Short & Curly

Robin Hood and his band of merry men of Sherwood forest reckoned rich people had it too good. So, they roamed around the countryside robbing the rich to give to the poor. Do you agree?

Molly Daniels thinks she has what it takes to be a superstar pop singer. The only trouble is, she's out of tune and can't hit the notes properly! Eek. But wait, there's a program many musicians use which "fixes" their voice. Is it wrong to use technology to make you sound better than you are?

We've got exciting news for you — Short & Curly is coming back soon! Molly, Carl and Matt haven't just been lazing around at the beach eating lollies, they've been super busy making you brand new episodes. And they're awesome! Hit play for a sneak peek. And tell your friends to subscribe now, so you can all hear the new shows as soon as they come out.Producer: Kyla SlavenExecutive Producer: Ian Walker

An out-of-control train is heading straight for a group of people who don't know they are about to be hit. You, as the driver, have some life and death decisions to make. What will you do? Hop on for a journey into one of the world's most famous thought experiments.This season is a special collaboration between the ABC Audio Studios and WNYC Studios in New York City.Hosts: Carl Smith and Shumita BasuSeries Producer: Kyla SlavenExecutive Producers: Emily Botein and Ian WalkerProducer: Amy PearlSound Engineers: Isaac Jones, Hamish Camilleri, Jolen CamilleriProduction Support: Sarah Sandbach and Brigit Berger

Kids dob to parents and teachers for all kinds of reasons. It often feels bad when someone tells on you. And, if you're the one doing the dobbing (or snitching as our American friends say), the kid who gets in trouble might not like you for it. So should we tell on people at all? When is it right to speak up and when is it better to keep your mouth shut?This season is a special collaboration between the ABC Audio Studios and WNYC Studios in New York City.Hosts: Carl Smith and Shumita BasuSeries Producer: Kyla SlavenExecutive Producers: Emily Botein and Ian WalkerProducer: Amy PearlSound Engineers: Isaac Jones, Hamish Camilleri, Jolen CamilleriProduction Support: Sarah Sandbach and Brigit Berger

The Ancient Romans were a bloodthirsty lot. As entertainment, they headed down to the local arena, to watch people and animals fight to the death. Today this would be illegal in many parts of the world. But the Roman Empire was a long time ago, and maybe they didn't know any better. So were the Romans wrong in how they lived their lives and can we judge them for it?This season is a special collaboration between the ABC Audio Studios and WNYC Studios in New York City.Hosts: Carl Smith and Shumita BasuSeries Producer: Kyla SlavenExecutive Producers: Emily Botein and Ian WalkerProducer: Amy PearlSound Engineers: Isaac Jones, Hamish Camilleri, Jolen CamilleriProduction Support: Sarah Sandbach and Brigit Berger

Elephants are extremely intelligent and highly social creatures who traditionally live in large family herds. But their traditional natural world isn't perfect. In the wild, they face many dangers, including from humans. An elephant living in a zoo has a very different life, a much safer one. But they must live a life controlled by humans and cope without the support of their social herd. So, are zoos a good place for elephants? Would a 'wild' life necessarily be a longer, safer or better life? And, how do we even know what counts as a 'good life' if you are an elephant?This season is a special collaboration between the ABC Audio Studios and WNYC Studios in New York City.Hosts: Carl Smith and Shumita BasuSeries Producer: Kyla SlavenExecutive Producers: Emily Botein and Ian WalkerProducer: Amy PearlSound Engineers: Isaac Jones, Hamish Camilleri, Jolen CamilleriProduction Support: Sarah Sandbach and Brigit Berger

Making friends and keeping friends can be hard. Sometimes you like someone a lot and then one of you changes and your friendship ends. The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle thought friendship was one of the most important things in life and he came up with three main types of friendships. This show lets you think about what kind of friends you have and why.This season is a special collaboration between the ABC Audio Studios and WNYC Studios in New York City.Hosts: Carl Smith and Shumita BasuSeries Producer: Kyla SlavenExecutive Producers: Emily Botein and Ian WalkerProducer: Amy PearlSound Engineers: Isaac Jones, Hamish Camilleri, Jolen CamilleriProduction Support: Sarah Sandbach and Brigit Berger

While Molly stays at home to fight crime and breed endangered lizards, Carl packs his toothbrush and some clean underwear for Short & Curly’s big adventure to New York City.

Australia is on the war path, pledging to kill two million feral cats by 2020. They felines are biologically the same creatures as the kitties people have as pets at home, but most were born in the wild. Feral cats are said to be responsible for millions of native animals and birds being killed each year and their numbers are skyrocketing. So, a big program to cull cats is underway. Is it okay to take some lives to protect many others? And what about the poor cats? Is it their fault humans brought them here, then let them loose in the environment?Producer: Kyla SlavenExecutive Producer: Ian WalkerGuest: Gregory Andrews, Threatened Species Commissioner Department of Environment and Energy, Australian GovernmentBrains Trust: Oliver, Hugh, Lily, Polly, Georgie, and Paddy from Millthorpe Public School, NSW

That's not fair! How often have you heard that said at school? When the bell rings, Molly and Carl head back to the classroom but it's not long before one of them is in trouble with the teacher. A disruptive student (hint, it's Carl) can take up a lot of the teacher's attention. Is it wrong that a teacher can't give everyone an equal amount of their time? Can a classroom ever be truly fair?Producer: Kyla SlavenExecutive Producer: Ian WalkerBrains trust: Finn, Ilka, Phoenix, Megan, and Eleanor from Millthorpe Public School, NSWActing crew: Neve, Denholm, April

They cut a small hole in your abdomen, blow some carbon dioxide into your tummy so it puffs up like a balloon, then carefully take out a perfectly healthy part of your body. Yikes. This is what happens when you donate a kidney. Most of us have two, but we really only need one to live long and healthy lives. So, if a family member or friend had kidney disease and you discovered yours was a perfect match, would you donate one? And what about if that person was a stranger?Would that change your answer?Producer: Kyla SlavenExecutive Producer: Ian WalkerGuest: Michael Page, Centre for Effective Altruism, United KingdomBrains Trust: Oliver, Hugh, Lily, Polly, Georgie, and Paddy from Millthorpe Public School, NSW

Is it possible for an army to do the right thing? After all, armies destroy buildings and neighbourhoods, they kill and severely injure people, including children. Many wars and conflicts go on for years. But, weirdly, war do have rules, even if not everyone follows them. Do these rules really make it possible to create an ethical army? Can technology — like robots, drones and stun guns — lead to fewer casualties? After donning their battle fatigues, Molly and Carl design some ethical armies of their own.Producer: Kyla SlavenExecutive Producer: Ian WalkerBrains trust: Finn, Ilka, Phoenix, Megan, and Eleanor from Millthorpe Public School, NSWActing crew: Neve, Denholm, April

At almost nine kilometres from top to bottom, Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world. Many have died or suffered serious injuries trying to conquer the peak. Take a cold and windy journey with Molly and Carl as they gather their ropes and ice picks, lace up their climbing boots and head out into the wild for some high altitude curly questions. Along the way, you'll meet the youngest Australian to have made it to the summit.Producer: Kyla SlavenExecutive Producer: Ian WalkerGuest: Alyssa Azar, youngest Australian to reach the summit of Mount EverestBrains Trust: Oliver, Hugh, Lily, Polly, Georgie, and Paddy from Millthorpe Public School, NSW

Carl thinks they have the cutest, squishiest faces and biggest googly eyes of the entire canine world. He definitely wants to buy one. But the life of a pug is not always a happy one. Over time, dog breeders have made pugs so flat-faced that many have serious trouble breathing. They can't run around and play as much as other dogs and get overheated in summer. Many pugs end up needing major surgery just to help them get enough oxygen. So, should Carl be buying a dog like that, even if he would love it and look after it really well?Producer: Kyla SlavenExecutive Producer: Ian Walker

Let's say you can hook your brain up to a machine that feels 100 per cent real and offers you the kind of life you've always wanted. You could climb one of the world's tallest mountains, get yourself some great friends, and even program in some challenges to keep it interesting. The catch is this perfect world isn't real… It's a simulation. Molly thinks it sounds cool, but isn't sure about leaving her real life dogs behind. The show takes us on a thought experiment to work out what it is we really want from life and what things are important.Producer: Kyla SlavenExecutive Producer: Ian Walker

Kids have to live by the rules of the society they are born into but don't get a say on what those rules are. Unfair, right? Decisions made by governments today affect kids' futures but we don't let them near the ballot box. Are children wise enough or informed enough to make big decisions about government? Short & Curly mounts our own political debate with surprising results. Guest Amara is a smart kid who doesn't think it's necessary. How would you vote?Producer: Kyla SlavenExecutive Producer: Ian Walker

Many cultures believe it's good luck if a bird poos on your head, like what happened to Carl (eww!). Others say it's bad luck if you break a mirror. For centuries, humans have tried to understand things like right and wrong, fair and unfair. So, how much does luck play in your life, in good or bad ways? And how might understanding luck make us think differently about the world?Producer: Kyla SlavenExecutive Producer: Ian Walker

What would you do if you had the power of invisibility? Would you sneak around, spy on people, commit crimes, pull practical jokes, or find out what other people really think about you? The military is putting tonnes of money and effort into trying to make things invisible, but don't hold your breath. We introduce a new superhero, Invisibilia, to help us explore some really big questions. How would you behave if you thought no-one could see you? Is it about doing the right thing or is it the "getting caught" part that stops bad behaviour?Producer: Kyla SlavenExecutive Producer: Ian Walker

Lollies are a colourful and magical and very sweet part of many children’s lives. But can you say no when faced with a bowl of jelly beans or sour worms or other types of candy? With so much concern nowadays about the amount of sugar in our diets, this show looks at self control and what we should do if people don’t have any.

Walked into any traffic lights lately as you stare manically at a screen? Maybe you’re one of the millions of people playing Pokemon Go, the augmented reality game which sends its players out into the streets to catch weird little imaginary creatures. Is it an annoying disruption of public spaces? And, because it’s cleverly designed so you never want to stop playing, we ask: Are you playing the game or is the game playing you?

Images of movie stars and pop singers are everywhere we look – album covers, concert posters, t-shirts, Instagram feeds and other social media. Photos and videos are a big part of how famous people present themselves. But, how honest and accurate are they? Do they look anything like they do in real life… and should they? When do small changes to an image turn it into a lie? And does it even matter?

For professional fire and rescue workers, it’s not all sirens, cool trucks and running red lights. They often have to make really hard and terrible decisions in moments of heat, smoke and danger. Their job is to be there to help on the worst day of your life. So, if you were a firefighter, who would you save first?

We’re often told we have a special responsibility to our brothers and sisters just because they are family. But, do we really? And what kind of duty is it? What if you found out the annoying new kid at school was your long lost brother or sister? Would you feel any differently about them? And, if you really didn’t like them, is it somehow worse to kill a sibling than to kill anyone else? Yep, some murderously tricky questions!

He is wise and old and learned and kind, but the Principal of Hogwarts is not perfect. He deceives, he holds back really important information about issues of life and death, and is willing to sacrifice Harry Potter for the good of the many, leading him (as Professor Snape says) “like a pig to slaughter”. So, is Dumbledore an ethical person? How flawed are we allowed to be and still be counted as “good”?

There are 1,000 people currently shortlisted for the trip of a lifetime, from which they will never return! They want to be the first stage in the human habitation of the red planet. But do humans have a right to inhabit other planets, and which humans specifically? Would colonizing Mars be a chance to create a better world from scratch, or will it become an environmental and ethical nightmare? Would you want to go?

Kind lies. White lies. Little lies. We take a trip to the fun park to look at all sorts of lies we tell for all sorts of reasons. Like what if your parent asks you to pretend to be younger than you are to get a cheaper entry fee? What’s the right thing to do? Amidst the rides and games, junk food and excitement, we explore a few stories about lying, a subject which has divided some of the greatest thinkers in history.

In the 1950s, a group of young boys took part in a now famous experiment to find out how easy it would be to turn two groups of children into enemies. The boys didn’t know they were in a scientific study, and many later regretted the things they did to each other. Is the knowledge we might get from such an experiment worth the pain it might cause to get it?

Unless you’re a vegetarian, there are some animals you probably eat regularly. But how would you cope if your next dinner was some stir-fried dog? Why is it okay to eat a baby cow (veal) or sheep (lamb) and not a cute little puppy? Are our ideas about eating animals a bit of a mess? And does this matter?

When you dive into the pool at the school swimming carnival, how fair is the race? You might all start swimming at the same time, but what things give you an unfair advantage over other competitors?You might have access to great coaches, great equipment and great healthy food.Are these good things fair or not?We are joined by Liz Ellis, the three time world champion former captain of the Australian netball team, the Diamonds.Also appearing is Joseph Winter, the head of Innovation, Research and Development at the Australian Institute of Sport.Basically, he gets to develop all kinds of cool high performance gadgets and clothing.

Back in 2011, an Australian teenager was filmed being punched again and again in the school playground by a bully. What made the video go viral was what happened next. The bullying victim lifted up the bully and threw him to the ground, hard. Was that a kind of justice?Our guests are Onor, Izzy and Alex from Theatre Bugs in Adelaide.

They share most of our DNA and many of our social skills, and in some experiments, chimpanzees outperform human children. So why do we put chimpanzees in zoos and children in schools?Is the line between humans and other animals a little more blurred that you'd think?Our guest Lou Grossfeldt is a zoo keeper with over twenty years on the job.She works with primates at Mogo Zoo and even has a tattoo of her favourite chimpanzee on her back.She is the co-author of the book Our Primate Family.

Not all stealing is about taking someone's physical property. If a comedian comes up with a joke, you see it on YouTube and then start telling all your friends, is that stealing?If you take a small sound or beat from a song you love and then use it in a whole new piece of music you've created, is that stealing?Our guest, Urthboy, is one Australia’s best known hip hop artists and is also part of the group The Herd.

By the time today's 7-12 year olds get their driver's license, robotic cars will become more common. They will be programmed to make snap decisions when something goes wrong on the road, but can we trust them?And, as robots around us become more and more sophisticated and human-like, how can we be sure what they tell us is real?Our guest Gerard Waldron doesn't think his granddaughter will ever need to learn to drive.Gerard was in charge of the first trial of a driverless car trial on a public road in Australia and is the head of the ARRB Group.