Karl Stefanovic’s new podcast has become a problem for Channel 9, with criticism mounting that his guest list is eroding the credibility of the network and its flagship morning show. In just a few months, Stefanovic has recorded more than 50 episodes while still fronting Today, and the latest row was sparked by his interview with Pete Evans.
That is why the podcast is being searched now: it has shifted from a side project to Stefanovic’s biggest priority outside his Today commitments, and each new episode is landing with more scrutiny. The cast has been hard to miss — Pauline Hanson, Matt Canavan, Gerard Rennick, Barnaby Joyce, Clive Palmer, Jacinta Price, Tony Abbott and Bob Katter have all appeared, while Anthony Albanese has been the only left-leaning politician named in the mix.
Media commentator Andrew Mercado said that if Stefanovic keeps going with right-wing figures, he is damaging the credibility of Today. He argued the podcast is positioning him as the Joe Rogan of Australia, or Joe Bogan, and said that is not a good look for someone who is supposed to be a neutral host on the breakfast program. Mercado also said there is always money to be made in whipping up the right-wing crowd, a comment that cuts straight to the commercial pressure behind the guest choices. A related report on the row can be read here: Karl Stefanovic's podcast row raises Channel 9 credibility concerns.
The friction is not just political. Stefanovic’s latest guest was Evans, a figure long associated with COVID misinformation and other controversies, and listeners reacted badly, calling the episode gross and disappointing. During the conversation, Stefanovic and Evans discussed the chef’s character assassination during COVID, and Stefanovic personally apologised for contributing to the pile-on. Evans was fined thousands of dollars for selling a $15,000 Biocharger device that claimed to address the virus, was dropped by his book publisher after sharing an image with a symbol used by neo-Nazis, and encouraged people to stare into the sun without protection.
What happens next is the part Channel 9 has not answered: whether Stefanovic changes the mix of guests, or whether the network accepts that its best-known morning host is now building a second identity around the kinds of voices that make Today look less neutral by the week.
