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Big Small Talk

Big Small Talk

LiSTNR 232 Episodes Sep 2, 2026

Big Small Talk is a podcast that blends politics and pop culture, offering a fresh take on current events. It features three segments: Big Small Talk on Tuesdays covers news from parliament to pop culture; Small Talk on Thursdays explores cultural trends and life advice; and Big Talk on Wednesdays delves into major news stories from the past few decades. The show aims to make understanding politics and culture both fun and informative.

Episodes

What Do You Do When Life Falls Apart? With Gretta Ray
What Do You Do When Life Falls Apart? With Gretta Ray Sep 2, 2026 2770 At some point, you'll probably face what we on the pod call a Diabolical Quarter -- a time in your life when everything falls apart and you just can't catch a break. Singer-songwriter Gretta Ray knows about these seasons of life all too well. Just 48 hours after moving to London -- ready to take next big leap in her career -- Gretta ended up in hospital and diagnosed with a life-threatening condit
Olivia Rodrigo's Festival, Dolly Parton & Meta's $17b Settlement
Olivia Rodrigo's Festival, Dolly Parton & Meta's $17b Settlement Sep 1, 2026 3484 Guyyssss Olivia Rodrigo threw a festival raising money for women’s health, safety and reproductive rights and THE WORLD IS HEALING.  Sarah kicks off this episode talking all things Daisy Chain Festival – Stevie Nicks’ appearance, the whopping $20 million donation, and the way a 23-year-old pop star is building a legacy that goes way beyond her music. Hannah then breaks down
How To Fight Back with Pussy Riot's Maria Alyokhina
How To Fight Back with Pussy Riot's Maria Alyokhina Aug 26, 2026 2065 There’s a good chance that you’ve heard of Pussy Riot – the punk band from Russia that has made global headlines for speaking out against Vladimir Putin. Maria Alyokhina was just 23 years old when she joined the group and, consequently, became Putin's political prisoner. She was arrested and jailed multiple times for her activism over the years. But in 2022, she hatched a plan. S
Pauline Hanson & the Rise of One Nation PART TWO
Pauline Hanson & the Rise of One Nation PART TWO Aug 25, 2026 2776 We are back for part two of our series on Pauline Hanson, and things are not looking good. It’s 2003, the authorities have come knocking, and Pauline is staring down a criminal trial. In our final episode, we track Hanson’s return to parliament and meteoric rise in popularity. Her reality television rebrand, her  We ask ourselves: how do we make sense of Pauline Hanson? Is there a
Pauline Hanson & the Rise of One Nation PART ONE
Pauline Hanson & the Rise of One Nation PART ONE Aug 25, 2026 2942 As whispers of the next federal election swirl, one name keeps coming up: Pauline Hanson. Hanson and her party are rapidly rising in popularity. Polling over the last few weeks suggests that the next election might come down to a race between Labor versus One Nation.  So – who is Pauline Hanson? And how did we get here?  In this two-part series, we talk about the rise, the fall, an
Lindsay Clancy's Trial, The Sydney Swans & VMA 2026 Snubs
Lindsay Clancy's Trial, The Sydney Swans & VMA 2026 Snubs Aug 25, 2026 3365 Sarah kicks us off with a breakdown of the Lindsay Clancy trial unfolding in the US right now - who she is, what happened, the evidence we’ve heard in court and the reality of trial by TikTok. Hannah then talks through the latest developments in the Sydney Swans scandal, with multiple players now stood down from the club, plus the powerful show of support for the Swans women’s team ove
What Career Advice Should We Stop Giving Women? With Pip Northeast
What Career Advice Should We Stop Giving Women? With Pip Northeast Aug 19, 2026 2083 Pip Northeast is the breakout star of Netflix’s My Brilliant Career, currently one of the Top 10 shows in the world. But forget everything you’ve been told about getting ahead at work. After chatting about taking on one of Australia’s most iconic stories - and the woman behind it all, Miles Franklin, we put the career advice we’ve all been fed to the test. Should you r
Hayden Panettiere, Phoebe Gates & One Nation 'Gayest' Party
Hayden Panettiere, Phoebe Gates & One Nation 'Gayest' Party Aug 18, 2026 3702 First up, Hannah takes us through reports that three teenage boys from one of Sydney’s most expensive private boys schools – The Scots College – were arrested on charges of sexual assault. She also talks about Victoria Police’s investigation into the Sydney Swans.Sarah dives into the business scandal that could see Bill Gates’ 23-year-old daughter go to prison. A fash
Do We Need To Pop The AI Bubble? With Cory Doctorow
Do We Need To Pop The AI Bubble? With Cory Doctorow Aug 12, 2026 3259 Everyone has an opinion on AI. Some say it's the inevitable future. Others think it'll take our jobs, fuel misinformation, and hand even more power to Big Tech and billionaires. This week, Sarah sits down with bestselling author, technologist and journalist Cory Doctorow to unpack whether AI really is the future or just a wildly overhyped tech bubble. They also dive into Cory's theory of the "reve
Open AI Hosts Influencer Retreat,  Sydney Towle & The Celebs Are In LOVE
Open AI Hosts Influencer Retreat, Sydney Towle & The Celebs Are In LOVE Aug 11, 2026 3174 First up, Hannah unpacks the ABC’s apology to Gina Rinehart over comments made during its new Gen Z-coded show, Race Around the World. What’s really upsetting people here – the fact the public broadcaster said sorry OR who it is saying sorry to? Sarah talks about the OpenAI luxury influencer brand trip (yep you read that right). The theme? Eco-friendly summer camp. Think farm-to-
Do Men Find Party Girls Intimidating? With Lucy and Nikki
Do Men Find Party Girls Intimidating? With Lucy and Nikki Aug 5, 2026 2333 When did women become expected to grow out of having fun? This week, Sarah is joined by Happy Hour hosts Lucy & Nikki to chat about dating as a party girl, whether men are intimidated by fun, successful women, being on the apps and why your friendships shouldn't disappear just because you're in a relationship. Sarah-Jane Instagram Big Small Talk Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for p
Ariana Grande, AI goes rogue & Nara Smith is NOT a Trad Wife
Ariana Grande, AI goes rogue & Nara Smith is NOT a Trad Wife Aug 4, 2026 4152 BSTies – it’s been a week! Sarah talks about Ariana Grande’s new album (which has sparked intense online debate around her appearance), as well as her decision to step away from public life. The girls chat about why we need to be careful in these conversations concerning Ariana’s body and health, but also about the dangers of collective silence. Hannah dives into how a rogu

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