Program: Background Briefing

Latest Episode

Presented by

Thomas Oriti

Background Briefing brings you true stories not everyone will want you to hear.

Airs Sunday at 9am Repeated: Sunday 11pm and Tuesday 2pm

Episodes

Sorted by latest

04 Before and After | Behind the sunscreen

When the founder of a skincare company discovers his zinc sunscreen product potentially isn't achieving the protection it's supposed to, it doesn't take long before he realises the problem is far bigger than he first thought.

Published: 6 Dec 2025Sat 6 Dec 2025 at 6:00pmwith Thomas Oriti

Duration: 35 minutes 10 seconds

03 Before and After | Under your skin

The injectable industry is booming, but behind the glossy ads and plump looks, some patients are discovering filler that doesn’t dissolve. This week reporter Gina McKeon reveals the hidden risks of chasing an Instagrammable face.

Published: 28 Nov 2025Fri 28 Nov 2025 at 6:00pmwith Thomas Oriti

Duration: 36 minutes 54 seconds

02 Before and After | For a couple extra inches

For young men struggling with body image, social media offers a radical solution: get taller by breaking your legs.

Published: 21 Nov 2025Fri 21 Nov 2025 at 6:00pmwith Thomas Oriti

Before an After. Two men (one short, one tall) stand back to back against a measurement chart.

Duration: 32 minutes 55 seconds

01 Before and After | The cost of keeping your hair

Hair loss ads are everywhere. Telehealth clinics with thousands of five-star reviews promise fast consults and discreet delivery to your doorstep. But what happens when the treatment messes with your brain chemistry?

Published: 14 Nov 2025Fri 14 Nov 2025 at 6:00pmwith Thomas Oriti

Four-panel graphic showing a man's hair loss in the top row and regrowth in the bottom row, alongside e-commerce icons.

Duration: 37 minutes

Introducing... Before and After

Before and After is a new series by Background Briefing that exposes how medical hype spreads online, who profits, and who pays.

Published: 7 Nov 2025Fri 7 Nov 2025 at 6:00pmwith Thomas Oriti

Duration: 1 minute

The secret teacher blacklist

Kim saw a teacher’s aide laughing at a video of a vulnerable student and reported it to the principal. She had no idea it would come to define the next seven years of her life.

Published: 17 Oct 2025Fri 17 Oct 2025 at 5:45pmwith Thomas Oriti

Duration: 39 minutes 47 seconds

05 The Favourite - A Day in Court

After years of manipulation, Alliyah is determined to see justice done. When Kellie appears in the dock, what will she say? And how will the judge respond?

Published: 10 Oct 2025Fri 10 Oct 2025 at 5:45pmwith Thomas Oriti

The Favourite. Black and white sketch of a young person with yellow highlights

Duration: 32 minutes 15 seconds

04 The Favourite | Full Disclosure

Alliyah steps into a police station on the outskirts of Brisbane, and says: “I want to report a crime.” After keeping the so-called relationship with Kellie secret for almost a decade, Alliyah is finally ready to tell their story.

Published: 3 Oct 2025Fri 3 Oct 2025 at 6:45pmwith Thomas Oriti

Duration: 34 minutes 54 seconds

03 The Favourite | Alliyah's choice

A new job and a surprise encounter show Alliyah that another way is possible. Will they manage to slip out of Kellie's control?

Published: 26 Sep 2025Fri 26 Sep 2025 at 6:55pmwith Thomas Oriti

Duration: 40 minutes 13 seconds

02 The Favourite | A marriage proposal

When the principal discovers Alliyah and their teacher Kellie are exchanging secret messages outside class, Kellie is warned — but not fired.

Published: 19 Sep 2025Fri 19 Sep 2025 at 5:00amwith Thomas Oriti

Duration: 35 minutes 23 seconds

Features

More SPF50 zinc sunscreens under the spotlight after preliminary testing shows lower protection

It's been almost two years since Craig Jones first ran preliminary tests on his zinc sunscreen. When he discovered it wasn't providing the SPF it was supposed to he threw it out and set out on a quest to find out why.

A graphic showing 31 bottles of sunscreen against an orange tile background.

Published: 8 Dec 2025Mon 8 Dec 2025 at 8:06amby Loretta Florance, Rachel Carbonell and Ninah Kopel Ninah Kopel

Concern filler doesn't break down even with hyaluronidase dissolver

As more people turn towards cosmetic injectable "journeys", Lana is sounding the alarm about the risks of developing long-term side effects.

Lana has bright blonde hair and sits on a black couhc looking out the window with ligth falling on her face.

Published: 28 Nov 2025Fri 28 Nov 2025 at 9:10pmby Gina McKeon and Rachel Clayton

The people paying tens of thousands to break their legs in the name of height

Videos spruiking limb-lengthening are targeting the insecurities of young men, promising the luxury of height. The bone-breaking surgery comes with huge risks, and some botched procedures are being fixed in Australia.

An illustration of a person researching information about leg lengthening.

Published: 21 Nov 2025Fri 21 Nov 2025 at 7:10pmby Emilia Terzon and Maddison Connaughton

Hair loss drug users say psychological side effects left them 'crumbling'

A vocal minority of finasteride users speak out about the long-lasting mental side effects of the hair loss drug, as telehealth ads for the medication surge on social media.

Andre sits on his couch leaning forward with his hands clasped together looking into the camera.

Published: 16 Nov 2025Sun 16 Nov 2025 at 11:23pmby Tynan King

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