Sabrina Batshon - Australian Idol 2009

She may be small in stature but she's got a big personality and a bigger voice. Sabrina was plunged onto our TV screens, never scared of holding back from letting Australia know who she was.

For 24-year-old Sabrina, being in Australia’s Idol’s Final 12 for 2009 is confirmation of just how far she’s come. “I’ve gone from a girl who couldn’t do anything on her own to being here,” she grins. “It’s amazing!”

In regards to her future, Sabrina has a lot of big plans. “I want to put together an organisation to help people in need. I want to stop sex trafficking, that’s a very naïve thing to say because it’s a very huge problem but it doesn’t stop me. I want to be a voice in a cartoon. I also want to travel…” Sabrina smiles, “And obviously, sing.”

On Sunday Sabrina ended up in Idol's bottom three and then left the show.

Click here to listen to her chat with the Hump Day Crew.

Here's Sabrina on Idol:


For the latest Idol news, please visit http://www.australianidol.com.au/

HDC Global Community - Germany

Germany has been one of the most progressive European nations on the issue of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) rights. There is legal recognition of same-sex couples. Registered life partnerships (effectively, a form of civil union) have been instituted since 2001, giving same-sex couples rights and obligations in areas such as inheritance, alimony, health insurance, immigration and name change. In 2004, this act was amended to also give registered same-sex couples adoption rights (stepchild adoption only), as well as reform previously cumbersome dissolution procedures with regard to division of property and alimony.

Berlin has been Germany's gay capital since the late 19th Century, when a thriving homosexual subculture included everything from gay bars to a Lesbian bowling club. The Third Reich brought hard times for gays and lesbians, but today die Szene is as lively as it was a hundred years ago, and Berliners have elected Germany's first openly gay mayor.

We took the time to talk with Holger Jakobs and Jeffery Johnson about their experience living as gay men in German. Click here to listen.

HDC Global Community - Michael Luongo talks about homosexuality in the Muslim World

Islam, as one of the Abrahamic religions, rejects homosexuality from the religion's beginning. According to mainstream Islamic beliefs, God sent the prophet Lot to the people of Sodom to preach against their wicked practices and urge them to worship God. Among these practices (as mentioned in the Quran) engaged in by the people of Sodom were homosexual acts performed out in the open. Hence being gay in the Muslim world does not grant the freedom we enjoy elsewhere in the world.

Michael Luongo is a gay travel writer who has always had a fascination with the Middle East especially since his experiences helping dig people out of the Twin Tower ruins after 9/11. He took the time to chat to the Hump Day Crew. Michael discusses how attitudes of the English & French have affected the old laws of Middle Eastern countries, how one of the pilots who flew a plane into the Twin Towers (911) may have been gay and what we can learn from the Middle East.

Click here to listen to the interview.

Here is an interview with Michael Luongo on Pink Planet TV:


For more information on Michael Luongo and his writing, please visit http://www.michaelluongo.com/

Tom Ballard - Several Nights Only!

Ever since he played the role of Blitzen in a local amateur production of Rock'n'Roll Santa back in 1997 in his home town of Warrnambool, Tom Ballard's comedy career has been on a steady decline. Having overcome serious sex and chocolate milk addictions at 14, Ballard managed to become a three-time Class Clowns National Finalist and a RAW National Finalist by 2006.

On the strength of his RAW performance, Tom was offered work with national youth radio network, triple j, where he now presents the Saturday breakfast show with his silly friend, Alex Dyson.

Tom was one quarter of the 2008 Melbourne International Comedy Festival's Comedy Zone, a showcase of the best up and coming talent in the country as selected by the festival. The Melbourne Age described him as "lanky".

Tom's mum thinks he's quite funny, but wishes he wouldn't swear quite as much as he does.

Let's see if he can contain his potty-mouth in his next show. It's Friday September 25th to Saturday October 11th as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival entitled Tom Ballard – Several Nights Only!. It will be on at the North Melbourne Town Hall at 8:00pm every night except Mondays.

Tom has decided that it will be okay and it would be nice if you or others were to come.

Click here to listen to Tom with the Hump Day Crew.

Check out Tom's website too. It's http://www.tomballard.com.au/

Hayley, there's something on your lip! Hayley Warner - Australian Idol

Sunday's show was an awkward one on Australian Idol. Casey Barnes was kicked off the show and didn't get to sing his final song after his Dad had come to see him sing from overseas Nathan Brake's sexuality was skirted around with Dicko's feedback. However the cringe-worthy award goes to Hayley Warner who wore lipstick for the first time and managed to get it all over the microphone and unbeknown to her, smudged it around her mouth.

The Hump Day Crew were the first to speak to her after it happened and it's great to see Hayley take it in her stride and laugh it off. Perhaps a make-up sponsorship contract will be up for grabs after the show for Hayley!

Click here to listen to the interview.

For more information on Australian Idol, check out http://www.australianidol.com.au/

Casy Barnes - Australian Idol 2009

When Casey Barnes was juggling a job, playing gigs and song writing, it was his parents that suggested he give music his full attention. "That’s probably the best advice they’ve ever given me," recalls 30-year-old Casey.

As Casey's Idol journey finished he chats to the Hump Day Crew about the show and his future plans to have an album out by February and supporting Rob Thomas in his upcoming tour.

Click here to listen to the interview.

Here's Casey performing on Idol:


Please visit http://www.caseybarnes.com.au/ to stay up to date with Casey's career.

HDC Global Community - Tobias Holfelt suggests Sweden may not be the best country for a massage

Sweden is considered to be one of the most gay-friendly countries in Europe and possibly the world when it comes to laws surrounding homosexuality. Due to the strong sense of secularism dominating in most of the country and government, Sweden today is seen as a campaigner of gay rights. Swedish parliament voted to make same-sex marriages fully legal from May 1, 2009, with the votes 261 to 22.

We chat with Tobias Holfelt about gay life in Sweden and he explains the bizarre seasons with a summer of 22 hours of daylight and a winter of 22 hours of darkness. Tobias also suggests that Sweden may not be the best place to get a massage.

Click here to listen to the interview.

To check out Scandinavia's only gay marketing company run by Tobias Holfelt, please visit http://www.mbtrading.se/

Australian Idol's Ashleigh Toole

She's young, she's driven and she's got one BIG voice and in our opinion she left the show too early. Coming from a musical family where she grew up performing with them on the streets of Tamworth during its yearly country music festival and her family has recorded two family albums.

One of the two endearing qualities of Ashleigh was how grateful she was for the experience of the show and how ambitious she is.

This is one individual we may not have heard the last of.

Check out Ashleigh on stage:


Click here to listen the Ashleigh Toole interview.

For the latest Idol news, please visit http://www.australianidol.com.au/

The Inspiring Julian Shaw

Julian Shaw is the acclaimed young director of the feature doco Darling! The Pieter-Dirk Uys Story, which won him a British Film Institute Award and IF Independent Spirit Award.

Darling!, which Shaw commenced production on at the age of sixteen, was released theatrically in South Africa and won a Panorama Audience Award at the Berlin International Film Festival, as voted by 20,000 cinema-goers.

An AFI Award-winning film journalist, Shaw authored the groundbreaking photo novel Modern Odysseus.

Shaw wrote and directed the dramatic short Clearing the Air, starring AFI Winner Marcus Graham and AFI Nominee Rhys Wakefield. He also stars as All Black legend John Kirwan in the biographical drama All Blacks Don’t Cry.

Click here to listen to the interview with Julian Shaw.

Click here to read the SX article on Julian Shaw.

For the latest news on Julian, please visit http://www.julianshaw/

Geoff Morrell - The God Of Carnage

The other day in the neighbourhood park, little Ferdinand whacked his playmate Bruno with a stick, breaking two teeth. So it is important that the parents of the boys set the right example and sit down to discuss the matter calmly and reasonably. After all, nothing will be gained by behaving like children...

Human nature, red in tooth and claw. Yasmina Reza, the writer who drew maximum laughs from Minimalist art in Art, uses her corrosive wit to strip away the thin veneer of civilization.

Cast Member Geoff Morrell chats with the Hump Day Crew about the show and performing with Hugo Weaving.

Click here to listen to the interview.

Marlee Matlin - She'll Scream Now

Whether you know her as Jodi from The L Word, the youngest actress to ever win an Oscar for a leading role, or the author of her own autobiography - there is one thing blatantly clear about Marlee Matlin - not only is she one of the bravest actresses to set foot in Hollywood, but she is an inspiring individual, talent and mother.

Being one of Hollywood's most popular hearing impaired actress, it has seen Matlin go through many a battle to fight for the rights of the deaf community. After becoming the youngest actress to win an Oscar for a leading role at the tender age of 21, Matlin claims the journey since then, though challenging, has been a worthwhile one which has given her sound wisdom.

Recently, she appeared in the US series of Dancing With The Stars, and proved to audiences that there was much more to her than being a hearing impaired actress - who answered the age old question - so you think you can dance with a HELL YES!

Now, Matlin is a mother to four children and has just launched her autobiography, "I'll Scream Later," - which delves into some heartfelt stories of Matlin's battle in rehab, public relationships and childhood.

The great news for us Aussies is - she will be hitting our shores next year for The L Word Convention Down Under in Sydney.

It was not only an honour, but an absolute pleasure having Marlee and interpreter Jack Jason on The Hump Day Crew - we hope you find this as enjoyable and inspiring as we did.

Download the podcast here

The L Word Covention Down Under - Guest no.6 announced

The countdown is well under way to one of the hottest events to hit Australian Shores in 2009 - ladies and gentlemen, Lean in and be Lured to the Luscious Lady series that captured our hearts and Left us Laughing, Loving and Longing for more. In less that 130 days, The L Word Down Under convention is hitting Sydney from January 22 - 24, with United L Events CEO Carla exclusively announcing Guest No.6 to the Convention on The Hump Day Crew.

With great delight she annouced that Guest no.6 attending the convention in Sydney next year was a Hump Day Crew favourite - none other than the vivaciously talented Janina Gavankar. Gavankar, who played the sassy latino lady, Papi, in season 4, will be joining confirmed guests Laurel Holloman, Rose Rollins, Rachel Shelley, Leisha Hailey and Marlee Matlin in Australia next year.

The convention is hosted by comedian Poppy Chaplin (who will be joining The Hump Day Crew at the end of September) and features a plathorea of entertainment.

CEO of United L Events Carla, though remaining tight lipped about the prospect of more guests to come, could not help but slip in a few more clues. She confirmed that an all time L Word favourite will be attending the Convention next year and will confirm this later on in the year. To hear more clues - download the podcast of her time on The Hump Day Crew.

Check out The L Word Down Under website for more details.

Sweet Crusin'

There are plenty of reasons why Cathy DeBuono and Jill Bennett are two of The Hump Day Crew's favourite ladies. Along with their true passion for LGBT rights, hosting live online shows such as What's Your Problem and The Violet Underground - their latest unedited and uncensored show "The Gloves Are Off," is another live show that takes interactivity to another level.

And now they are giving away a double pass to the SWEET cruise this November where both Cathy DeBuono and Jill Bennett will be onboard the Ladies Boat along with comedian Erin Foley, where they will be filiming the second series of the popular, "We Have To Stop Now."

As only two people will be lucky enough to win tickets to the cruise, those who get close, are still lucky - they will receive a LuckyDog Leather hand made item.

Each episode of "The Gloves Are Off," contains a gay history fact or lesson which not only prove to be interesting trivia but will come in handy to bring you a step closer to scoring yourself a seat on the Sweet Cruise!

So how do you win? It's quite easy.

During your lunch hour on Friday, September 18 - log onto The Gloves Are Off at 12pm. Cathy and Jill will be hosting a call in quiz with questions based on previous episodes of The Gloves Are Off and about Sweet Adventure Vacations - so if you do your homework - you could well be on your way to some Sweet Cruisin' this November!

Call into the show via skype at CathyandJill or theglovesareoff.

For more information - click here to download Cathy DeBuono joining the crew.

Good luck and happy sailing!!

YOUth Decide

December this year brings many a festivity whether it be Christmas, holidays or music festivals - some of which people no matter what age may not partake in, but one thing that will impact all our futures, in particular the youth of today is Climate Change.

It has been well over a decade since the Koyoto Conference where the world implemented a global action plan to tackle emissions and come December, it will provide a chance for the youth of today to have their opinioins and needs heard by the Australian Government.

Enter Youth Decide - a group in partnership with World Vision and the Australian Youth Climate Coalition. The Hump Day Crew are joined by Director Alana Smith (pictured above) who talks about the importance of voting, as the youth of decide are allowed to express their concerns for their future.

If you are aged between 12 - 29, log on to http://www.youthdecide.com.au/ between Sep 14 - 21 and register your details to vote.

For further information, download the podcast of Alana Smith's chat with The Hump Day Crew here.

Carmen Hendricks - Soothing the Soul

She's introduced Rhythmic Soul to our Australian shores with the release of her debut album "Rhythmic Soul Revealed," and ever since then, it has only seen Carmen Hendricks colloborate with the world's best to further nuture her talent.

Having toured with some of the best including Kate Cebrano, Rihanna, Kanye West, Tina Cousins and Supafly to name a few.

South African born and performing since she was the age of 5, Hendrick's musical tag is an unique eclecticism of Latin, Gospel and Jazzed laced with Soul.

She joins The Hump Day Crew at a very "un-musician," like hour and dares to take on the crew's 101 questions - Download Podcast Here

Metro Body Fitness - Health & Healing

ENERGY: HYDRATION

To kick off The Hump Day Crew's brand new segment: Hump Day Health and Healing which focuses on the inner and outer well being over four areas of Body, Mind, Soul and Energy, we turn to Joy Sponsor - Metro Body Fitness for some tips on how important it is to keep our bodies hydrated.

Given we have come out of the cold, gloomy Winter weather, we are on the brink of some Spring Sunshine and it is particularly important to ensure we are drinking enough water to keep our bodies hydrated.

Think of your body as a vehicle that gets you from A to B. If the body is a vehicle, water is merely a fuel that is a critical element in the body's survival. Being hydrated leaves less room for lower energy levels, lack of concerntration and migranes.

For those wanting to shed a few kg's - water is also a great cleanser. Lack of water invites the body to retain fluid, thus holding on to fat cells and storage.

For more tips on how to keep hydrated - click here to listen to Chris Gregoriou's tips from Metro Body Fitness.

Keep an eye out for Chris's column in the monthly edition of Q Magazine.