Best Tim and Rachel Hughes Podcasts (2025)

1
Dark tourism, death, design, and the macabre — should some places stay untouched? 57:19

13h ago57:19

57:19

Dark tourism is increasingly popular. Sites of suffering like old gaols, asylums, orphanages hold a certain allure. Can we honour their dark heart and histories, whilst also re-imagining their future? Should some 'traumascapes' be left untouched so the scars of the past are never forgotten, or can we turn them into happier settings with sensitivity…

1
A spiritual audit 47:43

17h ago47:43

47:43

The great revivalist John Wesley formed ‘holy clubs’ that would frequently ask numerous questions to examine their spiritual lives. In this episode, Tim & Rach explore a set of questions they use to act as a spiritual audit, enabling honest and effective discipleship.

1
Russia's Fake Identity Assembly Line in Brazil 33:44

1d ago33:44

33:44

When a Russian spy was arrested in Brazil in 2022, authorities were shocked to discover that he seemed to have a real birth certificate and authentic citizenship documents. The incident sparked a multi-year investigation that uncovered a network of Russian operatives living and working in Brazil – Their false identities supported by genuine documen…

1
Is language power? With American linguist John McWhorter 54:08

1d ago54:08

54:08

Language is always evolving, and reflecting back to us our society, politics and identity. From profanity, to personal pronouns, to the politics of translation and cultural appropriation, why do we use the words we do? This event was recorded at the University of Sydney. Speakers John McWhorterAssociate Professor of English and Comparative Literatu…

1
Hard new world — our post-American future, with Hugh White and Allan Behm 52:56

3d ago52:56

52:56

Under Donald Trump's second presidency, America's retreat from global leadership has been swift and erratic. With Russia's war in Ukraine still raging on Europe's doorstep, and China and India on the move, how is the international rules based order being reshaped? And how should Australia position itself in this dangerous, volatile, hard new world?…

1
Sounds Like Feminism w. Chelsea Clinton 1:42:01

7d ago1:42:01

1:42:01

Chelsea Clinton joins Hysteria to discuss health advocacy in the MAHA era and the state of reproductive healthcare under Trump 2.0. Erin and Alyssa also get into the latest on Charlie Kirk’s misogynistic agenda, the tacky Bezos/Sanchez Venetian wedding, and whether doomsday preppers are onto something. Jeff Bezos alters Venice wedding plans after t…

1
Baby boycott — the fertility crisis and the big decision 53:28

7d ago53:28

53:28

When you enter your childbearing years, it can feel like everyone from the treasurer, your mum, and probably your Instagram reels really wants you to have a kid. But is it the right decision? Few women escape this conundrum of modern family-making, and unfortunately there is no easy or simple answer. But in this talk presented by the Sydney Opera H…

1
Love your gut — understanding the microbiome 51:09

8d ago51:09

51:09

Are fermented foods really good for us? Do antibiotics destroy our gut flora? And have you heard about poo transplants? Our gut is teeming with trillions of microbial cells, and we are learning more all the time about how this affects everything from our digestion, to immunity, to mental health. So crack open your kombucha, because these leading re…

1
CRESSIDA COWELL, JUSTIN SOMPER, MATT GOODFELLOW & JACKIE MORRIS: How to Train Your Dragon, Pirate Academy: Sword Echoes, The First Year & The Summer Puppy 37:45

8d ago37:45

37:45

Welcome to the latest episode of Book Worms! There’s swashbuckling, secret missions, and even a magical sword in Pirate Academy: Sword Echoes—Justin Somper’s latest pirate adventure is as daring as they come. Over in the picture book corner, The Summer Puppy by Jackie Morris is a gentle, poetic read that captures all the wonder of a puppy’s very fi…

1
The wounds of leadership 47:30

8d ago47:30

47:30

There is so much hurt, anger and resentment hurled at leaders today, and sadly sometimes understandably so. But how do we keep our hearts soft as leaders, how do we deal with our own hurt and the unfair emotions levelled at us? How do we ensure we don’t become resentful, hardened and give up altogether? An honest and real conversation!…

1
Breaking the Silence: Coming Out in the CIA 34:42

8d ago34:42

34:42

Emerging alongside Joseph McCarthy’s Red Scare in the 1950s was the Lavender Scare: Widespread panic and paranoia over the inclusion of gay personnel in the federal government. Their perceived dangers led to the terminations and forced resignations of thousands. Fast forward to 1988 – Tracey Ballard, who worked at the CIA, headed in to take a polyg…

1
Adapt or collapse — can we meet the moment of environmental peril 53:41

9d ago53:41

53:41

Do humans really have what it takes to change our lives – our world – to arrest climate collapse?It might be the defining question we face as a society, and the panellists from this WOMADelaide Festival discussion are throwing everything they’ve got at this intractable issue, drawing on knowledge from the oldest continuing culture in the world and …

1
Kate McClymont on the complete insanity of investigative journalism 56:56

10d ago56:56

56:56

Murderers, fraudsters, mobsters, dodgy doctors, and corrupt politicians. Kate McClymont has exposed all manner of shady characters, and lives to tell the tale. Here, she reveals some of the perils of investigative journalism over her career, and what she sees are the threats and promises for its future. The 2025 Brian Johns Lecture, in partnership …

1
Letting Go, Living Free — Meg Lambert

10d ago

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Meg Lambert shares a message on the power of forgiveness.By Meg Lambert

1
America Needs You w. MN Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan 1:25:24

14d ago1:25:24

1:25:24

Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota Peggy Flanagan joins Hysteria to share about the tragic shootings in her state and honor the legacy of her friend and colleague, State Representative Melissa Hortman. Erin and Alyssa also discuss the latest on RFK Jr.'s vaccine quakery, new (bad) discrimination rules in VA hospitals, and their skepticism of Amy Cone…

1
The second coming of quantum — the next scientific revolution is here 54:43

14d ago54:43

54:43

There are some leaps in science and technology that change everything. Scientists say we’re living through the second quantum revolution, so we're going deep into the quantum world with leaders at the forefront of this field. If you think quantum is all about computers think again – like how could this vast science help female athletes reach their …

1
THE WEEK JUNIOR BOOK AWARDS 2025: Deborah Meaden, Matt Goodfellow & Sarah Morrell 27:43

14d ago27:43

27:43

Welcome to the latest episode of Book Worms! Get ready, book lovers we have a very special episode installed for you this week! It’s time to celebrate the stories and storytellers that have captured the hearts and imaginations of young readers across the UK – with The Week Junior Book Awards! First up, it’s Deborah Meaden Talks Money, in the runnin…

1
The past is a foreign country — Santilla Chingaipe, Sita Sargeant, Steve Vizard with Natasha Mitchell 57:51

15d ago57:51

57:51

When Santilla Chingaipe stumbled on the names of enslaved Africans who arrived on the First Fleet in 1788 she couldn't look away. For Steve Vizard, an argument with his adult kids lead him to the battlefields of Gallipoli. When Sita Sargeant threw a mattress in a car and drove around Australia, what hidden herstories did she unearth?At school, the …

1
Lids and limitations 45:45

15d ago45:45

45:45

To step further into our God-given purpose, it's crucial that we identify the 'lids' and the 'limitations' in our lives and the difference between the two. Why? Because God wants to break through the 'lids' but work powerfully through our 'limitations'.

1
A Conversation with House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman 34:56

15d ago34:56

34:56

What should the US Intelligence Community prioritize domestically and overseas, and how should the work be done? We sat down with Congressman Rick Crawford, Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, to learn his perspective on these questions. The conversation emphasized the growing threat of China’s influence in the West, t…

1
Will American democracy survive the Dark Enlightenment? Sarah Churchwell on Gone with the Wind and the roots of extremism 54:47

16d ago54:47

54:47

Sarah Churchwell takes you on a gripping and confronting journey into America's recent past to explain its extraordinary present, starting with dark story at the heart of that American classic Gone with the Wind. Knowledge lies at the heart of a healthy democracy, and its many custodians include libraries, universities, cultural institutions, and a…

1
We are the evidence — empowering change in Indigenous Australia 1:00:31

17d ago1:00:31

1:00:31

In 2017, the Uluru Statement called for Voice, Treaty and Truth as a roadmap to reconciliation. With the Voice defeated, what is the path now to meaningful reform that will improve the lives of Indigenous Australians? From the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, to Victoria's truth-telling Yoorook Justice Commission, two Indigenous leaders argue…

1
Designed To Love — Michael Shannon

17d ago

—

Before we can truly love others, we must first receive the love of our Heavenly Father. Our hearts were designed to be fulfilled by Him alone. Without a deep, personal revelation of God’s love, our identity remains incomplete. But when we encounter the Father’s love, we step into our true identity as secure sons and daughters, bringing life, not pa…

1
America, Hold the ICE w. CA Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis 1:25:05

21d ago1:25:05

1:25:05

Lieutenant Governor of California Eleni Kounalakis joins Hysteria to talk about ICE, protests, and where California stands amidst threats from Trump. Erin, Alyssa, and Comedian and friend of Hysteria Kara Klenk also discuss Trump’s Super Sweet Seventy-Ninth birthday parade, the No Kings protests, and Evie Magazine’s Father’s Day gift guide. For a c…

1
From Bangalore to Balmain – Padma Raman’s lifelong advocacy for women and girls 54:39

21d ago54:39

54:39

The racism and resilience Padma Raman’s parents experienced lit a social justice fire in her early on. She landed on the sunny shores of Sydney in the 1980s and watched both her parents face racism and discrimination seeking work. She’s gone on to dedicate her career to making the world a better place for women and girls. It’s taken her to the hall…

1
The gift of time and space 46:21

22d ago46:21

46:21

Reflecting on a recent sabbatical, Tim & Rach explore the gift of time and space to reflect on the past, engage with the present and move effectively into the future.

1
Fashion's fails — we can fix its toxic legacy! Kit Willow, Natasha Mitchell, and guests 58:10

22d ago58:10

58:10

Australians have a hardcore addiction to fast fashion. That means dyes in our waterways, microplastics in our bodies, and hundreds of thousands of tonnes of textiles dumped in landfill. Fashionista or not, do you feel powerless to change an industry dominated by global fashion giants making giant profits? Meet four passionate crusaders with fashion…

1
KATE GRIGGS, CLARE HARLOW & RACHEL MORRISROE: Xtraordinary People, Tidemagic and Felix and the Future Agency 26:59

22d ago26:59

26:59

Welcome to the latest episode of Book Worms! Bex is joined by dyslexia champion Kate Griggs, whose new book Xtraordinary People celebrates how thinking differently is a real superpower. Clare Harlow stops by to talk about Tidemagic — a spellbinding new story packed with adventure, secrets, and the power of finding your voice. Plus, Bex chats with a…

1
Ghost Stories: The Hunt for Russian Spies in the US 33:15

22d ago33:15

33:15

In the early 2000s, the FBI uncovered a team of Russian operatives who had been living double lives in the United States. They were posing as professors, journalists, financial planners, real estate and travel agents, all while sending information back to Moscow. Now, 15 years after they were arrested, Alan Kohler, the former Assistant Director of …

1
Warren Ellis on why he bought a Sumatran wildlife sanctuary — with Justin Kurzel and Zan Rowe 54:06

23d ago54:06

54:06

Warren Ellis is best known as the charismatic violinist with legendary Australian instrumental rock trio Dirty Three and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Justin Kurzel's new documentary Ellis Park is a both portrait of Ellis as he comes to terms with his Ballarat childhood, and a film about the devastating impacts of wildlife trafficking, and why Ellis…

1
To infinity – who's in charge of outer space? 46:56

24d ago46:56

46:56

How do nations work together to control access to our vast universe, negotiate who gets what resources, or even who gets to set up new colonies on far away planets? And how do we ensure that we don’t just export earthly conflicts on take-off? ‘Unlocking Cooperation: Space Diplomacy’ is a talk from the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Af…

1
The Spirit Gives Life — Tim Hughes

24d ago

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Tim shares a message on pentecost, where the Holy Spirit first descended on the disciples of Jesus.By Tim Hughes

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Is Modest Hottest? 1:29:51

28d ago1:29:51

1:29:51

Erin and Alyssa break down the Big Beautiful Bill, how a new change to EMTALA will threaten the lives of pregnant people, and Trump supporters' complaints about getting what they voted for. Then a conversation about how some people would like to see “modesty” come back in style– for better or worse. Then they wrap up in the Sanity Corner with their…

1
Being Jewish after the destruction of Gaza — with Peter Beinart and Sarah Schwartz 55:06

28d ago55:06

55:06

What's happening in Gaza is horrifying and shocking. As the world watches on, how are different Jewish communities reckoning with a war being waged in their name by Israel, against Hamas and the Palestinian people? This event was recorded at The Wheeler Centre on 27 May 2025 in partnership with the Jewish Council of Australia. Speakers Peter Beinar…

1
We asked for workers and got people — inside the temporary visa scheme putting food on your plate 1:06:04

29d ago1:06:04

1:06:04

A workforce we rarely hear about, lives in limbo, and stories from the coalface. From economic gains and cultural exchanges to exploitation and absconding, what are the successes and problems of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme? Who picks and processes those yummy strawberries you're about to put in your shopping trolley, or the …

1
The Secret Navy and Their Hunt for a Nazi Sub 36:06

30d ago36:06

36:06

How do you catch an enemy’s submarine … and then make it vanish? That’s what the U.S. Navy’s elusive Tenth Fleet planned, as it tracked down Germany’s U-505 submarine. The mission came right before the Allies ran ashore on the beaches of Normandy in World War II. Historian Alexander Rose draws on long classified documents and intercepted transmissi…

1
The unbearable intimacy of voicing someone’s words — with Forced Entertainment 1:00:01

30d ago1:00:01

1:00:01

Words can mean everything, or nothing at all: it all depends on how they're delivered. This relationship between writer, script, actor and audience creates a particular tension that lies at the heart of performance. Who gives meaning to the words, interprets the creative material, who holds the power? This is a lecture, but not as you know it, by m…

1
Gina Chick on what dark nights of the soul can teach us about life and living 55:06

1M ago55:06

55:06

Gina Chick made her name as the inaugural winner of Alone Australia, but her story begins a long time before that. It involves unimaginable hardship, death grief, illness and injury. How has she learnt to sit with all that life has thrown at her, and remain joyful and true to herself, in the face of adversity? This event was recorded at the Athenae…

1
The Power Of Fasting — Rachel Hughes

1M ago

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Jesus is clear in Matthew 6 that there’s an expectation that his followers will practice Fasting; and yet so many of us don’t do it regularly. Rachel explores how the physical action of fasting brings about a spiritual reaction.By Rachel Hughes

1
Assembly Required: Rachel Maddow on Winning America’s Fight Against Fascism 54:20

1M ago54:20

54:20

The Hysteria team is off this week. But we’re excited to bring you a recent episode of Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams. In the first 100 days of the Trump Administration, we’ve watched Republicans erode American democracy with alarming speed. While this political moment may feel unprecedented, it isn’t new. America has dealt its share of far-r…

1
Safe at home – who profits when you’re afraid of your neighbours? 54:04

1M ago54:04

54:04

Your personal safety is big business, so much so that it’s given rise to “security capitalism”, a phenomenon where attempts to buy personal safety shape the world around us. As security becomes just another status symbol, do these gadgets make us safer or do they create a whole new list of anxieties – a self-fulfilling prophecy of perceived threat …

1
The ghosts are here — Tasma Walton, Darren Rix, Craig Cormick, Anthony Sharwood with Natasha Mitchell 56:43

1M ago56:43

56:43

The ghost people arrived by boat. They never left. But the stories of first encounters and what came next live large, 250 years later, in First Nations families and communities. An ambitious journey to reclaim the names and stories disappeared by Captain James Cook, but never lost. A deeply personal excavation of herstories and the women wrenched f…

1
GT KARBER & SUZIE EDGE: Murdle Junior and History Stinks! Wee, Snot and Poo Through Tim 20:47

1M ago20:47

20:47

Welcome to the latest episode of Book Worms! First up, Bex is joined by TikTok historian Suzie Edge whose hilarious new book - History Stinks! Wee, Snot and Poo Through Time - brings history to life in all its gruesome, revolting glory. Finally, think you can crack the case? GT Karber brings brain-bending mysteries for young minds in Murdle Junior.…

1
How Are Shifting Priorities Impacting National Security in America? 29:18

1M ago29:18

29:18

Most Americans would agree that the United States should be protected, but from whom … and how? Dr. Donell Harvin, the former Chief of Homeland Security and Intelligence for the District of Columbia, says the U.S. is taking its eye off the ball - focusing its large domestic intelligence apparatus in a direction that is politically expedient, but no…

1
Words to sing the world alive — waking up First Nations languages 54:05

1M ago54:05

54:05

At the time of colonisation, there were more than 250 Indigenous languages spoken in Australia, but these days, all are considered endangered. Many First Nations people are working hard to revive and reclaim their mother tongues. In the anthology, Words to Sing the World Alive: Celebrating First Nations Languages, 40 Indigenous Australians share wo…

1
From vulture bone flutes to ‘organised sound’— Andrew Ford's short history of music 52:45

1M ago52:45

52:45

Music has been around for at least as long as humans, and possibly even longer. How have forces like religion, the economy, society and technology, shaped music over time? And why, in lullabies and concert halls, songlines and streaming services, have humans always been irresistibly drawn to making it? This event was recorded at Sydney's Gleebooks.…

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Tim And Rachel Hughes Podcasts

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