Hack

Going to church is a common part of Christmas celebrations for many Australians. But for some, just taking part in a regular Mass is not enough. They want to experience the most traditional form of this Catholic ritual. Today on summer hack we meet the young Australians praying in a dead language.

How do we keep young people safe on the road?  It's a question we seem to ask ourselves every few years but the road death toll keeps going up. This year more than 180 people aged between 17 and 25 have died on Australian roads.  Today on the summer hack podcast, we hear road crash survivor Tyler's warning to other young drivers.

Does the prospect of spending heaps of time with your parents over Christmas terrify you? Maybe it's something you look forward to all year? On today's episode of the hack summer podcast, we look into why Gen Z are closer to their parents than previous generations, and whether there's such a thing as too close. Guest: Dr Charlotte Keating, clinical psychologist

Tom Robinson set himself a goal to become the youngest person to row solo across the Pacific Ocean.  After rowing for 15 months, his adventure came to an end when his boat capsized. Fourteen hours later, a naked Tom was rescued by a cruise ship packed with tourists.  This is his dramatic story.  Guest: Tom Robinson, rower

King Island, off the north-west coast of Tasmania, is well known for cheese, golf and clean air. But with many of its main industries facing uncertain times, residents are contemplating what's next for their future. hack travelled to King Island to speak with young locals about the challenges and stigma around staying on the island.

How do you figure out who you are and what you want to achieve in life... while also trying to survive a war? Today on the summer hack podcast, we revisit the story 25-year-old Abeer who told us what it's like living in Gaza. Guest: Abeer Abou Mutlak, social researcher and field project coordinator, Caritas Jerusalem

On the first episode of summer hack, we're escaping into the world of dragons and fairies to find out what's pushing the 'romantasy' genre to the top of the best seller lists. And yep, the hack podcast will be with you right across the summer break! Guest: Associate Professor Lauren Rosewarne, sexuality and pop culture researcher, University of Melbourne

It's Shakeup Week. Today's target: the best of 2024.  From illnesses being eliminated to billionaires paying off students' debts and a Top End teen catching a million dollar fish, these are the better moments that made 2024. Host Dave Marchese is joined by comedian Anthony Locascio and model and presenter, Christian Wilkins. 

It's Shakeup Week. Today's target: international news. From the hottest year on record, to the return of Donald Trump, and the conflicts that impact us all, these are the international news stories that dominated our feeds in 2024.  Host Dave Marchese is joined by editor of The Daily Aus Emma Gillespie and Guardian reporter Rafqa Touma. 

When we spoke to Housing Minister Clare O'Neil last month, we asked her if she wanted to see house prices come down. She didn't. So why aren't house prices going to get cheaper in Australia? And what does that mean for someone trying to crack into the market? Today we ask an expert. Guest: Ian Verrender, chief business correspondent, ABC

It's Shakeup Week, and today's a big one: we're doing sport.  From the most Googled athlete of the year, to a green-and-gold wave at the Olympics, drug scandals, and Aussies dominating internationally, these are the ups and downs of sport in 2024. Host Dave Marchese is joined by sports journalists and podcasters Marlee Silva and Josh Garlepp.

The escalating anti-Semitism in Australia over the past few months has been really scary.  Police have called an arson attack at a Melbourne synagogue a terrorist attack, while cars have also been set on fire in Sydney and graffiti sprayed on homes.  It's left many Jewish Australians feeling anxious and unsafe. In this episode of hack, we hear from them. Guest: Zac Morris, vice president, Australa...

It's Shakeup Week. Today's target: pop culture.  From the baby animals that dominated our feeds, to the space we held (and did not hold) for Defying Gravity and the Brat femininomenon, these are the pop culture moments that made 2024.  Host Dave Marchese is joined by PEDESTRIAN TV's Issy Philips and comedian Billy D'Arcy. 

It's Shakeup Week. Today's target: Auspol.  From some choice jewellery, to political protests, to the policies that took forever to get off the ground, this is the year in Australian politics.  Host Dave Marchese is joined by former WA Liberal leader Zak Kirkup and author, influencer and former NSW Labor party staffer Alisha Aitken-Radburn.

Syrians are celebrating all over the world, after rebel forces seized control of the capital Damascus, and ousted the longtime dictator, Bashar al-Assad. But what does the future of Syria look like?  Will the millions who left the country now return?  Is Syria about to become a democracy?  Guest: Mouaz Moustafa, executive director, Syrian Emergency Task Force

Was it just us, or was Spotify Wrapped just a bit sh*t this year? And the Hunter Biden pardon: fair or fraud?  Plus, the biggest backflips and an NRL coach's war on the six-pack.  Host Dave Marchese is joined by journalists Sarah Ison and Marty Smiley. 

We're always hearing that Australians are turning away from churches in big numbers. But there's one group going the other way: Gen Z men.  So what's behind this? Plus, Australia has changed its position at the UN to demand Israel end its occupation of the Palestinian Territories.  And women say their real issues have been ignored by GPs because of weight stigma.  Guests: Dr Andrew Thomas, lecture...

Sobriety. Addiction. Harm reduction.  In this episode, we're unpacking one of Australia's most deep-rooted issues: our drinking and drug culture.  You'll hear Alex's story of addiction, as well as other Australians from across the country experimenting with sobriety. Plus, we get into the importance of carrying Naloxone this summer festival season. Guests:  Alex Milovanov, sober advocate Tell us w...

The NDIS has cut back funding for music therapy. We speak to those who use the treatment and the people who provide it. And, how much longer will it be until the Bali 9 are back on Australian soil?  Plus, what's behind the huge spike in demand for private health insurance from young people? Guests: Michael Bachelard, reporter and former Indonesia correspondent, The Age Jen Hankin, musician and NDI...

The government reckons Australia needs to do more to support veterans and people serving in the ADF. So what’s changing, and do young vets reckon it’s enough? Also, a huge moment in Syria's 13+ year old civil war, with rebel forces overrunning the government in the city of Aleppo.   And Joe Biden has pardoned his own son Hunter, who was facing possible prison time for gun and tax crimes.  Plus, wh...

Dozens of bills were passed in parliament this week; one will ban kids from socials.     Also, does demonising Joe Rogan just insult millions of people, particularly men?  Plus, there's a spy shortage in some countries.  And if it's not Defying Gravity, what else are we holding space for?  Host Dave Marchese is joined by journalists Perry Duffin and Charlotte Mortlock.  Tell us what you want to he...

How will parliament's new housing bills actually help a generation of "forever renters"? We ask the Housing Minister Clare O'Neil.  Also, 8 hostel employees arrested and backpacker Google reviews deleted: we have the latest on the mass methanol poisoning in Laos.  Plus, medicinal cannabis sales in Australia are soaring, with about a billion dollars spent on products this year alone.  Guests:  Clar...

Drive your recycling 400km, or see it go into general waste: this is the reality in a bunch of regional cities around the country.  Plus, a ceasefire has begun between Israel and Hezbollah.  And what would no social media access until 16 have meant for you? Guests: Javed Ali, national security law expert, University of Michigan  Dr Ben Madden, waste expert, Institute of Sustainable Futures at UTS...

Can we end racism? The Human Rights Commission thinks yes, and it's released a 10 year plan that it wants the government to adopt. Plus, after years of investigations, grand juries and court appearances, why have federal prosecutors in the US decided to drop two of the criminal cases against Donald Trump... and what about the other ones? Also: line dancing is back in a big way. Guests: Giridharan...

As the government delays bringing in new limits to betting ads, saying it needs more time, we hear from someone whose brother took his own life because of his gambling addiction. Plus, some young First Nations people are rejecting Australian of the Year nominations.  And what was (and wasn't) achieved at COP29?  Guests: Kate, whose name we've changed Matt McDonald, associate professor, University...