I’ve been behind a microphone for almost my entire life. I started out as a 13-year-old volunteer in community radio back in 1978, and that spark turned into a lifelong career, In mid-2023, my life took a major turn when I became an amputee. Now, I’m bringing those decades of broadcasting experience to a project close to my heart: sharing the diverse stories of limb loss and difference across Australia and our Pacific neighbours. https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-o-brien-153485123/
Australian media is a notoriously small pond, and lately, it feels like the water is evaporating by the minute. Newsrooms are consolidating, legacy platforms are tightening their belts, and the … Read the rest “The Ties That Bind: Sound, Storytelling,…
In the last week you may have read news of the death of Australian broadcaster, musician, and author, James Valentine. I worked alongside James Valentine for over twenty-five years. As … Read the rest “Vale James Valentine”
“All parents. When they realize the kid has a disability, they reevaluate the world that they’re in.” Dwayne Fernandes dropped those words early in our chat, and they’ve been rattling … Read the rest “Don’t be afraid in the limelight…
Today, I had the privilege of interviewing David Hall—Paralympian, and a former world number one in wheelchair tennis—for my upcoming podcast, The Limb Shift. We spoke about the … Read the rest “Reflections on a conversation with David Hall”
In 2012, Korrin Barrett was 33 years old, healthy, and at the height of her career while living in Brisbane. Like many, she lived with a sense of invincibility that … Read the rest “I think you should leave me…”
Ever since my amputation a couple of years ago, I’ve pretty much lived in shorts most days. I hardly ever wear long pants. It actually started as a purely practical … Read the rest “Skinny Pants to Showing Off”