Uncommon Sense

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; Dr Jo Birch, Curator of the University of Melbourne Herbarium came in to talk about the wonder of plants and their newly...

Amy spoke with University of Wrzburg Professor Emeritus Jrgen Tautz on his book The Honey Factory: Inside the Ingenious World of Bees . Melbourne University History Professor and Australian Academy of the Humanities President Joy Damousi talked about the federal governments vetoing of 11 ARC humanities research grants and the intrinsic value of the humanities to society. Plus New Matildas National...

Amy spoke with University of Würzburg Professor Emeritus Jürgen Tautz on his book co-authored with Diedrich Steen, The Honey Factory: Inside the Ingenious World of Bees.

Emma Shortis came in to talk about the latest in US politics and the significance of Brett Kavanaughs appointment to the Supreme Court. Actor Barry McGovern and Director Tom Creed joined Amy to discuss their stage adaptation of Samuel Becketts novel Watt now showing at the Melbourne International Arts Festival. Film academic and Co-Programmer of the Melbourne Cinmathque, Eloise Ross, came in to ta...

Gabrielle Chan came in to talk about her new book, Rusted Off: Why Country Australia is Fed Up. Triple R alumni, radio presenter and songwriter Greg Champion of the ABCs Coodabeen Champions joined Amy in the studio to talk about the new published collection of his football songs, The Thing About Football The Songs of Greg Champion , and sang many of them! University of Melbourne plant biologist As...

Triple R alumni, radio presenter and songwriter Greg Champion of the ABCs Coodabeen Champions joined Amy in the studio to talk about the new published collection of his football songs, The Thing About Football The Songs of Greg Champion , and sang many of them!

British author Johann Hari joined Amy in the studio to talk about his book, Chasing the Scream, The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs . They discuss drug addiction, what it is, why it happens, and what the new solutions have been in other countries and what they might be in Australia.

Philosopher Anne Manne came in to talk about mothers and the quest for social justice. Anne argues for a 'universal caregiver' regime as opposed to the current 'universal breadwinner' regime that expects productive citizens to be in full-time paid work and devalues unpaid caring work. Anne's chapter is in the new multi-author book, Dangerous Ideas About Mothers .

British author Johann Hari joined Amy in the studio to talk about his book, Chasing the Scream, The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs . They discuss drug addiction, what it is, why it happens, and what the new solutions have been in other countries and what they might be in Australia. Philosopher Anne Manne came in to talk about mothers and the quest for social justice. Anne argues for a 'un...

Alex Edney-Browne, PhD Candidate in International Relations at the University of Melbourne , discussed with Amy military drones and their effects on the civilian populations they surveil and attack in war zones and beyond, as well as the effects on drone operators. Alex went to Afghanistan and the US to hear about it firsthand. Nic Maclellan, Correspondent for Islands Business Magazine was at the...

Alex Edney-Browne, PhD Candidate in International Relations at the University of Melbourne , discussed with Amy military drones and their effects on the civilian populations they surveil and attack in war zones and beyond, as well as the effects on drone operators. Alex went to Afghanistan and the US to hear about it firsthand.

Barrister Julian Burnside QC joined Amy in the studio to discuss the threats to multiculturalism in Australia, which is the topic of his Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria 7th Annual Walter Lippmann Memorial Oration

Fiona Patten MLC, Founder and Leader of Reason Party (formerly The Sex Party) and parliamentarian, dropped by to discuss her memoir, Sex, Drugs and the Electoral Roll

Barrister Julian Burnside QC joined Amy in the studio to discuss the threats to multiculturalism in Australia, which is the topic of his Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria 7th Annual Walter Lippmann Memorial Oration; Fiona Patten MLC, Founder and Leader of Reason Party (formerly The Sex Party) and parliamentarian, dropped by to discuss her memoir, Sex, Drugs and the Electoral Roll ; Don Rothwe...

Peter Cochrane, historian and novelist, spoke about his new book on "the story behind the story" of Australia's involvement in World War I, 'Best We Forget: The War for White Australia: 1914-18'.

Emma Shortis, PhD candidate in history at the University of Melbourne, joined Amy to discuss the latest in American politics. Karen Middleton, Chief Political Correspondent for The Saturday Paper, discussed her article, 'How [Scott] Morrison played everyone' and what was happening during the Liberal leadership spills. Professor Brendan Wintle, Director of the Threatened Species Recovery Hub came i...

Ben Eltham and Amy analysed the two Liberal leadership spills that in the end brought us a new Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Ed Hill, Goongerah Environment Centre's spokesperson talked about the scientific trial (as reported by the ABC) being conducted by VicForests in which it logs native forests in East Gippsland using different techniques and intensities to then measure the threatened Greater...

Acclaimed actors Marta Dusseldorp and Zoe Terakes talk about the Melbourne Theatre Company's production of A Dolls House Part 2, which sees Nora return to the family she left 15 years ago.

Ben Eltham joined Amy to discuss the latest in federal politics. Richard Todd, Director and Producer of Dying to Live, came into the studio to discuss his documentary about organ and tissue donation in Australia, which is showing at the Melbourne International Film Festival Dr Karen Jones, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Melbourne came in to talk about trust - what is it, and ho...

Richard Todd, Director and Producer of Dying to Live, came into the studio to discuss his documentary about organ and tissue donation in Australia, which is showing at the Melbourne International Film Festival

Curators Kirsty Grant and Denise Whitehouse join the program to talk about the latest exhibition at the Heide Museum of Modern Art, 'Design For Life: Grant and Mary Featherston', which explores the career of Grant Featherston, a pioneering Australian modernist furniture designer, and his professional and personal partnership with Mary Featherston. David Ritter, CEO of Greenpeace Australia Pacific...

Author, academic and essayist,Kate Rossmanith joined Amy in the studio to talk about her hybrid memoir Small Wrongs: How We Really Say Sorry in Love, Life and Law. Jean-Dominique Mellot, Chief Curator of the Bibliothque nationale de France (BnF) , and specialist in the history of books, publishing, and cultural practices in the 17th and 18th centuries; along with Wallace Kirsop, Adjunct Professor...

Author, academic and essayist,Kate Rossmanith joined Amy in the studio to talk about her hybrid memoir Small Wrongs: How We Really Say Sorry in Love, Life and Law.

Historian Professor David Christian discusses a shared, secular origin story for humanity in his new book, Origin Story: A Big History of Everything

Historian Professor David Christian discusses a shared, secular origin story for humanity in his new book, Origin Story: A Big History of Everything ; Dr Anne Rees, historian at La Trobe University, came in to talk about the Australian women expats who found liberation in America; plus Ben Eltham on the latest in federal politics.