Feed your mind. Be provoked. One big idea at a time. Your brain will love you for it. Grab your front row seat... more
How should we reflect on wars, past and present? Do the rituals of Remembrance Day and Anzac Day hold meaning... more
It needs strong leadership and good coordination. But most of all, it needs public opinion to rise up and push... more
When you're alive, the idea of dying feels weird, remote, alien. Yet it's the one experience we will all have.... more
From To Kill a Mockingbird to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, there are no shortage of options to include on... more
Friends are among the most important relationships we will have in our lives. So what makes someone a friend, how... more
Why did acclaimed actor Melissa Jaffer step away from the spotlight and the swinging 60s to enter a strict cloister... more
Literature on crime is huge. Many of you just love to read about a good murder. But do you prefer... more
From mis and disinformation to election interference, parts of the internet have become dystopian, due to a lack of regulation.... more
Ninety years ago, in the face of communism, fascism, and the Great Depression, Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies, asked the... more
Democracy is in retreat, authoritarianism on the rise. But this has happened before. So how did big thinkers of the... more
When you're swimming in the ocean, do you ever startle at a piece of seaweed? Mistake a wave for a... more
Remember the 8cm living worm found inside a woman's brain last year? Where the hell did it come from? Parasites... more
Irish Times columnist and author Fintan O'Toole draws on the Irish experience to explain the rise of populism and authoritarianism... more
David McAllister invites you backstage and reveals gloriously gossipy anecdotes about the stars he's met in his long dancing career.... more
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has fought against antisemitism worldwide for over a century. It is now documenting a dangerous rise... more
Two Australians who are intimately connected to the conflict in the Middle East, one Jewish, one Palestinian, make their pleas... more
One of Australia's most seasoned political journalists Niki Savva has seen the fractures in our democracy up closer than most.... more
Are you a gazelle or a grizzly bear when you run? The bounce in your step defines whether you're a... more
Can you have a wedding between the graves? Why not! – as long as it's respectful. The future of cemetery... more
Renowned and controversial Australian philosopher and bioethicist Peter Singer is no stranger to contentious ideas — wrestling with the ethics... more
Big Ideas celebrates the blooming daphne with a look at the life, work and legacy of a pioneer of Australian... more
The United Nations was established after World War II in an attempt to maintain international peace, security, and cooperation. So... more
We've lived through the age of peak TV, (and wasn't it glorious). Then cinema was BACK, thanks to the hype... more
Does the Milky Way have a sibling and how are stars formed? How can a telescope go back over 13... more
Every autistic person is different, with their own strengths and challenges. We shouldn’t be asking what jobs are suitable for... more
Surveys constantly reveal that a huge number of us are not sleeping well. What is that doing to our mental... more
The art and ethics of artisanal trades, from stone masonry to roof plumbing to limestone mortar plastering. What can be... more
Liana Buchanan is a guardian of the rights of our most precious asset - our children. In a keynote speech,... more
Student activists from the Pacific Islands successfully got the International Court of Justice to define the responsibilities of nations to... more
The median Australian house price is now about $800,000 – almost eight times the average income – and well beyond... more
Australia's high country is a spectacular and precious place. It's also a place that is changing, with shorter, less predictable... more
Frequently described as victims, as failures or even as women without morals, single mothers often get a bad rap. They... more
History is the stories we choose to tell about ourselves and others. So how have those stories changed over time?... more
What is the allure of gothic fiction? How does it give shape to your most unsettling impulses? A panel of... more
What is the true meaning of Orwellian and what can George Orwell's writings teach us about navigating the 21st century?... more
It's the living force of the nation, but how much do we understand our Constitution? Twenty five pages sets out... more
The idea of "freedom" is one that's often used in relation to the economy: we have "the free market" and... more
Just over a decade ago democracy was within reach in Myanmar, but now the country is in danger of becoming... more
It's a tough time to be a parent. From screens, to mental health, neurodiversity, gender, diet and schooling, this generation... more
From soy to oat to almond, plant mylks are all the rage. But is it possible that we've misunderstood and... more
It was the stuff of scifi blockbuster movie The Terminator in the early 1980s, but now lethal autonomous weapons systems... more
We all love a bargain, but what is the real cost of those books we buy online or in a... more
The connections between the Caribbean and Australia go back to white settlement, with deep links to the slave trade and... more
10 humans in length, weighing 50 small cars, and with a bite that could take out two of you in... more
A new generation of female and non-binary intellectuals are using social media to share their scholarship and reach younger audiences.... more
Could our continent's ancient past help solve future food security crises? Or even offer new treatments for skin cancer and... more
New ABC Chair Kim Williams wants to see change at Australia’s national public broadcaster. In a fragmented media landscape and... more
It's an adults-only hour of high vaudeville to make you laugh and think. Two teams of brainiacs go head-to-head at... more
"They paved paradise and put up a parking lot" sang Joni Mitchell. Let's get wild and urban. Sometimes nature can... more
Meet the world's smallest superheroes. Insects are ecological warriors, but through the brilliance of biomimicry, they're also inspiring all sorts... more
Join Natasha Mitchell for a very special event live under our stunning Southern night sky, with guests and listeners from... more
What led to this current era of superpower conflict, and what will the outcome of the 2024 US presidential race... more
Your biological responses to fear are at the core of depression, anxiety, failed relationships and much of human misery. But... more
Humans have long had a morbid fascination with murder and other crimes, as shown through the popularity of shows like... more
The Global South has vital perspectives in addressing the most pressing issues of our times, including inequality, the climate catastrophe,... more
Eric Beecher joins Natasha Mitchell to discuss his riveting and excoriating new book The Men Who Killed the News: The... more
Have you been online recently and noticed the internet is changing? Everything from your Google searches to your social media... more
Whether in conflicts around the world or within society, irreconcilability seems to be the hallmark of our present times. But... more
World conflicts can be overwhelming, or sometimes they feel very remote. But for many Australians, they are deeply personal, raw,... more
One day Ariane Beeston looked at her baby son in his pram and saw a dragon looking back at her.... more
A vintage ute, a novelty cheque, shearing prize ribbons, a household trunk and blanket – even the simplest of things... more
Jimmy Lai was once considered Hong Kong's quintessential rags to riches success story. But now, the newspaper publisher and democracy... more
It's only eight years until the torch will be passed on to Brisbane. The countdown is on: Are we prepared?... more
Join a full house at the Sydney Opera House with Nobel winning scientist Jennifer Doudna and Big Ideas' host Natasha... more
Who's watching your local council, keeping you abreast of issues in your neighbourhood, and celebrating your community's achievements? That used... more
Moral philosopher and writer Raimond Gaita wrestles with the moral and ethical dimensions of the Israel-Gaza war to try to... more
In the shadow of the AI revolution, as the tech giants vie for our data, our attention, and our money,... more
Join Natasha Mitchell and guests for a conversation full of surprises on the bonds that make us and sometimes break... more
For many Indigenous performers publicity comes with the burden of being a role model. Their only options seem to be... more
Recent elections overseas have shown a rise in the popularity of far-right politics in Europe and elsewhere, fuelled by anti-immigration... more
In some parts of the United States, you're more likely to see a book banned in public libraries and schools,... more
From land rights to health and education, working within the system or outside of it, what makes a great Indigenous... more
Democracy is not necessarily the winner of the recent elections in Asia. More than a billion people across the region... more
In NAIDOC Week, is reconciliation between Black and White Australians dead, buried, or in need of re-imagining? The fallout of... more
From loneliness, to our technology addiction, growing inequality and our shrinking middle class, our faith in God, to the complex... more
Join Natasha Mitchell and guests in a coal country heartland. Communities in Muswellbrook and Singleton in the NSW Upper Hunter... more
Throughout history, empires and civilisations have risen to greatness and then fallen into decline and vanish, leaving only ruins and... more
Through the lens of her own middle-class family, prolific British journalist Polly Toynbee explores the guilt of privilege, the myth... more
You wouldn't be human if you hadn't from time to time wondered what the meaning of all of this is.... more
Join Natasha Mitchell and guests for a poetic discussion on the ways you can create space to grieve for species... more
Leading Australian climate scientist Dr Joelle Gergis takes a timely look at Australia's perilous future in a warming world. "Most Australians... more
A huge number of ancient artefacts, First Nations' ceremonial objects and precious art sits in museums, galleries, private collections all... more
Author, essayist and speechwriter Don Watson says that the price of democracy is energy, imagination, and unstinting hard work. Through... more
On the doorstep of Gaza comes the remarkable story of the world's first peace treaty — a 3200-year-old text. Egyptologist... more
Disadvantaged and marginalised students often don't get the financial and teaching support that they need. Equity everyone, regardless of their... more
Award winning playwright S. Shakthidharan has described his groundbreaking theatre work Counting and Cracking as "a radical act of belonging".... more
Drawing on his experiences working across continents in the "shatter zones" of society — jails, war zones, refugee shelters –... more
Join Natasha Mitchell and guests at the 2024 Ocean Lovers Festival in Bondi. From deep sea mining to illegal fishing... more
It took until the late 1990s for Australia to decriminalise homosexuality. Since then, the law has changed and evolved in... more
Firstly, make sure you become a grandparent. It apparently adds five years to your life. And it can make you... more
It's often said that democracies can't function well without a strong opposition to hold the government of the day to... more
From stopping the boats to building a wall, countries have gone to great lengths to stop the flow of people... more
Humanity faces two existential threats: catastrophic climate change and nuclear annihilation, according to former US Deputy Secretary of Energy turned nuclear... more
Laura Tingle delivers the 2024 John Button Oration at the Melbourne Writers Festival, looking at how our public discourse has... more
Australians love a drink, or at least, that's a perception that's deeply ingrained in our national identity... but how true... more
Join Natasha Mitchell and guests to grapple with some gritty paradoxes about science and religion. In this era of misinformation,... more
When you're faced with the reality that your home, livelihoods and culture will be swallowed up by the rising seas... more
You might think humans have escaped biology and evolution altogether with our strange and different ways: Women live well past... more
As violence continues in Europe and the Middle East and as positive collective action on urgent global-scale issues seems out... more
Join Natasha Mitchell as she speaks to Tibetan master Venerable Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, along with an Indian philosopher of mind... more
You would think that times of intense progress and technological innovation are good for societies, but history shows that's when... more
Since the announcement of the AUKUS plan for nuclear submarines, we’ve been hearing a lot about Australia’s maritime security. But... more
Australia's unique biodiversity, a product of almost 50 million years of glorious evolutionary isolation, is in freefall. The threats are... more
Join Natasha Mitchell and guests for a robust conversation about forging a shared future between Black and White Australians through deeper... more
For more than half a century, the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle allowed and covered up an extensive network of paedophile... more
Through sinister marketing and loose regulation, the tobacco industry has hooked a whole new generation of kids on smoking. How... more
What lessons can we learn from J. Robert Oppenheimer and the development of the nuclear bomb? How should we govern and... more
Smaller conflicts than those we're witnessing right now have set off world wars. Who will be the crucial superpowers and... more
We are living in an "age of crises," says former New Zealand prime minister, Helen Clark. With her leadership experience... more
Women’s refuges are now a central part of our response to family violence, with hundreds operating across Australia. But that... more
As Donald Trump makes his case for re-election in 2024, under a cloud of criminal prosecutions, how can journalists better... more
New York writer Jonathan Rosen’s memoir The Best Minds: a story of friendship, madness, and the tragedy of good intentions... more
You don't need that dress, you need a hug. Or so says fashion activist and writer, Aja Barber.
It took 400,000 people to land man to the moon. And it's using that example as inspiration that the influential... more
Could Asia Pacific be with China within a couple of years? Is the independence of Taiwan worth for Australia to... more
Join host Natasha Mitchell and guests for some straight talk that cuts through spin and jargon. Has the way politicians speak... more
Only 50 years ago, if you were 60 years old your chance of dying was the same as an 80-year-old's... more
Gender equality isn't just about equal pay, it's a health and safety issue. Women perceive safety very differently to men,... more
How valuable are trees as an alternative crop? And what's the role of agroforestry in the future of sustainable farming?
They use of shark nets to protect us from sharks is highly controversial. Do they work, what do they do to... more
It's a question that has focused the minds of astronauts, scientists, space entrepreneurs and enthusiasts alike – is there, could... more
Folk legend Eric Bogle is opening up and talks about his life, his thoughts about death, friendship and love and... more
What is the future of Israelis and Palestinians in the Gaza strip and surrounding region? Can the past help us... more
A wooden sarcophogas is sold in a Cairo market in the late 1800s, transported to Australia, and held in a... more
For decades, Mary Beard has forged her own path through the male dominated field of academia, from the ruins of... more
The best of talks, forums, debates, and festivals held in Australia and around the world.
What is the best response to hostage diplomacy? Pay the ransom? Sanction the responsible country, or individuals? Go public, or... more
Water is life. Rivers give life. But water and the rivers it flows down are also heavily politicised, and at... more
Australia’s bushfires are more intense, more frequent, and more costly. So how can we prepare for the inevitable – what... more
Many of you are involved in a charity: Handing out meals to homeless people, caring for surrendered animals in a... more
Grace is a hard word to define, but in her latest book, author, journalist and broadcaster Julia Baird explores the... more
When governments say they can't afford to fix climate change or lift kids out of poverty are they speaking the... more
Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world's foremost experts on trauma, discusses his pioneering research into traumatic stress and... more
Different generations agree that youth mental health is in decline, but disagree about the causes. We explore generational attitudes to... more
Liberalism isn't just a political philosophy but the basis of a truly meaningful life. That's the bold statement of philosopher... more
Quantum computing is all about physics, but for those looking to pioneer and revolutionise science, there are certain human qualities... more
Imagine a machine with more power than all the computers in the world combined. This is the promise of quantum... more
The US has claimed that it has “no greater ally than Australia”, but with the stability of its democracy in... more
Hear from four “many worlds travellers” who have visited parallel worlds to explore themes of Indigenous rights, disability, gender and... more
Can you put a price tag on regional education? In fact, you can. The large difference in the quality of... more
From dark energy to the nature of time, some of the most baffling mysteries in cosmology point to a surprisingly... more
Two years since Vladimir Putin’s Russia invaded neighbouring Ukraine, the risks are as grave as ever, including the possibility of... more
We hear from the nation's anti-corruption leaders, including NACC Deputy Commissioner Nicole Rose, about the state of corruption in Australia.
Pioneering electronic musician and performer Laurie Anderson invites you contemplate the wonders of time. Time is one of the most... more
Best-selling author Holly Ringland says that everyone can be creative – yes, even you! Be it painting, cooking, knitting a... more
Most of us know that exposure to nature is good for us, because we’ve experienced it ourselves. Doctors can even... more
Celebrities, and their fans, wield tremendous economic, cultural and political influence – and none more so than US pop superstar... more
Have you ever followed your intuition, or been guided by a gut feeling? Is intuition real or imagined? Can it... more
What has happened to civil debate and the reasonable exchange of competing ideas in public, to conversations that might lead... more
There's nothing like an innocent story to rupture reality! Fiction is a literary seismograph for social conflict and stories can... more
Public libraries are for everyone, but last year, the LGBTIQA+ community became a target for exclusion by anti-queer campaigners, when... more
Some things feel impossible to change without money and power. Meet four trailblazers didn't let that stop them. Fighting corporations.... more
Women and girls in Iran continue to take to the streets and protest gender oppression and human rights abuses. And... more
US singer, songwriter and producer Caroline Polachek is known as one of the most inventive pop musicians working in the... more
Speaking freely isn't only about Freedom of Speech legislation, it's equally about social norms, loving your family and courage. Authors... more
Housing is a hot mess in many remote Aboriginal communities, including Tennant Creek, and the rollercoaster of government policies and... more
Psychedelics were once the domain of hippies and cults, but these drugs have come long way from the ‘turn on,... more
Finishing your undergraduate assignments in English Literature in breaks between selling drugs … fighting and hurting people and committing crimes... more
Tiger parents: do their methods raise happy and successful human beings, or burnt out, damaged therapy cases? In this hyper... more
From the moment we’re born, we all age. So why limit the possibilities? The latest Intergenerational Report describes Australia's ageing... more
Craig Foster has a vision for the future: An Australia without racism, with equal access to food and representation and... more
In her fifth Massey lecture, Escaping the Burrow, self-described "feral intellectual" Astra Taylor explores how insecurity can also offer us a... more
An appeal for solidarity with species other than our own, in this fourth Massey lecture by renowned Canadian-American filmmaker, writer, political... more
In her third provocative CBC Massey lecture, Canadian-American filmmaker, writer, political organiser, rock musician and self-described "feral intellectual" Astra Taylor argues our... more
We take certain fundamental rights for granted, but who got to define them and are they enough? You'll find solidarity... more
Who was Cura and what's she got to do with how capitalism shapes our lives and psyches? In this year's... more
Three successful authors Akuch Anyieth, Shannon Burns and Catherine Deveny talk about memoir, and why they're interested in the form. Moderator... more
Two teams of heavy-hitters debate the fate of human creativity in a world of artificial intelligence. In a Big Ideas first, two... more
In early 2020, as Australians were being locked down, something strange was happening in an inner-suburban hotel in Brisbane. A... more
It's possibly the greatest ever example of artistic censorship in Australian history. Police have requested hip hop to be taken... more
From apps that help us swim safely to using Crispr to cut the genes of box jellyfish to technology that... more
What do the streets feel like where you live? Unsafe for kids to ride to school, big busy highways, limited... more
Three influential women explore the power, the politics, and the cost of speaking out.
The history and development of the nuclear industry is shred in secrecy and contradictions. And its future is throwing up... more
Are Greek-Australian's now considered to be 'white' in Australia's colourful social fabric? A panel of prominent Greek-Australians discusses questions of... more
"Are they a girl or a boy?" That question is often asked about a newborn. But what if you're born with genetic... more
The best of talks, forums, debates, and festivals held in Australia and around the world.
Meet some climate refugees of a different kind. From the Western swamp tortoise to honey ants to whales, can they... more
Questioning whether travel is ethical is probably the last thing on your mind when you decide to go on holiday.... more
Would you eat protein brewed in a vat from bacteria instead of meat? "Nom nom nom!", you might say. George... more
The planet's hotter than it has ever been. July was the Earth's hottest month ever recorded since records began. And the... more
If you can't control it – then don't worry about it. It's one of the core messages of stoicism. Much... more
For more than 100 years, birdwatchers have searched for evidence that one of Australia's rarest native birds is not extinct.... more
We make machines, but do our machines also make us? And who's in control really? Superstar anthropologist, technologist, futurist, cyberneticist, and Silicon Valley insider Genevieve... more
Movie or TV roles for older women accurately reflecting contemporary, society and experiences are rare. Sigrid Thornton, Rachael Maza, Sophie... more
Who doesn't dream of being loved dangerously, thrillingly free from the tethers of restraint? It's a question journalist and author... more
Harvard University has been running the world's longest study into happiness. The Harvard Study of Adult Development has been running... more
Who sets the agenda when it comes to designing houses? More often than not wealthy developers call the shots. The... more
In its simplest definition, orientalism refers to the patronising depictions of the 'Eastern world' — a term that encompasses North... more
Where once photography gave us images of the world as seen by machines, photography under AI gives us images of... more
While Australian women were among the first to get the vote in the world, their lives were still constrained for... more
Your internal experience of consciousness – your rich inner life — has had scientists and philosophers completely perplexed for centuries. How... more
In 1963, as the space race was taking off, the influential political philosopher Hannah Arrendt challenged scientists over their shift... more
Mental health problems and chronic diseases are plaguing societies around the world. Both fields need new solutions. We know that... more
Australians on average chuck out 7.6 billion tonnes of food per year. That amounts to 312 kilos per person, or... more
In a world of hyper-connectivity and social media, why do so many of us feel so damn lonely? Being lonely... more
Many people embark on a journey to discover their family's past in order to contextualise their present. But what happens... more
What happens when Australia’s best poets and writers walk into the world of scientists? How do they feed of each... more
A range of media outlets — including the ABC — have been criticised for their coverage of the latest Israel-Gaza... more
A range of media outlets — including the ABC — have been criticised for their coverage of the latest Israel-Gaza... more
Multi-award-winning Australian photojournalist Andrew Quilty went to Afghanistan on a two-week assignment. He stayed for 9 years. At just 25, Afghan-born... more
Technology's default setting is 'male' — more precisely a white, or at least, light-skinned male. Tracey Spicer exposes how technology... more
In 2020, veteran science journalist Ed Yong intended to write a book about the world of animal senses. But fate... more
If you find yourself locked up in a foreign prison on fake charges, what would you like your government to... more
Has feminism been too white and too middle-class for too long? From India to Australia, five trailblazing women spanning generations, geography, and... more
The road to peace is one littered with compromise. From Belfast to Bosnia, Dili to the Democratic Republic of the... more
He was one of the most remarkable producer/director/actors to come out of Hollywood. The cinema wunderkind George Orson Welles. But... more
The director of Doherty Institute for Infectious Diseases was out of office when the first official case of the novel... more
Clem Ford, author of bestselling book Fight Like a Girl, Boys Will be Boys, and How We Love, is back with a... more
There is nothing like cheering on your favourite sport team; or seeing our Aussie athletes on the top podium at the... more
Clem Ford, author of bestselling book Fight Like a Girl, Boys Will be Boys, and How We Love, is back with a firey new read. This... more