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PODCAST

Making A Difference

Junction Journalism

Making A Difference is a podcast by The Junction, a collective of journalism schools at universities around Australia. The podcast is produced by student journalists, and episodes are hosted by a different university each month. Our public interest reporting reflects the depth and diversity of the issues that matter to a broad cross-section of society. You can listen on our website, https://junctionjournalism.com/, or subscribe to receive new episodes on your favourite podcast app.

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All Episodes

29:00

Episode 51 - Friend or Foe (Deakin University)

Making A Difference ·

2025/11/30

Flying foxes, war veterans, AI chatbots, women in journalism, Halloween, rural communities. In this episode, student reporters at Deakin University bring us stories about people trying to work out who's on their side. Hosts: Leigh Lule and Alex Kratofil Stories: Who gives a flying fox - Reporter: Evie Nguyen The Mad Snake - Reporter: Ruby Vella My Therapist, the Chatbot - Reporter: Nhu Phan Trick or Treat - Reporters: Mel Di Donato, Kaitlin Crosbie and Brandy Dixon Anger in the Bush - ...

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30:01

Episode 50 - Threads of Time (Griffith University)

Making A Difference ·

2025/10/30

For our 50th episode, journalism students from Griffith University look back…and forward. They take us back to events in 1975 to report on the enduring influence of The Dismissal and the land rights movement in Australia. And we trace the echoes of those stories through our 50 episodes to present day issues about food security and sustainable fashion. From old fabric to new futures, how the past is stitched into the present. Hosts: Mayabi Aziz and Princess Brown Stories: '1975: The Ball...

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28:13

Episode 49 - Out of the Shadows

Making A Difference ·

2025/10/02

Sex work is legal and it's in-demand. So, why are those who do sex work feeling unsafe and isolated? Sex workers rarely speak publicly but Curtin University reporter Camila Equsquiza Santa Cruz spent months interviewing some of these workers in Western Australia on a campaign they say is all about basic human rights. Host / Reporter: Camila Equsquiza Santa Cruz Supervising Producer: Kayt Davies Episode Executive Producer: Simon Brady Music: ‘Betelgeuse’ / Kunal Shingade ‘Drifting ...

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27:19

Episode 48 - Journey of Discovery (RMIT)

Making A Difference ·

2025/08/28

Journalism students from RMIT bring us stories of people emerging from tragedy, misadventure and personal angst, and what we learn when our backs are against the wall. Host: Dashiel Agar Stories: 'From The Ashes' - Reporter: Jessica Nguyen 'You Only Have To Ask' - Reporter: Elisha Walker 'Up The Creek' - Reporter: Ella Curry "Breaking Silence' - Reporter: Keras Marszalek Production supervision: Executive Producer: Dylan Bird Supervising Producer: Simon Brady Music: ‘Betelgeuse’ / Kunal ...

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23:14

Episode 47 - A Rock and a Hard Place (Curtin University)

Making A Difference ·

2025/07/01

Murujuga is a sacred rock art site in Western Australia’s Pilbara more ancient than the pyramids in Egypt. Preservation of the rocks is hard-fought, and some experts say that’s been made even more precarious by the federal government’s decision last month to conditionally extend the neighbouring North-West Shelf gas project. We brought you this story in 2024 and because of these very recent developments, we’re re-running the investigation by Tylah Tully from Curtin University to help you unde...

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30:28

Episode 46 - Running Your Own Race (Edith Cowan...

Making A Difference ·

2025/05/31

This month’s episode by journalism students at Edith Cowan University features the male ballet dancer, the adult with ADHD, the vision-impaired, the lifesaving nurse, the person seeking connection, the ‘body positive’ woman. And the link between them all? They’re all trying to pave their own way, often against formidable challenges and the expectations of others. Hosts: Jack Penniment and Samuel Sparkes Stories: ‘Men Can Ballet’ - Reporter: Oli Pike ‘A Brain Wired Differently’ - Repor...

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18:22

Episode 45 - Mind The Gap (University of Sydney)

Making A Difference ·

2025/05/01

It’s a good thing that as a society, we’re more open to discussing mental health and the challenges it poses for many people. University of Sydney reporter Ben Fragiadakis investigated this transformation on what used to be a very taboo topic. What he found were the unintended consequences of such openness. And despite all the attention, serious doubts remain among experts about our approach to treating mental health. Lifeline 13 11 14 Beyond 1300 22 46 36 Host/Reporter: Ben Fragiadakis...

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31:35

Episode 44 - Hoo Gives A Hoot (Curtin University)

Making A Difference ·

2025/04/01

It's a story full of compromises, contradictions and unsuspecting victims. The use of rat and mice baits help to keep our home free of rodents. But they also pose a serious threat to native wildlife and ecosystems. A team of journalists at Curtin University investigates how precious owl species are becoming the victims of secondary poisoning from rodent control products. It's also a story of determination as communities battle the bureaucracy, manufacturers and public indifference to try to p...

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30:01

Episode 43 - Confronting Threats (Swinburne University)

Making A Difference ·

2025/02/18

We deal with threats – both real and perceived – all the time. In this episode, journalism students at Swinburne University look at how we are confronting some of those threats. From having the right to protest, to supporting the wellbeing of children, to some of life’s basics like driving a car, swimming at the beach and trying to find a job. And we end on an uplifting note with some bogan funk. What is that? Have a listen and get onboard. *Content warning* This episode includes references t...

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26:22

Episode 42 - Looking Out (Deakin University)

Making A Difference ·

2025/01/19

Keeping people safe, helping people out, giving people a leg-up, giving people a chance to shine – it’s what a functioning society does. In this episode of Making a Difference, journalism students at Deakin University bring us stories about looking out for people: keeping apprentices safe on the job, helping those with addiction and incarceration, creating a new world for visually impaired children, supporting emerging musicians, and encouraging artists to live their fantasy through their ido...

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29:01

Episode 41 - Understanding Next Gen (UNSW)

Making A Difference ·

2024/12/19

As Gen Zers become more socially and politically aware, they’re starting to understand the world they inhabit and will inherit. In this episode, journalism students at UNSW Sydney look at the impact of some of those issues such as social media, politics and smoking. And possibly one of the biggest – mental health – is explored through the experience of two autistic sisters who mask their disorder.Host: Dominique Lakis-NashStories:"Social control" - Reporter: Caitlyn Todorovski"Celebrity scand...

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32:50

Episode 40 - I See Me (Griffith University)

Making A Difference ·

2024/10/29

Representation matters because it helps us imagine our place in the world: our identity, self-worth and sense of belonging. Come on an entertaining and informative ride as journalism students from Griffith University look at representation: how it’s being done well and where it can improve.*Language warning for this episode. Hosts: Lucy Ingham, Sophia Thomas and Nicole SymensStories:"It's Her Video Game, Too" - Reporter: Sophia Thomas"Women in Horror" - Reporter: Molly O'Dempsey"Love Your Bod...

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30:02

Episode 39 - I Am Not Afraid (Western Sydney University)

Making A Difference ·

2024/09/03

In a world of heightened tension and conflict, there is lots to be wary and anxious about. But as the experts say: focus on the things you can control and don’t worry about what you can’t.This episode is the first appearance on our podcast by students from Western Sydney University. And they look at the things that scare us…and how people deal with those fears.Host: Claire Brownlie Stories:‘Parra-normal’ – Reporter: Claire Brownlie‘Finding Home’ – Reporter: Polina Krongauz‘Not So Social Media...

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32:52

Episode 38 - Signals of Belief (Curtin University)

Making A Difference ·

2024/06/29

This episode by student journalists at Curtin University in Perth makes us think about the concept of trust and the belief in the goodness of people.The things they say, the way we rely on them…and the potential risk of placing our trust in others. Hosts: Madigan Spooner and Camila Egusquiza Santa CruzStories:‘Man or Bear’ – Reporter: Camila Egusquiza Santa Cruz‘The Aliens Are Coming’ – Reporter: Andrew Hanlon‘Pet Custody’ – Reporter: Madigan Spooner‘Moondyne Joe’ – Reporter: Aimee Gloss...

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26:15

Episode 37 - No Plate Like Home (Long Read series)

Making A Difference ·

2024/05/29

For many people, food and the simple act of cooking can provide solace and comfort, particularly for those who go through the upheaval of migrating to another country. Cooking reminds them of home – not just the food but the people and places as well. Nicole Alcantara from the University of Sydney spent an evening with two young men from Nepal. And as they cooked a traditional Nepali curry, the conversation around food revealed a lot more about their new life in Australia and the enduring con...

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20:13

Episode 36 - Paying The Rental Price (Long Read series)

Making A Difference ·

2024/04/30

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16:18

Episode 35 - The Past Is The Future (Long Read series)

Making A Difference ·

2024/03/30

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21:36

Episode 34 - On The Rocks (Long Read series)

Making A Difference ·

2024/02/28

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15:55

Episode 33 - The Professional Recyclers (Long Read...

Making A Difference ·

2024/01/31

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27:50

Episode 32 - Essential Care (Deakin University)

Making A Difference ·

2023/12/31

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