Big Ideas

ABC

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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.

1 DAY AGO

The life of astronauts — with 2026 Australian of the Year Katherine Bennell-Pegg

What is it really like to be an astronaut? How do you even become one? What happens when an argument breaks out on the International Space Station? And why are big fashion brands clamouring to design for space? As NASA prepares to return humans to the moon for the first time in 50 years, we hear from a panel of superstar astronauts about life in space. This astronauts' forum was recorded at Sydney Science Festival on 2 October 2025, presented by Sydney's Powerhouse Museum. Speakers Katherine Bennell-Pegg Director Space Technology, Australian Space Agency, 2026 Australian of the Year Joseph Acaba NASA's chief astronaut, member of NASA Artemis Mission Koichi Wakata Chief technology officer, Asia-Pacific region, Axiom Space, first Japanese commander of the International Space Station Tibor Kapu Astronaut, mechanical engineer, mission specialist for Axiom Mission 4 Rae Johnston (host) Science and technology journalist, presenter, Download This Show ABC Radio National

56 min
2 DAYS AGO

Harvard firebrand on intellectual freedom Steven Pinker with Natasha Mitchell

Harvard psychologist and bestselling author Steven Pinker is a fierce advocate for intellectual and academic freedom — and one of the world’s most prominent and provocative thinkers about human language, the mind, and how societies work. He joins Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell with an 800-strong Melbourne audience to discuss his latest book When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows: Common Knowledge and the Science of Harmony, Hypocrisy and Outrage. Steven Pinker doesn’t shy away from controversy — amidst the Trump administration's attacks on his own university he recently penned a NYT piece titled Harvard Derangement Syndrome — challenging the cancellation, character assassination and censorship of scholars who investigate controversial ideas. This event and Steven Pinker's Australian tour was organised by Thinkable.Events This event and Steven Pinker's Australian tour was organised by Thinkable.Events Speaker Steven PinkerJohnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard UniversityCo-founder, Council on Academic Freedom at HarvardAuthor of 13 books includingWhen Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows: Common Knowledge and the Science of Harmony, Hypocrisy and Outrage (2025).The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature.The Language Instinct.Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress .Rationality: What It Is, Why it Seems Scarce, and Why It Matters.

1h 12m
3 DAYS AGO

What does Labor stand for? With Sean Kelly and Misha Ketchell

In its second term, the Albanese Government enjoys a large majority in parliament and an opposition in disarray. But faced with a fragmented, fractious electorate, ever more entrenched inequality at home and volatility abroad, and with an emphasis on a stable and moderate governing style, is this government making the most of its political advantages? Does Labor still have the courage to take on the good fight? This event was recorded at the Hawke Centre at the University of Adelaide on 4 December 2025. Speakers Sean Kelly Journalist, columnist for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, author, Quarterly Essay 100 — The Good Fight: What does Labor stand for? And The Game: A portrait of Scott Morrison Misha Ketchell (host) Editor-in-Chief, The Conversation

55 min
4 DAYS AGO

What does liberalism mean today?

Liberalism is one of the most influential — and contested — political philosophies of the modern age. But what does it actually mean in contemporary Australia? Is it a philosophy of individual freedom and limited government? A cultural attitude toward diversity and change? Or has it become something else entirely? A panel of practitioners and philosophers, current politicians and historical scholars explores liberalism as a set of political and cultural ideas, as a practical governing philosophy and as the ideological foundation of one of Australia's major political parties. Presented at the Malcolm Fraser Symposium by the Trinity College, University of Melbourne. Speakers David KempFormer minister for education in the Howard government, author of The Land of Dreams, a history of liberal and democratic ideas in Australia Sarah HendersonLiberal Senator for Victoria; former Shadow Minister for Education and Communications Alexandre LefebvreProfessor of politics and philosophy, University of Sydney. Author of the book Liberalism as a Way of Life James PatersonLiberal Senator for Victoria and Shadow Minister for Finance, Government Services and the Public Service

55 min
5 FEB

The history of money — with Irish economist David McWilliams

It makes the world go round, but it's also the root of all evil. It hasn't always had a great rap, yet most of us would like more of it. From clay tablets to coins, credit cards to crypto, for 5000 years, money has shaped our world. This podcast episode was originally recorded on 8 October 2025 at The Wheeler Centre. Discover more talks and bold conversations by following The Wheeler Centre wherever you get your podcasts or at wheelercentre.com. Speakers David McWilliams Economist, author, The History of Money: A story of humanity, host, The David McWilliams Podcast, and co-founder of the world's only economics and stand-up comedy festival Kilkenomics Jacinta Parsons (host) Co-host (with Brian Nankervis), The Friday Revue, ABC Radio Melbourne, author, A Wisdom Of Age: Lessons on living from our wise elder women and more

55 min
3 FEB

Bob Brown on the role of defiance in the climate crisis — with Gardening Australia's Hannah Moloney

For more than 50 years, Dr Bob Brown has been breaking and making laws to protect the environment. Now aged 81, he is hoping to give strength to new generations who are facing the climate and extinction crises front on. This event was recorded at the Theatre Royal Hobart on 1 October 2025. Speakers Bob BrownPresident, Bob Brown FoundationFormer Greens Senator for Tasmania (1996-2012)Author, Defiance: Stories from Nature and Its Defenders Hannah Moloney (host)Presenter, Gardening Australia, permaculture educator, community worker, designer, author, Why We Garden: On the Joy and Wonder of Growing Things, Even when We Don't Have to (out in March 2026) Further information: Tasmania's Forgotten Opera Star Returns: Amy Sherwin Statue Unveiling and Festival

55 min
2 FEB

War is changing and the laws meant to protect civilians aren't cutting it anymore

International humanitarian law, the law of armed conflict, was meant to protect civilians from the worst of war. But in today's wars civilians have become targets, and the rules meant to shield them are breaking down. What happens when the law of war no longer works? And can it be rebuilt to protect civilians once again? Presented by the American Academy in Berlin. Speakers Oona HathawayGerard C. and Bernice Latrobe Smith Professor of International Law, and Founder and Director of the Center for Global Legal Challenges at Yale Law School; president of the American Society of International LawAuthor of War Unbound: Gaza, Ukraine, and the Breakdown of International Law Daniel BenjaminPresident of the American Academy in Berlin

54 min
29 JAN

Stan Grant — when words fail us, reclaiming the language of love

Most of us, in our lives, will witness things we cannot comprehend, when words fail to do justice to the moment. In those moments, to whom or what can we turn? To God? To philosophy? To music? To ourselves, or to our fellow humans? In a noisy world, Stan Grant wrestles with the fragility of language, and the power of silence, and of listening, to find a path to connection, compassion, and love. The Simone Weil Lecture on Human Value was held at the School of Philosophy at the Australian Catholic University. Speakers Stan GrantProfessor of TheologyVice Chancellor's Chair of Australian/Indigenous Belonging at Charles Sturt UniversityAuthor, Talking to My Country, The Queen is Dead, Australia Day and the soon to be published, When Words Fail Us: Truth beyond time (May 2026, UNSW Press)

57 min

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Paul Barclay

Host
Natasha Mitchell

Host
David McWilliams

Guest
Oona Hathaway

Guest
Daniel Benjamin

Guest
Frank Bongiorno

Guest
Jakelin Troy

Guest
Georgina Downer

Guest
Dr Michelle Arrow

Guest
Vonda Malone

Guest

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.