Uncommon Sense

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. Emeritus Professor John Burns from  The Univ...

Owen Jones, political columnist for the Guardian UK, joins Amy in the studio to discuss the bungling of Brexit, the Tory push to populism and the future of progressive politics in Britain. Editor of The Saturday Paper, Maddison Connaughton comes in to talk about the latest in federal politics. Plus Amelia Young from the Wilderness Society on the Victorian Government’s public consultation into the...

Playwright Rory Godbold and Dr Carolyn Johnston, Senior Research Fellow in law and biotechnology at Melbourne Law School, joined Amy to discuss Victoria's new voluntary assisted dying (VAD) laws that come into effect this week and Rory's new play on VAD at La Mama Theatre,  When The Light Leaves.

Playwright Rory Godbold and Dr Carolyn Johnston, Senior Research Fellow in law and biotechnology at Melbourne Law School, joined Amy to discuss Victoria's new voluntary assisted dying (VAD) laws that come into effect this week and Rory's new play on VAD at La Mama Theatre,  When The Light Leaves.  Antony Dapiran, lawyer and author of  City of Protest: A Recent History of Dissent in Hong Kong,  joi...

Professor Tonia Eckfeld, Principal Fellow in History at the University of Melbourne and Distinguished Research Fellow at Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xi’an, came in to discuss the history of the Qin Dynasty as well as the NGV's exhibition,  Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality  and accompanying works by contemporary Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang. Professor Andrew Walter from th...

Professor Tonia Eckfeld, Principal Fellow in History at the University of Melbourne and Distinguished Research Fellow at Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xi’an, came in to discuss the history of the Qin Dynasty as well as the NGV's exhibition,  Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality  and accompanying works by contemporary Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang.

American author, climate activist and co-founder of  350.org  Bill McKibben speaks about his latest book, Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out? 

Dr Emma Shortis from the RMIT’s EU Centre came in to discuss the latest in US politics, including Robert Mueller’s statement on his investigation into Trump, Russia and the 2016 Presidential election and the rising trade war with China. American author, climate activist and co-founder of  350.org  Bill McKibben speaks about his latest book, Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out? Plus...

Philosopher and writer Eleanor Gordon-Smith came in to chat about her new book,  Stop Being Reasonable,  which explores the features and limits of rational argument and what really changes our minds.

Philosopher and writer Eleanor Gordon-Smith came in to chat about her new book,  Stop Being Reasonable,  which explores the features and limits of rational argument and what really changes our minds. Dr Chiara De Lazzari from The University of Melbourne discusses the results of the 2019 European Parliamentary elections and what it means for the European Union and member states. Amy and Chiara expl...

Australian political history expert, writer, and publisher of AustralianPolitics.com, Malcolm Farnsworth analyses the significance of the federal election results and what it means for Australia, plus we remember former Prime Minister Bob Hawke; ecologists Dr Georgia Garrard from RMIT and Professor Brendan Wintle from Melbourne University and who is also Director of the Threatened Species Recovery...

Australian political history expert, writer, and publisher of AustralianPolitics.com , Malcolm Farnsworth analyses the significance of the federal election results and what it means for Australia, plus we remember former Prime Minister Bob Hawke.

David Walker, Emeritus Professor at Deakin University, joined Amy in the studio to discuss his new book, Stranded Nation: White Australia in an Asian Region (UWA Press). It provides a nuanced history of Australia's relationship with and perception of Asia in the late 19th century and early-mid 20th century. David and Amy discuss Australia's relationship with China and Japan in some depth. Emma Daw...

David Walker, Emeritus Professor at Deakin University, joined Amy in the studio to discuss his new book, Stranded Nation: White Australia in an Asian Region (UWA Press). It provides a nuanced history of Australia's relationship with and perception of Asia in the late 19th century and early-mid 20th century. David and Amy discuss Australia's relationship with China and Japan in some depth.

Renowned philosopher Peter Singer, Professor in Bioethics at Princeton University, joined Amy to discuss utilitarianism and effective altruism, as well as his philosophical arguments on how we should treat animals. We also discussed his seminal work, Animal Liberation , first published in 1975. Peter Singer is appearing as part of Law Week for Lawyers for Animals. Historians Ruth Lee and Heather S...

Renowned philosopher Peter Singer, Professor in Bioethics at Princeton University, joined Amy to discuss utilitarianism and effective altruism, as well as his philosophical arguments on how we should treat animals. We also discussed his seminal work, Animal Liberation , first published in 1975. Peter Singer is appearing as part of Law Week for Lawyers for Animals.

Australias first music thanatologist Peter Roberts plays the harp for the sick and dying. Farshid Akhlaghi has made a film about Peter and the special impact hes had on the lives of many, especially in Geelong. Farshid and Peter joined Amy in the studio to discuss the Australian Premiere of From Music into Silence - screening at Cinema Nova in May. Peter also played his harp for us.

Australias first music thanatologist Peter Roberts plays the harp for the sick and dying. Farshid Akhlaghi has made a film about Peter and the special impact hes had on the lives of many, especially in Geelong. Farshid and Peter joined Amy in the studio to discuss the Australian Premiere of From Music into Silence - screening at Cinema Nova in May. Peter also played his harp for us. Acclaimed acto...

Comedians Annie Louey and Diana Nguyen join Amy to discuss their shows at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and the art of comedy; the Grattan Institute's Director of the Budget Policy and Institutional Reform Program, Danielle Wood explains Labor's franking credits policy, the Coalition's attack on the policy, and why Labor is focusing its attention on intergenerational inequality this...

Historian Dianne Hall on her new co-authored book (with Elizabeth Malcolm), A New History of the Irish in Australia. It transforms our understanding of the Irish migrant experience in Australia. PhotojournalistDarrian Traynor comes in to discuss his exhibition featuring photographs of refugees and displaced people in Gaza, Jordan and Lebanon. Its called Occupation Displacement and is showing at Su...

Award-winning comedian and theatre-maker Zoë Coombs Marr joined Amy in the studio to discuss the encore season of her acclaimed show, Bossy Bottom, at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival . Zoë is also supporting Hannah Gadsby at the Arts Centre.

Emma Shortis from the RMIT's EU Studies Centre comes in to talk about US politics, including what we know about the Robert Muellers findings on Trump, his staff and Russia's conduct during the presidential election campaign. Award-winning comedian and theatre-maker ZoCoombs Marr joined Amy in studio to discuss the encore season of her acclaimed show, Bossy Bottom, at the Melbourne International Co...

Social researcher and writer Rebecca Huntley talks about a revival of social democracy in Australia and takes the political temperature of the nation in her new Quarterly Essay, 'Australia Fair, Listening to the Nation.' Dr Andrew McGregor, lecturer in French Studies from The University of Melbourne explores the work of French New Wave auteur Claude Chabrol ahead of the Melbourne Cinmathque's upco...

Social researcher and writer Rebecca Huntley talks about a revival of social democracy in Australia and takes the political temperature of the nation in her new Quarterly Essay, 'Australia Fair, Listening to the Nation.

Historian Carolyn Rasmussen discusses her joint biography of Melbourne's progressive power couple of the 20th century, Doris and Maurice Blackburn. Carolyn's book is called, The Blackburns: Private Lives, Public Ambitions.