Big Ideas

ABC listen

4.0 (30)
SOCIETY & CULTURE
UPDATED DAILY

Feed your mind. Be provoked. One big idea at a time. Your brain will love you for it. Grab your front row seat to the best live forums and festivals with Natasha Mitchell.

12 HR AGO

Together? Or together alone? Debating the harms and benefits of social media

The federal government wants to restrict social media to Australians aged over 16. But will it work? Hear from the adults and kids in the know as they debate the arguments for and against. The Great Debate was presented by the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia as part of Social Sciences Week, recorded at the National Library of Australia on 10 September 2024. Speakers Kids debate - Years 7 and 8 students at the University of Canberra High School Kaleen Misha, Sienna and Jacob Affirmative team Umar, Addy and Shreya Negative team Ivy Host Adults debate Lisa Given Professor of Information Sciences at RMIT University Anthony Elliott Distinguished Professor of Sociology, University of South Australia Author, Algorithms of Anxiety: Fear in the Digital Age Ginger Gorman (host) Journalist and author of the book Troll Hunting: Inside the World of Online Hate and Its Human Fallout Host of the Seriously Social podcast

1h 3m
1 DAY AGO

ADHD, autism, depression — is social media causing social contagion? Jean Twenge, Sonny Jane Wise, Alice Dawkins, Sandersan Onie with Natasha Mitchell

Is social media a contagious force harming young minds, a life saver helping people find their neurodiverse tribes and support, or, for better or worse, a bit of both? From the Festival of Dangerous Ideas, join Natasha Mitchell with renowned social psychologist Jean Twenge, neurodiversity advocate Sonny Jane Wise, technology policy campaigner Alice Dawkins, suicide prevention researcher Dr Sandersan Onie. Young people depressed, distressed, and anxious. ADHD and Autism diagnoses on the increase. All at record rates. Is it a renaissance in awareness, enabled by social media, or are people reaching for labels that risk losing meaning? Speakers: Jean Twenge Professor of psychology San Diego State University Author of iGen: Why Today's Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy—and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood (2017) Generations: The Real Differences between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers and Silents—and What They Mean for America's Future (2023) Alice Dawkins Executive Director, Reset.Tech. Au Dr Sanderson Onie Psychologist and suicide prevention researcher Black Dog Institute University of NSW Sonny Jane Wise Neurodiversity advocate Author, We’re All Neurodiverse (2023) and The Neurodivergent Friendly Workbook of DBT Skills (2022) Thanks to Danielle Harvey, Director of the Festival of Dangerous Ideas, and the festival team. Further information: Not Just Algorithms: Online Safety, Children and Young People, Data Security, Privacy and Data Protection report (24 March, 2024) Festival of Dangerous Ideas on-demand audio and video archive selected from over a decade of provocative events

54 min
2 DAYS AGO

Negotiating peace against the odds can be murky business

Mediation in armed conflicts means sitting down with brutal war lords, hiding your true values and in an open dialogue trying to really understand all sides of the parties involved. In the most pressurised environments, there are nearly always possible pathways to a win-win outcome — but finding the way requires a combination of imagination, goodwill, timing, and street smarts. Reflections on Diplomacy and Peace Mediation was presented at the TheMHS Conference 2024 Speaker Paul Dziatkowiec Director of Mediation and Peace Support, Geneva Centre for Security Policy Listen to Big Ideas - Is making war more humane in fact prolonging the fighting?

44 min
3 DAYS AGO

The 4-Day-Week − creating a better work life balance or just more stress?

Pressing a full-time workload into four days sounds like simply adding more stress to your job – even if you keep your pay. But many people who have tried this model say that one would need to pay them double their salary to make them go back to a standard work week. And businesses enjoy better staff retention and get a completive edge on the job market. Presented by UQ ChangeMakers Speakers Debbie Bailey Consultant Partner, 4 Day Week Global Shannan Quain Chief People Officer, Australian Digital Health Agency Associate Professor James Kirby Clinical Psychologist and the Co-Director of the Compassionate Mind Research Group, University of Queensland Professor Tyler Okimoto (host) Associate Dean (Academic), Faculty of Business, Economics and Law, University of Queensland

53 min
14 NOV

From Mumbai to Studio 54 — how Asha Puthli became India's first disco star

She was Andy Warhol's muse, she's been sampled by Notorious BIG, and her music was once voted on the ten best songs to dry-hump to. This is the amazing true story of how Indian-born singer Asha Puthli became a music legend. This event was recorded at Rising Festival on 7 June 2024. Speakers Asha Puthli Singer Adriana Lazaridis (host) DJ

53 min
13 NOV

Joanna Murray-Smith — You’re Right, I’m Wrong: The Artist's Role in a Shifting World

The leading playwright Joanna Murray-Smith makes a powerful case for the role of the arts in Australian public life, arguing that moral righteousness is stifling artistic expression. The last ever Stephen Murray-Smith Memorial Lecture was recorded at the State Library of Victoria on 8 October 2024. Speaker Joanna Murray-Smith Playwright, screenwriter and novelist

57 min
11 NOV

The future of remembering wars past — school students speak frankly with Natasha Mitchell at the Shrine

How should we reflect on wars, past and present? Do the rituals of Remembrance Day and Anzac Day hold meaning for young people? Natasha Mitchell is joined by a crowd of high school students and special guests with opinions on the future of commemoration. This event was hosted and organised by Victoria's Shrine of Remembrance to mark its 90th anniversary. Speakers: Che Weon (Michelle) Lee Masters of architecture student, University of Melbourne School of Design Granddaughter of Korean war veteran (Michelle's Shrine design is linked to below) William Muhlhauser Year 9 student, Haileybury College Member, ‘Winjeels’ student club, Moorabbin Air Museum Recipient of 2024 Spirit of Anzac Prize Zackary Melvaine Year 11 student, Mill Park Secondary College Australian army cadet Member of Australian Defense Force's National Drone Racing Team Youth Mayor of the City of Whittlesea Recipient of 2023 Premier's Spirit of Anzac Prize Thanks to Sue Burgess and Laura Thomas at the Shrine of Remembrance. Further information: "First Songline" Che Weon (Michelle) Lee's design for the Shrine of Remembrance for her Masters degree in Architecture Victoria's Shrine of Remembrance 90th anniversary events Drone warfare, technology and the psyche: an insider speaks [this episode of Science Friction by Natasha Mitchell is mentioned in this program] What it's really like to live with drone warfare [illustrated feature] Premier's Spirit of Anzac Prize Shrine of Remembrance Young Ambassador Leadership program

55 min
7 NOV

Ending homelessness is possible

It needs strong leadership and good coordination. But most of all, it needs public opinion to rise up and push policy makers to tackle this crisis. Canada can teach us a lesson in how to do that. Homelessness is a systemic housing problem – not caused by mental health issues or drug abuse. Presented at the Australian Homelessness Conference, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) Speakers Tim Richter Founder, President & CEO of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH) Carmel Haugh Systems and Community Lead for the Brisbane Zero collaboration, Micah Projects David Pearson CEO Australian Alliance to End Homelessness Dr Tom Alves Head of Development, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) Further information Big Ideas – Housing as a human right? With Alan Kohler and Kevin Bell

54 min

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4

out of 5

30 Ratings

Always interesting

28/03/2021

Duindobheul

There’s always something interesting or challenging in this podcast. It’s utterly compelling. So many different guests and topics. Fantastic content from ABC. Love listening to this and other content from Australia here at home in Scotland. Thank you for bringing the world closer when everything seems further away.
Love it!

11/06/2014

TanTan91

A great podcast for people who want to be inspired!
covid-19 silence

27/03/2020

picturetalk321

I love this show. I have listened to it regularly and enthusiastically from the UK and Germany for 3 years now. But I am mystifies by the editors' decision to feature nothing on the corona virus. I keep refreshing every two days and can simply not understand it. I've stoppes tuning in. This show is normally so amazingly topical: what has happened? Hope everyone is OK. xx
A short review

06/09/2009

vectr

This is an excellent podcast that presents a counter-balance to the shallow media that predominates discourse. Commendable. As an Aussie living in London, this is the sort of thing that makes me proud even when I'm on the other side of the planet.

Feed your mind. Be provoked. One big idea at a time. Your brain will love you for it. Grab your front row seat to the best live forums and festivals with Natasha Mitchell.