Good Weekend Talks

Kara Swisher, a seasoned journalist and tech expert, dives deep into the intertwining worlds of technology and politics. She discusses the influence of figures like Elon Musk and Donald Trump, emphasizing the risks of authoritarianism and the need for active citizen engagement. Swisher highlights the evolving landscape of tech leadership and accountability while addressing AI investments and regulatory gaps. Ultimately, she expresses hope for a more equitable democracy amidst the growing power of tech moguls.

In this episode we speak with Callum Linnane, a principal dancer with The Australian Ballet. Linnane, 29, has been dancing since he enrolled in tap classes as a seven year old in regional Victoria. Now he’s a star of the show - the kind of person who does magazine spreads and launches spring fashion campaigns. (His social media followers have described him as everything from Australia’s  answer to Rudolf Nureyev, to a young David Bowie.)  Good Weekend senior writer Konrad Marshall talks to this son of a bricklayer about growing up in Ballarat, surviving (and thriving) on the grandest stage, and his upcoming titular role in Nijinsky, the latest offering from The Australian Ballet.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we speak with journalist Peter Greste and actor Richard Roxburgh. Greste is a former foreign correspondent, arrested with two other Al Jazeera journalists in Cairo in 2013, ultimately serving 400 days in an Egyptian prison before his release. Roxburgh, meanwhile, is known for various acting roles in film (Moulin Rouge) and television (Rake). More recently, he has turned his dramatic talent to portraying Greste in a new film, The Correspondent. The pair speak with freelance writer David Leser.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speak with Millie Millgate, the director of Music Australia, established by the federal government two years ago to support our contemporary music scene. It’s a tough gig given the issues facing the local music industry. Festivals have been paused or cancelled. Live music venues are struggling. And local hits are few and far between.Millgate knows the industry back to front, having started out booking acts for Sydney pubs, then working in artist management, before running the music export initiative “Sounds Australia”. She talks to Sydney Morning Herald senior writer Garry Maddox about everything from the “glocalisation” of music, to the power of algorithms, to how we’ll find the next G Flip or Kid Laroi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lucie Morris-Marr, a journalist and author of "Processed," shares her harrowing journey after being diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer at 44. She dives into the alarming links between processed meats and cancer, exposing how nitrites in items like ham and hot dogs are a hidden health risk. Morris-Marr discusses the broader implications of these findings, the challenges of navigating medical advice, and her fight for greater public awareness. Her story is one of resilience, urging listeners to rethink their dietary choices.

In this week's episode we speak with acclaimed author Helen Garner, who followed the travails of her grandson's footy team for her new book, The Season. She speaks with Konrad Marshall about what she now envies about male contact sports, the benefit of coming to footy with limited prior knowledge, and the debate over the book's cover image.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we speak with CEO of the Australian Open, Craig Tiley, on the eve of the 2025 tournament for a chat about his own background as a promising player and highly successful coach, plus about the game today. He sits with Good Weekend’s Konrad Marshall for some tips on the best players to watch and who he thinks might take home the trophies later this month.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we speak with Australian singer-songwriter Missy Higgins, who broke through two decades ago with her hit debut album The Sound of White, which dealt with teen and 20-something troubles. Now 41, Higgins has just produced a new album, The Second Act, which traverses the aftermath of the breakdown of her marriage. Higgins talks candidly with Good Weekend senior writer Melissa Fyfe about taking the audience with her on her life journey, the travails of songwriting and dating whilst being a single mum - and the joys of touring with a mostly female support crew. We'll be back in January 2025 with plenty of exciting interviews booked in the calendar, but for now please enjoy one of our most popular episodes from the past year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, singer/songwriter Tim Minchin discusses the poison that is social media, how he emerged from his bruising time in LA and why he urges students to look after their bodies. In conversation with culture reporter Thomas Mitchell, he reflects also on his infamous George Pell song, and on the impending publication of his first non-fiction book, You Don't Have to Have a Dream (Advice for the Incrementally Ambitious). We'll be back in January 2025 with plenty of exciting interviews booked in the calendar, but for now please enjoy one of our most popular episodes from the past year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we speak to Academy Award winner Kate Winslet about her new film "Lee" - a biopic about the life of pioneering World War II correspondent Lee Miller, and her sensitive and stunning front-line photography. Hosted by Konrad Marshall, the discussion covers everything from the ups and downs for women in film, to life behind the lens. We'll be back in January 2025 with plenty of exciting interviews booked in the calendar, but for now please enjoy one of our most popular episodes from the past year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.