Advertise on podcast: The Sarah Hanson-Young Podcast

In this week’s episode, Sarah says it’s time to stick it to big tech. She takes listeners behind the scenes of the parliamentary hearings into the government's Digital Duty of Care laws and how the Greens are approaching being in the balance of power when it comes to the passage of these laws through the parliament. Sarah says the Greens are going through the government’s proposal line by line to make sure big tech is held liable for the harm their products cause and to get the best result for Australians. Sarah also calls BS on the claims this is about curtailing free speech and says it’s actually about reining in the business model of outrage and hate that makes big tech their big profits.  Sarah’s special guest this week is Mat Tinkler - CEO of Save the Children Australia an arm of an international organisation that works to protect children’s rights, provide emergency relief and support for vulnerable families. Sarah and Mat have known each other since Sarah first entered the Senate almost 20 years ago and recently visited Timor Leste with a multi-partisan parliamentary delegation. Together they discuss the issues affecting the world’s children, why governments must invest in foreign aid, and what makes a good leader - including how he still asks what would Eglantyne Jebb do? You can still donate to Save The Children as Helen Haines’ family have requested here.  If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline at 13 11 14 or 1800 RESPECT at 1800 737 732.

In this week’s episode, Sarah says the backlash against data centres in Australia is because AI tech bros are coming to take communities’ water, power, and land - while communities are getting nothing in return. New polling from Capital Brief/DemosAU tells us that Australians don’t want to be a world leader in data centre development, and that almost half of us don’t think there is any benefit for our country either. This data centre boom is increasing pressure on the economy, together with rising interest rates and inflation.  Right across Australia, communities are mobilising to make their concerns heard. The Greens are calling for a moratorium on data centres, and you can sign the petition to show your support here. Sarah’s special guest this week is Ben Quilty - renowned Australian artist, ambassador for The Nature Conservancy, and winner of a number of awards including the 2011 Archibald Prize. Ben is an outspoken and passionate artist who uses his platform and his work to stand up for causes he cares about, including human rights, justice, and the environment. Together, Ben and Sarah discuss the state of the planet, the power of empathy, his experience raising a son in a world with unrealistic masculine expectations, and big AI coming for artists and their intellectual property. The National Gallery of Victoria just announced the world premiere of Ben Quilty: The Unimpressionist, a major exhibition bringing together more than 80 new and recent works to explore the legacy of Australian Impressionism, looking beneath the beauty of these landscapes to the stories of cultural erasure, environmental decay and loss. Ben’s exhibition will be at the NGV from 25 Mar – 19 Sep 2027 - find out more here.

In this week’s episode, the SHY Report is back with Sarah home from a trip overseas. One morning last week in London, Sarah woke up to the shocking news of the alleged attack on MP Helen Haines. Sarah reflects on how devastating the attack on Helen is and how it makes the abuse, death and rape threats that she’s copped over the years even more terrifying. Sarah talks about the crisis of violence against women in society more broadly and the role the tech giants play in driving hate and normalising violence and why she will be going hard to rein in their profiteering off division and anger. Sarah also reveals that while in the UK she met with the husband of murdered MP Jo Cox, and the need for compassion and civility when we disagree in order to protect our democracy. Sarah’s special guest this week is Dr Kirsten Banks aka @astrokirsten on social media. Dr Kirsten is an astrophysicist and science communicator with more than 800k followers across Instagram and TikTok, she has a passion for making the wonders of the universe accessible and engaging for everyone. Together, Dr Kirsten and Sarah talk about what an astrophysicist actually does, the importance of science research and curiosity, the intersection of Indigenous knowledge and western science, and space junk! Dr Kirsten’s new book Lost In Space is out today and available in all good book stores or online here.  If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline at 13 11 14 or 1800 RESPECT at 1800 737 732.

Sarah’s special guest this week is Janet English - bass player and singer in iconic Aussie rock band Spiderbait. Janet joined me for a conversation last week while the band were playing at Parliament House as part of an event that ARIA hosts each year to promote Australian music. Spiderbait have played together for three decades, holding firm in the playlists of millennials and Gen Xers and now resurging with the next generations. Together, Janet shares with Sarah her experience being a woman in music and how that’s changed since the 80s, growing up in a rural river town and how art and music is always political. They also discuss being a musician in the battle against big AI companies. SHY Report is on a break this week as Sarah is away.

In this week’s episode, Sarah says she has called on the Australian Government and e-Safety Commissioner to ban the livestream of an execution by firing squad in the US to ensure it is not shown in Australia. Sarah says this is an unconscionable, abhorrent act which will expose an immeasurable amount of people to harm, including children. She calls this heinous act by the Trump administration, a PR stunt and says this politics has echoes here in Australia with the likes of Pauline Hanson advocating to bring back the death penalty. Sarah says we got rid of the death penalty for a reason, believing the state shouldn’t be able to kill its own citizens and we must continue to reject this dangerous, ugly politics. Sign the petition here. Sarah’s special guest this week is Bob Brown - founder and former leader of the Australian Greens, a mentor to Sarah and a shot of inspiration when she needs it. Bob and Sarah talk about his long history of environmental campaigning, entering the Tasmanian parliament after a stint in jail for protesting the Franklin Dam, and giving his first speech in the Australian Senate at the exact same time as Pauline Hanson 30 years ago. Bob shares with Sarah whether he believes the Greens should still be aiming for government and what keeps him optimistic in a time of environmental, political, humanitarian, and democratic turmoil.

In this week’s episode, Sarah says she always wanted the podcast to be an opportunity for her to level with people and so that’s what she is doing this week on the Greens leadership. Sarah says this is much bigger than one person or one leader, there’s so much work to do taking on Pauline Hanson and the rabid right. Sarah says if we are going to fight for fairness and equality, for our real Aussie values, for our environment and a future for our kids - then we must be united. Sarah’s special guest this week is Carly Findlay OAM - an award winning writer, speaker and appearance activist and now Human Rights Award 2026 nominee. Carly lives with a rare lifelong skin condition called ichthyosis and is a survivor of ovarian and endometrial cancer. Together, Carly and Sarah speak about self-love and dopamine dressing, menopause and women’s health, and fighting cancer and unfair bureaucratic systems like Centrelink. Ovarian cancer is incredibly lethal with a survival rate of just 49%. Carly is once again a Frocktober ambassador, helping to raise much-needed funds for crucial ovarian cancer research. You can support her by donating here. You can find out more about ovarian cancer and its symptoms here.

In this week’s episode, Sarah calls bs on the federal government’s new H5 bird flu advertising blitz and asks: what is the government doing to protect birds before they become sick? For Australia’s threatened birds, the biggest threat to their lives isn’t this virus - it’s the logging, clearing and bulldozing of their homes. Sarah says no government can guarantee bird flu will never reach Australia’s wild birds, but they can decide if these birds have habitat to call home.  Sarah’s special guest this week is Louise Adler - former director of Adelaide Writer’s Week, a publisher and arts administrator, and a close friend of Sarah’s. After Louise booked Palestinian authors including award-winning Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah for the 2026 edition of Adelaide Writer’s Week, the festival was engulfed in scandal after an intervention in the programming by the South Australian Premier.Sarah and Louise talk about the cascading events which led to the cancellation of the festival and Louise’s resignation, as well as the time Louise coerced Sarah into writing a book of her own, and why Louise has been advocating for a “Red Lines Package” in the Parliament.

In this week’s episode, Sarah says something must change after an absolute horror weekend of domestic violence, particularly in NSW, where three women were allegedly murdered by men and a mother allegedly stabbed her three children, killing one. With the AFL and NRL grand finals approaching and data showing that rates of violence against women dramatically increase during major sporting events, policy makers and governments who control the purse strings must do more to end this crisis of violence.  Sarah’s special guest this week is Tanya Hosch - a Torres Strait Islander woman and nationally respected leader on social inclusion, governance and public advocacy. Most recently she was the Executive General Manager of Inclusion and Social Policy at the AFL, where she was the first Indigenous person and only the second woman ever appointed to the AFL’s Executive ranks. As we enter AFL Grand Final week, and as the AFL has been mired in controversy with the Sydney Swans and ongoing issues with racism, homophobia, and sexism, Tanya sheds a light on what taking on this role was like, her reflections on Australia post the Voice Referendum, and what it means to be a good leader.  1800 RESPECT / 1800 737 732 Lifeline on 131 114Men's Referral Service on 1300 766 491Mensline on 1300 789 978Kids helpline 1800 55 180013 YARN Emergency services on Triple Zero (000) if you need immediate care

In this week’s episode, Sarah says when the tech bros building AI say these machines are a threat to humanity - we should probably listen. But the Australian Government is behaving like this threat is a problem for the distant future while having their foot to the pedal on data centres right across the country. Sarah says we need rules in place right now - not just to regulate what AI does and how it is used, but how it is generated in the first place with these enormous data centres. The Greens are calling for a moratorium, because the big tech bros are taking advantage of our power, water, and communities whilst Australia’s regulation lags behind. Next week will mark the first of a series of hearings for the AI and data centre inquiry Sarah is chairing in the Federal Parliament. You can keep up-to-date on this important work across Sarah’s social media channels.  Sarah’s special guest this week is Tim Costello - lawyer, Baptist church minister, former CEO of World Vision Australia, anti-gambling advocate and social justice leader in Australia. Sarah and Tim most recently worked together to fight for reforms that would stop gambling harm, but their story starts many years earlier. Together, Sarah and Tim discuss his long term advocacy against pokies when Sarah was a teenager in Victoria, meeting when Sarah became a refugee advocate, Australia’s lacklustre contribution to foreign aid, and his work with the justice system both as a lawyer and as a church minister. They talk about hope and the desperate need for greater empathy in politics and our communities more broadly.  Listen to the episode on AI and human rights with Ed Santow on Spotify here and on Apple Podcasts here.

In this week’s episode, Sarah says it’s time to take control away from the big tech giants and put people back in charge of their feeds by giving them the ability to opt-in to algorithms on social media. The government has a real chance to protect all social media users, but particularly young people, by working with the Greens to make these toxic, predatory algorithms a thing of the past. Sarah’s special guest this week is Claudia Karvan - Australian actress and producer who you might recognise from shows like Bump, The Secret Life of Us, Puberty Blues and most recently her Logie-winning performance in Homebodies. Not only is she incredibly talented on screen, but Claudia is also known for using her platform to speak out on issues she cares about such as Palestine, the environment, and human rights. Together, Sarah and Claudia speak about the power of storytelling and how Claudia uses her on-screen talent to explore these serious and important topics with the audience, backlash public figures can face when they speak up and why the most important thing you can do for the environment is to talk about it.

In this week’s episode, Sarah says that while One Nation's Malcom Roberts says he’s in two minds about whether LGBTIQA+ Australians are equal - she wonders if he even has one mind. These kinds of comments are not mistakes, this is the worldview of One Nation. All too often, the media dismisses these comments as just another kooky MP from the fringes of Pauline Hanson’s political party - but it’s time we acknowledge it for what it is. One Nation is a party built on hatred and othering and they need to be called out for it.  Sarah’s special guest this week is Chanel Contos, sexual consent activist, founder of Teach Us Consent, and author of Consent Laid Bare. It’s a name you’re hearing a lot right now but how did Chanel get here and why is she so passionate about combatting men’s violence? Sarah and Chanel speak about the shocking sexual assaults that are dominating headlines from private school boys to AFL players, what is driving this behaviour in boys and young men in particular, and the work that needs to be done to change it.  With dangerous algorithms and toxic social media feeds fuelling misogynistic and sexist behaviour, much of the culture change that’s desperately needed must come from regulating big tech and disrupting their profit models. Chanel has been driving the #FixOurFeeds campaign, where social media users would be able to switch their algorithm on or off. Sarah currently has a bill before the parliament to do just that.  You can find out more about Teach Us Consent here: https://www.teachusconsent.com/ and Consent Laid Bare is available at any good bookstore.  If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline at 13 11 14 or 1800 RESPECT at 1800 737 732.

In this week’s episode, Sarah says men have an entitlement problem and it’s time other men call it out. After a horror week of allegations of sexual assault against Sydney Swans AFL players and private school boys, Sarah asks where are the newspaper columns, podcasts and social media posts by men calling out this behaviour and driving the cultural change so desperately needed to end men’s violence against women. Sarah calls for real men to step up, call it out, if this men’s entitlement problem is going to stop. Sarah’s special guest this week is Lem Zakharia, founder of talent and marketing firm Bedou and former producer of Abbie Chatfield’s ‘It’s A Lot’ podcast. In this episode, Sarah and Lem talk about her life as a twice displaced queer Palestinian living in Jordan, her experience seeking asylum and citizenship in Australia, the manosphere, and the power of empathy in a world of grievance.

In this week’s episode, Sarah says she’s sick to death of hearing about the melons. In the midst of a crisis of men’s violence against women, lack of funding of domestic violence services, and every other crisis Australians are facing right now - all the Coalition and the media could focus on last week was the Prime Minister’s melon debacle.  Sarah’s special guest this week is Andrew Denton, broadcaster, producer, comedian - now Logies Hall of Famer - and Australia’s most well-known advocate for Voluntary Assisted Dying. As founding director of ‘Go Gentle Australia', Andrew has been instrumental in helping Australians access compassionate end-of-life healthcare through new laws for voluntary assisted dying (VAD). With VAD now accessible in all states and the ACT, the campaign has now extended its focus to fixing the barriers that exist for rural and regional Australians in accessing VAD care via Telehealth. Last week, I introduced a bill to the parliament that would fix this barrier and deliver more equal access to terminally ill adults wanting help from a doctor to end their suffering. In this episode, we delve into this issue, and so much more including Pauline Hanson on Enough Rope, coercion by the Catholic Church, and the importance of storytelling.

In this week’s episode, Sarah reveals how the Australian Government isn’t even providing peanuts to East Timor’s children, leaving them malnourished and their growth stunted. Sarah explains that on a recent trip to the very close but very poor neighbouring country, she saw firsthand the kids’ extreme hunger and how much of a vital lifeline literal peanuts are to their health and future. Once you hear this SHY Report, you will be moved to action. Email and phone Australia’s Foreign Minister: [email protected] (02) 6277 7500  and your local MP: https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Contacting_Senators_and_Members  Sarah’s special guest this week is Nahji Chu, owner of the infamous restaurant in Potts Point, Lady Chu. Nahji is a Vietnamese refugee who was born in Laos in the 1970’s. She has built her life and restaurant empire in Australia. In an era where the migration debate is dominating Australian politics and media, Nahji is an embodiment of resilience, resourcefulness, and risk taking - all qualities I think we all need to channel now more than ever while highlighting the extraordinary achievements and contributions refugees and migrants have made to Australia.

In this week’s episode, Sarah says the predatory inducements used by the gambling industry makes them groomers. She is in the midst of a parliamentary inquiry into the government’s gambling ad ban bill where people with lived experience have told devastating stories of these very companies buying problem gamblers escorts, hotel rooms and drugs to get them gambling more money for longer. The parliament must work together to ban gambling ads, and also ban these dangerous and harmful inducements.  Sarah’s special guest this week is Abby Martin, an investigative journalist and documentary filmmaker from the US. Abby is in Australia showing her new film Earth Greatest Enemy which reveals the  link between the US  military and its impact on the climate and our environment. Sarah reveals how shocked she was by aspects of the film even as an environmentalist and asks why don’t more people know about what the military gets away with from the killing, climate impacts and billions and billions of dollars of taxpayer money spent and why Australians should care, too.  Find out where to watch Earth’s Greatest Enemy here. National Gambling Helpline: 1800 858 858 Lifeline: 13 11 14