The Briefing

New therapies you need to know about in 2026

Friday Headlines: At least 40 dead after fire at Swiss ski resort bar, More than 100 business leaders call for Royal Commission into Anti-Semitism, House prices are set to jump more than 5% in 2026, and Usman Khawaja's Test future is up in the air leading into the Sydney test. Deep Dive: When you book in with a psychologist, how much do you really know about the kind of treatment you’ll receive? While cognitive behavioural therapy is one of the most common approaches, new and emerging therapies are constantly being developed. But how do these therapies move from theory into real-world practice and how long does that process take? In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Kelvin Wong, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Swinburne University of Technology, who unpacks new therapies for 2026 and when someone should consider seeking therapy in the first place. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @thebriefingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The child experiments that inspired Stranger Things

It’s been almost a decade since Stranger Things first dropped us into the town of Hawkins - and today, the final episode of the series lands, closing out one of the most influential TV shows of the past ten years. But behind the monsters, secret labs and psychic experiments is a lesser-known origin story: a conspiracy theory tied to a place called Montauk in New York. In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Christopher Garetano - researcher and filmmaker behind the 2014 documentary ‘Montauk Chronicles’ about how fact, fiction and conspiracy collided to create a global pop-culture phenomenon. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @thebriefingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hottest holiday destinations for 2026

Wednesday Headlines: Queensland flood fatality as WA cyclone makes landfall, Australians encouraged to "Celebrate not hide" this New Years eve, and good news with the PBS cap falling to $25 from New Years day. Deep Dive: Australians have spent billions of dollars on travel in 2025, and that’s not a trend that’s expected to change in the new year. 98% of people who took a holiday this year say they will again in 2026, while overseas and domestic trips continue to be popular. So, where will we all be going in 2026? Where should we be going? And most importantly, how can we snag a bargain? In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt is joined by Quentin Long from Australian Traveller to talk 2026 travel. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @thebriefingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How BookTok is changing the way you read & tips to train your algorithm

Tuesday Headlines: Menorah to light up Sydney Harbour Bridge in tribute to Bondi terror attack victims, Australian Cruise ship runs aground in PNG, Tropical cyclone Hayley to make landfall in WA today, and the ICC has rated the Boxing day pitch as "unsatisfactory". Deep Dive: BookTok is a community on TikTok where people create and share content about books and in 2025, it truly entered the zeitgeist. The hashtag helped platform new authors, sparked controversy, and even reshaped book sales and the way the publishing industry operates. In this episode of The Briefing, Helen Smith is joined by Evelyn Araluen, a Goorie and Koori author and teacher, who explains how BookTok works, it’s cultural impact and how it’s influencing what we read. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @thebriefingpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why more Australians are drowning than ever before

Monday Headlines: Families of Bondi Beach terror attack victims call for federal royal commission, US President Donald Trump has a “good and very productive call” with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Iconic French film star Brigitte Bardot dies age 91, and Master Lock Comanche has won Sydney to Hobart line honours. Deep Dive: New national drowning data shows deaths are at their highest since records began, with a sharp and alarming rise among teenagers and young adults. In this episode of the Briefing, Natarsha Belling is joined by water safety expert Justin Scarr, who breaks down what’s driving the crisis. Unpack why child drowning has fallen while risk skyrockets after age 10, how rip currents are catching even confident swimmers off guard, and why so many rescues are now being attempted by parents and bystanders - often with tragic consequences. Follow The Briefing: TikTok: @thebriefingpodInstagram: @thebriefingpodcast YouTube: @TheBriefingPodcastFacebook: @thebriefingpodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.