From A to Triple Zed

An original 4ZZZ podcast series diving into the station's archives to explore the patchwork past, cultural significance and incredible stories of Brisbane community radio 4ZZZ.

Last refreshed: July 1st, 2025 at 2:49 AM

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Episodes

S1E6 - The Punk Marketplace

The Punk Marketplace The future is bright for 4ZZZ, but sometimes we get stuck in the golden days. Honestly, could you blame us? After all, there was lots to be excited about in the age of Market Day festivals and the collective - where 4ZZZ was run by it's members as opposed to one person or set committee. But now those days are over, so where did we go from there? Where are we now? And what's gotten us through these ups and downs? Hear about the golden days and bright future of 4ZZZ in the lat...

Apr 22, 2021•33 min•Season 1Ep. 6

S1E5 - Queering the Airwaves for 30 years

Queering the Airwaves Gaywaves was a lifeline for queer people in Brisbane in the early 90s. Listeners from out of town would drive just within range of the 4ZZZ signal every Wednesday evening to be part of an accepting community - in fact they still do. 4ZZZ has had continuously running programming for the queer community in Queer Radio & Dykes on Mics since the early 1990s, both programs are still on air to this day. In this episode, hear the story of Gai Lemon who was an announcer on Gayw...

Mar 11, 2021•35 min•Season 1Ep. 5

S1E4 - How Triple J Stole the Hottest 100 (well... kind of)

As 4ZZZ entered the 1990s, there was a whole lot of change afoot. We had been forced to find a new home after being booted from the University of Queensland, we had little to no cash or volunteers, and another public radio station in Sydney was about to go national - and make a 4ZZZ tradition their own. The music you hear in this episode is from the compilation album 'Behind the Banana Curtain', from Brisbane artists like Regurgitator, Screamfeeder, Batswing Saloon and more. From A to Triple Zed...

Feb 11, 2021•31 min•Season 1Ep. 4

Bonus episode: what led to the Boggo Road riots of 1986

Episode Notes Hear the original 1986 report by 4ZZZ journalist Claire Grenet into the second major riots of the decade at Brisbane's notorious Boggo Road Gaol, which would be permanently shutdown just 3 years later. The music you can hear in this episode is 'The Girls' by Xero. The bonus episode has been produced by Scott Mercer, and the original report was produced for Brisbane Line in 1986 by Claire Grenet. Brisbane Line is one of the longest running programs on 4ZZZ, you can listen to Brisban...

Jan 20, 2021•23 min

Bonus episode: the full Billy Bragg interview

Episode Notes Hear Kristin's uncut interview with the Bard of Barking: Billy Bragg. If you enjoy this, go back and listen to the episode 'Billy Bragg and the Deep North'. If you want to hear more from Kristin Black listen her radio program on 'Heyday' 4ZZZ, on demand here : http://4zzz.org.au/program/hey-d ay You can hear snippets of Billy's track 'Love Gets Dangerous' performed live at the Easts Leagues Club in Brisbane's southern suburbs in 1987, recorded by 4ZZZ. From A to Triple Zed was prod...

Jan 13, 2021•54 min

Looking back at the Murri Hour, Part 2

Episode Notes Go even deeper into the music, voices and politics from the Murri Hour program with Warinkil Aunty Glenice Croft and Shellar MB Barney Croft as they take you through the pioneering radio program helped establish on 4ZZZ in the 1980s. What began as a short shift for First Nations voices on 102.1FM in 1984 grew into an hours-long block of Murri perspectives by the late 80s, and eventually led to the establishment of the Brisbane Indigenous Media Association that still exists today (9...

Dec 10, 2020

S1E1 - Good Morning, Mr Petersen

Episode Notes The 4ZZZ newsroom asked questions daily of Queensland's notorious premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen. Through the riots, protests and police intimidation, an unstoppable group of 4ZZZ journalists remained bent on exposing the murky underbelly of Queensland politics during the Bjelke-Petersen reign, which would be a laughing stock if the consequences weren't so serious. Thanks to Xero, Ironing Music, The Parameters and Ups & Downs for letting us use their music throughout this episode....

Dec 09, 2020•Season 1Ep. 1

S1E2 - Billy Bragg and the Deep North

Episode Notes In the Deep North - the conservative Brisbane of the 1970s & 80s - 4ZZZ was the radio station that spoke directly to the disenchanted, told their stories and played their music. Not only did 4ZZZ champion local bands on air, they brought acts to Brisbane at a time when international - even interstate - touring artists would overlook the city. That's how Billy Bragg, the bard of the working class, ended up at the Easts Leagues Club on a sweltering evening in March 1987 for a 4ZZ...

Dec 09, 2020•28 min•Season 1Ep. 2

S1E3 - Looking back at the Murri Hour

Episode Notes What began as a short shift for First Nations voices on 102.1FM in 1984 grew into an hours-long block of Murri perspectives by the late 80s, and eventually led to the establishment of the Brisbane Indigenous Media Association that still exists today (98.9FM on the dial). In this episode you will hear speakers like Warinkil Aunty Glenice Barney Croft, Shellar MB Barney Croft, Selwyn Johnson, Mervin Riley, Alfred Shillingsworth, Vanessa Fisher, Hedley Johnson, Bob Weatherall, Charlie...

Dec 09, 2020•21 min•Season 1Ep. 3

Brisbane in stereo: the passion, punks and politics of a city coalesce

Episode Notes From A to Triple Zed dives into the archives of 4ZZZ (otherwise known as 'Triple Zed') to hear how one community radio station has been shaped by the passion, punks and politics of Brisbane over 45 years. This episode is a taste of what's to come - from how our fiercely independent newsroom thrived under a corrupt Queensland government through the 1980s, to the legendary 4ZZZ gigs in the halls, pubs and rugby clubs of Brisbane to how oppressed communities found a platform on the st...

Nov 25, 2020

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