Does there need to be more transparency around lobbying? 

A Four Corners investigation has revealed dozens of former defence officials, including ministers, high-ranking officers and senior staffers, have jumped from government roles into lucrative lobbying firms or the defence sector.

So, do we need to see tougher rules around lobbying? 

In this weeks Deep Dive, we hear from someone who's been researching exactly how corporations influence politics. 

Guests: 

• Jennifer Lacy-Nichols, senior research fellow, University of Melbourne
• Konrad Benjamin, Punters Politics

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• Subscribe to the hack podcast
• Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm

Meta has agreed to pay $23.6 billion to settle social media addiction lawsuits accusing it of contributing to the youth mental health crisis in America. We hear what keeps you addicted and what might help. 

And would you want to live forever? After our interview with Bryan Johnson, the world's most famous 'biohacker', we're unpacking your thoughts on immortality. 

Plus, we hear about your unofficial pets after Japan's Prime Minister confessed her attachment to a cockroach in her home.

Host Dave Marchese is joined by author and comedian Lucinda "Froomes" Price and The Slop co-host Michael Sun. 

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• Subscribe to the hack podcast
• Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm

More than a thousand people are missing after deadly flash floods on the Tibet-Nepal border. 

With dozens of Australians among those unaccounted-for, we bring you the latest on the rescue effort. 

Plus, controversial millionaire Bryan Johnson and his Australian partner Kate Tolo are intent on living forever. 

They open up about biohacking their bodies, what they think of their critics, and their true motivations. 

Listen now: 

01:03 - Flash flooding on the Nepal-Tibet border

04:55 - Why this couple wants to live forever

Guests: 

• Bryan Johnson
• Kate Tolo

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He's either a freak or a pioneer, depending on who you ask.

Millionaire "biohacker" Bryan Johnson — the man who wants to live forever.

For years he's been making headlines for swapping blood with his teenage son, tracking his erection data, or more recently claiming to have cloned himself.

Now his partner Kate, a 30-year-old Australian has kickstarted her own mission to become "the most measured woman in the world."

In this chat, Bryan and Kate explain to Dave why they're confident in achieving immortality, answer their critics' questions, and predict what's actually most likely to kill them.Guests:

• Bryan Johnson
• Kate Tolo

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• Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm

American country music legend Dolly Parton has died, aged 80. We hear about her unique journey in show business and how she has influenced Australians.

Plus, it has been predicted that AI data centres could use almost as much power as all the homes in New South Wales and Victoria by 2036. But could renewables be the answer? And will the states and territories sign up to the government's national plan? We dig into it.

Listen now: 

01:16 - Remembering Dolly Parton

17:12 - AI data centres

Guests: 

• Vera Blue, Australian singer-songwriter
• Dominique Bayens, ABC presenter
• Olivia Shen, Director of Strategic Technologies at the United States Studies Centre

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• Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm

There are growing calls for a crackdown on lobbyists after a Four Corners investigation revealed dozens of political staffers have jumped from government jobs into lucrative lobbying firms.

So how does lobbying work and what does this all mean for our democracy?

Also, Ukraine now has access to new missile technology after the UK's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham visited Kyiv to mark 35 years of Ukrainian independence.

Plus are third places disappearing? 

Listen now: 

01:13 - Lobbyists and democracy

16:37 - Ukraine gets new missile tech

21:33 - Are third places disappearing?

Guests: 

• Jennifer Lacy-Nichols, senior research fellow, University of Melbourne
• Konrad Benjamin, Punters Politics
• Melissa Neighbour, Director, Sky Planning

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• Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm

Renters earning an average wage are now spending more than half their income on housing in every capital city, according to a new report.

So why is rent still going up while house prices cool, and is anything going to change soon?

Also, authorities have confirmed a seal in South Australia has died as a result of the H5 bird flu.

Plus, is artificial intelligence a bubble? We speak to the man who coined the term enshittification, he has some big thoughts about the future of AI.

Listen now: 

00:56 - What's driving the rental crisis

13:12 - H5 bird flu update

17:29 - Why tech is getting worse

Guests: 

• Cameron Kusher, property economist, Kusher Consulting
• Cory Doctorow, author and activist

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• Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm

Gambling reform has been on the political agenda for years. Now, after days of negotiations, the government has finally pushed the laws through Parliament.

But not everyone's celebrating. Gambling harm advocates say the reforms don't go far enough, while the betting industry reckons it should be trusted to manage risk with its own punters.

So, will the new laws actually protect people from gambling harm? And how much power should the gambling industry have?

In this week's deep dive, we hear from both sides of the fight over Australia's new gambling laws.

Guests:

• Kai Cantwell, CEO, Responsible Wagering Australia
• Mark Kempster, advocate, Alliance for Gambling Reform

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The AFL has been rocked by scandal this week. Five Sydney Swans players have been banned for breaching club standards on drinking and staying out late. And separately, police are investigating a report of sexual assault. Police have not made any arrests or laid charges.  

And, a British collector has stumbled upon the ‘holy grail’ after he noticed a taxidermy 'fox' for sale was the skull of a now-extinct Tasmanian tiger worth thousands. Have you made some valuable discoveries?

Plus, a new app has been dubbed the spiritual successor to Vine (if you can even remember what that is!) The new short-form video app has one distinct feature that it hopes sets it apart from other platforms. No AI.

Finally, a new 'maxxing' just dropped - voice maxxing. Some guys are trying it to… sound hotter?

Host Dave Marchese is joined by ABC sports journalist, Marnie Vinall, and comedian and podcaster, Fergus Neal.

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The Israel Defense Forces has cleared its personnel of any criminal wrongdoing in the 2024 strike on a World Central Kitchen convoy in Gaza, where Australian Zomi Frankcom was killed. 

And Brisbane band Bugs is coming to terms with the news that bassist Jordan Brunoli has just months left to live, after being diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer. 

They open up about what scares them, how music has been healing, and what their friendship has meant over the years. 

Listen now: 

00:48  - Outrage at IDF investigation

04:19 - Jordan Brunoli on living life to the fullest

Guests:

• Jordan Brunoli
• Connor Brooker
• Brock Weston

Get the whole story from hack:

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• Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm