Twoboo

Twoboo

Twoboo is a provocative podcast more than 20 years in the making. In the late 1990s we recorded interviews with experts in many taboo topics for our university radio show. Now we're revisting those topics with the same experts to see what's changed. From sexual assault, to death, to pornography, we'll tackle issues that were off limits 20 years ago to see what still remains taboo all these years later. read less
Society & CultureSociety & Culture

Episodes

Season Finale
12-06-2023
Season Finale
Sean and Melanie are back, 20 years after first recording their university radio program, Taboo, committed to discussing controversial and difficult topics. In this new incarnation, they will revisit those topics and interview the same experts to see what remains off-limits and what have been learnt. Whether it is death, pornography or sexual assault, this fascinating series will explore how much our community, and the views of some of our passionate experts, has changed since 1999. In our last episode, for this season 1, and perhaps forever, Mel and Sean revisit the University of Canberra campus to see what has changed since they first recorded some of the interviews we revisited this season. Contact us ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.capitalyarns.com.au/twoboo⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter - @⁠⁠⁠⁠twoboopodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook - ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twoboo podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email - twoboopodcast@gmail.com Written and produced by Sean and Melanie on the lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples. Copyright: Sean Costello and Melanie Skinner (not including the music and sampled audio). Thanks to the audio sampled from somewhere in the late 1990s. Also to pixabay for providing the '⁠⁠⁠⁠Catch It' theme music by Coma-media⁠⁠⁠⁠ and the ⁠⁠⁠⁠'Rockstar Trailer' by LiteSaturation⁠⁠⁠⁠. We also appreciate the help of the team at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Woden Library podcast studio⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Libraries ACT⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ACT Government for providing our recording studio.
Reflections on sexuality
15-05-2023
Reflections on sexuality
Sean and Melanie are back, 20 years after first recording their university radio program, Taboo, committed to discussing controversial and difficult topics. In this new incarnation, they will revisit those topics and interview the same experts to see what remains off-limits and what have been learnt. Whether it is death, pornography or sexual assault, this fascinating series will explore how much our community, and the views of some of our passionate experts, has changed since 1999. In episode six, we speak again to Matt Schmidt, who while working at AIDS Action Council in 1999, spoke to us about his experiences of being gay in Canberra. We've already spoken to Matt this season about his reflections on what has changed over the past twenty years in sexual health, but he's back again to generously and honestly share his experiences of how Australia's attitudes to sexuality have changed over time. Matt observes that while younger generations may be more accepting of the sexuality of others (regardless of what that may be at any one time), that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of challenges for young people to deal with today. References If this episode raises some difficult comments for you, please contact an appropriate support service. If you’re feeling distressed and want to talk to someone right now, call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or Lifeline on 13 11 14. You can also find more information at: Qlife - https://qlife.org.au/ and Reachout - https://au.reachout.com/articles/lgbtqi-support-services Contact us ⁠⁠⁠http://www.capitalyarns.com.au/twoboo⁠⁠⁠ Twitter - @⁠⁠⁠twoboopodcast⁠⁠⁠ Facebook - ⁠⁠⁠Twoboo podcast⁠⁠⁠ Email - twoboopodcast@gmail.com Written and produced by Sean and Melanie on the lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples. Copyright: Sean Costello and Melanie Skinner (not including the music and sampled audio). Thanks to the audio sampled from somewhere in the late 1990s. Also to pixabay for providing the '⁠⁠⁠Catch It' theme music by Coma-media⁠⁠⁠ and the ⁠⁠⁠'Rockstar Trailer' by LiteSaturation⁠⁠⁠. We also appreciate the help of the team at ⁠⁠⁠Woden Library podcast studio⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Libraries ACT⁠⁠⁠ and ACT Government for providing our recording studio.
Voluntary Assisted Dying
05-04-2023
Voluntary Assisted Dying
Sean and Melanie are back, 20 years after first recording their university radio program, Taboo, committed to discussing controversial and difficult topics. In this new incarnation, they will revisit those topics and interview the same experts to see what topics remain off-limits and what have been learnt. Whether it is death, pornography or sexual assault, this fascinating series will explore how much our community, and the views of some of our passionate experts, has changed since 1999. In episode five, we speak to Madeleine Archer from the Australian Centre for Health Law Research at the Queensland University of Technology. Maddy's research project is 'Enhancing End-of-Life Decision-Making: Optimal Regulation of Voluntary Assisted Dying'. When Sean and Mel spoke about death and dying in 1999, the Commonwealth parliament had recently prevented the ACT and Northern Territory from enacting laws permitting euthenasia and no Australian state government appeared interested in the issue. Since then, every Australian state has enacted a form of such laws. Maddy reflects that perhaps community attitudes have remained the same over the previous 20 years, but political change has seen euthanasia and voluntary assisted dying become permissible. Australian jurisdictions have also learnt from the experience overseas, particularly in Belgium and Canada. Nonetheless, our community may still have work to do regarding conversations about death and ensuring the best end of life care possible. References More about Maddy's research: https://www.qut.edu.au/about/our-people/academic-profiles/mj.archer QUT End of Life Research Program at the Australian Centre for Health Law Research school: https://end-of-life.qut.edu.au/ Maddy mentions her colleagues: Professor Lindy Willmott: https://www.qut.edu.au/about/our-people/academic-profiles/l.willmott Professor Ben White: https://www.qut.edu.au/about/our-people/academic-profiles/bp.white Dr Eliana Close: https://research.qut.edu.au/achlr/dr-eliana-close/ Jeanneret Ruthie: https://www.qut.edu.au/about/our-people/academic-profiles/ruthie.jeanneret On Medicare and VAD, with a focus on Western Australia see Casey M Haining, Lindy Willmott, Simon Towler and Ben P White research: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.5694/mja2.51787 and in terms of the experience in Victoria see https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S027795362100900X?via%3Dihub Research on the impacts of institutional objection to VAD see: https://bmcmedethics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12910-023-00902-3 Since our interview, there have also been changes with the Canadian assisted dying law. These changes will allow people suffering from mental illness to access the law (when that law comes into effect which is a while away): https://www.canada.ca/en/department-justice/news/2023/03/eligibility-for-medical-assistance-in-dying-for-persons-suffering-solely-from-mental-illness-extended-to-march-17-2024.html More information about how VAD laws has been used in Victoria - https://www.safercare.vic.gov.au/about/vadrb Contact us ⁠⁠http://www.capitalyarns.com.au/twoboo⁠⁠ Twitter - @⁠⁠twoboopodcast⁠⁠ Facebook - ⁠⁠Twoboo podcast⁠⁠ Email - twoboopodcast@gmail.com Written and produced by Sean and Melanie on the lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples. Copyright: Sean Costello and Melanie Skinner (not including the music and sampled audio). Thanks to the audio sampled from somewhere in the late 1990s. Also to pixabay for providing the '⁠⁠Catch It' theme music by Coma-media⁠⁠ and the ⁠⁠'Rockstar Trailer' by LiteSaturation⁠⁠. We also appreciate the help of the team at ⁠⁠Woden Library podcast studio⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Libraries ACT⁠⁠ and ACT Government for providing our recording studio.
HIV/AIDS & Sexual Health
20-03-2023
HIV/AIDS & Sexual Health
Sean and Melanie are back, 20 years after first recording their university radio program, Taboo, committed to discussing controversial and difficult topics. In this new incarnation, they will revisit those topics and interview the same experts to see what topics remain off-limits and what have been learnt. Whether it is death, pornography or sexual assault, this fascinating series will explore how much our community, and the views of some of our passionate experts, has changed since 1999. In episode four, we speak with Matt Schmidt, who was a sexual health educator with the AIDS Action Council in 1999. Matt spoke to us about HIV/AIDS and gave great advice on how to prevent contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs). More than 20 years on, Matt reflects on the stigma of STIs and changing community attitudes to sexual health. Reflecting on a career committed to promoting prevention, Matt wonders if the effectiveness of prophylaxis drugs means wearing a condom is the new taboo. References Background to the Grim Reaper campaign on HIV/AIDS - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grim_Reaper_(advertisement) More information about Pre-exposure-prophylaxis or PrEP - https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/Pre-exposure-prophylaxis-PrEP Contact us ⁠http://www.capitalyarns.com.au/twoboo⁠ Twitter - @⁠twoboopodcast⁠ Facebook - ⁠Twoboo podcast⁠ Email - twoboopodcast@gmail.com Written and produced by Sean and Melanie on the lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples. Copyright: Sean Costello and Melanie Skinner (not including the music and sampled audio). Thanks to the audio sampled from somewhere in the late 1990s. Also to pixabay for providing the '⁠Catch It' theme music by Coma-media⁠ and the ⁠'Rockstar Trailer' by LiteSaturation⁠. We also appreciate the help of the team at ⁠Woden Library podcast studio⁠, ⁠Libraries ACT⁠ and ACT Government for providing our recording studio.
Pornography
06-03-2023
Pornography
Sean and Melanie are back, 20 years after first recording their university radio program, Taboo, committed to discussing controversial and difficult topics. In this new incarnation, they will revisit those topics and interview the same experts to see what topics remain off-limits and what we have learnt. Whether it is death, pornography or sexual assault, this fascinating series will explore how much our community, and the views of some of our passionate experts, has changed since 1999. In episode three, we speak with adult industry lobbyist and co-founder of the Sex Party, Robbie Swan. When Robbie spoke to us in 1999, his Eros Foundation was arguing against censorship of explicit materials, and for a new classification of Non-Violent Erotica (NVE) for videos and the emerging DVD format. The internet was in its infancy and streaming video impossible for most households.  More than 20 years on, Robbie reflects on how his views about censorship and regulation have changed, in light of the prevalance of violent and other disturburbing material online.  References Reason Party (formally the sex party) - https://www.reason.org.au/  Eros Foundation - https://www.eros.org.au/ The results of Fiona Patten's candidacy in the Victorian state election - see the Guardian Background to Australia's former plans for internet filtering - see ABC news article from 2010 Contact us http://www.capitalyarns.com.au/twoboo Twitter - @twoboopodcast Facebook - Twoboo podcast Email - twoboopodcast@gmail.com Written and produced by Sean and Melanie on the lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples. Copyright: Sean Costello and Melanie Skinner (not including the music and sampled audio). Thanks to the audio sampled from somewhere in the late 1990s. Also to pixabay for providing the 'Catch It' theme music by Coma-media and the 'Rockstar Trailer' by LiteSaturation. We also appreciate the help of the team at Woden Library podcast studio, Libraries ACT and ACT Government for providing our recording studio.
Death Rituals and Burial
20-02-2023
Death Rituals and Burial
Sean and Melanie are back, 20 years after first recording their university radio program, Taboo, committed to discussing controversial and difficult topics. In this new incarnation, they will revisit those topics and interview the same experts to see what topics remain off-limits and what we have learnt. Whether it is death, pornography or sexual assault, this fascinating series will explore how much our community, and the views of some of our passionate experts, has changed since 1999. In episode two, we revisit the theme of our very first show in 1999 - death rituals and burial - with Rebecca Lyons. Bec is a Churchill fellow, End of life Doula, good-death advocate and educator. Bec is passionate about breaking down any taboo concerning death, and shares with us her incredible research on how Western society can learn more about reconnecting body preparation with death rituals and natural burial options. Her research can lead to not only more affordable funerals, but better ways of grieving and dealing with bereavement.  References Rebecca's Churchill Fellowship - https://www.churchilltrust.com.au/fellow/rebecca-lyons-tas-2018/ More details about her book - https://yountaboo.com/a-heartfelt-undertaking/ Check out Bec's Ted Talk here - https://www.ted.com/talks/rebecca_lyons_three_steps_into_the_heart_of_home_funeral Follow Rebecca on Facebook: https://facebook.com/yountaboo/ or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/you_n_taboo/  The material referenced by Bec included: You n' Taboo - https://yountaboo.com/ Australian Home Funerals Alliance - https://www.ahfa.org.au/ Dying to know Day - https://www.dyingtoknowday.com/ Kerrie Noonan's work - https://www.deathliteracy.institute/kerrie-noonan Tender funerals - https://tenderfunerals.com.au/ Natural Death Advocacy Network - https://ndan.com.au/  Professor Sandra Van Der Laan's 'It's Your Funeral' report - https://business.sydney.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/310140/Its_Your_Funeral_Report.pdf Contact us http://www.capitalyarns.com.au/twoboo Twitter - @twoboopodcast Facebook - Twoboo podcast Email - twoboopodcast@gmail.com Written and produced by Sean and Melanie on the lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples. Copyright: Sean Costello and Melanie Skinner (not including the music and sampled audio). Thanks to the audio sampled from somewhere in the late 1990s. Also to pixabay for providing the 'Catch It' theme music by Coma-media and the 'Rockstar Trailer' by LiteSaturation. We also appreciate the help of the team at Woden Library podcast studio, Libraries ACT and ACT Government for providing our recording studio.
Sexual Assault
06-02-2023
Sexual Assault
Sean Costello and Melanie Skinner are back, 20 years after first recording their university radio program, Taboo, committed to discussing controversial and difficult topics. In this new incarnation, they will revisit those topics and interview the same experts to see what topics remain off-limits and what we have learnt. Whether it is death, pornography or sexual assault, this fascinating series will explore how much our community, and the views of some of our passionate experts, has changed since 1999. In the first episode of Twoboo, we speak again with Tim Bavington and Bridie Doyle, passionate advocates on the prevention of sexual assault and violence against women. It’s been 20 years since we last spoke on air, and we revisit definitions, myths and causes of sexual assault, and discover there has been some changes in our community’s ability to deal with these complex issues. Support services If you find the themes of today’s show difficult, please contact support services in your community.  For those in Australia, you can reach out to 1800RESPECT – 1800 737 732 which provides counselling 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Other supports services include: Lifeline on 13 11 14 Bravehearts on 1800 272 831 Beyondblue on 1300 224 636 For additional local services in every state and territory (in Australia) see also https://www.respect.gov.au/servicesand https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/sex-discrimination/list-support-services References The material referenced by Tim and Bridie included: See What You Made Me Do, documentary by Jess Hill available on SBS on demand: https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-series/see-what-you-made-me-do South of Forgiveness, book by Thordis Elva and Tom Stranger: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/34859084and Ted Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/thordis_elva_and_tom_stranger_our_story_of_rape_and_reconciliation Bessel van der Kolk is a psychiatrist, author, researcher and educator: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bessel_van_der_Kolk The Deluth model of accountability: https://www.theduluthmodel.org/ Ourwatch seeks to prevent violence against women and children in Australia: https://www.ourwatch.org.au/ Contact us Twitter - @twoboopodcast Facebook - Twoboo podcast Email - twoboopodcast@gmail.com Written and produced by Sean Costello and Melanie Skinner on the lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples. Copyright: Sean Costello and Melanie Skinner (not including the music and sampled audio). Thanks to the audio sampled from somewhere in the late 1990s. Also to pixabay for providing the 'Catch It' theme music by Coma-media and the 'Rockstar Trailer' by LiteSaturation. We also appreciate the help of the team at Woden Library podcast studio, Libraries ACT and ACT Government for providing our recording studio.