Serious Danger

Emerald Moon & Tom Ballard
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Feb 18, 2026 • 3min

Bonus: Personality politics - how much does it matter?

In this bonus episode for Patreon subscribers, Emerald and Tom ponder the issue of personality politics. Are Mamdani and Polanski popular because they are cool? What about Pauline? What does the research say about some of Australia’s most notorious public figures? Are conservatives more attractive, and are lefties a bunch of ugmos? What is David Pocock up to with his thirst traps? ---------- The show can only exist because of our wonderful Patreon subscriber’s support. Subscribe for $3/month to get access to our fortnightly subscriber-only full episode, and unlock our complete library of over NINETY past bonus episodes. https://www.patreon.com/SeriousDangerAU  ---------- Links - The 2025 ANU Australian Federal Election Study - https://australianelectionstudy.org/wp-content/uploads/The-2025-Australian-Federal-Election-Results-from-the-Australian-Election-Study.pdf  Produced by Michael Griffin Follow us on https://twitter.com/SeriousDangerAU https://www.instagram.com/seriousdangerau  https://www.tiktok.com/@seriousdangerauSupport the show: http://patreon.com/seriousdangerauSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Feb 14, 2026 • 1h 13min

213: Sen Peter Whish-Wilson says goodbye to politics & hello to Angus Taylor

Tom is joined by the Surfing Senator, the retiring Greens Senator for Tasmania, Peter Whish-Wilson! First up, Angus Taylor has rolled Sussssan Ley and is the new leader of the Liberals. Say the line, Angus! (10:57) Next up, a look at the aftermath of Israeli President Herzog’s visit to Australia, the abuse of power at protests, and these cops not being tops. (31:07) Finally, Peter looks back at his time in office and ponders what’s next. (45:18) ---------- Just released on Patreon - "Inside the Greens #11: Greensland emerges, 2019 election, NSW fractures" The show can only exist because of our wonderful Patreon subscriber’s support. Subscribe for $3/month to get access to our fortnightly subscriber-only full episode, and unlock our complete library of over NINETY past bonus episodes. https://www.patreon.com/SeriousDangerAU  ----------Watch our unlocked Patreon episode with the late great Jon Kudelka where we play rusted-on bingo!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZiZ1_lLEWw https://omny.fm/shows/serious-danger/unlocked-rusted-on-bingo-ft-jon-kudelka  Follow Peter Whish-Wilson -https://greens.org.au/tas/person/peter-whish-wilson https://www.facebook.com/senatorsurfer/ https://www.instagram.com/senatorsurfer Tom on tour! Adelaide, Canberra, Port Fairy, Warrnambool, Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle & Brisbane -https://comedy.com.au/tour/tom-ballard Victorian Greens: Come to see Ballard @ Ballard’s on Saturday February 21st from 1pm, launching Campbell Gome’s campaign for Northcote -  https://contact-wa.greens.org.au/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=23148  AND on Saturday Feb 28th there is a Special State Conference happening, at which among other things, members will be considering a proposal for the Victorian Greens leader - or co-deputy leaders - to be elected by the members You should have got an email with the details; you can join online or in person  Theme by Kye HughesProduced by Michael Griffin https://www.instagram.com/mikeskillz  Follow us on https://twitter.com/SeriousDangerAU https://www.instagram.com/seriousdangerau  https://www.tiktok.com/@seriousdangerauSupport the show: http://patreon.com/seriousdangerauSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Feb 7, 2026 • 1h 21min

212: Amy Remeikis on Israel President visit & One Nation’s rise

Tom is joined by Amy Remeikis from The Australia Institute! First up, what is going on in South Australia? Are the Greens going to team up with the Liberals?! (08:32) Next, the Liberal-National coalition is a hot mess, and it’s melting. (26:21) Finally, the Israeli President Isaac Herzog is visiting Australia, and it shines a light on our nation’s dubious relationship with international law. (1:07:09) ---------- Just released on Patreon - "Inside the Greens #11: Greensland emerges, 2019 election, NSW fractures" The show can only exist because of our wonderful Patreon subscriber’s support. Subscribe for $3/month to get access to our fortnightly subscriber-only full episode, and unlock our complete library of over NINETY past bonus episodes. https://www.patreon.com/SeriousDangerAU  ---------- Follow Amy -https://australiainstitute.org.au/expert/amy-remeikis/ https://www.instagram.com/pyjamapolitics  Buy her new book Where It All Went Wrong: The case against John Howard -https://www.simonandschuster.com.au/books/Where-It-All-Went-Wrong/Amy-Remeikis/9781761822117  Max Chandler-Mather article -https://www.deepcutnews.com/p/the-greens-must-pivot-to-meet-theGetUp petition against Herzog visit -https://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/core-2026/herzog-visit/sign-detain-and-investigate-herzog  Protest Herzog’s visit to Australia - https://www.greenleft.org.au/2026/1446/news/protest-war-criminal-isaac-herzog  Theme by Kye HughesProduced by Michael Griffin https://www.instagram.com/mikeskillz  Follow us on https://twitter.com/SeriousDangerAU https://www.instagram.com/seriousdangerau  https://www.tiktok.com/@seriousdangerauSupport the show: http://patreon.com/seriousdangerauSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Feb 4, 2026 • 5min

Excerpt: Inside the Greens : Greensland emerges, 2019 election, NSW fractures

In this bonus series for Patreon subscribers, Tom and Emerald reach the end of Paddy Manning’s epic history of the Australian Greens movement, “Inside The Greens: The Origins and Future of the Party, the People and the Politics.”In this episode, the Batman by-election disaster, trouble in NSW, the rise of the Greens in Brisbane, and the 2019 election!This is the end of the book! But, it is book one of two. There may be some discussion of the second section. But thus ends the history of the Australian Greens. Phew. ---------- The show can only exist because of our wonderful Patreon subscriber’s support. Subscribe for $3/month to get access to our fortnightly subscriber-only full episode, and unlock our complete library of over NINETY past bonus episodes. https://www.patreon.com/SeriousDangerAU  ---------- Links - Buy Inside The Greens - https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/books/inside-greens  Paddy Manning - https://twitter.com/gpaddymanning  Inside Inside The Greens - a rebuttal - https://www.inside-insidethegreens.com.au/  Produced by Michael Griffin Follow us on https://twitter.com/SeriousDangerAU https://www.instagram.com/seriousdangerau  https://www.tiktok.com/@seriousdangerauSupport the show: http://patreon.com/seriousdangerauSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Jan 31, 2026 • 56min

211: Gary Stevenson on the Aussie economic emergency & how the left can fight back

After a quick pop-in from Emerald, Tom is joined by Gary Stevenson, the People’s Economist! (13:28) With the world seemingly falling apart around us, how can we fight back and wind back wealth inequality before it's too late? And with the UK Greens flourishing under Zack Polanski, how can the wobbly Australian Greens recapture the narrative? ---------- Just released on Patreon - "Nationalise the pub? The left politics of alcohol" The show can only exist because of our wonderful Patreon subscriber’s support. Subscribe for $3/month to get access to our fortnightly subscriber-only full episode, and unlock our complete library of over NINETY past bonus episodes. https://www.patreon.com/SeriousDangerAU  ----------Follow Gary -https://linktr.ee/garysecon See Gary live in Australia in Feb/March -https://au.thinkable.events/gary-stevenson-tour-ticket-sale/  See Tom live at the ETTE Media Live show in Canberra, on Wednesday Feb 4th https://fane.com.au/whats-on/ette-media-live-its-a-no-from-me/  Theme by Kye HughesProduced by Michael Griffin https://www.instagram.com/mikeskillz  Follow us on https://twitter.com/SeriousDangerAU https://www.instagram.com/seriousdangerau  https://www.tiktok.com/@seriousdangerauSupport the show: http://patreon.com/seriousdangerauSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Jan 24, 2026 • 1h 7min

210: Hate speech laws & Invasion Day ft. Larissa Baldwin-Roberts

(Note: Sorry for some unavoidable sound issues later on this ep!)Tom is joined by guest host Larissa Baldwin-Roberts, from Common Threads and former CEO of GetUp! First up, the new hate speech laws have passed (13:16). How bad are they? What did we gain in exchange for giving up some essential rights? Next up, Invasion Day 2026 (43:59). What is the state of the discussion about Australia Day? How does it and the hate speech laws reflect the state of First Nations justice in the country? ---------- Just released on Patreon - "Nationalise the pub? The left politics of alcohol" The show can only exist because of our wonderful Patreon subscriber’s support. Subscribe for $3/month to get access to our fortnightly subscriber-only full episode, and unlock our complete library of over NINETY past bonus episodes. https://www.patreon.com/SeriousDangerAU  ----------Common Threads -https://www.commonthreads.org.au/ Follow Larissa - https://www.instagram.com/riss_bundjalung/  Support Together For Treaty - https://www.togetherfortreaty.org.au/  See Tom live -- Be Funny Challenge (Impossible) in Perth from 23rd https://comedy.com.au/tour/tom-ballard/ - Play at Midsumma, four shows from Jan 28th https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/a-comprehensive-profoundly-queer-accounting-of-the-brief-yet-glorious-history-of-the-gay-lesbian-kingdom-of-the-coral-sea-islands-by-tom-ballard/ - At the ETTE Media Live show in Canberra, on Wednesday Feb 4th https://fane.com.au/whats-on/ette-media-live-its-a-no-from-me/  Theme by Kye HughesProduced by Michael Griffin https://www.instagram.com/mikeskillz  Follow us on https://twitter.com/SeriousDangerAU https://www.instagram.com/seriousdangerau  https://www.tiktok.com/@seriousdangerauSupport the show: http://patreon.com/seriousdangerauSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Jan 21, 2026 • 7min

Excerpt: Nationalise the pub? The left politics of alcohol

In this bonus episode for Patreon subscribers, Emerald and Tom talk booze! Emerald is straight edge and Tom is an occasional lush, how do they feel about alcohol in 2026? Why are young people drinking less - are they wowsers or just poor? Is it poor form to have alcohol at Greens events? What is the left position on the demon drink?---------- The show can only exist because of our wonderful Patreon subscriber’s support. Subscribe for $3/month to get access to our fortnightly subscriber-only full episode, and unlock our complete library of over EIGHTY past bonus episodes. https://www.patreon.com/SeriousDangerAU  ---------- Links - Socialism and Temperance Reform -  in a 1908 edition of the Social Democrat https://www.marxists.org/archive/quelch/1908/01/temperance.htm  Flinders study: https://news.flinders.edu.au/blog/2025/10/07/drinking-through-the-generations/  2023 study https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dar.13709  Straight Edge: Hardcore Punk, Clean-living Youth, and Social Change by Ross Haenfler Produced by Michael Griffin Follow us on https://twitter.com/SeriousDangerAU https://www.instagram.com/seriousdangerau  https://www.tiktok.com/@seriousdangerauSupport the show: http://patreon.com/seriousdangerauSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Jan 17, 2026 • 1h 4min

209: Adelaide Writers Week & SA Election with Robert Simms, SA Legislative Council

Bond, Caleb Bond. Tom is joined by guest host Robert Simms, Greens member of the SA Legislative Council, to talk all things Festival State. First, the Adelaide Writers Week is cancelled after they cancelled the Palestinian author Randa Abdel-Fattah’s appearance, which they have now uncancelled. What is going on? (9:15) Then, a look at the state of play in SA state politics and a prediction and call to action for the upcoming March election. (31:22) ---------- Just released on Patreon - Inside the Greens #11: Dual citizens, Trump & Gonski The show can only exist because of our wonderful Patreon subscriber’s support. Subscribe for $3/month to get access to our fortnightly subscriber-only full episode, and unlock our complete library of over EIGHTY past bonus episodes. https://www.patreon.com/SeriousDangerAU  ---------- Support Robert Simms & the SA Greens - SA Office -Ph: 08 8212 4888saoffice@sa.greens.org.auhttps://greens.org.au/sa/person/robert-simms-0 https://www.facebook.com/RobertSimms84 https://www.instagram.com/robsimms84/   See Tom live -- Be Funny Challenge (Impossible) in Perth from 23rd https://comedy.com.au/tour/tom-ballard/ - Play at Midsumma, four shows from Jan 28th https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/a-comprehensive-profoundly-queer-accounting-of-the-brief-yet-glorious-history-of-the-gay-lesbian-kingdom-of-the-coral-sea-islands-by-tom-ballard/ - At the ETTE Media Live show in Canberra, on Wednesday Feb 4th https://fane.com.au/whats-on/ette-media-live-its-a-no-from-me/  Theme by Kye HughesProduced by Michael Griffin https://www.instagram.com/mikeskillz  Follow us on https://twitter.com/SeriousDangerAU https://www.instagram.com/seriousdangerau  https://www.tiktok.com/@seriousdangerauSupport the show: http://patreon.com/seriousdangerauSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Jan 10, 2026 • 1h 18min

208: Venezuela, Royal Commission & Adelaide Festival with Jeff Sparrow

Getting on the grift with Drew Pavlou. Tom is joined by guest host Jeff Sparrow, Walkley award-winning journalist and writer and senior lecturer at the Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne.America did a coup of Venezuela! (10:23) Albo announced a Royal Commission and Adelaide Festival cancelled itself! (44:34) Everything feels even more crazy! ---------- Just released on Patreon - Inside the Greens #11: Dual citizens, Trump & Gonski The show can only exist because of our wonderful Patreon subscriber’s support. Subscribe for $3/month to get access to our fortnightly subscriber-only full episode, and unlock our complete library of over EIGHTY past bonus episodes. https://www.patreon.com/SeriousDangerAU  ---------- Follow Jeff Sparrow -https://x.com/Jeff_Sparrow https://scribepublications.com.au/books/crimes-against-nature  See Tom live -- Be Funny Challenge (Impossible) in Perth from 23rd https://comedy.com.au/tour/tom-ballard/ - Play at Midsumma, four shows from Jan 28th https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/a-comprehensive-profoundly-queer-accounting-of-the-brief-yet-glorious-history-of-the-gay-lesbian-kingdom-of-the-coral-sea-islands-by-tom-ballard/  - At the ETTE Media Live show in Canberra, on Wednesday Feb 4th https://fane.com.au/whats-on/ette-media-live-its-a-no-from-me/  Theme by Kye HughesProduced by Michael Griffin https://www.instagram.com/mikeskillz  Follow us on https://twitter.com/SeriousDangerAU https://www.instagram.com/seriousdangerau  https://www.tiktok.com/@seriousdangerauSupport the show: http://patreon.com/seriousdangerauSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Jan 7, 2026 • 7min

Excerpt: Inside the Greens #11: Dual citizens, Trump & Gonski

Video version - https://youtu.be/FQzjNT6oVHM In this bonus series for Patreon subscribers, Tom and Emerald continue chapter 11 of author Paddy Manning’s epic history of the Australian Greens movement, “Inside The Greens: The Origins and Future of the Party, the People and the Politics.”First up some listener feedback on our Civil Duty recap episode. Then in this installment - Trump, the dual citizenship drama takes down Scott Ludlam and Larissa Waters, Gonski reforms bring out the schoolyard bullying, and #IStandWithLeeRhiannon. ---------- The show can only exist because of our wonderful Patreon subscriber’s support. Subscribe for $3/month to get access to our fortnightly subscriber-only full episode, and unlock our complete library of over EIGHTY past bonus episodes. https://www.patreon.com/SeriousDangerAU  ---------- Links - Buy Inside The Greens - https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/books/inside-greens  Paddy Manning - https://twitter.com/gpaddymanning  Inside Inside The Greens - a rebuttal - https://www.inside-insidethegreens.com.au/  Produced by Michael Griffin Follow us on https://twitter.com/SeriousDangerAU https://www.instagram.com/seriousdangerau  https://www.tiktok.com/@seriousdangerauSupport the show: http://patreon.com/seriousdangerauSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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