On episode 309 Nick is joined by Hayden, Ruby and Claire to discuss Reddit stories through a social justice lens.

The stories cover: appropriate attire for meeting your partner's parents, surprise birthdays, TikTok trends, sparkling water, leave for work to care for companion animals, movie theatre etiquette when you're allergic to dogs, sharing food on dates and calling out line cutters.

This show is a 3CR Summer Special – we encourage everyone to listen to and support 3CR Community Radio! https://www.3cr.org.au/

Intro music: Embrace by ItsWatR: https://pixabay.com/users/itswatr-12344345/

Outro music: The Blackest Bouquet by Leonell Cassio: https://pixabay.com/users/leonellcassio-2264996/

Both of the above songs are free to use with credit.

Relevant songs that we mentioned but didn't play were Red Flags by Tom Cardy ft Montaigne, I'll Grow Up Tomorrow by The Beaches and 4chan Stan by Lily Allen. We have added these songs to our Spotify playlist Progressive Podcast Australia Music and Comedy: https://open.spotify.com/user/bronzecat83/playlist/6DK5AzWfrxSDcpHWlLsWi6

This episode is also available on our website: https://progressivepodcastaustralia.com/2026/02/02/309/

Episode 308 features comedian Myq Kaplan on his Special 'Rini', the Riyadh Comedy Festival and the politics of comedy generally, plus plenty of Nick not knowing stuff.

This episode is also available in video form on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/SOXul8783MQ

'Rini' is out on Youtube the evening of November 19 US Eastern time and noon on November 20 Australian Eastern time. You can go to the link right now and click the 'Notify Me' button to watch it as soon as it comes out! https://youtu.be/y0uf9i_z-Aw

Intro music: Embrace by ItsWatR: https://pixabay.com/users/itswatr-12344345/

Outro music: The Blackest Bouquet by Leonell Cassio: https://pixabay.com/users/leonellcassio-2264996/

Both of the above songs are free to use with credit.

For more in-depth show notes, including additional links, go to: https://progressivepodcastaustralia.com/2025/11/12/308/

Episode 307 features a Reddit story about chronic fatigue as a starting point for a broader discussion about privilege, oppression and the Left.

Links:

Naomi Klein's book Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World: https://naomiklein.org/doppelganger/

Confessions podcast with Sammy Peterson: https://open.spotify.com/show/1Njlpt8rFB9HBy40s2QGGW

Rehash podcast on The Dirtbag Left: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2RnIDbnXQSjuyaSzFvNHN7

If you'd like to support our show, we appreciate any ratings/reviews on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or whatever app you listen to our show on – thanks!

Music:

Intro music: Embrace by ItsWatR: https://pixabay.com/users/itswatr-12344345/

Outro music: The Blackest Bouquet by Leonell Cassio: https://pixabay.com/users/leonellcassio-2264996/

Both of the above songs are free to use with credit.

For more in-depth show notes, including additional links, go to: https://progressivepodcastaustralia.com/2025/11/04/307/

On episode 306, Katie, Nick and Lottie discuss the Australian federal election and how they'll be voting. We cover: our love of politics being put to the test, Glutton versus Albo, the Greens under Bandt compared to Di Natale and some of the micro-parties.

How Lottie is voting:

House of reps - Wills

1. Sue Bolton - Socialist Alliance

2. Samantha Ratnam - Greens

3. Owen Miller - Fusion

4. Margee Glover - Legalise Cannabis

5. Peter Khalil - Labor

6. Jeff Kidney - Liberals

7. Rachel Versteegen - Libertarian

8. Bruce Stevens - One Nation

Victorian Senate (top six, see our website linked to below for the full list)

1. Animal Justice Party (AJP's animal and environment related policies are very comprehensive, their other policies less so but they say they stand for justice and compassion. I think having one animal-focussed Senator would be positive)

2. Victorian Socialists

3. Indigenous - Aboriginal Party of Australia (seems like some of their policies are still underdeveloped but overall they are for First Nations self determination and everything that comes with that)

4. The Greens

5. Heena Sinha Cheung (detailed policies to fix housing crisis, tackle climate change and support abuse victims)

6. Australia's Voice (axvoter think they look good but still finding their feet)

How Nick is voting:

House of reps – Melbourne

1: BANDT, Adam – THE GREENS

2: HUANG, Helen – FUSION | PLANET RESCUE | WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION | INNOVATION

3: WITTY, Sarah – AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

4: KOUTOUFIDES, Anthony – INDEPENDENT

5: HUNT, Steph – LIBERAL

6: SMITH, Tim – INDEPENDENT

7: CASEY, Melanie – PAULINE HANSON'S ONE NATION

Victorian Senate (for those just doing top 6)

1. The Greens

2. Victorian Socialists

3. Animal Justice Party

4. Australian Democrats

5. Labor

6. LNP

For more in-depth show notes, including Lottie's full rankings for the Victorian Senate, plus links with information on the micro-parties etc, go to: https://progressivepodcastaustralia.com/2025/04/30/306/

If you'd like to support our show, we appreciate any ratings/reviews on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or whatever app you listen to our show on – thanks!

Intro music: Embrace by ItsWatR: https://pixabay.com/users/itswatr-12344345/

Outro music: The Blackest Bouquet by Leonell Cassio: https://pixabay.com/users/leonellcassio-2264996/

Both of the above songs are free to use with credit.

On episode 305 we discuss "illness influencer" Belle Gibson and the TV series Apple Cider Vinegar (Netflix). We also cover broader themes of "conspirituality" (drawing on Naomi Klein's book Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World), evidence-based versus non-evidence-based medicine, influencers and grifters.

Additional links/sources covered:

The Search for Instagram's Worst Con Artist (documentary on Netflix).

Maintenance Phase podcast episode "Illness Influencer" Belle Gibson (we took that illness influencer phrase above from this!): https://open.spotify.com/episode/4xZ11pQv8tKZbJaI5w2S1D?si=HeEsESSIRG-lMdOfQhb3Kw&context=spotify%3Aplaylist%3A37i9dQZF1FgnTBfUlzkeKt&nd=1&dlsi=c758a80e0eb04798

You can hear the two of us discuss similar issues (but make different points) on the Freedom of Species show Vegans For Trump? Conspirituality in the Vegan Movement: https://www.3cr.org.au/freedomofspecies/episode/vegans-trump-conspirituality-vegan-movement

If you'd like to support our show, we appreciate any ratings/reviews on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or whatever app you listen to our show on – thanks!

Clips: The Adventures of Lano & Woodley: Season 1, Episode 1 – The Girlfriend.

Intro music: Embrace by ItsWatR: https://pixabay.com/users/itswatr-12344345/

Outro music: The Blackest Bouquet by Leonell Cassio: https://pixabay.com/users/leonellcassio-2264996/

Both of the above songs are free to use with credit.

For more in-depth show notes, including additional links, go to: https://progressivepodcastaustralia.com/2025/02/23/305/

On episode 304 Nick is joined by Hayden to discuss Reddit stories covering a wide range of topics, including: chosen names, religion, work, class, dogs, sexuality, gender and cheating. Happy Holidays!

This show is a 3CR Summer Special – we encourage everyone to listen to and support 3CR Community Radio! https://www.3cr.org.au/

A note to listeners that this show does not contain the music mentioned, for copyright reasons. If you'd like to listen to the full show with all of the music, just go to the Freedom of Species page on the 3CR site: https://www.3cr.org.au/freedomofspecies and hit play on the player that says Freedom of Species - 22 December 2024. This show will be available to listen to via that player until December 29. We've also added the music mentioned on this show (Horror is a Human Being by Cursive – from the album Get Fixed, Environmental Anxiety by RAYE – from the album My 21st Century Blues and No War by Lowkey ft Styles P – from the album Soundtrack to the Struggle 3) to our Spotify playlist 'Progressive Podcast Australia Music and Comedy': https://open.spotify.com/user/bronzecat83/playlist/6DK5AzWfrxSDcpHWlLsWi6

Intro music: Embrace by ItsWatR: https://pixabay.com/users/itswatr-12344345/

Outro music: The Blackest Bouquet by Leonell Cassio: https://pixabay.com/users/leonellcassio-2264996/

Both of the above songs are free to use with credit.

For more in-depth show notes, including additional links, go to: https://progressivepodcastaustralia.com/2024/12/22/304/

On episode 303 Nick is joined by politics professor Jason Brownlee who informs Nick of everything he has missed by just learning about US politics through Late Night with Seth Myers, which Katie watches constantly!

More specifically, the discussion covers:

Reflection on Biden's presidency including the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.

Will Harris/Walz change the direction of the Democratic party?

Should Harris have taken up Joe Rogan's invitation and joined him on that podcast, as Donald Trump did? *Update: since we recorded this episode, Joe Rogan has clarified that Harris didn't reject the offer to go on his podcast. She offered to do a one-hour interview if Rogan came to her, whereas Rogan wanted her to come to his studio in Austin for a longer discussion. Regardless, most of our points on the topic still stand: https://x.com/joerogan/status/1851118464447971595

The Democrats pursuing some Right-wing policies: https://x.com/shaun_vids/status/1734913698899067226?s=09

The eternal question of voting Democrat versus third party/independent.

Are the Republicans the party for workers that they claim to be? The Ted Cruz quote along these lines was from this episode of Late Night with Seth Myers: https://youtu.be/RPLvoPnwwNk?si=eg5OuQMQpY2gHtKl

We covered this issue of are the Republicans the party for workers on episode 258: https://progressivepodcastaustralia.com/2020/11/10/258/

Jason's prediction for who will win the election.

What will the fall out of the election be in both possible scenarios – will this be America's last election?

This discussion is also available to watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/r7AOdE4eL7w

Additional links:

Who's Afraid of Democracy? By Steve Fraser: https://logosjournal.com/between-the-issues/whos-afraid-of-democracy/

Jason's article on the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan: https://www.statesman.com/story/opinion/columns/guest/2024/08/26/us-afghanistan-withdrawal-anniversary-biden-made-the-right-call/74906226007/

Economics Not Culture Wars Drove Most Trump Voters – Thomas Ferguson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azd21dCriFE

Jason's prediction about the result was mainly based on the following data:

Five Thirty-Eight Forecast: https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2024-election-forecast/

Real Clear Polling on the betting odds: https://www.realclearpolling.com/betting-odds/2024/president

Real Clear Polling on the battleground states: https://www.realclearpolling.com/elections/president/2024/battleground-states

Intro music: Embrace by ItsWatR: https://pixabay.com/users/itswatr-12344345/

Outro music: The Blackest Bouquet by Leonell Cassio: https://pixabay.com/users/leonellcassio-2264996/

Both of the above songs are free to use with credit.

For more in-depth show notes, including additional links, go to: https://progressivepodcastaustralia.com/2024/10/27/303/

On episode 302 we discuss the time we watched a lot of Fox News – particularly the show Gutfeld! This is a Right-wing alternative to more liberal late-night talk shows like Late Night with Seth Meyers and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. We use this example to talk about broader issues of caricatures of the Left, political comedy and satire, free speech and cancel culture.

Here is the image we've used as the pic for this episode on our website: https://x.com/ITYSL_memes/status/1682378649696075776

And Nick's tweet with a similar theme: https://x.com/BozoDidTheTweet/status/1679339480107606016

Intro music: Embrace by ItsWatR: https://pixabay.com/users/itswatr-12344345/

Outro music: The Blackest Bouquet by Leonell Cassio: https://pixabay.com/users/leonellcassio-2264996/

Both of the above songs are free to use with credit.

For more in-depth show notes, including additional links, go to: https://progressivepodcastaustralia.com/2024/10/13/302/