All podcast episodes

Podcast

Unpacking An Omnishambles with Dr Rachael Burgin

In light of the verdict on Bruce Lehrmann's defamation case against Channel 10, the Spin Cycle team are joined by Dr Rachael Burgin, senior lecturer at Swinburne University and CEO of Rape and…

Podcast

Shit Rentals' Jordie Van Der Berg opens up about empty houses

Advocate for the right to housing, Jordan van den Berg, aka Purple Pingers, joins Jess and Rachel to talk about how the media have responded to his recent campaign to create a database…

Podcast

Sara M Saleh on Palestine as Liberatory Praxis

Human rights lawyer and author, Sarah M Saleh joins the team to discuss her recent piece in Meanjin's Autumn issue. Together they examine censorship and limits on free speech evident in recent artistic…

Podcast

Are news rooms equiped to handle complex mental health issues of their staff?

Jess is joined by Rachel Withers editor in chief of the politics to speak to investigative journalist Jarni Blakkarly who asks the question "are news rooms equiped for mental health of staff?" also…

Podcast

Spin Cycle - 21 March 2024

An episode of Spin Cycle from 21st March 2024.

Podcast

Looking back to understand the present in news media

Journalist and writer Jonathan Green joins Charlie and Rachel to unpack his new piece for The Monthly Whose ABC?, which applies a historical context to understand the current state of affairs and…

Podcast

Spin Cycle - 29 February 2024

An episode of Spin Cycle from 29th February 2024.

Podcast

What kind of journalism do we need in Australia's Future?

Tito Ambyo, writer, researcher, producer, and RMIT journalism lecturer, joins Jess and Charlie on this week's Spin Cycle. 

He shares his thoughts on the practice of journalism and its future. What does it…

Podcast

What should be reported in the public interest?

This week, Jess is joined by Prof. Peter Greste from Alliance for Journalists' Freedom. Together they discuss his own experience with the law and press freedom in Eygpt and how Australia treats freedom…

Podcast

How counter-terrorism cops allegedly radicalised a 13 year old autistic youth

The Guardian's Justice and Courts Reporter Nino Bucci, joins the Spin Cycle team to talk about his wild reporting into court findings that an undercover operation by counter-terrorism cops in the AFP may…

Podcast

What's in store for '24?

Jess, Charlie and Rachel return for the first episode of Spin Cycle in 2024! They kick off a mammoth week in the news media with a detailed look at Antoinette Lattouf's claim of…

Podcast

The year 2023 in media

In the final episode of Soin Cycle for the year, Jess, Charlie and Rachel revisit the highlights of the Australian media in 2023. They also wrap up the media stories of the past…

Podcast

Why can’t our news media grasp complexity?

Jess and Rachel are joined by Crikey media reporter Daany Saeed to discuss laws in relation to indefinite detention, illegal migration and how the media sensationalises fragments of full stories to create catchy…

Podcast

Defamation, power and bias

Media and human rights law specialist Michael Bradley talks to Charlie and Rachel about the changes in the public and media’s approach to defamation in recent years, with a particular focus on the…

Podcast

Investigations into gun laws in Australia

Charlie and Jess are joined by returning co-host, Meanjin editor Esther Anatolitis. Together they talk to Sarah Elks, senior reporter for The Australian in Brisbane, about her recent investigative series on gun laws…

Podcast

Will laws around whistleblowing ever change?

Eddie Lloyd is a criminal lawyer and close friend to former Australian Defence Force (ADF) lawyer David McBride. She's been attending and closely following McBride's trial for leaking secret information to journalists about…

Podcast

Misinformation and disinformation in online media

Dr Jay Daniel Thompson from RMIT joins Charlie and Rachel to discuss the government's proposed digital/online misinformation bill. Together they look at the issues in the language of the proposal and how mis-…

Podcast

Privacy, defamation and protection in the law

This week on Spin Cycle Jess and Charlie talk to Professor Rick Sarre about the recent change in Queensland law that allows the naming of the accused when they are charged in sexual…

Podcast

How does power interfere with the transfer of information?

Jess flies solo this week on Spin Cycle and is joined by Daany Saeed, media reporter for Crikey News. Together they discuss the ABC's potential disclosure of footage collected in confidence, the leaking…

Podcast

How did the media perform on the Voice referendum?

Charlie is joined by returning guest host Rachel Withers of The Monthly. Together they talk to the Centre for Advancing Journalism's media ethics expert and Senior Research Fellow, Dr Denis Muller. 

They discuss…

Podcast

Context and the media

Jess and Rachel are joined by Peter Lewis of Essential Media to talk about polling, given its prominence in the lead up to the Voice to Parliament referendum. What's the process how do…

Podcast

How gambling advertising is affecting Australia's youth

Rachel Withers and Jess Lilley are joined by Natasha May, Health reporter for The Guardian Australia, to discuss a special report into the rise in youth gambling - the team ask whether parents…

Podcast

Investigating Mike Pezzullo with Nick McKenzie

Award winning Investigative journalist Nick Mckenzie (The Age) joins Jess, Charlie and Rachel Withers, to discuss a groundbreaking investigation to former Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo.

The team also discuss the resignations of…

Podcast

First Nations Stories for Spring, Russell Brand Allegations and ScoMo's Book

A note that this episode contains discussion of sexual assault. If you or anyone requires support, you can call the National Sexual Assault, Family and Domestic Violence Counselling line on 1800 737 732

Podcast

The media and The Voice

Charlie and Jess are joined by host of The Mission, Daniel James and contributing editor for The Monthly, Rachel Withers. Together they discuss the media's focus on negativity, outrage headlines and disinformation in…

Podcast

Trans representation in the Australian media

The Spin Cycle team are joined by writer, critic and activist Natalie Feliks to discuss the anti-trans angle of 7 News' Spotlight on de-transitioning. They also talk more broadly about trans representation in…

Podcast

Radiothon 2023

What's Radiothon you ask?  It's the time of the year that we ask you, the listeners of Spin Cycle, to help donate and support Triple R - the radio station that helps power…

Podcast

Boomers v Millennials

This week on Spin Cycle, Jess & Rachel are joined by Xavier George, recent guest on Insight for their “Boomers vs Millennials” episode - which tackled all things generational divide. 

Plus the team…

Podcast

Rupert Murdoch's Early Years

Charlie Lewis flies solo this week while Jess Lilley is on break.

Author and journalist Walter Marsh joins the show to talk about his new book Young Rupert - chronicling the power and…

Podcast

Supporting Youth Journalism

High school student journalists Aidan Sinclair and Saskia De Leeuw Kyle join Jess and Charlie to discuss the YMCA Victorian Youth Parliament and its Youth Press Gallery program. They consider whether the environment…

Podcast

Is arts journalism still valued in the media?

As Barbenheimer floods cinema screens this week, the Spin Cycle team takes a look at arts and culture journalism in Australia. 
Jess and Charlie are joined by Brodie Landcaster, author and freelance cultural…

Podcast

From Real Estate To Whistleblowing

Charlie Lewis is away this week. Jess captains the good ship Spin Cycle with special guest co-hosts Rachel Withers (Contributing editor at The Monthly) and Esther Anatolitis (Editor of Meanjin).

They chat to…

Podcast

Diving deep into teal

Rachel Withers joins Jess and Charlie in the studio to discuss her recent piece for The Monthly. What does it mean to be a 'Teal Independent', and what do they tell us about…

Podcast

Gambling and the media

Associate professor of public health and preventative medicine, Charles Livingstone, joins Jess and Charlie to talk about the media and gambling. They discuss the politics, research, and recommendations, and ask the question

Podcast

Understanding trauma experience and response in journalism

Jess and Charlie's guest is Kimina Lyall, Deputy CEO of Dart Centre Asia Pacific, a clinical psychologist and a former journalist. She talks to the team about trauma literacy in the Australian media…

Podcast

The Many Lives of MP Warren Entsch

Jess is joined by senior reporter for The Australian, Sarah Elks, to discuss Sarah's jaw dropping series of investigative reports into long-time QLD MP, Warren Entsch. From spiriting a billionaire to Thursday Island…

Podcast

Counter-journalism and Trials By Media

Media ethics expert and long-time journalist, Denis Muller returns to Spin Cycle to join Charlie for a discussion on the past week's news. What does the ABC's redundancy of Andrew Probyn and his…

Podcast

An Inside Look at Pentecostalism in Australia

Jess and Charlie are joined by journalist Marc Fennell for a discussion about the making of his new SBS documentary The Kingdom, his personal history with the church, and the changing face…

Podcast

Australians Newspaper Empires & The Ben Roberts-Smith Verdict

Academic and Author Sally Young joins Jess and Charlie to discuss Australia's media mogul history and her new book, Media Monsters: The Transformation of Australia's Newspaper Empires. The team also cover this…

Podcast

The media and Stan Grant

After Stan Grant's departure from the ABC, hosts Jess and Charlie discuss how various corners of the media responded, and the broader lack of inclusion and support of Indigenous voices in the Australian…