Game Changers Radio

Kyle begins a new chapter on Monday with KSLive and it’s time for us to turn the page too. Huge thanks to Christian O'Connell for letting us share a snippet of his audiobook, Unscript. The Melbourne Radio Wars trailer produced by Dom Evans at EARSAY.Thanks to our partners RCS Software and Abe's Audio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kyle Sandilands has launched his subscription platform. The next question is obvious: when do the advertisers arrive?Head of data and media at Spinach Advertising Ben Willee joins us to explore what agencies are really looking for, how valuable paying subscribers are compared to traditional radio audiences, and why first-party customer data has become the new currency of media.From founding partners and live events to merchandise, brand-funded content and creator commerce, we look at the commercial opportunities—and the challenges—waiting for Kyle as he attempts to build Australia's biggest direct-to-consumer media business. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For months, Mary Madigan has been one of the journalists covering the biggest story in Australian media. Now she's become part of it.The news.com.au reporter joins Game Changers Radio for her first in-depth interview since accepting a role alongside Kyle Sandilands on his new subscription platform.What convinced her to make the leap? What exactly will her role involve? How do you prepare to work with one of Australia's most unpredictable broadcasters? And after reporting on the collapse of Kyle & Jackie O, what does she think history will say about how one of radio's greatest partnerships came to an end?It's a candid conversation about journalism, broadcasting, reinvention and stepping into the biggest media story of the year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kyle Sandilands' biggest career gamble is officially underway.This week we deliver our first App Report, discussing what subscription success really looks like.How many subscribers does Kyle need? What makes fans willing to pay? And can a personality built for mass-market radio thrive inside a closed community?Later, former corporate PR executive and communications strategist Caroline Voaden joins us to analyse the positioning of Kyle Sandilands, Jackie Henderson and Karl Stefanovic, explaining how each can rebuild, reshape and strengthen their brands during one of the biggest media stories of the year.A big thank you to crisis PR expert Caroline Voaden for joining us. Follow Caroline here:Instagram: @carolinevoaden.commsTikTok: @carolinevoaden.commsLinkedIn: Caroline VoadenThis episode features excerpts from ..The Debrief with Savanna YoungAt Home with Kyle from Kyle Sandilands Live Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Long before creators, subscriptions and direct-to-consumer media became the industry's biggest conversation, Jules Lund was building for a world most broadcasters couldn't yet see.In this wide-ranging interview, Jules explains what legacy media got wrong, why audiences matter more than platforms, and what every content creator should be focusing on in 2026. We discuss Tribe, Meta's algorithm changes, podcasting, apps, creators, influence, audience trust, and why 20,000 people who genuinely trust you may be worth far more than 500,000 followers.If you're wondering where radio, podcasting and creator media are heading next, this conversation is essential listening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another major twist in Jackie Henderson's Federal Court battle with ARN. This week, the court ruled that ARN can rely on sworn affidavits from Kyle Sandilands and his manager Bruno Bouchet that were originally prepared for Kyle's own legal case. Why were these documents so important? What is ARN hoping they'll reveal? It’s all things that have made us go hmmmm. Legal expert Michael Byrnes explains what the judge decided, whether the balance of the case has shifted, and answers a listener's question about why the February 26 complaint letter continues to loom so large. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Radio's greatest strength has always been the shared live moments. We unpack Tommy and Carrie's viral on-air moment and why thousands of people hearing something at exactly the same time is still broadcast's superpower.Then we turn to Kyle Sandilands' biggest career gamble. With his new subscription app launching on August 10, success is no longer measured by ratings or cume, it's measured by one simple equation: X × $99.What is the magic number? Why is building a paying community so different from building a mass audience? And can Kyle deliver enough value to keep superfans paying month after month?Plus, Kyle's manager Bruno Bouchet joins us to answer your biggest questions about the app, the launch, pricing, features and what's coming next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've been given exclusive access to the brand-new documentary following Kyle Sandilands' journey from his dramatic departure from radio to the launch of his new streaming platform. In this special breaking-news episode, documentary producer Josh Fox joins us to take us behind the scenes, revealing how the project came together, the extraordinary access Kyle granted, and what audiences can expect when they watch. We also explore the social media strategy behind one of Australia's most anticipated media launches. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everything now appears to come back to one document: Jackie Henderson's complaint letter to ARN on 26 February.In this episode, workplace relations lawyer, Michael Byrnes, explains why ARN's amended defence has shifted the battleground away from the on-air argument and onto Jackie's motivation for writing that letter.Did Jackie genuinely raise workplace concerns? Or had she already decided to leave breakfast before the complaint was made?Michael breaks down "good faith" in plain English, explains why the timing matters so much, and takes us inside Jackie's court-ordered medical examination and how much weight the report could carry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Survey 4 is done. Kyle Sandilands Live launches on August 10. ARN now has just four surveys left to rebuild breakfast in Sydney and Melbourne.This week, we unpack why replacing Kyle & Jackie O is far more complicated than simply making a few phone calls. Craig reflects on his own experience replacing the country's biggest breakfast show, why finding "the best available talent" is so difficult, and why every week spent rotating guest hosts comes with a cost. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kyle Sandilands' new show is now just over three weeks away, and for the first time Kyle's manager, Bruno Bouchet, joins us to reveal what happens next: the August 10 launch, the app, subscription pricing, the up coming documentary, and how a four-hour show comes together outside the traditional radio framework.We also go behind the scenes of one of the toughest periods of Kyle's career. Bruno opens up about watching his close friend navigate the legal battle, how he separates his friendship from his business relationship with Kyle, and the moment they stopped surviving the crisis and started building the future.Plus: Will Karl Stefanovic appear? What will day one actually sound like? And what do the latest Survey 4 ratings tell us about life after Kyle & Jackie O?It's the most detailed look yet at one of the biggest launches in Australian media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

GFK survey 4 results are in and we have all the analysis from former ARN head of content Duncan Campbell. KIIS Sydney breakfast continues to lose audience, the big question is - have they reached the bottom? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After one of the most extraordinary months Australian media has seen, Mumbrella publisher Tim Burrowes joins us to make sense of it all.Why did Eddie McGuire's Gold experiment stumble so badly? Was ARN's decision to part ways with Karl Stefanovic driven purely by advertiser pressure? And has the influence of the MFW fundamentally changed how media companies recruit talent?We also examine the rise of independent creators, Kyle's subscription project, Jackie O's legal future, declining radio revenue, and whether 2026 will be remembered as the year the old media model finally began to give way to something new.Plus, rapid-fire predictions on KIIS, 2Day FM, Channel 9, ARN, and who wins the next battle for breakfast.Audio featured in this episode includes excerpts from MFW 'Warts & All', ABC Sydney, The Karl Stefanovic Show and ARN. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've obtained exclusive details about Kyle Sandilands' next move.Josh Fox and the team at AIMS Creator Hub have opened the door on a six-part documentary following Kyle's return, and we also reveal everything we're hearing about the launch of Kyle Live - it’s happening sooner than you think.If you've been wondering what Kyle has been working on, this is the episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Montoyas are one of Australia's funniest and fastest-growing podcast success stories, and in this episode they join us to unpack how it all happened.Tayla and Marcelo Montoya talk about the early pilot sessions that almost never happened to building one of the country's most engaged online communities. We talk about why audiences have connected so deeply with their honesty, humour and family life, how they create content that consistently cuts through on social media, and why authenticity continues to outperform polish.We also explore Tayla's journey from radio to podcasting, Marcelo's natural talent behind the microphone, the feedback that's helped shape the show, and whether a podcast built around a relationship like theirs could ever make the leap to commercial radio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For months we've heard the claims. Campaigns are being cancelled. Broadcasters are under pressure. Careers are changing.So what happens when those complaints land inside an advertising agency?Ben Willee from Spinach Advertising joins us to explain how brands assess risk, what "brand safe" really means, and whether organised activist campaigns from the MFW genuinely influence where millions of advertising dollars are spent.It's a fascinating look at the collision between social media activism, commercial radio and modern marketing.Audio snippets featured in this episode are from the ABC Sydney and the podcast 'MFW Warts & All'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did someone really register a Kyle-and-Karl domain name? We checked.Craig reveals what Kyle Sandilands told him directly, why the rumour doesn't stack up, and why the idea makes little commercial sense.Then we revisit the biggest lessons from our blockbuster conversation with former ARN head of content Duncan Campbell. We’ll revisit the questions we missed, you’ll hear some of the audio from that now infamous 10 minutes of madness that sealed the fate of the show (consider this a warning) and the value of building relationships with the talent that can generate ratings and why it’s harder than it looks.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Karl Stefanovic is out. ARN has pulled the plug 3 weeks after the show even launched, leaving staff stunned and raising bigger questions about how media companies manage risk in 2026. Michael Byrnes joins us to explain the legal and commercial realities behind the decision, the power of advertiser perception, and whether campaigns like Mad F***ing Witches are changing the way broadcasters make programming decisions. We also discuss what's next for Karl, and whether independent publishing can replace the earning power of traditional media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former ARN executive Duncan Campbell speaks openly about Kyle & Jackie O's Melbourne launch, the challenges of managing superstar talent, the impact of MFW and why it took so long for them to respond to their campaign, along with all the conversations taking place behind closed doors as the show's future became increasingly uncertain.This is one of the most revealing interviews we've recorded—and an essential listen for anyone interested in how great radio is built, and how even the biggest shows can unravel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew Denton once said on Game Changers, "You've just got to put yourself in play.” Nobody embodies that idea better than Henry Bretz.From local radio on the Sunshine Coast to millions of social media views through his hilarious Karl Stefanovic videos, Henry's story is the perfect example of being ready when opportunity knocks.We talk about the algorithms that have helped him go viral, the importance of the comments section, the uncertain future of radio, and why creators should focus less on chasing views and more on making work they're proud of.Whether you're in radio, podcasting or creating content online, this is an episode packed with practical lessons from someone having one of the biggest creative moments in Australian media right now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ARN’s search for a new breakfast show to replace Kyle and Jackie O continues. Irene shares her pick for the big gig and Craig thinks there's one podcast that deserves to be on their radar.This week we introduce you to Tayla and Marcelo Montoya—a content partnership that is building momentum as one of the funniest, most dynamic and authentic combinations in the country. We want your feedback as to whether this husband and wife team could be the shake up that Sydney breakfast needs.Also this week we have the real reason behind Kris Fade saying no to his dream job on Kiis.Plus, what every breakfast team can learn from Jase Hawkins' remarkable approach to co-hosting - just when you thought good guys always finish last, someone like Jase comes along and proves otherwise. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One question is beginning to dominate Jackie Henderson's legal battle with ARN.Who actually made the decision to sack her?According to court documents, Jackie's legal team says they still don't know who the decision-makers were after she told the company she could no longer work with Kyle Sandilands.Why does that matter? Could identifying the people behind the decision become one of the most important issues in the entire case?Michael Byrnes joins us to explain why this seemingly simple question could have significant legal consequences, what the court-ordered independent medical examination means, why Jackie is determined to keep the October hearing dates, and what signals we should be watching for if settlement discussions are happening behind closed doors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One podcast interview has triggered one of the biggest media stories of the year.Channel 9 and Karl Stefanovic have reportedly parted ways following Karl's interview with UK activist Tommy Robinson. But was this really about one podcast... or was it the moment an already changing relationship finally reached its conclusion?Employment lawyer Michael Byrnes joins us to unpack the legal, commercial and reputational questions behind the decision.We discuss whether Australia's biggest television personalities can ever separate their personal brands from their employers, why advertisers often shape these decisions, and whether media companies are becoming increasingly vulnerable to organised pressure campaigns.We also examine what Karl's reported departure could mean for his new partnership with Eddie McGuire and ARN, and why this story may have implications well beyond one presenter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After hundreds of comments, messages and questions from listeners, Kyle Sandilands is back.In this special bonus episode, Kyle answers questions submitted by the Game Changers audience, including the biggest question we forgot to ask during our exclusive interview.We also discuss the overwhelming reaction to Kyle's announcement, the challenges of launching a paid content platform, and why convenience, not content, may be the biggest competitor to Kyle's next venture. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After months of legal battles, headlines and speculation, Kyle Sandilands sits down for his first and only in-depth interview since reaching a settlement with ARN. In a raw and revealing conversation, Kyle takes us inside the final days of the Kyle & Jackie O Show, the moment everything changed on February 20, his relationship with Jackie, the personal toll of the court fight, and the future he's now building from scratch. This is the interview you’ve been been waiting for.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After months of court filings, subpoenas, hearings and speculation, the biggest legal story in Australian radio has taken a dramatic turn: Kyle Sandilands and ARN have settled.A few weeks ago, workplace relations lawyer Michael Byrnes told us that most disputes like this end in settlement. This week, he joins us to explain why he was right.What does a settlement like this actually look like behind closed doors? Why is every word in the agreement negotiated so carefully? What would ARN have been demanding? What would Kyle have been fighting for? And will we ever know the true financial cost of ending one of radio's biggest disputes.Michael Byrnes takes us inside the settlement process, the strategy, the leverage points and what could happen next in one of the most closely watched media disputes in Australia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, while walking the dogs, Craig received an unexpected phone call from Kyle Sandilands.What followed was a conversation we've kept confidential until now.Today, Kyle and ARN have settled their legal dispute, bringing one of the most extraordinary chapters in Australian radio history to an end.In this emergency episode, we reveal what Kyle told us about the settlement, why he decided not to continue the fight, and his plans for a brand-new media venture outside traditional radio.We also discuss Kyle's promise to sit down with Game Changers before speaking publicly elsewhere. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The most anticipated radio launch of 2026 has arrived. Karl Stefanovic and Eddie McGuire's multi-platform experiment is finally on air—but does the content match the promise? Craig and Irene unpack week one, the risks of appointment listening in radio, and whether ARN is building a show or proving a strategy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we discuss the fall out from GfK survey 3 and the potential plans for ARN to build a new breakfast show in Sydney with multi-platform TV stars.According to reports, CEO Michael Stephenson is looking at TV talent for his next KIIS breakfast move. Will it work? We have our concerns. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is it possible to lose 130,000 listeners and be happy with the result? That is potentially the case for ARN today. Whilst a portion of the audience have left KIIS breakfast, it’s not exactly clear where they’ve gone.Irene and Craig dissect GFK survey 3 results. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Commercial Radio Australia released national revenue numbers recently showing a slight decline in metro radio revenue, but a 9% increase in digital audio. The winds are blowing in one direction, towards a digital future, and the question on every creators lips is “how do I make money from my podcast?”.Matt Johnson from the brilliant Two Doting Dads podcast takes us inside the creator economy and shows us where the money is. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode, we preview the next round of GfK survey results which are released June 11. The expectation is that Kyle and Jackie’s audience will leave - but how big will the losses be and which stations will benefit most? We have 3 scenarios for you to ponder. We’ll also discuss ARN’s next moves in Melbourne and why they seem to have so many more options for a new breakfast show in that market than in Sydney. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we discuss the potential fall-out from ARN’s request for documents from Jackie in their case against Kyle. What will we see in her communication with Gemma and others preceding and following the Feb 20 blow-up.Also this week more on Bianca Dye, your feedback has been loud and clear - you’d like to hear more from her, will ARN give her another chance to show her wares. We discuss the delicate dance that ARN must do in providing consistency for the audience in breakfast whilst trialling the best options for the new show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Australian Audio Awards happened in Sydney on Thursday night and in this episode we talk with ex Kyle and Jackie O producer, Josh Fox who won the independent podcast of the year award as well as best independent podcast host.From driving the social media for the Kyle and Jackie O show, to being one of the biggest podcasters in Australia, Josh has a media career that is going from strength to strength. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Kyle and Jackie O break up has been a dream story for so many content creators. Leading the charge is Bella Frizza, a self confessed Kyle and Jackie super fan and radio host on the Gold Coast. We find out what she makes of the story so far and her predictions of what might happen next. Keep up with Bella's take on Kyle & Jackie O @bellafrizza Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode, we discuss the Daily Telegraph article from last week claiming that Jackie had been slowly breaking up with Kyle over a 5 year period in the lead up to their Feb 20 on-air clash. Is it possible that she could have been thinking about ending the show whilst also signing a 10 year agreement to continue with Kyle? Also this week we review Bianca Dye’s co-hosting role on KIIS breakfast and why Irene thinks that she should be a front runner to join the show permanently. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Massive news form ARN with the announcement of “the Long weekend” a brand new radio show coming to the Gold network from June 19 and hosted by Karl Stefanovic and Eddie McGuire. How will it sound, and how will it work? We have lots of questions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we discuss the move of Intern Pete from KIIS 1065 breakfast to Gold, where he’ll work alongside Christian O’Connell.Will ARN look to replace him on KIIS or do they have other plans? The KIIS breakfast line-up continues to evolve, with new guests entering the ring, we discuss whether the line-up is close to completion with a crew of familiar voices being the pathway forward post Kyle and Jackie O.And the burning question - when will Kyle’s new project land and what will it sound like? We’ll share some thoughts and insights from inside the Sandilands inner circle on what might happen next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we talk with one of Australia’s best content creators, Matt Johnson from the Two Doting Dads podcast, about why Kyle needs to immediately activate his "Kyle Live" project. Matt believes that the time is now and that every day Kyle is not online and in the social feeds of his audience, he will be losing relevance with them. In the creator economy, time waits for no man. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode a chance meeting in Toronto with Kris Fade has given us the inside track on whether he’s a front runner for the KIIS breakfast show. Craig has all the details of his one on one conversation with the man who everyone is talking about.Also this week, we discuss the fallout from Abbie Chatfield’s 2 week guest role on KIIS and we ask the question - does being a mother on the radio really create an advantage for Emma Chow on 2day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we talk with Michael Byrnes our legal expert about this week’s mega dump from both Kyle and Jackie O with all the detail and controversy from their new court filings.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Burrowes from Mumbrella joins us to decode what ARN were really saying between the lines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we reflect on the 2 year anniversary of the launch of Kyle and Jackie O into Melbourne. What was meant to be the beginning of a journey that would eventually realise Kyle’s national ambitions became the beginning of the end for K and J. We’ll take you through all the gory details, and trust us, most of the audio is not for little ears. Also this week, it’s time to chat about Abbie Chatfield. Can one of the most influential young women in Australian media cross over to breakfast radio? Does she even want to? You can hear our thoughts on her first week on KIIS right now.This episode includes an interview excerpt from the Mumbrellacast podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we bring you up to speed with everything you need to know about the Kyle and Jackie O legal battle with ARN. Our legal expert Michael Byrnes from Swaab gives us a full 360 degree view of the biggest legal fight in Australian media history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we discuss the fall-out from the GfK survey 2 ratings, has KIIS dodged a bullet or is there still another ratings show to be fired? We’ll talk about the potential of a soft landing for KIIS breakfast in Sydney and what that means for ARN. A massive week in court, with ARN stepping into the ring and presenting their side of the story - suddenly a case that looked in favour of Kyle and Jackie is not so clear cut.And we’ll share your thoughts on the whether Karl, Kris Fade or Sophie Monk are potential options to replace Kyle and Jackie O. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Plenty to discuss from today’s court proceedings with our legal expert Michael Byrnes, including a new date being proposed for both cases to be heard concurrently or consecutively. Listen now for the latest legal insights. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sydney’s radio results are in and the results are a massive sigh of relief for Kiis with the breakfast show sitting at number 1 in the rankings.We have all the details on why and how the Kyle and Jackie audience have stayed loyal, for the moment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Details from ARN’s statement of claim in their defence of terminating the contracts of Kyle and Jackie O have been made available today, we talk with our legal expert Michael Byrnes about the key points from their case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we’re joined by former head of MMM Mike Fitzpatrick to discuss this week’s survey results. GfK survey 2 numbers land on Thursday and it will be our first glimpse into the impact of the Kyle and Jackie O implosion. Where will the audience go and how quickly will we see that movement from KIIS to other stations. Listen now for some educated guesses as to what might happen on Thursday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With so many big names on the list of potential replacements for the Kyle and Jackie O show, we think there’s one person well and truly qualified who most have overlooked and we’ll introduce you to him in this episode.Also this week, we have uncovered more audio breadcrumbs from Jackie and Gemma's 'Her Best Life' podcast which might suggest that Jackie had been unhappy with the show but unsure how to address her concerns. Game Changers Radio is brought to you by RCS, the world’s largest broadcast software company.And is edited by Abe’s Audio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.