This week it's just the two of us, after the alleged attack on Helen Haines, the independent member for Indi, outside her electorate office in Wangaratta. We felt it was a week to talk it through rather than bring in a guest. We discuss safety, public service, and the state of our political culture. We delve into what the attack means for elected representatives, the people falling through the cracks of our support systems, anger as a force in politics, and what it would actually take to turn the temperature down. Along the way we explore humour and larrikinism in public life, the professionalisation of politics, respectful disagreement within parties, and how we rebuild the connections that let people disagree without hating each other. Our thoughts are with Helen and her family.

A reminder that tickets are still available for our first live show at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday 25 November, 6 to 9pm. It's $20 at the door, which comes back to you as a beer credit, and free if money is tight. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share it with a friend.

https://events.humanitix.com/what-s-your-poison-live-show-last-drinks-for-2026

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Context
• 10:31 The Attack on Helen Haynes
• 18:51 Mental Health and Violence
• 20:23 Mental Health and Societal Fringes
• 23:39 Political Discourse and Public Sentiment
• 30:12 Impact of COVID on Government Perception
• 37:30 The Role of Humor in Politics
• 51:53 Cultural Norms and Political Etiquette
• 52:12 Cricket as a Metaphor for Political Norms
• 55:51 The Need for Diverse Political Backgrounds
• 58:28 Feedback Loops in Governance
• 01:02:28 Encouraging Respectful Disagreement
• 01:06:54 Empathy and Civil Discourse
• 01:09:25 Navigating Complex Political Issues

This week we're joined by broadcaster Sarah Macdonald about Club Sandwich, a podcast community for people caught between caring for ageing parents and everything else in life. We discuss ageing, caring, and how the generations look after each other. Sarah shares her years in the sandwich generation and how that led to building Club Sandwich. We delve into the hidden army of family carers, our awkward relationship with death and dying, the strain on aged care and private health, generational fairness, and what we do with the wealth older Australians hold. Along the way we explore how the system could better support the whole family, and the communities, cultural attitudes and conversations that help us age with dignity.

A reminder that tickets are now available for our first live show at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday 25 November, 6 to 9pm.
https://events.humanitix.com/what-s-your-poison-live-show-last-drinks-for-2026

You can find Club Sandwich wherever you get your podcasts.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates
• 03:41 Introducing Sarah McDonald
• 07:35 The Sandwich Generation Explained
• 15:02 Generational Perspectives on Aging
• 18:59 Navigating Aging and Death Conversations
• 24:05 Navigating Death and Communication
• 27:18 Personal Perspectives on Death
• 29:04 Aged Care Politics and Challenges
• 30:55 The Aged Care System's Burden
• 33:18 Financial Implications of Aged Care
• 37:43 Intergenerational Issues in Aged Care
• 40:50 Policy Responses to Aged Care Crisis
• 48:17 The Sandwich Generation's Struggles
• 49:39 Cultural Perspectives on Intergenerational Living
• 52:54 Redefining Community and Housing
• 54:49 The Challenge of Inheritance and Wealth Distribution
• 57:39 Societal Attitudes Towards Aging and Caregiving
• 01:01:46 The Future of Care: Robots and Community Solutions

This week we are joined by Rabbi Gersh Lazarow, founding rabbi of Shtiebel in Melbourne, for a conversation we have mostly avoided on this show. We recorded it a few days after the anniversary of October 7. It is frank, sometimes uncomfortable, and one of the more important episodes we have done. We discuss personal journeys, cultural traditions, and identity. Gersh shares his story of leaving apartheid South Africa and how he came to be a rabbi and build Shtiebel. We delve into faith and culture, the war in Gaza, the experience of Jewish Australians over the past three years, and how hard it has become to hold complexity when everything pushes us into sides.

We close on how people with very different views can still sit at the same table, what the rabbinical tradition of debate offers here, the need for community and understanding amidst division, with an emphasis on the role of language and shared experiences in fostering connection.

A reminder that our first live show is at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday 25 November, 6 to 9pm. Invitations go out this week.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates
• 03:34 Welcoming Rabbi Gersh Lazarow
• 05:32 Rabbi Gersh's Journey and Background
• 11:01 Exploring Faith and Spirituality
• 14:00 Cultural vs. Religious Identity
• 19:12 The Complexity of Current Events
• 26:30 Navigating the Dichotomy of Opinions
• 30:48 The Impact of Technology on Discourse
• 35:33 The Pain of Innocence in War
• 36:38 Accusations and Social Dynamics
• 37:19 Emboldened Voices and Experiences
• 41:04 The Ugliness of Modern Warfare
• 43:54 Personal Responsibility in Discourse
• 46:45 Navigating Community and Identity
• 50:55 The Shift in Political Discourse
• 54:21 Historical Context and Responsibility
• 57:10 Building Community Amidst Tension