ABC NewcastleCast

Newie punters hoped Splendour in the Grass would be a rain-free affair. Instead the event became Splendour in the Mud. Today, we speak to two locals who braved the weather and ultimately had a pretty good time... and a frozen banana on the way home.

We know there's lots of doom and gloom but we're still smiling, that's why we're spreading the good vibes across the Hunter today.

And think you know the difference between a servo pie, a bakery pie and a supermarket pie? Our pie expert did not.

It's hard out there at the moment if you're a university student.

It's hard out there at the moment if you're a university student.

Balancing work and study as the cost of living bites is tough and today we're speaking with two students who are finding it difficult at the moment round the Hunter.

Stop everything - The Rocket Man, Sir Elton John is coming to Newcastle! But is this the start of the big names coming to Newy?

And get around the big callout for volunteers that's helping families in need

All the news recently has been so downbeat, so today we're off to the pub. We've still got a show to do though, so Kia and Laurise have volunteered to try some zero alcohol wine.

What's the worst thing you get on holiday? It's not the cheap singlet you overpaid for, it's not the bad sunburn, it might actually be foot and mouth disease that could destroy literally all Australian livestock farming.

Your milk might be about to have a price explosion - but for many farmers here in dairy country, we've had it pretty good for a while.

And did you know you can spell TYPEWRITER with the top line of your keyboard? The world of typewriters is being explored by a big fan in Muswellbrook

This podcast started off with an idea and left Kia with a personal disaster. Just another day in this unforgiving rain.

Can you make life easy around Newcastle's potholes? We find someone to help.

Newcastle's famous Bar Beach is much loved, but giant storms and a surging king tide has washed the sand back to the rocks. Kia and Laurise on the scene to talk it out.

And the University of Newcastle's latest graduates with their passion of speech and Sri Lanka.