Uncommon Sense – Triple R FM

Laureate Professor Nick Talley, Editor-in-Chief of The Medical Journal of Australia, speaks with Amy about SARS-CoV-2 and the coronavirus pandemic. They discuss Australia's ICU bed and ventilator capacity, the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), Australia’s testing criteria and community transmission levels, and what the MJA's new COVID-19 surge and mortality modelling tells us. N...

Associate Professor Jessica Whyte, political theorist from UNSW explores themes from her critically acclaimed book, 'The Morals of the Market: Human Rights and the Rise of Neoliberalism.' Amy and Jessica discuss the parallel histories of human rights and neoliberalism, and the very early neoliberal attempts to develop a distinct moral framework for a market society at the end of World War II. Broa...

Bill Bowtell, strategic health policy adviser and Adjunct Professor at UNSW, joins Amy for a deep-dive conversation on the Australian government's handling of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, and how it compares to the various approaches other countries are taking. They also discuss the crucial role of state and local governments, as well as community groups and what we can do ourselves. Bill Bo...

Australian composer & conductor Gordon Hamilton discusses the joys, challenges, and wonder of composing his contemporary symphony 'Far South', during his trip to Antarctica onboard the Aurora Australis icebreaker. 'Far South' is having its World Premiere performance by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra this week. Broadcast on 3 March 2020.

Nick Parry from the Australian-German Climate & Energy College at The University of Melbourne discusses how and why the European Union has been transitioning far more easily than Australia to renewable energy and the reality of a low carbon emissions future. He also shares how this disparity in climate action has been affecting EU-Australia relations, diplomatically and economically. Broadcast Feb...

Natural historian, ecologist, and environmental photographer Dr Alison Pouliot came in to talk about the fascinating fungi kingdom, how fungi are the phylogenetic older siblings of humans, and her extraordinary life travelling the globe to capture and study all kinds of fungi. Alison believes we need to care about the conservation of fungi as much as any other living organism. Broadcast on 25 Febr...

International art conservators Will Shank and Antonio Rava joined Amy in the studio to discuss their restoration of the famous Keith Haring mural in Collingwood, as well as other Haring murals in Paris, Pisa, and Amsterdam. They reveal the painstaking processes and careful considerations that go into the conservation and restoration of major public murals, wall paintings, and street art. Broadcast...

A leading expert in fire ecology, Associate Prof. Kevin Tolhurst has testified at numerous bushfire inquiries and royal commissions. He joined Amy to delve into the science of bushfire behaviour, what we've learned from Australia's past 57 bushfire inquiries and royal commissions and why we don't need another one, as well as how we must draw from Indigenous fire practices to better manage the land...

Prolific Italian actor and film director Vittorio De Sica was a legend of 20th-century cinema, with his iconic film BICYCLE THIEVES (1948) still being an all-time favourite among movie-goers and critics. His pioneering works of neorealism depict post-war Italy in all its gritty and poignant reality. Elisabetta Ferrari, Lecturer in Italian Studies at the University of Melbourne, discusses De Sica,...

Dr Alexandra Phelan, a global health law expert from Georgetown Uni in Washington, dials in to discuss the deadly coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan that continues to spread within China, and across the world. Dr Phelan explores the public health, social, political and human rights concerns arising from COVID-19, especially the use of quarantines and a 'cordon sanitaire.' Broadcast on 4 February 2020....

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

Regulars Emma Shortis and Ben Eltham join Amy to discuss the year that was in Australian and US politics and give their predictions for 2020. Broadcast on 17 December, 2019.

Amy is joined by South Gippsland’s Thomas Gurnett, Head Cider-Maker at Gurneys Cider, as they discuss the history and methods of cider-making that inform the stunning drops made at Gurneys in Foster, Victoria. Broadcast on 17 December, 2019.

Storyteller, folk musician and award-winning songwriter Carus Thompson joins Amy to explore the poignant and urgent social and political issues underpinning his seventh studio album, Shakespeare Avenue. He also plays three songs live in studio for us. Carus recorded his new album in England with Mercury nominated producer Sean Lakeman and folk star Seth Lakeman. Broadcast on 12 November 2019.

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.' Broadcast on 29 October, 2019.

Dr Delia Lin discusses the 70 year anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the history of modern China and its political thought, and the Xi Jinping presidency. Delia is based at the University of Melbourne's Asia Institute. Broadcast on 1 October, 2019.

Film director Janine Hosking discusses her documentary, THE EULOGY, which looks at the life and lonely death of one of the world's greatest pianists, Australian Geoffrey Tozer, and Paul Keating's eulogy for Tozer - a man he considered to have been abandoned by Australia's arts establishment. Due to copyright reasons the related music aired before and after this interview has been removed. Music be...

Shaun Walker spent over a decade reporting on Russian politics from Moscow. He came in to discuss the importance of history to current day politics in Putin's Russia, which is the subject of his book, 'The Long Hangover: Putin’s New Russia and the Ghosts of the Past.' Broadcast on October 22, 2019.

Hong Kong-based lawyer and author Antony Dapiran returns with an in-depth look at the evolving political protests in Hong Kong, the reasons behind rising instances of violence and vandalism, plus the response from Mainland China and the wider world. Broadcast on 15 October, 2019.

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.' Broadcast on 15 October, 2019.

Guardian Australia's Gabrielle Jackson joins Amy to discuss her book, 'Pain and Prejudice.' They explore how social taboos and medical ignorance keep women sick and in anguish. The stark reality is that women's pain is not taken as seriously as men's, and women are more likely to be disbelieved and denied medical treatment than men. Broadcast on 17 September 2019.

Environmentalist and former leader of the Australian Greens Bob Brown, joins Amy to discuss how the climate change debate occurs in ideological, as opposed to pragmatic terms and why this obscures the severity of what is going on. He also discusses why becoming an active citizen is essential to overcoming them. Broadcast on 17 September 2019.

Infectious-disease physician Dr Matt McCarthy discusses his book, 'Superbugs: The Race to Stop an Epidemic.' Matt shares why this is the most urgent and deadly public health issue of our time as well as the antibiotic he discovered to treat one of the most drug-resistant bacteria in the world – MRSA. Matt is Assistant Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell and a staff physician at New York-Presbyt...

American historian Deborah E. Lipstadt famously defeated a Holocause denier in Britain's High Court. Amy and Deborah discuss the nature of Holocaust denial - past and present, Deborah's experience defending historical truth, as well as the dangers of antisemitism today. Deborah's new book is, 'Antisemitism: Here and Now.' Broadcast on 3 September, 2019.

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...