Radio Woodfordia

About Radio Woodfordia

What happens when Australia's biggest music and arts festival becomes home to a community of dreamers, builders, and storytellers? Join comedian Harley Breen as he uncovers the wild stories behind the biggest festival you just might never have heard of. Broadcasting live from Woodfordia: A 500-acre regenerated dairy farm on Jinibara Country that's hosted the Festival for the past 30 years. Expect cracking yarns from the visionaries who built this cultural phenomenon from humble Maleny beginnings, plus the artists whose careers launched from this hidden Queensland valley, just an hour from Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. There are familiar faces and unsung heroes who come together to produce something many have experienced as a rite of passage. Like everything at Woodfordia, from the 136,000 trees planted, to our chai tent (one of the first places to serve chai in Australia), this podcast is unfolding, growing, expanding the Woodfordia Universe to invite more of us in. Many arrive at all ages of life and say 'I've finally found my people'. This is an invitation into the lives of our people who might just become yours too. To learn more visits www.woodfordia.org or www.woodfordfolkfestival.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

Woodfordia INC

Category

arts · music · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

11 Sept 2025

Latest episode

16 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

43 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Oct 2026

   We’re All Musicians — with Linsey Pollak

   “But music is about something much more basic than that. It’s about human connection. It’s about community. It’s this very strong glue that sort of holds us all together.” — Linsey Pollak Harley Breen welcomes back Linsey Pollak, the first ever return guest on Radio Woodfordia. In the first episode Linsey told the story of the treadle lathe he impulse bought in London for 20 pounds, which kept him in the UK for two and a half years. This time Harley finally finds out what happened to the lathe. Linsey is an instrument maker and community musician who has spent 50 years designing instruments, from carrots turned into clarinets to hybrid duduks. He is now downsizing: passing on his lathe, sending out instruments to new homes with the proceeds going to refugee support, and finishing an e-book of his instrument designs, Make Your Own, so that anyone can make their own. This conversation covers the power of music in joyous moments and sad ones, why Linsey believes we are all musicians, the Listening Sessions, saying yes to possibility, and how artists can survive by working within a community. Linsey finishes by playing his flat sax live. This episode is for: Listeners who loved Linsey’s first episode and want to know what happened next Musicians, makers and storytellers working out how to survive as artists Anyone who has ever told themselves “I’m not a musician” Dive in to hear about: What really happened to the treadle lathe from the first episode Why Linsey is downsizing from 250 wind instruments, and the e-book of 50 years of instrument designs Why a freelance musician spent 60 to 70 percent of their time on admin, and how playing more music than ever followed Playing the duduk at celebrations of life, including for Bill and Velvet Why Linsey believes we are all musicians, and what AI can and can’t take from music The Listening Sessions, the Kin Kin marimba band and why artists need community A live performance on the flat sax, an instrument you can make from plywood Key topics: Linsey Pollak, instrument making, Make Your Own e-book, wind instruments, duduk, flat sax, marimba, Kin Kin, community music, Sunrise Sessions, Listening Sessions, improvisation, AI and music, artists making a living, celebrations of life, Woodfordia, Woodford Folk Festival, Jinibara Country To come to the Woodford Folk Festival this year visit: (https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/)https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/ (https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/) FOR MORE: Harley Breen: (https://www.harleybreen.com.au)https://www.harleybreen.com.au (https://www.harleybreen.com.au) Linsey Pollak: (https://linseypollak.com/)https://linseypollak.com/ (https://linseypollak.com/) Linsey Pollak’s YouTube channel: (https://www.youtube.com/user/SquealyD)https://www.youtube.com/user/SquealyD (https://www.youtube.com/user/SquealyD) Linsey Pollak’s first Radio Woodfordia episode: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFZTHFUJhAQ)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFZTHFUJhAQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFZTHFUJhAQ) Woodfordia: (https://woodfordia.org/)https://woodfordia.org/ (https://woodfordia.org/) CREDITS: Host: Harley Breen | Guest: Linsey Pollak | Executive Producer: Bree Hickson-Jamieson | Production: Josh Weier | Audio Engineer: Stevie-leigh Batiste | Video Editor: Nick Haddow | Music by: The East Pointers | Recorded on Jinibara Country | Recorded June 2026 Join the Woodfordian Citizens: Perks - - Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating. - Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special. - Bonus podcast content - Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets - Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk Festival Visit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizen More information at www.woodfordia.org For the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.com For Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/ Credits: Host: Harley Breen Executive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny Wallington Audio mastering: Kieron Atkinson Music by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   16 Oct 2026

   The Lady of the Lake — with Shannon Townsend

   Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners are advised that this episode contains the name of a person who has recently died. “I don’t need to dress up because I’m part mermaid.” — Shannon Townsend Harley Breen welcomes Shannon Townsend, the Lady of the Lake. Shannon has been teaching swimming since she was 13, has trained pool lifeguards in Australia and around the world, and now looks after safety at Lake Gkula, Woodfordia’s 12 million litre plus eco lake. Shannon went to the very last Maleny Folk Festival and the very first Festival at the Woodford site as a teenager from Toowoomba, mesmerised by the fire twirlers and soothed by the chai tent. Years later she returned with her own children, when her father-in-law Kev Carmody was playing and she ended up on stage singing the chorus of From Little Things Big Things Grow. When a lake was built, she sent in her resume, and a few beers with Bill later, the title stuck. This conversation covers what an eco pool is, how the lake lifesavers are trained, the mermaid who met Shannon at a Woodford dance workshop, the three minutes of silence, lake yoga with crystal bowls, and a bonus original water safety song. This episode is for: Anyone who has ever felt calmer the moment they got near water Parents, volunteers and festivalgoers who want to know how the lake works and how to stay safe in it Woodfordians who love hearing how this place first got hold of someone Dive in to hear about: How Shannon became the Lady of the Lake, and a job interview that was mostly beers with Bill What an eco pool is, and how swimmers can help it Teaching swimming at 13, training lifeguards and the volunteer lifesavers who return to the lake each year Meeting the lake’s mermaid at a dance workshop, and why Shannon says she is part mermaid A Toowoomba teenager’s first Woodford, the chai tent, Kev Carmody and the three minutes of silence Key topics: Shannon Townsend, Lady of the Lake, Lake Gkula, eco lake, eco pool, water safety, lifeguard training, Lake Gkula Camping, lake yoga, Sionna Yoga, crystal bowls, Kev Carmody, Toowoomba, Maleny Festival, chai tent, three minutes of silence, Woodfordia, Woodford Folk Festival, Jinibara Country To come to the Woodford Folk Festival this year visit: (https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/)https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/ (https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/) Lake Gkula Camping Easter 2027: (https://lakegkulacamping.com/)https://lakegkulacamping.com/ (https://lakegkulacamping.com/) FOR MORE: Harley Breen: (https://www.harleybreen.com.au)https://www.harleybreen.com.au (https://www.harleybreen.com.au) Shannon Townsend, Sionna Yoga: (https://www.sionna.com.au/)https://www.sionna.com.au/ (https://www.sionna.com.au/) Lake Gkula Camping: (https://lakegkulacamping.com/)https://lakegkulacamping.com/ (https://lakegkulacamping.com/) Woodfordia: (https://woodfordia.org/)https://woodfordia.org/ (https://woodfordia.org/) CREDITS: Host: Harley Breen | Guest: Shannon Townsend | Executive Producer: Benney Wallington | Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Cameron Scurrah | Audio Engineer: Stevie-leigh Batiste | Video Editor: Nick Haddow | Music by: The East Pointers | Recorded on Jinibara Country | Recorded September 2025 Join the Woodfordian Citizens: Perks - - Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating. - Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special. - Bonus podcast content - Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets - Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk Festival Visit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizen More information at www.woodfordia.org For the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.com For Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/ Credits: Host: Harley Breen Executive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny Wallington Audio mastering: Kieron Atkinson Music by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   9 Oct 2026

   The Ripple — with OJ Newcomb

   “The essence of what it is to be an artist will never die.” — OJ Newcomb Harley Breen sits down with OJ Newcomb, a bassist, band manager, producer, studio co-owner, label founder and music teacher who has seen the music industry from nearly every angle. Oj grew up in a musical family, started on brass, and became a jazz bass player after being pulled into his brother’s scene, which led him to the Afro Dizzi Act and more. A run of gigs at Woodford Folk Festival in the late 90s, including a 1999 set on the Amphitheatre in front of an incredible crowd, convinced him that music was his calling. After five years of playing, he began managing, because he saw opportunities going by and wanted to run with them. Later came a couple of years touring with John Butler, including playing at Red Rocks. Today Oj runs Yama-Nui Studios with engineer Paulie B, which has been named Best Recording Studio at the Sunshine Coast Music Awards twice, and a label built around mentoring development artists. He also teaches music. This conversation covers why he backs emerging artists in a tough industry, the pressure on venues to create an experience worth turning up for (and how tight the margins are), why he believes art should be valued like a community service, and a classic Woodford love story. This episode is for: Anyone who has wondered how a creative life actually gets sustained Musicians, makers and managers who wear more hats than they would like Woodfordians who love the way this place changes people Dive in to hear about: The 1999 Amphitheatre gig at Woodford that showed Oj the power of music Why Oj expanded from playing bass to managing, and what he learned from his year helping run a venue Touring with John Butler, and what it felt like to walk out at Red Rocks Why he thinks one artist doing their best creates a ripple that spurs others on How permaculture shapes his studio, his label and his view of a healthy creative practice, and what “Nui” in Yama-Nui means How he and his then-future-wife, from the band The Dawn Light, kept bumping into each other at Woodford, and why he thinks the festival opens the door to magic Key topics: OJ Newcomb, bass guitar, music industry, mentoring, recording studio, Yama-Nui Studios, record label, Afro Dizzi Act, John Butler, Red Rocks, Sunshine Coast, live music venues, permaculture, Woodford Folk Festival To come to the Woodford Folk Festival this year visit: (https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/)https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/ (https://woodfordfolkfestival.com/) FOR MORE: Harley Breen: (https://www.harleybreen.com.au)https://www.harleybreen.com.au (https://www.harleybreen.com.au) OJ Newcomb: https://www.instagram.com/eco_tone/ (https://www.instagram.com/eco_tone/) Yama-Nui Studios: https://yama-nui-studios.com/ (https://yama-nui-studios.com/) Linktree: https://linktr.ee/yama.nui.records (https://linktr.ee/yama.nui.records) Woodfordia: (https://woodfordia.org/)https://woodfordia.org/ (https://woodfordia.org/) CREDITS: Host: Harley Breen | Guest: OJ Newcomb | Executive Producer: Bree Hickson-Jamieson | Production: Josh Weier | Audio Engineer: Stevie-lee Batiste | Video Editor: Nick Haddow | Music by: The East Pointers | Recorded on Jinibara Country | Recorded July 2026 Join the Woodfordian Citizens: Perks - - Bi-Monthly emails sharing the ins and outs of the world of Woodfordia and the people who keep the heart beating. - Special invites to special events on site at Woodfordia. Super special. - Bonus podcast content - Early early bird access to Woodford Folk Festival tickets - Early access to workshop bookings at Woodford Folk Festival Visit: woodfordia.org/woodfordia/become-a-citizen More information at www.woodfordia.org For the festival: www.woodfordfolkfestival.com For Harley: https://www.harleybreen.com.au/ Credits: Host: Harley Breen Executive Producers: Bree Hickson-Jamieson, Josh Weier, Benny Wallington Audio mastering: Kieron Atkinson Music by: The East Pointers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

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Spotify

5.0 / 5

10 ratings

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