Michael Theo first captured Australia's attention as one of the stars of Love on the Spectrum.

Since then, he's gone on to lead the ABC comedy-drama Austin - a performance that has now earned him a Silver Logie nomination for Best Lead Actor in a Comedy.

To mark the nomination, we're revisiting one of our conversations with him from the archives.

This bonus Sunday episode of The Briefing is Antoinette Lattouf's 2024 conversation with Michael Theo about finding fame through Love on the Spectrum, making the leap into acting, and the very specific checklist he has for his ideal partner.

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He went from busking in Pitt Street Mall to winning Australia's Got Talent with Justice Crew, signing a record deal despite none of them being trained singers, and touring the world with the likes of Pitbull, Janet Jackson and One Direction.

Now John Pearce - Big Strong John, the internet's "hot Wiggle" - sits down with Chris Spyrou in this episode of The Weekend Briefing to look back on the wild ride from western Sydney dancer to ARIA chart-topper, including what he actually did with his AGT prize money, whether twin telepathy with his brother Lenny is real, and the moment Justice Crew quietly wound down.

They also get into how he came to join the Wiggle-verse, how his life has changed since becoming a dad and his honest feelings about being labelled a heartthrob while dressed as a children's entertainer.

WEEKEND LIST:

• To watch: Widow's Bay on Apple TV (Listener Nial)
• To eat: GYG Breakfast Burrito
• To gift: Gourmet Basket
• To explore: Bunnings on Uber Eats?!

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Friday Headlines:

• World leaders commit aid after Venezuela hit by two earthquakes
• Albo to target social media companies and algorithms in strengthening of under-16 ban
• Sydney shark attack victim awake, reunited with daughter
• Nearly 1 in 20 fuel pumps short-changing Australians
• SBS braces for record viewing audience as Socceroos take on Paraguay

Deep Dive: The Socceroos are back in action today, taking on Paraguay in their final World Cup group match.

Australia heads into the clash knowing a win or draw would put it in a strong position to reach the knockout stage - but even a loss may not be enough to end our campaign.

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by SBS's Santo & Ed's Cup Fever host Ed Kavalee to unpack Australia's chances, the big names to watch, and the World Cup facts that'll help you sound like you've been following the tournament all along.

Further listening from headlines:
Your anger is being sold, Ed Coper knows what to do about it

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Thursday Headlines:

• Bird flu found in second Aussie state
• Hanson says Socceroos are an example of monoculturalism
• ASIO defends resourcing ahead of Bondi attack, warns of ‘unprecedented’ number of threats
• Karl Stefanovic to leave after podcast interview with far-right activist
• Neil the seal is back 🦭

Deep Dive: The world is in El Niño again – the weather pattern caused by warmer sea surface temperature in the Pacific Ocean. For Australia, an El Niño usually means less rain and hotter days, but also more extreme temperatures, including a higher frost risk.

The big question, though, is whether hotter and drier conditions are likely to lead to a dramatic bushfire season. Could we be in for another Black Summer?

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou is joined by Dr Kimberley Reid, a Research Fellow with the Centre of Excellence for Weather of the 21st Century at the University of Melbourne to unpack it all.

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Can someone please explain what’s going on in the United Kingdom? Within two years of a landslide election, the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer became so unpopular that his own party wanted to throw him out. The man set to replace him, Andy Burnham, seems like he’s going to assume the top job unchallenged, after only recently being re-elected into parliament. Burnham will be the seventh UK Prime Minister in a decade.

What went wrong with UK politics? And is the Labour leadership drama just a distraction before the right-wing Reform party sweeps the next election?

Joining this episode of The Briefing is Katy Balls, an editor and columnist for The Times and The Sunday Times.

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Wednesday Headlines:

• Labor to pass contentious tax reforms
• Angus Taylor grilled on multiculturalism
• Urgent testing underway but no new cases of bird flu yet
• 40 die in France amid record heat
• Legal win for Sydney nurses after viral video struck out
• Daryl Braithwaite announces retirement from live gigs

Deep Dive: The Australian political narrative has been completely hijacked by the rise of Pauline Hanson and One Nation, as the party and its leader continue to surge ahead in the polls.

But after the Prime Minister publicly challenged her claim that she is the ultimate champion of the "Aussie battler" this week, a critical question remains: who does her party actually stand for?

In this episode of The Briefing, Big Small Talk host Hannah Ferguson joins Sacha Barbour Gatt to break down the reality behind the rhetoric.

Further listening from headlines:
Bird flu's hit Australia. What now?

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Tuesday Headlines:

• UK PM Sir Keir Starmer resigns
• Vance says Iran will allow nuclear inspectors
• Aussie support for multiculturalism plunges in historic survey shift
• Rare warning from Five Eyes urges leaders to ‘act now’ on powerful new AI models
• Messi breaks World Cup goal-scoring record

Deep Dive:
For years, Australia managed to avoid a strain of bird flu that has devastated wildlife populations and agricultural industries across much of the world.

That changed over the weekend, after authorities confirmed an infected migratory bird was discovered with H5N1 in Western Australia.

In this episode of The Briefing, Chris Spyrou speaks with Professor Paul Griffin, Director of Infectious Diseases at Mater Health, about what we know about the virus, the risks it poses to both humans and animals, and why authorities are urging us to roll up our sleeves for this year’s flu shot to help reduce its impact.

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Monday Headlines:

• National Cabinet to meet today to lock in fuel excise cut extension
• JD Vance says ‘great progress’ made as Iran talks kicks off in Switzerland
• UK Prime Minister could resign in next 24 hours
• Auction clearance rates hit lowest levels since the pandemic
• Socceroos 90% likely to reach next stage of World Cup

Deep Dive:
Last month, Australian neo-Nazi group White Australia, also known as the National Socialist Network, became a prohibited hate group. That means it is now illegal: it’s a crime to join, fund, or support the group. The NSN is challenging the government’s declaration, with a showdown scheduled in the High Court for September.

In the meantime, it’s been revealed a $2.5m Victorian property the neo-Nazi group is currently using as their headquarters has been paid for by a millionaire backer. And it’s not just one millionaire, but a network of rich and influential sympathisers.

In this episode of The Briefing, Sacha Barbour Gatt speaks with journalist Sherryn Groch from The Age, who has followed the money to find the neo-Nazis' mansion and the millionaire-backers supporting them.

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