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Why do teenagers talk the way they do? What makes some words acceptable in one situation but completely off-limits in another? And is Aussie slang really disappearing, or is it simply changing with the times?

In this episode of Two Cousins One Chat, we’re joined by Dr Dylan Hughes, a linguist and researcher from Monash University whose work explores Australian youth language, slang, swearing, identity and belonging.

We first discovered Dylan’s work through our conversation with Professor Kate Burridge, and we knew there was plenty more to explore.

Dylan’s research into swearing in Australian high schools looks at how students and teachers view bad language, why context matters, and how the same word can mean very different things depending on how, where and why it’s used.

Then we turn our attention to Aussie slang. Are expressions like bonza, cobber and fair dinkum fading away? Why do teenagers come up with their own words and expressions? And what happens when adults start using the latest slang? (Embarrassment may be involved!)

We also explore how language changes between generations, how the words we use help us express ourselves and connect with others, and why there’s no single way to speak Australian English.

It’s a fascinating mix of language, culture, generational differences and plenty of cousin chat. You might even find yourself rethinking what you consider good or bad language!

Read more about Dylans research here

Swearing in Australian high schools. Perspectives from students and teachers Authored by Dylan Swayne Hughes

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 Ben & Kristy – Two Cousins One Chat

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Have you ever properly cried over a TV character?  Not just a little tear… we're talking “I need to sit down and process this” television trauma. 😂

In Episode 65 of Two Cousins One Chat, we revisit the Australian TV characters and storylines we still haven't got over.

We're heading back to Home and Away with Bobby and Ailsa, remembering the much-loved Molly from A Country Practice, and revisiting Patrick Reid from Offspring, a storyline that hit Kristy so hard she stopped watching the show!

And there's a bonus story… Kristy actually met Matt Le Nevez, who played Patrick, and got to talk to him about THAT moment. 😭

We'll also head overseas for a couple of huge global TV moments, including the phenomenon that was “Who shot JR?” and the shocking storyline of Ned Stark in Game of Thrones.  Then things take a very soap-opera turn.

Because sometimes on television…

They're gone. Then suddenly…They're back! Amnesia, evil twins, witness protection, fake identities and characters who apparently just refuse to stay gone.

But the real question is:  Which TV character or storyline broke YOU?

Because we're pretty sure we've only scratched the surface. Enjoy this latest episode.

Watch the shows / relive the trauma

Home and Away — 7plus
A Country Practice — Apple TV
Offspring — Stan
Dallas — HISTORY — Who Shot J.R.?
Game of Thrones — HBO

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 Ben & Kristy – Two Cousins One Chat

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No notes. No edits. Just another classic cousins chat. 🎙️

This episode, Ben and Kristy throw away the script and see where the conversation takes them. You've been warned!

From the incredible response to recent episodes with Kate Burridge and Mike Tomalaris, to Tour de France fever and Tadej Pogačar's incredible ride up Alpe d'Huez, there's plenty to unpack.

Kristy shares stories from her overseas adventures, including an unexpected meeting with UFC world champion Karl Amoussou and his family and three very unfortunate public travel moments you'll never forget.

Ben is lined up to attend the Monet to Matisse exhibition at AGSA, chats dancing robots, and those unique Adelaide and Melbourne  must have items…also and we reveal where in the world you're listening from. 

As always, it's relaxed, unfiltered, and feels just like sitting around chatting with family.

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 Ben & Kristy – Two Cousins One Chat

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The 2026 Tour de France is just about to start and our favourite annual tradition returns as Mike Tomalaris joins Two Cousins One Chat for our biggest cycling episode of the year.

We preview everything you need to know before the Grand Départ in Barcelona, including the battle between Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar, whether Vingegaard can complete the rare Giro d’Italia–Tour de France double, Australia’s chances, the next generation of cycling superstars and our predictions for the Yellow Jersey.

We also chat about Mike’s latest charity ride, the Gravel and Flannel ride in Wandai, QLD 

In this episode:

•  🚴 Can Jonas Vingegaard complete the Giro-Tour double?
•  🏆 The Vingegaard vs Pogačar rivalry and who has the edge.
•  ⭐ The rising stars to watch, including Paul Seixas, Isaac del Toro, Juan Ayuso, Florian Lipowitz and Oscar Onley.
•  🇦🇺 Which Australians could make an impact at the 2026 Tour de France.

 Whether you’re a lifelong cycling fan or new to the sport, this episode is a great Tour de France 2026 preview.

Subscribe to Two Cousins One Chat wherever you get your podcasts and join us throughout the Tour for more cycling conversations.

Vive le Tour! 🚴🇫🇷

Sound Effect ZappSplat:Bicycle, chain, crankset, freewheel. Produced by Lilesound Library

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 Ben & Kristy – Two Cousins One Chat

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G’day and welcome back to Two Cousins One Chat and this week we are beyond excited to welcome special guest Professor Kate Burridge from Monash University to the podcast.

One of Australia’s leading linguistic experts, Kate joins us for a fascinating and hilarious chat about Aussie slang, shortened words like “arvo” and “brekkie”, corporate jargon, social media language and the phrases we all overuse without even realising it.

Plus… Kristy reveals the words she still can’t spell, Ben questions whether PowerPoint is where language goes to die, and Kate helps us unpack the everyday expressions that “get up our goat.”

Safe to say… after this episode you may never hear Aussie English the same way again.

🎧 Listen now for one of our most fascinating chats yet.

LINKS: 

Professor Kate Burridge

Lingthusiasm: A podcast thats enthusiastic about linguistics by Podcast
Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne

Australian Linguistics Society - More information here

Careers in "Linguistics and English Language" - PDF document on request - email us for a copy

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 Ben & Kristy – Two Cousins One Chat

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G’day and welcome back to Two Cousins One Chat. This week we somehow ended up talking about Aussie cash, coins and banknotes… Before that, we catch up on life in Adelaide & Melbourne, the AFL’s Gather Round, Ben's hard rubbish collection, Paris Roubaix, and our upcoming VIP guest and language expert Professor Kate Burridge from Monash University.

Then we get chatting about our Aussie money, the animals on our coins, waterproof notes, old ATM cards, hidden features on banknotes, King Charles coins, and the old tradition of coins baked into fruit cake. Yes ..for real!

Big shoutout to Margaret from Melbourne for winning our Aussie money quiz and Carlos from Laos for spreading the TCOC love.

Thanks for listening ❤️
Ben & Kristy – Two Cousins One Chat

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 Ben & Kristy – Two Cousins One Chat

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G’day and welcome back to Two Cousins One Chat and by popular demand we’re back with Part 4 of “You Don’t Know Me – Truth or Lie.”

But first… a quick catch up from our homes towns of Adelaide & Melbourne. Ben’s in the Festival State where the Adelaide Festival has been in full swing and he's been attending all sorts of comedy events and Kristy’s been road-tripping through South Australia’s stunning Limestone Coast.

Plus…an incidental meeting with a TCOC listener in Melbourne, Sharon from Gozi & Pop a brilliant Melbourne artist, proving once again the world is a pretty small place sometimes.

We also drop a little announcement… Kristy is heading back to Adelaide soon so we can finally record an episode together in real life. We might even livestream it. No promises… but it could get interesting.

Safe to say… after more than 60 episodes of this podcast we’re still learning things about each other, this episode is a whole load of fun. See if you can pick the real answers before we do.

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 Ben & Kristy – Two Cousins One Chat

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G’day and welcome back to Two Cousins One Chat and it’s time to crack open the 2026 Mailbag 📬🔥

After a quick weather update (its so humid), Kristy shares her recent trip down to Wilsons Promontory exploring the bike trails, pushing herself up the lookouts, spotting wallabies, wedge-tailed eagles, geckos and yes snakes. Fresh air and that  Victorian coastal magic.

From there, we dive straight into what’s happening locally- yes folks there’s is a lot.

The Adelaide Fringe has officially kicked off, it’s the biggest arts festival in the Southern Hemisphere, and brings incredible energy and such a cool vibe to the city. Meanwhile, Adelaide is now the new home of the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, which feels like a pretty major flex for South Australia. Totally in Kristy’s wheelhouse she has a bit to say.

And of course, we couldn’t not talk about Melbourne’s iconic Moomba Festival.  The parade, the fireworks, the waterskiing… and the Birdman Rally, where fully grown adults strap on homemade cardboard wings and confidently launch themselves into the Yarra River for our entertainment.

Then… the Mailbag opens.📬

Inside the Bag is:
• Ben’s “I’ll keep it short” speech’s (14 minutes later…)
• Rewards card checkout slow movers
• Train seat hoggers
• “I find that hard to believe” people

Send us your everyday frustrations because the 2027 mailbag  is already warming up.

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 Ben & Kristy – Two Cousins One Chat

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G'day and welcome to the very first episode of Two Cousins One Chat for 2026 🎉

New year, same cousins… and the realisation that adulthood is basically held together with safety pins, touch typing, and the occasional sewn-on button.

In this episode, Ben and Kristy look back at the life skills our parents, grandparents and teachers tried to drum into us and the ones we ignored at the time but now quietly rely on (like ironing, basic cooking, measuring things properly, and elite-level button sewing).

We also confess to the skills that never stuck, like tying knots, folding fitted sheets, giving directions, patience, navigation (even with a phone), and all the things we confidently said “yeah yeah, I’ve got it”… when we absolutely did not.

There’s nostalgia, laughs, Home Economics disasters, Swiss finishing school flashbacks, Australian Open vibes, and the comforting reminder that none of us really know what we’re doing…probably just like you we are just winging it slightly better than before. IKYKWIM

🎧 Listen now and have a laugh with us
💬 Then tell us what skill are you weirdly grateful you learned, and what are you still hopeless at?

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 Ben & Kristy – Two Cousins One Chat

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It’s Episode 60 of Two Cousins One Chat and we’re wrapping up 2025 the cousin way with no notes and pretty much no edits either.

In our final episode for 2025 we chat about our own 2025 Wrapped (and why everything seems to have one), our favourite episodes, some podcast stats, guests we loved, travel highlights, Christmas plans, KK nostalgia, and an impromptu 80s pop quiz.

It’s relaxed, chilled, and a little bit messy, but as always full of laughs, it's a proper end-of-year catch-up before we break for Christmas.

🎧 Press play and wrap up the year with us.

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Thanks for tuning in ❤️
 Ben & Kristy – Two Cousins One Chat

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