The Context with John Barron - Season 1

Season 1

Episodes

Smoking
John Barron takes a deeper look at key issues. First up, the decades-long battle against smoking has seen millions quit, but more than one in 10 adults still smoke. Is vaping part of the solution or a whole new problem?

Watergate
As hearings continue into Donald Trump's attempts to overturn his election defeat, John Barron looks back 50 years to the perhaps the greatest scandal in political history, Watergate. Pioneering journalist Elizabeth Drew and Nixon impeachment inquiry lawyer William Weld discuss the similarities and differences between Donald Trump and Richard Nixon.

ABC 90 Years
As the ABC celebrates 90 years on air, John Barron looks at the national broadcaster's news coverage over the past nine decades. John speaks to two iconic ABC journalists about what's changed and what's remained the same.

Roe v Wade
The US Supreme Court has stripped Americans wanting to terminate a pregnancy of the constitutional right to do so. John Barron looks at the history, legal reforms, ethical debates and practical limitations in Australia.

Home Ownership - Dream or Nightmare?
As interest rates go up again, John Barron looks at if the Great Australian Dream of owning your own home has actually become a nightmare. Plus what do tulips have to do with crypto-currencies?

Are We Addicted to Gambling?
Are we a nation of gamblers? John Barron speaks with Australia's top experts on poker machines, gambling and addiction. Plus are we seeing the return of the Cold War or something potentially more deadly?

Modern Marriage in Australia
Around two thousand couples get married in Australia every week. John Barron takes a look at modern marriage and divorce. Plus is there any danger of polio returning to Australia?

Should Humans Return to the Moon?
NASA plans to return to the moon in 2025. It's been 50 years since man last landed on the lunar surface so why go back now? Plus John asks a leading infectious diseases expert when will the COVID pandemic end.
Recently Updated Shows

EastEnders
Set in the East End of London, the show focuses on the tensions between love and family with stories ranging from hard-hitting social issues, to personal, human tragedies. And there's plenty of funny moments too.
Classic characters old and new across thousands of episodes have shared a drink in The Queen Vic, shed tears of despair or joy, sat on Arthur's bench in the Square... and at some point or other they probably crossed paths with Ian Beale.

America's Got Talent
With the talent search open to acts of all ages, America's Got Talent has brought the variety format back to the forefront of American culture by showcasing performers from across the country. The series is a true celebration of the American spirit, featuring a colorful array of singers, dancers, comedians, contortionists, impressionists, jugglers, magicians, ventriloquists and hopeful stars, all vying for their chance to win America's hearts and the $1 million prize.

American Ninja Warrior
American Ninja Warrior is an action-packed series that follows competitors as they tackle a series of challenging obstacle courses in both qualifying and finals rounds across the country. Those that successfully complete a course in their designated region move on to the national finals round in Las Vegas, where they face a stunning four-stage course modeled after the famed Mt. Midoriyama in Japan.

Bookish
London, 1946 is the dynamic, dangerous and chaotic setting for this stylish new detective drama, with the eccentric Gabriel Book at the very heart of the story: a self-appointed consultant detective to the local police. The thousands of books that line the shelves of his shop provide him with all the knowledge he needs.
Book has gathered around him a host of lovable, damaged misfits whom he informally protects, cajoles, and mentors. His wife Trottie runs the wallpaper shop next door. She's a charismatic adventuress whom Book loves deeply but not physically, for they are in a 'lavender' marriage to help conceal Book's sexual orientation in a time when it was illegal to be gay.
Bookish marries post-war nostalgia with the reckless and life-affirming atmosphere of the times, creating a fast-paced and stylish detective drama.

Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service
Restaurateurs who are looking for a quick fix or social media glow-up are in for the surprise of their lives when famed culinary titan Gordon Ramsay trades his signature chef knives for a state-of-the-art surveillance vehicle and cutting-edge spyware in FOX's all-new unscripted series, Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service. In a Gordon Ramsay series first, Chef Ramsay will venture into struggling restaurants under the cover of night. With the help of a secret source on the inside, he'll gather raw, unfiltered evidence and get a 360-degree view of the major issues facing each restaurant. This insider will not only remain a secret to the staff, but will also help Ramsay infiltrate the restaurant after-hours for a dramatic nighttime black light kitchen investigation that reveals more filth and grossness than ever before. By the time Ramsay reveals his identity, it will be too late for staff to cover up their culinary crimes. Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service will be his toughest assignment yet as he takes drastic measures to transform not only the restaurant but also the staff, because Gordon knows he can upgrade the menu and renovate the restaurant, but the most important change has to come from the people. Are the restaurant and staff willing to accept Gordon's mission, or are they too far gone to be saved?