What's Your Poison

Peter Lewis & Damian Damjanovski
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Pouring through the week of politics, culture, and tech.

  1. 3d ago ·  Video

    Ageing, Death, and Bidets - with Sarah Macdonald (EP 28)

    This week we're joined by broadcaster Sarah Macdonald about Club Sandwich, a podcast community for people caught between caring for ageing parents and everything else in life. We discuss ageing, caring, and how the generations look after each other. Sarah shares her years in the sandwich generation and how that led to building Club Sandwich. We delve into the hidden army of family carers, our awkward relationship with death and dying, the strain on aged care and private health, generational fairness, and what we do with the wealth older Australians hold. Along the way we explore how the system could better support the whole family, and the communities, cultural attitudes and conversations that help us age with dignity. A reminder that tickets are now available for our first live show at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday 25 November, 6 to 9pm. https://events.humanitix.com/what-s-your-poison-live-show-last-drinks-for-2026 You can find Club Sandwich wherever you get your podcasts. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates03:41 Introducing Sarah McDonald07:35 The Sandwich Generation Explained15:02 Generational Perspectives on Aging18:59 Navigating Aging and Death Conversations24:05 Navigating Death and Communication27:18 Personal Perspectives on Death29:04 Aged Care Politics and Challenges30:55 The Aged Care System's Burden33:18 Financial Implications of Aged Care37:43 Intergenerational Issues in Aged Care40:50 Policy Responses to Aged Care Crisis48:17 The Sandwich Generation's Struggles49:39 Cultural Perspectives on Intergenerational Living52:54 Redefining Community and Housing54:49 The Challenge of Inheritance and Wealth Distribution57:39 Societal Attitudes Towards Aging and Caregiving01:01:46 The Future of Care: Robots and Community Solutions

    Ageing, Death, and Bidets - with Sarah Macdonald (EP 28)

  2. Oct 10 ·  Video

    Gin, God, and Gaza with Rabbi Gersh Lazarow

    This week we are joined by Rabbi Gersh Lazarow, founding rabbi of Shtiebel in Melbourne, for a conversation we have mostly avoided on this show. We recorded it a few days after the anniversary of October 7. It is frank, sometimes uncomfortable, and one of the more important episodes we have done. We discuss personal journeys, cultural traditions, and identity. Gersh shares his story of leaving apartheid South Africa and how he came to be a rabbi and build Shtiebel. We delve into faith and culture, the war in Gaza, the experience of Jewish Australians over the past three years, and how hard it has become to hold complexity when everything pushes us into sides. We close on how people with very different views can still sit at the same table, what the rabbinical tradition of debate offers here, the need for community and understanding amidst division, with an emphasis on the role of language and shared experiences in fostering connection. A reminder that our first live show is at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday 25 November, 6 to 9pm. Invitations go out this week. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates03:34 Welcoming Rabbi Gersh Lazarow05:32 Rabbi Gersh's Journey and Background11:01 Exploring Faith and Spirituality14:00 Cultural vs. Religious Identity19:12 The Complexity of Current Events26:30 Navigating the Dichotomy of Opinions30:48 The Impact of Technology on Discourse35:33 The Pain of Innocence in War36:38 Accusations and Social Dynamics37:19 Emboldened Voices and Experiences41:04 The Ugliness of Modern Warfare43:54 Personal Responsibility in Discourse46:45 Navigating Community and Identity50:55 The Shift in Political Discourse54:21 Historical Context and Responsibility57:10 Building Community Amidst Tension

    Gin, God, and Gaza with Rabbi Gersh Lazarow

  3. Oct 3 ·  Video

    Louise Clegg (Angus Taylor’s better half) on Law, Liberals, Lemonade Beer - (EP 26)

    We're joined by Louise Clegg, former Sydney barrister, Spectator columnist and wife of Opposition Leader Angus Taylor. She takes us through life at the bar, the Constitution, and her views on the Voice. We talk technocracy, and how it affects everything from native vegetation rules to renewable energy zones. We explore why the Liberals are roadkill and why One Nation can't survive captain's calls with Pauline as the whole brand, and of course we chat about life as the partner of Opposition Leader Angus Taylor. We're live at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday 25 November, tickets out this week. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Weekly Updates03:11 Introducing Louise Clegg04:28 Louise introduces Shandys06:54 Reflections on the Legal Profession11:58 Constitutional Conservatism and Political Culture16:30 The Voice to Parliament Debate30:00 Technocracy and Its Implications34:43 Navigating Energy Transition Challenges40:07 The Role of Technocracy in Politics48:00 Political Dynamics and Party Identity53:58 Personal Insights on Political Life

    Louise Clegg (Angus Taylor’s better half) on Law, Liberals, Lemonade Beer - (EP 26)

  4. Sep 27 ·  Video

    Agents 'hack' medicare, Acemoglu on Liberalism, duty of care, and illegal aliens. (Ep 25)

    An OpenAI agent wandered into the Medicare and Services Australia backend. OpenAI told Canberra three months later in an automated email, and the government held the story until Albo was at the UN selling the digital duty of care. We cover what agents actually do, whether a missing fence counts as a break-in, Klaus, the pause letters, and the race with China. Then the duty of care itself. After that, Acemoglu's What Happened to Liberal Democracy?, the gap between graduates and everyone else, and whether Australia's real divide is owners versus renters. We get into the Voice, Sweden, and whether immigration is too high Save the date: we're live at the National Press Club in Canberra on 25 November.

    Agents 'hack' medicare, Acemoglu on Liberalism, duty of care, and illegal aliens. (Ep 25)

  5. Sep 18 ·  Video

    Weeds: brumbies, bird flu and humans - with Jack Gough (Ep 24)

    We're joined by Jack Gough, CEO of the Invasive Species Council, to talk about protecting Australian wildlife, including when that means culling other animals. We get into feral cats, the Brumby wars, and how a feral horse became a protected heritage item in a national park. We also ask why every conversation about the environment becomes a debate about climate change, and whether conservation should be a natural fit for conservatives. We then take a deep dive into bird flu, what it could mean for Australian wildlife, and how dead birds on beaches might shift the politics of the environment. Damian explains his “inverse pyramid of f!cks given”, and we talk egg prices, pets, tourism, and when an environmental problem becomes everyone's problem. We finish with immigration, housing, and whether a stronger connection to Australian nature could give us something to agree on. Plus our usual Kiss of Death predictions, and Jack gives us a reason to worry about honey bees. Because apparently the cats and horses weren't enough. Chapters00:00 Introduction, Victorian Potholes and Poison of Choice03:41 Introducing Jack Gough06:15 What Does the Invasive Species Council Do?09:11 What Makes a Species Invasive?11:31 Cane Toads, Rabbits and Biological Controls15:52 Feral Cats and Australia's Extinction Problem19:05 The Brumby Wars: Heritage, Horses and Politics24:24 Conservation, Conservatives and Climate Change28:14 Has Climate Change Swallowed the Environment Debate?30:57 Bird Flu: What's at Stake for Australian Wildlife?37:39 Preparing for Wildlife Loss and Building Resilience39:59 The Inverse Pyramid of F!cks Given42:34 Egg Prices, Beaches and the Politics of Bird Flu47:32 Why Not Just Let Nature Take Its Course?51:16 Custodianship and Australia's Changing Landscapes52:37 Immigration and Our Connection to the Bush58:46 Population, Nature and a Shared Australian Story01:02:58 Immigration, Housing and the Skills We Need01:06:22 Kiss of Death: China, AI and Bird Flu01:08:44 Culling, Honey Bees and a Live Show Teaser

    Weeds: brumbies, bird flu and humans - with Jack Gough (Ep 24)

  6. Sep 12 ·  Video

    WYP After Dark: News, Traitors, and Freedom - with Lenore Taylor & Ben Pike (Ep 23)

    This week we talk in-depth about the media landscape and the influence of news outlets on political engagement, including the role of news organisations and the impact of media on public opinion and political discourse.The death of humour in politics and the impact of political satire on free speech.We talk pork barrel politics, bureaucratic accountability, digital duty of care, leadership turbulence in the Greens, ICAC revelations and political fallout, and will Josh Frydenberg's return to politics. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates01:40 Road Trip Adventures03:00 Guest Introductions and Poison of Choice06:48 Reflections on News Corp and Media Influence15:05 Media Landscape and Political Influence22:18 Role of News Outlets and Political Engagement27:35 The Role of Humor in Politics28:19 Political Satire and Free Speech48:39 Pork Barreling and Political Funding53:02 Pork Barrel Politics54:08 Bureaucratic Accountability01:00:32 Digital Duty of Care01:07:22 Leadership Turbulence in the Greens01:09:05 ICAC Revelations and Political Fallout01:12:48 Josh Frydenberg's Return to Leadership

    WYP After Dark: News, Traitors, and Freedom - with Lenore Taylor & Ben Pike (Ep 23)

  7. Sep 4 ·  Video

    Covid, conspiracies, and chop-chop with Dr Nick Coatsworth (Ep 22)

    We're joined by Dr Nick Coatsworth, former Deputy Chief Medical Officer, which means we talk the pandemic. What the public health measures actually did, how governments and the media shaped what people believed, and why conspiracy theories filled the gaps. We get into the geopolitics of the pandemic, and what happens when the argument is happening on someone else's platform. We then exlore social cohesion and why trust in government went up for a while then didn't stay, vaccine disinformation, the tobacco excise, and what the political class does with public health. We also get into how much of what people believe is evidence versus culture, history, and old colonial hangover, whether Dr Nick will take a run at politics, plus a few historical mysteries, because of course we do. You can also catch Dr Nick and Richard Baker on their Conspiracy Cabal podcast here https://open.spotify.com/show/17VXANMDCOpaSwdDRVjTTQ?si=4921fb5c58124607 https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/conspiracy-cabal/id1882577385 Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Poison of Choice01:11 Dinner Salon Discussions02:02 Bridging Divides and New Polling Methods03:17 Three-Dimensional Political Landscape04:04 Digital Duty of Care and Consent Education06:19 Introduction of Dr. Nick Coatesworth07:34 Media and Public Perception08:42 Transition to Deputy Chief Medical Officer09:15 Path to Deputy Chief Medical Officer10:07 Formation of Deputy Chief Medical Officer Position11:27 Public Health Expertise and Media Exposure12:26 Public Health Crisis Communication13:31 Media Exposure and Public Speaking14:09 Government Response and Leadership15:28 Institutional Response and Public Trust16:40 Institutional Resilience and Social Media Impact17:44 Shift in Public Perception and Political Leadership18:07 Public Health Measures and Economic Impact19:22 Public Health Measures and Societal Values20:40 Reflection on Government Response and Policy Shift22:23 Policy Decisions and Path Dependency23:44 Public Health Messaging and Communication25:00 Public Health Messaging and Public Perception26:19 Evidence-Based Decision-Making and Public Perception28:49 School Closures and Decision-Making29:54 COVID-19 Origins and Conspiracy Theories31:05 Conspiracy Cabal Podcast and Critical Analysis40:09 Tobacco Excise and Public Health Policies41:12 Freedom of Choice and Public Health Policies41:30 Philosophical Differences in Public Health Fraternity42:16 Conspiracy Theories and Illicit Tobacco Trade43:15 Disruption to Social Fabric and Public Health Policies44:03 Bureaucracy and Policy Making45:00 Influence of Bureaucracy on Policy Making46:13 Regulated Vapes and Nicotine Content47:18 Challenges in Accessing Medicinal Vapes49:33 Political Aspirations and Career Choices51:01 Shift in Moral and Ethical Foundations52:09 Conspiracy Theories and Cultural Beliefs55:27 Conspiracies, Mysteries, and Unsolved Disappearances01:01:31 Predictions and Speculations

    Covid, conspiracies, and chop-chop with Dr Nick Coatsworth (Ep 22)

  8. Aug 28 ·  Video

    Going bush - road trips, endings, and new beginnings (Ep 21)

    We talk about living wakes and their significance, then take a deep dive into the Bush Summit in Dubbo, where farmers air their grievances and political figures respond. We get into the dynamics between the Nationals and One Nation, and what they mean for regional politics. We cover the challenges facing the agricultural industry, how geopolitical issues ripple through the food supply, including biosecurity, fertilizer and the impact of climate change on farming. We then celebrate Peter's stepping back from Essential media after 30 years and reflect on how politics and activism have shifted over the past three decades. Building alliances, the power of lobbying, what long-term politicians actually change, the value of failure, and the stability of government and the role of public service. Chapters 00:00 The Significance of Living Wakes03:25 The Bush Summit: Farmer Grievances17:27 Political Dynamics: Nationals vs. One Nation25:12 Agricultural Challenges and Food Supply27:18 Biosecurity and Fertilizer Industry30:30 Climate Change and Farming43:47 Changing Landscape of Politics and Activism52:02 Building Alliances and Social License52:59 The Power of Lobbying54:30 Impact of Long-Term Politicians01:07:31 Value of Failure and Stability of Government

    Going bush - road trips, endings, and new beginnings (Ep 21)
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About

Pouring through the week of politics, culture, and tech.

Information

  • Creator
    Peter Lewis & Damian Damjanovski
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Peter Lewis & Damian Damjanovski
  • Show Website
    What's Your Poison

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