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

On the cusp of 65, Bonnie Garmus published her debut novel Lessons in Chemistry. It was a global sensation and the copywriter, who had a previous manuscript rejected by publishers 98 times, sold almost 10 million copies and enjoyed being co-executive producer when it was made into an eight-part streaming hit starring Brie Larson. 

Today, Garmus talks about her new novel Peck & Peck, which explores – through a delightfully-named young man Batter Gray – the themes of art in a time of pragmatism, and empathy in a world driven by technology intended “to make money, not make what is worthwhile”. 

The US-born, now UK-based Garmus also opens up about the importance of poetry, explaining why she reads a new poem every day and how that ritual has changed her. Plus: her 5am starts, the work of writing and rewriting – and beginning anew when everyone believes your time is done.

Today’s conversation is hosted by National Books Editor at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, Melanie Kembrey.

On the cusp of 65, Bonnie Garmus published her debut novel Lessons in Chemistry. It was a global sensation and the copywriter, who had a previous manuscript rejected by publishers 98 times, sold almost 10 million copies and enjoyed being co-executive producer when it was made into an eight-part streaming hit starring Brie Larson.&nbsp;
Today, Garmus talks about her new novel Peck &amp; Peck, which explores &ndash; through a delightfully-named young man Batter Gray &ndash; the themes of art in a time of pragmatism, and empathy in a world driven by technology intended &ldquo;to make money, not make what is worthwhile&rdquo;.&nbsp;
The US-born, now UK-based Garmus also opens up about the importance of poetry, explaining why she reads a new poem every day and how that ritual has changed her. Plus: her 5am starts, the work of writing and rewriting &ndash; and beginning anew when everyone believes your time is done.
Today&rsquo;s conversation is hosted by National Books Editor at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, Melanie Kembrey.

Bonnie Garmus on why the 'least admired' art – poetry – might end up saving the world

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/fd6f52ac-a8f3-45aa-ad45-b4dc00723c36/transcript

It's not too much of an overstatement to say that for over 30 years, Michael Pollan's books have helped reshape conversations about industrial food systems, animal consciousness and our obligations to other living things.

His new book, A World Appears, is about plant sentience – an immersive exploration of how plants exhibit thinking and memory-like behaviours, respond to physical threats, favour their own species and supply nutrients to struggling neighbouring plants.

In this episode, Pollan discusses compelling new research that argues humans are far from the only living entities exhibiting sentience and indeed, "exquisite" awareness of their environment.

Today’s conversation is hosted by Good Weekend senior writer Greg Callaghan.

It's not too much of an overstatement to say that for over 30 years, Michael Pollan's books have helped reshape conversations about industrial food systems, animal consciousness and our obligations to other living things.
His new book,&nbsp;A World Appears, is about plant sentience &ndash; an immersive exploration of how plants exhibit thinking and memory-like behaviours, respond to physical threats, favour their own species and supply nutrients to struggling neighbouring plants.
In this episode, Pollan discusses compelling new research that argues humans are far from the only living entities exhibiting sentience and indeed, "exquisite" awareness of their environment.
Today&rsquo;s conversation is hosted by Good Weekend senior writer Greg Callaghan.

Plants remember and react, but do they mind being eaten? Michael Pollan on sentience in the natural world

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/7422d2d5-eb95-4062-85f0-b4d700069f82/transcript

Melbourne-born Suzie Miller's background as a lawyer has influenced the 40-odd plays she has written, many of which feature strong social-justice themes. Best known among those works are the award-winning Prima Facie, which has been staged in Sydney, Melbourne and London, and Inter Alia, which premiered in London last year and opens on Broadway in November.
In Miller's new play, Strong is the New Pretty, she tells the story of the birth of the women's Australian Football League, the AFLW, as it moves from pipe dream to sensation.
In this episode, Miller talks to deputy opinion editor Margot Saville about sport, feminism and the manosphere.

Further reading:
‘Do we want a world that reflects a kind of tech-bro zone? I don’t think so’: Suzie Miller on raising sons

Melbourne-born Suzie Miller's background as a lawyer has influenced the 40-odd plays she has written, many of which feature strong social-justice themes. Best known among those works are the award-winning Prima Facie, which has been staged in Sydney, Melbourne and London, and Inter Alia, which premiered in London last year and opens on Broadway in November. In Miller's new play, Strong is the New Pretty, she tells the story of the birth of the women's Australian Football League, the AFLW, as it moves from pipe dream to sensation. In this episode, Miller talks to deputy opinion editor Margot Saville about sport, feminism and the manosphere.
Further reading:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/do-we-want-a-world-that-reflects-a-kind-of-tech-bro-zone-i-don-t-think-so-suzie-miller-on-raising-sons-20260924-p60vyd.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=good_weekend_talks&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">&lsquo;Do we want a world that reflects a kind of tech-bro zone? I don&rsquo;t think so&rsquo;: Suzie Miller on raising sons</a></li>
</ul>

Intimacy in the age of porn – and when women are more successful than their partners: playwright Suzie Miller

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/4db4739b-8493-4e9b-97e9-b4cc01590679/transcript

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

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