Rephonic
Artwork for Curtin’s Cast
Labor Party
Coalition
Polling
Election Campaign
Australian Politics
Housing Affordability
Liberal Party
Housing Policy
John Curtin
Minor Parties
Gen Z
Victorian Labor
Labour Party
Victoria
Australia
Australian Election
Public Service
Albanese Government
Jim Chalmers
Albanese Labor Government

Welcome to Curtin’s Cast, the John Curtin Research Centre’s podcast of politics, culture and ideas brought to you by JCRC Executive Director Nick Dyrenfurth and Redbridge Director and former Victorian Labor assistant secretary Kos Samaras. Each fortnight we bring you the freshest and most challenging conversations from the world of Australian and global politics with leaders, activists, and thinke... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes51Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsNews Commentary

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Curtin’s Cast

Latest Episodes

Has World War 3 already begun — just without a declaration?

This week on Curtin’s Cast, Nick Dyrenfurth and Kos Samaras are joined by the excellent Misha Zelinsky — Fulbright Scholar, economist, lawyer, and national security expert — to unpack a con... more

YouTube

This week, Nick Dyrenfurth and Kos Samaras are joined by arguably Australia’s finest historian and public intellectual, Professor Frank Bongiorno, for our landmark 50th episode — and a big question at the heart of Australian politics:

Is Bob Hawke r... more

YouTube

A seismic election result in South Australia — but was it a Labor landslide, or a structural collapse of the Liberals? Nick Dyrenfurth and Kos Samaras unpack:

• The Liberals finishing third and fourth across large parts of the state

• One Nation’s ... more

YouTube

This week on Curtin’s Cast, Nick Dyrenfurth and Kos Samaras break down the most striking polling shift in a generation — and what it means for Australian politics.

Victoria is no longer a conventional contest. Both major parties are struggling to re... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny
Democracy Sausage with Mark KennyThe Australian National University
Inside Politics
Inside PoliticsThe Age and Sydney Morning Herald
Politics Now
Politics NowABC Australia

Recent Guests

Frank Bongiorno
Professor of History, University of Canberra
University of Canberra
Episode: Curtin's Cast Episode 50 - 1 April 2026 - Prof Frank Bongiorno on Bob Hawke
Dr Kylie Gilbert-Moore
Research fellow in Security Studies, Macquarie University; columnist
Macquarie University
Episode: Curtin's Cast Episode 47 - 11 March 2026 - Dr Kylie Gilbert-Moore
Peter Khalil
Labour MP for Wills since 2016; Assistant Minister for Defence; first Special Envoy for Social Cohesion
Australian Parliament / Labor Party
Episode: Curtin's Cast Episode 46 - 4 March 2026 - Peter Khalil MP
Alastair Campbell
A prominent political strategist, former Director of Communications to UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and mental health advocate.
The Rest Is Politics
Episode: Curtin's Cast Episode 44 - 19 February 2026 - Alastair Campbell on Trumpism and why Australia gives him hope
Sean Kelly
Distinguished author, regular columnist for Nine Media Publications, and former advisor to Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard
Nine Media
Episode: Curtin’s Cast EOY Special - Nine Media’s Sean Kelly on Quarterly Essay #100: The Good Fight
Alex Vynokur
Founder and chair of the United Ukraine Appeal
United Ukraine Appeal
Episode: Curtin's Cast Episode 40 - 3 December 2025 - Alex Vynokur (United Ukraine Appeal) and Dom Meagher (JCRC)
Dr. Dominic Meagher
Chief Economist and Deputy Director involved in authoring the 'Winning the Peace' report
John Curtin Research Centre
Episode: Curtin's Cast Episode 40 - 3 December 2025 - Alex Vynokur (United Ukraine Appeal) and Dom Meagher (JCRC)
Troy Bramston
Senior writer and columnist at The Australian, and political biographer
The Australian
Episode: Curtin's Cast Episode 37 - 11 November 2025 - Troy Bramston on Gough Whitlam
Gerard Dwyer
National Secretary-Treasurer of the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA)
SDA
Episode: Curtin's Cast Episode 36 - 5 November 2025 - SDA Union National Secretary Gerard Dwyer

Hosts

Nick Dyrenfurth
Executive Director of the John Curtin Research Centre, Co-host of the podcast, and passionate about Australian political life.
Kos Samaras
Co-host and Director at Redbridge, with prior experience as an assistant secretary for the Victorian Labor Party, active in political analysis.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 59 ratings
  • Refreshing partisan takes

    Great show, my only real complain echoes what some others have said about the hosts speaking over the top of the guests. That just makes for a difficult listening experience at times.

    Otherwise this is really a bit like old school insiders, but more Labor aligned. Honestly I find it quite refreshing in a world where so much media embarks on neutrality for neutrality’s sake and the “bothsidesism” schtick. Sometimes it’s nice to just hear people’s actual opinions.

    A collab episode with back to b... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Twyborn
    Australia10 months ago
  • Great content but…

    Love the content but I wish Nick would let Kos and the other guests finish their sentence/thoughts.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    JaydenSAnthony
    Australia10 months ago
  • Interesting, but…

    It would be great if it weren’t such a blokefest, and if Nick could shut up a bit. Maybe the two points are the same thing…

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Flossy M
    Australiaa year ago
  • Nick talks about himself too much

    It’s excruciating that Nick thinks we want to hear about him, instead of his guests. He needs to learn good conversation skills & stop inserting himself in with his own (not interesting) life, analysis & experience

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Pete_woofa
    Australiaa year ago
  • Nick’s a punish

    Love the idea of this podcast. But the host is a narcissistic banker. It’s makes the podcaster Un-listenable. He talks over his erudite guests. Thinks he’s the smartest bloke in Australia. But really he’s just boorish dullard.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Irascible X
    Australiaa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the refreshing and candid analysis of political issues, often highlighting the insightful and critical discussions about the Labor Party and significant social topics.
Criticism often focuses on the dynamic between hosts and how it may overshadow guest contributions, suggesting a desire for improved interview techniques.
Overall, the podcast is seen as essential for anyone interested in political commentary with a clear ideological stance, appealing to those seeking depth in discussions about Australian politics.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#94
Australia/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Curtin’s Cast EOY Special - Nine Media’s Sean Kelly on Quarterly Essay #100: The Good Fight
Q: What does the Labor Party exist for in 2026?
The Labor Party should focus on issues of inequality and climate change, articulating clear goals that resonate with the current challenges facing Australians.
Curtin's Cast Episode 37 - 11 November 2025 - Troy Bramston on Gough Whitlam
Q: Can you summarize the circumstances leading to Whitlam's dismissal?
The opposition blocked the budget, leading to a constitutional crisis that resulted in his dismissal by the Governor-General.
Curtin's Cast Episode 37 - 11 November 2025 - Troy Bramston on Gough Whitlam
Q: What new insights about Gough Whitlam can you share?
There is new information about his name origin and the fact that he was never baptized, revealing personal myths about him.
Curtin's Cast Episode 36 - 5 November 2025 - SDA Union National Secretary Gerard Dwyer
Q: Do you think over time, since you've been working the age of the retail worker, has gotten a bit older?
Gerard agrees that the age of the retail workforce has been rising as older individuals seek flexible work hours while managing family responsibilities.
Curtin's Cast Episode 36 - 5 November 2025 - SDA Union National Secretary Gerard Dwyer
Q: How did you get involved with the SDA and the Shopees, Gerard?
Gerard explains his involvement was influenced by his study of labor history and an initial job as a builder's laborer before being interviewed for a position with the SDA.

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 Curtin’s Cast

What is Curtin’s Cast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Engaging with the realms of politics, culture, and critical ideas, this podcast features discussions that delve into the intricacies of contemporary Australian and global political landscapes. The hosts facilitate conversations with a diverse array of guests, including leaders, activists, and scholars, exploring pressing issues such as the state of the Labor Party, intergenerational inequality, and the evolving dynamics of political allegiance among voters. The podcast's unique angle lies in its commitment to providing partisan perspectives, particularly focusing on left-leaning ideologies, while tackling topics that resonate with today's societal challenges.

Where can I find podcast stats for Curtin’s Cast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Curtin’s Cast. 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 Curtin’s Cast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Curtin’s Cast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Curtin’s Cast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Curtin’s Cast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Curtin’s Cast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Curtin’s Cast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Curtin’s Cast 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 Curtin’s Cast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Curtin’s Cast:

1. Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny
2. Australian Politics
3. Inside Politics
4. Politics with Michelle Grattan
5. Politics Now

How many episodes of Curtin’s Cast are there?

Curtin’s Cast launched a year ago and published 51 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 Curtin’s Cast?

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 Curtin’s Cast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Curtin’s Cast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Curtin’s Cast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Curtin’s Cast. 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 Curtin’s Cast?

Recent guests on Curtin’s Cast include:

1. Frank Bongiorno
2. Dr Kylie Gilbert-Moore
3. Peter Khalil
4. Alastair Campbell
5. Sean Kelly
6. Alex Vynokur
7. Dr. Dominic Meagher
8. Troy Bramston

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days