Uncommon Sense

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.

Amy is joined by Melburnian Nicholas Dowse, founder of the urban beekeeping collective Honey Fingers , ahead of World Bee Day. They discuss the fascinating hive mind of honey bees, how beekeeping has evolved in modern times, its similarities with modernist architecture, and the special relationship humans have with bees. Nic also shares his urban beekeeping practices, and the process he goes throu...

Amy is joined by Melburnian Nicholas Dowse, founder of the urban beekeeping collective Honey Fingers , ahead of World Bee Day. They discuss the fascinating hive mind of honey bees, how beekeeping has evolved in modern times, its similarities with modernist architecture, and the special relationship humans have with bees. Nic also shares his urban beekeeping practices, and the process he goes throu...

American naturalist and writer Sy Montgomery joined Amy to discuss her lifelong relationship with animals, and explore ideas about animal intelligence and consciousness from her critically acclaimed books  The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness and How to Be a Good Creature .

Luke Henriques-Gomes, reporter for the  Guardian Australia  chats about the latest in welfare and social policy, including the federal government’s response to the COVID–19 unemployment crisis. American naturalist and writer Sy Montgomery joined Amy to discuss her lifelong relationship with animals, and explore ideas about animal intelligence and consciousness from her critically acclaimed books ...

Renowned American science writer David Quammen joined Amy to discuss his prescient 2012 book, Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic . David explores why zoonotic spillovers that cause diseases like COVID–19 are occurring more and more. He also tells us what humans must do to prevent the next viral pandemic, including changing our relationship to nature and stopping the disruptio...

Renowned American science writer David Quammen joined Amy to discuss his prescient 2012 book, Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic . David explores why zoonotic spillovers that cause diseases like COVID–19 are occurring more and more. He also tells us what humans must do to prevent the next viral pandemic, including changing our relationship to nature and stopping the disruptio...

Historian Dr Alessandro Antonello from Flinders University joins Amy to discuss the politics and history of Antarctica and tells us about a very hot summer on the coldest continent on Earth

Historian Dr Alessandro Antonello from Flinders University joins Amy to discuss the politics and history of Antarctica and tells us about a very hot summer on the coldest continent on Earth. Journalist Kate Leaver chats about her new book, Good Dog , and the many benefits of the human-canine bond. Kate shares stories about those special dogs who lift our spirits and in some cases, save our lives....

Hong Kong-based lawyer and author Antony Dapiran joined Amy to discuss his new book,  City on Fire: The Fight for Hong Kong, which takes us to the frontlines of the 2019 protest movement.

Hong Kong-based lawyer and author Antony Dapiran joined Amy to discuss his new book,  City on Fire: The Fight for Hong Kong, which takes us to the frontlines of the 2019 protest movement. Virologist Dr Sacha Stelzer-Braid from UNSW’s Faculty of Medicine tells us all about the behaviour of the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, why it's so contagious, and how to keep it away from your home, hands, face, a...

David George Haskell, Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies from the University of the South (USA) discusses his fascinating book, The Songs of Trees: Stories From Nature's Great Connectors (Black Inc). Laureate Professor Nicholas Talley AC, Editor-in-Chief of The Medical Journal of Australia (MJA), speaks with Amy about the coronavirus pandemic. They discuss the state of ICU bed and vent...

David George Haskell, Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies from the University of the South (USA) discusses his fascinating book, The Songs of Trees: Stories From Nature's Great Connectors (Black Inc).

Amy speaks with author and Harvard Review editor Christina Thompson about her book, Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia , which explores the quest to understand who first settled the islands of the remote Pacific, where they came from, and how they got there.

Amy speaks with author and Harvard Review editor Christina Thompson about her book, Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia , which explores the quest to understand who first settled the islands of the remote Pacific, where they came from, and how they got there. Associate Professor Gemma Carey, Research Director of the Centre for Social Impact at UNSW, discusses how the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic...

Bill Bowtell, strategic health policy adviser and Adjunct Professor at UNSW, discusses the Australian government's handling of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, and how it compares to the various approaches other countries are taking. He also discuss the crucial role of state and local governments, and what we can do ourselves. Bill Bowtell was an architect of the Australian government’s successf...

Bill Bowtell, strategic health policy adviser and Adjunct Professor at UNSW, discusses the Australian government's handling of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, and how it compares to the various approaches other countries are taking. He also discuss the crucial role of state and local governments, and what we can do ourselves. Bill Bowtell was an architect of the Australian government’s successf...

Dr Emma Shortis from RMIT came in to chat about the latest in US politics, including the Democratic primaries and the Super Tuesday result which saw Joe Biden overtake Bernie Sanders, and sealed the demise of Elizabeth Warren. Steve Meacher, President of Friends of Leadbeater's Possum Inc and longtime native forest advocate, discussed the imminent logging of large native trees in the Toolangi Stat...

Historian and author Stuart Kells came in to discuss his new book, The Convent. Amy and Stuart explore the fascinating and sometimes controversial history of Melbourne’s much loved Abbotsford Convent.

Historian Dr Chloe Ward from the EU Studies Centre at RMIT came in to discuss Boris Johnson's Britain and UK politics post-Brexit. Associate Professor Jessica Whyte, a political theorist and philosopher from The University of NSW, traces the origins of neoliberalism from 1947 and recounts how neoliberals hijacked human rights - this is all explored in her critically acclaimed book, The Morals of t...

Natural historian, ecologist, and environmental photographer Alison Pouliot came in to talk about the fascinating fungi kingdom, how fungi are our phylogenetic older siblings, and her extraordinary life travelling the globe to capture and study all kinds of fungi. Alison believes we need to care about the conservation of fungi as much as any other living organism.

Natural historian, ecologist, and environmental photographer Alison Pouliot came in to talk about the fascinating fungi kingdom, how fungi are our phylogenetic older siblings, and her extraordinary life travelling the globe to capture and study all kinds of fungi. Alison believes we need to care about the conservation of fungi as much as any other living organism. Nick Parry, from the Australian-G...

Internationally renowned art conservators Will Shank and Antonio Rava came in to discuss their restoration of the famous Keith Haring mural at the Collingwood Arts Precinct, and the painstaking processes and careful considerations that go into the restoration of major works of art, murals, and street art.

Internationally renowned art conservators Will Shank and Antonio Rava came in to discuss their restoration of the famous Keith Haring mural at the Collingwood Arts Precinct, and the painstaking processes and careful considerations that go into the restoration of major works of art, murals, and street art. Dr Brendan Wintle, Professor of Conservation Ecology at The University of Melbourne and Direc...

Associate Professor Kevin Tolhurst, an expert in Fire Ecology and Management from the University of Melbourne, joined Amy to discuss bushfire science and behaviour, what we've learned from previous bushfire inquiries and royal commissions and why we don't need another one, as well as how we can better manage the land in future.