Backchat

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Your alternative to talkback. Backchat is a weekly show of news, politics, interviews, discussion, satire, and feature reporting. Hosted by Dani Zhang and Tanita Razaghi. Executive produced by Rebecca Cushway, with producers Dani Zhang, Holly Payne, Tanita Razaghi, Libby Hopper, Sana Shaikh, Lilly Grainger, Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis, Euan Kielly, Elisa Papaioannou, Grace Pittar, Jaspar McCahon-Boersma and Bridgette Donnellan.  Got an idea for a story? Email us: backchat@fbiradio.com We're also on Instagram @backchatfbiradio and X @BackchatFBi.

  1. 1d ago

    NSW budget | UNSW Parramatta campus | Newsrooms in crisis | One Nation v the Socceroos | AI art galleries

    Commuters, drivers and Western Sydney students were among the state budget's winners... but what about the losers? Producer Rebecca Cushway dives deep on where the money is flowing.  On a related note, UNSW has just announced plans to expand their presence in Parramatta by building a new campus. Over ten years the University will invest over $65 million in a multi faculty campus that can accommodate up to 350 students daily. Pro Vice-Chancellor of Precincts at UNSW Professor Zoe Terpening joins the show for a chat.  You also may or not be aware of the job cuts happening across regional newsrooms right now. According to Ette Media there have been 336 across Australian media just in the last month. Producer Tarni Cruickshank chats to a freshly graduated journalism student. Meanwhile, the FIFA World Cup has kicked off - a huge point of praise has been the diversity of Australia’s team, the Socceroos, with over 15 different cultural backgrounds in a 26-man team. At the same time, One Nation, a party that aims to “cut immigration by over 570,000 people from current Labor levels” and “withdraw from the UN Refugee convention”, has opened up a primary vote lead over Labor.P roducer Anagha Abhi asks writer, lawyer and anti-racism activist Mariam Veiszadeh why multiculturalism feels uncontroversial in Australian sport but controversial in public policy. And with AI becoming an inescapable part of modern life, Sydney-based artist Tim Gregory joins the show to weigh in on whether AI belongs in public art.  This episode was produced by Sana Shaikh, Anagha Abhi, Birdie Rinaldi and Tarni Cruickshank. Executive produced by Bec Cushway.  Hosted by Bec Cushway and Nyaboth Chuol.  Aired 27 June 2026 on Gadigal land.      See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    48 min

  2. May 9

    Bonus: Full Interview with Australian Global Sumud Flotilla organiser Ethan Floyd

    On April 26, eleven Australians set sail from Sicily aboard the second Global Sumud Flotilla with the mission to break the Israeli siege on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid. Among the activists was 22-year-old community organiser Ethan Floyd. Following the interception of their vessel in international waters, Ethan and five fellow activists were detained by the Israeli Occupation Forces. After reporting physical and psychological abuse during their detention, Ethan returned to Australia on Monday, May 4 at 5:00 PM.  Producer Gabriella Accaria sat down with Ethan to discuss his experience and his continued commitment to the mission. Content warning: graphic descriptions of physical and psychological abuse. Aired 9 May 2026 on Gadigal Land.  Want to support our show? Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave us a five-star review, and share an episode with a friend. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    22 min

  3. Mar 18

    Palantir's involvement in Australian surveillance | The rise of traditional gender roles amongst young men | Bluesfest cancelled | Iranian women's soccer team granted asylum in Australia

    Palantir Technology is in the news, and not in a good way. Tech reporter at Crikey Cam Wilson dives into the controversial tech company's growing influence on global politics, including how it's become entangled with Australian surveillance and international conflict.  Is conservatism making a comeback among young people? A new report from IPSOS and the King’s College London suggests Generation Z may be embracing more traditional gender views. We speak with University of Melbourne PhD candidate Claudia Young about what’s driving this shift, from economic anxiety to the influence of the manosphere.  Later, we look at yet another collapse of a major Australian music event - Bluesfest. After decades as a staple of the Easter long weekend, the long anticipated festival has been cancelled, raising fresh concerns about the future of live music. Olly Arkins from the Australian Festivals Association explains why festival costs keep rising and what it means for artists, workers and regional communities. We also break down the members of the Iran women's national football team being granted humanitarian visas after a protest during the AFC Women's Asian Cup. Analyst Neha Madhok helps explain the political context behind the decision and tensions between Iran, Australia, Israel, and the United States.  This episode was produced by Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis, Bec Cushway, Holly Payne and Olivia Nunes-Malek. Executive produced by Bec Cushway.  Hosted by Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis and Pongyada Soothipong.  Aired 14 March 2026 on Gadigal land.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    43 min

  4. Mar 13

    Diversity in F1 | NSW's controversial new police taskforce, Operation Shelter | Improving queer rights pioneer Ayesha Kazan's quality of life | Thai Airways boycott campaign | Yanis Varoufakis at the Greek Festival of Sydney

    Were you one of the hundreds of thousands gathered at Melbourne’s Albert Park to bring in the 2026 Formula One season last week? Producer Nyaboth Chuol breaks down F1's newfound popularity and diversity in the sport. NSW Greens MP Sue Higginson joins to discuss the risks associated with Operation Shelter, a controversial new police operation initially designed to combat anti-semitism and islamophobia, which has since shifted to become a permanent command unit. Backchat speaks to Lillian, one of the volunteers fighting to restore trans advocate Ayesha Kazan's quality of life. Best known as one of the original members of Les Girls, Ayesha is one of the pioneers of Sydney's drag scene. Producer Pongyada Sootthipong speaks to protest organisers Zelda and Heike Weber about last week's protests to boycott Thai Airways in Sydney and Melbourne, after an investigation revealed the airline was transporting Australian-made weapons parts on passenger flights to Israel.  Greek economist, politician and author Yanis Varoufakis chats to producer Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis at the Greek Festival of Sydney about his recent memoir Raise Your Soul, and the “little fascist” within all of us. This episode of Backchat was produced by Nyaboth Chuol, Jess D’Souza, Olivia Nunes-Malek, Pongyada Sootthipong and Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis.  Executive produced by Bec Cushway. Hosted by Jess D’Souza and Bec Cushway. Aired 7 March 2026 on Gadigal land. Want to support our show? Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave us a five-star review, and share an episode with a friend.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    53 min

  5. Mar 2

    Pride in Protest removed from Mardi Gras parade | Why are we so invested in Heated Rivalry? | Queer representation at Harbour Lights Hockey Club | ADHD diagnosis training roll out by NSW GPs

    Have you been keeping up with the Heated Rivalry craze? Producer Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis breaks down why women in particular are loving the show, and our obsession with the gay romance genre. NSW’S first queer ice hockey club, Harbour Lights Hockey Club, celebrated Mardi Gras with the Pride on Ice Tournament. Producer Jess D’Souza speaks to Harbour Lights’ president Brigitta Slinn about the club’s pushes for queer representation in sport. Producer Gabriella Accaria spoke to Dr Kenneth McCroary from the ACM and Dr Christopher Timms from the RACGP to find out more about the roll out of training for NSW GPs to diagnose and prescribe patients for ADHD. Queer advocacy group Pride in Protest were banned from the Mardi Gras parade overnight. Evan Gray from PiP joins to talk about the decision to remove their float.   This episode of Backchat was produced by Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis, Jess D’Souza, Gabriella Accaria, and Bec Cushway.  Executive produced by Bec Cushway. Hosted by Dani Zhang and Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis. Aired 28 February 2026 on Gadigal land. Want to support our show? Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave us a five-star review, and share an episode with a friend.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    44 min

  6. Feb 20

    Terror charge added over Boorloo Invasion Day rally bombing | Police tactics at the Sydney Herzog protest | Is Valentine’s Day consumerist and/or heteronormative?

    A terrorism charge has been laid over an attempted bombing at the Invasion Day rally in Perth, nine days after the attack. Producer Pongyada Sootthipong speaks to Roxy Moore, Noongar organiser of the Boorloo Invasion Day rally, about the aftermath of violence on a day of mourning and solidarity for the First Nations community. Anti Cop founder Tom Raue joins to break down the heavily criticised police tactics used on peaceful protesters in Sydney who were rallying against Israeli president Isaac Herzog's visit to Australia last Monday. Jaded with the sight of roses and chocolates on Valentine's Day? Producer Gabriella Accaria spoke to couples about the consumerism and heteronormativity that come with the holiday. This episode of Backchat was produced by Pongyada Sootthipong, Sana Shaikh, and Gabriella Accaria.  Executive produced by Bec Cushway. Hosted by Dani Zhang and Bec Cushway. Aired 14 February 2026 on Gadigal land. Want to support our show? Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave us a five-star review, and share an episode with a friend.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    45 min

  7. Feb 10

    Israeli president visits Australia | links between mental health and homelessness | combatting AI misinformation | cinema workers' safety

    Ahead of Israeli president Isaac Herzog's state visit to Australia, producer Gabriella Accaria breaks down his political background and the reception of his visit by politicians and activist groups.  The findings from the coronial inquest into the Bondi Junction stabbing were recently handed down, highlighting the importance of housing for people living with a mental health condition. Habilis in Summer Hill provides low-cost housing for people living with a chronic mental health condition— their centre manager Linda Bowden joins us to explain how stable housing helps people get better access to mental health support.  Have you ever had a family dinner ruined because your Worst Uncle decided to share his awful AI-informed hot takes? Molecular biologist and president of the Science Journalists Association of Australia Dr Jackson Ryan is here with some strategies on dealing with misinformation from your family and friends.  Cinema workers at Village Cinema at the Crown Melbourne expressed concerns about their safety during a one-night only screening of Pauline Hanson's new animated film 'A Super Progressive Movie'. Producer Jessica D'Souza chats to the director of the Young Worker's Centre Victoria, Yolanda Robson to discuss the safety concerns cinema workers face during conservative film screenings.  This episode of Backchat was produced by Gabriella Accaria, Dani Zhang, Holly Payne and Jessica D'Souza.  Executive produced by Bec Cushway. Hosted by Tanita Razhagi and Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis. Aired 7 February 2026 on Gadigal land. Want to support our show? Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave us a five-star review, and share an episode with a friend.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    43 min

  8. Feb 9

    The spectacle of the Australian Open | Pride in Protest censored | hating on the new hate speech laws | why Jan 26 is complicated for Indian-Australians

    We're back for 2026! The Australian Open is one of the biggest tennis tournaments in the world, so how did it turn into a spectacle of everything but tennis? Producer Gabriella Accaria unpacks the social, cultural, economic and geopolitical issues at the Australian Open with Daryl Adair, Associate Professor of Sport Management at the University of Technology Sydney.  Pride in Protest members and Mardi Gras board members Luna Choo and Damien Nguyen have been censored by the board's co-chairs after public internal struggles within the organisation. Founding PiP member Evan Ban Zijl joins us to chat more about the drama.  In the wake of the Bondi attack, the Labor government has passed new hate speech laws at a speed which has activists, lawyers and human rights organisations concerned. Timothy Roberts, Presidents of the New South Wales Council for Civil Liberties, joins us to break down these laws and question how much safer the community will be because of them. The 26th of January is a day of mourning for First Nations people in Australia, but also marks Republic Day in India, when the country became fully independent from colonisation. Producer Jessica D'Souza discusses the complexities of this day for Indian-Australians with youth advocate Varsha Yajman and racial justice consultant and Democracy in Colour co-founder Neha Madhok.  This episode of Backchat was produced by Gabriella Accaria, Holly Payne, Jessica D’Souza, Sana Shaikh and Bec Cushway. Executive produced by Bec Cushway. Hosted by Holly Payne and Dani Zhang.  Aired 31 January 2026 on Gadigal land.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    41 min
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About

Your alternative to talkback. Backchat is a weekly show of news, politics, interviews, discussion, satire, and feature reporting. Hosted by Dani Zhang and Tanita Razaghi. Executive produced by Rebecca Cushway, with producers Dani Zhang, Holly Payne, Tanita Razaghi, Libby Hopper, Sana Shaikh, Lilly Grainger, Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis, Euan Kielly, Elisa Papaioannou, Grace Pittar, Jaspar McCahon-Boersma and Bridgette Donnellan.  Got an idea for a story? Email us: backchat@fbiradio.com We're also on Instagram @backchatfbiradio and X @BackchatFBi.

Information

  • Creator
    FBi Radio
  • Years Active
    2014 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 FBi Radio
  • Show Website
    Backchat

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