Jarrod McKenna is one of those "cool Christians" you've heard about, except he actually is genuinely cool.
Jarrod is many things: a pastor, a protestor, the National Advisor for Youth, Faith and Activism for World Vision Australia, founder of the Love Makes A Way campaign and the First Home Project, theologian, husband, dad and drealocked d00d. He subscribes to the whacky idea that Christianity should look like Jesus and that compels him to do good, important things.
In this conversation (recorded in the communal kitchen of the First Home Project) we covered a lot: the problematic nature of ANZAC Day, his journey to faith, living Jesus’ love, being the Christian kid at school, non-violent protest and how he turned a further meth lab in the Perth suburb of Midland into a home for people who are trying to build a new life for themselves.
My upcoming dates on the MICF Roadshow
The First Home Project campaign video
The First Home Project on Facebook
Causes of the Week: The Coalition for Asylym Seekers, Refugees and Detainees (carad.org.au), the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (asrc.org.au), SOS Blak Australia (sosblakaustralia.com)
Super-dooper brainy (and very funny) comedian Sara Pascoe was in Australia for a bunch of festivals and kindly gave me some of her time to talk about sperm and hymen in a hotel lobby. Her work is whip-smart and politically active and has recently focussed on the fascinating world of sexual biology and its implications.
Here we cover her early political awakening, the difficulty of being a good person, kamikaze sperm, pornography, incest, hymens, paedophilia - you know, all the good stuff.
Prepare to do a lot of LEARNING.
Article: Scott McIntyre sues SBS for discrimination over "political" sacking for ANZAC Day tweets
Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer
Article: Should I tell my fiancee that I'm bisexual and I used to have sex with her dad?
The Great Porn Experiment: A TED Talk by Gary Wilson
Cause of the Week: Eaves For Women (eavesforwomen.org.uk)
After my little rant about this nonsense, sit back and enjoy my wide-ranging discussion with Melbourne's one-and-only "larrikin priest", dear Father Bob Maguire.
A humanitarian, broadcaster, philosopher and community leader who makes me laugh and think, Bob was an absolute joy a to talk to. We discussed his history with the Vietnam War, ideology, the problems in the Middle East, the idea of heaven, "doctrinal constipation", his "wife" and much more besides.
At one point he exclaimed "Bugger Rome!" and that made me laugh quite a bit.
Article: What ISIS Really Wants
In Bob We Trust - a documentary
My show Taxis & Rainbows & Hatred at the Perth Comedy Festival
My show Taxis & Rainbows & Hatred at the Edinburgh Fringe
Cause of the Week: The Father Bob Maguire Foundation (fatherbobsfoundation.com.au)
Here's a special little treat because I love youse so much: my piece for Fan Fiction Comedy at this year's Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Based on this actual news story about the federal government spending $4 million on a telemovie designed to deter asylum seekers to come to Australia by boat, Deathboat - Bloody Borders is a gritty, action-packed drama that is sure to be a ratings winner.
Episode 9 - The Welcome Centre
My show Taxis & Rainbows & Hatred at the Perth International Comedy Festival
My chat with Helen Razer continues and by now she’s really in her groove.
Here we cover our obsession with gestures as opposed to real action, why we should tear down the catwalk, the evils of iPhones, the overuse of personal anecdotes, how “the world is just fucked” and much more.
A Short History of Stupid by Helen Razer & Bernard Keane
Simulacra and Simulation by Jean Baudrillard
My show Taxis & Rainbows & Hatred at the Perth Comedy Festival
Tommy Dassalo’s Cutie Pie at the Sydney Comedy Festival
Cause of the Week: The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (indigenousliteracyfoundation.org.au), the Indigenous Marathon Project (imp.org.au)