Straight Talk with Mark Bouris

In this conversation, no.1 political strategist and pollster Kos Samaras explains how Australia’s political landscape is fragmenting beyond recognition.
He reveals why traditional Liberal and Labor voters are abandoning both major parties, how disillusioned Australians are turning to One Nation and the Greens, and why the country is heading toward a more divided political future.
From the collapse of manufacturing in regional Australia to the psychological impact of Melbourne’s lockdowns, Samaras breaks down the economic, cultural and generational forces reshaping Australian democracy. He also explores why younger Australians are losing faith in the system, why many no longer believe they can afford children or home ownership, and how social media algorithms are accelerating political polarisation across the country.
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Dr Katherine Bennell-Pegg is the first astronaut to be trained under the Australian flag and a critical voice in the nation's emerging space ambitions.
From her headquarters at the Australian Space Agency in Adelaide, Katherine reveals how Australia is playing an essential role in the Artemis moon programme and why space exploration delivers genuine economic returns.
She discusses the rigorous process of becoming an astronaut, the real risks involved in space travel, and how her engineering background shaped her journey from designing space stations to potentially living in them. The conversation explores everything from toilet malfunctions on Artemis missions to the radiation challenges facing future Mars explorers.
We also talk about...
Australia's $7 return for every $1 invested in space programmes
The five major hazards astronauts face in space
How Australian technology supported Artemis 2's critical moon mission
The reality of radiation exposure and medical risks for astronauts
Why the International Space Station has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize
Australia's role in the global space race versus international collaboration
The technological hurdles preventing humans from reaching Mars
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Chris Joye is one of the most influential voices in Australian finance — a fund manager, economist, public policy thinker, and weekly Australian Financial Review columnist.
In this conversation, Joye delivers his starkest warnings yet about Australia's economic future. He explains why the Reserve Bank's humiliating policy reversals have set us up for a multi-year recession, how record immigration and government spending have created an inflation crisis , and why we're heading for the worst property downturn since 1991. Joye also dissects Trump's economic revolution in America and reveals why Australia risks becoming "Asia's Ibiza" unless we fundamentally change course.
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Mark Wales is a former SAS soldier who served multiple deployments in Afghanistan, including intense combat operations that tested the limits of human endurance.

In this profound conversation, Wales opens up about the psychological realities of combat, the bonds forged between soldiers under fire, and the complex moral terrain of modern warfare. He discusses the transition from military to civilian life, the systemic failures that prolonged the Afghanistan conflict, and his perspective on the controversial Ben Roberts-Smith case. Wales offers unflinching insights into fear management, the brotherhood of arms, and what ANZAC Day truly means to those who've served.

• The psychological impact of combat and managing fear under fire
• How military training prepares soldiers for high-stress combat situations
• The unique bonds formed between soldiers in the theatre
• Chain of command structure and leadership in combat zones
• Australia's handling of veteran affairs compared to other nations
• The systemic issues that prolonged the Afghanistan conflict
• Perspective on the Ben Roberts-Smith case and war crimes prosecutions
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James Glissan is a criminal defence lawyer who has stood on both sides of the courtroom as a former police officer and prosecutor, giving him unique insight into how Australia's justice system actually works.
In this conversation, we examine the controversial Ben Roberts-Smith case and what it reveals about prosecutorial decisions, media influence, and the fundamental challenges facing our legal system. Glissan breaks down the critical differences between civil and criminal standards of proof, the complexities of war crimes prosecution, and why this case represents a significant test for Australia's justice system.
We also explore broader issues around democratic participation, government transparency, and why so many Australians feel disconnected from the systems meant to serve them.
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