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Background Briefing

Author: ABC listen

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Background Briefing tells true stories not everyone will want you to hear. We infuse investigative reporting with captivating drama, following the thread of an individual story only to find that it leads us to something bigger. It's the only podcast in Australia that does this week in, week out.

Hosted by Thomas Oriti.

We want to hear from you too. If you have a tip-off, please contact us at backgroundbriefing[at]abc.net.au
366 Episodes
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12-year-old Alliyah’s clowning around in science class, testing the waters to see how the new teacher will respond. An unusual bond grows between them — and what starts with a death stare and a smirk, soon slips into a world of secrets.
She's every student’s favourite teacher — warm, funny, the kind who bends the rules. But for one 12-year-old, Alliyah, her attention goes far beyond the classroom. The Favourite is a five-part series by Background Briefing about how a secret remained hidden in plain sight for nearly a decade.
When a marine scientist starts picking up traces of pesticides in oysters, she follows a trail that leads inland — to NSW blueberries carrying a poison not permitted for use in Australia. 
Catherine Taylor investigates how money, disadvantage and resources risk holding back our brightest students.
The Yes In My Backyard movement is lobbying for denser cities and more housing in places people want to work and live. The YIMBYs want these homes built yesterday, but as Gina Rushton explains, the NIMBYs haven’t given up yet.
Fascinated by true crime? Or intrigued by what drives people to break the law?Criminal Psychology, a gripping series from All in the Mind, takes you deep inside the minds of those who cross the line into extreme behaviour.In this four-episode series, they explore the psychological drivers behind arson, kleptomania, serial killers and Munchausen by Proxy, with people who work closely on these cases.And find out how understanding the human mind can help us to prevent harm.If you're curious about the corners of criminal human behaviour, this is unmissable listening.Find Criminal Psychology from All in the Mind here. 
This week, Nick Bryant returns to the US for the first time in four years, finding a country that doesn't want to talk about politics, despite being in the eye of the Trump storm.
An Australian doctor sells his car and writes a will — unsure if he’ll ever make it back home. He crosses the concrete walls that surround the Gaza Strip and begins work inside the last functioning hospital in the north. But in the chaos of war, something unfolded that no one, including him, could have predicted.  This week, reporter Marty Smiley brings us the story of Dr Mo's impossible mission.
It started with a bizarre customer-service experience and soon transformed into something darker. Outrage rippled across Youtube, spurring an army of online vigilantes into action. But as reporter Maddison Connaughton discovered, the stakes were higher than anyone anticipated.
Ian Williams woke up one morning to find $1338 has been stolen from his account. Two years later, the 73-year-old is taking on NAB at the Supreme Court, seeking more than $300m in damages, with no lawyers to help him.
Most Aussies see wombats as an iconic native. But reporter Tynan King discovered one regional NSW town where farmers see them through a scope.
Big Rob has gone from online vigilante to censured politician, starting little fights that have become big problems for his divided city. 
INTRODUCING — Beef

INTRODUCING — Beef

2025-06-2400:37

A new series by Background Briefing investigates when small feuds take on a life of their own.  First episode coming June 28.
This week , reporter Catherine Taylor investigates a new strain of avian flu virus that's running rampant across Europe, Asia, South America and the US. How long can we keep it from reaching us?
Rhiannon Stevens investigates the existential threats facing Wikipedia from artificial intelligence and Trump’s America.
This week, Annie Louey discovers what happens when your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing means your career is no longer worth the money.
There’s something shaping what appears in your newsfeed that you might not be aware of. Reporter Gina McKeon investigates.
This week, reporter Annika Blau  gets the inside story of a union powerbroker’s rise, and the people who risked it all to stop her
Take a stroll around Sydney and you'll find his name on many venerated buildings. But this man, a 101-year-old billionaire, has also created machines that risk ruining their users' lives.
A former oil tycoon has just bought the streaming rights to Australia’s great homegrown sports, the AFL and NRL. This week, reporter Marty Smiley investigates one of the richest men in the world - who is Len Blavatnik? 
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Comments (26)

sharon maitland

what an absolute pest 😒

Jul 1st
Reply

James Anderson

Arrests.org SC serves as a vital resource for accessing up-to-date and comprehensive arrest records in South Carolina. The platform provides an easy-to-use interface, allowing users to search by name, location, or date, ensuring transparency and accessibility. Staying informed about law enforcement activities has never been simpler. For detailed arrest data, visit http://arrestss-sc.org and explore a user-friendly way to access public information.

Dec 22nd
Reply

Sharon Maitland

May turn out to be a trial by media.... he sounds very inauthentic to say the least. His poor parents and sister.

Jul 14th
Reply

Sharon Maitland

#Bravery.

Nov 10th
Reply

Sharon Maitland

#courage 🙏

Oct 14th
Reply

Sharon Maitland

Get your life together Andy, hopefully listening to this will help you stop

Jun 25th
Reply

Sharon Maitland

excruciating pain is all I can say 😭

Oct 29th
Reply

Craig Peters

This was terrible. Incredibly poor journalism. 32 minutes in and the first mention of climate change. And that was a few seconds in passing without drawing a direct parallel between fossil fuels and climate change. Eraring workers going waaah about the loss of their jobs IN 3 AND A HALF YEARS. Imagine being given 3 1/2 years to transition to a new gig. They are also saying govts not planning for just transition, but gutlessly not calling out LNP govts as the culprits. Also made out like Kean didn't know it was coming, when it is on the record that he did. I am all for just transition. Very strongly so. And it shouldn't just be for coal. But call out the actual govts who failed these people.

Apr 1st
Reply

Lis Stanger

What an amazing brave woman. Thank you for another fantastic podcast ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Nov 12th
Reply

Lin

There is absolutely nothing 'real' about reality tv. It's a formulaic creation that manipulates and edits the "contestants" into specific character types to manufacture conflict, suspense and drama. The networks love these shows because they are relatively cheap and easy to make. No need to pay actual script writers or professional actors let alone all the other people that are needed to create quality shows. It's all about ratings and advertising dollars and the sooner people stop watching and supporting this garbage tv the sooner we can hopefully stop being bombarded by it.

Sep 24th
Reply

Robert Piercy

at

Apr 23rd
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everachelt

This is such good journalism!! absolutely incredible. Keep it up! these people are so so dangerous and need to be exposed.

Mar 26th
Reply

Alison Wonderland

what a nightmare for emergency personnel dealing with idiots who choose to do drugs. he would have overdosed anyway or killed an innocent person so better him than anyone else.

Dec 20th
Reply

The Dusty Bogan

https://www.facebook.com/335601957159065/videos/572875826650907/?d=null&vh=e check out my video. please help me spread my message. cheers aye.

Jun 12th
Reply

Lis Stanger

One of the best podcasts available, keep up the excellent work. just terrible this is occurring in Australia.

May 29th
Reply

Amy

Thank you so much for this enlightening and heart-breaking story. Much love and care to all communities 💕

Apr 5th
Reply

Lis Stanger

Absolutely frightening, thank you once again you have done an outstanding job. Please pass my gratitude onto the staff at the hospital I can't express how much I appreciate the fact they keep going to work.

Apr 3rd
Reply

Alison Wonderland

these idiots that think it's funny to do drugs put such a burden on our emergency services. 😒

Mar 20th
Reply

Jocelyn Fältskog

An interesting counterpoint to the podcast Wrong Skin

Sep 22nd
Reply

Lis Stanger

Why is it when people hear voices that aren't Jesus it God they are treated as having a psychiatric illness but it seems to be OK if it's Jesus and God? Another great podcast.

Sep 20th
Reply (1)