Grand Gestures

Grand Gestures

Have you ever thought about how much of who you are comes from your grandparents? Comedian Lizzy Hoo is on a quest to unravel our deepest multicultural relationships – the ones with our grandparents. On Grand Gestures, notable Australians take you inside their family, culture, and traditions by introducing you to the grandparents who made a huge impact on them. Hear about Lizzy’s Chinese Malaysian Irish Australian family line, find out what journalist Pat Abboud’s Teita and Gedo taught him about love, how actor Pia Miranda embraces her Nonna’s Sicilian superstitions, and the lessons about food and family that chef Alice Zaslavsky learnt from her Babushkas. This show is the nonna bear hug we all need, the anchor our grandparents provide in a complex world. Wrap yourself up in Grand Gestures - a podcast from SBS Audio produced by Deadset Studios.

Episodes

When Cassar met Daley: Jem Cassar-Daley's musical lineage traces back to all four grandparents

August 21, 2024 • 32 mins
Singer-songwriter Jem Cassar-Daley dives into her rich artistic lineage in this final episode of Grand Gestures. She shares the love story that brought her dad’s parents together, reflects on her nan’s influential country music collection, and introduces you to her grandmother Dell - Jem's first piano teacher and the artist behind the cover of her latest EP.
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Pearls of wisdom: What Suren Jayemanne’s grandparents taught him about priorities

August 14, 2024 • 36 mins
Comedian, writer and actor Suren Jayemanne shares the life lessons he learned on school drop-offs with his urbane and worldly grandparents - his Sri Lankan Siya and Atchi, who moved halfway across the world to Melbourne to help raise their grand kids.
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Service and sass: What Linda Marigliano’s Nonna taught her about love

August 7, 2024 • 28 mins
Presenter and podcaster Linda Marigliano introduces you to her Malaysian-Chinese grandparents and her Italian grandmother in this episode of Grand Gestures. Hear about the core values that tie both sides of the family together.
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Role reversal: Nadine J. Cohen reflects on becoming her Nanna’s carer

July 31, 2024 • 35 mins
Author Nadine J. Cohen became her Nanna’s carer after her parents passed away. She speaks about their bond and recounts the long shadow of the traumas her Nanna faced as a young Jewish girl during World War II.
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Mega matriarch: How Emo Majok’s grandmother inspired her descendants to forge a new life in Australia

July 24, 2024 • 23 mins
Comedian Emo Majok’s journey from Sudan to suburban Perth via a Kenyan refugee camp is a testament to the power that his family draws from the resilience of his grandmother, Martha.
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Globe-trotting Grandma: While Marcia toured, Deni Hines' gran made sure there was oxtail soup on the table

July 17, 2024 • 31 mins
Singer Deni Hines introduces you to her grandmother, Esmerelda McPherson, sharing the story of how Esme moved from Jamaica to the US and eventually to Australia, to raise two generations of Hines women at once.
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Water baby: Emily Wurramara’s island childhood with her grandmothers, her Lola and Gagu

July 10, 2024 • 27 mins
Warnindhilyagwa singer-songwriter Emily Wurramara takes you back to her childhood on idyllic Groote Eylandt and introduces you to two of the women who made her who she is today: her Lola and Gagu. By day, young Emily would be learning her Gagu’s dreamtime stories on the beach, before heading to her Filipino Lola’s house for karaoke parties at night. Hear how these artistic women inspired Emily's music career and taught her what mat...
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Love language: Pat Abboud’s relationship with his Teita changed when he learned to speak Arabic

July 3, 2024 • 33 mins
Journalist Pat Abboud tells the wild story of his parents’ marriage, which his Lebanese grandparents – his Teita and Gedo – desperately tried to prevent. He also explains how his relationship with his beloved Teita changed when he learned to speak Arabic, picking up new words and phrases as they cooked together.
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Sicilian superstition: Pia Miranda remembers her Nonna's rituals and resilience

June 26, 2024 • 33 mins
Growing up, actor Pia Miranda would spend her weekday afternoons watching footy and drinking green cordial with her Irish-Australian grandparents. On weekends, she'd be baking and enduring exorcisms with her Sicilian Nonna. The Looking for Alibrandi star chats with Lizzy Hoo about how her grandparents' stories shaped her life, holding onto tradition, and how attitudes to Italians in Australia have changed over the generations.
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Home harvest: What Alice Zaslavsky’s Georgian grandparents taught her about food

June 19, 2024 • 32 mins
Cookbook author and food educator Alice Zaslavsky introduces you to her Georgian grandparents – her babushkas and dedas – and shares the story of their tumultuous journey to Australia. Hear what Alice has learned about food, family and resilience from their example. This is the first episode of Grand Gestures, hosted by Malaysian-Australian comedian Lizzy Hoo. It's a series about how our grandparents have made us who we are, both a...
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Introducing Grand Gestures... the nonna bear hug we all need

June 5, 2024 • 3 mins
Comedian Lizzy Hoo dives into the memorable moments, family folklore and cultural traditions of your favourite Australians and their grandparents in this new podcast from SBS Audio.
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