Talking Heads

Monday, 24 November 2008 06:30pm

The last episode of Talking Heads for 2008 looks at the psychology of success. Are there common factors that lead to success and happiness?

Talking Heads host Peter Thompson is joined by Michael Carr-Gregg, one of Australia's leading psychologists who specialises in childhood and adolescence. Together, Thompson and Carr-Gregg look back at the formative years of some this year's most extraordinary guests and explore their paths to success.

After being diagnosed with cancer at 19, and being told he had eight weeks to live, Carr-Gregg went on to found the Canteen charity for teenagers with cancer. Now among the numerous activities Carr-Gregg is currently involved in, is the role of an official ambassador for the National depression initiative 'Beyond Blue', and of 'MindMatters', one of 16 youth suicide prevention programs run by the Federal Government.

Monday, 17 November 2008 06:30pm

This week on Talking Heads, Peter Thompson talks to renowned theatre director Jim Sharman. Sharman is a visionary showman. Born into the surreal world of travelling sideshows, he soon learnt what held an audience. Later he put that knowledge to good use, with three rock musicals that won huge followings; Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. On Talking Heads, Sharman shares his life and talks to Peter about the influences of minimalism, Japanese culture and writer Patrick White.

Talking Heads will be repeated on ABC2 - Tuesday, November 18 at 5:00pm

Monday, 10 November 2008 06:30pm

This week on Talking Heads, Peter Thompson talks to the founder of Crikey.com.au - Aussie stirrer - Stephen Mayne. Mayne shook up the media, politics and business when he set up Crikey.com and promised to reveal stories that others wouldn't. His mix of fact, rumour and suspicion came from powerful insiders themselves, often writing anonymously. So is Stephen Mayne doing us all a service, cleaning things up, looking under rocks? His publish and be damned approach has certainly cost him a lot of money!

Talking Heads will be repeated on ABC2 – Tuesday, November 11 at 5:00pm

Monday, 03 November 2008 06:30pm

This week on Talking Heads Peter Thompson talks to Australia's new king of swing, David Campbell. After discovering his dad was Jimmy Barnes, Campbell grew up in the spotlight and experienced a difficult journey to find himself and his groove. But with his infectious energy he is now one of the hottest entertainers in Australia and has brought a new energy to classic songs of the '50 and '60s. Campbell is no lounge lizard. He's the sort of chap who asks his girlfriend's father for permission to marry and then proposes with lilies overlooking the Paris Opera House. Bring your black-tie or cocktail dress!

Talking Heads will be repeated on ABC2 – Tuesday, November 04 at 5:00pm

Monday, 27 October 2008
6.30pm

This week on Talking Heads, Peter Thompson talks to author Blanche d'Alpuget.

Monday, 20 October 2008 06:30pm

This week on Talking Heads, Peter Thompson talks to one of the world's leading Wagnerian sopranos, Lisa Gasteen. Lisa Gasteen brings the full power of her huge voice to the sweeping themes of German opera - lust, death and the vengeance of gods. The Brisbane singer has conquered the world, but talks frankly about the high personal costs of being a globe-trotting opera star and whether her immense talent is a gift or a curse.

Talking Heads will be repeated on ABC2 – Tuesday, October 21 at 5:00pm

Monday, 13 October 2008
6.30pm

This week on Talking Heads, Peter Thompson talks to one of Australia's 'National Treasures', jazz musician Don Burrows.

Monday, 06 October 2008 06:30pm

This week on Talking Heads, Peter Thompson talks to Posie Graeme-Evans, creator of the smash hit TV shows McLeod's Daughters and Hi-5, which can now be seen around the world. Her medieval romance novels are best sellers. In one sense she lives in a fantasy world, dreaming up stories, but to sell those ideas she's had to become a formidable wheeler-dealer.

Talking Heads will be repeated on ABC2 – Tuesday, October 07 at 5:00pm

Monday, 29 September 2008
06:30pm

This week on Talking Heads, Peter Thompson talks to the inventor of the multiple-channel cochlear implant, Professor Graeme Clark.

When he came up with the idea for a bionic ear Professor Clark ran into a wall of criticism. It was a goal that many thought could not, and even should not, be achieved. But Clark's was a very personal dream, and the cochlear implant is now a reality for more than 100,000 grateful recipients around the world.

Talking Heads will be repeated on ABC2 - Tuesday September 30 at 5:00pm.

Monday, 22 September 2008
6.30pm

This week on Talking Heads, Peter Thompson talks to the man who brought us the 'Grim Reaper' - advertising guru Siimon Reynolds.

Reynolds achieved great success at a very young age. He has made millions and bagged just about every advertising award going, but despite all the accolades he now devotes much of his time to the pursuit of inner peace.

As a child Reynolds was an under-achiever but by his mid-teens had decided he didn't want to live a life of mediocrity. When he was 17, he met an ‘exotic Chinese woman’ who suggested he spelt his name ‘S-double i-m-o-n’.

"She told me that if I put an extra 'i' in my name the numerology would be so powerful I would become famous and successful…with that kind of naivety of youth I went ahead and did it," he says.

Monday, 01 September 2008
06:30pm

This week on Talking Heads, Peter Thompson chats with Australian writer Robyn Davidson. As a child Davidson had a well-developed fantasy of taking to the road with no possessions. Later her 1700 mile camel trek across Australia's red centre in 1977, described in her book Tracks, captured imaginations and hearts around the world. In the decades since, her journeys have ranged from torturous to extremely plush. On Talking Heads Davidson talks about her equally intriguing inner journey.

Talking Heads will be repeated on ABC2 – Tuesday, September 02 at 5:00pm

Monday, 25 August 2008
06:30pm

This week on Talking Heads, Peter Thompson talks to Jill Perryman, the first local star of the big Broadway musicals, including the Australian production of The Boy From Oz.

Once a firm favourite on the Australian stage and on ABC TV, Perryman is now happy to be described as doyen, even grande dame.

From a circus family, Perryman ended up on stage despite active discouragement from her parents. Her son Tod Johnston has followed in her footsteps. Perhaps theatre really does run in the blood!

Talking Heads will be repeated on ABC2 – Tuesday, August 26 at 5:00pm

Monday, 18 August 2008
6.30pm

This week on Talking Heads, Peter Thompson chats with 'Mr Clean-Up Australia' Ian Kiernan.

As a young chap, Ian Kiernan threw rubbish out of cars and off the back of his boat. As he tells Talking Heads, he had no great desire to save the environment. The tremendous success of Clean-Up Australia Day and Clean-Up the World Day came much later.

Initially the driven young builder and property developer set himself a goal of owning 500 houses. Wealth was his goal. He was a tough nut in a tough game, with an equally focused dog by his side, ready to ward off any ne'er-do-well wanting to issue a death threat or two.

Monday, 11 August
6.30pm

This week on Talking Heads, Peter Thompson chats with Meryl Tankard.
Tankard is one of Australia's greatest choreographers, and one of its most controversial.

A classically-trained ballerina, she turned her back on that traditional style and gained international acclaim taking contemporary dance to new and unorthodox heights.

Tankard's work ranges from high-art to the highly-commercial. She has worked with everyone from Opera Australia to Andrew Lloyd Webber, from The Australian Ballet to the Disney Corporation on Broadway.

Along the way, she's created dance pieces for the Sydney Olympics opening ceremony, the Dalai Lama and the Tiffany jewellery store.

Like a great dance piece, her life and career have been marked by exhilarating highs and devastating lows.

Since being controversially sacked from the Australian Dance Theatre, she's risen, phoenix-like, to new heights in distant lands.

Monday, 04 August
6.30pm

This week on Talking Heads, Peter Thompson chats with Forbes Carlile.

Carlile is a legend of the pool. A sports scientist and coaching rebel, he pushed Shane Gould to Olympic gold. Forbes was often offside with the swimming establishment, particularly about drugs, but today's swimming stars still rely on his pioneering techniques.

Talking Heads will be repeated on ABC2 – Tuesday, August 05 at 5:00pm