In this episode, I’m joined by Harvey Zielinski - writer and director of Sweet Milk Lake who also stars in the film as two twin brothers, Jake and Sam.
I won’t repeat my adoration for Harvey and his career here, because you can hear a lot about that in this interview itself, but here’s the synopsis:
After being mistaken for his twin brother, Sam, by his estranged and dying dad, a soft-spoken trans man, Jake, relishes the opportunity to be one of the boys, until the weight of the lie becomes heavier than his need for the truth.
Zielinski is a transmasculine actor, writer and director working across stage and screen. Sweet Milk Lake is the actor-turned director’s feature film debut as both writer and director.
Beyond Sweet Milk Lake, Harvey is a two-time Heath Ledger Scholarship finalist, recipient of the Casting Guild of Australia’s Rising Star Award, and a Betty Roland Prize finalist.
As an actor, Harvey is best known for playing series regular Charlie in the ABC comedy White Fever. He was also a series regular on Amazon Prime’ Deadloch and Catherine Hardwicke’s Don’t Look Deeper opposite Don Cheadle and Emily Mortimer.
Additional screen credits include Love Me, Spreadsheet, Why Are You Like This and Metrosexual.
Anyway… enjoy.
4 Aug 2026
Episode #137 | Adam C. Briggs
I love a film that evokes the same symptoms as a fever dream, or if you’ve dabbled in acid in your past, an acid trip.
That’s how I’d describe the feeling of watching Adam C. Briggs’ weird and wonderful new film, Phillip Philadelphia.
It’s difficult to put into words exactly what the film is about, and as Briggs says during this interview, it’s open to interpretation. You can take away from it what you will.
Some may interpret it as I have, a dig on the Australian film industry and the delusional impact it can have on most filmmakers attempting to break through its mainstream barriers, but others will have different opinions, and some may be left scratching their heads wondering what they fuck they just watched. As you’ll hear from Briggs here, any of the above suits him just fine.
The official synopsis for the film reads like this: British screenwriter Phillip Philadelphia languishes in an old motel at the Gold Coast’s curdled quagmire of vapid opulence.
Alienated from the film industry and his environment, low-budget debauches and decaying vestiges of empire prop up his weary existence.
A young actor lover, a former colleague, and a drug-dealing neighbour weave throughout Phillip’s escapist fantasies.
Phillip Philadelphia is a queer melodrama and absurdist romp in part which examines the dislocation of the artist in modern times.
Adam C. Briggs was born in 1993 and works as an independent writer and director in Australia.
His films, which rest between docufiction, arthouse and genre cinema have found respect institutionally and critically.
His feature A Grand Mockery, which I highly recommend, received best feature at SXSW Sydney in 2024 and Best Direction New Visions at Sitges in 2025.
Anyway… enjoy.
22 Jul 2026
Episode #136 | Mia’Kate Russell
On this episode, I’m joined by writer and director Mia’Kate Russell to discuss her very excellent, highly entertaining, violent and bloody cat-and-mouse horror, Penny Lane is Dead.
Set in 1986, during a scorching Aussie summer, Penny Lane is Dead follows three best friends who’s celebration at a beach house turns into a blood-soaked fight for survival when a prank goes horribly wrong.
The films cast includes veterans Steve Le Marquand, Fletcher Humphrys and Ben O’Toole, and exciting new comers Sophia Wright-Mendelsohn (daughter of Ben), Tahlee Fereday, Alexandra Jensen and Bailey Spalding.
Despite Penny Lane is Dead being her debut feature film as writer and director, Mia’kate Russell has worked in the Australian film industry for decades as a makeup and special effects artist on countless films including 2040, What If It Works and Scare Campaign and has been a make-up artist for major productions including Nitram and The Leftovers.
As a writer and director, her short films have won more than 30 awards and screened at prestigious festivals all around the world.
I absolutely loved this chat with Mia. She is such a great personality, and her humorous approach to filmmaking was a true delight.
I should note that Mia did have some audio issues at the beginning of this interview, but they correct them quite quickly.
Anyway… enjoy.
Reach and audience
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YouTube views
1,349,838
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 75 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
82
Social presence
0
YouTube
86
Engagement
81
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