Helena Pantsis takes Seth and Tony through her writing process, talks genre, the surreal moments we all have in childhood, and how first and foremost she views herself as a short story writer. 

 

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

 

About Helena Pantsis

Helena Pantsis (she/they) is an editor, writer and artist from Naarm, Australia with a fond appreciation for the weird, the dark, and the experimental.

She is the author of her debut short story collection, ‘GLUTT’.

Her poetry collection 'CAPTCHA' and short story collection 'Mother Salad' are both forthcoming in 2026.

More can be found at hlnpnts.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. 

Helena Pantsis takes <a href="https://arts.unimelb.edu.au/public-humanities-initiative/unfolded">Seth and Tony</a> through her writing process, talks genre, the surreal moments we all have in childhood, and how first and foremost she views herself as a short story writer.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Listeners are advised that this episode of&nbsp;Unfolded&nbsp;comes with a language and content warning.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
About Helena Pantsis
<a href="https://hlnpnts.com/">Helena Pantsis</a> (she/they) is an editor, writer and artist from Naarm, Australia with a fond appreciation for the weird, the dark, and the experimental.
She is the author of her debut short story collection, &lsquo;<a href="https://ecommerce.unimelb.edu.au/glutt">GLUTT</a>&rsquo;.
Her poetry collection '<a href="https://puncherandwattmann.com/product/captcha/">CAPTCHA</a>' and short story collection 'Mother Salad' are both forthcoming in 2026.
More can be found at <a href="https://hlnpnts.com/">hlnpnts.com</a>.&nbsp;
&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

Podcasts created and published by the University of Melbourne

Podcasts created and published by the University of Melbourne

University of Melbourne

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;

Review only - Unfolded

Chapter 7: In conversation with Helena Pantsis

A birthday is removed from the calendar. 

 

The Last Birthday by Helena Pantsis

Read by Ellen Pennell.

 

Synopsis

Lucy and Mother couldn’t be closer. She’s a perfect daughter, so when mother throw’s her a perfect 17th birthday party, she couldn’t be more grateful, but what comes next is a different kind of surprise.  

The Last Birthday blurs the fairytale genre with elements of horror and the surreal, in a story that will stay with listeners for many Birthdays to come.

 

The Last Birthday is part of Mother Salad, available now from UWP.  

 

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

 

About Helena Pantsis

Helena Pantsis (she/they) is an editor, writer and artist from Naarm, Australia with a fond appreciation for the weird, the dark, and the experimental.

She is the author of her debut short story collection, ‘GLUTT’.

Her poetry collection 'CAPTCHA' and short story collection 'Mother Salad' are both forthcoming in 2026.

More can be found at hlnpnts.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 birthday is removed from the calendar.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The Last Birthday&nbsp;by Helena Pantsis
Read by Ellen Pennell.
&nbsp;
Synopsis
Lucy and Mother&nbsp;couldn&rsquo;t&nbsp;be closer.&nbsp;She&rsquo;s&nbsp;a perfect daughter, so when mother&nbsp;throw&rsquo;s&nbsp;her a perfect 17th&nbsp;birthday party, she&nbsp;couldn&rsquo;t&nbsp;be more grateful,&nbsp;but what comes next is a different kind of surprise.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The Last Birthday&nbsp;blurs the fairytale genre with elements of horror and the surreal, in a story that will stay with listeners for many Birthdays to come.
&nbsp;
The Last Birthday&nbsp;is part of&nbsp;<a href="https://uwap.uwa.edu.au/collections/coming-soon/products/mother-salad">Mother Salad</a>, <a href="https://uwap.uwa.edu.au/collections/coming-soon/products/mother-salad">available now from UWP</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Listeners are advised that this episode of&nbsp;Unfolded&nbsp;comes with a language and content warning.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
About Helena Pantsis
<a href="https://hlnpnts.com/">Helena Pantsis</a> (she/they) is an editor, writer and artist from Naarm, Australia with a fond appreciation for the weird, the dark, and the experimental.
She is the author of her debut short story collection, &lsquo;<a href="https://ecommerce.unimelb.edu.au/glutt">GLUTT</a>&rsquo;.
Her poetry collection '<a href="https://puncherandwattmann.com/product/captcha/">CAPTCHA</a>' and short story collection 'Mother Salad' are both forthcoming in 2026.
More can be found at <a href="https://hlnpnts.com/">hlnpnts.com</a>.&nbsp;
&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;

Chapter 7: The Last Birthday, by Helena Pantsis

In the final episode of Unfolded for this season, Claire G. Coleman takes us into the workings of her story, Ancestral Memory / As Slippery as an Eel.

We talk about how she finds inspiration in all kinds of mediums (especially music), how writing speculative fiction allows her to speak about the real world, and the importance of Ancient Knowledges and stories being told, without being exploited. 

 

About Claire G. Coleman 

Claire G. Coleman is a Wirlomin Noongar woman whose Country is on the south coast of Western Australia. She writes prose, non-fiction, verse and criticism and has written 4 books including Terra Nullius and Lies, Damned Lies.

She is a founding collaborator on the Creative Climate consortium with her collective the Centre for Reworlding.

 

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. 

In the final episode of Unfolded for this season, Claire G. Coleman takes us into the workings of her story, Ancestral Memory / As Slippery as an Eel.
We talk about how she finds inspiration in all kinds of mediums (especially music), how writing speculative fiction allows her to speak about the real world, and the importance of Ancient Knowledges and stories being told, without being exploited.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
About Claire G. Coleman&nbsp;
Claire G. Coleman is a Wirlomin Noongar woman whose Country is on the south coast of Western Australia. She writes prose, non-fiction, verse and criticism and has written 4 books including Terra Nullius and Lies, Damned Lies.
She is a founding collaborator on the Creative Climate consortium with her collective the Centre for Reworlding.
&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;

Chapter 6: In conversation with Claire G. Coleman

A navigator reckons with the gift, and burden, of ancient knowledge.  

 

Ancestral Memory / As Slippery as an Eel by Claire G. Coleman

Read by Chelsea Hawke.

 

Down in the belly of the ship, a crewmate waits for the test that will determine her role, and how she will pay her way on this ride across the stars.

But it's in her dreams and the memories that can't possibly be hers that destiny awaits. A destiny shaped by blood. 


Ancestral Memory / As Slippery as an Eel, considers how there are some knowledges as old as time, ways of being, and knowing that will survive long into the future, perhaps even once we have left this world. 

 

About Claire G. Coleman 

Claire G. Coleman is a Wirlomin Noongar woman whose Country is on the south coast of Western Australia. She writes prose, non-fiction, verse and criticism and has written 4 books including Terra Nullius and Lies, Damned Lies. '

She is a founding collaborator on the Creative Climate consortium with her collective the Centre for Reworlding.

 

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 navigator reckons with the gift, and burden, of ancient knowledge. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
Ancestral Memory / As Slippery as an Eel&nbsp;by Claire G. Coleman
Read by Chelsea Hawke.
&nbsp;
Down in the belly of the ship, a crewmate waits for the test that will determine her role, and how she will pay her way on this ride across the stars.
But it's in her dreams and the memories that can't possibly be hers that destiny awaits. A destiny shaped by blood.&nbsp;
 Ancestral Memory / As Slippery as an Eel,&nbsp;considers how there are some knowledges as old as time, ways of being, and knowing that will survive long into the future, perhaps even once we have left this world.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
About Claire G. Coleman&nbsp;
Claire G. Coleman is a Wirlomin Noongar woman whose Country is on the south coast of Western Australia. She writes prose, non-fiction, verse and criticism and has written 4 books including Terra Nullius and Lies, Damned Lies. '
She is a founding collaborator on the Creative Climate consortium with her collective the Centre for Reworlding.
&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;

Chapter 7: In conversation with Helena Pantsis

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