You might know her best from Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell, but over the past 20 years, Christie Whelan Browne has become one of the most in-demand stars of the Australian stage, appearing in Britney Spears: The Cabaret, The Producers, Shane Warne: The Musical and Muriel's Wedding.

But the thing that has kept her in the headlines is no laughing matter – the allegations of sexual harassment she made against her Rocky Horror Show co-star Craig McLachlan in late 2017.

Today, Whelan Browne takes a break from rehearsing a musical version of All About Eve to chat about everything from our shifting attitudes to Britney Spears, the joy of an IVF baby and the stress of living through three very public court cases over six years.

Today's episode is hosted by senior culture writer, Karl Quinn.

Further reading

• Karl Quinn's story 'Even today, the cost continues.'

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When Fran Lebowitz was growing up in suburban New Jersey in the 1950s, she won a school award for being “the Class Wit” – and in her 50-year career as a writer and speaker, she’s repeatedly earned that label. Among her countless famous aphorisms, this zinger: "The best fame is a writer's fame. It's enough to get a table at a good restaurant, but not enough to get you interrupted when you eat."

As a writer herself, Lebowitz has published two best-selling collections of essays – and a children’s book – but today she’s better known as a public intellectual, renowned for her acerbic social commentary, sardonic wit, and iconic status in the cultural life of New York City.

Lebowitz joins us ahead of her Australian speaking tour for a chat about everything from the nightmare of long-haul plane travel for smokers, to the only monogamous love of her life: her 1979 Checker Marathon car.

Today's episode is hosted by Good Weekend senior writer Amanda Hooton.

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Luke Bateman is perhaps Australia’s most unlikely book critic – a former rugby league star and recovered gambling addict who works as a logger on a remote Queensland property. While hardly your average inner-city literary type, Bateman had always loved reading – especially fantasy books – but living in the bush with only black snakes for company, had no one to talk to about it. So one day in April last year, he posted a clip of himself on TikTok, talking about his love of books. The post made him famous – he now has more than a million social media followers, including Reese Witherspoon. His mission: to make reading cool again, and he is most definitely succeeding. Today's episode is hosted by Good Weekend senior writer Tim Elliott.
(Please note, this conversation deals with difficult topics – from addiction to suicide. If you are seeking help, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.)

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