News Club
The Squiz
The place to go for conversations about the news
- 1 hour 5 minutesThe Call Sheet: Trent Dalton on ambition, regrets and what comes next
Not many Aussie authors have made a bigger impact on the book world over the past decade than Trent Dalton. In this chat, the Brisbane-born journo-turned-novelist reflects on surviving the '90s newsroom culture, why he’s drawn to darkness in storytelling, and the incredible success he has had. He opens up about process, ambition, failure - and why he’s only ever watched Boy Swallows Universe once....
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Host: Bryce Corbett
Senior Producer: Annelise Taylor
Editors: Charlie Devenport and Ryan Pemberton
17 June 2025, 7:00 pm - 35 minutes 22 secondsWeekly Wrap: LA protests, a rough week in TV, and Monash IVF does it again
Trump has deployed the National Guard and Marines, we'll get you across what that means as the protests in LA continue. It was also a rough week for broadcast TV, with both The Project and Q+A cancelled. And there was another Monash IVF bungle. Coming up - the G7 kicks off in Canada, and State of Origin.
LINKS
Watch/listen to our interview with Stephanie Bendixsen on Spotify or YouTube
Listen to The Beach Boys album Pet Sounds.
The Survivors on Netflix.
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Watch all our interviews on Youtube
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PS: If you love what we do, the best way to support us is by clicking ‘follow’ on Apple or Spotify. A huge thanks to those who drop us a 5-star review, or even better - spread the word about News Club with your friends, family, colleagues... even your barista.
Host: Claire Kimball & Andrew Williams
Senior Producer: Annelise Taylor
Editor: Ryan Pemberton
13 June 2025, 7:00 pm - 40 minutes 51 secondsThe Call Sheet: Stephanie 'Hex' Bendixsen on why gaming’s not niche
Gaming is a global powerhouse, pulling in more revenue than film and music combined. In this episode, we chat with Stephanie Bendixsen - or Hex - a gaming critic, author and presenter who’s carved out her place in a male-dominated industry. We talk about the evolution of gaming, from TV to Twitch, and what it says about where entertainment and culture are heading. Yes, it’s about gaming, but it’s also about so much more...
Games mentioned:
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PS: If you love what we do, the best way to support us is by clicking ‘follow’ on Apple or Spotify. A huge thanks to those who drop us a 5-star review, or even better - spread the word about News Club with your friends, family, colleagues... even your barista.
Host: Andrew Williams
Senior Producer: Annelise Taylor
Editors: Charlie Devenport and Ryan Pemberton
10 June 2025, 7:00 pm - 32 minutes 31 secondsWeekly Wrap: Bromance break-up, retail battles, and what’s going on in Tassie?
Ukraine’s drone strike has defence watchers calling it a turning point in the war - we’ll unpack what it means for global security. Plus, the Trump/Musk bromance takes a hit, and we’ll get you across the latest from the mushroom murder trial, with Erin Patterson taking the stand. Also on the radar - Tassie could be heading to the polls early, and the French Open finals get underway tonight.
LINKS
Watch/listen to our interview with Aunty Donna on Spotify or YouTube
The Eye of the Sheep by Sofie Laguna
Murderbot on Apple TV+
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Watch all our interviews on Youtube
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PS: If you love what we do, the best way to support us is by clicking ‘follow’ on Apple or Spotify. A huge thanks to those who drop us a 5-star review, or even better - spread the word about News Club with your friends, family, colleagues... even your barista.
Host: Claire Kimball & Jodie Speers
Senior Producer: Annelise Taylor
Editor: Ryan Pemberton
6 June 2025, 7:00 pm - 41 minutes 31 secondsThe Call Sheet: How Aunty Donna are changing the comedy world
You might know Aunty Donna from their YouTube channel, their Netflix series Aunty Donna’s Big Ol' House of Fun, or their ABC show Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe. But behind the scenes, they're doing something quite revolutionary.
In this episode, we chat with Mark Bonanno and Sam Lingham - two of the brains behind the Melbourne comedy group - about taking the business side of comedy into their own hands. They reflect on their story, the best advice they've ever received, and why they want to change it for the next generation of Aussie talent.
'Sinners', Coogler, and the question of ownership - The Hollywood Reporter
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PS: If you love what we do, the best way to support us is by clicking ‘follow’ on Apple or Spotify. A huge thanks to those who drop us a 5-star review, or even better - spread the word about News Club with your friends, family, colleagues... even your barista.
Host: Andrew Williams
Senior Producer: Annelise Taylor
Editors: Charlie Devenport and Ryan Pemberton
3 June 2025, 7:00 pm - 33 minutes 17 secondsWeekly Wrap: The aid crisis in Gaza, Healthscope goes under, and a lovers scuffle
A couple of developments in the Israel-Gaza war this week, we get you across what’s happening. Then we’re wrapping up three stories with a common thread: Trump’s legal battle over tariffs, the collapse of Healthscope, and a lovers’ scuffle featuring the Macrons. In the week ahead, a world-first election in Mexico, and the latest ABS data.
LINKS
Watch/listen to our interview with Daina Reid on Spotify or YouTube
The viral video of The Macrons
Swedish potato and anchovy casserole
Four Years Later on SBS on Demand
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Watch all our interviews on Youtube
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PS: If you love what we do, the best way to support us is by clicking ‘follow’ on Apple or Spotify. A huge thanks to those who drop us a 5-star review, or even better - spread the word about News Club with your friends, family, colleagues... even your barista.
Host: Claire Kimball & Jodie Speers
Senior Producer: Annelise Taylor
Editor: Ryan Pemberton
30 May 2025, 7:00 pm - 41 minutes 53 secondsThe Call Sheet: Daina Reid on directing The Handmaid's Tale
Daina Reid has directed some of Australia’s most iconic TV - Offspring, Paper Giants, The Secret Life of Us - and made her mark globally with The Handmaid’s Tale. In this chat, she shares her journey from Perth sketch comedy to Hollywood... There are a few name drops, but also the meaty stuff: how streaming is reshaping the industry, what it means for Aussie stories, and how she’s navigated it all as a woman behind the camera.
Want more News Club in your life? We've got you...
Sign up to our News Club newsletter
Watch all our interviews on Youtube
Follow us on Instagram: @The Squiz
PS: If you love what we do, the best way to support us is by clicking ‘follow’ on Apple or Spotify. A huge thanks to those who drop us a 5-star review, or even better - spread the word about News Club with your friends, family, colleagues... even your barista.
Host: Bryce Corbett
Senior Producer: Annelise Taylor
Editors: Charlie Devenport and Ryan Pemberton
27 May 2025, 7:00 pm - 35 minutes 33 secondsWeekly Wrap: A political break up, genocide claims, and the doping games
Our 2025 audience survey (please, and thank you!)
In this episode: devastating floods in northern NSW, we’ll get you across why they say they’re a once-in-500-years event. Plus, a Coalition uncoupling, and Trump turns up the rhetoric on South Africa. In what's coming up, Beef Week and Kamala Harris is Gold Coast bound.
Recs:
Lonely Mouth by Jacqueline Maley
Want more News Club in your life? We've got you...
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Watch all our interviews on Youtube
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PS: If you love what we do, the best way to support us is by clicking ‘follow’ on Apple or Spotify. A huge thanks to those who drop us a 5-star review, or even better - spread the word about News Club with your friends, family, colleagues... even your barista.
Host: Claire Kimball & Jodie Speers
Senior Producer: Annelise Taylor
Editor: Ryan Pemberton
23 May 2025, 7:00 pm - 39 minutes 30 secondsThe Call Sheet: Travel Guides' Mel Maclean on the reality of reality TV
Gogglebox, Travel Guides, Parental Guidance, The Assembly... if you're into TV, you've probably seen Mel Maclean's work. She’s the go-to producer for some of Australia's most-watched reality and factual shows. In this chat, Mel shares her journey from a cattle farm to the small screen, why she thinks this genre is having such a moment, how ordinary Australians become household names, and the deep sense of responsibility she feels when telling their stories.
You can take part in our 2025 audience survey here
Want more News Club in your life? We've got you...
Sign up to our News Club newsletter
Watch all our interviews on Youtube
Follow us on Instagram: @The Squiz
PS: If you love what we do, the best way to support us is by clicking ‘follow’ on Apple or Spotify. A huge thanks to those who drop us a 5-star review, or even better - spread the word about News Club with your friends, family, colleagues... even your barista.
Host: Bryce Corbett
Senior Producer: Annelise Taylor
Editors: Charlie Devenport and Ryan Pemberton
21 May 2025, 1:07 pm - 37 minutes 28 secondsWeekly Wrap: A week of factions, world leaders on tour, and baby names
Sussan Ley took over as Liberal leader this week, while PM Anthony Albanese reshuffled his frontbench - we’ll take you through what it means and how it’s landed. US President Donald Trump made a visit to the Middle East, the Diddy trial is everywhere, and looking ahead, it’s RBA rate day on Tuesday and Qantas is back in court.
LINKS
Our News Club chat with Peter Greste
Want more News Club in your life? We've got you...
Sign up to our News Club newsletter
Watch all our interviews on Youtube
Follow us on Instagram: @The Squiz
PS: If you love what we do, the best way to support us is by clicking ‘follow’ on Apple or Spotify. A huge thanks to those who drop us a 5-star review, or even better - spread the word about News Club with your friends, family, colleagues... even your barista.
Host: Claire Kimball & Jodie Speers
Senior Producer: Annelise Taylor
Editor: Ryan Pemberton
16 May 2025, 7:00 pm - 38 minutes 52 secondsThe Call Sheet: Peter Greste on seeing his story told on the big screen
Welcome to The Call Sheet – the latest News Club series. This time, we’re turning the spotlight on the people behind what we watch, listen, and stream - the people shaping Aussie entertainment. Kicking things off is journalist Peter Greste, whose real-life story has just hit the big screen. The Correspondent is based on his book and follows his arrest and imprisonment in Egypt back in 2013. Peter talks about his harrowing story, seeing that chapter of his life brought to life on film, and what it was like being portrayed by Richard Roxburgh.
Want more News Club in your life? We've got you...
Sign up to our News Club newsletter
Watch all our interviews on Youtube
Follow us on Instagram: @The Squiz
PS: If you love what we do, the best way to support us is by clicking ‘follow’ on Apple or Spotify. A huge thanks to those who drop us a 5-star review, or even better - spread the word about News Club with your friends, family, colleagues... even your barista.
Host: Bryce Corbett
Senior Producer: Annelise Taylor
Editors: Charlie Devenport and Ryan Pemberton
13 May 2025, 7:00 pm - More Episodes? Get the App