Uncommon Sense

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. Elisabetta Ferrari, Lecturer in Italian Studies at the University of M...

Philosopher Associate Professor Matthew Sharpe from Deakin University explores the subject of his upcoming lecture, on philosophy and evil which looks at the controversy surround Martin Heidegger’s Black Notebooks and his associations with anti-Semitic and Nazi ideology, as well as the ideas underpinning existentialism, stoicism, and the work of French-Algerian author Albert Camus

Ben Eltham, National Affairs Correspondent for New Matilda came in to discuss federal politics, including the spill of the National Party’s leadership positions, as well as the resignation of the Greens Leader Richard Di Natale from the Senate, and the sports rorts scandal that finally claimed Bridget McKenzie’s Ministership; Philosopher Associate Professor Matthew Sharpe from Deakin University ex...

Dr Emma Shortis from RMIT came in to discuss the US Senate’s impeachment hearings into President Trump as well as the Democratic presidential candidate race; and Dr Manu Saunders, ecologist at the University of New England and Co-Founder of the Wild Pollinator Count, joined Amy to discuss how your garden is an ecosystem and what you can do to help it and our native animals, insects, and plants thr...

Director Ella Caldwell and cast members Daniela Farinacci and Hannah Fredericksen from Red Stitch Actors' Theatre joined Amy to talk about their Australian Premiere of the play OIL, a political and historical play on humanity’s troubled relationship with oil and fossil fuels. Professor Alex Collie from Monash University on the health status of those receiving the Disability Support Pension or News...

Folk-rock musician Carus Thompson came in to discuss how music and storytelling can dismantle political walls and ideology, and to chat about the very topical social and political themes in his new album, Shakespeare Avenue. He also played live in studio. Leading forest and conservation researcher and advocate Professor David Lindenmayer AO shares his views on the Victorian government's recent dec...

Folk-rock musician Carus Thompson came in to discuss how music and storytelling can dismantle political walls and ideology, and to chat about the very topical social and political themes in his new album, Shakespeare Avenue. He also played live in studio.

Historian Professor Timothy C. Winegard from Colorado Mesa University, USA explored some fascinating true stories of history from his new book, The Mosquito: A Human History of Our Deadliest Predator.

Nic Maclellan, journalist for Islands Business Magazine in Fiji, discusses politics in the Pacific region, and Australia’s dilemma – having a Pacific policy requires us to have a climate policy. Dr Emma Shortis from RMIT came in to discuss the latest in US politics, including the Turkey-Kurdish conflict in Syria and the US' formal withdrawal from the region, the Democratic primary debates, and the...

Shaun Walker, a foreign correspondent for the Guardian who spent over a decade reporting on Russian politics from Moscow, came in to discuss his forthcoming Melbourne University lecture, and book, The Long Hangover: Putin’s New Russia and the Ghosts of the Past.

Shaun Walker, a foreign correspondent for the Guardian who spent over a decade reporting on Russian politics from Moscow, came in to discuss his forthcoming Melbourne University lecture, and book, The Long Hangover: Putin’s New Russia and the Ghosts of the Past. Film director Janine Hosking joined Amy to discuss her documentary,  The Eulogy, which looks at the life and lonely death of one of the w...

Amy speaks with journalist and author Judith Hoare about her new book on a remarkable Australian scientist and doctor who changed the field of psychology forever,  The Woman Who Cracked The Anxiety Code: The Extraordinary Life of Dr Claire Weekes.

Amy speaks with journalist and author Judith Hoare about her new book on a remarkable Australian scientist and doctor who changed the field of psychology forever,  The Woman Who Cracked The Anxiety Code: The Extraordinary Life of Dr Claire Weekes ; Luke Henriques-Gomes from the  Guardian Australia came in to discuss what we have learned so far from the Senate inquiry hearings into Newstart - Austr...

Geelong Football Club Vice-President Bob Gartland and Geelong Gallery Director Jason Smith came in to talk about the Geelong Gallery's exhibition, 'The Greatest Team of All—Treasures From the Bob Gartland Collection.' It celebrates 160 years of the Geelong Football Club – the second oldest continuing professional sportsclub in the world.

Geelong Football Club Vice-President Bob Gartland and Geelong Gallery Director Jason Smith came in to talk about the Geelong Gallery's exhibition, 'The Greatest Team of All—Treasures From the Bob Gartland Collection.' It celebrates 160 years of the Geelong Football Club – the second oldest continuing professional sportsclub in the world. Dr Delia Lin from the University of Melbourne's Asia Institu...

The Guardian’s Gabrielle Jackson came in to discuss her new book Pain and Prejudice.

Amy talks with conservationist and former Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown about climate change, the fight to stop the Adani Carmichael coalmine, and conservation issues in Victoria and Tasmania. The Guardian’s Gabrielle Jackson came in to discuss her new book Pain and Prejudice. Amy and Gabrielle explore systemic sexism in medicine and the historic and current downplaying of women’s pain and he...

Amy talks with conservationist and former Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown about climate change, the fight to stop the Adani Carmichael coalmine, and conservation issues in Victoria and Tasmania.

Infectious Diseases physician Dr Matt McCarthy joined Amy to discuss his new book, Superbugs: The Race to Stop an Epidemic. Matt is Assistant Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell and a staff physician at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He is also editor-in-chief of Current Fungal Infection Reports and the author of The Real Doctor Will See You Shortly and Odd Man Out.

Dr Emma Shortis, from the EU Studies Centre at RMIT came in to give us an update on US and UK politics. Infectious Diseases physician Dr Matt McCarthy joined Amy to discuss his new book, Superbugs: The Race to Stop an Epidemic. Matt is Assistant Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell and a staff physician at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He is also editor-in-chief of Current Fungal Infection Rep...

American historian Professor Deborah E. Lipstadt joined Amy in the studio. They discussed Holocaust denial - past and present, Deborah's experience defending historical truth, as well as the threat of antisemitism today. Deborah's new book is, Antisemitism: Here and Now.

American historian Professor Deborah E. Lipstadt joined Amy in the studio. They discussed Holocaust denial - past and present, Deborah's experience defending historical truth, as well as the threat of antisemitism today. Deborah's new book is, Antisemitism: Here and Now. Plus we discover the power of the portrait with freelance art historian Dr Julie Cotter in her new book, Portraits Destroyed: Po...

Investigative journalist Jess Hill discusses her new book,  See What You Made Me Do: Power, Control and Domestic Abuse,  and the radical rethink we need to confront domestic abuse. Jess and Amy explore the history of approaches to domestic violence and how they have negatively shaped and impacted the way victims are treated and perceived, as well as the current approaches the federal and state gov...

Investigative journalist Jess Hill discusses her new book,  See What You Made Me Do: Power, Control and Domestic Abuse,  and the radical rethink we need to confront domestic abuse. Jess and Amy explore the history of approaches to domestic violence and how they have negatively shaped and impacted the way victims are treated and perceived, as well as the current approaches the federal and state gov...

British philosopher Professor A. C. Grayling returns to Uncommon Sense to discuss his new book,  The History of Philosophy.  They discuss the vital role of philosophy in society, ancient philosophical traditions and ideas, including stoicism, as well as Antony's key role in the pro-remain campaign in Britain, which seeks to stop Brexit from going ahead.