Big Ideas

Authoritarian regimes are threatened by women who fight for their freedom — and are pushing back in even more extreme and deadly ways. The world watched wide-eyed as Iranians took to the streets and social media for the #WomenLifeFreedom movement. We watched Afghan women and children run towards American planes taking off from Kabul as the Taliban returned to power. In Myanmar, women have taken up arms against the military junta. What do women at these front-lines need you to know right now? Join Natasha Mitchell and guests.This event was hosted by Monash University's Maureen Brunt Women and Democratic Change program and the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Elimination of Violence against WomenSpeakersDr Farkondeh AkbariResearch FellowAustralian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Elimination of Violence against WomenMonash UniversityDr Rana DadpourResearch Fellow in Social and Economic RiskThe Cairns InstituteJames Cook UniversityDr Isabella (Bella) AungResearch FellowMyanmar Policy & Community Knowledge Hub, University of TorontoMyanmar Initiative Fellow, University of British ColombiaHead of Comparative Politics Diploma Program, Spring University Myanmar (SUM)Professor Jacqui TruePolitical scientist and Professor of International Relations Director, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Elimination of Violence against Women (CEVAW)Monash UniversityGlobal Fellow, Peace Research Institute, OsloAuthor, Violence against Women: What Everyone Needs to Know (Oxford University Press, 2021)Special thanks to Daniela Philipson Garcia, Program Manager for the Women and Democratic Change Initiative and PhD candidate.

The only certainty in life is that we will all some day die. Most of us don't know when that day will come. But others must face their mortality front on. Mark Rafael Baker was no stranger to death, losing three loved ones in seven years — and then he was confronted with his own.This event was recorded at Readings Bookshop Melbourne in October 2024.SpeakersMichelle LeshLecturer at Melbourne Law School, University of MelbourneRaimond GaitaEmeritus Professor of Moral Philosophy, King's College LondonHonorary Professorial Fellow, Melbourne Law School, University of MelbourneAuthor, Romulus, My Father, Justice and Hope, and morePaul Barclay (host)Journalist, broadcaster and moderatorFormer host, Big Ideas

Join Natasha Mitchell and guests to grapple with some gritty paradoxes about science and religion, and in this era of misinformation, conspiracy theories, and existential angst — are they serving the needs they used to? Science drives much of modern life, and yet fewer people are drawn to studying it at school putting scientific literacy at risk. There's been a rise in anti-science sentiment and a questioning the authority of scientific expertise. Many societies are becoming more secular with fewer people claiming to follow a formal religion, yet religious fundamentalists and populists are being elected to power throughout the world.This episode was first published on 29 May 2024SpeakersPeter HarrisonHead, Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, University of QueenslandAuthor, Some New World: Myths of Supernatural Belief in a Secular AgeAnik WaldowProfessor of Philosophy, University of SydneyAuthor, Experience Embodied: Early Modern Accounts of the Human Place in NatureCharles WolfeProfessor of Philosophy, University of Toulouse-2 Jean-JauresAuthor, The Philosophy of Biology Before Biology: A History of VitalismThis event was hosted by the University of Sydney's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and Department of Philosophy at a conference in honour of the eminent scholar of history of philosophy of science, the late Stephen Gaukroger.

We know them as Zuckerberg, Musk, Bezos, Gates, Jobs. But to Kara Swisher, they're Mark, Elon, Jeff, Bill, and Steve. She was once a Silicon Valley insider, but now she's one of big tech's most vocal critics.This event was recorded at Adelaide Writers Week on Monday 3 March 2025.SpeakersKara SwisherAuthor, Burn Book: A Tech Love Story, aol.com: How Steve Case Beat Bill Gates, Nailed the Netheads and Made Millions in the War for the Web and There Must Be a Pony in Here Somewhere: The AOL Time Warner Debacle and the Quest for a Digital FutureHost of podcast On with Kara Swisher, and co-host of podcast, Pivot (with NYU Professor Scott Galloway)Former tech journalist with Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, contributing opinion editor New York TimesMarc Fennell (host)Host of new podcast, Noone saw it coming ABC Radio NationalCreator and host Stuff the British Stole ABC Radio National and ABC TVFormer host, Download this Show ABC Radio National

Jobs vs the environment. Profits vs environmental protection. One pitted against the other. That dominant story has defined environmental regulation in Australia, drowning out the stories scientists or environmental campaigners want to tell. Scientist, environmentalist, and government insider, Peter Cosier, has worn all the hats and he wants to change how we think and talk about Nature. An eye opening account of Australian environmentalism and its politics.Presented at the Lyrebird FestivalSpeakersPeter CosierChair of Accounting for NatureFounding Member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, Former Policy Adviser to the Australian Environment Minister Robert HillGregg BorschmannOral Historian for the National Library of Australia, Writer & Radio Producer

Teenagers 'live' online and on social media. How can they reap the many benefits that social media can offer? There are plenty of them: an endless pool of knowledge and curiosity. But parents need to help them navigate the risk and threats online — of which there're also plenty.On Big Ideas, we have a panel of experts with a plethora of valuable information, advice and resources.Presented by the Raising Children Network and hosted at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.Check out the ABC TV series 'Role of a Lifetime' on iview with more details about parenting in the social media era.SpeakersDerek McCormackDirector of Raising Children NetworkDr. Julie Inman GrantAustralia's eSafety CommissionerDr. Sarthak GandhiHeadspace Board Youth Advisor and Researcher at Murdoch Children's Research InstituteProfessor Marie YapResearch Professor at Monash University and Psychologist with expertise in Parenting & Youth Mental HealthBeverley Wang (host)ABC's National Culture CorrespondentFurther informationRaising Children NetworkeSafety CommissionerHeadspaceKits HelplineReach Out Parent lineYouth Safe

Two of Australia’s most influential and legendary storytellers, author Tim Winton and filmmaker Rachel Perkins, join Natasha Mitchell at WOMADelaide’s Planet Talks to discuss the power of stories and the role of artists to create change in the world.SpeakersRachel PerkinsMulti-award-winning filmmaker, and founder of Blackfella filmsDirector, presenter, co-writer, co-producer The Australian Wars series (available on SBS On Demand)Co-director, co-writer, co-producer First AustraliansTim WintonMulti-award-winning author of Juice, Dirt Music, Cloudstreet and more.Patron of the Australian Marine Conservation Society Host and writer, Ningaloo Nyinggulu series (available on ABC Iview)Activist, Protect Ningaloo and Exmouth Gulf campaignThis event was recorded live at the annual 2025 WOMADelaide festival produced and presented as part of its Planet Talks program, held on the traditional lands of the Kaurna people. Thanks to Planet Talks producer Rob Law.

Populism is part of American political history. It has been and still is the dominant vocabulary of dissent. But the current resurrection of authoritarian politics in the US is different. While the two parties could absorb populist movements in the past, this time populism has absorbed the party.Presented at the American Academy in BerlinSpeakerJefferson CowieJames G. Stahlman Professor in American History at Vanderbilt UniversityAmerican Academy in Berlin, Axel Springer Fellow — Class of Spring 2025

In his influential 1964 book The Lucky Country, Donald Horne wrote that Australians played an aristocratic role in Asia: "rich, self-centred, frivolous, blind". A lot has changed in 60 years, but does Australia still think it's better than its neighbours?Recorded at the Australian Academy of the Humanities annual symposium, The Ideas and Ideals of Australia — The Lucky Country turns 60, on 13 — 15 November 2024 at the Australian National University.SpeakersLouise EdwardsEmeritus Scientia Professor of Chinese History, University of New South WalesNick HorneEditor, Donald Horne: Selected Writings (2017)

Australia's housing crisis hasn't always been with us. So what choices created it, and what choices are now needed to fix it? Buying a house is now out of reach if you're on an average wage, and rental options are expensive and precarious. If we don't address the issues urgently, generations to come will face homelessness or profound poverty paying rents on a pension. There are solutions. Are politicians courageous enough to try them? Join Natasha Mitchell and guests at Adelaide Writers Week.SpeakersMaiy AzizeDeputy Director of Anglicare AustraliaNational spokesperson, Everybody's Home campaignAlan KohlerFinance journalist and presenter with ABC NewsAuthor, Quarterly Essay: The Great Divide: Australia's Housing Mess and How to Fix it (2023)Amy Remeikis aka @PyjamaPoliticsChief Political Analyst, The Australia InstituteJordan van den Lamb aka @PurplePingersRental activist and advocate2025 Senate candidate, Victorian SocialistsThank you to Adelaide Writers Week and to Anna Chang from the Australia Institute.

How many times have you checked your phone today? How many tabs are open in your web browser? Do you feel in control of your attention? In the digital age, attention is now a commodity. Can practices like meditation and mindfulness help us feel more free to focus on what really matters?This event was hosted at the Brunswick Ballroom by the Sophia Club in partnership with the University of Melbourne's Contemplative Studies Centre.SpeakersJess HuonMeditation trainer, authorised Dharma teacher, writer (The Dark Wet)Nicholas Van DamDirector of the Contemplative Studies Centre at the University of MelbourneAssociate professor, School of Psychological Sciences, University of MelbourneBrigid Hains (host)Editorial director, Aeon MediaMatthias Schack-Arnott Musician

The structures of our families have become more bespoke, complex, sometimes messier. Some find comfort in a 'chosen family', choosing friends over blood-relatives as kin. Patchwork families are increasingly common. You can a birth mother, a genetic mother and a social mother. How is the family changing and with what impacts? Meet three writers here to help you re-imagine the ties that bind. Presented at the Byron Writers Festival, supported by the Byron Shire Council.SpeakersKon KarapanagiotidisCEO and Founder of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre; author of A Seat at My Table: PhiloxeniaMarina KamenevFormer deputy arts editor of the Moscow Times, author of KinMolly SchmidtWriter and journalist, author of Salt River RoadRosemarie MilsomFounding director of Newcastle Writers Festival, journalist and broadcaster Also listen to Future Tense: The greatest demographic shift in a century is being ignored: single living

The Murray Darling Basin is the most important river system in Australia, and the most contested. What does it mean to live by those rivers, through the droughts, the floods, and the water politics that shape these communities. A beautiful and evocative history of the Murray Darling Basin, as told by people who live there.This speech was recorded at the History Council of Victoria's annual lecture at the State Library of Victoria on 14 November 2024.SpeakersKatie HolmesProfessor in History and Director of the Study of the Inland at La Trobe UniversityAuthor, Mallee Country: land, people, history, Reading the Garden: the Settlement of Australia and more

How has the fossil fuel industry wielded influence over Australian governments and their policies? What does it take to make ambitious change in the public interest, without vested interests getting in way? Join Natasha Mitchell and guests at Adelaide Writers Week.SpeakersDr Richard DennissEconomist and Executive Director of The Australia InstituteAuthor of BIG: The Role of the State in the Modern Economy (2022)Ross GarnautEconomistProfessor Emeritus in business and economics, University of MelbourneBoard director of renewable energy company ZEN ENERGYAuthor of Let's Tax Carbon: And other ideas for a better Australia (2024), Superpower: Australia's Low Carbon Opportunity (2019)Sarah Hanson-YoungSenator for South AustraliaGreens spokesperson for arts and communications, and environment and waterRoyce KurmelovsFreelance journalistAuthor of Slick: Australia's Toxic Relationship with Big Oil (2024)

The citizens of France have a notoriously conflicted relationship with the state. Their suspicion, if not resentfulness, of state power has played out in myriad revolts over the centuries and continues with repeated protests and riots to this day. It shapes the country's political and social fabric … from the set-up of their local sports clubs to their global foreign politics ambitions. The picture that emerges is one of a nation struggling to reconcile its core political values with the realities of a diverse society.Presented at FASStival, the University of Technology Sydney Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences FestivalSpeakerEmile ChabalProfessor of Contemporary European History at the University of Edinburgh, Author of France

The International Criminal Court has issued high-profile arrests warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over their conduct in the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. But although the court's role is to end impunity for war crimes, many are now questioning whether it has the power to perform that vital duty.This event was recorded at the University of Tasmania on 11 February 2025.SpeakersAlex WhitingProfessor of Practice, Harvard Law SchoolFormer Acting Specialist Prosecutor for the Kosovo Tribunal in The HagueFormer Investigation Coordinator and then Prosecution Coordinator in the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court in The HagueTrial Attorney and then a Senior Trial Attorney with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, 2002-2007Regina Weiss (host)Barrister, Tasmanian BarFormer war crimes prosecutor, International Criminal CourtCounsel to the ICC on victims, defense, sexual and gender-based violenceChair of the Australian Red Cross — Tasmania International Humanitarian Law CommitteeTim McCormack (host)Professor of International Law, University of TasmaniaFormer Special Adviser on War Crimes to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague (2010-2024)

A "Homeric struggle", a desperate night-ballet, an ethical training ground for boys and men. Aussie Rules is a multimillion-dollar industry, but at its heart, to thousands of people, it's much more than that. Including to Australian literary great, Helen Garner.This event was recorded at the National Library of Australia on 20 February 2025.SpeakersHelen GarnerAuthor, The Season, Monkey Grip, The Children's Bach, The First Stone, Joe Cinque's Consolation, The Spare Room, This House of Grief and moreBeejay Silcox (host)Critic, writer, outgoing Artistic Director, Canberra Writers Festival

Donald Trump's return to The White House is up-ending the way America works — at home and on the global stage. Does it herald the potential social, political, and constitutional collapse of United States? The world has watched nations sleepwalk into ultranationalist fascism before, is this that moment? Or is American democracy more resilient than any one demagogue? Are we on the cusp of new world order, and how will Australia play its cards if the USA no longer has our back?This event was presented by Adelaide Writers Week and the Australia Institute.SpeakersDr Emma ShortisAuthor, Our Exceptional Friend: Australia's Fatal Alliance with the USDirector of The Australia Institute's International & Security Affairs programDr Nick BryantJournalist, historianAuthor, The Forever War: America's Unending Conflict with ItselfFormer BBC correspondentPresenter of Saturday Extra on ABC Radio NationalAllan BehmAuthor, The Odd Couple: The Australia-America Relationship (2024)Special Advisor, International Political Affairs, The Australia InstituteDr Prudence FlowersAuthor, The Reagan Revolution (2025)President, Australian and New Zealand American Studies AssociationSenior lecturer in US history at Flinders University

A trip to Bunnings, a Medibank or Optus account, a new smart car or vacuum, every facet of our daily lives is now up for grabs. So should privacy continue to be our individual responsibility, or is it time for governments do more?This event was recorded at the State Library of Victoria on 19 November 2024.SpeakersHugh de KretserPresident, Australian Human Rights CommissionLizzie O'SheaFounder and chair of Digital Rights WatchPrincipal lawyer at Maurice BlackburnEd SantowCo-Director of the Human Technology Institute at the University of Technology SydneyCo-author, Machines in Our Image: The Need for Human Rights in the Age of AIDaniel NellorPhilosopher, playwright and co-author, Machines in Our Image: The Need for Human Rights in the Age of AIFurther information:First tranche of the Federal Government's privacy reformsPrivacy and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024

Europe needs to rethink its strategies and policies to protect the continent in the future. Russia's invasion of Ukraine, China's predatory mercantilism, and the rise of populist neoisolationism in the United States mean that depending on the status quo won't cut it anymore. But after decades of neglect, restoring Europe's military capacity, economic competitiveness, and strategic autonomy will be difficult. Can NATO evolve into a more balanced team, and may the time finally have come for a European pillar within it? Can increased trade and economic dynamism be squared with increased security and international competition?Presented by the American Academy in BerlinSpeakersGideon RoseFormer editor and managing editor of Foreign Affairs; 2025 Axel Springer Fellow at the American Academy in BerlinAdjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations; adjunct professor of political science at Columbia UniversityDaniel BenjaminPresident of the American Academy in Berlin

Humans have a conflicted relationship with animals: We love our pets and admire our wildlife. But we continue the industrial production of dairy, meat and eggs, that often leaves animal suffering in dreadful conditions. We create a division between US and THEM, if it suits us. What does that say about how we value animals in our lives?Presented at the Byron Writers FestivalSpeakersPeter SingerBioethicist and author of Animal Liberation, Practical Ethics, and The Buddhist and the EthicistFounder of the charity The Life You Can Save and co-hosts of the Lives Well Lived podcastJames BradleyAward-winning author of Deep Water: The World in the OceanLaura Jean McKayAward-winning author of The Animals in That Country and GunflowerDr David RolandClinical psychologist and honorary associate with the School of Medicine, University of Sydney

Seeing a whale in the wild takes your breath away. But so much of what they do remains mysterious. Join Natasha Mitchell with two world leading whale researchers unearthing the secret world of cetaceans. You'll want to change jobs when you hear what they get up to! Thousands of humpback whales will soon leave their Summer feeding grounds in Antarctica with full bellies to begin the world's longest mammalian migration. How do they live, breed, behave, survive, thrive? Commercial whaling might have declined, but can we work out what these magnificent creatures make of what's happening in their home now — from offshore oil drilling and seismic testing to ship collisions and climate change? This event was hosted by the Island Whale Festival Phillip Island. Find out more about the festival held annually in July. Listen to the rest of our special series Animals — Us and Them?SpeakersDr Barry McGovern Cetacean scientist Australian Research Associate, Pacific Whale FoundationDr Pete Gill Cetacean scientist Founder and CEO of The Blue Whale Study

Cherished companions, or cunning predators? Cats kill five million native animals in Australia every day — so how can we better manage our feline friends?Listen to the rest of our special series Animals — Us and Them?SpeakersAlex Patton Invasive species ecologist and PhD candidate, University of TasmaniaNoel Hunt CEO, Ten Lives Cat CentreDr Catherine "Cat" Young Biodiversity coordinator, NRM SouthDr Tiana Pirtle (host)Conservation officer, Invasive Species CouncilFurther information:Cats in Australia - Invasive Species CouncilCat Management Actions for Eastern Quoll on Bruny Island - NRM SouthThreat abatement plan for predation by feral cats - Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Zoos are changing — they are no longer just places for us humans to gawk at animals in cages. In the midst of a global extinction crisis, they are now playing a vital role. So what is their future?This event was recorded at the International Society of Behavioural Ecology Congress in Melbourne on 2 October 2024, with thanks to organiser Professor Andy Bennett from the University of Melbourne.Listen to the rest of our special series Animals — Us and Them?SpeakersDr Sally SherwinDirector of Wildlife Conservation and Science, Zoos VictoriaProfessor John WoinarskiConservation biologist, Charles Darwin UniversityAuthor, A Bat's End: The Christmas Island Pipistrelle, Cats in Australia: companion and killer and moreDirector, Australian Wildlife ConservancyCo-chair, IUCN Australasian Marsupial and Monotreme Specialist GroupMember of the science advisory committees of Zoos Victoria and of Invertebrates AustraliaAssociate Professor Lee BergerMelbourne Veterinary SchoolFellow of the Australian Academy of ScienceProfessor Dan BlumsteinProfessor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Professor in the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los AngelesDr Jen Martin (host)Associate Professor in Science Communication, and founder of the Science Communication Teaching Program, University of MelbourneHost, Triple R community radioAuthor, Why am I like this? The science behind your weirdest thoughts and habits

Satyajit Das presents a provocative examination of the use and abuse of images of wild animals, and how they shape our relationships with the natural world. These pictures can create an impression of abundance and untouched ecosystems, and lull us into a false sense of security, at a time when the natural world faces ecological calamity.The Attenborough Effect — Shaping Our Relationship With Wild Animals was presented by the Australian National Maritime Museum.SpeakerSatyajit DasAuthor of Wild Quests. Journeys into Ecotourism and the Future for Animalsformer banker, recognised as one of the world's leading financial thinkers.

We’re past the brink of civilisational collapse. And many environmentalists are pushing a “fake green fairytale”. Jem Bendell’s arguments have inspired the Extinction Rebellion movement’s civil disobedience pushing for climate change action. But Jem doesn’t think protest is enough now. Find out why the self-confessed eco-libertarian and author of Breaking Together: A freedom-loving response to collapse thinks we should break together not apart. Jem joins Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell at the 2024 Festival of Dangerous Ideas (FODI)SpeakerJem Bendell Author, Breaking Together: A freedom-loving response to collapse (2023)Author, Deep Adaptation: A Map for Navigating Climate Tragedy (2018, 2020)Co-founder of Bekandze Farm - Regenerative Training CentreFounder, the Deep Adaptation ForumBand member, the Barefoot StarsEmeritus Professor of Sustainability Leadership, University of CumbriaSenior Distinguished Fellow, Schumacher Institute

For 30 years, Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia exposed corruption and wrong doing in her country. Her youngest son, Paul Caruana Galizia, details the impact of her life, her assassination in a car bomb explosion in 2017, and how her legacy lives on.

The British Empire was once the biggest in the world. But now, some countries are cutting ties, and some want reparations. So just what is the legacy of British imperialism?This event was recorded at the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival in October 2024.SpeakersSathnam SangheraAuthor, Empireworld: how British Imperialism shaped the globe and Empireland: how Modern Britain is Shaped by its Imperial Past, and moreColumnist with the Sunday TimesGill Westaway Owner-operator at Villa Karingal, Lombok, IndonesiaFormer British Council employee

Being who we are in public (with our mental illness) is the only way to create lasting change. Amanda Tattersall, co-founder of the campaigning organisation Get-Up, speaks powerfully about her experience of living with bipolar disorder and its role in driving social change. Hear how storytelling, sharing lived experiences, and forging solidarity through difference can make all the difference.Her keynote address: Making Change and Mental Illness — reimagining how we make a difference from the inside out was presented at the 2024 TheMHS ConferenceSpeakerAmanda TattersallAssociate Professor of Practice, Urban Geography, School of Geoscience University of SydneyCo-founder of GetUp, founder of the Sydney Alliance, host of the ChangeMakers podcast

Cancel culture has ruined careers and lives — but did they deserve it? What consequences should people face for what they say and do? And what does redemption look like in the digital age?This event was recorded at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas in Sydney on 25 August 2024.SpeakersRoxane GayEditor, social commentator, contributing opinion writer for The New York TimesAuthor, Bad Feminist, Hunger: A Memoir of My Body, Opinions: A Decade of Arguments, Criticism, and Minding Other People's Business and moreMegan Phelps-RoperFormer member, Westboro Baptist ChurchAuthor, Unfollow: A Journey from Hatred to HopePresenter and co-producer, The Witch Trials of J.K. RowlingAndy MillsReporter and podcast producer, Reflector, The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling and formerly The Daily, Rabbit Hole and CaliphateDavid BaddielComedian, screenwriter and television presenter Social Media, Anger and Us (BBC)Author, Jews Don't Count, The God Desire and moreTim Dean (host)Senior Philosopher and Manos Chair in Ethics at The Ethics Centre

Sara Shams had both legs amputated at age six — it became her superpower. 15-year-old Taylor Ladd-Hudson turned a shark experience into something bigger. Amy Parry got subversive after she was told women's stories on screen were too niche. Jody Rallah wanted to make sense of the world and art led the way. And Anisa Nandaula turns it all into performance poetry. Meet these changemakers joining Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell at the Women of the World (WOW) Festival in Brisbane in October 2024.SpeakersTaylor Ladd-Hudson15 year old environmentalist, shark conservationist, social media influencerAmy ParryFilm-maker, producer, screenwriterJody RallahArtist and yuggera-yugggerabul and biri-bindal womanSara ShamsPharmacist, disability advocate, speaker, modelAnisa NandaulaSlam poet, stand-up comedian, writerAuthor, Melanin Garden

Imagine a world where your brain is enhanced through cutting-edge technologies and next-generation AI, blurring the lines between organic and digital realms … and unlocking unprecedented potential. We are already some steps on the way in such a future. What would this mean for intelligence, human agency and consciousness?Your Brain on AI From organoids to consciousness was presented by the Sydney Opera House.SpeakersPaul DaviesTheoretical physicist, cosmologist, astrobiologist, Arizona State University and best-selling authorDr Inês HipólitoAssistant Professor of Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence, Macquarie UniversityDr Brett J. KaganChief Scientific Officer at Cortical LabsDr Sandra PeterDirector of Sydney Executive Plus, Associate Professor the University of Sydney Business School

With more than 3 billion people playing video games worldwide, they have the potential to wield tremendous power and influence. So is it time to take video games more seriously?This event was recorded at the Melbourne International Games Week on 3 October 2024.SpeakersGeorge OsbornFounder, Half-Space ConsultingRad Yeo (host)Television and podcast presenter, video game critic, and technology journalist

When Kasey Chambers was growing up, her dad had one simple, yet profound piece of advice. Just don't be a d***head.This event was recorded at the Athenaeum Theatre in Melbourne, with thanks to Readings bookshop.SpeakersKasey Chambers Musician, 13th album BackboneAuthor, Just Don't Be A D**khead And Other Profound Things I've LearntYoungest female inductee, ARIA Hall of Fame (2018)24-time Golden Guitar winnerClare Bowditch (host) MusicianAuthor, Your Own Kind of Girl

President Donald Trump’s administration is already muzzling government-funded scientists. Closer to home, Australian scientists have their own stories to tell about science censored, stymied or watered down when its findings aren’t convenient to industry or politicians. Should scientists stand up as things fall down? A Tasmanian panel argue why scientists should speak up, and consider the tensions between advocacy and impartiality when they do. SpeakersAlexandra de BlasScience and environmental communicator, consultantMember, Tasmanian Independent Science CouncilLouise CherrieEnvironmental management consultantDr Lila LandowskiNeuroscientist and science communicatorCollege of Health and Medicine, University of TasmaniaBoard director, Science & Technology Australia The Honourable Megan (Meg) Webb Independent Member for NelsonTasmanian Legislative CouncilRobyn WilliamsHost of The Science Show, ABC Radio National Dr Lisa-ann GershwinBiologist, marine scientist, authorMember, Tasmanian Independent Science Council

From the inner cities to the outer suburbs, to rural and regional Australia, just what is going on in minds of voters as we embark on another federal election? This event was recorded at the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre at the University of South Australia.SpeakersGeorge Megalogenis Journalist, author, Quarterly Essay #96 Minority Report: The New Shape of Australian PoliticsTory Shepherd (host) Senior reporter, Guardian Australia

Australia resettled fascists, even war criminals after World War II as part of a worldwide program led by the International Refugee Organisation. The background of these immigrants was known to all political parties, but they were regarded as cheap – and white – labour. Historian Jayne Persian explores the impact of these characters on the trajectory of postwar politics — a phenomenon well documented in other parts of the world but with which Australia has barely begun to reckon.Presented by the Brisbane Writers FestivalJayne PersianAssociate Professor in History, University of Southern QueenslandAuthor of Fascists in Exile: Post-War Displaced Persons in Australia and Beautiful Balts: From Displaced Persons to New AustraliansAnthony CooperAuthor of best-selling Darwin Spitfires and Dispatch from Berlin, 1943

Take folly, friction, pain and empathy … mix well, and you get wise governmental decisions. If only it was that simple. Zachary Shore looks at the personal qualities, group dynamics, and historical conditions that have made wise decisions more or less likely to arise. The world’s current troubles would be more manageable, he contends, if we understood more clearly what produces wisdom and how to apply it. So what can we learn from history? A Wiser World: The Global Quest for Good Judgement was presented by the American Academy in BerlinZachary ShoreProfessor in the department of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School, National Security Visiting Fellow at the Hoover InstitutionDaniel BenjaminPresident of the American Academy in Berlin

Have you noticed mushrooms are having a moment? Merlin Sheldrake's New York Times bestselling bookEntangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds, and Shape Our Futures has captivated readers worldwide. Be enchanted by a world unseen – one without which you wouldn't exist - and which might inspire you to re-imagine how you think about yourself and your relationships. Merlin and guests join Natasha Mitchell at the Now or Never Festival of Art, Ideas, Sound, Technology and the Melbourne Museum.Dr Merlin SheldrakeBiologist, writer, speaker, brewer, fermenter, musicianAuthor, Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds, and Shape Our FuturesDr Tom MayMycologist and Senior Research ScientistRoyal Botanical Gardens VictoriaAuthor, Wild Mushrooming in Australia. Amanda MorganCEO and head of R&DFungi SolutionsThanks to Melbourne Museum event producer Alice Gibbons and to the museum's sound engineering team.

Nicky Winmar's iconic stand against racism was a wakeup call more than 30 years ago. But how much has really changed? Racism on and off the field continues to be an issue across Australia, when we should be celebrating Indigenous sport icons.Presented by the Byron Writers Festival, supported by First Nations Australia Writers Network FNAWN.Listen to Big Ideas - Australia's sporting mythsSpeakersRhoda RobertsProducer, artistic director, journalist and broadcaster and author of My Cousin FrankWoman of the Bundjalung NationNicky WinmarNoongar man, AFL player and author of Nicky Winmar: My StoryNaomi Moran (host)CEO of Koori Mail, First Nations newspaperNyangbal and Arakwal woman from the Bundjalung nation

Almost every country town across Australia has a Chinese restaurant. Why is that? And what role do they play in the story of immigration and multiculturalism, as well as the life and tastebuds of regional communities? This event was recorded at Sydney's Gleebooks.SpeakersJennifer Wong Comedian, writer, tv presenter, columnist, curator, host and co-author of Chopsticks or Fork?Lin Jie Kong Producer, director, editor, co-author Chopsticks or Fork?Annabel Crabb (host) Writer and presenter, ABCFurther informationWatch Chopsticks or Fork on ABC iView

You've got half an hour with Lou Reed/ Nick Cave/ Courtney Love: what do you ask them? Three of Australia's best music writers share their craft, and reveal what it's like to sit down with some of music's biggest names.This event was recorded on 2 November 2024 at the Art Gallery of Ballarat.SpeakersStuart Coupe Author, journalist, radio broadcaster, music commentator, publicist at Stuart Coupe PublicityJane Gazzo Music Journalist, TV Presenter, Author ( her new book is I Hear Motion), MC, Public Speaker, founder and presenter Action Time Vision - ATVMichael Dwyer Music journalist, lecturer and member of David Bowie ukulele tribute band The Thin White UkesZan Rowe (host) ABC Music correspondent, Double J and Take 5 hostFurther information:The exhibition From Medieval to Metal: The art & evolution of the guitar is on at the Art Gallery of Ballarat until 2 February 2024

Meet two men who will change the way you think about an experience most of us fear but will be touched by in some way. In Patting the Shark, surfing writer Tim Baker describes his wild ride to reclaim a sense of control and agency after a cancer diagnosis. Celebrated author and GP Peter Goldsworthy’s memoir The Cancer Finishing School started out as a journal but became so much more.They join Natasha Mitchell for intimate an intimate, revelatory, funny, and generous conversation about the Big C and how medicine needs to change. This event was hosted by the 2024 Queenscliffe Literary FestivalSpeakersTim BakerJournalist, editor, patient advocate, PhD candidateAuthor, Patting the Shark: A surfer's journey — learning to live well with cancer (Ebury Australia/Penguin, 2022)Dr Peter GoldsworthyGP, author, librettist, poetAuthor, The Cancer Finishing School —lessons in laughter, love, resilience (Penguin, 2024)

For 50 years, women in the United States had a constitutionally enshrined right to abortion. But in 2022, that right was overturned, and now one third of American women live in a state where abortion is banned. So what does Donald Trump's return to the White House mean for reproductive health in America?This event was recorded at Macquarie University in Sydney on Wednesday 13 November 2024.SpeakerDr Angel Foster Professor, University of OttawaCo-founder, Massachusetts Medication Abortion Access Project

Prepare to have your mind blown with a sweeping saga that connects human evolution, brains, genes, art, music, creativity, knowledge, dyslexia, autism, Indigenous memory systems, and more. A big, beautiful and biological saga about how to learn like a human again. Joining Natasha Mitchell are Australian Senior Memory Champion, scientist and author Dr Lynne Kelly with artist Jane Rusden and musician and educator Hilary Blackshaw. This event was hosted by the 2024 Mountain Festival in Macedon, Victoria.SpeakersDr Lynne KellyScience writerAuthor, The Knowledge Gene: the incredible story of the supergene that gives us human creativity (Allen and Unwin, 2024)Author, The Memory Code (Allen and Unwin, 2016) Adjunct Research Fellow, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, La Trobe UniversityHonorary Fellow, School of Physics, University of MelbourneHilary BlackshawMusician and musical educatorBendigo Musical Instrumental ProgramJane RusdenArtist

It's a question that has focused the minds of astronauts, scientists, space entrepreneurs and enthusiasts alike — is there, could there be, life on Mars? The race is on to find out, with NASA hoping to land astronauts there by the late 2030s. Because of its similar conditions to Earth, they're hoping the red planet could hold clues to the enduring mysteries of how life began, and whether we are alone in the universe.This event was recorded at the World Science Festival Brisbane in partnership with the Queensland Museum and the Big Questions Institute on March 22, 2024. Original Big Ideas broadcast on 16 April 2024.SpeakersProfessor Tamara Davis Astrophysicist, University of QueenslandProfessor Kathleen Campbell Astrobiologist, University of AucklandProfessor Martin Van Kranendonk Astrobiologist and geologist, Head of the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin UniversityDr Jorge Vago ExoMars Project Scientist, European Space AgencyDr Graham Phillips (host) Astrophysicist, science journalist, former host of Catalyst (ABC)

New York writer Jonathan Rosen’s memoir The Best Minds: a story of friendship, madness, and the tragedy of good intentions is a story of tenderness, heartache, and horror as he explores the vexed tensions between civil rights, medical power, and the complexities of recognising and treating severe psychotic illness. He joins Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell with psychiatrist Patrick McGorry for a powerful, moving conversation at the 2024 Adelaide Writers WeekOriginal broadcast on May 1, 2024Speakers:Jonathan RosenWriter and editorAuthor, The Best Minds: a story of friendship, madness, and the tragedy of good intentionsPatrick McGorryPsychiatristExecutive Director, OrygenProfessor of Youth Mental Health, University of MelbourneFounding Director, Headspace (National Youth Mental Health Foundation)Further information and support services:Lifeline Australia24x7 Crisis Support line on 13 11 14Beyond BlueMensLine AustraliaSANE AustraliaReachOut AustraliaAFRAFMI - supporting friends and carers of people with mental illnessOne Door Mental Health (formerly the Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW)Hearing Voices NetworkMental Health First Aid AustraliaAustralians for Mental Health - advocating for better mental health policy and services in Australia

For decades, Mary Beard has forged her own path through the male dominated field of academia, from the ruins of Rome to the trenches of Twitter, to become "the world's most famous classicist". From the wise Augustus to the hypocritical Tiberius and the barking mad Caligula, Mary Beard uses these Roman rulers as a lens to examine life in their empire, and asks what lessons they can teach us about the world today.This event was recorded at Adelaide Writers' Week and originally broadcast on Big Ideas on 9 April 2024.SpeakersMary BeardAuthor Emperor of Rome, (also Pompeii, Confronting the Classics, SPQR, Women & Power, Twelve Caesars)Professor Emerita of Classics at Cambridge UniversityJonty ClaypoleWriter, documentary producer and arts administratorCEO, Red Room PoetryFormer Director of Arts, BBC