Former Premier's partner charged with rape + The marathon breakthrough

Stephanie Alexander may be one of Australia’s most influential culinary figures, but her impact goes far beyond the kitchen. Long before becoming a household name, she was shaping the way Australians think about food - through restaurants, writing and a deep commitment to simple, seasonal cooking. You might recognise her from appearances on MasterChef, but for many, Stephanie’s presence has been constant on the bookshelf with her iconic book The Cook’s Companion guiding generations of Australians through everything from kitchen basics to timeless recipes. In this conversation with Sacha Barbour Gatt, Stephanie reflects on 30 years of The Cook’s Companion, the philosophy that has defined her career, and why she believes good food doesn’t need to be complicated - just thoughtful, shared and perhaps best enjoyed with a roast chook, a glass of red and a proper cloth napkin.  See Stephanie at Melbourne Writers Festival on May 10th and find The Cook's Companion 30th Anniversary Edition here Weekend list with Helen Smith Listener Laura TO LISTEN: Matt Corby's new album Tragic Magic TO WATCH: Roommates on Netflix TO WATCH: The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl TO TRY: Medicube Collagen Night Wrapping Mask and Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines:  Dr. Reza Adib, parter of former Queensland Premier, charged with rape Calls for calm after grief and rage in the Northern Territory Trump is briefed on further Iran strikes House prices fall in Sydney and Melbourne Cellmate claims there’s an Epstein suicide note ... and the brands that Aussies trust most  Deep Dive:  In 1991, an American physiologist made the wild claim that a human could run a marathon in under two hours. Last weekend, that physiologist was proven right, when Sabastian Sawe ran the London Marathon in 1:59:30.   In this episode of The Briefing Natarsha Belling is joined by the pioneering American physiologist, Dr. Michael Joyner, to talk about the extraordinary human achievement of the sub-2 marathon, and what it takes to push yourself to the limit. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When two police officers were shot dead in regional Victoria, the man accused vanished into the bushland. What followed was one of the most extensive manhunts in Australian history. 7NEWS journalist Michael Usher and Crime Editor Cassie Zervos take you inside the case from every angle: what happened, how it unfolded, his ideology, and the impact on those left behind. Dezi Freeman: The Hunt, is a 7NEWS and LiSTNR co-production. Listen to the podcast on Secrets We Keep or watch the vodcast on 7+.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday Headlines:  Violence erupts in Alice Springs after Jefferson Lewis arrested over the death of Kumanjayi Little Baby Australia in talks with US to open Strait of Hormuz Queensland rules out gun buyback Chalmers criticised for ‘grandfathering’ CGT and negative gearing changes NSW women claim first Origin win Deep Dive: The new Michael Jackson biopic has opened to rave reviews from fans and has broken box office records here in Australia.  But the film is courting controversy with critics saying it’s sanitised and ignores some of the grittier details of the artist’s highly contentious life.  In today’s deep dive, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by entertainment guru Justin Hill to break down everything we need to know about the new Michael Jackson movie, Michael. Further listening from headlines: Bondi Beach Royal Commission findings Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines:  Body of missing Sharon found near Alice Springs The US gives a cost estimate for the Iran war Mark Latham to pay $100k for tweets More Aussie residents now from India than England ... and the top 50 Aussie films  Deep Dive:  The Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion handed down its interim report this morning, and PM Albanese has already vowed to implement all 14 recommendations. Among those recommendations are that Jewish festivals and events should receive greater security protections from police, and that Australia’s national gun control laws should be strengthened.   In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Antony Loewenstein, a journalist, film-maker, and author of The Palestine Laboratory, who is also on the Advisory Committee of the Jewish Council of Australia. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thursday Headlines: China to resume jet fuel exports to Australia Pauline Hanson billed taxpayers for multiple flights to fundraisers Family of missing Alice Springs girl say they’re ‘desperate’ for her return Australia’s meth use soars to record highs Australia’s best places to work revealed Deep Dive: A new toolkit targeting 'uniquely female' mental health challenges is being put to the test - addressing burnout, caregiving, stigma and coercive control, where traditional approaches haven't kept pace.  Launched by Smiling Mind in partnership with the Sisterhood Foundation, the free Women and Girls Mental Fitness Hub focuses on building everyday resilience and prevention, and it's already showing promising results.  In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Michele, a psychologist, mother, carer and survivor of coercive control, who shares how the program has helped reshape her daily life. Further listening from the headlines:Why smoking is ‘cool’ again Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines: Child abuse material found at Dezi Freeman’s home Mum of Beau Lamarre-Condon charged with witness tampering James Comey, former FBI director, faces new retribution charges ... and a dinner menu fit for a king  Deep Dive:  Inflation is on the rise again, with consumer prices rising 4.6% in the 12 months to March. Transport costs alone rose 8.9% over the last year, jacked up by the oil crunch caused by the US-Iran war. What do these figures mean for you? And for interest rates? In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Carrington Clarke, host of the ABC Business Daily podcast and the ABC’s Fuelcast.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wednesday Headlines:  King Charles addresses US Congress Tech giants slam PM’s news laws World’s most powerful oil cartel dealt major blow New poll shows a majority of Aussies approve of Pauline Hanson’s leadership Victorian teachers to be offered major pay deal Olivia Rodrigo shows up unannounced to New York open mic night Deep Dive: Donald Trump has once again been the target of an assassination attempt, with Cole Tomas Allen charged with attempting to kill the US President.  It’s the third time in less than two years that a plot against Trump has been either attempted or foiled, and you might be wondering – what would happen if an assassin succeeded?  In today’s episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou investigates what succession plan is in place if the US President is killed in office and how such an event could reshape US politics and the world.   Guest: Garrett M. Graff, journalist, historian and author of Raven Rock: The Story of the U.S. Government's Secret Plan to Save Itself While the Rest of Us Die  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Headlines:  Trump unhappy with Iran's proposal to end the war  The US names a new Aussie ambassador Rebel Wilson begins her evidence in court PM announces new levy on Big Tech Elon Musk is suing Sam Altman: expect fireworks Elbie the dog saved from window ledge ordeal  Deep Dive:  On 28 April, 1996, a gunman killed 35 people in Australia’s worst mass shooting. Within months, Prime Minister John Howard had harnessed the grief of the country to implement world-leading gun control laws. We didn’t have another mass shooting for decades, until recently.  In this episode of The Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by Mike Amor, who reported from the scene of the Port Arthur massacre.  You can find the Alannah & Madeline Foundation here. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tuesday Headlines: Cole Tomas Allen charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump Iran offers deal to end the war RSL to review its Welcome to Country policies Port Arthur 30th anniversary Majority of Aussie teens still using social media Taylor Swift is trying to trademark her voice amid AI concerns Deep Dive: For two months, the world’s been fixated on the escalating conflict involving Iran, the US, and Israel, but another superpower, China, has been quietly shaping events behind the scenes.  While Beijing presents itself as a calm mediator, reports suggest it may also be covertly supporting Iran’s war efforts.  So, is China a peacemaker, a silent backer, or simply playing both sides? In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou asks international conflict expert Dr Jessica Genauer.  Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.