Squiz Today
Squiz Media
A daily news podcast, getting you across the latest Australian and international news in under 10 minutes. Agenda-free, independent, and delivered by hosts that'll come to feel like mates. It's the news without the noise, cutting through with a touch of analysis and an eye on what's coming next. And there's always a quirky news story or two to give a touch of balance to the news of the day. News for busy people, out 6am weekday, perfect for your morning routine.The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed.Top tip - check out The Squiz Today newsletter. It's the daily news stories, in your inbox each weekday at 6am, with links and more info to all the stories covered in The Squiz Today podcast. Sign up at www.thesquiz.com.au - it's free.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 31, 2025 • 11min
A plan for immigration detainees, and when AI goes wrong
Monday, 1 September: A plan for immigration detainees; The Houthis' leader is killed; Runners turn out in record numbers; And when AI goes wrong...
SPONSORED: Squizers can get 15% off* with the code SQUIZ15 here. The offer’s good until 6 October 2025. *T&Cs apply. Cover is subject to the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions set out in the PDS.
You can get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news).
Other things we do:
Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties!
Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it.
Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers.
Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style.
Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics
Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.
Aug 30, 2025 • 26min
Table tennis, Trump talks and Taylor Swift: The Squiz Quiz of the Month
On this episode of the Squiz Quiz. we're testing your knowledge of everything that happened in August with Squiz Founder Claire Kimball and Content Manager Nicoletta Hay. Can you best our in-studio guests?
Here's a quick scoring guide if you're playing along at home:
The quiz has 10 questions.
Each question is worth 1 point (for a total of 10).
The final round is worth a maximum of 5 points - Andrew will read 5 quotes about a news story - the faster you identify the story, the more points you get!
The final score is out of a possible 15 points.
SPONSORED: If you’re keen to discover your next regional escape, check out Airbnb’s Hidden Vines Guide at airbnb.com/hiddenvines
SPONSORED: Search for ‘AGSM The Business Of' in your podcast app.
Aug 29, 2025 • 9min
Weekly Wrap Preview: The search for Dezi Freeman and the sovereign citizen movement
Each Saturday, we wrap up the news of the week with the (imaginatively named) Weekly Wrap podcast on our News Club show. We’re putting the main story here because we want to ensure our Squiz Today audience is across what we’re talking about. And today we talk about the continuing manhunt for sovereign citizen Dezi Freeman, who is suspected of killing 2 police officers and injuring a third. We’ll get you up to speed with the details of the incident, the search, and what exactly a sovereign citizen is.
Listen to the full episode on the News Club show feed. And while you’re there, listen to episode 1 of our new series ‘The Big Threat’ that looks at how other democracies are equipping their populations to recognise and resist mis- and disinformation, and what Australia can learn from them.
Watch all our episodes on YouTube
Follow us on Instagram: @TheSquiz
PS: If you love what we do, the best way to support us is by clicking ‘follow’ on Apple or Spotify. A huge thanks to those who drop us a 5-star review, or even better - spread the word about Squiz Today and News Club with your friends, family, colleagues... even your barista.
Hosts: Claire Kimball & Jodie Speers
Producer & Editor: Ryan Pemberton
Researcher: Nicoletta Hay
Aug 28, 2025 • 13min
A meeting mix-up confuses Canberra; and some beautiful BBQ chicken...
Friday 29 August: A meeting mix-up causes confusion in Canberra; the manhunt in Victoria is still going, a major marathon is set for Sydney; and some beautiful BBQ chicken...
SPONSORED: If you’re keen to discover your next regional escape, check out Airbnb’s Hidden Vines Guide at airbnb.com/hiddenvines
SPONSORED: Search for ‘AGSM The Business Of' in your podcast app.
Our Friday Lites links:
Hank Green's Focus Friend app
This review of With Love, Meghan from The Guardian
And this delish RecipeTinEats Korean BBQ Chicken
You can check out our new series, The Big Threat, here, on the News Club channel.
You can get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news).
Other things we do:
Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties!
Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it.
Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers.
Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style.
Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics
Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.
Aug 28, 2025 • 15min
Squiz Shortcuts Series: Menopause 101
There’s no doubt - menopause and perimenopause are having a moment. So we’re starting our Squiz Shortcuts Series with Dr Sarah White from Jean Hailes for Women’s Health. She talks to Gillian Bradford about what’s happening to our bodies, some of the common symptoms, and when women should be seeing their doctor for help.
Head to welleco.com.au for 15% off with the code SQUIZP15.
Recommendations:
Reading: This perimenopause and menopause symptom checklist and this easy menopause info.
Watch all our episodes on YouTube
Follow us on Instagram: @TheSquiz
PS: If you love what we do, the best way to support us is by clicking ‘follow’ on Apple or Spotify. A huge thanks to those who drop us a 5-star review, or even better - spread the word about Squiz Shortcuts with your friends, family, colleagues... even your barista.
Aug 27, 2025 • 13min
A manhunt is still underway in Victoria, and picking up the foam...
Thursday 28 August: A manhunt is still underway in Victoria, Linda Reynolds has a legal win, a major first for the AFL, and picking up the foam....
SPONSORED: If you’re keen to discover your next regional escape, check out Airbnb’s Hidden Vines Guide at airbnb.com/hiddenvines
You can watch the Four Corners episode on sovereign citizens here
Here's a link to the beer foam story
Here's some background on the Richard Boyle case
You can check out our new series, The Big Threat, here, on the News Club channel.
You can get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news).
Other things we do:
Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties!
Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it.
Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers.
Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style.
Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics
Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.
Aug 26, 2025 • 13min
Challenging Iran over antisemitic attacks, and Swift and Kelce are engaged
Wednesday, 27 August: Challenging Iran over antisemitic attacks; a manhunt is underway in Victoria; Australia Post pauses parcel deliveries, and Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are engaged...
SPONSORED: If you’re keen to discover your next regional escape, check out Airbnb’s Hidden Vines Guide at airbnb.com/hiddenvines
Here's that DFAT advice around Iran
Here's an explainer to the Linda Reynolds/Brittany Higgins defamation case
Here's a link to our YouTube channel - a subscribe would be hugely appreciated!
You can check out our new series, The Big Threat, here, on the News Club channel.
You can get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news).
Other things we do:
Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties!
Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it.
Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers.
Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style.
Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics
Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.
Aug 26, 2025 • 15min
Squiz Shortcuts: What came out of the Economic Reform Roundtable?
Last week in Canberra, the federal government brought together a group of politicians, business leaders, unions and experts for the Economic Reform Roundtable. The aim of the game was to brainstorm ideas to boost productivity and strengthen the economy. Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the meeting generated at least 10 'quick wins' and 10 other long-term ideas to work on... So we thought we'd get you across what led up to it, and what came out of it...
SPONSORED: For more tips on making your home energy efficient and saving money on your power bills, visit Origin Energy's podcast So Watt? here: http://www.originenergy.com.au/sowatt
Squiz Recommends:
Reading: Michelle Grattan's piece for The Conversation includes a handy list of all 10 quick wins and 10 reform directions, in case you'd like to make your own government progress checklist.
Email us: Got a topic you want us to tackle? Send us your Shortcut suggestions to hello@thesquiz.com.au.
Squiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories…
Want the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here
Aug 25, 2025 • 13min
Erin Patterson returns to court, and a Netflix hit takes over cinemas
Tuesday, 26 August: Erin Patterson returns to court, the government picks up the pace on housing, it's another day of sunscreen trouble, and a Netflix hit takes over cinemas...
SPONSORED: If you’re keen to discover your next regional escape, check out Airbnb’s Hidden Vines Guide at airbnb.com/hiddenvines
Here's a link to the (hopefully operational) Housing Australia website
Keen for more KPop Demon Hunters analysis? We got you
Here's a link to our YouTube channel - a subscribe would be hugely appreciated!
You can check out our new series, The Big Threat, here, on the News Club channel.
You can get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news).
Other things we do:
Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties!
Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it.
Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers.
Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style.
Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics
Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.
Aug 24, 2025 • 13min
Australians take to the streets over Palestine, and mapping out some changes
Monday, 25 August: Australians take to the streets over Palestine; Federal parliament is back in session; The US Open gets underway, and mapping out some changes
SPONSORED: If you’re keen to discover your next regional escape, check out Airbnb’s Hidden Vines Guide at airbnb.com/hiddenvines
Here's a link to those maps we mentioned - you can actually scroll between the 2 to see the differences in this article
You can read the results of our 2025 Squiz survey here.
You can check out our new series, The Big Threat, here, on the News Club channel.
You can get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news).
Other things we do:
Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties!
Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it.
Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers.
Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style.
Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics
Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.
