Quick Smart

Have you ever thought about the origin of the pap test? Admittedly, most people would prefer not to think about pap tests at all, so spare a thought for the woman who endured a vaginal test every day for more than 20 years. So, why on earth would this woman subject herself to such a thing? How did her doctor husband get all the credit? And what groundbreaking medical discoveries can be traced back to her sacrifice? 

The concept of a 15 minute city - where neighbourhoods provide life's essentials in 15 minutes by foot or bike is almost as old as urban planning itself. But recently, this idea has become a flash point for conspiracy theorists. So, while new developments are built at pace to keep up with Australia's housing shortage how should we be thinking about the cities of the future? And is there something sinister about keeping everything in the neighbourhood? 

Within a month of its launch, ChatGPT had 100 million users. Suddenly AI was doing our assignments, proofreading our emails, and planning our holidays. But in the process of absorbing all this information - AI has been learning a great deal about us humans. So how soon will artificial intelligence eclipse human intelligence? And what happens if AI decides that it’s had enough of us? 

Whether it’s theme parks, iconic characters or beloved films, Disney has enchanted millions around the world. But for its biggest fans — sometimes called “Disney adults” — it can be an intense and often spiritual experience, involving weddings, annual pilgrimages to Disneyland, and even ways to mourn loved ones.So, when you put it like that, could Disney be its own kind of religion? And what does this example tell us about what is and isn’t a religion? Some experts say it all comes down to how we think about nostalgia, ritual and the sacred.

In the last decade the body positivity movement has been deprogramming our pop culture brains from believing being thinner is better. Finally we’re seeing diverse bodies on runways, on television, and on magazine covers and the supermarket. But is the rapid rise of weight loss drugs like Ozempic… about to change all that?This is not the first time drugs have promised to make us all thin… In fact diet pills have a pretty long history involving experiments on kids, heart problems and even deaths. So will things be different this time?

Indigenous fashion is having a moment. But with the boom has come a conversation about whether this trend is commodifying culture, are artists being fairly compensated and are big brands the ones benefiting from aligning themselves with a movement rather than actually doing the work.So, if you want to invest in Indigenous fashion, how can you ensure your money is actually going to Indigenous creators?

There comes a time in every kid's life when they realise their parents can't make them do anything. As we grow up we realise that social rules are there for a reason, but what happens if you continue to disobey the rules?Since the pandemic, more and more people are calling themselves 'sovereign citizens', and they believe the law shouldn't impact the way they live. So what happens to the social fabric when certain members of society opt out of the law?

When someone says "I've got goss" we get a visceral reaction, it brings out the best and the worst in us. So why is it that we absolutely cannot resist the goss? We have an insatiable appetite to hear about the private lives of celebs – people we'll probably never meet in real life… but beyond providing good banter about who is sleeping with who does gossip have a role to play in keeping society running smoothly?

Something weird happened in the last 12 months or so – it's the fact that all your friends – and perhaps you as well – have ADHD now. So where did this ADHD spike come from? Just how big is the gap between people seeking treatment and those able to give it? And if people are being overdiagnosed, or underdiagnosed, or diagnosed with the wrong thing… what are the risks?

Why do so many people suddenly have ADHD? What happens when you opt out of the law? Could Disney become a new religion? Is AI going to supersede all our jobs?We've all been there… sitting with our friends at dinner, when some smart conversation starts about something that you maybe probably should definitely know about but you don't because you can't possibly read everything…Introducing Quick Smart — the show that feeds you big ideas in bite-sized pieces, hosted by Siobhan Marin your fellow busy person who sometimes needs a little cheat sheet on the big stories.The first episode drops June 8.