Everyone's talking about Threads, the new social media platform launched by Mark Zuckerberg's Meta last week. Jan and Tom signed up immediately, as they did when Twitter and Instagram launched. In this episode of The Briefing, Jan Fran and Tom Tilley discuss why you'd sign up for Threads, whether it will survive and whether we even need ANOTHER social media platform. Headlines: Hollywood set to shut down Elon Musk launches his own A-I startup Kevin Spacey takes to the witness box France is makin...
Jul 13, 2023•23 min•Season 4Ep. 171
A 16-week trial over the Whakaari/White Island volcano tragedy has begun in New Zealand after an eruption killed 22 people, including 17 Australians in 2019. The island’s owners, brothers Andrew, James and Peter Buttle, their company, and two tour operators are on trial for allegedly failing to adequately protect tourists and staff. Each of the companies faces a maximum fine of $1.4 million, while the brothers charged face a maximum fine of $280,000. The ABC’s Emily Clark walks us through what’s...
Jul 12, 2023•23 min•Season 4Ep. 170
Should Japan release millions of litres of radioactive waste water into the Pacific Ocean? Everyone remembers the Fukushima nuclear plant being swamped by a tsunami in March 2011. All four of the plant's reactors were written off – and ever since, the reactors have been cooled with recycled water from a new treatment plant. The plant now plans to release the cooling wastewater into the ocean. In this episode of the Briefing, we're joined by marine biologist Robert Richmond, a professor with the ...
Jul 11, 2023•19 min•Season 4Ep. 169
It’s a pretty sci fi concept – being stored upside down in a giant thermos full of liquid nitrogen in the hope that some day, maybe hundreds of years away, technology will bring you back to life. Now cryonics is here in Australia. Peter Tsolakides is the director of Southern Cryonics in Holbrook, and dozens of people have forked over tens of thousands of dollars to put themselves into deep freeze until science catches up with their big dreams of eternal life. So how does it work, and would that ...
Jul 10, 2023•19 min•Season 4Ep. 168
A decision on who will be the next RBA Governor is expected mid-July. So will Philip Lowe remain in the job? Who are the candidates? Will it change how the RBA operates, or are we just looking for a scapegoat following the huge number of cash rate rises. Jonathan Kearns, former RBA department head joins Tom Tilley to explain. Headlines: Pressure mounts on Scott Morrison to resign BetStop: we can soon opt out of online gambling $1B defence deal signed with Germany Controversy over US sending clus...
Jul 09, 2023•23 min•Season 4Ep. 167
30-year-old MP Georgie Purcell was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council in November last year - and she’s already shaking up the House. Georgie, from the Animal Justice Party, stands out from other politicians as she made history with her maiden speech when she decided to own her narrative and share that she was previously a stripper. In this chat with Katrina Blowers, Georgie explains what it’s like to be trolled and how she’s more qualified than most of her peers but continues to be an...
Jul 07, 2023•41 min•Season 4Ep. 166
Queensland has announced plans banning smartphones in state schools from next year bringing them into line with the rest of the country except ACT. While it seems like a no-brainer given how distracting and harmful smartphones can be to kids and teens, we get the full story with child psychologist Michael-Carr Gregg and Dr Jason Zagami, a senior lecturer at the School of Education and Professional Studies at Griffith University. Headlines begin 11.34 Users flock to Twitter's rival Threads Nine n...
Jul 06, 2023•23 min•Season 4Ep. 165
Colleen Ballinger, otherwise known as Miranda Sings, has been a YouTuber for over a decade and has recently had some serious allegations made against her, including being a child groomer. In a response to the claims she came out with a 10-minute long apology video where she decided to sing rather than speak, which many have dubbed Youtube’s worst apology video. Justin Hill host of LiSNTR’s The Streaming Service sits down with Katrina Blowers to unpack the video. Headlines begin 13.28 AFL investi...
Jul 05, 2023•18 min•Season 4Ep. 164
The World Health Organization's recently announced that aspartame, used in products from Coca-Cola diet sodas to Mars' Extra chewing gum, will be listed as "possibly carcinogenic to humans." It feels like we are told about a new carcinogenic item or product every week, so what should we actually be worried? Oliver Jones, Professor of Chemistry at RMIT and internationally recognised expert in analytical science joins Antoinette Lattouf to break it down. Headlines begin 12.31: The RBA has kept rat...
Jul 04, 2023•19 min•Season 4Ep. 163
Jordie van den Berg has become TikTok famous for his videos documenting shit rentals around Australia as the country’s rental crisis continues. His videos exposing shit rentals have hundreds of thousands of likes with Jordie's top video reaching over 1.4million views. Jordie joins Tom Tilley to explain what needs to change in order to give tenants a fair go. Headlines begin 12:25: The UK PM Rishi Sunak has weighed in on the Ashes The National Anti-Corruption body already has dozens of referrals ...
Jul 03, 2023•20 min•Season 4Ep. 162
It used to just be endurance athletes who trained at altitude, but now gyms are popping up everywhere with the promise you can burn double the calories by doing the same workout. But does it work and should you do it? Altitude training gyms are popping up around the country with some people evening installing altitude rooms in their houses. Gyms are claiming that altitude training can make you burn more calories by working out in a low oxygen environment, so is it worth it? And how often do you ...
Jul 02, 2023•19 min•Season 4Ep. 161
Dami Im is good at competitions. In 2013 she won X-Factor Australia and in 2016 placed second in the Eurovision Song Contest, becoming the highest scoring Aussie. Today, the university trained singer songwriter is a new mother and continues to make music that’s loved all over the world, with her new EP In Between coming out on July 7. In this chat with Jamila Rizvi, Dami reflects on hearing a recording of herself singing for the first time and how she went from performing in churches to the worl...
Jun 30, 2023•36 min•Season 4Ep. 160
Regulations for cosmetic surgery and injectables are about to change from July one. With GP referrals, psychological assessments, cooling off periods and even how procedures are advertised all part of the new requirements. Dr David Morgan a specialist plastic surgeon from the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons to explains the changes. Headlines: Berejiklian considers legal challenge after corruption finding Roberts-Smith agrees to pay costs of failed defamation UK's Australia-like asylum see...
Jun 29, 2023•25 min•Season 4Ep. 159
Taylor Swift's Eras tour has taken over the globe and getting your hands on a ticket has become a hot commodity, with general sale tickets being released in Australia on Friday. The pop superstar has become the second richest self-made woman in music after Rihanna and this week the Victorian Government announced that they are giving the Taylor Swift concert major events status. Shameless podcast host Michelle Andrews is a self proclaimed Swiftie and joins Katrina Blowers to explain the cultural ...
Jun 28, 2023•21 min•Season 4Ep. 158
Last month Ben Roberts-Smith lost one of the biggest defamation trials in Australian history and was found to be a war criminal to a civil standard. The judge ruled that the stories Nick McKenzie had published in Nine Newspapers in 2017 and 2018 about the Victoria Cross winning SAS soldier were substantially true. Nick McKenzie joins us to talk about it all, his new book is called Crossing the Line. Headlines: Bombshell development in William Tyrrell case Lewis Capaldi forced to cancel tour No f...
Jun 27, 2023•19 min•Season 4Ep. 157
The psychedelic drugs psilocybin and MDMA, commonly known as magic mushrooms and ecstasy, are being downgraded from prohibited to controlled drugs in Australia from July 1. This means approved psychiatrists will be able to prescribe psilocybin for depression and MDMA for PTSD. It’s a landmark moment in the regulation of psychedelic drugs for treating entrenched mental illness, Rodney Cocks, CEO of Vitura Health joins Jan Fran to explain why. Headlines: Putin responds to uprising Guy Sebastian's ...
Jun 26, 2023•17 min•Season 4Ep. 156
Over the weekend a former friend and head of a private Russian military wing pulled his troops from the Ukrainian frontline to confront the Russian government, leaving President Vladimir Putin’s power in question. Putin called it a stab in the back in a televised speech as the war in Ukraine continues. Monica Attard Co-Director, Centre For Media Transition at University of Technology, Sydney and from ABC Russian correspondent explains. Headlines: Former Australian Labor Party leader Simon Crean ...
Jun 25, 2023•22 min•Season 4Ep. 155
It’s been eight and a half years since Maz Compton’s last drink and yet drinking is probably what she talks about most. You’ll likely recognise Maz from her MTV days interviewing the world’s best loved music makers, or the hit NSW Breakfast Show, Maz and Matty. In this chat with Jamila Rizvi, Maz explains why the term alcoholic isn’t helpful and how she is helping people find and embrace their sober selves, with her podcast and book Last Drinks. DrinkWise support services https://drinkwise.org.a...
Jun 23, 2023•34 min•Season 4Ep. 154
It turns out so-called ‘study drugs’ like Adderall (which is sold in Australia as “Vyvanse”) and Ritalin could be making you less productive if you don’t have ADHD. A new study blows apart the belief stimulant drugs can boost focus or productivity no matter if you have ADHD or not. We speak with one of the authors of the study Dr Elizabeth Bowman from the University of Melbourne about just what they found. Headlines: Five declared dead in search for missing sub Dutton tells PM to call off the Vo...
Jun 22, 2023•23 min•Season 4Ep. 153
Rescue teams are continuing to frantically search for a missing Titanic tourist submersible with oxygen expected to run out today. The missing sub lost contact one hour and 45 minutes into the dive, with five people onboard. Chris White from the Australian Maritime College joins us to explain what it could be like for those onboard right now, and what might have gone wrong. Headlines: NSW cops under fire over tasering 'cover up' Indigenous deaths in custody to be reported in real time Lawyer X: ...
Jun 21, 2023•20 min•Season 4Ep. 152
The Federal parliament has voted on the legislation for the Voice Referendum which has to happen within six months. While this is a national Voice, Victoria has just voted in their own body quite similar to the voice called the First People’s Assembly of Victoria. Rueben Berg from the First People’s Assembly of Victoria joins us to explain the importance of state based bodies and Voice v Treaty. Headlines: Frantic search continues for Titanic tourists Lidia Thorpe to help write 'no' campaign pam...
Jun 20, 2023•21 min•Season 4Ep. 151
26 organisations across Australasia have been trialling the four day work week and the results are in. The idea is employees get 100% of the pay for working 80% of their previous hours in exchange for a commitment to maintain 100% productivity. We'll find out how you practically implement the four day work week with Wendy Green from Momentum Mental Health, a business in southern Queensland, as well as Australasian CEO Charlotte Lockhart. Headlines: Bride and groom issue statement after bus trage...
Jun 19, 2023•20 min•Season 4Ep. 150
It's almost the end of the financial year and that means lodging a tax return. But before you do, Jan Fran takes us through five tax hacks with her accountant sister Helen- helping you minimise the tax you pay and maximise the return you get back. Headlines: David Van facing down calls to leave parliament The Voice referendum debated in the Senate US top diplomat in China for first time in five years 27-year-old in custody over Noosa man's death 1385 dachsunds break world record Follow The Brief...
Jun 18, 2023•18 min•Season 4Ep. 149
Jessica Alyssa Cerro was born and raised in the Hills District in Sydney. The child of an Argentinian, professional football-playing father and a Filipino, music loving mother, they were always going to march to the beat of their own drum. Today, you’re more likely to know them as Montaigne, the Aria award winning artist twice selected to represent Australia at Eurovision and subject of this year’s Archibald Prize winning artwork. In this chat with Jamila Rizvi, Jessica explains why they chose t...
Jun 16, 2023•32 min•Season 4Ep. 148
Ezra Miller's appearance on the red carpet of The Flash has caused controversy, with everyone continuing to ask why someone with such a chequered history has been allowed to headline such a massive film. The Flash is also expected to finish off this iteration of the DC Extended Universe which has so far failed to compete with the massive success of Marvel. We speak with Listnr's Justin Hill who hosts The Streaming Service about just what is going on. Follow The Briefing: Instagram: @thebriefingp...
Jun 16, 2023•13 min•Season 4Ep. 147
Drag storytime events have been targeted by far-right groups with violent threats and protests forcing over ten events in the past six months to be cancelled in Australia or move online. Drag queen Frock Hudson joins us to talk about their experience with several of their story time events being cancelled and what’s being done about it. Headlines: Senator David Van removed from parliament Unemployment rate drops to 3.6% ASC releases transathlete guidelines Beyonce bumps up Swedish inflation Foll...
Jun 15, 2023•24 min•Season 4Ep. 146
Have you wondered how we're getting access to all these personal text messages, recordings and detail from the Brittany Higgins and Bruce Lehrmann case. The Briefing has the answer and it involves the incredible Israeli spy technology Cellebrite, that sucks all the information out of your phone and most of us have no idea our police and government are using it. Author Antony Loewenstein of The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports The Technology Of Occupation Around The World, joins us to exp...
Jun 14, 2023•22 min•Season 4Ep. 145
Botox is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures on the planet, but did you know it contains the most toxic compound on earth? If it's so dangerous, why is it safe to use? In this bonus episode courtesy of the Science Briefing, Dr Sophie Calabretto is joined by Cosmos magazine journalist Jacinta Bowler to talk about the science behind botox, the risks associated with it and the research that is making it safer. Follow The Briefing: Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAU T...
Jun 14, 2023•10 min•Season 4Ep. 144
On Sunday night a horror bus crash in the Hunter Valley took the lives of ten people with 25 more being transported to hospital. The community is in shock as the coach was taking home guests from a wedding. The driver has been charged with 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, driving in a dangerous manner and negligent driving occasioning death. Local resident Gerard McMillan and LiSTNR NSW News Editor David Dollin who was in court joins us to explain to terrible tragedy. Headlines:...
Jun 13, 2023•23 min•Season 4Ep. 143
Orcas have been sinking ships off the coast of Portugal and Spain—with at least three attacks happening in the last month. Scientists believe it could just be a game or fad, although one theory is a bit more outlandish: a female orca may have been traumatised by being hit by a rudder and is now taking ‘revenge.’ Either way, it’s believed she’s the originator of the practice and has taught the rest of her pod how to do it. We find out exactly what’s going on with Luke Rendell from the University ...
Jun 12, 2023•21 min•Season 4Ep. 142
