Uncommon Sense

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. Andrew Walter, Professor of International Relations at Melbourne University, explores the most recent and dramatic developments in Brexit and the UK parliament. Professor Greg B...

Renowned American historian of the Holocaust Emeritus Professor Christopher R. Browning, came in to talk about his life's work and his most seminal contribution, Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland. Amy and Christopher discuss the ordinary men from the social democratic leaning city of Hamburg who were drafted into the Reserve Police Battalion 101, and how a...

New York-based journalist and scholar Leta Hong Fincher joined Amy in the studio to talk about rising gender inequality in China, the concept of 'Leftover Women', and her new book, Betraying Big Brother: The Feminist Awakening in China . Renowned American historian of the Holocaust Emeritus Professor Christopher R. Browning, came in to talk about his lifes work and his most seminal contribution, O...

Macquarie University historian Associate Professor Michelle Arrow joined Amy to talk about her book, The Seventies:The Personal, the Political and the Making of Modern Australia. She detailsthe great social transformations that took place in Australia during the 1970s - particularly the womens liberation movement, and the push for gay and lesbian rights.

Award-winning author and Emeritus Professor of Politics at La Trobe University Judith Brett came in to talk about her book, From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage: How Australia Got Compulsory Voting . Amy and Judith discuss the history of Australias democratic system of government, the political philosophy that underpins it, and how Australia got compulsory voting while most other nations did no...

Upper house member of Victoria's state Parliament and Leader of the Reason Party Fiona Patten stopped by to talk about what life in the 60th Victorian Parliament is like, and her current policy priorities, including drug law reform. Professor David Walker, a historian from Deakin University, discusses his essay in Australian Foreign Affairs, 'Great Australian divide: The Western outpost faces the...

Professor David Walker, a historian from Deakin University, discusses his essay in Australian Foreign Affairs, 'Great Australian divide: The Western outpost faces the Asian Century.' It concerns the history of Australia's relationship with Asia and the surprising origins of the multicultural spirit in 19th century Australia.

New Zealand politician, economist and feminist legend Marilyn Waring talks about the limits of GDP as a useful economic measure in her latest book, Still Counting: Wellbeing, Womens Work and Policy-making.

New Zealand politician, economist and feminist legend Marilyn Waring talks about the limits of GDP as a useful economic measure in her latest book, Still Counting: Wellbeing, Womens Work and Policy-making. Tim Norton, Chair of Digital Rights Watch, talks about Australia's controversial encryption legislation and cybersecurity breaches at Parliament. Plus Ben Eltham on federal politics.

Tim Flannery, palaeontologist, evolutionary historian and author, joins Amy to discuss his latest book, Europe: A Natural History .

Tim Flannery, palaeontologist, evolutionary historian and author, joins Amy to discuss his latest book, Europe: A Natural History . Tamara Wood, Affiliate at the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW and Lecturer in Law at the University of Tasmania talks about the international and domestic law that Australia must follow when it comes to those seeking asylum in our country, both by ai...

University of Melbourne Professor Andrew Walter gives us an update on Brexit; why the UK Parliament rejected the first deal, and what comes next.

University of Melbourne Professor Andrew Walter gives us an update on Brexit; why the UK Parliament rejected the first deal, and what comes next. Writer and former Media Advisor to John Howard, Paula Matthewson, discusses whats really holding women back in the Liberal Party in her essay and book, On Merit . Plus Ben Eltham on the latest in federal politics, including the key findings of the Bankin...

Graeme Davison, urban and social historian and Emeritus Professor at Monash University, joined Amy in the studio to discuss the book he has edited, Hugh Stretton: Selected Writings . Stretton was a prominent public intellectual in Australia and a social democrat, known for his deeply humane approach to social and urban issues. Fundamentally, Stretton wanted to make Australia fairer. Professor Phil...

Graeme Davison, urban and social historian and Emeritus Professor at Monash University, joined Amy in the studio to discuss the book he has edited, Hugh Stretton: Selected Writings . Stretton was a prominent public intellectual in Australia and a social democrat, known for his deeply humane approach to social and urban issues. Fundamentally, Stretton wanted to make Australia fairer.

Patrick Mullins, discusses his new historical biography, Tiberius With A Telephone: The Life and Stories of William McMahon. McMahon is a man regarded by some as Australias worst performing Prime Minister. We ask, has history remembered his political career accurately?

Parisian author and journalist Agns Poirier discussed her book, Left Bank: Art, Passion and the Rebirth of Paris, 1940-50 , which explores the intellectual, literary and cultural flourishing during Nazi-occupied Paris and after liberation. Amy and Agns discuss this and the many connections and relationships, sexual and otherwise, that were essential to such an intense and productive period. Notabl...

Parisian author and journalist Agnès Poirier discussed her book, Left Bank: Art, Passion and the Rebirth of Paris, 1940–50 , which explores the intellectual, literary and cultural flourishing during Nazi-occupied Paris and after liberation. Amy and Agnès discuss this and the many connections and relationships, sexual and otherwise, that were essential to such an intense and productive period. Nota...

Author Stuart Kells on his book, The Library: A Catalogue of Wonders, which has been shortlisted for the Prime Minister's Literary Awards in the Non-Fiction Category. Amy and Stuart discussed the wonder of books, libraries and the sometimes quirky and passionate behaviours of bibliophiles across history.

Author Stuart Kells on his book, The Library: A Catalogue of Wonders, which has been shortlisted for the Prime Minister's Literary Awards in the Non-Fiction Category. Amy and Stuart discussed the wonder of books, libraries and the sometimes quirky and passionate behaviours of bibliophiles across history. Plus Ben Eltham from New Matilda on the Victorian state election results and the federal impli...

Award-winning journalist and ABC legend Kerry O'Brien joined Amy in the studio to discuss his new memoir. They explore the stories behind his greatest interviews, his views on the series of leadership spills in recent times, the changing media landscape, and much more.

Award-winning journalist and ABC legend Kerry O'Brien joined Amy in the studio to discuss his new memoir. They explore the stories behind his greatest interviews, his views on the series of leadership spills in recent times, the changing media landscape, and much more. Meg Labrum, General Manager of Collections and Access at the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA), spoke about thei...

Ed Hill, Campaigner at the Goongerah Environment Centre (GECO) in East Gippsland joined Amy in the studio to discuss the old growth native forest logging still occurring in Victoria, the threats to endangered species, and the policy positions of the major state parties on logging, the creation of new national parks, and the conservation.

Emma Shortis, PhD Candidate in history at The University of Melbourne, came in to talk about the US mid-term election results that saw a record number of women elected. Amy and Emma also talked US foreign policy and recent international diplomacy issues. Ed Hill, Campaigner at the Goongerah Environment Centre (GECO) in East Gippsland joined Amy in the studio to discuss the old growth native forest...

Feminist and writer Dr Anne Summers joined presenter Amy Mullins to talk about her adventurous life and prolific career, which is detailed in her new memoir Unfettered and Alive . They spoke aboutthe women's liberation movement, politics, and the unfinished business of feminism