The Briefing

Run clubs are trending. They've been called the new dating app, the millennial quarter life crisis, and the cozzie livs gym membership. So if you’ve found yourself lacing up or have signed up for the next fun run in your city - what’s the best way to start running and do it safely? And is this a 2024 fad, or here for the long haul? In this episode of the Briefing Former Australian Athlete of the Year and World Champion sprinter Katie Williams joins Helen Smith to give her advice on how to hit your running goals without causing an injury, and where she thinks the popularity is coming from.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a lot of talk about AI taking our jobs, but what if we made it find us jobs instead? That’s the premise of UK-based AutogenAI, a rapidly growing generative AI company that went to market six weeks before ChatGPT. It developed software - written by a team that includes historians, psychologists and philosophers – to enable clients to write winning bids for tenders, contracts and proposals. Now it’s launching in Australia, but will it just make big companies richer by taking bigger slices of the pie? In this episode of The Briefing, we’re joined by AutogenAI CEO and founder Sean Williams to find out. Headlines: Hamas agree to a ceasefire Hunter Biden convicted of all three felonies related to gun ownership Bonza staff sacked after two months without pay Socceroos beat Palestine as Usman Khawaja takes a swipe at Albanese over recognising Palestine as a state. Follow The Briefing:TikTok: @listnrnewsroomInstagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroomFacebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Four hostages taken by Hamas during last year’s October 7 attacks were rescued safely from Gaza at the weekend. According to the Gazan health ministry, 274 Palestinians were killed, sixty-four of them children, during the brutal operation to free the hostages. In this episode of The Briefing, we’re joined by Sarah Schwartz, a human rights lawyer and executive officer of the Australian Jewish Council to discuss a morally sound way to react to Israeli lives being saved alongside Palestinian lives being taken, and how we should maintain humanity and our empathy for everyone involved.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robert Farquharson was convicted for murdering his three sons after driving into a dam on purpose on Father’s Day in 2005. A new campaign is trying to prove he is innocent - that he suffered a medical episode. In this episode of The Briefing we hear the other side of the story from crime journalist and author Megan Norris, who covered the original criminal trials and feels a sense of obligation to be a voice for Cindy Gambino -- the mother of the three dead children who is no longer here to tell her side of the story. Headlines: Bird Flu spreads across Victorian farms Antony Blinken and Netanyahu meeting to discuss ceasefire deal EU election shows a surge in popularity for the far-right Ariarne Titmus dominates in the women's 400m freestyle Follow The Briefing:TikTok: @listnrnewsroomInstagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroomFacebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It seems that every few months another massive Australian business is accused of wage theft. Coles, Woolworths, the ABC, BHP, Qantas, big banks, major universities...the list of firms found to have not paid workers what they should is expansive. In response, the federal government has introduced new laws starting January 1 next year will make it a criminal offence to deliberately underpay staff, with massive penalties for companies and individuals. But how do you even know if you’re being underpaid? And will these laws be enough to stop this happening? On this episode, Bension Siebert finds out more from principal lawyer at Maurice Blackburn, Patrick Turner.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you heard about wine mums, or seen videos on social media featuring women drinking at boozy brunches? Historically men have drunk more than women, but in recent years there has been an increase in women’s drinking. In this episode of The Briefing Sacha Barbour Gatt sits down with Maree Patsouras from La Trobe university to find out about the lives of Australian working mothers and the place alcohol has. Headlines: Family of British TV host Michael Mosley pay tribute following his death on a Greek island Former federal treasurer Peter Costello resigns as chairman of Nine Entertainment Cricket great Glen McGraw, LiSTNR's Hamish Blake and former Premiers Daniel Andrews and Mark McGowan some of those receiving King's Birthday Honours today New warnings about impact of social media on kids brains and the potential shrinking of grey matter Carlos Alcaraz outlasts Alexander Zverev at French Open for third Slam Follow The Briefing:TikTok: @listnrnewsroomInstagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroomFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nathan Paddison spent 13 years of his life in and out of prison for a range of crimes - some small and others violent. But he says art saved him. Antoinette Lattouf and Nathan went to school together in western Sydney and reconnected at his latest art exhibition. You cannot downplay some of his crimes, including a charge of domestic violence, but rarely do we hear about how criminals try to turn their lives around. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Nathan opens up about what what leads young men to go down criminal and violent paths and crucially how to break that cycle. 1800 RESPECT - 1800 737 732 MensLine Australia - 1300 78 99 78 WEEKEND LIST TO EAT - Easy veggie lasagna TO VISIT - Vivid Sydney TO LISTEN - Sounds like a cult, the cult of tradwives TO DO- Adult colouring books Follow The Briefing:TikTok: @listnrnewsroomInstagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroomFacebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fiona Harvey is a Scottish lawyer who was depicted as a stalker in the Netflix hit, Baby Reindeer. She’s denied the claims and is suing the streaming giant for $170m. The program depicted Harvey – via a character named Martha – as a serial stalker who bombarded the British comedian Richard Gadd with tens of thousands of emails and text messages. She says it never happened. The show said she was convicted of stalking and spent nine months in prison. Harvey says it’s nonsense. In this episode of The Briefing, we take a deep dive on Harvey’s motivation to sue – and what her chances are of beating a streaming behemoth like Netflix. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

North Korea has launched a series of balloons packed with household waste over the border into South Korea. Pyongyang says it’s in response to Seoul distributing anti-North propaganda leaflets into cities and towns across the North. In this episode of the Briefing we take a deep dive with Justin Hastings, Professor of International Relations at the University of Sydney, on why the campaign was launched and what it means for hostilities between the two nations separated since the Korean War in the 1950s. Headlines: World leaders come together to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day Peter Costello denies assaulting journalist at Canberra Airport Israeli strike kills at least 33 people at Gaza school that IDF claims was being used by Hamas Elon Musk's SpaceX records first successful test flight Follow The Briefing:TikTok: @listnrnewsroomInstagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroomFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another climbing season for those attempting to summit Mount Everest has come to a close. This year, the Nepalese government offered fewer climbing permits in an effort to reduce congestion on the mountain and improve safety, after a record-breaking 18 climbers lost their lives in 2023. Still, this year saw five climbers die on the climb, with three others still missing. So what is it really like to climb the tallest mountain on Earth, and should the Nepalese government be putting more safety measures in place? In this episode, The Briefing’s Simon Beaton speaks with Dan Stretch from Global Rescue, who coordinates high-altitude rescues on Mount Everest. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New CoreLogic data has found rent in three quarters of Australia's biggest regional areas are now higher than ever – with WA and Queensland topping the list. The biggest increase was in Batemans Bay in NSW rising by around 6 percent in the past three months – which is about $32 extra a week. In this episode of The Briefing, we’re joined by CoreLogic’s Eliza Owen to find out why regional rents are soaring and what can be done to make regional areas affordable for Australians unable to afford to rent in cities. Headlines: $300 energy bill rebate unlikely to affect inflation The government and the opposition condemn Greens for involvement in pro-Palestinian protests Victorians can now report dodgy rentals with Consumer Affairs First British bank notes featuring King Charles and a banana milkshake Follow The Briefing:TikTok: @listnrnewsroomInstagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroomFacebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

QAnon first appeared in 2017 and quickly flooded the internet with conspiracy theories from child trafficking cannibal celebrities to suggestions JFK faked his own death and was returning to run for office. Observers say QAnon has gone strangely quiet. So what are they working on? The vast majority of QAnon supporters are Trump supporters so what can we expect as the US prepares to go to the polls in November? Is QAnon waiting to launch? Or has the cult of conspiracy finally petered out? In this episode of The Briefing, we’re joined by Mike Rothschild, a global expert on QAnon to find out what they’ve been up to and if we should be worried about the radio silence from the world leaders in conspiracy theories. Follow The Briefing:TikTok: @listnrnewsroomInstagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroomFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Albanese government will this morning introduce news laws to parliament banning the non-consensual sharing of deepfake pornography. Those caught sharing sexually explicit images that have been digitally created using artificial intelligence or other forms of technology could find themselves facing a six-year prison term - but is the government fighting a digital runaway train? Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus KC joined Bension Siebert to explain what impact he thinks the governments proposed new laws will have. Headlines: Joe Biden suggests there is ‘every reason’ to believe Netanyahu is prolonging Gaza war for political gain New Australian study finds fast food is influencing news More work needed to hit Paris climate targets Japanese government launches dating app to boost birth rate Follow The Briefing:TikTok: @listnrnewsroomInstagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroomFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

History was made on Sunday when Mexicans went to the polls to elect a new president. Claudia Sheinbaum won in a landslide victory to become Mexico's first female president, and is the first woman to be picked for the Mexican presidency in 200 years of elections. In this episode of The Briefing, we’re joined by Luis Gomez Romero from Wollongong University to discuss how and why Ms Sheinbaum won, and what it means for the people of Mexico. Follow The Briefing:TikTok: @listnrnewsroomInstagram: @listnrnewsroomYouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroomFacebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United Kingdom will go to the polls for a general election on Thursday July 4. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party currently holds 345 seats in the parliament to Labour’s 206 with minor parties making up the balance of the 650 seats in the House of Commons. Polls have Labour’s Keir Starmer well in front and bookies have Labour at unbackable odds. So what are the key election issues, and what can we expect in the lead-up to the election. In this episode of The Briefing, we’re joined by Adam Hills from the ABC’s Spicks and Specks, who is based in Britain, to find out everything you need to know about the UK elections on July 4. Headlines: Minimum wages to increase by 3.75 per cent Bill Shorten under fire over speech writers wages Matildas defeat China 2-0 Alex de Minaur into the French Open quarter-final Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's fair to say that the cost of living pressures are greatly impacting many Australians. One way in which some are surviving financially is by opting out of sports - whether that's those playing socially, or even for those playing at elite levels. Could this impact the next generation of elite athletes, as families cut back on their children's weekend and after-school sporting commitments? And will this mean that we have a smaller pool of elite athletes when the 2032 Brisbane Olympics rolls around? Tessa Randello from the LiSTNR Newsroom has deep-dived into the effect of the cost of living crisis on our elite athletes. In this episode, she speaks with Bension Siebert to unpack what she's found.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Researchers at the University of South Australia are developing a coating for anti-depressant and anti-anxiety drugs. The pills have traditionally led to weight gain for those prescribed the drugs. The new coating mitigates weight gain and boosts serotonin levels – combatting a major side effect of the drugs. In this episode of The Briefing, we take a deep dive on how the researchers developed the new technology and what it means for people who have been prescribed the drugs. Our guest is Dr Paul Joyce – Senior Research Fellow at the University of South Australia’s Department of Clinical and Health Services. Headlines: Body found after explosion in Sydney’s Western suburbs Ceasefire deals opposed by members of Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition Mexico might see it’s first female president elected Rupert Murdoch married for the fifth time at 93 Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eliza Hull is a musician, author and a disability advocate who’s teaching children how to have better conversations about people living with disability. On social media Eliza has been putting a spotlight on what it would be like for people with existing disability in Gaza and all of those with new acquired disabilities because of the constant bombardment. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf Eliza shares some heart wrenching moments from her childhood and how Gaza has impacted her parenting. WEEKEND LIST TO EAT - Spicy (NOT FIRED) chicken wings TO READ - 4am: Answers to the conundrums that keep you up at night • Advice from Ask Shameless TO DO - Set an alarm for deep breathing TO DO - The Antoinettes Live Show - Syd June 22nd Send us your Weekend Briefing suggestions on Instagram at @thebriefingpodcast!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former US President Donald Trump was this morning found guilty on 34 charges relating to paying off a porn star. Trump had sex with Stormy Daniels in a Lake Tahoe hotel room in 2006. The story emerged in the lead-up to the 2016 election and Trump, through his then lawyer Michael Cohen, paid Daniels $130,000 to kill off the story Prosecutors in New York brought the charges against Trump – the first time a US president or former president has faced criminal charges – and he was found guilty on all 34 counts. We’re joined by Professor David Smith from the US Studies Centre at the University of Sydney to find out what’s likely to happen next. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former US President Donald Trump has been found guilty on 34 charges in a New York court. In this special bonus episode of The Briefing, you'll hear what Trump had to say after the verdict was handed down. Sacha Barbour-Gatt and Katrina Blowers bring you the very latest on one of the biggest news stories in decades.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s 10-year-old daughter North West made her acting debut not on a school stage like other kids - but in a major 30th anniversary concert performance of the Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl. And people weren’t happy. Hollywood is full of nepo babies and it makes sense - but what about the people missing out on roles or opportunities because they weren’t born into a famous family? In this episode of the Briefing entertainment reporter and gossip guru Richard Reid joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to explain why we love to hate nepo babies. Headlines: BOM releases Winter outlook as 2024 shapes up to be the hottest year on record Trump jury continues deliberations as former President is accused of using racial slur Labor MP quits foreign affairs committee after ‘river to the sea’ comments US man on suspended licence shows up to virtual court date behind the wheel Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The inquest into the death of 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker wrapped up this week after hearing shocking allegations of racism permeating the Nothern Territory Police Force. Walker was shot dead during an attempted arrest in 2019 by then police officer Zachary Rolfe, who was charged with murder but then acquitted following a trial. In this episode of The Briefing, we’re joined by Melissa Mackay from the ABC’s bureau in Alice Springs, to find out what we learned at the inquiry and what lessons, if any, will be learned from the death of Kumanjayi Walker.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

24-year-old Laura Nuttall is the youngest ever Greens representative elected to any Australian parliament. Laura is also the first Gen Z Member of the ACT Legislative Assembly ever. Laura and her advisor Dani - who is 22 - are passionate about environmental and economic justice, and young peoples’ participation in decision-making that affects their lives. In this episode of the Briefing, Antoinette investigates what a Gen Z MP can bring to a parliament and how and why young people’s issues ought to be front and centre of any government’s decision-making process. Headlines: Aussies likely caught up in Ticketmaster hack with 560 million people at risk Immigration Minister refusing to stand down over allowing convicted criminals visas Jury begins deliberations in Trump hush money trial Temperatures hit 50C in Delhi Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Traumatic vision has emerged showing the aftermath of recent Israeli airstrikes on a makeshift tent city in Rafah, in the south of Gaza, that reportedly killed 45 people, with 249 others wounded. Aid groups have said the Israeli Defence Force had designated the area a humanitarian safe zone before launching the attack – although Israel denies this. The International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to “immediately halt its military offensive” in Rafah, but in ambiguous terms, which the Israeli Government has interpreted to mean its Rafah offensive can continue. Meanwhile, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has applied for arrest warrants for Netanyahu, the Israeli defence minister, and three Hamas leaders for war crimes and crimes against humanity. In this episode, Bension Siebert speaks with international law expert, Juliette McIntyre, and Frankie Leach, spokesperson for humanitarian organisation ActionAid. Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the next 10 years in Australia $5 trillion is expected to move down the generations, with around $2.3 trillion to be given to Boomers’ children, $1 trillion to their grandkids, and $1.7 trillion to charities. The bank of mum and dad is somewhere between the 5th and 9th biggest lender according to the Productivity Commission. In this episode of the Briefing Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Compare the Market’s Economic Director David Koch to explain what impact this will have on the economy. Headlines: Australia demands Israel halt Rafah offensive Daughter of Perth double murderer claims police ignored her pleas to stop her dad Rental affordability goes from bad to worse Pope apologises for using homophobic slur Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

News broke last week that a teenager is about to become the world’s first millennial saint. Carlo Acutis passed away in 2006, but spent his life spreading his faith, coming to be known as the patron saint of the internet for his work creating websites about Catholicism and its saints. So, how does the Catholic church decide on who gets to be a saint? What’s the criteria, who tests the miracles and what role could coincidence and other factors play? Sydney priest, Father Anthony Robbie joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to discuss on this episode of The Briefing. Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Late last week, China launched a comprehensive two-day military drill around Taiwan, mimicking a full-scale attack. The drills included dozens of fighter jets carrying live missiles, alongside navy vessels stationed at strategic locations around the island. The military operations have been viewed as retaliation to Taiwan's newly elected president, Lai Ching-te, who in his recent inauguration speech reinforced the island's independence from China. So how much has changed in the tensions between Taiwan and China over the last few months? And what does this mean for Australia? In this episode, Bension Siebert unpacks the situation with Dr Roger Lee Huang, an expert in Southeast Asian politics and international relations at Macquarie University. Headlines: Netanyahu describes deadly Rafah strike a “tragic mishap” Fears death toll in the thousands in PNG landslide Experts to meet in fast-tracked gender-based violence review Fly high Bette; world’s longest serving flight attendant dies Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s become one of the world’s biggest online shopping marketplaces, churning out more than a million parcels to be flown to customers around the globe every day. Here in Australia, more than 1.2 million of us shop on Temu every month – and it’s our most downloaded app. But how did the Chinese start-up skyrocket to global online megastore - selling everything from clothing and household items - less than two years after launching? Dr Shasha Wang from QUT joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to explain Temu’s unique recipe for success in commerce and its meteoric rise. A Temu spokesperson says: Claims that Temu's competitive pricing is achieved through exploitative labourpractices are unfounded. We urge a closer examination of our approach, whichhinges on removing unnecessary expenses. Our cost-efficiency is due to a directconnection between consumers and manufacturers, cutting out middlemen and theirmarkups. Our model also streamlines the logistics of production and distribution,allowing us to offer lower prices to our customers. Many merchants on Temu are reputable manufacturers with advanced productionfacilities, supplying to well-known US brands and retailers like Amazon, Walmart,and Target. These manufacturers adhere to high industry standards and arerecognised for their quality production. Temu is dedicated to upholding ethical labour practices. Our Third-Party Code ofConduct forbids any form of forced, child, or penal labour and requires adherence toall local labour laws, including those related to wages, working hours, voluntaryemployment, freedom of association, and the right to collective bargaining. Wedemand strict compliance with all regulatory standards and reserve the right tosever ties with any business that breaches our Code of Conduct or the law. As for the concern about forced labour in product compliance, we take this issueseriously. Our standards and practices align with those of major U.S. e-commerceplatforms, such as Amazon, eBay, and Etsy, rendering any allegations completelyungrounded. Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amid a cost of living crisis, who can resist the invitation to “shop like a billionaire” at bargain-basement prices? Online juggernaut Temu is Australia’s most popular free app, offering a vast vortex of low-cost merchandise from fashion and homeware to toys and electronics. But amid the thrilling rush of retail therapy lie some serious questions: Where does this stuff come from? What are conditions like for those at the bottom of the supply chain? And what about the environment? On this episode of The Briefing Sacha talks to Sarah Rogan, senior labour rights campaigner at Oxfam. A Temu spokesperson says: Claims that Temu's competitive pricing is achieved through exploitative labourpractices are unfounded. We urge a closer examination of our approach, whichhinges on removing unnecessary expenses. Our cost-efficiency is due to a directconnection between consumers and manufacturers, cutting out middlemen and theirmarkups. Our model also streamlines the logistics of production and distribution,allowing us to offer lower prices to our customers. Many merchants on Temu are reputable manufacturers with advanced productionfacilities, supplying to well-known US brands and retailers like Amazon, Walmart,and Target. These manufacturers adhere to high industry standards and arerecognised for their quality production. Temu is dedicated to upholding ethical labour practices. Our Third-Party Code ofConduct forbids any form of forced, child, or penal labour and requires adherence toall local labour laws, including those related to wages, working hours, voluntaryemployment, freedom of association, and the right to collective bargaining. Wedemand strict compliance with all regulatory standards and reserve the right tosever ties with any business that breaches our Code of Conduct or the law. As for the concern about forced labour in product compliance, we take this issueseriously. Our standards and practices align with those of major U.S. e-commerceplatforms, such as Amazon, eBay, and Etsy, rendering any allegations completelyungrounded. Headlines: More than 600 feared dead in PNG landslides WA Premier describes murder of mother and daughter as ‘chilling’ Hamas launches rockets at Tel Aviv for the first time in months Donald Trump booed at Libertarian convention Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Abbie Chatfield is an Australian media personality, television host, radio presenter and podcaster. She is best known for her appearances in reality television as both a contestant and host, she is also the host of Listnr podcast “its a lot.” In this episode of The Weekend Briefing Abbie tells Antoinette about the crime of bad change room lights, oversharing, unexpected fans and why she could never go on Farmer Wants a Wife. WEEKEND LIST TO WATCH OR NOT TO WATCH - Bridgerton TO DO - Check you credit cards statements TO DO - Theatre shows and cheap tickets in your city Send us your Weekend Briefing suggestions on Instagram at @thebriefingpodcast!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earlier this week, Sean “Diddy” Combs admitted to physically assaulting his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, back in 2016, after brutal footage of the attack started circulating online. After his fall from grace as one of the most successful and best-selling rap artists, will Diddy be cancelled? Or will we continue to hear his music online and on-air? Tim Burrowes is the founder of the media and marketing news website, Unmade. In this episode, he speaks with Sacha Barbour Gatt, unpacking when and why companies boycott artists with serious allegations and convictions, and the effectiveness of cancel culture.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s been a huge increase of Functional neurological disorder or FND in teenage girls since the pandemic and the rise of TikTok. FND occurs when there’s miscommunication between the body and brain and can often look a lot like tourettes, where people suffer from impulsive tics. Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Dr Amanda Maxwell, a clinical psychologist specialising in tics, to unpack why we are seeing a spike in the number of cases of FND. Headlines: Details of serious injuries suffered by Singapore Airlines passengers revealed Chinese military conducts drills around Taiwan Cassie Ventura, Diddy’s ex, speaks out Australia’s biggest ever lotto winner nabs $150 million Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AstraZeneca has withdrawn their Covid 19 vaccination after admitting it can cause rare blood clots. This month marks 50 years since the global rollout of the world’s first major vaccination program – with new research showing vaccines have saved over 154 million lives. Professor Margie Danchin is a paediatrician at the The Royal Children's Hospital and joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to explain the benefits and the side effects of vaccines. Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iran’s president Ebrahim Raisi and the foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahain have both died during a helicopter crash earlier this week. What do these untimely deaths mean for the power structure in Iran, and to relations in the middle east? And why are some people happy to see the end of President Ebrahim Raisi’s leadership. In this episode, Antoinette Lattouf speaks with Middle East politics expert Professor Shahram Akbarzadeh to better understand the situation, and what we can expect to happen next. Headlines: Rishi Sunak announces snap UK general election Norway, Ireland and Spain to recognise Palestinian state Australian passengers on Singapore Airlines flight hit by turbulence start arriving home Mattel to make Mary Fowler Barbie Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Discourse around a portrait of Australia’s richest person has hit a fever pitch this week, after she made a private plea to have it removed from an exhibition. The painting of Gina Rinehart, by artist Vincent Namatjira, is hanging in Canberra’s National Gallery of Australia, and it’s sparked a debate about how we look at and consider art. Someone who can empathise with Rinehart in this instance is The Briefing’s Antoinette Lattouf who in this episode explains the relationship between art, society and our own vanity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australians will be heading to the polls to vote in a federal election in 2025, and nuclear power is shaping up to be a key battleground.Labor is pushing ahead with renewables as the key source of green energy for Australia, but the Coalition thinks building reactors is the way to go. In fact, the Liberals and Nationals have already started polling community sentiment around nuclear energy in electorates where future reactors could be built.Nationals leader David Littleproud explains the Coalition's strategy to Sacha Barbour-Gatt - and why they believe it's the way to get to zero emissions. Headlines: One dead after Singapore Airlines flight hit by severe turbulence Australia to ban replica Ozempic drugs Government rejects claims it should condemn ICC Forget Melbourne or Sydney, Canberra offers the best quality of life Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trans men, women, and nonbinary young people are twice as likely to experience homelessness compared to cis-queer men and women. Australian research found that one in five young trans people have experienced homelessness and data from the Trans Justice Project saw an increase in anti-trans hate in the year leading up to April 2023 Activists say we are not doing enough to support the transgender community in their moment of need, Laura Pettigrew from the LiSTNR Newsroom joins Simon Beaton to talk us through details. Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sexsomnia is a sleep disorder that causes people to engage in sexual behaviors in their sleep, such as dirty talk, masturbating and even intercourse. The disorder occurs in the deepest stages of sleep and unsurprisingly it raises many questions around consent. How can consent be maintained when a partner is unconscious? And can sexsomnia be used as a defence in cases of sexual assault? Aleks Trkulja from the Pleasure Centre and specialist sleep physician Dr David Cunnington joins Helen Smith to explain how common sexsomnia is. Headlines: ICC issues arrest warrants for Israel and Hamas leaders Julian Assange granted leave to appeal extradition to the US Sam Kerr trial date set Sussan Ley calls for Diddy boycott Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new drug has been detected in Australia that can be up to 25 times stronger than fentanyl – which is already stronger than heroin. Introducing nitazene, an incredibly dangerous synthetic opioid that was linked to over 20 overdoses in western Sydney and was found in Canberra’s pill testing service for the first time over the weekend. Professor Suzanne Nielsen, the Deputy Director of the Monash Addiction Research Centre, joins Simon Beaton to explain the dangers of nitazene which could be lacing your party drugs. Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The search for a missing person can capture the attention of the entire nation. Currently, we’re waiting to hear the outcome of an appeal of Chris Dawson, who was convicted of killing his wife Lynette Joy Simms in December of 1982, despite her body never being found. So what happens behind the scenes of one of these investigations? And how is someone charged with murder when a body is never located? Journalist Tessa Randello from the LiSTNR Newsroom has spoken with former New South Wales Detective Anthony Macklin about this topic. On this episode, she unpacks what she’s found out with Sacha Barbour Gatt. Headlines: Iran’s President missing after helicopter crash Charges laid in Sydney police stabbing Sean 'Diddy' Combs admits to DV 700 ‘Kyles’ not enough to break world record Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott Morrison is the 30th Prime Minister of Australia, lover of chicken curries and author of his new book - Plans For Your Good: A Prime Minister's Testimony of God's Faithfulness Morrison has had his fair share of controversies over the years - Hawaii, his response to COVID and his many ministries. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Morrison opens up about his time as PM, repenting his sins and his impact on Australians. Send us your Weekend Briefing suggestions on Instagram at @thebriefingpodcast!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Social media has gone into meltdown after a video from a US college commencement speech went viral. The footage shows NFL player and Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker addressing the female graduates in the crowd, telling them that ultimately, their main and most valuable vocation in life is being a wife and mother. Butker has sparked a storm of criticism, the NFL even coming out to distance itself from his comments. In the post #MeToo world and amidst a spike in violence against women in Australia, we’re breaking down and debunking Butker’s comments and why they are so dangerous.'' Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Chat GPT revealed the next steps in the way their AI interacts with humans. Now the interface can recognise emotions and have more nuanced conversations with the user. Meanwhile Google has revealed its new AI assistant “Astra” and their plans to scrabble back searches previously lost to Chat GPT by integrating more AI into Google search. But what is the cost of greater humanising of AI? And is it safe? Tech entrepreneur Ashi Bhat joins The Briefing to unpack the AI rat race. Headlines: Peter Dutton wants to slash immigration Company at the centre of major data hack revealed ANU and Deakin University move to shut down pro-Palestine encampments Namatjira responds to Rinehart portrait controversy Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia is in the grip of a teacher shortage that is a decade in the making. New research by McCrindle has revealed more than half of educators are considering leaving the profession. On top of that, teaching is increasingly becoming an aging profession, with 20% of the workforce to reach retirement age over the next decade. On today’s briefing, we speak with social researcher and demographer, Mark McCrindle, to explore why this is happening and what’s being done to attract more people to study teaching. Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For over half a century, the US and Australia have operated Pine Gap - a joint top-secret spy base at Alice Springs in the heart of outback Australia Today, concern is mounting that spies at Pine Gap may be eavesdropping on the Middle East and passing critical information on to the Israeli Defence Force. This would mean Australia is playing a role in the conflict, raising serious questions about the public’s right to know how our land, resources and geographical advantage is being deployed, especially when it makes us a nuclear target for foreign powers. Today we’re joined by Alice Springs journalist Alexandra Barwick, host of new ABC podcast Spies in the Outback, to assess the evidence and get a local perspective. Headlines: Sydney council reverses same sex parent book ban Slovakia PM shot in assassination attempt Labor senator breaks ranks to label Israel’s war in Gaza genocide Gina Rinehart has demanded the National Gallery of Australia remove a portrait of her Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you take a gulp of bottled Mt Franklin spring water, you might imagine it comes from a pristine and abundant water source in an exotic wilderness location. But In reality, Coca-Cola has been legally pumping groundwater for free out of a bore on the outskirts of Perth in WA to sell as bottled water for 32 years. And now residents have had enough. They’re worried about the amount of water being extracted without obvious oversight in a region that’s drying out and prone to fire. WA Water Minister Simone McGurk talks to Simon Beaton about what she's doing to hold Coca-Cola to account. Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last night, Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down the Budget, aka the economic plan for the next four years and beyond. On the positive side, he delivered his second consecutive surplus and a bunch of cost of living sweeteners – including a new $300 payment in energy bill relief for every Australian household, which he reckons will help put downward pressure on inflation. We saw more detail on Treasury’s optimistic new forecast showing inflation will drop below 3% by Christmas, plus the things we knew already about like Stage 3 tax cuts and $3 billion in student debt being wiped. But on the negative side: critics have described it as a “band aid” budget that relies on a lot of variables for its economic outlook, benefits billionaires and multinationals and could actually make inflation worse. And while the Treasurer can pat himself on the back for this year’s surplus of $9.3 billion, looks like we’re heading deep into the red next year with a $28.3 billion deficit, followed by a $42.8 per cent deficit in 2025-26. With an election looming, the year ahead will be critical in determining if he hit the right note between bringing inflation under control without hurting the economy. Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is threatening nuclear war as his invasion of the Ukraine continues. Putin last week ordered Russian troops to perform military exercises to prepare for the use of tactical nuclear weapons. Tactical nukes are generally smaller and less powerful than traditional nuclear weapons, but use of such weapons would be catastrophic. It’s now been more than 800 days since Russia’s massive ground invasion of Ukraine, a military operation supposedly intended to only run for ten days. In this episode of The Briefing, Benison speaks to Dr Keith Suter, former President of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney about why Putin would make this new threat now, and just how worried should we be in this moment. Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been a month since the horrific attack at Bondi Junction Westfield, during which a man stabbed 18 people, killing six. Most of his victims were women. The event was heavily reported on by the media, and in the wake of the tragedy we’ve seen dozens more instances of violent knife crime right around Australia. It may feel like we’re seeing an increase in these sort of attacks, but is that true? What do the stats tell us? And does more media reporting mean more people want to copy what they see? Criminologist Xanthe Mallett from the University of Newcastle joins the Briefing to breakdown Australia’s knife crime. Headlines: NSW moves on new bail laws for domestic violence offenders X no longer forced to remove videos of Wakeley church stabbing Treasurer to announce $9.3 billion surplus in tonight’s budget #Blockout2024: Celebs lose hundreds of thousands of followers over their silence on Gaza and insane displays of wealth Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Childhood and dementia aren’t two words you’d expect to hear together, but children are dying from this disease at the same rate as they are dying from cancer. One in every 2,900 children are born with childhood dementia, a progressive disease that is caused by rare neurodegenerative genetic disorders It’s a heart-breaking condition that has historically received little attention and research hours. In this episode of The Briefing Antoinette chats to Meg Maack, Director and CEO of the Childhood Dementia Initiative, about what a new grant will mean for those suffering and their families.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.