The Good Life: Andrew Leigh in Conversation: Recent Episodes
Andrew Leigh
Nicholas Epley is one of the world’s leading social psychologists and a professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. His research explores how we understand other people, why we so often get their reactions wrong, and how small changes in our behaviour can strengthen our relationships and improve our wellbeing.
In this episode, Nicholas discusses his new book, A Little More Social, and the surprising science of human connection.
We chat about the Chicago train experiment that found commuters were happier talking to strangers than sitting alone, why our pessimism about social interaction can become self-fulfilling, and the evidence that acting more extroverted can make even introverts happier.
From chatting to a stranger on the train to reaching out to someone we care about, Nicholas’s advice is simple: when in doubt, reach out.
Professor Michael Smithson joined me to discuss his entertaining new book, “The Psychology of Ignorance”. We talk about why ignorance is more than stupidity, how certain unknowns make us anxious, what happens when people don’t realise how ignorant they are, and when we might be happier not knowing certain things.
Jessy Wu is a Sydney-based writer, entrepreneur and author of the debut novel 'Good Intentions'. A former management consultant and venture capital investor, she is also the founder of Broad Church, a creative communal space in Chippendale.
Jessy discusses how 'Good Intentions' brings together young love, university journalism, finance and biotechnology. They explore ambition, moral compromise and the tension between changing institutions from within and challenging them from the outside.
The conversation also examines how class, migrant experience and financial security shape ethical choices, why good intentions can excuse harmful behaviour, and whether workplaces gradually change the values of the people inside them.
Ed Coper is an expert in digital politics who helped build one of Australia’s first major online political movements and has advised advocacy campaigns around the world.
His previous book, Facts and Other Lies, explored the disinformation age: how fake news spreads, why it is so difficult to stop, and what citizens can do to defend the truth.
His latest book, Angertainment: How Social Media Outrage Ruined Everything, takes that story a step further. It asks why our social feeds increasingly feel less like public squares and more like pokie machines for grievance, endlessly rewarding outrage with attention.
In this conversation, Ed discusses rage-bait algorithms, political demagogues, corporate platforms, and the business model that turns fury into clicks, influence and power. We explore how online toxicity is engineered and amplified, what the outrage economy is doing to democracy, and whether it is still possible to build a healthier digital life.
Wendy Harmer has spent decades shaping Australian comedy, journalism and media, from the newsroom floor to the stand-up stage, from comedy to breakfast radio and the ABC.
In this episode, Wendy talks about growing up in country Victoria, building resilience through childhood adversity, becoming one of the first female reporters at the Geelong Advertiser.
Wendy reflects on the golden age of Australian live comedy, the discipline of breakfast radio, and why words, writing and curiosity remain central to her happiness. Along the way, she shares sharp stories about newsrooms, hecklers, feminism, fish, fatherhood, and how hard beginning turn into a generous life.
As part of the ANU Meet the Author series, I interviewed Anna Goldsworthy on stage about her new Quarterly Essay, “The God We Made. The Threat and Promise of Artificial Intelligence”.
Martin McKenzie-Murray is The Saturday Paper's associate editor, staff writer for The Monthly, a two-time Walkley finalist and winner of the Melbourne Press Club's Quill Award for commentary.
He has worked as a teacher, speechwriter, columnist for The Age and adviser to the chief commissioner of Victoria Police. His first book, A Murder Without Motive, was shortlisted for the Ned Kelly Awards for crime writing. His second, The Speechwriter, won the Russell Prize for Humour Writing.
In this episode, I chat with Martin about his latest book, Sirens: Inside the Shadow World of First Responders.
Grace Adams is the CEO of Effective Altruism Australia.
To find out more or make a donation, go to https://effectivealtruism.org.au/eofy/
You can find Grace's podcast 'More Than Good by Effective Altruism Australia' here:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ea_aus
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TffN3nE1zniT1Mm3VjTdo
Ant Williams knows what it means to perform under pressure.
A world-record freediver, he has held his breath for more than eight minutes, dived 100 metres on a single breath, and swum 182 metres beneath solid Arctic ice.
In this episode of The Good Life, Ant talks about learning from discomfort, building mental toughness, training for pain, facing risk, and why he believes courage can be practised. From freediving and ice diving to fatherhood and psychology, this is a conversation about what happens when we stop running from failure and start treating it as information.
Mark Fabian is associate professor of public policy at the University of Warwick, UK. He is also an affiliate researcher at the Bennett Institute for Public Policy at Cambridge University, and an associate at the Institute for Social Change at the University of Tasmania.
In his latest book he challenges our ideas of happiness. From the hedonic treadmill to self-actualisation, he explains why frustration can be part of a meaningful life, why integrity matters more than productivity, and how to align who you are with who you want to be. A thoughtful guide to living with pleasure, fulfillment, and purpose.
On 11 June 2025, I joined UNSW Professor Toby Walsh on stage in Canberra at an ANU-Canberra Times Meet the Author event, to discuss Toby’s new book “The Shortest History of AI”.
This week New York Times-bestselling author Alex Hutchinson returns to the podcast to talk about his latest book ‘The Explorer's Gene’.
On 12 March 2025, at an ANU-Canberra Times Meet the Author event, I interviewed Robert Dessaix about his new book ‘Chameleon’. This is a record fourth appearance for Robert on the Good Life podcast (his past fascinating chats are episodes 27, 136 and 172).
Matthew Halteman is a professor of philosophy at Calvin University in Michigan and a fellow in the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics. We spoke about his new book “Hungry Beautiful Animals: The Joyful Case for Going Vegan”, which was published in November 2024 by Basic Books.
Dave Eccles and Tadgh Kennelly on Blokes Bonding on Beaches.
To find out more about WNOW visit https://www.wnow.com.au/
Nina Jankowicz and Van Badham on Online Misogyny
Nina Jankowicz, American disinformation expert and author of How to Lose the Information War and How to Be a Woman Online, and Van Badham, activist, playwright, and author of QAnon and On discuss disinformation, online harms, and their effect on elections in 2024 and beyond.
Lucas Patchett on front loaders, friends & founding Orange Sky - To volunteer with Orange Sky, go to orangesky.org.au
On 3 October 2023, I joined Chris Hammer on stage at an ANU / Canberra Times Meet the Author event to discuss crime fiction writing, with a particular focus on his latest book, “The Seven”.
On 28 September 2023, I joined Catharine Lumby on stage at an ANU / Canberra Times Meet the Author event to discuss her new biography of Frank Moorhouse.
To make a donation to support Blue Dragon Children Foundation, go to www.bluedragon.org
Michael’s blog is at lifeisalongstory.com
I spoke to Bo Seo about his latest book 'Good Arguments', discussing how in a shouty world, it matters more than ever to be able to disagree without being disagreeable. Our conversation took place as part of the ANU/Canberra Times Meet the Author Series, in association with Harry Hartog Bookshop.
Michael Traill on Willoughby Wildcats, lifelong learning and jumping ship (Rebroadcast).
Robert Dessaix is the quintessential public intellectual. Sparking off his new book ‘Abracadabra’, we talked about Robert’s personal language (‘K’), the inspiration he draws from Nikolai Gogol, and being raised by an adoptive father who was born in the 1880s. Our conversation took place as part of the ANU/Canberra Times Meet the Author Series, in association with Harry Hartog Bookshop.
- Robyn Archer on festivals, artistic risks & German cabaret.
Photo credit: Rohan Thomson
Cordelia Fine on Female Brains, Boys' Toys and Other Delusions of Gender (Rebroadcast).
- John Safran on comedy, constraints & creativity.
You can check out John's new book 'Puff Piece' here.
Photo credit: Penguin Random House.
Hugh Mackay on the Golden Rule and the Positivity Trap (Rebroadcast).
Note that this episode contains some discussion of the share of people reporting 'No religion' in the Australian Census. The correct figures were 22.3% in the 2011 Census (which listed 'No religion' last), and 30.1% in the 2016 Census (which listed 'No religion' first).
Jono Lineen explains why walking makes us wise (Rebroadcast).
To mark The Good Life reaching 150 episodes, we're conducting a listener survey.
The survey is HERE . It will take you about three minutes, and gives you a chance to suggest who you'd like to hear from in future episodes.
Thanks in advance for sharing your insights and helping shape future
- Jill Stark on breakdowns and breakthroughs.
If this episode raises issues for you, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
To mark The Good Life reaching 150 episodes, we're conducting a listener survey.
The survey is HERE . It will take you about three minutes, and gives you a chance to suggest who you'd like to hear from in future episodes.
Thanks in advance for sharing your insights and helping shape future episodes.
John Bell on leadership lessons from Shakespeare.
To mark The Good Life reaching 150 episodes, we're conducting a listener survey.
The survey is HERE . It will take you about three minutes, and gives you a chance to suggest who you'd like to hear from in future episodes.
Thanks in advance for sharing your insights and helping shape future episodes.
(Photo: Naomi Hamilton)
- Rhiannon Evans on lessons from Ancient Rome.
To mark The Good Life's 150th episode, we're conducting a listener survey.
The survey is HERE . It will take you about three minutes, and gives you a chance to suggest who you'd like to hear from in future episodes.
Thanks in advance for sharing your insights and helping shape future episodes.
N.B. Rhiannon's podcast is "Emperors of Rome", available here.
Rhiannon's publications include "Utopia Antiqua" and "Caesar's triumphs over Gaul and Rome" (with Sarah Midford). The latter is available for free download here.
Sisonke Msimang on exile and home, hatred and belonging.
You can find out more about Sisonke, her recent book Always Another Country, and her other writing here.
- Turia Pitt on triathlons, beauty and happiness.
Check out Turia Pitt's books: Happy & Other Ridiculous Aspirations, Everything to Live For and Unmasked.
- Rob Hamill on rowing naked across the Atlantic.
If you want to learn more about Rob's adventures, you can check out his Youtube channel 'The Cruising Kiwis' here. Rob is available for speaking engagements here.
Alice Pung on tragedy, cultural appropriation and the craft of writing.
You can learn more about Alice Pung's new book 'One Hundred Days' here.
Dylan Marron on conversations with people that hate me (Rebroadcast).
If you're interested in Dylan's podcast, you can find information here.
Maree Crabbe on pornography and gender equality.
You can learn more about Maree's work here: www.itstimewetalked.com
Rosie Batty on tragedy, pain and purpose.
You can find information about Rosie's book, 'A Mother's Story' here.
Cate McGregor on cricket, speechwriting and transitions (Rebroadcast).
During the conversation, Cate refers to Scyld Berry's account of the January 2016 cricket test match between England and South Africa. You can read that article here.
Alannah Hill on the killer heel of utopia.
Some issues discussed in this episode may be confronting for some listeners. If you or anyone you know are experiencing a personal crisis, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).
Robert Dessaix on why you should never quite grow up.
You can find information about Robert's latest book, 'The Time of Our Lives' here.
Photo of Robert by Matthew Venables.
Graham Walker on the joy of science.
You can watch Graham's Fenner Lecture: Extraordinary Experiments - Science you can feel here.
Bruce Pascoe on Understanding Australia's Indigenous Past (and Why It Matters to Our Future).
Massimo Pigliucci is a professor of philosophy at the City University of New York. His books include ‘How to Be a Stoic’ (2017) and ‘A Field Guide to a Happy Life’ (2020). Photo by Simon Wardenier.
Tony Wheeler on Making the Planet Less Lonely
With excerpts from Joe Cocker's song Space Captain from the album Mad Dogs & Englishmen.
Eitan Hersh on why local service beats political hobbyism.
You can find out more about Eitan's book Politics Is for Power - How to Move Beyond Political Hobbyism, Take Action, and Make Real Change here.
Justin Wolfers on impact, feminism and economics.
(With occasional accompaniment by Senate bells.)
Serina Bird the Joyful Frugalista.
You can learn more about joyful giving and building abundance at Serina's website.
Flipped Episode - Andrew Leigh with Joe Walker.
You can find Joe's other interviews on The Jolly Swagman Podcast, on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and Listen Notes.
Frank Ostaseski on what death can teach us about living fully.
Frank's website, The Five Invitations, is here.
Erna Walraven on what wild animals teach us about leadership.
You can learn more about Erna and find details about her book Wild Leadership here.
Alain de Botton on How to Live.
To learn more about Alain's latest book The School of Life, click here.
To learn more about Alain's organisation The School of Life, click here.
Jamil Jivani on Young Men and the Allure of Violence.
You can find out more about Jivan's book Why Young Men here.
Rick Morton on 100 Years of Dirt.
You can find more information about Rick's memoir here.
Jonathan Haidt on the Coddling of the American Mind.
To mark The Good Life's 100th episode, we're conducting a listener survey.
The survey is HERE. It will take you about a minute, and gives you a chance to suggest who you'd like to hear from in future episodes.
Thanks in advance for sharing your insights and helping shape future episodes.
N.B. in our conversation, Jonathan recommends an illustrated edition of John Stuart-Mill's writings on free speech, you can download it HERE.
Jono Lineen explains why walking makes us wise.
You can learn more about Jono's book Perfect Motion here.
Jane Jose on places women make.
You can learn more about Jane's book Places Women Make here.
Good Book 2: Discussing The Vanishing American Adult - our coming of age crisis and how to rebuild a culture of self-reliance with Macgregor Duncan
Emily Oster on data, pregnancy and parenting.
For more information on Emily's recently released book Cribsheet, click here.
Photo by Dana Smith.
Rob Wiblin on effective altruism and making the most of your 80,000 hours.
To find Rob's 80,000 Hours podcasts, and learn more about his work with 80,000 Hours, click here.
Barry Jones on Pick-a-Box, Science and Poetry.
You can find details about Barry's book The Shock of Recognition, here. Or read a review here.
Click here for an excerpt of the Berliner Philharmonike performing Bach's St Matthew Passion. Directed by Peter Sellars, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle, with chorus master Simon Halsey.
Eddie Woo on the joy of maths.
To experience Eddie's story telling approach to mathematics, visit his YouTube channel.
Sisonke Msimang on exile and home, hatred and belonging.
You can find out more about Sisonke, her recent book Always Another Country, and her other writing here.
Yuki Kawauchi, Japan's citizen runner.
My thanks to Brett Larner of Japan Running News, for helping me connect with Yuki, and Yoshimi Kobayashi of Destination Gold Coast for translating our conversation.
Oz Harvest founder Ronni Kahn on kibbutz life, gratitude and the colour yellow
(Photo by Anthony Geernaert)
Anne Aly on discrimination, terrorism & the shiny kettle.
To find out more about Anne's book, Finding My Place: From Cairo to Canberra - the irresistible story of an irrepressible woman
click here.
Natalie Jeremijenko on feral robotic dogs, texting fish and inverted trees.
Photo by Robert P. Cohen
GetUp co-founder Jeremy Heimans on New Power
During our conversation, i asked Jeremy for tips for Australians visiting New York for the first time. He replied that the popular new restaurants are too hard to get into, but that there are plenty of eateries which are still good, even though they're no longer the new thing. After the interview, he gave me the list of New York eateries that he gives to visitors, which is Shun Lee, Il Cantinori, Kanoyama, Veau d'Or, Peppe Rosso to Go, and Abraco (a coffee shop).
You can find out more about Jeremy's book New Power here.
Julian Le Grand on revamping social policy, advising leaders and the danger of perfectionism.
Alex Hutchinson on sweat science.
If you'd like to learn more about Alex and his book Endure, visit his website here.
David Walsh on profiting from blackjack, building MONA, and why most winners just got lucky.
PS - having reached a half-century of Good Life episodes, I'm conducting a listener survey - we'd love your feedback.
The survey is HERE. It will take you about a minute, and gives you a chance to suggest who you'd like to hear from in future episodes.
Thanks in advance for sharing your insights and helping shape the next 50 episodes.
Craig Emerson
You can find further information on The Boy from Baradine here.
PS - having reached a half-century of Good Life episodes, I'm conducting a listener survey - we'd love your feedback.
The survey is HERE. It will take you about a minute, and gives you a chance to suggest who you'd like to hear from in future episodes.
Thanks in advance for sharing your insights and helping shape the next 50 episodes.
Liz Forbat on the good death - recorded live as a part of Festival Muse
PS - having reached a half-century of Good Life episodes, I'm conducting a listener survey - we'd love your feedback.
The survey is HERE. It will take you about a minute, and gives you a chance to suggest who you'd like to hear from in future episodes.
Thanks in advance for sharing your insights and helping shape the next 50 episodes.
Benjamin Law on sex, taboos and making wontons.
If you'd like to learn more about Benjamin and his work, click here.
PS - having reached a half-century of Good Life episodes, I'm conducting a listener survey - we'd love your feedback.
The survey is HERE. It will take you about a minute, and gives you a chance to suggest who you'd like to hear from in future episodes.
Thanks in advance for sharing your insights and helping shape the next 50 episodes.
Dylan Marron on conversations with people that hate me
If you're interested in Dylan's podcast, you can find information here.
PS - having reached a half-century of Good Life episodes, I'm conducting a listener survey - we'd love your feedback.
The survey is HERE. It will take you about a minute, and gives you a chance to suggest who you'd like to hear from in future episodes.
Thanks in advance for sharing your insights and helping shape the next 50 episodes.
Tim Flannery on fossils, adventure and Indigenous mentors
To mark The Good Life's 50th episode, we're conducting a listener survey.
The survey is HERE. It will take you about a minute, and gives you a chance to suggest who you'd like to hear from in future episodes.
Thanks in advance for sharing your insights and helping shape the next 50 episodes.
- Scott Rankin on Nijinsky, St Francis and growing up on a Chinese junk
Scott is the founder, CEO and Creative Director of Big hART.
Manny Noakes, principal author of the CSIRO diet.
The CSIRO's online diet score calculator is avaiable here.
- Kurt Fearnley on Kokoda, struggles and gratitude.
Kurt's autobiography, Pushing the Limits: Life, Marathons & Kokoda is available on his website.
In the conversation, Kurt mentions that his wife Sheridan is about to give birth. Shortly afterwards, they welcomed into the world their second child, Emilia.
Terri Butler on optimism and her Labor of Love
Terri’s book, Labor of Love, is published by Melbourne University Press.
Good Book 1: Discussing Hillbilly Elegy & Strangers in Their Own Land with Macgregor Duncan
Nick Lee on cancer, farewells and little black dresses
https://jodileefoundation.org.au/
Susan Carland on Islam and authenticity
@SusanCarland
To learn more about Susan's book - Fighting Hislam: Women, Faith and Sexism - follow this link: https://www.mup.com.au/books/9780522870350-fighting-hislam
Maree Crabbe on pornography and gender equality.
You can learn more about Maree's work here: www.itstimewetalked.com
Patti Stiles on life lessons from improvised acting
www.pattistiles.com
(Photo by Mark Gambino.)
Hugh Mackay on the Golden Rule and the Positivity Trap. Note that this episode contains some discussion of the share of people reporting 'No religion' in the Australian Census. The correct figures were 22.3% in the 2011 Census (which listed 'No religion' last), and 30.1% in the 2016 Census (which listed 'No religion' first).
- Robert Dessaix on dalliances, languages and leisure
Photo of Robert Dessaix courtesy of Penguin Books (Copyright Shane Reid).
Peter Singer on vegetarianism, altruism & an examined life
Photo credit: Tony Phillips (available at http://www.petersinger.info/photos/)
Cate McGregor on cricket, speechwriting and transitions
During the conversation, Cate refers to Scyld Berry's account of the January 2016 cricket test match between England and South Africa. You can read that article here.
Jack Heath on walking away from the cliff
Listeners seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or SANE Helpline on 1800 18 SANE (7263).