If You're Listening
ABC
The world is on fire. There's a coup. Inflation is through the roof, and AI is taking our jobs. What does it all mean? Each week, Matt Bevan explains the biggest story in world news while hiding in his basement from assassins and authoritarian regimes. Recent episodes include an exploration of the relationship between India and China, a closer look at the Saudi Arabian city of NEOM, the conflict in the Middle East, the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, and Ukraine's incursions into Vladimir Putin's Russia. Matt Bevan draws connections between stories from the past and the events of the present to help listeners understand world news and international affairs. The podcast also features series about big moments in world news; previous series have focused on the United States presidential election, the United Kingdom's 14 years of Conservative Party leadership, Donald Trump's relationship with Russia, Donald Trump's presidency and promise to Make America Great Again, the Mueller Report, Vladimir Putin's scheme to destroy western democracies, how the relationship between Australia and China came to the verge of collapse, and Australia's turbulent history with climate change. There's a new episode of If You're Listening every Thursday.
Categories: News & Politics
Listen to the last episode:
That's right, we're talking soil again. Is there a field of Ukranian chernozem soil sitting in rural New South Wales? Producer Pat joins Matt to finally find an answer. Plus, rumours of a chernozem black market… is it true, or just a dirty lie? Thanks to the New South Wales Soil Knowledge Network! Follow If You're Listening on the ABC Listen app. Check out our series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDTPrMoGHssAfgMMS3L5LpLNFMNp1U_Nq
Previous episodes
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545 - There Will Be Mud (again) Tue, 10 Feb 2026
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544 - Stephen Miller: Edgelord in Chief Thu, 05 Feb 2026
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543 - Pod Save America on the endless escalation of Trump Tue, 03 Feb 2026
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542 - Steven Pinker thinks we’re worried about the wrong things Sun, 01 Feb 2026
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541 - 04 Black Swans | Countdown to Doomsday Thu, 29 Jan 2026
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540 - Did a 1981 book correctly predict the future? Tue, 27 Jan 2026
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539 - 03 Black Swans | Burning Hill Thu, 22 Jan 2026
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538 - The city that ten beers built Tue, 20 Jan 2026
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537 - 02 Black Swans | The Australian Dream Thu, 15 Jan 2026
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536 - 01 Black Swans | The Population Bomb Thu, 08 Jan 2026
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535 - Matt got lost on his way to the costume department Wed, 07 Jan 2026
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534 - Trump’s playbook for Nicolás Maduro and Venezuela Mon, 05 Jan 2026
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533 - NEOM: The world's dumbest megaproject Thu, 01 Jan 2026
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532 - What's the deal with fluoride? Thu, 25 Dec 2025
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531 - How good are Australia’s gun laws really? Thu, 18 Dec 2025
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530 - 24 hours after the Bondi shooting Mon, 15 Dec 2025
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529 - Why is Venezuela falling apart? Thu, 11 Dec 2025
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528 - This robot will shoot you and steal your wife Tue, 09 Dec 2025
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527 - Where’s my robot butler? Thu, 04 Dec 2025
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526 - Is internet piracy making a comeback, me hearties? Tue, 02 Dec 2025
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525 - Is China’s plan to invade Taiwan inevitable? Thu, 27 Nov 2025
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524 - The time Andrew Denton tried to hire a bounty hunter Tue, 25 Nov 2025
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523 - The truth about China’s social credit scores Thu, 20 Nov 2025
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522 - maTt and kaRa address yoUr conspiracy THeory Tue, 18 Nov 2025
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521 - So you’ve robbed the Louvre… now what? Thu, 13 Nov 2025
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520 - Was the CIA involved in Whitlam's dismissal? Tue, 11 Nov 2025
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519 - Can we afford to power AI? Thu, 06 Nov 2025
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518 - This town ain't big enough for two dog puppets Tue, 04 Nov 2025
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517 - Is the AI bubble too big to burst? Thu, 30 Oct 2025
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516 - The people have spoken and they love mud Tue, 28 Oct 2025
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515 - Sizing up the Gaza rebuild Thu, 23 Oct 2025
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514 - The balloon that started the US Air Force Tue, 21 Oct 2025
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513 - What happens if Trump takes over the Federal Reserve? Thu, 16 Oct 2025
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512 - The time the US Navy teamed up with the Mafia Tue, 14 Oct 2025
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511 - Weighing up Ozempic Thu, 09 Oct 2025
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510 - The Montana Mountain King and a conspiracy to clone Tue, 07 Oct 2025
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509 - How dodgy data sent China's economy off course Thu, 02 Oct 2025
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508 - Florida Man Invades Venezuela Tue, 30 Sep 2025
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507 - Why Trump is blowing up boats off Venezuela Thu, 25 Sep 2025
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506 - This can't be good for our brains Tue, 23 Sep 2025
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505 - Charlie Kirk’s murder sparks calls for revenge Thu, 18 Sep 2025
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504 - The Kurdish Fox and the Strawberry Tue, 16 Sep 2025
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503 - Iran’s global network of goons Thu, 11 Sep 2025
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502 - Matt has been stuck in the mud for seven years Tue, 09 Sep 2025
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501 - Is Putin a master manipulator or a very smart guy? Thu, 04 Sep 2025
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500 - Who is the cigar-toting, moustachioed-American named Gunslinger? Tue, 02 Sep 2025
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499 - The Art of the Peace Deal Thu, 28 Aug 2025
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498 - Does the Chinese Embassy look tacky? Tue, 26 Aug 2025
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497 - The blueprint for Palestine Thu, 21 Aug 2025
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496 - Kara drags Matt back down the rabbit hole Tue, 19 Aug 2025