Big Small Talk
MIK MADE
Big Small Talk: 5 PM Tuesdays So you want to know what’s happening in parliament, but you also want to know the latest in pop culture? Good, as you should.From the front page to your newsfeeds, no story is too serious, stale, funny or frivolous. Because, if you haven’t realised, loving pop culture doesn’t mean you don’t understand politics.Knowing all your shit? That’s hot. New Episodes 5pm Tuesday. Small Talk: 6 AM Thursdays It might not be tangible news but each week there’s something in the cultural zeitgeist that gets us all talking. We want to unpack these frivolous conversations, from new trends to relationship theories to life advice.In an age of never-ending small talk, we want to examine how these collective thoughts affect the way we see the world. We may even reach out to a few friends and experts to weigh in. Big Talk: Wednesday 6 AM - Last Two Weeks of Every Month Over the past few decades, there have been news headlines so shocking that we still hear and feel their impact, such as Roe V Wade, Monica Lewinsky, Epstein, Mabo and Hillsong. Don’t you think it’s about time you knew all the important and salacious details about the real stories that have happened that shaped our world today? Come on, I know you’re curious.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 1, 2025 • 56min
SMALL TALK: Why Is Gratitude So Hard — And So Powerful? With Dom Elissa
Small Talk is back!
It couldn't feel like a more perfect moment in these crazy times for such an important topic, gratitude.
In this episode I am lucky enough to sit down with Dominique Elissa - a model, founder of Self Dom, host of the Self Dom podcast, a pilates instructor and now a gratitude coach.
We hear not only about tools to implement gratitude and the science to back it, but Dom's personal story of finding this practice at her rock bottom. Also, the heartwarming and heartbreaking story of her mum keeping her gratitude journal while in palliative care and making it to her daughters wedding.
Dom's instagram
Selfdom website
20% OFF DISCOUNT CODE: smalltalk
Sep 30, 2025 • 37min
BIG TALK: Roe V Wade PART TWO
Welcome to part two of our Roe v Wade deep dive. In this episode we focus on the international ripple effects of the decision, Australia's own history of legalising and decriminalising abortion state by state, and the devastating fallout after the overturning of Roe v Wade and how that was legally made possible. We also look at how it has continued to be a debate in Australian culture and politics.
Sep 30, 2025 • 56min
Emma Watson, UN Assembly & Freya Leach
Emma Watson did her first ever podcast interview with Jay Shetty, talking about her childhood, activism, Hollywood and of course, JK Rowling.
This year marked the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, we discuss Albanese, Trump and Netanyahu's speeches.
Benny Blanco and Selena Gomez tie the not in Santa Barbara, California.
Freya Leaches show, 'Freya Fires Up', on Sky News has been cancelled.
Leonardo DiCaprio has also made his podcasting debut, choosing to give the exclusive to none other than Travis Kelce’s New Heights Podcast.
Former FBI director James Comey has been indicted.
Sep 23, 2025 • 50min
BIG TALK: Roe V Wade PART ONE
In this episode, we dive into the true story behind Roe v. Wade, exploring not just the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case itself, but the real people at the heart of it and the decades-long fight over reproductive rights that followed. We introduce Norma McCorvey, who was Jane Roe, as well as Linda Coffee and Sarah Weddington, the 26 and 28 year old lawyers who stood before the Supreme Court.
We also look at the legal explanations of the case, criticisms of it, the following cases that altered it and what the laws were prior to the landmark decision.
Sep 23, 2025 • 60min
Kimmel Suspended, Kirk Memorial & The Summer I Turned Pretty
Last week, the ABC announced it was suspending Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show “indefinitely” following backlash from conservatives who accused him of not being respectful enough of far-right activist Charlie Kirk’s death and Trump’s recent reactions - raising questions over free speech.
Charlie Kirks memorial was attended by over 200,000 and watched by over a million online - speakers included Trump, RFK Jr, Donald Trump Jr, Erika Kirk and Tucker Carlson. Trump also used the memorial to discuss how they have now found the 'cause of autism', later announcing it was Tylenol being used during pregnancy.
A new UN report states that genocide is happening in Gaza and Australia has formally recognised a Palestinian State.
Hit TV series that has dominated pop culture, The Summer I Turned Pretty, had its season finale! It was then announced the show is not over yet, there will now be a movie.
Trump visits the UK to reaffirm diplomatic relationships - greeted with protest art at Windsor Castle.
Alix Earle and Robert Irwin debuted on Dancing With the Stars US.
Australia’s first National Climate Risk Assessment has been released, and the Government has put forward it’s 2035 emissions reduction target.
9 snips
Sep 16, 2025 • 59min
Charlie Kirk, The Emmys & Murdoch Succession Battle Ends
Lachlan Murdoch now fully controls the Murdoch Media empire, shaking up media dynamics. The 2025 Emmys made headlines with impactful speeches, like Hannah Einbinder’s on Palestine and Owen Cooper becoming the youngest winner. The tragic death of political figure Charlie Kirk raised concerns over violence and hate speech online. In celebrity news, Liam Hemsworth's engagement and Nina Dobrev's departure over pay disparities reveal underlying issues in Hollywood. Meanwhile, Victoria leads with a treaty framework for First Nations rights, and Nepal's youth spark a 'Gen Z Revolution'.
Sep 9, 2025 • 52min
Mr Fantasy, Nauru & The AFL
This week, Labor signed a secretive deal with the Nauruan Government. We discuss the details.
Actor KJ Apa posting online as his alter ego, a British man with a bob and a dream of being a famous musician called Mr Fantasy, is proof Hannah Montana was absolutely a believable, realistic plot line.
The Beijing Military Parade marked the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in WWII. Why was former Victorian Premier Dan Andrews there?
Last week, the AFL had it’s first openly bisexual player come out. This week, a crowd booed a player who had been subjected to homophobic slurs.
A rundown on the winners at this years VMA's.
In the Q+A, we discuss how Erin Patterson is sentenced to life in prison.
Sep 2, 2025 • 59min
'March For Australia', Mans Best Friend & Serena Williams
In today's episode we want to start by addressing the response creator Chloe Baradinsky (Chloe Barry Hang) had to our latest episode where we discussed broadly the recent influx of content creators in Afghanistan, following her posting her recent travels there.ABC Podcast ABC article NBC article
We then discuss the tens of thousands who attended ‘March for Australia’ rallies on Sunday, they were violent, led by nazis and met by counterprotestors in most cities.
Everyone’s close and dearest friends, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, have announced their engagement!
The Prime Minister announced the end of diplomatic relations with Iran last week, proving they can take action to cut ties with some countries.
Sabrina Carpenter has released her seventh studio album, Mans Best Friend, directly addressing album cover controversy.
23 time grand slam champion Serena Williams has candidly spoken about her GLP-1 weight loss, dropping more than 14 kilos with Zepbound, which is part of the same family as the better-known name of Ozempic.
Aug 27, 2025 • 26min
Ovaries. Let's Talk About Them: With Camilla Freeman-Topper
Today is a very special episode of Small Talk, chatting to the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Camilla and Marc, Camilla Freeman Topper, about the impact of their 'Ovaries: Let's Talk About Them" campaign.
Camilla speaks to her career, how fashion and advocacy can work hand-in-hand, research into women's health and how important this campaign is after losing her Mum to Ovarian cancer as a child.
#OvariesTalkAboutThem is now a movement that exists for all women and people with ovaries worldwide. It’s 2025 and there is still no early detection test for ovarian cancer, and millions of women are diagnosed when it is too late. The time to make a change is now. One step left. One year left – to get the world’s first DNA based early detection test for ovarian cancer to clinical trials. Join the conversation, buy a t-shirt or make a donation and help make this test a reality.
LINK TO PURCHASE MERCHANDISE:
www.camillaandmarc.com
LINK TO DONATE TO THE RESEARCH DIRECTLY:
https://www.camillaandmarc.com/products/donation
Aug 26, 2025 • 38min
BIG TALK: The Epstein Files PART TWO
We pick up where we left in Part One, Epstein in jail awaiting trial.
We examine the conspiracy about if he was in fact killed and why so many people believe that. We assess his friendship to President Donald Trump and Prince Andrew, as well as his infamous BBC interview.
We then look to Ghislaine Maxwell's trial and what she is demanding from the President now, in the present day.
