Listen & Chat With Chrissy Mack

CHRISTINE MCCORMACK

Tune in to Listen & Chat With Chrissy Mack, where we bring you the best stories, interviews, and moments from the shows, curated just for you. Enjoy engaging Trevor McCormack Music Interviews, insights into the Northern Beaches Entertainment Shows, and exclusive interviews from Radio Northern Beaches. Catch your favorite segments anytime on your preferred podcast platform and stay connected to the vibrant spirit of the Northern Beaches!

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183 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes183

Newest first

May 18 · 12 min
Chrissy Mack's Rant: Unpacking Australia's Housing Crisis
Join Chrissy Mack on the RnB Podcast as she dives deep into the housing crisis in Australia. In this episode, Chrissy sets aside political rhetoric and media spin to explore the real roots of the crisis. Discover a candid analysis of how we arrived at this point, and what needs to change to address the challenges facing Australians today. Tune in for an honest and insightful discussion that cuts through the noise.
May 13 · 25 min
Harmony Across Cultures: A Conversation with Michael Atherton
Join host Michael Lester as he sits down with Michael Atherton AM, Foundation Professor of Music at the University of Western Australia. Explore Atherton's lifelong passion for music, his compositions, performances, and recordings. Discover his work with groups like the Renaissance Players and Sirocco, and his collaborations with diverse musicians across Australia's many cultures. Learn about his commitment to music education and his unique approach to blending cultures, genres, and instruments.
May 8 · 21 min
Ngarraya: Music, Identity, and Place
Join host Michael Lester as he sits down with Yaegl musician Michael Birk to explore his new album, "Ngarraya." Discover the significance of Birk's music and language to his identity and meaning. Dive into the personal stories and struggles reflected in his lyrics, deeply rooted in place and country. Listen in as they discuss songwriting, performance, and record production, and enjoy a few tracks from his latest album. Celebrate the power of music to connect and express profound personal and cul
May 6 · 29 min
NDIS Blowout with Roger Beale
In this episode of the RNB Podcast, Michael Lester interviews Roger Beale AO, former Australian public service departmental head, on the NDIS blowout. Introduced in 2013 by Prime Minister Julia Gillard, the National Disability Insurance Scheme was a revolutionary welfare policy based on the right to assistance for those with permanent disabilities. Explore how the scheme has evolved over nearly 15 years, now supporting close to 700,000 people at a cost of $50 billion annually, making it the thir
May 5 · 28 min
Dear Son: Indigenous Voices, Masculinity, and the Path to Justice
In this RNB Podcast, Michael Lester interviews Thomas Mayo, Torres Strait Islander writer, unionist, human rights advocate, and Uluru Statement signatory. They discuss Mayo’s edited collection Dear Son—letters between Indigenous fathers and sons that challenge toxic stereotypes about masculine identity. The conversation covers how the work has been adapted into a powerful stage play (touring nationally in 2025), the impact of the Voice referendum no vote, and Mayo’s book Always Was, Always Will
May 1 · 27 min
Divestment Dilemma: HMAS Penguin, Middle Head, and the Fight to Preserve Public Heritage
In this RNB Podcast episode, Michael Lester interviews Jill L'Estrange of the Headland Preservation Group about the proposed divestment sale of HMAS Penguin, the historic waterfront naval facility at Middle Head, Mosman. Explore the community objections, the campaign to keep the site in public hands, and how these decisions intersect with defence budgeting and heritage protection. A thoughtful look at preserving public heritage amid development pressures on Sydney Harbour's Middle Head-Georges H
April 27 · 23 min
Job Reimagined: A World-Class Australian Production
In this RNB Podcast, Chrissy Mack interviews producer Jason Blaiklock and composer Anthony MacDermott about the Australian take on the Book of Job. Explore how local producers and a brilliant cast bring this timeless tragedy to life, featuring insights into adaptation, score, and the creative process behind a world-class, homegrown interpretation of Job.
April 23 · 29 min
Liberal Renewal in Focus: James Griffin on Australia’s Political Reboot
In this Friday RNB Podcast, Michael Lester talks with NSW Liberal MP James Griffin, former Environment and Heritage Minister and current Shadow Minister for Energy, Climate Change, Digital AI, and Investment. They dissect the Liberal Party’s brand challenges after a historic federal defeat, the plunge in polling, and the rise of new leadership at national and NSW levels. Explore strategies for renewal and regeneration, the path to rebuilding trust, and how party direction might shape Australia’s
April 23 · 29 min
Looking from the North: Australia’s History from the Top Down
In this RNB Podcast, Michael Lester interviews Henry Reynolds, Australian of the Year (2015) and distinguished historian of settler-indigenous relations. They discuss Reynolds’ new book, Looking from the North: Australian History from the Top Down (New South Books, 2025), which reframes Australia’s colonisation as two distinct acts—1788 in the southeast under imperial sovereignty and post-1860 expansion in the north under Australian sovereignty. The conversation delves into land settlement, demo
April 20 · 15 min
Boosting Your Business with Terry Kennedy
Join Chrissy Mack as she interviews Terry Kennedy from Thryv in this must-listen episode. Discover strategies for managing your online reviews and reputation, building business resilience and growth through smarter technology, and unlocking the secret to getting your small business on page one of Google. Learn how to ensure your business is the one chosen by AI. Tune in for valuable insights and tips to enhance your business success.
April 18 · 29 min
RNB Podcast: Saving Lives with Michael Lester and Max Dagenais
In this episode of the RNB Podcast, Michael Lester interviews Max Dagenais, founder and CEO of Heart Safe Australia. Discover how 30,000 Australians suffer sudden cardiac arrest out of hospitals each year, with a staggering 90% dying prematurely. Max discusses the critical steps to saving lives: calling 000, applying CPR, and using a defibrillator. Learn about the importance of community awareness, training, and the availability of defibrillators in reducing fatalities that surpass those from ro
April 15 · 27 min
Deborah Conway: From Man Overboard to The Book of Life
In this RNB episode, Michael Lester chats with Deborah Conway, tracing her eventful music career—from the 1980s with Do Re Mi and the hit "Man Overboard," through a vibrant 1990s solo run, to collaborations with her partner Zygier. They discuss the evolution of her craft, her foray into musical theatre with The Book of Life, and her 2025 autobiography. The conversation touches on themes like "Human Sounds" and the tension between human artistry and AI-generated music, as well as Conway's recent
April 13 · 29 min
Pittwater Art Scene: Dennis King in Conversation with Michael Lester
In this RNB episode, Michael Lester chats with Dennis King, a Northern Beaches artist, about the vibrant community art scene, the annual Pittwater exhibition featuring 20 artists, and the Pittwater Artists Trail open studio events in 2026. Learn about the exhibition schedule (Newport Community Centre, March 27-29) with works for sale and a fundraising silent auction, plus details on the open studio trails (July 25-26 and November 21-22, 2026). A showcase of local talent, community engagement, an
April 10 · 21 min
Ngarrayaw: Michael Birk, Music, and Country Identity
In this RMB episode, Michael Lester chats with Northern Beaches artist Michael Birk about his new album Ngarrayaw, his band The Recognisers, and how language, place, and culture shape his songwriting. Explore his personal stories, performance approach, and production insights as we spin tracks from the latest album, celebrating language, landscape, and belonging.
April 8 · 29 min
Code of Capital vs. Democracy: An Interview with Katharina Pistor
In this episode, Michael Lester chats with Katharina Pistor, professor of comparative law at Columbia University, about how legal doctrines shape capitalism and concentrate power. Drawing on her landmark works, including The Code of Capital (Princeton, 2019) and The Law of Capitalism (Yale, 2025), Katharina discusses the tensions between law, economics, and democracy, challenging the Chicago School’s dominance and exploring ways to transform the legal framework to promote more equitable wealth a
April 6 · 6 min
The Guitar Ascendant: 1968 — The Year the Guitar Became a Voice
In this NBR (RNB) episode, Chrissy Mack guides you through 1968, the year the electric guitar rose from tool to voice—shaping rock, blues, and pop. Tune into a curated playlist and hear the story behind the sound that built a legend, as Chrissy traces the guitar’s ascent and its impact on a generation.
April 4 · 29 min
Policy and Protests: An Interview with Jacqui Scruby
In this episode, Michael Lester interviews Jacqui Scruby, independent NSW MP for Pittwater. They discuss her stance on contemporary issues including anti-protest laws, policing, and civil liberties, in the wake of significant events such as the Bondi massacre and President Herzog’s visit. The conversation also covers the rise of populist polling for One Nation and contrasts with Scruby’s commitment to genuine community consultation and evidence-based policy.
April 2 · 29 min
War Power Reform in Australia: AWPR, AUKUS, and Global Legality
In this RNB Podcast episode, Michael Lester interviews Dr. Alison Bronowski AM, a former Australian diplomat and AWPR advocate, about the case for reforming Australia’s war powers. They explore the implications of U.S. strikes on Iran, the domestic and international legality debates, and how Australia’s involvement through the AUKUS pact could shape its strategic posture and entanglements. A timely discussion on national security, governance, and the pathways for responsible defense policy.
March 30 · 29 min
ESG Unveiled: Sustainable Value Creation and the Global ESG Movement
In this RNB Podcast episode, Michael Lester interviews Josh Dawes (with Sydney energy and sustainability insights from Josh White) about the rise of ESG—environmental, social, and governance criteria—as a framework for evaluating value. From the origins in UN guidelines to its global reach, explore how ESG data guides investments across over a thousand pension funds and roughly $130 trillion in assets, the debates over greenwashing, and the ongoing political backlash in the U.S. against ESG as a
March 23 · 29 min
A Few Good Men: Justice, Honor, and Standing Up for the Truth
Join Michael Lester in an exclusive interview with Paul Winchester, the creator and founder of Point Break Theatre, as they discuss the powerful play and upcoming classic film adaptation of A Few Good Men. Running at the Star of the Sea Theatre from March 20–29 (trybooking.com), this courtroom drama explores themes of truth, justice, honor, and loyalty. Bailey Parker and David Allsopp, the lead actors, share insights into their roles in this compelling story of standing up against power in the p