If You're Listening
Podcast

If You're Listening

ABC Australia

316 episodes

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.

What this show covers

Trumppoliticsweather historyforecastingclimate changeAIDonald TrumpBorrowing costsBond yieldsUS bondsGlobal economymeteorologyInigo Jonesscience and societyEl Niño

What listeners will find here

Why Trump’s bond-market threat could hit mortgages, loans and everyone else
This episode looks at why US bond yields matter so much, and why investor nerves around Trump’s tariffs, war in Iran and promised $5,000 dividend cheques are pushing them higher. It asks who ends up paying when markets lose faith in a government’s finances.
When weather forecasts were part science, part stargazing
This episode explores the strange early world of long-range weather forecasting through Inigo Jones, an unorthodox forecaster who looked to astronomy more than meteorology. It follows a time when farmers, builders and even brides relied on bold predictions before modern climate patterns were understood.
How a surprise 1982 super El Niño changed weather forecasting
El Niño is driving toxic haze, flooding and unusual heat across parts of the world, with this year expected to be among the worst on record. This episode connects today’s extreme weather to the shocking 1982 super El Niño and asks why climate change could make forecasting harder again.
Inside Hezbollah’s reach in southern Lebanon, via its own theme park
Hezbollah’s role in southern Lebanon extends far beyond militancy, reaching into schools, hospitals, infrastructure and even a theme park. This episode centers on a listener’s firsthand visit, using that unusual setting to explore how deeply the group is woven into daily life.
Why Putin’s immortality obsession fits a century-long Russian pattern
Putin’s remarks about organ transplants and immortality open into a stranger story: Russian leaders have pursued eternal life for nearly 100 years. The episode looks at how that fixation has endured, and the bizarre results it has produced.

Episodes

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