The cohost of ABC breakfast radio in Adelaide, Jules Schiller delivered a beautiful best man speech for his old comedy partner Tony Moclair when he married Kate in 2003. It's a Speakola favourite, and in this episode, Jules comes on in the aftermatch of a Married at First Sight best man speech abomination to talk about what makes a great best man speech, or wedding speech generally. 

Opening audio is from Tony Moclair afternoons on 3AW. 

I wrote a piece about best man speeches recently for the Speakola podcast. 

Join Speakola's mailing list and Substack

Join Tony's personal writing Substack

Donate to Speakola

The cohost of ABC breakfast radio in Adelaide, Jules Schiller delivered a beautiful best man speech for his old comedy partner Tony Moclair when he married Kate in 2003. It's a Speakola favourite, and in this episode, Jules comes on in the aftermatch of a Married at First Sight best man speech abomination to talk about what makes a great best man speech, or wedding speech generally. 
Opening audio is from Tony Moclair afternoons on 3AW. 
I wrote <a href="https://news.speakola.com/p/mafs-at-first-retch-breaking-the">a piece about best man speeches</a> recently for the Speakola podcast. 
Join Speakola's <a href="https://news.speakola.com/">mailing list and Substack</a>
Join Tony's <a href="https://goodonewilson.substack.com/">personal writing Substack</a>
<a href="https://speakola.com/">Donate </a>to Speakola

Speakola is the home for great speeches on the web. 

Tony Wilson is the founder and curator of Speakola, which now hosts more than 2000 speeches, some famous – think Churchill, Obama, Gandhi - some not so well known. 

In each episode, Tony interviews someone who has written, delivered or studied a great speech to reveal the stories behind the scenes, to provide context to the historical moment, or in the case of eulogies, birthdays and other common events, to inspire people to hit new creative highs.

Tony will also play a ‘speech of the week’ to honour great words by great orators. Released fortnightly.

Speakola, for all speeches great and small.

Speakola is the home for great speeches on the web. 
Tony Wilson is the founder and curator of Speakola, which now hosts more than 2000 speeches, some famous &ndash; think Churchill, Obama, Gandhi - some not so well known.&nbsp;
In each episode, Tony interviews someone who has written, delivered or studied a great speech to reveal the stories behind the scenes, to provide context to the historical moment, or in the case of eulogies, birthdays and other common events, to inspire people to hit new creative highs.
Tony will also play a &lsquo;speech of the week&rsquo; to honour great words by great orators. Released fortnightly.
<a href="http://www.speakola.com">Speakola</a>, for all speeches great and small.

Speakola, for all speeches great and small.

Speakola

<a href="http://www.speakola.com">Speakola</a> is the home for great speeches on the web. 
Tony Wilson is the founder and curator of Speakola, which now hosts more than 2000 speeches, some famous &ndash; think Churchill, Obama, Gandhi - some not so well known.&nbsp;
In each episode, Tony interviews someone who has written, delivered or studied a great speech to reveal the stories behind the scenes, to provide context to the historical moment, or in the case of eulogies, birthdays and other common events, to inspire people to hit new creative highs.
Tony will also play a &lsquo;speech of the week&rsquo; to honour great words by great orators. Released fortnightly.
<a href="http://www.speakola.com">Speakola</a>, for all speeches great and small.

ABC radio's Jules Schiller talks about what makes a great best man speech, and reads his 2003 beauty for comedy mate Tony Moclair and Kate.

'Laughter is the closest distance' — Jules Schiller's tips for the Best Man speech,  Tony and Kate's wedding, 2003

In 2010, The Church were reluctant inductees to the ARIA Rock Hall of Fame, and reluctant speakers too. Steve Kilbey says in this interview that they hadn't planned to speak, but felt the pressure to say something as every other inductee spoke beautifully before them. What he eventually delivered was an after dinner classic, a funny, virtually off the cuff speech about Australian music, the other four inductees and tales from the road. In this Speakola episode Steve gives an account of that night, but also a wonderful biographical summary of his life in music, including his first gig in Canberra, his mum and dad, receiving his first bass, playing school shows, forming The Church, and much more. 

Steve Kilbey's speech transcript is up on Speakola library. 

The Church's The Singles Tour has announced some new dates in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide in February. 

You can help Speakola library, podcast and newsletter survive by joining Substack, the Patreon, or straight donation. 

Tony's 'How To Get on Race Around the World' articles are up at Good one, Wilson. 

Tony has signed picture books for sale, as well as middle grade and sports books for adults. Grab a signed copy for Christmas! 

 

In 2010, The Church were reluctant inductees to the ARIA Rock Hall of Fame, and reluctant speakers too. Steve Kilbey says in this interview that they hadn't planned to speak, but felt the pressure to say something as every other inductee spoke beautifully before them. What he eventually delivered was an after dinner classic, a funny, virtually off the cuff speech about Australian music, the other four inductees and tales from the road. In this Speakola episode Steve gives an account of that night, but also a wonderful biographical summary of his life in music, including his first gig in Canberra, his mum and dad, receiving his first bass, playing school shows, forming The Church, and much more.&nbsp;
Steve Kilbey's speech transcript is up on <a href="https://speakola.com/arts/steve-kilbey-aria-hall-of-fame-2010">Speakola library</a>.&nbsp;
The Church's The Singles Tour <a href="https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=CHURCH25">has announced some new dates</a> in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide in February.&nbsp;
You can help Speakola library, podcast and newsletter survive by joining <a href="https://news.speakola.com/">Substack</a>, <a href="https://www.patreon.com/c/speakola/home">the Patreon</a>, or <a href="https://speakola.com/donate">straight donation</a>.&nbsp;
Tony's 'How To Get on Race Around the World' articles are up at <a href="https://goodonewilson.substack.com/p/racey-tips-1-i-actually-turn-25-today">Good one, Wilson</a>.&nbsp;
Tony has <a href="https://www.tonywilsonauthor.com/">signed picture books for sale</a>, as well as middle grade and <a href="https://www.tonywilsonauthor.com/">sports books for adults</a>. Grab a signed copy for Christmas!&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Steve Kilbey of the The Church talks about his ARIA Hall of Fame induction speech and key moments of his music loving life

Steve Kilbey: 'We've been kicked off the best record companies in Australia!' — The Church's ARIA Hall of Fame induction,  7 November 2010, Sydney

In March, I chatted to speech collector Dana Rubin for Women's History Month (there have been delays releasing the episode - my apologies, Dana). It's a great chat with a kindred spirit. Dana has created the Speaking While Female speech bank that showcases speeches by women across history and around the world. 

She also edited the book Speaking While Female: 75 Extraordinary Speeches By American Women

The episode is topped and tailed by two speeches in Dana's collection. 

Emma Watson's HeForShe launch speech at United Nations, 2014

Oprah Winfrey's 'Times Up' speech at the Golden Globes, 2018

To support Speakola, make a straight donation at Speakola website, or become a paid subscriber to newsletter

In March, I chatted to speech collector Dana Rubin for Women's History Month (there have been delays releasing the episode - my apologies, Dana). It's a great chat with a kindred spirit. Dana has created the <a href="https://speakingwhilefemale.co/">Speaking While Female speech bank</a> that showcases speeches by women across history and around the world.&nbsp;
She also edited the book <a href="https://speakingwhilefemale.co/book/">Speaking While Female: 75 Extraordinary Speeches By American Women</a>
The episode is topped and tailed by two speeches in Dana's collection.&nbsp;
<a href="https://speakola.com/ideas/emma-watson-gender-equality-un-2015">Emma Watson's HeForShe launch speech at United Nations, 2014</a>
<a href="https://speakola.com/arts/oprah-winfrey-cecil-b-demille-award-golden-globes-2018">Oprah Winfrey's 'Times Up' speech at the Golden Globes, 2018</a>
To support Speakola, <a href="https://speakola.com/donate">make a straight donation</a> at Speakola website, or become a <a href="https://news.speakola.com/">paid subscriber to newsletter</a>

Founder of Speaking While Female Dana Rubin talks about her collection of speeches by women

Dana Rubin: 'Throughout history, women have been changing the world with their voices',  curator and author of Speaking While Female

My mother, Margaret Joan Wilson died on the 20th of April 2025 while I was away in Budapest. It was a big shock and a terrible day. We had a private family ceremony on 7th May and a more public celebration of life on the 8th. This speech was delivered at the second event. The text and video of the eulogy is up at Speakola newsletter and in the Speakola library. My brother Ned did the MCing and was brilliant. 

My Mum truly was 'Margaret Wilson, Mother of Readers'  I'll miss her always. 

Support Speakola by going paid

Make a donation

Read about Mum winning Miss Footy 1969. 

My mother, Margaret Joan Wilson died on the 20th of April 2025 while I was away in Budapest. It was a big shock and a terrible day. We had a private family ceremony on 7th May and a more public celebration of life on the 8th. This speech was delivered at the second event. The text and video of the eulogy is up at&nbsp;<a href="https://news.speakola.com/p/have-a-great-trip-a-eulogy-for-my">Speakola newsletter</a> and in the Speakola library. My brother Ned did the MCing and was brilliant.&nbsp;
My Mum truly was 'Margaret Wilson, Mother of Readers'&nbsp; I'll miss her always.&nbsp;
<a href="https://news.speakola.com/">Support Speakola by going paid</a>
Make a <a href="https://speakola.com/donate">donation</a>
<a href="https://goodonewilson.substack.com/p/world-of-sport-on-both-sides-of-my">Read about Mum winning Miss Footy 1969.</a>&nbsp;

A eulogy for Margaret Wilson by son Tony Wilson at Leonda Hawthorn on 8th May 2025. 

'Laughter is the closest distance' — Jules Schiller's tips for the Best Man speech, Tony and Kate's wedding, 2003

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