Big Small Talk

LiSTNR

The big and the small – all in one place. Because loving pop culture doesn’t mean you don’t understand politics.

Tuesdays we unpack the headlines you need to know.

Thursdays we talk to the people you want to hear from on the topics you care about.

And every month, we deep the stories from the past that you’ve been dying to understand.

Hosted by Sarah Jane Adams and Hannah Ferguson. Find us at @bigsmalltalk_pod for more.

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27 episodes
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English

Episodes 27

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Wednesday · 34 min
How To Fight Back with Pussy Riot's Maria Alyokhina
There’s a good chance that you’ve heard of Pussy Riot – the punk band from Russia that has made global headlines for speaking out against Vladimir Putin. Maria Alyokhina was just 23 years old when she founded the group and, consequently, became Putin's political prisoner. She was arrested and jailed multiple times for her activism over the years. But in 2022, she hatched a plan. She dressed up as a food delivery driver and, with the help of her friends, fled the country. Maria is one of the bravest people we will ever speak to. So, given the state of the world right now, we asked her: how do you maintain hope in politically dark times? And how do you find the courage to keep fighting back? Big Small Talk Instagram Sarah-Jane Adams Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tuesday · 49 min
Pauline Hanson & the Rise of One Nation PART ONE
As whispers of the next federal election swirl, one name keeps coming up: Pauline Hanson. Hanson and her party are rapidly rising in popularity. Polling over the last few weeks suggests that the next election might come down to a race between Labor versus One Nation. So – who is Pauline Hanson? And how did we get here? In this two-part series, we talk about the rise, the fall, and resurrection of Pauline Hanson. Her days as a fish and chip shop owner, the letter that got her sacked from the Liberal Party, the criminal trial that put her behind bars, her Dancing with the Stars redemption arc, and the messy fights and fallouts that have plagued One Nation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tuesday · 46 min
Pauline Hanson & the Rise of One Nation PART TWO
We are back for part two of our series on Pauline Hanson, and things are not looking good. It’s 2003, the authorities have come knocking, and Pauline is staring down a criminal trial. In our final episode, we track Hanson’s return to parliament and meteoric rise in popularity. Her reality television rebrand, her We ask ourselves: how do we make sense of Pauline Hanson? Is there a One Nation without her? Can you build a movement on anger? And what happens when the major parties stop speaking to a chunk of the country. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tuesday · 56 min
Lindsay Clancy's Trial, The Sydney Swans & VMA 2026 Snubs
Sarah kicks us off with a breakdown of the Lindsay Clancy trial unfolding in the US right now - who she is, what happened, the evidence we’ve heard in court and the reality of trial by TikTok. Hannah then talks through the latest developments in the Sydney Swans scandal, with multiple players now stood down from the club, plus the powerful show of support for the Swans women’s team over the weekend. Plus, the girls unpack the VMA nominations (Olivia Rodrigo snubbed?!), the latest changes to the NDIS, and finally… what the hell is going on with KATSEYE? Big Small Talk Instagram Sarah-Jane's Instagram Hannah's Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 19 · 34 min
What Career Advice Should We Stop Giving Women? With Pip Northeast
Pip Northeast is the breakout star of Netflix’s My Brilliant Career, currently one of the Top 10 shows in the world. But forget everything you’ve been told about getting ahead at work. After chatting about taking on one of Australia’s most iconic stories - and the woman behind it all, Miles Franklin, we put the career advice we’ve all been fed to the test. Should you really “lean in”? Do you actually need a mentor? Can you be in love and have a career? Pip gives us her verdict on the best, worst and most outdated career advice, with insights into her own experiences. My Brilliant Career is out now on Netflix. Big Small Talk Instagram Sarah-Jane Adams Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 18 · 1 hr 1 min
Hayden Panettiere, Phoebe Gates & One Nation 'Gayest' Party
First up, Hannah takes us through reports that three teenage boys from one of Sydney’s most expensive private boys schools – The Scots College – were arrested on charges of sexual assault. She also talks about Victoria Police’s investigation into the Sydney Swans. Sarah dives into the business scandal that could see Bill Gates’ 23-year-old daughter go to prison. A fashion tech startup, a billionaire nepo baby, and a bunch of celebrity investors? Sounds like the making of a Netflix series. Plus, AOC freezes her eggs, the world mourns Hayden Panettiere, what happened to Jason Arday, and One Nation is one of the “gayest” parties!? Big Small Talk Instagram Sarah-Jane's Instagram Hannah's Instagram This ep was produced by Sarah Jane Adams and Justine Landis-Hanley See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 12 · 54 min
Do We Need To Pop The AI Bubble? With Cory Doctorow
Everyone has an opinion on AI. Some say it's the inevitable future. Others think it'll take our jobs, fuel misinformation, and hand even more power to Big Tech and billionaires. This week, Sarah sits down with bestselling author, technologist and journalist Cory Doctorow to unpack whether AI really is the future or just a wildly overhyped tech bubble. They also dive into Cory's theory of the "reverse centaur", why bosses and billionaires are so obsessed with AI, why he believes it's one of the dumbest financial investments of our time, and where Australia fits into the global AI race. Cory Doctorow appears at Sydney's Festival of Dangerous Ideas from 22-23 August and Now or Never on 25 August at Melbourne's The Capitol, presented by The Wheeler Centre. Cory's books mentioned in this episode: Enshittifcation: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI: How to Think About Artificial Intelligence Before It's Too Late See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 11 · 52 min
Open AI Hosts Influencer Retreat, Sydney Towle & The Celebs Are In LOVE
First up, Hannah unpacks the ABC’s apology to Gina Rinehart over comments made during its new Gen Z-coded show, Race Around the World. What’s really upsetting people here – the fact the public broadcaster said sorry OR who it is saying sorry to? Sarah talks about the OpenAI luxury influencer brand trip (yep you read that right). The theme? Eco-friendly summer camp. Think farm-to-table meals, beekeeping, and cognitive dissonance. The girls how TikToker Sydney Towle changed the way we see cancer, and why Abdul El-Sayed’s monumental Michigan Senate nom could shake-up the Democratic party. Plus, Role Model loves Dakota Johnson, Olivia Rodrigo’s normie finance boyfriend, and Gracie Abrams has Phoebe Bridges’ sheets!? Big Small Talk Instagram Sarah-Jane's Instagram Hannah's Instagram This ep was co-produced by Sarah-Jane Adams and Justine Landis-Hanley See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 5 · 38 min
Do Men Find Party Girls Intimidating? With Lucy and Nikki
When did women become expected to grow out of having fun? This week, Sarah is joined by Happy Hour hosts Lucy & Nikki to chat about dating as a party girl, whether men are intimidated by fun, successful women, being on the apps and why your friendships shouldn't disappear just because you're in a relationship. Sarah-Jane Instagram Big Small Talk Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
August 4 · 1 hr 9 min
Ariana Grande, AI goes rogue & Nara Smith is NOT a Trad Wife
BSTies – it’s been a week! Sarah talks about Ariana Grande’s new album (which has sparked intense online debate around her appearance), as well as her decision to step away from public life. The girls chat about why we need to be careful in these conversations concerning Ariana’s body and health, but also about the dangers of collective silence. Hannah dives into how a rogue OpenAI escaped its container and hacked another company. And just a few days later, Anthropic (the company behind Claude) revealed that THEIR model had done the same thing three times. Yay. Plus, a Nantucket store goes viral for putting up a “No Influencers” sign, former NRL player and BookTok sweetheart Luke Bateman outs gambling companies at a Senate inquiry, and Nara Smith is actively walking back her #tradwife label. Oh, and everybody please welcome producer Justine! Big Small Talk Instagram Sarah-Jane's Instagram Hannah's Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 29 · 42 min
Why Is There Moral Panic Around Sex? With Dr Esme Louise James
This week, Sarah sits down with historian, author and educator Dr Esme Louise James, creator of Kinky History, to explore the fascinating history of sex, desire and shame. Esme explains how many of the things we consider "new" or "unnatural" have actually existed for millennia, and how our modern attitudes towards sex have been shaped by history, religion, medicine, law and power. They also discuss Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated film The Odyssey, and why Esme believes it stripped away the complexity of its female characters and sanitised the role sex played in Homer's original epic. Big Small Talk Instagram Sarah-Jane's Instagram Hannah's Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 28 · 1 hr 28 min
The Last Romanovs: The Story of Anastasia PART ONE
If you grew up watching Anastasia, chances are you believed there was always a chance the youngest Romanov princess escaped. But the true story behind one of history's most enduring mysteries is even more extraordinary than the film. In this special two-part crossover with Ainslie Harvey's The Hot History Podcast, Sarah is joined by historian and host Ainslie to uncover the true story behind the world's most famous grand duchess. Together, they explore the rise and fall of the Romanov dynasty, Rasputin's influence, the Russian Revolution, the family's final days, and the mystery that captivated the world for decades: did Anastasia really survive? Part Two is out now. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 28 · 41 min
The Last Romanovs: The Story of Anastasia PART TWO
The mystery isn't over !!! In part two of our VERY special The Hot History Podcast crossover, we unravel the century-long question that captivated the world: did Princess Anastasia really survive? From the famous imposters and Soviet cover-ups to the discovery of the Romanovs' remains, DNA testing with Prince Philip, and the family's surprising legacy under Vladimir Putin, we separate fact from fiction. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 28 · 1 hr 3 min
Hannah Ferguson Runs Against the PM, The Odyssey & Matty Healy's Wedding
It's good to be back!! Hannah has officially announced she's running against the Prime Minister at the next federal election. The girls chat about what she'll be campaigning for, why she's doing it, how she's feeling, and what it means for the podcast. Sarah dives into the film everyone can't stop talking about, The Odyssey, unpacking how it was made, why Christopher Nolan insisted on shooting it for IMAX and his refusal to use CGI or AI. Hannah then unpacks Pauline Hanson's comments on domestic violence, which sparked widespread backlash, before breaking down the bizarre moment Barnaby Joyce went viral for yelling at a dog on live TV. Plus, Charli XCX drops her long-awaited new album, Matty Healy gets married, Trump declares he'll run for president again after the White House Correspondents' Dinner, and we pay tribute to the legendary Sam Neill. Big Small Talk Instagram Sarah-Jane's Instagram Hannah's Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 22 · 47 min
The Pressure To Be Extraordinary In Your 20s. With Jemma Sbeg
Have we accidentally created an impossible definition of success? This week, Sarah is joined by Jemma Sbeg, host of The Psychology of Your 20s, one of the world's biggest podcasts, now adapted for Netflix - to unpack the pressure so many of us feel to achieve something extraordinary before 30. Together they explore the psychology behind comparison, burnout, perfectionism, quarter-life crises, social media's impact on ambition, and why the finish line for success always seems to move. If you've ever felt behind despite loving your life, this conversation is for you. Big Small Talk Instagram Sarah-Jane Adams Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 15 · 38 min
What Does A Pop Stars Wellness Routine Look Like? With Kita Alexander
This week, Sarah is joined by pop star Kita Alexander. ARIA-nominated, a collaborator of Fisher, started out with Dua Lipa (who she opened for on the Radical Optimism tour), Kita has just released her new album, Rage, which she will be touring this year! Together, they chat about her wellness routine, fitness habits, anxieties, and the role meditation plays in navigating both everyday life and major career moments. Then, inspired by her new album, they unpack the idea of rage: what happens when you stop worrying about being "the nice girl", why so many women struggle to express anger, and whether it's possible to be both soft and grounded while moving through difficult emotions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 9 · 48 min
What Would You Say To Your 16-Year-Old Self? With Jessica Mauboy
This is a really special episode. Jessica Mauboy has one of those rare energies that instantly makes you feel at ease, and this conversation is such a genuine reflection on a career that has come full circle. From navigating fame at just sixteen during the unforgiving 2000s media era, being body shamed by Kyle Sandilands, landing a record deal and leading roles in Hollywood, to becoming a mum, returning to that same show as a mentor and championing the next generation of First Nations artists. We talk about reconnecting with your inner child, trusting your intuition, finding your way back to your roots, and how success changes as you grow. Please do watch and listen to the very special That BlackFella Show back on ABC iView now. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 7 · 1 hr 10 min
Taylor Swift's MSG Wedding, Dua Lipa Library & Karlie Kloss
The Taylor Swift Wedding has happened. It's the biggest pop culture story of the year (probably) and we have plenty to unpack. We chat about the venue, Adam Sandler officiating, performances, the extensive (and yes, controversial) guest list, the raffle, the impact on NYC citizens and the comparisons to Bezo's. Next up, Karl Stefanovic has now also been axed by ARN as well. He opens up about that while interviewing Piers Morgan on a yacht. Dua Lipa opens a library in one of Europe's most famous, beautiful bookshops. The library is a permanent collection of hotly debated or banned books. We then talk through the tragic murder of a teenage girl in Thailand at the hands of an Australian man. Finally, we unpack supermodel Karlie Kloss recent PR moves, opening up about her marriage to a Kushner and becoming a media mogul. Then of course, we had to mention the Prime Minister playing a game of shag, marry, date. Big Small Talk Instagram Sarah-Jane's Instagram Hannah's Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 1 · 42 min
Your Frivolous Questions, Our Hot Takes.
It's time for hot takes over tea. How do you navigate personal relationships when your job is having opinions on the internet? Have we ever felt lost in our careers? How do we feel about getting married? And seriously, do Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos have therapists? This week both Hannah and Sarah are answering YOUR hot takes and burning questions, from how we actually met to our most controversial opinions, our "hear me out" crushes, comfort movies, whether streaming killed cinema, and what you should do if you spot us out in the wild!! It's a proper catch-up, with plenty of oversharing, questionable takes and a few things you probably weren't expecting us to say. All while sipping on a Lipton Matcha! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 30 · 1 hr 9 min
Karl Stefanovic, Taylor Swift Wedding Rumours & Jack Schlossberg
It's been a BIG week and, honestly, one of our most interesting episodes yet. We kick things off by breaking down why Karl Stefanovic was axed from Nine, his viral "I'm free" video, and what we think comes next. Sarah then dives into Kylie Jenner's new partnership with Meta AI Glasses and whether the feminisation of tech is finally enough to make wearable AI cool. Hannah unpacks Australia's newest teal political party and what they're hoping to represent. Then, we have the best time going through all the reports and rumours surrounding Taylor Swift's wedding. We also break down New York City's primary election, where Zohran Mamdani-backed candidates all won while JFK's grandson, Jack Schlossberg, lost. Finally, in our Q&A, we answer a listener question on Australia's FIFA Women's World Cup campaign and where the tournament goes from here. Big Small Talk Instagram Sarah-Jane's Instagram Hannah's Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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