The Briefing

Anna Spargo-Ryan is an award winning author and writer, whose work has appeared in The Guardian, the Good Weekend, The Saturday Paper and more. She is a mother of two, who was born in Adelaide but now lives in Melbourne. Anna is also an agoraphobe who rarely leaves the relatively short radius around her home.   During covid lockdowns, Anna Spargo-Ryan rediscovered activities she hadn’t participated in for years. For two years she went to book launches and birthday drinks. She saw her favourite bands play. And then, Anna said goodbye all over again, to the things she loves; unable to participate when they moved offline again and into the “real world”.Anna’s life, rather like her new book A Kind of Magic, can be dark and difficult, but is also funny and warm, hopeful and joyous.    In this conversation Jamila Rizvi and Anna Spargo-Ryan delve into living with mental illness, healing your inner child and discuss why Anna has stopped searching for a “cure”.   THE WEEKEND LIST WATCH: Below Deck Adventure – HAYU WATCH: Plan International Charity Christmas Gift WATCH: Christmas Ransom - STAN   EAT: 70 Incredible Edible Presents To Give This Festive Season – Delicious.com.au   Follow The Briefing: Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could a tax adjustment save Australia's live music venues? A new study has found a 70% drop in the number of venue-based live music gigs taking place in Australia following Covid. Around one in seven venues say they never expect to return to pre-pandemic sized audiences with the current tax settings in place.    We’re joined by Dean Ormston - CEO of APRA AMCOS - which represents more than 100,000 musicians, to find out about a new tax offset that could revive the live music sector.   In today’s Briefing….a new scheme to re-boot Australia’s live music sector.   Headlines: - Harry and Meghan’s Netflix doco drops- National Cabinet to meet today over energy price crisis- Warner’s manager says CA knew about ball tampering- Iran carries out first protest execution- WNBA star freed via prisoner swap Follow The Briefing: Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did police track down Toyah Cordingley’s suspected murderer, and where do we go from here?  24-year-old Toyah was murdered on a beach near Cairns four years ago. Her suspected killer has just been arrested in India after he allegedly fled Australia in the days following Toyah’s death.    We’re joined by Seven News journalist Joel Dry who’s been covering the case.    In today’s Briefing, we find out what has happened so far, and why the path to justice for Toyah Cordingley will take so long.   Headlines: - Bali bomber Umar Patek released from prison- Zelensky and the “spirit of Ukraine” Time Person of the Year- China eases Covid restrictions in response to protests- New homeless figures include 76,000 under 18- Elvis sweeps AACTAs Follow The Briefing: Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are lab-grown diamonds, and why are they becoming so popular? Lab-grown diamonds are becoming increasingly popular, with a recent survey showing nearly 70% of millennials are happy to consider them for an engagement ring.    We’re joined by Jodi Bradby, professor at the Research School of Physics and Engineering at the Australian National University; and Ronnie Bauer from the Jewellers Association of Australia.   In today’s Briefing, lab-grown diamonds are chemically, physically and optically identical to mined diamonds, so how are they made, and are they more sustainable than traditional diamonds? Headlines: - Interest rate pain in lead-up to Christmas- National Cabinet to meet Friday to discuss energy price caps- Indonesia bans sex outside of marriage- Watermelon prices skyrocket Follow The Briefing: Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why has North Korean leader Kim Jong-un decided to reveal his daughter to the world now?  Kim Jong-un has revealed North Korea plans to build the “world’s most powerful nuclear force” after testing out a new ballistic missile. He’s also revealed his daughter to the public for the first time ever. So why has the North Korean leader chosen to unveil her to the world now?    In this episode of the Briefing we’re speaking to Gordon Flake, founding CEO of the Perth USAsia Centre at The University of Western Australia.    We explore North Korea’s nuclear plans and the significance of Kim Jong-un revealing his daughter.   Headlines: - Albo tests positive for Covid-19- RBA expected to increase rates today- Hillsong founder Houston returns to court today- China criticises Australian delegation to Taiwan- Heatwave heading to northern Australia Follow The Briefing: Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is it like for youngsters locked up inside Western Australia’s Banksia Hill detention centre?     We’re joined by the ABC reporter Grace Tobin, whose distressing Four Corners report has revealed the number of excessive force complaints against officers at Banksia Hill. Officers have been exposed for using the ‘folding up’ technique to restrain teenagers. The movement is banned in Queensland over fears it could lead to suffocation or death.    In this episode of the Briefing, WA’s Banksia Hill’s shameful treatment of detainees - many of whom are children Headlines: - Feds push for cap on energy prices- Albo finishes year on top of the polls- Iran to scrap morality police - Alleged ISIS terrorist Prakash facing six charges - Shane Warne elevated to legend status at Australian Sport Hall of Fame Follow The Briefing: Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Anne Summers is one of Australia's greatest contributors to the feminist movement. She is a writer, speaker and author, who was editor of the American publication Ms magazine in the 1980s and editor of the Good Weekend here in Australia in the 1990s. In between those roles she advised Prime Ministers Hawke and Keating on women's issues and went on to run the Office for the Status of Women, in Canberra.Her most recent work is about the link between family violence and women’s poverty.     To read the full report on The Choice: Violence or Poverty by Anne Summers, click the link here: https://www.violenceorpoverty.com/     In this conversation Jamila Rizvi explores the life of Anne Summers, and the pair dissect the confronting figures on the correlation of violence and poverty experienced by women in Australia.    THE WEEKEND LIST WATCH: Wednesday - Netflix  WATCH: From Lone Wolf to Leader: The Making of Anthony Albanese – The Guardian DO:  Wear sunscreen people! EAT: Gingerbread house recipe – Sally’s Baking Addiction     Follow The Briefing: Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You may know Isaiah Firebrace from the X Factor or Eurovision.  Well he’s written a new children’s book - Come Together - things every kid should know about our First Peoples   Isaiah joins Rhianna to explain the book is a heart-warming, debut picture book for children aged 5 and up, inspired by Isaiah’s petition to the Australian Government calling for Aboriginal history to be taught in every classroom.     Come Together will make every Aussie kid proud that we are home to the longest continuing culture on Earth!  The book is available now.   Headlines: - Chris Dawson to be sentenced today- Territories given go-ahead to debate voluntary dying laws- Meghan and Harry’s Netflix trailer drops- Socceroos to face Argentina early Sunday Follow The Briefing: Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Chinese government introduced its ‘zero-Covid’ policy back in 2019 when the virus was first detected. So why are protesters choosing to demonstrate against it almost three years later? We’re joined by author and Senior Fellow for East Asia at the Lowy Institute Richard McGregor, to discuss the ‘White Paper protests’ and how the Chinese authorities are attempting to mute them. In this episode of the Briefing we explore how protestors in China are using creative methods to stand up against the country’s strict Covid measures.   Headlines: - Socceroos WIN!!  Australia through to Round of 16 - Former PM Morrison censured by Parliament- First day of summer after miserable spring- Inflation decline potentially good news for interest rates  Follow The Briefing: Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is it becoming more common for women to freeze their eggs?  A couple in the US has just welcomed twins into the world using embryos made 30 years ago. The twins have been named the ‘oldest babies’ to be born after the eggs were kept in ice for 3 decades.  We’re joined by Molly Johnston, a bioethics lecturer at Monash University and she’s been working in the IVF field for the last five years to find out if this is something that could happen in Australia. In this episode of the Briefing we explore the growing popularity of women choosing to freeze their eggs and have babies at a later stage in life. Headlines: -New national anti-corruption commission to become law today - Nationals split over Indigenous Voice- NSW Covid fines scrapped- Outback Wrangler charged over chopper crash Follow The Briefing: Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.