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

While it was Mao Zedong who believed power came from the barrel of a gun, philosopher Hannah Arendt saw it... more

How can you quiet those nagging voices inside your head; expectations that you should to better; anxiety how to make ends... more