(aired 30/09/2023) - On this episode of Backchat, we kick things off with a look at the latest findings from a NSW Police Inquiry into strip searches. Among other things, the report contains some pretty scathing information about how few officers are adequately trained to conduct these invasive searches. Backchat producer Libby Hopper will be with us to unpack it all. Next, how much attention do you pay the many beautiful trees adorning Sydney's streets? They play a crucial role in keeping our city habitable, and with heatwaves set to increase in both frequency and severity, some are facing new threats. Dr Renee Prokopavicius, plant ecophysiologist at Western Sydney University will join us to dive deeper into our urban trees. Finally, this week brought the devastating news that Varroa Mite is here to stay. Authorities have abandoned efforts to rid Australia of the parasite, which devastates our European bee populations. So, what next? To answer this and mroe, you'll be hearinf from Emily Remnant, Lecturer and Academic Fellow from the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Sydney.

This episode of Backchat was produced by Libby Hopper, Nc Huntington, Sana Shaikh and Eamonn Snow.