Podcasts: Australian History
After yesterday covering some practical tips on Podcasts, including accessing ‘archived’ ones (mp3 files), it’s time to have a look at some of the Australian History ones I’ve discovered over the years.
The History Listen
“New and compelling stories from Australia and around the world, told by some of our most popular and trusted historians. Step inside a time machine for an immersive journey through history, where stories of people, places and events bring the past vividly into our present world.” From ABC Radio National. https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/the-history-listen/
Shooting The Past
This “brings you Australian history through a new lens. Each episode features a historical event or era, and starts with a single photograph and the question; what is going on in this picture?” Another ABC RN one. https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/shootingthepast/
Australian Histories Podcast
As opposed to the full production team of ABC RN, Jenny runs her podcast by herself. And does a great job. She “aims to take a fresh look at some of the brilliant stories from Australia’s past” and what she hopes “to share with you here, is both an overview of various interesting episodes in Australian History, as well as some humour, interest and perhaps even a new perspective from those in your high school history textbooks!”
https://www.australianhistoriespodcast.com.au/
Myths of War
Another one from ABC RN which “looks for the truth in Australian military history — and explores why we sometimes believe the opposite.”
https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/myths-of-war/
Late Night Live (Specific Archived Episodes)
Their fantastic archive has some interesting history-related episodes I’ve listened to and enjoyed, including:
Geoffrey Blainey
“As one of Australia’s best known and most prolific historians, Geoffrey Blainey has also been a key player in the ‘history wars’. He discusses his memoir Black Kettle and Full Moon: Daily Life in a Vanished Australia. In it he tried to answer such questions as what did people eat, how did they eat over a fire, when did people start smoking, what bread did they eat, and when did the Southern Cross capture the Australian imagination, or even to define Australia?”
https://www.abc.net.au/rn/features/inbedwithphillip/episodes/213-geoffrey-blainey/
That book is excellent, BTW. I loved it. It’s not a memoir as such.
Billy ‘The Texan’ Longley
“Billy ‘The Texan’ Longley, former standover man on the Melbourne waterfront during the 1960s and 1970s, was one of the most feared of the hard men of the notorious Federated Ship Painters and Dockers Union, and was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1975 for ordering the murder of the union’s secretary, Pat Shannon.”
Local history. I’ve had a very pleasant email exchange, just last week, with the author of the book mentioned in the podcast. I’m trying to track down a copy, eBook or even pBook (paper :-)). She says it’s out of print. https://www.abc.net.au/rn/features/inbedwithphillip/episodes/206-billy-the-texan-longley/
Australian History – LaTrobe University
I think these used to be on the uni’s website, but I can’t find them there any more. This (unorganised) external archive of them will have to do for now. I’m grateful, but some are part of a series and meant to be heard in order, but you can’t tell which ones or which order here, AFAIK.
https://player.fm/series/series-2224279
