Sobering conversation - the state of political discourse in Australia -(EP 29)
This week it's just the two of us, after the alleged attack on Helen Haines, the independent member for Indi, outside her electorate office in Wangaratta. We felt it was a week to talk it through rather than bring in a guest. We discuss safety, public service, and the state of our political culture. We delve into what the attack means for elected representatives, the people falling through the cracks of our support systems, anger as a force in politics, and what it would actually take to turn the temperature down. Along the way we explore humour and larrikinism in public life, the professionalisation of politics, respectful disagreement within parties, and how we rebuild the connections that let people disagree without hating each other. Our thoughts are with Helen and her family.
A reminder that tickets are still available for our first live show at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday 25 November, 6 to 9pm. It's $20 at the door, which comes back to you as a beer credit, and free if money is tight. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share it with a friend.
https://events.humanitix.com/what-s-your-poison-live-show-last-drinks-for-2026 (https://events.humanitix.com/what-s-your-poison-live-show-last-drinks-for-2026)
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Context
10:31 The Attack on Helen Haynes
18:51 Mental Health and Violence
20:23 Mental Health and Societal Fringes
23:39 Political Discourse and Public Sentiment
30:12 Impact of COVID on Government Perception
37:30 The Role of Humor in Politics
51:53 Cultural Norms and Political Etiquette
52:12 Cricket as a Metaphor for Political Norms
55:51 The Need for Diverse Political Backgrounds
58:28 Feedback Loops in Governance
01:02:28 Encouraging Respectful Disagreement
01:06:54 Empathy and Civil Discourse
01:09:25 Navigating Complex Political Issues
16 Oct 2026
Ageing, Death, and Bidets - with Sarah Macdonald (EP 28)
This week we're joined by broadcaster Sarah Macdonald about Club Sandwich, a podcast community for people caught between caring for ageing parents and everything else in life. We discuss ageing, caring, and how the generations look after each other. Sarah shares her years in the sandwich generation and how that led to building Club Sandwich. We delve into the hidden army of family carers, our awkward relationship with death and dying, the strain on aged care and private health, generational fairness, and what we do with the wealth older Australians hold. Along the way we explore how the system could better support the whole family, and the communities, cultural attitudes and conversations that help us age with dignity.
A reminder that tickets are now available for our first live show at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday 25 November, 6 to 9pm.
https://events.humanitix.com/what-s-your-poison-live-show-last-drinks-for-2026 (https://events.humanitix.com/what-s-your-poison-live-show-last-drinks-for-2026)
You can find Club Sandwich wherever you get your podcasts.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates
03:41 Introducing Sarah McDonald
07:35 The Sandwich Generation Explained
15:02 Generational Perspectives on Aging
18:59 Navigating Aging and Death Conversations
24:05 Navigating Death and Communication
27:18 Personal Perspectives on Death
29:04 Aged Care Politics and Challenges
30:55 The Aged Care System's Burden
33:18 Financial Implications of Aged Care
37:43 Intergenerational Issues in Aged Care
40:50 Policy Responses to Aged Care Crisis
48:17 The Sandwich Generation's Struggles
49:39 Cultural Perspectives on Intergenerational Living
52:54 Redefining Community and Housing
54:49 The Challenge of Inheritance and Wealth Distribution
57:39 Societal Attitudes Towards Aging and Caregiving
01:01:46 The Future of Care: Robots and Community Solutions
10 Oct 2026
Gin, God, and Gaza with Rabbi Gersh Lazarow
This week we are joined by Rabbi Gersh Lazarow, founding rabbi of Shtiebel in Melbourne, for a conversation we have mostly avoided on this show. We recorded it a few days after the anniversary of October 7. It is frank, sometimes uncomfortable, and one of the more important episodes we have done. We discuss personal journeys, cultural traditions, and identity. Gersh shares his story of leaving apartheid South Africa and how he came to be a rabbi and build Shtiebel. We delve into faith and culture, the war in Gaza, the experience of Jewish Australians over the past three years, and how hard it has become to hold complexity when everything pushes us into sides.
We close on how people with very different views can still sit at the same table, what the rabbinical tradition of debate offers here, the need for community and understanding amidst division, with an emphasis on the role of language and shared experiences in fostering connection.
A reminder that our first live show is at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday 25 November, 6 to 9pm. Invitations go out this week.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates
03:34 Welcoming Rabbi Gersh Lazarow
05:32 Rabbi Gersh's Journey and Background
11:01 Exploring Faith and Spirituality
14:00 Cultural vs. Religious Identity
19:12 The Complexity of Current Events
26:30 Navigating the Dichotomy of Opinions
30:48 The Impact of Technology on Discourse
35:33 The Pain of Innocence in War
36:38 Accusations and Social Dynamics
37:19 Emboldened Voices and Experiences
41:04 The Ugliness of Modern Warfare
43:54 Personal Responsibility in Discourse
46:45 Navigating Community and Identity
50:55 The Shift in Political Discourse
54:21 Historical Context and Responsibility
57:10 Building Community Amidst Tension
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