43 episodes

Two friends, Melanie Tait and Kim Lester, talk nostalgia, social history, and TV trivia as they rewatch random episodes of the legendary A Country Practice. Includes interviews actors and creatives from the show, discussions of the big social issues of the 1980s and 90s, and a look at how ACP shaped Australia’s film and TV industry? Kicks and giggles also had.

A Country Podcast Melanie Tait and Kim Lester

    • TV & Film
    • 4.8 • 4 Ratings

Two friends, Melanie Tait and Kim Lester, talk nostalgia, social history, and TV trivia as they rewatch random episodes of the legendary A Country Practice. Includes interviews actors and creatives from the show, discussions of the big social issues of the 1980s and 90s, and a look at how ACP shaped Australia’s film and TV industry? Kicks and giggles also had.

    An ACP Finale Of The ACP Finale

    An ACP Finale Of The ACP Finale

    A Country Pals,

    We've loved making this podcast for you over the last two years, but this is our last episode for the foreseeable future. We hope you've loved it as much as we have. Joining Mel & Kim this week is our formidable Social Media Manager Chez Robbie, who is pretty much the world's foremost ACP expert. And, Great Podcast Talent, as you'll discover. Thank you for listening, we hope you love our chat about the series finale of ACP. ACP Finale Ep 1 & ACP Finale Ep 2 A COUNTRY PODCAST on FacebookHost/ Producer: Melanie Tait on Twitter Host/ Producer: Kim Lester on Twitter Social Media Editor: Chez Robbie 
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 58 min
    Lots Of Kisses Before Lots Of Dying (With Special Guest Chez Robbie!)

    Lots Of Kisses Before Lots Of Dying (With Special Guest Chez Robbie!)

    It's here: the episodes we lose Shirley Gilroy in a plane crash. 

    This is a brilliant episode from Season 12 - it shows the beginning of Tom and Anna's romance, Esme falls a little in love with Percy... and young journalist Max Blair comes to town, dying of HIV AIDS. 

    The thing is - Mel and Kim aren't great on the later series and this ep is going to hurt for the purists. So, we've got Chez Robbie in as our fact checker, thank goodness. 

    Watch A Kiss Before Dying Part 1 &  A Kiss Before Dying Part 2

    A COUNTRY PODCAST on FacebookHost/ Producer: Melanie Tait on Twitter Host/ Producer: Kim Lester on Twitter Social Media Editor: Chez Robbie 
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 50 min
    The Full Shane Withington 'Brendan' Experience

    The Full Shane Withington 'Brendan' Experience

    This week, it's the complete interview we did with the extremely lovely Shane Withington. 

    You'll hear so much about the beginning of ACP, the friendships he made, being part of that scene, life after Molly, and life after ACP. 

    A COUNTRY PODCAST on FacebookHost/ Producer: Melanie Tait on Twitter Host/ Producer: Kim Lester on Twitter Social Media Editor: Chez Robbie 

     
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 28 min
    Being Trans in Wandin Valley... In 1985

    Being Trans in Wandin Valley... In 1985

    It's 1985 in Wandin Valley and this is a big episode that many of you have suggested we talk about: it has both a trans storyline, and deals with childhood obesity.

    We meet Alice McKenna, a woman living in the Valley with a secret that comes out when she goes into hospital with diabetes. Alice is a trans woman. 

    And, we gave her friend, Gavin, a little boy teased for being fat. 

    How does Wandin Valley treat these people? Like the leftie Utopia we think it is? Or is it more complicated, and, well, 1980s? 

    Kim finds some personal accounts of being trans in the 1980s, Melanie looks into the incredible life of Bunney Brooke. 

    A COUNTRY PODCAST on FacebookHost/ Producer: Melanie Tait on Twitter Host/ Producer: Kim Lester on Twitter Social Media Editor: Chez Robbie 

    All It Takes Ep 1 & All It Takes Ep 2 

    https://medium.com/@allisawash/quora-asked-me-about-my-experience-during-the-trans-dark-ages-648f060fa458 

    https://au.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/the-trans-fight-18765/
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 45 min
    When Matron Maggie Sloan Came To Wandin Valley

    When Matron Maggie Sloan Came To Wandin Valley

    After getting to know A Country Practice a lot better, by watching it as adults, we're both mad for Maggie Sloan and Esme Watson. 

    So, here we are watching the episode where Maggie Sloan comes to Wandin Valley. She's a bit of a punish, we don't see the softness in her that we come to love, but she's still a bit of legend. 

    What has ACP got to say about being a middle aged woman? These eps seem to have a lot to say. 

    In today's episode, Kim looks at the Dutch Reform Church and Melanie takes a peak into the life and career of the legendary Joan Sydney. 

    A COUNTRY PODCAST on FacebookHost/ Producer: Melanie Tait on Twitter Host/ Producer: Kim Lester on Twitter Social Media Editor: Chez Robbie 

    A Woman's Place Ep 1 & A Woman's Place Ep 2 
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 54 min
    Introducing Weepies

    Introducing Weepies

    Mel and Kim have a brand new podcast called Weepies.

    • 55 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
4 Ratings

4 Ratings

beej slim ,

Yes. Just yes!

So… I am always two years behind any trend… this experience of waiting for the next show to drop is totally new to me - agonizing! I love the October surprise I’m not sure if I speak for all country podcast enthusiasts but I totally feel like I need more. I am a ex resident of Robertson (now living in America) which is how I heard about you. I fell in love with podcasts through chat 10 looks 3 which became an essential link to Australian culture and slang for me. I cannot tell you how much I loved hearing rat-faced in this last podcast. I am a bit older than you girls and was in high school watching a country practice with my parents back in the early years. Looking at the other country practice Facebook page I saw from somebody’s diary note that Molly died on my 15th birthday. I feel like this is something I would’ve remembered and wonder if we had our VCR then and had taped that episode!
I feel like I have been all over the shop in this review (that is not really a review it’s a fan letter.) You guys are doing a bang up job and I eagerly await upcoming episodes and interviews! Thank you ❤️

Top Podcasts In TV & Film

Who Killed the Video Star: The Story of MTV
Audacy Studios
Just B Divorced with Bethenny Frankel
iHeartPodcasts
Watch What Crappens
Ben Mandelker & Ronnie Karam | Wondery
FX’s Shōgun: The Official Podcast
FX
When Reality Hits with Jax and Brittany
PodcastOne
Pop Culture Happy Hour
NPR

You Might Also Like