Quite Frankly with Monica Lewis

Monica Lewis
  • 5.0 (3)
  • News Commentary

Quite Frankly cuts through the noise to bring you clear-eyed conversations with the most informed and interesting voices about politics, economics and culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

  1. May 30

    The Tickle v Giggle Ruling Explained | Sall Grover (Part 2)

    In part two of my conversation with Sall Grover, we discuss the political and legal fallout from the latest Tickle v Giggle decision, and what it means for women’s rights in Australia. Sall explains why she intends to take the case to the High Court, how the Lesbian Action Group’s case intersects with her own, and why she believes politicians can no longer dismiss this as a “culture war” issue. We also discuss women only spaces, lesbian events, the Sex Discrimination Act, the Australian Human Rights Commission, the media, and the question at the centre of the whole fight: what is a woman under Australian law? Support Sall Grover’s legal fight: https://gigglecrowdfund.com Follow Sall Grover: https://x.com/salltweets Follow Quite Frankly with Monica Lewis:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quitefranklypodcast/X: https://x.com/quitefranklyau Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584616214800 Feedback welcome: monica@quitefrankly.net

    54 min

  2. May 23

    The Tickle v Giggle Ruling Explained | Sall Grover (Part 1)

    Sall Grover returns to discuss the latest ruling in the Tickle v Giggle case after the Full Bench of the Federal Court upheld the original decision and increased damages against her. We discuss: • Why the court ruled that excluding a male from a women-only app was unlawful discrimination • The shift from indirect to direct discrimination • Whether Australia’s Sex Discrimination Act now treats “woman” as a mixed-sex category • The implications for women-only spaces, sport, services, and law • The role of the Australian Human Rights Commission • The ABC’s framing of the case as a victory for both “trans and women’s rights” • Why this case has become one of the defining cultural and legal debates in Australia This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. CROWD FUND LINK: https://gigglecrowdfund.com/PREVIOUS INTERVIEWS Part 1: https://youtu.be/2RN7EDXL_7E?si=Ds4vzrM9AiaiMnUG Part 2: https://youtu.be/2RN7EDXL_7E?si=tWpjBQyJGzl9m77c ABC article discussed: https://www.abc.net.au/religion/giggle-for-girls-v-tickle-judgement-good-trans-womens-rights/106694548 FOLLOW SALL GROVER X: https://x.com/salltweets Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sallsfacebook FOLLOW MONICA LEWIS YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@quitefranklyofficial Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4n4YedUxEjO7X6lpMSvThD?si=51c658de52ce4f20 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quitefranklypodcast/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@quitefranklypod X: https://x.com/quitefranklyau Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584616214800

    44 min

  3. May 7

    Can a Man Become a Lesbian? Inside Australia’s Landmark Court Case | Nicole Mowbray

    Nicole Mowbray of the Lesbian Action Group joins Monica Lewis to break down one of the most significant legal cases in Australia on sex-based rights. The case centres on whether a lesbian group can legally exclude biological males from events under the Sex Discrimination Act. After being denied an exemption by the Australian Human Rights Commission and losing at the Administrative Review Tribunal, the group successfully challenged the ruling in the Federal Court in April 2026. The decision has now been sent back to the tribunal, setting up a pivotal next phase in the legal battle. Key Topics History of the Sex Discrimination Act (1985 → 2013 amendments)Why lesbian groups say they were “pushed underground” since the early 2000sThe 2023 exemption request and rejectionAdministrative Review Tribunal ruling and reasoningFederal Court decision and why it was overturnedThe role of the Australian Human Rights CommissionTension between sex-based rights and gender identityBroader implications for women’s spaces, sport, and institutionsFollow / Learn More Lesbian Action Group: lesbianactiongroup.org.auX: @activelesbians Related Episodes Sal Grover interview (Tickle v Giggle case): https://open.spotify.com/episode/4CIufJdvUCw685gdPtJeYE?si=78425f297cfb46e8

    50 min

  4. Apr 29

    The Iran War Is More Complicated Than It Looks | Jacob Heilbrunn

    Is America drifting into another war it can’t win? I’m in Washington DC speaking with Jacob Heilbrunn about the Iran conflict, the limits of American power, and what this moment means for global order. We get into why the idea of an “imminent” Iranian nuclear threat has persisted for decades without materialising, what he calls “permanent imminence,” and why Iran may have more leverage than Washington expected. Jacob argues this war was supposed to last days, but is now stretching into months, exposing the reality that the United States cannot simply dictate outcomes in the Middle East. We also discuss the domestic political consequences. This is an unpopular war, inflation is rising fast, and fuel prices are becoming a direct political liability for Trump. With the 2026 midterms approaching, what looked like a loss of the House is now expanding into a real risk to the Senate. At the same time, the MAGA coalition is beginning to fracture, particularly between those who supported Trump to end foreign wars and those backing this escalation. The conversation then turns to alliances and strategy. What does this mean for NATO? For Australia? And what happens when America signals that it may not always show up for its allies, while still expecting them to fall in line? Finally, we look at the economic consequences. Oil is feeding directly into inflation, pushing up costs across the economy and raising the risk of a broader global shock if the conflict continues. This is a conversation about war, power, and what happens when strategy collides with reality. Follow Jacob Heilbrunn:X: https://twitter.com/JacobHeilbrunnThe National Interest (X): https://twitter.com/TheNatlInterestThe National Interest: https://nationalinterest.org/ Follow Monica Lewis:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quitefranklypodcastX: https://x.com/quitefranklyauFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/quitefranklymediaYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@quitefranklyofficialSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4n4YedU…

    42 min

  5. Apr 15

    Who Voted for this War? | Emily Jashinsky

    Is America entering into a war nobody voted for? I'm in Washington DC speaking with Emily Jashinsky, host of After Party on the Megyn Kelly Network, about the Iranconflict, the fracturing of Trump's coalition, and what the 2026 midterms actually look like from inside the Beltway. We get into the recent negotiations between America and Iran, why gas prices are now Trump's biggest political liability, the Epstein communications disaster, and whether the populist moment that delivered him the presidency is at risk of being squandered. I also ask the question Australian audiences rarely hear answered honestly: why would a rational person vote for Donald Trump? Hint, there are many reasons… Follow Emily Jashinsky: X: https://x.com/emilyjashinsky Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyjashinsky/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AfterPartyEmily Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0szVa30NjGYsyIzzBoBCtJ?si=9e654566134040c8 Follow Monica Lewis: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quitefranklypodcast/ X: https://x.com/quitefranklyau Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584616214800 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@quitefranklyofficial Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4n4YedUxEjO7X6lpMSvThD?si=deb158dc56fb4c03

    57 min

  6. Apr 2

    From Venezuela to New York: How Socialism Actually Takes Hold | Daniel Di Martino

    Daniel Di Martino was born in Venezuela in 1999, the same month Hugo Chavez came to power. In this episode, he traces exactly how a country with the world's largest oil boom destroyed itself, and why the policy sequence that caused it is playing out in Australia today. Venezuela is the only country ever destroyed by socialism that voted it in democratically. The Soviet Union, China, Cuba, North Korea — none of them chose it at the ballot box. Venezuelans did. And then they couldn't vote their way out. Daniel explains why that distinction matters, and how the process works: it starts not with seizure but with taxation, then regulation, then price controls, then government intervention to fix the shortages those price controls created. His own family's petrol station earned $4,000 a month in the early 2000s. By 2016, after nationalisation, it returned $100. The episode examines the Australian parallels in detail. Australia is the world's largest exporter of natural gas and exports seven times more coal than it consumes domestically, yet collects more tax revenue from beer than from gas. The political pressure to increase resource taxes follows the same script Daniel watched play out in Venezuela. On housing, Australia's combination of high immigration and restricted supply has produced a system where the primary predictor of homeownership is whether your parents own a home, not a person's own effort or ability. Rent control, he argues, has never worked in any country in any era - the Roman Empire tried price controls on bread and got shortages - and the evidence from Austin, Texas, which went the other direction, shows average rents now below pre-COVID levels in real terms. The conversation also covers the cost of homelessness spending that makes homelessness worse, why the net zero transition requires clearing land 1.5 times the size of Tasmania, and what democratic socialism looks like in Western cities before it announces itself - including DSA members who actively support the Maduro regime today.Daniel Di Martino: https://www.danieldimartino.com/X: https://x.com/DanielDiMartinoManhattan Institute: https://manhattan.instituteFollow Quite Frankly with Monica Lewis:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quitefranklymediaX: https://x.com/quitefranklyauFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/quitefranklymedia

    43 min

  7. Mar 24

    What is a Woman? The Giggle v Tickle Case | Sall Grover (Part 2)

    What is a woman under Australian law? In Part 2, Sall Grover breaks down the legal mechanics of Tickle v Giggle, the Federal Court case that could define biological sex in Australia. The first Federal Court judge ruled that sex, in its "contemporary ordinary meaning," is changeable, based on the fact that legal sex can be altered on birth certificates. If that reasoning holds, there is no definition of "woman" in Australian law that excludes a biological male. Sall explains how Australia diverged from other jurisdictions. The UK resolved this legally through the For Women Scotland case. The US resolved it politically. Australia now faces a hybrid, with multiple cases moving through the courts alongside a shifting political landscape. The episode also examines the role of Equality Australia, which intervened in the case arguing that sex is a spectrum. Governor General Sam Mostyn, a patron of the organisation, was cited in their affidavit when seeking to intervene in the appeal. Sall also outlines the cost of the case: around $560,000 for the initial Federal Court hearing and roughly $1 million for the appeal, with further funding required if it proceeds to the High Court. Finally, the conversation looks at the broader legal and social consequences of redefining sex, from language in medicine to the treatment of sex in law and public policy. 00:00 Introduction and case recap07:33 Why Sall is not an activist10:07 Gender ideology and core freedoms12:00 Media coverage of the case16:41 Australia vs UK and US18:20 For Women Scotland and the appeal20:35 Political shifts25:23 Compelled speech26:46 Language in medicine30:12 Path to the High Court42:31 Cost of the case47:29 Why Sall continues49:12 Final word Support Sall Grover's legal fight:https://gigglecrowdfund.com Follow Sall Grover:https://x.com/salltweets Article referenced:https://fairplayforwomen.com/pronouns/ Follow Quite Frankly with Monica Lewis:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quitefranklypodcast/X: https://x.com/quitefranklyauFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584616214800

    1h 3m

  8. Mar 18

    What Is a Woman? The Giggle v Tickle Case | Sall Grover (Part 1)

    What is a woman under Australian law? In 2020, Sall Grover launched Giggle, a women-only app designed to give women a space to find flatmates, build networks, and connect without men. Access was verified using selfie-based AI at sign-up. When Roxanne Tickle was denied access, a complaint was filed under the Sex Discrimination Act. What began as a startup dispute became the case of Giggle v Tickle, now before the Federal Court, testing whether Australian law still recognises biological sex. In Part 1, Sall Grover explains how she went from screenwriting in Hollywood to building a tech startup, what happened when thousands of men flooded the app on launch, what the Australian Human Rights Commission demanded she agree to, and why she refused. This is one of the most significant legal tests of sex, gender identity, and women’s rights currently before an Australian court. A judgment from the Full Federal Court is now pending. 00:00 — Introduction 04:39 — What is a woman? 05:49 — From Hollywood to building Giggle 09:26 — Launch day: the app is overwhelmed by men 11:02 — Discovering gender ideology for the first time 12:17 — How the AI verification actually worked 14:10 — Why this is harder to defend than flat earth theory 15:51 — The complaint: Tickle v Giggle explained 17:35 — What the Human Rights Commission asked Sall to accept 22:30 — The 2013 amendments that removed 'woman' from the Act 26:06 — What 'gender identity' actually means in Australian law 31:00 — The first hearing and the judge's reasoning 37:00 — The appeal to the full federal court 41:59 — The Sex Discrimination Commissioner's role 47:10 — An accidental culture warrior Follow Sall Grover:  https://x.com/salltweets  Sall's Crowd Fund: https://gigglecrowdfund.com Follow Quite Frankly with Monica Lewis:  https://x.com/quitefranklyau  https://www.instagram.com/quitefranklypodcast https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584616214800 https://www.tiktok.com/@quitefranklypod

    49 min
  9. Britain’s Strategic Decline? Iran, Defence Cuts and the Migration Crisis | Will Kingston

    Mar 7

    Britain’s Strategic Decline? Iran, Defence Cuts and the Migration Crisis | Will Kingston

    Monica speaks with London-based commentator and GB News host Will Kingston about the rapidly shifting political and geopolitical landscape in Britain and the wider West. They begin with the aftermath of the recent US-Israeli strikes on Iran and the implications for the United Kingdom, including the reported Iranian drone attack on a British base in Cyprus and questions about whether Britain was prepared for retaliation. The conversation then turns to the state of the Royal Navy and broader defence capabilities, examining how decades of underinvestment have reduced Britain’s military capacity and what that means for its ability to project power internationally. Monica and Will also discuss the controversy surrounding the Chagos Islands and the strategic Diego Garcia military base, unpacking the legal and geopolitical debate over Britain potentially transferring sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius while leasing back the base used jointly by the UK and the United States. The discussion then moves to migration policy and the ongoing small-boats crisis in the English Channel, comparing Britain’s approach with Australia’s border policies and exploring how international legal commitments influence national decision-making. You can follow Will Kingston on social media at @willkingston on X (Twitter), Instagram and Facebook. You can also watch his show The Saturday Five on GB News. His podcast Fire at Will, previously with The Spectator Australia, will soon be produced by GB News. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    36 min
  10. The Energy Reality: Net Zero, Power Prices and Australia’s Future | Chris Uhlmann

    Mar 7

    The Energy Reality: Net Zero, Power Prices and Australia’s Future | Chris Uhlmann

    In this episode, Monica speaks with veteran Australian journalist Chris Uhlmann about Australia’s energy policy, the net zero transition, and the implications for economic prosperity and national security. They begin by examining the relationship between energy consumption and living standards, discussing how fossil fuels powered the industrial growth that lifted global prosperity over the past century. Chris explains why energy density, reliability, and cost are central to economic development and why energy policy decisions can have far-reaching consequences for national wealth. The conversation then turns to Australia’s natural resource endowment — including coal, natural gas and uranium — and how these resources have historically underpinned Australia’s position as a high-wage economy. Monica and Chris explore whether current policy settings risk undermining that advantage, particularly as Australia attempts to transition its electricity system toward wind, solar and battery storage. They also discuss the technical realities of running an electricity grid, including why supply and demand must be balanced in real time, the role of baseload generation, and why intermittent energy sources require significant backup and transmission infrastructure. The discussion covers the rising cost of electricity, the subsidies embedded in the energy transition, and how these costs are distributed across households. Finally, they examine the geopolitical dimension of energy policy, including Australia’s fuel security vulnerabilities, reliance on imported refined fuel, and the strategic risks of depending on overseas supply chains for renewable energy technology. Chris Uhlmann is one of Australia’s most experienced political and national affairs journalists. He has served as Political Editor at the ABC and Channel Nine, and was previously Press Secretary to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. He is now a columnist with The Australian and a regular contributor to Sky News Australia, where he continues to write and comment on energy policy, national security and Australian politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min
  11. Why Inflation Won’t Go Away: Interest Rates, Government Spending and Australia’s Economy | Adam Creighton

    Mar 7

    Why Inflation Won’t Go Away: Interest Rates, Government Spending and Australia’s Economy | Adam Creighton

    In this episode, Monica speaks with economist and journalist Adam Creighton about inflation, interest rates, and the economic forces shaping Australia’s future. They begin by examining the drivers of persistent inflation in Australia, including the interaction between monetary policy, fiscal policy and government spending. Adam explains why inflation has remained stubbornly above target and how central banks attempt to balance economic growth with price stability. The conversation then turns to interest rates and bond markets, discussing what long-term government bond yields signal about future inflation and economic expectations. Monica and Adam explore how financial markets interpret government spending, deficits and productivity growth when pricing long-term borrowing costs. They also examine the structural challenges facing the Australian economy, including slowing productivity growth, the expansion of the public sector, and the impact of regulation on business investment and housing supply. The discussion touches on how these forces shape wage growth, living standards and long-term economic competitiveness. Finally, they discuss the broader political economy of reform in Australia — why productivity-enhancing reforms have become more difficult to implement and what policy changes could improve Australia’s long-term economic trajectory. Adam Creighton is Chief Economist at the Institute of Public Affairs and one of Australia’s most prominent economic commentators. He was previously Economics Editor at The Australian and later Washington Correspondent for the paper. You can follow Adam on X (Twitter) at @Adam_Creighton where he regularly writes about economics, public policy and financial markets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    44 min
  • 11 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Quite Frankly cuts through the noise to bring you clear-eyed conversations with the most informed and interesting voices about politics, economics and culture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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