This week on Backchat we’re chatting all things country music. Have you suddenly got friends who are sending you country songs? Seeing it around social media? We dive into why country music is having its moment right now with producer Dani Zhang.  We're also joined by the Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations to hear about their new partnership agreement with the state government, focused on closing the gap in Indigenous disadvantage. And earlier this week our producer Euan spoke to Phillipe Jacquot from the University of Sydney about how trending buzzwords from fitness influencers are conning consumers.  This episode of Backchat aired 17th Feb 2024. This episode was hosted by Holly Payne and Bec Cushway, produced by Dani Zhang, Nic Huntington, and Euan Kielly. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Backchat we’re discussing the trending issue of doxxing and the new proposal for laws to combat this digital issue.  Producer Holly Payne is chatting about Sydney’s asbestos crisis with Shane McArdle from the Asbestos and Dust Diseases Research Institute.  And Nick Newington takes a look at the increasing issue of Australia’s syphilis epidemic, and how the mainstream media has been missing the story for the last decade. This episode of Backchat was hosted by Holly Payne and Nick Newington, produced by Euan Kielly, Holly Payne, and Nick Newington. Backchat is broadcast on unceded Gadigal country, Saturdays at 9:30am on FBi 94.5fm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Backchat, producer Sana Shaikh delved into the Hills Shire Council's recent move to halt sponsorship for drag story time events, citing concerns about content aimed at kids. The council, situated in Sydney's vibrant Bible Belt, voted 10-2 to put the brakes on such events. The segment pondered what this decision might mean for LGBTQ+ youth in the area, featuring insights from Jasmine Nour, a drag artist and former Hills resident. Plus, Backchat caught up with Greens Councillor Dr. Mila Kasby, one of the two councillors who voted against the motion. Producer Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis breaks down the recent ICJ ruling in the South African case against Israel and what it means in terms of enforcable recommendations for the nations involved. Will the Palestinian people see any change as a result? It's been a big week for Sweatshop Literacy Movement. The community-based publisher have just released Povo, a collection of works from 37 culturally and linguistically diverse storytellers, including celebrated authors and organisers like Daniel Nour and Sara Saleh. The collection also features emerging voices with stories written from the Asylum Seekers Centre and from schools in Sydney's West. This week Backchat producer Lilly Grainger had the opportunity to sit down with Commissioning Editor, Adam Novaldy Anderson to get to know 'Povo,' its writers and better understand why empowering youth of diverse cultutral, linguistic and low socioeconomic backgrounds is so important.  This episode was hosted by Libby Hopper and Bec Cushway, and was produced by Sana Shaikh, Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis, and Lilly Grainger.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the wake of another shark related incident in Sydney, Libby Hopper gets into the stigma around shark attacks and the do’s and don’ts for staying safe, not scared, in the water.  Medicare just turned 40 - is it in the midst of a midlife crisis? Hear from GP Dr Nicole Higgins on why health providers can no longer afford to bulk bill, the Strengthening Medicare Task Force and how Medicare support differs for our most vulnerable in rural, regional and metropolitan areas. What do we need to know about the new changes to the Stage 3 Tax Cuts? Bec Cushway and Crystal Andrews of Zee Feed break it down. This episode of Backchat aired Saturday 3rd February 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holly and Tanita talk to Phoebe McIlwraith (@northbutsouthhh), Bundjalung and Worimi Saltwater woman on Invasion Day and the growing far-right sentiment in Sydney. Further reading: First Nations Futures | Pay The Rent Dr Peter Lewis, president of national advocacy association ANTaR, joins to discuss the future of the 26th of January.  Yuin man Keiran Stewart-Assheton (@keiran_stewart_assheton) from the Black Peoples Union dials in to about the parallels between Indigenous struggles and that of Palestinian people.  This episode of Backchat aired Saturday 27th January 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Backchat, we listen to locals and producer Sana Shaikh on the chaos of the Rozelle Interchange’s first two weeks of operation. Then, hear from coastal geomorphologist Professor Rob Brander AKA Dr. Rip on staying safe in the surf this summer.  This episode of Backchat aired Saturday 9th December 2023.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Backchat, producer Nic Huntington examines the hole in pothole funding. Nic chatted to Natasha Bradshaw, Senior Associate of Transport and Cities Program at the Grattan Institute, about how the increase in holes isn't resulting in an increase in funding.  Next, we take a look at some of the arrests from the ZIM and climate protests in the past week. We chat to Anastasia from Legal Observers NSW about what Legal Observers NSW has been seeing at these protests, and what your rights are when talking to police. Finaly, with World AIDS Day on December 1st, and the 2023 Nurse of the Year awarded last week, Backchat chats to joint winner John McAllister. With a career spanning over 40 years in HIV and sexual health, we celebrate his contribution to the Sydney community. This episode of backchat was produced by Nic Huntington, Sana Sheikh, and Rebecca Cushway.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Backchat, producer Sana Sheikh dives into Woollahra Municipal Council's new decision to limit public parking to non-residents to 15 minutes, and provide free all-day parking for residents. This new change encompasses all parking near popular beach spot at Watson's Bay, potentially restricting access to anyone outside this postcode. We’ll be exploring whether this is fair and why some Sydneysiders get to benefit from our natural wonders whilst others can’t. Backchat chatted to Woollahra Municipal Council about the controversial new decision. Next, if you’re anything like us, you’ve been doing some heavy-duty online shopping this week. Which is why it’s absolutely horrifying to find out that people in NSW alone lost more than $2.5 million to online shopping scams in the last year. We’re diving into the uncharted waters of online shopping scams with RMIT mathematician Dr Arathi Arakala. Finally, a recent survey conducted by the NSW Department of Education found a major casual teacher shortage, meaning almost 10,000 lessons are happening without adequate educational support in public schools across New South Wales every day. We spoke to Natasha Watt, Acting Senior Vice President from New South Wales Teachers Federation, earlier in the week to discuss what this means for students across the state. This episode of Backchat was produced by Sana Sheikh, Holly Payne, and Tanita Razaghi. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Backchat, we explore the groundbreaking new project from Monash University's XYX Lab, aimed at shedding light on the experience of women and gender-diverse people in NSW. The project is a crowd mapping project launched in collaboration with CrowdSpot that anonymously collects the 'safe' and 'unsafe' experiences these people have had in public spaces. Producer Bec Cushway chatted to Dr Niki Kalms to tell us more. Next, big changes to rights for stateless asylum seekers in Australia. Earlier this month the high court made a decision that will impact the lives of stateless refugees indefinitely detained in our detention centres. It was lauded as a major win by refugee advocates and former refugees. Backchat was joined by Ian Rintoul, coordinator from Refugee Action Coalition to find out more. Finally, Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi joined us to discuss how Australian politicians are responding to the crisis in Gaza, particularly following the Greens walkout during question time this week.  Also a big sad and teary farewell to Backchat's outgoing Executive Producer, Eamonn Snow, who has kept the show running these past few years. He's left a big mark on the Backchat team, and the show wouldn't be where it is today without him.  Aired November 18, 2023. Produced by Bec Cushway, Sana Sheikh, Holly Payne, and (for the last time) Eamonn Snow.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode of Backchat delves into some of the new waste programs across Sydney, and how where you live across the LGAs could make a huge difference to what you can recycle, and how much it is going to cost you. Backchat producer Sana Shaikh explains in this week's wrap.  Next, with more and more young people questioning their reasons for drinking, stress and anxiety are emerging as some of the major players. Sydney University's Inroads program is an online, self-guided program for young adults who drink to reduce or cope with stress, nervousness or anxiety. Backchat chats to Dr Katrina Prior to understand how the Inroads program is helping young people. Finally, how would you rate the state of Sydney's live music scene? Post-Covid, NSW has lost over half of its live music venues and the scene is changing as a result. The NSW government has just announced a survey of artists and professionals working in the music industry, and Elise Chidiac from the Music Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) sheds some light.   Aired November 11, 2023. This episode of Backchat was produced by Holly Payne, Tanita Razaghi, Sana Shaikh and Eamonn Snow on Gadigal land.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.