Hack

Meta has agreed to pay $23.6 billion to settle social media addiction lawsuits accusing it of contributing to the youth mental health crisis in America. We hear what keeps you addicted and what might help.  And would you want to live forever? After our interview with Bryan Johnson, the world's most famous 'biohacker', we're unpacking your thoughts on immortality.  Plus, we hear about your unoffici...

More than a thousand people are missing after deadly flash floods on the Tibet-Nepal border.  With dozens of Australians among those unaccounted-for, we bring you the latest on the rescue effort.  Plus, controversial millionaire Bryan Johnson and his Australian partner Kate Tolo are intent on living forever.  They open up about biohacking their bodies, what they think of their critics, and their t...

He's either a freak or a pioneer, depending on who you ask. Millionaire "biohacker" Bryan Johnson — the man who wants to live forever. For years he's been making headlines for swapping blood with his teenage son, tracking his erection data, or more recently claiming to have cloned himself. Now his partner Kate, a 30-year-old Australian has kickstarted her own mission to become "the most measured w...

American country music legend Dolly Parton has died, aged 80. We hear about her unique journey in show business and how she has influenced Australians. Plus, it has been predicted that AI data centres could use almost as much power as all the homes in New South Wales and Victoria by 2036. But could renewables be the answer? And will the states and territories sign up to the government's national p...

There are growing calls for a crackdown on lobbyists after a Four Corners investigation revealed dozens of political staffers have jumped from government jobs into lucrative lobbying firms. So how does lobbying work and what does this all mean for our democracy? Also, Ukraine now has access to new missile technology after the UK's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham visited Kyiv to mark 35 years of Uk...

Renters earning an average wage are now spending more than half their income on housing in every capital city, according to a new report. So why is rent still going up while house prices cool, and is anything going to change soon? Also, authorities have confirmed a seal in South Australia has died as a result of the H5 bird flu. Plus, is artificial intelligence a bubble? We speak to the man who co...

Gambling reform has been on the political agenda for years. Now, after days of negotiations, the government has finally pushed the laws through Parliament. But not everyone's celebrating. Gambling harm advocates say the reforms don't go far enough, while the betting industry reckons it should be trusted to manage risk with its own punters. So, will the new laws actually protect people from gamblin...

The AFL has been rocked by scandal this week. Five Sydney Swans players have been banned for breaching club standards on drinking and staying out late. And separately, police are investigating a report of sexual assault. Police have not made any arrests or laid charges.   And, a British collector has stumbled upon the ‘holy grail’ after he noticed a taxidermy 'fox' for sale was the skull of a now-...

The Israel Defense Forces has cleared its personnel of any criminal wrongdoing in the 2024 strike on a World Central Kitchen convoy in Gaza, where Australian Zomi Frankcom was killed.  And Brisbane band Bugs is coming to terms with the news that bassist Jordan Brunoli has just months left to live, after being diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer.  They open up about what scares them, how music...

Almost a year since Jordan Brunoli sat down with hack to talk through his stage 4 colorectal cancer diagnosis, the Bugs bassist returns with an updated prognosis. Jordan was told in June he has just months to live. In this extended chat with Dave, Jordan unpacks what it felt like being handed the bad news and the reality of living life like there's no tomorrow. He's also joined by Bugs band mates...

What happens when the gym becomes a place of worship? We meet the young guys in Melbourne who're coming together to lift weights and pray.  Plus, legislation aimed at stopping gambling harm is set to pass Parliament this week. But is it strong enough? If this episode raised issues for you or anyone you know help is available. Call the National Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858. Listen now: 01:00 -...

Police are continuing to investigate an alleged sexual assault linked to Sydney Swans players. We unpack the club's response and what happens now.  And controversial cuts to the NDIS are set to pass parliament after the government struck a deal with the Coalition.  Plus, we head inside an art gallery that's collecting your deepest, darkest secrets. Why? Listen: 01:16 - Sydney Swans investigation 1...

New South Wales' decision to become the first state to sign up to the federal government's gun buyback scheme, announced after last year's Bondi Beach terror attack, has divided the community. We hear why some groups are relieved, and why some are calling it a "joke". And sexual violence can be a common experience for women on public transport, but experts are worried it is largely going unreporte...

Are men attracted to or intimidated by ambitious women?  Some women feel like they're being penalised when it comes to dating because of their career success, study accomplishments, or property goals. Dee Salmin asked the Hook Up audience and heaps of listeners said they feel like a lot of men are attracted to the idea of ambition, but in reality, are put off by it. So, what’s going on?  In this w...

Anthony Albanese's "joke" about receiving crown melons from Japan's Prime Minister has landed him in hot water. Was it problematic, or overblown?  And, from leading the federal opposition to being "invisible" on a bus tour through the US, we unpack Sussan Ley's post-politics holiday.  Plus, how much housework do you do? Are you ready to elevate your situationship to 'partner' status? The Census ha...

Students around the country have walked out of school and university to protest the rise of One Nation and its leader Pauline Hanson.  We hear from the protesters and what Pauline thought about the nationwide events.  Plus, sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death among young people. One mum opens up about her search for answers after the death of her son. Listen now:  01:56 - Nationwide...

Xavier was a happy, popular 20-year-old when he took a trip to Melbourne for a half marathon. It ended in heartbreak. In front of his family, Xavier suffered a sudden cardiac arrest and died. About three young Australians die every week in Australia from sudden cardiac arrest but sometimes there's no warning. In this chat, Dave speaks with Xavier's mum Alison, who is pleading with politicians to p...

Is red tape what's holding Australia back from building the houses it needs? The Coalition thinks so, pledging to demolish the country's building code, squeezing more than 2,000 pages into just 80. Will it get more people into homes? Dave questions Andrew Bragg on the Coalition's pitch, and we hear from construction workers. Plus, Victoria has announced plans to ban suppression orders hiding the i...

Whether it’s career goals, study accomplishments, or property ownership - some women say big aspirations are a challenge when dating. We find out why. Plus, a new report shows some parts of the Great Barrier Reef are showing signs of recovery.  And, we bring you the latest from Colombia where an earthquake has killed over a hundred people.  Listen now: 01:10 - Colombia's earthquake 05:14 - Reef re...

The Geelong Cats are copping heat over a secret contract for a player with a history of concussion. Was it a fair move by the club, or were they dodging accountability?  Plus, an AI assistant has hacked a gym website in what's being described as Australia's first known autonomous cyber attack. So, are the robots finally taking over?  And, tomorrow is Census night - here's what you need to know.  L...

Have camera glasses officially entered the mainstream? A Kmart dupe of the Meta glasses sold out across Australia this week, and they’ve been dubbed "pervert glasses" because they allow wearers to discreetly record videos and take photos.  So, will we see more instances of people being unknowingly recorded in public? And if we know there's significant potential for misuse of this tech, who's respo...

Canberra Liberals leader Mark Parton has admitted to sending a text that said "f*** my job is boring" during a budget estimates hearing last week. We talk about texts that reached unwanted eyes. Plus, Jetstar travellers will soon have to pay extra for carry-on - is that fair or are we one step away from paying for a window seat?  And, could the government be about to dump its proposed crackdown on...

A SpaceX rocket part is believed to have crashed into the moon at high speed, with the impact potentially visible from Earth. So, who's responsible for this junk? And do we need to clean up space?  Plus, we sit down with "Yasmin" to hear about what it was like growing up in immigration detention on the island of Nauru and how she lives in fear of being deported.  Listen now: 01:17 - Space junk 07:...

"Yasmin" could be any other young Australian, trying to build a life in her twenties. She finished high school here, has a bunch of Australian friends and family and pays taxes. But "Yasmin" has been told she can never be Australian because she arrived on a people smuggling boat as a child. She is one of hundreds in Australia who have been in limbo for more than a decade with no permanent protecti...

Unregulated peptides are everywhere right now, with young people using them to lose weight and even build muscle. We hear from someone who says they lost their brother to injection addiction. And, would you wear "pervert glasses"? A dupe has just hit the shelves and some privacy experts are warning about people being filmed without consent.  Plus, one of Australia's biggest names in media, Alan Jo...