Hack

A single word from Anthony Albanese this week got massive backlash, after he called child sexual abuse survivor and former Australian of the Year Grace Tame "difficult". So what's with that word? And does Anthony Albanese's explanation about why he used it stack up? 

And the gold medal-winning US men's hockey team got into trouble for laughing when Donald Trump joked about not inviting the gold medal-winning women's team to his State of the Union speech.

Plus, do group assignments need to go? One politician is calling on unis to ban them, saying they cheapen degrees. We hear your group project nightmares.

Host Dave Marchese is joined by writer Mohammad Awad and creator Calista Clements.

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

For a long time people have been advocating for a change to the capital gains tax discount. The government is hinting change might be on the way, so what would capital gains reform mean for housing affordability? 

And, tennis player Destanee Aiava made headlines around the world when she called the sport ‘racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile’ in a shock retirement post. 

Destanee opens up about her experiences and how she plans to move on from the career she's been building since she was a child. 

Listen now: 

01:05 - What's CGT and why is everyone talking about it? 

15:56 - Why Destanee Aiava quit tennis

Guests: 

• Elyse Dwyer, research economist, e61 institute
• Destanee Aiava, tennis player

If you need someone to talk to, call:

• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• Butterfly Foundation on 1800 33 4673

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

When Destanee Aiava announced she was breaking up with her 'toxic boyfriend' on Valentine's Day this year, it wasn't your typical break-up post.

Destanee wasn't leaving her partner, she was announcing her retirement from tennis.

The professional player described a toxic culture in tennis which led her to start hating the sport.

Destanee sits down with hack to open up about her experience, including allegations of racism, death threats and feeling like she didn't belong.If you need someone to talk to, call:

• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• Butterfly Foundation on 1800 33 4673

Gay and bisexual young people in Sydney are facing rising violence at the hands of a resurgent IS terrorist network — the same one that produced the Bondi gunmen.

And an alternate writers festival is about to kick off after the chaotic cancellation and controversy of the Adelaide Writers' Week. We unpack what it's like to run an event like this, their role in promoting free speech and what it takes to stand up to political pressure. 

Plus, what do you want to tell the universe? An Australian museum has teamed up with an American research institute to send messages from humanity into deep space. 

Listen now: 

01:13 - IS-inspired attacks on Sydney teens

09:29 - What's the point of a writers' festival?

24:13 - Messages for the universe

Guests: 

• Sean Rubinsztein-Dunlop, reporter, ABC Investigations
• Rosemarie Milsom, founding director, Newcastle Wirters festival

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

Despite being the first member of the royal family to be taken into custody in 3 centuries, the former prince Andrew could still (technically) end up king one day. We get into why Australia is trying to change the line of succession. 

And there's a lot of talk about Tourette's Syndrome after the BAFTAs last night. So what's it like to live with Tourette's, and what's the best way to react to a tic? 

Plus, high speed rail Australia. Could it actually happen? 

Listen now:

01:18  - Blocking Andrew from ever being King of Australia

05:58  - Tourette's and the BAFTAs

16:30  - The dream of high speed rail

Guests:

• Conor Maysey, disability advocate 
• Matt Burke, adjunct professor, Griffith University

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

The ABC's Four Corners has done a big investigation hearing from young women who had aggressive surgery to treat endo when pathology tests showed little or no trace of the disease. We chat to reporter Louise Milligan about the story.

And Donald Trump made a big deal about bringing in tariffs last year. After they were all ruled illegal by the US Supreme Court on the weekend, he's having another go.

Plus, chess clubs are popping up around the country, taking the game from your screen to the bar. Hack meets up with a group in Perth combining social chess with DJ decks. 

Listen now:

02:12  - Endo patients speak out

14:00  - Unpacking the latest change to Trump's tariffs 

17:30 - The people making chess club cool again

Guests:

• Louise Milligan, Four Corners reporter
• Syl Freedman, co-founder, EndoActive
• Dr Melissa Rogerson, researcher, University of Melbourne

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

When you think about your best friends, you're probably thinking of people around the same age.

Maybe people you know from school, or at work, or who you grew up with.

But have you ever built a friendship with someone who's a lot older — maybe 30, 40 or 50 years your senior?

On the hack deep dive this week, we're hearing from people who reckon their intergenerational friendships give them access to insights, perspectives and wisdom they would otherwise never get to experience.

We hear from a 17-year-old with a group of friends in their 50s, a teenager who's learnt so much from chats with his elders, and we tag along with our own reporter Alice Angeloni on her hangout with her 82-year-old friend Clive.

Could friendships like these help with Australia's growing problem of loneliness?

We also catch up with a psychologist who reckons: yes.

Guests: 

• Danielle Kennedy, psychologist

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

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor got arrested on his birthday overnight before being released, with the King's brother facing serious allegations as the fallout from the Epstein files continues. Who's next?

And are aliens real? Barack Obama has had to explain himself, after a suspiciously confident answer on a podcast this week. 

Plus, Channel Nine reporter Danika Mason said sorry and fessed up to having some drinks before a slurred TV cross at the Winter Olympics. When has a drink too many landed you in strife?

And Collingwood is being slammed for asking older members to consider leaving the club money when they die. 

Host Dave Marchese is joined by creator and model Christian Wilkins and sports journalist Marlee Silva. 

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

Meta is on trial in a landmark case in the US and CEO Mark Zuckerberg spoke in front of the jury today for the first time.  

Plus Gary Stevenson (who you might know as @garyseconomics) grew up poor, became a millionaire trader, and now wants to tax the super rich. 

In the big chat this week, he sits down with Dave to talk about poverty, extreme wealth, and why he reckons Australia has a unique window to fix inequality before it spirals out of control. 

Listen now:

01:11 - Mark Zuckerberg in court 

07:25 - Gary Stevenson on wealth inequality 

Guests: 

• Gary Stevenson, author, economist and former Citibank trader

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

Growing up poor, Gary Stevenson always dreamed of being rich.

At 21, he won a job at one of the world's biggest banks and was soon earning more money than he could have ever imagined.

But instead of feeling satisfied, Gary was furious.

He's become one of the world's loudest voices campaigning for higher taxes on billionaires, reaching millions of followers through his socials @garyseconomics.

And now he's shifted his focus to Australia.

In this chat with Dave, Gary opens up about his life, why he believes inequality will only get worse, and how he thinks young Australians can help turn it all around.

Guests: 

• Gary Stevenson, author, economist and former Citibank trader

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