The Olympic Games are about to kick off and athletes from all over the world will make their way to France to compete. The event is watched by billions, there's a massive increase to local tourism and of course an eye watering amount of advertising dollars at stake so it’s wild to think that at one stage - the Olympics was almost cancelled for good. Guest: Jack Schmidt for God Forbid

In the back of our minds we all know that there’s very little that’s real about reality TV… but you might be shocked to discover just how deceptive – and ethically questionable – some of the television tactics really are. So are the humans behind these characters we love to hate really so awful? And how does being cast as a TV villain impact a person’s mental health and life outside the show?And a content note: this episode contains discussion of suicide and mental health. Guest: Annika Blau for Background Briefing

Social media is a huge part of our lives. We use it to talk to friends, to read about what’s happening in the world, and to find out whether or not something is cake. But recently there’s been talk of banning people under the age 16 from using social media because of the negative impact on their mental health and to protect them from harm. So is the government’s plan for age restriction really the best way to tackle this crisis? And will it actually improve the wellbeing of kids or will it just push their social media use underground? Guest: Ange Lavoipierre Technology Reporter for ABC News

AI is impacting every creative industry - and movies are no exception. If a young Harrison Ford can be churned out of a computer, what does the future of film look like? And would you feel differently about your favourite TV show if you knew the characters in it were created by a computer?Guest: Bev Wang for Stop Everything!This episode was originally published in January 2024

Whether you're singing in a karaoke room at 2am, or at a more reasonable time with a local choir, there’s something about singing without inhibition that feels great. Our brains get this warm fuzzy feeling when we come together and sing as a group - and it turns out there's neuroscience that backs that up. So what are the health benefits for our brain and mental health? Should we all be joining a community choir?Guest: Lucy Sweeney for ABC Online

What makes a man, a man? Well eating copious amounts of red meat of course – at least according to certain corners of the internet. The alt-right has made mass beef consumption their business, and this comes at a time where climate scientists and animal activists are urging people to eat less meat to help the planet. So why is the alt-right so focused on eliminating “soy boys” and getting into that Bronze Age Grindset?Guest: Jonathan Green for Blueprint for LivingThis episode was originally published in November 2023

On average Australians spend around three hours on their phones everyday - and experts believe our screentime is impacting our relationships, our ability to focus and our health. So is phone addiction really as bad for us as we think? And what are the health benefits of putting down your phone once and a while and breaking the cycle?Guest: Anna Kelsey-Sugg for ABC Online

Tim Leslie, a climate lead at ABC News, dives deep into the heated debate about nuclear energy as a solution for Australia's climate crisis. He discusses how transitioning from coal could benefit from nuclear's potential, while weighing its economic viability against wind and solar. Tim breaks down the cost and timeline challenges faced by nuclear projects, using real-world examples like the Hinckley Sea power plant. The potential role of small modular reactors is also explored, sparking a discussion on their commercial feasibility in the energy landscape.

Scrolling on instagram it’s impossible to avoid people giving their unsolicited advice - about fashion, the news, or the latest food trend. But with the rise of the hot take, comes the people trying to monetise this advice in the form of life coaching… and unfortunately a lot of people looking for real help are falling into the trap.Guest: Kellie Scott for ABC OnlineThis episode was originally published in November 2023

Death is something we don’t really like to think about. But when you or someone you love becomes ill, it’s important to be able to have a conversation about end of life care in a respectful and informed way. Despite being legal, there are still obstacles to accessing voluntary assisted dying or VAD, and because no one likes to talk about it, these issues are often discovered when it’s too late. So how can we ensure those who want to make the choice to end their life can do so with safety and dignity?Guest: Annika Blau for Background Briefing