Kate Lyons-Dawson
Brian Coleman
Tune into 8CCC Big Brekky for a serving of interviews, music and news
7.30 to 9am Weekdays live on 8CCC 102.1FM streaming 8ccc.com.au
The Big Brekky Podcast
2 Jun 2026, 4:05pm Alice Springs Library Consultation feedback with Tonielle Dempers 8CCC Brekky may be slow to get great interviews like this out quickly, but senior architect Tonielle Dempers and the team at Tangentyere Design, along with Kennedy Nolan, are on task, having just finished the consultation phase for designing the new Alice Springs Library. They've held information sessions including the presentation about the process at the markets on Sunday, but if you missed it here's your chance to listen back to learn about the approach they have taken to create this design and provide feedback while there's still time.
2 Jun 2026, 10:10am Finke Desert Race Turns 50 Vice President Kelsey Branford, a Finke Desert Race committee member since 2002, shared with Brekky listeners the 50 Year celebration plans for the race this weekend. A tireless volunteer pumping endless hours into making this the best year ever, she was joined by Council's hard-working Community Projects & Events Officer, Ola Rzeszowska. With events starting tomorrow night at the Legends Dinner, on Thursday will be the biggest street party, taking over most of the streets of Mparntwe Alice Springs, so make sure you check out the map to plan out your night from 5pm. Then get out to the track for a long weekend of wheels, thrills and camping, and if you can, volunteer to be a Spectator Marshall.
1 Jun 2026, 11:18am You Only Have One Body – Bambadino Bambadino spoke on 8CCC Brekky about their new EP You Only Have One Body, launched on Sunday 31 May at the Last Folk Up, held on the last Sunday of each month at the Watertank Cafe. Bambadino was supported by The Handsomes: Dave Crowe, Ed Gould, Katie Harder and Xavia. This 5 track EP was produced by Dave Crowe at Sing Hum in Mparntwe, featuring Joey Klarenbeek, Xavia and Dave Crowe
30 May 2026, 11:22am Tara Tiba Headlines Big Day Out In Harmony This year's Big Day Out in Harmony is bigger than ever with over 230 performers and the headline act Australian-Iranian musician Tara Tiba. Now based in Perth, Tara released two studio albums: A Persian Dream (2014) and OMID (2019) (which means Hope), which she dedicated to all the people dealing with mental health issues. is a playful exploration of the musical traditions shared by Iran and Cuba after the Spanish took Middle Eastern soul to Latin America. Tara spoke with 8CCC's Kate Lyons-Dawson about the many years, having contracted a virus which developed into the debilitating MECFS Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), that kept her house bound and unable to perform. It’s only this year Tara has been able to perform once more, including at WOMADelaide, unfortunately at a time that the conflict in Iran, which began in January, brought more distress and worry for family and friends back in Iran.
26 May 2026, 11:48am Chloe Reid & HuaXuan Society at Big Day Out In Harmony As part of the 8CCC highlight of Big Day Out in Harmony, 8CCC spoke with Chloe Reid who has played a key part in arranging the HuaXuan Society’s participation in BDOIH for the last couple of years, as well as a huge role in organising Lunar New Year. The HuaXuan Society’s activities focus on providing opportunities for the promotion of Mandarin traditional culture for people who come from a wide range of countries. Chloe explained that due to migration there is multigenerational Mandarin culture that exists in diaspora across the globe. A key part of the HuaXuan Society is to be inclusive of this & to help teach their young people key cultural elements. Come join in the fun this Saturday from 12pm on the Council Lawns.
25 May 2026, 3:02pm Dr Felix Ho is Australian Volunteer of the Year 2026 Dr Felix Ho has dedicated more than three decades to volunteering, beginning with St John Ambulance cadets at just 13 years old, and now his years of volunteering have been recognised in winning the inaugural Australian Volunteer of the Year award. A highly respected volunteer leader, clinician and mentor, Felix contributes extensively at local, national and international levels across emergency response, youth development and disaster preparedness. He spoke with 8CCC's Kate Lyons-Dawson during Volunteer Week about why he has always volunteered and what it means to receive this award.
19 May 2026, 3:08pm Reel News May 2026 with René Sutton Alice Springs Cinema General Manager joined Kate Lyons-Dawson in the 8CCC studio for the regular wrap up of all things film and entertainment. This month's highlights include NZ's Pike River and local-based Wolfram still screening, with the much awaited Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu 2D & 3D arriving this week. Get your craft bag packed and enjoy this month's craft-a-noon movie, 10 Things I Hate About You and don't forget it's Ani-May! Enjoy the delightful Ponyo this Friday and finish off the month with My Neighbour Totoro.
19 May 2026, 11:19am Moongaze Debut EP is Out! What a great time for local music in Mparntwe Alice Springs! Local duet Sophie Collins and Bron Watkins aka Moongaze have just released their self-titled debut EP. A celebration of love, a call for justice and a hymn to home, the EP was recorded, mixed and mastered by Jez Conlon of Left Of Elephant Sound and released at the end of April. Following their eco tour of Australia, they just played at The Top Half Folk Festival at Ross River Resort and the Ilparpa house concert. Get in touch with Bron, the only orchestral luthier of the NT, available for training and workshops in instrument repair.
18 May 2026, 9:58am BDOIH 2026 with Mona, Diva & Sinchan from the Nepalese Community The Nepalese Community of Mparntwe Alice Springs was ably represented by the Chair of MCSCA Mona Ulak, and young performers Diva & Sinchan on the Brekky Show to tell our listeners of what is coming up on 30 May from 12pm at the Council Lawns. After the parade around the block, enjoy over 200 performers representing their cultures in our community, as well as food and activities. Diva and Sinchan discuss the hard work behind the scenes practising their dance for this much beloved community event, happening since 1999.
15 May 2026, 2:04pm Through Teddy's Eyes with Faith Duffy and Rosemary Plummer Eighteen years in the making, the book Through Teddy's Eyes: A Year in Two Worlds by Faith Duffy has been published; a story told from letters back to family in the UK in 1971-2. Faith's memoir captures her time in Tennant Creek, working alongside Warumungu elder Teddy Plummer, navigating the contrasts between Warumungu traditional ways and the dominant white legal system and inherent racism. The author was joined by Rosemary Plummer on 8CCC Brekky Show with host Brian Coleman, where they discuss some of the changes that have happened over those 50 years.
14 May 2026, 1:43pm Steiner Students talk up Autumn Fair 2026 8CCC Brekky Show has some assistants today in the studio to tell us about Alice Springs Steiner Autumn Fair! Steiner students Zoe, Astrid, Hazel, Otis, Arwen and Ava shared their enthusiasm and insider knowledge of the annual event, beloved of the whole Mparntwe Alice Springs community. Get your raffle tickets beforehand at supported outlets in town or buy them on the day, along with plant. crafts, preserves and other yummy foods while soaking in the music provided by classes and local buskers.
12 May 2026, 2:58pm Banff Film Festival 2026 with Jemima Robinson Adventure Reels' Jemima Robinson has the enviable task as Australian Festival Director to choose the films for the Australian tour of the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival, now in its 50th year! She spoke with 8CCC's Kate Lyons-Dawson about the selection for Thursday's screening at Araluen Arts Centre from 7pm. From all corners of this beautiful world, featuring kayaks, mountain bikes, big wall climbs and the changing traditions in Mongolian eagle hunting, this year is bound to delight the adventurous of heart!
12 May 2026, 11am Felix Meyer opens new Youth Media Centre in Mparntwe Felix Meyer, behind Maybe Eat Media – a Central Australian digital media and immersive technology company, joined Brekky in the 8CCC studio to talk about their progress towards a long-term staged development model, beginning with location-based virtual reality entertainment and expanding into education, training, cultural preservation and wellbeing initiatives over time. Through multiplayer VR experiences, free-roam gaming, school programs, private events and community engagement activities, the first stage makes accessible emerging technology for people across Alice Springs and the wider Central Australian region. Next stage will expand into digital media education and immersive training resources, supporting skills development in areas such as creative technology, storytelling, digital production and workplace learning. A core focus of this future development is the creation of immersive educational and training content delivered in both English and First Nations languages, ensuring local cultural knowledge and accessibility remain central to the work. Beyond entertainment and training, the long-term vision of Maybe Eat Media is to develop culturally safe mental health and wellbeing resources alongside a permanent digital archive where Centralian people can host, preserve and share stories, knowledge and lived experiences for future generations through immersive and interactive media formats.
11 May 2026, 3:39pm Olive Pink Botanic Garden May News with Sam Hussey Sam Hussey, Olive Pink Botanic Garden's Curator visited 8CCC Brekky Show for the monthly update of activities. Besides the Mothers Day markets, OPBG launched their new photographic competition, have moved their Buffel Beats to the last Saturday of the month from 8am and will celebrate Botanic Gardens Week 18-26 May. Listen back for all this and more.
This program has been produced with the support of the Community Broadcasting Foundation.
