If You're Listening
ABC Australia
The world is on fire. There's a coup. Inflation is through the roof, and AI is taking our jobs. What does it all mean? Each week, Matt Bevan explains the biggest story in world news while hiding in his basement from assassins and authoritarian regimes.
Recent episodes include an exploration of the relationship between India and China, a closer look at the Saudi Arabian city of NEOM, the conflict in the Middle East, the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, and Ukraine's incursions into Vladimir Putin's Russia. Matt Bevan draws connections between stories from the past and the events of the present to help listeners understand world news and international affairs.
The podcast also features series about big moments in world news; previous series have focused on the United States presidential election, the United Kingdom's 14 years of Conservative Party leadership, Donald Trump's relationship with Russia, Donald Trump's presidency and promise to Make America Great Again, the Mueller Report, Vladimir Putin's scheme to destroy western democracies, how the relationship between Australia and China came to the verge of collapse, and Australia's turbulent history with climate change.
There's a new episode of If You're Listening every Thursday.
Recent episodes include an exploration of the relationship between India and China, a closer look at the Saudi Arabian city of NEOM, the conflict in the Middle East, the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, and Ukraine's incursions into Vladimir Putin's Russia. Matt Bevan draws connections between stories from the past and the events of the present to help listeners understand world news and international affairs.
The podcast also features series about big moments in world news; previous series have focused on the United States presidential election, the United Kingdom's 14 years of Conservative Party leadership, Donald Trump's relationship with Russia, Donald Trump's presidency and promise to Make America Great Again, the Mueller Report, Vladimir Putin's scheme to destroy western democracies, how the relationship between Australia and China came to the verge of collapse, and Australia's turbulent history with climate change.
There's a new episode of If You're Listening every Thursday.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jun 21, 2021 • 28min
CHINA | S05 04 - Huawei and the new technology cold war
From humble beginnings in a tiny town whose name means "deep drainage ditch", electrical engineer Ren Zhengfei grew his company Huawei into a global technology giant, delivering competitive telecommunications equipment at low prices.But when Australia accused Huawei of being a security risk, a snowball began to roll which led to arrests, hostages being taken, and pure white hot fury in Beijing.This is the story of how a decision made in the midst of a Prime Ministerial spill may lead to a new technology cold war.Guests:Sue-Lin Wong, China correspondent, The Economist and co-author of The Beijing Bureau: 25 Australian Correspondents Reporting China's RiseMalcolm Turnbull, former Australian Prime Minister
Jun 14, 2021 • 30min
CHINA | S05 03 - The iron chain between Australia and China
When China rolled out their trade sanctions regime against Australia to try and punish us for a litany of perceived insults, the trade of one commodity was conspicuously left untouched.China's desperate need to stimulate economic growth through construction has left them with an insatiable appetite for Australian iron ore.In this episode, we look at the incredible things they've built using our most valuable resource, and what might happen if they decide to stop buying it.Guests:Dinny McMahon, author of China's Great Wall of Debt: Shadow Banks, Ghost Cities, Massive Loans and the End of the Chinese MiracleDr Feng Chongyi, Associate Professor in China Studies, University of Technology, SydneyKevin Rudd, former Australian Prime Minister
Jun 10, 2021 • 17min
CHINA | S05 Bonus episode - The story behind Bob Hawke’s mysterious Tiananmen Cable
In 1989, five days after tanks rolled into Tiananmen Square in Beijing and brutally ended weeks of protests, the then prime minister Bob Hawke gave a horrifying description of what Australia thought happened.But where did the account come from? And what did it get wrong?Over the past three months China, If You're Listening investigated the source of this description and found it was a previously undisclosed diplomatic cable from the Australian Embassy in Beijing, which subsequently had key details retracted.This is a bonus episode, produced with our friends at The Signal — a daily ABC News podcast.Guests:Blanche d'Alpuget, biographer and wife of late former prime minister Bob HawkeRichard Rigby, Emeritus Professor of the College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University, CanberraCraig Emerson, former advisor to Bob Hawke, and cabinet minister in the Rudd and Gillard governments
Jun 7, 2021 • 37min
CHINA | S05 02 - How Tiananmen is being repeated in Xinjiang
Discusses the connection between the Tiananmen Square massacre and current human rights violations in Xinjiang, China. Features interviews with a Tiananmen Square protester, Uyghur Association president, former Australian Prime Minister, and Human Rights Watch researcher. Explores the admiration for Hu Yabang, protests in Tiananmen Square, and the violent crackdown by the Chinese Communist Party. Examines the cultural tensions in Xinjiang, severe human rights abuses faced by Uighurs, and China's manipulation of the narrative. Also mentions the discovery of the world's largest iron ore deposit and China's reliance on Australian iron ore.
May 31, 2021 • 35min
CHINA | S05 01 - Xi Jinping: The 'Man of Destiny'
At first glance, Chinese President Xi Jinping's life story seems simple. His father was a high-ranking Chinese government official, and opened doors for his son, who rose even higher.But his rise to become the most powerful Chinese leader since Chairman Mao Zedong seems far more unlikely when you find out what Mao's policies did to Xi's family during his childhood.In this episode we tell the story of Xi's — from its terrifying beginning to mysterious end — and ask if he is the catalyst for the deterioration of relations between China and Australia.Guest:Dr Joseph Torigian, expert on Chinese elite politics, American UniversityDr Feng Chongyi — Associate Professor in China Studies — University of Technology, SydneyKevin Rudd, former Australian Prime MinisterLouisa Lim, author of The People's Republic of Amnesia and co-host of The Little Red PodcastDr Helen Sham-ho OAM, first Chinese-born MP in an Australian Parliament
May 24, 2021 • 2min
INTRODUCING Season Five | China, If You’re Listening
A podcast about how the relationship between Australia and China came to the verge of collapse.Not long ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping was regularly having warm, friendly chats with Australia's Prime Ministers.Now, he won't even take our phone calls, trade is being blocked, and Australian politicians are talking about preparations for war.Episode 1 coming on the 1st of June.
Nov 1, 2020 • 30min
AMERICA | S04 09 - How Coronavirus destroyed Trump's MAGA promise
When the coronavirus pandemic swept the globe, killing hundreds of thousands in its wake, President Donald Trump's new way of running the country suddenly left America exposed.
Oct 25, 2020 • 25min
AMERICA | S04 08 - How China fooled Donald Trump
For a decade Donald Trump railed against China. But once he was elected, Chinese President Xi Jinping quickly broke down Trump's defences.In today's episode, how President Xi turned Trump's disdain for China into a beautiful friendship.And created the perfect distraction from what China was really doing.
Oct 18, 2020 • 23min
AMERICA | S04 07 - How Donald Trump turned the Presidency into a business
Just this month, the public finally got access to Donald Trump's tax returns.They revealed that he pays little to no tax, because he makes very little money.So what does a businessman do when he needs to revamp his image and make a little cash? Become the most famous person in the world.How Donald Trump tried to make money off the Presidency.
Oct 11, 2020 • 27min
AMERICA | S04 06 - Trump's desperate measure to halt immigration
Donald Trump ran for election on some promises - building a wall between the US and Mexico, and stopping the immigration of Muslims.But instead of living up to his promise to stem the tide of immigrants, he resorted to truly shocking measures.How did Donald Trump push America's immigration system to the limits of what is legal, and what is morally justifiable?
