It’s been a heavy year in many ways. And when you work in news, there’s no shying away from that. But music can be a respite – something to help process the heaviness, and something that brings escape and joy.

When we asked Head of Music at SXSW, Claire Collins, to pick her favourite albums of the year, both the heaviness and the joy were reflected back at us. She’s picked five albums for you to blast this summer, as you prepare for the year ahead.

 

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

 

Socials:Stay in touch with us on Instagram

Guest: Claire Collins, head of music at SXSW

Photo: Ian West/PA Wire

It&rsquo;s been a heavy year in many ways. And when you work in news, there&rsquo;s no shying away from that. But music can be a respite &ndash; something to help process the heaviness, and something that brings escape and joy.
When we asked Head of Music at SXSW, Claire Collins, to pick her favourite albums of the year, both the heaviness and the joy were reflected back at us. She&rsquo;s picked five albums for you to blast this summer, as you prepare for the year ahead.
&nbsp;
If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at <a href="http://7ampodcast.com.au/support">7ampodcast.com.au/support</a>.
&nbsp;
Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest: Claire Collins, head of music at SXSW
Photo:&nbsp;Ian West/PA Wire

An independent daily news show. We feature the country’s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

An independent daily news show. We feature the country&rsquo;s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

A daily news show from the publisher of The Monthly and The Saturday Paper.

A daily news show from the publisher of The Monthly and The Saturday Paper. Hear from the country’s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

The best music of 2025

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/16313834-feec-49f4-9cd2-b3a9002e67bd/transcript

Marieke Hardy is a writer, broadcaster and former panelist on the ABC’s First Tuesday Book Club.

Marieke’s passion and enthusiasm for the books she loves is contagious. But she’s also direct and unapologetic when a book isn’t for her, so you always know that when she recommends something, it’s going to be worth your time.

Her list of favourite books starts with a sprawling novel about friendship and love – and winds its way through so many other huge themes: grief, violence, war, and how the internet has ruined us.

Today, Marieke Hardy with her five favourite books of 2025.

 

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

 

Socials:Stay in touch with us on Instagram

Guest: Writer and literary critic Marieke Hardy

Marieke Hardy is a writer, broadcaster and former panelist on the ABC&rsquo;s First Tuesday Book Club.
Marieke&rsquo;s passion and enthusiasm for the books she loves is contagious. But she&rsquo;s also direct and unapologetic when a book isn&rsquo;t for her, so you always know that when she recommends something, it&rsquo;s going to be worth your time.
Her list of favourite books starts with a sprawling novel about friendship and love &ndash; and winds its way through so many other huge themes: grief, violence, war, and how the internet has ruined us.
Today, Marieke Hardy with her five favourite books of 2025.
&nbsp;
If you enjoy&nbsp;7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at <a href="http://7ampodcast.com.au/support">7ampodcast.com.au/support</a>.
&nbsp;
Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest: Writer and literary critic Marieke Hardy

The best books of 2025

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/1902f879-d94e-40d5-922b-b3af0061362d/transcript

Sarah Krasnostein has had a huge year. She’s teamed up with Helen Garner and Chloe Hooper to write The Mushroom Tapes – a true-crime book about Erin Patterson’s triple murder trial that asks what our fascination with the case says about us.

She’s also continued her work as a television critic, watching a hell of a lot of TV.

In her list of the best TV of 2025, Sarah Krasnostein is drawn to shows that feel uncomfortably close to real life – from teenage boys pulled into the manosphere to post-apocalyptic worlds shaped by AI. And for her, even the bleakest series this year are ultimately hopeful: they’re less about what’s been destroyed than about what could be rebuilt, and the chances that still exist to step in before things go wrong.

Today, she’s picked her top 5 shows for you to binge over the summer.

 

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

 

Socials:Stay in touch with us on Instagram

Guest: Author and critic, Sarah Krasnostein

Photo: Apple

Sarah Krasnostein has had a huge year. She&rsquo;s teamed up with Helen Garner and Chloe Hooper to write The Mushroom Tapes &ndash; a true-crime book about Erin Patterson&rsquo;s triple murder trial that asks what our fascination with the case says about us.
She&rsquo;s also continued her work as a television critic, watching a hell of a lot of TV.
In her list of the best TV of 2025, Sarah Krasnostein is drawn to shows that feel uncomfortably close to real life &ndash; from teenage boys pulled into the manosphere to post-apocalyptic worlds shaped by AI. And for her, even the bleakest series this year are ultimately hopeful: they&rsquo;re less about what&rsquo;s been destroyed than about what could be rebuilt, and the chances that still exist to step in before things go wrong.
Today, she&rsquo;s picked her top 5 shows for you to binge over the summer.
&nbsp;
If you enjoy&nbsp;7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at <a href="http://7ampodcast.com.au/support">7ampodcast.com.au/support</a>.
&nbsp;
Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest: Author and critic, Sarah Krasnostein
Photo:&nbsp;Apple

The best TV of 2025

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/4b13fed8-f11a-48d8-ba7b-b3a80088e52c/transcript

In the aftermath of the Bondi terror attack, the country is grieving. It's a moment that calls for unity and for leadership.

But what we’ve seen is something else. Within days, political lines hardened. A former prime minister stepped in. The opposition shifted its message. And international leaders joined the chorus.

With political venom so close to the surface, the moment has revealed something deeper about how crisis is now handled in Australian politics.

Today, press gallery veteran Paul Bongiorno, on the gap between who we want to be – and who we are.

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

Socials:Stay in touch with us on Instagram

Guest: Press gallery veteran Paul Bongiorno

In the aftermath of the Bondi terror attack, the country is grieving. It's a moment that calls for unity and for leadership.
But what we&rsquo;ve seen is something else. Within days, political lines hardened. A former prime minister stepped in. The opposition shifted its message. And international leaders joined the chorus.
With political venom so close to the surface, the moment has revealed something deeper about how crisis is now handled in Australian politics.
Today, press gallery veteran Paul Bongiorno, on the gap between who we want to be &ndash; and who we are.
If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at <a href="http://7ampodcast.com.au/support">7ampodcast.com.au/support</a>.
Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest: Press gallery veteran Paul Bongiorno

Albanese's plan to tackle anti-semitism

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/82fc5231-a342-4bb6-affe-b3b7017908a0/transcript

The best music of 2025

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