Big Small Talk

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LiSTNR
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The big and the small – all in one place. Because loving pop culture doesn’t mean you don’t understand politics. Tuesdays we unpack the headlines you need to know.  Thursdays we talk to the people you want to hear from on the topics you care about. And every month, we deep the stories from the past that you’ve been dying to understand. Hosted by Sarah Jane Adams and Hannah Ferguson. Find us at @bigsmalltalk_pod for more.

  1. 1 day ago

    Hayden Panettiere, Phoebe Gates & One Nation 'Gayest' Party

    First up, Hannah takes us through reports that three teenage boys from one of Sydney’s most expensive private boys schools – The Scots College – were arrested on charges of sexual assault. She also talks about Victoria Police’s investigation into the Sydney Swans.Sarah dives into the business scandal that could see Bill Gates’ 23-year-old daughter go to prison. A fashion tech startup, a billionaire nepo baby, and a bunch of celebrity investors? Sounds like the making of a Netflix series.Plus, AOC freezes her eggs, the world mourns Hayden Panettiere, what happened to Jason Arday, and One Nation is one of the “gayest” parties!? Big Small Talk Instagram Sarah-Jane's Instagram  Hannah's Instagram This ep was produced by Sarah Jane Adams and Justine Landis-Hanley See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Hayden Panettiere, Phoebe Gates & One Nation 'Gayest' Party

  2. 6 days ago

    Do We Need To Pop The AI Bubble? With Cory Doctorow

    Everyone has an opinion on AI. Some say it's the inevitable future. Others think it'll take our jobs, fuel misinformation, and hand even more power to Big Tech and billionaires. This week, Sarah sits down with bestselling author, technologist and journalist Cory Doctorow to unpack whether AI really is the future or just a wildly overhyped tech bubble. They also dive into Cory's theory of the "reverse centaur", why bosses and billionaires are so obsessed with AI, why he believes it's one of the dumbest financial investments of our time, and where Australia fits into the global AI race. Cory Doctorow appears at Sydney's Festival of Dangerous Ideas from 22-23 August and Now or Never on 25 August at Melbourne's The Capitol, presented by The Wheeler Centre. Cory's books mentioned in this episode:   Enshittifcation: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI: How to Think About Artificial Intelligence Before It's Too Late See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Do We Need To Pop The AI Bubble? With Cory Doctorow

  3. 11 Aug

    Open AI Hosts Influencer Retreat, Sydney Towle & The Celebs Are In LOVE

    First up, Hannah unpacks the ABC’s apology to Gina Rinehart over comments made during its new Gen Z-coded show, Race Around the World. What’s really upsetting people here – the fact the public broadcaster said sorry OR who it is saying sorry to? Sarah talks about the OpenAI luxury influencer brand trip (yep you read that right). The theme? Eco-friendly summer camp. Think farm-to-table meals, beekeeping, and cognitive dissonance. The girls how TikToker Sydney Towle changed the way we see cancer, and why Abdul El-Sayed’s monumental Michigan Senate nom could shake-up the Democratic party. Plus, Role Model loves Dakota Johnson, Olivia Rodrigo’s normie finance boyfriend, and Gracie Abrams has Phoebe Bridges’ sheets!? Big Small Talk Instagram Sarah-Jane's Instagram  Hannah's Instagram  This ep was co-produced by Sarah-Jane Adams and Justine Landis-Hanley  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Open AI Hosts Influencer Retreat, Sydney Towle & The Celebs Are In LOVE

  4. 5 Aug

    Do Men Find Party Girls Intimidating? With Lucy and Nikki

    When did women become expected to grow out of having fun? This week, Sarah is joined by Happy Hour hosts Lucy & Nikki to chat about dating as a party girl, whether men are intimidated by fun, successful women, being on the apps and why your friendships shouldn't disappear just because you're in a relationship. Sarah-Jane Instagram Big Small Talk Instagram  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Do Men Find Party Girls Intimidating? With Lucy and Nikki

  5. 4 Aug

    Ariana Grande, AI goes rogue & Nara Smith is NOT a Trad Wife

    BSTies – it’s been a week! Sarah talks about Ariana Grande’s new album (which has sparked intense online debate around her appearance), as well as her decision to step away from public life. The girls chat about why we need to be careful in these conversations concerning Ariana’s body and health, but also about the dangers of collective silence. Hannah dives into how a rogue OpenAI escaped its container and hacked another company. And just a few days later, Anthropic (the company behind Claude) revealed that THEIR model had done the same thing three times. Yay. Plus, a Nantucket store goes viral for putting up a “No Influencers” sign, former NRL player and BookTok sweetheart Luke Bateman outs gambling companies at a Senate inquiry, and Nara Smith is actively walking back her #tradwife label. Oh, and everybody please welcome producer Justine! Big Small Talk Instagram Sarah-Jane's Instagram  Hannah's Instagram  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Ariana Grande, AI goes rogue & Nara Smith is NOT a Trad Wife

  6. 29 Jul

    Why Is There Moral Panic Around Sex? With Dr Esme Louise James

    This week, Sarah sits down with historian, author and educator Dr Esme Louise James, creator of Kinky History, to explore the fascinating history of sex, desire and shame. Esme explains how many of the things we consider "new" or "unnatural" have actually existed for millennia, and how our modern attitudes towards sex have been shaped by history, religion, medicine, law and power. They also discuss Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated film The Odyssey, and why Esme believes it stripped away the complexity of its female characters and sanitised the role sex played in Homer's original epic. Big Small Talk Instagram Sarah-Jane's Instagram  Hannah's Instagram  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Why Is There Moral Panic Around Sex? With Dr Esme Louise James

  7. 28 Jul

    BIG TALK: The Last Romanovs: The Story of Anastasia PART ONE

    If you grew up watching Anastasia, chances are you believed there was always a chance the youngest Romanov princess escaped. But the true story behind one of history's most enduring mysteries is even more extraordinary than the film. In this special two-part crossover with Ainslie Harvey's The Hot History Podcast, Sarah is joined by historian and host Ainslie to uncover the true story behind the world's most famous grand duchess. Together, they explore the rise and fall of the Romanov dynasty, Rasputin's influence, the Russian Revolution, the family's final days, and the mystery that captivated the world for decades: did Anastasia really survive? Part Two is out now.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    BIG TALK: The Last Romanovs: The Story of Anastasia PART ONE

  8. 28 Jul

    BIG TALK: The Last Romanovs: The Story of Anastasia PART TWO

    The mystery isn't over !!! In part two of our VERY special The Hot History Podcast crossover, we unravel the century-long question that captivated the world: did Princess Anastasia really survive? From the famous imposters and Soviet cover-ups to the discovery of the Romanovs' remains, DNA testing with Prince Philip, and the family's surprising legacy under Vladimir Putin, we separate fact from fiction.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    BIG TALK: The Last Romanovs: The Story of Anastasia PART TWO
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About

The big and the small – all in one place. Because loving pop culture doesn’t mean you don’t understand politics. Tuesdays we unpack the headlines you need to know.  Thursdays we talk to the people you want to hear from on the topics you care about. And every month, we deep the stories from the past that you’ve been dying to understand. Hosted by Sarah Jane Adams and Hannah Ferguson. Find us at @bigsmalltalk_pod for more.

Information

  • Channel
    LiSTNR
  • Creator
    LiSTNR
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    257
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 LiSTNR - Text, image, music and sound comprising this podcast are owned by or licensed to SCA. By accessing, communicating or using this podcast, you agree to be bound by the terms available at https://www.listnr.com/terms
  • Show Website
    Big Small Talk
  • Provider

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