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Tim Spector – The Gut and the New Science of Eating Well

What exactly is the gut microbiome and why is everyone talking about it? Nutrition expert and genetic epidemiologist Tim Spector debunks common dietary myths, and gives his top 5 tips for eating a healthy and diverse diet that your gut – and your mind – will thank you for.

Lismore After the Flood: Rebuilding and Resilience

Two years after devastating floods ravaged Northern NSW and South-East Queensland, the town of Lismore is the focus of a collaborative effort to rebuild. Drawing from her experience in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans, Professor Elizabeth Mossop explores what’s ahead for Lismore and how other communities can thrive amid climate change threats.

Colin Bisset - A Journey Through France with Le Corbusier

Explore the fascinating world of architect Le Corbusier with design commentator Colin Bisset, as he walks in the footsteps of this larger than life figure. Colin shares his own love affair with France, including his firsthand experiences of Le Corbusier’s iconic buildings, and his strange obsession with concrete.

Painting birds: Australian Birds in Watercolour

Artist and former regional doctor David Freeman shares his sense of place – a setting which led to his exquisite new collection Australia's Birds in Watercolour.

 

Eating birds: How to roast a duck with Annie Smithers

Annie takes Jonathan through jointing and roasting a duck. Learn how to cook a duck stock, duck sausage, and the prized duck fat.

 

Watching birds: Bruce Pascoe’s ‘Black Duck: A Year at Yumburra’

Bruce Pascoe and Lyn Harwood discuss traditional agriculture and how they find strength in Country at their farm Yumburra. 

 

Object of Desire: Comedian Daniel Connell’s porcelain owl

Comedian Daniel Connell shares the story behind a cute little porcelain owl which has accompanied him on his comedic journey. 

The long shadow of Rome

Why are tourists so obsessed with Ancient Greece and Rome? 

Might some of the more obscure archaeological sites, for example from medieval times, be missing out on the attention they deserve - both in terms of the eyes of tourists, as well as the cold hard cash so vital to ensuring their upkeep?

 

What is a system garden?

Join Tim Entwisle on a late autumn stroll through the System Garden at the University of Melbourne.

The System Garden is used by teachers and students to learn about subclasses and families of plants.

Created in 1856, it is one of the oldest gardens of its kind in Australia.

 

Designing for dignity

The idea of designing with empathy is a popular one. But empathy has its limits. 

LA-based designer Nu Goteh explores how we can move beyond creating objects to foster conditions for radical change, reshaping the very idea of design as a chance for others to thrive.

From the flickering flames of ancient hearths to the glowing coals of modern barbecues, fire is more than just a tool; it's an elemental force that has shaped our diets, our culture, and our very way of being. 

Today we'll meet people from across the world who each bring a unique flame to the feast. 

Niklas Ekstedt, the Michelin-starred Swedish chef who has redefined Scandinavian cooking by harnessing the primal power of flame.

We'll travel across the Atlantic for a taste of American barbecue from the deep south, with pitmaster Shalamar Lane. 

No exploration of fire would be complete without understanding the tools we've used to contain it. Colin Bisset will walk us through the design history of the stove.

And chef Lennox Hastie of Sydney’s Firedoor fame joins us to discuss what he’d cook for his last meal on earth.

Uni student protests: An architectural history

What impact has the built environment had on student protests on campus? How have universities responded architecturally in order to curb dissent?




Matt Preston: Big Mouth

The former MasterChef judge, restaurant critic and radio host discusses his memoir Big Mouth. 




The rise and rise of Baker Bleu

The Baker Bleu owner shares his ingredients for success in the food business, as well as some of the secrets behind baking seriously good bread. 

Annie Smithers cooks Elizabeth David - Charcuterie

What’s your relationship like with your local sausage maker? Learn about French techniques and recipes that bring to life the art of charcuterie, celebrating its rich flavours and cultural significance.




What is the future for WA’s forests?

She spent an enchanted childhood exploring her great-grandfather’s land around Whistlepipe Gully, in southern WA. Greenpeace's Jess Panegyres is now concerned by the alarming decline of ancient forests in the region.




Milkwood: Permaculture as a beacon of hope

The author of The Milkwood Permaculture Handbook, Kirsten Bradley, offers an inspiring discourse on how practical permaculture principles may be a lifeline not just for our environment, but for our sense of hope and community.


Clement Meadmore’s iconic mid-century furniture

While best known for his sculptural works, this Australian icon’s furniture pieces encapsulate the minimalist aesthetics and functional elegance that influenced an era.