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Feed your mind. Be provoked. One big idea at a time. Your brain will love you for it. Grab your front row seat to the best live forums and festivals with Natasha Mitchell.

Big Ideas

"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.

Original broadcast March 6, 2025.

Speakers

Helen GarnerAuthor, The Season, Monkey Grip, The Children's Bach, The First Stone, Joe Cinque's Consolation, The Spare Room, This House of Grief and more

Beejay Silcox (host)Critic, writer, outgoing Artistic Director, Canberra Writers Festival

Helen Garner on the beauty and grandeur of footy

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)

Original broadcast on February 19, 2025.

Speaker

Jem 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

Jem Bendell, the fake green fairytale, and how to survive civilisational collapse

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.

Original broadcast on April 15, 2025.

Speakers

Kara 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 Times

Marc 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

Kara Swisher and Marc Fennell take on the Tech Bros

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.

Original broadcast on February 11, 2025.

Speakers

Paul DaviesTheoretical physicist, cosmologist, astrobiologist, Arizona State University and best-selling author

Dr Inês HipólitoAssistant Professor of Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence, Macquarie University

Dr Brett J. KaganChief Scientific Officer at Cortical Labs

Dr Sandra PeterDirector of Sydney Executive Plus, Associate Professor the University of Sydney Business School

The relationship between brain and machine

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.

Original broadcast on January 23, 2025.

Speakers

Stuart Coupe Author, journalist, radio broadcaster, music commentator, publicist at Stuart Coupe Publicity

Jane Gazzo Music Journalist, TV Presenter, Author ( her new book is I Hear Motion), MC, Public Speaker, founder and presenter Action Time Vision - ATV

Michael Dwyer Music journalist, lecturer and member of David Bowie ukulele tribute band The Thin White Ukes

Zan Rowe (host) ABC Music correspondent, Double J and Take 5 host

Further 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

On the art of music writing — with writers who rock!

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.

Original broadcast on April 2, 2025.

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 campaign

This 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.

Can storytellers change the world? Tim Winton and Rachel Perkins join Natasha Mitchell

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 Berlin

Original broadcast on April 1, 2025.

Speaker

Jefferson CowieJames G. Stahlman Professor in American History at Vanderbilt UniversityAmerican Academy in Berlin, Axel Springer Fellow — Class of Spring 2025

History of populist rage in America

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.

Original broadcast on March 18, 2025.

Speakers

Jess 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 Melbourne

Brigid Hains (host)Editorial director, Aeon Media

Matthias Schack-Arnott Musician

Meditation and mindfulness in the digital age

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.

Listen to the rest of our special series Animals — Us and Them?

Original broadcast on February 20, 2025.

Speaker

Satyajit DasAuthor of Wild Quests. Journeys into Ecotourism and the Future for Animalsformer banker, recognised as one of the world's leading financial thinkers.

The secrets of wildlife documentaries

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.

Original broadcast January 20, 2025.

Speakers

Dr 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 Program

Jane RusdenArtist

Meditation and mindfulness in the digital age

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