For our first Small Talk of the year, we’re joined by award winning journalist Jan Fran, now also the co-founder of Ette Media alongside Antoinette Latouff - for a big, messy, start-of-year powwow about where things are headed in 2026.

To kick off I’ve pulled together a few predictions from Vogue Business, Australian Financial Review, The New York Times and Reuters, and put them all on the table. From lifestyle shifts (are dumb phones about to make a comeback?) to how we’ll consume media, escapism, changes in journalism to Chat GPT boyfriends. 

It’s not science or a crystal ball. It is a much needed powwow before a year that already feels… a lot (and it’s only January).

ETTE MEDIA LIVE SHOW LINK 

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We’re kicking off the year with a stacked first episode - breaking down the extraction of Venezuela’s dictator Nicolás Maduro (with expert insight from Venezuelan senior journalist Claudianna Blanco), unpacking Ashley Tisdale’s viral op-ed about toxic celebrity mum groups, and explaining what Australia’s Royal Commission into Antisemitism and new hate speech laws could actually change. The full Beckham family feud timeline as Brooklyn finally breaks his silence and claims his family "hijacked" his wedding. An explainer on the importance of the protests in Iran. Plus, the pop culture sensation that is Heated Rivalry. 

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We're back next week (so excited!!) but in the meantime, have a listen to this chat with the incredible Michelle Battersby, otherwise known as one of the OG girl bosses. Enjoy!! 

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Wishing you a happy new year !!! We wanted to replay another chat we loved from earlier last year, this time with the incredible Lucinda Price, author of the best selling book 'All I Ever Wanted Was To Be Hot'. Together we discuss the rise of the latest internet aesthetic phenomenon, 'instagram face'. Enjoy !!

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Hope you're having a gorgeous holiday!! We thought we would replay a few of our favourite Small Talk episodes this year. This one was recorded in NYC last year with Claire and Ashley from Good Noticing's Podcast (previously known as Celebrity Memoir Bookclub!). 

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Last episode for the year! Thank you so much for all your support this year, excited to see you in 2026! 

In this episode we give an update on what's unfolded in the news since the devastating terrorist attack in Bondi. We deep dive into the Sean Combs documentary produced by 50 Cent and Sean's alleged involvement in both Tupac and Biggie's death. We discuss TIME's decision to make their person of the year the 'architects of AI'. For comic relief, we replay a few of Timothee Chalamet's funny interviews and why rumours are swirling he's secretly a rapper. Finally, the tragedy of Rob and Michelle Reiners death. 

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In light of the horrific and senseless attack in Bondi on Sunday - an act of violence aimed at members of the Jewish community gathering to mark the first day of Hanukkah - it didn’t feel right to talk about anything else.

In this episode, we lay out the information that is currently known about the attack, the victims, and the shooters, the heroic efforts of Ahmed el Ahmed, alongside the global response and the rapid spread of misinformation in the days since. We discuss what the Albanese government has said and promised in response, the deeply concerning rise of antisemitism, and why that cannot - and must not - fuel further rising Antisemitism or Islamophobia. 

Our hearts are with the lives lost, those injured and everyone witnessing and processing this distressing incident. Take care of yourselves and your loved ones. 

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Our first episode with LISTNR and in the new studios with new artwork! Thank you to everyone for all your support so far, we're so excited for what's to come. 

In this episode we discuss the social media ban for under 16s comes into effect tomorrow, December 10th. Miley Cyrus' engagement to drummer Maxx Morando, as well as the posts Firerose has made recently calling out Billy Ray Cyrus. Netflix is acquiring Warner Bros in a 108 billion dollar deal, causing Paramount to also make their own bid for Warner only this morning. Sydney Sweeney has switched PR tactics, now making a concession on her American Eagle ad controversy in exclusive interview with People magazine. Bruce Lehrmann's appeal been rejected. Sabrina Carpenter has called out the White House for posting ICE videos to her song. Plus, a listener question about if Alix Earle has broken up with NFL man. 

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This week on Small Talk, Hannah is back in the guest seat to have one of our favourite yearly yaps: the biggest lessons 2026 handed us.

From the (mostly) work-related wake-up calls we didn’t see coming, to friendship lessons to relationship realisations, we each bring the reflections that have been sitting front of mind as the year wraps.

And… after years of recording at the studios Sarah worked at since she was 22, we’re officially wrapping up there, which means a very exciting announcement is coming (on socials!)

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In Part Two, we hit the breaking point of 1975: the Senate blocks supply, the government runs out of money, and the Governor-General makes the most dramatic intervention in Australian political history. We unpack Whitlam’s iconic dismissal speech, what the Palace Letters later revealed about the Palace’s involvement, and why Cold War tension fuelled long-running rumours of CIA interference.

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