Quick Smart
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Quick Smart is the show that feeds you big ideas in bite-sized pieces. Get up to speed on some of the biggest issues from psychology, money, health, history, pop culture, in just 10 minutes. Siobhan Marin guides you through!
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 25, 2025 • 13min
Who are the Israeli Settlers? And who's holding them accountable?
Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law. And yet, the Israeli government just approved almost 3,500 more of these homes. Meanwhile, settler violence against Palestinians is rising. So, who are the settlers and why are they allowed to exist outside the law?
Aug 18, 2025 • 11min
Why conspiracy theorists are targeting walkable cities
If you had to dash out for a bottle of milk, could you just stroll to the supermarket? If the answer's yes, you might be living in a 15-minute city. What are these neighbourhoods, exactly, and why do conspiracy theorists hate them?
Aug 11, 2025 • 12min
What power does the UN hold if volatile leaders keep ignoring it?
Financial woes, global conflicts, and world leaders who act like the rules don’t apply. The United Nations is at crisis point. So, 80 years since its creation, is the UN still relevant? And how might we fix it?
Aug 4, 2025 • 10min
Are we paying too much tax?
Like it or not, tax affects our incomes and grocery bills. It also helps pay for roads, hospitals and schools. But could the government be taking less from our salaries and more from big business, inheritance, or superannuation?
Jul 28, 2025 • 11min
Why Stephen Colbert’s talk show was cancelled, and what it has to do with Trump
Late night TV legend Stephen Colbert is being taken off air, and suspicions are swirling. His US network CBS says it cancelled the talk show for financial reasons, but could President Donald Trump have something to do with it?
Jul 21, 2025 • 12min
How big tech is pushing teens into the misogynistic ‘manosphere’
Teenage boys have always had a certain reputation for rowdiness, but there’s something different going on in our schools. Fuelled by toxic influencers, misogynistic behaviour is getting worse. So, how bad is it, and how do we stop it?
Jul 14, 2025 • 13min
Is Stockholm syndrome a sexist myth?
'Stockholm Syndrome' is a phrase we use to describe people in toxic relationships. But have you ever considered the first case? This week, meet the woman behind this dubious diagnosis.
Jul 7, 2025 • 13min
Adulting is hard. Should schools be teaching essential life skills?
Oh, adulthood. Suddenly you're a Jack (or Jill) of all trades, negotiating tax returns and changing tires. Many of us feel wildly unprepared. Should our parents have passed down these skills? Or could schools or social media fill in the blanks?
Jun 30, 2025 • 10min
The controversial and very male history of naming body parts
Fallopian tubes. The G-spot. Skene’s glands. Why are so many female body parts named after shady white men... and should that change?
Jun 23, 2025 • 10min
The 'hard men' behind the Israel-Iran war, and why Trump's involved
Missiles are flying, nuclear sites have been bombed, and now Donald Trump has declared a ceasefire. Why do Israel and Iran hate each other? Who are the men in charge? And how much is ego fuelling this conflict?
