The Briefing

Everyone’s hustling, everyone’s struggling with cost of living pressures, rents are rising, interest rates are rising. We’re exhausted, and it’s only March.  We’re constantly told to look after our mental health and to support those around us who need love and care – family and friends.  But how can we, when we’re at the point of burnout almost every day.  In this special episode of The Briefing brought to you by Medibank, our hosts Sacha Barbour Gatt and Bension Siebert talk about why they’re feeling burnt out and what they do about it.  You’ll also hear some awesome stories about ordinary people doing extraordinary things and practical ways to improve your overall wellbeing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once upon a time bilbies lived all over Australia; where there was desert, there was a bilby. After the introduction of cats and foxes, the bilby’s numbers plummeted, in the 80s they were only found in a couple of tiny patches in the wild. Now their numbers are up and growing, and partly that’s thanks to the idea of the easter bilby. Chocolate bilbies appeared in shops in the 90s as an environmental alternative to the easter bunny, the idea has raised awareness and funds. In this episode of The Briefing we find out how bilbies have come back from the brink.  Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Exploring the ticketing process for Australian music festivals, including recent refunds for Splendor in the Grass. Uncovering the complexities of buying tickets - from pricing trends to availability factors. Discussing fair ticketing systems, Ticketek Lounge controversy, and challenges in the industry. Revealing the lack of transparency in the ticketing industry.

Splendour in the Grass will not go ahead this year, and we are yet to learn the official reason. This isn’t the first time the event has been hit with difficulties. In 2022 the first day of Splendour was cancelled due to flooding, and last year saw the event far from selling out, with ticket sales down 30%.  In this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert spoke with Swinburne’s Event Management and Public Relations expert, Associate Professor Robert Gill to find out what his take was, and what the future could hold for Australia’s large music festival industry.    Headlines: Entire countries could be blacklisted under Labor’s deportation bill Cargo ship’s black box recovered in Baltimore disaster A billion meals go to waste everyday as people go hungry Thailand to legalise same sex marriage   Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The podcast delves into the Baltimore bridge disaster caused by a container ship collision, highlighting structural weaknesses and the lack of redundancy. The discussion focuses on post-disaster analysis, emergency exit strategies, and the importance of regular inspections for bridge safety globally.

Donald Trump and Joe Biden have now secured their respective parties’ presidential nomination for the November US presidential election.Biden will partner with Vice President Kamala Harris for the second election in succession. But who will be Donald Trump’s running mate? Most pundits are pointing to South Dakota governor Kristi Noam.So who is she? And why is Donald Trump keeping his cards so close to his chest before naming his running mate? Headlines: Julian Assange granted legal lifeline Search underway in icy conditions after Baltimore bridge collapse  Australia could move to holding federal elections every four years The iconic floating door from Titanic film sells at auction   Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Noland Arbaugh was paralysed from the shoulders down after a diving accident eight years ago. But now, thanks to a brain computer interface chip, he's able to play video games like Mario Kart or virtual chess simply by concentrating his mind on the screen. The chip, which is the size of a coin, was surgically implanted back in January by Elon Musk's company, Neuralink. While the company have said there are still a few problems to work through, it is incredible technology that promises to give people with severe disabilities a much better quality of life. So how does this technology work, and is it as incredible as it appears?  On this episode of The Briefing, Bension Siebert is joined by neural engineering expert, Associate Professor Sam John to explain how this works, the ethical dilemmas and how common it could be in the future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russia has suffered its deadliest terror attack in 20 years, after 133 people were killed and 100 were injured when gunmen opened fire at a theatre in Moscow. Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, fresh from his election win has blamed Ukraine for the attack despite a terrorist group called ISIS-K claiming responsibility. In this episode of The Briefing Bension Siebert speaks to terrorism expert Greg Barton from Deakin university about what’s going on. Headlines: UN has called for a ceasefire in Gaza for the first time Trump’s fraud bond reduced Boeing CEO steps down Rebel Wilson names Sacha Baron Cohen "massive arsehole"   Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The results from Tasmania's election, which took place over the weekend, are mostly in. While Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff called the election a year early in the hopes of forming a stable majority government, he hasn't been able to secure the outcome he was hoping for. It's expected that the Liberals will hold 13-15 seats, which is more than Labor... But short of the 18 required to form a majority government. So what will this mean for Tasmania's future, and the controversial policies that have divided the island? And could this be a preview of how our next federal election could unfold? To explain what's happened, and what it means, Bension Siebert is joined by LiSTNR journalist, Tessa Randello.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know Australia has been recruited by America to produce some of its weapons?The wars in Ukraine and Gaza have stretched US capabilities to make things like artillery shells and missiles, so it’s taking advantage of our munitions factories that have room to grow. On today’s episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with Charles Edel from the Center for Strategic and International Studies about where the weapons being made in Australia are ending up and the geopolitical impacts of buying and selling devices made to kill people. Headlines: Day of mourning declared in Russia after terror attack  Labor concedes defeat in Tasmanian election  Royal spokesperson urges public to give Kate and William space   Follow The Briefing:Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAUTwitter: @TheBriefingAUSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.