Jess, Rachel and Charlie are joined by The Guardian Australia's correspondent Sarah Martin, to discuss the new podcast series about mining magnate Gina Rinehart. They talk about what the podcast, Gina , reveals about Gina Rinehart, and what it can tell us about her influence in the current election. The team also talk about the more general election shenanigans, including Abbie Chatfield's brush with the AEC.
Apr 03, 2025•47 min•Season 1Ep. 119
Charlie and Rachel welcome returning guest-host Natalie Feliks. Together they are joined by human rights lawyer David Mejia-Canales to discuss the right to protest, and how the Australian media's coverage of protests give cover to repressive laws. They also review the media coverage of the budget, the upcoming trans day-of-action, and the US government chat to which a journalist was accidentally added.
Mar 27, 2025•48 min•Season 1Ep. 118
Rachel, Charlie and Jess are joined by widely published journalist, Alex McKinnon, founder of everything is fine* . Together they discuss the power of the mainstream media, the importance of independent journalism, and the Australian media's coverage on Palestine. The team also talk about some recent new media outlets that have cropped up across the internet, and what kind of “news” they’re producing.
Mar 20, 2025•51 min•Season 1Ep. 117
This week on Spin Cycle, Jess, Rachel and Charlie review the week, breaking down the timeline of the Dural caravan saga - the media hysteria, the political rhetoric, the rushed legislation, all over a terrorist plot that never was. Plus they recount their back and forth with a certain media hungry former Prime Minister. Plus the rise of self-censorship in the media, and some truly vile political advertisements run in Australia's papers.
Mar 13, 2025•50 min•Season 1Ep. 116
Rachel, Jess and Charlie are joined by Alex Fein, Redbridge Senior Insights Adviser, who runs focus groups for the Melbourne-based pollster, to find out more about how the process works — and what the punters are saying. They also discuss the alarming news coming out of America, including attacks on press freedom and THAT Oval Office shakedown.
Mar 06, 2025•49 min•Season 1Ep. 115
Rachel, Jess and Charlie are joined by former Guardian political reporter, now chief political analyst at the Australia Institute, Amy Remeikis. She explains the role of think tanks and shares her thoughts on the state of the Australian political media, particularly in the lead up to the election. The team also talk about misogyny in commercial radio (again) in light of Marty Sheargold's sacking from Triple M. Amy Remeikis at The Australia institute https://australiainstitute.org.au/expert/amy-r...
Feb 27, 2025•44 min•Season 1Ep. 114
Jess, Rachel and Charlie are joined by legendary cricket journalist, Peter Lalor, who was sacked from SEN radio after complaints were made over his retweets supporting Palestinians in Gaza. They also discuss other similar media stories, including allegations the Daily Telegraph attempted to manufacture its own anti-semitism story. Relevant articles on this episode's topics Peter Lalor SEN boss’s Nazi image claim ‘disappointing’, says Lalor SEN boss doubles down on sacking journo over Gaza posts ...
Feb 20, 2025•50 min•Season 1Ep. 113
Jess, Rachel and Charlie are back from the holidays and recap what went down in the media over the break. They discuss the analysis of Elon Musk’s gestures at US president Donald Trump’s inauguration - why are some media saying odd-looking and others saying nazi salute? They also cover the ongoing saga of Antoinette Lattouf’s dismissal from the ABC, and the treatment of Sam Kerr’s being charged with aggravated harassment in the UK.
Feb 13, 2025•45 min•Season 1Ep. 112
Charlie and Jess speak to writer, Yaakov Aharon, about his article in Michael West Media detailing Israel's recruitment of Australian soldiers. Plus they look at how Newscorp's current cheerleading for the gas industry trashes the line between editorial and advertising. And Bob Katter makes a weary return.
Dec 05, 2024•43 min•Season 1Ep. 109
Speaking in the final hours before the social media ban legislation was passed through the Senate on Thursday night, Spin Cycle co-hosts Natalie Feliks, Jess Lilley, Rachel Withers and Charlie Lewis speak to 15-year-old 6 News journalist Maggie Perry about what the social media ban would mean for her and other LGBTQIA+ young people, rural and otherwise-isolated or marginilised kids. The team also discuss Nour Haydar’s recent lecture at Melbourne University, and a bit more in detail about Charlie...
Nov 28, 2024•46 min•Season 1Ep. 108
Hosts Charlie, Jess and Rachel are joined by award-winning journalist David Leser, whose 1998 piece Who's Afraid of Alan Jones has come to light again following the arrest of former shock jock Alan Jones. The team also discusses the proposed legislation to ban those under 16 years old from using social media.
Nov 21, 2024•47 min•Season 1Ep. 106
Jess and Rachel are joined by guest co-host Natalie Feliks. Together they unpack the government's plans to ban young people from social media. Author, screenwriter and former political advisor Don Watson joins the team by phone to unravel this week's US election, the Republican landslide and the future of the country under a Trump administration.
Nov 07, 2024•47 min•Season 1Ep. 104
Rachel Withers is joined by guest co-host Daniel James to speak with Professor William Parlett on his recent article for The Conversation exposing the the National Anti-Corruption Commission's failure to investigate the Robodebt scandal.
Oct 31, 2024•44 min•Season 1Ep. 105
Rick Morton joins Jess, Rachel and Charlie to discuss his new book Mean Streak , a "corporate thriller" that uncovers the horror of Robodebt. Rick gets into how it happened, where it all went so wrong and why we need to learn from this. The team also delve into Senator Lidia Thorpe’s protest during King Charles’ visit to Parliament House and the media storm that surrounded it, including the comments of Azealia Banks… and they cover Al Jazeera’s reports against the ‘unfounded’ claims of the IDF a...
Oct 24, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 103
On this episode we are JOINED BY INVESTIGATIVE Journalist and editor of ‘The Klaxon’, Anthony Klan to talk about ‘The Klaxons’s’ leading coverage surrounding our new National Anti-Corruption commission and its controversial decision not to investigate referrals made by robodebt royal commission. Then we discuss the Labour government floating the idea earlier this week that they are looking into negative gearing.
Sep 26, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 110
Dr Prudence Flowers joins Charlie and Rachel to delve into the American presidential debate. Together they explore the various interpretations of who came out on top, and ask whether presidential debates still have any major influence over US elections? If not, what does? The team also discuss the saga of texts between journalist Janet Albrechtsen and Walter Sofronoff surrounding the Bruce Lehrmann case, and the government's proposed social media age restrictions.
Sep 12, 2024•45 min•Season 1Ep. 102
Jess and Rachel are joined by writer Jinghua Qian to discuss the effect Israel's war on Palestine is having on freedom of speech in the arts locally. From the State Library of Victoria to the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra to multiple literary and music festivals, the team discuss the trend of censorship of artists by cultural institutions and the surrounding media conversation. They ask why creatives’ expressions of their opinions are being stifled, and what role sponsors might play in these canc...
Sep 05, 2024•51 min•Season 1Ep. 101
Jess, Charlie and guest host Natalie Feliks discuss the recent lacklustre in the media of political commentary, particularly at the ABC. The team are then joined by Ben Abbatangelo to discuss the recent election in the NT - what is the agenda of the CLP and what does it mean for the coalition and Labor at a national level?
Aug 29, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 100
It's Radiothon week! And who's better than one of Australia's most well-respected investigative journalists, Paul Barry - the host of ABC's MediaWatch, to express the need and importance for community radio. The team chat to Paul about the dire future of journalism in Australia and what needs to be done to improve the landscape while also giving some shout-outs to subscribers renewing for Radiothon. Interested in finding out what Radiothon is? Read more here on how you can subscribe to Triple R ...
Aug 22, 2024•53 min•Season 1Ep. 99
Louise Milligan joins Jess, Rachel and Charlie to share some insights into the recent Four Corners investigation into Channel 7's workplace culture. The team also discusses some recent news involving Algerian boxer Imane Khelif.
Aug 15, 2024•54 min•Season 1Ep. 98
Jess, Rachel and Charlie are joined by writer, Natalie Feliks, to talk about the misinformation campaign online and in the media around Algerian Olympic boxer, Imane Khelif. They also turn their attention to the government's watered down approach to caps on gambling ads. Plus they ponder whether totally mild will be the winning formula in the US presidential election.
Aug 08, 2024•48 min•Season 1Ep. 97
This week, Jess and Rachel chat to former editor of the 7AM podcast, Scott Mitchell, about the industrial action that hit 9 Papers just as they were gearing up to cover the Paris Olympics. Plus they go deep on Mormon trad wife influencer, Ballerina Farm, in light of a controversial Sunday Times profile. And Rachel addresses the problem with Ralph Babet.
Aug 01, 2024•50 min•Season 1Ep. 96
Charlie and Jess are joined by Amy Donaldson, producer of ABC’s Four Corners, to discuss the first part of Retribution , a two-part series exploring what a second Trump presidency might look like. The team also look at the recent findings of corruption in the CFMEU and what it might mean for the future of unions, as well as "not-so-Tenacious D".
Jul 18, 2024•48 min•Season 1Ep. 95
With a full house (Jess, Rachel, Charlie, and Najma!), Spin Cycle greets two guests to discuss the latest in the Australian news media. Jewish Council of Australia Executive Officer, Sarah Schwartz, describes the recent conflation of anti-zionism with anti-semitism, and whether it is an attempt to control legitimate pro-Palestinian protest. And Nour Haydar, host of The Guardian's Full Story podcast, delves further into the coverage of Fatima Payman’s resignation from the Labour Party, and what i...
Jul 11, 2024•50 min•Season 1Ep. 94
Charlie is back from Europe and joins Jess and Rachel in conversation with Phillip Adams. Fresh from finishing his run as host of 33-years to the ABC's Late Night Live, Phillip weighs in on some career highlights, the direction of the ABC, and the broader state of the Australian media. The team also discusses the media storm around former Labor-now-Independent senator Fatima Payman and the imminent UK election.
Jul 04, 2024•50 min•Season 1Ep. 93
Annika Blau joins Jess, Rachel and Esther to comment on the reality of reality TV, in particular the making of the “villain edit”. Annika goes more into depth on Australia’s "most hated" reality TV star in the most recent episode of the ABC’s Background Briefing . The team also look at freedoms in the case of Julian Assange, as well as in the broader press, and politics.
Jun 27, 2024•48 min•Season 1Ep. 92
Jess and Rachel are joined this week by Evelyn Araluen, Co-Editor In Chief of Overland. They discuss the extreme narratives at the ends of public culture, the need for independent media, and celebrating 70 years of Overland. Jess and Rachel also discuss whether the media is giving Dutton's nuclear statements the criticism they deserve, and how politicians can utilise the media to distract the public's attention.
Jun 20, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 91
Returning guest Denis Muller joins Jess, Rachel and Esther to discuss the power structures, authoritarianism and open secrets at 9 media. The team also discuss the resignation of Media Watch's Paul Barry, and the distracting politics around Australia's inaction on Israel's war on Gaza.
Jun 13, 2024•48 min•Season 1Ep. 90
Data specialist Kristen Moeller-Saxone joins Jess, Rachel and Esther to explore the study into the reporting of finance in the media over the last three decades, as well as the use of AI in the research process. The team also cover the week's news, including the National Press Club Address from the Executive Chairman of Newscorp Australasia, Michael Miller, and Peter Costello’s airport adventures.
Jun 06, 2024•52 min•Season 1Ep. 89
Daanyal Saeed joins Jess, Rachel and Esther to discuss the outrage over Laura Tingle's comments at the Sydney Writers' Festival. Why is it that the media so often takes commentary out of context? Together they also discuss senate estimates, and the rise of effective altruism and pronatalism.
May 30, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 88
