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

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes35Founded8 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPoliticsNews Commentary

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Curtin’s Cast

Latest Episodes

🎙️ This week's Curtin's Cast delves into what one British political writer calls the Netflixisation of Politics. Nick Dyrenfurth & Kos Samaras dive into the end of the political pendulum: both major parties bleeding to their disruptor flanks, the ri... more

🎙️ Our guest today has lived the Australian story from the inside out. Born in Basra, Iraq, arriving to Australia as an asylum seeker aged nine including spending time in Villawood Detention Centre, and now a lawyer, chairperson and entrepreneur — S... more

YouTube

🎙️ New Curtin’s Cast episode! Kos and Nick dive into explosive new polling showing the combined major party primary vote at historic lows. The Liberals are haemorrhaging votes on their right flank while collapsing among Gen Z, millennials, women and... more

YouTube

🎧 New #CurtinsCast episode - Kos Samaras is back with Brisbane Lions tragic & premiership celebrator Nick Dyrenfurth to dissect the week in politics:

🇬🇧 The rise of alt-right & MAGA politics in the UK and Australia

🛠️ Andrew Hastie on migration... 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
Politics Now
Politics NowABC listen
Full Story
Full StoryThe Guardian

Recent Guests

Sam Almaliki
Chairperson of the John Curtin Research Centre, entrepreneur, and newly qualified lawyer.
John Curtin Research Centre
Episode: Curtin's Cast Episode 34 - 22 October 2025 - From Basra to 🇦🇺 Aussie Boardrooms: JCRC Chair Sam Almaliki
Dr. Stephen Parnis
Emergency physician and public health advocate
Episode: Curtin's Cast Episode 30 - 17 September 2025 - Dr Stephen Parnis
Sally McManus
Secretary of the ACTU and union activist
Australian Council of Trade Unions
Episode: Curtin's Cast Episode 29 - 10 September 2025 - ACTU Secretary Sally McManus
Sean Scalmer
Professor of History at Melbourne University and author of 'A Fair Day's Work: The Quest to Win Back Time'
Melbourne University
Episode: Curtin's Cast Episode 28 - 3 September 2025 - Prof Sean Scalmer (Author of A Fair Day’s Work: The Quest to Win Back Time)
Keith Wolahan
Former Liberal MP and Army Reserve Captain
Liberal Party
Episode: Curtin's Cast Episode 27 - 27 August 2025 - Former Liberal MP Keith Wolahan
Gautam Raju
Campaign strategist and global men's health advocate
Movember
Episode: Curtin's Cast Episode 23 - 30 July 2025 - Gautam Raju (Movember)
Ronnie Hayden
Victorian Branch Secretary of the Australian Workers Union
Australian Workers Union
Episode: Curtin's Cast Episode 22 - 23 July 2025 - Ronnie Hayden (Australian Workers Union Victorian Branch Secretary)
Liam Byrne
Biographer and political historian
Episode: Curtin's Cast Episode 21 - 16 July 2025 - Liam Byrne (Author of No Power Greater: A History of Union Action in Australia)
David Swift
English writer and historian, author of Scouse Republic
Independent author
Episode: Curtin's Cast Episode 19 - 2 July 2025 - David Swift (Author of Scouse Republic: An Alternative History of Liverpool)

Hosts

Nick Dyrenfurth
Executive Director of the John Curtin Research Centre and Co-host of the podcast, engaging in discussions about politics, culture, and labor issues with a focus on advocacy and reform.
Kos Samaras
Director at Redbridge and Co-host, contributing insights from his background in political advocacy and experience in the Labor movement, focusing on civic engagement and policy analysis.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 49 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
    Australia4 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
    Australia4 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
    Australia5 months 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
    Australia5 months 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
    Australia5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

There are mixed feelings about the hosts' interactions, as some have expressed a desire for guests to have more speaking time without interruptions.
Some feedback indicates that the style may not suit everyone, particularly with critiques of the hosts dominating conversations.
The podcast is often praised for refreshing perspectives, especially in a media landscape where neutrality is prevalent, appealing to those who value strong opinions.
Listeners appreciate the deep dives into political history and current events, finding the content to be both insightful and educational.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#107
Australia/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Curtin's Cast Episode 34 - 22 October 2025 - From Basra to 🇦🇺 Aussie Boardrooms: JCRC Chair Sam Almaliki
Q: What are your impressions of Australian life? How long do you actually spend in Villawood?
Sam reflects on his time in Villawood and his first impressions of life in Australia, highlighting the resilience of his family and the community.
Curtin's Cast Episode 34 - 22 October 2025 - From Basra to 🇦🇺 Aussie Boardrooms: JCRC Chair Sam Almaliki
Q: Tell us about Villawood and how did the family actually get to Australia?
Sam recounts the harrowing story of his family's journey through various countries and their eventual arrival in Australia via Villawood.
Curtin's Cast Episode 34 - 22 October 2025 - From Basra to 🇦🇺 Aussie Boardrooms: JCRC Chair Sam Almaliki
Q: Sam, now you were born in Basra, Iraq. Tell us, where is Basra? What was it like growing up in Iraq?
Sam discusses his early life in Basra, Iraq, mentioning the challenges during Saddam Hussein's regime and the traumas of the wars.
Curtin's Cast Episode 30 - 17 September 2025 - Dr Stephen Parnis
Q: Steve, why emergency medicine? Were you tossing up between different specialisations?
It took me some years to work out where I wanted to be. I actually went a long way down the path of becoming a surgeon but found the culture and hours unappealing.
Curtin's Cast Episode 28 - 3 September 2025 - Prof Sean Scalmer (Author of A Fair Day’s Work: The Quest to Win Back Time)
Q: Why advocate for a four-day working week?
It could significantly improve work-life balance, reduce unpaid labor, and has shown promising results in trials.

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?

A unique and insightful podcast that explores the intricacies of politics, culture, and contemporary ideas, featuring conversations aimed at understanding both Australian and global arenas. The hosts engage a variety of leaders, activists, and thinkers, yielding discussions that often critique mainstream narratives and examine pressing socio-political challenges. With a focus on labor movements, political reforms, and issues like climate change and healthcare, it appears tailored for those who seek to comprehend the evolving landscape of governance and community engagement in Australia. Listeners may find the direct and sometimes critical perspectives refreshing, as they grapple with the complexities of modern political discourse.

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. Politics with Michelle Grattan
3. Australian Politics
4. Politics Now
5. Full Story

How many episodes of Curtin’s Cast are there?

Curtin’s Cast launched 8 months ago and published 35 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. Sam Almaliki
2. Dr. Stephen Parnis
3. Sally McManus
4. Sean Scalmer
5. Keith Wolahan
6. Gautam Raju
7. Ronnie Hayden
8. Liam Byrne

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