Tall Poppies The Podcast

About Tall Poppies The Podcast

Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe and Mel Gibson. That Hollywood spotlight ensures that most of us know the name of these celebrity Aussies, but what about those many other Australians who have forged impressive careers around the globe? Artists, academics, sportsmen and women, scientists and no doubt many, many more professions. People like the Melbournian Barrie Kosky, who is today one of the world’s most-celebrated opera directors, conductor Simone Young, who directs international orchestras and Sydney-born singer-songwriter Kat Frankie, a popular performer at top music venues all over Germany. As a journalist working internationally for decades, I’m constantly amazed at the number of Australians – high profile or otherwise – living outside Australia – who have remarkable careers and what’s more, remarkable stories to tell. In Tall Poppies I’ll be sitting down with one of these inspiring Aussies each episode to chat about their work, living abroad and their passage to international success. Of course we will also look at how growing up in Australia influenced them in the past and even today in their work.

Publisher

Breandáin O'Shea

Category

arts · music · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

31 Jan 2018

Latest episode

20 Jun 2026

Latest episodes

29 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   20 Jun 2026

   Far from Home, Close to Music, Special

   Send us Fan Mail In this special episode of Tall Poppies: The Podcast, host Breandáin O'Shea sits down with a new generation of Australian musicians making their mark abroad. Violinists Leanne McGowan, Josephine Chung, and Harry Ward, three remarkable artists who left Australia and found a new creative home in Berlin. From the Curtis Institute to the Karajan Academy, from the Mahler Chamber Orchestra to a seat in the Berlin Philharmonic itself, each tells a story of ambition, culture shock, a...

2. 

   18 Jun 2026

   Trailer - Far from Home, Close to Music

   Send us Fan Mail Tall Poppies: The Podcast announces a special episode dropping on June 21st Far from Home, Close to Music, features Josephine Chung, Harry Ward and Leanne McGowan - three exceptional young Australian violinists, all living here in Berlin For more episodes of Tall Poppies: The Podcast, highlighting remarkable Australians making waves globally, visit https://www.tall-poppies.com/.

3. 

   17 Aug 2024

   Hector McDonald: French Horn Legend

   Send us a text “I’m very happy I came from Australia. I think it gives you a down-to-earth outlook. Living here in Vienna, you encounter many people who are quite privileged, having grown up in musical families and playing in string quartets since they were little. I envy them, but I wouldn’t trade my own start for anything.” Join us as we explore the extraordinary career of Hector McDonald, one of the most celebrated French horn players of our time. From his early days in Australia to ...

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.