Nevena and Macca are joined live on air by Josh Moyes – Writer & Actor, Finding Glitter in the Storm, Midsumma Premier From a Unique Queer Voice

Josh Moyes, a queer kid growing up in Byron, just wanted a doll for Christmas, but ‘Santa’ left a bong. Finding Glitter in the Storm is a darkly comic queer coming-of-age story.

After moving from Geelong (Djilang) to the outskirts of Byron Bay (Bundjalung Nation), where the family bought a pirate ship, they were quickly crowned the town pirates – a perfect analogy for their beautiful dysfunction. Josh – queer, tender, and a rainbow rebel from a crew of renegade castaways – discovered how to find the sparkle looking from the shore at a sea of stoners and wave-chasers.

Josh playfully and respectfully unpacks contradictions in the Byron Bay laid-back lifestyle. The show offers a unique voice about the unexpected beauty in growing up different. Through heart, humour, and unfiltered honesty, this skilful storytelling will leave you grinning and a little braver.

Josh Moyes (writer, actor). A neurodivergent artist, Josh began studying performance at WAAPA before completing a Bachelor of Creative Writing at Curtin University. He trained in Los Angeles with acclaimed acting coach Eric Morris, performed playback theatre at festivals around Australia, and his storytelling was praised at The Moth by comedian the late Cal Wilson as “superb – great story.”

With years in the community and humanities sectors, Josh brings lived experience and lyrical wit to the stage. Finding Glitter in the Storm marks the emergence of a distinctive new voice in Australian theatre – funny, fierce, and deeply human. Accompanied by an atmospheric musical instrument guest, this Midsumma premiere celebrates the courage it takes to keep dancing in the downpour – a love letter to the misfits and late bloomers, and a call to and from the inner artist in us all who never quite fit the script. A spectacle, it proves that glitter can always be found in the storm.

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Nevena and Macca talk to Oscar Revelins, live in the studio to talk to about the process of going about being published in Australia if you’re a new author.

Oscar Revelins studied theatre, film, and television at the University of California, Los Angeles, before pivoting to English Literature and graduating with a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Western Australia.

He was born in Melbourne, spent nine years in Los Angeles, and then two in Perth, before settling back in Melbourne, where he currently resides.

In 2025, he published his debut novel Delicate Friends, won the Varnish Prize for Fiction with The Light Declines, received third prize at the My Brother Jack Literary Awards with Bishops, and was selected for the Perth Queer Film Festival with After The Funeral.

In 2024, he was published on the Grattan Street Press blog with his article What I Wish I’d Known Trying to Publish a Book at 23 with No Connections.

As a teenager in high school, his two novellas Smoke Tricks and Deserted received gold and silver keys respectively from the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards in 2017.

https://www.oscarrevelins.com/delicatefriends

Perth, Western Australia. Spring bleeds into a sweltering summer as twenty-year-old Austin finds himself in unfamiliar territory. After abandoning his grief-stained life in Melbourne, reinvention could be his salvation – if only he knew where to find it.

As Austin navigates class dynamics, social isolation, and a taut relationship with his estranged cousin, he meets Ezra: handsome, older, and romantically jaded. Where Austin is reckless and petulant, Ezra is measured and guarded, though despite their polarity, they find themselves entangled in an unorthodox friendship that teeters between desire and disaster.

When wounds from both their pasts reopen, they must face the uncertainty of vulnerability or risk losing themselves – and each other – in the process.

‘Delicate Friends’ explores the thrilling yet painful grey area between friends and lovers, and charts the masochistic games we play in the pursuit of belonging.

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Macca and Nevena are joined live on air by Dr. Chris Pepin-Neff, Asso. Professor of Public Policy, Uni of Sydney, ‘The Emotion of Shark Attacks’.

Dr. Chris Pepin-Neff is an Associate Professor of Public Policy at the University of Sydney in the Discipline of Government and International Relations, specializing in emotional public policymaking, LGBTQ politics, and the “politics of shark attacks”. They authored Flaws: Shark Bites and Emotional Public Policymaking and are known for research on reducing public fear of sharks.

https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-10976-9

This book examines the policymaking process following highly emotional events. It focuses on the politics of shark “attacks” by looking at policy responses to tragic shark bites in Florida, Australia, and South Africa. The book reviews these cases by identifying the flaws in the human-shark relationship, including the way sharks are portrayed as the enemy, the way shark bites are seen as intentional, and how policy responses appear to be based on public safety. Flaws identifies politicians as the true sharks of this story for their manipulation of tragic circumstances to protect their own interests. It argues that shark bites are ungovernable accidents of nature, and that we are “in the way, not on the menu.”

https://www.abc.net.au/religion/chris-pepin-neff-sharkscaping-jaws-moral-panic-sharks/105471390

https://www.facebook.com/Sunrise/videos/1005377682658008/

The post Sat, 24th, Jan, 2026: Dr. Chris Pepin-Neff, Asso. Professor of Public Policy, Uni of Sydney, ‘The Emotion of Shark Attacks’. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Nevena and Macca are joined live on air by Melissa Coade, Editor – The Mandarin (Sister Publication Crikey); Latest Machinations in Canberra, The Coalition split and so much more.

Melissa Coade is The Mandarin’s news editor based in Canberra’s parliamentary press gallery. She has had various government, communications and legal roles, and has written for the Law Society of NSW journal (LSJ) and Lawyers Weekly.

The post Sat, 24th, Jan, 2026: Melissa Coade, Editor – The Mandarin (Sister Publication Crikey); Latest Machinations in Canberra appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Nevena and Macca are joined live in the studio by Rachel Westaway, Lib Prahran, Shadow Asst Min Small, Business + Hosp. Reinvigorating destination Melbourne, Midsumma Carnival, Federal Coalition Situation

Before representing Prahran in State Parliament, Rachel Westaway, had a distinguished career within corporate, industry and public service roles. This included as a senior Commonwealth Tribunal member in migration, child support and social security matters and as Victorian Assistant Commissioner for Freedom of Information. Rachel has run her own business and is also a qualified teacher.

A previous head of marketing at The Age Newspaper, New Idea magazine and SBS, an early career highlight was her creating the giant Caramello Koala working at Cadbury.
Rachel has raised three children with all attending local schools and has lived in the local area for over 20 years.

Her family has long been engaged in our great community, including with the Prahran Junior Football Club and Toorak Prahran Cricket Club along with our dynamic local arts sector.
Rachel is a strident supporter of our diverse community, from our local businesses, to our dynamic fashion, health and medical science, hospitality and creative sectors.

Rachel was born in Melbourne and comes from Thai Chinese heritage and is the former President of the Thai Australian Chamber, which encouraged trade and positive relationships between Australia and Thailand.

The post Sat, 24th, Jan, 2026: Rachel Westaway, Lib Prahran, Shadow Asst Min Small, Business + Hosp. Reinvigorating destination Melbourne, Midsumma Carnival, Federal Coalition Situation appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

First guest this week is show regular and Joy supporter, Aiv Puglielli, Member, Victorian Legislative Council (Victorian Greens), who was live in the studio with Macca and Nevena.

Aiv Puglielli is a member of the Victorian Legislative Council representing North-East Metropolitan Region for the Victorian Greens. With a background in the arts as a composer and producer, Aiv brings a creative lens to politics and is an advocate for climate action, housing justice and community-led solutions. Aiv has worked across grassroots campaigns and in
parliament since 2022, focusing on progressive policies that protect the environment while supporting workers and local communities.

Aiv discussed New addition to his family (adopted Great Dane Hildegard) and Midsumma

The post Sat, 24th, Jan, 2026: Aiv Puglielli, MP Greens, Nth Eastern Metro, Midsumma, Politics Update appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Nevena are in the hosting seats this week as they discuss the news, views and reviews of the week that was and what’s coming up on this week’s programme.

The post Saturday, 24th/January/2026: Weekly Wrap Up with Nevena and Macca appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Paul and Macca are joined live on air, by Matthew Mitcham OAM OLY is a retired, highly decorated Australian diver, and now a thriving as an author, speaker, MC, and cabaret performer, advocating for mental health and LGBTQIA+ inclusion.

Matt’s famous for winning Olympic gold in the 10m platform at Beijing 2008 with the highest-ever dive score and for being the first openly gay Olympic champion. Beyond diving, he’s a successful cabaret performer, author, speaker, and advocate for mental health and LGBTQIA+ issues, having transitioned from a trampolinist background to achieve diving’s “golden trifecta” (Olympics, World Cup, Commonwealth Games).

Matt is starring in an exciting new production of Afterglow, for the Midsumma festival.

S. Asher Gelman international hit play AFTERGLOW is heading to Melbourne for its highly anticipated Australian premiere!

When Josh and Alex, a married couple in an open relationship, invite Darius to share their bed for a night, a new and intimate connection is ignited. As all three men come to terms with their individual definitions of love, loyalty, and trust, relationships are challenged and futures are shaken. A raw, funny, and sensual exploration of polyamory, commitment, and modern love.

The stellar cast of three comprises Julian Curtis (Gaslight, Cock, Dance Academy), gold medal winning Olympic diver Matthew Mitcham (Strangers in Between, Jock Night, The Pool) and Matthew Predny (Titanique, Avenue Q, Kinky Boots).

After its critical success Off-Broadway and productions around the globe, Afterglow now brings its modern, intimate exploration of desire, honesty, and connection to Melbourne audiences!

The post Sat, 17th Jan 2026: Matthew Mitcham, OAM OLY, Retired Australian Diver, Afterglow, Chapel off Chapel, Midsumma appeared first on Saturday Magazine.