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The Briefing

A daily news podcast, The Briefing gives you the latest headlines, discussion and explainer interviews to keep you informed and entertained.

Bringing you the news you need to know at 6am and 4pm Monday to Friday, and profile features across the weekend, The Briefing is Australia's go-to news podcast for your commute, coffee or exercise.

Hosted by journalists Sacha Barbour Gatt, Chris Spyrou, Natarsha Belling, Helen Smith and Antoinette Lattouf.

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Episodes

How your work spaces could change in 2024

The 4-day work week, flexible working and co-working are all going to be major buzzwords this year. There's also coworking, where we're seeing moves towards creating spaces in suburban centres so that workers don't need to commute as far. In this episode Rhianna Patrick delves into all of this with Jared Lindzon, a freelance journalist who has been published in the BBC, Time Magazine and Fast Company. HEADLINES: Man to face court over Melbourne stabbings Eight rave goers in critical condition du...

Jan 07, 202422 minSeason 5Ep. 7

Summer Weekends: Elise Loehnen went from GOOP to reclaiming her name

Welcome to our summer series of the Weekend Briefing featuring some of your favourite interviews from 2023! Elise has achieved a lot! She has ghost written 12 books, was second-in-command at Goop and has now released her first book under her own name - On Our Best Behaviour: The Price Women Pay to Be Good. In this chat with Jamila Rizvi, Elise explains where the seven deadly sins originated from (and nope they’re not from the bible) and the pressure women place on themselves to be good. Follow T...

Jan 05, 202434 minSeason 5Ep. 6

Aussie rescue hero on Japan's gold standard earthquake plan

Dozens of people have died, hundreds have been injured– and tens of thousands of homes destroyed after Japan’s massive 7.6 magnitude earthquake earlier this week. But as Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world, it’s also best prepared to deal with a major disaster like this. In this episode of the Briefing Rhianna Patrick is joined by disaster expert Arnold Dix to find out what makes the way Japan deals with earthquakes different to the rest of the world. Headlines: Time...

Jan 04, 202419 minSeason 5Ep. 5

Why we can now take the Mickey out of Disney

For the first time, one of Disney’s marquee characters — Mickey himself — has entered the public domain 95 years after his creation. But it will only be the earliest version of the iconic character though, the one from “Steamboat Willie”. Disney has historically pushed very hard for an extension of copyright protections. In fact, the copyright extension act of 1998 was nicknamed the Mickey Mouse Protection Act. In this episode of The Briefing Rhianna Patrick finds out just what the implications ...

Jan 03, 202418 minSeason 5Ep. 4

Boomer breakups: why are our parents getting divorced more than us?

Did you know every generation is seeing a decline in divorce stats, except for boomers? It turns out Hugh Jackman’s split from his wife Deborah Lee Furness of 27 years wasn’t just a flash in the pan and is part of a wider trend. In this episode of The Briefing Katrina Blowers finds out the why behind boomer break-ups with Elisabeth Shaw from Relationships Australia. Headlines: Five dead after Japan aircraft crash 5 dead in Ukraine airstrike ADF deployed to help with Queensland floods Interim Sea...

Jan 02, 202421 minSeason 5Ep. 3

The truth behind ‘manifesting’ and why it might not be right for you

Did you know google searches for 'manifesting' soared by 669% from late March to mid-July last year? In this episode of The Briefing Katrina Blowers is joined by cognitive neuroscientist Rhiannon Jones to find out if ‘manifesting’ actually helps make our dreams come true, if it’s just another word for goal-setting or if it could actually have a negative impact on our lives. Headlines: Thousands evacuated after Japan earthquake Hundreds of people have been evacuated from Queensland Denmark in sho...

Jan 01, 202419 minSeason 5Ep. 2

A futurist explains what the big trends will be for 2024

It’s the first day of 2024, and some big trends are on the cards for this year. Democracies will be tested; AI will lead to major changes in our work and health; and we might finally move beyond the smartphone. In this episode of The Briefing we unpack what to expect in 2024 with futurist Ross Dawson. Headlines supplied by the Listnr newsroom. Follow The Briefing: Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAU Twitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...

Dec 31, 202314 minSeason 5Ep. 1

Summer Weekends: Dilruk Jayasinha was never going to be an accountant

Welcome to our summer series of the Weekend Briefing featuring some of your favourite interviews from 2023! Dilruk Jayasinha is one of Australia’s most in-demand comedians. As we jump back in time to his last stand up show Heart Stopper we find out there’s more behind that name than meets the eye. In this chat with Jamila Rizvi, Dilruk explains how he made the switch from working as an accountant at a big four to becoming a stand up comedian. Follow The Briefing: Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast F...

Dec 29, 202325 minSeason 4Ep. 404

The Briefing’s 2023 Pop Culture Wrap

Britney Spears and Prince Harry’s bios took the world by storm in 2023; Taylor Swift became a billionaire; and the Barbie movie got us going to the cinema again. In this episode of The Briefing Tom Tilley and Antoinette Lattouf give us the rundown on the biggest pop culture moments of the year. Follow The Briefing: Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAU Twitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Dec 28, 202314 minSeason 4Ep. 403

The Briefing’s 2023 Sport Wrap

There’s one word for Aussie sport in 2023 and that is: Matildas! But that wasn’t the only big news in sport: we also saw a massive year in cricket, beating India on their home soil in an ODI; while the Panthers won the premiership for the NRL, and Collingwood for the AFL. In this episode of The Briefing Sacha Barbour Gatt and Tom Tilley talk through the moments that had us on the edge of our seats this year. Follow The Briefing: Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAU Twitter:...

Dec 28, 202317 minSeason 4Ep. 402

The Briefing’s 2023 International News Wrap

Nothing has made international news more in the last few months than the conflict in Gaza, but do you remember some of the other big stories that hit our shores in 2023? Tom Tilley and Katrina Blowers dive in on the biggest moments from 2023 like the Titan submersible tragedy from June; the wildfires that gripped the northern hemisphere; and how ChatGPT suddenly came into our lives. Follow The Briefing: Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAU Twitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnyst...

Dec 28, 202314 minSeason 4Ep. 401

The Briefing’s 2023 National News Wrap

2023 has been a big year for Australia. In this episode of The Briefing Katrina Blowers and Tom Tilley take us through all the big moments from the failed Voice referendum, to the sacking of Qantas and Optus CEOs, and the mushroom poisoning case that had the whole country talking. Headlines supplied by the Listnr newsroom. Follow The Briefing: Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAU Twitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Dec 28, 202320 minSeason 4Ep. 400

A powerful description of what it’s like living with adult ADHD

There has been a rise of well-known Aussies, particularly females, announcing that they have been diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. Due to this rise there have been many conversations on social media about why this is happening, with many saying it’s just being over diagnosed or turning into a trend. We’re joined by Bridget Pringle - a freelance writer, mother of two and advertising professional from Melbourne who learned she had ADHD via a TikTok algorithm. So what’s it like living with adult AD...

Dec 27, 202316 minSeason 4Ep. 399

Synthetic "forever chemicals" found in popular cosmetics brands

We took six well known cosmetics to an independent laboratory for testing. The results show that two of the brands contain PFAS, which are dangerous synthetic ‘forever chemicals.’ Find out which brands and how they respond to the results in this special report from Clair Weaver, Investigations Editor at Listnr. Complaints about PFAS in cosmetics should go to the ACCC (Problem with a product or service you bought | ACCC.) Headlines supplied by the Listnr newsroom. Follow The Briefing: Instagram: ...

Dec 26, 202314 minSeason 4Ep. 398

Wonka, Mean Girls or Aquaman? The Briefing wraps your summer movies

It’s Boxing Day and that means there’s a good chance you’re heading to the movies. In this episode of The Briefing Sacha Barbour Gatt wraps of some of the biggest flicks of the season with Justin Hill from The Streaming Service. They’ll be talking everything from Wonka and Mean Girls to Aquaman to help you decide what to watch, as well as a preview of some of the big movies set to be released in 2024. Headlines supplied by the Listnr newsroom. Follow The Briefing: Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast ...

Dec 25, 202317 minSeason 4Ep. 397

Tree pickles, live carp and KFC: Christmas foods around the world

It’s Christmas and that means there’s a good chance you’ll spend most of today in a food coma, even if you’re not religious. In Japan, there’s even a tradition to eat KFC despite the Buddhism and Shinto being the main religion. In this episode of The Briefing we chat to Gastro Obscura’s Diana Hubbell about some of the strangest Christmas foods from around the world. Follow The Briefing: Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAU Twitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener...

Dec 24, 202310 minSeason 4Ep. 396

Summer Weekends: Maria Thattil from Miss Universe to the Jungle

Welcome to our summer series of the Weekend Briefing featuring some of your favourite interviews from 2023! Maria is a queer, South-Asian woman, the daughter of migrant parents and a former Miss Universe Australia - who stands a petite five foot three in a world of 6 foot something beauty pageant contestants. In this chat with Jamila Rizvi, Maria explains what it was like to be told she wasn’t Australian enough to be Miss Universe, her experience on coming out on reality TV and her new memoir Un...

Dec 22, 202327 minSeason 4Ep. 395

How to look after your mental health during the holiday period

In this morning's episode of The Briefing, we looked into how to manage difficult conversations with family members over Christmas. In this afternoon's episode, we turn the mirror inwards. For many people, this time of the year can be filled with stress, conflict or loneliness. So how can you look after yourself and your mental health through this time? On this extra episode of The Briefing, we speak with Dr Michelle Lim from the Social Health and Wellbeing Laboratory at Swinburne University of ...

Dec 22, 202312 minSeason 4Ep. 394

How to navigate awkward conversations at the Christmas dinner table

With Christmas just days away, plenty of us are feeling a bit of trepidation (or perhaps a lot) at the prospect of spending time with family members we might otherwise not interact too much with. Whether you're facing the 'body police,' coping with milestone micromanagers, or navigating the 'devil's advocate' of the family, in this episode of The Briefing Tom Tilley and psychologist Jocelyn Brewer have you covered. Headlines: Mass shooting at a university in Prague Judge in Bruce Lehrmann case t...

Dec 21, 202320 minSeason 4Ep. 393

Will you join the Coles and Woolworths boycott?

As public anger mounts over Coles and Woolworths’ super-profits during a cost of living crisis, Brisbane local Dylan Fragomeni is pushing for a boycott of the two grocery giants on December 23 and 24. But could this boycott create any meaningful change? On this extra episode of The Briefing, we speak with Dylan Fragomeni, as well as economist and consumer expert, Professor Gary Mortimer, to find out more about the boycott, and whether better regulation is actually needed to force down prices. Se...

Dec 21, 202312 minSeason 4Ep. 392

Why are we rewatching Aussie kids' shows?

Seven out of 10 Aussies are rewatching TV shows from their childhood and it’s all part of a nostalgia trend. A recent study by Swinburne, RMIT University, and Australian Children's Television Cultures found that jumping back into old shows is a form of comfort watching. Katrina Blowers is joined by Joanna McIntyre from the study to find out why we are choosing to binge shows from the past. Headlines: New truce discussions underway between Hamas and Israel Trump responds to Colorado election deci...

Dec 20, 202320 minSeason 4Ep. 391

Is today's court ruling the beginning of the end for Donald Trump?

The Colorado Supreme Court have just disqualified former US President Donald Trump from being listed in the ballot for the next election. They claim that his involvement in the January 6th, 2021 attack by his supporters on the US Capitol is a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Trump’s team have already come back, saying they’re going to the US Supreme Court to appeal the decision. On this extra episode of The Briefing, we speak with expert in American Politi...

Dec 20, 202310 minSeason 4Ep. 390

Why Malcom Turnbull says King Charles' visit can't stop republic by 2026

King Charles and Queen Camilla are coming down under next year, making it their first visit to Australia as monarchs. But will it lead to a resurgence in republican sentiment? Sacha Barbour Gatt sits down former PM Malcolm Turnbull to find out what the impact of the visit will have and how soon he thinks we could become a republic. Headlines: Albanese urges not to give up hope of two-state solution in Gaza Evidence wraps up in Lehrmann defamation trial Your Christmas Day weather forecast Follow ...

Dec 19, 202318 minSeason 4Ep. 389

Step inside the house with no power bills

Many of us have been hit with record power bills this year – and a predicted hot summer ahead is not going to help with keeping costs down. But what if there was a way to avoid energy bills altogether? That’s the promise of a new fully electric and sustainable Australian property in Perth that's won global home of the year at the National Association of Home Builders’ Global Innovation Awards in LA. On this extra episode of The Briefing, we speak with LiSTNR journalist Alastair Kirkby to find ou...

Dec 19, 202310 minSeason 4Ep. 388

It's hot, and that's bad for domestic violence rates

Australia is known for its hot summers and because of climate change we’re in for more frequent and intense heat waves going forward. An Australian study by Macquarie Uni analysed close to a million reported incidents of all kinds of assaults and found that as temperatures increase so too does violence. Katrina Blowers is joined by Heather Stevens who was part of the team who carried out this research. 1800 RESPECT Lifeline 13 11 14 Headlines: Cairns airport back up and running Brittany Higgins'...

Dec 18, 202321 minSeason 4Ep. 387

What really works to stop people dying on our roads?

2023 has seen a 6% rise in the deaths on our roads, with over 1,250 lives lost - and we're yet to wrap up the notorious Christmas and New Years period. So while we’ve all heard the safety messaging and seen the campaigns, why are we seeing an increase in driving-related deaths? And are we missing something when it comes to lowering the road toll? On this extra episode of The Briefing, you'll hear from LiSTNR journalist Sophia Funiciello about what we should be doing to improve the safety of our ...

Dec 18, 202312 minSeason 4Ep. 386

A witness tells what life is really like for kids in Gaza

UNICEF spokesperson James Elder is an Australian who has been working in conflict zones for the last 20 years and has most recently been part of humanitarian efforts Gaza. He says has never seen the level of intensity and severity of suffering by children before. In this episode of The Briefing, Katrina Blowers finds out what life is like for children on the ground in Gaza. Headlines: Major flooding incident grips Far North Queensland Pope Francis condemns killing of two Christian women in Gaza ...

Dec 17, 202322 minSeason 4Ep. 385

Why Marc Fennell won't share his opinion anymore

Marc Fennell is excellent at asking questions. From hosting Stuff the British stole and the Feed on SBS to a podcast series about finding the worlds hottest chilli, he can tell a captivating story. In this chat with Antoinette, Marc gets really honest about why he doesn’t want to share his opinion anymore and the moments in his career that changed his trajectory. Weekend List: Christmas wrapping paper hack Trashy christmas movies DYFM podcast episode 6 ways to boost your self-worth Antoinette’s ...

Dec 15, 202334 minSeason 4Ep. 384

Festive not festy: how to avoid food poisoning this season

Did you know that one in five of us will face the risk of food poisoning during this festive season? While this makes sense given the large festive feasts and seafood platters often served on a hot summer day, what can you do to ensure you don't give the unwanted gift of Salmonella, E. coli, or Listeria to your nearest and dearest? In this extra episode of The Briefing, we explore the do's and don'ts of holiday eating, as well as debunking common myths often circulated at this time of the year. ...

Dec 15, 202312 minSeason 4Ep. 383

Was this year’s climate conference, COP28, a success?

The UN climate summit in Dubai has culminated with almost 200 countries agreeing to ‘transition away’ from fossil fuels. It’s been a hard-fought win after much back-and-forth over the precise wording with some countries refusing to sign on to ‘phasing fossil fuels out’. COP28 has also been mired in controversy with the president of the conference saying a phase-out of coal, oil and gas would take the world 'back into caves,' which he has since walked back from. In this episode of The Briefing, M...

Dec 14, 202321 minSeason 4Ep. 382
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