x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Big Ideas

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.

society & culture politics

All Episodes

0:54:34

Helen Vatsikopoulos — when the stories of migrants in...

Big Ideas ·

2025/09/23

Stories help us to understand what is happening in the world and how it impacts us. Stories help us to relate to the experience of 'the Other' and their suffering building an emotional understanding. Journalist and academic Helen Vatiskopoulos describes the power of stories to share information to the masses and the problems that arise when the narrative is distorted. What is the responsibility of the media? How does media and social media impact on whose stories are being told and

en

0:55:04

The power of essays — with David Marr, Esther...

Big Ideas ·

2025/09/22

For 85 years, Meanjin has published the essays of Australian writers. The magazine's founding editor, Clem Christesen, wanted Meanjin's writers 'to reveal and clarify our life by showing it to us though a vision different from ours and deeper." In the wake of the news the magazine is closing, Big Ideas explores and celebrates the essay in all its forms.This conversation was recorded at the Words on the Waves Festival on 28 May 2025.SpeakersDavid Marr Presenter, Late Night Live, ABC

en

0:55:04

The power of essays

Big Ideas ·

2025/09/22

For 85 years, Meanjin has published the essays of Australian writers. The magazine's founding editor, Clem Christesen, wanted Meanjin's writers 'to reveal and clarify our life by showing it to us though a vision different from ours and deeper." In the wake of the news the magazine is closing, Big Ideas explores and celebrates the essay in all its forms.This conversation was recorded at the Words on the Waves Festival on 28 May 2025.SpeakersDavid Marr Presenter, Late Night Live, ABC

en

0:54:35

Fleeced — unravelling the history of wool and war

Big Ideas ·

2025/09/18

It's water and fireproof, versatile, warm and tough wearing. Wool not only expanded the British Empire, and created prosperity in the colonies, it also changed the nature of war and warfare. But wool's fortunes didn't last forever. This is the story of the rise and fall of wool.This conversation was recorded at the National Library of Australia on 31 July 2025.SpeakersTrish Fitzsimons Documentary film maker, exhibition curator, adjunct professor with Griffith Film School (Griffith

en

0:54:30

What's up with dieting Doc? Rethinking the obesity...

Big Ideas ·

2025/09/17

Has your doctor ever told you to go on a diet? Does that conversation put you off going to them in the first place, even if you need treatment for something not related to your weight? Has being in a larger body ever meant you can't access surgery or IVF? Some are pushing for a weight-inclusive approach to healthcare, which de-centres obesity, and focuses on 'health-at-every-size'. But what does that really mean, and why does it matter?This event was held at the 11th Annual Weight

en

0:54:34

Doing business ethically in turbulent times — with...

Big Ideas ·

2025/09/16

In a world where rules are increasingly being broken, what role should business play in upholding human rights, international and domestic law, people and the environment? And what are the rules and responsibilities of business to ensure supply chains, hiring practices, workplace safety, environment and social governance practices abide by global human rights standards?This event was recorded at the inaugural UN Business and Human Rights Regional Forum: Australia and New Zealand on

en

0:54:35

Jimmy Barnes – tells all you ever wanted to know...

Big Ideas ·

2025/09/15

Rock star and maverick Jimmy Barnes celebrates heritage, family, friends, music and the adventure of a grand life on stage. Get up close to the lead singer of Cold Chisel, author of Working Class Man and Working Class Boy. Learn how terrible experiences of family violence, but also a close bond to his brother shaped him into the performer he is now. Get a look behind the scenes of his music world, with wild characters and the occasional tall tale.This conversation was recorded live

en

0:54:30

Hanna Rosin on what’s happened to the end of men in...

Big Ideas ·

2025/09/11

Thirteen years ago, US political journalist Hanna Roisin wrote a book called The End of Men: and the Rise of Women. Since then, there's been President Donald Trump x 2, the manosphere, the broligarchy, and more. So what happened?This event was recorded at the 2025 Women in Media Conference on 15 August 2025.SpeakersHanna Rosin — Senior Editor, The Atlantic, host Radio Atlantic, author, The End of Men: and the Rise of WomenEdwina Bartholomew — Host, Sunrise, Channel 7

en

0:58:38

Nuked or not? The politics and power play over...

Big Ideas ·

2025/09/10

Nuclear power is banned in Australia, and has been for decades, whilst some countries tilt towards nuclear energy again. Should or could Australia? The politics and power play over nuclear in the Sunburnt country, why the Coalition failed with the nuclear card at the last federal election, and what next? Join Big Ideas host and science journalist Natasha Mitchell and guests Simon Holmes à Court, Geoff Cousins, and Royce Kurmelovs at the Byron Writers Festival. Guess the nuclear

en

0:54:29

John Wamsley and David Lindenmayer — is there hope...

Big Ideas ·

2025/09/09

Hear from two environmentalists who have ruffled a lot of feathers, who have been revered and reviled for their work. But the species and landscapes that we manage to save in 50- or 100-years' time will owe much to the efforts of environmentalist John Wamsley and David Lindenmeyer, Professor of Ecology and Conservation Biology at the Australian National University. Oral historian for the National Library of Australia, Greg Borschmann, is asking them how they imagine Australia's

en

0:54:35

Are the reading wars really over?

Big Ideas ·

2025/09/08

It's estimated that one third of Australian school children can't read proficiently, and debates about the best way to teach reading have raged for years. Now, for the first time, explicit instruction is official policy in all states and territories - so can it turn things around?This speech was recorded at the Advancing Effective Education Summit hosted by Multilit on 30 May 2025. SpeakersJenny Donovan CEO, Australian Education Research Organisation

en

0:54:05

Is our university system broken?

Big Ideas ·

2025/09/04

Students are dropping out, academics are burning out, so is enough being done to save higher education? It's a multibillion-dollar sector, employing and educating millions, with expectations it can deliver the solutions and the workers Australia needs. But Emeritus Professor Graeme Turner says universities are in serious trouble.This conversation was recorded at Readings Books on 15 July 2025.SpeakersGraeme Turner Emeritus Professor of Cultural Studies at the University of

en

1:05:15

The radicalisation of boys — Jess Hill, George...

Big Ideas ·

2025/09/03

Some boys are being radicalised by misogynist online subcultures like the 'Manosphere' and the 'incel' (involuntarily celibate) scene. Parents are anxious and boys are confused. What's happening, why, and what can be done? Join Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell and guests at the 2025 Byron Writers Festival for an insightful exploration with three influential Australians.SpeakersJess Hill, investigative journalist specialising in gendered violence, author of See What You Made Me Do,

en

0:55:03

The AI Con — unpacking the artificial intelligence...

Big Ideas ·

2025/09/02

Is the world really in the midst of an AI revolution, or is it all just clever marketing, powered by immense amounts of money, capital and hype? This episode arms you to spot AI hype in all its guises, expose the exploitation and power-grabs it aims to hide, and push back against it at work and daily life.The conversation with Emily M Bender was recorded at RMIT University in partnership with Readings books on 1 July 2025.The panel discussion Reboot the Narrative was recorded at

en

0:54:30

Barry Jones and Kerry O'Brien — on complexity,...

Big Ideas ·

2025/09/01

Barry Jones and Kerry O'Brien - Two titans of Australian political and social commentary share insights into how to think well, how to act well and how to make sense of politics, history, the fragility of civilisation, science and love.Presented at the Byron Writers FestivalSpeakersBarry JonesFormer science minister, Labor member of the Victorian and Commonwealth parliaments, authorKerry O'Brien (host)Award-winning journalist and broadcaster

en

0:53:44

Tradwives — cosy cottage core fantasy, or something...

Big Ideas ·

2025/08/28

They cook, make babies, and look impossibly perfect while doing it.Tradwives are using social media to redefine femininity and womanhood… or are they just setting it waaaayyy back?The Tradwives Club was recorded at the All About Women festival at Sydney Opera House.SpeakersMegan Agnew — Senior Features Writer (New York), The Times of LondonRosie Waterland — Comedian, author of Broken Brains (with Jamila Rizvi), The Anti-Cool Girl and Every Lie I've Ever Told, host of podcasts Mum

en

0:53:48

My Sister and Other Lovers — Esther Freud with...

Big Ideas ·

2025/08/27

Esther Freud’s first semi-autobiographical novel Hideous Kinky became a film starring Kate Winslet and told the wild story of two little girls living in Morocco with their bohemian mother. More than 30 years on, those girls are back and growing up fast in her sequel, My Sister and Other Lovers. Esther joins Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell at the Byron Writers Festival to explore the ties that bind, that tether, and that can traumatise in complicated families. Esther’s

en

0:49:42

When dreams speak truth — exploring the relationship...

Big Ideas ·

2025/08/26

What happens when the harsh realities of our daily lives — death, war, illness, hardship — invade that most private of realms — our sleep? Four poets and writers explore how things show up in dreams that otherwise can't be expressed, and how they've used the subconscious to inspire their creative work.This conversation was recorded at the Addi Road Writers Festival on 17 May 2025.SpeakersMireille Juchau - Essayist, novelist, critic, author of The World Without Us and morePeter

en

0:54:34

The US was meant to pivot to Asia — has Donald Trump...

Big Ideas ·

2025/08/25

With Donald Trump mediating conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, what has become of the United States' strategy in the Asia Pacific region?The event Asia Disrupted: Trump's First Six Months was recorded at La Trobe Asia on 1 August 2025.SpeakersDaniel Flitton — Managing Editor, The Interpreter The Lowy InstituteDr Lupita Wijaya — Research fellow, La Trobe AsiaAmbika Vishwanath — Principal Research Fellow, La Trobe AsiaProfessor Nick Bisley — Dean of the School of Humanities and

en

0:53:54

Alison Lester and Jane Godwin on how children’s books...

Big Ideas ·

2025/08/21

Even years later, children's books can hold a special place in our hearts, and they also teach, comfort, inspire, and grow young minds, and set kids up for life. Two of Australia's best loved children's authors explore the importance of storytelling for children, and reflect on the books that have changed their lives.This talk was recorded at the Sorrento Writers Festival on 24 April 2025.SpeakersAlison Lester - Author, Magic Beach, Imagine, Noni the Pony, Kissed by the Moon and

en

623 results

Similar Podcasts

Voices of Life

APG Mannheim

Promo Estereo Podcast

Promo Estereo

Talking Timelines Podcast

Talkingtimelines

גיקונומי

ראם שרמן ודורון ניר

Drømmefanger

Drømmefanger