The 9pm Edict – Stilgherrian

21 April 202521 April 2025

The 9pm Triple Mammal Chinese Spy Ship Panic with Snarky Platypus

On a bright blue sea against a bright blue sky is a modern bright blue ship with white superstructure. The bow is high and rugged-looking. The stern has cranes and such. — *Chinese marine research vessel Tan Suo Yi Hao*. (Photo: Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering) *Inset: A platypus, but not that one. (Taronga Conservation Society Australia / Chris Wheeler)*

The summer series is dragging on, and there’s still so many things on our minds. So joining me for a bonus episode is my good friend Snarky Platypus.

26 March 202526 March 2025

The 9pm Dreams of American Empire with Associate Professor David Smith

*Associate Professor David Smith smiles in the face of an increasingly dangerous world. (Photo: US Studies Centre)*

There’s a lot going on in The America. You may have noticed. So as the summer series grinds on — way behind schedule — we’re joined by Associate Professor David Smith from the United States Study Centre.

17 February 202517 February 2025

The 9pm Nostalgia for Corruption with John Birmingham

A middle-aged white man with stubble and a hat gazes into the distance. It's John Birmingham! Behind him, the cover of a book looms large. — *John Birmingham is haunted by the cover of one of his popular techno-thrillers. (Photo: Supplied)*

As the summer series grinds on we’re joined once again — well, after a gap of more than a year — by author and columnist John Birmingham.

29 January 202529 January 2025

The 9pm Medical Semiotics of Bow Ties, Long Covid, and Poo with Dr Trent Yarwood

Dr Trent Yarwood does not wear a white coat because they are a Bad Thing. (Photo: Brisbane Times. Digital processing: Stilgherrian)

The summer series continues, and it’s more science. Today’s special guest is infectious diseases physician Dr Trent Yarwood.

14 January 202514 January 2025

The 9pm Colonisation of Mars and the Universe with Dr Alice Gorman and Rami Mandow

Plotting the overthrow of the space colonies! Left: Dr Alice Gorman. (Photo: Simon Royal/ABC) Right: Rami Mandow. (Photo: Supplied; Post-processing: Stilgherrian)

Happy New Year. It’s time for another look at space news, I reckon, so once more my special guests are space archaeologist Dr Alice Gorman aka Dr Space Junk from Flinders University, and astrophysicist and founder of SpaceAustralia.com Rami Mandow.

31 December 202431 December 2024

The 9pm Full-time Bingo Card Update 2024 with Snarky Platypus

*Main image by* Rudonni via Pixabay. Foreground bingo card originally by Milton Bradley Company, photo by Abby Hendrickson under under a CC-BY 2.0 Generic license. Platypus inset photo by Taronga Conservation Society Australia / Chris Wheeler. Digital composition by Stilgherrian.

Back at the start of the year, my good friend Snarky Platypus and I created some bingo cards for 2024. Two sets of 25 things that might happen. Well, we’re now at the end of the year, so let’s see how we went.