Your alternative to talkback. Backchat is a weekly show of news, politics, interviews, discussion, satire, and feature reporting.
Hosted by Dani Zhang and Tanita Razaghi. Executive produced by Rebecca Cushway, with producers Dani Zhang, Holly Payne, Tanita Razaghi, Libby Hopper, Sana Shaikh, Lilly Grainger, Eva Sikes-Gerogiannis, Euan Kielly, Elisa Papaioannou, Grace Pittar, Jaspar McCahon-Boersma and Bridgette Donnellan.
Got an idea for a story? Email us: backchat@fbiradio.com We're also on Instagram @backchatfbiradio and X @BackchatFBi.
India hosting the 20th BRICS summit | An update on rezoning and the endangered swift parrot | Local band Fathom's run for Guinness World Record | Sydney Universities partnering with AI tech giants
Last weekend, India hosted the 20th iteration of the BRICS summit with the theme being 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability'. Producer Ella Hosty-Snelgrove gives us the rundown for what this summit entails, particularly with rising global tensions.
Following our endangered swift parrots from last week, we talk to MP for Drummoyne Stephanie Di Pasqua to see what local MPs are doing to preserve our local wildlife and what the future rezoning might look like.
Ever saw a world record and thought "I could do that"? Well, we hear it directly from local band Fathom as they attempt the world record for most gigs played in 12 hours - and for a good cause.
Finally, AI. Yeah, it's everywhere and now UNSW and USYD have revealed major partnerships with AI groups. Producer Euan Kelly exactly why this is making headlines and the impact is has had on university staff.
This episode of Backchat was hosted by Pongyada Sootthipong and James de Fraine-Murphy.
Produced by Ella Hosty-Snelgrove, Birdie Rinaldi, Euan Kielly and Maya Sathi.
Aired 19 September 2026 on Gadigal land.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
6 Sept 2026
Take-Home Assessment Restrictions | Pill Testing Made Permanent | Emergency Department Winter Surge | Sydney Fringe Festival
The New South Wales Department of Education has announced restrictions on take-home assessment tasks for Year 11 and 12 students starting later this year in response to the rise of generative AI use to complete assessment tasks. But is this change going to help, and what does the presence of AI mean for education at large? We hear from producer James de Fraine-Murphy, who spoke with Dr Matthew Hill to gain further insight on the topic.
It’s music festival season, and we’re looking into the New South Wales government’s plans to make drug checking a permanent scheme in music festivals across the state. CEO of Unharm, Dr Will Tregoning, joins us to talk about the scheme, and why community-based drug testing could be the next step.
New South Wales hospitals have been pushed to their limits this winter surge, with a record breaking number of patients admitted this year. We’re joined by Dr Fred Betros, the Australian Medical Association’s NSW branch president, to talk about where our hospital systems are failing to address the yearly surge.
The Sydney Fringe Festival started this week, and while the festival has historically played an important role for up-and-coming artists working outside the mainstream and in queer-focused spaces, cost-of-living struggles have transformed it into a space where young Sydneysiders can access entertainment for a reasonable price. Producer Birdie Rinaldi is joined by Georgia Gray-Spencer and Scott Whitmont to talk about the festival and its growing viewerbase.
This episode of Backchat was hosted by Holly Payne and Ella Hosty-Snelgrove.
Produced by James de Fraine-Murphy, Holly Payne, Maya Sathi, Euan Keilly, and Birdie Rinaldi.
Aired 5 September 2026 on Gadigal Land.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
3 Sept 2026
Misogyny in Australian elite mens sport | Preventing the bird flu spread | BEKS on hitting back at anti-trans rhetoric in QLD | Why is Castle Law making a comeback now? | AI music ban on ARIA charts
One of the most distressing aspects of the alleged sexual assault incident involving Sydney Swans players earlier this month is that we’ve heard it all before. What does that tell us about the culture of elite mens sport in Australia? Producer Ella Hosty-Snelgrove spoke to Professor Catharine Lumby about the overlap between patriotism, sport and misogyny.
In the last few weeks, incidences of the H5 bird flu strain have more than tripled across the country. Ecologist and author Darryl Jones joins to talk about about bird flu, bird feeding and preventing the spread of the virus from our own backyards.
Last month, a small pole dancing business in the Gold Coast went viral for denying a transgender woman from entering a woman-only space. Anti-trans rhetoric circulating our algorithms is just the start of the severe online hate and violence against trans people, with the Queensland government now calling for legislation reform on biological and gender definitions. Drag queen and pop sensation, BEKS, discusses her latest track hitting back at the anti-trans talk, TERF WERK.
If you’ve hopped off at Central Station and spotted an odd bit of graffiti reading “CASTLE LAW, FOR BABY ALEX” with a QR code leading you to Elaine Tan’s petition, you wouldn't be the only one. Castle Law is garnering support again after years of conservative campaigning. Why now? Varsha Yajman, journalist at Cheek Media and lawyer, joins to discuss Castle Law's comeback.
Producer Maya Sathi breaks down the AI music ban on the ARIA charts - how will it affect Aussie music and streaming platforms?
This episode of Backchat was hosted by Pongyada Sootthipong and Euan Kielly.
Produced by Ella Hosty-Snelgrove, Tarni Cruickshank, Shaya Hayworth, Jasper Brady, and Maya Sathi.
Aired 29 August 2026 on Gadigal land.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
Who has been a guest on Backchat
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Dr Ben Eltham
Dr Clara Tuck Meng Soo
Dr Kean-Seng Lim
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