Feed your mind. Be provoked. One big idea at a time. Your brain will love you for it. Grab your front row seat to the best live forums and festivals with Natasha Mitchell.
Animals — Us and them? How does loving animals go together with industrial farming?
Humans have a conflicted relationship with animals: We love our pets and admire our wildlife. But we continue the industrial production of dairy, meat and eggs, that often leaves animal suffering in dreadful conditions. We create a division between US and THEM, if it suits us. What does that say about how we value animals in our lives?Presented at the Byron Writers FestivalSpeakersPeter SingerBioethicist and author of Animal Liberation, Practical Ethics, and The Buddhist and the EthicistFounder
Animals — Us and them? Are you having a whale of a time?
Seeing a whale in the wild takes your breath away. But so much of what they do remains mysterious. Join Natasha Mitchell with two world leading whale researchers unearthing the secret world of cetaceans. You'll want to change jobs when you hear what they get up to! Thousands of humpback whales will soon leave their Summer feeding grounds in Antarctica with full bellies to begin the world's longest mammalian migration. How do they live, breed, behave, survive, thrive? Commercial whaling might h
Animals — Us and them? The cat catastrophe – pet or pest?
Cherished companions, or cunning predators? Cats kill five million native animals in Australia every day — so how can we better manage our feline friends?Listen to the rest of our special series Animals — Us and Them?SpeakersAlex Patton Invasive species ecologist and PhD candidate, University of TasmaniaNoel Hunt CEO, Ten Lives Cat CentreDr Catherine "Cat" Young Biodiversity coordinator, NRM SouthDr Tiana Pirtle (host)Conservation officer, Invasive Species CouncilFurther information:Cats in Aust
Animals — Us and them? What is the purpose of zoos in an extinction crisis?
Zoos are changing — they are no longer just places for us humans to gawk at animals in cages. In the midst of a global extinction crisis, they are now playing a vital role. So what is their future?This event was recorded at the International Society of Behavioural Ecology Congress in Melbourne on 2 October 2024, with thanks to organiser Professor Andy Bennett from the University of Melbourne.Listen to the rest of our special series Animals — Us and Them?SpeakersDr Sally SherwinDirector of Wildli
Animals — Us and Them? The true and the ugly of wildlife documentaries
Satyajit Das presents a provocative examination of the use and abuse of images of wild animals, and how they shape our relationships with the natural world. These pictures can create an impression of abundance and untouched ecosystems, and lull us into a false sense of security, at a time when the natural world faces ecological calamity.The Attenborough Effect — Shaping Our Relationship With Wild Animals was presented by the Australian National Maritime Museum.SpeakerSatyajit DasAuthor of Wild Q
Jem Bendell, the fake green fairytale, and how to survive civilisational collapse
We’re past the brink of civilisational collapse. And many environmentalists are pushing a “fake green fairytale”. Jem Bendell’s arguments have inspired the Extinction Rebellion movement’s civil disobedience pushing for climate change action. But Jem doesn’t think protest is enough now. Find out why the self-confessed eco-libertarian and author of Breaking Together: A freedom-loving response to collapse thinks we should break together not apart. Jem joins Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell at the 20
A murder in Malta — how Daphne Caruana Galizia's fight for justice lives on in her son
For 30 years, Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia exposed corruption and wrong doing in her country. Her youngest son, Paul Caruana Galizia, details the impact of her life, her assassination in a car bomb explosion in 2017, and how her legacy lives on.
Empireworld — Sathnam Sanghera on how British imperialism shaped the globe
The British Empire was once the biggest in the world. But now, some countries are cutting ties, and some want reparations. So just what is the legacy of British imperialism?
Living out your mental illness in public paves the way to lasting change
Being who we are in public (with our mental illness) is the only way to create lasting change. Amanda Tattersall is speaking about how her experience of living with bipolar has not only informed why she makes change, but how she is using her skills in collaboration to change public life when it comes to mental illness. Her recommended tools are storytelling, the sharing your lived experience, and forging solidarity through difference.Making Change and Mental Illness — reimagining how we make a d
Uncancelled culture — forgiveness and redemption in the digital age
Cancel culture has ruined careers and lives — but did they deserve it? What consequences should people face for what they say and do? And what does redemption look like in the digital age?
I can change the world! How these changemakers found their superpower
Sara Shams had both legs amputated at age six — it became her superpower. 15-year-old Taylor Ladd-Hudson turned a shark experience into something bigger. Amy Parry got subversive after she was told women's stories on screen were too niche. Jody Rallah wanted to make sense of the world and art led the way. And Anisa Nandaula turns it all into performance poetry. Meet these changemakers joining Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell at the Women of the World (WOW) Festival in Brisbane in October 2024.Spe
Re-thinking the relationship between brain and machine
Imagine a world where your brain is enhanced through cutting-edge technologies and next-generation AI, blurring the lines between organic and digital realms … and unlocking unprecedented potential. We are already some steps on the way in such a future. What would this mean for intelligence, human agency and consciousness?Your Brain on AI From organoids to consciousness was presented by the Sydney Opera House.SpeakersPaul DaviesTheoretical physicist, cosmologist, astrobiologist, Arizona State Uni
Video games — a new frontier in the fight for global influence?
With more than 3 billion people playing video games worldwide, they have the potential to wield tremendous power and influence. So is it time to take video games more seriously?
Don’t be a D**khead — with musicians Kasey Chambers and Clare Bowditch
When Kasey Chambers was growing up, her dad had one simple, yet profound piece of advice. Just don't be a d**khead.
Don’t be a D**khead — with musicians Kasey Chambers and Clare Bowditch
When Kasey Chambers was growing up, her dad had one simple, yet profound piece of advice. Just don't be a d**khead.
Should scientists stand up as things fall down? Advocacy, activism, impartiality and the risks
President Donald Trump’s administration is already muzzling government-funded scientists. Closer to home, Australian scientists have their own stories to tell about science censored, stymied or watered down when its findings aren’t convenient to industry or politicians. Should scientists stand up as things fall down? A Tasmanian panel argue why scientists should speak up, and consider the tensions between advocacy and impartiality when they do. SpeakersAlexandra de BlasScience and environmental
Minority report — the new shape of Australian politics, with George Megalogenis and Tory Shepherd
From the inner cities to the outer suburbs, to rural and regional Australia, just what is going on in minds of voters as we embark on another federal election?
Why Australia politicians welcomed fascists after the Second World War
Australia resettled fascists, even war criminals after World War II as part of a worldwide program led by the International Refugee Organisation. The background of these immigrants was known to all political parties, but they were regarded as cheap – and white – labour. Historian Jayne Persian explores the impact of these characters on the trajectory of postwar politics — a phenomenon well documented in other parts of the world but with which Australia has barely begun to reckon.Presented by the
What’s the secret to governments making wise decisions?
Take folly, friction, pain and empathy … mix well, and you get wise governmental decisions. If it only was that simple. Zachary Shore looks at the personal qualities, group dynamics, and historical conditions that have made wise decisions more or less likely to arise. The world’s current troubles would be more manageable, he contends, if we understood more clearly what produces wisdom and how to apply it. So what can we learn from history? A Wiser World: The Global Quest for Good Judgement was p
Merlin Sheldrake's Entangled Life — how fungi do things differently, and inspire us to as well
Have you noticed mushrooms are having a moment? Merlin Sheldrake's New York Times bestselling bookEntangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds, and Shape Our Futures has captivated readers worldwide. Be enchanted by a world unseen – one without which you wouldn't exist - and which might inspire you to re-imagine how you think about yourself and your relationships. Merlin and guests join Natasha Mitchell at the Now or Never Festival of Art, Ideas, Sound, Technology and the Melbour
Nicky Winmar and Rhoda Roberts − showing racism in sport the red card
Nicky Winmar's iconic stand against racism was a wakeup call more than 30 years ago. But how much has really changed? Racism on and off the field continues to be an issue across Australia, when we should be celebrating Indigenous sport icons.Presented by the Byron Writers Festival, supported by First Nations Australia Writers Network FNAWN.Listen to Big Ideas - Australia's sporting mythsSpeakersRhoda RobertsProducer, artistic director, journalist and broadcaster and author of My Cousin FrankWoma
Chopsticks or fork? — Jennifer Wong and Lin Jie Kong with Annabel Crabb
Almost every country town across Australia has a Chinese restaurant. Why is that? And what role do they play in the story of immigration and multiculturalism, as well as the life and tastebuds of regional communities? This event was recorded at Sydney's Gleebooks.SpeakersJennifer Wong Comedian, writer, tv presenter, columnist, curator, host and co-author of Chopsticks or Fork?Lin Jie Kong Producer, director, editor, co-author Chopsticks or Fork?Annabel Crabb (host) Writer and presenter, ABCFurth
Writers who rock — on the art of music writing
Three of Australia's best music writers share their craft, and reveal what it's like to sit down with some of music's biggest names.
How surfing writer Tim Baker and doctor Peter Goldsworthy learnt to live well and laugh with cancer
Meet two men who will change the way you think about an experience most of us fear but will be touched by in some way. In Patting the Shark, surfing writer Tim Baker describes his wild ride to reclaim a sense of control and agency after a cancer diagnosis. Celebrated author and GP Peter Goldsworthy’s memoir The Cancer Finishing School started out as a journal but became so much more.They join Natasha Mitchell for intimate an intimate, revelatory, funny, and generous conversation about the Big C
The fight to protect abortion in the United States — with Dr Angel Foster
What does Donald Trump's return to the White House mean for reproductive health in America?
The Knowledge Gene — the incredible story of the supergene that gives us human creativity
Prepare to have your mind blown with a sweeping saga that connects human evolution, brains, genes, art, music, creativity, knowledge, dyslexia, autism, Indigenous memory systems, and more. A big, beautiful and biological saga about how to learn like a human again. Joining Natasha Mitchell are Australian Senior Memory Champion, scientist and author Dr Lynne Kelly with artist Jane Rusden and musician and educator Hilary Blackshaw. This event was hosted by the 2024 Mountain Festival in Macedon, Vic
Is there life on Mars?
It's a question that has focused the minds of astronauts, scientists, space entrepreneurs and enthusiasts alike — is there, could there be, life on Mars? The race is on to find out, with NASA hoping to land astronauts there by the late 2030s. Because of its similar conditions to Earth, they're hoping the red planet could hold clues to the enduring mysteries of how life began, and whether we are alone in the universe.This event was recorded at the World Science Festival Brisbane in partnership wi
The delicate complexities of treating mental illness — Jonathan Rosen, Patrick McGorry with Natasha Mitchell
New York writer Jonathan Rosen’s memoir The Best Minds: a story of friendship, madness, and the tragedy of good intentions is a story of tenderness, heartache, and horror as he explores the vexed tensions between civil rights, medical power, and the complexities of recognising and treating severe psychotic illness. He joins Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell with psychiatrist Patrick McGorry for a powerful, moving conversation at the 2024 Adelaide Writers WeekOriginal broadcast on May 1, 2024Speake
Mary Beard and the Roman Empire
For decades, Mary Beard has forged her own path through the male dominated field of academia, from the ruins of Rome to the trenches of Twitter, to become "the world's most famous classicist". From the wise Augustus to the hypocritical Tiberius and the barking mad Caligula, Mary Beard uses these Roman rulers as a lens to examine life in their empire, and asks what lessons they can teach us about the world today.This event was recorded at Adelaide Writers' Week and originally broadcast on Big Ide
Looking to a healthy future with Helen Clark
We are living in an "age of crises," says former New Zealand prime minister, Helen Clark. With her leadership experience and expertise in governance, politics, and policy, Helen Clark and a panel of health and international relation experts explore the challenges facing the world today and what is needed to achieve a healthier and thriving future for all. proWhile it's easy to feel overwhelmed by complex problems, speaking up about inequality can make a difference. Helen Clark urged everyone to
How traumatic stress hurts us — with Bessel van der Kolk
Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world's foremost experts on trauma, discusses his pioneering research into traumatic stress and its impact on our brains and bodies. Traumatised people experience incomprehensible anxiety, numbing and intolerable rage. Trauma affects their capacity to concentrate, to remember, to form trusting relationships, and even to feel at home in their own bodies. And he explains promising treatments, including neurofeedback, psychedelic therapy, psychodrama … and dance.This
Is government deficit a myth? — with Stephanie Kelton
When governments say they can't afford to fix climate change or lift kids out of poverty are they speaking the truth? American economist Stephanie Kelton challenges economic orthodoxy in her book The Deficit Myth: Modern Monetary Theory and the Birth of the People's Economy. She joins Natasha Mitchell in conversation at this 2024 National Sustainability Festival event.
How to cut through political spin — Richard Denniss, Joelle Gergis, Yanis Varoufakis, Tom Keneally with Natasha Mitchell
Join host Natasha Mitchell and guests for some straight talk that cuts through spin and jargon. Has the way politicians speak ever made you shout at the television, feel bamboozled, helpless, or shut out of democratic debate over our shared future? Pollie-talk can make important issues opaque, the inequitable seem fair, and the fair seem inequitable. Hear from Richard Denniss (author of Econobabble: How to decode political spin and economic nonsense), Yanis Varoufakis (author of Technofeudalism
Islands rising — life on the front lines of the climate crisis
Residents of the Pacific and Torres Strait Islands face an existential threat from climate change, as rising sea levels threaten to swallow up their homes and livelihoods. But they are fighting back - calling for Australia and other countries to do more to end investment in fossil fuels and prevent a full blown climate catastrophe.This event was recorded on Kaurna country at WOMADelaide's Planet Talks on March 9, 2024. With thanks also to The Australia Institute. Original Big Ideas broadcast on
Liberalism as the basis of life?
Liberalism isn't just a political philosophy but the basis of a truly meaningful life. That's the bold statement of philosopher Alexandre Lefebvre, author of the forthcoming book Liberalism As A Way of Life. Should individuals be free to pursue their own passions and interests in life? Does liberalism mean more than freedom of speech and small government? You might not identify as a liberal, but are we in fact all liberals at heart? The Philosophy You Already Have — a Live Philosophy event was p
What we can learn from Tibetan master Mingyur Rinpoche, a Sufi scholar and an Indian philosopher of mind
Tibetan master Venerable Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche experienced terrifying panic attacks as a little boy. What did he learn about suffering, the Self, and the nature of our mind through coming to understand his own mind? He joins Natasha Mitchell along with an Indian philosopher of mind and a Sufi scholar to wrestle with the self and its dissolution.This event Beyond Self — A journey to connection and wellbeing was organised by Tergar Australia and the Monash Centre for Consciousness and Contemplat
AC Grayling — How to live well, according to philosophy
You wouldn't be human if you hadn't from time to time wondered what the meaning is of all of this. Who am I? Is there a purpose? Why am I here? And how can I live a good life? Well of course you're not alone – some of history's biggest thinkers have been coming up with answers to these questions for thousands of years. So what can we learn from their conclusions?This event was recorded at the Melbourne Writers Festival on 11 May, 2024. It was first broadcast on Big Ideas on 27 June 2024.SpeakerA
Laurie Anderson on time and life
Pioneering electronic musician and performer Laurie Anderson invites you contemplate the wonders of time. Time is one of the most impermanent forms of measurement that humans have invented to help manage our lives. We couldn't function without it. Do you feel like you're running out of time? Which way is time going? Are you able to stop time? What is the role of time in ethics, or how you experience trauma? Laurie shares a creative conversation with twice-Booker-shortlisted author Tom McCarthy
Hugh Mackay — Australian society in the 21st century
From loneliness, to our technology addiction, growing inequality and our shrinking middle class, our faith in God, to the complex legacy of the Baby Boomers, Hugh McKay paints a compelling portrait of modern Australia, and asks some pointy questions about its future.This event was recorded at the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre at the University of South Australia on May 16, 2024. First broadcast on Big Ideas on 4 July 2024.SpeakersHugh Mackay Social psychologist and researc
Holly Ringland helps you to get creative
Best-selling author Holly Ringland says that everyone can be creative – yes, even you! Be it painting, cooking, knitting a jumper or writing a song. It's often self-doubt and the fear of criticism and judgement that's holding you back. The voice in your head telling you that you're not good enough. It doesn't have to be like this. In The House That Joy Built, Holly Ringland explains how to 'get unstuck' and to give yourself permission to be creative.This conversation was presented at the Reading
Lifting the secret of an ancient Egyptian mummy
A wooden sarcophogas is sold in a Cairo market in the 1800s, transported to Australia, and held in a University of Sydney collection. It remains closed for over a century. And then scientists opened its lid. What happened next? Two leading Australian Egyptologists join Natasha Mitchell to consider the ethics, history, and science of a quest to understand life and death in Ancient Egypt and get a glimpse into one woman's world over 2500 years ago. But is it really Mer-Neith-It-Es?This event was
Andrew O'Hagan — Literature and truth in the era of fake news, algorithms and artificial intelligence
The internet was supposed to make the world more open and connected, but things seem to have taken a dark turn. Scottish author Andrew O'Hagan makes an impassioned case for the role of readers and writing as "frontline workers" in the fight for reality.These events were recorded at the Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival on 17 and 19 May 2024. Originally broadcast on Big Ideas on 18 July 2024.SpeakersAndrew O'Hagan Author Caledonian Road, Mayflies, and moreEssayist and editor-at-large of t
Eric Bogle tells it all — his songs and his life
Folk legend Eric Bogle is opening up and talks about his life, his thoughts about death, friendship and love and why having a deeper message for writing songs is so much more important than money and fame. It's a rare opportunity to share a conversation with one of the best and most prolific songwriters of the last several decades. His songs have become Australian classics – like The Band Played Waltzing Matilda or No Man's Land. And as a very special treat – you'll hear the world premiere of hi
Shark nets: a necessary protection or animal cruelty — tackling a difficult question with Natasha Mitchell
They use of shark nets to protect us from sharks is highly controversial. Do they work, what do they do to marine life, are there alternatives, and why are sharks so political? This is an issue that ignites passions.Join Big Ideas' host Natasha Mitchell and guests at the 2024 Ocean Lovers Festival for a robust interrogation of the harms and benefits.Original broadcast April 17, 2024.SpeakersLawrence Chlebeck Marine biologist and campaignerHumane Society International Dr Chris Pepin-Neff Senio
Meet the mothers of Australia's women's refuge movement
At a time when family violence wasn't even recognised by the law, a group of women broke into two vacant houses in Sydney and claimed squatters' rights, changing lives and attitudes to family violence forever.This event was recorded at the Elsie Conference on 15 March 2024. Original Big Ideas broadcast on 6 May 2024.SpeakersProfessor Di Otto Halfway House VictoriaBobbie Townsend Former resident and worker, Elsie Women's RefugeVivien Johnson Founding member of Marrickville Women's Refuge Collecti
Is Australia overrun by feral animals? ... with Costa Georgiadis
Australia's unique biodiversity, a product of almost 50 million years of glorious evolutionary isolation, is in freefall. The threats are not just the rabbits, the cane toads, the cats and foxes – the common culprits. Let's not forget the small but impactful smooth newt or the fierce red fire ants, and the many invasive weeds. Twenty new weeds will establish in the wild in Australia this year – and every year to come … unless things change. But is it possible to stop this ongoing invasion? How d
Benjamin Law’s butt, and the power and politics of portraiture
From Vincent Namatjira's painting of Gina Rinehart, to Jonathan Yeo's take on King Charles, what do portraits say about those they represent, those who create them, and the broader context of the time?The Andrew Sayers Memorial Lecture was recorded at the National Portrait Gallery on 31 July 2024. The National Gallery of Australia's annual lecture with Lindy Lee was recorded on 24 October 2024.SpeakersBenjamin Law Writer, broadcaster and cultural commentatorSarah Oakes (host) Director, External
The surfer and circumnavigator — the gobsmacking feats of Pauline Menczer and Bonnie Hancock
A freckle-faced kid from Bondi, Pauline Menczer fought the entrenched sexism of the pro-surfing scene to became women's world surfing champion and pave the way...er, waves..for girl grommets today. But all the while she was also fighting another battle inside her own body’s cells. Ironwoman and surf lifesaving champion Bonnie Hancock became the fastest and youngest person, and the first Australian woman, to circumnavigate Australia on a small surf ski, solo. What possessed her to paddle 12,700 k
President Petr Pavel – on why the war in Ukraine is a fight for geopolitical stability worldwide
Do you want to live in Putin’s vision of a world in which ‘the big boys’ dominate …. or in one in which smaller nations have a voice? If it’s the latter, so the President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel, you need to support Ukraine. This war isn’t just about the borders in Ukraine or security in Europe, it affects the world and our principles of sovereignty, integrity, freedom, and the right of smaller nations to decide their own future. Hear from one of Europe’s foremost voices on global secur
Memory, refugees and the Vietnam War — with Pulitzer Prize winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen
Born a refugee of the Vietnam War, and now a Pulitzer Prize winning American author, Viet Thanh Nguyen unpacks the refugee experience, and the politics and the personal weight of remembering, and forgetting.This event was recorded at the Melbourne Writers Festival on 11 May 2024.SpeakersViet Thanh Nguyen Author, A man of two faces, The Sympathizer, Simone (children's book) and moreAndre Dao (host) Author, Anam (winner of the
Who gets to shape the story? Reporting on the conflict in the Middle East — with The Guardian’s Nour Haydar
There's been a move by Australian newsrooms to foster and champion the diversity of their staff. But when it comes to covering the conflict between Israelis & Palestinians, and the war in Gaza, does this push for diversity only run skin deep? Who gets to shape the story? The 2024 AN Smith Memorial Lecture was recorded at the University of Melbourne's Centre for Advancing Journalism on 26 November 2024.SpeakersNour Haydar Senior Audio producer and co-host, Full Story podcast, Guardian AustraliaAn
50 years after Cyclone Tracy — powerful memories of horror and hope
Don't miss these previously unheard and powerful stories of ordinary people surviving extraordinary circumstances. Cyclone Tracy destroyed 80 percent of Darwin and killed 66 people. It's impact was harrowing. Beyond the despair are also memories of small blessings and surprising impacts long after that fateful Christmas of 1974.Presented by the Northern Territory Writers FestivalSpeakersRichard Creswick Author and former ABC journalistDerek PughHistorian and authorJared ArchibaldCurator of Ter
Deaf defying: disability leadership as an act of resistance — with Dr Scott Avery
In outback New South Wales, on the dried up, ancient clay shores of Lake Mungo, is a story that has become emblematic for profoundly deaf Worimi man Dr Scott Avery: what can it teach us about disability inclusion, leadership, and excellence?The 2024 Disability Leadership Oration was recorded at the National Archives of Australia on 26 November 2024.SpeakersDr Scott Avery Professor of Indigenous Disability and Wellbeing at the University of Technology SydneyChristina Ryan (host) Founder and chief
Trees, seeds, and ecotourism — the hidden histories Nature reveals about us
Can a single seed tell the story of a civilisation? What do the scars on the skins of 200-year old whales tell about our ancestors? Can ancient trees reveal hidden histories of human frailty and fabulousness? Can Nature be a timekeeper? Joining Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell are Dave Witty (author of What the Trees See: A Wander through Millennia of Natural History), Fiona McMillan-Webster (author of The Age of Seeds: How Plants Hacked Time and Why Our Future Depends on It) and Satyajit Das (au
The right to discriminate? Religious schools and Australian human rights law
Human rights are meant to be universal, but what happens when those rights conflict with one another? For example, a religious school's right to practice its faith, versus the right of others to be free from discrimination?The 2024 Higinbotham Lecture was recorded at RMIT University on 21 October 2024.SpeakerJustice Mordy Bromberg, President, Australian Law Reform CommissionFurther informationRead the full report Religious Educational Institutions and Anti-Discrimination Laws from the Australian
Is it still possible for empathy to trump hate? Here's how. Rhonda Magee and Mariam Tokhi with Natasha Mitchell
Rhonda Magee grew up in segregated North Carolina in an abusive household. She knows firsthand the deep divides that define America right now. She draws on her life, and her work as a law professor and leading mindfulness meditation teacher in her book The inner work of racial justice: Healing ourselves and transforming our communities through mindfulness. Mariam Tokhi is a writer and GP in a refugee and asylum seeker health service in Melbourne. She has created a trailblazing narrative medicin
Busting the myths around menstruation and menopause, with Dr Jennifer Gunter
Is menstruation linked to the moon? Do women's periods sync up when they live together? Are girls getting their first period younger? Why don't we talk about menstruation and menopause more? Popular US-based physician and bestselling author Dr Jen Gunter is on a mission to change the conversation about women's health.This event was recorded as part of National Science Week at the University of NSW's Centre for Ideas on 15 August 2024.SpeakersDr Jen Gunter Obstetrician and gynaecologistAuthor, Bl
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, 30 years on
Back in 1994, it was a pretty wild pitch for a movie: a troupe of drag queens road tripping across the Australian outback, in a lavender bus named Priscilla. But The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, put the Australian film industry on the global map, and these days it's become an icon of Australian cinema.This event was recorded on 11 September, 2024, at the Capitol Theatre, RMIT University, as part of Social Sciences Week.SpeakersRebel Penfold-Russell Executive Producer, Priscilla,
Together? Or together alone? Debating the harms and benefits of social media
The federal government wants to restrict social media to Australians aged over 16. But will it work? Hear from the adults and kids in the know as they debate the arguments for and against.The Great Debate was presented by the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia as part of Social Sciences Week, recorded at the National Library of Australia on 10 September 2024.SpeakersKids debate - Years 7 and 8 students at the University of Canberra High School KaleenMisha, Sienna and Jacob Affirmative t
ADHD, autism, depression — is social media causing social contagion? Jean Twenge, Sonny Jane Wise, Alice Dawkins, Sandersan Onie with Natasha Mitchell
Is social media a contagious force harming young minds, a life saver helping people find their neurodiverse tribes and support, or, for better or worse, a bit of both?From the Festival of Dangerous Ideas, join Natasha Mitchell with renowned social psychologist Jean Twenge, neurodiversity advocate Sonny Jane Wise, technology policy campaigner Alice Dawkins, suicide prevention researcher Dr Sandersan Onie. Young people depressed, distressed, and anxious. ADHD and Autism diagnoses on the increase.
Negotiating peace against the odds can be murky business
Mediation in armed conflicts means sitting down with brutal war lords, hiding your true values and in an open dialogue trying to really understand all sides of the parties involved. In the most pressurised environments, there are nearly always possible pathways to a win-win outcome — but finding the way requires a combination of imagination, goodwill, timing, and street smarts.Reflections on Diplomacy and Peace Mediation was presented at the TheMHS Conference 2024SpeakerPaul DziatkowiecDirector
The 4-Day-Week − creating a better work life balance or just more stress?
Pressing a full-time workload into four days sounds like simply adding more stress to your job – even if you keep your pay. But many people who have tried this model say that one would need to pay them double their salary to make them go back to a standard work week. And businesses enjoy better staff retention and get a completive edge on the job market.Presented by UQ ChangeMakersSpeakersDebbie BaileyConsultant Partner, 4 Day Week GlobalShannan QuainChief People Officer, Australian Digital Hea
From Mumbai to Studio 54 — how Asha Puthli became India's first disco star
She was Andy Warhol's muse, she's been sampled by Notorious BIG, and her music was once voted on the ten best songs to dry-hump to. This is the amazing true story of how Indian-born singer Asha Puthli became a music legend.This event was recorded at Rising Festival on 7 June 2024.SpeakersAsha Puthli SingerAdriana Lazaridis (host) DJ
Joanna Murray-Smith — You’re Right, I’m Wrong: The Artist's Role in a Shifting World
The leading playwright Joanna Murray-Smith makes a powerful case for the role of the arts in Australian public life, arguing that moral righteousness is stifling artistic expression.The last ever Stephen Murray-Smith Memorial Lecture was recorded at the State Library of Victoria on 8 October 2024.SpeakerJoanna Murray-Smith Playwright, screenwriter and novelist
The future of remembering wars past — school students speak frankly
How should we reflect on wars, past and present? Do the rituals of Remembrance Day and Anzac Day hold meaning for young people?Natasha Mitchell is joined by a crowd of high school students and special guests with opinions on the future of commemoration.This event was hosted and organised by Victoria's Shrine of Remembrance to mark its 90th anniversary.Speakers:Che Weon (Michelle) LeeMasters of architecture student, University of Melbourne School of DesignGranddaughter of Korean war veteran(Miche
Ending homelessness is possible
It needs strong leadership and good coordination. But most of all, it needs public opinion to rise up and push policy makers to tackle this crisis. Canada can teach us a lesson in how to do that. Homelessness is a systemic housing problem – not caused by mental health issues or drug abuse. Presented at the Australian Homelessness Conference, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI)SpeakersTim RichterFounder, President & CEO of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH)Carmel
What's wrong with death? Sophia Club live philosophy with Natasha Mitchell and guests
When you're alive, the idea of dying feels weird, remote, alien. Yet it's the one experience we will all have. Can philosophy help us make sense of that weirdness? What can talking about death and dying teach us about living? Natasha Mitchell is joined by a philosopher, funeral director, and a First Nations' songman for an uplifting, insightful conversation on death.This event is part of the Sophia Club live philosophy event series, presented by Aeon Media, publishers of Aeon and Psyche. Speake
From Gatsby to Huck Finn — American literature in an age of polarisation
From To Kill a Mockingbird to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, there are no shortage of options to include on those lists of "The Great American Novel". But which is the real plot in the story of America?This event was recorded at the University of Melbourne on 24 October 2024.SpeakerSarah Churchwell Professor of American Literature and Chair in Public Understanding of the Humanities, University of LondonAuthor, Careless People: Murder, Mayhem and The Invention of The Great Gatsby, The Wrath
Old, new, best, true — the joy, power and heartache of friends
Friends are among the most important relationships we will have in our lives. So what makes someone a friend, how do we hold on to them, and how do they shape who we are?This event was recorded at the Sydney Writers Festival on 22 May, 2024.SpeakersGyan Yankovich Author, Just Friends: On the Power, Influence and Joy of FriendshipLifestyle editor, Sydney Morning Herald and The AgeSusan Wyndham Co-editor (with Brigitta Olubas), Hazzard and Harrower: The lettersFormer Literary editor, Sydney Mornin
Unconventional women — a hidden story of nuns
Why did acclaimed actor Melissa Jaffer step away from the spotlight and the swinging 60s to enter a strict cloister of Australian nuns for 4 years? Sister Marian McClelland is the last of two surviving members of the same Australian order of contemplative nuns. They became nuns at a time of radical change for women worldwide and for the Catholic Church and have extraordinary stories to tell about how faith shaped their sense of identity and purpose. They join Natasha Mitchell with oral historian
Candice Fox, Matthew Conon, Benjamin Stevenson – on the ethics of crime writing
Literature on crime is huge. Many of you just love to read about a good murder. But do you prefer a soft touch around violent scenes? Or do you want to read it in the drastic, graphic language that shows crime the way it is? Writing crime stories can be a minefield: Do authors have to tell people, if they want to use them in their book? Particularly if they want to paint 'your character' the villain? Can you re-traumatise a victim when you turn their painful experience into a bestseller? A stell
SOS Democracy with Jon Faine — Can democracy survive social media?
From mis and disinformation to election interference, parts of the internet have become dystopian, due to a lack of regulation. What is this doing to our democracies, and how are governments around the world trying to reign the tech giants in?The 8th annual Sir Zelman Cowan Centre Oration was recorded on 10 October 2024.SpeakerJon Faine Vice Chancellor's Fellow at the University of MelbourneFormer ABC Radio hostAuthor, Apollo and Thelma
SOS Democracy with Niall Ferguson and Barrie Cassidy — Is democracy doomed?
Ninety years ago, in the face of communism, fascism, and the Great Depression, Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies, asked the question 'Is democracy doomed?' Today, we're asking that same question – with some answers that might surprise you.The 2024 Robert Menzies Oration was presented by the Robert Menzies Institute, recorded on 23 October 2024.The 2024 Henry Parkes Oration was recorded at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House on 22 October 2024.SpeakersSir Niall Fergu
SOS Democracy with Scott Stephens — Saving democracy with decency
Democracy is in retreat, authoritarianism on the rise. But this has happened before. So how did big thinkers of the past respond to the threats to democracy, and what can we learn from them?The Humanities Research Centre 50th Anniversary Distinguished Lecture was recorded at the Australian National University on 31 July 2024.SpeakersScott Stephens Co-presenter (with Waleed Aly) The MinefieldDigital editor, ABC Religion and EthicsCo-author of Quarterly Essay 87, Uncivil Wars: How Contempt is Corr
Spielberg, a tuba, and a shark named Bruce — the cultural impact of Jaws
When you're swimming in the ocean, do you ever startle at a piece of seaweed? Mistake a wave for a fin? Does the thought of sharks cross your mind at all? Nearly 50 years ago, a little movie by the name of Jaws, changed everything.This event was recorded at the National Film and Sound Archive, in partnership with the Australian National University, on 28 February 2024.SpeakersDr Hannah Calich Postdoctoral research fellow, Australian National UniversityProfessor Kenneth Lampl Convenor, Compositio
Brain amoeba, weird worms and the wild world of the parasites (inside you too!)
Remember the 8cm living worm found inside a woman's brain last year? Where the hell did it come from? Parasites have bizarre and whacky stories to tell. Join Natasha Mitchell to meet three scientists listening to what they have to say. The science, medicine, and mayhem of parasites. You'll have a whole new respect for these clever survivors and their biology.Thank you to the event organisers, the 2024 World Science Festival Brisbane and Queensland MuseumSpeakersProfessor Katherine Andrews Parasi
SOS Democracy with Fintan O’Toole — the US elections and the politics of self-pity
Irish Times columnist and author Fintan O'Toole draws on the Irish experience to explain the rise of populism and authoritarianism in the United States.This event was recorded at the Vice-Chancellor's Democracy Forum at University of Technology Sydney (UTS) on 26 September 2024.SpeakersFintan O'Toole Columnist with the Irish TImesLiterary Editor with the New York Review of BooksAuthor of We Don't Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Ireland Since 1958, Heroic Failure: Brexit and the Politics of
From pointe shoes to jockstraps – David McAllister lifts the curtain on the secrets of ballet
David McAllister invites you backstage and reveals gloriously gossipy anecdotes about the stars he's met in his long dancing career. But it's not all tutus and tiaras: ballet is at the top of transforming sport science.Presented at the Brisbane Writers Festival.SpeakersDavid McAllisterGuest artistic director of the West Australian Ballet, former principal dancer, former artistic director of The Australian BalletAuthor of Ballet Confidential: A personal behind-the-scenes guide, Thames & Hudson Au
The dangerous rise in antisemitism – Sharon Nazarian
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has fought against antisemitism worldwide for over a century. It is now documenting a dangerous rise in antisemitism, and the connection between conspiracy theorists, white supremacy, pro-Palestine anti-war protests, and hate speech.ADL board member, prominent Iranian-American Jewish philanthropist and academic Dr. Sharon Nazarian presents the inaugural Gahl Hodges Burt Lecture in Policy at the American Academy in Berlin.SpeakerDr Sharon Nazarian Board member and
A plea for peace in the Middle East — Louise Adler and Nasser Mashni
Two Australians who are intimately connected to the conflict in the Middle East, one Jewish, one Palestinian, make their pleas for peace, and share their deeply personal stories of how it has affected them.The 13th annual UN International Day of Peace Brisbane lecture was recorded at St John's Anglican Cathedral on September 21, 2024.SpeakersPeter CatDean, St John's Cathedral BrisbaneLouise AdlerDirector, Adelaide Writers WeekNasser MashniPresident, Australians for PalestineFurther informationOl
SOS Democracy with Niki Savva — can politicians and journalists do better?
From social media algorithms to authoritarian despots, is our democracy under threat?In our SOS DEMOCRACY series, meet big thinkers on a rescue mission to resuscitate democracy.In this first episode, one of Australia's most seasoned political journalists Niki Savva has seen the fractures up closer than most. Hear her timely advice for journalists, politicians and citizens.This 2024 Speaker's Lecture was recorded at Parliament House in Canberra on 9 September 2024.SOS DEMOCRACY airs on Tuesdays 8
What makes you a top athlete: science, training or talent?
Are you a gazelle or a grizzly bear when you run? The bounce in your step defines whether you're a stronger sprinter or long-distance runner — and choosing the right sport for your biomechanics determines whether you can get to the top of the podium. Find out more about the secret weapon of biomechanics, the theory of optimal speed control within racing endurance, and how performance psychology has an impact both on and off the track.The Science of Sport was presented at the York Festival of Ide
Cemeteries − the parks and public spaces of the future
Can you have a wedding between the graves? Why not! – as long as it's respectful. The future of cemetery design is multi-functional, as public spaces just like our gardens and parks. And also as a refuge for animals in the midst of our cities and suburbs. They can be places for the living as well as the dead. How can cemeteries play a broader role in our communities?Six Feed Under: Design and Death Symposium, Melbourne Design Week. Presented by Open House Melbourne.SpeakersHamish CoatesPrincipal
The case for controversial ideas — philosopher Peter Singer with Natasha Mitchell
Renowned and controversial Australian philosopher and bioethicist Peter Singer is no stranger to contentious ideas — wrestling with the ethics of how we treat each other and other species — infanticide, altruism, veganism and more. He joins Big Ideas' host Natasha Mitchell to talk about why.This event was organised by The Wheeler Centre and Montalto WinerySpeaker: Professor Peter SingerBioethicist and authorFounder of The Life You Can SaveFurther information:The Life You Can Save Oxford Universi
How Edna Walling changed gardening — with Millie Ross
Big Ideas celebrates the blooming daphne with a look at the life, work and legacy of a pioneer of Australian landscape gardening, Edna Walling.This event was recorded on April 16, 2024 at the State Library of Victoria.SpeakersTrisha Dixon Writer, photographer, tour guide leaderCo-author (with Jennie Churchill) The Vision of Edna Walling: Garden Plans 1920-1951 (1998), and Gardens in Time: In the Footsteps of Edna Walling (1988)Sara Hardy Biographer, playwright, former actorAuthor, The Unusual Li
From Gaza to Ukraine — is it harder to build peace, than to start war?
The United Nations was established after World War II in an attempt to maintain international peace, security, and cooperation. So why now, in the face once again of rising global conflicts, are the UN, and other world bodies, laws, and mechanisms, so unable to address these crises?This event was recorded at the University of Melbourne on 29 August 2024.SpeakersProfessor Alison Duxbury Deputy Dean, University of Melbourne Law SchoolDr Tania Miletic Co-Director, Initiative for Peacebuilding, Univ
Superheroes, pop stars, and “good enough tv” — The life of a culture critic in 2024
We've lived through the age of peak TV, (and wasn't it glorious). Then cinema was BACK, thanks to the hype of Barbenheimer. So, in this post Hollywood writers' strike world, how do we define the era of culture we are now consuming?This event was recorded at the Melbourne International Film Festival on 17 August 2024.SpeakersJared Richards ABC Entertainment reporterAlison Willmore Film critic, Vulture and New York magazinesHannah Diviney Disability advocate, actress, screenwriter and authorBrodie
Gold, Galahs and the Milky Way: unlocking the universe
Does the Milky Way have a sibling and how are stars formed? How can a telescope go back over 13 billion years ago to the Cosmic Dawn? The ASTRO 3D Centre of Excellence are unlocking some of the deepest mysteries of our universe and produced perhaps the clearest and most comprehensive picture of how matter, chemical elements, and energy evolved. Some of the astronomers and astrophysicists involved share their insights.Presented by ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions
Why autistic people make terrific employees
Every autistic person is different, with their own strengths and challenges. We shouldn’t be asking what jobs are suitable for them. Rather: How can we make this specific job suitable for this autistic person? The result is a thriving employee with unique abilities. On Big Ideas, we’ll debunk myths like that autistic people don’t recognise emotion or don’t have social skills. You can see how wrong this perception is in the ABC TV series The Assembly.The Assembly on ABC iviewSpeakersDiana TanMacq
Is depression a form of jetlag? Understanding the circadian rhythm
Surveys constantly reveal that a huge number of us are not sleeping well. What is that doing to our mental and physical health?This event was recorded at the University of Sydney's Raising the Bar night, on 9 April 2024.SpeakerDr Jacob Crouse Research fellow, Brain and Mind Centre, University of SydneyFurther informationABC Sleeptember
Restoring the fine art of traditional trades
The art and ethics of artisanal trades, from stone masonry to roof plumbing to limestone mortar plastering. What can be done to revive many of these traditional trades and bring them sustainably into the 21st century?Recorded Melbourne Design Week — presented by the Heritage Council of Victoria and the National Trust of VictoriaSpeakersGlen RundellWindsor Chair maker from the Central Highlands Co-Founder Lost Trades Fair, Kyneton Victoria Samantha WestbrookeExecutive Manager, Advocacy & Conserva
What rights for children in care?
Liana Buchanan is a guardian of the rights of our most precious asset - our children. In a keynote speech, the Principal Commissioner for Children and Young People, Victoria, presents some brutal realities of the failures in some systems that are meant to protect children at risk in Victoria. But there is hope. Amelia Hunt, a young person who has experienced out of home care describes how young people are raising their voices and having direct input into reforms. Recorded at the Castan Centre f
Students win fight for climate justice before the world's highest court
Student activists from the Pacific Islands successfully got the International Court of Justice to define the responsibilities of nations to combat climate change, and the legal consequences of failing to do so.This is the story of their win.Seeing first-hand the dire impact of climate change in their countries, they want to ensure nations around the world understand their obligations to take positive climate action.The 2024 Talbot Oration presented by the Australia MuseumSpeakersChynthia Houniuh
Housing as a human right? With Alan Kohler and Kevin Bell
The median Australian house price is now about $800,000 – almost eight times the average income – and well beyond the reach of many people, without help. So how did we get here, and with a federal election looming, are the political parties game to seriously take this on?"Any solution to housing that is easy and popular won't work." — Alan KohlerPresented at the Sydney Writers Festival and Readings Bookshop.SpeakersAlan KohlerFinance presenter, ABCAuthor of The Great Divide: Australia's Housing
Saving winter — the future of snow in Australia's Alpine region
Australia's high country is a spectacular and precious place. It's also a place that is changing, with shorter, less predictable snowfall. So, what does the future hold for the Alpine region, in a changing climate?This event was recorded on 13 June, 2024 at the Australian National University in partnership with Protect Our Winters Australia and the Australian Mountain Research Facility.SpeakersRuby OlssonLead author, Our Changing Snowscapes: Climate change impacts on and recommendations for our
Busting single motherhood myths
Frequently described as victims, as failures or even as women without morals, single mothers often get a bad rap. They are part of Australian statistics. Of the 1.1 million single parents, 83 percent are women, they are more likely to live in poverty and up to 65 percent have fled violent relationships. In this frank conversation, three women thrash and burn some of the assumptions about single mothers.Recorded at the All about Women Festival by the Sydney Opera HouseSpeakersBarkaaMalyangapa, Ba
How history shapes who we are — with Frank Bongiorno and Peter Stanley
History is the stories we choose to tell about ourselves and others. So how have those stories changed over time? And how has that shaped new understandings of our national identity?Presented by the Friends of the National Library of Australia.SpeakersPeter StanleyFormer Research Professor, Australian Centre for the Study of armed conflict, University of New South Wales (UNSW)Former Principal Historian, Australian War MemorialFormer inaugural head of research, National Museum of AustraliaAuthor
Why a scary tale is good for you − Angela Slatter, Kathleen Jennings, Naomi Novik and Shelley Parker-Chan
What is the allure of gothic fiction? How does it give shape to your most unsettling impulses? A panel of masters of the genre explore the creepy houses, dysfunctional families and the perfect degree of decay and rot that’s needed to create the ‘good scare’. From the classics of Jane Eyre to Harry Potter – we’re celebrating gothic tales. Presented at the Brisbane Writers FestivalSpeakersAngela "A.G." SlatterAuthor of six novels, including The Briar Book of the Dead, All the Murmuring Bones, The
Are we taking Orwell's name in vain?
What is the true meaning of Orwellian and what can George Orwell's writings teach us about navigating the 21st century? Since his book 1984 was published 75 years ago, there have always been comparisons drawn between the dystopian themes of the novel and contemporary injustices, inequality, censorship and corruption. Historian Laura Beers deconstructs many of the misconceptions around Orwell's writings to expose a complex, flawed man who had a commitment to liberty and economic justice.Provided
How valid is the Australian Constitution today?
It's the living force of the nation, but how much do we understand our Constitution? Twenty five pages sets out our laws, roles of government and political structure. Enacted by a people's vote of white men over 120 years ago it does not include rights for all citizens, for Indigenous Peoples or environmental protections. So how does the Constitution work for a contemporary Australia?Recorded at the National Archives Constitution Day eventSpeakersJustine Bell-JamesAssociate Professor & Director
Gas, tax and the free market — with Nobel prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz
The idea of "freedom" is one that's often used in relation to the economy: we have "the free market" and "free trade agreements", freedom from regulation, from government intervention, and so on. But whose freedom are we talking about, and at whose expense?This event was recorded at the Perth Town Hall on 14 August 2024.SpeakersJoseph Stiglitz Professor, Columbia University Business SchoolAuthor, The Road to Freedom: Economics and the Good SocietyEbony Bennett Deputy Director, The Australia Inst
A maze with no exits — Ma Thida on Myanmar’s struggle for democracy
Just over a decade ago democracy was within reach in Myanmar, but now the country is in danger of becoming a failed state. So what happened, and what keeps hope for the country alive?This event was recorded on 18 July 2024 at The Wheeler Centre, in partnership with PEN Melbourne, and RMIT Culture.SpeakersMa Thida Writer, human rights activist and doctorAuthor, A-maze: Myanmar's struggle for democracy: 2011-2023, Prisoner of Conscience: My Steps through Insein (2016) and many moreChair, Writers i
So you want to know what’s good for your kids?— with Norman Swan
It's a tough time to be a parent. From screens, to mental health, neurodiversity, gender, diet and schooling, this generation is in unchartered territory in many ways. So what does the evidence tell us that will give parents the best chance to raise happy healthy children, without killing themselves in the process?This event was recorded at Waverley Library in Sydney on 8 August 2024.SpeakersNorman Swan Presenter, Health Report, ABC Radio NationalAuthor, So you want to know what's good for your
Milk — a misunderstood, maligned, miracle food?
From soy to oat to almond, plant mylks are all the rage. But is it possible that we've misunderstood and unfairly maligned old fashioned cow's milk?SpeakersMatthew Evans Farmer, Fat Pig FarmsAuthor, Milk: the truth, the lies and the unbelievable story of the original superfoodHost, Gourmet Farmer, SBSNick Haddow Bruny Island Cheese CoAuthor, Milk Made: A book about cheese
From landmines to killer robots — inside the campaigns to ban weapons of war
It was the stuff of scifi blockbuster movie The Terminator in the early 1980s, but now lethal autonomous weapons systems are actually being used in conflict zones around the world. And the arms race is on to develop more effective, more deadly killing machines, that don't need human inputs to do their job.This event was recorded at Human Rights Watch in Sydney on 4 June 2024.SpeakersMary Wareham Deputy Director, Crisis, Conflict and Arms Division, Human Rights WatchCo-Laureate (with Jody William
Richard Flanagan, Michael Robotham on the hidden costs of cheap books
We all love a bargain, but what is the real cost of those books we buy online or in a supermarket for 12 dollars or less? Should Australia adopt a fixed book price common in Europe? How can we support and grow an industry that nourishes our minds and souls. A conversation on the challenges facing the Australian book industry. Presented at the Sydney Writers Festival.SpeakersRay BonnerPulitzer Prize winning author, journalist, co-owner of Bookoccino, the Northern Beaches bookstoreRichard Flanagan
Caribbean identity in Australia — with Maxine Beneba Clarke and Sienna Brown
The connections between the Caribbean and Australia go back to white settlement, with deep links to the slave trade and British colonialism. What does it mean to be a writer of Caribbean descent in modern Australia? And how can the act of writing and storytelling enable a new sense of belonging and home?This event was recorded at the Callaloo and Wattleseed Symposium at the University of Western Sydney on 3 May 2924.SpeakersMaxine Beneba Clarke Author, The Hate Race, Foreign Soil, poetry books C
Tim Flannery and the mystery of Big Meg — meet the largest predator that ever lived
10 humans in length, weighing 50 small cars, and with a bite that could take out two of you in one bite. This beast was BIG. But if Megalodon was so mighty, why did it disappear? Tim Flannery and his daughter Emma have written a book about the mystery of the giant extinct shark, and he joins Natasha Mitchell with two other fossil aficionados, palaeontologists Erich Fitzgerald and Cheng-Hsui Tsai, to take you into a very different watery world of wilderbeasts. Speakers:Professor Tim Flannery Pal
Intellectual influencers — the new generation of social media stars
A new generation of female and non-binary intellectuals are using social media to share their scholarship and reach younger audiences. It's a tricky balance — juggling their followers' expectations and reactions, both bouquets and brickbats, maintaining their rigour, and making a living from these algorithmically-gamed corporate platforms. Meet the new influencers.Presented by the Sydney Opera HouseSpeakersHannah FergusonFounder & CEO of cheekmedia.coSisonke MsimangWriter, activist and Guardian
Is bush tucker the future of food security?
Could our continent's ancient past help solve future food security crises? Or even offer new treatments for skin cancer and inflammatory bowel disease? Tasty on your dinner plate, potentially transformative for your health — First Nations experts explore the rich potential of traditional bush foods and Indigenous plant knowledge.Presented at the World Science Festival Brisbane.SpeakersSuzanne ThompsonFounder & Managing Director of Yambangku Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and Tourism Development Co
Public broadcasting is not as simple as ABC — with Kim Williams and Kerry O’ Brien
New ABC Chair Kim Williams wants to see change at Australia’s national public broadcaster. In a fragmented media landscape and a fractured world, what is the role of public broadcasting, and how can the ABC stay relevant for its listeners, viewers and readers?This event was recorded at the Byron Bay Writers Festival on Saturday 10 August 2024.SpeakersKim Williams ABC Chair Kerry O’Brien (host) Journalist and author
In this climate, having kids is wrong! The Beaker St Festival Great Debate with Adam Spencer, Wendy Zukerman, First Dog on the Moon and more
It's an adults-only hour of high vaudeville to make you laugh and think. Two teams of brainiacs go head-to-head at the annual Big Ideas and Beaker St Festival Great Debate hosted by Big Ideas’ presenter Natasha Mitchell. Arguing for the proposition is Team 'The Procreators' starring radio host and maths nerd to the masses Adam Spencer, Quandamooka saltwater scientist Mibu Fischer, Guardian Australia journalist and TikTok presenter Matilda Boseley. Arguing against the proposition is Team 'Nappy R
The fairy wrens want to you to hear this. Rewilding our cities and why it matters.
"They paved paradise and put up a parking lot" sang Joni Mitchell. Let's get wild and urban. Sometimes nature can thrive in cities in surprising ways and by accident. Hear how. And did you know 39 threatened species only exist in Australian cites? How do we design a city for fairy wrens, and the other feathered and furry beings who call it home?SpeakersSarah BekessyProfessor of Sustainability and Urban Planning, ICON Science research group, RMIT Darryl JonesWriter, speaker, researcher, behavio
Insects — nature's ultimate superheroes
Meet the world's smallest superheroes. Insects are ecological warriors, but through the brilliance of biomimicry, they're also inspiring all sorts of human inventions.From new medicines to air safety systems — don't underestimate the larger-than-life impact of the planet's tiniest beings.Presented at the World Science Festival Brisbane.SpeakersDr Chris BurwellQueensland Museum Senior Scientist and Curator of insectsDr Andrew WalkerPostdoctoral Fellow, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Universi
Night Sky LIVE – Are we losing our dark skies?
Join Natasha Mitchell for a live discussion to hear why we need to cherish dark skies. And share the night sky with RN listeners from around Australia to celebrate Science Week. When did you last see a truly dark sky? Light pollution in our cities and thousands of satellites are making the night sky brighter and brighter but what impact is this having on animals and on our health and wellbeing? Big Ideas will also be crossing to observatories around Australia to find out the best spots to see ou
New Cold Wars — America’s struggle to defend the West, with David E. Sanger
What led to this current era of superpower conflict, and what will the outcome of the 2024 US presidential race will mean for the geopolitical dynamics shaping the world?SpeakersDavid E. Sanger National Security and White House Correspondent, New York TimesAuthor New Cold Wars: China's rise, Russia's invasion, and America's struggle to defend the West and othersDr Michael Green CEO, United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney
How to overcome the fear and anxiety that are holding you back
Your biological responses to fear are at the core of depression, anxiety, failed relationships and much of human misery. But you can change how your body reacts to threats – some steps are as simple as adjusting your breathing. Fear has evolved as a set of powerful physical reactions for surviving predators. In modern life we face very different threats, but the same ancient, automatic fear responses are triggered. And that doesn't end well. It has a huge impact on our physical and mental health
Postmortem — Why forensic science is nothing like CSI
Humans have long had a morbid fascination with murder and other crimes, as shown through the popularity of shows like CSI and Silent Witness. But how close are these tv dramas to the real thing? Three forensic pathologists spill the beans on what it's really like to work in the science of death.This Sisters in Crime event was recorded on 24 May 2024 as part of Victorian Law Week.SpeakersAssociate Professor Linda IIes Head of forensic pathology services, Victorian Institute of Forensic MedicineDr
Nobel laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah: Why we must listen to the Global South
The Global South has vital perspectives in addressing the most pressing issues of our times, including inequality, the climate catastrophe, the mass displacement of humans, and the technologisation of life. Why aren't we listening? … Listening also to African diasporic writers when they correct the often unflattering stories about their home countries.Speaking from the South was presented by the University of AdelaideAfrica Now was presented by the Sydney Writers FestivalSpeakersAbdulrazak Gurna
The Men Who Killed the News — Eric Beecher's inside story of how media moguls abused their power, manipulated the truth, and distorted democracy
Eric Beecher joins Natasha Mitchell to discuss his riveting and excoriating new book The Men Who Killed the News: The inside story of how media moguls abused their power, manipulated the truth, and distorted democracy. A longtime journalist, editor and media proprietor, Erich Beecher is chair and the largest shareholder of Private Media, which owns the news website Crikey. In 2023, Fox Corporation’s Lachlan Murdoch paid Crikey $1.3million in legal costs after withdrawing his much publicised def
Meredith Whittaker on big data, mass surveillance and the AI gold rush
Have you been online recently and noticed the internet is changing? Everything from your Google searches to your social media profiles are now being used to train artificial intelligence. So, do you have a problem with that?This event was recorded at the Vice-Chancellor's Annual Democracy Forum at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) on June 19, 2024.SpeakersMeredith Whittaker President, SignalProfessor Peta Wyeth Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, UT
If West Germany and Europe could reconcile after WW II − then we all can make peace
Whether in conflicts around the world or within society, irreconcilability seems to be the hallmark of our present times. But it doesn't have to be that way. Many thought that reconciliation between West Germany and the UK and France after World War II was absolutely impossible. History taught us otherwise. What's the lesson of this process for today? What are the tools that lead to successful and lasting peace?Analysing Reconciliation and Irreconcilability from a Historical Perspective: The Exa
When world news hits home, with Benjamin Law
World conflicts can be overwhelming, or sometimes they feel very remote. But for many Australians, they are deeply personal, raw, and real. So what's it like when world news is not about 'other' people, but about 'your' people? This lively forum was hosted by Benjamin Law for QPAC and Multicultural Australia as part of the Changing the Conversation series on June 25, 2024.SpeakersAmok Dhuol South Sudanese Australian youth mentor, advocate with the Queensland African Communities CouncilArunn Jega
Because I Am Not Myself You See — Ariane Beeston speaks fearlessly on mental health, motherhood, and postnatal psychosis
One day Ariane Beeston looked at her baby son in his pram and saw a dragon looking back at her. In her memoir Because I am Not Myself You See: A memoir of madness, motherhood and coming back from the brink Ariane takes us inside her visceral experience of postnatal psychosis. Her extraordinary book could save lives — and cleaves open the secrets and stigma around maternal mental health, perfectionism, eating disorders, maternal love, dance school culture, and much more. She joins Natasha Mitchel
Tony Armstrong's extraordinary objects showcase Australian history
A vintage ute, a novelty cheque, shearing prize ribbons, a household trunk and blanket – even the simplest of things can tell a powerful story, connect a community and showcase our history.In the ABC TV series 'Extraordinary Things', Tony Armstrong is on a journey to discover and celebrate the things we treasure. And an exhibition at the National Museum of Australia brings together the objects Tony found, the people who cherish them and the extraordinary stories they reveal.The exhibition is run
Lawfare in Hong Kong — the case of Jimmy Lai
Jimmy Lai was once considered Hong Kong's quintessential rags to riches success story. But now, the newspaper publisher and democracy supporter is facing a life sentence in jail under China's crackdown on press freedom and opposition in the city. How did it come to this? And what does it mean for Hong Kong?This event was recorded on Thursday July 4 with the Melbourne Press Cub and PEN Melbourne, supported by the Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne.SpeakersSebastian Lai
Is Australia fit for the Olympics in 2032?
It's only eight years until the torch will be passed on to Brisbane. The countdown is on: Are we prepared? What are the challenges? What is the politics involved? And how important is children participating in sport to ensure that the games have a future?Presented at the Bond Business Leaders Forum, Bond University.SpeakersIan ChestermanPresident of the Australian Olympic CommitteePat HowardFormer rugby international player and coach for the Leicester Tigers; Executive General Manager of Strateg
Nobel scientist Jennifer Doudna with Natasha Mitchell at Sydney Opera House — the gene editing revolution, ethics, and what's next?
Join a full house at the Sydney Opera House with Nobel winning scientist Jennifer Doudna and Big Ideas' host Natasha Mitchell to discuss the huge social, ethical, and scientific implications of the CRISPR gene editing revolution. From curative therapies to gene edited babies - will we use it to hack our own evolution?This event was presented by the Sydney Opera House, Big Questions Institute (BQI), Sydney Writers’ Festival, UNSW Sydney.Speaker:Professor Jennifer Doudna2020 Nobel Prize for Chemis
Read all about it! — why local news matters and what we can do to save it
Who's watching your local council, keeping you abreast of issues in your neighbourhood, and celebrating your community's achievements? That used to be the role of your local newspaper, but now many of us don't have one.This event was recorded at the Willy Lit Fest on Sunday 16 June 2024.SpeakersMargaret Simons Honorary Professorial Fellow, Centre for Advancing Journalism, University of MelbourneAuthor, Tanya Plibersek: on her own terms, Penny Wong: Passion and Principle, and othersJosie Vine Sen
Moral philosopher Raimond Gaita on Israel, Gaza and the student protests
Moral philosopher and writer Raimond Gaita wrestles with the moral and ethical dimensions of the Israel-Gaza war to try to make sense of the incomprehensible.The Jim Carlton Integrity Lecture, "The Urgency of Ethical Challenges Facing the World" was recorded at the Melbourne Law School at the University of Melbourne on May 8, 2024.SpeakerRaimond Gaita Honorary professorial fellow, Melbourne Law School, University of MelbourneEmeritus Professor of Moral Philosophy, King's College LondonFellow, Au
Andrew O’Hagan's defence of literature and truth in the age of the machines
In the shadow of the AI revolution, as the tech giants vie for our data, our attention, and our money, beloved Scottish author Andrew O'Hagan makes an impassioned case for the role of readers and writers as "frontline workers" in the fight for reality.These events were recorded at the Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival on 17 and 19 May 2024.SpeakersAndrew O'Hagan Author, Caledonian Road, Mayflies,and many moreEssayist, editor-at-large of the London Review of BooksGillian O'Shaughnessy (ho
The surprising bonds that make us, break us, move us — Ceridwen Dovey, Anna McGahan, Ahona Guha
Join Natasha Mitchell and guests for a conversation full of surprises on the bonds that make us and sometimes break us. Bad dates, spaceships, surviving cults, the creature within, mother love, loss, and more — how do our attachments shape our minds and lives?Thanks to Griffith Review and the Brisbane Writers Festival for organising this event.Speakers:Anna McGahanActor, playwright, screenwriter, Vogel Award winnerAuthor, Immaculate (Allen and Unwin 2023), and Metanoia: a memoir of a body, born
Barkaa, Steph Tisdell and Rudi Bremer: Indigenous performers are expected to be perfect
For many Indigenous performers publicity comes with the burden of being a role model. Their only options seem to be a pedestal or oblivion, particularly if they are women.What are the challenges for them to find their place on stage and in life?Who has the right to be 'bad' in a society that expects women to be flawless?A panel of Indigenous cultural commentators explores stereotypes and puts them in the bin.Presented at the All About Women Festival by the Sydney Opera House.SpeakersBarkaaMalyan
The Australian far right today
Recent elections overseas have shown a rise in the popularity of far-right politics in Europe and elsewhere, fuelled by anti-immigration sentiment, economic woes and other grievances. So what does this mean for far-right movements back here in Australia?This event was recorded at the University of Canberra on May 16, 2024.SpeakersJordan McSwiney Author, Far-Right Political Parties in Australia: Disorganisation and Electoral FailurePostdoctoral Research Fellow, Centre for Deliberative Democracy a
Ann Patchett, Lauren Groff and Tony Birch — when writing and selling books becomes a political act
In some parts of the United States, you're more likely to see a book banned in public libraries and schools, than efforts towards gun control. Advocacy organisation PEN America has documented more than 10,000 book bans since 2021. Momentum to censor books is growing, and also spreading to places like Australia. So what's it like to write and sell books in this climate?This event was recorded at the Melbourne Writers Festival on the 12 May, 2024.SpeakersAnn PatchettAuthor of Tom Lake, Bel Canto,
A reflection on Indigenous leadership, from Mabo and beyond
From land rights to health and education, working within the system or outside of it, what makes a great Indigenous leader, and how do we create the right conditions for leadership to flourish?The 2024 Eddie Koiki Mabo Lecture was recorded by James Cook University in Cairns on May 16, 2024.SpeakerProfessor Ngiare Brown Chancellor, James Cook University, Yuin Nation
State of democracy in Asia
Democracy is not necessarily the winner of the recent elections in Asia. More than a billion people across the region have voted. But that doesn't ensure democratic ideals and processes are uphold. We look at Indonesia, India and Taiwan to put the election results into context and learn how they impact democracy not just in their own countries, but across the region and the globe.Presented by La Trobe Asia.SpeakersKevin MageeAdjunct Fellow at the Australia-China Relations Institute, University o
Black, White, and what next? A case for reconciliation after the Voice Referendum
In NAIDOC Week, is reconciliation between Black and White Australians dead, buried, or in need of re-imagining? The fallout of the Voice Referendum has left many jaded, confused, angry or indifferent.Two galvanising reflections on what all Australians can learn from the referendum, with visions for what next.SpeakersProfessor Tom Calma AOAboriginal Elder from the Kungarakan tribal group and a member of the Iwaidja and Woolwonga tribal groups in the Top End of the NT. Former Aboriginal and Torres
Hugh McKay on Australia today
From loneliness, to our technology addiction, growing inequality and our shrinking middle class, our faith in God, to the complex legacy of the Baby Boomers, Hugh McKay paints a compelling portrait of modern Australia, and asks some pointy questions about its future.This event was recorded at the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre at the University of South Australia on May 16, 2024.SpeakersHugh McKay Social psychologist and researcherAuthor, The Way We Are. Lessons from a lifetime of listeningJ
Hugh Mackay on Australia today
From loneliness, to our technology addiction, growing inequality and our shrinking middle class, our faith in God, to the complex legacy of the Baby Boomers, Hugh Mackay paints a compelling portrait of modern Australia, and asks some pointy questions about its future.This event was recorded at the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre at the University of South Australia on May 16, 2024.SpeakersHugh MackaySocial psychologist and researcherAuthor, The Way We Are. Lessons from a lifetime of listening
Hope at the coalface — can this coal town thrive in a post-Carbon future?
Join Natasha Mitchell and guests in a coal country heartland. Communities in Muswellbrook and Singleton in the NSW Upper Hunter are living at the coalface — quite literally — of the vexed debate over Australia's slow transition to a post-Carbon future. Australia's oldest coal-fired Liddell power station {"Lady Liddell") was shut down by AGL last year, AGL's Bayswater Power Station will close within a decade, coal mines are being closed, others expanded, and now the Coalition is proposing a nucl
Why civilisations vanish
Throughout history, empires and civilisations have risen to greatness and then fallen into decline and vanish, leaving only ruins and some artefacts. Why? Are there common features of collapse? From the great societies of Mesopotamia to those of Khmer and the Maya and Aztec of the Americas; from the Roman empire to Carthage. They all follow a similar route. What are the lessons for our civilisation and our future?Presented at the York Festival of Ideas. The festival is led by the University of Y
Too posh, or not posh enough? — Polly Toynbee on the shackles and privileges of class
George Orwell once called England "the most class-ridden country under the sun". Through the lens of her own middle-class family, prolific British journalist Polly Toynbee explores the guilt of privilege, the myth of mobility and the role of class in British society.This event was recorded at the UNSW Centre for Ideas on March 11, 2024.SpeakersPolly Toynbee Columnist, The GuardianAuthor, An Uneasy Inheritance, my family and other radicalsNick Bryant Journalist, author and commentator
AC Grayling on philosophy and life
You wouldn't be human if you hadn't from time to time wondered what the meaning of all of this is. Who am I? Is there a purpose? Why am I here? And how can I live a good life? Well of course you're not alone – some of history's biggest thinkers have been coming up with answers to these questions for thousands of years. So what can we learn from their conclusions?This event was recorded at Melbourne Writers Festival on May 11, 2024. SpeakerAC Grayling Professor of Philosophy, Northeastern Univers
The radical work of mourning — a toolkit for planet dwellers
Join Natasha Mitchell and guests for a poetic discussion on the ways you can create space to grieve for species that are going, going, gone. Powerful interests collude to tell us that expressing emotion is hysterical, and that humans are separate from Nature, but proper mourning paves the way for what to do next — and places us right back where we belong.SpeakersProfessor Thom van Dooren Environmental philosopherProfessor of Environmental HumanitiesDeputy Director of the Sydney Environment Insti
Highway to Hell — Joelle Gergis on climate change and Australia’s future
Leading Australian climate scientist Dr Joelle Gergis takes a timely look at Australia's perilous future in a warming world."Most Australians aren't aware how bad things are and how much worse they will get." — Joelle GergisThis event was recorded at Gleebooks in Sydney on Tuesday June 4, 2024.SpeakersDr Joelle Gergis Climate scientistAuthor, Highway to Hell — Climate Change and Australia's Future (Quarterly Essay #94, Black Inc Books)Marian Wilkinson Journalist and author
Marc Fennell on stuff the British stole
A huge number of ancient artefacts, First Nations' ceremonial objects and precious art sits in museums, galleries, private collections all over the world — with polite plaques. But their history is often messier than the plaques suggest. Throughout its reign, the British Empire 'stole' a lot of stuff. One of the arguably most controversial examples are the Parthenon Marbles, a collection of sculptural reliefs from the temple of Athena (the Parthenon) on the Acropolis in Greece. The second season
Don Watson on democracy
Author, essayist and speechwriter Don Watson says that the price of democracy is energy, imagination, and unstinting hard work. Through the lens of Trump's America, and the malaise of Australian politics, Watson questions whether our modern democracies are up to the job. This event was recorded on Bunurong country at the Sorrento Writers' Festival on April 25 2024.SpeakerDon Watson, Author, essayist and speechwriter
The incredible saga of the world’s first peace treaty — it comes from the Middle East
On the doorstep of Gaza comes the remarkable story of the world's first peace treaty — a 3200-year-old text. Egyptologist Dr Camilla Di Biase-Dyson joins Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell to share a political and personal soap opera that brought an enduring peace to a region now suffering from a bloody war.Speaker:Dr Camilla Di Biase-DysonLinguist and EgyptologistSenior Lecturer, Macquarie University
Higher education for everyone in Australia — is it doable?
Disadvantaged and marginalised students often don't get the financial and teaching support that they need. Equity everyone, regardless of their background, is one of the most pressing challenges facing out higher education sector. The government released the Universities Accord Final Report earlier this year – and it recommends sweeping changes.What are the main recommendations? And are they any good?Access, Achievement, Accord 2024 was presented at The Australian Student Equity Symposium, Curti
Creativity in the Sri Lankan diaspora
Award winning playwright S. Shakthidharan has described his groundbreaking theatre work Counting and Cracking as "a radical act of belonging". The epic, three-act, three-hour tale captures the Australian migrant experience through the story of one Sri Lankan family across four generations. To celebrate the play's return to the stage, we hear from four Sri Lankan Australians about the role creativity has played in their lives, culture and community.This event was recorded at the University of Mel
Andre de Quadros on freedom dreaming
Drawing on his experiences working across continents in the "shatter zones" of society — jails, war zones, refugee shelters – Andre de Quadros explains how music and creativity can be used to build peace, reconciliation and empowerment in a troubled world. Later, Anne-Marie Forbes explains how music improves mental, physical and community well-being.These events were recorded at the 2024 Miegunyah Lecture at the University of Melbourne on April 11, 2024, and Melodies as Medicine at the Universit
Ocean bounty — deep sea mining, Sea Shepherd sagas, and seaweed solutions
Join Natasha Mitchell and guests at the 2024 Ocean Lovers Festival in Bondi. From deep sea mining to illegal fishing on the high seas, who is the boss of the ocean? And why are scientists-turned-entrepreneurs singing the praises of seaweed? Two panels of big thinkers exploring new frontiers for ocean exploitation — and inspiration — the risks, the rewards, and the regulation of this vast wilderness which covers 70% of the planet's surfacePanel 1 - Who owns the high seas and deep seas? Deep sea
Queer journeys through the law
It took until the late 1990s for Australia to decriminalise homosexuality. Since then, the law has changed and evolved in a multitude of ways for LGBTQIA+ people, but not without a fight virtually every step of the way. This event was recorded as part of Victorian Law Week on May 22, 2024.SpeakersElizabeth Bennett SC, BarristerVice President, Victorian Barristers NetworkSam Elkin Author, Detachable Penis: A queer legal saga (Upswell publishing)Legal aid lawyer (inaugural lawyer for Victoria's fi
What are the secrets to a long and happy life?
Firstly, make sure you become a grandparent. It apparently adds five years to your life. And it can make you very happy - if you do grandparenting right! Hear about the does and don'ts in this discussion about how to age well. Then add a good diet. With the six secret ingredients provided by one of Australia's most recognised leaders in the fields of sports nutrition and dietetics. And lastly, ignore social attitudes and images, that tell you how old you should feel.'How To Grow Old. It ain't fo
The Art of Opposition
It's often said that democracies can't function well without a strong opposition to hold the government of the day to account. But what does it take to be an effective opposition? This event was recorded at the Centre for Independent Studies on Thursday 16 May 2024.SpeakersScott Prasser Co-author with David Clune, The Art of Opposition (Connor Court publishing)Senior Fellow, Centre for Independent StudiesJohn HowardFormer Prime Minister 1996 – 2007Tom Switzer Director, Centre for Independent Stu
Uprooted and unprotected — 110 million displaced lives
From stopping the boats to building a wall, countries have gone to great lengths to stop the flow of people migrating across borders in search of a better life. But are these efforts realistic – let alone humane — when there are an estimated 110 million people forcibly displaced by war, persecution, hunger and climate change worldwide?This event was recorded at the University of Tasmania on May 8, 2024.SpeakersDr Tamara Wood Senior Lecturer in Law, University of TasmaniaSanushka Mudaliar Directo
Is nuclear power the fastest way to decarbonise the planet?
Humanity basically faces two existential threats: catastrophic climate change and nuclear annihilation, according to US Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman. Still – he sees nuclear energy as an essential part of "the mix" of carbon zero power sources as we transition away from coal. He discusses global developments in nuclear power generation, including new generations of reactor design, and critical issues like cost, safety, and proliferation risks.Presented at the American Academy in Ber
Laura Tingle — Off course discourse
Laura Tingle delivers the 2024 John Button Oration at the Melbourne Writers Festival, looking at how our public discourse has changed over her 40-year career – and throughout history. She explores what is to blame for the demise in civility in our public debate, and the seeming inability of our media and the political class to solve the intractable problems we face. This event was recorded on Saturday 11 May 2024, at the Melbourne Writers Festival, in partnership with University of Melbourne Sch
Why we drink — the past and present of Australia’s relationship to alcohol
Australians love a drink, or at least, that's a perception that's deeply ingrained in our national identity... but how true is it, these days? This Big Ideas explores the politics, problems, and pleasures of Australia's long and chequered relationship with alcohol.This event was recorded at Clunes Booktown Festival on Saturday March 23 2024.SpeakersAlex Ettling Author, Knocking the Top off: A People's History of Alcohol in AustraliaSarah MacLean Professor of Social Work and Social Policy at La T
Where is the soul in science?
Join Natasha Mitchell and guests to grapple with some gritty paradoxes about science and religion. In this era of misinformation, conspiracy theories, and existential angst — are they serving the needs they used to?
Not drowning, fighting — life on the front lines of the climate crisis
When you're faced with the reality that your home, livelihoods and culture will be swallowed up by the rising seas of a warming climate, how do you respond?
Evolution can explain why humans are such weird animals
You might think humans have escaped biology and evolution altogether with our strange and different ways: Women live well past their reproductive years, and we have baffling long childhoods as a species. We display a dazzling mix of selfishness and altruism, and gossiping can in fact be a strategy for survival.
How to make the Global North and the Global South play nicely together
As violence continues in Europe and the Middle East and as positive collective action on urgent global-scale issues seems out of reach, do we need new forms of international cooperation? How can Global South and Global North nations work together more effectively? What roadblocks hinder joint action on crucial issues such as security, development, climate, and AI? How can ethical reflection and engagement pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable multilateralism? A panel of international p
From panic attacks to finding freedom — Tibetan master Mingyur Rinpoche joins a Sufi scholar and an Indian philosopher of mind
Join Natasha Mitchell as she speaks to Tibetan master Venerable Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, along with an Indian philosopher of mind and a Sufi scholar, to wrestle with the self and its dissolution.
Fareed Zakaria on how economic and technological progress leads to revolutions
You would think that times of intense progress and technological innovation are good for societies, but history shows that's when revolutions happen. Author and prominent CNN TV host Fareed Zakaria explains how rapid transformation of economy through technology often leads to an identity crisis and upheaval against the establishment. It's just too much too quickly. Sounds familiar? Yes – we in the middle of one. But Fareed Zakaria is optimistic it will all end well.
Girt by Sea — Australia’s maritime security
Since the announcement of the AUKUS plan for nuclear submarines, we’ve been hearing a lot about Australia’s maritime security. But as an island “girt by sea”, that security depends on much more than our military capability.
Costa Georgiadis on how to stop Australia's invasion by feral species
Australia's unique biodiversity, a product of almost 50 million years of glorious evolutionary isolation, is in freefall. The threats are not just the rabbits, the cane toads, the cats and foxes – the common culprits. Let's not forget the small but impactful smooth newt or the fierce red fire ants, and the many invasive weeds. Twenty new weeds will establish in the wild in Australia this year – and every year to come … unless things change. But is it possible to stop this ongoing invasion? How d
A new future for Black and White Australia — Thomas Mayo, Margo Neale, David Marr with Natasha Mitchell
Join Natasha Mitchell and guests for a robust conversation about forging a shared future between Black and White Australians through deeper understanding. Indigenous curator Margo Neale thought her nickname was "Abo" when she was a little girl. She didn't understand it was racist. Writing on politics and race for decades, David Marr thought he knew a lot — until he unearthed an family story. Thomas Mayo is thinking deeply about what's possible for Black and White Australia after the Voice refere
Anne Manne - Crimes of the Cross
For more than half a century, the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle allowed and covered up an extensive network of paedophile priests who sexually abused hundreds of children in their care.
10,000 puffs — how vapes got the next generation hooked on smoking
Through sinister marketing and loose regulation, the tobacco industry has hooked a whole new generation of kids on smoking. How did it come to this, and will the federal government’s new laws to crack down on vaping actually work?
What Oppenheimer can teach us about regulating new technologies
What lessons can we learn from J. Robert Oppenheimer and the development of the nuclear bomb? How should we govern and legislate new technologies that have the power to change the world? Like nuclear technology in the mid of last century, now large digital platforms and generative AI are putting humanity at the threshold: progress or possible exploitation and abuse? How can we regulate cutting-edge technology on a global stage?
Superpowers and superpeacemakers — your guide to the key players with John Lyons, Sam Roggeveen & Ilaria Walker
Smaller conflicts than we're witnessing in the world right now have set off world wars. Who will be the crucial superpowers and super peacemakers in the next five years?
Helen Clark on how to build a healthier future for all
We are living in an "age of crises," says former New Zealand prime minister, Helen Clark. With her leadership experience and expertise in governance, politics, and policy, Helen Clark and a panel of health and international relation experts explore the challenges facing the world today and what is needed to achieve a healthier and thriving future for all. While it's easy to feel overwhelmed by complex problems, speaking up about inequality can make a difference. Helen Clark urged everyone to "ra
Tenacity and two squat houses — how an Australian movement was born for women leaving violence
Women’s refuges are now a central part of our response to family violence, with hundreds operating across Australia. But that hasn't always been the case.
Donald Trump, American authoritarianism and how journalists should cover it
As Donald Trump makes his case for re-election in 2024, under a cloud of criminal prosecutions, how can journalists better cover such a norm-busting and rule-breaking political figure?
Jonathan Rosen — friendship, madness and the tragedy of good intentions
New York writer Jonathan Rosen’s memoir The Best Minds: a story of friendship, madness, and the tragedy of good intentions is a story of tenderness, heartache, and horror as he explores the vexed tensions between civil rights, medical power, and the complexities of recognising and treating severe psychotic illness. He joined Natasha Mitchell with psychiatrist Patrick McGorry for a powerful conversation at the 2024 Adelaide Writers Week. In light of the recent Bondi shopping centre killings, this
Slowing down fast fashion with Aja Barber
You don't need that dress, you need a hug. Or so says fashion activist and writer, Aja Barber.
Mariana Mazzucato — a moonshot guide to changing capitalism
It took 400,000 people to land man to the moon. And it's using that example as inspiration that the influential Italian American economist Mariana Mazzucato argues we can change capitalism.
Is it time to change Australia's security strategy for South East Asia?
Could Asia Pacific be with China within a couple of years? Is the independence of Taiwan worth for Australia to get involved? Would Indonesia be a better security partner for Australia than the US? On Big Ideas, a panel of foreign policy experts dissect evolving dynamics of South East Asia and offer insights into how Australia can navigate the delicate diplomatic dance with the two global giants and emerging regional powers. There are many different views on Australia's geopolitical position and
How to challenge political spin with straight talk — Richard Denniss, Joelle Gergis, Yanis Varoufakis, Tom Keneally
Has the way politicians speak ever made you shout at the television, feel bamboozled, helpless, or shut out of democratic debate over our shared future? Pollie-talk can make important issues opaque, the inequitable seem fair, and the fair seem inequitable. Join Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell for some straight talk that cuts through the spin and jargon with Richard Denniss (author of Econobabble: How to decode political spin and economic nonsense), Yanis Varoufakis (author of Technofeudalism: W
The future of health technology
Only 50 years ago, if you were 60 years old your chance of dying was the same as an 80-year-old's today. Thanks to progress in medical technology, you can live longer than ever before. Quantum technology and quantum screening, modelling with digital twins, harvesting the power of AI and real time monitoring of your molecules – a panel of health experts discusses the new frontiers in the development of drugs and health technology.
Dr Norman Swan with biotechnology pioneers on what's next for medicine
Only 50 years ago, if you were 60 years old your chance of dying was the same as an 80-year-old's today. Thanks to progress in medical technology, you can live longer than ever before. Quantum technology and quantum screening, modelling with digital twins, harvesting the power of AI and real time monitoring of your molecules – a panel of health experts discusses the new frontiers in the development of drugs and health technology.
"It's personal" — field stories from the frontline of Australia's Ambassador for Gender Equality
Gender equality isn't just about equal pay, it's a health and safety issue. Women perceive safety very differently to men, and that's why they need a seat at the table when policies are being nutted out. Just a month after Australia gets its first Gender Equality Strategy, Stephanie Copus Campbell speaks about her first-hand experience on women's rights and discrimination in Papua New Guinea and many other countries in the region — and her observations as the international Ambassador for Gender
Trees as an alternative crop — the future of forestry in Australia?
Forestry is a hotly disputed industry in Australia. Environmentalists want to preserve more valuable habitat to protect endangered species. Developers want to lock away forests as off-sets for their projects and at the same time want to clear forests to make space for said projects. Corporations want to buy rights to carbon sequestration. And then there are the landholders trying to make a living from timber. How do we navigate all these competing factors? How valuable are trees as an alternativ
The shark net controversy — hear the debate at Bondi's Ocean Lovers Festival
They use of shark nets to protect us from sharks is highly controversial. Do they work, what do they do to marine life, are there alternatives, and why are sharks so political? Join Natasha Mitchell and guests at the 2024 Ocean Lovers Festival for a robust interrogation of of an issue that ignites passions.
Life on Mars – and beyond
It's a question that has focused the minds of astronauts, scientists, space entrepreneurs and enthusiasts alike – is there, could there be, life on Mars? The race is on to find out, with NASA hoping to land astronauts there by the late 2030s.
A heart-to-heart with Eric Bogle — his songs and his life
Folk legend Eric Bogle is opening up and talks about his life, his thoughts about death, friendship and love and why having a deeper message for writing songs is so much more important than money and fame. It's a rare opportunity to share a conversation with one of the best and most prolific songwriters of the last several decades. His songs have become Australian classics – like The Band Played Waltzing Matilda or No Man's Land. And as a very special treat – you'll hear the world premiere of hi
The war in Gaza, Palestinians, and Israelis – what can we learn from the past about the future?
What is the future of Israelis and Palestinians in the Gaza strip and surrounding region? Can the past help us understand the tumultuous, horrifying present? And is a two-state solution a realistic response to the war in Gaza or not? Walkley Award-winning Australian journalist John Lyons, Israeli historian and political scientist Ilan Pappé, American essayist and author Nathan Thrall, and American political advisor Bruce Wolpe share their perspectives.
A mummified mystery! Sealed shut for decades then scientists opened this coffin lid
A wooden sarcophogas is sold in a Cairo market in the late 1800s, transported to Australia, and held in a University of Sydney collection. It remains closed for over a century. And then scientists opened its lid. What happened next? Two leading Australian Egyptologists join Natasha Mitchell to consider the ethics, history, and science of a quest to understand life and death in Ancient Egypt and get a glimpse into one woman's world over 2500 years ago. But is it really Mer-Neith-It_Es?
Mary Beard — Empress of Rome
For decades, Mary Beard has forged her own path through the male dominated field of academia, from the ruins of Rome to the trenches of Twitter, to become "the world's most famous classicist".
Michael Gawenda on Jewishness, the Australian Left, and the State of Israel
The best of talks, forums, debates, and festivals held in Australia and around the world.
Cheng Lei, Sean Turnell and Kylie Moore-Gilbert on the ruthless practice of hostage diplomacy
What is the best response to hostage diplomacy? Pay the ransom? Sanction the responsible country, or individuals? Go public, or pursue quiet diplomacy? Can countries preserve bilateral relations, while at the same time advocating for the rights of their unlawfully detained citizens?
Ripples, resilience, and rivers – the politics of water
Water is life. Rivers give life. But water and the rivers it flows down are also heavily politicised, and at the heart of battles over who gets access to water, what's killing our rivers, and what happens when they kill us during catastrophic floods. Join Natasha Mitchell and guests at this Adelaide Writers Week event with Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Barrister and author Richard Beasley, grazier and activist Kate McBride, and environmental historian Dr Margaret Cook.
Forging a fire ready future
Australia’s bushfires are more intense, more frequent, and more costly. So how can we prepare for the inevitable – what proactive steps can communities take to protect themselves, and do we have the settings right?
What makes a charity successful?
Many of you are involved in a charity: Handing out meals to homeless people, caring for surrendered animals in a shelter, organising soccer games to keep the youth in the neighbourhood on the straight and narrow. But are you sure that your charity is putting the time and also the money that you give up to good use? What makes a charity successful? And how can you future-prove them?
Julia Baird on how grace saves us from a dark world
Grace is a hard word to define, but in her latest book, author, journalist and broadcaster Julia Baird explores the concept, and how finding and nurturing it in each other – and ourselves - can help us through dark times.
The Deficit Myth with Stephanie Kelton — what to ask when governments can't afford to fix things.
When governments say they can't afford to fix climate change or lift kids out of poverty are they speaking the truth? American economist Stephanie Kelton challenges economic orthodoxy in her book The Deficit Myth: Modern Monetary Theory and the Birth of the People's Economy. She joins Natasha Mitchell in conversation at this 2024 National Sustainability Festival event.
Bessel van der Kolk on The Body Keeps the Score
Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world's foremost experts on trauma, discusses his pioneering research into traumatic stress and its impact on our brains and bodies. Traumatised people experience incomprehensible anxiety, numbing and intolerable rage. Trauma affects their capacity to concentrate, to remember, to form trusting relationships, and even to feel at home in their own bodies. And he explains promising treatments, including neurofeedback, psychedelic therapy, psychodrama … and dance.
Why are young people more unhappy and worried?
Different generations agree that youth mental health is in decline, but disagree about the causes. We explore generational attitudes to the economic and social drivers of mental ill-health in young people.
Are you all liberals at heart?
Liberalism is not just a rational political philosophy but the basis of a truly meaningful life. That's the bold statement of philosopher Alexandre Lefebvre. Should individuals be free to pursue their own passions and interests in life? It's very likely you agree with this liberal principle. What about ideals like interdependence or having a higher purpose? Is liberalism all you need to lead a good, fun, worthy and rewarding life — and can you become a better and happier person by taking these b
Imagination and Mindset, and The Importance of Doubt (Boyer Lectures 3&4)
Quantum computing is all about physics, but for those looking to pioneer and revolutionise science, there are certain human qualities needed as well. That is the topic of these final two Boyer Lectures with a global leader in the field of quantum computing, Professor Michelle Simmons.
The Atomic Revolution and the Quantum Promise (2023 Boyer Lectures 1&2)
Imagine a machine with more power than all the computers in the world combined. This is the promise of quantum computing. In these 2023 Boyer Lectures, Professor Michelle Simmons explains why building a machine that operates at the scale of atoms has the potential to revolutionise society, and why Australia is at the forefront of the global race to develop the first one.
Trump vs Biden vs the world - what will it mean for Australia?
The US has claimed that it has “no greater ally than Australia”, but with the stability of its democracy in question, what are the risks, and the rewards, of waltzing in step with the world’s greatest superpower?
No greater ally – assessing the Australia-US alliance
The US has claimed that it has “no greater ally than Australia”, but with the stability of its democracy in question, what are the risks, and the rewards, of waltzing in step with the world’s greatest superpower?
I've Been to a Parallel World
Hear from four “many worlds travellers” who have visited parallel worlds to explore themes of Indigenous rights, disability, gender and the climate crisis, to show us that a different way is within reach.
The education gap between rural and metropolitan Australia is costing us billions
Can you put a price tag on regional education? In fact, you can. The large difference in the quality of education between people who live in rural and regional Australia compared to those who live in the cities is costing our economy over 55 billion dollars…. AND we also talk about the role of advocates in conflict situations, in particular lawyers, speaking truth to power and speaking up for the weak.
Solving the mysteries of the universe − with philosophy
From dark energy to the nature of time, some of the most baffling mysteries in cosmology point to a surprisingly complex answer: The idea that alternate layers of reality might exist beyond the reach of our current physics, and perhaps even outside the Universe itself. Philosophy can help navigate the many enigmas of physics. In fact, there is a long history of the entanglement of the two.
How Russia’s war on Ukraine ends
Two years since Vladimir Putin’s Russia invaded neighbouring Ukraine, the risks are as grave as ever, including the possibility of war spilling into Europe, and the nuclear threat. What next for the Ukraine war?
Corruption at the crossroads in Australia
We hear from the nation's anti-corruption leaders, including NACC Deputy Commissioner Nicole Rose, about the state of corruption in Australia.
Spending time with Laurie Anderson
Pioneering electronic musician and performer Laurie Anderson invites you contemplate the wonders of time. Time is one of the most impermanent forms of measurement that humans have invented to help manage our lives. We couldn't function without it. Do you feel like you're running out of time? Which way is time going? Are you able to stop time? What is the role of time in ethics, or how you experience trauma? Laurie shares a creative conversation with twice-Booker-shortlisted author Tom McCarthy
Finding your creativity with Holly Ringland
Best-selling author Holly Ringland says that everyone can be creative – yes, even you! Be it painting, cooking, knitting a jumper or writing a song. It's often self-doubt and the fear of criticism and judgement that's holding you back. The voice in your head telling you that you're not good enough. It doesn't have to be like this.
Nature for people – how the natural world affects our health
Most of us know that exposure to nature is good for us, because we’ve experienced it ourselves. Doctors can even prescribe time in nature to patients, for the health benefits. But increasingly, we’re understanding – and measuring - just how nature helps us – our minds, bodies, and society. This event is brought to you by the Australian Land Conservation Alliance as part of the National Private Land Conservation Conference held in Canberra on October 17, 2023.
Swiftposium – the academics of Taylor Swift
Celebrities, and their fans, wield tremendous economic, cultural and political influence – and none more so than US pop superstar Taylor Swift. Academia is getting on board, with university courses now entirely dedicated to studying the icon. But celebrities and their fans have not always been taken seriously, by academia, or broader society – particularly when it’s someone idolised by young girls. Well, these academics are trying to change that. Ahead of Swift's record-breaking Australian tou
Intuition — the science of knowing WHAT without knowing WHY
Have you ever followed your intuition, or been guided by a gut feeling? Is intuition real or imagined? Can it be learnt and harnessed for good in our lives? Neuroscientist and psychologist Joel Pearson wanted to find out. He joins Natasha Mitchell to discuss his book The Intuition Toolkit – the New Science of Knowing What without Knowing Why.
Uncivil society – polarisation and breakdown in our conversations
You’ve probably heard the expression “I don't agree with what you say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it”. But in the age of social media, cancel culture, keyboard warriors, fake news, algorithms, corporate influence, far right extremism and all the rest, does that lofty ambition still have currency? What has happened to civil debate and the reasonable exchange of competing ideas in public, to conversations that might lead to productive compromise, or simply agreeing to disagree?
How to tell stories that change the course of history — from slavery abolition to gaming culture
There's nothing like an innocent story to rupture reality! Fiction is a literary seismograph for social conflict and stories can change minds. They have helped end slavery, and end discrimination. Hear the powerful story of how. Also, a gaming scholar with a blitz through the history of queer games. The creative games industry is pretty gay — so why isn't there more queer representation in gaming stories, and does the recent growth in queer games benefit all players? Enter a world of gaming, fan
A queer love letter to libraries
Public libraries are for everyone, but last year, the LGBTIQA+ community became a target for exclusion by anti-queer campaigners, when drag story time events – designed to celebrate diversity and embrace rainbow families –were shut down or postponed due to threats, protests and abuse. Librarians, drag artists, families and council staff were on the frontline of these attacks. To counter the hurt caused by these campaigns, the LGBTIQA+ and library communities joined forces to celebrate and reclai
Be the change you want to see — Chanel Contos, Isabelle Reinecke, Semara Jose, Sarah Brown
Some things feel impossible to change without money and power. Meet four trailblazers didn't let that stop them. Fighting corporations. Stopping violence. Transforming talk on sex and consent. Helping men heal from childhood trauma. They join Natasha Mitchell and an audience of high school students to explore what pushed them to act.
Nazanin Boniadi — fighting for women's rights in Iran
Women and girls in Iran continue to take to the streets and protest gender oppression and human rights abuses. And too often they risk their lives for this fight. Iranian-born human rights advocate Nazanin Boniadi has used her public profile as an actress to campaign in solidarity with the people of Iran. For that, she's been honoured with the 2023 Sydney Peace Prize. The 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement has demonstrated the unifying power and potential of women's rights as a lever for mobilisati
Caroline Polachek on the art of pop music
US singer, songwriter and producer Caroline Polachek is known as one of the most inventive pop musicians working in the industry today, pushing the boundaries of what the genre is, and what it means for the people who listen to it. Off the back of her acclaimed seventh album, ‘Desire, I want to turn into you’, Polachek opens up about her creative process, her varied career, and why pop should be respected as an artform in its own right.
How to speak freely about topics no one wants to talk about
Speaking freely isn't only about Freedom of Speech legislation, it's equally about social norms, loving your family and courage. Authors Lea Ypi and Hayley Campbell discuss what's difficult to talk about. Death and what happens your body when you die. And whether Albania has experienced more freedom in communist times – only in very specific circumstances. They explore the factors that allow us to speak freely, what forces can constrain these … and what happens when we are unleashed to speak the
A new way to fix the hot mess of housing in remote Aboriginal Australia?
Housing is a hot mess in many remote Aboriginal communities, including Tennant Creek, and the rollercoaster of government policies and interventions hasn't helped the situation. What's on offer is often culturally unsafe, crowded, and a climate disaster. But housing is hard to fix too. This group of Traditional Owners, health professionals, architects and others have a vision for how.
Psychedelics: from magic to medicinal
Psychedelics were once the domain of hippies and cults, but these drugs have come long way from the ‘turn on, tune in, drop out’ countercultural philosophy of the 1960s and 70s. Nowadays, the field of psychedelic research is experiencing a resurgence, with substances like psilocybin, MDMA and ketamine being used in controlled laboratories to treat complex mental health issues. In 2023, Australia became the first country in the world to permit psychiatrists to use psychedelic medicines to treat c
Gabriel Krauze on Who They Was — his wild life in crime and literature
Finishing your undergraduate assignments in English Literature in breaks between selling drugs … fighting and hurting people and committing crimes while discussing the finer nuances of human morality. Best-selling author Gabriel Krauze speaks openly about his life as a former gang criminal living on a notorious housing estate in South Kilburn in London - with quite different extra-curricular activities than most other English literature students. Because that's his other side: A passionate stude
Does Australia need more tiger parents?
Tiger parents: do their methods raise happy and successful human beings, or burnt out, damaged therapy cases? In this hyper competitive age we live in, could their approach bring up a new generation of winners this country needs to get ahead? Six Asian Australian comedians, writers and performers thrash it out in debate form to decide: Does Australia need more tiger parents? The audience’s applause will decide the winner.
When I grow up I want to be ... why we all need to reimagine aging.
From the moment we’re born, we all age. So why limit the possibilities? The latest Intergenerational Report describes Australia's ageing population as an economical and fiscal challenge ... a burden. Ageism is rife, but to age is to live. So what about thriving too? Find out how there's magic to found when relationships across the generations are fostered and why we all benefit — whether we're young, middling, or older
Craig Foster on how Australia can pull its socks up on human rights
Craig Foster has a vision for the future: An Australia without racism, with equal access to food and representation and compassion for refugees. But it's 75 years since the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Craig Foster has a warning for us: Things need to change, and hopefully it doesn't take another 75 years. His passionate insights will leave you with a lot to think about …. heavy and uncomfortable thoughts.
Escaping the Burrow — Astra Taylor on The Age of Insecurity (Massey Lecture 5)
In her fifth Massey lecture, Escaping the Burrow, self-described "feral intellectual" Astra Taylor explores how insecurity can also offer us a path to wisdom — individually and collectively. A vision of hope and possibility. For the CBC Massey lectures, the renowned filmmaker, writer, political activist, and sometime rock musician Astra explores how our society now runs on 'manufactured' insecurity — and asks, is there another way?
Beyond human security — Astra Taylor on The Age of Insecurity (Massey Lecture 4)
In this year's thought-provoking CBC Massey lectures, renowned Canadian-American filmmaker, writer, political organiser, rock musician and self-described 'feral intellectual' Astra Taylor explores how our society now runs on insecurity — and how we can change it. In this fourth lecture, Astra turns her attention to ecological insecurity. This story isn't ours alone to tell. As we incinerate our energy inheritance, nature’s timekeeping methods become increasingly confused. As the climate alters,
Consumed by Curiosity — Astra Taylor on The Age of Insecurity (Massey Lecture 3)
In this year's thought-provoking CBC Massey lectures, renowned Canadian-American filmmaker, writer, political organiser, rock musician and self-described 'feral intellectual' Astra Taylor explores how our society now runs on insecurity — and how we can change it. In this third lecture, Astra argues that our innate existential insecurity is also vital to our curiosity, creativity, compassion, and capacity to care. What role does education have in fostering these? And she explores a paradox — we
Barons or Commoners? — Astra Taylor on The Age of Insecurity (Massey Lecture 2)
In this year's thought-provoking CBC Massey lectures, renowned Canadian-American filmmaker, writer, political organiser, rock musician and self-described 'feral intellectual' Astra Taylor explores how our society now runs on insecurity — and how we can change it. In this second lecture, Astra Taylor interrogates the history of the fight over our fundamental, shared rights, and asks what do we really, truly need to be secure?
Cura's Gift — Astra Taylor on The Age of Insecurity (Massey Lecture 1)
In this year's thought-provoking CBC Massey lectures, renowned Canadian-American filmmaker, writer, political organiser, rock musician and self-described 'feral intellectual' Astra Taylor explores how our society now runs on insecurity — and how we can change it. In this first lecture, Astra introduces us to the Roman goddess Cura, the embodiment of care, concern, anxiety, and worry. That's the human condition — existential insecurity. Capitalism and consumer society exploits the very insecurit
Catherine Deveny, Shannon Burns, and Akuch Anyieth on memoir
Three successful authors Akuch Anyieth, Shannon Burns and Catherine Deveny talk about memoir, and why they're interested in the form. Moderator of the discussion Yves Rees asks the panel to reflect on whether the personal storytelling genre is popular because of voyeurism, a desire for intimacy between writer and reader or just a hunger for trauma porn?
Will AI render human creativity worthless? The Beaker St Festival Great Debate
Two teams of heavy-hitters debate the fate of human creativity in a world of artificial intelligence. In a Big Ideas first, two A.I debaters are taking to the stage, and with strong opinions! Are the bots coming for Boticelli and the Bronte Sisters? Will humans be thrown in the dustbin of civilisation as our artistic expression is usurped by silicon? Or, will the bots help you unleash your creative potential like never before?
The day the invisible was made visible — Manus Island detention survivors speak
In early 2020, as Australians were being locked down, something strange was happening in an inner-suburban hotel in Brisbane. A group of men, previously invisible to most Australians, gathered on the hotel balcony wielding hand-made banners. Who were they? And how did this moment change the minds of middle Australia? It's 10 years since Kevin Rudd declared "no one who arrives by boat will ever settle here". The fallout catapulted thousands of lives into a decade-long limbo. Two of the men on tha
Osman Faruqi — censoring hip hop
It's possibly the greatest ever example of artistic censorship in Australian history. Police have requested hip hop to be taken off online streaming platforms, stopped bands from performing in Australia, and amended visa regulations so local hip hop artists can't perform overseas. Their claim is that hip hop is inciting violent and criminal behaviour. But it's an old debate that first emerged in the birthplace of hip hop more than two decades ago. Osman Faruqi shines a light on parallels to the
Safer beaches and guilt-free seefood
From apps that help us swim safely to using Crispr to cut the genes of box jellyfish to technology that identifies the source of a barramundi or coral trout at the fish market, science is at the fore-shore of keeping our oceans and our lives safe.
Safer beaches and guilt-free seafood
From apps that help us swim safely to using Crispr to cut the genes of box jellyfish to technology that identifies the source of a barramundi or coral trout at the fish market, science is at the fore-shore of keeping our oceans and our lives safe.
On ya bike or not? Global movers, shakers, and city shapers reimagining car culture
What do the streets feel like where you live? Unsafe for kids to ride to school, big busy highways, limited public transport, cars reign supreme? From electric vehicles to bike-friendly buses — be inspired by these globally renowned movers and shakers. They're using the regional town of Bendigo and international case studies to re-imagine how we can live and move. Transport accounts for a staggering quarter of global greenhouse emissions. Could one Australian town lead the way and hit zero trans
The power, politics and cost of women speaking out
Three influential women explore the power, the politics, and the cost of speaking out.
Nuclear technology: the shady beginnings and the uncertain future
The history and development of the nuclear industry is shred in secrecy and contradictions. And its future is throwing up more questions than answers. A scientist, a historian and a poet consider the economic, scientific and social realities of nuclear technology. They discuss how the lessons from the past might shape an uncertain future, and the possible consequences of playing God.
Greek-Australian identity: Are we WHITE yet?
Are Greek-Australian's now considered to be 'white' in Australia's colourful social fabric? A panel of prominent Greek-Australians discusses questions of identity and belonging. As they have evolved into one of the oldest migrant groups in the country, is the era of Greek 'otherness' over? And what role did anglicising surnames play in our journey towards acceptance?
I am not my chromosomes — science, rights, and the intersex experience
"Are they a girl or a boy?" That question is often asked about a newborn. But what if you're born with genetic variations in sexual development, also known as intersex conditions, and possess both typical male and female physical traits? New legislation tabled in the ACT is set to limit the scope of medical treatments and surgeries for such children. Intersex activists have campaigned hard for the law saying the human rights of the child to bodily autonomy is paramount. But some argue not all li
Why thinking in Deep Time is good for your head
The best of talks, forums, debates, and festivals held in Australia and around the world.
It's not as simple as moving house! Meet climate refugees with a (scaly, sticky, furry) difference
Meet some climate refugees of a different kind. From the Western swamp tortoise to honey ants to whales, can they just up-stumps and move house if things get too hot under the collar? From understanding First Nations science to breaking up the siloed western conservation practices, are there better ways to make life possible for every being on a warming planet?
Bri Lee and fellow voyagers ponder the ethics of travel
Questioning whether travel is ethical is probably the last thing on your mind when you decide to go on holiday. But for increasing number of travellers, 'ethical travel' is the preferred mode for tourists who don't want their holiday to just be an extractive exercise. So what are the ethical obligations for those who have the privilege to travel? And what does ethical travel mean in practice… ?
George Monbiot's Regenesis — you won't think about dinner the same way again
Would you eat protein brewed in a vat from bacteria instead of meat? "Nom nom nom!", you might say. George Monbiot probably agrees. One of the most influential thinkers on the future of of the planet, now he's interrogating what's on our dinner plate, and the staggering business of how it got there. He joins Natasha Mitchell to discuss his provocative book, Regenesis: how to feed the world without devouring the planet. And it all comes down to connecting with the Tolkienesque world beneath your
(Too) hot right now — life on a sweltering planet
The planet's hotter than it has ever been. July was the Earth's hottest month ever recorded since records began. And the consequences of this warming is increasingly becoming too hard to bear — particularly among those who don't have access to climate control. So what happens to our bodies in times of heat extremes? And what will happen when these extremes become the new 'normal'? It's something the veteran environmental reporter Jeff Goodell explores in his new book Heat: Life and Death on a Sc
Wellmania's Brigid Delaney on the gift of the Stoics
If you can't control it – then don't worry about it. It's one of the core messages of stoicism. Much easier said than done. But if you manage it, it can make your life a lot happier and calmer. That's not to say you should sit back and ignore injustice. The stoics have an answer for that as well. On Big Ideas, you'll hear about the ancient philosophy of stoicism and how to apply its principles to modern life. War, climate change, pandemic and endless social media platforms onto with you can proj
The buff-breasted button-quail: Is one of our rarest native birds still alive?
For more than 100 years, birdwatchers have searched for evidence that one of Australia's rarest native birds is not extinct. And they might be a step closer to solving the mystery of the Buff-breasted Button Quail. It lives in the humid savannas of Cape York. And we know that this habitat is changing. If we want to have any chance of finding and even saving this bird, we have to act quickly.
The soul in the machine — anthropologist, technologist, futurist Genevieve Bell and guests
We make machines, but do our machines also make us? And who's in control really? Superstar anthropologist, technologist, futurist, cyberneticist, and Silicon Valley insider Genevieve Bell joins Natasha Mitchell with young cybernetic creatives Hannah Feldman, Matt Heffernan, Ben Swift, to talk machines, minds, messing with the code and what it would take to make technology and the world better.
Sigrid Thornton, Rachael Maza, Sophie Hyde, Anousha Zarkesh — about older ladies in the movies
Movie or TV roles for older women accurately reflecting contemporary, society and experiences are rare. Sigrid Thornton, Rachael Maza, Sophie Hyde and Anousha Zarkesh are asking: Why is that? After decades honing their craft in the industry, older actresses are more talented than ever before, more confident and more attuned to the camera. But cinema is obsessed with the young.
Infidelity and other affairs
Who doesn't dream of being loved dangerously, thrillingly free from the tethers of restraint? It's a question journalist and author Kate Legge asked after the discovery of her husband's affairs. He was a high-powered media CEO, and she was a veteran journalist who was assured the infidelity was singular (more were to be discovered on the home PC). Having tried (and failed) to keep the marriage going, Kate started to write about it, only to discover infidelities spanning four generations on his s
The science of happiness
Harvard University has been running the world's longest study into happiness. The Harvard Study of Adult Development has been running since 1938, and in that time of researchers have observed how Americans experience and understand happiness, and how that's changed over time. In an address for the UNSW Centre for Ideas, the study's fourth director, Robert Waldinger, reveals the study's largest findings, and how technology — and changes in society — have inflected the interpretation of the study'
If a home is a human right — how can citizens and architects seize control of housing design?
Who sets the agenda when it comes to designing houses? More often than not wealthy developers call the shots. The result is cheaply-made hot boxes, unaffordable to live in, and poorly designed for human habitation. How did it come to this, and how can citizens and architects seize control? Meet 3 international trailblazers who want to change who controls what we get to call home — including an architect from Barcelona who needed an affordable place to call home and had social change on their min
From The King and I to Miss Saigon, Australia’s new generation of stage makers are de-orientalising the canon
In its simplest definition, orientalism refers to the patronising depictions of the 'Eastern world' — a term that encompasses North Africa, the Middle East and Asia — by writers and artists from the West. And it's no stranger to the Australian stage.Major commercial musicals with orientalist underpinnings such as The King and I, Madame Butterfly, or Miss Saigon regularly grace Australian stages, which give a vital leg-up to emerging stage workers. But as more of these workers reflect the multicu
The future of photography under AI
Where once photography gave us images of the world as seen by machines, photography under AI gives us images of machine images… seen by machines.Major global companies including Bing and Adobe are heavily investing in generative image models to produce the next AI advance in photography. But in this moment, what has become of the still image? Does it begin with the shutter, or is it now traced from computational models that power the AI-generated image? Hear from a researcher who's made it her m
Test tube trailblazers — the story of Australia's pioneering female scientists
While Australian women were among the first to get the vote in the world, their lives were still constrained for decades afterward. It was only until 1966 when the marriage bar was removed, which forced women to give up their careers once they married.But despite these constraints, generations of Australian women were able to subvert the system. Australia's first female scientists were among them. It's a history that's recently been collated in a new book. But the question remains… how much has
Being you — a new science of consciousness with Anil Seth
Your internal experience of consciousness – your rich inner life — has had scientists and philosophers completely perplexed for centuries. How does your brain's 100 billion neurons conjure up that distinct sense you have of being YOU? Is it different to your dog's sense of being a 'doggish'? Could that sense be reproduced in artificial intelligence? What happens when you experience altered states of consciousness - take a psychedelic, go under an anaesthetic, or hallucinate? Neuroscientist and b
Has space travel changed what it means to be human? A space archaeologist, poet, theologian, astrophysicist respond
In 1963, as the space race was taking off, the influential political philosopher Hannah Arrendt challenged scientists over their shift away from a humanistic focus to worlds beyond. She was responding to a question posed by the Encyclopedia Britannica: "Has man’s conquest of space increased or diminished his stature?". Replace man with human, and let's ask that question again 60 years on. As we penetrate, populate, and plumb the depths of space evermore.
How calories and coercion do you harm — leading physicians on your healthy body and mind
Mental health problems and chronic diseases are plaguing societies around the world. Both fields need new solutions. We know that lifestyle and obesity contribute to chronic diseases; they can shorten your life by 11 years! But can you use lifestyle to stay chronically healthy? And are we ignoring human rights and social factors in mental health policies and services? For over 40 years a popular response is to prescribe medication. But we are seeing a paradigm shift.
Food waste is bananas. So what are you going to do about it?
Australians on average chuck out 7.6 billion tonnes of food per year. That amounts to 312 kilos per person, or about $2,500 per household. It's bananas. But in a world that has long prioritised convenience and abundance, disposability has been baked into food chains. But this wasn't always so.In this Melbourne Conversations and RMIT Culture panel, hear from a zero-waste advocates, artists, and foodies about how we got into this mess, and what we could do to get out of it.
Why do so many of us feel so damn lonely and too ashamed to talk about it?
In a world of hyper-connectivity and social media, why do so many of us feel so damn lonely? Being lonely isn’t the same as being alone, and some people love their solitude. But loneliness is widespread, growing, affects all ages, and seriously sucks for your physical and mental health. Why are we so ashamed to talk about it, and what can help? Four guests join Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell for a frank, fearless and moving conversation about a very modern challenge.
David Marr's ancestors massacred Indigenous Australians. Marcia Langton's ancestors were among them.
Many people embark on a journey to discover their family's past in order to contextualise their present. But what happens when that journey uncovers something unwelcome?This was the case for the award-winning Australian writer David Marr. His great great grandfather, Reginald, was an officer of the Queensland Native Police — a force whose task it was to hunt and kill Indigenous people. This discovery has informed David's latest book, Killing for Country: A family story, which traces the structur
Love, lost minds, and mortality — how two storytellers met two scientists, made magic, and found meaning
What happens when Australia’s best poets and writers walk into the world of scientists? How do they feed of each other’s brilliant, inventive minds to help us understand one of the most challenging experiences of our lives ... watching a loved one slowly lose their mind?
Newsroom ethics and the Israel-Gaza war — part two
A range of media outlets — including the ABC — have been criticised for their coverage of the latest Israel-Gaza war. There have been protests, apologies, and retractions from the likes of the BBC and CNN. But in a moment where it is notoriously difficult for foreign journalists to gain access to Gaza, what are the obligations of news media when reporting on the Israel Gaza war? Responsibilities of the News Media on Palestine was a University of Technology Sydney webinar, first recorded on Novem
Newsroom ethics and the Israel Gaza war — part one
A range of media outlets — including the ABC — have been criticised for their coverage of the latest Israel-Gaza war. There have been protests, apologies, and retractions from the likes of the BBC and CNN. But in a moment where it is notoriously difficult for foreign journalists to gain access to Gaza, what are the obligations of news media when reporting on the Israel Gaza war? Note: This is part one of the discussion. Listen to the second part here. Speakers: Rawan DamenDirector-general, Arab
Photojournalist Andrew Quilty and activist Zahra Karimi want you to see this Afghanistan
Multi-award-winning Australian photojournalist Andrew Quilty went to Afghanistan on a two-week assignment. He stayed for 9 years.At just 25, Afghan-born women's activist Zahra Karimi found herself facilitating a 5000-strong network of Afghan women.As the Taliban took over in August 2021, and the Republic of Afghanistan crumbled, both had to get out of the country they loved. With a mass exodus, came a mass deletion. Websites, files, records, social media accounts were all wiped to protect people
Tracey Spicer: How AI and machine design is failing women
Technology's default setting is 'male' — more precisely a white, or at least, light-skinned male. Tracey Spicer exposes how technology and AI has embedded sexism and racism into the future. It's the next frontier of feminism. But who is responsible? Big Tech, refusing to spend money to fix the problem? The world's politicians, who lack the will to legislate? Or should we all be taking a good, hard look at ourselves?
There's a sensory world unavailable to humans. So Ed Yong tried to discover it.
In 2020, veteran science journalist Ed Yong intended to write a book about the world of animal senses. But fate had other plans — he was put on the COVID beat for The Atlantic, and later received the Pulitzer Prize for his efforts.But year later he returned to the book and rediscovered an immense world: Flowers growing in electric fields, bees seeing in ultraviolet, the underwater symphony of the Great Barrier Reef. The sublime in the natural world. In his latest book, An Immense World: How Anim
Sean Turnell — how a nerdy economist was held hostage by Myanmar
If you find yourself locked up in a foreign prison on fake charges, what would you like your government to do? It's a question that rollicked around economist Sean Turnell's brain when the unthinkable became reality.In November 2021, Myanmar's military junta arrested Turnell — then an economic advisor to Aung San Suu Kyi — and thrust him into solitary confinement. He would be wrongfully imprisoned for another 650 days in one of Yangon's most notorious prisons. This is the story of how Turnell su
The F Word — is Feminism too white, too middle-class, or a movement for all?
Has feminism been too white and too middle-class for too long? From India to Australia, five trailblazing women spanning generations, geography, and cultures join Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell to give their frank and fearless views on the F Word — what it means to them and how it might evolve.
What would you sacrifice to give peace a chance?
The road to peace is one littered with compromise. From Belfast to Bosnia, Dili to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, peace negotiations after bloody armed conflict have involved incredibly complex choices between what to prosecute and what to pardon. So what would you give up to obtain a lasting peace?
This Big Ideas episode was first broadcast on November 10, 2015.
The genius and struggles of Orson Welles
He was one of the most remarkable producer/director/actors to come out of Hollywood. The cinema wunderkind George Orson Welles. But he was also a troublemaker and outsider; maybe too creative and eccentric for his own good. Some of his work remained unreleased, and at the same time his movie Citizen Kane is studied as an epitome of cinematic art all over the world to this day. Big Ideas discusses the legacy of Orson Welles, and the struggles to make Citizen Kane.
The Doherty's Sharon Lewin on the call that changed the world forever
The director of Doherty Institute for Infectious Diseases was out of office when the first official case of the novel coronavirus was declared. At the time, Sharon Lewin was hiking in remote Patagonia.
Then she got a call.
Her deputy, Mike Catton, confirmed that Doherty scientists were the first outside of China to grow the novel coronavirus in a lab.
This is the inside story of how that was achieved, and the split-second decision making that changed the course of the COVID-19 pandemic forever.
I DON’T! Clem Ford argues the case against marriage
Clem Ford, author of bestselling book Fight Like a Girl, Boys Will be Boys, and How We Love, is back with a firey new read. This time she's taking on an age-old institution that she argues harms women, and has throughout history. She wants marriage abolished. From white weddings to wandering wombs, coverture to capitalism, I DON'T: the case against marriage is full of stories of resistance, rage, and re-imagining. It'll shock and rile some, for others it'll be a case of hard relate. Clem Ford is
Does sport unite or divide us?
There is nothing like cheering on your favourite sport team; or seeing our Aussie athletes on the top podium at the Olympic Games. A whole nation celebrates. Strangers are falling into each other's arms. Sport can truly unite us. But then… there are racist smirks, fans getting violent. Even in high school can you get a hard time if you're wearing the wrong club colours. So, does sport in fact divide us?
Can you imagine power without violence?
While it was Mao Zedong who believed power came from the barrel of a gun, philosopher Hannah Arendt saw it differently. Instead, she believed the eruption of violence was less a testament to power, but rather, a stark admission of its absence. These thoughts later culminated in her 1970 essay, On Violence. More than a half century later, can Arendt's insights make sense of our turbulent present?
How to shut up your inner critic and anxious thoughts — Brigid Delaney, James Kirby and Ahona Guha
How can you quiet those nagging voices inside your head; expectations that you should to better; anxiety how to make ends meet with rising costs of living … or trying to cope with abuse, trauma and loss? How can you turn your 'inner wilds' into 'inner calm' and achieve a more peaceful way of being? At the top of the list: Have compassion toward yourself and be kind to yourself — as well as others.
More than a fish kill — how a bunch of boys healed a scientist and found themselves
Sometimes an event so big happens that it leaves everyone gasping in its wake. In this case, more than million fish were left gasping too. A stunning story of how one community rallied. At its heart is healing country, art, science, and ancient knowledge. In the Summer of 2018-2019 and again in 2023, mass fish kills left communities along the mighty Baaka / Darling River — one of Australia's most important river systems — devastated. The scenes of floating white carcasses captured attention worl
Witchcraft in the 21st century
The witch is a figure that has been around for a long time in many cultures, stretching back to ancient times. In the West, witches have re-appeared in stories for centuries: from Macbeth, to Salem, to Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
But in the 21st-century, witches — and the practices associated with them — are being re-appraised, both as a form of contemporary spiritual practice, and a frame to study historical crimes against women.
Why Santilla Chingaipe traces the stories of Australia's African convicts
To write history is to omit. The historical archive is the end-product of a series of choices, and in the wash, particular voices get privileged over others. But around the globe, historians are attempting to identify the gaps in 'official' history, and in so doing, understand how and why they were created.
Santilla Chingaipe is among them. Her recent work has told the stories of the hundreds of convicts of African descent transported to Australia during colonial rule. In her 2023 EW Cole Lectur
How disinformation disrupts the city
Disinformation is nothing new, but ever increasingly, it is stifling the capacity for governments of all kinds to carry out their day-to-day duties.
It has acutely been felt at the local government level, where public council hearings, and library rainbow storytime events have either been postponed or cancelled due to security concerns.
So what can cities (and their elected representatives) do to combat a rise in disinformation’s direct impacts, especially when facts don't convince?
Porkies to pork barrelling — real solutions to democracy's accountability crisis?
From politicians telling porkies to pork barrelling — many believe there is an accountability crisis at the heart of Australia’s democracy. What will it take to fix? Meet five who have tried with considerable success. Join Big Ideas' host Natasha Mitchell with Ed Coper, Simon Holmes a Court. Andrea Durbach, Helen Haines MP, Shireen Morris.
Making cancer treatment work for every body
For every cancer patient, there's a life story that has influenced diagnosis, treatment, and survival.
A patient in a vulnerable housing or financial position may not be able to participate in treatment fully, while those incarcerated may only be accessing cancer care for the first time. It's this holistic view of patients that clinicians want to better integrate into treatment — in and outside of the hospital.
In this panel discussion from the 2023 NSW Cancer Innovations Conference, learn how e
Do we need compassion for men who hurt women … to stop them from doing so?
To change violent behaviour, regulators and assistance services need compassion for the perpetrators. That's the consent of our panel of psychiatrists, psychologists and women who went through domestic violence themselves. You'll hear about the impact of trauma and what it does to your brain; how abuse destroys your identity; the hurt and healing effect of speaking out and what turns a victim into a survivor.
Why Indy Johar doesn't want you to 'escape' to New Zealand
In a world that's warming faster than ever before, there are some places that are seen as future refuges from the ravages of climate change. New Zealand is high on the list, especially among the ultra-rich.
But for architect and social entrepreneur Indy Johar, that escape can't really exist — the world's too entangled. After all, it takes a planet to make an iPhone. So how would a deeper reckoning with this entanglement inform the way we adapt to climate change, and the machine-learning revoluti
Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I — what we can learn from this extraordinary mother-daughter relationship
Although Elizabeth was only a little girl when her mother Anne was executed, their relationship significantly shaped the later queen's character, religion and reign. Historian Tracy Borman pieces together evidence from original documents and artefacts to show their bond and long-lasting influence; and she tells a story of famous royal women, the significance of symbols and the skills of outsmarting the intrigues of competing male courtiers.d.
Ladies on the war path — why are women combatants still so disputed?
From the Amazons to the Ukraine conflict, women have always been on the frontline of war. But their role and contribution are still disputed. Big Ideas sets the record straight. How has war become an all-make space? And why were women allowed to be astronauts a full thirty years before they were allowed to fight in combat?
All aboard the vomit comet! — how Meganne Christian's astronaut dream came true
It was on Antarctica's most remote stations that prompted scientist Meganne Christian to consider a life in space.
On Concordia, also dubbed 'White Mars', Meganne did some accidental training. She experienced windchills at –104 degrees, 100 days without sun, and profound isolation — conditions the European Space Agency uses to test future astronauts.
In 2022, Meganne became one of 17 new reserve astronauts for the ESA, out of a pool of 22,500 applicants.
In this keynote for National Science We
Content overload — how we consume culture now
The consumption of media is perhaps the most fragmented it's ever been. It's a world swimming in unopened tabs, in-video links, and scrolls that never end: a world of near-infinite choice.
In this roundtable from the 2023 Melbourne International Film Festival, an author, a critic, a film buff, and cook join forces to discuss what culture they're consuming, how they're doing it, and why.
The rise of Australian actors in Hollywood
Nicole Kitman, Errol Flynn, Peter Finch and David Gulpilil… they all are Australian actors who made their fortune in Hollywood. Australian talent is in fact very popular in the glitzy and cut-throat cinema business. Why is that? The book 'Cast Mates' looks behind the Hollywood curtain, from the Golden Age in the 1930s to the streaming wars of today. It follows the lives these four Australian actors and their cast mates and tells a story of how Australian cinema was founded, then faltered, before
Decolonising Australia's fire science
For fire scientist Philip Zylstra, there are a lot of myths contained in the modern approach to containing bushfires in Australia. Namely, that management practices after colonisation continued pre-colonial Indigenous approaches in the form of prescribed burns.
In his view, that's not correct. Instead, he argues the science underpinning prescribed burns isn't sound, resulting in a one-size-fits-all approach whose roots lie in classical England.
Why the stunning mystery of a Stone Age child with one foot upends medicine
A 31,000-year-old skeleton with a successfully amputated foot has rewritten the medical history books. The extraordinary find in Borneo challenges modern medicine's amputation record, which stretches back a mere 100 years. An expert panel traces the discovery story and describes a pre-historic caring and medically skilled society.
The Voice referendum — hope or hype?
For some advocates of the no case for this year's referendum, the proposed Voice to parliament simply doesn't go far enough.
Instead, advocates — often referred to as progressive 'no' voters — argue that Indigenous Australians should be given more institutional power to effect change, like dedicated First Nations seats in parliament.
So what does this look like? And what alternatives to the Voice does the progressive no camp propose if their vote carries?
Find more of the ABC's reporting on the
Legendary designer Mary Featherston: how school classrooms stunt our wondrous natural-born curiosity
Interior designer Mary Featherston is famous for many things. Her trailblazing creations with her late husband Grant Featherston. Their extraordinary Melbourne house designed by the iconic modernist architect Robin Boyd, which has housed four generations of their family. But what Mary's most driven by is her 50-year mission to change the face, feel, and function of Australian classrooms. Classrooms, not just teachers, can be educators too! She joins Big Ideas' host Natasha Mitchell.
'Ok boomer' — the consternation of a generation
Depending who you ask, the baby boomers got it good, and everyone that followed got a raw deal.
Here's the common assumption: Millennials are saddled with student debt, unaffordable housing, and increasingly insecure work, while their forebears didn't (and some experienced profound asset gains afterwards). But is this generational binary that simple?
Ok Boomer was first recorded at the Sydney Writers Festival in May 2023.
Hunting for life on exoplanets — but is it life as we know it?
Checking out the Goldilocks Zone. With a team of astronomers and astrophysicists, Big Ideas is exploring the skies — more precisely, exoplanets that orbit around stars beyond our solar system in what is known as the Goldilocks Zone. It's the zone with conditions that might be just right for creating life. What is this zone, what is being discovered and what can we learn about our own terrestrial world?
Ahead of the Voice referendum, a refresher on referenda
It's been 24 years since Australia's last referendum, meaning there's an entire generation who will be participating in a referendum for the first time. As the nation gears up for the referendum on an Indigenous Voice to parliament, a Monash University panel of legal scholars and constitutional nerds give you a refresher on the mechanics of referenda, the constitution, and why Australian law permits disinformation in political advertising.
Open arms or closed doors — why do governments celebrate certain migrants but stigmatise others?
Moving to a new country is hard – do you seek out your own diaspora or find a way to blend in and assimilate? Usually it’s a bit a of both, and what governments do can make a big difference to your life. Why do certain migrants get embraced by certain governments — while others are stigmatised, pilloried, even imprisoned? Two accomplished historians join Natasha Mitchell for a Big Ideas on fitting in and feeling like an outsider.
Tony Wellington: How the music of the 60s and 70s changed the world forever
The 70's was the peak era of musical innovation and creativity. Kickstarted by the rock'n'roll revolution of the 60s, the music of the 70s has transformed the world and defined all styles that came after. Bands co-opted elements of classical, jazz, electronic, world and avant-garde music. And music became visual spectacle via glam, shock rock, disco and punk.
The future of Australia's literary journals — writing's great pollinators
Chances are your favourite writer got their first break in a literary journal. While they're most often seen as flash-in-the-pan print publications, run on love and free labour, the reality is a lot more complicated.
Ahead of of the 2025 launch of Writers Australia — the federal government's proposed peak body for Australian literature — Western Sydney University released a report into the state of Australia's literary journals. It provides a critical snapshot of the working reality of literary
Why young people want to break the binaries of the Voice debate
There's a broad spectrum of perspectives on the Voice referendum, but where do the voices of Australia's youth fit into the debate?
Recently, the University of Tasmania gathered a panel of young Indigenous and non-indigenous voices to speak to the complexities of this era-defining moment, and what future they want to inherit — whatever the outcome of the vote.
Artificial wombs and animal sex — philosophers weigh in on brave new futures
When it comes to biological sex, humans are pretty vanilla. Things are so much wilder in nature. Philosopher of science Paul Griffiths challenges the notion that our biological sex is a rigid, unchangeable thing. Political philosopher Luara Ferracioli contemplates the controversial idea of artificial wombs replacing women’s wombs, with babies gestated entirely outside of the human body. What could that mean for the future of parenthood, motherhood, and our relationship to children? They join Nat
The deeper meaning of travel: Richard Fidler, Kris Kneen, Adam Liam, Vicki Shururoglou
Travelling is fun — but does it have a deeper purpose? It helps us cultivate connections in the world, it shapes our own identity and makes us understand other cultures. But has modern technology made it too easy and fast-paced? What does 'good-travelling' involve? How do you fit into the places you visit?
Keeping up with the Coppolas
The Coppolas are one of cinema's great family dynasties. The patriarch is Francis Ford Coppola, the Oscar-award winning director of the Godfather trilogy, Apocalypse Now, and many others.
His children, Sophia and Roman, have charted creative paths in their own right. Roman — an award-winning music video director and regular collaborator of Wes Anderson — was a recent guest of Melbourne's inaugural Now or Never Festival.
He's currently on a mission to democratise film funding through blockchain,
Anne Summers and the inside story of a winning campaign — pulling single parents out of poverty
On the same day as her historic misogyny speech, Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard introduced a policy that would plunge tens of thousands of single parents into poverty. It had significant consequences for single mothers.
Single parents whose children turned eight no longer had access to the single parent payment, a move many experts believe increased child poverty.
But in May, that law was reformed, bumping up payment cut-off to 14.
Join influential feminist campaigners, including Ann
David Suzuki's battle-cry for Now or Never
David Suzuki says the global environmental movement – of which he has been an influential figurehead - has failed. His breathtaking book The Sacred Balance: Rediscovering our Place in Nature has just been released as a 25th Anniversary edition. Now he’s calling for some radical truth telling. Especially from corporate executives and elders. Let his now or never battle-cry galvanise you. He joined Big Ideas presenter Natasha Mitchell as part of the Now or Never festival at the Melbourne Museum.
How to design cities that make us feel again
There are certain sensory experiences that bind us to place. It might be the scent of the city after rain, the way light moves through a street tree canopy, or the texture of a handrail as you move through the day.
It is these small details that the field of placemaking is trying to help us rediscover. And it's something that an increasing number of governments and urban planning firms are integrating into their work.
But beyond the buzzwords and 'activation' sites, can placemaking deliver on it
Why Australia's 'queen of waste' wants to start a revolution
In the mind of Veena Sahajwalla, the way we think about waste is rubbish. The award-winning scientist — who's also been dubbed Australia's "queen of waste" — wants to start a revolution in recycling.
For her, recycling doesn't need to replace like-for-like.
Instead, she wants us to imagine a future where all things can be unmade into their component parts, like turning old tyres into steel (something Professor Sahajwalla's pioneered).
In this talk from the Australian Museum, the inventor of gree
Cathy McGowan's lessons for lasting change
For Cathy McGowan, change doesn't come about by waiting for government. Nor for that matter, perfecting theories… it's simply doing. And sticking it out when the work isn't sexy, incremental, and the outcome seems unlikely.
It's something she learnt around this time a decade ago when she toppled a long-standing incumbent in the Victorian seat of Indi — and became Australia's first-elected female independent.
In this National Museum of Australia address, McGowan explains her success wasn't about
Unseen by design — could a world designed by blind people be better for all?
Seeing is only one way of sensing the world. When you don't have sight, your brain develops another set of sensory superpowers. Meet three trailblazers in design, art, architecture, and advocacy to discover how the world unseen can be so much better for the seen and seeing.
Is patenting vaccines a threat to public health?
Pitting innovation against equitable access to medicine: Should drugs and vaccines have patents and fall under intellectual property laws? It's a particularly difficult question in times of a public health crisis. On Big Ideas, a panel of experts will draw on their own experiences and re-think vaccine creation, production and distribution. Do we need to change IP laws, or should we be looking at other measures to ensure those who need vaccines and medication, can access them - regardless of cost
Does politics neglect the needs of younger generations?
What if every law, process, or government department decision was mandated for the well-being of citizens and future generations in mind? That is the case in Wales in the UK. Meet Sophie Howe, the world's first Future Generations Commissioner.
(Too) hot right now — life on a sweltering planet
The planet's hotter than it has ever been. July was the Earth's hottest month ever recorded since records began. And the consequences of this warming is increasingly becoming too hard to bear — particularly among those who don't have access to climate control.
So what happens to our bodies in times of heat extremes? And what will happen when these extremes become the new 'normal'? It's something the veteran environmental reporter Jeff Goodell explores in his new book Heat: Life and Death on a Sc
Is AI coming for what makes us most human — ART? Six whip-smart thinkers to provoke
The Bots have landed. Meet the artist bot. The designer bot. The actor bot. The screenwriter bot. Paul McCartney says AI was used to produce a new Beatles song using demo tape recording by the late John Lennon. But in Hollywood, screen-writers and actors are striking over their work being used to train up A.I tools — or — their roles being devalued, even replaced by A.I. Authors are suing OpenAI, the makers of ChatGPT, for using their books to train up the chatbot without permission or payment.
Osman Faruqi: The war on Hip Hop
It's possibly the greatest ever example of artistic censorship in Australian history. Police has Hip Hop music taken down from online streaming platforms, bans bands from performing in Australia and interferes with visa regulations so that those bands can't travel overseas to perform. Their argument is that Hip Hop is inciting violent and criminal behaviour. But this argument has been dismissed in the US over two decades ago. Osman Faruqi shines a light on parallels to the Hip Hop wars in 1990s
COVID, Zoonotic diseases, and the next pandemic
Throughout human history, infectious viruses have moved between animals and humans without much fanfare. These are known as Zoonotic diseases.
But every so often, they set off a chain reaction that can't be contained, like the bubonic plague, or COVID-19.
But the collective experience of COVID has given the world many lessons about what to — and what not to do — the next time there's a Zoonotic leap. So what are those lessons, and is humanity able to not repeat the same mistakes?
From Matildas' Sam Kerr to author Alice Pung — is Australia's Asian identity centre stage?
Australia is a majority migrant nation. Increasingly, that migration skews more Asian than European, with more than 50 per cent of the population either born overseas or having a parent who was.
This includes the lauded Australian writer Alice Pung, whose Chinese-Cambodian parents fled the Khmer Rouge. But it's a story replicated across many generations of Australian families, including that of the Matildas' captain Sam Kerr, whose father was born in Kolkata.
But abroad, the contemporary story o
Will AI render human creativity worthless? The Beaker St Festival Great Debate
Two teams of heavy-hitters debate the fate of human creativity in a world of artificial intelligence. In a Big Ideas first, two A.I debaters are taking to the stage, and with strong opinions! Are the bots coming for Boticelli and the Bronte Sisters? Will humans be thrown in the dustbin of civilisation as our artistic expression is usurped by silicon? Or, will the bots help you unleash your creative potential like never before?
Jacinda Ardern speaks frankly with Mana Wāhine (powerful women)
Dame Jacinda Ardern's rise to the top wasn't down to destiny. In fact, the first job she wanted was to be a clown. Then she tried (and failed) in a Lord of the Rings audition to be a hobbit.
But what would come later would be a bigger role that would eclipse any of her prior attempts at a life on screen. After an unexpected election victory in 2017, she became the world's youngest female leader (and a global media sensation).
For many, Jacinda's story channels what people in New Zealand know a
Jacinda Ardern speaks frankly with Mana Wāhine (powerful women)
Dame Jacinda Ardern's rise to the top wasn't down to destiny. In fact, the first job she wanted was to be a clown. Then she tried (and failed) in audition to be a hobbit in Lord of the Rings.
But what would come later would be a bigger role that would eclipse any of her prior attempts at a life on screen – becoming the world's youngest female leader (and a global media sensation) after an unexpected election victory in 2017.
For many, Jacinda's story channels what people in New Zealand know as M
The uncertain future of the Antarctic and Arctic: why the arctic regions are crucial for global security
Geopolitics and climate change now have immediate consequences for national and international security interests across the Arctic and Antarctic. The world's polar regions are contested and strategically central to geopolitical rivalry. At the same time, rapid political, social, and environmental change presents unprecedented challenges for governance, environmental protection, and maritime operations in the regions.
Fantastic beasts get it on! Incredible stories of revival and rescue
Why did an earless lizard make politicians take to the podium? (And could it have heard them anyway?). What makes a pygmy possum randy? (The nose knows). Why are Africa’s sacred cows so vital? (More than a meaty issue). Genetics to the rescue with hopeful stories and science from three trailblazing women. Join Natasha Mitchell at the Melbourne Museum for the 2023 International Congress of Genetics.
Perv — the kink in all of us
What gives you the ick? Though of course, that is inherently subjective. What may be someone's ick could be someone's kink. Jesse Bering is a psychologist specialising in evolutionary psychology and human behaviour whose work has tried to understand what lies beneath 'normal'.
In this talk from Vivid 2023, Jesse explores the complex dynamics between repulsion and attraction, and how sexual 'deviance' has evolved over time.
The Matildas Effect — will FIFA and other codes change their tune on sportswomen?
You see more long braids, a touch of makeup and some curves in professional sports. Women are finally starting to assert their place on the field. But as our expert panel says, creating pathways to inclusion for women and gender diverse people with intersecting identities and abilities remains an urgent task at both grassroots and elite levels.
Infidelity and other affairs
Who doesn't dream of being loved dangerously, thrillingly free from the tethers of restraint? It's a question journalist and author Kate Legge asked after the discovery of her husband's affairs. He was a high-powered media CEO, and she was a veteran journalist who was assured the infidelity was singular (more were to be discovered on the home PC).
Having tried (and failed) to keep the marriage going, Kate started to write about it, only to discover infidelities spanning four generations on his s
What we can learn from ancient African kings
Many precolonial kingdoms and dynasties of Africa, have shaped cultures across the continent to this day. But they have been terribly ignored and marginalised throughout history. A pity really – because we could learn so much from their approach to wielding power: like how to reign with mystical stories and through generosity instead of oppression; and instead of wars over borders have the people chose under what king they want to life.
What we can learn from ancient African kings
Many precolonial kingdoms and dynasties of Africa, have shaped cultures across the continent to this day. But they have been terribly ignored and marginalised throughout history. A pity really – because we could learn so much from their approach to wielding power: like how to reign with mystical stories and through generosity instead of oppression; and instead of wars over borders have the people chose under what king they want to life.
The dreamers and schemers — an adventurous history of Australian politics
Frank Bongiorno is always adventurous with the way he unearths the history of Australia. He's written a history of Australian sex lives, Australia in the 1980s, and now he'll surprise you again with stories of the dreamers and schemers who have shaped Australia's political history.
The dreamers and schemers — an adventurous history of Australian politics
Frank Bongiorno is always adventurous with the way he unearths the history of Australia. He's written a history of Australian sex lives, Australia in the 1980s, and now he'll surprise you again with stories of the dreamers and schemers who have shaped Australia's political history.
Australian foreign policy after Albanese
With a change in government, there comes a new orientation for Australian foreign policy. Under the leadership of Foreign Minister Penny Wong — the first Asian and overseas-born Australian to hold that office — there has been attempts to reset many of Australia's relationships in the region, particularly with China.
But a hard reset isn't exactly on the agenda — the Albanese Government is continuing the AUKUS deal and remains steadfast in deepening the US-Australia alliance. So what new directio
Australian foreign policy after Albanese
With a change in government, there comes a new orientation for Australian foreign policy. Under the leadership of Foreign Minister Penny Wong — the first Asian and overseas-born Australian to hold that office — there has been attempts to reset many of Australia's relationships in the region, particularly with China.
But a hard reset isn't exactly on the agenda — the Albanese Government is continuing the AUKUS deal and remains steadfast in deepening the US-Australia alliance. So what new directio
How to stay hopeful and optimistic in dark times
Can you stay positive and optimistic in difficult times? Is it a fool's game even to try? Bill Hayes and Lachlan McIver talk about the difference between realism and pessimism; and why it's imperative to muster up hope in hard times. They know what they're talking about, having gone through tragedy and loss in their lives as well.
How to stay hopeful and optimistic in dark times
Can you stay positive and optimistic in difficult times? Is it a fool's game even to try? Bill Hayes and Lachlan McIver talk about the difference between realism and pessimism; and why it's imperative to muster up hope in hard times. They know what they're talking about, having gone through tragedy and loss in their lives as well.
Barrie Kosky — a giant of Australian stage
He's one of Australia's most successful stage exports who cites Kermit the Frog as one of his greatest influences. Over decades, Barrie Kosky has blazed a trail directing theatre and opera across Europe, who in 2022, finished a 10-year stint leading Berlin's prestigious opera house, the Komische Oper.
The self-described "gay, Jewish, Kangaroo" is in conversation with the Sydney Theatre Company's artistic director Kip Williams. The two reflect on Barrie's career, the future of theatre post-stream
Barrie Kosky — a giant of Australian stage
He's one of Australia's most successful stage exports who cites Kermit the Frog as one of his greatest influences. Over decades, Barrie Kosky has blazed a trail directing theatre and opera across Europe, who in 2022, finished a 10-year stint leading Berlin's prestigious opera house, the Komische Oper.
The self-described "gay, Jewish, Kangaroo" is in conversation with the Sydney Theatre Company's artistic director Kip Williams. The two reflect on Barrie's career, the future of theatre post-stream
Young and healthy (or not)? Here's why DNA screening should be on your radar
You’re young. You’re healthy. Would you open Pandora’s box and take a DNA test to find out your risk of a serious disease? Scientists say widespread DNA screening of young people will save lives — but who will pay the price? And if you discovered you carry a high-risk gene for breast or prostate cancer, what can you do with that information, and who else might use it? Could insurance companies or prospective employers discriminate against you on the basis of your genes?
Natasha Mitchell and g
Young and healthy (or not)? Here's why DNA screening should be on your radar
You’re young. You’re healthy. Would you open Pandora’s box and take a DNA test to find out your risk of a serious disease? Scientists say widespread DNA screening of young people will save lives — but who will pay the price? And if you discovered you carry a high-risk gene for breast or prostate cancer, what can you do with that information, and who else might use it? Could insurance companies or prospective employers discriminate against you on the basis of your genes?
Natasha Mitchell and g
Benjamin Gilmour says: We should be talking to the Taliban
Is it necessary to engage with the Taliban to improve conditions in Afghanistan? It's an inconceivable idea for many who have fought in the country of fled from Taliban oppression. But Benjamin Gilmour has done it. At a recent trip to the country, he has been given access to some of the top leaders of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Now he shares his experiences and conversations with the Taliban.
Benjamin Gilmore says: We should be talking to the Taliban
Is it necessary to engage with the Taliban to improve conditions in Afghanistan? It's an inconceivable idea for many who have fought in the country of fled from Taliban oppression. But Benjamin Gilmour has done it. At a recent trip to the country, he has been given access to some of the top leaders of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Now he shares his experiences and conversations with the Taliban.
All about IVF
IVF, or in vitro fertilisation has come a long way since its first successful application in Australia. That was in 1980, at the Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne with the birth of Candice Reed. Forty years on, it's estimated that some 200,000 Australian children have been born via IVF.
But despite the technological, legislative, and social changes that have come about in that period, many couples – and single parents – still face stigma for opting to have children this way. Hear from three wo
All about IVF
IVF, or in vitro fertilisation has come a long way since its first successful application in Australia. That was in 1980, at the Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne with the birth of Candice Reed. Forty years on, it's estimated that some 200,000 Australian children have been born via IVF.
But despite the technological, legislative, and social changes that have come about in that period, many couples – and single parents – still face stigma for opting to have children this way. Hear from three wo
Nothing about us without us
When making change, how do you amplify the voices of youth without being tokenistic?
It's a question that was on the minds of many at the once-in-a-generation summit called Wiyi Yani U Thangani, a Bubuna phrase meaning women's voices. Held in Canberra earlier this year, Wiyi Yani U Thangani, brought together around 900 First Nations women to produce a new 'Blakprint', to improve their lives, those of their families and future generations.
Integral to this 'Blakprint' was the input of young women
Nothing about us without us
When making change, how do you amplify the voices of youth without being tokenistic?
It's a question that was on the minds of many at the once-in-a-generation summit called Wiyi Yani U Thangani, a Bubuna phrase meaning women's voices. Held in Canberra earlier this year, Wiyi Yani U Thangani, brought together around 900 First Nations women to produce a new 'Blakprint', to improve their lives, those of their families and future generations.
Integral to this 'Blakprint' was the input of young women
Before Julia Gillard's misogyny speech — meet the feminists who changed Australian politics
Former prime minister Julia Gillard's misogyny speech hit a nerve worldwide. But before that speech, were the feminist rebels, ratbags, and renegades who got Australian politics to that moment.
Hear how and why women's lives, against the odds, were first put on the political agenda in Australia… and why Miss Australia wasn't there.
Before Julia Gillard's misogyny speech — meet the feminists who changed Australian politics
Former prime minister Julia Gillard's misogyny speech hit a nerve worldwide. But before that speech, were the feminist rebels, ratbags, and renegades who got Australian politics to that moment.
Hear how and why women's lives, against the odds, were first put on the political agenda in Australia… and why Miss Australia wasn't there.
Shut up and (write) the hits — song writing in the streaming age
Song writing in the 21st-Century is an increasingly precarious endeavour. We now live in a world where even the slightest similar melodic pattern could send you to court, while AI-driven production could send you packing.
But despite this, there's still something magical about song writing. So what keeps compelling people to try their luck at crafting songs in the streaming era?
So, enter the writing room (or pub) to hear from four Australian rock legends who've witnessed this magic. Together, t
Shut up and (write) the hits — song writing in the streaming age
Song writing in the 21st-Century is an increasingly precarious endeavour. We now live in a world where even the slightest similar melodic pattern could send you to court, while AI-driven production could send you packing.
But despite this, there's still something magical about song writing. So what keeps compelling people to try their luck at crafting songs in the streaming era?
So, enter the writing room (or pub) to hear from four Australian rock legends who've witnessed this magic. Together, t
Why do some people crave risk and extreme adventures?
Would you endure intense physical challenges and privations, extreme temperatures, dizzying heights, hunger and loneliness …. just for the thrill of it? What kinds of people thrive in hostile environments? It takes a special type of person to embark on extreme adventures and sports. It's not just about your fitness and bodily constitution, you mental and emotional strengths can be even more important. What drives people to the depths and edges of the known world, and how do they survive it? And
Why do some people crave risk and extreme adventures?
Would you endure intense physical challenges and privations, extreme temperatures, dizzying heights, hunger and loneliness …. just for the thrill of it? What kinds of people thrive in hostile environments? It takes a special type of person to embark on extreme adventures and sports. It's not just about your fitness and bodily constitution, you mental and emotional strengths can be even more important. What drives people to the depths and edges of the known world, and how do they survive it? And
Australia's sporting myths
Australia is obsessed with sport — it's become shorthand for our national identity abroad. But there's tension at the heart of this obsession.
As keen and disinterested followers of Australian sport have witnessed, sports of all kinds have had a troubled relationship with race, gender, and sexuality.It's something Mununjali writer — and part-time soccer player — Ellen van Neerven considers in their book Personal Score, exploring their complicated relationship with sport in the process.
Australia's sporting myths
Australia is obsessed with sport — it's become shorthand for our national identity abroad. But there's tension at the heart of this obsession.
As keen and disinterested followers of Australian sport have witnessed, sports of all kinds have had a troubled relationship with race, gender, and sexuality.It's something Mununjali writer — and part-time soccer player — Ellen van Neerven considers in their book Personal Score, exploring their complicated relationship with sport in the process.
Puff Piece — John Safran goes gonzo with Big Tobacco's health spin
As a gonzo documentary maker and author, John Safran goes where others fear to tread. He's been baptised, exorcised, crucified, hung out with extremists. Now he's digging into the spin and shenanigans of Big Tobacco. When is a cigarette not a cigarette when it really still is? An eye-opening conversation about vapes, "heat sticks", and corporate obscurantism. Will John Safran smoke out the truth?
Puff Piece — John Safran goes gonzo with Big Tobacco's health spin
As a gonzo documentary maker and author, John Safran goes where others fear to tread. He's been baptised, exorcised, crucified, hung out with extremists. Now he's digging into the spin and shenanigans of Big Tobacco. When is a cigarette not a cigarette when it really still is? An eye-opening conversation about vapes, "heat sticks", and corporate obscurantism. Will John Safran smoke out the truth?
Whatever happened to Australian foreign aid?
We might like to think of Australia as a generous nation, but Australian foreign aid levels tell a different story. We're now ranked 27th out of 31 OECD countries when it comes to foreign aid as a percentage of gross national income.
And with the money we do spend, to what extent has national self-interests impeded Australian aid's ability to make the most impact?
Whatever happened to Australian foreign aid?
We might like to think of Australia as a generous nation, but Australian foreign aid levels tell a different story. We're now ranked 27th out of 31 OECD countries when it comes to foreign aid as a percentage of gross national income.
And with the money we do spend, to what extent has national self-interests impeded Australian aid's ability to make the most impact?
President Penpa Tsering on the challenges and the future of Tibet
After many decades of Chinese occupation, the Tibetan culture is under threat, and a 'stolen generation' of Tibetan children is forced into boarding schools. There are no civil rights, and any protest means risking your life. Despite all, the Tibetans believe in a non-violent approach to solve the Sino-Tibet conflict. Tibet's president in exile is speaking about the challenges for the mountain country.
President Penpa Tsering on the challenges and the future of Tibet
After many decades of Chinese occupation, the Tibetan culture is under threat, and a 'stolen generation' of Tibetan children is forced into boarding schools. There are no civil rights, and any protest means risking your life. Despite all, the Tibetans believe in a non-violent approach to solve the Sino-Tibet conflict. Tibet's president in exile is speaking about the challenges for the mountain country.
Catherine Deveny, Shannon Burns, and Akuch Anyieth on memoir
Three successful authors Akuch Anyieth, Shannon Burns and Catherine Deveny talk about memoir, and why they're interested in the form.
Moderator of the discussion Yves Rees asks the panel to reflect on whether the personal storytelling genre is popular because of voyeurism, a desire for intimacy between writer and reader or just a hunger for trauma porn?
The art of memoir
Three successful authors Akuch Anyieth, Shannon Burns and Catherine Deveny talk about memoir, and why they're interested in the form.
Moderator of the discussion Yves Rees asks the panel to reflect on whether the personal storytelling genre is popular because of voyeurism, a desire for intimacy between writer and reader or just a hunger for trauma porn?
The Dark Cloud — how our digital lives and Big Tech are costing the Earth
Going digital is greener, right? French investigative journalist Guillaume Pitron travelled the planet for his latest exposé — from covertly flying drones over graphite mines in Northeast China to journeying to the cold wilds of Lapland to visit the computer server farms that drive Facebook. He joins Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell to discuss his latest eye-opening read, The Dark Cloud — how the digital world is costing the Earth.
The Dark Cloud — how our digital lives and Big Tech are costing the Earth
Going digital is greener, right? French investigative journalist Guillaume Pitron travelled the planet for his latest exposé — from covertly flying drones over graphite mines in Northeast China to journeying to the cold wilds of Lapland to visit the computer server farms that drive Facebook. He joins Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell to discuss his latest eye-opening read, The Dark Cloud — how the digital world is costing the Earth.
The ethics of travel
Questioning whether travel is ethical is probably the last thing on your mind when you decide to go on holiday.
But for increasing number of travellers, 'ethical travel' is the preferred mode for tourists who don't want their holiday to just be an extractive exercise.
So what are the ethical obligations for those who have the privilege to travel? And what does ethical travel mean in practice… ?
Bri Lee and fellow voyagers ponder the ethics of travel
Questioning whether travel is ethical is probably the last thing on your mind when you decide to go on holiday. But for increasing number of travellers, 'ethical travel' is the preferred mode for tourists who don't want their holiday to just be an extractive exercise.
So what are the ethical obligations for those who have the privilege to travel? And what does ethical travel mean in practice… ?
The radical act of making healthcare work for YOU, the patient
Thirty years ago, Harlem doctor Harold Freeman saw that the most disadvantaged in America also had the highest cancer deaths, mainly because of late diagnosis and treatment and patients being unfamiliar with hospital systems. So he created a navigation system where patients are chaperoned through the health care system to ensure they get the care they need. Plus, First Nations people are navigating health and healing in a different way, turning to country and using aspects of their traditional c
Making health systems work for the user
Thirty years ago, Harlem doctor Harold Freeman saw that the most disadvantaged in America also had the highest cancer deaths, mainly because of late diagnosis and treatment and patients being unfamiliar with hospital systems. So he created a navigation system where patients are chaperoned through the health care system to ensure they get the care they need. Plus, First Nations people are navigating health and healing in a different way, turning to country and using aspects of their traditional c
The secretive history and uncertain future of nuclear technology
The history and development of the nuclear industry is shred in secrecy and contradictions. And its future is throwing up more questions than answers. A scientist, a historian and a poet consider the economic, scientific and social realities of nuclear technology. They discuss how the lessons from the past might shape an uncertain future, and the possible consequences of playing God.
The secretive history and uncertain future of nuclear technology
The history and development of the nuclear industry is shred in secrecy and contradictions. And its future is throwing up more questions than answers. A scientist, a historian and a poet consider the economic, scientific and social realities of nuclear technology. They discuss how the lessons from the past might shape an uncertain future, and the possible consequences of playing God.
The day the invisible was made visible — Manus Island detention survivors speak
In early 2020, as Australians were being locked down, something strange was happening in an inner-suburban hotel in Brisbane. A group of men, previously invisible to most Australians, gathered on the hotel balcony wielding hand-made banners. Who were they? And how did this moment change the minds of middle Australia? It's 10 years since Kevin Rudd declared "no one who arrives by boat will ever settle here". The fallout catapulted thousands of lives into a decade-long limbo. Two of the men on tha
The day the invisible was made visible — Manus Island detention survivors speak
In early 2020, as Australians were being locked down, something strange was happening in an inner-suburban hotel in Brisbane. A group of men, previously invisible to most Australians, gathered on the hotel balcony wielding hand-made banners. Who were they? And how did this moment change the minds of middle Australia? It's 10 years since Kevin Rudd declared "no one who arrives by boat will ever settle here". The fallout catapulted thousands of lives into a decade-long limbo. Two of the men on tha
Black lives, white law
Has the application of the law been just to Indigenous Australia?
Australia's cultural and legal notions of justice stem from British colonial rule, which by its very nature, usurped the law and customs of Australia's First Peoples.
Since colonisation, this law has disciplined and punished Indigenous Australians through legal frameworks and theories they didn't consent to.
So what would redress look like… in law?
Black lives, white law
Has the application of the law been just to Indigenous Australia?
Australia's cultural and legal notions of justice stem from British colonial rule, which by its very nature, usurped the law and customs of Australia's First Peoples.
Since colonisation, this law has disciplined and punished Indigenous Australians through legal frameworks and theories they didn't consent to.
So what would redress look like… in law?
A Blakprint for improving First Nations' lives
Earlier this year, 900 First Nations women travelled to Canberra for a once in a generation Womens Voices Summit.
Titled Wiyi Yani U Thangani — a Bunuba word meaning Womens' Voices — the summit aimed at producing a new 'blakprint', to improve their lives, those of their families and future generations.
A Blakprint for improving First Nations' lives
Earlier this year, 900 First Nations women travelled to Canberra for a once in a generation Womens Voices Summit.
Titled Wiyi Yani U Thangani — a Bunuba word meaning Womens' Voices — the summit aimed at producing a new 'blakprint', to improve their lives, those of their families and future generations.
The complexities of safeguarding endangered species
There are an increasing number of all kinds of species, not just human, but animal and plant are affected by rising seas and climate change. From the critically endangered Western swamp tortoise to honey ants to whales.
But how to safeguard these climate refugees and what impact would moving them have on their new fragile ecosystems? From understanding First Nations science to breaking up the siloed western conservation practices, how best to help save endangered species.
The complexities of safeguarding endangered species
There are an increasing number of all kinds of species, not just human, but animal and plant are affected by rising seas and climate change. From the critically endangered Western swamp tortoise to honey ants to whales.
But how to safeguard these climate refugees and what impact would moving them have on their new fragile ecosystems? From understanding First Nations science to breaking up the siloed western conservation practices, how best to help save endangered species.
Surviving the beach ... and making sure your seafood is sustainable
From apps that help us swim safely to using Crispr to cut the genes of box jellyfish to technology that identifies the source of a barramundi or coral trout at the fish market, science is at the fore-shore of keeping our oceans and our lives safe.
Surviving the beach ... and making sure your seafood is sustainable
From apps that help us swim safely to using Crispr to cut the genes of box jellyfish to technology that identifies the source of a barramundi or coral trout at the fish market, science is at the fore-shore of keeping our oceans and our lives safe.
Are we living in the war century?
A lot of blood has already been shed in 21st century conflicts. But why does war continue to claim so many lives, why have we not learnt lessons from the past and who are the power-holders who perpetuate the cycle of violence?
Are we living in the war century?
A lot of blood has already been shed in 21st century conflicts. But why does war continue to claim so many lives, why have we not learnt lessons from the past and who are the power-holders who perpetuate the cycle of violence?
No place like an (affordable) home
The past few weeks have seen the headlines embroiled in what seems to be an intractable problem — housing. And it's a peculiarly Australian phenomenon.
So why has equitable housing become such a vexed and complex issue for Australia? And what are the steps to take if we actually want to tackle the housing crisis once and for all?
No place like an (affordable) home
The past few weeks have seen the headlines embroiled in what seems to be an intractable problem — housing. And it's a peculiarly Australian phenomenon.
So why has equitable housing become such a vexed and complex issue for Australia? And what are the steps to take if we actually want to tackle the housing crisis once and for all?
Lenore Taylor on defending facts against fake news
Guardian Australia Editor Lenore Taylor takes us through the everyday challenges facing journalists in the digital age, from trying to fact check in a 24-hour news cycle to the potential plagiarism and disinformation dangers of AI and ChatGPT.
Lenore Taylor on defending facts against fake news
Guardian Australia Editor Lenore Taylor takes us through the everyday challenges facing journalists in the digital age, from trying to fact check in a 24-hour news cycle to the potential plagiarism and disinformation dangers of AI and ChatGPT.
When Jon Faine met Apollo and Thelma
Former ABC broadcaster and lawyer Jon Faine in conversation with Paul Barclay explains how as a young lawyer he discovers the story behind his new book, Apollo and Thelma: A True Tall Tale.
When Jon Faine met Apollo and Thelma
Former ABC broadcaster and lawyer Jon Faine in conversation with Paul Barclay explains how as a young lawyer he discovers the story behind his new book, Apollo and Thelma: A True Tall Tale.
The buff-breasted button-quail: Is one of our rarest native birds still alive?
For more than 100 years, birdwatchers have searched for evidence that one of Australia's rarest native birds is not extinct. And they might be a step closer to solving the mystery of the Buff-breasted Button Quail. It lives in the humid savannas of Cape York. And we know that this habitat is changing. If we want to have any chance of finding and even saving this bird, we have to act quickly.
The buff-breasted button-quail: Is one of our rarest native birds still alive?
For more than 100 years, birdwatchers have searched for evidence that one of Australia's rarest native birds is not extinct. And they might be a step closer to solving the mystery of the Buff-breasted Button Quail. It lives in the humid savannas of Cape York. And we know that this habitat is changing. If we want to have any chance of finding and even saving this bird, we have to act quickly.
The scandals and rivalries that led to the fall of Boris Johnson
Big Ideas brings you a riveting account of the downfall of former UK prime minister Boris Johnson. Scandals over parties in Downing Street breaking Covid restrictions and attempts to change ethic regulations to allegedly help a mate, stories of betrayals and rivalries. This behind-the-scene interview is a timely look at how power is gained, wielded and lost in Britain today.
The scandals and rivalries that led to the fall of Boris Johnson
Big Ideas brings you a riveting account of the downfall of former UK prime minister Boris Johnson. Scandals over parties in Downing Street breaking Covid restrictions and attempts to change ethic regulations to allegedly help a mate, stories of betrayals and rivalries. This behind-the-scene interview is a timely look at how power is gained, wielded and lost in Britain today.
Boys behaving badly and what to do about it
Recent horrifying public headlines betray what is going on behind closed doors. In Perth, a woman is lit on fire. Forty per cent of her body is burnt. In Sydney, a woman is found dead before police can respond to a call. In Melbourne, an ex-Olympian pleads guilty to harassing an ex-girlfriend. Why do some men turn to deadly violence to deal with anger or difficult emotions? What are the root causes, and what can be done to change this brutal behaviour?
Combatting toxic masculinity and violence against women
Can we reprogram masculinity to remove its toxic aspects, or should we focus on harm minimization when it comes to gendered violence?
On ya bike or not? Global movers, shakers, and city shapers reimagining car culture
What do the streets feel like where you live? Unsafe for kids to ride to school, big busy highways, limited public transport, cars reign supreme? From electric vehicles to bike-friendly buses — be inspired by these globally renowned movers and shakers. They're using the regional town of Bendigo and international case studies to re-imagine how we can live and move. Transport accounts for a staggering quarter of global greenhouse emissions. Could one Australian town lead the way and hit zero trans
On ya bike or not? Global movers, shakers, and city shapers reimagining car culture
What do the streets feel like where you live? Unsafe for kids to ride to school, big busy highways, limited public transport, cars reign supreme? From electric vehicles to bike-friendly buses — be inspired by these globally renowned movers and shakers. They're using the regional town of Bendigo and international case studies to re-imagine how we can live and move. Transport accounts for a staggering quarter of global greenhouse emissions. Could one Australian town lead the way and hit zero trans
What’s in a word? Multiculturalism
Australia is often described as the most vibrant multicultural nation in the world. How are our policies and frameworks tracking to support that view?
What’s in a word? Multiculturalism
Australia is often described as the most vibrant multicultural nation in the world. How are our policies and frameworks tracking to support that view?
Let's turn a Third of our oceans into marine parks — a good idea?
We need to better protect our oceans – but can we have it all: happy fish and happy fishermen? Currently only 3 per cent of the global oceans are protected. Environmentalists say that needs to grow to 30 per cent to make a difference. How do we get there? And how to design marine protected areas that help everyone?
Let's turn a Third of our oceans into marine parks — a good idea?
We need to better protect our oceans – but can we have it all: happy fish and happy fishermen? Currently only 3 per cent of the global oceans are protected. Environmentalists say that needs to grow to 30 per cent to make a difference. How do we get there? And how to design marine protected areas that help everyone?
Are laws to prevent crimes against nature fit for purpose?
Stealing water, smuggling our native species overseas, illegal logging, what are the frameworks to hold perpetrators to account?
Are laws to prevent crimes against nature fit for purpose?
Stealing water, smuggling our native species overseas, illegal logging, what are the frameworks to hold perpetrators to account?
I am not my chromosomes — science, rights, and the intersex experience
"Are they a girl or a boy?" That question is often asked about a newborn. But what if you're born with genetic variations in sexual development, also known as intersex conditions, and possess both typical male and female physical traits? New legislation tabled in the ACT is set to limit the scope of medical treatments and surgeries for such children. Intersex activists have campaigned hard for the law saying the human rights of the child to bodily autonomy is paramount. But some argue not all li
I am not my chromosomes — science, rights, and the intersex experience
"Are they a girl or a boy?" That question is often asked about a newborn. But what if you're born with genetic variations in sexual development, also known as intersex conditions, and possess both typical male and female physical traits? New legislation tabled in the ACT is set to limit the scope of medical treatments and surgeries for such children. Intersex activists have campaigned hard for the law saying the human rights of the child to bodily autonomy is paramount. But some argue not all li
Weaponising the global economy: The new global threat
Economic warfare is possibly the biggest threat the world is facing after climate change. Interdependent financial, trade and information networks have become instruments of state power – and that economic coercion could be the end of a functioning global economy. What are the new chokepoints – and how can we mitigate the new economic vulnerabilities?
Weaponising the global economy: The new global threat
Economic warfare is possibly the biggest threat the world is facing after climate change. Interdependent financial, trade and information networks have become instruments of state power – and that economic coercion could be the end of a functioning global economy. What are the new chokepoints – and how can we mitigate the new economic vulnerabilities?
Where to for the arts and humanities?
There is a deep conversation at all levels, from governments, universities and think tanks on the role of the arts, humanities, and social sciences.
Where to for the arts and humanities?
There is a deep conversation at all levels, from governments, universities and think tanks on the role of the arts, humanities, and social sciences.
First Nations law
From traditional art works that outline democratic processes to dances that narrate ancestral lines, First Nations have lived by sophisticated and complex laws embedded deeply in culture. Exploring how western legal structures and society can learn from and reconcile with Indigenous laws.
First Nations law
From traditional art works that outline democratic processes to dances that narrate ancestral lines, First Nations have lived by sophisticated and complex laws embedded deeply in culture. Exploring how western legal structures and society can learn from and reconcile with Indigenous laws.
First Nations peoples and LGBTIQ+ communities are challenging colonisation and reclaiming identity
The scars of colonisation cut deep around the world. So, how do we combat discrimination and achieve equity for First Nations peoples and LGBTIQ+ communities? How do we address gaping inequalities and ongoing disadvantage experienced by minorities?
First Nations peoples and LGBTIQ+ communities are challenging colonisation and reclaiming identity
The scars of colonisation cut deep around the world. So, how do we combat discrimination and achieve equity for First Nations peoples and LGBTIQ+ communities? How do we address gaping inequalities and ongoing disadvantage experienced by minorities?
Aging on screen and on stage — Sigrid Thornton, Rachael Maza, Sophie Hyde, Anousha Zarkesh
Movie or TV roles for older women accurately reflecting contemporary, society and experiences are rare. Sigrid Thornton, Rachael Maza, Sophie Hyde and Anousha Zarkesh are asking: Why is that? After decades honing their craft in the industry, older actresses are more talented than ever before, more confident and more attuned to the camera. But cinema is obsessed with the young.
Aging on screen and on stage — Sigrid Thornton, Rachael Maza, Sophie Hyde, Anousha Zarkesh
Movie or TV roles for older women accurately reflecting contemporary, society and experiences are rare. Sigrid Thornton, Rachael Maza, Sophie Hyde and Anousha Zarkesh are asking: Why is that? After decades honing their craft in the industry, older actresses are more talented than ever before, more confident and more attuned to the camera. But cinema is obsessed with the young.
Marie Coleman on feminism ... and breaking through Australia's Bamboo Ceiling
A name synonymous with the women’s movement in Australia over the past 60 years is Marie Coleman. As part of the 2023 Pamela Denoon Lecture series, Marie reflects on her time as the first woman to head a federal government agency in 1973 and her advocacy for universal childcare, single mothers' payments, paid parental leave and the push for equal pay. And.... Nearly 20% of people in Australia self-identify as having Asian ancestry, yet less than 2% of Chief Executives have an Asian cultural bac
Marie Coleman on feminism ... and breaking through Australia's Bamboo Ceiling
A name synonymous with the women’s movement in Australia over the past 60 years is Marie Coleman. As part of the 2023 Pamela Denoon Lecture series, Marie reflects on her time as the first woman to head a federal government agency in 1973 and her advocacy for universal childcare, single mothers' payments, paid parental leave and the push for equal pay. And.... Nearly 20% of people in Australia self-identify as having Asian ancestry, yet less than 2% of Chief Executives have an Asian cultural bac
Making sense of the world when everyone is an expert
One of the most tedious things about social media is the self-appointed authorities spouting commentary on any and every subject. All the while experts are increasingly degraded or ignored in our public discourse. But how do we make sense of the world and who we should be listening to when everyone's an 'expert'?
Making sense of the world when everyone is an expert
One of the most tedious things about social media is the self-appointed authorities spouting commentary on any and every subject. All the while experts are increasingly degraded or ignored in our public discourse. But how do we make sense of the world and who we should be listening to when everyone's an 'expert'?
George Monbiot's Regenesis — you won't think about dinner the same way again
Would you eat protein brewed in a vat from bacteria instead of meat? "Nom nom nom!", you might say. George Monbiot probably agrees. One of the most influential thinkers on the future of of the planet, now he's interrogating what's on our dinner plate, and the staggering business of how it got there. He joins Natasha Mitchell to discuss his provocative book, Regenesis: how to feed the world without devouring the planet. And it all comes down to connecting with the Tolkienesque world beneath your
George Monbiot's Regenesis — you won't think about dinner the same way again
Would you eat protein brewed in a vat from bacteria instead of meat? "Nom nom nom!", you might say. George Monbiot probably agrees. One of the most influential thinkers on the future of of the planet, now he's interrogating what's on our dinner plate, and the staggering business of how it got there. He joins Natasha Mitchell to discuss his provocative book, Regenesis: how to feed the world without devouring the planet. And it all comes down to connecting with the Tolkienesque world beneath your
The power, politics and cost of women speaking out
Three influential women explore the power, the politics, and the cost of speaking out.
The power, politics and cost of women speaking out
Three influential women explore the power, the politics, and the cost of speaking out.
Who is using your data?
Is your personal data safe? Do you know how to protect them from scammers and hackers? As your digital footprint expands, many people are questioning whether the benefits of technological innovation outweigh the potential for misuse of their personal data. But there are options to optimise and safeguard who can access your data. Companies around the world are investing more and more in cybersecurity – but you also need to do your part and practice good cyber hygiene.
Who is using your data?
Is your personal data safe? Do you know how to protect them from scammers and hackers? As your digital footprint expands, many people are questioning whether the benefits of technological innovation outweigh the potential for misuse of their personal data. But there are options to optimise and safeguard who can access your data. Companies around the world are investing more and more in cybersecurity – but you also need to do your part and practice good cyber hygiene.
The fantastic realm of fungi
From medicines to restoring damaged soil, the kingdom of fungi is the world's unsung hero playing a huge role in maintaining and supporting our ecosystems.
The fantastic realm of fungi
From medicines to restoring damaged soil, the kingdom of fungi is the world's unsung hero playing a huge role in maintaining and supporting our ecosystems.
Can science really save the world? World Science Festival Brisbane
What do coral reefs have to do with cancer? What does First Nations knowledge have to do with making the rice on your dinner plate more resilient? Can science save the world? Does the world need saving? Hopeful stories from 4 scientists, all big thinkers turning big ideas into life changing opportunities for humans and the air, water, food we rely on.
Can science really save the world? World Science Festival Brisbane
What do coral reefs have to do with cancer? What does First Nations knowledge have to do with making the rice on your dinner plate more resilient? Can science save the world? Does the world need saving? Hopeful stories from 4 scientists, all big thinkers turning big ideas into life changing opportunities for humans and the air, water, food we rely on.
Who your friends are makes you succeed in war and peace
Whether you keep the peace or go to war – it often depends on who your friends are. Alliances between nations have shaped our modern world. States make alliances out of self-interest, fear, or ideology, and the ensuing relationships are rarely easy, especially when they are put to the test. Historian Margaret MacMillan looks at the nature, dynamics and different types of alliances, and tells you why some succeed, and others fail.
Who your friends are makes you succeed in war and peace
Whether you keep the peace or go to war – it often depends on who your friends are. Alliances between nations have shaped our modern world. States make alliances out of self-interest, fear, or ideology, and the ensuing relationships are rarely easy, especially when they are put to the test. Historian Margaret MacMillan looks at the nature, dynamics and different types of alliances, and tells you why some succeed, and others fail.
Thinking bigger… how can Australian universities best meet future challenges?
University should be a place that nurtures big ideas; where curiosity and creativity thrive. But are our universities struggling with a lack of imagination? Increasingly, higher education in Australia has become transactional, relying heavily on students to bring in revenue. But if Australian universities are to meet the challenges of the future, is it time to rethink the current business model and think more boldly about the purpose and value of universities?
Thinking bigger… how can Australian universities best meet future challenges?
University should be a place that nurtures big ideas; where curiosity and creativity thrive. But are our universities struggling with a lack of imagination? Increasingly, higher education in Australia has become transactional, relying heavily on students to bring in revenue. But if Australian universities are to meet the challenges of the future, is it time to rethink the current business model and think more boldly about the purpose and value of universities?
What the ‘alien’ in science fiction reveals about us
Science fiction’s most frequent alternative to human is 'alien', another rich imaginative resource with which to think about what makes us human. Whether aliens are imagined as conquerors or saviours, their superiority has often been used to explore human limitations.
What the ‘alien’ in science fiction reveals about us
Science fiction’s most frequent alternative to human is 'alien', another rich imaginative resource with which to think about what makes us human. Whether aliens are imagined as conquerors or saviours, their superiority has often been used to explore human limitations.
Is cancel culture a thing? Zoë Coombs Marr, Courtney Act, Brittanie Shipway, Michael Zavros
Public shaming and boycotting has always been used to control or call out people's behaviour. But has social media, social activism, and the rise of the keyboard warrior changed how it happens and who does it? Four prominent artists taking risks in the public eye debate the rise of 'cancel culture'. What happens when you are deemed to have gone too far? Is 'cancel culture' making our society better, or is it a punishment without a chance for redemption?
Is cancel culture a thing? Zoë Coombs Marr, Courtney Act, Brittanie Shipway, Michael Zavros
Public shaming and boycotting has always been used to control or call out people's behaviour. But has social media, social activism, and the rise of the keyboard warrior changed how it happens and who does it? Four prominent artists taking risks in the public eye debate the rise of 'cancel culture'. What happens when you are deemed to have gone too far? Is 'cancel culture' making our society better, or is it a punishment without a chance for redemption?
Can liberal democracies 'be friends' with authoritarian states?
How can liberal democracies create a working partnership with authoritarian states – and at the same time maintain their values and succeed as open societies offering political freedom? For some years now, we have seen the splintering of the post war system of international order. The number of authoritarian states around the world is growing, and China is becoming an increasingly important player. The rise of Vladimir Putin and the struggles of Hong Kong offer valuable lessons about how to deal
Can liberal democracies 'be friends' with authoritarian states?
How can liberal democracies create a working partnership with authoritarian states – and at the same time maintain their values and succeed as open societies offering political freedom? For some years now, we have seen the splintering of the post war system of international order. The number of authoritarian states around the world is growing, and China is becoming an increasingly important player. The rise of Vladimir Putin and the struggles of Hong Kong offer valuable lessons about how to deal
Craig Foster calls for national conversation on Republic
Following the death of the longest reigning British monarch and coronation of a new King, discussion on whether Australia should become a republic is once more in the public sphere. Chair of the Australian Republic Movement, Craig Foster delivers the 2023 Manning Clark Lecture: Australia's Third Act: Reconciled, Independent, Truly Multicultural.
Craig Foster calls for national conversation on Republic
Following the death of the longest reigning British monarch and coronation of a new King, discussion on whether Australia should become a republic is once more in the public sphere. Chair of the Australian Republic Movement, Craig Foster delivers the 2023 Manning Clark Lecture: Australia's Third Act: Reconciled, Independent, Truly Multicultural.
Warren Mundine, Jacinta Price, Tony McAvoy and Shireen Morris debate the proposed Voice to Parliament
Four distinguished guests argue the motion: 'We need to alter to the constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice', presented by the Centre for Independent Studies
Warren Mundine, Jacinta Price, Tony McAvoy and Shireen Morris debate the proposed Voice to Parliament
Four distinguished guests argue the motion: 'We need to alter to the constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice', presented by the Centre for Independent Studies
General Roméo Dallaire — Rwanda's genocide and the search for peace within after war
Renowned humanitarian Lt-General (ret) Roméo Dallaire headed up UN mission in Rwanda during the brutal genocide three decades ago. Today Rwandan survivors wear the scars of machetes on their skins like living shrines. He joins Natasha Mitchell to reflect powerfully on the aftermath of war — for him personally and for countless conflicts to come.
General Roméo Dallaire — Rwanda's genocide and the search for peace within after war
Renowned humanitarian Lt-General (ret) Roméo Dallaire headed up UN mission in Rwanda during the brutal genocide three decades ago. Today Rwandan survivors wear the scars of machetes on their skins like living shrines. He joins Natasha Mitchell to reflect powerfully on the aftermath of war — for him personally and for countless conflicts to come.
'Allies in all but name': Japan Australia relations
From pearl divers to post-war trade agreements and the sharing of technology, minerals and cyber security strategies, Japan and Australia have strong historic ties. Just how strong is that relationship and what are the strategies to address the security and environmental challenges ahead?
'Allies in all but name': Japan Australia relations
From pearl divers to post-war trade agreements and the sharing of technology, minerals and cyber security strategies, Japan and Australia have strong historic ties. Just how strong is that relationship and what are the strategies to address the security and environmental challenges ahead?
Net Zero: what does it mean and is it achievable?
Exploring the jargon that confuses us, the policy deficits, the obstacles, and some of the innovative actions taken to tackle our biggest challenge, Climate Change.
Net Zero: what does it mean and is it achievable?
Exploring the jargon that confuses us, the policy deficits, the obstacles, and some of the innovative actions taken to tackle our biggest challenge, Climate Change.
Barry Humphries: Come to the Cabaret
Cabaret was popularised in Paris at the turn of the 20th century and during the 1920's in Berlin. Today it is in the midst of a renaissance in Australia, with contemporary cabaret performers finding new audiences. Cabaret may be a form of raucous entertainment, but it can also include social and political satire, and sometimes a dash of sexual frisson. The Adelaide Cabaret Festival has helped spawn the revival of cabaret in Australia. In 2015, Barry Humphries took the reigns as artistic director
Barry Humphries: Come to the Cabaret
Cabaret was popularised in Paris at the turn of the 20th century and during the 1920's in Berlin. Today it is in the midst of a renaissance in Australia, with contemporary cabaret performers finding new audiences. Cabaret may be a form of raucous entertainment, but it can also include social and political satire, and sometimes a dash of sexual frisson. The Adelaide Cabaret Festival has helped spawn the revival of cabaret in Australia. In 2015, Barry Humphries took the reigns as artistic director
Jurassic Park 30 years on – will we bring extinct animals back from the dead?
It's 30 years ago this year since Steven Spielberg did something scientists have never been able to. He brought the dinosaurs back from the dead. Extraordinarily, now genetic scientists are inching closer to attempting the resurrection of long extinct animals like the Tasmania Tiger. But even if they could, should they?
Jurassic Park 30 years on – will we bring extinct animals back from the dead?
It's 30 years ago this year since Steven Spielberg did something scientists have never been able to. He brought the dinosaurs back from the dead. Extraordinarily, now genetic scientists are inching closer to attempting the resurrection of long extinct animals like the Tasmania Tiger. But even if they could, should they?
Can the market solve climate change and other social ills?
Do you argue across the dinner table about saving the world? Some say it’s up to individuals, others want governments to fix the problem. Then there’s the follow-the-money view that business and the market will save us. But is capitalism part of the problem not the solution?
Can the market solve climate change and other social ills?
Do you argue across the dinner table about saving the world? Some say it’s up to individuals, others want governments to fix the problem. Then there’s the follow-the-money view that business and the market will save us. But is capitalism part of the problem not the solution?
Greek-Australian identity: Are we WHITE yet?
Are Greek-Australian's now considered to be 'white' in Australia's colourful social fabric? A panel of prominent Greek-Australians discusses questions of identity and belonging. As they have evolved into one of the oldest migrant groups in the country, is the era of Greek 'otherness' over? And what role did anglicising surnames play in our journey towards acceptance?
Greek-Australian identity: Are we WHITE yet?
Are Greek-Australian's now considered to be 'white' in Australia's colourful social fabric? A panel of prominent Greek-Australians discusses questions of identity and belonging. As they have evolved into one of the oldest migrant groups in the country, is the era of Greek 'otherness' over? And what role did anglicising surnames play in our journey towards acceptance?
Sisonke Msimang and Mohammed Massoud Morsi unstitching myths in Another Australia
What does 'Australia' mean to you? We all have our own version of Australia, shaped by our lived experience. But what happens when our reality sits outside the collective narrative?
Sisonke Msimang and Mohammed Massoud Morsi unstitching myths in Another Australia
What does 'Australia' mean to you? We all have our own version of Australia, shaped by our lived experience. But what happens when our reality sits outside the collective narrative?
Why thinking in Deep Time is good for your head
We live our lives for the short term. School semesters, tax years, election cycles, next week. But have you tried thinking in 'deep time' — millions of years before and after this present moment? Some describe it as the 'Long Now', and evidence suggests it's healthy for your head, and for the planet.
Why thinking in Deep Time is good for your head
We live our lives for the short term. School semesters, tax years, election cycles, next week. But have you tried thinking in 'deep time' — millions of years before and after this present moment? Some describe it as the 'Long Now', and evidence suggests it's healthy for your head, and for the planet.
Wellmania's Brigid Delaney on how the Stoics can change your life
If you can't control it – then don't worry about it. It's one of the core messages of stoicism. Much easier said than done. But if you manage it, it can make your life a lot happier and calmer. That's not to say you should sit back and ignore injustice. The stoics have an answer for that as well. On Big Ideas, you'll hear about the ancient philosophy of stoicism and how to apply its principles to modern life. War, climate change, pandemic and endless social media platforms onto with you can proj
Wellmania's Brigid Delaney on how the Stoics can change your life
If you can't control it – then don't worry about it. It's one of the core messages of stoicism. Much easier said than done. But if you manage it, it can make your life a lot happier and calmer. That's not to say you should sit back and ignore injustice. The stoics have an answer for that as well. On Big Ideas, you'll hear about the ancient philosophy of stoicism and how to apply its principles to modern life. War, climate change, pandemic and endless social media platforms onto with you can proj
When classical music meets pop culture
What happens when classical music meets pop culture? Do we see a clash between two irreconcilable styles? Could smoothing up to pop culture be the way forward for classical music? It's no secret that the genre often struggles to find new and young audiences. Big Ideas explores the role of classical music in society today, where it could go in the future and how pop culture and digital technology can help the genre get there.
When classical music meets pop culture
What happens when classical music meets pop culture? Do we see a clash between two irreconcilable styles? Could smoothing up to pop culture be the way forward for classical music? It's no secret that the genre often struggles to find new and young audiences. Big Ideas explores the role of classical music in society today, where it could go in the future and how pop culture and digital technology can help the genre get there.
Rupert Murdoch meets real life Succession
The potential fallout of a global media giant and family dynasty on the precipice of generational change. And, the calls to dilute a highly concentrated media industry.
Media moguls and market domination
The potential fallout of a global media giant and family dynasty on the precipice of generational change. And, the calls to dilute a highly concentrated media industry.
Rupert Murdoch meets real life Succession
The potential fallout of a global media giant and family dynasty on the precipice of generational change. And, the calls to dilute a highly concentrated media industry.
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce and former diplomat John Berry on being openly gay
A conversation between Qantas CEO Alan Joyce and John Berry, former US Ambassador to Australia (Retired) on living and working as openly gay men, even when homosexuality was illegal.
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce and former diplomat John Berry on being openly gay
A conversation between Qantas CEO Alan Joyce and John Berry, former US Ambassador to Australia (Retired) on living and working as openly gay men, even when homosexuality was illegal.
The state of America
The rise of far-right extremism, conflicts over gun law reform, widening economic gaps, and former President Donald Trump's continued push for influence. Are polarising polemics damaging the reputation of the US? And should there be limits to free speech?
The state of America
The rise of far-right extremism, conflicts over gun law reform, widening economic gaps, and former President Donald Trump's continued push for influence. Are polarising polemics damaging the reputation of the US? And should there be limits to free speech?
The wonder of human foresight
From the invention of the calendar to the humble carry bag – and even to the concept of moral responsibility. It all comes down to humans' ability to relive past events in order to predict possible futures. Foresight is the driver behind innovation. On Big Ideas, a panel of cognitive scientists argues that foresight has transformed humans from unremarkable primates to creatures that hold the destiny of the planet in their hands. It might just be the tool that will save us in the future.
The wonder of human foresight
From the invention of the calendar to the humble carry bag – and even to the concept of moral responsibility. It all comes down to humans' ability to relive past events in order to predict possible futures. Foresight is the driver behind innovation. On Big Ideas, a panel of cognitive scientists argues that foresight has transformed humans from unremarkable primates to creatures that hold the destiny of the planet in their hands. It might just be the tool that will save us in the future.
Do government apologies for historic wrongs make a difference?
Around the world, governments are apologising for past wrongs and historic injustices - like slavery, the forced removal of children, and institutional abuse.
But do these apologies lead to transformational change?
What has been the experience of apologies in Australia to the 'stolen generations', and to those affected by forced adoptions?
Do government apologies for historic wrongs make a difference?
Around the world, governments are apologising for past wrongs and historic injustices - like slavery, the forced removal of children, and institutional abuse.
But do these apologies lead to transformational change?
What has been the experience of apologies in Australia to the 'stolen generations', and to those affected by forced adoptions?
Modern Australia and its place in western civilisation
Are the values of the enlightenment, ideas from ancient times, developed through the centuries in Christian Europe under threat? Some perspectives on the state of Australian classic liberalism.
Modern Australia and its place in western civilisation
Are the values of the enlightenment, ideas from ancient times, developed through the centuries in Christian Europe under threat? Some perspectives on the state of Australian classic liberalism.
Democracy in Malaysia?
Until recently, one party dominated Malay politics. Now there’s a new multi-government. Could this lead to an era of democratic reform in Malaysia? 100 days after the snap-election, the new Malaysian government looks stable enough. A panel of Asia-Pacific experts discusses the campaign narratives and what they mean for Malaysia's political environment and the challenges ahead for the new government.
Democracy in Malaysia?
Until recently, one party dominated Malay politics. Now there’s a new multi-government. Could this lead to an era of democratic reform in Malaysia? 100 days after the snap-election, the new Malaysian government looks stable enough. A panel of Asia-Pacific experts discusses the campaign narratives and what they mean for Malaysia's political environment and the challenges ahead for the new government.
Noel Pearson on Australian identity: Ulli Helen Corbett on international Indigenous activism
In the final Boyer Lecture Noel Pearson looks at the question of Australian identity. From the 1993 Boyer's, Ulli Helen Corbett speaks on the importance of raising First Nations voices in the international arena.
Noel Pearson on Australian identity: Ulli Helen Corbett on international Indigenous activism
In the final Boyer Lecture Noel Pearson looks at the question of Australian identity. From the 1993 Boyer's, Ulli Helen Corbett speaks on the importance of raising First Nations voices in the international arena.
Noel Pearson on transforming education: Dot West on media portrayal of First Nation's youth
In his fourth Boyer Lecture lecture, Noel Pearson addresses the educational barriers facing young Indigenous people, and from the 1993 ABC Boyer Lectures, Dot West considers the negative media portrayal of First Nations people.
Noel Pearson on transforming education: Dot West on media portrayal of First Nation's youth
In his fourth Boyer Lecture lecture, Noel Pearson addresses the educational barriers facing young Indigenous people, and from the 1993 ABC Boyer Lectures, Dot West considers the negative media portrayal of First Nations people.
Noel Pearson on lifting all Australians out of poverty: Ian Anderson on Indigenous health
In his third Boyer lecture, Noel Pearson outlines ways of lifting all Australians including First Nations people from the economic 'bottom million'. And from the 1993 Boyer Lectures, Ian Anderson's vision for developing a new model for Indigenous health and wellbeing.
Noel Pearson on lifting all Australians out of poverty: Ian Anderson on Indigenous health
In his third Boyer lecture, Noel Pearson outlines ways of lifting all Australians including First Nations people from the economic 'bottom million'. And from the 1993 Boyer Lectures, Ian Anderson's vision for developing a new model for Indigenous health and wellbeing.
Noel Pearson on the road to a 'Voice to Parliament': Jeanie Bell on Indigenous languages
In the 2nd Boyer Lecture Series Noel Pearson traces the long road that led to the final proposal for a Voice to Parliament. And from the 1993 Boyer Lecture Series, Voices from the land, linguist Jeanie Bell the importance of Indigenous language, not just connection to the land but to self-determination.
Noel Pearson on the road to a 'Voice to Parliament': Jeanie Bell on Indigenous languages
In the 2nd Boyer Lecture Series Noel Pearson traces the long road that led to the final proposal for a Voice to Parliament. And from the 1993 Boyer Lecture Series, Voices from the land, linguist Jeanie Bell the importance of Indigenous language, not just connection to the land but to self-determination.
Noel Pearson on 'The Voice to Parliament': Getano Lui on self determination
In the lead up to a vote on a referendum to enshrine an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in the Constitution, we present some of the debates and visions from First Nations leaders over the years.
Noel Pearson on 'The Voice to Parliament': Getano Lui on self determination
In the lead up to a vote on a referendum to enshrine an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in the Constitution, we present some of the debates and visions from First Nations leaders over the years.
The problem with carbon credits and offsets
Net zero emissions means we can still burn fossil fuels, and emit carbon into the atmosphere, as long as this is offset by carbon credits. But what if the offsets are not credible, and claims to carbon neutrality misleading?
The problem with carbon credits and offsets
Net zero emissions means we can still burn fossil fuels, and emit carbon into the atmosphere, as long as this is offset by carbon credits. But what if the offsets are not credible, and claims to carbon neutrality misleading?
Do we need ‘big’ government?
The COVID pandemic, the GFC, and the recent energy crisis, have all required the state to play a bigger role in our lives, and in the economy. Is this a rejection of neo-liberalism?
Do we need ‘big’ government?
The COVID pandemic, the GFC, and the recent energy crisis, have all required the state to play a bigger role in our lives, and in the economy. Is this a rejection of neo-liberalism?
Democracy and constitutional change
The Australian Constitution is a living document which includes a provision to facilitate reform. But over its 122 year history, it has only been amended eight times. Has Australia lost its constitutional muscle memory?
Democracy and constitutional change
The Australian Constitution is a living document which includes a provision to facilitate reform. But over its 122 year history, it has only been amended eight times. Has Australia lost its constitutional muscle memory?
Hope in a conflicted world
The best of talks, forums, debates, and festivals held in Australia and around the world.
Hope in a conflicted world
The best of talks, forums, debates, and festivals held in Australia and around the world.
Work, wages, and fairness
Unemployment may be low, but it is no bed of roses for Australian workers. Real wages are falling, inflation remains high, and interest rates keep going up. For many, it is a struggle to put food on the table and find secure housing. Yet Australia is brimming with money – it is one of the wealthiest countries on earth. Why aren't more of us sharing in the spoils?
Work, wages, and fairness
Unemployment may be low, but it is no bed of roses for Australian workers. Real wages are falling, inflation remains high, and interest rates keep going up. For many, it is a struggle to put food on the table and find secure housing. Yet Australia is brimming with money – it is one of the wealthiest countries on earth. Why aren't more of us sharing in the spoils?
The global rise of unhappiness
Are you feeling sad, angry, stressed or worried? More so than in previous years? Then you're not alone. Unhappiness is on the rise around the world. And according to Gallup's statistics that's because political leaders don't track people's wellbeing. How can leaders begin to incorporate wellbeing and happiness indicators?
The global rise of unhappiness
Are you feeling sad, angry, stressed or worried? More so than in previous years? Then you're not alone. Unhappiness is on the rise around the world. And according to Gallup's statistics that's because political leaders don't track people's wellbeing. How can leaders begin to incorporate wellbeing and happiness indicators?
Fairness and Australian politics
What is the legacy of the previous Scott Morrison leadership and what changes have there been since? A panel discussion for the Perth Festival 2023
Fairness and Australian politics
What is the legacy of the previous Scott Morrison leadership and what changes have there been since? A panel discussion for the Perth Festival 2023
Human rights and Indonesia’s new criminal code
It's our nearest democratic neighbour and a vital ally in the region. But new legal code laws will ban consensual sex outside marriage, abortion and limits freedom of speech. So where does this leave human rights for our near democratic neighbour?
Human rights and Indonesia’s new criminal code
It's our nearest democratic neighbour and a vital ally in the region. But new legal code laws will ban consensual sex outside marriage, abortion and limits freedom of speech. So where does this leave human rights for our near democratic neighbour?
Is end-to-end encryption good or bad?
What is more important to you, that authorities can monitor online messages for crime and child abuse — or that your messages are always completely private? You can't have it both ways, and that's the problem with end-to-end encryption. And what about government exploiting workarounds to access the encrypted messages of political dissidents? Big Ideas investigates the dilemma between possibly necessary online surveillance and privacy.
Is end-to-end encryption good or bad?
What is more important to you, that authorities can monitor online messages for crime and child abuse — or that your messages are always completely private? You can't have it both ways, and that's the problem with end-to-end encryption. And what about government exploiting workarounds to access the encrypted messages of political dissidents? Big Ideas investigates the dilemma between possibly necessary online surveillance and privacy.
Behrouz Boochani and Arnold Zable: The language of resistance
How do you resist when your identity is reduced to a number? A conversation with Behrouz Boochani and his good friend, writer and human rights advocate, Arnold Zable, about the language and art of resistance.
Behrouz Boochani and Arnold Zable: The language of resistance
How do you resist when your identity is reduced to a number? A conversation with Behrouz Boochani and his good friend, writer and human rights advocate, Arnold Zable, about the language and art of resistance.
Democracy and dissent
Australia has a long tradition of dissent – with some environmental protections won as a result. But do new laws unduly impede the right to protest and silence dissent? What are the reasonable limits to peaceful protest in a democracy, especially when facing an existential threat such as climate change?
Democracy and dissent
Australia has a long tradition of dissent – with some environmental protections won as a result. But do new laws unduly impede the right to protest and silence dissent? What are the reasonable limits to peaceful protest in a democracy, especially when facing an existential threat such as climate change?
The Reith Lectures are unavailable as a podcast this week
Big Ideas is unable to provide podcast episodes of the 2022 Reith Lectures being broadcast this week from Monday to Thursday.
Audio of the four lectures will be available on the Big Ideas website for a limited time only.
However, you can listen to the lectures and find transcripts on the BBC website.
Truth and treaty in Victoria and indigenous archaeology
There’s already plenty of debate, for and against about the need for a permanent Indigenous Voice to federal parliament. Victoria decided to get ahead of the game in 2021 and set up a commission on truth and treaty.
Truth and treaty in Victoria and indigenous archaeology
There’s already plenty of debate, for and against about the need for a permanent Indigenous Voice to federal parliament. Victoria decided to get ahead of the game in 2021 and set up a commission on truth and treaty.
The new sobriety: why more of us are drinking less alcohol.
More people, worldwide, are becoming 'sober-curious', and questioning their relationship with alcohol. Teenagers and twentysomethings are less likely to binge drink. It's far cry from the situation, Jill Stark, found herself in ten years ago, when she released her book 'High Sobriety', about her 12 months off the booze.
The new sobriety: why more of us are drinking less alcohol.
More people, worldwide, are becoming 'sober-curious', and questioning their relationship with alcohol. Teenagers and twentysomethings are less likely to binge drink. It's far cry from the situation, Jill Stark, found herself in ten years ago, when she released her book 'High Sobriety', about her 12 months off the booze.
Household energy
Australians are feeling the pinch of cost of living pressures.
Household energy
Australians are feeling the pinch of cost of living pressures.
Crypto in the world of finance
Cryptocurrencies are revolutionising the finance world as we know it. Fintech has produced a decentralised finance system that exists parallel to the traditional one, and it's difficult to move assets between the two. But is crypo in finance recreating the old problems? Or is it offering new solutions?
Crypto in the world of finance
Cryptocurrencies are revolutionising the finance world as we know it. Fintech has produced a decentralised finance system that exists parallel to the traditional one, and it's difficult to move assets between the two. But is crypo in finance recreating the old problems? Or is it offering new solutions?
Extreme heat and hybrid learning
Extreme heat has negative effects on your health and we're experiencing more heatwaves due to climate change so how can we protect our health and lifestyle?And online learning versus face-to face....which is best?
Extreme heat and hybrid learning
Extreme heat has negative effects on your health and we're experiencing more heatwaves due to climate change so how can we protect our health and lifestyle?And online learning versus face-to face....which is best?
'Feared and Revered': women throughout the ages
The 'Feared and Revered' exhibition, currently on display at the National Museum of Australia, explores how goddesses, demons, witches, spirits, and saints, have shaped our understanding of the world. The exhibition celebrates a diverse range of female spiritual beings across cultural traditions and religions - like the Hindu goddess, Kali - and it examines feminine power and identity
'Feared and Revered': women throughout the ages
The 'Feared and Revered' exhibition, currently on display at the National Museum of Australia, explores how goddesses, demons, witches, spirits, and saints, have shaped our understanding of the world. The exhibition celebrates a diverse range of female spiritual beings across cultural traditions and religions - like the Hindu goddess, Kali - and it examines feminine power and identity
Drug policy in Latin America and the war on drugs
Is the war on drugs unwinnable? Illegal drugs are killing hundreds of millions of people worldwide, and the largest drug market is the US. Most drugs there come into the country via Latin and Central America. But counter-drug programs, local incentives and changes to drug policies in Latin America don't seem to break the steady supply of drugs. So, is it better to try and reduce the demand – or reconsider to punish drug possession?
Drug policy in Latin America and the war on drugs
Is the war on drugs unwinnable? Illegal drugs are killing hundreds of millions of people worldwide, and the largest drug market is the US. Most drugs there come into the country via Latin and Central America. But counter-drug programs, local incentives and changes to drug policies in Latin America don't seem to break the steady supply of drugs. So, is it better to try and reduce the demand – or reconsider to punish drug possession?
Finland's PM on the Ukraine war and European security
The war in Ukraine has up-ended the security landscape in Europe.The EU is using every measure , short of troops on the ground, to punish Putin and countries like Sweden and Finland want to join NATO .The Finnish Prime Minister , Sanna Marin, visited Australia recently to strengthen trade and security ties.
Finland's PM on the Ukraine war and European security
The war in Ukraine has up-ended the security landscape in Europe.The EU is using every measure , short of troops on the ground, to punish Putin and countries like Sweden and Finland want to join NATO .The Finnish Prime Minister , Sanna Marin, visited Australia recently to strengthen trade and security ties.
Why the eucalypt tree is so important for Australia
From the bush to our own backyards, the Eucalypt is the stalwart of the Australian landscape. With over 800 species spread across the country facing extreme heat, drought and bushfire, the future of the iconic eucalypt is tied to our own survival. From preserving genetic diversity and experimental adaptations, to applications of traditional knowledge – what solutions do we need to conserve our beloved gum tree?
Why the eucalypt tree is so important for Australia
From the bush to our own backyards, the Eucalypt is the stalwart of the Australian landscape. With over 800 species spread across the country facing extreme heat, drought and bushfire, the future of the iconic eucalypt is tied to our own survival. From preserving genetic diversity and experimental adaptations, to applications of traditional knowledge – what solutions do we need to conserve our beloved gum tree?
Food, glorious food
The best of talks, forums, debates, and festivals held in Australia and around the world.
Food, glorious food
The best of talks, forums, debates, and festivals held in Australia and around the world.
Australia's Wild Odyssey
Australia belongs to a club you’d rather not join. We’re losing animal and plant species at an alarming rate. As one species goes extinct, it threatens the complex web of life that’s grown up around it. A three-part ABC TV documentary showcases our unique ecosystems and participants in the series join ABC science editor Jonathan Webb to discuss the need to preserve biodiversity.
Australia's Wild Odyssey
Australia belongs to a club you’d rather not join. We’re losing animal and plant species at an alarming rate. As one species goes extinct, it threatens the complex web of life that’s grown up around it. A three-part ABC TV documentary showcases our unique ecosystems and participants in the series join ABC science editor Jonathan Webb to discuss the need to preserve biodiversity.
Teaching empathy through story telling
Empathy has power – to maintain relationships and prevent conflict. But can empathy be learned? It seems empathy has never been more important: From natural disasters and fallouts of the pandemic, to the surge of women's voices against harassment and the plight of refugees. It's a quality increasingly in demand in corporate, political and private life. Big Ideas explores how storytelling can improve empathy; and how empathy for fictional characters can get transferred to the real world.
Teaching empathy through story telling
Empathy has power – to maintain relationships and prevent conflict. But can empathy be learned? It seems empathy has never been more important: From natural disasters and fallouts of the pandemic, to the surge of women's voices against harassment and the plight of refugees. It's a quality increasingly in demand in corporate, political and private life. Big Ideas explores how storytelling can improve empathy; and how empathy for fictional characters can get transferred to the real world.
Can radical centre strategies solve inequality?
In an age of increasing tribalism, how can Australians break through groupthink and achieve bold reforms to address inequality? The answer is radical centre solutions. Shireen Morris was part of collaborative efforts which forged a progressive-conservative alliance in support of a First Nations voice. This taught her the value of engaging creatively across political and ideological divides.
Can radical centre strategies solve inequality?
In an age of increasing tribalism, how can Australians break through groupthink and achieve bold reforms to address inequality? The answer is radical centre solutions. Shireen Morris was part of collaborative efforts which forged a progressive-conservative alliance in support of a First Nations voice. This taught her the value of engaging creatively across political and ideological divides.
The ingredients to 'ageing well'
What does it mean to 'age well', what gets in the way, and what needs to change? Ageist attitudes can be a barrier to ageing well, as can residential aged care — which tends to discourage older people from being more independent. But we can learn from so called 'blue zones'- those places around the world where people enjoy longevity, coupled with quality of life.
The ingredients to 'ageing well'
What does it mean to 'age well', what gets in the way, and what needs to change? Ageist attitudes can be a barrier to ageing well, as can residential aged care — which tends to discourage older people from being more independent. But we can learn from so called 'blue zones'- those places around the world where people enjoy longevity, coupled with quality of life.
For the public good and fixing aged care
Governments argue if they spend too much on social services they’ll blow the budget. But economist Richard Denniss says that’s a choice not an iron law of economics. And ageing well at home or in residential care.
For the public good and fixing aged care
Governments argue if they spend too much on social services they’ll blow the budget. But economist Richard Denniss says that’s a choice not an iron law of economics. And ageing well at home or in residential care.
How new is the Metaverse really?
What exactly is the Metaverse? And is it really that new? Big Ideas explores our emotional connections to cyberspace, our feelings of presence and immediacy in online environments and what this means for the intensity of our experiences. Some of the technologies for the merging of the cyber and the physical are already used.
How new is the Metaverse really?
What exactly is the Metaverse? And is it really that new? Big Ideas explores our emotional connections to cyberspace, our feelings of presence and immediacy in online environments and what this means for the intensity of our experiences. Some of the technologies for the merging of the cyber and the physical are already used.
CBC Massey lecture: On Death
Is there an afterlife? How does your time on earth determine how you’ll spend eternity? Every culture has its own version of the answer to these questions. Tomson Highway says the Cree indigenous community doesn’t fear death. Your body and spirit simply returns to Mother Earth where your ancestors will always be with you.
CBC Massey lecture: On Death
Is there an afterlife? How does your time on earth determine how you’ll spend eternity? Every culture has its own version of the answer to these questions. Tomson Highway says the Cree indigenous community doesn’t fear death. Your body and spirit simply returns to Mother Earth where your ancestors will always be with you.
CBC Massey Lecture: On humour
Why do humans exist? What is the meaning of life?
Cree Indian writer, Tomson Highway, says joy and laughter is the reason for existence .The Christian doctrine of sin and damnation , so much a part of his Catholic education , does not sit well with Cree Indian mythology. In this Massey lecture on humour, Tomson describes laughter as the elixir of life.
CBC Massey Lecture: On humour
Why do humans exist? What is the meaning of life?
Cree Indian writer, Tomson Highway, says joy and laughter is the reason for existence .The Christian doctrine of sin and damnation , so much a part of his Catholic education , does not sit well with Cree Indian mythology. In this Massey lecture on humour, Tomson describes laughter as the elixir of life.
CBC Massey Lecture: On sex and gender
Monotheism imposes limits on our understanding of gender and the human body. In the world of Indigenous peoples,“the circle of pantheism has space for any number of genders”. So says Cree writer, musician and humorist, Tomson Highway, in this CBC Massey Lecture.
CBC Massey Lecture: On sex and gender
Monotheism imposes limits on our understanding of gender and the human body. In the world of Indigenous peoples,“the circle of pantheism has space for any number of genders”. So says Cree writer, musician and humorist, Tomson Highway, in this CBC Massey Lecture.
CBC Massey lecture: On creation
What do Christian, classical, and Cree mythologies contribute to Western thought and culture? And how does North American Indigenous mythologies provide unique, timeless solutions to our modern problems? Let's start with creation. How we think our world came to be shapes how people understand their place in it and their responsibly for nature.
CBC Massey lecture: On creation
What do Christian, classical, and Cree mythologies contribute to Western thought and culture? And how does North American Indigenous mythologies provide unique, timeless solutions to our modern problems? Let's start with creation. How we think our world came to be shapes how people understand their place in it and their responsibly for nature.
Is Australia 'sleepwalking' to war with China?
Defence and security analyst, Hugh White, is concerned Australia may be 'sleepwalking' to war with China, because of our alliance with America.
He believes the US is unable to constrain a growing China in East Asia, nor win a future war against them over Taiwan.
What does all this mean for our regional security, and our relationships with the US & China?
Paul Barclay speaks to Hugh White, author of the Quarterly Essay, Sleepwalk to War, in which he also criticises the AUKUS nuclear submarine dea
Is Australia 'sleepwalking' to war with China?
Defence and security analyst, Hugh White, is concerned Australia may be 'sleepwalking' to war with China, because of our alliance with America.
He believes the US is unable to constrain a growing China in East Asia, nor win a future war against them over Taiwan.
What does all this mean for our regional security, and our relationships with the US & China?
Paul Barclay speaks to Hugh White, author of the Quarterly Essay, Sleepwalk to War, in which he also criticises the AUKUS nuclear submarine dea
Why too much medical treatment is causing more harm than good
Much of medicine doesn't do what it is supposed to do: improve health.
That is the view of orthopaedic surgeon, Ian Harris.
He believes too many drugs are being prescribed, too much surgery is being performed, and there are too many unhelpful tests, scans, and overdiagnosis.
The 'business' of medicine, Ian says, is taking precedence over what the science tells us.
We should go back to the first principles of the Hippocratic oath and 'first, do no harm'.
Ian Harris talks to Paul Barclay
Recorded
Why too much medical treatment is causing more harm than good
Much of medicine doesn't do what it is supposed to do: improve health.
That is the view of orthopaedic surgeon, Ian Harris.
He believes too many drugs are being prescribed, too much surgery is being performed, and there are too many unhelpful tests, scans, and overdiagnosis.
The 'business' of medicine, Ian says, is taking precedence over what the science tells us.
We should go back to the first principles of the Hippocratic oath and 'first, do no harm'.
Ian Harris talks to Paul Barclay
Recorded
Foreign correspondents and the news of the world
In a global community it’s more important than ever to understand what’s going on in the rest of the world. Despite instant communication over the internet there's nothing like the considered view of a seasoned foreign correspondent. They bring you the news from conflict zones, at high powered summits, or the views of ordinary citizens. But are they telling you the stories you want to hear? Who sets the news agenda?
Foreign correspondents and the news of the world
In a global community it’s more important than ever to understand what’s going on in the rest of the world. Despite instant communication over the internet there's nothing like the considered view of a seasoned foreign correspondent. They bring you the news from conflict zones, at high powered summits, or the views of ordinary citizens. But are they telling you the stories you want to hear? Who sets the news agenda?
Why environmentalists and conservationists can be a problem for the environment
Queensland Chief Scientist Hugh Possingham is very annoyed with his fellow scientists as well as environmentalist and conservationists: They are too conservative, don’t debate respectfully, are too obsessed with growing their own organisations and can’t compromise a bit.
Why environmentalists and conservationists can be a problem for the environment
Queensland Chief Scientist Hugh Possingham is very annoyed with his fellow scientists as well as environmentalist and conservationists: They are too conservative, don’t debate respectfully, are too obsessed with growing their own organisations and can’t compromise a bit.
Mortals and the fear of death
Make the most of your life and be at peace with death. Easy to say but hard to do.Death is not a topic we’re encouraged to talk about. But its shadow shapes many of the things we do.
Mortals and the fear of death
Make the most of your life and be at peace with death. Easy to say but hard to do.Death is not a topic we’re encouraged to talk about. But its shadow shapes many of the things we do.
Kylie Moore-Gilbert on being imprisoned in Iran for 804 days
Australian, Kylie Moore-Gilbert, endured a living nightmare.
She was arrested and convicted of espionage in Iran, and then sentenced to 10 years in prison.
The charges were baseless; the trial was a sham.
Kylie became a pawn in a high stakes geo-political negotiation.
How did she survive over 800 days of interrogation, psychological torture, and imprisonment, in Iran? What did it take to free her? Why was she arrested in the first place?
Paul Barclay talks to Kylie Moore-Gilbert.
Recorded at the
Kylie Moore-Gilbert on being imprisoned in Iran for 804 days
Australian, Kylie Moore-Gilbert, endured a living nightmare.
She was arrested and convicted of espionage in Iran, and then sentenced to 10 years in prison.
The charges were baseless; the trial was a sham.
Kylie became a pawn in a high stakes geo-political negotiation.
How did she survive over 800 days of interrogation, psychological torture, and imprisonment, in Iran? What did it take to free her? Why was she arrested in the first place?
Paul Barclay talks to Kylie Moore-Gilbert.
Recorded at the
Being healthy on a sick planet, how climate change impacts health
The impacts of climate change on our health are growing, as surely as global temperatures and sea levels are rising. So how can we strive to live as healthy people on an increasingly sick planet? What are the major ways global warming is threatening human health?
Being healthy on a sick planet, how climate change impacts health
The impacts of climate change on our health are growing, as surely as global temperatures and sea levels are rising. So how can we strive to live as healthy people on an increasingly sick planet? What are the major ways global warming is threatening human health?
The key to happiness and the history of emotions
Is happiness the natural order of things and, if so, should you be worried if you’re not happy? And how our emotional experiences have changed over time and in different cultures.
The key to happiness and the history of emotions
Is happiness the natural order of things and, if so, should you be worried if you’re not happy? And how our emotional experiences have changed over time and in different cultures.
Hidden homelessness, revealed by those who've lived it
Some 116,000 people experience homelessness every night in Australia, and that number is expected to grow. What is it like to be homeless? What do those who've been in that awful circumstance think is the answer?
Hidden homelessness, revealed by those who've lived it
Some 116,000 people experience homelessness every night in Australia, and that number is expected to grow. What is it like to be homeless? What do those who've been in that awful circumstance think is the answer?
AI and the rise of smart machines
Artificial Intelligence (AI) will revolutionise medicine, and help to combat climate change.
But it also threatens to usher in a new age of automated drone warfare.
With smart machines poised to take more decisions out of our hands, how can we ensure these decisions are ethical, moral, and in our interest?
Paul Barclay talks to Toby Walsh about his book, Machines Behaving Badly
Recorded at the Bendigo Writers Festival on May 15, 2022.
Speaker:
Toby Walsh — author and world leading researcher in
AI and the rise of smart machines
Artificial Intelligence (AI) will revolutionise medicine, and help to combat climate change.
But it also threatens to usher in a new age of automated drone warfare.
With smart machines poised to take more decisions out of our hands, how can we ensure these decisions are ethical, moral, and in our interest?
Paul Barclay talks to Toby Walsh about his book, Machines Behaving Badly
Recorded at the Bendigo Writers Festival on May 15, 2022.
Speaker:
Toby Walsh — author and world leading researcher in
For the love of birds
Are you a bird lover? Were you one of the many people to discover the delights of birdwatching during the pandemic lockdowns? Birds play a crucial role in our ecosystem, but their very existence is under threat. What can we do to protect the future for birdlife? In this discussion, we meet a panel of bird lovers who each share their different perspectives on the enduring allure of birds.
For the love of birds
Are you a bird lover? Were you one of the many people to discover the delights of birdwatching during the pandemic lockdowns? Birds play a crucial role in our ecosystem, but their very existence is under threat. What can we do to protect the future for birdlife? In this discussion, we meet a panel of bird lovers who each share their different perspectives on the enduring allure of birds.
A life without sex
Is sex really a good thing? It’s one of the most broadly accepted assumptions of society. But a group of people begs to differ. They call themselves Asexuals and insist that no-sex is a distinct sexual identity. What do these contrasting ways of thinking about abstinence tell us about modern sexual anxieties
A life without sex
Is sex really a good thing? It’s one of the most broadly accepted assumptions of society. But a group of people begs to differ. They call themselves Asexuals and insist that no-sex is a distinct sexual identity. What do these contrasting ways of thinking about abstinence tell us about modern sexual anxieties
Environmental laws to tackle climate change
Without serious action by 2025 the planet is set to warm beyond one and a half degrees. That’s the unequivocal assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. To reach the target, the IPCC says that governments should not approve more fossil fuel projects yet in Australia we continue to do so. A social scientist says our environmental protection laws need to be redesigned to give greater weight to the protection of future generations who’ll face the full impact of climate change.
Environmental laws to tackle climate change
Without serious action by 2025 the planet is set to warm beyond one and a half degrees. That’s the unequivocal assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. To reach the target, the IPCC says that governments should not approve more fossil fuel projects yet in Australia we continue to do so. A social scientist says our environmental protection laws need to be redesigned to give greater weight to the protection of future generations who’ll face the full impact of climate change.
Electrify everything: a blueprint for decarbonising Australia
By electrifying virtually everything, we can solve the climate change crisis. Electric vehicles, electric heating, electric cooking, a decarbonised grid – all powered by renewables and batteries. This is the future Australia should be pursuing, argues inventor and entrepreneur, Saul Griffith, in his book, 'The Big Switch'..
Electrify everything: a blueprint for decarbonising Australia
By electrifying virtually everything, we can solve the climate change crisis. Electric vehicles, electric heating, electric cooking, a decarbonised grid – all powered by renewables and batteries. This is the future Australia should be pursuing, argues inventor and entrepreneur, Saul Griffith, in his book, 'The Big Switch'..
The neuroscience of sleep and its disorders
A good night's sleep is anything but quiet: a myriad of processes occupy our brains, crucial for every aspect of our waking lives. Our increased understanding of the neuroscience of sleep sheds light on why so many of us struggle to simply drift off.
The neuroscience of sleep and its disorders
A good night's sleep is anything but quiet: a myriad of processes occupy our brains, crucial for every aspect of our waking lives. Our increased understanding of the neuroscience of sleep sheds light on why so many of us struggle to simply drift off.
Male fertility
Women are warned that as they get older their fertility declines. The popular view is that men can father children at any age. But age is also a factor for fertility problems in men. There’s also a pronounced global decline in sperm counts. So what can men do to boost their chances of becoming a father?
Male fertility
Women are warned that as they get older their fertility declines. The popular view is that men can father children at any age. But age is also a factor for fertility problems in men. There’s also a pronounced global decline in sperm counts. So what can men do to boost their chances of becoming a father?
Sport or culture? Why not both? Writing about surfing
How do you get to the essence of an activity that is part sport, part leisure, and a large part cultural identity?
Sport or culture? Why not both? Writing about surfing
How do you get to the essence of an activity that is part sport, part leisure, and a large part cultural identity?
The 'nice racism' of progressive white people
We are aware of the impact racism can have on black, Indigenous, and other racialized people. We condemn white supremacy and hate crimes. But what if the most harm to people of colour is caused by white 'progressives'? What if they are the problem, but they are in denial?
The 'nice racism' of progressive white people
We are aware of the impact racism can have on black, Indigenous, and other racialized people. We condemn white supremacy and hate crimes. But what if the most harm to people of colour is caused by white 'progressives'? What if they are the problem, but they are in denial?
Seeing the world by train
If you love overseas travel, and you’re used to jumping on a plane, the pandemic has been especially trying.
International borders opened and closed , airlines reduced flights and quarantine rules could see you stranded in a hotel for two weeks at your own expense.
British journalist Monisha Rajesh believes it’s the journey not the destination and so she decided to tour the world by train.
Seeing the world by train
If you love overseas travel, and you’re used to jumping on a plane, the pandemic has been especially trying.
International borders opened and closed , airlines reduced flights and quarantine rules could see you stranded in a hotel for two weeks at your own expense.
British journalist Monisha Rajesh believes it’s the journey not the destination and so she decided to tour the world by train.
Exploring the deep sea
After almost 150 years of exploration and research we understand the sea is deep, dark and definitely different - the earth's last great frontier perhaps - but how much do we know of what's beneath the surface?
Exploring the deep sea
After almost 150 years of exploration and research we understand the sea is deep, dark and definitely different - the earth's last great frontier perhaps - but how much do we know of what's beneath the surface?
Time for a four day working week?
Is the weekend family time at your place or a work day like any other? In theory , the norm is five days and forty hours but in our 24/7 world, work extends around the clock. So is it time for a reset to reduce standard working hours to a four day thirty two hour week?
Time for a four day working week?
Is the weekend family time at your place or a work day like any other? In theory , the norm is five days and forty hours but in our 24/7 world, work extends around the clock. So is it time for a reset to reduce standard working hours to a four day thirty two hour week?
Is two-party politics in Australia under threat?
Australian politics was up-ended this year by the election of six 'teal' independents.
The Greens, too, boosted their parliamentary representation.
And, of course, there was change of a government, with Anthony Albanese becoming Prime Minister, defeating Scott Morrison.
But writer, Tim Dunlop, believes it is the increase in the number of independent voices in parliament that has the potential to reinvigorate Australian politics and democracy.
Is two-party politics in Australia under threat?
Australian politics was up-ended this year by the election of six 'teal' independents.
The Greens, too, boosted their parliamentary representation.
And, of course, there was change of a government, with Anthony Albanese becoming Prime Minister, defeating Scott Morrison.
But writer, Tim Dunlop, believes it is the increase in the number of independent voices in parliament that has the potential to reinvigorate Australian politics and democracy.
The politics of civility
Being civil, good manners – that’s ideally how debate should be. But journalist Amy Remeikis says it’s time for women to wise-up and stop being nice because men in power use niceness as a weapon against them. It’s okay for men to forcefully prosecute an argument but not so for women or critics of the establishment. She deconstructs how the code of civility is used to maintain the status quo.
The politics of civility
Being civil, good manners – that’s ideally how debate should be. But journalist Amy Remeikis says it’s time for women to wise-up and stop being nice because men in power use niceness as a weapon against them. It’s okay for men to forcefully prosecute an argument but not so for women or critics of the establishment. She deconstructs how the code of civility is used to maintain the status quo.
Neville White's "passion" to help build a Yolngu homeland in Arnhem land
Anthropologist and Vietnam war veteran, Neville White, has been working with Yolngu people in North-East Arnhem land to help them build a homeland, and ensure their traditional land and culture is not lost to future generations
Writer, Don Watson, tells of how Neville, his long-time friend, has spent over forty years, living and working with hunter-gatherer clans in remote Northern Australia.
Neville White's "passion" to help build a Yolngu homeland in Arnhem land
Anthropologist and Vietnam war veteran, Neville White, has been working with Yolngu people in North-East Arnhem land to help them build a homeland, and ensure their traditional land and culture is not lost to future generations
Writer, Don Watson, tells of how Neville, his long-time friend, has spent over forty years, living and working with hunter-gatherer clans in remote Northern Australia.
Russia, Ukraine and the lessons of history
Although the signs were there, western Europe was caught on the hop when Russia invaded Ukraine. After two world wars, it seemed inconceivable that there’d be another land war in Europe. So was this wishful thinking or wilful blindness to the lessons of history? What does Russian history tell us about the prospects for the resolution of the war in Ukraine?
Russia, Ukraine and the lessons of history
Although the signs were there, western Europe was caught on the hop when Russia invaded Ukraine. After two world wars, it seemed inconceivable that there’d be another land war in Europe. So was this wishful thinking or wilful blindness to the lessons of history? What does Russian history tell us about the prospects for the resolution of the war in Ukraine?
Global trade to build international co-operation
Trade strengthens ties between countries but it can also be used to punish. By way of example, Australian producers , caught in the crossfire between Australia and China lost access to Chinese markets and Russia is feeling the sting of trade sanctions over Ukraine. But should trade be used as a weapon to solve political differences? The Director-General of the World Trade Organization makes the case for re-globalization , a revitalized global trading system to promote international security.
Global trade to build international co-operation
Trade strengthens ties between countries but it can also be used to punish. By way of example, Australian producers , caught in the crossfire between Australia and China lost access to Chinese markets and Russia is feeling the sting of trade sanctions over Ukraine. But should trade be used as a weapon to solve political differences? The Director-General of the World Trade Organization makes the case for re-globalization , a revitalized global trading system to promote international security.
About an unstable world order and failing US leadership
Do you feel like the world is increasingly destabilising? We have a war in Europe; curtailing of freedoms in China and growing tensions around Taiwan's position; we see the subjugation of women's rights in the US. That's on top of ongoing famines and conflicts in Africa; dire reports about the state of global warming; and a world economy that's bracing for recession and down turns in many countries. What's Australia's role in all of this? And how can we make sense of a world order in flux?
About an unstable world order and failing US leadership
Do you feel like the world is increasingly destabilising? We have a war in Europe; curtailing of freedoms in China and growing tensions around Taiwan's position; we see the subjugation of women's rights in the US. That's on top of ongoing famines and conflicts in Africa; dire reports about the state of global warming; and a world economy that's bracing for recession and down turns in many countries. What's Australia's role in all of this? And how can we make sense of a world order in flux?
Fighting the looming superbug crisis with viruses
Bacteria are getting increasingly resistant against antibiotics and that means people could be at risk of dying in the millions. But new research uses viruses to fight bacterial infections – the so-called phase therapy. It's a practice that was used for centuries until antibiotics became available. It proves to be highly successful, and local sewage water may be key to solving the looming superbug crisis.
Fighting the looming superbug crisis with viruses
Bacteria are getting increasingly resistant against antibiotics and that means people could be at risk of dying in the millions. But new research uses viruses to fight bacterial infections – the so-called phase therapy. It's a practice that was used for centuries until antibiotics became available. It proves to be highly successful, and local sewage water may be key to solving the looming superbug crisis.
The Australian Workplace Equality Index and Trans inclusion
Transgender Australians, and sexual minorities, face exclusion and discrimination, including at work.
To encourage diversity, support, and inclusion in the workplace, a number of organisations, and public institutions, including the ABC, have signed on to ACON's 'Pride in Diversity' Australian Workplace Equality Index.
But not everybody is supportive of the AWEI program
As with a similar scheme run by the LGBTQ charity, Stonewall, in the UK, some are questioning the role it plays.
The Australian Workplace Equality Index and Trans inclusion
Transgender Australians, and sexual minorities, face exclusion and discrimination, including at work.
To encourage diversity, support, and inclusion in the workplace, a number of organisations, and public institutions, including the ABC, have signed on to ACON's 'Pride in Diversity' Australian Workplace Equality Index.
But not everybody is supportive of the AWEI program
As with a similar scheme run by the LGBTQ charity, Stonewall, in the UK, some are questioning the role it plays.
Christmas carols and nostalgia
Big Ideas takes you on a trip down Christmas's unique and emotionally complex memory lane with Christmas carols. These songs bring back childhood experiences like few others. But Christmas carols are a quite recent tradition - only about 100 years old. The early ones sounded very different to the songs you hear everywhere today.
Christmas carols and nostalgia
Big Ideas takes you on a trip down Christmas's unique and emotionally complex memory lane with Christmas carols. These songs bring back childhood experiences like few others. But Christmas carols are a quite recent tradition - only about 100 years old. The early ones sounded very different to the songs you hear everywhere today.
How good is the Australian electoral system?
How much do you like casting your vote in elections? Australia has one of the best electoral systems in the world - with more equal access for everyone and less political spite than many other countries. Judith Brett assesses achievements of our elections and considers some arguments for improvement.
How good is the Australian electoral system?
How much do you like casting your vote in elections? Australia has one of the best electoral systems in the world - with more equal access for everyone and less political spite than many other countries. Judith Brett assesses achievements of our elections and considers some arguments for improvement.
Hope in a conflicted world
How do you live in a community facing suppression and violence every day? How do you live through an ongoing war? Or how do you cope with having to leave your home and family behind – for good? In a conflicted world, hope seems to be what gets people to cope with desperate situations. But it's not that straight forward. Hope can get you only so far – then you need more practical support.
Hope in a conflicted world
How do you live in a community facing suppression and violence every day? How do you live through an ongoing war? Or how do you cope with having to leave your home and family behind – for good? In a conflicted world, hope seems to be what gets people to cope with desperate situations. But it's not that straight forward. Hope can get you only so far – then you need more practical support.
Saving the koala
Who doesn’t love a koala? Foreign dignitaries visiting our shores are almost obliged to have their photo taken with a cuddly koala. But koalas are now on the endangered list and, if we’re not careful, in coming decades koalas will only be found in zoos and wildlife parks. They could be extinct in the wild. In the Blue Mountains west of Sydney scientists are hard at work to ensure koala survival.
Saving the koala
Who doesn’t love a koala? Foreign dignitaries visiting our shores are almost obliged to have their photo taken with a cuddly koala. But koalas are now on the endangered list and, if we’re not careful, in coming decades koalas will only be found in zoos and wildlife parks. They could be extinct in the wild. In the Blue Mountains west of Sydney scientists are hard at work to ensure koala survival.
Can Antarctica help us solve the climate emergency?
The Australian Antarctic Division will soon commence drilling a 3-kilometre-deep hole, to extract a million years' worth of glacial ice.
Hidden in this ice are secrets of the earth's climate past.
Discovering these secrets will help us better understand our changing climate, and the impact it's having, and will continue to have, on the planet.
Paul Barclay speaks to two scientists and a writer about importance of Antarctic research.
Can Antarctica help us solve the climate emergency?
The Australian Antarctic Division will soon commence drilling a 3-kilometre-deep hole, to extract a million years' worth of glacial ice.
Hidden in this ice are secrets of the earth's climate past.
Discovering these secrets will help us better understand our changing climate, and the impact it's having, and will continue to have, on the planet.
Paul Barclay speaks to two scientists and a writer about importance of Antarctic research.
Revitalizing the moral conditions of our common life
Respectful conversations are vital for democracy yet public discourse is increasingly polarized making it harder to bridge social and political divides. How can we breathe new life into our shared humanity? Scott Stephens tackles this question in his Simone Weil Lecture on Human Value, named in honour of the French philosopher.
Revitalizing the moral conditions of our common life
Respectful conversations are vital for democracy yet public discourse is increasingly polarized making it harder to bridge social and political divides. How can we breathe new life into our shared humanity? Scott Stephens tackles this question in his Simone Weil Lecture on Human Value, named in honour of the French philosopher.
Why do we use deception and lies?
What is truth? How has it evolved? And what is its impact anyway? Evolutionary science shows that subtle social manipulation of fellow group members was a key driver of intelligence in the human lineage. And even animals use trickery to their advantage. Big Ideas looks at why we lie and why deception is so widespread in modern public discourse.
Why do we use deception and lies?
What is truth? How has it evolved? And what is its impact anyway? Evolutionary science shows that subtle social manipulation of fellow group members was a key driver of intelligence in the human lineage. And even animals use trickery to their advantage. Big Ideas looks at why we lie and why deception is so widespread in modern public discourse.
Can the market solve climate change and other social ills?
Do you argue across the dinner table about saving the world? Some say it’s up to individuals, others want governments to fix the problem. Then there’s the follow-the-money view that business and the market will save us. But is capitalism part of the problem not the solution?
Can the market solve climate change and other social ills?
Do you argue across the dinner table about saving the world? Some say it’s up to individuals, others want governments to fix the problem. Then there’s the follow-the-money view that business and the market will save us. But is capitalism part of the problem not the solution?
How can we better regulate digital platforms?
How do we reign in the social media juggernauts?
The power of Facebook, Google, Twitter etc, is well recognised, as are the harms caused by these monoliths: breaches of privacy, fake news that can threaten democracy, manipulation, abuse, and hate speech.
Most agree we need better governance of digital platforms, but how can we regulate them, without over-reaching?
How can we better regulate digital platforms?
How do we reign in the social media juggernauts?
The power of Facebook, Google, Twitter etc, is well recognised, as are the harms caused by these monoliths: breaches of privacy, fake news that can threaten democracy, manipulation, abuse, and hate speech.
Most agree we need better governance of digital platforms, but how can we regulate them, without over-reaching?
Understanding Australian history pre-contact
Does history exist without the witness of an historian? Bruce Pascoe is reminding us that history is constantly changing as we learn new facts or new interpretations of the past. Who is to write our history? Only academics or can everyone do it? How much is history shaped by the views of the ones in power? This question is particularly pertinent for Indigenous history prior to European settlement.
Understanding Australian history pre-contact
Does history exist without the witness of an historian? Bruce Pascoe is reminding us that history is constantly changing as we learn new facts or new interpretations of the past. Who is to write our history? Only academics or can everyone do it? How much is history shaped by the views of the ones in power? This question is particularly pertinent for Indigenous history prior to European settlement.
Bob Hawke's public legacy and private demons
Bob Hawke loomed large in Australian politics in the 1980s and continued to be an influential Labor thinker until the end. Fondly remembered as a true blue Aussie, a new biography charts his public success and private demons.
Bob Hawke's public legacy and private demons
Bob Hawke loomed large in Australian politics in the 1980s and continued to be an influential Labor thinker until the end. Fondly remembered as a true blue Aussie, a new biography charts his public success and private demons.
The biodiversity crisis – in Australia and around the world
The state of biodiversity in Australia and around the world is a sad and sobering affair. 96 per cent of mammals are humans and their farm animals, all the other mammals combined – globally – make up the remaining 4 per cent. And yet we are killing them at an alarming rate. Ian Lowe assesses our efforts to reverse biodiversity loss, to fight climate change and possibly save a planet for us to live on.
The biodiversity crisis – in Australia and around the world
The state of biodiversity in Australia and around the world is a sad and sobering affair. 96 per cent of mammals are humans and their farm animals, all the other mammals combined – globally – make up the remaining 4 per cent. And yet we are killing them at an alarming rate. Ian Lowe assesses our efforts to reverse biodiversity loss, to fight climate change and possibly save a planet for us to live on.
Talking about death
It is one of only two certainties in life, as the saying goes, but most of us go out of our way to avoid thinking about it: death. Talking about death, and dying, has long been a taboo subject. But, maybe, this is changing. A panel explores how we understand death, dying, and grieving; how we discuss death with children; and the stories we tell ourselves, and our loved ones about it, as adults.
Presenter - Paul Barclay
Producer - Paul Barclay
Soundengineer - David Le May
Talking about death
It is one of only two certainties in life, as the saying goes, but most of us go out of our way to avoid thinking about it: death. Talking about death, and dying, has long been a taboo subject. But, maybe, this is changing. A panel explores how we understand death, dying, and grieving; how we discuss death with children; and the stories we tell ourselves, and our loved ones about it, as adults.
Presenter - Paul Barclay
Producer - Paul Barclay
Soundengineer - David Le May
The Wilderness Myth
As Australia’s population expands wild places shrink. To protect the remaining patches we want to lock it up and keep people out. But what exactly is wilderness? Is it a place untouched by human hands? An indigenous geographer says that what we call wilderness is not nature left to its own devices but the result of thousands of years of indigenous landcare.
The Wilderness Myth
As Australia’s population expands wild places shrink. To protect the remaining patches we want to lock it up and keep people out. But what exactly is wilderness? Is it a place untouched by human hands? An indigenous geographer says that what we call wilderness is not nature left to its own devices but the result of thousands of years of indigenous landcare.
How plants made the world and can save it
We're trying to increase green space in the urban jungle by planting on walls, rooftops , verges , in parks and community gardens. And not just because plants are pretty to look at.
They’re vital for our survival from the air we breathe, to the food we eat, to keeping us cool and they help offset carbon emissions.
How plants made the world and can save it
We're trying to increase green space in the urban jungle by planting on walls, rooftops , verges , in parks and community gardens. And not just because plants are pretty to look at.
They’re vital for our survival from the air we breathe, to the food we eat, to keeping us cool and they help offset carbon emissions.
The risks for Australia of greater Chinese influence in the Solomon Islands.
China is ramping up its power and influence in our neighbourhood. We were blindsided by their recent security agreement with the Solomons and now our government is on a charm offensive to restore Australia’s position and influence across the Pacific. So what are the risks for Australia of China’s strong presence in our region and in particular, the security pact with the Solomon Islands.
The risks for Australia of greater Chinese influence in the Solomon Islands.
China is ramping up its power and influence in our neighbourhood. We were blindsided by their recent security agreement with the Solomons and now our government is on a charm offensive to restore Australia’s position and influence across the Pacific. So what are the risks for Australia of China’s strong presence in our region and in particular, the security pact with the Solomon Islands.
National security and media freedom
All around the world, national security laws are being used to muzzle journalists, and constrain the operation of a free media.
In Australia, a raft of national security legislation has been used against journalists – including those at the ABC and News Corp.
Journalist, Peter Greste, was imprisoned in Egypt under that country's anti- terrorism laws, and he believes Australia needs a Media Freedom Act, to protect public interest journalism.
National security and media freedom
All around the world, national security laws are being used to muzzle journalists, and constrain the operation of a free media.
In Australia, a raft of national security legislation has been used against journalists – including those at the ABC and News Corp.
Journalist, Peter Greste, was imprisoned in Egypt under that country's anti- terrorism laws, and he believes Australia needs a Media Freedom Act, to protect public interest journalism.
About being trans – here and now
How can the LGBTI and trans community respond to the backlash of the global anti-gender movements? These movements are trying to restrict or deny them access to human rights, legal gender recognition and gender affirming healthcare. On Big Ideas, a panel of trans activists comments on the 'transing' of gender as a practice of freedom, analyses how identity can be a problem and why despite all the struggle there is scope for optimism.
About being trans – here and now
How can the LGBTI and trans community respond to the backlash of the global anti-gender movements? These movements are trying to restrict or deny them access to human rights, legal gender recognition and gender affirming healthcare. On Big Ideas, a panel of trans activists comments on the 'transing' of gender as a practice of freedom, analyses how identity can be a problem and why despite all the struggle there is scope for optimism.
Why national security and intelligence is womens work
Australia’s secrets are guarded by intelligence agencies like the Australian Signals Directorate and Rachel Noble is the first woman to head the ASD. The ASD has two jobs : to reveal the secrets of others while protecting our own- that’s the agency motto. Rachel talks about the history of women in intelligence and her steps to encourage women into a career at the ASD.
Why national security and intelligence is womens work
Australia’s secrets are guarded by intelligence agencies like the Australian Signals Directorate and Rachel Noble is the first woman to head the ASD. The ASD has two jobs : to reveal the secrets of others while protecting our own- that’s the agency motto. Rachel talks about the history of women in intelligence and her steps to encourage women into a career at the ASD.
Australian security and climate change
Climate change will impact all parts of our life.It's been identified as a national security risk as natural disasters and unseasonal weather displace populations, disrupt food production and fuel regional social and political instability.
Australian security and climate change
Climate change will impact all parts of our life.It's been identified as a national security risk as natural disasters and unseasonal weather displace populations, disrupt food production and fuel regional social and political instability.
The power of art
Engaging with art is shown to have health benefits and is recommended as a form of therapy for those experiencing mental illness.
It is also a vital form of expression and connection for those who feel marginalised and oppressed.
The power of art
Engaging with art is shown to have health benefits and is recommended as a form of therapy for those experiencing mental illness.
It is also a vital form of expression and connection for those who feel marginalised and oppressed.
Why you should believe in ghosts
There are few things more in common across cultures than the belief in ghosts. It's part of the very essence of what it is to be human – as evidenced in thousands-of-year-old artefacts and even concepts in modern religions.
British Museum curator Irving Finkel explains ancient rituals of how to live with ghosts, how to get rid of them (and bring them back) and how to avoid becoming one. He has embarked upon an ancient ghost hunt, scouring these tablets to unlock the secrets of the Sumerians, Bab
Why you should believe in ghosts
There are few things more in common across cultures than the belief in ghosts. It's part of the very essence of what it is to be human – as evidenced in thousands-of-year-old artefacts and even concepts in modern religions.
British Museum curator Irving Finkel explains ancient rituals of how to live with ghosts, how to get rid of them (and bring them back) and how to avoid becoming one. He has embarked upon an ancient ghost hunt, scouring these tablets to unlock the secrets of the Sumerians, Bab
Afghanistan under Taliban rule
It’s one year since the Taliban swept through Afghanistan and ousted the elected government. Life changed overnight for millions of Afghan women and the economy took a nosedive. While the west imposed sanctions , western humanitarian aid continues to flow into the country.But under Taliban rule, can aid agencies improve the lives of ordinary Afghans?
Afghanistan under Taliban rule
It’s one year since the Taliban swept through Afghanistan and ousted the elected government. Life changed overnight for millions of Afghan women and the economy took a nosedive. While the west imposed sanctions , western humanitarian aid continues to flow into the country.But under Taliban rule, can aid agencies improve the lives of ordinary Afghans?
Alleviating child poverty
Australia is a land of plenty, yet 35 years after Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, pledged no child would live in poverty, one in six children are currently in this very predicament.
Many children struggle to get a roof over their head, and enough food into their mouth.
What underpins poverty in Australia, and what needs to be done to alleviate it?
Paul Barclay moderates a panel discussion hosted by PeakCare. Recorded October 17, 2022, at Queensland Parliament House
Speakers
Natalie Lewis — Queensl
Alleviating child poverty
Australia is a land of plenty, yet 35 years after Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, pledged no child would live in poverty, one in six children are currently in this very predicament.
Many children struggle to get a roof over their head, and enough food into their mouth.
What underpins poverty in Australia, and what needs to be done to alleviate it?
Paul Barclay moderates a panel discussion hosted by PeakCare. Recorded October 17, 2022, at Queensland Parliament House
Speakers
Natalie Lewis — Queensl
Food security in the Pacific and Australia's future food
Climate change is a threat to the food we produce and the way we produce it. Vulnerable Pacific island nations will need enhanced support from Australian aid and research and Australian farmers are focused on enhancing their clean and green reputation .
Food security in the Pacific and Australia's future food
Climate change is a threat to the food we produce and the way we produce it. Vulnerable Pacific island nations will need enhanced support from Australian aid and research and Australian farmers are focused on enhancing their clean and green reputation .
After the Tampa
Many countries are pushing back against the millions of refugees on their doorstep. But Australia has one of the harshest responses to those seeking asylum by boat. Offshore detention began with the infamous Tampa affair twenty years ago. Afghan refugee Abbas Nazari was on board the Tampa and he's written the story of his life after his family's perilous journey from Afghanistan.
After the Tampa
Many countries are pushing back against the millions of refugees on their doorstep. But Australia has one of the harshest responses to those seeking asylum by boat. Offshore detention began with the infamous Tampa affair twenty years ago. Afghan refugee Abbas Nazari was on board the Tampa and he's written the story of his life after his family's perilous journey from Afghanistan.
Investigative journalism as a new global power
Investigative journalism is changing, and it's as powerful as never before. That's despite the increasing threats to journalists' lives and media freedom around the world. Formerly competing journalists are now working together, crowdfunding is financing research and computer powers is dealing with the details of secret documents.
Investigative journalism as a new global power
Investigative journalism is changing, and it's as powerful as never before. That's despite the increasing threats to journalists' lives and media freedom around the world. Formerly competing journalists are now working together, crowdfunding is financing research and computer powers is dealing with the details of secret documents.
Putting an end to capital punishment
In 1967 Ronald Ryan became the last person to be executed in Australia but around the world thousands of people face death for everything from murder to political protest to challenging religious authority. Can these countries be persuaded to give up the death penalty? Why did we abolish it in Australia?
Putting an end to capital punishment
In 1967 Ronald Ryan became the last person to be executed in Australia but around the world thousands of people face death for everything from murder to political protest to challenging religious authority. Can these countries be persuaded to give up the death penalty? Why did we abolish it in Australia?
The decline of the American 'empire'
Is America a declining global power, more inward looking, and less interested in asserting itself internationally?
Or, is it still the same old hegemonic power, albeit a little ragged around the edges, from fighting its longest war, in a country it was forced to flee in humiliating circumstances, leaving vulnerable locals to fend for themselves, in the face of merciless regime?
The decline of the American 'empire'
Is America a declining global power, more inward looking, and less interested in asserting itself internationally?
Or, is it still the same old hegemonic power, albeit a little ragged around the edges, from fighting its longest war, in a country it was forced to flee in humiliating circumstances, leaving vulnerable locals to fend for themselves, in the face of merciless regime?
Human fertility is declining
A crisis in human fertility is expected to decrease population numbers to a degree that we’ll be unable to reverse. Despite current pressures on the environment and resources, that global trend won’t end well. Big Ideas discusses the drivers of our declining fertility. It will take drastic social, political, environmental and lifestyle changes to reduce the severity of a future era of depopulation.
Human fertility is declining
A crisis in human fertility is expected to decrease population numbers to a degree that we’ll be unable to reverse. Despite current pressures on the environment and resources, that global trend won’t end well. Big Ideas discusses the drivers of our declining fertility. It will take drastic social, political, environmental and lifestyle changes to reduce the severity of a future era of depopulation.
After two pandemic years are we all ok?
Have you bounced back or are you feeling anxious and depressed after two pandemic years? Many people admit that they’re struggling but the health system is stretched to the limit. What needs to change to prioritize mental health?
After two pandemic years are we all ok?
Have you bounced back or are you feeling anxious and depressed after two pandemic years? Many people admit that they’re struggling but the health system is stretched to the limit. What needs to change to prioritize mental health?
Are we living in the age of anti-ambition?
Millions of people have quit their jobs, changed careers or decided not to put their hand-up for promotion. It’s been called The Great Resignation or Quiet Quitting where more of us are deciding we want a better work life balance.
Are we living in the age of anti-ambition?
Millions of people have quit their jobs, changed careers or decided not to put their hand-up for promotion. It’s been called The Great Resignation or Quiet Quitting where more of us are deciding we want a better work life balance.
Chinese repression in Wuhan and Hong Kong
Two books about Wuhan and Hong Kong provide an insight into the modus operandi of China's communist party government, and the impact its repression has had on the citizens of these cities. Telling the stories of what happened in these two cities was not an easy task for writers Murong Xuecun and Louisa Lim.
Chinese repression in Wuhan and Hong Kong
Two books about Wuhan and Hong Kong provide an insight into the modus operandi of China's communist party government, and the impact its repression has had on the citizens of these cities. Telling the stories of what happened in these two cities was not an easy task for writers Murong Xuecun and Louisa Lim.
The legacy of South Korea's international adoption program
Between the 1950s and 1980s an estimated 200,000 children were adopted by families in America, Europe and Australia. Adoptees are now seeking to connect with their place of birth and to understand the reasons why so many were sent abroad.
The legacy of South Korea's international adoption program
Between the 1950s and 1980s an estimated 200,000 children were adopted by families in America, Europe and Australia. Adoptees are now seeking to connect with their place of birth and to understand the reasons why so many were sent abroad.
Ending the global tobacco pandemic
Smoking has killed about 100 million people in the last century. And the toll is expected to reach one billion. Besides the human, there are also enormous economic costs connected to tobacco consumption. While progress has clearly been made, why have decades of public health campaigns, restrictive regulation and extra taxes not crushed Big Tobacco by now?
Ending the global tobacco pandemic
Smoking has killed about 100 million people in the last century. And the toll is expected to reach one billion. Besides the human, there are also enormous economic costs connected to tobacco consumption. While progress has clearly been made, why have decades of public health campaigns, restrictive regulation and extra taxes not crushed Big Tobacco by now?
Food as medicine
Are sugars, fats and processed carbs your guilty pleasure?
You know you shouldn’t eat them but it’s hard to resist.
Poor food choices take a big toll on our health system and some doctors are now prescribing healthy meals instead of drugs.
Food as medicine
Are sugars, fats and processed carbs your guilty pleasure?
You know you shouldn’t eat them but it’s hard to resist.
Poor food choices take a big toll on our health system and some doctors are now prescribing healthy meals instead of drugs.
The making of Australian history
How is history made, and who gets left out?
History tells us where we came from, what happened along the way, and who we have become – our national identity.
But history is the product of the cultural values and beliefs of the time in which it was written.Who gets to shape these shifting narratives? And why has history so often excluded and silenced First Nations Australians?
The making of Australian history
How is history made, and who gets left out?
History tells us where we came from, what happened along the way, and who we have become – our national identity.
But history is the product of the cultural values and beliefs of the time in which it was written.Who gets to shape these shifting narratives? And why has history so often excluded and silenced First Nations Australians?
For the love of birds
Are you a bird lover? Birds play a crucial role in our ecosystem, but their very existence is under threat. What can we do to protect the future for birdlife? A panel of bird lovers share their different perspectives on the enduring allure of birds.
For the love of birds
Are you a bird lover? Birds play a crucial role in our ecosystem, but their very existence is under threat. What can we do to protect the future for birdlife? A panel of bird lovers share their different perspectives on the enduring allure of birds.
For the love of birds
Are you a bird lover? Birds play a crucial role in our ecosystem, but their very existence is under threat. What can we do to protect the future for birdlife? A panel of bird lovers share their different perspectives on the enduring allure of birds.
For the love of birds
Are you a bird lover? Birds play a crucial role in our ecosystem, but their very existence is under threat. What can we do to protect the future for birdlife? A panel of bird lovers share their different perspectives on the enduring allure of birds.
Surveillance and monitoring in professional sport
Professional sport relies more and more on surveillance and body monitoring to improve performance. And increasing commercial interest in this data risk outweighing the benefits for the athletes. Even more: the degree of surveillance currently tolerated in professional sport may be permitted in community sports and other workplaces if the current status quo of collecting excessive personal data remains unchallenged.
Surveillance and monitoring in professional sport
Professional sport relies more and more on surveillance and body monitoring to improve performance. And increasing commercial interest in this data risk outweighing the benefits for the athletes. Even more: the degree of surveillance currently tolerated in professional sport may be permitted in community sports and other workplaces if the current status quo of collecting excessive personal data remains unchallenged.
Deaf culture, and science communication
The mission of the Beaker Street Festival is to make science accessible to all. Members of Tasmania’s deaf community share their experiences. Also, science communicators discuss the opportunities and obstacles of public engagement.
Deaf culture, and science communication
The mission of the Beaker Street Festival is to make science accessible to all. Members of Tasmania’s deaf community share their experiences. Also, science communicators discuss the opportunities and obstacles of public engagement.
Power, politics, and the AFL’s ‘Boys’ Club’
Illegal drug taking, alleged bullying and harassment, and deliberately losing matches to gain access to prized young recruits. These are some of the scandals that, over the years, have plagued the biggest sporting competition in the country, the AFL – the Australian Football League. But despite these, and other, crises, governance of the 700 million dollar a year competition leaves a lot to be desired.
Power, politics, and the AFL’s ‘Boys’ Club’
Illegal drug taking, alleged bullying and harassment, and deliberately losing matches to gain access to prized young recruits. These are some of the scandals that, over the years, have plagued the biggest sporting competition in the country, the AFL – the Australian Football League. But despite these, and other, crises, governance of the 700 million dollar a year competition leaves a lot to be desired.
Where is globalisation headed?
Globalisation has long been touted as the end game for big businesses and governments alike. Where is globalisation headed, and do the benefits outweigh the costs?
Where is globalisation headed?
Globalisation has long been touted as the end game for big businesses and governments alike. Where is globalisation headed, and do the benefits outweigh the costs?
What the ‘alien’ in science fiction reveals about us
Science fiction’s most frequent alternative to human is 'alien', another rich imaginative resource with which to think about what makes us human. Whether aliens are imagined as conquerors or saviours, their superiority has often been used to explore human limitations.
What the ‘alien’ in science fiction reveals about us
Science fiction’s most frequent alternative to human is 'alien', another rich imaginative resource with which to think about what makes us human. Whether aliens are imagined as conquerors or saviours, their superiority has often been used to explore human limitations.
Environmental activism in Bali and China
Green activists in our region are putting pressure on governments to act. In Bali there's a community campaign to reduce and recycle plastics and in China, non-government organizations are working to increase environmental action despite tight government control of their activities .
Environmental activism in Bali and China
Green activists in our region are putting pressure on governments to act. In Bali there's a community campaign to reduce and recycle plastics and in China, non-government organizations are working to increase environmental action despite tight government control of their activities .
Governing during a climate emergency
'Business as usual' is not an option for governments dealing with an escalating climate crisis.
It's now impossible to ignore or deny the grim manifestations, and warnings, that the planet is heating up.
So how must governance and democracy change? What are the impediments to overcome if we are to decarbonise the economy, and adapt to a changing climate?
Governing during a climate emergency
'Business as usual' is not an option for governments dealing with an escalating climate crisis.
It's now impossible to ignore or deny the grim manifestations, and warnings, that the planet is heating up.
So how must governance and democracy change? What are the impediments to overcome if we are to decarbonise the economy, and adapt to a changing climate?
Food for space travellers
The science of growing food and nutrition is as important as rocket science to sustain space travellers near and far. If you're on your way to Mars and hope to become a resident then you need to produce your own food. So what will be on the menu?
Food for space travellers
The science of growing food and nutrition is as important as rocket science to sustain space travellers near and far. If you're on your way to Mars and hope to become a resident then you need to produce your own food. So what will be on the menu?
The pursuit of justice for Syrian war crimes
A landmark case in a European court marks a significant step on the road to justice for survivors of war crimes in Syria, and around the world.
The pursuit of justice for Syrian war crimes
A landmark case in a European court marks a significant step on the road to justice for survivors of war crimes in Syria, and around the world.
The carbon-fixing superpower of wetlands, salt marshes and sea meadows
If you’re a bird lover you’ll know how migratory birds depend on wetlands as staging posts. And if you’re a fisherman then wetlands are a breeding ground for fish.
That’s just two of the services they provide. Yet globally, they’re drained for development. Apart from anything else , we’re destroying an ecosystem which can absorb carbon dioxide thirty to fifty times faster than terrestrial forests.
The carbon-fixing superpower of wetlands, salt marshes and sea meadows
If you’re a bird lover you’ll know how migratory birds depend on wetlands as staging posts. And if you’re a fisherman then wetlands are a breeding ground for fish.
That’s just two of the services they provide. Yet globally, they’re drained for development. Apart from anything else , we’re destroying an ecosystem which can absorb carbon dioxide thirty to fifty times faster than terrestrial forests.
Can VR and immersive technologies enhance mindfulness?
More people are digitally 'detoxing' and embracing mindfulness to try to calm their mind.
But what if, paradoxically, the digital technologies we are escaping from, are also able to enhance contemplative practice, and provide therapeutic benefits for, say, kids undergoing cancer treatment?
Can guided meditation in a 'virtual' natural environment lift your mood. Or a multi-sensory installation soothe those in palliative care?
Can VR and immersive technologies enhance mindfulness?
More people are digitally 'detoxing' and embracing mindfulness to try to calm their mind.
But what if, paradoxically, the digital technologies we are escaping from, are also able to enhance contemplative practice, and provide therapeutic benefits for, say, kids undergoing cancer treatment?
Can guided meditation in a 'virtual' natural environment lift your mood. Or a multi-sensory installation soothe those in palliative care?
The future of life on earth
Do cosmic catastrophes pose the greatest threat to the ongoing survival of biological life on earth? Or is the danger far closer and more imminent than we might like to imagine?
The future of life on earth
Do cosmic catastrophes pose the greatest threat to the ongoing survival of biological life on earth? Or is the danger far closer and more imminent than we might like to imagine?
Human Rights as an Investment in the Future
Advancing human rights is as an investment in society's future and should be at the centre of public policy making. We shouldn't only speak of human rights when there is a crisis or scandal. Monash University Professors Michael Mintrom and Paula Gerber say we need to consider the societal benefits – and financial rewards – of policies that support human rights
Human Rights as an Investment in the Future
Advancing human rights is as an investment in society's future and should be at the centre of public policy making. We shouldn't only speak of human rights when there is a crisis or scandal. Monash University Professors Michael Mintrom and Paula Gerber say we need to consider the societal benefits – and financial rewards – of policies that support human rights
More effort needed: report card on our environment
Do you remember the chorus line of the Joni Mitchell song Big Yellow Taxi? You don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone. It could be the theme song of the recent State of the Environment Report which details the health of our land , water , plant and animal species. To stop the downward slide we need to pay attention to the findings.
More effort needed: report card on our environment
Do you remember the chorus line of the Joni Mitchell song Big Yellow Taxi? You don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone. It could be the theme song of the recent State of the Environment Report which details the health of our land , water , plant and animal species. To stop the downward slide we need to pay attention to the findings.
Should cars have a carbon emissions ceiling?
High prices for petrol and expensive electric cars are not helping our Paris climate target. So do we need a carbon emissions ceiling to accelerate the race to net zero.
Should cars have a carbon emissions ceiling?
High prices for petrol and expensive electric cars are not helping our Paris climate target. So do we need a carbon emissions ceiling to accelerate the race to net zero.
Greece and Turkey: Bridge over the Aegean
What does the future hold for Greece and Turkey? What role can the diaspora play in helping to bridge the divide?
Greece and Turkey: Bridge over the Aegean
What does the future hold for Greece and Turkey? What role can the diaspora play in helping to bridge the divide?
The turbulence ahead as we switch from fossil fuels to renewables
Fossil fuels have powered our world and reaching net zero by 2050 requires a momentous shift. Every country in the world, rich and poor , needs to do their bit. Every economy in the world has to calculate how to pay for the switch to renewables .And every person on the planet will be affected, in one way or another, by the change.
The turbulence ahead as we switch from fossil fuels to renewables
Fossil fuels have powered our world and reaching net zero by 2050 requires a momentous shift. Every country in the world, rich and poor , needs to do their bit. Every economy in the world has to calculate how to pay for the switch to renewables .And every person on the planet will be affected, in one way or another, by the change.
Reckoning with Australia's settler colonial history
Australia must reckon with its settler-colonial past and confront the mistreatment of First Nations Australians if we are to shape a shared future.
Telling the truth about the frontier wars and massacres, is a big part of this reckoning.
Reckoning with Australia's settler colonial history
Australia must reckon with its settler-colonial past and confront the mistreatment of First Nations Australians if we are to shape a shared future.
Telling the truth about the frontier wars and massacres, is a big part of this reckoning.
Is making war more humane in fact prolonging the fighting?
Has making wars more humane in fact made it much easier to start wars? Has it made them drag on for longer and even sapped energy from peace movements?
Is making war more humane in fact prolonging the fighting?
Has making wars more humane in fact made it much easier to start wars? Has it made them drag on for longer and even sapped energy from peace movements?
Democracy at risk: Taiwan and Indonesia
Two democracies are under pressure in our region. Taiwan is in the firing line as China launches missiles and warships in response to Nancy Pelosi's visit. Closer to home , in Indonesia, secular democratic institutions are battling Islamist groups and entrenched corruption.
Democracy at risk: Taiwan and Indonesia
Two democracies are under pressure in our region. Taiwan is in the firing line as China launches missiles and warships in response to Nancy Pelosi's visit. Closer to home , in Indonesia, secular democratic institutions are battling Islamist groups and entrenched corruption.
The need for wisdom in education
We need wisdom built into the education in schools and our universities A utilitarian approach to education is just not enough. Wisdom in the classical understanding, teaches us to look at the world holistically; it's associated with moral knowledge and accepting that there are always different side to an issue. And the other thing we need for good education, particularly in this technical age, is wonder and silence.
Anita Heiss on identity, and why we should be reading "blak"
Many of Australia's leading authors, today, are indigenous, and their books are garnering accolades and winning prestigious awards.
One of these authors is Wiradjuri woman, Anita Heiss.
Anita is a Wiradjuri woman, a champion of First Nations writing, and an advocate for indigenous literacy.
She is talking Paul Barclay about her updated, Am I Black Enough For you?
Big Ideas
How did we come to be so disconnected from nature? Maybe because certain philosophers and religion tell us that we're special and set apart from all other species. Perhaps plants can show us how to live in harmony with the planet and remind us that we're part of the web of life.
The Legacy of the Mabo case
It’s 30 years after the landmark Mabo case decision by the High Court. It recognised Indigenous land rights and paved the way for native title claims across the country. The Mabo case overturned the myth that at the time of colonisation Australia was ‘terra nullius’ - land belonging to no one. Hannah Duncan, a granddaughter of Eddie Mabo, and Charles Passi, son of one of the plaintiffs, discuss what changed, what didn’t' change and what still needs to be done.
Art is everywhere
In the weeks and months of Covid lockdowns did you seek solace in the arts? Either taking up creative hobbies for the first time or tuning into music, painting, books, movies and podcasts. Five prominent members of the arts community -Wesley Enoch, Debra Keenahan, Sisonke Msimang, Lizzy Hoo and Melissa Lucashenko – respond to the proposition that art is everywhere.
How can we disagree better?
Why do arguments often end badly, and how can we learn to disagree in a more civilised way? In these politically polarised times, disagreement is common, as well as frequently shrill and acrimonious. What does the art of debating teach us about how to argue better, without resort to personal abuse?. Paul Barclay talks to former world champion debate, Bo Seo..
Musings about consolation – why we need it and how it works
Consolation is sometimes the only thing that keeps you going in dark times. Someone giving you hope; the realisation that you are not alone; and sometime the miraculous dimming of unspeakable anguish. Michael Ignatieff muses about what consolation is – and what it isn’t; what makes it work and why we all need it.
A different kind of politics
The recent federal election delivered a shake-up to the two party system and an increase in female candidates and people from diverse backgrounds. As traditional strongholds fell to independents , we saw voters prepared to cross party lines or abandon parties altogether. The government says Australians want a less combative style of politics which values consensus and personal integrity. So will we see a different style of politics and what issues drove the election result?
Big Ideas
Big Ideas brings you the best of talks, forums, debates, and festivals held in Australia and arou...
The statistics of war and the politics of counting
How many deaths are acceptable in warfare and how many are excessive? Does having a lower body-count automatically mean you win a war? And most importantly, who does the counting. On Big Ideas, Oxford historian Erica Charters challenges the quantitative approach to war. The metrics of warfare developed in the early European wars many centuries ago – but numbers remain at the core of military decision-making to this day.
After the pandemic: opportunities for a better Australia
Is there a silver lining in the seemingly never ending COVID-19 pandemic? Might there be opportunities, if we can learn right lessons, to emerge from the pandemic with a determination build back better? Some hope, ultimately, the pandemic will help re-invent our cities, improve public health, reinvigorate the economy, and tackle social disadvantage. Paul Barclay talks to Peter Doherty and Andrew Wear about the post pandemic possibilities
Plants to power sustainability
Can I interest you in some pasta fortified with crickets or a burger made from plants which looks like meat? This may not sound immediately appetising but, as the world population grows and climate change bites, the hunt is on for alternative sources of protein. We hear from plant scientists who are hard at work developing climate resistant crops with the added benefit of new sources of fuel and fibre. And projects to grow insects for food.
Science, public trust and disinformation
Do you trust scientists or question their independence? Science historian Naomi Oreskes investigates how funding shapes scientific research and how climate science in particular has been misrepresented by fossil industries. She says science needs both public trust and public awareness of the potential use of science to further special interests.
Who is to blame for the environmental crisis, and what needs to change?
For too long ordinary people have been singled out - their actions, and consumption habits, blamed for climate change. Instead, we should be pointing the finger at large corporations, and growth-based economics. So believes writer Jeff Sparrow, whose book Crimes Against Nature argues that unless the economic system changes, no amount of recycling, or individual action, is likely to achieve much. He tells Paul Barclay that, despite this, he is optimistic, because he believes collective action
Australia’s foreign relations and international responsibilities
Can Australia better manage international relationships and responsibilities in a changing world? Climate change, human rights abuse or COVID-19 for example require a coordinated international response – a coalition of the willing. But is Australia playing its role? Our country has been labelled a ‘rogue nation’ by some. But how bad is our reputation overseas – really?
Striving for a new normal without social injustice
All through the pandemic we've talked about returning to normal. But normal life looks and feels very different if you're in a marginalized group. In the Alan Saunders Memorial Lecture , philosopher Dr Bryan Mukandi says we should seize the opportunity to question the way the world works in order to create a new normal without social and racial inequality.
Jacinda Ardern advocates an independent foreign policy
Many Australians feel a great kinship with New Zealand describing New Zealanders as family who live across the ditch and there’s a large ex-pat community in both countries. Our histories are intertwined and we have similar strategic challenges as Pacific nations. In the face of great power politics, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is determined to pursue an independent foreign policy .
Is Australia ‘sleepwalking’ to war with China?
Defence and security analyst, Hugh White, is concerned Australia may be ‘sleepwalking’ to war with China, because of our alliance with America. He believes the US is unable to constrain a growing China in East Asia, nor win a future war against them over Taiwan. What does all this mean for our regional security, and our relationships with the US & China? Paul Barclay speaks to Hugh White, author of the Quarterly Essay, 'Sleepwalk to War', in which he also criticises the AUKUS nuclear submarine
Can democracy resist the strongmen and citizens assemblies
We love tough guys in movies and it seems the same is true in global politics. From a bare-chested Vladimir Putin to Donald Trump vowing to make America great again the strongman style of political leadership is winning hearts and minds. As an antidote to this authoritarian trend advocates of citizen participation say it strengthens democracy from within and promotes long-term thinking.
Holocaust history under siege
Holocaust history is under siege – in several countries across Eastern Europe, Russia and also Turkey. A new state-sanctioned narrative doesn’t deny the murder of Jews but negates the involvement of the local population, claiming that it was all the Germans alone. Disregarding the historic facts in itself is bad enough, says historian Jan Gabrowski. But this trend forms part of a new ‘national identity’, and that’s for him a truly scary development.
Moderating risk in a risky world
Nothing seems certain anymore. Threats to our security are everywhere – terrorism , floods, fires, pandemics and climate change. And there’s no time to relax. You have to pick yourself up when disaster strikes and then think about how to prepare for the next one. We hear from four specialists who are in the business of moderating all kinds of risk - arson, extremism, climate change and risks in our built environment.
Is Australia ready for a First Nations Voice to Parliament in the constitution?
A new Prime Minister, and a new federal government, has given fresh. momentum to the push for a constitutional enshrined 'Voice to Parliament' for First Nations people. A referendum is expected to be held this term, perhaps as early as next year. Will Australians support it? How will the ‘Voice’ operate, and what could it achieve? What about proposals for a treaty, and truth telling? At a Constitution Day forum, held by the National Archives of Australia, Paul Barclay speaks with 3 First Na
The war in Ukraine builds new momentum for NATO
The war in Ukraine is giving NATO a renewed sense of purpose and urgency, at a time when many were questioning the value of this multinational partnership and predicting its soon demise. The transatlantic alliance is now more important to the international security than it has been for decades. And a big part of the new unity among the member states is the US’s new approach based on consultation and listening.
Do you hold the key to happiness?
Is happiness the natural order of things and, if so, should you be worried if you’re not happy? Psychologist Paul Bloom says that happiness isn’t guaranteed if you only do the things you find instantly easy and pleasurable . He says happiness is on the other side of tough and uncomfortable challenges and experiences. The key is to find meaning and purpose in the challenge.
Foreign correspondents and the news of the world
In a global community it’s more important than ever to understand what’s going on in the rest of the world. Despite instant communication over the internet there's nothing like the considered view of a seasoned foreign correspondent.
They bring you the news from conflict zones, at high powered summits, or the views of ordinary citizens . But are they telling you the stories you want to hear? Who sets the news agenda?
Why too much medical treatment is causing more harm than good
Much of medicine doesn’t do what it is supposed to do: improve health. That is the view of orthopaedic surgeon, Ian Harris. Ian believes too many drugs are being prescribed, too much surgery is being performed, and there are too many unhelpful tests, scans, and overdiagnosis. The 'business' of medicine, he says, is taking precedence over what the science tells us. We should go back to the first principles of the Hippocratic oath and ‘first, do no harm’.
European security, the EU and Ukraine
The European Union has become a focal point for the pushback against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It now has a greater focus on European defence and security with more states wanting to join. Meanwhile the war in Ukraine continues with no diplomatic solution in sight and no-one sure of Russia’s ultimate goal.
Is the tension between science and religion for real?
Science and religion – for some they are strict opposites (and always shall be), for others they are in broad harmony with one another (and always shall be). Religious scholar Nick Spencer explores how science and religion have, do and can relate to one another. And how the connection of the two is shaping the world we live in. It’s a relationship that has very practical implications.
Building trust in workplace AI
Software programs can be a marvellous co-worker and make your life easier. Alternatively, you might feel that an algorithm is now the boss of your working life. Workplace analyst Professor David De Cremer says that organizations too often focus on the technical capabilities of AI rather than understanding how their workers relate to it. Organizations need to build trust and a positive workplace culture to get the best out of artificial intelligence.
What do Australian books and plays tell us about our national identity?
Australian national ‘identity’ has long been contested, as has the narrative of the foundation of Australia. What does the history of Australian literature and theatre tell us about who we are, and how we have changed? Are we now ready to put the history and culture ‘wars’ behind us? This discussion brings together the authors of three books - all of which delve into our cultural history, and our shifting notions of identity and nationhood.
Environmental law to tackle climate change
Without serious action by 2025 the planet is set to warm beyond one and a half degrees. That’s the unequivocal assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. To reach the target, the IPCC says that governments should not approve more fossil fuel projects yet in Australia we continue to do so. A social scientist says our environmental protection laws need to be redesigned to give greater weight to the protection of future generations who’ll face the full impact of climate change.
A life without sex
Is sex really a good thing? It’s one of the most broadly accepted assumptions of society. But a group of people begs to differ. They call themselves Asexuals and insist that no-sex is a distinct sexual identity. What do these contrasting ways of thinking about abstinence tell us about modern sexual anxieties?
The Marshall Plan and the Cold War
Wars cost a punishing amount of money and, after they’re over, there's the cost of reconstruction. Western Europe received a life-saving injection of money under the Marshall Plan following the second world war.
Other countries since , facing the devastation of war , have asked for a similar scheme. The Marshall Plan was successful but also cemented the Cold War rivalry between America and the Soviet Union according to economist Ben Steil.
How to foster innovation and create the next Silicon Valley.
Digital technologies are changing how we live, driving innovation and new industries. Governments are eager to foster Silicon Valley-like innovation hotspots in their state or local region. What role should government play in stimulating new industries? Why do plans for high tech digital ‘hubs’ often not come to fruition?
Why environmentalists and conservationists can be a problem for the environment
Queensland Chief Scientist Hugh Possingham is very annoyed with his fellow scientists as well as environmentalist and conservationists: They are too conservative, don’t debate respectfully, are too obsessed with growing their own organisations and can’t compromise a bit.
Housing stress
If you want an animated conversation in Australia mention first home buyers, investment properties, building costs , interest rates or negative gearing. Home ownership is our national obsession. But as house prices boom, people on low or moderate incomes are pushed further to the margins. They struggle with high rents and face long waiting lists for public housing. And some will experience homelessness. How can we ensure that every Australian has a roof over their head?
Natasha Stott Despoja and the level playing field
There’ve been many shots fired in the gender wars over the last two years most notably the MeToo movement and the outcry over the treatment of women in federal parliament. On the positive side womens sport is on the up and up. So does this mean progress across the board or has the pandemic had an unequal effect on women? Natasha Stott Despoja looks at the on-going struggle for a level playing field.
QANON and internet conspiracy cults
Conspiracy theories are not a new phenomenon, but the internet has turbocharged the dissemination of misinformation and disinformation. A disturbing number of people are now getting sucked into online conspiracy cults. One of the most prominent is QAnon, whose believers think a cabal of Satanic worshipping paedophiles operate a global child sex trafficking ring, and conspired against former U.S. President, Donald Trump. Van Badham spent a year undercover in the online conspiracy community.
Julia Gillard and workplace gender equality
Despite years of campaigning we still don’t have gender equality in the workplace. We have a persistent gender pay gap, not as many women in top management or on company boards and rising childcare costs which act as a disincentive to return to work. Julia Gillard hosts a panel on the buttons we need to push to achieve workplace equality.
Phasing out coal – lessons from Germany
Coal regions around the world are feeling the pinch of the move to renewable energy. What do we owe these regions? Is supporting them a moral reckoning with the trade-offs we have made in building the world we live in? With all the modern conveniences we now enjoy? Big Ideas up next looks to experiences of the coal exit in Germany – and what we can learn from them.
Dynastic rule in the Philippines and Japan's security challenges
The recent election in the Philippines confirmed the power of political families. The president and the vice-president are the children of a former , and current , president. And Japan is promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific as it feels the heat from the the three nuclear armed states on its doorstep.
Kylie Moore-Gilbert on being imprisoned in Iran for 804 days
Australian, Kylie Moore-Gilbert, endured a living nightmare. She was arrested and convicted of espionage in Iran, and then sentenced to 10 years in prison. The charges were baseless; the trial was a sham. Kylie became a pawn in a high stakes geo-political negotiation. How did she survive over 800 days of interrogation, psychological torture, and imprisonment in Iran? What did it take to free her?
The Great Depression and its lasting impact on liberalism
The threat of trade wars that the world faces today can be traced back to the handling of the Great Depression in the 1930s. The response to this crisis was not just based on monetary and financial considerations, but rather on geopolitical and national interests. This remade democratic capitalism and eventually led to embedded liberalism.
The Great Depression and it’s lasting impact on liberalism
The threat of trade wars that the world faces today can be traced back to the handling of the Great Depression in the 1930s. The response to this crisis was not just based on monetary and financial considerations, but rather on geopolitical and national interests. This remade democratic capitalism and eventually led to embedded liberalism.
Social justice and empowering girls
The late Joan Kirner was a social justice campaigner and a successful politician and she’s the inspiration behind an annual lecture. Another former politician, Nicola Roxon, delivers this year’s Joan Kirner Social Justice Oration. And the campaign to educate girls, end female genital mutilation and child marriage in Kenya.
INTRODUCING — Return Ticket
Pack your bags! Come with us on a journey of the mind…to destinations both near and far-flung, the familiar and the unexpected… in search of what the tourist never sees. An armchair travel show that scratches the surface of the world around us.
David Williamson 50 years
David Williamson is our most prolific playwright. His frank and revealing memoir was published last year to mark his five decades as a writer for stage and screen. In that time he's delivered stories about Australian masculinity , identity , sexual politics and power. David Williamson talks to Kerry O'Brien about his life and work.
AI and the rise of smart machines
Artificial Intelligence (AI) will revolutionise medicine, and help to combat climate change. But it also threatens to usher in a new age of automated drone warfare. With smart machines poised to take more decisions out of our hands, how can we ensure these decisions are ethical, moral, and in our interest? Paul Barclay talks to Professor Toby Walsh.
India's two-way bet on Russia and the United States
Tensions with China have caused Australia to think again about other friends in the region. India is now a greater focus both strategically and as a trade partner. But it’s not a straightforward relationship despite our joint membership of the Quad Security Dialogue. India is juggling close ties with both Russia and the US-led western alliance.
Caste oppression in modern India - Living as Dalit
Caste based discrimination and oppression is a daily reality – not only in contemporary India but even in Indian communities in the US and Australia. That’s why journalist Yashica Dutt has hidden her Dalit heritage, the caste of the ‘untouchable’, the ‘impure’ for many years ... until she ‘came out’. In her book
Coming out as Dalit she describes the guild of denying her history and the inequities of the caste system.
Seeing the world by train
If you love overseas travel, and you’re used to jumping on a plane, the pandemic’s been especially trying. International borders opened and closed , airlines reduced flights and quarantine rules could see you stranded in a hotel for two weeks at your own expense. British journalist Monisha Rajesh believes it’s the journey not the destination and as the pandemic gathered steam she decided to tour the world by train.
Reimagining higher education
Universities are not what they used be. Some argue they are now quasi-businesses, competing with one another for market share, and revenue. How have universities drifted from their original mission? Might the covid pandemic, and the climate emergency, trigger a conversation about how we can reimagine higher education? Richard Hil and Kristen Lyons hope so
The genetic lottery
When it comes to understanding human behaviour do you lean towards nature or nurture? Social scientists tend to put more emphasis on the nurture side of the equation. But genetic discoveries have the potential to change the balance in the nature-nurture debate. An American psychologist believes genetics should be understood as another tool in addressing social inequality.
Intelligent life beyond Earth?
Have we recently seen prove of alien life from a distant star? Avi Loeb thinks so,and he is one of Harvard University’s top astronomers. He argues that a strange object sighted in the skies over Hawaii might be an artificial piece of technology created by a civilisation from outside our solar system. What
implications would such a visitation have - for science, for religion, and for the future of our species and our planet?
Editors discuss how the media has covered the election campaign
After a six week election campaign, Australia is off to the polls. Throughout the campaign, the spotlight has not only been on the political aspirants, and the policies of the competing parties and candidates, but also on the performance of the media. In this Editors Election forum, Australia’s top editors to discuss how the media has covered the election campaign.
Male fertility
Women are warned that as they get older their fertility declines. The popular view is that men can father children at any age. But age is also a factor for fertility problems in men. There’s also a pronounced global decline in sperm counts.
Four fertility specialists discuss what men can do to boost their chances of becoming a father.
A Nobel view of covid, climate change and science funding
Two Nobel Laureates discuss the pandemic, climate change and the need to boost science research funding to meet the many challenges we face. Professor Brian Schmidt and Professor Peter Doherty also share personal stories of what it’s like to win the Nobel prize and why they engage in debates on social media.
Being healthy on a sick planet, how climate change impacts health
The impacts of climate change on our health are growing, as surely as global temperatures and sea levels are rising. So how can we strive to live as healthy people on an increasingly sick planet? What are the major ways global warming is threatening human health?
Being healthy on a sick planet, how climate change impacts health
The impacts of climate change on our health are growing, as surely as global temperatures and sea levels are rising. So how can we strive to live as healthy people on an increasingly sick planet? What are the major ways global warming is threatening human health?
Ukraine and the prospect of great power conflict in the Indo-Pacific
China has refused to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and opposed the sanctions imposed by the west. So what are the lessons of Ukraine for China? Will America’s focus on Ukraine encourage China to be more assertive in our region? Or is the protracted war a cautionary tale for the use of force against Taiwan?
A police shooting in Yuendumu
In late 2019, 19 year old Aboriginal man, Kumunjayi Walker, was shot and killed by Northern Territory police constable, Zachary Rolfe, in the remote community of Yuendumu. Rolfe was charged with murder and two alternative offences of manslaughter and engaging in a violent act. In March, Zachary Rolfe was acquitted of all charges. Writer, Anna Krien has been following the story.
Living with Covid
After two years of daily updates on Covid cases , deaths and hospitalisation we’re now in a new stage of the pandemic called ‘living with Covid’. But what exactly does that mean? Since the beginning of the year we’ve had a steep rise in cases and deaths . The Omicron variant isn’t as benign as we like to believe. But who would support a return to masks and home-isolation?
The neuroscience of sleep and its disorders
A good night's sleep is anything but quiet: a myriad of processes occupy our brains, crucial for every aspect of our waking lives. Our increased understanding of the neuroscience of sleep sheds light on why so many of us struggle to simply drift off.
Wild weather and renewables
Weather patterns aren’t following historical trends and we’re seeing record floods and bushfires. A weather forecaster and a storm chaser talk about the science of forecasting and intense weather systems. And making the transition to renewables while protecting the electricity grid and protecting the workers mining lithium for batteries.
Education in Australia ten years after Gonski
Ten years have passed since the landmark Gonski Review found the performance of Australian students had declined, across the board, compared to international benchmarks.
What has happened since Gonski? What makes for a good & equitable education system? Why are so many teachers demoralised and leaving the profession? Paul Barclay spoke to a Finnish education expert, and a former primary school teacher.
City on fire - Hong Kong's 2019 democracy protests
"A battle for Hong Kong's very soul" - what led to the explosion of protest, what events proved to be the tipping point? More importantly, what's next?
Resilience and recovery
The Lismore community is rebuilding physically and psychologically since the catastrophic floods and the prospect of these events happening with greater frequency due to climate change. We also hear from a former refugee about rebuilding her life after a childhood scarred by war and the opportunity of Covid lockdowns to find inner peace.
Empire of pain and political capitalism
Hundreds of thousands of Americans have died from their addiction to opioid drugs. The epidemic has being driven by both illegal and prescribed drugs. Investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe traces the history of one of the prescription drugs which got America hooked. And are we in the age of political capitalism ? Businesses are taking political positions on everything from closing down sweatshops to sanctions against Russia.
Coral tree of life and weeds
If you’ve snorkelled on the Great Barrier Reef you’ll be amazed at the colour of the corals and fish of all kinds. Unless of course you’re snorkelling where climate change is causing coral bleaching. Scientists are racing to classify species and breed climate resilient corals. And how weeds can inspire us to adapt to environmental change.
The CIA interrogator
Ex CIA spy Glenn Carle—'the interrogator'—talks to Paul Barclay about a top secret operation that went dreadfully wrong. An alleged al Qaeda kingpin terrorist was incarcerated for eight years, and subjected to what most of us would call torture, then released without charge, without apology, his life in ruins. All along, without success, Carle tried to convince the CIA they had the wrong man.
The Glasgow Gifford Lectures 4: 'The end of anthropology? What does the future hold for the world languages and culture?'
With over 50% of the world's population living in cities, are we still evolving or are we homogenising? What will our cities, languages and cultures look like 100 years from now?
PRESENTS — The Law Report: How Afghan women judges found safety in Australia
Being shot at, going to prison, have your family threatened — that's the experience of female judges in many countries. Shakila Abawi Shigarf was forced to flee Afghanistan when the Taliban retook power in August 2021. The Australian chapter of the International Association of Women Judges was instrumental in helping 17 Afghan judges escape the danger and secure entry to Australia. Members of the association are now helping the judges settle into their new home. Big Ideas picks up on legal issue
Uyghurs in China
Global brands are under pressure to eliminate products produced by the forced labour of China’s Uyghurs .Human rights groups say they're working in factories which manufacture goods for the technology, clothing and automotive sectors. China denies that the Uyghurs are living in detention centres and working under forced labour conditions but the satellite images tell a different story.
Passchendaele: did hundreds of thousands die in vain?
What are the lessons from one of the most terrible battles of WW1?
Cybercrime
Do you get phone calls warning you that your home computer has a security problem or a text message about a parcel you can’t recall having ordered? Scammers and hackers are using every trick in the book to make the most of digital technology and cyber security is now a growth industry.
The Glasgow Gifford Lectures 3: 'Human tribalism - a curse of our evolutionary past?'
When we've spent 95% of our evolutionary past living in small tribal groups, what's prepared us to live and work in vast metropolises with millions of others?
The Wilderness Myth
As Australia’s population expands wild places shrink. To protect the remaining patches we want to lock it up and keep people out. But what exactly is wilderness? Is it a place untouched by human hands? An indigenous geographer says that what we call wilderness is not nature left to its own devices but the result of thousands of years of indigenous landcare.
The 'nice racism' of progressive white people
We are aware of the impact racism can have on black, Indigenous, and other racialized people. We condemn white supremacy and hate crimes. But what if the most harm to people of colour is caused by white 'progressives'? What if they are the problem, but they are in denial?
Why insects rule the world
How do you feel about insects? You might love bees because they pollinate food crops but not be a fan of mosquitos or the aphids munching their way through your garden. Love them or hate them insects are a vital part of the ecosystem. They outnumber us on the planet by twenty million to one and they feed an army of animals. How can we protect them from habitat loss, climate change and pesticides?
The Glasgow Gifford Lectures 2: 'The evolution of creativity: you're not as clever as you think'
Why are human societies unique among animals for their ability to accumulate knowledge and technologies? Most of us invent nothing, so how have we achieved this while no other species has?
Space race 2.0
Satellites orbiting the earth are put to many uses helping us to navigate, predict the weather and connect to the internet. Not to mention spying on other countries. But it’s getting crowded up there with more rockets , satellites and pieces of space junk and no-one is directing traffic. So who decides the future of space?
Law, social change, and activism
The legal system is far from perfect. How can laws be used, or reformed, to help bring about social change? Can they assist indigenous Australians to protect their cultural and intellectual property, or deliver justice to survivors of sexual violence? What are the limits of class action litigation in contributing to a better future for young Australians about to bear the full brunt of climate change? Three lawyers talk about the power, potential, and limits of the law.
Exploring Mars
After the moon, Mars is the next big thing . So what do we know about Mars and who’s likely to get there first? Spacecraft flying through the atmosphere collect data on Mars chemistry and geography while rovers on the Martian surface act as forward scouts for a human mission. Then there's the tantalizing hope we'll find life.
The Glasgow Gifford Lectures 1: ‘The evolution of language: from speech to culture’
All animals communicate, but only humans have language. Why only us? Why has language been more important to human success than have our genes?
Mortals and the fear of death
Make the most of your life and be at peace with death. Easy to say but hard to do. Death is not a topic we’re encouraged to talk about but its shadow shapes many of the things we do. Can you have a happier life if you let go of death anxiety?
Policy Drift
Whatever happened to visionary politics, big policy ideas, and governments with bold reform agendas? Australia faces a range of daunting challenges, yet Coalition and Labor governments have been in the grip of policy paralysis. That’s the view of public policy experts, Martin Parkinson and John Daley. Why has policy ambition stalled, and what can be done about to address it?
Rethinking our relationship with China
Australia’s relationship with China is at an all-time low. And you’ll be hearing alot about security and defence in the upcoming federal election. As China’s star continues to rise, politicians warn that China is a threat to Australia’s security.
But is that threat exaggerated? Should we step back and see a more complex picture?
Sport or culture? Why not both? Writing about surfing
How do you get to the essence of an activity that is part sport, part leisure, and a large part cultural identity?
Sport or culture? Why not both? Writing about surfing
How do you get to the essence of an activity that is part sport, part leisure, and a large part cultural identity?
Artificial intelligence & the brain
The world is online and so are the criminals. Police are using artificial intelligence to find the needles in criminal haystacks but should there be limits on what they can do? And how neural implants connect to the brain and the power of the nocebo effect. Nocebo is placebo's evil twin.
Artificial intelligence & the brain
The world is online and so are the criminals. Police are using artificial intelligence to find the needles in criminal haystacks but should there be limits on what they can do? And how neural implants connect to the brain and the power of the nocebo effect. Nocebo is placebo's evil twin.
Power, politics, and the AFL’s ‘Boys’ Club’
Illegal drug taking, alleged bullying and harassment, and deliberately losing matches to gain access to prized young recruits. These are some of the scandals that, over the years, have plagued the biggest sporting competition in the country, the AFL – the Australian Football League. But despite these, and other, crises, governance of the 700 million dollar a year competition leaves a lot to be desired. So says investigative journalist, Mick Warner.
Exploring the deep sea
After almost 150 years of exploration and research we understand the sea is deep, dark and definitely different - the earth's last great frontier perhaps - but how much do we know of what's beneath the surface?
Exploring the deep sea
After almost 150 years of exploration and research we understand the sea is deep, dark and definitely different - the earth's last great frontier perhaps - but how much do we know of what's beneath the surface?
Saving food and the history of exercise
At the end of the week does your fridge contain lots of uneaten leftovers and fresh food that’s past its use-by date? Food waste is bad for your budget and dire for greenhouse emissions so how do we reduce it? And the history of exercise from the ancient Greeks to the gym bunnies.
Loving nature and revitalized cities
Is nature as important to you as the human species? Using legal imagination to create a sustainable economy and being a loud and proud nature freak might just be what's needed now. And how do we revitalize city life after the Covid shutdowns?
Is Australia a good international citizen?
Judged by our foreign aid budget, human rights, how we treat refugees, and intransigence on climate change action, Australia’s record as a good international citizen is looking tarnished. So argues former Australian foreign minister, Gareth Evans. He also gives his assessment of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Productivity and innovation in the future
Change is constant in society, even if we can’t see it. So how likely is it we can even begin to predict what the future might look like for productivity and innovation, and do we have the means to do so?
Putin's goals in Ukraine and the western response
The war in Ukraine has galvanized the western world. It’s history writ large. We see the long shadow of the Second World War. The unfinished business of the Cold War. And the dream of unity in the European Union and NATO. Why did Putin invade and what are the possible outcomes?
Can we achieve meaningful reconciliation with First Nations people?
The notion of reconciliation has been discussed in Australian politics for forty years, but are we any closer to achieving a meaningful reconciliation with First Nations people in Australia? How can we possibly move forward if we don't reconcile with our past?
Growing Australia's Cultural Inheritance
Why are arts and culture so important to as Australians? Is it because we are home to the world’s oldest living culture, and the cultural stories and practices of First Nations Australians? The stereotype is that we are a sports obsessed mob but, truth be told, more of us attend art galleries and cultural institutions than go to sporting events. Arts leader, philanthropist, and businessmen, Rupert Myer, outlines how a National Cultural Plan would ensure we increase the value of our cultural in
When will we achieve gender equality?
Australians say they believe in equal opportunity and equality. But is that the reality for women at home and at work ? Three female leaders discuss the roadblocks and the way forward for gender equality. ABC TV also raids the National Gallery collection to discover female artists in The Exhibitionists.
How to fix democracy
Democracy has existed since the Greeks came up with it as a form of government in the 5th Century BC, but as the 21st Century deepens the democratic norms are being challenged, and flaws are being exposed as never before. Is it broken? Can we fix it?
Gross national happiness & female war reporters
Economists use gross domestic product as a measure of progress but increased GDP doesn't guarantee a good life for all. Bhutan adds social, health and environmental factors to the mix to measure gross national happiness. And we hear the story of three trailblazing female war reporters who rewrote the rule book in Vietnam.
Gross national happiness & female war reporters
Economists use gross domestic product as a measure of progress but increased GDP doesn't guarantee a good life for all. Bhutan adds social, health and environmental factors to the mix to measure gross national happiness. And we hear the story of three trailblazing female war reporters who rewrote the rule book in Vietnam.
Electrify everything – a blueprint for decarbonising Australia
By electrifying virtually everything, we can solve the climate change crisis. Electric vehicles, electric heating, electric cooking, a decarbonised grid – all powered by renewables and batteries. This is the future Australia should be pursuing, argues inventor and entrepreneur, Saul Griffith. He says the electric revolution starts in the home, will lead to far cheaper energy costs, as well as creating new jobs, and lucrative new exports.
Corporate social responsibility and ANU after Covid
We’re tempted to buy products and support companies who say they’re looking after the planet but are their claims real or just greenwashing? And how can universities recover after two years of pandemic restrictions on staff and students?
John Button Oration and looking beyond GDP
The 2021 John Button Oration asks what sort of economic future we want to leave for the next generation. How can today’s policymakers better reflect tomorrow’s voices? Plus, what would a sustainable, and human-centred, economy look like? Is changing the system even possible, or is it in the realm of Utopia?
Living a healthy fulfilling life in older age
Research indicates that social connection, spending time with friends, and sharing a meal, are vital ingredients for a healthy life - especially as we age. This is also an antidote to loneliness, which is a major social problem. What else contributes to living well, later in life? How do we continue to live fulfilling lives, into old age?
What do pandemic politics look like?
All aspects of our lives have been changed by Covid, and politics and politicians have felt the tremors too. What is our current relationship like, and what do we want from our government?
Hidden homelessness, revealed by those who've lived it
Some 116,000 people experience homelessness every night in Australia, and that number is expected to grow. What is it like to be homeless? What do those who've been in that awful circumstance think is the answer?
Hidden homelessness, revealed by those who've lived it
Some 116,000 people experience homelessness every night in Australia, and that number is expected to grow. What is it like to be homeless? What do those who've been in that awful circumstance think is the answer?
Crisis in Afghanistan
The crisis in Afghanistan
Six months after the withdrawal of Australian troops from Afghanistan, it is clear the embattled country is in the midst of a major humanitarian crisis.
Millions are at risk of starvation, the economy is on the verge of collapse, and a mood of despair has taken hold.
Is Australia, and the West, doing enough to help struggling Afghans?
Speakers:
Antony Loewenstein - independent journalist; filmmaker; author.
Maryam Zahid - founder and director of Afghan Women on th
Crisis in Afghanistan and Russia Ukraine tension
The crisis in AfghanistanSix months after the withdrawal of Australian troops from Afghanistan, it is clear the embattled country is in the midst of a major humanitarian crisis. Millions are at risk of starvation, the economy is on the verge of collapse, and a mood of despair has taken hold.Is Australia, and the West, doing enough to help struggling Afghans? Speakers:Antony Loewenstein - independent journalist; filmmaker; author. Maryam Zahid - founder and director of Afghan Women on the Move
Museums as an agent of change
When was the last time you visited a museum? Museums are popular with adults and children alike and the multi-media exhibitions make subjects come alive in a unique way. So are museums uniquely suited to communicating complex science and social issues? Could they help us win the war against climate change?
OECD Climate change, tax and market economies
Australia’s been a member of the OECD for the last fifty years. Former federal politician Mathias Corman is now the Secretary General. The OECD’s claim to fame is its comparative analysis on economic and social policy. Australian educators, for example, use OECD benchmarks to measure the effectiveness of our education system. Mathias Cormann talks about the OECD agenda for climate change, multinational tax reform and market economies.
How do we stop coercive control and elder abuse?
Should we criminalise coercive control - an insidious form of domestic violence, used to control, humiliate, and intimidate another person? Women, and older Australians, are often the targets of coercive and controlling behaviour, but it is difficult to prevent and police. Some argue this is because existing laws are inadequate. Would a criminal offence outlawing coercive control make a difference?
COVID in India
India’s struggle to contain the COVID 19 virus made international headlines. ABC South Asia Correspondent James Oaten witnessed the devastating mark the pandemic left on the country firsthand.
Reviewing Australia's monetary policy
The international think tank, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), has called for a wholesale review of monetary policy in Australia, but what should be up for discussion?
BBC Reith Lecture 1: Living With Artificial Intelligence
Professor Stuart Lee's Reith lectures explore the role of Artificial Intelligence and what it means for the way we live our lives. What he says is "the most profound change in human history"
Migrant women and domestic violence
A study examining the safety and security of migrant and refugee women in Australia found one in three of those surveyed experienced some form of domestic and family violence, including coercive and controlling behaviour. This was often exacerbated by insecure visas. Many migrant and refugee women found it difficult to seek help, and there was a lack of trust in the institutions that are meant to assist them
Recycling and sustainable fashion
We can recycle to put materials to new uses not just to replace the original product. We hear how textiles and plastics are repurposed to make building tiles and how the fashion industry is trying to reduce, reuse and recycle. Mass produced clothes currently contribute enormous amounts to landfill and generate pollution in the manufacturing process.
Improving psychiatry and the treatment of mental illness
Australia's mental health system is broken and needs to change. On this, psychiatrists, as well as those with a mental illness, agree. But what needs to be done? Are we pathologizing normal human distress, and prescribing too much medication? Could psychedelic drugs, and therapy, be part of the solution?
Going to court for nature
International negotiations on climate change and biodiversity often put the scientific case behind economic and political interests. So, people increasingly turn to the courts to get justice for the environment. What makes those court cases successful? And what does a new form of environmental justice that connects nature with economic and social rights looks like? The new way of getting just rights for nature is to fall back on the very old legal tradition of Chthonic law.
Online privacy & technology reshaping society
Love it or hate it, technology rules the world. Our social systems and values are bent out of shape by innovative technology. Ideas we used to hold dear like privacy are suddenly negotiable in the online world and tech companies set the rules with governments struggling to catch up. So is it possible to regain control of your data and can governments control disruptive technology?
Online privacy & technology reshaping society
Love it or hate it, technology rules the world. Our social systems and values are bent out of shape by innovative technology. Ideas we used to hold dear like privacy are suddenly negotiable in the online world and tech companies set the rules with governments struggling to catch up. So is it possible to regain control of your data and can governments control disruptive technology?
Joe McCarthy and the politics of fear
Joe McCarthy is the figurehead of the anti-communist crusades of the 1950s-era. Thousands of Americans were investigated as alleged communists and Soviet agents during the 'Red Scare'. McCarthyism became the synonym for hysterical intolerance – and some say it’s prevalent again today. Historian Richard Norton Smith explores the rise of Joe McCarthy and the dangerous legacy he left behind.
How a dispute over land clearing turned deadly
What does a brutal murder tell us about our attitudes to land ownership, farming, and the natural environment? There are laws in Australian limiting the clearing of native vegetation. These laws have long been controversial, and many farmers fiercely oppose them. But none have ever gone as far as farmer Ian Turnbull, who shot and killed environmental compliance officer, Glen Turner.
Paul Barclay speaks with Kate Holden, who tells the story in her book, The Winter Road
Understanding the mind of a compulsive hoarder
You first need to understand the mind of a hoarder before you can tackle the clutter. Randy Frost explains the meaning possessions play in our lives and how and why this can go astray.
Mind-altering medicines and antivirals
Psychedelic drugs were a feature of 1960s counter-culture and the subject of serious medical research from the 1940s onwards. Research was halted after psychedelics were declared dangerous and banned but new research is finding them to be powerful medicine. And, with the coronavirus pandemic in full swing, why are there so few drugs to treat viruses?
Cities 2060
A sea-change or tree change has its appeal but you’re running against a global trend. Over half of the world’s population now live in towns and cities and there’s no sign of it slowing down. It’s a headache for city planners who are trying to keep up with demand. The World Science Festival asked urban planners to imagine the future of Australian cities in 2060.
Hugh MacKay on the "kindness revolution"
Can covid help to create a kinder, better, Australia? Adversity, it has been said, can make us stronger, and pull us together more tightly, as a community. Social psychologist, Hugh MacKay, told Paul Barclay he noticed last year, after the pandemic arrived, that Australians started to become kinder to one another. Hugh is hoping the lessons from the pandemic can trigger a “kindness revolution”.
Achieving change needs hope
Changing the world begins in your own household, with the tree in your street and the bike path in your neighbourhood. Jess Scully has travelled the world, exploring the many ways of reshaping our world into a fairer and more sustainable place. She talks about how you can help. And that’s not only through public protests, but also through actively participating in council community consultations.
How history may yet be the death of us
There’s a famous quote about learning the lessons of history: Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. But perhaps the reverse is also true. Too much memory, too much focus on injustice and grievances, can make us captives of the past . Stan Grant looks at the uses and abuses of history either as a foundation for justice or as a way to promote an endless cycle of revenge and retribution..
Does Starbucks pay enough tax?
Rather than trying to tax corporate profits at the location where value is created, we should tax this income at the destination of sales.
Rick Morton discusses trauma and his Complex PTSD diagnosis
The fallout from one dreadful day when he seven years old, and the realisation his father was incapable of loving him, traumatised writer Rick Morton in a way he’s never truly understood.
Rick discusses his Complex PTSD diagnosis, and how, as a result, he’s decided to live life as he has never lived it before: openly and vulnerably.
Why do we use deception and lies?
What is truth? How has it evolved? And what is its impact anyway? Evolutionary science shows that subtle social manipulation of fellow group members was a key driver of intelligence in the human lineage. And even animals use trickery to their advantage. Big Ideas looks at why we lie and why deception is so widespread in modern public discourse.
Remote work and loneliness
Many of us are working from a home office or the kitchen table . The pandemic has boosted the popularity of remote work but we want to make sure it's good quality work and not lose the benefits of face to face contact with colleagues. One of the downsides is loneliness. Lockdowns and working alone can make you feel disconnected and lonely. Loneliness increases your risk of serious disease and the UK now has a Minster for Loneliness responsible for a government public health campaign.
The psychology of fashion
What we wear reflects who we are, and who we aspire to be. Research suggests the garments we wear can also affect our mental state in positive, and negative, ways. Wearing different clothing changes how we feel, and how others perceive us.
Can fashion really make us feel better about ourselves? A panel of experts at the Queensland Museum discusses.
‘Doc’ Evatt’s great dissenting judgement
What does a dissenting judgement, from High Court in the 1930’s, tell us about a brilliant, but polarising, Australian. HV Evatt, better known as Doc, was an internationally recognised jurist, and a leading politician. Evatt was Australia's youngest ever High Court judge, but remains best known for taking Labor into the political wilderness during the Menzies years. A new, The Brilliant Boy, seeks to set the record straight.
How music boosts learning and well-being
Numeracy and literacy are the core business of Australian schools. But should we add music to that list? Too often in schools music is seen as an optional extra yet research shows that learning to play a musical instrument boosts cognitive development and gives children the edge at school. Music is also a tonic for emotional well being.
How to become a good listener – and why that’s important
Are you a good listener? Unfortunately, not many of us can answer that with a convinced ‘yes’. And that’s even though listening is at the core of every relationship. Losing the ability to listen has profound social, psychological, and neuroscientific impacts. But the good news is: You can learn how to do it – quite easily in fact.
Tobacco endgame and sleep
Are e-cigarettes an effective way to give up tobacco smoking? Health authorities weigh up the pros and cons and acknowledge we need long term studies to be clear about their safety. And sleep experts explain why you should make sleep a priority in your busy life .
Who is to blame for the environmental crisis, and what needs to change?
For too long ordinary people have been singled out - their actions, and consumption habits, blamed for climate change. Instead, we should be pointing the finger at large corporations, and growth-based economics. So believes writer Jeff Sparrow, whose book Crimes Against Nature argues that unless the economic system changes, no amount of recycling, or individual action, is likely to achieve much. He tells Paul Barclay that, despite this, he is optimistic, because he believes collective action
The gender authority gap and leadership
Women are moving up the ladder in business and politics but are they taken as seriously as men? Leadership research says there’s an authority gap between men and women with men seen as naturally better suited for positions of authority.
They’re more likely to be listened to and judged in a positive light. So how do we close the gender authority gap?
The false history of our Christmas traditions – and why we need them
Christmas has always been about riotous feasting and getting drunk – never about renewing your faith. Presents are not really part of a proper Christmas party. Social historian Judith Flanders debunks Christmas myths and traditions and explores how everything you think you know about Christmas is wrong. She even questions whether Christmas ever really existed at all.
Nanotechnology and saving coral reefs
Nanotechnology opens up a world of possibilities from powering mobile phones to nano devices which restore sight, treat chronic disease or turn your roof into a water collector. And faced with the threat of climate change , marine scientists are proposing lateral solutions for coral reefs. The race is on to assist the evolution of corals which are resilient to warming oceans.
Trailblazing doctor Caroline de Costa: champion of women's reproductive rights
Caroline De Costa was the first woman in Australia to become a professor of obstetrics and gynaecology. She has been at the forefront of the political struggle to legalise the medical abortion drug, RU486, in Australia. Caroline has also successfully advocated for the decriminalisation of abortion in Australia. Her memoir is titled The Women's Doc.
Climate friendly food production
As the global population steadily grows and climate change bites, food producers need to do more with less. Less water, less energy, less land, and fewer emissions. To further upset the apple cart , we face an increased number of extreme weather events which will play havoc with harvests and livestock. So how can Australian farmers meet their climate targets and feed the world ?
How to talk through conflict
Every interaction between people follows four styles: Control (the lion), Capitulate (the mouse), Confront (the Tyrannosaur) and Co-operate (the monkey). Forensic psychologists Emily and Laurence Alison have developed a successful model of interpersonal communication. They tell you how to get what you want. And how to talk to anyone in a difficult situation.
The cultural economy after Covid
The value of the arts is often expressed in economic terms. The creative industries create jobs and are a valuable global export. But rather than economics telling us something about the arts, can the arts tell us something about economics? And how to reimagine economics after Covid?
Political leadership and the larrikin myth
Australia has a larrikin tradition, stretching back to Ned Kelly and Henry Lawson. But, is a lot of what passes for larrikinism, a fabrication? Has it been used as a form of class cover: a disguise for those who aren’t genuine larrikins? Has this faux-persona been exploited by political leaders for electoral gain? Paul Barclay asks author Lech Blaine
Motherhood and positivity
As womens’ roles have changed so too have ideas about mothering , its appeal and challenges. Historian Carla Pascoe Leahy charts the way different generations of Australian mothers have responded to their role. From the stay-at-home mums of the post-war era to the contemporary mother trying to balance career and family, becoming a mother has always been a watershed moment in a woman's life..
Citizen science and urban birds
Like other animals birds have adapted to living in cities. Lorikeets, powerful owls, cockatoos , brush turkeys and white ibis are just some of the birds who've learned to live in the suburbs. And to befriend the humans who feed them. Our understanding of urban birds is greatly enhanced by the citizen scientists who observe and record their numbers and behaviour in backyards and neighbourhoods.
Biden's renewed focus on the Indo-Pacific
Soon after entering the White House, President Biden told the world: America is back. That sentence drew a line under his predecessor and summed up his intention to restore America to its leading position in global affairs. And there’s lots to do as he navigates the pandemic, the climate emergency and intense competition with China and Russia. Biden’s National Security Advisor outlines the Biden plan.
The decline of American leadership
The world has entered a post-American era. Some call it the ‘Asian century’. US global leadership is in decline, and Asia is now in the ascendancy. China, in particular, is asserting itself as a global power. So believes Michael Pembroke, who argues in his book, Play By the Rules, that after leading the creation of the post Second World War rules based order, US moral authority has since been diminishing.
Henry Parkes’ fight for a federation
Sir Henry Parkes’ vison for Federation has taken a beating over the last two years. The Father of the Federation has fought for over a decade to convince Australia that a Commonwealth is stronger than a collection of colonies – or states. Big Ideas reflects on the life of Henry Parkes – and what motivated him to help forge Australia into nationhood.
Western Australia’s relationship with the federation
Australia is a federation. But the COVID-sponsored resurgence of the states illustrated how little notice we typically take of our federal contract. On Big Ideas, we look at the history of the Australian Commonwealth and in particular at Western Australia, a state that has often been deemed ‘the Cinderella state of the Australian Federation’.
Polarization and social status
For all our sophistication, deep down , humans are highly evolved social animals And basic instincts continue to shape behaviour in the modern world. In daily life, on social media, in the groups we join, we find our tribe , defend our tribe and seek social status within the tribe.
It’s our greatest strength and our greatest weakness.
War crimes and the Australian SAS
The reputation of Australia’s elite Special Air Service, the SAS, has been seriously undermined by disturbing allegations of war crimes in Afghanistan. The allegations shocked the nation, and led to an Australian Federal Police investigation, and the Brereton inquiry into war crimes. Paul Barclay speaks to ABC journalist and author, Mark Willacy, whose Gold Walkley award winning 4 Corners program included video footage of an illegal killing.
Fair Game: tackling racism in sport
It’s a dream for many young Australians to be a sports star. You win games. Win medals. You’re a hero to the fans. AFL star Adam Goodes had ticked all the boxes when he came up against career-destroying racist abuse. His experience has forced clubs to confront racist attitudes and take affirmative action.
Food: It starts on the farm
Cruel mass production or happy cows on Old MacDonald’s farm - people often have a distorted idea of how agriculture works. It’s a business, yes. And often the price of food doesn’t cover the costs of production, resulting in the exploitation of workers and the environment. But farmers are also in the front line of protecting soil quality and improving water recourses. Our relationship with food impacts farming in
Australia.
Regional communities making the transition to net zero
Ready or not , the goal is net zero carbon emissions by 2050. And Australia will be held to account. As the Glasgow climate talks come to an end , we hear from regional communities about the push to net zero. Where to now for places built around coal and coal-fired power stations?
COVID-19 and cancer
For cancer patients, the COVID-19 pandemic has been an extremely anxious time. Those with weakened immune systems are more likely to pick up COVID-19, and this can cause serious illness, or death. Given the risks, healthcare systems have reorganised cancer services to ensure patients get the care they need, while minimising exposure to COVID-19. But it’s not been without compromise, and research also suggests, the pandemic has contributed to increased psychological distress among cancer patien
Israel - ‘the Jewish State'
What does it mean for Israel to be a Jewish state? This is a much more complicated question than it first seems. The meaning of Jewish sovereignty in Israel revolves around Zionism’s charged relation with its own Jewish roots and Israel’s subsequent unresolved claim to a non-religious Jewish identity. This tension stands at the core of Israeli socio-politics and shapes the politics of the Middle-East at large.
Can business push for ambitious climate targets?
With COP 26 in full swing we hear from some of the big players in Australian business about the push for net zero emissions by 2050. Representatives from BHP, Coles, Fortescue and the Australian Industry Group talk about their plans to reduce emissions.
Will business convince governments that we can reach our climate targets?
Ageing gracefully
How do you hope life will be when you grow old? The majority of Australians will continue to live independently. But if you do have to go into residential care, what should that look like? What do you need for a fulfilling life into old age?
Lessons from the pandemic
Lockdowns are ending, travel and quarantine restrictions are lifting. After nearly two years of the pandemic, life is returning to a kind of normal. Well, ‘covid-normal’, anyway.
But not everyone is celebrating. Covid-19 fatalities, and hospitalisations, are still mounting, and some people remain vulnerable. Paul Barclay speaks with three contributors to the Griffith Review’s “Hey Utopia!” edition about the big questions that remain unresolved. And the toll covid 19 has taken.
Should there be limits on free speech?
The freedom to speak your mind is important in a democracy. But does that mean you should have the right to say anything you like? Social media platforms are now urged to block hate speech and misinformation. Is this fair enough or the death of free speech?
Is trust in science growing?
Opinions trump facts and truth is no longer absolute. Science is under attack in a world where misinformation thrives, fake news can go viral and conspiracy theories are more popular than ever. How have we arrived at this place of mistrust and what can we do to stand up for science? Why should we trust scientists? Or perhaps more tellingly, what does it mean if we can’t?
Cities after the pandemic
When was the last time you went into the centre of your capital city or regional town? Almost every service is now available online or at a big suburban shopping mall. And Covid lockdowns have turned the CBDs into ghost towns. So will the CBD and city lifestyles be the same after the restrictions lift?
Ending gender discrimination in construction
Construction is the second most male dominated industry in Australia, after mining. Sexism persists, and discrimination against women in the workplace is rife. The gender pay gap is over 26%, and growing. Yet the industry faces a skills shortage - a shortage that could be filled by increased female participation. How do we abolish gender bias in the Australian construction industry?
China’s wolf warrior diplomacy
In the past several years China has become more assertive, and its diplomats have again used sharper language — it’s been called ‘wolf warrior diplomacy’ and has a long history. Peter Martin discusses China’s diplomacy today and its impact; describes the motivations behind wolf warrior diplomacy and how diplomats are being rewarded for their aggressive rhetoric and posture.
Hen welfare
Australians consume 17 million eggs every day which is pretty good going for a country of 25 million people. When you buy eggs do you think about those hard-working hens? And does it matter to you if they’re in a cage or out in the paddock?
Future of religion
What is the future of religion? Many see the declining number of ‘traditional believers’ as a clear sign that religion has no future. Others resist any idea that our established religions might adapt to new cultural trends. But religions come and go. Always have and always will. The latest shift of religion is not secularism, but atomisation into individual believes.
Oh, the humanities
The biggest tertiary reforms in decades are taking shape in our universities. Are students attracted to cut-priced STEM courses and rejecting humanities subjects that have doubled in price? Insiders suggest another possibility: cash-strapped universities could create more places in higher fee courses.
Is demography destiny?
How many houses, schools, pensions, and skilled workers will we need in the next decade? The answer to that requires a handle on the size and shape of our population. Demographers give governments a snapshot but the modelling contains guesswork about fertility rates , life expectancy and immigration policy. Could we do more to make Australia an attractive destination for skilled migrants?
The age care sector needs structural reform
Australia’s aged care system needs an overhaul. The Royal Commission into aged care was very clear on that in their report. The government has promised over 17 billion dollars to respond to the commission’s recommendations. But there is much unfinished business.
On Big Ideas, aged care researchers and practitioners point out missed opportunities and how we could do better.
Harmful care
Harmful care might be an oxymoron but that’s how 18-year-old Oceane Campbell experienced the mental health system. She felt blamed and shamed for attempting suicide and had to re-tell her story multiple times. Twenty years on she and her once alienated mother reflect on inter-generational trauma, rape and suicide.
Jung Chang on modern China and Cixi
The Empress Dowager, Cixi, led China for the best part of 50 years, from 1861 till her death in 1908, modernising the then medieval country. She did so at a time when women had no formal mandate to rule. While Cixi was capable of ruthlessness, writer, Jung Chang says the last hundred years have been most unfair to her. Jung Chang discusses Cixi, modern China and her relationship to her homeland.
Ginger Meggs - 100th Anniversary
Ginger Meggs – he is an Australian celebrity. Famous in over 30 countries and entertaining adults and children alike for 100 years now. The cartoon character Ginger Meggs started out as a newspaper strip. But now he has an Instagram account, lives on merchandises and even got a movie. One
has to go with the times, right. Especially, if you want to draw attention for another century.
The future of justice
What can be done about the deepening divisions in society? Individualism is increasing, as is the gap between rich and poor. And, the emphasis on self-made success can further alienate the disadvantaged.
What is Australia doing to help Afghans?
Does Australia have a moral obligation to do more to help Afghanis? It’s unclear how many of the 38-million people of Afghanistan face insecurity, food shortages, service failures and other hardships. Canada has promised 20 000 refugee visas, six times Australia’s initial allocation.
Addiction, drugs and the brain
Marc Lewis took every drug imaginable over a 15-year period. He knows drugs can make you feel good, and he experienced the desperate lows of addiction. He's been drug free for over 30 years and is now a neuroscientist. So, what do the drugs he took actually do to your brain? How is the brain responsible for addiction?
Future medicine
Surgeon Anand Deva saw so many patients with tardily treated skin cancers or chronic wounds that he began trying to change the system. He created clinics where people can access all of their treatment providers on the same day in the same place. It’s called integrated care. And along with genomics and big data, it could be part of Future medicine.
An Iranian perspective on life in Iran
Iran is often synonymous with rogue behaviour on the world stage, but there is also another, rarely seen side to this nation. Iranian American journalist Tara Kangarloub is telling the people’s story, showing what life in Iran is really like – beyond the many times hostile headlines in the mainstream media and optics of foreign policy.
Preventing domestic violence
Australian governments have spent billions of dollars fighting gendered violence. But the grim statistic persists – on average one woman is killed by an intimate partner every week. How many people understand violence sits on a continuum that can start with rigid stereotypes and sexist jokes? How can campaigns against gendered violence be more effective?
Writers discuss the power of words
Words matter, and they have power. If they didn’t, writers and poets wouldn’t be persecuted and imprisoned for what they had written. Around the world, citizens are banned from saying and writing certain things. And we can all think of well-chosen, or well-written, words that have helped inspire and liberate people. Paul Barclay speaks with three prominent Australian writers.
Saving endangered languages
There are around 7000 languages in the world. But about half of them are endangered or nearly extinct. Some languages are spoken only by a handful of people. Like Ongota in Ethopia or Lemerig on Vanuatu. Losing a language also means losing cultural heritage. Find out on Big Ideas, how languages can be revitalised and why historically, there has been a focus on the decline rather than the future of minoritised languages.
US Alliance at 70: Howard Gillard
The recent AUKUS security pact reaffirms Australia’s long held commitment to the United States. They’ve been in a formal alliance since 1951. On the 70th anniversary of the countries’ first Treaty - ANZUS - former Prime Ministers John Howard and Julia Gillard explained why they support it.
What is happiness?
Many of us spend years building up our skills and climbing the career ladder. When we earn more money, does it make us happier? Perhaps the ancient Greeks were right – living a virtuous life is the key to feeling good. What about positive thinking and gratitude, do they work?
Is it time to free Julian Assange?
Australian parliamentarians, from across the party divide, believe it’s time for the United States to stop its pursuit of Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange. Assange remains in a UK prison, despite defeating a US extradition request. If the US appeal succeeds, he faces espionage charges, and the possibility of a long jail term. Should Assange be freed from prison, and the charges against him dropped? What are the free speech implications for journalists, news outlets, and publishers? Do we need
Inclusion equals success
What defines success? Australia’s founding fathers proudly dispossessed Aboriginal inhabitants in the name of nation building. Ben Wyatt argues success is now defined by including indigenous people. He was WA’s Aboriginal Affairs Minister when Rio Tinto destroyed the Juukan caves. Now a board member, the former politician explains how it was allowed to happen.
Can the love hormone treat PTSD?
People who are abused as children can face life-long health and social problems. Many struggle despite cognitive behavioural therapy, anti-depressants and the like. How much faith should we place in the new frontier of psychiatric medicine? The drug more often associated with motherhood – oxytocin – is showing promise in the laboratory. Can the ‘love hormone’ alleviate the impacts of childhood trauma?
Indigenous arts
The arts industry has been slammed by Covid-19, with many thousands of events cancelled and artists out of work. Indigenous art has been particularly affected. Aboriginal directors Wesley Enoch and Rhoda Roberts believe creative expression is so powerful it can help break down racial prejudice. But now, they fear that a generation of indigenous creatives might be left behind.
Anita Heiss on celebrating Aboriginal heroes and learning Wiradjuri
What does the Australian country town of Gundagai make you think of? The statue of the "dog on the tuckerbox"? The old folksong, Along the road to Gundagai? Or do you think of the great flood of 1852 – the deadliest in our history - and the remarkable heroism of two Aboriginal men who saved over 60 people, using their bark canoes. Writer, Anita Heiss, a Wiradjuri woman, talks to Paul Barclay about her new book, Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray, which celebrates unsung Aboriginal heroes, and the Wir
Bobby Rush – and his Blues story
Blues legend Bobby Rush has recorded hundreds of songs, collaborated with the likes of Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters, and headlined music festivals all over the world. At 87, he still tours more than 200 days a year, entertaining audiences with his unique funk-infused blues tunes. But Bobby Rush’s story is not just about music, but also one of racism and pain.
Implications of the September 11 attacks - 20 year's on
At the 20th anniversary of 9/11, Big Ideas looks at how the attacks have reverberated over the past two decades and continue to impact global affairs. What has been the experience of Muslim, and non-Muslim youth growing up during the ‘war on terror’? And how did the attacks influence civil liberties and political polarisation?
Illiberal democracies on the rise
It is no secret that the idea of an open, pluralistic democracy is under stress. It is being challenged by a new form of democracy that has certain closed, nationalistic, and autocratic features - so called "illiberal democracy." Illiberalism is anti-plural; seeks to make distinctions by race and ethnicity; and it uses anti-democratic means to achieve and maintain power. Big Ideas explores the rise of illiberal democracies in Brazil, Hungary and India.
How useful are mindfulness apps?
How effective are mindfulness apps on your smartphone? These apps are increasingly popular, making mindfulness meditation more accessible. Over a hundred million people have the “Calm” app on their phone. It is a two-billion-dollar business. Do these apps help you to “be present”, or improve your mental health? Or are they another digital distraction?
Political football - Part 2
What is the legacy of Australia’s first major racism protests, 50 years ago? The action targeted the touring South African rugby team, not our own national shame. Were Australia’s white anti-apartheid activists aware of Aboriginal disadvantage and disempowerment? And how did Queensland’s harsh state of emergency shape its future?
Political football - Part 1
It's 50 years since one of the darkest periods in Queensland history, when police violently suppressed anti-apartheid protests against South Africa’s touring rugby team. Students, unions and Black Rights activists were among the protestors. This is the first episode in a two-part series discussing the legacy of that tumultuous time.
Pacific matters
At a time when the South Pacific is a focus of geo-political tension, it’s also facing worsening economic and health challenges. There’s rising unemployment, food shortages and girls are being pulled out of schools. The pandemic has smashed tourism – the biggestindustry. Meanwhile, the islands are still recovering from last summer’s extreme cyclone, something forecast to be more common with climate change.
Turning science into solutions
Australia produces world leading scientists, and world class scientific research. But, compared to the United States, the UK, and other countries, we don’t translate enough of our science into solutions or products. Do we lack an entrepreneurial culture? Are universities, and other institutions, doing enough to encourage innovation and industry collaboration? Is covid 19 changing how scientists work, for the better? Paul Barclay speaks to Australia’s Chief Scientist, and two entrepreneurial scie
Has the Black Lives Matter movement changed anything?
Black Lives Matter: Has anything really changed? The protests following the death of George Floyd generated a surprising solidarity against racism in many countries around the world. And BLM became a symbol against the oppression of many different minority groups. But looking at policies, organisations and the general society, experts say that not much has really changed. Governments have used the protests to clamp down on activism and re-define racism in a way that’s not posing a problem to the
Pandemic fatigue
As Covid lockdowns drag on, there’s rising concern about a “shadow pandemic” of stress and mental illness, particularly among young people. Some are struggling with isolation, insecure work and housing and dislocation from higher education. Thirty percent of young people are reporting high or very high levels of psychological distress. Why is the pandemic taking the greatest mental toll on young people, and what can be done about it?
How important is common knowledge?
Do you ever think common knowledge doesn’t seem quite as common anymore? Philosopher, Dr Mike Wilby argues common knowledge is essential for a thriving democracy. But, he says it’s undermined by our increasingly polarised politics and society. It’s a dynamic exploited by populist and divisive leaders…like those of the last century in totalitarian Germany and Russia. So, does the past offer lessons about the importance of common knowledge?
Celebrating soil
Should soil be revered and celebrated? Our food and the air we breathe depend upon an intricate web of billions of healthy soil microbes. They even deliver messages underground between plants. But the best of the dirt beneath us – topsoil – is fast being degraded. Author, farmer and chef Matthew Evans shares his love of soil and growing great food.
Who's afraid of big tech?
We’ve never been so connected, or divided – thanks to the handful of powerful companies that dominate global computation. They bank billions in profit but take little responsibility for disinformation that harms people and democracy. Should they be forced to limit what billions of users can do on their platforms? Who’s afraid of Big Tech? A panel discussion presented by the Sydney Writers’ Festival.
The Northern Ireland conflict – and does religion cause terrorism?
The Troubles that saw Ireland locked in a violent conflict until the late 90s are still shaping community sensitivities today. The even played out in the recent Brexit negotiations. While some of the killings became notorious, many of the more than 3500 individual deaths disappeared into statistics. And - Big Ideas explores: Does religion cause terrorism?
Dog's best friend
It’s well known that pet ownership is surging as we navigate Covid solitude. But our affection goes way back – dogs are even celebrated on ancient rock art. Now some are treated like people, and author Simon Garfield questions whether it’s healthy. This talk is provided by the York Festival of Ideas. The Festival is led by the University of York, UK.
Vaccines, stem cells, and the myth of wellness
Should you have your children vaccinated against coronavirus? Is wellness a myth? What happened to "Holy Grail" of regenerative medicine?
With so much conflicting advice around, how do you know what’s really good for you, health-wise? These matters, and more, are covered in this wide- ranging discussion, featuring some the country’s best health and medical minds.
Travelling to space with Virgin Galactic
If you have $335,000 spare, you could fly to the edge of space next year. Virgin Galactic has recently heralded the start of the era of space tourism. And they are not the only ones. Blue Origin also accomplished their first real space trip. Writer Nicholas Schmidle followed Virgin Galactic's long journey from vision to successful space travel.
Is climate change inaction morally corrupt?
Is climate change inaction and denial about science? Philosopher Stephen Gardiner suggests it can represent moral corruption. To help counter this he proposes making our governments and institutions legally compelled to act for future generations. To achieve momentous change he says we first need a global constitutional convention.
Restraining police restraint
Deaths in custody are a recurring tragedy for many countries, including Australia, the United States and in the United Kingdom. Victims are disproportionately black. They often die after being restrained during a mental health crisis, or while intoxicated. In the UK, barrister Leslie Thomas blames institutional racism for such deaths, and the lack of convictions that follow. We’ll also hear from other experts on how to stop this devastation.
Kenan Malik: a history of morality and ethics.
Throughout the millennia, great thinkers and humble citizens alike have grappled with the idea of what it means to live a moral life - from ancient Greece, to the enlightenment, all the way through to modern times.
Way back, it was the gods, or a singular god, that people looked to for guidance and moral certainty.
But what if you don’t believe in god?
Where do you find your truth then?
How do we navigate the moral and ethical quandaries of today?
Paul Barclay asks Kenan Malik, autho
Kenan Malik: a history of morality and ethics
Throughout the millennia, great thinkers and humble citizens alike have grappled with the idea of what it means to live a moral life - from ancient Greece, to the enlightenment, all the way through to modern times.
Way back, it was the gods, or a singular god, that people looked to for guidance and moral certainty.
But what if you don’t believe in god?
Where do you find your truth then?
How do we navigate the moral and ethical quandaries of today?
Paul Barclay asks Kenan Malik, author of
Atlas of AI
If you’ve booked a Covid vaccination online, it’s likely that artificial intelligence helped find you the nearest and soonest appointment. It’s one of many ways AI makes our lives easier. But it's long been known that AI is also dangerous. So, how can its benefits be better balanced against its harms? AI expert Kate Crawford urges us to look behind the technology. She’s speaking to Fenella Kernebone from Sydney Ideas.
Better economics and the duty to rescue
What economic strategy creates the most jobs? What economic theory is best for society? Economist Tim Thornton says that outdated economics is holding us back, and we must make way for a better theory to re-imagine what our economy and society could look like. AND – the duty to rescue another person in an emergency. The legal responsibility varies enormously from country to county. Where does Australia sit?
The role of witness anonymity
Witnesses giving evidence in court and during inquests from behind a screen and under pseudonym names. Sometimes there are highly sensitive investigative techniques involved, or undercover assets who could be put at risk. But Law Professor Leslie Thomas says it’s too often simply to spare state agents from embarrassment. And that’s not a good enough reason for the families and a treat to open justice.
‘Doc’ Evatt’s great dissenting judgement
What does a dissenting judgement, from High Court in the 1930’s, tell us about a brilliant, but polarising, Australian. HV Evatt, better known as Doc, was an internationally recognised jurist, and a leading politician. Evatt was Australia's youngest ever High Court judge, but remains best known for taking Labor into the political wilderness during the Menzies years. A new, The Brilliant Boy, seeks to set the record straight.
History of Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is not a region characterized by “ancient hatred” as it’s often stated. But why has the region seen so much conflict? Historian John Connelly says it’s a place where people possess a disturbing knowledge: that in the course of history, nations come and go. Some disappear. Therefore, maintaining your culture and language has become a necessity. Big Ideas explores their particular form of nationalism in Eastern Europe.
Covid "iso" and the teen brain
Do you worry about the teenagers in your life? If so, you’re in good company. Socrates, Aristotle and even Shakespeare wrote of the impulsiveness and peer influence of adolescents. Once, hormones were blamed. Now, MRIs tell us their brains haven’t finished developing - in key areas associated with much-maligned teenage behaviour. These include planning, self-awareness, inhibiting inappropriate actions and even understanding other people. So, given the brain changes through adolescence, how might
Food , family and multicultural Australia
Food connects us with family and builds community. For migrants it offers a taste of the old country and an entrée into the new. For indigenous Australians, it’s sixty thousand years of knowledge about bush tucker. We visit two multicultural festivals to discover food and cultural identity.
How a dispute over land clearing turned deadly
What does a brutal murder tell us about our attitudes to land ownership, farming, and the natural environment? There are laws in Australian limiting the clearing of native vegetation. These laws have long been controversial, and many farmers fiercely oppose them. But none have ever gone as far as farmer Ian Turnbull, who shot and killed environmental compliance officer, Glen Turner.
Paul Barclay speaks with Kate Holden, who tells the story in her book, The Winter Road
Health conditions neglected by pandemic focus
Eighteen months of Covid restrictions have bent daily life and the health system out of shape. The pandemic has put other health conditions to one side. Cancer screening, mental health, elective surgery and dental check-ups are delayed or rescheduled. How can we make sure they're not forgotten?
Statistics and COVID-19
Sifting truth from statistical chaff is more important than ever in these times of misinformation and information overload. From numbers on COVID cases and vaccination to numbers on elections and unemployment, the correct interpretation of statistics is crucial to help you understand the world around you. The secret is being open-minded without being gullible, maintaining a healthy scepticism without lapsing into cynicism. Above all, being curious.
Deaths in custody and songlines
Over 470 indigenous Australians have died since the royal commission thirty years ago. Indigenous people over-represented in our criminal justice system. They’re more likely to find themselves in police lock-ups and prisons. And more at risk of dying in custody. Indigenous law professor Larissa Behrendt looks at what’s behind those terrible statistics.
Improving psychiatry and the treatment of mental illness
Australia's mental health system is broken and needs to change. On this, psychiatrists, as well as those with a mental illness, agree. But what needs to be done? Are we pathologizing normal human distress, and prescribing too much medication? Could psychedelic drugs, and therapy, be part of the solution?
Environment as financial investment
The finance industry is turning away from investing in fossil fuels, consumers are forcing businesses to create more sustainable supply chains and preserving nature is being rewarded with cash incentives. Big Ideas explores how the nature of financial investment is changing to better reflect the ecosystem of the planet we live on, and how investing in nature can underpin sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
Learning Asian languages and Mandarin in China
We've been encouraged for decades to learn an Asian language but many of us don't see the need to be bilingual. If we want deep engagement with our Asian neighbours then language learning should be a priority. In China, the government is pushing for the use of the national language Mandarin. While the benefits of a common language are understood minorities fear the loss of local languages and cultural identity.
100 years of the Chinese communist party
The Chinese Communist Party celebrated its centenary recently. In 1921 China was a poor country dominated by foreign powers. One hundred years later it’s an emerging superpower with the party and its leader Xi Jinping tightly in control. So how does President Xi see China’s future?
What makes great teaching and great schools?
Inspired teaching can change lives. What are the ingredients of great teaching, and great schools?
Improving the way we make decisions
If you’re trying to make a decision you collect all the data, weigh up the alternatives and come to a logical conclusion. That’s how it’s supposed to happen. But in real life decisions are made on the run, you follow your intuition or fall back on what you did last time. Psychologist Daniel Kahneman has made a career of understanding how we make decisions and judgements. And how we can be better at it.
Jess Hill-urgent action needed to tackle domestic abuse
The statistics are overwhelming. One woman in four has experienced violence from an intimate partner according to national surveys. And there’s a campaign to introduce laws which deal with the insidious nature of coercive control. Journalist Jess Hill has spent many years investigating domestic violence. She speaks to Kerry O'Brien about our failure to adequately deal with the causes or the crime.
Reasonable robot and AI hype
Artificial intelligence is being applied to almost every activity and profession. So will humans continue to set the standard in skills like surgery or driving cars or will robots be the benchmark? We look at how laws might have to change to judge fault in accidents or in deciding intellectual property rights. And how AI is revolutionizing drug development and diagnostics.
Hugh MacKay on the "kindness revolution"
Can covid help to create a kinder, better, Australia? Adversity, it has been said, can make us stronger, and pull us together more tightly, as a community. Social psychologist, Hugh MacKay, told Paul Barclay he noticed last year, after the pandemic arrived, that Australians started to become kinder to one another. Hugh is hoping the lessons from the pandemic can trigger a “kindness revolution”.
Death penalty - and Captain Moonlite
Whether you are for or against the death penalty, you would at least expect that that decision is based on a sound legal process. But death penalty law expert Marc Bookman reveals the foibles of the system in practice.
And - the true and epic story of Captain Moonlite. He was one of Australia’s most notorious bushrangers and in all probability the first openly gay one.
How history may yet be the death of us
There’s a famous quote about learning the lessons of history: Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. But perhaps the reverse is also true. Too much memory, too much focus on injustice and grievances, can make us captives of the past . Stan Grant looks at the uses and abuses of history either as a foundation for justice or as a way to promote an endless cycle of revenge and retribution..
The rise of e-commerce and conscious consumerism
The pandemic has ruined many businesses. But it has also accelerated the digital transformation of the economy. Despite lockdowns, and covid restrictions, consumers have continued to spend and shop. And online traders have been the beneficiary. However, this has also led to more parcels, more packaging and more waste. What are e-commerce businesses doing to address this?
Uluru, frontier violence, and the Statement from the Heart
Uluru is a spiritual place for indigenous people and it looms large in the national imagination. Historian Mark McKenna uncovered a hidden truth about an infamous frontier killing at Uluru in the 1930’s. Indigenous campaigner, Thomas Mayor, believes the “Statement from the Heart” could only have come from Uluru. Paul Barclay speaks to Mark and Thomas about Uluru, history, truth telling, and the importance of the Uluru statement.
Cities 2060
A sea-change or tree change has its appeal but you’re running against a global trend. Over half of the world’s population now live in towns and cities and there’s no sign of it slowing down. It’s a headache for city planners who are trying to keep up with demand. The World Science Festival asked urban planners to imagine the future of Australian cities in 2060.
How to become a good listener – and why that’s important
Are you a good listener? Unfortunately, not many of us can answer that with a convinced ‘yes’. And that’s even though listening is at the core of every relationship. Losing the ability to listen has profound social, psychological, and neuroscientific impacts. But the good news is: You can learn how to do it – quite easily in fact.
Green electricity
Coal, oil and gas currently drive most of our electricity generation, manufacturing and transport systems. If we’re to achieve zero emissions then green alternatives are vital. And we need green energy at scale. Solar panels on your roof will only go part of the way to producing enough electricity . This discussion, from the World Science Festival, tackles the challenge of making the transition to green energy.
Health for all
The pandemic has opened a window of opportunity for us to "build back better", and create a healthy, sustainable and equitable future, according to public health expert, Dr Sandro Demaio. He says we have a once-in-a-lifetime shot at achieving "health for all". Sandro joins Cassandra Goldie and Professor Sharon Friel for a discussion about health equity.
Why do we use deception and lies?
What is truth? How has it evolved? And what is its impact anyway? Evolutionary science shows that subtle social manipulation of fellow group members was a key driver of intelligence in the human lineage. And even animals use trickery to their advantage. Big Ideas looks at why we lie and why deception is so widespread in modern public discourse.
Not for profits and anthropology in the office
After Covid do we need to invest more in the not-for-profit sector which has demonstrated its vital role in keeping communities together? And a financial journalist puts her anthropology training to good use as she maps the tribal norms which shape how teams operate in different workplaces.
The serious side of the game
Stop playing around and start playing seriously. Our deep drive to play has shaped our cultures and our philosophies, our working lives, and our civilizations since we first started playing. AND – women’s soccer in Australia. Fighting for more equality on and off the field, women's football is a story of community, endurance and success. A celebration of the sport and The Matildas.
The decline of the British Army
Journalist, Simon Akam, investigates the failures of the British Army, including alleged war crimes, in his provocative book, The Changing of the Guard. He examines what has gone wrong with the British Army since 9/11, how it has changed, and what it has learnt from unsuccessful campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The anxiety of parenting and happiness
Modern parents juggle work and home and try to meet high expectations about each child reaching their potential. Two parenting experts talk about the particular demands of raising teenage girls and raising boys with a healthy masculinity. And is striving for personal happiness a worthwhile goal or does trying to be happy all the time create more anxiety?
Going to court for nature
International negotiations on climate change and biodiversity often put the scientific case behind economic and political interests. So, people increasingly turn to the courts to get justice for the environment. What makes those court cases successful? And what does a new form of environmental justice that connects nature with economic and social rights looks like? The new way of getting just rights for nature is to fall back on the very old legal tradition of Chthonic law.
Caste and mission songs
How do different societies decide who is on the top, and who is at the bottom , of the social hierarchy? African American journalist Isabel Wilkerson compares the racial ideology of America’s deep South with Nazi Germany and the caste system in India. And indigenous musician Jessie Lloyd talks about her quest to collect and preserve the songs written by the indigenous Australians moved off country to live on Christian missions, government reserves or on the outskirts of country towns.
The rare metals war
There is a dark side to clean energy and digital technologies Solar panels, wind turbines, mobile phones, and electric cars all depend on rare metals, But there are big problems with how these metals are mined, processed and traded. And there are profound economic and geopolitical impacts resulting from China’s dominance of the rare metals industry.
Revolutionary science of the French Revolution
The French Revolution hasn’t only shaped our political ideologies to this day. It’s also been extremely influence in the field of science. Steve Jones explores the scientific advances made during this time and how they shape modern science. Many French scientists of that time literally devoted their lives to science with many of them being executed – for their new insights as much as for their involvement in politics.
Remote work and loneliness
Many of us are working from a home office or the kitchen table . The pandemic has boosted the popularity of remote work but we want to make sure it's good quality work and not lose the benefits of face to face contact with colleagues. One of the downsides is loneliness. Lockdowns and working alone can make you feel disconnected and lonely. Loneliness increases your risk of serious disease and the UK now has a Minster for Loneliness responsible for a government public health campaign.
Indigenous history and the history of fire
Australian history stretches back 60,000 years but our written history is only 250 years old. Historians are restoring indigenous people to their proper place in the story of Australia but there’s much we still don’t know. An indigenous historian is leading an international team to discover how communities responded to other seafarers who arrived on our shores long before the British. And can indigenous fire management help contain contemporary bushfires?
Can sanctions restore democracy in Myanmar?
Pro-democracy activists are urging Australia to impose sanctions on the military leaders in Myanmar. In February the Myanmar military suspended democratic government. They blocked the National League for Democracy from forming a government despite a landslide election victory. Protests are on-going but can they succeed without tough sanctions from the international community?
Ross Garnaut on economic reform and greening the economy
The Australian economy has taken a big hit from Covid. We’re now on the road to recovery but what should that look like? Is it enough to go back to the way we were or is it time for something different? In these final two Reset Lectures, economist Ross Garnaut says the time is right for major economic reform. He proposes changes to corporate tax, the introduction of a universal basic income scheme and fast tracking the transition to a zero carbon economy.
Ross Garnaut on restoring the economy after the pandemic
Compared to many other countries, the Australian economy is in a better place as far as Covid is concerned. Yet we know uncertain times are ahead. You don’t emerge unscathed from a global shock of this magnitude. Economist Ross Garnaut says now is the time for bold policy to achieve full employment and incomes growth. In the Reset Lectures, he sets out his plan for restoring Australia after the pandemic recession.
Mikhail Gorbachev and the collapse of the Soviet Union
It’s 30 years since the fall of the Iron Curtain and the end of the Soviet Union. Mikhail Gorbachev inherited a country that had many problems but was not on the verge of collapse. Six years later, he ended the Cold War and allowed the break-up of the USSR. What were the social, political and global forces that led this result? And how did the hero of glasnost end up
being regarded a traitor by so many in his home country?
Can we be free in an era of constant surveillance?
By tracking purchasing habits, online retailers can discover a teenager is pregnant, before her parents do. US police are rolling out intrusive surveillance technologies, in the name of crime fighting, with little oversight. Virtually every online activity is subject to some form of surveillance. In real life, too, cameras film us as we walk down the street and enter buildings. Can we be free in an era of constant surveillance?
How human evolution has made us unfit for the modern world
In a modern world of our own making, we find ourselves 'unfit for purpose'. Human evolution that’s created us as an extraordinary functioning species, has at the same time set us up to fail. Big Ideas explores the health and social implications of living a modern-day life in a stone-age body. Many of our current woes like obesity, stress or violence have evolutionary causes.
China-Australia tensions and Taiwan
Australia is on thin ice with China and struggling to rebuild the relationship. We disagree over many issues and China is pushing back against, what it sees , as unfair criticism and hostility to its national interest. So how are Chinese Australians responding to the tensions between the two countries? And how does Taiwan see its future as China restates its commitment to reunification?
Changing minds on climate change
It’s difficult to initiate social change - not only to make people understand that change is needed, but to get them to alter their behaviour and maybe even to get them to give up some things. Two young activists discuss strategies of how to motivate crowds and the power of taking action.
Can crises trigger positive change?
Shelter was found for the homeless, the unemployed were paid a living wage, banks offered loan repayment holidays, and we rediscovered our local communities. The pandemic seemed to have a silver lining. But can a major crisis deliver long term social change? How do we achieve a change in how we think, and act?
Achieving change needs hope
Changing the world begins in your own household, with the tree in your street and the bike path in your neighbourhood. Jess Scully has travelled the world, exploring the many ways of reshaping our world into a fairer and more sustainable place. She talks about how you can help. And that’s not only through public protests, but also through actively participating in council community consultations.
Marshalling the troops for change
It’s difficult to initiate social change - not only to make people understand that change is needed, but to get them to alter their behaviour and maybe even to get them to give up some things. Two young activists discuss strategies of how to motivate crowds and the power of taking action.
Career reinvention and a longer working life
Is a pandemic the right time to change careers or extend your working life? A career change expert talks about the way to reinvent yourself, business analysts discuss career change over an extended working life and gender equity advocates outline the special needs of working women in the economic recovery after the pandemic.
Rick Morton discusses trauma and his Complex PTSD diagnosis
The fallout from one dreadful day when he seven years old, and the realisation his father was incapable of loving him, traumatised writer Rick Morton in a way he’s never truly understood.
Rick discusses his Complex PTSD diagnosis, and how, as a result, he’s decided to live life as he has never lived it before: openly and vulnerably.
The birth of the universe
Following the first light to the dawn of the cosmos. New technology allows us to glimpse more of the earliest beginnings of the universe and with that it helps us to predict the future. Join a constellation of astrophysicists as they explore what the first stars looked like, the nature of dark energy and how the acceleration of the universe might end.
Human trafficking and modern slavery in Asia
Modern slavery takes many forms. There's forced marriage , child labour and workers toiling in sweatshop conditions. Poorly paid workers are often behind the cheap consumer goods we buy and some of those workers will be in bondage to traffickers. Human trafficking is a feature of many global industries and we know that the victims we find are just the tip of the iceberg.
Evil witches – what their role in fairy tales tells us about society
How do you feel about the Evil Queen in Snow White? Yes - she tried to kill her stepdaughter three times, but is she really the villain? The evil witches in fairy tales reflect cultural anxieties and they fight against set norms of society. The aging witch against the virgin beauty – did it ever occur to you that the Evil Queen and Snow White might be the same person?
Voluntary Assisted Dying: how are Victorian laws working?
Victoria was the first state in Australia to legalise Voluntary Assisted Dying. The law came into effect in 2019. Western Australian and Tasmania have now passed similar laws, but they are yet to take effect. After nearly two years of operation in Victoria, how are the laws working, and where is the debate at?
Grace Tame and the campaign against sexual abuse
The extent of sexual abuse in our society has been laid bare in recent months. Survivors of abuse have courageously stepped forward to tell their stories in the media and on social media. One of those people is Australian of the Year, Grace Tame , recognized for her campaign to shine a light on the way we deal with sexual assault. Grace speaks to Kerry O'Brien about her personal experience and her call for a national taskforce to deal with this issue.
The science of stress
Stress is one of the big health and wellbeing problems of modern life. It seems there is no way to escape it: too many work demands, social tensions, juggling all the tasks in your day done, financial pressures - even your leisure time can get too busy. On Big Ideas, three experts explain the science of stress: How our bodies and brains react to it and how we can improve coping with it.
Legacy of the Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was supposed to bring ‘peace without victory’ and end all wars. Far from it, most conflicts of the past century can be traced back to that unprecedented peace conference in Paris. Big Ideas a panel of historians discusses the shortcomings of the Treaty of Versailles and explain how it more or less laid out the roadmap for the 20th century.
Leaving Catholicism
Writer, Monica Dux, grew up a devout Catholic, once telling a high school friend she wanted to be a nun. But, over time, she lost her religion, and eventually became so disillusioned with the Catholic Church she decided to quit. She discovered, “you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave”.
History of the computer
In just over 100 years the computer has come a long way. Early devices were huge, clunky machines; a 1000-word memory was considered a lot; and the capacity of doing 29 equations simultaneously was a break-through. Despite its limitations, a lot of the old technology is still at the basis of today’s ubiquitous high-tech computers. Big Ideas takes you on a journey through the history of the modern computer.
Recycling and sustainable fashion
We can recycle to put materials to new uses not just to replace the original product. We hear how textiles and plastics are repurposed to make building tiles and how the fashion industry is trying to reduce, reuse and recycle. Mass produced clothes currently contribute enormous amounts to landfill and generate pollution in the manufacturing process.
China and its relationship with the US and the world
US president Joe Biden has pledged a reformed approach to China and the United States’ relationship with the outside world. So, what would a changing US-China relationship mean for the rest of the world? And does the US look for more cooperation with Europe on dealings with China? A panel of China and international security experts explores the complex geopolitics connecting America and China.
Alan Finkel on Australia's energy transition
Alan Finkel, Australia's former Chief Scientist, plots a course for moving away from carbon emitting fossil fuels, towards a zero emissions world. Solar, wind, as well as battery storage of renewables, will meet more of energy needs. But the great hope, down the track, is hydrogen power.
Mind-altering medicines and anti-virals
Psychedelic drugs were a feature of 1960s counter-culture and the subject of serious medical research from the 1940s onwards. Research was halted after psychedelics were declared dangerous and banned but new research is finding them to be powerful medicine. And, with the coronavirus pandemic in full swing, why are there so few drugs to treat viruses?
Joe McCarthy and the politics of fear
Joe McCarthy is the figurehead of the anti-communist crusades of the 1950s-era. Thousands of Americans were investigated as alleged communists and Soviet agents during the 'Red Scare'. McCarthyism became the synonym for hysterical intolerance – and some say it’s prevalent again today. Historian Richard Norton Smith explores the rise of Joe McCarthy and the dangerous legacy he left behind.
Workplace Gender Equality
It’s over 50 years since the equal pay decision when the Arbitration Commission endorsed the principle of equal pay for equal work. But 50 years on there’s still a gender pay gap. Despite campaigns for gender equality Australian women earn , on average , 13.4 percent less than men.
So why is there this persistent gap and how can we fix it? The Director of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency wants employers to be agents of change.