Hack

After failed peace talks with Iran, the United States is planning its own blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. What would that mean for the ceasefire and fuel prices? 

And we unpack how propaganda is changing, as both sides of the Iran war flood social media with AI slop.

Plus, Australia is experiencing a shortage of donated sperm and a surge in demand for donors, forcing more people to look online.

Listen now: 

01:12 - Iran ceasefire at risk

06:00 - Is the Lego propaganda working? 

12:28 - The sperm shortage

Guests: 

• Michael Richardson, Professor of Media, University of New South Wales
• Dr Lynn Burmeister, fertility specialist
• Alisha Burns, founder of The Solo Mum Society

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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

Aussie music festivals have been struggling since COVID.

Just this year, we've already seen hip hop festival Rolling Loud and Byron Bay's Bluesfest announce cancellations – weeks before they were supposed to go ahead.

One festival that never fully recovered is The Drop.

COVID restrictions meant some shows got cancelled back in 2020.

And six years on, ticketholders are still waiting for refunds, despite promises from a festival organiser who has gone MIA.

In this deep dive, we get into all the ways you can chase up refunds for cancelled shows, and whether would-be-punters of The Drop are likely to ever see their money again.

Guest:

• Adam Glezer, consumer advocate

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The world just lived through a crazy week: Donald Trump threatened to level a "whole civilisation" before agreeing to a ceasefire, while the global fuel crisis just kept getting worse. We get into it all, plus the big question: could Anthony Albanese's address to the nation have been an email? 

Plus: peptides. How come they're everywhere?

And the Artemis II astronauts bravely ventured further from earth than anyone's been before, and all without a functioning toilet. We hear your loo stories a long way from home.

Host Dave Marchese is joined by creator and author Alisha Aitken-Radburn and ABC journalist Stephen Smiley.

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

Hundreds of people have been killed in the past 24 hours by Israeli strikes in Lebanon. So what happened to the ceasefire Donald Trump and Iran agreed to this time yesterday?  

And weight loss, muscle growth, collagen production, anti-aging: peptides are being pushed as a cure-all. What's the catch?

Plus, after Nick watched his brother die in a tragic accident, he says he turned to crime to deal with the trauma. Now, years later, he has turned his experience around to create a mental health organisation by boys, for boys. 

Listen now: 

01:12 - Is the war in the Middle East back on already? 

06:00 - What you need to know about peptides

16:40 - Overcoming the death of a brother

Guests: 

• Tim Piatkowski, public health senior research fellow, University of Queensland
• Nick Irving, Headstart Australia founder and mental health advocate

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When Nick Irving was 15, he experienced a trauma that changed his life forever.

His brother Jack died in his arms after a tragic accident, pushing Nick into a spiral that saw him turn to crime.

But Nick managed to turn things around, and now runs a Gen Z mental health organisation that's providing support "by boys, for boys".

In this chat, Nick opens up about how he managed to get back on the right path, and what he thinks is the key to helping many boys and young men to feel connected and understood.

If you or anyone you know needs support help is available, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Guest: 

• Nick Irving, Headstart Australia founder and mental health advocate

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Hours before agreeing to a ceasefire with Iran, Donald Trump declared its entire civilisation would die if a deal wasn't reached. Was he serious? 

And six years ago, The Drop music festival got cancelled. So where are the ticket refunds? We find out what your rights are when a big event gets cancelled. 

Plus, they just went deeper into space than anyone's ever been. So how are the Artemis II astronauts doing?  

Listen now: 

01:12 - A break to the war in Iran

11:55 - The Drop festival still hasn't paid up

22:38 - Why NASA went to the moon

Guests: 

• James Der Derian, Director of the Centre for International Security Studies 
• Adam Glezer, Consumer Champion 
• Belinda Smith, host, Artemis Explained podcast 

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One of Australia's most decorated soldiers got arrested today after stepping off a flight from Brisbane to Sydney. We unpack the significance of the war crimes allegations against Ben Roberts-Smith.

And still shocked at what you're paying for fuel? We take a look at how Australia's response compares to the neighbours, as Donald Trump hands Iran a new deadline to re-open the Strait of Hormuz. 

Plus, is the sector that invented AI about to become its first casualty? We're catching up with young people in the Aussie tech sector.

Listen now: 

01:40 - The case against Ben Roberts-Smith

12:20 - What are other countries doing about the fuel crisis? 

17:30 - The lay-offs in the Aussie tech sector

Guests:

• Rick Sarre, Emeritus Professor of Law, Adelaide University
• Seamus Byrne, technology and AI researcher, University of New South Wales

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Young Australians are struggling to justify how much it's costing them to fill up the tank. 

Around the country, fuel prices have risen above $3 a litre, with some servos running out of both petrol and diesel. 

The government's main response so far has been to halve the tax that's put on every litre of fuel, and to encourage people to take the bus or the train where they can. 

So will this work? 

Because right now, drivers are still paying way more than they were before the conflict in the Middle East started. 

On the deep dive this week, we hear your stories of the fuel crisis, and chat to the Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson about what the Coalition would be doing differently. 

We also ask him about the Coalition's policy on the mounting calls for a profits tax on Australia's gas exports. 

Guests: 

• Tim Wilson, Shadow Treasurer 

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Nearly three years after a major report calling for a ban on gambling advertising, the Prime Minister has finally announced proposed reforms. 

But advocates have slammed the announcement and reckon it doesn't go far enough. 

Plus, we hear from someone who has been travelling around the country to speak with some of Australia's most vulnerable young people.

Why? To get them to write letters directly to the Prime Minister.

Listen now:

01:00 - Gambling ad reforms

19:24 - The message Satara wants the PM to hear

Guest: 

• Mark Kempster, anti-gambling advocate, Alliance of Gambling Reform
• Kate, whose name we've changed to protect her identity
• Josh, whose name we've changed to protect his identity 
• Satara Uthayakumaran, Australian 2025 United Nations Youth Representative 

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 

Satara Uthayakumaran has had a busy year. 

She has not only been juggling study with caring responsibilities, but has also been travelling Australia as our 2025 Youth Representative to the United Nations. 

As part of her trip, Satara has spoken to some of Australia's most vulnerable young people — including those behind bars, in remote communities, and many who have never felt they have a voice. 

Satara asked the young people she met to write letters to the Prime Minister... so what did they say? 

In this week's long listen, Satara tells Dave about her travels, the most inspiring people she met, addressing the United Nations, and her own message for the PM. 

Guest: 

• Satara Uthayakumaran, Australian 2025 United Nations Youth Representative 

Get the whole story from Hack: 

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