Best Making Cities More Liveable Podcasts (2025)

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From Paris to New Delhi, women leaders are making cities more liveable 22:15

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17d ago22:15

22:15

The deputy mayor of Tirana, Albania says she realized one day that her city had been planned with one user in mind - an adult male who needed to get to the office as quickly as possible. She says everything about Tirana’s streets, public spaces and transport systems were designed to make his life easy. Anuela Ristani is one of the women in local go…

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Peace Optimism Grows in Ukraine as U.S. Plan Shifts, France Steps Up 6:45

1h ago6:45

6:45

Ukrainians are cautiously optimistic that an end to the war could come soon, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says a revised U-S peace plan for Ukraine is looking more acceptable. This comes as French President Emmanuel Macron says this may be a turning point for Europe’s security, as Ukraine doubles down on long-term defence with a large French fi…

1
Rate cuts? What rate cuts - Home prices have eaten them alive 6:20

2h ago6:20

6:20

New data reveals that surging home prices have wiped away the benefits of three interest rate cuts to new buyers. Rent prices are also rising in every capital city, prompting more and more Australians to form larger households or move back to their family home. The rising prices have left economists predicting a possible rate hike in 2026.…

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ASX outage hits company announcements & property price growth eases 15:08

20h ago15:08

15:08

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Chris Weston from Pepperstone about the day's market action including another outage at the ASX. Plus Eliza Owen from Cotality Australia takes a look at the latest property price data and future moves.

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Protests follow request for pardon by Netanyahu 7:55

1d ago7:55

7:55

Israel is facing a political shock wave after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally asked President Isaac Herzog for a pardon in his ongoing corruption trial. The unprecedented move has triggered fierce protests, legal warnings and a deeply polarised public debate over whether clemency would unify the nation or erode the rule of law.…

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Indigenous identity policies a dangerous case of institutional overreach 19:17

1d ago19:17

19:17

The practice of people self-identifying as Indigenous has come into sharp focus after a number of high-profile cases of “pretendians” claiming to be Indigenous without evidence. However, far less attention has been given to Indigenous people being wrongly labelled as pretendians. In a recent article for Policy Options, Debbie Martin argues that the…

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'At risk of losing everything': The frontline rangers protecting the Great Barrier Reef 4:42

2d ago4:42

4:42

Indigenous rangers from the Great Barrier Reef are learning coral spawning techniques in one of the largest reef restoration trials to date. The pilot program involves rangers working in the reefs off Queensland's Keppel Islands, which were hit hard by last year's mass coral bleaching event.

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More details emerge about interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS 8:27

2d ago8:27

8:27

There's been widespread and growing speculation that interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is an alien craft. But scientists have debunked the claims. New observations from NASA and South Africa’s MeerKAT telescope confirm it is a natural, volatile-rich comet showing textbook outgassing, hydroxyl radio emissions and expected orbital shifts. Far from extrater…

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Prime Minister 'delighted' as he celebrates wedding to fiancée Jodie Haydon 3:19

2d ago3:19

3:19

The Prime Minister and his fiancée Jodie Hayden have just married, at a ceremony in the nation’s capital. The country's been kept guessing as to exactly when the wedding would take place for months.

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INTERVIEW: Australian youth identify cost of living as top concern in survey 10:01

3d ago10:01

10:01

Cost of living was the number one challenge identified by Australian youth surveyed by Mission Australia.

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How Olympia’s 'maggot farms' are helping to tackle a $36 billion problem 4:55

3d ago4:55

4:55

In Australia, around 7.6 million tonnes of food is wasted every year. One female-founder has developed a solution in a box.

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British Columbia charging industry bargain basement rates for water 13:42

3d ago13:42

13:42

British Columbia has one of the lowest industrial water rates in Canada. Meanwhile, water advocates say communities across the province are struggling to fund efforts to fight increasing droughts, floods, and wildfires. A new report says we need to modernize industrial water rates to protect our water sources, safeguard communities and secure long-…

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The billion dollar deportation deal Australia doesn't want to talk about ft. David Shoebridge 23:11

4d ago23:11

23:11

Australia is expected to spend billions of dollars to deport non-citizens to the small Pacific nation of Nauru. Meanwhile, Pauline Hanson as repeated a years-old stunt, environment laws have passed, and Barnaby Joyce has cosied up with One Nation. Greens Senator David Shoebridge talks about the Nauru deal, after a translation of an interview with t…

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Exclusive: El Jannah CEO speaks with SBS as company goes global & ASX rises 12:11

4d ago12:11

12:11

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with El Jannah CEO Brett Houldin as the charcoal chicken company secures international funding valuing it at hundreds of millions of dollars, allowing it to quadruple its national footprint and explore options in the Middle-East; plus the week on the sharemarket with Tony Sycamore from IG Markets Securiti…

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Increased bushfire risk in parts of Australia this summer, fire authorities warn 3:19

3d ago3:19

3:19

The latest bushfire outlook forecasts an increased fire risk across parts of Australia this summer. Despite recent rainfall in the country's southeast, authorities say it won't take long for a blaze to take hold.

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Arrests made in connection with deadly Hong Kong fire 5:30

4d ago5:30

5:30

A blaze that began in bamboo scaffolding at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court has become the city’s worst fire in decades, killing at least 83 people and leaving hundreds missing. Police have arrested two directors, and an engineering consultant of a firm contracted to perform maintenance on the buildings.

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APRA tightens lending rules, and investors continue to question rate outlook 15:35

5d ago15:35

15:35

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Nathan Zaia from Morningstar about APRA's tightening of lending rules for high risk borrowers to find out if it will make a difference; plus, the day on the sharemarket with Hugh Lam from Betashares.

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Ukraine peace plan or Putin power play? Climate COP-out and Trump’s new bromance… 25:23

5d ago25:23

25:23

Alarm bells in Kyiv and Europe as the US is accused of presenting Putin’s peace plan for Ukraine. The ‘make or break’ COP30 climate conference ends in failure – have the petro-states won? Plus, the unlikely bromance blossoming in the Oval Office.

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All about Australia's biggest environmental reforms this century 6:07

5d ago6:07

6:07

After five years of review, the government has struck a deal with the Greens to pass the largest reforms to Australia’s environmental laws in 26 years, which includes new environmental standards, protections for native forests, and the effective end of fast-tracked approvals for coal and gas projects. Despite these wins, the deal faces criticism fr…

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Two National Guard members shot near White House 5:10

5d ago5:10

5:10

Two U-S National Guard soldiers have been shot near the White House. A suspect has been taken into custody, and police say he was also shot - though his injuries are not life threatening.

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Concerns linger about Russian advantages in new US peace plan for Ukraine 5:17

5d ago5:17

5:17

The United States has amended its peace plan for Ukraine, reducing it to 19 points and opening a dual diplomatic track with Moscow and Kyiv. But the new plan is stirring anxiety that Donald Trump might be willing to push Ukraine to sign a peace deal heavily tilted towards Russia.

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Hong Kong apartment fire leaves dozens dead, hundreds missing 5:20

5d ago5:20

5:20

At least 44 people have been killed in a massive blaze in Hong Kong. Authorities say around 700 residents were evacuated as firefighters battled flames that spread rapidly along bamboo scaffolding and construction netting in several high-rise towers in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district. There are now unconfirmed reports three people have been arrested ov…

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Doug Gordon and Sarah Goodyear bring War on Cars podcast to Vancouver 40:56

5d ago40:56

40:56

On November 8, Doug Gordon and Sarah Goodyear of The War on Cars podcast were in Vancouver as guests of Vision Zero Vancouver to talk about their new book and to meet with local activists. There wasn’t a seat left in the house at the Djavad Mowafaghian theatre at SFU Woodwards as Doug and Sarah introduced some of the ideas in their book, Life After…

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Controversy over Melbourne event appearing to celebrate Israeli pager operation 3:31

6d ago3:31

3:31

Lebanese and Jewish groups have condemned a planned event in Melbourne that appears to celebrate last year's Israeli pager operation in Lebanon, which killed dozens and injured thousands more. The event run by the group called Lions of Zion has been labelled 'disgraceful' - but organisers say they are celebrating what they describe as one of the mo…

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Stronger inflation dashes hopes of any more interest rate cuts 14:12

5d ago14:12

14:12

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Goncalves speaks with Damien Boey from Wilson Asset Management and Belinda Allen from the Commonwealth Bank as headline inflation continues to rise at 3.8 per cent in October to find out what that means for interest rates and investments.

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Senate erupts as Pauline Hanson wears burqa, gets suspended 7:18

6d ago7:18

7:18

The Australian Senate descended into chaos as One Nation leader Pauline Hanson wore a black burqa into the chamber, prompting immediate condemnation from Muslim Senators and a forceful intervention by Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Following the rejection of her motion to ban the burqa, Ms. Hanson's stunt, which she claimed was about "protecting nati…

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"Total impunity": Israeli settler lawlessness in the West Bank destroys livelihoods of Palestinian farmers 10:13

6d ago10:13

10:13

For Palestinian-Australian winemaker Sari Kassis, the reality of farming in the West Bank is one of constant physical and psychological danger. With settler violence surging in the West Bank, this year's harvest has seen a record number of Israeli attacks on farms and properties.

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‘Everywhere is not safe’: Nigeria faces spate of mass abductions 10:07

6d ago10:07

10:07

A wave of mass abductions in Nigeria have triggered school closures across the country with anxiety, panic and anger spreading. One of these attacks saw over 300 school children kidnapped from a Catholic secondary school in the worst single kidnapping incident in five years.

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Trump says peace between Russia and Ukraine is close, but Ukrainians remain defiant 5:13

6d ago5:13

5:13

United States President Donald Trump claims a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine is close, while Volodymyr Zelenskyy has agreed in principle to a new U--proposed peace framework. However, the Ukrainian president remains wary of being pushed into accepting a deal on Russian terms, while Ukrainians seem unwilling to meet their neighbour's demands.…

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G20 hailed as multilateral success: but US absence casts a shadow 6:24

6d ago6:24

6:24

World leaders have hailed the first G20 summit in Africa as a victory for multilateralism, even as they addressed challenges of climate change, inequality and war, against a backdrop of shifting geopolitical rivalries. The notable absence of President Donald Trump has raised questions the role of the United States, in a changing world order.…

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Rental squeeze intensifies: Perth now Australia’s least affordable city 5:08

7d ago5:08

5:08

Despite interest rates stabilising, rental stress remains unchanged across Australia. In many capital cities, households are still handing over almost a third of their income just to keep a roof over their heads. And once again, Perth has it the worst. The nation’s least affordable capital has slipped even further — recording another four per cent …

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Investors brace for Aussie CPI data as US rate cut looks increasingly likely 6:48

6d ago6:48

6:48

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Julia Lee from FTSE Russell to find out how investors are feeling ahead of official inflation data out on Wednesday, as traders feel increasingly confident of a US rate cut in December.

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Fair Work shake-up: gig workers secure pay rise and protection 6:04

7d ago6:04

6:04

In a landmark agreement hailed as world-leading, the Transport Workers Union, Uber, and DoorDash have put forward a minimum standards deal for Australian gig workers to the Fair Work Commission today. This major reform guarantees food delivery riders a 25% wage increase, injury insurance, and protection from unfair algorithmic dismissal, fundamenta…

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'I felt powerless': calls to improve legal literacy for victim-survivors of sexual violence 11:11

7d ago11:11

11:11

One in five women and one in 16 men have experienced sexual violence as adults in Australia, according to the 2023 Australian Bureau of Statistics - and yet 92% of women don't report their most recent sexual assault. A new report is calling for legal literacy among victim-survivors, frontline services and legal professionals, to help victims naviga…

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US judge dismisses Comey and James cases, rules Halligan appointment unlawful 5:44

7d ago5:44

5:44

A judge in the United States has dismissed two high-profile criminal charges brought by the Trump administration against the president's perceived enemies. The judge says the administration violated the Constitution in its appointment of Lindsay Halligan to prosecute the pair, rendering the charges she brought unlawful.…

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'Adult’ pressures hit hard as UNICEF warns teens are losing hope 4:43

7d ago4:43

4:43

A new report from UNICEF Australia has found less than a third of Australian teens are feeling excited or hopeful about their futures. Mental health issues and anxiety around 'adult' challenges like housing and money are key drivers of declining wellbeing. For marginalised children and teens, these kind of pressures are felt even more acutely.…

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Exposing the US loophole: How Canadian arms and explosives reach Israel 20:35

7d ago20:35

20:35

Despite the purported ceasefire in Gaza, Israeli airstrikes continue to kill Palestinians. Canada has long downplayed its role in arming Israel, claiming it only issues a limited number of export permits and that those permits have now been suspended. But this week, a new report was released that exposes a massive ongoing flow of Canadian explosive…

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ASX bounces back as BHP walks away from AA 9:28

8d ago9:28

9:28

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Raymond Chan from Morgans Financial Limited about the day's sharemarket action including a recovery on the ASX as the chance of a US rate cut in December swings back up and why BHP walked away from a second crack at Anglo American.

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Bureau of Meteorology weathers website storm 4:28

8d ago4:28

4:28

The Bureau of Meteorology's controversial website redesign carries a staggering 96 million dollar price tag. The cost blowout has drawn sharp criticism from both government ministers and the opposition. Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt has expressed deep concern over the massive expenditure, while Nationals Leader David Littleproud warns th…

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COP30 deal keeps humanity 'in the fight for a liveable planet': UN chief 6:34

8d ago6:34

6:34

Delegates to the COP30 summit in Brazil have reached an agreement to address still rising global emissions. The deal increases money to countries hit by climate change, but contains no explicit fossil fuel plan. The agreement has mollified some - and horrified others.

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The human cost of renewables: Why Australia should build solar here 11:30

8d ago11:30

11:30

With the renewable energy transition underway in Australia, the higher than expected uptake of solar panels has human rights groups concerned about links to Uyghur forced labour in the supply chain. As Australia looks into developing its own solar panel industry, rights groups say government and industry should work to ensure the clean energy trans…

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City Beat: Vancouver mayor Ken Sim's "zero-means-zero" budget 13:58

8d ago13:58

13:58

In today’s episode, Ian Mass with City Beat for Nov 22. Vancouver City Council has just gone through a gruelling 4-day public process focused on the 2026 city budget. On Tuesday Nov 25, we’ll see if any of the comments have made a difference to this controversial zero-means-zero budget. Council will also consider a proposal for a Filipino cultural …

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New names added to migration Welcome Wall at National Maritime Museum 4:06

9d ago4:06

4:06

Two panels have been unveiled at Australia's National Maritime Museum to honour a new group of migrant families. Museum Director and CEO Ms Daryl Karp and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke say the Monument is a celebration of the long history of migrants who have shaped modern Australia.

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INTERVIEW: Associate Professor Bassina Farbenblum 9:58

9d ago9:58

9:58

As thousands of international students prepare to take summer holiday jobs, Associate Professor Bassina Farbenblum, an expert on migrants' rights from the University of New South Wales, warns that more is needed to protect students from wage theft and abuse. She says Australia has a ‘pervasive problem’ with workplace exploitation of international s…

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Underground struggles: Illegal miners risk death in Morocco's forgotten coal town 14:23

9d ago14:23

14:23

In one of Morocco's impoverished coal towns, illegal miners continue to risk their lives to make ends meet. In an exclusive sit-down interview with SBS News, a photojournalist has shared the harsh realities he witnessed of the miners in Jerada. Ahead of the International Mining Congress in Morocco, experts are calling for better health and safety r…

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'Isolation and shame': Australians are avoiding perinatal mental health support, new research reveals 8:13

9d ago8:13

8:13

Around one in four Australians are failing to seek support when experiencing perinatal mental health issues. Experts say the data released by the Gidget Foundation highlights a lack of awareness around signs and symptoms, and ongoing stigma around the issue.

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Leadership spills and policy reversals: How healthy is our democracy? 5:55

10d ago5:55

5:55

With the abandonment of its net-zero policies, and leadership spills in two of Australia's largest states, the Coalition is undergoing a period of major upheaval. So what does that mean for a Westminster democracy which analysts say depends on two different political positions to succeed.

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‘No food, no money’: Khoa was abandoned and owed $10,000 in unpaid wages. He’s not alone 8:18

10d ago8:18

8:18

As the academic year ends, thousands of international students are signing on for holiday work. But if things go wrong, experts warn that few understand their legal entitlements or how to recover unpaid wages.

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US rate fears trump Nvidia's better than expected result 8:49

11d ago8:49

8:49

SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves speaks with Lochlan Halliday from Morningstar to find out what spooked investors despite Nvidia's better than expected profit and if it's likely to last.

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Warning issued over 'quick cash' scam targeting international students 3:21

11d ago3:21

3:21

An urgent warning has been issued to international students departing Australia to not sell their bank accounts and ID to criminals. The Australian Federal Police says students are offered 'quick cash' - but accepting it could see them indelibly linked to crime networks.