Late Night Live - Separate stories podcast ABC listen

Simon Winchester has appeared on Late Night Live many times over the years to discuss his bestselling books. Now he and Phillip discuss Simon's own phenomenal life - from entering boarding school in England at the age of 4 to having his beehives in Massachusetts raided by bears. 

When the hammer thwacked down at Christie’s New York in November 2017, the ‘Salvator Mundi’ attributed to Leonardo da Vinci went for $450 million, making it the world’s most expensive artwork ever sold. But who bought it, who actually painted it and where is it now? 

Guest: Ben Lewis, art historian and documentary-maker

Ben's book is 'The Last Leonardo: The Secret Lives of the World's Most Expensive Painting' (Penguin Random House)

In the hard work of livestock rearing, in the long nights in the shed helping the sheep to lamb, Irish author John Connell can reflect on what life truly means. His new book is Twelve Sheep: Life lessons from a lambing season and is published by Allen and Unwin. 

It was largely the work of anthropology that altered our world views on race and culture – now backed thoroughly by genomics.   So what can anthropology offer us today, to deal with the many problems we face as a human species?

Guest: Wade Davis, Professor of Anthropology and the BC Leadership Chair in Cultures and Ecosystems at Risk at the University of British Columbia.  He’s also the former Explorer-in-Residence at National Geographic Magazine, photographer, film-maker and author of over 20 books. His latest book is Beneath The Surface Of Things: New and Selected Essays , published by Greystone Books. 

With the UK election just a few weeks away, Ian Dunt offers his assessment of the campaign so far; including the rise of Nigel Farage’s Reform party. It's  no longer just nipping at the Tories' heels – instead it’s looking like it could take a big chunk out of the conservatives rear end.  

Ian Dunt: LNL’s regular commentator on UK politics and Columnist for iNews.

"The hardest thing I've ever done in public life was appearing with the Prime Minister to give that press conference." Minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney, is known for remaining determinedly positive, despite facing very difficult circumstances in her personal life and enduring the devastating result of the referendum on constitutional recognition and a Voice to parliament in 2023.  But she says she's determined to focus on the six million Australians who voted yes, and on the young Indigenous leaders who emerged in the process. 

Guest: Linda Burney MP, Minister for Indigenous Australians.