Two Words with Taku-logo

Two Words with Taku

Arts & Culture Podcasts

Hi, I'm Taku Mbudzi and I love to tell stories — give me a pen, a microphone or a camera and I’ll have something to say. For Season 3, I'm featuring people in my personal writing community whose words inspire, humble and challenge me to create and live better. Two Words with Taku is a show about writing, but unlike other shows about writing, only we are the pit stop for writers you’ve never heard of, giving them rest when they’re about to give up on their words and extra fuel for when they’re ready to keep writing. Podcast recorded in Melbourne, Australia.

Hi, I'm Taku Mbudzi and I love to tell stories — give me a pen, a microphone or a camera and I’ll have something to say. For Season 3, I'm featuring people in my personal writing community whose words inspire, humble and challenge me to create and live better. Two Words with Taku is a show about writing, but unlike other shows about writing, only we are the pit stop for writers you’ve never heard of, giving them rest when they’re about to give up on their words and extra fuel for when they’re ready to keep writing. Podcast recorded in Melbourne, Australia.

Location:

Australia

Description:

Hi, I'm Taku Mbudzi and I love to tell stories — give me a pen, a microphone or a camera and I’ll have something to say. For Season 3, I'm featuring people in my personal writing community whose words inspire, humble and challenge me to create and live better. Two Words with Taku is a show about writing, but unlike other shows about writing, only we are the pit stop for writers you’ve never heard of, giving them rest when they’re about to give up on their words and extra fuel for when they’re ready to keep writing. Podcast recorded in Melbourne, Australia.

Twitter:

@takuspeaks

Language:

English

Contact:

0403931636

Episodes

Season 3 — So you call yourself a writer? [Raw edit]

11/21/2020
So, you call yourself a writer, huh? Where’ve you been published? Can we watch your films? What’s on your IMDB profile? Oh... you’ve self-published… on your blog? Oh, you’re just, sort of starting out? Oh, so are you even a real writer? Ignore all that. You are a writer. You love words. You find them delicious and eat them for breakfast. You love putting them together and tearing them apart. You love testing and teasing them. You. Love. Words. Except sometimes your own words terrify you....

Duration:00:03:16

Episode 100 — Answering Your Podcasting Questions on Instagram LIVE

7/16/2020
Episode 100! I finally took to Instagram LIVE to answer your burning questions about podcasting. Watch the whole video, complete with show-and-tell of my recording gear at https://www.instagram.com/takumbudzi. Thank you for listening and supporting Two Words with Taku since 2017 — here's to 100 more episodes! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:55:48

99 Episodes but a TV Show Ain't One

4/25/2020
I've finally made it to Episode 99 of this podcast! Here's a quick update on what's happening with my TV stuff and what I'm planning for my 100th podcast episode. Thanks for listening and stay safe! x See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:11:15

Pitch Perfectin' with Producer and Filmmaker Sher-Li Tan

11/15/2019
"Pitching is a verbal way of selling your story, and I like to leave something visual so they remember my pitch." — Sher-Li Tan I thought I was the Queen of Pitch Preparation until I met producer and filmmaker Sher-Li Tan. We first met at YouTube conference VidCon and she blew me away with how passionately she spruiked her projects. In this episode we talk about how she prepares for pitching her shows — everything from the documents she creates to how she researches her audience and the...

Duration:00:44:55

Short Courses with Wendy Gray, AFTRS Head of Industry Program

11/15/2019
"Children's television is wonderful for people starting out in the industry because there tends to be more opportunity for people who don't have a long list of credits." — Wendy Gray I've fast-tracked a few skills after discovering the short courses offered by the Australian Film Television Radio School (AFTRS). In this episode, I chat to Wendy Gray from AFTRS about their courses and who they're designed for. We also chat about Wendy's career in the screen industry, including her extensive...

Duration:00:23:46

Chain of Title with Lawyer Dee Mbugua

11/14/2019
"…without the proper documentation proving the ownership of the work, there’s no protection from legal action." The world of television is full of great ideas and magic...and contracts and legal agreements that underpin how all that magic comes together. In this episode, lawyer Dee Mbugua explains what 'chain of title' means and why it's so important in the media industry. She also gives useful tips for seeking legal advice, especially when it comes to the fineprint. If in doubt, don't make...

Duration:00:25:45

Writers' Guild with Screenwriter and Podcaster Evrim Şen

11/14/2019
"The way that we can tell stories if we use audio, specifically fiction, is so interesting and diverse. Audio is such a freeing medium." I joined the Australian Writers’ Guild (AWG) so I could meet inspiring young screenwriters like Evrim Şen. We met at an Animation Writing Workshop and hit it off instantly — we're both fired up about stories for and about young people. In this episode, Evrim shares how joining the AWG is helping her writing career and how things are different in real-life...

Duration:00:26:43

Authentic Voices with Vlogger and LGBQTI+ Advocate AJ Clementine

11/13/2019
"I love that this younger generation is being more expressive and feeling their emotions, instead of trying to not feel things. " We keep hearing that we need more authentic voices telling their own stories. But what does that look like when you’re creating a TV show with different characters? How do you, as a writer, make their stories feel authentic, if you haven’t personally lived those experiences? In this episode, I chat candidly with YouTuber and content creator AJ Clementine about why...

Duration:00:42:26

Writers' Rooms with Screenwriter and Script Editor Wendy Hanna

11/11/2019
"Read scripts from the shows you like and shows you don't like. Have a good look at how they lay things out. " Wendy Hanna's episode is full of great tips about writing, finding other writers, growing your community of writers and even entering writing competitions. Hear how we first met at an Animation Writing Workshop and how the mock writers' room she created inspired me to re-think how I'd find writers for my show. Podcast Guest Profile Wendy Hanna is an AWGie nominated screenwriter and...

Duration:00:40:44

Funding Films with Filmmaker and Director Hawanatu Bangura

11/6/2019
"The key thing is, these funding bodies want you to contact them. They'll give you the time to explain what's required because they want people to succeed as well. " How can you fund your creative projects whilst working a day job? Who do you need on your team to make your funding applications more competitive? How important is it to create a proof of concept to get more funding? In this episode I chat to filmmaker Hawanatu about how she's managed to get her films and web series made. We...

Duration:00:39:32

Managing Money with Xero Australia's Amanda Newton

11/4/2019
"Don't settle for a relationship with your accountant or bookkeeper that isn't working for you. " I know too many artists and creative people who don't feel comfortable talking about money — how much to charge, how to get more of it, how to manage it, how to grow it etc. I've finally had to confront my own fears and insecurities about money because my creative projects need proper funding to happen. In this episode I share how I manage the finances in my production company and how I...

Duration:00:37:52

Producer Life with International Emmy Award Winner Meg O'Connell

10/28/2019
"You keep the ship afloat by making sure everyone feels heard and happy." I met Meg O'Connell last year at Screen Forever, a conference hosted by Screen Producers Australia. When I found out she'd worked on Doodles, a kids' show I'd been following, I asked if I could pick her brain about 'producer stuff'. She agreed! In this episode, Meg shares how she went from studying law to working in the screen industry. We also discuss what it's really like being a TV producer and her fun experiences...

Duration:00:35:19

Pitch Bibles with Screenwriter and Script Producer John Armstrong

10/28/2019
‘You’re selling the sizzle, not the steak.” My first guest in Season 2 of the podcast is screenwriter, script producer and script editor John Armstrong. We first met at a screenwriters’ pitch event in Sydney in 2017 and have since co-created a teen drama series which is in early stage development. In this episode we discuss what goes into different story bibles from the pitch ones used to sell a television show, to the more detailed series or writers’ bible used to help writers before and...

Duration:00:55:48

Take Two — Finally Making TV

8/26/2019
Last November I applied for PRX‘s Google Podcasts Creator program, pitching the second season of Two Words with Taku. My pitch made it to the semi-finalist round out of 1000s of applications from around the world (OMG!), but I didn’t end up getting in. This trailer’s the audio sample I submitted to them and LOTS has happened since then. You’ll have to tune in this September to find out! Excerpts from my Google Podcasts creator application I’ve talked about pitching podcasts before, and I...

Duration:00:01:26

Episode 87 – Editor Sophie Kalagas on how to submit eye-catching articles to frankie magazine

12/7/2018
So you’ve got an idea for a killer article you’d like to see in your favourite magazine? Sophie Kalagas, editor at frankie magazine shares some simple tips about how to get your submissions noticed. We recorded this episode in her lovely home and Woody, her friendly puppy, is the happy addition you’ll sometimes hear in the background. Find frankie’s contributor guidelines at https://www.frankie.com.au/submissions and see Sophie’s world at https://www.instagram.com/skalagas. And lastly, a big...

Duration:00:39:03

Episode 86 – Candid Chat about Fear, Creativity and Writing with Claire Tonti

9/12/2018
Facing fear. Writing. More fear. Standup comedy. Zimbo politics. Aussie politics. Jokes about my Mama. Feminism. Typos in sexts. Working with kids. Developing TV characters. Running a company. Story. Creative freedom. And laughter…lots of laughter! Yep, this and more in my hearty chat with Claire for her podcast Just Make the Thing. The original episode first aired on Just Make the Thing on 28 August. It’s played in its entirety in this episode and I’d like to thank Claire for generously...

Duration:01:05:13

Episode 85 – Lessons from Producing a Podcast for Young Public Speakers

7/30/2018
Look Ma – I’m producing! The Youth Affairs Council of Western Australia (YACWA) invited me to train 15 young people in public speaking and I suggested we also make a podcast with their short speeches. In this episode I share what I learnt from creating the Shout Out Youth Speakers podcast. I’d like to thank all the young speakers, YACWA, audio engineer Percy Kalino and sound editor Josh Martin for all their magic. Special note: I play Habiba’s speech at the end of this episode. You’ll also...

Duration:00:28:06

Episode 84 – Book Review: Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

6/25/2018
Dear Tomi, this is the most biased book review I’ve ever given. But I absolutely loved reading Children of Blood and Bone! In this episode I share why I’m excited by the magical words woven into this African-inspired fantasy novel. I also share a snippet from Tomi’s Good Morning America interview with Robin Roberts which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-r2g_UQ1Ak. Follow Tomi’s words and fun writing advice at http://www.tomiadeyemi.com or follow @tadeyemibooks on...

Duration:00:15:45

Episode 83 – How podcasting is growing my tribe of fellow writers and storytellers

6/8/2018
Finding and growing your tribe is a two-way street. Yes, I know that doesn’t make grammatical sense, but hear me out as I explain how this podcast is connecting me to people I’m excited about…and people who are excited about me too. I go through 13 questions that might help you suss out where your tribespeople are hiding too. A special thank you to Yumi Stynes, Kelly Glover, Lilly Wang and Rajesh Bhardwaj who shared a few thoughts after the VIVID Sydney event, “How to Make a Hit Podcast.”...

Duration:01:11:14

Episode 82 – I finally found my book illustrator for JoYOLO

6/3/2018
The book based on my radio play is coming soon! JoYOLO by Taku and Peo. Omg I’m dying! I recorded this impromptu episode in a park the other day. Disclaimer: it’s raw and unedited! Then I made this quick little video – sorry the music is so loud and dramatic but I was in ridic feeeeeels after a meeting with illustrator Peo Michie and our publisher. https://youtu.be/4LurzLhVmgI I’m also planning to make a little doco series of how Peo and I are going to make this killer book about two girls...

Duration:00:05:41

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