What's Your Poison

This week it's just the two of us, after the alleged attack on Helen Haines, the independent member for Indi, outside her electorate office in Wangaratta. We felt it was a week to talk it through rather than bring in a guest. We discuss safety, public service, and the state of our political culture. We delve into what the attack means for elected representatives, the people falling through the cracks of our support systems, anger as a force in politics, and what it would actually take to turn the temperature down. Along the way we explore humour and larrikinism in public life, the professionalisation of politics, respectful disagreement within parties, and how we rebuild the connections that let people disagree without hating each other. Our thoughts are with Helen and her family.

A reminder that tickets are still available for our first live show at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday 25 November, 6 to 9pm. It's $20 at the door, which comes back to you as a beer credit, and free if money is tight. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share it with a friend.

https://events.humanitix.com/what-s-your-poison-live-show-last-drinks-for-2026

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Context
• 10:31 The Attack on Helen Haynes
• 18:51 Mental Health and Violence
• 20:23 Mental Health and Societal Fringes
• 23:39 Political Discourse and Public Sentiment
• 30:12 Impact of COVID on Government Perception
• 37:30 The Role of Humor in Politics
• 51:53 Cultural Norms and Political Etiquette
• 52:12 Cricket as a Metaphor for Political Norms
• 55:51 The Need for Diverse Political Backgrounds
• 58:28 Feedback Loops in Governance
• 01:02:28 Encouraging Respectful Disagreement
• 01:06:54 Empathy and Civil Discourse
• 01:09:25 Navigating Complex Political Issues

This week we're joined by broadcaster Sarah Macdonald about Club Sandwich, a podcast community for people caught between caring for ageing parents and everything else in life. We discuss ageing, caring, and how the generations look after each other. Sarah shares her years in the sandwich generation and how that led to building Club Sandwich. We delve into the hidden army of family carers, our awkward relationship with death and dying, the strain on aged care and private health, generational fairness, and what we do with the wealth older Australians hold. Along the way we explore how the system could better support the whole family, and the communities, cultural attitudes and conversations that help us age with dignity.

A reminder that tickets are now available for our first live show at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday 25 November, 6 to 9pm.
https://events.humanitix.com/what-s-your-poison-live-show-last-drinks-for-2026

You can find Club Sandwich wherever you get your podcasts.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates
• 03:41 Introducing Sarah McDonald
• 07:35 The Sandwich Generation Explained
• 15:02 Generational Perspectives on Aging
• 18:59 Navigating Aging and Death Conversations
• 24:05 Navigating Death and Communication
• 27:18 Personal Perspectives on Death
• 29:04 Aged Care Politics and Challenges
• 30:55 The Aged Care System's Burden
• 33:18 Financial Implications of Aged Care
• 37:43 Intergenerational Issues in Aged Care
• 40:50 Policy Responses to Aged Care Crisis
• 48:17 The Sandwich Generation's Struggles
• 49:39 Cultural Perspectives on Intergenerational Living
• 52:54 Redefining Community and Housing
• 54:49 The Challenge of Inheritance and Wealth Distribution
• 57:39 Societal Attitudes Towards Aging and Caregiving
• 01:01:46 The Future of Care: Robots and Community Solutions

This week we are joined by Rabbi Gersh Lazarow, founding rabbi of Shtiebel in Melbourne, for a conversation we have mostly avoided on this show. We recorded it a few days after the anniversary of October 7. It is frank, sometimes uncomfortable, and one of the more important episodes we have done. We discuss personal journeys, cultural traditions, and identity. Gersh shares his story of leaving apartheid South Africa and how he came to be a rabbi and build Shtiebel. We delve into faith and culture, the war in Gaza, the experience of Jewish Australians over the past three years, and how hard it has become to hold complexity when everything pushes us into sides.

We close on how people with very different views can still sit at the same table, what the rabbinical tradition of debate offers here, the need for community and understanding amidst division, with an emphasis on the role of language and shared experiences in fostering connection.

A reminder that our first live show is at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday 25 November, 6 to 9pm. Invitations go out this week.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates
• 03:34 Welcoming Rabbi Gersh Lazarow
• 05:32 Rabbi Gersh's Journey and Background
• 11:01 Exploring Faith and Spirituality
• 14:00 Cultural vs. Religious Identity
• 19:12 The Complexity of Current Events
• 26:30 Navigating the Dichotomy of Opinions
• 30:48 The Impact of Technology on Discourse
• 35:33 The Pain of Innocence in War
• 36:38 Accusations and Social Dynamics
• 37:19 Emboldened Voices and Experiences
• 41:04 The Ugliness of Modern Warfare
• 43:54 Personal Responsibility in Discourse
• 46:45 Navigating Community and Identity
• 50:55 The Shift in Political Discourse
• 54:21 Historical Context and Responsibility
• 57:10 Building Community Amidst Tension

We're joined by Louise Clegg, former Sydney barrister, Spectator columnist and wife of Opposition Leader Angus Taylor. She takes us through life at the bar, the Constitution, and her views on the Voice.

We talk technocracy, and how it affects everything from native vegetation rules to renewable energy zones. We explore why the Liberals are roadkill and why One Nation can't survive captain's calls with Pauline as the whole brand, and of course we chat about life as the partner of Opposition Leader Angus Taylor.

We're live at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday 25 November, tickets out this week.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Weekly Updates
• 03:11 Introducing Louise Clegg
• 04:28 Louise introduces Shandys
• 06:54 Reflections on the Legal Profession
• 11:58 Constitutional Conservatism and Political Culture
• 16:30 The Voice to Parliament Debate
• 30:00 Technocracy and Its Implications
• 34:43 Navigating Energy Transition Challenges
• 40:07 The Role of Technocracy in Politics
• 48:00 Political Dynamics and Party Identity
• 53:58 Personal Insights on Political Life

An OpenAI agent wandered into the Medicare and Services Australia backend. OpenAI told Canberra three months later in an automated email, and the government held the story until Albo was at the UN selling the digital duty of care. We cover what agents actually do, whether a missing fence counts as a break-in, Klaus, the pause letters, and the race with China. Then the duty of care itself.

After that, Acemoglu's What Happened to Liberal Democracy?, the gap between graduates and everyone else, and whether Australia's real divide is owners versus renters. We get into the Voice, Sweden, and whether immigration is too high

Save the date: we're live at the National Press Club in Canberra on 25 November.

We're joined by Jack Gough, CEO of the Invasive Species Council, to talk about protecting Australian wildlife, including when that means culling other animals. We get into feral cats, the Brumby wars, and how a feral horse became a protected heritage item in a national park. We also ask why every conversation about the environment becomes a debate about climate change, and whether conservation should be a natural fit for conservatives.

We then take a deep dive into bird flu, what it could mean for Australian wildlife, and how dead birds on beaches might shift the politics of the environment. Damian explains his “inverse pyramid of f!cks given”, and we talk egg prices, pets, tourism, and when an environmental problem becomes everyone's problem. We finish with immigration, housing, and whether a stronger connection to Australian nature could give us something to agree on. Plus our usual Kiss of Death predictions, and Jack gives us a reason to worry about honey bees. Because apparently the cats and horses weren't enough.

• 00:00 Introduction, Victorian Potholes and Poison of Choice
• 03:41 Introducing Jack Gough
• 06:15 What Does the Invasive Species Council Do?
• 09:11 What Makes a Species Invasive?
• 11:31 Cane Toads, Rabbits and Biological Controls
• 15:52 Feral Cats and Australia's Extinction Problem
• 19:05 The Brumby Wars: Heritage, Horses and Politics
• 24:24 Conservation, Conservatives and Climate Change
• 28:14 Has Climate Change Swallowed the Environment Debate?
• 30:57 Bird Flu: What's at Stake for Australian Wildlife?
• 37:39 Preparing for Wildlife Loss and Building Resilience
• 39:59 The Inverse Pyramid of F!cks Given
• 42:34 Egg Prices, Beaches and the Politics of Bird Flu
• 47:32 Why Not Just Let Nature Take Its Course?
• 51:16 Custodianship and Australia's Changing Landscapes
• 52:37 Immigration and Our Connection to the Bush
• 58:46 Population, Nature and a Shared Australian Story
• 01:02:58 Immigration, Housing and the Skills We Need
• 01:06:22 Kiss of Death: China, AI and Bird Flu
• 01:08:44 Culling, Honey Bees and a Live Show Teaser

This week we talk in-depth about the media landscape and the influence of news outlets on political engagement, including the role of news organisations and the impact of media on public opinion and political discourse.The death of humour in politics and the impact of political satire on free speech.We talk pork barrel politics, bureaucratic accountability, digital duty of care, leadership turbulence in the Greens, ICAC revelations and political fallout, and will Josh Frydenberg's return to politics.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates
• 01:40 Road Trip Adventures
• 03:00 Guest Introductions and Poison of Choice
• 06:48 Reflections on News Corp and Media Influence
• 15:05 Media Landscape and Political Influence
• 22:18 Role of News Outlets and Political Engagement
• 27:35 The Role of Humor in Politics
• 28:19 Political Satire and Free Speech
• 48:39 Pork Barreling and Political Funding
• 53:02 Pork Barrel Politics
• 54:08 Bureaucratic Accountability
• 01:00:32 Digital Duty of Care
• 01:07:22 Leadership Turbulence in the Greens
• 01:09:05 ICAC Revelations and Political Fallout
• 01:12:48 Josh Frydenberg's Return to Leadership

We're joined by Dr Nick Coatsworth, former Deputy Chief Medical Officer, which means we talk the pandemic. What the public health measures actually did, how governments and the media shaped what people believed, and why conspiracy theories filled the gaps. We get into the geopolitics of the pandemic, and what happens when the argument is happening on someone else's platform.

We then exlore social cohesion and why trust in government went up for a while then didn't stay, vaccine disinformation, the tobacco excise, and what the political class does with public health. We also get into how much of what people believe is evidence versus culture, history, and old colonial hangover, whether Dr Nick will take a run at politics, plus a few historical mysteries, because of course we do.

You can also catch Dr Nick and Richard Baker on their Conspiracy Cabal podcast here https://open.spotify.com/show/17VXANMDCOpaSwdDRVjTTQ?si=4921fb5c58124607

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/conspiracy-cabal/id1882577385

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Poison of Choice
• 01:11 Dinner Salon Discussions
• 02:02 Bridging Divides and New Polling Methods
• 03:17 Three-Dimensional Political Landscape
• 04:04 Digital Duty of Care and Consent Education
• 06:19 Introduction of Dr. Nick Coatesworth
• 07:34 Media and Public Perception
• 08:42 Transition to Deputy Chief Medical Officer
• 09:15 Path to Deputy Chief Medical Officer
• 10:07 Formation of Deputy Chief Medical Officer Position
• 11:27 Public Health Expertise and Media Exposure
• 12:26 Public Health Crisis Communication
• 13:31 Media Exposure and Public Speaking
• 14:09 Government Response and Leadership
• 15:28 Institutional Response and Public Trust
• 16:40 Institutional Resilience and Social Media Impact
• 17:44 Shift in Public Perception and Political Leadership
• 18:07 Public Health Measures and Economic Impact
• 19:22 Public Health Measures and Societal Values
• 20:40 Reflection on Government Response and Policy Shift
• 22:23 Policy Decisions and Path Dependency
• 23:44 Public Health Messaging and Communication
• 25:00 Public Health Messaging and Public Perception
• 26:19 Evidence-Based Decision-Making and Public Perception
• 28:49 School Closures and Decision-Making
• 29:54 COVID-19 Origins and Conspiracy Theories
• 31:05 Conspiracy Cabal Podcast and Critical Analysis
• 40:09 Tobacco Excise and Public Health Policies
• 41:12 Freedom of Choice and Public Health Policies
• 41:30 Philosophical Differences in Public Health Fraternity
• 42:16 Conspiracy Theories and Illicit Tobacco Trade
• 43:15 Disruption to Social Fabric and Public Health Policies
• 44:03 Bureaucracy and Policy Making
• 45:00 Influence of Bureaucracy on Policy Making
• 46:13 Regulated Vapes and Nicotine Content
• 47:18 Challenges in Accessing Medicinal Vapes
• 49:33 Political Aspirations and Career Choices
• 51:01 Shift in Moral and Ethical Foundations
• 52:09 Conspiracy Theories and Cultural Beliefs
• 55:27 Conspiracies, Mysteries, and Unsolved Disappearances
• 01:01:31 Predictions and Speculations

We talk about living wakes and their significance, then take a deep dive into the Bush Summit in Dubbo, where farmers air their grievances and political figures respond. We get into the dynamics between the Nationals and One Nation, and what they mean for regional politics. We cover the challenges facing the agricultural industry, how geopolitical issues ripple through the food supply, including biosecurity, fertilizer and the impact of climate change on farming.

We then celebrate Peter's stepping back from Essential media after 30 years and reflect on how politics and activism have shifted over the past three decades. Building alliances, the power of lobbying, what long-term politicians actually change, the value of failure, and the stability of government and the role of public service.

Chapters

• 00:00 The Significance of Living Wakes
• 03:25 The Bush Summit: Farmer Grievances
• 17:27 Political Dynamics: Nationals vs. One Nation
• 25:12 Agricultural Challenges and Food Supply
• 27:18 Biosecurity and Fertilizer Industry
• 30:30 Climate Change and Farming
• 43:47 Changing Landscape of Politics and Activism
• 52:02 Building Alliances and Social License
• 52:59 The Power of Lobbying
• 54:30 Impact of Long-Term Politicians
• 01:07:31 Value of Failure and Stability of Government

This week we sit down with Elizabeth Lukin, ex-AFL GM Corporate Affairs and Comms, who arrives with an alcohol-free drink and many good stories. We unpack the Sydney Swans scandal, how it's being handled, the culture of sports, the AFL, and the Swans.

Francis Leach also joins us as we get into male entitlement and misogyny in sport, how much of the pile-on is genuine accountability versus media sanctimony chasing clicks, the manosphere's grip on young athletes, and the partners who cop the social media fallout. We also ask what would real change at the AFL actually take, beyond just managing the headlines?

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
• 02:01 Career Journey and AFL Experience
• 03:19 Scandal and Culture in Sports
• 32:37 Male Entitlement and Misogyny in Sports
• 34:20 The Impact of Sanctimony and Media Sensationalism
• 37:07 The AFL Landscape and Public Perception
• 48:00 Rebuilding and Brand Damage
• 49:54 Media's Handling of Serious Issues
• 50:35 Impact of the Attention Economy
• 55:22 Influence of the Manosphere on Young Athletes
• 58:07 Role of Masculinity in Sports Culture