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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

Why Malcolm Turnbull backflipped on The Voice: Part 2

Malcolm Turnbull originally rejected the idea of a Voice to parliament in 2017, but he's now come around. In this episode, we find out if the former Prime Minister takes responsibility for setting The Voice back and why he supports it now. Malcolm Turnbull's brand new podcast is Defending Democracy and dives deep into his thoughts on the state of the world and our political system. Headlines: - Trump heading to New York over Stormy Daniels charges - TikTok banned from government devices - Melbou...

Apr 03, 202322 minSeason 4Ep. 81

Malcolm Turnbull on Putin, media and why he still backs the NBN: Part 1

Malcolm Turnbull was Australia's 29th Prime Minister, holding office from 2015 - 2018. His brand new podcast Defending Democracy dives deep into his thoughts on the state of the world and our political system and asks the question - are we witnessing the decline of western/liberal democracy? Headlines: - Liberals smashed in Aston by-election - VIC: Daniel Andrews breaks silence over China trip - NSW Premier vows to never work with Mark Latham - The Pope is on the mend - Max Verstappen wins F1 Gr...

Apr 02, 202323 minSeason 4Ep. 80

Susanne Legena has a plan to tackle poverty

Susanne Legena is the CEO of child rights organisation Plan International Australia, a passionate feminist, and champion of young people. In 2014, after spending a 15 year career working in corporate and government communications, Susanne decided to make a big career change. In this chat with Jamila Rizvi Susanne talks about how she became CEO of Plan and how her own story of fertility struggles played a big part in deciding to dedicate her life’s work to girls’ equality. See omnystudio.com/list...

Mar 31, 202332 minSeason 4Ep. 79

Will banning Nazi symbols work?

The Victorian government is moving to ban the Nazi salute after neo-Nazis made the gesture on the steps of parliament. The issue has also spilled into federal parliament: Attorney General Mark Dreyfus tried to make a point the LNP had not called out the behaviour, but opposition leader Peter Dutton called his bluff saying he would support a federal ban of Nazi symbolism. In this episode, we find out what the state of play is across the country when it comes to Nazi symbolism, and if banning Nazi...

Mar 30, 202322 minSeason 4Ep. 78

Wall-to-wall Labor: What does it mean for Australia?

The recent NSW election result puts Labor in power right across the country, except for Tasmania. The last time – indeed, the only time – it has been in office in all nine of Australia's jurisdictions was for a few months between late November 2007 and early September 2008. So, why has this happened and what does it mean for Australian citizens? In this episode we unpack how we have changed as a society and how the Liberal party has misread modern Australia. Headlines: - Inflation falls for seco...

Mar 29, 202322 minSeason 4Ep. 77

#StopWillow: Biden approves massive US oil project

Joe Biden has just approved the Willow Project in Alaska – the biggest oil drilling project in the US for decades. During his election campaign, Biden vowed to end oil and gas drilling, but his administration has now given the $8billion project the green-light. Climate activists are outraged, with over one-million letters being sent to the White House, 4.7-million petition signatures, and a trending #StopWillow TikTok hashtag. So, what is the Willow Project, when will drilling begin and should w...

Mar 28, 202319 minSeason 4Ep. 76

Part 2: Betrayal at the heart of Australia's biggest tax fraud

The incredible story of Adam and Lauren Cranston, the children of a former tax commissioner, who attempted to steal $105m from the ATO. We speak to Weekend Telegraph journalist Brenden Hills for part 2 of this story. In this half, Brenden explains the way the pair abused their father’s position, the phone taps that eventually brought them undone and how their relationship with their father is looking now. Headlines: - Labor gets support to pass emissions bill - Vic MP Moira Deeming suspended ove...

Mar 27, 202316 minSeason 4Ep. 75

Part 1: The brother-sister duo who attempted Australia’s biggest ever tax fraud

The incredible story of Adam and Lauren Cranston, the children of a former tax commissioner, who attempted to steal $105m from the ATO. We explain how the scam began, the way they abused their father’s position, and the phone taps that eventually brought them undone. PLUS - Jan Fran and Tom Tilley break down Labor’s NSW election win. Headlines: Chris Minns wins NSW election Dominic Perrottet steps down as NSW Liberal Leader South Australia becomes the first state to legislate the Indigenous Voic...

Mar 26, 202322 minSeason 4Ep. 74

We forgot to tell Lizzy Hoo she’s a POC

Lizzy Hoo is many things, a writer, a noddle enthusiast, the child of a Hollywood-style love story, an actor, a rescue greyhound owner - and, as she’s only recently discovered - a person of colour. Lizzy grew up in a funny household with her Dad playing tricks on the family constantly, with comedy in her bones Lizzy was always destined to be funny. In this chat with Jamila Rizvi, Lizzy explains how she quit her day job to do comedy full time, becoming one of Australia’s most exciting new voices....

Mar 24, 202327 minSeason 4Ep. 73

NSW election: what you need to know

The NSW election takes place this Saturday. The LNP’s Dominic Perrottet is going up against Labor’s Chris Minns. Polls are putting Labor just ahead, but the coalition is far from being counted out. In this episode, we’ve got Sacha Barbour Gatt, host of new Listnr Sydney news podcast This Arvo in Sydney, to tell you everything you need to know about tomorrow’s election. Subscribe to This Arvo in Sydney on the LiSTNR app or wherever you download your podcasts. Headlines: PM Anthony Albanese unveil...

Mar 23, 202325 minSeason 4Ep. 72

Donald Trump’s impending arrest: The story behind the publicity stunt

Donald Trump is back in the spotlight again, after announcing he's going to be arrested based on charges stemming from a 2016 investigation into a payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. Elon Musk reacted saying if Trump is arrested, then he 'will be re-elected in a landslide.’ Yet, no arrest has actually happened - but it has got the world talking about Trump again. So, are we all falling victim to the Trump hype machine? In this episode, we speak to David Smith, from the US Studies Centre at Sydn...

Mar 22, 202319 minSeason 4Ep. 71

"It does break people": Inside a violent offenders yard

Listnr’s investigative journalist Joey Watson spent three hours in Sydney’s Long Bay prison meeting offenders who are selling their art through Boom Gate Gallery - Australia’s only permanent prison art gallery. In this episode of The Briefing, we go behind the scenes at one of the most dangerous and notorious prisons in the country to find out how art is helping prisoners survive behind bars. Headlines: - Fight over Nazi symbols spills into fed parliament - Trump not indicted… yet - Final multi-...

Mar 21, 202318 minSeason 4Ep. 70

Pill-testing gets the green light... in Queensland

Queensland will become the second jurisdiction in Australia to implement a pill-testing regime to test for purity and contamination in recreational drugs. The Palaszczuk government will roll out pill testing services, at fixed and mobile sites, to chemically test illicit drugs to check for the presence of potentially dangerous substances and chemical compounds, with the aim of changing the behaviour of users and reducing the risk of harm from drug use. Queensland is developing protocols around t...

Mar 20, 202319 minSeason 4Ep. 69

Are we a step closer to having a male contraceptive pill?

Scientists in the US have been working on developing a male contraceptive pill and new research means we could be a step closer to having it available for use. After testing it on mice, the pill has been shown to switch off the enzyme that the sperm needs to reach the egg. There is still a way to go before it is available for men, but is this something they want to use and would women trust men to take it? In this episode, we speak to Lonny Levin and Jochen Buck from Weill Cornell’s graduate sch...

Mar 19, 202320 minSeason 4Ep. 68

Big birthday haircuts with Nikki Britton

Comedian Nikki Britton wanted to be a Shakespearean actor before somebody said her over-the-top expressions were too much for serious theater. So she transferred her talents first to children’s entertainment, working at Disneyland in LA and spending 12 years as Captain Starlight in children’s hospitals. In this chat with Jamila Rizvi, Nikki explains how she found stand up, how acting played a part in the process and her new haircut. Tickets for her new show Getting Out In Front Of It at here See...

Mar 17, 202334 minSeason 4Ep. 67

AUKUS is here. Is this nuclear sub deal worth it?

It’s been all over the news: we’re buying nuclear submarines. The subs are set to be world-leading with Australia becoming only the seventh country in the world to have them, but we won’t get them for at least a decade– and they are coming at an astronomical price: $368 billion. In this episode, we speak to Australian Strategic Policy Institute Director and defence expert Bec Shrimpton, to find out why buying these submarines is so important. Headlines: - Global investment bank bailed out - Latr...

Mar 16, 202320 minSeason 4Ep. 66

“Could it happen here?”: Inside America’s bank collapse

Silicon Valley Bank collapsed last week, after being forced to cash in assets due to a slowing tech sector. The bank specialised in lending to early-stage businesses, and the company served nearly half of US venture-backed technology and healthcare companies that listed on stock markets last year. Three days later Signature Bank, a New York crypto-focused institution also fell. In this episode, we speak to William Chittenden, an associate professor of finance and economics at the Texas State Uni...

Mar 15, 202321 minSeason 4Ep. 65

We can talk about depression and anxiety, but why not schizophrenia?

Journalist Elfy Scott grew up in a household where her mother's schizophrenia was rarely spoken about. For many years, this complex mental health condition was treated as an open secret, until she was told about her mother’s condition by a school counsellor. Her book ‘The One Thing We’ve Never Spoken About’ explores why schizophrenia is still such a taboo topic. In this episode of the Briefing, we discuss why complex conditions like schizophrenia have been left behind while more common condition...

Mar 14, 202322 minSeason 4Ep. 64

The rise and fall of F45

Founded by two Aussies, F45 was launched on the New York Stock Exchange back in 2021 and was immediately valued at $2 billion with endorsees among the biggest names in sport and entertainment. Less than two years later, it is a vastly different story. At least five F45 gyms across Victoria, Queensland and South Australia - which are individually owned but franchise operated - have entered liquidation in the past six months. So why has the shine gone off F45? And what does the future hold for wha...

Mar 13, 202321 minSeason 4Ep. 63

Why are schoolgirls being poisoned in Iran?

Thousands of schoolgirls have been poisoned across Iran. The attacks have been described by some observers as part of an extremist response – perhaps with tacit state endorsement – to the protests led by women and girls that have rocked Iran since the death of Mahsa Amini in September. Human Rights groups say the total number of victims is more than 7,000. So why are schoolgirls being poisoned in Iran? In this episode, we speak to Nos Hosseini - Secretary and Spokesperson at Iranian Women's Asso...

Mar 12, 202320 minSeason 4Ep. 62

Linda Marigliano knows tough love

Linda Marigliano is an Australian radio announcer and musician, turned podcaster and storyteller. She’ll likely have kept you company during the afternoon on Triple J back in the 2010s or in lockdown with her poignant, honest podcast Tough Love. In this chat with Jamila Rizvi, Linda reflects on how her sense of career changed when she couldn’t control the next step whilst also being in a long distance relationship. Find Linda’s podcast Tough Love here All About Women event here See omnystudio.co...

Mar 10, 202327 minSeason 4Ep. 61

“Disbelief and shock”: arrested for protesting interest rates

As interest rates rise for a tenth consecutive time, we have a cautionary tale about Cherish Kuehlmann. One night last month the student was woken up by officers who ‘barged into the house’ and took her to a police station, where she was charged with a trespass offense. Her crime? Protesting the Reserve Bank. In this episode, Cherish tells us how she was put in a cell for protesting the cost of housing, bank profits and the Reserve Bank’s monetary policy. Headlines: - Australia is buying up to f...

Mar 09, 202317 minSeason 4Ep. 60

Are you part of Generation F’d?

In Gen F'd? economist Alison Pennington writes about how the most educated generation in Australian history looks set to be the first generation worse off than their parents. Millions of young people are struggling to secure full-time work and own homes. The book gives young people the tools needed to help create change and opportunities. Headlines: - Ten and Newscorp file Lehrmann defamation defence - Murdoch admits Fox may have gone “too far” - Thorpe cleared of contempt of parliament - Albo t...

Mar 08, 202320 minSeason 4Ep. 59

South Korea: why is the country shrinking?

South Korea has the lowest fertility rate in the world and last month it broke its own record. The average number of expected babies per South Korean woman fell to 0.78 in 2022 down from 0.81 a year earlier. This makes South Korea the only country in the world with a fertility rate below one, which means more people are dying than being born. In this episode, we speak to professor in policy studies Ruth Phillips to find out why it's happening and if it could ever happen here. Headlines: - RBA ra...

Mar 07, 202320 minSeason 4Ep. 58

The epic fail of our soft plastics recycling system

Australia's largest soft plastics recycling scheme REDcycle collapsed last November and last week the scheme was declared insolvent by the Supreme court. Soft plastics collected from supermarkets were sent to warehouses where they’ve been stockpiled for months, leaving consumers disappointed and pushing Australia even further from its national packaging target. So, how far are we from that 2025 goal? In this episode, we speak to Jeff Angel, Director of the Total Environment Centre and Boomerang ...

Mar 06, 202322 minSeason 4Ep. 57

Special International Women's Day ep with your fave LiSTNR hosts

March 8 is International Women's Day. We asked the women (and a couple of men) behind your favourite LiSTNR podcasts and radio shows to share about a time they’ve #EmbracedEquity and challenged gender stereotypes, called out discrimination, drawn attention to bias and sought out inclusion. Hear from Carrie Bickmore, Jess Rowe, Sarah Maree Cameron, Fifi Box, Turia Pitt, Natarsha Belling, Jamila Rizvi, Steph Claire Smith & Laura Henshaw, Erin Molan, Lem Zakharia, Loren Barry and Kymba Cahill a...

Mar 06, 202347 minSeason 4Ep. 56

"Maybe I'm superhuman": Why some people still haven’t had Covid

Three years into the pandemic there are still people who (as far as they know) have never contracted or tested positive for Covid. They’re called ‘novids’ and right now there’s an international, first-of-its-kind study underway into why these people have dodged the rona. Is there a genetic basis for this or are they just lucky? In this episode, we speak to our social media producer Sarah Bol, who has never caught covid and Adrian Esterman Chair of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the University...

Mar 05, 202321 minSeason 4Ep. 55

Dilruk Jayasinha was never going to be an accountant

Dilruk Jayasinha is one of Australia’s most in-demand comedians. His new stand up show is called Heart Stopper, named as such because in Hindi, Dil means heart and Ruk means stop. But the show’s title has since become especially apt because last year, at the age of just 37, one of the critical arteries in Dilruk’s heart gave out and he suffered a heart attack. As he says himself, spoiler alert, Dilruk has survived. In this chat with Jamila Rizvi, Dilruk explains how he made the switch from worki...

Mar 03, 202331 minSeason 4Ep. 54

Would you pay $20 a month for Facebook and Instagram verification?

Facebook and Instagram users can now pay for their blue verified tick. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced last week what’s called the Meta Verification subscription bundle. It will enable users to increase their security and reach. The new subscription model is only available in Australia and New Zealand and Meta will monitor the take-up and popularity of the new model before rolling it out worldwide. Some people are saying social media is no longer free. In this episode of The Briefing, we’re j...

Mar 02, 202323 minSeason 4Ep. 53

The rental platform rip-off that could be outlawed

Renters across Australia are being ripped off - having to pay for so-called background checks to help them secure a property. The step is causing havoc and heartache in a sector already in crisis. Last year, journalist Bension Siebert investigated real estate agents across the country using rental application platforms that pressure renters to pay for their own background checks. Bension, now a member of LiSTNR’s investigative journalism team, has the exclusive story that the South Australian Go...

Mar 01, 202319 minSeason 4Ep. 52
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