This Week

"Welcome to Country" ceremonies are the latest culture war as we reach the pointy end of the Federal Election campaign, so Jules and Jez look at why it has become such a hot button issue this week. And we had so much feedback about using Chat GPT for relationship advice, so Jules and Jez have been asking it their deepest, darkest secrets with mixed results.JEZ'S PICKhttps://www.theguardian.com/media/ng-interactive/2025/apr/27/strange-case-writer-landing-a-lister-interviews-local-magazinesJULES' PICKhttps://www.theguardian.com/media/ng-interactive/2025/apr/27/strange-case-writer-landing-a-lister-interviews-local-magazines

Pope Francis was the most humble Pope in living memory, so has he shaped the future of Catholicism? For some, he was too much and for others, not enough. Jez and Jules chat about his legacy and the future of the Catholic Church. And we asked you about incorrect lyrics or "mondegreens" and you have so many great examples. SHOW NOTESPeter Kay's misheard lyrics: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7my5baoCVv8&t=206sJeremy's pick of the week: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/love-sex/relationships/a64444507/men-asking-chatgpt-for-dating-advice/Julia's pick of the week: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/fifty-years-ago-this-irresistible-disco-song-and-dance-craze-swept-the-nation-and-changed-the-music-landscape-180986460/

Katy Perry went to space with a group of famous women, so was it one giant leap for womankind or just a really weird marketing blunder? We have a lot of thoughts.And what do we want from our leaders? We are half way through the election campaign and it has got us thinking about what makes a good leader.JULES' PICK: https://science.nasa.gov/mission/voyager/voyager-1s-pale-blue-dot/

The HBO TV drama "White Lotus" focuses on a number of very rich and in many ways deeply unpleasant people. So why are we so fascinated by the lives of the super rich? And the US has dominated the global news this week with Donald Trump's new tariffs, but Jules and Jez are keen to talk about deportations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, also known as ICE. Since Donald Trump returned to the Presidency, tens of thousands of people have been arrested and it's leading to a lot of fear for migrants and for people planning on travelling to the US. SHOW NOTESBuy tickets to our live show in Sydney ! https://www.swf.org.au/program/season-2025/not-stupid-live-with-julia-baird-and-jeremy-fernandezJules' pick: https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/30/world/plants-make-sounds-scn

The election campaign is in full swing, but when it comes to the news you consume, who do you trust? The ALP offered to pay travel expenses so some influencers could go to the Federal Budget lock-up. So did it get the Government favourable coverage? Or find audiences who just aren't listening to the mainstream media? And we've heard from so many teachers about the Netflix show, Adolescence. Lots of them have ideas about how we talk to boys. And because we like to tackle the big topics, Jez has been pondering the meaning of life.SHOW NOTESRebecca Sparrow on Adolescence: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccasparrow72/p/DH3KKfNBnxa/?img_index=2Tom Holland "Umbrella" Lip Sync Battle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPCJIB1f7jkJEZ PICK: The Meaning of Life: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/mar/22/what-is-the-meaning-of-life-15-possible-answers-from-a-palliative-care-doctor-a-holocaust-survivor-a-jail-inmate-and-moreJULES PICK: Paddington Bear statue: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/judge-reprimands-thieves-in-bear-statue-heist-your-actions-were-the-antithesis-of-everything-paddington-stands-for-180986337/

The Netflix drama, Adolescence, has been watched millions of times in the last week and it is raising a lot of questions about masculinity and how we treat boys. So why this series has hit such a nerve?And Jez was in Canberra for the Federal Budget, so what is the government offering and have we lost the capacity for long term planning?Buy tickets to our Sydney show here: https://www.swf.org.au/program/season-2025/not-stupid-live-with-julia-baird-and-jeremy-fernandezSHOW NOTESDonald Trump portrait removed: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-26/donald-trump-portrait-removed-from-colorado-state-capitol/105096442George W Bush's portraits https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-26890910Blobfish is the fish of the year https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0l125d0597o

US President, Donald Trump, is slashing diversity programs in the US, so is DEI over here too? Jules and Jez chat about what might happen in Australia. Also, Elon Musk says he has a prescription for ketamine and it comes at a time when the use of the drug in Australia is at an all time high. And Jules is obsessed with the story of the two astronauts who have spent nine months in space.Come to our Sydney show! https://www.swf.org.au/program/season-2025/not-stupid-live-with-julia-baird-and-jeremy-fernandezSHOW NOTESAstronauts arrive back https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-18/iss-arrival-back-in-us-after-months-stuck-in-space/105064762Club apologises after sports star found alive https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/clydxyv94k8o

After being slammed by the tabloids for the best part of decade, Meghan Markle (or is it Sussex?) has emerged with jam and cake and maybe a bit too much perfection. Jules has thoughts. And in the wake of ex-Cyclone Alfred, politicians have been pitching in and helping out. So what do we want from our leaders in a time of crisis?SHOW NOTESWhat we want in a leader https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092656620300787With Love, Meghan https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-05/with-love-meghan-markle-duchess-sussex-review-netflix/105009410Grandmother gets X-rated AI message https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0l1kpz3w32oScottish Elevator https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMS2VnDveP8Brighton Man breaks record on crutches https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2gkvn0k9vo

Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez have been in Adelaide for their first live show as part of Adelaide Writers' Week. It was a chat about the news, hope, awe and sparkly suits. If you missed it in Adelaide, here is a taste!

The news can be a lot. And sometimes it feels hard to keep up and difficult to keep paying attention. So how do we cope when the world is full of triggering news? 

It's been three years since Russia invaded Ukraine and the US President Donald Trump says its time to make a deal. But he is also rewriting history with the American president saying Ukraine has been the aggressor all this time. Jules and Jez have been doing some fact checking. And how do you itemise the amount of work you do in a week? Elon Musk wants people to write lists of their weekly achievements, so will it work?SHOW NOTESAnne Applebaum on Ukraine: https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2025/02/putins-three-years-of-humiliation/681810/Jules' Pick: https://apnews.com/article/valentines-day-animal-shelters-fundraisers-rats-elephants-40537881d8f5ad65dd971fef11a856f5Jeremy's Pick: https://x.com/SusanDavid_PhD/status/1894066591551086683

There's plenty of hype around Netflix's new series about serial liar Belle Gibson, but what does the story mean to cancer survivors? Plus, we've got an interest rate cut, but when everything is costing more, so will voters blame the Government at the election? And Jez has been thinking about birthday cakes and making quite a few of them. SHOW NOTESFinancial Review "Cost of Living" article: https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/how-australia-became-the-world-s-biggest-cost-of-living-loser-20241118-p5krgkJulia's Pick: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-12/belle-gibson-apple-cider-vinegar-where-is-she-now/104918624Jeremy's Pick: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2025/02/14/birthday-jail-visit-centenarian/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-09/childrens-birthday-cake-book-changed-shape-kids-birthdays/10208246

Jules has been looking at some Australian and US studies about church attendance and they show an increase in young men identifying as Christian. At the same time, the number of women in the Anglican priesthood in Australia is dwindling, so is the Anglican Church becoming more masculine?SHOW NOTESThe Anglican Church's disappearing womenhttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-09/the-church-s-disappearing-women/104910172In a first among Christians, young men now more religious than young womenhttps://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/23/us/young-men-religion-gen-z.html

Sam Kerr has been found not guilty of racially harassing a police officer and Jules and Jez are wondering how we decide if "white" is a racial slur. And Donald Trump has pulled funding from USAID, so what does that mean for global aid and for the US' position in the world.SHOW NOTESI was a London judge. Sam Kerr's case should never have gone to trialhttps://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/i-was-a-london-judge-sam-kerr-s-case-should-never-have-gone-to-trial-20250210-p5lb1e.htmlUS Soft Power took decades to build. Trump is dismantling it in weekshttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/02/03/donald-trump-tariffs-canada-mexico-soft-power/Jez Pickhttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-11/hiv-campaigner-david-polson-qtopia-dies/104922742Jules Pickhttps://www.esquire.com/style/mens-fashion/g63725350/best-dressed-men-celebrities-super-bowl-2025/

A UK poll has found that more than 50% of Gen Z think a dictator is a good idea. Jules and Jez are flabbergasted but when you think about all the  things younger generations are up against, maybe it is not a surprise. They discuss the findings, the Grammys and seven hundred Marilyn Monroes.Show Notes:Gen Z: Trends, Truth and Trust: https://www.channel4.com/corporate/about-4/gen-z-trends-truth-and-trust#:~:text=Meet%20Gen%20Z%3A%20a%20diverse,why%20urgent%20action%20is%20needed.Jez' pick: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-02/2025-brighton-jetty-marilyn-swim-fundraiser-cancer-council-sa/104886846

Jez attended an Australia Day event recently where last year's Australian of the Year recipients, Richard Scolyer and Georgina Long, were speaking about their work. They shared their concerns that young people aren't paying attention to sun-safe messages. They say we've seen worrying trends on social media in the last few years which glamorise tanning and sunburn. So why are #sunburn and #tanlines trending?SHOW NOTESA TikTok tanning trend is making the rounds on social media. Here's why it's dangerous: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-04/dangerous-tiktok-tanning-uv-levels-trend/104776700

At the Australian Open, a protester yelled out in the quiet stadium at the end of the men's tennis final. Jules and Jez unpack what it was all about and how sports deal with allegations against players.And after hosting a few days of Australia Day events, Jez has been thinking about how we mark important dates.BUY ADELAIDE SHOW TICKETS HEREhttps://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/events/2025-writers-week/not-stupid/JULES PICKThe Remarkable Normalcy of Being Disabled and in Love: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/16/well/family/interabled-relationships-burcaw.htmlJEZ PICKAriana Grande reveals the truth about "Holding Space"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOo-e-tR3PI

Have you come back to work after a summer holiday? Are you thinking that this year, you'll get your work/life balance sorted? Are you wondering if it really is possible? Jules and Jez chat about whether we should have a "right to disconnect" from the office and it turns out they are just very different humans. The Right to Disconnect https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-01/we-now-have-the-right-to-disconnect-but-has-it-changed-anything/104711380

Donald Trump has taken office, so what will the next four years look like in the White House? Jez and Jules look at what Donald Trump has done in his first days in the job and who is pushing back. And after a series of Anti-Semitic attacks across the country, the Government is promising to act, but Jules thinks we also need to think more about our history.SHOW NOTES COME TO OUR ADELAIDE SHOW!TICKETS HERE: https://my.adelaidefestival.com.au/4188/4189JEZ' PICK: De-extinction https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/16/science/colossal-de-extinction-funding-resurrection-science/index.htmlWATERMELON VIDEO: https://www.msn.com/en-in/food-and-drink/recipes/woman-smashes-most-number-of-watermelons-with-thighs-in-a-minute-to-create-guinness-world-record-watch/ar-AA1xnAGK?apiversion=v2&noservercache=1&domshim=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1&batchservertelemetry=1&noservertelemetry=1

Jules has been reading up on solitude after finding a piece in The Atlantic about "The Anti-Social Century". It looks at our changing habits around social isolation and says that Americans are spending more time alone than ever. So is it the same here? And if you love your solitude, do you sometimes think about why?"The Anti-Social Century" in The Atlantichttps://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/02/american-loneliness-personality-politics/681091/Multi-tasking researchhttps://childmind.org/article/kids-shouldnt-use-phones-during-homework/

The fires in California have been dominating the news for the last couple of weeks and on social media its getting hard to sort the facts from fiction. Jules and Jez look at the conspiracy theories about the fires and whether Meta's decision about fact checking might make it worse in the future. And we are a few weeks into January, so how are your new year's resolutions going?? Have they already fallen by the wayside and does it really matter. SHOW NOTES:Jez' Pick: Every Best Actress Award https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMSoIJl9DWcPaloma Diamondhttps://www.instagram.com/juliansew/reel/DEnoV-yzaMF/Jules' Pick: Severance https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-15/severance-season-one-recap-ahead-of-season-two-release/104803698

A US study found that when a group of people were asked to read poetry by famous authors and poetry written by Chat GPT, they preferred the Chat GPT poems. Jules and Jez put Chat GPT to the test, plus more of your favourite poems.Buy tickets to our Adelaide show here: https://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/events/2025-writers-week/podfest-not-stupid/Poems discussed:"Good Bones" by Maggie Smith"A May Night On The Mountains" by Henry Lawson"Wild Geese" by Mary Oliver"Still I rise" by Maya Angelou

Do you have a favourite kids book? Can you still recite it? Jules and Jez chat about their most-loved children's books and the ones they remember reading to their own kids. Have you got a favourite? We'd love to hear from you. You can email us at notstupid@abc.net.auBuy tickets to our Adelaide show here: https://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/events/2025-writers-week/podfest-not-stupid/

This year, Jules has been speaking to lots of people about what makes them resilient. She wanted to know how they cope in the aftermath of horrific events or how they deal with ongoing pain. She's been writing about it in her "Staying Upright" column and she and Jez chat about what she has learnt. STAYING UPRIGHThttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-24/staying-upright-life-can-be-hard-how-do-people-endure/103615514STAYING UPRIGHT: JAMILA RIZVIhttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-07/staying-upright-jamila-rizvi-brain-tumour-diagnosis/103673974STAYING UPRIGHT: JON OWENhttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-26/jon-owen-wayside-chapel-helping-others-staying-upright/103887876STAYING UPRIGHT: SARAH LULU FAITHhttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-14/staying-upright-crochet-and-healing-power-of-knitting-needles/103700364STAYING UPRIGHT: DAVE TARNOWSKIhttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-05/dave-tarnowski-stigma-mental-illness-disappointing-affirmations/103795176

After a big year of pretty toxic politics globally, can we learn to disagree better? Jules has been reading up about the "Dignity Index", so could it make a difference? And the so called "hot assassin" has lots of people talking about healthcare and health insurance in the US. Also, could "Not Stupid" get in the Guinness Book of Records?SHOW NOTESBuy tickets to our Adelaide show!https://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/events/2025-writers-week/podfest-not-stupid/Utah Governor advert:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5_ajRH0QN8Jules' Pick:https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2024/12/record-breaking-best-of-2024-iconic-meet-ups-amazing-animals-and-age-defying-loveJez' Pick:https://iview.abc.net.au/show/very-musical-christmas

We asked if you needed any life advice and you've got questions. What's the best trifle recipe? Is a plastic Christmas tree better than a real one? Do I have to buy nice presents for people if they only give me rubbish ones?Jules and Jez offer their advice and their baking tips.MADS' EMERGENCY TRIFLE TIPS1.Use the right bowl. A good bowl is the difference between an amazing looking trifle and slop in a bowl. Making a trifle on holidays? Take the bowl to the holiday house. They never ever have a trifle bowl.2.Best Christmas trifle recipe: Morello cherry jelly (add alcohol if you want), choc cake (I make and freeze this so its ready when I need it), crushed gingerbread layer, cream or mascarpone cream, more cherries, another chocolate cake, more cream or mascarpone, fresh cherries, shaved chocolate and gingerbread Christmas trees on the top.     

The Raygun Musical was shutdown before it even began, so is it ok to make fun of celebrities? How much do people in the public eye get to control their image? And if we can recreate dead celebrities with A.I., who controls that story?Also Syria is back in the headlines as Syrians across the globe celebrate the end of fifty years of the Assad regime. Jules and Jez take a closer look at what's happened and what it means for the Middle East.SHOW NOTESThe Celebrity Machine Never Dies https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2024/12/ai-dead-celebrity-estate-profit/680873/Jules' pick: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/14/us/fake-bear-insurance-fraud-charges.htmlJez's pick: https://www.smh.com.au/national/one-of-the-worst-people-i-know-got-an-oam-so-i-ve-decided-to-act-20241129-p5kujr.html

Jez had an idea to make a playlist with all the songs he loves to dance to. When he asked for song requests, so many of you got in touch. Jules and Jez chat about some of the songs you love to dance to and why you love them.You can find the playlist here:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/36xBCBL6jCrPJe6J8drjYe?si=BF6PCTj-QCK-nIDa1LTPTg&pi=a-CpIDFEEDROGtAnd if you have other suggestions, you can get in touch at notstupid@abc.net.au

Has your year been: a) brat b) demure c) enshittified? Join Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez as they chat about the words of the year. Plus why is it so hard to cap the amount of plastic produced globally? And would you eat a $9 million dollar banana?SHOW NOTESNEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE ABOUT THE PLASTIC INDUSTRY https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/27/climate/plastic-industry-internal-documents.htmlMACQUARIE DICTIONARY WORD OF THE YEAR SHORTLIST: https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/WOTY_2024_shortlist_FINAL-1.pdf JEREMY'S PICKShttps://hbr.org/2024/11/lets-end-toxic-productivityhttps://hbr.org/2019/07/making-joy-a-priority-at-workJULIA'S PICKShttps://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/crypto-executive-eats-banana-artwork-bought-for-9-6-million-says-it-tasted-quite-good-20241130-p5kus4.html

Jules got a tattoo in New York after some particularly strong margaritas, so we asked you for your tattoo stories. And boy did you deliver. Join Jules and Jez as they read through some of your emails about weird and wonderful tattoos. You can always get in touch at notstupid@abc.net.au

Donald Trump's White House picks have many questioning whether the #metoo movement is dead. So is it? And here in Australia, executives from Coles, Woolworths and ALDI have appeared at the ACCC's supermarket inquiry, so what have we learned and is anything going to change?SHOW NOTESPlease do our survey! Link here: https://forms.office.com/r/XCJvrKqCkdJULES' PICKJesse Krimes Exhibition https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/jesse-krimes-correctionsJEZ'S PICKNadal Retires. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zka2KlZ_-GM

Jules is in the US talking about grace and forgiveness and it is a tricky topic in the wake of the election result. So what reaction has she been getting?If you can, please fill out our listener survey. It's anonymous and will only take a few minutes.SURVEY LINK HERE:https://forms.office.com/r/XCJvrKqCkd

Veteran broadcaster Alan Jones has been charged with historical indecent assault and sexual touching offences and Jules and Jez chat about what we know about the charges. And Jules is still in the US and everything is so expensive. We talk about how Donald Trump says he will fix the economy and what impact the economy might have on the Australian economy. You can always get in touch with us at notstupid@abc.net.auSHOW NOTESThe Not Stupid Playlist:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/36xBCBL6jCrPJe6J8drjYe?si=BF6PCTj-QCK-nIDa1LTPTg&pi=a-CpIDFEEDROGtJez's pick about aliens: https://www.themandarin.com.au/281675-aaro-releases-annual-uap-report/

When Jules and Jez spoke about Tim Winton's novel "Juice", they spoke about communities trying to do their bit to address climate change and we wanted to hear from you. Lots of you got in touch and we discuss a few of those emails. If you have more stories, please get in touch at notstupid@abc.net.au

When Donald Trump won the US election, sexist, racist and misogynistic comments exploded online. Julia and Jeremy look at what happened at why. And here in Australia, the Government plans to stop misinformation, but will it work?Jeremy's PlaylistDancing may be better than other exercise for improving mental health - The University of Sydney

It has been a big few days in US politics and Jules is about to head to the US. She'll be there talking about grace, after a very tumultuous and divisive election campaign. So will there be any grace on display? Also Jules talks about meeting Donald Trump in 2016.

Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez have been reporting on the US election all day, but after the tv broadcast, they got into the pod studio for a debrief and a chat. They take us through how the day unfolded and how Trump won.

We asked for your favourite poems and you really delivered. We have been inundated with emails about poetry so we thoughts we'd share a few. Keep sending them at notstupid@abc.net.au and we will share more in coming weeks.POEMS"All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" by Robert Fulghum"Araluen" by Henry Kendall"Small Kindnesses" by Danusha LamérisSONG LYRICS"The Wine Song" by The Cat Empire"Still remains" by Stone Temple Pilots

There's one week until the US election and Jez and Jules are reading and listening to everything so you don't have to. They chat about the latest and what they think we sometimes get wrong about Trump voters. And Jules has COVID while one of her kids is doing her final exams. It has got us thinking about the pressure of final exams and whether we've got it right. And who steals cheddar? Jez is intrigued by a very weird crime.JULIA'S PICKSaoirse Ronan on Graham NortonJEREMY'S PICKThe Great Cheese Theft

Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez answer more of your questions about the US election. Will Trump's criminal cases matter? What are the issues which will decide the election? And when will we have a result?

King Charles and Queen Camilla have been in Australia and a heckle from Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe caused global headlines for heckling the King. So should the King be heckled and are we ever going to be a Republic? Also Julia has been deep down a rabbit hole reading about the Menendez brothers who were convicted of killing their parents more than thirty years ago. Now the case is being looked at again following a couple of tv shows. And Jules and Jez went to pub choir and loved it. SHOW NOTESSurvivors and Mates Support GroupMenendez Case Pub Choir

With just a few weeks until the US election Jules and Jez are answering your questions. How does the electoral college work? What does a Vice President really do? What's Donald Trump's golf handicap?