When Robbie Mann sings his song "Home," something remarkable happens. Though he might be standing in Brisbane's Queen Street Mall, in his mind he's transported to the red dirt roads of Joskeleigh, the South Sea Islander community where his family has lived for generations. It's this powerful connection between place, identity and artistic expression that forms the beating heart of our conversation.

A Durumbal man with deep ties to Vanuatu and New Caledonia, Robbie takes us on an intimate journey through his childhood, his musical roots singing in church with his siblings and his ongoing mission to preserve Australian South Sea Islander history and culture. With remarkable vulnerability, he performs "Home" - a hauntingly beautiful tribute to his heritage that encapsulates the emotional complexity of belonging to multiple worlds.

Robbie's story illuminates a little-known chapter of Australian history: the period between 1863 and 1904 when Pacific Islanders were brought (often through trickery) to work Queensland's cane fields. This legacy shapes his sense of purpose today as he works to bridge cultural gaps and document stories for future generations. "In a hundred years' time, we are going to be the ancestors our descendants are talking about," he reflects with profound clarity.

The conversation weaves through Robbie's experiences balancing artistic passion with family responsibilities, his work on the "Say Our Name" exhibition at Queensland Museum, and the spiritual dimensions of cultural reconnection. For anyone grappling with questions of identity or seeking to understand Australia's multicultural tapestry more deeply, Robbie's wisdom offers both guidance and inspiration.

Listen in as we explore the powerful intersection of music, heritage and belonging through the eyes of an artist committed to keeping cultural flames burning bright. What parts of your own heritage are waiting to be reclaimed?