Breaking Waves
Breaking Waves is a program about smashing stereotypes and dispelling stigma. It’s about daring to be different, and getting maximum fun out of life. Honest, provocative and often hilarious, Breaking Waves is training a new generation of radio personalities and presenters, skilling them up and letting them loose on the airwaves. They’ll make you laugh and sometimes you’ll shed a few tears. Breaking Waves is brought to you by Eastside Radio and produced by Ruth Hessey in the 89.7FM Paddington studios in Sydney in association with the Community Broadcasting Foundation.
Breaking Waves Episode 356: Rugby League, NRL Anthems and the Power of Music
This week on Breaking Waves, Hughie is joined by Jack and DJ for an episode about rugby league, sports history, music and the songs that bring people together. The show begins with Tina Turner’s “Simply the Best”, one of the great songs associated with rugby league and the NRL. Hughie and Jack talk about how [...]
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Breaking Waves Episode 355: Sydney Nightlife, Lost Pubs and Live Music History
This week on Breaking Waves, Hughie is joined by Jac and DJ for a lively episode about Sydney nightlife, historic pubs, live music venues and the city’s long relationship with drinking, entertainment and after-dark culture. The episode begins with Hughie and Jac talking about Sydney’s night-time economy, the legacy of the lockout era and the [...]
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Breaking Waves Episode 354: Sydney Beaches, Ferries and Coastal Adventures
This week on Breaking Waves, Hughie is joined by Jac and DJ for a sunny episode about Sydney beaches, coastal culture, ferries and the many ways the city connects with the water. The episode begins with Thirsty Merc’s “In the Summertime”, the perfect soundtrack for a conversation about Sydney’s beaches, surf culture and warm-weather memories. [...]
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Breaking Waves Episode 353: Barbara Beinart-Pashut and the Daydream Believers Inclusive Choir
This week on Breaking Waves, Shai and Geoff welcome Barbara Beinart-Pashut, founder of the Daydream Believers Inclusive Choir, for a joyful conversation about music, confidence, community and inclusion. The episode begins with choral music before moving into a warm discussion about singing, choirs and the power of shared performance. Barbara speaks about founding the Daydream [...]
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Breaking Waves Episode 352: Shai and Geoff Take On Karaoke Classics
This week on Breaking Waves, Shai and Geoff return with a joyful episode dedicated to one of the world’s great musical pastimes: karaoke. The show opens with ABBA’s “Dancing Queen”, one of the most famous karaoke songs of all time, before Shai and Geoff dive into the strange, funny and surprisingly poetic world of singing [...]
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Breaking Waves Episode 351: Shai and Geoff on Movies, Poetry and Sydney
This week on Breaking Waves, Shai and Geoff return for another lively episode full of humour, music, movie chat and Sydney events. The show begins with Shai and Geoff catching up after their break and talking about life back in the Eastside Radio studio. From there, the conversation moves through family, community radio, the Sydney [...]
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Breaking Waves Episode 349: John and Riley on Inversion, Language and the Upside-Down World
This week on Breaking Waves John and Riley dive into the idea of inversion, exploring how language, politics, culture, science and everyday life can be turned upside down. Moving from grammar and etymology to Freud, Saturnalia, fashion, religion and audio engineering, the conversation is thoughtful, curious and full of surprising detours. With big ideas, wordplay [...]
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Breaking Waves Episode 348: Geoff and Shai on Convict Sydney and Hyde Park Barracks
This week on Breaking Waves Geoff and Shai take listeners on a lively and unpredictable journey through Sydney’s convict history, inspired by a visit to Hyde Park Barracks. With stories, quiz questions, music and plenty of comic detours, the episode explores colonial Australia, convict life, architecture, family history and the strange afterlives of the past [...]
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Breaking Waves Episode 347: Geoff and Shai on Art and Time
This week on Breaking Waves Geoff and Shai settle in for a loose, funny and wide-ranging conversation touching on radio memories, poetry, film, music, mental health, contemporary art and the strange mystery of time. From Kate Bush and King Crimson to Star Wars, White Bay Power Station and the White Rabbit Gallery. The episode moves [...]
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Breaking Waves Episode 346 : Tug Dumbly on Poetry and Sydney Stories
This week on Breaking Waves Shai sits down with Tug Dumbly for a lively conversation about poetry, community radio, Sydney performance culture, pop culture and cats. Full of humour, stories and surprising turns, this episode captures the playful and unpredictable energy of Breaking Waves. [...]
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Breaking Waves Episode 345: Dogs, Loyalty & Laika
This episode of Breaking Waves exploring the world of dogs takes listeners on a fun and unpredictable journey through canine stories, trivia and history. Broadcasting on Eastside Radio 89.7FM, Episode 345 captures the unique energy of Breaking Waves, blending humour, storytelling and fascinating facts about dogs. Geoff and Shai share personal stories about their own [...]
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Breaking Waves Episode 343: Banter and Baseball
This episode of Breaking Waves is packed with laughs, lively banter and feel-good conversation, as Shai and Geoff share holiday stories, swap memories from years on radio and dive into everything from famous encounters, gym goals, baseball predictions and favourite tunes. The chat wanders through summer adventures, music moments, Lego exhibitions, art shows at Bundanon [...]
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Breaking Waves – Episode 342: Synchronicity
In this episode of Breaking Waves, John and Riley explore synchronicity — the strange feeling that events “line up” with meaning beyond simple cause and effect. They unpack Carl Jung’s original idea of meaningful coincidence, trace the word’s roots through language and etymology and ask where synchronicity overlaps with perception, pattern recognition, spirituality and psychology. [...]
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Breaking Waves – Episode 341: Nobilitas
In this episode of Breaking Waves, John and Riley explore the meaning of nobility — from royal bloodlines and aristocracy to virtue, dignity and moral character in the modern world. Drawing on philosophy, etymology and cultural history, they trace how ideas of nobility evolved from ancient fame and greatness to ethics, behaviour and power. The [...]
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Breaking Waves – Episode 340: Passion
In this thought-provoking episode of Breaking Waves, John and Riley dive deep into the meaning of passion — how the word has evolved from ancient ideas of suffering and spiritual possession to modern notions of love, desire, creativity and motivation. Drawing on philosophy, religion, psychology and popular culture, the conversation traces passion from its Greek [...]
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Breaking Waves – Episode 339: Christmas Special
This festive episode of Breaking Waves celebrates Christmas in all its warmth, weirdness and wonder. From Dutch carols and Feliz Navidad to French holiday classics, the show mixes music, memory and plenty of good humour. Shai joined is joined by his wonderful mum Arahni, to chat about the origins of Christmas, the Dutch roots of [...]
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Breaking Waves – Episode 338: Jazz in the 1940s
In this week’s episode of Breaking Waves, Hugh and Shai dive into the electrifying world of 1940s jazz—a decade that reshaped modern music. From the big-band swing era to the birth of bebop and the cool, spacious sound of early Miles Davis, the duo guide listeners through the artists, the history and the cultural shifts [...]
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Breaking Waves – Episode 337: A Canadian Adventure
In Episode 337 of Breaking Waves on Eastside Radio 89.7FM, Hughie fills in for Geoff alongside the always-brilliant Shai, who leads a joyful, curious and wonderfully unpredictable dive into Canadian culture, history, music and sport. From snowy Quebec to downtown Toronto, this week’s show celebrates the country that shaped part of Shai’s family story. Shai [...]
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Breaking Waves Episode 336: Companions
In Episode 336 of Breaking Waves, Riley and John explore the idea of companions. They look at the people, animals and even unseen presences that share our lives. They start with the original meaning of the word — “one who breaks bread with another” — and show how companionship has moved from the dinner table [...]
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Breaking Waves, Episode 335 : Archetypes
In this episode of Breaking Waves, Riley Thomas and John Mark dive into the world of archetypes — those familiar characters that appear again and again in stories and in our lives. They explore the hero, the villain, the fool, the hermit and the creator with an exploration of how these patterns shape the roles [...]
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Breaking Waves, Episode 334: Healing
In Episode 334 of Breaking Waves, Riley Thomas and John Mark bring humour and curiosity to a fascinating exploration of healing — what it means, how it happens, and why we seek it. From the ancient roots of the word “heal” to faith healers, shamans, and the wounded healer archetype, the hosts consider how humans [...]
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Breaking Waves, Episode 333 – Swinging for the Fences with the Sydney Blue Sox!
Step up to the plate for a grand slam episode of Breaking Waves! In Episode 333, Geoff and Shai welcome Cole Sheretz, the new owner and manager of the Sydney Blue Sox, for a lively chat about baseball, passion and building one of Australia’s most promising teams. From Oregon to Blacktown, Cole shares his journey [...]
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Breaking Waves Episode 332: National Carers Week, Lost in Brazil & The Art of Relaxation
In this Episode, Geoff and Shai discuss National Carers Week with humour and heartfelt reflection. Shai shares the funniest thing that’s ever happened to him — getting completely lost in an airport in Brazil — while Geoff recites a poem about the desire to simply relax. The pair also explore ‘Art From Behind the Wire’, [...]
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Breaking Waves, Episode 331: Art, Community & Connection
In this heartfelt and wide-ranging episode, Geoff and Shai open up about creativity, connection and community. Shai shares vivid stories from his childhood in Mozambique — growing up during conflict and building a life around art and expression. With more than forty exhibitions to his name, his reflections on painting, purpose and resilience are moving [...]
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Breaking Waves, Episode 330: Exploring Spirits
From ghostly encounters to the “spirit” that drives us to get things done … even the spirits that come in a glass — John and Riley explore every kind of spirit in this lively episode of Breaking Waves. It’s a playful, thought-provoking mix of storytelling, science, and good spirits (in every sense). Tune in Monday [...]
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Breaking Waves, Episode 229
Beware the bite! John and Riley are back on Breaking Waves to explore everything poisonous — from venomous critters and toxic plants to tricky man-made substances and even some hazardous ideas. With tales of box jellyfish, Komodo dragons, and mysterious seed oils, this episode will have you laughing, shuddering, and maybe double-checking your kitchen pantry. [...]
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Breaking Waves, Episode 228
Abracadabra! John and Riley return with an enchanting episode all about magic. From its supernatural history and hidden powers to the darker realms of necromancy and witchcraft, this edition of Breaking Waves will have you ready to wave a wand at every rabbit in sight. [...]
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Breaking Waves, Episode 227
This week Shai and Geoff get into Sydney’s hippest happenings, from art exhibitionibitions showcasing Chinese queer culture to senior social groups with free coffee and snooker. Adding to the Breaking Waves hall of fame this show features a cameo from 50 Cent who’s in town working on a new movie. [...]
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Breaking Waves, Episode 226
On this episode, Shai and Geoff interview acclaimed musician, actor, and director Amanda Gillespie. Together they discuss what it takes to make it in show business, how to find your hidden talent, and Amanda’s favourite sport. [...]
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Breaking Waves, Episode 225
This week, Shai and Geoff fill you in on some of the coolest events happening across Sydney—from Lego exhibitions to pedestrians standing up to dangerous drivers. You’ll be laughing along as the boys share their pet peeves of the week, including pizza surcharges and bad weather. Mondays at 6 pm on Eastside Radio. [...]
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Breaking Waves, Episode 224
On this episode of Breaking Wave Shai and Geoff get into the ins and outs of Skiing. From its historical origin to a modern recreational activity the boys take you through everything you need to know about the infamous snow sport. [...]
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Breaking Waves, Episode 223
One of the most famous musicians in the history of history join Shai and Geoff on this episode of Breaking Waves. Enjoy some live performances from the superstar along with some exciting Sydney What’s Ons. [...]
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Breaking Waves, Episode 222
On this episode of Breaking Waves Shai and Geoff get into the ins and outs of China. Covering everything from Language to Panda Bears and even the famous Great Wall. This episode will have you laughing and learning all you need to know about the Kingdom of Cathay. [...]
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Breaking Waves, Episode 221
After over five years as a much loved host on Breaking Waves this episode marks Alex Hely’s final show and what a way to go out. In this episode Alex gets into the sound of the new Formula One movie starring Brad Pitt, the backstory of The Kid LARO, effective breath work for stress relief [...]
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Breaking Waves, Episode 220
On this episode of Breaking Waves, Alex and Jules are joined by Melbourne contemporary artist Gabi Scott! They discuss the importance of privacy, male and female friendships, and mental health. Not only that, but Gabi talks about her travels this year as well as the challenges that come with navigating family dynamics whilst on holidays! [...]
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Breaking Waves, Episode 201
Today Riley and John talk about simplicity. Riley and John unpack how the word ‘Simple’ varies in definition for everyone and how the word can be used as a noun and as a verb. They discuss how they would define ‘a simple life’ and if they’ve ever been called simple. Don’t miss out on this [...]
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Breaking Waves, Episode 219
On this episode, John and Riley are back to talk about memories! What is a memory? How much do you remember? Don’t forget to tune into this installment of Breaking Waves! [...]
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Breaking Waves, Episode 218
On today’s episode, John and Riley dive into all things animals! Whether it has four legs, a beak, or claws, John and Riley are ready to discuss it. Any animal lovers out there, this episode is for you! [...]
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Breaking Waves, Episode 217
This time on Breaking Waves, John and Riley are back to discuss optimism! If you’ve ever found yourself being overly optimistic (or pessimistic!), then be sure to tune into this episode. [...]
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Breaking Waves, Episode 216
This episode, Geoff and Shai talk about what’s on and what they’ve been up to! Tune into Breaking Waves for some good conversations. [...]
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