Quick Smart

Australia buys more clothes per person than any other country and most of it is made up of plastic. Thanks to fast fashion, even our op shops are becoming flooded with these polyester products.So, when did we start wearing plastic? And why did it take over the fashion industry?Guest: Anna Levy, ABC journo.Anna Levy’s article on the rise of not-so-fantastic plastic fashion can be found here. And if you’re into environmental issues and solving them in small but meaningful ways, check out our episode on overtourism. --------You’re listening to Quick Smart's summer season. We’ll return with fresh episodes next year, but in the meantime please enjoy our special curation for the holidays. This episode originally aired on 28th Jan, 2025.

Australians love to crack open a ‘cold one’, but increasingly we’re turning to non-alcoholic beers, wines and spirits. How did NoLo drinks become so popular? What’s actually in them? And are they healthier than their boozy counterparts?Guest: Jacinta Bowler, ABC science reporter If you’re into the science of what we eat and drink, check out our episode on the influx of random chip flavours or why the alt right is obsessed with eating meat. Read Jacinta’s article on no and low-alcohol drinks here.If you have something you'd like to see covered on Quick Smart, let us know at quick.smart@abc.net.au--------You’re listening to Quick Smart's summer season. We’ll return with fresh episodes next year, but in the meantime please enjoy our special curation for the holidays. This episode originally aired on 25th Feb, 2025.

Do you struggle with making big life decisions? Maybe it's moving overseas, quitting your job or deciding to have a baby. This week, how to ditch analysis paralysis and make a life-changing choice.Guest: Sana Qadar, host of All in the Mind.If you liked this chat, check out our episode on what makes someone an introvert or an extrovert. Sana also has a longer All in the Mind episode about how to decide when you can’t decide.Drop us a line at quick.smart@abc.net.au if there's a story or topic you'd like us to cover.-------You’re listening to Quick Smart's summer season. We’ll return with fresh episodes next year, but in the meantime please enjoy our special curation for the holidays. This episode originally aired on 1st April, 2025.

Why do some people save every spare dollar, while others blow through their pay the moment it lands? It might have less to do with discipline and more to do with the way you were raised.Guest: Emily Stewart, ABC business reporter and author of Sensible MoneyIf this episode has you feeling *triggered*, you can sign up to Emily’s handy money newsletter here (you're looking for Your Money Explained next to a picture of Emily). You might also like our previous chat about how to survive the cost of living crisis.  And if there are any topics you’d love us to cover, get in touch at quick.smart@abc.net.au--------You’re listening to Quick Smart's summer season. We’ll return with fresh episodes next year, but in the meantime please enjoy our special curation for the holidays. This episode originally aired on 17th June, 2025.

Virginia Trioli, a prominent journalist and host of ABC TV's Creative Types, dives into the fascinating reclamation of a once-taboo word. She unpacks its surprising transformation from an offensive term to a badge of empowerment, thanks to influencers like drag queens and K-pop stars. Trioli discusses the cultural significance, generational differences in swearing, and even its etymology linking powerful female symbolism. This conversation reveals how language and societal norms intertwine, challenging patriarchy one word at a time.

It feels like asbestos has been having more than it's fair share of limelight over the last few years. But it's manufacture, sale and import was banned in Australia in 2003. So, where is it coming from?Guest: Angelique Donnellan, reporter for ABC's 7:30 program.---------If you liked this chat, you might also like our episode about whether Australia has a problem with class.You can find Angelique's articles about her investigations here.Thanks to my producer Jessie Kay. Drop us a line at quick.smart@abc.net.au

The Victorian government has signed into law a historic Treaty with First Nations people. It’s supposed to help fix the effects of institutional harm. So, what will actually change?

Ray Johnston, a tech reporter and host of Download This Show, dives deep into the complexities of digital privacy. He explains how personal data can manipulate everything from prices to political opinions. Johnston highlights the threats of data brokers and warns against sharing sensitive details with AI. He shares personal anecdotes, revealing shocking insights from auditing his own digital footprint. Ray also offers practical tips to tighten data security, emphasizing the importance of withholding unnecessary information online.

From pub bands and street buskers to TikTok-ing teens, the world is full of music covers. Some are admirable, others are average. Yet every so often, an artist will release a cover that flips a song on its head. So, why are we drawn to making the old new again? 

David Rutledge, host of The Philosopher's Zone and a philosopher focused on democratic theory, delves into the precarious state of democracy today. He discusses how some leaders resemble monarchs and the dangers of disinformation. Rutledge explores Plato's skepticism about democracy and how societal fears can lead to voter apathy. He highlights the cultural shifts that made same-sex marriage possible and emphasizes the need for robust journalism to combat anti-democratic forces. Grassroots movements, he argues, are vital for preserving democratic values.