The 9pm Edict

Right now there's a lot happening in digital policy here in Australia. The Digital Duty of Care Bill is working its way through parliament. Social media platforms are being sued. Something called AI is always in the news. So it’s time once again to chat with Johanna Weaver, executive director and co-founder of the Tech Policy Design Institute in Canberra.

In this episode we discuss that Digital Duty of Care Bill, why it isn't an "AI race" between the US and China, the law relating to rogue AI (there's no such thing as "rogue AI"), and of course whether artificial intelligence is really super intelligence (it isn't). All that and much more.

Full podcast details and credits:
https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00278/

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The US has confirmed that it has weapons in space, although it hasn't explained what kind. So let's do an episode on space with space archaeologist Dr Alice Gorman aka Dr Space Junk and astrophysicist Rami Mandow. What a shallow excuse!

In this episode we also discuss how planets and asteroids and their features get their names, Millisecond Pulsar PSR J0437-4715, whether alien civilisations are hiding in Moon dust, the Bepicolombo mission to Mercury, and much more.

Full podcast details and credits:
https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00277/

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This is the first episode of the Spring Series 2026, and we're kicking things off with one of our more popular guests, journalist Erin Cook, who covers South-East Asia. Today we're talking about the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and more.

Erin produces the excellent newsletter Dari Mulut ke Mulut, an English-language summary of what's happening in the region, and an occasional newsletter specifically on the Australia-Indonesia relationship, Flat White, Kopi Susu. She also cohosts the Reformasi Dispatch podcast on Indonesian politics, policymaking, justice, and economics.

In this episode we discuss the ongoing political dramas in the Philippines, the economics of durian, why Thailand is getting sick of tourists and especially tourists from Israel, the volcanoes and land-clearing smoke haze coming from Indonesia. We even have some solid life advice.

Full podcast details and credits:
https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00276/

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Odd things have been happening in the UK, so it's time once more to chat with Scottish author and social researcher David F Porteous.

In this episode we discuss Barnaby Joyce's claim that One Nation is "one of the gayest parties in Australia", the early days of social media, maths, physics, shrinkflation, and of course last week's Clacton by-election which returned Nigel Farage to parliament.

Full podcast details and credits:
https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00275/

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A few weeks ago I went to Newcastle, the Australian one, and spent some time chatting with the voice of Newcastle herself, Carol Duncan OAM. She was ABC Radio's morning presenter for quite some years, then she was a city councillor, and she does a lot of other things too.

In this episode we discuss her Medal of the Order of Australia and her status as a Freeman of the City of Newcastle. Also, her time in the music industry, chocolate and other confectionary, and the sheer sexual magnetism of Queensland politician Bob Katter.

Full podcast details and credits:
https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00274/

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Back at the start of the year, my good friend Snarky Platypus and I created a bingo card for 2026. A set of 25 things that might happen. Well, we're half-way through the year, so let's see how we went.

We discuss music, SpaceX, OpenAI, the war with Iran, and much more. You might want to follow along with this on this episode’s web page — or go back to the original post.
https://stilgherrian.com/essay/bingo-card-2026/

Full podcast details and credits:
https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00273/

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I like trains. Do you like trains? I hope so, because today we’re talking about trains. There’s a strong focus on China and on high-speed trains, and our guest on the internet from Beijing is Chinese-Swiss international rail visionary, it says on his YouTube channel, David Feng.

In this episode we discuss China’s high-speed rail network and some of the country’s metros. But we also cover high-speed rail in other countries, why Australia doesn’t have any (yet), signalling, food, and more.

If you’re interested in maybe meeting up with David and me in Sydney on 14 June, please indicate your interest by Wednesday 8 July.

Full podcast details and credits:
https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00272/

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Today's episode is a bit different. It's more personal. I, Stilgherrian, was born in Gawler, South Australia, and lived there from ages 11 to about 17. Last year I visited the town with my good friend Snarky Platypus, and he asked me some pertinent questions.

In this episode, there's memories of school, some history of Gawler, a rambling chat about science fiction and fantasy, television, music, and much more — including the true story of Australia's favourite condiment, chicken salt.

The core material for this podcast was recorded on 29 June 2025.

Full podcast details and credits:
https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00271/

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Is Pluto a planet? Currently, officially, no. But the Trump-appointed head of NASA wants to reinstate Pluto's planetary privileges. Why? Let’s find out with space archaeologist Dr Alice Gorman aka Dr Space Junk and astrophysicist Rami Mandow.

In this episode we also talk about new ways to make black holes, glitches, drones, the explosion of Blue Origin's New Glenn launch vehicle, and of course the SpaceX share float.

Full podcast details and credits:
https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00270/

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How long does UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer have left? And what is the Chelsea Flower Show? Today’s special guest is Scottish author and social researcher David F Porteous, and he can help us with neither of these things.

In this episode we talk about British politics and, yes, the Chelsea Flower Show. But we also discuss the UK’s heat wave, AI, age verification, Eurovision, Edinburgh’s new capybara, rabbits, feral pigs, and King Charles III.

This episode was recorded on 22 May 2026, so make sure to listen to the housekeeping segment for any factual updates.

Full podcast details and credits:
https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00269/

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