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Check latest episodes from Not Stupid podcast

More Epstein files and the search for justice

2026/02/04

The latest Epstein file dump is over 3 million pages, 180,000 images, and 2,000 videos and more names.The list has grown and the messages are shocking, banal, and concerning in terms of Epstein's reach for power and influence. Jules and Jez talk about the fight for justice for victim-survivors and how the latest files have uncovered strange links to Australian politics. They also talk about when politics becomes personal at the Grammys, remembering Catherine O'Hara, and an inspiring 13 year-old homegrown hero, Austin Appelbee. Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected] SHOW NOTES Jez's pick: https://www.instagram.com/p/DULYeojDOAK/?img_index=1 Jules's pick: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-04/survival-expert-praises-teen-family-geographe-bay-rescue/106301816

Wonderbumps and other awesome words

2026/02/01

Sometimes kids come up with the best words for things like wonderbumps, parkeling, and confuzzled. Jules and Jez explore the wonderful world of language inspired by kids and authors like Shakespeare, Roald Dahl and Dr Seuss. And they also chat about words that should be retired! Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected]

Has Trump reached a turning point on ICE?

2026/01/28

Following the second death of a US citizen at the hands of ICE agents on the streets of Minneapolis, there has been a huge backlash from the public, Democrats, Republicans and even Trump stalwarts like Joe Rogan. Trump has started to walk back his hardline rhetoric, but will the US President rein in Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents? Jules and Jez also talk about the characteristics of extreme altruists, plus the Museum of Personal Failure and what happens when AI makes up travel tips? Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected]

Martin Luther King III on ICE and division in the US

2026/01/27

Martin Luther King III is an American human rights activist who has followed in the footsteps of his parents. He is the eldest son of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King who were both prominent American civil rights activists. Jules and Jez talk to Martin Luther King III about the current situation in Minneapolis, ICE, leadership and whether the US can find a path out of political violence. Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected]

Trump vs Greenland and a lot of shark attacks

2026/01/21

Trump continues escalating his rhetoric to take over Greenland, putting the US's relationship with NATO and the EU into question. Jules and Jez also talk about the shocking number of shark attacks in Sydney and NSW this week, why they might be occurring, and whether we need better shark literacy. Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected] Jez's pick: Australian of the Year Awards 2026 https://australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/listing/2026 Jules's pick: Naomi Osaka takes to the court in style https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekTPFRTvwd8

The fall out from Adelaide Writers’ Week

2026/01/14

The Adelaide Writers’ Week board’s decision to disinvite Palestinian-Egyptian-Australian author and academic Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah has seen over 180 writers and participants boycott the festival, leading to its cancellation. Board members have resigned. Dr Abdel-Fattah's lawyers have threatened defamation proceedings against South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas. AWW director, Louise Adler, also resigned saying that she “cannot be a party to silencing writers.” As the fall-out continues, Jules and Jez talk about their love of writers’ festivals, the very real contribution writers’ festivals make to the community, and the importance of free speech. Jules’s pick: Heated Rivalry Jez’s pick: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8j30kx1vk3o Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected]

There's something wrong with the world map

2026/01/07

We all know what the world map looks like. It was probably on your classroom wall when you went to school. But what if it is wrong? Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected] SHOW NOTES The true size of countries: https://thetruesize.com/ The Ocean Map: https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/ocean/turning-our-view-world-inside-out-introducing-new-ocean-map Jez Pick: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-29/native-oyster-reefs-restored-algal-bloom-recovery-sa/105943318 Jules' Pick: https://apnews.com/article/australia-prison-vegemite-ban-court-victoria-e46084defadc9757c8ecf2f53027d215

Lily Allen and the art of the break-up song

2025/12/31

This year UK singer-songwriter Lily Allen released her album "West End Girl" and it goes into a lot of detail about the break down of her marriage. So what makes a good break-up song? And should anything be off-limits? Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected] SHOW NOTES Jez Pick: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2506595-man-unexpectedly-cured-of-hiv-after-stem-cell-transplant/

Should you ever argue with an internet troll?

2025/12/24

If someone picks an argument with you online, are you the kind of person who argues back? Jez found a video this week of a US women who tracked down a troll and knocked on his front door. It got Jez thinking about how we talk to people online. Every week, Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected] SHOW NOTES Woman drives three hours to confront troll: https://www.fox26houston.com/video/1755386 "I taught an octopus to play piano " https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcWnQ7fYzwI HelloFresh and Youfoodz sued by ACCC over allegedly misleading consumershttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-16/hellofresh-and-youfoodz-sued-by-accc-for-misleading-consumers/106148656 Dolphin friendships https://theconversation.com/friendship-is-magic-male-dolphins-with-close-friends-age-more-slowly-271411

What Bondi tells us about who we are

2025/12/17

The terrorist attack that took place at Bondi Beach at the Jewish festival of Hanukkah on Sunday evening left fifteen dead, 40 injured and the Jewish community fearing for their lives. Jules and Jez talk about gun control, antisemitism and the heroism and kindness of ordinary people. Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected] New Yorker interview with Michael Vizontay: https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/R5qaIj

Anika Wells, a drunk raccoon and the pub test

2025/12/10

Taxpayer funded ski trips, thousand dollar dinners in Paris and business class flights to New York. Do these expenses pass the pub test? What about the sniff test? The thing is Communications and Sports Minister Anika Wells hasn’t racked up the most expenses – in fact, Australian politicians have claimed $1.1 million dollars in the past year. There’s no doubt the job is demanding, but should the expenses rules be reviewed? And Queensland Museum has found itself in a bit of a pickle following an investigation into Shell sponsored educational materials that downplay the role of fossil fuels in climate change. And after hearing about a drunk raccoon in the United States, Jules wonders whether animals have a taste for fermented beverages too? Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected]

Is this the end of body positivity?

2025/12/03

With the rise in Ozempic use, people are shrinking before our very eyes. But are Ozempic-style drugs all they’re cracked up to be? There are new global guidelines from the World Health Organisation and the TGA is warning about side effects. But are we also seeing a shift in how we think about weight? Also Jules and Jez also talk about dodgy subscriptions and the government’s strategy to take on consumer “tricks and traps”. We’d love to hear from you! Please take a minute to fill in our audience survey. Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected]

AI slop and the push for gambling reform

2025/11/26

Per capita, Aussies are the world’s biggest losers, gambling away between $25 to $31.5 billion per year. In 2023, an inquiry into gambling harm chaired by the late MP Peta Murphy made 31 recommendations. Despite crossbench support for gambling reform, none of these recommendations have been implemented by the Australian government. Jules and Jez also chat about the perils of AI slop which has just dubbed Macquarie Dictionary's 2025 word of the year. We want to hear from you! Please fill in our audience survey. Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected]

US Senators vote to release the Epstein files

2025/11/19

Democrats and Republicans voted unanimously today to release the full Epstein files. Now it's up to Trump to sign the bill. He's been under increasing pressure over recent months to release the files and last week had a big falling out with Marjorie Taylor Greene who was previously a huge supporter of Trump and the MAGA movement. Jez and Jules also talk about Victoria's new Liberal leader, Jess Wilson, who is a moderate and a millennial. Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected]

The women are coming. And they might ruin EVERYTHING

2025/11/12

This week an article in the New York Times set group chats alight everywhere. "Are women ruining the workplace?" it asked. We have thoughts. And what do the resignations at the BBC tell us about the state of the media and power. The BBC's director-general and head of news resigned amid criticism of the broadcaster's editing of a speech Donald Trump delivered before protesters attacked the US Capitol. Julia Baird and guest host Chas Licciardello chat about the stories you're obsessed with, the stuff you've missed and the things that matter. Episodes drop every Wednesday afternoon. We want to hear from you! Join the conversation and email the show at [email protected] Jules' pick: https://www.whitlam.org/women-and-whitlam Chas' pick: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/F3HI1zugyU4 EDITOR'S NOTE: In this episode, Chas Licciardello says that the BBC re-ordered the speech by Donald Trump. This is not correct. While Donald Trump mentioned "going to the Capitol" twice in the speech, the BBC ran the two grabs in the correct order but with almost an hour of speech in between.

🌺Hibiscus 2025/08/03

So good!

This is such an interesting podcast! 100% recommend! You should definitely listen to this! Thank you for your work! HUGS

@jeffsolof 2024/06/07

Two people I’d love to hang out with — I think you will too!

Julia’s is a familiar voice from her days with Newsweek and The NY Times, but Jeremy’s is new, at least to me. The two of them are a perfect pairing, ...

CN Oz 2021/09/10

More Linda is a good thing!

Sometimes the 24-Hour news cycle is simply too much to absorb. Linda has a soothing, knowing voice that sets the tone for what is a very nice, somewha...

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