Charles Edwards was a Prisoner of War in World War 2 spending a total of 1301 days in captivity. His bloody yet compelling story is one of extreme courage, sacrifice and a lot of luck.

In 1998, twenty hours into an abduction case involving a 16-year-old girl, Sergeant Peter Anderson was alone, crawling through a 100 year-old mineshaft with a dodgy torch. As he moved ahead through the damp tunnel, he came across a roll of black tape, a shovel and a large roll of plastic. He now feared the worst possible outcome.

Andrew Wallace has spent the last 20 years as a dedicated pathways co-ordinator helping students think about their future; but Andrew is also deeply passionate about the past.   Serving as a current member and former president of the Ballarat Historical Society, the group actively contributes to preserving and archiving local historical facts, reflecting their commitment to the community’s heritage.

David O’Neill’s Journey, is one woven with words. Crafting rhymes at the age of 15, he turned that skill into a thriving career in journalism and communication.  Now Dave is pursuing his dream of becoming a published author. He sat down and chatted with us about his first book "The Seagull that soared".

If you live in Ballarat, there’s a good chance you know Liana Emerson from somewhere. Maybe the Ballarat National Theatre? Winning this year’s Citizen of the year? Perhaps you know her from her band or possibly the tweed ride? Or maybe it’s from her personal style blog Finding Femme? There’s once thing for certain though …Liana knows herself. 

Andrew Sutherland, a multi-talented individual, possessing a unique blend of skills while maintaining an unassuming demeanour. As a poet, playwright, author, singer and lecturer, he has spent the past two decades away from Ballarat, dedicating his time to teaching in China. Now, he has returned to his hometown, bringing with him a wealth of experiences and insights.

Meet Ash Bedford, a distinctive personal trainer whose deep involvement in shamanic healing, sacred medicines, and yoga has not just helped him overcome personal struggles with depression but has also enriched him with invaluable insights to support others on their journey. 

Tim Sedgwick is an artist exploring different ways of expression, ideas and techniques in many forms through several artistic fields. “When I had secret birthday wishes, I wished I'd become an artist and create interesting things. My wish has come true. My dream came true. I am having so much fun.”  TIM SEDGWICK

Leigh Ericksen, the innovative mind behind Stoke Design, embarked on a remarkable venture in 2019 by founding a web and design studio. Fuelled by his desire to achieve a better work-life balance and spend quality time with his young family, Leigh was willing to do whatever it took to create a thriving business. I spoke to him about his journey and the invaluable lessons he learnt along the way.

Written by AI:  In this episode, we delve into the intriguing realm of artificial intelligence, featuring professor Peter Vamplew, a highly esteemed authority in the field. It is with great pleasure that we welcome him as our guest on the 20 Square Blocks podcast. Together, we embark on a captivating expedition, venturing into the forefront of AI research, examining its far-reaching effects on society, and delving into the profound ethical dilemmas that emerge in this rapidly advancing...

Michael Westlake is a master of creating soundscapes, carefully composing auditory experiences that transport audiences to other realms. Yet, amidst the symphony of his creative endeavours, he finds peace in the serene simplicity of silence, often finding solace in meditation to tap into his inner muse. https://www.michaelwestlakemusic.com.au/

Life is an adventure. Full of excitement, pain and a hell of a lot of mistakes that if we’re wise enough, we learn from. Zane Harris certainly learnt from his.

Black Hill, once known by its indigenous name, Bowdun, is according to my guest a beautiful mess. And is it any wonder?  For over 180 years the hill’s been mined, stripped bare, bashed about, reshaped and replanted with monterey pines. It’s a place with a rich history if you know exactly where to look.

Roland Rocchiccioli was made for a life in theatre. With a career spanning 50 years, he worked on Broadway and The West End with legends like Ingrid Bergman and Debbie Reynolds.  He is a stage manager, actor, director, playwright, company manager and broadcaster. He has worked with the impresarios Harry M. Miller and Ken Brodziak on productions of The Rocky Horror Show, Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar. He’s worked on Broadway and The West End with luminaries like Ingrid Bergman, Debbie...

The Black Summer Bushfires tore through massive areas of Australian bushland in 2019 and 2020. As fires ripped through East Gippsland, 4000 people found themselves trapped in Mallacoota with no way out. Olisama  Gibson was one of them.

You might have heard of the global movement called "Extinction Rebellion". If not, Joe will fill you in on the details and let you know why groups like this are vital to our survival ...and keep us away from extinction.

Its not easy throwing caution to the wind and following your dreams.Although some may argue slugging away at a job you have zero passion for isn’t either. But at some point in our lives most of us find ourselves at this exact crossroads. Joe Baxter chatted to me about why he chose the path of most resistance.

For this third and final episode on Grainery Lane, we chat to audio engineer, Rex Hardware. Rex taught at the school of mines by day, and at night Grainery Lane proved to be an ideal training ground for his students  as they worked on some of the earliest known live internet broadcasts, in the late 90s.

Hap Haywood is the definition of jack of all trades. The thing is, he’s actually pretty damn good at all of them. From fronting bands like The Dead Salesman to dipping his toe into the world of comedy to polishing symbols for the Screaming Jets. Hap and I chat about all of these things and how Grainery Lane intersected his world. 

In the vibrant post-punk era in Ballarat, The Grainery Lane Theatre was a bizarre and much loved institution running purely on  adrenaline, high levels of creativity and masses of love. Kiri Smart spoke to us about what the company was and why it was so important to artists of the city.

Seth Leslie, while very happily working in Robotics today, used to be a drug lord, an angry police officer and a best friend. In fact, as an actor he would be anything the call sheet would tell him to. Seth sat down with us and spoke about his time in Hong Kong, acting in an unknown language and dubbing for Japanese Anime.

A musical journey with Dr Jacinta Dennett discussing her instrument of passion, the harp.

Graeme Quick is a researcher, historian and well rounded professional horseman. In fact he was recently awarded the James Stewart bequest for his Phd on social economic and cultural history of horses in Ballarat.  Graeme gives us a unique look into Ballarat’s history, using his insight and knowledge to transport us back to 1832 to reveal just how the horse has shaped this city.

Lily Mae Martin is a visual artist who graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2008 with a Bachelor of Fine Art majoring in Drawing. I spoke to Lily about scholarships, Tasmania and her Waterloo paintings which came during a time when she changed her direction in life to aged care.