The Briefing

Is laughter the best medicine? Well comedian Michael Shafar might be able to help with that. He’s probably the only person who can make fun being Jewish, having cancer and his genitals in the same breath – and not only get away with it – but have the room in hysterics In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Michael explains why he isn’t afraid to tackle political topics in his shows and how he’s accidentally become the Jewish representative of comedy. WEEKEND LIST TRY- Don’t charge your phone in your bedroom WATCH - Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt TRY- BlendJet portable blender WATCH - Loot on Apple TV Send us your Weekend Briefing suggestions on Instagram at @thebriefingpodcast!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The rebranding of child stars as they transition into more mature identities is nothing new. After Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus, we're now seeing JoJo Siwa struggle as she does the same. Made famous from the reality TV series Dance Moms, she became known for a squeaky-clean aesthetic of bright colours, big hair bows and later, her pop hit 'Boomerang'. But now, she's wearing eccentric black outfits (complete with makeup) amid a much saucier vibe in her new release 'Karma'. So how did we get here, how is JoJo's rebrand different from the other former child stars that have come before her, and what can we expect for the future? On this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with one of our producers, Helen Smith, to unpack the challenging journey of child stars when they shift to a more mature identity in the public eye.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you heard of the 4B movement? It’s a feminist action that’s taking hold of South Korea. The movement follows the four B’s: no marriage, no sex with men, no child-rearing and no dating. In this episode of The Briefing Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with Su-Kyoung Hwang from the University of Sydney about why Korean women are swearing off men. Headlines: OJ Simpson dies at the age of 76 School holiday strike avoided as airport fire fighters secure deal Vietnamese real estate tycoon sentenced to death over $19 billion fraud Three men rescued from remote island after spelling ‘HELP’ with palm fronds Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plenty of Australians have been cutting down on their daily coffee amid the cost-of-living crisis, but new research shows that cafe coffee in Australia is actually too cheap. In many cases rents, wages, specialty beans and milk are all getting more expensive, and that’s squeezing cafe owners. In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with Emma Felton from the University of South Australia to find out how much we should be paying for our daily cup of joe.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

QLD has introduced strict new coercive control laws. Coercive control has serious and traumatic impacts for a victim. It can be subtle and insidious, and individually targeted and tailored to a victim. Under new legislation announced in Queensland, the new standalone offence of coercive control will carry a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment. In today’s Briefing, Bension Siebert and LiSTNR journo Lizzie Vigar take a deep dive into Queensland’s new coercive control laws and why they may be very, very difficult to police. Headlines: Dutton on Palestinian statehood comments Joe Biden considering Australia’s request to drop charges against Julian Assange SA Police arrive in Alice Springs Molly the magpie to return home to best friend Peggy the dog Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tasmania’s MONA has been forced to allow men into its women’s only Ladies Lounge. A NSW man who was upset when he was denied entry into the lounge, has taken the museum to the Tasmanian Civil Administrative Tribunal and won. This means MONA now has 28 days to stop refusing entry to men – or people who don’t identify as ladies. In this episode, one of our producers, Helen Smith, speaks with Jahan Kalantar, a Sydney-based solicitor, university lecturer and entrepreneur who calls himself the “little guy lawyer”, to ask if the decision could lead to women being allowed into men's clubs that have been off limits to women for decades. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A few weeks ago, chaos erupted in the heart of Alice Springs, with unrest that saw buildings trashed, the doors of the local tavern kicked in, and a car set on fire. The Northern Territory Chief Minister Eva Lawler called an 'emergency situation', which resulted in around 80 additional police officers being redeployed into Alice Springs, and a youth curfew coming into effect from 6am to 6 pm in the town centre. Yesterday, we found out that while no arrests had so far been made in relation to the youth curfew, the conditions would stay in place for almost another week while the town tries to transition away from the violence and into longer- term strategies. In this episode, we speak with 18-year-old Armani Francois, a local Indigenous social youth case worker, to find out exactly how people in Alice Springs are feeling right now. Headlines: Australian government flags recognising Palestinian two-state solution ASIO warns right-wing extremists want a race war in Australia 2000 Swiss women sue their government for failure to act on climate change MONA ordered to let men into women-only exhibit Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The federal government this morning announced that the AUKUS defence agreement partners (Australia, the United States and the UK) are considering expanding the group to include Japan. China has already issued a statement to say it is “gravely concerned” with news AUKUS is considering expanding. So what does it mean for the Asia/Pacific region, and more specifically Australia? In this episode of The Briefing, we’re joined by David Andrews, senior policy advisor at the ANU National Security College, to find out why Japan is seeking to join AUKUS and what it will prompt from China on the world stage. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new flu vaccine has arrived in Australia and it’s not like traditional vaccines – it's cell-based. Cell-based flu vaccines are developed differently from the traditional egg-based vaccines – and they offer advantages in production, scale and better matching viruses in our vaccines to those actually circulating in the community. In this episode of the Briefing, immunologist Dr Julianne Bayliss explains why the new vaccine is a game-changer for Australians and why you need to get the new flu jab. Headlines: Date set for Rafah invasion: Netanyahu Donald Trump stops short of calling for a national abortion ban New poll finds more Aussies would back radical housing policies Total solar eclipse observed across North America Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey Briefers. An apology: this interview was scheduled to be released on Saturday morning, but due to a technical glitch it didn't, so it's appearing in your feed today instead. Sincere apologies to our wonderful host Antoinette and to her fabulous guest Rhys Nicholson - we hope you enjoy catching up. Rhys Nicholson is a judge on RuPaul’s Drag race, a much-loved comedian and believes they have a very muggable face. They have a successful career in comedy, presenting and the arts, but Rhys lives with chronic anxiety. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Rhys breaks down the number of times they’ve been mugged and why redheads have more fun. WEEKEND LIST WATCH - Gilmore Girls READ - Down the drain by Julia Fox DO - YouTube workouts by Sydney Cummings Houdyshell LISTEN - Sounds Like a Cult Send us your Weekend Briefing suggestions on Instagram at @thebriefingpodcast!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sex work is often referred to as the world’s oldest profession, and our attitudes to it are rapidly evolving. The language around it has changed, and public figures from politicians to influencers are being more open than ever. The shame and stigma around the profession seem weaker now than even a few years ago. So, what does sex work look like in Australia in 2024? In this four-part series, The Briefing dives deeper into the profession, where it’s been and where it’s going. In part two, we speak with a former sex worker and now-brothel owner about how the internet has revolutionised the industry. To hear part one about the history and regulations of sex work in Australia, click here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sex work is often referred to as the world's oldest profession and our attitudes to it are rapidly evolving. The language around it has changed, and public figures from politicians to influencers are being more open about it than ever. The shame and stigma around the profession seems weaker now than even a few years ago. So, what does sex work look like in Australia in 2024? In this four-part series, The Briefing dives deeper into the profession, where it's been and where it's going. In part one, we're looking back and asking: how did we get here? Headlines: Interim report into supermarkets recommends massive fines Israeli troops withdraw from southern Gaza PM defends his border security record as missing asylum seeker found NSW pill testing pilot starts today Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine going to North Korea to get a haircut or breaking into a military base, well YouTubers Alex Apollonov and Aleksa Vulovic did just that. The guys are behind the YouTube channel Boy Boy, with content that clocks up millions of views and boasts almost a million subscribers. In this chat with Tom Tilley, Alex and Aleksa explain what it’s like working with Friendlyjordies and their close calls with the police. Send us your Weekend Briefing suggestions on Instagram at @thebriefingpodcast!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new documentary exposing the dark underbelly of kid’s television in the nineties and early 2000s is dropping in Australia today. Quiet on Set details shocking accusations of what it was like for child stars working on some of the biggest television shows when many of us were growing up. In particular, it presents harsh allegations against one of Nickelodeon’s most prized producers and screenwriters – Dan Schneider. LiSTNR’s Justin Hill, entertainment reporter and host of The Streaming Service joins The Briefing’s Sacha Barbour-Gatt, to take us through the revelations in the documentary, and why it’s already received so much attention worldwide. This episode discussed child sexual abuse and mental health. If you are struggling, or need help, call Lifeline now on 13 11 14.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia could be taking on nuclear waste from the AUKUS submarine deal after new laws tabled in Parliament last year. The legislation says it would allow for the creation of facilities for "managing, storing or disposing of radioactive waste from an AUKUS submarine". It's led to the resurfacing of talk about nuclear waste; asking if we'd be taking on waste from the UK and US, and in terms of our own, where would it go? In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is speakingwith Tony Irwin about what these laws mean. Headlines: Taylor Auerbach cross examination to continue after bombshell claims in court Calls grow for independent inquiry into killing of aid workers in Gaza Wild weather to lash NSW and Queensland Study warns all people in Japan could have the same last name in 500 years Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been over four years since COVID-19 first shook the world. And though vaccines have allowed many of us to move on with our lives, a large number of people are not recovering from the virus. In fact, scientists believe at least 65 million people worldwide have, or have had, long covid. A recent study from WA found about 20 per cent of people infected during one of the state’s COVID waves still had fatigue, memory loss and trouble with concentration, three months after they first became sick. On this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with Dr Margaret Van Heekeren, a university lecturer and mother of two, whose life has been turned upside down after she contracted long covid.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earlier this week the Federal Government released a draft of the National Autism Strategy, in the hopes to improve the lives of autistic Australians. The development of the strategy was first announced back in 2022 and covers key reform areas including access to services, healthcare, education, and employment. Will it change the lives of people with autism? In this episode of The Briefing, we're joined by Professor Cheryl Dissanayake, a leading autism researcher at La Trobe University to find out what the strategy means for people with autism in Australia. Headlines: Former heads of World Central Kitchen question strike that killed aid workers Rescue efforts continue in Taiwan after earthquake Brittany Higgins and Linda Reynolds mediation talks collapse Magpie and staffy besties a step closer to being reunited Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seven aid workers for the World Central Kitchen, including Australian Zomi Frankcom, are confirmed to have been killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza. Since news of the attack broke, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has spoken with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, conveying the country’s outrage over the death. The Israeli government says it will investigate how the deaths occurred. One of Australia's leading voices on humanitarian aid and the former head of World Vision Australia, Reverend Tim Costello, says he is devastated by the news, and that he hopes this will be a turning point in the conflict. But will already limited aid in the conflict come to a halt after this death? He joins The Briefing's Bension Siebert to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Armaguard, the cash delivery business, is going broke. No one uses cash anymore so the nation's number one cash-in-transit business is losing money. What does the collapse of Armaguard mean for Australia's cash flow? Most consumers use tap-and-go to pay for goods and services, and it means businesses like big supermarket chains simply don't have cash reserves like they used to. In this episode of The Briefing, we investigate what the Armaguard crisis tells us about the future of cash, what Australia would look like if we go cash-less and what is thefuture of cash in Australia? Headlines: Albanese demands meeting with Netanyahu over aid killings in Gaza Channel Ten wins bid to reopen Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial NASA investigating after chunk of metal from ISS rips through Florida home Taylor Swift is listed on the billionaire rich list for the first time Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Late last month, Richard Slayman became the first person in history to successfully undergo an organ transplantation of a genetically modified pig kidney. While human-to-animal transplant, or xenotransplantation, isn't new (heart valves from horses, cows and pigs having been used for over 30 years), cases of entire organ transplants are incredibly complex, while raising a host of other ethical and health concerns. So how significant is the recent pig kidney transplant, where are we at with this science, and could this one day be our go-to solution for those in desperate need of an organ transplant? To explain the science of xenotransplantation, Bension Siebert is joined by Wayne Hawthorne, professor of transplantation at the University of Sydney.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reddit has gone public, making its debut on the New York stock exchange. Its value made it over $9b. Reddit is one of the world’s most popular websites, with 73 million unique active visitors a day—and can engage in over 100,000 forums. Going public could majorly change the platform though, with everything from ads through to how Reddit forums are moderated likely to be put under the microscope. In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt sits down with James Hennessy to find out what this IPO means for the future of the website. Headlines: Australia could become a dumping ground for nuclear waste under AUKUS deal IDF ends 14-day Al Shifa Hospital siege in Gaza amid protests in Israel against Netanyahu New evidence could be heard in Lehrmann defamation case Round up of the best April Fool's pranks Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Though Beyoncé has claimed that Cowboy Carter is a 'Beyoncé album', rather than 'a country album', it's a release that definitely dips into the genre. And country music has a complex relationship with Black musicians - a few years back, Lil Nas X faced a heavy backlash from Old Town Road, which was scrapped from Billboard's country chart, triggering criticism that the reason was in part racially motivated. Yet over the last few years, country has seen a massive boom in its widespread popularity, with many large-name artists delving into the sound. So what can we expect next, and why is it significant that Black artists are making music in the space? In this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with LiSTNR journalist Loren Howarth to find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you have thousands of emails in your inbox, or are you an Inbox Zero type of person? A new study is looking at personal email management, and has found only half of people are happy with how they deal with their inbox. In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt talks to Matt Balogh from the University of New England about what we should be doing with our emails. Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emma Chow is one half of the 14-years strong radio duo Mike E & Emma- broadcasting live every weekday nationally for their breakfast show. Emma has achieved radio queen status with her radio husband but admits that there have TMI moments throughout her career. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Emma reminisces about having one of the most unique gender reveals on air- and then copping slack for returning to work weeks after giving birth. You can hear Emma on Mike E & Emma live 6-9am Nationally on RnB Fridays Radio as well as 9am-11am on 2DayFM in Sydney! WEEKEND LIST Challengers movie Beyond Utopia documentary McoBeauty eyebrow gel House of Gods on ABC iview Send us your Weekend Briefing suggestions on Instagram at @thebriefingpodcast!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom Ballard is possibly the most political comedian in Australia, with his stand up tackling issues including asylum seekers, racism, the monarchy and capitalism. His new show, Good Point Well Made, is no different. He reflects on Australia's failed voice referendum and Donald Trump- alongside a healthy dose of toilet humour. In this chat with Tom Tilley, Ballard opens up about the process of writing the show, why he loves performing, and the rise of fellow comedian and friend Hannah Gadsby. Send us your Weekend Briefing suggestions on Instagram at @thebriefingpodcast!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone’s hustling, everyone’s struggling with cost of living pressures, rents are rising, interest rates are rising. We’re exhausted, and it’s only March. We’re constantly told to look after our mental health and to support those around us who need love and care – family and friends. But how can we, when we’re at the point of burnout almost every day. In this special episode of The Briefing brought to you by Medibank, our hosts Sacha Barbour Gatt and Bension Siebert talk about why they’re feeling burnt out and what they do about it. You’ll also hear some awesome stories about ordinary people doing extraordinary things and practical ways to improve your overall wellbeing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once upon a time bilbies lived all over Australia; where there was desert, there was a bilby. After the introduction of cats and foxes, the bilby’s numbers plummeted, in the 80s they were only found in a couple of tiny patches in the wild. Now their numbers are up and growing, and partly that’s thanks to the idea of the easter bilby. Chocolate bilbies appeared in shops in the 90s as an environmental alternative to the easter bunny, the idea has raised awareness and funds. In this episode of The Briefing we find out how bilbies have come back from the brink. Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Right now, Moshtix is in the process of refunding all of the tickets for the Splendour in the Grass festival, after the unexpected news that the event had been cancelled. Though we've seen many festivals across the country postpone or cancel their events, we've also lately seen several big concerts, with a massive demand for tickets. Often, it feels like no matter how quick you are to get onto the website, whether you actually get a ticket seems pretty random. But is it? What is actually happening in the background when we log in? Who decides who gets a ticket and why and they so goddamn expensive? On this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with LiSTNR journalist Tessa Randello, to find out why we need to look closer at Australia’s ticketing industry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Splendour in the Grass will not go ahead this year, and we are yet to learn the official reason. This isn’t the first time the event has been hit with difficulties. In 2022 the first day of Splendour was cancelled due to flooding, and last year saw the event far from selling out, with ticket sales down 30%. In this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert spoke with Swinburne’s Event Management and Public Relations expert, Associate Professor Robert Gill to find out what his take was, and what the future could hold for Australia’s large music festival industry. Headlines: Entire countries could be blacklisted under Labor’s deportation bill Cargo ship’s black box recovered in Baltimore disaster A billion meals go to waste everyday as people go hungry Thailand to legalise same sex marriage Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About 1:30AM local time, the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the US city of Baltimore collapsed after being struck by a container ship. The loaded ship reportedly suffered a power issue just prior to the incident, alerting a mayday just in time to stop traffic from crossing the bridge. Tragically, eight roadworkers were still working on the bridge at the time of the collapse. Two were rescued, one body has been recovered, while searches for the remaining have been suspended until morning. Authorities have said they are presumed dead. On this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with the Chair of the Insititute of Structural Engineers, Colin Caprani, about why the bridge collapsed, and whether the same could happen here in Australia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump and Joe Biden have now secured their respective parties’ presidential nomination for the November US presidential election.Biden will partner with Vice President Kamala Harris for the second election in succession. But who will be Donald Trump’s running mate? Most pundits are pointing to South Dakota governor Kristi Noam.So who is she? And why is Donald Trump keeping his cards so close to his chest before naming his running mate? Headlines: Julian Assange granted legal lifeline Search underway in icy conditions after Baltimore bridge collapse Australia could move to holding federal elections every four years The iconic floating door from Titanic film sells at auction Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Noland Arbaugh was paralysed from the shoulders down after a diving accident eight years ago. But now, thanks to a brain computer interface chip, he's able to play video games like Mario Kart or virtual chess simply by concentrating his mind on the screen. The chip, which is the size of a coin, was surgically implanted back in January by Elon Musk's company, Neuralink. While the company have said there are still a few problems to work through, it is incredible technology that promises to give people with severe disabilities a much better quality of life. So how does this technology work, and is it as incredible as it appears? On this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert is joined by neural engineering expert, Associate Professor Sam John to explain how this works, the ethical dilemmas and how common it could be in the future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russia has suffered its deadliest terror attack in 20 years, after 133 people were killed and 100 were injured when gunmen opened fire at a theatre in Moscow. Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, fresh from his election win has blamed Ukraine for the attack despite a terrorist group called ISIS-K claiming responsibility. In this episode of The Briefing Bension Siebert speaks to terrorism expert Greg Barton from Deakin university about what’s going on. Headlines: UN has called for a ceasefire in Gaza for the first time Trump’s fraud bond reduced Boeing CEO steps down Rebel Wilson names Sacha Baron Cohen "massive arsehole" Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The results from Tasmania's election, which took place over the weekend, are mostly in. While Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff called the election a year early in the hopes of forming a stable majority government, he hasn't been able to secure the outcome he was hoping for. It's expected that the Liberals will hold 13-15 seats, which is more than Labor... But short of the 18 required to form a majority government. So what will this mean for Tasmania's future, and the controversial policies that have divided the island? And could this be a preview of how our next federal election could unfold? To explain what's happened, and what it means, Bension Siebert is joined by LiSTNR journalist, Tessa Randello.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know Australia has been recruited by America to produce some of its weapons?The wars in Ukraine and Gaza have stretched US capabilities to make things like artillery shells and missiles, so it’s taking advantage of our munitions factories that have room to grow. On today’s episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with Charles Edel from the Center for Strategic and International Studies about where the weapons being made in Australia are ending up and the geopolitical impacts of buying and selling devices made to kill people. Headlines: Day of mourning declared in Russia after terror attack Labor concedes defeat in Tasmanian election Royal spokesperson urges public to give Kate and William space Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Zac Seidler is a clinical psychologist, researcher and leading men’s mental health expert. With seven men across Australia dying by suicide every day- globally, an average of one man every minute- it’s his mission to create a dialogue with men, not about them, in the mental health space. In this chat with Tom Tilley, Zac opens up about how his father’s suicide shaped his career, explains why we should ditch the label “toxic masculinity”- and why men need more friends. If you are in need of help, call LIFELINE now on 13 11 14.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reuben Kaye is what happens when you tell your children they can be anything. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Reuben recalls the moment he discovered he was funny, opens up about finding humour in dark places- and explains why he stands by that controversial joke about Jesus he told on The Project last year. You can catch Reuben’s show Apocalipstik and his signature huge eyelashes at the Melbourne Comedy festival from next weekend, before he heads to Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane. WEEKEND LIST Late Night with the Devil One Day on Netflix 1Q84 The Imperfects Podcast- Social Anxiety See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why are politicians so desperate for the sport vote? As Tasmania head into an election this weekend, one of the major talking points surrounds whether they really should be about to build a new AFL stadium. And this isn't the first time we've seen governments wrestle with the politics of stadia, with other states and territories similarly finding themselves similarly under fire over proposals and upgrades. So why are politicians so desperate to spend so much money on stadiums, that will only ever be used by a very small percentage of voters? Or should all states and territories have these facilities? On this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt sits down with Dr Hunter Fujak, a lecturer in Sport Management at Deakin University to find out more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tasmania goes to the polls this weekend, and one of the major issues people will be voting on is whether to log or not to log the state’s forests. The coalition, who have been in power for a decade say they will ramp up the logging of Tasmania's native forests, Labor has said they will extend logging contracts to 2040, while the Greens are the only party wanting to get rid of native logging altogether. In this episode of The Briefing Sacha Barbour Gatt talks about what’s at stake this weekend with Bob Brown, and what does Leonardo DiCaprio have to do with it? Headlines: US files landmark lawsuit against Apple Jobs surge puts doubt on rate cut Man plays chess with his mind thanks to brain chip Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's been a lot of attention on Boeing recently, after a spate of inflight incidents. In January, a Boeing 737 Max on a flight from Portland to Ontario in California had its emergency door plug blow off mid-flight, while in February, pilots reported a Boeing 737 Max having jammed flight controls as the plane landed in New Jersey. And just last week, the LATAM 787 Boeing Dreamliner, flying from Sydney to New Zealand plunged midflight, injuring 50 people. After so many well-publicised safety incidents, should we still trust a Boeing plane? Or is this an overblown crisis in an industry otherwise renowned for its extremely high safety standards? One of our producers, Simon Beaton, spoke with the Head of Aviation at Central Queensland University, Professor Doug Drury, to find out what's going on.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today is Harmony Day when Australia celebrates its multiculturism and diversity, but did you know we’re the only country who does? It’s because Australia has a difficult relationship with what the day is actually for internationally, which is the UN International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. In this episode of The Briefing Sacha Barbour Gatt delves into Australia’s murky past with Listnr investigative journalist Claudianna Blanco to find out why this is such a controversial day. Headlines: Kevin Rudd to remain as US ambassador after Trump comments Celebrities looking to include Rupert Murdoch in lawsuit against his papers Affordable housing now out of reach in all Australian eastern capitals Australia ranks 10 in the world for happiness Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last year, over half a million Australians saw their HECS debt grow faster than it was being repaid. Teal Independent MP Dr Monique Ryan says it’s because Australia has an unfair HECS indexation system. In fact, the government got more money last year from HECS debts than it did from its main fossil fuel tax. Dr Ryan has begun a petition calling on Education Minister Jason Clare to change the way HECS debts are indexed. In this episode of The Briefing, we hear from Dr Ryan as we investigate why it feels like you’ll never pay off your HECS debt. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last year, a report found that Australia offers the least amount of parental leave support to parents of multiples in the OECD. In fact, extra payments to families with multiples only account 7% of the differential costs. In this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with mother of triplets, Silje Andersen-Cooke who is also the director of the Australian Multiple Birth Association to find out what has happened in the year since the report was released, and why families with multiples are so overlooked in Australia. Headlines: 2023 breaks every single climate indicator White House slams Trump’s comments on Jewish voters RBA keeps rates steady Another Kate Middleton photo under scrutiny Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Banksy is the artist behind the most famous, subversive and satirical street art on the planet. Yet despite their notoriety over the last two decades, Banksy has impressively managed to maintain their anonymity. But that could all change, due to a current court case between two art collectors and Banksy's authentication company, which could see the artist forced to reveal their identity. In this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with LiSTNR Investigations Editor, Clair Weaver about the current theories on who the artist could be, and the potential ramifications of Banksy losing their anonymity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US is moving to ban TikTok after a bill passed through its House of Representatives last week. It’s given TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance about six months to divest before 150 million users face not being able to access the platform. In this episode of The Briefing Bension Siebert speaks with Crikey’s Cam Wilson about the ban, what it says about data ownership and what the implications could be for us here in Australia. Headlines: Greens to introduce bill that would break up Coles and Woolies Putin addresses crowds at Red Square after landslide election ‘win’ Qantas workers tell hearing they suffered depression after being illegally sacked Intimacy ban lifted for the Paris Games Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vladimir Putin has been re-elected as Russia’s president for the fifth time over the weekend. Before the polls even opened all serious challengers had been wiped out, with Putin’s only real opposition, Alexei Navalny dying in mysterious circumstances weeks before. In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt sits down with Politico’s Zoya Sheftalovich to find out why Russia holds elections when the outcome has already been decided, and how Putin came to power in the first place. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The war between Israel and Hamas has been raging for five months, more than 30,000 people have been killed, and it’s spawned a massive refugee crisis. Currently 1.4 million Palestinians who have fled to the southern city of Rafah on the border with Egypt are hemmed in. So are any of Palestine’s neighbouring countries willing to accept them? And if not, why not? In this episode of The Briefing Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with Anas Iqtait from the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies at ANU about Arab countries’ role in the crisis. Headlines: Some visas reinstated for Palestinians heading to Australia Russians around the world protest election TikTok ban talks ignite in Australia Space X is building a spy satellite network for the US Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patrick deWitt is an award winning author, and screenwriter. In this chat with Tom Tilley, Patrick talks about his latest novel The Librarianist, and why he hopes it provides readers with an escape from the “ugly” world we live in. Patrick also reflects on his decision to leave high school to pursue his dream of becoming a writer, and explains his take on why literature and art should focus less on young people.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sydney-based content creator Veronica B is many things, but she’s perhaps best known for her hilarious comedy skits where she plays Aunty Salma, a character she says represents “every ethnic mum”. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Veronica takes us back to the moment she invented Aunty Salma, opens up about her decade-long journey in content creation before having her breakout moment on TikTok during the pandemic- and tells us why she wishes she could be a sellout. She also chats about using humor to cope with chronic illness- having grown up with colitis and Crohn’s disease. WEEKEND LISTBroadsheet’s episode with Hannah GadsbyAldi ProseccoRunning clubsAntoinette’s episode of Abbie Chatfield’s It’s A Lot podcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first ever academic study has finally been written about Salad Fingers, a video series created in 2004 that later went viral on YouTube. Salad Fingers featured a sickly green figure with lettuce leaves for hands who liked to stroke rusty spoons. The study argues Salad Fingers was a trailblazer of “weird youtube” and is still influencing internet culture today. In this episode of The Briefing, Eleanor Harrison-Dengate speaks with Jessica Balanzategui, a Senior Lecturer in Media at RMIT University, about why she thinks the series has been so influential. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.