Take 5

ABC Australia
Take 5
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404 episodes

  • Take 5

    Alexei Toliopoulos shares the soundtrack to his life

    16/04/2026 | 49 mins.
    Alexei Toliopoulos is a lifelong cinephile. Known for his excellent podcasts including The Last Video Store, he’s a writer, comedian, filmmaker and loves talking about the movies that made us who we are today. The way he speaks about cinema invites everyone into the conversation. But what are the songs that soundtrack his life? And why?
    Dig into a joyful convo that will have you curating a playlist of songs and movies, for your weekend.
    Alexei Toliopoulos' song choices:
    Stewart Copeland - Don’t Box Me In 
    George Dalaras - Mi Mou Thimonis Matia Mou
    Mikis Theodorakis - Theme from Serpico 
    Buena Vista Social Club - Dos Gardenias
    Grace Jones  - La Vie En Rose
    00:26 Alexei Toliopoulos introduction
    01:38 When did Alexei fall in love with movies?
    05:29 Francis Ford Coppola deep cuts
    13:54 Stewart Copeland - 'Don’t Box Me In'
    15:40 Coming of Age and George Dalaras 
    21:40 George Dalaras - 'Mi Mou Thimonis Matia Mou'
    24:05 Mikis and the hero of Greek music 
    30:02 Mikis Theodorakis - 'Theme from Serpico'
    31:15 Seeing the world through cinema 
    36:41 Buena Vista Social Club - 'Dos Gardenias'
    37:36 How cinema helped Alexei with communication
    45:20 Grace Jones  - 'La Vie En Rose'
    47:32 Show notes and next weeks guest!
    Check out Alexei's podcast and live show details, via his Instagram.
  • Take 5

    Gillian Welch and David Rawlings Take 5 with time

    09/04/2026 | 53 mins.
    Thirty years ago the world met Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. Their debut album Revival introduced us to two incredible storytellers, singers and guitarists, and in the three decades since they’ve swept us away in song.
    It's long been on my bucket list to have them Take 5, and finally here it is. When thinking on a theme, I landed on time. Time, and their ruminations on time, have always swirled in their songs. They love old-time music, and take their time in getting your own songs right. How they responded to the theme, is one for the ages.
    Settle in for a deep, insightful, and intoxicating conversation with two of music's best.
    Gillian Welch and David Rawlings' song choices:
    Robert Johnson - Love in Vain 
    The Stanley Brothers - Rank Strangers
    Townes Van Zandt - Pancho and Lefty (Live at the Old Quarter)
    The Carter Family & Johnny Cash - Will the Circle Be Unbroken
    John Prine - Angel From Montgomery 
    00:55 Gillian Welch and David Rawlings introduction
    01:52 Three decades since the release of 'Revival'
    08:44 Choosing Robert Johnson
    12:32 Robert Johnson - 'Love in Vain'
    13:22 O Brother Where Art Thou
    18:07 Working with The Stanley Brothers
    17:59 The Stanley Brothers - 'Rank Strangers'
    26:13 Raw versions of songs
    28:10 Townes Van Zandt - 'Pancho and Lefty (Live at the Old Quarter)'
    32:35 Recording things as live
    34:32 The Carter Family & Johnny Cash - 'Will the Circle Be Unbroken'
    40:37 Gillian and David finding their harmony
    44:33 Hope for something better
    48:48 John Prine - 'Angel From Montgomery'
    51:33 Show notes and next weeks guest!
  • Take 5

    Ed Le Brocq's songs on the road

    02/04/2026 | 46 mins.
    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
  • Take 5

    Tim Rogers Takes 5 with "a living"

    26/03/2026 | 49 mins.
    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/
  • Take 5

    Lizzy Hoo's life escapades

    19/03/2026 | 51 mins.
    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/

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About Take 5

The Take 5 is a music podcast where the people you love, share five songs they love. Each guest has a different theme, and the memories attached to their most beloved songs flip them to fan mode, often giving a rare insight into their creative heart. Hosted by Zan Rowe.
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