Headlines: Labor looks to crack down on billionaires in Aussie elections, fears of a trade war overshadow APEC summit and Aussie scientists invent possible solution for fatbergs.

Deep Dive: The federal government has introduced a world-first plan to ban kids younger than 16 from accessing social media.

Depending on who you ask, it's either an election-winning policy that addresses the anxieties of mums and dads across the country - or a poorly thought out, privacy-stealing power grab.

The ban has received bipartisan support from the government - so what's the big deal if it comes into law?

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou unpacks what the ban will mean with 17-year-old Leo Puglisi, founder of 6News, tech and political commentator Stilgherrian, and Libertarian MP David Limbrick.

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Ben Shewry is one of Australia’s top chefs who’s behind the world renowned restaurant Attica.

He started working at a local restaurant in New Zealand at just 10 years old after sending out letters pleading his case to become a chef.

In his new memoir, Uses For Obsession, Shewry exposes the misogyny, harassment, and toxic culture ingrained in hospitality.

In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Ben reveals why he wrote a whole chapter on hot chips and how one of the most telling things about a person is the way they treat waitstaff.

Weekend List
TO TRY: Airyday Skinscreens Mineral SPF50+
TO WATCH: Rivals on Disney+
TO WATCH: Yellowstone season 5 on Stan
TO LISTEN: Off Menu podcast ep with Sebastian Stan

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Top chef Ben Shewry on misogyny, critics and hot chips

This weekend legendary boxer Mike Tyson is stepping into the ring with Youtuber-turned-influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

The fight is being held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas – but for those who can’t make it in person, the event is set to be broadcast live on Netflix – a first for the streaming service.

It's been postponed, hyped, and hated – and will be making a massive amount of money for those involved. Is this about to be the event of the century? Or is an almost 60-year-old former boxing champion fighting an influencer a sad state of affairs for the once-glorious sport of boxing?

In this episode of The Briefing Helen Smith is joined by Combat Sports Journalist at The Daily Telegraph and Code Sports Brendan Bradford to unpack what he thinks of the whole affair.

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Inside Netflix's massive gamble on Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson

How banning kids from social media will affect you

Over the past 48 hours, Elon Musk and more than a dozen high-profile loyalists have been picked for key jobs in incoming president Donald Trump's administration.

Every new name has made international headlines, and offers a valuable insight into how Trump plans to shape America and the world when he returns to the White House in January.

On this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt and Bension Siebert break down the key names announced so far, and what you need to know about them.

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You’re hired! Trump’s team for the next four years

Headlines: Trump and Biden meet at the White House, new duty of care laws for social media companies, High Court rules a Catholic diocese not liable for abuse and two Aussie cities rank in the top ten in the world for the cleanest air.

Deep Dive: Corporations shape our world and while they can drive economies, they also have considerable influence over our environment and society.  

One way some businesses try to leave a positive mark is through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The United Nations and the Australian Human Rights Commission champion CSR’s potential, but not everyone is buying in.  

Employment lawyer Josh Bornstein argues that it might be nothing more than a façade. Josh joins Chris Spyrou on this episode of The Briefing to share why he believes CSR is nothing more than a marketing tool that distracts from real accountability. 

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Corporate Social Responsibility is bullshit

We’ve all heard of sniffer dogs, but what about sniffer rats?

Did you know there’s a program that is training and using the critters to hunt down materials being used in the illegal wildlife trade in Africa?

In this episode of The Briefing Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Kate Webb, who helped launch the project, to learn more about this amazing initiative and plans for the future of detection rats.

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How rats are exposing organised crime

Headlines: Decision on Trump’s hush money case delayed again, Anglican church’s global leader resigns over child sexual abuse scandal, Parents and principals urged to help with social media ban, and CHOICE names the worst Australian products and services of the year.

Deep Dive: As delegates from more than 200 countries meet to negotiate the future of global climate action this week at COP29, US president-elect and climate change denier Donald Trump is casting a long shadow.  

The world’s scientists say the window to avert the worst of the climate crisis is closing fast. So does four more years of Trump mean we’re basically doomed?  

Dr. Wesley Morgan is a research associate with the Institute for Climate Risk and Response at the University of New South Wales and a fellow with the Climate Council of Australia. He tells Bension Siebert on this episode of The Briefing that, in his view, there’s lots to feel hopeful about. 

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Trump, COP29, climate: Here's why we're not doomed

New statistics out from Lifeline this week have revealed a surge in contacts made to the crisis line in 2024.

More than 110 thousand calls for help have been made to the helpline since January with money worries dominating conversations, with October 7th was the busiest day of the year. We’re told all the time to reach out to Lifeline if we need help, but what is it actually like to call a mental health crisis line? What do you talk about? What sort of help can they offer? And will it actually make a difference?

On today’s episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with Michael, someone who has been there, to find out.

We’ve withheld Michael’s full name for privacy reasons.

Lifeline 13 11 14
Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636

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Inside a crisis call: How Lifeline saved Michael's life

Headlines: Labor admits there’s more work to do on cost of living, Trump makes more appointments, three in five Aussie renters never expect to own a home, police escort for Adelaide elephant and your thoughts on free uni and 4B! 

Deep Dive: Is your boss spying on you right now? 

Last month, Woolworths was under fire for its practice of intensely monitoring the productivity of some of its workers, reportedly using technology and algorithms to assess their minute-by-minute productivity. We’ve heard similar criticisms of retail giant Amazon and rideshare giant Uber – but what you might not know is that office workers are far from safe from this kind of intrusive surveillance. 

So-called ‘bossware’, software that monitors and reports employee performance using tools such as mouse tracking and web browsing surveilling, are becoming more common. So how are you being spied on right now? Peter Holland is a professor of human resource management from Swinburne University. He joins Benion Siebert on this episode of The Briefing to unpack how it all works.  

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Australian bosses love to spy on their staff

In the days since Donald Trump won the US election, you might’ve seen the term ‘4B’ gaining traction on social media.

Born in South Korea, 4B is a feminist movement in response to strictly held gender roles in the country that sees women swearing off men altogether. With this new political reality, will 4B find its way into Western society? And what would that actually look like?

Earlier this year The Briefing spoke with Su-Kyoung Hwang, a Senior Lecturer in Korean Studies at the University of Sydney, to unpack the movement as it gained vitality in the region. In case you missed it, listen back as she takes Sacha Barbour Gatt through 4B and why it is so popular in South Korea, as the movement goes viral in the US. 

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The 4B movement is going viral after Trump’s win. What is it? 

Headlines: Trump sweeps all battleground states, EV sales drop across Australia and a massive weekend in Aussie sport.

Deep Dive: Student debt reforms are leading the Albanese government's 2025 election promises. The key changes would reduce existing student debt by 20% and raise the income threshold for repayments. 

However, some say these measures don't go far enough, with calls for free higher education back in the spotlight.  

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou digs into these proposals, asking what they mean for students, graduates, and the broader economy. 

Joined by ANU Professor Andrew Norton and The Motley Fool Australia's Chief Investment Officer, Scott Phillips - we explore whether these reforms are a step forward and whether Australia's economy and tax system could handle making higher education free.

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Can Australia afford free university?

Mel Buttle is one of Australia’s favourite comedians and self-declared number one fan of the Matildas.

You might recognise her as the creator behind Australia's favourite online mum character 'Lyn' or from the latest season of Taskmaster.

In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Mel opens up about her struggles with severe bullying, ongoing homophobia, and feeling rejected by her wife’s family at what should be a time of blissful newlywed joy.

Mel is currently touring her hit comedy show Not Here to Put Socks on Centipedes after sell-out performances at Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Sydney and Brisbane Comedy Festivals.

Weekend List
TO WATCH: Joan on Stan
TO TRY: McoBeauty fragrance mist salted caramel & pistachio
TO TRY: Tell Her She's Dreamin': A memoir for ambitious girls by Simone Amelia Jordan
TO WATCH: Chicken Shop date with Amelia Dimoldenberg and Andrew Garfield

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Mel Buttle is the internet's favourite mum

Most Australians agree that consent is key to healthy sexual experiences. But what does consent mean? What does it look like in action? Before we can talk to our kids about consent, we need to talk to each other.

In this special series, made in partnership with the Australian federal government as part of its Consent Can’t Wait campaign, The Briefing invites iconic Australians to unpack how they feel about consent, what their understanding of it is, how they're having conversations about it with loved ones, and unpacking some of the myths about consent that we can all fall victim to.

In part four, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Jude Bolton, cohost of Triple M's Rush Hour in Sydney and former Sydney Swan, and author and Founder of Teach Us Consent Chanel Contos to hear their thoughts on consent in 2024.

Check out your understanding of consent, and get help learning how to talk about the topic at Consent.gov.au.

Why Consent Can't Wait: Jude Bolton

Bonnie Blue has been making nation headlines around her plan to invite quote un quote “barley legal” young men attending schoolies on the gold coast to have sex and film it for content on her wildly popular only fans account

Harrison James is one of many who thinks Bonnie’s actions are exploitative. He’s a survivor of sexual violence and now works as an activist speaking to consent, sexual violence and the safety of children and young people.

On this episode of the Briefing Helen Smith is joined by Harrison to explain why he called the hotel Bonnie Blue is planning to stay during schoolies and if her visa should be cancelled.

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What a survivor of sexual violence thinks of Bonnie Blue

Headlines: Joe Biden’s first address since Trump win, Optus fined $12 million for outage, National Cabinet meeting today to consider social media ban and Australia’s biggest frog count gets underway!

Deep dive: Bonnie Blue is a 25-year-old Only Fans creator inviting “barely legal” young men attending schoolies on the Gold Coast to have sex and film it for content, sparking a serious and complex debate about consent.  

Bonnie stresses that those involved must be over 18, have an ID with them, sign two consent forms and take a breathalyser test, but there are calls for her visa to be cancelled.  

On this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by the adult content creator to share her justifications for her Schoolies plan and what she thinks of people calling her a predator.  

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‘I'm not a predator’: OnlyFans' Bonnie Blue defends Schoolies sex plan

What does Donald Trump returning to the White House mean for Australia?

One man with a deep insight into this question is former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who Trump in during his first term.

Speaking with the Briefing’s Bension Siebert, Turnbull gives his advice on how current PM Anthony Albanese should deal with him, reveals what Trump is like behind closed doors, and explains what Trump 2.0 means for Australia’s next election, our economy and the world.

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Malcolm Turnbull explains what Trump 2.0 means for Australia

Donald Trump is the 47th President of the United States.

While it will take days to finalise the vote count, the Republican nominee currently holds 292 electoral votes to Kamala Harris’ 224. He is also on track to win the national popular vote.

It's being lauded by key Republicans as "the greatest political comeback in the history of America." 

But how will another Trump presidency impact global conflicts, immigration, women's rights and conversations around climate change? 

In this special episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt and Chris Spyrou walk you through what you need to know.

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Donald Trump has won. What now? 

The results have been streaming in as voters deliver their verdict on Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, as they battle to become the next president of the United States.

Trump and Harris have been doing everything possible up until the final moments urging people to get out and vote. Meanwhile, there have been bomb threats in the key swing states of Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona, and fake FBI accounts online have been calling the integrity of the vote into question, and been wild weather in various places - from heavy rain across several states, to snow, to the threat of wildfires in California.

When can we possibly expect to learn who will be the next president of the United States? 

To take us through the day’s drama, and what we can take from the results so far, Bension Siebert is joined by journalist Dave Levinthal live from the ground in Washington DC to bring you the latest.

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Massive turnout, bomb threats, too close to call: the US votes

Headlines: Voting is underway in the US election, WA Premier fails to disclose Qantas Chairman’s Lounge membership, Prince William and Robert Irwin team up for the environment and 87% of Briefers said they weren’t participating in Melbourne Cup day.

Deep Dive: Politicians and their free memberships to the Qantas Chairman's Lounge have been in the news all this week.

But what actually goes on inside these luxurious spaces, and where is the line between reasonable luxuries for high-level politicians and potentially corrupting influence?

On this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with Joe Aston, journalist and author of The Chairman’s Lounge, which kicked off the scandal.

We also hear from Independent Senator David Pocock on why he gave up his membership – and why he accepted it in the first place.

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Taking you inside the Qantas Chairman’s Lounge 

The US election might look batshit crazy from afar – but what does it feel like if you’re witnessing the madness unfold live on the ground?

On this episode of the Briefing, we take you away from the polls, campaigns and the candidates, and into the homes of three different Australians living in US battleground states right now.

Each of their lives will be directly affected by the outcome. As millions cast their ballots across the US to choose the next President of the United States tomorrow, what do they think of being a part of this moment in history? Bension Siebert finds out.

This is part of The Briefing’s US election special – catch up on part one, where we explain the Electoral College and how you become President, here. 

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'We have an exit strategy': Meet the Australians in US swing states

Headlines: Kamala Harris promises to end the war in Gaza, Independent MPs hand back their Qantas memberships, Australia's first commercial rocket to launch into space and tributes flow for Quincy Jones. 

Deep Dive: Should we still be racing horses?

As the warmer spring weather rolls in, it also brings on a major series of events in the country’s sporting calendar – the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, and most notably, the Melbourne Cup.

While horse racing is a year-wide event, the Melbourne Cup inevitably spotlights the increasingly contentious issue of whether we should be racing horses at all.

This Melbourne Cup Day, The Briefing brings you both sides of the debate, so you can make up your own mind. 

Helen Smith is joined by Katherine Coleman, assistant trainer at Moody Racing, and MP Georgie Purcell, Australian politician and member of the Animal Justice Party, to ask what they both want you to know about the horse racing industry in Australia today.

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Melbourne Cup: A race horse trainer vs. MP Georgie Purcell

The race for the White House is almost over - but how does it all work again?

This week, millions of Americans will cast their vote in the country’s election. The result will be historical and is likely to shape democracy for the US and the world. 

Before the counting begins, The Briefing brings you the first part of this week’s special US election coverage.

Today, Chris Spyrou is joined by Matt Bevan, host of ABC's If You’re Listening, to explain everything you need to know about the Electoral College, voting in the states, and how this political system, that is very different from our own, works.

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The Electoral College: this is how you become a US president

Headlines: Kamala Harris’ SNL appearance may have violated TV political rules, Anthony Albanese’s promise to young voters and Sydney hosts the world premiere of Wicked.

Deep Dive: A network of volunteer doctors in Australia are stepping up to provide free medical care for Palestinians who have fled Gaza.

From performing surgeries on patients with amputated limbs to treating chronic illness, they are stepping in where the government has fallen short, in part due to visas provided for those fleeing not allowing access to healthcare.

One of these doctors is Dr Mohamed Amr. He is the co-founder of the Palestinian Australian New Zealand Medical Association (PANZMA). In this exclusive conversation, he joins Antoinette Lattouf in this episode of The Briefing to talk about PANZMA’s work, the devastating suffering he’s witnessed, the hope his work is providing to those in need, and what more he wants the government to do.

Despite repeated inquiries from The Briefing, DFAT has failed to disclose how many Palestinian refugees are granted access to healthcare or provide a comparison of the visa types granted to Israeli and Ukrainian refugees. In stark contrast to the comprehensive support extended to Ukrainians escaping violence, the majority of the 1,300 Palestinian patients are only on visitor visas. These visas strip them of the right to access health benefits, study, or work, leaving them unable to secure even the most basic medical care.

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The reason why these Australian doctors are offering free surgery

Craig Foster is a massive overachiever.

He was Australia’s 40th Socceroos captain, he’s been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia and is a fierce human rights advocate.

In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Craig reveals why he declined an invitation to meet the King, what his nightmare blunt rotation is and how he chooses what human rights causes to champion.

Weekend List
TO LISTEN: Coldplay We Pray
TO WATCH: The Office Australia on Amazon Prime
TO TRY: Vaseline eye mask
DON’T WATCH: Lonely Planet on Netflix

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Can Socceroos legend Craig Foster be silenced?

Most Australians agree that consent is key to healthy sexual experiences. But what does consent mean? What does it look like in action? Before we can talk to our kids about consent, we need to talk to each other.

In this special series, made in partnership with the Australian federal government as part of its Consent Can’t Wait campaign, The Briefing invites iconic Australians to unpack how they feel about consent, what their understanding of it is, how they're having conversations about it with loved ones, and unpacking some of the myths about consent that we can all fall victim to.

In part three, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Jess Rowe, accomplished journalist, author, public speaker and host of LiSTNR's The Jess Rowe Big Talk Show, and author and Founder of Teach Us Consent Chanel Contos to hear their thoughts on consent in 2024.

Check out your understanding of consent, and get help learning how to talk about the topic at Consent.gov.au.

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Why Consent Can’t Wait: Jess Rowe

Headlines: Over 1000 large companies didn’t pay tax in Australia last year, 60 million Americans have already voted, and Russia has fined Google more money than there is in the entire world.

Deep Dive: Is it possible that there’s a serial killer wreaking havoc along the NSW coast?

That’s the question that’s been raised by Jeremy Buckingham, Legalise Cannabis Party MP and member of NSW legislative council.

In an impassioned address to parliament, the MP made the case for the state to take a serious look at 67 missing or murdered women along the NSW north coast between 1977 and 2009. But is this callout alarmist? Do these accusations risk opening old wounds for the hundreds of friends and family linked to each disappearance and death?

On this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt unpacks the claims, and asks the MP why he’s chosen to raise this issue now.

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Is Australia's worst serial killer living in Byron Bay?

Do you know what to do if a snake bites you?

Snake season is upon us, and Australia is living up to its international reputation for alarming wildlife in unexpected places.

An unusually high number of snakes are being spotted in suburban homes in Australia right now – so if you come into contact with one over the coming months, what should you do? And if you’re bitten, what’s the steps you need to take to ensure your survival?

On this episode of the Briefing Bension Siebert speaks to snake handler Mark Pelley about his own life-threatening experience of getting bitten by a tiger snake, why there are so many snakes around right now, and what to do if you come across one – or if you or a pet is bitten.

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How to survive a snake bite - from someone who did

Headlines: Anthony Albanese says he never called Alan Joyce for flight upgrades, UN Security Council warns Israel against banning UNRWA, and Harris and Biden walk back ‘garbage’ comments.

Deep Dive: Are Australia’s mortgage wars back?

After a period of corporate coordination, banks have started making moves and competing hard for your money – happy news for mortgage holders, and people hoping to enter the property market alike.

But will things get better, or is this just a temporary reprieve? And who should you listen to if you're unsure of what to do?

On this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith speaks with Alec Renehan from Equity Mates to find out what that means for anyone with a mortgage and how long he expects the fighting to last.  

The information in this podcast is for general information only. It should not be taken as constituting professional advice, and your financial circumstances might be different and have different needs.

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Finally, a positive housing story. Australia's mortgage wars explained

A long-awaited and lengthy report by an inquiry looking into Australia’s COVID response was handed down yesterday.

It found that while state and federal governments nailed the early response to the threat of the virus, tough restrictions, poor communication and a lack of consideration of our human rights eroded public confidence and trust.

On today’s episode of The Briefing, we’re digging deeper into how Aussies feel now about politicians and the government, and whether it puts us in danger should we face a pandemic again. Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with CEO of Public Health Association of Australia, Adjunct Professor Terry Slevin to hear if he thinks we can repair what has been lost.

Does the government deserve our trust after COVID?

Headlines: Key takeaways from Australia’s first COVID response inquiry, 90% of federal pollies are members of Qantas’ Chairman’s Lounge and 50 Cent knocked back $3 million USD to perform at Trump's New York rally.

Deep Dive: Would you take MDMA to help your mental health? 

In this two-part special, The Briefing is taking an exclusive step into one of the only clinics in Australia offering MDMA-assisted therapy to help treat those experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - with some astonishing results. 

What actually happens to you when you take what is usually known as a party drug during a therapy session?  

In part two, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with *Kate, a patient at the Pax Centre who has undertaken MDMA-assisted therapy to treat her PSTD and shares how the treatment gave her a sense of peace “she’s never experienced before”.  

Listen to part one here. 

Lifeline 13 11 14 

*Not her real name for privacy purposes 

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How MDMA freed Kate from PTSD

Youth crime has been in the spotlight nationally in recent years, with stories of teenage offenders dominating mainstream news bulletins.

It’s sparked a groundswell of support for political parties that are promising to be tough on the issue, and it’s worked, with the Liberals having decisive wins in the Northern Territory and Queensland in recent weeks.

With promises of locking up kids at younger ages, enforcing adult time for adult crimes and even looking at periods of solitary confinement for teen offenders; do these politicians have it right?

In today’s episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speak with lecturer in criminology, Dr Joel McGregor from Swinburne University, to discuss the changing conversation around young criminals. 

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The plan for locking up 10-year-olds

Headlines: The fallout from Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally, calls grow for Senate inquiry into Albanese-Joyce relationship, NATO confirms North Korean troops deployed in Russia and a new survey reveals the sexual diversity of Aussie students.

Deep Dive: Today, The Briefing is doing MDMA.

In this two-part special, we take an exclusive step into one of the only clinics in Australia offering MDMA-assisted therapy to help treat those experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - with some astonishing results.

How exactly does a drug most would traditionally associate with the party scene help those suffering through a mental health crisis? And why can it work in place of other, more traditional treatments?

In part one, Bension Siebert and Sacha Barbour Gatt speak with Co‑founders of the Pax Centre, Dr Jonathan Laugharne and Claire Kullack, to explore why the treatment they’re providing can offer such a profound breakthrough for people’s mental health.

Lifeline 13 11 14

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An Australian clinic is 'transforming' lives with MDMA-assisted therapy

Moving mountains isn’t meant to be an easy feat. But did you know that mountains can, and are currently, getting taller?

It's true – and researchers have found Mount Everest is one mountain which makes that list.

The mountain has risen an extra 15 to 50 meters over the last 89,000 years. This works out to be around 2 millimeters per year – which might not sound like much. But what impact could this have on its surroundings over the years? And how does it happen?

Mark Quigley is an Associate Professor of Earthquake Science at the University of Melbourne. He joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to explain.

The tallest mountain in the world is getting taller

Headlines: David Crisafulli claims victory for LNP in Queensland, Anthony Albanese defends Qantas upgrades, US politics wrap and American Airlines are trialling new tech to bust line cutters at airport gates. 

Deep Dive: Since Israel’s assault on Lebanon has escalated, schoolteacher Nahed Mawassi and her daughter Zainab have been anxiously clinging to hope for their family’s safety, while enduring anguish from afar in Australia.

Then came the unthinkable news via WhatsApp. 

Without any warning, the Israeli Defense Forces bombed a residential building in Aitou, a Christian-majority town over 120 kilometers from the Israeli border. The building was a temporary home to four generations of their closest relatives. 

In an instant, 18 family members – displaced from southern Lebanon a year prior – were killed. Among the victims were a 6-month-old baby and a 95-year-old great-grandmother. 

In this exclusive episode of The Briefing, Nahed and Zainab speak with Antoinette Lattouf, sharing their devastation. They call on the Australian government to urgently grant humanitarian visas for four surviving relatives, miraculously pulled from the rubble, and have a stark message to the Albanese government on the impact of the devastation on a quarter of a million Lebanese Australians. 

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18 family members, one day. A family’s loss in Lebanon

Lucy Jackson and Nikki Westcott first meet as grid girls and connected immediately, but little did they know their friendship would turn into one of the most popular podcasts in Australia.  

The duo is behind the podcast Happy Hour, where they chat about everything from relationships, to sex, running a fashion brand and being a woman in your 30s.  

Lucy and Nikki have described their friendship together as like a marriage and when they started their fashion label Jagger & Stone back in 2018, they only became more intertwined.  

In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Lucy and Nikki explain why being in your 30s is better than your 20s and how they balance being business partners and besties.   

Weekend List
TO DO: Breathwork workshop
TO WATCH: Inside Out 2 on Disney Plus
TO READ: The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
TO WATCH: Deadloch on Amazon Prime

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Happy Hour's Lucy and Nikki need you to know this about your 30s

Most Australians agree that consent is key to healthy sexual experiences. But what does consent mean? What does it look like in action? Before we can talk to our kids about consent, we need to talk to each other.

In this special series, made in partnership with the Australian federal government as part of its Consent Can’t Wait campaign, The Briefing invites iconic Australians to unpack how they feel about consent, what their understanding of it is, how they're having conversations about it with loved ones, and unpacking some of the myths about consent that we can all fall victim to.

In part two, Bension Siebert is joined by Matt Okine, comedian, author and host of Matt & Alex - All Day Breakfast, and ambassador and youth advocate Daniel Principe to hear their thoughts on consent in 2024.

Check out your understanding of consent, and get help learning how to talk about the topic at Consent.gov.au.

Why Consent Can't Wait: Matt OKine

Headlines: Australia in spat with China over racism and climate change, BRICS leaders call for ceasefire, Revelations about Rudd and Gillard deal in new political memoir, and what are the top Halloween costumes for 2024 according to Google?

Deep Dive: Israel claims the number of people killed in Gaza – the steadily rising and horrific number we hear on the news just about every day – is inflated.

Others say true number of people killed is far more than what’s being reported.

On this episode of the Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with Professor Michael Spagat, chair of Every Casualty Counts, who explains how deaths in Gaza and other active warzones are verified.

He makes a passionate case for acknowledging the individual humanity of everyone who dies in war, rather than thinking of them as a number on a page. 

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How you measure the death toll in a war zone

Senator Lidia Thorpe made international headlines when she shouted at King Charles, rejecting the monarch’s sovereignty and accusing him of genocide, in Parliament House this week.

The Gurnai Gunditjmara and Djab-Wurrung woman has since claimed she did not really swear allegiance to the late Queen Elizabeth’s heirs, as in King Charles, but to the Queens’ “hairs”. Senator Thorpe has rejected calls for her to resign after she disavowed – however absurdly – her oath of office.

But several real questions remain: What does the Constitution have to say about all this? Can Senator Thorpe be forced from parliament? Is it fair to ask a First Nations person to pledge allegiance to the monarchy? What about all those MPs that want Australia to become a republic? On this episode of the Briefing, Bension Siebert dives into all of these questions with Luke Beck, Professor of Constitutional Law at Monash University.

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What the Constitution says about Lidia Thorpe's protest

Headlines: Lidia Thorpe says she didn’t swear allegiance to the King, terrorist attack in Turkey leaves four dead, Xi and Modi hold first formal talks in five years, Coles and Woolies deny tricking customers with dodgy sales, and the sun has hit peak solar energy!

Deep dive: International intelligence last week revealed North Korea had sent between 10,000 and 30,000 of its own troops to Russia, to bolster its invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine’s president says this signals the start of a world war, but is that true? And what does this new development mean for the conflict and international relations?

In today’s episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with geopolitical expert Dr Keith Suter to find out.

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Why North Korea is sending troops to fight against Ukraine

Sometimes, what happens in one part of Australia says lot about the direction of the country as a whole.

Right now, that’s exactly what seems to be happening in Queensland, as the state’s voters head to the polls this weekend. Will the state be the latest in a swing towards more conservative politics in Australia?

Archie Milligan is a LiSTNR journalist based in Queensland. He joins Bension Siebert on this episode of The Briefing, as Labor vies for a fourth term in government, and we ask how the results might impact the rest of the country.

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How Queensland's election will impact the rest of Australia

Headlines: Royals wrap up Australian tour, over 20 world leaders meet with Putin at BRICS summit, former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO arrested on sex trafficking charges, the Murray River named in a global top travel list, and a Cockatoo has been rescued from a Sydney Coles after a month trapped inside.

Deep dive: Few crimes in Australia in recent years have been as shocking as the murder of Bruce Saunders, who was fed into a woodchipper on a property north of Brisbane in 2017.

A new LiSTNR exclusive investigative podcast, released today, has uncovered details about the woman behind the death, Sharon Graham, including how she convinced a man to kill Saunders, and another to help in the coverup.

How did she become the kind of person capable of such a crime? Were there signs this was going to happen and did anyone miss them? Tara Cassidy is a journalist and host of Crime In Focus: Killer Charm. She joins Bension Siebert on this episode of The Briefing to unpack the story behind this new investigative podcast series, and how reporting on it has impacted those touched by the death of Bruce Saunders. 

Listen to Crime In Focus: Killer Charm exclusively on the LiSTNR app, click here: 
https://play.listnr.com/podcast/crime-in-focus/episode/01-the-accident-killer-charm

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Killer Charm: A grandmother, a love quadrangle and a brutal murder

America is heading to the polls on Wednesday, November 6, to decide between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris for the presidency. With polls showing a razor-thin race, it raises a critical question: can we trust them?  

In 2016, polling failed to predict Trump’s stunning victory. Have things changed? Are polls more accurate now, or should we be sceptical?

In this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert breaks down the state of election polling with US political journalist, polling expert and host and producer of the FiveThirtyEight Politics podcast, Galen Druke.

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Can we trust US election polls?

Headlines: Lydia Thorpe and the royals, Meta and Google could face ‘big tech tax’ under Labor plan, Moldova narrowly votes in favour of joining the EU and an Italian surfer has been killed by a swordfish in a freak accident.

Deep dive: Another week, another story of misogynistic behaviour in sport. 

Last week 13 Greater Western Sydney (GWS) players were slapped with sanctions, following their decision to dress as “controversial couples” for the club’s end-of-season function. 

Players dressed in costumes referencing the September 11 terrorist attacks, and Josh Fahey dressed as the former NRL player Jarryd Hayne, performing what the AFL described as “inappropriate acts” on a sex doll. Several players, including Fahey, copped multi-match bans, and captain Toby Greene was among those hit with significant fines.   

But is all this condemnation from the code ultimately futile? As the dust settles on yet another indecent like this in a major sporting code, it is time to admit there’s always been a place for misogyny where male sports stars get together behind closed doors? 

Marnie Vinall is a sports reporter at ABC Sports. She joins Bension Siebert on this episode of The Briefing to unpack what happened, and if she thinks things will ever change.



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Is a sports club the last acceptable place for misogyny?

How long you might have to wait for a bathroom in public spaces looks set to change in Australia.

The Australian Building Code Board wants businesses to provide 1.8 times the toilets for women than they provide for men to help shorten the queue.

But why is the line for women’s bathroom almost always longer than the line for men’s? And what is some of the thinking behind changing how many are available to access?

On this episode of the Briefing, public toilet expert Katherine Webber joins Bension Siebert to explain how the plan would work, and how we design these public spaces with equality and accessibility in mind.

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Women wait longer for the bathroom. The Government wants to change that

Headlines: King Charles and Queen Camilla kick off royal tour, As many as 87 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on northern Gaza, ACT election, Elon Musk giving away $1 million US to Trump supporter everyday until the election and an airport in New Zealand has introduced a time limit on hugs.

Deep Dive: How much should you be paying for a bottle of milk? More than a decade on, there are fears a second round of milk wars might be coming our way.

In 2011 the Australian dairy industry went toe-to-toe with our national supermarket giants over how much they should be charging for a bottle of milk at the checkout. In recent weeks, the cost of milk in major Australian supermarkets has gone backwards for the first in a long time – with Coles and Woolworths reducing the price of its generic fresh milk last month by 5 cents, to $1.55 per LR.

Supermarkets are clearly reading the room of a cost-of-living crisis that is impacting consumers shopping in their stores daily, and when almost everyone is finding it tough, it’s difficult, as a consumer, to argue against paying less for something as essential as a bottle of milk.

What do those in the industry think of the squeeze? In this episode of The Briefing Helen Smith is joined by Australian Dairy Farmers Association President Ben Bennett, and former dairy farmer Adam Jenkins to explore what they think the impact of prices lowering might be.



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The real cost behind a cheap bottle of milk

Sharon Johal is playing the first turban wearing Sikh character in Binge’s award-winning TV drama The Twelve.

As an Indian-Australian woman in entertainment she’s constantly paved paths that had previously been closed off - and her journey hasn’t always been easy.

On this episode of The Weekend Briefing, she joins Antoinette Lattouf to talk about her latest project, the impact on her career since calling out the racism she endured when she was on the set of Neighbours, and her experience on reality TV show The Block – which Sharon says almost broke her.

Weekend List
TO DO: ShopBack app
TO WATCH: Starting 5 on Netflix
TO WATCH: That’s So Raven (on TikTok or TV)
TO EAT: Vegetable Pasta Bake

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Sharon Johal is the role model Australian TV needs

Most Australians agree that consent is key to healthy sexual experiences. But what does consent mean? What does it look like in action? Before we can talk to our kids about consent, we need to talk to each other.

In this special series, made in partnership with the Australian federal government as part of its Consent Can’t Wait campaign, The Briefing invites iconic Australians to unpack how they feel about consent, what their understanding of it is, how they're having conversations about it with loved ones, and unpacking some of the myths about consent that we can all fall victim to.

In part one, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Carrie Bickmore, Gold Logie winning television host and co-host of the Carrie and Tommy Drive Show, and ambassador and youth advocate Daniel Principe to hear their thoughts on consent in 2024.

Check out your understanding of consent, and get help learning how to talk about the topic at Consent.gov.au.

Why Consent Can't Wait: Carrie Bickmore

Former One Direction star Liam Payne was yesterday found dead following a fall from a hotel’s third floor in Argentina's capital Buenos Aires.

The 31-year-old's death was sudden and shocking to many fans, with an instant outpouring of grief over the news leading to vigils around the world.

The circumstances surrounding his death, and public behaviour leading up to yesterday’s events have also sparked questions, commentary and debate, including anger at popular celebrity gossip site TMZ posting a now-deleted picture partially showing Payne’s dead body.

But why does the global community react so strongly to the death of someone most of us don’t know? And do normal people with no connection to Payne deserve to demand private and intimate details about how and why he died? Host of LiSTNR’s The Streaming Service Justin Hill joins Helen Smith on this bonus episode of The Briefing to unpack our reaction to the news, and what it says about us. 

BONUS: Why has the world reacted so strongly to Liam Payne’s death?

Headlines: Liam Payne’s cause of death revealed, Hamas leader killed say Israeli authorities, AFL bans 13 GWS players over end-of-season party, and the Royals are coming! 

Deep dive: King Charles and Queen Camilla are landing in Australia tonight for a five-day visit.

It’s the first time since 2018 Australia has played host to a royal visit, and the first time since 2011 a sitting monarch has toured down under.

Inevitably when a royal comes to town, the debate about whether we should become a Republic rears its head.

So, what do the two sides say today on the eve of the royal visit?

Today on The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt hears the key arguments from a monarchist and a republican.

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The Royal debate: a Monarchist vs a Republican

Abortion is back in the headlines in Australia.

In South Australia overnight parliament narrowly rejected a bill that would have forced women seeking a late term abortion to instead be induced into labour. And in Queensland, Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has refused to say whether his MPs would get a conscience vote on abortion laws, if he wins next week’s election.

This renewed debate in Australia is a quiet echo of the loud roar over in the United States, where abortion will be a deciding factor for many in next month’s presidential election. So why have the politics of abortion suddenly had a resurgence in this country? 

In this episode, Bension Siebert speaks to South Australian woman Tayla-Jane Jackson, who needed a late term abortion, about her personal experience. We also hear a powerful argument from Dr Nisha Khot – Vice President of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists – on why women need access to abortion care at any stage of a pregnancy, and her reflections on the debate that seems to be back in Australia. 

Lifeline 13 11 14

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Why abortion is back on the national agenda

Headlines: Australia’s fertility rate hits record low, 50 aid trucks have entered the north of Gaza, ACT Opposition Leader apologises for flipping the bird at journalist and Jerry Seinfeld walks back comments about the left ruining comedy.

Deep Dive: With the speed at which technology and medicine is developing – electric cars, rockets to Mars, new and improved vaccines – you might have started imagining a world where humans might find a way to live forever, or at least for a very, very long time.

But the commonly held idea that the life expectancy of humans is only going to keep increasing is false, according to new analysis. In fact, most kids born today won’t make it to 100.

Professor Jay Olshansky analysed life and death data from the last 34 years – and he thinks we’ve reached the peak of how long people can live. On today’s episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with the epidemiology professor about his research, and why not living to 100 could actually be a good thing.

What a 'consequence of success' means for life expectancy

The Victoria's Secret fashion show, in all its glitz and glamour, is officially back after a nearly six-year hiatus.  

Featuring a live performance from Cher, and supermodels from the decades including Kate Moss, Tyra Banks, Adriana Lima all hitting the runway, it was the once iconic, now controversial, runway show’s big return. 

The last Victoria's Secret show in 2018 and was surrounded by controversy. An interview with the show’s former chief marketing officer, Ed Razek, who dismissed ideas of integrating transgender and plus-size models “because the show is a fantasy”. Using the word “transsexual,” an outdated and offensive term to describe transgender models, led to a sales hit and a market share drop, and the brand barely survived.  

Will this new version, with the aim to “reflect who we are today”, work? 

In this episode of the Briefing, Helen Smith, is joined by model and actor Milo Hartill to explain if this version of Victoria's Secret is new-and-improved, or hitting the same old problematic tropes that caused its downfall in the first place.  

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Is this Victoria's Secret's last attempt at saving its reputation?

Headlines: Dynamic pricing to be banned, at least 40 killed as Israeli air strikes pound the Gaza Strip, US politics wrap, Socceroos draw with Japan.

Deep Dive: The war in the Middle East has escalated significantly in recent days.

Israel is now fighting on several fronts. Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Gaza – and now it’s preparing what could be a major assault on Iran. The United States has sent around 100 troops into Israel to operate a missile defense system. The Australian Government has updated its travel warnings, advising any Australian in Israel to get out while it’s still safe to do so.

This comes as many have seen some of the most horrific footage of real human suffering in our lifetimes – on social media images of people in hospital beds under tents in Gaza in the process of being burnt alive as people nearby watch on, helpless is impossible to ignore.

Jen Parker is a navy veteran of more than 20 years and expert associate at the National Security College at the Australian National University. She joins Bension Siebert to give us an update on where everything stands and what might happen next. 



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What happens if Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear facilities?

Novichok is in the news again.

An inquiry currently underway in the UK is looking into the 2018 death of 44-year-old woman Dawn Sturgess who sprayed herself with a bottle of perfume that turned out to be laced with the deadly nerve agent.

Novichok is an incredibly powerful poison implicated in a series of murders over decades spritzed onto common items like umbrellas, phones and door handles.

Where did this incredibly powerful poison come from – and how exactly does it kill you and who has been using it and why? Doctor Ian Musgrave is a senior lecturer at the School of Biomedicine at the University of Adelaide. He joins Bension Siebert to unpack the toxicology behind the headline.

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Novichok is being used to kill: In perfume, on phones and umbrellas

Headlines: Labor's preparing to ban debit card fees, Federal Government to change visa pathways for Palestinians, a class action could be coming for Ticketmaster and Live Nation over dynamic ticketing and Donald Trump slams biopic ‘The Apprentice’.

Deep dive: A strong Chinese economy has long been essential to Australia’s economic health and for decades its growth has been nothing short of remarkable. But has years of over-spending, excessive consumption, and poor investment decisions caught up with Beijing?

With faltering growth, China recently introduced a series of economic stimulus measures aimed at stabilising its economy. So, just how severe is the situation and should Australia be looking to diversify its trade relationships?

In this episode of The Briefing, we’re joined by Dr Angela Jackson, lead economist at Impact Economics and Policy to break down the current state of China’s economy and what it means for Australia

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China’s economy is slowing, how will it impact us?

Elon Musk has introduced Optimus, Tesla’s new humanoid robots, to the world and has made some ambitious claims about their uses in the not-too-distant future.

Viral videos of Optimus robots making drinks, dancing and chatting to attendees at the launch event have sparked questions around the humanoid's autonomy.

But this past week has been a massive one for Elon Musk, with SpaceX's successful docking of Starship rocket booster marking an engineering milestone, which many thought was impossible.

In this episode of the Briefing Bension Siebert is joined by tech journalist James Hennessy to unpack how these robots work and when they’ll be hitting the market.

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Meet Optimus, the robot Elon Musk wants to look after your kids

Headlines: Coalition leading in Newspoll, King Charles comments on Australia becoming a Republic ahead of visit, QLD nuclear plebiscite, Christopher Columbus was likely Spanish and Jewish.

Deep Dive: Kelly McMasters has written her own obituary every year since she was 12 years old. An obituary is usually written by a dedicated obit journalist or writer and includes key facts about a person’s life – it's essentially how they will be remembered. 

In this episode of The Briefing, Kelly reveals what she’s learnt from writing obituaries and what makes it to the page.  

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Why you should write your own obituary

Meet the American law professor who’s visa was in question earlier this week after speaking at a Mosque in Sydney. 

Khaled Beydoun, who is of  Lebanese, Egyptian and Palestinian heritage, has a staggering 2.5 million Instagram followers and has become a major source of trusted news on war on Gaza and the broader regional conflict. 

In this exclusive interview, Khaled sits down to share his insights on the past year of violence, the powerful voices of Palestinian journalists on the ground, and the risks that come with challenging confronting western media narratives.

In chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Khaled delves into the significant impact that Muslim and Arab voters in the U.S. could have on the upcoming election.



FULL QUOTE FROM HIS TALK ON OCTOBER 7

"It's a good day and we've got to mark some of the good news that comes about, that we oftentimes neglect,"  

“Today is not fully a day of mourning, today is also a day that marks considerable celebration, considerable progress and in some respects, considerable privilege. The level of global literacy around what's taking place in [Palestine] has exponentially risen." 

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Khaled Beydoun: The US Law Professor taking on Western media on Gaza

Scammers are calling Australians ‘easy prey’ because they are considered wealthy and trusting.

An ABC investigation found that perpetrators of these highly organised and sophisticated operations believed that unlike American law enforcement, the Australian Federal Police just won’t go after them – so is that true, and if so, why?

In this episode of the Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by cyber security expert and former AFP detective, Nigel Phair to explain what makes Australians the perfect targets.

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Australians are a scammer’s dream

Headlines: Hurricane Milton death toll rises, China to lift Australian lobster restrictions, latest statistics on how we’re dying in Australia revealed, Princess Kate's first official engagement since finishing chemo and the Socceroos beat China in their World Cup qualifier clash last night.

Deep Dive: Kamala Harris has done very few media interviews since replacing Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee for president – but she launched a “media blitz” this week. 

It comes at a time when the polls show Harris and former US President Donald Trump effectively tied, with less than a month to go before the election.  

On this episode of the Briefing, Bension Siebert interviews the Nine Network’s US correspondent Johnathan Kearsley to find out how it went and what to expect in the final stretch of the campaign. 



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As hurricanes devastate the US, will Kamala Harris' media blitz backfire?

Football is Australia’s most played team sport – with 1.7 million participants across all genders and ages. But professionally, it feels like we’re not making a splash.

The Matildas exited the Paris Olympics much earlier than expected and the Socceroos have had a shocking start to their world cup qualifiers that continue tonight against China in Adelaide.

In the last few months – both national teams have been found new coaches and with structural issues in the A-Leagues creating what some have branded “a talent drain,” is there any chance of it getting better?

In this episode of The Briefing Chris Spyrou is joined by sports journo and cohost of LiSTNR’s Willowtalk and Footy Talk League Adam Peacock to unpack it all.

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Has Australia had its football moment?

Headlines: Fugitive dad and three kids spotted for the first time in three years in New Zealand, amendments to Labor's international student cap, Fox proposes new Presidential debate date and a Nepalese teen breaks record by summitting world’s 14 tallest peaks.

Deep dive: Finding out your genetic history can be as easy as spitting into a test tube.

Since the mid-2000s take take-home DNA kits have become more accessible here in Australia – with participants getting results back within weeks.

But what happens when our genetic information ends up in the wrong hands?

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by Dr Katie Hasson from the Centre for Genetics and Society to explain the dangers of data breaches and what happens when users have their genetic information stolen and sold on the dark web.

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To spit or not to spit - when handing your DNA over might harm you

Brat summer is officially coming to Australia. 

Superstar singer Charlie XCX will headline Laneway in 2025. The excitement is palpable – but the story of the last few years of music festivals in this country has not been a good one, with countless examples of big-ticket headlining artists dropping out at the last minute. 

The cost of living is hitting organizers and punters alike, and there has been a clear, industry wide slump in ticket sales. So, with today’s big announcement, there is an important question to music fans across the country – can we put our trust in music festivals anymore? And how do we know that this latest, massive headliner, is a sure thing?   

On this episode of The Briefing, Triple Js Music News Producer Courtney Fry joins Helen Smith to shine some light on the state of the industry right now, and if she thinks the promise of Charlie playing in Australia will become a reality.  

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Can Charli XCX save Australia's music festival industry?

Headlines: Anthony Albanese issues second apology over Tourette's comment, Florida is bracing for the impact of Hurricane Milton, the supermarket milk wars could be back and the first trailer drops for 'How to Make Gravy'.

Deep dive: How much is a ticket actually worth? 

Yesterday, Oasis announced Australian dates for their massive 2025 reunion tour – and in news that will likely make fans very happy, the band announced there would be no dynamic pricing for the Australian leg, following backlash from fans hoping to attend their UK dates who were made furious by the model when tickets went on sale in the region. 

But online prices that surge at times of peak demand are only getting more common – from gigs to sporting events, to booking a flight or an uber. 

Are we stuck with dynamic ticket pricing? Or is the fan backlash strong enough for event promoters to think twice? Dr Georgia Carrol is an expert in fan culture has a PhD in fan and celebrity studies from the University of Sydney. She joins Bension Siebert on this episode of The Briefing to explore the impact of dynamic ticket pricing here and overseas.  

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Oasis has rejected dynamic ticket pricing

73% of young people are turning to TikTok, YouTube and Instagram for mental health support, according to a new report by ReachOut who surveyed over 2000 people between the ages of 16 and 25 about how they use social media to find mental health advice and information.

But how safe is this practice - especially when young people are turning increasingly to socials as a replacement for professional help? And what can be done to improve transparency when as little as 2% of medical information on TikTok is factual?

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by one of ReachOut’s youth advocates, Sina, to unpack the key findings of the report and whether or not the government’s social media ban is a tenable solution.

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Can social media make our mental health...better?

Headlines: Lebanon repatriation flight touches down in Sydney, Australia to protect 52% of its oceans, Kamala Harris has launched a media blitz and Crumbl Cookies is coming to Australia.

Deep Dive: This week senior government minister Bill Shorten argued that if people want to protest, they should have to get a permit first.

It’s the latest in a series of moves by politicians to limit protest in this country – but gathering thousands of people to protest an issue they’re angry about can be a risky business. So are permits to protest a sensible public safety measure? Or one small step in a slow retreat from democracy we’re seeing here and in other Western democracies

Anastasia Radievska is a protest rights campaigner at the Australian Democracy Network. She joins Bension Siebert on this episode of The Briefing to give her take on the perceived value, and potential harm, of making permits for protests standard practice.

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Bill Shorten says protestors should have permits. Is he right?

It’s been one year since the October 7th attacks today.

365 days on, what reflections do we have on conflict, justice, the role of social media and the failings of western leaders and international law to bring an end what human rights groups describe as an unfolding genocide?

On this episode of The Briefing we tell the story through the eyes of a Palestinian, who is also part of the Listnr family. Antoinette Lattouf is joined by twice displaced Palestinian and LiSTNR producer Lem Zakharia to share her reflections on October 7th, one year on.

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Twice displaced: A Palestinian perspective on October 7

Headlines: It’s been another horrific 24 hours in the Middle East as thousands gather for pro-Palestine protests across Australia. Elon Musk has been slammed for joining Trump in Pennsylvania and in the NRL the Penrith Panthers have won their fourth-straight Premiership, beating Melbourne Storm 14-6.  

Deep Dive: The world is today marking one year since the horrific October 7 attacks on Israel.

More than 1100 people were killed when Hamas militants poured over the border from Gaza, attacking neighbourhoods and the Nova Music Festival. A further 240 people were taken hostage, and more than 115 are still unaccounted for.

On this episode of The Briefing, we’re joined by Jewish Australian Dan Monheit, whose cousin Margalit Moses was kidnapped from a kibbutz in Israel a year ago today to share his reflections on the ordeal, on the impact the event has had on his family and community, and the resulting conflict that continues.



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Surviving Hamas as a hostage: A Jewish perspective on October 7

Lucinda Price (AKA Froomes) turned her internet personality into a full time gig and her debut book All I Ever Wanted Was to Be Hot unpacks it all.

The debut author knows how much it takes to be ‘hot’ and has dipped her toe into all facets of the Australian media landscape.

In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Lucinda reveals just how much her quest to be attractive cost her and how her eating disorder was misdiagnosed for years.

If you need help or support for an eating disorder or body image issue, please call Butterfly’s National Helpline on 1800 334 673 or e-mail support@butterfly.org.au

Weekend List
TO EAT: Generational cooking
TO WATCH: Kaos on Netflix
TO EAT: Frozen choc peanut butter dates
TO LISTEN: Geolier Italian rapper

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Lucinda 'Froomes' Price just wanted to be hot

Crumbl Cookies is the billion dollar US company that made global headlines this week after a group of Sydneysiders imported 800 of their cookies and sold them at an inflated price in Bondi.

The group had no affiliation to the company, and have since posted statements on their social media accounts claiming to be "fans" of the American product who wanted to introduce them to Australian audiences. Crumbl Cookies has also said publicly that there is no association between the two business operations. 

The whole ordeal has opened up major legal questions. On this episode of The Briefing, lawyer Jahan Kalanter joins Chris Spyrou to explain the legal lines that may have been crossed.

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The Crumbl cookie scandal exposing our trademark laws

Headlines: Pro-Palestine protests to go ahead, Melania Trump doubles down on abortion rights support, FOI documents reveal Gina Rinehart asked the national gallery to “permanently dispose” of portraits and daylight savings starts this weekend. 

Deep dive: Lobbyists speaking with the Federal Government, and giving MPs gifts, is nothing new.  

These groups have a range of interests, including the Australian Medical Association, KFC and even Kmart. It is all perfectly legal - and there is legislation in place to make sure lobbying is done in a responsible way.   

The Alliance for Gambling (AFG) reform this week revealed that 19 MPs accepted tickets to sporting events from gambling companies, ahead of the government discussing whether to ban gambling ads here in Australia. But is the Government consulting with both sides of any debate a bad idea?  

In this episode of the Briefing Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by the AFG’s chief advocate Tim Costello to explain what is happening behind closed doors.  

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Sport, gambling, tobacco - how lobbyists influence government

Women are lifting heavy in 2024 than it’s ever been. 

There’s been a 20% increase in female participation in competitive lifting and bodybuilding events in the U.S, and here in Australia, there are now more women than men competing in a range national events. But, bodybuilding can come with a darkside – disordered eating, steroid use, and pushing yourself to the physical extreme.

So why are so many women joining the movement? Is it smart – is it safe – and what does life look like when you do?

On this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by LiSTNR’s Ed Gooden to explore what he found out when he asked those in the sport why they do it.  

Today’s deep dive discusses disordered eating – If you need help or support for an eating disorder or body image issue, please call The Butterfly Foundation’s National Helpline on 1800 334 673. 

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Why are more women lifting weights than ever before?

Headlines: Melbourne and Sydney pro-Palestine protestors push ahead with plans for protests over October 7 weekend, Labor plans to address shrinkflation, Australia’s rental prices might finally be coming down and we look at last night's Dally M awards.

Deep dive: When we think about the effects of war on children – the psychological trauma of witnessing violence and the loss of loved ones is well known.

But what is lesser known is exactly how these conflicts disproportionately affect young girls over boys – the brutal violations of their rights and the surprising ways they find escapism to cope with it all.

This insight is the focus of a new report published today by Plan International, which surveyed over 10,000 young people across 10 countries currently experiencing armed conflict. The report, which was first published in 2007 under the title the ‘State of the World’s Girls’, has this year been widened to include young boys for the first time.

On this episode of The Briefing, CEO of Plan International Australia Susanne Legena joins Antoinette Lattouf to unpack the results.

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The state of the world's girls in 2024

Tim Walz and JD Vance have gone head-to-head in what will be their only chance to
convince the American voting public to pick their leader in the upcoming election in
November.

Hosted by CBS News at the network's broadcast center in New York City, former high
school teacher and American football coach Tim Walz and Donald Trump's vice-
presidential nominee and author of Hillbilly Elegy JD Vance went high and low.

Policies on abortion, healthcare, guns, childcare, the economy and more were flying left,
right and center. Polls suggest the race is incredibly close. Has this debate swayed
anyone unsure of who to pitch their vote to, 35 days away from the election? Washington-based journalist David Levinthal joins Helen Smith on this episode of The Briefing to give his verdict on who came out on top.

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Are JD Vance and Tim Walz friends?

Headlines: Iran strikes Israel as IDF ground invasion of Lebanon continues, Julian Assange says he pleaded ‘guilty to journalism’, NDIS changes revealed, and a naked Donald Trump effigy.

Deep dive: From war, to surveillance, to delivering food to your front door, drone technology is quickly entering regular use in our daily lives.

A surprising new addition to that list is helping to save Australia’s unique Greater Glider from logging in its habitat in NSW. Those using the tech say, “if you can see them, you can save them”, and that enlisting the help of drones is essential in monitoring habitat.

But is it safe? And is it overstepping the fine balance between conservation and industry?

Leanne St George from Ripper Corporation Drones and Stuart Blanch from the World Wide Fund for Nature join Sacha Barbour Gatt on this episode of The Briefing to explain how they’re using the drones, and why they think the effort is worth it.

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How drones are exposing vulnerable animals at risk from logging

Experts have called Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s new Netflix show, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, murder porn.

The series explores the real-life brutal murders of Kitty and Jose Menendez back in 1989 committed by their sons Lyle and Erik – who alleged their father sexually abused them since childhood, and that their mother knew and let it happen.

Experts and viewers have flagged multiple issues with the series including the accuracy around an incestuous homosexual relationship between the brothers.

In this episode of the Briefing Helen Smith is joined by Dr Xanthé Mallett, a forensic criminologist from the University of Newcastle, to explain why this series is misleading.

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Why Netflix's Menendez brothers series is murder porn

Headlines: Israel prepares ground invasion of Lebanon, new code of conduct for dating apps in Australia, house prices slow nationally and New Zealand takes back haka world record.

Deep dive: SpaceX has just launched a five-month rescue mission to bring home Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams from the International Space Station.

It's the next step in the long saga of a mission that hasn't gone according to plan, with the pair stuck in space since June after complications with their Boeing Starliner.

In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Swinburne’s Co-Director of the Space Technology and Industry Institute Dr Rebbeca Allen to talk through the next steps in the mission, and if she'd describe it as a failure.

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SpaceX's five-month rescue mission for stranded astronauts begins

Violence is building in Lebanon as the war is Gaza spills over multiple fronts.

Over the weekend Israeli strikes killed several high-ranking Hezbollah leaders, while also injuring and killing many Lebanese civilians.

Governments around the world are calling for ceasefire, with Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong warning citizens in Lebanon to come home before further escalation. With all this underway, how are Australians with ties to Lebanon feeling right now, watching from afar? And what do they want you to keep in mind?

Liz Deep-Jones is a journalist and human rights advocate of Lebanese descent. She joins Sacha Barbour Gatt on this episode of The Briefing to share her thoughts on the conflict right now.

Find out more about Liz’s latest documentary ‘We Bleed the Same’ here. 

How Lebanese Australians feel about the escalating violence

Headlines: Thousands gather for protests across Australia amid increased violence in the Middle East, Budget surplus, 8 in 10 Aussie CEOs think WFH will be over in three years and SNL launches season 50.

Deep dive: Ever thought about deleting yourself from the internet? It’s more complex than simply deactivating old accounts, especially when almost everything we do online leaves traces of our personal information behind. That data is banked and often extracted by brokers who use it to build and then sell detailed profiles of us to whoever is looking to buy.

While valuable to businesses, these profiles pose significant privacy risks that our current legal infrastructure is struggling to keep up with. But there is hope, with companies emerging to help individuals regain control, but many, like Melbourne-based podcast producer Lindsey Green, are taking on this daunting task themselves.

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou chats with LiSTNR’s Lindsey Green and DeleteMe CEO Rob Shavell to find out exactly what deleting yourself from the internet entails and what can be done to better protect our data.

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How to delete yourself from the internet

Dr Karl is Australia’s favourite science communicator, with a passion for colourful shirts with the energy of an exclamation mark!

He’s a former taxi driver, was a serial university student – studying for 16 years – and is now a much-loved medical personality on radio and TV who has just written a memoir – The Periodic Tale.

In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Dr Karl unpacks his family’s traumatic journey and Holocaust survival to how he thinks OnlyFans could help climate change.

Weekend List
TO READ: The Sunbird by Sara Haddad
TO WATCH: Dancing with the Stars US on YouTube
TO WATCH: Bad Boys: Ride or Die on Netflix
TO WATCH: Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story on Netflix

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Dr Karl says OnlyFans can save the planet

Black Myth: Wukong has become one of the fastest-selling games of all time, selling 10 million copies in just three days and changing the Chinese video game market forever.

But Wukong’s success didn’t come without controversy after the publishers, Hero games, asking reviewers not to discuss covid, the Chinese gaming industry and “feminist propaganda” whilst streaming.

In this episode of the Briefing Helen Smith is joined by writer and game reviewer for press start Harry Kalogirou to unpack what Wukong means for the future of the Chinese gaming industry.

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A Chinese video game is telling streamers what to say

Headlines: Supermarket prices have soared by 20% in the last five years, Palestinian President addresses the UN, if Trump wins the Australian economy will suffer and Katy Perry teases massive Australian name at tomorrow’s AFL Grand Final.

Deep Dive: The AFL Grand Final against the Sydney Swans and the Brisbane Lions is set to have the highest ratings of all time.  

Both teams are two of the most supported in the league, but over the past week, NRL and AFL bosses have been clashing over ratings, codes and ‘delusional’ sporting state hype.  

In this episode of the Briefing Helen Smith is joined by Triple M’s Liam Flanagan to unpack if AFL could ever take over an NRL state. 

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Is the AFL winning the code wars?

Housing, and the state of it in this country, has been on the minds of both Australian politicians and regular people alike.

The major parties have very different perspectives in mind for what policies will fix this problem – but it’s hard to cut through political point scoring to get real on exactly what they have in mind, and how it will work for you.

This week The Briefing brought you a housing spokesperson from each major party in Australia – Labor, the Liberals, and The Greens – and asked them to give you their key policy vision for how we fix the country’s housing crisis.

But do their proposals make economic sense? On this episode, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by The Motley Fool's Chief Investment Officer Scott Phillips to help us unpack what all three are proposing, and his verdict on what he thinks might fix it.

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The winners and losers of Australia's housing policies

Headlines: Labor reportedly considering a negative gearing policy, IDF prepares for ground assault in Lebanon, Choice reveals the cheapest supermarket and two Aussie suburbs make top 10 coolest in the world.

Deed Dive: The state of Australia’s housing is in crisis.  

From building them to buying them, there’s delay, disappointment, and division.  

The major parties have very different perspectives in mind for what policies will fix this problem – but it’s hard to cut through political point scoring to get a real sense of exactly what they have in mind, and how it will work for you.  

In this housing special series, The Briefing team brings you a housing spokesperson from each major party in Australia – Labor, the Coalition, The Greens – to give you the no-bullshit breakdown on what they see as their vision for our country’s housing future.  

In this episode, Sacha Barbour Gatt sits down with Max Chandler-Mather from The Greens to unpack what they want you to know about how they plan to tackle the problem.  



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Here’s how the Greens want to fix Australia’s housing crisis

The internet has become obsessed with two animals in recent weeks; Moo Deng, the pygmy hippo from Thailand, and Pesto the giant emperor penguin chick from Melbourne’s Sea Life Aquarium.

The interest has sparked hordes of visitors, thousands of memes, celebrity endorsements and even moves for a patent. What makes an animal go viral? And what are some of the unintended repercussions for the cute specimen in question?

On today’s episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Dr Kyle Moore from Swinburne University to find out.

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What’s behind Moo Deng and Pesto’s viral moment?

Headlines: More strikes on Lebanon, the UN General Assembly meets, Australia's  Reserve Bank has held our cash rate steady for the seventh time in a row and the Federal Government has been slammed for approving coal mine expansions. Plus, the AFL Event office has been hacked just days out from the sold out Grand Final.



Deep Dive: The state of Australia’s housing is in crisis.  

From building them to buying them, there’s delay, disappointment, and division.  

The major parties have very different perspectives in mind for what policies will fix this problem – but it’s hard to cut through political point scoring to get a real sense of exactly what they have in mind, and how it will work for you.  

In this housing special series, The Briefing team brings you a housing spokesperson from each major party in Australia – Labor, the Coalition, The Greens – to give you the no-bullshit breakdown on what they see as their vision for our country’s housing future.  

In this episode, Sacha Barbour Gatt sits down with Labor’s Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Clare O'Neil, to unpack what Labor wants you to know about how they plan to tackle the problem.  



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Here’s how Labor wants to fix Australia’s housing crisis

Repression and media censorship in Venezuela are at an all-time high.

Reports of arbitrary detentions, forced disappearances, and torture of political dissidents have skyrocketed following claims that the country’s current president, Nicolas Maduro, stole the July 28 election.

But now, Venezuelan journalists are fighting back – reporting on events through two AI-generated avatars to avoid persecution. Both those avatars, as well as senior LiSTNR Investigative journalist Claudianna Blanco, join Chris Spyrou on this episode of The Briefing to unpack why this tech is necessary and the political state of Venezuela at the moment.

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Meet the AI journalists fighting censorship in Venezuela

Headlines: Fresh Israeli strikes on Lebanon have killed at least 356 people, Albo blames supermarkets for adding to inflation, Reserve Bank tipped to leave interest rates on hold today and Patrick Cripps claims the Brownlow while the AFL settles with Katy Perry. 



Deep Dive: The state of Australia’s housing is in crisis. From building them to buying them, there’s delay, disappointment, and division.

The major parties have very different perspectives in mind for what policies will fix this problem – but it’s hard to cut through political point scoring to get real on exactly what they have in mind, and how it will work for you.  

In this housing special series, The Briefing team brings you a housing spokesperson from each major party in Australia – Labor, the Liberals, and The Greens – and asks them to give you the no-bullshit breakdown on what they see as their vision for our country’s housing future.  

In this episode, Sacha Barbour Gatt sits down with the Coalition's Michael Sukkar, Federal Member for Deakin and Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness, to unpack what he wants you to know about how they plan to tackle the problem.

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How will we fix our housing crisis? The Liberals’ plan for you

As the war in Ukraine approaches its third year, global attention has largely moved on - but the conflict remains, and continues to shape the future of Eastern Europe.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin has made a third order to boost Russia's military presence since 2022 while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is seemingly relying on ageing conscripts. Overall, it appears manpower on both sides is flailing.

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by Misha Zelinsky, a national security expert, journalist and author of ‘The Sun Will Rise,’ who has spent time on the ground in Ukraine to find out who, if anyone will be left to fight the war, and whether an end to the conflict is in sight.

Will anyone be left to fight the war in Ukraine?

Headlines: Australia living in its longest period of ‘economic misery’ in a decade, Israel – Lebanon update, Donald Trump says he won’t run in 2028 if he loses this election and Friends turns 30.

Deep Dive: Reports of online child exploitation have increased 45 per cent in the last financial year – which is an average of 160 a day.

Authorities say every one of these reports contains images and videos of real children being sexually abused or exploited. But how do you catch those responsible? And are social media platforms, where these images and videos can often be found, doing enough to fight it?

Jon Rouse is a retired Queensland Police Detective Inspector, who worked in Task Force Argos where he implemented Australia's first operation proactively targeting internet child sex offenders. He joins Sacha Barbour Gatt on this episode of The Briefing to explore where he thinks the increase is coming from.

Lifeline 13 11 14

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What social media platforms should be doing about child exploitation

Shaun Micallef is one of Australia’s most recognisable faces. He’s an actor, writer, television host and comedian.

Now he’s back with another show on the cards, Shaun Micallef’s Origin Odyssey on SBS - where he takes six comics ‘back to where they came from’ for want of a better expression.

In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Shaun explains how he keeps getting the top gigs in television and what he actually thinks of his reviews.

Weekend List
TO WATCH: The Perfect Couple on Netflix
TO READ: A Periodic Tale by Dr Karl
TO LISTEN: Rex Orange County album The Alexander Technique
TO WATCH: Friends from College on Netflix

Shaun Micallef on why he's taking comics 'back to where they came from'

Big Brother Australia is returning to Australian TVs in 2025 for the 3rd time. Will it be the show's final, ever?

After traversing three networks, being revived and killed twice, and now needing to compete with the dominance of ad-free streaming and reality TV juggernauts like Love Island, is there a place for a show like Big Brother anymore?

Returning to its original home – Channel 10 – it plans to bring back some of its iconic live segments like Big Brother Uncut and Friday Night Live to lure audiences back to mainstream television – but with rates of free-to-air TV viewership dwindling, it might be too little, too late. Entertainment and gossip correspondent and reality TV show veteran Richard Reid joins Chris Spyrou on this episode of The Briefing to unpack the Big Brother launch plan and if he thinks it will sink or swim. 

Big Brother is back - but has our appetite for reality TV changed?

Dozens of people were killed this week in Lebanon in two separate attacks that were unlike anything the world has seen so far in warfare.

Pagers and walkie talkies belonging to militant group Hezbollah were set to detonate at the exact same time, injuring thousands of people.

It is yet to be explained who and how this attack came to be, but is it a sign of what wars will look like in the future? And what else can we expect from emerging technologies and strategies? On today’s episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Dr Keith Suter, Managing Director of Global Directions and an expert on global political risk to find out.

Headlines:

Hezbollah – Israel update 

Greens defend housing position 

Australia’s population has officially hit 27 million 

Kylie announces massive world tour, with Australia the first stop

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Witnessing the new face of cyber warfare in Lebanon + Headlines

This week Sean “Diddy” Combs, also known as P. Diddy and Puff Daddy, was arrested in Manhattan by federal agents and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution in the United States.

The rapper has pleaded not guilty to all the charges. It’s not the first time the artist has had his reputation come under fire in public - since 2023 various allegations against him have been made, including physical and sexual abuse.

What do these latest charges mean for his future, and what does the reaction from both the hip-hop and wider music industry say about the influence and power an artist can hold? Helen Smith is joined by hip-hop journalist and author Simone Amelia Jordan, who has sat down with Diddy himself in the past, to explore her perspective on this latest development.

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All the allegations against Sean 'Diddy' Combs

Groups of children and young people are trying to force their governments to do something about climate change, not through political campaigns, but by taking them to court.

Most recently, young climate activists have asked the US supreme court to revive their case against the American government on climate – but using the legal system for this purpose has had very mixed results around the world, including here in Australia.

Anjali Sharma was 17 years old when she led a case arguing the environment minister has a duty to protect children from climate change. The federal court ruled against her, but as the climate crisis continues to grow, the question remains – can kids in court save us from climate change?

She joins Bension Siebert to explain what’s happened to the global movement of kids suing their governments over climate change, and her perspective on the way forward.

Headlines:

Walkie talkies explode across Lebanon killing 14 

Anthony Albanese threatens double dissolution over housing bill 

Tupperware goes bust 

Almost half of Aussies are unhappy at work 



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Kids around the world are suing governments over climate change + Headlines

With an advocate like Chanel Contos onboard, will learning about consent on Tinder actually work?

The dating app has launched a new Consent Course, created in partnership with sexual consent activist and founder of Teach Us Consent Chanel Contos, and women's domestic violence service WESNET. The course is only available on Tinder’s School of Swipe website - not via the app - though it will be promoted to users there from next week. 

But what is the point? Do the people using these platforms need this? Will it actually do anything to help reduce sexual assault, or is this a dating app doing a PR exercise while the spotlight is on them from community and government to do more?

Bension Siebert and Helen Smith join to discuss the motivation and possible results, and speak to Chanel Contos on why she chose to be involved. 

Should Tinder be teaching us about consent?

Should we be weighing children at school? 

Health experts have suggested we start weighing kids in schools to help tackle the obesity epidemic, but could this do more harm than good? 

In this episode of the Briefing Bension Siebert is joined by obesity researcher and author of Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids Dr Nick Fuller to explain the pros and cons of weighing children at school.  

Headlines:

At least nine killed as pagers explode across Lebanon 

Diddy charged with sex trafficking 

Instagram launches ‘Teen Accounts’

Glasgow swoops in to take 2026 Commonwealth Games 

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The pros and cons of weighing kids in school + Headlines

Meet the woman who has helped spread claims that Haitian immigrants are eating people's pets in Ohio, Springfield.

Laura Loomer is a far-right activist and online personality who is feeding Republicans with extreme conspiracy theories and is seemingly influencing Donald Trump’s campaign.

In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt chats with Planet America’s Chas Licciardello to find out who exactly Laura Loomer is, how close she is with Trump and whether she has any bearing on swinging the upcoming election.

Follow The Briefing:
TikTok: @listnrnewsroom
Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast
YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom
Facebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom

Meet the ‘proud Islamophobe’ advising Donald Trump

Improving mental health is one of the most important aspects of rehabilitating offenders in incarceration.

It’s been the focus of a recent program at Wellington Correctional Centre – which was formerly branded the toughest country jail in NSW. More than 200 inmates and 70 staff have participated in mental health first aid training led by the National Wellbeing Alliance. What impact are they hoping it will have?

In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by the Centre’s Governor, Brad Peebles, to discuss the successes and findings of the program and what’s prevented its implementation in the past. 

Headlines:

Trump’s latest assassination attempt

Housing policy wrap

Murdoch trial kicks off

Aussie school officially adopts four day school week 

Follow The Briefing:
TikTok: @listnrnewsroom
Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast
YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom
Facebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom

What happens when you teach mental health first aid in prison? + Headlines

You could call 2024 the year of the Mormon influencer.

The internet has become fascinated with the lives of #tradwives, and now The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is dominating the small screen.

So, what's behind our fascination? And how is this latest show contributing to a conversation about modern Mormonism and feminism?

In today’s episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt chats with journalist and writer for Marie Claire, Ruby Feneley. Ruby recently published a piece recently about the show in Marie Claire, you can read it here.

Follow The Briefing:
TikTok: @listnrnewsroom
Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast
YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom
Facebook: @LiSTNR Newsroom

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