You’ve spent a lifetime paying off your home, but is it time to let the house pay you? 

A reverse mortgage is often touted as a "magic bullet" for retirees looking to unlock cash, but behind the marketing is a complex financial product that can drastically reshape your estate. With listener questions pouring in, we knew it was time to get some straight answers.

In this episode, we’re joined by Sally Tindall, Data Insights Director at Canstar, to break down the mechanics of reverse mortgages. We’re moving past the jargon to explore how these loans work, the reality of compound interest, and the safety nets that stop you from losing your home.

If you’re considering tapping into your home equity, don't make a move until you’ve heard this episode.

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Is your local pharmacy serving your health, or protecting a closed-door business model? 

We visit the chemist 18 times a year on average, making it one of Australia’s most essential health services. Yet, a bombshell new report from the Grattan Institute argues that the entire sector is built on "bad governance," secret deals, and outdated rules that are costing patients and taxpayers a fortune.

Brent is joined by Peter Breadon, Health and Aged Care Program Director at the Grattan Institute, to pull back the curtain on the "Community Pharmacy Agreements." We discuss why these deals are negotiated in the dark, why dispensing fees aren't dropping despite modern automation, and how restrictive ownership rules are keeping prices high.

If you’ve ever wondered why your pharmacy experience feels the way it does, this is the deep dive you need to hear.

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You’ve just bought your dream car, but what happens when it turns into a nightmare on wheels? 

Buying a new vehicle is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make, but Australia’s current consumer protection landscape is leaving drivers stuck in a lopsided "David vs. Goliath" battle. With the Federal Government pushing new franchise reforms for car dealers, the industry claims this will lead to better service for you. But consumer advocates are calling foul, arguing that these changes miss the point entirely.

Brent is joined by Adam Glezer from Consumer Champion to cut through the industry spin. We’re asking the hard questions about why Australia still lacks a national "Lemon Law"—the simple, accessible path to a refund or replacement that drivers in other countries take for granted—and what you should do before you sign that next contract.

Before you sign the papers, listen to this. Don't get stuck in a "lemon" nightmare.

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Is your daily café run doing you more harm than good? 

We all love a pick-me-up—whether it’s a vibrant morning matcha, an afternoon bubble tea, or a quick smoothie on the go. But have you ever wondered what’s actually in those cups? Marketing often paints these drinks as healthy, but the reality behind the counter is sometimes a very different story.

Dave is joined by Registered Nutritionist Dr. Emma Beckett to separate the hype from the health facts. From the hidden sugar bombs in your favourite boba to the science behind the "calm focus" of matcha, we’re peeling back the label so you can make smarter choices without giving up your daily treat.

• The Bubble Tea Reality: Why that afternoon boba might contain double your recommended daily sugar limit.

• Matcha Myth-Busting: Is it really a superfood, or can you have too much of a good thing?

• Smoothie vs. Juice: Why your homemade smoothie might be a nutritional powerhouse—and why store-bought juice is a different beast entirely.

• The Café Golden Rule: Dr. Emma shares a simple "rule of thumb" to help you distinguish between a healthy choice and an occasional indulgence.

You’ll never look at your café order the same way again.

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Is the "perfect storm" of new regulations the final nail in the coffin for your local shops and cafes?

From wage hikes to "Payday Super" and rising registration fees, small businesses across Australia have been hit with a massive wave of mandatory changes this July. While these reforms are intended to support the workforce, small business owners are sounding the alarm, warning that the "layering effect" of these cumulative costs is pushing many to the brink of survival.

Brent is joined by AMP Chief Economist Shane Oliver to cut through the spin and get the straight talk on what these economic shifts really mean for our local business community. We’re asking the hard questions about productivity, cash flow, and whether the current regulatory environment is sustainable or if it's effectively stifling the next generation of entrepreneurs.

• The Cost Cumulative: Why paying super alongside wages instead of quarterly is the cash-flow crunch many didn't see coming.

• Productivity Pressure: How administrative burdens are diverting time and capital away from actual business growth.

• The Survival Outlook: Shane gives his honest assessment of the economic forecast for the next quarter and what business owners need to prioritize right now.

• The "What If" Scenario: If Shane were sitting in the Prime Minister's office, what is the one thing he would change tomorrow to give small businesses a fighting chance?

Whether you run a family business or are just concerned about the state of our high streets, this is the reality check you need to hear.

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Behind every clinical statistic is a person, a family, and a daily story that deserves to be heard. 

This week marks National Diabetes Week 2026, and the theme "Stronger Together" is more than just a slogan—it’s a call to action. With a new diagnosis occurring every five minutes in Australia, over two million people are navigating the realities of life with diabetes right now. But how much do we really understand about their daily journey?

In this episode, we’re joined by Hannah Jackson, Group Executive of External Affairs at Diabetes Australia, to discuss the Living Out Loud campaign. We’re moving beyond the raw data to explore the lived reality of those affected, the battle against stigma, and why the "I wish people knew…" sentiment is the key to creating a more supportive community.

• Humanizing the Numbers: Why shifting the focus from clinical charts to personal stories is the best way to challenge myths.

• The Tech Gap: We discuss the fight for equitable access to life-saving technology, like continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps, for every Australian who needs them.

• Regional Inequity: Addressing the barriers to care for those in rural and remote areas where the path to a specialist is often far too long.

• Taking the First Step: Expert advice for anyone at risk or recently diagnosed.

Whether you’re living with diabetes, caring for someone who is, or just want to be a better ally, this conversation is an essential listen.

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Is the "fear factor" of our surf finally disappearing?

This year, the NSW coastline is undergoing its biggest safety transformation in history. With a massive $120 million investment from the state government, shark-spotting drones are moving from a "holiday-only" treat to a permanent, 365-day aerial network patrolling from dawn until dusk.

In this episode, we’re joined by James Bassam, Operations Manager for the Australian UAV Service, to look at how a fleet of drones and cutting-edge artificial intelligence are creating the world’s largest shark surveillance program. We discuss the rollout across 70+ beaches, the tech that’s helping pilots spot threats faster than the human eye, and what this means for your daily swim or surf.

• The Dawn-to-Dusk Shift: Why the move to year-round coverage is a game-changer for early morning swimmers and late-afternoon surfers.

• The AI Revolution: How artificial intelligence is being trialed to assist pilots, and are we nearing a future where drones launch autonomously from surf club rooftops?

• The "Shark Protocol": If a drone spots a shark, how does the warning actually reach you in the water? We break down the response chain.

• Safety vs. Fear: Is this technology actually helping to reduce the anxiety surrounding high-profile shark incidents?

Whether you’re in the water every day or just heading down for a weekend dip, this is the breakdown of how tech is keeping our coastline safer.

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Is the universe hiding something "impossible" in its backyard? 

Dave steps into the host's chair and is joined by our favourite astronomy expert, David Reneke, to dive into one of the most baffling mysteries in modern science. We’re talking about the "Giant Arc" and the "Big Ring"—two gargantuan cosmic structures that, according to our current understanding of physics, simply shouldn't exist.

Discovered by PhD student Alexia Lopez, these structures are so large—spanning billions of light-years—that they blow the theoretical size limit of the universe out of the water. We’re cutting through the complex jargon to explain why these "cosmological neighbours" are forcing scientists to rethink the very bedrock of how the universe is put together.

• The Size Problem: We explain the scale simply—if our entire Milky Way galaxy were the size of a postage stamp, these structures would be thousands of kilometres long.

• Challenging the "Cosmological Principle": We break down the bedrock rule of astronomy that says matter should be smooth and uniform—and why these colossal patterns are smashing that rule to pieces.

• The Big Mystery: Are these ripples from the early universe, signs of unknown physics, or just a cosmic coincidence? We look at why science thrives on finding things that don't fit the map.

Whether you’re a star-gazer or a science sceptic, this is the reality check on the final frontier you need to hear.

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Is Labor losing its way? And why does it feel like our leaders are speaking a completely different language? 

Brent sits down with one of Australia’s sharpest media voices, columnist and broadcaster Joe Hildebrand, to cut through the noise of a rapidly shifting political landscape. We’re taking a hard look at the "disconnect" currently defining Australian politics—where the divide between the political class and the working-class base has never felt wider.

Joe brings his signature mix of wit and analysis to explain why traditional party lines are blurring and why "woke" policy agendas might be driving the Labor Party’s traditional heartland straight into the arms of minor parties like One Nation. Plus, we break down the latest "gaffe culture" sweeping Canberra—is it just a bit of political theatre, or does it expose a deeper, more troubling hypocrisy on both sides of the aisle?

• The Working-Class Exodus: Why Labor’s current policy focus is alienating the very people it claims to represent.

• The Hypocrisy Trap: How a simple PM gaffe can reveal the true colors of our political leaders—and why the public is sick of the "gotcha" games.

• The Future of the Heartland: Are we witnessing a permanent realignment of Australian voters, or is this just a mid-term protest?

If you’re tired of the spin and want the real story on why our politics feels so fractured, this is the conversation you need to hear.

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Are proposed federal tax changes about to rewrite the rules for your family business? 

From July 1, 2028, a radical new 30% minimum tax on discretionary trusts is set to reshape the landscape for hundreds of thousands of Australian small businesses. While the government says this is about "fairness," small business owners are sounding the alarm, fearing these reforms will unfairly penalize family enterprises that use trusts for legitimate asset protection and succession planning.

We’re joined by Skye Cappuccio, CEO of the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA), to cut through the jargon and get to the bottom of the controversy. We’re asking the hard questions: Is this really about tax avoidance, or are family-run shops, trades, and enterprises being unfairly caught in the crossfire?

• The "Trust" Trap: Why a local tradie or café owner uses the same structure as wealthy investors—and why they might be paying the price for it.

• The Reality Check: What this means for your annual tax bill and whether you need to start planning a restructure today.

• The Big Picture: Are we discouraging the next generation from taking the risk of starting their own business?

Whether you run a family business or are planning for the future, you need to hear this breakdown of what's coming in 2028.

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