"The Week on Wednesday" with Van Badham & Ben Davison

"The Week on Wednesday" with Van Badham & Ben Davison

Ben Davison

Episodes 200
Avg. Duration 50m
Activity Declining
Apple Rating 5.0 (1)
Since Nov 2021
Latest Episode May 2026

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Publishing Details

Schedule
Weekly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
63%
Hosting
feed.podbean.com

About This Podcast

Join notorious Guardian columnist Van Badham and her labour activist co-host (and partner!) Ben Davison. As they deep-dive into the big news themes of the week and provide fresh, irreverent analysis about what's really going on in Australia and around the world.

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Recent Episodes

Episode 176: The Imaginary Inflation Bomb, Not-So-Mutual Obligations and Chinese Fish

May 27, 2026 1h 23m

Van Badham is reunited with Ben Davison for an episode tackling the politics of inflation, the failures of Australia’s regime of "mutual obligations" and the economic challenges posed by an…

Episode 175: Busting Budget Myths and Saving Giant Tortoises

May 22, 2026 1h 8m

Van Badham is joined by the articulate an impassioned Emma Dawson of the Chifley Research Centre to get down and dirty in the "earthquake" aftermath of the Albanese Labor government's nation-changing…

Episode 174: 2026 Budget Special and - OMG! - this Budget IS special!

May 13, 2026 1h 32m

Van Badham and Ben Davison pack a bumper 90 minute episode with the deep explanations you need to understand the Alabanese Labor government's 2026 Australian budget delivered by Dr Jim Chalmers. Get…

Episode 173: An NDIS for communities, not for cowboys; let’s talk about tax it’s a gas gas gas… and good news about renewables - from a war zone…

Apr 22, 2026 57m

Van Badham is in Sydney and Ben Davison’s in Ballarat, but they’re brought together by the miracle of technology and sheer force of will to discuss the Albanese government’s reforms to the National…

Episode 172: War against Iran, Culture War against the Vatican, War Crimes... and good news about British Beavers

Apr 12, 2026 1h 14m

Van Badham and Ben Davison survive Trump’s threat of nuclear was to discuss the Hungarian election and Viktor Orbán’s illiberal rule and its EU/Ukraine implications. They then explore Trump’s…

Episode 171: The Fuel Crisis, Trump's new forever war and the good news is about bilbies, this is the Week on Wednesday

Apr 03, 2026 1h 14m

This week, Van Badham and Ben Davison juggle a chaotic dog incident while discussing multi‑employer bargaining and planned industrial action by local government workers in Victoria. The dogs calm…

Episode 170: The South Australian election and its discontents, America brings Australia and Europe closer together… and the good news is about a Mega Hedge.

Mar 26, 2026 1h 2m

In robust form, Van and Ben discuss South Australian election - Labor’s emphatic win, One Nation’s vote versus their actual seats and how Liberal collapse is about a specifically right‑wing…

Episode 169: New Cabinets, Old Wounds, and Wacky Ted: This Week on Wednesday

May 14, 2025 44m

Van Badham (on her own while Ben’s away!) explores Australia’s new parliament, a record-breaking Labor majority, and freshly shuffled cabinet - but the real news? Susssssan Ley may be the Liberals’…

Episode 168: Landslide! Labor's Historic Victory and the Lessons for the Right

May 07, 2025 1h 30m

Van Badham and Ben Davison deliver an unmissable post-election edition of The Week on Wednesday, unpacking one of the most extraordinary federal election results in Australian history. With Anthony…

Episode 167: Brethren, Robes, and Ballot Box Shenanigans

Apr 30, 2025 1h

Van Badham and Ben Davison launch into analysis of the Australian election campaign so far, with Ben barely emerged from a three-day strategy lockdown at his job but happily reunited with faithful…

Episode 166: Housing, health and education: The debates we all have to have, and the bobcats we deserve

Apr 23, 2025 1h 11m

Van Badham and Ben Davison are back - with new tech, new producer (welcome, Casper!), and a jam-packed episode on everything that matters. After three debates and polling momentum seeming to flow to…

Episode 165: Dr Jim's Australian budget box of delights, Donald Trump's group chat gone wild and African penguins forever

Mar 26, 2025 1h 3m Transcript

On her own today (yes, poor Ben is STILL unwell), Van takes you through some highlights of Dr Jim's 2025-26 Australian budget, the insane, almost-unbelievable story of the Trump administration's…

Episode 164: Dutton plays at being Temu Trump to avoid explaining his policies for the election and good news about electric cars

Jan 15, 2025 1h 14m Transcript

Van Badham and Ben Davison devote an episode to pulling apart the world’s most uncharismatic populist, Peter Dutton, as well as his energetic attempt to make Australia as dysfunctional as it was last…

Episode 163: Auspol in 2025, Australia's economic position, disinformation and good news about renewables

Jan 08, 2025 1h 12m Transcript

Van Badham and Ben Davison are FINALLY back! Today, they take "Auspol 2025" head-on. As a federal election looms, the episode explores reality versus hyperbole around the Australian economy and…

Episode 162: Trump's Debate Meltdown and the Scourge of Disinformation

Sep 11, 2024 56m Transcript

Van Badham and Ben Davison (and Germanicus the dog) HAVE RETURNED! As Ben recovers from twelve months of illness, this long overdue return to The Week on Wednesday begins with heartfelt gratitude for…

Episode 161: Dr Chalmers Keynesian budget remedy

May 15, 2024 1h 10m Transcript

Van Badham and Ben Davison journey into the heart of Australia's Federal Budget 2024. Our hosts dissect Dr Jim’s reintroduction of nation building into macroeconomic management in a discussion that…

Episode 160: Stopping male violence, the education budget we have to have and big batteries

May 06, 2024 1h 3m Transcript

Van Badham and Ben Davison have rescheduled Wednesday to a Monday this week, to delve into the labyrinth of policy complexities surrounding the fight to end violence against women and children,…

Episode 159: A future made in Australia, the disinformation wonderland & solar cars

Apr 18, 2024 1h 6m

Van Badham and Ben Davison start their Wednesday on a Thursday with discussion of the federal government’s “Future Made in Australia” policy suite, and just what a policy dedicated to local jobs…

Episode 158: Tasmanian election lessons, narrative wars, its the economy and good news about airships

Apr 07, 2024 1h 17m

Baby, we are BACK! Van and Ben return after a super frustrating hiatus to discuss the issues of the day in their inimitable style.  The recent Tasmanian election has thrown up a complex and divided…

Weekend Wrap 3 December 2023: Employment services reforms, the grind of government and the media circus

Dec 03, 2023 33m

Ben Davison returns to take a look at a week in parliament that saw the Closing Loopholes bill pass the lower house, the greens and coalition team up to block the new shared home equity scheme, the…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does "The Week on Wednesday" with Van Badham & Ben Davison have?

"The Week on Wednesday" with Van Badham & Ben Davison has published 200 episodes since November 2021, covering topics in Comedy, News.

Is "The Week on Wednesday" with Van Badham & Ben Davison still active?

"The Week on Wednesday" with Van Badham & Ben Davison is currently declining with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 50m.

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