A clinic inside Melbourne’s Royal Women’s Hospital is quietly changing lives through the power of tattoos. The Combined Breast Service offers breast reconstruction, including making nipples anew with tattoo ink. It’s an offering that empowers post-mastectomy patients and breast cancer survivors, who often grapple with accepting their new chests. Today, author Katherine Wilson will be reading her piece from the May issue of The Monthly . (This episode first aired in August 2023) Socials: Stay in ...
Jan 11, 2024•19 min•Ep. 1149
Today on the show, writer Richard King, with his piece ‘Machine Learning’ about the AI chatbot ChatGPT. He begins his story with discourse sweeping a university campus as AI reaches the hands of ordinary students and teachers. How will this technology – still only a few months old – change not only teaching and marking, but the very nature of the transfer of knowledge? This is the question he sets out to answer, and it’s a compelling one as we stand on the precipice of a new age of technology. R...
Jan 10, 2024•16 min•Ep. 1148
Today on the show, author Christos Tsiolkas with a recent piece from The Monthly . “The Past is a foreign country: they do things differently there” – is the memorable opening line of L.P. Hartley’s 1953 novel, The Go-Between . It’s a line that has stuck with Christos Tsiolkas since he read it in high school - and a sentiment that has made him reflect on his life, his migrant parents’ lives, and the value of creating foreign worlds through fiction. Christos Tsiolkas will read his story, ‘The Pas...
Jan 09, 2024•16 min•Ep. 1147
Today on the show, author Carrie Tiffany, with her piece from The Monthly . After the death of her mother, Carrie reflects on the hold of sugar upon her family’s health and history. Carrie will read her piece, ‘Sweet Regret’ after a short conversation with the Editor of the 7am podcast, Scott Mitchell. (This episode first aired in July 2023) Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Author, Carrie Tiffany See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jan 08, 2024•21 min•Ep. 1146
Today on the show, writer and filmmaker John Safran, with his piece from the latest edition of The Monthly . Father Bob Maguire was an icon in his own right, but for many, they knew him through his years of conversation with John Safran on TV and their Sunday Night radio show. Father Bob passed away earlier this year and received a state funeral in Melbourne and today we feature John’s writing about his friend. (This episode first aired in July 2023) Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and...
Jan 07, 2024•12 min•Ep. 1145
Described by the Washington Post as "one of our greatest living novelists", Richard Flanagan has been writing for more than three decades. His 2013 novel The Narrow Road to the Deep North won the Booker Prize and his essays have been published across Australia and internationally. This week Michael heads to Tasmania to speak with Richard at his home in Hobart about his latest and most personal novel, Question 7 . (This episode was first published in September 2024) Reading list: Gould’s Book of ...
Jan 04, 2024•29 min•Ep. 1144
Melissa Lucashenko writes about big ideas and brutal experiences, but she does so with grace, with generosity and – maybe above all else – a rich sense of humour. In this episode, from Schwartz Media’s podcast Read This , Michael sits down with Melissa for a conversation about her new book, Edenglassie, and they discuss history, eccentric characters, and why writing a love story is a revolutionary act. Reading list: Hard Yards, Melissa Lucashenko, 1999 Too Flash , Melissa Lucashenko, 2002 Mullum...
Jan 03, 2024•26 min•Ep. 1143
George Saunders is one of literary fiction's most acclaimed living writers. Along with his many collections of short stories, he also published the Booker Prize-winning novel Lincoln in the Bardo . In this episode, from Schwartz Media’s podcast Read This , Michael chats with him about his life and career, and George reveals the three words that made him a writer. (This episode was first published in September 2023) Reading list: CivilWarLand in Bad Decline , George Saunders,1996 Pastoralia , Geo...
Jan 02, 2024•28 min•Ep. 1142
Kate Grenville has spent her career bringing history to life, often using the lives of her own family to tell stories about the kinds of voices who are often left out of the official record. In this episode, from Schwartz Media’s podcast Read This , Michael heads to Kate's house to discuss her latest novel, Restless Dolly Maunder , and why she is preparing for the chance that someday someone’s going to rifle through her life and make up their own stories. (This episode was first published in Sep...
Jan 01, 2024•23 min•Ep. 1141
Award-winning writer and historian Tony Birch grew up listening to stories from his nan, Alma. In this episode, from Schwartz Media’s podcast Read This , Tony shares how Alma's advice has influenced his life and his writing. (This episode was first published in July 2023) Reading list: Shadowboxing , Tony Birch, 2006 Blood , Tony Birch, 2011 Ghost River , Tony Birch, 2015 Common People, Tony Birch, 2017 The White Girl, Tony Birch, 2019 Dark as Night , Tony Birch, 2021 Yellowface , R.F. Kuang, 20...
Dec 31, 2023•29 min•Ep. 1140
John Hughes was once hailed as a young literary genius, and won a scholarship to Cambridge. Yet he found himself back in Australia working as a librarian and a teacher before his writing found an audience. Hughes was shortlisted for some of the greatest honours in Australian writing. But under the scrutiny of greater acclaim, a strange web of inconsistencies and copying struck one reader: Anna Verney. Today, we’re looking back on this interview between Ruby Jones, Anna Verney and Richard Cooke, ...
Dec 21, 2023•25 min•Ep. 1139
The 2022 federal election saw a historic loss for the Coalition and a historic shift towards independent candidates like Allegra Spender in Sydney, Zoe Daniel in Melbourne and Kate Chaney in Perth. Elected on promises to fight climate change, make progress on gender issues and advocate for more integrity in politics, the Teals flipped some of the wealthiest and safest Liberal seats. But as the cost of living became the most pressing issue for voters in 2023, the Teals’ views on social inequality...
Dec 20, 2023•24 min•Ep. 1138
Australia voted in the first referendum in over 20 years this year — a referendum billed as the culmination of decades of reconciliation work. Today, we’re looking back on this interview between Ange McCormack and Daniel James, on what the result revealed about the country and where we go from here. (This episode was first published in October 2023.) Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Columnist for The Saturday Paper , Daniel James See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...
Dec 19, 2023•22 min•Ep. 1137
Australia can claim a significant world first: a special government adviser on Women’s Affairs. Fifty years ago, Elizabeth Reid stepped into the newly created role in Gough Whitlam’s government. Abortion access, workplace rights, contraception and education – it was a time of huge change in gender parity and access. But the reaction to Reid and the new position was vicious in some circles. She resigned just two and a half years into the job. What motivated her? How did the job change her? And wh...
Dec 18, 2023•25 min•Ep. 1136
Those who imagined, designed and delivered robo-debt put their personal ambition above the wellbeing of the people they were meant to serve. But there were some on the frontline who knew from the very beginning that this government shakedown was wrong. One, Colleen Taylor, came forward at the royal commission. While senior leaders failed to recall, or refused to say how robo-debt happened, she told the truth and helped crack one of the biggest scandals in Australian government history wide open....
Dec 17, 2023•33 min•Ep. 1135
At certain times of the year, a group of volunteers can be found roaming Canberra’s bush reserves bearing raw chicken carcasses – all in the name of saving and studying the small local population of goannas. Of particular interest to the volunteers is the Rosenberg’s monitor – only seven are known to be living in the area, and their survival in an environment so close to Canberra’s city is uncertain. But, armed with bait and cameras taking millions of photos, local ecologists and volunteers hope...
Dec 16, 2023•16 min•Ep. 1134
When Behrouz Boochani first wrote about life on Manus Island for The Saturday Paper in 2016, he described it as an island of the damned. Writing through WhatsApp, he documented the horrors of everyday life as a subject of Australia’s policies towards asylum seekers. Behrouz is now free, after being granted refugee status in New Zealand. Despite being told he would never step foot in Australia, last month he visited Parliament House to launch a campaign for a royal commission into Australia’s sys...
Dec 14, 2023•19 min•Ep. 1133
Former radio host Alan Jones was once the most influential broadcaster in the country. Now, he’s been accused of indecent assault by six men who revealed their allegations of abuse, which Jones denies, in reporting by the Nine newspapers. This isn’t the first time Alan Jones has dealt with a scandal. In fact, his career has been defined by controversy, and his reputation is something he’s spent decades defending with the support of Australia’s elite. Today, associate editor of The Saturday Paper...
Dec 13, 2023•17 min•Ep. 1132
The defamation trial between Bruce Lehrmann and Network Ten is nearing its end. More than two weeks of the hearing has revealed emotional evidence from witnesses, exposed lies and shed new light on the culture inside Parliament House. Today, senior reporter for The Saturday Paper Rick Morton on the attitudes, behaviour and personal feuds in the lead up to the events in Canberra in March of 2019. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram Guest: Senior reporter for The Saturday Paper...
Dec 12, 2023•16 min•Ep. 1131
This time last year, the government was confident, popular and getting its agenda through without controversy. But a year later, the Labor government has slumped in the polls, lost a historic referendum and is now facing stronger opposition – both inside and outside the parliament. So, is this all a temporary blip, or an urgent warning? And does the Albanese government need to change course, or is it better to persevere with its existing agenda? Today, contributor to The Monthly , Sean Kelly, on...
Dec 11, 2023•16 min•Ep. 1130
The world’s biggest climate change summit, COP, is held every year with a bold vision: to bring nations together to negotiate and find solutions for the climate crisis. But COP28 faces criticism for becoming a corporate wasteland filled with lobbyists. So has the summit strayed from its purpose? Today, climate leadership expert from the University of Melbourne , Linh Do, who is in Dubai at COP28, on the goals and the pitfalls of the event. Socials: Stay in touch with us on Twitter and Instagram ...
Dec 10, 2023•16 min•Ep. 1129
Rupert Murdoch’s global media empire is in decline - yet, as Malcolm Turnbull tells Paddy, he was still able to roll a sitting prime minister and be invited into cabinet. In this series finale, Paddy investigates Rupert’s relationship with Donald Trump and his ongoing impact on democracies around the world. Finally, with Lachlan taking over from his father, he explores how much longer the empire will survive without Rupert in control. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Dec 08, 2023•31 min•Ep. 1128
A High Court decision ruling indefinite detention unlawful – leading to the release of 148 immigration detainees, some of whom are criminals – has sparked weeks of toxic political debate about refugees. In the last few days, the government raced to pass new immigration laws that will put an end to it, but the style of debate has already caused damage. So, what have we learned from the debacle, and did Australia miss an opportunity to have a conversation about our hardline immigration policy? Tod...
Dec 07, 2023•16 min•Ep. 1127
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is well and truly over, with the war expanding to include southern Gaza, where many have already fled to escape the destruction in the north. Meanwhile, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu finds himself in disagreement with Israel’s biggest supporter, the US, over what should happen after the war ends. So how significant is tension between the US and Israel? And could it limit how long the conflict can go on? Today, Middle East correspondent for The Economist...
Dec 06, 2023•18 min•Ep. 1126
It had been over 10 years since anyone in the state of Tasmania was sentenced to prison for protesting. But that all changed when Colette Harmsen faced court this year. After racking up 22 arrests, a magistrate put her behind bars. Even as an increasing number of climate protestors face prosecution, Colette’s story shows that some activists aren’t backing down. Today, contributor to The Saturday Paper Elfy Scott, on the woman who isn’t deterred by jail time and whether direct action leads to mea...
Dec 05, 2023•16 min•Ep. 1125
In Australia, where a person went to school increasingly tells a story about their privilege, class and academic opportunity. While the majority of Australians go through the public school system, pending research reveals that the majority of our politicians did not. So, which politicians went to private schools, and is their lack of lived experience in public education holding back reforms to the sector? Today, national correspondent for The Saturday Paper , Mike Seccombe, on why the gap betwee...
Dec 04, 2023•17 min•Ep. 1124
In searching for the truth, the defamation trial between Bruce Lehrmann and Network Ten has been defined by the discovery of lies. In the witness box, Lehrmann admitted to lying multiple times over the course of the saga. Lehrmann says the lies don’t change his biggest claim – that he did not sexually assault Brittany Higgins – but the evidence has revealed new insights into that night in Canberra in 2019 that have reverberated through the media, law and politics ever since. Today, senior report...
Dec 03, 2023•17 min•Ep. 1123
A 14th century monastery in Bhutan might be the least likely place to find a hive of busy Wikipedia editors, but for Bunty Avieson, it was the perfect setting for a project in improving media literacy among local nuns, and preserving an under-documented culture online. The rigours of editing Wikipedia offered a new path of enlightenment for both the teacher and her class of Bhutanese nuns, as they worked to bring the country’s culture and traditions to local as well as global readers. Today, sen...
Dec 02, 2023•18 min•Ep. 1122
Around the turn of the century, Rupert’s empire hits a peak. But he’s about to face two of the biggest crises of his career - the phone hacking scandal and the downfall of Roger Ailes. To survive them he'll use his two most loyal assets - his sons, Lachlan and James. Paddy investigates the fraught relationship between Rupert and his two potential heirs. He explains how Lachlan ultimately won out, while James abandoned the family altogether. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Dec 02, 2023•38 min•Ep. 1121
Over the past few years, Australia’s immigration detention policy, which was once the feature of political debates and elections, has stopped making front page news. That’s until a recent high court decision deemed Australia’s indefinite detention policy unlawful, leading to the release of over 140 people who had been in indefinite immigration detention. It’s a decision that has sparked a scramble among Labor to come up with an immigration policy that is legal. Today, columnist for The Saturday ...
Nov 30, 2023•17 min•Ep. 1120
