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 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.
Aug 22, 2025 • 10min
Weekly Wrap Preview: We’ve got you covered on Trump, Putin, Zelensky, Netanyahu and Albanese
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’ll get you across the rough week for the Australia-Israel relationship… Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is furious about the Albanese Government's decision to recognise Palestinian statehood, and took aim at our PM this week. We also cover where we've landed with Russia-Ukraine after a week of talks about ending the war.
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 21, 2025 • 13min
An NDIS shakeup raises some questions, and a breezy biryani
Friday, 22 August: An NDIS shakeup raises eyebrows; the government's economic roundtable wraps up; It's a big weekend of sport; and a breezy biryani
Here's a picture of Wonkito, the giraffe with the crooked neck
Here's the recipe for the quick and easy lamb biryani
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.
Aug 21, 2025 • 11min
Squiz Shortcuts: How Aimee Betro went from a dating app to an assassination plot
A bizarre court case over a botched suburban assassination attempt by an American woman named Aimee Betro on behalf of her English boyfriend has been making headlines in the UK and the US. Before coming to a verdict, the jury in the case heard details of a fist-fight in a bridalwear store, a revenge plan by a father and son, and a faulty weapon that jammed at a crucial moment. Then there was the international manhunt involving the FBI, 2 police forces and a tabloid… So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll get you across how Betro was eventually caught, and where the court proceedings are up to…
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: As we said, there’s a lot to take in with this case, so this wrap up by the BBC is a good one if you’d like to read a bit more about it.
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 20, 2025 • 13min
Our diplomatic tensions with Israel grow, and a new moon discovery
Thursday, 21 August: Our diplomatic tensions with Israel grow; Reviewing Victoria's childcare system; A footy star is in hot water; And a new moon discovery...
SPONSORED: For more tips on making your home energy efficient and saving money on your power bills, check out Origin Energy's podcast So Watt? here.
Here's our Shortcut on Palestinian statehood.
And if the story about abuse in Victoria's childcare system raised any issues for you, you can find some national support services here.
Here's a link for Daffodil Day
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.
