Speakola

Speakola
  • 5.0 (3)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE

Speakola is the home for great speeches on the web. Tony Wilson is the founder and curator of Speakola, which now hosts more than 2000 speeches, some famous – think Churchill, Obama, Gandhi - some not so well known.  In each episode, Tony interviews someone who has written, delivered or studied a great speech to reveal the stories behind the scenes, to provide context to the historical moment, or in the case of eulogies, birthdays and other common events, to inspire people to hit new creative highs. Tony will also play a ‘speech of the week’ to honour great words by great orators. Released fortnightly. Speakola, for all speeches great and small.

  1. 'Singing for me is sweet relief': Meg Washington's TEDx speech about stuttering — Sydney, 2014

    FEB 19

    'Singing for me is sweet relief': Meg Washington's TEDx speech about stuttering — Sydney, 2014

    On 26th April 2014, Megan Washington delivered a TEDx Talk that immediately trended on Twitter, and has gone on to be viewed nearly three million times. It's a beautiful public declaration about her stutter, and has so many interesting and funny moments about what a stutter is, and how it affects the life of a public performer. In her own words, Meg ends her TED Talk with a TED Sing, and it's absolutely spellbinding, a live performance of her song '‘To Or Not Let Go’.  In recent times, Meg has been the voice of Calypso on Bluey, and also the writer of the acclaimed Australian movie, 'How to Make Gravy', adapting the Paul Kelly song of the same name. Her song, 'Fine', won a AACTA Award last year for Best Original Song.  Megan's most recent album is GEM. She has gigs coming up in Feb-April 2026 in Tugun, Brunswick Heads, Cleveland, St Kilda and Main Ridge.  You can help Speakola library, podcast and newsletter survive by joining Substack, the Patreon, or straight donation.  Tony has written stories about taking his son Jack to music gigs on Good one, Wilson (3500 subscribers)  Tony has signed picture books for sale, as well as middle grade and sports books for adults.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 5m
  2. Steve Kilbey: 'We've been kicked off the best record companies in Australia!' — The Church's ARIA Hall of Fame induction, 7 November 2010, Sydney

    12/01/2025

    Steve Kilbey: 'We've been kicked off the best record companies in Australia!' — The Church's ARIA Hall of Fame induction, 7 November 2010, Sydney

    In 2010, The Church were reluctant inductees to the ARIA Rock Hall of Fame, and reluctant speakers too. Steve Kilbey says in this interview that they hadn't planned to speak, but felt the pressure to say something as every other inductee spoke beautifully before them. What he eventually delivered was an after dinner classic, a funny, virtually off the cuff speech about Australian music, the other four inductees and tales from the road. In this Speakola episode Steve gives an account of that night, but also a wonderful biographical summary of his life in music, including his first gig in Canberra, his mum and dad, receiving his first bass, playing school shows, forming The Church, and much more.  Steve Kilbey's speech transcript is up on Speakola library.  The Church's The Singles Tour has announced some new dates in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide in February.  You can help Speakola library, podcast and newsletter survive by joining Substack, the Patreon, or straight donation.  Tony's 'How To Get on Race Around the World' articles are up at Good one, Wilson.  Tony has signed picture books for sale, as well as middle grade and sports books for adults. Grab a signed copy for Christmas!    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 8m
  3. Dana Rubin: 'Throughout history, women have been changing the world with their voices', curator and author of Speaking While Female

    06/24/2025

    Dana Rubin: 'Throughout history, women have been changing the world with their voices', curator and author of Speaking While Female

    In March, I chatted to speech collector Dana Rubin for Women's History Month (there have been delays releasing the episode - my apologies, Dana). It's a great chat with a kindred spirit. Dana has created the Speaking While Female speech bank that showcases speeches by women across history and around the world.  She also edited the book Speaking While Female: 75 Extraordinary Speeches By American Women The episode is topped and tailed by two speeches in Dana's collection.  Emma Watson's HeForShe launch speech at United Nations, 2014 Oprah Winfrey's 'Times Up' speech at the Golden Globes, 2018 To support Speakola, make a straight donation at Speakola website, or become a paid subscriber to newsletter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 3m
  4. 'The bells of St Stephen's, tolling for Mum' — eulogy for Margaret Wilson by Tony Wilson, Melbourne, 2025

    05/13/2025

    'The bells of St Stephen's, tolling for Mum' — eulogy for Margaret Wilson by Tony Wilson, Melbourne, 2025

    My mother, Margaret Joan Wilson died on the 20th of April 2025 while I was away in Budapest. It was a big shock and a terrible day. We had a private family ceremony on 7th May and a more public celebration of life on the 8th. This speech was delivered at the second event. The text and video of the eulogy is up at Speakola newsletter and in the Speakola library. My brother Ned did the MCing and was brilliant.  My Mum truly was 'Margaret Wilson, Mother of Readers'  I'll miss her always.  Support Speakola by going paid Make a donation Read about Mum winning Miss Footy 1969.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    24 min
  5. 'Bob, you're dead. Do you want a state funeral?' — John Safran's eulogy for Father Bob Maguire, May 2023, Melbourne, Australia

    04/14/2025

    'Bob, you're dead. Do you want a state funeral?' — John Safran's eulogy for Father Bob Maguire, May 2023, Melbourne, Australia

    Author & documentary maker John Safran talks in this episode about his eulogy for 'the People's Priest', Father Bob Maguire at St Patrick's Cathedral Melbourne in May 2023. He also discusses his latest book 'Squat' about his week squatting at Kaye West's LA Mansion and his creative life as Australia's best known 'valid troll' (to use John's own expression)  Safran has a live show  Squatting at Kanye's and Other Adventures at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival on April 17th, as well as shows in Hobart and Paramatta.   He's our first return guest on the podcast. He was also on episode 27, 'Unsmoke the World'  Sign up to Speakola newsletter, either as a free subscriber or pay $50 a year to show your support.  Tony's film 'Ange & The Boss - Puskas in Australia' is currently showing at Cinema Nova (daily sessions) and Thornbury Picture House.  Follow the film's progress and Tony's writing generally at Good one, Wilson!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 14m
  6. 'Elon Musk will become the self appointed CEO of Mars' — Sammy J in Melbourne International Comedy Festival Great Debate, 2018

    03/26/2025

    'Elon Musk will become the self appointed CEO of Mars' — Sammy J in Melbourne International Comedy Festival Great Debate, 2018

    Comedian Sammy J is a Melbourne International Comedy Festival Great Debate regular. He is the interviewee for this first episode of 2025 and the feature speech is his opening argument for the negative team in 2018, 'That we must go to Mars'.  Sammy J's currently touring show is 'The Kangaroo Effect' which is on in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth in the next month or so. This years Melbourne International Comedy Festival Great Debate will take place on 12th April at Melbourne Town Hall. Tony's feature documentary 'Ange & The Boss' about Ferenc Puskas and his time at the South Melbourne Hellas is currently in cinemas! He is very excited about this, it has had a great run and stellar reviews. All sessions are up at angeandtheboss.com This week's sessions include the fiollowing Q&A events:  BRISBANE Thursday 27th March 6.30 The Barracks Q&A pre-film with Tony Wilson & Cam Fink BRISBANE Thursday 27th March 6.30 Five Star New Farm Q&A with Tony Wilson & Cam Fink plus 1991 Hellas star Daniel Wright ADELAIDE Saturday 29th March 7.00 Picadilly, North Adelaide Q&A with Tony Wilson & Cam Fink MELBOURNE Sunday 30th March 6.15 Thornbury Picture House Q&A with director Tony Wilson   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 4m
  7. The Speakola podcast returns & Tony's film hits cinemas (March 13-17th)

    SEASON 1 TRAILER

    The Speakola podcast returns & Tony's film hits cinemas (March 13-17th)

    A brief update confirming that the podcast will resume in March 2025. Episodes have already been recorded with Sammy J (on comedy debates), John Safran (eulogy for Father Bob Maguire) and Dana Rubin (speech collector, Speaking While Female).  I'm also announcing the release of our documentary 'Ange & The Boss - Puskas in Australia'. After selling out at the Greek Film Festival (second most viewed film there) are in cinemas around the country from 13-16th March. Tickets and session times  MelbourneThurs 13/3 - Palace Pentridge Coburg, 6.30pm, guests Gus Tsolakis and Peter KhalilFri 14/3 - Nova Carlton, 6.30pm, guests Paul Trimboli and Francis LeachFri 14, Sat 15, Sun 16/3 - Sun Theatre YarravilleSat 15/3 - Classic Elsternwick, 3pm, co-director Rob Heath joins us;Sat 15, Sun 16/3 - Palace Westgarth, 3pm (Sun only), guest Kimon Taliadoris (pre film)Sat 15, Sun 16 - Palace Pennylane, Moonee PondsSat 15, Sun 16 - Palace BalwynSat 15, Sun 16 - Palace Brighton Church StreetSun 16/3 - Lido Hawthorn, 3pm, guest Kimon Taliadoris and Libbi Gorr;Sat 22/3 - Cameo Belgrave, 3pm, Hungarian community specialSat 22 & Sun 23 and Tues 25/3 - Thornbury Picture House, 6pm, guest David Bridie (Sun only) GeelongSun 22/3 - The Pivotonian, 1pm, with guest Steve Horvat SydneySat 15, Sun 16, Mon 17/3 - Norton Street Leichardt, 6.30pm (film maker introduction to film, Mon only)Mon 17/3 - Ritz Randwick, 7pm, guest Daniel Garb (Q&A post film) BrisbaneSat 15, Sun 16/3 - Palace James St Thurs 27/3 - Palace Barracks, 6.30, (film maker introduction to film)Thurs 27/3 - Five Star cinema, New Farm, 6.30pm (guest Daniel Wright) AdelaideSat 15, Sun 16 - Palace Nova ProspectSat 29/3 - The Picadilly North Adelaide, 7pm, guest John Thompson-Mills CanberraSat 15, Sun 16 - Palace Electric PerthSat 15, Sun 16 - Palace Raine Square See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    7 min
  8. 'The greatest man I ever knew' — Andrew Moran's eulogy for father Lawrence Moran, Melbourne 2023

    06/06/2024

    'The greatest man I ever knew' — Andrew Moran's eulogy for father Lawrence Moran, Melbourne 2023

    Since 2006, Andrew Moran has been a baritone with Opera Australia in Sydney. When he visited Melbourne as part of a touring production of Puccini's Tosca, Tony spoke to him about a lovely eulogy he delivered for his father, Lawrie Moran, the man who inspired him to sing, in Surrey Hills, Melbourne, on 9 November 2023.  You can read and listen to the eulogy on Speakola.  To support the podcast and the one person operation that is Speakola Become a paid subscriber on Substack - I send one or two newsletters per week. The last few have been about D-Day speeches. Become a member on Patreon  Make a straight credit card donation Other ways to help the podcast are to leave positive reviews on Apple Podcasts, share episodes with friends, and find me a guest! (email is tony@speakola.com) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    55 min
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Trailer

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About

Speakola is the home for great speeches on the web. Tony Wilson is the founder and curator of Speakola, which now hosts more than 2000 speeches, some famous – think Churchill, Obama, Gandhi - some not so well known.  In each episode, Tony interviews someone who has written, delivered or studied a great speech to reveal the stories behind the scenes, to provide context to the historical moment, or in the case of eulogies, birthdays and other common events, to inspire people to hit new creative highs. Tony will also play a ‘speech of the week’ to honour great words by great orators. Released fortnightly. Speakola, for all speeches great and small.

Information

  • Creator
    Speakola
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    71
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Speakola
  • Show Website
    Speakola

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