Saturday Magazine

Macca and Paul are joined live on air by Frances Atkinson,  freelance writer, former journalist/deputy editor The Age newspaper (GreenGuide, Arts), columnist (Under Age, The Sunday Age) avid reader, freelance book reviewer who lives in Melbourne, Australia.

Frances has a special interest in  Children’s Literature (post-grad-cert Child.Lit Deakin University); her  reviews/interviews have been published in The Sydney Morning Herald,

The Age, UpperCase Magazine, The Courier Mail, The Brisbane Times, The Canberra Times and Illawarra Mercury.

Frances discusses her latest reviews and what’s she been reading over the summer.

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.Paul and Macca talk to Dean Narramore, Senior Meteorologist, Bureau of Meteorology as they discuss the extreme weather across Australia at the moment, including floods and rains in Queensland and bushfires in regional Victoria.

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Macca and Paul are joined live on air by Thorne Harbour Health, interim CEO, Kent Burgess, as they discuss THH Midsumma events; Long acting injectable PrEP; support for Equality Australia’s call for our inclusion in anti-vilification reform.

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Macca and Paul talk to Dr Sarah Mansfield, Dep Leader Vic Greens, MLC Western VIC, about major planning reform to fundamentally change affordable housing in VIC + how VIC dealt with anti-vilification laws.

Prior to entering Parliament, Sarah worked as a general practitioner. She has experience working with people experiencing homelessness and in aged care, and she served as a councillor at the City of Greater Geelong from 2017 until she was elected to state parliament.

As a GP, she could see that the things that have the biggest impact on people’s health and wellbeing are our social and physical environment. They aren’t things that can be addressed in a clinic, they require systemic change by government. She sought to do this through her role as a councillor, but over the years she became increasingly frustrated, seeing her region being left behind by state governments. There was only so much that could be achieved at local government level on issues critical for our health and wellbeing, like improved public transport, affordable housing, access to healthcare and essential services, and action on the climate crisis. These issues are what prompted her to run for Parliament.

The post Sat, 17th, Jan, 2026: Dr Sarah Mansfield, Dep Leader Vic Greens, MLC Western VIC, How Vic has dealt with Anti-Vilification Laws appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Paul and Macca talk to Heather Corkhill – Legal Dir, Equality Aust: Shortcomings of New Hate Speech Laws

Heather Corkhill is a dedicated human rights and anti-discrimination law and policy specialist. With combined qualifications and experience in law, mediation and film production, Heather is committed to promoting equity, diversity, and human rights for LGBTIQ+ Australians, addressing systemic issues through practical and innovative solutions.

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Paul and Macca are joined live on air by Charlie Lewis, Reporter at Large, Crikey , as they discuss the cancellation of Adelaide Writers Festival, New Hate Speech Laws and Kevin Rudd stepping down from US Ambassadorship.

Charlie Lewis is Crikey’s reporter-at-large, focusing on politics, culture, history and the US. Got a tip? Contact him securely on Signal @clewis.25. He was Crikey’s Tips and Murmurs editor between 2020 and 2025. He has previously worked across government and unions and was a researcher on RN’s Daily Planet. He currently co-hosts Spin Cycle on Triple R radio.

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The week that was and what’s coming up in this week’s programme with Macca and Paul Horwell.

Executive Producer Kenny Hill drops by to talk about getting involved with Saturday Magazine

The post Sat, 17th Jan 2026: Weekly Wrap Up with Macca and Paul appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Nevena and Macca are joined in the studio by Karen Bryant, CEO of Midsumma @midsumma as she updates us on the festival, Pride March in Melbourne, festival highlights,  as well as what else happening for the festival in 2026.

The post Sat, 10th, Jan, 2026: Karen Bryant, CEO of Midsumma, What’s Happening in 2026? appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Nevena and Macca are joined live on air by Bruce Wolpe-Snr Fellow US Study Centre, Donald Trump takes Venezuela – is Colombia next? Why does he want Greenland so much and what is this doing to world order?

https://www.ussc.edu.au/trump-takes-out-maduro-but-can-the-democrats-take-out-trump

“Deposing Maduro is one thing. But Trump’s assertion throughout his press conference on the attack that the United States would be running Venezuela, and that the United States would take over Venezuela’s oil industry to benefit the United States, was another.

Was Trump going back to Bush-Obama nation-building and the forever wars he decried?

While there are Trump MAGA isolationists not happy with this adventure, the clear military success of the mission has subdued their voices – for now.

Bruce Wolpe is a Senior Fellow (non-resident) at the United States Studies Centre. Bruce is a regular contributor on US politics across media platforms in Australia. In recent years, Bruce has worked with the Democrats in Congress during President Barack Obama’s first term, and on the staff of Prime Minister Julia Gillard. He has also served as the former PM’s chief of staff.

Bruce is author of Trump’s Australia, an examination of Donald Trump’s possible return to the presidency and the issues presented to Australia (Allen & Unwin, 2023), The Committee, a study of President Obama’s legislative agenda in Congress (University of Michigan Press, 2018, 2d Edition September 2021) and Lobbying Congress: How The System Works (Congressional Quarterly Books, 1990, 1996).

Trump’s framing opened another front: between the president and the Democrats in Congress. But just like so many other times over the last year, the Democrats have less impact when they fire in multiple directions”

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Luke Dennehy, Public relations, Tennis Australia, joins Nevena, Macca and as they discuss the Pride Slam, Australian Open and so much more.

Luke Dennehy is an Australian freelance journalist, media, and PR professional known for his work in entertainment and media, including contributions to Melbourne’s JOY 94.9 radio station and their “Saturday Magazine” show, often discussing media, public relations, and events like the Australian Open, demonstrating strong connections in Australian media, sports, and entertainment. 

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