Interview Highlights from Vision Australia Radio

Storytelling is about connecting, preserving and sharing and empowering.

In the era of ChatGPT, real stories may be more important than ever.

This conversation between friends and colleagues, Chemutai Glasheen and Yirga Gelaw Woldeyes offers an opportunity for audiences to gain insight into the significance of the oral storytelling traditions of their respective cultures and how these traditions have informed the evolution of their...

When Alkira Buti was born in 1993 her parents knew little about cri du chat syndrome other than it was a chromosomal abnormality that would render their daughter ‘disabled’.

As they searched to understand more about the syndrome and the likely future for their daughter, they learned more about the social treatment of, and attitudes towards, children with disabilities.

Alkira is a story of resilience, determination, hear...

Peter Greco hears from classically trained pianist, Kip McLachlin, about their unique and very inclusive show, PiaNu-Metal, at the Midsumma Festival, 29-31January. The dialogue, staging and sound design have been crafted with multisensory description and auditory cues in mind, supporting audiences who are blind or have low vision to follow narrative, action and atmosphere.

More info: Pianu-Metal

See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

In this high‑energy finale to the 2026 Midsumma Carnival Day broadcast, Vision Australia Radio and JOY 94.9 welcome cabaret powerhouse Justin Clausen for a joyful and music‑filled conversation about his hit show He’s Every Woman.

Justin shares how the show pays tribute to some of the world’s greatest divas — Whitney, Cher, Céline, Tina, Kylie, and more — offering insight into which artists he channels...

In this insightful Carnival Day conversation, Vision Australia Radio and JOY 94.9 speak with Nilgun Guven, founder of Vitae Veritas, an organisation known for its long‑standing work in disability access, guided tactile tours, and inclusive festival experiences. Nilgun joins the broadcast live from the community stalls following her confirmation earlier in the week to take part again in the festival’s accessibility programming...

In this warm, insightful Carnival Day interview, Vision Australia Radio and JOY 94.9 bring together representatives from two church communities who are reshaping what faith, inclusion, and belonging look like in contemporary Melbourne.

Recorded live from the community stalls at Midsumma Carnival, the conversation explores how these congregations are building open, affirming, and LGBTQIA+‑welcoming spaces within traditions that have...

In this powerful pre‑recorded conversation, Vision Australia Radio presenter Jason Gipps speaks with multidisciplinary artist, author, musician and Deaf advocate Asphyxia, whose creative work spans circus, puppetry, visual art, bestselling fiction, and groundbreaking accessibility projects.

Recorded especially for the 2026 Midsumma Carnival Day broadcast, the interview explores Asphyxia’s extraordinary artistic journey &mdash...

In this candid and high‑energy Carnival Day conversation, Vision Australia Radio and JOY 94.9 sit down with Karan Nagrani — Midsumma Community Ambassador, advocate, keynote speaker, and creator of the sold‑out Midsumma show From Grindr to Blindr.

Karan’s work blends razor‑sharp humour with deeply honest storytelling about dating, identity, and disability as a blind, gay person of colour. In this interview, he shares how...

In this warm and insightful Carnival Day episode, Vision Australia Radio and JOY 94.9 sit down with Joss — a JOY presenter, community advocate, and passionate voice within Melbourne’s LGBTIQA+ landscape.

Joss reflects on their journey into community radio, their role on JOY’s programs, and the importance of authentic queer storytelling on air. They share perspectives on balancing broadcasting with advocacy an...

In this fabulously entertaining Carnival Day episode, Vision Australia Radio chats with the iconic Dolly Diamond, ahead of her appearance in She Slayed: A Drag Murder Mystery at Midsumma Festival 2026. Known for her razor‑sharp wit, comedic timing, and decades of festival involvement, Dolly brings her signature sparkle to this lively conversation.

Dolly shares stories from her many years performing at Midsumma, including memorable ...

In this episode of Interview Highlights from Vision Australia Radio, we speak with Josh Lynzaat, Access Coordinator for Midsumma Festival 2026, about how accessibility is woven into one of Australia’s largest queer arts festivals.

Josh shares insights into his role supporting major Midsumma events, including the development of resources like the 2026 Audio Guide, which provides pronunciation support, venue guidance, and acces...

In this energised Carnival Day episode, Vision Australia Radio sits down with Kip Mac / Piano Punk, one of Midsumma’s Pathways Alumni and a genre‑bending performer known for blending classical piano, grunge, metal, punk, and boylesque into a fierce, theatrical style all their own.

Kip chats about their upcoming Midsumma show PiaNu‑Metal, a bold reinterpretation of late‑90s/early‑2000s nu‑metal through classical technique, gen...

 Go behind the mics of this year’s Midsumma Carnival Day broadcast as Vision Australia Radio and JOY 94.9 team up for a special live collaboration. In this candid conversation, Conrad Browne and Paul Scott‑Williams share how the partnership came together, why amplifying the intersection of queerness and disability matters, and what it takes to deliver an accessible outside broadcast from the heart of Alexandra Gardens.

Y...

Recorded live at Midsumma Carnival Day 2026, this Interview Highlights episode captures the vibrant energy of one of Melbourne’s most iconic LGBTQIA+ celebrations. Hosts Tess and Little Jase sit down with Paul Horwell, CEO of the Victorian Pride Centre, and Sam Chew the Victorian Pride Centre marketing manager, for an insightful conversation about inclusion, community leadership, and the evolving role of Pride spaces across V...

In this special epodcast, we sit down with Karen Bryant, Chief Executive & Creative Director of Midsumma, for an insightful conversation about what’s ahead for Midsumma Festival 2026.

Karen discusses the scale and scope of this year’s program — spanning 22 days and featuring more events than ever — and explores how Midsumma continues to evolve as both a curated and open‑access festival, supporting i...

Join Vision Australia Radio and JOY 94.9 for a vibrant three‑hour journey through Midsumma Carnival Day 2026, Melbourne’s biggest yearly queer arts celebration. This special broadcast brings the energy of the festival directly to listeners, amplifying LGBTQIA+ voices and showcasing the rich intersection of queerness and disability.

Across the program, presenters share, live interviews, music, and lived experiences on‑the...

Step into the opening hour of Vision Australia Radio’s special Midsumma Festival 2026 Carnival Day broadcast — a celebration of queer arts, community, and inclusion.

In this episode, you’ll hear the dedicated radio reading program that kicked off the day’s coverage at 10am on Sunday 19 January, featuring curated readings from LGBTIQA+ publications, mainstream media, and Midsumma Festival’s own material...