In the season finale episode, I welcome Minh Bui Jones to the studio, a man who made his way over to Australia as young boy, while finding refuge from Vietnam in the late 70’s with his family. To summarise his story in any way does it no justice, so I’ll leave it to you to have a listen for yourself. But to me, it's a story of compassion and persev…

In this episode, I welcome Tyrone Pynor to the studio, a man that caught my eye during this past fashion week here in Sydney and I knew I had to have a chat with him. Currently working his way up the ranks in the Australian media industry, the now radio presenter at Triple J is on a journey of finding out who he wants to be in this world, and expre…

In this episode, I welcome Richard Kavanagh to the studio, a multi award winning hair stylist, turned tech entrepreneur, who epitomises the definition of rebel, in every sense of the word. Having grown up with a conservative upbringing in New Zealand during the 80's, Richard rejected the academic vision his family had for him and in doing so, threw…

In this episode of the podcast, I welcome wonderful human and fashion designer, Gary Bigeni to the studio. With over 15 years in the fashion industry with his namesake women's wear label, Gary has put in the work to become a house hold name here in Australia. But with the past year giving us all a chance to sit back and reflect, it gave him the opp…

In this episode of the podcast, I welcome fellow photographer, Frederick McHenry to the studio. Originally from South Atlanta, Frederick always felt like he was being put into a box growing up. He knew there was more outside of where he was being told to stay and it took crossing the Pacific Ocean and landing himself in South Korea to see what he h…

In this episode of the podcast, I welcome Baden Hitchcock to the studio, a dancer with the Bangarra Dance Theatre, whose creative upbringing — thanks to his mother's loving encouragement — presented him with opportunities that have brought him around the world. With family in Papua New Guinea and the Torres Strait Islands, music, singing and dancin…

In this episode, I welcome Matthew Backer to the studio, a Sydney based journalist turned actor whose recent credits include Young Frankenstein, and probably the most fun gig you can get, host of the Australian children's program, Play School! We chat about his journey in the industry, how finding his tribe helped him discover who he is and his lov…

In this episode of the podcast, I welcome Mark Campbell to the studio, a man whose creativity has taken him from the big screen, down to the printed page, and everywhere in between. Currently the Creative Director and Publisher at Harper Collins Australia, Mark had learned to navigate his skills by being an eager learner, always willing to try new …

In this episode of the podcast, I welcome Jack Phillips to the studio, a journalist, turned content maker that now calls Sydney home. Having grown up in East London via Essex in the late 90's and early 2000's, football and lad culture seemed to be the only way to relate. Shaved heads and Puma tracksuits were the uniform and footballers like David B…

In this episode of the podcast, I welcome Chris Burt-Allan to the studio, a former management consultant, turned fashion influencer, turned sustainability advocate. Having spent time living overseas, jet setting around the world and working with luxury fashion brands, Chris had truly made it to the top of his game, but soon realised there was nowhe…

In this episode of the podcast, I welcome Tirrell Cherry to the studio, an American born Sydney sider whose military kid upbringing saw him live a gypsy like life, learning to call anyplace home. A social being at heart, Tirrell’s work always gravitated towards people, from styling hair in Atlanta, to teaching spin in New York City, now in Sydney, …

Welcome to Men In This Town: The Podcast. I’m Giuseppe Santamaria, and for over a decade, I’ve been photographing men’s street style in various towns around the world, looking for those whose dress sense speak volumes about who they are. In this podcast, I take a closer look at those men by bringing them into the studio for a portrait and having a …

In this episode, I talk to Gary Marks who is Professor of Political Science at UNC-Chapel Hill. We discuss the work of Seymour Martin Lipset and focus on three main themes in Lipset’s body of work.We first discuss Lipset’s 1960 book Political Man, which includes a number of essays that have become classics of political sociology and political scien…

In this episode, I talk to Björn Bremer who is Senior Researcher at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies (MPIfG) in Cologne. We talk about his article “The ideational foundations of social democratic austerity in the context of the great recession” which is co-authored with Sean McDaniel and was published in the Socio-Economic Review…

In this episode, I talk to Rafaela Dancygier, who is Professor of Politics and Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. We talk about her book “Dilemmas of Inclusion” which was published in 2017 with Princeton University Press. The book investigates how and why political parties include Muslim candidates in Western Europe. Muslims …

In this episode, I talk to Tamar Mitts who is Assistant Professor at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. We discuss her 2019 article “From Isolation to Radicalization: Anti-Muslim Hostility and Support for ISIS in the West” which was published in the American Political Science Review.The article investigates how a…

In this episode, I talk to Liesbet Hooghe who is W.R Kenan Distinguished Professor of Political Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. We discuss her article “Cleavage theory meets Europe’s crises: Lipset, Rokkan, and the transnational cleavage”, which is co-authored with Gary Marks and was published in the Journal of European …

In the season finale of Portrait Session presented by Portuguese Flannel, I invited dancer, photographer, and all-around storyteller Luke Currie-Richardson to the studio. He talks about reaching his goal of dancing professionally for Bangarra Dance Theatre, making photos through an Indigenous lens, and why he doesn’t identify as an activist or a le…

In this episode, I talk to Sarah de Lange who is professor at the University of Amsterdam. We talk about her article “New Alliances: Why Mainstream Parties Govern with Radical Right-Wing Populist Parties” which was published in 2012 in Political Studies.In the article, Sarah applies theories of coalition formation to governments that formed with a …

In this episode of Portrait Session presented by Portuguese Flannel, I invited Indonesian born, Sydney based, and all-round entertainer Andrian Syah to the studio. He talks about his obsession to learn new things, his disciplined work ethic and getting out of his comfort zone in order to grow. Watch the full episode at www.meninthistown.com/podcast…

In this episode I talk to Daniel Ziblatt who is Eaton Professor of the Science of Government at Harvard University.We discuss his 2018 book How Democracies Die co-authored with Steven Levitsky. (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/562246/how-democracies-die-by-steven-levitsky-and-daniel-ziblatt/)The book investigates how authoritarian leaders …

In this episode of Portrait Session presented by Portuguese Flannel, I invited New Zealand born, Sydney based graphic designer Dan Codyre to the studio. He talks about creating work with purpose, his support for the Black Lives Matter movement, and the love of being surrounded by good people and good food. Watch the full episode at www.meninthistow…

In this episode of Portrait Session presented by Portuguese Flannel, I invited Sydney based dancer Thuba Ndibali to the studio. He talks about his love for the highly energetic dance form of Pantsula, his natural ability to teach others and finding joy in the little things in life. Watch the full episode at www.meninthistown.com/podcast. Produced b…

In this episode of Portrait Session presented by Portuguese Flannel, I invited actor, drag queen and all-around lovely human, Anthony Severino to the studio. He talks about his life in drag, the joys of being single, and how his creativity has been therapeutic for him when it comes to dealing with his Tourettes. Watch the full episode at www.menint…

In the first of a new series of Portrait Sessions presented by Portuguese Flannel, I invited Melbourne based model Nathan McGuire to the studio. He talks about growing up in Gidgegannup, Western Australia as a Wadjuk Noongar man, working as an Indigenous model in the slow yet evolving fashion industry in Australia and how we need to look in our own…

In this episode we are changing the roles and Silja Häuserman, professor of political science at the University of Zurich takes over as the host. I discuss my article “The Electoral Appeal of Party Strategies in Postindustrial Societies: When Can the Mainstream Left Succeed?” which is co-authored with Markus Wagner and came out in the Journal of Po…

In this episode, I talk to Herbert Kitschelt, who is George V. Allen Distinguished Professor of International Relations at Duke University and without a doubt one of the most influential contemporary scholars of political parties. We discuss his 1994 book “The Transformation of European Social Democracy”.In this book, Herbert explains how a second …

In this episode, I talk to Simon Hix who is Harold Laski Professor of Political Science at the Department of Government at the London School of Economics and Political Science. We discuss his article “Brexit: Where is the EU–UK Relationship Heading?” which came out in 2018.In the article, Simon analyzes different scenarios for the medium-term relat…

In this episode, I talk to Tom O’Grady who is Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science at University College London. We discuss his article “Careerists Versus Coal Miners: Welfare Reforms and the Substantive Representation of Social Groups in the British Labour Party” which was published in 2019 in Comparative Political Studies. h…

In this episode, I talk to Phillip Ayoub who is Associate Professor at Occidental College. Our conversation focuses on his book “When States Come Out: Europe’s Sexual Minorities and the Politics of Visibility” which was published with Cambridge University Press in 2016. (https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/when-states-come-out/995A1865F9062CE7B263…

In this episode, I talk to Sara Hobolt who is Sutherland Chair in European Institutions at the LSE. The conversation focuses on her 2016 article “The Brexit vote: a divided nation, a divided continent” (https://bit.ly/3dp8JG0)In this article, which was published in September 2016, so shortly after the UK decided to leave the European Union, Sara in…

In this episode, I talk to Markus Wagner, who is Professor of Quantitative Party and Election Research at the University of Vienna. Our conversation will focus on his 2014 article “Left-Authoritarians and Policy Representation in Western Europe: Electoral Choice across Ideological Dimensions” The article (https://bit.ly/3fgtHJ4) is co-authored with…

In this episode, I talk to Cas Mudde who is Stanley Wade Shelton UGAF Professor of International Affairs at the University of Georgia. The conversation will focus on his 2007 book “Populist Radical Right Parties in Europe” but we will also talk about his new book “The Far Right Today” which is not only written for an academic but also a broader aud…

In this episode, I talk to Jane Gingrich who is Associate Professor of Comparative Political Economy at the University of Oxford. Our conversation is about the changing support coalition of social democratic parties, their current electoral crisis and what all of this means for the welfare state. First, we focus on Jane’s 2015 article titled “The d…

In this episode, I talk to Catherine de Vries who is Professor of Political Science at Bocconi University. Our conversation will focus on her forthcoming book “Political Entrepreneurs: The Rise of Challenger Parties in Europe.” which is co-authored with Sara Hobolt. The book will come out this summer but you can already pre-order it with Princeton …

In this episode, I talk to Silja Häusermann who is Professor of Swiss Politics and Comparative Political Economy at the University of Zurich. We talk about the 2015 book “The Politics of Advanced Capitalism”, which is co-edited with Pablo Beramendi, Herbert Kitschelt and Hanspeter Kriesi. (https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/politics-of-advanced-c…

In this season finale, I’m bringing it home, chatting with my partner in crime and publishing creative director, Josh Beggs. Having worked in magazine publishing for over 15 years, Josh has designed and directed for a variety of mastheads including 5 years at GQ Australia and currently as Creative Director of the country’s most read magazine, The A…

In this episode, I’m chatting with Sydney based actor and creator, Edward O’Leary. Having recently studied acting at the International Screen Academy, Edward has been mesmerised by the glow of television and film since he was a kid. He always imagined himself on the screen one day, but never actually saw himself represented in Australia as a Pacifi…

In this episode, I’m chatting with videographer, musician and Triple J presenter Michael Chow. A quick flick through Michael’s Instagram stories, a listen to his 80’s influenced band Froyo or a tune into his late night radio gig, and I almost guarantee you’ll walk away with a smile on your face. When we met for our portrait session in the lobby of …

In this episode, I’m back in Sydney chatting with James Stanton-Cooke aka Jimmy HalfCut. Having been an optimistic environmentalist ever since he could remember, James and is his partner Jess travelled to South America in 2011 to volunteer in the conservation work of the Amazon Rainforest. Seeing the continued destruction of the environment, wildli…

In this episode, I’m in Melbourne chatting with illustrator Jeffrey Phillips. With a passion to draw the little things in life that go unnoticed, I immediately felt like I related to his works, observing the lives of strangers from a far. But as we sat down in his kitchen for this interview, I learned that as much as our work has us looking from a …

In this episode, I’m in Melbourne chatting with Jason Chongue and Nathan Smith, the duo behind The Plant Society. Longing to create a plant community based around their passion for design and plants, they saw a gap in the market; educating their generation about the simple skills and knowledge relating to gardening in small spaces. From local works…

In this episode, I find myself in Melbourne, chatting with Olana Janfa, a man who only first picked up a paintbrush less than a year ago, and in doing so discovered a talent he never knew he had. Born in Ethiopia, and having come of age in Norway, Olana has experienced both the hardships and joys of life but it’s his focus on the latter that brings…

In this episode, I’m chatting with theatre actor, turned director, Shaun Rennie. From early high school productions, to performing on stages around the world, Shaun’s love for the theatre runs through his veins. Although it was through the love he had for his brother that Shaun discovered directing, when he co-created Light the Night, an annual ben…

In this episode, I’m chatting with chef Jack New. Having become known relatively early in his career for using Japanese ingredients, paired with Scandinavian techniques, Jack has made a mark with his fusion cooking on a local and international level. With some failures and recent successes under his belt, we discuss the road that got him to where h…

In this episode, I’m chatting with creative entrepreneur and former collaborator of mine, Sabir Samtani. Hailing from India, Sabir made the move to Australia almost 20 years ago, with an entrepreneurial spirit influenced by his family. With a successful creative agency under his belt and a family of five, he recently joined his better half in start…

In this episode, I’m chatting with fellow photographer and MITT magazine contributor Bryce Thomas. With credits including Newsweek, 10 Magazine and The Sydney Morning Herald, Bryce is quickly garnering a reputation for his fashion and documentary style photography — this at nearly 24 years of age. We discuss finding your niche in photography, surro…

In this episode, I’m chatting with Chris Low, the founder of Big Trouble Store, an independent shop in the Sydney dedicated to selling quality made menswear from Japan and the United States. We discuss the realities of being a shop opener, redefining luxury in the menswear scene and living life on your own terms — regardless of the bumps in the roa…

In the final episode of this season, I connected with a friend of Men In This Town, Amy Tong. As a regular writer in MITT magazine since issue 5, Amy has been bringing the stories of men from Australia and around the world to life with her wonderful writing and insightful interviews. We sit down and reflect on some of her favourite features in the …

In this episode, I connected with Damien Woolnough, an Australian fashion journalist originally from Melbourne who has called Sydney home for the past several years. With a career that includes helping launch Vogue.com.au and Elle magazine in the Australian market, Damien knows what it takes to bring a media brand to life. With the recent legalisat…