Episodes

  • Your Shortcut to... The astronauts stranded in space

    Your Shortcut to... The astronauts stranded in space
    Dec 26 2024
    In the first week of June, 2 NASA astronauts were launched into space on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. It was a test flight to the International Space Station (ISS) that was meant to last 8 days but they’ve been stuck there now for more than 2 months with no definite date of return. So in this Shortcut, we’ll look at what went wrong, what’s being done to get them home, and how this mission could impact Boeing and the future of commercial space travel. Squiz recommends: Reading: The NASA Space Station blog - it’s a fascinating look into the everyday life of the astronauts on the ISS and the research they’re doing, which covers everything from stem cell studies to trying to grow plants in space. Reading: The BBC article What happens when astronauts get stuck in space gives a good overview of the Starliner’s mission and Boeing’s predicament with getting Wilmore and Williams home. Want the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here.
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    15 mins
  • The Great Big Squiz Quiz 2024

    The Great Big Squiz Quiz 2024
    Dec 20 2024
    It’s a bit of fun, it’s a bit festive, with a lot of laughs. Take a lighter look at the year that was 2024 by joining us for The Great Big Squiz Quiz! Can you beat Claire Kimball, Kate Watson, Alice Dempster, and Andrew Williams? Keen to watch? Catch our episode on YouTube.
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    32 mins
  • Australia's household wealth is on the rise; A verdict in the Gisèle Pelicot trial; A new Hewitt enters the arena; And a Christmas glaze to amaze...

    Australia's household wealth is on the rise; A verdict in the Gisèle Pelicot trial; A new Hewitt enters the arena; And a Christmas glaze to amaze...
    Dec 19 2024
    Friday, 20 December: Australia's household wealth is on the rise; A verdict in the Gisèle Pelicot trial; A new Hewitt enters the arena; And a Christmas glaze to amaze... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). You can find the recipe for the Christmas ham glaze here. And you can check out our Squiz Shortcut on Cyclone Tracy here. Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.
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    13 mins
  • Your Shortcut to... The legacy of Cyclone Tracy

    Your Shortcut to... The legacy of Cyclone Tracy
    Dec 19 2024
    We’re about to hit 50 years since Cyclone Tracy struck Darwin early on Christmas Day in 1974. It was one of Australia’s most devastating natural disasters and it prompted a lot of changes to keep Aussies safe. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll get you across what happened, the response, and its legacy that lives on today. Squiz Recommends Listening: To Bill and Boyd’s song Santa Never Made it to Darwin… Reading: This piece by Australian Geographic on the 50th anniversary - it tells some moving personal stories and has a collection of incredible photos. Thank you for listening, as always… And that’s a wrap on Squiz Shortcuts for the year… We’ll be back with you in January. In the meantime, we’ll be putting a few of our favourite Shortcuts from this year into the feed for you to catch up on, so listen out for those. Squiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories… Want the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here
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    11 mins
  • A gloomy economic outlook; Searching for survivors in Vanuatu; Alan Jones defends himself; And Tom Cruise gets a military honour...

    A gloomy economic outlook; Searching for survivors in Vanuatu; Alan Jones defends himself; And Tom Cruise gets a military honour...
    Dec 18 2024
    Thursday 19 December: A gloomy economic outlook; Searching for survivors in Vanuatu; Alan Jones defends himself; And Tom Cruise gets a military honour... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.
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    11 mins
  • A major earthquake hits Vanuatu; A Russian general is assassinated; Victoria cracks down on protests; And why Popeye's in the headlines...

    A major earthquake hits Vanuatu; A Russian general is assassinated; Victoria cracks down on protests; And why Popeye's in the headlines...
    Dec 17 2024
    Wednesday, 18 December: A major earthquake hits Vanuatu; A Russian general is assassinated; Victoria cracks down on protests; And why Popeye's in the headlines... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.
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    11 mins
  • Your Shortcut to... Prince Andrew's spy scandal

    Your Shortcut to... Prince Andrew's spy scandal
    Dec 17 2024
    Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, stepped away from official duties with the UK’s royal family in 2019, but that doesn’t mean he’s stopped causing them headaches. Last week, another of the Prince’s problematic relationships surfaced - this time with a businessman accused of spying for China. So in this Shortcut, we’ll take a look at how this relationship came to light and why it’s caused concern in the UK. Squiz Recommends Watching: The movie Scoop on Netflix, and/or if you’ve got a bit more time to invest, the series A Very Royal Scandal: Season 3 on Prime Video… They’re both absorbing, nail-biting dramatisations of the infamous 2019 Newsnight interview between Emily Maitlis and Prince Andrew. Squiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories… Want the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here
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    11 mins
  • Investigating another alcohol poisoning event; Israel moves on Golan Heights; A new-look Reserve Bank; And Guinness finds some Gen Z fans...

    Investigating another alcohol poisoning event; Israel moves on Golan Heights; A new-look Reserve Bank; And Guinness finds some Gen Z fans...
    Dec 16 2024
    Tuesday, 17 December: Investigating another alcohol poisoning event; Israel moves on Golan Heights; A new-look Reserve Bank; And Guinness finds some Gen Z fans... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). If you'd like to find out more about the Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist, click here Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.
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    13 mins