Saturday Extra - Separate stories podcast

It's India's equivalent to the Odyssey: an epic tale that has been told for more than 2000 years.  The Ramayana, originally written in Sanskrit over 24 000 verses, is now being released globally as a two part blockbuster loaded with special effects.  It has the Indian community in raptures, but is wrapped up in the rise of Hindu fundamentalism? Guest: Rajni Luthra, editor and co-founder of Indian...

A conversation with Bill Kristol, one of America's leading conservative thinkers and a longstanding critic of Donald Trump.  He joins Saturday Extra to unpack the Democrats' striking victories in Republican strongholds, including Kansas, South Carolina and Texas, and what the results reveal about the changing political landscape.  Is the MAGA movement losing its hold, or does it have the capacity...

Es Devlin has designed everything from Beyoncé concerts to Super Bowl halftimes shows, and Olympic ceremonies. The internationally acclaimed artist discusses her first Australian exhibition, The Turning, which explores how art connects communities through audience participation.

David Jones was more than just a department store for generations of Australians. It was an iconic institution. For nearly 200 years, it was where people went to find the perfect formal gown, luxury bed linen or a bottle of prestige perfume. It was also the world's oldest department store still trading under its original name. But this week, David Jones officially entered receivership and voluntar...

With another interest rate rise, a poor report card on productivity, and an uptick in unemployment — what are some of the measures needed to improve Australia's economy?

A blue wave or a red rout? The US midterm elections have delivered a stinging setback for Donald Trump and his Republicans.  Democrats have made gains in traditionally Republican territory, raising questions about whether this is a temporary backlash or a deeper shift in the American political landscape.  What do the results mean for Trump and the balance of power in American politics?

Michael Gow's Away is celebrating its 40th year in theatres.  It is Australia's most produced play, and for the first time it is being interpreted through an Indigenous lens. Guest: Rachael Maza, actor, director of Away at the National Institute of Dramatic Art, and former creative director of Ilbijerri theatre company.

Donald Trump has a long history of challenging election outcomes and encouraging supporters to contest results he views as unfavourable. Ahead of next week's midterm elections, he's pressed for restrictions on mail-in ballots and deployed federal law enforcement to pursue discredited fraud claims. If Trump wanted to follow through, could the president disrupt the election and how?

The search for the next James Bond is entering its final stages, with screen tests now wrapping up in London. Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and Josh O'Connor are the three actors believed to be in the running for the coveted role of 007. So who's likely to emerge as the next suave British spy?

South Korea is pledging to become an Artificial Intelligence powerhouse, as it rapidly rolls AI out across the entire economy. The President's policy pledge of 'AI for All' centres on developing a sovereign AI model and giving all citizens free access to a chatbot. Will Korea's rapid embrace of AI ensure economic competitiveness and greater security in an increasingly unstable world, or does the p...

Supporters of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have been partying in true Brazilian style after his historic comeback in last weekend's presidential election. Lula secured a fourth term just days before his 81st birthday, having come from behind in the second round of voting. Meanwhile, Flávio Bolsonaro has fled the country after becoming the subject of investigations for corruption and money laundering....

The final vote count in Israel's election has confirmed that neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition nor the main opposition alliance, led by Gadi Eisenkot, has won enough votes to form a government. Negotiations are underway between parties about who could form a minority government — and it could be the country's Arab parties that emerge as kingmakers. Only one thing is...

It's been more than three years since former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was jailed on corruption charges. His family and supporters have taken to the streets, demanding his release and more humane treatment in jail. We speak with his 27-year-old son, Kasim Khan, about his father's ongoing imprisonment, declining health, and the campaign to secure his release.

Australia continues to reel after the devastating alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines in Wangaratta on Monday, the most serious act of violence against an Australian politician since the 1990s. Brendan Cox knows better than most the impact such an attack can have on a family, a community and a nation's politics. His wife, British MP Jo Cox, was murdered by a far-right extremist in 2016 w...

Thick smoke haze is blanketing Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, enveloping entire cities with dark clouds, and an acrid smell of burned rubber and wood. It irritates the lungs and eyes, leaving millions of people experiencing health problems, while critically endangered orangutans are losing their forest habitats and their lives. According to Nusantara Atlas satellite imagery, over 1.9 million h...

Next Tuesday, Israelis will cast their votes to elect the 26th Knesset. Polls show the race is too close to call, giving Benjamin Netanyahu a real shot at his seventh election victory. Revered by some, reviled by others, what happens if Netanyahu wins and what happens if he loses?

France has endured a week of extraordinary unrest, with mass demonstrations over education and the cost of living erupting into widespread violence. Now, with more protests looming, President Macron is tightening restrictions as authorities mount a massive security operation to prevent another weekend of chaos.

Cassie McCullagh, from The Bookshelf on Radio National chats about her favourite book, we share listener texts and preview what's ahead on this weekend's   Top 100 Australian Books Countdown .

Many of us develop a love of reading at school. Perhaps a special teacher or a favourite book made a lasting impression. But many of us also develop an aversion to reading in high school. Generations of Australians have studied the classics at school, Shakespeare, George Orwell, Harper Lee's To Kill a Mocking Bird. But how much space is given to Australian literature, and what impact does it have...

The US Congress is the institution that most directly represents the will of the people: 535 representatives divided into two houses. Despite the importance of Congress, there's been an increasing trend for presidents to bypass the body and issue executive orders to achieve political goals. US historian Gary Gerstle unpacks the shrinking role of Congress, political polarisation, and whether the ce...

Next month, the United States congressional midterms will decide which party controls the Senate and House of Representatives. Both are currently held by the Republicans.  With rising grocery and petrol prices, the election comes as Donald Trump's approval rating reaches an all-time low.  Will the poll reveal the future direction of both major political parties in the USA? 

Ukraine has resumed strikes on Russian oil refineries, accusing Washington of a dangerous betrayal after the US withdrew support critical to Ukraine's defences against Moscow. The move comes as President Donald Trump strikes a diesel deal with Moscow, infuriating European leaders and exposing a growing rift over how best to bring Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table.

Bogong moths are swarming across south-eastern Australia, finding their way into homes and washing up on beaches, prompting reactions ranging from disgust to delight. The tiny insects fly up to 1000km in an annual migration that was once commonplace but that is now extraordinary. Classified as endangered in 2021, could the bogong moth be making a remarkable comeback?

It's been 50 years since the end of China's Cultural Revolution, a decade of chaos that saw mass violence and political upheaval.  But, officially at least, China is not looking back and taking stock. 

A Melbourne-based innovator has won the 2026 Australian Good Design Awards for an invention that distributes solar power fairly throughout apartment buildings. Known as SolShare, the Australian-made technology makes rooftop solar accessible to apartment dwellers, and is being exported globally.