About the Podcast
Each episode of Tall Poppies features an interview with an exceptional Australian living abroad. The podcast showcases their work as they share their overseas experiences and journey up the ladder to international success. The first series focuses on exceptional Australians in Germany.
Who are Tall Poppies?
Tall Poppy Syndrome describes aspects of a culture in which people of high status are resented, attacked, cut down and sometimes criticised simply because they have been classified as superior to their peers. The term has been widely used in many cultures, but is particularly popular in Australia. In the first episode of the podcast, you will hear several leading Australians explain the significance of the term “Tall Poppies”.
“For me it is just absolutely obvious that there is nothing more interesting than the human brain, that we know of in the universe.
"For me the interesting musician goes beyond their own instruments and looks into the world of music - piano, chamber music or orchestral - repertoire. If this is your universe, then there is no doubt in my mind you will be the more interesting musician, simply because your whole universe is bigger. "
“I've never really accepted the head and heart distinction. I have always thought that it is part of our cultural heritage and doesn’t represent the real world of our feelings, or the real world of our mind,” Gail Jones
“I think some young singers want to do too much too soon and it's fatal. Some of the young people I don't think realise just how tough it is.” (Joan Sutherland, 1926 -2010)
“New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz. It really was a melting pot of different cultures… so you had all these amazing influences from different cultures and that made jazz and that hasn't changed.”
Jazz Musician Shannon Barnett, in Tall Poppies, The Podcast
It was back in 2009 that I met with the Academy Award-winning animation writer, director and producer, Adam Elliot, who hails from the Australian state of Victoria.