'The bells of St Stephen's, tolling for Mum' — eulogy for Margaret Wilson by Tony Wilson, Melbourne, 2025

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 …

'Bob, you're dead. Do you want a state funeral?' — John Safran's eulogy for Father Bob Maguire, May 2023, Melbourne, Australia

Author & documentary maker John Safran talks in this episode about his eulogy for 'the People's Priest', Father Bob Maguire at St Patrick's Cathedral Melbourne in May 2023. He also discusses his latest book 'Squat' about his week squatting at Kaye West's LA Mansion and his creative life as Australi…

'Elon Musk will become the self appointed CEO of Mars' — Sammy J in Melbourne International Comedy Festival Great Debate, 2018

Comedian Sammy J is a Melbourne International Comedy Festival Great Debate regular. He is the interviewee for this first episode of 2025 and the feature speech is his opening argument for the negative team in 2018, 'That we must go to Mars'.  Sammy J's currently touring show is 'The Kangaroo Effec…

The Speakola podcast returns & Tony's film hits cinemas (March 13-17th)

A brief update confirming that the podcast will resume in March 2025. Episodes have already been recorded with Sammy J (on comedy debates), John Safran (eulogy for Father Bob Maguire) and Dana Rubin (speech collector, Speaking While Female).  I'm also announcing the release of our documentary 'Ang…

'The greatest man I ever knew' — Andrew Moran's eulogy for father Lawrence Moran, Melbourne 2023

Since 2006, Andrew Moran has been a baritone with Opera Australia in Sydney. When he visited Melbourne as part of a touring production of Puccini's Tosca, Tony spoke to him about a lovely eulogy he delivered for his father, Lawrie Moran, the man who inspired him to sing, in Surrey Hills, Melbourne,…

Year 9s can smell fear — Declan Fay's tips and stories about speaking in schools, Eltham High Valedictory, 2023

Comedy writer Declan Fay is Tony's Speakola guest. Declan was the co-writer of Ronny Chieng International Student and the hilarious Crossbread podcast, about a Christian rap duo who hit the big time, but don't happen to be Christians (stars Megan Washington and Chris Ryan). Declan was head writer f…

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

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 abom…

Best Speeches of 2023 — Tony presents 'The Speakolies' with Dylan Bird on The Grapevine, 3RRR

For the sixth year running, Tony awards his speeches of the year on Triple R's 'The Grapevine' with Dylan Bird. This year, no Kulya who has moved on from the show after 13 years. Congrats Kulya. Thank you to Triple R for the audio. Dylan will be back in 2024 with a new show called Future Perfect. …

The art of the MC — Julia Zemiro and Brian Nankervis talk about hosting and MCing

For 15 seasons and 181 episodes, Julia Zemiro and Brian Nankervis have been the dual hosts of 'Rockwiz', bringing their wit, charm and performance energy to Australia's legendary music quiz show. In this episode Tony chats to them about what makes a good MC, and they share tips and yarns from sever…

My husband had a magical cape — Lahra Carey's eulogy for husband Ben Cowen, Springvale Cemetery, Melbourne, 2017

Lahra Carey's husband Ben Cowen died in paragliding accident on 8th of January 2017. A few days later, Lahra spoke at her husband's graveside, paying tribute to 'the Ben effect' and summoning friends and mourners to 'Ben's Army'. The speech is recreated for the episode, and Lahra talks to Tony abou…