Serious Danger

In this bonus episode for Patreon subscribers, Tom and Emerald speak to Paddy Manning about his epic history of the Australian Greens movement, “Inside The Greens: The Origins and Future of the Party, the People and the Politics.”

Since July 2023 we have been recapping Paddy’s history of the Greens on our Patreon, and now that we finally are through the book, who better than its author to tell us the story ...

Recorded before the attacks on Iran, Tom is joined by Jan Fran from ETTE Media! Angus Taylor wants to talk about the flag. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese played a stupid game and won a stupid prize, after his gross description of Grace Tame as “difficult.” (29:00) Then, the BAFTA Awards was in the news but its worst act was suppressing support of Palestine. (51:45)

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Just released on Patreon - "Persona...

Tom is joined by the Charlie Murphy from Pride In Protest, to talk about the fight for Sydney Mardi Gras, as the board overrules membership votes and debate rages over whether the event is a protest or a party. (4:04) Then, why does the world seem to be turning against the queer community? And are lesbians more pro-trans than trans people? (53:05)

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Just released on Patreon - "Personality politics - how much does it matter...

In this bonus episode for Patreon subscribers, Emerald and Tom ponder the issue of personality politics. Are Mamdani and Polanski popular because they are cool? What about Pauline? What does the research say about some of Australia’s most notorious public figures? Are conservatives more attractive, and are lefties a bunch of ugmos? What is David Pocock up to with his thirst traps?

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The show can only exist because of...

Tom is joined by the Surfing Senator, the retiring Greens Senator for Tasmania, Peter Whish-Wilson! First up, Angus Taylor has rolled Sussssan Ley and is the new leader of the Liberals. Say the line, Angus! (10:57) Next up, a look at the aftermath of Israeli President Herzog’s visit to Australia, the abuse of power at protests, and these cops not being tops. (31:07) Finally, Peter looks back at his time in office and ponders ...

Tom is joined by Amy Remeikis from The Australia Institute! First up, what is going on in South Australia? Are the Greens going to team up with the Liberals?! (08:32) Next, the Liberal-National coalition is a hot mess, and it’s melting. (26:21) Finally, the Israeli President Isaac Herzog is visiting Australia, and it shines a light on our nation’s dubious relationship with international law. (1:07:09)

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Just re...

In this bonus series for Patreon subscribers, Tom and Emerald reach the end of Paddy Manning’s epic history of the Australian Greens movement, “Inside The Greens: The Origins and Future of the Party, the People and the Politics.”

In this episode, the Batman by-election disaster, trouble in NSW, the rise of the Greens in Brisbane, and the 2019 election!

This is the end of the book! But, it is book one...

After a quick pop-in from Emerald, Tom is joined by Gary Stevenson, the People’s Economist! (13:28) With the world seemingly falling apart around us, how can we fight back and wind back wealth inequality before it's too late? And with the UK Greens flourishing under Zack Polanski, how can the wobbly Australian Greens recapture the narrative?

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Just released on Patreon - "Nationalise the pub? The left politics of alco...

(Note: Sorry for some unavoidable sound issues later on this ep!)

Tom is joined by guest host Larissa Baldwin-Roberts, from Common Threads and former CEO of GetUp! First up, the new hate speech laws have passed (13:16). How bad are they? What did we gain in exchange for giving up some essential rights? Next up, Invasion Day 2026 (43:59). What is the state of the discussion about Australia Day? How does it and the hate speech...

In this bonus episode for Patreon subscribers, Emerald and Tom talk booze! Emerald is straight edge and Tom is an occasional lush, how do they feel about alcohol in 2026? Why are young people drinking less - are they wowsers or just poor? Is it poor form to have alcohol at Greens events? What is the left position on the demon drink?
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The show can only exist because of our wonderful Patreon subscriber’s support. S...

Bond, Caleb Bond. Tom is joined by guest host Robert Simms, Greens member of the SA Legislative Council, to talk all things Festival State. First, the Adelaide Writers Week is cancelled after they cancelled the Palestinian author Randa Abdel-Fattah’s appearance, which they have now uncancelled. What is going on? (9:15) Then, a look at the state of play in SA state politics and a prediction and call to action for the upcoming ...

Getting on the grift with Drew Pavlou. Tom is joined by guest host Jeff Sparrow, Walkley award-winning journalist and writer and senior lecturer at the Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne.
America did a coup of Venezuela! (10:23) Albo announced a Royal Commission and Adelaide Festival cancelled itself! (44:34) Everything feels even more crazy!

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Just released on Patreon - Inside the Greens #11...

Video version - https://youtu.be/FQzjNT6oVHM 

In this bonus series for Patreon subscribers, Tom and Emerald continue chapter 11 of author Paddy Manning’s epic history of the Australian Greens movement, “Inside The Greens: The Origins and Future of the Party, the People and the Politics.”

First up some listener feedback on our Civil Duty recap episode. Then in this installment - Trump, the dual c...

We will be back with regular episodes starting next week, but for now here is an unlock of a favourite bonus episode from our Patreon. Emerald is back! And joined by Tom to meet Sean Kelly, former Labor staffer and current journalist, to discuss his new Quarterly Essay, “The Good Fight: What Does Labor Stand For?” Are Labor cowardly cowards, or clever pragmatists who know how to play the game? What is Anthony Alban...

In honour of this strange week between Christmas and New Years, where nothing makes sense, what better time to talk centrism? In this unlock of a favourite Patreon bonus ep, Emerald and Tom are joined again by economist and Executive Director of The Australia Institute Dr Richard Denniss, to discuss his new essay ‘Dead Centre: How Political Pragmatism is Killing Us.’ This one is a cracker, almost an hour of insightful t...

Merry Christmas (?), as in this bonus episode for Patreon subscribers, we celebrate with Emerald and Tom by recapping Annabel Crabb’s latest frothy dive into Auspol, this time with Civic Duty, an ABC three-part series about the story of Australia’s voting system. Is Tom wrong to want it to go deeper? How can Penny Wong show her face in public after putting a dumb political party ahead of her own rights as a gay woman? W...

Video version - https://youtu.be/6VAHTndYDWg 

Emerald joins Tom to take a look at the aftermath of the horrific Bondi massacre (4:14), the community’s shock and the ways bad actors are exploiting it to push agendas. Then, a look at the year ahead and Emerald’s vibes for the Greens in 2025 (51:14).

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Just released on Patreon - Inside the Greens #11: DiNatale’s black skivvy & Senate voting r...

City councils vs cartoon watermelons. Tom is joined by guest host Alex McKinnon, co-founder of Deepcut News! First up, a politician expenses scandal has hit (23:52). Are these just distractions running from a template? And are Greens just as bad as the majors? Then, the under-16s social media ban hits (50:21). Will kids just instantly get around it? Why does breakfast radio continue to set the agenda in Aussie politics? Finally, a ...

In this bonus series for Patreon subscribers, Tom and Emerald continue chapter 11 of author Paddy Manning’s epic history of the Australian Greens movement, “Inside The Greens: The Origins and Future of the Party, the People and the Politics.”

In this instalment - Richard DiNatalie flirts with the mainstream, reform of Group Voting Tickets in the Senate, the 2006 election, Turnbull as PM, Batman and Grayndle...