JOY Drive with Warren

Dr Madeline Sprajcer explains why simply knowing the phone might ring could keep the brain on alert, disrupt sleep even when the call never comes, and reveal a hidden cost of asking workers to remain available overnight. Guest: Dr Madeline Sprajcer, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at CQUniversity Australia Presenter: Con Keramitsis The post Dr Madeline Sprajcer: How Being On-Call Disrupts Sleep Even...

Associate Professor Vincent Ho cuts through the marketing around antibiotics and probiotics, explaining what antibiotics actually do to our gut microbiome, when probiotics could help and why automatically reaching for a supplement isn’t necessarily the answer. Guest: Associate Professor Vincent Ho, gastroenterologist at Western Sydney University Presenter: Con Keramitsis The post Associate Profess...

Dr Edith Hill unpacks an AI-enhanced hotel that wasn’t quite what it seemed and an influencer who allegedly spent nearly two years documenting a university life that apparently never existed, raising the bigger question of how we can tell what is real online anymore. Guest: Dr Edith Hill, Associate Lecturer in Learning and Teaching Innovation at Flinders University Presenter: Con Keramitsis The po...

Astrophysicist Dr Sara Webb explores Cloud 9, the extraordinary cloud of gas and dark matter that may have been a galaxy without any stars, and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which promises to transform what we know about dark energy, exoplanets and the universe. Guest: Dr Sara Webb, Associate Dean, Innovation & Engagement, School of Science, Computing and Emerging Technologies at Swin...

MasterChef and The Traitors star Alvin Quah joined JOY Drive ahead of R U OK? Day to explain why we often underestimate the power of simply checking in, what genuine support looks like and why we shouldn’t wait for the perfect moment to ask someone how they were really going. Guest: Alvin Quah, R U OK? Ambassador; MasterChef and The Traitors star Presenter: Con Keramitsis The post Alvin Quah: Why...

Italian-Australian travel writer Cristian Bonetto joined JOY Drive to uncover the Italian stories hidden in Australian food, coffee, architecture, music, and community life, and to reveal how writing his new book ITALO changed the way he saw both Australia and his own family history. Guest: Cristian Bonetto, Italian-Australian travel writer and author of ITALO: Italian Culture and Dining in Austra...

What could a new Taylor Swift or Harry Styles album possibly have to do with road deaths? Researchers found traffic fatalities were 15% higher on the release days of ten hugely streamed albums, after one researcher caught himself drifting out of his lane while searching Spotify. Associate Professor Lauren Rosewarne explores whether streaming, giant car touchscreens and the excitement of new music...

Our superannuation is our money, but that doesn’t mean we can withdraw it whenever we need it. Professor Scott Donald explains the limited circumstances under which Australians can access super before retirement, the difference between financial hardship and compassionate grounds, and why taking money out decades early can cost far more than the amount withdrawn. He also explains the warning signs...

Dog owners often swear their pet knows exactly when something is wrong. Now brain scans have provided world-first evidence that dogs may distinguish between different human emotions rather than simply sensing that our mood has changed. Dr Mia Cobb explains what happens in dogs’ brains when they see fear, sadness, and anger; why fear may be particularly important to them; and how our dogs combine o...

At the first sign of a scratchy throat, plenty of us reach for vitamin C. But decades of research suggest its reputation for fighting the common cold is much bigger than the actual benefit. Associate Professor Evangeline Mantzioris separates evidence from habit, explains why taking vitamin C after symptoms begin is unlikely to help, where the belief came from and what happens when a 1,000mg supple...

Tattoo ink can remain beneath our skin for decades, Botox temporarily stops muscles from moving, and medicines can be injected beneath the skin, into muscle or directly into our bloodstream. But why do they all need to go to different places? Associate Professor Theresa Larkin takes us beneath the surface to explain what happens inside our bodies when we get tattoos, injections, allergy tests, acu...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) can create a workout plan in seconds, but can it understand pain, medical risk, motivation or the limits of the person following it? Dr Hunter Bennett explains where artificial intelligence can help with fitness, where human coaches still have the advantage and how to use AI-generated exercise advice safely. Guest: Dr Hunter Bennett, Lecturer in Exercise Science, Adela...

LGBTQIA+ people are more visible than ever, yet anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric and culture wars are becoming increasingly prominent. Associate Professor Lauren Rosewarne explores social anxiety, online outrage, masculinity and why minority groups so often become targets during periods of uncertainty. Guest: Dr Lauren Rosewarne, Associate Professor in the School of Social and Political Sciences at the Univ...

Migration to Australia has fallen sharply since its recent peak, yet public concern continues to grow. Emily Foley explores the gap between perception and reality, the role of housing and cost-of-living pressures, and how political rhetoric shapes the national debate. Guest: Emily Foley, Research Fellow at the University of Canberra and Flinders University Presenter: Warren Andrew The post Emily F...

Thousands of regional commuters were stranded when a telecommunications outage brought V/Line services to a halt, even though the trains and tracks were working. Professor Hussein Dia explains why modern rail depends so heavily on communications and what the disruption reveals about critical infrastructure and resilience. Guest: Professor Hussein Dia, School of Engineering at Swinburne University...

A supportive manager can make work feel meaningful, while a poor one can leave people anxious, exhausted and dreading Monday. Professor Kieron Meagher explains how leadership, autonomy and micromanagement shape workplace mental health and why better management is also better for business. Guest: Professor Kieron Meagher, Research School of Economics, Australian National University Presenter: Warre...

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is taking Amazon to court after Prime Video introduced advertising for existing subscribers unless they paid more to remove it. Professor Jeannie Paterson explains unfair contract terms, subscription changes and why the case could affect streaming services and businesses across Australia. Guest: Professor Jeannie Paterson, Melbourne Law Sch...

School holidays can create fresh questions for separated parents around travel, expenses, time with children and parenting agreements. Bec Dahl explains the common legal issues families face during holiday periods and why clear arrangements can prevent conflict later. Guest: Bec Dahl, Partner at Nicholes Family Lawyers Presenter: Warren Andrew Nicholes Family Lawyers is a proud JOY sponsor and sup...

Dr Edith Hill returned to JOY Drive to unpack two very different viral trends: a creator making a linen dress from seed to finished garment, and a granddaughter taking her grandfather on adventures he has never tried before. She explores why slow craft, intergenerational connection and uplifting content resonate so strongly online. Guest: Dr Edith Hill, Associate Lecturer in Learning and Teaching...

Sugar-free drinks and low-calorie sweeteners are often marketed as the healthier choice, but new research is examining their effect on gut bacteria, insulin and blood sugar control. Associate Professor Vincent Ho explains what the evidence shows and where the headlines may be getting ahead of the science. Guest: Associate Professor Vincent Ho, gastroenterologist and Senior Lecturer, Western Sydney...

Netflix series Teach You a Lesson turns school bullying into a gripping revenge fantasy, but its moral questions are far less simple. Suzy Wrong explores failed systems, bystanders, humiliation, punishment and what real accountability should look like when vulnerable people have been let down. Guest: Suzy Wrong Presenter: Warren Andrew The post Suzy Wrong: TV Series Review – ‘Teach You...

Mama Alto joined JOY Drive ahead of The Billie Holiday Songbook, reflecting on the singer who transformed jazz through honesty, phrasing and emotion. She discusses interpreting Holiday’s music, connecting with audiences and finding something new in songs she has performed for more than a decade. Guest: Mama Alto, performer and cabaret artist Presenter: Warren Andrew The post Mama Alto: ‘The...

Allegations of unauthorised access to banking information have prompted new questions about who can view our financial data. Dr Adam Arian explains bank access controls, third-party providers, Open Banking and the practical steps customers can take to better protect themselves. Guest: Dr Adam Arian, Senior Lecturer in Accounting, Auditing, and Finance at the Peter Faber Business School, Australian...

Dr Sara Webb joined JOY Drive with the latest space news, including science kits using seeds that travelled to the International Space Station, a new observatory creating the largest time-lapse of the universe ever attempted, and cargo missions helping to prepare for humans to live on the Moon. Guest: Dr Sara Webb, Associate Dean, Innovation & Engagement, School of Science, Computing and Emerg...

A poor start to the ski season has raised bigger questions about the future of Australia’s alpine regions. Dr Ryan Jopp explains why mountain towns may need to move beyond winter tourism and become year-round destinations as snow seasons grow less predictable. Guest: Dr Ryan Jopp, senior lecturer and researcher in management, business sustainability, and tourism at Swinburne University Presenter:...