Michael Cassel on cloud nine moments and the post-opening blues

In this episode we meet bestselling author Johann Hari, who has gone down an Ozempic rabbit hole to work out how and why this weight loss drug works. Hari writes about his findings in a new book, Magic Pill, including his own dramatic drop in clothes size. Whilst marvelling at how drugs like this are changing obesity management, he remains conflicted about their use and longer-term ramifications. Hosting the conversation is Good Weekend senior writer, Amanda Hooton. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we meet lawyer and author Shankari Chandran, who won the 2023 Miles Franklin Literary Award for her novel Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens. Chandran’s writing explores the Sri Lankan diaspora in Australia, and weaves sharp commentary on racism, injustice and ignorance through richly told stories of family and community. Her new novel, Safe Haven, published by Ultimo Press in early May, explores issues of immigration and detention. Hosting this episode, which also covers how Chandran finds the time to write between her work as a lawyer and raising four kids, is Good Weekend editor Katrina Strickland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we meet economist Sean Turnell, who was imprisoned in Myanmar in 2022, following a military coup. Turnell spent 650 days behind bars, including two months in a metal room within a room that he calls "the box". He talks to us today about everything from his anxiety over the continued imprisonment of his colleagues from Myanmar, to forming a movement with other Australians who've been wrongfully imprisoned abroad, like Kylie Moore-Gilbert and Cheng Lei. Hosting this episode, which touches on the smuggled books and fruitcake that made Turnell’s stint in prison bearable, is former South-East Asia correspondent and now senior reporter, Chris Barrett.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we speak with Peter Winneke, who has spent more than two decades in the philanthropic sector, working for the Myer Foundation and serving on the boards of Philanthropy Australia, the Sidney Myer Fund, the Reichstein Foundation and the Catherine Freeman Foundation. Winneke is on a mission to convince Australia's high-net-worth families to give more of their wealth away, and has written a book to that end, Give While You Live: A Practical Guide to More and Better Giving in Australia. Hosting this conversation about what Australia should take from America's philanthropic culture, what percentage of their wealth families should give away - and why donating to good causes is better than buying (another) Lamborghini, is Good Weekend editor, Katrina Strickland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we speak with Sydney chef Neil Perry, and we're asking a specific question - can one restaurateur single-handedly lift a suburb from the doldrums? Perry now has three Double Bay eateries, Margaret, Next Door, and the Melbourne import Baker Bleu, with two more scheduled to open in August.Hosting this episode about the Perry family business, his experience in the food scene over many decades and what it takes to renew an entire suburb is Sydney editor for The Sydney Morning Herald, Michael Koziol.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we discuss the wave of anti-gay murders that struck Sydney from the late 1980s to the mid 1990s and beyond, and why so many have still not been solved. The police have long been accused of inaction over these murders but thanks to a special inquiry into anti-gay hate crimes held last year, it's become clear that much more the simple police indifference is responsible. Criminal lawyer Nicholas Stewart joins Good Weekend deputy editor Greg Callaghan to discuss the murders, answer the question, "what makes it a gay hate crime?" and analyse more recent gay hate crimes across Australia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we speak with Tom Elliott, host of Melbourne's top rating Mornings program, about what makes morning radio tick - and what doesn't, growing up with his infamous father John, and how (and why) he swapped a career in finance for the power of the microphone.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we speak to para surfing star Joel Taylor. At 21, Joel was a pro bodyboarder left paraplegic after a freak wave dumped him at the famous Pipeline break in Hawaii. Two decades on, he’s a world surfing champion. Joel speaks with senior Good Weekend writer Tim Elliott about his early life as a Jehovah’s Witness, his love of the ocean, that life-threatening injury and his phenomenal comeback. Also joining the conversation is Joel's wife Lorin, who discusses how they got together, her husband's obsessive compulsive disorder and life with their young two sons.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After releasing his first book of short stories, The Boat, Nam Le was branded a "criminally talented" young author of "a singular masterpiece". That was back in 2008, and he hasn't released another book ... until now. Returning to the literary stage with a book of poetry - 36 Ways of Writing a Vietnamese Poem - Le talks to Good Weekend senior writer Konrad Marshall about what happened in the interim, and how he found his way back to writing his first literary love - writing in rhyme and verse. He also chats candidly about his family's refugee origins, his upbringing in suburban Doncaster, his short-lived legal career and his love of poker.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David McBride is awaiting sentencing for the leak of classified military documents from his time as an army lawyer in Afghanistan. In a candid conversation with senior Good Weekend writer Jane Cadzow, he speaks about what led him to do it, the personal fallout and his complex relationship with his father William, who blew the whistle on problems with thalidomide in the 1960s before his own fall from grace.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.