S05EP06 – Between Two Worlds by Lucia Benavides

I hadn’t been home in five years. The place that was once home, anyway: Argentina, my original birthplace that over the years became just a memory, existing within a cloud of nostalgia. Even after 17 years in Texas, where I’d spent nearly two-thirds of my life, I stubbornly thought Buenos Aires would stay the same. But the face of my grown cousin gesturing for me to dance reminded me of the inevitable passage of time. I had once said goodbye to this chubby, red-faced toddler through the gates of airport security.

Between 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 had left, that I wondered: What would it have been like if I had stayed? I couldn’t shake off the feeling that I had been robbed of something; of a life. I wasn’t meant to live my life in the U.S., I was meant to live my life in Argentina. But, in the end, that’s not the way things panned out.

About the author

Lucía Benavides is a writer and journalist currently based in Barcelona, Spain. Originally from Argentina, her interests revolve mostly around women’s issues and identity. Before Spain, she worked as a reporter/ producer at the NPR station in Austin, Texas. She’s been published on NPR, The Atlantic and LA Review of books, among others.

“What It’s Like To Hear Paul McCartney In Liverpool,” NPR
“In Search of the Naples — and Women — of Ferrante’s Novels,” LA Review of Books
“Living With Gabriel García Márquez’s Ghost,” LitHub

Acknowledgements:

Memoria was written, produced, edited and presented by Natalie Vella

Between two worlds was written and read by Lucia Benavides. The story was sound edited by Natalie Vella.

Music in this episode was by Blue Dot Sessions, Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Don’t forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and Stitcher!

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S05EP05 – About You by Jennifer Crane

‘Mum, I had this strange dream a few nights before he died. When I told him about it, I said it had nothing to do with him, it wasn’t about him. But it was, Mum. It was all about him. And I didn’t see it. If I had, I would have stayed home, stopped him going to the creek. I could’ve saved him from the water.’

About 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 genres. She has a love of horses, a passion for the well-being benefits of writing and volunteers to facilitate the craft of writing workshops for veterans.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria was written, produced, edited and presented by Natalie Vella

About You was written and read by Jennifer Crane. The story was sound edited by Natalie Vella.

Music in this episode was by Blue Dot Sessions, Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

The Joint Before Xmas

Sounds effects used in this episode

1. 03225 diesel car driving away By Robinhood76 CC BY-NC 3.0
2. 180081 Curtains 01 By FST180081 CC BY 3.0
3. Crowd shouting on the street By Hellonyou CC BY-NC 3.0
4. Dinner table ambience By Mr_Alden CC BY-NC 3.0
5. Drinking Water Bottle By NebbiaOne CC BY-NC 3.0
6. Empty Beer Bottles Clinking, Clanking By Fugeni CC0 1.0
7. Fire Brigade Siren - Street – Cars By LanDub CC0 1.0
8. Footsteps, Tile, Male Tennis Shoes, Slow Pace By SpliceSound CC0 1.0
9. Hip-Hop loop #17 By Decentyo CC0 1.0
10. Lighting a Cigarette Taking Drag By User_7146007 CC0 1.0
11. Putting out fire By SoundMarnus CC BY 3.0
12. RagingFireplace By Kkswinso CC0 1.0
13. Rolling paper roll joint By Kyles CC0 1.0
14. Rotary phone dial numbers By Iwdickens CC0 1.0
15. Rural Australia morning birds By Tim.kahn CC BY-NC 3.0
16. Sample Screen Doors By SvennSound CC0 1.0
17. Smoking Variations By Fluffayfish CC BY-NC 3.0
18. Watercarpet By Mikaelfernstrom CC BY 3.0
19. Water, Pouring, A By InspectorJ CC BY 3.0

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S05EP04 – Silent Sisters by Jay Alter

The hotel reception closed at 10pm. By then, both of my sisters were in their bedrooms reading or sleeping, and I had passed the time watching unmemorable movies on Foxtel. My mum came upstairs and sat next to me on the couch. She had her usual day old cup of microwaved coffee in her hand and she was grasping it like it was the last cup of coffee on the planet.

Silent 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 long-time writer, artist and crafter. With no published works to date, Jay Elle is an up and comer to watch out for!

Acknowledgements:

Memoria was written, produced, edited and presented by Natalie Vella

Silent Sisters was written and read by Jay Alter. The story was sound edited by Natalie Vella.

Music in this episode was by Blue Dot Sessions, Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

The Joint Before Xmas

Sounds effects used in this episode

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S05EP03 – Dr Who in the Kitchen of my Childhood by Marina Byrne

There was no room in that stifling box – five paces from the door to the cupboards opposite. A tiny chipboard table jammed against the other wall was the meal prep area. If you took three steps forward from there, you would bump into the sink where the mottled green glass of the lone casement window above the sink turned the sun’s rays into sickly fingers of heat. But the kitchen of my childhood tells a story if you know where to look.

Dr 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 people through my business (Marina Catherine Editing Services), but love to work on my own creative writing projects when time permits.

Her website.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria was written, produced, edited and presented by Natalie Vella

Dr Who in the kitchen of my childhood was written and read by Marina Byrne. The story was sound edited by Jen Farrow.

Music in this episode was by Blue Dot Sessions, Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

The Joint Before Xmas

Sounds effects used in this episode

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S05EP02 – The rollerskaters by Suzanne Hermanoczki

Every Saturday morning, me and Sharon would go to the Inala Roller-Skating Rink. Blue, oval-shaped, and sunk deep down below the ground, the rink was like a big, blue swimming pool but sin any agua. Sharon’s papá would drive us there and would stay in the foyer to watch over us as we skated. We’d trade our matching brown sandalias we wore to school, for rental lace-up boot patines that came in all different shades of old black. The skates were lumpy and bumpy on the inside and out, from being used and worn by so many unknown chicos, who’d learnt on them, way way before us.

The 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 Multilingual Writing Project, Cha: An Asian Literary Journal, TEXT and Verge Anthology. She has a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Melbourne, where she currently works.

Australian Multilingual Project
Cha: An Asian Literary Journal
TEXT – Special Issue Series – ‘Writing and Trauma’ (Number 42): Verge 2019 Uncanny (Monash University Publishing)

Acknowledgements:

Memoria was written, produced, edited and presented by Natalie Vella

The Rollerskaters was written and read by Suzanne Hermanoczki. The story was sound edited by Natalie Vella.

Music in this episode was by Blue Dot Sessions, Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

The Joint Before Xmas

Sounds effects used in this episode

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S05EP01 – An L-shaped room by Maria Griffin

After the birth, it was as though I’d been transported to a twilight zone. Life seemed comprised only of nocturnal hours spent bleary-eyed from lack of sleep, performing a series of actions in half-light. Turn on a lamp, keep the room dim. Keep the room quiet. Lift the baby from the cot. Change the baby’s nappy. Climb into the futon, prop up the pillows, feed the baby. Burp the baby. Put the baby back into the cot. Settle the baby back to sleep.

An 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 three to four hours of sleep for the first nine 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, ACCA Melbourne. Her work was a runner up in the Grace Marion Wilson Emerging Writers competition in 2020.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria was written, produced, edited and presented by Natalie Vella

An L-shaped room was written and read by Maria Griffin. The story was sound edited by Natalie Vella.

Music in this episode was by Blue Dot Sessions, Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Donate and help support our podcast. Or become a Patreon for as little as $1 per episode.

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S04EP13 – Danube Dreaming by Pat Boxall

So 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.

Danube Dreaming

Podcast flash memoir story by Patrick Boxall

This flash memoir was written while I was working as a tour guide in Europe and essentially questioning what the hell I was doing there. The piece moves back and forth between Budapest and Melbourne and is about missed opportunities and missing home.

Patrick’s first word was ‘No’ and he’s spent the majority of his life attempting to remedy that attitude. When he’s not writing he’s walking, be it across countries, through mountains or to his local pub, taking curious baby steps to wherever it is he’s going. You can keep up with him – he’s really very slow – at www.patboxall.com

Pat is also the winner of 2020 Stuart Hadow short story competition.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria was written, produced, edited and presented by Natalie Vella

Danube Dreaming was written and read by Pat Boxall. The story was sound edited by Jen Farrow.

Music in this episode was by Blue Dot Sessions, Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

The Joint Before Xmas

Sounds effects used in this episode

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S04EP12 – The Joint Before Xmas by Nick Orchard

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 has previously published on The Dad Website, and is currently writing a novel exploring themes of homelessness, community and overcoming trauma.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria was written, produced, edited and presented by Natalie V.

I carried him was written and read by Nick Orchard. The story was sound edited by Jen Farrow.

Music in this episode was by Blue Dot Sessions, Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

The Joint Before Xmas

Sounds effects used in this episode

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S04EP11 – I carried him by Megan Warren

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 Brendan was stillborn at 20 weeks, his birth was traumatic as were the years following with grief and loss.

Megan Warren is an aspiring writer living in Esperance WA. She has a Master of Arts (Writing and Literature) and has facilitated writing and creativity workshops. Megan writes on the topics of pregnancy loss, stillbirth and grief.

Writing My Way through Grief in Surviving My First Year of Child Loss: Personal Stories from Grieving Parents, Nathalie Himmelrich, Ed. 2017.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria was written, produced, edited and presented by Natalie V.

I carried him was written and read by Megan Warren. The story was sound edited by Jen Farrow.

Music in this episode was by Blue Dot Sessions, Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Donate and help support our podcast. Or become a Patreon for as little as $1 per episode.

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S04EP10 – I can see through your Lululemons by Jennifer Hedley

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.

Jenny Hedley’s writing appears in SCUM, Gone Lawn, Travel Play Live magazine and Vanishing Act. She studies creative writing at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia.

Mensa Material

Acknowledgements:

Memoria was written, produced, edited and presented by Natalie V.

I can see through your Lululemons was written and read by Jennifer Hedly. The story was sound edited by Jen Farrow.

Music in this episode was by Blue Dot Sessions, Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Donate and help support our podcast. Or become a Patreon for as little as $1 per episode.

Don’t forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and Stitcher!

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S04EP9 – Do you hear what I hear by Simone Bowers

I heard the creak as our bedroom door was opened, very slowly, and left ever-so-slightly ajar. The thin shaft of light revealed the shadow of a man moving towards the bed behind the door. The bed of my eight-year-old sister.

In the late 1960s, family structure was largely uncomplicated: hardworking dad, stay-at-home mum and a couple of well-groomed kids. Parties were invitation-only and probably as well structured as the families who held them. I wouldn’t know – our family wasn’t invited to any parties. Our family structure was too complicated: a pensioner mum (aka a deserted wife) with three innocent kids.

My first memoir was accepted by Memoria in 2017, I have been steadily writing in my downtime since … from editorials and a radio ad to children’s books and another memoir. Writing makes me feel comfortable – regardless of the subject matter, I am in my happy place when I am writing.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria was written, produced, edited and presented by Natalie V.

Do you hear what I hear was written and read by Simone Bowers. The story was sound edited by Jen Farrow.

Music in this episode was by Blue Dot Sessions, Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Donate and help support our podcast. Or become a Patreon for as little as $1 per episode.

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S04EP8 – The Undelivered Eulogy by Lyn Yeowart

75 years, 8 months and 19 days seems like a very short life, doesn’t it? I stand here and see hundreds and hundreds of you here to grieve my father, a man so widely loved and admired.

When my father died, my brothers and I talked about what, if anything, we would say at his funeral. For reasons that this piece hopefully makes obvious, we chose not to say anything. But while we were talking about our childhood, I kept mentally composing phrases and sentences that I would have used if I’d delivered the eulogy I’d been brave enough. So, while the eulogy is fictional, insofar as I never delivered it, the stories it tells are true.

Lyn is a fiction writer as well as a consulting corporate writer and editor, Her first novel, a literary suspense thriller entitled The Silent Listener, is to be published by Penguin Random House in 2021.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria was written, produced, edited and presented by Natalie V.

The Undelivered Eulogy was written and read by Lyn Yeowart. The story was sound edited by Jen Farrow.

Music in this episode was by Blue Dot Sessions, Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Donate and help support our podcast. Or become a Patreon for as little as $1 per episode.

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S04EP7 – Jack by Sherryl Clark

Ten years later, scrub-cutting, milking
in a cowshed rank with shit and sour milk
and when is there ever time for girls?

The old bastard builds himself a shack
as though he’s too high-falutin’ to live
with his wife and kids.

The story of my grandfather and how mean he was has been like a family echo for many years. This poem is my attempt to capture what it must have been like for my father, the burden of the farm debt, and the way this story is part of us all.

Sherryl Clark is a writer and poet, who has published children’s books, poetry and been the co-editor of Poetrix magazine for 20 years. After teaching writing for many years, she is now focusing on her own writing, and especially her crime fiction.

You can find the latest on her website.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria was written, produced, edited and presented by Natalie V.

Jack was written and read by Sherryl Clark. The story was sound edited by Jen Farrow.

Music in this episode was by Blue Dot Sessions, Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Jack

Sound effects used in this episode

Adding machine By Stephendemaria, CC BY 3.0
AFL Game By Tonant, CC0 1.0
Applause By Digifishmusic CC BY 3.0
Bell System Ringer Model 687A (8-70) By FreqMan CC BY 3.0
Building By Blukotek CC0 1.0
Car Start Drive Away By Kbnevel CC0 1.0
Cow Shed with Birds By swiftoid CC0 1.0
Failed car start By Tatianafeudal CC0 1.0
Hand digging dirt, leaves crunch By SpliceSound CC0 1.0
Leche By Camilo_Vargas13 CC0 1.0
Path Clearing 2 By Benboncan CC BY 3.0
Playing in the crib By NoiseCollector CC BY 3.0
Rocking Chair By WingsOfIrony CC BY-NC 3.0
Scapes By Silent Partner CC0 1.0
School bus old rattly idle various diesel truck semi dump By Kyles CC0 1.0
Smacks By DineoMichelle CC BY-NC 3.0
Shoveling By Andersmmg CC BY 3.0
Sunshine Coast Farm 02 By Theneedle.tv CC0 1.0
Tractor landfill lifting By Radwoc CC0 1.0

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S04EP6 – I died before I was born by Youjia Song

I have died. I have died many times—before I was even born. After my birth, they still wanted me gone, but they failed. They pressured my parents to sign me away for adoption, but my mother held onto me for dear life.

The story of my birth defined my personality early on, and it continues to inform who I am. When I tried to write about walking across Kyrgyzstan, I realized that a more pressing story needed to be told. I needed to first understand myself before I could write about my actions. My birth story, therefore, became my coming home story.

Youjia Song is an English language teacher, adventurer and new writer. Her article about her 2-year expedition called “Crossing Kyrgyzstan: A Woman’s Journey on Foot Through Land, Culture and History” was published by She Went Wild in 2018. Youjia is currently working on her memoir.

You can find more of her work at http://acrosswildlands.com

Acknowledgements:

Memoria was written, produced, edited and presented by Natalie V.

I died before I was born was written and read by Youjia Song. The story was sound edited by Jen Farrow.

Music in this episode was by Blue Dot Sessions, Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

sound effects – I died before I was born

Sound credits

Banging on door By Iamadam19, CC0 1.0
Beijing block By Paranoid2droid CC0 1.0
College library ambience By Hourofmidnight CC BY-NC 3.0
Female crying By Luzanne0 CC BY-NC 3.0
Female Distress Screams By YouTube Audio Library CC0 1.0
Hospital room ambience with clock, heart beeb and paging By Nixeno CC BY 3.0
Marching off By Jonopodmore CC BY 3.0
Moaning baby for freesound By Carolgee CC0 1.0
Office Ambience By Dean-Raul DiArchangeli CC0 1.0
Pencil 2 By Le Abbaye Noirlac CC BY 3.0
Skipping heartbeat By Under The Hood CC0 1.0
Slow Hammers By The Mini Vandals CC0 1.0
Tearing Paper By Aiwha CC BY 3.0
Tumble downstairs b By Malexmedia CC BY 3.0
Truck By JonnyThePonny CC0 1.0
Typewriter By Exterminat CC0 1.0
Walking in the snow By iamkaylagreen CC BY-NC 3.0
Winter outdoor ambience, crow, brids, traffic, fountain By Lwdickens CC0 1.0
Winter Winds By UrsaDaBear CC0 1.0
Woman keening and sobbing in grief By Tweedledee3 CC BY 3.0

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S04EP5 – Yiayia mou (my grandmother) by Koraly Dimitriadis

My ex rang to tell me you’d finally died, Yiayia and the tears still linger in my eyes, refuse to trickle I’m still suffering the effects of that drink last night staying out late, partying with the Aussies

I wrote the poem Yiayia mou (My grandmother) on the day my grandmother died. I was estranged from my family having recently separated from my husband. When I was told she died it was as if the generational pain of women in my family was crashing down on me, that my grandmother lived a life dictated to her by patriarchy, and I broke out of it. The poem is from my book, Just Give Me The Pills, and my theatre show, Saying the wrong things.

Koraly Dimitriadis is a Cypriot-Australian writer and actor. She is the author Love and F–k Poems and Just Give Me The Pills, and together they form the basis for her theatre show “Saying The Wrong Things”. Koraly makes short films of her poems. She has been published in The Washington Post. Koraly was awarded the UNESCO City of Literature residency in Krakow.

You can find more of her work at www.koralydimitriadis.com

Acknowledgements:

Memoria was written, produced, edited and presented by Natalie V.

Yiayia mou (my grandmother) was written and read by Koraly Dimitriadis. The story was sound edited by Jen Farrow.

Music in this episode was by Blue Dot Sessions, Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound credits

Sound effects used in this episode

Airplane, Boeing, Flyby, Right to Left, A By InspectorJ, CC BY 3.0 BakelitePhoneRing, By HerbertBoland, CC BY 3.0 Bells in Cyprus By Panta Rei, CC BY 3.0 Birds By Jen Farrow, CC0 1.0 Chair by 14G Panska Kaminkova A, CC0 1.0 Cyprus dawn chorus 1st May 2009 By NikosDemetriou, CC BY 3.0 Crying newborn baby child 2 By The Yura, CC0 1.0 Dockside Soundscape By Fortom, C0 1.0 Door, Wooden, Close, A (H1) By InspectorJ, CC BY 3.0 Harbour, ship leaving, a steamship, foghorns whistling, a passenger ship and a tugboat By YleArkisto, CC BY 3.0 Harmony By Alan Špiljak CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Hamburg ship horns light By Ckater, CC0 1.0Iron Fence By Jen Farrow, CC0 1.0Remix at Club Ambience By Kickhat, CC BY-NC 3.0 Seagulls short By Lydmakeren, CC0 1.0 Sipping a Drink By Ultradust, CC BY 3.0 Woman crying sobbing cry sob sad By Bulbastre, CC BY 3.0

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S04EP4 – Rage by Polly Watkins

Every night he rampages across our tin roof, night dueling with other toms chorusing strangled cries; murderous children running amok.

My childhood was filled with animals. Domestic and native – from stray cats and roaming dogs to backyard magpies, blue tongue lizards and more exotic, deadly tiger snakes. We co-existed in a haphazard kind of way. Mostly because of my parents I grew up feeling intrigue and respect for other creatures rather than fear. My piece circles a moment when, although I was striving to be responsible and do ‘the right thing’, my actions went against my nature.

Polly Watkins has written and directed documentaries and short films. Her evocative account of smell-walking through Melbourne’s lanes and arcades, ‘Scents and the City’, was published as part of 2017 Melbourne Knowledge Week. She was recently published in RMIT’s Suspiria Anthology.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Natalie V.

Rage is written and read by Polly Watkins. The story is sound edited by Jen Farrow.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

Bushes 01 By Gurek, CC0 1.0
Car Driving Interior Perspective, By Kinoton, CC0 1.0
Cat Eating By Spyboticer CC0 1.0
Cat Grumping By Cognito Perceptu CC0 1.0

Cat Running Stairs By PhilllChabbb CC0 1.0
Cat, Screaming, A By InspectorJ CC BY 3.0
Cats Fighting By Rudmer Rotteveel CC0 1.0
Cat Wants Food By Oneirophile CC0 1.0
Kid playing in a swimming pool By Souchav CC0 1.0
Kitten Meowing By Lolamadeus CC0 1.0
Masking tape 3 By Jaguarrrr CC0 1.0
Purring cat 01 By Pivou CC0 1.0
Rat in the attic, possum in the roof By Darius Kedros CC BY-NC 3.0
Slimy flesh By Iampagan CC0 1.0
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S04EP3 – Holes in My Sunhat by Katrina Mathers

Adam’s body length was longer than his legs. I loved the way he walked. I loved how he told me stories about getting angry sometimes and lonely other times. I loved his Fabergés with hand-drawn, cross-hatch texta markings across his thighs. I loved his mullet (it was the 80’s) his big nose, long fingers and cheeky, sensitive, charismatic bloody everything. I could not take my eyes of Adam.

Tweenage angst.

A first sexual awakening. So many hopes and so many regrets. My first kiss was about to happen and – stupidly, stupidly, I tried to outsmart it. Because I felt so smug, being able to spy through some holes in my straw sunhat. Oh, how I regretted doing that. I would never have this opportunity again. I thought immediately after the moment was gone. I was 12. And of course, I did have that opportunity again. And while it hurt so deeply for so long that I’d sabotaged a potentially profound moment – it taught me two things – 1. know an opportunity when it arises and 2. realise that sometimes a missed opportunity is not that, it’s just the timing isn’t right.

Trust that I’ll know when the timing is better.

Trust that instinct to help you know when you’re ready. I learnt so much about accepting that sometimes it’s better to wait.

Katrina wrote the winning screenplay NO MAIL, for the Australian Series II of ‘Project Greenlight’ and was a Tropfest finalist director with THE REFEREES. She co-wrote a sitcom that was performed by the Queensland Theatre Company called FUNNY BUSINESS and she’s had an original interactive project GIRL MECHANIC TV selected to take part in X|Media|Lab’s development lab and a VR project called LITTLE MATCHES selected for the VR Plot Twist lab. She’s also written countless hours of corporate and branded content and childrens’ TV animation. Alongside working in production, Katrina has had a successful career as an actor – having been a regular writer/performer on the comedy series FLIPSIDE (ABC TV) and main cast writer/performer for THE WEDGE (Network10). Katrina was a Moosehead Award recipient for the comic stage-play FOOTY CHICKS, and she’s appeared in a host of TV productions, radio series, independent films and theatre.

Katrina’s website

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Natalie V.

Holes in my Sunhat is written and read by Katrina Mathers. The story is sound edited by Jen Farrow.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

Birds_dog_planes By E330 CC BY 3.0, Car, interior, inside, key, ignition, driving Stereo atmos atmosphere wildtrack ambience By Arpeggio1980 CC0 1.0, Carpark in a Scottish toon By inchadney CC BY 3.0, Chair By Davidferoli CC BY 3.0, Children playing By Goldkelchen CC0 1.0, Cigarette suck By Jakobhandersen CC0 1.0, Jeremiah’s Song By Dan Lebowitz CC0 1.0, Kid playing in a swimming pool By Souchav CC0 1.0, Phone Old Landline Ringing By Robotjay CC0 1.0, Pool-lap By JoneagleX CC0 1.0, SchreibenKuli By Hannagreen CC BY 3.0 Scribble_long_strokes By Waldram CC0 1.0, SkaterBoys By Pcaeldries CC BY 3.0, Skipping heartbeat By Under_the_hood CC0 1.0, Splash, Jumping, B By InspectorJ CC BY 3.0, Walking away and returning boots on hardwood floor By CastIronCarousel CC0 1.0, Wicker Basket By JenFarrow CC0 1.0, Wrapper 1 By JoeBHPanes CC0 1.0

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S04EP Part 2 – Spirit of Punk Live Storytelling

Spirit of Punk

Live storytelling

The final part of our two-part series of live stories we recorded in conjunction with the Spirit of Punk at the end of last year at Buck Mulligan’s bar in Melbourne. The principle of Spirit of Punk is simple. All you need to do is show up and read a piece of your work no longer than the duration of a Ramones song. How easy is that?

The recordings are live so there are some little mic disturbances here and there. But more than anything there is the unmistakeable courage of writers taking to the stage to read their non-fiction stories.

Writers in this episode

Confessions of a Boarder by Lacey Smith

I came to write this piece to answer the main questions everybody asks me when I mention that I endured boarding school. Many people have an idealistic view of boarding house life: beautiful buildings, a good education, working air conditioning etc.; I felt the need to set the record straight.

Lacey Smith is an Australian-Canadian writer and podcaster, currently working on her first novel. At 14 she was selling merchandise for a satanic metal band but has now put those wild days behind her. She lives in Melbourne with her long-suffering husband and their Westie, Maisie.

Hell Bent by Noeleen Ginnane

End 2019, nearly a wrap on my Diploma Writing/Editing, Swinburne. I’d relocated on 15 November, before which 15 June. Exhausted. Broke as a freak. ‘Provide 500 words, memoir,’ teach said, as if you could whip that up with a thought, pause and muse. I panicked, pulled out past sufferances; re-felt, altered, submitted it.

‘I’ve written since forever,’ Noeleen Ginnane tells us. ‘It kept me sane, teen years. If I hadn’t wagged school so much to write, I’d never have failed it as well as I did.’ Modestly published in Australia, and (erotica) in the U.K. and U.S., Noeleen’s ‘only recently confessed to/begun living the writer I am.’

She has been published in: I can’t Breathe – Fremantle Arts Review, The TV – Western Word, Mother In Top Gear – Perth Child Magazine, Quiet – Oz Poetic Society, Sweet Selection, Army Style, Blossoms Full Bloom, Sweatbox, Aunty Said – In The Buff (UK), Aunty Said – Best Women’s Erotica (USA), Batman and The Fisherman, My Mother’s Torment – Reader’s Digest

The Stink by Laura Wild

I have terrible taste in romantic partners. This memory always makes me laugh and it’s a story I tell friends when we get bogged down. At least our pillows are clean, mate.

Poorly navigating the internet one LiveLeak video at a time, Laura Wild is an Australian writer currently studying at Swinburne University of Technology. She lives in Melbourne, Victoria with her partner and the four houseplants that have managed to survive her ineffectual care. She has been published in Backstory Journal and Other Terrain Journal.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Natalie V.

Special thanks go to Jen Farrow for her recording tech on the night and Nic Brasch for letting us record his event.

Thank you to the writers who took part in this episode:

Lacey Smith, Noeleen Ginnane and Laura Wild.

The stories in this episode are sound edited by Natalie Vella.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Post production

Sound effects used in this episode

Scissors, dishware cleaning table, Bank phone, Washing Car, service bell ring, Beer Pouring Into Glass,
Funky Machine (ID 874) by Lobo Loco
KieLoKaz is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.
6H_Panska_Stejskal_David Pub records » pouring beer in to the glass_2.wav,4 Cylinder Sedan Car Starting & Idling -- Unlocking, Door Opening, Door Closing.WAV, Sheep bleating, metal gate - rattle handle, swing, clang.wav, Crete » Ewes and lambs grazing & bleating, OWI sfx library » 25. Cigarette rolling.wav, Dare9 sounds of packaging » WrappingPaper2 unwrap_home_Jan2012.aif Slap Gun » Thud.wav, Blunt Force Impact.wav
These sounds I used have an attribution license, so please give credit to these users:
-"lettuce hit 2" by saturdaysoundg of Freesound.org
-"book-impact-01" by tritus of Freesound.org
Rain, Moderate » Rain, Moderate, C.wav
Opening and Closing Drawers, Small store, Malý obchod » 14.1Opening paper bag.wav, turning pages.flac, Parrots Lorikeets.wav, Foley Work » unlocking keyed padlock.wav, Other » Lock rattle 5.wav, Bonfire, Vacuum cleaner.wav

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S04EP1 Part 1 – Spirit of Punk Live Storytelling

Spirit of Punk

Live storytelling

To begin our new season, we have something very special for you. A series of live stories we recorded in conjunction with the Spirit of Punk at the end of last year at Buck Mulligan’s bar in Melbourne. The principle of Spirit of Punk is simple. All you need to do is show up and read a piece of your work no longer than the duration of a Ramones song. How easy is that?

So to kick it all off, here is Nic Brasch to tell us how he started the Spirit of Punk. And as with every Spirit of punk event, Nic follows his introduction by reading one of his own pieces. Tonight, Nic reads his flash memoir, I Can Tell Anyone Anything.

Writers in this episode

I Can Tell Anyone Anything by Nic Brasch

My story is prompted by some advice I got from the writer, Christos Tsiolkas, who told me, ‘You can tell anyone anything’, after I had related an experience related to my sister’s suicide. His advice was spot on.

Nicolas is a writer, a teacher of writing, Chair of Writers Victoria, and the founder and host of Spirit of Punk, an open mic event for emerging writers.

Mind Your Own Business by Erica Murdoch

You think that you know everything there is to know about your parents. You have them pigeonholed and all worked out. Or so you think. Then life throws a curveball and you are left breathless, skeptical and scared. And underneath it all maybe not surprised. Maybe the clues were there all along and you just chose to ignore them.

Erica is a freelance writer and has completed an Associate Degree of Professional Writing and Editing at RMIT She has been published in Fairfax Media, Weekend Notes and N-scribe.

Kindness by Annie Drum

Kindness is a story about somebody in her family.

Annie Drum is a Ballarat-based writer whose work has appeared in anthologies and poetry chapbooks. She writes short stories and poetry and is working on a novel as well as a young adult novel.

Purchase her short story collection, Like Trees.

Nadine by Helena Spyrou

Harking back to my youth when almost every week I would listen and dance to live music in pubs around Melbourne.

Helena Spyrou is a Melbourne-based writer. She has been previously published in a number of journals, including Meanjin and Going Down Swinging. She works for the Union movement.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Natalie V.

Special thanks go to Jen Farrow for her recording tech on the night and Nic Brasch for letting us record his event.

Thank you to the writers who took part in this episode:

Nic Brash, Erica Murdoch, Annie Drum and Helena Spyrou.

The stories in this episode is sound edited by Natalie Vella.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Post production

Sound effects used in this episode

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Season 3 – Episode 6 – Your Big Hands

Five days after you die, the dust has already started to gather on the piano keys. It’s been less than a week, and already this room is stale. The day after you left, the hospital people came and took the hired machines that were keeping you alive. They took the machines and the bed where you lay these last three weeks, took them to another family who still had use for them.

This piece was written the day after my grandpa’s funeral. He’d been dying for such a long time that his actual passing seemed somewhat routine. This story explores the ceremony and banality of life ending.

Zoë’s writing has been recognised in the 2017 and 2016 Grace Marion Wilson competition, the 2017 Rachel Funari Prize and the 2016 Overland Story Wine Prize.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Natalie V.

Your Big Hands is written and read by Zoe Bradley. The story is sound edited by Jen Farrow.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, Sage the Hunter, When in the West and The Envelope.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

Bottles.WAV 13GPanska_Jirova_Tereza CC0 1.0, 14_WORDR.wav, ReWired Sampling Plus 1.0 bathroom door.wav arnaump CC0 1.0, basket_wicker_creak_01.WAV matucha CC BY 3.0, Car_Door-open-close.aif nmscher CC0 1.0, Cup Saucer.mp3 sjnewton CC BY 3.0, Diner Ambiance.mp3, XfiXy8, CC0 1.0, drawer.wav laura222, CC0 1.0, frantic searching vedas, CC BY 3.0, Footsteps_6_Dirt_shoe.wav monte32 CC0 1.0, Girl sniffing a short dry sniff.wav 150118NicoleKalamer CC BY-NC 3.0, hair brush sangtao CC0 1.0, hostpital-automatic-bed.aif, alienistcog CC0 1.0 iron whoosh squidge316 CC0 1.0, Old Garage Door Opening [Outside] KenzieVaness CC BY 3.0, outdoor ambience seth-m CC0 1.0, Paging through a book OpenWillem CC BY 3.0, people shuffling out of Church.wav BeeProductive CC0 1.0, Perfume Spray vmgraw, CC0 1.0 Piano Key C 6 Goup_1 CC BY 3.0, pills_in_a_jar_01_shuffle_03.wav zavok CC0 1.0, Pleiades Sonata HookSounds CC BY4.0, https://www.hooksounds.com/royalty-free-music/pleiades-sonata/172417/, Pouring Glass of Wine from Bottle nebulousflynn CC BY 3.0, Sniffing biawinter CC BY-NC 3.0, woman crying sobbing cry sob sad.wav bulbastre CC BY 3.0

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Season 3 – Episode 5 – Burn

My parents were part of a friendship group and all the offspring would flit between each others houses, backyards and the neighbourhood largely unsupervised. ‘Burn’ is about the beginning of the end of innocence and friendship.

Emily Anderson is a writer, editor and lawyer from Melbourne, Australia. She was recently published in Visible Ink’s annual anthology.

You can find her on insta @eandersonwords

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Natalie V.

Burn is written and read by Emily Anderson. The story is sound edited by Jen Farrow.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “Pat Dog” and “Heliotrope”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

Breath in and out Cigarette Project_Trident CC BY-NC 3.0, boots on aluminum ladder 02 Eelke CC BY 3.0, Buzzing, Electric Lamp, A.wav InspectorJ CC BY 3.0, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEe-LeJdd6I Cicadas Buzzing copyrighy free sound-effect CC BY 3.0, Cigarette suck jakobhandersen CC0 1.0, Children Playing In Bay.wav exert.com.au CC BY 3.0, female breathing.wav boziav CC BY-NC 3.0, Girl sniffing a short dry sniff.wav 150118NicoleKalamer CC BY-NC 3.0, Hand wash Squirt.wav lizanejordaa CC BY-NC 3.0, laughter.wav sagetyrtle CC0 1.0, Lighting a Match Tristan_Lohengrin CC BY 3.0, mouthwash.wav BeeProductive CC0 1.0, Opening a small cardboard box Aiwha CC BY 3.0, POOL_SUMMER_SOUNDS_KIDS FROLICKING_2.wav snarfdude CC BY-NC 3.0 Scratching_Skin.aif kbnevel CC0 1.0, Switch clucs CC BY-NC 3.0, Voice 018.m4a PringlesCan CC0 1.0, wood creaks seth-m CC0 1.0, young girls giggling and laughing.wav, tuhinpaul CC0 1.0

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Season 3 – Episode 4 – I Confess, I Let Him Touch Me

*This episode contains descriptions of assault that may not be suitable for all listeners. Please use discretion.

In a night of real trauma and fear, I had to reimagine and reclaim my role from that of being ‘the prey’ so that I could survive.

Freelance Writer, Fashion Journalist, Professional Movie Critic, Nationwide Australian Style Writer, Yogini, Founder of The Love Authentic. Curious and trained as a Journalist, Private Investigator and Fashion Designer,writing a psychological thriller novel.

You can find Simmon on Instagram.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Natalie V.

I confess, I Let Him Touch Me is written and read by Simmon Wagner. The story is sound edited by Jen Farrow.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “Pat Dog” and “Heliotrope”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

Ambience Piano LargeHall mikeonfire9 CC0 1.0, car arriving at the crossways on a wet street launemax CC0 1.0, Car Arriving Idling And Pulling Away leonelmail CC0 1.0, Car door opening and closing rodrigocswm CC0 1.0, CarInterior_RRx_WaitToTurn_FinalPark.wav zimbot CC BY 3.0 Car_PowerDoorLock kbnevel CC0 1.0, coins2 themfish CC BY 3.0, laughter sagetyrtle CC0 1.0, Posh dinner party 7by7 CC0 1.0, skin zeem4 martian Quiet Magical Night HookSounds CC BY 4.0

https://www.hooksounds.com/royalty-free-music/quiet-magical-night/1013515/

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Season 3 – Episode 3 – Salting the Reaper’s Fields

I sat in the waiting room, teeth chattering, gasping for breath between counting down the numbers flashing on the screen next to the TV running the seven am news at ten, the reporter regurgitating reports of this disaster in this country and that tension between those two parties, the volume turned down low, almost deliberately so you were forced to think. And to over-think. The lips of the news anchor mouthing along to the chatter that had become my inner-monologue, nagging.

Gnawing.

Stop.

Three more to go.

Salting the Reaper’s Fields by Ashvin Jeevan

Salting the Reaper’s Fields is based off the journal entries documenting my experience as a young gay man newly diagnosed with HIV. It is a story of triumph and recognising one’s own resilience when faced with adversity.

Aashvin is a peer-worker with Living Positive Victoria who responds to persons newly diagnosed with HIV or presenting with complexities from an earlier diagnosis.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Natalie V.

Salting the Reaper’s Fields is written and read by Ashvin Jeevan. The story is sound edited by Jen Farrow.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “Pat Dog” and “Heliotrope”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

Heartbeat Steady harrybates01 CC BY 3.0, Heavy breathing 1.wav, Leroy.Khoza CC BY-NC 3.0, Letting Go Nicolai Heidlas HookSounds CC BY 4.0, NewsReportMusic.wav ehohnke CC0 1.0, paper shuffle.wav alec_mackay CC0 1.0, Pill 2 Durek CC BY 3.0, R05_0406.mp3 Omar Alvarado CC BY 3.0, Singapore Street Scape iankath CC0 1.0, S_Swallow_Pill_With_Water.wav Grubzyy CC0 1.0, Typing message on a mobile phone zaem CC0 1.0, walking slow on the street launemax CC0 1.0, walking through clubs.wav code4066 CC BY-NC 3.0

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Season 3 – Episode 2 – Poverty Delusion

Official definition: a false belief of a person that he or she is impoverished or will be deprived of material possessions.

*A warning. This episode is about suicide and may not be suitable for everyone. Please use discretion.

Poverty Delusion by Nicolas Brasch

Sometimes you learn about things when you least expect to – and when you don’t want to. Have you ever heard of poverty delusion? It’s an official psychiatric condition. I hadn’t heard of it until … I wish I’d never heard of it. I hadn’t heard of it until … my sister had it. Until she took her life.

Nicolas is a writer, a teacher of writing, Chair of Writers Victoria, and the founder and host of Spirit of Punk, an open mic event for emerging writers.

You can find Nicolas on his website and Instagram.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Natalie V.

Poverty Delusion is written and read by Nicolas Brasch. The story is sound edited by Jen Farrow.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “Pat Dog” and “Heliotrope”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

02-05, andrew1280, CC BY 3.0, Chair on Wood – Slow.wav, PsychoPancake, CC BY-NC 3.0, Crying Man, scottemoil, CC0 1.0, Female Sobbing, Idalize, CC BY-NC 3.0, tape calculator, Tomlija, CC BY 3.0, nixeno – hospital room ambience with clock, heart beeb and paging, nixeno, CC BY 3.0, Sad, By Ross Bugden, CC BY 4.0, woman crying sobbing cry sob sad, bulbastre, CC BY 3.0

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Season 3 – Episode 1 – The Cream Bun

We’d been planning it for days, loitering at the drinking trough beside the tuck shop window. Leigh distracted him. I snuck up from behind. What a rush! How funny was that? It was 1963—a time when funny was defined by the Three Stooges.

The Cream Bun by Roy Mears

Few moments from your childhood live on. Memories are often suppressed. Yet, a smell, a sound, can immediately transport you back, to relive what you felt at the time. Mostly not by choice, you’re called to this memory for a reason. This season’s theme led me to explore suppressed memories and led to surprising discoveries about who I am.

Writer, reader, teacher and coach, Roy Mears was, for several years, author of The Week That Was for The Climate Project. He has been published in PEN Quarterly and Melbourne Observer.

You can find Roy on Twitter and Instagram.

Interview Transcript:

Nat: So Roy what are you working on at the moment?

Roy: My current project is a story about a boy who learns how to grow up. Some might call it a YA it on my own. I’m not sure I think it’s more just a story about a person learning who he is and how to be and it happens he’s 12.

I find myself writing wherever I can. One of the challenges and I’m sure I’m not alone, is those of us who are working for a living and writing for a passion. Have to find moments, so my favourite thing is to actually go home the long way.

I get on a tram, which takes 45 or 50 minutes if it’s a good run with my little iPad and my two or three prompts, sentences for where I’m at and away I go. Writing is a really interesting skill.

I’m going to say skill because I think it’s a proper skill, I think everybody who starts writing a story has lots of skills, and then they learn a whole lot more than the thing that I’ve learnt he is that these fantastic scenes that just play out in my head. Also, have to have some structure, so I can write for days, literally, and then realise that I’ve written off on a complete tangent and it’s got nothing to do with the plot. It’s been fun. But my ritual now is to actually set up scenes.

That I try and have a sense of what’s the place? What’s the timing?

And who’s involved and what’s at stake and then I’ve got a little bit of, you know, a focus to write it on.

I’ve set myself some very lofty goals this year, but because I’m probably about two-thirds of the way through the first draft of this manuscript. My young protagonist, or main character, I believe that is the new
buzz word, is called Pocket. So Pocket is well advanced in terms of getting a first draft out I find myself procrastinating about the editing, but I know if I get the draft finished. That will be it, so I’ve even got a deadline, which I am not sharing in case I completely jinxed myself.

Nat: So Roy what books inspire you?

Roy: It might be my Catholic upbringing or it just might be my Catholic tastes but I am inspired by such a wide range of writing and writing skills.

I’m currently reading Isaacson’s biography of Leonardo da Vinci and I thought I knew about this fellow and his writing brings a whole different perspective to it, but really my focus is on writing for boys. By boys, I mean 12-year-olds and those who you are still wishing that they were 12-year-olds and so I do like the men’s authors, that type prose of a Hemingway or the great dialogue of a Twain or those kinds of people. I love is kind of stories those kinds of writers.

Episode Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Natalie V.

The Cream Bun is written and read by Roy Mears. The story is sound edited by Jen Farrow.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “Sage The Hunter” and “Plaque”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

Butterfly wings.wav, Yuval, CC0 1.0, Church during mass, Joao_Santos, CC BY-NC 3.0, Dusk Atmos with Cicadas, kangaroovindaloo, CC BY 3.0, gravel.wav, thedapperdan, CC0 1.0, Lone Harvest, Kevin MacLeod, CC BY 4.0, http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100409, Medium sized propellor plane.wav, soundslikewillem, CC BY-NC 3.0, Punch Punching Fist To Skin Hit, deleted_user_7146007, CC0 1.0, Rainbow_lorikeet.wav, soundbytez, CC BY 3.0, Rutherford Primary School Lunchtime.aiff, simongray, CC0 1.0, Staalpennadopp.wav, fastson, CC BY 3.0, Squelch 1.wav, JarredGibb, CC0 1.0, Quill pen writing on hard paper various speed.wav, marcoman89, CC0 1.0, Wind Through Trees 3b, spoonbender CC BY 3.0

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Season 2 – Episode 14 – Something Beginning With Chaos

Mum’s driving the station wagon, Jenny, Jack and Grace in the back. Butch and Becky in the footwells grizzling. Esky, bags, towels, birdcage. The back-back is full. Suitcases on the roof rack. Butch looks guilty. ‘Mum, Butch farted.’

Something Beginning With Chaos by Ash Rehn

Our family holidays were predictable yet anxiety-ridden occasions, drama always within striking distance. With dogs, kids and my parents own baggage packed tightly together, hurtling down the highway, something had to go wrong. It’s only now looking back can I see the humour of my childhood.

Ash was grazed in Brisbane and almost destroyed on the Gold Coast. Now he writes ficto-memoir as self-therapy. He publishes on Patreon and on his website.

Something Beginning with Chaos is read by Glen Morrow. Glen is a voice-over artist and host of the podcast, Stories Of You.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Nat V.

Ash Rehn’s short story, Something Beginning With Chaos, is written by Ash and read by Glen Morrow. The story is sound designed by Natalie Vella.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “Pat Dog” and “Heliotrope”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

Door opening by sagetyrtle
Rustling styrofoam by giddster
Supermarket by Soundkrampf
Supermarket by Pacoc CC0 1.0
Dog skitter by luckylittleraven CC0 1.0
Handbrake
Car idling by leonelmail
kids voices fighting – Nat V
9th Symphony Finale by Beethoven- Public domain
Kids beach – BBC SFX CC.0
Radio – BBC SFX
Lamp Buzz by an_tony
fart by peridactyloptrix CC1.0

Interview with Ash Rehn

This bonus episode is an interview Nat V had with Ash Rehn about his writing process. The interview was recorded in late 2018.

Episode edited by Nat V.

Music in this episode by the Blue Dot Sessions.

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Season 2 – Episode 13 – Redemption

I touched his face, his hair. His body. Cold. Hard. His face had no lines. It’s been said, the worry lines leave you instantly upon death. Will I lose my creased brow, I thought.

Redemption by Lyn Mitchell

Reflections in old age can grab your mind and transport you in fractions of time. Moments in our unique journeys are like flag posts in a desert of inconsequential living. A word, a smell, a piece of music. Redemption was always waiting to be written, to be purged. Dad’s death mask was always in my mind’s eye. It never left me. I tried to paint out the memory but it was in a tute at Uni, a trigger was set up and I could expel what had been festering inside. Understanding, without forgiving, never forgetting, but finally being able to accept being born was to be regaled, and thankful that the sins of the father are not visited upon the sons or daughters. We can learn from before, and we can set a different path.

Lyn never felt educated. She left school in 1961 at year 10 level and fleeing from an abusive home life enlisted in the WRAAF. But the need to write never left her. At 72 she has almost completed her BA in Professional Writing and Editing. The obsession to write about her Dad’s story, a Barnardo’s boy, has led her on a journey of education. Along the way she studied an Advanced Diploma of Information Technology (aged 47), Diploma of Professional Writing & Editing (aged 68), and she has been published in Morning Bell, Dame Quentin Bryce’s, ‘Dear Quentin Letters of a Governor-General’, and The Age.

Redemption is read by Petra Glieson.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Nat V.

Lyn Mitchell’s short story, Redemption, is written by Lyn and read by Petra Glieson. The story is sound designed by Natalie Vella.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “Celestial Navigation” and “Plaque”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

Having a smoke by husky70
Cigarette Cracklings Lighter smoke by gaby7129
Church atmosphere at Stratford-on-Avon with crowd – 1972 (1C4, reprocessed) by BBC Sound Effects
One unshod horse passes at trot on rough track, with some birdsong by BBC Sound Effects
One horse canters past on grass, left to right, with some bird noise by BBC Sound Effects
Horsesone-year-old foal calling to companion by BBC Sound Effects
Country Atmos with Sheep by kangaroovindaloo
Cows by mikewest
Prayer by mdayalan

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Season 2 – Episode 12 – Forsaken

Jesus wept, the saying goes, and there he was, on his crucifix, laid out on the unceremonious bench, cast rigid into a plaster block, laid to waste on the Swanston Street spine.

Forsaken by Anna Sublet

To see a crucifix, abandoned at a tram stop, spoke to me of false hopes, salvation, loss and delusion. Who knows when or if they will be saved? And who, if anyone, will be their saviour? I watched a couple wrestle with their mess at that tram stop, testing the gristle and tendons of their connection. They were bound together, yet I could sense her straining at the edges. Her tattoo of a square within a square spoke to me of their enclosure, and the sense of inevitability about her journey felt like a heavy weight. And so, the crucifix lay abandoned. And we are forsaken.

Anna Sublet is a freelance writer. Her personal essays have been published in The Guardian. Her latest piece for Fairfax Media was about suburban surfers and their search for waves.

You can find her on Twitter, and Facebook. Her words have a home at Notes of Substance.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Nat V.

Anna Sublet’s short story, Forsaken, is written and read by Anna. The story is sound designed and edited by Natalie Vella.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “Sage the Hunter” and “Waypost”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

Flinders Street Trams
mbemerson

Squeaking tram arriving
dersinnsspace

Trams in Melbourne
Moiku

Creaking tram door
Zabuhailo

Eternal Father Strong to Save Public Domain

Hospital Pulse Monitor 07070015
bbc.co.uk Copyright 2018 BBC

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Season 2 – Episode 11 – And Then You Were Gone

There is no photographic evidence of us together; you didn’t bother with the father-daughter bonding this time. You didn’t stay in my life long enough to form any type of bond. Our family of four (soon to be five, with Mum heavily pregnant) shared the winter of 1965. And then you were gone.

And Then You Were Gone by Simone Bowers

Whoever said that all children need a mother and a father has never suffered parental rejection. It’s not until we sit down to write about an event in our past that the truth comes hurtling at us from out of nowhere. That’s what happened when I decided to write about the day my father came to visit. I was five.

Simone Bowers decided to pursue her love of words at the age of 52 and has just completed a two-year writing course. She describes herself as an unpublished ’emerging writer’.

And Then You Were Gone is read by Petra Glieson.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Nat V.

Simone Bower’s short story, And Then You Were Gone, is written by Simone and read by Petra Glieson. The story is sound designed by Jen Farrow with additional edits by Natalie Vella.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “Sage the Hunter” and “Plaque”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

20080103.wring.out.wav By dobroide CC BY 3.0

A Poor Crying Baby By Strathamer CC0 1.0

Camara Konin – Click / rewind By barcelonetasonora CC BY-NC 3.0

Car door close, engine start By FedeFrede CC BY 3.0

Car seats – squeak By Gutek CC0 1.0

Car_StartDriveAway By Kbnevel CC0 1.0

children playing BY goldkelchen CC0 1.0

Cicada and a Cricket, Summer night with slight breeze By THPSounds CC BY-NC3.0

Doorbell A By kwahmah_02 CC BY 3.0

horror.mp3 By Space_Radio CC BY 3.0

Kids Birthday Party Crowd.wav By jakobthiesen CC BY 3.0

Kid playing in a swimming pool By Souchav CC0 1.0

Medium sized propellor plane.wav By soundslikewillem CC BY-NC 3.0

Phone Ringing By Acclivity CC BY-NC 3.0

phone ringing.aif By trip2000 CC0 1.0

Grrl Rockband, Mexico City By taurindb CC BY 3.0

Sample Screen Doors.wav By SvennSound CC0 1.0

surf and pebbles on beach.wav By odilonmarcenaro CC0 1.0

Wind, Realistic, A.wav By InspectorJ CC BY 3.0

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Season 2 – Episode 10 – One Woman’s Struggle in Iran

*The episode comes with a warning. Violence is portrayed in this story. Discretion is advised.

Before I had been imprisoned, I never thought of the physical and psychological effects of constant hunger. Some prisoners talked about what food they missed, and how it tasted. Prisoners reminisced about food.

One Woman’s Struggle in Iran by Nazrin Parvaz

I couldn’t separate Iran from the rest of the world. We all are in the same boat that is running fast with the current towards a future full of more misery unless we do something about it. In Iran, the same as in the rest of the world – we need a just system that safeguards freedom and equality.

Nasrin Parvaz became a civil rights activist when the Islamic regime took power in 1979. She was arrested in 1982 and spent eight years in prison.

You can find Nasrin on her website and Twitter. Her novel, The Secret Letters from X to A is available here. Here is an interview with Nasrin discussing her memoir, One Woman’s Struggle in Iran here.

Maryam Babaali is a Kurdish writer, poet, filmmaker and librarian living in Melbourne, Australia. She is currently working on a film project with Bill Mousoulis and Angelo Salamanca called Broken Boat.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Nat V.

Nasrin Parvaz’s short story, A Woman’s Struggle in Iran, is written by Nasrin and read by Maryam Babaali. The story is edited by Jen Farrow.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “Mogul” and “November Mist”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

Baby girl cries 7 By Robinhood76 CC BY-NC 3.0

Clearing Mouth By ErocShadow Sampling Plus 1.0

Cough By 14GPanskaVitek_Martin CC BY 3.0

Cloth Passes By Meggiepie CC0 1.0

Eating Human By 170048@virtualwindow.co.za CC BY-NC 3.0

Footsteps, barefoot on wet tile By SpliceSound CC0 1.0

Girl Crying By Thatkellytrna CC0 1.0

Horror gate By Tomlija CC BY 3.0

Loss By Kevin MacLeod CC BY 4.0

Police siren By MultiMax2121 CC0 1.0

Struggle between two people By Gpenn76 CC BY 3.0

Sizzle Mhh By Flunkspagnargel CC0 1.0

Slap on Skin By Dav0r CC0 1.0)

Stomach gurgling By Shaunlolz CC0 1.0

Woman scream By Vidrik CC0 1.0

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Season 2 – Episode 9 – Boy in a Closed Mill Town

everyone’s teeth are broken but

people keep chewing rocks.

everyone’s stomachs are empty but

people keep drinking gasoline.

Boy in a Closed Mill Town by Zackary Lavoie

Rural Maine was once a hotbed for Mill Towns. Entire communities were built around mills, offering a promise of wealth and stability. Unfortunately, most of these mills were eventually closed and torn down, leaving the towns once centred around them helpless. Many families felt the destructive impact of the closings. Poverty, drug addiction, depression, and many, many other difficult scenarios soon followed. This poem explores the impact on the relationship between a father and son in a closed mill town.

Zack Lavoie graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington and is the author of the chapbook UPHEAVALS (Pond Bench Press). He was awarded the 2017 Alice James Books Director’s Chair Fellowship in Farmington, Maine and is the winner of the Franklin & Somerset County Poetry Competition. works as an EFL editor for a global trading platform and as a copy editor locally. His work can be found in Empty Mirror Magazine, OCCULUM Journal, Dirty Paws Poetry Review, Longleaf Review, FlyPaper Mag, OXIDANT | ENGINE, and on the ‘Memoria’ podcast.

UPHEAVALS can be purchased directly through his website or on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

You can find Zack on his website, Twitter, and Instagram.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Nat V.

Zackary Lavoie’s short poem, Boy in a Closed Mill Town, is written and read by Zack. The story is edited by Jen Farrow.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “Sage the Hunter” and “Wax Paper Jewel”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

Barn Door creek By MAJ061785, CC BY 3.0

Blade_on_wood By Simsym23 CC0 1.0

CreakingNoise By klakmart CC0 1.0

Diesel car driving away By Robinhood76 CC BY-NC 3.0

Dog gnawing a bone By YOH CC0 1.0

Forest, the tree are creaking and cracking in the Patagonian wind (Argentina) By Felix.blume CC0 1.0

Hand Saw Sawing Wood By Deleted_user_7146007 CC0 1.0

Industrial factory working By dersinnsspace CC0 1.0

Stomach gurgling By Shaunlolz CC0 1.0

Tree Branch breaking_2 By speedygonzo CC BY 3.0

Wooden steps By Robinhood76 CC BY-NC 3.0

WoodSaw2 By Pingel CC0 1.0

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Season 2 – Episode 8 – The Eyes of a Bird

Alcohol is not a necessity when travelling…but it does help. It helps when the cold is so fierce your phone screen cracks. It helps when your housemates visit the local fish factory and realise, too late, that the stench of fish guts stays embedded in clothes for days. It helps when the avalanche sirens make you jump, when you step into a snowdrift and sink to your thighs, and when the lack of fresh fruit makes you google ‘what are the signs of scurvy?’

The Eyes of a Bird by Rijn Collins

I studied Icelandic at university and fell in love with this magical, magnificent land and language. It’s claimed that half the population believe in elves and trolls and that being charmed by Iceland is a result of their spells. If so, then I am willingly spellbound. My memories of my trips there are some of the happiest of my life.

Rijn Collins is an award-winning writer with over 100 published short stories. She writes for ABC Radio National and won the inaugural Sarah Awards for Audio Fiction in New York.

You can find Rijn on her website, Twitter, and Instagram.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Nat V.

Rijn Collin’s short story, The Eyes of a Bird, is written and performed by Rijn. The story is edited by Jen Farrow.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “When in the West” and “The Envelope”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

Tattoo maschine By Wuaga CC BY 3.0, Ambience, Wind Chimes, A.wav InspectorJ CC BY 3.0, Turn Page Alixgaus CC BY-NC 3.0, Scissors being closed 1 By S. Dedalus CC BY 3.0, Hairbrush By Caitlin_100 CC0 1.0, Hairbrush being plucked By StudentTanita CC BY-NC 3.0, ambient_loop2 By cubicApocalypse CC0 1.0, ambientForrest By nerdmanship CC0 1.0, vague aigue de crotales By nicolasdrweski CC BY 3.0, marker on whiteboard By edctrainer CC0 1.0, Queneau ambiance classe 01 By hubertmichel CC BY 3.0, Metal-hit By Vendarro CC0 1.0

Rijn Collins has just finished the first edit of her novel. To celebrate, we are posting an interview with Rijn from 2018 on her writing process and the challenges of writing a novel.

This interview took place in 2018. You can find her other season two story, Rapanzel, Rapunzel here.

Donate and help support our podcast. Or become a Patreon for as little as $1 per episode.

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Season 2 Episode 7 – The Naked Woman in Paris

In Paris, alone, five stories’ high, naked and taut, she perched like a still life gargoyle come to life.

The Naked Woman in Paris by Simmon Wagner

The Naked Woman in Paris has maturity only in hindsight. On this trip, I was very much in love with my wonderful husband, exploring Switzerland, Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, London and Paris, but in all our busyness, I had forgotten I need stillness too.

Paris awoke in me my stillness.

Melbourne Creative, Freelance Writer, working as a Professional Movie Critic, Nationwide Australian Style Writer, Yogini and Founder of theloveauthentic. Curious and trained as a Journalist, Private Investigator and Fashion Designer, now creating content to tell stories, feature friends, wellness, travel and inspiring people.

You can find her on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Movie Critic, Style Blogger and at The Love Authentic.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is edited and presented by Nat V.

Simmon’s short story, The Naked Woman in Paris is written by Simmon Wagner and read by Petra Glieson. The story is edited by Nat V.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “Floating Whist” and Dana Boule “Tomorrow Comes”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

Street of Paris by ptrckd
Getting out of bed by SpliceSound
Snoring by JasonElrod
Saxophone sound in Paris Metro by lmartins
Sonic Postcards » Paris Rue Calme by frankd
Pigeons, flapping of wings by BBC SFX
Laughter in the Beaubourg by soundlandscapes
Pigeons taking off by Glaneur de sons
Walking in slippers by Panska

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Season 2 Episode 6 – Why You Should Care About Catalonia

‘I have not run from the POLICE for over 40 YEARS. But I know HOW to’

Those are my FATHER’s words. It’s the 1ST of October 2017

He is ready to VOTE for a NON-BINDING referendum

I am on the PHONE to him and I CAN’T breathe

Why You Should Care About Catalonia by Silvia Brown

On 1st October, before police used violence against voters in a non-binding referendum, I was on the phone to my father, when he said to me: ‘I haven’t run from the police in over 40 years but I know how to’

My piece is a speech created for RMIT Professional Writing and Editing course. My motivation is to stir people’s consciences.

Silvia Brown is a creative writer who calls Australia home. Her dark fiction stories are available in different anthologies on Amazon and she is a contributor writer for GoMovieReviews.

You can find Silvia on Twitter.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Nat V.

Silvia Brown’s short story, Why You Should Care About Catalonia is written and read by Silvia. The story is edited by Jen Farrow.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “Outside the Terminal” and “Shifts of Currents”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

Adolf Hitler Juli 1932 By Wartime Radio CC0 1.0
Police siren By MultiMax2121 CC0 1.0
Rome San Giovanni 15ott2011 Riots By Nexusmoves CC0 1.0
Gun Battle Short By ShawnyBoy CC0 1.0
Marching 3 By WebbFilmsUK CC BY 3.0
Phone Tone 6 By Kwahmah_02 CC BY 3.0
Caçerolada 11 Novembre 2014 By M4athieu CC BY 3.0
AMBIENCE MANIFESTATION SANT CELONI (IN INDE INDEPE3NDENCIA) By Marsal Oido CC BY 3.0
Slow Motion Ben Sound CC BY-ND 3.0

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Season 2 Episode 5 – Freedom 1964

*A warning that this episode contains scenes of domestic violence and may not be suitable for everyone. Discretion is advised.

The voices were loud. They always were. Once more he had come home long after dinner. Drunk. Always drunk.

Freedom 1964 by Lyn Mitchell

I have lived for 70 years and for 60 of those years, I have lived with the knowledge I was not wanted. In the post-war environment, it was not politically or religiously correct to be pregnant before marriage. My mother tried to get rid of me but I needed to be born. Life for the Kyte Family was harsh.

70-year-old University student, Lyn Mitchell has a Diploma of Professional Writing. Her need to write her story led her to this phase of her life. She has been published in Morning Bell Magazine.

You can find Lyn on Twitter @LauraLyn

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Nat V.

Lyn Mitchell’s short story, Freedom 1964 is written and read by Lyn. The story is edited by Nat V.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “Periodicals” and “The Envelope”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

Smashing plate by tezzza

Smashing plate by ikbenraar

Girl breathing by AderuMoro

human run in sneakers by scriotxstudios

Girl crying softly by thatkellytrna

Girl trying to cry quietly by 11linda

breathing running girl by arnaud coutancier

Footsteps in puddles by InspectorJ

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Season 2 Episode 4 – Rapunzel, Rapunzel

I read about Rapunzel syndrome, where sufferers ate the hair they wrenched free. The strands knotted inside them, plump and dark, deep within their belly like a swallowed secret.

Rapunzel, Rapunzel by Rijn Collins

For many years my fingers would creep into my hair to wrench it out by the root. The sweet relief of this was extraordinary and addictive. If obsessive-compulsive disorders are difficult to explain, they’re even more difficult to stop. My route back to health involved a tattooist’s chair, the mythology of Medusa, and the grimmest of fairy tales.

Rijn Collins is an award-winning writer with over 100 published short stories. She writes for ABC Radio National and won the inaugural Sarah Awards for Audio Fiction in New York.

You can find Rijn on her website, Twitter, and Instagram.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Nat V.

Rijn Collin’s short story, Rapunzel, Rapunzel is written and performed by Rijn. The story is edited by Jen Farrow.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “When in the West” and “Lamplist”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

Tattoo maschine By Wuaga CC BY 3.0

Ambience, Wind Chimes, A.wav InspectorJ CC BY 3.0

Turn Page Alixgaus CC BY-NC 3.0

Scissors being closed 1 By S. Dedalus CC BY 3.0

Hairbrush By Caitlin_100 CC0 1.0

Hairbrush being plucked By StudentTanita CC BY-NC 3.0

ambient_loop2 By cubicApocalypse CC0 1.0

ambientForrest By nerdmanship CC0 1.0

vague aigue de crotales By nicolasdrweski CC BY 3.0

marker on whiteboard By edctrainer CC0 1.0

Queneau ambiance classe 01 By hubertmichel CC BY 3.0

Metal-hit By Vendarro CC0 1.0

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Season 2 Episode 3 – Choices

I knew I would survive if I lived under my parents’ roof until I was married, however, deep down I knew I wouldn’t thrive. I wanted the same experiences my friends were having. It wasn’t just about the alcohol and drugs, although there was plenty of them around and they were mostly good fun. It was about first times, first partners, first shared house, first cooked meal at home, first electricity bill, first bitching session about our flatmate who left the kitchen a mess.

Choices of Maha Sidaoui

In order to move forward in life, we make choices and are often forced to stand up for what we believe in. I sometimes wonder what it is that this young generation is willing to fight for. I love to think how about our world and how it can change in such a short time.

Maha has been writing for over thirty years. First it was letters, then lyrics and later stories. Maha has a love for words and writes stories to search her childhood and early years for whatever it was that made her the person and writer that she has become. The first chapter of her manuscript, One Arabian Girl, was shortlisted for the Deborah Cass Prize. She is currently working on her second big story that has everything to do with family, facing up to big truths and Salman Rushdie.

You can find Maha on Twitter.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Nat V.

Maha Sidaoui’s short story, Choices is written and performed by Maha. The story is edited by Nat V.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “Sage the Hunter” and “Chapel Donder”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

Packing By LunnarisDoor open and close by rivernile7, Door open by Anthousai, metal chair on tile floor by Dineomichelle, Playing cards by kevinhilt
car inside driving slow by lofty, car parking by nexmaking, short drive motor by augustsandberg, dropping ice cubes into glass by ftpalad, water pouring into glass by ant wash, dishes clearing by benjaminharveydesign

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Season 2 Episode 2 – The Spirit of Punk

First came the hair cut – off with the curly locks, never to return, even today.

Then taking the scissors to the jeans. Slash, slash, slash.

And, of course, boots, Doc Martens. Black, sixteen holes – what else?

The Spirit of Punk by Nicolas Brasch

Originally wrote this piece for an open mic event I host for emerging writers called The Spirit of Punk, in which writers are encouraged to read their work without fear of judgement or failure or criticism – in the spirit of punk.

Nicolas is a writer and teacher of writing; Chair of Writers Victoria and former host of The Garret podcast on which he interviews leading writers on the craft of writing.

You can find Nicolas on his website, Twitter, and Instagram.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Nat V.

Nicolas Brasch’s short story, The Spirit of Punk is written and performed by Nicolas. The story is edited by Jen Farrow.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “Stale Case”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

Lowdown By Boz Scaggs CC0 1.0

Led Zeppelin II and BBC Sessions CC0 1.0

Anarchy In The UK by sex pistols CC0 1.0

Landing Bomb By djfroyd CC BY 3.0

Star Wars Proximity Bomb By Paul368 CC BY 3.0

MatchBox – Strike and Light 03 By JarredGibb CC0 1.0

Cutting hair By Nomfundo_k CC BY-NC 3.0

Scissors Cutting Denim By RICHERlandTV CC BY 3.0

Scissors, A By InspectorJ CC BY 3.0

Cloth_ripping By reg7783 CC0 1.0

2012-05-08 Extremalautre-Tribute to somebody in Paradise (R.I.P. mom) By Gilbert Lachance CC0 1.0

Suburban Kitchen Ambience.wav By ksesoko CC BY-NC 3.0

Door-open-close By Amholma CC0 1.0

Opening Door Handle Amholma CC0 1.0

Radio, putkiradio / Old radio, switch on, humming, warming up, noise, switch off, 1950s, 1960s By YleArkisto CC BY 3.0

Medium Wind By Kangaroovindaloo CC BY 3.0

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Season 2 Episode 1 – The Sacrament

I only ever saw Dad go to church for weddings and funerals, and I asked him once, “but why do you believe in all that?”

The Sacrament by Aprill Allen

My father died of a brain tumour at 69 years old in January of 2016. He was admitted to hospice on a Thursday and died on the Friday of the following week. Nobody really talks about the process of dying and what those who will go on living can expect to see. This is one moment from those 8 days.

Aprill is a freelance management consultant and content writer, a volunteer board member, a parent and a creative writing major at the University of Melbourne.

You can find Aprill on her website, Twitter, and Instagram.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Nat V.

Aprill Allen’s short story, The Sacrament, is performed by Aprill. The story is edited by Jen Farrow.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “Last Lights” and “Sunset on Sandy Isle”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

Bpcycle By Nofeedbak CC BY 3.0, Door-open-close By Amholma CC0 1.0, Eating Human By Virtualwindow CC BY-NC 3.0, Groaning By Vmgraw CC0 1.0, Male breathing By FALCONS SHADOW CC BY-NC 3.0, Hospital room ambience with oxygen system noise By Nixeno CC BY-NC 3.0, Organ By Caquet CC BY 3.0, Pouring-water By Adamjordaan14008 CC BY-NC 3.0, Towel Off After Bath By Sgcardinal CC0 1.0

Interview with Aprill Allen

This bonus episode is an interview Nat V had with Aprill Allen about her writing process. The interview was recorded in early 2018.

Episode edited by Nat V.

Music in this episode by the Blue Dot Sessions.

Donate and help support our podcast. Or become a Patreon for as little as $1 per episode.

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Episode 17 – Coming of Age

The hearts of these boys remained hidden. It was as if they walked in costumes, played their parts, and kept their distance.

Coming of Age by Anna Sublet

Teenage years were interesting for me, as the only girl in a neighbourhood full of boys. But when the boys from the other side of the tracks crossed the line, I had a rude awakening to the threats existing beyond the home zone. ‘Smile!’

Anna Sublet is a curious reader and an undercover scribbler. She is slowly coming out from behind the fences.

You can find Anna on her blog, Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Nat V.

Anna Sublet’s short story, Coming of Age, is performed by Anna. Story is edited by Nat V.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “When in the West” and “Lamplist”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

Cicadas in Melbourne by dr19, Car Passing By by audio_stock, Outside Atmos at Night (Crickets and Dogs) by Jeanet_Henning, Fluorescent Lightbulb Hum by ftpalad, Door opening and closing 2 by JakLocke, melbMetro by polymorpheva, 00512 male group laugh 2 by Robinhood76, Train Pass by by OroborosNZ, Bike Pedal and Chain by JZProductions

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Season 1 Episode 16 – Tattooed Mother

The days that followed were as sharp as serrated tussock. On the night itself, she’d taken a breath in, and didn’t breathe out again. A neck was scratched. A cough. And time bent in a thousand ways.

Tattooed Mother by Annie Drum

This piece is about the passing of my mother. I wrote it very quickly, with few changes. The story flowed out as if it were always waiting to be told.

I write short stories and poetry and am working on a novel-length manuscript. In 2016 my collection of short stories, ‘Like Trees’, was published by Pomonal Publishing.

You can purchase Annie’s book, ‘Like Trees’, here.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Nat V.

Annie Drum’s short story, Tattooed Mother, is performed by Jen Farrow. Jen also produced and edited Tattooed Mother.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “Masonry” and “Sage The Hunter”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

1942 12 17 Providence RI By Duke Ellington CC0 1.0, Body_impact By Ansel, Digging By Tanapistorius, Double_cough_01 By Jedeshon, Door Bang 1 By Iamslenderman, Floor Creaking_High_Near_Mono By _stubb, Girl, female, sniffing By SpliceSound, Group-Attack_Masked_Lapwing By Digifishmusic, Headbanging 2 By Benboncan, Kings’ Hut Late Eve Short By Kangaroovindaloo, Metal_Gate_open_close By Suz_Soundcreations, Sad Day By Bensound, Scratching head By Mr_Alden, sip of coffee, swallow then “ah” By Odditonic, Sheep in field By Soundmary, Quiet-room-tone-captured-from-a-small-sized-kitchen Extracted By Jmbphilmes, Wall clock By Straget

Interview with Annie Drum

This bonus episode is an interview Nat V had with Annie Drum about her writing process. The interview was recorded in November 2017.

A lot has happened since I recorded the interview with Annie. She has gone on a writing retreat in Amsterdam and is currently being mentored by Toni Jordan to expand her novella into a novel.

Episode edited by Nat V.

Music in this episode by the Blue Dot Sessions.

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Episode 15 – To Wait

In that moment I knew I loved you. The bitter months that led up to that night were nonexistant. Wiped clean. A different kind of love overwhelmed me.

To Wait by Zara Marimuthu

We have this picture of what love should look like. We see “perfect couples” and want to embody their relationship. But for me, I had to relearn what that image was. It wasn’t prince charming. It was looking at my partner in his rawest form and still choosing to stand by him.

Zara Marimuthu lives through words and movements. She hails from Malaysia but is currently a third-year Creative Writing student at RMIT. She hopes to inspire others with her work.

You can find Zara on Instagram and Tumblr.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Nat V.

Zara Marimuthu’s short story, To Wait, is performed by Zara.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “Vittoro” and “Sage The Hunter”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

RoooDyDoooDy, SkeetMasterFunk69,

reznik_Krkovicka, Eirikr, magedu,

Tomlija, joncro, SpliceSound, mrshadow170,

MAJ061785, kyles

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Episode 14 – Melting Moments (Part Two)

He tries to appear calm and explain to the doctor that she is dying. Why am I the one to do this, he wonders?

Melting Moments by John Bartlett (part two)

Melting Moments’ is a reflection on remembering my mother from my childhood and then when she became older and dependent on my care for her like adult to child, all now ‘melting moments’.

This episode is part two of a two-part story.

John Bartlett ‘s non-fiction has been published in The Age, The Canberra Times, The Australian, Good Weekend and he has published two novels and a collection of short stories.

You can find John on his website.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Nat V.

John Bartlett’s short story, Melting Moments, is performed by Roy Mears.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “Overhead” and “Sunset at Sandy Isle”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

Heart Monitor Beep

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Episode 13 – Melting Moments (Part One)

From the shelf the old brown Bakelite radio announces in its strident voice —’Portia faces life — for those who are in love and for all those who can remember.’ He wonders if this Portia is like his mother?

Melting Moments by John Bartlett

Melting Moments’ is a reflection on remembering my mother from my childhood and then when she became older and dependent on my care for her like adult to child, all now ‘melting moments’.

This episode is part one of a two-part story.

John Bartlett ‘s non-fiction has been published in The Age, The Canberra Times, The Australian, Good Weekend and he has published two novels and a collection of short stories.

You can find John on his website.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced, edited and presented by Nat V.

John Bartlett’s short story, Melting Moments, is performed by Hayden Burke and Roy Mears.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “Solace” and “Overhead”. Final song is by All Star Trio, “Oh! By Jingo!”

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

peridactyloptrix

http://freesound.org/people/peridactyloptrix/sounds/213345/

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fordps3

http://freesound.org/people/fordps3/sounds/336697/

Greencouch

http://freesound.org/people/Greencouch/sounds/103558/

bone666138

http://freesound.org/people/bone666138/sounds/198847/

jpkweli

http://freesound.org/people/jpkweli/sounds/154757/

stijn

http://freesound.org/people/stijn/sounds/22890/

nmscher

http://freesound.org/people/nmscher/sounds/86232/

squashy555

http://freesound.org/people/squashy555/sounds/353416/

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Episode 12 – Lanes

What is it about lanes? What stories did you conjure up when your curious eye peered through the cracks of rusted corrugated back fences? What feet did you imagine trampled on bluestone surfaces?

Lanes by Helena Spyrou

Lanes is a remembrance of my teenage hood where I spent a lot of time walking through the lanes of Carlton in the early 1970s. I wrote the first draft of this piece in 1999 in a workshop with Arnold Zable that explored our relationships to cities. I was so pleased when it was later published in Meanjin (Vol 60, Issue 1, 2001). – Helena Spyrou

Helena Spyrou is of Cypriot and Greek heritage. She studies Writing and Editing at RMIT.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced and presented by Nat V.

Helena Spyrou’s short story, Lanes, was performed by Nat V.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “November Mist” and “City Limits”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

Carlton Ambience
By JenFarrow
CC BY 3.0

Traffic Light
By JenFarrow
CC BY 3.0

Beating Rug
By Jen Farrow
CC BY 3.0

Kissing_Smooches_01.wav
By Lex777
CC BY 3.0

Ronda – Steps in the stone – Pasos sobre piedra
By sergeeo
CC BY 3.0

Heartbeat_1.WAV
By Adam_N
CC0 1.0

Corrugated Iron Crash.wav
By ReyDros
CC BY-NC 3.0

Chickens
By Dann93
CC0 1.0

Chicken in enclosure.wav
By BW Productions
CC BY 3.0

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Episode 11 – Wasp Tongues

In the end, she only remembered that husband and son-in-law. Until the last days she’d score them with her wasp tongue.

Wasp Tongues

by Chaille Bos

This story is in response to the death of my grandmother. It was my way of working through the reality that I never knew the real her and never had a chance to, and yet I found myself in a part of her nonetheless. – Chaille Bos.

Chaille Bos has published microfiction, narrative nonfiction and pop culture articles. As well as writing her own crime and speculative fiction novels, she is a ghostwriter and co-writer.

You can find her on Twitter, her website and Facebook.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced and presented by Nat V.

Chaille Bos’ short story, Wasp Tongues, is performed by Melbourne-based actor, Petra Glieson.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “In Paler Skies” and “The Answer”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:
Church sounds By Klankbeeld
Cemetary atmo By Outdoor_recordings
WW2 gunfire By Cheeseheadburger
Low airplane flyby By Snipperbes
Bees getting a drink By Tbaucom

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Episode 10 – Rock Dove Under Ditmars

The Rock Dove keeps to himself,
head down, pecking aimlessly
at refuse lining the pillars of the bridge.

Rock Dove Under Ditmars

by Zackary Lavoie

This poem explores the seemingly ignored issue of abuse towards men in today’s world. In this moment, a man (a Rock Dove) is verbally abused by his girlfriend (the Falcon) and leaves him to “die” in an apartment in Queens. This poem attempts to overlay the images of birds fighting and that of a struggling relationship. – Zachary Lavoie.

Zackary Lavoie is a graduate of University of Maine at Farmington with a degrees in English and Creative Writing. His book titled “Upheavals” is set to release later this year.

You can find him on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced and presented by Nat V.

Zachary Lavoie’s short poem, Rock Dove under Ditmars, is performed by Melbourne-based actor, Hayden Burke. The poem is sound designed, edited and mixed by Jen Farrow.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “Last Lights”, “Sunset at Sady Isle” and “Inside the Origami Violin”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:
Feeder-sergiyevposad-141209 By oontzru
Candy-bar-wrapper By Coltures
Traffic-in-town By Inchadney
Bus-leaving-bustop By Cribbler
Stairs By Screamstudio
Running-up-stairs By Maj061785
Peregrine-falcon-2 By Digifishmusic
Beating-wings By Juskiddink
Plastic-snap-snapping.wav By Deleted-user-7146007
Door-open-close By Amholma
Footsteps-sneakers-wet-sidewalk-01-r By Hupguy

P.S. Keep listening until the end.

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Episode 9 – Acceptance

Each time I entered the room I felt a shift in my body, as if accepting the uncomfortable things I was about to feel. As if knowing, that I was going to grow there.

Acceptance, a short memoir by Tah Jimenez

While I was writing this piece I felt a shift in my thinking as I walked into the mindset I used to have about mental health. I fit awkwardly in the skin of my younger self, the self that in this piece learns what it is to accept your emotions – Tah Jimenez.

Tah Jimenez is a writer of non-fiction and literary fiction, focusing primary on short story and personal essays. I study at RMIT where I am to craft my writing skills further.

You can find her on Medium

memorial

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced and presented by Nat V.

Tah Jimenez’s short story, Acceptance, is performed by Melbourne-based actor, Petra Glieson.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “Chapel Bottom”, “Quiet Sill” and “Plate Synthesis”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:
sgcardinal

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Episode 8 – Memorial

Where was his headstone? She said it would be too expensive to put the names of his granddaughters on it. He only had two, and Tori was only four letters. I could pay that.

Memorial, a short memoir by Jo Penney

My father passed 18 years ago, as I was divorcing and becoming the full-time carer of my two-year-old daughter. I’ve had panic disorder since I was six and it seemed money talked in our family. I had little to offer. My mother chose to put it all down the slots, two years later Dad got a headstone. – Jo Penney

Jo Penney has been published in various zines and anthologies. She has a BA and MA from Deakin University in writing and literature. She is currently working on a memoir.

You can find her on Twitter

memorial

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced and presented by Nat V.

Jo Penney’s short story, Memorial, is performed by Melbourne-based actor, Petra Glieson.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “Mogul”, “Deathly Recitation and “Uneasy”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:
TransitKing
Bansemer
Outdoor_recordings

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Episode 7 – My Suitcase

I spy my tormenter, Mark, standing on a chair in the corner, flapping his arms like a bird, taunting the other kids around him who are still fussing with their bags. His sneer makes me cower.

Memories, for me, range from Polaroid-like snapshots to short video clips in my head. I know, it’s weird when you think about it. These scenes, short and long, remain buried in the fatty tissue of my brain until a sound, smell or photo reignites my memory of the event. The images dance around as I try to piece together the what I am actually remembering. Sometimes the image fades, and sometimes it hangs around, leaving behind feelings of longing, regret, and nostalgia.

I was in my parent’s garage recently when I came across a small wooden case that my father had made me in primary school. Here it was, intact, on a pile of old junk near my dad’s tools. Seeing it for the first time in decades brought back my first day at primary school. Something had happened to that case, though, but I couldn’t figure out why. All I could remember was that somehow it got broken. Bit by bit, over the months, memories started coming back to me.

The following story, My Suitcase, is the bits and pieces of memory I’ve managed to scramble together.

My Suitcase by Nat V

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced and presented by Nat V.

Music in this episode is by Blue Dot Sessions, “In Paler Skies” and “The Envelope”.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:
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Accepting submissions until 30 July 2017 (Extended)

If you have a story under 400 words about a moment, perhaps your first day of school and how everything went terribly wrong, or the moment you left a terrible relationship, click here to find out how you can submit your work and you can also subscribe to our mailing list and be the first to know when our episode drops.

Episode 6 – Unlucky Thirteen

I cried because I knew that was what I was supposed to do, but not because I felt anything.

When someone you know dies, the grief can affect you in a number of ways. For some, the pain and the loss is so overwhelming that you are unable to think or sleep or eat. The emotions carry them like a rollercoaster from shock through to anger, as they ride the highs and lows of grief. For others, the enormity of the situation can be too much, like the following story, Unlucky Thirteen, written by Melbourne writer Elise Hassett, about when she learnt that her mother died.

Unlucky Thirteen by Elise Hassett

‘Unlucky thirteen’ tells of how and when I learned my mother had died. She had been diagnosed with cancer only eight months prior and her health declined rapidly in those final weeks, catching everyone off guard. Barely a teenager, I found myself unable to deal with the enormity of the situation unravelling before me.

Elise Hassett is a Melbourne-based creative who divides her time between words and pictures. Her work has appeared in the Hunter Writers Centre Grieve anthology, and Visible Ink 27 Petrichor.

You can find her on Twitter, Instagram and her website.

Acknowledgements:

Memoria is written, produced and presented by Nat V.

Unlucky Thirteen is written by Elise Hassett. Performance is by Petra Glieson. Sound editing and sound design by Jen Farrow.

Music in this episode is by Mon Plaisir and Mole, “Into Toast Squares“.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:
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Accepting submissions until 30 July 2017 (Extended)

Episode 5 – Knuckles

Gasp. I thought, “if I stop, stare at the ground, she’ll just walk away.” But no, all my fears came true. And in front of the entire schoolyard my face burned up, then my body.

Most of you at some point have had to overcome shyness. It can take many forms, like that awkwardness of meeting new friends, or when making a presentation in front of your class, knowing that all eyes are focused on you, watching you.

Sometimes the sheer terror of putting yourself out there in front of a bunch of strangers can cripple you, leaving you with that feeling of humiliation as all your self-doubt gathers in the pit of your stomach, knowing that you must find a way to overcome it

In the following story, Knuckles, Amanda Miha explores the moments in her childhood and teen years when she was unable to talk until she found her voice.

Knuckles by Amanda Miha

There were moments in my childhood and teen years where I felt unable to talk; scared, shy, embarrassed… something. But at some point, I found my voice. I allowed my imagination to run wild in telling this story, just as I would as a kid. I am not a boxer.

Amanda is a Melbourne based screenwriter, playwright, and copywriter. She likes to blog about the news we consume, and write conceptual pieces that explore characters who live on the fringe. When she is not writing she stares at a blank screen and eats.

Acknowledgements:

This episode was written, produced and presented by Nat V.

Knuckles was written and performed by Amanda Miha.

Music in this episode is by Jason Shaw.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

Pusteblumi
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Accepting submissions until 30 July 2017 (Extended)

Episode 4 – And the winner is…

Under the Phillip Island moon, the net swarmed with fat crawling crabs.

There are numerous famous stories depicting sibling rivalry. The biblical story of Cain and Abel, Ann and Mary Boleyn who fought over King Henry VIII’s affections and, of course, the most famous Hollywood rivalry, Joan Fontaine and Olivia de Havilland, with Joan famously saying, “She will be jealous if she dies before me”. And that, Joan did.

It has been said that competition for a parent’s affection is steeped in competition for resources. This is evident in the animal kingdom, where the strongest sibling is known to kill their weaker brother or sister to gain resources such as food. And behaviourists have found that we share strong links with animals when it comes to sibling rivalry.

The fallout from a broken sibling relationship can be devastating, and awkward. When ties break, the animosity hangs in the air, each too proud to admit the other was wrong. Or maybe, the relationship is best left severed. I know because it happened to me. In any family, if you begin to scratch the surface, before too long you might unveil some sort of sibling rivalry between your own family members who haven’t spoken to each other in decades. And it is usually over something petty. And sometimes, not. Could it be that the only thing we have in common is DNA? Or perhaps we should listen to the famous proverb, you can choose your friends but you can’t choose your family.

And the winner is…

by Nat V

And the winner is… is a personal short story about sibling rivalry as children that evolves into estrangement as adults.

memoria podcast

Acknowledgements:

A special thank you to guest presenter, Amanda Miha.

This episode was written and produced by Nat V.

And the winner is was written, produced, edited and performed by Nat V.

Music in this episode, “Waste of a Sunset” by Julie Maxwell and “Into Toast Squares” by Mole.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by:

6polnic
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Accepting submissions until 30 July 2017 (Extended)

Episode 3 – Black

I follow the beast deep into the water in my submarine.

*The following story contains themes of depression and suicide

People with depression have their own metaphors to describe their suffering. For me, when it hits, it’s like being trapped in a deep freshly dug grave. Dark, cold, damp, my fingers scrape at the earth, scrambling to pull myself out. All I feel is the never ending darkness devouring me.

“Black is a personal short story which attempts to capture my thoughts and feelings about depression. The story is a creative way to express my experience of depression and how it is all consuming and overrides rational thinking.” – Jen Farrow.

Black

by Jen Farrow

Acknowledgements:

This episode’s intro and outro were written, edited and produced by Nat V.

Black was written, produced and edited by Jen Farrow with performances by Jen Farrow and Amitoze Nandha.

Music in this episode, “Waves” by Dana Boulé.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by: Robinhood76 Speedenza Jhumbucker Cell31_Sound_Productions Scotchio Morganveilleux Sculptor AlienXXX KMoon Gkillhour Jakobthiesen Jakobthiesen Stephan

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Accepting submissions until 30 July 2017

Episode 2 – Memory Device

Once upon a time, my memories were stolen. Gone. Forever.

When I scroll through photos on my iPhone, it helps me remember the little moments that pass a day, like a photo of my favourite meal, or a photo of a sign to help me remember an event. Plus all those big moments, like my trip to Malta, my mother’s birthday, or, when a friend visited from Paris. The other day I found a silly selfie of my face, taken in the midst of the flu with my nose, bright and red and my eyes watering. Do you use your smartphone to help you remember? I do. But are our gadgets substituting our memories and our ability to hold onto those precious moments inside the filing cabinet inside our brain?

Gadgets are getting smarter; they are the keeper of memories all stored on a nifty device that fits in the palm of your hand. Which is great, until you lose your phone, drop it or someone steals it.

But you back up your phone, right?

This episode, Memory Device, was written and performed by me about the time I was mugged in Paris. The creep stole my iPhone along with all my precious memories. Gone. Forever.

Acknowledgements:

This episode was written and produced by Nat V.

Music in this episode, “Felt Lining” by Blue Dot Sessions.

Illustrations by Peta Manning. Her book, See Me Doodle, is out now.

Sound effects used in this episode by chewiesmissus, volivieri, Mxsmanic and Chubbers1995.

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Accepting submissions until 30 May 2017

Episode 1 – introduction to Memoria podcast

Memoria: Latin for memory

Introducing Memoria, a new fortnightly podcast of micro radio dramas adapted from short memoirs.

Inspired by flash fiction and the narrative non-fiction form, Memoria will explore slices of life; moments in time that have transformed people and shaped who they have become. Whether it was the moment leaving a destructive relationship or the joy of discovering the taste of Wizz Fizz, these 400-word snapshots will be adapted into audio stories with actors, music, and sound.

Seeking submissions

Keep a look out for us in May.

A huge thank you to contributors Jen Farrow and Amanda Miha for inspiring me to get this up and running, as well as Peta Manning, who will illustrate our stories.

Don’t forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

acknowledgements:

Music in this episode, “Felt Lining” by Blue Dot Sessions.

Episode was written and produced by Nat V.

Between two worlds

Podcast flash story by Lucia Benavides

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About You

Podcast flash story by Jennifer Crane

The Joint Before Xmas

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Silent Sisters

Podcast flash story by Jay Alter

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Dr Who in the kitchen of my childhood

Podcast flash story by Marina Byrne

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The rollerskaters

Podcast flash story by Suzanne Hermanoczki

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An L-shaped room

Podcast flash story by Maria Griffin

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Danube Dreaming

Podcast flash memoir story by Patrick Boxall

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Spirit of Punk

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Confessions of a Boarder by Lacey Smith

Hell Bent by Noeleen Ginnane

The Stink by Laura Wild

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Don't miss an episode!

Don't miss an episode!

Don't miss an episode!

Don't miss an episode!

Don't miss an episode!

Don't miss an episode!

Don't miss an episode!

Don't miss an episode!

Don't miss an episode!