Quick Smart

Australia buys more clothes per person than any other country, and most is made of plastic. So, when did synthetic fibres take over fashion? And why does it matter?

Millions of people are turning to AI chatbots for friendship, fun banter and even romance. But these digital companions come with a dangerous catch.

Mormons seem to be everywhere right now—on our TVs and social media feeds. So, why is the zeitgeist currently obsessing over The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its followers? And if you’re Quick Smart obsessed, make sure to listen until the end for an announcement about the show.

When you fall asleep do you dream of falling Tetris pieces? There’s a name for this – the Tetris Effect. Scientists have been investigating its use in boosting creativity and productivity and brands are trying to figure out how to monetise it. So just how malleable does playing video games make our minds? And is it possible for companies to use this research to hijack our dreams? Guest: Shelby Tra...

Linguists have discovered that teenage girls play a significant role in shaping our future vocabulary. But how do 16-year-old girls end up being the arbiters of what we will and won't say? 

Our relationship with pets has dramatically shifted over the decades. Historically, we domesticated and bred pets for utility, such as catching rats and protection. Now, we breed them to be as cute as possible and consider them part of the family unit. 

Australians generally like to think we're a classless society and that if you have a go, you get a go. This could be one of the reasons why most Australians think they're middle class, but the figures say otherwise. So, how did we get here, and is our perception of class shifting?

You often hear about "mistrials" or cases being "thrown out of court," but how do these situations actually occur? In an age of constant information overload, how can a juror keep their mind clear and unbiased? And what are the consequences when jurors can't resist the temptation to engage with outside sources?

23andMe launched in 2016 to widespread excitement from Silicon Valley evangelists. It promised a simple and fun way to explore our genetic makeup. Eight years on, 15 million people are now left wishing they had dug deeper into the T&Cs and understood what they were actually signing up for.

This year’s European summer saw an unprecedented influx of tourists flocking to idyllic holiday destinations. Tourists faced longer lines, fully booked accommodations, and soaring prices. But what is the cost for the locals who call these places home, and how did these once peaceful spots become overrun with visitors? 

If you're in a relationship with someone in the same profession as you, you're not alone. Most people are, and there are stats to prove it. So why do we end up with people just like us, and what does this say about us as a society?

The US election is around the corner, and the polls are neck and neck. Both candidates are zeroing in on key voter groups that could win them the election.

How much should inner peace cost? For the people selling the idea of mindfulness and inner peace the price tag can be limitless. Apps, retreats, balms and oils, mindfulness is now something you can buy. So how did a practice with ties to an ancient religion turn into a mindfulness industrial complex?

Around the globe, governments have been shifting across the political spectrum. Have some leaders exploited the public's desire for change, and are we seeing an increase in dictators and demagogues?

The advent of dating apps gave a whole new meaning to the phrase 'plenty of fish in the sea.' Suddenly, you could cast your search for 'the one' into the limitless depths of the internet. So why are people ghosting the apps and instead looking for love IRL? 

The prince of Saudi Arabia has a vision for a sci-fi like city in the middle of the desert called NEOM and he wants you to move in.  The futuristic sci-fi city is being spruiked online by influencers and if you've seen the marketing you might think it's too good to be true. So will the prince's sci-fi dreams turn into reality and why does he want to get people to move to the middle of the desert i...

How much is that doggy in the window impacting climate change? And do we need to take paws for thought before buying a pet? 

Amidst the culture wars and identity politics stirred up during the election campaign, can Kamala Harris secure the presidency and make history?  And if history is made do her policies align with the progressive youth base that have memed her into a lime green oval office, or are these voters not seeing the forest for the coconut trees?

The whole world is moving towards a cashless future. So what does our digital money future look like and is it for the best? 

Sex tech conjures up images of hot robots sent from the future and while that might be where this multi million dollar industry is headed - for now a big slice of the demand is from people hoping to enjoy their own body so why do we make that so hard for people living with disabilities? And who are the inventors and engineers breaking down the taboos to create the products that suit their needs? G...

Linguists have discovered that teenage girls play a significant role in shaping our future vocabulary. But how do 16-year-old girls end up being the arbiters of what we will and won't say?  Guest: Fiona Pepper for Future Tense 

Where is the case now and when will mushroom murder-accused Erin Patterson face trial? We find out and get into the weeds about the legality and ethics of making a true crime podcast happening in real time.  If you liked this episode of Quick Smart you might like this other episode we did about The truth behind reality TV villains or this one about The mysterious disappearance of Agatha Christie

When you fall asleep do you dream of falling Tetris pieces? There’s a name for this – the Tetris Effect. Scientists have been investigating its use in boosting creativity and productivity and brands are trying to figure out how to monetise it. So just how malleable does playing video games make our minds? And is it possible for companies to use this research to hijack our dreams? Guest: Shelby Tra...

Cryptocurrency and block chain technology has dramatically shifted the way criminals launder money - so what are the techniques some criminals are using to clean dirty money and what does it have to do with a video game about salamanders? Guest: Nick Baker for The Money and ABC Digital  And if you liked this episode check out some of the other episodes we've made with The Money like this one about...

If you’re a woman between 25 and 45 on Instagram there’s a good chance you’ve seen ads for egg freezing. And in recent years, the popularity of IVF clinics has sky rocketed - so much so that the clinics are are actually starting to run out of storage space. So what has led to the huge uptick in people wanting to freeze their eggs and is it actually the insurance policy that people think it is? Gue...