Saturday Extra - Separate stories podcast
Saturday Extra is an Australian current affairs program that offers smart analysis and lively conversations. Hosted by Nick Bryant, it helps listeners understand Australia and the world. The separate stories podcast presents individual segments from the show, covering a range of topics in depth.
Episodes
How a musical became 'the most enduring piece of 9/11 art'
Come from Away is a musical which tells the story of nearly 7,000 airline passengers who were stranded in the small Canadian town of Gander, Newfoundland, after the September 11 attacks.This week The New York Times dubbed it "the most enduring piece of 9/11 art."As part of our coverage of the 25th anniversary of 9/11, we spoke with the Canadian husband and wife who co-wrote the m
Waleed Aly on the crisis of liberalism
In the latest Quarterly Essay, one of Australia's leading public intellectuals tries to make sense of what's happening through a philosophical prism.In particular, he looks at the crisis of liberalism, a collection of ideas which has shaped politics and society since the Age of Enlightenment in the 18th century.
Will AI kill us all within a decade?
This week, an Anthropic researcher resigned over concerns that the technology could kill us all by the end of the decade. As AI developers weighed in supporting his prediction, many are asking if AI power is rapidly slipping out of human hands.Meanwhile in Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese introduced a draft digital duty of care bill that would allow social media users t
The Looming Tower: What the lead-up to 9/11 can teach us today
Twenty-five years after the 9/11 attacks, their impact continues to be felt in New York, across America and around the world.To mark the anniversary, we spoke with Lawrence Wright, whose acclaimed book The Looming Tower traces the rise of al-Qaeda and the events that culminated in the attacks.
Why thousands of Australians are watching 'nest-flix'
Get ready, another season of 'nest-flix' is beginning.Melbourne's peregrine falcon camera is back, meaning people can watch a live feed of a peregrine falcon nest, high up in the city's CBD.
Australia looks to return to the United Nations Security Council
There are seats up for grabs at one of the world's most important tables, and Australia is putting up its hand to join.At the United Nations later this month, Anthony Albanese will be spearheading an attempt to join the Security Council for a two-year term that would begin in 2029.The last time Australia was on the council was between 2013 and 2014.
George Megalogenis has some advice for our politicians
When politicians make announcements wearing hi-vis and hard hats they are making a terrible miscalculation about who Australian voters really are, says one of Australia's great journalists George Megalogenis.Three major shocks have redefined the Australian electorate, and yet for decades politics has failed to keep up, with both major parties operating on outdated assumptions.
Can Australia help stop the Pacific drug trade?
At the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in Palau this week Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced $600 million to combat drug trafficking.The deal promises increased aerial surveillance across the Pacific, improved maritime capability, and additional training and support for police.As crime and HIV spirals out of control in countries like Fiji, will the investment be enou
Alarm in Europe as the Kremlin escalates its campaign
Germany has blamed the Kremlin for attempting a drone attack at Leipzig airport last month targeting a Ukrainian plane.The heads of NATO and the European Commission have warned Russia is growing increasingly reckless and vowed to respond to a dangerous "new normal."
The Last Thing: Jennifer Wong
What's the first sweet thing you remember eating? Comedian Jennifer Wong is a keen observer of Australia's changing tastes, and she's found that starting a conversation with food quickly leads it to surprising and profound places. She joins Nick to share her best last things.
Why are One Nation supporters so unhappy?
The rise of One Nation has been one of the biggest political stories in Australia this year. But who exactly are the people behind the surging polling numbers?This week, a survey of 1,014 One Nation supporters shed some light on the kind of people getting on board with the party.One finding was 91 per cent believed the country is heading in the wrong direction. For all voters, th
Dolly Parton - the best of us
There was sad news this week from Nashville, Tennessee, the home of the undisputed Queen of Country, Dolly Parton. Regular listeners will know that we were big Dolly fans, in fact we tried to get her to come on the show on July 4th, to mark America’s 250th birthday. We did that partly because in the disunited states of America, she was a unifying figure. We’ve been looking back o
How the mako shark inspired a carbon-cutting innovation
An Australian start-up company has been developing a drag-reducing adhesive film for use on aircraft which helps reduce fuel and lower emissions. And it was all inspired by a shark.
Donald Trump's next move on Iran: 'Economic D-Day'
The US has launched a campaign to cripple Iran's economy by cutting off its remaining economic lifelines.The Treasury sanctioned more than 60 entities, including Chinese firms, but fell short of placing more forceful sanctions directly on China.
What happens if the US-Canada trade war keeps escalating?
Washington and Ottawa are locked in a tariff tit-for-tat after trade talks collapsed earlier this week.Hundreds of thousands of jobs are potentially at stake on both sides of the border.
Warnings of new dangers in Nepal and Tibet after flooding
Nepal and Tibet are still reeling from the catastrophic flash floods that hit the Himalaya region earlier this week.The images coming from the disaster have been shocking: Bridges swept away, highways destroyed, entire villages engulfed by torrents of mud and water.As more details of the disaster continue to emerge, we speak with a journalist on the ground there.
Who blew up the Nord Stream gas pipeline?
In 2022, parts of the Nord Stream gas pipeline system, the multibillion-dollar network carrying Russian gas into Europe, were blown up.So who exactly was behind what has been described as "the greatest act of sabotage in modern history?"
The googly-eyed 'stuffed fox' revealed to be a thylacine
When a badly stuffed "fox head" was advertised by a UK auction house, James Cranfield quickly worked out that it was a "priceless" head of a thylacine.The taxidermist and collector won the two-way bidding war for "the find of a lifetime."How important is this specimen of the now-extinct Tasmanian tiger?
Why does the gambling lobby in Australia have so much power?
This week, the federal government's gambling reforms passed parliament, after a bipartisan deal was struck with the Coalition.The package includes restrictions on gambling ads, but in the eyes of some politicians and many campaigners, it doesn't go nearly far enough.So why is it so hard to pass major gambling reform in this country?
After nearly 40 years, a new trial in the Lockerbie bombing
It was Britain's deadliest terror attack: In December 1988, Pan Am flight 103 exploded in the air above Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 259 passengers on board and 11 on the ground.Almost four decades on, there is fresh evidence and a new trial.Next week, a Libyan man suspected of making and detonating the bomb will face court in Washington DC.
Is the US pivoting away from Asia?
This week, the headlines were dominated by the Trump administration's decision to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea, a longtime US ally and a linchpin of America's national security strategy in Asia.The US aircraft carrier USS George Washington has been redeployed to the Middle East, temporarily leaving the Asia-Pacific region without an American carrier strike
Is there a 'social epidemic' of self-censorship?
Growing up in a lower middle class family on the south side of Chicago fundamentally shaped the thinking of Glenn Loury, but his politics cut against the grain of many black Americans."Here I was in the era of Reagan telling black people to pull their socks up," the leading US black conservative intellectual says. He discusses the impact of Obama's presidency, self-censorship, an
Why do we only like politicians when they quit?
This week, former Liberal leader Sussan Ley joined a cast of former politicians who have found a new voice in a life after politics.She's been in the media after spending 6 weeks on a solo trip catching Greyhound buses across the US.It got us thinking here at Saturday Extra, how do we reassess politicians after they say goodbye to politics? And in some cases, do we only find ours
A look inside the world's biggest green bank
Australia's Clean Energy Finance Corporation is the world's biggest green bank.After a decade in the role, CEO Ian Learmonth reflects on Australia's progress to decarbonise the economy and global efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
Afghanistan marks five years since the return of the Taliban
This week marks five years since the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan.Since its return, the Taliban has imposed a harsh interpretation of Islamic law, as it did when it first came to power in the 1990s.For women and girls, whose worlds have become smaller and heavily policed, the anniversary is a grim one.
Test cricket returns to Darwin after 22 years
Next week, Darwin is hosting its first international test cricket match in 22 years.In a city known for cane toad races and a million-dollar barramundi fishing competition, the mood and the event itself are likely to be a little different than other Australian cities.
Richard Pryor's daughter on her father and a 'notorious word'
Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor is the daughter of legendary comedian Richard Pryor, whose stand-up transformed American comedy in the 1970s.In her new memoir, Elizabeth weaves together family memories with historical research to explore the legacy of her father, the history of one of America's most contested words and what it reveals about race, identity and belonging.
Who's winning the battle to reshape the Democratic Party?
In what was billed as a battle over the future of the Democratic Party, progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan's Democratic Senate primary this week.He defeated Haley Stevens, a more moderate candidate who had the backing of much of the party establishment.What does this say about the direction of the Democrats and its chances of winning back the White House?
Behind the leadership crisis engulfing FIFA
In recent weeks, FIFA President Gianni Infantino proposed to sell a stake in future World Cup profits to private investors.He's since abandoned the highly controversial idea, but not before triggering a civil war in the footballing world, which may lead to his downfall.Being a FIFA story, it's all about power, influence and of course, money.
Richard Flanagan sees 'goodness in the midst of our apocalypse'
Richard Flanagan has brought out a collection of essays, speeches and columns entitled Heresies.Its topics range from Manus Island to the Black Summer bushfires to the growing corrosion of democracy.Flanagan, the only writer on the planet who has won both the Booker Prize for fiction and the prestigious Baillie Gifford Prize for non-fiction, joins us for an extended discussion.
Noni Hazlehurst on her one-woman play The Lark
Aussie kids is touring the country with a one-woman theatre production.Noni Hazlehurst plays publican Rose Grey in The Lark, a show about an inner city Melbourne pub facing demolition as gentrification marches on without her.
How will AI affect the Australian political landscape?
While there is a lot of attention being paid to the economic and technological change that AI is bringing, a new report argues that AI may also become a major force in reshaping Australian politics. If the effect of AI falls most heavily on educated professionals in "digitally intensive" neighbourhoods, what will be the political fallout?
Breakthough in Gaza peace deal
A key step in President Trump's 20-point Gaza peace plan appears to have been reached.Hamas has agreed to a plan with international mediators to lay down its heavy weapons on condition that Israeli forces fully withdraw from the Gaza territory.Can this complicated agreement work and offer a new path forward?
From looming cyber threats to the secret world of Pine Gap
Cyber attacks against Australian public and private entities seem to be happening more frequently, and with more sophistication.So how prepared are we for a large attack and should we doing more to stop this from happening?Plus, we look at Pine Gap, the secretive facility near Alice Springs.
Why Nauru changed its name to Naoero
This week, Nauru officially changed its name to Naoero, in order to more faithfully honour the country's language and identity.The move reflects a long desire for decolonisation and self-determination in the Pacific, but how much is in a name?
As the climate worsens, media coverage is falling
Last year was Earth's third warmest year on record, with fires sweeping through parts of in Los Angeles, a heatwave killed more than 24,000 in Europe and catastrophic flooding in Southeast Asia.But despite this, media coverage of climate change continues to drop.A new study found coverage of the topic decreased by 14 per cent in 2025 compared to 2024.Is it possible for the trend
Wildfires devastate countries across Europe
This week, hundreds of thousands of people in France and Spain were forced to leave their homes and holiday accommodation in one of the largest peacetime evacuation operations in modern European history.Meanwhile, Greece, Italy and parts of Central Europe are expected to face heightened wildfire risk in the coming weeks. In France, the worst affected area has been the Gironde, ne
The Last Thing: Sarah Ferguson
Sarah Ferguson is the host of ABC TV's flagship news and current affairs program 7.30 (and has one of the most impressive CVs in Australian journalism).She joins Saturday Extra for The Last Thing, where she talks through her last great read, the last great TV show she watched, and the last great art exhibition she attended.
US news site Politico comes to Australia
US news site Politico is set to launch its Australian offering next month — a newsletter called Canberra Playbook.Its launch editor is Ryan Heath, an Australian journalist who spent many years in the US and who also helped launch Politico's Playbook in Brussels.
Was Barnaby right to reprimand Stella the dog?
One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce went viral this week when he yelled at his dog mid-interview. Was he right to aggressively reprimand the animal?
Behind the push for an Australian National Spy Museum
The history and current workings of Australia's spies are a little opaque to us everyday people.But a group of Australians, most of whom come from within the intelligence community, is hoping to change that.The group is proposing that Australia build a National Spy Museum in Canberra, which will look at Australia's espionage efforts and pay tribute to its spooks, past and present
Donald Trump's messy nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia
While the Trump administration continues to confront Iran over its nuclear ambitions, it's also struck a landmark nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia. The agreement will give the kingdom access to US civilian nuclear technology which could allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium.But there's a catch. Donald Trump has added a potentially deal-ending stipulation, Saudi Arabia must normalise
How the world has weathered the fallout from the Iran war
This week, Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen launched strikes on two Saudi Arabian oil tankers, immediately leading to yet another spike in oil prices.The Strait of Hormuz, which has become a choke-point for a crucial supply chain, continues to be severely disrupted. But so far, the world economy has avoided a meltdown, a global recession or even depression, despite dire predict
Is this the golden age of Australian horror films?
Horror films are enjoying huge success at the box office and many 'prestige' offerings from the genre are earning critical acclaim, even Oscars.And Australia is playing a big part in this trend. Over recent years, several Australian horror films have performed very well both locally and internationally.So are we in a golden age of Australian horror films?
Has the FIFA World Cup been a success or a failure?
After a month of footballing excellence at the FIFA World Cup, 48 teams have been whittled down to just two.The tournament has been very eventful, from a Trumpian intervention, debates over the pros and cons of the VAR system and hydration breaks, and the unexpected success of a tiny island nation.We take a look back at the past month and preview the final between Spain and Argen
Researchers turn to AI companions to combat loneliness
In a project that goes to the heart of how our human relationship with machines is being completely overhauled, researchers at the University of New South Wales are developing an AI companion to address loneliness.The companion is being developed with Chinese students as well as the elderly — two groups that are very susceptible to loneliness. It may sound a bit dystopic, but tri
Were there warning signs before the Christchurch terror attack?
March 15, 2019 was one of New Zealand's darkest days.We now know that the Australian terrorist who shot dead 51 people during Friday prayers at two Christchurch mosques had meticulously planned his attack.But New Zealand's royal commission into the attack which reported in December 2020 concluded "there was no plausible way" he could have been detected in advance "except by chanc
The bumpy road to the US midterms
Republicans in the US are mourning the loss of one of the party's most influential figures and powerbrokers — Senator Lindsey Graham — who died suddenly last weekend at the age of 71.News of his passing seemed to prompt another GOP grandee Mitch McConnell to issue a proof of life photograph, where he was seen smiling alongside his wife. But there are lingering doubts about the 84
Andy Burnham wins the Labour leadership contest
Andy Burnham will become Britain's seventh prime minister in 10 years next week after winning a Labour leadership contest.Facing economic headwinds, he is promising to ease cost of living pressures by devolving power from London, reversing the privatisation of public utilities and with an ambitious council house building project.
Tango: 'It's not a dance, it's an emotion'
The annual Sydney Tango Weekend brings together dancers from across the country and around the world.They've bonded over the intimate intensity of the dance to form a community that lasts long after the music stops.
Trends in global population
8.3 billion and counting - that's the UN's best estimate on how many people live on the planet when it marks World Population Day this Saturday. But while the Earth's population is growing quickly, the growth rate is starting to slow down. What are the implications ?
Erling Haarland brings Viking vibes to the Wold Cup
The Norwegian striker Erling Haarland is in the running for the Golden Boot, the trophy awarded to the World Cup's top goalscorer. But it's not just Haarland's goalscoring that has excited fans.With his super-hero physique, flowing platinum blond hair, speed and size, the comparisons to a Viking warrior or Norse god are inevitable.Mímir Kristjánsson tells us more about Haarland's
Poetic justice: fairness in the World Cup
The big story at the World Cup this week came off the field rather than on it, with Donald Trump's intervention on behalf of a star US striker who'd been banned from playing against Belgium after receiving a red card in the previous game.The US president called the FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, and the player in question, Folarin Balogun, was allowed to play, essentially ripp
European populists making fresh bids for power
Two giant figures of Europe's populist right have announced a reset of sorts. France's Marine le Pen and the UK's Nigel Farage have both mounted fresh bids for power even as financial scandals threaten to derail their political futures. Their renewed push underscores the enduring appeal and persistent controversy of Europe's nationalist movements.
New Zealand to consider joining Australia and Fiji in defence alliance
When China launched a ballistic missile into the South Pacific Ocean on Monday, it was a rare test of a nuclear-capable weapons system that drew international rebuke.New Zealand will now consider joining a new defence alliance between Australia and Fiji which commits each country to come to the other's aid if either is attacked, as Australia works to counter China's growing inf
NATO Summit: rare outbreak of unity
NATO leaders wrapped up their summit this week with a joint declaration affirming a unified stance on several issues, including support for Ukraine to make Patriot air defence systems to counter missile attacks from Russia.The surprisingly amicable conclusion followed a more turbulent start.The summit ended with Turkish President RecepTayyip Erdogan presenting a firearm to the le
America at 250: America celebrates and reflects on July 4
For the finale of our America at 250 series, we look at how America is marking July 4.We criss-cross the country, from Donald Trump's Great American State Fair to the town of Normal in Illinois to an attempt at getting Dolly Parton on the show
A visit to the National Indigenous Art Fair
On the eve of NAIDOC Week, the National Indigenous Art Fair is up and running at the Cutaway in Sydney's Barangaroo.Now in its 7th year, the event is bringing together over 100 artists from more than 30 art centres.
Why are Australians abandoning Asian languages?
Australians' lack of understanding of our own region is making the country increasingly vulnerable in a volatile security environment, according to the findings of a parliamentary inquiry released this week.The Federal Inquiry into Building Australia's Asia Capability found that fewer students are learning Asian languages at all levels of our education system, and there is less a
Modi is coming to Australia. Who really is he?
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is loved by his supporters, loathed by his critics and among the most powerful people on the planet.Next week, he's due to visit Australia, at a time when India-Australia economic and defence relations are deeper than ever.The two countries have much to gain, with increased uranium exports from Australia reportedly on the table.But who exactly
Despair in Dallas for the Socceroos
The Socceroos have lost a heartbreaking penalty shootout against Egypt in their World Cup round of 32 clash.David Mark dissects the almost 3-hour game where Australia's campaign has come to an end.
The Last Thing: Sam Guthrie
Sam Guthrie is a diplomat-turned-international thriller writer.He joins Saturday Extra for The Last Thing, where he talks through his last great read, his last great theatre experience and the last great library he visited.
Why is support for multiculturalism declining?
This week's Lowy Institute poll showed the largest drop in support for cultural diversity in Australia on record.Multiculturalism has long been hailed as an Australian success story, a global exemplar in integrating migrant communities, the envy of Europe and the US.It follows so soon after Pauline Hanson's rallying cry for monoculturalism to replace multiculturalism.So what's dr
Discovering Australia's hidden Chinese past
It's well known that Australia is a country of migrants, and plenty of historians have traced our multicultural past.But incredibly, until now most Australian history has been written using only English language sources.A new book titled Sinophone Australia is changing that, translating Chinese language newspapers, letters, poems, maps and travelogues to tell a more complex story
America at 250: The 'racial disunion' of America
Shelby Steele is one of the foremost African American intellectuals.He's a child of the civil rights revolution, was a Black radical in the late 1960s and emerged as a prominent conservative voice in more recent decades, fiercely opposed to policies such as affirmative action.As part of our America at 250 series, he talks us through the racial disunion of America.
Why did Keir Starmer have to go?
This week, we saw what is fast becoming an annual rite in the UK: the changing of the prime minister outside 10 Downing Street.Sir Keir Starmer is the latest UK PM to bid a tearful farewell.So why did he have to go, and what should we make of the Labour politician who will succeed him, Andy Burnham?
USA 2-0 win over Socceroos
The USA's dominant display proved too much for the Socceroos in Seattle with Australia going down 2-0. Australia still has a chance to progress to the next round of the FIFA World Cup when they face Paraguay on Friday.The ABC's National Sports correspondent David Mark discusses what went wrong for the side.
How should the media treat Pauline Hanson?
Thirty years after she was elected to Federal Parliament, this week Pauline Hanson made her first address to the National Press Club.When she faced journalists, her tone was combative and defiant, deriding an industry that she feels has treated her unfairly, taking aim at the ABC, SBS and the Guardian.But has Hanson's resilience and rise been nurtured by a media that is only too
America at 250: The Native American perspective
As our America at 250 series continues, we examine an important strand of their national story that often gets overlooked and even erased.The history of Native Americans, who occupied the continent thousands of years before The Mayflower or Christopher Columbus set sail for the Americas, is often forgotten. As the anniversary of independence approaches, debate is intensifying ove
Will 'the King of the North' become the next UK PM?
This week, Andy Burnham has moved one step closer to replacing the UK's Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.In a hotly contested by-election, the mayor of Manchester and British Labour luminary claimed a thumping victory, which now puts him on track to challenge the deeply unpopular Starmer.
Who is the real winner from the US-Iran deal?
After intense diplomatic talks at the G7 in Paris this week, Donald Trump surprised many by signing a memorandum of understanding with Iran."Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. Oil is flowing. Gas prices are falling. Markets are roaring. A WIN for America and the world," the US president claimed on social media.But the finer details of the 14-point agreement have yet to be fina
America at 250: Ken Burns on the 'violent birth' of the US
Ken Burns is one of the great chroniclers of US history.Over a nearly 50-year career, the filmmaker has produced long-form works about America's Civil War, the Vietnam War, and, his latest epic production, The American Revolution.As part of our America at 250 series, he talks about the birth of the US and what lessons it holds for the world today.
Hosting the enemy: America's FIFA World Cup
FIFA President Gianni Infantino this week strenuously defended America hosting the World Cup, in partnership with Canada and Mexico. Even before kick-off time, the tournament was mired in controversy over ticket pricing, accommodation and transport arrangements, along with the decision to allow the Iranian team entry to the United States despite an ongoing war.Will the drama of t
How to deal with misinformation in a 'post-truth world'
Misinformation is everywhere.And among the most harmful types is scientific misinformation, with all kinds of severe real-world consequences.So how can we inoculate ourselves against this, and do we need a better understanding around "trust" and science?
Can Donald Trump end the war in Iran?
Is the end of the Iran war in sight?The Iranian foreign ministry, President Donald Trump and Pakistani mediators all say a deal is close to being finalised.But we've been here before, with CNN calculating this week that Trump has said 39 times that the US and Iran are on the verge of a deal.The conflict is set to be high on the agenda at next week's G7 Summit in France, where wor
Adelaide fundraiser vows to claw back world record for most Marilyn Monroe lookalikes
To celebrate what would have been Marilyn Monroe's 100th birthday last week, over a thousand die-hard fans donned platinum blonde wigs, red lippy and white halter-necks in Palm Springs, California.They easily broke the world record for the most Marilyn Monroe lookalikes in one place — snatching it from 254 lookalikes from Adelaide. That's not the end of the story. The Adelaide Ma
America at 250: How royalists became revolutionaries
As part of our series marking 250 years since American independence, we feature British historian Adam Smith.In 1775, war broke out between the British and the American colonists. The following year, the former colonies declared themselves independent and in 1783, following a prolonged and bloody war, Britain was forced to recognise the independence of the United States.Adam Smit
Is theatre and cinema etiquette getting worse?
Last weekend on a London stage, acclaimed actress Rosamund Pike did something very unexpected.Pike, who is starring in Inter Alia by Australian playwright Suzie Miller, returned to the stage at the end of the play, to call out some bad theatre etiquette.So, in 2026, what's OK and not OK in a theatre or cinema?
Former Washington Post editor Marty Baron on journalism under Trump 2.0
It's no secret that legacy media is facing a crisis.Traditional media outlets like newspapers, television and radio stations have had their business model upended by the internet, social media and now AI.Newspapers in the US are closing their doors at a rate of two per week, according to one study, while in Australia over 200 local newspapers have disappeared over the last 15 yea
Elon Musk, the world's first trillionaire?
Elon Musk's SpaceX is planning for what could be its biggest launch yet.Next week, the rocket, space, and AI company is set to make its initial public offering, or IPO, which may end up being the largest in history.And if it all goes to plan, this Musk is set to become the world's first trillionaire.
