In 2020, former Victorian state MP Tim Holding and fiancée Felicity Selkirk purchased a crumbling 18th century French chateau and set about restoring it. The monumental, multi-year renovation has drained their patience - and bank balance - but become one of the most rewarding things they've ever embarked upon.

Hosting a conversation about why they decided to do it in the first place, what it's taught them about themselves and each other, and living in the French countryside, is Good Weekend senior writer Melissa Fyfe.

In 2020, former Victorian state MP Tim Holding and fiancée Felicity Selkirk purchased a crumbling 18th century French chateau and set about restoring it. The monumental, multi-year renovation has drained their patience - and bank balance - but become one of the most rewarding things they've ever embarked upon.
Hosting a conversation about why they decided to do it in the first place, what it's taught them about themselves and each other, and living in the French countryside, is Good Weekend senior writer Melissa Fyfe.

Good Weekend Talks features in-depth conversations with the people fascinating Australians right now, from sport to politics to the arts, business and beyond, interviewed weekly by the country's top journalists. Consider it a magazine for your ears.

Good Weekend Talks features in-depth conversations with the people fascinating Australians right now, from sport to politics to the arts, business and beyond, interviewed weekly by the country's top journalists. Consider it a magazine for your ears.

Good Weekend Talks

New episodes from ongoing Metro podcast series. 

New episodes from ongoing Metro podcast series.&nbsp;

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What restoring an 18th century French chateau taught former Victorian pollie Tim Holding and his partner about themselves

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/e20bce85-42a1-47e6-94f9-b0af002f9ba6/transcript

Luke Bateman is perhaps Australia’s most unlikely book critic – a former rugby league star and recovered gambling addict who works as a logger on a remote Queensland property. While hardly your average inner-city literary type, Bateman had always loved reading – especially fantasy books – but living in the bush with only black snakes for company, had no one to talk to about it. So one day in April last year, he posted a clip of himself on TikTok, talking about his love of books. The post made him famous – he now has more than a million social media followers, including Reese Witherspoon. His mission: to make reading cool again, and he is most definitely succeeding. Today's episode is hosted by Good Weekend senior writer Tim Elliott.
(Please note, this conversation deals with difficult topics – from addiction to suicide. If you are seeking help, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.)

Luke Bateman is perhaps Australia&rsquo;s most unlikely book critic &ndash; a former rugby league star and recovered gambling addict who works as a logger on a remote Queensland property. While hardly your average inner-city literary type, Bateman had always loved reading &ndash; especially fantasy books &ndash; but living in the bush with only black snakes for company, had no one to talk to about it. So one day in April last year, he posted a clip of himself on TikTok, talking about his love of books. The post made him famous &ndash; he now has more than a million social media followers, including Reese Witherspoon. His mission: to make reading cool again, and he is most definitely succeeding. Today's episode is hosted by Good Weekend senior writer Tim Elliott. (Please note, this conversation deals with difficult topics &ndash; from addiction to suicide. If you are seeking help, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.)

Luke Bateman: Former NRL star and gambling addict, now lumberjack ‘bookfluencer’

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/4d25e8b0-9ae0-439d-8ec8-b42e0033b675/transcript

Investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe has made a career out of chasing the kinds of stories that most people would be wise to leave alone. The New Yorker writer is drawn to powerful institutions and the people at their heart – from the Sackler dynasty, whose pharmaceutical company created the opioid painkiller OxyContin in Empire of Pain, to the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland in Say Nothing. His latest book, London Falling, delves into the story of 19-year-old Briton Zac Brettler, who had been living a double life, pretending to be the son of a Russian oligarch, before he mysteriously fell to his death from a luxury apartment building in London. Radden Keefe, the so-called “journalist’s journalist”, joins us to discuss London Falling, the ethics of true-crime reporting, and a reporter’s need for scepticism. Plus, we get our own scoop on what he might tackle next – and why it could bring him to Australia. Today’s episode is hosted by Spectrum editor Melanie Kembrey.

Investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe has made a career out of chasing the kinds of stories that most people would be wise to leave alone. The&nbsp;New Yorker writer is drawn to powerful institutions and the people at their heart &ndash; from the Sackler dynasty, whose pharmaceutical company created the opioid painkiller OxyContin in Empire of Pain, to the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland in Say Nothing. His latest book, London Falling, delves into the story of 19-year-old Briton Zac Brettler, who had been living a double life, pretending to be the son of a Russian oligarch, before he mysteriously fell to his death from a luxury apartment building in London. Radden Keefe, the so-called &ldquo;journalist&rsquo;s journalist&rdquo;, joins us to discuss London Falling, the ethics of true-crime reporting, and a reporter&rsquo;s need for scepticism. Plus, we get our own scoop on what he might tackle next &ndash; and why it could bring him to Australia. Today&rsquo;s episode is hosted by Spectrum editor Melanie Kembrey.

The New Yorker's Patrick Radden Keefe on investigating 'an unnatural death'

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/ad4e58cf-7b3b-453b-87a7-b426017a563e/transcript

New York food writer, editor and podcaster Laurie Woolever spent the early years of her career assisting two very famous chefs: first Mario Batali, then Anthony Bourdain, for whom she worked for nine years. Woolever was also, for much of this time, an addict – using alcohol, marijuana and sex to get through the ups and downs of work, marriage and motherhood. She writes about all of this in her candid 2025 memoir, Care & Feeding, which suggests that while she did a lot of care and feeding for others, it took some time to learn how to do it for herself.
Hosting today’s episode is Good Weekend senior writer Katrina Strickland.
Lifeline: 13 11 14.

New York food writer, editor and podcaster Laurie Woolever spent the early years of her career assisting two very famous chefs: first Mario Batali, then Anthony Bourdain, for whom she worked for nine years. Woolever was also, for much of this time, an addict &ndash; using alcohol, marijuana and sex to get through the ups and downs of work, marriage and motherhood. She writes about all of this in her candid 2025 memoir, Care &amp; Feeding, which suggests that while she did a lot of care and feeding for others, it took some time to learn how to do it for herself. Hosting today&rsquo;s episode is Good Weekend senior writer Katrina Strickland. Lifeline: 13 11 14.

Bourdain and Batali's 'right-hand' woman Laurie Woolever on her tell-all book

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/c15c2eac-43f8-43bc-b334-b4200046717e/transcript

What restoring an 18th century French chateau taught former Victorian pollie Tim Holding and his partner about themselves

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