A hypnotist causes chaos on a cruise ship.

 

Winner Winner by Bri Lee

Read byIndra Liyanaarachchi.

Originally published in The Saturday Paper, over three parts.

 

Synopsis

Phil is supposed to be on top of the world. Instead, he’s been forced into retirement. He’s stuck on a cruise ship. And thanks to a certain hypnotist, he’s developed some, interesting, new ticks.  

Originally published in The Saturday Paper as a three-part serial, Winner Winner, is a blast from the pandemic past that comes with a social critique that remains just as poignant as it was in the pre-COVID era.    

Listeners are advised that this episode of Unfolded comes with a language and content warning. 

 

About Bri Lee

Bri Lee is the multi-award-winning bestselling author of acclaimed non-fiction books Eggshell Skull, Beauty and Who Gets to Be Smart. Her journalism, essays, and short stories have been published widely, and she is the creator and editor of News & Reviews. Bri's bestselling first novel, The Work, was published in April 2024 and was longlisted for the 2025 Indie Award for Debut Fiction. Her latest novel, Seed, was just published in October 2025. 

Learn more - bri-lee.com

 

Unfolded is produced with support from the Melbourne Public Humanities Initiative, on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Eastern Kulin Nation.

The producers would like to pay their respects to the traditional owners, to their Elders past and present, and to acknowledge their storytelling history, which goes back tens of thousands of years. 

A hypnotist causes chaos on a cruise ship.
&nbsp;
Winner Winner by Bri Lee
Read by Indra Liyanaarachchi.
Originally published in <a href="https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/culture/fiction/2020/07/11/winner-winner-part-one/159438960010090">The Saturday Paper, over three parts.</a>
&nbsp;
Synopsis
Phil is supposed to be on top of the world. Instead,&nbsp;he&rsquo;s&nbsp;been forced into retirement.&nbsp;He&rsquo;s&nbsp;stuck on a cruise ship. And thanks to a certain hypnotist,&nbsp;he&rsquo;s&nbsp;developed some,&nbsp;interesting,&nbsp;new ticks.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Originally published in&nbsp;The Saturday Paper&nbsp;as a three-part serial,&nbsp;Winner&nbsp;Winner, is a blast from the pandemic past that comes with a social critique that&nbsp;remains&nbsp;just as poignant as it was&nbsp;in the&nbsp;pre-COVID era.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Listeners are advised that this episode of&nbsp;Unfolded&nbsp;comes with a language and content warning.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
About Bri Lee
Bri Lee is the multi-award-winning bestselling author of acclaimed non-fiction books&nbsp;Eggshell Skull,&nbsp;Beauty&nbsp;and&nbsp;Who Gets to Be Smart. Her journalism, essays, and short stories have been published widely, and she is the creator and editor of&nbsp;News &amp; Reviews. Bri's bestselling first novel,&nbsp;The Work, was published in April 2024 and was longlisted for the 2025 Indie Award for Debut Fiction. Her latest novel,&nbsp;Seed, was just published in October 2025.&nbsp;
Learn more - <a href="https://bri-lee.com/">bri-lee.com</a>
&nbsp;
Unfolded&nbsp;is produced with support from the <a href="https://arts.unimelb.edu.au/public-humanities-initiative">Melbourne Public Humanities Initiative</a>, on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Eastern Kulin Nation.
The producers would like to pay their respects to the traditional owners, to their Elders past and present, and to acknowledge their storytelling history, which goes back tens of thousands of years.&nbsp;

Seasons change. An actor prepares. A birthday is removed from the calendar.  A hypnotist causes chaos on a cruise ship. A new life awaits at a petrol station. A grieving granddaughter finds a surprising stowaway. A dog makes yakisoba. The sun rises in the west. 

We’ve all read stories that changed our lives. We’ve all imagined places that feel like home. We’ve all met characters who feel like family. 

Now, we’ll hear the stories, then go to the source. We’ll speak with the authors, to find out what makes a story great, where they come from, and why they connect. 

These are stories: Unpacked. Understood. Unfolded. 

Join us for season 2 of Unfolded as Seth Robinson and Tony Birch speak with authors Melanie Cheng, Bri Lee, Dominic Amerena, Briohny Doyle, Helena Pantsis, Jumaana Abdu, Scott Limbrick and Romy Ash, or travel back through the archive to hear the incredible stories from season 1.

 

Unfolded is produced with support from the Melbourne Public Humanities Initiative, on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Eastern Kulin Nation.

The producers would like to pay their respects to the traditional owners, to their Elders past and present, and to acknowledge their history, which go back tens of thousands of years. 

Hosts: Seth Robinson and Tony Birch

Creator and Executive Producer: Seth Robinson

Recording: Gavin Nebauer, Horwood Recording Studio, University of Melbourne

Editing and Sound Design: Nick King and Courtney Carthy, Nearly Media

Artwork: Marty O'Meara

Seasons change.&nbsp;An actor prepares.&nbsp;A birthday is removed from the calendar.&nbsp;&nbsp;A hypnotist causes chaos&nbsp;on a cruise ship.&nbsp;A new life&nbsp;awaits at a petrol station.&nbsp;A&nbsp;grieving granddaughter finds a surprising stowaway.&nbsp;A dog makes yakisoba.&nbsp;The sun rises in the west.&nbsp;
We&rsquo;ve&nbsp;all read stories that changed our lives.&nbsp;We&rsquo;ve&nbsp;all imagined places that feel like home.&nbsp;We&rsquo;ve&nbsp;all met characters who feel like family.&nbsp;
Now,&nbsp;we&rsquo;ll&nbsp;hear the stories, then go to the&nbsp;source.&nbsp;We&rsquo;ll&nbsp;speak with the authors, to find out what makes a story great, where they come from, and why they connect.&nbsp;
These are stories: Unpacked. Understood.&nbsp;Unfolded.&nbsp;
Join us for season 2 of Unfolded as <a href="https://sethrobinson.com.au/">Seth Robinson</a> and <a href="https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/13630-tony-birch">Tony Birch</a> speak with authors Melanie Cheng, Bri Lee, Dominic Amerena, Briohny Doyle, Helena Pantsis, Jumaana Abdu, Scott Limbrick and Romy Ash, or travel back through the archive to hear the incredible stories from season 1.
&nbsp;
Unfolded&nbsp;is produced with support from the Melbourne Public Humanities Initiative, on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Eastern Kulin Nation.
The producers would like to pay their respects to the traditional owners, to their Elders past and present, and to acknowledge their history, which go back tens of thousands of years.&nbsp;
Hosts: Seth Robinson and Tony Birch
Creator and Executive Producer:&nbsp;Seth Robinson
Recording:&nbsp;Gavin Nebauer, Horwood Recording Studio, University of Melbourne
Editing and Sound Design:&nbsp;Nick King and Courtney Carthy, Nearly Media
Artwork:&nbsp;Marty O'Meara

Unfolded

Seasons change. An actor prepares. A birthday is removed from the calendar. A hypnotist causes chaos on a cruise ship. A new life awaits at a petrol station. A grieving granddaughter finds a surprising stowaway. A dog makes yakisoba. The sun rises in the west. 

We’ve all read stories that changed our lives. We’ve all imagined places that feel like home. We’ve all met characters who feel like family.

Now, we’ll hear the stories, then go to the source. We’ll speak with the authors, to find out what makes a story great, where they come from, and why they connect.

These are stories: Unpacked. Understood. Unfolded.

Join us for season 1 of Unfolded as Seth Robinson and Tony Birch speak with authors Melanie Cheng, Bri Lee, Dominic Amerena, Briohny Doyle, Helena Pantsis, Jumaana Abdu, Scott Limbrick and Romy Ash.  

 

Unfolded is produced with support from the Melbourne Public Humanities Initiative, on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Eastern Kulin Nation.

The producers would like to pay their respects to the traditional owners, to their Elders past and present, and to acknowledge their storytelling history, which goes back tens of thousands of years. 

 

Hosts: Seth Robinson and Tony Birch

Creator and Producer: Seth Robinson

Recording: Gavin Nebauer, Horwood Recording Studio, University of Melbourne

Editing and Sound Design: Nick King and Courtney Carthy, Nearly Media

Artwork: Marty O'Meara 

 

Seasons change. An actor prepares. A birthday is removed from the calendar. A hypnotist causes chaos on a cruise ship. A new life awaits at a petrol station. A grieving granddaughter finds a surprising stowaway. A dog makes yakisoba. The sun rises in the west.&nbsp;
We&rsquo;ve all read stories that changed our lives. We&rsquo;ve all imagined places that feel like home. We&rsquo;ve all met characters who feel like family.
Now, we&rsquo;ll hear the stories, then go to the source. We&rsquo;ll speak with the authors, to find out what makes a story great, where they come from, and why they connect.
These are stories: Unpacked. Understood. Unfolded.
Join us for season 1 of Unfolded as <a href="https://sethrobinson.com.au/">Seth Robinson</a> and <a href="https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/13630-tony-birch">Tony Birch</a> speak with authors Melanie Cheng, Bri Lee, Dominic Amerena, Briohny Doyle, Helena Pantsis, Jumaana Abdu, Scott Limbrick and Romy Ash. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
Unfolded&nbsp;is produced with support from the Melbourne Public Humanities Initiative, on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Eastern Kulin Nation.
The producers would like to pay their respects to the traditional owners, to their Elders past and present, and to acknowledge their storytelling history, which goes back tens of thousands of years.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Hosts: Seth Robinson and Tony Birch
Creator and Producer: Seth Robinson
Recording:&nbsp;Gavin Nebauer, Horwood Recording Studio, University of Melbourne
Editing and Sound Design:&nbsp;Nick King and Courtney Carthy, Nearly Media
Artwork: Marty O'Meara&nbsp;
&nbsp;