Bang On

The conversation around how, when, and if to mark January 26 as "Australia Day" continues, and Myf and Zan talk about how circular it’s becoming. The honours system is under scrutiny, as we question the people given the highest awards for service in Australia, and who decides it. Cardi B has made Hottest 100 history with Myf’s anthem of 2020. And pandemic fashion continues to influence the latest...

Hours after US President Biden is sworn in we’re giving our hot takes on the important moments of Inauguration Day: the brooch, the coats, and Melania's kaftan. Speaking of fashion, US Vogue has been criticised over its cover image choice of history making VP Kamala Harris. We dig into the discussion around it. And convicted murderer and known abuser Phil Spector has died; we reflect on the “lone...

We’re back for another year of Bangin’ On, and with plenty to sink our teeth into. Sex and the City is back too, but in what form and why? Kim and Kanye are reportedly on the rocks; we do what we can with the information at hand. And sea shanties have gone viral on TikTok, which is frankly joyful, but also speaks to a larger instinct towards community. A new year is an opportunity for taking stock...

Well we’ve come to the end of a year, and while everyone does their 2020 wrap we give this bin fire our own Bang On spin. Plenty to love (and suddenly remember) about it; from WAP to Dreams, hyper realistic cakes and hyper ugly Crocs. Fashion didn’t sleep, but did resemble a waste bag, and Dolly saved us all. It was a year of challenges too; in some cases good ones, and we reflect on the reckoning...

It’s over to you Bang Fam, as you share your recommendations for summer in a bumper Bang Back special episode. We laugh, we cry, and we now have a big list of all kinds of joyful, funny, enlightening, and ridiculous things to dig into over the summer break. Show notes: Dionne Warwick: https://twitter.com/_DionneWarwick/status/1336005472910864385 Nigella pronouncing microwave: https://twitter.com/E...

It’s a big week for trans awareness, with actor Elliot Page coming out and highlighting the realities of many others in the trans community. A great piece in the Washington Post on how COVID has changed arts criticism has us thinking more broadly about the ways we’re shifting for good, including in live gig accessibility. It’s quite a time for butts in fashion too, and of course we have many thoug...

It’s been a big week for music statues, with the ARIA Awards going down, and the Grammy nominations going up. Diversity on both fronts is on the rise, but The Weeknd ain’t happy. A great read on a new generation’s viewing of Diana’s “princess story” has us also reflecting on the shifting stories around cultural institutions, while an op-ed penned by The Duchess of Sussex shows she continues to do...

Dolly Parton cured Coronavirus! ABC Fact Check: not quite, but how wonderful that her $1 million donation towards the development of a vaccine is reaping dividends; we celebrate the Queen. Speaking of monarchies, the new season of The Crown has dropped and everyone is googling whether or not Diana dressed as a tree. But has artistic licence been taken too far? The success of double screen friendly...

It’s been a week for finding, and figuring out women’s place in power in 2020. An ABC 4 Corners expose on the power imbalance between men and women in Canberra has been seamlessly followed by a political press conference confirming the point. Meanwhile a statue erected to pay tribute to a feminist hero has many confused and outraged about the gaze it was sculpted in. Australia Post has backed a ca...

Myf and Zan bang on about Johnny Depp, Beyonce's 80,000 bees, the ridiculous Goop gift guide, The Vow, and Meg Mason's new book Sorrow and Bliss.

After 2 weeks of multiple health screens and asking everyone to quarantine, I surprised my closest inner circle with a trip to a private island where we could pretend things were normal just for a brief moment in time. Joking! We just emerged from months of lockdown to record Bang On face to face, IRL! And it’s like one million private island birthdays rolled into one. We talk about the tone deaf...

It’s been a week for blokes with their hands down their pants! Rudy Giuliani has been caught in some compromising shots in the new Borat film, while US journalist Jeremy Toobin has dissolved the boundaries of working from home, in a Zoom meeting. Why are so many men coming to his defence? A beautiful long read on how we value our friendships has us reflecting on our own lifelong bonds, and NASA ha...

The trailer for season 4 of The Crown is out and we are absolutely frothing for it. A new Crocs x Bieber collab has the internet ablaze again, and while younger folks have been behind the plastic clog for a while now, it feels as though the multi-generational tipping point is here. Meanwhile Rihanna has drawn attention to male body image with her brilliant inclusion of 2XL model Steven G in her la...

It’s been a big week in American politics and frankly, we gotta dive in. Love overtakes #ProudBoys, while a fifteen year old on TikTok becomes the voice of honesty out of the White House. An Idaho fella with a penchant for cranberry juice wins everyone over, including Mick Fleetwood. And Myf is binge watching Issa Rae's TV show Insecure, and hate-watching Emily in Paris. Meanwhile Zan discovers My...

The death of a feminist icon has us reflecting on the power of song, and the impact her anthem had on the highest office in the land. Lizzo has made history on the cover of Vogue, and there’s a lot of feedback. We're also in awe of an incredible conversation between Michaela Coel and Donald Glover. In between we talk about puppet haute couture and a famous wood nymph celebrates her birthday in an...

The Emmy Awards happened on Zoom and we watched the highlights, how very 2020. We wrap the winners, the ground breakers, and the list of awards that – if anything – remind us of shows we might have missed. Not sure about Schitt's Creek yet? Myf explains why they took home the most gongs. Speaking of which, Rolling Stone have just updated their lengthy list of the 500 Best Albums of All Time. We ha...

The crossover of the wellness industry and conspiracy theorists is real (#DoYourResearch), and we explore why. Speaking of Venn diagrams, a new doco on Netflix has everyone talking about the power and intentions of social media. Kanye’s latest tweet-rant resonates, and a doco on Cathy Freeman’s iconic Olympic gold has us crying, and reflecting on what has and hasn’t changed in the past 20 years. S...

It’s the end of an era as Keeping Up With The Kardashians calls time. We reflect back on the empire (and wealth) this family has built, and why now is the right time to finish. An op-ed penned by robot AI has the human world in a tizz, meanwhile a phenomenon around bookstores and toilets has us oversharing. And everyone is talking about Billie Piper’s incredible performance in I Hate Suzie. Show n...

The pandemic is proving to us how much we need to connect with one another. Luckily ingenuity + the internet is here to help this week. A longread on Katy Perry’s music has us digging into the shifting landscape of pop, artistic authenticity, social media, and more. And Michaela Coel’s acclaimed TV series has a surprise landing on Australian screens, finally! Show notes: The Joys of Looking Outsid...

Hey Bang Fam. No episode this week. We're fine, don't worry! We'll be back to bang on with you next week. Can't wait to catch up then. Much love, Myf and Zan x Don't forget you can email us: bangon.podcast@abc.net.au Bang On is produced by Double J. it is recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past, present, and emerging. We acknowledge Ab...

The normally apolitical Ms Dolly Parton has spoken out in support of Black Lives Matter, which has us looking back at the Dolly Parton’s America podcast and thinking about the theme of “unity” that is dominating US politics this week. Cardi B has interviewed Joe Biden, and Cher is VOLUNTEERING (all caps) at her local post office. 2020, you’re a wild time! And a report auditing diversity on Austral...

Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion have caused a ruckus online following the release of their sex positive collab “WAP”, but the reactions to it’s message are divided, and the hot takes are multiplying. We dive in. Meanwhile Nick Cave has weighed in on the cancel culture debate, and a couple of twins in Indiana are bringing us joy with their reactions to songs we thought everyone had heard. Myf bangs...

The rise and (possible) fall of Ellen DeGeneres has been filling the feeds, and we’re deciphering what it all means. Beyoncé has dropped her new visual album "Black is King", and Myf has managed to find a Disney+ login to watch it. And even though there are no runways, we've found a fashion accessory to keep us going in this lockdown. To the dog park. Show notes: Ellen DeGeneres: https://www.thegu...

Black and white selfies of “women supporting women” have been flooding our feeds this week, but why? Alexandria Ocasia-Cortez’s speech on the floor of US Congress has us fist pumping, while Taylor Swift’s surprise album has the music world reviewing. We give our take, somewhat fearfully, due to Swiftie stans. And as it is written, so it shall be done; the KFC Crocs collab is finally here. Plus, Za...

It’s been a turbulent week for Kanye West, and the responses to his breakdowns has us again discussing the understanding and compassion towards mental health in celebrity culture. Netflix’s 3 seasons and you’re out policy prompts us to take a bigger look at the legacy of great television series, and how streaming services are disrupting the game. Plus, fashion face masks and what does the demise o...