Big Ideas

Dwayne Fernandes, accessibility advocate training to be the first double amputee in space and co-founder of Minds at Play, shares bold perspectives on inclusion. He talks about how zero gravity revealed abilities, the power of the social model of disability, practical steps for inclusive design, accessible tech in microgravity, and why making space accessible can transform accessibility everywhere.

Frank Bongiorno, historian and author, argues deep Indigenous ties and shared land shape unity. Jakelin (Jacqueline) Troy, Ngarigu academic in Indigenous research, highlights continuity and diversity. Michelle Arrow, modern history professor, stresses unity built by exclusion. Vonda Malone, Torres Strait Islander leader and former CEO, recounts lived injustices. Georgina Downer, institute CEO, points to democratic evolution. Dan Woodman, sociology professor, reframes unity as shared practices.

Join Jason Stanley, a Professor of Philosophy and expert on fascism, and M. Gessen, a journalist known for insights on authoritarianism, as they delve into the unsettling implications of Trump's presidency. They share personal histories that fuel their antifascist work and connect Trump's tactics to historical fascist strategies. Topics include patriarchy's role in fascism, the impact of rewriting history on democracy, and the dangers of modern surveillance capitalism. Their discussion highlights the intertwining of political ideology, social division, and the struggle against institutional collapse.

Join four incredible changemakers as they share their inspiring journeys. Monique Murphy, a Paralympic silver medalist, recounts her resilience after a life-changing accident. Larisha Jerome transformed her experience of homelessness into a mission for financial empowerment for First Nations communities. Nasteho Mukhtar, a refugee turned community leader, speaks about using martial arts to empower women. Finally, Claudia Kurowski, a dynamic youth advocate, emphasizes the importance of youth representation in politics. Their stories are both uplifting and motivating!

He jumped off a plane, exchanged the notorious briefcase on a park bench and got his identity blown by an asset under torture. Sounds like fiction? But the real stories still differ remarkably from novels and films. A discussion about the realities of espionage and the stories that surround it - filled with intrigue and hidden truths for your ears only. Spies, Lies and Secretes was recorded live at the 2025 Sydney Writers’ Festival at Carriageworks. SpeakersBen MacintyreBestselling author of books including The Siege, Colditz, Agent Sonya, SAS: Rogue Heroes, The Spy and the Traitor, Agent Zigzag, Operation Mincemeat and A Spy Among Friends Jack Beaumont (pseudonym)Former operative of the French foreign secret service, the DGSE, Author of The Frenchman and Dark Arena  Matthew Condon (host)Prize-winning Australian novelist and journalist 

DNA testing has helped family history researchers fill in the blanks in their family trees. While that can be a good thing, it can also lead to unexpected consequences. From "non-parental events", to big data hacks, to unauthorised use of DNA in criminal investigations, this is everything you need to know about genetic genealogy.This event was recorded at the State Library of NSW for Family History Month 2025.SpeakersClaire Aird Journalist, presenter of the podcast series, Secrets We Keep: Should I Spit?Vanessa CassinEducation Manager, Society of Australian GenealogistsProfessor Tanya Evans Director of the Centre for Applied History, Macquarie UniversityPresident of the International Federation of Public HistoryAuthor, Family History, Historical Consciousness and Citizenship: A new social history and moreAdria Castellucci (host)Lead, Family History team, State Library of New South WalesFurther information:How a church-run DNA donation led Michael to be falsely accused of murder SBS News, 6 July 2025

How has the fossil fuel industry wielded influence over Australian governments and their policies? What does it take to make ambitious change in the public interest, without vested interests getting in way? Join Natasha Mitchell and guests at Adelaide Writers Week.Origninal broadcast on March 12, 2025.SpeakersDr Richard DennissEconomist and Executive Director of The Australia InstituteAuthor of BIG: The Role of the State in the Modern Economy (2022)Ross GarnautEconomistProfessor Emeritus in business and economics, University of MelbourneBoard director of renewable energy company ZEN ENERGYAuthor of Let's Tax Carbon: And other ideas for a better Australia (2024), Superpower: Australia's Low Carbon Opportunity (2019)Sarah Hanson-YoungSenator for South AustraliaGreens spokesperson for arts and communications, and environment and waterRoyce KurmelovsFreelance journalistAuthor of Slick: Australia's Toxic Relationship with Big Oil (2024)

Dr. Kaya Barry, cultural geographer and researcher, sheds light on the lives of seasonal PALM workers, revealing their yearning for permanence amid challenging conditions. Emma Vuetti, President of the Pacific Islands Council, highlights the social and economic impacts on communities, while Ken Dachi from Welcoming Australia discusses the integration challenges faced by these workers. Nunes Cosbar shares his personal journey from Timor-Leste, emphasizing the cultural richness and community spirit among workers, despite issues like wage theft and precarious living situations.

At face value, collaboration sounds like a good thing: collaboration in the classroom, with colleagues, or between nations. But throughout history, collaboration was not always considered a virtuous act, and those who were identified as collaborators were shunned, humiliated or worse. This talk explores how people justify their involvement in wrongdoing, and how, when collaboration devolves into conformity, it risks silencing dissent.This event was recorded at the Bundanon Art Museum.Original broadcast on July 28, 2025.SpeakerDr Simon Longstaff — Executive Director, The Ethics Centre

Your personal safety is big business, so much so that it’s given rise to “security capitalism”, a phenomenon where attempts to buy personal safety shape the world around us. As security becomes just another status symbol, do these gadgets make us safer or do they create a whole new list of anxieties – a self-fulfilling prophecy of perceived threat and risk aversion? This conversation 'Trapped: Does the security industry make us less safe?' was recorded at the CUNY Graduate Centre. Original broadcast on May 29, 2025.SpeakersMark MaguireProfessor of anthropology at Maynooth University, co-author, Trapped: Life Under Security Capitalism and How to Escape ItSetha LowProfessor of psychology, anthropology, earth and environmental sciences, and women's and gender studies at the CUNY Graduate Center, co-author, Trapped: Life Under Security Capitalism and How to Escape ItAlex Vitale (host)Professor of sociology and coordinator of the Policing and Social Justice Project at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center