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When much of the city sleeps, Mike Jeffreys is keeping you company.

Mike provides laughs and companionship, the news & stories of the day from midnight on Mondays. 

When much of the city sleeps, Mike Jeffreys is keeping you company.
Mike&nbsp;provides&nbsp;laughs and companionship, the&nbsp;news &amp;&nbsp;stories of the day from midnight on Mondays.&nbsp;

Overnights with Mike Jeffreys - Full Show

Overnights with Mike Jeffreys

Wake Up with Mike Jeffreys - Wednesday 14th January  2026 

Mike speaks with Barry Urquhart, Consumer Behaviour Analyst and Managing Director of Marketing Focus, about why Christmas hype failed to translate into strong spending.

Despite busy shops and strong foot traffic, consumers spent cautiously over Christmas, weighed down by cost-of-living pressures and rising personal debt. Few Australians set clear budgets, and most tightened spending in general rather than planning carefully. 

Shoppers favoured cheaper and house-brand items, leading to modest unit sales but lower overall revenue. Online shopping remained popular for research and price comparison, while spending on experiences such as concerts and sporting events continued.

With government subsidies ending and interest-rate relief uncertain, immediate cash flow—not future expectations—drove purchasing decisions. Barry warns businesses to be cautious with consumer research, noting many shoppers overstate spending intentions, leading to misleading conclusions.

Mike speaks with Barry Urquhart, Consumer Behaviour Analyst and Managing Director of Marketing Focus, about why Christmas hype failed to translate into strong spending.
Despite busy shops and strong foot traffic, consumers spent cautiously over Christmas, weighed down by cost-of-living pressures and rising personal debt. Few Australians set clear budgets, and most tightened spending in general rather than planning carefully.&nbsp;
Shoppers favoured cheaper and house-brand items, leading to modest unit sales but lower overall revenue. Online shopping remained popular for research and price comparison, while spending on experiences such as concerts and sporting events continued.
With government subsidies ending and interest-rate relief uncertain, immediate cash flow&mdash;not future expectations&mdash;drove purchasing decisions. Barry warns businesses to be cautious with consumer research, noting many shoppers overstate spending intentions, leading to misleading conclusions.

Hype failed to kindle Christmas spending

The next generation of leaders are starting to come to the fore.

Millennials are stepping into leadership roles and so are some Gen Zs, and they’re rewriting the rules.
But is it for better or for worse? Gone are the days of command-and-control leadership. Younger generations value collaboration, inclusivity and authenticity.

Mike speaks with Business and Management Expert, Jasmine O’Reilly, who says the revolution
happening in Australian workplaces is definitely for the better.

“Workplaces are becoming more purpose-driven and people-centred, shared ownership is replacing the traditional hierarchy, and psychological safety is becoming a key driver of performance.”
Jasmine has three suggestions for building a workplace that embraces the future:

1. Treat communication as a two-way street, it’s a conversation not an announcement.
2. Lead with values rather than key performance indicators.
3. Reframe vulnerability and accountability as a strength.

The next generation of leaders are starting to come to the fore.
Millennials are stepping into leadership roles and so are some Gen Zs, and they&rsquo;re rewriting the rules. But is it for better or for worse? Gone are the days of command-and-control leadership. Younger generations value collaboration, inclusivity and authenticity.
Mike speaks with Business and Management Expert, Jasmine O&rsquo;Reilly, who says the revolution happening in Australian workplaces is definitely for the better.
&ldquo;Workplaces are becoming more purpose-driven and people-centred, shared ownership is replacing the traditional hierarchy, and psychological safety is becoming a key driver of performance.&rdquo; Jasmine has three suggestions for building a workplace that embraces the future:
1. Treat communication as a two-way street, it&rsquo;s a conversation not an announcement. 2. Lead with values rather than key performance indicators. 3. Reframe vulnerability and accountability as a strength.

Are younger generations improving Aussie workplaces?

Mike is joined by Sue Barrett, Business Strategist, Founder of Democracy Watch AU, to talk about her recent article that asks, "What would Bowie do in 2026?"

Ten years ago, David Bowie died. When he left us in 2016, Brexit was months away, Trump seemed unlikely, and we thought we understood democracy. We were wrong about everything.

Bowie was an early signal detector: one of the sharpest we've witnessed. Tomorrow belongs to those who can hear it coming.

Three songs keep rising: Five Years, I'm Afraid of Americans, Fantastic Voyage. They're field notes from our present.

Five Years detonates denial about running out of time. I'm Afraid of Americans diagnosed authoritarianism's machinery decades early - domination as democracy, certainty as weapon.  With Trump returning emboldened, we're living those warnings.

Fantastic Voyage asks: can we resist becoming what we hate?  The real battleground isn't politics or economics. It's character.

What would Bowie do?
Stop begging rigged systems to be fair.  Build power.  Change the frame from inside.  Start conversations that can't be unheard.

"Turn and face the strange"

Mike is joined by Sue Barrett, Business Strategist, Founder of Democracy Watch AU, to talk about her recent article that asks, "What would Bowie do in 2026?" Ten years ago, David Bowie died. When he left us in 2016, Brexit was months away, Trump seemed unlikely, and we thought we understood democracy. We were wrong about everything.
Bowie was an early signal detector: one of the sharpest we've witnessed. Tomorrow belongs to those who can hear it coming.
Three songs keep rising: Five Years, I'm Afraid of Americans, Fantastic Voyage. They're field notes from our present.
Five Years detonates denial about running out of time. I'm Afraid of Americans diagnosed authoritarianism's machinery decades early - domination as democracy, certainty as weapon.&nbsp; With Trump returning emboldened, we're living those warnings.
Fantastic Voyage asks: can we resist becoming what we hate?&nbsp; The real battleground isn't politics or economics. It's character.
What would Bowie do? Stop begging rigged systems to be fair.&nbsp; Build power.&nbsp; Change the frame from inside.&nbsp; Start conversations that can't be unheard.
"Turn and face the strange"

Wake Up with Mike Jeffreys - Wednesday 14th January 2026

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