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

Hate and the "hot assassin": has 2024 sent us mad?

After a big year of pretty toxic politics globally, can we learn to disagree better? Jules has been reading up about the "Dignity Index", so could it make a difference? And the so called "hot assassin" has lots of people talking about healthcare and health insurance in the US. Also, could "Not Stupid" get in the Guinness Book of Records? SHOW NOTES Buy tickets to our Adelaide show! https://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/events/2025-writers-week/podfest-not-stupid/ Utah Governor advert: https://www....

Dec 18, 202434 min

Break glass for emergency trifle

We asked if you needed any life advice and you've got questions. What's the best trifle recipe? Is a plastic Christmas tree better than a real one? Do I have to buy nice presents for people if they only give me rubbish ones? Jules and Jez offer their advice and their baking tips. MADS' EMERGENCY TRIFLE TIPS 1.Use the right bowl. A good bowl is the difference between an amazing looking trifle and slop in a bowl. Making a trifle on holidays? Take the bowl to the holiday house. They never ever have...

Dec 15, 2024

Is it ok to make fun of Raygun?

The Raygun Musical was shutdown before it even began, so is it ok to make fun of celebrities? How much do people in the public eye get to control their image? And if we can recreate dead celebrities with A.I., who controls that story? Also Syria is back in the headlines as Syrians across the globe celebrate the end of fifty years of the Assad regime. Jules and Jez take a closer look at what's happened and what it means for the Middle East. SHOW NOTES The Celebrity Machine Never Dies https://www....

Dec 11, 202434 min

Our Not Stupid Playlist

Jez had an idea to make a playlist with all the songs he loves to dance to. When he asked for song requests, so many of you got in touch. Jules and Jez chat about some of the songs you love to dance to and why you love them. You can find the playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/36xBCBL6jCrPJe6J8drjYe?si=BF6PCTj-QCK-nIDa1LTPTg&pi=a-CpIDFEEDROGt And if you have other suggestions, you can get in touch at [email protected]...

Dec 08, 202416 min

Current mood: enshittification

Has your year been: a) brat b) demure c) enshittified? Join Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez as they chat about the words of the year. Plus why is it so hard to cap the amount of plastic produced globally? And would you eat a $9 million dollar banana? SHOW NOTES NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE ABOUT THE PLASTIC INDUSTRY https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/27/climate/plastic-industry-internal-documents.html MACQUARIE DICTIONARY WORD OF THE YEAR SHORTLIST: https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/wp-content/uplo...

Dec 04, 202434 min

It's never too late for a tattoo

Jules got a tattoo in New York after some particularly strong margaritas, so we asked you for your tattoo stories. And boy did you deliver. Join Jules and Jez as they read through some of your emails about weird and wonderful tattoos. You can always get in touch at [email protected]

Dec 01, 202414 min

Is #metoo dead?

Donald Trump's White House picks have many questioning whether the #metoo movement is dead. So is it? And here in Australia, executives from Coles, Woolworths and ALDI have appeared at the ACCC’s supermarket inquiry, so what have we learned and is anything going to change? SHOW NOTES Please do our survey! Link here: https://forms.office.com/r/XCJvrKqCkd JULES' PICK Jesse Krimes Exhibition https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/jesse-krimes-corrections JEZ'S PICK Nadal Retires. https://www.youtube...

Nov 27, 202433 min

How Americans are handling Trump's return

Jules is in the US talking about grace and forgiveness and it is a tricky topic in the wake of the election result. So what reaction has she been getting? If you can, please fill out our listener survey. It's anonymous and will only take a few minutes. SURVEY LINK HERE: https://forms.office.com/r/XCJvrKqCkd

Nov 24, 202413 min

The downfall of Alan Jones

Veteran broadcaster Alan Jones has been charged with historical indecent assault and sexual touching offences and Jules and Jez chat about what we know about the charges. And Jules is still in the US and everything is so expensive. We talk about how Donald Trump says he will fix the economy and what impact the economy might have on the Australian economy. You can always get in touch with us at [email protected] SHOW NOTES The Not Stupid Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/36xBCBL6jCrP...

Nov 20, 202432 min

What you're doing about climate change

When Jules and Jez spoke about Tim Winton's novel "Juice", they spoke about communities trying to do their bit to address climate change and we wanted to hear from you. Lots of you got in touch and we discuss a few of those emails. If you have more stories, please get in touch at [email protected]

Nov 17, 202412 min

Why misogyny has exploded online following Trump's win

When Donald Trump won the US election, sexist, racist and misogynistic comments exploded online. Julia and Jeremy look at what happened at why. And here in Australia, the Government plans to stop misinformation, but will it work? Jeremy's Playlist Dancing may be better than other exercise for improving mental health - The University of Sydney...

Nov 14, 202432 min

When Julia Baird met Donald Trump

It has been a big few days in US politics and Jules is about to head to the US. She'll be there talking about grace, after a very tumultuous and divisive election campaign. So will there be any grace on display? Also Jules talks about meeting Donald Trump in 2016.

Nov 11, 202420 min

How Trump won

Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez have been reporting on the US election all day, but after the tv broadcast, they got into the pod studio for a debrief and a chat. They take us through how the day unfolded and how Trump won.

Nov 06, 202430 min

Extra Stupid: Your favourite poems

We asked for your favourite poems and you really delivered. We have been inundated with emails about poetry so we thoughts we'd share a few. Keep sending them at [email protected] and we will share more in coming weeks. POEMS "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" by Robert Fulghum "Araluen" by Henry Kendall "Small Kindnesses" by Danusha Laméris SONG LYRICS "The Wine Song" by The Cat Empire "Still remains" by Stone Temple Pilots...

Nov 03, 202413 min

What we get wrong about Trump voters

There's one week until the US election and Jez and Jules are reading and listening to everything so you don't have to. They chat about the latest and what they think we sometimes get wrong about Trump voters. And Jules has COVID while one of her kids is doing her final exams. It has got us thinking about the pressure of final exams and whether we've got it right. And who steals cheddar? Jez is intrigued by a very weird crime. JULIA'S PICK Saoirse Ronan on Graham Norton JEREMY'S PICK The Great Ch...

Oct 30, 202433 min

Extra Stupid: Part 2 of our US election cheat sheet

Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez answer more of your questions about the US election. Will Trump's criminal cases matter? What are the issues which will decide the election? And when will we have a result?

Oct 27, 202413 min

Who's allowed to heckle a royal?

King Charles and Queen Camilla have been in Australia and a heckle from Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe caused global headlines for heckling the King. So should the King be heckled and are we ever going to be a Republic? Also Julia has been deep down a rabbit hole reading about the Menendez brothers who were convicted of killing their parents more than thirty years ago. Now the case is being looked at again following a couple of tv shows. And Jules and Jez went to pub choir and loved it. SHOW N...

Oct 23, 202431 min

Extra Stupid: Your US election cheat sheet

With just a few weeks until the US election Jules and Jez are answering your questions. How does the electoral college work? What does a Vice President really do? What's Donald Trump's golf handicap?

Oct 20, 202412 min

Can the PM buy a nice house?

The Prime Minister has a new coastal house, but should the PM buy a house in a cost of living crisis? Or is it his money and he can spend it however he wants? And after seeing so many fake Hurricane Milton photos, we look at a couple of new studies about how we decide what's true and what's not. And would you go to a Natural History exhibit where the stuffed animals talk to you?

Oct 16, 202436 min

Sean "Diddy" Combs and music's #metoo moment

US rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs has been charged with racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking after more than 100 people came forward to say they had been assaulted or harmed by the musician. Julia and Jeremy discuss the music industry's #metoo moment. Also, how do we decide who gets a visa to Australia? It's led to a big debate among our politicians. And how poetry can change the way we think. SHOW NOTES JEREMY'S PICK: Red Room Poetry JULIA'S PICK 8 Year Old drives to Target...

Oct 09, 202432 min

Walz vs Vance: the battle of the MidWest dads

The US Vice Presidents went head to head in their only debate. So who won and does it matter? And a couple of horrific cases have put drink spiking in the spotlight.

Oct 02, 202432 min

Israel, Lebanon and Hezbollah: what you need to know

Just weeks before the anniversary of the October 7, conflict in the Middle East is escalating. Jules and Jez have been thinking about how we talk about the conflict and if there's any kind of ceasefire in sight. Also the ACCC is taking Coles and Woolworths to court, so will it make your grocery shop cheaper?

Sep 25, 202434 min

Extra Stupid: Celebrating the little things

Julia had a birthday party and there was a lot of dancing. We share your stories about half birthdays, celebrating the little things and why dancing sometimes just feels really great.

Sep 22, 202411 min

Death threats and dead pets: are you ok America?

We've seen two attempted assassinations on Donald Trump in two months, so what does it mean for democracy in the US? Also here in Australia, the Federal Government has a plan to tackle scams, so will it work? And is AI where we should turn for dating advice? SHOW NOTES Scam survey

Sep 18, 202432 min

Extra Stupid: $40 party pants

We were talking about clothes a few weeks ago and lots of you had stories about second hand clothing. Jules and Jez read through some of the emails and wonder if we can do more to encourage the reuse of clothing and reduce fast fashion.

Sep 15, 202412 min

Donald, Kamala and Tay Tay's big debate night

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have come face to face in the US Presidential Debate. It's been billed as a defining moment in the campaign, so who won and who lost? And here in Australia, there's a plan to ban teens from social media. So will it work? And we are talking big milestones because Jules is having a birthday party. Jez even made a cake.

Sep 11, 202432 min

Extra Stupid: Yay or neigh? Your animal stories

We've had so much feedback about support animals and so many of you thing Jeremy Fernandez should have a miniature pony in the tv news studio. We run through some of the feedback and what's the difference between a assistance animal and an emotional support animal anyway?

Sep 08, 202411 min
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