Best Professional Pointers Podcasts (2024)

1
Who knew the CFMEU's dirty secrets? 22:44

11m ago22:44

22:44

This week, allegations of corruption, criminal infiltration, standover tactics and other nefarious activities within the ranks of the CFMEU have been all over the media. The reports have shocked, but not surprised, many in the community. Stories of underworld figures trading their leather for high viz, motorcycle helmets for hardhats – all in order…

1
How to be a climate whistleblower 21:34

1h ago21:34

21:34

In the Pitjantjatjara communities of Anangu Country on the edge of the Nullarbor Plain, cancer rates are higher than elsewhere in Australia. This is the legacy of nuclear testing by the British government, which staged seven atomic explosions between 1956 and 1963, contaminating the land. Thanks to nuclear engineer and whistleblower Alan Parkinson,…

1
The surge in financial abuse against women 21:17

44m ago21:17

21:17

Shenane Hogg spent nine months in a coma after suffering abuse at the hands of her partner. During her recovery, she discovered her abuser had amassed $56,000 of debt in her name. Shenane’s story is just one of many that was heard at a parliamentary inquiry into how the financial system can be used to abuse women. The inquiry has heard chilling evi…

1
Assassinations, insurrections and massacres: an American story 20:55

1d ago20:55

20:55

The attempted assassination of former US president Donald Trump shocked America. Prominent public figures from all sides of the political spectrum have spoken out and condemned the use of violence, with President Joe Biden saying “it’s not who we are as a nation”. But is that true? And does this response downplay just how pervasive political violen…

1
Peter Dutton’s big Queensland energy 20:09

35m ago20:09

20:09

In Queensland, one issue is already dominating the upcoming state election: youth crime. So when the Liberal National Party launched their campaign, Peter Dutton was the perfect man to help sell their pitch. The federal opposition leader and former Queensland cop has been stressing his closeness to his home state. Already Peter Dutton has promised …

1
Heatwave of Betrayal - Smackin' It Raw Ep. 350 1:56:11

7h ago1:56:11

1:56:11

Smackin It Raw is a weekly wrestling review show covering tv shows and PPV/PLE's from WWE, AEW and various other wrestling promotions as well as news and rumors from the world of wrestling. This week we discuss Rhea Ripley's return on WWE Raw, Joe Hendry comes to WWE NXT as well as a smash or pass from NXT Heatwave, Charlie Dempsey and Izzi Dane co…

1
Read This: Leigh Sales Is a Professional Stickybeak 30:37

21m ago30:37

30:37

Long before she was hosting 7:30 on the ABC, Leigh Sales dreamed of becoming a novelist. In this episode of our sister podcast, Read This, she joins Michael to discuss her secret desire to write fiction, the art of crafting a good story, and how being a journalist allowed her to become a professional stickybeak.…

1
Artist and refugee Mostafa Azimitabar on painting from a hostile country 24:25

5d ago24:25

24:25

When Mostafa Azimitabar was imprisoned on Manus Island, he was overcome with a desire to paint. With no art supplies, he used a toothbrush – a technique he continues with to this day. Mostafa survived the brutality of Australia’s asylum seeker detention system for more than eight years. Freed in 2021, he now lives in Sydney. His art has been shortl…

1
Will the threat of jail time help fix Aged Care? 23:41

3d ago23:41

23:41

In 2018, then prime minister Scott Morrison announced a royal commission into aged care, shedding light on the astonishing prevalence of abuse in residential facilities. It’s been three years since its final report was handed down and advocates say very little has improved. The commission highlighted just how difficult accountability and justice ca…

1
The China think tank attacked by Wolverines 21:21

4d ago21:21

21:21

There's a shadow world beneath Canberra, fed by the defence, foreign affairs and security communities, and it is hugely influential in how the government responds to our biggest geopolitical challenges. Margaret Simons has spent decades keeping a close eye on this world. Recently, the story of one think tank, China Matters, caught her attention. Th…

1
Money in the Bank's Forbidden Door - Smackin' It Raw Ep. 349 1:59:02

5d ago1:59:02

1:59:02

Smackin It Raw is a weekly wrestling review show covering tv shows and PPV/PLE's from WWE, AEW, TNA and various other wrestling promotions as well as news and rumors from the world of wrestling. This week Matt and Katie Smash or Pass on Money In The Bank and Forbidden door as we get prepped for NXT Heatwave. The Bloodline is making moves and Cody R…

1
Inside Nine's journalism cuts: 'Quite a few people suspected retribution' 20:22

5d ago20:22

20:22

If you pick up a copy of The Age or The Sydney Morning Herald, you’ll see the tagline ‘Independent. Always.’ under the masthead. Now, as journalists at those papers reel from an announcement that Nine Entertainment is slashing 200 jobs across the company, some are wondering if they’re being targeted for the papers’ recent coverage of Nine’s trouble…

1
Project 2025: The Trump presidency wish list 24:07

6d ago24:07

24:07

Donald Trump’s lead in the polls for the 2024 presidential race has widened following a fumbling debate performance from Joe Biden, and concerns about the President’s age. With the increasing likelihood of a second Trump presidency, attention is now turning to his potential governing agenda. The blueprint, called Project 2025, is more than 900 page…

1
Read This: The Three Words That Made George Saunders a Writer 32:43

7d ago32:43

32:43

George Saunders is one of literary fiction's most acclaimed living writers. Along with his many collections of short stories, he also published the Booker Prize-winning novel Lincoln in the Bardo. To celebrate Read This' first birthday, we're bringing you Michael Williams' interview with George Saunders. They talk about his life and career and the …

1
The internet sleuths fighting fake research 24:04

9d ago24:04

24:04

Smut Clyde spends several hours every day, scouring online science journals for suspicious-looking research. He’s part of a growing team of online ‘science sleuths’, combating the rising number of fake research papers being published. These papers are typically generated, with the help of AI, by ‘paper mills’: a cottage industry relying on overwork…

1
The power and legacy of 'militant' union boss John Setka 22:50

10d ago22:50

22:50

When people think of the CFMEU, Australia’s powerful and fearsome construction union, they picture its top dog, John Setka. But as he prepares to step down from the union’s Victorian branch, Setka’s legacy is overshadowed by his brutality. Many current and former colleagues think his leadership was poisonous to the union, and that he may have even …

1
The son of Hong Kong's jailed media tycoon 22:30

11d ago22:30

22:30

Sebastien Lai woke up one morning in 2020 to find dozens of missed phone calls – his father, the Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, had just been arrested. Sebastien is in Australia now, trying to convince our political leaders to advocate for his dad’s release from a Hong Kong prison. Today on the show, Sebastien Lai tells the story of how his fath…

1
The Albanese government's $1 billion computer 21:07

12d ago21:07

21:07

In high-security labs, from Silicon Valley to mainland China, researchers are racing to be the first to achieve what has been dubbed ‘Q-day’. On that day, all encryption and security could be laid bare – the deepest plans of militaries around the world, our medical records and private encrypted conversations could all be exposed. The internet could…

1
Rishi Sunak's Australian communications 'magician' 23:40

13d ago23:40

23:40

By the end of this week, the United Kingdom will almost certainly have a new prime minister and closure on 14 years of Tory leadership. One man in particular is working very hard to prevent that, and it’s not the current Tory leader. Since it kicked off with a bizarre, rain-soaked announcement, Rishi Sunak’s election campaign has been marked by ine…

1
Sloppy Seconds - Smackin' It Raw Ep. 348 1:50:40

13d ago1:50:40

1:50:40

Smackin' It Raw is a weekly wrestling review show covering tv shows and PPV/PLE's from WWE, AEW and various other wrestling promotions as well as news and rumors from the world of wrestling. This week Vince returns... I think... as he, Matt and Katie talk Chad Gable and The Wyatt Sick6, Money In The Bank, Liv Morgan and The Judgement Day, Trick Wil…

1
34: Ep 034 - Best Practices in Pride Inclusivity 18:34

15d ago18:34

18:34

On this podcast, Preeti Ahuja, Human Resources Leader, Atlas Copco Group, shares her thoughts on pride inclusivity. A recent investigation revealed that 34.2 percent of queer employees have resigned due to discriminatory treatment. What do statistics like this tell us about the biggest challenges of pride inclusivity? How can LGBTQIA+ members get t…

1
Why would a university have a deal with Lockheed Martin? 23:26

16d ago23:26

23:26

Over the past few months, there’s been a lot of focus on universities’ relationships with weapons manufacturers. Students set up encampments and occupied buildings, arguing that their unis are complicit in the assault on Gaza and demanding more transparency from their universities’ administrators. But, as writer and contributor to The Saturday Pape…

1
Julian Assange is home: Gabriel Shipton on how his brother was freed 22:36

17d ago22:36

22:36

Julian Assange has finally landed in Australia, a free man. Today, his brother Gabriel Shipton on how the deal to release the long-incarcerated WikiLeaks founder came together. National correspondent for The Saturday Paper Mike Seccombe explains what comes next. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Julian Assange’s brother…

1
The woman who spoke out against Google on AI 21:41

18d ago21:41

21:41

Meredith Whittaker turned her back on Google after raising concerns about the mass surveillance fueling AI, but she didn’t leave tech entirely. The former AI whistleblower is now the President of Signal, a messaging app that keeps conversations encrypted – used by journalists, whistleblowers, drug dealers, militants and others who want to keep comm…

1
Morrison and Rudd: The unlikely duo could be Australia's Trump whisperers 18:46

19d ago18:46

18:46

Back in 2016, when Donald Trump was elected President, the Australian government was caught off guard. The then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull called golfing legend Greg Norman just to get Trump’s phone number. This time around, the government is taking the prospect of a second Trump presidency seriously and has begun making preparations for it. T…

1
Hawk Tuah or Swallow - Smackin' It Raw Ep. 347 2:02:32

20d ago2:02:32

2:02:32

Smackin It Raw is a weekly wrestling review show covering tv shows and PPV/PLE's from WWE, AEW and various other wrestling promotions as well as news and rumors from the world of wrestling. This week Matt, Katie and Vince spit or swallow The Wyatt Sick6 debut, Toni and Mina's contract signing, the new #1 contender for Trick's title, TNA fallout fro…

1
The spy base we’re not supposed to know about is getting bigger 21:14

20d ago21:14

21:14

Once upon a time, Australians were told Pine Gap was a space base. Then we were told it was a weather station. But now, of course, we know the installation deep in the Northern Territory outback is a US spy base. Which isn’t to say it’s any less secretive – we still don’t know a huge amount about what goes on there. We do know it’s likely America’s…

1
The Weekend Read: Anna Stewart on being a captain of one of the biggest games of the year 15:05

21d ago15:05

15:05

For 31 years, there has been a rivalry – drawing on a divide so inherent and base – that it pits mate against mate. We’re not talking about State of Origin, we’re talking about the Reclink Community Cup. The football contest began in Melbourne, but is now held in cities across the country – with the Rockdogs, a team of not-so-athletic musicians, ta…

1
Will Australia get behind Dutton's nuclear campaign? 19:02

23d ago19:02

19:02

Nuclear power has been politically toxic in this country for decades. It’s been 55 years since a leader went to a federal election promising to build reactors and won. But Peter Dutton is hoping to do just that. And as unlikely as it sounds, he’s convincing people. A little over ten years ago, 62 per cent of Australians opposed nuclear power. Today…

1
Peter Greste on the latest blow against whistleblowers 19:38

24d ago19:38

19:38

There’s been another strike against whistleblowing. Richard Boyle was a tax office employee when he raised concerns internally about a scheme to garnish overdue taxes directly from people’s bank accounts. When that didn’t work, he told journalists. A court in Adelaide yesterday upheld a ruling that he’s not a whistleblower – which means he now has …

1
Making childcare universal: Will it be an election secret weapon? 17:42

1M ago17:42

17:42

There’s no nice way to put it: Australian childcare is broken, and not just for those with children. It’s prohibitively expensive, getting the days you’re after is like winning the lottery and if you do get some government subsidy, you have the pleasure of hours on the phone to Centrelink. We’re at a critical point though. The government has promis…

1
Peter Costello's decade at Nine: Is this the end of his public life? 19:30

26d ago19:30

19:30

Peter Costello’s legacy was set. He was the longest serving treasurer in Australian history and under the then prime minister John Howard, he transformed our economy into what it is today. That was until he appeared to push a journalist asking pesky questions at Canberra Airport earlier this month and all of it was caught on camera. Three days late…

1
Ep 24: The Impact Of Job Loss On Credit Scores And How To Manage It 9:51

26d ago9:51

9:51

Do you find it difficult to understand the complexities of personal finance? In today's episode, we explore a critical issue affecting millions: the profound impact of job loss on credit scores. Come learn about the ways that unemployment can impact your finances and discover professional methods to help you overcome these obstacles as we explore t…

1
Mega Stuffed Cluster F*ck - Smackin' It Raw Ep. 346 2:03:10

29d ago2:03:10

2:03:10

Smackin' It Raw is a weekly wrestling review show covering tv shows and PPV/PLE's from WWE, AEW and various other wrestling promotions as well as news and rumors from the world of wrestling. This week Matt and Katie are joined by Riq and TC of Young Kings Wrestling to Smash or Pass Clash at the Castle, talk Ricochet leaving WWE, the build to Forbid…

1
How Home Affairs became a scandal factory 18:24

27d ago18:24

18:24

Barely a week goes by when the Department of Home Affairs isn’t under the blowtorch of media or political scrutiny. In one way, the level of scrutiny is to be expected. When a department is so huge it takes in security, intelligence, immigration and policing functions, with some 14,000 staff under the one secretary – it’s inevitable. The question i…

1
Climate Wars II: Judgement Day 18:17

1M ago18:17

18:17

Two years ago, on the day after the Labor government was sworn into office, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen called a press conference. In those very first remarks, the new minister said the climate wars were over. Some scoffed at the time. There were still plenty of political fights to be had over how Australia would reach net ze…

1
Is Joe Biden’s ceasefire plan already failing? (Update) 22:17

1M ago22:17

22:17

The US has a proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, and this one seems to be gathering momentum. It’s not much different to the previous plans, except that it’s backed by the UN Security Council. The council’s resolution says Israel has accepted the deal, and Hamas has welcomed its adoption, but it hasn’t been signed. So, why not? What’s preventing an a…

1
Disgraced consultancy given deal to run government ‘ethics' training 19:58

1M ago19:58

19:58

If you were a public service chief picking a firm to run ethics training, would one of the big four consulting firms be your first pick? They have faced intense scrutiny both in the media and in a recent senate inquiry, which will today release its report with recommendations to keep the private consultancy sector in check. Today, special correspon…

1
Xi Jinping’s right-hand man is coming to Australia 18:28

1M ago18:28

18:28

Australia is about to receive a visit from the most senior Chinese leader we've had on our shores in almost a decade. But this visit by Chinese Premier Li Qiang comes at an interesting time for China. President Xi Jingping is contending with economic stumbles and looming sanctions, making his vision for the future more precarious than ever. So what…

1
Where The Breast Wrestle - Smackin' It Raw Ep. 345 1:59:49

1M ago1:59:49

1:59:49

Smackin It Raw is a weekly wrestling review show covering tv shows and PPV/PLE's from WWE, AEW and various other wrestling promotions as well as news and rumors from the world of wrestling. This week Matt and Katie are joined by Will 'Black and White No' Gray to talk MJF and Rush, Liv Morgan and Dom Mysterio, Jordynne Grace's NXT Debut, Ethan Page'…

1
Zero accountability: Rick Morton on the NACC dropping robodebt 20:14

1M ago20:14

20:14

When the robodebt royal commission’s final report landed, it was scathing. It condemned the entire scheme, the individuals who rolled it out and the government culture that enabled it. The commissioner went to significant lengths to refer six people to the then very fresh National Anti-Corruption Commission. But last week, the NACC decided to drop …

1
The Weekend Read: Atticus Bastow on the mysteries of the universe at the bottom of an abandoned mine shaft 17:01

1M ago17:01

17:01

Over 90 years ago, a Swiss astrophysicist theorised there was an unseen, unobservable force that sits behind the universe we know. He called it ‘dark matter’, and today we’re not much closer to understanding it than he was. But that could be about to change, as a group of Australian researchers are part of our most promising effort yet to uncover t…

1
How the new vape ban is splitting the Coalition 19:20

1M ago19:20

19:20

There’s an issue exposing fault lines within our political parties and pitting their traditional supporters against each other, fracturing the electorate. That issue is the new ban on vapes, which is set to pass parliament at the end of the month. The Albanese government’s proposed ban is putting pressure on the Coalition, which has already been lo…

1
Why the toxic culture at Parliament still isn’t fixed 19:07

1M ago19:07

19:07

There’s been a slow but steady reckoning on sexual harassment and discrimination in workplaces across Australia. That reckoning should have already come to the most high-profile workplace in the country – Parliament House. But several years on from the Jenkins report, has the culture really changed? Today, chief political correspondent The Saturday…

1
Rick Morton on Bill Shorten’s NDIS overhaul 22:02

1M ago22:02

22:02

There are two things to know about the National Disability Insurance Scheme. The first is that it makes an immense difference to many lives across Australia. The second is that it’s wildly expensive and is projected to cost even more in the future. So, how to reconcile those two realities? It’s what the government is trying to solve with a new piec…

1
Why are French troops cracking down on riots in the Pacific? 20:51

1M ago20:51

20:51

Many Australians have an idea of New Caledonia. It’s just two hours away by plane and is sold to travellers with images of luxurious hotel complexes and pristine beaches. But riots in the capital, a state of emergency and the intervention of the French military have been reminders that the future of New Caledonia is a fraught political question sit…

1
The Impact Of Credit Scores On Rental Applications And Leases 9:15

1M ago9:15

9:15

In this episode of The Royalties Podcast, Clarck Cadet dives into how credit scores wield substantial influence over rental applications and leases, impacting various aspects of the renting process. We speak about how landlords frequently employ credit scores as a metric for evaluating the financial stability of prospective tenants, using higher sc…

1
Polyamorous Portal - Smackin' It Raw Ep. 344 1:57:42

2M ago1:57:42

1:57:42

Smackin' It Raw is a weekly wrestling review show covering tv shows and PPV/PLE's from WWE, AEW and various other wrestling promotions as well as news and rumors from the world of wrestling. This week Matt, Vince and maybe Katie (if she doesn't have too much fun at PRIDE) are talking Ethan Page's Debut, Skye Blue v Mercedes, Jack Perry not TNT Cham…

1
'You're all owned by China!': Rage at the Trump conviction 19:25

1M ago19:25

19:25

Donald Trump’s conviction in a New York courthouse has led to furious reactions from his supporters and allies. A presidential candidate has never been convicted of a felony during their campaign and that historic first is just the latest uncertainty thrown into an already fractious election campaign. So, could things combust? Has the risk of polit…

1
Direction 99: Peter Dutton's latest immigration obsession 20:00

1M ago20:00

20:00

Some non-Australian citizens facing deportation for convictions of serious crimes like domestic violence and child sexual abuse are managing to hang onto their visas and stay in the country. It’s sparked fierce debate in Canberra this week, as both sides of parliament attempt to answer one question – who is to blame? So, why are non-citizens in Aus…

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