Episode one revisits the history-making moment when the Aboriginal Flag was translated into a new digital genmoji form. “The flag is powerful because it represents survival. It’s a symbol that can never be erased,” said Sultan. Psembi Kinstan, Chief Creative Officer of DDB Group, added: “We all can be proud of that flag and we all should feel the ability to use it as Australians—in a respectful way, of course.”
From there, the series journeys into projects with Australia Post, HarperCollins, and BKK Architects, opening a dialogue on what it takes to do cross-cultural work well. As Tyrown Waigana reflected, “Respect feels like giving me flexibility and valuing my opinion as a professional—not just shifting the brief mid-way.”
For clients, the podcast reveals how cultural safety and respect transform projects. Mond Qu of United Make explained: “Working with First Nations artists is about curiosity and respect. It’s not tokenistic—it’s about building real relationships over time.”
In episode three, Gudanji/Wakaja artist and designer Ryhia Dank shares how she both wrote and illustrated the children’s book Learning Country, blending typography and place-based storytelling. “Keeping our stories and telling our stories is how we keep our culture and our language alive,” she said. Her client, Mark Campbell of HarperCollins, reflected: “It’s a privilege to be invited to work with someone whose culture is ultimately Australian—it completely changes how you see your country.”
Episode four shifts focus to large-scale public projects, including a striking 38-metre-long installation at RMIT’s Super Labs. For artist Enoki (Darcy McConnell), it was a chance to showcase First Nations STEM knowledges: “I wanted to draw on knowledges that aren’t really well known, bringing First Nations science and STEM to the surface.”
For BKK Architects, who commissioned the work, embedding respect was non-negotiable. Practice Manager Missy Saleeba explained: “The most respectful thing we can do is start with Country—identify Traditional Owners, reach out, and build relationships.”
All episodes are now live on major podcast platforms.
