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Spin Cycle

RRR - Triple R
Gaza
ABC
Domestic Violence
Artificial Intelligence
Donald Trump
Melbourne
Journalism
Climate Change
Byron Bay
Gaza City, Palestine
The Descendants
Bacchus Marsh, Australia
Jillian Segal
Merivale
Frontier Massacres
BBC
Copyright Law
Guardian Australia
Liberal Party
One Nation

Spin Cycle covers all things media, unravelling the tangled threads of politics, the 24 hour news cycle, the spin and the story behind the stories. With Jess Lilley, Rachel Withers and Charlie Lewis.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes156Founded4 years ago
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Artwork for Spin Cycle

Latest Episodes

On a special whodunit panel show edition of Spin Cycle, the team try to get to the bottom of who killed journalism, with the help of Antoun Issa, Raf Epstein and Najma Sambul.

The team sits down with Matthew Ricketson, co-author of Getting Murdoched: How Murdoch's Media Wields Power and Punishment, to discuss how the Murdoch empire turns journalists into instruments of personal destruction — and why it's so hard to push ba... more

Charlie, fresh from the room itself, joins Rachel to dissect Pauline Hanson's address to the National Press Club, unpacking why the press gallery played it so safe and how even the sharper questions still failed to pin her down. Plus, a roleplay of T... more

Jess and Rachel speak with Jeff Sparrow - Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Advancing Journalism and former Triple R Breakfaster - about his essay for The Conversation examining how liberal media outlets in Australia and the US have applied starkly d... more

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Recent Guests

Jeff Sparrow
Senior lecturer/author; writer, editor, broadcaster; Walkley award-winning journalist
Overland (former editor); author of How to Sell Genocide
Episode: "Progressive except for Palestine" - Jeff Sparrow unpacks the double standards of reporting on Gaza
Emily Baker
Award-winning journalist with ABC, led the Byron Bay investigation
ABC
Episode: Emily Baker on Byron Bay's rape culture, and Charlie Pickering's Grace Tame non-apology
Patrick Marlborough
Author of Knock Loose; co-host of The Battler
Independent journalist/author
Episode: The Liberal Party's Identity Crisis, the Decline of The Australian and the Antisemitism Royal Commission
Dylan Bird
Guest; journalist and commentator on Triple R
Triple R
Episode: Press freedom, the White House Correspondents' Dinner and the quest for social cohesion
Christopher Knaus
Guardian Australia Chief Investigative Correspondent
The Guardian
Episode: Christopher Knaus on what Bikram Lama's death reveals about homelessness in Australia
Ben Smee
Guardian Australia Queensland correspondent
Guardian Australia
Episode: Ben Smee on the judicial handling of domestic violence cases
Alexandra Wake
Professor of Journalism, RMIT University
RMIT University
Episode: RMIT journalism professor Alexandra Wake on allegations of bias at the BBC
Preeshita Shah
Aspirant foreign correspondent, Melbourne University journalism graduate
Melbourne University (Masters in International Journalism)
Episode: Recent grad Preeshita Shah on starting a media career in 2025
Chris Hedges
Pulitzer Prize–winning American journalist and author
The Nation (occasional), author of A Genocide Foretold; former New York Times reporter
Episode: Chris Hedges on Israel-Palestine and his clash with Western media

Hosts

Charlie Lewis
Host of Spin Cycle
Rachel Withers
Host of Spin Cycle
Jess Lilley
Host of Spin Cycle

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 13 ratings
  • Sleepy

    apparently it's updated regularly ... last ep. was September and it's almost 2026.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    amcqu
    Australia8 months ago
  • Essential listening

    Jess, Najma and Charlie are ideal guides through the ever shifting landscape of the media cycle and current affairs. Listening to this podcast weekly keeps me up-to-date, inspired and entertained - Spin Cycle is full of insights, wisdom, humour and humanity.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Qwells101
    Australia4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

The show often bridges Australian media and global affairs with topical, issue-driven conversations.
Listener expectations include clarity on how media narratives are shaped and what accountability looks like in journalism.
The hosts balance sharp critique with wit and accessibility, making media analysis engaging and actionable.
Guests are well-chosen and bring deep expertise across journalism, policy, and culture.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

"Progressive except for Palestine" - Jeff Sparrow unpacks the double standards of reporting on Gaza
Q: What methods did Adam Johnson use to analyze US media coverage of Gaza, and how did it compare to Ukraine coverage?
Johnson analyzed thousands of articles and television clips, comparing the first 100 days of the Ukraine conflict to Gaza to show stark differences in reporting on child deaths and refugees, indicating a consistent bias in how the two conflicts were framed.
Alistair Kitchen on being deported from the US
Q: What had you prepared for in that process and what happened?
Kitchen explains being prepared for border trouble but not for an armed back-room interrogation; he details the coercive, global-scale nature of the questioning about Israel-Palestine and Columbia, culminating in a forced phone search and a deportation decision based on perceived 'evidence'.
Plestia Alaqad on reporting in Gaza
Q: What was it like leaving Gaza and starting anew in Australia?
She describes survivor's guilt, the shock of cultural and temporal distance, and the challenge of continuing to tell Gaza's stories from abroad without losing connection to those on the ground.
Plestia Alaqad on reporting in Gaza
Q: Can you talk us through the conflict between reporting and helping during the genocide?
Plestia explains that as a Palestinian reporter, she faced a dilemma between journalistic responsibility and immediate humanitarian impulse, often choosing to balance documenting events with helping others when possible, while still trying to maintain professional coverage.
Joey Watson on the myth of Christchurch's 'Lone Actor'
Q: How did you approach naming the attacker in the podcast?
The host explains it was a deliberate editorial decision to balance responsible reporting with the need to study the influence of naming on public discourse and potential copycat dynamics.

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 Spin Cycle

What is Spin Cycle about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp, media-savvy show that dissects the mechanics behind headlines, focusing on how stories are shaped by editors, owners, PR, and political pressures. Across episodes, hosts scrutinize press coverage, media ethics, and the 24-hour news cycle, often debating bias, accountability, and the power of institutions in shaping public discourse. Notably, guests range from investigative journalists and authors to media critics and policy experts, providing a mix of on-the-ground reporting and high-level analysis. The tone tends to be combative yet insightful, with a penchant for explaining complex media dynamics in a way that's useful for practitioners looking to pitch guests or sponsor episodes. A standout strength is the blend of international... more

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How many subscribers and views does Spin Cycle have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Spin Cycle?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Spin Cycle:

1. The Shot Podcast
2. Cut Through
3. Lamestream
4. After America
5. Bogan Intelligentsia

How many episodes of Spin Cycle are there?

Spin Cycle launched 4 years ago and published 156 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 Spin Cycle?

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 Spin Cycle?

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What guests have appeared on Spin Cycle?

Recent guests on Spin Cycle include:

1. Jeff Sparrow
2. Emily Baker
3. Patrick Marlborough
4. Dylan Bird
5. Christopher Knaus
6. Ben Smee
7. Alexandra Wake
8. Preeshita Shah

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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