Quick Smart

The show that feeds you big ideas in bite-sized pieces

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.

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?

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? 

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?

Call it romantically reckless or fiscally responsible, more Aussies are considering ENM (ethical non-monogamy). So, do these relationships work? And how can you stop jealousy taking hold?

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?

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?

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?  

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”?

Body odour. It's one of those things we all experience, but rarely talk about. This week, how BO became a social taboo, why you shouldn't fear aluminium in anti-perspirants, and whether natural deodorants are as effective as the conventional kind.

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. 

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.

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'?

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?

Elon Musk did that questionable “hand salute” at a Trump rally. Now, Germany's far-right party has doubled its share of votes. How did we get here, and what could happen next?

Australians love to crack open a ‘cold one', but increasingly we're turning to non-alcoholic beers, wines and spirits. Why have NoLo drinks become popular? What goes into them – and are they healthier?  

Award ceremonies, like the Oscars and GRAMMYs, used to be the height of glamour and success. But are these events increasingly irrelevant? Or are we just seeing them in a different light?

Award ceremonies, like the Oscars and GRAMMYs, used to be the height of glamour and success. But are these events increasingly irrelevant? Or are we just seeing them in a different light?

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?

Getting pregnant through a fertility clinic can be difficult and wildly expensive. That's why thousands of Australians are using Facebook groups to solicit sperm from strangers. But not all donors have pure intentions.

Australia buys more clothes per person than any other country, and most is made of plastic. So, when did synthetic fibres take over fashion? And why does it matter?

Millions of people are turning to AI chatbots for friendship, fun banter and even romance. But these digital companions come with a dangerous catch.

Mormons seem to be everywhere right now—on our TVs and social media feeds. So, why is the zeitgeist currently obsessing over The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its followers?And if you're Quick Smart obsessed, make sure to listen until the end for an announcement about the show.

When you fall asleep do you dream of falling Tetris pieces? There's a name for this – the Tetris Effect. Scientists have been investigating its use in boosting creativity and productivity and brands are trying to figure out how to monetise it. So just how malleable does playing video games make our minds? And is it possible for companies to use this research to hijack our dreams? Guest: Shelby Traynor for All In The Mind

Linguists have discovered that teenage girls play a significant role in shaping our future vocabulary.But how do 16-year-old girls end up being the arbiters of what we will and won't say? 

Our relationship with pets has dramatically shifted over the decades. Historically, we domesticated and bred pets for utility, such as catching rats and protection. Now, we breed them to be as cute as possible and consider them part of the family unit. 

Australians generally like to think we're a classless society and that if you have a go, you get a go. This could be one of the reasons why most Australians think they're middle class, but the figures say otherwise. So, how did we get here, and is our perception of class shifting?

You often hear about "mistrials" or cases being "thrown out of court," but how do these situations actually occur? In an age of constant information overload, how can a juror keep their mind clear and unbiased? And what are the consequences when jurors can't resist the temptation to engage with outside sources?

23andMe launched in 2016 to widespread excitement from Silicon Valley evangelists. It promised a simple and fun way to explore our genetic makeup.Eight years on, 15 million people are now left wishing they had dug deeper into the T&Cs and understood what they were actually signing up for.

This year's European summer saw an unprecedented influx of tourists flocking to idyllic holiday destinations. Tourists faced longer lines, fully booked accommodations, and soaring prices. But what is the cost for the locals who call these places home, and how did these once peaceful spots become overrun with visitors? 

If you're in a relationship with someone in the same profession as you, you're not alone. Most people are, and there are stats to prove it. So why do we end up with people just like us, and what does this say about us as a society?

The US election is around the corner, and the polls are neck and neck. Both candidates are zeroing in on key voter groups that could win them the election.

How much should inner peace cost? For the people selling the idea of mindfulness and inner peace the price tag can be limitless. Apps, retreats, balms and oils, mindfulness is now something you can buy. So how did a practice with ties to an ancient religion turn into a mindfulness industrial complex?

Around the globe, governments have been shifting across the political spectrum. Have some leaders exploited the public's desire for change, and are we seeing an increase in dictators and demagogues?

The advent of dating apps gave a whole new meaning to the phrase 'plenty of fish in the sea.' Suddenly, you could cast your search for 'the one' into the limitless depths of the internet. So why are people ghosting the apps and instead looking for love IRL? 

The prince of Saudi Arabia has a vision for a sci-fi like city in the middle of the desert called NEOM and he wants you to move in. The futuristic sci-fi city is being spruiked online by influencers and if you've seen the marketing you might think it's too good to be true. So will the prince's sci-fi dreams turn into reality and why does he want to get people to move to the middle of the desert in Saudia Arabia? Guest: Matt Bevan for If You're Listening If you liked this episode you might like this one Your cheat sheet for the US Presidential election or this one on why we don't have driverless cars yet. 

How much is that doggy in the window impacting climate change? And do we need to take paws for thought before buying a pet? 

Amidst the culture wars and identity politics stirred up during the election campaign, can Kamala Harris secure the presidency and make history? And if history is made do her policies align with the progressive youth base that have memed her into a lime green oval office, or are these voters not seeing the forest for the coconut trees?

The whole world is moving towards a cashless future. So what does our digital money future look like and is it for the best? Guest: Richard Aedy for The Money 

Sex tech conjures up images of hot robots sent from the future and while that might be where this multi million dollar industry is headed - for now a big slice of the demand is from people hoping to enjoy their own body so why do we make that so hard for people living with disabilities? And who are the inventors and engineers breaking down the taboos to create the products that suit their needs?Guest - Rebecca McLaren for the Health Report If you liked this episode of Quick Smart you might enjoy our chat with Lucy Sweeney about the neuroscience of singing in a choir or our episode with James Purtill on why we still don't have driverless cars.

Linguists have discovered that teenage girls play a significant role in shaping our future vocabulary.But how do 16-year-old girls end up being the arbiters of what we will and won't say? Guest: Fiona Pepper for Future Tense 

Where is the case now and when will mushroom murder-accused Erin Patterson face trial? We find out and get into the weeds about the legality and ethics of making a true crime podcast happening in real time. If you liked this episode of Quick Smart you might like this other episode we did about The truth behind reality TV villains or this one about The mysterious disappearance of Agatha Christie

When you fall asleep do you dream of falling Tetris pieces? There's a name for this – the Tetris Effect. Scientists have been investigating its use in boosting creativity and productivity and brands are trying to figure out how to monetise it. So just how malleable does playing video games make our minds? And is it possible for companies to use this research to hijack our dreams? Guest: Shelby Traynor for All In The MindIf you liked this episode of Quick Smart you might like this other episode we did about whether we're all too addicted to our phones or this one about how to find out whether you're in introvert or an extrovert

Cryptocurrency and block chain technology has dramatically shifted the way criminals launder money - so what are the techniques some criminals are using to clean dirty money and what does it have to do with a video game about salamanders? Guest: Nick Baker for The Money and ABC Digital And if you liked this episode check out some of the other episodes we've made with The Money like this one about how the RBA wants you to lose your job, or this one about how the Australian housing crisis got so bad. 

If you're a woman between 25 and 45 on Instagram there's a good chance you've seen ads for egg freezing. And in recent years, the popularity of IVF clinics has sky rocketed - so much so that the clinics are are actually starting to run out of storage space. So what has led to the huge uptick in people wanting to freeze their eggs and is it actually the insurance policy that people think it is?Guest: Sophie Kesteven for ABC NewsAnd if you liked this episode check out our episodes about office romances with Zoe Ferguson or the woman who got a Pap smear everyday for 21 years with Belinda Smith.

The Olympic Games are about to kick off and athletes from all over the world will make their way to France to compete. The event is watched by billions, there's a massive increase to local tourism and of course an eye watering amount of advertising dollars at stake so it's wild to think that at one stage - the Olympics was almost cancelled for good. Guest: Jack Schmidt for God Forbid

In the back of our minds we all know that there's very little that's real about reality TV… but you might be shocked to discover just how deceptive – and ethically questionable – some of the television tactics really are. So are the humans behind these characters we love to hate really so awful? And how does being cast as a TV villain impact a person's mental health and life outside the show?And a content note: this episode contains discussion of suicide and mental health. Guest: Annika Blau for Background Briefing

Social media is a huge part of our lives. We use it to talk to friends, to read about what's happening in the world, and to find out whether or not something is cake. But recently there's been talk of banning people under the age 16 from using social media because of the negative impact on their mental health and to protect them from harm. So is the government's plan for age restriction really the best way to tackle this crisis? And will it actually improve the wellbeing of kids or will it just push their social media use underground? Guest: Ange Lavoipierre Technology Reporter for ABC News

AI is impacting every creative industry - and movies are no exception. If a young Harrison Ford can be churned out of a computer, what does the future of film look like? And would you feel differently about your favourite TV show if you knew the characters in it were created by a computer?Guest: Bev Wang for Stop Everything!This episode was originally published in January 2024

Whether you're singing in a karaoke room at 2am, or at a more reasonable time with a local choir, there's something about singing without inhibiton that feels great. Our brains get this warm fuzzy feeling when we come together and sing as a group - and it turns out there's neuroscience that backs that up. So what are the health benefits for our brain and mental health? Should we all be joining a community choir?Guest: Lucy Sweeney for ABC Online