Not Stupid
ABC News
Not Stupid is the podcast that helps you understand the news of the week and the stories in your social media feed. Julia Baird and Jeremy Fenandez chat about the stories they are obsessed with and the stories you may have missed.
They look at what shapes our politics here in Australia from Anthony Albanese to Peter Dutton. As the Federal Election looms they’ll unpack and explain some of the big issues that might affect your vote.
Jules and Jez also try to explain what’s going on in the world. They both follow US politics closely and will be watching to see what the next Donald Trump presidency means for the US and the world.
But it’s not all about politics. If it is in your Facebook or Instagram feed (or even on X) they will talk about it. They look at the pop culture figures who are shaping our world from Elon Musk to Mr Beast and Ariane Grande.
There’s also a focus on the issues that affect you like the cost-of-living crisis and the duopoly of the Supermarkets Coles and Woolworths. They’ve also looked at microplastics and bushfires, looking at how climate change is affecting us and what impact humans are having on the environment.
The show will also make you laugh or cry. And on a good day, maybe both. They talk about poetry and history, about films and cakes and everything in between. Julia is passionate about grace and forgiveness so they talk a lot about that, but also about resilience and what makes us human.
At the end of each show, Julia and Jeremy talk about their “pick of the week”. It’s something that has made them think or giggle that week from the silliest Guinness World Record attempts to great books and silly Tiktoks.
They look at what shapes our politics here in Australia from Anthony Albanese to Peter Dutton. As the Federal Election looms they’ll unpack and explain some of the big issues that might affect your vote.
Jules and Jez also try to explain what’s going on in the world. They both follow US politics closely and will be watching to see what the next Donald Trump presidency means for the US and the world.
But it’s not all about politics. If it is in your Facebook or Instagram feed (or even on X) they will talk about it. They look at the pop culture figures who are shaping our world from Elon Musk to Mr Beast and Ariane Grande.
There’s also a focus on the issues that affect you like the cost-of-living crisis and the duopoly of the Supermarkets Coles and Woolworths. They’ve also looked at microplastics and bushfires, looking at how climate change is affecting us and what impact humans are having on the environment.
The show will also make you laugh or cry. And on a good day, maybe both. They talk about poetry and history, about films and cakes and everything in between. Julia is passionate about grace and forgiveness so they talk a lot about that, but also about resilience and what makes us human.
At the end of each show, Julia and Jeremy talk about their “pick of the week”. It’s something that has made them think or giggle that week from the silliest Guinness World Record attempts to great books and silly Tiktoks.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 19, 2025 • 39min
US Senators vote to release the Epstein files
Democrats and Republicans voted unanimously today to release the full Epstein files. Now it's up to Trump to sign the bill. He's been under increasing pressure over recent months to release the files and last week had a big falling out with Marjorie Taylor Greene who was previously a huge supporter of Trump and the MAGA movement.Jez and Jules also talk about Victoria's new Liberal leader, Jess Wilson, who is a moderate and a millennial.Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at notstupid@abc.net.au
Nov 12, 2025 • 38min
The women are coming. And they might ruin EVERYTHING
This week an article in the New York Times set group chats alight everywhere. "Are women ruining the workplace?" it asked. We have thoughts. And what do the resignations at the BBC tell us about the state of the media and power. The BBC's director-general and head of news resigned amid criticism of the broadcaster's editing of a speech Donald Trump delivered before protesters attacked the US Capitol.Julia Baird and guest host Chas Licciardello chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at notstupid@abc.net.auJules' pick: https://www.whitlam.org/women-and-whitlamChas' pick: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/F3HI1zugyU4EDITOR'S NOTE: In this episode, Chas Licciardello says that the BBC re-ordered the speech by Donald Trump. This is not correct. While Donald Trump mentioned "going to the Capitol" twice in the speech, the BBC ran the two grabs in the correct order but with almost an hour of speech in between.
Nov 5, 2025 • 33min
Are our phones re-wiring our friendships?
Could messaging apps be keeping us from REAL connection or do they enable connections we otherwise wouldn't have had...? The truth is it's complicated.Jules and Jez also chat about your stories of cleaners flying under the radar, the disconnect between avoiding news broadcasts and bingeing Mafia content, and the story behind a message in a bottle found on a remote beach in WA.Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez talk about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at notstupid@abc.net.au
Oct 29, 2025 • 29min
Who wins between Trump and China's Xi
As Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping meet for the first time since 2019, Jez and guest host Emma Shortis discuss the meeting and what it means for the future of the relationship between the two superpowers.And what can the New York mayoral race tell us about the future of the US Democratic Party?Jeremy Fernandez and Emma Shortis chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at notstupid@abc.net.au
Oct 22, 2025 • 40min
The sordid allegations sinking Prince Andrew
Prince Andrew will no longer be called "the Duke of York" following further revelations about his relationship with US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Jules and Jez chat about what we now know and the lack of transparency in the royal family.And while Barnaby Joyce has led to lots of new speculation about the future of the Coalition, there are calls for the Liberal Party to do more to reconnect with women. A leader of a grassroots movement aimed at boosting female representation in the party says the Liberals risk staying in long-term opposition unless it stops dismissing women as “woke”. Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at notstupid@abc.net.au
Oct 15, 2025 • 38min
It somehow feels like Trump won the peace prize...
Despite not winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Trump has been dominating the headlines (as usual), and the real winner: Venezuelan politician and activist, Maria Corina Machado, even thanked him. As violence erupts in Gaza, the real question is whether Trump’s peace plan will hold.Jules and Jez also preview the Boyer Lectures which focus on democracy, and they talk about why Australia’s ‘democracy experiment’ is an important global benchmark. And stick around for their picks of the week where we find out about a dog with attitude and communicating with cuttlefish. Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at notstupid@abc.net.au
Oct 8, 2025 • 36min
Donald Trump and the Nobel Peace Prize
It's no secret that US President Donald Trump wants to win The Nobel Peace Prize. Badly. Barack Obama won it in 2009 and Trump has repeatedly said he deserves the prize. Jules and Jez take a look at previous recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize which include Martin Luther King Jr, Nelsen Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, Mother Teresa, Desmond Tutu and the Red Cross.But the Nobel Peace Prize hasn't been without controversy. So could Trump actually make the cut, and is the award still even relevant?Jules and Jez also talk about the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, who is now ceremonial head of 85 million Anglicans in over 165 countries.Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at notstupid@abc.net.au
Oct 1, 2025 • 37min
The gaping hole in Trump’s peace plan
While there's a lot of hope around Trump's 20-point proposal for peace in Gaza, Jules and Jez look at a crucial piece that's missing from it.And despite LGBTQI+ education modules and an action plan, the end of the AFL season has been marred once again by homophobia. Perhaps men's footy could learn a thing or two from the Matildas.Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at notstupid@abc.net.au
Sep 23, 2025 • 36min
Kirk, Kimmel and the fight for free speech
Thousands turned out for Charlie Kirk's memorial, but there seems to be a disconnect between Christian values and the policies of the Trump administration.While Jimmy Kimmel is back following a huge backlash against the FCC crackdown, journalism and free speech in the United States is still under threat.Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at notstupid@abc.net.au
Sep 17, 2025 • 38min
Charlie Kirk and Trump's divided America
Tyler Robinson has been charged with the murder of Charlie Kirk, but in the week following the death of the right wing commentator and activist, there have been plenty of claims and conspiracy theories about what happened and who is really responsible. Julia Baird and guest host Chas Licciardello attempt to make sense of the week and wonder if America under this Trump administration really is more divided than ever. Join them every week as they chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at notstupid@abc.net.au
