Big Ideas: Recent Episodes

ABC Radio

Big Ideas brings you the best of talks, forums, debates, and festivals held in Australia and around the world, casting light on the major social, cultural, scientific and political issues

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 has Hip Hop music taken down from online streaming platforms, bans bands from performing in Australia and interferes with visa regulations so that those bands can't travel overseas to perform. Their argument is that Hip Hop is inciting violent and criminal behaviour. But this argument has been dismissed in the US over two decades ago. Osman Faruqi shines a light on parallels to the Hip Hop wars in 1990s 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 audition to be a hobbit in Lord of the Rings.

But what would come later would be a bigger role that would eclipse any of her prior attempts at a life on screen – becoming the world's youngest female leader (and a global media sensation) after an unexpected election victory in 2017.

For many, Jacinda's story channels what people in New Zealand know as 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.

Can we reprogram masculinity to remove its toxic aspects, or should we focus on harm minimization when it comes to gendered violence?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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. 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?

Big Ideas is unable to provide podcast episodes of the 2022 Reith Lectures being broadcast this week from Monday to Thursday.Audio of the four lectures will be available on the Big Ideas website for a limited time only. However, you can listen to the lectures and find transcripts on the BBC website.

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.

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.SpeakerHugh White — Emeritus Professor, strategic studies, ANU; principal author, Australia's 2000 Defence White PaperPresenter / producer – Paul BarclaySound Engineer – David Le May

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.

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'..

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 generationsWriter, 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 programAs 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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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

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 .

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.

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.

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?

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?

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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 .

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?

'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?

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.

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.

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?

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?

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?

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.

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.

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

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.

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?

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.

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.

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?

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?

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?

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.

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..

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?

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.

Indigenous singer-songwriter Archie Roach talks about his life as a child of the stolen generations and how it's shaped his life and music.

Indigenous singer-songwriter Archie Roach talks about his life as a child of the stolen generations and how it's shaped his life and music.

Do you trust scientists or question their independence? Science historian Naomi Oreskes investigates how funding shapes scientific research and how climate science in particular has been misrepresented by fossil industries. She says science needs both public trust and public awareness of the potential use of science to further special interests.

Do you trust scientists or question their independence? Science historian Naomi Oreskes investigates how funding shapes scientific research and how climate science in particular has been misrepresented by fossil industries. She says science needs both public trust and public awareness of the potential use of science to further special interests.

Can Australia better manage international relationships and responsibilities in a changing world? Climate change, human rights abuse or COVID-19 for example require a coordinated international response – a coalition of the willing. But is Australia playing its role? Our country has been labelled a ‘rogue nation’ by some. But how bad is our reputation overseas – really?

All through the pandemic we've talked about returning to normal. But normal life looks and feels very different if you're in a marginalized group. In the Alan Saunders Memorial Lecture , philosopher Dr Bryan Mukandi says we should seize the opportunity to question the way the world works in order to create a new normal without social and racial inequality.

Many Australians feel a great kinship with New Zealand describing New Zealanders as family who live across the ditch and there’s a large ex-pat community in both countries. Our histories are intertwined and we have similar strategic challenges as Pacific nations. In the face of great power politics, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is determined to pursue an independent foreign policy .

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.

We love tough guys in movies and it seems the same is true in global politics. From a bare-chested Vladimir Putin to Donald Trump vowing to make America great again the strongman style of political leadership is winning hearts and minds. As an antidote to this authoritarian trend advocates of citizen participation say it strengthens democracy from within and promotes long-term thinking.

Holocaust history is under siege – in several countries across Eastern Europe, Russia and also Turkey. A new state-sanctioned narrative doesn’t deny the murder of Jews but negates the involvement of the local population, claiming that it was all the Germans alone. Disregarding the historic facts in itself is bad enough, says historian Jan Gabrowski. But this trend forms part of a new ‘national identity’, and that’s for him a truly scary development.

Nothing seems certain anymore. Threats to our security are everywhere – terrorism , floods, fires, pandemics and climate change. And there’s no time to relax. You have to pick yourself up when disaster strikes and then think about how to prepare for the next one. We hear from four specialists who are in the business of moderating all kinds of risk - arson, extremism, climate change and risks in our built environment.

A new Prime Minister, and a new federal government, has given fresh. momentum to the push for a constitutional enshrined 'Voice to Parliament' for First Nations people. A referendum is expected to be held this term, perhaps as early as next year. Will Australians support it? How will the ‘Voice’ operate, and what could it achieve? What about proposals for a treaty, and truth telling? At a Constitution Day forum, held by the National Archives of Australia, Paul Barclay speaks with 3 First Nations Australians

The war in Ukraine is giving NATO a renewed sense of purpose and urgency, at a time when many were questioning the value of this multinational partnership and predicting its soon demise. The transatlantic alliance is now more important to the international security than it has been for decades. And a big part of the new unity among the member states is the US’s new approach based on consultation and listening.

Is happiness the natural order of things and, if so, should you be worried if you’re not happy? Psychologist Paul Bloom says that happiness isn’t guaranteed if you only do the things you find instantly easy and pleasurable . He says happiness is on the other side of tough and uncomfortable challenges and experiences. The key is to find meaning and purpose in the challenge.

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?

Much of medicine doesn’t do what it is supposed to do: improve health. That is the view of orthopaedic surgeon, Ian Harris. Ian believes too many drugs are being prescribed, too much surgery is being performed, and there are too many unhelpful tests, scans, and overdiagnosis. The 'business' of medicine, he says, is taking precedence over what the science tells us. We should go back to the first principles of the Hippocratic oath and ‘first, do no harm’.

The European Union has become a focal point for the pushback against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It now has a greater focus on European defence and security with more states wanting to join. Meanwhile the war in Ukraine continues with no diplomatic solution in sight and no-one sure of Russia’s ultimate goal.

Science and religion – for some they are strict opposites (and always shall be), for others they are in broad harmony with one another (and always shall be). Religious scholar Nick Spencer explores how science and religion have, do and can relate to one another. And how the connection of the two is shaping the world we live in. It’s a relationship that has very practical implications.

Software programs can be a marvellous co-worker and make your life easier. Alternatively, you might feel that an algorithm is now the boss of your working life. Workplace analyst Professor David De Cremer says that organizations too often focus on the technical capabilities of AI rather than understanding how their workers relate to it. Organizations need to build trust and a positive workplace culture to get the best out of artificial intelligence.

Australian national ‘identity’ has long been contested, as has the narrative of the foundation of Australia. What does the history of Australian literature and theatre tell us about who we are, and how we have changed? Are we now ready to put the history and culture ‘wars’ behind us? This discussion brings together the authors of three books - all of which delve into our cultural history, and our shifting notions of identity and nationhood.

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.

Is sex really a good thing? It’s one of the most broadly accepted assumptions of society. But self-proclaimed ‘Asexuals’ beg to differ. They insist that no-sex is a distinct sexual identity. What do these contrasting ways of thinking about abstinence tell us about modern sexual anxieties?

Wars cost a punishing amount of money and, after they’re over, there's the cost of reconstruction. Western Europe received a life-saving injection of money under the Marshall Plan following the second world war.

Other countries since , facing the devastation of war , have asked for a similar scheme. The Marshall Plan was successful but also cemented the Cold War rivalry between America and the Soviet Union according to economist Ben Steil.

Digital technologies are changing how we live, driving innovation and new industries. Governments are eager to foster Silicon Valley-like innovation hotspots in their state or local region. What role should government play in stimulating new industries? Why do plans for high tech digital ‘hubs’ often not come to fruition?

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.

If you want an animated conversation in Australia mention first home buyers, investment properties, building costs , interest rates or negative gearing. Home ownership is our national obsession. But as house prices boom, people on low or moderate incomes are pushed further to the margins. They struggle with high rents and face long waiting lists for public housing. And some will experience homelessness. How can we ensure that every Australian has a roof over their head?

There’ve been many shots fired in the gender wars over the last two years most notably the MeToo movement and the outcry over the treatment of women in federal parliament. On the positive side womens sport is on the up and up. So does this mean progress across the board or has the pandemic had an unequal effect on women? Natasha Stott Despoja looks at the on-going struggle for a level playing field.

Conspiracy theories are not a new phenomenon, but the internet has turbocharged the dissemination of misinformation and disinformation. A disturbing number of people are now getting sucked into online conspiracy cults. One of the most prominent is QAnon, whose believers think a cabal of Satanic worshipping paedophiles operate a global child sex trafficking ring, and conspired against former U.S. President, Donald Trump. Van Badham spent a year undercover in the online conspiracy community.

Despite years of campaigning we still don’t have gender equality in the workplace. We have a persistent gender pay gap, not as many women in top management or on company boards and rising childcare costs which act as a disincentive to return to work. Julia Gillard hosts a panel on the buttons we need to push to achieve workplace equality.

Coal regions around the world are feeling the pinch of the move to renewable energy. What do we owe these regions? Is supporting them a moral reckoning with the trade-offs we have made in building the world we live in? With all the modern conveniences we now enjoy? Big Ideas up next looks to experiences of the coal exit in Germany – and what we can learn from them.

The recent election in the Philippines confirmed the power of political families. The president and the vice-president are the children of a former , and current , president. And Japan is promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific as it feels the heat from the the three nuclear armed states on its doorstep.

Australian, Kylie Moore-Gilbert, endured a living nightmare. She was arrested and convicted of espionage in Iran, and then sentenced to 10 years in prison. The charges were baseless; the trial was a sham. Kylie became a pawn in a high stakes geo-political negotiation. How did she survive over 800 days of interrogation, psychological torture, and imprisonment in Iran? What did it take to free her?

The threat of trade wars that the world faces today can be traced back to the handling of the Great Depression in the 1930s. The response to this crisis was not just based on monetary and financial considerations, but rather on geopolitical and national interests. This remade democratic capitalism and eventually led to embedded liberalism.

The late Joan Kirner was a social justice campaigner and a successful politician and she’s the inspiration behind an annual lecture. Another former politician, Nicola Roxon, delivers this year’s Joan Kirner Social Justice Oration. And the campaign to educate girls, end female genital mutilation and child marriage in Kenya.

Pack your bags! Come with us on a journey of the mind…to destinations both near and far-flung, the familiar and the unexpected… in search of what the tourist never sees. An armchair travel show that scratches the surface of the world around us.

David Williamson is our most prolific playwright. His frank and revealing memoir was published last year to mark his five decades as a writer for stage and screen. In that time he's delivered stories about Australian masculinity , identity , sexual politics and power. David Williamson talks to Kerry O'Brien about his life and work.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) will revolutionise medicine, and help to combat climate change. But it also threatens to usher in a new age of automated drone warfare. With smart machines poised to take more decisions out of our hands, how can we ensure these decisions are ethical, moral, and in our interest? Paul Barclay talks to Professor Toby Walsh.

Tensions with China have caused Australia to think again about other friends in the region. India is now a greater focus both strategically and as a trade partner. But it’s not a straightforward relationship despite our joint membership of the Quad Security Dialogue. India is juggling close ties with both Russia and the US-led western alliance.

Caste based discrimination and oppression is a daily reality – not only in contemporary India but even in Indian communities in the US and Australia. That’s why journalist Yashica Dutt has hidden her Dalit heritage, the caste of the ‘untouchable’, the ‘impure’ for many years ... until she ‘came out’. In her book

Coming out as Dalit she describes the guild of denying her history and the inequities of the caste system.

If you love overseas travel, and you’re used to jumping on a plane, the pandemic’s been especially trying. International borders opened and closed , airlines reduced flights and quarantine rules could see you stranded in a hotel for two weeks at your own expense. British journalist Monisha Rajesh believes it’s the journey not the destination and as the pandemic gathered steam she decided to tour the world by train.

Universities are not what they used be. Some argue they are now quasi-businesses, competing with one another for market share, and revenue. How have universities drifted from their original mission? Might the covid pandemic, and the climate emergency, trigger a conversation about how we can reimagine higher education? Richard Hil and Kristen Lyons hope so

When it comes to understanding human behaviour do you lean towards nature or nurture? Social scientists tend to put more emphasis on the nurture side of the equation. But genetic discoveries have the potential to change the balance in the nature-nurture debate. An American psychologist believes genetics should be understood as another tool in addressing social inequality.

Have we recently seen prove of alien life from a distant star? Avi Loeb thinks so,and he is one of Harvard University’s top astronomers. He argues that a strange object sighted in the skies over Hawaii might be an artificial piece of technology created by a civilisation from outside our solar system. What

implications would such a visitation have - for science, for religion, and for the future of our species and our planet?

After a six week election campaign, Australia is off to the polls. Throughout the campaign, the spotlight has not only been on the political aspirants, and the policies of the competing parties and candidates, but also on the performance of the media. In this Editors Election forum, Australia’s top editors to discuss how the media has covered the election campaign.

Women are warned that as they get older their fertility declines. The popular view is that men can father children at any age. But age is also a factor for fertility problems in men. There’s also a pronounced global decline in sperm counts.

Four fertility specialists discuss what men can do to boost their chances of becoming a father.

Two Nobel Laureates discuss the pandemic, climate change and the need to boost science research funding to meet the many challenges we face. Professor Brian Schmidt and Professor Peter Doherty also share personal stories of what it’s like to win the Nobel prize and why they engage in debates on social media.

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?

China has refused to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and opposed the sanctions imposed by the west. So what are the lessons of Ukraine for China? Will America’s focus on Ukraine encourage China to be more assertive in our region? Or is the protracted war a cautionary tale for the use of force against Taiwan?

In late 2019, 19 year old Aboriginal man, Kumunjayi Walker, was shot and killed by Northern Territory police constable, Zachary Rolfe, in the remote community of Yuendumu. Rolfe was charged with murder and two alternative offences of manslaughter and engaging in a violent act. In March, Zachary Rolfe was acquitted of all charges. Writer, Anna Krien has been following the story.

After two years of daily updates on Covid cases , deaths and hospitalisation we’re now in a new stage of the pandemic called ‘living with Covid’. But what exactly does that mean? Since the beginning of the year we’ve had a steep rise in cases and deaths . The Omicron variant isn’t as benign as we like to believe. But who would support a return to masks and home-isolation?

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.

Weather patterns aren’t following historical trends and we’re seeing record floods and bushfires. A weather forecaster and a storm chaser talk about the science of forecasting and intense weather systems. And making the transition to renewables while protecting the electricity grid and protecting the workers mining lithium for batteries.

Ten years have passed since the landmark Gonski Review found the performance of Australian students had declined, across the board, compared to international benchmarks. What has happened since Gonski? What makes for a good & equitable education system? Why are so many teachers demoralised and leaving the profession? Paul Barclay spoke to a Finnish education expert, and a former primary school teacher.

"A battle for Hong Kong's very soul" - what led to the explosion of protest, what events proved to be the tipping point? More importantly, what's next?

The Lismore community is rebuilding physically and psychologically since the catastrophic floods and the prospect of these events happening with greater frequency due to climate change. We also hear from a former refugee about rebuilding her life after a childhood scarred by war and the opportunity of Covid lockdowns to find inner peace.

Hundreds of thousands of Americans have died from their addiction to opioid drugs. The epidemic has being driven by both illegal and prescribed drugs. Investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe traces the history of one of the prescription drugs which got America hooked. And are we in the age of political capitalism ? Businesses are taking political positions on everything from closing down sweatshops to sanctions against Russia.

Hundreds of thousands of Americans have died from their addiction to opioid drugs. The epidemic has being driven by both illegal and prescribed drugs. Investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe traces the history of one of the prescription drugs which got America hooked. And are we in the age of political capitalism ? Businesses are taking political positions on everything from closing down sweatshops to sanctions against Russia.

If you’ve snorkelled on the Great Barrier Reef you’ll be amazed at the colour of the corals and fish of all kinds. Unless of course you’re snorkelling where climate change is causing coral bleaching. Scientists are racing to classify species and breed climate resilient corals. And how weeds can inspire us to adapt to environmental change.

Ex CIA spy Glenn Carle—'the interrogator'—talks to Paul Barclay about a top secret operation that went dreadfully wrong. An alleged al Qaeda kingpin terrorist was incarcerated for eight years, and subjected to what most of us would call torture, then released without charge, without apology, his life in ruins. All along, without success, Carle tried to convince the CIA they had the wrong man.

With over 50% of the world's population living in cities, are we still evolving or are we homogenising? What will our cities, languages and cultures look like 100 years from now?

Being shot at, going to prison, have your family threatened — that's the experience of female judges in many countries. Shakila Abawi Shigarf was forced to flee Afghanistan when the Taliban retook power in August 2021. The Australian chapter of the International Association of Women Judges was instrumental in helping 17 Afghan judges escape the danger and secure entry to Australia. Members of the association are now helping the judges settle into their new home. Big Ideas picks up on legal issues on regular basis ... and we would like to point you to this two-part series on The Law Report about extraordinary women judges. This is the first episode of 'women in the law'. To hear the second part look for The Law Report on the ABC Listen app.

Global brands are under pressure to eliminate products produced by the forced labour of China’s Uyghurs .Human rights groups say they're working in factories which manufacture goods for the technology, clothing and automotive sectors. China denies that the Uyghurs are living in detention centres and working under forced labour conditions but the satellite images tell a different story.

What are the lessons from one of the most terrible battles of WW1?

Do you get phone calls warning you that your home computer has a security problem or a text message about a parcel you can’t recall having ordered? Scammers and hackers are using every trick in the book to make the most of digital technology and cyber security is now a growth industry.

When we've spent 95% of our evolutionary past living in small tribal groups, what's prepared us to live and work in vast metropolises with millions of others?

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 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?

How do you feel about insects? You might love bees because they pollinate food crops but not be a fan of mosquitos or the aphids munching their way through your garden. Love them or hate them insects are a vital part of the ecosystem. They outnumber us on the planet by twenty million to one and they feed an army of animals. How can we protect them from habitat loss, climate change and pesticides?

Why are human societies unique among animals for their ability to accumulate knowledge and technologies? Most of us invent nothing, so how have we achieved this while no other species has?

Satellites orbiting the earth are put to many uses helping us to navigate, predict the weather and connect to the internet. Not to mention spying on other countries. But it’s getting crowded up there with more rockets , satellites and pieces of space junk and no-one is directing traffic. So who decides the future of space?

The legal system is far from perfect. How can laws be used, or reformed, to help bring about social change? Can they assist indigenous Australians to protect their cultural and intellectual property, or deliver justice to survivors of sexual violence? What are the limits of class action litigation in contributing to a better future for young Australians about to bear the full brunt of climate change? Three lawyers talk about the power, potential, and limits of the law.

After the moon, Mars is the next big thing . So what do we know about Mars and who’s likely to get there first? Spacecraft flying through the atmosphere collect data on Mars chemistry and geography while rovers on the Martian surface act as forward scouts for a human mission. Then there's the tantalizing hope we'll find life.

All animals communicate, but only humans have language. Why only us? Why has language been more important to human success than have our genes?

Make the most of your life and be at peace with death. Easy to say but hard to do. Death is not a topic we’re encouraged to talk about but its shadow shapes many of the things we do. Can you have a happier life if you let go of death anxiety?

Whatever happened to visionary politics, big policy ideas, and governments with bold reform agendas? Australia faces a range of daunting challenges, yet Coalition and Labor governments have been in the grip of policy paralysis. That’s the view of public policy experts, Martin Parkinson and John Daley. Why has policy ambition stalled, and what can be done about to address it?

Australia’s relationship with China is at an all-time low. And you’ll be hearing alot about security and defence in the upcoming federal election. As China’s star continues to rise, politicians warn that China is a threat to Australia’s security.

But is that threat exaggerated? Should we step back and see a more complex picture?

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

The world is online and so are the criminals. Police are using artificial intelligence to find the needles in criminal haystacks but should there be limits on what they can do? And how neural implants connect to the brain and the power of the nocebo effect. Nocebo is placebo's evil twin.

Illegal drug taking, alleged bullying and harassment, and deliberately losing matches to gain access to prized young recruits. These are some of the scandals that, over the years, have plagued the biggest sporting competition in the country, the AFL – the Australian Football League. But despite these, and other, crises, governance of the 700 million dollar a year competition leaves a lot to be desired. So says investigative journalist, Mick Warner.

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?

At the end of the week does your fridge contain lots of uneaten leftovers and fresh food that’s past its use-by date? Food waste is bad for your budget and dire for greenhouse emissions so how do we reduce it? And the history of exercise from the ancient Greeks to the gym bunnies.

Is nature as important to you as the human species? Using legal imagination to create a sustainable economy and being a loud and proud nature freak might just be what's needed now. And how do we revitalize city life after the Covid shutdowns?

Judged by our foreign aid budget, human rights, how we treat refugees, and intransigence on climate change action, Australia’s record as a good international citizen is looking tarnished. So argues former Australian foreign minister, Gareth Evans. He also gives his assessment of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Change is constant in society, even if we can’t see it. So how likely is it we can even begin to predict what the future might look like for productivity and innovation, and do we have the means to do so?

The war in Ukraine has galvanized the western world. It’s history writ large. We see the long shadow of the Second World War. The unfinished business of the Cold War. And the dream of unity in the European Union and NATO. Why did Putin invade and what are the possible outcomes?

The notion of reconciliation has been discussed in Australian politics for forty years, but are we any closer to achieving a meaningful reconciliation with First Nations people in Australia? How can we possibly move forward if we don't reconcile with our past?

Why are arts and culture so important to as Australians? Is it because we are home to the world’s oldest living culture, and the cultural stories and practices of First Nations Australians? The stereotype is that we are a sports obsessed mob but, truth be told, more of us attend art galleries and cultural institutions than go to sporting events. Arts leader, philanthropist, and businessmen, Rupert Myer, outlines how a National Cultural Plan would ensure we increase the value of our cultural inheritance, and nurture our arts and culture sector.

Australians say they believe in equal opportunity and equality. But is that the reality for women at home and at work ? Three female leaders discuss the roadblocks and the way forward for gender equality. ABC TV also raids the National Gallery collection to discover female artists in The Exhibitionists.

Democracy has existed since the Greeks came up with it as a form of government in the 5th Century BC, but as the 21st Century deepens the democratic norms are being challenged, and flaws are being exposed as never before. Is it broken? Can we fix it?

Economists use gross domestic product as a measure of progress but increased GDP doesn't guarantee a good life for all. Bhutan adds social, health and environmental factors to the mix to measure gross national happiness. And we hear the story of three trailblazing female war reporters who rewrote the rule book in Vietnam.

Economists use gross domestic product as a measure of progress but increased GDP doesn't guarantee a good life for all. Bhutan adds social, health and environmental factors to the mix to measure gross national happiness. And we hear the story of three trailblazing female war reporters who rewrote the rule book in Vietnam.

By electrifying virtually everything, we can solve the climate change crisis. Electric vehicles, electric heating, electric cooking, a decarbonised grid – all powered by renewables and batteries. This is the future Australia should be pursuing, argues inventor and entrepreneur, Saul Griffith. He says the electric revolution starts in the home, will lead to far cheaper energy costs, as well as creating new jobs, and lucrative new exports.

By electrifying virtually everything, we can solve the climate change crisis. Electric vehicles, electric heating, electric cooking, a decarbonised grid – all powered by renewables and batteries. This is the future Australia should be pursuing, argues inventor and entrepreneur, Saul Griffith. He says the electric revolution starts in the home, will lead to far cheaper energy costs, as well as creating new jobs, and lucrative new exports.

We’re tempted to buy products and support companies who say they’re looking after the planet but are their claims real or just greenwashing? And how can universities recover after two years of pandemic restrictions on staff and students?

We’re tempted to buy products and support companies who say they’re looking after the planet but are their claims real or just greenwashing? And how can universities recover after two years of pandemic restrictions on staff and students?

The 2021 John Button Oration asks what sort of economic future we want to leave for the next generation. How can today’s policymakers better reflect tomorrow’s voices? Plus, what would a sustainable, and human-centred, economy look like? Is changing the system even possible, or is it in the realm of Utopia?

The 2021 John Button Oration asks what sort of economic future we want to leave for the next generation. How can today’s policymakers better reflect tomorrow’s voices? Plus, what would a sustainable, and human-centred, economy look like? Is changing the system even possible, or is it in the realm of Utopia?

Research indicates that social connection, spending time with friends, and sharing a meal, are vital ingredients for a healthy life - especially as we age. This is also an antidote to loneliness, which is a major social problem. What else contributes to living well, later in life? How do we continue to live fulfilling lives, into old age?

Research indicates that social connection, spending time with friends, and sharing a meal, are vital ingredients for a healthy life - especially as we age. This is also an antidote to loneliness, which is a major social problem. What else contributes to living well, later in life? How do we continue to live fulfilling lives, into old age?

All aspects of our lives have been changed by Covid, and politics and politicians have felt the tremors too. What is our current relationship like, and what do we want from our government?

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?

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?

The crisis in Afghanistan Six months after the withdrawal of Australian troops from Afghanistan, it is clear the embattled country is in the midst of a major humanitarian crisis. Millions are at risk of starvation, the economy is on the verge of collapse, and a mood of despair has taken hold. Is Australia, and the West, doing enough to help struggling Afghans? Speakers: Antony Loewenstein - independent journalist; filmmaker; author. Maryam Zahid - founder and director of Afghan Women on the Move; Afghan refugee.

The crisis in Afghanistan Six months after the withdrawal of Australian troops from Afghanistan, it is clear the embattled country is in the midst of a major humanitarian crisis. Millions are at risk of starvation, the economy is on the verge of collapse, and a mood of despair has taken hold. Is Australia, and the West, doing enough to help struggling Afghans? Speakers: Antony Loewenstein - independent journalist; filmmaker; author. Maryam Zahid - founder and director of Afghan Women on the Move; Afghan refugee.

The crisis in Afghanistan Six months after the withdrawal of Australian troops from Afghanistan, it is clear the embattled country is in the midst of a major humanitarian crisis. Millions are at risk of starvation, the economy is on the verge of collapse, and a mood of despair has taken hold. Is Australia, and the West, doing enough to help struggling Afghans? Speakers: Antony Loewenstein - independent journalist; filmmaker; author. Maryam Zahid - founder and director of Afghan Women on the Move; Afghan refugee.

When was the last time you visited a museum? Museums are popular with adults and children alike and the multi-media exhibitions make subjects come alive in a unique way. So are museums uniquely suited to communicating complex science and social issues? Could they help us win the war against climate change?

When was the last time you visited a museum? Museums are popular with adults and children alike and the multi-media exhibitions make subjects come alive in a unique way. So are museums uniquely suited to communicating complex science and social issues? Could they help us win the war against climate change?

Australia’s been a member of the OECD for the last fifty years. Former federal politician Mathias Corman is now the Secretary General. The OECD’s claim to fame is its comparative analysis on economic and social policy. Australian educators, for example, use OECD benchmarks to measure the effectiveness of our education system. Mathias Cormann talks about the OECD agenda for climate change, multinational tax reform and market economies.

Australia’s been a member of the OECD for the last fifty years. Former federal politician Mathias Corman is now the Secretary General. The OECD’s claim to fame is its comparative analysis on economic and social policy. Australian educators, for example, use OECD benchmarks to measure the effectiveness of our education system. Mathias Cormann talks about the OECD agenda for climate change, multinational tax reform and market economies.

Should we criminalise coercive control - an insidious form of domestic violence, used to control, humiliate, and intimidate another person? Women, and older Australians, are often the targets of coercive and controlling behaviour, but it is difficult to prevent and police. Some argue this is because existing laws are inadequate. Would a criminal offence outlawing coercive control make a difference?

India’s struggle to contain the COVID 19 virus made international headlines. ABC South Asia Correspondent James Oaten witnessed the devastating mark the pandemic left on the country firsthand.

The international think tank, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), has called for a wholesale review of monetary policy in Australia, but what should be up for discussion?

A study examining the safety and security of migrant and refugee women in Australia found one in three of those surveyed experienced some form of domestic and family violence, including coercive and controlling behaviour. This was often exacerbated by insecure visas. Many migrant and refugee women found it difficult to seek help, and there was a lack of trust in the institutions that are meant to assist them

We can recycle to put materials to new uses not just to replace the original product. We hear how textiles and plastics are repurposed to make building tiles and how the fashion industry is trying to reduce, reuse and recycle. Mass produced clothes currently contribute enormous amounts to landfill and generate pollution in the manufacturing process.

Australia's mental health system is broken and needs to change. On this, psychiatrists, as well as those with a mental illness, agree. But what needs to be done? Are we pathologizing normal human distress, and prescribing too much medication? Could psychedelic drugs, and therapy, be part of the solution?

International negotiations on climate change and biodiversity often put the scientific case behind economic and political interests. So, people increasingly turn to the courts to get justice for the environment. What makes those court cases successful? And what does a new form of environmental justice that connects nature with economic and social rights looks like? The new way of getting just rights for nature is to fall back on the very old legal tradition of Chthonic law.

Love it or hate it, technology rules the world. Our social systems and values are bent out of shape by innovative technology. Ideas we used to hold dear like privacy are suddenly negotiable in the online world and tech companies set the rules with governments struggling to catch up. So is it possible to regain control of your data and can governments control disruptive technology?

Joe McCarthy is the figurehead of the anti-communist crusades of the 1950s-era. Thousands of Americans were investigated as alleged communists and Soviet agents during the 'Red Scare'. McCarthyism became the synonym for hysterical intolerance – and some say it’s prevalent again today. Historian Richard Norton Smith explores the rise of Joe McCarthy and the dangerous legacy he left behind.

What does a brutal murder tell us about our attitudes to land ownership, farming, and the natural environment? There are laws in Australian limiting the clearing of native vegetation. These laws have long been controversial, and many farmers fiercely oppose them. But none have ever gone as far as farmer Ian Turnbull, who shot and killed environmental compliance officer, Glen Turner.

Paul Barclay speaks with Kate Holden, who tells the story in her book, The Winter Road

You first need to understand the mind of a hoarder before you can tackle the clutter. Randy Frost explains the meaning possessions play in our lives and how and why this can go astray.

Psychedelic drugs were a feature of 1960s counter-culture and the subject of serious medical research from the 1940s onwards. Research was halted after psychedelics were declared dangerous and banned but new research is finding them to be powerful medicine. And, with the coronavirus pandemic in full swing, why are there so few drugs to treat viruses?

A sea-change or tree change has its appeal but you’re running against a global trend. Over half of the world’s population now live in towns and cities and there’s no sign of it slowing down. It’s a headache for city planners who are trying to keep up with demand. The World Science Festival asked urban planners to imagine the future of Australian cities in 2060.

Can covid help to create a kinder, better, Australia? Adversity, it has been said, can make us stronger, and pull us together more tightly, as a community. Social psychologist, Hugh MacKay, told Paul Barclay he noticed last year, after the pandemic arrived, that Australians started to become kinder to one another. Hugh is hoping the lessons from the pandemic can trigger a “kindness revolution”.

Changing the world begins in your own household, with the tree in your street and the bike path in your neighbourhood. Jess Scully has travelled the world, exploring the many ways of reshaping our world into a fairer and more sustainable place. She talks about how you can help. And that’s not only through public protests, but also through actively participating in council community consultations.

There’s a famous quote about learning the lessons of history: Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. But perhaps the reverse is also true. Too much memory, too much focus on injustice and grievances, can make us captives of the past . Stan Grant looks at the uses and abuses of history either as a foundation for justice or as a way to promote an endless cycle of revenge and retribution..

Rather than trying to tax corporate profits at the location where value is created, we should tax this income at the destination of sales.

The fallout from one dreadful day when he seven years old, and the realisation his father was incapable of loving him, traumatised writer Rick Morton in a way he’s never truly understood.

Rick discusses his Complex PTSD diagnosis, and how, as a result, he’s decided to live life as he has never lived it before: openly and vulnerably.

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.

Many of us are working from a home office or the kitchen table . The pandemic has boosted the popularity of remote work but we want to make sure it's good quality work and not lose the benefits of face to face contact with colleagues. One of the downsides is loneliness. Lockdowns and working alone can make you feel disconnected and lonely. Loneliness increases your risk of serious disease and the UK now has a Minster for Loneliness responsible for a government public health campaign.

What we wear reflects who we are, and who we aspire to be. Research suggests the garments we wear can also affect our mental state in positive, and negative, ways. Wearing different clothing changes how we feel, and how others perceive us.

Can fashion really make us feel better about ourselves? A panel of experts at the Queensland Museum discusses.

What does a dissenting judgement, from High Court in the 1930’s, tell us about a brilliant, but polarising, Australian. HV Evatt, better known as Doc, was an internationally recognised jurist, and a leading politician. Evatt was Australia's youngest ever High Court judge, but remains best known for taking Labor into the political wilderness during the Menzies years. A new, The Brilliant Boy, seeks to set the record straight.

Numeracy and literacy are the core business of Australian schools. But should we add music to that list? Too often in schools music is seen as an optional extra yet research shows that learning to play a musical instrument boosts cognitive development and gives children the edge at school. Music is also a tonic for emotional well being.

Are you a good listener? Unfortunately, not many of us can answer that with a convinced ‘yes’. And that’s even though listening is at the core of every relationship. Losing the ability to listen has profound social, psychological, and neuroscientific impacts. But the good news is: You can learn how to do it – quite easily in fact.

Are e-cigarettes an effective way to give up tobacco smoking? Health authorities weigh up the pros and cons and acknowledge we need long term studies to be clear about their safety. And sleep experts explain why you should make sleep a priority in your busy life .

For too long ordinary people have been singled out - their actions, and consumption habits, blamed for climate change. Instead, we should be pointing the finger at large corporations, and growth-based economics. So believes writer Jeff Sparrow, whose book Crimes Against Nature argues that unless the economic system changes, no amount of recycling, or individual action, is likely to achieve much. He tells Paul Barclay that, despite this, he is optimistic, because he believes collective action can bring about real change.

Women are moving up the ladder in business and politics but are they taken as seriously as men? Leadership research says there’s an authority gap between men and women with men seen as naturally better suited for positions of authority.

They’re more likely to be listened to and judged in a positive light. So how do we close the gender authority gap?

Christmas has always been about riotous feasting and getting drunk – never about renewing your faith. Presents are not really part of a proper Christmas party. Social historian Judith Flanders debunks Christmas myths and traditions and explores how everything you think you know about Christmas is wrong. She even questions whether Christmas ever really existed at all.

Nanotechnology opens up a world of possibilities from powering mobile phones to nano devices which restore sight, treat chronic disease or turn your roof into a water collector. And faced with the threat of climate change , marine scientists are proposing lateral solutions for coral reefs. The race is on to assist the evolution of corals which are resilient to warming oceans.

Caroline De Costa was the first woman in Australia to become a professor of obstetrics and gynaecology. She has been at the forefront of the political struggle to legalise the medical abortion drug, RU486, in Australia. Caroline has also successfully advocated for the decriminalisation of abortion in Australia. Her memoir is titled The Women's Doc.

As the global population steadily grows and climate change bites, food producers need to do more with less. Less water, less energy, less land, and fewer emissions. To further upset the apple cart , we face an increased number of extreme weather events which will play havoc with harvests and livestock. So how can Australian farmers meet their climate targets and feed the world ?

Every interaction between people follows four styles: Control (the lion), Capitulate (the mouse), Confront (the Tyrannosaur) and Co-operate (the monkey). Forensic psychologists Emily and Laurence Alison have developed a successful model of interpersonal communication. They tell you how to get what you want. And how to talk to anyone in a difficult situation.

The value of the arts is often expressed in economic terms. The creative industries create jobs and are a valuable global export. But rather than economics telling us something about the arts, can the arts tell us something about economics? And how to reimagine economics after Covid?

Australia has a larrikin tradition, stretching back to Ned Kelly and Henry Lawson. But, is a lot of what passes for larrikinism, a fabrication? Has it been used as a form of class cover: a disguise for those who aren’t genuine larrikins? Has this faux-persona been exploited by political leaders for electoral gain? Paul Barclay asks author Lech Blaine

As womens’ roles have changed so too have ideas about mothering , its appeal and challenges. Historian Carla Pascoe Leahy charts the way different generations of Australian mothers have responded to their role. From the stay-at-home mums of the post-war era to the contemporary mother trying to balance career and family, becoming a mother has always been a watershed moment in a woman's life..

Like other animals birds have adapted to living in cities. Lorikeets, powerful owls, cockatoos , brush turkeys and white ibis are just some of the birds who've learned to live in the suburbs. And to befriend the humans who feed them. Our understanding of urban birds is greatly enhanced by the citizen scientists who observe and record their numbers and behaviour in backyards and neighbourhoods.

Soon after entering the White House, President Biden told the world: America is back. That sentence drew a line under his predecessor and summed up his intention to restore America to its leading position in global affairs. And there’s lots to do as he navigates the pandemic, the climate emergency and intense competition with China and Russia. Biden’s National Security Advisor outlines the Biden plan.

The world has entered a post-American era. Some call it the ‘Asian century’. US global leadership is in decline, and Asia is now in the ascendancy. China, in particular, is asserting itself as a global power. So believes Michael Pembroke, who argues in his book, Play By the Rules, that after leading the creation of the post Second World War rules based order, US moral authority has since been diminishing.

Sir Henry Parkes’ vison for Federation has taken a beating over the last two years. The Father of the Federation has fought for over a decade to convince Australia that a Commonwealth is stronger than a collection of colonies – or states. Big Ideas reflects on the life of Henry Parkes – and what motivated him to help forge Australia into nationhood.

Australia is a federation. But the COVID-sponsored resurgence of the states illustrated how little notice we typically take of our federal contract. On Big Ideas, we look at the history of the Australian Commonwealth and in particular at Western Australia, a state that has often been deemed ‘the Cinderella state of the Australian Federation’.

For all our sophistication, deep down , humans are highly evolved social animals And basic instincts continue to shape behaviour in the modern world. In daily life, on social media, in the groups we join, we find our tribe , defend our tribe and seek social status within the tribe.

It’s our greatest strength and our greatest weakness.

The reputation of Australia’s elite Special Air Service, the SAS, has been seriously undermined by disturbing allegations of war crimes in Afghanistan. The allegations shocked the nation, and led to an Australian Federal Police investigation, and the Brereton inquiry into war crimes. Paul Barclay speaks to ABC journalist and author, Mark Willacy, whose Gold Walkley award winning 4 Corners program included video footage of an illegal killing.

It’s a dream for many young Australians to be a sports star. You win games. Win medals. You’re a hero to the fans. AFL star Adam Goodes had ticked all the boxes when he came up against career-destroying racist abuse. His experience has forced clubs to confront racist attitudes and take affirmative action.

Cruel mass production or happy cows on Old MacDonald’s farm - people often have a distorted idea of how agriculture works. It’s a business, yes. And often the price of food doesn’t cover the costs of production, resulting in the exploitation of workers and the environment. But farmers are also in the front line of protecting soil quality and improving water recourses. Our relationship with food impacts farming in

Australia.

Ready or not , the goal is net zero carbon emissions by 2050. And Australia will be held to account. As the Glasgow climate talks come to an end , we hear from regional communities about the push to net zero. Where to now for places built around coal and coal-fired power stations?

For cancer patients, the COVID-19 pandemic has been an extremely anxious time. Those with weakened immune systems are more likely to pick up COVID-19, and this can cause serious illness, or death. Given the risks, healthcare systems have reorganised cancer services to ensure patients get the care they need, while minimising exposure to COVID-19. But it’s not been without compromise, and research also suggests, the pandemic has contributed to increased psychological distress among cancer patients.

What does it mean for Israel to be a Jewish state? This is a much more complicated question than it first seems. The meaning of Jewish sovereignty in Israel revolves around Zionism’s charged relation with its own Jewish roots and Israel’s subsequent unresolved claim to a non-religious Jewish identity. This tension stands at the core of Israeli socio-politics and shapes the politics of the Middle-East at large.

With COP 26 in full swing we hear from some of the big players in Australian business about the push for net zero emissions by 2050. Representatives from BHP, Coles, Fortescue and the Australian Industry Group talk about their plans to reduce emissions.

Will business convince governments that we can reach our climate targets?

How do you hope life will be when you grow old? The majority of Australians will continue to live independently. But if you do have to go into residential care, what should that look like? What do you need for a fulfilling life into old age?

Lockdowns are ending, travel and quarantine restrictions are lifting. After nearly two years of the pandemic, life is returning to a kind of normal. Well, ‘covid-normal’, anyway.

But not everyone is celebrating. Covid-19 fatalities, and hospitalisations, are still mounting, and some people remain vulnerable. Paul Barclay speaks with three contributors to the Griffith Review’s “Hey Utopia!” edition about the big questions that remain unresolved. And the toll covid 19 has taken.

The freedom to speak your mind is important in a democracy. But does that mean you should have the right to say anything you like? Social media platforms are now urged to block hate speech and misinformation. Is this fair enough or the death of free speech?

Opinions trump facts and truth is no longer absolute. Science is under attack in a world where misinformation thrives, fake news can go viral and conspiracy theories are more popular than ever. How have we arrived at this place of mistrust and what can we do to stand up for science? Why should we trust scientists? Or perhaps more tellingly, what does it mean if we can’t?

When was the last time you went into the centre of your capital city or regional town? Almost every service is now available online or at a big suburban shopping mall. And Covid lockdowns have turned the CBDs into ghost towns. So will the CBD and city lifestyles be the same after the restrictions lift?

Construction is the second most male dominated industry in Australia, after mining. Sexism persists, and discrimination against women in the workplace is rife. The gender pay gap is over 26%, and growing. Yet the industry faces a skills shortage - a shortage that could be filled by increased female participation. How do we abolish gender bias in the Australian construction industry?

In the past several years China has become more assertive, and its diplomats have again used sharper language — it’s been called ‘wolf warrior diplomacy’ and has a long history. Peter Martin discusses China’s diplomacy today and its impact; describes the motivations behind wolf warrior diplomacy and how diplomats are being rewarded for their aggressive rhetoric and posture.

Australians consume 17 million eggs every day which is pretty good going for a country of 25 million people. When you buy eggs do you think about those hard-working hens? And does it matter to you if they’re in a cage or out in the paddock?

What is the future of religion? Many see the declining number of ‘traditional believers’ as a clear sign that religion has no future. Others resist any idea that our established religions might adapt to new cultural trends. But religions come and go. Always have and always will. The latest shift of religion is not secularism, but atomisation into individual believes.

The biggest tertiary reforms in decades are taking shape in our universities. Are students attracted to cut-priced STEM courses and rejecting humanities subjects that have doubled in price? Insiders suggest another possibility: cash-strapped universities could create more places in higher fee courses.

How many houses, schools, pensions, and skilled workers will we need in the next decade? The answer to that requires a handle on the size and shape of our population. Demographers give governments a snapshot but the modelling contains guesswork about fertility rates , life expectancy and immigration policy. Could we do more to make Australia an attractive destination for skilled migrants?

Australia’s aged care system needs an overhaul. The Royal Commission into aged care was very clear on that in their report. The government has promised over 17 billion dollars to respond to the commission’s recommendations. But there is much unfinished business.

On Big Ideas, aged care researchers and practitioners point out missed opportunities and how we could do better.

Harmful care might be an oxymoron but that’s how 18-year-old Oceane Campbell experienced the mental health system. She felt blamed and shamed for attempting suicide and had to re-tell her story multiple times. Twenty years on she and her once alienated mother reflect on inter-generational trauma, rape and suicide.

The Empress Dowager, Cixi, led China for the best part of 50 years, from 1861 till her death in 1908, modernising the then medieval country. She did so at a time when women had no formal mandate to rule. While Cixi was capable of ruthlessness, writer, Jung Chang says the last hundred years have been most unfair to her. Jung Chang discusses Cixi, modern China and her relationship to her homeland.

Ginger Meggs – he is an Australian celebrity. Famous in over 30 countries and entertaining adults and children alike for 100 years now. The cartoon character Ginger Meggs started out as a newspaper strip. But now he has an Instagram account, lives on merchandises and even got a movie. One

has to go with the times, right. Especially, if you want to draw attention for another century.

What can be done about the deepening divisions in society? Individualism is increasing, as is the gap between rich and poor. And, the emphasis on self-made success can further alienate the disadvantaged.

Does Australia have a moral obligation to do more to help Afghanis? It’s unclear how many of the 38-million people of Afghanistan face insecurity, food shortages, service failures and other hardships. Canada has promised 20 000 refugee visas, six times Australia’s initial allocation.

Marc Lewis took every drug imaginable over a 15-year period. He knows drugs can make you feel good, and he experienced the desperate lows of addiction. He's been drug free for over 30 years and is now a neuroscientist. So, what do the drugs he took actually do to your brain? How is the brain responsible for addiction?

Surgeon Anand Deva saw so many patients with tardily treated skin cancers or chronic wounds that he began trying to change the system. He created clinics where people can access all of their treatment providers on the same day in the same place. It’s called integrated care. And along with genomics and big data, it could be part of Future medicine.

Iran is often synonymous with rogue behaviour on the world stage, but there is also another, rarely seen side to this nation. Iranian American journalist Tara Kangarloub is telling the people’s story, showing what life in Iran is really like – beyond the many times hostile headlines in the mainstream media and optics of foreign policy.

Australian governments have spent billions of dollars fighting gendered violence. But the grim statistic persists – on average one woman is killed by an intimate partner every week. How many people understand violence sits on a continuum that can start with rigid stereotypes and sexist jokes? How can campaigns against gendered violence be more effective?

Words matter, and they have power. If they didn’t, writers and poets wouldn’t be persecuted and imprisoned for what they had written. Around the world, citizens are banned from saying and writing certain things. And we can all think of well-chosen, or well-written, words that have helped inspire and liberate people. Paul Barclay speaks with three prominent Australian writers.

There are around 7000 languages in the world. But about half of them are endangered or nearly extinct. Some languages are spoken only by a handful of people. Like Ongota in Ethopia or Lemerig on Vanuatu. Losing a language also means losing cultural heritage. Find out on Big Ideas, how languages can be revitalised and why historically, there has been a focus on the decline rather than the future of minoritised languages.

The recent AUKUS security pact reaffirms Australia’s long held commitment to the United States. They’ve been in a formal alliance since 1951. On the 70th anniversary of the countries’ first Treaty - ANZUS - former Prime Ministers John Howard and Julia Gillard explained why they support it.

Many of us spend years building up our skills and climbing the career ladder. When we earn more money, does it make us happier? Perhaps the ancient Greeks were right – living a virtuous life is the key to feeling good. What about positive thinking and gratitude, do they work?

Australian parliamentarians, from across the party divide, believe it’s time for the United States to stop its pursuit of Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange. Assange remains in a UK prison, despite defeating a US extradition request. If the US appeal succeeds, he faces espionage charges, and the possibility of a long jail term. Should Assange be freed from prison, and the charges against him dropped? What are the free speech implications for journalists, news outlets, and publishers? Do we need additional protections for whistle-blowers and the media?

What defines success? Australia’s founding fathers proudly dispossessed Aboriginal inhabitants in the name of nation building. Ben Wyatt argues success is now defined by including indigenous people. He was WA’s Aboriginal Affairs Minister when Rio Tinto destroyed the Juukan caves. Now a board member, the former politician explains how it was allowed to happen.

People who are abused as children can face life-long health and social problems. Many struggle despite cognitive behavioural therapy, anti-depressants and the like. How much faith should we place in the new frontier of psychiatric medicine? The drug more often associated with motherhood – oxytocin – is showing promise in the laboratory. Can the ‘love hormone’ alleviate the impacts of childhood trauma?

The arts industry has been slammed by Covid-19, with many thousands of events cancelled and artists out of work. Indigenous art has been particularly affected. Aboriginal directors Wesley Enoch and Rhoda Roberts believe creative expression is so powerful it can help break down racial prejudice. But now, they fear that a generation of indigenous creatives might be left behind.

What does the Australian country town of Gundagai make you think of? The statue of the "dog on the tuckerbox"? The old folksong, Along the road to Gundagai? Or do you think of the great flood of 1852 – the deadliest in our history - and the remarkable heroism of two Aboriginal men who saved over 60 people, using their bark canoes. Writer, Anita Heiss, a Wiradjuri woman, talks to Paul Barclay about her new book, Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray, which celebrates unsung Aboriginal heroes, and the Wiradjuri language.

Blues legend Bobby Rush has recorded hundreds of songs, collaborated with the likes of Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters, and headlined music festivals all over the world. At 87, he still tours more than 200 days a year, entertaining audiences with his unique funk-infused blues tunes. But Bobby Rush’s story is not just about music, but also one of racism and pain.

At the 20th anniversary of 9/11, Big Ideas looks at how the attacks have reverberated over the past two decades and continue to impact global affairs. What has been the experience of Muslim, and non-Muslim youth growing up during the ‘war on terror’? And how did the attacks influence civil liberties and political polarisation?

It is no secret that the idea of an open, pluralistic democracy is under stress. It is being challenged by a new form of democracy that has certain closed, nationalistic, and autocratic features - so called "illiberal democracy." Illiberalism is anti-plural; seeks to make distinctions by race and ethnicity; and it uses anti-democratic means to achieve and maintain power. Big Ideas explores the rise of illiberal democracies in Brazil, Hungary and India.

How effective are mindfulness apps on your smartphone? These apps are increasingly popular, making mindfulness meditation more accessible. Over a hundred million people have the “Calm” app on their phone. It is a two-billion-dollar business. Do these apps help you to “be present”, or improve your mental health? Or are they another digital distraction?

What is the legacy of Australia’s first major racism protests, 50 years ago? The action targeted the touring South African rugby team, not our own national shame. Were Australia’s white anti-apartheid activists aware of Aboriginal disadvantage and disempowerment? And how did Queensland’s harsh state of emergency shape its future?

It's 50 years since one of the darkest periods in Queensland history, when police violently suppressed anti-apartheid protests against South Africa’s touring rugby team. Students, unions and Black Rights activists were among the protestors. This is the first episode in a two-part series discussing the legacy of that tumultuous time.

At a time when the South Pacific is a focus of geo-political tension, it’s also facing worsening economic and health challenges. There’s rising unemployment, food shortages and girls are being pulled out of schools. The pandemic has smashed tourism – the biggestindustry. Meanwhile, the islands are still recovering from last summer’s extreme cyclone, something forecast to be more common with climate change.

Australia produces world leading scientists, and world class scientific research. But, compared to the United States, the UK, and other countries, we don’t translate enough of our science into solutions or products. Do we lack an entrepreneurial culture? Are universities, and other institutions, doing enough to encourage innovation and industry collaboration? Is covid 19 changing how scientists work, for the better? Paul Barclay speaks to Australia’s Chief Scientist, and two entrepreneurial scientists

Black Lives Matter: Has anything really changed? The protests following the death of George Floyd generated a surprising solidarity against racism in many countries around the world. And BLM became a symbol against the oppression of many different minority groups. But looking at policies, organisations and the general society, experts say that not much has really changed. Governments have used the protests to clamp down on activism and re-define racism in a way that’s not posing a problem to them.

As Covid lockdowns drag on, there’s rising concern about a “shadow pandemic” of stress and mental illness, particularly among young people. Some are struggling with isolation, insecure work and housing and dislocation from higher education. Thirty percent of young people are reporting high or very high levels of psychological distress. Why is the pandemic taking the greatest mental toll on young people, and what can be done about it?

Do you ever think common knowledge doesn’t seem quite as common anymore? Philosopher, Dr Mike Wilby argues common knowledge is essential for a thriving democracy. But, he says it’s undermined by our increasingly polarised politics and society. It’s a dynamic exploited by populist and divisive leaders…like those of the last century in totalitarian Germany and Russia. So, does the past offer lessons about the importance of common knowledge?

Should soil be revered and celebrated? Our food and the air we breathe depend upon an intricate web of billions of healthy soil microbes. They even deliver messages underground between plants. But the best of the dirt beneath us – topsoil – is fast being degraded. Author, farmer and chef Matthew Evans shares his love of soil and growing great food.

We’ve never been so connected, or divided – thanks to the handful of powerful companies that dominate global computation. They bank billions in profit but take little responsibility for disinformation that harms people and democracy. Should they be forced to limit what billions of users can do on their platforms? Who’s afraid of Big Tech? A panel discussion presented by the Sydney Writers’ Festival.

The Troubles that saw Ireland locked in a violent conflict until the late 90s are still shaping community sensitivities today. The even played out in the recent Brexit negotiations. While some of the killings became notorious, many of the more than 3500 individual deaths disappeared into statistics. And - Big Ideas explores: Does religion cause terrorism?

It’s well known that pet ownership is surging as we navigate Covid solitude. But our affection goes way back – dogs are even celebrated on ancient rock art. Now some are treated like people, and author Simon Garfield questions whether it’s healthy. This talk is provided by the York Festival of Ideas. The Festival is led by the University of York, UK.

Should you have your children vaccinated against coronavirus? Is wellness a myth? What happened to "Holy Grail" of regenerative medicine?

With so much conflicting advice around, how do you know what’s really good for you, health-wise? These matters, and more, are covered in this wide- ranging discussion, featuring some the country’s best health and medical minds.

If you have $335,000 spare, you could fly to the edge of space next year. Virgin Galactic has recently heralded the start of the era of space tourism. And they are not the only ones. Blue Origin also accomplished their first real space trip. Writer Nicholas Schmidle followed Virgin Galactic's long journey from vision to successful space travel.

Is climate change inaction and denial about science? Philosopher Stephen Gardiner suggests it can represent moral corruption. To help counter this he proposes making our governments and institutions legally compelled to act for future generations. To achieve momentous change he says we first need a global constitutional convention.

Deaths in custody are a recurring tragedy for many countries, including Australia, the United States and in the United Kingdom. Victims are disproportionately black. They often die after being restrained during a mental health crisis, or while intoxicated. In the UK, barrister Leslie Thomas blames institutional racism for such deaths, and the lack of convictions that follow. We’ll also hear from other experts on how to stop this devastation.

Throughout the millennia, great thinkers and humble citizens alike have grappled with the idea of what it means to live a moral life - from ancient Greece, to the enlightenment, all the way through to modern times.

Way back, it was the gods, or a singular god, that people looked to for guidance and moral certainty.

But what if you don’t believe in god?

Where do you find your truth then?

How do we navigate the moral and ethical quandaries of today?

Paul Barclay asks Kenan Malik, author of "The Quest for a Moral Compass".

Recorded at the Bendigo Writers Festival on August 13, 2017

If you’ve booked a Covid vaccination online, it’s likely that artificial intelligence helped find you the nearest and soonest appointment. It’s one of many ways AI makes our lives easier. But it's long been known that AI is also dangerous. So, how can its benefits be better balanced against its harms? AI expert Kate Crawford urges us to look behind the technology. She’s speaking to Fenella Kernebone from Sydney Ideas.

What economic strategy creates the most jobs? What economic theory is best for society? Economist Tim Thornton says that outdated economics is holding us back, and we must make way for a better theory to re-imagine what our economy and society could look like. AND – the duty to rescue another person in an emergency. The legal responsibility varies enormously from country to county. Where does Australia sit?

Witnesses giving evidence in court and during inquests from behind a screen and under pseudonym names. Sometimes there are highly sensitive investigative techniques involved, or undercover assets who could be put at risk. But Law Professor Leslie Thomas says it’s too often simply to spare state agents from embarrassment. And that’s not a good enough reason for the families and a treat to open justice.

What does a dissenting judgement, from High Court in the 1930’s, tell us about a brilliant, but polarising, Australian. HV Evatt, better known as Doc, was an internationally recognised jurist, and a leading politician. Evatt was Australia's youngest ever High Court judge, but remains best known for taking Labor into the political wilderness during the Menzies years. A new, The Brilliant Boy, seeks to set the record straight.

Eastern Europe is not a region characterized by “ancient hatred” as it’s often stated. But why has the region seen so much conflict? Historian John Connelly says it’s a place where people possess a disturbing knowledge: that in the course of history, nations come and go. Some disappear. Therefore, maintaining your culture and language has become a necessity. Big Ideas explores their particular form of nationalism in Eastern Europe.

Do you worry about the teenagers in your life? If so, you’re in good company. Socrates, Aristotle and even Shakespeare wrote of the impulsiveness and peer influence of adolescents. Once, hormones were blamed. Now, MRIs tell us their brains haven’t finished developing - in key areas associated with much-maligned teenage behaviour. These include planning, self-awareness, inhibiting inappropriate actions and even understanding other people. So, given the brain changes through adolescence, how might the pandemic impact its development, along with teenage mental health?

Food connects us with family and builds community. For migrants it offers a taste of the old country and an entrée into the new. For indigenous Australians, it’s sixty thousand years of knowledge about bush tucker. We visit two multicultural festivals to discover food and cultural identity.

What does a brutal murder tell us about our attitudes to land ownership, farming, and the natural environment? There are laws in Australian limiting the clearing of native vegetation. These laws have long been controversial, and many farmers fiercely oppose them. But none have ever gone as far as farmer Ian Turnbull, who shot and killed environmental compliance officer, Glen Turner.

Paul Barclay speaks with Kate Holden, who tells the story in her book, The Winter Road

Eighteen months of Covid restrictions have bent daily life and the health system out of shape. The pandemic has put other health conditions to one side. Cancer screening, mental health, elective surgery and dental check-ups are delayed or rescheduled. How can we make sure they're not forgotten?

Sifting truth from statistical chaff is more important than ever in these times of misinformation and information overload. From numbers on COVID cases and vaccination to numbers on elections and unemployment, the correct interpretation of statistics is crucial to help you understand the world around you. The secret is being open-minded without being gullible, maintaining a healthy scepticism without lapsing into cynicism. Above all, being curious.

Over 470 indigenous Australians have died since the royal commission thirty years ago. Indigenous people over-represented in our criminal justice system. They’re more likely to find themselves in police lock-ups and prisons. And more at risk of dying in custody. Indigenous law professor Larissa Behrendt looks at what’s behind those terrible statistics.

Australia's mental health system is broken and needs to change. On this, psychiatrists, as well as those with a mental illness, agree. But what needs to be done? Are we pathologizing normal human distress, and prescribing too much medication? Could psychedelic drugs, and therapy, be part of the solution?

The finance industry is turning away from investing in fossil fuels, consumers are forcing businesses to create more sustainable supply chains and preserving nature is being rewarded with cash incentives. Big Ideas explores how the nature of financial investment is changing to better reflect the ecosystem of the planet we live on, and how investing in nature can underpin sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

We've been encouraged for decades to learn an Asian language but many of us don't see the need to be bilingual. If we want deep engagement with our Asian neighbours then language learning should be a priority. In China, the government is pushing for the use of the national language Mandarin. While the benefits of a common language are understood minorities fear the loss of local languages and cultural identity.

The Chinese Communist Party celebrated its centenary recently. In 1921 China was a poor country dominated by foreign powers. One hundred years later it’s an emerging superpower with the party and its leader Xi Jinping tightly in control. So how does President Xi see China’s future?

Inspired teaching can change lives. What are the ingredients of great teaching, and great schools?

If you’re trying to make a decision you collect all the data, weigh up the alternatives and come to a logical conclusion. That’s how it’s supposed to happen. But in real life decisions are made on the run, you follow your intuition or fall back on what you did last time. Psychologist Daniel Kahneman has made a career of understanding how we make decisions and judgements. And how we can be better at it.

The statistics are overwhelming. One woman in four has experienced violence from an intimate partner according to national surveys. And there’s a campaign to introduce laws which deal with the insidious nature of coercive control. Journalist Jess Hill has spent many years investigating domestic violence. She speaks to Kerry O'Brien about our failure to adequately deal with the causes or the crime.

Artificial intelligence is being applied to almost every activity and profession. So will humans continue to set the standard in skills like surgery or driving cars or will robots be the benchmark? We look at how laws might have to change to judge fault in accidents or in deciding intellectual property rights. And how AI is revolutionizing drug development and diagnostics.

Can covid help to create a kinder, better, Australia? Adversity, it has been said, can make us stronger, and pull us together more tightly, as a community. Social psychologist, Hugh MacKay, told Paul Barclay he noticed last year, after the pandemic arrived, that Australians started to become kinder to one another. Hugh is hoping the lessons from the pandemic can trigger a “kindness revolution”.

Whether you are for or against the death penalty, you would at least expect that that decision is based on a sound legal process. But death penalty law expert Marc Bookman reveals the foibles of the system in practice.

And - the true and epic story of Captain Moonlite. He was one of Australia’s most notorious bushrangers and in all probability the first openly gay one.

There’s a famous quote about learning the lessons of history: Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. But perhaps the reverse is also true. Too much memory, too much focus on injustice and grievances, can make us captives of the past . Stan Grant looks at the uses and abuses of history either as a foundation for justice or as a way to promote an endless cycle of revenge and retribution..

The pandemic has ruined many businesses. But it has also accelerated the digital transformation of the economy. Despite lockdowns, and covid restrictions, consumers have continued to spend and shop. And online traders have been the beneficiary. However, this has also led to more parcels, more packaging and more waste. What are e-commerce businesses doing to address this?

Uluru is a spiritual place for indigenous people and it looms large in the national imagination. Historian Mark McKenna uncovered a hidden truth about an infamous frontier killing at Uluru in the 1930’s. Indigenous campaigner, Thomas Mayor, believes the “Statement from the Heart” could only have come from Uluru. Paul Barclay speaks to Mark and Thomas about Uluru, history, truth telling, and the importance of the Uluru statement.

A sea-change or tree change has its appeal but you’re running against a global trend. Over half of the world’s population now live in towns and cities and there’s no sign of it slowing down. It’s a headache for city planners who are trying to keep up with demand. The World Science Festival asked urban planners to imagine the future of Australian cities in 2060.

Are you a good listener? Unfortunately, not many of us can answer that with a convinced ‘yes’. And that’s even though listening is at the core of every relationship. Losing the ability to listen has profound social, psychological, and neuroscientific impacts. But the good news is: You can learn how to do it – quite easily in fact.

Coal, oil and gas currently drive most of our electricity generation, manufacturing and transport systems. If we’re to achieve zero emissions then green alternatives are vital. And we need green energy at scale. Solar panels on your roof will only go part of the way to producing enough electricity . This discussion, from the World Science Festival, tackles the challenge of making the transition to green energy.

The pandemic has opened a window of opportunity for us to "build back better", and create a healthy, sustainable and equitable future, according to public health expert, Dr Sandro Demaio. He says we have a once-in-a-lifetime shot at achieving "health for all". Sandro joins Cassandra Goldie and Professor Sharon Friel for a discussion about health equity.

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.

After Covid do we need to invest more in the not-for-profit sector which has demonstrated its vital role in keeping communities together? And a financial journalist puts her anthropology training to good use as she maps the tribal norms which shape how teams operate in different workplaces.

Stop playing around and start playing seriously. Our deep drive to play has shaped our cultures and our philosophies, our working lives, and our civilizations since we first started playing. AND – women’s soccer in Australia. Fighting for more equality on and off the field, women's football is a story of community, endurance and success. A celebration of the sport and The Matildas.

Journalist, Simon Akam, investigates the failures of the British Army, including alleged war crimes, in his provocative book, The Changing of the Guard. He examines what has gone wrong with the British Army since 9/11, how it has changed, and what it has learnt from unsuccessful campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Modern parents juggle work and home and try to meet high expectations about each child reaching their potential. Two parenting experts talk about the particular demands of raising teenage girls and raising boys with a healthy masculinity. And is striving for personal happiness a worthwhile goal or does trying to be happy all the time create more anxiety?

International negotiations on climate change and biodiversity often put the scientific case behind economic and political interests. So, people increasingly turn to the courts to get justice for the environment. What makes those court cases successful? And what does a new form of environmental justice that connects nature with economic and social rights looks like? The new way of getting just rights for nature is to fall back on the very old legal tradition of Chthonic law.

There is a dark side to clean energy and digital technologies Solar panels, wind turbines, mobile phones, and electric cars all depend on rare metals, But there are big problems with how these metals are mined, processed and traded. And there are profound economic and geopolitical impacts resulting from China’s dominance of the rare metals industry.

The French Revolution hasn’t only shaped our political ideologies to this day. It’s also been extremely influence in the field of science. Steve Jones explores the scientific advances made during this time and how they shape modern science. Many French scientists of that time literally devoted their lives to science with many of them being executed – for their new insights as much as for their involvement in politics.

Many of us are working from a home office or the kitchen table . The pandemic has boosted the popularity of remote work but we want to make sure it's good quality work and not lose the benefits of face to face contact with colleagues. One of the downsides is loneliness. Lockdowns and working alone can make you feel disconnected and lonely. Loneliness increases your risk of serious disease and the UK now has a Minster for Loneliness responsible for a government public health campaign.

Australian history stretches back 60,000 years but our written history is only 250 years old. Historians are restoring indigenous people to their proper place in the story of Australia but there’s much we still don’t know. An indigenous historian is leading an international team to discover how communities responded to other seafarers who arrived on our shores long before the British. And can indigenous fire management help contain contemporary bushfires?

Pro-democracy activists are urging Australia to impose sanctions on the military leaders in Myanmar. In February the Myanmar military suspended democratic government. They blocked the National League for Democracy from forming a government despite a landslide election victory. Protests are on-going but can they succeed without tough sanctions from the international community?

The Australian economy has taken a big hit from Covid. We’re now on the road to recovery but what should that look like? Is it enough to go back to the way we were or is it time for something different? In these final two Reset Lectures, economist Ross Garnaut says the time is right for major economic reform. He proposes changes to corporate tax, the introduction of a universal basic income scheme and fast tracking the transition to a zero carbon economy.

Compared to many other countries, the Australian economy is in a better place as far as Covid is concerned. Yet we know uncertain times are ahead. You don’t emerge unscathed from a global shock of this magnitude. Economist Ross Garnaut says now is the time for bold policy to achieve full employment and incomes growth. In the Reset Lectures, he sets out his plan for restoring Australia after the pandemic recession.

It’s 30 years since the fall of the Iron Curtain and the end of the Soviet Union. Mikhail Gorbachev inherited a country that had many problems but was not on the verge of collapse. Six years later, he ended the Cold War and allowed the break-up of the USSR. What were the social, political and global forces that led this result? And how did the hero of glasnost end up

being regarded a traitor by so many in his home country?

By tracking purchasing habits, online retailers can discover a teenager is pregnant, before her parents do. US police are rolling out intrusive surveillance technologies, in the name of crime fighting, with little oversight. Virtually every online activity is subject to some form of surveillance. In real life, too, cameras film us as we walk down the street and enter buildings. Can we be free in an era of constant surveillance?

In a modern world of our own making, we find ourselves 'unfit for purpose'. Human evolution that’s created us as an extraordinary functioning species, has at the same time set us up to fail. Big Ideas explores the health and social implications of living a modern-day life in a stone-age body. Many of our current woes like obesity, stress or violence have evolutionary causes.

Australia is on thin ice with China and struggling to rebuild the relationship. We disagree over many issues and China is pushing back against, what it sees , as unfair criticism and hostility to its national interest. So how are Chinese Australians responding to the tensions between the two countries? And how does Taiwan see its future as China restates its commitment to reunification?

It’s difficult to initiate social change - not only to make people understand that change is needed, but to get them to alter their behaviour and maybe even to get them to give up some things. Two young activists discuss strategies of how to motivate crowds and the power of taking action.

Shelter was found for the homeless, the unemployed were paid a living wage, banks offered loan repayment holidays, and we rediscovered our local communities. The pandemic seemed to have a silver lining. But can a major crisis deliver long term social change? How do we achieve a change in how we think, and act?

Changing the world begins in your own household, with the tree in your street and the bike path in your neighbourhood. Jess Scully has travelled the world, exploring the many ways of reshaping our world into a fairer and more sustainable place. She talks about how you can help. And that’s not only through public protests, but also through actively participating in council community consultations.

It’s difficult to initiate social change - not only to make people understand that change is needed, but to get them to alter their behaviour and maybe even to get them to give up some things. Two young activists discuss strategies of how to motivate crowds and the power of taking action.

Is a pandemic the right time to change careers or extend your working life? A career change expert talks about the way to reinvent yourself, business analysts discuss career change over an extended working life and gender equity advocates outline the special needs of working women in the economic recovery after the pandemic.

The fallout from one dreadful day when he seven years old, and the realisation his father was incapable of loving him, traumatised writer Rick Morton in a way he’s never truly understood.

Rick discusses his Complex PTSD diagnosis, and how, as a result, he’s decided to live life as he has never lived it before: openly and vulnerably.

Following the first light to the dawn of the cosmos. New technology allows us to glimpse more of the earliest beginnings of the universe and with that it helps us to predict the future. Join a constellation of astrophysicists as they explore what the first stars looked like, the nature of dark energy and how the acceleration of the universe might end.

Modern slavery takes many forms. There's forced marriage , child labour and workers toiling in sweatshop conditions. Poorly paid workers are often behind the cheap consumer goods we buy and some of those workers will be in bondage to traffickers. Human trafficking is a feature of many global industries and we know that the victims we find are just the tip of the iceberg.

How do you feel about the Evil Queen in Snow White? Yes - she tried to kill her stepdaughter three times, but is she really the villain? The evil witches in fairy tales reflect cultural anxieties and they fight against set norms of society. The aging witch against the virgin beauty – did it ever occur to you that the Evil Queen and Snow White might be the same person?

Victoria was the first state in Australia to legalise Voluntary Assisted Dying. The law came into effect in 2019. Western Australian and Tasmania have now passed similar laws, but they are yet to take effect. After nearly two years of operation in Victoria, how are the laws working, and where is the debate at?

The extent of sexual abuse in our society has been laid bare in recent months. Survivors of abuse have courageously stepped forward to tell their stories in the media and on social media. One of those people is Australian of the Year, Grace Tame , recognized for her campaign to shine a light on the way we deal with sexual assault. Grace speaks to Kerry O'Brien about her personal experience and her call for a national taskforce to deal with this issue.

Stress is one of the big health and wellbeing problems of modern life. It seems there is no way to escape it: too many work demands, social tensions, juggling all the tasks in your day done, financial pressures - even your leisure time can get too busy. On Big Ideas, three experts explain the science of stress: How our bodies and brains react to it and how we can improve coping with it.

The Treaty of Versailles was supposed to bring ‘peace without victory’ and end all wars. Far from it, most conflicts of the past century can be traced back to that unprecedented peace conference in Paris. Big Ideas a panel of historians discusses the shortcomings of the Treaty of Versailles and explain how it more or less laid out the roadmap for the 20th century.

Writer, Monica Dux, grew up a devout Catholic, once telling a high school friend she wanted to be a nun. But, over time, she lost her religion, and eventually became so disillusioned with the Catholic Church she decided to quit. She discovered, “you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave”.

In just over 100 years the computer has come a long way. Early devices were huge, clunky machines; a 1000-word memory was considered a lot; and the capacity of doing 29 equations simultaneously was a break-through. Despite its limitations, a lot of the old technology is still at the basis of today’s ubiquitous high-tech computers. Big Ideas takes you on a journey through the history of the modern computer.

We can recycle to put materials to new uses not just to replace the original product. We hear how textiles and plastics are repurposed to make building tiles and how the fashion industry is trying to reduce, reuse and recycle. Mass produced clothes currently contribute enormous amounts to landfill and generate pollution in the manufacturing process.

US president Joe Biden has pledged a reformed approach to China and the United States’ relationship with the outside world. So, what would a changing US-China relationship mean for the rest of the world? And does the US look for more cooperation with Europe on dealings with China? A panel of China and international security experts explores the complex geopolitics connecting America and China.

Alan Finkel, Australia's former Chief Scientist, plots a course for moving away from carbon emitting fossil fuels, towards a zero emissions world. Solar, wind, as well as battery storage of renewables, will meet more of energy needs. But the great hope, down the track, is hydrogen power.

Psychedelic drugs were a feature of 1960s counter-culture and the subject of serious medical research from the 1940s onwards. Research was halted after psychedelics were declared dangerous and banned but new research is finding them to be powerful medicine. And, with the coronavirus pandemic in full swing, why are there so few drugs to treat viruses?

Joe McCarthy is the figurehead of the anti-communist crusades of the 1950s-era. Thousands of Americans were investigated as alleged communists and Soviet agents during the 'Red Scare'. McCarthyism became the synonym for hysterical intolerance – and some say it’s prevalent again today. Historian Richard Norton Smith explores the rise of Joe McCarthy and the dangerous legacy he left behind.

It’s over 50 years since the equal pay decision when the Arbitration Commission endorsed the principle of equal pay for equal work. But 50 years on there’s still a gender pay gap. Despite campaigns for gender equality Australian women earn , on average , 13.4 percent less than men.

So why is there this persistent gap and how can we fix it? The Director of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency wants employers to be agents of change.

Former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, talks to Paul Barclay about how to diversify the news media, the dominance of the Murdoch papers, why Australian needs a big population and larger defence force, China, and how Labor can win government, nationally.

Mata Hari - the erotic dancer was executed during World War I as one of several ‘evil female spies’. The ‘spy-mania’ at the time was influenced by the assumption that women were innately deceptive. It was also believed that women exploited the war to gain social and economic privileges that belonged previously for men only. Historian Joanne Bourke explains what made Mata Hari the perfect scape goat.

Europeans well know the risks of ultra nationalism and authoritarian leaders. So why is populism making a comeback? That’s what American historian Anne Applebaum sets out to discover. Living for a time in Poland she witnessed first-hand conservative friends moving further to the right to embrace populist politics. Why are these movements so seductive and how can we protect democracy?

The Covid pandemic has been a lonely time for many people. Physically distanced we’ve reached out to each other online but it’s not the same as being together in the same space. The Night of Ideas is a global conversation where speakers on arts, science and culture propose ways to bring us closer together.

What makes a city great, and how do we conserve it? Paul Barclay asks architect and writer, Elizabeth Farrelly, what it was she fell in love with, when she first arrived in Sydney in the late 1970s, and what concerns she has about the city's future. They are in conversation about Elizabeth's book, Killing Sydney

Recent events in Hong Kong, the Philippines and also Australia suggest media freedom in the Asia-Pacific region is declining. Despite intimidation, trolling on social media, detention and even death, journalists and publishers continue to report stories and publish news. On Big Ideas a panel of prominent journalists and academics analyse the crisis of journalism in the Asia-Pacific region, ask why it matters and what might be done to try and safeguard it.

Are you able to forgive and forget or are there some things that are simply unforgiveable? Almost all religious teachings preach the power of forgiveness and Mahatma Gandhi said that the strong person is the one able to forgive. So should the law be more forgiving? Two eminent lawyers discuss the law, justice and forgiveness in the annual Gandhi Lecture.

The 2020 Nobel Prize for Physics was awarded for research into black holes and divided between Roger Penrose for the discovery that black hole formation is a robust prediction of the general theory of relativity and Reinhard Genzel and Andrea Ghez for the discovery of a supermassive compact object at the centre of our galaxy. So what does this reveal about our universe? And the story of our solar system contained within the Murchison meteorite.

UK Neurosurgeon, Henry Marsh, talks to Paul Barclay about the wonder and mystery of the human brain - and how, as brain surgeon, you are one tiny mistake away from complete catastrophe.

Is there a fair way to pass on assets from one generation to the next? Some think the inheritor has done nothing to earn the wealth - and therefore the state should get a portion for the good of society. For others, any inheritance tax should be abolished as theft. How we think about inheriting goes back to many centuries and is based in different legal cultures. Why are there such differences, and what impact do they have on social mobility and inequality?

Numeracy and literacy are the core business of Australian schools. But should we add music to that list? Too often in schools music is seen as an optional extra yet research shows that learning to play a musical instrument boosts cognitive development and gives children the edge at school. Music is also a tonic for emotional well being.

Meritocracy is a nice theory, but research shows that chance plays a big part in how your life plays out. Poverty and disadvantage are being passed on from parents to children. What does that mean for the moral obligations of society? What do you owe your fellow citizens if you have the luck of a good start to life? Glyn Davis discusses policies and practices to end entrenched poverty.

Constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians has had the support of both Coalition and Labor governments. Yet still, we wait for a referendum. If not now, then when, asks Indigenous leader, Noel Pearson. Recognition is not, Pearson says, a project of woke identity politics, but our longest standing and unresolved project for justice and inclusion.

The Covid pandemic has tested every political leader. And female leaders seem to have come out on top. Countries with women at the top have some of the lowest Covid infection and death rates. So could the pandemic deliver an unexpected boost to gender equality?

Born of her own brutal experience as a witness in the Cardinal Pell case, award winning journalist Louise Milligan lays bare the flaws of our adversarial court system and the devastating impact that can have on the delivery of justice. She describes how witnesses in sex abuse cases are being intimidated and belittled.

Trial by jury is the cornerstone of our criminal justice system. Not all countries believe it’s the best way to get justice. They prefer judge-only trials instead. And when you think of it, trial by jury puts the fate of the accused in the hands of ordinary people, chosen at random, with no particular expertise. So why do we think this is the best system and how did it evolve?

Few things are more difficult for children than their parents separating. The Family Court becomes involved when parents are unable to agree on custody arrangements. Disputes between separating parties can get ugly. Sometimes family violence is involved. Are children listened to throughout the family law process? Do we put their rights first?

The real-life thriller of destroying war-torn Syria’s stash of chemical weapons: Pulitzer winner Jody Warrick reconstructs the key decisions and the unprecedented international effort to remove the weapons under fire and then - when no country was willing to accept them - to destroy them at sea. The humanitarian crisis in the region could have been even bigger.

As China rolls back rights and freedoms in Hong Kong pro-democracy citizens are in a dilemma about whether to stay or go. And as Indonesia struggles with the economic damage of Covid-19, can President Joko Widodo deliver on his promise to make Indonesia an economic powerhouse?

“Convicted for offences against good order” – that was the fate of many women in the early 20th century in Australia. Their crime was not so much being drunk in public or selling their bodies, but to fail social expectations. Regardless of the circumstances leading them down this path. Women simply don’t behave like that. Historian Leigh Straw analyses this past battle for gender equality.

A year ago the pandemic arrived. En masse, we evacuated our offices and started working from home. For many, the home is now their permanent workplace, and they have little desire to return to the daily commute. The potential of telecommuting had been touted for decades, but it took Covid-19 for it to take off. Where to now for the office? Is working from home - and communicating via Zoom - all it's cracked up to be?

After decades of military rule it looked as if Myanmar had turned the corner with the release of Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest and democratic elections. But all that changed a month ago with a military coup. The military are on the streets in Myanmar to shut down mass protests against the suspension of democratic government. They’ve opened fire on demonstrators yet citizens are still taking to the streets. So how should the international community and in particular Australia respond to the military takeover?

An evening of love letters and storytelling. Women of six generations share their tales of love: love for a fulfilled dream, loving advice to an unborn daughter, passion for a past decade or the kind of love with the power to heal yourself. Each of their stories will not only make you feel love but will give you food for thought.

Should former President Donald Trump be banned indefinitely from Facebook? That question is before Facebook's Oversight Board which will now be the ultimate arbiter of what can, and can’t be posted on its platform. It will act as a kind of Supreme Court and its decisions are meant to be binding on the company. So is this the antidote to fake news, conspiracy theories and online abuse?

What we wear reflects who we are, and who we aspire to be. Research suggests the garments we wear can also affect our mental state in positive, and negative, ways. Wearing different clothing changes how we feel, and how others perceive us.

Can fashion really make us feel better about ourselves? A panel of experts at the Queensland Museum discusses.

Can you give things your best shot... and then let good enough be good enough? Many people in our society can’t - they are perfectionists and set themselves unrealistic and unachievable standards. Our culture in fact pushes for perfectionism. But we can learn to promote growth over perfection and compassion over criticism.

Love it or hate it, technology rules the world. Our social systems and values are bent out of shape by innovative technology. Ideas we used to hold dear like privacy are suddenly negotiable in the online world and tech companies set the rules with governments struggling to catch up. So is it possible to regain control of your data and can governments control disruptive technology?

While there is growing awareness about modern slavery and people trafficking around the world, numbers are still rising. Under the Modern Slavery Act, businesses are required to assess the risk of slavery in their operations – down the complete supply chain. On Big Ideas, an expert panel will discuss how policy, advocacy and practise has evolved in Australia and internationally and project future developments.

What is progress, and true sustainability? Can the rational be separated from the spiritual? What can we learn from indigenous knowledge? Paul Barclay speaks to Tyson Yunkaporta, author of "Sand Talk", which provides an entree into indigenous thinking, and an insight into how this knowledge is formed and passed on. "Yarning", according to Tyson, is central. Ghosts, too, loom large in Tyson’s world. He describe how he was once attacked by a ghost as writer’s retreat.

In his final 2020 Boyer lecture, Andrew Forrest argues that economic opportunity, not welfare, is the most important way to overcome Indigenous disadvantage. He's advocating for access to finance, an end to modern slavery and early childhood programs to overcome learning deficits in vulnerable children.

Then we hear from Indigenous film-maker Rachel Perkins. In her 2019 Boyer lecture she urged Australian governments to adopt the recommendations of the Uluru Statement as the first step towards closing the gap.

In the Boyer lectures businessman and philanthropist Dr Andrew Forrest AO calls for an urgent move to green hydrogen on a global scale and an end to over-fishing and plastic pollution in our oceans.

2020 has been dominated by global health crises and social justice protests. The lasting effect is yet to be seen. Social movements can take generations and centuries even; it is not the result of one action or one event. But there are certain factors that determine whether a movement succeeds or fails – like a very diverse basis of participants, strict discipline and a variety of surprising tactics.

As the world embarks on a vast vaccination campaign, that we hope will bring the global pandemic under control, the other crisis facing us continues unabated: the climate emergency. Paul Barclay talks to three writers about the magnitude of the challenge, and the ‘elements of summer’ – like water, and fire - which are central to the climate change story.

Close relationships with family and friends are the best way of buffering yourself against the stresses that life puts you under. In fact, it turns out that friendships have a bigger effect on your quality of life and your ability to resist and recover from illness, than almost any conventional medicine. Robin Dunbar explains the secrets behind a good friendship: how it starts and how it lasts.

The right to vote is likely the most important right and means for change in a democracy. But the electoral process in the US puts up obstacles that make it hard for minority groups to cast their vote: increased paperwork and cost or absurd ID requirements. Stacey Abrams calls for robust voter protections in the US, an elevation of identity politics and engagement in the census.

Joe Biden has wasted no time in implementing his agenda for change, rejoining WHO, the Paris Climate Agreement and listening to public health experts on the best way to tackle Covid. Biden’s biographer describes how Biden’s life and personality has shaped his approach to politics. And reducing the risk of another pandemic by shutting down the illegal wildlife trade.

Don Watson is an historian who left academe to write satire for comedians such as Max Gilles. He has subsequently written many books, as well as Prime Ministerial speeches, screenplays, travel writing, biography, and a musical production of Manning Clark's 'History of Australia'. He is fascinated by America and its people, politics, and presidents. Don speaks to Paul Barclay

Dr Joelle Gergis and her team spent ten years investigating the history of Australia’s climate using every piece of data they could find : official records, tree rings, ice cores, corals, indigenous stories and computer models. She reveals how the pattern of natural variability has been altered by climate change.And we look into the geology of ancient reefs for clues as to how ancient life forms survived climate extremes like the Ice Age.

Australia needs to reduce the growing inequality in our country. Many economists agree on that. Not only for the sake of ‘a fair go’ and social welfare, but also for the good of the economy. Extreme inequality slows economic growth. A panel of economists talk about measures that governments can take to close the divide between very rich and very poor.

Classical physics goes some of the way to explaining physical reality but the rules change when you get down to the smallest particles -the quantum world of atoms. And that’s the world of Michelle Simmons , Professor of Quantum Physics at the University of New South Wales.

Michelle and her team have already built the first single atom transistor and are now trying to build a silicon quantum computer. That's a computer at warp speed, able to solve a complex problem in minutes which would take years on a conventional computer.

Last year, national and state elections were held in both America and Australia, against the backdrop of a deadly pandemic. You might think that is where any similarity ends. But, aside from obvious differences, the polity of both countries faces some similar issues: the dissemination of political mistruths, the influence of money and donations over politicians and decision making, and challenges around the conduct of free and fair elections.

The negative implications of social media are increasingly acknowledged and well documented. But what to do about them is a different matter. Ron Deibert suggests that restrain is the way forward and the solution to construct a viable communications ecosystem that supports civil society and contributes to the betterment of the human condition - instead of the opposite.

Due to copyright reasons there is no podcast or stream for these lectures on the Big Ideas website. Please head to the CBC Massey Lecture website.

The fifth CBC Massey Lecture describes the ecological myth of the digital age, wherein "the grimy, exhaust-filled industrial era would be overtaken by digital technologies that are clean, infinitely reusable, and virtual." But Ron Deibert calculates that sending 65 emails is roughly equivalent to driving one kilometre in a car.

Due to copyright reasons there is no podcast or stream for these lectures on the Big Ideas website. Please head to the CBC Massey Lecture website.

The initial vision of the internet was that it would empower individuals and expose the wrongdoings of state and corporate interests. But the same technologies that had been used for public uprisings against oppressive governments are now being used by those governments against political demonstrators,

whistle-blowers and dissidents.

Due to copyright reasons there is no podcast or stream for these lectures on the Big Ideas website. Please head to the CBC Massey Lecture website.

For years, headlines about social media have been dominated by its adverse effects on society: From the virulent spread of misinformation, to the way your

data is tracked and mined. You would think that if users were so unhappy, they would just quit. But social media are engineered to be ‘addiction

machines’.

Due to copyright reasons there is no podcast or stream for these lectures on the Big Ideas website. Please head to the CBC Massey Lecture website.

The economic model of social media is organized around personal data surveillance. And that has consequences. These systems that claim to capture our reality are actually shaping our reality and our understanding of the world. Ron Deibert presents the second CBC Massey lecture with a focus on surveillance capitalism. Social media are not only used to sell products, but also to push ideologies.

Due to copyright reasons there is no podcast or stream for these lectures on the Big Ideas website. Please head to the CBC Massey Lecture website.

There are dire consequences to living in an always-on, hyper-connected digital society. Digital technologies have created a new machine-based civilization that is increasingly linked to a growing number of social and political maladies. Accountability is weak and insecurity is endemic. Ron Deibert exposes the disturbing impact of the internet and social media on politics, the economy, the environment and humanity.

Due to copyright reasons there is no podcast or stream for these lectures on the Big Ideas website. Please head to the CBC Massey Lecture website.

Ageing gets a bad wrap in our youth obsessed society but Ashton Applewhite says we're saddled with outdated ideas. Our attitudes to growing older come from a time when lifespans were so much shorter. She promotes positive ageing and campaigns against age discrimination.

The partition of India, after the British left, in 1947, triggered a huge and violent mass migration. More than a million people died. The trauma and legacy of this event lives on today.

Should we use pills and brain stimulation to solve social and moral challenges in the 21st century?

Are we losing our ability to write well and is it because we don’t follow the rules? Professor Steven Pinker says loosen up, rules are made to be broken. But he takes aim at writing which confuses rather than informs . Why is it so difficult to read the writing of lawyers, academics and bureaucrats? The techniques of classic style are a good start for improving the quality of writing.

When you look in the mirror you might see your mothers eyes or your father’s chin. But have you inherited more than these physical characteristics? Beyond a genetic predisposition to illness , can you inherit a tendency to be religious or obese? Are the life experiences of previous generations shaping the way you behave now?

Four hundred years after his death, Shakespeare’s plays are still being performed in every part of the world and his characters and plots are re-worked in movies and television. Shakespearean actor and theatre director John Bell describes his life-long dedication to the Bard.

Why did Australia reject conscription for WWI? And do the implications of this vote still affect our society today?

There used to be a strict dividing line between public and private lives in Australia. That was until the 1970s when the personal became political. Women’s liberation and the gay and lesbian movement moved the boundary line between private and public life. In the 1970s gender, sexuality, domestic violence and reproductive freedom became the subject of political debates and a royal commission. Historian Michelle Arrow looks at how 1970’s activism remade Australia and its legacy for contemporary debates.

In the war against poachers around the world, 1000 park rangers have been killed in ten years.

Internet algorithms are dividing us, not bringing us together. The assumptions, predictions, and generalisations they make about us are not value neutral or apolitical. Robert Elliott Smith talks to Paul Barclay about the inherent prejudice of algorithms.

Estonia is a digital pioneer offering e-identity and e-citizenships as well as a whole range of the digitalised government, education and public services.

Journalist Stan Grant looks at the impact of the pandemic on international relations and democratic freedoms. The pandemic is increasing tension within and between nations . Will the repression of civil liberties and authoritarian governments be a lasting legacy and has the strategic rivalry between the USA and China reached a dangerous new phase ?

Skateboarding legend Russ Howell discusses the evolution of skateboarding and celebrates the 40th anniversary of the famed skate park, The Snake Run, in Albany, WA.

How to be creative in the digital age?

Traditional models of distribution and creative production are falling apart.

So can the creative industries evolve? And what does the old world still must offer to the new? Several creatives and artists discuss their tips and tricks and show the way forward.

A bit over one hundred years after the Irish Easter Rising, author Colm Toibin recounts the slow movements for independence that peaked in the rebellion in Dublin in 1916.

It was the first armed action of the Irish revolutionary period. The British army suppressed the rebellion. But the high number of civilian casualties and the severe punishment of the Irish leaders let to increased support for Irish independence.

A compelling account of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident . Not only did the fallout contaminate half of Europe it changed the course of history. When the nuclear reactor exploded it set off another explosion that no-one had predicted -the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced nation states to confront how we value health, wealth, and opportunity, apparently forcing governments to choose between the life of its citizens, and the life blood of the economy. Mark Carney, former Governor of the Bank of England, argues this is a false dichotomy, and that we should be moving beyond a narrow and financially driven reaction, to COVID-19.

In 2008, the world experienced the near total implosion of the banking system. According to 2020 BBC Reith lecturer, and former Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, it was a deeper crisis in our values that underpinned that lurch towards the abyss.

Mark Carney’s Reith lectures chart how we have come to esteem financial value over human value and how we have gone from market economies to market societies. He argues this has contributed to a trio of crises: of credit, Covid and climate.

Has Covid 19 created a new world order? At the beginning of the pandemic China took a step back but is now on the front foot. America , meanwhile , is still deep in Covid hell. Can a vaccine and a new president restore America’s place in the world? CNN foreign affairs analyst Fareed Zakaria looks at the future balance of power.

Political protest is a form of free speech and is seen as fundamental to democracy. In a time of COVID, however, large public gatherings are considered potentially hazardous. And governments have banned certain forms of protest. Is the right to protest being undermined?

International cooperation is critical as the world wrestles with the impact of COVID 19. It’s just as important when tackling climate change or security threats by terrorists or cyberattacks. A panel of European Ambassadors reflects on the state of global affairs and international cooperation. Can multilateralism survive emerging regional tensions? How can trust in international organisations be restored.

No-one wants a repeat of last summer’s devastating bushfires but the risks are increasing due to climate change. So we need to use all the tools at our disposal to manage the size and scale of the fires. An indigenous geographer says we should tap into 60,000 years of indigenous knowledge which uses fire to shape landscapes and other practices to preserve biodiversity.

Roll on the end of 2020. Next year has to be better! With three Covid vaccines in the starting gate, life can begin to be normal again. But we can’t avoid the legacy of the pandemic. How will it shape our future and the way we respond to the next emergency? Can we make up for lost time in universities, the arts and the economy?

Sue Brierley is the adoptive mother of Saroo, the Indian boy whose remarkable story of finding his Indian birth mother is told in the film “Lion”. Sue has now written her side of the story, and she talks to Paul Barclay about her book, "Lioness".

A permanent monument to Indigenous peoples should be built in recognition of their contribution to the modern Australian nation, says Mark Kenny. It’s to complete the symbolic axis in Canberra from War Memorial to Old and New Parliament House. A nation is unable to move purposefully forward, when people, institutions and politicians are not willing to look back. That’s the message of the 2020 Henry Parkes Oration.

A month after the presidential election and Donald Trump won’t admit defeat. He says he’ll fight on in the courts. So how can America move forward? Political scientist Francis Fukuyama looks at the legacy of the Trump years , the prospects for Joe Biden and the strength of liberal democracy. Can Biden revitalize America's role in the international order and heal divisions at home?

Forty five years after the event , the dismissal of the Whitlam government in 1975 continues to make waves and the release of the palace letters has added a new dimension to the story. Earlier this year, the High Court of Australia overturned the Queen’s embargo on correspondence between Sir John Kerr and the Queen’s Private Secretary. What do these letters tell us about how events unfolded and what the palace knew?

The planet is getting hotter, due to climate change. As with COVID-19, it is older Australians most at risk from climate-induced health impacts. The pandemic has hit older Australians hard, none more so than those in residential aged care. If this was not enough, the aged care system itself is broken, and in desperate need of repair. How we can address these challenges?

We live in a time when trust is in short supply. We don’t trust our politicians or institutions like we used to and conspiracy theories thrive on social media. Then along comes a pandemic to add fuel to the fire. Conspiracy theories and anti-science deniers were alive and well before COVID-19 and they’ll be there after. So why is denial such a common reaction to uncertainty and threat?

When choosing a university degree is the job market uppermost in your mind? The federal government has reduced the cost of what they say are job-relevant degrees like health and teaching and increased the cost of the humanities. Statistics show that humanities graduates are finding jobs but the government wants graduates to choose courses with clear job links in growth areas like STEM . So are job skills the main game for universities now and , if so, is this the end of the arts degree?