Interviews on Tuesday Lunch | Podcast on RSS.com

Interviews on Tuesday Lunch

Interviews on Tuesday Lunch

by Tanya Shukla

Music Society & Culture

The language of movement (Nicolás Mena)

Nicolás Mena is a dancer, choreographer, and the creator of Rhythm in Soul, a dance experience that centres community, creativity, and authentic self-expression. FEEL. BE SEEN. EXPRESS. His journey has taken him from local dance spaces to some of the world's biggest stages, shaping a practice grounded in connection and the belief that movement can tell stories beyond words.

Tradition, queerness and radical imagination (Govind Pillai)

Govind Pillai is someone whose work lives beautifully at the intersection of tradition, queerness, movement and radical imagination. Pillai is a dancer, choreographer, director and the Artistic Director of Karma Dance; a company celebrated for creating visually stunning and emotionally powerful performances that challenge the boundaries of contemporary dance. Through works like Temple of Desire, Pillai explores identity, sensuality, spirituality and belonging with extraordinary honesty and care - creating space for stories and bodies that have too often been unseen. Pillai's work is bold, tender, provocative and deeply human.

Absurd, heartfelt and unmistakably Australiana (Ruby Teys)

Ruby Teys is a comedian, performer and creative whose work blends camp-iness, Australian nostalgia and character comedy into something completely her own. From cult live shows to radio/podcasting, Ruby has built a reputation for humour that’s equal parts absurd, heartfelt and unmistakably Aussie. This is an Australiana cult classic at its best!

Life, comedy and everything in between (Elaine Crombie)

Elaine Crombie is an Aboriginal Australian actress, known for her work on stage and television. She is also a singer, songwriter, comedian, writer, and producer. Her works centre on the raw, the beautiful, and the funny - finding inspiration in all the corners of life.

From cassettes to clubs: It's her global takeover (Rasa)

So, where do I begin with my guest today? Maybe we can start with her phenomenal set at the last Dayshift? Maybe we spotlight her boiler room set? Well, today on Tuesday Lunch, we have a Bengaluru-based Punjabi DJ who has emerged during one of the most certain times for music and nightlife. Starting her journey during the COVID-19 pandemic, she’s since carved out a bold, unapologetic sound that pulses with confidence and underground club spirit. Rasa isn’t just playing tracks - she’s building a world on the dance floor, one that’s raw, expressive, and impossible to ignore.

Summer's not over until JULAI says so (Christian Stewart)

Some artists find their voice - others grow into it, moment by moment, choice by choice. Born in Aotearoa and raised in Naarm’s south-east, Christian Stewart began his journey into music in shared spaces - family homes, school choirs, and a garage where connection turned into creation. What started as curiosity became something deeper: a calling shaped by community, culture, and self-belief. Through his work, Christian - who my listeners will know as JULAI, creates more than music - he creates space. This interview is about queer joy, Pasifika pride, and for people to feel seen, powerful, and unapologetically themselves.

The journey of a climate organiser (Grace Vegesana)

Grace Vegesana is part of a new generation of leaders who are reshaping how we think about climate, community, and justice. As a climate organiser and youth movement leader based originally on Dhurag land, Grace began advocating for climate action as a teenager and has since helped mobilise thousands of young people across so-called Australia. Through her work as the National Director of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, Grace is helping to ensure that the voices most affected by climate change are not just heard - but leading the solutions. Today, on Tuesday Lunch, we’re exploring Grace’s journey - from the early moments that shaped her worldview, to the purpose that continues to guide her work for a more just and sustainable future.

Mixed media has always been that girl (grrlsonline)

Today, I'm sitting down with Youna — a creative spirit from Bankstown who is quietly, and boldly choosing authenticity in a world obsessed with polish. Raised in the in-between space of analogue childhood and the wild rise of the internet, she grew up on computer games, animation, and heart-fluttering stories - worlds that felt expansive when real life felt small. Through building worlds with her hands - the paper cuts, prints, stickers and zines, Youna is creating art that insists on being human. This is a conversation about growing up online, staying soft in a digital age, and daring to believe that handmade beauty still matters.

Truth-telling lives on Country (Phoebe McIlwraith)

On today’s show, we have journalist, writer, and multidisciplinary creative whose work sits at the intersection of First Nations affairs, and cross-cultural storytelling. Raised in a proudly Aboriginal and multicultural family, Phoebe McIlwraith — grew up surrounded by the belief that stories can move people to act. From law to media, to television journalism, her path has been anything but linear … and that’s exactly where its power lies. This is a conversation on learning to find your voice, and enacting your instinct to create change. Listen to the full episode via: @t_4_n_y_4_

Art and beauty: Beyond the "clean girl" aesthetic (Pamela Madoro)

Makeup artist and creative Pamela Madoro joins the show to talk art in all its forms, reclaiming beauty, and why personality, patience and pushing past outdated standards matter more than ever. Stay connected/find the full convo: @t_4_n_y_4_

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