Backchat

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

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. 10/12/2025

    TikTok Awards controversy | Would you swim in the Cooks River? | Ozempic in Australian healthcare | Sydney's viral food penalty map | Why can't we let go of Spotify?

    Producer Pongyada Sootthipong breaks down the drama at last week’s TikTok Awards in Sydney following allegations of racism against its Black creators. Zee Feed founder Crystal Andrews unpacks the discussions kicked up around Australia’s media diversity. Would you swim in the Cooks River again? Backchat speaks to Brooke about her ventures diving in the river, amidst council plans to clean up the previously gorgeous swimming spot. Ozempic-style medications are now poised to lead obesity treatment with support from the WHO. Dr Terri-Lynne South joins to discuss the future of Ozempic in Australian healthcare. Producer Imogen Brosnan talks to Aussie Data Girl about her viral data map tracking which popular restaurants are getting away with food penalties right under our noses. With Spotify Wrapped stories flooding our feeds last week, producer Dani Zhang investigates why we continue to use Spotify despite its ethical failings in recent years. This episode of Backchat was produced by Pongyada Sootthipong, Gabriella Accaria, Euan Kielly, Imogen Brosnan and Dani Zhang. Executive produced by Bec Cushway. Hosted by Bec Cushway and Pongyada Sootthipong. Aired 6 December 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.

    46 min

  2. 02/12/2025

    Parramatta Council housing goss | 1800 RESPECT funding increase | How climate change is affecting your health | New busking reforms in Sydney

    The City of Parramatta Council believes it has done its "fair share" in building housing, and will write to the state government to ask to be exempt from the Housing Development Authority. Backchat producer and local council head Holly explains what this means for development in Western Sydney.  The Albanese government increased funding for 1800 RESPECT by 40% in light of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Sherele Moody, founder of the RED HEART Campaign and Australian Femicide Watch joins us to discuss what more needs to be done to eliminate gender-based violence.  How does climate change intersect with health? Dr John Van Der Kallen from Doctors for the Environment Australia breaks it down for us and speaks about how climate policy can better address the national health impact of climate change.  Last month, the City of Sydney updated Sydney's busking code that relegated buskers to specific spots in the city. Producer Nyaboth Chuol unpacks the changes and the impact it will have on Sydney's busking scene.  This episode of Backchat was produced by Holly Payne, Euan Kielly, Nyaboth Chuol, Jess D’Souza and Bec Cushway. Executive produced by Bec Cushway. Hosted by Dani Zhang and Tanita Razaghi. Aired 29 November 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.

    42 min

  3. 27/11/2025

    Pharmacists and GPs debate over prescription power | Fight to protect public housing | Pride in Protest on over-policing at Mardi Gras | Do we need skincare for children? | Teen Vogue merger

    Producer Euan Kielly breaks down the beef between pharmacists and GPs after a proposal to expand the scope of practice for pharmacists to include medicine prescriptions.   Demolition work has begun on a 35-year-old public housing estate in Glebe. Producer Gabriella Accaria unpacks the fight to defend public housing against privatisation with ACP member Dan Miller and Socialist Alliance seat for Sydney Rachel Evans.   Backchat speaks to Pride in Protest candidate for the Mardi Gras board, Luna Choo, about the new petition to stop over-policing at Mardi Gras parades, board elections, and what this means for Sydney’s queer community.   Has social media’s obsession with skincare gone too far? Producer Nyaboth Chuol breaks down the controversy around ‘Rini’, the new skincare brand made for children, and the exploitation of self-care with Dr Michelle Wong.   Producer Jess D’Souza discusses the implications of Teen Vogue’s merger with Vogue.com on youth media diversity and takeaways for the Australian media landscape. Founder of news initiative In My Head Kriti Gupta and Zee Feed co-founder Crystal Andrews pitch in.   This episode of Backchat was produced by Gabriella Accaria, Nyaboth Chuol, Jess D’Souza, Euan Kielly and Bec Cushway. Executive produced by Bec Cushway. Hosted by Dani Zhang and Tanita Razaghi. Aired 15 November 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.

    46 min

  4. 23/11/2025

    Cairo Takeaway's legal battle | National Socialist Network protests | Rise in Australia's triple zero outages | Earlwood's Greek anarchist posters

    Who is putting up, and now tearing down, the Greek anarchist posters in Sydney’s suburb of Earlwood? Producer Gabriella Accaria talks to Dr Sky Croeza to investigate.   Producer Euan Kielly joins to break down the uptick in triple-zero outages and telecommunications failures in Australia.   Have you stumbled upon the ‘Cairo Takeaway needs our help’ posts on your social media feed? Backchat breaks down the legal defence battle between pro-Israel activist Ofir Birenbaum and much-loved Inner West restaurant Cairo Takeaway.   Recently, members of the National Socialist Network were seen protesting outside the Parliament House. Backchat spoke to what’s doin media founder Scobie McKay about the neo-Nazi organisation and its worrying impact on our communities.   This episode of Backchat was produced by Gabriella Accaria, Euan Kielly, Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis and Bec Cushway.  Executive produced by Bec Cushway.  Hosted by Bec Cushway and Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis.  Aired 22 November 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.

    41 min

  5. 17/11/2025

    Clash at Sydney weapons expo | Update on NSW treaty | Australia's climate policy updates | Secret deportations to Nauru

    Pro-Palestinian protestors clashed with police outside the recent Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition in Sydney. Dani Zhang takes us through how the government's support of the defence expo contradicts its public statements about Australia's role about the war in Gaza.  Producer Jessica D'Souza chats to NSW Treaty Commissioner Naomi Moran about the process towards a treaty with Aboriginal people in the state, following Victoria's passing of treaty legislation. Can't keep up with Australia's climate policy updates? Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis breaks down all the latest flops from Labor and the Coalition with the Climate Council's Ben McCleod.  Producer Jaspar McCahon-Boersma unpacks the circumstances surrounding the government's recent murky deportations to Nauru with the Refugee Council of Australia's Dr Graham Thom. He also speaks to Zaki Haidari from Amnesty International, who speaks about his experience seeking asylum in Australia by sea.  This episode of Backchat was produced by Dani Zhang, Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis, Jessica D'Souza, Jaspar McCahon-Boersma and Bec Cushway.  Executive produced by Bec Cushway.  Hosted by Dani Zhang and Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis.  Aired 8 November 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.

    37 min

  6. 07/11/2025

    Labor Party's leaked talking points on Israel and Palestine | Artist's rights amid AI advancements | QLD Trans Healthcare policies

    Host Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis speaks about the controversial opening of a kebab shop by notorious Sydney influencer and outspoken homophobe, Spanian, in Sydney's queer capital, Newtown. Executive producer Bec Cushway gives an update on the recent highs and lows of trans healthcare policies in Queensland. Eva and Bec discuss the Labor Party's leaked talking points on Israel and Palestine and it's political ramifications wth Deep Cut News journalist Alex McKinnon. They also highlight international AI copyright laws with Dr. Louise Buckingham, looking into artists' rights amid AI advancements.  Producer Nyaboth Chuol delves into ASMR - a phenomenon that has gone from the fringes of the Internet to garnering mainstream attention.  This episode of Backchat was produced by Bec Cushway, Eva-Sikes Gerogiannis and Nyaboth Chuol.  Executive produced by Bec Cushway. Hosted by Bec Cushway and Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis Aired 1 November 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.

    46 min

  7. 28/10/2025

    Good Food Guide drops Merivale venues | Courts dismiss Rising Tide protester cases | Why is Christian Orthodoxy appealing to young people?

    The Good Food Guide has announced that they are no longer recommending Merivale venues due to allegations made against the company, shortly after dropping Swillhouse venues late last year. Producer Bec Cushway joins to explain the impact on venues and food media. Producer Gabriella Accaria investigates why Orthodox Christianity is seeing a revival among young people. Have you wrestled with a chatbot while trying to make an insurance claim? Dr Alexandra Bratanova breaks down the Insurance Council of Australia and CSIRO's joint report on AI use in the insurance industry, and what the risks and benefits this move could pose for you. Tim Roberts, President for the NSW Council for Civil Liberties, joins us to discuss the courts' decision to dismiss the cases for some of the 129 Rising Tide protesters charged after protesting the world’s largest coal port in Newcastle. As his AURA tour in Australia began in Parramatta last weekend, producer Jessica D'Souza looks into Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh and how he’s inspiring a new generation of South Asian-Australian artists. This episode of Backchat was produced by Bec Cushway, Gabriella Accaria, Pongyada Sootthipong, Sana Shaikh and Jessica D'Souza. Executive produced by Bec Cushway. Hosted by Dani Zhang and Pongyada Sootthipong.  Aired 25 October 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.

    47 min

  8. 23/10/2025

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

    EDIT: This episode has been edited after broadcast to accurately reflect the input of the author of the petition to Mandate Trauma-Informed Training for All NSW Police Officers, Claudia Kuper. Over ten thousand people have signed a legislative assembly petition calling for mandated trauma-informed training for NSW Police. Producer Pongyada Sootthipong speaks to lead petitioner Claudia Kuper and solicitor Sam Lee about trauma-informed responses and what systemic reforms are needed to implement them.  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 Sootthipong, 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.

    45 min
See All (100)

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
    © 2026 FBi Radio
  • Show Website
    Backchat

More From FBi Radio