The Briefing

How to know if you’re lonely

01 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s Briefing, we’ll learn just how much better life could be if we properly understood loneliness... because it’s connected t...

Are we risk-takers or not? An American weighs in

31 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When Damien Cave brought his young family to Sydney to set up the New York Times’ Australian Bureau, they encountered the local pursuits of Nipp...

Steph Claire Smith on motherhood and measuring up

29 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Steph Claire Smith isn’t your average model turned fitness influencer. Boasting over one million followers on social media, the 27-year-old...

Why Dave Chappelle and Hannah Gadsby are clashing

28 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What’s behind the stoush between Australian comedian Hannah Gadsby and the US superstar Dave Chapelle?   It’s all about Chappell...

Why were there bullets on the set? Alec Baldwin disaster

27 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The film industry was in shock last week when a director of photography was shot dead on the set of a movie in New Mexico.  The shot was fired by...

Japan’s Harry & Meghan: a princess gives up her title for love

26 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The world’s media is comparing the saga surrounding yesterday’s marriage of Japan’s Princess Mako and commoner Kei Komuro to the Har...

Why the microchip shortage could ruin Christmas

25 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The world is facing a shortage of vital semiconductor microchips.  You might not be able to find the tech gift you were planning on buying f...

Why the Nationals finally caved on net zero

24 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s Briefing is a deep dive on the politics playing out in Canberra between the Coalition partners.    The National Party has agre...

Get your geek on with Lawrence Leung

22 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Lawrence Leung is a Melbourne-based comedian, writer and actor who, as it turns out, has a very surprising past!     He was once a teenage g...

Australia’s first ‘stealthing’ law

21 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Stealthing is the act of removing a condom mid-sex, without the partner’s knowledge.  It’s become an issue of debate since the term w...

Dan Ilic's Times Square campaign to embarrass Scott Morrison

20 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Australian comedian Dan Ilic has started a  crowdfunding campaign to fund Times Square billboards to embarrass Prime Minister Scott Morrison and ...

What ‘net zero’ actually means

19 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone’s talking about ‘net zero’.  What does it actually mean?  And …why is the Prime Minister Scott Morrison so...

Superstar astronaut, now author Chris Hadfield

18 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield was commander of the International Space Station.  He became famous when he published videos of experiments he ...

The hidden value of psychics

17 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s briefing investigates the world of psychics and asks the fundamental question - are they dangerous charlatans or do they actually p...

Dr Yves Rees, the trans historian leaning into the messiness of gender identity

15 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Yves Rees (they/them) is an award-winning writer, podcaster and historian.      When Yves was 30-years-old, they came to the underst...

Immunocompromised: the forgotten people

14 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Simone, a Briefing listener, reached out to ask us to do an episode on the plight of immunocompromised Australians.   Many have terminal ill...

Malcolm Turnbull’s campaign to change Australia’s energy future: Part Two

13 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is determined to change Australia’s energy future.   He’s teamed up with mining magnate and bi...

Malcolm Turnbull’s campaign to change Australia’s energy future: Part One

12 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is determined to change Australia’s energy future.   He’s teamed up with mining magnate and bi...

Space tourism: how long before ordinary Aussies blast off?

11 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Briefing listener, Laura, contacted us asking for an episode on the commercial space race….and in particular, when Australians should expect to...

Are we headed for a global economic meltdown?

10 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Financial markets are jittery with at least four critical economic fault lines developing across the globe….Covid-19, the Evergrande crisis in ...

Harley Breen, the comedian who grew up without television and now graces our screens

08 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Harley Breen has graced some of Australia’s most important comedy stages, fronted some of the country’s flagship radio shows and appeared ...

Facebook’s week from hell

07 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Oculus and Facebook Messenger crashed Tuesday morning. All the Facebook-owned sites were down for six hours.   It&...

Brendan Cowell; Game of Thrones, Avatar 2 ...and a new book

06 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Brendan Cowell’s new novel is called “Plum”.  It delves deep into the life of a former NRL player who’s forced to answer ...

The David Attenborough of the Covid-19 pandemic

05 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Professor Peter Doherty is a Nobel laureate …a world-famous immunologist.  He’s been called the David Attenborough of the Covid-19 p...

Did Gladys have to go?

04 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian stunned the country in suddenly resigning last Friday.  The state’s Independent Commission Against Corruptio...

Is your phone a super-spreader?

03 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A microbiologist is sounding the alarm on the germs living on our smartphones, warning the devices we use every day are carrying deadly bacteria that ...

Introducing Brains Trust

02 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Journalist and producer Chris Walker learns about today’s world with provocative, inspiring, meaningful, and funny discussions with a ‘Bra...

Christian Hull, the social media saviour who built a pandemic empire.

01 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Christian Hull has become one of Australia’s most prolific content creators over the past 18 months.     From beginning his expansive ...

Being a pro-vaxxer in Byron

30 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The northern Rivers area of New South Wales is often described as a hive of anti-vaxxers.   Is it true?  And what’s it like to be...

Do vaccine mandates create more problems than they solve….?

29 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We’re all being encouraged to roll up our sleeves to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.  Some industries have introduced mandates.  Compani...

Larrimah: Australia’s unsolved outback mystery

28 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The disappearance of Paddy Moriarty from the outback town of Larrimah in 2017 has puzzled police and amateur sleuths alike.   Investigative repor...

A new warning from the man who predicted Black Summer

27 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

During the Black Summer bushfires, Former NSW fire chief and long-time volunteer firefighter Greg Mullins emerged as a critical voice in the debate ab...

What will the world look like post Covid-19

26 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Australia hit the milestone 50 percent double-dose vaccine rate last Friday.  It means we're just around the corner from getting our freedoms bac...

AJ Clementine on gender transitioning, her social media journey and penning her first book.

24 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Across Instagram, YouTube and TikTok, AJ Clementine has almost 2 million followers, educating her audience on her transgender experience. AJ began her...

Will Covid flip the long-running trend in Australian break-ups?

23 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The divorce rate has been in decline in Australia for the last twenty years, but Covid has changed all that.   In this Briefing, we’re join...

What happened to Gabby Petito?

22 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Gabby Petito and her fiancé Brian Laundrie headed off on the trip of a lifetime, a van adventure across the US, last month.  They’re...

Part 2: Annika investigates The Accidental Prime Minister

21 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Tom sits down with his co-host Annika Smethurst to take a deep dive into what motivates Scott Morrison, the man Annika has dubbed ‘The Accidenta...

Part 1: Annika investigates The Accidental Prime Minister

20 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Annika Smethurst’s new book on Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been released.   Annika is a Briefing co-host and Walkley-award winni...

Deepfakes: the sinister side of AI

19 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Deepfakes have been called the modern version of photoshopping… and they use a form of artificial intelligence called ‘Deep Learning&rsqu...

Jessica Rowe and the diagnosis that changed her life

17 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jamila Rizvi sat down with Australian journalist, TV presenter, author, and now podcast host, Jessica Rowe to talk about how she finds little moments ...

How will our pets fare when lockdown lifts?

16 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We all love our pets, and they’re loving having us around all the time.  What’s going to happen when lockdown ends, and we’re n...

Why you should give a f**k about farming

15 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The farming sector has been through one of the worst droughts in living memory.  It is now preparing to reap a record harvest, while struggling t...

The Cool Down: elite athletes calling for climate action

14 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Australians want our government to do more to fight climate change.  Australians also love their sport.   Former Wallaby captain David Pococ...

The Texas abortion laws rocking the U.S.

13 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The U.S. state of Texas has introduced strict new abortion laws banning terminations after just six weeks of pregnancy.   Dr David Smith is assoc...

Curtis McGrath: a Paralympic dual gold medallist

12 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We spoke with Curtis McGrath on the morning of the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Paralympics.  His story is incredible.  He was a soldier in...

Dispelling vaccine myths with Dr Nick Coatsworth

11 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Last week we published back-to-back episodes featuring Dr Nick Coatsworth.   Tom, Jan, Annika, Katrina and Antoinette have spoken to Dr Nick many...

Rebel Wilson, the philanthropic Aussie superstar who went from law student to one of the brightest in comedy.

10 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Rebel Wilson is best known on our screens as Pitch Perfect’s Fat Amy bringing our unique Australian humour to a global stage.    ...

9/11: an Australian’s story of resilience

09 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We all remember where we were on September 11, 2001.  To mark the 20th anniversary of the terror attacks, we’re joined by an Australian man...

RUOK? How to help children navigate the pandemic

08 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today is RUOK Day.  We all know the impact the pandemic is having on our mental health.  Everyone is stressed and under pressure.  But ...

The new hustle: don’t work harder, just work better

07 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It seems everyone these days has a side hustle…a project they’re hoping will provide a future beyond their day-to-day nine-to-five grind....

Dispelling the vaccine myths with Dr Nick (Part 2)

06 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This is our second episode in a two-part podcast with Dr Nick Coatsworth.   It’s time to dispel the vaccination conspiracies once and ...

Dispelling the vaccine myths with Dr Nick (Part 1)

05 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve spoken to Dr Nick Coatsworth before about vaccinations - and some of you may feel like you’re listening to a broken record…. ...

Carrie Bickmore is reuniting with 9/11 victims, two decades on.

03 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Carrie Bickmore is one of Australia’s most recognisable newsreaders, helming 'The Project' every weeknight while commanding the Hit Network&rsqu...

Life is tough (but so are you)

02 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Briony Benjamin had just started a new job.  A few months later, she started to feel unwell. She felt crappy for a year without any known reason....

The General running Australia's vaccine rollout

01 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We’re all being urged to get a Covid vaccine so the nation can reach the critical milestones of 70 and 80 percent vaccination.  They’...

Did Banjo Patterson whitewash the Man from Snowy River?

31 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Australia has the largest wild horse population in the world with numbers estimated in the range of half a million. In the Outback they’re ...

The Poor Economist (Part 2)

30 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This is the second instalment in our interview with the Poor Economist, a young Australian who grew up below the poverty line before moving to a caree...

The Poor Economist (Part 1)

29 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Poor and economist, two words you don’t often hear in the same sentence. But this week we’re looking into what it’s like growing up ...

Annika Smethurst - Political reporter, author and co-host of the Briefing

27 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Political reporter and author and co-host of The Briefing Annika Smethurst joins Jamila in this captivating conversation.   Annika is a double Wa...

Is the pandemic a game changer for stay-at-home Dads?

26 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With Tom about to take time off to welcome his first child, we thought we’d look at how the pandemic is influencing the traditional roles in the...

Regional Australia's race against Delta

25 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Regional NSW and Victoria are currently in lockdown as the Delta variant of the Covid virus spreads across rural Australia.     We&rsqu...

The new rule infuriating Aussies overseas

24 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The federal government has introduced a new rule requiring Australians who live overseas to apply to return.  One of our listeners asked us to ge...

An incredible Australian Paralympic story

23 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Curtis McGrath, OAM is an Australian para canoeist who took up canoeing competitively after having both of his legs amputated as a result of a mine bl...

The Prince Andrew Virginia Giuffre case explained

22 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Virginia Giuffre, one of Jeffrey Epstein's longtime accusers, is suing Prince Andrew, saying the royal sexually assaulted her when she was 1...

Turia Pitt is persistent, pragmatic, hilarious and Hard Work.

20 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In 2011, Turia Pitt was competing in an ultramarathon through Western Australia's Kimberley region, when she was trapped in a bushfire. She suffered b...

The comedian we need right now – Sam Simmons

19 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Australian comedian Sam Simmons was feeling like the rest of Aussies in lockdown....a little bored, lonely and sad.  So,...

Aussie soldiers react to Taliban victory in Afghanistan

18 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Taliban has stormed back to power in Afghanistan.  The images of people falling from aircraft this week have left the world in shock.   ...

Abandoned: Afghan local speaks to the Briefing

17 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Taliban stormed into the Afghan capital Kabul at the weekend, just days after allied troops retreated from the city.   We're joined by Sharif...

Tom and Annika interview the Treasurer

16 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Australia had its first recession in almost 30 years last year, as the Covid-19 pandemic wreaked havoc around the world.   We made a quick recove...

Why the Delta variant exploded in western Sydney

15 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Sydney Delta outbreak paralysing Australia’s largest city started in the East, so why is it in the west and south-west that the im...

Author Amani Haydar on her mother's murder at the hands of her father and how it shaped her parenting.

13 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Amani Haydar lost her mother in a brutal act of violence, perpetrated by her father, in March of 2015.   She was five months pregnant with her fi...

We answer your questions on how to survive lockdown

12 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Millions of Australians are in lockdown and wondering how they’re going to survive, mentally and financially.  We asked our social media fo...

IPCC Report: what it means for Australia’s future.

11 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The United Nations’ International Panel on Climate Change has released its latest report on the future of the planet – and it’s not ...

Will Delta change the game in China?

10 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

China has trumpeted their suppression of Covid-19 since the virus first emerged within their own borders and are now locking down on Delta, but are th...

Terminator: dual Olympic gold medallist Ariarne Titmus

09 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The world watched on as Australia’s Ariarne Titmus and the USA’s Katie Ledecky prepared to battle it out in the women’s 200m and 400...

Brandon Jack: not fitting the life you’re born into

08 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Being the son of a rugby league legend didn’t quite fit with Brandon Jack.  His new book ‘28’ delves deep into the search for h...

Jacob Stanley, the nomad who went from beauty educator to media personality

06 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Podcast aficionados will know Jacob Stanley as the co-host of Just The Gist with Rosie Waterland. But before his media life, he was the Head of Learni...

Pushing back on zero risk covid 'experts': Dr Nick Coatsworth part 2

05 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Are you concerned about media experts getting lots of media airtime to talk about Covid-19. but getting it wrong, often being way too pessimistic?&nbs...

Afterpay: the intriguing story of an Australian unicorn

04 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

News broke this week that a US company had made a $39 billion bid for Australian firm, Afterpay.  It is the biggest business deal in the history ...

Could Australian dogs be facing a Covid style contagion?

03 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

TODAY'S HEADLINES PM unveils vaccine threshold, admits need for restrictions NSW sets vaccination goal for lifting restrictions Wuhan back in lo...

How did our female swimmers become so dominant?

02 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Tokyo Games has been Australia’s most successful Olympics in the pool ever, with nine gold medals.  In Rio, five years ago, we won thre...

Should surf clubs take money from oil companies?

01 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ampol is sponsoring Surf Lifesaving Australia.  The giant oil company says its money will go to saving lives and its name will appear on the slee...

Osher Günsberg on what’s in a name, the importance of nurture and 'The Bachelor'

30 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Osher Günsberg is a familiar face on Australian television, having hosted Australian Idol, The Bachelor franchise and Masked Singer Australia. &n...

Dr Nick Coatsworth: Your vaccine questions answered

29 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There is so much information circulating about Pfizer, AstraZeneca and vaccines in general.  No one knows what to believe.   Dr Nick Coatswo...

What’s the story with Friendlyjordies?

28 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

One of our listeners asked us to do an episode on the Friendlyjordies story. Friendlyjordies is Youtube star, Jordan Shanks - a 31-year-old from Sydne...

Tradies' nightmare: a national timber shortage

27 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Australia is currently in the middle of a massive timber shortage.  It means the booming construction industry has had to hit the brakes.   ...

Could Donald Trump reclaim the White House?

26 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Donald Trump is back on the hustings in the US. He’s talking up his chances of reclaiming the White House.   So, how likely is he to run ag...

It's time to talk about dying with dignity

25 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Next month, Independent NSW MP Alex Greenwich will introduce a voluntary assisted dying bill to the state’s parliament.  Under the proposal...

Nazeem Hussain, the internationally-renowned comedian who never intended to make it big

23 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Comedian Nazeem Hussain became a household name after reaching the final of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here, made his American TV deb...

Meet two Aussies aiming for gold in Tokyo

22 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Tokyo Olympics is finally here!  The pandemic meant the Games were delayed by a year….and there were times this year when it looked li...

A new wave of agony for the music industry

21 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Australian music industry is on its knees.  Artists and promoters have had gigs and festivals cancelled as a result of the most recent Covid ...

Do Victorians have a right to be angry at Sydney?

20 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has highlighted NSW’s role in seeding the outbreak that’s led to Victoria’s current lockdown and ma...

Has the US started taking UFOs seriously?

19 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

UFOs are back on the radar in the US.   On June 25, the Director of National Intelligence did put out a report on UFOs... but they call them...

Freedom Day: Britain kicks off the Covid shackles

18 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, July 19, is Freedom Day in the UK. Prime Minister Boris Johnson sold it as the day Great Britain “goes back to life as it was before Covi...

Kate Ellis, formerly Australia's youngest federal minister, on exposing 'a culture of disrespect'

16 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Kate Ellis was elected to the seat of Adelaide at the age of 27, and held the title of the youngest person to become a federal minister at 30. Af...

Champion learnings: Ash Barty and Dylan Alcott’s mindset coach

15 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ash Barty and Dylan Alcott kept Australia mesmerised last weekend when they won their respective Wimbledon titles.  Both are bona fide champions&...

Let’s talk about the hard things: death, sex & money

14 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

No one likes having difficult conversations.  It’s easier NOT to talk about things like death, sex and money.  But we DO need to have ...

How Covid-19's Delta variant engulfed Sydney

13 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The nation is watching Sydney right now as it struggles to get this Covid-19 outbreak under control.  For people in Melbourne, it's looking ...

Is it safe to get Botox injections?

12 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

One of our listeners sent us a message asking us to do an episode on whether Botox is dangerous.  We know it’s become incredibly popular si...

A Father’s Plea: bring my ISIS bride daughter home

11 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Mariam Dabboussy was married in 2011 and she and her husband went on a holiday in 2015.  Her husband took her into Syria and joined the ISIS figh...