Life With Fuzz is a light listening, deeply personal conversational podcast series, determined to explore identity, meaning, and belonging, in a world where issues surrounding these things is becoming increasingly polarising.
Host, Fuzz Ali, continues his life long journey of self discovery, through the hearing and telling of stories of other people who are Queer, BIPOC, and allies to these communities.
Life With Fuzz is back for a special one episode feature on the extraordinary Yvonne Weldon, who made history as the first Aboriginal Councillor at the City of Sydney in its entire history, and who is now challenging the 20 year leadership of incumbent Lord Mayor Clover Moore. Yvonne has a genuine heart for people and community, and asserts firmly that the time is right for her team to walk with the people of Sydney into a shared, inclusive, and vibrant future.
Anyone attempting to be reductive in their approach to Yvonne will be sorely disappointed. In my opinion, she is dynamic, full of practical solutions to our city's issues, and ready to change the way leadership operates at Town Hall.
In this episode, we discuss her early years as a child of the revolution, finding herself at the heart of early movements for inclusion and equality of First Nations people, and how this formed the basis of her fire for social justice, progress through consultation, and leaving the world better than we find it.
The City of Sydney Council elections are on the 14th of September 2024 (early elections are ongoing the week this episode goes to air). Will we continue to keep Sydney in the hands of truly independent leadership that listens in the form of Yvonne Weldon's Independents, and will we elect our first Aboriginal Mayor?
4 Oct 2023
Life With... Benjamin Law
Growing up on the Sunshine Coast with Cantonese-speaking parents, an Asian background and a queer identity was a story Benjamin Law didn’t expect to evolve into a career-defining journey. Embracing his uniqueness in Australia marked just the beginning of his remarkable path and standout work. Award-winning screenwriter, author, journalist, and broadcaster, Benjamin and I discuss his experiences navigating Australia as an Asian, gay man, the gradual improvements in the inclusivity and representation of minority groups in media and television, and the powerful celebration of our individuality that shape our identities.
27 Sept 2023
Life With... Kirstie Clements
An adventurous life, an illustrious career, and a heart open to whatever comes next. Celebrated journalist, editor, and best selling author, Kirstie Clements has danced to her own beat since she was old enough to decide that she would leave the Shire for the lights of Darlinghurst at 16 years old. Her story has been written from the front desk of Vogue, to late nights in Paris, to her return to Sydney to captain Vogue Australia, and now her life as a best selling author and cultural commentator. Another particularly significant episode as Fuzz considers Kirstie one of his most special friends, and in this episode they talk about the past, the now, and what’s to come of the creative world they occupy.
20 Sept 2023
Life With... Gemma Acton
From growing up in Melbourne, to a life lived in London and New York, with global experience spanning the far reaches of the world, and then back to Sydney, which she now calls home with a family of her own, Gemma has lived a life full of curiosity and ambition. A dear friend and familiar face on Australian television, Gemma and I speak about her international adventure in media and finance, and the challenges she was confronted with on the journey. Her story sounds like it could be a novel, and the current chapter involves a wholesome life in Australia, as a soon to be mother of two.
13 Sept 2023
Life With... Michelle Grey and Susan Armstrong
A close friendship that has blossomed into an undeniable force in the world of arts, culture, performance and all creative pursuits, Arts-Matter Co-Founders Michelle Grey and Susan Armstrong have not only created a profound arts and culture program, but a community and movement that brings together artists and audiences from varied backgrounds to share their passion. Michelle and Susan take us on their Arts-Matter journey where family and friendships are at the core of what they do, creating an inclusive and dynamic space for all. This conversation lets us into the behind the scenes story of a creative movement, the brilliant humans behind it, and what’s to come.
6 Sept 2023
Life With... Rafael Bonachela
A life lived in movement, Rafael Bonachela, the esteemed Artistic Director of the Sydney Dance Company, has not stopped since his feet found rhythm as a child. He says in our conversation that life has continued to “surprise” him, and that his journey to dance has been the story of his life. This conversation drips in Rafael’s signature charm, and his stories from Spain to Sydney, from dancer to choreographer, from dance to dance, are filled with optimism and an attitude that welcomes and celebrates life.
30 Aug 2023
Life With... Atong Atem
A growing presence in the global art world, with appearances from the Art Gallery of New South Wales to Tate Modern, London, Atong is an unstoppable creative force. Winning the inaugural La Prairie Art Award brought years of practice to the forefront of the Australian public, and what seemed like “suddenly” was actually the accumulation of years of work. This conversation is deeply personal - Atong and Fuzz have shared an extremely close friendship for well over a decade and explore the journey of existing in a world determined to put us in categories.
23 Aug 2023
Life With... Nasim Nasr
Existing in the in-between spaces of her humanity, Iranian-born artist Nasim Nasr delivers art that cuts straight to the heart. Her exploration through her contemporary practice has been an outward expression of her internal monologue of what it means to be a woman, considering her contrasting past and present life experiences in the country of her birth and in the country she now calls home. This conversation in this episode is especially relevant, considering the ongoing fight for women’s liberation and freedom in Iran.
16 Aug 2023
Life With... Courtney Roulston
A comforting smile on national television, who brings people together through food – and while she does not identify as “the loudest voice” or the “the protest”, Courtney Roulston is taking us leaps and bounds forward to the understanding that Queer people come in all expressions, from all backgrounds, and are often just ordinary “suburban gays”… just more fabulous.
9 Aug 2023
Life With... Phillip Picardi
Once called the “Prince of Condé Nast,” founding Editor of Them Magazine, and life long advocate for the Queer community who found himself back in “church” (or at least the Harvard Divinity School). Phillip shares his story from childhood to the LA LGBT Center, all while we discuss the state of America, the impact of Murdoch media, and the fact that he “was willing to fight to get his spirituality back”.
2 Aug 2023
Life With... Nakkiah Lui
A voice of a generation, a face of resistance… and really quite funny. Famed First Nations writer, actor, podcaster, and lover of life, Nakkiah and I talk about humour as defence, having the “confidence of a mediocre white man”, celebrating First Nations excellence (and mediocrity), and what a decolonised meal looks like.
“The history of your family is your culture and your resistance. It’s the story that we survived colonisation. It’s our responsibility to be loud.” – Nakkiah Lui
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