Uncommon Sense

Nic Maclellan, Pacific affairs correspondent for Inside Story, talks about Australia's foreign policy, including its relationships with Pacific island nations, China, the U.S. and France. Nic also explains the positions and recent policies of the major and minor parties. This is the second instalment of Uncommon Sense's federal election policy series. Journalist and author Louisa Lim discusses her...

Veteran broadcaster and author Jon Faine joins Amy to discuss his fascinating new book, Apollo & Thelma: A True Tall Tale . Jon tells the astonishing true story of the world's strongest man Paul Anderson, also known as ‘The Mighty Apollo,' and his sister Thelma, a pioneering publican of the ‘Wanda Inn’ at Top Springs in the NT. As Jon was Apollo's lawyer, he reckons with his own story too. Thi...

Luke Henriques-Gomes, Guardian Australia's social affairs and inequality editor, joins Amy for the first instalment of a special federal election policy series examining key policy areas in-depth. Luke discusses the policies and track record of the major and minor parties in the areas of social policy, including the cashless debit card, JobSeeker, and the NDIS. Veteran broadcaster and author Jon F...

Dr Chris Wallace discusses the media's role and performance in the federal election campaign and previews Labor's chances of winning. Chris is the author of, How To Win An Election, and is Associate Professor at the 50/50 By 2030 Foundation at the University of Canberra. Scottish paleobiologist Thomas Halliday joins Amy for an in-depth conversation about his debut book, Otherlands: A World in the...

Scottish paleobiologist Dr Thomas Halliday joins Amy for an in-depth conversation about his debut book, Otherlands: A World in the Making. Thomas takes us on a journey into deep time and introduces us to the awe-inducing ecosystems, animals, plants, and places that existed – from Alaska during the Pleistocene (20,000 years ago) to Australia during the Ediacaran (550 million years ago). Thomas is a...

Professor Brendan Crabb AC, Director and CEO of the Burnet Institute, joins Amy to reflect on how the pandemic and SARS-CoV-2 virus has evolved. He addresses the myths and misinformation around what the virus is, how it is spread, and what we must all do to reduce transmission. Brendan also discusses the long-term health effects of COVID-19, including Long COVID, and much more. Writer and farmer B...

Professor Brendan Crabb AC, Director and CEO of the Burnet Institute, joins Amy to reflect on how the pandemic and SARS-CoV-2 virus has evolved. He addresses the myths and misinformation around what the virus is, how it is spread, and what we must all do to reduce transmission. Brendan also discusses the long-term health effects of COVID-19, including Long COVID, and much more. Professor Crabb is...

John Keane, Professor of Politics at University of Sydney joined Amy to discuss his latest book, The Shortest History of Democracy . John explains the lesser known origins of democracy, its symbolism, and the three forms of democracy across history – assembly democracy, electoral democracy, and monitory democracy. He also reflects on present day Australia and assesses the state and functioning of...

John Keane, Professor of Politics at University of Sydney joined Amy to discuss his latest book, The Shortest History of Democracy . John explains the lesser known origins of democracy in Syria-Mesopotamia, its symbolism, and the three forms of democracy across history – assembly democracy, electoral democracy, and monitory democracy. He also reflects on present day Australia and assesses the stat...

Award-winning investigative journalist and author Jess Hill unravels the complexities of domestic abuse and its insidious forms, like coercive control. These are issues Jess delves into in her podcast series, The Trap , where she speaks with victim survivors, perpetrators, police, and others. If this conversation brings up any concerns for you, please contact Lifeline 13 11 14, 1800 Respect (1800...

Dr Juanita Fernando, Chair of the Australian Privacy Foundation’s Health Committee, discusses the Victorian Government's concerning plans to share every Victorian's patient data in a centralised health database with no way for individuals to opt-out. It will be utilised by public and denominational hospitals, outpatient clinics, residential care services, mental health, community health and ambula...

Philosopher and ethicist Peter Singer joins Amy for a special, wide-ranging chat ahead of his appearance in Melbourne this week. They discuss the philosophy of utilitarianism, Peter's conception of "effective altruism," moral questions raised by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as why we should care about the suffering of animals. Peter Singer is the Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at Princeton...

New Zealand comedian and actor Chris Parker joins Amy for a chat about his comedy show Gentle Man (Melbourne: 31 March - 24 April). You might also know Chris from his hilarious Instragram videos during the pandemic. Did you know that even the Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern watches Chris' videos?

Director Jennifer Peedom discusses her new film, RIVER. The film explores the life and death of rivers and how humanity’s fortunes are intrinsically tied to them. RIVER is the sequel to the 2017 documentary MOUNTAIN, and reunites the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti, narrator Willem Dafoe, and writer Robert Macfarlane, alongside new collaborators William Barton, Jonny Greenwood, and...

Director Jennifer Peedom discusses her new film, RIVER . It's the sequel to the 2017 hit documentary MOUNTAIN, reuniting the creative team of Jennifer Peedom, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, narrator Willem Dafoe, and writer Robert Macfarlane. Writer James Bradley explores the cultural history of swimming with Amy through his essay in the Sydney Review of Books , ' Full Body Immersion .' Plus, R...

Amy speaks in-depth with best-selling author Johann Hari about his new book, Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention. Johann explores the attention crisis and why we have lost our ability to focus. He tells Amy how we can take back our attention at both an individual and systemic level, but we have to fight for it. Susanna Freymark, editor of northern NSW community newspaper indyNR.com , talks a...

Amy speaks in-depth with best-selling author Johann Hari about his new book, 'Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention.' Johann explores the attention crisis and why we have lost our ability to focus. He tells Amy how we can take back our attention at both an individual and systemic level – but we have to fight for it.

Historian Anna Clark speaks with Amy about her new book, 'Making Australian History.' In a wide-ranging conversation, Anna looks at the history of Australian history, our changing and contested national story, and the many different people who make history.

Associate Professor Andrew Godwin, Principal Fellow at the Melbourne Law School, explores the fascinating life and work of William Ah Ket (1876-1936), Australia’s first barrister of Chinese heritage. He was widely admired and a fierce advocate for Chinese-Australians, defending them against racial discrimination. Andrew will deliver the 2022 Rare Book Lecture on Ah Ket. Eliza Hull joins Amy to tal...

Historian and author Dr David Brophy explores his very relevant book, ‘China Panic: Australia’s Alternative to Paranoia and Pandering.’ David discusses this in the context of the federal government and media's escalating rhetoric around the China "threat."

Independent political candidate and cultural sector leader Jo Dyer joins Amy to discuss what has gone wrong with federal politics and how we can change it for the better. Jo argues that there is a movement of independents running at the upcoming federal election who, if successful in large enough numbers, could change the way politics is done and what policy outcomes can be achieved almost immedia...

Jo Dyer, independent candidate for Boothby (federal, SA) and cultural curator talks about where Australian politics went awry and how independents can reconstruct it – in her book, Burning Down The House: Reconstructing Modern Politics . Amidst rising alarmist rhetoric on China, Amy talks to author and historian Dr David Brophy about his book, China Panic: Australia’s Alternative to Paranoia and P...

Does Australia need a "big" government? Dr Richard Denniss, chief economist at The Australia Institute examines the false narrative that Australians have been told for decades – that the less government spends, the better their lives will be. Richard talks about taxes, the weaponisation of shame in our welfare system, and what we can really afford as a country, if we choose it. His book is called,...

Poet and advocate Dr Sarah Holland-Batt discusses the crisis in aged care in-depth, and talks of the many older Australians suffering and dying of COVID-19 due to unprecedented COVID-19 outbreaks in aged-care homes.

Historian Emma Shortis and Guardian journalist Luke Henriques-Gomes review the year in Australian and U.S. politics. Epidemiologist and WHO Adviser Professor Mary-Louise McLaws takes us through everything we need to know about the Omicron variant, the current COVID-19 outbreaks in Victoria and NSW, plus how to best stay safe over the summer holiday period.