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Background Briefing

ABC Australia
Australia
Brad Balzan
Sexual Assault
Sydney
Balmoral
Mental Health
Background Briefing
Gaza
New South Wales Police
Proton Therapy
Jean Paul Mangin
Coronial Inquest
Media Influence
Mark Dennis
New South Wales
Crime
Police Investigation
Defamation Law
Journalistic Integrity
Legal Correspondence

Background Briefing is the ABC's flagship investigative journalism podcast. Its award-winning investigations and documentaries expose cover-ups, corruption, real-life mysteries, whistleblowing, crime, fraud and miscarriages of justice — often before these stories receive mainstream attention. The Background Briefing podcast brings you true stories not everyone will want you to hear, told by truste... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes1014Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsDocumentarySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Background Briefing

Latest Episodes

Helen doesn't know her psychologist is devoted to the cult of Universal Medicine. So when she finally seeks help for her childhood trauma, she thinks she can trust this registered health professional. Soon, she's been referred to spiritual healers, s... more

When Serge Benhayon had a spiritual epiphany sitting on the toilet nearly 30 years ago, he says he became possessed with all the knowledge of the universe. With these secrets at his fingertips, Serge invented four "esoteric" healing therapies and beg... more

Serge Benhayon has been leading a cult out of the Byron Bay hinterland — just south of the Queensland border — for more than a decade. He was found by a jury to be a charlatan who swindles cancer patients. Yet every time he comes under attack, his fo... more

Before police raided Mark Dennis’s Sydney terrace, two tradies saw something inside that left them rattled. At the front door, a doormat told visitors to “come back with a warrant”. But it was what covered the interior walls that stayed with them for... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Josh Robertson
Reporter investigating Universal Medicine
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Episode: 02 The Unbreakable Cult | The recruiter
Brendan Jones
Former Universal Medicine follower who describes his experiences in the movement
Episode: 01 The Unbreakable Cult | Hands on
Charlotte Kipax
Former Universal Medicine participant and daughter of a movement follower
Episode: 01 The Unbreakable Cult | Hands on
Serge Benhayon
Founder of Universal Medicine and creator of its esoteric therapies
Universal Medicine
Episode: 01 The Unbreakable Cult | Hands on
John Dwyer
Former head of immunology at Yale University and medical critic of Universal Medicine
Friends of Science in Medicine
Episode: 01 The Unbreakable Cult | Hands on
Candica Dai
Former Sunrise associate connected to Mark Dennis investigation
Sunrise Cambodia
Episode: 03 Dark Menace | Operation Queenstown
Chad Loxham
Builder who filed a police report about concerns connected to Mark Dennis
Private contractor, Cambodia
Episode: 03 Dark Menace | Operation Queenstown
Ang Sopiak
Former Sunrise child turned employee, described by interviewees as having lived at Sunrise
Sunrise donor and former resident staffer
Episode: 02 Dark Menace | What Happened At Sunrise
Rob Madsen
Former Sunrise staff member responsible for child protection policy
Sunrise
Episode: 02 Dark Menace | What Happened At Sunrise

Hosts

Alicia Simmons
Host of Background Briefing
Erin Park
Host of Background Briefing

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 2k ratings
  • Invisible Killer

    This podcast was so well done. Even though we didn’t get an actual confession from Garry, at least the podcast helped to spur on action from the government. So many more checks need to be made in Aged Care Homes.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ali Exley
    Australia22 days ago
  • Yes and no

    The content is great, but the format of one host kind of clunkily pretending not to know anything about the topic so they can ask questions (lots of the shows and eps) is really confected and bizarre.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    sbrbn.hausfrau
    Australia4 months ago
  • Opportunity Missed

    Listened to the Tammy podcast, which I found very interesting. However I did finish with the feeling it was heavily focused on analysising the errors and issues (which I agree with) in the government systems, but didn’t seem to explore what role NFP Aboriginal Support service also provided during the events and whether issues or gaps were identified with these services. Other than one section that mentioned Aboriginal Legal Aid was declined, without further explanation, this was a significant... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    heath0612
    Australia4 months ago
  • In search of the missing artist

    I loved this podcast which I only discovered today. I binged all episodes and thoroughly enjoyed it. So very beautifully told. Can’t wait to binge on others now! 🤭 Greetings from The Midlands Kwa Zulu Natal South Africa 🇿🇦🌻🥂🎉

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pippasqeakie
    South Africa6 months ago
  • Expected more

    Overall good but I was expecting more background on both killers and how they managed so many guns with licences, their motivations. Analysis from social or psychological point of view could be added. Finally the hero ‘Ahmed’ was almost ignored who can be the FACE of the stability between religious clashes of our beautiful country.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Tabaruk Hasan
    Australia7 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners critique format or pacing in places, desiring broader context beyond procedural detail.
Listeners praise the rigorous, long-form investigations and human-centered storytelling.
Guests and hosts are consistently described as credible, thorough, and capable of presenting complex topics clearly.
Episodes are generally viewed as top-tier Australian investigative journalism with strong sourcing and accountability focus.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#235
United Kingdom/News
Spotify
#31
Australia/News
Spotify
#111
Australia/Trending
Apple Podcasts
#26
Australia/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#6
Australia/News
Apple Podcasts
#214
New Zealand/Top Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

02 The Unbreakable Cult | The recruiter
Q: Did this registered psychologist groom you to join a cult?
Helen says she would describe it as grooming, explaining that vulnerable people are drawn in by claims that the group will save their lives and by the sowing of doubt.
01 The Unbreakable Cult | Hands on
Q: What does esoteric breast massage do?
Serge Benhayon says the treatment activates energy at the sides of the breasts and connects it to the lymphatic system and what he calls multidimensionality. John Dwyer criticizes the treatment's health rationale and raises concerns about how it is presented to clients.
01 The Unbreakable Cult | Hands on
Q: What is this all about?
Josh Robertson says the story examines the promise of healing and how efforts to take control of one's life can allow someone else to gain control of a person and their finances.
The dark reality of Australia's AI dream factory
Q: What legal concerns did the journalist uncover?
The material could constitute child sexual abuse material, especially when images appear underage, and there are questions about who is legally liable—the user prompting the content, the hosting company, or both.
The dark reality of Australia's AI dream factory
Q: What is the Our Dream AI site and what does it offer?
It is an AI-based platform offering customizable AI companions and AI-generated content that includes porn-like interactions, challenging the boundaries of what is allowed and moderated.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Background Briefing

What is Background Briefing about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Investigative journalism with long-form storytelling that combines meticulous reporting, document trails, and on-the-ground interviewing to uncover cover-ups, mismanagement, and systemic failures across health, crime, technology, and public policy. Episodes frequently weave personal narratives with data-driven scrutiny, offering rigorous critique of institutions and decisions while presenting multiple perspectives from industry insiders, whistleblowers, and experts. A standout feature is its willingness to tackle complex, high-stakes issues over multi-part series, delivering nuanced debates about accountability, safety, and public interest that appeal to listeners who value depth, corroboration, and context.

Where can I find podcast stats for Background Briefing?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Background Briefing. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Background Briefing and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Background Briefing get?

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What are the audience demographics for Background Briefing?

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How many subscribers and views does Background Briefing have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Background Briefing has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Background Briefing?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Background Briefing:

1. The Case Of
2. Expanse
3. Unravel
4. Conversations
5. No One Saw It Coming

How many episodes of Background Briefing are there?

Background Briefing launched 21 years ago and published 1014 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Background Briefing?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Background Briefing?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Background Briefing from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Background Briefing?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Background Briefing. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Background Briefing?

Recent guests on Background Briefing include:

1. Josh Robertson
2. Brendan Jones
3. Charlotte Kipax
4. Serge Benhayon
5. John Dwyer
6. Candica Dai
7. Chad Loxham
8. Ang Sopiak

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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