I went into Broadsheet’s studio to talk about the article I wrote (see previous piece). It was only a 5-10 minute chat, but the final moments of it made Katya good-cry, and hey, that’s a win. Katya is Broadsheet’s Editorial Director.

More art beyond the city centre! I was so excited about this exhibition out west, that I had to cover it. I spoke with the curator Sheila Ngoc Pham about her vision, including why she chose to showcase both established and emerging artists. We could’ve talked for hours.

At ancestor altars, the spirits of the dead still exist alongside the living, and are protecting or haunting their descendants. It’s extraordinary to me how this ancient custom can diminish in one generation due to war and migration. I explore this, in a 2000-word piece.

In this beautiful 6-page spread, I profiled some people behind this Melbourne social enterprise, including co-founder Loretta Bolotti and the settling/settled refugees who run the food experiences. They’ve touched me, and I still think about these conversations.

Byron Bay is a wellness mecca but little is known about its indigenous history. I wrote a 1200-word travel story about my road trip through the Bundjalung Nation with a Nyangbul Bundjalung Elder, uncovering sacred sites, ancient stories and intimate car conversations.

In extraordinary times, we return to music to feel and heal. I was commissioned to write 1000 words on nature’s greatest symphony: the dawn chorus. What purpose does it serve in nature and how does it enliven the human spirit? I was thrilled that it was the opening feature.

They say we should trust our gut, but where’s the line when digesting media rife with sensationalist and fake news? Here, I gather neuroscience, psychology and philosophy to navigate truth in our feelings and how to make better soul-aligned decisions.

Claire Dunn, author of My Year Without Matches, asks us simple questions about our home environment that many can’t answer. I spoke with experts across ecology, culture and community activism to help us pass the test and connect more deeply with our surroundings.

With Lunar New Year, what’s rarely covered is the custom of exchanging wishes between family members. How these wishes change over the decades as children and adults both grow up, is fascinating to me. In 800 words, I explore why it’s our most important family ritual.

It was a pleasure interviewing 2SER host and film critic Glen Falkenstein about setting up Art Out during the pandemic in 2020. We talked about his experience tracking down great artists in Sydney, new art landscapes, and how this online platform can support the industry.

I spoke with stallholders from some of Australia’s most famous markets about their pandemic journey, like a craftsman who has made belts for 40 years. An anthropologist also helps to illuminate the cultural relevance and changing landscape of markets.

In turbulent times, everyday women are rage-dancing in their homes – a contrast to “don’t vent” anger management and the sit-still meditation movement. Through a psychologist and Māori cultural adviser, I draw connections to somatic therapy and new forms of haka.

Since the 80s, my Vietnamese father who is something of a bush MacGyver has regularly led up to 12 four-wheel-drives through Australia. During a pandemic lockdown, we reflected on our family’s adventures over some tea. Thank you for all the reader love with this piece!