HAMISH & ANDY RETURN FOR 2025 AS LiSTNR ANNOUNCES THE GOVERNMENT-MANDATED PODCAST BREAK IS OVER
Australia’s favourite podcast duo, LiSTNR’s Hamish & Andy, are officially back, after an exhausting summer of lobbying against the government-mandated podcast break. Their highly anticipated first episode of 2025 is packed with plenty of gusto, high excitement, and laugh-out-loud moments.
Now in their 22nd year with Southern Cross Austereo and LiSTNR, Hamish & Andy continue to dominate the podcasting world, with their signature humour and quick wit earning them the #1 spot on the Australian Podcast Ranker a record 31 times.* Joining Hamish & Andy is their long-time sidekick and show anchor, Jack Post.
Hamish & Andy kick off the season fresh from a very important business trip to New York where the boys have been busy launching their new pub ‘Old Mates’. Expect plenty of hilarious stories from the pub’s opening night, and celebrity spotting in NY (though Hamish’s celebrity spotting has been flagged ‘questionable’) and the signature Hamish & Andy antics listeners love from their first episode.
Hamish Blake and Andy Lee said: “We’ve been waiting in the wings, champing at the bit for our government-mandated break to be over; thankfully, this one felt lightning quick. We’re stoked to enter the eighth year of the Hamish & Andy podcast, and we promise plenty of gusto in 2025.”
LiSTNR Original Podcasts Head of Entertainment and Culture, Sam Cavanagh, said: “The government-mandated break is over*. Hamish & Andy’s* enduring success is a testament to their ability to connect and bring listeners along for the ride. Their podcast isn’t just entertainment – it’s a cultural staple, creating an incredible fan community that’s been counting down the days to their return.”
Listen to the first episode of 2025 here. New weekly episodes of Hamish & Andy are available on LiSTNR starting today, Thursday 5 March 2025.
*Source: Australian Podcast Ranker Top 200 Podcasts – October 2024
The first two episodes are already available on YouTube.
Her new role as the host of The Briefing - Afternoon Edition podcast officially started today. Each new episode will be published every weekday from 4pm AEDT, available for free on the LiSTNR app.
9PODCASTS UNVEILS ‘THE PAY OFF WITH SYLVIA JEFFREYS’ – YOUR NEW MUST-LISTEN ON MONEY & INVESTING
9Podcasts has just dropped The Pay Off with Sylvia Jeffreys – a fresh, no-nonsense podcast tackling the money matters that matter most to young Australians. From cracking the code on saving for your first home to smart investing, managing debt, and everyday budgeting, this weekly series delivers expert insights with real-world relevance.
You can catch it wherever you get your podcasts – Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and even in video format on 9Now. And to kick things off, the first two episodes feature none other than Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, sharing their takes on Australia’s financial landscape. Stream them now and start making your money work smarter.
Sylvia Jeffreys said: “Young Australians are facing increasingly high hurdles to financial security. The goal posts are shifting and traditional milestones look more like a fantasy than a dream. As a journalist, I hope to explore this generational wealth divide while also extracting knowledge, experience and practical advice from the smartest people in the room.”
Nine’s Head of Podcasts, Del Fordham said: “This podcast brings together the best of Nine – audio, video, the written word and the fantastic pool of talent available throughout the company. Sylvia is a natural in the podcasting space, and the episodes publishing today and in coming weeks are an indication of the level the team are aiming for week to week.”
Launch sponsors for The Pay Off with Sylvia Jeffreys are Unisuper and Belong.
NEW EPISODES WILL BE DROPPING EVERY THURSDAY ON
APPLE PODCASTS, SPOTIFY & 9NOW
Meghan Markle has revealed she will release a new podcast, talking to fellow female business owners.
News Corp launched the fourth season of The Missing Australia podcast today. Titled Milat Untold, the six-part podcast focuses on the investigation on, and the arrest of, backpacker killer Ivan Milat, and the possibility that he might have been involved in more than 80 murders dating back to the 1970s.
The official Big Bang Theory podcast was launched yesterday.
Election fever drives audiences to ABC podcasts
As anticipation grows for the 2025 federal election, audiences are already turning to the ABC, delivering record audiences for our News and Current Affairs podcasts.
The February Triton Australian Podcast Ranker released today shows Australians are listening to ABC podcasts to understand more about the issues that matter most to them in the lead-up to the poll.
ABC News Top Stories, a curated, continually updated round-up of the day’s latest news, was the most popular Australian-made podcast in February and set a new record with 868,000 listeners.
ABC News Daily was the second most popular news podcast in the country and landed at number 10 overall on the Ranker with 379,000 listeners. Presented by Samantha Hawley, ABC News Daily is the ABC’s flagship daily podcast news show that explains one big story in under 15 minutes every weekday morning.
The newly-launched Politics Now also made the February list at number 47 with 135,000 listeners. Politics Now brings together a roster of expert political commentators, including Patricia Karvelas, David Speers, Fran Kelly, Annabel Crabb, Jacob Greber, Brett Worthington, Melissa Clarke and David Lipson, and is the top audio destination to stay informed throughout the campaign.
ABC Director News Justin Stevens said: “As the countdown to the federal election begins, the ABC’s news and current affairs podcasts offer news consumers a convenient way to stay fully informed on the go.”
The Australian Podcast Ranker is a monthly snapshot of Australia’s most popular podcasts. The Ranker has been reporting podcast listening in Australia since 2019 and includes a wide cross-section of Australian podcast publishers.
The full Triton Australian Podcast Ranker can be found here.
Yumi Stynes wants older women to be ‘SEEN’ as SBS podcast returns
Feminist icon Yumi Stynes shines a spotlight on trailblazing older women who defy societal stereotypes, take risks, show huge courage, and achieve excellence.
Open the door into the lives of eight extraordinary Australian women who have found a fresh sense of purpose in their third act. Join host Yumi Stynes in the latest season of SEEN as she interviews trailblazing older women who refuse to be pigeon-holed.
Host Yumi Stynes said: “The stories and wisdom of older women haven’t been celebrated enough! These women store troves of experiences, wild stories and uniquely female-designed career paths.
“As I near my fifties, it’s been especially encouraging to hear the recipes to a fulfilling later life from the women who have gone through it all – and are so much richer for it. It’s been an absolute privilege to hear from these amazing women and I can’t wait to share them with you in season 3 of SEEN.”
Hear from these trailblazers in the community to learn the neglected stories and forgotten wisdom of guests on season three, including:
- World champion surfer Pauline Menczer who fought to be recognised and respected in major surfing competitions;
- Community chef, Duang Tengtrirat, who grew up in a small Thai village that had no electricity or running water, and rose above isolation, loneliness and racism to make her mark in the big city;
- One of Australia’s most renowned drag queen performers, Crystal Love Johnson, who now uses her position to help other younger sistagirls and brotherboys of the Tiwi Islands;
- One of Australia’s most successful and revered contemporary artists, Lindy Lee, who revisits her days growing up under the White Australia Policy and eventually carving out her passion as the iconic sculptor we know today;
- After juggling the incredibly difficult 24/7 role of a carer, Najila Turk now employs her compassion as an advocate and role model for other unpaid carers;
- When a tragic cycling accident resulted in the loss of her entire arm, Kerryn Harvey got back on her bike to achieve international success on the para-athletic race track;
- After moving from Lebanon to Australia as a teen, Hadia Haikal-Mukhtar was consistently underestimated both as an immigrant and as a woman, but her fierce intelligence and drive led her to become a trusted doctor and educator in her community;
- The death of Victoria Spence’s father exposed her to the limitations in funeral and grieving processes. She now helps families with more personalised grieving rituals as they navigate death.
This series challenges the invisibility of older women in our community. In season 3, SEEN pulls the curtain back and offers a standing ovation to women in their third act. The first episode of SEEN airs 20 March, with weekly drops.
SBS was awarded Podcast Publisher of the Year for the third year in a row at the 2024 Australian Podcast Awards.
Casefile: The case of the missing podcast
This month, true crime podcast Casefile disappeared from the Australian Podcast Ranker without a trace. Usually occupying one of the top two slots on the chart, the popular show was nowhere to be seen in the February Top 200 shows list. It has left investigators baffled. How could such a popular show just go missing?
The solution, as it turns out, involves following the money: Casefile has signed an exclusive ad sales, hosting, and distribution deal with Acast – who don’t participate in the Podcast Ranker.
Last year, the Casefile team partnered with Acast for a short run series, Casefile Presents: The Bakersfield Three. The podcast garnered 12 million downloads, and topped Apple’s Podcast Chart in the US. This was the first time Casefile had moved away from its previous distribution partner, Audioboom, and the results clearly impressed them enough to jump ship.
News Corp today launched a new True Crime Australia podcast, Dear Rachelle. The 10-part series focuses on the cold case murder of Rachelle Childs in 2001 and her family’s fight for answers. Each episode will be available first to digital subscribers of News Corp papers, then on other podcast platforms.
“THE SAINTS” BY 9PODCASTS EXPOSES AUSTRALIA’S SHOCKING CULT TRAGEDY
A haunting new podcast, The Saints, is set to unravel one of Australia’s most shocking and heartbreaking stories: the tragic death of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs. Since its revelation in 2022, the case of Elizabeth’s death at the hands of a religious cult in regional Queensland has stunned audiences worldwide, shedding light on the dangers of extreme religious groups.
At the heart of The Saints is a story of lost innocence, unwavering faith, and the fatal consequences of unchecked devotion. Elizabeth, who suffered from a treatable illness, was denied medical care by her parents and the members of their radical religious community, all of whom believed divine intervention would heal her. Her avoidable death led to one of Australia’s largest-ever mass trials, where 14 cult members – including her parents and brother – were found guilty of her tragic death.
This hard-hitting podcast is a joint investigation by A Current Affair and 9Podcasts, presented by award-winning journalist Pippa Bradshaw, whose extensive 15-year career in investigative reporting brings a uniquely insightful perspective. With over three years of in-depth research, Bradshaw delves into Elizabeth’s heartbreaking story, unraveling the series of failures that led to her death and exposing the dark history of the cult that took her life.
"This case is one of the most confronting but significant stories I’ve ever covered,” says Bradshaw.
"Sharing Elizabeth’s story in a podcast allows us to explore the complexities and shocking aspects of her case in more detail than ever before. My aim is to honour Elizabeth, shed light on the truth of her avoidable death, and address the many troubling questions that were left unanswered.”
The Saints takes listeners on a gripping journey through seven meticulously crafted episodes, which include exclusive interviews, harrowing police interrogations, and expert analysis. The podcast provides an intimate, chilling look into the cult’s operations—how its leader manipulated religious scripture to control followers, how new recruits were drawn in, and the broken families left to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.
Cameron Schoenfisch, whose son Lachlan was a convicted cult member, reflects on the profound trauma caused by the cult’s grip. “I can’t really convey our suffering and the cost and the trauma. We didn’t realise it could go so bad, so quick.”
In a warning to other parents, Schoenfisch adds, “Don’t let this happen to you. Don’t let this happen to your loved ones. Hold your children close and tell them you love them, because you never know when that’s going to be the last chance you get.”
Beyond its exploration of cult dynamics, The Saints raises important questions about potential systemic failures within Australia’s justice and child protection systems.
“The cult responsible for Elizabeth’s death is now locked behind bars, but critical questions remain,” says Bradshaw.
“Elizabeth was left in the care of a religious cult with known extreme and dangerous beliefs, and a mother who had previously confessed that she would continue to withhold vital medication from her daughter. Through the final episodes of this podcast, we seek to investigate whether systemic failures contributed to Elizabeth’s tragic death.”
The Saints is brought to life by an award-winning team renowned for their gripping, chart-topping true crime productions:
- Executive Producer Jess Lodge – Creator of the internationally celebrated Hannah’s Story and the chart-topping The Ultimate Sacrifice.
- Sound Designer & Editor Hannah Sterling – The creative force behind the hit investigative podcast Just Married: The Anthea Bradshaw Mystery.
Prepare to be captivated by The Saints, a podcast that digs deeper than headlines, revealing the heartbreaking and disturbing truth behind one of Australia’s most unsettling criminal cases.
The trailer is available now, with episodes streaming weekly from April 7 on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Charge Up Australia will be distributed fortnightly on all mainstream podcast streaming platforms and promoted on the BYD Australia website, with associated links for those seeking more in-depth information. All EV brands will be covered by the podcast.