AI is impacting every creative industry - and movies are no exception. If a young Harrison Ford can be churned out of a computer, what does the future of film look like? And would you feel differently about your favourite TV show if you knew the characters in it were created by a computer?

Guest: Bev Wang for Stop Everything!

This episode was originally published in January 2024

Whether you're singing in a karaoke room at 2am, or at a more reasonable time with a local choir, there’s something about singing without inhibition that feels great. Our brains get this warm fuzzy feeling when we come together and sing as a group - and it turns out there's neuroscience that backs that up. So what are the health benefits for our brain and mental health? Should we all be joining a community choir?

Guest: Lucy Sweeney for ABC Online

What makes a man, a man? Well eating copious amounts of red meat of course – at least according to certain corners of the internet. The alt-right has made mass beef consumption their business, and this comes at a time where climate scientists and animal activists are urging people to eat less meat to help the planet. So why is the alt-right so focused on eliminating “soy boys” and getting into that Bronze Age Grindset?

Guest: Jonathan Green for Blueprint for Living

This episode was originally published in November 2023

On average Australians spend around three hours on their phones everyday - and experts believe our screentime is impacting our relationships, our ability to focus and our health. So is phone addiction really as bad for us as we think? And what are the health benefits of putting down your phone once and a while and breaking the cycle?

Guest: Anna Kelsey-Sugg for ABC Online

If we want to avoid the worst of the climate crisis, it's vital we switch to clean energy and fast. Wind and solar have long been on the agenda as clean forms of power to replace coal, but more recently in Australia there's been a charged political discussion about nuclear. 

So how would implementing nuclear energy actually work? And is it a better option for power than the tried and tested methods of solar and wind?

• Guest: Tim Leslie, ABC News Climate Lead
• ABC News article on CSIRO GenCost report
• ABC News article explaining nuclear power in 12 numbers

• Quick Smart climate anxiety episode

• Quick Smart driverless cars episode

Scrolling on instagram it’s impossible to avoid people giving their unsolicited advice - about fashion, the news, or the latest food trend. But with the rise of the hot take, comes the people trying to monetise this advice in the form of life coaching… and unfortunately a lot of people looking for real help are falling into the trap.

Guest: Kellie Scott for ABC Online

This episode was originally published in November 2023

Death is something we don’t really like to think about. But when you or someone you love becomes ill, it’s important to be able to have a conversation about end of life care in a respectful and informed way. Despite being legal, there are still obstacles to accessing voluntary assisted dying or VAD, and because no one likes to talk about it, these issues are often discovered when it’s too late. So how can we ensure those who want to make the choice to end their life can do so with safety and dignity?

Guest: Annika Blau for Background Briefing

Australians have been in the midst of a cost of living crisis for a while now. Groceries are more expensive. Petrol is more expensive. Rent is more expensive. We're all in the same boat, so why is talking about money still so taboo? And what can we do to feel more in control of our finances?

Guest: Maani Truu from ABC Online

Banning books feels like a thing of the past. A humble past-time of authoritarian leaders and churches trying to control the way people think. These days; thanks largely to our streaming services, it seems we’re reading much less than we used to. But in the last few years 10,000 books have been banned in the US alone. So why is the number of banned books sky rocketing?

Guest: Sarah L'Estrange for The Book Show

We spend more of our waking hours at work than anywhere else – and by extension, a lot of time with our colleagues. That might explain why up to half of us have been in a workplace relationship. So is it true a successful office romance can make you a better worker? And what about if it's your colleagues who are involved in not-so-subtle flirting while you’re just trying to get your job done?

Guest: Zoe Ferguson for This Working Life