Uncommon Sense Triple R Podcasts

British best-selling author Johann Hari joins Amy Mullins to talk about his excellent new book, Magic Pill, which examines the benefits and risks of controversial new weight-loss drugs, like Ozempic and Wegovy. Johann has in fact tried this medication himself and is conflicted about whether they are the miracle solution for obesity that they appear to be. We get into all the nuances of the science and debate around these medications, as well as the real causes of obesity and why people who try to lose weight the old-fashioned way (through diet and exercise) – may initially lose weight but struggle to keep it off. Hint: it actually isn’t your fault. This interview is essential listening for all people wanting to understand how our modern society has geared us towards obesity and disrupted our metabolic systems.

With pressure on the government (again) to raise the rate of JobSeeker, will they finally prioritise the welfare of those on the lowest incomes in the country? Greg Jericho, Guardian columnist and Chief Economist for The Australia Institute previews the upcoming Federal Budget with Amy, which is to be delivered on Tuesday 14th May. Greg tells us what budgets are really all about – choices. British best-selling author Johann Hari joins Amy Mullins to talk about his excellent new book, Magic Pill, which examines the benefits and risks of controversial new weight-loss drugs, like Ozempic and Wegovy. Johann has in fact tried this medication himself and is conflicted about whether they are the miracle solution for obesity that they appear to be. We get into all the nuances of the science and debate around these medications, as well as the real causes of obesity and why people who try to lose weight the old-fashioned way (through diet and exercise) – may initially lose weight but struggle to keep it off. Hint: it actually isn’t your fault. This interview is essential listening for all people wanting to understand how our modern society has geared us towards obesity and disrupted our metabolic systems. Victoria Johnson, spokesperson for the Gippsland Forest Guardians, talks about a significant discovery of Slender Tree-ferns (Cyathea cunninghamii) in the Strzelecki ranges, south-east of Melbourne. They are critically endangered in Victoria and the total population is estimated at less than 1,000. Slender Tree-ferns are listed as Critically Endangered under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee (FFG) Act 1988 and have current species-specific prescriptions in the Code of Practice for Timber Production 2014 (as amended in 2022). However, they are currently under threat due to logging operations occurring very close to the endangered ferns at Turtons creek, in some cases only 5 metres away. Victoria tells us about this unique plant species and what we can do to ensure its protection.

Julian Assange's brother Gabriel Shipton joined Amy Mullins to update us as to Julian's state of mind and health ahead of the UK High Court's impending decision, which is to be handed down tonight 9.30pm AEDT (10.30am London time). The court will decide whether Wikileaks founder and journalist Julian Assange will be able to appeal the decision to extradite him from Britain to the United States where he faces 18 charges for publishing US military documents and diplomatic cables and up to 173 years in prison or even the death penalty. Gabriel tells us about his attendance as a guest of Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie at President Joe Biden's 2024 State of the Union Address and the intense lobbying efforts happening behind the scenes at the US Congress. When will the Australian government make greater representations to the United States on its citizen's behalf? Gabriel Shipton is a film producer and produced a documentary on the persecution of Assange called, ITHAKA (free to watch on ABC's iView). You can listen to that May 2022 interview here. To support Julian Assange and take action, visit the campaign website: https://www.action.assangecampaign.org.au

Graham Readfearn, the Guardian Australia’s Environment Reporter gives us the latest on local and global environmental news, including a coral bleaching event taking place right now on the Great Barrier Reef. He also tells us about Antarctica’s sea ice reaching alarmingly low levels, a mystery paralysis syndrome afflicting lorikeet populations, and his podcast series, Weight of the World – the climate scientists who saw the crisis coming. For International Women's Day, award-winning author and science journalist Angela Saini joins Amy from New York to talk about her latest book, The Patriarchs: How Men Came To Rule. Angela delves into the origins of "the patriarchy" and gendered oppression and finds that patriarchal societies are a far more recent historical development than we might imagine. She also talks about our fascination with matriarchy and women-led matrilineal societies and reveals that many different types of matrilineal societies exist across the world today. Angela explains how patriarchy is not inevitable and what feminists and people seeking a gender equal world can do to turn the tide. The Patriarchs was shortlisted for the 2023 Orwell Prize. It's published by Harper Collins Australia. This is the extended full version of the interview with Angela Saini. Angela's previous books are, Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong, and Superior: The Return of Race Science. Renowned Australian-born film critic Adrian Martin joins Amy to discuss the brilliance of Jean-Luc Godard’s cinematic masterpiece, LE MÉPRIS (Contempt, 1963), starring Brigitte Bardot, Michel Piccoli, Jack Palance, Giorgia Moll, and Fritz Lang. Filmed in Capri, Italy, LE MÉPRIS depicts the breakdown of a marriage, but it is also about much more than that as you'll hear. It has been newly restored in 4k and is having its Australian premiere at Europa Europa Film Festival in Melbourne on the 6th and 11th March 2024 (Hawthorn and Elsternwick). The screenings are co-presented by Melbourne Cinémathèque. This is the extended full version of the interview with Adrian Martin. In the original interview that aired, we heard some of the iconic music by Georges Delerue who composed the epic and sweeping soundtrack to LE MÉPRIS, including Générique and Camille. To view Godard's films from home, they can be found at your local library, university library, Picture Search Video & Vinyl in Richmond, on Kanopy (often via your library's subscription, here is LE MÉPRIS), and Apple Movies and Google Movies. Godard's films are distributed in Australia by Madman Entertainment and Umbrella Entertainment.

For International Women's Day, award-winning author and science journalist Angela Saini joins Amy from New York to talk about her latest book, The Patriarchs: How Men Came To Rule. Angela delves into the origins of "the patriarchy" and gendered oppression and finds that patriarchal societies are a far more recent historical development than we might imagine. She also talks about our fascination with matriarchy and women-led matrilineal societies and reveals that many different types of matrilineal societies exist across the world today. Angela explains how patriarchy is not inevitable and what feminists and people seeking a gender equal world can do to turn the tide. The Patriarchs was shortlisted for the 2023 Orwell Prize. It's published by Harper Collins Australia. Angela's previous books are, Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong, and Superior: The Return of Race Science. This is the extended full version of the interview with Angela Saini.

Renowned Australian-born film critic Adrian Martin joins Amy to discuss the brilliance of Jean-Luc Godard’s cinematic masterpiece, LE MÉPRIS (Contempt, 1963), starring Brigitte Bardot, Michel Piccoli, Jack Palance, Giorgia Moll, and Fritz Lang. Filmed in Capri, Italy, LE MÉPRIS depicts the breakdown of a marriage, but it is also about much more than that as you'll hear. It has been newly restored in 4k and is having its Australian premiere at Europa Europa Film Festival in Melbourne on the 6th and 11th March 2024 (Hawthorn and Elsternwick). The screenings are co-presented by Melbourne Cinémathèque. This is the extended full version of the interview. In the original interview that aired, we heard some of the iconic music by Georges Delerue who composed the epic and sweeping soundtrack to LE MÉPRIS, including Générique and Camille. To view Godard's films from home, they can be found at your local library, university library, Picture Search Video & Vinyl in Richmond, on Kanopy (often via your library's subscription, here is LE MÉPRIS), and Apple Movies and Google Movies. Godard's films are distributed in Australia by Madman Entertainment and Umbrella Entertainment.