Festival of Dangerous Ideas

Compassion has become a commodity whose possession marks us as a better person, or better than other people. Writer and commentator Helen Razer diagnoses society with compassion fatigue – and the physical burn out, trauma and psychological depletion is real. Helen Razer is a writer, broadcaster and commentator who is now chiefly engaged in the work of writing on social and cultural matters. She works with Crikey, The Saturday Paper and a range of publications who permit her to say terrible things. Her fifth book, A Short History of Stupid, remains a best-seller and was recently shortlisted for the NSW State Library's inaugural Russell Prize.

Society preaches forgiveness for the rich and retribution for the poor. Entrenched inequality and its companion, poverty, are the dark side of the American dream for a citizenry united by name, but not by rules. Is the divide fair, the result of natural winners and losers, or is it built into the system? We know that inequality is bad for the rich as well as the poor, and that more equal countries are healthier and happier, but this knowledge won't bring change by itself. What can be done when those with the power to change the divide are those that benefit most from it? As long as the more equal won't let go, the less equal will suffer. David Simon is a journalist, author, and television writer/producer best known as the creator and showrunner of HBO series The Wire and Treme. He spent twelve years on the crime beat for the Baltimore Sun. He also worked on the adaptations of his books Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets and The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood for NBC and HBO respectively.

In a complex and fast-moving world, if we want to move ahead we need to rethink the conditions for making progress in science, business and society in a fundamental way. We need to realise there is no 'right way', lose our fear of failure, embrace opportunity and take risks. We need to stop looking for leaders who can provide us with all the answers, and encourage the search for many solutions. We need to understand that to adapt to the challenges of the future, we must make mistakes, lots of them. Author and "Undercover Economist" for the Finanicial Times Tim Harford joined Festival of Dangerous Ideas to bring us wisdom from his latest best-seller 'Adapt: Why Success Always Starts With Failure.'

The stories of Anders Behring Breivik and Lance Armstrong may seem to have little in common, but each shows the consequences of the epidemic of narcissism that marks our age. Our lives no longer centred on social and family groups, but have become highly individualistic. We are primed for narcissism by consumer culture, changing family dynamics and growing inequality. It's time we looked at the sources of this epidemic and how it can be stopped. Anne Manne is an Australian writer and social commentator.

The tumultuous 17th century Enlightenment created the modern mind. What were the radical forces that shaped this intellectual world view we still share? And how is this under threat today? A.C. Grayling is the Master of the New College of the Humanities, London, and its Professor of Philosophy, and the author of over thirty books of philosophy, biography, history of ideas, and essays. His books, The Age of Genius, was published in April 2016 and The History of Philosophy was published in 2019 respectively.

We take you back to the unforgettable Christopher Hitchens. Hitch was the opening speaker at the very first Festival of Dangerous Ideas in 2009. Erudite, acerbic and incisive as ever, Hitch's talk - the original dangerous ideas - holds a very special place in our hearts. A Decade of Danger celebrates 10 years of The Festival of Dangerous Ideas and will highlight 10 unmissable speakers from across the festival's history. Sign up at festivalofdangerousideas.com to find out more about the lineup for FODI 2020.

Enjoy Dee Madigan's talk on political advertising from FODI 2016. This detailed look at how political propaganda gets made will enlighten, disgust and entertain in equal measures. A Decade of Danger celebrates 10 years of The Festival of Dangerous Ideas and will highlight 10 unmissable speakers from across the festival's history. Sign up at festivalofdangerousideas.com to find out more about the lineup for FODI 2020.

Revisit Evgeny Morozov's prophetic talk about the future of technology from FODI 2013. It warns of the growing influence of tech corporations in our everyday lives and describes - with eerie accuracy - the world we live in today. A Decade of Danger celebrates 10 years of The Festival of Dangerous Ideas and will highlight 10 unmissable speakers from across the festival's history. Sign up at festivalofdangerousideas.com to find out more about the lineup for FODI 2020.

We look back at Philippe Legrain's impassioned talk about immigration from FODI 2016. By flipping current assumptions on their heads, he builds a case for open migration and the potential it has to benefit a nation's society, economy and culture. A Decade of Danger celebrates 10 years of The Festival of Dangerous Ideas and will highlight 10 unmissable speakers from across the festival's history. Sign up at festivalofdangerousideas.com to find out more about the lineup for FODI 2020.

Revisit Vandana Shiva's speech from FODI 2013 on globalisation and its impacts on environment and society alike. This impassioned rebuttal of modern economic dogma forces us to reframe how we think of healthy economies and communities. A Decade of Danger celebrates 10 years of The Festival of Dangerous Ideas and will highlight 10 unmissable speakers from across the festival's history. Sign up at festivalofdangerousideas.com to find out more about the lineup for FODI 2020.

We highlight the work of a FODI favourite, Jon Ronson. Enjoy his unique brand of reporting as he investigates psychopaths at work, at home and in hospitals in 2011's Psychopaths Make the World Go Round, and uncovers social media's savage culture of shame in 2015's Shame Culture. **This podcast contains strong language and themes that may offend some listeners** A Decade of Danger celebrates 10 years of The Festival of Dangerous Ideas and will highlight 10 unmissable speakers from across the festival's history. Sign up at festivalofdangerousideas.com to find out more about the lineup for FODI 2020.

Revisit Hanna Rosin's talk from the Festival of Dangerous Ideas 2013. Documenting the tectonic shifts in gender equality taking place across America, this is both an inspiring recap of what we have achieved, but also a reminder of how far we still have to go. A Decade of Danger celebrates 10 years of The Festival of Dangerous Ideas and will highlight 10 unmissable speakers from across the festival's history. Sign up at festivalofdangerousideas.com to find out more about the lineup for FODI 2020.

In 2014 Swedish Journalist Kajsa Ekis Ekman presented one of most divisive and dangerous talks in the festival's history. Her talk Surrogacy is Child Trafficking came at a time when the case of Baby Gammy was front of mind in the Australian media. A Decade of Danger celebrates 10 years of The Festival of Dangerous Ideas and will highlight 10 unmissable speakers from across the festival's history. Sign up at festivalofdangerousideas.com to find out more about the lineup for FODI 2020.

Revisit Sam Harris' life-changing presentation from the 2012 Festival of Dangerous Ideas. This deconstruction of the illusion of free will is challenging and confronting, but Harris makes the argument thoroughly entertaining and accessible for all who are willing to look at life differently. A Decade of Danger celebrates 10 years of The Festival of Dangerous Ideas and will highlight 10 unmissable speakers from across the festival's history. Sign up at festivalofdangerousideas.com to find out more about the lineup for FODI 2020.

We revisit Naomi Klein's powerful presentation at The Festival of Dangerous Ideas 2014. This meticulous critique of capitalisms impact on climate change remains one of the most important, impactful and popular talks from FODIs history. A Decade of Danger celebrates 10 years of The Festival of Dangerous Ideas and will highlight 10 unmissable speakers from across the festival's history. Sign up at festivalofdangerousideas.com to find out more about the lineup for FODI 2020.

Former law professor Ayelet Waldman saved her marriage and her life by taking LSD. Now she's fighting for microdosing's wider use. Waldman shares her story and issues a call-to-commonsense at the 2018 Festival of Dangerous Ideas on Cockatoo Island. The session is chaired by Natasha Mitchell.

Around the world, we are seeing the rise of nationalism, racism and authoritarian regimes. Will democracy survive the century? Or has freedom has become too heavy a burden to bear in our uncertain world? Pankaj Mishra, Angela Nagle and Tim Soutphommasane discuss the future of our political societies at the 2018 Festival of Dangerous Ideas on Cockatoo Island. The panel is chaired by Fauziah Ibrahim.

Populist tribes around the world have increasing political sway. Can this movement sustain itself? What comes next? Award-winning author and conservative historian Niall Ferguson presents a keynote at the 2018 Festival of Dangerous Ideas on Cockatoo Island. The session is chaired by Ann Mossop.

Does the arrival of sex robots mean the end of intimacy or the next sex revolution? Will humanoid dolls regulate sexual perversity or provoke greater harm? Rob Brooks, Dr Nikki Goldstein and Xanthe Mallett give their independent take on the issue at the 2018 Festival of Dangerous Ideas on Cockatoo Island. The panel is chaired by Natasha Mitchell.

What we don't understand often looks dangerous. But if we're going to be able to cope with inevitable and accelerating change, we need to go beyond technophobia and moral panic. Haris Aziz, Khandis Blake, Lee Rollins and Martina Stenzel present a series of short talks at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas on Cockatoo Island, covering specialist topics from nanoparticles to genome manipulation. The session is hosted by Rob Brooks.

Big data reveals the sad truth that we all lie, almost all of the time. Except, that is, when we're online. Why do we treat the internet like a confessional box? What secrets do our searches contain? 'Data whisperer' Seth Stephens-Davidowitz reveals the vulnerabilities and insecurities, the patterns and potential, and the ugly prejudices that our Google searches disclose. This keynote talk was presented at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas 2018. It is chaired by Ann Mossop.

Anarchy, resentment and an urge to smash the system are spreading. What caused this age of anger? How can we understand it? And what kind of transformative thinking will help us find our way out of it? Author and academic Pankaj Mishra presents a keynote at the 2018 Festival of Dangerous Ideas on Cockatoo Island. The session is chaired by Simon Longstaff.

Insights from big data can cure diseases, control epidemics, end congestion in our cities and aid the just distribution of natural resources. If withholding access to personal data undermines these social goods, does that make privacy selfish? Zeynep Tufekci and Seth Stephens-Davidowitz hash it out at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas 2018 on Cockatoo Island. The panel is chaired by Marc Fennell.

In the internet culture wars, the ascendant alt-right confronts a complacent left obsessed with identity politics. Has the worst of the internet become reality? Author and writer Angela Nagle presents a keynote at the 2018 Festival of Dangerous Ideas on Cockatoo Island. The talk is chaired by Kym Middleton.

Australian politics is in a maelstrom, fake news has taken root and increasingly, democracy is looking decidedly unwell. Does this have anything to do with our highly concentrated media ownership and vigorous partisan players? What are the costs of a polarised, opinion-driven media and the 24-hour news cycle? Dee Madigan, John Hewson and Rebecca Huntley discuss at the 2018 Festival of Dangerous Ideas on Cockatoo Island. The panel is chaired by Darren Goodsir.

As China's rise continues and the US retreats, do our strategic interests lie in a positive alignment with our region's traditional power? Could an alliance between Australia and China be founded on shared interests – despite underlying cultural and political differences? Zhao Hai, Linda Jakobson, Adam Ni put these questions to debate at the 2018 Festival of Dangerous Ideas on Cockatoo Island. The panel was chaired by Jason Yat-sen Li.

Addictive technology is on the march – from poker machines to smartphones. And it is stealing something even more valuable – our attention – in order to sell it to the highest bidder. Is it too late to get it back? Techno-sociologist Zeynep Tufekci presents a keynote at the 2018 Festival of Dangerous Ideas on Cockatoo Island. The talk is chaired by Ann Mossop.

Controversial feminist Germaine Greer, LSD advocate Ayelet Waldman and ex-Westboro Baptist Church member Megan Phelps-Roper discuss the ethics of free speech in the age of growing intolerance. Their talk was recorded on Cockatoo Island at the 2018 Festival of Dangerous Ideas. The panel was chaired by Hamish Macdonald.

AI will bring about a seismic shift in politics, equality, work and the psyche of mankind. How brave is our new world going to be? Australian AI expert Toby Walsh presents a keynote at the 2018 Festival of Dangerous Ideas on Cockatoo Island. The talk was chaired by Lyria Bennett Moses.

Stephen Fry conjures the lost art of fabulous disagreement at a special Sydney Town Hall event. Presented as part of the 2018 Festival of Dangerous Ideas, the keynote talk was given in honour of the first ever FODI speaker and Fry's late friend, Christopher Hitchens. The event was welcomed by Uncle Allen Madden.

Author, writer and pop culture expert Chuck Klosterman presents a keynote talk at the 2018 Festival of Dangerous Ideas on Cockatoo Island. If retrospect teaches us how clueless humankind has been over most of its history, he asks, how can we be so sure about anything in the present? The session is chaired by Marc Fennell.