Podcasts about Victorian

Doireann Ní Ghríofa's new book Said the Dead is part history, part ghost story and part unreliable memoir, exploring the lives, presences and forgotten voices of a derelict Victorian mental asylum in Cork. Ní Ghríofa, whose previous book A Ghost in the Throat won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, was in conversation with Rachael Allen, author of the poetry collections Kingdomland and God Complex. You can buy a copy of Said the Dead from the London Review Bookshop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tuesday Headlines: Sportsbet and TAB execs to be grilled at Senate inquiry into gambling reform today One Nation climbs in the polls as Hanson refuses ABC and Guardian entry to Victorian press conference Ralph Carr unmasked as rapist after suppression order lifted Kmart sells out of dupe Meta camera glasses amid global privacy concerns Ariana Grande steps back from public life amid scrutiny over her weight Deep Dive: For years, Australia watched from a distance as bird flu tore through wildlife on every other continent - before it finally reached our shores in June. What began with a few lone migratory birds is now spreading through our native populations, and while conservationists welcome the more than $113 million already invested to get us prepared - they say now that it's here, more needs to be put on the table. In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Jack Gough, CEO of the Invasive Species Council, who's urging the Albanese Government to commit at least $200 million to help our wildlife survive what's coming. He explains what that money would go towards, what species are most at risk, and how the strain can move from low risk in humans to a higher one. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One Nation has unveiled the team that will take on Labor and the Liberals at the Victorian state election in November. Plus, Alan Jones’ trial gets underway in Sydney, two die in a Greek helicopter crash, and Delta Goodrem closes the Commonwealth Games in style. Read more: One Nation bans ABC, The Guardian as Victorian team unveiled Alleged assaults detailed as blockbuster Alan Jones trial begins in Sydney Queensland fire helicopter explodes after deadly mid-air collision kills two ‘Alive and kicking’ Glasgow Games conclude with spectacular party ‘You know you just never give up’: Australian marvel, 76, wins gold in dramatic lawn bowls final See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One Nation overtakes Labor to become the most popular political party in Australia again, Colleen Harkin announced as one of One Nation's candidates selected by Pauline Hanson to run in the Victorian state election. Plus, what is wrong with the WNBA?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's podcast, Cyber Daily's Daniel Croft and David Hollingworth argue for sovereign Australian AI, catch up with the Origin Energy data breach, uncover a Court Services Victoria hack, and ponder the efficacy of taking a foreign chat platform to court over terror content. Should Aussie banks have access to Australian Taxation Office data to stop fraud? That's how the podcast kicks off, alongside the revelation that fraudsters are using AI to fake documents to secure massive bank loans. For Hollingworth and Croft, the answer is a resounding yes, which is also the case when it comes to sovereign AI capability, as Australian company Maincode brings its own coding agent online. This week, Origin Energy revealed the extent of its recent data breach, while Court Services Victoria disclosed it had fallen victim to prolific hacker 2019. It's been a torrid time for data security in Australia, with even an insider threat rearing its head in a data breach at NSW Health. Finally, the pair discuss whether or not eSafety can effectively sue chat platform Telegram over pro-terror content, while the Australian Communications and Media Authority said it is suing Optus over its Triple Zero failures last year. Just another week in cyber security. Enjoy, The Cyber Uncut team

Everald Compton and James Morgan talk the new Victorian premier, VAD and more on this week's show

Stock loss, cattle theft, bird flu and the BoM website 

Step back to a rainy summer evening in 1905 and wander the gaslit streets of Old Louisville, where stained glass windows, grand Victorian homes, and lush gardens glow beneath a gathering storm. Stroll through Belgravia Court before finding refuge inside a candlelit home, where the soothing sounds of rain, timeless beauty, and the quiet comforts of another era gently guide you into deep, restful sleep. It's time to dream away.Original Script, Narration, Calm Music, Video, Production, and Sound Design by Michelle Hotaling, Dreamaway Visions LLC 2026 All Rights Reserved✨YOUTUBE:

Seven million school days were missed in Victoria last year. Is this a sign of a growing problem, or are parents finally putting their families first? A new report has sparked fierce debate about school attendance. Should children ever miss school for a holiday, a family celebration or a mental health break? Dr Justin and Kylie Coulson unpack what the numbers actually tell us, why so many families are choosing term-time travel, and whether chasing perfect attendance comes at a cost. They explore what children gain from school, what they gain from time with family, and why the best decision isn't always the obvious one. If you've ever wondered whether it's okay to pull your child out of school, this conversation will give you plenty to think about. KEY POINTS What the seven million missed school days really represent. Why more families are travelling during school term. The pressure schools place on perfect attendance. How COVID changed the way many parents think about school. What children can learn outside the classroom. When missing school can be the right choice. Why every family needs to weigh the trade-offs for themselves. QUOTE OF THE EPISODE "If you need to have some time off, if you want to take the kids out of school, do it." RESOURCES MENTIONED Herald Sun report on Victorian school attendance. Happy Families resources at happyfamilies.com.au. ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS Make school attendance your starting point, not an unbreakable rule. Before taking your child out of school, ask what they'll gain from the experience. Talk with your child's teacher if they'll miss important learning. Don't let guilt make the decision for you. Consider your child's learning, your family's circumstances and what matters most. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we're talking about a Victorian inquiry into cults. After hearing from hundreds of survivors, it handed down 98 findings and 39 recommendations, including one that would change the law in a way that's never been done in Australia. But what should have been a win for survivors was overshadowed by a mistake in how the report was shared. Today, we'll walk you through what this inquiry found – and how a single email turned that win into something that survivors have called “devastating”. Hosts: Zara Seidler and Billi FitzSimonsProducer: Orla MaherVideo editor: Imogen Abbott Want to support The Daily Aus? That's so kind! The best way to do that is to click ‘follow’ on Spotify or Apple and to leave us a five-star review. We would be so grateful. The Daily Aus is a media company focused on delivering accessible and digestible news to young people. We are completely independent. Want more from TDA?Subscribe to The Daily Aus newsletterSubscribe to The Daily Aus’ YouTube Channel Have feedback for us?We’re always looking for new ways to improve what we do. If you’ve got feedback, we’re all ears. Tell us here. Shot on Fujifilm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mathematician sets out to participate in the study of evolution... and ends up engaging in some fascinating research about social cooperation and the queerness of evolution!    In this episode, Sara Jolena sits down with her old college friend Ben Allen, a mathematician whose work models how cooperation evolves — from iron-sharing bacteria to communal-nesting birds. They consider what this research might illuminate about cooperation in human communities. They then turn towards some of Ben's current research on queerness in evolution. Same-sex behavior has now been documented in more than 1,500 species... and it just keeps getting more interesting! Key Topics & Timestamps00:00 — Intro: welcome to ReMembering and ReEnchanting01:05 — Meet Ben Allen: mathematician, old friend, and a researcher on evolution 02:56 — From pure math to evolutionary biology: how Ben's path unfolded04:26 — Why organisms cooperate — and why "survival of the fittest" is an incomplete story06:27 — The bacteria that share iron with their neighbors08:18 — Modeling evolution mathematically: networks, neighbors, and cooperation09:13 — From microbes to mammals: what changes (and what doesn't) when culture enters the picture11:03 — Local connection as a strategy for large-scale engagement (including activism)12:52 — Other paths to cooperation: kin selection, reciprocity, and reputation14:26 — What evolution actually means: reproduction, inheritance, and mutation16:53 — A parallel to religious traditions: continuity and change in tension17:42 — What "reproduction" really means across the tree of life (sexual, asexual, horizontal gene transfer)19:37 — What biologists actually mean by "male" and "female" — and why the definition breaks down23:04 — Evolution "finds a way": clonal fish, sex-changing clownfish, and the limits of a human template25:45 — Sex beyond reproduction: play, pleasure, and social bonding across species26:43 — The 2019 paper reframing same-sex behavior in animals31:28 — Ben's current research: could early marine life not even "see" sex at all?33:15 — Deep-sea squid, imperfect filtering, and why indiscriminate mating can be an evolutionary advantage36:37 — Two evolutionary strategies: cost of mating vs. population density38:36 — Connection, yearning, and sociability across species41:10 — Individual variation: why generalizing about any species misses the truth42:16 — "A very queer evolutionary story"43:20 — Darwin's Victorian assumptions that we are still unlearning44:40 — The perspective of the scientist shifts the questions and analysis that the scientist does. We need many, many different perspectives for these big complex questions! 45:31 — Situated knowledge, Donna Haraway, and the case for multiple vantage points46:23 — Closing reflections and thanksBen Allen is a Professor of Mathematics at Emmanuel College, Boston, MA. Their research focuses on mathematical modeling of evolution—in particular the evolution of social (other-directed) behavior. Their work has appeared in Nature, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and The Atlantic. Send us a messageSupport the showLearn more about Sara Jolena Wolcott and Sequoia SamanvayaMusic Title: Both of UsMusic by: madiRFAN Don't forget to "like" and share this episode! 

Victoria has a new premier this week - and within hours of being sworn in, Ben Carroll did the one thing his predecessor spent months refusing to do: call a royal commission into the CFMEU. Jacinta Allan's resignation was driven in large part by a corruption scandal engulfing the state's Big Build, where a landmark report earlier this year alleged the construction union had siphoned $15 billion from taxpayers while the government turned a blind eye. Reporters at The Age have been documenting the organised crime, intimidation and misconduct across the union's Victorian operations since 2024. In this episode of The Briefing, we revisit Chris Spyrou's conversation with award-winning investigative journalist Nick McKenzie from The Age, recorded back in February when that explosive report first landed. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Festive Friday your way to a ghostly Victorian love story! ABOUT A DICKENS OF A CHRISTMAS Follows Zara, a lawyer haunted by Christmas memories, who attends a Victorian dinner where she meets Rafe, a renovator. His ghostly ancestor plays matchmaker by giving Zara a book of love stories, challenging her skepticism about romance. AIR DATE & NETWORK FOR A DICKENS OF A CHRISTMAS November 4, 2025 | Streaming CAST & CREW OF A DICKENS OF A CHRISTMAS Director: Gillian McKercher Writer: Catherine Fridey Cast: Ashley Newbrough as Zara Chad Rook as Rafe BRAN'S MOVIE SYNOPSIS Zara does NOT like Christmas. She's a lawyer who has to attend this progressive Victorian dinner with her friend and co-worker Chloe. It's not great. Her dress rips, her hat falls in the fire, it's a whole thing. Zara is quite smitten by the owner of the estate, Rafe. Rafe tells everyone about a sneaky little ghost that lives at the estate. Chloe sees the ghost. She's a believer. She also sees that Zara and Rafe are into each other. The next day, Zara finds one of the books from the estate in her bag with Rafe's business card in it. She assumes it's just silly Chloe but it was actually the ghost. But good thing the ghost is sneaky like that because Zara has a water pipe leak in her living room and needs someone to come repair it. Naturally, she calls Rafe who helps renovate houses and he comes over to take a look. He comes over and gets right to work. The ghost keeps doing stuff that forces Zara to call Rafe. And she starts showing up to Rafe's son's hockey practices. They're all getting attached. Zara and Rafe almost kiss TWICE - interrupted once by the smell of smoke, and the second time by a text. CLASSSIC. Everything is going great until the snowball fight. She gets really upset when Rafe's son throws a snowball at her. Turns out, her brother used to throw snowballs. She opens up about how she had a brother who loved hockey but died in a snowmobile accident. Back to falling in love UNTIL he shows up to be a witness in a case that she's working on. He's a witness for the opposition! She doesn't take it easy on him which really hurts his feelings. So she QUITS HER JOB!!! The ghost pushes Rafe off a ladder and breaks his leg so that she'll come to sit by his side and they'll make up. They all spend Christmas together and she tells everyone that she's gonna open up her own law firm so she can fight for what she wants to fight for. And Zara and Rafe finally kiss. Watch the show on Youtube - www.deckthehallmark.com/youtubeInterested in advertising on the show? Email bran@deckthehallmark.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Greg Jenner is joined in Victorian England by historian and curator Subhadra Das and comedian Desiree Burch to learn all about the life of scientist and eugenics pioneer Francis Galton. He was many things: a Victorian gentleman scientist, an inventor of whacky devices, a pioneer of fingerprinting technology, the less famous cousin of superstar naturalist Charles Darwin, and an important figure in the development of statistics. But more importantly – and more troublingly – Francis Galton originated the now discredited science of eugenics. His theories about how to apply principles of good breeding to humans, and his advocacy of ways to improve Britain's so-called ‘racial health', led directly and indirectly to many horrors in the decades after his death, from the forced sterilisation of certain groups to the Holocaust. This episode traces his life from child prodigy to prolific scientist, exploring his obsession with understanding the world through measurement and statistics, and how this mindset eventually led him to pioneer eugenic theories. Along the way it takes in his African travels, unwise self-experimentation during his medical degree, and his troubling views on women. If you're a fan of debunked scientific theories, whacky historical inventions and the unsavoury origins of modern beliefs, you'll love our episode on Francis Galton. If you want more biographies with Desiree Burch, listen to our episodes on Pythagoras, Paul Robeson or Lena Horne. And for more on the history of eugenics, check out our episodes on the Kellogg Brothers and Victorian Bodybuilding. You're Dead To Me is the comedy podcast that takes history seriously. Every episode, Greg Jenner brings together the best names in history and comedy to learn and laugh about the past. Hosted by: Greg Jenner Research by: Naomi Weaver Written by: Dr Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow, Dr Emma Nagouse, and Greg Jenner Produced by: Dr Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow and Greg Jenner Audio Producer: Steve Hankey Production Coordinator: Gill Huggett Senior Producer: Dr Emma Nagouse Executive Editor: Philip Sellars

Tony Barry and Jon Faine (sitting in for Barrie Cassidy this week) examine the ousting of Jacinta Allan and the anointing of Ben Carroll as the new premier of Victoria. They discuss what it could all mean for the upcoming election and while they say anything can happen, Tony's tummy compass points to a win for Jess Wilson. And, weeks into the royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion, Faine gives his take on the hearings so far

Grab a cold beverage and settle in! This week on Tall Boy Radio, Beans and Gaz are firing up the microphones for an absolutely packed, literary-fueled conversation. The boys are joined by the incredibly prolific independent author Victoria L. Szulc to dissect an astonishing milestone: writing and publishing over 30 books.Victoria is a true genre-hopper, spanning everything from dark, atmospheric vampire lore to gears-and-goggles steampunk adventures, with a fascinating detour into the gritty world of true crime. In this deep-dive interview, the trio uncovers exactly what drives a writer to produce such a massive body of work, the mechanics of a relentless writing schedule, and a masterclass on the subgenres capturing readers' imaginations today.For the uninitiated, the term "Steampunk" can feel a bit elusive. Beans kicks off the conversation by asking Victoria to lay down the definitive framework for the genre. Victoria breaks it down beautifully, explaining that it is essentially a subgenre of science fiction that incorporates retro-futuristic technology and aesthetics based on 19th-century steam-powered machinery. Think the Victorian era meets advanced, alternate-history technology—where cybernetics run on brass gears, airships dominate the skies, and corsets meet ray guns.Gaz dives into the creative well, asking Victoria how she keeps the wellspring of ideas from running dry after 30+ titles. Victoria shares her deep love for history, classic gothic horror, and the aesthetic of bygone eras. Whether she is world-building a sprawling steampunk empire or crafting centuries-old vampire hierarchies, her inspiration often sparks from real-world historical anomalies, architecture, and the dark corners of folklore.You don't hit a 30-book bibliography by waiting around for inspiration to strike. Victoria pulls back the curtain on her daily routine, giving Beans, Gaz, and the listeners a realistic look at her writing schedule. She discusses:The discipline of daily word-count goals.How she manages to balance plotting complex, multi-book series while keeping her standalone projects fresh.The reality of being an indie author, where writing is only half the battle alongside editing, formatting, and marketing.Beans and Gaz are always curious about workflow, prompting a great segment on what helps Victoria maintain intense focus. From curated ambient playlists that match the mood of her gothic or Victorian settings, to the exact environment she needs to block out the noise of the modern world, Victoria shares her personal "focus hacks" that keep her fingers flying across the keyboard.Shifting gears from fiction to reality, the guys ask Victoria about her dabbling in the true crime genre. She explains the profound differences between inventing a fictional vampire antagonist and researching real-world crime. It's a fascinating look at how a fiction writer adapts to the rigid, fact-heavy boundaries of non-fiction.Find Victoria online :Home | thecountessvictorialszulcauthortallboyradio.com

Welcome back to our new weekend format, The Briefing: Our Take. Every Saturday we're loosening our ties and kicking off our shoes to take you behind the scenes of the week that was; stories we loved or debated, what you, the listener, thought of a topic or conversation, the Weekend Quiz and capping it off with a Weekend Briefing favourite: The List. In this episode we talk about the feedback we got ahead of Chris' sit-down with Kyle Sandilands, comments on Hannah Ferguson’s run against the PM and Jacinta Allan’s resignation. We also stop by the red carpet of the new Spider-Man movie and quiz friend of the show Justin Hill on everything that happened in the news this week – make sure you play along! The Weekend Quiz (just questions, no answers): What’s this sound? (listen to hear it!) Europe is threatening to boycott what ... and for a bonus point, why? Victorian premier Jacinta Allan resigned this week. Who was named her successor? It was revealed this week that it cost $45,000 for the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to manage which loveable marine chaos agent? Who announced this week they’d be running as an independent against Anthony Albanese in the seat of Grayndler at the next federal election? The Weekend List: To Watch: Spider-Man: Brand New Day (Justin Hill) To Listen: Wet Leg (listener Chris – you can watch the Coachella performance here) Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An investigation has been launched after a 98-year-old woman died, after waiting nearly three hours for paramedics to arrive at her Victorian home.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's wrap chat: who gets protected, who gets replaced, and who gets to leave on their own terms.We share the big wins: a new Alzheimer's blood test that could transform early detection for the women most at risk, and ACTU powerhouses Sally McManus and Michele O'Neil stepping down after a decade of hard-won rights — together, and without clinging to power. Then Angela unpacks the convicted Melbourne rapist who still can't be named, thanks to a suppression order protecting him. We mark Jacinta Allan's departure as Victorian premier, and her message to young women in politics. And we dig into the rise of the AI "model" — and what it means when the beauty standard is no longer even human.This week's discussed stories include:New Alzheimer's blood test could transform care for hundreds of thousands of Australian women at riskThey've won rights and fought big power together. Now Sally McManus and Michelle O'Neil are both stepping downA 'high profile' man has been convicted of rape, but still can't be named'This gig has been tough': Jacinta Allan steps down as premier, urges women to keep at politicsAI beauty tools and models are here, giving women even more impossible standardsSubscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and head to womensagenda.com.au to subscribe to our daily news update. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're taking this week off, but to tide you over we're giving you a supersized episode featuring one of our favorite Patreon recaps from this year - Murder In Glitterball City! The team behind RuPaul's Drag Race did a two part HBO docuseries that features nutty townspeople from Louisville, gays bringing up property values, Victorian ghost festivals with bad acting, court porn and kinkshaming. We're up to 120 true crime recaps on our Patreon (including a new Dateline this week for our Patrons!) so if you want more head on over to ⁠patreon.com/attitudes⁠. Bryan's one man show Are You Mad At Me?? is playing Off-Broadway in New York through August 15th! Get your tickets now at ⁠areyoumadatmeshow.com

The old Victorian house had a reputation long before it became student housing. Every new tenant heard the same story from the landlady: if they heard footsteps after midnight or caught the scent of pipe tobacco drifting through the halls, there was nothing to fear. Her late father had loved the house, and she believed he never truly left.For a while, that explanation seemed to fit.An elderly man was occasionally seen sitting peacefully in the study, doors opened on their own, and quiet footsteps echoed through the halls. It all felt strangely comforting...until the activity began to change.Because if the gentle old homeowner was still watching over the house, one question remained. Who—or what—was making the rest of the noises?#GhostStory #RealGhostStories #Paranormal #Ghosts #Hauntings #ParanormalPodcast #HauntedHouse #FriendlyGhost #HauntedHistory #SupernaturalLove real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

The old Victorian house had a reputation long before it became student housing. Every new tenant heard the same story from the landlady: if they heard footsteps after midnight or caught the scent of pipe tobacco drifting through the halls, there was nothing to fear. Her late father had loved the house, and she believed he never truly left.For a while, that explanation seemed to fit.An elderly man was occasionally seen sitting peacefully in the study, doors opened on their own, and quiet footsteps echoed through the halls. It all felt strangely comforting...until the activity began to change.Because if the gentle old homeowner was still watching over the house, one question remained. Who—or what—was making the rest of the noises?#GhostStory #RealGhostStories #Paranormal #Ghosts #Hauntings #ParanormalPodcast #HauntedHouse #FriendlyGhost #HauntedHistory #SupernaturalLove real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

Movie of the Year: 2006The Prestige (feat. Kenny McMillan from the Frame and Reference pod!)The Prestige Podcast: Nolan's Obsession with Magic, Ambition, and DeceptionThe Prestige podcast brings one of Christopher Nolan's most intricate achievements to the center of discussion. Released in 2006, The Prestige stands as a masterclass in misdirection—both thematically and narratively. On this episode of the The Prestige podcast, Ryan, Mike, and Greg explore how the film's structure itself becomes a magic trick, with Kenny McMillan from Frame and Reference offering cinematographic insight into Nolan's visual storytelling. This episode of The Prestige podcast examines why The Prestige has aged into a richer, more rewarding experience than initial audiences may have recognized.About The PrestigeThe Prestige follows two rival magicians, Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) and Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman), whose competitive obsession spirals into tragedy and revenge. Set in Victorian London, the film weaves illusion, science, and sacrifice into a narrative that demands multiple viewings. Directed by Christopher Nolan from a screenplay by Jonathan Nolan and David S. Goyer, the film is based on Christopher Priest's 1995 novel. The cast includes Scarlett Johansson as the central illusion Olivia, Michael Caine as the mentor Cutter, and David Bowie in a pivotal role as inventor Nikola Tesla. The film explores the cost of ambition and the blurred line between performance and reality.Nolan and Structure: How The Prestige Podcast Uncovers the Architecture of MisdirectionChristopher Nolan's approach to The Prestige mirrors the film's central conceit: the three-act structure of a magic trick. The exposition sets up the trick, the turning point misdirects the audience, and the prestige reveals the truth. Nolan employs this framework to build narrative tension that rewards attentive viewers. Moreover, the film's editing and pacing function as visual sleight of hand, concealing crucial details in plain sight. The director's command of chronology and revelation transforms structural mechanics into thematic content. Additionally, the cinematography by Hoyte van Hoytema reinforces this architecture through framing choices that obscure as much as they reveal. Consequently, viewers who dismiss the film on first viewing often discover entirely new dimensions upon rewatching—a quality that separates The Prestige from conventional period dramas.Magic and Ambition: The Prestige Podcast Explores the Psychology of ObsessionAt its core, The Prestige interrogates the price of ambition through the lens of performance and sacrifice. The Prestige podcast digs into how both Borden and Angier pursue mastery of the transported man illusion, but their methods diverge fundamentally. Borden's sacrifice is existential; Angier's is technological. The film suggests that true magic—or true achievement of any kind—requires a willingness to lose something irreplaceable. Furthermore, the duality that defines both characters extends beyond performance into identity itself. The film examines what performers owe to their craft and what craft demands of performers. In particular, the female perspective through Olivia complicates the male rivalry at the narrative's center. Meanwhile, the film positions Nikola Tesla as the ultimate embodiment of ambition unmoored from morality, a cautionary figure whose genius destabilizes the rules governing the Victorian world.Twins: Doubling, Duality, and DeceptionThe Prestige operates through systematic doubling. Twin magicians, a transported man illusion that exploits identical performers, and the fundamental duality of Christian Bale's Alfred Borden structure the film's central mystery. The screenplay leverages the audience's familiarity with magic mechanics—particularly the "double" as a common trick device—to guide viewers toward false conclusions. Meanwhile, the film treats twinning not merely as plot mechanism but as philosophical premise. Both main characters pursue versions of themselves that are more successful, more admired, or more powerful than their authentic selves. Additionally, the Tesla machine introduces a horrifying literalization of doubling: what happens when your double is not your collaborator but your replacement? The film's treatment of identity as something that can be split, cloned, or discarded raises questions about the self that persist long after the final reveal.Mount Rushmore: Scandals of '96The Taste Buds rank the most shameful, embarrassing, or otherwise scandalous cinematic moments of 1996. Though The Prestige arrived a decade later, the conversation extends naturally to the ethical compromises and moral failings embedded in the film itself. Both Borden and Angier engage in forms of deception that approach criminality. The death of a stage assistant, the exploitation of Olivia, and the casual cruelty with which both men pursue victory constitute a catalog of wrongs that the film neither excuses nor entirely condemns. This section invites listeners to debate the film's moral landscape and the extent to which audience sympathy with these characters implicates us in their misconduct.Shopping Spree: The Best of 2006 CinemaThe Shopping Spree segment celebrates the feast of cinema that 2006 offered. The Prestige competes in a year alongside Little Miss Sunshine, The Devil Wears Prada, Brick, and Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story. The conversation weighs Nolan's technical and narrative ambition against the year's other standouts, examining what makes 2006 a genuinely competitive year for the tournament. Furthermore, the panelists consider which films have endured most meaningfully and which have faded in critical esteem over two decades. Notably, The Prestige has sustained and even deepened its reputation as audiences have grown more sophisticated about Nolan's structural innovations.Why The Prestige Podcast Resonates: What Makes This Film EndureTwenty years after its release, The Prestige remains relevant because it articulates anxieties about technology, identity, and performance that have only intensified. The film's treatment of the Tesla machine as a science-fiction intrusion into a historical setting prefigures contemporary concerns about artificial consciousness and the ethics of duplication. Beyond its formal brilliance, the film speaks to the human capacity for self-deception and the stories we tell ourselves to justify our ambitions. Additionally, Nolan's commitment to practical effects and in-camera illusions—a philosophy that runs through his career—makes The Prestige feel increasingly precious in an age of digital manipulation. The film argues, implicitly, that authentic magic resides not in technological wizardry but in the human desire to believe. Ultimately, The Prestige endures because it demands intellectual engagement while delivering emotional and sensory satisfaction—a balance that few contemporary films achieve. This is precisely why the Prestige podcast episode deepens with each listen, revealing new dimensions in both the film and its broader cultural significance.Related Episodes from Movie of the Year: 20062006 Intro Part 1: Bracket RevealTristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull StoryBrick2006 Mixtape Part IThe Puffy ChairThe Devil Wears PradaLittle Miss SunshineAll Movie of the Year EpisodesGuest Panelist: Kenny McMillanKenny McMillan is the host and producer of Frame and Reference, a cinematography podcast featuring long-form, unstructured conversations with working cinematographers about their craft, influences, and current projects. Through Frame and Reference, McMillan has interviewed leading cinematographers working across film and television, exploring how visual storytelling shapes narrative impact. His deep engagement with cinematographic practice brings technical expertise and artistic sensibility to film discussion. McMillan's work on the podcast has established him as a thoughtful voice in cinematography education and criticism, emphasizing the collaborative relationship between director and cinematographer. His perspective on Nolan's visual strategy in The Prestige—particularly Hoyte van Hoytema's contributions to the film's...

It’s been another roller coaster this week for mortgage holders. Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock issued a stern warning about inflation, before the clouds parted a little when there was a welcome dip in the numbers. We check in with the state of the economy with senior economics correspondent Shane Wright, before crossing to state political editor Chip Le Grand after quite a momentous week in Victoria. This week, Jacinta Allan was ousted as premier, with Ben Carroll taking the reins ahead of what is shaping up to be a genuine three-way contest in the November election between the Labor government, the Coalition and One Nation. Today’s episode is hosted, as usual, by Jacqueline Maley.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On 26th of August 2026, the Federal Labor Party wrapped up its annual conference in Adelaide. Amongst some of the items that made the news was a joint presentation by MPs Josh Burns, who is Jewish, and Basem Abdo, who is from a Palestinian background, in which they addressed the national conference and endorsed the party's platform. SBS Hebrew spoke with Mr. Burns to gather his thoughts about the occasion and the Middle East conflict in general.On 26th of August 2026, the Federal Labor Party wrapped up its annual conference in Adelaide. Amongst some of the items that made the news was a joint presentation by MPs Josh Burns, who is Jewish, and Basem Abdo, who is from a Palestinian background, in which they addressed the national conference and endorsed the party's platform. SBS Hebrew spoke with Mr. Burns to gather his thoughts about the occasion and the Middle East conflict in general.MP Josh Burns is the Federal Labor member for the federal electorate of Macnamara, Melbourne. He was first elected to parliament in 2019 and currently serves as the Special Envoy for Social Housing and Homelessness. Mr. Burns was raised by Jewish immigrants who fled Europe for Australia to escape persecution. Prior to his election to Parliament, he worked as a teacher's aide, factory worker, and an adviser to the Victorian and federal governments.

It’s been another roller coaster this week for mortgage holders. Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock issued a stern warning about inflation, before the clouds parted a little when there was a welcome dip in the numbers. We check in with the state of the economy with senior economics correspondent Shane Wright, before crossing to state political editor Chip Le Grand after quite a momentous week in Victoria. This week, Jacinta Allan was ousted as premier, with Ben Carroll taking the reins ahead of what is shaping up to be a genuine three-way contest in the November election between the Labor government, the Coalition and One Nation. Today’s episode is hosted, as usual, by Jacqueline Maley.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The H5N1 bird flu has now been detected in Victoria, in this edition of The Conversation Hour we discuss how it might potentially impact Victorian agriculture and also the our native wildlife.Also in this edition, Australia's sprint success at the Commonwealth Games, when a bad online review can be a positive, plus how to support young sports stars.

Victorian Ratepayers and Residents Association Secretary Tanya Tescher joined Tom Elliott to talk about the potential removal of the council rate cap and the flow on effect it could have on Victorian ratepayers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has resigned, and who on earth is this new fella who's replaced her (see: stabbed her in the back, maybe)? On this episode of Represent National, Ashley, Benita, Nayan and Zoe unpack who Ben Carroll is, what happened in the Victorian Labor Party caucus meeting, and the drama of it all! We also check back in on Victorian teachers' and school staff's ongoing union fight for better pay and conditions, including their most recent strike action last Thursday, and the implications of Australia's only manganese smelter in Tasmania going broke. Represent is a Syn Media podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Victoria has lost its second female Premier after Jacinta Allan resigned following a leadership challenge. In this podcast, we speak with some professional women from the Indian community about the latest developments in Victorian politics. We explore whether the leadership challenge has reinforced their views on the importance of women in political leadership, the qualities they value in leaders, and whether the ongoing instability will influence how they vote.

In 1947, the Army announced it had recovered a crashed "flying disc" near Roswell, then reversed itself within a day — a contradiction the Air Force didn't explain until 1994, when it revealed a classified spy program called Project Mogul. Roswell wasn't even the first: unidentified wreckage and bodies had been turning up for decades before it.EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/RoswellWasntFirstFEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: When you hear the words “UFO crash” you likely think of Roswell, New Mexico in 1947. And while that is the most famous of supposed extraterrestrial spaceship crashes, it is by no means the first. In fact, there were several taking place before Roswell became a household name. (UFO Crashes Before Roswell) *** But first – we'll take a look at Roswell itself… and what might have been behind the crash, the UFOs, and the aliens! (Behind Roswell's Aliens) *** Numerous travelers have gone missing in Nahanni Valley… and many whose bodies have been found, have been decapitated. It's no wonder it has been nicknamed “The Valley of Headless Men”. (The Valley of Headless Men) *** In 2016, construction in a San Francisco family's backyard unearthed a terrifying find… a glass coffin. And the history behind it tells a morbid history of the city. (The Karner's Backyard Glass Coffin) *** Former Green Beret Jeffrey MacDonald claimed that a gang of acid-crazed Manson Family copycats brutally murdered his pregnant wife and two daughters in 1970, but then he was found guilty. Did he commit the crime, or did the law convict the wrong man? (The Evil Deeds of Jeffrey MacDonald) *** It's understood that scientifically, alchemy – attempting to turn a substance or element into gold – is impossible. But then, there is that one incident that took place in the early seventeenth century that has some people wondering if that's wrong. (The Alchemy Master)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = The Foreboding00:01:27.594 = Show Open00:03:47.621 = Behind Roswell's Aliens / UFO Crashes Before Roswell00:19:45.640 = The Valley of Headless Men ***00:33:18.357 = The Karner's Backyard Glass Coffin00:44:54.640 = The Evil Deeds of Jeffrey MacDonald ***00:55:31.498 = The Alchemy Master01:02:26.698 = Show Close*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad breakLISTEN ON PODCAST APPS: Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.com/wdapps*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*SOURCES and RESOURCES:“Behind Roswell's Aliens” by Adam Janos for History.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yd5fhudu“UFO Crashes Before Roswell” from Anomalien.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2w6d76yh“The Valley of Headless Men” by Aleksa Vuckovic for Ancient-Origins.net: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p9c6zf4“The Evil Deeds of Jeffrey MacDonald” by Marco Margaritoff for AllThatsInteresting.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8eant7“The Alchemy Master” by Ellen Lloyd for AncientPages.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4xzysbwc“The Karner's Backyard Glass Coffin” by Trilby Beresford for Ranker.com's Graveyard Shift:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3mpvk9jh(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.Originally aired: January 2021This episode of Weird Darkness moves from a classified Cold War balloon program in the New Mexico desert to a Canadian valley littered with decapitated bodies, a Victorian child's glass coffin dug up in a San Francisco backyard, a Green Beret convicted of butchering his own family, and a seventeenth-century alchemist tortured for the secret of turning lead into gold.It opens with the 1947 Roswell crash, tracing how rancher W.W. "Mac" Brazel's discovery of wreckage on his Lincoln County property led Colonel William Blanchard's Roswell Army Air Field to announce the capture of a "flying disc," only for the Army to reverse itself within days and blame a weather balloon, complete with staged photos of Major Jesse Marcel posing with the debris. The story follows the account through the U.S. Air Force's 1994 admission that the wreckage actually came from Project Mogul, a secret high-altitude balloon array built to detect Soviet atomic tests, and its 1997 explanation that reported alien bodies were fallen parachute test dummies, then weighs those official conclusions against UFO researcher Donald Schmitt's objections and journalist Annie Jacobsen's competing claim that the crash involved deformed children deployed by Joseph Stalin and designed by Nazi doctor Josef Mengele.From there, the episode moves through six UFO crash reports that predate Roswell by decades, including an 1897 cigar-shaped craft said to have destroyed Judge Proctor's windmill in Aurora, Texas, and left a small humanoid body buried in the local cemetery; an 1862 wreck witnessed by shipwrecked sailors from the vessel Christine on a deserted Indian Ocean island, where they found twelve-foot-tall bodies with bronze beards; a UFO crash near Stavropol, Russia, whose three survivors reportedly died from being unable to breathe Earth's atmosphere; a 1941 crash in the Carolinas recovered by the U.S. Army during a military exercise involving soldier Guy Simeone; an 1884 debris field of gear-like metal fragments found by rancher John Ellis in Dundy County, Nebraska; and a wartime British crash investigated by journalist Dorothy Kilgallen, who died shortly after publishing claims that the recovered craft's crew stood under four feet tall.Next, the story shifts to Canada's Nahanni Valley, where at least 44 people have died or vanished since 1908, beginning with prospector brothers Willie and Frank McLeod, whose headless skeletons were found at their camp two years after they disappeared, and continuing through the decapitations of Swiss prospector Martin Jorgenson and outlaw "Yukon" Fisher, the mysterious cabin fire that killed Phil Powers, and the vanishing of Annie Laferte, who was later spotted wandering naked and disoriented near the Flat River — deaths locals attribute variously to the legendary Naha tribe, the valley's hot sulphur springs, or predators, while Dene oral history holds that the warlike Naha people simply disappeared without explanation.The episode then turns to 2016, when a construction crew remodeling John and Ericka Karner's San Francisco home unearthed a 19th-century glass-and-cast-iron coffin containing the preserved body of a toddler, later identified through DNA testing led by genealogist Elissa Davey as Edith Howard Cook, who died of malnutrition in 1876 and was accidentally left behind when San Francisco's Odd Fellows Cemetery was relocated to Colma in the 1930s — a discovery the Karner family says ended years of unexplained footsteps they'd heard from a toddler no longer in the house.From there, the story follows former Green Beret Jeffrey MacDonald, convicted of stabbing his pregnant wife Colette and daughters Kimberly and Kristen to death at Fort Bragg in 1970 after claiming a blonde intruder chanting about acid and "pigs" oversaw the killings, an account investigators concluded was staged using details from the recent Manson Family murders; the case follows his decades of appeals, including the 1983 bestseller "A Fatal Vision" that branded him a psychopath and filmmaker Errol Morris's later book arguing the evidence against him was mishandled.The episode closes with the story of Alexander Seton, a secretive Scottish alchemist known as the Cosmopolitan, who in 1602 convinced skeptical Swiss professor Wolfgang Drenheim that he had transmuted lead into gold using nothing but a wrapped powder and a goldsmith's crucible in Fribourg. Seton's success drew the attention of Emperor Rudolf II and later trapped him in the custody of Christian II, Elector of Saxony, who had him pierced with iron spikes and burned with molten lead in an attempt to force him to reveal his formula; Seton escaped in 1603 with the help of his friend Michael Sendivogius but died a broken man soon after, and the alchemical text he was said to have written, the Book of Twelve Chapters, was destroyed, leaving his method lost.

Moving into the old Victorian felt like a fresh start for her family. The house was full of character, and they were grateful to finally have a place to call home. But from the very beginning, one part of the house made her deeply uncomfortable. Every time she walked near the back hallway, she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was standing there, silently watching her.Then one summer night, that uneasy feeling turned into something she and her twin sister couldn't explain. A door began opening and slamming shut over and over again while the rest of the family slept soundly, leaving them to search the house for any reasonable explanation.Years later, they would learn something about the home's history that made that terrifying night even harder to forget. #HauntedHouse #VictorianHouse #RealGhostStories #GhostStories #Paranormal #HauntedHome #Supernatural #Unexplained #HauntedHistory #ShadowPresence #TrueParanormal #GhostEncounter #CaliforniaGhosts #VictorianHome #SpiritsLove real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

Where are the hair salons with the hot women? Lazlo and SlimFast discuss Eric Bieniemy's wife being shot. SlimFast loves pooping, and had a weird Victorian-era disease. Lazlo had to get a shot up his ass, SlimFast saw a Walgreens brawl, and Summers' reconnecting with her long lost Grandpa. Download The Church of Lazlo podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts

Send us Fan MailBestselling author. Brand strategist. Publisher. Founder of Empress Editions. Survivor of 14 facial surgeries and one extremely rude grocery store floor. Alisa Kennedy Jones does not do anything halfway, and in this episode she explains why midlife women — who control 85% of household spending and keep being told their voices are "old" — are the most underestimated force in publishing and this economy, if we're being honest.We cover: postmenopausal bliss (yes, really), the salary cliff nobody warns women about, banned-book drama, AI reader companions, taco-truck healthcare activism, and a ghost story involving a Victorian home and a child who was somehow in two places at once.Visibility is activism. This episode is proof.Empress website here.    Empress Substack here.Gotham Girl Substack hereLeave your message for the Speaker Box here.Watch this episode on YouTube here.  For more AGECRAFT content, join the Substack here. To work with Julia and/or learn more about her, go here.  CBDMD website here.Use code julia_g_wellness to get 15% off Episode SponsorBe one of the helpers! SUBSCRIBE to this podcast on APPLE PODCASTS or SPOTIFY and leave us a review on APPLE PODCASTS. 

It's the 19th century, and a village in northern Michigan is the setting for Adam Bolton's strange, decrepit house, called Haggard House by the community. He's eleven, and his strictly religious mother only allows him to attend the village school after he promises not to be friendly with the other children. They're heathens, she tells him. Adam builds an imaginary house in his mind, so when he meets a little girl who likes him, he can imagine her there. His father is a respected carpenter who leads a sad life because of Adam's over-pious, angry and bitter mother. As a young man Adam escapes for a few years and doesn't learn of his father's murder until he returns. And when he goes against his mother's wishes to marry the woman he loves, everyone pays a price in this well-written tale of madness and piety. Elisabeth Rhoads is the Vice-President of the second largest branch of the California Writers Club—Orange County. Since 2021, she has been a volunteer juror for the Scholastic Writing Awards. She holds her BA in Theatre and has recently been accepted into Chapman University's Creative Writing MFA program, starting in Fall of 2026. Originally from Michigan, she spent two summers working on Mackinac Island, which only allows transport by horse and carriage, foot, or bicycle. Her time on this history-soaked island deeply influenced her, and has inspired many stories, including, in part, Haggard House (Bodger Books, 2025)—and is featured briefly in the novel. She is the author of one novel and has begun a short story series on her Substack, in which she writes a new story each month, based on subscriber prompts. Now living in California with her husband, she enjoys learning Japanese, fermenting foods of all types—although mainly kombucha—and pretends to enjoy exercise-related activities, such as kayaking and running. As someone who grew up within a strict, religious home, her writing reflects the Victorian influences that made up a large part of her family's reading habits, such as Charles Dickens, the Brontë sisters, and Edgar Allen Poe. She hopes that modern readers will find much to connect with, as these old-world literary influences combine with her now much broader view of the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Victoria has a new premier after the education minister, Ben Carroll, was voted in by the Labor party during a chaotic caucus meeting on Tuesday morning. His predecessor, Jacinta Allan, stood down after a tumultuous few months at the helm of a government diving in the polls and struggling to fend off a rising One Nation ahead of November's state election. Victorian state correspondent Benita Kolovos tells Reged Ahmad how the day unfolded and whether a change in leadership can improve Labor's chances at the ballot box later this year

It's the 19th century, and a village in northern Michigan is the setting for Adam Bolton's strange, decrepit house, called Haggard House by the community. He's eleven, and his strictly religious mother only allows him to attend the village school after he promises not to be friendly with the other children. They're heathens, she tells him. Adam builds an imaginary house in his mind, so when he meets a little girl who likes him, he can imagine her there. His father is a respected carpenter who leads a sad life because of Adam's over-pious, angry and bitter mother. As a young man Adam escapes for a few years and doesn't learn of his father's murder until he returns. And when he goes against his mother's wishes to marry the woman he loves, everyone pays a price in this well-written tale of madness and piety. Elisabeth Rhoads is the Vice-President of the second largest branch of the California Writers Club—Orange County. Since 2021, she has been a volunteer juror for the Scholastic Writing Awards. She holds her BA in Theatre and has recently been accepted into Chapman University's Creative Writing MFA program, starting in Fall of 2026. Originally from Michigan, she spent two summers working on Mackinac Island, which only allows transport by horse and carriage, foot, or bicycle. Her time on this history-soaked island deeply influenced her, and has inspired many stories, including, in part, Haggard House (Bodger Books, 2025)—and is featured briefly in the novel. She is the author of one novel and has begun a short story series on her Substack, in which she writes a new story each month, based on subscriber prompts. Now living in California with her husband, she enjoys learning Japanese, fermenting foods of all types—although mainly kombucha—and pretends to enjoy exercise-related activities, such as kayaking and running. As someone who grew up within a strict, religious home, her writing reflects the Victorian influences that made up a large part of her family's reading habits, such as Charles Dickens, the Brontë sisters, and Edgar Allen Poe. She hopes that modern readers will find much to connect with, as these old-world literary influences combine with her now much broader view of the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

What secrets might a Royal Commission into the Victorian building industry corruption expose?

What secrets might a Royal Commission into the Victorian building industry corruption expose?

Victorian politics is in turmoil. On Tuesday morning, Jacinta Allan stood down as the state's 49th premier after more than 25 years in parliament. In a bonus episode of The Morning Edition, state political reporter Kieran Rooney discusses what brought Allan down, who has replaced her and what it means for the state election in just four months’ time. Background reading: 'Slow, then fast, the downfall of a premier under siege' The one thing Jacinta Allan left out of her farewell speech is Carroll’s first priority Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Victorian government made headlines, for all the wrong reasons, in 2023, when it pulled out of hosting the Commonwealth Games on the grounds that it was too expensive. Now, the Games are on in Glasgow, with many locals barely registering that it’s even taking place in their city, according to our reporter on the ground. Today, senior sports writer Michael Gleeson on whether the competition, which started in 1930 as a means of uniting the colonies and honouring the monarchy, is on its last legs. Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Victorian government made headlines, for all the wrong reasons, in 2023, when it pulled out of hosting the Commonwealth Games on the grounds that it was too expensive. Now, the Games are on in Glasgow, with many locals barely registering that it’s even taking place in their city, according to our reporter on the ground. Today, senior sports writer Michael Gleeson on whether the competition, which started in 1930 as a means of uniting the colonies and honouring the monarchy, is on its last legs. Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Victorian politics is in turmoil. On Tuesday morning, Jacinta Allan stood down as the state's 49th premier after more than 25 years in parliament. In a bonus episode of The Morning Edition, state political reporter Kieran Rooney discusses what brought Allan down, who has replaced her and what it means for the state election in just four months’ time. Background reading: 'Slow, then fast, the downfall of a premier under siege' The one thing Jacinta Allan left out of her farewell speech is Carroll’s first priority Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Advertisement Get More at LVwithLOVE.com! Historic Easton Cemetery Executive Director Keith Lampman-Perlman leads Lehigh Valley with Love through 85 acres of Easton history, Victorian funerary art, monuments and green space. The tour stops at the graves of Declaration of Independence signer George Taylor, football helmet inventor George Oliver Barclay, Lucy, Howard Rinek and John Frederic Osterstock, the man whose name lives on through the Freddy Awards. Keith also explains cradle graves, grave gardening, changing burial traditions and the work needed to preserve Easton's largest green space. Learn more or plan a visit: https://www.thehistoriceastoncemetery.org/ Advertisement Sign up for our Newsletter!  Thank you to our Partners! WDIY 88.1 FM QuoteAhead.com Wind Creek Event Center Michael Bernadyn of RE/MAX Real Estate Banko Beverage Company Email your news release to info@lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com Subscribe to our email list

This weeks ai slop is served up by DeepSeek v4 Pro. I tried to use Kimi but it got stuck generating the notes. So now you get this. Could be worse. Episode SummaryJack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack return for a wide-ranging conversation that spans the turbulent state of Australian politics and the precarious state of global affairs. The episode opens with striking Redbridge polling data suggesting One Nation could pick up as many as 19 seats in the upcoming Victorian state election -- a result that would leave neither major party able to form government in its own right. The Jacks explore the mechanics of minority government, the prospect of a marriage of convenience between the Liberals and One Nation, and whether Labor voters in protest mode could deliver One Nation unexpected inroads into heartland seats.The domestic focus then shifts to the Australian economy. Drawing on former ACTU Secretary Bill Kelty's recent analysis, the hosts dissect a bureaucracy more concerned with treating symptoms than causes, lamenting squandered billions on unused quarantine centres, infrastructure costs among the highest in the world, and a housing crisis driven by a failure to train enough workers. The conversation turns to political courage -- or the lack of it -- comparing today's risk-averse governing class with the Hawke-Keating reform era, when fringe benefits tax was meant to kill the long lunch but somehow did not.A spirited defence of Emerge Australia -- an advocacy group training GPs to diagnose and treat myalgic encephalomyelitis (chronic fatigue syndrome) -- highlights the government's decision to cut a mere $400,000 in funding, a move Jack the Insider brands disgraceful for an organisation serving an estimated 250,000 Australians. Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme reform also gets a hearing, with pharmaceutical companies increasingly bypassing Australia for clinical trials.Internationally, the Jacks confront the escalating dangers of the Russia-Ukraine war. With Ukraine making Crimea increasingly uninhabitable and Vladimir Putin backed into a corner, the prospect of an attack on a NATO or NATO-aligned state looms. The conversation covers Russia's cancelled bond sale, the shifting power dynamic between Putin and Xi Jinping, and thousands of Russian passports arriving in Moldova -- a familiar prelude to intervention. On Iran, the hosts reflect on the Trump administration's military strikes, oil climbing past USD 100 a barrel, and the political consequences for the upcoming US midterm elections.The episode closes with sport: the FIFA World Cup (and Argentina's remarkable ability to unify the football world in mutual disdain), the AFL's handling of the Nicky Winmar domestic violence case and questions of consistency, the end of the Bazball era in English Test cricket, a warm tribute to the late Sir Garfield Sobers, and rugby union's new Nations Championship format.Timestamped Highlights(All timestamps adjusted +25 seconds to account for theme music.)00:00:26 -- Introduction and Banter Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack open the show trading observations on air conditioning, long lunches, and the perils of sitting directly beneath the vent.00:01:32 -- One Nation's Victorian Polling Surge Redbridge polling data indicates One Nation could win as many as 19 seats in the Victorian state election. In an 88-seat legislature, that would make a majority for either major party almost impossible.00:02:52 -- Minority Government Mechanics Hong Kong Jack explains the constitutional pathway: if no party wins a majority, the sitting Premier gets the first conversation with the Governor and may be recommissioned to form government.00:04:20 -- A Three-Cornered Contest Jack the Insider argues the Allan government is at the end of the road, but the Liberal alternative inspires little confidence. One Nation may poll well in Labor heartland seats as protest voters look for an outlet that is not the Liberal Party.00:06:33 -- The Polling vs. the Pencil Hong Kong Jack predicts One Nation's polling numbers will soften once voters are alone in the booth with an HB pencil hovering over the ballot paper.00:08:32 -- Commonwealth Games Land in Glasgow The hosts acknowledge the Commonwealth Games have begun -- in Glasgow, not Victoria. The opening ceremony featured King Charles and Queen Camilla emerging from a Doctor Who TARDIS.00:10:50 -- Pauline Hanson and the Tommy Robinson Interview The Jacks dissect Hanson's decision to interview the controversial British figure, with Hong Kong Jack arguing the motivation is straightforward: publicity, good or bad.00:12:12 -- Factions Within One Nation Barnaby Joyce's visible discomfort with the Robinson interview signals internal tensions. Jack the Insider warns One Nation risks veering further towards the "lunar right."00:13:30 -- Two Australias: The Great Dog Divide A detour into the changing culture of pet ownership. Jack the Insider contrasts the utilitarian farm dogs of his Reservoir childhood with the multi-billion-dollar industry of designer dog beds, pushchairs, and booties.00:15:59 -- Bill Kelty's Economic Diagnosis Former ACTU Secretary Bill Kelty delivers a blunt assessment: Australian governments have spent decades treating symptoms rather than causes -- quarantine centres never used, infrastructure costs at world-record levels, a housing crisis born of under-investment in skills.00:17:59 -- The Courage Deficit Hong Kong Jack argues the current government, like its recent predecessors, lacks political boldness. The Prime Minister's Labor conference speech seemed "spooked by One Nation" rather than offering a growth narrative.00:19:22 -- The Keating Comparison Jack the Insider revisits the Hawke-Keating reform era, noting the howls of outrage that greeted early reforms -- including fringe benefits tax, which was meant to "kill lunch" but somehow did not. The difference today: social media amplifies every backlash.00:23:02 -- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Funding Cut An urgent segment on the defunding of Emerge Australia, an advocacy group that has trained roughly 10% of the nation's GPs in diagnosing and treating ME/CFS. The cut amounts to approximately $400,000 -- a sum Jack the Insider describes as negligible in public expenditure but catastrophic for the 250,000 Australians living with the condition.00:26:37 -- The PBS and Australia's Clinical Trial Problem Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly bypassing Australia for clinical trials, leaving patients with rare conditions to raise extraordinary sums for overseas treatment. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme's pricing structure may require root-and-branch reform, particularly for newly developed drugs.00:29:50 -- What Should Labor Do About One Nation? Hong Kong Jack's prescription is simple: fix the economy and stop saying silly things. One Nation will wither on the vine if economic growth returns.00:30:17 -- Derryn Hinch: The Human Headline Remembered The former broadcaster, senator, and Justice Party founder has died aged 82. The Jacks reflect on a complicated legacy -- a man who transformed Melbourne talkback radio and tabloid television, was twice married to Jacki Weaver, and whose profound impact on the media is tempered by a deeply troubling intervention in the justice system.00:32:00 -- The Glennon Case: When a Headline Cost Children Their Safety Jack the Insider recounts in detail how Hinch's decision to publicly name convicted paedophile priest Michael Glennon during an active trial led to the suspension of proceedings, an eventual overturned conviction, and a four-year window in which Glennon continued operating camps and abusing children -- as many as 20 additional victims.00:38:14 -- Hinch's Media Legacy Despite the Glennon tragedy, Hong Kong Jack credits Hinch with changing the sound of Melbourne radio. The talkback format he pioneered arguably saved stations like 3AW.00:40:32 -- Ukraine and the Battle for Crimea The Ukrainians cannot hold Crimea, but they are making it unliveable. Water, electricity, and supplies have been cut. Crimeans are fleeing en masse. The Russian Black Sea Fleet has effectively ceased to exist.00:42:13 -- Putin Backed Into a Corner Jack the Insider warns that Vladimir Putin, when cornered, does not act rationally. The spectre of an attack on a NATO country -- perhaps a Baltic state -- or on Moldova is real. Putin cannot sue for peace; it would mean the end of him.00:44:21 -- Russia's Economic Pressure Points Hong Kong Jack notes that Russia cancelled a regular bond sale last week after failing to find buyers. The economic squeeze is mounting. Putin and his deeply unpopular party are now being fused together ahead of elections.00:47:13 -- Russian Passports Arrive in Moldova Thousands of Russian passports have been shipped to Moldova -- the same playbook used in Crimea and eastern Ukraine before intervention.00:49:32 -- Iran, the Houthis, and Oil Above USD 100 US strikes on Iran continue. Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have struck oil tankers. The price of crude has pushed past USD 100 a barrel -- a politically dangerous number for Donald Trump four months out from the midterms.00:50:33 -- The Netanyahu Pitch for Regime Change Jack the Insider recounts the scene from Swan and Haberman's book: Benjamin Netanyahu presenting a case for US-Israeli combined bombing to achieve regime change in Iran. Trump was impressed; Marco Rubio and the CIA director were not.00:52:56 -- US Midterms: The Democratic Candidate Problem The Democrats' prospects are muddied by candidate issues including the withdrawal of Graham Plattner over sexual assault allegations and the party's persistent inability to select candidates who genuinely connect with the white working class.00:54:40 -- Tim Waltz, John Kerry, and Authenticity Hong Kong Jack contrasts the Democrats' clumsy attempts to project authenticity -- Tim Waltz hunting, John Kerry windsurfing -- with the reality that Kerry was an ice hockey player who once attended a White House meeting with two black eyes from a congressional game.00:58:19 -- The Sickness in American Democracy Jack the Insider argues the two-party lock on presidential politics -- achieved partly by keeping third-party candidates off ballots in roughly 30 states -- is profoundly undemocratic. With 40% of voters now registering as independents, millions have no candidate who represents them.00:59:43 -- Can Trump Disrupt the Midterms? Hong Kong Jack analyses the constitutional limits on presidential interference in state-run elections. Any attempt to use emergency powers would go straight to court.01:03:43 -- Marine Le Pen: France's Next President? Polling around 67%, Le Pen is the frontrunner for the French presidential election. Her felony conviction for misusing EU funds appears to be no impediment.01:05:09 -- Andy Burnham's Fast Start as UK Prime Minister The new PM has hit the ground running with popular measures: a GBP 2 bus fare cap across England, 20% business rate cuts for pubs, clubs, and live music venues, and the scrapping of VAT on domestic electricity bills.01:07:36 -- Britain's Investment Challenge The biggest test for Burnham will be attracting investment. The UK has 11 million working-age citizens on benefits -- a figure now exceeding tax receipts.01:09:03 -- FIFA World Cup: Argentina Triumphs, Trump Photobombs Argentina are world champions, but not before a petition signed by millions demanded their exclusion from the final. Donald Trump appeared on the podium; the Spanish commemorative photos, the Jacks note, did not include him.01:11:07 -- The Refereeing and the Expansion The officiating was patchy, but the expanded tournament format was vindicated. Seeing Cape Verde, Australia, New Zealand, and Iran compete gave the event a genuinely global feel.01:14:23 -- Nicky Winmar, the AFL Hall of Fame, and Domestic Violence The Jacks grapple with the AFL's removal of Winmar from the Hall of Fame following a domestic violence conviction. Jack the Insider questions the consistency: Wayne Carey and Gary Ablett Sr. remain honoured. Hong Kong Jack suggests a suspension rather than permanent expulsion would have been more appropriate, arguing that football cannot be reserved for choirboys.01:19:06 -- Bazball's End: The McCallum Era Concludes Baz McCallum is out as England's Test coach after 49 Tests: 27 wins, 20 losses. Ten of the first eleven were victories; seven of the last nine were defeats. The hosts debate whether Bazball added to cricket's audience even if it could not sustainably win Test matches.01:23:20 -- Sir Garfield Sobers: The Greatest of All Time A warm tribute to the late West Indian legend. Jack the Insider recalls meeting Sobers at the Hilton in Barbados. Hong Kong Jack shares the story of Sobers -- completely ambidextrous -- playing golf off scratch left-handed and off two right-handed.01:27:53 -- Rugby Union's Nations Championship A new format pits Northern Hemisphere sides against Southern Hemisphere sides, culminating in finals at Twickenham. Hong Kong Jack is sceptical anyone will care which hemisphere wins. The 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, however, is selling tickets strongly.01:30:00 -- Sign-Off Jack the Insider thanks listeners and apologises for the previous week's absence due to illness. The hosts promise to return on or around 31 July, though Hong Kong Jack advises against buying "20-year futures in us."Social Media PostsTwitter / XPost 1: One Nation could win up to 19 seats in the Victorian election. On this week's episode, we break down what a three-cornered contest means for the major parties -- and why minority government may be coming to Spring Street. Listen now.Post 2: "Putin, when cornered, does not act rationally." This week we examine the escalating dangers in Ukraine, Russian passports in Moldova, and why oil above USD 100 spells trouble for Trump. New episode of The Two Jacks out now.Post 3: $400,000. That is what it costs to train GPs across Australia to diagnose and treat ME/CFS -- and the government has cut it. We discuss why this quiet defunding of Emerge Australia is a disgrace. Full episode linked.Post 4: Derryn Hinch transformed Australian media. He also, by his own grandstanding, gave a paedophile priest four more years of access to children. This week we examine the complicated legacy of the Human Headline.Post 5: Bazball is dead. Garry Sobers is immortal. Nicky Winmar is out of the Hall of Fame. Our sport segment this week covers the big calls in cricket, AFL, rugby, and a World Cup final that unified the planet -- against Argentina.FacebookThis week on The Two Jacks: Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack navigate a political landscape where the old rules no longer apply.Redbridge polling has One Nation on track to become kingmaker in Victoria. We explore what minority government would actually look like -- and whether Labor can cling to power even if it finishes second.Bill Kelty says Australia's bureaucracy treats symptoms, not causes. We ask: where has political courage gone, and could anyone sell reform the way Keating did?From a USD 400,000 funding cut that will devastate chronic fatigue sufferers, to pharmaceutical companies abandoning Australian clinical trials, to a PBS in need of root-and-branch reform -- the domestic agenda is packed.Internationally, the picture is darker. Putin is cornered in Ukraine. Iran burns. Oil has passed USD 100. And the US midterms are shaping up as a referendum on Trump's foreign policy.Plus: Derryn Hinch's complicated legacy, Argentina's World Cup, Nicky Winmar and the AFL's consistency problem, the death of Bazball, and a toast to Sir Garfield Sobers -- the greatest cricketer who ever lived.Listen wherever you get your podcasts.InstagramCaption for episode artwork: Episode 165 is live. This week: One Nation's Victorian moment, Putin's dangerous corner, the Hinch legacy, and why a $400K funding cut matters more than you think. Link in bio.

This is a Grave Talks CLASSIC EPISODE! PART TWOGraestone Manor Bed and Breakfast stands as a beautifully preserved Victorian home along the Erie Canal in Gasport, New York—but its history may be more alive than its guests realize. From its early beginnings in the 1800s to the many lives that have passed through the property, the manor carries a deep and layered past that refuses to stay quiet.Unexplained voices echo through empty rooms. The sound of horse hooves has been heard where no horses remain. Shadowy figures move through the halls, and a woman is still seen watching from the windows. Some believe there is something even more unusual at work beneath the surface—an energy that seems to draw activity in.For those who live within its walls, the paranormal isn't an occasional experience—it's part of daily life. And as the activity continues, one question lingers: are these spirits simply echoes of the past… or are they aware of the living who now call Graestone Manor home?#TheGraveTalks #GraestoneManor #HauntedBedAndBreakfast #HauntedNewYork #ErieCanalGhosts #ParanormalPodcast #GhostStories #HauntedHistory #PsychicMedium #SpiritsAmongUsLove real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

This is a Grave Talks CLASSIC EPISODE!Graestone Manor Bed and Breakfast stands as a beautifully preserved Victorian home along the Erie Canal in Gasport, New York—but its history may be more alive than its guests realize. From its early beginnings in the 1800s to the many lives that have passed through the property, the manor carries a deep and layered past that refuses to stay quiet.Unexplained voices echo through empty rooms. The sound of horse hooves has been heard where no horses remain. Shadowy figures move through the halls, and a woman is still seen watching from the windows. Some believe there is something even more unusual at work beneath the surface—an energy that seems to draw activity in.For those who live within its walls, the paranormal isn't an occasional experience—it's part of daily life. And as the activity continues, one question lingers: are these spirits simply echoes of the past… or are they aware of the living who now call Graestone Manor home?#TheGraveTalks #GraestoneManor #HauntedBedAndBreakfast #HauntedNewYork #ErieCanalGhosts #ParanormalPodcast #GhostStories #HauntedHistory #PsychicMedium #SpiritsAmongUsLove real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

When Benjamin Franklin's Ghost Designed a Machine and the strange story of The Underwater Orchestra. What happens when people become convinced they can build a messiah out of magnets, copper, and electricity? In this episode of *The Box of Oddities, Kat and JG dive into one of the strangest forgotten chapters in American history: the bizarre true story of John Murray Spear's "New Motive Power," an electrical machine that followers believed would be born* rather than switched on. Guided by séances, messages from the spirits of Benjamin Franklin and other historical figures, and a ceremony that mimicked childbirth, Spear attempted to create a living mechanical redeemer decades before robots, computers, or artificial intelligence existed. It's an astonishing tale of Spiritualism, Victorian science, religious belief, and humanity's enduring obsession with creating life. Then the conversation heads beneath the waves to one of the world's most unusual festivals. Every year, divers descend on *Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys for the Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival*, where ocean-themed music is broadcast underwater while mermaids, pirates, and "fish musicians" celebrate one of North America's most important coral reefs. Beneath the quirky spectacle lies an inspiring story about coral conservation, marine biology, and the creative ways people are fighting to protect one of Earth's most fragile ecosystems. From electrical messiahs and nineteenth-century spiritualists to underwater concerts and living coral cities, this episode explores two extraordinary stories that prove reality is often stranger than fiction. If you love weird history, forgotten mysteries, unusual science, bizarre true stories, eccentric inventors, and curious facts from around the world, subscribe to *The Box of Oddities* and keep flying your freak flag. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're here, we're queer, we're both wearing tie dye and it's Episode 490! Today Em brings us a short but spooky story about the Buena Vista Cemetery & Hunter Steakhouse. Then Christine covers the murder of Jody Loomis, a decades long cold case that was finally solved. And will someone let us know why there's always a Walter among us? …and that's why we drink!Photo Links:Hunter's Steakhouse ghostJody LoomisCOMING SOON! Be on the lookout for The ParaSocial Club Presented by ParaPods Network launching this Wednesday on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@ATWWDPodcast Want to listen ad-free? Join our Certified Yapper tier for $10/month on Patreon! Ad-free episodes starting at E469 at: patreon.com/ATWWDPodcast !Catch our bonus Yappy Hour intermissions on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3L28lDw or subscribe on Patreon!___________________Get 40% off your first Hungryroot order plus a free item in every box for life at hungryroot.com/DRINK with code DRINK.Head to chime.com/drinkGet 10% off your first order sitewide with code DRINK at oseamalibu.com .Start your new morning ritual & get up to 43% off your @MUDWTR with code DRINK at mudwtr.com/DRINK ! #mudwtrpodIf you think you or someone you know might be struggling with OCD, please don't wait to get help—go to learn.nocd.com/ATTWD and book a free call with their team to learn more.Get your new wireless plan for just $15 a month at mintmobile.com/ATWWD . Upfront payment required; see mintmobile.com for details. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices