THE SHAKEUP: on again/off again war, injecting yourself + toilets a long way from home
Get the full intelligence
Search transcripts, export clips, track mentions, and explore all topics from “THE SHAKEUP: on again/off again war, injecting yourself + toilets a long way from home” inside PodZeus.
The latest episode of Hack dives into a chaotic week of global headlines, starting with Australia’s escalating fuel crisis and the government’s reactive, non-binding deal with Singapore to secure oil supplies. Host Dave Marchese and guests Alicia Aitken-Radburn and former executive producer Stephen Smiley dissect the absurdity of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s 'This Could Have Been Done By Email' national address—mocked for its bland tone and clownish green suit with cartoonishly large boots—while contrasting it with Donald Trump’s apocalyptic threat to destroy Iran’s civilization, sparking debate over the 'madman theory' in diplomacy. The conversation pivots to the viral craze around unregulated peptides, with guests expressing alarm over teens as young as 14 injecting unverified substances online, fueled by TikTok algorithms and influencer culture. The episode culminates in a candid, hilarious toilet story round, where Alicia reveals she once had to fish a fecal matter out of a non-flushing toilet with a plastic bag—proving that even space missions aren’t immune to plumbing disasters, as the Artemis II crew’s toilet failure becomes a symbol of life’s absurd inconveniences. The episode’s core message is a sharp critique of societal complacency: we’re willing to risk our health with unregulated injectables, tolerate political theater, and endure fuel shortages—yet still find humor in the most intimate bodily failures. The real takeaway?
The Australian fuel crisis has exposed the fragility of national energy independence, with only 35–39 days of fuel reserves, revealing how reliant we are on volatile global supply chains.
Anthony Albanese’s national address was widely mocked as a bland, AI-generated email, undermining public trust in leadership during a cost-of-living emergency.
Donald Trump’s threat to 'destroy a civilization' may be a calculated 'madman theory' tactic—using unpredictability as leverage in diplomacy.
Peptides are being widely used by teens and young adults via unregulated online sellers, with no clinical oversight and potentially dangerous ingredients.
The Artemis II mission’s toilet failure highlights how even space exploration is vulnerable to mundane, human-scale problems—proving that 'the real mission' is often just keeping things functional.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Fuel Crisis and National Address Fallout
“This could have been an email. He was like, this is what I've done. Enjoy your Easter, keep going. What the hell just happened? On Triple J.”
Trump’s Apocalyptic Threat and the 'Madman Theory'
“It's just crazy. Like I don't think we've seen so many kind of seesaws one way or the other. Yeah there was that post on True Social about you know threatening the end of civilization in Iran which you know a lot of people were pointing out like is that what's he threatening there you know? Like that seems pretty illegal under international law and whatever.”
The Peptide Epidemic: Beauty, Risk, and TikTok
“It's definitely, I think Alicia's point is a super good one. It's really algorithmic, right? I think that's fueling this. Like people are saying like, this is what you could look like, you know, this is a way to hack your workout routine. Like this could be you in almost no time at all. And there's no risks. that's marketing.”
Artemis II and the Toilet Problem
The episode explores the Artemis II mission’s return, focusing on the crew’s toilet malfunction as a symbol of how even space exploration is vulnerable to basic human failures. The segment transitions into a humorous call for listeners’ worst toilet stories.
The Great Toilet Story Round
“I did! I also think, going back to that caller story, I feel like it should be mandatory to have barley belly or gastro in front of your partner before you get engaged. Good test of the relationship.”
“I did! I also think, going back to that caller story, I feel like it should be mandatory to have barley belly or gastro in front of your partner before you get engaged. Good test of the relationship.”
“that could have been an email? He was like, this is what I've done. Enjoy your Easter, keep going. What the hell just happened? On Triple J.”
“It's definitely, I think Alicia's point is a super good one. It's really algorithmic, right? I think that's fueling this. Like people are saying like, this is what you could look like, you know, this is a way to hack your workout routine. Like this could be you in almost no time at all. And there's no risks. that's marketing.”
Host
Guests
alicia aitken-radburn
person
anthony albanese
person
stephen smiley
person
donald trump
person
artemis ii
other
singapore
place
tiktok
other
shantan
person
true social
other
'Don't be a jerk', nuclear on the moon + is Iran winning the war?
Hack • 29m • 4/1/2026
INTERVIEW: The message Satara wants the prime minister to hear
Hack • 23m • 4/1/2026
A message for the PM + does the gambling ban go far enough?
Hack • 30m • 4/2/2026
DEEP DIVE: When is fuel going to get cheaper?
Hack • 17m • 4/3/2026
Ben Roberts-Smith charged, fuel crisis + is AI really taking tech jobs?
Hack • 29m • 4/7/2026
Get the full intelligence
Search transcripts, export clips, track mentions, and explore all topics from “THE SHAKEUP: on again/off again war, injecting yourself + toilets a long way from home” inside PodZeus.
Start discovering podcast insights today
Start with a 7-day trial and explore a growing catalog of popular podcasts. No credit card required.
No credit card required • 7-day trial • Cancel anytime