Backchat

How do you talk about Invasion Day with communities who don’t speak English as a first language? Phoebe McIlwraith breaks down the challenges of educating across languages.

What makes Yabun Festival the most important First Nations cultural event of the year? Miah Wright has the answers.

And Nooky is back to talk Blak Powerhouse - a night of music, storytelling, and Blak excellence.

This episode of Backchat was executive produced by Bec Cushway. 

Hosted by Holly Payne & Dani Zhang.

Audio produced by Bridgette Donnellan.

This episode aired 25th January 2025 on Gadigal land.

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This week on Backchat, we spotlight powerful diaspora perspectives one year after the escalation of conflict in Palestine and Israel. Producer Sana Sheikh speaks with Palestinian-Australian activist Sara Shaweesh about the personal and political impact of the past 12 months. We also hear from Maggie of the anti-Zionist, anti-colonial Jewish group Tzedek Collective on solidarity and resistance within the Jewish diaspora.

Later, producer Euan Kielly dives into Australia’s new anti-doxxing laws. With insights from Professor Rob Cover and Dr. Nicola Henry, we explore how these changes could reshape online privacy, cybersecurity, and the fight against digital harassment.

This episode was produced by Sana Shaikh, Euan Kielly, and Bec Cushway.

Executive produced by Bec Cushway.

Hosted by Holly Payne and Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis.

Audio produced by Bridgette Donnellan.

This episode aired on Gadigal land on October 5, 2024.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Backchat, producer Sumaiya Chowdhure and PhD student Lauren A. Miller unmask the mental health effects of constant self-viewing in the age of social media and augmented filters.

Then, employment lawyer Seri Feldman-Gubbay from Redfern Legal Centre breaks down new reforms that make it easier for victim-survivors of workplace harassment to seek justice.

Finally, we explore Green Music Australia’s new initiative to help musicians and artists use their work to fight climate change, featuring CEO Berish Bilander and musician Elana Stone. 

This episode of Backchat was produced by Bec Cushway, Sana Shaikh, and Sumaiya Chowdhure.

Executive produced by Bec Cushway.

Hosted by Holly Payne and Tanita Razaghi. 

Audio produced by Bridgette Donnellan.

This episode of Backchat aired on 28th September 2024 on Gadigal land.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Backchat, producer Libby Hopper unpacks the NSW Government’s new funding for music festivals. Will it revive the local festival scene or is the industry still on life support?

Next, Western Sydney University med students Jessica Mitchell and Aleisha Watson share how 2000 hours of unpaid placements impact their studies and why the government’s support scheme should include med students.

Later, producer Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis explores the impact of a new AI chatbot in NSW public schools, talking to teachers about what this will mean for students and education.

This episode of Backchat was produced by Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis, Libby Hopper, and Bec Cushway.

Executive produced by Bec Cushway.

Hosted by Holly Payne and Tanita Razaghi.

Audio produced by Bridgette Donnellan.

This episode of Backchat aired 21st September 2024 on Gadigal land.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Backchat, we break down the issues that matter most to young people for the local government elections. Producer Sana Sheikh speaks to Greens candidate Abrar Ahmad about their proposals for South West Sydney.

After that, we talk with Liz Atkins from the Greens about the future of the Inner West. What are their promises for nightlife, housing and keeping a multicultural community?

Later on in the show, our producer Bridgette Donnellan dives into eating disorders and diet culture with author of ‘All I Ever Wanted Was To Be Hot’ Lucinda Froomes Price and Sarah Cox, National Helpline Manager for the Butterfly Foundation. 

This episode of Backchat was produced by Sana Sheikh, Euan Kielly and Bridgette Donnellan.

Executive produced by Bec Cushway.

Hosted by Holly Payne and Dani Zhang.

Audio produced by Bridgette Donnellan.

This episode of Backchat aired 14th September 2024 on Gadigal land.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Backchat, producer Libby Hopper breaks down the recently released WGEA data on the gender pay gap of Australian companies. How does your workplace stack up?

After that, in honour of remembering another year since the Stonewall riots, we’ve got Danny Lim in the studio to give us his take on the protest landscape in Sydney today. 

Later on the show, Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis chats to leaders from Sydney Students for Palestine about the nationwide student strike for Palestine last Thursday.

This episode of Backchat was produced by Libby Hopper, Dani Zhang, and Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis, executive produced by Bec Cushway, and hosted by Sana Sheikh and Tanita Razaghi.

This episode of Backchat aired 2nd March 2024 on Gadigal land.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Backchat we’re chatting all things country music. Have you suddenly got friends who are sending you country songs? Seeing it around social media? We dive into why country music is having its moment right now with producer Dani Zhang. 

We're also joined by the Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations to hear about their new partnership agreement with the state government, focused on closing the gap in Indigenous disadvantage.

And earlier this week our producer Euan spoke to Phillipe Jacquot from the University of Sydney about how trending buzzwords from fitness influencers are conning consumers. 

This episode of Backchat aired 17th Feb 2024. This episode was hosted by Holly Payne and Bec Cushway, produced by Dani Zhang, Nic Huntington, and Euan Kielly. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Backchat we’re discussing the trending issue of doxxing and the new proposal for laws to combat this digital issue. 

Producer Holly Payne is chatting about Sydney’s asbestos crisis with Shane McArdle from the Asbestos and Dust Diseases Research Institute. 

And Nick Newington takes a look at the increasing issue of Australia’s syphilis epidemic, and how the mainstream media has been missing the story for the last decade.

This episode of Backchat was hosted by Holly Payne and Nick Newington, produced by Euan Kielly, Holly Payne, and Nick Newington. Backchat is broadcast on unceded Gadigal country, Saturdays at 9:30am on FBi 94.5fm.

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This week on Backchat, producer Sana Shaikh delved into the Hills Shire Council's recent move to halt sponsorship for drag story time events, citing concerns about content aimed at kids. The council, situated in Sydney's vibrant Bible Belt, voted 10-2 to put the brakes on such events. The segment pondered what this decision might mean for LGBTQ+ youth in the area, featuring insights from Jasmine Nour, a drag artist and former Hills resident. Plus, Backchat caught up with Greens Councillor Dr. Mila Kasby, one of the two councillors who voted against the motion.

Producer Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis breaks down the recent ICJ ruling in the South African case against Israel and what it means in terms of enforcable recommendations for the nations involved. Will the Palestinian people see any change as a result?

It's been a big week for Sweatshop Literacy Movement. The community-based publisher have just released Povo, a collection of works from 37 culturally and linguistically diverse storytellers, including celebrated authors and organisers like Daniel Nour and Sara Saleh. The collection also features emerging voices with stories written from the Asylum Seekers Centre and from schools in Sydney's West. This week Backchat producer Lilly Grainger had the opportunity to sit down with Commissioning Editor, Adam Novaldy Anderson to get to know 'Povo,' its writers and better understand why empowering youth of diverse cultutral, linguistic and low socioeconomic backgrounds is so important. 

This episode was hosted by Libby Hopper and Bec Cushway, and was produced by Sana Shaikh, Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis, and Lilly Grainger.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the wake of another shark related incident in Sydney, Libby Hopper gets into the stigma around shark attacks and the do’s and don’ts for staying safe, not scared, in the water. 

Medicare just turned 40 - is it in the midst of a midlife crisis? Hear from GP Dr Nicole Higgins on why health providers can no longer afford to bulk bill, the Strengthening Medicare Task Force and how Medicare support differs for our most vulnerable in rural, regional and metropolitan areas.

What do we need to know about the new changes to the Stage 3 Tax Cuts? Bec Cushway and Crystal Andrews of Zee Feed break it down.

This episode of Backchat aired Saturday 3rd February 2024.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.