Hack

Year 12 exams are wrapping up, schoolies group chats are firing off, and British adult creator Bonnie Blue is talking about coming to the Gold Coast: yep, it's that time of year again.

In 2024, Bonnie Blue's schoolies stunt looked like marketing genius — until the immigration department pointed out it sounded like work, which she didn't have a visa for, and blocked her arrival.

Now, she's told Channel 9 she's lawyered up ready to try again.

So is she actually going to make it to schoolies?

And why does everyone care so much?

In the deep dive this week, we're getting into the hype and backlash behind one of the internet's most polarising figures. 

And we get into the key contradiction about Bonnie Blue: is what she's doing feminist trailblazing, or straight up misogyny? 

Guests:

• Dr Lexi Eikelboom, senior research fellow in theology and religion, Australian Catholic 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

Hang on: is Elon Musk a trillionaire now? 

Potentially... after Tesla approved a record-breaking pay deal.

And should ciggies be cheaper? The illicit tobacco market is costing Australia billions of dollars – as the government loses cash to organised criminal groups.

Plus: is having a boyfriend embarrassing now? A lot of us are saying... yes.

Host Dave Marchese is joined by journalist and presenter Elfy Scott and Sydney Morning Herald crime reporter Perry Duffin.Get the whole story from Hack:

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

What does masculinity even look like?

A new report says teenage boys feel pressure to act tough, strong and straight – all old school ideas of being a man. But it also says they want more gender equality.

Also, adult creator Bonnie Blue says she's planning on filming content at Schoolies on the Gold Coast. But will she really get a visa for Australia or is this all another publicity stunt?

Plus: is it fair that rich people and big corporations can pay to spend time with politicians? Punter's Politics is trying to change that.

Listen now:

01:05 - What the masculinity study reveals

08:31 - Will Bonnie Blue be at Schoolies this year?

18:23 - Punter's Politics takes on lobbyists

Guests:

• Isabella Higgins, ABC's national social affairs reporter
• Dr Lexi Eikelboom, senior research fellow in theology and religion, Australian Catholic University
• Konrad Benjamin, Punter's Politics

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

Konrad Benjamin from Punter's Politics went from being a school teacher 2 years ago to one of Australia's most influential political commentators. 

He's got millions of followers by pushing a pretty simple message: keep money out of politics. 

He's been in Canberra this week, putting on a fundraiser that gives regular people access to politicians. 

So how has it gone? 

In this longer interview cut, Konrad talks to Dave about the pressure he feels to keep going and why he's taking on lobbyists.

Guests:

• Konrad Benjamin, Punter's Politics

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

It's official: Zohran Mamdani has been elected mayor of New York.

The Muslim Democratic socialist and outspoken critic of the war in Gaza used his victory speech to take aim at Donald Trump. So is the political tide turning in the US?

Also, the Maldives just banned anyone born on or after 1 January 2007 from buying tobacco. Will it work?

Plus: could tiny homes be the solution to the housing crisis? They're getting more popular, but a lot of people have doubts.

Listen now:

01:09 - Mamdani wins NYC mayor race

13:40 - Banning cigs for anyone born since 2007

20:30 - Tiny homes: yes/no/maybe?

Guests:

• Jeremy Heimans, co-founder of GetUp! and Purpose + author of 'New Power'
• Becky Freeman, professor of public health, University of Sydney
• Heather Shearer, lecturer in urban planning, 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

House prices in Australia rose faster in September than any time in the past year according to new data. 

It's prompted the Opposition to call for house prices to fall for 'entry-level' homes. So what is an 'entry-level' home and is it realistic for house prices to fall?Also, what happens when you're banned on Instagram but you did nothing wrong?

Plus, a new radio station is broadcasting into a youth detention facility in Western Sydney. The people behind it hope it will help turn the detainees lives around.

Listen now:

01:20 - The Liberals want house prices to fall

14:40 - Losing your Instagram account

25:10 - How radio is helping youth offenders

Guests:

• Senator Andrew Bragg, Shadow Housing Minister
• Dr Shaanan Cohoney, Senior Lecturer in Cyber Security, 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

It's official: the National Party no longer supports reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

So, is the Coalition headed towards another break-up? Or is Sussan Ley's Liberal leadership under threat?

Also, queer clubs across Australia are closing down. Are safe queer spaces disappearing and taking community with them?

Listen now:

01:08 - Nationals drop net-zero commitment

05:52 - Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie on the party's decision

16:43 - How climate policy impacts young farmers

22:50 - Queer venues getting harder to find

Guests:

• Bridget McKenzie, Nationals senator
• Jake Chandler, rural NSW farmer
• Jack O'Toole, DJ + queer club night producer

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 banter crosses a line into bullying, the impacts can be devastating. 

Hazing culture is so prevalent on Australian job sites, it's one of the reasons apprentices are quitting their jobs and dropping out of their trade altogether. 

In this episode we hear your experiences - from getting attacked with nails to being forbidden to touch the tools as a woman - and find out what you can do if something like this is happening to you. 

Guests:

• Yolanda Robson, Director of the Young Workers Centre

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

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been called out by the opposition leader for wearing a Joy Division T-shirt. 

Sussan Ley reckons the Prime Minister should've known better, because the name Joy Division is linked to the parts of Nazi concentration camps where women were forced into prostitution.

And, Buckingham Palace has announced Prince Andrew will be stripped of his royal titles and removed from the Royal Lodge on the grounds of Windsor.

Plus, it's a nightmare come true. At least nine schools in Queensland taught their ancient history students the wrong topic for their exams. 

Host Dave Marchese is joined by comedian Billy D'Arcy and author Lucinda Price (aka Froomes).

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

Queensland students have been left scratching their heads after it was revealed at least nine schools taught year 12's the wrong topic for their exam. We talk to three students who sat the exam yesterday.

Also, Australian Federal Police are cracking down on so-called 'crimefluencers' who it reckons are targeting young girls.

Plus, Olympic BMX rider Saya Sakakibara shares why she became terrified of the sport she loves. 

Listen now:

01:20 - How 'crimefluencers' are targeting young girls

09:05 - Queensland's exam bungle

18:20 - Why BMX's fastest woman scared of racing

Guests:

• Helen Schneider, AFP Commander of Human Exploitation
• Ella, Ava, and Jamey, Students at Brisbane State High School
• Saya Sakakibara, Olympic gold medallist and author

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