Mormons seem to be everywhere right now—on our TVs and social media feeds. So, why is the zeitgeist currently obsessing over The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its followers? And if you’re Quick Smart obsessed, make sure to listen until the end for an announcement about the show.
When you fall asleep do you dream of falling Tetris pieces? There’s a name for this – the Tetris Effect. Scientists have been investigating its use in boosting creativity and productivity and brands are trying to figure out how to monetise it. So just how malleable does playing video games make our minds? And is it possible for companies to use this research to hijack our dreams? Guest: Shelby Traynor for All In The Mind
Linguists have discovered that teenage girls play a significant role in shaping our future vocabulary. But how do 16-year-old girls end up being the arbiters of what we will and won't say?
Our relationship with pets has dramatically shifted over the decades. Historically, we domesticated and bred pets for utility, such as catching rats and protection. Now, we breed them to be as cute as possible and consider them part of the family unit.
Australians generally like to think we're a classless society and that if you have a go, you get a go. This could be one of the reasons why most Australians think they're middle class, but the figures say otherwise. So, how did we get here, and is our perception of class shifting?
You often hear about "mistrials" or cases being "thrown out of court," but how do these situations actually occur? In an age of constant information overload, how can a juror keep their mind clear and unbiased? And what are the consequences when jurors can't resist the temptation to engage with outside sources?
23andMe launched in 2016 to widespread excitement from Silicon Valley evangelists. It promised a simple and fun way to explore our genetic makeup. Eight years on, 15 million people are now left wishing they had dug deeper into the T&Cs and understood what they were actually signing up for.
This year’s European summer saw an unprecedented influx of tourists flocking to idyllic holiday destinations. Tourists faced longer lines, fully booked accommodations, and soaring prices. But what is the cost for the locals who call these places home, and how did these once peaceful spots become overrun with visitors?
If you're in a relationship with someone in the same profession as you, you're not alone. Most people are, and there are stats to prove it. So why do we end up with people just like us, and what does this say about us as a society?
The US election is around the corner, and the polls are neck and neck. Both candidates are zeroing in on key voter groups that could win them the election.
How much should inner peace cost? For the people selling the idea of mindfulness and inner peace the price tag can be limitless. Apps, retreats, balms and oils, mindfulness is now something you can buy. So how did a practice with ties to an ancient religion turn into a mindfulness industrial complex?
Around the globe, governments have been shifting across the political spectrum. Have some leaders exploited the public's desire for change, and are we seeing an increase in dictators and demagogues?
The advent of dating apps gave a whole new meaning to the phrase 'plenty of fish in the sea.' Suddenly, you could cast your search for 'the one' into the limitless depths of the internet. So why are people ghosting the apps and instead looking for love IRL?
The prince of Saudi Arabia has a vision for a sci-fi like city in the middle of the desert called NEOM and he wants you to move in. The futuristic sci-fi city is being spruiked online by influencers and if you've seen the marketing you might think it's too good to be true. So will the prince's sci-fi dreams turn into reality and why does he want to get people to move to the middle of the desert in Saudia Arabia? Guest: Matt Bevan for If You're Listening If you liked this episode you might like t...
How much is that doggy in the window impacting climate change? And do we need to take paws for thought before buying a pet?
Amidst the culture wars and identity politics stirred up during the election campaign, can Kamala Harris secure the presidency and make history? And if history is made do her policies align with the progressive youth base that have memed her into a lime green oval office, or are these voters not seeing the forest for the coconut trees?
The whole world is moving towards a cashless future. So what does our digital money future look like and is it for the best?
Sex tech conjures up images of hot robots sent from the future and while that might be where this multi million dollar industry is headed - for now a big slice of the demand is from people hoping to enjoy their own body so why do we make that so hard for people living with disabilities? And who are the inventors and engineers breaking down the taboos to create the products that suit their needs? Guest - Rebecca McLaren for the Health Report If you liked this episode of Quick Smart you might enjo...
Linguists have discovered that teenage girls play a significant role in shaping our future vocabulary. But how do 16-year-old girls end up being the arbiters of what we will and won't say? Guest: Fiona Pepper for Future Tense
Where is the case now and when will mushroom murder-accused Erin Patterson face trial? We find out and get into the weeds about the legality and ethics of making a true crime podcast happening in real time. If you liked this episode of Quick Smart you might like this other episode we did about The truth behind reality TV villains or this one about The mysterious disappearance of Agatha Christie...
When you fall asleep do you dream of falling Tetris pieces? There’s a name for this – the Tetris Effect. Scientists have been investigating its use in boosting creativity and productivity and brands are trying to figure out how to monetise it. So just how malleable does playing video games make our minds? And is it possible for companies to use this research to hijack our dreams? Guest: Shelby Traynor for All In The Mind If you liked this episode of Quick Smart you might like this other episode ...
Cryptocurrency and block chain technology has dramatically shifted the way criminals launder money - so what are the techniques some criminals are using to clean dirty money and what does it have to do with a video game about salamanders? Guest: Nick Baker for The Money and ABC Digital And if you liked this episode check out some of the other episodes we've made with The Money like this one about how the RBA wants you to lose your job , or this one about how the Australian housing crisis got so ...
If you’re a woman between 25 and 45 on Instagram there’s a good chance you’ve seen ads for egg freezing. And in recent years, the popularity of IVF clinics has sky rocketed - so much so that the clinics are are actually starting to run out of storage space. So what has led to the huge uptick in people wanting to freeze their eggs and is it actually the insurance policy that people think it is?Guest: Sophie Kesteven for ABC News And if you liked this episode check out our episodes about office ro...
The Olympic Games are about to kick off and athletes from all over the world will make their way to France to compete. The event is watched by billions, there's a massive increase to local tourism and of course an eye watering amount of advertising dollars at stake so it’s wild to think that at one stage - the Olympics was almost cancelled for good. Guest: Jack Schmidt for God Forbid
In the back of our minds we all know that there’s very little that’s real about reality TV… but you might be shocked to discover just how deceptive – and ethically questionable – some of the television tactics really are. So are the humans behind these characters we love to hate really so awful? And how does being cast as a TV villain impact a person’s mental health and life outside the show? And a content note: this episode contains discussion of suicide and mental health. Guest: Annika Blau fo...
Social media is a huge part of our lives. We use it to talk to friends, to read about what’s happening in the world, and to find out whether or not something is cake. But recently there’s been talk of banning people under the age 16 from using social media because of the negative impact on their mental health and to protect them from harm. So is the government’s plan for age restriction really the best way to tackle this crisis? And will it actually improve the wellbeing of kids or will it just ...
AI is impacting every creative industry - and movies are no exception. If a young Harrison Ford can be churned out of a computer, what does the future of film look like? And would you feel differently about your favourite TV show if you knew the characters in it were created by a computer? Guest: Bev Wang for Stop Everything! This episode was originally published in January 2024
Whether you're singing in a karaoke room at 2am, or at a more reasonable time with a local choir, there’s something about singing without inhibition that feels great. Our brains get this warm fuzzy feeling when we come together and sing as a group - and it turns out there's neuroscience that backs that up. So what are the health benefits for our brain and mental health? Should we all be joining a community choir? Guest: Lucy Sweeney for ABC Online
What makes a man, a man? Well eating copious amounts of red meat of course – at least according to certain corners of the internet. The alt-right has made mass beef consumption their business, and this comes at a time where climate scientists and animal activists are urging people to eat less meat to help the planet. So why is the alt-right so focused on eliminating “soy boys” and getting into that Bronze Age Grindset? Guest: Jonathan Green for Blueprint for Living This episode was originally pu...
On average Australians spend around three hours on their phones everyday - and experts believe our screentime is impacting our relationships, our ability to focus and our health. So is phone addiction really as bad for us as we think? And what are the health benefits of putting down your phone once and a while and breaking the cycle? Guest: Anna Kelsey-Sugg for ABC Online
