Mediaweek

He’s been described as a comedic dark genius. But beneath Anthony Jeselnik’s acerbic wit lies a mind shaped by the power of literature. Fiction, to be precise. In fact, Jeselnik’s appreciation for the written word is so great that he’s even started a book club. Called ‘The Anthony Jeselnik Book Club’ - the only prerequisite for membership is … well, nothing really. And, to be honest, that’s the real genius of the club - it’s open to anyone and everyone who wants to read. There’s no deal in it for him, no movie tie-ins or kickbacks, making it probably one of the more PURE things in the world right now. In this chat, we talk about Jeselnik’s education at Turlane, why he walked away from his first job writing jokes for Jimmy Fallon, and why nothing hits the human spirit like fiction. Novels mentioned in the podcast below: Glama Rama - Brett Easton EllisAmerican Psycho - Brett Easton EllisNo Country for Old Men - Cormac McCarthyThe Outsiders - S.E. HintonDeparture(s) - Julian BarnesLost Lambs - Madeline CashCrux - Gabriel TallentDiscipline - Larissa FaHeap Earth Upon It - Chloe Michelle HoworthWhite River Crossing - Ian McGuireThe Violet Hour: A Novel - James CahillAmong Friends - Hal EbbottAnna Karenina - Leo TolstoyStoner - John WilliamsChain-Gang All-Stars - Nana Kwame Adjei-BrenyahThe Glass Hotel - Emily St. John MandelMadame Bovary - Gustave FlaubertThe Catcher in the Rye - J.D. SalingerOn the Road - Jack KerouacFaithless - Alice NelsonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you get when you invite six of ad land’s most powerful women into a room to talk candidly about what it means to be a woman in the industry? It might sound like the start of a riddle. After all, coordinating the diaries of six CEOs and senior leaders is no small feat. Amazingly, Mediaweek managed to do just that. In the aftermath of International Women’s Day, the Newsmakers podcast brought together a group of Omnicom’s most influential female leaders for an unfiltered conversation about leadership, change and the realities of navigating advertising’s power corridors. The line-up includes Laura Nice, CEO of PHD; Jo McAlister, CEO of Initiative; Liz Wigmore, Managing Director of Hearts & Science; Sian Whitnall, CEO of OMD; Sue Squillace, CEO Mediahub; and Stevie Douglas-Neill, CEO of UM.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Veteran news anchor Mark Ferguson joins Mediaweek’s Newsmakers to reflect on his journey from a teenage cadet in Tamworth to the face of 7NEWS Sydney. Ahead of his 60th birthday, Ferguson opens up about the pivotal moments, global assignments, career risks, and lessons learned across four decades in Australian television news.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There aren’t many journalists who can say they’ve gone from covering crime scenes to coaching CEOs - but Shelly Horton can. After three decades in the media, she’s swapped newsroom chaos for the boardroom floor, turning her sharp instincts and trademark humour into a mission: helping leaders find their voice and women find their power. In this episode of Mediaweek’s Newsmakers, Shelly talks about I’m Your Peri Godmother - her funny, fearless guide to perimenopause - and the advocacy work that’s taken her from TV studios to Parliament House. She also reveals the secret behind her “five Ps” for public speaking (spoiler: they’re not exactly HR-approved). It’s classic Shelly - smart, bold, and brilliantly unfiltered - proving that good preparation (and a solid sense of humour) can take you just about anywhere.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mitch Churi is a broadcaster who’s never been afraid to put himself out there. From squatting in a KIIS FM studio clucking like a chicken in front of Kyle and Jackie O, to winning awards and hosting national shows, Mitch has carved out one of the most colourful journeys in Australian radio. When ARN cut him loose earlier this year, he didn’t sit still. Instead, he doubled down on what he loves most: connecting with audiences. Now he’s launching The Mitch Churi Chat Show with Acast - part late-night talk show, part internet playground, and all Mitch. In this episode, we talk about the hustle, the setbacks, and the leap from traditional radio to independent creator. You can check out Mitch's new show here: https://www.youtube.com/@MitchChuriChatShow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Majella Hay is undoubtedly one of the most powerful women in Australian television. She’s the Director of Content, Unscripted at the Seven Network, which means She’s the driving force behind shows like My Kitchen Rules, Australian Idol and Farmer Wants a Wife. But in this conversation, Majella doesn’t just talk formats and ratings.  She opens up about balance, about what it means to carry both a huge slate of TV and the everyday realities of being a mum.  From the lessons she learned chasing con men down the street in high heels, to how she reframes that all-too-familiar ‘mum guilt,’ this is a candid look at the woman shaping what millions of Australians watch every week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick McKenzie has exposed war crimes, brought down politicians, and forced entire institutions to face the truth. Now, Australia’s most awarded investigative journalist joins Newsmakers to talk power, pressure - and why journalism still matters.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To broadcaster David Koch, Pinstripe Media was always more than a business, it was a family legacy. In this episode of Newsmakers, David Koch unpacks the decision to sell the small business and personal finance content company he built with his family, and what it means to hand over the reins to the next generation. Best known as the steady hand behind the Sunrise desk for more than two decades, Kochie reflects on life beyond breakfast TV: the strange privilege of living in the public eye and the evolving nature of influence. It’s a candid, considered conversation between Mediaweek's Natasha Lee and one of Australia’s most trusted media voices.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After more than four decades in the radio industry and 15 years at the helm of the Australian Radio Network's (ARN) content strategy, Duncan Campbell is stepping into a new chapter, but he's not switching off the mic entirely. In the latest episode of Mediaweek's Newsmaker's podcast, ARN's outgoing Chief Content Officer speaks candidly about how he got his start, the real story behind signing Kyle & Jackie O, and how he deals with commentary from the sidelines when a major content play doesn't go to plan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we sit down with someone who barely needs an introduction in media circles,  Neil Shoebridge. With more than 30 years under his belt across journalism, publishing, and corporate communications, Neil has seen (and shaped) it all. Now co-founder of SKMG, he shares sharp, no-spin insights on media strategy, brand storytelling, and what really goes on in a corporate crisis. Whether you're navigating headlines or trying to stay out of them, this one's worth a listen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a landscape where Nine and Seven command the lion’s share of commercial news audiences, and the advertising dollars that follow, 10 is charting a different course.  Martin White, Vice-President of Broadcast News, Paramount, sat down with Mediaweek's Newsmakers podcast, to reveal he believes it's the network's commitment to telling it straight, without editorialising, that sets them apart.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a media landscape shaped by the infinite scroll, where attention is a currency and every frame competes with cat videos and breaking news, TIME Magazine's D.W. Pine is in the thick of it. In a conversation with Mediaweek's Natasha Lee, the magazine's Creative Director explains how he's not just steering a legacy brand through the algorithmic tide, he’s helping redefine how we experience journalism.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.