Best Disinformed Content Media Podcasts (2025)

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What is “content” doing to our sense of value? 53:22

Play Pause

4d ago53:22

53:22

In a digital age, it’s all about “content”. The post or tweet or reel or video or pod is nothing without something in it that permits it to be shared, to circulate, to attract attention, to promote engagement. What matters is the fact of circulation, not the usefulness or accuracy or beauty of what is circulating. In other words, “content” is gener…

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AI Wins Copyright Battle, Replaces Workers — and Sparks a Donkeycorn Revolution 15:30

5d ago15:30

15:30

From a precedent-setting copyright smackdown to Salesforce quietly replacing humans with code, this week’s AI headlines feel less “pro-tech utopia” and more “please grab your emotional support water bottle.” Host Shira Lazar breaks down the five biggest stories—plus one bonus nightmare—in her signature no-BS, heavy-sarcasm style. 🎙 This episode is …

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No Gatekeepers: King Willonius on AI, BBL Drizzy & the Future of Creativity 27:41

9d ago27:41

27:41

King Willonius went viral with BBL Drizzy—an AI-generated hit that made people dance, laugh, and even get married. In this live episode from C2 Montreal, we talk about how AI is redefining who gets to create and what creativity even means in 2025. From writing lyrics in ChatGPT to generating full songs with UDO, syncing video with Runway or Pika, c…

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Can the cinematic genius of “Jaws” overcome its problematic legacy? 53:34

11d ago53:34

53:34

As soon as it was published in February 1974, Peter Benchley’s novel “Jaws” was a sensation and remained on the New York Times best-seller list for over ten months. It continued to loom large in the public consciousness when, just 16 months after its publication, a 27-year-old Steven Spielberg adapted it for the big screen. While “Jaws” was the thi…

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How AI Is Fueling Protest Disinformation — And What You Can Do About It 38:01

16d ago38:01

38:01

Disinformation is evolving—and AI is helping it spread. Shira Lazar sits down with Wired’s David Gilbert to unpack how fake news, AI-generated chaos, and collapsing trust online are reshaping journalism, politics, and public perception. 🎙 This episode is Sponsored by: HiveLighter — Smart summaries. Real insights. More doing, less scrolling. This we…

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Israel/Iran: What are the ethical and legal limits of self-defence? 53:35

18d ago53:35

53:35

On 12 June, Israel initiated a devastating series of strikes on Iran — the goal of which was evidently to diminish the nation’s increasingly problematic nuclear program and to “decapitate” the nation’s top military leaders and nuclear scientists. There is no doubt these attacks were meticulously planned and represent the culmination of a long-term …

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Midjourney Made $300M, Disney’s Fuming, and AI Pets Are TV Stars Now: What Is Going On?! 14:25

19d ago14:25

14:25

From Disney’s billion-dollar copyright battle to therapy chatbots going dangerously off-script, this week’s AI headlines are as surreal as they are urgent. Host Shira Lazar breaks down the wildest stories dominating the AI conversation—plus a new genre that might just save us all: AI pet soap operas. 🎙 This episode is Sponsored by: PRophet Human Le…

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What Just Happened in AI? Find Out Now! 21:30

24d ago21:30

21:30

Shira Lazar spotlights the week’s biggest AI stories—from classrooms and ad agencies to mental health clinics—exploring how artificial intelligence is quietly reshaping how we learn, think, and create. This episode is sponsored by PRophet Human Led. AI Fed. And HiveLighter — Smart summaries. Real insights. More doing, less scrolling. This week on T…

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Where to now for conservative politics in Australia? 54:10

25d ago54:10

54:10

Between 1996 and 2022, for all but a brief and tumultuous six-year hiatus, the Coalition has governed Australia. Over this period, not only did the Liberal and National parties dominate federal politics, they defined the terrain upon which the political contest itself would be fought. On any number of policy fronts — from border security and immigr…

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Inside Coca-Cola’s Viral AI Ad: Can Machines Create Culture? 41:54

1M ago41:54

41:54

Eric W. Shamlin breaks down how AI is transforming everything from high-budget ad campaigns to human connection—blurring the lines between innovation, emotion, and employment. This episode is sponsored by PRophet Human Led. AI Fed. And HiveLighter — Smart summaries. Real insights. More doing, less scrolling. This week on The AI Download, Shira Laza…

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The moral problem of monstrous artists, with Anna Funder: Live from the Sydney Writers’ Festival 53:44

1M ago53:44

53:44

It is a problem many people increasingly feel they can neither avoid nor ignore: we could characterise it as the problem of loving the art, but being unsettled by the behaviour or the beliefs of the artist who created it. This is a perfectly serviceable way of grasping the outline of the matter, but, on further reflection, it fails to get to its he…

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Google’s AI Power Grab, the Side Hustle Illusion, and the Gender Gap Widening 35:44

1M ago35:44

35:44

From eerily realistic video tools to AI-powered shopping and smart glasses saving lives—Google’s latest AI reveals are changing everything. ZDNet’s Sabrina Ortiz joins Shira Lazar on The AI Download to break it all down and share her tips for staying human in an AI-powered world. This episode is sponsored by HiveLighter. Smart summaries. Real insig…

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“Progressive patriotism” — is it an idea whose time has come? 54:14

1M ago54:14

54:14

Fresh from a commanding victory at the federal election, Anthony Albanese began to bundle his campaign policy offerings together in a new package — not just to give these political commitments a kind of internal coherence, but also to stake out what could be distinctive about his premiership as a whole. The term he reached for to sum it all up is “…

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Agents of the Future: David Yang on the Rise of AI Employees and the Business Revolution Ahead 47:33

1M ago47:33

47:33

Are AI agents here to steal your job—or save your business? Newo.ai founder David Yang joins Shira Lazar to break down the next big shift in artificial intelligence and what it means for entrepreneurs, employees, and society. This episode is sponsored by HiveLighter. Smart summaries. Real insights. More doing, less scrolling. On this episode of The…

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Why is our response to humanitarian crises so complicated — and inconsistent? 52:49

2M ago52:49

52:49

Over the last two years, many in Australia and around the world have watched in horror as Sudan, Gaza and other zones of mass violence descend into humanitarian crises of devastating proportions. And while the cause of each crisis is unique, the consequences tend to share common characteristics — for especially civilians: millions of people are dis…

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Make AI Films like a Pro with Paige Piskin's Top Tips 54:48

2M ago54:48

54:48

How Paige Piskin’s AR designs captivated 300 billion views and what’s next for the future of augmented reality and AI-driven storytelling. This episode is sponsored by HiveLighter. https://www.hivelighter.ai/ On this episode of The AI Download, Shira Lazar welcomes renowned XR and VFX artist Paige Piskin. With over 300 billion views and 1.3 billion…

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Is it only “joy” when it’s shared? 54:03

2M ago54:03

54:03

“Joy” is a strange kind of word. It describes a feeling that we all know, but do not know exactly how to value. It’s not happiness — which can, after all, be interior, quiet and express itself as a kind of contentment — nor is it merely pleasure (even though, in many languages, “pleasure” and “joy” are etymologically related). Joy is not only more …

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Australian voters have spoken — do we know what they said? 54:29

2M ago54:29

54:29

After any election, a narrative of sorts must be woven out of the disparate threads of the votes of so many individuals in so many seats. Which is to say, there has to be an act of discernment to hear what “the people” are trying to communicate — to make their will legible, as it were. Despite a relatively modest increase in Labor’s primary vote, t…

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PR vs. the Machines: Aaron Kwittken on AI’s Role in Trust, Crisis & Comms Culture 59:10

2M ago59:10

59:10

Can AI pitch better than a publicist? In this episode, we find out. This episode is sponsored by Hivelighter. On this episode of The AI Download, Shira Lazar is joined by PR innovator and CEO of PRophet.ai, Aaron Kwittken, for a high-energy conversation that pulls no punches. From industry disruption to ethical meltdowns at Meta, Kwittken shares hi…

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Is disillusionment a feature of democratic politics, not a bug? 53:40

2M ago53:40

53:40

Democracy is often lauded as a peculiarly just and effective form of government — one that enjoys the benefits that flow from twin virtues of popular engagement and political accountability. And yet the effectiveness and resilience of democratic politics depends on the trust voters have in political institutions. When those institutions are felt no…

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AI, Dating, and the Tech Intimacy Scale: Cathy Hackl on the Human Future 56:17

2M ago56:17

56:17

Can AI help us feel more, not less? This episode is sponsored byHivelighter. On this episode of The AI Download, Shira Lazar is joined by tech futurist and “Godmother of the Metaverse” Cathy Hackl for a refreshingly real conversation about the emotional and ethical layers of artificial intelligence. From dating experiments at TED to climate-saving …

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What are we doing when we vote? 53:52

2M ago53:52

53:52

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the first federal election to be held in Australia after the passage of Senator Herbert Payne’s private member’s bill, which made voting compulsory. In 1922, only 57.95 per cent of registered voters turned out. Payne’s home state of Tasmania had the poorest showing (45.93 per cent), whereas Queensland — wher…

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Exploring TikTok as a Virtual Community (Alyssa, Giovanna, and Kahmari) 26:58

3M ago26:58

26:58

In this episode, Alyssa, Kahmari, and Giovanna explore the intricacies of virtual communities on TikTok. They discuss various scholarly articles and personal insights into how virtual communities function as communities of practice, the impact of algorithms, and the role of influencers. Key points include the positives and negatives of TikTok's alg…

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The Future of Film Is Ethical AI: Don Allen on Human-Centered Innovation & Robot Rights 1:04:22

3M ago1:04:22

1:04:22

What if the future of filmmaking wasn’t just AI-powered—but artist-first? This episode is sponsored by Hivelighter. What if the future of filmmaking wasn’t just AI-powered—but artist-first? On this week’s AI Download, Shira Lazar sits down with futurist and creative technologist Don Allen III, Creative AI Pipeline Director at Asteria, one of the fi…

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Can Australia’s federal election escape the shadow of Donald Trump? 53:56

3M ago53:56

53:56

If there is ever a time when politicians should be able to expect a fair share of the public’s attention, it’s during an election campaign. After all, this triennial event is when they can demonstrate to the Australian public that they’ve been attentive to their aspirations and concerns for the future, and have developed a series of policies able t…

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Future-Proofing Creativity, Careers & Dating? (with Taryn Southern) 1:04:23

3M ago1:04:23

1:04:23

From Tinder’s AI love assistant to the copyright chaos of generative content, this episode of The AI Download dives into how artificial intelligence is reshaping our personal and professional lives. Creative AI technologist Taryn Southern joins Shira Lazar for a deeply human look at how AI is transforming creativity, careers, and connection. This e…

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AI in education — is it a technology to be feared, or a tool to be taught? 58:00

3M ago58:00

58:00

This is the second of two episodes recorded in front of a live audience as part of a special “Week with Students”, a collaboration between Radio National and ABC Education. Over a short period of time, AI has become pervasive. Immensely powerful platforms have placed artificial intelligence at our fingertips, and more than two-thirds of Australian …

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The Social Spiral (Isabella, Kayla, and Mohammad) 14:34

3M ago14:34

14:34

Social media is a huge part of our everyday lives. From creating connections, building up careers, and just pure entertainment. However, as social media has its pros there are also its cons which go much deeper than its typical technological capabilities. Isabella, Kayla, and Mohammad go in depth on the major effects social media has on one’s menta…

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Are we on the brink of a world without books? On Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451” 1:00:43

3M ago1:00:43

1:00:43

This is the first of two episodes recorded in front of a live audience as part of a special “Week with Students”, a collaboration between Radio National and ABC Education. Of the three great dystopian novels published on either side of the Second World War — Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” (1931), George Orwell’s “Nineteen Eighty-Four” (1949) and…

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AI Art Backlash, Digital Clones & The Future of Work – ft. Sandy Carter 58:57

3M ago58:57

58:57

From Studio Ghibli-style AI art that broke ChatGPT to fashion models being cloned—and owned—by AI, this episode dives into the wild ethical frontier of generative tech. Sandy Carter joins to explore what we’re getting right, what we’re missing, and how to stay human in an AI-first world. This episode is sponsored by Hivelighter. In this powerful ep…

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AI Just Took Your Order—And Your Job? (feat. Nate Jones) 41:08

3M ago41:08

41:08

From Nvidia’s robot revolution to AI-powered dating profiles and fast food drive-thrus run by bots—AI is taking over. But what does that mean for our jobs, love lives, and ethics? This episode is sponsored by Hivelighter. In this jam-packed conversation, Shira Lazar is joined by producer Nadia G. and AI educator Nate Jones to break down the biggest…

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Ramadan: Is hope a flimsy emotion, or can it grow from devastation? 54:22

3M ago54:22

54:22

We arrive, at last, at the end of our Ramadan series — and the second of our pair of positive responses to radical disappointment with the world. For some, hope is untrustworthy, amounting to little more than dreaming or wish-fulfilment. For others, hope can turn into kind of bad faith demand, leading to dishonest politics (in the name of being up-…

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Discerning Truth in the AI Era (Michelle and Ryan) 20:43

3M ago20:43

20:43

In this episode, Ryan and Michelle dive into the critical topic of disinformation, explaining its distinction from misinformation. They explore the historical context of disinformation, its modern amplification through technology like generative AI and DeepFakes, and the real-world impacts these technologies have already had. The discussion highlig…

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AI’s Energy Crisis & the Future of Education with Dr. Chris Mattmann 42:16

4M ago42:16

42:16

AI’s rise isn’t just disrupting industries—it’s draining energy grids, rewriting education, and igniting a Hollywood war. Are we prepared for the consequences? This episode is sponsored by Hivelighter. In this must-listen episode, AI expert Dr. Chris Mattmann (Chief Data & AI Officer at UCLA, former NASA CTO) breaks down the hidden environmental co…

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Ramadan: Is optimism a virtue, or a form of moral evasion? 53:37

4M ago53:37

53:37

For the last two episodes, we’ve been discussing what might be called negative or aversive responses to radical disappointment with the world — even though, as we’ve seen, both despair and fear have characteristics which commend them. In the next two episodes, we’re turning to rather more positive responses. There is little doubt that pessimism enj…

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Mark Cuban: The Truth About AI, Healthcare & the Future of Jobs 56:54

4M ago56:54

56:54

AI is transforming industries at breakneck speed—revolutionizing healthcare, reshaping the job market, and redefining media. In this exclusive conversation, Mark Cuban shares his bold vision for AI, where he’s investing next, the future of work, and why transparency in tech is more critical than ever. This episode is sponsored by Hivelighter. AI is…

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Ramadan: Should we try to live without fear, or learn to face it together? 53:55

4M ago53:55

53:55

Throughout the month of Ramadan, we are examining the range of emotions that arise in response to radical disappointment with the state of the world. Last week, we looked at the centripetal emotion of despair — a response that can cause us to withdraw into ourselves. This week, we turn to the centrifugal emotion of fear — which can take the form of…

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Misinformation: Are You Sure That's What They Meant? (Cassidy, Evelyn, and Isaak) 25:16

4M ago25:16

25:16

Hop into the echo chamber of misinformation-information with Cassidy, Evelyn, and Isaak to learn about some common examples of bias controlling our interpretations of events. Whether in media, the news, or just everyday occurrences, your personal world view can shape how you understand something that seemingly has a definite meaning. In this episod…

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Brazil's Aos Fatos' Director of Innovation on Creating Bots that Tackle Misinformation and More Imaginative Ways of Using AI in Journalism 48:33

4M ago48:33

48:33

In a new episode of AI-FLUENT, I am talking to Bruno Fávero, a journalist who became Director of Innovation at one of Brazil's leading fact-checking websites Aos Fatos. They developed their own bots that tackle misinformation and tools that not only document digital lies and hate but also how the "distorted algorithms" of apps and platforms contrib…

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AI is Reshaping Journalism—Who Wins? Baratunde Thurston on the Future of Media 1:06:37

4M ago1:06:37

1:06:37

AI is rewriting the rules of journalism, creativity, and power. But who wins, and who gets left behind? Emmy-nominated storyteller Baratunde Thurston joins The AI Download to explore how AI is redefining media, shifting power in journalism, and challenging the future of storytelling. 🔹 Sponsored by Hivelighter AI is revolutionizing journalism, stor…

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Who’s Making the Rules? The Truth About AI Policy & Regulation with Arati Prabhakar 1:02:36

4M ago1:02:36

1:02:36

AI is reshaping our world at an unprecedented pace. From governance to generative models, former White House Science and Technology Advisor Arati Prabhakar breaks down the stakes, the opportunities, and why public engagement in AI policy is more critical than ever. This episode is sponsored by Hivelighter. AI isn’t just the future—it’s shaping our …

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Ramadan: Is despair always detrimental, or can it give rise to hope? 54:27

4M ago54:27

54:27

The political climate over the last six months in much of the world has been undeniably dark. It’s little wonder that so many people seem to have given in to despair. The causes of this prevailing condition are numerous — they include the ongoing death and destruction in Ukraine and Gaza, the devastating return of dead Israeli hostages, the rising …

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India’s Tattle Co-Founder Tarunima Prabhakar on Future of AI in Addressing Harmful Online Content and Fighting Misogyny with Equitable AI 47:19

4M ago47:19

47:19

Tattle, one of India's pioneering civic tech organisations using AI to combat online gender-based violence. In this new episode of AI-FLUENT, Tattle's co-founder Tarunima Prabhakar shares insights into Tattle's innovative projects, including Uli, which helps women navigate harmful online content, and their Deepfake Analysis Unit deployed during Ind…

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Are “firewalls” the best way to counteract the appeal of the far-right? 53:19

4M ago53:19

53:19

As the results of the recent German election came in, a familiar pattern took shape. A broadly unpopular centre-left political party was voted out — due, in no small part, to its immigration policies and perceived economic failures — in favour of a centre-right party who pledged to adopt a “stronger” approach to borders and migrants, and to restore…

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Exploring the World of Content Reuse (Bevin, Givana, and Luke) 14:12

4M ago14:12

14:12

In this episode, Bevin, Givana, and Luke discuss the concept of remixes in pop culture and media, inspired by Kirby Ferguson's YouTube video 'Everything is a Remix.' They explore how social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube borrow features from each other, and how this concept extends to music, art, and television. They also delve…

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The AI Download Trailer 1:08

4M ago1:08

1:08

Decode AI, Stay Human with Shira Lazar: Smart AI News, Zero Hype Shira Lazar, an Emmy-nominated host and digital trailblazer, has been at the forefront of social media and technology for over two decades. As the founder and CEO of What’s Trending, she’s built a career on breaking down the biggest shifts in digital culture. Now, she’s tackling the A…

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Rana Arafat on AI Manipulation, Disinformation and Algorithmic Bias during India’s 2024 Elections and the Israel-Gaza War 40:33

4M ago40:33

40:33

We usually talk about biased data and inaccurate interpretations regarding technology that comes from the East, China for example. Yet we rarely discuss the lack of transparency and biased data produced by Western tech companies. So it was refreshing to have this conversation with Rana Arafat, Assistant Professor in Digital Journalism at City, Univ…

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How hate speech in healthcare tears at something sacred in our common life 53:03

5M ago53:03

53:03

At a time when the Australian community seems to be so deeply divided along multiple faultlines, there was something somewhat heartening about being able to share a common outrage. That’s only word that captures the depth of public response that greeted a now infamous video in which two nurses at Bankstown Hospital seemed to express extreme anti-Is…

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Marius Dragomir on How Big Tech Turned from Solution to Problem, and the Future of Public Service Media in a Hyper-personalised Storytelling World 59:20

5M ago59:20

59:20

Marius Dragomir, the Founding Director of the Media and Journalism Research Centre, shares with me the most surprising findings from his recent research on propaganda narratives, as well as the revealing discoveries about ownership and financial aspects of the 100 AI tools most used by journalists. Remember that 67 % of these 100 tools lack critica…

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The School of Sport: Bob Murphy and the centrality of connection 57:34

5M ago57:34

57:34

In 2016, the Western Bulldogs made an improbable run to the AFL Grand Final. The seventh-place team would beat the minor premiers, the Sydney Swans, and end a six-decade drought. But their longest serving player, the erstwhile captain and heart-and-soul of the team, Bob Murphy, would not take the field. In the third round, a ruptured anterior cruci…