Uncommon Sense

Amy talks to biographer and journalist Jacqueline Kent about the life of courageous suffragist, politician, and social reformer of the 20th century, Vida Goldstein.

Amy talks to biographer and journalist Jacqueline Kent about the life of courageous suffragist, politician, and social reformer of the 20th century, Vida Goldstein. Professor David Lindenmayer from the ANU Fenner School of Environment & Society is one of the world's most cited forest ecologists. He discusses new research on the Central Highlands showing the direct effects that fire and logging...

RMIT’s Dr Emma Shortis joins Amy to discuss the life of feminist icon and US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg - who died on Friday. They will also discuss the implications of her passing on the looming US Presidential Election, and all the latest in US politics. Nic Maclellan, Pacific affairs correspondent for Inside Story magazine, talks about the upcoming independence referendum in New...

Nic Maclellan, Pacific affairs correspondent for Inside Story magazine, talks about the upcoming independence referendum in New Caledonia – what would a yes or no vote mean for the island nation? As well as news from pacific island nations, including how they are managing in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Philosopher Dr Kate Kirkpatrick discusses her recent biography, Becoming Beauvoir: A Life . Kate examines with great precision, insight, and balance, the life of French writer, feminist, and philosopher Simone de Beauvoir. Beauvoir’s life and work has often been distorted and overshadowed by her working and romantic relationship with Jean-Paul Sartre. Kate debunks some of the major misconceptions...

Philosopher Dr Kate Kirkpatrick discusses her recent biography, Becoming Beauvoir: A Life . Kate examines with great precision, insight, and balance, the life of French writer, feminist, and philosopher Simone de Beauvoir. Beauvoir’s life and work has often been distorted and overshadowed by her working and romantic relationship with Jean-Paul Sartre. Kate debunks some of the major misconceptions...

Biologist and writer Merlin Sheldrake joins Amy from London for an in-depth conversation about his new book, Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds, and Shape Our Futures. They discuss the mysterious, lively and endlessly fascinating fungi kingdom.

Biologist and writer Merlin Sheldrake joins Amy from London for an in-depth conversation about his new book, Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds, and Shape Our Futures. They discuss the mysterious, lively and endlessly fascinating fungi kingdom. Poet and aged-care reform advocate Sarah Holland-Batt speaks about the many issues surrounding the coronavirus outbreaks in aged-c...

British writer Robert Macfarlane joins Amy for a special long-form conversation about the connections between landscape, language, people, and place. They delve into Robert’s latest book, Underland: A Deep Time Journey , and also draw on ideas from his past works including, Mountains of the Mind, The Old Ways, and Landmarks . Robert is a Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge University. Danya Jaco...

British writer Robert Macfarlane joins Amy for a special long-form conversation about the connections between landscape, language, people, and place. They delve into Robert’s latest book, Underland: A Deep Time Journey , and also draw on ideas from his past works including, Mountains of the Mind, The Old Ways, and Landmarks . Robert is a Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge University.

Psychologist Professor Cordelia Fine from the University of Melbourne talks about the real science behind sex differences, drawing on her 2017 book, Testosterone Rex, and her Aeon Magazine essay 'Sexual Dinosaurs'. Cordelia debunks the gender biases in neuroscience and evolutionary biology that exaggerate the role of testosterone in male and female brains and behaviour. Her book, Testosterone Rex...

A special National Science Week show! Psychologist Professor Cordelia Fine from the University of Melbourne talks about the real science behind sex differences, drawing on her 2017 book, Testosterone Rex, and her Aeon Magazine essay 'Sexual Dinosaurs'. Cordelia debunks the gender biases in neuroscience and evolutionary biology that exaggerate the role of testosterone in male and female brains and...

LA-based journalist Lesley Blume speaks about her new book, Fallout: the Hiroshima cover-up and the reporter who revealed it to the world

LA-based journalist Lesley Blume speaks about her new book, Fallout: the Hiroshima cover-up and the reporter who revealed it to the world . Dr Katja Hogendoorn, an entomologist and native bee expert from the University of Adelaide talks about the dazzling Metallic Green Carpenter Bee, why it's vulnerable to extinction, and how her team is trying to save this species on Kangaroo Island after the de...

 Freelance writer Anthony Ham discusses his new book, The Last Lions of Africa: Stories from the Frontline in the Battle to Save a Species.

Freelance writer Anthony Ham discusses his new book, The Last Lions of Africa: Stories from the Frontline in the Battle to Save a Species.  Dr Emma Shortis from RMIT talks about the latest in US politics, including concerns around Trump's ongoing undermining of the US postal service and the effect it may have on postal voting in the November Presidential Election. And Alison Pennington, senior eco...

Professor Jenny Hocking discusses her High Court win to have the "Palace Letters" released by the National Archives of Australia, and what they reveal about the 1975 Whitlam Dismissal.

Professor Jenny Hocking discusses her High Court win to have the "Palace Letters" released by the National Archives of Australia, and what they reveal about the 1975 Whitlam Dismissal. Deakin University philosopher Dr Matthew Sharpe explores how the ideas of Marcus Aurelius and Stoic philosophy can help us get through the Melbourne lockdown and COVID-19 pandemic. And Dr Richard Denniss, Chief Econ...

Professor Mary-Louise McLaws is an epidemiologist at UNSW, and a member of the World Health Organisation’s Advisory Panel for Infection, Prevention and Control Preparedness and Response to COVID-19. Mary-Louise joins Amy for an in-depth look at how wearing a face mask inhibits the spread of the coronavirus. They also discuss the evidence and arguments for Victoria and Australia undertaking an elim...

Professor Mary-Louise McLaws is an epidemiologist at UNSW, and a member of the World Health Organisation’s Advisory Panel for Infection, Prevention and Control Preparedness and Response to COVID-19. Mary-Louise joins Amy for an in-depth look at how wearing a face mask inhibits the spread of the coronavirus. They also discuss the evidence and arguments for Victoria and Australia undertaking an elim...

Historian Liam Byrne discusses the early lives of two former Labor Prime Ministers in his new book, Becoming John Curtin and James Scullin: The Making of the Modern Labor Party, 1876 –1921.  Marine biologist Sarah Laverick talks about Antarctica, World Ocean Day, and her book, Through Ice & Fire: The Adventures, Science and People Behind Australia's Famous Icebreaker Aurora Australis.  Plus Be...

Historian Liam Byrne discusses the early lives of two former Labor Prime Ministers in his new book, Becoming John Curtin and James Scullin: The Making of the Modern Labor Party, 1876 –1921

Amy speaks with historian Rutger Bregman about his timely new book, Humankind: A Hopeful History . Rutger delves into the evidence for why and how most humans are actually pretty decent, and just how radical it is to believe this. Rutger last joined the show in July 2017 to talk about his book, Utopia For Realists .

Amy speaks with historian Rutger Bregman about his timely new book, Humankind: A Hopeful History . Rutger delves into the evidence for why and how most humans are actually pretty decent, and just how radical it is to believe this. Rutger last joined the show in July 2017 to talk about his book, Utopia For Realists . US politics expert Dr Emma Shortis from RMIT joins Amy to examine the protests occ...

John Keane, Professor of Politics at the University of Sydney talks about his recent book  The New Despotism,  which examines the anti-democratic practices of despotic governments sweeping the world, and the current threats to democracy. Journalist and author Madeleine Chapman joins Amy to discuss her biography of one of the world's most admired political leaders, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacind...