The 9pm Edict

The 9pm Edict is a podcast looking at the news and its frustrations. Series 1 of The 9pm Edict, a total of 20 episodes, was completed in March 2012. Since then, episodes have continued to appear for reasons that are not entirely clear. The world is not a just place, it seems.

The 9pm Probe: John Birmingham, author and columnist

08 July 2018 in The 9pm Edict by Stilgherrian | Permalink

John Birmingham

Today we insert the Probe into author and columnist John Birmingham, most famous for the novel He Died with a Felafel in His Hand, which was made into a film, but also the Axis of Time trilogy and a whole bunch of airport novels — mostly techno thrillers — as well as the Dave versus the Monsters series.

A few weeks ago I found myself in John Birmingham’s secret writing bunker, where we talked about everything from the culture wars to the end of civilisation, and from the mythology of the Anzacs to why he likes fan fiction.

We also mention his blog “The Burger” at cheeseburgergothic.com.

This episode was recorded on Monday 4 June 2018 in Brisbane, Australia.

You can listen to the podcast below. But if you want all of the episodes, now and in the future, subscribe to the podcast feed, or go to SoundCloud or Spreaker.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 58:15 — 31.7MB)

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Announcing “The 9pm Brisbane Forum”

06 May 2018 in The 9pm Edict by Stilgherrian | Permalink

[UPDATE: Sadly the Pozible campaign did not reach its target. There won’t be a Public House Forum podcast, but there should still be an episode with John Birmingham. Stay tuned for details.]

The 9pm Brisbane Forum: Click for Pozible campaign

Following the success of The 9pm Hometown Forum in Adelaide, and the bonus episode of The 9pm Probe with space archaeologist Dr Alice Gorman, I’m doing the same thing in Brisbane. But I need your help.

The plan? Two podcasts:

  1. Public House Forum 7, an episode like the last Public House Forum, recorded in a Brisbane pub on the afternoon of Saturday 2 June.
  2. The 9pm Probe with author and columnist John Birmingham. According to Wikipedia, he is known for the 1994 memoir He Died with a Felafel in His Hand, and his Axis of Time trilogy. He’s also responsible for the twice-weekly column Alien Side Boob, and his column for Fairfax Media.

From now until Thursday 17 May at 2130 AEST, you can help support The 9pm Brisbane Forum, a Pozible crowdfunding campaign to make these podcasts possible. You can buy the usual Forum rewards: ONE TRIGGER WORD or THREE TRIGGER WORDS or a FORUM QUESTION.

For details, click through now, or listen to this “excellent” promo, either here or on SoundCloud or on Spreaker.

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:08 — 3.4MB)

You can follow the campaign on Twitter using the hashtag #9pmbrisbane.

Audio Credits

The 9pm Probe: Dr Alice Gorman, space archaeologist

07 April 2018 in The 9pm Edict by Stilgherrian | Permalink

Dr Alice Gorman

This is the pilot episode of The 9pm Probe, a long-form interview with an interesting person. Today, space archaeologist Dr Alice Gorman aka Dr Space Junk from Flinders University in South Australia.

As some of you may know, I was a bit of an enthusiastic Space Age kid, so this is a very self-indulgent conversation.

We talk about: How the live TV images of the Apollo 11 mission were really quite dull; Vanguard 1, currently the oldest human satellite in space; how civilian and military space programs have always been closely intertwined; citizen science in space; a brief mention of the Manned Orbital Laboratory (MOL); CORONA and the movie Ice Station Zebra; the International Geophysical Year (IGY); the International Polar Year; why people get angry about the concept of space archaeology; Australia’s early involvement in the Space Age; the Woomera test range; the Zuni rocket; WRESAT; the European Launcher Development Organisation (ELDO), the forerunner to the European Space Agency (ESA); rocket playgrounds; Ray Bradbury’s short story “The Rocket Man”; the inevitability of Uranus jokes; the start of the Second Space Age; our shared love of the Soviet technological aesthetic; the cube-sat revolution; the recent launch of rogue satellites; space tourism; Australia’s planned new space agency; SpaceX’s recent work, including firing a Tesla into space; Rocket Lab’s Humanity Star; the live video feed from the International Space Station; the Aboriginal use of bottle glass after European colonisation; and colonial processes in space.

At the end, I also mention the licenses you need to fly a spacecraft.

This episode was recorded on Monday 26 March 2018 at Flinders University.

You can listen to the podcast below. But if you want all of the episodes, now and in the future, subscribe to the podcast feed, or subscribe automatically in iTunes, or go to SoundCloud.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:01:36 — 31.2MB)

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The 9pm Public House Forum 6 / Hometown Forum

30 March 2018 in The 9pm Edict by Stilgherrian | Permalink

The Wheatsheaf Hotel

Adelaide is “heaps good”, as the saying goes. This Public House Forum episode was recorded in that city, and suggests that it might well be true.

The first Public House Forum for 2018 is also the first one recorded in Adelaide, and the panel is simply wonderful.

  • Tory Shepherd, state editor of The Advertiser.
  • Katie Spain, editor of Fritz Magazine.
  • Dr Hannah Brown, a postdoctoral fellow in paediatrics and reproductive health at the University of Adelaide.
  • Nicholas Fryer, presenter of The Arch Window and all-purpose misanthropist.
  • Sebastian Fryer, a young person, also appears briefly.

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at The Wheatsheaf Hotel in Thebarton, Adelaide, on Saturday 24 March 2018.

There’s talk of Lego, starting a family, fritz, crumpets, Maggie Beer, orgasms, collusion to commit lexicography, infertility, and underage drinking. Amongst many other things.

You can listen to the podcast below. But if you want all of the episodes, now and in the future, subscribe to the podcast feed, or subscribe automatically in iTunes, or go to SoundCloud.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:56:59 — 58.7MB)

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The 9pm Private House Forum 1: Hobart

04 March 2018 in The 9pm Edict by Stilgherrian | Permalink

The Hope and Anchor

In an episode recorded live but in private in Hobart, Tasmania, we hear about sexuality and neuroscience, the sexuality of the stars, and the curious sexualities of the sex industry.

In this episode there’s talk of truth in advertising, Pluto, foetal development, frisbees, autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR), the recently-discovered glymphatic system, the escorting business, the beginning of the universe, and much more.

Our guests are:

We also mentioned the Ig Nobel Prize.

You can listen to the podcast below. But if you want all of the episodes, now and in the future, subscribe to the podcast feed, or subscribe automatically in iTunes, or go to SoundCloud.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:35 — 27.5MB)

Thank you, Media Freedom Citizenry!

This episode was made possible by its listeners, mostly through supporting The 9pm GoatFest Tasmania, which spawned a podcast of the same name.

Issuing a GOATY CHALLENGE were Peter Lawler, Reselsnark, and Paul McElwee; ASK A GOAT questions came from Stuart Young, Peter Lawler, PointZeroOne, Christopher Neal, Johan de Wit, and four people who choose to remain anonymous; SLIGHTLY LESS BASIC TIPs from Simon Harris, David Heath, Nick Andrew, Andrew Groom, Paul Williams, Katrina Szetey, Paul Kidd, Daniel O’Connor, Nicholas Fryer, Ric Hayman, Kathy Reid, twiddlekins, Norman Ma, Sean Minney, Syl Mobile, Tim Bell, Andrew Kennedy, Andrew Groom, Melissa Madsen, Kate Carruthers, Adam Fitzpatrick, Chris Gentle, Bob Ogden, and seven people who choose to remain anonymous; BASIC TIPs from, Errol Cavit, Matt Moore, and one person who chose to remain anonymous; and three other very generous souls.

Peter Lawler also pledged to receive a FORUM QUESTION, which didn’t happen. I owe you one.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please throw a few coins into the tip jar.

Series Credits

[Photo: The Hope and Anchor in Hobart, Tasmania, claims to be the oldest hotel establishment in Australia. It opened in 1807, and was photographed here on 27 February 2018. This is not the hotel where the podcast was recorded.]

The 9pm GoatFest Tasmania

25 February 2018 in The 9pm Edict by Stilgherrian | Permalink

Willow Creek Talisa da Kisser

It’s all goats all the time, nearly, as we bring you many wonderful things from GoatFest Tasmania in Launceston.

In this episode there’s talk of cheese, meat, milk, politics, and more. Miniature psychic goat Willow Creek Talisa da Kisser predicts the result of the Tasmanian state election. And Nicholas Fryer takes a look through The Arch Window.

You can listen to the podcast below. But if you want all of the episodes, now and in the future, subscribe to the podcast feed, or subscribe automatically in iTunes, or go to SoundCloud.

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:05:30 — 29.2MB)

Thank you, Media Freedom Citizenry!

This episode was made possible by its listeners. Issuing a GOATY CHALLENGE were Peter Lawler, Reselsnark, and Paul McElwee; ASK A GOAT questions came from Stuart Young, Peter Lawler, PointZeroOne, Christopher Neal, Johan de Wit, and four people who choose to remain anonymous; SLIGHTLY LESS BASIC TIPs from Simon Harris, David Heath, Nick Andrew, Andrew Groom, Paul Williams, Katrina Szetey, Paul Kidd, Daniel O’Connor, Nicholas Fryer, Ric Hayman, Kathy Reid, twiddlekins, Norman Ma, Sean Minney, Syl Mobile, Tim Bell, Andrew Kennedy, Andrew Groom, Melissa Madsen, Kate Carruthers, Adam Fitzpatrick, Chris Gentle, Bob Ogden, and seven people who choose to remain anonymous; BASIC TIPs from, Errol Cavit, Matt Moore, and one person who chose to remain anonymous; and three other very generous souls.

Thanks also to Carl and Jan Roberts from Willow Creek Miniature Goats, and all the friendly goat people who spoke with me. I was a lovely day.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please throw a few coins into the tip jar.

Episode Credits

Series Credits

[Photo: Miniature goat Willow Creek Talisa da Kisser, photographed at GoatFest Tasmania on 25 February 2018.]

Announcing “The 9pm GoatFest Tasmania”

11 February 2018 in The 9pm Edict by Stilgherrian | Permalink

UPDATE 15 February 2018: The Pozible campaign was successful. Details of what I’ll be doing will be posted on Saturday 17 February.

The 9pm GoatFest Tasmania: Click for Pozible campaign

Let’s talk about Goats! GoatFest Tasmania is Tasmania’s Only All-Breeds Goat Festival and Field Day, with everything you ever need to know about goats and goat products all under the one roof. It’s on Sunday 25 February in Launceston, and I want to go. I need to go.

What’s not to love? Like, goats, right!

From now until Thursday 15 February at 2130 AEDT, you can help support The 9pm GoatFest Tasmania, a Pozible crowdfunding campaign. You can ASK A GOAT or its goatherd a question, or set me a GOATY CHALLENGE.

If we reach Target 2, I’ll continue on to Hobart to record a Public House Forum episode like the last one. If that happens, the usual rewards will be available: ONE TRIGGER WORD and THREE TRIGGER WORDS and FORUM QUESTION.

For details, click through now, or listen to this “excellent” promo, either here or on SoundCloud or on Spreaker.

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:54 — 2.8MB)

You can follow the campaign on Twitter using the hashtag #9pmgoatfest.

[Goat sounds recorded at Turkana Lake, Kenya, in December 2016 by Freesound user peterkotrha.]

The 9pm Glorious Cloaca

22 December 2017 in The 9pm Edict by Stilgherrian | Permalink

Senator Eric Abetz

We’ve survived the first year of the Trump presidency, and isn’t it wonderful! But America isn’t looking so good in the eyes of the rest of the world. And here in Australia, Senator Eric Abetz is swimming upstream to spawn.

In this episode there’s talk of Donald Trump, dumplings, stupid people, landlords, disinformation, and the blockchain. Amongst many other things. And Nicholas Fryer takes a look through The Arch Window.

You can listen to the podcast below. But if you want all of the episodes, now and in the future, subscribe to the podcast feed, or subscribe automatically in iTunes, or go to SoundCloud.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 54:04 — 23.9MB)

Merry Christmas, you fucking Muppets

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The 9pm Public House Forum 5

20 December 2017 in The 9pm Edict by Stilgherrian | Permalink

The 9pm Edict Public House Forum 5 being recorded

Ah, 2017. A year when too much politics is not enough. What a year in Australia. What a year in the world.

For the penultimate episode of this podcast for 2017, join us for this live and extremely wonkish conversation from the wilds of suburban Sydney with two smart and informed panellists.

  • Paula Matthewson aka @Drag0nista, political analyst and author.
  • Josh Taylor, news editor, BuzzFeed Australia.

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at the West Ryde Hotel in Sydney on Sunday 17 December 2017.

There’s talk of the Bennelong by-election, Australia’s two-party political system, chocolate, the same-sex marriage postal survey, Donald Trump, China, and even the National Broadband Network. Amongst many other things.

You can listen to the podcast below. But if you want all of the episodes, now and in the future, subscribe to the podcast feed, or subscribe automatically in iTunes, or go to SoundCloud.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:03:01 — 31.8MB)

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Announcing “The 9pm Edict Public House Forum 5”

13 December 2017 in The 9pm Edict by Stilgherrian | Permalink

West Ryde Hotel

In less than three days the citizens you can hear around me — if you listen — here in Eastwood, Sydney, will be voting in the Bennelong by-election, a critical test of Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership as Prime Minister of Australia.

The day after, Sunday 17 December, we’re recording Public House Forum 5 at the West Ryde Hotel. Guests include BuzzFeed news editor Josh Taylor, and political commentator Paula Matthewson aka @Drag0nista.

Come and eat and drink with us. There’s still time to book a free audience spot, so click through for the details. Or listen live from 1400 AEDT via stilgherrian.com/edict/live/ and Spreaker apps.

Here’s an audio update. Listen here, or on SoundCloud or on Spreaker.

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:50 — 4.0MB)

Oh we won’t just be talking politics. It’s about the year, the world, the universe…

[Photo: West Ryde Hotel, photographed on 13 December 2017.]

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