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ABC Australia

Quick Smart

A News Commentary , News and Society & Culture podcast

#166 in News Commentary · 🇦🇺
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About the show

Quick Smart is the show that feeds you big ideas in bite-sized pieces. Get up to speed on some of the biggest issues from psychology, money, health, history, pop culture, in just 10 minutes. Siobhan Marin guides you through!

Newest episodes

When did all our clothes become plastic? (SUMMER SERIES)

10 min

Australia buys more clothes per person than any other country and most of it is made up of plastic. Thanks to fast fashion, even our op shops are becoming flooded with these polyester products. So, when did we start wearing plastic? And why did it take over the fashion industry? Guest: Anna Levy, ABC journo. Anna Levy’s article on the rise of not-so-fantastic plastic fashion can be found here.  And if you’re into environmental issues and solving them in small but meaningful ways, check out our episode on overtourism.  -------- You’re listening to Quick Smart's summer season. We’ll return with fresh episodes next year, but in the meantime please enjoy our special curation for the holidays. This episode originally aired on 28th Jan, 2025.

Non-alcoholic drinks are wildly popular. What’s in them and are they healthy? (SUMMER SERIES)

12 min

Australians love to crack open a ‘cold one’, but increasingly we’re turning to non-alcoholic beers, wines and spirits. How did NoLo drinks become so popular? What’s actually in them? And are they healthier than their boozy counterparts? Guest: Jacinta Bowler, ABC science reporter  If you’re into the science of what we eat and drink, check out our episode on the influx of random chip flavours or why the alt right is obsessed with eating meat.  Read Jacinta’s article on no and low-alcohol drinks here. If you have something you'd like to see covered on Quick Smart, let us know at quick.smart@abc.net.au -------- You’re listening to Quick Smart's summer season. We’ll return with fresh episodes next year, but in the meantime please enjoy our special curation for the holidays. This episode originally aired on 25th Feb, 2025.

Feeling stuck? How to make big life decisions, minus the regret (SUMMER SERIES)

11 min

Do you struggle with making big life decisions? Maybe it's moving overseas, quitting your job or deciding to have a baby. This week, how to ditch analysis paralysis and make a life-changing choice. Guest: Sana Qadar, host of All in the Mind. If you liked this chat, check out our episode on what makes someone an introvert or an extrovert. Sana also has a longer All in the Mind episode about how to decide when you can’t decide. Drop us a line at quick.smart@abc.net.au if there's a story or topic you'd like us to cover. ------- You’re listening to Quick Smart's summer season. We’ll return with fresh episodes next year, but in the meantime please enjoy our special curation for the holidays. This episode originally aired on 1st April, 2025.

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All episodes

When did all our clothes become plastic? (SUMMER SERIES)

10 min

Australia buys more clothes per person than any other country and most of it is made up of plastic. Thanks to fast fashion, even our op shops are becoming flooded with these polyester products. So, when did we start wearing plastic? And why did it take over the fashion industry? Guest: Anna Levy, ABC journo. Anna Levy’s article on the rise of not-so-fantastic plastic fashion can be found here.  And if you’re into environmental issues and solving them in small but meaningful ways, check out our episode on overtourism.  -------- You’re listening to Quick Smart's summer season. We’ll return with fresh episodes next year, but in the meantime please enjoy our special curation for the holidays. This episode originally aired on 28th Jan, 2025.

Non-alcoholic drinks are wildly popular. What’s in them and are they healthy? (SUMMER SERIES)

12 min

Australians love to crack open a ‘cold one’, but increasingly we’re turning to non-alcoholic beers, wines and spirits. How did NoLo drinks become so popular? What’s actually in them? And are they healthier than their boozy counterparts? Guest: Jacinta Bowler, ABC science reporter  If you’re into the science of what we eat and drink, check out our episode on the influx of random chip flavours or why the alt right is obsessed with eating meat.  Read Jacinta’s article on no and low-alcohol drinks here. If you have something you'd like to see covered on Quick Smart, let us know at quick.smart@abc.net.au -------- You’re listening to Quick Smart's summer season. We’ll return with fresh episodes next year, but in the meantime please enjoy our special curation for the holidays. This episode originally aired on 25th Feb, 2025.

Feeling stuck? How to make big life decisions, minus the regret (SUMMER SERIES)

11 min

Do you struggle with making big life decisions? Maybe it's moving overseas, quitting your job or deciding to have a baby. This week, how to ditch analysis paralysis and make a life-changing choice. Guest: Sana Qadar, host of All in the Mind. If you liked this chat, check out our episode on what makes someone an introvert or an extrovert. Sana also has a longer All in the Mind episode about how to decide when you can’t decide. Drop us a line at quick.smart@abc.net.au if there's a story or topic you'd like us to cover. ------- You’re listening to Quick Smart's summer season. We’ll return with fresh episodes next year, but in the meantime please enjoy our special curation for the holidays. This episode originally aired on 1st April, 2025.

Why your childhood could be holding you back financially — and how to fix it (SUMMER SERIES)

11 min

Why do some people save every spare dollar, while others blow through their pay the moment it lands? It might have less to do with discipline and more to do with the way you were raised. Guest: Emily Stewart, ABC business reporter and author of Sensible Money If this episode has you feeling *triggered*, you can sign up to Emily’s handy money newsletter here (you're looking for Your Money Explained next to a picture of Emily). You might also like our previous chat about how to survive the cost of living crisis.   And if there are any topics you’d love us to cover, get in touch at quick.smart@abc.net.au -------- You’re listening to Quick Smart's summer season. We’ll return with fresh episodes next year, but in the meantime please enjoy our special curation for the holidays. This episode originally aired on 17th June, 2025.

See You Next Tuesday? How the ‘worst word’ became a compliment (SUMMER SERIES)

11 min

When many of us were growing up, the c-word was the worst thing you could say. Now, it’s having a renaissance. How has an "offensive and hateful” term transformed into a compliment? And why are drag queens, actors and K-pop girlies at the forefront of reclaiming "See You Next Tuesday”? Guest: Virginia Trioli, host of Creative Types on ABC TV and iview. Check out Virginia’s article on how the the c-word is being reclaimed by women in pop culture here. If you liked this chat, you might also enjoy our episodes on how teenage girls are shaping our vocabulary or whether Stockholm Syndrome a sexist myth. If there's a story or topic you'd like us to cover, drop us a line at quick.smart@abc.net.au ------ You’re listening to Quick Smart's summer season. We’ll return with fresh episodes next year, but in the meantime please enjoy our special curation for the holidays. This episode originally aired on 15th April, 2025.

Where is all this asbestos coming from?

9 min

It feels like asbestos has been having more than it's fair share of limelight over the last few years. But it's manufacture, sale and import was banned in Australia in 2003. So, where is it coming from? Guest: Angelique Donnellan, reporter for ABC's 7:30 program.--------- If you liked this chat, you might also like our episode about whether Australia has a problem with class. You can find Angelique's articles about her investigations here. Thanks to my producer Jessie Kay. Drop us a line at quick.smart@abc.net.au

How to stop companies knowing everything about you

11 min

Our personal data can be used to manipulate the prices we see, the disinformation we believe, and sometimes even who we vote for. So, how much does the internet know about you?

What makes a cover song better than the original?

10 min

From pub bands and street buskers to TikTok-ing teens, the world is full of music covers. Some are admirable, others are average. Yet every so often, an artist will release a cover that flips a song on its head. So, why are we drawn to making the old new again? 

Why some politicians want us to feel 'ripped off'

10 min

Democracy dates back to the ancient Greeks and is meant to give us a say on who’s in charge. But lately, some democratically elected leaders are acting more like kings than politicians. So, does democracy still work? And how do we stop “undemocratic” forces from manipulating us?

Why Google’s entering its AI era, and what it means for all of us

10 min

Google gets billions of searches every day. But now, the tech giant wants to be AI-fuelled “answer engine”, rather than a gateway to other sites. It poses a massive threat to journalism, but it’ll also affect the information we see and don’t see. 

Australia desperately needs more organs. Could pigs be our saviour?

10 min

If you needed a life-saving transplant, would you take a gene-edited organ from a pig? It sounds like science fiction, but this procedure has been researched for decades, and it could help solve the massive organ shortage. But is it ethical to use animals for their parts? And are there other risks? 

Why your partner’s religious beliefs don’t matter as much as they used to

12 min

A Catholic and a Satanist walked into a bar ... and managed to fall in love? During the past two decades, more of us have become non-religious, but we’re also increasingly up for dating and marrying across the spiritual divide. So, how do interfaith couples make it work? And what can we learn from them?

Our last soft plastic recycling scheme flopped. Could a new one work?

11 min

Remember when you could drop off soft plastics at the supermarket and feel a little smug, because you knew they’d be recycled? Turns out that scheme was secretly stockpiling rubbish, not recycling it. So, why are soft plastics harder to recycle? And will a new scheme actually work? 

How a Pokémon-loving teen became the first millennial saint

12 min

When you think of a saint, who do you picture? Chances are it’s not a tracksuit-wearing, video game playing teen, but that's exactly who the Catholic Church canonised recently. So, why was Carlo Acutis special? What miracles did he perform? And could his sainthood help drive younger people back to religion? 

Nuns, crosses and exorcisms. Why horror films love religious imagery

10 min

While cinemas struggle to fill seats, horror films are bringing in billions. So, why do we enjoy being scared? And how come horror flicks are filled with nuns, crosses and other Christian imagery? --------  If you liked this chat, send it to the cinema buff in your life. You might also enjoy our eps on how cults are being targeted with coercive control laws and why certain female body parts are named after shady, white men.   Plus, check out Anna Levy’s article about religion in horror films.

How to deal with family or friends who hold extreme beliefs

12 min

From the sovereign citizen movement to vaccine conspiracy theories, extreme beliefs are on the rise, and they can make family gatherings super uncomfortable. Why do sensible people fall for irrational ideas? And can we challenge these ideas without alienating the people who hold them?

Quick Smart

11 min

Love decluttering videos, but hate home organising in real life? Too much stuff can make us feel stressed, but parting with objects isn't always easy. This week, what your clutter says about you, and how you can get on top of it.

Who are the Israeli Settlers? And who's holding them accountable?

13 min

Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law. And yet, the Israeli government just approved almost 3,500 more of these homes. Meanwhile, settler violence against Palestinians is rising. So, who are the settlers and why are they allowed to exist outside the law?

Why conspiracy theorists are targeting walkable cities

11 min

If you had to dash out for a bottle of milk, could you just stroll to the supermarket? If the answer's yes, you might be living in a 15-minute city. What are these neighbourhoods, exactly, and why do conspiracy theorists hate them?

Are we paying too much tax?

10 min

Like it or not, tax affects our incomes and grocery bills. It also helps pay for roads, hospitals and schools. But could the government be taking less from our salaries and more from big business, inheritance, or superannuation?

Is Stockholm syndrome a sexist myth?

12 min

'Stockholm Syndrome' is a phrase we use to describe people in toxic relationships. But have you ever considered the first case? This week, meet the woman behind this dubious diagnosis. 

Adulting is hard. Should schools be teaching essential life skills?

12 min

Oh, adulthood. Suddenly you're a Jack (or Jill) of all trades, negotiating tax returns and changing tires. Many of us feel wildly unprepared. Should our parents have passed down these skills? Or could schools or social media fill in the blanks?

How cults are using coercive control to manipulate followers

9 min

They tell you how to act, what to believe, and who to surround yourself with. It sounds like coercive control, right? But this type of manipulation doesn’t just exist in intimate relationships, it happens in spiritual ones, too.

Is productivity a scam? How to avoid burnout at work

11 min

Do you ever feel a sinking sensation that you’re not being "productive” enough? It doesn’t just hit at work either, it can tarnish weekends with a weird sense of guilt. Hyper-productivity isn't the answer, that leads to burnout. So, how do we find a happy medium?

One in seven of us take antidepressants. Getting off them can be a nightmare

10 min

Chances are you, or someone you know, took an antidepressant this morning. One in seven Australians are on the medication, and for many it's lifesaving. But are we staying on antidepressants for too long? Is there a right time to stop? And what should we know about withdrawal symptoms? 

When is it OK to cut off your parents and go 'no contact’?

10 min

Have you ever considered cutting a family member off? It's called going "no contact" and social media is filled with stories from people who’ve done just that. But how do you know you're making the right choice? And can fractured relationships be saved?

New Pope, Who Dis? How the Catholic conclave actually works

10 min

More than a hundred red-cloaked figures will enter in the Sistine Chapel, but only one can walk away with the top role. This isn't a new reality TV show, it's the real-life drama of the papal conclave. Who could be the next Pope, how much will his voice matter in the modern world, and was the movie accurate?

Why politicians are allowed to lie in election ads

12 min

Politicians love to overwhelm us during election campaigns. But often, we're left wondering what they actually stand for. Who has the best policies on issues you care about, and how are young people changing the tide of this election?

How long can President Trump ignore the law?

10 min

Donald Trump is wreaking havoc on America's legal system. He's disobeying court rulings, calling judges "crooked", and pressuring law firms to donate to hand-picked causes. We've never seen this behaviour from a US president. So, how far is he willing to go?  

See You Next Tuesday? How the ‘worst word’ became a compliment

11 min

When many of us were growing up, the c-word was the worst thing you could say. Now, it’s having a renaissance. How has the most "offensive and hateful” term transformed into a compliment? And why are drag queens, actors and K-pop girlies at the forefront of reclaiming "See You Next Tuesday”?

The 'incestuous' publishing trick that's making you buy books

10 min

When you’re looking for a new book, are you ever swayed by the little quotes on the front cover? They might say “Unputdownable!” or "Obsessed!” and they can help books become bestsellers. But one US publisher thinks this “incestuous” practice needs a rethink. Author and radio host David Marr drops by to explain.

Why your hormones probably don't need 'balancing'

10 min

Scour social media as a Millennial or Gen Z woman, and you're bound to come across wellness influencers claiming your hormones are out of whack. Is there any science behind so-called 'hormone balancing'?

Artworks hidden, a creator dumped. Is this censorship?

11 min

There’s something going on in the art world. Works are being covered up, a creator was controversially dropped, and an Oscar-winning documentary can’t get an American distributor. Why is this happening? And what does it have to do with the war in Gaza?

Will 'arrogance' be the downfall of our major parties?

10 min

If you've tuned out of Aussie politics, you’re not alone. Apathy is high, especially among young people, and there’s a genuine concern that elected representatives don't actually represent us. But are things about to change?

See all 130 episodes

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