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
Sep 30, 2025 • 11min
Change is in the air at Seven West, and an Aussie power couple calls it quits
Wednesday, 1 October: Change is in the air at Seven West; Albanese backs the Gaza plan; Interest rates are held steady; And an Aussie power couple calls it quits...
SPONSORED: Head online and search for 'Bankwest Virtual Card' to find out their T&Cs.
You can read more about Trump's plan for Gaza here.
Here's a timeline of Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman's relationship, if you want to wander down memory lane...
And if you need some light relief, we'll point you in the direction of this timeless raccoon video.
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, Kate Watson and Jodie Speers - 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.
Sep 30, 2025 • 17min
Squiz Shortcuts: Tylenol, RFK Jr and Make America Healthy Again
Last week, US President Donald Trump issued some health advice to pregnant women to avoid paracetamol, an ingredient in certain pain relief drugs, that had medical experts rushing to clarify the science… The advice came from a report ordered by US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr - he’s the one behind the Make America Healthy Again movement, and he’s driving some big changes in the US health industry… So in this Squiz Shortcut we’ll look at why last week caused such a stir, who RFK Jr is and what his agenda means for the rest of the world - and us here in Oz…
SPONSORED: Check out CDU’s Summer Semester courses here
Squiz Recommends:
Listening: to this episode of The New Yorker’s podcast The Political Scene titled How MAHA is sowing vaccine confusion if you’d like to know a bit more about what’s been going on at the CDC and the politicisation of health in the US.
this article from CNN which fact checks the claims Trump made in his statement about Tylenol last week, as well as information about autism.
Watching: here's the link to Trump's full announcement, for balance.
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
Prefer to watch this episode? Check it out on YouTube here
Sep 29, 2025 • 11min
Another Optus outage strikes, and New Zealand's favourite bird
Tuesday, 30 September: Another Optus outage strikes; Trump announces a Gaza peace plan; The Women's Cricket World Cup begins; And New Zealand's favourite bird...
SPONSORED: Check out Charles Darwin University’s Summer Semester courses here.
Here's a link to a liveblog so you can follow along with developments on this morning's Gaza peace plan announcement.
Here's a schedule for the Women's Cricket World Cup.
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, Kate Watson and Jodie Speers - 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.
Sep 28, 2025 • 11min
Trump targets a former FBI boss, and a date with the Devil
Monday, 29 September: Trump targets a former FBI boss; Albanese meets with King Charles; The Lions defeat the Cats; And a date with the Devil...
SPONSORED: Check out Charles Darwin University’s Summer Semester courses here
SPONSORED: Head online and search for 'Bankwest Virtual Card' to find out their T&Cs.
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, Kate Watson and Jodie Speers - 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.
Sep 26, 2025 • 11min
Weekly Wrap Preview: Making sense of what went down at the UN
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 Squizers are across what we’re talking about. A lot of headlines came out of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week, so we pulled out the major themes to make sense of it all.
Listen to the full episode on the News Club show feed. And while you’re there, check out ‘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
Video editor: Charlie Devenport
Researcher: Nicoletta Hay
Sep 25, 2025 • 12min
The PM speaks at the UN, and a name to watch at the ARIAs
Friday, 26 September: The PM speaks at the UN; The battle for Bradfield is over; It's Grand Final time in Aussie Rules, And a name to watch at the ARIAs...
SPONSORED: Search for ‘The Business Of’ in your podcast app, have a listen and hit follow.
SPONSORED: Head online and search for 'Bankwest Virtual Card' to find out more - and here's the T&Cs.
Here's an AFL Grand Final preview, and a couple of guides to this weekend's NRL and NRLW prelim finals.
You can check out the full list of ARIA nominees here.
Here's the Missy Higgins ARIAs performance.
Watch the trailer for Kangaroo here.
And if you need something to snack on this weekend, these prawn ceviche tostadas might hit the spot...
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, Kate Watson and Jodie Speers - 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.
Sep 25, 2025 • 17min
Squiz Shortcuts: Much ado about Labubus
You've probably spotted them around - cute but slightly creepy plush dolls with cheeky grins and pointy teeth. They're called Labubu dolls, and they've gone from quirky collectibles to must-have accessories thanks to fashion influencers and celebrities jumping on the bandwagon. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we'll explain what on earth a Labubu is and how these little monsters became such big business...
Sponsored - Head online and search for 'Bankwest Virtual Card' to find out there T&Cs.
Squiz Recommends:
Watching: This short YouTube video produced by Pop Mart about artist Kasing Lung’s journey creating Labubu. He’s talking about it during a signing event at the Louvre in Paris, no less. It’s got subtitles but it’s a sweet look at what he loves about the character…
Reading: This Vogue article featuring some very fashionable people speaking about their Labubu collections and why they’ve got them…
Perusing: Naomi Osaka’s Labubus Billie Jean Bling and Arthur Flashe…
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
Prefer to watch this episode? Check it out on YouTube here
Sep 24, 2025 • 12min
A state of emergency at Optus, and an early Oscar front-runner...
Thursday, 25 September: A state of emergency at Optus, The super typhoon moves over China; Jimmy Kimmel returns, and an early Oscar front-runner...
SPONSORED: Head online and search for 'Bankwest Virtual Card' to find out the T&Cs.
Here the Smart Traveller advice for China
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, Kate Watson and Jodie Speers - 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.
Sep 23, 2025 • 11min
Albanese locks in a Trump meeting, and Fat Bear Week returns
Wednesday, 24 September: Albanese locks in a Trump meeting; A super typhoon threatens Asia, Jimmy Kimmel is back; And so is Fat Bear Week...
SPONSORED: Head online and search for 'Bankwest Virtual Card' to find out the T&Cs.
You can read more about next year's Artemis II mission to the moon here.
And get up to speed on our favourite Squiz comp - Fat Bear Week - here.
And here's the link to our Airbnb survey - we appreciate your help!
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, Kate Watson and Jodie Speers - 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.
Sep 23, 2025 • 15min
Squiz Shortcuts: What's going on at the UN this week?
Leaders from around the world are in New York for ‘High-level Week’ at the 80th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. Our PM Anthony Albanese is there, and he’s got a lot on his agenda. He’s also facing pressure to lock in a meeting with US President Donald Trump and get relations back on track with our key ally... So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll take you through the role of the UN, what’s happening in High-level Week, and what Albanese hopes to achieve there…
Sponsored - Head online and search for 'Bankwest Virtual Card' to find out their T&Cs.
Squiz Recommends:
Reading: This UN paper titled: What to know ahead of the UN summit on the Question of Palestine which will get you across what’s up for discussion this week.
Watching: This short video produced by the UN about its 80th Anniversary and the organisation’s role in the world.
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
Prefer to watch this episode? Check it out on YouTube here
