Take 5

Are you ready for some incredible stories? Take 5 always gifts us with some cracking yarns, but this week’s episode takes the cake. In fact, I’ve had more responses to Ed Le Brocq’s Take 5 than any other, in ages.
Ed used to be Eddie Ayers, a legendary ABC Classic FM broadcaster who has shared his life of adventure with us over the past two decades. Ed is a cellist, viola, and violin player, and has gifted his talents to others; teaching school kids in Afghanistan, and playing for Uyghurs in the remote deserts of China.
We’ll get to those stories soon… but this might give you a sense of why I asked Ed to Take 5. Across four books, Ed has shared his stories of travel and self-discovery with us, and music has always been at his centre. From Joni Mitchell to shredding violas to Ry Cooder, this is an extraordinary conversation about the power of love, self-belief, adventure and of course, music. 
Ed Le Brocq's song choices:
Joni Mitchell – A Case of You
Maria Theresia von Paradis – Sicilienne
Elton John – Your Song
Paul Hindemith - Viola Sonata, Op. 25, No. 1: IV. Rasendes Zeitmass
Ry Cooder and V. M. Bhatt – Isa Lei
00:33 Ed Le Brocq introduction
01:52 Having a restless spirit
04:55 Memories of the seventies and Joni Mitchell
07:21 Joni Mitchell - 'A Case of You'
07:55 Ed's love of the Cello
14:30 Travelling the world with music
17:59 Maria Theresia von Paradis – 'Sicilienne'
18:50 Interpreting music in your way
20:20 Listening to music as a musician
28:10 Elton John - 'Your Song'
29:10 Music as the universal language
32:30 Classic music with an edge
35:42 Paul Hindemith - 'Viola Sonata, Op. 25, No. 1: IV. Rasendes Zeitmass'
36:45 Classic FM audience and shredding
42:30 Depression and "the cover of grey silt"
44:08 Ry Cooder and V. M. Bhatt – 'Isa Lei'
44:06 Show notes and next weeks guests!
Show notes:
If you need someone to talk to, call Lifeline on 13 11 14

Where do you begin with Tim Rogers? For more than 30 years he has been the soundtrack to our lives. As frontman for You Am I, an acclaimed solo artist and keen collaborator, an actor, author and once even a Double J broadcaster.
He's made a living in more ways than one, and his approach to living has shifted over the years. A long time coming, I invited Tim to Take 5 and explore this idea of a living; what makes a good life, and what it means to be alive. 
And he didn't disappoint.
Tim Rogers' song choices:
Magic Dirt – Ice
Jake Thackray – The Bull
Joni Mitchell – Just Like This Train
NRBQ – I Want You Bad 
Martha Wainwright & Linda Thompson – Or Nothing At All
00:39 Tim Rogers introduction 
01:30 Memories of watching Magic Dirt on Rage 
04:21 Magic Dirt — 'Ice'
07:45 Making a living as an artist & mowing lawns
10:31 Jake Thackray explainer
15:00 Jake Thackray— 'The Bull’
21:41 Tim’s later in life love of Joni Mitchell
26:07 Joni Mitchell — 'Just Like This Train'
32:08 Rewriting and revisiting your own songs
33:55 NRBQ explainer & Tim’s obsession
36:27 NRBQ — 'I Want You Bad'
39:05 You Am I ‘Hourly Daily’ anniversary and going pop
46:30 Linda Thompson explainer & inspiring songwriting
53:41 Martha Wainwright & Linda Thompson  — 'Or Nothing At All'
55:20 Conclusion + next week's guest!
Show Notes
To see Tim perform live, check out his tour dates here: https://tim-rogers.com.au/

Comedian Lizzy Hoo has been everywhere the past few years. When she’s not doing stand up, she’s popping up on Have You Been Paying Attention?, and hosting her own podcast The Lizzy Hoo Show.
Lizzy has made travel shows, and is even the voice of an airline. She's one of those people who says YES to life. 
She also has also got a razor sharp wit, and more than a few adventurous tales which is why I invited her to Take 5. 
I didn't realise it'd become a beautiful lesson in how to live.
Lizzy Hoo's song choices:
Arctic Monkeys — 'Dancing Shoes'
Journey — 'Don’t Stop Believin’
The Lemons — 'Monad'
Snoop Dogg — 'Who Am I (What’s My Name)?'
Camille — 'Ta Douleur'
00:34 Lizzy Hoo introduction and Take 5 prep
02:40 Music's role in Lizzy's life 
04:53 North America adventures in a $500 car
09:23 Arctic Monkeys — 'Dancing Shoes'
10:45 The Hoo's as a family
13:30 Karaoke in Japan ski towns
16:40 Journey — 'Don’t Stop Believin’
18:13 Music and comedy in Lizzys world
19:50 Moving to Mongolia  
26:30 The Lemons — 'Monad'
29:13 Lizzy's many careers & falling into comedy
37:48 Snoop Dogg — 'Who Am I (What’s My Name)?'
39:50 Lizzy's life update and having broad shoulders
43:06 Turning travel into career 
48:10 Camille — 'Ta Douleur'
49:50 Conclusion + next week's guest!
Show Notes
To see Lizzy perform live on her national tour, check out her dates here: https://www.lizzyhoo.com/

Sophie Ellis-Bextor knows how to fill a dancefloor. Across 8 albums, and a double indemnity hit in "Murder on the Dancefloor", she's made a name for herself as a pop-disco queen. When she’s not on stage or in a recording studio, Sophie is throwing a kitchen disco, hosting her Spinning Plates podcast, and publishing books.
Sophie’s latest album Perimenopop takes stock of where she is today. The lessons learned, the way love evolves, and the place she finds herself. It's through-line is liberation, so I asked her to choose her favourite songs of freedom.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor's song choices:
Sylvester — 'You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)'
Madonna — 'Express Yourself'
George Michael — 'Freedom 90'
Sigrid — 'Mine Right Now'
Prince & the Revolution — 'Let's Go Crazy'
00:34 Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Musical Journey
02:15 Making new music 25 years after debut
04:55 Disco escapism and the queer community support
09:23 Sylvester – 'You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)'
06:23 Indie rock beginnings and Groovejet 
15:40 Obsession with Madonna and pleasure
13:39 Madonna – 'Express Yourself'
19:08 Is it better for women in pop music now?
22:37 Loving completely and opening for George Michael 
26:32 George Michael – 'Freedom! '90'
27:18 Writing new album and mid life
29:09 Sigrid – 'Mine Right Now'
29:50 Going through Murder on the Dancefloor resurgence 
34:06 The drama of Prince 
35:25 Prince & the Revolution – 'Let's Go Crazy'
38:11 Conclusion, Susan Rogers Prince story + next week's guest!
Show Notes
Check out the Take 5 episode with Prince's sound engineer Susan Rogers!

From bucket list guests to Australian rock royalty and a disco queen, find out who Zan will be Taking 5 with in 2026.