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A Rational Fear

Newsfighters — Year In Review 2023

Season 2023, Ep. 210

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  • 234. Media this election & bonus News fighters

    41:55||Season 2025, Ep. 234
    🤑 CHIP IN TO OUR PATREON https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFear📨 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAIL LIST: http://www.arationalfear.com/G’day Fearmongers,There’s only 48 hours left of this election — soon our national nightmare will be over.On the podcast we’re joined by the hosts of the new media and cultural podcast, Lamestream. Scott Mitchell and Osman Faruqui are a couple of smart media operators who have been inside big corporate media, and politics, and know lots about how the sausage is made.In this episode we chat about how the fourth estate has covered this election. Right wing vs progressive ecosystems, and how the major parties are trying to reach younger audiences.ALSO for lovers of wacky news clips — Dylan Behan has given us his Australian election edition of News Fighters.Cheers,DanLAMESTREAM ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qVXiJ3EVcWavliV6eh4j3?si=874b15abc7cd41f1LAMETREAM ON APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lamestream/id1810214465🤑 CHIP IN TO OUR PATREON https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFearHere's all the fun stuff you get when you sign up to Patreon.🎧 Get an ad-free and sponsor free version of the show.🎟 Get early access and discounts to live shows.🎥 Get early access to final videos, and draft edits of upcoming videos.👨🏼‍⚖️ Make show suggestions.💬 Get a link to the A Rational Fear discord.If you enjoyed this please drop us a review on Apple podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/a-rational-fear/id522303261
  • 233. Election Special Live - Melbourne Comedy Festival 2025

    58:46||Season 2025, Ep. 233
    🤑 CHIP IN TO OUR PATREON https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFear📨 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAIL LIST: http://www.arationalfear.com/G’day Fearmongers,Thanks to everyone who made it out to our huge A Rational Fear live show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival — it was a great vibe.Our panel dives into the election campaign, what the minor parties are really up to, we explain how the US trade tariffs work, celebrate the role of traditional media in Australia, we chat with Belinda Gread and how nerds have ruined the world.Big thanks to all of our guests:Alice FraserTom BallardJohn DelmenicoVidya RajanMel McGlenseyBelinda GreadDJ Andy McClellandalso thanks to me and Lewis — we were also very good.We couldn’t have put this show on without the help of Nathan and Yvonne from Token, Laura Milke at the Malthouse — and thanks to Tom Noble Creative for the great photos.And thanks to our Patreon supporters — it meant we could subsidise some of the cost of the show and make sure our interstate guests could make to the show.In this episode of Rational Fear, Dan Ilic hosts a comedy panel show that satirizes the Australian political landscape, focusing on the upcoming election. The show features comedians like Tom Ballard, Alice Fraser, and Lewis Hobba, who humorously dissect current political events, including Peter Dutton's leadership, the coalition's struggles, and the media's coverage of the election. The podcast includes comedic segments about American tariffs, a mock interview with a fictional Liberal candidate, and a sponsorship bit from the Department of Foreign Affairs. Throughout the show, the panelists use sharp wit and comedic commentary to critique political figures, media practices, and societal trends, offering a humorous take on serious contemporary issues.🤑 CHIP IN TO OUR PATREON https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFearHere's all the fun stuff you get when you sign up to Patreon.🎧 Get an ad-free and sponsor free version of the show.🎟 Get early access and discounts to live shows.🎥 Get early access to final videos, and draft edits of upcoming videos.👨🏼‍⚖️ Make show suggestions.💬 Get a link to the A Rational Fear discord.If you enjoyed this please drop us a review on Apple podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/a-rational-fear/id522303261
  • 232. Indie Mixtape: Allegra Spender + Alex Dyson

    34:47||Season 2025, Ep. 232
    🤑 CHIP IN TO OUR PATREON https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFear📨 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAIL LIST: http://www.arationalfear.com/🎟️ MELBOURNE COMEDY FESTIVAL TICKETS: https://www.malthousetheatre.com.au/whats-on/comedy-festival-2025/a-rational-fearI know I am full of hyperbole for this podcast — but believe me when I say THIS is a great episode.We talk about Alex Dyson’s longest job interview ever. Both Allegra and Alex chat about dirty tactics, having a sense of humour while campaigning, how the cut and thrust of politics can make two candidates who want the same thing be at each others throats. Allegra Spender also has some great advice for Alex Dyson should he get into parliament.You’ll finish this episode thinking that these two individuals could indeed make Australia a better place.🤑 CHIP IN TO OUR PATREON https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFearHere's all the fun stuff you get when you sign up to Patreon.🎧 Get an ad-free and sponsor free version of the show.🎟 Get early access and discounts to live shows.🎥 Get early access to final videos, and draft edits of upcoming videos.👨🏼‍⚖️ Make show suggestions.💬 Get a link to the A Rational Fear discord.If you enjoyed this please drop us a review on Apple podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/a-rational-fear/id522303261
  • 231. Jokes, data & election predictions

    35:08||Season 2025, Ep. 231
    🤑 CHIP IN TO OUR PATREON https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFear📨 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAIL LIST: http://www.arationalfear.com/🎟️ MELBOURNE COMEDY FESTIVAL TICKETS: https://www.malthousetheatre.com.au/whats-on/comedy-festival-2025/a-rational-fearIn this episode, we discuss the upcoming election on May 3rd with Alex Fein from RedBridge and Populares’ Ed Coper.These two people have their fingers (and toes) on the pulse more than most politicians — and the word that sums up the electorate in 2025 is “abandonment”.And we make some ropey jokes from 2005, and get some predictions where this election will end up in 5 weeks time.You can get a ticket to the Populares Campaigning Event here: https://events.humanitix.com/populares_event🤑 CHIP IN TO OUR PATREON https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFearHere's all the fun stuff you get when you sign up to Patreon.🎧 Get an ad-free and sponsor free version of the show.🎟 Get early access and discounts to live shows.🎥 Get early access to final videos, and draft edits of upcoming videos.👨🏼‍⚖️ Make show suggestions.💬 Get a link to the A Rational Fear discord.If you enjoyed this please drop us a review on Apple podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/a-rational-fear/id522303261
  • 230. How AwkwUS! Australia's special relationship with the US.

    32:23||Season 2025, Ep. 230
    🤑 CHIP IN TO OUR PATREON https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFear📨 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAIL LIST: http://www.arationalfear.com/🎟️ MELBOURNE COMEDY FESTIVAL TICKETS: https://www.malthousetheatre.com.au/whats-on/comedy-festival-2025/a-rational-fearG’day Fearmongers,A reminder that our Melbourne Comedy Festival Show is only 3 weeks away!🎟️ Get your tickets HEREPODCAST NOTES:In this episode, we discuss Australia's unique relationship with the United States, ANZUS, Pine Gap and wading into AUKUS submarine deal. Guests Senator Jacqui Lambie and Dr. Emma Shortis provide insights into Australia's defence strategy and the challenges posed by reliance on foreign powers.It’s a very silly and smart conversation — about one of the most complex relationships that underpins my own anxiety.See you at the big showDan🤑 CHIP IN TO OUR PATREON https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFearHere's all the fun stuff you get when you sign up to Patreon.🎧 Get an ad-free and sponsor free version of the show.🎟 Get early access and discounts to live shows.🎥 Get early access to final videos, and draft edits of upcoming videos.👨🏼‍⚖️ Make show suggestions.💬 Get a link to the A Rational Fear discord.If you enjoyed this please drop us a review on Apple podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/a-rational-fear/id522303261
  • 229. Greenwashing and B******: Stefano Valentino

    27:43||Season 2025, Ep. 229
    G’day Fearmongers,A reminder that our Melbourne Comedy Festival Show is only 4 weeks away!🎟️ Get your tickets HEREOn this week’s podcast we have a conversation with award-winning environmental journalist Stefano Valentino. Stefano has written extensively about the confluence of power and greenwashing, and disinformation.We asked him about disinformation in elections, he told us about how the biggest companies get away with the claiming they have climate credentials.And Lewis comes up with the perfect metaphor for Misinformation vs Disinformation.See you next week!CheersDanTICKETS TO MELBOURNE COMEDY FESTIVAL: https://www.malthousetheatre.com.au/whats-on/comedy-festival-2025/a-rational-fear
  • 228. A Rational Fukt Check & It's Not A Race

    16:29||Season 2025, Ep. 228
    🔗 https://its-not-a-race.raisely.com/🎟️ https://www.malthousetheatre.com.au/whats-on/comedy-festival-2025/a-rational-fearIn this episode of A Rational Fear, Dan Ilic and Lewis Hobba catch up and discuss their busy start to the year, including Lewis's move to Melbourne and preparations for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. They introduce new initiatives like the A Rational Fukt Check, aimed at fact-checking political promises and disinformation during the upcoming election. The conversation also touches on the role of memes in political discourse and the importance of community engagement in combating misinformation.
  • 227. SPECIAL EPISODE: News Fighters 2024 Year In Review

    25:05||Season 2024, Ep. 227
    Tonightly and Media Watch wacky clips craftsman Dylan Behan is back with his annual News Fighters year in review episode taking an in depth look at 2024 in news and politics. From Dutton’s nuclear epiphany to Albo’s endless cash splashing (mostly on his own house) this year has marked an an ever increasing enshittifcation of Australian politics. Also Stefan Pazur does his annual wrap of sport and entertainment. News Fighters: where we fight the news, so you don’t have to!🤑 CHIP IN TO OUR PATREON https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFearHere's all the fun stuff you get when you sign up to Patreon.🎧 Get an ad-free and sponsor free version of the show.🎟 Get early access and discounts to live shows.🎥 Get early access to final videos, and draft edits of upcoming videos.👨🏼‍⚖️ Make show suggestions.💬 Get a link to the A Rational Fear discord.If you enjoyed this please drop us a review on Apple podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/a-rational-fear/id522303261
  • 226. A RATIONAL YEAR - live from the xmas party

    37:43||Season 2024, Ep. 226
    🤑 CHIP IN TO OUR PATREON https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFear📨 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAIL LIST: http://www.arationalfear.com/G’day Fearmongers!Merry Christmas to everyone (except Raygun).Join A Rational Fear as we break down some of the most memorable stories (to us). We gathered around table at the Tilbury Hotel — one of the earliest satirical venues in Australia, the birth place of Three Men and A Baby Grand, and the earliest incarnations of the Wharf Revue — how very fitting that we, A Rational Fear, destroy that legacy with our little podcast.Joining Lewis Hobba and Dan are a handful of our favourite friends in comedy, Bec Melrose, Steph Broadbridge and Chris Taylor. We have a few lunch time beer, and let loose on the year 2024.Thank You if you’ve listened to any of our podcasts this year — as the 2025 election looms you can bet your Nuclear Power Plant that we’ll be back each week covering the ins and outs of the campaign. And Lewis, will be doing a video series on instagram reels and TikTok dedicated to the election.🤑 CHIP IN TO OUR PATREON https://www.patreon.com/ARationalFearHere's all the fun stuff you get when you sign up to Patreon.🎧 Get an ad-free and sponsor free version of the show.🎟 Get early access and discounts to live shows.🎥 Get early access to final videos, and draft edits of upcoming videos.👨🏼‍⚖️ Make show suggestions.💬 Get a link to the A Rational Fear discord.If you enjoyed this please drop us a review on Apple podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/a-rational-fear/id522303261