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.

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 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.

In this year’s CBC Massey lectures, renowned Canadian-American filmmaker, writer, activist, rock musician and self described feral intellectual Astra Taylor explores how our society now runs on 'manufactured’ insecurity — and how we can change it. In her fifth lecture, Escaping the Burrow, Astra Taylor offers hope and solutions to our crisis of security. The experience of insecurity can offer us a path to wisdom — guiding our personal lives and our collective endeavors. 

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, delicately evolved biological clocks erratically speed up or slow down, causing plants and animals to fall out of sync.

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 live in the most prosperous era in human history, but it's also an era of profound insecurity. Why?

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?

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 insecurities it produces, she argues, and makes us all insecure by design. We are living in an era of "manufactured insecurity", says Astra.

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? 

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?

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 that Brisbane balcony join host Natasha Mitchell and other guests at the Brisbane Powerhouse as part of the Portraits of Protest exhibition.

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 hip hop wars of 1990s America, the role of police bias and profiling, and concerns for free speech more broadly.

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.

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.

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 transport emissions by 2030?

Three influential women explore the power, the politics, and the cost of speaking out. 

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.

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?

"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 lived-experience voices are being heard, and are concerned the new laws could criminalise clinicians, carers and parents.

The best of talks, forums, debates, and festivals held in Australia and around the world.

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? 

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… ?

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 feet.

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 Scorched Planet.

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 project and amplify your anxieties. It seems like we all can use a good helping of stoicism.

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.

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.

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.

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 side of the family. The resulting book, Infidelity and Other Affairs asks why some choose restraint, while others choose wild abandon.

The best of talks, forums, debates, and festivals held in Australia and around the world.

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's data.

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's data.

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 mind.

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 multiculturalism of modern Australia, it's prompting a revision of the orientalism embedded in the canon.

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 mission to consider the value of photography amid the dawn of artificial intelligence. 

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 changed for women in STEM?

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 bestselling author Anil Seth and psychologist Olivia Carter are on the case, and join Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 structures that supported the violence of Australian settlement. Join David in dialogue with anthropologist and geographer, Marcia Langton, whose ancestors were murdered by the Native Police.Please note this discussion features distressing discussions of massacres against First Nations Australians. For further assistance, contact the free, 24-hour Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander counselling line 13 YARN (13 92 76). 

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?  

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 November 10, 2023. Note: This is part two of the discussion. Listen to the first part here. Speakers: Monica AttardCo-director of the Centre for Media Transition, UTS, and former ABC broadcaster and foreign correspondentAmy McQuireJournalist, editor, and PhD candidate at the University of QueenslandAntony LowensteinJournalist, film maker, and author, The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports The Technology Of Occupation Around The WorldMartin Newman (moderator)Journalism lecturer and coordinator of media law and ethics, UTS

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 Reporters for Investigative JournalismZahera HarbInternational Journalism Studies Cluster lead, City University, London, former war correspondent Karen PercyFederal Media President, Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, former ABC foreign correspondentAntony LowensteinJournalist, film maker, and author, The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports The Technology Of Occupation Around The WorldMartin Newman (moderator)Journalism lecturer and coordinator of media law and ethics, UTS

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 from persecution by the Taliban. So who will tell the stories of Afghanistan as it was before authoritarian rule? Andrew and Zahra want those stories to be heard by the world. They join Big Ideas' host Natasha Mitchell at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne.

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?

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 Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us, Ed asks how animals can sense this when we can't.

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 survived that time, and how a global coalition worked to set him free.

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.

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. 

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 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. 

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 in conversation with Big Ideas' host Natasha Mitchell at the Athenaeum Theatre in Naarm / Melbourne.

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?

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 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.

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 worldwide. What happened next? And how were lives transformed in the process?

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.  

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 Lecture for the Wheeler Centre, Santilla asks the question: Who gets to write history?

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?  

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.

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 experts in Indigenous health, justice, psychiatry, and oncology are getting cancer care to better respond to the social and cultural determinants of health.

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.

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 revolution that's on our doorstep?

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.

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?

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 Week 2023, Meganne shares her insights and explains why a ride on the 'vomit comet' is a pre-requisite for any budding astronaut.

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.

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 finding itself again.

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.

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.

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 Voice referendum on the ABC News website, or listen to the Voice Referendum Explained podcast with Carly Williams and Fran Kelly. 

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.

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.

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?

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.

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. 

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.

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 journals, which battle chronic funding shortfalls, precarious employment, and patchy digital infrastructure. The report's co-author Catriona Menzies-Pike — an award-winning writer and former editor of the Sydney Review of Books — explains how the report might inform future literary policy.

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. 

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 Natasha Mitchell for a Big Ideas on sex, biology, and baby making.

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?

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, and cites Luna Park as a recent source of Australian inspiration.

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 Anne Summers, as they reveal the inside story behind that reform: what worked, what didn't, and what other campaigners could learn from their methods.

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.

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 its pitch?

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 green steel tells us why we're on the cusp of a recycling revolution.

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 her. Instead, why it was her community that was central to her campaign, and subsequent parliamentary terms.

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. 

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, or which country they live in?

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.

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 Scorched Planet.

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. What does the rise and rise of AI mean for art, its authorship, value, and its central role in what it means to be human? Six whip-smart thinkers join Natasha Mitchell to provoke.

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 hip hop wars of 1990s America, the role of police bias and profiling, and concerns for free speech more broadly.

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?

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 of Asian Australia is lesser-known. The stereotypes of Australia being an outpost of the Anglosphere still lingers, despite generations of Asian-Australian life. So how is this story best told?

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?

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 as Mana Wāhine -- a Māori phrase that refers to women of strength. It's something that was explored in a recent panel where women across the arts, sport and politics came together to reflect on their journeys, and the responsibilities that emerge once you're at the top.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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 side of the family. The resulting book, Infidelity and Other Affairs asks why some choose restraint, while others choose wild abandon.

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. 

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. 

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 directions in foreign policy can the Labor Government define in this moment?

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.

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-streaming, and how the weight of German history continues to inspire.

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 guests — including Kara who took a test — dive into the science, ethics and economics of population DNA screening.

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.

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 women who've experienced IVF from all angles.

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, who were invited to imagine what a just future – built on self-determination – might look like for their communities.

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.

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, they've played for bands including Midnight Oil, Mental as Anything, The Go Betweens, and R.E.M.

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 are there lessons the rest of us can learn from them?

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.

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?

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?

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.

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? 

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.

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… ?

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 culture as a form of holistic medicine.

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.

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 that Brisbane balcony join host Natasha Mitchell and other guests at the Brisbane Powerhouse as part of the Portraits of Protest exhibition.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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?

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?

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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?

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 transport emissions by 2030?

Australia is often described as the most vibrant multicultural nation in the world.  How are our policies and frameworks tracking to support that view?     

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?

Stealing water, smuggling our native species overseas, illegal logging, what are the frameworks to hold perpetrators to account? 

"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 lived-experience voices are being heard, and are concerned the new laws could criminalise clinicians, carers and parents.

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?

There is a deep conversation at all levels, from governments, universities and think tanks on the role of the arts, humanities, and social sciences.

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. 

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?

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.

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 background. Julie Chai is the Founder and CEO of the Asian Leadership Project and in partnership with law firm Clayton Utz, she and her expert panel interrogate the discrepancy. 

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'?

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 feet.

Three influential women explore the power, the politics, and the cost of speaking out. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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?

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.

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?

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 with authoritarian regimes.

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. 

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

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.

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?  

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.  

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 of the festival.

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?

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?

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?

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?

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.

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 project and amplify your anxieties. It seems like we all can use a good helping of stoicism.

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.

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.

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 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?

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.

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? 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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?

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?

The best of talks, forums, debates, and festivals held in Australia and around the world.

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?

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?

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

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?

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

Australians are feeling the pinch of cost of living pressures.

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 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?

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

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?

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.

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?

The best of talks, forums, debates, and festivals held in Australia and around the world.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.  

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 deal, and our strategic and defence planning. Recorded at the Cinema Nova, for Readings bookstore, on June 29, 2022. Originally broadcast on July, 20, 2022. Speaker Hugh White — Emeritus Professor, strategic studies, ANU; principal author, Australia's 2000 Defence White Paper Presenter / producer – Paul Barclay Sound Engineer – David Le May

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 at the Williamstown Literary Festival on June 19, 2022. Originally broadcast on July 6, 2022. Speaker Ian Harris — Sydney based orthopaedic surgeon; Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of NSW; co-author, Hippocrasy

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?

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.

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.

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 Queenscliffe Literary Festival, on May 14, 2022. Originally broadcast on June 8, 2022. Speaker: Dr Kylie Moore-Gilbert — author; Middle East and Islam scholar.

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?

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. 

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?

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 Artificial Intelligence; professor of AI, University of NSW; leads research group at Data61, Australia's Centre of Excellence for ICT Research.

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.

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

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.

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'..

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.

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?  

How do you get to the essence of an activity that is part sport, part leisure, and a large part cultural identity?

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?

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.

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?

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?

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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?

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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?

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 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 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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, Babylonians and Assyrians to breathe new life into the first ghost stories ever written.

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?

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 — Queensland Family and Child Commissioner.   Dr Sharon Bessell – Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU; director, Children's Policy Centre, and Poverty and Inequality Research Centre.   Cath Bartolo – CEO, Youth and Family Services, Logan, SE Queensland.  Paul Barclay - presenter / producer David Le May - sound engineer

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 .  

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 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.

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?

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?

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. 

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?

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.

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.

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.

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? 

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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 . 

'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?

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?  

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. 

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. 

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?

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?

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

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.

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.

What does the future hold for Greece and Turkey? What role can the diaspora play in helping to bridge the divide?

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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..

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.

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?

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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.

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

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.