Backchat

FBi Radio
  • 5.0 (14)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Your alternative to talkback. Backchat is a weekly show of news, politics, interviews, discussion, satire, and feature reporting. Hosted by Dani Zhang and Tanita Razaghi. Executive produced by Rebecca Cushway, with producers Dani Zhang, Holly Payne, Tanita Razaghi, Libby Hopper, Sana Shaikh, Lilly Grainger, Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis, Euan Kielly, Elisa Papaioannou, Grace Pittar, Jaspar McCahon-Boersma and Bridgette Donnellan.  Got an idea for a story? Email us: backchat@fbiradio.com We're also on Instagram @backchatfbiradio and X @BackchatFBi.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    Are we seeing a rise in homophobia? | The psychology of extremism | GPs and the health of the nation

    A new report from market research behemoth Roy Morgan has shown that, while fewer people think homosexuality is immoral than they did 20 years ago, the rate at which that is changing has slowed dramatically. Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine joins the show to break down the findings.  As neo-nazis become increasingly visible on streets all around Australia, we're rerunning producer Emilios Kwasner-Catsivelakis' package on the psychology of radical political views. General practice is increasingly hitting the headlines as sweeping Medicare changes loom. But will the November 1 reforms actually make it easier to see a doctor? Tasmanian GP Dr Toby Gardner is here to answer your questions.  This episode of Backchat was hosted by Pongyada Soothipong and Tanita Razaghi, and produced by Holly Payne, Rebecca Cushway and Emil Kwasner-Catsivelakis. Executive Produced by Rebecca Cushway. Aired 11 October on Gadigal Land.  Want to support our show? Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave us a five star review, and share an episode with a friend.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    31 min

  2. 7 OCT

    Data and stats aren’t everything! | Can we fix Parramatta Road? | Why does Sydney get so flooded when it rains? | Protect Mardi Gras vs. Pride in Protest | Asian representation in ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’

    Are numbers and statistical data as objective as people think they are? Producer Nyaboth Chuol and journalist Madi Chwasta get into why understanding how stats work could stop you (and your middle aged relos on Facebook) from falling down a conspiracy theory rabbit hole.  Dani and Bec also chat with Estelle Grech, head of planning and policy at the Committee for Sydney, about whether Parramatta Road could be used for something other than traffic jams (what a concept!). Later, producer Ponyada Sootthipong looks into why Sydney’s infrastructure is so terrible at coping with wet weather. Sam Kernaghan, Sanaa Shah and Matthew Thompson tell us whether they think our city is ready to withstand the worsening impacts of climate change. Luna Choo from Pride in Protest came by the studio to chat about their thoughts on Mardi Gras - can an celebration that welcomes cops, corporations and pro-genocide voices truly celebrate queer lives? Producer Jess D’Souza welcomed the warm weather with a discussion about Asian-American representation on ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ - finally, a conversation about TSITP with minimal Conrad v Jeremiah talk! This episode of Backchat was produced by Nyaboth Chuol, Sana Shaikh, Pongyada Sootthipong, Bec Cushway and Jessica D’Souza. Executive produced by Bec Cushway. Aired 20 September 2025 on Gadigal Land. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    43 min

  3. 30 SEPT

    Trauma sensitivity for frontline responders | Queensland's pill testing ban | impacts of keratoconus | degredation of rave culture | NARO renting report

    Over ten thousand people have signed a legislative assembly petition calling for trauma-informed training to be mandated for NSW Police. Producer Pongyada Soothipong explains what trauma-informed training involves and what systemic reforms are needed to implement it.  Cameron Francis, the CEO of not-for-profit drug testing service organisation The Loop joins us to discuss Queensland's recent ban on public and private pill testing operations. We unpack the impacts of keratoconus (a chronic eye condition) on young people with Dr Jingjing You, a senior lecturer at the University of Sydney's School of Medical Sciences.  Have raves lost their meaning? Producer Bec Cushway investigates the history of raves and how Sydney's rave scene is being diluted.  The National Association of Renters' Organisations and National Shelter have released their second report card on renting in Australia. Producer Sana Shaikh speaks to CEO of the Tenants' Union of NSW Leo Patterson Ross on how New South Wales fared and what the results mean for Sydney renters.    This episode of Backchat was produced by Pongyada Soothipong, Nyaboth Chuol, Elise Papaioannou, Sana Shaikh and Bec Cushway. Executive produced by Bec Cushway. Hosted by Dani Zhang and Bec Cushway.  Aired 27 September 2025 on Gadigal land.  Want to support our show? Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave us a five-star review, and share an episode with a friend.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.      See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    44 min

  4. 14 SEPT

    Closure of Meanjin | Prescription cannabis and driving | Protecting Children Online | Are shark nets effective?

    To break down the recent news that Melbourne University Press is closing Meanjin, Australia’s second-oldest literary journal, Holly explains why this is about much more than just finances or literary snobbery. A major conversation is unfolding in New South Wales following the state’s first drug summit in 25 years, with growing calls to reform driving laws for medical cannabis users. To unpack the issue, MP Alex Greenwich joined hosts Holly and Eva on the show. The theme of this year's National Child Protection Week, was “shifting conversation into action.” One conversation gaining momentum is the Albanese government’s social media ban for under-16s, aimed at protecting kids online. Discussing the proposal and its potential impact, senior lecturer in digital and social media at UTS, Paul Byron, joined the show. The long-running debate over shark nets has reignited after a fatal shark attack on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. In response, the NSW government has paused a planned trial to remove nets from certain beaches. To explore the controversy and whether shark nets really keep swimmers safe, our producer Olivia takes a closer look. This episode of Backchat was hosted by Holly Payne and Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis, and produced by Bec Cushway, Holly Payne, Elise Papaioannou, Jaspar McCahon-Boersma and Olivia Nunes-Malek. Executive Produced by Rebecca Cushway. Aired 13 September on Gadigal Land.  Want to support our show? Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave us a five star review, and share an episode with a friend.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    40 min

  5. 9 SEPT

    Cancer rates in young people | Pre-recorded testimony for victim-survivors | Politics in Sports | The psychology of extremism | Memefication of the right wing

    To unpack the impacts of cancer rates skyrocketing in young people, Producer Jaspar McCahon-Boersma talks with hosts Dani Zhang and Tanita Razaghi, with audio from Rare Cancer Australia CEO Christine Cockburn. A major campaign is slowly gaining momentum across New South Wales, calling on the state’s criminal  justice system to provide extra support for victim-survivors of sexual violence. To dive deeper into the topic, Jacinta Masters, the Campaign Manager at Fair Agenda, joins the show. For decades, sport’s been treated as a no-go zone for politics, a place to escape the world, not confront it. But that’s changing. Dr Kasey Symons, lecturer in Sports Media at Deakin University and co-founder of women in sport collective, Siren, breaks down the changes in sports and politics. As neo-nazis become increasingly visible on streets all around Australia, producer Emilios Kwasner-Catsivelakis takes a look at the psychology of radical political views. And Crystal Andrews, founder of publication Zee Feed and author of the essay ‘Let’s Not Give Conservative Politicians The Power of Becoming a Meme’ joins us to talk the memefication of right wing figures. This episode of Backchat was hosted by Dani Zhang and Tanita Razaghi, and produced by Holly Payne, Gabriella Accaria, Jaspar McCahon Borsema, Jordan Santander, Olivia Nunes-Malek and Emil Kwasner-Catsivelakis. Executive Produced by Holly Payne. Aired 6 September on Gadigal Land.  Want to support our show? Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave us a five star review, and share an episode with a friend.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    44 min

  6. 1 SEPT

    Woollahra's ghost train | Death of journalists in Gaza | A welcome lunch for Palestinian refugees | The strange rise of sovereign citizens and how do young Australians actually feel about changes to the First Home Buyers Grant?

    We start off the start of spooky season strong with a harrowing tale of real estate developers, NIMBYs and former antique dealers. Producer Holly Payne breaks down Woollahra's ghost train station and the future of development in the city's east. Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance deputy CEO Adam Portelli also joins to discuss the death of journalists in Gaza.  Next, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre CEO and cookbook author Kon Karapanagiotidis speaks about his welcome feast for Palestinian refugees and the importance of not letting our hearts be dimmed by fear. Read more about Kon and his work here: https://asrc.org.au/kon/. Producer Jaspar McCahon-Boersma spoke to researcher Dr Kaz Ross about the conspiratorial legal ideology of sovereign citizens and why it's been making headlines recently.  Last Monday, the government officially committed to expanding the Frist Home Buyers Grant. For our final story, producer Elise Papaioannou spoke to two young people hoping to crack into the housing market. This episode of Backchat was produced by Holly Payne, Jess D'Souza, Gabriella Accaria, Jaspar McCahon-Boersma, Elise Papaioannou and Harrie Hastings.Executive produced by Sana Shaikh.Hosted by Dani Zhang and Tanita Razaghi. Aired 30 August 2025 on Gadigal land. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    46 min

  7. 16 AUG

    Creative Futures in Western Sydney | AI-Induced Psychosis | Renaming PCOS | Who Really Profits from Political Merch?

    For the first time in 25 years, the NSW government has launched a regional plan to support Western Sydney arts, culture and creative industries. Producer Pongyada Sootthipong joins to discuss how the plan will impact historically underfunded arts communities. Have you or a loved one fallen in love with an AI companion? Producer Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis dives into the dark world of AI-induced psychosis with AI internet goth baddie girlfriend Aphrodisiac Jenkins. While the name stands for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, PCOS doesn’t necessarily manifest in the ovaries every time, nor does it necessarily involve cysts every single time. Women’s health researcher Professor Helena Teede makes the case for why we should rename PCOS. Producer Emil Kwasner-Catsivelakis speaks to designer and professor Timo Rissanen to unpack the blurry binding of politics and fashion and what we can do to stay ethical and sustainable. This episode of Backchat was produced by Pongyada Sootthipong, Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis, Holly Payne, Emilios Kwazner-Catsivelakis, and Harrie Hastings.Executive produced by Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis.Hosted by Dani Zhang and Holly Payne. Aired 16th August 2025 on Gadigal land. Want to support our show? Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave us a five-star review, and share an episode with a friend. For more behind-the-scenes content, we are also on Instagram: @backchatfbiradio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    42 min

  8. 12 AUG

    March for Humanity | the dangers of online surveillance | are the Logies still relevant?

    Do young Australians still care about the Logies? Producer Jessica D'Souza dives into the lack of cultural representation of the Logies and the future of Aussie TV.  We live in an era of constant surveillance, and online and every little bit of our info is being harvested by tech companies to more effectively sell you stuff. Researcher Lena Prosky unpacks these risks and explores how weakened privacy laws and opaque algorithms are increasingly shaping access to information, services, and digital rights. Backchat’s Pongyada Sootthipong visits Sydney’s Other Worlds Zine Fair to explore the political roots Featuring Simone Wong and Dr. Can Yanya, she dives into zines as art, activism, and community. Clinical psychologist Dr. Danielle Einstein joins us to unpack the government's decision to include YouTube in the under-16 social media ban, highlighting growing mental health concerns among young people.  The Backchat team go on the ground at Sydney's historic March for Humanity to speak to protestors.  Palestine Action Group organiser Josh Lees joins us in the studio to talk about the outcome of the March.  This episode of Backchat was produced by Jess D'Souza, Gabriella Accaria, Nyaboth Chuol, Jordan Santander, Pongyada Soothpong and Jaspar McCahon-Boersma. Executive produced by Bec Cushway. Hosted by Holly Payne and Dani Zhang. Aired 19th July 2025 on Gadigal land. Want to support our show? Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave us a five-star review, and share an episode with a friend. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    55 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Your alternative to talkback. Backchat is a weekly show of news, politics, interviews, discussion, satire, and feature reporting. Hosted by Dani Zhang and Tanita Razaghi. Executive produced by Rebecca Cushway, with producers Dani Zhang, Holly Payne, Tanita Razaghi, Libby Hopper, Sana Shaikh, Lilly Grainger, Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis, Euan Kielly, Elisa Papaioannou, Grace Pittar, Jaspar McCahon-Boersma and Bridgette Donnellan.  Got an idea for a story? Email us: backchat@fbiradio.com We're also on Instagram @backchatfbiradio and X @BackchatFBi.

Information

  • Creator
    FBi Radio
  • Years Active
    2014 - 2025
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 FBi Radio
  • Show Website
    Backchat

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