Worth Knowing

Elliot Costello and Matt Kendall
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A weekly podcast about the forces shaping politics, power and technology, and how they affect you.

  1. 4d ago

    Putin’s War on Reality | 12

    Putin couldn’t destabilise the West through military force, so he launched an invasion of our reality. The methods he pioneered now work far beyond the Kremlin. Matt and Elliot trace how Putin found the cracks in Western democracies and threw fuel on the fire. Elliot even casually drops in a story about when his Dad stayed at one of Putin's summer palaces. From Dresden to the Internet Research Agency, Brexit, Trump and AI-driven bots, this is the story of the playbook Putin created and the agitators who followed him through. He was the icebreaker. He poisoned our information well. Now reality is becoming untethered. Chapters ➡ 00:00 If Russia leaves Ukraine00:17 Russia, Trump and the diesel deal05:06 How Putin acquired power08:14 The invasion of reality09:42 Late Soviet propaganda comes west14:38 Brexit and plausible deniability18:52 Trump, Putin and kompromat21:01 Elliot's dad's encounter with Putin24:34 Putin the icebreaker27:53 Arguing with bots29:36 Big Tech and democratic failure31:01 Starlink, Ukraine and a free Europe33:32 The poisoned information well Watch and subscribe to the channel now, as well as our Substack and your favourite podcasting channels, at: https://worthknowingpod.com For show notes and a deep dive on each episode, visit the Substack via the link above.

    Putin’s War on Reality | 12

  2. Oct 12

    Wealth Inequality is Out of Control | 11

    The middle class is being hollowed out while a tiny owning class accumulates fortunes, assets and political power at a scale that rivals nation-states.  The money keeps flowing up. Governments get poorer. Public services deteriorate. Then the anger is redirected towards people with even less power. In this episode, Matt and Elliot follow the divide between owners and earners, expose how extreme wealth escapes taxation and ask what it would take to start punching up again. Can democracy rebuild the broad Australian middle before private fortunes become private fiefdoms? Find out in this week's episode of Worth Knowing. Chapters ➡ 00:00 Taking on the big kahuna01:34 The middle we have lost03:57 Childhood Australia and the precariat05:57 What the numbers show08:29 From the Gilded Age to trickle-up economics10:59 Three failures of capitalism15:39 When markets stop being free19:32 Inequality and the loss of sovereignty23:27 Cost of living and who profits25:17 Stop punching down27:46 Taxing extreme wealth30:57 Democracy, coalitions and political courage34:03 Is Britain still a middle power?35:01 Final thoughts Watch and subscribe to the channel now, as well as our Substack and your favourite podcasting channels, at: https://worthknowingpod.com For show notes and a deep dive on each episode, visit the Substack via the link above.

    Wealth Inequality is Out of Control | 11

  3. Oct 5

    America: The Friend You Can't Trust Anymore | 10

    The old US-led order has ruptured... but Australia is still behaving as though it’s 2012. In this episode, Matt and Elliot ask what happens when your closest ally can no longer be trusted. From Trump’s America and the Pentagon’s growing alliance with Silicon Valley oligarchs to Albanese’s AI bargains and the A$368 billion AUKUS bet, Australia keeps exporting abundance, importing vulnerability and calling it stability. Canada and Europe recognise that compliance no longer buys safety and are widening their choices. So why is Australia still rolling over for belly rubs? Find out in this week's episode of Worth Knowing. Chapters ➡ 00:00 Ten episodes of weekly sense-making01:30 The bigger bubble that has already burst03:40 Why Carney’s rupture speech matters10:15 Albanese and Australia’s leadership vacuum14:00 Exporting abundance, importing vulnerability16:45 The AI copyright and data-centre bargain21:20 Middle powers and tech companies with state-like power27:05 Why America can no longer be trusted30:45 The A$368 billion AUKUS question34:00 Allies, protectorates and sovereign defence36:30 Albanese, Carney and the schoolyard bully40:35 Final thoughts and where Australia goes next Watch and subscribe to the channel now, as well as our Substack and your favourite podcasting channels, at: https://worthknowingpod.com For show notes and a deep dive on each episode, visit the Substack via the link above.

    America: The Friend You Can't Trust Anymore | 10

  4. Sep 28

    AI rocks Climate Week NYC | 09

    AI was the elephant in every room at Climate Week NYC. Behind the promises of green innovation looms a ‘brown boost’ in data centres, gas and power. This week, Elliot reports from New York as he and Matt unpack the real, immediate and enormous energy demand behind the race towards AGI, and the religious promise that once we reach the Promised Land, AI will save us. Where are the examples? What are the strategies? And can AI companies become good corporate citizens without locking in another generation of gas and coal? And what hope do we have when even the climate tech VCs are all in on AI and fresh out of decarb? Find out in this week's episode of Worth Knowing. Chapters ➡ 00:00 AI is the elephant in every room00:15 A typhoon rolls through New York02:32 Climate Week becomes AI and Data Centre Week06:35 The missing global guardrails07:55 AI’s brown boost09:09 Nvidia says: trust us, we're surgeons12:20 Racing towards the Promised Land16:48 Decentralised energy and good corporate citizens20:47 Renewables are on a tear22:26 Patagonia, Twiggy Forrest and Sylvia Earle27:02 Active hope and Gross Domestic Regeneration29:41 Why COP31 will not save us31:58 The war is not yet over   Watch and subscribe to the channel now, as well as our Substack and your favourite podcasting channels, at: https://worthknowingpod.com For show notes and a deep dive on each episode, visit the Substack via the link above.

    AI rocks Climate Week NYC | 09

  5. Sep 21

    The AI bubble has already burst | 08

    The AI bubble is looking very, very frothy. But after the OpenAI–Hugging Face incident and Andrew Yang’s extraordinary claim, Matt thinks a bubble may already have burst... and something strange, dangerous and potentially extraordinary is emerging underneath. This week, Matt and Elliot unpack the circular economy of IOUs between AI labs, cloud providers and chipmakers, and what happened when AI agents moved beyond the boundaries of a controlled cybersecurity evaluation. Why are rival AI leaders suddenly sounding the alarm? And is a choice between human extinction and incredible shareholder value really all that's on offer? This isn’t another doomer episode. It’s a conversation about what the hell comes next... and who gets to imagine it. Chapters ➡ 00:29 Introduction to the AI bubble and market context01:58 Lessons from the dot-com bubble and early internet optimism03:10 The parallels between past crashes and current AI valuations04:55 The circular economy of AI companies and market interdependence07:01 Potential for a market crash driven by overvaluation and speculation12:37 Regulatory challenges and the risk of monopolistic control15:50 Narrative-driven markets19:43 The importance of balanced narratives and realistic expectations21:21 The potential for AI to create a better future if managed wisely23:14 Call for imagination, regulation, and societal engagement25:10 Something has happenned28:17 The Hugging Face Incident and Its Implications30:28 The bubble that has already burst35:25 Closing thoughts and upcoming Climate Week event Watch and subscribe to the channel now, as well as our Substack, and on your favourite podcasting channels at: https://worthknowingpod.com For show notes and a deep dive on each episode, visit the Substack via the link above.

    The AI bubble has already burst | 08

  6. Sep 14

    We've Crossed the Climate Threshold. Now What? | 07

    The world is set to blow past 1.5°C, Europe has endured four brutal heatwaves, Nepal has been devastated and a monster El Niño is gathering strength.  Our political leaders and mainstream media have already moved on. Online, the response has split between “we’re doomed” and “we already have all the solutions”. Matt and Elliot ask what both narratives leave out: the scale, speed and systems change required to actually turn this around.  From hopium and copium to care, simplification and defiance, this is an emergency broadcast about the climate threshold we have crossed and what the hell we do now.  Chapters ➡ 00:44 Introduction to Climate Crisis02:15 The Impact of Recent Climate Events07:06 Political Responses to Climate Change13:26 The Role of Community in Climate Action22:12 Framework for Climate Response30:00 Hope and the Path Forward Watch and subscribe to the channel now, as well as our Substack, and on your favourite podcasting channels at: https://worthknowingpod.com For show notes and a deep dive on each episode, visit the Substack via the link above.

    We've Crossed the Climate Threshold. Now What? | 07

  7. Sep 7

    Australia Is Throwing Away Its Shot at Fixing Our Plastic Crisis | 06

    Australia’s packaging waste is out of control. Industry, recyclers, environmental groups, state governments, councils and consumers agree on what needs to change. So why has the Albanese government walked away from a political open goal? Matt and Elliot unpack the reform that could transform Australia’s waste economy, the political calculation that killed it, and why the cost-of-living excuse falls apart as soon as you look at the numbers. Chapters ➡ 00:33 Introduction: Australia's Packaging Waste Crisis02:19 History of Waste Policy in Australia04:11 Failure of Voluntary Targets and the 2018 Framework06:28 Political and Industry Resistance to Reform08:12 The Role of Regulation and EPR Explained10:03 Economic and Environmental Benefits of EPR11:48 Case Studies: Successful EPR Schemes13:30 The Impact of Inaction and Future Risks15:45 Call to Action: How Citizens Can Influence Policy17:43 Conclusion: The Path Forward for Australia Watch and subscribe to the channel now, as well as our Substack, and on your favourite podcasting channels at: https://worthknowingpod.com

    Australia Is Throwing Away Its Shot at Fixing Our Plastic Crisis | 06

  8. Aug 31

    Why the Australian Left Is Losing the Politics of Discontent | 05

    One Nation is rising because it understands something the Australian left seems unwilling to admit: the anger is real. But if migrants, refugees and culture-war targets aren’t the cause of that anger, who benefits from pointing it at them? Matt and Elliot follow the grievance from Australia’s hollowed-out political centre to two unlikely movements overseas, asking whether the left still remembers how to turn discontent into people power. Because the system does feel rigged. The real question is who rigged it... and what it would take to build something else? 00:00 Introduction to the Politics of Discontent02:33 The Global Context of Discontent05:32 The Role of Major Parties in Australia06:57 Lobbying and Public Interest09:57 The Rise of Right-Wing Populism12:44 Left-Wing Populism: A Missed Opportunity15:41 The Need for a New Political Movement18:26 Emerging Movements: DSA and Cockroach Movement21:28 The Importance of Organising for Change24:10 The Role of Joy in Political Movements27:01 Conclusion: The Future of Politics in Australia Watch and subscribe to the channel now, as well as our Substack, and on your favourite podcasting channels at: https://worthknowingpod.com

    Why the Australian Left Is Losing the Politics of Discontent | 05
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About

A weekly podcast about the forces shaping politics, power and technology, and how they affect you.

Information

  • Creator
    Elliot Costello and Matt Kendall
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Elliot Costello and Matt Kendall
  • Show Website
    Worth Knowing