Big Ideas

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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.

1 DAY AGO

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
3 DAYS AGO

The future of remembering wars past — school students speak frankly

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
6 NOV

What's wrong with death? Sophia Club live philosophy with Natasha Mitchell and guests

When you're alive, the idea of dying feels weird, remote, alien. Yet it's the one experience we will all have. Can philosophy help us make sense of that weirdness? What can talking about death and dying teach us about living? Natasha Mitchell is joined by a philosopher, funeral director, and a First Nations' songman for an uplifting, insightful conversation on death. This event is part of the Sophia Club live philosophy event series, presented by Aeon Media, publishers of Aeon and Psyche. Speakers: Kimba Griffith Co-founder and co-owner, The Last Hurrah Professor Klaus Jahn Philosopher School of Historical and Philosophical Studies and Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences University of Melbourne Fred Leone Butchella songman, musician, and performer Garrwa-Mambaliya Clan Thanks to Sophia Club event creators and producers Brigid Hains (Editorial director, Aeon Media), Rosie Black, Jasmine Walter. Further information: LIsten and read a Days Like These feature and podcast about Fred Leone’s family story about a king, escape and connection to country.

58 min
4 NOV

From Gatsby to Huck Finn — American literature in an age of polarisation

From To Kill a Mockingbird to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, there are no shortage of options to include on those lists of "The Great American Novel". But which is the real plot in the story of America? This event was recorded at the University of Melbourne on 24 October 2024. Speaker Sarah Churchwell Professor of American Literature and Chair in Public Understanding of the Humanities, University of London Author, Careless People: Murder, Mayhem and The Invention of The Great Gatsby, The Wrath to Come: Gone with the Wind and the Lies America Tells, and more

50 min
31 OCT

Old, new, best, true — the joy, power and heartache of friends

Friends are among the most important relationships we will have in our lives. So what makes someone a friend, how do we hold on to them, and how do they shape who we are? This event was recorded at the Sydney Writers Festival on 22 May, 2024. Speakers Gyan Yankovich Author, Just Friends: On the Power, Influence and Joy of Friendship Lifestyle editor, Sydney Morning Herald and The Age Susan Wyndham Co-editor (with Brigitta Olubas), Hazzard and Harrower: The letters Former Literary editor, Sydney Morning Herald Melanie Kembrey (host), Editor, Spectrum (arts and culture publication), Sydney Morning Herald

53 min
30 OCT

Unconventional women — a hidden story of nuns

Why did acclaimed actor Melissa Jaffer step away from the spotlight and the swinging 60s to enter a strict cloister of Australian nuns for 4 years? Sister Marian McClelland is the last of two surviving members of the same Australian order of contemplative nuns. They became nuns at a time of radical change for women worldwide and for the Catholic Church and have extraordinary stories to tell about how faith shaped their sense of identity and purpose. They join Natasha Mitchell with oral historian Dr Sarah Gilbert, author of Unconventional Women: The story of the last Blessed Sacrament Sisters in Australia. This event was organised by Melbourne University Press and hosted at the Abbotsford Convent in Melbourne. Speakers: Dr Sarah Gilbert Writer, researcher, producer, and oral historian Author, Unconventional Women: The story of the last Blessed Sacrament Sisters in Australia (Melbourne University Press, 2024) Sister Marian McClelland Order of the Blessed Sacrament sisters in Australia Melissa Jaffer Australian actor of stage and screen Further information: Sisters in arms: Catholic nuns through two millennia Jo Ann Kay McNamara Harvard University Press, 1998

59 min
28 OCT

Candice Fox, Matthew Conon, Benjamin Stevenson – on the ethics of crime writing

Literature on crime is huge. Many of you just love to read about a good murder. But do you prefer a soft touch around violent scenes? Or do you want to read it in the drastic, graphic language that shows crime the way it is? Writing crime stories can be a minefield: Do authors have to tell people, if they want to use them in their book? Particularly if they want to paint 'your character' the villain? Can you re-traumatise a victim when you turn their painful experience into a bestseller? A stellar panel of acclaimed crime authors tell how they found their own way to deal with the dilemma of the ethics of writing about murder and corruption. Presented at the Byron Writers Festival. Speakers Matthew Condon Award-winning journalist and author, host of two true crime podcasts – Ghost Gate Road and Dig: Sirens Are Coming Candice Fox Bestselling author, her latest book is 'Devil's kitchen' Benjamin Stevenson Award-winning stand-up comedian and USA Today best-selling author of the 'Ernest Cunningham Mysteries', including 'Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone' and 'Everyone on This Train is a Suspect' Rosemarie Milsom (host) Founding director of Newcastle Writers Festival, former award-winning print journalist with Fairfax Media and broadcaster with the ABC

54 min

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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.