Melbourne-born, Sydney-based swimmer Chloë McCardel battles jellyfish, sharks, second-degree burns, heatstroke and near-drowning – all in a day or two’s work.

In the latest episode of Good Weekend Talks, we chat to the 36-year-old about the trials and tribulations – and appeal – of a professional life spent in open water. McCardel is the subject of our cover story this week – The occupational hazards of Chloë McCardel – written by Good Weekend senior writer Tim Elliott. Hosting this chat about the woman they call the “Queen of the English Channel” is Good Weekend editor Katrina Strickland.

You can read Tim's story here. 

Become a subscriber: our supporters power our newsrooms and are critical for the sustainability of news coverage. Becoming a subscriber also gets you exclusive behind-the-scenes content and invitations to special events. Click on the links to subscribe https://subscribe.theage.com.au/ or https://subscribe.smh.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do long COVID, Alzheimer’s, rheumatoid arthritis, type one diabetes, asthma and heart disease all have in common? The answer: inflammation.

Microbiologist Elizabeth Hartland, CEO of the Hudson Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, speaks about inflammation in the latest episode of Good Weekend Talks, moderated by Good Weekend editor Katrina Strickland. Our episode this week is based on our cover story - THE ENEMY WITHIN - by Good Weekend deputy editor Greg Callaghan, who has dealt with the ill effects of inflammation in his own life.

You can read Greg's story here. 

Become a subscriber: our supporters power our newsrooms and are critical for the sustainability of news coverage. Becoming a subscriber also gets you exclusive behind-the-scenes content and invitations to special events. Click on the links to subscribe https://subscribe.theage.com.au/ or https://subscribe.smh.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 65kg fighter learned how to wriggle out of the deathly “guillotine hold” - and upend men twice his size - whilst keeping his feet planted firmly on the ground. Volkanovski is the subject of our cover story this week - IT’S A KNOCKOUT! - and also the topic of discussion in the latest episode of Good Weekend Talks. Joining Amanda on the podcast is former The Sydney Morning Herald journalist and current Wide World of Sports reporter (and mixed martial arts expert) Matt Bungard, who explains the lethal competition and equally brutal industry in which Volkanovski competes.

You can read Amanda's story here.

Become a subscriber: our supporters power our newsrooms and are critical for the sustainability of news coverage. Becoming a subscriber also gets you exclusive behind-the-scenes content and invitations to special events. Click on the links to subscribe https://subscribe.theage.com.au/ or https://subscribe.smh.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He shot to national fame at last year’s Tokyo Olympics, when he became the first Aussie runner to compete in an 800-metres Olympics final in more than half a century. And even though he came fourth in that final, Peter Bol – and the more than 100 members of his family who crowded into a Perth living room to watch the race – had captured our hearts.

In this week’s episode of Good Weekend Talks, moderated by Good Weekend editor Katrina Strickland, special guest Peter Bol visits the studio himself, to talk about what life has been like since that white-hot media spotlight moved away.

You can read Konrad's story here.

Become a subscriber: our supporters power our newsrooms and are critical for the sustainability of news coverage. Becoming a subscriber also gets you exclusive behind-the-scenes content and invitations to special events. Click on the links to subscribe https://subscribe.theage.com.au/ or https://subscribe.smh.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick Politis has built the biggest car dealership in Australia and is one of the uber power brokers in rugby league, such that some people call him the Godfather.

In this week’s episode of Good Weekend Talks, deputy editor Greg Callaghan chats with The Sydney Morning Herald features writer Anne Hyland, who was granted rare access to profile the powerful Sydney figure, and the Herald’s chief sports writer Andrew Webster, who has dealt with Politis for decades in his role covering rugby league.

Read Anne's story here. 

Become a subscriber: our supporters power our newsrooms and are critical for the sustainability of news coverage. Becoming a subscriber also gets you exclusive behind-the-scenes content and invitations to special events. Click on the links to subscribe https://subscribe.theage.com.au/ or https://subscribe.smh.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The life coaching business has been turbo-charged by the pandemic, with many of us looking for ways to change not just our habits but our thought patterns.

In this week’s episode of Good Weekend Talks, we chat about this booming but unregulated global industry - whether it’s all it’s cracked up to be, if its practitioners actually live better than the rest of us, and whether its lack of regulation leaves consumers at risk.

Joining the podcast is Good Weekend senior writer Melissa Fyfe, the author of our cover story this week - “THINK BIG” - as well as a special guest, Melbourne-based coach, speaker and author Kemi Nekvapil. And last but not least, moderating this discussion - about the art of professional pep talks - is Katrina Strickland, the editor of Good Weekend.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we hear from two Good Weekend senior writers about a pair of blockbuster stories published in 2021, both of which are shortlisted in the over 4000 words category in the upcoming Walkley awards, to be held in Tamworth in February.

Good Weekend Editor Katrina Strickland discusses the art of longform magazine writing with Tim Elliott, author of Last Shot: The fantastical life of Jock Zonfrillo, a deeply read story that really set a new standard for the celebrity profile piece; and with Melissa Fyfe, who captivated readers with her story on the death of Ashleigh Petrie: The 23-year-old court clerk, the 68-year-old magistrate who became her fiance - and the tragedy that followed.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we meet a Sydney socialite whose life was changed forever by an overseas trip. Stephenie Rodriguez speaks with The Sydney Morning Herald journalist Andrew Hornery and Good Weekend editor Katrina Strickland about the catastrophic chain of events that followed a mosquito bite in Nigeria in 2019.

Read Andrew's story here. 

Become a subscriber: our supporters power our newsrooms and are critical for the sustainability of news coverage. Becoming a subscriber also gets you exclusive behind-the-scenes content and invitations to special events. Click on the links to subscribe https://subscribe.theage.com.au/ or https://subscribe.smh.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we discuss fast-bowler Pat Cummins - our new men's Test cricket captain and the subject of our Good Weekend cover story this week. The Age's chief cricket writer Daniel Brettig and associate editor and chief sports columnist Greg Baum join Good Weekend senior writer Konrad Marshall to discuss Cummins the man, Cummins the (very fast) bowler - and what Cummins the captain might have in store. 

Read Daniel Brettig's story here. 

Become a subscriber: our supporters power our newsrooms and are critical for the sustainability of news coverage. Becoming a subscriber also gets you exclusive behind-the-scenes content and invitations to special events. Click on the links to subscribe https://subscribe.theage.com.au/ or https://subscribe.smh.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you take an entire year and extract from it the people who mattered the most to the country: who did something extraordinary that improved the lives of others; who gave us hope, joy and faith in humanity; who made us laugh, cry, and feel collectively better about ourselves; or who did something so out of left field that it floored us all? Good Weekend editor Katrina Strickland and senior writer Konrad Marshall discuss the highs and lows of coming up with this year's Who Mattered list - and some of the outcomes. 

Become a subscriber: our supporters power our newsrooms and are critical for the sustainability of news coverage. Becoming a subscriber also gets you exclusive behind-the-scenes content and invitations to special events. Click on the links to subscribe https://subscribe.theage.com.au/ or https://subscribe.smh.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.