The 9pm Edict

With just days remaining until Australia's federal election, who better to talk with than Scottish author and social researcher David F Porteous? Well, lots of people, but here we are.In this episode we do talk about the impending election, and quite a bit about sausages. But we also discuss important issues about transubstantiation, whether Princess Diana went straight to hell, why heaven is awash with bears, TV ratings, the taste of tuna, and for some reason the attraction of group face-licking.There's also quite a bit about genitals. And it's the final episode in the summer series.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00246/Please consider supporting this podcast:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

The summer series is dragging on, and there's still so many things on our minds. So joining me for a bonus episode is my good friend Snarky Platypus.In this episode we talk about lego, trains full of boomers, the echidnapus, and the panic about a so-called Chinese Spy Ship. And of course there's a few rants about election discourse and political polling.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00245/Please consider supporting the current crowdfunder. You have until 9pm AEST this Tuesday 22 April.https://the9pmedict.com/mid2025If you miss the deadline, there's always these links:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

There's a lot going on in The America. You may have noticed. So as the summer series grinds on — way behind schedule — we're joined by Associate Professor David Smith from the United States Study Centre.In this episode we talk, obviously, about the powers of POTUS and his Yalta 2.0 imperialist desires to annex Canada. And Greenland. And Mexico. We discuss how the new Trumpian America might affect Australia's favourite government program, AUKUS. And inevitably, we talk about Trump's weird relationship with Elon Musk.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00244/Please consider supporting this podcast with your cash-type money:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

As the summer series grinds on we're joined once again — well, after a gap of more than a year — by author and columnist John Birmingham. In this episode we talk, inevitably, about the nexus between Elon Musk and Donald Trump. But we also chat about Brisbane and the good old days, cancer, the Apple Vision Pro, World Expo 88, digital locks, physical fitness, and the links between hypermasculinity, Gamergate, and fascism.It also sees the return of the chia seed protein pudding, and yet more mentions of Umberto Eco.Full podcast details and credits:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00243/Please consider supporting this podcast with your cash-type money:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

Snarky Platypus and Stilgherrian return to that park in North Sydney park to record another uninformative trailer for their new podcast. Please ignore the squealing child.They'll be recording two pilot episodes in the coming weeks, just as soon as the paperwork is done for the music license.

The summer series continues, and it's more science. Today's special guest is infectious diseases physician Dr Trent Yarwood.In this episode we talk about infectious diseases, of course, from smallpox to long covid, and HIV to measles. But we also discuss the appendix, biological warfare, norovirus, poo, and the medical semiotics of bow ties.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00242/Please consider supporting this podcast with your cash-type money:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

Snarky Platypus and Stilgherrian sit in a North Sydney park to record a brief and uninformative trailer for their new podcast. They'll be recording two pilot episodes in the coming weeks, just as soon as the paperwork is done for the music license.

Happy New Year. It's time for another look at space news, I reckon, so once more my special guests are space archaeologist Dr Alice Gorman aka Dr Space Junk from Flinders University, and astrophysicist and founder of SpaceAustralia.com Rami Mandow.In this episode we talk about Mars, including its role as both a source of aliens and as a potential new home for humans. That does mean we dissect Elon Musk's comments about colonising Mars.We also talk about the space debris that fell on Kenya earlier this month— or was it something else? And we discuss Blue Origin's New Glenn launch vehicle which failed to launch on Monday, the future of human civilisation, early science fiction, O'Neill cylinders, and the pronunciation of Uranus.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00241/Please consider supporting this podcast with your cash-type money:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

Back at the start of the year, my good friend Snarky Platypus and I created some bingo cards for 2024. Two sets of 25 things that might happen. Well, we're now at the end of the year, so let's see how we went.You might want to follow along with the original blog post.https://stilgherrian.com/essay/bingo-card-2024/You might also want to listen to our half-time update from July.https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00224/In this episode we talk about sex education, high-speed trains, Nauru, Hong Kong, South Korea, television, NIMBYism, brain scans, and much more.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00240/Please consider supporting this podcast with your cash-type money:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

Our first special guest in the summer series is Scottish author and social researcher David F Porteous, and we're going to talk about everything that happened in 2024. Every single thing.Well, no. However we do have to talk about Donald Trump. Sorry, but we do.We also talk about the latest challenge to honesty on OnlyFans, the latest in adult diapers, certain aspects of biology, the Spanish Armada, Australia's love of Olympic-level breakdancing, and much more.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00239/Please consider supporting this podcast with your cash-type money:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

The first summer series episode of the Edict features Stilgherrian telling a personal story, plus a few other bits and pieces.In this episode he talks about his recent injuries and related hospital visits, the history of those hospitals, content warnings, dildos in Texas, and some old anti-vaxxers.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00238/Please consider supporting this podcast with your cash-type money:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

It's the final episode of the spring series, finally. And with all the weird digital policy action in Australia in recent weeks, I figured we'd better chat once more with Justin Warren, "consultant, freedom of information tragic, hexagon enthusiast, and creator of the CyberRating™ labelling scheme".In this episode we talk about Australia's newly-legislated social media ban for under-16s, sure. But we also talk about something called "systems intentionality", product safety, the new AI tool from MyHeritage that turns old photos into videos, and wine decanters,Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00237/Please consider supporting this podcast with your cash-type money:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

We're joined today by one of my favourite guests, space archaeologist Dr Alice Gorman aka Dr Space Junk from Flinders University.In this episode we talk about the research she and her colleagues have been doing with the International Space Station. Apparently it's rather like a share house. We wonder how you might develop a feminist map of the Moon. And as usual we veer off on plenty of tangents.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00236/Please consider supporting this podcast through this season's crowdfunder, The 9pm Summer Series 2024, by 5 December:https://the9pmedict.com/summer2024If you miss that deadline:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

No, we're not really on ketamine. But as the spring series continues we're going sideways with a bonus episode featuring my good friend Snarky Platypus and many, many topics.In this episode we talk about robot whales, the secrets of Dinosaur Club, Australia's proposed social media age restrictions (again), the truly horrible side effects of ketamine addiction, how Donald Trump and Elon Musk might change our world, the problem with our news media, and premix drinks.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00235/Please consider supporting this podcast through this season's crowdfunder, The 9pm Summer Series 2024, by 5 December:https://the9pmedict.com/summer2024If you miss that deadline:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

The spring series grinds on — and I do mean grinds — with friend of the pod, satirist Mark Humphries.In this episode we do talk about the thing that happened last week — the Trump thing — but we also talk about edible underwear, North Korean soldiers, British comedians Ben Elton, Rik Mayall, and Steve Coogan, whether straight people can do camp, and pixellated genitals.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00234/Please consider supporting this podcast through this season's crowdfunder, The 9pm Summer Series 2024, by 5 December:https://the9pmedict.com/summer2024If you miss that deadline:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

As the spring series continues we're joined by Scottish author and social researcher David F Porteous to talk about the thing that happened in The America this week — but also much more.In this episode we talk about Australia's plans to ban under-16s from social media,  a selection of animals to turn into jerky, Macaulay Culkin, British religious history, and why violence sometimes isn't wrong.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00233/Please consider supporting this podcast:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

As regular listeners to the Edict will know, I reckon Australians should know more about the other nations in our region. So our special guest today is journalist Erin Cook, who covers South-East Asia, and we're talking Indonesia and Thailand. Mostly.Erin produces the excellent newsletter “Dari Mulut ke Mulut”, an English-language summary of what's happening in the region.https://darimulut.beehiiv.comIn this episode we talk about Indonesia's soon-to-be president Prabowo Subianto and the nation's plans to move the capital from Jakarta to the new city of Nusantara. We attempt to give you an introduction to the complicated and often amusing politics of Thailand. And we take a side journey into the politics of Myanmar and two varieties of popular music.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00232/Please consider supporting this podcast:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

The spring series of the Edict kicks off properly with our first special guest and it's David Gerard, co-editor of the newsletter Pivot to AI. So guess what we talk about.Yes, in this episode we talk about artificial intelligence. Specifically, we test out Google's NotebookLM podcast creator, we discuss why the much-promoted AI utopia won't happen, we put the idea of a robot uprising into its cultural context, and much more.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00231/Please consider supporting this podcast:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

It's more or less the start of the spring series as Stilgherrian vents about three more things that got on his wick this week. He also plugs his current crowdfunding campaign, because of course he does.In this episode he talks about the shoddy journalism of the US presidential campaign, the problems of artificial intelligence, and his disturbing dreams.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00230/Please consider supporting this podcast via the current crowdfunder:https://the9pmedict.com/spring2024If you miss the deadline of 19 September:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

With so much news about social media in Australia right now, I thought I'd wrap up the winter series by speaking with Professor Axel Bruns from the Digital Media Research Centre at Queensland University of Technology.In this episode we discuss whether anything can replace what was Twitter, Australia's News Media Bargaining Code and Meta refusing to pay for news content, age restrictions for social media, the arrest of Telegram's CEO Pavel Durov, and why filter bubbles really aren't a thing.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00229/Please consider supporting this podcast via the current crowdfunder:https://the9pmedict.com/spring2024If you miss the deadline of 19 September:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

It's time for another podcast about space, so we're joined once again by astrophysicist Rami Mandow, founder of SpaceAustralia.com.In this episode we talk about what may be a new kind of pulsar, the cancellation of the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, three ways in which the solar system is being a jerk, Japanese folklore (no really), those astronauts who are definitely not "stuck" or "stranded" on the International Space Station because NASA says they're not, and the ZWO Seestar S50 smart telescope.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00228/Please consider supporting this podcast with a tip:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

Victorian-era Melbourne had a thriving sex industry, and the flashiest of the flash madams was Caroline Hodgson, aka Madame Brussels. My guest today is Barbara Minchinton, author of the new book, Madame Brussels: The Life and Times of Melbourne's Most Notorious Woman.In this episode we talk about Madame Brussels' life in the context of Victorian-era Melbourne. We cover sectarian disapproval her so-called "mixed marriage", some of the myths surrounding her, and the do-gooders who tried to shut her down.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00227/Please consider supporting this podcast with a tip:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

Have you ever been a victim of cybercrime? I know I have. I bet you have too. So let's talk about that now with Dr Miranda Bruce from UNSW Canberra, because she's been working on the World Cybercrime Index.In this episode we talk about the types of cybercrime and its different characteristics around the world, cybercrime factories and human trafficking, and how law enforcement agencies' views about their role all this  role seem to different those of us ordinary citizens.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00226/Please consider supporting this podcast with a tip:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

Finally the real special guests start hitting the Edict's winter series. It's Scottish author and social researcher David F Porteous. We do touch upon the recent UK election results, but there's much, much more.In this episode we talk about Armando Iannucci, lacerated ears, magic shoes, serial killers, haggis smuggling from Kenya, the weight of a teaspoon of sugar. and other things.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00225/Please consider supporting this podcast with a tip:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

Back at the start of the year, my good friend Snarky Platypus and I created some bingo cards for 2024. Two sets of 25 things that might happen. Well, we're half-way through the year, so let's see how we went.You might want to follow along with the original blog post.https://stilgherrian.com/essay/bingo-card-2024/In this episode we talk about Thai politics, the ongoing myth of a Melbourne airport railway, Rupert Murdoch and the nature of marriage, music created by AI, Nirvana, The Veronicas, the ongoing battle against HIV, mental illness, the South Pacific nations, Peter Dutton, and much more.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00224/Please consider supporting this podcast with a tip:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

It's more or less the start of the winter series as Stilgherrian vents about three things that got on his wick this week.In this episode he talks about some stupid political reporting from Canberra about Labor's equally stupid response to Senator Fatima Payman, a stupid law that will change nothing, and a stupid event that kicked off in Kuala Lumpur.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00223/This season's crowdfunding campaign has mere hours to run. Please click through and pledge your support. You have until 9pm AEST tomorrow, Thursday 4 July.https://the9pmedict.com/winter2024If you miss this deadline, please consider throwing in a tip at:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

The autumn series of the Edict concludes with a returning special guest, Scottish author and social researcher David F Porteous, to chat about the UK election campaigns and much, much more.We discuss cocaine and koalas, Scott Morrison's post-parliamentary career, Elon Musk's $56 billion package, the King's Birthday, and an encounter between an echidna and a tiger shark.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00222/Please support this podcast by considering a tip:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

The last couple of weeks have been full of online safety news, from eSafety Commissioner v X Corp in the Federal Court to AI to deepfakes. So my guest this time is. Zoe Jay Hawkins, head of policy design at ANU's Tech Policy Design Centre.In this episode we talk about the way AI and deepfakes might include this year's many elections, the polarisation of the online safety debate, free speech, content classification, and much more.This conversation was recorded on 6 June 2024.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00221/Please support this podcast by considering a tip:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

As the autumn series of the Edict overflows into Official Winter, we go arty with Esther Anatolitis, editor of Australian literary journal Meanjin and a colossus striding the Melbourne arts scene and beyond.In this episode we discuss the controversy over Vincent Namatjira's portrait of billionaire Gina Reinhart, and why Melbourne is so arty and, allegedly, so liveable. We touch upon Cole's Book Arcade, Melbourne being a UNESCO City of Literature, being Greek — her not me — and much more.This conversation was recorded on 20 May 2024, so listen all the way to the end for some updates.Disclosure: Meanjin is a client, though I am not being paid for this and it was all my idea.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00220/Please support this podcast by considering a tip:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

In recent weeks the Australian government has opened multiple fronts in its war against the social media giants. So who better to speak with than Justin Warren, “consultant, freedom of information tragic, hexagon enthusiast, and creator of the CyberRating™ labelling scheme”?In this episode we discuss the MediSecure data breach, Australia's new Digital ID laws, the pilot of online age assurance technology, plans to ban young people from using social media, how socialisation puts a little police officer in your head, the concept of Reward Cheese, the problem of apostrophes, eSafety Commissioner vs X Corp in the Federal Court, censorship more generally, and why farmers are complaining about space weather.This conversation was recorded on 21 May 2024Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00219/Please support this podcast by considering a tip:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

It may come as a shock, but it turns out the climate crisis has not yet been solved. So joining me for an update is Ketan Joshi, a researcher and communications consultant who works on climate-focused comms.We discuss why the atmosphere is a bathtub, why bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is absurd, and why more rain and snow doesn't mean things aren't warming up. We also talk about some dodgy statistics relating to hybrid vehicles, and Earth Day.And, sad to say, we riff off one of Ketan's blog posts to talk about Elon Musk and X — but trust me, it's interesting.This conversation was recorded on 22 April 2024Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00218/Please support this podcast by considering a tip:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

A chicken shop in New York leads into a commentary on the correct use of capital letters in a podcast of a slightly different style.This mini-episode was commissioned by Jamie Morrison as part of his reward for supporting The 9pm Autumn Series 2024 crowdfunding campaign.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00217/Please support this podcast by considering a tip:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

A comet! An eclipse! Everything is happening in space! To kick off the autumn series, my special guests are space archaeologist Dr Alice Gorman aka Dr Space Junk from Flinders University, and astrophysicist and founder of SpaceAustralia.com Rami Mandow.In this episode we talk about the plurality of worlds controversy, comets and eclipses, Irish astronomer Agnes Mary Clerke, and what it might take to keep the Moon nice — and much more.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00216/Please support this podcast by considering a tip:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

Have you heard? Artificial intelligence is a thing! Maybe it's even out of control? For that and various other reasons, my special guest for the final summer series episode is Professor Johanna Weaver, former cyber diplomat, and director of the Tech Policy Design Centre at ANU.We talk about making the internet more resilient, diplomacy during the covid times, and Australia's relatively competent approach to regulating artificial intelligence. I even reveal my true age.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00215/Please support this podcast by considering a tip:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

This episode's special guest is Scottish author and social researcher David F Porteous, who manages to deliver some fascinating commentary on happenings in Britain, while I increasingly suffer the totally unforeseeable effects of wine and gin.We talk about King Charles III, Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss, and sewage. We also discuss the important differences between Twisters, Quavers, Nik Naks, and Twiglets, and what wine you should drink with them.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00214/Please support this podcast by pledging your support to the current crowdfunding campaign by 9pm AEDT tonight, Thursday 7 March 2024:https://the9pmedict.com/autumn2024If you miss that deadline please consider a tip:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

This week I've been obsessed with a certain news story out of Glasgow, so I just had to do a podcast. Also, the episode I'd originally scheduled is running late — and that's my fault.In this episode we talk about Laurie Anderson's weird AI experiment, various other gripes about AI, politics, and alcohol pricing. There's audience feedback. There's a long whinge which might be interpreted by some as a defence of capitalism, but it's really a defence of the Industrial Revolution. And we ask whether eggs are the same as gin.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00213/Please support this podcast by pledging your support to the current crowdfunding campaign:https://the9pmedict.com/autumn2024If you miss that deadline please consider a tip:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

It's a marathon episode for serious political tragics! I'm joined by Snarky Platypus to discuss the ABC TV documentary series Nemesis about the three recent Liberal Party prime ministers of Australia. But we also find time to discuss other matters.We talk about the complexities of Lunar New Year, comedians, absinthe, magpies, Prague, trifle, lab-grown meaty rice, and the frustrations of the job search process.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00212/Please support this podcast by pledging your support to the current crowdfunding campaign:https://the9pmedict.com/autumn2024If you miss that deadline please consider a tip:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

With so much AI in the news, I thought our special guest for this first episode for 2024 should be Justin Warren, "consultant, freedom of information tragic, hexagon enthusiast, and creator of the CyberRating™ labelling scheme".In this episode we talk about panic, generative AI, millipedes, why Taylor Swift fans are so few in number that we need to create more of them using AI, smart toothbrushes, Elon Musk (briefly), disinformation, and the enshittification of everything.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00211/Please support this podcast by pledging your support to the current crowdfunding campaign:https://the9pmedict.com/autumn2024If you miss that deadline please consider a tip:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

It's a bonus, or at least unfunded, summer series episode with guest Snarky Platypus. This long and rambling conversation was recorded on Boxing Day 2023, which explains many things.We talk about the death of Henry Kissinger and the Fourth Crusade, the reintroduction of platypus to the mainland of South Australia, the TV series American Born Chinese, the new Minns Dynasty in NSW, the former member of parliament known as Tim Wilson, and some of the weird ideas held by boomers.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00210/Please support this podcast:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

Today we look back at the year in space. My special guests are space archaeologist Dr Alice Gorman aka Dr Space Junk from Flinders University, and astrophysicist and founder of SpaceAustralia.com Rami Mandow.In this episode we talk about the annoying name given to Australia's first moon rover, why Jupiter is both friend and foe, India's Chandrayaan-3 mission to the Moon, NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission to the asteroid Bennu, some huge news about gravitational waves, and of course an all-time favourite, black holes.We even ask whether going into space was a good idea. Maybe it was. Maybe it wasn't.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00209/Please support this podcast:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

The summer series takes a disturbing turn this week with one of our favourite guests, author and columnist John Birmingham — who admits to eating something that I simply do not understand. In this episode we also talk about Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese, Donald Trump,Bluesky versus the site formally known as Twitter, cosplay, why sheep love solar energy projects, pork, alcohol, Christmas (of course), the Cybertruck (sorry), and why paying attention to the news is bad for you. And much more.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00208/Please support this podcast:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

As Australia faces another "covid wave" before Christmas — at least if you believe the scary news reports — and with the dirty, dirty holiday season coming up, I thought the summer series should kick off with infectious disease physician Dr Trent Yarwood. And so it does.In this episode we also talk about the joys of syphilis and gonorrhoea, the dangers of hand-washing, the complexity of medical supply chains, why Australia didn't get a monkeypox epidemic, fencing (yes), drug shortages, and more generally, how everything is just getting worse.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00207/Please support this podcast:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

The spring series really comes to an end today with this sort of bonus unscheduled and somewhat shouty solo episode. That's a pun which will become clear.We talk about alcohol and the nanny state, some of Donald Trump's supporters, the demise of the delightful and oh so sexy Mike Pezzullo, and more.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00206/Please support this podcast by pledging your support to The 9pm Summer Series 2023 by 30 November.https://the9pmedict.com/summer2023If you miss that deadline, you can always throw a few dollars into the tip jar at:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

The spring series concludes — or does it? — with special guest Yun Jiang, the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA) Inaugural China Matters Fellow. Guess what we're talking about! (It's not all about lobsters.)We talk about Anthony Albanese's recent visit to China, the first since by an Australian prime minister since 2016. We also cover ASIO versus the spies, media beat-ups, trade, Australia's "fear of abandonment" and China's "deeply entrenched sense of victimhood", climate change, China's app-based internet, why Australia needs a China equivalent to the United States Study Centre, and why you shouldn't read Global Times. And lobsters. So many lobsters.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00205/Please support this podcast by pledging your support to The 9pm Summer Series 2023 by 30 November.https://the9pmedict.com/summer2023If you miss that deadline, you can always throw a few dollars into the tip jar at:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

The spring series continues with another special guest, my good friend Snarky Platypus, in a wide-ranging and sometimes disturbing conversation.We talk about the weather, Duran Duran, Amanda Vanstone, who's the real arsehole in Peep Show, digital nomads in Bali, the Sydney suburb of Vaucluse, the Bored Ape Yacht Club, Vaucluse, having an "accountability partner" who sees what's on your phone, multiculturalism, whether "OnlyFans growth" is a real job, and this week's Optus failure.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00204/Please support this podcast by pledging your support to The 9pm Summer Series 2023 by 30 November.https://the9pmedict.com/summer2023If you miss that deadline, you can always throw a few dollars into the tip jar at:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

We look back at Optus' catastrophic week: What do we know about what happened, what's happening with compensation, and what can we learn from it? I was on this week's Vertical Hold: Behind The Tech News."Australian technology news podcast Vertical Hold dives into the big stories of the week. Joined by Australia's leading tech journalists every Friday, co-hosts @adam_turner and @alexkidman channel-surf through the headlines in search of the big picture," they write.Vertical Hold can be found in all the podcast apps or at:https://verticalhold.com.auFull podcast details at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/vh452/Please support this podcast by pledging your support to The 9pm Summer Series 2023 by 30 November.https://the9pmedict.com/summer2023If you miss that deadline, you can always throw a few dollars into the tip jar at:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

The spring series continues with two brand new species of frog and some reflections on COVID-19 with special guest Upulie Divisekera, science communicator and woman of much intelligence and smarts.We talk about trees, evolution, the distance to the Sun, the sadness of scientific names, and infectious diseases. And frogs, of course. There's quite a bit about frogs.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00203/Please support this podcast by pledging your support to The 9pm Summer Series 2023 by 30 November.https://the9pmedict.com/summer2023If you miss that deadline, you can always throw a few dollars into the tip jar at:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

Will people cough up a dollar a year to post on Twitter? Would you want your mum to see your Tinder dates before you do? Why are the Australian Federal Police still dabbling in facial recognition without authorisation? I was on this week's Vertical Hold: Behind The Tech News."Australian technology news podcast Vertical Hold dives into the big stories of the week. Joined by Australia's leading tech journalists every Friday, co-hosts @adam_turner and @alexkidman channel-surf through the headlines in search of the big picture," they write.Vertical Hold can be found in all the podcast apps or at:https://verticalhold.com.auFull podcast details at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/vh452/Please consider supporting The 9pm Edict at:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

The spring series continues with special guest artist and political cartoonist Jon Kudelka, recorded on Tuesday in the actual Hobart.We talk about sword dances, Hobart's public transport, Tasmania's plans for an AFL team, the difference between Anthony Albanese and Malcolm Turnbull, why Bond-esque villains have white cats, and yes, gerontophilia.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00202/Please support this podcast by throwing a few dollars into the tip jar at:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

It's all about artificial intelligence as the spring series continues with one of the leaders in the field, Scientia Professor Toby Walsh, chief scientist at the UNSW AI Institute.We talk about the potential for AI to become an existential threat to humanity, where you would or wouldn't want a human-shaped robot, whether AI constructs should be labelled as such, the ethics of feeding copies of books into large language models, creativity and copyright law, how to draw a platypus, and why you need a safe word to prove you're really you.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00201/Please support this podcast by throwing a few dollars into the tip jar at:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe/

Stilgherrian returns after a three-month break to kick off a six-episode spring series of The 9pm Edict podcast. In this solo episode he's somewhat reflective, but hey he thinks you'll still like it.We talk about the nature of Time, cheese, ageing, railway ticketing, Naomi Wolf, PTSD, bestiality, and death.Full podcast details and credits at:https://the9pmedict.com/edict/00200/Please support this podcast by throwing a few dollars into the tip jar at:https://the9pmedict.com/tip/https://skank.com.au/subscribe