Hack

Australia now has 178 billionaires, up 17 from last year. Their combined wealth? $686 billion.

The government's changes to negative gearing and the capital gains tax have been pitched as a way of tackling wealth inequality. But as the billionaire class grows, could our tax system be fairer?

Also, the ceasefire in the Middle East is looking shaky, with US President Donald Trump saying he has made calls to Israel and Hezbollah to calm tensions.

Plus, meet Bianca Adler, the 18-year-old who just became the youngest Australian ever to summit Mount Everest.

Listen now: 

01:35 - Is our tax system broken?

13:51 - Middle East update

18:29 - Climbing Mount Everest

Guests:

• Evan Lucas, economic futurist
• Bianca Adler, youngest Australian to summit Mount Everest

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What is it about the salon chair that makes people open up? New research has found some customers use hair and beauty salon workers as substitute therapists.

So what impact does all this emotional dumping have on workers? And should they get more training to deal with it?

Also, a Four Corners investigation has raised questions about police accountability in New South Wales.

Plus, Year 12 students on the Central Coast have thrown their own music festival.

Listen now:

01:21 - Are NSW Police being held accountable?

09:09 - Why people trauma dump at the salon

24:38 - High schoolers hold their own music festival

Guests:

• Dylan Welch, Four Corners reporter
• Dr Hannah McCann, Senior Lecturer in Cultural Studies at the University of Melbourne

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

The sex industry is always at the forefront of technology. It was the first sector to really embrace the internet and now it is taking on artificial intelligence.

AI powered sex toys are popping up in sex stores around the country promising to change the way you have sex.

So would you let AI into your bedroom? And what could all of this mean for how we connect?

In this week's hack deep dive we take a look at the growing AI sex industry. You'll hear from young people about how they feel about the idea of AI sex, and experts who say this trend isn't going away.

Guests: 

• Zara Rubinsztein, Business Information Systems PhD candidate, University of Sydney

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

Pope Leo has used his first encyclical to warn the world about the risks AI poses to humanity. 

And does sex education in this country need an overhaul? Some new research has revealed some concerning trends in young people's understanding of safe sex and consent. 

Plus, should water at restaurants be free? Italy's top court says no. 

We also unpack one study suggesting Gen Z aren't interested in fame. 

Host Dave Marchese is joined by comedian Sammy Crawford-Smith and Allie Daisy King from Missing Perspectives. 

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

Billions of dollars are traded on platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi each week. Should prediction markets be allowed in Australia? 

And three months after the war in Iran began, it's still unclear how it will end. Despite suggestions a peace deal was within reach, the US has launched fresh strikes against Iran. 

Plus, a descendant of the Stolen Generations tells us about the day that changed her life and why she thinks Australia is still in denial about its history. 

Listen now: 

01:02 - The rise of prediction markets

09:43 - Is an Iran peace deal close? 

14:18 - Is Australia denying its history?  

Guests:

• Myles Houlbrook-Walk, journalist, ABC's 7:30
• Ellen Karimanovic, Worimi woman, member of the Healing Foundation's Youth Reference Group

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

When you think about the Stolen Generations you might think it is ancient history. 

A chapter of Australia's past where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were forcibly removed from their families by the government and the Church.

But First Nations children were still being removed from homes as recently as 1970 and for survivors, and their descendants, the trauma is something they live with every day.

On Tuesday, Sorry Day, the government announced an additional $2.6 million in funding for organisations supporting the Stolen Generations.

But survivors, and their descendants, say it's time for more action, and have called for the government to implement all the recommendations of the Bringing Them Home Report.

The report was released in 1997 and made 83 recommendations designed to support healing, justice and reconciliation - nearly 30 years on the Healing Foundation says only 6 per cent have been fully implemented.

In this week's long listen Worimi woman Ellen Karimanovic tells Dave what it was like to reconnect with family, why it's time for action not apologies, and why she's still hopeful for the future.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this podcast references an Indigenous person who has died.

Guest: 

• Ellen Karimanovic, Worimi woman, member of the Healing Foundation's Youth Reference Group

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JobSeeker could be about to change in a big way, under a new proposal to overhaul how more than one million unemployed Aussies access support. 

And what did security agencies know in the lead-up to the Bondi terror attack? We unpack the latest from the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, where the country's top spy boss and federal police have now given evidence. 

Plus, from humanoid sex robots and 'smart' toys, to dating apps with AI matchmaking, we hear how this kind of tech is infiltrating your sex lives. Is it for better or worse? 

Listen now: 

01:10 - The government's JobSeeker proposal

05:46 - Evidence uncovered at the antisemitism royal commission

11:04 - AI sex toys

Guests:

• Gavin Coote, reporter, ABC News
• Zara Rubinsztein, Business Information Systems PhD candidate, University of Sydney
• Dee Salmin, host, The Hook Up

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

Are people returning to dairy? We hear why some of you are turning away from plant-based milk, and unpack the pros and cons for the environment and health. 

And what became of Jack McLennan? The 27-year-old Queenslander had been relaxing and drinking beers at a picnic spot when he vanished.

Plus, only one world record was broken, but was the Enhanced Games a marketing success? 

Listen now:

00:57 - Is dairy milk back? 

14:39 - What happened to Jack?

21:05 - Enhanced Games results

Guests: 

• Jemma O'Hanlon, accredited dietitian
• Rob Burgin, host, Unravel
• Andrew Hughes, Lecturer in Marketing, Australian National University

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

A group of independent politicians — including multiple 'teals' — say they're exploring the idea of forming a new political party. With one poll now suggesting One Nation could become the federal opposition, how would another alternative rock the major parties?

And Australian activists on the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla have returned home after being detained by Israel. A Melbourne student who was among them opens up about her experience. 

Plus, we find out why more and more young people are getting around birdwatching.

Listen now:

01:13 - Flotilla activists return home 

08:57 - What happens if independents form a party?

18:11 - Birdwatching's comeback 

Guests: 

• Kos Samaras, director of strategy and analysis, Redbridge Group
• Gemma O'Toole, activist
• Sean Dooley, senior advisor, Birdlife Australia

Note: this podcast features audio supplied from the Atlas of Living Australia.

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

Drongo, galah, wombat: they're some of Australia's favourite insults, but their use in everyday language has changed throughout the decades.

While everyone has their preferred flavour of insult, there is one thing that linguists agree on: younger generations swear in a different way to those who came before them.

So what's behind that change? And are we losing parts of our national identity?

In today's deep dive we speak to young people right across Australia about their go-to swear words and insults, and how the internet is changing the way we use and create slang. 

Guests: 

• Dylan Hughes, Monash University School of Languages PhD student

Get the whole story from hack:

• Follow us on Instagram and TikTok
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• Listen on the triple j app or on your radio live every weeknight at 5:30pm