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

The Focus

Auscast Network

The Focusis the flagship current affairs podcast ofSAGE International, an independent, Adelaide-based geopolitical think tank. Hosted byDr. John Bruni—a veteran geopolitical commentator with over 24 years in the Australian media—The Focusbrings a critical edge to global affairs. John"s expertise is built on decades of experience, including time with theRoyal United Services Institute of Australia, work as a university lecturer, senatorial foreign affairs adviser, analyst forJane’s

society & culture philosophy

All Episodes

38:30

Q is for Conspiracy

The Focus ·

2022/10/20

Ever wondered what the QAnon phenomenon is and how far reaching its power over the United States body politic? Well fear not dear listener. In this episode we speak with journalist and author Mike Rothschild on his latest book - The Storm Is Upon Us: How QAnon Became a Movement, Cult, and Conspiracy Theory of Everything. I was shocked to find out just how wounded American society and politics is because of this strange and perplexing movement where truth is turned on its ear. Once you listen to this

en-US

58:35

The Origin & Fate of the Neoliberal World Order

The Focus ·

2022/10/18

A lot has been said about Neoliberal economics and its socio-political consequences. In this podcast, we are joined by Cambridge University’s Professor Gary Gerstle to discuss the key themes of his new book: The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order. This is a journey into the dark heart of how neoliberal economics came to dominate economic life, everywhere. But it also a surprisingly optimistic in how we might escape the worst aftereffects of this philosophy.Support the show:

en-US

33:29

Breaking Mains: Lead vs. Plastic Pipes

The Focus ·

2022/10/09

Have you ever wondered about what transports our potable water around our city precincts? I’ll confess that I didn’t really know this was a story until Producer Malcolm brought it to my attention. But that overused and constantly ignored bit of infrastructure under our feet has a story and it is an interesting one. In the United States there’s a push to replace lead water pipes with plastic ones. But it seems the obvious health problems associated with lead pipes will be replaced with other health

en-US

68:53

Chasing the Mafia

The Focus ·

2022/10/07

In this episode, John speaks with Prof. Anna Sergi from the University of Essex on the inner workings of the mafia and more particularly the Calabrian Ndrangheta. With its tentacles all over the world how organised is this organised crime syndicate? Do all roads lead back to Reggio Calabria, or is this a more diffuse criminal network?Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy

en-US

45:35

Beyond the Universe’s Super-horizon

The Focus ·

2022/09/05

It is probably right to say that we are now transiting from the Hubble era of astronomy to the James Webb era. In this new era, we’ll no doubt know more about planets and stars at interstellar and intergalactic distances. And we’ll also know much more about the shape and nature of the universe.In this episode John speaks with Harvard Professor of Science & New York Times best-seller for his book Extraterrestrial, Avi Loeb. Here, John & Avi talk about how Avi’s The Galileo Project is faring

en-US

53:15

Palestine: A Narrative of Hope Amid Tragedy

The Focus ·

2022/08/23

In this episode, we are please to have back on The Focus, Dr. Ramzy Baroud. Ramzy speaks to John about the major themes of his latest book - Our Vision for Liberation: Engaged Palestinian Leaders & Intellectuals Speak Out, published by Clarity Press Inc & the European Centre for Palestine Studies in May 2022.Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

57:24

On 'Dancing on Bones’ - Manufacturing History in the...

The Focus ·

2022/08/19

In this episode John speaks with Katie Stallard. Katie is an author and Senior Editor of the New Statesman magazine and on this, our 47th episode since transiting from radio to podcast, John and Katie discuss Katie’s new book, Dancing on Bones: History and Power in China, Russia, and North Korea, published by Oxford University Press in May 2022. If history is a lie and the autocratic parts of the world have perfected this as a means of political control and legitimacy, how powerful is it? And in the

en-US

34:09

Iraq on a Hot Tin Roof

The Focus ·

2022/08/10

With temperatures in the low 50s, it is true to say that it is hot in the Iraqi city of Baghdad. The country, run by a care-taker administration since last year’s parliamentary election, has failed to solve its political problems. The care-taker government has no authority to pass spending bills. A problem when the country’s temperature is playing havoc with Iraq’s electricity grid and parts of this grid aren’t working leaving Iraqi’s with no means to cool down. But for Iraq, Climate Change is still

en-US

50:54

Truman, Marshall & the Opening Salvos of the Cold War

The Focus ·

2022/08/02

In this episode we are joined by the Council on Foreign Relation’s (CFR) Dr. Benn Steil to talk about his book: The Marshall Plan: Dawn of the Cold War. This is a fascinating discussion about the political and strategic manoeuvrings that led to a divided Europe and US global ascendancy in the post-World War II international order.Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy

en-US

54:50

Dragon Claw versus Eagle Claw: China-US fight for the...

The Focus ·

2022/07/27

In this episode we are honoured to have on one of the giants of the Realist School of International Relations, Robert and Renee Belfer Professor of International Affairs at Harvard University, Professor Stephen M. Walt. Stephen talks with John about China’s position in the Indo-Pacific inclusive of China-Russia relations, how America’s rebalance to Asia is proceeding, where India fits in and how strong Australia’s ties are to the US and much more besides. If you want to know about the Indo-Pacific

en-US

36:44

Artificial Intelligence: Drone World rather than West...

The Focus ·

2022/07/22

In this episode, John is joined by Toby Walsh. Toby is a leading researcher in Artificial Intelligence. He is a Laureate Fellow and Scientia Professor of Artificial Intelligence in the School of Computer Science and Engineering at UNSW Sydney. Here, we talk about how AI is being used today and where AI is going. Also, is much of the reporting on AI developments a gross overestimation or misrepresentation of the facts?Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/See

en-US

49:29

William Blake - A Man Beyond Time & Convention

The Focus ·

2022/07/18

In this episode, John is joined by author and journalist John Higgs where they talk about John’s new book, William Blake Versus The World. In this podcast you will get to learn about the extremely forward-thinking English poet and artist about his unique cosmology and way of thinking. If you thought you knew something about Blake before, you’ll know much more after listening to this fascinating interview.Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/See

en-US

35:38

UK Post-Johnson: A Few Cursory Thoughts

The Focus ·

2022/07/14

In this episode, we are joined once more by former UK Labour politician, best selling author and investigative journalist, Chris Mullin. John speaks to Chris about the fate of the Johnson government, who’s likely to replace him, Scottish nationalism, the Labour Party and much more. Considering this podcast was recorded just prior to Boris Johnson’s resignation, at the time were were talking about the prospect of what will happen next at Number 10. Now that the resignation has taken place, the rest

en-US

69:59

NAZI Billionaires: Germany’s Lasting Complicated Truth

The Focus ·

2022/06/22

In this episode John speaks with author and journalist David de Jong on his latest book, NAZI Billionaires published by Harper Collins, April 2022. Here we explore the dark history of a handful of German elite families which survived World War II to prosper in the postwar period.Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

69:03

The Genocide Conundrum - The Search for Justice

The Focus ·

2022/06/08

As the Russia-Ukraine War grinds on, the Western media have been replete with stories of Russian war crimes against Ukrainians. But do these war crimes amount to genocide? The language of genocide has certainly been used by the Russian president, but saying something doesn’t necessarily make it real. And what exactly are the legal parameters of genocide? Join us as John speaks with Prof. Dirk Moses on this thorny issue, Dirk isFrank Porter Graham Distinguished Professor of Global Human Rights

en-US

79:22

A Stoic’s Take on Modern Celebrity: The Rise of...

The Focus ·

2022/05/30

In this episode John is joined from New York by returning guest Prof. Massimo Pigliucci. John and Massimo speak frankly about the problems posed by modern celebrity looking at the two recent controversies that caught out prolific American podcaster, Joe Rogan. They also look at the celebrity of Canadian Clinical Psychologist Emeritus Prof. Jordan B. Peterson. Hang onto your hats folks, this is a broadranging and interesting take on Stoicism and its response to modern celebrity.Support the show:

en-US

52:27

Humane War - Making a Better World?

The Focus ·

2022/05/20

For years, the US military-industrial complex has been hard at work perfecting weapon systems that can leave a lighter footprint wherever the American military is deployed. It's not a perfect path. Indeed there have been many military missions instigated by Washington that have failed despite the technologies employed. Nonetheless, with increasing accuracy, fewer manned weapons are needed to accomplish a military operation and, historically speaking, war is becoming ‘cleaner' over time. For

en-US

41:54

Dire Straits: Refugees, Libya and Crossing the...

The Focus ·

2022/05/13

The broken state of Libya has long been the jump-off point for African and Middle Eastern refugees fleeing the trouble-plagued African continent for a dangerous crossing of the Mediterranean to Europe. But Libya is hardly a place of welcome. Having only just recovered from a brutal civil war, Libya is now an EU-funded holding-pen for African refugees, Brussels and other European capitals eager to avoid a renewed surge of undocumented arrivals as occurred in 2015. In this episode of The Focus John

en-US

20:05

Star Light Star Bright

The Focus ·

2022/05/04

The Hubble Space Telescope is over 30 years old and is still finding some outstanding new discoveries. Its most recent finding has been the starlight of one of the earliest stars in the known Cosmos, Earendel. In this episode, John speaks with Dr. Victoria Strait. Victoria isDAWN Fellow at the Cosmic Dawn Center within the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen.Support the show: https://www.sageinternational.org.au/strategikon-merch/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy

en-US

65:55

Russia’s Make or Break, Battle for the Donbas

The Focus ·

2022/04/29

After the terrible performance of Russian forces in their initial attempt to crush Ukrainian resistance and their complete failure at cowering Kyiv into submission, Russian forces have been reorganised to take advantage of their better showing in Ukraine’s east and south. But by ‘better showing’, we mean more territory captured not better Russian war fighting demonstrated. To look at how the new Russian offensive along the Donbas is being prepared and how effective it is likely to

en-US

134 results

Similar Podcasts

Voices of Life

APG Mannheim

Promo Estereo Podcast

Promo Estereo

Talking Timelines Podcast

Talkingtimelines

גיקונומי

ראם שרמן ודורון ניר

Drømmefanger

Drømmefanger