Big Ideas

ABC listen

4.4 (63)
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.

3 DAYS AGO

Eric Bogle tells it all — his songs and his life

Folk legend Eric Bogle is opening up and talks about his life, his thoughts about death, friendship and love and why having a deeper message for writing songs is so much more important than money and fame. It's a rare opportunity to share a conversation with one of the best and most prolific songwriters of the last several decades. His songs have become Australian classics – like The Band Played Waltzing Matilda or No Man's Land. And as a very special treat – you'll hear the world premiere of his latest song … finished on the way to this event. A Heartland Conversation presented at the Blue Mountains Music Festival. March 17, 2024 Original broadcast on April 15, 2024 Speakers Eric Bogle Scottish-born Australian folk singer-songwriter Gregg Borschmann (host) Writer, radio producer and oral historian for the National Library of Australia

54 min
4 DAYS AGO

Shark nets: a necessary protection or animal cruelty — tackling a difficult question with Natasha Mitchell

They use of shark nets to protect us from sharks is highly controversial. Do they work, what do they do to marine life, are there alternatives, and why are sharks so political? This is an issue that ignites passions. Join Big Ideas' host Natasha Mitchell and guests at the 2024 Ocean Lovers Festival for a robust interrogation of the harms and benefits. Original broadcast April 17, 2024. Speakers Lawrence Chlebeck Marine biologist and campaigner Humane Society International Dr Chris Pepin-Neff Senior Lecturer in Public Policy, University of Sydney Author, Flaws: Shark Bites and Emotional Public Policymaking (2019) Steven Pearce Chief Executive Officer, Surf Life Saving NSW Hannah Tait CEO, Action for Dolphins Further information: Australian UAV Service NSW Shark meshing program NSW Shark Management Strategy and Shark Program Review (2022) Rebranding Sharks project Australian Shark Incident Database Yearly Worldwide “Shark Attack Summary” (Florida Museum) Shark nets information (Action for Dolphins)

55 min
5 DAYS AGO

Meet the mothers of Australia's women's refuge movement

At a time when family violence wasn't even recognised by the law, a group of women broke into two vacant houses in Sydney and claimed squatters' rights, changing lives and attitudes to family violence forever. This event was recorded at the Elsie Conference on 15 March 2024. Original Big Ideas broadcast on 6 May 2024. Speakers Professor Di Otto Halfway House Victoria Bobbie Townsend Former resident and worker, Elsie Women's Refuge Vivien Johnson Founding member of Marrickville Women's Refuge Collective Ludo McFerrin (host) Elsie Women's Refuge

54 min
6 DAYS AGO

Is Australia overrun by feral animals? ... with Costa Georgiadis

Australia's unique biodiversity, a product of almost 50 million years of glorious evolutionary isolation, is in freefall. The threats are not just the rabbits, the cane toads, the cats and foxes – the common culprits. Let's not forget the small but impactful smooth newt or the fierce red fire ants, and the many invasive weeds. Twenty new weeds will establish in the wild in Australia this year – and every year to come … unless things change. But is it possible to stop this ongoing invasion? How do we go about it? Heartlands Conversations was presented as part of the Blue Mountain Music Festival Original broadcast on May 16, 2024 Speakers Costa Georgiadis Host of ABC TVs Gardening Australia and landscape architect Andrew Cox CEO of the Invasive Species Council Gregg Borschmann (host) Writer, radio producer and oral historian for the National Library of Australia

54 min
DEC 12

Benjamin Law’s butt, and the power and politics of portraiture

From Vincent Namatjira's painting of Gina Rinehart, to Jonathan Yeo's take on King Charles, what do portraits say about those they represent, those who create them, and the broader context of the time? The Andrew Sayers Memorial Lecture was recorded at the National Portrait Gallery on 31 July 2024. The National Gallery of Australia's annual lecture with Lindy Lee was recorded on 24 October 2024. Speakers Benjamin Law Writer, broadcaster and cultural commentator Sarah Oakes (host) Director, External Relations, National Portrait Gallery Lindy Lee Artist Further information Watch LIndy Lee's full lecture "A Life of Spirit" here Catch Lindy Lee at the NGA for Ouroboros (permanent) and her retrospective until 1 June 2025. Read more about Jordan Richardson's Venus here

54 min
DEC 11

The surfer and circumnavigator — the gobsmacking feats of Pauline Menczer and Bonnie Hancock

A freckle-faced kid from Bondi, Pauline Menczer fought the entrenched sexism of the pro-surfing scene to became women's world surfing champion and pave the way...er, waves..for girl grommets today. But all the while she was also fighting another battle inside her own body’s cells. Ironwoman and surf lifesaving champion Bonnie Hancock became the fastest and youngest person, and the first Australian woman, to circumnavigate Australia on a small surf ski, solo. What possessed her to paddle 12,700 kilometres through crocodile and shark-populated waters, mega-waves, and worse? Pauline and Bonnie join Big Ideas' host Natasha Mitchell for a conversation that might inspire you to chase your dreams, big or small. This event was organised and hosted by the Queenscliffe Literary Festival. Speakers Pauline Menczer Women's world surfing champion Author, Surf Like a Woman (2024) Bonnie Hancock Athelete, professional Ironwoman, dietician Author, The Girl Who Touched the Stars (2024) Ambassador, Gotcha4Life Foundation Further information Girls Can't Surf documentary Australian Surfing Awards Surfing Hall of Fame

54 min
DEC 10

President Petr Pavel – on why the war in Ukraine is a fight for geopolitical stability worldwide

Do you want to live in Putin’s vision of a world in which ‘the big boys’ dominate …. or in one in which smaller nations have a voice? If it’s the latter, so the President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel, you need to support Ukraine. This war isn’t just about the borders in Ukraine or security in Europe, it affects the world and our principles of sovereignty, integrity, freedom, and the right of smaller nations to decide their own future. Hear from one of Europe’s foremost voices on global security on the implications of the war in Ukraine for the world. The 2024 Lowy Lecture was presented by the Lowy Institute. November 26, 2024 Speakers Petr Pavel President of the Czech Republic Dr Michael Fullilove Executive Director of the Lowy Institute Further information Transcript of the 2024 Lowy Lecture as delivered, might vary from the audio

54 min
DEC 9

Memory, refugees and the Vietnam War — with Pulitzer Prize winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen

Born a refugee of the Vietnam War, and now a Pulitzer Prize winning American author, Viet Thanh Nguyen unpacks the refugee experience, and the politics and the personal weight of remembering, and forgetting. This event was recorded at the Melbourne Writers Festival on 11 May 2024. Speakers Viet Thanh Nguyen Author, A man of two faces, The Sympathizer, Simone (children's book) and more Andre Dao (host) Author, Anam (winner of the 2024 Prime Minister's Literary Award for Fiction) Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne Co-founder, Behind the Wire oral history project (and later the award-winning Messenger podcast)

56 min

See All (1.4K)

4.4

out of 5

63 Ratings

Great Podcast

06/30/2021

rromarrio

Great topics. Mind provoking. Always insightful. I enjoy it daily…
Eclectic, Cosmopolitan yet very Aussie

07/27/2019

Cozzum

A true treasure from down under to help fill in some of the gaps in my understanding of how the world works. Somehow life got very complex along the way and keeping up with the barrage of changes is a monumental chore at times. I never dreamed that discussions, lectures, debates and so on, from half way around the world, would help keep me oriented towards a realistic perspective on the world's events and issues. Recommended for anyone who craves something more from somewhere else. Many Thanks to all the staff who make this program possible. To speak in the parlance of the zeitgeist "You're Awesome!"
Deep dive into Woke ideology

01/21/2021

Ogilbeats

There are some scientifically rigorous and interesting talks, but most speakers chosen are aimed at getting all the brownie points from the far left identity politics movement. How we must now focus on “age-ist discrimination” has been the straw that’s broken the camels back for me.
Big Ideas

06/06/2019

ABC Radiio USA Fan

Excellent as always Paul Barclay and his team are thoughtful, careful investigators who listen and ask good questions bringing important truths to Australian listeners Thank goodness for the ABC Truly wonderful

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.