On 26th April 2014, Megan Washington delivered a TEDx Talk that immediately trended on Twitter, and has gone on to be viewed nearly three million times. It's a beautiful public declaration about her stutter, and has so many interesting and funny moments about what a stutter is, and how it affects the life of a public performer. In her own words, Meg ends her TED Talk with a TED Sing, and it's absolutely spellbinding, a live performance of her song '‘To Or Not Let Go’. 

In recent times, Meg has been the voice of Calypso on Bluey, and also the writer of the acclaimed Australian movie, 'How to Make Gravy', adapting the Paul Kelly song of the same name. Her song, 'Fine', won a AACTA Award last year for Best Original Song. 

Megan's most recent album is GEM. She has gigs coming up in Feb-April 2026 in Tugun, Brunswick Heads, Cleveland, St Kilda and Main Ridge. 

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Tony has written stories about taking his son Jack to music gigs on Good one, Wilson (3500 subscribers) 

Tony has signed picture books for sale, as well as middle grade and sports books for adults. 

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In 2010, The Church were reluctant inductees to the ARIA Rock Hall of Fame, and reluctant speakers too. Steve Kilbey says in this interview that they hadn't planned to speak, but felt the pressure to say something as every other inductee spoke beautifully before them. What he eventually delivered was an after dinner classic, a funny, virtually off the cuff speech about Australian music, the other four inductees and tales from the road. In this Speakola episode Steve gives an account of that night, but also a wonderful biographical summary of his life in music, including his first gig in Canberra, his mum and dad, receiving his first bass, playing school shows, forming The Church, and much more. 

Steve Kilbey's speech transcript is up on Speakola library. 

The Church's The Singles Tour has announced some new dates in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide in February. 

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Tony's 'How To Get on Race Around the World' articles are up at Good one, Wilson. 

Tony has signed picture books for sale, as well as middle grade and sports books for adults. Grab a signed copy for Christmas! 

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In March, I chatted to speech collector Dana Rubin for Women's History Month (there have been delays releasing the episode - my apologies, Dana). It's a great chat with a kindred spirit. Dana has created the Speaking While Female speech bank that showcases speeches by women across history and around the world. 

She also edited the book Speaking While Female: 75 Extraordinary Speeches By American Women

The episode is topped and tailed by two speeches in Dana's collection. 

Emma Watson's HeForShe launch speech at United Nations, 2014

Oprah Winfrey's 'Times Up' speech at the Golden Globes, 2018

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My mother, Margaret Joan Wilson died on the 20th of April 2025 while I was away in Budapest. It was a big shock and a terrible day. We had a private family ceremony on 7th May and a more public celebration of life on the 8th. This speech was delivered at the second event. The text and video of the eulogy is up at Speakola newsletter and in the Speakola library. My brother Ned did the MCing and was brilliant. 

My Mum truly was 'Margaret Wilson, Mother of Readers'  I'll miss her always. 

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Read about Mum winning Miss Footy 1969. 

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Author & documentary maker John Safran talks in this episode about his eulogy for 'the People's Priest', Father Bob Maguire at St Patrick's Cathedral Melbourne in May 2023. He also discusses his latest book 'Squat' about his week squatting at Kaye West's LA Mansion and his creative life as Australia's best known 'valid troll' (to use John's own expression) 

Safran has a live show  Squatting at Kanye's and Other Adventures at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival on April 17th, as well as shows in Hobart and Paramatta.  

He's our first return guest on the podcast. He was also on episode 27, 'Unsmoke the World' 

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Tony's film 'Ange & The Boss - Puskas in Australia' is currently showing at Cinema Nova (daily sessions) and Thornbury Picture House. 

Follow the film's progress and Tony's writing generally at Good one, Wilson! 

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Comedian Sammy J is a Melbourne International Comedy Festival Great Debate regular. He is the interviewee for this first episode of 2025 and the feature speech is his opening argument for the negative team in 2018, 'That we must go to Mars'. 

Sammy J's currently touring show is 'The Kangaroo Effect' which is on in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth in the next month or so. This years Melbourne International Comedy Festival Great Debate will take place on 12th April at Melbourne Town Hall.

Tony's feature documentary 'Ange & The Boss' about Ferenc Puskas and his time at the South Melbourne Hellas is currently in cinemas! He is very excited about this, it has had a great run and stellar reviews.

All sessions are up at angeandtheboss.com

This week's sessions include the fiollowing Q&A events: 

BRISBANE Thursday 27th March

6.30 The Barracks
Q&A pre-film with Tony Wilson & Cam Fink

BRISBANE Thursday 27th March

6.30 Five Star New Farm
Q&A with Tony Wilson & Cam Fink plus 1991 Hellas star Daniel Wright

ADELAIDE Saturday 29th March

7.00 Picadilly, North Adelaide
Q&A with Tony Wilson & Cam Fink

MELBOURNE Sunday 30th March

6.15 Thornbury Picture House
Q&A with director Tony Wilson

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A brief update confirming that the podcast will resume in March 2025. Episodes have already been recorded with Sammy J (on comedy debates), John Safran (eulogy for Father Bob Maguire) and Dana Rubin (speech collector, Speaking While Female). 

I'm also announcing the release of our documentary 'Ange & The Boss - Puskas in Australia'. After selling out at the Greek Film Festival (second most viewed film there) are in cinemas around the country from 13-16th March. Tickets and session times 

Melbourne
Thurs 13/3 - Palace Pentridge Coburg, 6.30pm, guests Gus Tsolakis and Peter Khalil
Fri 14/3 - Nova Carlton, 6.30pm, guests Paul Trimboli and Francis Leach
Fri 14, Sat 15, Sun 16/3 - Sun Theatre Yarraville
Sat 15/3 - Classic Elsternwick, 3pm, co-director Rob Heath joins us;
Sat 15, Sun 16/3 - Palace Westgarth, 3pm (Sun only), guest Kimon Taliadoris (pre film)
Sat 15, Sun 16 - Palace Pennylane, Moonee Ponds
Sat 15, Sun 16 - Palace Balwyn
Sat 15, Sun 16 - Palace Brighton Church Street
Sun 16/3 - Lido Hawthorn, 3pm, guest Kimon Taliadoris and Libbi Gorr;
Sat 22/3 - Cameo Belgrave, 3pm, Hungarian community special
Sat 22 & Sun 23 and Tues 25/3 - Thornbury Picture House, 6pm, guest David Bridie (Sun only)

Geelong
Sun 22/3 - The Pivotonian, 1pm, with guest Steve Horvat

Sydney
Sat 15, Sun 16, Mon 17/3 - Norton Street Leichardt, 6.30pm (film maker introduction to film, Mon only)
Mon 17/3 - Ritz Randwick, 7pm, guest Daniel Garb (Q&A post film)

Brisbane
Sat 15, Sun 16/3 - Palace James St 
Thurs 27/3 - Palace Barracks, 6.30, (film maker introduction to film)
Thurs 27/3 - Five Star cinema, New Farm, 6.30pm (guest Daniel Wright)

Adelaide
Sat 15, Sun 16 - Palace Nova Prospect
Sat 29/3 - The Picadilly North Adelaide, 7pm, guest John Thompson-Mills

Canberra
Sat 15, Sun 16 - Palace Electric

Perth
Sat 15, Sun 16 - Palace Raine Square

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Since 2006, Andrew Moran has been a baritone with Opera Australia in Sydney. When he visited Melbourne as part of a touring production of Puccini's Tosca, Tony spoke to him about a lovely eulogy he delivered for his father, Lawrie Moran, the man who inspired him to sing, in Surrey Hills, Melbourne, on 9 November 2023. 

You can read and listen to the eulogy on Speakola. 

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Comedy writer Declan Fay is Tony's Speakola guest. Declan was the co-writer of Ronny Chieng International Student and the hilarious Crossbread podcast, about a Christian rap duo who hit the big time, but don't happen to be Christians (stars Megan Washington and Chris Ryan). Declan was head writer for this year's AACTA Awards, and has been part of writers' rooms for Rove, Dirty Laundry Live, Problems and You're Skitting Me. His The Sweetest Plum podcast with Chris Kennett was one of Australia's pioneering comedy podcasts, and ran for many years. 

He also speaks regularly in schools via Booked Out Speakers Agency, who also represent Tony for school visits. 

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The cohost of ABC breakfast radio in Adelaide, Jules Schiller delivered a beautiful best man speech for his old comedy partner Tony Moclair when he married Kate in 2003. It's a Speakola favourite, and in this episode, Jules comes on in the aftermatch of a Married at First Sight best man speech abomination to talk about what makes a great best man speech, or wedding speech generally. 

Opening audio is from Tony Moclair afternoons on 3AW. 

I wrote a piece about best man speeches recently for the Speakola podcast. 

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For the sixth year running, Tony awards his speeches of the year on Triple R's 'The Grapevine' with Dylan Bird. This year, no Kulya who has moved on from the show after 13 years. Congrats Kulya. Thank you to Triple R for the audio. Dylan will be back in 2024 with a new show called Future Perfect.

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Merry Xmas, Happy holiday, have a great New Year

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