Good Weekend Talks SMH & The Age
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Good Weekend Talks features in-depth conversations with the people fascinating Australians right now, from sport to politics to the arts, business and beyond, interviewed weekly by the country's top journalists. Consider it a magazine for your ears.
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Bestselling author Johann Hari on the whole Ozempic conundrum
In this episode we meet bestselling author Johann Hari, who has gone down an Ozempic rabbit hole to work out how and why this weight loss drug works. Hari writes about his findings in a new book, Magic Pill, including his own dramatic drop in clothes size. Whilst marvelling at how drugs like this are changing obesity management, he remains conflicted about their use and longer-term ramifications.
Hosting the conversation is Good Weekend senior writer, Amanda Hooton.
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Moving from anger towards love: a Miles Franklin winner's writing process
In this episode we meet lawyer and author Shankari Chandran, who won the 2023 Miles Franklin Literary Award for her novel Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens. Chandran’s writing explores the Sri Lankan diaspora in Australia, and weaves sharp commentary on racism, injustice and ignorance through richly told stories of family and community.
Her new novel, Safe Haven, published by Ultimo Press in early May, explores issues of immigration and detention.
Hosting this episode, which also covers how Chandran finds the time to write between her work as a lawyer and raising four kids, is Good Weekend editor Katrina Strickland.
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Surviving 650 days in Myanmar’s notorious Insein Prison
In this episode, we meet economist Sean Turnell, who was imprisoned in Myanmar in 2022, following a military coup. Turnell spent 650 days behind bars, including two months in a metal room within a room that he calls "the box". He talks to us today about everything from his anxiety over the continued imprisonment of his colleagues from Myanmar, to forming a movement with other Australians who've been wrongfully imprisoned abroad, like Kylie Moore-Gilbert and Cheng Lei.
Hosting this episode, which touches on the smuggled books and fruitcake that made Turnell’s stint in prison bearable, is former South-East Asia correspondent and now senior reporter, Chris Barrett.
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Wealthy Australians are terrible at giving. How can we change that?
In this episode, we speak with Peter Winneke, who has spent more than two decades in the philanthropic sector, working for the Myer Foundation and serving on the boards of Philanthropy Australia, the Sidney Myer Fund, the Reichstein Foundation and the Catherine Freeman Foundation.
Winneke is on a mission to convince Australia's high-net-worth families to give more of their wealth away, and has written a book to that end, Give While You Live: A Practical Guide to More and Better Giving in Australia.
Hosting this conversation about what Australia should take from America's philanthropic culture, what percentage of their wealth families should give away - and why donating to good causes is better than buying (another) Lamborghini, is Good Weekend editor, Katrina Strickland.
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How Neil Perry became the unofficial mayor of Double Bay
In this episode, we speak with Sydney chef Neil Perry, and we're asking a specific question - can one restaurateur single-handedly lift a suburb from the doldrums? Perry now has three Double Bay eateries, Margaret, Next Door, and the Melbourne import Baker Bleu, with two more scheduled to open in August.Hosting this episode about the Perry family business, his experience in the food scene over many decades and what it takes to renew an entire suburb is Sydney editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, Michael Koziol.
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Sydney's gay hate crimes and the lawyer representing victims
In this episode we discuss the wave of anti-gay murders that struck Sydney from the late 1980s to the mid 1990s and beyond, and why so many have still not been solved. The police have long been accused of inaction over these murders but thanks to a special inquiry into anti-gay hate crimes held last year, it's become clear that much more the simple police indifference is responsible.
Criminal lawyer Nicholas Stewart joins Good Weekend deputy editor Greg Callaghan to discuss the murders, answer the question, "what makes it a gay hate crime?" and analyse more recent gay hate crimes across Australia.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Customer Reviews
A favourite podcast
I have been listening to Katrina and the Good Weekend team for a couple of years now. What I enjoy most is getting to hear from the journalists; getting a deeper and sometimes more personal perspective on the story, topic or personality. Please keep it coming, I’ll keep listening!
Fantastic! Couldn’t recommend more
The Good Weekend Talks podcast is a weekly treat. The breath of topics explored alongside incredible commentating & questioning from Katrina & Konrad makes every episode a gripping listen. They’re not afraid to ask the tough questions whilst simultaneously approaching every topic sensitively & are clearly well researched.