Best All The Woo A To Z Podcasts (2025)

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Jane Hume on rebranding net zero, and Hastie's abortion comments 33:58

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1d ago33:58

33:58

It’s been a rather torrid week for the Coalition, with yet more messy fighting over whether it will dump its commitment to Australia achieving net zero emissions by 2050. This was followed by controversial comments by former frontbencher Andrew Hastie on late-term abortions. Today’s guest is Senator Jane Hume, a Liberal moderate, joining chief poli…

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Our hospitals and GPs are struggling. Are Albanese’s fixes working? 16:12

2d ago16:12

16:12

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese swept back into power in part on the back of an $8.5 billion investment in Medicare, what he described as the “single largest investment in Medicare since its creation” more than 40 years ago. Who could forget him waving his Medicare card at every opportunity on the campaign trail? Today, health reporter Angus Thomso…

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A birthing trend is leading to deaths. Why is it growing in popularity? 19:34

3d ago19:34

19:34

A series of tragic deaths of Australian mothers and babies, as a result of so-called “freebirthing” has put this practice into the spotlight. What is “freebirthing”, you ask? Call it birth without a safety net, that is: without any doctor, trained clinician or registered midwife present. Some women are alone. Some are just with their partner. Today…

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An impending 'Spermageddon': New study on the everyday chemicals lowering sperm count 21:29

4d ago21:29

21:29

Is "Spermagedon" coming? Well, the results of a new study on men's fertility and testosterone levels has left experts concerned as male sperm counts plunge. Many experts suspect the drop is driven by a cocktail of air pollution, microplastics and other hormone-disrupting toxins, including PFAS or “forever chemicals” in the environment. Today, scien…

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'The most intense attack of my career': Alex Greenwich on what happened with Mark Latham 34:35

5d ago34:35

34:35

High-profile politician Alex Greenwich is used to the robust world of public office, but he says he had never experienced such an intense attack on his sexuality after his public stoush with Mark Latham. Latham, the former Labor leader turned political pariah, was ordered to pay Greenwich $140,000 for a vile social media post the Federal Court foun…

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Inflation figures were bad, so why focus on Albanese’s T-shirt? 24:03

8d ago24:03

24:03

This week we're going to talk about the government's weaknesses, which might seem a little bit counter-intuitive, because Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been flying so high on the international stage, where he dined with US President Donald Trump at a dinner at ASEAN. But back on the domestic front, there are a few weaknesses, particularly in …

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Is Prince Andrew an existential crisis for the monarchy? 24:44

9d ago24:44

24:44

This week, King Charles was doing something the British royal family are accustomed to - shaking the hands of royal fans who had lined up for a chance to greet him outside a Cathedral in the UK. But then there was a shout from the crowd - loud and clear over the hum of voices and clicking of cameras: “How long have you known about Andrew and Epstei…

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The private powerbroker who has Lachlan Murdoch’s ear 15:48

10d ago15:48

15:48

In 2005, Rupert Murdoch famously sided with his right-hand man, former Fox News chairman and now disgraced businessman, Roger Ailes, over his son, Lachlan, in a television dispute.He chose proven loyalty over blood ties. Perhaps it’s a lesson Lachlan never forgot. Because after a decades-long succession battle over his family’s media empire, he cam…

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2025 Good Food Guide Awards: The revealing trends and best restaurants 25:04

11d ago25:04

25:04

You sure can tell a lot about a person by what they eat. Actor Marilyn Monroe once said that she was told her eating habits were “absolutely bizarre”, to which she replied, “I don’t think so.” (Her daily breakfast was a cup of hot milk with two raw eggs whisked in.) Well, today, you can now judge the tastes of those across the nation. Because the r…

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Fake pubic hair on a g-string for $70, a joke? Not if you're Kim Kardashian 18:43

12d ago18:43

18:43

You couldn’t escape last week without hearing the ad for Kim Kardashian's latest rage-bait release: a so-called micro thong with faux pubic hair. Of course, Kardashian has called her thong - a pair of tiny underwear that comes in 12 shades - “the ultimate bush”. She’s capitalising on the latest trend. Today, lifestyle writer Lauren Ironmonger on th…

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Bill Shorten on Albanese's Trump triumph, and the opposition's next move 29:53

15d ago29:53

29:53

The week in federal politics could not have been more fun. We had Prime Minister Anthony Albanese travel to Washington, finally, for his meeting with US President Donald Trump. The meeting was a total hit, and Albanese came home with a deal on critical mineral supply and reassurances on the AUKUS submarine pact. Jacqueline Maley is joined by chief …

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Have we just seen a tipping point in the US-China fight for supremacy? 28:06

16d ago28:06

28:06

For decades, analysts have been predicting the moment when China would inevitably overtake the United States as the world’s strongest power. That moment still hasn’t come. But then came last week, when Donald Trump’s economic threat against China backfired spectacularly. Today, Peter Hartcher on the political turmoil in China that is stopping the c…

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Inside the Trump and Albanese meeting: two deals and a humiliation 21:01

17d ago21:01

21:01

It was the meeting that has been hanging over our prime minister’s head for nine months. But Anthony Albanese’s face-to-face with Donald Trump, on Tuesday morning Australian time, was never going to be easy. It wasn’t just the presence of our American ambassador, Kevin Rudd, who once called Trump a “village idiot” and a “traitor to the West”. But h…

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They might rescue you from danger. But is Westpac Rescue safe? 21:45

18d ago21:45

21:45

They are the heroes who might be called to winch you to safety, if you fall into a crevasse, get stuck in a bushfire, or find yourself circled by sharks at sea. But behind the daring rescues by members of the Westpac Rescue service in NSW, multiple staff members have made allegations of sexual harassment, bullying and lack of safety compliance at t…

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Victoria's treaty is an Australian first. What will this agreement mean? 22:31

19d ago22:31

22:31

Victoria is on the cusp of legislating a treaty with Indigenous people. When it's enacted, Victoria will become the first state in Australia with such an agreement. It's also noted because Australia is the only developed Commonwealth country without a treaty with its First Nations peoples. Today, Gunditjmara elder Aunty Jill Gallagher, AO, the chie…

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Albanese meets with Trump next week. Anything could happen 23:22

22d ago23:22

23:22

They said he couldn’t do it, but he’s doing it. In a few days, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, fresh from a week’s holiday, will be flying to Washington to meet US President Donald Trump. And also, what really went on between the PM and his Treasurer over the super reforms that Jim Chalmers abandoned this week. Paul Sakkal says the Treasurer had h…

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We have them. Trump wants them. Are rare earths Australia’s secret superpower? 22:24

23d ago22:24

22:24

Remember when Donald Trump began a tariff war with ... the world? We thought that was old news. But over the weekend, the US president and Chinese President Xi Jinping made announcements that could – if they follow through with them – lead to what our international editor calls “mutually assured economic destruction”. Today, Peter Hartcher on China…

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Will the treasurer’s “humiliating” tax backflip help, or hurt you? 19:42

24d ago19:42

19:42

It was the superannuation tax plan that helped Labor achieve a landslide victory in the last election. Though some of Australia’s wealthiest Australians - who were hit hardest by the plan - cried foul, the government has been saying, for more than two years, that it would NOT change its super proposals. Flash forward to this week, when, in an embar…

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Hostages free after 737 days, but is the war over? 27:46

25d ago27:46

27:46

The 20 surviving Israeli hostages who had been held captive by Hamas in Gaza, have finally been released. The Israeli Defence Force has released the first images of freed hostages, including the embrace of twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman. The pair were reportedly separated on their first day of captivity in Gaza. Meanwhile, American president Don…

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A Melbourne father accused of a crime. An American lawyer thinks he's innocent 22:36

26d ago22:36

22:36

It is one of the most unspeakable crimes a parent can be accused of – shaking their vulnerable baby so badly, that they sustain brain damage, or in the worst cases, die. Diagnosing Murder is a new investigative podcast by senior writer Michael Bachelard, and producer Ruby Schwartz, that questions whether we can trust the science behind shaken baby …

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Tim Wilson on Hastie's exit, and bringing back that 'big Liberal energy' 33:49

29d ago33:49

33:49

The member for Goldstein, Tim Wilson, is a guest on the podcast this week during a very interesting time for the Liberal Party. Last week, home affairs spokesman Andrew Hastie quit the front bench, followed by infighting and internal leaking. Wilson talks about his relationship with Hastie and the former frontbencher's 'fraught' decision to step ba…

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Japan poised to elect first female leader – 'Iron Lady' Sanae Takaichi 21:01

30d ago21:01

21:01

Japan is preparing for its first ever female prime minister. Sanae Takaichi, the 64-year-old hardline right-wing conservative, likens herself to Margaret Thatcher, and was a drummer in a metal band in her youth. Today, political and international editor Peter Hartcher on whether Takaichi's ascension marks progress for Japan, and what her leadership…

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Wi-Fi on the long-haul: Is the final frontier of silence over? 12:22

1M ago12:22

12:22

If you’re lucky enough to be on a plane these days, flying somewhere, it’s so easy to feel ungrateful. Does anyone need to watch the film Red 2, again? And why do we get so sweaty? But sitting way up high in the air for a long time, you can experience actual peace of mind. To concentrate, work, relax. Or - here’s a surprising benefit - just be … bo…

1
Free range? Or food fraud? The new tech exposing ‘bogus’ Australian food labels 15:13

1M ago15:13

15:13

By The Age and Sydney Morning Herald

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The deaths at Alva Beach. Was this a case of self-defence? 19:47

1M ago19:47

19:47

Almost seven years ago to the day, on the NRL grand final weekend, a bizarre set of events unfolded. An injured woman knocked on the door of a stranger, saying she was escaping from two men, and that she needed help. The 19-year-old air force cadet who answered the door let the woman in and called emergency services before the men forced their way …

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Introducing: Diagnosing Murder 4:02

1M ago4:02

4:02

For decades, families in Australia and overseas, have been accused of one of the worst crimes imaginable – child abuse. Diagnosing Murder is an investigative podcast about parents who've had their children taken away, sat in the dock and even done time in prison. All for something they insist they didn't do – shake their baby. Can we trust the scie…

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Can Albanese claim credit for Trump’s peace plan? 26:49

1M ago26:49

26:49

The prime minister has just returned from 10 days of high-wire diplomacy, initially at the United Nations in New York before swinging through London and stopping by Abu Dhabi on his way home. He’s claimed some credit for helping push along a potential peace plan for Gaza, spruiked Australia’s social media ban on the global stage, and drummed up int…

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Why Western democracies are struggling against Russia's and China’s 'hybrid war' 28:08

1M ago28:08

28:08

On the weekend, Denmark reported unidentified drones had appeared above its major military bases. It was the country’s third drone alarm in a week and one of five European nations in a month to experience incursions - from either drones suspected of Russian origin or from the Russian Air Force itself. So why is Russia violating Europe’s skies, seem…

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Click to cancel: How hard should it be to end a subscription? 17:16

1M ago17:16

17:16

We all know how annoying it can be to cancel a subscription, whether to a streaming service or gym membership, but when do ‘'subscription traps’', as they’re known, legally cross a line? Consumer advocates, businesses and legislators are puzzling over the question as the government formulates new laws on unfair trading practices. Today, national co…

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The ‘remarkable breakthrough’ made for Huntington’s disease 15:01

1M ago15:01

15:01

Researchers say they have, for the first time, dramatically slowed the progression of a cruel and devastating neuron condition called Huntington’s disease. For sufferers, this potentially means getting years of their life back or the lessening of symptoms of a condition that robs them of physical movement and kills their brain cells. Today, Profess…

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Chemtrails to the elitist cabal: Why conspiracy theories are thriving in the White House 30:35

1M ago30:35

30:35

There was a time when people who believed that the government can control the weather, or that Wi-Fi causes cancer might have been social pariahs. Now, they sit in the higher echelons of power in the United States. So, why are conspiracy theories flourishing now? Today, British journalists Ian Dunt and Dorian Lynskey, authors of Conspiracy Theory: …

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Albanese’s warning on tyranny, dictators, and his selfie with Trump 23:31

1M ago23:31

23:31

Today we are bringing you a special international episode of the pod. The prime minister has spent the week in New York addressing the United Nations, recognising Palestinian statehood and chasing Donald Trump around Manhattan trying to get a meeting. We talk about all these capers with host Jacqueline Maley and our chief political correspondent Pa…

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Trump just insulted almost all world leaders, to their faces, but what does it mean? 25:07

1M ago25:07

25:07

How to make sense of the last two weeks? Because it isn’t just that Russia has stepped up its global aggression by invading the airspace of various European countries with drones, fighter jets and a surveillance plane. It’s also the tirade US President Donald Trump let rip yesterday to 150 world leaders at the United Nations – a blistering one, eve…

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Charlie Kirk memorial: love, hate and Trump’s vow for the future 20:38

1M ago20:38

20:38

For many people who watched the coverage of Charlie Kirk’s memorial, it was the sounds that struck them the most. The triumphant 60,000 conservatives who erupted with yelps and claps after messages of forgiveness… and hate. Today, North America correspondent Michael Koziol, who attended the memorial, on what Donald Trump and members of his administ…

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Life, death and Optus: Should the telcos be trusted to run Triple Zero? 19:29

2M ago19:29

19:29

Optus is in the firing line once again over an outage that left customers unable to call Triple Zero for 13 hours. In that time, four people died – including an eight-week-old baby. Authorities later said they don’t believe the baby’s death is linked to the outage. Today, technology editor David Swan on whether the telcos can be trusted to run Trip…

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No fry zone: Should councils be able to block fast food outlets? 15:26

2M ago15:26

15:26

Once upon a time, the dangers of eating too much fast food were at the front of our minds thanks to documentaries like Super Size Me. But that was more than 20 years ago. Since then, the topic may have fallen off the front pages, but fast food chains have been on the march, opening up across Australia. Today, regional editor Benjamin Preiss and sen…

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Coalition combust over net zero. Will the anti-climate action stance work? 21:19

2M ago21:19

21:19

The government announced its 2035 emissions reduction target this week, committing Australia to climate action despite a retreat from the United States. Meanwhile, the Coalition looked a lot like it was about to take up arms in the climate wars - again. Chief political commentator James Massola joins host Jacqueline Maley. Subscribe to The Age & SM…

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A primer on Australia’s climate target 19:17

2M ago19:17

19:17

A flurry of numbers relating to climate change have been tossed around all week. But what do they mean? Today, environment and climate reporter Bianca Hall and climate and energy correspondent Mike Foley on what impact the government’s climate emissions target for 2035 will have on all of us. Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au…

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Why Gen-Z fury led to destruction in Nepal 18:59

2M ago18:59

18:59

Three years ago, mainstream newspapers in the West had a bit of fun ridiculing so-called nepo-babies, and the unfair advantage enjoyed by the children of the rich and the powerful, like Gwyneth Paltrow's daughter, Apple, or Lenny Kravitz’s daughter, Zoe. But in Nepal, nepobabies are no joking matter. They have just, in part, sparked the most widesp…

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From children’s entertainer to political celebrity. The rise of Jacinta Nampijinpa Price 28:47

2M ago28:47

28:47

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s charisma has led to her meteoric rise, and also, to her recent relegation to the back bench. Lambasted for her position on various issues including the Stolen Generation, the Black Lives Matter movement, and more recently, immigration, the Indigenous senator is celebrated by some of the most powerful conservatives in the …

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‘The cult of the leader’: The professor who left America says fascism is flourishing 28:33

2M ago28:33

28:33

US President Donald Trump is a fascist, running an authoritarian regime. We hear this allegation a lot, now. But is he? Really? Fascism expert Jason Stanley says he moved with his family to Canada so that he could leave behind, and protest against, the political climate in the United States. Today, Stanley, a University of Toronto philosophy profes…

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Why the sacking of Jacinta Nampijinpa Price could turn the senator ‘into a martyr’ 19:02

2M ago19:02

19:02

Controversial Liberal senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price was sacked from the Coalition frontbench this week. Price left Opposition Leader Sussan Ley with little choice, after she refused to apologise for comments she made about the Indian community, and then refused to publicly affirm her faith in Ley’s leadership. Chief political correspondent Paul …

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Why Australia is trying to out-woo China for influence in the Pacific 20:37

2M ago20:37

20:37

When we think of countries trying to show the world their power and influence, we might think of muscular shows of force, like China’s army parading its newest nuclear weapons, missiles and lasers in a military parade in Beijing, last week. But then there was our government scrambling to out-deliver China with a tit-for-tat over, of all things, car…

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'Like an episode of the Sopranos': Life inside the clean-up of the CFMEU 20:11

2M ago20:11

20:11

More than a year ago, the CFMEU – one of Australia’s most powerful unions – was placed into administration, after an investigation by our mastheads, and 60 Minutes, revealed that it was infiltrated by bikie gang members and criminals who were guilty of corruption and cronyism. But now, some of the very union officials who have been tasked by the go…

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'No remorse, no pity': The sentencing of mushroom cook Erin Patterson 25:21

2M ago25:21

25:21

So now we know: Erin Patterson will be 82 before she gets the chance to get out of jail; if she gets out at all. This will make her one of Victoria’s longest-serving female inmates. But the revelations from Patterson’s sentencing hearing, in the Supreme Court of Victoria on Monday morning, leaned less to the historic, and more to the primal. Today,…

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The ‘tradwife’ movement: All flax and linen, or a pipeline to fascism? 17:23

2M ago17:23

17:23

Year 9 debaters in South Australia were given a topic for the third round of their debating competition a few months ago. The topic was whether the ''tradwife'' movement, a lifestyle in which women embrace traditional gender archetypes, was good for women. While it was deemed offensive by some, senior writer Jacqueline Maley today outlines why such…

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The rallies, the neo-Nazis, the flag-draping: How politics on immigration have led to this point 26:54

2M ago26:54

26:54

Political debate was dominated this week by the topic of immigration after anti-immigration rallies in major cities last weekend. Politicians from both major parties tried to strike a balance between listening to people’s legitimate concerns while condemning the extremist fringe of the anti-immigration movement. Chief political correspondent Paul S…

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Yulia Navalnaya’s blunt message about Putin, the president who murdered her husband 28:20

2M ago28:20

28:20

Almost immediately after Russian opposition leader Alexi Navalny was murdered by the Kremlin last year, in an arctic penal colony, Russian president Vladimir Putin turned his eyes to Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya. She knows that nowhere is safe for her; not even flying to Australia, as she did this week. She was once a victim of poisoning. And a…

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Is Dezi Freeman being glorified like the other 'daring, desperate or deranged' fugitives who came before him? 19:11

2M ago19:11

19:11

The whispering forests and deep valleys of Victoria’s high country have long provided refuge for those on the run. Think of Ned Kelly and his gang, who roamed the north east Victorian ranges, before finally being captured by police in a shootout at the Glenrowan Inn. And, conspiracy theorist Dezi Freeman, who has been on the run for the last week i…

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March for Australia: Why weren’t neo-Nazis stopped? 22:31

2M ago22:31

22:31

Violent clashes, police with pepper spray and chants of “Heil Australia”. These were the scenes we saw over the weekend, as thousands of Australians marched in anti-immigration rallies, which have been endorsed by neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups. Why did this violence erupt now? And what does it mean that two prominent politicians attended th…