McLaren versus – Details, episodes & analysis

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McLaren versus

Aspect Entertainment

Arts

Frequency: 1 episode/119d. Total Eps: 18

Acclaimed actor and performer Spencer McLaren offers an intimate and inspiring glimpse into the lives of Australia’s most celebrated performers going beyond the surface to discover the real stories of these exceptional individuals. Through heartfelt and candid conversations, Spencer explores their life lessons, triumphs, and challenges, to reveal the humanity behind their public personas. McLaren Versus is more than a podcast; it’s a celebration of resilience, creativity, and the incredible stories that make us who we are.

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Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

🇬🇧 Great Britain - performingArts
03/03/2026
#64
🇬🇧 Great Britain - performingArts
26/01/2026
#82
🇬🇧 Great Britain - performingArts
21/01/2026
#96
🇬🇧 Great Britain - performingArts
20/01/2026
#69
🇫🇷 France - performingArts
20/01/2026
#86
🇫🇷 France - performingArts
19/01/2026
#68
🇫🇷 France - performingArts
18/01/2026
#57
🇫🇷 France - performingArts
17/01/2026
#45
🇫🇷 France - performingArts
16/01/2026
#38
🇬🇧 Great Britain - performingArts
15/01/2026
#73

Spotify

No recent rankings available

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

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https://www.instagram.com/mclarenversus
32 shares
https://www.instagram.com/damon.gameau
2 shares
https://www.instagram.com/anuchristine
2 shares

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RSS feed quality

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Score global : 63%

Publication history

Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.

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Latest published episodes

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Kate Mulvany: Story, Strength & Shakespeare

Season 1 · Episode 9

Monday, September 1, 2025 • Duration 01:00:40

In this episode of McLaren Versus, Spencer sits down with acclaimed Australian actor, playwright and screenwriter Kate Mulvany to talk about the craft of storytelling, the challenges of living and working with chronic pain, and what it means to reimagine Shakespeare through the lens of disability — all the way to sharing the screen with Al Pacino.

Topics discussed:

Tim Minchin sleeping on her couch
Workign with superstars Baz Luhrman, Robbie WIlliams and Al Pacino
Embodying Richard III and reframing disability as strength
What makes a great performance
What it truly means to be a storyteller - telling her truth around agent orange, cancer and accoutnability
Living and wokring with chronic pain
Advocacy for disability representation in the arts

Follow Kate Mulvany https://www.instagram.com/katemulvany/

Like, Comment & Subscribe If you love real stories hit the like button, subscribe to the channel, and drop a comment about your favourite Kate role.

KateMulvany #McLarenVersus #SpencerMcLaren

This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

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Marina Prior: Voice of a Generation | McLaren Versus

Season 1 · Episode 8

Monday, August 25, 2025 • Duration 50:57

On this episode of McLaren Versus, Spencer welcomes Marina Prior—the first lady of Australian musical theatre, whose voice and artistry have defined a generation of stage and concert performance.

From her star-making turn in The Phantom of the Opera to a remarkable career spanning the country’s biggest productions, Marina reflects on the natural arc of her journey—moving from ingénue roles sung with youthful clarity to embracing the depth and texture of complex character parts as her career matured.

It’s a conversation about artistry, adaptation, and the enduring magic of storytelling through song.

Topics Discussed:

Discovering music and performance as a young girl in Melbourne
Breaking through with The Phantom of the Opera and other landmark roles
The transition from ingénue to character roles
The discipline and daily rituals behind maintaining a world-class instrument
How motherhood and family shaped her artistry and perspective
Why live theatre remains her truest creative home

Follow Marina Prior Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ms_marina_prior

This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

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Trailer | McLaren Versus with Spencer McLaren

Season 1

Sunday, July 20, 2025 • Duration 01:03

McLaren Versus is your ‘Access All Areas’ pass to meet the people behind the stories through candid conversations with household names that reveal life lessons, triumphs, and challenges, showcasing the humanity behind public personas. It’s a new Australian podcast that celebrates resilience, creativity, and the stories that define a life well-lived.

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BONUS EPISODE: McLaren Vs ABC

Season 1

Wednesday, July 23, 2025 • Duration 10:18

I popped into ABC to spill the tea with Mary Gearin about McLaren Versus — turns out I talk as much as my guests!

This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

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Damon Gameau: Stories for a Living Planet

Season 1 · Episode 7

Monday, August 11, 2025 • Duration 44:53

In this episode of McLaren Versus, Spencer sits down with actor, filmmaker, and passionate change agent Damon Gameau, whose journey from beloved screen star to globally recognised impact storyteller is nothing short of remarkable.

From the runaway success of That Sugar Film to the world-building optimism of 2040, Damon shares his insights into the craft of storytelling with purpose—and what it means to be an artist who refuses to stay in their lane.

It’s a conversation about courage, creativity, and the belief that stories can quite literally change the world.

Topics Discussed:

From the hills iof Adelaide to a boat ride with Sophia Loren
What sparked Damon’s pivot from acting to impact filmmaking
How storytelling can reframe complex global challenges
The emotional intelligence behind his approach to documentary
The risks and rewards of telling stories that challenge the status quo
Why hope is a strategy—and how to keep it alive

Links mentioned in this episode:

https://futurecouncil.global/

Follow Damon Gameau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damon.gameau/

Like, Comment & Subscribe If you love real stories hit the like button, subscribe to the channel, and drop a comment about your favourite Damon film or doco.

DamonGameau #FutureCouncil #McLarenVersus #SpencerMcLaren

This podcast is hosted by

Heather Mitchell: A Portrait of Quiet Courage

Season 1 · Episode 6

Monday, August 4, 2025 • Duration 52:01

In this episode of McLaren Versus, Spencer sits down with acclaimed Australian actor, author and 'Toast' artist (yes vegemite and toast...) Heather Mitchell to talk about strength, stagecraft, and stepping into the shoes of one of history’s most formidable women.

Topics discussed: 1.Building a career in Australian film, TV, and theatre

Longevity, leadership, and lifting others as you go
Making space for joy, grief, and everything in between

Follow Heather instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladyheathermitchell

Like, Comment & Subscribe If you love real stories from real Aussie talent, hit the like button, subscribe to the channel, and drop a comment about your favourite Heather Mitchell role.

heathermitchell #McLarenVersus #SpencerMcLaren

This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

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Christine Anu: Between Two Worlds

Season 1 · Episode 5

Monday, July 28, 2025 • Duration 42:04

In this episode of McLaren Versus, Spencer sits down with the trailblazing singer, actor, and cultural icon Christine Anu to talk about the power of representation, the responsibility of platform, and the joy of telling stories through music, stage, and screen.

Christine reflects on a lifetime of breaking ground as a proud Torres Strait Islander woman in the Australian arts industry, the personal meaning behind her most iconic performances, and how she continues to evolve as an artist, activist, and mother. It’s heart, heritage, and a little bit harmony.

Topics discussed:

The legacy of My Island Home and singing for a nation
Juggling fame, family, and cultural responsibility
The power of music to drive change and connect community

Follow Christine Anu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anuchristine/

Like, Comment & Subscribe If you love real stories from real Aussie talent, hit the like button, subscribe to the channel, and drop a comment about your favourite Chrsitnie Anu role.

ChristineAnu #McLarenVersus #SpencerMcLaren

This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

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Eddie Perfect: Broadway. Beetlejuice. Bloody brilliant. | McLaren Versus with Spencer McLaren

Season 1 · Episode 4

Monday, July 21, 2025 • Duration 49:19

In this episode of McLaren Versus, Spencer sits down with the multi-hyphenate performer, composer, and writer to talk about what drives his creativity, the challenges of making work that divides opinion, and the thrill (and chaos) of taking on Broadway with Beetlejuice and King Kong.

Eddie reflects on the highs and heartbreaks of showbiz, the importance of holding your nerve as an artist, and how he balances family life, personal growth, and staying creatively fed. It’s a little bit rock and roll.

Topics discussed: 1.The bold leap from Aussie TV to Broadway musicals

What it really takes to build a life in the arts
Writing Beetlejuice: pressure, praise, and persistence

Follow Eddie Perfect Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edmundperfect/

Like, Comment & Subscribe If you love real stories from real Aussie talent, hit the like button, subscribe to the channel, and drop a comment about your favourite Eddie Perfect role.

EddiePerfect #McLarenVersus #SpencerMcLaren

This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

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Murray Bartlett: Fame, Freedom & Finding Home | McLaren Versus

Season 1 · Episode 3

Monday, July 14, 2025 • Duration 45:36

From Perth to Primetime, Murray Bartlett has carved a career defined by quiet intensity, emotional depth, and unflinching honesty. In this deeply engaging conversation, Spencer sits down with the Emmy-winning actor behind The White Lotus, Looking, and The Last of Us to unpack the journey behind the performances.

Murray shares the realities of life as a working actor before the big break, how he navigated identity in the public eye, and what it means to find success—and peace—later in life. It’s a conversation about craft, queerness, and carving your own path in an industry that often resists change.

In this episode:

From Sydney to New York—Murray’s long road to recognition
Behind The White Lotus and the role that changed everything
Queer storytelling and why it still matters
How home keeps him balanced

Links & Mentions:

Follow Murray Bartlett Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/murray.bartlett/

This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

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Pia Miranda: The Girl Who Grew Into Herself

Season 1 · Episode 2

Tuesday, July 8, 2025 • Duration 41:06

In this heartfelt episode of McLaren Versus, Spencer sits down with the unforgettable Pia Miranda—an actress who became a national treasure after portraying Josie in the landmark Australian film Looking for Alibrandi.

Now, decades on, Pia reflects on the career-defining role that launched her, the challenges of navigating fame at a young age, and how she’s embraced reinvention through motherhood, reality TV (yes, she won Survivor), and continued creative growth.

Spencer and Pia talk about identity, resilience, and the deeply personal moments that have shaped her as both an artist and a woman.

In this episode:

The enduring impact of Looking for Alibrandi
What fame felt like as a young woman in the spotlight
Get thee to a nunnery... or not!
Surviving SURVIVOR
Unemployment and creative reinvention in the arts

Links & Mentions:

Follow Pia Miranda Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/_piamiranda/

Like, Comment & Subscribe If you love real stories from real Aussie talent, hit the like button, subscribe to the channel, and drop a comment about your favourite Piua Miranda role

EddiePerfect #McLarenVersus #SpencerMcLaren

This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm