Growing up on the Sunshine Coast, Michelle Law was both very aware and a little resistant to her own Chinese-ness.

As an adult, she has embraced the cross-cultural narrative, putting her experiences into writing books, essays, plays and television series.

In this conversation with Jamila Rizvi, Michelle Law talks about her new book Asian Girls Are Going Places, how she’s trying to unlearn some of her workaholic tendencies, and why she’s a passionate advocate for diversity quotas in the arts and culture industry.

THE WEEKEND LIST with Tait McGregor:

• Watch: Euphoria (Binge)
• Watch: Cheer season 2 (Netflix)
• Listen: ADOLESCENCE by BANYK
• Watch: Love Me (Binge)

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People are deliberately trying to catch Covid-19.  Some are hoping by catching it now, they can make sure they’re Covid-free for a big event, maybe a wedding or a birthday celebration.  So is it a good idea? 

 

Two of our Briefing listeners are actively trying to catch it – Mel and David – but Professor Catherine Bennett, chair of epidemiology at Deakin University, says it’s not a good idea.

 

On today’s Briefing, we find out once and for all, if it’s a good idea to actively seek out and catch, Coronavirus.

 

Todays Headlines

• WA will keep borders closed

• Novovax gains provisional approval

• Australian aid arrives in Tonga

• Federal court releases Djokovic reasoning

• Pope Benedict accused of failing to act in four child sex abuse cases

 

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Today marks one year in the White House for US President Joe Biden.

 

We’re joined by Damien Cave, the New York Times’ Australian correspondent, who details the big challenges Biden faces to turn around falling approval figures and rising inflation, while taking on Covid-19, diversity ….and Donald Trump.

 

On today’s Briefing, we review Joe Biden’s first year in office…..and look forward to critical mid-term elections due later this year.

 

 

Todays Headlines

• National cabinet meets today ahead of kids going back to school

• Vigil held for murdered nine-year old

• Christian Porter to pay legal fees

• Tensions rise in Ukraine with Germany threatening to cancel vital Russian gas pipeline

• Airlines cancel US flights over 5G fears

 

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Australia has been gripped by the Novak Djokovic saga.  His plight has highlighted a much wider vaccine story emerging in Eastern Europe.

 

Some countries like Bulgaria, are facing an Omicron surge – and their vaccination rates are less than 50 percent.  Vojin Rakic, Professor at the University of Belgrade - a Serbian philosopher and political scientist – says some of the vaccine hesitancy can be blamed on people like Novak. BBC European correspondent, Kayleen Devlin, says there’s also an element of anti-western sentiment.

 

Hospitals are filling up, and governments are struggling to urge people to get vaccinated.  On today’s Briefing, what’s behind the Covid crisis in Eastern Europe.

 

 

Todays Headlines

• Man charged with murder of missing nine-year-old girl

• Victoria issues Code Brown as cases surge

• Tonga issues first volcano update: at least three dead

• Russian troops arriving in Belarus

• Five Aussies through to round two of the Australian Open

 

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American comedian and sports commentator Joe Rogan hosts the most popular podcast in the world – often clocking up 11 million listens per episode.  Last week, an Australian journalist and radio presenter appeared on the podcast.  His name is Josh Szeps.

 

Josh hosts Afternoons on ABC Radio Sydney, and spent more than a decade in the US appearing regularly on television and radio. 

 

During the course of his podcast chat, Joe mentioned some statistics in relation to myocarditis in teenagers.  Joe’s figures were incorrect, and Josh called him out. The footage and audio has gone viral around the world.  So who is Josh Szeps? And what does it say about media and culpability, if the number one podcaster in the world can just riff on something as important as heart disease?  

 

Josh also hosts the podcast "Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps"

 

Todays Headlines

• ACCC slams RAT price gougers

• Unions warn they will strike over lax Omicron OH&S

• Aftershocks expected after Tongan eruption

• Djokovic’s French Open plans in jeopardy

 

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Australians are finding supermarket shelves empty – again.   It’s largely due to the fact the federal government has told us all to prepare to catch Covid.   People are frightened we’re headed for another extended lockdown.

 

In a bid to free up the blockages in food and grocery supply chains, the Commonwealth made changes to the list of occupations considered ‘essential workers’ and relaxed the iso requirements.   So we know there’s hopefully light at the end of the tunnel… but should we be worried about Australia’s food supply shortage and how long will this last?

 

Stephen Bartos is Visiting Fellow at the ANU’S  Crawford School of Public Policy, and the good news is he says there’s no need to panic.

 

Todays Headlines

• Novak Djokovic leaves Australia after court upholds visa cancellation

• Tonga rocked by undersea volcano 

• Pfizer booster fast-tracked for teenagers

• Homicide squad joins search for missing nine-year-old

• Trump urges supporters to “take back the White House”

 

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Lucy Durack is the human personification of sunshine. The former star of the Australian production of Wicked is one of the most sought after people in show business and yet someone manages to make time for everyone. How does she do that?

In this episode the actress, reality TV star, mum and queen of Australian musical theater talks to Jamila Rizvi about not being a natural singer, the joy of playing Glinda and why she works hard to cultivate gratitude.

THE WEEKEND LIST with Linda Marigliano and Brooke Boney:

• Listen: Promises album 

• Read: How Decent Folk Behave by Maxine Beneba Clarke

• Podcast: Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi

• Cook: Yotam Ottolenghi’s rolled pavlova

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The world is pre-occupied with the Covid Omicron explosion, but a huge story is playing out in a standoff between Russia and the United States over the Ukraine.  100,000 Russian troops have massed at the Russia/Ukraine border – and the world is nervously watching, waiting for Vladimir Putin’s next move.

 

Adam Creighton, the Australian newspaper’s US correspondent talks us through the developments of the week; and Elizaveta Isakova, a Geneva-based correspondent for the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, says she doesn’t sense an appetite for war in the Kremlin.

 

Talks this week between the US and Russia over the future of the Ukraine, could shape the future of Europe for a generation.  It’s clearly one of the biggest stories in the world.  

 

 

Todays Headlines

• Prince Andrew stripped of all titles

• Scomo announces changes to iso for ‘essential workers’

• Novak could still be deported despite being named in Aus Open draw

• QLD eases border requirements while WA bans unvaccinated

• Man’s surprise guilty plea over Sydney gay hate murder 

• Rust shooting armourer suing 

 

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Three leading health experts have released a joint statement asking Australia’s leaders to reintroduce some Covid restrictions, such as mask-wearing and a limit on indoor gatherings, until more is known about the highly contagious new Omicron variant.

 

John Kaldor is professor of epidemiology at the Kirby Institute and the UNSW. He says the original reopening plan had been developed using the delta variant – and it might be time to re-think our approach to containing the virus.

 

On today’s Briefing, should we go back into lockdown to contain the Omicron variant of the Coronavirus.

 

Todays Headlines

• US judge dismisses a bid from Prince Andrew to have his sex case trial thrown out

• National cabinet to meet amid supply chain shortages

• Djokovic still facing deportation after admitting error on visa application

• US President Joe Biden trying to pass voting rights legislation

• Boris Johnson refuses to resign over attending BYO party at Downing St

 

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Covid’s Omicron variant is running riot across the country.  Some of our listeners, who are nurses, told us about the strain they’re under.

Dr Stephen Parnis works in three Melbourne emergency departments - and is the former vice president of the Australian Medical Association.

Dr Stephen tells us what it's like in the hospitals right now. 

Nurses are at breaking point, doctors are working around the clock.....and it's only going to get worse, before it gets better.

On today's Briefing - the Omicron crisis is crippling our hospital system.

 

Todays Headlines

• Staff shortages could cripple the economy

• GPs say they’re turning people away

• Half of Europe expected to contract Covid in next two months

• Djokovic could still be deported over travel declaration form

• Floods and cyclone in QLD and a fire in WA

 

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