Hack

Raneem has lost about 40 family members during the war in Gaza. Now, the rest of her family is returning home to the north as the tentative ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continues.  It's estimated 1.5 million Palestinians are making their way north, returning to devastated homes and neighbourhoods.  With the unfiltered details posted day by day on social media, Raneem shares what it's like wa...

China's new AI offering DeepSeek has caused chaos on the US stock market and shot to the top of app stores around the world. We wanna know what DeepSeek is, plus whether we (and ChatGPT) should be scared?  And why are neo-Nazis roaming the streets of South Australia?  Plus the dating pool might feel small, but it's even smaller when you're living on a remote island.  Listen now:  01:31 - South Aus...

A group of neo-Nazis paraded the streets of Adelaide, just hours after world leaders came together to mark 80 years since the liberation of the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz. So what do these events tell us about anti-Semitism in Australia?  We look at how the shadow of the Holocaust impacts the way we live today.  Guest: Tess Scholfield-Peters, academic and author of Dear Mutzi Get the whole story...

Trump's first week in office saw him signing hundreds of executive orders and now his "immigration blitz" has officially begun. And why aren't sun safety messages getting through to people? We unpack the tanning trends taking over TikTok.  Listen now:  01:35 - Trump's immigration blitz  05:33 - How Trump's election will impact Australia's 12:19 - Unpacking Aussies' tan line obsession  16:57 - Ashl...

Tanning butter, collariums, and personalised tanning apps.  Young Australians are trying to "perfect" their tan lines, despite the years of warnings against it.  We know the sun is dangerous, so why is everyone lying out in the sun again?  And what actually happens to your body when you do?  Guest: Ashlee Harju, sun safety advocate Get the whole story from Hack: Follow us on Instagram Listen to ou...

Aisha* was just 13 when she got engaged to an older distant relative against her will.  Within three years she'd taken her parents to court to fight the forced marriage. Forced marriage is the most common form of human trafficking in Australia. On this episode of the summer hack podcast, we hear the extraordinary story of a young woman's escape, and the ongoing impact it has on her life. Guest: St...

With single-sex schools around the country making the switch to co-ed, the debate over what's best for students continues. While some maintain boys and girls learn better separately, many argue the separation doesn't make sense in modern Australia. On this episode of the summer hack podcast, we speak with students who've experienced both and dive into the research on school culture and learning ou...

In just a few years it's become one of the world's most in-demand drugs but is Ozempic all it's cracked up to be?  Could this new generation of weight-loss medication end 'globesity' and save the world billions of dollars? What are the risks? We speak with bestselling author Johann Hari about his personal journey with Ozempic and what he's learned about its spread around the globe. Guest: Johann H...

Donald Trump is promising a "golden age" for America. The former leader has been sworn in as the 47th US president and has spent his first day in the job making sweeping changes. From TikTok to immigration, we explain how this new Trump presidency is shaping up and what we can expect in the months ahead. Guest: Dr Emma Shortis, US politics expert, The Australia Institute

Constant upheaval. Financial stress. Living lease-to-lease with little control over repairs or rent hikes.  There's a lot renters often just learn to live with. But how bad is all this for your health?  On this episode of the summer hack podcast we find out how strong the link is between stable housing and wellbeing.  Guest: Dr Erika Martino, healthy housing research fellow, University of Melbourn...

Queenslander Jessica Lane has become the first Australian to take out a major pageant in two decades. The last Aussie to do it was Jennifer Hawkins, who became a household name when she won Miss Universe in 2004. Today on the summer hack podcast, you'll hear Jessica's journey to the Miss Earth title, her passion for the environment and why she thinks pageants are still relevant. Guest: Jessica Lan...

Australia's space sector is estimated to be worth $6.4 billion to the economy. The sector is experiencing a boom with Australia's landscape key to helping track satellites, launch rockets and observe the deepest reaches of outer space. So what role can young Australians play in the coming space age? On this episode of the summer hack podcast we find out.

Dr Mohammed Mustafa was told to write a will before he travelled to Gaza last year. The Perth-based doctor risked his life to volunteer in the war zone but felt compelled to help. In this episode of the summer hack podcast, he shares the horrors he saw and how it feels to adjust back to life in Australia.  Guest: Dr Mohammed Mustafa, emergency physician

Should prisons be more about rehabilitation or punishment?  On this episode of the summer hack podcast, we look at a program getting inmates involved in helping injured wildlife and why experts say it could be a game-changer.  Guest: Dr Julie Toohey, criminology lecturer, University of Adelaide

How much time do you spend thinking about death? Because according to some experts, death anxiety peaks in your early 20s. Today on the summer hack podcast, you'll hear from someone actually working in the death industry. And we find out why some of us don't like thinking or talking about dying... and what you can do about it. Guest: Dr Rachel Menzies, clinical psychologist and research fellow, Un...

She was a huge name in Aussie motor sport but after copping blatant sexism, Renee Gracie announced she'd had enough. Now, years later, having built up a successful second career as an adult content creator, Renee's back in the driver's seat. So what's she learnt? And what message does she have for young women who want to get into professional racing too? In this episode of summer hack, we catch up...

A warning: this podcast contains themes about domestic and family violence.  2025 might be the year you really want to date and meet someone. But if you're looking for a hetero relationship, how do you navigate dating in the current gender violence crisis? In this special edition of the summer hack podcast, we speak with Dee Salmin from the Hook Up, who tried to find out how you can date happily a...

Moving to a new city because of the weather isn't a new phenomenon. Either wanting to be closer to the snow or loving the heat, there's a town that can cater to your favourite climate. But would you move to a town for the wind? Today on the summer hack podcast, we take you to a realllllyyyy windy town: Geraldton in the mid west region of WA, where tourists are flocking to enjoy the elements.

A warning: this podcast contains heavy themes about domestic and family violence.  Young people who grow up surrounded by domestic violence are often not considered victims or survivors in their own right, unless the violence was directed at them. That can make it difficult to access services and support, further compounding the trauma. On this episode of the summer hack podcast, we speak to young...

When you think of a tradie, who typically comes to mind? For decades, working in a trade has been perceived as a male-dominated career. But now, heaps of women are working as tradies as well. So what's it like and what does the industry need to do to support them more? Today on the summer hack podcast, we hear from some women who have been living and loving the tradie life. Guest: Mel Street, trad...

Boxer Harry Garside’s emotional interview after being knocked out of the Olympics last year had many Australians feeling for him. He said he felt like he had let the country down. Months on, we spoke to Harry about his struggles to come to terms with the highs and lows of competitive sport, the darkest moment in his life and how he finds peace in poetry and deep reflection. Guest: Harry Garside, O...

Waking up with a headache or a dry mouth is pretty common after a big night out.  Most people expect the physical symptoms of a hangover after drinking a little too much but have you ever woken up after a big night feeling anxious? Researchers estimate about 1 in 5 people experience anxiety as part of their hangovers and that number is expected to rise. On today's episode of the summer hack podcas...

When Alex Noble was 16, a single moment at footy training changed his life. He's now 22 and written a book called 'You Fight, I Fight', reflecting on the lessons he's learnt since becoming a quadriplegic.  Guest: Alex Noble, author and advocate

Trying to become a movie star is hard enough at the best of times. You're about to meet two young Aussies who want to make it in one of the most competitive film industries in the world - Bollywood. And they're giving it everything they've got. 

Have you ever had a dream that made you really emotional? Like angry or annoyed at the person in it? We've all had a dream hangover, but why does it happen? The hack team tried to find out! Guest:  Professor Drew Dawson, sleep researcher, CQUniversity