When people go to a kid’s party for the first time in Australia, they might be confronted with something called “fairy bread”. So, I thought I’d invite an expert on kids to the show, Erika Deery, to help explain some of these oddities.

Erika is the author of several bilingual children's books featuring a character called Millie. While she is on the show to talk about this, we take the opportunity to discuss some different philosophies about bilingualism and raising bilingual kids.

And of course, we talk about what to expect at a kid’s party and explain the history of fairy bread.

Erika’s work can be found at: https://www.milliebooks.com/

And on social media with the same name.

If you would like a transcript for this episode, find all content and have a say in the creative process, think about becoming a patron:

patreon.com/AustraliansTeachEnglish

Or check out my other podcast - IELTS in the Sun - the podcast to help you prepare your English exam:

https://open.spotify.com/show/7wVfUn2wKiQxlE47vLudmc?si=VWsuUzo-T4esfb1KnjW3aA

Did Punk and Grunge originate in Australia? I’ll let you be the judge. But they certainly had their roots in Australia.

Michael is my oldest friend, the creator of the music in my podcasts, and a muso. So, I invited him on the show to talk about one of our favourite themes – Australian music.

We talk about the culture of Australian music and how sleepy towns like Perth and Brisbane have gone on to shape music history across the world.

We talk about our favourite bands and give you some pointers as to where to go if you want to listen to music to improve your English.

We also discuss what it is like to be so “un-Australian” and to be born on Australia Day, as Michael is.

If you love music, then this is another episode for you!

If you would like a transcript for this episode, find all content and have a say in the creative process, think about becoming a patron:

patreon.com/AustraliansTeachEnglish

Or check out my other podcast - IELTS in the Sun - the podcast to help you prepare your English exam:

https://open.spotify.com/show/7wVfUn2wKiQxlE47vLudmc?si=VWsuUzo-T4esfb1KnjW3aA

When people first arrive in Australia, one of the first locals they are likely to meet is the “Bin Chicken”. So, I invited the expert on ‘Bin Chickens’ to the show. John Martin became fascinated with the Ibis whilst studying “pest” species in Australia. And they are an incredibly interesting bird in urban ecology.

In this episode, learn about the ‘Bin Chicken’, how they came to be known as such, and their adaptability to new environments and experiences – just like a language learner.

It is also an excellent opportunity to get involved in citizen science, which is a great way to reduce culture shock, and to acclimatise to a new environment.

If you would like a transcript for this episode, find all content and have a say in the creative process, think about becoming a patron:

patreon.com/AustraliansTeachEnglish

Or check out my other podcast - IELTS in the Sun - the podcast to help you prepare your English exam:

https://open.spotify.com/show/7wVfUn2wKiQxlE47vLudmc?si=VWsuUzo-T4esfb1KnjW3aA

Earlier this year, Francisco starred in a short video that went viral. In it, he used a couple of classic Australianisms to say good-bye. So, naturally, being the last episode of the year, I invited him on the show to talk about it.

Francisco reflects on his shock when first arriving in Australia and gives some great advice for others when arriving.

I hope you enjoy this episode and it is hooroo for another year from me, Glen.

If you would like a transcript for this episode, find all content and have a say in the creative process, think about becoming a patron: patreon.com/AustraliansTeachEnglish

My brother Paul is fresh off competing in the green and gold, lifting stacks of weight and winning a world championship in powerlifting. You might remember him from a previous episode - heaps, so I thought it was an opportune time to talk about his recent achievement in lifting stacks.

We talk about the different ways we can use the word stack or stacks and related terms.

We also talk about his professional role in the health and safety industry and his previous role as a safety inspector for worksafe. I wanted to have him on my show for this reason, to give advice to any workers in Australia struggling to have difficult conversations about safety in the workplace. There are strategies for you in this episode if you are one of those people.

Paul also shares his experience with a shoulder injury that required him to reassess his goals, leading to a more realistic approach to competing in the world championships, and how this approach is applicable to learning.

I hope you enjoy this fun and practical episode!

If you would like a transcript for this episode, find all content and have a say in the creative process, think about becoming a patron: patreon.com/AustraliansTeachEnglish

Diana Paez, a documentary filmmaker from Colombia, discusses her journey to Australia, where she studied filmmaking at Deakin University. She highlights her passion for docos and human stories, particularly around identity and migration. Diana's recent work, "Nuestras Voces," explores the lives of Spanish-speaking migrants in Australia from the 1960s to 1980s.

Diana emphasizes the importance of embracing accents and using them as a strength. She is currently working on a new doco focusing on migrant women and their experiences with accents.

We talk about how docos can be an extremely useful tool in learning language through being exposed to comprehensible input. If you would like a transcript for this episode, find all content and have a say in the creative process, think about becoming a patron: patreon.com/AustraliansTeachEnglish

Ella Sabljak is a two-time Paralympian, rose gold medal winner, educator, and proud representative of the green and gold amongst many other things. I invited her on the show to discuss her journey in wheelchair sports and to talk about her work to promote inclusivity in schools.

Ella shares her experience transitioning from wheelchair basketball to wheelchair rugby, highlighting her bronze medal win at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. She explains the unique aspects of wheelchair rugby, including its classification system and the bonus points for female players. Ella also discusses her role in promoting disability awareness and inclusion through education and her involvement with the World Anti-Doping Agency.

We also talk about how the "Green and Gold" came to be our national colours and what wearing these colours means to Ella. If you would like a transcript for this episode, find all content and have a say in the creative process, think about becoming a patron: patreon.com/AustraliansTeachEnglish

In this podcast I talk to Margo who is an expert at organising "dos". We talk about everything you need to know about the language for talking about and describing events in Australia.

Margo shares her story about how she came to be living in Australia, and specifically Adelaide, and her project in organising dos.

She offers great advice for people wanting to stay in Australia and pursuing the permanent residency pathway.

We also talk about how the word "do" can be used, and why it is so tricky for English learners. We offer some tips and tricks about how English learners can sound more natural by using the word do more regularly.

You can find Margo and her project at @mambo.adelaide and @scrts.au

If you would like a transcript for this episode, find all content and have a say in the creative process, think about becoming a patron: patreon.com/AustraliansTeachEnglish