🌞The all-Dad Olympic podium

I thought I’d take this opportunity to make a recommendation to my favourite newsletter readers. It’s called ‘Famous Last Words’ (on Netflix).

The premise is that a notable figure is interviewed about their life, but with a catch. The interview is only released after that person dies. Following the tragic passing of actor Eric Dane last week, Netflix has now released the interview with him (it is only the second in the series, with Jane Goodall being the first).

Now, the Good Newsletter might be a strange fit for this recommendation (spoiler: it’s an extremely sad episode). However, it served as a brilliant reminder about what’s important in life, and Dane’s perseverance was remarkable.

Let me know if you’ve watched. I’d love to discuss it!

Aussie flag-bearer Matt Graham won bronze earlier this week, taking Australia’s Winter Olympic tally to five medals for the very first time.

However, he also made history in another, incredibly wholesome way.

Graham and his fellow medallists, Canada’s Mikaël Kingsbury (gold) and Japan’s Horishima Ikuma (silver) are all fathers to young children, meaning the men’s dual moguls podium was composed entirely of dads. 

It’s not the group’s first time sharing a podium, having placed at two international competitions in the exact same order last year.

Graham said: “We’re doing it not for ourselves anymore, but for our families. It’s really special to share that moment with two fellow dads but also two very good friends.” He also credited his wife Jess for “the way she’s carried our team”. 

His fellow medallists echoed similar sentiments. Olympic champion Kingsbury said: “Instead of talking about skiing, we talk about our kids that are almost all the same age.” 

Horishima said: “In this moguls world, getting on the podium and having a family, this fact might change the image of moguls and change the sport of moguls itself.”

Anyway, enough from me. Just look at this image 😭

American figure skater Alysa Liu becomes the first American woman to win gold in women’s figure skating in 24 years. Fellow skaters Sakamoto Kaori and Nakai Ami, both from Japan, came second and third, respectively.

Bangarra Dance Theatre, an Australian dance company of professional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performers, has won the prestigious Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement in Dance.

Normally awarded to choreographers and dancers, Bangarra is the first company to win the award. It’s also the first time a group of Australian members has won the award.

The Golden Lion recognises artists who have “transformed… dance, infusing it with the vital force of their cultures.” 

Bangarra co-CEO and Mirning woman Frances Rings said: “This prestigious award also recognises all those who have come before me at Bangarra.”

Previous artistic director and Munaldjali and Nunukul man Stephen Page said: “First Peoples’ Artistic kinship system is at the core of our knowledge systems, and we are honoured to be the caretakers of our dance legacy and our continual creative dance future.” 

The Golden Lion will be handed down during the International Festival of Contemporary Dance in Venice, Italy, this Northern Hemisphere summer. 

The Irish Government has announced a scheme where the country's artists will receive €325 (around $AU540) per week.

It follows a pilot scheme where artists were given financial support so they could focus on their art, rather than on their stability. 

Research from the pilot scheme showed that artists who received the support had greater life satisfaction and were able to produce more pieces of work, with an external analysis showing for every €1 invested, society got €1.39 back.

With applications opening in May this year, the new scheme will select 2,000 eligible artists and pay them for three years. Culture Minister Patrick O’Donovan called it a “major milestone for the arts in Ireland,” adding that the scheme “will help to sustain the careers of those artists who receive it and retain their talent in the arts sector.”

Your everyday shopping choices actually matter more than you think

The Made Right Here campaign is spotlighting just how many Australian Made options exist across the things we buy all the time – and how choosing them helps back local businesses, jobs and home-grown ideas.

Next time you’re shopping, keep an eye out for the green and gold kangaroo and support what’s made right here.

Long-time readers will know we here at the Good Newsletter love Paddington Bear. It brings us joy to report that Paddington has been announced as a ceremony presenter at the BAFTAs.

Everyone’s favourite marmalade-sandwich enthusiast will be presenting the award for best children’s and family film (how fitting!) tomorrow. Paddington will appear as the puppet played by a cast of people on the West End stage at the moment. 

He is sure to outshine other attendees, including Cillian Murphy, Kate Hudson, and Michael B. Jordan.

After AI videos where dogs would choose their human to adopt went viral, an NYC shelter has recreated the concept in real life.

During ‘Love at First Wag!’ sessions, interested humans gather while large dogs enter the room. Each dog gets to interact with the group and move towards their special someone - essentially choosing their human. If interested, people go forward with the adoption process.

Grandad Sings simply leaves no stone unturned. He covers everything from ABBA to Taylor Swift, Adele to Ariana and Coldplay to Harry Styles.

Of course, my favourite video was when he covered my fave: Miss Olivia Dean.