Are numbers and statistical data as objective as people think they are? Producer Nyaboth Chuol and journalist Madi Chwasta get into why understanding how stats work could stop you (and your middle aged relos on Facebook) from falling down a conspiracy theory rabbit hole. 

Dani and Bec also chat with Estelle Grech, head of planning and policy at the Committee for Sydney, about whether Parramatta Road could be used for something other than traffic jams (what a concept!).

Later, producer Pongyada Sootthipong looks into why Sydney’s infrastructure is so terrible at coping with wet weather. Sam Kernaghan, Sanaa Shah and Matthew Thompson tell us whether they think our city is ready to withstand the worsening impacts of climate change.

Luna Choo from Pride in Protest came by the studio to chat about their thoughts on Mardi Gras - can a celebration that welcomes cops, corporations and pro-genocide voices truly celebrate queer lives?

Producer Jess D’Souza welcomed the warm weather with a discussion about Asian-American representation on ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ - finally, a conversation about TSITP with minimal Conrad v Jeremiah talk!

This episode of Backchat was produced by Nyaboth Chuol, Sana Shaikh, Pongyada Sootthipong, Bec Cushway and Jessica D’Souza.

Executive produced by Bec Cushway.

Aired 20 September 2025 on Gadigal Land.