The Briefing

Alex Lee is a face you'll recognise from TV, whether it's from The Feed, Saturday Night Rove, Celebrity Mastermind, Spicks and Specks, The Checkout, Win the Week or What the FAQ.And as the journalist-turned-comedian points out, not ALL of those shows got axed. Alex recounts how shock jock and alleged sexual predator Alan Jones once tried to sue her over a comedy skit she made making fun of him. That would have been pretty darn stressful but she says that pales into comparison to the stresses of becoming a mum and feeling like the internet is constantly trying to guilt you into buying junk for your small human. In this chat with Antoinette Lattouf, Alex also unpacks how mum-fluencers inspired her podcast Baby Shoes, part comedy, part therapy, and all-too-relatable for exhausted parents trying not to lose the plot. Weekend list with Helen Smith TO COOK: Homemade Dubai chocolate (dates + dark chocolate + pistachio spread) TO TRY: Holme Beauty TO TRY: Stardust period tracker app TO WATCH: The Australian Wars Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lured from a Canberra supermarket into the grip of a dangerous cult, Liz Cameron’s life spiralled into captivity, starvation, and a desperate fight to survive. In this episode, Liz reveals to Natarsha Belling how she was brainwashed, how her family staged a daring intervention, and why she’s speaking out to warn others about the hidden dangers of coercive control. Headlines: Israel’s security cabinet has approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan for a full military occupation of Gaza City, convicted rapist Gareth Ward has resigned from NSW Parliament, and previously inadmissible evidence in the Erin Patterson triple murder trial has now been revealed. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here's the evidence the jury in the mushroom triple murder trial wasn't allowed to hear. In this special update to The Briefing's coverage of this case, Tara Cassidy reveals allegations that murderer Erin Patterson had tried to poison and kill her estranged ex-husband Simon multiple times before. Until today, this information was under a strict non-publication order by the Victorian Supreme Court. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday Headlines: Kathleen Folbigg calls for inquiry into ‘insulting’ $2m wrongful conviction payout, Netenyahu plans full occupation of Gaza, 6yo girl discharged from Sydney hospital twice before dying of influenza, men outearn women in 98% of jobs, and a millionaire donates $100m to Aus vet school! Deep Dive: When you’re socializing in a group, are you the life of the party, a participant but exhausted from the effort – or are you the outsider looking in?  Until now, our personality traits have broadly been divided into two groups: extroverts and introverts.  But there’s a third, neglected group with hidden talents: the otroverts.  In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by psychiatrist Dr Rami Kaminski, author of The Gift of Not Belonging – and himself an otrovert.   Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the government rort ripping off millions of Australians that could be the next Robodebt disaster. We explain how a broken government payment system is seeing job and support payments cut off or cancelled, in many cases unlawfully.  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by anti-poverty campaigner Kristin O’Connell, who explains how some of our most vulnerable are being unfairly targeted by a broken system that is allegedly being exploited by some operators, costing taxpayers billions of dollars.  Headlines: ANZ has shocked customers with a surprise rate hike, Anita Cobby's killer claims he was wrongfully convicted, and more bombshell allegations from a new tell all book about Prince Andrew.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thursday Headlines: Lawyers for sex offender Gareth Ward argue against his expulsion from NSW Parliament, Donald Trump says JD Vance is the next likely Republican candidate for 2028, the trial of Outback Wrangler TV star Matt Wright is underway, WhatsApp's deleted over 6.8 million accounts linked to scams, and we're in the 'Golden Age’ of swimming, better than Thorpe and O’Neill. Deep Dive: Videos of influencers and streamers gambling are becoming increasingly popular online, with the content largely targeting young people.   In videos shared to social media sites, streaming and video platforms influencers with thousands to millions of followers are filming themselves placing bets on online casinos and in real life at the pokies.   With Australia already home to the world’s biggest gamblers, and losers, the growing trend's got experts worried that it could draw in a whole new generation of problem gamblers.   In this episode of The Briefing, Tara Cassidy speaks with University of Sydney influencer and gambling researcher, Dr Mark Johnson, on how creators are bending the rules, and the lack of laws to stop them.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government’s excise freeze on draught beer is being hailed as a win for pubs, but how much is it really saving us?   In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Mick Gibb, CEO of the Nighttime Industries Association, who unpacks how this move has created a two-tier tax system that penalises small bars, live music venues, and cocktail lovers.  Headlines: A Sydney man has become the first in Australia to be charged with supplying nitazine, previously unseen Epstein letters and photographs have been published by The New York Times, and Sean “Diddy” Combs is seeking a presidential pardon. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wednesday Headlines: OceanGate Titan sub disaster was a 'preventable tragedy', DOJ orders investigation into Obama administrations Russian political interference probe, The Great Barrier Reef has recorded the largest mass bleaching event on record, Kmart denies sourcing products from factories linked to forced labour, and a Danish zoo is asking for unwanted animals to feed its predators. Deep Dive: ‘Go woke go broke’ is no longer true according to new research that found companies can embrace progressive values and pursue profit at the same time.   The study examines campaigns like Gillette's take on “toxic masculinity” and Nike’s ad featuring Colin Kapernick, analysing the intersection of political agendas and what happens when brands tackle social issues, like racism, inclusion and diversity.   In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Dr Peter Underwood from Auckland Law School to unpack what woke capitalism is and how companies can find a middle ground in the market.   Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our ASIO boss has warned Australia is under a growing threat from foreign espionage with spying from a number of nations now at unprecedented levels. Days after that warning, Federal Police have arrested a Chinese National accused of allegedly spying on a local Buddhist group.   In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by intelligence expert Chris Taylor to unpack why we’re seeing an increase in foreign threats and why we all need to think twice about the information we share, especially online.   Headlines: Japanese shipbuilder Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has secured a $10 billion contract to build the Australian Navy’s new fleet of warships, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to announce plans to fully occupy the Gaza Strip, and Donald Trump has weighed into the Sydney Sweeney ad controversy. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tuesday Headlines: Opposition Leader Sussan Ley admits "there is hunger and starvation in Gaza", New evidence released from Erin Patterson murder case, Thousands of murder, rape and assault cases to be re-examined due to DNA lab bungle, Property boom prompts surge in Australian millionaires to global high, Tesla awards chief executive Elon Musk $44 billion worth of shares. Deep Dive: You might have heard of donating blood and plasma, but what about donating your poo?  Well it turns out your stool could help save lives in more ways than one.  Right now in Australia poo donations are being used for fecal microbiota transplants, to help cure painful, debilitating and sometimes deadly diseases.  In this episode of The Briefing, Tara Cassidy speaks with Kevin Young, an FMT recipient, about how the procedure saved his life, and Lifeblood’s Elizabeth Connolly on how it might be used in future. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @LiSTNRnewsroom Facebook: @LiSTNR NewsroomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.