Residents evacuate as NSW floods + The ‘wicked problem’ in social media
Tuesday Headlines: Residents in parts of NSW are evacuating due to severe weather and flooding, Bondi Junction attack inquest’s expected to hear from more expert witnesses today, Israel issues fresh warnings as aid starts to flow, RBA tipped to cut cash rate today, and Telstra continues denying allegations it’s misled Australians. Deep Dive: A huge amount of what we engage with online is fake, from profiles to the comments, likes and views, much of it comes from ‘bots’. While we know bots have been used in the past to spread disinformation, astroturf, spruik the next big brand or boost a follower count, who’s behind them, and what happens when they’re used to do harm instead of good? In this episode of The Briefing, Tara Cassidy speaks with Digital Media Researcher Professor Timothy Graham about the world of bots, and the issues and ethics behind media manipulation. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomCover image credit: Copacabana Rural Fire Brigade - NSW RFSSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
19 Touko 19min
Day 14: Two-minute mushroom trial recap
Erin Patterson has been charged with the murders of three relatives and the attempted murder of another; after allegedly serving up a beef Wellington dish laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms at a lunch at her home in 2023. She’s pled not guilty to all charges. In this special series of The Briefing Helen Smith unpacks day fourteen of the trial in under two minutes. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
19 Touko 1min
Qantas faces record fine + calls for AFL mental health round
Afternoon Headlines: Qantas faces more than $120 million in penalties over illegally outsourcing staff, Vietnamese drug cartel allegedly involved in the murder of Sydney women and Joe Biden reviewing cancer treatment. Deep Dive: After the tragic death of footy star Adam Selwood, mental health has been put back in the spotlight with calls for an AFL mental health round. Adam passed away just months after his twin brother died by suicide, leaving the Selwood family and the entire AFL community devastated. In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by the chair of Lifeline Australia, Professor Steve Moylan to explain how we can prevent suicide and the crucial role we all play in connecting with others. If you or anyone you know needs help: Lifeline on 13 11 14 MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978 Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
19 Touko 14min
Ex-cop, Mormon leader sex abuse charges + The reality of working in Gaza
Monday Headlines: Pope Leo joined by world leaders for inauguration mass, former police officer extradited to face child abuse charges, 21yo facing 53 hate-related charges, Mexican ship lost power before colliding with Brooklyn Bridge, and Verstappen takes out Italian GP in Imola. Deed Dive: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared Israel will enter Gaza “with full force” - saying there will be “no situation where we stop the war”. This escalation comes as Israel’s blockade on aid entering the strip enters its third month with warnings of famine and as US President Donald Trump suggests developing Gaza into a “freedom zone”. In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith speaks with Dr Ayman Elattar and Claire Minera, from MSF who has just returned from the region, to unpack what this latest promise will mean for the 2.1 million Palestinians in the city. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
18 Touko 17min
Jefferson Fisher on how to spot liars and win an argument
Jefferson Fisher could be the male version of Mel Robbins. He is part of the billion-dollar self-help industry fuelled by podcasts, books, TED talks and TikTok therapy - all promising how to be the best version of yourself. He’s the Texan lawyer teaching us how to communicate better, navigate conflict with class and tell if someone’s lying. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Jefferson unpacks society’s obsession with self-help, what’s driving our hunger for personal growth and why Australian’s are his biggest fans. Weekend list with Helen Smith TO LISTEN: The Moment it Changed: Touchdown TO DO: Visit your local state library TO LISTEN: Lamestream the podcast TO WATCH: Derry Girls on Netflix Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
16 Touko 37min
Day 13: Two-minute mushroom trial recap
Erin Patterson has been charged with the murders of three relatives and the attempted murder of another; after allegedly serving up a beef wellington dish laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms at a lunch at her home in 2023. She’s pled not guilty to all charges. In this special series of The Briefing Helen Smith unpacks day thirteen of the trial in under two minutes. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
16 Touko 1min
Justin Bieber speaks on Diddy + Vitamin D linked to ADHD & schizophrenia
Afternoon Headlines: Ben Roberts-Smith loses appeal bid to overturn defamation case vowing to head to the high court, Justin Bieber breaks silence over Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trail and lowest paid Australians promised a wage increase Deep Dive: Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to mental health disorders including autism, ADHD and schizophrenia, according to new research. One in five adults in Australia suffers from a lack of the vitamin D, with men having a higher risk of being deficient over women. In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by one of the authors of the study, Professor John McGrath, to unpack what this data means for our mental health and how we can test for and treat vitamin D deficiency. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
16 Touko 11min
Third of homes in $1mil dollar club + The dark side of reality music TV
Friday Headlines: Over a third of Australian homes now cost at least $1 million, new Greens leader Larissa Waters says she wants to bring the party back to its original roots, Donald Trump says he wants the US to take control of Gaza, polio outbreak in PNG threatens Australia, NSW has secured the Women's Origin series, and Australia opens Eurovision Semi Final 2! Deep Dive: In the early 2000s and 2010s, reality music TV turned unknown Australians into household names. But in 2025, can you name the most recent Australian Idol winner? In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou chats with former record label executive and host of the new LiSTNR podcast The Moment it Changed: Touchdown, Nic Kelly to unpack what really happens after the confetti falls. Why do so many winners disappear? And has Aussie music TV lost its magic, or just changed with the times? Further listening: Who is the 'Milkshake Man' representing Australia at Eurovision The Moment it Changed: Touchdown Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @listnrnewsroom Instagram: @listnrnewsroom @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
15 Touko 22min
