Your front row seat to big thinkers at the best live events, forums, and festivals. Feed your mind. Be provoked. One big idea at a time. Your brain will love you for it. We love hearing from you about the show or events you are planning. Get in touch! Email: Bigideas@abc.net.au SMS line for ABC Radio National: 0418 226 576 Airs Monday to Thursday 8pm, repeated Tuesday to Friday 12pm, on ABC Radio National.
He was there at the birth of a movement. He's been a champion for the rights of gay people both in Australia and abroad ever since. The son of Jewish refugees, he's also been forced to reckon with other parts of his identity, especially since 7 October 2023. Dennis Altman looks back at 50 years of activism, writing, and social change. This event was recorded at the Williamstown Literary Festival on 13 June 2026. Speakers: Professor Dennis Altman Author, Righting My World: Essays from the past half century , and many moreVice Chancellors Fellow at LaTrobe UniversityFormer President of the AIDS Society of Asia and the Pacific Patron of the Australian Queer Archives Patron, the Pride Foundation Sam Elkin (host)Author, Detachable Penis: A Queer Legal Saga Host, Queer View Mirror Triple R community radio stationFormer lawyer
Think of a history textbook you had at school. Could you relate to the characters inside its pages? These women are proving Australian history contains multitudes. You just have to go looking for the version of Australia that never made it into the textbooks. Meet four women reshaping how and whose history is told. Hidden histories with a Wiradjuri woman and nurse turned oral historian, a South Indian finance student turned storyteller, a Zambian born film-maker and author, and the founder of She Shapes History. This event was hosted at the National Library of Australia in partnership with She Shapes History . Speakers Sita Sargeant Social entrepreneur, author, founder and CEO of She Shapes History 2026 ACT Young Australian of the Year Santilla Chingaipe Zambian-born filmmaker, historian and author of Black Convicts - how slavery shaped Australia Host of the SBS documentary Our African Roots Host of monthly literary and listening events in Melbourne. Find more information at f irstchapterpresents Jacinta Mackay Wiradjuri woman, nurse, researcher and oral historian completing her PhDLecturer, University of Sydney School of Nursing2024 National Library Scholar Harini Rangarajan Chennai-born, Canberra-raised storyteller, archivist and musicianACT Greens candidate Further information: Relevant reading notes and tips for this event if you're interested to discover more.
The conversation around men's mental health, identity and emotional lives is changing. Literature is one of the places where that shift is happening. On the page, writers are exploring what it costs men to conform, to hide, to perform strength they don't always feel. Masculinity and Mental Health was presented at the Newcastle Writers Festival . Listen to Big Ideas: The radicalisation of boys — Jess Hill, George Megalogenis, Thomas Mayo with Natasha Mitchell at Byron Writers Festival Speakers Tyree Barnette Author of Stolen Man on Stolen Land: Being African-American in Australia Brandon Jack Former AFL player and author of Pissants and 28: A memoir of football, addiction, art, masculinity and love Andrew Pippos Author of The Transformations and Lucky's Michael Williams (host)Editor of The Monthly
The ocean sustains all life on Earth, yet we know remarkably little about it. Now, because of technological advances, we could be on the cusp of a new age of exploration. But the ocean is in trouble. As National Geographic's Chief Science and Exploration Officer and deputy administrator for the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Terry Garcia has seen the worst humans can inflict on the environment, working on responses to major disasters the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska and BP's Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. He says that in order to save the ocean, we need to understand it, and in order to understand it, we need to explore it. The 2026 Talbot Oration was recorded at the Australian Museum on 4 June. Speakers: Terry Garcia President of Exploration Venture Former Executive Vice President and Chief Science and Exploration Officer for the National Geographic Society Former Deputy Administrator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Kim McKay (host)Director and Chief Executive of the Australian Museum
It's the greatest power you all have as human beings — a healing power: to make others feel safe and welcome. It's so powerful because it puts a stop to their fears. The way to do this is learning to regulate your own fear responses. It's crucial to any relationship, but nowhere more so than in the therapy room. Fear makes or breaks successful therapy. Recorded at the York Festival of Ideas and presented by the Complex Trauma Institute . The festival is led by the University of York, UK. Speaker Michael Guilding Author of Fear in the Therapy Room . A survival guide for working with complex trauma Retired counsellor and clinical psychotherapist
Is it too late to escape the rage bait machine? And why are its roots ancient and evolutionary? Leading strategist Ed Coper has used all the tricks of the trade to change hearts and minds. He's run some of Australia's and the world's most effective campaigns, advised change-makers like Sir Richard Branson, Shakira, Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousafzai and other Nobel Laureates. Now Ed is ringing an alarm bell in a new book called Angertainment: How Social Media Outrage Ruined Everything. This event was held at The Wheeler Centre , Australia's first dedicated centre for Books, Writing and Ideas, and was supported by RMIT University . Explore more discussions like this one on The Wheeler Centre podcast — available wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow @wheelercentre on the socials for updates. Speakers: Ed Coper Communications strategistCEO, PopularesAuthor, Angertainment: How Social Media Outrage Ruined Everything (2026), Facts and Other Lies: Welcome to the Disinformation Age (2022) Sushi Das (host)Journalist, lecturer, and former Chief of Staff of RMIT Fact Check, RMIT University
Globalisation has powered the extraordinary economic rise of Asia. But the same components that built this success — open trade, deep supply chains, interdependence — are now fuelling the rivalries threatening to pull the region apart. Globalisation and geopolitics are now moving in different directions, and it will define the future of Asia and the role Australia plays in the region. Speakers Professor Nick Bisley Pro Vice-Chancellor Research and Professor of International Relations at La Trobe University Author of the book Asian Crucible, Globalization, Geopolitics and the Contest for the Future Dr Michael Green (host) CEO United States Studies Centre
From Robodebt to the banks, KPMG to the NDIS, whistleblowers have exposed egregious cases of corruption and misconduct. But it's often come at great personal cost, including risks to personal safety, liberty, relationships and reputations. So how could Australia's whistleblower protections be strengthened so that more people speak up when they witness wrongdoing? This event was recorded at the Centre for Ideas at the University of New South Wales on 16 June 2026. Speakers: Kieran Pender Associate Legal Director of the Human Rights Law Centre Founder, The Whistleblower Project Gabriel ShiptonFilm maker, storyteller, human rights advocate, co-leader of the campaign to free WikiLeaks founder Julian AssangeFounder, The Information Rights Project Lenore Taylor (host)Former editor, Guardian Australia
The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wants AI in Australia's interests, and has announced steps to regulate the technology. So can Australia get the balance right between the opportunities offered by AI, and the risks? Australia's former Chief Scientist Alan Finkel, a serial tech entrepreneur, has some ideas — and argues governments have been asleep at the wheel on AI regulation. This event was recorded at the Woodend Winter Arts Festival on 7 June 2026. Speakers: Professor Alan FinkelFounder, Proudly Human Former Chief Scientist Former Chancellor Monash University Founder of biotech and edtech companies Axon Instruments and Stile EducationFormer President of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE)Co-founder, Cosmos Magazine
Jack Toohey was flying high. Then he crashed. But from despair came renewal, and a rebellious hope. In 2023, when his social media post about housing affordability attracted over 20 million views — he knew he was onto something. He joins BIG IDEAS host Natasha Mitchell at the Make Good Festival at Bundanon , NSW to talk about the big ideas in his new book Better Things Are Possible: How Rebellious Hope Can Change the World. He wants to help you stop doomscrolling and reclaim the possibilities for creating a more just world. Speaker Jack TooheyCreative director, strategist, film-maker, and activistAuthor, Better Things Are Possible: How Rebellious Hope Can Change the World (2026).Jack on Substack Jack on Instagram Thanks to the Bundanon team and guest curator of the Make Good Festival Danielle Harvey
The ocean calms us. It terrifies us. It heals us. Sometimes all at once. We explore the sea's complex hold on your mental health — from the fear of shark attacks and the medicine of a morning swim to how immersive ocean soundscapes work on the nervous system and ocean grief as part of climate change anxiety. Presented at the Ocean Lovers Festival Listen to Big Ideas — The shark net controversy — hear the debate at Bondi's Ocean Lovers Festival with Natasha Mitchell Speakers Dr Brianna Le Busque Program Director of Environmental Sciences and Geospatial Sciences at Adelaide University Anika Craney Freediver, ocean guide and citizen science research assistant Kate Montague Working with somatic therapy and performance arts, creator of the Audiocraft podcasts Kal Glanznig Youth ocean and climate champion, creator of the documentary RISING UP, co-founded Plastic Free Cronulla, and founder of the project Blue Minds John Ireland (Host)Breath and somatic educator, Founder of Breathwork HQ
We are seeing seismic shifts in our politics, as more people than ever turn away from the major parties. Could public policy failures be to blame? Former politician Dr Susan Close has spent her career in the engine room of democracy, and she believes this trend has been caused by successive government policies that have left people behind, created winners and losers and segregated our community — especially in the way Australia funds its schools. The 2026 Hugh Stretton Oration was recorded at the University of Adelaide on 2 June 2026. Speakers: Dr Susan CloseCEO, McKinnon Institute for Political Leadership Member of the CSIRO boardFormer Member for Port Adelaide 2013- 2025Former Labor Deputy Premier, Minister for climate science, defence, education and more
Palestinians and Israelis are building common ground for peace where most say there is none. Since October 7 and the war in Gaza, the idea of cross-community dialogue seems impossible. But behind the headlines, more than 550 leaders from both communities, across politics, security, business, media, and civil society have come together to shape a peaceful future - for both peoples. What does a just and peaceful solution actually require? Who is doing the work to get there? And is there a role for Australia to play? Presented by the New Israel Fund Australia Speakers Hiba Qasas Founding Executive Director of Principles for Peace, former senior UN official Dr Gil Murciano CEO of the “Mitvim Institute", a foreign policy research organisation in Israel Dr Sally Warhaft (host) Writer, journalist and host of the Wheeler Centre’s The Fifth Estate series
When writer Hiroko Yoda's mother died, she found herself unmoored. They'd argued a fair bit over the years — as daughters and their mothers can — some things were unresolved. So now what? She found herself setting off an odyssey to understand Japan's surprisingly flexible, practical, pluralistic approach to spirituality, its infinite number of spiritual beings, its affection for angry ghosts, and the curious possibility of embracing belief and non-belief at the same time. She poured it all into a beautiful book called 8 Million Ways to Happiness. Yes, 8 Million! How can that be!? Find out in this poignant conversation she shares with Big Ideas host Natasha Mitchell on peace, grief, meaning, and overcoming the mountains within. This event was recorded live at the 2026 Melbourne Writers Festival . To explore more of the festival's events and talks, visit mwf.com.au. Speaker Hiroko Yoda Tokyo-based author, translator, folklorist, and certified kimono consultantAuthor, Eight Million Ways to Happiness: Find your own way to inner peace with the wisdom of Japan (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2026)
Writers have access to endless worlds, perspectives and experiences — both real and imagined. So what should they do with that privilege? Do they have a responsibility to try to change the world? To cultivate empathy and understanding? Or to simply bear witness? The Melbourne Writers Festival closing night address was recorded on Sunday 10 May 2026. Speakers: Professor Tony Birch Author, The White Girl , Women and Children , Ghost River , Blood and moreBoisbouvier Chair in Australian Literature at the University of MelbourneHistorian, activist, teacher, long distance runner Michael Williams (host)Editor, The Monthly magazineHost, Read This podcast
What if the way we think about rivers as resources to be allocated, infrastructure to be managed, problems to be solved, is just fundamentally wrong. What if they are in fact living entities with rights? From Indigenous law to ecological soundscapes to frontline water justice, this panel of Indigenous leaders, scientists and artists share stories, sounds and strategies for protecting and changing your relationships with waterways. River Listening was recorded live at the annual 2026 WOMADelaide festival , produced and presented as part of their Planet Talks program, held on the traditional lands of the Guarna people. Listen to Big Ideas – Students win fight for climate justice before the world's highest court Speakers Dr Dan Hikuroa Māori earth systems scientist, Associate Professor at the University of Auckland, UNESCO NZ Commissioner for Culture Grant Rigney Ngarrindjeri man, current Deputy Chair and past Chair of the Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations (MLDRIN) Dr Leah Barclay Award-winning sound artist, researcher and environmental activist Jo Shulman (host)CEO of the Environmental Defenders Office
Forget climate change, forget nuclear Armageddon, did you know that the universe is unravelling? It's probably aeons away, but according to physics, dark energy could end us all. Join award winning theoretical physicist Tony Padilla at this Sophia Club live philosophy event, to explore the torrid birth of the early universe, traverse the twisted hearts of black holes, skip through the harmonic vibrations of string theory, and ponder how, according to physics, it all might one day end. This event was recorded for the Sophia Club live philosophy in London on 21 April 2026. Speakers: Tony Padilla Professor of physics, University of NottinghamAssociate Director of the Nottingham Centre of GravityHost, Numberfile Author, Fantastic numbers and where to find them: A Journey to the Edge of Physics Sally Davies Editorial lead for the Sophia ClubEditor, AEON magazine Music by Oliver Coates Cellist, film composer and electronic music producer (Pillion, Aftersun and more)
Need a mid-Winter pick me up? Well this is the conversation for you! You could call Astrid Jorgensen a choir conductor, but that really doesn’t capture what she does and the global phenomenon she’s created. On any one night, anywhere in the world, you’ll find Astrid on a stage in front of a few thousand people singing their hearts out. She’s the founder, the composer, and the host of Pub Choir — which has been described as the world’s biggest one night stand in song. But for a while there she could have become a nun. Yes, there's so much more to her story, and she joins Big Ideas' host Natasha Mitchell to tell it. This event, organised by Northern Books, was held at the Fitzroy Town Hall in Naarm/Melbourne. This episode was first aired on the 10 December 2025. Speaker Astrid JorgensenFounder and conductor of Pub Choir Author, Average At Best (Simon and Schuster Australia, 2025) Further information How Astrid Jorgensen turned a suburban pub choir into a worldwide musical phenomenon (Australian Story/ABC News, 2025) Watch Australian Story episode about Astrid on Youtube (2025)
The gambling industry is targeting young people through digital platforms, personalised algorithms and the blurring line between gaming and betting. But also off-line, at the pokies, we see younger faces. We explore the strategies behind this trend, the human costs and what it would actually take to change the culture and the regulation around gambling in Australia. This conversation is a cooperation with Shaun Micallef's Going for Broke , the new ABC three-part documentary series that you can find on ABC iView. Speakers Dr Charles Livingstone Associate Professor in the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University Mark Kempster Lived Experience Advocate with the Alliance for Gambling Reform Reverend Stu Cameron CEO and Superintendent of Wesley Mission Dr Sally Gainsbury Associate Professor of Psychology and co-Director of the University of Sydney Gambling Treatment and Research Clinic Steve Cannane (host)Reporter with the ABC's Investigations UnitABC Four Corners by Steve Cannane – Losing Streak Further information National Gambling Helpline 1800 858 858 Wesley Mission Gamble Aware
The arc of the moral universe may bend toward justice, but not without a whole lot of committed individuals doggedly banging on about it. Even when no one's listening, even when it's boring, even when it takes years or even lifetimes. So in this time of division and fracture, when hearts and minds seem out of reach, is there still value in preaching to the like-minded? The 2026 Sheila Drummond Memorial Lecture was recorded at the Woodend Winter Arts Festival on 6 June 2026. Speakers: David Marr Present Late Night Live , ABC Radio NationalAuthor, Killing for Country: A Family Story , Patrick White. A Life , Political Animal: The Making of Tony Abbott (Quarterly Essay) and more
