Not Stupid

Taxpayer funded ski trips, thousand dollar dinners in Paris and business class flights to New York. Do these expenses pass the pub test? What about the sniff test? The thing is Communications and Sports Minister Anika Wells hasn’t racked up the most expenses – in fact, Australian politicians have claimed $1.1 million dollars in the past year. There’s no doubt the job is demanding, but should the expenses rules be reviewed? And Queensland Museum has found itself in a bit of a pickle following an investigation into Shell sponsored educational materials that downplay the role of fossil fuels in climate change. And after hearing about a drunk raccoon in the United States, Jules wonders whether animals have a taste for fermented beverages too? Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected]

With the rise in Ozempic use, people are shrinking before our very eyes. But are Ozempic-style drugs all they’re cracked up to be? There are new global guidelines from the World Health Organisation and the TGA is warning about side effects. But are we also seeing a shift in how we think about weight? Also Jules and Jez also talk about dodgy subscriptions and the government’s strategy to take on consumer “tricks and traps”. We’d love to hear from you! Please take a minute to fill in our audience survey . Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected]

Per capita, Aussies are the world’s biggest losers, gambling away between $25 to $31.5 billion per year. In 2023, an inquiry into gambling harm chaired by the late MP Peta Murphy made 31 recommendations. Despite crossbench support for gambling reform, none of these recommendations have been implemented by the Australian government. Jules and Jez also chat about the perils of AI slop which has just dubbed Macquarie Dictionary's 2025 word of the year. We want to hear from you! Please fill in our audience survey . Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected]

Democrats and Republicans voted unanimously today to release the full Epstein files. Now it's up to Trump to sign the bill. He's been under increasing pressure over recent months to release the files and last week had a big falling out with Marjorie Taylor Greene who was previously a huge supporter of Trump and the MAGA movement. Jez and Jules also talk about Victoria's new Liberal leader, Jess Wilson, who is a moderate and a millennial. Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected]

This week an article in the New York Times set group chats alight everywhere. "Are women ruining the workplace?" it asked. We have thoughts. And what do the resignations at the BBC tell us about the state of the media and power. The BBC's director-general and head of news resigned amid criticism of the broadcaster's editing of a speech Donald Trump delivered before protesters attacked the US Capitol. Julia Baird and guest host Chas Licciardello chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected] Jules' pick: https://www.whitlam.org/women-and-whitlam Chas' pick: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/F3HI1zugyU4 EDITOR'S NOTE: In this episode, Chas Licciardello says that the BBC re-ordered the speech by Donald Trump. This is not correct. While Donald Trump mentioned "going to the Capitol" twice in the speech, the BBC ran the two grabs in the correct order but with almost an hour of speech in between.

Could messaging apps be keeping us from REAL connection or do they enable connections we otherwise wouldn't have had...? The truth is it's complicated. Jules and Jez also chat about your stories of cleaners flying under the radar, the disconnect between avoiding news broadcasts and bingeing Mafia content, and the story behind a message in a bottle found on a remote beach in WA. Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez talk about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected]

As Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping meet for the first time since 2019, Jez and guest host Emma Shortis discuss the meeting and what it means for the future of the relationship between the two superpowers. And what can the New York mayoral race tell us about the future of the US Democratic Party? Jeremy Fernandez and Emma Shortis chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected]

Prince Andrew will no longer be called "the Duke of York" following further revelations about his relationship with US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Jules and Jez chat about what we now know and the lack of transparency in the royal family. And while Barnaby Joyce has led to lots of new speculation about the future of the Coalition, there are calls for the Liberal Party to do more to reconnect with women. A leader of a grassroots movement aimed at boosting female representation in the party says the Liberals risk staying in long-term opposition unless it stops dismissing women as “woke”. Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected]

Despite not winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Trump has been dominating the headlines (as usual), and the real winner: Venezuelan politician and activist, Maria Corina Machado, even thanked him. As violence erupts in Gaza, the real question is whether Trump’s peace plan will hold. Jules and Jez also preview the Boyer Lectures which focus on democracy, and they talk about why Australia’s ‘democracy experiment’ is an important global benchmark. And stick around for their picks of the week where we find out about a dog with attitude and communicating with cuttlefish. Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected]

It's no secret that US President Donald Trump wants to win The Nobel Peace Prize. Badly. Barack Obama won it in 2009 and Trump has repeatedly said he deserves the prize. Jules and Jez take a look at previous recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize which include Martin Luther King Jr, Nelsen Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, Mother Teresa, Desmond Tutu and the Red Cross. But the Nobel Peace Prize hasn't been without controversy. So could Trump actually make the cut, and is the award still even relevant? Jules and Jez also talk about the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, who is now ceremonial head of 85 million Anglicans in over 165 countries. Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected]

While there's a lot of hope around Trump's 20-point proposal for peace in Gaza, Jules and Jez look at a crucial piece that's missing from it. And despite LGBTQI+ education modules and an action plan, the end of the AFL season has been marred once again by homophobia. Perhaps men's footy could learn a thing or two from the Matildas. Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected]

Thousands turned out for Charlie Kirk's memorial, but there seems to be a disconnect between Christian values and the policies of the Trump administration. While Jimmy Kimmel is back following a huge backlash against the FCC crackdown, journalism and free speech in the United States is still under threat. Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected]

Tyler Robinson has been charged with the murder of Charlie Kirk, but in the week following the death of the right wing commentator and activist, there have been plenty of claims and conspiracy theories about what happened and who is really responsible. Julia Baird and guest host Chas Licciardello attempt to make sense of the week and wonder if America under this Trump administration really is more divided than ever. Join them every week as they chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected]

Jules was swimming in the ocean on the weekend when a surfer was killed by a shark at a nearby beach. She got back to the beach okay, but it got her thinking a lot about sharks. Jules and guest host Darren Saunders chat about sharks, shark nets and spending time in the water. And should your kid go to university? There have been plenty of funding cuts, so are our tertiary institutions as good as they once were? Julia Baird and Darren Saunders chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected] SHOW NOTES Darren's pick: https://chemistry.anu.edu.au/research/research-facilities/samsara Julia's pick: https://www.dadletterproject.com/

Jez and Jules debunk the wild “mass-migration” claims spread by far-right anti-immigration protestors and talk about balancing the right to protest with social cohesion. Also the Governor of California is taking the fight to Trump and the results are hilarious social media posts featuring CAPS, kittens and sick burns. Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected]

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have announced their engagement and Jules and Jez have been thinking about celebrity relationships. And the Australian Government says Iran was responsible for several anti-Semitic attacks on Australian soil, so what were they trying to achieve? Also, locals in tourism hotspots like Barcelona and Venice have had enough of rowdy tourists, so what does that mean for the future of travel? Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter on "Not Stupid". Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected]

From labour figures to museums, Donald Trump has started a war on data and Julia Baird (and fill in host) Chas Licciardello have been thinking about what it means for the US and the world. And is everyone just getting angrier and meaner? Jules and Chas are looking for the brighter moments. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected]

Jules and Jez love a good debate, but can you debate anything? Is a debate featuring sexist or fascist views a good idea? Or does it just give airtime to offensive opinions? And will a robot write the next book you read? The Productivity Commission has been looking at AI and it could have big implications for how copyright is controlled.

Police say 90, 000 people walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday, calling for peace in Gaza. So do protests make a difference? And on the same day, the TV Logie Awards were held and Jez was there. In a room full of "tv stars" he was amazed by the humility of so many people who spend their life on the television. Also actor Sydney Sweeney has been making headlines for a new ad campaign about genes and would we all feel lighter and calmer if we walked away from our phones?

The latest images out of Gaza are horrific. There are headlines across the globe and lots of people are posting on social media. But what will it mean for people in Gaza? And Jules and Jez talk about Monica Lewinsky, thirty years after the sex scandal with Bill Clinton broke. JULIA'S PICK https://andreagibson.substack.com/p/a-list-of-things-i-love JEREMY'S PICK https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/07/26/vatican-hot-priests-spread-faith-digital-age/

With the Independent NSW MP Mark Latham in the headlines once again facing unsavoury allegations, Jez and Bev talk about the boundaries of acceptable behaviour of our politicians. Would you like to know if the music you’re listening to has been AI-generated? Boasting a million listens on Spotify, AI-generated band The Velvet Sundown, has prompted questions around the ethics of AI-generated music and the real people who are using bots to game the system. Jeremy Fernandez and Beverley Wang chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Filling in while Julia Baird is away is Beverley Wang, ABC’s National Culture correspondent, co-host of Stop Everything and Life Matters on Radio National. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected]

On this week’s show, Jez and Bev try to untangle what’s been happening with the Epstein files. The Jeffrey Epstein-related conspiracy rumours US President Donald Trump initially helped stoke are now coming back to bite him. He's facing backlash from his MAGA fanbase as he tries to tamp them down. We also look at The Salt Path controversy and the trust between authors and readers. Does anyone actually fact-check memoirs? Jeremy Fernandez and Beverley Wang chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Filling in while Julia Baird is away, is Beverley Wang is ABC’s National Culture correspondent, co-host of Stop Everything and Life Matters on Radio National. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected] Jez’s pick: AI recycling trucks https://www.centervilleohio.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=146 Bev’s pick: Bev talks about Albo’s song picks for Triple J's Hottest 100 of Australian Songs. Voting closes at 5pm on 17 July. https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/countdown/hottest100

Even though the verdict has been handed down, thousands of articles and podcasts are still talking about the mushroom case. Jez and Bev chat about the photos, the memes and why we're obsessed with women who kill. Elon Musk says he's starting a new political party in the US and we look at the Big Beautiful Bill that kicked off the latest Trump-Musk Feud. Jeremy Fernandez and Beverley Wang chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Jules is away for a few weeks and filling in for her on Not Stupid is the ABC’s National Culture correspondent, co-host of Stop Everything and Life Matters on Radio National, Beverley Wang. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected]

With a phone in your pocket and the news cycle rolling at a frantic speed, it can be so hard to slow down. Jules and Jez have been thinking about how to look at things more slowly and if it is even possible. Plus a couple of weeks ago we asked a really weird question: "have you seen a colour that you've just never seen anywhere else?" We got so many emails about colour, from Monet's dining room to Samoan delicacies and puce lollipops. Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez have chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected] SHOW NOTES Jeremy's pick : https://mashable.com/article/reddit-cofounder-ai-video-deceased-mom-divides-internet Julia's pick: https://www.instagram.com/justbeingmelani/?hl=en

So much has happened over the past week. Despite US President Donald Trump’s attack and intervention, will the ceasefire between Israel and Iran hold? How do the Iranian people feel about the regime? Jules has been watching The Pitt and thinking about “moral injury” the idea of having to betray your own moral beliefs because of lack of staff or lack of supplies. Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected] SHOW NOTES: Jule’s pick: www.orrca.org.au/census Jez: https://medium.com/@truthiness/the-quiet-optimism-of-letting-go-d8472aa681ee