VAN Talks Podcast
Victorian Aboriginal News
Outreach Signals
Publishing Details
About This Podcast
Heading back to our roots and building on the work we undertook in the leadup to the 2023 Referendum, Victorian Aboriginal News (VAN) Talks focuses on the positivity that is Aboriginal Victoria. Covering everything from Voice, Treaty and Truth and Reconciliation through to Aboriginal businesses and Traditional Owner initiatives, the VAN Talks podcast is the only podcast that travels across the State to deliver interviews and stories that are the truth of Aboriginal Victoria.
Podcasting 2.0 Features
Explore Statistics
Recent Episodes
S4E32 S04-E32: Federal advocacy at last for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people
Send a textWith legislation before Parliament to cement the powers of the Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, we catch up with country's first…
S4E31 S04-E31: Election 2026 - The future of Treaty in Victoria
Send a textArguably one of the most important Assembly elections, the 2026 election for "Assembly 3.0" kicks off on the 21st of March. We catch up with the people responsible for running and…
S4E30 S04-E30: Blak firefighters taking prominence across Victoria
Send a textWith Fire Rescue Victoria recognising the need for a more culturally appropriate workspace and overall operational environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander firefighters, VAN's…
S4E29 S04-E29: Supporting growth in the Victorian Blak business space
Send a textOne of the fundamental cornerstones of First Nations self-determination is economic independence; and the Kinaway Chamber of Commerce in Victoria is fundamental to that. VAN's Charles…
S4E28 S04-E28: Advocating for a strong Victorian Blak music industry
Send a textWith the music industry becoming increasingly competitive and difficult for young artists, VAN's Charles Pakana catches up with the General Manager of Songlines, a Blak-led organisation…
S4E27 S04-E27: Blak media - Koori Mail editor Todd Condie
Send a textAs we continue to explore the importance of Blak media in Australia, VAN's Charles Pakana catches up for a yarn with the editor of Koori Mail, Todd Condie.
S4E26 S04-E26: Elections 2026 - Setting the stage for the future of Treaty in Victoria
Send a textWith the announcement made for the next elections to be held for the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria - 3.0 - we're looking at significant moves forward in the Victorian Treaty…
S4E25 S04-E25: Join the 2026 Walk for national truth-telling
Send a textAs ex-Yoorrook Commissioner Travis Lovett works on his next Walk for Truth - this time at a national level - he joins VAN's Charles Pakana to discuss the need for this, as well as how…
S4E24 S04-E24: The path to Treaty from the Minister's perspective
Send a textJust three days before her resignation from Cabinet comes into effect, the Minister for Treaty and First Nations, Natalie Hutchins MP, speaks with VAN's Charles Pakana about her…
S4E23 S04-E23: First Nations story-telling carries culture and lore
Send a textIncreasingly - and fortunately - a new age of "digital" story-telling professionals are emerging to ensure stories are protected from the ravages of time. VAN catches up with one such…
S4E22 S04-E22: Victorian Traditional Owners speak out on Victoria's critical minerals mining
Send a textAs the need and demand for critical minerals increases, we catch up with the CEO of the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owners Cooperation, Kaley Nicholson, about the state government…
S4E21 S04-E21: The realities and implications of misinformation and disinformation
Send a textIn an apparent age of misinformation and disinformation, particularly evident during the 2023 Referendum on a First Nations Voice to Parliament, VAN's Charles Pakana catches up with NITV's…
S4E20 S04-E20: Honest allyship with reconciliation groups in regional Victoria
Send a textRegarded by many as a fairly "redneck" area, Shepparton is home to one of the longest-serving and effective local reconciliation efforts - the Shepparton Region Reconciliation Group. VAN's…
S4E19 S04-E19: Local Treaties in Victoria - what you should know
Send a textTreaty Authority member, Biripi woman Duean White talks with Victorian Aboriginal News about local Treaties, and what local governments and organisations can do to better understand and…
S4E18 S04-E18: Blackfire hits the ground running with new album
Send a textFeaturing three great tracks from the band's latest album, Solar Eclipse, this interview has VAN's Charles Pakana yarning with Blackfire co-founder, rhythm guitarist, songwriter and…
S4E17 S04-E17: First Nations businesses encouraged to break into export markets
Send a textWe catch up with Austrade's first Head of Indigenous Engagement and Export, Yuin woman Melanie Harris, to discuss First Nations businesses making headway in international trade
S4E16 S04-E16: Stolen Generations survivor Aunty Evajo Edwards sheds new light on Victoria Police
Send a textFrom being taken from her home and family in 1969 by Victoria Police, Stolen Generations survivor Aunty Evajo Edwards now works as an Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer with that same…
S4E15 S04-E15: Victorian Treaty Deep Dive with Rueben Berg (Part 3 of 3)
Send a textWe conclude our extended interview with Gunditjmara man and co-Chair of the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, Rueben Berg, deep-diving into Treaty legislation and the Treaty itself.
S4E14 S04-E14: Victorian Treaty Deep Dive with Rueben Berg (Part 2 of 3)
Send a textWe continue out deep-dive into the Victorian Treaty Legislation and proposed Treaty with Gunditjmara man and co-Chair of the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, Rueben Berg.
S4E13 S04-E13: Victorian Treaty Deep Dive with Rueben Berg (Part 1 of 3)
Send a textWe're rapt that Victorian Aboriginal News was chosen by the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria to interview co-Chair Rueben Berg for a deep dive into the Victorian Treaty Legislation and…
Frequently Asked Questions
VAN Talks Podcast has published 152 episodes since January 2023, covering topics in Government, News.
VAN Talks Podcast is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 20m.
Similar Podcasts
The Lincoln Project
The Lincoln Project
600 episodes
Hacks On Tap
Vox Media
379 episodes
Politics War Room with James Carville & Al Hunt
Politicon
375 episodes
5-4
Prologue Projects
315 episodes
Native Land Pod
iHeartPodcasts and Reasoned Choice
369 episodes
Call Me Back - with Dan Senor
Ark Media
517 episodes