Quick Smart

The prince of Saudi Arabia has a vision for a sci-fi like city in the middle of the desert called NEOM and he wants you to move in. The futuristic sci-fi city is being spruiked online by influencers and if you've seen the marketing you might think it's too good to be true. So will the prince's sci-fi dreams turn into reality and why does he want to get people to move to the middle of the desert in Saudia Arabia? Guest: Matt Bevan for If You're Listening If you liked this episode you might like this one Your cheat sheet for the US Presidential election or this one on why we don't have driverless cars yet. 

How much is that doggy in the window impacting climate change? And do we need to take paws for thought before buying a pet? 

Amidst the culture wars and identity politics stirred up during the election campaign, can Kamala Harris secure the presidency and make history? And if history is made do her policies align with the progressive youth base that have memed her into a lime green oval office, or are these voters not seeing the forest for the coconut trees?

The whole world is moving towards a cashless future. So what does our digital money future look like and is it for the best? 

Sex tech conjures up images of hot robots sent from the future and while that might be where this multi million dollar industry is headed - for now a big slice of the demand is from people hoping to enjoy their own body so why do we make that so hard for people living with disabilities? And who are the inventors and engineers breaking down the taboos to create the products that suit their needs?Guest - Rebecca McLaren for the Health Report If you liked this episode of Quick Smart you might enjoy our chat with Lucy Sweeney about the neuroscience of singing in a choir or our episode with James Purtill on why we still don’t have driverless cars.

Linguists have discovered that teenage girls play a significant role in shaping our future vocabulary.But how do 16-year-old girls end up being the arbiters of what we will and won't say? Guest: Fiona Pepper for Future Tense 

Where is the case now and when will mushroom murder-accused Erin Patterson face trial? We find out and get into the weeds about the legality and ethics of making a true crime podcast happening in real time. If you liked this episode of Quick Smart you might like this other episode we did about The truth behind reality TV villains or this one about The mysterious disappearance of Agatha Christie

Shelby Traynor, an expert in the crossover of gaming, creativity, and psychology, dives into the Tetris Effect and its fascinating implications. Learn how prolonged gaming can shape our dreams and enhance creativity through guided dreaming techniques. Discover the interplay between dreams and advertising ethics, especially in quirky marketing experiments. Shelby also touches on how pre-sleep thoughts can influence dream quality, opening a window to harnessing sleep for creativity and productivity.

Nick Baker, a journalist from The Money and ABC Digital, dives deep into the dark intersection of gaming and money laundering. He reveals how cryptocurrency and platforms like Counter-Strike are exploited for illicit financial activities. The Axie Infinity case showcases huge heists linked to North Korean hackers. Baker discusses the challenges of regulation in an evolving digital landscape and reassures gamers about their smaller risks. Discover how traditional money laundering tactics transform through the lens of video games and blockchain.

If you’re a woman between 25 and 45 on Instagram there’s a good chance you’ve seen ads for egg freezing. And in recent years, the popularity of IVF clinics has sky rocketed - so much so that the clinics are are actually starting to run out of storage space. So what has led to the huge uptick in people wanting to freeze their eggs and is it actually the insurance policy that people think it is?Guest: Sophie Kesteven for ABC NewsAnd if you liked this episode check out our episodes about office romances with Zoe Ferguson or the woman who got a Pap smear everyday for 21 years with Belinda Smith.