Talking Artz | Brad Diedrich for The Enlivenment Network on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM
Podcasts hosted on BradDiedrich.com Servers.
Talking ArtZ is your weekly dive into the creative heart of the Blue Mountains and beyond – where artists, thinkers, and cultural leaders share their work, ideas, and passion for the arts. Hosted by The Professor on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM, the show airs Thursday evenings from 6–7pm, spotlighting everything from visual arts and performance to philosophy, music, and grassroots cultural change.
In this special episode, we announce an exciting new collaboration with the Enlivenment Network – a cultural and philosophical initiative led by Barbara Lepani that explores the transformative power of story, art, and dialogue in a time of ecological and social transformation. Barbara joins The Professor to discuss her work, the Enlivenment philosophy, and the growing importance of cultural imagination in shaping the future.
Later in the episode, Haley Zena Pynton drops in to share the latest happenings at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, including upcoming exhibitions, public programs, and community events.
🎧 Missed an episode?
Our growing archive of past episodes features in-depth conversations with local and visiting artists, musicians, curators, writers, poets, and creative activists. Whether you’re an art lover, a practicing artist, or simply curious about the cultural life of the region, there’s something for everyone in the Talking ArtZ back catalogue.
You can find and follow Talking ArtZ on all major podcast platforms, including:Apple Podcasts
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Just search “Talking ArtZ” and subscribe to stay up to date with new episodes as they drop.
Stay tuned, stay curious, and keep talking art.
Creativity Across Borders: PNG Art, Local Exhibitions & PSO Highlights
Creativity Across Borders: PNG Art, Local Exhibitions & PSO Highlights
This special end-of-year edition of Talking ArtZ brings together three rich and distinctive conversations that reflect the depth, diversity, and creativity of arts life in the Blue Mountains and beyond.
We begin with the final In the Frame segment of 2025, as arts journalist Jenny Ward delivers a beautifully crafted roundup of the region’s visual arts scene. Jenny speaks with Kadumba $20,000 Drawing Award winner Spencer Calverley, whose work Rural Eclectic 3 draws on the unexpected emotional resonance of an old classroom chair. Together they explore memory, materiality, and the quiet stories objects carry. Jenny then shares her curated guide to the festive gallery season, highlighting exhibitions by David Rex Livingstone in Katoomba, David R. Hill’s exuberant Medley Magic, and Gallery NWC’s vibrant pre-Christmas show full of affordable artworks, ceramics, timber pieces, plants, and unique gifts for art lovers.
Next, we welcome Susan Cochrane—author, curator, researcher, and one of the world’s leading voices on contemporary Papua New Guinean art. Susan discusses her landmark new book, Living Art Papua New Guinea (Melbourne Books, 2025), the culmination of more than forty years of fieldwork, collaboration, and curatorial work with PNG artists and communities. Raised in Papua New Guinea during the final decades before Independence, Susan reflects on her family’s deep roots in the region, the extraordinary evolution of PNG’s contemporary arts scene, and the cultural relationships that have defined her life’s work. Her book’s release coincides with Papua New Guinea’s 50th Anniversary of Independence, making this conversation especially timely and insightful.
We close the episode with the final Penrith Symphony Orchestra interview for the year. Sebastiaan de Jonge sits down with David Abbott to unpack the PSO’s upcoming Family Christmas Concert—a joyful program featuring Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, festive favourites, the Glenbrook Ballet Theatre dancers, a community Festival Chorus, and a special visit from Santa, who arrives with a new musical talent of his own. David also provides an exclusive preview of the PSO’s 2026 season, including Beethoven’s Violin Concerto with Aiko Goto, Prokofiev, Studio Ghibli favourites, Puccini’s Tosca, Shostakovich’s First Symphony, and the return of Messiah. It’s an exciting look ahead to a year of dynamic orchestral programming.
Together, these conversations offer a vivid snapshot of the people, stories, and creative forces shaping our region and our cultural connections beyond it. A rich, thoughtful, and inspiring episode to close out the year’s Talking ArtZ interviews.
2025
Talking ArtZ – The Force of Life: Enlivenment and the Eldership Revolution
Talking ArtZ – The Force of Life: Enlivenment and the Eldership Revolution
In this inspiring Talking ArtZ special, The Professor shares a profound conversation from The Force of Life podcast by Mik Aidt, featuring Blue Mountains writer, philosopher, and cultural weaver Barbara Lepani. Together, they explore how we can move from an extraction-driven culture to one that honours life, relationship, and renewal.
Barbara introduces her vision of Enlivenment — a poetic and relational philosophy that reawakens our connection with nature and community — and the Eldership Revolution, a movement calling older generations to lead with wisdom, compassion, and care for the Earth.
Drawing from Indigenous knowledge, deep ecology, and Buddhist philosophy, Barbara reflects on how true transformation begins in small acts — in gardens, friendships, art, and shared stories.
Originally produced for The Force of Life podcast by Mik Aidt. Replayed on Talking ArtZ with permission. Featuring members of the Enlivenment Network: Mik Aidt, Barbara Lepani, and The Professor.
#TalkingArtZ #RBM891FM #ForceOfLife #Enlivenment #EldershipRevolution
Talking ArtZ – Linda Kemp Talks to Anne Edwards and The Professor talks to artists at Gang Gang Gallery for the Lithgow Arts Trail
Talking ArtZ – Linda Kemp Talks to Anne Edwards and The Professor talks to artists at Gang Gang Gallery for the Lithgow Arts Trail
In this episode of Talking ArtZ, Linda Kemp speaks with pianist and ceramic artist Anne Edwards about her creative journey — from shaping clay to shaping sound.
Anne shares the inspiration behind her upcoming Kangaroo-Inspired Piano Concert at the Wentworth Falls School of Arts on Friday, 24 October 2025, celebrating Blue Mountains World Kangaroo Day and raising funds for wildlife rescuers and carers.
The conversation explores how Anne’s art and music intertwine through themes of compassion, connection, and care for nature — and includes her chosen track, Etude No. 2 by Philip Glass, performed by Lisa Moore.
🎧 Tune in for an inspiring blend of creativity, purpose, and the power of art to make a difference.
#TalkingArtZ #AnneEdwards #WorldKangarooDay #BlueMountainsArts #WildlifeCare #CommunityConnectionCompassion
Talking ArtZ – From Song to Story: Alexandra Hainsworth on Kingdom of Flight
Talking ArtZ – From Song to Story: Alexandra Hainsworth on Kingdom of Flight
Talking ArtZ – From Song to Story: Alexandra Hainsworth on Kingdom of Flight.
In this heartwarming and inspiring episode of Talking ArtZ, guest host Ilana D of Matters of the Heart, welcomes back the multi-talented Alexandra Hainsworth—musician, activist, and now debut author of the upcoming dystopian novel Kingdom of Flight. Known for her empowering song “Fighter,” Alexandra opens up about the bold leap from songwriting to co-authoring a novel with Australian writer Victor Paul.
Set in the year 5000, Kingdom of Flight imagines a post-human world where birds rule the last remaining landmass on Earth. Alexandra shares the creative process behind this poetic and thought-provoking tale, delving into its rich themes of leadership, loyalty, survival, and hope.
Together, Ilana and Alexandra explore the intersections of music and fiction, the emotional toll (and humor) of writing with a co-author—and a stubborn laptop—and the deeper message she hopes to offer readers in a time of global uncertainty and rising loneliness.
You’ll also get a sneak peek at the book’s blurb, learn how Alexandra nurtures her creative energy, and hear about the parallels between her song “To Fly” and the lyrical soul of her new literary world.
Whether you’re a fan of dystopian fiction, meaningful music, or stories that shine with heart, this episode is for you.
🎧 Listen now on the Talking ArtZ website or tune in to Ilana’s show next Thursday at 9am when she will repeat the interview on ‘Matters of the Heart’ on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM or streaming on rbm.org.au.
Talking ArtZ | Corinne Loxton: On Sacred Ground
Talking ArtZ | Corinne Loxton: On Sacred Ground
Talking ArtZ | Corinne Loxton: On Sacred Ground
In this episode of Talking ArtZ, we’re joined by Blue Mountains-based artist Corinne Loxton, whose luminous oil paintings capture the spirit and beauty of the Australian landscape. Corinne shares the story behind her latest exhibition, On Sacred Ground, currently showing at Braemar Gallery in Springwood, featuring works created during a residency in the Red Centre alongside new paintings of the Blue Mountains.
We explore her creative process, the influence of contemplative practices like meditation and walking on her work, and her passion for helping others connect with their own creativity through her painting retreats and workshops.
Discover how Corinne’s art invites us to reflect on our relationship with the natural world, and what it means to stand on sacred ground.
🎨 On Sacred Ground is on exhibition at Braemar Gallery until July 5. More at: corinneloxton.com.au
Listen now here on our podcast player. Just click the play button above.
#TalkingArtZ #CorinneLoxton #OnSacredGround #BlueMountainsArtists #AustralianArt #RadioBlueMountains
Talking ArtZ – In Conversation with Catherine Kennedy
Talking ArtZ – In Conversation with Catherine Kennedy
Talking ArtZ – In Conversation with Catherine Kennedy
Hosted by Robyn ‘Catchy’ Catchlove and The Professor
Podcast Episode | Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM
In this vibrant and reflective episode of Talking ArtZ, Robyn ‘Catchy’ Catchlove and The Professor sit down with acclaimed Blue Mountains visual artist Catherine Kennedy, whose recent exhibition “Goodness, Is That the Time?” is drawing attention at Arts Blue Mountains, the gallery in Lawson run by Caroline Skinner.
Catherine opens up about her lifelong journey as a painter—from her early days at the National Art School through to her more recent Master of Fine Arts from UNSW Art & Design. Known for her richly layered, metaphorically resonant paintings, Catherine describes her work as a poetic meeting point between the conscious and unconscious mind. Her images—some drawn from real life, others conjured from dreams and memory—form a visual collage that asks viewers to take their time, to sit with the pieces, and to allow meaning to emerge through reflection and dialogue.
As the conversation unfolds, Catherine shares insights into the deeply intuitive process of painting, the surprising interpretations that others bring to her work, and the joy of engaging in artistic conversations that continue beyond the canvas. With humour, warmth, and depth, she also reflects on the role of art in human connection, calling it “a dance with the unknown.”
The exhibition itself, housed in the intimate Lawson gallery space on Honour Avenue, showcases a selection of Catherine’s striking large-scale paintings, alongside the elegant and experimental work of three jewellers: Pam de Groot, Megan Turton, and Christine Mija. Catherine speaks to the collaborative energy of the group show and the delight of sharing space with other creators.
Listeners will also hear about Catherine’s deep roots in the Blue Mountains community—having lived in Katoomba for nearly 30 years—and her ongoing engagement with the region’s rich arts culture. As a bonus, The Professor uncovers Catherine’s musical inspirations, which include Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan—artists who, like her, use imagery and metaphor to evoke emotion and insight.
If you’re intrigued by contemporary painting that rewards contemplation and welcomes conversation, this episode offers a window into the mind of a thoughtful and generous artist—and an open invitation to visit the exhibition before it closes.
“Goodness, Is That the Time?” is showing at Arts Blue Mountains, 9 Honour Avenue, Lawson
Open Wednesday to Saturday, 10am–3pm | Final day: May 31
For more information on Catherine Kennedy, visit: https://catherinekennedy.com.au/about
Talking ArtZ Podcast | Singer-Songwriters, Storytelling & Social Change
Talking ArtZ Podcast | Singer-Songwriters, Storytelling & Social Change
Talking ArtZ Podcast | Singer-Songwriters, Storytelling & Social Change
In this episode of Talking ArtZ, The Professor welcomes back Barbara Lepani for the second instalment of her regular Enlivenment Network segment. Barbara unveils an inspiring new initiative: the Singer-Songwriter Showcase—a grassroots music platform for the Blue Mountains designed to amplify local voices in response to the challenges of our times. From climate anxiety to political unrest, Barbara discusses how music, inspired by the likes of Bob Dylan, Archie Roach, and Missy Higgins, can serve as a powerful medium for collective healing and cultural expression. With open mic nights planned at On The Soul Side Café and a culminating concert on the horizon, the vision is as much about community and intergenerational dialogue as it is about the songs themselves.
Later in the show, arts communicator and educator Gill Nicol joins the conversation to explore how storytelling, experience design, and audience engagement deepen the impact of arts practice in contemporary society.
📍 Originally aired on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM
🔊 Podcast available now on Spotify, Apple, and all major platforms.
#TalkingArtZ #SingerSongwriterShowcase #BarbaraLepani #GillNicol #EnlivenmentNetwork #BlueMountainsArts #SociallyEngagedArt #ArtsForChange #CommunityRadio #CulturalResilience #StorytellingInArt
Talking ArtZ – Episode: Enlivening Culture with Barbara Lepani + What's On at BMCC with Haley Zena Pynton
Talking ArtZ – Episode: Enlivening Culture with Barbara Lepani + What's On at BMCC with Haley Zena Pynton
Talking ArtZ – Episode: Enlivening Culture with Barbara Lepani + What’s On at BMCC with Haley Zena Pynton.
Talking ArtZ – The Professor talks to Carol Shaw & Jenny Wrad's In The Frame'
Talking ArtZ – The Professor talks to Carol Shaw & Jenny Wrad's In The Frame'
Talking ArtZ – The Professor talks to Carol Shaw & Jenny Wrad’s In The Frame’
On the podcast of this episode of Talking ArtZ, the Professor presents the first ‘In The Frame’ episode from RBM’s roving Arts & Culture journalist Jenny Ward and then he chats with Carol Shaw about Gang GAnmg GAllery’s first major exhibition for the year, ‘Obsession’.
MARCH 13 – APRIL 6
OPENING EVENT – Saturday March 15th from 2pm
Print Circle Exhibition
Exhibition Rationale
As printmakers a degree of obsession is required to indulge in such a process driven medium, however taking “Obsession” in a broader sense, each artist has individually explored and interpreted the theme from a more personal perspective relating to their own lives and experiences. The range of work on show is varied, highlighting a diverse range of printmaking techniques.
About the Print Circle
The Print Circle was formed at the Workshop Arts Centre in Willoughby, Sydney in 1970 with a vision to encourage experimental and innovative printmaking techniques and to support and exhibit the work of women printmakers. For the past 50+years the group have exhibited regularly in Sydney and regional NSW.
Artists
Our members are a diverse group of artists from around Sydney and regional NSW, each bringing their unique approach to printmaking. Some hold or have held teaching positions in the field of art and printmaking and are members of other professional associations and printmaking groups. Many also exhibit in solo shows, have their work in collections nationally and internationally and have been finalists in a number of prestigious art prizes.
Techniques
Our artists produce limited edition prints in both traditional and contemporary printmaking techniques including etching, lithography, silkscreen, collagraphs, wood and linocuts as well as photopolymer etching and artist books.
The Print Circle comes to Lithgow
As a group we are passionate about keeping the knowledge and relevance of printmaking alive as a contemporary art medium and supporting each other as female printmakers. To do this we try and broaden our reach each year by not only exhibiting in Sydney but also regional areas of NSW who may normally miss the opportunity to see such varied high quality printmaking work.
ARTISTS TALK with Carol Shaw FREE EVENT
Learn about the printmaking process with insights into the wide range of works currently on show by the Print Circle.
Carol will discuss her studio practise and how she approaches her work, with particular focus on the low tech printmaking techniques of collagraph and Tetra Pak printing-
Carol is a Sydney based printmaker and textile designer and member of the Print Circle and Southern Printmakers Association, exhibiting regularly over the last 20 years in Sydney and Regional NSW.
Talking ArtZ – The Professor talks to Linda Kemp
Talking ArtZ – The Professor talks to Linda Kemp
Talking ArtZ – The Professor talks to Linda Kemp
Join The Professor as he chats with Linda Kemp, President of the Blue Mountains Clay Collective. Linda shares exciting updates about what’s on the horizon for the Clay Collective in 2025, including a spotlight on this year’s inspiring Empty Bowls initiative. Discover how this creative project continues to unite the community and make a difference by supporting local charities.
🎧 Tune in now on Spotify and explore the incredible intersection of art, community, and generosity.
#TalkingArtZ #BlueMountainsArt #EmptyBowls2024 #BlueMountainsCreatives #RBM89_1FM
Talking ArtZ – In The Frame Finale 2024 - A Celebration of Art and Artists in the Blue Mountains
Talking ArtZ – In The Frame Finale 2024 - A Celebration of Art and Artists in the Blue Mountains
Talking ArtZ | The Professor talks to Gav Barbey and to Michaela James about the exhibition ' The Patience of Ordinary Things'.
Talking ArtZ | The Professor talks to Gav Barbey and to Michaela James about the exhibition ' The Patience of Ordinary Things'.
Great Women of Song and Sass
Strange Brew – Great Women of Song and Sass
Strange Brew – Great Women of Song and Sass
Presented by Caroline Paidasch-Murphy
Broadcast every Monday from 12–2 PM on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM, Strange Brew is a show that celebrates music, history, and cultural connections through a mix of unexpected and electrifying tunes. Hosted by Caroline Paidasch Murphy, each episode takes listeners on a musical journey filled with insight, humor, and passion.
In this episode, Great Women of Song and Sass, Caroline curates a dynamic playlist dedicated to some of the most iconic and influential female vocalists in history. From smoky jazz standards to bold cabaret numbers and trailblazing rock anthems, this episode is a tribute to the power, elegance, and audacity of women in music.
The show opens with the legendary Liza Minnelli and her iconic performance from Cabaret, setting the stage for a musical thread that weaves through German influences and vintage Hollywood glamour. The godmother of German punk, Nina Hagen, follows with her eclectic energy, and then Marilyn Monroe brings the heat with Heat Wave.
Caroline then delves into the exotic, mesmerizing voice of Yma Sumac, a Peruvian-American singer known for her astounding four-and-a-half-octave range. Featuring songs from her album Mambo, Caroline shares fascinating trivia, including how Sumac’s music found its way into modern media, from Spy Games to Cirque du Soleil.
Moving into the realm of French elegance, Strange Brew highlights Françoise Hardy, whose musical and fashion influence in the 1960s remains unparalleled. Alongside her, the wisdom of the day is imparted through the show’s signature Animal Spirit Card Reading, with this episode’s message brought by the fierce and fearless Panther Spirit, urging listeners to embrace their inner power and boldness.
The setlist continues with the ethereal and groundbreaking Kate Bush, featuring her masterpiece Running Up That Hill, famously revived by Stranger Things. Caroline provides a deep dive into Bush’s Hounds of Love album, its conceptual storytelling, and its lasting legacy in music history.
Jazz and big band lovers are treated to the smooth, timeless vocals of Anita O’Day, a former Stan Kenton Big Band singer, followed by the one and only Peggy Lee. Caroline shares an insightful anecdote about Lee’s clever technique of drawing in an audience by singing softly, a lesson in subtlety and charisma that still resonates today.
The show’s cabaret influences shine again with the unforgettable Marlene Dietrich and Liza Minnelli’s Mein Herr, leading into a comedic yet sultry moment with Madeline Kahn’s I’m Tired, a beloved number from Blazing Saddles. Lana Del Rey’s Summertime Sadness marks a contemporary addition, showcasing how today’s artists channel the spirit of their predecessors.
As the show draws to a close, Caroline pays tribute to Barbra Streisand’s unwavering confidence with Don’t Rain on My Parade—a musical anthem of self-empowerment. In a final nod to the history of women in music, Strange Brew closes with Josephine Baker’s playful Don’t Touch My Tomatoes, before a powerful finale with Whitney Houston’s Love Will Save the Day.
Full of history, personality, and a bold soundtrack, this episode of Strange Brew is a celebration of female artistry, resilience, and style. Whether through sultry jazz, avant-garde punk, or powerhouse ballads, these women of song and sass continue to inspire and captivate audiences across generations.
Tune in every Monday from 12–2 PM on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1FM, or stream live at www.rbm.org.au.
The-California-Sound-of-Laurel-Canyon
Strange Brew – A Musical Journey Through Time
Strange Brew – A Musical Journey Through Time
Presented by Caroline Paidasch-Murphy
Broadcast every Monday from 12 PM to 2 PM on Radio Blue Mountains 89.1 FM, Strange Brew is a deep dive into the stories, sounds, and influences that have shaped music across the decades. Hosted by the dynamic Caroline ‘CP’ Paidasch Murphy, the show is an eclectic exploration of genres, eras, and cultural movements that have left a lasting imprint on the musical landscape.
Each week, Strange Brew takes listeners on an immersive journey, blending classic hits, hidden gems, and fascinating backstories that illuminate the connections between artists, places, and pivotal moments in music history. Whether it’s a spotlight on iconic movements like the Laurel Canyon scene of the 1960s, the psychedelic underground, or the unsung heroes of Australian rock, CP brings her signature passion, curiosity, and storytelling to the airwaves.
In a recent episode, CP delved into the legendary Laurel Canyon sound—a movement that saw folk, rock, and counterculture merge in a creative explosion that defined an era. With imagery of Jim Morrison cycling through eucalyptus trees, Joni Mitchell’s guitar echoing through the hills, and impromptu jam sessions at Mama Cass’s house, the episode transported listeners to a time when artists like The Byrds, The Turtles, Buffalo Springfield, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young crafted a new sonic identity in the heart of Los Angeles.
But Strange Brew is not just about nostalgia—it’s about discovery. CP’s musical curiosity leads her to uncover new dimensions of even the most familiar genres. Whether it’s tracing the roots of Australian rock through the Masters Apprentices, Billy Thorpe, and Russell Morris or unearthing the connections between folk troubadours in Greenwich Village and their West Coast counterparts, every episode is a fresh perspective on music’s ever-evolving journey.
With a mix of well-known tracks, rare recordings, and deep dives into the cultural shifts that shaped each era, Strange Brew is the perfect listening experience for music lovers who crave insight, storytelling, and a touch of the unexpected. Tune in live or stream at www.rbm.org.au to join CP Murphy as she takes you down the rabbit hole of musical history, one track at a time.