured for the first time in two indie publications this year [Sprig Magazine, Brisbane and Friends in Soft Focus, New York]. She delights in all that is absurd, profound, useless, and morally-ambiguous. Music courtesy of Sean Peter

A family gets the train to Sydney to collect their new son. CAROLINE ANNE BUTT was born in North Sydney. She grew up on Sydney's Lower North Shore, in a non-affluent, stable and loving home. She was a highly religious, innocent and nerdy girl. She's been a Share Clerk, school teacher, tutor, painter, researcher and writer.  Her published works have been an eclectic mix: writing for children, magazine articles, multimedia CDs, Life Writing, short stories. Her first memoir, Pumpkin, was published in 2019 by Ginninderra Press and her second memoir, The Steering Wheel, was published early in 2025. She experienced power and powerlessness in family, religious and patriarchal settings and continues to question their foundations and life in general. While she's found her own true north, she knows that, even then, tides always turn.

When Toby needed to become the primary carer of his first born child, he needed help. Toby’s childhood memoir ‘Two Mums & a Dad’ was published in 2021. The promotional rounds for that book included interviews on TV and radio, coverage in newspapers, and talks at writers festivals and libraries. A number of Toby’s short stories have been published in magazines, converted into podcasts and broadcast on radio. As part of his day job, Toby has written boring articles for legal journals, industry papers, and broadsheets. Music courtesy of Sean Peter.

Susan's 96 year old mum met Stan. This is their story. Susan Hampton is a writer and a poet. She’s taught writing at manyAustralian universities.  She Co-edited The Penguin Book of AustralianWomen Poets. Surly Girls, performance pieces and short stories, won the Steele Rudd Award in 1990. The Kindly Ones, a long narrative poem, won the 2006 Judith Wright Award. Last year, her memoir Anything Can Happen won the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award forNon-Fiction. Susan grew up in Inverell and Newcastle and now she lives on the Central Coast. Music courtesy of Sean Peter

A recently separated man 'enjoys' his new found freedom at a friend's wedding in Koh Samui, Thailand. DARREN GILSHENAN. After graduating from NIDA in 1988, Darren began his career in musical theatre before spending 10 years with The Bell Shakespeare Company. He followed this up with three years on the sketch comedy Full Frontal, and along with starring in high-profile roles on Australian television.  Darren’s television credits include: Sunny Nights (Stan, Jungle Entertainment), Ten Pound Poms S2 (BBC, Stan), Bay of Fires S2 (Fremantle), Thou Shalt Not Steal (Stan), Colin from Accounts S1-2 (Easy Tiger Productions), Population 11 (Stan), Nautilus (Disney+), Upright S2 (Lingo Pictures), Darby and Joan (Acorn), Joe vs. Carole (NBC, Matchbox Pictures), Troppo (Playmaker, EQ Media, Beyond), The Science of Harrow S1-2 (Hoodlum Productions), Harrow S1-3 (Hoodlum Productions), Stateless (ABC, Matchbox Pictures), How To Stay Married S1-3 (Princess Productions, Network Ten), Get Krack!n S2 (ABC), No Activity S1 (US Version) (Jungle Entertainment), True Story with Hamish and Andy (Nine Network), Here Come the Habibs! S1-2 (Jungle Entertainment), No Activity S1-2 (Jungle Entertainment), Maximum Choppage (Matchbox Pictures), The Killing Field (Seven Network), Devils Playground (Matchbox Pictures), The Moodys (Jungle Entertainment), Rake S3 (ABC), The Elegant Gentleman’s Guide to Knife Fighting (Jungle Entertainment), Janet King (ABC), Top of the Lake (See-Saw Films), A Moody Christmas (Jungle Entertainment) and Chandon Pictures S1-2 (Movie Extra).  Darren’s film credits include Audrey, Take My Hand, A Savage Christmas, The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race, Carnifex, Never Too Late, June Again, Dying for a Laugh, A Few Less Men, Women He’s Undressed directed by Gillian Armstrong, Save Your Legs and Dark City.  He also starred in the web series Plausible Deniability produced by Random Pictures. For his work he won Best Actor at IndieX Film Festival. The web series also won the Outstanding Achievement: Best Web Series / TV Pilot at IndieX Film Festival.  Select theatre credits include The Caretaker (Ensemble Theatre), The Hypochondriac (Darlinghurst Theatre Co.), Who’s Afraid of Viginia Woolf? (Ensemble Theatre) for which he received a Best Actor nomination at the Sydney Theatre Awards, Tartuffe (Black Swan State Theatre Co.), Machu Picchu, Fool’s Island, Loot and Our Town (Sydney Theatre Company), Elling, Don Parties On (Melbourne Theatre Company), Mother and Son (national tour) and Strictly Ballroom: The Musical directed by Baz Luhrmann.  Darren won the 2020 AACTA Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Drama Series for Stateless. He won the Helpmann Award for Best Male Actor in a Play for The Servant of Two Masters. The Moodys and A Moody Christmas both won Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy at the 5th and 3rd Annual Equity Ensemble Awards respectively.  Music courtesy of Sean Peter.