Not Stupid - podcast cover

Not Stupid

ABC Listenwww.abc.net.au
Not Stupid is the podcast that helps you understand the news of the week and the stories in your social media feed. Julia Baird and Jeremy Fenandez chat about the stories they are obsessed with and the stories you may have missed. They look at what shapes our politics here in Australia from Anthony Albanese to Peter Dutton. As the Federal Election looms they’ll unpack and explain some of the big issues that might affect your vote.  Jules and Jez also try to explain what’s going on in the world. They both follow US politics closely and will be watching to see what the next Donald Trump presidency means for the US and the world.  But it’s not all about politics. If it is in your Facebook or Instagram feed (or even on X) they will talk about it. They look at the pop culture figures who are shaping our world from Elon Musk to Mr Beast and Ariane Grande.  There’s also a focus on the issues that affect you like the cost-of-living crisis and the duopoly of the Supermarkets Coles and Woolworths. They’ve also looked at microplastics and bushfires, looking at how climate change is affecting us and what impact humans are having on the environment. The show will also make you laugh or cry. And on a good day, maybe both. They talk about poetry and history, about films and cakes and everything in between. Julia is passionate about grace and forgiveness so they talk a lot about that, but also about resilience and what makes us human.  At the end of each show, Julia and Jeremy talk about their “pick of the week”. It’s something that has made them think or giggle that week from the silliest Guinness World Record attempts to great books and silly Tiktoks.

Episodes

What really counts in the census bunfight (with Annabel Crabb)

The Federal Government has been arguing over a question about sexuality in the census. But it has got us thinking about the data we collect, the information we don't collect and why it matters. Also there are new calls to get more women into the Liberal Party so why is progress so slow? And Elle Macpherson she used a "holistic" approach to breast cancer treatment, we have thoughts.

Sep 04, 202433 min

Extra Stupid: Can you be honest at a funeral?

We've been talking recently about the film "It ends with us" and the film opens with the main character struggling to read a eulogy as her dad's funeral. We got a really powerful email from a listener who wanted to share her story about the eulogy she gave at her own dad's funeral.

Sep 01, 202410 min

Kamala and the creepy chatbots

Have you ever argued with chatbot? They are spamming social media posts about Kamala Harris, but they are really trying to sell crypto-currency? So who is doing it and why? And Jules and Jez have been watching the Democratic Convention and are divided about whether politicians are taking the high road or the low road. Also: your happiness feedback. Julia's Pick Emotional support parrots Jeremy's Pick A letter to my grandma...

Aug 28, 202433 min

Extra Stupid: But are you happy?

There are so many apps designed to track our happiness, but are they making us any happier? In this bonus episode, Jules and Jez have been reading up on what makes for a happy life.

Aug 25, 202413 min

What Hollywood gets wrong about women in danger

The film "It Ends With Us" is being marketed like a romantic comedy... but it's not. So what does Hollywood get wrong about violence against women. And we keep hearing about forever chemicals, so what are they and should we be worried? JULIA'S PICK The Assembly JEREMY"S PICK "Very demure"...

Aug 21, 202432 min

Extra Stupid: Jez "Sat Nav" Fernandez

Jeremy would really like to be a "sat nav" voice and when he spoke about it on the show , many of you agreed. Jules and Jez go through the Not Stupid inbox and discuss plans for voiceover world-domination.

Aug 18, 20247 min

Did Raygun break the Olympics?

The Australian female breaking contestant made headlines at the Olympics and everyone has thoughts. Was it larrikinism or inappropriate cultural appropriation? And we know Australia has a gambling problem, but can the Government really tackle gambling ads? SHOW NOTES JULIA'S PICK Nick Cave with Leigh Sales JEREMY'S PICK Michigan Lake Swim...

Aug 14, 202432 min

We need a better way to deal with gender in sport

We try to unpack the gender fiasco at the Olympic boxing this week. Is there a better way to deal with gender? Also Kamala Harris has a new VP pick and imagine discovering at age 11 that your parents are Russian spies and you've been living a lie. SHOW NOTES Tweety the cockatoo Sat Nav risks...

Aug 07, 202432 min

Extra Stupid: How do they make a gold medal anyway?

In this short bonus episode, Jules and Jez try to answer some of the questions we are all googling while sitting on the couch. How do they make an Olympic medal? What else do you win with your medal? And when should commentators just stop talking?

Aug 04, 20249 min

The highs and lows of a very... French Olympics

The Olympics is underway and Jules and Jez are glued to the couch. So what does the Olympics tell us about winning, losing and politics? And in a plot twist that could be straight out of the tv drama Succession, Rupert Murdoch is locked in a legal dispute with his kids.

Jul 31, 202431 min

Kamala won the nomination but what's with the coconuts?

Kamala Harris won the US Democratic nomination this week but the internet is full of memes about coconut trees. So what's that all about and can she win the Presidency? Also Jules and Jeremy were stuck on air with no computers or autocue last Friday when the CrowdStrike tech outage happened. So how did it happen? SHOW NOTES Jeremy's pick: I was actually there Julia's pick: All Fours...

Jul 24, 202433 min

Trump got shot but has it made him unbeatable?

The images of Donald Trump's assassination attempt have been everywhere this week, but has it made him unbeatable at the upcoming election? Also, comedian Ellen DeGeneres says she’s leaving showbiz for good and there’s a lot to learn from her career about generational change in the workplace. SHOW NOTES Some of Jeremy's favourite "Letters Live" Olivia Colman reads a novelist's (rather funny) complaint letter to a funeral parlour Sara Pascoe reads a hilarious letter asking for clarity on God's La...

Jul 17, 202432 min

UK votes Labour: Goodbye chaos, hello boring

After 14 years of Conservative government, people in the UK have voted for Labour in a landslide. Given the last few years of global turmoil, do voters just want a little bit of boredom? Also: what key seats there tell us about the Fatima Payman saga here in Australia, and the ability of party politicians to represent a diversity of views in their constituencies. And whether the protection we get from shark nets are worth the harm they cause.

Jul 10, 202437 min

Donald Trump lies, Joe Biden needs the truth

After appearing frail and mixing up words in the US presidential debate, the big question is whether Joe Biden should step down as the Democratic nominee. His family has encouraged him to stay in the race, but is it sometimes kinder to tell someone the hard truth? Also the big banks say they're under attack from scammers 24/7, and Japan gets its first LGBTQI reality show.

Jul 03, 202440 min

Is that a Picasso in the toilet?

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is free, and heading back to Australia, after years of fighting extradition to the United States. How have our thoughts on him changed over the years, and will the way it wrapped up change journalism? Also, the Tories placing bets on their own government's election date, and why Mona is hanging Picassos in the toilets.

Jun 26, 202436 min

When good Neighbours become good...Trump supporters?

Former Neighbours star Holly Valance has held a Trump fundraiser, so how did a soap star become a force in right-wing politics? And a New York Times article has us thinking about things we've done for the last time and may never do again. Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected] SHOW NOTES The Contestant is more than a cautionary tale Growing old, with grace and aches...

Jun 19, 202432 min

What Michael Mosley's death taught us about life

The death of tv doctor Michael Mosley saw an outpouring of grief across the globe, but it has got us thinking about how precarious life can be. And the Australian Olympic team is taking three baristas to Paris so that they can get the perfect flat white.

Jun 12, 202430 min

Trump is guilty. So what happens next?

We now know Donald Trump is a criminal, but does it change anything? And can he still be President? Also Julia and Jeremy want to know how to get their kids off screens. Can the Prime Minister get 13 year olds off social media? And the anti-discrimination case which challenges some of the outdated ways we think about sex workers. SHOW NOTES Baz Luhrmann interview Mermaid Club...

Jun 05, 202430 min

Is it just us, or is airline turbulence getting worse?

Could birds hold the secret to aeroplane turbulence? In the wake of the horrific attack in Rafah in Gaza, is there any more that International courts can do to stop the fighting? And could the weight loss drug Ozempic be causing a baby boom?

May 29, 202430 min

INTRODUCING — Not Stupid

Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected]

May 16, 2024
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