
Is social media becoming a bit shit?
Do you remember the early days of Facebook and Instagram? When your feed was filled with content you actually wanted like your friends’ updates and family dog pictures? Have you noticed that now every second post feels like it’s sponsored or an ad? If yes, it's not your imagination - it’s because you’re noticing the cycle social media platforms go through, where they seem to get worse and worse over time. In this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert delves into just how that cycle works, with Canadian-British blogger and journalist Cory Doctorow.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
1 Mars 20249min

Will the vaping ban create a new generation of ciggie smokers?
The crackdown on vaping goes into its next stage today, with the government making it illegal to import any non-therapeutic vapes, that includes rechargable vapes and anything you would buy without a prescription. It’s after disposable vapes were banned from being imported at the beginning of this year. In this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with Jamie Hartmann-Boyce from the Department of Health Promotion and Policy at the University of Massachusetts to find out whether banning vapes could drive people back to cigarettes. Headlines: UN says war crimes have been committed by Israel and Hamas Putin warns West they risk nuclear war Joe Biden’s team say he’s fit for duty Sporting codes set to take part in Mard Gras Summer possible third hottest on record Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
29 Feb 202419min

Meet the "A-Team", the spies who tried to steal Australia's secrets
An elite foreign spy group called 'A-Team' has been targeting Australian students, academics, law enforcement officials, a former politician and even a prime minister’s family members. That's the assessment of Australia's top intelligence agency, ASIO, which released its annual assessment of the biggest threats to our national security overnight. On this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert speaks with Joey Watson, 'spy watcher', investigative journalist and host of Secrets We Keep: Nest of Traitors. He reveals why foreign espionage and spying has overtaken far-right extremism and other threats become our intelligence services' top concern.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
29 Feb 202411min

The NRL is launching in Las Vegas. Can it win over the US?
The NRL will create history this month and launch season 2024 in Las Vegas, USA. Two games will be played in prime time: Sea Eagles v Rabbitohs & Roosters v Broncos, with the league hoping to bring their game to America’s 330 million strong market. In this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert sits down with former NRL great, host of the Bye Round & NRL commentator for Fox Sports and Triple M James Graham from Vegas to get the low down. Headlines: ASIO reveals details of international spy ring targeting Australia Matildas are going to the Paris Olympics NSW police can march in Mardi Gras without uniform Red Bull’s Christian Horner exonerated Prince Harry loses court challenge over security Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAU See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
28 Feb 202419min

'I’d never heard of ovarian cancer - until Mum got it'
"Ovarian cancer wasn't even on my radar." February is ovarian cancer awareness month in Australia. It's a cruel disease, with 70% of patients discovering the cancer in advanced stages, and a shocking 49% five-year survival rate. In this episode of The Briefing, our producer Simon Beaton sits down to speak with his mum, who was diagnosed less than six months ago, as well as Lisa Finuncane, who has been living with ovarian cancer for over fourteen years, to discuss their experiences of living with the cancer, and what they hope their futures will look like. This is part two of our special series on ovarian cancer - listen to part one here. To find out more about ovarian cancer, or to donate, visit Ovarian Cancer Australia at https://www.ovariancancer.net.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
28 Feb 202415min

Why this silent cancer flies under the radar
Ovarian cancer is a silent scourge in Australia. Most people know little about it, there aren’t any tests you can do to detect it early, and that means 70% of women and gender diverse people diagnosed with it catch it late. Ovarian cancer has a 49% five year survival rate, whereas breast cancer by contrast has a 92% survival rate. In this episode of The Briefing, producer Simon Beaton speaks with Bridget Bradhurst, the Acting Chief National Ovarian Cancer Advocacy & Support Services to find out why ovarian cancer is such an overlooked disease. Headlines: A vigil has been held for Jesse Baird and Luke Davies Stage Three tax cuts pass parliament Hamas and Israel pour cold water on ceasefire South east braces for catastrophic fire day Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
27 Feb 202418min

Is Taylor Swift bad for the environment?
Taylor Swift has finished her run of sold-out concerts here in Australia, playing in front of over 600,000 fans throughout the tour. Yet with events of this size comes a price to our environment. Many fans fly interstate or internationally, purely to be at those shows, which also use large amounts of power to amplify sound and for light displays. They also produce copious amounts of waste, including everything from paper cups through to glitter, bracelets and feather boas. LiSTNR journalist, Loren Howarth, joins Bension Siebert on this afternoon's episode of The Briefing to explain just big of a problem this is, and what can be done to make festivals and large-scale concerts more eco-friendly and sustainable in the future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
27 Feb 202412min

Why are we heading to the moon again?
American firm Intuitive Machines made history last Friday when its lunar lander touched down on the Moon. It’s the first private company to land on the Moon, and the first US mission to land on the lunar surface in more than 50 years. It’s up there for a week conducting experiments and preparing for humans to return to the Moon as part of NASA’s Artemis program. In this episode of the Briefing, we’re joined by Swinburne University Astrophysicist Dr Rebecca Allen to find out what it’s doing up there and what NASA needs to do to get back to the Moon. Headlines: Aussie companies singled out in landmark gender pay gap data Mardi Gras organisers uninvite NSW Police from Saturday’s march Sweden is set to join NATO Scott Morrison to give his final speech in Parliament today Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
26 Feb 202421min






















