In October 2024, I released Episode 100 of Tall And True Short Reads, Twin Souls in the Universe, marking the end of Season Four of my storytelling podcast, which I launched in September 2020. Since then, I've taken a break from podcasting to focus on writing projects, including publishing my latest short story collection.

The stories written and narrated by Robert Fairhead for The Kris Kringle - Xmas 2024 first appeared on the Tall And True writers' website.

Read the stories on Tall And True:

• Five Meet on Zoom: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/five-meet-on-zoom

• The Last Book That Made You Cry: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/the-last-book-that-made-you-cry

• Once Upon A Time: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/once-upon-a-time

• Some Things Change – Perth, Western Australia, 1979: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/some-things-change

Podcast website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com

Episode 100, Twin Souls in the Universe: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/twin-souls-in-the-universe/

Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads

Buy Robert's short story collections online:

• Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM

• Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436

• Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead

Podcast Theme and Sound Effects

Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan.

Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org:

• Santa’s Sleigh Bells: https://freesound.org/people/BrianJamesLong/sounds/330415/

Five Meet on Zoom:

• None

The Last Book That Made You Cry:

• Page turning: https://freesound.org/people/Kodack/sounds/256475/

Once Upon A Time:

• Slow Clock Ticking: https://freesound.org/people/Julien%20Matthey/sounds/457651/

• Conference Noise: https://freesound.org/people/shazam118/sounds/83788/

• Glasses Clinking: https://freesound.org/people/KenRT/sounds/319994/

• Applause: https://freesound.org/people/Breviceps/sounds/462362/

Some Things Change – Perth, Western Australia, 1979:

• Kids playing: https://freesound.org/people/cognito%20perceptu/sounds/61503/

• Glasses Clinking: https://freesound.org/people/KenRT/sounds/319994/

• Car Interior: https://freesound.org/people/devy32/sounds/439252/

• Sipping Wine: https://freesound.org/people/bbrocer/sounds/382656/

Production Notes

Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity.

The podcast episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation.

Acast Podcast Supporter Page

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you thought about it, the process for selecting the first matter transference test pilot was archaic, although Mae considered it a lucky omen when she drew the Blue 15 raffle ticket. Blue, not pink, was her favourite colour as a girl, and at 15, Mae had decided she wanted to become an astronaut.

Twin Souls in the Universe is a short story from the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead.

Read the story on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/twin-souls-in-the-universe

Read the "What's in a Name?" blog post: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/whats-in-a-name

Tall And True Short Reads website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com

Listen to Episode 8 of Tall And True Short Reads, Splendid Views: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/splendid-views/

Episode 92 of Tall And True Short Reads, The Lost and Found Story: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/the-lost-and-found-story/

Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads

Buy Robert's short story and microfiction collections online:

• Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM

• Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436

• Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead

Podcast Theme and Sound Effects

Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan.

Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org:

• Ambient Universe Hum: https://freesound.org/people/FALL-E/sounds/713436/

• Hooray!: https://freesound.org/people/Vesperia94/sounds/403057/

Production Notes

Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity.

Podcast episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation.

Acast Podcast Supporter Page

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm getting too old for this. My speechwriter's pulse quickens as the PM mounts the flag-decked stage, flanked by senior ministers and mining industry executives, to announce her government's green coal plan. Panned by environmentalists and scientists, polling suggests it could be a vote winner … if the PM nails my speech.

My Speech is a short story from the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead.

Read the story on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/my-speech

Tall And True Short Reads website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com

Listen to Episode 90 of Tall And True Short Reads, A Good Story: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/a-good-story/

Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads

Buy Robert's short story and microfiction collections online:

• Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM

• Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436

• Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead

Podcast Theme and Sound Effects

Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan.

Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org:

• Camera shutter burst: https://freesound.org/people/Lumamorph/sounds/505476/

• Tapping microphone: https://freesound.org/people/susychristiansen/sounds/149034/

• Applause: https://freesound.org/people/sagetyrtle/sounds/32260/

• Typewriter: https://freesound.org/people/supersupernator/sounds/519622/

Production Notes

Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity.

Podcast episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation.

Acast Podcast Supporter Page

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Excuse me, humanity, please pay attention. I have an urgent message. "What? Not in the middle of my reality TV show!" I'm sorry. I'll be brief. But first, a little background. My message concerns the fate of a pale blue dot in the inky expanse of the universe. Beyond its fragile borders is vast nothingness.

You Have Been Warned is a short story from the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead.

Read the story on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/you-have-been-warned

Listen to Episode 59, Once Upon A Time: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/once-upon-a-time/

Not Quite Write Podcast and Prize website: https://notquitewritepodcast.com/

Tall And True Short Reads website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com

Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads

Buy Robert's short story and microfiction collections online:

• Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM

• Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436

• Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead

Podcast Theme and Sound Effects

Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan.

Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org:

• TV Static: https://freesound.org/people/Kleber_KGF/sounds/354019/

• Gunfire: https://freesound.org/people/C-V/sounds/523404/

• Screaming Voices: https://freesound.org/people/craigsmith/sounds/486179/

• Angry Voices: https://freesound.org/people/craigsmith/sounds/486193/

• Car Horn: https://freesound.org/people/felix.blume/sounds/684521/

• Bicycle Bell: https://freesound.org/people/altazor80/sounds/367744/

• Storm Wind: https://freesound.org/people/craigsmith/sounds/481139/

• Story Rain: https://freesound.org/people/2887679652/sounds/164921/

• Flood Waters: https://freesound.org/people/martialway47/sounds/258187/

• Desert Crickets: https://freesound.org/people/felix.blume/sounds/641589/

• Fire: https://freesound.org/people/craigsmith/sounds/483309/

Production Notes

Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity.

Podcast episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation.

Acast Podcast Supporter Page

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I open my eyes, blink and try to focus on the bright lights set into the white ceiling flying past overhead. I hear beeps and muffled voices. It feels like I'm strapped to a camp stretcher, but it's moving. I'm on a hospital gurney. What happened? I want to ask. But there's a tube down my throat, and I can't talk.

The Light Above is a short story from the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead.

Read the story on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/the-light-above

Read my 2020 blog post about Furious Fiction: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/furiousfiction-writers-centre-competition

About Judd Exley: https://www.juddexley.com/about/

Podcast website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com

Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads

Buy Robert's short story collections online:

• Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM

• Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436

• Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead

Podcast Theme and Sound Effects

Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan.

Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org:

• Hospital Gurney: https://freesound.org/people/craigsmith/sounds/481111/

• Beeping/Flatline: https://freesound.org/people/Tommy6969/sounds/730279/

• Bike Freewheeling: https://freesound.org/people/13gkopeckak/sounds/378905/

• Car Passing: https://freesound.org/people/NachtmahrTV/sounds/553259/

• Bike Crash: https://freesound.org/people/1sticky8/sounds/78483/

Production Notes

Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity.

Podcast episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation.

Acast Podcast Supporter Page

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever had one of those mornings? You know, where everything goes wrong. It's like a farce, a series of mishaps increasing in frequency and intensity that have you howling with side-splitting laughter or shedding tears of frustration.

One of Those Mornings is a short story from the Tall And True writers' website, written and narrated by Robert Fairhead.

Read the story on Tall And True: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/fiction/short-stories/one-of-those-mornings

Read the Five April Stories blog post: https://www.tallandtrue.com.au/blog/five-april-stories

Listen to The Winner's Toast, Episode 45 of Tall And True Short Reads: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com/the-winners-toast/

Podcast website: https://www.tallandtrueshortreads.com

Support the podcast: https://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads

Buy Robert's short story collections online:

• Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Fairhead/e/B086HZ36NM

• Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/author/robert-fairhead/id1436773436

• Rakuten Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/au/en/author/robert-fairhead

Podcast Theme and Sound Effects

Royalty-free music from Pixabay.com: Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 'Pastorale' – IV. Rondo. Allegro ma non-Troppo, performed by Karine Gilanyan.

Sound effects licensed under Creative Commons 0 from FreeSound.org:

• Car Doors: https://freesound.org/people/oscaraudiogeek/sounds/333281/

• Car Driving: https://freesound.org/people/devy32/sounds/439252/

• Car Horns: https://freesound.org/people/craigsmith/sounds/479995/

• Storm: https://freesound.org/people/2887679652/sounds/164921/

• Heart Monitor (beeping): https://freesound.org/people/iluminati_2705/sounds/536706/

• Text Notification: https://freesound.org/people/katjajansen1997/sounds/538006/

• Alarm Clock: https://freesound.org/people/gecop/sounds/522119/

Production Notes

Tall And True Short Reads is produced using Audacity.

Podcast episodes are recorded in Sydney, Australia, on the traditional lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation.

Acast Podcast Supporter Page

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/tall-and-true-short-reads.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.