Weird Crap in Australia

He was the upside-down man who brought imagination to life — with nothing more than a pencil for a nose and a blackboard for a stage. Mr Squiggle, the beloved children’s television icon, captured the hearts of generations with his wobbly lines, friendly charm, and boundless creativity. Travel back to the earliest age of Australian TV to explore how Norman Hetherington’s quirky puppet became a nati...

What happens when you mix grief, ghosts, and grainy home video with a dose of uncanny realism? You get Lake Mungo (2008) — a haunting mockumentary that feels a little too real for comfort - especially for Holly. In this Spooktober commentary track, join Holly and Matthew as they revisit one of Australia’s most chilling modern horror films. From the eerie performances to the quiet dread that creeps...

Few scandals have shaken Australia’s justice system like the Lawyer X affair. At the center was a prominent barrister who secretly worked as a police informant, all while representing some of the country’s most notorious criminals. Her name was tied to dozens of figures on both sides of the law, leaving behind a trail of questions about loyalty, ethics, and justice. By living a double life, she je...

Few scandals have shaken Australia’s justice system like the Lawyer X affair. At the center was a prominent barrister who secretly worked as a police informant, all while representing some of the country’s most notorious criminals. Her name was tied to dozens of figures on both sides of the law, leaving behind a trail of questions about loyalty, ethics, and justice. By living a double life, she je...

Few scandals have shaken Australia’s justice system like the Lawyer X affair. At the center was a prominent barrister who secretly worked as a police informant, all while representing some of the country’s most notorious criminals. Her name was tied to dozens of figures on both sides of the law, leaving behind a trail of questions about loyalty, ethics, and justice. By living a double life, she je...

In 1876, one of the most daring prison escapes in history set sail from Fremantle, Western Australia. The American whaling ship Catalpa was at the heart of the plot, masterminded by Irish Fenians determined to free their comrades from the brutal Fremantle Prison. With clever disguises, coded messages, and a nail-biting chase at sea, the Catalpa’s voyage became a legendary tale of rebellion, ingenu...

On August 9, 1981, a small Cessna 210 aircraft carrying five men vanished over the rugged wilderness of Barrington Tops, NSW. Despite extensive searches, no wreckage or remains were ever recovered, and the fate of the aircraft remains one of Australia’s most baffling aviation mysteries.  In this episode, we explore the background of the passengers, the last radio transmissions, the massive search...

From smoky pubs in Adelaide to selling out arenas across the country, Cold Chisel became the voice of a generation. Fronted by Jim Barnes, the band’s raw energy and working-class anthems captured the spirit of Australia in the late 70s and 80s, their legacy continuing all the way until tomorrow. With hits like Khe Sanh and Flame Trees, they weren’t just making music — they were telling the stories...

From smoky pubs in Adelaide to selling out arenas across the country, Cold Chisel became the voice of a generation. Fronted by Jim Barnes, the band’s raw energy and working-class anthems captured the spirit of Australia in the late 70s and 80s, their legacy continuing all the way until tomorrow. With hits like Khe Sanh and Flame Trees, they weren’t just making music — they were telling the stories...

What happens when you take werewolves, marsupials, a low budget, and the golden age of Ozploitation cinema? You get Howling III: The Marsupials — one of the strangest, campiest horror sequels ever put to film. In this commentary track, join Holly and Matthew as they sit down with this oddball slice of Australian cinema. From the marsupial pouch transformations to the utterly bonkers plot, we’ll la...

On the morning of 18 January 1977, Blue Mountains commuters boarded their usual train, expecting nothing more than another routine ride to work. Instead, the Granville train disaster became Australia’s deadliest rail accident.  When a commuter train derailed and slammed into a road bridge, the collapse that followed trapped dozens in a nightmare of twisted metal and rubble. Rescue crews fought aga...

On the morning of 18 January 1977, Blue Mountains commuters boarded their usual train, expecting nothing more than another routine ride to work. Instead, the Granville train disaster became Australia’s deadliest rail accident.  When a commuter train derailed and slammed into a road bridge, the collapse that followed trapped dozens in a nightmare of twisted metal and rubble. Rescue crews fought aga...

Every year, a sleepy New South Wales town gets turned into a pit lane paradise as 150,000 fans descend on Mount Panorama for the Bathurst 1000 — Australia’s most iconic car race. But Bathurst isn’t just about lap times and burnout smoke. Behind the wheelspin lies a deep and chaotic history: from the deadly results of some races, to the Peter Brock legacy, to the legendary Holden vs Ford rivalry th...

In this series, we dive into one of the most confronting chapters of modern Australian history: the Cronulla Riots of December 2005. Sparked by rising tensions, fuelled by alcohol, misinformation, and nationalism, what started as a “community protest” quickly turned into an ugly and violent display of racial hatred. Join Holly & Matthew as they look into an event about fear, blame, and what ha...

In this episode, we dive into one of the most confronting chapters of modern Australian history: the Cronulla Riots of December 2005. Sparked by rising tensions, fuelled by alcohol, misinformation, and nationalism, what started as a “community protest” quickly turned into an ugly and violent display of racial hatred. Join Holly & Matthew as they look into an event about fear, blame, and what h...

HIn this episode, we dive into one of the most confronting chapters of modern Australian history: the Cronulla Riots of December 2005. Sparked by rising tensions, fuelled by alcohol, misinformation, and nationalism, what started as a “community protest” quickly turned into an ugly and violent display of racial hatred. Join Holly & Matthew as they look into an event about fear, blame, and what...

In the lonely dunes of South Australia’s Coorong, legend speaks of a bushranger so strange he’s hard to forget: the Birdman of the Coorong. Unlike his horse-riding peers, this eccentric outlaw was rumoured to have galloped through the saltbush atop an ostrich. Was he a real menace to passing coaches, or just a yarn spun to spook travellers on the road to Kingston SE? Join Holly & Matthew as th...

Before they were stadium superstars, INXS were just six Aussie blokes carving out a sound in the sweaty pubs of Sydney. In this episode, we chart the meteoric rise of one of Australia’s biggest musical exports—from their gritty early days, to the glitz of international fame, and the tragic loss of frontman Michael Hutchence. Join Holly & Matthew as they dive into their chart-topping hits, back...

Before they were stadium superstars, INXS were just six Aussie blokes carving out a sound in the sweaty pubs of Sydney. In this episode, we chart the meteoric rise of one of Australia’s biggest musical exports—from their gritty early days, to the glitz of international fame, and the tragic loss of frontman Michael Hutchence. Join Holly & Matthew as they dive into their chart-topping hits, back...

Before they were stadium superstars, INXS were just six Aussie blokes carving out a sound in the sweaty pubs of Sydney. In this episode, we chart the meteoric rise of one of Australia’s biggest musical exports—from their gritty early days, to the glitz of international fame, and the tragic loss of frontman Michael Hutchence. Join Holly & Matthew as they dive into their chart-topping hits, back...

Douglas Mawson wasn’t just a survivor—he was a scientific powerhouse who helped put Australia on the map of polar exploration. His adventures began with the 1907–1909 Nimrod Expedition under Ernest Shackleton, during which he became one of the first to reach the Magnetic South Pole and climb Mount Erebus. But it was his own Australasian Antarctic Expedition from 1911 to 1914 that sealed his place...

Douglas Mawson wasn’t just a survivor—he was a scientific powerhouse who helped put Australia on the map of polar exploration. His adventures began with the 1907–1909 Nimrod Expedition under Ernest Shackleton, during which he became one of the first to reach the Magnetic South Pole and climb Mount Erebus. But it was his own Australasian Antarctic Expedition from 1911 to 1914 that sealed his place...

Douglas Mawson wasn’t just a survivor—he was a scientific powerhouse who helped put Australia on the map of polar exploration. His adventures began with the 1907–1909 Nimrod Expedition under Ernest Shackleton, during which he became one of the first to reach the Magnetic South Pole and climb Mount Erebus. But it was his own Australasian Antarctic Expedition from 1911 to 1914 that sealed his place...

Australia’s largest bird of prey, the wedge-tailed eagle , is a creature of raw power and mythic presence. With a piercing gaze adapted for hunting across vast landscapes, these raptors are found soaring over deserts, forests, and farmland alike. Once hunted by farmers who saw them as threats to livestock, wedge-tails are now protected. Revered in local lore and feared by foxes, drones, and the oc...

David Gulpilil, born in Arnhem Land in 1953, was more than just an actor—he was a cultural bridge, storyteller, and proud Yolŋu man who changed the face of Australian cinema. From his breakout role in Walkabout (1971) to his haunting final performance in My Name is Gulpilil (2021), his work brought Australian First Nations voices and perspectives to screens around the world. Off-screen, Gulpilil l...