In this week’s episode, Sarah says when the tech bros building AI say these machines are a threat to humanity - we should probably listen. But the Australian Government is behaving like this threat is a problem for the distant future while having their foot to the pedal on data centres right across the country. Sarah says we need rules in place right now - not just to regulate what AI does and how it is used, but how it is generated in the first place with these enormous data centres. The Greens are calling for a moratorium, because the big tech bros are taking advantage of our power, water, and communities whilst Australia’s regulation lags behind. Next week will mark the first of a series of hearings for the AI and data centre inquiry Sarah is chairing in the Federal Parliament. You can keep up-to-date on this important work across Sarah’s social media channels.

Sarah’s special guest this week is Tim Costello - lawyer, Baptist church minister, former CEO of World Vision Australia, anti-gambling advocate and social justice leader in Australia. Sarah and Tim most recently worked together to fight for reforms that would stop gambling harm, but their story starts many years earlier. Together, Sarah and Tim discuss his long term advocacy against pokies when Sarah was a teenager in Victoria, meeting when Sarah became a refugee advocate, Australia’s lacklustre contribution to foreign aid, and his work with the justice system both as a lawyer and as a church minister. They talk about hope and the desperate need for greater empathy in politics and our communities more broadly.

Listen to the episode on AI and human rights with Ed Santow on Spotify here and on Apple Podcasts here.

In this week’s episode, Sarah says it’s time to take control away from the big tech giants and put people back in charge of their feeds by giving them the ability to opt-in to algorithms on social media. The government has a real chance to protect all social media users, but particularly young people, by working with the Greens to make these toxic, predatory algorithms a thing of the past.

Sarah’s special guest this week is Claudia Karvan - Australian actress and producer who you might recognise from shows like Bump, The Secret Life of Us, Puberty Blues and most recently her Logie-winning performance in Homebodies. Not only is she incredibly talented on screen, but Claudia is also known for using her platform to speak out on issues she cares about such as Palestine, the environment, and human rights. Together, Sarah and Claudia speak about the power of storytelling and how Claudia uses her on-screen talent to explore these serious and important topics with the audience, backlash public figures can face when they speak up and why the most important thing you can do for the environment is to talk about it.

In this week’s episode, Sarah says that while One Nation's Malcom Roberts says he’s in two minds about whether LGBTIQA+ Australians are equal - she wonders if he even has one mind. These kinds of comments are not mistakes, this is the worldview of One Nation. All too often, the media dismisses these comments as just another kooky MP from the fringes of Pauline Hanson’s political party - but it’s time we acknowledge it for what it is. One Nation is a party built on hatred and othering and they need to be called out for it.

Sarah’s special guest this week is Chanel Contos, sexual consent activist, founder of Teach Us Consent, and author of Consent Laid Bare. It’s a name you’re hearing a lot right now but how did Chanel get here and why is she so passionate about combatting men’s violence? Sarah and Chanel speak about the shocking sexual assaults that are dominating headlines from private school boys to AFL players, what is driving this behaviour in boys and young men in particular, and the work that needs to be done to change it. With dangerous algorithms and toxic social media feeds fuelling misogynistic and sexist behaviour, much of the culture change that’s desperately needed must come from regulating big tech and disrupting their profit models. Chanel has been driving the #FixOurFeeds campaign, where social media users would be able to switch their algorithm on or off. Sarah currently has a bill before the parliament to do just that.

You can find out more about Teach Us Consent here: https://www.teachusconsent.com/ and Consent Laid Bare is available at any good bookstore.

If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline at 13 11 14 or 1800 RESPECT at 1800 737 732.