A weekly conversation about politics and current events, international affairs, history, art, books, and the natural world, to illuminate the issues faced by society and explore them in new ways.
Dr Emily Millane, Economic Security and Governance Lead at Impact Economics and Policy, speaks in-depth about the history of superannuation policy in Australia, the reluctance of governments to tackle major tax reform, plus…
Canberra-born Alix Biggs speaks to Amy while sheltering from a major air raid conducted by Russia in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. Alix explains what life is like on the ground for everyday Ukrainians subject…
Canberra-born Alix Biggs speaks to Amy while sheltering from a major air raid conducted by Russia in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. Alix explains what life is like on the ground for everyday Ukrainians subject…
Why is philosophy so male-dominated? Did female philosophers exist in ancient times? (Yes.) Dr Dawn LaValle Norman talks about the presence and role of women in ancient philosophical dialogues and her project, The…
Rachel Withers, Contributing Editor to The Monthly and columnist for The Politics chats about the latest in federal politics, including The Voice to Parliament referendum, Labor's proposed amendments to the climate change "safeguard…
Dr Richard Denniss, Executive Director of The Australia Institute, returns to discuss his latest piece in The Monthly on the failures of federal and state COVID-19 policy and Richard tells us what the…
Dr Damian Smith, art historian, curator, and art critic, speaks about a new book he edited, The Geoff Raby Collection of Contemporary Chinese Art (La Trobe University Press). Dr Geoff Raby AO was…
Acclaimed London-based writer Marina Benjamin speaks in-depth about her latest memoir, A Little Give: the unsung, unseen, undone work of women (Scribe). Marina talks about these interlinked essays and verse, in which she…
Professor Andrew Walter from the University of Melbourne stops by to discuss the recent developments in Scotland with the shock resignation of long-serving First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. He also looks at the latest…
Luke Henriques-Gomes, the Guardian Australia's social affairs and inequality editor, speaks in-depth about what have learned from the Robodebt Royal Commission hearings between December 2022 and February 14, in particular the evidence from…
Activist and campaigner Judy Ryan discusses her new book You Talk We Die: The Battle For Victoria’s First Safe Injecting Facility (Scribe Publications). Judy, alongside fellow residents, successfully campaigned for the first safe…
Professor Chris Wallace returns to speak in-depth about her new book, Political Lives: Australian Prime Ministers and Their Biographers. Chris tells Australian political history anew through her account of prime ministers, their biographies…
Amy speaks with Dr Ben Eltham from Monash Uni and Associate Professor Jo Caust from Melbourne Uni as they delve into the details of Australia's new arts and cultural policy, REVIVE. They talk…
Kendrah Morgan, Head Curator at the Heide Museum of Modern Art sits down to speak about the first survey exhibition of modernist sculptor Barbara Hepworth's (1903–1975) work in Australia. Inspired by the landscape…
Acclaimed historian Professor Frank Bongiorno returns for an in-depth conversation about his epic new book, Dreamers and Schemers. It's the first full political history of Australia, presenting a social and cultural history…
Regulars historian Dr Emma Shortis and Professor Andrew Walter sit down with Amy to reflect on the major political trends and developments of 2022 in the US, UK, and global geopolitical flashpoints like…
Historian Dr Meg Foster from the University of Cambridge talks about the fascinating hidden history of Australia's other bushrangers in her book, Boundary Crossers. Meg talks about the bushrangers who didn’t fit into…
Professor Raina Macintyre talks about her new book on pandemics and biosecurity, Dark Winter: An Insider's Guide to Pandemics and Biosecurity. A world-leading epidemiologist and biosecurity expert Raina MacIntyre discusses the dangers of…
Chris Wallace, from the Faculty of Business, Government, and Law at the University of Canberra, reflects on federal politics in 2022, after the last sitting of federal parliament came to a close. Chris…
Professor Brendan Crabb AC, Director and CEO of the Burnet Institute, speaks directly and in-depth about the scientific reality of COVID-19 for everyone in Australia right now. Now in our fourth wave this…
Writer, broadcaster, and musician, Sian Prior joins Amy to discuss her book, Childless, A Story of Freedom and Longing. It's about Sian's seven-year-long quest to become a mother, and how that failure…
Dr Kevin Bonham, psephologist, polling analyst, and political commentator, drops by to discuss the Victorian state election polling figures thus far, the problem with Group Voting Tickets and preference harvesting, and why we…
Russia and international security expert Dr Matthew Sussex gives us clarity on what is happening in Russia's war against Ukraine, the "worldview" of President Putin, the effect of Russia's withdrawal from Kherson on…
Historian Dr Emma Shortis from RMIT's EU Centre of Excellence stops by to talk about the latest in US politics, including the mid-term election results and the summit season currently underway and attended…
Journalist and filmmaker Karl Malakunas speaks in-depth about the volunteer environmental defenders risking their lives on the island of Palawan (Philippines) to save some of the most biodiverse forests and oceans in the…
Professor Chris Wallace from the Faculty of Business, Government, and Law at the University of Canberra, talks about the latest in federal politics, including the Robodebt Royal Commission, Labor's IR Bill, the October…
Amy is joined by Thai cave rescue diver, retired veterinary surgeon, and 2019 Australian of the Year Craig Challen. Craig speaks of his fascinating experiences as a technical cave diver setting records and…
Barkandji researcher and storyteller Zena Cumpston talks about indigenous plant use and the deep cultural significance of plants for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Zena also speaks in-depth about the ongoing effects…
Award-winning climate scientist and writer Dr Joëlle Gergis, delves into her new book, Humanity's Moment: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope. Joëlle is an Australian Lead Author of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on…
Broadcaster and guest columnist for The Politics Jonathan Green talks all things federal politics. Award-winning climate scientist and writer Dr Joëlle Gergis, delves into her new book, Humanity's Moment: A Climate Scientist's Case…
Historians Professor Michelle Arrow and Professor Frank Bongiorno speak about the disturbing new history wars, which have seen several of Australia's national cultural institutions suffer severe cumulative federal funding cuts over decades with…
To mark the Geelong Football Club's 2022 AFL premiership win, we re-aired a special interview with former Vice-President of the Geelong Football Club Bob Gartland and Geelong Gallery Director Jason Smith. They discuss…
Cinematic legend and icon Jean-Luc Godard died at age 91 recently, so it was apt that Dr Andrew McGregor returned to delve deeply into the life and legacy of the revolutionary auteur.
ABC radio host and former Triple R broadcaster Jacinta Parsons joins Amy for an in-depth discussion about her new book, A Question of Age: Women, ageing and the forever self. Jacinta asks, how…
Luke Henriques-Gomes, Guardian Australia's social affairs and inequality editor, speaks about his latest investigative reporting on the welfare system, especially the job services providers who profit from Australia's "mutual obligations" system. ABC radio…
Asia Director of Human Rights Watch (HRW) Elaine Pearson chats about her memoir, aptly titled, Chasing Wrongs and Rights: My Experience Defending Human Rights Around the World. Elaine discusses her early career focusing…
Tim Entwisle, Director and CEO of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and trained phycologist, joins Amy to speak about his life with plants, as detailed in his new book, Evergreen: The Botanical Life…
What's really causing inflation in Australia and will jacking up interest rates fix it? Dr Richard Denniss, Executive Director of The Australia Institute explains Australia's current economic woes and demystifies the confusion and…
What's really causing inflation in Australia and will jacking up interest rates fix it? Dr Richard Denniss, Executive Director of The Australia Institute explains Australia's current economic woes and demystifies the confusion and…
